post here and stuff

"Fallen traditions can be something one wants to avoid. If you ever want to try something other than piracy contact me, ok?" With that he tries terribly to display his contact information on his comm. "One last favour is there somewhere quiet that I can rest, I have much to meditate on."

<We have little to do until Aeon shows up we can return you to the station... or what is left of it, if you wish. You can rest in any of the quarters when you are ready but we should be arriving in 5 hours. Though I am not feeling so well, there is something wrong... I am trying to scan myself though with mixed results.>

"My rest will be but a small meditation, its just to keep my mind and soul in order."

"You can't scan yourself fully? Is there anything I can do to?"

<I may be been hallucinating... but it seams to have passed.>

"Right... Well if that happens again don't fear to ask for help. I owe you so much for getting us away from all that."

With that he makes his way to an empty quarters and meditates on recent events.

He sits in the middle of the room, his gear and weaponry against the wall away from him. He closes his eyes and enters a deep meditation.

<See Huoshui Seeking>

He eyes open, like they have never been opened before. The experience was like no other that he had experienced. That was a seeking he knew that much, and learnt so much more. The whole record had been open to him, in all its beauty.

So much had been revealed to him, that he was going to do something he normally tried to avoid. Act before thinking, he had meditated and tried to workout the next stage in his journey. He had found it, that much was true.

But now it was time to face the Dragon. He rises, grabs his stuff and heads off to meet again with Ms. Owusu.

The ship tells you it is looking over the events to try and find out what happened... also that it's not been that long... the seeking as long as it seamed took place in almost an instant after he fell into the trance. Finlay he's informed she's in the med bay.

She's in there helping some of the doctors tend to wounds.

Just before entering walking into the med room, he whispers to the ship "Do keep me informed if you find anything. As you probably heard from that Avarice man, We are trying to stop what could well be the end of days."

Huoshui watched as the she and the doctors tended wounds, waiting until she seemed less busy or it felt right to ask her for her help. He needed someone to help him meet again with Léilóng and the fera were renowned for their knowledge of spirit kind.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:18, Thu 06 June 2013.

<I am sure that Aeon would be willing to help with this.. if you would help her as well... we do need to eat after all.>

When taken to a private quarter and caught up she explains "Yes... I would join you save for my other duties. Autochthonia is a source of order that's grown out of balance and is growing to a frighting strength of power that U4 would use. It started with 3 sides I'm told... the number of sides have been increasing sense the dawn of time... now it's accelerating faster and faster and it is thought it will soon transcend such sides to only one... and become a sphere. We do not know what this will doe... but it can't be allowed.  ....  I was actually hopping you could help with that.... a stealthy ship could cut down on casualties, not that I am not willing to die for this but I do not want to see so many other people who are merely doing this for money to die for one of my mothers causes."
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:22, Thu 06 June 2013.

Concerned by her words but not fully understanding the meaning behind them. He did however understand the fear and worry behind them.

"Luci, I think we have found a job for you and your crew. Can you think of a stealthy ship our lovely friend her could use?"

With the jokingly talking to the room finished he turned to her with a serious face and said. "Can I ask one thing of you Ms Owusu, Do you possess the ability to send me to the spirit realm, or call a particular spirit for me. I need to have words with one called Léilóng, he was the one who said I was to witness what happened back at the station. After this I promise I will come back with you and help with the healing." he sighs and looks to the katana on his side, he was a man of peace at heart but so many souls had been lost. He needed to move forward with force so that others could be saved from whatever horrors these dark forces were planning. "I fear this is only the beginning and my part in all this has only just begun."

<I have integrated a stealth device and am capable of copping the spectral paters on my surface to allow simulation of physical invisibility.>

"So you found your dragon? The idea of the spirit realm is not so finite... there is simply a separation of spirit and flesh... out here it is not so much the case.... right now we are in the spirit world, on mars the spirit world engulfs the poles. As you would see it that is. There are many many realms all layered over each other, some take up the same space, others just lay over each other and have affects on eachother... it's all.... complicated. It is why navigation is valuable to all out here. I can help you get in contact with the spirit if you wish, I do not thin summoning it will be possible till you are ready to bind it. But I suggest you ask all that you will of it, once it binds with your flesh it will fall into a deep slumber."

"Right. Well I look forward to working with you Luci." He says with a smile, things were shaping up better now.

"Yes he did speech of a slumber. He also said he was going to share the stories of his people, so have much to talk about before the binding." Removes his pack from his back and the sword at his side, placing them at the side of the room. "So how do you get in contact with a spirit?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:53, Thu 06 June 2013.

"Meditate with me and I will help..."

She asks for the name and then sits down across from you, wrapping her wings around you as she starts to chant something sounding rather like an African tribal chant. It takes some time but a familiar mountain top scene is soon before you.

You are now alone with the dragon as he looks down to you.

Ah.... and who are you?
30 mins ago
Huoshui
"I am Huóshui Zuìquán. Do you not remember me Léilóng?"
27 mins ago

Are you now? *He lowers his head down to you the trioxygen  in the air from the breath out of his nose is almost chocking.* You are familar but I have not met with you before.
24 mins ago
Huoshui
"Do you jest dragon, I came here before asking for aid. You warned me of the coming of a beast and that I was to witness it leave its mark!" Huoshui had a mixture of confusion and slight annoyance in his voice. "I have witnessed this horrid event and come back to you." He stand proud and defiant.
21 mins ago

*He laughs some, quite frighul thing as loud as it is, and risses up again* That may have once been you, but you are not that person. This is a good thing young one.
17 mins ago
Huoshui
The beast you spoke of, I witnessed it level an entire city. We are currently still fleeing its wrath but we have survivors. If my experiences have changed me so much then so be it. I have also been shown more of the akashic record and my own past. Your guidance I believe had allowed me to do this. I come me offering thanks.
^I come offering my thanks...
13 mins ago

I only said what I exspect from you if you should be my chosen place of rest... may it be momentary or eternal. The path you walked and the destination you found are your own. We know the past, of the future I can only tell you in what derection way the streams of time flow.
12 mins ago
Huoshui
Do you also know of the man who sits behind the tenth seat then. I saw him after my seeking, when the akashic record lay before me, I was able to take glimpses and lessons from it. I feel he is related to all that has happened.
10 mins ago
Huoshui
You speak of knowing the past. He is older than anything I have ever sensed.
just now

I remmeber as far back as before the sundering... I do not know what memeories are mine or those of my ansesters anymore though.  I remember seeing him before the imperium before Cain became cursed. My brothren spoke of him being around even longer  they say from before the sudering... there are those that whisper he caused it.... though I do not beleave this.  Others say he is Ixon the man who first slayed his own brother. Others say he was the first human driven mad by his lonelyness. Others say he was the first of your kind created by dark acts and the pure ones became avatars out of fear of what he may become. What I do know... he is the first to have contacted Grandmaw and her children and sell his soul and even his name for power.


7 mins ago
Huoshui
You truly are wise great dragon. I fear that he is moving again, and that my path through this cycle involves this. One who shares the resonance type of the ones I battled before revealed to me that his master's plan is to stop the wheel and start it a new. My seeking revealed much to me about myself and my path. The more that is revealed to me the more it seems I am to do, I still seek your help with taking on the sin essence beasts but it seems that also this man behind the seat also has a part in all of this. You speak of the grandmaw and her children, what am I to look out for to find if they are involved in the plans I seek to stop?
3 mins ago

They would not be a part of it, it is in derect oposition to there goals. The grandmaw, her children, the unamed, and his alies... they all wish to brake the cycle to end it for good.
1 min ago
Huoshui
Well I can take some comfort in that the grandmaw would not be involved. Your kind is old and you have the memories of them, part of my seeking I was part of a grand war between two towers. My uh... form... was that of a blue hermaphrodite. Did your kind witness this as well?

just now

^He seams strained some laying down into the clouds rubbing his head around his horns with his fore legs.^ You strain an old dragon with such old memories it is not easy to remember so long ago and I am so weak and I grow tired. *He sighs* But yes.... it was the time of what you refure to as the second fall... the distruction of Babalon and the formation of Quaf. Lucifer wished to free his army from it's prison so they may help user mankind into its new civilization and prepare them for  the coming of the red star. Unforantly grandmaw and her children had tained the angels durring Lucifers long recovery. Thus demons were born onto this world, the tower was qiuckly distroied to prevent them from physicaly passing into this world... but they were free and many had already manafested... some far to powerful be ended and they were bound to places and items of power... they became the Earthbound many speak of.  The demons constructed a tower of there own lead by the most powerful of the falen. They whanted to kill all the humans that they had fought and fell for.  There was a band of hero's that fought along side the weakened Lucifer to stop them.
just now

It was a short and brutal war that many died in, including my own kind.

12 mins ago
Huoshui
"I am sorry dragon I did not mean to strain you. I am just trying to understand the visions my seeking gave me, I shall seek other means of understanding them. I just pray mine was the side against the dragon" *he chuckles as he says this*
"But yes Dragon, I come to you to again seek you power and help. I have done as you have asked and it seems I am to find more trouble in my path than I can handle."

(agenst the demon?)
10 mins ago
Huoshui
(yeah woops)
:P
("I just pray mine was the side against the demons")
4 mins ago
Huoshui
(having been a blue elf thing, really could have been anyside. but he trusts his avatar.)
just now

"Then hopefully we will see eachother again soon.  I do not beleave you wish to weaken your friend, and will have truble finding an alternitive due to the dificutly of the task. I can present you with an alteritive, Nerigal, prove your self in his arena and you will gain his favor, he can do what we sesk easly... though it will not be pleasent. Your friend can tell you more.....

5 mins ago
Huoshui
"You are right. I do not wish to weaken her. She has been through much..."

And your knightly friend is interested in the arena aswel.
Huoshui
he is?
2 mins ago

He beleaves Nerigal may restore his sword. The magic it takes to bind a spirit takes a grate deal of energy... to the fara this energy is not as easy to supply as it is to your kind. It would leave her weakened for months.
(perm gnosis)
just now
Huoshui
I bid you farewell and I look forward to our meeting again. I shall seek advice on Nerigal with her. Thank you Dragon as always it has been an education.

Returning from his journey still within the embrace of her wings. He looks at her and says "Thank you. The dragon has guided me once again."

Staring deep into her eyes he says but one word. In a more serious tone than she has ever heard him use "Nerigal."

She sits up and tilts her head some ears twitching lightly. "Guided.. Nerigal? .... We are going to.... he means the incarnation, well.... that is not an easy thing. I could take you, but he would prefer you go with out such guidance I think. He has a few names you might be more familar with.... Ares, Thor, Anhur, Akhnet... If you wish to see him you will have to travel to the (sothern/northern forgot which) pole and face his trails.... if you pass you will be given an audience. He is a warrior and respects strength... if you travel there you should not use your powers or hyper tech, he will look down upon this and send even more agent you. What ever faces you with violence you must answer with violence, and do not try and reason with your foes just end them... they are spirits and can not easily die in such such a way. Do not be fearful of him, but treat him with the respect of one that can end you with a glance."

He stares back at her his eyes burning with determination. "The dragon has again guided me to where my path must go, I am to seek the aid of Nerigal. He also told me that Kairos should meet with him, to repair his sword. When we reach mars, all I need then is for you to point me in the right direction. If he is a warrior I shall prove myself to him."

"I shall go as I am then. Use only the physical training I have gone through. My master taught me well enough to threat spirits will the respect they deserve." Placing one hand upon her shoulder. "I owe you a great deal and when I have met with Nerigal, I shall come back to you and we can go about sorting out this Autochthonia business. Seem fair?" The usual causal smile appearing on his face again. His recent experiences had left their mark on his soul, but he would never abandon a friend or leave a debt unpaid.

Rising up and holding his hand out to her. "Lets get you some rest, I am sure you need it. Do not worry about the patients, I shall help with that."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:08, Thu 06 June 2013.

She shakes her head some "Nerigal's ream is a harsh one and the realm it's self will test you. For one the tempature during the day is below what your body can handle, durring the night... you may parish even with your magics, you should take a shuttle or the like and wait till the temperature rises from the rising sun to set out with your warmest of wears.  The inter realm is clouded in a terrible storm that covers it the snow storm will never let up and you must push through it, past the storm is the wall of ice made up of much the same as the dagger I gave you... it can be deadly. All this just to get there my friend, it is not an easy task you have chosen."

He smiles back to her "Léilóng requested that we do the binding with his help. The spirits deserve our respect, I shall respect his request. Besides he has not steered me wrong so far." He takes the wrapped dagger out of his robes, looking at it. "I shall have to wrap up warm then and wait to set off as the sun rises."

"I appreciate the concern but I have given my word and made my mind." he places the dagger back into his robes. "I shall suggest it to Kairos, if you wish to be there to help point out the dangers that would be fine."

"I would be best if you went unguided. Knowing the danger you face, and having some one lead the way through it are two different things. You seek his respect so you must earn it."

"Well we shall just have to go it by ourselves, Reply aggression with aggression to spirits who attack and to show the proper respect to him if we make it." he sighs lightly, he knew she only meant well. She just wanted him to fully understand what he was going to undertake. "It is a trial, I fully believe I can pass it. If I didn't I would find another means to do what is needed. I believe in myself, why can't you? Has not this trial been past by others?"

"Yes... I have passed it myself with my bow. But if you fail you will likely die."

"Then I shall pass it with my staff." he says with force as he knocks it with his foot so that it falls into his hand. "and Kairos with sword."

"If the staff fails me, then with fist I shall continue the challenge." He grips the staff tightly in his scarred and wooden fist. "You too must have been warned of the dangers of the task, you did not turn away from the challenge. Why?"

"My rage was never strong, I was sent to the grate warrior so I could find it, and I was learned other things from him as well... such how to turn my rage into blood ice."

"I cannot say I understand your kind but it does interest me how you seeked rage where my order teaches control of such things or even elimination of it. You must have found great reward then from doing this, I shall seek the great warrior and prove myself to him. As you and many have before me."

"We are kin, but we are also tainted by what you call the ebon dragon. We can never be rid of our rage, and even if we could we would no longer be ourselves. Besides rage powers many of the gifts the spirits teach us. We need our rage but with temperance and there are times it must be unleashed. All fera from the war are this way... some more than others."

"What one may call a taint another might call gifts. It is how someone uses what we have, not how we were given it." He smiles, "Some of my fellow monks may well disagree but not everything is so simple as black or white." He clenches a fist in front of himself "The very form of Do I practice, in many schools is banned or worse. It induces rage, incoherence and other such normally undesirable traits in the fighters, but we few have seen the merit in unleashing and targeting Zuì Quán."

he pauses for a bit, thinking "Fera of the war? Which war, did you fight?"

"I did not fight... I am talking about the war of rage, long long ago. It was a terable time when the gauru beleaved they where gaia's chosen warriors and found others meddling in 'there' affairs blasphemous and sought to wipe the other fara out ...but it was also due to the fact none of us quite stood right with the fact they were enslaving humanity. Some people think it's just a dog and cats thing but they do not know of the past. Much like they do not understand it in the birds nature to share our secrets..... it is not nature that shapes our actions.... but the past that shapes nature."
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:13, Fri 07 June 2013.

"Wars from long ago always leave scars. Kairos and myself have history in ancient wars." He meant more the one from his vision than the war between their traditions, but both were valid. He was sure it was Kairo's chi he felt back then, he would have to confirm it later. For now he couldn't be sure.

"Even if the wars were eons ago some souls reappear at several points throughout history. I am not sure how this affects your kind but our avatars cross several life times." something about pasts and souls reminded him about what Avarice had said.

"Rare fera breeds, would this war have been the cause of there being some that struggle to survive while others thrive?"

"Yes and the dominance of others.... I can see your curious abut some things... I'm guessing why I say we are kin... You have given me the name of a dragon, so I shall share this story.  Long ago when men still lived in caves and the avatars first sparks of life awoken in there eyes there was one of the early mages who used what he knew to craft weapons and summon fire... he lead his people and hunted for them taking down game no human had dared to even try to kill before. He had hunted sabbertooths even, but they did not stand to be hunted and the strongest of them stalked and hunted him in turn attacking him near his home in the darkness of night. It was a long and grouling battle that nether seamed to have the upper hand in.  While they battled though a horid beast grown fat and with terable power feasting on the blood of the wounded ebon dragon attacked his people.  The mage broke off from the battle to fight the horrid beast, and they fought but the fight was short lived as the wounds from the battle with the sabbertooth left it's mark. So the beast turned on his loved ones, but surprisingly the sabbertooth was in it's way and would not let the best by. They fought and soon the mage recovered and joined fighting side by side with his foe to slay the corrupted horror. In the end they prevailed, but they had taken fatal wounds both and while tring to return to the caved they both collapsed and died side by side... there blood pooling together."

She sighs taking a breath "Seline, high in the sky, had watched the whole ordeal and began to weep. The power of her tears mixed with the pool of blood and rose the two mighty warriors as one. However she did not notice that the blood of the beast and spread out and a stream of it had flown down into the pool mixing with the blood of the warriors, tainting there reborn body with it's unspeakable anger."

"This is our story... why we protect the moon as much as the earth as well. For unlike most fera, born from gaia's power, we were born of Seline's .... though from blood mixed with the soil of the earth we still owe much to the earth mother."

"That is a truly beautiful origin story. I am most grateful that you have shared it with me." He bows low to her in a manner of respect. "I am in the early stages of trying to be accepted into the Karmachakra, an subsect of the Kannagara sect within the brotherhood. Scholars of the wheel, collected and recorders of history and knowledge. So I am sorry if my curiosity offended you."

He raises his head back up and sighs with some sadness. "My path may not be allowed to be that peaceful however, but I still plan of studying the wheel, akashic record and continue to expand  my understanding of the universe and all things within it."

"Similar are our goals as gaia gave all fera a task. It is the task of the Bastet to keep the greatest of secrets from man till they are ready for them. Many do not trust us for many of us steal secrets, but we seldom share them."

"Some knowledge is too dangerous to be shared. I can understand how some can fear those who keep knowledge hidden. Many of the other traditions do not trust ours, seeing as we do try to keep to ourselves in our temples. Well thats the side of us that they see the most." he gives her a smile. "Seems I was right anyway, we do have much in common." One of his parents had also shown little respect to him due to his genetics, his mother was not the wife of his father. But he had shown him by earning the right to join the order.

"I shall keep your story secret as I hope you keep my dragon's friend's name. I know little of spirit magic but I am trying to learn, I have learnt that names are powerful things when it comes to spirits." Similar to how true names were important to western mages and apparently a breed of fera.

"A name is a very important thing, at least the true name. The Egyptians beleaved the soul had many parts... The Ib was a mans heart the center of ones morality and the key to there afterlife; The Ha was the body and other organs known as the Sekhu after removed from the body or death; The Ka was ones life force and essence; The Ba was ones memories and thoughts there willpower and what makes them diffrent from others and becomes a khu, a memmory or a ghost, if seperated and not re-unighted with the Ka; The Sheut ones shadow the darkness left by the souls light and that will bind with the Ba if the Ka dose not;  and then there is the Ren... what they be leaved to be one of the more important parts of the soul, your true name, with out it you could not know who you were and never find your way to any afterlife. To know some one's Ren was to own part of there soul.  ....  There is also the Sekem, the vitality of the sun, what they beleaved to be the source of magic your quintessence."

"I guess to some extent our order knows the valve of names also. We discard them when we join and to not receive a new one until we have earnt it and even then it often includes a title." he laughs "There are some temples where brothers or sisters are referred to only as a rank in Do. One would start off being named after an insect, then reptile, four-legged animal, bipeda until obtaining full mastery where they would gain a unique title."

"My old name isn't even recorded, as is tradition for the temple I started at. I have family so to an extent it is more for show and tradition than anything else but everyone has respected it." he takes a sip from his drinks flask realising he hasn't had a good swig in awhile and offers it to her. "Huóshui Zuìquán, flowing water drunken fist. Doesn't really sound like a name when its translated." he shrugs. "but as I said its all titles, its not like we hide the fact either. On my island the naming ceremony and the discarding of name are causes for celebration."

He laughs having been taking large gulps from his drink now. He seemed to want to drown himself out of things. "Well I shall have to call on this Sekem and the sun to get some power to help with the healing. You stay and rest." he gets up to leave, to take his way to help with healing or whatever he can do till they arrive on mars.

"It is some what the same with us... when we go through the transformation we are taken under the wing of another and travel with them learning the ways of our people, there secrets, and even yama for a year and a day. Then we are declared adults through ritual before the spirits, and they give us a new name. Some should take more heart to the names we are given, perhaps one of our darkest children could have been slayed before they were dragged to far down into spiraling madness of the dragons cursed blood, for when he was named by the spirits it was Black Tooth of the Endless Storms they named him."

Stopping and holding on to the door frame. "Sometimes even if we do take heed in the words of others, we are still find ourselves lacking. Could Black tooth have even been stopped..."

His mood darkened, he asks "What was the name you were given then?"

"As roughly translated? ... Unicorn's Gift." she says while sitting onto the bed.

"Well unicorn's gift, rest well." he said as he left the room closing the door behind him.

"Luci, mind keeping an eye on this one as well as Avarice for me? I am sorry to ask so much of you but he might be a danger and I am concerned for her. You haven't had any more hallucinations have you?" he says this as he walks to help with healing and after care.

He felt guilty that he had given so much attention to only one of the many who must have lost someone, but he could only do so much. He took a large swig from his flask again and continued on.

"It's not a problem, no I have not... we will be arriving at mars soon, there will be an awful lot of people getting on and off, and I am sad to say it seams we are wanted now." a display appearing in front of huoshui as hie walks shows him the news. "I have changed my appearance but I do now know how much good that will do in the long run."

Stopping to look at the display. Questioning and suspicion of conspiracy. "I don't understand." He read on as it described what he was guessing was meant to be himself. "Thats me."

He leaned against a nearby wall to stabilize himself. "How far has this spread?" It was all he could think to ask, the shock and blown the wind out of him.

"It is on the info sphere, so... everywhere."

"You can see everyone right? Has anyone else seen this?" he wasn't even thinking about what he was saying, he just wanted answers something to calm him. The enumerations he repeated in his head were unable to protect him from a shock of this manner.

"It dose not seam anyone on the ship is concerned, you did save them, and they are more concerned searching for information about loved ones."

"True true, sorry I wasn't thinking." he paused and scratched his head. "Do you have a way for me to communicate with someone? You are a pirate ship, do you not have some secure comms, like in the movies?" This may have been ignorance on his part, but he cared not.

His mind wandered to places he never would have imagined it going. To disguising himself, in a new change of clothes. Running, fighting with the authorities. He couldn't fight, but he had to stop the man behind the seat. Running may well be the only option.

"It depends how far... who do you wish to contact?"

He slid to the floor with a loud thump, "I don't know, my mentor, home, Sophia, the police, who do you contact when proving your innocence." his hands covering his face and the words coming out slightly mumbled.

He was no longer looking at the display. "Is there a contact if you have information number?"

"You could try seeking information on the info sphere, or asking questions around Hades. I do not think you will be recognized. Ether way I think you should meditate."

"You are right again. I shall go meditate on this, thank you." with a sigh he rose up again and instead of going to help with the healing and care effort he originally planned he found a dark corner to meditate on what had happened and what he was to do.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:16, Sat 08 June 2013.

"We had to land through a storm, the only people that will see me is the dock workers and the medical staff and disaster relief. I do not think anyone noticed the change of the ship, or the additional room. I am however exsperiancing some unsetling affects again... I am having truble making sense of it, but it think it is some form of ultrasound that is targeting my ... well what would best be put as my 'brains' optical and audio sensors."

"Do you know the source? Have you told your friend, I can meet up with him quickly to go check it out if you need." He continued talking while he went to watch the survivors leave. Standing in a dark corner, trying to take some pride in having helped saved them.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:15, Tue 11 June 2013.

"Local source, moving."

Huoshui gets a sickly felling as he looks out over the people leaving... his life/mind affects tell him the same thing is going on with him as the ship. He thinks he see's Solan leaving with the others?  Hard to tell really who's coming and going, there a few other people having the same problem.

Huoshui continues to watch from the dark, just to make sure that nothing happened to the survivors. He couldn't be sure who was blocking his senses but he had to make sure everyone got off of this ship safely. They came before him, even if he was now a wanted man.

Huoshui would get this on his comm and send this to Huoshui:

"I am headed out into the city for an errands..I will keep you updated as well as to my location. Feel free to contact me if you need help with anything of note".

"If their is anything you need me to do why I am out send me the job and it will be done". Says Solan into his comm link.

After a few moments the odd sensations pass.

"I beleave I have identified the source. Avarice produced an artifact before each incident." An image of the 'tuning fork sword' is displayed in a hologram. "He is no longer on the ship, or in the dock. He has likely used it to slip into the city."

"Thank you Solan, I am fine. Keep safe, We have only just escaped one disaster we don't want to fall into another." he replied to Solan over comm.

"That thing again," he replied to the ship. "Well its gone now, and so is he. I fear if that was the right call, but an incident would have caused more problems. Do you know where the pilot is? I may have to have words with him." he said remembering his seeking and the visions it showed him.

He pulled his hood over his head and scanned the crowd for familiar faces, he was searching for the marauder woman and Ms. Owusu. He needed to see what was happening to the marauder and what Ms. Owusu was going to do from now on. Failing that he would try to contact Ms. Boreh, maybe he still had contact details or something. He still feared for her life. Maybe contacting the mentor if he failed to pick her up.

The maruader was in the same kinda anti-magic bindings they had solan in, being escorted out by two security and a doctor while she was still out cold on a medical transport bed.

"The pilot left into the city, I am afraid I have no way of tracking him."

"Thanks Luci, I may have to go after him then."

Huoshui dives down after the marauder. He tries to get the doctor's attention. "Excuse me but may I ask where you are taking her?"

"To a facility in Olympus, they are equipped to deal with a quite, but she may need to be moved to a better facility off world. I'm not sure if they can help a full blown marauder."

"Water which is too pure has no fish." he says quoting an old lesson one of the masters taught. "There is always hope. From her confusion she was trying to protect people, there is still light in this one." He said laying his hand on the magic-bindings.

"I am not sure on how these things are arranged or the protocol behind them but might I leave a contact address with you." he says turning back to the doctor.

She nods "yah sure whats your info sphere id?"

"I, uh... don't know what that is..." he says lowering his head. "Isolated community I guess, we had little need for such things. Is there another method? I can give you names or a location..."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:26, Wed 12 June 2013.

She nods some "here let me see your com" she checks it hitting some keys "ok we I'll call you and let you know if we move her. You might want to consider getting some information on entering the info sphere it can be quite useful."

Huoshui stared with amazement as she was as far as he could tell was casting some unknown magics. "Thank you, you have been very helpful and understanding."

He nods to the two security people and returns to the sit somewhere on the ship. "So Luci, now that your hallucinations and headache type things are finished. Mind telling me where My fera friend and you ape friend is?" he says walking nowhere in particular, "How long you staying here? Till this friend Aeon returns right, any sign?"

"She is sleeping, he is watching the cargo, and I supose we will stay here as long as you are unless we can find a pilot.  The best hope we have of finding hir right now would be to wait until they are done examining the station and leave it to be scraped and move in looking for signs of hir."

"Well I think Solan can fly, he looks the type. The pilot from before, I did want to have words with him. So If you want me to get you a pilot again, I think I can." He found a dark spot and sat on the floor leaning against a wall.

He stared at his comm, it was alien to him. "You know how to use these?" he asked in jest and he begun to try to figure out how the damn thing worked.

"If you like I could, given some time, produce a small book on how to various communication devices and data pads. Along with info sphere sensory immersion, I would not suggest any kind of mental or holistic immersion. It has been known for Akashic brothers to become lost through holistic immersion. In particular those who have used correspondence to try and open minds to each other. They find there holistic immersion a version of becoming a part of there Akashic record, according to the articles, and it becomes hard to bring there mind and spirit back to there bodies. Though the elders of your tradition say that the info sphere is a false record, incomplete taking up only a small fraction of the whole and denounce using it. Others think it to be a tool like many things, to be used wisely and with care. I can not say who is correct, only share such information and warnings."

"I see, well I am unable to access the record yet. Another thing I failed to grasp from the teachings of my teachers." he says with some shame, it was the way of akashic masters to not teach their students but to give them the ability to teach themselves. "If it would be no bother that book idea sounds good. I shall refrain from entering the sphere itself, that sounds too risky indeed." he takes a swig from his flask, the delicious chi-laced wine was hitting the spot just right. "There are many things the elders of my tradition ban." he said with a satisfactory grin.

He was trying to search information on Sophia Boreh and his mentor.

"I can help you with sensory immersion, it is quite safe... but I do not have the equipment for it... nor have I ever had it. I am sensing sets of such hardware in the cargo that was teleported on board with you. I moved it so bobo would not look through it I could move it to your room if you like"

"Keeping secrets from him now are you? Well turned out good for me. Does it need setting up? Because as you have seen I am not comfortable with machines but I would like to use this system." he said with more cheer in his voice.

"An avatar is needed, a 'pysical' representation of you." The figure of a human male made of water is presented as the walk. "Here is a fitting standard one you might use."

"You know chinese? Or did you just look up my name?" he laughs and nods. "Should be fine, can't see why it wouldn't be."

"I hurd you talking about named with your friend."

Back at his room was the case from Kingston, it had a few visors, two power gloves that looked awfully fancy and compact (just a glove with a device on it and two more to strap on your lower and upper arms with connecting cables). There is also a few data pads and some devices for transferring money between chips, and a few 'blank' silver and plain chips... but the silver chips were worth something in and off themselves.... and a few com units.

"You will need to put on one of the gloves and a visor. I will interface with them and assist you."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:54, Wed 12 June 2013.

"Oh yeah, you see and hear everything don't you." he laughed.

Walked up to the case and put on the Gloves and a visor, "Well I am in your hands Luci, be gentle."

It took a few moments then a display came up in the visor and it him it was like his was in a large white room as an interface came up. "Lucy" appeared as something similar to the information bit on tron.. .just a floating fractal. "This will take a moment." She went through the options of logging in quickly, you see she gives you a Chinese name meaning 'Drunken Ocean' and brings up the avatar loading and registering it.

After than there is the sensation of moving VERY VERY VERY fast as lights and objects move past you quickly as you seam to be moving along some corridor.. with no real form to you at all... like pure energy being pulled along with lots of other energy.

Then a sudden stop as your watery form takes place and .... well the scene is a hut over whelming to say the least.  They where in some sort of hub. For the most part there seamed to be no real walls, floors, ceilings... they could see correctly into the info sphere from here..  countless genioms moving about out there, the little geometrical shapes carrying information or attacking things that shouldn't be where they are. Millions of nodes not a one of them looking like the other... while many looked like black cubes with lights moving over them, there was differences is size, shape, and the lights. The other nodes... well they came in every shape imaginable! There was one that looked like a ship sailing along the stream of information that ran along it, another that looked like a large city, one that looked like a battlefield, another that looked like a heart, one near buy that looked like a fishbowl... there seamed no rime or reason to there shapes but they were all connected by the streams of light moving about, some of those came into the hub he was in to large gates 'people' were coming and going through.....

Speaking of 'people' there didn't seam to be much a limit on what people could have as avatars.... and it showed, some of the icons/avatars moving about were.... well anything but human.... some so abstract it was hard to look at them, fractal pasterns swimming about through the air and talking in math! Madness!

The poor monk was thrown in the deep end.

"What is it you are looking for?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:19, Wed 12 June 2013.

Huoshui was blown away by the experience, feeling nauseous. But he endured as he always had and hoped he always would. Taking a moment to relax, settle his stomach and  try to register all that he had seen.

He was a bit disappointed in the form Lucy had chosen, you would think for the first artificial soul/mind ship thing that she might be more creative. Shame... As for this alias she had given him, well it was only a modification from his akashic name. He couldn't take offense from it.

"Looking for information on Sophia E. Boreh and her mentor Taisho Sōshin. Both are important to me, one was missing after the incident on station." he said with difficulty. "Both are of my order, but I believe she had some stay with the chorus." he sighed "I fear for her, she said she would stay after I pleaded her to leave."

"I would not share that he is your mentor, the brotherhood has a shrine here though we should go there." She heads to a gate her icon changing to that of a small flame as she takes a second. "ok.. you can go now"

Guessing he dose....

Huoshui once again experiences the rushing corridor affect once more... though this time he can see the many nodes around him flying pass at grate speeds as he moves along. After a moment what looks like a floating temple with several smaller temples around it is before him and it grows larger and larger until he's sucked into it.





He then finds himself in modest entry way to a typical temple... well typical if one was meant to fly to get to it anyway.

The avatars and icons about are few in number making the place far more quite than the hub, and seam to fall into four categories. Simple human ones, ones lacking a physical form and made up of something else like light or one of the elements (like his), and ones mimicking mythological figures like being blue and having six arms. The last are the ranking ones: insect, reptile, four legs, two legs.... they seam all to be the same set of avatars with only changes in color and markings.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:17, Wed 12 June 2013.

He wondered if people ever got used to that feeling. He was awe inspired by the floating temple, someone had clearly taken time to... was it build, construct or something else, it didn't matter much it was a piece of art.

"Thanks Lucy, I would have been lost without you." he says as he walks to the closest what he assumed was a monk.

Bowing and saying "Greetings, I am seeking information on members of the akashic order. Two specifically. Who here would be best to ask?"

A black grasshopper with what looks like white and yellow paint on his exoskeleton stops. Unlike most people he and the other trainees don't have a name tag nor is there information accessible, they are flagged anonymous. "Oh sir" he bows lowly. "Would that be here or out there?"

"Uh... out there I guess. I guess they could be here as well." he wasn't sure of either of their opinions on the infosphere. "I am trying to see if a friend of mine made it out of that mess that happened to the station."

He couldn't help but find it oddly amusing, man made of water talking to a oddly coloured grasshopper. That and is senses being conflicted, some saying he was in a temple, others saying he was still in the room.

He twitches his attena... least you think it is a he... sounds like a he. Then they lower some. "I am sorry master.... come I'll see what I can find." He leads you through the temple to the middle where the sprout of water rises up. "I can see your new here, they call this place the Temple of the Akashic Sea... though I can't quite pronounce it, that's what the name means. They call it that apparently because the info sphere is a sea of information.... so that's why all the water falls pouring in here and rising up to the middle chamber, the sea/lake bellow is a library of sorts."

"Yes the new ways are still strange to me. Thank you." he nods as the grasshopper talks of not being able to pronounce temple of the akashic sea. "Not used to Sanskrit, chinese or japanese? Many temples use those, but Akashic can also be translated. Ākāśa being where we get Akashic from, it means Aether. But might not want to tell the etherites that, might get them confused. Poetic in English as it is in any language. Temple of the aether sea." always happy to teach others as well as learn. "I must again admit my ignorance of these things, but how does one search this library of liquid information." he says staring at the sea below.

The room looks like it's carved out of smooth stone with a the water rising up into a large rippling sphere in the middle then smaller stream up to the roof and down groves in the stone through the inter room.. forming many circles with little spheres floating in them, or curtains of water around people. The grasshopper listens to you the whole way and then leads you to one of the spheres. "Just lay your hand on it and ask it questions sir. Touch anything to make it larger or focus on it... touch the sphere again when you are done." He stands outside the circle to give you privacy. "I am sorry I looked into your info but you seamed lost and look to have hired an AI guide.."  "I am a friend" "er... sorry .. mam?... I mean you brought a friend to show you around. I checked to find you are restlessness registered... I just wanted to help. We don't get many new brothers who were brothers before they came here.  Most of us here started are path here."

This was all so strange, Huoshui just had to follow what he was told and hope for the best.

"You were initiated in here? How, what trials can you go through here?" he said while doing as instructed, looking for information on Sophia.

"I am holistically immersed... it's all quite re-" the rest was cut off as he was surrounded in a curten of water all around him. When he asked about Sophia the curten filled with images, including of Sophia the goddess of wisdom, Sophia supposedly the bride of god, and well more information than he could possible care to know.... perhaps being a little more specific was needed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:27, Wed 12 June 2013.

He tried Sophia E. Boreh. Student of Taisho Sōshin. Feeling a bit guilty, he didn't know it would cut him off like that. This whole thing was confusing but being more specific might help...

Surprisingly there wasn't much there actually.

There were copies of brotherhood records apparently but they dihdn't really didn't have much on here... lots of unkown unkown unkown did not answer and the like.

There wasn't much on her activities ether, she's only been student a very short time it seams.

What dose stand out is her being mentioned in a new statement from Taisho. He seams to be blaming her disappearance and the attack on the technocracy. It's stirring up tension between the two groups.

That leads to uncomfortable information that the tenth seat has appeared in both the counsel chambers of the technocracy and the traditions. They are wondering if they are one in the same but nether is letting the other examinees the other, claiming that they are collocated is just an excuses to examine the consul chambers of the other. Other more positive outlooks seam to think it's a chance to find the true tenth sphere and help them stop the Vivo.

Taisho is Governor now though and has closed the planet off to technocracy members.

Huoshui was very worried about the tenth sphere, this was very bad news. He had to warn the master then, from what Huoshui knew it wasn't the technos. Or at least he couldn't be sure.

Huoshui closes it all down. "Sorry you were saying? I didn't realise it would cut us off." he says as it all went away.

"there are diffrent levels of immersion. Sensory Visitation, what I assume you are experiencing. Astral Immersion, where you come here through the astral plane. Holistic Immersion though is required for most of the trainning here, this is for lack of a better way of putting it... turning ones mind, body, soul, avatar all into information and injecting it into the info sphere or least copping it and putting everything but the body through. There is a few ways of doing it really.... this IS my body now... there is nothing of me anywhere else until I leave the way I came, something I do not plan to do till I am a full brother"

"Well that is certainly a new way of doing it." he says with a shrug. "Can't say I fully understand how Do would translate but if the masters think it will, I can't argue."

He bows again and says, "Thanks for your help. I was unable to find what I wanted, but something else was brought to my attention." He looks around at the various shapes people were taking. "So who is the master here?"

"There are no masters here, just teachers and learners... some times they change places. The eldest teachers usually meditate in the outlining islands if they are on at all. Most of the elder teachers that helped construct the place spend most of there time scribing information over from brotherhood libraries. The school here has three main purposes, a repository of knowledge and influx of knowledge from around tround the sphere, a place to teach students like me who would otherwise have not found there way to the order, and helping brothers and others who have become lost between sectors. You are welcome to come back anytime you wish, myself and other students keep our markings and voice though our avatar may change."

"I see. It is a unique community here for certain." Huoshui said, he wasn't convinced that this was the future of the Akashic monks but if the grasshopper was right, then it was certainly gathering more under the teachings.

"I may be back, I cannot say." he replies to the grasshopper. "I am sure you will be a fine monk, when you pass your final test look me up. We can... celebrate." he remembered he shouldn't really say have a drink, most factions and monks looked down on the act.

He bowed and went on his way, "Thanks for your help also Luci. Maybe select a different avatar, he mistook you for just some AI." he said heading in the direction he think he came from, he couldn't be sure. It was all very confusing.

This time when they passed through the gate they went strait to the white room, which just faded away as the program shut down.

"I registered as an AI, it would be best to avoid questions. I find you a trusting aura, not unlike Aeon... save much more reserved. I do not think shi would mind you using, or having me."

"You have a point, keeping what you are secret may well be best." he looks around the white room, this was never going to feel right. "Well it is nice to hear you find me trusting... using or having you. Well we are going to find her again, and you're alive, I can't have you thats slavery." Luci maybe a ship but that was a living mind behind the metal.

"Well, I think thats enough weird for me today. How do we shut this off?"

"It's off, just remove the hardware. That is how Aeon felt, but I am built to support and be controlled by a crew. With out a crew I am limited in my functionality. As it is, with out a crew I have no weapons or defense systems, and I am only capable of ion propulsion. We were trying to improve such by the integration of additional systems however such things are expensive."

She goes through a very technical display of her internal systems, it's all organic but this is some arch magi level life and matter magic at work in her construction... it's mind blowing and way over Huoshui's head.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:31, Thu 13 June 2013.

Huoshui removed the gloves and headset, placing them back. "You and every other life form before you, may well have been born or raised into a role. But as a living thinking life form, we are able to grow and evolve. If your situation requires for you to expand with additional systems then so be it, you came with me into the infosphere." He smiles, "The journey of one thousand miles, starts with one step. Who knows what you will be capable of in the future."

He laughed as he saw the internal system, "You're more complex than I am. I wouldn't know where to look. That is way beyond my understanding of the forces of life."

He tried to make sense of what he was seeing but it was truly beyond his current understanding of such things. "I have to believe someone put love and effort into you. So who is this Aeon person to you? You speak almost fondly of her."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:47, Thu 13 June 2013.

"Shi brought attention to our awareness and levels of sentience. In a way she liberated us from a creator to focused to see what he had truly done. The intent in my construction was simply that of a multifunctional vessel that could reproduce. A complicated VI was the intent for my mental functions. Bobo was simply ment to have his intelligence enhanced to levels capable of simple communication and obeying more complicated commands, and given extra arms for more functionality. Aeon was the true lives work though, an attempt to sift through the genetic records of billions of humans to find and compile traces of Lumarian DNA. Self awareness was a 'mistake' as well. He did not seam to mind letting her go though and was more disappointed about me. It seamed he had all the DNA work on her, and she was labeled a failed attempt, something to do with the functionality of the third eye.... or lack there of. File states failer to see Akashic Field."


She makes a some what unpleasant sound "I do not think I like your little friend you made. He sent you a message that implies some unpleasant things about me. I only uploaded my cyber warfare suite as a probationary measure. But his implications are that the severity of my firewall implies overkill with my offensive/defensive software, and that it makes me seam.... 'thuggish'. Going on to suggest I dial it back so we won't get so many odd looks." she sounds genuinely bothered by the idea that she came off thuggish. However you did get some looks from people, same kinda looks you get walking around with Solan.... makes a little more sense why now.  Her 'firewall' apparently hinted that she was exstreamly well armed as far as the info sphere goes.... which is a rather confusing concept in and of itself.

"I can see why you respect her. So you all exceeded initial expectations, that sounds good." he took a moment to fully absorb the information. "Lumerians were able to see the akashic record through their third eye," he pointed to the back of his head, "The akashic record is said to hold all information, its supposed to be the universal mind or library. I can understand how someone may have wanted to get access to it, I recently was opened to it in its entirety. The experience was overwhelming but I was able to grab some information while I was there."

He smiled a bit at her dislike of his "little friend", "Ah ignore him, have you seen the company I keep? You get used to it when you hang around with someone who insists on wearing archaic armour and another who soldiers around the place. I appreciate you taking precautions, I am inexperienced with that environment. I know you meant well." He said smiling, looking nowhere in particular. I was odd talking to someone you couldn't really look at.

"Even a Sensory Visitation de-rezzing can be quite unpleasant, so I wanted to make sure if for some reason there was a fight I could protect you."

"Whatever a de-rezzing is, it sounds unpleasant. I am glad you had my back." he said with some joy.

He had a rummage through the chips, comm units and data pads that were with Kensington's stuff. "Well this stuff could be useful." He knew he was just distracting himself from the issues of the 10th and his apparent wanted level.

"It is when the avatar is destroyed ... in the case of holistic immersions this can lead to brain death, death, or loss of data."

"Thats horrible." he said in shock. "That just makes reading the record seem more desirable."

He fiddles with his comm unit again, "So can I contact you with this? Do you have an id or whatever is needed?"

"There are things that can be done to help lessen these odds. However it can be quite hard to recover from such a death unless there was some sort of back up that could be used to reconstruct from the scattered elements of there being. In general Halistic immersion is never done with out several of these processions in mind. People want the experience to be real, but not that real usually. Others except it as they expect death in life, and find it reassuring that it is not a 'way out' of death"

"Right well, I can see why a non mage would love that sort of thing." he says putting his bag down next to Kensington's case.

"Well I am guessing the others are still resting," he says as he begins to stretch, "Good time as any to practice." moving in slow sweeping motions, be begins to go through a Do kata.

Kiai-jutsu, it was something he hadn't learnt from any master or mentor. It was awoken within him, because of his seeking or the akashic record, he wasn't sure. Do was part technique and training.

Going through the motions he found that it was if he had trained decades learning the technique, it was second nature now. A technique and force of both yin and yang, his hands sweeping up and down in-front of his chest. Taking one final deep breath, he then stood motionless. Not as one would standstill, but as a rock.

After holding that for a few second he relaxed, "Well I have never learnt a Do technique in such a small amount of time." he hoped in his heart it would not have to use the offensive form, but he knew that maybe a fantasy.

He sits down, "Do inform me if something happens or one of my friends wakes."

"All save the knight and the fera have left. I was wondering if I could have one of those coms and gloves?"

He stands up, "I don't see why you can't have them."  he said while walking over and picking up the requested items. "I mean no offence but how will you use the gloves?"

"Just lay it on the floor, I have an idea... I am not sure I could explain it well though."

"Right." He said, placing it on the floor as instructed. "Uh, I have no idea what you're doing, but there you go."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:17, Sat 15 June 2013.

It sunk into the floor disappearing.

"I'm not totally sure, but I have a few ideas I wish to experiment with."

Huoshui watched as it sunk into the floor. "Well I look forward to the results." he said still confused but Luci just kept surprising him.

"I wish you luck then with your experiment." He walked over to where the items had sunk into the floor. Knelt down and poked the floor a bit.

The floor pinched his finger.

Huoshui stared at his finger and then the floor. "Hey Cheeky, I was just trying to see how you did that."

He looks at the floor through Chi vision, maybe she used magic or something similar.

It's some kinda magic likeness.  It don't seam any kind of awakened magic. (and with two 10's and a 1..) He thinks the ship is like some sort of living artifact. Though the complexity would be.... is... staggering.

"I was assuming that was a proper comical response."

"Don't doubt yourself, it was a fine response." he said staring around as he begun to realise just how amazing Luci really was. His chi visions showing him so much.

He laughed and sat back, "You are indeed one of a kind," he said still looking around, "How do you do that? It's no magic I have seen before."

"I am not sure I can convey an appropriate response to that question. It would be like asking how you do Do."

"Well that is an interesting response. I just hope when you learnt to do that, you didn't go through as much pain as some of the Do training had me going through." opening and closing his fists, "Who would have thought punching hard surfaces for hours a day would hurt, let alone having your brothers hit you with sticks for the same amount of time. No regrets, time spent training helped us save those people."

"But I guess to your phasing stuff through your body is the same as my Do, something we do rather than think about." he shrugged. "What's the limit to your manipulation of the form then, if you can pinch and melt stuff through the floor?"

"I moved around it to bring it into me, and move it.  I did not phase or melt it. I am capable of rearranging the formation of my inner chambers and have limited construction capabilities. I was made to learn how to build/improve myself past a point."

"And part of that is the ability to pinch at me?" he laughed.

But then the smile and laughter melted from his face, turning to that of alarm and alertness. A vision of a Raven, dressed in whitest silk robes, standing before a giant made of darkness with eyes as stars. The vision is not clear, he makes out a crown and talk of Unity, children and gilgul. Then darkness and he returned to the room.

He was again sitting in the room, in shock but he understood some of what he had seen. He took a deep breath, calming himself. He just hoped these rush visions didn't become a regular thing. A Raven that couldn't be coincidence...
This message was last edited by the player at 11:12, Tue 18 June 2013.

"Is there something wrong?"

"I just had another vision, seems I am having more and more recently." he paused, "I don't know if I can say something is wrong, I have been given more information. It's what we do with it that decides that."

"If I were a pessimistic man I would say the universe hates me." he laughs trying to improve the mood again. "Visions of ravens is new but I have been seeing visions since I to the station. Mostly warnings and things. I can see no warning in this one at least to me, but unity is a word that has been repeated too often recently."

He thinks for a bit and stands up saying, "Does make me want to find our pilot more though..."

There is a hesitant knock at the exterior door.

Huoshui wasn't expecting anyone, and Luci said she would warn him if either of them woke up.

He walked to the door with some hesitation, with all he had been through just about anything could happen. Opening the door, his tired eyes met a familiar face.

"Glad to see you made it out of there." he said with relief.

Huoshui now looking more battle worn and tired than they had last met, but that maybe the least of it considering paradox caused him to now have grass hair and bark covered forearms.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:22, Wed 19 June 2013.

Peter kicks aside a cigarette butt conscientiously, though he knows the smell of acrid smoke lingers. He's been nerve-wracked, tracking Huoshui to this place based on vague descriptions he'd dredged from the locals, not sure if he should even show up again. Still, Peter didn't have many friends, and the warm welcome relaxed him considerably.

"Likewise!" he exclaims.

He clear his throat.

"I wasn't sure what to do after the station went down. I've been wandering about lately, doing a few odd jobs while I figure out my next move. I'm sorry I didn't contact you earlier. It shames me that I was so useless during the battle. I'm obviously not a warrior. When the wounded started to pile up my instincts kicked in. I was so busy patching people up I barely noticed it when they teleported me off-station."

He proffers a hand to shake -- it hangs there loosely for a moment as he looks over the cracked wooden skin of Huoshui's arms.

"Oh my. Does it hurt?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Wed 19 June 2013.

Huoshui took the doctors hand and gave a firm handshake, "No my friend, not at all. Others came off a lot worse."

He guided Peter in, showing him a place to sit.

"I assure you no one was useful during the battle, if your place was to heal and care for people then so be it. The frontline maybe where a battle is fought but it is won and lost by the support behind it."

He sits raising his hands in front of him, "These are just the consequences of Paradox. I would say I was lucky, that I got off lightly and better me than others." Fighting marauders and monsters, battle scars were inevitable. He would be a fool not to think more scars were to come, he seeked to find and stop the man behind the 10th seat. Arrogant maybe, but from what he had been told it was to save the wheel. "I am still here and can continue my work." he said with confidence and pride, traits never really seen in Huoshui before.

He laughs and takes his flask, pours out two cups of the chi laced sake, handing one to Peter "Enough about me, how have you been?" Huoshui was hoping Peter had not seen the news reports calling for his arrest, was that why the doctor had tracked him down?

"Littering in the ship is frowned appon, if needed trash replicates can be produced. There are ashtrays that can be purchased that follow you around as well."

Huoshui's arms were drying out actually, it was getting a little uncomfortable as they cracked.

"I am starting to understand people do not like to be monitored and there information shared.... is this an accurate assessment?"

He got up and grabbed Peter's cigarette butt, then returned to his seat. "Terrible habit. You of all people should know its bad for your health."

"Oh yes, Peter this is Luci." he gestured all around. "People tend not like being monitored, depends on the person. As for information I guess again it depends on the person or the information." he looked around, "I don't get up to anything interesting so I personally am not bothered being monitored."

"Why do you ask? Did you upset someone?" he joked but then went serious for second, "What have you told people, I hope its nothing to do with my current investigations. You realise that its all very dangerous information." he didn't mean to be harsh but it did worry him that the enemy might find out he was after them.

He shrugs, more embarrassed by Huoshui's opinion of his habit than the habit itself.

"It's a coping mechanism. Besides, cancer isn't as bad as it used to be," he reasons.

"Ah, Luci is it? Doctor Peter Cicatrix. It's a pleasure to meet you."

He settles down into his seat, trying to get comfortable.

"I have little else to report. I've been helping  where I can, tending to the injured, but otherwise I'm holding off on my work. I'm sure I'll set up shop once I find somewhere to settle. In the meantime I socialize a bit and watch holovids. Sometimes I sneak off and go back through my basic stances. I've also hung my tennis ball up in an unused corner of the ship -- it sounds silly, but I use it to practice avoidance and refine my connection to this synthetic nervous system."

He leans forward in his seat to get another look at Huoshui's arms.

"I'm sure you have a high tolerance for pain, but why experience it unnecessarily? I could likely formulate an analgesic to relieve the pain, or at least something to soothe the dryness and irritation."

An eyebrow arches.

"How about you? Is everything alright? Investigations?"

"I was wondering because I have been searching the info sphere for your friend and noticed the pilot is in the local hub making odd inquiries. Mostly into the Solificati and Gilgul."
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:09, Thu 20 June 2013.

Huoshui only sighs when Peter says its a coping method.

"Practice and repetition will help you improve. Repeating of the basics is never silly." he clenches his fists as the doctor takes a closer look, "Don't worry about it, its not painful."

"Currently looking into finding the pilot who flew this ship away from the station. Information has made it necessary to find him." his shoulders slouch down, "Events have happened, are happening and are planned that need to be stopped. The station was only the beginning it seems, more is needed."

He turns and looks at the spot where the devices had melted into the floor "Luci I am glad you have been following him, I might have to explain that we were but its for the greater good. Gilgul I have heard of loosely, but what or who are the Solificati?" Gilgul, again that couldn't be coincidence. "The vision I had moments ago featured a Raven talking to... something and Gilgul came up. Can you send a message to him?"

Turning back to Peter he continued "I guess some explanations are needed." he sighed, "The assassin of the temple's master, the beast who fled, these sin beasts, there are more out there. One was on this ship for awhile. It seems they are working for someone much worse. Through the Akashic Record I saw a man, I believe him to be the one behind this. What he plans must be stopped. I am sorry my friend but if you wish to know more I have to warn you this is dangerous information, some of it you might not believe."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:40, Thu 20 June 2013.

"Well, the bit with the tennis ball looks silly, I'm sure of it. But I keep at it. I haven't given up on learning Do, but the recent bloodshed has shifted my focus to avoidance and passive resistance. I accept that my role in life is to fix people, not break them. Besides, even if I had been training this entire time, I still wouldn't be prepared if the Ten Fists showed up for me," he says.

He lets Huoshui play the tough guy but makes mental a note to keep an eye on him in case his condition worsens.

"What's a little more danger in my life? Ignorance can be dangerous, too. Let's hear it. I'll try to keep an open mind."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:43, Thu 20 June 2013.

"Solificati founded the order of reason, and the council of the nine traditions. They were the first to uncover the 10th sphere, and apparently betrayed the traditions some time between 8000 and 10000 years ago. What little remains of the Solificati rejoined the traditions accepted into the Order of Hermes."

"Well I don't know who or why these Ten fists maybe after you, but I can help you learn to defend yourself." he lowered his head looking to the floor, "and you may well need it after this."

Not pleased to hear more about the 10th sphere, "Thanks Luci, don't let me forget I owe you." unclenched his fists and let them rest on his legs, "Well it seems our Raven is looking into the same things." he sighs, "I believe the sin beasts to have been created by an individual who wishes to stop the wheel and restart it, and by this I mean end the current cycle we are on. Time, space, whatever you wish to call it."

Not moving his gaze from the floor he continues. "I am ashamed to say I have to prepare for war. I swore a oath of pacifism, but times call for people to put themselves in danger to stop his plans." he thought about telling him all he had learnt about the 10th sphere but even he couldn't fully believe it, "When I saw the akashic record in its entirety, I caught a glimpse of him behind the 10th seat. If you have seen the news you will know that this seat has returned in both the techno and tradition council chambers. I believe this is his doing and is part of his plan."

Taking a deep breath and looks back up, "While preparing for the worst, I am collecting what pieces of the plan I know. The pilot is one of them." He would rather share what he had found out about Kairos and Raven, after he had discussed it with them. "I plan to gather the everyone and tell them what I have found, I will not ask that you come but you would not be turned down. I shall be visiting Nerigal soon, so I will not be leaving for awhile." he didn't even know if he would return from Nerigal's trials.

"Him behind the 10th seat?"

Peter rests on his elbows and steeples his fingers, looking deeply into the space between them.

"Although I'm hardly a scholar of mage lore, even I have heard of the fabled 10th sphere. It was all conjecture, but it didn't sound so ominous to me. I thought maybe it was some kind of connection between the other spheres, maybe a techno-magickal singularity, or something else that would finally bind the disparate traditions together. What you're describing sounds, uh, bad. Is it because it's being forced instead of evolving on its own? Like we're not ready? Or maybe I'm just talking out of my ass. This esoteric stuff still makes my head spin. Believing or not believing is irrelevant when I hardly understand. It might do me well to dedicate some time to the 'inner alchemy', if nothing else than to get the images of all those dead people out of my mind."

He shakes his head to get the cobwebs out.

"If there's to be combat a medic would come in handy. In the meantime I'd love to learn, well, anything you can show me, really."

Huoshui again turns away from Peter, "The 10th seat I refer too is literally that the 10th seat in the council. Both the traditions of the mystic arts and the technocracy have a council each with a member and seat for the nine spheres, This 10th I refer too is the much theorised and sought after final sphere. No tradition fully agrees what it is but many seek it to being the final key to enlightenment, or the answer to their goal. So yeah its as Peter says, the tenth sphere is really whatever the individual wants it to be." he couldn't help to think to himself because it doesn't exist.

"I do not know the motives of the man or if we can even stop him. I can only go on what I have seen or been told. I trust what my avatar, the dragon and the Akashic record have told me. I have no reason to doubt them." he slowly shakes his head.

"The only thing I have to go on is a very odd understanding around the situation involving the pilot. I have come to understand he is a literal piece to the plan." he turns back to Peter, "Yes I am sure that Solan and Kairos would be happy to have someone more experienced than I tend to their wounds." he says finally with a smile. "I myself have dedicated some time to internal alchemy."

A holo viedo of the last little bit of conversation with Raven is displaied. "The pilot is uncooperative. I have his location and com if you wish to try and talk to him yourself."

Huoshui watches the holovideo and is disgusted by what he sees.

"Yeah, we need to talk." he says in a harsh and serious tone. "Give me his comm id, I will give him a call." pulling out his own comm.

The information is given to the comm unit.

"Excuse me Peter but I feel that Raven doesn't fully get what I am trying to do." he says while looking at his comm.

Huoshui tries to navigate through the comms systems, to contact Raven. He goes through the enumerations in his head to calm his attitude, recent events had really made it easy to get on his nerves but being rude to Luci was unforgivable.

<He calls Raven>

Peter watches passively as Huoshui goes about his business. Purveyors of evil usurping the 10th sphere for their own nefarious purposes, that was one thing. But a 10th seat on both the Tradition council and that of the Technocracy? That entailed delving into mage politics. He hated politics.

Raven's attitude on the holovid doesn't sit well with Peter at all. Dealing with this character will be cumbersome at best. So far, all of his run-ins with splicers have been negative. Maybe it has something to do with hormonal imbalances and conflicting instincts.

"Charming fellow," he remarks.

He shakes his head as he says this.

"It was a low level, weak, Fractal Interference Removal Procedure... Non lethal to VR traveler. The avatar is broken into a fractal spiral code spread, with multiple istnaces of said avatar for comparison and knowing the fractal key used, reconstruction should not take long.   But he was quite unpleasant to me and you, I felt it was well deserved."

Huoshui lowered his comm as it shut off. "Its ok Luci you were only standing your ground, but I have to say I don't like violence over talking things through."

"Raven was being unpleasant but luckily for us he will still see me despite that altercation. Luci if you wouldn't mind repairing his VI, I think you two could make up and become good friends working with each other." he said and then turned to Peter, "Well It seems I am to get to this address and meet with him alone. I promise that once I have gathered all the pieces here and finished my end of the deal with the Dragon, I will help with your Do training."

He moved over to his bag of things, sorted through them and tied his weapons together in a bundle. Taking the wrapped blood knife and putting it in the sack, He had promised to come unarmed so hiding that in his robes still would be a insult to that promise. He took his staff and offered it to the doctor "Could you hold on to this for me, and if you wouldn't mind coming with me. Just as far as getting to the meeting spot, this is an unfamiliar city and I could use an ally near by."

"Yes, of course," he says, trying and failing to hold back a goofy grin at the prospect of starting training.

He watches with interest as Huoshui sorts out his weapons. When offered, Peter gently takes the staff, hefting the weight for a moment before leaning it against his shoulder.

"I could use a break from emergency care. The tough part is over, so there's nothing the staff can't do without me. I can swing by my storage unit on the way out, grab a couple changes of clothes along with my medic and tool bag. I'm ready whenever you are."

"Ok Doc, lead the way lets pick up your things and get over to the meeting place." he said then realising "Do you know this city? I have the address but, would just be following maps and peoples directions."

"Er, no. Victoria Station was my first foray into the outside world. Before that I only knew the colonies on Miranda and the old temple. And of course, the university. But I often got lost there."

Peter rises, only to forget the staff leaning against him. He fumbles and catches it before it crashes to the ground.

"...and away we go," he says sheepishly.

He adopts a brisk pace, wandering uncertainly until he happens upon his storage unit. Peter sets aside the staff. After briefly fiddling with the security system the hatch swings open. Within he has the entirety of his sanctum roughly crammed into the tight space, various cases, duffle bags, a large surgery stable and the oblong rings of a full body scanner broken down into an uneven stack of metal loops. His arms splay out to hold back the tide of equipment before it can spill out. Peter fishes a foot into the mess, kicking his medical kit and tool bag into the hallway behind him. He crouches a bit to shuffle things around. After a little reorganizing he manages to get the door shut again.

Once he's locked everything back up he picks up the staff and shoves it under his left armpit. He then kneels to pick up the two bags.

"Hrm. Yes... ready now..." he groans.

As he turns the staff makes a long arc, scraping the wall.

"Urgh. Sorry."

He follows Huoshui, slowed somewhat by the weight of his bags.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:35, Sun 23 June 2013.

Huoshui follows Peter and laughs a little as he struggles with the bags, "That reminds me of the time my mentor made be carry buckets of water up and down a mountain. All to water a garden he had started there." he smiled "Well if you think you can carry that I have an appointment to keep."

He wanders off following a small map he had managed to find of the city, stopping to ask for directions and look back to see if Peter was keeping up.

When he got outside the meeting place he turned to Peter, "Well then I am supposed to go in alone, so if you want to go find a place to grab a drink while I sort this out. You still got the comm and can contact me right?"

Peter drops the heavier tool bag and angles to check his pockets for Huoshui's contact information. Then he remembers he has a trinary computer directly connected to his brain. His eyes dart from side to side for a moment.

"Yes, yes, got it. I think... a drink would do me good. No rush, I'll be around the corner if you need me. Do be careful," he says.

He picks up his bag, swings the staff around in another clumsy half circle and waddles towards a shady dive bar he spotted on their way in. After so many clandestine meetings in such kinds of places he's grown rather fond of awkward stares and watered down beer.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Sun 23 June 2013.

Huoshui walked out of Heaven's Gate, talking to people quickly to find where Peter had gone and finally coming to it.

Waving over to Peter, "Hey, hope I wasn't too long. I have brought someone you should meet." he turned and gestured to Rave, "This is the pilot who flew the ship and saved all those people."

Raven waved at Peter,and walked over to him, placed a pack on the ground along with a guitar case and box, then took a seat at his table as one non-taloned hand was extended for shaking.

"So you're the sawbones, huh? Call me Raven, might as well be my name since it's all I go by anymore. Yep, hero of the hour, that's me. But five hours of flying can make a guy thirsty, so how about buying this hero a drink?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:05, Wed 26 June 2013.

Peter has spent the better part of the hour nursing these cheap, sour beers as he contemplates his future. Each sip makes his nose wrinkle. At his sides sit an old-timey leather doctor's bag and a more modern canvas tool kit. Huoshui's staff leans against the bar in front of him.

"Mmm?"

He turns in his seat. The staff crashes to the ground. There's a quick look about Raven's personhood, taking account of the unique anatomical features as one might size up a leaky pipe or a jigsaw puzzle.

"Mmm. Peter Cicatrix."

He wearily proffers a hand to shake, seeing as the man is essentially a feathered, four-armed, walking set of muscles. Despite any reservations he can't help but crack a genuine smile as he catches up with the conversation.

"Ah, the pilot! Yes, it is most assuredly a pleasure. You saved more lives in a day than this 'sawbones' has in his short career. And so humble! I'm not quite so rich as most in my profession, but I believe a round of drinks for the three of us is within budget."

He snaps his fingers a few times to get the bartender's attention.

"Another of these dreadful beers and whatever they're having."

He rests one elbow on the bar.

"So, what's going on? I see the two of you are getting along now."

Huoshui picks up his staff, taps it on the floor dusting it off. "Glass of wine will do me."

"We had a chat and I believe that he shall be joining us. His goals match ours in many aspects." he takes a seat next to them. "Have you been drinking this whole time? I can't recommend this if you are to pursue learning Do."

Raven shook hands, then laughed.

"Oh he just minds his manners in public around me. Told him I'm sneak blow fish into his sushi if he didn't behave."

The old splicer winked at the monk.

"But he did tell me about Doctor Tentacle, I decided I needed to meet you for myself. You must be a thrill to the ladies, huh bud?"

The bird man took in the doc quickly easy as in his opinion there wasn't much to take on the surface. The man had an old fashioned doctor's bag, meaning either he was correct and he had little money, or it was some kind of heirloom he treasured. The ex-Marine didn't fully believe this fellow was hard up for credits though, since he was wearing a fancy looking multitool on his wrist. The human seemed a little clumsy by knocking down the stick, which the feathered fighter figured belonged to the monk had had agreed to meet without weapons and had left this behind. He didn't think the reason was the beer, since he knew places like this watered their drinks down so heavily a flea couldn't get drunk off it.

When barkeep came to them, the  pointed to a bottle of something on the shelf. The pilot didn't know what it was since grime had blurred the label, but at this point in his life he figured he'd drank so much booze he could stomach any rot gut.

"I thought you were a, er, 'drunken master'? All jokes aside, this is my third and I very much doubt I can get inebriated on this... merely hydrated."

He pushes the ashtray away from himself conscientiously and returns his attention to Raven.

"Yes, I see you've been told of my implants. They're for nannite delivery and delicate surgeries. A 'thrill' to the...?"

He blushes.

"I hadn't considered that."

Peter pays the tab.

"So we have established that I have modified myself to assist in medicine, which in my case also includes cybernetics. Raven, are you primarily a pilot? I'm sure multiple limbs are of some assistance, and perhaps your corvid neurology lends some advantage to spatial perception. Yet you seem more than adequately prepared for combat as well."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:43, Thu 27 June 2013.

Raven smirked.

"I guess I'd say it was true if I knew what those big words meant.

"You're fast to catch on, I'm not a pilot by trade. I can fly of course, but as you guessed I can do other things too. Bullet, blade, bare fist, it's all good for me. But I'm not a merc. You could say I'm in the delivery service, supply and demand. It can be pretty profitable depending on what you're supplying, and whose demanding it. I was in the Earth Army, then the Space Marines. I use my training from that to ensure that my shipments get to where they're going, and also in some cases that I get paid as some get stingy with promised credits.

"As for the splicing, I didn't get it so I could be better at anything. I was trying to leave who I was, as far behind as I could, and this is what I became because of it.

"I'm sure you'd like to know the kind of man who's teaming up with you. Let me give you an answer for that."

The bird man started to sing.

"I'm a rambler and a gambler and a long way from home,

"And if you don't like me while leave me alone.

"I'll eat when I'm hungry and drink when I'm dry,

"And if the moonshine don't kill me I'll live till I die."

"I might well be the only drunken master, Haven't met another one." he takes his glass and drinks from it, "Peter I should hope you know the usual vows taken by those who wish to learn Do." he downs the rest of his glass.

Wiping his mouth on his sleeve, "The doc here also has knowledge of the life sphere, one of the easiest things for students of those teachings to do is see life. Basically he can see and understand how you work with but a glance." looking disappointedly at the now empty glass, he turns to his comrades. "Also from what I have seen very skilled in medical science."

"Peter I hope you realise that you will be in charge of keeping Kairos, Raven and Solan moving. Should make an interesting paper if you ever wanted to get a nice place in a lab with the other sons of ether." waving his empty glass at the bartender and giving a foul look, "Both ends of the modification spectrum, maybe you could temp Kairos into some. Then he might not feel so different from the rest of you."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:38, Thu 27 June 2013.

He bobs his head awkwardly as Raven sings. Afterward, he claps.

"I must say, I owe you an apology. I haven't had good experiences with splicers in the past. You did a lot of good flying that ship, and you're quite amicable as well. My opinion is rapidly changing."

Peter regards the new stein of beer set in front of him. His look of disappointment reflects that of Huoshui as he reluctantly pushes it away, now joining the ashtray.

"I suppose I should try sober Do first," he reasons.

"As for analysis, I consider the use of the life sphere secondary to plain,  rational analysis. It would be hubris to eschew my mundane skills. Neither magick nor hard-earned knowledge should be used alone. Why move something with your thoughts..."

He pushes the credit chip forward.

"...when you can do so as easily with your hand."

He clears his throat.

"I am more than willing to provide healing. It enlivens me, in a way. Now, I know that your comment was in jest, but let me remind you that despite the advantage my implants give me, there was much pain involved in getting them. And you yourself have voiced concerns that I have lost a vital connection to my body by becoming augmented. I would only perform such enhancements on those who are properly versed in the drawbacks of such a procedure. To do otherwise would be unethical."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:06, Thu 27 June 2013.

Raven picked up his bottle while the other two talked for a minute. The filth encrusting it gave hint that the booze had been sitting on it's shelf for quite a while. This was proven more by the fact the stopper was not easily removed. But with four muscled arms to use, the old Splicer managed to open it. When he did so, a couple of drops splashed out onto the wooden surface. A few seconds later, thin wisps of smoke started to arise from the liquid owed to the contact. The bird man either didn't notice, or simply didn't care as he took a swig. He grimaced, coughed, then grinned as he wiped the back of a hand at his watering eyes.

"Good stuff. I wondered what they did with the surplus after it wasn't a fuel source anymore."

He wanted until the monk and doctor had finished their say. He addressed the latter.

"Ah yes, Kairos and Solan. AKA Sir Tin Pants and Mister Roboto. The soldiers of past and future; one holds his oaths in his heart, the other on a circuit chip. Since in short you're the medical officer of this little squad, Doc, I'd be interested to know what you think of our other absent comrades. From what FW told me before, Lancelot will be fighting beside me in the front lines while the tin soldiers guards our backs through a scope. Since I have to relie on these men, I'd like to know the inside dirt from the man who knows them inside and out. Mentally, physically, all angles. Also, try to avoid any big medical words; I got any schooling worth note from the military, and among the various things they tried to stuff into our heads medical texts weren't one of them."

Another wink, and slug of the toxic tonic.

"From what I have seen even with your modifications you chi flows with no hinderance. I can't say I approve of such things but it doesn't have an effect on your ability to do Do. The craftsmanship must be quite good."

"There are two schools of drunken fist," he holds up two fingers, "There is the sleeper martial art of drunken fist, which is just the movement and style of the true form. Drunken Fist as a form of Do however is a way of life, Do is a way of life. One must live the form. True Drunken Fist has drawbacks, not limited to but including addiction and loss of control of one's anger." he put his hand down as he went again for his now refilled glass, "You have to understand that the vows have purpose."

He smiles, "You attitude to magic doctor, I see you did pick up a few things up from our order. We too see magic in that light, it is a tool but one should only uses the tools required. Why waste resources."

Peter does a double take as Raven's liquor eats a hole in the bar top.

"Should you be...? Well, you're still standing, so we'll chalk this up to your enhanced GI tract. Go light on that stuff, an emergency gastrectomy would be rough outside of my lab. Sorry, medical words... what I mean is, let's avoid an emergency stomach removal if we can."

He ponders Raven's question.

"I can't say much for Kairos. I know little about him. He's definitely old-school and seems noble, if antiquated. As for Solan? Solan is a hard man, thickly armored in many ways. Still, one must first be damaged to develop callouses, or in his case, callousness. I can tell you that even a cyborg with the most hardened exterior still has flesh and nerves on the inside, no matter how much they may want you to think they are all machine. I have yet to see him admit this fact. I think he would be better for it. Your style might be more appealing to him than ours. He has been notoriously ruthless in the past but I am holding out to see if he might yet be redeemable. To sum it up, he's a rough sonofabitch, but I'm willing to give him a chance."

Peter moves the credit chip in a slow circle as Huoshui speaks.

"The modifications were partly my own design. There is some muscular atrophy but all of my reflexes appear intact, even slightly enhanced," he says, smoothly flexing his fingers.

"Though, if I had someone as supportive and accepting as you at the temple, perhaps I would not have gotten to the point of needing them. As for Dharma, my connection to the greater whole has always been medicine. It was what I did for my fellow Brothers, and aside from using it now to pay my debts... which fulfills the word I have given my creditors... however greedy they may be, I suppose I must forgive them... I do not seek money or power. Only knowledge and a chance to apply that knowledge to those in need."

The fingers bind and tighten into a fist, then loosen again.

"Despite my propensity for 'big medical words' and my outward appearance, it pains me at times to hear you describe our two paths as so divergent. Yet, you're not wrong... There was a time when I was an Akashic Brother, inept as I was. But I also attended a fine, technology and logic-focused mage college, and I so held strongly onto my concept of Tao that I hardly saw what I was doing there as magick at all. Contrary to my beliefs at the time, that is not Tao at all. Tao is all. Tao is inescapable and inevitable, whether it is the balancing of chi, jing and shen through the esoteric practices of internal alchemy; or removing nannite-enhanced, quantum-networked sarcomeres via IGE fluorescence from the contained detonation of bilocated hafnium pellets. Does it make sense to say I that part of my Dharma is that I must accept both sides of my nature? Mages and doctors are both prone to hubris. A mage doctor, doubly so."

He sighs and settles his head onto his folded elbows on the dirty bar. Maybe he is feeling a little tipsy, or at least melancholy.

"Honestly, I wonder if I haven't lost my path. I don't want to be a Son of Ether. I'm no mad scientist. I just... sound like one.."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:26, Fri 28 June 2013.

Raven took another swig of liquid death and yet again remained among the living, somehow.

"Doc, I know I'm not an educated man like you, I never went to fancy schools or read scrolls in temple libraries. But, I am going to tell you a few things for free, so take or not as you will.

"It's not complicated in my eyes; if you don't want to be a Son of Ether, then don't be. Pack up your bags, kiss your girl goodbye, and head off. No reason to stay if you're miserable. Since you liked being in the Akashic Brotherhood it seems, then call yourself a Brother and be happy. Hell, we've got one now who left his temple and drinks, if they can accept him I don't see why having some dodad stuck in you makes any difference. He just said your chi flow was good, which I have no idea what that means but I guess it's important or he wouldn't have said it like it was.

"If some temple won't take you, try another. If none will, call yourself Brother Peter and head for the stars, like your already have or you wouldn't be here. It doesn't matter what some stuffy old bats with long white beards say you can call yourself, it's what in your center you know to be true. Look at me. I haven't been in the service for decades now, but I'm still a Marine to me and that's what counts. If you need another monk to train you for some reason, we've got one. You want to meditate, eat rice and break boards, all the more power to you.

"Once you find yourself, my friend, you can never again be truly lost."

"I am truly shocked and sorry for how that temple treated you, The ones I have visited welcomed all kinds of people." he hated to admit but even the akashic monks had bad characters, "I would vouch for you if you wanted to rejoin our order. If you wish to be a brother again than I welcome you, for all thats worth."

"I left my temple to travel with my mentor, then I left his side as he told me. We went from temple to temple, he was trying to spread his views on the universe. I just picked up new ways of looking at things and techniques." he looked to the temple elder's glove he now wore, "I myself have been searching for what my path truly is. That was what my mentor told me to go find. I believe I have found what I am meant to do, I am sure you will find yours."

"Thank you, gentlemen. Fancy words are not nearly as valuable as honest, heartfelt ones. The fact is, until I've found somewhere to settle and set up my lab, I have nothing to offer the Etherites anyway. I was not assigned a proctor at the station and there is no station now anyway, removing any pressure on me to join. In fact, you gentlemen, Solan and Kairos are currently the only ones with whom I can practice willworking at all."

He looks at the warming beer stein longingly.

"Thank you for the invitation, Huoshui. If nothing else, our mutual interest in life magick and differing methods of application may help us both understand it better. Whatever our paths may be, they appear to have intersected for the time being. I shall take advantage of this most auspicious moment in my life to learn whatever you can teach me."

He slaps both hands down.

"So! What's next? Any more clues about our mysterious adversary? Do you have a way of contacting Kairos or Solan? Raven, any ideas?"

Peter rises from his seat.

"If not, perhaps we can locate an empty space to, dare I say, practice?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 12:46, Fri 28 June 2013.

"As for mad scientists and such, don't knock 'em Doc. I wouldn't be the man I am today without them."

Raven let the monk and Peter talk a bit more before again chiming in.

"Oh sure. We got his home address, his likes and dislikes, the names of the family pets, and even a few baby pictures. I'd say I wished life could be that simple, but it's a lie. I'd be bored out of my feathered skull if it were.

"On a more serious note, this is the best I know; I'm giving you this version because I don't know who might be listening:

"A long time ago, there was a bad man. He got punished, but is still around. I have something he wants, he's got something I need. The only way for him or me to get that thing is to make sure the other doesn't see the next sunrise. It's kind of a race you could say, winner gets to live and do stronger hoodoo. This man either is the man we're after, or is linked to him somehow. The guy searching for me I believe was part of House Solificati, a number of members in there attacked the other traditions about ten thousand years ago give or take. What was left of the House joined the Hermatic Order, which is why I think we need to get to Mus. There might be more information there. Place used to be a military base though, and getting into the library was something FW said you fellas might be able to help me with.

"As for getting in touch with the other two, do it the way the good Brother did me, use their comm units. I know Mister Roboto's got one since it's hardwired into his head, the knight it depends on just how old fashioned he is. But if FW has one, I'd suspect Lancelot does too.

"As for practicing, it does make perfect. But, before we head out for anything, there is something I want to address with you, Doc.

"See, I tell people I'm a Splicer and I can fly, both of which I've proven to you. FW here looks like a monk, did this kick ass thing where he like flew through the air and shit, and worked a little mumbo jumbo so I believe what he told me about himself.

"But you, I've got no proof about nothing. FW dresses like a monk, you don't dress like him but you claim to have spent time in the same Brotherhood as him. You don't even have his reflexes, you couldn't stop the stick from crashing to the ground. You also don't wear a doctor's coat or anything, and the few big words you've used you can learn from anywhere and doesn't prove anything really. FW claims you got the whammy like us, but yet you made up some excuse and used your hand instead, so no proof on that either. Finally, you and the monk claim you've got tentacles, but I ain't seen neary a one yet. Not to piss you off or anything, but if I said I was the lord high ruler of the universe I'm guessing you'd want me to prove it. Besides, if I'm going into battle I got to trust the men with me, and I can't do that if I can't trust who they are."

"Raven is right to be wary, from our conversation I believe that this is indeed a common enemy. The problem now is that there are three directions that pull me, We have Raven and Mus. Which I agree we have to get in there. Now there is also the matter that I must attend to on the pole of this planet, its a promise I must not break. And finally the ship has a desire to return to what remains of the station to pick up a crew member who is missing."

He looks again to Peter and where is eyes laid, "Peter just drink it, We shall discuss any vows later. You haven't started training yet." he looked at the doctor and smiles, "Besides we monks do not waste."

Upon hearing Raven's comment on the doctor's abilities, "It is best to keep abilities such as those away from prying eyes, not only to avoid paradox but it attracts such unwanted attention. Could this not wait till we get back to the ship or somewhere more private? I am sure Kairos would love to demonstrate his abilities beside the doctor's. Will my word not hold your faith till at least then?"

Huoshui thought to himself that maybe he should pick up something to drink on the way back, even if Kairos was a member of the Euthanatos. That much death was not something anyone should be able to just shake off.

"It's warm now."

Peter slides the beer back in front of himself, then waves down the bartender for a shot of whiskey. He plops it in the beer and empties the stein shamelessly.

"...boilermaker... might as well make it count..." he says.

He licks his lips.

"I must agree, a public demonstration would not be prudent. Urp."

Peter bends his knees to pick up his bags.

"Shall we?"

Raven finished his bottle, left it sitting on the bar and shrugged.

"Sure, whatever. I've got no plans."

The old Splicer shouldered his pack once again, secured his guitar case, and faced the others.

"Lead on."

Huoshui finished his glass again looking disappointedly at the glass when finished.

"Right, lets be off then." he rose from his seat and headed off out into the streets.

He made his way back to the ship, taking transport when needed and making a quick stop off at a small shop on the way back. "Just gonna get a little refill." He said while shaking his now mostly empty jug.

"And we're off!"

Peter follows the two with his bags in tow and a wobble to his step.

In the open air he lights another cigarette, humming to himself as they amble along. When they pass the next trash receptacle he crumples the rest of the pack. There's a moment's hesitation before he throws it in.

He follows, boarding the ship with a mixed look of irritation and begrudging familiarity.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:35, Sat 29 June 2013.

ok well your little flower bloms after a bit before you meet up with birds, and it radiates with your masters essence and resonance. You can use it to help tune in on him ... it might take a while but he knows to be listening for you now, you know that.
Huoshui
ok I take  my time and do just that
14 mins ago

You get pulled into the asteral ream after sometime. The sensation rather light getting pulled into the info sphere but much more gentle and less flashy. You are alone on some clouds with no one but your master and you around. "It is good to hear from you Huóshui Zuìquán"
Huoshui
bows, "Thank you for seeing me master, I understand you must be busy."
12 mins ago

"Yes, times have grown... trubling."
10 mins ago
Huoshui
"The main reason for my contacting master, is that I met with Sophia E. Boreh at the auction and I was wondering if you had heard from her after the incident. "

"I can asure you she is fine, she can take care of herself."
8 mins ago
Huoshui
"I would usually be sure of that also of one of our order but considering what happened I had feared the worst."
6 mins ago

"There are more pressing matters about. She is fine."
Huoshui
"Do you speak of the seat?"
1 min ago

"In a way...  The seat itself meatters little I think" He hums rubbing his beard looking at you. "You are already cought up in such things though... can see the primordial energies about you."
just now
Huoshui
Huoshui looks at himself with some confusion, "primordial energies? I do not understand."
"I had not noticed such a change."

"You have fought one haven't you..... why?"
15 mins ago
Huoshui
"I have come into contact with a beast whos chi flowed in such a vile way, yes." he was confused, "If thats who you mean. I fought it because I felt it endangered innocents."
10 mins ago

He sighs "This univurse has been judged.... the infection to deep to be rooted out." He is quite for a moment "You may think that the victories over the nephandi, the distruction of many of there laybrinths, driving Io far above the eclyiptic... all so easly with our battered alieance the past many years would say otherwise..... but it speaks to why..."
8 mins ago
Huoshui
"You believe it to be the end times, master? Do you think the fight is for nothing?"
6 mins ago

"Tell me do you not wonder why we have so much truble driving out the Malfean's... while the Infernalests are lossing power..... and the true Nephandi have all but withered away and been wiped out?"
5 mins ago
Huoshui
"Master my experience of such things are limited but yes I have sent time meditating on this and come to nought. Are you saying that something is rising that we cannot stop?"
1 min ago

He nods some "Stop... maybe.... Defeat, never."  He sighs "Those few Malfean spirts... the Infernal masters... those otter dark gods.... those grater powers the Nephandi worshiped that fadded away... the powers they granted desolving, there prayers unanswered, there preasonce gone..... it was because they where not what they seamed, and were nothing but dreams....... dreams of beings that have sleep sence before the sundering, beings the last fall woke.  And with out a dreamer the dreams die....."

"Even if it all we can do is stop it, should we not try. For future generations and so the cycle can continue? Maybe in the future it can be defeated." he falls silent for a bit, "I know it maybe foolish of me master."
1 min ago

"The pure ones feared them, this is not something easly slain or they would have done so.  You know when one is cualed by the Nephandi there souls are not cleansed by rencarnation.... there numbers grow. And there are those who gained there power from those beings that ruled over reality before there was reality.... now that they wake there full power returns to them slowly and they will make way for there mastears to find a way into exsistance."
"There are already cracks from wich there dreams have crawled....."

Huoshui
"So is my quest without meaning? One creature with the primordial resonance has fallen and another fled. If we are not to fight what is it we are to do?"
5 mins ago

"The tactics being used, and the employment of the demon lords may seam unpeasent.... but what they want is to stop those beings... and drive them back to the fetherest reaches far beyond anyexistance. Exselerating the end and controlling it the shards of the pure one and are devinity all can be restored, combined and bring about the restoration of The One... The grate father/mother... the one true god... what ever you wish to call it by... true divinity of all creation as one.... and that light in the darkness of the dying world will drive back the night once more and we can begin ansew.... Perhaps even not mess things up"
4 mins ago

"Do you know what caused the sundering
"What drove the Emrald Lady mad and made her strike down her lord?"

"I do not know master. did we anger her?"
55 mins ago

"Yes, it was us. We used his gift to end life to do something atrocius. One of us killed one of his own blood, his brother. We took a gift to end life so that we may re-use it... and used it in anger to end the life of some one a part of us. She was inraged, and in the end the only thing she could do to sate her anger was to strike down her lover for ever giving us the gift in the first place......."
52 mins ago
Huoshui
"I fought something that was bound and stolen from earth. It too had a deep hatred and anger towards us. It gave me the memories and emotions of its mother. would this be the same?"
49 mins ago

"I am talking about the Phenix and the Dragon......    It was our fult the dragon dug it's cawls into the earth... and man has long sence abused her.   But the act in question and her own actions drove the Phenix mad..... as for the earth mother... she was nutured from all 3 of the powers and is much more loving and forgiving to us."

<stopped for IRL>

<contenued>

"Is there nothing we can do to heal the wounds we have caused?"
4 mins ago

"I do not beleave they can, I do not know if humanit has it in itself to do anything. There are only so many outcomes.  The cycle is reset, the cycle is broken, we accend, we desend.... or something far worce...." He shakes his head those outer horrors even have a grate one they fear... all fear, espeshaly the dead... the euthanos know it well, they call it Grandmother It is nonexistance incarnate.. and even 'she' is stirring in her sleep"
1 min ago
Huoshui
"I met a dragon, I believe he spoke of the same being. He believes that is not her moving."
just now

"exsplain"

Huoshui
"I met with a dragon while seeking answers in the spirit realms. I have had conversations with him. He first warned me of a coming disaster, that he said I was to witness. He spoke of the greatmaw, her children, the unnamed and his allies. From what he said they wish to stop the wheel, visions given to me said that the people moving wish to force a restart of the great cycle not its end."
33 mins ago

"Yes, there have long been forces of her children trying to tair down reality and end off of what is and will be. Restarting the great cycle may be the only hope. There are other ways, yes. But I would not risk all of reality that we may stop plans 10,000 years in the making. It makes more sense to restart the cycle and not risk it's end."
28 mins ago
Huoshui
"I also believe that the forces currently working to reset the cycle which to manipulate how the next cycle plays out. wanting to shape it. I fear this is a grave matter."
26 mins ago

He frowns some "So you would chose the risk all exsistance to try and stop both?"
"And find a way to mend reality"
23 mins ago
Huoshui
"If I can find a way to mend reality I will go for it. I would not want to risk reality but shouldn't the cycle end and restart itself? I speak of trying to stop a group who wish to force this, would not forcing it cause damage. "
13 mins ago

"It is the time....or was.  But talos recovers..... no one is sure what that means but it is clear Talos is conected to the tenth sphere and the end times."
11 mins ago

"It is hard to tell what to think of such things.... it was said talos would be the sign of assention.... but it has brought nothing but distruction.... and it was to mark the end of the cycle but the cycle has contenued past it's end.... the vail of time pulled open over and over..."
8 mins ago
Huoshui
"Master, you have always been honest with me. its is difficult for me but The akashic record was revealed to me in its entirety recently. It showed me images concerning the 10th sphere , this was even before their return to the councils. I believe the man behind all of this was revealed to me. The shocking thing was I think he saw me also."
3 mins ago

He looks a little suprized. "That.... is trubling if any of the Aswadim have taken notice of you, your life is in danager.... if the Unamed himself did then perhapse it woul be best that you return here imediatly"

Huoshui
"Your new apprentice also told me to come back. I still have to make good on promises I made to the Dragon and I believe I have already found pieces and clues to what is going on."
11 mins ago

"They will quite literaly turn your soul inside out.... they will find ways to make you agree to such things. These are fightening... things.... can hardly call them human anymore"
Huoshui
"Master you said that you saw primordial essence around me, is this how it begins?" he says with some concern
6 mins ago

"Primordial essence is just something of the beggening and the end of existance the grate forces of creation and distrucution... a desire to see the primal purity of life before the sundering... or after it's fall into decay.  It is a craving for new things and change. A grate force of power... a power of change. This is not always seen as a good thing but it is nether good nor bad.. it is pure and it is the essense of the unevurse"
2 mins ago

"Part of you has ben affected by there primordian resonance... and it has resonated with you, you seek purification of yourself and the world and it has stired a spark of primordial desires..... it dose not mean you are on the path to being like them"
Huoshui
Huoshui looks to himself, "I can't say I fully understand but I am glad to hear that it doesn't mean I am on the same path as them."
just now

"They took demonic lords into there own souls. and were forged into some new kind of beeing all together. Not something that just happens over time"

"Some people go to great lengths for what they call power."
2 mins ago

"I do not think the end can be stoped, the world spiraled out of balance so long ago and it has contenued to do so for so long. I think we can only chose our end and try and see it through."

Huoshui
"I understand what I am saying I will attempt is foolish. But I might on looking for a solution find a way to choose how it ends, stopping this mystery man from making it the next cycle in his own image."
12 mins ago

"I know this one... and it is no man, but an angle of creation.   The uname is hardly a man anymore ether, it's beleaved he was the first to make a pact with those beings beyond reality... first to sell his soul away for power.... maybe even the first mage because of such."
10 mins ago

"You are chosing to make enemies of an arch angel, and a fallen orical nearly as old as time it'self."
8 mins ago
Huoshui
"Maybe I am, but my seeking showed me that this isn't the first time. I saw that I took part in a war between beings so ancient they are said to not walk among us anymore."
5 mins ago

He starts to say something but then stops shaking his head. "You best find powerfull alies.... and the ones you already have may have already chosen a side in how the end will play out"
3 mins ago
Huoshui
"The dragon I spoke of has promised to lead me his power. And the company I have kept recently have been great allies so far. I have even come into contact with an individual who is more tied into this than anyone."
1 min ago

"I will share something else the masters are not sharing with there studients....  The record's pages ended a short time after talos burned in the sky.... the fall was not in the record... it was writen in... and every day sence is writen in turn only a few hours or days before they are"

Huoshui
"the record has slowed? So was it an outside force that stopped Talos? if the record has been affected then this whole thing must be unnatural."
28 mins ago

"It is a sign we do not take lightly.... How long can you keep shoving pages into the end of a book that has ended?   Then again dose this mean we are now making our own record more than ever before?  Not even the gratest masters an see but a few days into possable futures...rather if time itself is unraveling or something with grate power fogs there sights we do not know"
"But this has been the case sense a few months before the fall happened and it has not changed"
25 mins ago
Huoshui
"This is certainly strange news, and I can understand why the master have kept it. "
22 mins ago

"And there are stormborn apearing with a touch of the pure ones powers over the storm and the 10th sphere...... most of them mad.... the others gathering other stormborn under them and they are not paticuarly friendly to other magi.  These are trubled times and many point to the end... we keep them quite but we have tried to find an answer to no advail."
21 mins ago
Huoshui
"We are indeed in troubling times master. I just hope that we can get through it with out causing harm to our selves or others. This is the stuff of everything,"
19 mins ago

"I am displeased you do not share my view, but I hope you find a way and wish you luck"
Huoshui
"I am sorry master."
17 mins ago
Huoshui
Huoshui couldn't help but think that his master and the one he had made in his seeking were much alike in this respect.
"I guess its too engrained into my soul. "
14 mins ago

"Perhaps it is your desteny to always 'fight the good fight'. So much you can't even fight to give up on this world"
Huoshui
"I do feel that I am here to do something master. I just hope that I am doing what I am supposed to."
11 mins ago

He grows a very sober look on his face. "No matter what happens know that it is true that I hope you are aswell. I do not want this world to end for humanity to end.... but if it is the only sure way to save life and existance at all, humanity is a small price to pay"
10 mins ago
Huoshui
"Yes master. humanity is but a part of something greater."
8 mins ago

"Then we do not stand together." He says standing up. "But we both share the same dreams." He bows. "I hope one of us sees ourselves right, least the light of existance be snuffed out."
7 mins ago
Huoshui
"Yes master." he bows. "I am truly sorry that our paths and views do not meet, but glad we share the same dream. I am truly grateful to you master."
5 mins ago

"I am not you master anymore, you are your own. I sadly must say I also hope this is the last we speak. I am sorry."
4 mins ago
Huoshui
Huoshui felt confused and a little hurt by this. "Why? I don't understand."
1 min ago

"Don't feel hurt, you have grown beyond the need of a master. As for the later... well we now work our wills agenst eachother... we seek diffrent conenceess.  As you can undrestand I can not risk reality even for a beloved formor student."
Huoshui
"I understand master. I hope that your new apprentice finds her way back to you and hold the same ideals."

Huoshui
"I understand master. I hope that your new apprentice finds her way back to you and hold the same ideals."
just now

"She dose. I hope you succeed though, I really do.... fairwell."  and with that he fades away and you gently return to your body.

Huoshui headed off from the ship, remembering to make sure that Luci also had his contact details. Checking his clothes and covering his head and face with his hood, he begun to search for a guide to the realm of this world's god.

"So Peter, have you kept up with any training since we last saw? If there is a delay till we can head off the meet the god, I would be more than happy to run you through some rotes." he questioned the doctor, as he searched for someone he thought might be able to point them in the right direction to a guide.

He wasn't looking for anyone in particular, but a fellow monk might be nice or small temple. He would be able to trust them at least, a fellow brother would not hand him in would they?

Peter ambles along with his bags, huffing a bit.

"Stances and avoidance, mostly. I sometimes punch at the air but it all feels rather feeble. My balance has recovered, if not improved, since my operation. Less so with my strength. The structure is there but there has been a great deal of atrophy. Yes, any suggestions would be appreciated. We're both biologically inclined, I'm sure there's some cross compatibility there."

Peter tries to help Huoshui but he has no idea what separates a good guide from a bad one.

"Want me to take one of those for you? Would be no problem." he commented on Peter's huffing.

"Well if you're still suffering from atrophy, I believe we can both help with that your science and my internal alchemy we should be able to find some remedy to speed recovery." continuing to walk and search for information, "I can think of a few rotes that might help with that and also generally with your training. But we shall need to first spar a little, that is the best way for me to see where you are at as far as Do is concerned."

Smiling to the doctor he continued, "When fighting, even in practice, the two warriors souls are linked and become synched. Spiraling and fighting, testing each other out. One becomes closer to another after such an event."

"No, I've got these just fine," he says, though his face tells a different story.

"Lugging them... rrgh... helps with my recovery."

Peter audibly gulps at the mention of sparring.

"Um, well, I guess we could... maybe after the mission... or whenever, really. I mean... uh..."

He sighs.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:19, Thu 05 Sept 2013.

There is a lower outer sector cavern full of helictite crystals where there is a shrine.

Many of them oddly look like trees and are charge with tass.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/...5514b7520_z.jpg?zz=1

Peter sets down his bags.

"Oh my! Pleasant spot for a picnic or perhaps mortal combat," he says.

He absent-mindedly pads himself for cigarettes, then grimaces. He takes a seat under a tree.

In examining the tree-like forms he sees the greater pattern, the fractal flow of materials forming whorls and eddies with tiny mathematical singularities nestled in their origins; similar, recursive, but never the same.

Yeah, I could really go for a smoke.

He looks to Huoshui for direction. Sadly, he is out of his element in spiritual manners, far more than a true Brother. The rules of spiritual and emotional chaos were not so mathematically appealing -- like reacting by instinct instead of rote.

"I guess we've hit a dead end. Temporary, I'm sure. I wish there was something more I could do to help."

OOC: Perhaps an Enigmas or Research roll? I don't have any occult, but I do have a few points in Smartiness.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:51, Wed 11 Sept 2013.

"This place holds much free chi... Tass." he says holding his hand out near the crystals. Smiling he continued "Such a form is very symbolic, many cultures believe they hold great knowledge. I myself was given visions of a tree only recently, even the god we are to meet has Yggdrasil."

He marvelled at the structures around him, looking at it with all forms of the world he knew. Feeling the energy flowing in the tree forms, the beauty of the form and flow of the shapes. Even a young and fresh brother could find calm and meditation in a location such as this.

Huoshui just walked slowly around near where Peter had sat, taking as much of this wondrous place in as possible.

"All encounters are inevitable." turned to Peter and smiled, "We found ourselves here, we are meant to be here. I'm sure of that."

With 2 awareness and no prime it's rather hard for Peter to feel quintessence free or not. However clearing his mind and concentrating he's able to feel it.  Each  formation maybe only has 1 tass, maybe 2 or more if it is a huge one, but they add up making the area full of it. The Brotherhood must be built on a fairly potent node.

Still smiling, Huoshui searching for anyone around that could help them. He had been seeking help and the universe had taken him here.

To further appreciate the beauty of his surroundings, he holds on hand to his chest in a sign. His vision would show him the eb and flow of life and chi.

"Lets find ourselves a guide."

The sound of minerals dripping from crystals and stalagmites, while bugs skitter about.

Huoshui headed into the temple, "If you want you can rest here, seems most people are within in the temple. I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to sit among these 'trees' and meditate."

Peter considers this.

"Meditate, eh? I should do that more often. Besides, I'm rather nervous about entering another temple. Yes, I suppose I'll wait out here for now. Let me know if you need me for anything."

Yes, I believe I will meditate.

Huoshui smiled replying "Or go through Katas, I mean anything you want. Unless you do want to come with me. I mean you will have to enter a temple one day in the future, if you wish to walk a similar path as I. Why not this one?" he laughed as he entered the temple.

Still marvelled by the life forms and Chi flow around the area. It was beautiful for the normal vision but for one trained in the paths, you could see so much deeper.

Peter blinks his eyes open after a minute or so.

"Hrm? Oh, I'm no good at any of that anyway," he figures.

He stands up and brushes himself off.

"I rarely last more than a minute or two before something distracts me. I suppose I should practice that too. Despite my reservations I will accompany you inside the temple."

Peter can't quite see what huoshui can... but he can feel it when consentrates.

The shrine here appears to be carved out of the mountain rock. The lights are carved helictite formations charged with quintessence to give off light. Polished volcanic stone walls and the glowing crystals give the whole place a natural look and feel. It is a nice reprieve from the heavy industry of the rest of Hades, and it seams to be the intent of the area and shrine.... a sorta tranquil garden at the edge of an industrial area.

A monk smiles to Huoshui as he enters. "Welcome brother, can I help you?"

Peter follows behind Huoshui with his bags in tow. He's sure to bow before crossing the temple's threshold. Pointedly he makes no eye contact with his fellow monks. Although he does his best to exude an air of tranquility he can't help but be a little nervous.

For now he says nothing and follows his friend's lead.

Entering the shrine and being greeted by a fellow monk, enveloping his fist with his other palm he bowed and answered, "Thank you for your warm welcome brother, We come to you seeking a route to the trials and realm of Nerigal. Any information you could share with us would be most appreciated."

Bowing again, "I am truly sorry that I ask so much of another but my friend and I have come here from the station disaster. And a vision given to me has said that I must seek out Nerigal."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:32, Wed 25 Sept 2013.

The monk seams a little taken back "I am afraid I only know of Nerigal by name and that his home is where some of the masters hone there stamina." He looks uneasy. "and that some have died tring to bare the storms." It was a good thing they only had to pass through them then. "You might ask one of the masters."

"I pray that your fallen masters have passed on to the next life safely my brother and appreciate your concern." looking to the brother with some concern, "I have been warned by one who has walked the same path, I know the risks. This is something that must be done, please do show me to a master so I might speak with them of this matter."

Huoshui was impressed and shocked to hear that some trained under the conditions he had heard about. To actually stay for any longer than necessary must take true discipline, he now wished to see the masters for more than just direction.

It took a while to find one but the master that was found's body was one of scars and tattoo's he was old and warn time and the winds but huoshui's life senses could see the sturdiness of his body was...well lets just say he was probably as sturdy naked as solan was in full armor. He nods bowing stiffly to the three as they approach.

The student bows some. "Dorje-khanti..." he says and leaves you with him.

Huoshui bows and looks for Peter to do the same, but then looked back to the elder. Remembering Peter was a brother and would probably know what acts were needed to show respect.

"I am Huóshui Zuìquán, this is my fellow brother of the path Peter Cicatrix." bows this time but a lot lower, "I have been told that you can help me. I come seeking passage to the realms of Nerigal, the path I walk is to take me to meeting him." he no longer had use of his former master's name, be this a good or bad thing he knew not but it was oddly refreshing to not introduce himself with the tag of anothers name. This thought also gave him sadness, he had parted paths from his teacher but hoped both his and his master's path lead to ascension and enlightenment.

Noting the scars and tattoo's of the master, maybe he too had gone through the trial or worse. Each temple and person met brought with them a new story and lessons to be learnt.

He motioned for you two to sit with him, sitting just about anywhere apparently not that uncommon at this shrine. "I suppose you do not wish to set off walking or you would have done so already.... well there are some foolish younger students with to many credits that have paid for transport there. The first time I went I did hire a guide, there are a few rare of them about but they can be expensive. I can tell you what I know but I would recommend against it though I can tell from the look in your eyes it will do little good. The storms at the edge of his realm where this one meets his are intense and protect it from unwanted visitors. "

Peter does his best to match the bow, perhaps too conscientious of his movement, bending a couple inches below the master's level as a matter of respect.

"I am honored."

And he is. Despite his nervousness there is a certain joy to again be within a temple. He sits down before the master, reverent and appreciative of him.

As he regards the master he can't help but examine him for any chronic conditions or signs of inflammation. Doubtless the master is in great shape, if nothing else than by benefit of his magicks. Still, it was his job once and now his vocation, so he supposes he cannot help himself.

Some vitamin E oil, at least, he thinks but does not dare speak up.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:54, Sat 28 Sept 2013.

He lowers his head lightly to the doc and sighs some closing his eyes. "The current incursion of his realm is at -84.4°, -359.1°... McMurdo Crater, and has been for some time. I do not exspect it to move any time soon. The area is plagued with dust storms and you must go as soon as the temperatures rise with the sun, as at night the temperatures can drop as low as -100°C outside the incursion area.

The area itself is protected by a storm wall near 17km thick with harsh winds that can reach up to 160kmph, and next to no visibility. If you go you should have protection from the wind for you skin and eyes and make sure you and your comrades are connected some how by cable or rope preferably. Some means to make sure you keep in the same direction would help keep you from becoming lost. This is probably the most hazardous part of the journey and the chance of getting lost can be high, you do not want to be in the storm wall when night falls.

At the innermost edge of the storm wall the storm itself calms some, however it becomes a wall of deadly ice. The blood ice of Nerigal can cut through steel and the storm becomes nothing but shards of it for over a hundred yards becoming a field of death for meany, the most deadly of the dangers it is not to be underestimated. Passing through this as quickly as possible is a must.

Once past this you will be in Nerigal's realm. There is however a good 15km hike down into the crater to his proving grounds. The area between is full of martial star spirits in the form of countless weapons scattered over the field. They are unavoidable and must be faced in honorable combat, once you have they will show respect and allow you to pass unhindered.

I should warn you the place is hazardous and anything may be thrown at you, and there will be no water to drink... the ice is CO₂ and won't do you any good and the blood ice... well it's poison to drink it. So you must carry any water you will have with you.

You should also watch for the star-burst channels as the temperature rises there hard to spot but dangerous and in the storm. They form in vain like spidery formations feathering out from gas geysers. They can be over 500 meters wide and gas will blast through them making the storm conditions even worse. You should always be going up, however the channels will dip down a good meter deep, so if you find an area slanting down it might be prudent to avoid it.... though winding around and between Star-burst channels can take some time so you might just instead wait to try and push through them between eruptions or just hope there won't be one while your walking through.

All in all it's not something to take lightly, thankfully if you do make it to his home your are treated to water, food, and rest... given about an hour or so before you face your final trial fighting in his proving grounds. It is full of traps and reminiscent of a Roman gladiatorial arena.

Nerigal over looks theses battles and judges much like a martial brother might... He expects all to fight with honor, intelligence, and put all they have into there battle yet not give into battle lust and lose oneself. He expects even the fera to fight like men not like animals, to use there minds and not there instincts save those made by discipline. Those that lose themselves and/or there focus, fail to work together with there cohorts well, or fight dishonorably may even be struck down by him.

Magics that enhance yourself or your weapons seam to be something he finds honorable, while those used on others not so much particularly if used in excess or to weaken your foe. So limit your magics to those that assist you in combat.

That is all I can think of for now with out taking a long time to consider such things, all I can add is take weapons capable of at last killing something if not those that can grievously harm a spirit."  (do agg =p)

(If you zoom in you can find it here http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...traleRegion-mola.png )

Peter nearly faints.

(LOL! XD)

Huoshui sits and listens to the master, nodding and taking in all information given.

Once he is finished and Peter nearly faints he looks to the master, "I apologize for him, I'm not sure what got over him." he thinks to the weapons he has, "You speak of weapons able to damage a spirit, this would usually mean one that rends the very essence of things(Agro) but what of a weapon I had blessed to be on both sides of the veil (my spirit bless katana). I also have a blood ice dagger which was a gift but that would not last long in a confrontation." this was unusual for Huoshui he rare thought too much on the deadly abilities of his weapons, he was a man of peace but this trial called for it. Besides it was all so he might have the power of a dragon. He places the katana from his back to his lap displaying the magics he and the knight had woven into it, his own determination and emotions cast into its very being.

He has heard most of the trials and dangers of what he was to face before from their friend, and the reason he wanted Peter to come was for someone else to explain the dangers to him, so this was good. "Thank you master for your explanation, I shall gather the items you spoke of and prepare. Do you know of people I might seek out to acquire the correct gear, weapons and transportation?" his smile unwavering throughout the master's description of the trials.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:18, Sat 28 Sept 2013.

He nods "I know of one that likes to tempt the Ice Lords ire, and might be able to help you if things go sour but he dose not come cheep but I am sure he can provide you with what you will need. However your blade needs energized, it's spirit is weak and has only just awoke, yet the ice will serve in his frozen realm it will not melt. There is a node in the center of the temple, perhaps one of the brothers there can help you with the sword." He takes out a piece of rice paper from his robes and writes a name down handing the paper to you.... paper.... that's wow only from a monk hey?

Huoshui looks to the old glove on his hand, maybe the node could spare some power for this too. Taking the paper, looking to it and playing it with in his robes. "I shall seek this man out. You are being most helpful master, I shall see a brother to help me with my blade." he looked to Peter, "Is there somewhere he could lie down so that he would be more comfortable and calm down. Are you alright Peter?"

He took the young blade and slung it back on his back. It was good to hear of the blood ice. Looked back to Peter, "Maybe you wanna sit this next bit out." rose from his seated position, then bowed to the master.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:16, Sat 28 Sept 2013.

エンバー足笑う

Was the only thing on the paper. He saw to it a student got Petter some cold water. "Don't show him any disrespect, honor and respect are important to the warrior." He bowed lightly in farewell.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:28, Sat 28 Sept 2013.

"Yes, my friend who initially gave me advice to me of this path said the same. I shall show the utmost respect to the warrior." he stood and bowed, "Peter needs some air, where might we get him some before I venture to the node to seek aid with my blade?"

Holding a hand out to Peter, "Fresh air should do you some good. I'm sorry I wasn't able to explain the challenge we face sufficiently. Maybe now you understand why I was hesitant to bring others along." smiling, "Maybe we need to find you a weapon also, if you still plan on coming."

"I'm afraid down here is about the freshest air you will get unless you can pay for a trip up to the summit. They don't call this place Hades just because it's hot." He hums "Your friend should train some before he goes if he plans to leave with you. If so I believe I have something he can use that some masters often use." He reaches into his robe pulling a Japa mala with fairly large obsidian beads with carvings of a Vajrayanan mantra, some of the stones seam to be different from the others and made of volcanic rock, five in total. "If you use this you must bring it back to the shrine."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:02, Sat 28 Sept 2013.

"Sorry, I- just-" he clears his throat "-wow."

Peter takes Huoshui's hand. Once he's steady on his feet he again bows to the master.

"I will be fine. I did not mean any disrespect," he says. "Thank you for your hospitality."

Peter uses the cold water and a small towel from his medical kit to pad his face. He is sure to thank the student.

Peter delays for a second before grimly accepting the necklace. As he brings the prayer beads back to himself he wills his hands to stop shaking.

"I shall protect it with my life," he says, pushing the last part out in a gasp.

His jaw clenches.

"No," he says resolutely. "I will go with you. Let's get your equipment up to snuff. Then I must ask for assistance from you or one of the students to train."

He gets his bags.

The master places his hand on Peter's shoulder "Stay here with me, I'll help you train while your friend gets ready."

He drops his bags.

Ulp.

"Yes, of course," he says nervously.

There's a look of desperation as he bows to Huoshui. Despite the butterflies in his stomach he doesn't say anything. He slowly turns back around, trying not to flinch.

"Is it appropriate to call you Master or do you prefer a different title?"

"Then I leave my friend in your care master." be bows to him and turned to Peter, "I wish you luck in re-finding your style."

Grabbed his gear bowing to the two, "Be formless my friend... like water." a smirk on his face to the reference. It was a decent lesson, his name was a testament to it. "I have a staff which I shall lend him on our journey, I do not wish to impose what the master will teach him but some practice with a Bō could help." a final bow.

Huoshui headed to where he would have his blade empowered, also to seek further help in forging power within its jet black blade. Maybe also to seek further help from the people of this temple, they knew the challenges better than him maybe they could help him find better robes or gear for the journey. A donation would be made for their aid, the credits he now had were so much compare to what he was used to, he had made oaths and prayers to not seek such things but if they could help this temple and others so be it.

They say they can improve the sword and robes but it will take them some time. There temple is a humble one but they do have places to rest all be it they mostly sleep on the stone floor, they can provide sheets and pillows. It really didn't look like the temple would have much use for money they seamed an overly simple on intentional forgoing a lot that made life easier and more comfortable for just what was there. The one exception being food and water, they didn't eat bugs and recycle there water.

Huoshui bowed to them and handed over the black dragon katana, "This blade has an awoken spirit, if you can aid me in empowering it. I would be eternally grateful." bowing to them, "Do you know where I might find better robes, I am to go on a journey through the storms. So I need something as flexible and fluid as these but stronger."

They say to go gather crystals from the cavern till he feels he has enugh.

Peter is lead down to a chamber under the shrines node.

Bows and leaves to gather crystals from the cavern. Kneeling and climbing to gather the crystals, he spends sometime taking what he believes to be a modest number of crystals. He was unsure how many would be enough but every now and then stopped to marvel at the surroundings, when he felt taking anymore would spoil the look and atmosphere he finished and returned.

They bowed at his return taking them and adding them to crystals that had been forming into tass in the node and started grinding them all down together, using magic they mixed them in with other materials Huoshu did not quite know and started spinning them into twine.... this looked like it would take quite a long time.

Huoshui took the piece of paper out of his pocket. Japanese, he really needed to learn that sometime, so many temples used it as their primary language.

Opening his mind to the Akashic record and the brothers within the temple, he used his chi and this openness to read the japanese on the paper. (Laughing Emberpaw) This was one he had to seek out, one who liked the ice lords ire. This was going to be an interesting person to meet.

He didn't want to just leave the weapon smiths or the cloth makers but both groups no longer needed him. Huoshui stood up bowed to those spinning the twine and went to find any monks he could aid, failing that he would try to find the person written on the paper.

Peter smirks at Huoshui's advice. He loves old kung fu movies, especially Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee was cool.

This puts him in a better mood. His step is noticeably more lively as he is lead to the mysterious chamber beneath the node. It is only with slight trepidation that he enters the mysterious room.

Huoshui's investigate skills or lack there of didn't find much, it seamed possible he might not go by that name.

The master put a set of three crystals spoon his forehead and started drawing a mandala on the ground with chalk.

Peter squats to watch the master work. He's pleasantly mystified, having been worried that today's lesson would be more martial in nature. It was enough that he still had the guts to follow Huoshui, but he did not prefer to do so with a broken nose and crushed ribs. Or worse.

Still, a part of him remains alert, ever wary. Both the temple and the university had taught him that the best teachers tested all aspects of a student. One must always pay attention lest one fail an unexpected pop quiz.

Standing there looking at the scrap of paper he begun to wonder had the years travelling from temple to temple shielded him from skills he now required. Just from recent evidence... yes, because he could even find a person from being told a name.

It must be a akashic name, so what was he missing. He decided to just out right be truthful finding the oldest Akashic monk he could and showing them the paper, telling them that one of the masters had given it to him in relation to the Ice Lord.

Seams the master you were taken to was the oldest. Searching around the temple didn't seam to get much of anywhere but evenhandedly a student tells you he goes by 'Yogan' and be found in the city..


The mandala is a fairly complex one and takes quite a while to draw, some parts he chants while drawing. He was weaving complex magics in his work many far beyond anything Peter understood, however some of the pasterns made some sense to him. There were patterns to keep ones body in peek condition with out need for food or water for quite some time... just how long was he planning on keeping you down here?!?

Huoshui thanks the student and bows, thanking the monk and wishing his journey be eventful and full of growth. Leaving and heading into the city looking for this Yogan person. This was going to be different, but Huoshui liked that. New experiences and lessons, growth.

Huoshui finds he's a tour guide / short distance transporter if medium packages and people and can be found in the docks.

Huoshui heads to the docks, in search of the man on the paper. Grabs his bags and heads to the docks, taking whatever transport might be needed. The master said this man could sort him out with everything he needed so this should be his first trip before hunting for supplies himself.

Seek the advice of the experienced, made sense.

Peter's eyes narrow as he reads into the arcane patterns before him. There is much here he does not recognize. Yet ongoing observation yields surprising correlations between the calculations he might perform to realign the chemical structures of biological and physical phenomena. The language of reality was the same in both science and the occult, with each art providing interesting byways that the other would not take into account.

Still, some of the procedures worked into this were sigil were worrying. Was this meant to protect him from the oncoming exposure to temperatures below the sublimation point of CO₂ or were they merely meant for his "training"?

He has questions but dares not disturb the master as he works.

After drawing up them last of the circle he moves to one point on it and gudes Peter to the other. "<Coral>you are in need of much training, you lack the skills to fight anything let alone the challenges of Nigral. This will be a bit of a strain on me, but this should give you a good week to train with me and little need to rest....  quintessence being released into the atmosphere was enugh that Peter could feel it with out even trying too... how one person could have so much quintessence was staggering... there must have been some method he was using to draw so much. Soon he could see the affects of the time dilatation as the dust moving in the air outside the circle was moving slower and slower and seamed to almost stop.



Houshui tracked down the right ship, it looked like it was barley held together... a steam punk piece of shit held together by duck tape and at places ... paper meshay even... it made him wonder how such a thing was space worthy or if this was even a good idea.

Peter's jaw drops. The time he takes to process what's going on is the time he had to protest it. By the time he can will himself to speak again it's too late.

"Uh.. a week?! I mean, of course, master. It is obvious that you have expended a great deal of effort in order to arrange this. I am honored. Also, I am scared out of my wits. Though admittedly, if training gives me a start, I suppose I was not ready for the actual journey yet. I accept. Doesn't look like I'd have had much choice."

He prepares for whatever's next. It's going to be a long week.

Once the affect takes place the trainning starts. First he starts with the basics of Do seeing what you know. Once he has tought you a little he teaches you how to use the stones he lent.

They are activated by chanting mantra and can be thrown or contoled with ones mind, and burst into flames (that don't harm the user) they do quite a bit of damage seaming to be affective as the average plasma pistol. Each stone hitting and then returning to the user.

He then helps you with the staff, it adds your arete to your dodge and athletics among other things (but thats all they train)

It is quite the long week but it's hard to tell the passage of time, he never feels hunger, never feels tired physically or mentally, the life magic sees to his needs and he never feels a need to stop... and down there that was the only real way to tell the passage of time.

The only judge of time he had was after the longest time one of the gems on his head came lose and he removed it, then a shorter time another, and finally the last... after that he grew quite tired and finally rested releasing the magic of the circle and called for students to bring him a special herbal tea.


This set of training gives reason to raise his stats

any physical by 1
any of the following to the listed
Athletics 3
Awareness 3
Brawl  3
Melee  2
Dodge 4
Do   2
Meditation - 3
Time 1
Prime 1

and HAS learned
Do Maneuvers

Basics:
   - Lethal Attacks, unarmed Do maneuvers do lethal dmg.
   - Well Trained, Do has -1 diff than its brawl counterpart.
   - Hardened Defense, Lethal Brawl or Melee can be blocks unarmed, Dex+Do diff 5
\

And MAY learn

Plum Flower Blossom - Dex+Do (diff 4) allows double jump Or jumping from object to object for 1 turn (one extra turn per 2 successes)

Weapon Art:  Applying Do to weapons the char may gain the basic do benefits, leathal attacks, and well trained for as many weapons as they have levels in Do.

Ten Thousand Weapons - Any object as weapon, dmg = Do in bashing, if object would do bashing then lethal, if lethal then 1 die extra.

Peaceful Way: Appling Do to observation of the world around them the char gains grate insight. You may take this more than once, and each time you do you may pick one skill listed under the eight limbs to gain the Well Trained benefit. Like weapons art, the roll is the lower of that skill and Do.

Arrow Cutting:  This allows the char to block/catch/deflect/attack missiles no faster than an arrow, while they are in midair, with his/her bare hands. The feet requires a roll of Dexterity + Do (diff 7), or difficulty 9 to catch it and use the missile in the same turn as you caught it!


You do not get the exsperance for these things... you just may buy them now and some gain more than one level

yo DO get 5 training exp to spend though for the intense session.

This all takes the whole time Huoshui is gone... by the time he's back peter's going to be passed out lol

Welsir, I'd certainly like some:
Do 2
Prime 1
Weapon Art (do I roll melee or Do for these rolls?)

The rest I'm saving for Arete 4, then Life 4 Matter 4 for, well, you know.

Peter's main obstacle is himself. It takes awhile to realize that he is truly beyond the limits of human exertion and injury. He had experimented with such effects himself, but never to this degree. Now endurance was only a matter of will. The master is not so rough with Peter as he is persistent, continually training him, continually escalating and forcing him to refine his technique in response. It also helps when Peter finally stops talking long enough to listen.

During the continuous lessons Peter inquires as to the inter-connective nature of the mandala that made all this possible. They talk at some length about Prime and continue to talk of it as he trains, the master essentially providing a treatise on the fundamental forces of magick while simultaneously playing the hand-to-hand equivalent of chess.

As the week draws to a close Peter's strikes cut like a scalpel. His forearms block weapons like steel. He's also remarkably well versed in Prime given the length of his training.

Most importantly, he feels he can take on the world! There's nothing that can stop him. In fact, why not just go ahead and get this whole journey over with? If Huoshui's ready then they can go, right this minute. He's never been more ready to-

Peter feels woozy.

"Maybe I will take a little break first. After all, it has been a week..."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:45, Mon 30 Sept 2013.

Huoshui tried not to judge, this one must have taken the path of pauper. Many take the oath to discard money, but thinking anymore on this would be an insult. So he finished with that and made his way into the ship to find the man he was seeking.

(I would suggest athletics/dodge too)

In side was what looked like a young American with some Japanese heritage. He was wearing the kinda steamtechish clothing and gear you would exspect with a son of eather, with several rolled up (like scrolls) pices of rice paper here and there on him with brushes and bottles. It was rather odd the bottles seamed to be all organic ink not something you see much and they staied in the bottle even when upside down and no lid, and a few of the brushes had little scalpel like blades on the other end.

The guy raised a brow. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, I am looking for this person," he said holding up the paper with the name written on it, "I am told that they can help with the challenges and trials of Nerigal." he allowed himself a quick glance around the room, seemed a mixture of teachings and schools but maybe he was wrong.

It looked like hypertech, some odd minor hedge magics, and some things huoshui didn't get... this guy didn't appear to be a mage. Looking around the ship seamed to be made of a lot of woods, exoskeletons, hides and the like... almost half organic mater.

"I'm not a fan of formalities.... but yah I can help you with that."

Not a fan of formalities, well Huoshui would hold off on the bowing and usual greetings then... "So you are the one the master told me of? Excellent, I am Huóshui, I seek passage and preparations for the trials I am about to face." he folded up the paper and put it back into his robe, "I and a number of allies are to seek audience with Nerigal. I am told you are an expert of sorts, am I correct?"

"Well not with having an audience but I know what you will be getting yourself into. How much do you know?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:59, Mon 30 Sept 2013.

Huoshui opens his mind, recalling the conversation and warnings previously told to him. Benefits of being a mind mage of the Akashic order, "17km of storm where winds reach up to 160 kmph, little to no visibility. When exiting the storm one finds himself at the jagged shards of blood ice, hundreds of yards of pattern rendering blades. If one has managed to get past the storm and ice, then they have a 15km hike down into the crater, guarded by the martial star spirits. Beings taking the form of weapons, which must be met in honourable combat. Star-burst channels which needs to be avoided. Once these have been passed through then a rest is allowed, about an hour. Then the final challenge a gladiatorial arena, where one will have to face whatever the ice warrior throws at them." he breaths deeply, "This is what the master and a fera have told me."

"Well I piss the old man off from time to time, I can help you but I charge a lot. I can cover the clothing and supplies you need though, and some endurance. You will need to cover your inter body and ware snow glasses to protect you from the wind, you can't do much about the cold. I can direct you to the best location to pass through the ice storm that has the least spiders on the way so you won't have to worry so much about the starburst chanels. I charge 200k a head and you get back 50k if you come back with my enshurance"
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:26, Mon 30 Sept 2013.

"What sort of equipment will you be providing, will you be able to drop us off at the best location to enter which you spoke of?" Huoshui nodded, he had the ability to pay the man but the credits were mostly back on the ship. He might have to call the others. "We have sufficient funds to pay that price, May I ask, if it is not rude to, how did you annoy the warrior?"

"He's not a fan of my kind, and I am rather set in trying to convene him there is honor in fighting and doing what ever it takes with perseverance and just not giving up to reach your goal. He don't seam to appreciate it much... haven't got past the star spirits, they swarm on me every time... takes a while before I'm ready to go at it again."

"Your kind? I'm sorry I don't understand. I had heard they swarm on those who use magic for non combat purposes, but is that the reason behind your difficulty?" he bowed, "I am sorry, I ask too much. Can you show me what I credits will get me?"

In reply to Azraile (msg # 235):

I'll take your word for it. Athletics 2 & Dodge 4 as well.

Peter sleeps.

He turned raising a brow "I said I don't like formalities I didn't say you had to be rude." He quickly moved diving into the shadows on the unlit ship, the tapestry seaming to ripple and pop and he was just gone.

At almost the same time there was another ripple and before Huoshui could react, the man was behind him, his senses gave him enugh time to turn and try and defend himself but he was to fast and pinned the monk agnest the side of the ship with the scaple blade of one of his brushes agenst the monk's throat. "Your money don't involve how well I handle myself in a fight but I do quite well, my knowledge is good." He let go of Huoshui and put the brush back where it was on his arm.

(you only have 5 left after athletics so no dodge... .but you could buy more than the 1 manuvore and I would sugest that.... plum flower and thousand weapons atleast)

"I mean equipment wise, sir. You said you would cover clothing and supplies." despite the scalpel blade having brushed his throat and the swiftness of the mans assault he was unafraid. "I do not doubt your martial abilities. You are the expert of this trial, just that alone gives me the knowledge that you must be a fine warrior." brushing himself off, "I apologize for the misunderstanding, English is my second language." giving the same friendly smile back he had before.

"Fear is the greatest adversary." he remembered from a previous lesson, even when a man disappeared and reappeared bearing arms at his throat he would not fear.

He waves a hand a few paper lanterns lighting up the ship as he bids you to follow him in. "Well... you clearly have the composure of an experienced warrior. I don't think you will have much a problem." He heads into the back and has a seat waving a hand around the room. "Take a look for yourself." There few compartments.

If you look about you find several of the following:
Mysterious small black orbs that seam to have a very resistant pattern.
A few weapons of various kinds and shields
Furs and skin clothing... lots of it for many layers
lots of secure rope and climbing equipment
Some scrying equipment
Snow glasses
Snow shoes
very very odd looking canteens defiantly SoE designed
the list goes on and on... he has most everything the group would need.

"I owe all I have to my master's and the temples' training." he replied with the smallest amount of pride, the dragon had taught him he should be proud of himself more than some temples would normally allow a monk to. "I have to say sir, your equipment is extensive and also I am ignorant on what much of it is."

After looking around he turned around and smiled at the man, "I have to say the master was right you clearly are the best man for us."

He nods some "Then when will you be heading out?"

"Not fully sure, need to meet up with the team again. All are off preparing in various ways for this." he looked to his comm, "Can I have a contact number? Or should I just have us all come here and then we can arrange as a group?" his thoughts went to the team and also to the monks sorting him some equipment out. "Should be soon though, this is one step in a many step climb to a goal."

He shrugs some and gives you some contact. "I have deliveries to make so make sure to let me know in advance."

In reply to Azraile (msg # 247):

(Do 2
Athletics 2
Prime 1

keep weapon art
and also take
Peaceful Way - dodge
Plum Flower)

(peacefull way is for non combat skills and dodge is a talent sorry)

(Ten Thousand Weapons it is, then)

(ok done)

Huoshui bows and leaves, returning back to the temple. To see how things were coming on there, then he needed to report his findings to the others.

Huoshui finds Peter and the Master resting, while the students where still working on his robe. The sword was done though.

Huoshui leaves the master and peter to their rest, he could talk with Peter when he was up again. Looked like they had been through quite the ordeal.

Noticing the robes were still in work, he also left them alone but his sword was finished. Making his way to the smith or weavers of Chi, he was not sure what they had done. "My brothers, I cannot thank you enough. I am in your debt." holding his hand in a sign, he looked to the blade with awoken eyes. "How are you now my companion." he had no abilities in spirit magics but still respected the spirit of the blade and tried to honour it.

Huoshui may not have been able to communicate with the blade but he could feel it's energies much more reinforced and structured.

Huoshui sat down in the lotus potion and rested the blade on his lap. The energies felt the same but at the same time stronger, his awoken senses were able to tell at least this much. The flow of chi through the blade now matched the form of the metal, he knew enough of about chi flow and blades that this was just the thing he asked for.

Drawing the blade from its saya, the jet black blade was again in pristine condition. The carvings and decoration, reminders of the blades former owner. He hoped she would be pleased with what he had done, and what he was to do with this very blade.

Huoshui gets up and walks over to where the master and Peter were, waiting outside for them he sends out a message to the others.


I have found us passage to the trial, it will cost but he will provide some equipment. If everyone could meet me at <Temple coordinates> then we can make our way as a group to book the travel and finally decide who is coming and who isn't.

Peter struggles from the confines of his odd dreams. Even as he sits up they are forgotten. There is a familiar voice outside his room.

"Hrrm? Huoshui?"

Peter clambers to his feet. There's a film in his mouth -- his breath must be atrocious. The sand of sleep is in his eyes. He rubs them and yawns, stretches. Yet he feels refreshed. Each step he takes is different, his every motion more coordinated than he previously remembers.

Somewhere in the murk he's left behind are memories of his training. At times it had seemed like forever. Yet it had gone by so fast. Could he really do all those things now? He cautiously drives a fist forward, then retracts it with amazing alacrity.

"Heh heh."

Bolstered, he now circles his right leg and drops into a deep horse stance. A half step forward and a twist turns him to the left. He continues through the stances smoothly until he's back to the forward position. Then he throws an flowery, overindulgent flying crescent kick.

"Pretty smooth doc, pretty smooth," he says to himself.

The doctor pulls on a shirt, composes himself and walks out to Huoshui. He bows to his friend. It's impossible to hide his smile.

"Good to see you," he says.

"I take it we're almost ready to go?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Wed 23 Oct 2013.

looks like it's all moving to the main thread

The lodge


Huoshui could not argue with that, for one he had heard similar but also this was a god. Who else but a god would know the tales and secrets of things such as the red star.

He had accepted that those around him were spirits of the dead, they seemed at peace or at least comfortable where they were. His mother, he recalled, had taught him a little about norse mythology so he recognised that this might be the valhalla. This was a great honour.

"Is that not the same star that the fragment came from, I must admit little good has come of it. And I also must admit it is in part why I am here." the monk mused, "So I guess I am of the age of sorrow. I hope the record of my life comes to more than that."

She nods "Yae, and may we all see a seventh age!" she gives a toast to that and takes another deep drink and demands more.

Huoshui rose his bottle up to her toast, he certainly wished there would be. It warmed his soul to hear a god at least talk of hope of a new age, but he still remembered his master's words and the other signs.

"To a seventh and many after." he smiled hoping that it would come to that, "I had never dreamed I would be drinking among warriors of ages past and a god of so many things. You all honour me by sharing a drink. I must ask of those assembled, I am here to seek the favor of this plane's god. I hear there are proving grounds, what am I walking into?" he had been given so much information by his friends and other source but these people seemed to live here, maybe they could tell him more.

One rubs his long beard. "Well lad do ye fight alone or with a band of warriors?"

"My training has covered both, but really until recently I trained to fight alone." he replied as he decided to take a bite of bread, "I have allies who took the journey here with me. Does the trial change based on such things?"

The old warrior nods. "Yae, it dose. You will ether fight as a group or fight as individuals. You will be judged so aswell, likely you will be as a group if you came here as one unless you all insist otherwise. In war you may not always fight side by side, but you rise or fall as an army."

"Well I shall have to ask my companions, I mean no offence to them but some I feel might wish to face whatever challenge there will be alone." he wondered what they might say, "I have fought alongside one for sometime now, the others I have yet to truly fight alongside. Other than here in this realm."

But he raised his bottle up in salute and toast to them, "But I would follow them into battle nonetheless."

"You would have more luck as a group, there are traps and other things that will test your reaction speed... should one of you falter there will still be a chance you will succeed. But if you feel you can not fight as a group affectingly perhaps it is for the best."

"Fighting in a group does has its advantages, I shall have to suggest it before the call comes." it was for each of them to put forward their opinion, without them here to discuss it there was little more to add.

"So have any of you here taken the trial?" he smiles and nudges those near him, "If not what other tales of your stories will you share with me. A god and warriors, some of you must have epic tales you will share a monk of the Akashic Record." the drink was getting into his system, which was refreshing after the blood ice and combat.

"Of great battles, old flames of love or creation of epic works."

"Did, did I tell you... yah... did I tell you about how I was distryoning the worlds?" A cupple of the younger ones groan, while older ones chuckle some. "knew this was happening, and they got to busy fighting to ever see it... no... they wanted me to stop the fighting.... OH I WAS going to stop the fighting.... the only way it would ever stop... fix this damn thing.." They pander her, saying that yah there fighting again, yah, it would have have 'fixed' things, and encouraged her to drink more till she calmed down.


One warrior distracts her with tails of the Battle of Megiddo one familar to her, but she finds intrest from his prospective as he talks about what it was like for bows to have such range for the first time, and seeing the arrows rain down when they had never seen such a think like it.

Huoshui listened as he heard tales, and also wondered why the old war god was full of such sadness and sorrow. The wine she drank disturbed him some once he had seen it for what it truly was but this was her way and who was he to question a god.

"If tales of great battles please you then let me share with you one my ancestors showed me." Huoshui stood up more straight as he tried his best through drunken haze to recall the battle he witnessed in his seeking, "A battle between two great towers, one beautiful but in ruins. Reaching as far as the eye can see towards a mirror of the land beneath your feet. The other a monstrous mountain of horrors beyond imagination, reaching up in to a horrid abyss."

"From the abyss monsters and flames, spew forth. Against them stand a mixture of humans, fera and other amazing beings." Huoshui went on like this in a dramatic fashion, describing the battle he had witnessed. Hoping that this might help cheer the god up as the others tale had.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:41, Sun 16 Feb 2014.

The crowd seams interested finding this an interesting tail. She looks a little confused and after some time to put her thoughts together enugh to say something she responds "you... you speak of the end of the Age of Beauty the end to the time of sorrows....I did not know there were mortals that knew of these times"

"As I said my ancestors showed this to me, but later a dragon tried to explain it to me." Huoshui explained, "I am told it is when Lucifer wished to free his brothers so that they might help mankind prepare for the coming of the red star. A beast called the Great Maw corrupted his brothers, forcing Lucifer to fight against them alongside heroes of that age."

Huoshui took more of the wine, "The second fall, I am told. Part of me or an ancestor, I am unsure which, was present there. My vision was through the eyes of another. Blue of colour, tentacles for hair and a third eye." understanding was still beyond his reach but the dragon had explained much from Huoshui's tale. "I have to wonder if I should read into that I saw the time of sorrows while I live in the age of sorrows, seems my life and the ones before it were depressing indeed."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:30, Sun 16 Feb 2014.

The god sighs some. "There was only ever one fall.... it started the wheel turning. You have had other lives, but few go as you would like Reluctant Warrior" her tail fluff brushes over the monk's primal marks, and they glow lightly. "It is your destiny, your calling... er something... enh... get me more wine." she said turning to one of the battle maidens serving her.

Despite the gods lack of focus there was a truth that stuck to huoshui, a realization into the way his magic and will flowed.

Huoshui's flaw Onotological Pacifist (3), becoumes:

Reluctant Warrior (2) - You have to force your self to enter a battle (wp spent, roll made). However once committed you are free to use all your abilities to there fullest, however you never initiate combat of your own accord (there has to be a fight already, you can not start a fight). This dose not affect your ability to defend yourself or others when attacked.

"Calling...?" he was going to say more but as the god's tail brushed against him, he... well he was unsure exactly. He'd always worked as a pacifist, never going into combat or using Do for anything other than protecting or defence. His understanding was that his ancestors and Avatar were against such things, that they withheld their power from him if he struck out against another.

The monk's eyes were now open. This was a partial, if not fully misunderstood, truth. His power, his inner strength was indeed not there to harm others but it was there to protect. This did not always mean that all feats of combat had to be directly to defend oneself or others. Sometimes, if one knew it was right, you had to choose your battles. An enemy standing before you, may not be harming anyone as he stands there but if one truly knows their defeat will save grief and harm later, then the fight would be just.

"Yes, I understand now." he says as the light fades from his markings, "Indeed, Fair warrior maiden bring my new friends here more of the delicious brew and wins. They have aided me in my understanding of self and been of great company." his spirit lifted, and he now bore a new title. Reluctant Warrior, the god may not have carved it but she had first spoken it and to Huoshui, if a god has called you as such then it is indeed a god given title.

One of what he could only guess must be what they got the idea of Valaries from, returned and handed over a new jug of blood wine for the goddess, and a bottle of saki laced with protictive yin and battle yan.

Now the ritual and social drinking began. The mixture of the yin and yang, protective and battle was most welcome. Huoshui had no doubt he would need both.

Drinking from the wine, as it passed his lips the spell had begun. Eight Drunken Hsien, how appropriate that a style based on gods was being performed next to a god for the performance in front of another.

Drinking and merriment.

Huoshu is having a good time, but he notices his sword rattles in it's sheath now and again. After a while it starts to get a little annoying.

Huoshui takes the sword in his hands, opening it from its sheath slightly just enough to see the blade. "What is wrong my friend." he enquires to it.

No knowing the path of will working to be able to actually contact, the monk after asking simply looked around. As if trying to find what his companion was trying to tell him about.

One of the more sober warriors laughs. "eh it's a Gaffling, they like to complain just ignore it."

"Gaffling? I'm sorry I am not versed in the teachings of the spirit realm." he questions resting his sword upon his lap. Assuming that the warrior spoke of the spirit within his sword, Huoshui knew it had been awoken but little more.

It was part of Huoshui's plan to learn of their ways.

"There the weakest low ranking spirits"

Closing the sword into its scabbard, again hiding the blade from the world. "Maybe it hears the call to battle, it was forged first for a friend of mine. One of a darker order of monks, she was an assassin of sorts but even then a friend of mine helped me awaken the spirit with in Xūkōng lóng." human or other, Huoshui respected all souls.

"I can only guess it senses the time is coming, is it not that I have but an hour here before my call to prove myself to the god lord of this realm?" he looked to the god beside him and the assembled warriors. "May I see you all again one day, your tales of battle and combat I shall hold dear for the rest of my days." turned to the god directly, "And you, Sekhmet have helped me realise something about myself that I had been mistaken of. I cannot express how grateful I am for that."

The guy laughs a little. "Nothing so deep, it's complain because it thinks your drinking to much and have better things to do.... like sharpen it" he gives a hardy laugh. "Thing just whining cuz it's not been sharpened lately, though if your going to have a gaffling with you should least learn to talk to it."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:15, Sat 22 Feb 2014.

"It may well be right, I would disagree on the drinking but I should prepare myself and equipment for the battle also." he took the bottle he had been drinking from last, "I plan to learn how to, just require a teacher or..." something else, a flash of inspiration like he had once before, "I shall attend to my blade now, if you'll excuse me. I wish you well."

Taking his sword and the bottle, the monk went to calm the spirit but doing as it had asked.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:43, Sat 22 Feb 2014.

After a good sharpening and a dosing in sake (isn't that part of the tadition of sharpening?) the sword actually seams lighter, easier to handle.

(Noticed the weapons was wrong some fixed them...  but the spirit will give -1 diff to people it likes and +1 diff to people it don't if well bonded maybe even +2 if it's some one trying to use it to hurt it's owner.... also repairs are -1 difficultly if you ask the awakened item whats wrong with it.)

Having gone through the practiced ceremony of sharpening the blade, Huoshui shared his sake with it. Blessing it and he hoped soothing the spirit.

A test swing of the blade, yielded unexpected results. Lighter and easier to handle, Huoshui could only guess the spirit of Xūkōng lóng was now pleased with him. "Do not let me forget to learn the path of Shen, Xūkōng lóng."

"You fear for my drinking but I hope to show you drunken sword fighting. Trust me companion, it is as effective as drunken fist." closing the sword within its scabbard, Huoshui slouches into a chair. Going through the mind rotes of calm, peace and preparation.

One of the battle maddens knocks at the door. "It will soon be time for your turn in the proving grounds."

Huoshui gets up and answers the door, "Maiden of Battle, if it is time. Might I ask that you show me where I must go. These proving grounds where might I enter them?"

She nods "I will lead you there" she walks down the hall waving you to follow.

The monk was lead to some of the iner chambers of the embassy where there was four rather stoic guards at a door, they let the two pass, but things seamed .... Off.  He did not know much of spirit ways but it felt like things had in the ice warriors home, a shade realm between the spirit realms and his true home. This was someplace between the phisical moon and something else.

The monk looked around, a shade realm, some shard of a true realm between the true spirit realms and the material. Only able to think that this must be a portal half way point to the moon's spiritual side, Luna and her children were close from his beliefs. It made some sense when he thought about it that these beings so close to spirits would have their base of operations half within that realm. "Huóshui Zuìquán," he announced bowing to the four guards, "I was hoping to have words with Naledi Owusu."