Log for November 4, 2003

::Darkness begins to fall. Tien and An have managed to avoid any run-ins during the remainder of the day, and now are free to approach their contact::

::returns to the bar and checks to see if the door is unlocked::

::it is, as the bar has not yet closed, but there are fewer drinkers at this time for whatever reason::

::opens the door and makes his way inside::

::the bartender acknowledges you with a nod of his head and waits for you to get closer::

((i think steven has crapped out))

((okay, I'm back... just weirdness))

((someday Rob, my good friend, my roommate, is going to FUCKING LEARN TO SPELL MY NAME...))

((right then, back to your RP))

::The bartender leans in when you get closer:: I can't be leavink tonight, but Arnulf vill be able to tak djou, if djou are still shure about zis

Yeah, I am. Thank you.

::he nods, then looks over to a younger working man down the bar, beckoning him towards you with a head shake::

Can I get something to warm me up? ::Hands a wing to the bartender::

Vere djou are going it vill be varm

::the young man moves down to you:: These them? ::to the bartender's nod:: Okay, let's go then

::nods to the young man:: Lead the way.

::he moves out towards the back of the bar::

::you exit, duck down sidestreets drenched in rain, through alleyways ripe with the smell of damp woodcrete, a brief detour through a section of sewer, up a ladder, across a covered building top, back down a ladder, into a basement, through a hidden door, further down, and then up into a gathering of people in a fire-lit hall... needless to say, you are pretty well completely lost... Tien knows where he is in the city, but would be hard pressed to navigate to exactly this spot with all the turns...

::Check out the exits and natural weapons available::

::looks around at all the people::

from what you can see of the room, it is about 10-20 meters to a side, with the organic angles of the woodcrete buildings in down... the edges are dimly lit due to the fact that the charcoal braziers are kept well away from the wooden walls... the smoke goes through hidden cracks in the ceiling, through which water sometimes drips down...

::Warms hands over brazier::

the room itself is literally packed with people from wall to wall, save for a clear spot across the room from you that may be raised slightly (it's hard to tell from here), in front of a doorway covered with a slightly rotting cloth curtain... the only other structures in the room are a couple of makeshift water barrels with mug-tables on either side::

::makes his way towards the rotting cloth curtain doorway::

::the place is, as promised, incredibly warm from the fire and press of bodies, and contains the particular smells common to a bunch of soot and chemical stained workers pressed and sweating in a humid environment...

::lets out a light cough due to all the air congestion::

a bunch of conversations are taking place, most of them in the deep germanic dialect of Urthish used by the common folk here... as An moves closer to the "stage" it gets harder and harder, as the people are pressed more closely::

::still, being a head taller than many of them, he can see pretty well... poor tien, however, sees little::

::moves patiently and slowly through the crowd making sure not to anger anyone::

::you do notice eventually that there are very few women in the room... maybe two or three out of the hundred plus here::

::Adjusts clothing and follows::

::tries to move to a better view to see what is going on::

::as An and Tien near the front rank through judicious use of trust pheremones and low level TK, the dark folds of the curtain begin to rustle in the still air and this quickly passes through the crowd... after a few moments, a low murmer turns into a fairly loud chant...

"Rakel... Rakel... Rakel... Rakel... "::

::stops to watch the curtain::

::this close up you can see the star-eyed devotion of several of the biggest men in the front row, as they very carefully make sure that none mob the stage::

::Stiffens. Like a coil spring, ready to snap, he settles into the crowd.::

::after a minute of drawn out chanting the suspense is broken... the curtain is moved aside, and a figure strides into the flickering firelight...

::watches the curtain to open, waiting for this Rakel::

tall and lithe, she moves like silk to the middle of the small stage in a single graceful movement. Dressed in common clothing impossibly arranged to be both tasteful and yet erotically revealing, her face is pale underneath deep auburn hair that hangs seductively across her face...

::Relax, a little. Was expecting a witch::

she moves to the center of the stage, falling unconsciously into a pose that would not look out of place on the best fashion holos, and holds out her hands for silence, smiling a seductive half smile at the adulation::

::watches straight faced::

::Returns her smile::

::after a few more chants dying out, there is complete quiet in the room, save for the crack of coals and a hundred breathers in anticipation::

Welcome, all, and thank you for coming. I know that times are hard, and I am pleased to offer what help I can in these troubled times. I have read your petitions from our last gathering, and selected those that I feel most need my assistance in dealing with the stresses of this city... for the first of the evening, will Petr Milnich please come with me?

::responding to the voice, pitched at just the right trebel to vibrate pleasantly at the base of your spine, a middle aged peasant smiles exultantly and moves onto the stage, where Rakel leads him back behind the curtain::

::when she is gone, the level of the crowd returns to normal, as side conversations begin::

::looks to the closest person:: How many people does she take a night?

Very pretty, ::I say to someone beside me::

::he looks at you, appraisingly, then smiles in welcome of the new guy:: Oh, it depends on vhat needs doing.. if zhey have not terrible problems, sometimes 10... the more their hurt, the longer it takes

::the young man nods at Tien:: Djou are new tonight?

::Nods:: Yes, my first time.

How long has she been tending to the needs of the city?

::moves closer to the stage so that when she next appears he will be obviously noticed.::

Oh... a few months now I zhink...

She is touched by the grace of the pancreator? ::Realizing that that may have been a bad statement:: Yes, blessed.

Oh, tches... though she does not do things as the priests do... she has her own way of showing us the light

::Smiles:: I have seen. Is she married?

::he chuckles at the apparently smitten Tien:: We don't know, and we don't ask... doing so might spoil some hopes, tches?

::Smile grows:: Yes, it would. Thank you. ::Moves toward AN::

::looks over to Tien:: Thoughts?

She is ... pleasing to the eyes. I had expected an old hag

Really? I didn't notice. ::smirks::

I now know why there are so many men... Is she the one?

Are we to wait until the others are gone or gain entry now?

::lost in thought:: Sorry.. I will attempt to gain her attention. We have a little time to wait.

::Closes his eyes and meditates::

::right... after about 15 minutes since she left, the room quiets again as the fabric rustles. Petr exits the back room with a profound look of new insight in his eyes... and his clothing not quite done up the same way it was when he went in::

::Exits after him:: Petr has discussed his troubles with me, and I think that he is better prepared for the problems he found himself in... now who shall I pick

::her eyes sweep the crowd, looking at all the hopeful faces, and seems to pause a little longer on the obviously out of place Tien and An before continuing::

::Bows to the lady::

*Introvert + Psi = 9*

rolled 2 20-sided dice: 4 10

::An focuses on the patterns of Wyrd in the room, sensing the marks that psychic destiny has placed upon the cult leader...

::as her eyes sweep through the crowd tries to lock eyes with her::

there is a faint spark which indicates a faint psychic potential, perhaps an abnormally large pair of... er... reservoir of wyrd energy... but nothing else. He also gets none of the feeling he's had from the pheremone emissions of all the changed he's been around lately... she's working without a supernatural net, as near as he can tell::

::perhaps this dormant flame responds to An's roaring psyche, because she does meet eyes with him as her gaze passes back... her regard travels down to take in An and his shabby clothing, then back to his face, her eyes widening ever so slightly... with a very practiced, but subtle, movement she somehow manages to convey her meaning... "We'll talk later"::

::Smiles back at her::

::the rest of the evening proceeds similarly... she chooses more deserving individuals, who come back in a quarter or half hour, their look much brightened from when they came in...

:: turns and moves away from the stage to the back of the room to wait::

after the third such instance she gives a short speech, of little real content, exhorting the crowd to try to deal with their problems proactively and positively whenever possible...

::Looks for a place were he can sit and wait. Assumes his meditative state.::

finally, she tells the crowd that she is done for the evening, and that she will be glad to see them all next week, or to hear truly pressing problems in the meantime.. then she whispers to one of the "guards" and is gone::

::having, of course, retreated behind the curtain::

::waits and watches to see if the people exit::

((Was that long enought to regain my one point of spent weird))

::the crowd slowly mills out, leaving in ones and twos, carefully staggered so that a whole crowd of cultists does not return to the street all at once::

((were you down a wyrd?))

::moves towards the guard she whispered to::

::eventually, the man she spoke to at the end comes over to An and whispers:: She'll see you after everyone's out

::nods to him and waits::

::finally, the crowd is mostly gone and the man motions An into the back with him::

((Maybe that was from a while ago.))

::Gets up and follows::

::An sees that the guard is inclined to stop Tien as he approaches::

::looks to the guard then back to Tien:: He is with me, but it is her choice whether she will see me or us both.

::the man nods, motions you both to wait, and disappears for a minute, then motions you both in::

Yes, together we are ::Smiles::

:: goes in moving the rotting curtain out of the way::

::it's not actually terribly rotten, especially compared to some of the stuff in the sewers... just slightly tattered as it seems to be a donated home curtain...

::then he goes in moving the not actually terribly rotten, more tattered, donated home curtain::

behind it is a candle-lit room, only a few meters on a side, containing a small bed and a couple of soft chairs, the walls a grayish burgundy that lends a warm, intimate feeling to the room::

::The guard moves outside, but obviously thinks he's ready for anything::

::waits for his eyes to get adjusted to the candle light::

::moves out of another curtain covered chamber in the back, possibly her living areas, again shocking with the polish of her silken grace... she moves to the two of you and beckons to the chairs:: Please, sit...

::to An:: You look as though the world has ground you beneath its boot ::to Tien:: and you look as if you are struggling to lift it back up again

::moves over to one of the chairs and sits:: Very perceptive. You yourself have the look of someone with great potential struggling to help the only way you know how.

::this close, it is barely apparent that her flawless complexion is due to masterwork with cosmetics, but it would probably not be too far from flawless without the makeup::

Yes, very true. ::Sits on the floor::

::she takes up a position on the bed that emotes concerned interest, possibly with something more to come:: please, tell me what bothers you

::smiles, resting his hands on the table:: God has sent us to you, if you are the one we look for. A friend was taken from us and we need help to get her back.

::she does not seem put off by this comment, though does tilt her head ever so slightly to indicate the quest for more information::

Yes, the pancreator has send us guidence. He spake: "The quest begins with knowing thyself... To know thyself, start out with that witch seems most alien to yourself" ... I must admit that I had expected a hag, not one as beautiful as you.

Because a hag would be that which was alien to you? You have known beauty then, young prophet?

::Smile fades:: No, but when I think of a witch in the tales told to me, they are not angelic.

Well, I don't actually consider myself a witch... though I've heard that a few jealous wives may be spreading that story

I have known beauty which has moved my heart, and felt ... like it never has since.

::Describe the events on Vera Cruz, the dance and the music and the kiss, my first, with a woman::

.... alright... perhaps we should start a bit slower and in chronological order... You have lost a loved one?

Yes. We all have. An the one we seek is another more dear... ::Looks at AN::

A war rages on this planet... and the victoms...are forever changed.. we do not wish this to happen to our lady, Maria.

::comes out of his haze:: A friend of ours, someone important to me was taken by a group we fight on this planet. I have come to you for help in finding her.

::Let's AN finish this...::

And you came because your young friend's prophecy led you to me?

Helping us may put you in danger. It is not something I take likely and I understand if you cannot help, but perhaps there are things we can do for each other. Yes, from what we can tell.

So how long has he had these visions?

Since my 14th birthday...

::well.... that's kindof not totally true, Tien realizes... he started having provably true visions just before he met the Don::

And what happened then?

::pulls the necklace out from under his shirt and fiddles with it::

How many years have we been traveling? ::Looks at AN:: I'm sorry, what did you say?

::thinks:: About 2 years now

So your visions coincided with your travels... I assume through Hazat space from what you mentioned earlier?

Yes, I was sent by my master out into the world to be test. I was 17 at that time.

Tien, can you exscuse us for just a few moments there is something I must ask her privately, Iwill call you back in a minute.

My visions led me to Don Ricardo

Ok. ::Look of pain on his face:: I understand. I praddle on... ::Rises and leaves::

((Whispering is wrong, I can not hear you))

((bah to you both, it could be worse! :-) ))

::calls Tien back into the room::

::Peers around the curtain::

::motions for him to enter:: I'm sorry I had to send you away but it was something I did not wish to discuss in public yet.

::Sulks back into the room::

So... you had these visions... why did you stop having them, do you think?

The last was just this evening

Was that a vision that was given to you, or was that a revelation that you prayed for?

I call on the Pancreator and he grants me these...visions.

You call on the Pancreator?

As in, you tell the Pancreator to do something, and he responds, tangibly, immediately, because you, in specific, called on him to do it?

I pray for guidence. The Pancreator provides.

Why does He choose to guide you, in specific, as opposed to all the millions of other people on this planet that have problems of their own... do you think?

Because I ask, not for myself... for others... To save others from the gathering darkness...

What about the man who prays for a reason why his son has been struck down by black lung? What of the woman that prays for an answer as to how to save her husband from an early death in the factories? What makes you special?

I am not special, just a servant.

So then why do you have visions? Why do you have the ability to prophecy on command?

You speak as if I can control that it is that I seek. I pray and am given guidence, but I do not know always what it means.

Which is more than millions of others, who are given nothing at all that they can look at and say "that was the obvious hand of the pancreator"... Again, I ask, what is it about you that causes you to receive such a blessing?

Well, I have spent years cultivating the divine spark within.

Praying, meditating, obeying the teaching of the masters. The submission of the self to the greater need of the unenlightened.

So what changed between when you did that for years, and when you began having visions? What happened to you of the most profound significance when you began to travel with your friends?

I found a family, a household, where I could serve. But there are still those who would not or could not partake of the rituals and open themselves to the will of the Pancreator... Ego verses faith... or a faith which had never been kindled into flame.

But you mentioned something earlier that was foremost on your mind. You mentioned that you had loved.

I love all, even when it is the enemy. That is the hardest. But I allowed myself...to relax my training...when moved by the sound of the music and the nearness of a sister.

So, you loved... tell me about her

It was a long time ago. It was just a kiss. one which was never repeated... why?

Did you want it repeated? Did you feel that you had more of a connection than imparted by a kiss?

What does this have to do with seeking the rescue of Maria?

You wanted my help, and I am giving it to you... did you feel a connection beyond just a kiss... did you feel a love that was different than the love you try to feel for everyone?

I do not uderstand your question. It was a moment of ... sudden passion. Ungaurded. Biological urges. The animalistic blocks the clarity of the enlightened. Attachments are to be discuraged.

You mean that you felt nothing but hormones for the woman? Your manner indicates that this is a wound... you brought it up earlier... are you sure that you felt nothing more than platonic affection?

Platonic, no. It was a biological urge.

So you weren't even friends?

Yes, we were friends.

Why do you allow your training, obviously well meaning, about the danger of wrongful attachments inspire you to lie and hide your emotions? I ask you again. Did you feel an emotional connection to this woman beyond what you try to feel for everyone?

She had just lost her husband.

A void within her that could not be filled. As much as I could do, the void was always there. I could not fill it.

::peers at Rakel closely::

I allowed others to attend her, to fill the void that I was unable to tend.

::she sighs and runs a perfect hand through perfect hair in a clear sign of near-exhaustion:: I think you are not being honest with me or yourself

And I purified the sinful flesh for inpure thoughts. I do still miss her.

You can love an individual differently from everyone else without being a bad priest, but until you admit that to yourself you will remain damaged

Yes, the flesh is weak.

Tien, I think what Rakel is getting at is that those thoughts were not inpure. You felt a connection with my sister whether you're man enough to admit it or not, now if you can't open up and feel that connection again ,I don't know what kind of man of the Pancreator you are. These feelings were created in us as a gift from him. Accept it or fall to your own Hubris.

My order does not allow the missing of the two sexes.

Well then you're order is wrong. I'm sorry but its true.

((oooh oooh tag me in!))

It will not be the first time that orthodoxy...transforms need of the church on priests. But how can I break my vow? What am I if not bound by my word and honor. But this does not address the need of Lady Maria.

You're order I'm sure is pure at heart but we all know the Church as a whole is a society full of Patriarchal Archaic beliefs. When you break your vow and words and honor fail you you have only one thing. The thing that brought you to the Pancreator. Faith.

((So.. you know.. I'm looking at your character sheet... and while in FSuns you can, in fact, swear a vow of celibacy... Tien hasn't... therefore I assume it's just something that's strongly recommended by his order, not a vow))

((Correct. As he progresses higher in the order, further restricions will begin to be appied.))

But it does address her. My sister has always had a strong connection with you Tien. But you've shut her out of your head. She's given you visions that you always thought were from the Pancreator, but it was always her. We need those visions now.

((That is why he is out in the world, to be tempted and find his way.))

I do not understand. I had never met her when my first vision lead me to Don Richardo.

She was a latent psychic, she saw the future and drew you to her. She knew what would happen and we need her Farsight now more than ever.

And I only met her when we found her murdered husband. And as a brother, you were able to help her more then I could, AN.

But An's mind is not receptive to the universe... it sounds like only a mind with a connection and the willingness to invite visions would do... Perhaps you could say that the Pancreator works in mysterious ways... His hand is behind your destiny... you must learn to open yourself again to the voices of others, loved ones, before He will give you the aid you need

Where is your sister, AN?

But you deny love, and in so doing cut off a connection to a voice that could help you, even if it is not the direct voice of God

::Looking more closely at the lady::

::Looking for hints and subtle reminders::

She is where I left her, many miles away with friends studying to control her powers.

Oh yes, very sure. I know what you're thinking, but its wrong.

Ah. Then there is nothing else to be learnt here.

((GM: you think i'm elena, but i have you fooled...i'm really ::rips off mask:: Deacon AZO!))

::shakes his head:: Do you understand what we are saying to you Tien?

Yes, I do. ::Bows to the lady:: Thank you for your assistance. I will take it under advisement.

::nods:: I will be along shortly then.

Think about it. You're welcome back whenever you need further advise. You too An.

Thank you. ::Leaves::

::nods to her but stays seated:: Thank you I do appreciate the help.

::watches Tien leave:: When I was younger I had the largest crush on you ::smirks::

I'm normally so good at this

::she smiles:: Some people do remember. Most here, though, have never had access to much tech

::nods:: Why did you leave?

When you're a high ranking Cortesan, you only get the very best clients... with the least real problems and the worst egos... I wanted to help the people I had helped when I was younger, and less well known... It's mostly talking, I'm sure you've figured... helping people with their stresses and problems

::smiles:: There are so many problems, I'm sure some times it can be overwhelming. Is there anything you're in need of? I have some small contacts and maybe could help.

Not really... I'm doing what I love, and anything that I could want I'm sure you need more... I'm sorry I couldn't help you get closer to finding who you're looking for

::shakes his head:: Its fine, you did your best. I will speak to my brothers in the Reeves and have an account set aside for you with a small amount to help out yourself and the community. Also there are Avestites looking for you I will make sure they forget you exist, or at least I'll try. Good luck with what you do, if you are ever in need of anything feel free to approach the closest Reeve representative and ask to get a letter to your "representative", Chief Anhetepf Griffen. Thank you again. I hope our paths will cross in the future. ::rises and heads toward the door::

::Oh, Pancreator, We beg for your forgiveness,::

An ::she says as he's leaving::

::Wh had done those things which we should not have done::

::stops and turns around::

::We have not done those things which we should have done,::

::We are unworthy of your forgiveness,::

::smiles sadly at him:: Keep faith. I've never known anything done out of true love to come to evil.... but I do know that the wood of our souls can be bent and twisted by adversity... make sure your tree continues to grow well