As usual, I have business of my own to which to attend - information, etc, etc.  I will care for that, as well as continue to replenish my own energies.  Luke, irked at his weakness, stood and began to pace.  He did not concern himself with garnering attention - of all the people in the room, the only ones who would 'see' him were the questors.  In both Amber and Harbonah's palace I would be a liability.  I will leave them to you, and continue to gather information.

Confused, but amiable, Morgan nods to Banglen-Yp.  "One of them does it, lets everyone mind talk. The words sound right.  Don't you get let in the link too? I thought you were just quiet."

Tahirah doesn't need long to consider the possibilities laid out before her.

There are only two, afterall; far fewer futures than one is often presented with.

If I offer a strength to you, it is in the seeking of patterns, and learning that which cannot be found.  The Lords of Charyk were also not unfamiliar with a certain amount of intriguing, she smiles ruefully to herself, and so I have some familiarity there as well.  Hiding is not something I have ever had cause to practice.  I will go with those to Amber, and hope that I can help there.

"Suit yourself, Luke. Apparently, Trista and I are going to talk to this Sephiroth--not entirely sure who that is still--so you're always welcome to tag along, with anyone else who doesn't feel either other choice is their cup o' vodka. I remember you mentioning the name, but the tale is so long some details escape me."

"I would be happy to deliver the letter for you."

And I am happy to have you along Tahirah.  I hope that Meredith will join us as well.  James stops.  He would like to continue, but he's not sure whether Meredith is part of the bridging or not.

"I can be ready to leave in five minutes."

Let me try to get this straight.  I'm to Amber as the bait.  Chance and Trista are going to find Sephiroth?  Luke's doing his own thing for a bit.  Cyan, Berd, Dorian and Devlin (?) are doing something else.  Boy, it's hard to keep track.

The Rokt gives James a nod of thanks, "Dhen I will pen dhis letter widh all haste."  He stands and makes his way to the counter, "Innkeep.  Do you have paper, and somedhing I can write widh?  I need to write a letter."

Donovan scratches his cheek, then indicates that the Rokt should wait for a moment.  "Aye... I've just the thing."  He steps through to the back room, and returns a short while later with the requisite materials.

The Rokt moves to a table, away from the Questors.  Gripping the pen as if it were a dagger, he starts to write, pausing from time to time, staring into space.  Twice he stops, screws up the paper, and puts it to one side, muttering under his breath.

The third effort goes much better...

Serena descended the stairs again from her room and looking and sounding chagrined,"I am glad things went well for all of you and I apologize for my lack of assistance."

Serena then turned to Chance and said,"May I speak with you briefly in private Chance? oddly enough she still seemed split as though part of her was not quite there.

Chance looks up at Serena, surprised by the request. It had been so long since he had seen her. "Sure, go ahead," he smiles and then waits. Then, he waits more. "Oh, you mean with actual words. Right, very refreshing actually. Lead on, Serena."

He bounds out of his chair and follows here to where ever she will feel is private enough.

Serena leads Chance just far enough away that they cannot be overheard by conventional means."Chance, I remember that you have the ability to draw trumps pr palanquets as Cyan calls them. Do you think you remember Devlin well enough to draw me a trump of him? It is rather urgent or i would not ask."

He smiled slightly, getting a feeling for the attitude of his long-time comrade. Aaron wished he could see Cyan smile in the flesh, but trying times called for trying actions. "For you, Cyan, I'll speed my time. It will be as if I never left." Ever, he added to himself.

"Right, then," Aaron said through both the bridging and his Trump with Cyan. "I'm ready to send anyone who wants to join Cyan's group through the Trump immediately, as well as recieve anyone who wishes to move on to Amber with the rest of us. Times wasting!" Though he said the last with a bit of a smile, he could not excise the truth of it.

 

Banglen-Yp tilted her head to one side, then the other, looking at Morgan.

•• Let in ••

It was a question, doubtlessly, and a rather confused one at that.

•• How do I do that ••

Another question, followed by a glance towards the group that no doubt were mind talking all along.

What did they say?

•• It is a bit like whispering • but less obvious ••

A statement, although the questions was what it actually meant.

 

I don't know about finding Sephiroth.  Luke steepled his fingers, considering.  You could try.  If you did, he might be amenable to discussion, considering his potential situation.

You see, Sephiroth was a servant of Harbonah.  He was, for example, the overseer of the work on Cargach's world, which certainly didn't go well for them.  Gazamiel offered you people a list of his plans, in return for ruining Sephiroth and paving Gazamiel's way up the chain.  You didn't take his offer - probably a good thing.

Harbonah, now, doesn't seem to be the sort to reward failure with anything but death.  Luke's smile grew wistful.  I always felt punishments should fit the crime...it encouraged efficiency, rather than fear, in the lower ranks.  But I digress.  Sephiroth may very well be dead right now.

I would search Cargach's world for signs, and should Sephiroth be impossible to locate, search for Gazamiel.  He shows...ambition.  Ambition can be used.

James, if it is only you and Tahirah going to Amber, I should accompany you.  If others are joining you, well and good, but...while this bait can fight back, it still needs a hook.  I can stand in your shadow - literally - and hopefully evade detection.

If I am unnecessary in Amber, I will see to my own business, then seek out Chance's group.

I will wait to see if others plan to accompany.  Roman, for example.  Or perhaps Morgan.

"Thank you chance but I think I just heard the magic words."with a quick hug Serena added,"Be safe when I am gone."

"AAron I wish to go to Cyan's group now if you are willing to send me."Serena stated as she walked over to stand beside AAron."It was good to see you all again and stay strong and be safe and if you need a healer just call."Serena looked at the others each at a time and especially at Luke.

Finally the Rokt returns the pen and unused paper to Donovan, then brings his letter, neatly folded, to James, and lays it on the table in front of the man.  "It is just an introduction letter.  If you find a merchant in Amber who seems honest, dhis will tell him how he can contact me, if he wants to make trade widh me."

He clenches his fists, holding them, together, in front of his face, and executes a deep bow.

"Once more, I am in debt to dhis company."

Sounds charming, Chance broadcasts. I can't say as I know why we're going to talk to him, but maybe something else will come up along the way. And any lead could prove fruitful. I mean, it's better than being tossed about by the storm, right?

"Sorry, Serena, but I--Oh, okay. Yes, well nice talking to you again. Take care."

He had been about to tell her he had exclusive rights to his songs, so to speak--which were in fact songs and not artwork like Cyans--but she seemed to have found her own solution. Good, he thought. I didn't need to give her the bad news that I couldn't help her.

"It is our pleasure.  Your wisdom in seeing the Cube for what it is may have saved much needless bloodshed, the Chanactarsa do not seem the type to back down."

"If you will excuse me for a moment."

James rises from the table and makes his way to Morgan and Banglen-Yp.  He speaks quietly to them for a moment.
"It looks like we're going to split up shortly.  I could really use some help in Amber.  Tahirah and I and perhaps Meredith will go to try to lure out this traitor.  They have the talent; I can make the introductions.  But if things turn nasty we'd be hopelessly outclassed."

 

Looking over at James as he came over to speak to them, Banglen-Yp smiled.

Finally someone talking so that she could hear and even telling some off the plans.  Perhaps she was slowly becoming part of their troop.

Then again, he might be talking more to Morgan, who had the panthers and also a lot more to contribute to the cause - whatever that was, beyond saving the multiverse, just as in all those adventures that The Screen had shown her.

•• If you believe I can be of assistance • I will gladly help • James ••

She bowed slightly to him, the shirt luckily long enough to not cause any potentially embarrassing situations - to those it might embarrass, as the odd blonde herself so far had no concept of such things.

 

Once Aaron takes her hand, Trista steps forward into the Inn. A vague hint of vertigo accompanies the shift as her surroundings completely change. She takes a moment to acclimate then looks to Aaron with the criss-crossing scars, “Thank you – Aaron. I haven't had the chance to actually meet you before now. I'm Trista and here to travel with Chance and possibly others. We don't have time for a proper greeting, but I felt you should probably at least know who I am.”

She glances about at the others, recognizing all except an auburn haired lady who seems to be on her way out and a blond man. No wait, that's Luke whom she recognizes from Berd's visions.

Trista steps to Chance and Luke. The heavy shroud of misery no longer hangs about the woman, though it's unlikely Luke has seen Trista before except possibly through Berd. She offers a smile to the two men. To Luke, she introduces herself, “I'm Trista and you are – Luke? I've come to travel with Chance and whomever chooses this path.”

<backpost>
Serena goes her own way; Chance is merely happy she found what she needed. He smiled warmly at Trista when she approached, noting something seemed different about her. She seemed, well, lighter than before. Perhaps she had sloughed off some baggage, somewhere? Interesting--pleasantly so, he thought.

"Trista," he greets. "Good to see you again. Sorry to say I don't know more about our mission, but I'm looking forward to getting out and doing something. I'm pretty low-maintenance, so I woke up ready to go."

"Trista."  Luke stared back blandly, looking Trista up and down.  His lips purse for a moment.  "Well, if Chance is willing to have you along, greetings.  I'll be travelling with him, and yourself it would seem.  Don't expect me to be around all the time."

He shot a look at Chance.  "When you're ready...I appear packed and prepared."

Morgan's agreement follows shortly after.  "Of course, James. Where are the others headed?"  He isn't alarmed, precisely, but the change of plan seems sudden.

One man radiates warmth, the other chills the air. Trista doesn't blame Luke for receiving her with some apprehension; she is an unknown. She simply waits with just the barest touch of an arched brow as the man looks her over and draws whatever conclusions seem to fit.

Nodding, she says, “Might not stick around much: noted." Then she agrees with the others, "I'm ready, too. Sitting in a hut for hours on end has left me anxious to be on our way, as well.” Though the woman squeezed in a short run in the rain just before dawn, moving will feel good. Fortunately, she also changed her clothes, though she looks much the same: faded jeans, well-worn hiking boots, and a small silver chain tucked inside a fitted, sleeveless tee. Only the shirt has changed from yesterday's blue to white. With her pack sitting squarely on her back and a machete strapped to her thigh, the woman stands ready.

An ironic smile overtakes her, “I suppose we'll figure out the mission on the path.”
This message was last edited by the player at 04:59, Mon 10 Sept 2007.

"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure, Morgan.  Aaron mentioned that Cyan's group was heading for Harbonah's refuge.  I hope that means spying.  Even then, it's still incredibly dangerous.  I think Chance and Trista must be planning something else or Trista wouldn't have stepped through here, but I'm not sure."

James gives another of his characteristic shrugs.  He knew what he was doing, the others were clever enough to sort themselves out.  He hoped.

Faded jeans, boots and white shirts, Chance notes. They couldn't match more. Except one has a guitar and the other has a machete, and he wasn't sure which was better.

"Great," he says with a clap of his hands, as he pretends he didn't notice how well she filled the jeans and shirt. Not at all. "I guess we're set, then. Let me say goodbye to my Horned Friend and we'll be off."

He excuses himself for a moment to bid farewell and godspeed to the Rokt before they go to the ship.

"Harbonah is one of the Archon leaders?"  Morgan grasps for confirmation.  "I should be getting some stories that have reached here soon, if they'll wait. Amazing how many people talk to that mapmaker."  He grins, "And I could identify the illustration at twenty paces, as I said, so I doubt the tale's as distorted as some get."

"So is your re-found friend going with us?"