You're playing a game of pick-up basketball at the university gym with a few other guys, and for reasons that make no sense to you, but just feel like impulse at the time, you decide to take a break and go outside for a breath of fresh air.

As you lean against the brick wall of the gym, and occasionally glance up to see the stars, a pal of yours comes by and asks you if you want to go to the break room with him.

So you do, and inside the gym's break room, you both notice with sarcastic pleasure that the university actually has a new microwave.  Its using a 'scriff-enhanced' micro-computer control platform which is some brandnew technology you've been hearing about.  So you start fiddling with it to make some popcorn, as your buddy is in the outer area getting the cokes from the coke machine, and suddenly a bit of smoke, an arc, and then a flash of white light from the microwave...

=========================================================================

You wake up, feeling a bit tingly in the fingertips, but otherwise okay, and draped over a hard irregular, but smooth surface.  A man is staring at you from behind his desk with a quill pen in hand.  He doesn't look happy, more put out.

"Do you know how much paperwork you're going to cost me?"  You're laying across a wooden chair, and the room is filled with shelves of books, and drifting dust motes caught in golden sunlight.

Playtester

Looking around, seriously confused, I try to make sense of the situation What the heck just happened? Where did the microwave and everything else go?. I stare at the man behind the desk "Uh... could you tell me where I am? I don't think there's a tower in the University, unless this is the theater. Is this a play, and no one told me about it?" I ask, still trying to use logic in order to solve this puzzle Surely it must be a joke of sorts?

"You are not at this place called the University, nor am I involved in a play. This is the attic room of the Tower Library of Rhodes, and I am involved in trying to refile several hundred books that have lost their filing cards due to inconsiderate patrons."

He gives you a cold-eyed glance as if to ask you if you are an 'inconsiderate patron'.  You're pretty sure this guy is not joking.  You're not even sure he knows how to joke.

"Now if you could fill out these forms."  He hands you a stack of papers, and a quill pen.  A quick glance at the papers has your eyes crossing as you were pretty sure they were written in some non-Roman script, and then the 'letters' seem to swim into a form you are used to.

PT

With a shrug, I read the papers handed out to me, and start filling them. As I do so, I dare ask something at this man "Say, so if this is in Rhodes... what year is it? And who are you - err, sir?" It HAS to be a reality show of sorts! These guys are getting creative nowadays...
This message was last edited by the player at 03:58, Tue 22 Nov 2005.

"Its in the Fifth Century since the Founding."  He seems unable to be more precise than that.  "Time is indeterminate to a degree here unlike in the outer worlds."

"I am Librarian Sajivv Mruspatelli."

The first question is easy.

"Have you come to do harm?"

The second question is a bit of a shock.

"Deliberate harm to a book carries a capital penalty. Are you now aware of this?"

The third brings you to a full halt.

"What type of extra-dimensional visitor are you? Dreamwalker, Incarnate Utilizer, Gate-wielding wizard, Verser, Reality Shifter by Technolokgikal Means...." The list of visitor types goes on for nearly thirty commas.

PT

Okay, so this is definetly NOT a reality show after all... then what the heck is it? I think, each second that passed trying to understand the situation better, but finding myself clueless. With a sigh, I start to answer the questions, writing "no" in the first one, and then "yes" in the second one. Staring for a while at the next question, I look up from the paper at the Librarian and ask shily "Uh, sorry, but, I don't think I can answer the third question, since there are several... options, available, and I don't know which one I fit in. Are these  for real? I mean, am I in another world or something, somehow?"

"Leave it blank then. And yes, of course they are for real. Falsifying data is a serious business. And yes, you are in a different universe.  I saw you appear right there out of dust mote tainted air.  Which is why we have that chair there.  There is an instability in the local fabric of the world that lets visitors into our world most easily right there."

There are dozens more questions.  Some are completely irrelevant like asking what types of magic you use.  Others make no sense whatsoever.  Most are straightforward from an employment application or such, or perhaps a citizenship exam mixed with and employment application.

You struggle to the end with using a quill pen which is altogether new, and a quite balky tool to use.  The Sanjivv takes the pad of papers.

"Welcome to the Tower of Rhodes, and the City. Have a nice stay.  The door is over there."  He points an arm at a door in a slanted and short bit of wall to your right while he continues on with his research.

PT

I still can't believe this is happening to me! While scratching my head and looking at the door, I ask the Librarian "Wha-What am I supposed to do now? Just walk outside and pretend I lived here all my life? I can't do that! Isn't there someone who can help me? This is my first time that I travel from one universe to another, you know"

"First time, eh? Well, we are used to extradimensionals here.  You could go to the information desk at the base of the tower.  Also,there's plenty of people that like to chat around the City.  Some people call it friendliness, I call it not minding your own business.  If you're really desperate you can visit the Temple, or the Sage on the Rock, or if you're mad to know, why you can walk the Bridge of Glass.  Some say that it always shows you what is in your own heart.  Oh, yes, how silly of me. We are a library after all, there are literally tons of books on choosing what you ought to do, and introductions to Rhodes and so forth."

You can see that the effort of being polite and helpful has struck him as exhausting, and he turns back to his sheet of paper.

PT

"Thanks!" I say to him, truly grateful, as I go through the door, and make my way to the base of the tower. Once there, I'll ask for as much information regarding me, how I got here, what I'm supposed to do now, and so on. I will also ask for information about the Temple, the Sage on the Rock, and the Bridge of Glass, since they all sound interesting, especially the last one.

You walk out the door, and onto a railed and gated balcony.  Below you a vast circular tower descends, perhaps a hundred feet across, perhaps more, its hard to say.  On its walls, are shelves with millions of books, and it descends at least twenty stories.

There is a central stairway, a tree that grows up to your landing, and on it are wooden steps with each one a single painted color, yellow, green, blue, and red.  They looked like they are tacked on to the tree, and the tree is swaying a few inches back and forth near your gate.

In the open air below you, you see people soaring to and from the tree on flying rugs.

Way down on the stone floor far distant, you see a large booth on one wall with a sign that faces up.  It says "Information."

PT
OOC: Good plan, just a little more complicated....

"Oh dear" I sigh, not able to believe that something so simple could turn so complicated There has to be a way, unless the architect of this tower was mad, that is. I look around for a possible direction or way to get to the booth. When everything else fails, I try to contact the people with the flying rugs (I don't know if they can't hear me or not from there)


OOC: Say, unless I understood incorrectly, am I on the same floor as the tree?

The top of the tree is level with you. Sorry. It goes down twenty stories.

After a couple minutes of yelling, a girl rises up, and floats in front of you. Her legs are crossed Indian fashion, and her honey colored hair is braided, and her dress is some sort of utilitarian tunic and leggings.

She says something you don't understand, and then she dips a finger into a bag at her waist.

"Yes, I noticed you yelling. Um, I'm in the middle of researching King Richard the Lion-hearteds invasion of India, and the presentation is due tommorrow, but if its quick, I'll help as much as I can."  She pauses and then adds after taking a good look at your wild-eyed state.  "Because I'm new here too.  Hey, why don't you hop on, and help me with my research, and that way I can spare more time to answer your questions."

PT

Surprised and happy at the same time, I nod quickly and hop onto her flying carpet of sorts "Uh, thanks I guess. I'm Tomas, and I may be able to help you with that assignment. Who are you?" Finally, salvation at hand! How the heck she flies a piece of cloth won't matter, at least for now

You soar out over open air with her, breathing in the scent of old books, and her clean floral scent.

"I got a scholarship to come here from the Rose University with a major in Alternate Timelines.  Its fascinating comparing their library here, which is far bigger than Rose's, or even Thorn's.  But we still have a few books they've never heard of, so I'm bargaining with the Tower's people for rights to copy those books.

And there's so much magic here. I mean at Rose, I learned how to duel with electric blades, and how to craft stage magery, just theory mind you, no one wants a first year apprentic wizard casting one of the Great Rituals...but here, flying rugs, and the city itself, and meeting so many monsters, and the books themsevles.."

She has a stack of books on her rug related to the Crusades, but the titles indicate Crusades you've never heard of...at least you're pretty sure that no Knights Templar invaded Japan....You also note that she talks a lot.
PT

Careful not to look below, so I may not get dizzy from flying on a rug, I hold tightly and nod at her words. Eventually, I find an opening and ask "I just... came into this dimension. The Librarian back there told me to go to the Information Booth? Could you please get me there?" rather calmly, even though I'm pretty desperate for some answers "By the way, can anyone learn magic? Or is it something to do with being born with it?" Please tell me you can learn, please tell me you can learn...

"Magic?" She turns and looks at you wide-eyed. "Why only women can do magic." At your crestfallen look, she laughs.  "No silly, of course, everyone can do magic. Leastways I've heard."

And then she whispers to the rug in a foreign language, perhaps Latin.

And suddenly the rug is dropping in a reverse spiral that spins about one circle for each spiral.  Her gleeful laughter gets cut short when the book she has in her hand slams shut, and she slows down to a reasonable pace with a frown on her face.

"Its a library so I'm supposed to be quiet. Got reprimanded."

You land in the middle a huge stone floor.

PT

Quite dizzy and almost nauseated, I drop from the rug "T-thanks, I guess" and then I try to get my balance back "You haven't told me your name yet! How am I supposed to come looking for you if I need to?" I ask her.

After she answers, I go to the information booth and ask all the questions I wanted to ask before... and one about magic, and how to learn to use it.

She laughs.

"I am Apprentice Wizardess Caroline Seffinger of the Rose University. And..." She fishes into her bag for a second, and then pulls out a bright red rose. "Talk to it." And then she lifts skyward. "Make sure you put it in pure water each night, and read a poem to it. It likes that."

She soars off leaving you with a cut rose that has pricked you in your thumb, and drawn blood.

It takes about half an hour to get through the line to one of the answerers.

"Learn magic? Yes, sir. There are plenty of books up in the stacks on various methods of magic. Some are more useful than others, and some are positviely dangerous. We don't believe in censorship, but I recomend you stay away from for example the Dreaming Texts of the Great Octopus.  Of the last ten people to check those books out, we've had eleven people jump screaming from the top of the tower.  And of course, each book, except for the most basic, is protected by a guardian, this is a sort of magical tax to help keep this universe stable."

"Other questions?"

PT

I wave good-bye at Caroline, and then I stare dumbly at the rose she gave me  Oookaaaay, a talking rose. Yay, just what I needed , and with a shrug, I place it in my pocket, keeping it safe for the moment.

"I see" I respond thoughtfully to the information booth person "So, let's asume that I wish to learn magic, from the very beggining: who can teach me, or guide me, and what books would you recommend me to start in the craft of magic?" I ask, really enthusiasted on the inside, at the whole prospect of learning magic.

"Well, sir, there's what works for me, which is numerology, and my faith, which is a minority faith here, that of worshipping the Mind All-Knowing.  Or there's the Temple to Ra the Candle and his mistress, the Reading Lady, and they will be happy to teach you the rudiments of their miracles and their faith.  The Reading Lady is the chief goddess of this Tower and the City, but she's not a jealous ruler, unless you want to burn or censor books.  Then she tends to drop the offender into the Abyss, and thats that.  There's also plenty of teachers in the City, but they vary from very good to downright dangerous, and they accept anything from gold, to apprentice work, to your soul in payment.  But perhaps the best way is for me to bounce the question back to you? Do you seek the power of the priest, or of a wizard? Or is there any difference in your mind? And of what is the nature that you seek. For we have books on anything from Alchemy to Zombie Raising in the stacks. And we have prayerbooks and holy texts for everyone from Ahriman to Zeus."

The answerer looks back at you, swinging her quill pen back and forth to fan herself.

"Well..." I reply rather stupidly, starting to consider the wide-arrange of posibilities "I'd like to be a Wizard, that's for sure. Now, about what type of magic, I'd say something to do with Alteration. Is there such a school of magic in this city?" I suggest, hoping that Dungeons and Dragons didn't just plain invent the whole magic system, and that this place might have some similarities.

"Alteration? Hmmh, I'm not sure if there is a school with tailoring magic..." You stare as she walks away, and before you can call her back, she's down a staircase, and heading away.  Ten minutes later, she comes back with sad news.

There is no school for teaching magic for sewing.

Grinding your teeth, you explain.  She shakes her head, and then goes to check up.

"No, I'm sorry, no specific school for what you ask, although there is likely wizards who can teach you individual spells in such a field. But you know, we could use a book on this topic, if you'd like to write it."

PT

OOC: Your character does not know this yet, but there is no fiction in Multiverser. So there truly is a Forgotten Realms, and a Greyhawk, and an Ebberron (or for my setting, a DragonHunt as in Temple of the Dying Sun d20).  And it is likely in the extreme that some of the D&D books are in this library, indeed even D&D books that were not published in your original reality.

However, you are asking a question with an answer less likely to be 'yes'.  Is there a school in the City, not just some books in the Library?  Since I have no idea, I get out the dice.  Roll a General Effects roll. A '3' and super, peachy keen...not only is there a school, but they are running a discount for entry, and offering a free wizard's staff to all applicants.  A'30' and you think you find one, but its actually a lair for a monstrous creature likely to eat you alive....
'23' which is definitely on the bad side, but not horrible.

I sigh "By Alteration I'm referring to the school of magic involving the changing of things, such as making oneself sprout wings, or making a toad morph into a princess, for instance" I try to explain the best I can.

"Oh, I see. That is an interesting way of looking at it. We do have a Shapeshifting wizard I believe, and a Professor from the Rose University could teach you Myth Mastery for turning princesses into toads, and ..."

She goes off, and comes back with a list of four possibles.

"Now, the Temple to the Reading Lady would have more, and the Towers of the Wizards Three, and if you can get a sorceror to stand still long enough they might know something...Really, we're a library, and our information is focused on the library proper.  But we do have some City information in the Basement files."

The list contains:
1. Shapeshifter Wizard at the Green Tower of the Wizard's Three
2. Prof. at Rose U of Applied Theatrical Ritual lodges at the Menagerie Pub.
3. Temple of the Talon in the Catacombs
4. Essence Magi, worshipper of the Eye of Truth comes by to preach at noon on the stairs outside the Library.

PT

"Uhuh..." I mumble as I check the list, considering the options. In a matter of seconds, I point to one "This one! The Shapeshifter Wizard. Where can I find him? And do I have to bring anything in particular with me?" I ask, anxious to get started with this magic business.

"Well, the Three Wizardly Towers, the Green, the Black, and the Red are usually the tallest buildings in the City.  You can walk outside, and look for them.  However, like everything else in the City, they move.  You can hike the City, or take a riddle road.  But you can die on a riddle road.  Of course, you can die in the City too."

She scratches her head with her quill pen, and then shrugs in a very French way.

*Such is life* her attitude conveys.

PT

Say what?! I can die as I walk by the city? This ain't as good as it seems, me thinks... I scratch my hair nervously, thinking of something to say in reply to the information just received "So, is there a way to prevent dying, in any of those cases? Which one is the safest way to go? City, or that Riddle road thingy?"

"Well, it depends. How good are you at Riddles?  How good are you at street-fighting and dodging monsters? I mean, its mostly not bad, but there are some areas that are definitely dangerous.  The Gordian Knot is a haven for the most degenerate sorts and once you get in, almost impossible to get out, and if you stumble into a battle between the swordsmen and the sorceror gangs you're in for a rough ride, or if two major mythics start to duel in the street, you might want to take cover.

Now, if you're really nervous, it wouldn't hurt to have a guide take you around, and show you a bit.  I'd do it, but my boyfriend is not the understanding type."

She smiles regrettfully at you.

"Prevent dying? Hmmh, not really. After all, what fun would that be?"  She giggles.

PT

Yeah, why didn't I think about it before? Dying CAN be fun! Sheesh, crazy people I sigh and look around "I met a young wizardress, who flew on a rug, and she gave me a rose... I show the lady the rose Caroline gave me "What's the function of it? She told me to talk to it, but no idea for what"

"Well, why don't you do that? And anyone can use a magic rug, once they have read the manual."  The help desk lady says with some asperity.

Doubtfully, you pull out the rose, and speak into it.

Sudenly you smell a different, floral perfume coming from the rose, and hear a voice like at your shoulder.

"Yes, Tomas, have you had your questions answered?"

PT

"Thank you for everything" I say to the information booth lady. Afterwards, I look over my shoulder, trying to see someone behind me (I'm assuming that I heard the voice through the rose, rather than having Caroline appear behind me), but after realizing it must be the rose's magic, I shrug and talk to it  "Yes I have. I think I want to go to the Green Wizard's Tower, to learn shapeshifting. Could you give me a hand in getting there? The person at the information booth told me about serious dangers in the city"

Nobody is behind you although the voice seems to hang behind you even as you twist around to track down the source.  Its more than a little disconcerting.

"You're supposed to wear the rose on your shoulder. Silly boy."  You hear. "I'd love to help you, but I have several hours of research I need to do first. I mean, I really have to get this oral presentation ready for tommorrow. Once I get the research done, about noon, I could take you if you like. We could go by the Menagerie and get something to eat, and then go to the Towers Three? What say you help me, and I'll pay for lunch?"

PT

Food, eh? I don't wanna guess what will it be I think about it for a brief moment, and place the rose on my shoulder "Sure, that sounds good. How can I help you, then?" I say, not considering the fact that I was talking to a rose, in public.

She swoops down, and hands you a stack of books that is about four feet high, and then guides you over to a table.  She sits down on one bench, and picks up the first book off the top of the pile.

"What I'm looking for are references to the Crusades as they developed in different timelines.  I'm trying to construct a theory of alternate history to try to guess the possible courses of the future.  Right now, I'm interested in any Crusade, but most especially in King Richard the Lion-Hearted's Crusade into India which did not happen in my timeline."

She opens the first book, and her hands suddenly grip it hard, and her face goes blank as she sits there book held tightly in her whitened fingers.

PT

I look at the book, waiting for her to do something, but then I look at her "So, Caroline, what are you-" I start to say, and that's when I realize she's acting weird Don't you do this to me! Not in this alternate dimension!. I try moving my hand up and down in front of her face, and maybe shaking her a little bit, if that doesn't work "Caroline? You okay?" I ask, starting to get concerned.

You see her start to sweat, and her hands and arms start to twitch.  Beads of sweat begin to roll down her face.  Half-formed words in exotic languages whisper from her rose-bud lips.  The strain is obvious.

PT

Sweet Mary Mother of God, help me in this moment of darkness I shake my head, unable to believe what is happening right now "Caroline?! Can you hear me? Say something!" I practically shout at her, worried and confused about her current state.

You feel a definite impulse to look around you.  You see tables with scholars and students and writers, and many of them are undergoing what it seems like Caroline is experiencing.  A sizable minority, and the rest don't seem all that worried about it.

You realize that whatever Caroline is undergoing is "normal" for here, anyways.

A minute later, she comes out of her trance, and wipes the sweat from her face with a cloth, and takes a restoring drink from a mug of hot cocoa.

"That was a tough one."  She flips the book open. "Ah, I see why. It has vague descriptions of magic rituals. Not enough to be a red line book, but close."

When you try to look at the book over her shoulder, she pulls it back.

"I'd have to fight the widfloga again in order to let you shoulder surf. Not eager to do that right now."

PT

I sigh, completely lost to what just happened "I'm new here, remember? Could you please explain to me what you just did?" I ask, considering seriously going to a doctor and asking if I'm mad yet or not.

"Oh, well, everytime you open a book, except for the green edged ones, the most basic, you have to meet the guardian of the book in a trance.  There you can pay toll, or riddle game, or fight the guardian.  If you get pass the guardian you can read the book.

Most books are relatively safe.  If you fight and lose you'll most likely be beaten up, and released. Of course, accidents do happen.  But the red-line books, well those are about magic, and some other dangerous topics, and if you lose, you might well be killed.

This book is what we students call a 'pink-line' even though it doesn't have a pink line. It does cover just enough magic to warrant a tougher than usual guardian.

And a guardian can be anything. Sometimes its a creature, and sometimes its a situation like finding yourself on a sinking ship.

Now I have the right to read this book for eight hours over the next month."

PT
OOC: And BTW, the prayer to Mother Mary qualifies as magic in the Multiverser system.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:38, Sat 03 Dec 2005.

OOC: It does?! I never knew o_O I won't do it again, then, since I just wanted to do it for the sake of "Oh my gawd, help me!", not for any real religious reasons ^_^U

I nod after a while, trying to understand the "guardian" issue "I see. Phew, you got me worried there" I say in relief, then I ask "How can I help you then?"

"Well, if you don't have any credit, you could gain some, but that would take time.  I had in mind your challenging a guardian for me, and then writing down notes which I can read without challenging a guardian, and telling me if such a book was valuable enough for me to investigate."

She hands you a thin book with an encouraging smile.

"This should be relatively safe."

PT
OOC: Besides, I don't like profanity anyways. :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:02, Sat 03 Dec 2005.

I hesitate, looking at book as if it would bite me if I touch it "Uh, you think I can take on a guardian? I don't even know how to use magic or anything!" I blurt out, feeling weak and useless to do such a task "Unless, of course, it doesn't take an archmage to do it" I add with a sigh, fearing that she will say that I should be able to do it. In that case, I will start to read the book Namo Amida Butsu...


OOC: The last phrase, in italics, is a mantra in Chinese, "I honor Amida Buddha", who is the Buddha of the Western Paradise.

You open your book, and see brightly colored fogs swirl up from its pages, and a gigantic, dog-sized rat is sitting atop the book, and right in front of you with its whiskers tickling your cheeks.

"Well, a follower of the Buddha. Unusual, but not unprecedented.  Do you have wealth to appease me, or would you pit your human mind against a rat's cunning to match my riddle, or best of all...fight me for the knowledge you seek.  Do not fear gentle Buddhist. You cannot kill me here.  This is a dream where I am protected.  Of course, you are not so well-guarded."

It shines its teeth at you in what could be mistaken for a smile.  They are at least four inches long.

PT

Oh. My. GOD! I stare at the huge rat, unable to modulate any words or communicate in any fashion for a moment "Uh, err, you are the guardian, yes?" I ask rethorically "In that case, I'll go for a riddle, I guess. I'm not into fighting"

"Too bad, I have been having a hankering for some human.  Help fix up the digestion.  Ah, a riddle. No, no, thats too easy. Hmm. No, too hard.  Yes, this ought to do.  Relatively easy.

'I have a red heifer in the field.  I feed her hay, and she lives. I feed her water, and she dies. What is she?'

And never fear, one day, I will get to suck your bones.  I can feel your hunger for magic. Read the magic books, and there are no protections on you."

He laughs unpleasantly.

PT

I pace around, thinking of the answer, scratching my head from time to time, or with my hands clasped behind my back "Uh, say, is the question about what type of cow is it, or the "heifer" part is a way of calling it, meaning that I have to figure out what it really is?" I ask, just to clarify the way I'm supposed to think of the riddle in order to solve it.

The Rat sighs.

"I suppose its only fair since I want to avoid the Appeals Board review to grant you that it is ' a way of calling it' aka not really a cow."

"Do you have something to nibble on while I wait? An old shoe? A bit of metal? A finger?"

It chuckles to itself.

PT

I nod nervously, still pacing around. Suddenly, I slap my own forehead, and point at the big rat with one finger "Fire! If I give it hay it will grow, but water will definetly 'kill' it" I announce triumphantly

It snarls at you as it spins back into smoke. And suddenly with a jolt you're back in your body.

The text lays open and legible before you, and Caroline grins sideways at you as you are both on the same bench.

"See, not that hard at all is it?"  She goes back to making notes with her quill pen.

PT

I shake my head, and look at my own body, checking for injuries "Cool..." is all I'm able to mutter at the time. I start to write notes on the book for Caroline, and after I'm done, I ask her "Do you need me to do the same in the other books?"

She nods, and you start working on other books.  Some time later, your head is aching, and your stomach is rumbling, and your fingers are ink-stained up to the knuckles from using the quill pen.

So far you've answered riddles from a horde of centipedes with one voice, a giant raven, a cat with a female's head, and a black cardboard box from which a voice came.  The last one had you shaking like a leaf to be in its presence, although you're not sure why.

You've learned a lot about different Crusades ranging from the Aztec to the Japanese Crusades, although most focuses on variants that were more common to the world you came from, and less outlandish.  Its a bit daunting realizing that the history of one world is not enough, but that each of the half-dozen worlds you read about had its own history.

"I'm hungry." Caroline says.  "Any questions before we go walking?"

PT

I'm getting good at this! Which means I'll pick the riddle road for travelling... I let out an exausted breath, nodding "No, and let's go get something to eat quickly, if you please, since not only I'm starving, I also have a headache, probably because of so much reading"

She takes up her books with your help, and deposits them on a small square table.  They fade out as you look at them, simply dissappearing.

"The Return Table take them back to their places in the stacks. And the librarians get really mad if you put food on the tables."

She takes you out the front door which is a majestic arch, both human and noble in style and dimension.  Beyond this,  a huge, many acres plaza of steps, and flat areas drops gently away from the college.  Its dotted with small fountains, and the occasional tree, and hundreds of people wandering about, studying, buying food from vendors, throwing balls back and forth to each other...

Its very stately, both elegant and homey at the same time with an attention to humane design.  In the midst of it is a huge statue of a woman reading a book, and above her is a man in an Egyptian pharaohnic dress holding a candle for her to read by.

This naturally leads your gaze up into the sky...where you see an enormous candle, at some huge unknown distance, providing the light for the City.

"The Woruldkandle. Nothing like it elsewhere, or nothing anyone has ever seen."  Caroline says softly.

PT

I gaze upwards for a moment, staring at the candle They could name this place Candlekeep. Hehehe and then I look around "This looks really nice. Say where are we going to eat, and more importantly, what?" I ask Caroline as we walk, reserving the several questions I had about candles and this world to myself for now Since this is an alternate reality, maybe they eat people here as a common dish... or worse dogs! I don't eat dogs; I pet them, and hug them, but never, ever, eat them! Let's hope it doesn't get to that

"Well, we are going to try for the Menagerie.  Which is where I live.  Its an inn. Really neat. Got griffin heads, and sea dragon claws, and the tail of a giant scorpion on the walls, and a bunch of other things."

You and she walk out into the streets, past Tudor houses cheek-by-jowl with Gothic stone monstrosities, and Egyptian square blocks, and a dozen more styles of houses, most up close to each other.  Dogs seem to be petted, and tossed scraps you note as you pass a butcher shoppe in between two residences.  No zoning laws here.

The path Caroline takes seems to wind through the town in unpredictable fashion. And as she gets frustrated, and you get hungrier, you realize she has gone down across this same fountain endowed square twice, no maybe three times already.

PT

I sigh "Caroline, what's going on? We've been here already. Is there some sort of magic-thingy that makes us go in circles? Can't we do anything about it?" I say, stopping to look around Just what I needed, getting lost in a different universe, hungry and desperate. At least I got her with me

"Yes, I think you are right. Well not quite. Its not that we are going in circles.  Its that the town is moving."  She pulls on her lower lip with thumb and forefinger.

"I think the town is irritated at me for pushing time."

"What's that?" You ask.

"Oh, well, time is kinda indeterminate.  You always have enough time to do what you need to do, but if you try to cram too much into a day, then you start causing repercussions."

You blink.

"Ah, lets travel by one of the fixed landmarks. The Bridge of Glass looks closest."

She heads out,a nd you trail behind her. Shortly you arrive to see a giant half-finished Brooklyn Bridge made of pure glass that leads into glistening fogs that circle the whole town.  At the foot of the bridge, you see a Waffle House surrounded by red fogs.

"It looks clean. Lets try the Elsewhere. OK?"  She seems rather keen on it.

PT

I look at the bridge, marveled, and then back at Caroline "The Elsewhere? What's that?" I ask, following her to wherever she's taking me So, you can't use too much time, or bad things happen. Yay, craziness. I'm beggining to like this place

She points to the Waffle House.

"There is always a restauraunt right there. A different one every few minutes, or every few hours.  They come and go from other places.  You can go inside, but you'd better be outside by the time the fogs around the store turn violet, or you are going Elsewhere to wherever the restauraunt came from."

She laughs, grabs your hand, and starts to tow you toward the Waffle House.

"I love to come here, although a lot of my friends think its scary.  You meet the strangest people. Two weeks ago, I got in an arguement with some people who swore the Earth was round. I mean can you imagine? Everyone knows its shaped like an egg, and the inside is hollow."

PT

I nod, trying hard to follow her sentences but failing in the end, as I walk with her hand-by-hand to the Elsewhere. I could almost feel myself blushing "Hey, what's the bridge of glass about? The librarian told me something, but I can't remember what it was" I ask her as we go.

"Oh that. Well, it allows people to create something with their dreams, their hearts. Its how most of the new neighbourhoods got added to the City.  But its very dangerous. Most people who get on it, don't get off.  Still for some people who need a challenge, who need to make their mark, make the world bigger, or just find themselves...it is a great help."

You and she walk into the WH, and like being smacked in the face, you realize how odd the outside must look, and how odd Caroline is dressed.

A quartet of bikers is staring out the windows, and about a dozen others are just quietly freaked.

"Um, whattleya' hev?"  The steel-gray haired waitress matron asks with a nervous lump in her throat.

PT

"I could give it a try later on..." I say almost to myself.
I look at the waitress and with a hand on my chin I think about her question
"Hmmm, interesting, I dind't consider what I could have here. What type of foods do you have?"


OOC: Suddenly I realize how odd the outside looks, and how odd Caroline is dressed? How come?

She hands you a large laminated, and brightly colored rectangle...

http://pages.prodigy.net/bote/waffle/whmenu.html

"You want a seat at the bar, or at a booth?"

The long, narrow, brightly lit, heavily windowed diner with the big yellow sign outside is half-filled with people in modern dress.  T-shirts, jeans, pull overs.  Nothing terribly fancy.

"Honey, did you come from outside? You know why all those weirdly colored fogs are out there?  I can't smell anything toxic, but you never know do you?"

PT

I take a look at the menu, wide-eyed at seeing it quite similar to the ones back on Earth "I'd like... a chicken burger, the one with the tomatoe, onion, and lettuce" I tell the waitress. I then look at Caroline and with a shrug I tell her "Well, it's the same for me. What do you prefer, booth or bar?"

"Um, um," She wobbles between the both, and then eventually decides on a booth.

She places her order by asking the waitress for the 'house special'.

Soon you have a Coke, and a chicken sandwich, and she has a waffle with maple syrup, and a side of hash browns with tomato, cheese, onions, and chili on top of it plus another Coke.  This is all fried on the open grill back of the bar.

The weird part for you is seeing Earth normal, and then by comparison seeing how strange everything you've just been exposed to is.

"You know Tomas. If you stay in this restauraunt, it will take you home. Well maybe not home, but some place I think a lot closer to home than the Library is."  Caroline says softly, studying you.

PT

I stare at my half eaten food while I consider her words "To be honest, I sure miss my world, even after being here for only a couple of hours" I say frankly to her, then, looking back at her face "But this is what I always dreamt of! Everything is magical, fantastic, mystical, and I can actually learn magic!" I add exitedly, smiling and everything "This is like a dream come true, and I'm going to make it last as long as I can, you have my word for that"
Afterwards, I finish my sandwich, starving as I was, I drink my coke "Ever heard of travelling from one world to another? I think I did something like that, by accident, and now I'm afraid it will happen again. Is there a way to prevent it?" I ask her, somewhat fearful of the answer on the inside.

"I don't know. There are surely books on such in the Library. First question is 'how you got here?'  Because if we don't know the cause, then we surely can't stop it. We can investigate tommorrow afternoon, after my oral presentation." She pauses, breathes in, and then blurts out.

"Do you want to come? I'm having a lot of my friends showing up. I warn you, it will be kind of long and boring. One hour of speech, and two hours of questions."

About this time, a suit-coated man, with shadows under his eyes, and a newspaper folded up held by a folded over hand, and a general air of exhaustion approaches the table.

He goggles at Caroline a bit, and then winces when she smiles at him.

"Um, I don't want to bother, but I overheard something, and it seems you know of this place...and..."  He shudders a bit, and then his head snaps to the left when the door opens, but its only a biker looking out at the weird green clouds.

PT

I was about to reply to Caroline when this man interrupted "Well, I do know a little bit about this place. How can I help you, sir?" I say politely.

"I well, I wanted to know if it was a good place. Is it Limbo, or some other nasty place out there?  I mean, well, I suppose it doesn't matter. Its just that if I stay, I'm a dead man. Testified against Johnny Capone. Not a good idea if you want to stay healthy, but seeing as the rotter killed my fiance' because she wouldn't dance with him, I didn't exactly care.

Now, I find I'd like to live, but not if its in some private hell."

He tosses the newspaper on the table.  The lead story with his picture on it catches your eye.

"Mayor of Chicago indicted. 'Famous Johnny' son of the legendary 'Al' to be questioned under grand jury.  Jake Morley, lead witness for the federal prosecutors, has already given a notarized testimony seeing as 'I'll never live to see the trial anyways.' the accountant has said according to informed sources.

We at the Chicago Lantern, wish him the best, but we fear he is right."

And then you look up, and see the biker at the door is pulling out a knife and advancing toward the unprotected back of your guest.

PT

I stare dumbfounded and wide eyed at this fellow, realizing to my horror that he was one of the several people found dead since they were killed by no other than Alcapone This one would be perfect for a Godfather movie... wait, he said he died, so that's not nice
When I see the knife coming after him, I immediately stand up and point at the biker with one hand, while trying to turn around the fellow with my other one "Behind you! He's got a knife!" I yell at the top of my lungs.



OOC: What are the chances that this is a mistake, and he's not trying to kill him? 0.0001. But well, it can still happen, right?

OOC: I'm not sure..I guess I was unclear. In your original timeline Al Capone got tossed in jail, and his son never became mayor of Chicago.  Although the Daley's may have been corrupt, they weren't that bad.  He's not saying he died, he's just saying that he will because Johnny's boys are going to 'rub him out'.

This is Jake Morley, prosecution witness, CPA, grieving fiance'.

IC: He dives out of the way, and the biker flips the knife in his hand to go from an overhand stab, to a lunging position.

"Not nice, pretty boy. You stay out of this, or Johnny's going to cash your paycheck, y' hear?"  The biker growls at you.

Caroline says a long string of words, and suddenly you feel the thump of a sabre in your hand. The basket hilt gleams coldly around your fist.  The biker is staring at you with his mouth hanging open.

PT

OOC: My bad, I don't really know much about Alcapone :P

I thrust my newly aquired weapon outwards, pointing at the biker (but not touching him) "You wanna try and see how your stick fares against my club, or maybe just apologize and back off?" I say to him calmly and clear, doing my best to keep calm and pretend I had this all figured out. I cast a confused look at Caroline with my eyes, briefly, trying to ask her with my look what she's expecting me to do, and praying dearly that she summoned a weapon that gives actual skill the the wielder Is this a bluff? Or she wants me to fight him?

She looks over at you, and gives you an encouraging smile and gesture...pretty clearly...kick his head in.

Sorry, the sabre doesn't seem to be magical.  However it is three feet long, wickedly sharp on the front side, and your opponent has a five inch blade.

You thrust out the sword to nearly touch his chest, and his eyes cross as he surveys it.

"Um, sorry. My mistake."

He backs up, and goes across the diner to his two other friends.

PT

I wait for the thug to get far, far away before sighing in relief and slumping back on my seat "Thanks goodness. I didn't want this to turn into a fight" I say, somewhat shaken, and I glance at Caroline "Actually, thank you, because otherwise I don't know what I would do against that guy with the knife. Now I owe you even more"

Where's the man I just saved from certain stabbing?

He's standing behind Caroline's bench, with a butter knife in his hand, looking relieved that he doesn't have to try to sell his life dearly, and looking very tired.

"Thats my world. What I want to know, is should I come to yours?"  He looks at you.

PT

I shrug, not sure myself "That depends. Does magic interest you at all? As far as I know, this world is very different from yours or mine, in many senses. Still, I believe that you will be safer, here, rather than back there"

"Right. Well." He pauses, and then he looks at you. "I owe you one."  And he walks out the door after tossing the waitress a fifty.

"Silly boy. The magic changes our money in Elsewhere to the local currency."  Caroline says, brushing a tear from her eye.  You both finish up your meal, and pay, and walk out the door.

A few minutes later you turn back to look, the Waffle House is gone, and a tavern with holographic lights stands in its place. A girl in a black pleather minishirt, and with a cybernetic arm steps out.  Her autopistol bouncing on her hip, she flips a cigarette away, and stares expressionlessly at you with chrome eyes.

PT

I avoid glancing at the cyber-lady, and take Caroline by the hand to move a little faster in order to get away from the now changed tavern as fast as possible. Once far away from it, I explain to her (while releasing her hand) "I didn't like the look of a woman who was gazing at me. She had some sort of cybernetic arm and a very dangerous weapon"

"Well, I don't like backing down from anyone. After all, I am a student of the Rose College.  But still, perhaps you are right."  Caroline says.  She then asks you for the sword back.

"Its my brother's, second oldest, and I need to send it back."

PT

"Oh. Right" I say akwardly, handing over the sword to her "So, you summoned it, rather than creating it out of nowhere?" I ask her as we walk "What's the name for that type of magic? Conjuring? Something like that?"

She writes up a small message, and then attaches it to the sword with a blob of rose-scented wax.  A word, and its gone like it never was.

"Rose Magic. My world knows the magic of the Rose and the Thorn. Thorn magic is for war wizards, and often involves a lot of blood. Rose magic is about how things are connected. About strengthening those connections, and its more utilitarian than Thorn magic. A Thorn mage would have simply burnt the killer to ashes.

I and my brother are strongly connected by blood and affection.  He is connected to his sword by use, and by consecration, and by ownership.  I also have a connection to his sword because its been consecrated by my hand as well.  So we can make tools with special talents, which is hard, or simply follow the rooting shoot of a connection.

For me, I name the spell 'Calling of my Brother's Sword.' I suppose it is conjuring, but we don't speak of it that way.  I could not call something not previously prepared."

PT

I listen, quite marveled at this magic she explained to me "It's a pretty interesting sort of magic; I never heard of it, nor could I imagine that it exists" I comment in reply to her words. As we walk, I look around the place as I ask her "Say, about getting to the Green tower of the wizard, or however it was called, do you think you can help me get there safely? At the information booth they only told me of two options, which is walking there normally, or by the riddle road. As for now I prefer riddles, since I got some practice, but then again, maybe you know another way?"

"Well, some wizards can fly, but not me or mine.  Sure, lets take a Riddle Road."

She sets out down the street a bit, and then spots a gate on the left which leads into a tiny pathway that goes directly into a wall.

"Ready or not, here we go..."

She takes your hand, and opens the gate.  The road sparkles like blue gems under your feet, and glitters like white fire at its edges.  Looking beyond the edges, to your right and left has you seeing patterns that almost make sense, and then you have a headache.

In the midst of the road is a Griffin.  His tall lionish body is surmounted by a gigantic eagle's head, and the bronze wings stretch out to completely block the path.

"Well, someone new to the Riddle Roads. Welcome. Let me explain the game you have chosen to play.  A game, which I might add, it is too late to back out of now."  The Griffin bows his stately head, and scratches it with one claw-bedecked paw.  "I ask you a riddle. You give me an answer that is correct.  You can guess as many times as you like.  Once you are correct, you are transported quickly and safely by my magic to your destination which is the Green Wizard Tower, or whatever other destination you choose, inside the City, of course."  It adds the last with a glare as if warning against smart alecks.

"You don't get to move your feet until you correctly answer.  Which means you can and will starve to death on that spot, if you fail to answer my riddle.  Not that that is such a big deal for you verser, but your friend would not like it, and it is unpleasant anyways.

Now, my riddle. What is your favorite color?"

You feel a bit of letdown after the big buildup, but then you wonder if there is some catch.

PT

I sweat a bit, while listening carefully to the gryphon's words "Alright, so no moving until I get it right..." I repeat to myself, and then I realize that he said a word that I didn't get "Did you call me verser? What's that?" I ask, curious, as I think of a farfetched answer for the riddle Maybe it isn't hard at all. But then again, if I have endless chances of getting it, it can't be that easy! Oh well, I'll start with the obvious answer, then think of something else if I need to


OOC: Does my answer count for Caroline's, and viceversa?

You look over at Caroline, and she is petrified.  This surprises you since she had seemed so cheerful before the question.  You look back at the Griffin, and somehow its easy relaxed stance is gone, replaced by a fake of relaxation.  Its actually quivering with tension.

"I'm afraid you can't ask Caroline for help. So she cannot talk in this moment.  However, if you pass, then she passes.  You don't pass, and I'll give her a chance."  He grins a jagged edged smile thats somehow a threat, and cruel mocking laughter bubbles out of his throat.

PT

Since from one moment to another the whole thing went upside down, and I hadn't answered the riddle yet, I prayed again out of desperation Namo Amida Butsu and hoped to get the answer right "My favorite colour is blue"


OOC: The birdy didn't answer my question! Althought I, the player, knows what a verser is, Tomas in the game doesn't :P

OOC: Sorry, I forgot to answer that. Should have. Now, the question is, did you answer honestly?

PT

OOC: Yes I did! Otherwise, it wouldn't be my favorite colour, and thus bird face wouldn't like that, now would he?

The griffin snarls, and Caroline speaks up.

"He won didn't he?"  The griffin says nothing.

"Listen you stupid little birdbrain, you'd better stop these tricks you're playing on me." Caroline is advancing toward him, and despite the fact that she is outmassed by several times, he is backing up.

"It wouldn't have mattered. He's a verser. An immortal. Kill him here. Pop. He goes elsewhere. Rinse, wash, rinse, ad infinitum, ad nauseuam.  I hate them I do." The griffin says.

"But not as much as you like me, right?"  Caroline asks with her hands on her hips. She turns back to you. "I'm sorry. Its not your fault. One of the Laws of this world is you're not allowed to lie to Griffins.  If you do, he can eat you. Birdbrain got jealous."

PT

I look from the griffin to Caroline, back and forth "I... what? You mean I can't die?!" I blurt out, not being able to believe this "Wait, so that means I died to get here! This means..." I watch my own hands, palms up in front of me, as if they suddenly changed in some way "I'm immortal" I whisper.

Recovering quickly from this revelation I'll think about this later" I look at Caroline "So it was a trick? He wanted me to say any color so he would have the right to kill me?" I ask her incredulous "But this still counts like I actually got the riddle right, yes?"


OOC: Bad birdy! No, no! *scolds griffin*

"He wanted you to lie. If you answer truthfully, you solve the riddle."
Caroline says.

The griffin nods.

"You have solved the riddle. Now let me give you another riddle, and because I'm feeling nice, the solution. 'What is red and white and screams a lot? Why is would be a verser as his muscles are peeled back from his bones by a sword sharp beak because he did not stay away from the future partner of a griffin."

He glares at you, and then with thunderous wingbeats is airborne even as Caroline starts yelling at him.

PT
OOC: heh, heh.

OOC: Hold it. He's referring to Caroline, right? And is he flying to, say, do what the answer of his riddle expresses, or to fly away?

I look puzzled at Caroline, worried as the griffin started to take flight "Future partner of a griffin? What does that mean?" I ask her, glancing nervously at the giant monster But, I got the riddle right! What could have happened? Oh, I know: I broke another rule. Or it could be it's alright for griffins to kill blond versers whose name starts with a T. Such luck

"He's been wanting me to join him as his Rider. So when he sees me with a guy who, um, well, anyways, sometimes he  gets jealous." She stumbles over her words.  "So he tried to trick you into lying to him. And the last was a threat to you, but he's not serious. Not really. He's not going to murder you, but he might challenge you to a duel, particularly if he can find some way for you to 'offend' him. Then that would be legal."  She pauses, and looks sideways, and then back at you.

"I don't think he would murder you, not in cold blood. I mean, that would be illegal.  They would banish him, maybe even kill him. He would at worst maybe break a few bones. Um, probably not even that. And I meant in the duel. He's really a pretty good guy. Honest, strong, talented. You know he's written a dozen books including a textbook used by my University.  And wow, but can he sing!"

She walks side by side with you, and within seven steps you come to another gate. Caroline opens it, and across the street, you see a tower of stone covered with moss extending skyward into the clouds.

Of course, the clouds do seem to be unusually low-hanging here-abouts, and you're not sure how tall this tower is.  It wavers like a mirage.

PT

Troublesome griffin indeed. Murphy's laws apply here perfectly "Think things can't get worse? Think again!" I sigh, trying to cope with this pressure of having a jealous griffin trying to find ways to kill you "Just tell me of any important rules or ways in which Mr. griffin could trick me into getting killed" I ask her, almost desperate, since I didn't want to consider the thousands of ways I could offend him.

Upon reaching the tower, I look in awe at it, from top to bottom, especially the never ending top, trying to see where it ends (Or if it ends, for that matter) "We made it" I state simply, then, looking at Caroline "Thank you for everything, so far. Is it, er, safe enough for me to go alone and ask the wizard in there to allow me to become his apprentice?"

"Safe? Probably not. But, I think its expected.  There is no safety in the City, only knowledge is one of my people's sayings.  If you want safety, then this is not the place for it. But, you're a verser, right? An immortal. What care you for safety?  But we should certainly get you a book on the customs and manners of the griffin tommorrow."

She smiles, and you can see a look of respect in her face.  Evidently being an immortal wins you a few status points around here.

And then before she leaves, she turns back.

"Can you come to my presentation tommorrow?"

PT
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:22, Tue 20 Dec 2005.

I barely hesitate in my answer "I can only promise I'll do my best to go and watch it. We'll keep in contact through the rose, yes?" I say to her and then I wave good bye, turning around, bracing myself for what it's to come I'm immortal alright, but still, if I die I would go into another world, which I DON'T want. So I'll be careful, nonetheless

I approach the tower, looking for an entrance or something alike.

You walk into the entrance, and find yourself in a small room.  On the wall, is a plaque that reads "Welcome to the Pattern Room." Underneath it hanging by a pair of chains is another wooden plaque that spells out the following message "This is the test for entrance into the Green Wizard's Tower. You have until the secretary goes to her next meal to finish it.  At such time, you will be dumped out, and may not enter again for one month or so."

Also on the wall is a small statuette of a small Earthly seabird, a tern.

You see a door on the far wall, and shrug, and open it, and beyond it you can see a room full of scribes copying illuminated manuscripts. Another step,and the world swirls about you, and you find yourself just inside the front door of the Tower, inside the Pattern Room still...

PT

I scratch my head, considering this very interesting situation This back-to-the-start thing is kinda old. Therefore, the one who made this test must be old! But that doesn't help me at all, now does it? I wander around, looking at the general pattern (If any) in the room, including ceiling and floor. Afterwards, I check the statue of the bird, and the place where it lays now.

The floor is sand, and seems to hold no pattern except for the one laid down by your feet.  The statuette is a cheap plaster model, hollow and with nothing in it.  The shelf is a plain wooden shelf, varnished lightly so that you can still see the wood grain, but there appears to be no message in the wood grain.  The roof is a whitewashed stone, and you don't seem to see any pattern in the placement of the stones.

Twenty minutes or so have passed by.

PT

Nothing here either. I wonder... I walk quickly towards the plaque's, and decide to examine those as fast as I can, and also try to see if there's something behind them.
Afterwards, I decide to walk backwards into the next room, rather than in a normal fashion.

OOC: There's a pattern laid down by my feet? Anything in particular?

1)Nothing immediately noticeable behind the plaque.
2)No particular design, just feet walking.
3)Clever, but all it ends up with is you entering the Pattern Room backwards on the entrance side.

PT
OOC: I have yet to have anyone solve this without massive hints.  Feel free to ask for help on the OOC thread if you like.

OOC: Where does the feet walking pattern on the floor lead to?

Somewhat frustrated and getting close to being desperate I grab the statue of the fern and try entering the next room.

Its your feet, so it leads wherever you walked.

You walk into the next room, and one of the scribes looks at you, and shakes his head, before you're teleported back into the room.

PT

OOC: Say... can I take with me the sign that says "This is the test for entrance into the Green Wizard's Tower" and so on? And just to make sure we are both clear on this, I did check that sign too.

Taking the Green Wizard Tower Exam sign adds the information that that is not the solution.

Your rose speaks, and its Caroline, and she asks how you are doing.  When you tell her how frustrating it is, she sympathizes, and tells you that the entrance to the Green Tower is famously difficult.

"Hmm. 'Welcome to the Pattern Room.' And a tern. Pattern. Tern. Pattern. Tern.  I'm not getting it." She pauses and thinks.

"Let me check in the books at the library. It may take an hour or two, but we have a really large collection of riddling books in the library.  I'm sure its in there somewhere."

PT

I nod, listening to her words and considering the amount of time I have left. Suddenly, something makes "click" in my mind, and I freeze on the spot Pat... tern... Pattern... Gah! If that's it, then I'm going to smack myself for failing to notice something like that! "Please do that, I'll try something I figured out thanks to you!" I say excitedly at the rose, running over to where the tern is. Slowly, I pat the tern.


OOC: Did I get it? Pretty please?

A wind rises in the room, and shoves you into the Tower, and you stand in the room with the scribes.

One gets up, and takes a sheet over to be dried by having sand tossed on it, and then walks up to you.  He gives you a small bow, and then very seriously and solemnly speaks.

"Welcome to the Green Tower. Which wizard do you wish to see, or do you wish a job as a scribe?"

PT
OOC: Congratulations. :)

OOC: Don't congratulate me, I don't feel like I deserve it, really, with Caroline's huge hint >_< Ever had anyone solve it without much aid?


I sigh in absolute relief I love you, Caroline! Speaking of which, I should thank her... and nod to the scribe talking to me "I seek the Shapeshifter Wizard, to become his apprentice" is my answer.

"Of course, follow me."  He walks over to the attendant at the desk, and they converse, and then he turns back to you with three vials, red, yellow, and blue liquids in his hand.

"Drink one whenever you feel like. Its Essence of Variability. Speak the name of the natural creature you wish to become. The door up to the Wizard Tiardigren is there."

He points upwards to the corner of a ceiling where a foot-wide circle waits for you forty feet away.

"There will be a note for you to tell you the next challenge after that. Best of luck."

PT

OOC: I'm no good with measures, since I only know meters, so I'll transform into something not-so-big that fits into the circle


"Thanks" I say before taking the rose out and talking to it for a brief moment "Caroline, I did it! And all thanks to you! I'll contact you later if I pass this next part"
After that, I glance at the vials, and decide to drink the red one "Robin" I say out loud and clear, waiting for the potion's effect to change me I hope it doesn't hurt... much

OOC: 3 ft. is roughly a meter.  Just wait until I send you to some world where they have different measurements based on which city you're in....Now if you roll a botch, you turn into Robin (Batman's junior partner...)

IC: You drink it down, and every time you're about to decide what it tastes like, the taste changes.  You see things growing about you, and then you look down and you see your legs are melting away into a multi-coloured puddle.

Soon enough, you're on the ground as a puddle, and you're fine as long as the inability to breathe doesn't make you panic.  You don't need to breathe, but....

And then you feel a swirl pass through you, a tingle run down nonexistent nerves, and you see the world shift. Colors go away, and instead you can see things at a detail that almost blinds you.  You can count the hairs in the eyebrows of the person who just picked you up.  And everyone seems to move slowly like they were half-asleep.

PT

What on Earth just happened? I look around drowzy, trying to figure out just what I am right now "What's going on?" I try to say, then I attempt to look at my own body.


OOC: I was thinking that I could indeed turn into Robin "Holy complicated situations, Batman!" rather than the bird :P if the potion counts Robin as a natural thing, rather than a ficticious character of a television series xD

OOC: The potion would not turn you into Robin.  Now you could make a potion that would but it would be an enormously powerful spell, and not lightly handed out to an applicant. (as if a Vial of Shapechange to Natural Animal wasn't expensive enough). I'm just going to go ahead with this rather than retcon it.

IC: You look at yourself. You're a Red-breasted Robin, about four inches tall. And you have a very nice chirp which does not sound faintly like English.

They sit you down on the edge of the desk, and you wobble as you realize you don't know how Robin's stand on telephone wires, or....

PT
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:59, Fri 23 Dec 2005.

I suppose that it's improvisation time! I sigh inwardly, as I try to fly towards the place where the scribe told me to get.


OOC: It was a joke! ^_- It certainly would have been funny to actually become Robin :D

You swoop across the room, and try to climb, and with your heart thumping, you do, and then you flip over, and are nose-diving into a wide table covered by fragile glass containers of many differently coloured liquids.  Its barely ten feet away, and ...

OOC: Ach, my sense of humor needs work. I'm often way serious.  And yes, that was a flying botch with fairly bad results.  You really don't want to shatter the sharp glass, crash, or land in the magical ointments...

PT

Desperately, I wave and flutter my wings as hard as I can, avoiding dropping even more altitude and also try to stabilize myself. If possible, I'll try to fly to the hole afterwards, as I was trying to do before.


OOC: What's a botch?

You start flapping, and pull out of your dive, and then circle around back up, staying away from the table, and then exultingly rise.  You've found the trick of it, you're properly balanced, and your wings beat at the right speed.

Still a bit wobbly, but not bad.

You make it up through the hole, brushing against the side in the breeze coming down, and spin into a landing on the floor of the room above.  Your Robin shape slips off, and you resume your human shape after a trip through puddle shape.

In here, there is a thick metal grate with inch-wide spacings that serves as the locked metal doorway leading into another room.

PT

OOC: Since I don't wanna say something like "spider" and not be small enough due to my understanding-measurements problem, I'm gonna say...


"Ant" after drinking the next vial At least now I can just... move around. Easy easy.


OOC: Unless I understood terribly wrong, I gotta go throught the inch-wide spacings, yes?

You shift to puddle, melting away like a stick of butter in a very hot pan, and then come back as an ant.

Its a long trek, which seems to take about an hour to make it, and you walk through the grate with ease.  The biggest thing is getting used to how strong you feel, and the slipperiness of the floor. It seems things work a little differently at the micro-scale than at the human-scale.

Once through, you transform back.  You see a rapidly spinning fan that is pulling air from the room, and if you're not mistaken, its edges look shiny with sharpness.

The fan is ten feet wide, and you can feel it pull at you a bit.

Through the fan you can see a sign on the wall which has a long list of various wizards, and arrows pointing to where their rooms are.

PT

OOC: I take it I need to transform for the last time in order to pass, so... is there an opening of sorts between each wing of the fan, and how big is it? I need to know if I need speed, or just being thin enough.

There is about six inches between fan blades. They are going fairly fast. But if you were really small you might be able to get past the blades at the very edge because of course the blades don't touch the outer edge, but just come within an inch of it.

However the wind is somewhat stiff.

PT

"Snake" I say out loud, after drinking the last vial I hope I DON'T touch the fan. Otherwise, bye bye universe

You crawl on your belly, feeling the wind try to creep up alongside your long muscular form, and lift it, but you flatten your stomach out, and push forward.  By your sight, you have just a tiny bit under two centimeters of clearance, which should be enough.

You notice there is a slight wobble to the wooden axle of the fans, but it seems okay.

And so you press on, pushing your neck under the blade that could slice you in half without slowing in the slightest.  Your whole body trembles, from head to five feet later, where your tail twitches.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." You hiss, and lay your head out in a line toward the chair on the opposite side of the room.  Inch by slow inch, you squirm your way forward.  And then a third of the way up, there is a rumble, like before, but perhaps it coincides with one blade, and your position.

You feel a slight gash in your side.  Not sure how deep, but it burns like someone stuck your hand to a stovetop burner, and it flipped you on your back, and about a foot to your right.



PT

I try turning around my head to see what the problem is, and if I can solve and how Ouch that hurts!


OOC: Did I make it past the fan, or I'm still right beneath it?

Still underneath it, about half your length, and you have some sort of gash on your back which you can't see because you're on your back.  The fan continues to whirr noisily.

PT

In pain, I give it my best to roll back on my stomach, in order to keep moving. I try to make the roll as far away from the blades as I can, so that I don't touch it I'm only hoping I didn't make the wrong choice with this snake business...

Waiting for just the right micro-second, you roll over smoothly, despite the pain. Flattening yourself you slither onward to your goal, and finally are home free.  The magic wears off, and once back in your human form, you examine a gash in your shirt, tinged with blood.

Pulling it up delicately, you see a three inch-long slash on the back side of your ribs.  You're not sure how deep it is, but you're having to focus in order to remind yourself to do regular things like sit up.  And every little breath sends a wave of fire crashing down the side of your chest.

Blood is dribbling down the side of your chest, and drops are plopping into the stone floor, and you hand comes back sheeted with blood.

PT

I hope someone's here, close by... I limp, one hand covering my wound as I can, wincing in pain "Anyone?! I'm hurt! I need help! I shout, hoping for someone to listen to my pleas of assistance. In any case, I take a look at the signs for the wizards, looking firstly for a medical-type wizard, then for the Shapeshifter wizard I was searching for in the first place.


OOC: If I remember correctly, there are signs, right?

You croak out the words, unable to draw a good breath, and sway a bit dizzy.  Happily, you do see a sign that announces the following: Alchemist, Chirurgeon, Necromancer to the left, and Shapeshifter, Arte Perfectione to your right.

A door with crossed swords above it caps the corridor to your right, although you think there is a meeting corridor down that way.  To your left, you see a barber pole outside the nearest door. Beyond that, you see a flag of silk with a Yin-Yang Symbol at the next door.

PT

I make my way to the left, with a bit more of hope, walking with difficulty towards the Yin-Yang symbol I can't die here. Not now, after all I've been through

You come to the door, and it swings open.  A grey and black-haired man in a black robe down to his leather boots surveys you, and then tilts his head as he takes your arm and guides you to a wooden chair in his bone and plant decorated study.

"I don't recall getting another student, but then I am absent-minded, at least so say all my colleagues, and my wife. Nevermind, let me ease your wound."

He scoops up a small vine from its pot, and holds it in his left hand, and puts his right hand on the wound.

"Aha, just as I thought. A disturbance in your life flow. Not to be rude, but it would be best for all if you were quiet and remained still. There's a good lad."

Suddenly you feel the most incredible itching, and you see the vine droop in his fingers.  Then the itch stops, and he gently puts the vine back in its pot, and waters it.  Your pain is gone.

PT

I try my chest movements slowly, seeing if indeed the wound is as good as gone "Remarkable" I whisper, inspecting the place where I have been hurt some seconds ago "Thank you very much for healing me" I say to the wizard, grateful beyond words to what he did for me
Akwardly, I explain to him that I'm not going to be his aprentice "Sorry, but no, I'm not going to be a student of yours. I was actually aiming for the Shapeshifter wizard"


OOC: If I have nothing else to do there, I'll be going with the Shapeshifter

"Oh, well then, thats all right. No, no fee, just a simple exercise in necromancy. Do have a good day, or night, or...um.. the Shapeshifter, he's well..."

He flips his hand to the left, then the right, then left..

You thank him, and ease yourself out.

Yes, except for a ripped shirt, blood stains, and a three inch long scar, you're just fine.

You head down to the right, following the signs, and go around a corner to the left, and see a spinning column of sand in a glass container.  The sand is two colors, white and red.  The smaller red sand continually shifts shapes so that one moment it looks like the outline of a rabbit, and another a snake, and so on.

Feeling confident that you have found your wizard, you enter.  You find him asleep at his desk, with the stench of unclean animal cages inhabited by several dozen small animals, and about five empty bottles scattered about the floor which reek of alcohol.

He mumbles to himself when you enter, and shifts, and goes back to sleep.  Along the wall, you see laboratory equipment, and on a blackboard you see dozens of lines of complex and arcane symbols.

On the ground in the midst of the room is a pentagram, and sitting by the window is a small dragon.  He turns and looks at you.

"Oh, hello."

PT

Say wha'?! Shaking my head, as if to check again to see that the dragon did indeed talk, I try to remind myself that I'm in a magical world "Uh, hello? I'm looking for the Shapeshifter wizard here..." I begin, then, looking at the sleeping wizard "I want to become his apprentice. Is that him?"

"Yes, thats him. He presses himself too hard, and then when thats not enough."  The Dragon sighs and leaps off its perch and soars over, and starts to pick up liquor bottles.

"I'm sure someone else in the Green Tower would be willing to teach you shapeshifting if you desire it. After all, you passed a goodly test."

PT

I look with some sympathy at the wizard, somewhat understanding his feelings "I hope he improves, then. You say there's another wizard who can teach me shapeshifting? I thought there was only him" I say to the dragon, now getting more used to talking at magical creatures.

"Well, there's also a skinchanger witch.  To be truthful, she's not as powerful as my master here.  Just got started, and not many people know of her.  But then she knows how to do other things, curses, divinations, flying on brooms...things like that. Or so she says. I've not seen anything, and thats there a fact to keep in mind. There's many a magi with two small magics and with great following because they tell aought who ask of their great powers. Wizards and witches, well some anyways to be fair, are not always the most truthful of folks."

PT

I think for a moment before saying "But I'm actually looking for Him, not just ANY wizard or witch! And besides, the others won't teach me what I want... is there any way to convince him to be my teacher?"

"Well, he is  hard man, hard on himself, hard on others.  But, he can't kick you out because you passed the test.  So stay, try to make yourself useful, and try to learn something.  And besides, its free room and board if you can stand the smell of animal poop."

The dragon pauses, and looks up at a cabinet high on the wall.  A look of crafty calculation flashes on its face.

"In fact, I could teach you a spell myself.  Its a door opening spell. Very useful it is to unstick stuck doors, or doors that have been magicked."

PT

I shrug "I can try" is all I say to his first sentence. At the suggestion of teaching my a spell, I nod eagerly "You can? You will?! Sure, thank you, let's do it!" I say quickly, filled with elation, ready to learn my first spell.

The dragon takes some charcoal from the fireplace, and sketches out four hieroglypic symbols on the floor.  Then he writes down on the floor a phrase in what he tells you is Sumerian.

"Sumerian is very old, almost primeval, and thus close to the language of the divas and the angelic hosts, which these hosts use as the control words to monitor and alter Creation."

He walks you through the phonetic sounding out of the words.

"Dangerous to say these words are.  'I a Child of Adam do command the wood.'  Although the word 'command' in English does not quite get the idea across of the Sumerian word.  Its more like 'I absolutely totally with no questions allowed or tolerated and on pain of instant annihilation do demand the total subservience.'"

The glyps seem to be to guide the effect.

You speak the phrase while visualizing the glyphs, and for a long second, nothing happens, and then your arm flings up, and points of its own accord, and a tingling runs down your spine, and you seem to see the glyphs in your mind catch fire and burn away.

The door on the cabinet pops open.

And the dragon pauses to congratulate you before it starts jerking small bags out of the cabinet.  It takes them down to the floor with your help, and then it starts opening them, and chowing down.

PT

Who's your daddy?! I look at my own open palms, amazed that I did magic, at last "I did it! Could you teach me more?" I ask excited at the little dragon, ready for whatever he wants to teach me next. This was just getting better and better by the moment!


OOC: What colour is the little dragon fellow?

The pale brown with dark blue winged dragon looks up from the beef jerky he is ecstatically chewing on, and nods.  He pulls out an extra-long piece, and then has you put the rest back up in the cabinet.

Holding the piece in his right talon, he scratches four more glyphs into the floor with a chunk of charcoal.

"Same words.  But this time, you have an additional job."

He gets out a small table, a kid-sized table of wood, and you can see that it wobbles as its legs are uneven.  The dragon explains that you are going to try to grow one leg 2/5ths of a centimeter so all the legs will be even.  In order to do that, you need to fully visualize the glyps, say the words, and at the same time, fully visualize the repair you want accomplished.

He tells you that the maximum it can go with this spell is about as high as your knee so it should be safe.

PT

OOC: I don't get it... am I supposed to say how I do it? There isn't much to describe, besides what the dragon told me to do.

OOC: Sorry. Um, the spell worked. Now describe the effort and the effect.

PT

I close my eyes and outstretch my hands outward, then I join them with the fingertips touching, to focus "I a Child of Adam do command the wood" I chant in a slow clear voice, the glyphs forming in my mind, getting clearer and clearer, and at the very same time the mental image of the table's leg getting larger comes into my mind

You feel like you are being stretched inside, and then you open your eyes to see the table sitting level with a happy dragon atop it.

"You fixed my sleeping spot.  I think you and I are going to have a bee-yoo-ti-full friendship.  Tell me, are you interested in a spell that would drive out fleas and little biting nits?"

He scratches with a claw behind his ear.

PT

I glance to the side, basking in the wierdness of the moment, having a dragon ask me such questions "Uh, no? I mean, I'm here for the shapeshifting spells, y'know, but I'm also willing to learn useful magic, like that door opening spell you just taught me"

"Chasing off fleas is very useful. You ought to try to sleep with fleas munching on you."  The dragon begins insultedly, but then sighs. "I do understand. I know a few spells, no great spells.  I can call light, and ask my ancestors what course I ought to take, and I can turn aside a curse, or start a fire, but thats about it."

He thinks a bit.

"Now there is a book over there. Its supposed to have a spell in it for such as that." The dragon points a claw toward a small yellowing scroll on a shelf by the window.  "Problem is, its spell-locked.  Not by the Master, but the fellow who sold it to him.  Of course, you could help me clean up around here. Try to get in good with the Master.  He might not say anything, but I don't think he likes the smell of owl poop anymore than I do."

PT

"Sorry, I didn't mean to say fleas don't matter, just that such a spell wouldn't be useful for me, understand?" I apologize to the dragon. Looking over the book he just pointed, I ask "So, is there a way we can open it?" while starting to get the place cleaned.

You start cleaning out the animal cages, and find out that offering them food first helps, and that some of them seem rather lonely, and are quite glad to hang out with you.

The dragon nods.

"You have a gentle touch with animals. That speaks well of you. I'm sorry, but I don't know how to open the book, neither does the Master."

Looking at it, you see a small padlock with the inscribed outline of a massive four-finned beast with a huge neck and tail.  The large key in the lock doesn't move.  It has printed on its side the word "Mon-".

PT

I look more closely at the image of the monster in the book cover, squinting my eyes to look for details Maybe I've seen this somewhere... "What's this thing at the cover of the book?"

This message was deleted by the player at 18:59, Fri 06 Jan 2006.

He points you to a shelf of books about four feet long.

Its labelled "Commonie Monsters of the Close Vicinie of the Tower of Rhodes and Associated Dimensione."

With a sigh, you start leafing through the books, which are unwardened, and comparing monsters.  Its clear that its dragon-ish, and huge, and with those flippers it probably lives in the water.

After a while, more than an hour, less than four, you look up.

"Loch Ness Monster."  You say comparing the two pictures, and then you nod your head.  It looks like you have your match.

PT

I look back at the small dragon "I figured out what the name of the monster on the cover is: the Loch Ness Monster. Maybe it has something to do with opening to book?" then I try saying the name of the monster while looking at the book.

"Indeed it must." The dragon agrees.  "What are the properties of this creature? And why does the key have 'mon-' as if 'monster' on it?"

"Flararaghg."  The Master gurgles, and then rubbing his eyes, raises his head, and looks perplexed and then wildly annoyed at you.

"What are you doing here? Why are you in my office?!! Go, I have important things to do. I must decipher this spell. Why haven't you left already?"  His bellowing wakes the animals who start to fuss wildly.

PT

Looking surprised at the sudden awakening of the wizard, I glance nervously at the dragon for support "Uh, I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean to interrupt! I just came here to become your apprentice, and I could help you with whatever it is you are doing, if you let me"

"You? Help me? Do you know the basic elements of Elixir of Aquarium? The Sacred Number of Pi? The Powers that one should call to protect oneself before invoking the Wolf Spirit?  No? Then Get Out!"

He's raving from behind his desk, and pointing at the door.

"Master, he passed the test. He has a right..."  The dragon begins.

"I don't care if he passed the test. I want him out of here."

PT

I freeze in the spot, looking very serious at the wizard "Listen now, Shapeshifter wizard: I arrived in this crazy magical world from my own world, and needless to say it's absolutely different from it" I begin, my tone determined and steady "Somehow, with the help of a wizardess named Caroline I solved the riddle of a gryphin who wants me dead, and by almost pure luck I passed the entrance test" now a hint of anger gets into my voice "I almost get killed by succeeding in passing the last test, and I believe I have more than a right to at least try and see if I'm fit to become your apprentice!" I finish with an angry breath I let out, then, more calmly  "Magic is like a dream come true to me, literally. I only wish to learn how to use it"

"Hmmph." He rocks back on his heels, and forward, thinking.  "All right then, my young falcon, I shall make you a deal. You will serve me in all matters for seven hours of the day, and I shall answer any question you like for one hour of the day."

"Food, sleep, coin." The Dragon says.

"Standard rates for that. I can't be bothered. The Dragon will dispense your coin." The Shapeshifter says waving a hand irritably.  "Know that I don't truck with the selling of souls, or of memories or any such like of myself or my apprentices like some who dare claim the name wizards have done, but the art of wizardry is hazardous and arduous, and you may not survive.  Now if these terms are acceptable, get the beaker of dissolving fluid from the top bookshelf over there, and if not, do try not to slam the door on your way out."

He sits down, and opens a book he had been sleeping on, and begins reading.

PT

I sigh inwardly and outwardly at the same time "Thank you. That's all I was asking for. I accept to become your apprentice". Then I walk to the bookshelf he mentioned and look for the beaker of dissolving fluid I made it! Now I just need to survive...

Its near the ceiling, on top of a bookcase that looks remarkably unsteady, and that sits on top of a table.  By dint of putting a chair on the table, and climbing up on it, you are just able to get the beaker.

With very cautious hands, you take down the slippery glass container, not wanting to get dissolved.  You take it down, and put it on his desk.

He nods, not looking at you.

That begins, and sets the tone for your day.  You fetch, you tote, you stir chemicals together over a hot fire, you climb up to the chandelier via means of the metal chain that holds it up, and retrieve a wand that an enraged monkey threw up there.  He doesn't explain why he doesn' thave the dragon get it which would seem to be easy for the dragon.

The flask is empty at this time, and he tells you to put it back up.  By now, tired, you do so.

Once done, he takes a coin, and spins it on the tabletop.

"When it falls, our time is done for the day. Ask, young falcon."

PT

With careful consideration, I pick a question I consider practical for me, hands behind my back "When will I learn spells, if I may ask, sir?" is the question, in a clear, simple, innocent tone I bet my money that he's going to snap and kill me for asking that. I just know it!

"Once you can recite and demonstrate practical knowledge of Ehre's Theory of Animal Spirits.  Once you know the symbolic essences of the major elements and plants.  Once you can read and speak Sumerian, and Indic.  Once you can raise a hippogriff from a shell to full adulthood, and use it to win a race.  Only then you will be acclaimed a Master Shapeshifter of the School of Vintras.  And only if you pass the tests of moral virtue, and demonstrate a skill for spells of shifting, and create a brand-new creature never before seen, a useful creature mind you, and shift into it, and back, then you may be acclaimed a Master Shapeshifter."

He pauses, and grins a bit crookedly.

"I personally am still working on that last bit.  But you can begin with the simpler spells now. What modest effect, a single atribute, do you have in mind for your first spell of shifting to learn?"

PT

I stare at him, almost open mouthed, at the huge least of things one must accomplish in order to achieve the status of Master Shapeshifter Whoa so that when he asks me the question, I have to cough a bit and seem to be thinking of an answer "Could it be... agility? Grace? Is that simple enough?" is what I thought to be a good question.

"Hold out your hand, young falcon."  He commands, and you do so.  He takes a wand, and touches your hand.  Then he wraps a gold cord around your wrist.

"This is to delineate the area of the spell, as gold is the most perfect of the elements, so it serves as a border. Indeed, there is a layer of pure gold underneath the Tower Library holding this world up."

He then pours clean water over your hand.

"Distilled. Pure. Washes away all other presences which might distort the spell."

He puts several leaves in your hand atop a small metal disc on which is engraved a number of Sumerian glyphs.  Then he draws some glyps on the blackboard.  They are all different than the ones you've learned.

He lights the leaves, and a smoke fills the air, and your fingers, and fur feel a little singed..Fur?

You look, and you have a monkey's hand attached to your arm in place of your other hand.  Its very agile you discover as he tosses you some balls to catch with it.

Then he touches your hand with the wand again, and you see the hand shimmer back into its original form.

"Now, my boy, lets see you try it."

I nod slowly, concentrating in the task at hand "Let's see..." I say to myself, doing my best to remember what I was just shown. Carefully I place new leaves atop the metal disk, and then I light the leaves Did I forget something?

At first, the hand didn't change at all, but then it started to grow monkey fur... but the problem was it didn't stop growing! Desperately, glancing nervously at the wizard, I tap the furry hand with the wand, reverting it to normal I knew I did. Let's try again!

This time, I make sure all the leaves are placed properly within the disk, and I wash with water previously. Afterwards, with a deep breath, I light the replacement leaves, and to my joy, the fur grows normally until it stops at the proper amount, and my hand is now a monkey-hand "Yes!" I jump victorious, feeling good that I got it right the second time "I think I might be getting the hang of it soon enough" was my assurance to the wizard.

You practise the spell over and over again until you think you have it down solid.  Then the wizard, said "Quitting time.  I'm closing up. You can come back in a few hours, and sleep on a ruge."

PT

"So where can I stay meanwhile, to pass the time?" I ask, considering that I don't have a home or base of operations, after versing into this world and everything Maybe Caroline can help me?

After the wizard suggests something, I go there, otherwise I'll move back at the entrance of the tower.


OOC: What's a ruge?

The wizard looks at you blankly, and then waves at the door.  He then turns back to his book, and begins to sketch with a quill pen.

"The Library is good. Also, the Sword and Sorcerer soccer teams are usually playing..." The Dragon begins.

"Out. You're disturbing me." The Wizard says.

PT
OOC: A ruge, hmmh. Either a baby Ruger, a still unformed gun, or your GM was half-asleep, and meant 'rug'.  Yup, your sleeping quarters as a wizard's apprentice amount to a rug by the fireplace.  The luxury, the ...fleas?

With a sigh I walk out the office, hoping that I can find a way to get to the Library once I get out of the Green Tower. I try contacting Caroline through the rose she gave me, by placing it on my shoulder and talking to it "Caroline? You there?"


OOC: How do I go back to the entrance of the Green Tower, to go to the Library?

Once you get outside the door, you wander around a bit until a student shows you the back entrance.

"This is the one without the riddle, and the easiest way in."  He says.  "Welcome aboard.  My name's Rog.  Well actually, the Lord and Swordmaster of the Most Puissant Island of Thayre, Defender of the Faith of Morricen, Holder of the People's Peace, and Descendant of the Fifth Deva, Rogair Vanceoune Filbert Deno Lasiter Thayre, but thats gets annoying, and besides all I really own is one small fishing village and a tower with a lot of mold and a beach with more rocks than sand, and my navy is a rowboat."  He laughs easily.  "I'm in training to learn Elemental Balancing."

He lets you out onto a busy street dotted with shops, and filled with medieval clothed people except for the one guy in a spacesuit.

You call Caroline, and at first nothing.  And then she comes on.

She sounds relieved that you're okay, and then tells you her oral exam went well.  There's a bit of disapointment in her voice.

PT

OOC: Please don't tell me her exam was today! I thought it was tomorrow! o_O

I frown, suprised by her tone of voice "Caroline? Are you sure everything is fine? You don't sound completely well" I say to the flower on my shoulder, looking around meanwhile, for a place that seems interesting enough Lot's of time, lot's of time, what to do, what to dooooo...

"No, well, I've just spent a couple hours yelling at the griffin.  He's still acting like he's perfectly in his rights.  Griffins are arrogant pinheads sometimes."  She sighs.

"And I really need to relax for the orals tommorrow.  You up for a game of street ball?"

When you ask what that is, she fills you in.  There's a big red ball, and you can kick it, or you can stop and toss it but then thats it.  The game is played along several streets, amidst the crowds, and up and down the alleys with the goal being to get it into the other sides goal.  One side is red and the other side is green. Which is known by their scarfs.  Teams go from fifty to two hundred players on a team.  The ball is the referee.  If it sees you cheat, it will move itself in a way thats advantageous for the other side.

PT

Griffins are the craziest of the crazies! I sigh in relief at hearing her answer, and after thinking about it for a moment, realizing that I don't have much else to do, I accept her offer "Sure! Sounds like fun, even though  I'm not really into sports, it would be interesting to play one in this world"

The game is a lot like soccer, or perhaps what soccer originally was like.  You find yourself running up and down cobblestone streets, darting through alleys, whipping around merchants who glare at you.

But then Caroline hauls you to a stop in front of them.

"Two nectar fruits, iced."

"Yes, my lady."  The two bow, and present you both with two cold, purple fruits with a rough rind about the size of a baseball.  Both still have flecks of ice on them.  She shows you how to squeeze one into your mouth after paying.

Its like getting a second wind, and waking up with fresh orange juice.  The citric blend tastes vaguely like orange with a bit of melon tossed in, and something all its own.  Suddenly, you're not thirsty, and you're readty to run again.

You've spent most of the time running, and yelling, and searching, and laughing with Caroline along the grid of streets.  And so its an utter surprise when you come around the corner, and see the big red ball bouncing toward you, in front of a wildly pursuing group of five very big competitors.  You're the closest, but they are charging in a wall straight toward you.  Beyond them, you see the enemy goal, guarded by only two defenders.

PT

I stop for two seconds in order to brace myself for what is about to occur "Alright chums, let's do this..." I say to myself as I begin to charge at full speed, in a chaotic and wild fashion against the "wall" of players, shouting a warcry all the while "Leeeeeeeeeeroooooooooooy Jeeeenkiiiiiins!!!!!!". When I'm about to collide with the others, I try kicking the ball above them, in order to pass iat to the other side, then I jump through a space in between them, assuming they scramble and separate from each other.


OOC: If you don't know who Leeroy Jenkins is... check the movie at www.warcraftmovies.com

You bob the ball high in the air, but a blue player, a veritable giant leaps up, and grabs it with his hands as you dart throughthe now open wall, but then a red player crashes down on top of him like two pillars of the Pantheon slowly toppling, and the ball is knocked free, and heads your way.

Your head is ringing, from an elbow to the forehead, but in the excitement as the ball seems to take forever to bounce toward you, you feel no pain, only impatience, and you can hear thundering feet as people race toward you and the ball from all over the street.

PT

I make my way with great haste and as swiftly as possible towards the opposite team's goal, dodging and evading rather than tackling and pushing my adversaries, playing for agility instead of brute strength. If I can't make it alone, I'll try passing the ball to a comrade. Otherwise, may the force be with me, and I'll give it my best to score a goal.

You slip and dodge, running with the ball in front of you as fast as you can.  Two guys come in front of you, and hit a slick patch on the ground, and keep sliding hitting the ground.  You vault over them. And come down with only two defenders between you and the goal fifteen feet away.  And one of them assumed you were going around the defenders and is out of position, and not likely to get back into position because a very big red guy has just got in his way.

He yells.

"Kick it!"

And you do, its not your best effort by far, but it goes in, slowly, and the last defender gets body-checked by another red giant just before he can dive to scoop up your ball.

It goes in.

Thats the game.  Its played to five points, and you just scored the third for the red.  Before you know it, you're being carried on the shoulders of about a dozen guys and the rest of the red team trailing behind singing the Red team anthem as loud as they can.  They take you off to their favorite eating hall, and the loud party really gets rolling with you the center of attention.

Caroline is there as well, and looking pretty enthused for you.

The Red Streetball President comes to your table, and sits down.  The table creaks as he leans on it, all three-hundred fifty pounds of farmboy.

"Hey, Tomas, from Caroline, I hear you're new in town. We could use a good man like you.  Join the Reds, play streetball, go to parties, jump off buildings, great fun.  And we will skip the hazing for you, and just let you straight on in if you like.  Free room and all that the bequest of our noble founder the Red Knight."
PT
OOC: And that is a GE "3" roll.

I look kind of akward, but I shrug and accept the offer nonetheless "That sounds like fun. Count me in, my good fellows!" I say happily, shaking hands with the President of the Red team.


OOC: And a "3" is good, right?

They clap you on the back, and later show you your room.  Its a small ten by ten foot room with a bunk, a wash-basin, and a small window on the second floor of a square stone building.

"First years sleep on this floor. Nice shot. We've been trying to beat the Blues for nearly a year."  Your guide says, and then leaves you with a pat on the shoulder.

It looks to be a lot nicer than a chemical stained rug...

PT
OOC: Look on the OOC thread for explanation.

I smile at my own accomplishment, looking at the room I got for myself Hoo-ah! You go, Tomas! A better place to sleep... than the streets and with a "Yay" I jump into the bed/bunk and lay there staring at the ceiling for a while, resting and thinking about what happened in just one day From University student to apprentice shapeshifter... not bad. I befriended a wizardess, an entire club of sport folk, and now I have a place where to sleep. Maybe, just maybe, I might have found a place which I can call "home", at least for a while


OOC: Should we press the "fast forward" button? I ain't got much to do now, besides waiting to return to the Tower of the Shapeshifter.

You slip asleep in your bunk, and the next thing you know, you're sputtering awake with cold water in your face, dawn light coming through your window, and wildly laughter coming from someone running away down the hall.

You lunge out of bed, and look out the hall, but its empty, although several doors swing a bit.

A somewhat older student walks up the stairs (your room is at the head of the stairs), and looks at you.

"First years."  He says, and frowns before strolling on with his cup of coffee, and egg sandwhich.

PT

Sheesh. These guys need discipline... With a shrug I try to dry most of the water off my skin and clothes, and then I go to have breakfast, wherever that is. I will try finding Caroline, to ask her about her presentation that I promised to watch.

Breakfast is some sort of bird egg, not chicken, and toast with jam, and coffee or juice.

You talk to Caroline with the rose, and she tells you to meet her at the library before the World Candle stands high over the tower...or roughly noon.

From where you are at, at least this morning, its an easy walk to the Green Tower, and to slip inside the back entrance.  And from there, its unending toil as you try to stir three hot pots at the same time while occasionally swaying from the fumes.

Your teacher is not enthused when you tell him you need to leave, and he gives you a short lecture on responsibility.  Then he dismisses you.

You find the way back to the libary blocked since the road you desire to take is blocked by two lines of combatants.  Its the notorious Swords vs. the infamous Sorcerers again according to the people near you who shrug, and decide to eat lunch early, and go into an inn on the right.

To your left, you can see a wide path which slants slightly down, and to your right a crack between buildings which might lead around the building and back to the road...

PT

I ponder on which path to take, considering that one could lead to certain death, and the other to my goal Since they look the same, I'll toss a coin to decide which one to take! and then I try searching my pockets inside-out to look for a coin, and then I realize I don't have any with me Oh well, what to doooo... I hope Caroline accepts for an excuse "I almost lost my life for choosing the wrong way!" I think as I begin to walk by the left path.

The path leads downward, and it begins to wind about. At first pleasant, if a bit decadent, suddenly you realize that the people looking your way could be most accurately characterized as predators.  You look back, but the path backwards looks uncertain as to which of the exact streets you should take.

And old woman steps up to you.

"Congratulations, sonny boy, you've just entered the Gordian Knot.  Them as come in, never leave. Alive anyways."  She cackles in evident enjoyment at your rising fear.

Every city has a bad part of town, you've just entered this ones.

PT

Change of excuse! How about... I got killed in the Gordian Knot? Sounds credible. With sweat starting to run from my forehead and down my shoulders, I look nervously around, doing my best not to call attention to myself. As I try to find the way from which I came in, I will be contacting Caroline through the rose she gave me "Caroline, have you ever heard of the Gordian Knot?"


OOC: That was a "00" in the GE, yes?

"Yes. Please tell me you're not there. Oh drat, you are there, aren't you?  Its very hard to escape.  I remember that.  Filled with all sorts of mean and vicious people, and the deeper you get into it, the less decent people, and the more vicious people.  And it is supposed to corrupt you.  It tries to make you evil, or it tries to kill you.  Some people say that at the center of it is a gate to the Abyss."

Her voice is fluttering in near panic, which does not help you control your breathing very well at all.

So far no one is looking directly at you as you try, seemingly successfully to blend in.

PT

I concentrate now in finding my way out. Should I stumble upon more and more baddies or attempts of corrupting me, I'll backtrack to where I started, and keep looking for the exit somewhere else "Alright, do you know a way to escape? Some sort of secret passage? Anything?" I ask desperately at the rose, still trying to blend in as much as I can.

You go around the corner, and see several dozen thugs playing some sort of game which involved tossing daggers at each other, and seeing who could get closest without actually hitting the other.

You turn around, and start looking more.  After a while, you realize there was too many criminals about, and so you decided to backtrack.  It took maybe two streets before you were sure the road had shifted behind you.

"All my roommate can remember is something about Alexander the Conqueror.  I wish I had, well perhaps I can.  It may be hazardous.  So I don't want to try it yet, but well, I think we have an attachment even if you are not properly prepared, and perhaps I could try to summon you."

She sounds doubtful in the extreme about the wisdom of that plan.

So far, you're doing good at acting inconspicuous.

PT

All I know about Alexander is that he failed as a Conqueror near the end... I get even more nervous, considering the difficult choice in my hands "The place changes... like the rest of the city. I don't know where the exit is, now, and I can't tell for how long no one will notice me. How long will it take you to summon me, if I chose that?" I looked around, still giving my best to pretend to know exactly where I'm going "I'm going to keep looking for the exit, but if something goes wrong I need to know just how much time it will take for you to get me out of here"

She tells you ten minutes, and you head on off looking for an exit.  Instead, you seem to have wandered in deeper into the Gordian Knot.  The people around you look positively inhuman.

You hear thuds and screams from a dark alley you pass.  The darkness in the alley almost feels alive.

PT

Namo. Amida. Butsu. I can't die here... Steeling myself, I reply to Caroline "Start the summoning. The worst that could happen is that I don't make it out of here before you finish it" , while still looking around for the exit... when a thought strikes me If I look for the exit and I get deeper, then if I look to get deeper... I'll find the exit!, therefore I'll try to just wander by the area, instead of trying to get out.

You seem to have wandered into more pleasant, although still hostile parts of the Gordian Knot.  Here civilized people, scared but decent, outnumber the thugs.

You're doing a good job emulating 'belongingness', but one thug looks at you, and you can practically see his eyeballs click.  He nudges a pal, and they start walking directly at you with happy little grins on their faces.

PT

I pretend to ignore them, as I whisper to the rose "Start the summoning. Now. I've got two felons after me", followed by a sudden sprint to get away from them as fast as I can. Even though I'm actually being followed, I'll still try to not-find the exit to the Gordian Knot, seeing that it worked so far. If by chance I see a good place to hide on my escape, I will take it. Same goes with any guards of the sort that would be willing to protect me.

You surprise them by lurching away, but then they pound after you yelling for everyone to capture you.

"Catch the mark!" and "Gittim." They holler, and others take up the cry with a blood-curdling eagerness to do mayhem.  Soon you're racing down the street followed by about a dozen would be robbers.  You try to not-find the right street, but it doesn't work.  The calmness necessary is gone.

You find yourself heading deeper.

And then a rock smashes into your legs, and you stumble to the ground.

Inside your head, or in the air, you can hear a thundering voice....It must be in your head because no one else can hear it.

"By ties of affection, by time spent, by shared danger, I claim my friend from the jaws of death, from the perils that pursue, from the wolves that howl, I reach out a hand..."

"Hang on, Tomas, a little longer."  The rose whispers as the wolves surge up on you.

PT

Wincing a bit at the pain, I do my best to stand up as quickly as I can, followed by running away, if that's even possible with so many robbers after me "Hurry" I whisper, looking desperately around for a way of escaping, hidding, or whatever there might be to buy myself time.

You stagger to your feet, and to your left you see a middle-aged woman who has just opened the gate to her small garden.  She then jumps back inside, but leaves the gate open.

You lurch toward it, and a stone smacks into your shoulder, spinning you around to face your pursuers.  A dozen freaks bear down on you, and you hurl yourself onward, and through the gate.  Various wounds impact you, but you're too busy to calculate them.  They seem mostly focused on your legs.

The fenced garden is small enough that only a couple thugs can get into it, and the women retreats into her home, and slams the door shut.

A punch comes toward your face, and connects, and you fly backwards...and keep on flying.  You find yourself soaring over the city, and then settling down in front of Caroline who is sitting in her dorm room.  Evidently you flew right through the walls.

PT

Woozy, groggy, and about to faint from both shock and wounds, I struggle to gasp in a clear voice and say "Caroline..." then, taking a breath as deep as I can manage "Thanks" I finish, smiling weakly at her Made it just in time. Carefully, I place one hand over my face, where the punch hit me, testing to see if I got a broken bone or some other injury other than physical pain.

Its broken you decide as a pain like someone shoving a hot wire in a spiral through your skull dims your vision.

The last thing you hear is...

"You know you have a knife sticking out of your back..."

===========================================================================

OOC: And a GE roll to see how well the medical treatment takes, and ...well, its on to the next world which will be "Tomas and..." as soon as I figure it out which world you're going to.  Sorry.

PT