“He speaks wisely and with good concern for the party in general." Orun prounounces.  "Our situation and safety here is tentative at best and there is no defendable ground up here on this platform.  I along with Nesh would feel much better if we were to at least move to the station over there and get our backs up against a wall of sorts.”

"The station then, though I must believe that if anything really wanted us dead here, we'd be dead.  We now have tacet approval for moving forward on our quest ... at least here.  Something came down with us from that Ancient moon.  I expect that it will join us for the remainder of our journey.  No doubt, any remaining Ancients would be interested in what we do.  In the station though, we must decide what next to do.  Dlarumei and our Livyani friend may have a thought or two on this.  Dlarumei, has our companion communicated with you?"

Shih directs his slaves to move their gear to yonder station as directed by Orun and Nesh.

Ssrivan seems lost in himself as usual, drifting towards the waiting area at the end of the platform during the course of his investigations.  He stopped and looked at Jenge's earlier manipulations for a few moments, dictating notes to his delectable scribe all the while, but one the hubbub ended, his drift towards the waiting area continued.  He was totally unmoved by Shih's plea for the acquisition of riches in this place, and did not even deign to respond to it as he worked.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:28, Fri 18 Feb 2005.

Several of the nobles, the slaves and porters begin to move towards the waiting area at the end of the platform.  Orun and Nesh are leading them there and setting up some sort of defensive ring with the guards.  Whether it is needed or not, it seems to make the soldiers more comfortable.  There they stand and wait for the remaining nobles to join them.

Almodhim makes her way to the station at the end of the platform, glad to be out from in the open air, but not happy about, once again, being confined in a low area.  You can here her mumble under her breath,

“This had better lead to the great out of doors, I’ve had it with this underground garbage.”

Deshnah seems not to have too many cares here.  He is looking about in the air and walking like a drunk man as he makes his way to the station.  It seems as though that is where the party is headed, so why not head that way as well. Though he is in no rush to get there.

Ssrivan stops for a moment as he looks back at the Livyanu priest, though he still seems to be concentrating on other spaces than this one.  He looks around again and holds out his hands, as if in supplication--and in full view of the Livyani, though not specifically facing that way.

Ssrivan's odd movement catches Shih's eye and he focuses with all of his augmented skill to try to determine what the Ksarul gestalt master is doing.  If he can't figure it out, he'll ask him.

Churisan is looking around, out into the shadows, arrow nocked in his bow. He looks tense and slightly annoyed. When the group moves, he moves along too. When Dlarumei joins the group he asks her directly: "Where are we now, somewhere in the Empire?"

"Perhaps the fringe of The Empire, Noble Churisan.  I do believe we're north of Krenalis, the place at the top of that mountain from which we launched to the moon.  We're now across the Sea of Sighs that lies to the south.  But, our final destination lies under that sea."

"As you'll recall from what we learned on the moon from the Ancient's Tekumel map and the visions that we were able to initiate by our actions, the three spheres were located in an 'A' shape (with the cross-bar extended further to the right and left).  The Azure Sphere we saw on the end of that crossbar to the left at approximately the same level as Monru or perhaps a bit south of that.  The Emerald Sphere seems to be located under The Sea of Sighs at the apex of the 'A'.  Lastly, and this is only conjecture because we didn't have quite enough information to make the map work properly, the Crimson Sphere is located at the end of the cross-bar to the right or East-Southeast."

"We also saw a place to the north of here in the middle of a grassy plain where two pillars stand as markers to the entrance of some place or thing enabling us to get to the Emerald Sphere.  At sunrise, when the sun hits these pillars, something happens.  Hopefully, this will enable us to move back south under the sea to acquire the Emerald Sphere."

"In a vision that was imparted to me by Deshnah's sphere, I saw that these spheres are in fact entities with purpose.   Churisan, did you gain a similar understanding?  Perhaps they were created by the Ancients and have the ability to directly interact with our thoughts and affect our world.  Certainly, a rather effective mechanism for the Ancients to control the ignorant masses.  I'm sorry my friends, I grow a big cynical about so many things that I've taken for granted about ... about our world. (OOC: Shih clearly thought about saying something else and opted for something less controversial.)"

"If properly activated, these sphere entities have the ability to acquire energy and grow more powerful.  When they acquire energy, at least one seems to grow.  Other spheres may manifest this growth in other ways.   If not, they remain dormant.   As an example, the Azure Sphere seems to have the purposes of fostering health and knowledge if properly nurtured.  These spheres also seem to be part of some grander plan, possessing knowledge of the others.   They probably work together to do something perceived by the Ancients to be good for the sentient friendly races on Tekumel.  Regardless, they seem to actively want the other spheres found and properly activated.  It therefore seems reasonable that the Emerald Sphere for which we're searching is perceived by the Azure Sphere to be either dormant or being used for a purpose that was unintended.  It is the force behind all of our actions.  That it is directing us to pursue the Emerald Sphere before the Crimson Sphere may also indicate something."

"Noble Dlarumei or perhaps you Livyani Priest, do any of these conclusions or conjectures ring true with you?  We seem to need to travel north from our current location.   This will probably be by tubeway.  We'll somehow exit and go up to find the pillars.  If not, we'll somehow have to find clues to their location when we get to our destination.  I DO have some concerns with going north.  Don't the Shunned Ones have their domes in that direction?  I certainly wouldn't want to go too far."

"I do have some additional questions that I'm hoping you two will now choose to respond to.  Was there a war between different factions of Ancients?  I'm trying to understand why a device, which is purported to be defensive, was hidden away.  Livyani, you said that these spheres had fabled powers over man and machine.  What powers?  The Emerald Sphere was put to a use that the Azure Sphere seems to take exception to.  It wants this sphere obtained and, possibly, rescued from its current fate.  But the Ancients have created this hidden path and went to amazing ends to assure that individuals with sufficient knowledge could find it.  This is all puzzling!!"

"Aligned with the four pillars here that seem to indicate the directions of the compass, down below, I saw tubeway tunnels.  The building we've all retired to and around which we've formed a defensive perimeter is not terribly defensible.  We could raise the aircar back up and ride it down.  That would be more defensible but probably would place us incorrectly to access the tubeway properly.  My thought is that we should now command this room to descend.  But, I wanted to get everyone's thoughts before proceeding.  Each member of our group has proven to have valuable perspectives that must be heard."

Shih takes out the high cartography stones to see what's changed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:45, Sun 27 Feb 2005.

Ssrivan is locked into his odd pose, awaiting something only he can fathom.

As the party moves into it position some notice that Ssrivan is no longer standing on the ground.  He seems to be floating about six inches off the floor with a rather pained look on his face.


The cartography stones in the case are all blank accept for one that is in a state of constant change as though it cannot make up its mind, if a mind it had.  It swirls and fluxuates, changing colors in rapid succession and without pattern or thought.

“Noble Shih, as you will soon also be able to discern, the ancients often have many ways to reach the same place.  Each with its own particular set of... well, interesting dilemmas for us.  I believe that you are correct in that we are north of Krenalis and the Sea of Sighs also lies to our backs.  We saw that we would land in a field between to monolithic stones, one to our east and one to our west.  We could tell this as we watched the sun rise over the one and cast a light onto the second.  Apparently there was a problem with our finishing the journey at this point and the transport interrupted out flight to land here in this covered and hidden place.  It is obviously a place where those who build this system could come, but why?  It seems to be a place where several tubways meet and it is within fertile soil, thus providing us with plenty of nexus energies.  I wonder if our purposed landing area wasn’t under some sort of problem and so we were brought here.”

“You ask many questions that have no real answers Shih, questions that I also ask and for which I have no solid answers, only conjectures.  As to the war between the ancients, I have seen many paintings that would indicate that, such as those in the great hall, where men, creatures, gods and machines seem to battle each other and help each other.  So we guess at what we want to believe and hope that we are right.  There are several things that we DO know, that the Azure Sphere is desirous of the Emerald Sphere, for what reason, that is a mystery, but we have no reason to think that it is for ill.  I hope that this journey will uncover some of these details.  It has opened our eyes and brought us information that none knew before now. My hope is that we will continue to move in that direction.”

Ssrivan is hoarsely dictating impressions to his scribe.  He is obviously in pain--and just as obviously unsurprised by it.  His hands slowly change position while he works, moving upward and back until they are immediately in front of his face.  He seems to be watching them intently as he continues to dictate.

Urutlen starts moving with the others, bow drawn, and stays near Churisan, Nesh, and the guards in case something decides to attack.

A look of concern washes over Dlarumei as she takes in the vision that is Ssrivan floating.  With her abilities she is able to see the nanite swarm that has covered the locksmith.  Her face shows her concerns but also shows the hopelessness of the process that has begun.  A process that cannot be halted, altered or stopped without death for Ssrivan. So, with a single gesture she motions at Orun and the mighty warrior steps close to the locksmith, pulling his well used blade from its resting place and taking a guarding position next to the man, his stance heavy and his eyes alert.  Dlarumei stretches out a hand with an empathetic look on her face as Ssrivan winces in obvious pain; his words have now given way to groans through clinched teeth.  The locksmith, writhing in pain, begins to rotate in the air, spinning as he clutches at invisible objects, contracting his body and then making it a ridged as any plank.  This goes on for around two minutes, until his mind is no longer able to handle the pain and he passes out, floating limp in the air, tumbling like a log in the water.  When his scribe tries to stop him Orun steps between the locksmith and her, making it clear that touching Ssrivan would be a mistake at the point.  After a few more minutes the Livyani Priest steps over the Ssrivan and grabs his shoulder, stopping the endless rotation and, with his touch somehow, causes the locksmith to slowly settle to the stone where he lays on his back.  The Livyani then motions for the scribe/nursemaid to come over and tend to Ssrivan as she has done before, whispering something to her before she begins. Deshnah also comes to where Ssrivan lies with his small satchel and his stone cup.

Shih looks over at Ssrivan and, thinking he recognizes what's happening, is quite puzzled about what invoked it.  Perhaps Ssrivan's actions?  He'd hopefully know more once Ssrivan surfaced.  He sits comfortably observing this process for the first time from the outside.  If he can catch Jenge's and Dlarumei's eyes, he'll wink, nod and smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Wed 02 Mar 2005.

Ssrivan awakens with a somber look on his face and a sore body.  He groans slightly as his nurse/ scribe and Deshnah help him to a seated position and Deshnah pours him a cold cup of his concoction.

Dlarumei steps forward toward Ssrivan and kneels down behind him.  She uses her body as a chair back for Ssrivan to lean against while she grabs his shoulders and squeezes them with her hands, rubbing them with some forces as Ssrivan’s face can attest.


There is an audible crack as she presses into the back of his neck and you see Ssrivan wince in great pain.  After a moment you hear her say .“that should make you feel better.” And the slight smile on Ssrivan’s face would attest to the fact that it had.  She pulls the hair back from in his face as she stands up and walks toward the Livyani Priest

Orun chuckles, puts his sword back into its sheath and marches over to the guards, where he checks a few of them for lack of anything better to do at the moment.

Shih smiles down at Ssrivan ...

"Ssrivan, I'm guessing that congratulations are in order!  Would you care to share what happened?  I certainly followed the little ru'un, but don't know the extent of your transformation."

Shih is concentrating hard on something, or so it would seem, when all of a sudden he goes ridged, stiff as a board and his face turns a little pail.  He stands there motionless for a few moments until the Livyani Priest moves over to him.  They stand face to face for a moment and then the Livyani Priest spits on the ground and after a few moments cups Shih’s face in his hands and Shih slowly lowers to the floor where he sits, legs crossed and head down.  The Livyani Priest then heads over to Ssrivan as Dlarumei walks to Shih and kneels down in front of him.  You see her speak to him for a moment and then she places her hand on his chin to raise his face to meet hers and after a moment or two she invites him to stand and waits for him to do so.

Shih stands gracefully and almost effortlessly.  His face though indicates a level of tension that none have seen since that first tubeway ride when he asked so many questions.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:48, Tue 08 Mar 2005.

Ssrivan looks around a bit groggily after Dlarumei eases the pain in his neck, rubbing carefully at the point that hurt the worst before her soft ministrations did their job.  He hears Shih's comments, but seems lost as to their meaning as he looks around for his luscious scribe once more and instructs her to be ready to take notes again.  His work is interrupted momentarily by the Livyani priest as he comes over to him, though the only outward sign that he is fully aware of his presence is a slight, distant smile at his approach.  Ssrivan then makes himself comfortable in his seated position on the platform stones, in no hurry to move further or get back to his feet yet.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:07, Tue 08 Mar 2005.

The Livyani Priest looks agitated and comes up quickly behind Ssrivan.  He grasps Ssrivan’s head with both hands and closes his eyes, in but a moment he curses loudly.

“Dame all of this, to as many gods as you can name!  Everyone must stop trying to speak using only your minds.  Telepathy must end now!  There is a part of the complex that absorbs it and will use it and take it as a meal for eternity.  It is hungry and we have awakened it unknowingly.  It is greater than many demons and spirits and I would hope that we will pick a path and start on it now, as to stay here much longer might bring us great danger.”

He then, very unceremoniously, grabs Ssrivan under the arms and hefts him to his feet and begins guiding him to where the rest of the party is waiting.  Dlarumei coaxes Shih to follower her and Deshnah and Ssrivan’s scribe waist no time moving to the party.