~~~ IC ~~~

::The trip through the void of space is, as usual, slow... everyone has plenty of time to reflect on their visions and conversations of the past week.. Fizz stays mostly shut up in the cockpit or his room, doing the moody pilot thing... Elena makes sure the ship keeps running, and sometimes engages people in a game of cards... which she's really good at, by the way... Gustav remains in his room except for meals or when approached by the rest of the crew... Tien nurses his bruised head and teaches Ruiz some combat in the cargo bay... Ruiz practices his new manuever and tries to explain the dervish philosophy to tien... and as the two week trip rolls by, broken by the short wait and trip through the jumpgate... eventually you see a marble appear through the port holes, getting bigger by the day::

::watches in the bridge viewport::

((who is in the bridge, now?))

::as the world of Pentateuch, or Smith as the natives call it, fills your vision, you're asked to go back to your couches::

::goes to sit::

::lies down::

::the ship rotates and hits the atmosphere with its nose, breaking the friction barriers then quickly spinning about to use the boosters to slow its descent... it reorients, the landing gear deploys and you all feel the jolt of landfall and full gravity as you come rolling to a stop in the spaceport of Pentateuch::

::sits up::

::gets up, moves to landing bay::

::Exits his room::

::gets up and leaves his room heading out::

::the cargo bay floor descends down into a ramp as always, and elena says that she and Fizz will run the post flight list, but you should go ahead and go::

::Exits to the ground. Seeks out a plot of earth adn kisses it.::

::exits, looks around for threats to the Don::

::the spaceport of Smith is not as grand as you've come to expect from visiting B2... it has a very rustic and uncompleted look.. almost as if the entire area was constantly being destroyed and rebuilt, differently each time... the ship sits in a line of parked ships that employ the runway, which runs along behind you:

::looks for Gustav and exits::

::Says the prayer of Saint Paulus, on arriving at your destination::

Tien? Any thoughts, now?

::walks to the rest of the group::

::tien senses that the power he is trying to invoke and to learn is not what Ruiz has to teach, but something far more powerful.. which he is not yet a large enough conduit for::

::Rises from kissing the ground:: No, my freind. But surely the Pancreator will guide us.

::gustav follows an::

Mr. Gustav. AN. How are you both?

Lord, we should go to the city..

We are fine, where the Lord?

::last to join the group:: Please, may we find some baths?

Yes, let us.

Yes.. The city, then.. ::stands next to Lord Ric, on his right::

::the road from the starport leads south::

((are An's wings visible?))

((No, look like a cloak))

::as we walk, Ruiz's eyes constantly scan the horizon, the surrounding territory, the road ahead for threats::

::When Tien sees another priest, he will run over to him to tell him og the evils of the pilot. Buit unable to speak of this, he kisses the priest.::

::it looks like about 2 kilometers to the city on the horizon.. maybe a half hour walk::

Lord, how are you, now? After the visions..?

::the lone eskatonic hiker on the road looks very very surprised:: Er.. umm.. bless you.. brother

It is so good to see another of the faith ... I have traveled long to get here.

::looks perplexed:: Yes, we all have.

::the young man wears his black hair cropped close to his head, with a short mustache and goatee, wearing dark linen robes and carrying a walking staff emblazoned with the symbols of his order, as well as the frock that all Eskatonics wear::

::Ric returns Ruiz' question with a glare that expresses both fatigue and defensiveness::

((Tien's staffhead is a simple golden orb))

((made of real gold?))

::Returning Ric's stare, as clear and unflinching as day::

((No, goldene. Unless gold is common.))

::face passive::

((no, it'd prolly be paint on a carved wooden head unless you want to be cutpurse bait))

((LOL,... OK. Wood with paint))

Sir, do you know where we might find a place to rest and get a nice hot bath?

I am so rude. Let me intorduce myself and my follow travelers..

::nods sagely:: There are many establishments in Aleph, the quadrent you are about to enter, but any of the quadrents would house you

::looks away, a look of disappointment and frustration on his face, cold as stone::

Ok, thankyou. ::makes his way towards Aleph::

I am Brother Tien Xuan Hai Dinh, of the Monestary of the Eternal Light.... My fellow son a pilgrimage, to a holy site. Who would be the best person to seek out about the various holy sites?

::bows:: I am Ambrose, provost of the Eskatonic order

::Bows:: is it good to meet you brother.

Why, anyone in my order, you may seek one of our temples in Daleth, to the West

We must be on our way.. I am sorry, friend priest... ::slight bow::

::he bows and continues on towards the way you came from::

Thank you brother. May the Pancreator smile upon you with his holy light. So where to, Lord? Daleth or Aleph? Such a nice man

::shakes his head:: It doesn't matter. As long as there is a bath.

::looks back to the group wondering if they are to follow::

Then lead on, Lord. ::stands beside Ric as he moves along::

::Follows the Don down the street. Stopping to look at the strange new people.::

::very few travelers are on the road at this time, an ox cart full of normal looking peasants trundles by, and a few more priests and a guild member or two, everyone looks anxiously at the clear aqua colored sky::

::Staying close to the Don.. Much closer than normal::

Tien, what are these people worried about?

::after a few minutes of travel the city becomes visible... small walls taper into multitudes of spires twisting gracefully upwards, drawing your eyes heavenward::

Perhaps there is to be an eclipse or some such? Strange things take place on this planet. I have heard of fire falling from the sky, but never did it burn anything.

::watches the sky::

Fire falling from the sky..?

And the winds sometime carry people away. ::LOoks at AN::

((is there anyone on the road besides us, now, looking at the sky?))

((no one else on the road at the moment, no))

ANd one village, many yeas ago, ws found to be compleatly empty.

Lord, friends... I believe we should move a little quicker..

I think they call it the Wesitist. Or something close to that.

::mumbles:: Beautiful.

((::leans over and erases the Holistic Lore that Lee scribbled on his sheet:: That's quite enough info for now <g>))

((lol))

((Not all of it is right))

((::nods:: and that's why i let you go on as long as you did))

((sorry))

((s'okay))

::when you get to the gate in the wall there's still no trace of any problems in the sky... a very pleasant, if strangely colored, day::

::a bored looking elderly black man in eskatonic robes leans boredly on the guardhouse sill:

::a powerhouse of a muster member leans on the bar crossing the doorway, obviously there to open it on command::

::looks at Muster member::

::nods to the elderly black man::

::the priest perks visibly as you all approach:: Ah.. greetings...

::Bows to the elder::

please state your names and business in the city, and expected length of stay

::turns to Lord Ric:: Lord.. How long will we be staying?

Brother Tien Xuan Hai Dinh of the Monestary of Eternal Light. ::Bows again::

I am Don Ricardo Valentin Eduardo, Knight of the Hazat.

I am Anhetepf Griffen, of the Reeves. I am here on business, and I plan to stay no longer than one week.

::turns back to the elderly man:: I am Ruiz. I am with the Don.

::gustav stands at attention behind An::

We are all a group. What the Reeve has said is likewise with the rest of us.

This is Gustav Airam, he is my personal guard.

We have come on a pilgramage. To seek holy places.

::he nods, then writes everything down:: If your plans change, please notify a registry or temple in the city ::he motions for the bar to be raised and it is::

::nods:: Of course.

::Bows again::

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Father.

::he waves you through::

::after everyone has gone throuogh the gate::, Elder, tell me. Why were the people looking to the sky?

::walks through::

oh.. the sky? Paranoia I suppose

Oh. Thank you. ::Bows and enters the gate.::

::walks beside the Don::

::two story buildings extend in two directions away from you, at right angles to each other. no buildings are one story, and none are more than two... the cobblestones of the street seem to be arranged very precisely, but randomly at the same time, though if you stare at them you can start to make out a large pattern... The buildings seem in much better repair than the spaceport, but there are still places that look like new construction.... the entire area has the feel of the second republic, but the look of the dark ages... a few placards hanging from doorways seem to announce hotels::

((as usual i'm now in headphones and may take a while to respond to IMs))

Any inns which you prefer, Lord?

:;Has been wondering about the sky for some time. Will try to use Subtle Sight to check the sky. ##Psy + Obs = 9, act -5##

((cant accent -5))

((max is 4, since that's the skill))

((Observe = 5. )

((extrovert + psi))

((That's right. and no double of spy, right?))

((right))

##5 act -4##

rolled 1 20-sided die: 11

((Missed))

((no.. w/ a -4, that's a 7))

((nah, i'll give it to you.. that roll has ten times as much to do with introvert as

((EXt + psy = 5)

extrovert... fading suns power activation is even more random that white wolf))

((should logically be introvert + psi, so you got it))

((I not argue))

((lol))

::the sky of the world under subtle sight is even more varied, made up of swirls of blue and green and yellow, with tiny flickers of light at points where the swirls meet::

((spend that lovely wyrd point))

::Stands awe struck until some one calls him::

::moves along until he finds a nice inn::

::one inn has a pair of oddly shaped dice on the plaque, and has The Diksha emblazoned underneath::

::places hand on Tien's shoulder:: Friend Tien, we must move on.

hm?

::slight smile:: Let us move on.

::another has three orbs in an upwards triangle on a pillow, with St. Deimos' Rest under::

Yes. THe sky is wonderful. There is motion of mental energy flowing ..

::enters the one in best condition::

::either or, take your pick::

::goes into St. Deimos' Rest::

::waits for Ruiz to pull Tien back into reality before following An::

::a nicely planed desk glitters multicolored under the bright light streaming onto it from a small stained glass window, and an elderly woman with her white hair all in many braids regards you from behind it::

Tien..? Are you well? ::concerned look:: Let us move intot he hotel, here.

Yes. A nice bath. Then I can seek out a temple. ::Waves at the woman::

Yes. ::nods:: ::moves into the hotel:

::she smiles warmly:: Greetings travelers, will you be staying with us this night?

::looks to the lady:: Hello, I will need 5 rooms.

::she nods:: I believe we have that many vacancies, how many nights will you be staying?

As of right now we are not sure. Perhaps three, maybe more.

::she nods again:: please sign the registry ::she turns a large book towards you on a blank lined page::

((you're a poet and you don't know it. lol))

::signs::

It will be a crest per room per night, and a wing per bath

::Tien l\is looking for tourist information brochures::

::nods and hands over the money for the first three nights::

::unfortunately, so few can read that brochures would be a waste of time and money::

((so that's about 8 firebirds for the rooms and one bath per person))

((Ok))

Your rooms are One, Two, Three, Five, and Six, and the baths are at the end of the hall::

::waits for the Don to pick his room then takes the room adjacent to the Don's::

::Takes the key given to him::

((no keys)

((OK. go to the room left over after everyone chooses theirs))

::the doors count down the hallway, one, two, three, five, six.. no four::

I will have room one, gustav, you will have two.

Lord? Which room?

Six is nearest the baths.

I will take five, then. ::moves to the '5' room::

::Opens Door # 3 and looks inside. Then heads for the baths::

::the rooms are small, but cozy, with soft clean beds::

::goes into room one and lays on the bed for a second::

::they lock from the inside::

::moves inside my room, rests::

::the baths are three stalls, all open at the moment, with recessed tubs in the floor and a spout with a knob above it, each of them empty.. standard issue tubs more or less for the 20th century::

:takes bath and washes clothing in tub::

::goes to Six, gets a towel, and heads for the baths::

::the water of the tubs is hot and refreshing, and a dry soap bar waits beside, obviously made of rendered fat and lye::

::Tien feels at home::

::stands and walks into room Gustav's room::

::the fuzion lamps of the ceiling look down into the tubs, the stalls having a couple feet of clearance from teh ceiling::

::Gustav sits on the bed thinking::

::moves into bath after having acquired a towel, takes one.. washes clothes::

((Lye? Is that really safe?--Bad memories of The Fight Club))

((havent seen it yet))

((Neither have I))

((but it's the medieval staple))

((Neither have I))

((There's a reason the military no longer issues lye soap))

((welcome to the dark ages))

::once done w/ bath, knocks on Don's door:: Lord?

((it's either bathe with lye or grind sand into your skin to clean it))

::talks with gustav quietly::

((are we jumping to post-bath timing?))

((if you want))

((Why is lye bad? Too strong and causes rashes?))

((Chemical burns. Notice on some bleaches it says not to expose skin to the bleach.))

((Best part is, water makes the burning worse rather than alleviates it.))

((fight club.. not an action movie.. really just a documentary about soap))

((Yeah.. Makes more hydoxide as a product from the bleach))

((oops.. hydroxide))

Lord? May I enter..?

Yes.

::exits Gustav's room and heads into his own, gets a towel and heads off to the bath::

::enters:: Lord, we should all meet to discuss our next course of action.

::When finished with bath, find somewhere to meditate in the sunlight::

::looks to see who is at the baths with him::

::two tubs are empty, one has ruiz and ricardo talking::

::Tien, you notice is completely hairless. None on his body anywhere.::

((and he means ANYwhere))

((LOL I don't look at him that judiciously.. LOL))

((suddenly this game would take a very interesting turn))

((LOL this isn't The Crying Game... :)))

((::pulls up the Mp3 of The Crying Game song::))

Yes, Ruiz. But I believe that you, Tien and An will be doing more leading on this... this... planet... than I will.

Why so, Lord?

You three have had the visions that directed us here. All I know is that we must follow this quest.

::turns on the water strips and slides in::

((mmm. wet feathers.))

::with the added space his wings take up, not very much water is needed::

((feathers dont get wet, they're oily))

((Visions of bird bath enters lee's mind))

Lord, remind me.. Tell me of your vision, once more.

The details were not so important as the message. The message was that this new quest is...

::sings to himself::

more important to our group and to the Hazat than our original.

((does he warble like a songbird?))

(("the robns will return in the spring?"))

::rubs beard:: Mm..

((nope, actually he's very very bad))

::well, everyone finishes their baths::

::then gustav goes in to take one as you all dry off and assemble for a strategy session::

::soaking up rays while praying.::

::there's a small common room that is empty but for Tien sitting in a sunbeam::

So, my friends.. My Lord.. What to do next?

::a small smooth table sits in the middle of the room, surrounded by chairs::

::sits down in one of the chairs:: That is a good question

::turns to Don Ric:: Lord?

::With eyes closed:: Do we seek another pilot who knows this planet?

Don't look at me. I have no concept about where we are or where we are going.

Why so defensive, Lord?

Perhaps a guide to show us around.

I have heard My lord's Vision, Ruiz's Vision, Gustav's Vision. Waht of you AN?

You heard my vision as well. I saw my greed, saw what it would make me, what I would become... I also saw the planets of the priesthood, and that those were where our destiny lies.

I have heard your interpretation. Not your actual vision.

My actuall vision is a private matter. It ended, and with the ending I saw where we were to go.

Did your vision encluded everyoen here?

No, no one but myself.

I see. My lord? Do you remember the vision which brought me to your side?

The one with the knights? One having the coloured plume?

Yes, that is the one. I have found out for Ruiz that he is not of your house. Not a knight of the eagle. I think that another of your house will be going to our aid. I had thought that Ruiz was the second knight. I no longer believe that.

::looks up at Tien:: Really? ::stares at him::

Tien..

::Opens his eyes:: Yes, brother?

::looks at him, sternly::

((just a note, you may also remember that Fizz was a knight as well))

Brother, it makes sense that another will be coming. I know not when this other knigth will appear.

((Unfortunately I do remember))

((you mortals.. place too much value on blood and appearances.. a knight can only represent a knight... poor deluded souls))

There were two knights of the eagle and one witht the multicolor plume. I assumed that Fizz was the third knight.

((LOL))

I also assumed that Ruiz as the second.

((AFK BRB))

What if that interpretation is wrong and that another knight is to appear?

((or two.. one with multicolored hair))

Or two?

Pardon my lack of spiritual understanding, Tien, but now I am really confused.

::grins:: Sometimes, my friend, you think too much.

So am I. I think that we need to consult a true seer.

::pats Tien's shoulder again::

And this is the best place to fine such a seer.

An Eskatonic?

((you could find that old woman again))

The Eskatonics know many secrets. ANd the wisdom to understand such visions.

((here?))

((the pancreator works in mysterious ways))

May I recommend that we journey to the main cathedral? ::Tien wants to see the great cathedral.::

((hey all, I gotta run.. Got work early tomorrow, sorry))

((seeya))

((See ya))

((buh-bye))

((have a good night all :)))

::ruiz retreats to his rooms::

I ma sure that one of the elder Eskatonics could guide us. And tell if there are any gargoyles on this planet...

::you hear the swish of fabric coming down the hallway::

::look donw the Hallway::

:;Eyes turn towrd the hall::

::a young woman wearing a dark red and black silk uniform walks into the room, she tosses gustav's helmet on the table and brushes a lock of black hair from her eye::

So've you all decided on where to go? ::sits properly::

Not yet

((Maria, as in Ric's sister?))

((the same))

We're thinking about it. ::grins::

Do you have any suggestions?

::in shock:: M-maria?

I had not expected the other knight to appear so soon.

::she leans back in the chair:: I guess we should ask about the gargoyles

Yes I agree.

How do you feel about the main Cathedral?

It's a good place to start I suppose, Tien

((oh, for the record, Ric especially, Maria is in her late teens, 18 precisely, rather than 23 as previously believed))

My don? you look pale.

::looks to Ric:: You allright, M'lord?

::looks piercingly at her brother::

::Rises to go check on the Don::

Now I'm really confused.

Why?

::she taps idly on the helmet that "gustav" wore for all those weeks::

::feel the Don's forehead. Check his pulse.::

Gustav Airam! Airam?

((if only he knew how poor Ric's reading skill are))

::brushes aside Tien's attempts to diagnose him::

((actually really good for this crew))

Why did you try to continue to deceive us so late into the journey?

Speak for yourself, I hired her.

((a Read Urthish 1 is really good for this crew?!?))

((Yes))

((my copy of your sheet says 4))

((nevermind, that's speak))

((That''s speak Urthish))

((but yeah, for this crew 1 is pretty good))

((I resent that statement))

((a roomfull of scholars))

((How better to go artifact hunting))

Because, brother, until now it would have been as easy to turn around and go home as to continue on

And what makes now so different than before?

((Getting toward bed tme. I need to also get to bed. It's been a long day.))

The fact that I leaving now would be a waste of precious time.

((yeah, once we finish this conversation we can stop))

My Don, she may be the second knight of the house. And if sh\uch is true, then we cna not succeed without her.

Perhaps. And what of Fizz?

Perhaps he is actually a noble's bastard?

::mumbles to himself:: Probably a Hawkwood.

::to Maria:: Sorry for having you stuck in that outfit for the entire trip, I hope there is no bad blood between us.

::she nods to An:: It was necessary

I think that we can finish up this family reunion during the trip to the cathedral. Shall we make arrangements?

Yes.

::Tien seems like a kid, ready for a birthday party.::

(("::singsong::We get to go to Church!!!! yay"))

((LOL))

::everyone breaks to prepare, leaving the astonished Don to think for a bit::

~~~ OOC ~~~

and hopefully we'll have a full crew next game for the REALLY freaky stuff...

He ::give me five stephen::

Great game ya'll.

What do you think TOm?

I'm going to talk to Brandon about showing up to games... If he's not going to show up we'll

have to get another pilot

Maybe another knight?

lol

Really freaky stuff? It's supposed to get more freaky than this?

::gives cam five at a plot well concealed::

Well I have successfully kept two things from the rest of the game so far.

who knows what else he's hiding, eh?

What is next to come?

Wraethu?

oh yeah, you guys are on Pente..penat.. Smith!.. things will only get stranger

Yes, the sky ws happy, sad and desireous.

well, see everyone next tuesday, same bat time, same bat channel

Well, I need to run. See you all next week.

good night, all

take care all.