~~~ IC ~~~

::Lan gets back from his trip to the surface to first come across Martel leaning by the curtain into Tien's room, flamer ready but not aggressively held::

oh, hello lan.

::he nods wearily, toting his empty jars. Looking washed up, but washed out.:: What's... um? ::he nods in the direction of Tien's room, not completely oblivious to the "guard" capacity::

think you could do me a favor and patch some of this up? ::indicates the terribly bruised wounds::

::scratches his head:: Jeez. Sure. Come on b... oh. Well. Let me take a look. I don't remember this looking that bad.

((so, how bad DOES it look?))

::pulling aside the stiffsynth robes, the clotted blood and spreading greenish purple wound reminds Lan that, yes, Martel did stand up to a couple of very nasty hits by the Kossack::

::it doesn't appear to be deep, but it is extensive::

Yeah, well, we were busy. some things come before the self.

::he's lucky, with a shoulder hit like that, to be able to move his left hand without excruciating pain...::

::except that he was at the bottom of a sewer when it happened, and was later told the Avestite was okay.:: Can you come away from here? So we can go get you cleaned up? If not, I'll bring things down here...

::shrugs:: needle and thread, meybe a strap to bite on. what else is needed?

((in game terms he's taken nearly enough damage to the shoulder to kill Lan outright - 8 levels))

((i dont shrug THAT shoulder))

Clean it? You know?

::sniffs it:: hmmm, probably not a bad idea. Lead on, sawbones!

::leads back to the triage area, and does his best to clean up the avestite, and secure the wound::

::sighs peacefully as the pain lances through him::

Well. ::mutters:: Glad you've got a high pain threshold. Since I don't have an anesthetic.... How're... people down here holding up? Anybody openly call for my head on a platter?

::after about a half hour's work Lan has done everything possible with the supplies at hand for the grisly wound... it will probably heal faster, but the lack of elixer in this city means that he's still in for a long recovery short of theurgic intervention::

::Tien emerges from his meditation room, looking for AN::

the one constant in life, my son. We are born in pain, and we diein pain. it is not to be feared, but accepted. ::sounds almost like aliturgy::

((it's ADAM!))

AN? ::Looking up and down the hallway::

((Yo dude))

::chuckles weakly:: I'm neither an obstetrician nor a coroner. ::sighs:: Fortunately.

((Hey my man. Hey all!))

((Evening))

(Hey! ))

but no, i have heard no ill spoken against you. you did what you beleived right.

((hola))

::Sticking his head into the room with Martin and Lan:: Have either of you seen AN? ::Tien looks tired, like he has not slept but fought for the past few hours::

nope. i figure he's out and about with the wee one. feeling better?

I am ... centered.

but are you better?

That depends on which side you ask. I think the matter is settled.

mind if we test that?

Please.

::listens to this without saying anything.::

ok. you take two men, aiming at the same target. they will neverbe pointing in the same direction though. they stand in differentplaces you see. have you found your own place to stand? or are you still missing the target?

The more correct question, Am I Me? Yes. I think so, and for the first time I am certain.

actually, that wasnt the question. ::stands:: lets try another way. do you believe exactly what you were taught?

No, dogma is a strucure designed to imprison.

::frowns:: Designed by whom?

by ourselves lan. it instructs, but limits. another koan for you Tien

Those who have strayed from the meaning and are trapped in the words.

::looks at him sideways:: As I recall, it takes quite a while to learn even the standard orthodox cathechism.

why is being certain of oneself a weakness?

Trapped by preconcieved images and symbols

why preconceived?

There is a line between the needs of the spirit and the needs of the body. There are those who are out of balance and use power for their own gain. Over years, this images become set into stone.

good. could a new image harbor the same weaknesses?

You must come before the father yourself, not through proxy. All images are a trap, if one is not careful.

indeed. so any image of yourself is weak. one must not strive to become, only to be what the father made, to be what is natural.

To be oneself.

yes. now, how does one change oneself?

Through the pain of oneself and the pain of others. Though meditation and through exploration

::thinks back through his own religious training, and tries to think of something smart to say::

Through living and loving .  Through forgiving others and yourself. Through the grace of the pancreator.

i see a mistake in that. Pain. pain can also calcify. be wary of that young one.

Pain is. Life is pain. Love is pain. Forgiving is pain

::bursts out laughing:: yes, yes it is, but is it only pain tien? is that all you see?

begging for forgiveness is pain. No. there is more.

excellent. what?

I can not tell you, you have to discover for yourself.  The Holy Rites are not a map, but directions

this is true. to each his own in that regard. but what is pain to you?

The journey is more important then the method... wait, the destination... I am tired.

indeed, but what is pain to you?

::sighs:: Enough of this m'bateh talk. I have news.

Pain is to be endured. Pain is an exquisitely fine tuned ...::looks up::

What do you know about Salandra Decados coming here?

::looks towards the newcomer:: well finish this later, student. who might you be neighbor?

I am Saburo. Saburo El-Sabeh. Muster. ::grunts:: ::proffers hand::

Where is your Friend, my friend? ::Extends hand to Saburo::

ahhh, Good Muster, glad to have you. ::take hand in a firm shake:: Martel Azo, Avestite.

((noooo... damn you aim chats... every time adam punts and re enters, his name is a brighter shade of agony! :-) ))

Long time no see, little priest.

((and so your pain continues!))

::grins::

((no.. no.. light gray is tolerable... stop punting adam, you're finally a decent color))

((Can't help it.. This PC's all jury-rigged..))

((ah))

((ok, I'm going to go in AOL under my Mom's name.. brb...))

((ARGH))

((doobeedoobeedoo))

(("my god, the muster man just dissapeared!"))

((I can see that adam will be investing his saved exp into Sneak))

((and silent monkey))

((Hehe! ))

((chirp. chirp.))

((so.. umm.. i guess go back to your discussion assuming that Saburo rushed off to find his monkey))

((or there he is))

((Or is he beating the monkey))

((okay, back. sorry))

((right then, GAME ON!))

Yes it has been a long time... Where have you been?

::mumbles:: around.

::looks at the others:: so I assume you all know this fellah?

Know me?

Yes, he came here with us

::nods grimly::

::grin:: Yes, I was around before they even knew you existed.

We've met before.

::laughs:: well most people have.

Strange words, Subaro.

::nods:: Am I not a strange man? Or so you have said...

besides, you definately dont LOOK like a newborn

::smile leaves::

Enough barbs and arrows.

Yes, to business.

I pray that you have good tidings

Salandra Decados and Vlad are going to meet here, soon.

Vlad?

Who....?

Alexus?

::just, surprised at the 'here'::

:sighs:: Here, pertaining to this planet. This city...

((as an aside, hey lee, do we notice any substantial changes in tien's behavior, and if so, what?))

Salandra is going to meet Vla- Do any of you remember Vlad?

((He is acting very tired and you can see that there is not much emotion behind his words. Kind of automated, but that might just be him being tired. ))

No, my firend, I do not know Vlad. When would we have met him?

((koo))

::puts hands on hips::

::sighs:: What a day...

Let us find a comfortable location to speak.

This isn't comfortable?

::pulls his robes up over his wounds::

Ah.

You all are appearing to be ready to attack each other, or at least your words are.

::laughs:: I would not attack a friend of yours, little preiest.

a better setting is needed. And perhaps a little more privacy. ::Starts down the hall toward a quite room::

it is the way of warriors and soldies, sometimes, to testeachother with words when they first meet. ::offers a ciger to saburofrom his pack of spares:: but i think we are beyond that.

Yes. Very. ::takes cigar, grins::

((A private room with a table would be great))

Um. ::finishes setting his things back in order, and follows Tien::

::turns again, moves into the room::

::you find yourself in the general eating area which is deserted at the moment save for a small simian creature picking through the bug basket for his dinner::

Hello Friend. I see you beat us here.

Vlad is... Well... :thinks, then fidgets::

Squeak?

::pets Asim, smiles in thought::

::pour water into glasses for people present::

Vlad is a Decados noble.

you have interesting friends Saburo.

He is no friend of mine...

i was referring to the simian.

::sighs:: How much time do you have? Simian?? ::laughs::

All night, if it takes it.

::tutns to Asim:: Asim, are you a monkey?

::bends double and around himself, checking all areas that he can see:: hmmm... squeek!

::grins:: Asim is a phantom. A Malador Phantom.

::laughs:: well I was still half right. he is interesting. now tell us of this vlad will you?

And he still eats unpoisoned food. :grins::

::smirks::

::taking that as authorization, he dives back into the food::

Well... Vlad is the father of a man whose bounty I was trying to collect...

::Hands Asim a container of water::

He is known as the Black Lion. Heard of him, now?

no

He is a major mover and shaker on Severus.

::shrugs:: nope, but i havn't had many dealings with decados until very recently

::shrugs also, grins:: Neither have I. ::continues:: And because of that bounty... He wants me dead. Well, not just that bouunty.. But for the most part... ::fidgeting again::

some people have no sense of humor. know what the meeting is about?

No, but if it involves Slandra and Vladimir, it has to be big..!!! Wakarimasu-ka, my friends?

((eh whut now?))

::holds his head in his hands::

::grins:: Sorry, my mistake. Understand..?

::raises an eyebrow:: yup. but as to things this might be about, well, perhaps tien should tell you ::turns to tien::

What? Why Me?

I think you should tell the story of what has been hapening lately, as you were here for all of it.

((ok, I have to go in a bit. The prob is the f@#$%n' phone lines!!)

((What, no cable?))

I ask your fogiveness. I am too tired.

((not on a jury-rigged P166 PC! My other PC crashed.. :-())

((right, taste your exposition, and then go on... and somebody exposit Saburo, Rob's making a sandwich))

Plus I can not remember when Saburo left us.

En teyn re-abaleh. I'm all ears.

((back))

When were we last together?

We just got to Severus.

the short version: they met me, one of the demon-looking folksdied. it is somehow like Lan. oh, and we kidnapped the daughter of theemperor. ::lights cigar::

What.

Then you were not here when we got this, ::Puts the soul shard on the table::

((actually.. there was quite a bit... the meeting the countess, the investigating Cyrille, the being forced down into the sewers with the mutants, then getting the soul shard))

((okay, I need to read the logs more. ))

What is this... Thing..? ::points to shard::

((you haven't seen saburo since you met Martel or so... all the logs are freely available on the site))

We tracked down our target, he was killed and we gained this Soul Shard.

((and yes, tien is still grasping the sliver of glass that is the soul shard you guys found shortly after the last session Saburo was in))

At least AN got possession of it.

i think, currently, you have possession of it.

We have found that the Decados are experiemnting on unwilling hosts, turning them into angels and demons

I... See.

::The words did not seem to phase Tien::

or at least making them look as such.

What worries you, friend priest?

We think that the same happened to An

hey, tien, put the shard on the table.

What about the scraps of paper? That we found at An's mother's house?

::Looking at his hands:: I though that I did. ::Puts the shard on the table::

((the Priest Merchant Noble stuff? that was to indicate the three personalities of Cyrille, who you dealt with to learn where the shard was))

::picks it up with his robes::

((thanks))

So.. Why would they be experimenting on people like that? Besides being Decados, that is.

Don't have a firm grasp on that reason.

((that is the $10,000 question, innit?))

Maybe we can ask Salandra...

You know. Speaking of that. Whoever did this to our friends down here... Was working a different program than the one that created the Kossacks. Like... the one I examined.

::nods in thought::

An appears to be a precusrer to this current experiment. He has the same lung condition.

That guy was born that way, I would guess. The others...

::eyebrows raise::

i think we might be overlooking another, Important aspect of our adventures of late.

Yes, that lung condition. Did I mention? They're all subject to a virus. When their bodies start to fight it off, they get sick, from rejecting modified cells.

These poor beings are dying. Their changes are not for the good. One of them died of weak lungs. Anther died of grief.

::grits his teeth::

Zebulon wept... ::sighs::

We all have wept

::sighs, drops his head into his hands:: I was referring to the overly cute aspect that everyone thinks we kidnapped.

And our lady, Maria, may face this same fate.

Ah. Then we must pay a visit to our Lady Decados...

If we can not find her quickly

::under his breath:: And I to my fate.

They think we kidnapped? Who's they?

We were hoping that we could contact Elania with the use of that device. :Points to the spot where the shard was::

Cuz, we didn't really kidnapp her.... ::muttering::

they being the decados. am I the only one who remembers the little mindwarping kid?

No, I was getting to that.

((Damn, gotta go... This PC's acting up...))

((you sure?))

and actually, i think we were going to use you to contact her once you came to terms with your emotions.

We have attacked one of the people hunting AN. And his guard. I have dealt with those. There was no connection to Elania that I could find. The shard did help me find the path before me.

...ok, this we might need to talk about, Student. you "dealt" with your emotions? like they were a rebellion?

Anyway, we found the young daugher of Salandra

::nods:: Found, would be a ... fine way to put it.

And she is currently with AN. She is not a prisoner. Not our prisoner. Though she is a prisoner of her house and her mother. Now, we are seeking a way to save Maria. We need allies

You did not answer my question.

It did not need answering, my friend

I think it did, my student. You delt with your emotions like they were a rebellion? yes or no?

::and.. er... saburo, tired out from his long information gather session, wanders off, I guess::

Forgive me, but I am not your student.

are you a student? do you learn, Student?

((Actually, as this turns toward religion, I can see him walking away))

((yeah))

My name is Tien, not student.

Say. Where is An, anyway? I'd like to talk over his condition with him.

I will refer to you as student, until such a time as you prove your ability to learn. you haven't yet.

Fine. But I will not answer to student except to my masters.

::continues:: you say you have learned to be your true self, theman the father made you, yet you ignore your natural emotions. you seekto subjugate them. have you heard of hubris, student?

::Silence::

::busts out with hysterical laughter, and falls off whatever he's sitting on::

::has had a hard day:: Ow.

Are you alright, my friend?

::begins to pace around the younger man:: someone tries to tellyou something you don't wish to hear. they are not your master though,do you listen, student?

::Gets up to help him off the floor::

::grunts, and gets up:: Nothing a nice long assignment in a cushy lab wouldn't cure. ::sighs::

even if it is something you desperately need to realize?

I think that we have progressed as far as we can this evening.

I think someone is dodging the point.

I suggest that we get some rest. I know that I am tired

I suggest you answer the question, student.

::Bows:: I think you all for your guidence and Input. Good night. ::Exits the room, walking toward his room::

::follows tien:: you can't answer the question? or wont? why won't you? give me a good reason, and earn your solace.

I will not answer that question as it was asked. I can not tell yoiu the truth and tell you what you want to hear.

If you care what I think, then perhaps you do not know the truth after all. I did not ask for an aswer that would please me, I asked for an answer that was good.

::Moves the curtain over his door:: Good night Brother. Sleep well. We may discuss this at greater length when you are more centered.

::is grusomely tired. Has been pushing himself to the edge, even if only doing light physical stuff. Decides to go sleep::

::walks in:: so you are centered? what makes you think this, student?

As the Prophet said, "Quest." You have to tool. Use it. And when you are finished, give it back to AN. For he solely needs to make it work.

not an answer. you are angry, and to hide this from yourself, you blame me. sound familier, Student?

::Lies down and goes to sleep::

::kneels next to Tien:: You ignore a problem? is that centered?you ignore what someone well versed in the scripture of our lord warnsyou of? is that centered, student?

If you wish to warn me, then warn me. Do not berate me.

::looks sadly at Tien:: you must learn to listen then. you thinkyou have become centered, but instead you are far from it. your pridein yourself blinds you.

Pride is a pit fall. Love is a pit fall

is it?

Doctrine is a pit fall

love strengthens us Tien.

Love is univeral. The love for one another is a strength. Biological urges are a pit fall

take it from me. but the pancreator is not. and the pancreator is love.

::dreams about dissecting real angels and real demons. Visions of himself as a widely revered Alchemical Genius founding a new Deistic 3rd Republic. At some point, learns to fly::

if you see everything around you as a pitfall, might one surmise you are in a pit?

No.

support that. for indeed, your words smack of dispair.

No, Brother. I am tired. Good night. This conversation is ended.

no it is not. you merely dont want to face something. you turn away every time it comes close

::Rolls over and faces the wall, pulling his blanket over himself::

you have something in your head you fear. you cannot name it but it is there.

::pokes Tien:: you seem to have fallen asleep. allow me to continue.

::poke poke:: what is wrong tien, meybe i can help?

::poke:: if you feel the need for confession, I will do what I can.

::continues poking:: allow me to hazard a guess or two. eitheryou love a woman, and you hate yourself for that, so you close yourselfoff from it.

::poke:: or two you no longer love the woman, though you once did, and cannot say why.

Oh, Pancreator, Giver of Life and Light,

Blessed be thy Name,

::poke:: in either case i'll stop the moment you temm me YOUR REAL REASON!...ok?

Make us tools for thy use,

MAy our labors be your labors

We are not worthy of Thy Grace and Forgiveness,

We sin and do things that we should not

::stops poking for a moment:: meybe he's broken. he seems incapable of even thinking of his problem.

I beg you for your forgiveness

I beg that you aid others toforgive me

one last question Tien, and you don't even have to answer it.

::dreams of a snake biting its own tail. Then remembers: Oh yeah. That's just Benzene::

If I die this night, I pray that you guide my spark unto you

If I wake in the morning, teach me to forgive and how to live a just and bright life

I Pray that you protect my friends and loved ones, no matter which sun shines on them.

I pray that Lady Maria is safe and that we can find her well and unchanged.

your masters back home? do you think they'd approve of what youhave become? that you are so incapable of just relaxing? of beingyourself? of letting go? do yourself a favor. think on Elena, just this night. remember her, for soon, along this road, you'll no longer be a man who can. ::stands and leaves::

I pray this in the manner that the Prophet taught us to pray.

amen

~~~ OOC ~~~