Written by Tanith 06-15-2003 09:37 PM
History:
Mattias was born to a father of Greek immigrant background and a mother of Asian background. In college, he was a fan of the Forever Knight TV show, and dabbled in a few online RPG's (from where his powers come from). After graduating with a degree in criminal science, he pursued a career as a police officer, while entertaining plans to join the FBI.
However, the Net Event derailed those plans. As the world became more and more chaotic, and anti-metahuman sentiments skyrocketed in those early days after the Net Event, Mattias became increasingly uncomfortable surrounded by prejudice and suspicion.
When he learned that a budding corporation owned and operated by metahumans called PaDT was looking to hire metahuman security and guard personnel to go offworld, he signed up immediately. Since then, he has served in many positions in PaDT, and enjoyed the various services that the company gave its long-time employees, including off-world training, enhancements, and equipment.
Written by Tanith 06-05-2003 11:35 AM
The Andromeda hovered well out of Middle Earth orbit, but had not yet left the dimension altogether. Tanith stood silently in the forward lounge as Rune triple checked the strength of her connection to her subspace pocket and her mystical protections. She looked up when the door opened, and the twin sons of Elrond swept in. Subtle differences in their garb distinguished the otherwise identical twins apart.
"Do we depart?" Elladan asked cheerfully.
Tanith looked around one last time and replied, "we do," but then paused as she regarded the two elves. "Are you two sure of this? You know what might happen if the Valar..."
"We do," Elrohir assured her, "as we said before. Estel does not ask of us favors lightly. Ours is a decision made twice over." He and Elladan shot each other a grin at that last bit, as if sharing a private joke.
Tanith sighed and nodded. "Very well. I just needed to make sure." She turned to her sister, who had stopped whatever it was she was doing and watching her intently. "You done, Rune?"
"Yes," said Rune as she stepped back, "but I still wish I can go with you. I've done this before with Pug-sensei..."
"I know you're more than qualified to go Rune," Tanith told her gently. "But truth is, you're more needed here. We simply can't have two of the three owners of PaDT out of touch for so long. And I can't stay behind because it still takes shadowwalking powers, even pseudo shadowwalking, to use the trump to find Locke in the Spirit World."
"I know, I know," Rune waved her sister on with a wry grin. "You guys go find him. I'll be fine here filling out your paperwork for you. Not to mention looking into this whole thing from the material realm. Just try to make it back soon, ne?."
"Don't forget that... other thing I told you about," Tanith reminded her as her eyes flew quickly to the elven twins and back. "Besides, don't they say that time flows faster in the Spirit World?" she joked. "Don't worry so much, sis. I'll see you in a while."
With that, she took out the trump card depicting Lady Llewella of Rebma, and raised it up to her eyes.
Written by Tanith 06-05-2003 02:17 PM
The cold moon shown palely down upon the City of Shadows, its light granting substance to the long stairway that led to the floating city. There, just within the gates of Tir-Na Nog'th, stood a small group of people. A stately lady dressed in pale green stood before them, commanding their attention.
Several items were given to the group, for aid upon their quest. And the last of them...
"You will each need to swallow one of these," said Llewella. Her hand was stretched out with several reddish round pills on them. "They will allow you to interact with the shades of the Dead and the World of the Spirit without harm. They will also conceal you from prying eyes that had caused your friend's fall and would seek to waylay your quest." She paused then, and emphasized her next words. "However, they will also conceal you from your own allies, so have care that you remain close together, lest you become lost in the Lands of the Dead."
She waited until each had taken one of the pills and Tanith put away the leftover ones, before giving them some final words of advice.
"...and remember, the Spirit World is a world that reflects belief. Where you go and what you see are more determined by your own thoughts than anything else. I wish you luck."
With that, she drew forth a trump card of Rebma, and blurred away in a burst of Pattern. The group remainin in the City of Shadows looked at one another for a moment, before moving deeper into the city.
As she walked, Tanith kept part of her senses focused on the trump card depicting picture of her friend. Although she could not use it the regular way to contact him or travel directly to his position, she could sense a bare hint of direction from the card, leading the group on.
By the time the moon set over Amber, taking the existence of the stairway and parts of Tir-Na Nog'th with it, the group had long left the bounds of its plane.
Written by FBH 06-06-2003 03:58 AM
"gods I hate these blasted tunnels...."
The three men with the same face nodded in unison at there guide expression of distaste.
"were not exactly happy with them either, but at least its better than being on the planet.
"that's the truth. "
The asteroid was in a high polar orbit around a world so cold that its atmosphere was one giant glacier. The reason for TWO operatives discomfort with the asteroid was quite simple. It was dark, damp, and had none of the facilities a city ship would have.
However it did have a state of the art defence and offence system. And it had been cheep to buy. These had been the two primary concerns when TWO acquired it.
The four stepped into a huge bay, once when the asteroid had been a colonization and war vessel, this had housed mega tons of cargo.
Now it held a single vehicle and a young woman wearing an exo skeleton work suit.
The vehicle was triangular, and consisted of three pods linked by skeletal struts and mounted on a morphable ATV system. between the pods (life support, weapons and sensors) rested a strange piece of eldritch machinery that looked like a cross between a gyro copter and a computer.
"so, " once clone asked, "are we set?"
"We are set as we are going to be.. " The woman made a final adjustment to the machine in the middle. "I'd like about another century or so to work on this but we just don't have time. "
"well then, it looks like this is it. See you later."
The three steeped into the airlock on the life pod. After a few minute's of activity in which the two other living beings in the bay moved to a safe distance, there was a hum and a shift door appeared under the vehicle and it dropped through.
Written by Locke 06-06-2003 09:54 AM
| ''On being ask'd what ye Daemon look'd like, the antient Wonder-Worker Misquamacus covered his face so that onlie ye Eyes looked out, and then gave a very curious and Circumstantiall Relation, saying it was sometimes small and solid, like a great Toad ye Bigness of many Ground-Hogs, but sometimes big and cloud, with no shape, though with a face which had Serpents grown from it.''
--H.P. Lovecraft |
He no longer bothered to glance upwards to a clear sky which he was now certain would never change. There was no need. Of a certainty, his ever silent companions would be circling on a scarcely noticed whisper of breeze, keeping their charge in sight. Twin shadows these dark hued warders were. Like danged vultures he had thought for a time, waiting for him to fall on the sunbaked plain so he could be claimed as carrion.
He knew better now, or thought he did. These univited fellow travellers, these nearly monstrous ravens, were no scavengers. No, not that, not at all, though he took no comfort in his conclusion as to what these avians must be.
Rather, they were his minders.
Be kinda helpful if I knew *why* I was being minded. Or where I was. Or how I got to where-ever ''here'' was.
This thought, oft repeated, as usual, went unanswered. But that too, was not unexpected. Just one more annoying, dangling mystery in a life full of mysteries which were apparently never to be solved.
Very well, then.
So be it. At least the breeze is keepin' me cool.
With the mystifying complexities of life once more shoved aside, Locke returned to the task at hand, to the trail he had been following for who knows how long since managing his climb down from the crag.
An easy enough task, for the marks of the gigantic, one eyed coyote he had spotted upon reaching the plain were clear and unmistakeable, easy enough for even he to make out. Locke did not the slightest clue as to where the beast which had once lolled among the dire wolves had wandered off to, though he did think he knew why finding out might be useful.
Locke thought that creature to be very much out of time and place, an unexplained oddity, not wholly unlike himself in that regard. And since he had not the slightest reason to think that in this timeless, endless realm, one activity, one choice of direction would not be as good as another, well then, he had decided, locating the coyote might help generate a few clues regarding his dilemna.
And if not?
Well, at least it gave me somethin' to do..
Anxiously clutching the ancient yet still serviceable spearhead he had found upon the plain near the rock his target had once claimed as his own, Locke continued his journey.
Written by Yeoman 06-06-2003 10:20 AM
He had been told even one missing soul was a not inconsiquntial thing. And more, he rather liked the soul in question. Even had he not owed a favor of sorts, he might have undertaken this.
But things looked like he would have to take a hand in things, and reveal himself. Yeoman frowned a moment, and then vanished from his viewing point.
Written by FBH 06-06-2003 10:42 AM
So are we sure that the target is here?
nope.
so were just wandering along till we find some sign of him huh?
yep. though the scanners should give us a clue. the guy is pretty distinct.
Great...
Written by Tanith
They had been walking for what seemed like days, though the passing of time held little meaning in the Land of the Dead, to those who were beyond Time. The last dim shadows of Tir Na Nog had long since faded away, leaving naught but a dark and dusty path through an equally dark and dreary forest, with nothing else in sight.
At times, bright eyes would appear in the gloom, shining in malevolence and growling in warning. But the group stayed together and kept calm, their weapons always at the ready. The bright metals of elf blades and the languid pulsing of enchanted steel warned the creatures of the wood that this party was not one to be easily attacked. And so they passed through the woods without challenge.
Finally, at length, the monotomous forest dropped away, and a large gateway stood in the middle of the path. There was no way to tell what it was made of in the gloom, even if the material existed in the material world. Runes were carved into the gate, which seemed to tear and shift before the eyes of the viewer as if alive, until resolving into comprehensible words in the native tongue of each beholder.
Through me the way is to the city dolent;
Through me the way is to eternal dole;
Through me the way among the people lost.
Justice incited my sublime Creator;
Created me divine Omnipotence,
The highest Wisdom and the primal Love.
Before me there were no created things,
Only eterne, and I eternal last.
All hope abandon, ye who enter in!
"Oh hell..." Tanith heard someone murmur behind her. She agreed with the sentiments.
But there seemed to be little choice but for the group to move on. So they began the descent into the Inferno.
Written by Yeoman 06-06-2003 11:55 AM
"Well, I thought I'd escaped this particular journey, but it appears the multi-verse does, indeed, have a sense of humor."
After his momentary pause, he continued forward, trailing Tanith and her companions.
"The things I get myself involved in."
Written by Tanith 06-07-2003 01:57 AM
The group moved onwards. From time to time they would pass by a shade that had newly entered Hell. But they were ignored, as if they were not even there.
At length, the downward path ended along the bank of the River Archeron. There they waited patiently until the sign they expected appeared - a boat.
The boatswain that stood upon it - Charon, obviously - was dour of countenance. In fact, to the eyes of some of the group, he appeared to be an old man dressed in a dirty and ragged version of a toga.
The shades that had gathered on the banks of the river began to swarm toward the boat, but Charon's eyes were fixed on the small group of travellers before him.
"Living soul, withdraw thee from these people, who are dead!"
Tanith shrugged. "If you allowed Dante across on your boat, I don't see why we may not be allowed the same."
So speaking, she handed a small pouch to him. With a grim glare, Charon loosened the top of the pouch and looked inside. All that the others could see was a quick flash of gold, before he quickly bound up the pouch once more. He scowled at the group, but nonetheless allowed them to board. Both parties ignored the wailing and cursing of the shades around them.
Upon landing on the opposite shore, the group moved on. They took some time going through the area of Limbo.
"There is an feeling of deep sorrow here," Elrohir whispered to Tanith as a shade passed them - one she recognized from her textbooks as Caesar. "It feels... almost familiar," he murmured in surprise.
"I suppose the elves are quite familiar with the feeling," Tanith whispered back. "Let us take our time here and check out the castle yonder and the meadows of Reason beyond. If Locke did end up in this particular afterlife, chances are he'd have been sent here."
But though many of the shades in Limbo were happy to speak to them, and to offer advice and philosophical ponderings, none of them could tell them of Locke's whereabouts. Most were certain that he was not in Limbo, and a rare few could faintly recall that he may have passed by the area some indeterminate time ago...
Frustrated and foiled, the group had no choice but to move on. Once past the Circle of Limbo, they quickly came before the Judge Minos, at the beginning of the Second Circle.
The impossibly tall and dark form of Minos towered over the travelers as he glared down upon them. Squat, mishappened demons were crouched behind him, holding up various heavy tomes and writing implements.
"The living does not belong here!" he boomed.
Tanith simply repeated their quest, asking if Locke was anywhere in the Nine Circles.
Minos checked his books. He frowned. Then scowled. Then suddenly, a cruel smile stretched his mouth.
"Thy friend may have come hither. If he is still in the bounds of Hell, and if ye do not find him in Limbo, then ye might find him in the City of Dis. Seek him... if ye dare."
The group all looked at the maliciously grinning monster before them in suspicion. It seemed strange that Minos would suddenly allow them in. But there was little choice but for them to move on.
As they passed beyond range of hearing and sight, one of the demons turned to the Judge.
"Should we not have turned them back? Or captured them for Him to deal with..."
With a gesture from Minos, the creature was suddenly engulfed in flames. It died quickly, shrieking in pain. Minos glared around him, and grimaced as he looked at the book in his hands.
"Fool," Minos muttered as though to himself. "There is a greater game in motion. Even Hell knows enough to be cautious." Then, the twisted smile appeared once more. "Thou may have entered Hell unchallenged. Thou shall not leave it so easily."
His dark growling laughter rolled over the dismal landscape.
Written by FBH 06-07-2003 06:59 AM
Lets face it. He isn't here.
.... No. He isn't. looks like were going to the next one on our list.
looks like were going to be for filling what those theocrats said to use last intervention...
the Necrorover vanished again.
Written by FBH 06-07-2003 08:15 AM
the Necrorover passed the gates, its crew checking and rechecking the weapons and defence systems.
When it got to the River Archeron, they hit there first snag.
"there no way that thats going to fit in my boat. "
Charon looked at the rover with a frown.
he's right...
"It will hover, maybe you could tow it across?"
the FBH's had disembarked by this point and one of them handed the boatman a large sack of gold.
"Very well. I don't know why all you living are entering hell today, but if you pay I shall allow you to cross the river. "
the three clones boarded the boat. Having secured there Necrorover to it with a tow line, Charon poled them across the river.
Written by Tanith 06-08-2003 11:14 AM
"Stay back."
The wind howled as it was held back from its target by a wall of force. Grumbling under her breath, Tanith stumbled the last step out of the Second Circle of Hell, along with the rest of her group.
"Friggin' perverts," she muttered, glaring back at the whirlwinds that raged behind them.
That was when a sudden gust of wind from the opposite direction brought a thick cloud of dirty rain upon them. Tanith rolled her eyes and refrained from the old cliche comment about 'when it rains...'
"Eos..." she began tiredly. The pokemon trotting at her feet looked up questioningly.
"See if you can't make your Safeguard into a makeshift umbrella. Everyone, stay close now."
"Eevee."
A shimmering, transluscent field of gold materialized over the group, which had clustered closer together. They moved into the muck and mud of the Third Circle, ignoring the shades that were mired therein as if by quicksand, weighed down by the judgment of their sins.
Halfway through the Circle, Elladan suddenly perked up, his head tilted as if hearing something.
"Something's growling," Elrohir muttered, mimicing his brother. "It's getting closer."
Soon the rest of the group could also hear the sound of growls and snarls.
"Stop for a moment, guys," said Tanith.
No sooner than they did so than a monstrous beast lunged out of the thick clouds of rain before them. It was Cerberus the hound, with its three heads and red glowing eyes. The back portion of its body was hidden in the heavy downpour, but the front was dangerous enough as it's jaws snapped in the air.
"Eaaaasy there..." Tanith muttered, reaching into her pocket. She withdrew three chucks of what seemed like loafs of lembas, and tossed it at the hound. The three maws immediated seized upon them and swallowed them whole.
For a moment, it seemed that nothing had happened, then the growl from the hound's throats seemed to wane and die off. The red glow from the eyes faded. Three mouths yawned widely as Cerberus suddenly fell down upon the ground, eyes closing.
"C'mon," Tanith motioned to the others. "I don't know how long that'll hold it. Best we get the heck out of here."
Needing no more prompting, the group hurriedly made its way across the rest of the Circle. Just as they left the eternal rains of the Third Circle, they could hear an enraged howl beyond them, followed by screams of the damned.
Elladan peered through the rain behind them. "The creature is not happy," he said as another scream tore through the air. "But his anger is turned to the shades of the dead. There seems to be no danger for us as yet."
"Good," Tanith nodded, trying to ignore the sounds of screams that continually issued from the rain. "Though... I do pity the shades that'll bear the brunt of its rage."
She signed and looked forward once more. Dis was in the Sixth Circle. They were only halfway there.
Written by FBH 06-08-2003 04:48 AM
The rover rolled up to the feet of the Judge of the dead Minos.
"More Living souls? The the writer who told of the inferno to the mortal world must not have been good at description for all of you to wish to come down here! "
"Yeah, yeah. Were down here looking for a friend."
"You all are. I can only give you the advice I gave to the last group. The City of Dis is where your friend resided if at all. "
"Thanks. Who was this other group by the way?"
"Ask no more questions of me! Be off with you before I change my mind!"
I wonder...
Written by Yeoman 06-08-2003 12:03 PM
"Okay, it's offical. I hate hell. And it juuuuuuuust haaaaad to be Dante's version. Couldn't be just lakes of fire or something."
"Sigh."
Written by author
The TWO vehicle slogged through the rain, Its sensors retracted, armour and shielding protecting it from the savage force of the storm.
Haven't seen this much that zerg campaign in 09
bloody heck! Now its snowing.
the TWO vehicles tires changed shape so to better move over the ground. As they continued sensor detected a large hot object moving towards them.
oh great.
The giant dog emerged and circled growling warily. the rover wasn't exactly in its experience. Eventually it decided that odd smelling metal object weren't in its purview and (after pawing the rover a few times) went of to hunt the shades once more.
Written by Yeoman 06-08-2003 05:47 PM
"I know you. I know what you stand for. If you bring any harm to Tanith and her companions, or younegatively impact their mission, then I assure you, your suffering will serve as a warning to the next ten generations that some ideals come at too high a price."
With that, he stalked off through to mire.
Written by Tanith 06-08-2003 09:56 PM
This was something that Cerberus understood - a spirit, a human soul that belonged to the land of the dead, and an unfamiliar one that must therefore be a newly damned soul. In the Hound's mind, all unliving shades passing through the Second Circle were its lawful prey to torment and rend.
Teeth bared and eyes gleaming with bloodlust, Cerberus dashed forward as fast as lightning toward its new prey.
Written by Yeoman 06-08-2003 10:25 PM
"'Do you beleive, that, in this place, how strong I am has anything to do with my muscles?' Of course not. In this place, in this form, will is what is most important. Now most would think, only the most extraordinary of people could have the will to effect anything in this place.
"And they would be right. And twenty years ago I would be among those powerless to do anything. First, I am in my present state, not truely spirit alone. Second, I am in tune with The Force. I have honed the connection. Trained with a Jedi master. And I have found some small measure of redemption.
"Come, hound of hell, make war with Yeoman."
As Cerebus closed and his jaws snapped towards CBY, the lord of Terra-Mars ducked low, and snapped upwards with an uppercut to one of Cerebus' heads.
And the hound flinched. Not allowing the beast any pause CBY quickly lunged across at the middle head, striking quickly with his palm, before rolling over the stunned head to kick out at the third.
The was a momentary pause before Cerebus crashed to the ground, as CBY walked away, following Tanith and her group.
Written by FBH 06-09-2003 07:42 AM
if he decided to carry out his threat we have some kind of defence right?
course we do. Not sure it will stop him but it will slow him down a lot.
hey Cerberus is coming back.
Lets roll then.
the rover speed off over the muddy ground gradually catching up to tanith and her party.
Written by Tanith 06-10-2003 02:38 PM
Passage through the Fourth Circle passed relatively uneventfully. By a stroke of luck, the wolf-demon that dwelt there, Plutus, was apparently engaged in some other business, and did not hinder the travelers. As they moved through the damned souls of Hoarders and Wasters, they could hear howls baying from all around, but no appearance of the dread beast itself.
And then it was mud again. Or, more properly, the marshes of the Styx. There they availed themselves to the boat of Phlegyas, who was not so happy about ferrying the living, but had little choice in face of their insistance. And so they boarded the little boat, amid the yells and thrashing of the wrathful souls that were mired near the shore.
As the boat moved along further into the marsh, the group had to do their best not to look at the figures sunken into the marsh, warbling their lamentations to themselves.
It was, Tanith decided, reminiscent of the Marshes of the Dead back in Middle Earth. Or perhaps, the other way around.
Then, finally, as they touched upon the other shore, they could see the City of Dis further on. They were almost there...
Almost.
But before then, it seemed that there was another sublevel of the Sixth Circle to pass through. This one looked to be much more difficult than any of the previous.
An enormous bureaucracy had been erected between the Fifth and Sixth Circles. One that seemed to do nothing but to generate paperwork and waste time. The barrier that separated the two Circles was wrapped and reinforced by firey red ribbons - red tape. They writhed as if alive, and hungrily devouring anything that touches them in an effigy of red. Damned souls were constantly being pulled into the teeming mass, and whatever happens to them inside, their screams indicate that it was far from pleasant.
Warily, the travelers stood apart from the reb barrier, wondering how they were supposed to get past this one.
Written by The Watcher 06-11-2003 12:13 PM
As the travellers looked for a way to get past this latest obstacle Elrohir noticed what seemed to be a pathway between the flaming ribbons, which was just wide enough to allow passage through the red tape as long as they were careful to follow it without deviation. Seeing no other alternative, the party moved to follow the trail.
As they slowly filed through the trail the found that it wound back and forth through the red tape, and often looped back to areas they had passed though before, or branched into two or more paths which only seemed to converge again further ahead. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to how it was laid out. All through the walk they saw and heard the suffering of those who had tired of negotiating the path and attempted to cut through the red tape.
Finally, near the city, they came upon a Dutch-type door open at the top, and with a counter on the lower half. Heat poured out through the opening. A bored looking man in high stiff collar sat inside a little office. He looked like he had stepped out of a Dickens novel. His face was narrow and pinched, and the heat didn't do anything for his disposition. He had a tall desk at which he stood, and there wasn't a chair or stool in the room.
Unsure of what to do, the group just waited patiently at the counter until they had the man's attention. And waited, and waited, getting warmer and warmer, while the clerk fussed with papers on his desk. He seemed to be reading every line on an enormous form a dozen of pages thick. Every now and then he used a red pencil to mark something.
Finally, frustrated by the lack of acknowledgement, Elladan pounded on the counter.
"Are we invisible?" he demanded.
"A moment, sir. Just a moment, please. We're very shorthanded here, sir. You'll have to wait, sir." He made each "sir" sound like a curse.
"We need your attention now," said Tanith. "We're on urgent business."
The clerk looked up at this, and then around uneasily.
"Your papers, please."
The group looked at one another, wondering what to do. Finally, Elrohir answered for everyone.
"We have no papers."
"Then I can't help you, sir. I'm only a record keeper. Next window, please." He pointed to one of the forks in the pathway which appeared to follow a long and winding course to another window. He turned back to his desk.
Instead of moving, Tanith and the others just waited there, not wanting to make the long walk until they knew they had done everything they needed here. They didn't want to have to go to the other window, only to find they needed to come back. Finally, the clerk looked back up.
"You're still here, sir? I told you, next window, please."
"We need to get to Dis," said Tanith matter-of-factly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" the clerk complained. "Very well."
He reached into a cabinent and produced what looked like manuscript books and short stubs of pencil. "If you don't have the proper papers you'll have to fill out these forms."
They were twenty pages long, covered with small blanks, and there were nine copies. Not only wasn't there any carbon paper, but the blanks were arranged differently on each copy, although they all asked for the same information.
"Why do we have to fill these out?" asked Elrohir in bafflement.
"You have to," said the clerk in an irritated tone of voice. "You can see they're all blank. You can see they have to be filled out. Right at the top, see, it says, 'Replacement for lost papers, application for, D-345t-839y-4583, to be submitted in nine copies. I can't do anything for you without that information."
"Can't you make any exceptions?" asked Elladan.
"Of course exceptions can be made, sir. One was made over two thousand years ago. Before my time, but they still talk about it." He shuddered. "But you obviously aren't Him. Are any of you living men? Can any of you summon angels? Those are in the books too."
He glanced at a shelf of loose-leaf folios above his desk.
"Volume sixty-one, page eight ninety-four, paragraph seventy-seven point eighty-two---I'm glad we changed to the decimal system, but msot of us didn't like it---it says very plainly, anyone who can summon angels may pass. But if you're applying under that ruling you'll have to go to the main gate. Don't prove that you can do it. Just go to the main gate, and they'll take care of you."
He pointed at yet another, straighter branch from the path.
"But if you don't fall under the listed exceptions, I'm afraid the only recourse is to fill out those forms."
And with that, he turned away from them and went back to marking his forms.
Written by Tanith 06-12-2003 06:20 PM
Then again, she thought idly as she waited for a reply, I don't think this was what Thor had in mind when he gave me that summons horn...
Written by The Watcher 06-12-2003 07:13 PM
Eager to get the group out of his hair so he could go back to his duties, the bureaucrat reached up onto his shelf and plucked a thick book from it, then slammed down hard on the counter.
"Here m'aam, a dictionary. You may look it up for yourself."
And with that, he turned his attention back to his papers.
And with no other recourse, the group did just that. After some searching, a definition was found.
| angel
Main Entry: an·gel Pronunciation: 'An-j&l Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English engel & Old French angele; both from Late Latin angelus, from Greek angelos, literally, messenger Date: before 12th century 1 a : a spiritual being superior to man in power and intelligence; especially : one in the lowest rank in the celestial hierarchy b plural : an order of angels -- see CELESTIAL HIERARCHY 2 : an attendant spirit or guardian 3 : a white-robed winged figure of human form in fine art 4 : MESSENGER, HARBINGER 5 : a person like an angel (as in looks or behavior) 6 Christian Science : inspiration from God 7 : one (as a backer of a theatrical venture) who aids or supports with |
Written by Tanith 06-13-2003 10:38 AM
This is ridiculous. We didn't need paperwork to get past the ferrymen and Minos, and those are the actual staff of Hell. This guy is just a damned soul here to suffer as a clerk on the other side of the beaucratic desk!
The fact that more and more shades of the dead who had actually navigated the maze of red tape to their current point had been slowly congregating behind the motely group did not escape their attention. The souls had formed a crude line, thought keeping a fair distance away from the living beings at the desk, as if unsure what to make of them.
Tanith turned back to the clerk, gears spinning in her mind. "And what if we were to force the issue, clerk?" she asked darkly. "Or, perhaps, if we choose to navigate our own way to Dis?"
Written by The Watcher 06-13-2003 06:06 PM
"Then you will suffer the consequences of deviating from procedure," he said. He pointed at a damned soul a short distance back emeshed in the fiery red tape. "Like that poor wretch over there."
"Look, you don't get it, do you? I am not the one impeding you. I have no power at all. It's The System that has all the power. It's The System that holds us all. You, me, everybody. It's bigger than us all."
He waved his hands around to encompass all of the surroundings.
"This, all of this, is The System. A vast web of rules and practices which emmesh all within reach. A machine of diabolical genius whose gears are paperwork and legalities, fiendishly devised to frustrate and ensnare. I am merely a cog in the machine, trapped in the oppressive and relentless pace of its workings. I am as helpless in its grip as you are. We're in the hands of infinite power and infinite sadism."
He stopped waving his hands and turned back to Tanith and the others.
"There is no choice, only procedure. There is no discretion, only adherence. There is no freedom, only The System. Once in its clutches, your only recourse is to follow its rules and play its game."
"So go, do what you want. Violate procedure. I won't stop you. It's not my job to do so. But I'm telling you right now, you can't fight The System. You'll only end up being lost in it, or ground up in its gears."
Written by Yeoman 06-13-2003 08:01 PM
"Let them pass clerk. Or I shall be forced to contact my principle in this matter, and bring forth powers you do not want to see."
And the former Chaos Bringer turned his head lazily to face Tanith and her companions. "Hello, all. Miss me?"
Written by The Watcher 06-13-2003 09:03 PM
He looked up and addressed the new arrival.
"Perhaps you weren't listening, sir, but it's not within my power to let them pass without follow proper procedure. I mean, it's literally not within my power. And as for this being artificial, this is as legitimate a part of Hell as anything else you'll find here.
Do you think Hell is static, sir? Do you doubt that it can change and adapt to provide appropriate torments for new sins and evils that arise throughout the passage of time? This "artificial bureaucracy" as you call it is a reflection and ultimate infernal distallation of all the evils and suffering perpetrated by bureacracies in life You'll find that this place and its rules are as fundemental to this portion of the infernal realm as any of the older territories of Hell."
Written by Yeoman 06-13-2003 09:35 PM
"Tell me my good man," Yeoman asked, leaning in and resting his elbow on the counter, "what is the procedure for dealing with the representitives of Multi-dimensional entities?"
Written by The Watcher 06-14-2003 12:17 PM
Written by Yeoman 06-14-2003 12:28 PM
Written by Yeoman 06-14-2003 12:48 PM
Yeoman momentarily began to turn as if to leave, but turned back to the clerk.
"Oh, and this is for everyone who ever had to deal with bureacracy."
With that the former Chaos Bringer grabbed the back of the clerk's head nad began slamming it against the counter repeatedly. After a dozen tries, he felt the cerk was probably unconscious and turned back to the group, straghtening his jacket and fixing his hair.
"Well, shall we go?"
Written by Tanith 06-14-2003 12:59 PM
When CBY started to pound the clerk's head against the desk, Elladan turned to Tanith.
"Think you we should intervene, lady? ...Lady Tanith?"
But it seems that Tanith hadn't been paying attention to the latest development at all. Her gaze was turned toward the shades sulking behind them, anxiously awaiting their turn in line. Her eyes held the slightly blank expression which indicated that she was focusing on something beyond normal human ken.
Elrohir laid a light touch on her shoulder and deliberately stepped into her field of vision, cutting off her line of sight to the shades. Blinking, Tanith came back to herself.
"Yes? Is something..."
She trailed off as CBY spoke up again, and whirled around. Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized the bluish form before her.
"Yeo! But... but how?"
Written by Yeoman 06-14-2003 01:06 PM
"But this isn't exactly time for catch up, I do believe we are all here for a reason, no?"
Written by Tanith 06-14-2003 01:39 PM
"Ah... right. Um... I think I might have a few ideas about that. But c'mon, let's move off to the side a bit. We're blocking the line."
So saying, she snagged the pile of paperwork that the clerk had given them in the beginning and ushered everyone out of the way. Immediately, the shades behind them swarmed forth, clamoring before the clerk, who was still cradling his head.
Meanwhile, Tanith randomly pulled out a few pages from the pile of paperwork and shoved them into the hands of the two half-elves.
"Look at this, would you?"
Elladan frowned in confusion as he examined the paper in his hands. "I don't understand, lady..."
"Just... look at them. Humor me." Tanith gave them a wry smile.
Mystified on more than one level, the two of them stared at the paper. Bureaucracy was not something that had been developed on Middle Earth beyond the crudest of forms, and the writing on the pages seemed alien to them both in form and in content.
Tanith, however, merely stared intently at them even as they stared at the papers. Her eyes blanked momentarily as she exercised her Will for a moment, then suddenly snapped back into focus. Abruptly, she plucked the papers back from their hands.
"I think I've got it," she said excitedly.
The twins looked at each other, then back at her, quizzically.
"You remember what Llewella told us before we left, right?" Tanith reminded them, then continued on before they could reply. "The structure of Hell and many of the human afterlives are modelled upon human society. Belief. And in return, the human soul comes to that which it preceives it will go. It's a self-sustaining cycle..."
"I see..." Elladan murmured, even though he didn't see all that clearly.
"That's practically all that Hell runs on! (well, not entirely, but enough for our purposes...) It's all that's in the minds of the souls condemned here. Because they were damned for the very reasons that bind them here to this purpose and this punishment!"
"...but we are not of their number," Elrohir guessed.
"Exactly! And that means we can take advantage of certain other... expectations... that are not open to *them*. Excuse me a sec."
As she said the last bit, Tanith pushed into the crowd of shades once more. They could hear the clerk yelling as she worked her way back to the front desk.
"What are you back here for now? You're not even in line! Wha... what are you doing! You can't take those! You'll mess everything up! You... you... That's not allowed!"
Completely ignoring both the outraged clerk and the milling shades, Tanith ducked back out with an even larger pile of papers in her hands.
She turned back to the clerk's general direction and called through the mass of shades, "Don't worry, Mr. Clerk! Just think of this as another aspect of your punishment from Hell!"
With that, she led her group back to the last intersection in the maze of red tape. She held up the pile of papers, stared at them, and concentrated. All of a sudden, a gust of wind appeared from nowhere, scattering the papers from her hand, blowing them acros the corridor and out of sight behind a corner.
"C'mon," Tanith told the others as she walked around the corner and down that particular corridor. The others looked at each other in bewilderment. They could have sworn that particular corridor had not been there on their way in. But nonetheless, they followed Tanith as she followed the scattered papers that would occassionally peek out from around a corner or down a corridor.
After a while, they looked up and noticed that they were almost upon the City of Dis.
"How did you do that?" someone asked of Tanith.
"I made it follow my expectations," she shrugged. "After all, how does any good hacker or detective (or hacker and detective cum vigilante, for that matter) achieve their objective through a bureaucracy? They follow the paper trail."
And with that, the group suddenly found themselves free from the maze of red tape that they had been navigating. Before them stood the dank and noisy City of Dis.
As they slowed to an easier pace toward the city, Tanith turned to CBY.
"I don't suppose you have a story to tell us?"
Written by Yeoman & Tanith 06-14-2003 01:44 PM 06-14-2003 01:59 PM
Tanith: "You know, Christine is on board the Andromeda under your double's care right now. After this... adventure... you should go see her. A child shouldn't grow up not knowing her real parent."
Yeoman: "Oh, we see each other all the time. It's not like I'm limited to this plane of existence. I'm perfectly capable of manifesting elsewhere. Though few can see me. Fortunately Christine is included."
Tanith: "Good. It's nice to see that you've come so far from... well, from our first encounter. You're very lucky to have Christine, and I'm sure she'll be proud of you when she's grown up."
Yeoman: "If we're all extremely lucky, yes.
WIth that, the former Chaos bringer began walking toward the City of Dis.
Written by author
The rover had folded back into a suitcase like pack that one clone was carrying (the mass problems being taken care of by several stable magics).
One FBH stepped up the the clark counter.
"Good day." he smiled brightly. The Clark practically whimpered.
"d-do you have papers?"
"Indeed. Paper 2984661723342 B12 travel papers to Dis central palace."
"But... That Paper doesn't exist!"
"WHAT?!?! How can it not exist? I have it right here!" the FBH placed a large official looking document on the desk. "see?"
"look, I'm sorry but I can't let your through. there's been an.... error somewhere."
"I see. Well why don't you call your supervisor about it? You do have one right?"
"of course..." the clark looked happy to be given an out.
A few minutes later the a door appeared in the red tape and a small man in a smart suit appeared.
He and the Clerk spoke in hushed tones. He turned to the three clones.
"I'm afraid gentlemen there's been some kind of error, your documents have all the official seals but do not appear on our charts."
"how could this have happened?" (its those bastards down in files and records, there trying to muscle in) The FBH at the backs nose began to bleed slightly.
"I... let me make some calls."
the FBHs waited about half an hour before they continued. Over that time, the supervisor got more and more angry with the people on the other end of the phone. Other souls began hurrying about carrying forms, some of which the supervisor frantically filled in.
twenty minutes after they had arrived, the red tape realm was in chaos, with people running about carrying more and more forms, frantic phone calls being made, and the red tape lashing around in some confusion.
By the time the FBHs moved through the now clear path, the red tape was actively attacking its self.
don't you just love entropy?
Written by Tanith 06-15-2003 06:24 PM
The only City in Hell was less of a city than it was a mass graveyard. Massive tombs both above and below the ground echoed with the wailing of the dead. The stench carried by the wind from the nearby marshes of the Styx hung pungent between the Iron Walls of the city.
"Well, I guess we ought to start looking," Tanith muttered from the gates of the city. "The sooner we're done the better. Oh, and watch out for the Furies."
With that, they walked into the City of Dis.
Written by Mr.Sandman 06-15-2003 07:39 PM
"Well.....What a nice surprise. A face from my past is always pleasent to see down here." Came a voice from behind a nearby stone. A black figure steps out a few meters away from them.
"Greetings Tanith.....Welcome to Hell!" Cody smiled and laughed. "Never expected to see you down here....Must have been bad....hehehe"
Cody puts his hands into the air as he stepped closer. "Don't fear...I am unarmed. Just thought I'd say hi to the girl that damned me to this HELL HOLE!!..........Hehehe.....Hell hole.....HAHAHAHA!!!
Cody laughed like a madman for a few moments, The flame of madness in his eyes from spending so long in hell could be seen by anyone who took notice.
Written by Yeoman 06-15-2003 07:41 PM
"Ya know, I've been itching for a good fight. Tanith, go on ahead, I'll deal with binky here.
"Okay, bring it."
Written by Mr.Sandman 06-15-2003 07:50 PM
Cody cracked his fingers and grinned.
"Well.....Since I'm board and I can't think of a move yet...you can attack me first" Cody laughed "Come on.....Show me what you got!"
Written by Yeoman 06-15-2003 07:52 PM
The former chaos bringer kicked up a piece of the rubble strewn throught the city and, witha quick spinning motion, sent it hurtelling towards Cody's head, Yeoman himself not far behind.
Written by Mr.Sandman 06-15-2003 07:58 PM
"We shall see who the shade is Force user!"
Written by Yeoman 06-15-2003 08:00 PM
"Now, are you sure you don't want to go back? This is only going to get embaressing for you,"
Written by Mr.Sandman 06-15-2003 08:05 PM
Cody jumpped back to his feet and quickly closed this distance between the two. Then with a powerful leap he flew through the air and pulled off a triple kick against Yeo. The force of the blows were enough to knock Yeo back and through the rock Cody had walks from behind.
"Ouch......That was my current favorite sitting rock too.....Gotta watch where I toss the trash....toss the trash....HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Written by Yeoman 06-15-2003 08:07 PM
"Again."
Written by Tanith 06-15-2003 08:09 PM
Tanith looked at the two not-technically-alive men duking it out in a testosterone laden grudge match out on the putrid ground of Dis.
"I would rather not."
Written by Mr.Sandman 06-15-2003 08:12 PM
Cody finally got over the joke he made and launched his second attack. Running at CBY he began launching a storm of punches in his direction, His fist movin so fast that it was hard to see in as it impacted of CBY.
Written by Yeoman 06-15-2003 08:15 PM
Yeoman then qucikly moved to where Cody would land, and sent a series of jumping kicks into him.
Written by Mr.Sandman 06-15-2003 08:21 PM
"Hmm.....Your good....But I'm not gonna be beaten by you or anyone!"
Written by Yeoman 06-15-2003 08:31 PM
Before Cody could react, Yeoman wa upon him. His first attack was a kick to the back of Cody's knee. As the shade began falling, yeoman begian moving all around him, clotheslinin the shade, sending Cody backwards, into the double palm strike of the rapidly moving Yeoman.
After this final blow Cody flew agains tthe wall, splintering it, and he slowly slid downwards, unconcious by the time he hit the ground.
"Well, that was an intresting diversion. Tanith, wait up!"
Written by Tanith 06-15-2003 09:56 PM
Written by Yeoman 06-15-2003 10:02 PM
Written by Tanith 06-15-2003 10:04 PM
With that, she gave him a push into the nearest crypt.
"You see anything in there?"
Written by Yeoman 06-15-2003 10:06 PM
Written by Tanith 06-15-2003 10:09 PM
She looked behind her at her bodyguard, the fourth member of her original group. Mattias merely shook his head, indicating that there wasn't anything dangerous in the crypt. Well, not dangerous for Hell, that is.
"Okay, let's take a look then."
Turning on a flashlight, Tanith stepped into the crypt.
Written by Yeoman 06-15-2003 10:11 PM
"'What a wonderful smell you've dicovered princess.' Thank you oh so much for shoving me in here..."
Written by Tanith 06-15-2003 10:15 PM
No Locke.
Then, still ignoring CBY, she stepped back out. In the light of the outside, the others could see that her boots were as clean as if they were new.
After all, one does not walk into the realms of the dead without taking precautions.
Written by Yeoman 06-15-2003 10:19 PM
"Now if we're through with the comic interlude, perhaps we cna get down to business.
"You there, stand and deliver! Tell me where to find Locke or I shall thrash you within an inch... of something... Pain! Lot's of Pain!"
And with that, the former Chaos Bringer went out to question the residents of Dis.
Written by Locke 06-16-2003 06:54 PM
''Are you quite sure you won't drop by for tea?''
"''Positively. I am something of a stay at home as well you know, and, frankly, I really don't care to attract..His... notice if it could be avoided. Best to avoid tipping our hand.''"
''But is's been so long. And business aside, I would like to rehash over old times.''
"''What is a century or two to such as we, after all? There'll be time enough for socializing once our wayward...aquaintance...has been retrived from this mess.''"
''Party pooper. And here I was looking forward to a reunion. You always were such a drag.''
"''Too true. But irrelevant nonetheless. May I assume your agent has been dispatched on schedule, as promised?''"
''Yes, of course. Mind you, that was no easy feat, and by no means cheaply bought. I shan't be receiving any more favours from Most High for a long while to come. Adjusting the boundaries even slightly between the realms of Otherworld is a tricky business, after all, and required His personal attention. We cannot count on such favour a second time.''
"''We shouldn't be in need of such intervention for the remainder of this business. The fact that Most High aceded to your...request... at all is an indication he intends for us to succeed, a very favourable sign. Now, all that remains is for your agent to perform as you claim he can.'' "
''He shall, he shall. My word in this matter will not be forsaken.''
"''And afterwards? There's a great deal of unfinished...business between the three of us to be dealt with, as I'm sure you'll recall.''"
''I'm sure this part of things can be resolved without bloodshed, though I've no doubt a great deal of melodramatic posturing and pseudo hysteria will figure prominently before we're done. But that bit is best left for another day, yes?''
"''I suppose...I'll speak to you shortly, then....''"
Written by FBH 06-16-2003 05:29 AM
scanners aren't showing him in mile radius.
scanner range has dropped?
yes, but the techomages said it would in some conditions..... hum... I'm also picking up life signs.
Tanith and co. Lets go introduce our selves.
Written by FBH 06-17-2003 10:43 AM
ouch. I see death hasn't changed CBY any.
after our earlier encounter you thought it had?
Heh. No.
As the group noticed the rover it stopped and two men with the same face got out.
"greetings" Said the one on the left. "If we hadn't meet Chaos bringer earlier I'd say your the last person we'd expect to find down here."
Written by Yeoman 06-17-2003 10:45 AM
Written by FBH 06-17-2003 10:53 AM
Written by Tanith 06-17-2003 01:15 PM
"Might I ask what you guys are here for? You certainly aren't dead souls..."
Written by FBH 06-17-2003 01:24 PM
The FBHs looked at each other, as if in silent discussion. Then one of the other side spoke.
"In a dimension we have an intrest in a plague has broken out... the disease is incurable by normal means. The person we seek was a doctor and researcher. She had a cure. But she was killed by the Agents of a local cult. A group belive that this disease is a cure for sentients sins. This Search is our best remaining shot at curing it."
"so who are you looking for? " the FBH on the otherside from the one who had spoke said.
Written by Tanith 06-17-2003 01:33 PM
Subtlely, she sent out a tendril of her mind toward the clones. There was an impression of a darkened wall that indicated the presence of a psi-blocker, but she wasn't trying to sense their thoughts in the first place.
Shrugging, she decided to answer them anyways. "We're looking for a friend who was killed before his allotted time was up," she told them.
Written by Tanith 06-17-2003 01:42 PM
The other one said, "well. Maybe we can help each other then. If you can give some details of this friend then I think the Rovers scanners would do a lot better finding this friend than beating up random damned till you get directions."
Written by Tanith 06-17-2003 01:55 PM
"Still, just searching this entire Circle or asking the random dead soul probably won't be of much help either." Tanith frowned and thought for a moment, then sighed. "Much as it pains me, I think we're going to have to try and get some information out of whatever demons that guard this Circle."
Written by Methos 06-17-2003 01:59 PM
Open new personal log entry #01720 ......... done
Upon being reassigned to the Andromeda Ascendant, I find that first job involved going to Hell. Literally.
The target of this journey is for the soul of the previous prime minster of Canada back home on Earth. He was... is obviously a good friend of my employer. Morever, I gather from the infomation given me that the circumstance surrounding the death was unusual, and gave us the clearance to bring the soul back to life, if possible.
It also seems that Hell is more popular a place than I'd thought among the living. Not long after we came here, we've met two groups of beings... although one of the parties does not seem to be technically alive... who are here on similar agendas. I think...
Ah. Something approaches. I will have to finish this later.
Close log entry ......... done
Logout .......... complete
"Ma'am?" I speak, interrupting her conversation with the two newbies. "The demons that you're talking about? They're on their way here."
It wasn't long after that when the screeching of the Furies, which had been grating on my nerves since we entered this region of Hell, became apparent to all those who didn't have the advantages of EA or heightened senses.
Written by Yeoman 06-17-2003 02:34 PM
"Do we fight, or should we ask questions first?"
Written by Methos 06-17-2003 02:56 PM
Through the darkened filter, we could see the blurry outlined forms of the Furies. Vaguely female forms. Lots of red that was probably blood. Lots of slithering, hissing greenish strands...
Gorgons.
I didn't fancy being turned into a rock in the middle of Hell. They weren't happy to see us either. I could tell that from their speech. Mostly threats and the like, with the occassional curse.
I could sense them getting ready to attack my barrier. For all the good it would do for them, I mean.
Written by Tanith 06-17-2003 03:01 PM
Written by Yeoman 06-17-2003 04:03 PM
Written by Methos 06-17-2003 04:23 PM
Written by Yeoman 06-17-2003 04:27 PM
Written by Methos 06-17-2003 04:45 PM
After a moment's pause hissing and banging on the shields continue, more frenzied than before. It was obvious that the Furies were far from incapacitated by the Force lightning.
Written by Tanith 06-17-2003 04:45 PM
Written by Yeoman 06-17-2003 05:01 PM
Written by Locke 06-18-2003 08:42 AM
| ''Now I am become Shiva, Destroyer of Worlds"
-Bhagavad Gita |
Lightning ravaged the once sunbaked plains, furious crackling bolts that in another time and place might have been mistaken for the very hammer of Thor himself, Thor the Hurler, scourging his foes relentlessly with Mjolnir the Crusher as his chariot hurtled recklessly across the starry circles of Heaven.
He who rode across the now drenched grasslands might himself have been mistaken for a god or a power of similar ilk, though in truth, he was only a man, or had been while he still lived. So had many a foe of his thought him to be, wrongly, upon catching a first sight of him. For nearly all, that mistaken thought was the last they had ever conceived before the blade came crashing down, remorseless and unstoppable.
The very bones of the earth trembled beneath the hooves of his stallion, the likes of which had most certainly never been seen in this realm. High he was, eight hands taller than any purely mortal steed, black as the aged crone Night herself, and shaggy as any pony of the Islands. Rage dwelled in the reddened eyes of the steed, the burning anger of a Power enslaved to a Man who enjoyed favours from on High. Yet faithfully he served his master, however unwilling, and would do so until the world itself perished in fire.
He who rode this steed was armed with but a single weapon, sheathed in dragonskin. A blade, long and straight, with a dragon's head hilt. Had sharp eyes been about, paying close heed, they might have noticed that when the scabbard of the blade chanced to brush against the demon steed, fear shot through those terrible hate feared burning orbs.
Wrapped in the wings of the storm, the rider was, for the moment, however, quite safe from the prying eyes of those who dwelled here in this realm. Just as well for them, truth be told.
Soon enough, all who had been consigned by the Powers That Be to reside in this place would know of his coming.
Written by FBH 06-19-2003 10:26 AM
Beacon pulse. Level 3 power. Minimum spread
yeah. lets avoid sending up a flare to the entire F***ing circle.
The beacon was based, loosely on a device of the ancient world known as earth dawn. Its design goal was to radiate energy inimitable to any specific type of supernatural life forms in the area of its effect.
The one fitted to the rover was not that big or powerful. But even if could be at high power settings, the supernatural equivalent of a neutron bomb.
Not that it was set to that level.
The Furies reacted to the pulse like a human would to a taser. Muscles spasms, shock confusion and pain. The Furies clasped out of the air. However a single pulse was not enough for such creatures. They pulled them selves to there feet just in time for the next one.
"well looks liked another group of powerful beings is going to be pissed at us."
Written by Tanith 06-19-2003 11:11 AM
"Uh... guys? We still need to ask them for directions. Making them really mad at us wouldn't exactly help."
Written by Yeoman 06-19-2003 11:19 AM
Written by FBH 06-19-2003 11:18 AM
"well, the pulses should keep them stunned But they should be lucid enough to answer you. You could say we'll turn the pulses off if they answer our questions. Its not as if they can really threaten us close to the beacon."
Written by Tanith 06-19-2003 11:37 AM
Sighing, she turned toward the Furies and called out across the darkened shield.
"Hey, um... look, you won't be able to harm us through the shield, or turn us to stone through it. We're not going to leave here until you guys tell us where the people we're looking for are. So can we just cut through the territorial posturing? Do you know if a man named Locke has been through here?"
A spate of screeching and curses came from across the shield.
"Leave! Leave! Flee if thou dost not wish to become stone! The Realms of the Dead is not for the Living. Get thee gone!"
"Did they even hear a word I said," Tanith muttered to herself.
"I believe they have," Elrohir spoke up. "Their curses do not ring as confident as before."
So saying he walked closer to the edge of the shield.
"Ah... ladies," he tried again. "We shall be out of this realm with all the speed that you wish were you to grace us with the answer to our quandary. We travelers appeal to your mercy to answer our plea."
There was a slight pause before the Furies replied.
"Well spoken stranger, of blessed line.
For the Grace of your Creator,
The Eumenides shall answer your plea.
The soul you seek passed through long ago,
But stayed not in the Inferno that was not his fate.
Seek for him past the Rivers that mirror this realm,
To there an older land not yet forgotten from time.
One more advice and warning to thee, Child of Stars and Earth
Have care for your Fates, in the Halls of the Dead."
"I take it they mean that he is not here," Elladan said as he mused over the surprising reply.
"I guess not," agreed Tanith resignedly. She turned to the FBH clones. "Better get your questions in now while they're in a good mood."
Written by FBH 06-19-2003 12:20 PM
" I make the same appeal as the elf. ""
"And receive the Same answer unfavored one. " one fury smirked.
"blast." one FBH said mildly.
He turned to Tanith, "It appears you'll have to suffer our company a while longer Tanith."
