A modern log cabin, situated at the bend of the Ohio river.  Nestled at the eastern boundary of the Shawnee forest, looks eerily quiet, overshadowed by broad spruces, tall pines, and graceful elms.  The ground floor of the cabin is stone, with high windows, narrow windows.  A cedar plank porch radiates from the stone base.
   It is early evening, and there are no lights visible inside.  The yard grows wild, and the river can be heard nearby, slowly, but steadily flowing.  The only sign of life is the voracious cloud of mosquitoes that greets you as you approach, and somewhere can be heard the sound of a night-jar.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:09, Sun 15 Dec 2019.

 She led Ben to the barn set just out of the forests edge, where she fed him some sweet grain and a leaf of hay. She made sure there was fresh water in the water bucket as well before exiting the box stall.
 Then she led the others over to the cabin. She dug her keys out of her pocket and unlocked the door on the east side of the cabin. She stepped inside and flipped a switch to turn on the solar/wind/water powered lights. One thing for sure Jim and she agreed upon was renewable resources. She waved for the others to enter as she headed for the kitchen living area.
 "I think there's some beers in the frig if you want something to drink, as well as sodas, juice and water."

  OOC: Okay I need percentile rolls please Moon Child and Luke.

01:19, Today: Moon Child rolled 89 using 1d100. percentile roll.

01:18, Today: LoC, on behalf of Alexander De Marest, rolled 83 using 1d100. Alex perception check.

   Alex walks into the cabin slowly, hands in his pockets, as surveyed the place, seemingly fascinated by the architecture.  If there was anything out of the ordinary, he didn't seem to notice, instead accepting Moon Child's offer and taking a bottle of water from the well stocked refrigerator.

Luke tagged along, and showed some small amount of animal empathy by moving to fill that water trough before Moon had finished feeding her beast.

Then, invited into the house, Luke joined Alex, and helped himself to a juice with a "Thank You".  He also seemed intrigued by the cabins structure, and went looking around, giving himself a self-guided tour of the more public area's (not entering any bedrooms etc just yet).


- rolled 5 using 1d100. Perception roll.

   Ben trots slightly ahead of Moon Child as she walks to the stables, and Moon  notices a nervousness in him, a flick of his eyes, a toss of his head and a shy whinny, tell her he senses something amiss.

   Everything in the old cabin seems just as Moon Child left it, though its oddly silent.  As she places her keys into the door she sees the old iron horse shoe above the door, one of Ben's old ones, and notes the faint scratches, like odd letters, written all around it.  Likewise the windows all have hobnails at the corners, hammered half way into the sills and bent over.

   No sign of the cat anywhere, as the group steps inside, though perhaps that's not surprising since Luke and Alex are also here.  The place is welcoming, with a large fireplace, bookshelves crammed with all manner of books, interesting knick knacks, book ends, and curios.  Along the walls are hung unusual paintings, strange statues, and exotic masks and weapons from some of the many places the old professor visited.

  Luke, peering out one of the windows, momentarily catches a flicker of light (most likely a lense from binoculars, camera, scope etc) that leaves him almost certain, that someone (or something) is outside watching the cabin!

Luke wandered away from the window, casually.  He started looking around ... and when he came to some notepaper and pen, he wrote a little note:
Spies in the woods outside.  Some way off with viewing tools. Place may be bugged too. Maybe we should all do this casual like, and not mention the item.   But let's keep chatting, eh

"So, how long have your family been living here, Moon?" he casually asked, as he showed her the note, and then Alex.

He certainly didn't seem to be panicking, or showing any real concern ... and was chatting away like nothing was wrong.
"Do you get TV up here?"

 "Professor Houk lived here for a few decades. I only have lived here 20 years. Dr. Houk took me in when he found me wandering in the woods, and no one knew who I was."
 She frowned at that memory. Not knowing who she was was a big worry for her when she was younger, but Jim had made her feel welcome and loved. He seemed to enjoy having someone around with a hungry curious mind. She was a bit surprised and disappointed though that he had a secret life she hadn't known of, if Rowan was to be believed.
"It's a bit dusty right now. I haven't been home much lately, what with traveling to those nursing homes with my animals to perform for them. I guess I should dust and clean some in a bit."
 "As for television, there's one in the basement and a sat dish in a clearing near the cliff face overlooking the river. It's actually hidden from the river below, as are the wind generators, the solar panels and the hydro generator."
 She slowly poked around the room as if checking for dust, not being obvious about seeking a hidden area. The cabin was very modern inside, though they'd still used old fashion techniques for many things. There were wood fueled fireplaces, and a built in bbq grill, an old farm sink in the kitchen with hand pumps at all the sinks in the house, though there was a switch on a solar water heater and a cold tap in the bathtub as well.
 "There's warm water in the bathroom, but use it sparingly. It's heated by a solar hot water system, with a reservoir, but it's not limitless hot water. There is a wood fired hot tub outside though if you need it. There's a toll for that though, you have to replace the wood used for the fires."

   Alex looks down at what Luke has written on the paper and gasps.  His eyes grow very wide and his bottom lip quivers.  He nods as he reads Luke's suggestion, even though he's still looking at the paper.  He begins to wander around the room as well, then thinks and asks:

   "Is there, by any chance, a computer?  There's something I'd like to look up...on my Face book, I mean..."  he laughs a little nervously.  He writes on the paper pad:

   Perhaps the professor had notes online about the mask?  I can see if I can find any relevant files?

   He tries not to look as concerned as he is, but unfortunately he's not a particularly good actor.

   Moon Child does not see anything out of the ordinary as she scans the living room for clues to any hidden place or area.  She does, however, find the cat, hiding under the professor's favourite chair.  The poor animal seems nervous, but pokes a whiskered nose out to see what is going on and to sniff the air suspiciously!

 She directed him toward an old desktop computer sitting in an alcove in the hallway. After turning it on for him, she went to coax Tabitha out from under the chair. Once the cat came out, she popped open a can of cat food for her, checked the dry food dispenser and autowaterer to be sure everything was fresh and clean. She also attended to the other undesirable cat related chore before coming back to the room where the others were.
 She opened a hidden dorm sized refrigerator and took out a diet soda, offering the others their choice of drinks in the frig.
 "Is anybody hungry? I'm sure there's some tv dinners and some shelf stable foods in the kitchen. And frozen food in the freezer."

As Moonchild didn't seem at all concerned about her spies, nor in looking for the mask until her pets had been attended to (something he couldn't fault her on), Luke decided to take matters into his own hands.

He wandered around the cabin, looking out the windows at the near terrain for a while, and considering.
When he'd figured out a plan, he slipped quietly from the cabin (by window or door) as sneakily as he could, and tried his best to stealth off through the local landscape towards where he judged the spies to be.

He hoped to catch them unawares.  'With their proverbial pants down' if he could ... although he hoped to avoid catching them this way in fact, as it would be highly embarrassing to all present.

 Since no one answered her, and some had wandered off, she pulled out the journals and started looking through them, then sat down to read them while the others were off doing whatever they wanted to do. When the cat came up and wanted attention, she made room for her on her lap and idly petted her as she read.

   Alexander called from his seat at the PC.  Now that he was in his element, he barely registered anyone or anything around him.  No matter how new or strange a place might seem to Alex, once you let him sit at the computer, he was in his own world.

   "No thanks Moon Child, I'm not hungry right now but...hey, Google news says there was an explosion of unknown origin in the Badlands, and that the army evacuated everyone from the area...wasn't that where we freed Luke, Malcolm, and Rhic from those weird Puppet Master creatures?"

   He continued to type away, opening window after window on the desktop, until he found what he was looking for...a hidden, password protected folder with an unassuming name.  He folded his fingers together and cracked them, then bit his lip, his eyes alight.  A computer challenge was something he could understand...
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:01, Sun 15 July 2012.

   Slipping out of the cabin, Luke makes his way and quietly through the shadows and into the trees surrounding the place.  With as much care as he can possibly manage he traverses the thick vegetation in the direction he believes he last saw evidence of surveillance.  The gibbous moon, playing hide and seek amid the sea of clouds, gives very little light...

OOC:  Roll me D100 please Luke.  You want forty or less :D




   Leafing through the Professor's Journals do not immediately seem of much use...at first.  About half way through the daily notations of random thoughts and theories, snippets of poetry, drawings of various indigenous inhabitants whom Jim had met in his travels, Moon Child comes across some passages of interest:

   July 18th, 2000

   Found something very unusual at the Shawnee Burial Site today. It appears to be a ritual mask of the kind traditionally used by the Shawnee medicine men to speak with the spirit world on behalf of the tribe.  I won't be able to discern too much about its origins until I have it dated, back at N.I.U. (Northern Illinois University).  From what I can tell, however, this fits the description of Tecumseh's Mask, given to him by his brother, Tenskwatawa the leader of the Ghost Dance faction of his people.  That would place the origin of this artifact somewhere around the early nineteenth century, I suspect.  Not bad for a day's worth of digging in the dirt I'd say.  I may be able to have a larger section of the Forest Reserve declared a historical site and protected from future development.  We'll just have to wait and see if its genuine, but I do admit to being quite excited at the prospect.

  July 19th, 2000

   I know its strange to say this, but I have the oddest feeling I'm being watched.  Can't say I have any evidence to support it, just a sudden chill up and down my spine whenever I leave my tent.  Its probably just my nerves, or my old body rebelling against too much manual labour.  I guess I'm not getting any younger, a fact that my Moon Child reminds me of on an almost daily basis.  I called her today, just to see how she is doing; I get so anxious when she's alone by herself, even though I know she's an independent and resourceful child.  I should hopefully, be finished up here and back to her before the week is out though.  I think she would prefer I simply come home at night, but it just makes more sense for me to be here, with the work crew.  They expect and need my guidance.  I asked Leslie to look in on her, make sure she didn't need anything while I'm away this week.  I really am getting too old for this sort of adventure though.  Archaelogy is a younger person's game I'm afraid.

July 21th, 2000

   I was right in my assumptions, I have been under surveillance!  I came home tonight to find my tent had been ransacked, and not by a hungry animal, as one of the Park Rangers tried unconvincingly to tell me.  This was a methodical search by an intelligent person, not some haphazard invasion by some desperate bear or raccoon.  Fortunately I have already had the mask sent off for testing, and I carry my journals in my satchel.  The sooner we get away from this Shawnee sacred site the happier I will be.  I'm a man of science, and I certainly don't believe in superstitions or curses, but if I was a more ignorant man I might jump to those conclusions.  I can't sleep, my eyes are playing tricks on me, and I keep having nightmares about drums whenever I do manage to catch a brief nap.  Even awake I swear I can still hear them, a primitive staccato that never seems to cease.  I've contacted the authorities concerning my damaged property, and they claim to be investigating, but I have my doubts.  Everything will be worth it though, if the Spirit Mask, as I am now calling it, proves to belong to Chief Tecumseh!  It will be a major find that will definitely force the review board to approve my continued tenure at N.I.U. until I am ready to retire.  I miss my Moon Child and I'm ready to go home.

MORE TO FOLLOW.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:25, Sun 08 July 2012.

The gibbous moon, playing hide and seek amid the sea of clouds, gave very little light.  Which allowed Luke to slip out of the cabin, and make his way quietly through the shadows and into the trees surrounding the place.
With as much care as he could possibly manage he traversed the thick vegetation in the direction he believed he last saw evidence of surveillance.

You rolled 19 using 1d100 ((19)).

The Lady seemed intrigued by his antics again, and favored him with grace and guile as he made his way.
In a silent prayer, he thanked her, and hoped to make the scene entertaining for her as reward for her faith in his actions.

   Peeking through the slender pine trunks, Luke can barely make out a group of, perhaps four shapes, perhaps twenty feet from him.  They are wearing some sort of dark cloaks with hoods, that blend in well in the dark shadows of the trees.  Beside one person's knee is a Coleman electric lantern, glowing very faintly on the dimmest possible setting.  Another figure seems to be watching the cabin with a high powered monocular, probably with night vision attachment.  Two of the cloaked individuals are visibly armed with Barnett cross-bows with hunting scope attachments.

   So far it doesn't appear they have detected Luke.  It is VERY dark, but if Luke gets much closer he definitely risks being noticed.

Luke had no intention of getting any closer.  Not to four armed men.

Instead, he reasoned, these men probably had a vehicle.  Probably somewhere close, but not immediate.

Carefully, he slunk away into the darkened, and went looking for it.  He looked for tracks away from the men's location, and followed those.

   Creeping away as quietly as possible, Luke hopes he remained unseen.  Tracks prove VERY difficult to find.  Not only is it pitch dark, but apparently these men were wise enough to hide most of the obvious signs of their passage.  Luke does, however, manage to find enough evidence of their route to give him a general direction to follow.  Not more than five minutes walk into the trees, Luke comes across two well camouflaged ATVs, along with helmets on the seats.
   Luke is momentarily startled by the hoot of a great horned owl in the trees above.  Its eyes flash in the darkness, like spotlights, and then it flies silently away.

 She kept reading the journals trying to puzzle out what it all meant. Then she'd try to figure out the hiding places. And she'd get the others to help.

ooc: so I had to go find out what an ATV was :-p

Luke smiled to himself.   Creeping under the net, he examined the vehicles for any signia or sign of ownership.   This included noting the Rego plate numbers.  He figured between Alex (the computer geek) and the FBI guy, the two might be able to identify the ownership.

Then, he quickly went about significantly disabling each by Remington or permenantly damaging something that these men wouldn't have a spare part for.

If radio equipment was attached, Luke checks the channels that the equipment is tuned to also.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:59, Mon 23 July 2012.

   After the last entry, Moon Child notes that several pages are torn out of the journal.  It then continues almost two months later...

September 18th, 2000

  They want the mask, why do so many desire this antique?  I've brought it home with me, since it is clearly not safe at the University.  It would seem there is some Native group desperate to acquire it, and after my visit from that peculiar young lady, Ms Rowan O'Shae, I know who they are, though I wouldn't have believed her two months ago.  Nunnehi, a name right out of Shawnee legends, absolutely extraordinary!  I have done research into methods of keeping the Fae from entering this house, and various protections, charms, and folklore associated with the same.  Much of it is contradictory and nonsensical, but evidently iron is effective in deterring them.  I am fascinated by the existence of these creatures though, its a scientific find of immense significance!  Another species of intelligent beings co-existing with Humankind throughout history.  The implications are staggering, if I can only research this more.  I have to prove this to the world, in spite of Ms Rowan's misgivings.  They need to know.  I will keep my promise to her, not to tell Moon Child what she suspects, at least for now.  If Ms O'Shae is correct, my dear MC will find out for herself in time.

September 25th, 2000

   I have hidden Tecumseh's Mask where it will be safe from now on.  I locked it up securely in 'old grey' and wove a charm around it I think will be effective.  Thanks to Rowan, I've learned to fashion chimerae, an application of the mind with incredible possibilities.

   "Seal this Mask, within old grey, where men cannot go, nor Faerie stay."

   I'm becoming disturbingly good at this magical stuff.  There is, in fact a science to it, patterns that make me believe it is merely another form of energy that Humankind has not fully explored yet.  Who could have believed that the imagination was capable of shaping a new kind of energy; could create such powerful and useful items?  And that they would have substance to those whose mind was attuned to them?  No one but the Changelings, they have kept their secret like an Old Dragon guarding his trove, but that will change of course, when I reveal Fae kind to the world.  My colleagues may think I've gone off the deep end, but I will be vindicated in the end!

    October 29th, 2000

   Moon Child is off to the circus for a bit, and I had to slip into my Secret Room to check on the Mask.  Its odd, but I swear it whispers at times.  I know that's impossible, or perhaps not.  After all, I am dealing with an entirely new realm of energy and I cannot be certain yet what is and is not possible, since I have not yet established the parameters of magickal physics, as it were.  The Mask seems safe enough, and yet I cannot keep from feeling it is still not safe, even here.  I suppose I am still disturbed from my visit by the Monsignor, who seemed, somehow to have learned I might know where Tecumseh's Treasure can be found.  Of course I told him nothing, I didn't trust him anymore than I trust anyone with it.  It belongs to me and they cannot take it from me until I have finished my research!  They are all determined to be the first to exult in this WORLD ALTERING scientific revelation, but they won't, because I shall get there first and then they can all do with it what they will.  I am nearly finished with my thesis, its going to be controversial, of course but I will not be dissuaded.
   I am going to tell Moon Child about this tonight. We'll have one of our long talks (has it really been that long since we last had one?) and hopefully she won't be too angry with me.  I never meant to keep this from her for so long, I simply needed to be able to prove the existence of the Fae and their Glamour before I could go public.  I believe that she will underst.....

   It appears the Professor was interrupted at this point in the journal.  Moon Child sees blank pages beyond this entry, but nothing further appears to be written in them.

 She reread them several times, then sat thinking for a long time. Finally she got up and went to go through Jim's study to see if there were any hints in there. She looked for the others on her way, to invite them to help her hunt, but upon not seeing any of the others, she frowned and went to the study to hunt anyway.
 "Hello? Anybody here?"

   OOC: Glad you found the info.  They are one of the best choices for a vehicle in this sort of forest terrain.  Of course I had anticipated that I might end up having a chase with you and the mysterious watchers on the ATVs, but that was only one possibility, and sabotaging them totally makes sense, nicely done.  I love clever players :D

   Although not a mechanic, Luke is quite certain, once he is finished, that these ATVs aren't going anywhere now.  He finds no sign of communications equipment, and the plates on the rear of the ATVs simply say MAJCON 1 and MAJCON 2 respectively.
   A quick movement, a shadow in the pale moonlight, catches Luke's attention.  Peering around he sees the trees and bushes around him alive with eyes.  Owls, perhaps one hundred or more, are sitting on every available branch and bough around him, large eyes gleaming in the darkness.  Luke smells the scent of something burning, a sort of sweet smoky scent, and from all around him he begins to hear drums...drums and voices chanting.
   Swiftly five of the owls fly down from their lofty perches and transform as they touch the earth.  Silently the avians assume a more human form, sleek, sinewy, well muscled bodies, skin almost copper tinged in the dim light.  Each wears a long feathered cloak and a carved wooden mask, decorated with feathers and paint, and none seems to be more than five feet tall.  Long raven black hair falls around their shoulders, and they stare at Luke with accusing eyes.

  "Taku WAY neeyah eh COHN lay?" says one of the owl-men, in a husky voice?  His tone is brusque and demanding.

OOC: ROLL me a Luck Roll please, Luke?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:20, Sun 05 Aug 2012.

   The Professor's study looks much the same as Moon Child remembers, everything exactly as he left it.  His dark hardwood desk neat, his computer on the left as he preferred it.  Pictures of himself, Moon Child and Ben sitting on the right.  Painted coffee mug he'd picked up from a dig in Vancouver, Canada beside the computer.  His favourite high backed chair, covered in smooth burgundy leather, was a few feet from the desk, as if the Professor had just gotten up and pushed it there, to return at any minute.

   Bookshelves lay behind the desk and to the left, filled with volumes of all kinds, along with various knick knacks, bookends, and statues that James had gathered over the years; all slowly gathering dust from lack of use.  The walls above, between, and opposite the bookshelves are nearly invisible behind the array of pictures, exotic ornaments, wood carvings, weapons, shields, certificates, framed articles, and masks hung like portraits of beloved family members.  In fact there are numerous masks upon the walls and over the mantle, but none resembles the raven mask attributed to Tecumseh.

   He was always an organized man, even when overwhelmed by material, he always kept his study neat, having frequently complained that a messy workplace was far too distracting.  And so all is quiet, and ordered, perhaps a tad cluttered, but neat.  All the memories of a man who had seen and experienced life, and clearly loved it well.

   And all is just as silent as it has been since he'd left.  Not a soul answered Moon Child, except the cat curling around her ankles.

   Alex however, comes up behind her, his footfalls echoing down the hall as he follows her.

   "WOW, what an interesting room..." he says, peeking over her shoulder.

'Majestic Constructions'  Luke thought to himself.  'So why are you buggers watching the Professor's place?'

He was about to leave, when he noticed the owls.  So many owls. What a Hoot.


Then, and this shouldn't have been a surprise, they turned person-like and began squawking ... only, Luke didn't know the same squawk they did.  He wanted to squawk with them, because they looked kinda angry about something.
But then, that was owls, wasn't It.  Have you ever seen an owl that DIDN'T look like it was scowling at you, disapprovingly?

Luke smiled, shrugged and raised his hands, in the time honoured body language of 'me no speaka owlish'.
"I don't suppose any of you gent's speak Los Angelese, eh?"



- rolled 26 using 1d100. Luck roll, as requested.

   PM

   Luke actually recognizes, not this particular dialect, but the family of languages to which it belongs: its definitely Northern Amerindian.  Studying these Owl men more carefully, he can discern there similarity to Native American youths.  The masks they wear resemble ceremonial animal masks Luke has seen used in various tribal rituals, and the smokey scent in the air is burning sage and sweet grass, herbs you've seen Medicine Men offer to the spirits.  Even the drumming has a distinctly Native rhythm!

   The Owl Man who spoke first beckons with one long coppery arm, and another, thinner Owl Man steps up beside him and answers Luke in a young boy's voice, tinged with anger.

   "I know your speech, 'Walks in Shadows'.  This is Heart of Fire (he indicates the other Owl Man) and he asks why you destroy the White Demons' machines?"

Luke was starting to see a picture forming here, but he needed time to make the pieces come together.

"Greetings, Heart of Fire," he said, bowing his head in respect, then "I destroy the white demon's machines because they smell, and make me sick.
They make the air sick, and the plants sick, and the animals sick. And that's just these machines; other machines rip at the earth, make great nasty gashes.
Let these white demons walk home, I say. Let them get some exercise for once".

Of course.  The MajCon guys want the Mask also.  It's a powerful bargaining chip with these guys ... maybe more.
They can't find it themselves, so they'll let someone else (namely us) find it, then try to take it from us.

"Besides, I beleive that they want Tecumseh's Mask. Not to return it to its people, but to use it as a focus for their magics ... to manipulate and control.

They are no friend of mine.  Even if for no other reason, I destroy their machinery because I oppose them" he said.
It was a risk; if the owls were in league with MajCon, he was just digging himself deeper.  But if their was any tension between the two, maybe he could be seen by these owns as, at least, a resource against the corporation.

   Spying the Professor's computer, Alex smirks like a child who has just found where his Mother hides the cookies.  He turns to Moon Child and asks:

   "Would you mind, terribly, if I peeked at the Professor's computer?  I'm sure there are all kinds of interesting things on there."

 "Ummm, ok, sure, if I can watch you. I don't know what's on there. I've never spied on him, but there may be something in there that you wouldn't know was strange, ok? I hate to pry, but we need to know more about the mask, and if there's something in there, we need to find it. Thank you."
 She pulled over another chair and let him take the one behind the desk. She sat in the one she brought over, then reached over and turned the computer on.

   Alex eagerly sat down and booted up the Professor's computer.  Immediately a pass word request window pops up and Alex nods.

  "Shouldn't be too difficult for a techie like me," he says smugly and begins trying various passwords.  Each time he does the same message comes up on the monitor, the face of the Professor looking around and his voice inquiring:

  "Is that my Moon Child?"


   On the fourth try from Alex, he is STARTLED to see a tiny dragon form, hovering above the keyboard.  Its scales glow green, as if it was made of light, and it snaps at Alex!  "YOU ARE NOT MY MOONCHILD!" Exclaims the computer, in James voice.
   Alexander de Marest, computer wizard extraordinaire jumps back in astonishment, and is subsequently chased around the room by the tiny emerald dragon, its tail leaving a trail of light as it flies...

  "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH MOON CHILD, GET IT OFF ME, HELP FOR PITY'S SAKE!" wails Alex, although the dragon hasn't actually done him any harm so far as Moon Child can see.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:13, Sat 18 Aug 2012.

   The Owl Man speaking with Luke turns to Heart of Fire and translates for him into the Amerindian language they speak.  There follows a heated discussion among the Owl Folk, but Heart of Fire seems to have the final word, and gives his terse reply back to the translator, who then addresses Luke:

   "You are a strange man, Walks in Shadows, and you say the words the Nunnehi want to hear, but do they come from your heart?  My people are doubtful, but Heart of Fire, son of Blood Feather, speaks for you, and says it brings him joy to see you breaking the iron horses of our enemies.  Heart of Fire says your deeds will sing the truth, not your clever speech.  You know of the Spirit Mask of Tecumseh, sacred to the Nunnehi.  If you are truly the enemy of the White Demons, you will know what to do with it when you find it.  Heart of Fire has spoken, the Nunnehi will leave Walks in Shadows in peace...for now, but we will be watching."

OOC:LUKE ROLL A LUCK ROLL  1d20 succeed if you roll your Luck Roll score (7) or below.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:53, Sat 18 Aug 2012.

- rolled 1 using 1d20. Luck roll (7-). And again, the Lady smiled upon her Fool. 'Dance for me,' she whispered in his Mind's Ear, 'Entertain me'.


Luke smiled, and gave a respectful bow to the head man, the one to whom he'd been introduced to as Heart of Fire.
"It was a pleasure meeting you. Please thank Heart of Fire, and those he travels with, for me", Luke said.

Then, now dismissed, Luke turned and walked off into the shadows ... for, apparently, that was his way and his name.
He couldn't help but smile to himself; and although he felt like whistling a tune as he slunk away, he opted instead for stealth.

He gave the MagCon guys a wide birth as he headed back towards the cabin.
And he was acutely aware of the owls that watched him from branch and wing, like spirits of the night.

He remembered Owl was a powerful totem among many indigenous tribes: a spirit of death and rebirth, if he remembered correctly. And of swift travel and the silent kill.   He remembered something about a secret cult called the Silent Striders ... who travelled the lands, never having a home, but always bringing death and war to the evil in the world.   He liked the sound of that.

And these Nunnehi, these shifting owl warriors.  He liked them also.  He felt more comfortable in their presence than among the pretty Fae that had first met them in this forest ... although, if he could bring a friendship between them, he felt so inclined.

Soon, the lights of the cabin twinkled in the near distance, through the trees.

In reply to Alexander De Marest (msg # 32):
 "No, it's the Moon and you are the sun! Who else would it be? Oh, there's Jade! Hi Jade. How did you get out of the computer?"
 Caught almost against her will by the greeting, she of course answered as she always had as a child, and later when she came home from college and he greeted her at the door. She smiled briefly with tears in her eyes. She couldn't help wonder where he was and if he was ok.
"Here Jade! Come here!" She didn't know if that would work, or if jade was real or an illusion, but she seemed to grow slightly bigger even as she watched. She sure didn't fancy a full grown dragon being unleashed! A tiny palm sized one was enough!

   The green dragon chased Alex around for another minute or two, then flew back and alighted on Moon Child's shoulder.  She weighed nothing at all as she perched there and snorted with self satisfaction in the direction of Alex.  Moon Child can see up close, a slight haziness, a fading at the edges of her form that suggests an ethereal nature.
   The computer meanwhile, begins to hum and the monitor lights up as soon as Moon Child speaks the familiar phrase aloud.

  "Voice recognition confirmed.  Welcome MoonChild, I leave all that is contained on this machine to you," the computer says in the professor's voice.  Instantly numerous windows begin to appear all over the screen: folders, files, documents, videos, and icons displaying all of Professor James' research and personal information.  One folder in particular catches Moon Child's attention, it is entitled:

   Fae Treasures- Accumulated Data on the Spirit Mask of Tecumseh the Shawnee Chief

   Alex came, cautiously back towards Moon Child, but stopped when Jade's head snaps up and it growls at him warningly.  He cranes his neck, trying to peer around Moon Child and her pet to see the computer screen.

   "Well, that's certainly not something you see every day.  The dragon is an interesting touch, how is it done, some sort of holographic projection perhaps?  So the Professor has an advanced Verbal Command program, my my; well played Professor, well played indeed."

   He makes no attempt to move closer to the computer, but his eagerness to play with the now unlocked PC is evident.  Alex almost twitches with anticipation, but one look at the tiny dragon keeps him where he is, five feet from the desk.

   As Luke gets near the cabin, he realizes how fortuitous it was he chose to be stealthy on his return.  In the pale moonlight, he sees two of the MajCon men having taken up positions on either side of the Cabin Door.  One is armed with a high powered cross-bow, the other with what appears to be some sort of staff that looks oddly like a tall Christian cross...except that the top tapers to a sharp point (like a pole arm, the medieval partisan or svardstav).
   Neither man APPEARS to have noticed Luke...yet, but they make it almost impossible for him to approach the cabin, any closer than the forest edge, without being seen.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:53, Sun 26 Aug 2012.

"It's nothing I ever saw before. I knew he said something about a dragon program, but I thought it was that speak and type one. And this little beauty was only a 2d programmed avatar in the computer before."
 "Well? What are you waiting for? I think I gave the correct answer. Try it again."
 She went back to stroking the mini dragon, which felt as real as real could get! How was it possible? Unless...it really was real?

Luke grimaced.
He slowly crouched, in the darkness, as the two men both faced the door.

He waited.  As they entered, he was sure that both men would be focused on the interior before them ... and if he waited till the second was entering, he figured it unlikely that they would notice someone behind them charging.

If all went well, he might just, with the Lady's favour, take out two armed opponents before they realized that he was descending upon them.

He waited there, in the darkness.

   Alex makes his way around Moon Child and Jade, watching the dragon warily, then sits down at the computer.  Already, however, the monitor is flashing and opening a program with complex equations scrolling across the screen.  These equations suddenly spin and then suddenly Jade, sitting in Moon Child's hand, begins to recite a preprogrammed speech with Professor James smooth baritone.

   "The Spirit Mask of Tecumseh is a very powerful Fae Treasure.  It allows the wearer to communicate, via what can only be some sort of psychic connection, with the denizens of an alternate reality the Kithain call the Spirit World.  After several enlightning experiments, I have finally come to the decision that it would be best if returned to the Nunnehi, and then forgotten, for humankind is not yet ready for this kind of revelation.  My journals, along with any other material relevant to this artifact, should be completely, and irretrievably destroyed.  I trust you, my Moon Child, you'll do what is best; you always did have a better moral compass than I.  Would that I had had the sense to listen.  You can find the mask in my Special Room, a Chimerical place I created for this purpose.  All you have to do is close your eyes, and reach out for it, and believe with enough intensity to activate the magical energy associated with it.

  YOU CAN UNLOCK ANY DOOR, IF YOU ONLY HAVE THE KEY...remember that, my Moon Child.  I hope, someday, if we are fortunate enough to see one another again, that you will find some way, in your heart, to forgive me for this mess I have left you, which I acknowledge, beyond all doubt, is completely and unequivocally my fault.  Good luck, and know that, in spite of all appearances to the contrary, I do love you dearly, and always will..."

   Then Jade disappears and the screen goes blank, despite Alex's attempts to reboot it, the computers does not restart.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:15, Fri 07 Sept 2012.

   As Luke watches, one man holds some sort of commuication device to his ear and has a brief, heated conversation with whomever is on the other end.  Since they are speaking in hushed tones (in spite of the anger evident in whatever topic they discuss) it is very hard for Luke to make out what they are saying.  Also, oddly enough, they do NOT converse in English!

   OOC: d100 roll please Luke, if you'd like to catch any of their conversation.  If you roll forty percent or less, then read the spoiler below:)

 

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"Sciunt nos sumus hic. Sunt currus corrumpetur. Nunc adgredientibus. Fratribus nostris venire cito. Nos mos exstirpamus his profanum abominationes ex mundo, et deleant sua daemonum larva."

---

   Once finished with his call, the man speaks quickly and quietly to his partner, who is kneeling down and working on the door.  He takes out a piece of chalk and draws several odd looking signs around the frame of the door, then anoints them with some liquid from a vial in his pack.  Once completed, he says quietly, but very firmly:

   "In nomine Deus, aperire hoc ostium!"

   The strange symbols glow softly at the mention of these words, as if reflecting the moonlight, and then the door clicks open!

 She listened to the professors words with tears in her eyes, for she missed him terribly. Then she tried to do as he said. She closed her eyes, and tried to still herself well enough to sense the doorway to that special room he mentioned, reaching out as best she could to try to open the door as he'd said.

'Eei Aye' Luke thought to himself, 'mojo and tech. Crap'.

Still ,he waited till they were entering, and had their attention on the interior before making his move.


ooc: how far does Luke guess he has to run to get to the door? Please

   Alex watches with amusement as Moon Child closes her eyes and then reaches out into the empty air.  He is forced to swallow his derisive reply, however, as her fingers find an invisible knob and pull it towards her to clearly reveal a portal into another room.  It is dark within, and there is the smell of old wood, and dust, and also a hint of...sulphur?

   "That's not possible, it defies every accepted physical law!" Alex stammers incredulously, but the fact is he cannot deny the doorway that has appeared in the middle of the air!

OOC: Luke guestimates the distance at no more than fifty feet.  Note that the two men have not entered yet, but obviously intend to do so immediately. They will enter before Luke arrives, unless he does something to distract or deter them from doing so:)

 She opened her eyes as her fingers felt the knob that her eyes couldn't have seen, but now that she had touched it, she believed it was there, and so it was. She pulled the door open and stepped forward, peering into the darkness waiting for her eyes to adjust.
 "Let there be light please." She tried commanding a light, since it couldn't hurt, and would merely make her seem foolish if it didn't work. But with the little dragonette and the hidden room, and the other things she'd seen, she had to believe it was possible.

indeed.  Luke intends to wait until the two are actually entering ... when their (presumably) entire attention will be focused INTO the cabin, and they are least likely to notice any activity behind them outside.
He hopes to catch them unawares.

 

   Moon Child's footsteps echo as she steps into the Chimerical Room.  Calling for light has an immediately reaction, as every candle, lantern, and sconce in the room is instantly lit.  At the far end of the room a large hearth sparks up, its warm fire giving off a golden light.  In the bright glow that now pervades the enormous room, Moon Child can see the place is made of a dark grey stone, rather like an old baroque castle. Numerous arched alcoves are set into the walls, each one housing one of four characters: A Prancing Unicorn; a Roaring Manticore; a Watchful Wyvern; and a Laughing Faun.  A large weathered looking oval table, which takes up a good third of the room, rests upon a woven carpet of red and gold.
   There above the mantle, its painted eyes gazing across the room at Moon Child and Alex, hangs the Spirit Mask of Chief Tecumseh of the Shawnee!

 She looked around with shock at the room that looked as if it belonged to a castle somewhere. She slowly walked along studying the creatures in the niches then stepped over to the mask. She reached up and carefully took the mask off the wall, studying it as she did, and trying to sense any power or danger coming from it, without actually trying to "invade" the mask's inner space.
 She wondered what to do with it now she had it. Maybe she should take it back to that fae girl and ask her to call those shawnee fae to come get it.

   Alex came cautiously forward to stand beside Moon Child, taking a break from examining the unusual room to look at the mask with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.

   Moon Child can feel the raven face mask almost vibrate in her hands, the worn smooth wood is warm against her skin, and the large eye-holes seem to her as if there is some spark in their depths, a faint light that begins to swirl like mist and glow...

OOC: Moon Child, please roll me a Luck Roll, which is 1d20.  A successful roll is your luck roll score, which is 8, or less.  Good luck.

   Scanning his surroundings quickly, one of the MajCon men slips silently into the cabin while his partner guards his back.  This lone sentry then follows about one minute later, cautiously entering then starting to close the door behind them...

   OOC: No worries my friend, I just wanted to make sure I had described the situation adequately as I've had GMs before who did not and it was very frustrating.

It was as the second man turned his attention into the cabin, and began to move, that Luke made his own.

As quietly as a run could be made, Luke dashed from his spot among the shadows, making for the door.

But he had to modify his plan, now.  As the two MajCon agents had separated themselves somewhat, attacking the second would only draw the attention of the first ... who would be out of Luke's reach.

He decided instead to tail them for the moment ...


when he got to the door, he stopped, with his back to the nearby wall, and took a quick look in through the doorway, or a nearby window, to update himself on the enemies location.

 She looked at the mask, closely noting the details and how the wood was worn smooth, and how it was detailed in it's carving, the feathers seeming to almost seem real, how the eyes seemed to follow hers where ever she looked, almost as if there were a real spirit in them. They sparkled and seemed to glitter, drawing her in deeper and deeper...

22:08, Today: Moon Child rolled 15 using 1d20. luck roll.

   Luke peers through the tall window beside the door, noting that the sigils placed on the door frame by the MagCon agents seem to have vanished without leaving any trace.  Inside he can see the two men, carefully combing the ground floor in search of Moon Child, Alex, and Luke.  They are quite thorough, and careful not to make any noise, treading carefully and deliberately, surveying the area for any sign of danger.  They slowly make their way towards stairs and begin to climb them, their backs to the door as they do so.

Luke realized that he wasn't going to be able to 'jump' these guys.
But Alex and Moonie were upstairs, obviously ... and very likely unaware of these men.

Luke made a decision.

Opening the door, with no attempt at stealth, he called out loud enough for everyone in the cabin to hear, "Gentlemen. You can put the guns away.  You are too late".

He wanted their attention on him ... and he wanted Moonchild and Alex to know that there were men with guns here.

   Moon Child feels something odd as she holds the mask, a strange vibrating of the mask in her hands, then a surge of something, like electricity that races through her from head to toes.  She has an overwhelming desire to wear the Spirit Mask and she does so in one smooth motion (having failed her luck roll:P ).  Once she does so, the situation goes from strange to bizarre!
   Once the mask is upon her face the ENTIRE ROOM CHANGES, in fact it is almost like a second scene is superimposed over the earlier room.  She can still see the faint outline of the Professor's room, but now there is something entirely new overlapping it!  Everywhere Moon Child looks, there are strange glowing energy...beings, in more shapes, sizes and textures than she could ever have imagined possible!  There are small man shaped beings that seem to be made of wood, piles of bricks that somehow move with stunted, human-like motions, glowing birdlike beings that seem like they are made of pure electricity, and glowing spiders crawling all over the place where the Professor's computer is in the 'other room' ; constantly moving arachnids that pulse like a computer icon...and Jade, the small dragon, sitting on the desk watching her.  Even the books fly about the room like odd paper bats.
   Alex is only a dim outline, though there is a large being INSIDE of him, something bird like, its wings folded around itself, as if awaiting some signal to burst forth.  Within Moon Child herself, she feels something stir, a glowing energy of some sort.

   Jade speaks to Moon Child once more, with the Professor's voice, his inflections and even his word choices, but the tone is somehow different...sadder:

  "Welcome to what the Shawnee once called the WANAGIYATA the Spirit Land.  It is aptly named, for everything here is made of some sort of spirit, literally everything!  I call this place the Umbra, the shadow of the physical world in which we exist.  It is actually an unimaginably vast continuum of which the Dreaming itself is but a one of many realms; it is a place of pure possibility.  The mask is a conduit, a portal, but it may only be activated by someone who is aware of the potential for spirituality, someone attuned to the energy known as magic, like a Shaman.  It is remarkable, but not unexpected, that you can utilize it."

   Both of the men, genuinely surprised, wheel around to face Luke, astounded by his complete lack of concern for his safety.  They quickly regain their composure however, the man with the cross-bow bringing his weapon quickly up into position.  The taller of the two men steps forwards and holds up his right hand towards Luke, his partisan (sort of long spear) switched to his left hand, his features sad .

  "Peace of the Lord be upon you, figlio mio.  You have been possessed by the demons that abide in these benighted woods, but fear not.  They shall be exorcised from you, cast back to the Inferno from whence they came.  Brother Angelo's aim is always true.  His bolt shall find the demon's wicked heart, and shatter the fetters that sunder you from Him.  Do not struggle my son, but surrender to His will, and let Divine Grace restore your soul to you, that you may come unstained this day unto the Kingdom of Heaven."

   He steps towards Luke (he is about fifteen feet from you now, his assistant is twenty or so) his hand making the sign of the cross as he recites: "In Nomine Patri, et Fili, et Spiritus Sancti..."  Behind him the cross-bowman annoints his bolt with a small vial of holy water...
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:20, Sun 21 Oct 2012.

Luke was flying by the seat of his pants right now.
He hoped that Alex and Moonchild, wherever they were in the place, were now clued in to the enemies presence and wouldn't be caught off guard as they would likely have been otherwise.
He also hoped that The Lady was watching him; and was entertained enough that she'd swing things in his favour, if only to see what he'd do next.


Luke smiled at the men, "I'd suggest, friend, that as this place is wired with hidden camera's, you might not want to do that.
Might I" he said, spreading his hands in a friendly and unthreatening manner, "propose an alternative plan?"

It occurred to Luke that he had only his initial assumption to link these men with MajCon.
Maybe they weren't MajCon! They certainly weren't acting like assasins from a major mining corporation ... well, as Luke would image such anyway.   And you know what they say about assumption: makes an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'mption' (or something like that).

"There is a meeting that I know your bosses are going to want to know about.  And it'll serve me for you to witness it also.
If you can restrain from exorcising this little fish here and now, you'll have the opportunity at much bigger fish instead", he concluded; as he graced them with his best 'used car salesman' smile.


Of course, he was also happy to dive flamboyantly backwards through the open door that stood behind him now, if it became apparent that his rouse wasn't working.
At least, he hoped, he had given Alex and Moonchild enough warning, and preparation time, to get themselves safe.

 "James? Are you there? What is this place? And why can I use the mask when it belongs to the Indians?"

 She looked toward Alex then did a double take when she noticed the animal spirit inside him. Then she looked down and saw inside herself a ghostly horse-like form of a pearlescent hue, slender of leg and dainty of hoof, radiantly glowing. She gasped and wondered what amazing thing she'd witness next!

 The spiders were amazing and she hoped they didn't indicate danger, because she was fond of non-poisonous spiders, but had a healthy respect for the ones that were venomous! She always removed those from around the house and barn!

 The other more bizarre things were truly strange and somewhat unnerving! What on earth were the brick stacks anyway?

 "The Spirit Umbra? Are you sure I just haven't slipped a cog or two instead? And where are you James? I see you as a small flying lizard or dragonette. I thought Jade was female, but I guess I assumed wrongly."

 She swallowed a lump in her throat and tried not to show how worried she really was for him. He was all the family she really had left, she feared she'd lost him when he hadn't returned!

 "James, are you alive somewhere?Or have you passed over to another realm? I miss you very much! I wish I could see you as my James! Are you trapped somewhere? Maybe we can rescue you!"

   The MajCon man hesitates for a moment, gesturing for the other man to hold his fire.  He stares intently at Luke, his brown eyes searching, the spark of interest within them is intense...and his expression is a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

   "You have seen the very nest of these unholy devils?  Figlio mio, you are indeed blessed, it is a miracle you live after an encounter with such merciless creatures!  And so I wonder...why are you willing to lead us there, to even dare  return there yourself? Is this some manner of deception meant to ensnare all of my Order?  Answer me, I charge you, if still you heed the Holy Name of God!"

21:09, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 9 using 2d6. Reaction roll "MajCon soldier"( Reaction rolls are done on 2d6 so I rolled surprisingly well for you).
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:12, Sun 28 Oct 2012.

Luke looked the man in his eye, and considered him a moment. Then, somber and true, he answered,
"Sir, I do heed the Holy name of God.  I do.
And that is why I hope that, as his servants, you can help me.

Why will I return to their presence, you ask? Because, friend, I must.  They have a hold that I cannot break.
And I thank the Lord for sending you to me, for you may just be my salvation.
THAT is why I am hoping that you will return and witness for me the event I must attend.

But understand, I am bound against leading you there," he finished, "So you must follow me against my wishes ..."

And with that, Luke sprang out through the open doorway, and began to run like the spirit of Jackalope; hoping that the two men would follow.
If they even remotely believed him, maybe they could not, in good consciounce tho their god, let this opportunity slip. And making them give chase, now, would both deny them any further, immediate backup, and might give Moonchild and Alex a chance to escape this predicament.

   The two men appear confused, and the one who had been speaking seems about to reply, when Luke suddenly sprang out the door!  The MajCon agents are on their feet and pursuing quickly, out into the dark night and even darker woods.

   Meanwhile, inside, a startled Alex watches from the top of the stairs.  He tries to make sense of what little he has witnessed of the exchange between the strange men and Luke.  Concerned, he runs back to MoonChild!

Luke attempted to outrun the men.  He really did want to loose them in the woods.
Luckily, the fact that they had followed proved that they had believed him, and wanted to be led to Luke's apparent rendezvous ... so if they caught up with him, they would then hang back, presumably ... which would give him further opportunities to outrun or loose them.

In essence, this became a test of stamina.  And Luke had always been an athlete.

   Jade watches her, eyes never blinking, then shakes its head, speaking again with James voice. "Male, female, these things are not relevant to the incorporeal denizens of this realm, Moon Child.  Spirits may manifest in whatever aspect it is most useful for them to be.  As I said, James is not present, in fact he is quite lost in the infinitely enigmatic Umbra.  I am his spiritual guide, his totem so to speak.  I am with him now, and yet I am also here with you, such is the nature of the Umbra."
   Jade flies up so that it hovers before Moon Child, looking directly into her eyes. "One day, perhaps, you will come and find him, and bring him back beyond the Mist, to your mundane world once more, but not now. You are not yet prepared for such an endeavour.  The Umbra is a place where reality is mutable, and many things long forgotten by modern humanity resides.  Ancient things, terrible things, hidden here and forgotten, things that you are not ready to face.  You are but a Fae Childe, newly awakened from her Chrysalis; to the wonder of Glamour and the potential of her own Magick.  James was like you, a Lost Childe, who is only now beginning to truly understand his own heritage, his destiny."

   Alex shouts for Moon Child, his voice echoing in her ears, as if he called her from somewhere far away.  There is an urgency to his voice, a tremor of anxiousness, of fear.  Within the young man, his spirit totem wavers and becomes misty and indistinct.

   "You are needed by your friends.  The Mask of Tecumseh you wear is desired by many, and it is for you to decide who shall be its bearer now.  The Kithain are in very grave danger from a very determined enemy.  You have the power to aid them now.  Return to your world, now wiser than before.  Any do not fret, for one day you will return to this place, and you will not need the mask to do so.  You are Fae, and the Earth is not their true home.  We will speak again, Moon Child.  When you are fully ready to return, give your Totem Spirit its name and it will guide you here.  Farewell until that fateful day is upon us...and you will be welcomed home, Lost Childe."
   In a flash of emerald light, the dragonette disappears.  The Umbra is gone, and Moon Child stands in the Chimerical Room, holding the Spirit Mask as a frantic Alex speaks up behind her:

   "We've got company!  A group of men who were in the cabin, and just chased after Luke when he ran out.  Are you okay, you look sort of...strange?"

 She looked around for somewhere to hide the mask, but feared it would do no good. She tried to get her mind back to the here and now away from the spirit guide. It was all too confusing to deal with right now!

 "What? Where? Yes, I am ok. But how do we keep the mask safe if there are people wanting to steal it? Oh dear! Come, there has to be a way out of this mess. Do you have any suggestions? if they've gotten in, they had to have broken the protections here. I don't want to risk using the void gun again while our friends are out there somewhere and would be left behind. And I'd fear where we'd go, we might not get back."

   Luke has a slight head start on the MajCon agents, but they are hard on his heels, seemingly intent on catching him, although they never quite seem able to close the distance.  In fact, these men, although apparently tireless, appear burdened in some way, so that Luke has a very good chance to evade them amid the trees, in the dark of the deepening night.  Eventually he can no longer hear or see them, having lost them some ten minutes back.

   Alex looked back towards the door to the Chimerical room, the door that lead to Professor James study.  He was fighting to keep his composure, clearly whatever he saw had unnerved him.  He turned around and replied with as much dignity as he could muster:

   "Moon Child, the men left, running after Luke, but I'm pretty sure they will probably send more, at least I would if I were after an ancient freaky Indian spirit mask I suppose!  We can't stay here that's for sure.  I think we need to go back to the Changeling's Tree and ask them what to do with it, they have more experience with these kinds of things don't they?"

 "Oh, they left? That is strange isn't it? But yes, we must take this to them at once! Come, let me close this door and we will go while we can!"
 She closed the door and sealed it before turning back to him holding the mask in her hand. She grabbed his hand and went out of the room then out of the house as fast as she could. She looked around for the men, but didn't see them. She stopped only long enough to try to lock the door again behind them, then headed toward the tree.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 04:00, Mon 03 Dec 2012.

   Alex follows, looking around nervously while Moon Child locks the cabin.  Its dark and cool, with a gibbous moon silvering the treetops surrounding the old place.  Somewhere nearby an owl hoots ominously.  Alex looks nervous, and taps Moon Child on the shoulder.

   "That mask gives me the creeps.  let's get out of here before someone else comes looking for it."  He then realizes that Moon Child is already moving purposefully and runs after her, not wanting to be left alone.

=======> link to a message in this game
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:41, Fri 30 Nov 2012.

This message was last edited by the GM at 06:04, Sun 10 Mar 2013.

 She led the others into the cabin, if cabin you wanted to call it. It had some modern amenities, and appliances, as well as old fashioned backups. It had solar, and wind generators, and hydro electric from a creek down the hill, but it also had a wood burning furnace situated outside and down the hill slightly, that fed into a basement area. It had old wood burning fireplaces, as well as gasoline powered generators for winter, when things got really icy. It had stored dried foods smoked by them and also canned and pre-packaged things from survival stores. They were prepard for nearly anything, including the unthinkable. There were even 1 or 2 escape tunnels out from the cabin just in case of fire.

 "Make yourself at home. There's deli meat and cheese in the frig, and produce if it's not too wilted. There's cans of soup in the cupboards, and breads in the freezer and the frig. There's bunks in the basement, and a bathroom there and one up here."
 "Meanwhile, I'm going to go find My cat, so don't let him out please. If he's still in here."
This message was last edited by a game editor at 06:26, Sun 10 Mar 2013.

Yuri prosaically hunts down vittles and works to make a rough stew (with enough for all) with what he can find.

While working, he gestures around.

"Who owns all this?  Her?" He adds, nodding off in the direction Moon Child went.

Think it was her uncles place." Rhic Replies as he looks through the fridge and makes a couple of sandwiches, offering one to Yuri as the man cooks. He opens a container from the back of the fridge,makes a face and puts it back hurriedly. " I don't know what it was... but it's on it's way up the evolutionary tree as we speak."

  She's a nice enough girl, smart, kind of quiet...But after what we've been through she's not bad to have around."

Yuri finishes off his makeshift stew, which proves to be decent, if not exactly gourmet cuisine.  After everyone who wants to has eaten, and Moon Child has found her cat under the desk in Prof's old study, the fiveof you are sitting around in the living room and contemplating everything they've been through thus far.  Strange alien puppet masters, changeling faerie children and ancient religious societies, not to mention weird native spirits and old secrets, time ships and portals to weird places just seems a lot to swallow in such a short time.

After he finishes his bowl of stew, Yuri thanks Moon Child for her hospitality and turns to go, mumbling something about being safer back in mother Russia.  He adds, however, that if you ever need a good mechanic, to look him up, and he writes his number on a scrap of paper and places it on the table before he goes.  He does not look back.

After some time, Alex who has been playing with his iPad, blinks, and its almost visible, that moment when his revelation strikes.  He looks at the rest and says:

"I think I know where Charlotte hid her ship, the one she mentioned.  I think she left it at the university!  I can't believe I was that dumb I didn't see it before.  We need to go and find it before someone else does."

 She was slowly eating her stew, chewing on the fact that Yuri seemed not to want to be around her for some reason. She was a bit miffed, because all she had done was take her pony and other animals to visit an old folks home when it all hit the fan.
 She looked up at Alex with a puzzled look.
"How do you figure that?"

"It's worth checking out." John spoke up as he sat down with a bowl of stew and a mug of coffee. He looked over at Alex hoping he could better explain his hunch." I'd like to see if we could find it. There might be something in it that can explain whats going on."

Alex met their questioning gazes with a sheepish grin.  As he starts to think back, he furrows his brow unconsciously.

"Something Charlotte said to me when we were captives of those crazy Puppet Master aliens.  I was asking her if we could make a break for her ship so we might get out of that place and she answered:

'Oh, my ship isn't here.  Its carefully hidden so the annoying, but thorough Mario'Nek won't think to look for it.'

I asked her where it was and she smiled that odd quirky smile of hers and replied:

'There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry –
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll –
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human Soul'

"That's a poem by Emily Dickinson, I do know my nineteenth century poets, well fairly well anyway.  I didn't quite know what to make of her response at the time, I may have been a little distracted.  But I know that she came to the University to find me, Luke told me that's where he met her.  More importantly...
There's a Emily Dickinson Wing in the University Library!  That's got to be it right?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:28, Mon 14 July 2014.

" Well, that is as good an idea as any." Rhic nodded and took a bite of his stew. and repeated the poem to himself several times." It make sense even if it's a bit thin to go on."

Luke had eaten heartily of the stew ... some might even suggested rudely.  Not in his manners, but just the pure quantities imbibed.
But he was in good spirits, and chatted openly about 'the adventure'

Oh, it was weird as hell, and he was as confused as anybody about the events ... but something in it all had ignited the spark of escapade within him.

When Alex made his revelation, Luke grinned.
"That's true, that's where she found me, before she died, in my arms.

Well, I'm up for the next exciting episode.   And besides, these woods creep me out. Let's get back to the man-jungle", he smiled.

"But I guess a good night sleep here won't go astray, first, eh!"

"I guess we can search there, but how will we know where to look? Surely there's a load of books to search through."
 She got out a cherry pie and a chocolate cake in case anyone wanted dessert. She sliced herself a slice of Cherry pie and added vanilla ice cream to it after heating the pie in the microwave.

"You keep feeding me like this you'll never get rid of me." Rhic smiled and laughed as he dug into a slice of pie and ice cream himself." we'll head out in the morning, I want to give everyone time to freshen up so we don't scare the librarian to death dragging in like we just fought a war."

Alex gleefully helps himself to a slice of each, then chows down happily, talking while still eating he replies:

"Yeah me too, sweets are my kryptonite.  And I don't think we'll have to search through all the books, Moon Child, hopefully she's left some sign of where it might be. I mean its a ship, how many places can there be to hide it at the library?  Anyway I agree, it can wait until the morning.  I need my 7.25 hours of repose after all."

 "Ok, well, pick anyplace to sleep but the room where My Uncle slept. He may be back some day and I don't want to disturb too much there, ok? There's a loft at the top of the stairs, and a room below that, then there's several hidden beds that pull down. I'll show you after we finish eating."
 She slowly finishes her dessert off, enjoying the fresh cherry taste and the flakey buttery crust and the rich butterfat ice cream.

Luke appreciated the dinner and bedding, and thanked Moonchild.

When he hit the sack presently, he fell asleep quickly, and deeply.

 She went to her own room and lay across the bed, looking up at the moon shadows upon the ceiling, coming from the mirror where it reflected the moon beams and tree shadows. She had always loved the moonshine and the stars she could see from her bed. Basking in that glow, she fell to sleep.

The next morning, Luke was up bright and early.
Quietly, to avoid waking anyone, he crept from the cabin and took himself for a refreshing jog through those gorgeous woods, to work up an taste for breakfast.

 She woke up early too, but went to her favorite spot in the woods to meditate. Mostly just watching the creatures near a pond formed by a spring...with birds and with dragonflies, and butterflies and wasps seeking minerals in a muddy area near the spring. A nervous doe came to the waters edge to get a drink, lifting her head up quickly to look around when a squirrel dropped a nut from an oak, and when a wood pecker hammered at a tree nearby to get at a grub perhaps, or maybe to build a nest hole. Overall, it was serene, with little bits of fog still lingering, and water dripping from the limbs after condensing from the fog.
 After a bit, she slowly arose and went back to the cabin, picking some fresh berries along the way, then picking some melons from the small garden inside the protected garden to eat for breakfast.

Once everyone has roused, the four neophytes sit around the Professor's old solid oak table to discuss their plans:

"Okay, well Antioch University where Luke first met me, and Charlotte, is in Seattle Washington, which is to say, not exactly around the block," says Alex, still slurping on his fourth glass of orange juice.  "Its a long drive (about thirty two hours from our current location) or a much shorter plane trip, though I'm not sure I have the money for the plane ticket, I am a student after all.  So then, road trip?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:34, Thu 31 July 2014.

 "I suppose so. That's a long drive. I guess we could fly if you want to. Maybe charter a plane, or go commercial. Unless you all want to drive, but it will take longer. It's all up to you."
 She nibbles on her berries as they talk, after offering everyone some.
 "There's cereal and milk, and ham and eggs. We should finish off what's fresh and freeze what we can, since I have no clue when we might be back, if we come back, and if you all are still traveling with me. But know that as long as we are traveling this road together, this will always be home base, ok?"

Luke nodded to Moonchild, "That's very generous. Thanks.

And I'm up for driving.  I also am not well off enough for wings".

In fact, Luke seemed impatient to be on the move.

  "Morning folks" Rhic sauntered in, looking rested and relaxed after a good night sleep. pouring a cup of coffee he diverted to the fridge at the mention of eggs and ham. In a few minutes the sound and smell of frying eggs, onions, peppers mushrooms, and ham, filled the air.
    "Well I'd say the drive would be a good chance to relax,see the country, and get to know each other. However, thanks to Uncle Sam, I can fly a chopper, and a fixed wing...I can about swing a charter if I can make a few calls...also I need to swing by a sporting goods shop to resupply, and rearm."

 "Ok, that is great. I have a Dodge Ram with club cab I can use, so we can ride in comfort, and we can carry food with us to cut down on stops, though I will admit to needing bathroom pit stops here and there. I refuse to pee in a bucket!"
 "Lets use some of the food we have for picnic meals. Ham sandwiches, egg salad, bologna, hot dogs... Hey Rick, put some eggs on to boil if you wouldnt mind, and slice up the rest of the ham. We will pack it in coolers, along with juices, sodas and water." She calls out to Rick.
 "You can go through the closets in the hallway upstairs. There's some clothes in various sizes for the occasional guest who might stay a few nights and not have changes of clothes. There's even some new packages of socks and undies. And backpacks in the storage unit by the back door."
 She jumped up and went to that same storage unit to pull out coolers so she could drop them into the walk in freezer to chill before she added ice.

   Alex almost spit out his orange juice at Rhic's suggestion.  "Rhic, I appreciate the offer, and I'm not saying that it wouldn't be kind of cool, but I think we need to keep just a bit lower profile on this.  I can just see landing a helicopter on the Antioch campus and having to explain to the University security.  'Oh, its okay officers, we are just here to pick up an abandoned Time Ship, and then we'll be out of here, m'kay?'"  He laughs at the thought and then takes a bite of the sandwich he made from eggs and ham.

   "I really think the Dodge Ram is a wiser, if slower, choice, at least this time."

   Rhic put on water and got out the ham to get to work." I think we can handle all the basics of supplies pretty easily...However I would feel a lot more comfortable if I could at least replace my .45...I get the feeling we'll have to deal with more problems before we get clear of this little dust up...and I'd like to have at least some basic protection if we do."
   He laughed at the image of of trying to sweet talk the campus police after touching down." I had planned to land at the airport and take a taxi... although it'd be worth it just to see the expression on the campus cops face....but the truck it is."

 "Professor Houk has as .45 and a rifle, and I have a 22 rifle  if we need them. And we have that weird gun thingie too. I also have a compound bow though it's boy size, because, well, I'm not very big or very strong. But I can shoot the broad side of a barn as long as it holds still."
 She started making bread and ham sandwiches, but left the condiments off except for barely enough mayo to keep the bread from glueing itself to the ham. She bagged them up in single bags and placed them all in large gallon zip lock bags in case the ice melted. She dumped ice in the bottom of the coolers, and added blue ice packs on top of that then packs in the ham sandwiches. She added cheese and a few other things with the ham that might be desirable like ketchup and mustard and relish and single packs of horseradish sauce. Lunch meat went on top, with loose leaf lettuce. The other cooler she added in ice and drinks.
 When the eggs were done, she chilled and peeled them, then chopped half the eggs to make egg salad. She made sandwiches of that as well and placed them in bags. The rest of the eggs she put in a container in case the others wanted hard boiled eggs.
 She also gathered up peanut butter, nutella and 2 kinds of jelly and loaves of bread for when the ice ran out. She took them out to the truck when they were all finished, and packed them in the back. She gathered up the guns and placed them in the gun rack, along with ammo.
 Lastly, she went to pack up clothes and a few other items along with medicines, bandages and anything else they might possibly need in an emergency, like dental floss, needles, thread, space blankets, leather throngs, first aid kits, survival manuals, spare shoes, even gloves and coats. You never knew where you would end up with that gun thingie. She spread the most important items across all 4 backpacks.
 Lastly, she changed clothes, into jeans, tank top, tee shirt and a long sleeved shirt that belonged to the professor. She stuffed her pockets full of anything she might need as well...pocket knife, water proof wallet, cash, cash cards, credit cards, and various other items. She ended up loaded but in an emergency she could run and leave almost everything else behind, just grabbing a backpack on the way.
 "Ready when you all are. We can put these back packs in the back wrapped in a tarp." She rinsed the last few dishes off and put them in the strainer. After filling several jugs with water, she turned the water off in the house in case of broken hoses, then took the jugs out to pack in the back of the truck.

  John found the .45 and the rifle, cleaning both after taking them out back and test firing both. returning with a nod to Moon child."the professor seems to know how to take care of a gun."

   He helped her pack, lugging the packs out to the truck and situating them so he could easily slip the rifle under the packs to keep them out of sight without causing problems. Smiling as Moon child finished her preparations. "Looks like you've packed for a road trip before."

 She laughed lightly and nodded.
 "Yes, I went to college you know, so that was something I had to learn to do. Pack tightly and neatly interlock things so I could get all my things in the car and in the dorm once I arrived there."
 "There's enough room in the back seat for one person to lay out in the seat if someone needs a nap. There's a mattress in the storage area as well if you think we might need it to sleep on along the way. There's two tents and sleeping bags there as well. The mattress we used in the truck bed and spread a screen net over the truck sides to keep the biters out."
 "There's cargo nets to keep the cargo back there from sliding around or blowing out, and a tarp to keep the rain out if we pass through storms. And there's 2 spares, one under the bed and one against the cab. There's even 2 tire patch kits in the tool box if the spares aren't enough."
 "Oh, and grab the axe, the machete and the fishing poles. There may be a camp site with fishing along the way. That could help save money if it's tight."
 She went back inside to grab the fishing worms from the old frig and put them into a small soft cooler with some cold blue ice units that were chilled but not frozen. She took that out and put it behind the drivers seat within easy reach.
 "Time to saddle up! I'll lock up as soon as you all have your stuff in the truck and are ready to grab your seats. How about I drive until we reach the interstate then someone else drives a little while, and we switch off until we get where we want to go? I know this area best."
This message was last edited by a game editor at 02:26, Sun 10 Aug 2014.

While the others prepared and packed for the road trip, Luke skipped out with the keys, and did a cursery mechanical check of the vehicle.
The steed was going to carry them a long way, in as short a time as possible, and so he wanted to give it a quick service; check that the essentials were in the right place.

Then, he joined the others inside again. He washed up, and checked for any spare clothes from the stash Moonchild had pointed out.

"Yeah, I vote for a mattress in the back. We can roll faster if we take turns on the wheel and the matt", he said.

Alex walks over to the table and swipes the last piece of bacon.  Grinning he says,

"in that case, according to time honoured traditions I am declaring SHOTGUN!"

Turning he runs towards the door.

==> ANTIOCH CAMPUS
This message was last edited by the player at 02:13, Sun 10 Aug 2014.

 "If you call shotgun, that makes you navigator, or map reader once we reach unknown territory!"
 She laughed as she followed him out the door. Once everyone was loaded up, she locked up then got into the truck and buckled up. She started the truck, found a good rock station, then took off down the road.
"I will drive until we reach the interstate then someone else can drive a little while, and we all switch off until we get where we want to go? I know this area best so I will start, ok?"
This message was last edited by a game editor at 02:43, Sun 10 Aug 2014.

Luke was about to argue; as far as he knew, the 'time honoured tradition' dictated that one must be within line of sight of said vehicle before one could call it.
But then Moonchild added her own rules, and Luke decided to let Alex win this battle.

He followed out, and claimed the mattress as his, pulling out his "Jackass Annual: Meeting the Lords of Creation" magazine.

When Moon Child started the truck and found a good rock station, Luke smiled.
He lay back, and let the miles roll by.

When it was his turn to drive, he'd be ready and willing.

                       ---> Antioch Compus

 She entered the cabin and cleaned out the frig of perishables that weren't in the freezer, then gathered up her few cherished items she didn't want to leave behind in case she never came back. As she packed up, she considered the note she would leave in the hidden place where such things were usually hidden in case James came back. She sat and wrote a letter to him then sealed it into an envelope, then placed it in their mail spot. She hoped it wasn't too sappy, but she didn't know if she would ever see him again. It made her sad that she hadn't seen him for so long as it was.
 She gathered up her things, including some favorite books, even the ones she'd read in grade school. They had been a part of her personality development as she was growing up, and still colored her world after all. She sighed as she looked around her home one last time, then locked the door behind herself. She headed toward the little stable behind the cabin to get her morgan horse Ben, and her miniature horse Confetti Lady. She wondered if there was room for his saddle and her cart and tack too. Would she even have a chance to exercise him and drive her cart once they were in the tardis traveling who knows where?
 "Come on Ben, Lady and Minx, time to head out. I have to come back to get the feed and hay and cat food and litter boxes and other supplies, but first we must get you settled in. Good thing you are barely the size of a dog Lady! At least you will be able to walk around and visit Lady. With your tail covering of course."
 She delivered the animals to their new quarters then spent several minutes ferrying the hay and straw and rubber mats, meds, tack, feeds, boxes and litter, hoof picks and curry combs and brushes and all the various items she might need for the creature comforts of her pets to the tardis.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 03:23, Mon 23 May 2016.

Luke wasn't ecstatic about the idea of having animals on board; but with a sigh, he helped Moonchild load her whole life.

He hoped the TARDIS (or at least the common areas) weren't destined to become a barn.
He wondered if the TARDIS has a barn area already; or if one could be refurbished.

"Come on fella, mind yer step." Rhic coaxed as he helped with Ben, and hefted The horses saddle and onto his shoulder. Then easily hefted bales of hay and sacks of feed, one n each shoulder without strain, with a practiced ease.Smiling to Moon as he helped, grabbing items out of the Barn that might be useful. "Lucky for you I'm an old school farmboy....evidently more old school than I thought."

"It'll be nice to have some friends along for the ride."

"luke you know anywhere we could pick up a couple of bikes, some good solid offroad models, maybe a couple of Harelys.

OOC:  Rhic you have a very odd feeling as you are standing in the barn.  Like an electrical jolt through your body, and it seems familiar...

Rhic dropped the sacks of feed and reached into his jacket the grip of his .45 just under his fingertips.His thumb snapping off the safety as he stepped clear of the others and looking around for the source of his unease."We have company."

"Come on out, I know you're there."

Luke was considering Rhic's question, when the old man went onto high alert.
And Luke trusted Rhic's senses; the guy might be old and crusty, but his skills didn't seem to have rusted at all.

As Rhic moved away, drawing his gun and called out, Luke moved gracefully into a more covered location; looking around for trouble, he picked up a nearby pitchfork.  Now, it only he had a burning torch, he'd be ready for any monster!

 She stood in the stall, forking straw around on top of the rubber mat that helped cushion the floor of the stall to prevent stress on the horse's legs and hooves, she looked up as Rhic started talking loudly, and pulled out a gun. She didn't have a gun on her, but she had a nice shiney pitchfork, and a thousand pound horse that she had trained to do tricks, like airs above the ground. And Minx would attack strangers who acted hostile to her.
 "What's up Rhic?"

"My spidey sense is tingling." Rhic explained cryptically as he glanced toward Moon.He walked slowly looking around for an edged weapon then dismissed that idea with a snort." Someone very much like me is skulking around out there...and I'm not sure he's friendly..and if he ain't there's gonna be a fight, a nasty one...."

"You mean like big argument, or a legal fight? Cos I know a good lawyer if you need her", Luke said, emerging from the shadows.
Looking around, he noticed the ladder up to the barn loft; and quickly scampered up it.

" I mean gunfire, swordplay, and someone's head ending up on the ground...or splattered all over the wall." Rhic replied smiling wryly.And continued to explain as he kept a wary eye on the surroundings."Back there at the end of the car chase, I took an amulet off of those guys. They're called watchers..I've heard of them before...sort of crazy cult that believes there are immortals running around in the world... yeah like the movie about the guy with the sword and all that "There can be only one"...Then I  get told I have been around for centuries....A few seconds ago I get the feeling someone like me is watching us..."

"And with the way things have been going, This guy may think he has to chop my head off to win the big door prize...I plan to object strenuously to that plan..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:48, Tue 24 May 2016.

He strode into the light slowly, yet not timidly, but with a confident, careful gait, a warrior's gait.  He was tall, well over six feet, and his body was stocky and muscular, though he covered it in a well worn charcoal long coat.  The wrinkles around his eyes, furrowed brow and receding hair made him appear to be about Rhic's age, but his pale hazel eyes gleamed with a youthful fire. A silver crucifix on a fine chain caught the light as he stepped forwards.

He glanced towards Moon Child, and up to where Luke was concealed in the loft.  Then he turned his arrow sharp focus back to Rhic, steady and curious.  He stopped a respectable distance from them, perhaps twenty five feet, hands at his sides in an easy stance.  Then his lips curled in a slight smile.

"Pitchforks?  firearms?  You will have to do better than these, if you mean to object as strenuously as you propose, John Rhictor."  He replied, his accent old European, and familiar to Rhic... most likely French.

"I am armed, broadsword right side sheathe, but you know this already.  Fear not, I do not bring you harm, not yet.  I have seen many things in my time upon this earth, but you are indeed special.  I have chased you a very VERY long time and I find that oddly intriguing...

I digress, however, another matter needs to be addressed first.  You flaunt the Rules, John, speaking so freely to your pets here.  You know mortals are not supposed to know of our existence, although your companions are no longer entirely mortal, so perhaps there is a loop hole there, yes?  Or is it just possible that no one has ever instructed you?  That you are not aware of who, of what you are?  Yes, that would explain a great many things."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Sun 29 May 2016.

"What are you talking about stranger? And how did you get in here?"

 She put one hand up to place Ben's right cheek as he hung his head over her right shoulder giving the man a suspicious look, ears back and teeth barred. I f the guy moved with hostile intent the horse would likely lunge for him with teeth and hooves!
This message was last edited by a game editor at 05:06, Mon 30 May 2016.

In reply to Xavier St Juste (msg # 113):

"If I decide to object, you won't be able to do a damn thing about it...I get the feeling a bullet to the heart would just slow you down," John motioned for him to raise his hands." It's hard to use a sword when you can't walk." John added with a distinct absence of humor.

"Now, Mon Ami, you have me at a distinct disadvantage, which is never a good idea when it comes to me..I'm a little OCD about evening up the odds.

"I've got some suspicions about why I have memories I can't explain running around in my head...Why I have watchers tailing me....and why you're carrying a sword.....Now you wouldn't mind dropping the theatrics, and just supplying a little information would you...It would save me both time patience and ammunition...because right now I feel no obligation to play by anyone's rules but my own."

This message was lightly edited by the GM at 05:17, Mon 30 May 2016.

"What am I talking about?  You should really ask your friend, for he knows much more than he tells," he replies to Moon Child.  "Maybe not as much as I had previously thought, however."

He glanced over to Moon Dancer as she questioned him and smiled seeing Ben's head on her shoulder.  He seems unconcerned at the stallion's aggressive behaviour.

"Hmm, that is a fine horse, Mademoiselle.  Stallion, still young; I'd guess perhaps fifteen hands, maybe a bit more, yes?  A black Morgan.  A very sturdy and intelligent breed."

At Rhic's command, the stranger looks back to him once more. Slowly, the he raised his hands. though his eyes never left Rhic's.  If he was frightened in the slightest, he gave no sign of it.

"No theatrics, mon ami, I will supply truth, for truth.  Allow me to go first, since I do value my knees after all.  What you suspect is indeed the truth.  You have in you, the blood of the Accursed.  You are an Immortal, though you have not yet truly embraced it."

 She narrowed her eyes as the stranger accused her friend of knowing more than he let on. But that was a way to sow discord between friends, she knew. She trusted Rhic and believed in him. She wouldn't let the stranger cause trouble!

 "If you just came here to cause trouble, you can just leave! I don't need innuendoes and rumors break up friendships!"

 She held Ben back but mumbled quietly..."and he's 16 hands."

"I haven't been keeping secrets, just avoiding getting locked up as a nutter..."

"Well locked up as a nutter again....seems that bad dream about my stay Highgate wasn't a dream." Rhic let out a dry chuckle and seemed unphased by the announcement. He reached with one hand took out a Marlboro and put it to his lips, the move made without looking away from the man. he fished out a gold plated zippo and lit his cigarette.

his finger tapped against the side of the lighter  slightly as he seemed to be in thought.
"Guess I won't have to quit now..... Now that you have told me that, let's move on to why you are here..."

Nodding respectfully to Moon Child, the stranger replied.  "Ah yes, sixteen hands, your pardon Mademoiselle.  He is indeed a beauty.  Have you ever wondered what he is thinking?  I can teach you, if you wish."

He shook his head as Rhic lit his cigarette. "Tsk tsk, Rhic, a bad habit is still a bad habit.  As to why I am here... curiosity mostly, mon ami.  I have been around for a... long time, and I've seen many strange things, but you Rhic, are unique.  You ARE Immortal, Rhic, and it is time for you to embrace it.  We cannot simply turn our backs on what we are.  Others will come for you, they will be drawn to you, as I have, as we all must be in the end."

He spread his hands and bowed formally, indeed in a most archaic manner.

"But we must do things properly, according to the Rules.  My name is Xavier St Juste, though some call me, the Templar, I have been many things.  I swear on my life that I bring no harm to your companions.  I offer to teach you the Rules that you may survive the Game, according to our ancient custom.  Then, once that is done, we shall part amicably and be rivals thereafter.  I shall only offer this once, I do suggest you accept, mon ami."

" I have many bad habits, and I am not inclined to give them up just yet, as a matter of fact I will probably pick up a few more. to quote a movie "I have not yet begun to defile myself"....." Rhic chuckled dryly." I can't say I am happy to hear others will come looking. I'd rather not spend my days looking over my shoulder more than I already do."

"I am John Micheal Rhictor, I have had many names. I accept your gracious offer." Rhictor didn't bow or make any gesture other than a slight nod of his head." What is this game you keep mentioning....and why can't I just set it out. I have a lot on my plate at the moment. and it's a bit more important than some ..game."

 She was startled by the man's comments about reading her horse's thoughts. Would that be a good thing? Or would his thoughts be such as a baby's thoughts might be, mostly "Hungry" "Thirsty" "Tired" or "mad". And would she be able to sense what other animals thought too? Would that be a bit noisy? Morning cackles, tweets, whistled and every other bird song was already a bit noisy. Would they then sound like a farmers market hawking wares?
 
 "That might be interesting. Would it just be Ben? Or could I hear other animals too?"

The Templar nods to Moon Child, a searching look on his face as if he is trying to read her somehow.  He nods after a moment, seemingly satisfied with whatever he has found.

"Yes, you are ready to master one of the easier POWERS.  I believe ANIMAL SPEECH, being the first of the Beast Master path would suit you.  And yes, it would allow you to speak with any animal that can be understood.  Even lower life forms can be spoken with, though they may not have much of value to share.  Let me just show you how to increase your awareness.  You'll find the animals are talking all the time, humans have simply forgotten how to listen..."

OOC: Over the course of a week or so, between training Rhic, Xavier trains Moon Child thoroughly and she gains her first power.

Animal Speech
Range: The sound of your voice Time: Constant Uses: Constant
You may speak the language of animals and unintelligent beasts and monsters. While this doesn’t give you any control over them or make the conversation particularly interesting, you can use the skills in the Smooth Talker profession to influence them.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rhic, the Templar spends the bulk of his time training you.  He teaches you about the myths surrounding the origins of the Immortals, and about the Quickening and the Rules of the Game.  The Rules can be pretty much summed up as follows:

The Rules: the code of conduct under which the immortals play the Game, the Rules are strictly followed by (almost) all immortals. Consequences await any immortal who breaks a Rule

There Can Be Only One

Immortals must fight until only one is left alive. In support of this rule, immortals are subject to the effects of the Gathering, which forces them to seek out other immortals.

Holy Ground

Any place considered holy or sacred by any religion is a sanctuary and no Immortal can be attacked while there.  Breaking this rule has drastic consequences.

One on One Duels

No two or more immortals may attack another simultaneously, or interfere with an immortal duel in any way. While considered a major rule, this rule has no real consequence other than preventing other immortals from sharing a Quickening or gaining an unfair advantage. Thus, it is the rule most often bent or broken by evil immortals.

Lesser Rules

Beside the three major rules, immortals have the following commonly understood and accepted rules and customs:

    They must keep their challenges and affairs secret from the mortal world;

    Immortals normally do not fight or discuss their business in public. The only exception is within relationships, as immortals sometimes share the entire truth of their existence with their significant other.

    Immortals who "die" in public are expected to leave the area, in order to avoid contact with those who knew them.

    New / young immortals are assumed a brief "grace period" in which they receive training and protection from an elder immortal.

In addition, many immortals bind their own codes of ethics within the Rules, often issuing their challenges against those immortals who have offended their personal morals in some way or fashion.

The following link is, basically what the Templar teaches to Rhic:

http://highlander.wikia.com/wi...Immortal_Terminology

He also tells Rhic that there are other Immortals aware of him.  The Templar calls Rhic "The Rebel" since he first became aware of him as a soldier during the Civil War.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:44, Wed 15 June 2016.

During this week of downtime, Luke spent most of his time exploring the TARDIS:  it's piloting and navigations systems,  it's ngoneering and mechanical systems, and it's general layout.

Along the way, he realised that there was one man who could teach him what he needed to know; and probably (and only probably) the only man he truly trusted.
And so, one morning, he programmed into the TARDIS's memory and calander a note to himself, that the TARDIS would remind him in about 70 TARDIS years from now:
 >> Hey, Gypsy man, don't forget to get your worthless ass back to that week at the cabin, and lay your wisdom upon me <<


He sniggered to/at himself as he remembered what TARA told him earlier; 'I have a gypsy heart', how corny could you get!
But he did like the line, regardless.

rhic spent his time between instruction in the rules of "The Game", relearning old skills he seemed to have forgotten over the years, and writing down those old memories in a journal to try and piece his life together.

After one sparring session, he slogged into the cabin fished a beer out of the fridge, and leaned against the bar, staring down at the hilt of a sword projecting from his chest. after downing the beer he grimaced and withdrew the blade. tossing it to the side.

"That hurts more than I thought." He muttered to the others as he slogged back out to the TARDIS and returned with a large crate. and began to unpack sword, after sword testing each one. when he found one he seemed to like he sat down and began to rearrange his shoulder rig  and ammo belt, to allow him to carry the flat black hi-tech looking blade on his belt.


he waited till everyone was in the cabin before announcing. "Right now my best plan is to keep my head on my shoulders long enough to find Charlotte. But hell if I know how to go about that......anyone got any ideas about what to do next."

"Sure", said Luke, in his usual self-assured and relaxed way,
"after Charlotte left this TARDIS to come find me and Alex, TARA thinks she got ambushed.
When she found me, she was very wounded ... which collaborates.

But after I left her, as her behest, to find Alex, she vanished.
As likely as naught, it was us she vanished with.

I'm pretty ...", Luke paused a moment, for dramatic effect,
"AND, I'm  pretty sure I can get us back there".

In reply to Luke Statton (msg # 125):

"That is a good idea." Rhic nodded pulled don his rig, then pulled on a long duster to cover his weapons."If we can't find her ourselves we might be able to pick up the trail of anyone who a ambushed her."
He added a pair of "authority glasses" he had picked up off an agent and shook his head
"I've got to find a better way to hide all this...this screams "security come and search me?"

Xavier suddenly stands in the doorway.  Waiting until he is noticed, he quietly asks Rhic to have a quick word with him.  He then turns around and waits for him outside the cabin.  When Rhic at last emerges (assuming he does) the old templar turns to him and bows formally.

"You know, that which you need to know, Rebel.  From this point on you are on your own.  We may well be rivals when next we see each other, but I will hope rather that we shall meet in friendship, perhaps share a bottle of wine and a few stories.  It is wise never to trust anyone of our kind to far though; remember the first Rule, if you remember nothing else: There can be only ONE.  Do tell Mademoiselle Moon Child goodbye for me.  You'd think, after all these centuries, I would be better at goodbyes.  Farewell for now, Rhic... et bonne chance!"

Then Xavier walks off into the deepening evening woods, and is gone.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:11, Mon 20 June 2016.

"Bye! And good luck right back at ya!"

 Finishing up in the stall, she leads Ben out and takes him to the Tardis.

To Tardis >>>>>>>
This message was last edited by a game editor at 06:02, Thu 23 June 2016.

As its been decided to attempt a rescue of fair Charlotte, Luke headed off into the TARDIS to start preparing the 'flight plan'.


---> TARDIS thread

"I certainly hope we meet as friends." Rhic returned the bow. "So if you have to loose your head please find someone else to do the honors...If there can be only one I plan on it being me."

Rhic watched the man go shook his head ad headed to the tardis.

===> Tardis
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:16, Sun 03 July 2016.