Session Start: Sun Apr 22 16:49:34 2007 Session Ident: #lunar-iog2 * Logging for #lunar-iog2 started * TheStoryteller changes topic to '-= Chapter 35.1: Catechize | Location: Hylan Academy | Pools: 720 §, 0 MXP =- http://storen.rpgcafe.net/IoG/ | Everyone should copycat Saki in journals.' * TheStoryteller sets mode: +m * Etir is now known as Johnathan == LUDE START == Some time after the lengthy discussions, Saki remained in Johnathan's dimensional study to make an attempt at understanding the shadow within... * Saki is only gone for a bare minimum of time before returning to Johnathan's study; maybe ten minutes at the most. She seems surprisingly untroubled by the thought of what's about to occur; rather, she's deadly serious and attentive. * Johnathan is seated at his desk, the room plain and unadorned this time. It's a much more simple setting, looking almost like a normal office. Are you ready? * Saki rakes her hair, smiling in a rather wan fashion. "... Not even vaguely, but time to worry isn't a luxury I have." * Johnathan grins. "Good answer." * Saki sobers almost instantly, huffing out a breath. "... I think I know how to bring her forth myself. ... or at least, help it along." * Johnathan holds out his hands, the air around them distorting a little. "Do that, then. I understand that this makes you, or her, or however you want to look at this uncomfortable. Keep in mind that we want to talk to her. We're not trying to hurt or judge, we want to know what she thinks. We want to hear her side of the story." * Saki nods, gathering herself and her wits at some length. "... I know. I'm not sure how much of that will get through to her at first, though. Be careful." Saki tries to find her center carefully, and slip into the Raging Fury Stance. After a moment or two, the presence of the anger within become palapable, making Saki's body quiver. * Saki grits her teeth, the edges of black flickering around her fists. "... come on out," she mutters to herself. "We want a word. ... throw a spell at me if you have to." * Johnathan watches Saki for a few moments. He makes a small gesture with one hand, briefly surrounding her with a warm glow. "Come on out, Rachel." There's a definite aura around her body that Johnathan can recognize as different yet similar to his own in respects. It lashes out at the magical world unconsciously with a few motes of corrupted soul energy, the imagine of a warrior woman becoming overlaid over Saki. The martial artist begins to drift into a haze, her connection to her body feeling tenuous. << imagine = image >> [Rachel] What do you think you are doing, magi? The shadow speaks more mentally than physically moving Saki's mouth, which she's still controlling. Saying hello, I think. We've been very interested in meeting you. * Saki 's stance changes very slightly as the energy spreads and the image intensifies; her footing shifts a little, and her balled fists unclench for her fingers to make clawed hook shapes. "... not him, this time..." she manages at length. The fighter clenches her own hands in a similar fashion to the host body. "I'm not in the mood for talk. There is somewhere I need to be." [Rachel] But for you... your energy is like my Master's. [Rachel] Why? This query is definitely aimed towards Johnathan, as the silhoutte states at him with a pair of glowing yellow eyes. You could say I learned from them. Or at least got my start from the writings they left behind. [Rachel] You have the Treatise? It was to be burnt by the purification squads. * Saki lets John answer; the time is used instead to try to keep a hold of her consciousness. [Rachel] But you are not one of the high council... * Johnathan shakes his head. "They didn't do it. Something like that, people want to hold on to, even if they don't want anyone to see it. Eventually it was forgotten, and found." [Rachel] Mmm. I understand. You're a Truth seeker. * Johnathan nods. * Gayo is now known as Gayo|Gone The woman does not relax more, but seems less confused now. [Rachel] You were foretold in Pandora's last words. At least I didn't die for an empty promise. * Saki opens her eyes for the first time since calling Rachel forward; she shivers just a little as she catches sight of the shape flickering around her. [Rachel] But i will not forgive them... the fools did not understand...! Yes. Her prophecy came true, or at least part of it has. The world's moved on, we're free of the prison now. * Saki shakes her head, somewhere behind Rachel's. "... you want to, though." * Johnathan tilts his head, looking concerned. "That's what we want to know about. We know so little about the past. They were wronged, you were wronged. Badly, it sounds. Will you tell us what happened?" As Saki exterts herself more, the image literally begins to peel off her body and appear more solidly, as if it is drawing in the raw energy of Johnathan's warped space. The shadow is now a more recognizable figure of Rachel, weidling her trademark guantlets, and a purple robe. * Zack is now known as ZackStudy * Saki breathes out a sigh as the image pulls away, and draws herself back up to her full height with some effort. "I don't know if I'm you or someone else, but we're... in this together, it seems. I need to know as well," she finishes, dropping out of her own stance. [Rachel] For us, we sacrificed everything for people who were ungrateful. Trying to change this world, all for our own reasons. I could have stayed innocent.. but no, I made my choice and rebelled against Vane, and my very roder of the Magic Guard. << order >> [Rachel] I kept the Cult purifiers away from Noah so he could escape to Machpelah. I don't know how many I killed. A handful of us versus the the Church itself. * Saki keeps her eyes riveted on Rachel throughout the speech, her lips moving just a little as she mutters to herself under her breath. [Rachel] I was promised eternal life -- I got it one way or the other, it seems. But with this horrible price. They never understand. They fought us until the end as well. Even now, people don't really remember what happened. ...is there anything we can do to help you? * Saki makes an aggreived noise at that, raking her hair. "... what did happen to us, anyway?" she asks the room at large. "We're... mixed." Rachel grumbles annoyedly. "I don't know. But the Mystic Ruins somehow jumped to this world intact." * Saki crosses her arms, sighing out again. "... that's where we're going next. ... what are you going to do-- what do you /want/ to do there?" [Rachel] Part of the plan? Accident? Things ended up this way... and somewhere there is my corpse, if I'm right. [Rachel] At this point I could care less about our old ideals! I simply want to be alive again. This half-existence is torture. [Rachel] I feel betrayed by them... [Rachel] Used.. [Rachel] But still, I can't resist the calling. I have to go south. * Saki drops her gaze, apparently apologetic. "... I know." [Rachel] I will tell you this much, Saki. [Rachel] Pandora and the Eight of the High Council are going to use the Truth seeker souls to revive themselves. * Saki looks back up, mimicing Rachel's stance perfectly; a mirror image. "... What'll it mean if they do?" [Rachel] I never knew what the plan was, as a lowly follower. But if we walk the Blue Star again, history as we know it may not remain the same. [Rachel] Zophar may end up never existing, but so would all the things you love -- * Saki grins unpleasantly, her eyes flashing with anger. "... Let's go beat the information out of them, then. I'm fond of this place." I don't necessarily mind their coming back and living here, there's plenty of places for them. I'm not sure I like the implications of what you just said, though. And I'm rather fond of my soul being where it is. I don't suppose you'd know what would become of us? ...probably not. * Johnathan frowns. "I wonder if there's any way to talk to them." * Saki scratches at the back of her head. "... we could repeat this trick with Noah, but... I don't know what you'd get. He's--" she glances to Rachel, realising she's stealing her line. Rachel looks eager to battle as well, a mirror of her host. "You're going to have to fight. It's what you and I know best. But Prophetess doesn't desire either of our deaths.. not yet." ...yes. Unlikely to be as reasonable as Rachel. [Rachel] Noah... [Rachel] ...I had feelings for him. He was a kind soul who disliked violence. * Saki looks across with a questioning glance. "... had?" The magic guard looks away tellingly... * Saki , despite the seriousness of the conversation, apparently manages to find a little mirth in that; with something of a turn to her lips she shakes her head. "... no use trying that around me." She sobers instantly, however, glancing over at Johnathan. "... I hope you can get him out of Ryllan, at least." [Rachel] I don't know what that idiot is trying to do. You are torturing him. [Rachel] Noah must go with me south, too. His body is also there in a tomb. * Johnathan sighs. "Which one. I can't imagine it's pleasant for either of them." Rachel... do you think I could get Noah to talk with me? If I did, do you think I could trust what he said? * Saki frowns, scratching at her head with a scowl; apparently she's having to think too hard. "... will that work instead? ... I don't much fancy leaving him in a gem." [Rachel] Ryllan only has a piece of Noah. That's why I'm angry at him! [Rachel] You're risking breaking his essence apart. That fool! Even if she denied feelings for the Prophet, it's obvious Rachel is quite defensive of him, even after death. [Rachel] Placing it in neutral gem is at least a little better than a person who's entirely unwilling -- * Saki remains silent for a long beat, frowning in thought. "... If it works... let us look after the gem rather than Ryllan." You're intending to take it south with you? * Saki sighs out, looking back up. "... she's right. He probably could've taken us on back at the last ruins, but he didn't want to fight. ... maybe there'll be a use for him. Maybe not. But I don't like being a torturer." [Rachel] As long as you do that, I'll cooperate. You might be able to question Noah with it, but you can't trust everything a mad shard of the man says as gospel. The spectre becomes more sour faced now. "We will go south to Machpelah << er >> The spectre becomes more sour faced now. "We will go south to Machpelah. There's really no choice, for him or you. The colonials think a flimsy gate will stand in our way?" I could stop you. * Johnathan sighs. "But then, I don't think that would be wise." [Rachel] You do realize it's only a matter of time before they come for you." Yes. I'm aware. [Rachel] As it was decreed, "the weaver of time and space creates it" * Saki takes another deep breath, drawing herself back up. "... if you think you can stand against them, then when we get there... I'll turn things over to you, and help from there. This is your history to reconcile." * DooM_GazE (~doomgaze@staff.lunarnet.org) Quit (Quit: Computer going to sleep...) [Rachel] And "the medium of the mind's voice strengthens it".. your wife? Yes. * DooM_GazE (~michaela@d137-186-174-122.abhsia.telus.net) has joined #lunar-iog2 * ChanServ sets mode: +o DooM_GazE * DooM_GazE (~doomgaze@staff.lunarnet.org) Quit (Quit: Computer going to sleep...) * DooM_GazE (~michaela@d137-186-174-122.abhsia.telus.net) has joined #lunar-iog2 * ChanServ sets mode: +o DooM_GazE * DooM_GazE (~doomgaze@staff.lunarnet.org) Quit (Quit: Computer going to sleep...) I knew there would be a reason I couldn't stand against Zophar myself, but I never suspected why. For her sake, though, I'm tempted to do whatever I can. I'd destroy that fragment of Noah here and now, if I thought it would help. [Rachel] We are Zophar's enemy, misunderstood as we are. * Johnathan drums his fingers on his desk. "Can you promise that? Can I really trust you?" [Rachel] ..all I can offer is her last words. We knew Zophar would return. And we also foretold he would be defeated by humanity. [Rachel] He's the leftover sin of the old world. And we wanted a second chance at repairing that mistake of our people. [Rachel] Prophetess might seem mysterious, but she could be trying to do the same as you. * Saki watches in solemn silence, waiting for the judgement to be over before she raises her point again. ...I've left what I can to help them. It'll be ready soon, I think. You have to understand, though. I'm worried for my wife, myself, and my friends. If she's truly his enemy... maybe I can talk with her. [Rachel] The only way we all will know for sure is to simply go. My mind is made up. [Rachel] You are going to help me, Saki. * Saki chuckles darkly, shaking her head with something of a grin. "... as if I could stop you, and as if I didn't want to go." * Johnathan shakes his head. "I suppose there's really choice but to send you south. You'll all have to do whatever you feel is right when you get there. There is one thing I'm going to task you both with, however, and I won't take no for an answer." [Rachel] At least we agree on something. I'm sure the trip will be.. eventful. the jungles will be dangerous. [Rachel] The stories about the dead walking are true -- rachel falls silent, awaiting Johnathan's decree. * Saki makes a face, then looks across at John to wait his request out. "... I never much liked boring trips," she remarks offhandedly. "Go on." Whatever happens, it might fall to you and your companions to stand against Zophar. If it comes to that, help her, Rachel. Whatever the prophets are trying to do, as long as the world survives, that's the important thing. * Huwnap is now known as Huw * Saki raises an eyebrow. "... which part of that is my task?" [Rachel] If I can't get my body back, then I'll just have to go on fighting till I'm satisfied. If Zophar is in the way, he shall die. * Johnathan smiles slightly. "I thought it was obvious. From what I've heard and seen of you, I'd expect you to be the first one to punch him in the face." * Amy is now known as AmyAway * Saki huffs out a sigh, rubbing at her forehead. "... I can't exactly say no to that. I'm tangled up enough in this as it is already." [Rachel] I'm tired of this talking. I'll be waiting for some action. They are waiting for us... * Johnathan nods. With that the projection collapses back into a ball of shaodw and rejoins with Saki. * Saki hisses with surprise and not a little fear at the sudden action; she almost falls to one knee as the world lurches around her for a moment. "hh--! ...t-thank you," she adds almost as an afterthought to Johnathan. You're welcome. Has this helped, at all? Feel any clearer? * Saki rubs at her head, wobbling a bit as she gets back up. "... maybe. I'm not quite sure yet." * Saki wobbles again, and then the panic - or perhaps the adrenalin, it's not clear which - appear to hit her and she nearly doubles over, shivering a little. "U-ugh." Are you all right? Please, sit down for a moment. * Saki does exactly that, not even going for a chair; she hunkers down on the ground, clutching her chest. "... feel sick," she adds helpfully. "... backlash?" Possibly. You've been through a lot, and that really didn't look all that pleasant. * Saki exhales again and all of a sudden loosens, dropping to her hands and knees to pant with relief as the feeling subsides. A short period of time like that and she's slowly picking herself up off the floor, already regaining some colour. "... I didn't expect this to work so well. ... what did you think?" I think I'm going to have to get Ryllan and... Lucia in here as soon as possible. We'll be as gentle as we can, I promise. It's comforting to know that they're not on Zophar's side, though. I think we can trust her on that. * Saki nods, apparently taking the testimonial seriously. "... alright. ... I think I'll take up that idea of a drink, now. If I get anything else, I'll let you know." * ZackStudy is now known as ZackDinner * Johnathan nods, and raises a hand. "Take care of yourself, then." The surroundings slowly fade... * Saki ... finds herself back at the quad, inexplicably aggreived. "... there's such a thing as doors," she mutters to herself. == LUDE END == Session Close: Sun Apr 22 18:48:07 2007