I'm along for the ride, so I do as told so long as it does no harm. I remain confident, but open. I try to greet the XO appropriately.

In reply to Scord (msg # 102):

The XO, Jeff Williker, is stolid, but pays close attention to all about him, and as he passes other crewmen, he gives them quiet orders, or asks questions.  The three of you walk the ship, and he shows both of you the cafeteria, the workout room, and the areas you both are not allowed in (primarily ships weapons, and the reactor spaces, and for you specifically, Officer's Country, unless you are going to the aid of the ambassador who has his room there.)  Then he shows you the Shayan Marine detachment, and says you will be bunking with them.

There are ten tough looking guys who eyeball you when you walk into the Marine barracks room.  Some are working on weapons, and others are reading tablets, and a couple are doing handstands for exercise.  There are empty beds.

"Sergeant Colburn...ah, he's not here. Marines, this is a Shayan Marine trainee, Scord, he's the Ambassador's gopher."  The XO leaves the door, and you vaguely note he did not step into the room.

I set down my things in an empty space near a wall and say, "Hi folks, how are things?"

In reply to Scord (msg # 104):

"Few of light." one of them says after glancing at you from his place on his cot.  He goes back to working on his blaster with a screwdriver.

"Let's see what you got, trainee." Says one of them, and he starts giving you physical exercise tests like standing on your hands and reciting the drill book...

The other marines occasionally offer suggestions as to new tests.

Some of them exercise as well, and you can see that they can do your exercises, but with an ease that is embarrassing.

Seeing them complete the exercises with ease encourages me to work harder at my exercises, so I do.

"You guys are an inspiration for me to practice harder. I can see I have alot to learn and I'm lucky to be with Marines experienced like yourselves."

In reply to Scord (msg # 106):

It feels like you made the correct response as their attitude changes.  Now they are not testing you, but teaching you how to go beyond what  you thought possible.  its like  your school, but with individual tutors who rotate in and out.  Its much more intense, but at teh same time informal.  And you hear the men speak to each other, espousing this side or that of combat philosophy or which weapon is better for which problem.

Not only is your body taught new limits, but your brain is as well.

I take it all in, grateful for the opportunity to have hands-on learning in the field.

I keep my mind exercised also with my meditations and silent prayers.

I also remain responsive to the Ambassador's needs.

In reply to Scord (msg # 108):

The meditations and silent prayers turn out to help more with mental recovery from the stress.  Its a good stress, but it is stress.

The Ambassador has you do a few things, but mostly he's busy either eating with the Captain or going over papers to get himself fully up to speed.  He tells you...

"Once we get there, you'll have to get dressed in full dress uniform, and stand behind me for several meetings.  Primarily your duty will be to look imposing.  I may ask yo ua few questions.  If I do, be concise, and accurate and loud enough for everyone in the meeting to hear you."

"Yes, sir," I answer the ambassador, "do you know if I'll have a chance to see the Hand of Dinis?"

Next time I'm with the Marines, I ask about the Hand of Dinis

In reply to Scord (msg # 110):

"Oh yes. After the meeting, I shall go back, and I won't need your services anymore.  You could come with me, but I suspect you'd rather stay, go to the Hand, and find your own way back."

"Sounds great, I'm certain I'll want to go to the Hand. If there's nothing else for now, I'll return to practicing for now."

I go about my days practicing the light magic that I know, working on control, strength and endurance. Also I continue my spiritual disciplines.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:46, Wed 06 Apr 2022.

In reply to Scord (msg # 112):

The Marines tell you that you will probably have to fight demons.  They describe bipedal creatures with hard shells, malevolent natures, who although they are eight feet tall because they bend over they are only a bit above five feet.  Most of them are melee fighters, but a few can shoot spikes from their tails, and some of the greatest can cast fire.

You'll have to find your path because the rock of the hand melts and cools and cracks all the time so that no stable path is known.

One of them has fire from the Hand as well as Light from the Tree of Shaya.

I ask if they have any pointers on how to get through to the Hand.

I tell the marines about my experiences in this world with the shadow thing and the voice I heard and what it said, but without lying, I talk about it as something I overheard and gauge their reactions.

"If you can avoid them, as long as possible, its for the best.  Come in loud, and you give them time to gather their forces. Once you taste of the fire, they will leave you alone."  Says a Marine who has been there.

The Marines all glance at each other, and you can tell they know something, but they don't say anything.

After seeing their knowing glances, I pressure them with my animal magnetism by my request, "Well, what do you think?"

In reply to Scord (msg # 116):

More shared looks, and then finally one Marine speaks.

"My wife has Dream. And she had a vision of me using a dead dragon's body as a bulwark to fire at an Umbral creature that was eating another dragon.  I was using my Light magic to an extreme to amplify my shots."

I pray to YHWH to help me get to the truth and find understanding. I use my dream interpretation to see what I can intuit from the dream the Marine's wife had and I tell him whatever I learn.

((Is it a him? Are these marines male, female or coed?))

Later on, I go sit to meditate, clearing my mind and embracing oneness with creation - I embrace that I am nothing without God, and that all I am is from and through YHWH. I go on a spiritual visualization journey to my inner sanctum and speak with YHWH there, telling God all that has happenned so far, and seeking wisdom.

Until the next stop and things change, I'll continue practicing Light magic, praying and ordinary routine, and befriending the Marines.

In reply to Scord (msg # 118):

You and these Marines should meet again, in the Future, and prepare for war by making sure to hav3e the heaviest attacks they can carry, and the most damage th ey can lay down because Striglath Dragoneater can chew up dragons, and you want to be 'loaded for bear' as it were.  Otherwise, he and his fellows (all guys) will not be going back home.

You realize as you pray that in order to win, you're going to have to take much deeper risks at the Hand, or you won't have enough firepower to face Striglath.  And you will need a way to combine light and fire magic as well for while Striglath is vulnerable to light, you  also need the raw power of fire.

((I'm having difficulty figuring out if I'm missing something that will help the story move along, or if this is the regular pace of things.))

I prepare myself to take extreme risks. Knowing that I seem to have died already, this is either a test or an extra life that I didn't earn - it makes perfect sense to be willing to risk everything to help save as many people as I can. I meditate on preparing myself to face death for the sake of others.

In reply to Scord (msg # 120):

OOC: Um, I don't know.

You arrive, and have to get dressed in your fanciest uniform which is starched and primped to the maximum. Every hair is in place after  you get a haircut.  Your teeth practically sparkle. Your shoes shine.

And then you stand behind the Ambassador for hours and hours of extraordinarily boring politesse.  The room is full of eight people at the table, not counting you. Six are on the other side, and the Ambassador has a local aide from his embassy which hands him papers.  You have not been called on.

And then you notice one of the people on the far side lean forward.  And he has a very slim blaster in his inner coat jacket.  And looking at him, with his trim black hair, and dark skin, you see a bead of sweat on his upper lip.  Everyone else is struggling mightily to stay awake, but he's very alert.

It seems apparent that this man is a potential threat to the life of the Ambassador, so I maneuver to protect the Ambassador - with my life if necessary, while I pray in tongues that God will prevent the shedding of blood in this place, and allow for a peaceful resolution. If I am close enough, I try to speak with the man and ask him how he's doing - he looks like he could use a cool drink of water.

My goal is to prevent harm to anyone - prioritizing myself just above anyone attacking me, but willing to die before taking anyone else's life. Arm? I'll be willing to literally dis-arm an attacker - I can always pray for healing as soon as their arm is disarmed. But a one-armed penitent is better than a murdered traitor. If I die, my sudden disappearance would cause enough confusion for any attackers that others might have more time to react.

In reply to Scord (msg # 122):

You step up alongside the ambassador, and begin to pray but you get a frog so to speak in your throat.  The Ambassador looks up at you, and you notice others in teh room becoming aware that something odd is happening.  And then tongues begin to spill from your lips.

The blasterman looks up at you startled, and you realize that whatever language you're speakingk, he can understand it, and you see sweat just pop out on his face.

You ask him if he needs water, and he replies in the other tongue.

"No, I need to do this.  I HAVE to do this."

With compassion and a willingness to listen, I say, "Why? Are you being forced by someone else? Did something terrible happen? I'm sure we can make this better."

I don't let him hurt anyone, and I silently pray that if he tries to hurt anyone, he feints before he can cause any harm.

In reply to Scord (msg # 124):

"My leader will use the authority and wealth gained from this deal to suppress his political and tribal enemies harshly.  Although this man by me has treated me well, he is of the ruling tribe, and if I slay him, the deal should fall through."

You realize that the would be and conflicted assassin is not intending to kill your ambassador at all, but the man he is in service too.

"thus a message will be sent.  Not only will the Ik go to the Hand, but so will the tarin."  And you see that the name of the group you are dealing with is called in their own tongue: 'the People of the Great Ik' with no reference to the tarin.

I pray that Yahweh highlight the truth and wisdom of what I'm about to say, while glazing over any missteps, also enhancing my charisma and my practiced skills as a conciliator, pastor, preacher and negotiator.

To the ambassadors, I say, "Sirs, I have a proposition to make. There are at least three peoples represented here - the Shayans, the Ik and the Tarin. But in truth, there is only one tribe represented here - the tribe of Life itself. Tribes gather together to support one another through difficulties and thereby increase everyone's chance of survival. Life honors those who care for their own. We all know the truth of this."

I pause for effect and to take three deep breaths as I silently pray, Holy One, reveal the truth of what I am about to reveal, "An Umbral creature will soon come to this universe to consume the body of a Dragon. The forces of Light and Fire united in true nobility, will face the entity to protect life. If we stand together, we will not fall. But if we fail to see that we are one as living inhabitants of this universe, I don't know what may happen. Let us open access to all who swear to give their lives in protection of the lives of all others. In this way, those whose hearts best stand a chance to survive the encounter will be given the abilities they need to face the true enemy and protect us all. Let this be open to anyone who proves true to this vow."