Fixing the final gift of the Danioti in her mind, Cyan raises a hand in farewell before taking James' arm.  And through the worlds they fall.  A smile touches her lips at Banglen-Yp's amusements, but she sobers as they flit between the spheres and the Archons grow to form a cordon around them, a perimeter of protection too fragile to stand against the awesome presences swimming in the Underflow.

And...arrival.

Heat.  Wind.  Death.

Hosk.

And Cyan's eyes bleed tears.  "Oh, Dorian," she whispers, her knees weakening at the sight.  "Not in my name."  Her gaze passes blindly over the devastation, seeing the fury of the Archons.

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

So much destroyed in this war, but this cuts deeply, straight to her heart.  For more reason than one, as well.  Pale topaz eyes turn to James, their fear palpable.  "James...you would heal this?"  Horror grips her voice.  "I saw what it took from you to heal Crrurr'nokp.  This will burn you!"

Berd's eyes shine as he looks out over the hellish landscape, and his power holds steady, keeping the group safe within the bubble.  For now.  Even as he does, another part of him reaches out, seeking across the world.  Hunting for presences.  In general, yes, but one in particular.

"This nearly ended me...ironic, that I survived and the children of this planet did not."  His eyes are dark as he studies the world outside the bubble.  "But then, wars have a way of killing those who don't deserve it." Dressed in a neat, Armani suit, collar open, a thin sword-hilt with a broken blade hanging about his neck from a leather thong in lieu of a tie, Luke turns to the small group with a bleak smile.

"I said I would be here for the finale, and this might be it."  He nods his head in greeting to those before him.  "Archons.  Banglen-Yp.  Cyan.  James."  A snort.  "Dad."

"It's good to see you all still alive."

Though James is sad to leave their recent haven, he is pragmatic enough to accept the necessity.  They have had the opportunity to rest and recover, now the task lies ahead of them and James will not shirk his responsibility.

James (as usual) finds the trip through the Underflow unsettling.  The mirror images are disconcerting ("Shadow?" James thinks briefly) but serve as a welcome distraction from any consideration of the gargantuan natives of this realm.  James recognises, indirectly, that their passage has not been as smooth as on other occasions but still, in an improbably short time, they arrive.

...on a deathworld, both maelstrom and furnace.

James is affected by the experience, though not as Cyan is.  He had hoped for gentler climes, less obvious damage, but if he is daunted by the scale of his proposed undertaking he doesn't show it.  To Cyan's question, he answers simply.  "Yes."

After a moment, he expands, "Matters of scale can be misleading.  With the Pattern things are unlikely to be directly proportional.  A World Pattern is not so very different from a personal Pattern."

"It is not simply a question of damage, or of the change required.  Crrurr'nokp had a very well-established sense of self and an extraordinary metabolism that was itself working to heal his injuries.  By fulfilling its function in protecting and healing him, his mind and body made my job harder.  This world has been shattered, almost to obliteration.  That may actually make it easier to reconstruct.  And I attempted that alone.  Here I hope to have powerful help."

Turning to Cyan, James kneels with her and puts his arms on her shoulders.  Looking into her tear-filled eyes, he flashes one of his characteristic grins and says, "Cyan, love, if it burns me, it burns me.  We are each allowed our foolishness."

Aware now of another present, James stands and offers Cyan a hand to help her to her feet.  "Hello, Luke.  It's good to see you, too."

The roar about them is held distant by Berd's shield, the battering of wind, heat, and radiation reduced to an aurora.  Hellish light plays across James' face as he stares into the furnace.  And explains.

The power of those with whom she travels never ceases to surprise Cyan.  Scale meant little to the Great Pattern?  But of course - it affects worlds as much as people.  No living forces here would work in opposition to James' attempts to change the world - it is dying already, whatever resistance it might once have possessed to alteration swept away by the fist of a star.

The light changes, the shadows shifting on his visage as James kneels to take her shoulders.  Appalled, Cyan can only stare with brilliant, opal eyes as he smiles.  Smiles!  Is this how she might look when she explains her own plan?  No, for never has she faced it so readily, so bravely as James now does.

Love.

Did he mean that?  In full truth?

Luke is there, bearing the remains of Kirilindë about his neck, as always as if he always stood with them.  For once, Cyan cares not a whit for his presence.  A knot tightens in her chest; taking James' hand, she stands to throw her arms around his neck and bury her face in his shoulder.  "Lords of the West...the foolishness has been mine.  Always.  Perhaps even now, but I care naught for that."

...James yells out, "Friend!" as soon as Aaron, Jack and Cyan come in sight around a curve in the stairs...

"Tea please, Cyan, black, no sugar."

"You've already practised this morning, haven't you? Damn. Going to have to lift my game."

"If this were real, I would offer you a drink.  I suppose I could offer you my memory of a good cafe in Italy."

"But that's not why I brought you here.  Listen.  This is one of my songs."

"Stop that.  Your eyes have enough colour without making them bloodshot."

"Hello Cyan.  Well, we have now, but I'll have to pass on your kind offer."

Pulling back, she stares up into his face, one hand brushing his hair from his brow.  "'Friend' you said, the first I heard of your voice.  So much more than that, in truth."

Gods.  What can she do against such memories?  Against that smile, so terribly calm and bright amidst this madness?

Turning her head, she regards the newcomer.  "Thank you, Luke."  A crooked smile touches her lips.  "It is...a fine thing to see you here, in the very teeth of time."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:14, Wed 15 Aug 2012.

James steps out of the bubble, and is wrapped in a miniature tornado of fire as dust trapped against his skin is ignited.  The flames are short lived in the inferno of Hosk, and the man stands, looking off into the distance.

Another James joins him, and another, another still... soon all of the imposters are standing outside, staring out towards the surrounding horizon-

"We keep watch." the remaining Banglen-Yp explains.  "Lovely weather out there."  The laugh that follows is unconcerned, filled with the joy of seeing yet another new thing.  "They could survive it now." a hand waves in the direction of one of the Archons.

"They would not enjoy it, but they would survive."

James, the one still inside Berd's protection, returns Cyan's embrace.  He feels the restrictions of his armour keenly, wishing strongly to be able to feel her touch without its rigid barrier.  He feels an urge, every bit as strong, to lean forward and...but maybe...and Cyan turns to speak to Luke

James turns too, opens his mouth to speak, then stops abruptly and frowns.  "Or maybe not."

James comes back to himself just as quickly, "Sorry, Luke, not you.  It is good to see you."

To Cyan, James says, "The Pattern here is shattered.  Whatever we make here will not be Hosk.  Better, I suspect, not to try.  The result would be flawed, perhaps hopelessly."

James sighs heavily.  "Still, no matter.  I had intended to invite the Archons to make a new Hosk, anyway.  But I had thought to make changes to the existing Pattern, not start from scratch.  Truly, I'm not sure whether it's possible.  Corwyn and Oberon had the Jewel when they inscribed Patterns.  I wish Fiona or Dworkin were here."

Cyan blinks, glancing back at James.  Does he mean...  Any speculation at that point is cut off by the multiple 'James' who step out into the hellish world beyon Berd's aura.  Banglen-Yp's, of course, but for a moment Cyan shudders at the sight.  "Thank you, all of you."  Information flows from Berd to her...but James has still more to say.

Still holding James' forearms, she turns back toward him.  "Ah, James.  I am sorry.  I knew you hoped to save this world, much as I hoped you could.  Might you try?  Make it more comfortable for the Archons who do come?  I want them to listen, to wish to stay, to...well, they require time here."  Her fingers unlock from his arms only reluctantly, one at a time as she releases him, one hand rising to rest against his breast.

"If any can, it will be you."  Her smile is not broad, but it shines.  "Never have I nor Berd heard of the Grand Pattern being a power of healing.  Berd can supply you with raw strength from the Underflow itself, but the skill...ah, that will come only from you."  She leans a touch closer, her topaz eyes catching the burning glare about them and flaring.  "And you have it."  Her head cocks. "But if you have an idea to create another world for them?"

Her hand slides to his shoulder, grips, then down to his elbow where it rests.  Cyan looks out to the world, narrowing her eyes.  "Berd senses Left...and other Archons.  It may be that Harbonah has plans on this world.  Certainly Right hinted as much, and Left came here to spy.  I will have Berd contact her."

Her.  Him.  Such words are near meaningless when it comes to archons who do not take on humanoid form, but for some reason Cyan has always thought of Left and Right as such, respectively.

Eyes blazing like the sun that tore this world, Berd shuffles from shoulder to shoulder, ending up on James'.  His head comes up and he chirps once, studying Luke, before bending his mind toward contacting Left.

Quietly.

Banglen-Yp turns as James speaks, and as he finishes she thinks for a a little while, before commenting, "I heard a man say once, on the screen, that half a loaf is better than no bread at all."

"At first it meant nothing to me, because with no bread I would just eat something else.   All things are the alike to me."

A smile, as she adds, "I came to understand.  You can repair this world.  It will not be exactly as it was, but it will be partly mended, which is better than not mended at all.  It will be half a loaf."

The smile broadens, and her voice becomes more serious, "Another man said, 'It is better now than what it was when it was worse than what it is.'  I believe that this world can become better, with your help."

"Agreed, Banglen-Yp.  Some is indeed better than none," Cyan whispers, staring into the maddening chaos before her; this world will end with a bang, rather than a whimper, if not prevented.  "An inch of meditation is an inch of Buddha.  Or something of that nature," she continues, her ruby eyes mirroring the ruddy light.

"Ah."  Her eyes sharpen.  "Left hastens to us with all speed.  It should take her little time - if she is too far for conventional methods, she will drop into the Underflow and join us from there, shaving time from her trip."  One corner of her mouth quirks, and for an instant her eyes darken.  "Shaving time.  Right would like that one.  Wish he was here..."

One hand rises to indicate the nephillim and sencathi, who have joined them.  "But then, we have his best already.  But I am curious to hear what Left has discovered about this...sad and lonely ruin, and what deviltry the other Archons carry out upon its corpse."

"Thank you both.  All." James amends his response as Berd shuffles onto his shoulder.

"This isn't quite how I thought things would work.  I had thought the Archons might provide the raw power with Berd managing the link.  That would mean waiting for Cyan's plan to take effect, and likely mean trying to make the repairs while under attack.  My own grand gesture, I suppose.  Perhaps this is better." James gives a small sigh, while mentally balancing the pros and cons as best he can.  There is so much here that is new that it is difficult to weigh up the risks.

"I'm going to try anyway.  If Berd can provide the power it will be enough.  Two things, though.  I will wait till Left arrives.  The information she can provide may be very important."

James turns to address the Right's chosen Archons before continuing.

"And I will still need your help, danioti, sencathi and herenethi.  It is vital that in attempting to do this I do not simply aim for my own vision of a perfect world.  I am not trying to create James' World.  It would just be a pale echo of what Harbonah is trying to achieve and entirely useless.  Your kind are still largely alien to me, I need you to show me what you want, show me what this world can be.  You have each travelled and have a wealth of experience, I'm sure.  I need your guidance.

The Archons veer in towards the bubble, still remaining just beyond the boundary.  The Banglen-Yps, wearing their James faces, turn their attention outwards, studying the horizon for signs of trouble.

They don't have long to wait.  A gleaming red spark appears, growing in apparent size as it draws rapidly closer.  One of the eshurianti, or so it seems... but as the range decreases it is revealed as a danioti, metal blazing red hot from its high speed passage through the heated atmosphere of Hosk.

Left!

As the Archon hurtles closer a voice roars from it, + I HAVE BEEN DETECTED!  A PATROL OF SERAPHIM FOLLOW CLOSE BEHIND! +

And above and behind, four more gleaming wheels can be seen driving down towards the mountain of diamond.

The chosen Archons howl, and James' instructions are forgotten, at least for the moment, as the rise up to face the attackers, one of whom breaks off from the others and heads away...

I will make the attempt, James.  Berd falls silent after this, considering his place.  To assist in the healing of a world.  It might be a teacup toward redressing his river of crimes in the past.

Cyan's smile smoothes out, become more natural as James includes the Archons in his plans to heal the world.  A fine thing, she thinks.  The more the cooperate with other races, the more they work beside them...well, they not only provide a strong example, but they learn more themselves.  And we learn more of them, she notes to herself.  So we must, if we are to live alongside them within the Myriad Worlds.

Then...

"Left!" Cyan cries out.  It is impossible for her to mistake that pattern of flight, so characteristic of her friend.  But instantly, the situation grows clear.  Not only is Left pursued, but they, themselves, have been discovered.  Four danioti from above...an unknown group in pursuit of Left.

Too many.

"To me, Left!  Berd.  Do what you can, but try not to give the game away."  Good luck with that, she tells herself.  Against so many, Berd will be forced to fight, while simultaneously keeping himself a...

...wait.

"We need one alive!" she cries out, drawing Fangmir.  Like as not, she will not have to employ it - between Banglen-Yp, their own bodyguards, James' control of the Pattern, and Berd, it seems unlikely the Archons will reach them.  But better safe than sorry.

Out numbered, the remaining Seraphim scatter, pursued by the bodyguards.  They don't get far before they are forced to fight...

Left, meanwhile, continues down to the bubble, hesitating briefly outside, before passing through to the more hospitable interior.  The Archon halts, turning on her saxis, almost as if looking at Cyan, James and Banglen-Yp in turn.

+ YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE COME HERE WITHOUT AN ARMY.  LEAVE NOW BEFORE THE ONE WHO FLED BRINGS AID.  HARBONAH HIMSELF IS HERE, AND HAS AT LEAST ONE THIRD OF THE SERAPHIM WITH HIM.  I KNOW THAT JAMES IS MIGHTY IN BATTLE, BUT EVEN IF THOSE DUPLICATES OF HIM ARE AS POWERFUL AS HE, THEY WILL BE SCATTERED, LIKE DUST BEFORE THE WIND. +

There is a scream of tortured metal, audible even over the storm which rages in the atmosphere of Hosk, and one of the Seraphim perishes.

+ HARBONAH PLANS TO MAKE HOSK HIS NEW STRONGHOLD.  HE IS HERE, OVERSEEING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FORTRESS.  WHEN OTHERS COME HERE TO SPEAK WITH HIM, THEY WILL BE REMINDED OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE, AND HARBONAH WILL TELL THEM THAT IS WHY THEY MUST FIGHT.  HE BELIEVES THAT THIS WILL MAKE HIS WORDS BEAR MORE WEIGHT. +

+ WHY HAVE YOU COME HERE, TO THIS PLACE? +
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:48, Sat 08 Sept 2012.

As Left and the Archons pursuing her close on the group's position, James begins walking.  Not far, for he has no desire to test the limits of Berd's protection.  Indeed, he is all but turning on the spot.  But the movement is sufficient to effect some basic use of the Pattern.  Berd is probably the only one present who can stop the lone Archon from reporting their presence, with the possible exception of Luke, but there is always the chance that some arbitrary surge in the planet's magnetic field or violent eruption of lava may be enough to divert or destroy the would be messenger.  And for a Pattern-user, the chance is enough.

The local environment both aids and hinders James efforts.  Change is trivial to effect; directing that change is very, very hard.  Without sufficient control it is all but impossible to discern the deliberate changes from the "normal" chaos.  James can only guess at the implications for his broader plan.

James smiles, although it is far from reassuring.  "Powerful?  Yes, they're each far more powerful than I am."  And dangerous, when one considered that each of James' doubles could, with the proper prompting, become an all-consuming black hole.  "But that's not why we're here."

"We're here for the same reason that Harbonah builds his fortress.  Because Hosk is a potent symbol.  Cyan hopes to persuade the assembled Archons to abandon Harbonah's cause.  I hope to re-shape Hosk in a different way, as a demonstration of collaborative creativity.  And yes, I know what that sounds like, and no, we're not insane."

"Suffice to say that for our purposes an army wouldn't help."

+ IS THIS TRUE, GENERAL?  YOU SEEK A MEANS TO END THIS WAR BY REPAIRING HOSK? +

Cyan confirms it with a simple, "Yes." and then elaborates, "We have tools at our disposal that Harbonah cannot match.  We hope to use them to steal his followers.  Even the attempt to mend Hosk might prove sufficient."

Left hovers silently.  Had she been a human, it could have been said that the wheels turning in her head were plainly visible.  For an Archon, the analogy is even more appropriate.

+ CAN YOU DO THIS, JAMES? +

While the Archons continue to skirmish over head, the one which flees veers aside to avoid a sudden downdraft.  Not quite fast enough.  It skims too low across the churning ocean of molten rock, and is engulfed, already starting to melt...

+ BUT OF COURSE YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN, OR YOU WOULD NOT HAVE COME HERE. +

There is a flurry of movement, high overhead, and two of the danioti are suddenly plummeting down towards the bubble.  They pass through and come to a halt, hovering parallel to each other, just a few inches apart.  Seconds later, a third Archon appears, another danioti, emerging from the volume within one of them, and almost immediately starts to push into the heart of the other.

Trapped twixt the two, it can do nothing but hang suspended between their internal spaces.  One of Right's danioti speaks, + WE HAVE CAPTURED ONE OF THEM.  THE REST ARE DESTROYED.  SURIEL, RABACYEL AND BARKIEL PURSUE THE ONE WHICH FLED.  SHALGIEL KEEPS WATCH FROM THE UNDERFLOW. +

Left moves closer to them.  + THIS ONE IS HASMED, ONE OF THE FIRST TO FOLLOW HARBONAH. +

James responds to Left's question with a slight nod, though he seems less than entirely convinced.  "I believe it's possible, though it won't be easy."

To the returning Archons, James says, "Well done.  Right chose well, I think.  Certainly you have proven your might."

To Hasmed, James says nothing, at least not at first.  He is unsure whether to attempt to interrogate the Archon for information concerning Harbonah's forces, hold it as witness to the attempted reconstruction or send it forth as emissary to announce Cyan's plan.  Each possibility has significant risks attached and though James is aware that the group has no time to waste, he does not want to misstep in his haste.

And it can't hurt to let it stew for a moment.

Hasmed roars and snarls like some feral beast, which brings harsh, metallic laughter from Left.  + THIS IS A TRICK THAT I TAUGHT THEM.  HASMED CAN NOT CHANGE SIZE, OR MOVE INTO THE UNDERFLOW, WHILE ENCLOSED WITHIN ANOTHER ARCHON, AND CANNOT ESCAPE WITHOUT CHANGING SIZE.  SEE, HASMED, WORKING FOR THE GENERAL... +

+ FOR THE DESPISED ONE'S PET, YOU MEAN! +

+ ... HAS ITS ADVANTAGES.  ARCHONS HAVE NEVER TRIED TO CAPTURE EACH OTHER UNHARMED BEFORE I SAW THE GENERAL ORDERING THAT PRISONERS BE BROUGHT BEFORE HER, AND SAW THE VALUE OF THAT APPROACH. +

+ TAKE COMFORT IN THIS, HASMED.  HARBONAH APPOINTED THE GENERAL, AND ASSIGNED ME TO OBSERVE HER, AND NOW YOU ARE LEARNING FROM MY OBSERVATIONS, WHICH WAS HARBONAH'S INTENTION. +

Left starts to circle the trio of Archons, captors and captive, and there is a sound... wind rushing across the surface of rapidly rotating blades as their angle of attack changes slightly.  The sound varies in pitch and volume at regular intervals.  The Archon is whistling...

+ WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT? +

+ YOU WILL SPEAK TO THE HUMANS, OR I WILL COMMAND STAOSHA TO REDUCE IN SIZE BY ONE TWELFTH PART.  THIS WILL CAUSE THE PART OF YOU WITHIN HER TO REDUCE BY A SIMILAR AMOUNT.  THE PART OF YOU WITHIN NARIEL WILL NOT CHANGE.  THIS WILL CAUSE YOU GREAT DISCOMFORT.  MORE SO IF I ORDER FURTHER REDUCTIONS, WHICH I SHALL. +

The whistling resumes, and goes on for a little while.

+ I WILL SPEAK TO THE HUMANS.  JUST STOP THAT INFURIATING NOISE!  WHAT DO YOU WANT, HUMANS? +

"Indeed, well done," Cyan echoes James, moving to study their captive.  She does a brief check on the Archons with them - a headcount, so to speak, to verify they haven't lost anyone.  Then her full attention falls upon Hasmed.

Her chin rises a touch as she studies the danioti, lips quirking slightly as Left demonstrates her innovative mind...and her new capacity for whistling.  Left and Right, her two shadows when the darkness lay upon her.  And part of her slow climb from that darkness, to boot.  "Spirits of the West, but it is good to see you Left."  Her amber eyes narrow.  "A new trick, as well.  I wonder how many more you have up your sleeve...impressive.  But let us leave off tormenting Hasmed.  Should I require the answers I will have Berd remove them from his mind."

Though she keeps her voice steady, Cyan's spirit quails at the thought of torture.  It disgusted her before her own torment, and after?

"Hasmed, I require two things from you at present.  The first, I wish to know Harbonah's ultimate goal.  I believe we already do, but you have been with Harbonah longer than I; surely you will have...noticed and filed any discrepencies between what he states, and how he acts."

Her lips purse.  "Second.  What is Harbonah doing here?  Why are you here, in this place?  In Hosk?"

One eyebrow cocks.  "Berd - your 'Despised One' - will seek knowledge of your veracity from your mind, nothing more.  Speak the truth, and he will let you keep your own secrets.  Lie to protect Harbonah and all of your plans will be brought to light."

+ NOT A NEW TRICK, GENERAL.  IT IS ONE THAT ALL DANIOTI CAN DO, BUT SELDOM CHOOSE TO, SINCE IT MIMICS THE SOUND MADE BY DAMAGED, POORLY CONTROLLED BLADES.  BECAUSE OF THAT, OTHERS OFTEN FIND IT IRRITATING OR INSULTING. +

+ THOUGH, AS YOU WILL DOUBTLESS HAVE NOTICED, MANY OF US TEND TO FIND SOURCES OF IRRITATION IN A GREAT MANY THINGS. +

Then, as an afterthought, she adds, + OR PERHAPS YOU REFER TO WAY HASMED IS HELD? +

Hasmed roars, like thunder directly overhead, + THERE IS NO SECRET TO BE HIDDEN FROM OTHERS!  HARBONAH's GOAL IS, STILL, JUST AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN - TO PROVIDE OUR PEOPLE WITH A HOME WHICH WE CAN BEND TO OUR WILL.  TO THAT END, ALL OF YOUR KIND MUST BE ERADICATED! +  The Archon gives a short laugh, + IF IT WERE WITHIN OUR POWER, WE WOULD ERASE THE VERY MEMORY OF YOUR EXISTENCE.  BUT THE END RESULT WILL BE THE SAME. +

+ HOSK IS TO SERVE AS HARBONAH'S NEW FORTRESS WORLD.  ALL WHO COME HERE WILL BE REMINDED OF THE CRIME WHICH WAS COMMITTED AGAINST US, AND HAVING BEEN RENINDED, THEY WILL FIGHT ALL THE HARDER IN OUR CAUSE. +

"Both, in fact."  But she smiles at Left's explanation of the 'whistling'.  "And yes, I did find many danioti to be...touchy at first.  Once I got to know them, though, I began to understand their point of view."

She suspects Left will appreciate the small play on words.

Then Cyan faces the trapped Archon, studying it with ice-sapphire eyes as it makes its brassy claim.  "Indeed?  How fortuitous.  I had thoughts of something similar.  But there is more, is there not?"

She leans closer, heedless of the danger of the blades; a danioti's control is absolute, and Cyan trusts her warriors.  "You lie by omission, Hasmed.  Do you not comprehend the might of the being you name the Despised One?"  On her shoulder, Berd grins his thousand-toothed smile.  "I wish details, not the obvious.  There is more.  Your final chance - give it all, or Berd will wrench it from your mind, along with all else.  He knows, you see, that you hold back.  He sees only that, for he grants you that privacy."

The eyes glitter in Hosk's hellish light.  "Grant us the truth, the whole truth, and pass through this final test with your mind sealed.  Balk now?"

Turning away, she slashes the air with her hand.  "No more privacy.  No more secrets.  No more seal upon your thoughts.  Every plan, betrayal, feeling, idea...he will lay them bare."

Russet hair flares as she glances over her shoulder.  "Final chance.  Speak now, and speak sooth, or he commences the harvest."

James allows Cyan to conduct the interrogation.  It is the kind of exercise that James has found increasingly distasteful since he left the military, though Cyan's methods are comparatively benign and there can be no doubt that the information provided will be helpful.

James keeps his face impassive, doing his best not to show any emotion or reaction.  He allows himself a brief snort of amusement, though, at Hasmed's explanation of Harbonah's goal.  A home that could be bent to the Archons' will?  That was childishly easy, almost trivial by the measure of the Myriad Worlds (but not for those unfortunate enough to be stuck in that "home").  That genocide "must" occur to achieve Harbonah's end was either greed, arrogance or paranoia on an unimaginable scale.

Convincing Hasmed of that fact would be difficult, though, and is probably unnecessary.  It confirms, though, that Hosk is the correct venue to effect their own plans and James turns his mind to further consideration of the world's shattered Pattern.

Hasmed does not respond, falling instead into a silence which still manages to convey the Archon's rage.  Left utters a single word, + STAOSHA. +

That Archon seems to pulse, briefly, and is suddenly smaller than Nariel , who holds the other part of Hasmed.  Harbonah's minion screams.  + ENOUGH. + Left commands, and Staosha expands to match Nariel.

But in that instant of distraction, Berd sends a probe into Hasmed's mind...

James, apparently, finds the process unpleasant, and turns his attention elsewhere...

Banglen-Yp moves closer to the prisoner, but from the opposite side.  She looks through the heart of Hasmed and, briefly, into Cyan's eyes.  She smiles.

There is eye contact between Banglen-Yp and Cyan, and a knowing smile.  James turns from them, and this Cyan comprehends.  And at that instant Berd finds the truth.  In his knowing, Cyan knows, and the eye contact breaks as she staggers under the weight of that truth.  Her hands find her knees as she bends at the hips, eyes closed, hair hanging down before her face.  For a long moment, she breathes harshly, giving no other sound.

Then she straightens to regard Hasmed with midnight eyes.

"You should have taken the bargain, Hasmed," she muses almost casually, but muscles jump at her jawline.  "Berd has laid your secrets bare to me."  Her right hand clenches and unclenches, as if searching for a certain hilt.

"And they are monstrous."

Some of the black bleeds from her eyes; when they approach a stormy grey, she speaks in the cadance of the Warrior in Jet and Gold, but with the words of Cyan.  "I am no judge, but here and now I take that responsibility upon my spirit.  Hasmed, you are not crushed by what has happened here.  Instead, you support the one who took the surviving children of Hosk and rather than succor them, seeks to turn them into monsters.  You have thrown away any hope of growth, with that crime always gnawing at your spirit.  If I release you, you will only compound your vileness."

Her voice drops.  "It happens I could be wrong.  Perhaps, somehow, somewhere, there is hope for you.  But..."  Cyan closes her eyes, squeezes them hard.

When she opens them again, they are ebony pools.

"...but not here.  Capital crimes, Hasmed; capital crimes against your own children, layered atop your other atrocities."  The General cuts the air with her hand.  "End him.  Quickly."

She could be speaking to any within the globe.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:16, Mon 15 Oct 2012.