James continues to stare off into space, talking quietly to no-one.  No-one here anyway.

Morgan injects a note of caution.  Didn't this group have such a cube at one time? They might well be working for Amber. The women are obviously mercenaries.  If we take the man after the meeting, there is less risk for us, and we are more likely to get him living.

Point taken, Morgan.  This group captured its cube - perhaps they did the same...hmmm, on consideration, even if that is the case I would like to question the women as well.  I would like to know where they FOUND the cube, and from whom they stole it.

Question them surely. But why not separately, and with the offer of pay? If they'd refuse payment, and your magicians can not pry it lightly from their minds, then there would be time for more physical endeavors. One person can be captured, whre three will die fighting.

The woman, all unaware that she, her partner, and their business associate are the topic of so much conversation all around her, considers Tahirah's words, and replies, "In that case Haria Nex thanks you for the gift, and presents one of her own.  It is not much, but it is all I have."

Her right hand lifts to the back of her neck, sliding in beneath her hair, to emerge a moment later holding a knife.  It is an odd weapon, the double edged blade curved into a semicircle, four fingers broad at the base, and tapering to a needle-sharp tip, which turns back towards the hilt.  The outer curve can't be more than a handspan around its entire length.

The hilt itself has four rings along it, designed to hold the thing firmly in the wielder's grasp, and set in such a way that, if held correctly, the blade would curve away from the user.

It is, overall, a heavy, viciously hooked claw of a weapon, which shows signs of having been lovingly cared for.

She lays the blade on the table, the hilt turned towards Tahirah, and slides it towards the seer who fortold her death.

"I give this freely, as a gift.  And with it, I give the Knife Blessing - may you never need to use it, but may it serve you well, if you do."

"Ooh. Take the knife," Aaron inadvertantly intoned across the bridging. His apprecation for all-things-edged coming to the fore as an uncontrollable amusement. "That woman's got good taste." he nodded appreciatively.

Then his eyes narrowed, his head cocking to the side as something new met his mind.

"Tahirah and this woman - they have developed a connection, here. Do any of you think Tahirah would be able to convince this woman into giving us the Cube, if not information about its previous owner?"

He considered sending that exact request to Tahirah herself, but Aaron was unsure as to whether the woman who was speaking to her had any sort of sensetivities to such effects. He erred on the side of caution this once.

Luke leaned back in his chair, relaxing slightly.  Yes.  A good plan, Morgan.  Better to take one of them, and speak to the other two.  If a battle can be avoided...the man must be taken immediately after obtaining the cube, though, or no doubt he will escape.

Aaron, I would support your suggestion to have Tahirah ask about the cube, now.  I don't think we'd get them to hand it over, and doubt we should try - they have a curious sense of honor, and I believe they would refuse.  But asking about the cube, and from where they obtained it...should Tahirah put her question properly, I suspect the woman would certainly volunteer the information.

A message over the bridging The first woman has new companions - and she sounds pretty hostile to the other - perhaps setting them up to kill her.  It could be that she's in on the double-cross.  Maybe that's why she was so sour..."

Very well.  Tahirah's voice slides into the Bridging softly, for the first time.

She lifts the knife from the table, her hands finding the correct way to hold it surprisingly quickly, and her head dips in thanks.  "It is...a very fine gift indeed," she replies.  "I thank you also, Haria Nex, and," she hesitates, and lays the knife to the side of the table, though her hand continues to rest on the hilt. "I ask a liberty.  It is not my place to interfere, or to hold you here, and I do not wish to do so.  But within your fortunes, I see a cube, that is more than a cube.  Beyond the cube, I see the fortunes of many - of thousands, and more.  It is unique, as all things are, but it is not the only one of its kind."

Though she doesn't move her hands, her hood seems to pull back...no, rather, to fade away, until it lays across her hair, but not at all over her face.  Her surprisingly young eyes look up at the woman across from her.  "My name is Tahirah, and though it is not my place...I would hold you here, if it were.  I ask you, as a friend, please, before you go - tell me of this cube.  I believe it is very important."

"How do you... ?" Haria Nex starts the question, then stops herself with a shake of her head.  Gesturing towards the cards, she says, "Surely you have ways to find out things that would be hard to block."

Falling silent, she bites at her lower lip, thinking for a moment, before reaching a decision.  "I fear the die.  It has some dark purpose, and once I saw it, I wanted nothing of it, but my people have made a bargain with the Rokt, and the Chanactarsa are bound by their bargains."

She sits again, leaning forward.  "We are hunters, of a sort.  We can find anything, no matter how well hidden.  We are known for it, and others pay us to seek things they desire.  So the horned one came to us, and told us what he sought, and because my sister made the bargain, we were bound to at least try to find it.  Seven years we sought it, without success.  At times we came close, only to lose it again.  Other times we found things which were like the one we were hunting, but they weren't the right one.  We had to find the exact one the Rokt desired.  So we kept searching, and when we found it, none of us wanted anything to do with it."

"But we had a bargain."

Her head drops, and she studies her hands, resting on the table.  Turns them over to examine the palms, covered by a network of fine scars.  "The place where we found it was far from here, at the end of the world.  The land ended in a cliff, and a bottomless pit, filled with darkness, fog and thunder.  At the very lip stood a fortress, and one of its towers leaned out across the void."


"In the fortress lived a thing of nightmares.  Scales and wings and claws, all of diamond, and it held the thing we sought.  We took the thing, though seven of my sisters died to do it, and those who survived brought it away with us, even if we didn't want it."

"So we travelled, back here to meet the Rokt.  The die, the cube, as you call it, had many places pictured upon it, and whenever we rested anywhere, we would wake to find that the thing had grown, and a new image was added to it."

She clenches her hands into fists, and makes a determined effort to raise her gaze to meet Tahirah's own.  She succeeds, barely...

"We looked at it as little as we could.  It made all of us afraid.  We would have thrown it over the edge of the world, on the first day, so much did it disturb us, but we had made a bargain."

"So we brought it back here, a long journey, and now Daennar Gef will present it to the Rokt, and the Chanactarsa will receive payment, and be rid of the thing.  They will be able to return to their home, at last.  I would go with them, but I will be dead."

Chance releases a half-sigh. Across the bridging, he drawls: Ah, the burdens of honor. This poor lady seems to be in a predicament, perhaps we should help her out?

He smirks, as the chair comes forward and the other two legs of it meet the floor with a clunk. As soon as the chair is flat on the ground, he stands and approaches Tahira and the woman with his warmest smile--not a big one, just enough to show that he was sorry for intruding.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt, ladies," he begins. "May I speak plainly? I've never seen of anything like this cube before, but I have heard tales of similar things. I feel that if your instinct is to destroy the thing, then it needs to be destroyed. Yet, I understand your conundrum--your people made a bargain and that must be kept. Tell me, when the object of desire is delivered and payment received, is the bargain complete? What if a new bargain were struck, say... with myself for example... to locate that same object with the intent of destroying it? Would your people make such a bargain?"

May not need to make such a deal, but... just in case. Her people seem to have some ability to move through the worlds towards a goal or object. Useful talent--not unlike those who walk the great Pattern, am I right?

Looking curiously at Chance, Haria Nex, reples carefully, "I... do not know.  I am not the leader.  My sister, Daennar Gef, would be the one to bargain with if you wish to employ us."

"Still, she may not agree.  We find things, we do not usually destroy them.  If others wish to destroy a thing after we find it, that is their affair, and one we really want no part of.  Destruction of powerful artifacts can release curses, and life is hard enough, without being cursed."

She glances around at the other strangers present, "In any case, if a decision must be made, best it were made soon.  The time for Daennar Gef to meet with the Rokt is almost upon us."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:49, Sat 21 July 2007.

Thank you, Roman.  Interesting information.  Well done, Chance.  A fine idea.  Roman, Chance suggests hiring these people to assist us.  For myself, I believe that the more upon our side than against, the better.

"I've been cursed before," Luke drawled out, setting his boots upon the floor.  Oddly enough they clacked against the wood, as if their bottoms were something harder than they appear.  "Many more times than anyone here might believe.  No doubt I'll be cursed again.  I'll take the responsibility of destroying the cube, Miss, if you wish.  Off your spirit, onto mine."  He grinned - one of his better smiles, rather than the usual.  "Wouldn't want to make your life any harder than it already is."

"If I can be so honest," Chance says with his best smile. "It seems we may have encountered something like this before, in fact. Maybe the same, maybe not. We'll take responsibility for destroying it. We want to know if we can hire you--just you--to assist us in finding it or the Rokt, if the delivery has been made. Can you make such a bargain, yourself?"

"You would wish to employ me, alone, to find this thing? Haria Nex watches Chance's face carefully, "And then you would destroy it yourselves?"

She finally breaks her gaze away from the man, turning it instead to the others present, each in turn, and finally back to Chance.

"It is against our code to take a bargain which would oppose one made by another of our sect.  So I cannot help you to prevent the delivery of this thing, this... cube... to the Rokt.  There is, though, nothing in the code to stop me helping you to find him, and take it from him after it has been delivered."

"The code requires that I name a cost for this, before we seal the bargain.  I would do it for nothing, but that would go against the code.  One half ounce of copper, that is my price.  Take it or leave it.  Do we seal the bargain?"

Her face breaks into a broad smile, as she draws a small knife, and pulls the tip across the palm of her right hand, before extending the bloodied hand towards Chance...

Chance keeps himself from frowning too much at the sight of the woman's blood. Decisive little thing, isn't she? he sends over the bridging. I was going to ask her to wait until we knew what was happening with Banglen-Yp, Roman and Morgan's recon.

He knew better than to back out of a deal at this point, not when she had already cut herself for the deal. He also knew not to mention that half their number was out tracking already. Half ounce of copper? Unless she came from a place where ounces were much bigger, that was like... a penny or something? Good, she wants to do this, then. She charges a minimal fee just to satisfy her honor.

He nods his agreement, then touches his guitar case. If he was going to wound himself, it would be with his own weapon. The guitar case melts, dissolving away most of its mass, as its shape flows and ripples until it matches her knife in near-perfect detail.

He places the knife against his palm, steels himself with a deep breath, and then pulls it hard and quick across. Knife still in left hand, he extends his right hand and takes hers with a firm shake.

As he withdraws it, the right side of his clothing flutters as if in a sudden breeze. The sleeve of his shirt flows down the right arm, extending--now a long sleeved shirt, rather than a t-shirt. A bandage appears from under the sleeve and snakes around his palm and tightens, staunching the flow of blood.

The knife is already returning to its preferred musical shape, only now it's a bloody guitar.

"Deal," he says.

Anyone have a half-once of copper on them?

Morgan flips a small golden coin at Chance.  Smallest I've got.

Having observed the meeting, Chance knew payment would be due on delivery. He catches the golden coin and looks at it. "It appears we only have gold, right now. Don't worry--I'm sure we can get change before delivery, so the correct amount is paid."

He glances at the innkeeper, wonder if the man could exchange some copper coins for a gold one. He assumed proper payment would be necessary within her culture.

Several panthers, hearing Chances desire, decided to answer it, but Ahmad quiets them and answers for all.

We're 'round a ground-house, stone. There's eight of us, Banglen-Yp, Roman, and her kitten. Two of the women are inside, a third woman watching. The man is headed there.  Roman's suggested we take the man, while he waits in reserve. Banglen-Yp is quite pretty. Her fur is thick and sleek, and she moves well.  The woman have agreed to kill Haria Nex if she tries to interfere in the exchange. They all seem road-ready with full bags.

Chance lets a smile slip onto his expression. Kill Haria Nex... That burned deep inside him. Not on my watch, he think. As far as he was concerned, this was an act of war.

My opinion: we can't let that happen. Haria Nex is innocent, and she's trying to help us. The others may feel they're just doing their job, but they've sold their soul to their duty. Don't let them stop us from our objective. Reason with them if possible--they don't know what is at stake here--but we should be ready to do anything necessary to stop them.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:03, Wed 25 July 2007.

Morgan shakes his head. She won't break faith to interfere in the exchange, so they've no reason to do anything. I wager she'd kill them if they broke faith. Or try. We agreed to capture the man after the exchange, didn't we?

James' presence is felt in the local bridging.  The place she described finding the Cube sounds very like the Courts of Chaos.  Roman could no doubt confirm it.  If it has been from there to here, picking up impressions of the worlds along the way then it incredibly dangerous.  It would identify all the worlds the Archon's need to take to achieve their purpose.

Aloud, he says, "Ms Nex, if the bargain is good we should act on it.  I don't think your kinswoman would appreciate any interference in the delivery but our best chance to take the cu...die from the Rokt will be immediately afterwards."

Yes, Chance sends over the bridge. But we don't know if they'll consider her actions after the exchange to be breaking faith. She said she wasn't sure how the leader would take it. So, we need to be on our toes, I think.

Edge of the Abyss or somesuch, James? I thought that myself, but I've never been there.

I've never been adverse to people selling their souls, but duty is cold comfort.  I agree that we should be prepared to stop them, dead, for the simple reason that they will not hesitate to kill any who oppose them.  Haria Nex, James, Morgan and his people, the bloody kitten.  They come from a culture where such things are acceptable, even encouraged.  Look back on what they said - death means something slightly different to them than it would to you.

James is correct - that cube must be obliterated.  Haria Nex's people cannot be allowed to stand in our way.  Additionally, their employer must be either captured or slain.  He shot a quick look at James.  Any information we wrench from him will be taken painlessly.  To some, torture is morally reprehensible.  To others, it is merely inefficient.  Either way, it is to be avoided.

He stood, and turned toward Chance and Morgan.  "Happens I have a pair of pennies."  With a flick of the wrist, he sent the old, greek coins to Chance, trusting on the man's quick reflexes to catch them.  "Just in case our friend doesn't have change."

<blue>Ahmed, Roman's plan seems solid, though it would likely be better if some of our other people were there as well.  Morgan, of course, James, Chance at the very least.  He gave a sour smile to the empty air.  I will remain in reserve, to guard the Underflow against any assistance.  I'm certain any of you are better able to deal with the physical aspects of this, and if I bring my talents to bear, I may gather unwanted attention.  Better I prepare to slam the door in people's faces.

Of course they are Morgan's response leaves little doubt of his opinion. Traitors and enemies die.


He does concede the point to Chance, bowing from the waist without getting up.  I missed that, first go 'round. On our toes it is. He stands, then, and heads for the door.  We're heading out. Leareth, half on watch here, half with us, please. It won't take a minute to get there, but it will to get secure in the saddles. Someone willing to carry the woman?

The drawling voice from earlier indicates a 'yes', so Morgan grins, and steps into the storm.