"Of course, Highlord. However, it may have to wait a moment."

Pitcarn and Ruse in the Chapel of Methodes

"Ah, yes," said the Fiefmaster Jonaht, distastefully. "Bureaucracy. My bane, gentlemen. Would you care for wine, High Lord?" She sat up, and her breasts fell back and forward softly.

Ruse waved a dismissive hand at the Feifmaster, and replied,

"No thank you, that will not be necessary. I do not drink while actively engaged in my duties - which means I drink rather rarely indeed."

He looked at Pitcarn with a scornful look, and replied with a sneer,

"No Low Lord - we will not wait. You will take the oath right now - you're on my time right now, not the other way around. If you reject the oath you will be demoted to an associate - either is fine with me ultimately. Be glad I'm doing you the privileged of coming to see you personally, especially since the Conclave fucked up and rushed things thanks to the Apotheosis circle paying them off in a bribe over the Gumbra incident. My anger, however, is not so easily waived."


He looked at him quite seriously, and asked firmly,

"What is it? Decide right this second: will you take the callisti oath or not?"

"Of course Highlord, I will take the oath of the Callisti. I had expected something to immediately prevent me, I am sorry that I wasted your, no-doubt precious, time."

Pitcarn refilled his goblet with water, and sipped it. He felt like there was sand in his throat, though whether nerves or a hangiver from Tushmuthut, he couldn't tell.

Pitcarn and Ruse in the Chapel of Methodes

Ruse noticed the very quick shimmering of Fuse's field; he had experienced a death.

Fiefmaster Jonaht was quiet.

Ruse raised an eyebrow as he noticed Pitcarn's death. Having undergone it once himself, he knew quite well what signs to look for.

"Oh Pitcarn...you did something very naughty, didn't you? You disobeyed one of my orders? You know, I could punish you and really just make a fuss, but I think your death was punishment in itself. Take this as a lesson well learned, god of food, that I give out my orders for a reason. Even if you - like your beloved Lictros - cannot immediately understand that reason, it is there. In this case, you disobeyed and it cost you your life - just like i knew it would. I will overlook this insult this once, but do not disobey me again - or you will make me angry. And you won't like me when I'm angry - I am the only Conclave member to date who caused the likes of Sura Al-Amun to run, just to make my point crystal clear to you."

He rolled his eyes arrogantly, and continued,

"Now for the Callisti Oath. Know that by swearing this oath, if you break it willingly that you will die. However, on the plus side you will be firmly qualified for a low lordship, as rank blue and higher requires a callisti oath."

"Do you Blue Hallowed Leord Pitcarn the Prince Thrice-Black the Second of the Lesser Bilbligh, Vicious God and Mighty Ignorant of Food hereby swear that you have not acted against the Conclave in the past or the Present, and will not act against the conclave in the future? Proper responses are yes or no."

"Also, do you swear that you do not possess psionic abilities? Proper Responses are Yes I have psychic abilities or no I do not have psychic abilities."

"And finally, do you swear that you are not tainted with divine Madness, and that you do not endeavour to harm Yggdrasil, the tree of life?"

((OOC: "You won't like me when I'm angry" made me lol. I can't remember what its from though...grr))

Pitcarn looked up at Ruse, no fire, no defiance in his eyes.

"Highlord, I do not feel I am able to explain my actions. I cannot truely justify them to myself, either."

The fight was gone from Pitcarn, here. Something just wasn't there. He disagreed with Ruse's statement, but he just felt no need to contradict it. Ruse's reprimand was there, and it had a point, but Pitcarn felt that it was unneccassary. Why point out that he had died from his actions? If anyone knew, it would be Pitcarn himself. Ruse's declaration that Pitcarn was disobeying orders might have been true from Ruse's point of view, but Pitcarn knew otherwise. Explaining this to the highlord would only provoke his anger, and while asmall, niggling part of Pitcarn's psyche thought of doing just that, it was barely there and Pitcarn nudged it away, and it vanished.

"As far as the oath: Firstly I do so swear that I have never acted against the Conclave and I do not intend to. I answer: Yes

"Secondly, It is impossible for me to swear that I have psionic abilites. It would be a lie, as Psionic abilities do not exist.

"Thirdly, The Mad are anathema, but the tree is all worlds. It may be neccassary as a part of my position to destroy realms, or raze them so that they harbour no threat. I could swear this on the Callsti but it may make me a useless instrument in the Conclave's service, as I would not be able to perform my duties if that was required. What if I encountered a realm that had entirely turned Mad? I would be prevented from acting, yet compelled to act, by the very same oath. I do not harbour the Mad, nor am I tainted and I do not wish to threaten the life of the tree, but I will sever diseased limbs of the tree if I need to.

"Also, lord, does not the initial Callisti Oath cover these issues when it relates to the breaking of Conclave law?"

Pitcarn said all this mildly, and at a level volume. There was no chellenge in his speech, it was simply concern that his position could be compromised by the body he chose to serve.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:09, Sat 07 Aug 2010.

Pitcarn and Ruse in the Chapel of Methodes

Pitcarn felt himself go completely quiet inside, felt a rush of static burst from within him, and then.. again, quiet. A rush and then a drop. He was bound by the Callisti.

Ruse grinned - perhaps this fat friar was a bit smarter than he looked.

"Oh? how curious - I didn't actually think the Callisti would accept that, but apparently it was enough. I will tell you this though - and by my authority I waive the penalty for acknowledging the existence of psionics until we are done talking. But they are quite real - that law is a carry-over from an older, less sophisticated system, although is still fully in force and we discuss this purely at my sufferance. So if you happen to have them or acquire them in the future, I would have you tell me about them."

He sighed at his response about the tree, and said,

"There are multiple ways of serving the tree of life. Assaulting a realm that is overtaken by Madness helps the tree in the same way surgery helps a cancer patient to survive - you cut out the infection so new tissue can grow in its place. The most important thing is that you never intend to harm the tree in a broad sense, for the sake of selfishness or to just harm it. You can promise me that, right? If so, your oath will be complete and you may go."

"My lord, I would only harm the tree intentionally in the same way a surgeon must harm his patient; He must fulfil his hippocratic oath to the best of his abilities, and as you said, cut away damaged tissue to allow regrowth. I bear the tree no ill will, I wish to better the Conclave so it might better the tree in turn"

If Ruse could see inside Pitcarn's mind, the  sincerity would be almost sickening.

"If I may, Highlord, a question to you: What is your interest in psionics? Why do you say the rulings are relevant to an older time? The myths that I know of speak of dreadful things, and is not now, more than ever, a time for wariness?"

Ruse shakes his head, and replies,

"You may not question me at this time about it for your own welfare, but you might see some changes in the future. Until then, when you leave this room the don't-acknowledge-psionics law will once again be in effect. You would do wise to keep your head down about them at the moment, but there might be a day when you won't have to. But until then, remain vigilant."

Ruse snapped his fingers, and said aloud to the Callisti,

"Well it appears you have accepted the oath. If this is correct and you have indeed accepted Pitcarn's oath and everything checks out, then you may leave us."

General Pitcarn has sword allegiance and fealty to the Conclave. That is all that is required. There is a 93 percent chance, however, that he harbours psychic abilities of one sort or another. The energy patterns are in disarray, High Lord.

The Callisti hummed its answer mechanically and yet with strength.

Ruse could ferret out lies about as good as a Callisti could. He grinned widely, and asked Pitcarn,

"I will ask one straight up as a question, not as a Callisti oath promise. But Pitcarn, do you possess any psychic powers? Or is he referring to your connection to that thing? If I like what I hear, I may even have the Callisti strike your response from the records. Or at the very least, keep it off common record. And by the way I can smell the truth like a cat can smell tuna, so lying to me would be bad for your health."

Pitcarn took a step back. He knew of Ruse's abilities to detect untruths, and was troubled that he might be accosted so.

"I'm not entirely sure why I have triggered the Callisti. I think my lord that it is a part of my connection, and a part of who I am. I'm so confused, I have so much conflict within me, everything is twisting and changing and I'm not sure where I stand. I'm lost, Ruse. I want to place my faith within the Conclave, but, if I can have something that the Conclave deems non-existent...

"I feel so torn, everything has so many different desires, and...

"I don't even know what the thing wants, but I know that it will demand that I do its bidding, even if the act destroys me entirely. I feel that it would cast me against the power if the Callisti without a second thought if it deemed the Conclave to be without value, or a threat, if only to remove me from its service."

Pitcarn was thoroughly miserable.

Ruse and Pitcarn

Ruse could tell that Pitcarn was telling the truth - or at least thought he was.

Ruse smiled widely. It was a sinister smile, or perhaps a playful one. Or a knowing smile. Or a mixture of all of the above.

"Do not worry, Pitcarn, your oath has been found to be acceptable by the Callisti - as well as myself for the moment."

Ruse snapped his fingers loudly, yet casually.

"Callisti, leave us. Your presence here is no longer required. Thank you for your good work."

To be said when the Callisti leaves:

"Pitcarn, I am fully aware of the true reason behind both your ritual of starvation, as well as the distorted energy patterns detected by the Callisti. You do not have an actual psychic power, at least not to my knowledge. You have been marked with the patronage of something else, and this - I suspect - is what the Callisti detected.

Ruse knew. It was dreadful, but he knew of Pitcarn's connection to the Thing Thrice Black.

"I will not report you - certain higher parties already are aware anyway. I've known your secret for a while, actually. But you no longer need to be torn or conflicted - even if you have a connection with something that is, quite frankly, disgusting to my sensibilities, it appears you retain your free will as well as an unblighted Theomagnetic field. This is why the Conclave has let you live - to give you a chance to prove that you are not the same as the monster that gives you patronage."

Finally, Ruse eyed him with a stare that figuratively pierced him to his soul. It was a cold but determined stare, a glace like ice.

"And if you wish to know what to do now...the answer is crystal clear! Help protect the tree of life! The Abyss is of the tree, yet is aligned against it all the same, by cosmic design. It is a cancer, but unlike Divine Madness is not an alien outerforce, so much as an unwanted inner force. So, if you'd like to keep that thing you're bonded to in check, you will work to preserve the tree. If the abyss does not gain strength, then nor can your patron. Equally, if the abyss' self-destruct system is not yet needed and the tree can thrive once again, then the abyss shrines and will once again wait in silence. This will also keep your patron in check. So if you'd like to live - not against just the conclave but also to survive the abyss, then the best thing you can do is defend the tree of life. That way, you survive both the callisti oath as well as the abyss."

Ruse's answer felt hollow to Pitcarn. It made sense, but he could not shake the feeli9ng that Ruse had underestimated the ability, or the guile of the thrice black thing. And the words he spoke were those of a Zealous God, a being who by nature would be preoccupied with the life of the tree.

Pitcarn found more solace in thoughts of the attack on Tushmuthut, battle was what his nature craved, and if he defended the tree that way, maybe it would be enough.

The tiniest part of Pitcarn's mind stored the information that Ruse had told him, what he had said about the Abyss. A howl in the darkness, a rattle of chains, and the thought was gone.

"Yes Highlord. Is there anything else you require of me? There are preparations in the Valley Divine I must make for the upcoming invasion, and I'm sure I have taken up too much time from your busy schedule already."

Ruse shook his head, and then made a "shoo" motion with his hand.

"No, that will be all, low lord. Please return to your duties. Dismissed."

And with that, Ruse turned into a puff of white mist and streamed out of the chamber.

Ruse was now headed to the office of Roid.

Without staying to bid farewell to the Feifmaster, Pitcarn left for the markets of Nicodemus.

"Hmmmph," said the Fiefmaster. "Guess they don't teach them manners these days." She shrugged and continued about her work.

((ooc: poor feifmaster being left in the dust, lol.))

Ruse heads for Roid's office.

(Sorry, cheated you out of an update there!)

The Systemarch seemed only semi-pleased to see Ruse, though he smiled grimly as the High Lord entered his chambers.

"Bad news, I'm afraid," he said. "You've read the Herald?"

Ruse sighed, and replied,

"I JUST read it now. I can honestly say that I'm a bit surprised - I haven't really done much to stir the pot lately, and 1 million stones for my little old head is a bit overkill. The thing is, I know that I am quite a potent threat to many different parties, even if I haven't acted against them yet. But what confuses me is why Pitcarn also is on the bounty list...I have some theories though, but nothing purely substantiated. Yet, anyway."

He smirks wickedly, and continues,

"I haven't decided to get serious yet. For now, I'll make a bloody mess of any assassins and make sure the photos of their corpses are posted in the herald for all to see. However, if I do get serious, my lord, do expect some people to start dying."

He puts up a finger though, indicating they both needed to wait and hold up a sec.

"Okay, before we even get distracted by people wanting to kill me - something that is hardly new to me mind you - I need to ask you about this. We both totally just forgot about it."

Ruse pulls out a small jar from his robes, and holds it forth. It has some small nanomachines, but is otherwise inert.

"This is something that I err...liberated from Charles' temple when I also "obtained" the eye of Ra (ooc: or whatever the thing was I cant remember fully anymore...the thing he gave to Roid). I scanned it and I know it is a nanomachine system, but I am not sure if it is a viral cure or a viral agent, but I suspect you would. I just don't think it is wise to keep running around without getting informed about it."

"Ah, yes," said the Councilman Roid, smiling uncomfortably. "While not actually, in this instance, the 'Eye of Ra', the nanorobotic agent is very similar in purpose. As our scholars understand it, the machines are designed to interact with three others of their kind, forming the 'Arsenal of Ra', and creating, in turn, this 'Champion of the Sands' with which so much Cult lore babbles about.."

His eyes are down, but his smile is wry, commenting silently on the irony.

"The Cult of Osiris-Ra, as you know, is very anti-technology, even going so far as to condemn the Conclave's frankly primitive - compared to Systemarch and Earthborn tech - systems as heretical," he said. "Thus it is with some amusement that I find that these four core pieces of the 'Arsenal of Ra' - the Eye of Ra, which we believe is a precious stone in the hands of the Cult; the Breath of Ra, which you gave to me; and two, fairly classified, other weapons - are all technomagical in nature. Together they create the perfect warrior, according to their scripture. Ra was destroyed to stop him from implementing the weapons, allegedly, according to our own - dubious - archives."

Ruse listened intently, and nodded,

"Hmmm...so why would we or they need these nanomachines if they already have the real eye of Ra? This jar of nanomachines is, then, more of a liability than an asset, don't you think? Why not destroy them?"

"Oh, and also, given my position and my connection to Embalmer's Reach, I request to know more about the classified information of both the two other weapons, as well as the Champion of the sands set all together."