Session Start: Sat Apr 19 20:02:39 2008 Session Ident: #lunar-iog2 * Logging for #lunar-iog2 started Mikel's the one with the wings (see msg, Stor) * Retrieving #lunar-iog2 modes... * Stelafk is now known as Stelas * TheStoryteller changes topic to '-= Chapter 71.3: Catechize - Zacariah | Location: Hylan Academy | Pool: 12 MXP =- http://storen.rpgcafe.net/IoG/' == Lude Start == Using the power of the White Dragon Wings, Mikel and Trune take a time out from the Meribian situation and return to both of their alma mater's, the Hylan Academy. Things here seem fairly peaceful in comparison to the flurry of activity in the other cities, as classes continue uninterrupted even though war rages in other places... There is, hwoever, some preparations going on, as a large convoy has just left down the road leading to Raculi as the two materialize in the grassy commons. * Mikel folds the wings away, sparing a look around the campus. "Nice change from the mess in New Meribia, at least." One student is surprised as Mikel and trune appear, dropping his books he was studying. o_O * Trune puts the palm of his hand against his forehead as he appears, looking dizzy for a moment. He shakes his head, "Yeah...heh, nothing really changes around here, does it?" [Student] Ohmygosh, did you just teleport? *glares at books and walks away mumbling* I've... got to study harder. * Mikel ...blinks * Mikel shakes his head. "Oh well. Let's find your old man then." * Trune glances down at his hand for a moment, which is shaking slightly. It's unclear if it's from nerves or something else. Judging from the serious expression on Trune's face, it's probably the former, "Y-yeah. Let's go." * Mikel starts to where the offices are, gesturing for Trune to start moving. "Easy, now. Just a grouchy family member." Strolling along. there are groups of faculty here and there chatting as classes seem to be in the process of switching for the period. Professor McVrey's students in the healing arts have gotten out and are standing by the door of the room gossiping. The Teacher seems to have already left. Heh, you have no idea. Grouchy...man, I wish he was just grouchy. It'd make this so much easier. He'd just grouse at me and we'd glare at each other, then have tea and talk about father and son bonding. Also, damn, he's gone already? [Student #1] Hey, looks like those 5 in the class were out today. Do you think they went to help the Church? [Student #2] Oooh, so lucky, getting chosen for field duties while we're stuck here studying with the professor. * Mikel hms, raising his voice to be heard by the other students. "'ey! Where can we find Professor McVrey?" [Student #1] H..huh? If you're looking for him, he dismissed class early and went to his office. * Trune stares for a moment, "My dad never misses or cancels class. Like...ever. Something happen?" Alright then. Thanks. * Mikel starts for the offices again, glancing back at Trune. "Only one way to find out." [Student #2] Are you guys students? You have some powerful willforce auras! Er...well, uh, you could say that, yeah. [Student #3] ..maybe they are his former pupils come for a visit. He's had a lot of visitors lately, with the news of the war. [Studnet #4] Can we just hurry up to the cafeteria? I can't cast magic on an empty stomache! *grumble* * Mikel mutters something about being thankful for never being McVrey's student as he walks. * Trune shakes his head at the students, perhaps a little wistfully, and follows behind Mikel, "Ah, the good old days, when all that was important in life was what the cafeteria was serving." The way to the office is not a long one, as his room with the faculty is only on the second floor of the main tower building. As you arrive here, the atmosphere is definitely more tense and many of the staffers appear to have let go of their classes early as a group to hold some discussions about the current situation. Trune's father, hwoever, is sifting through a stack of papers alone. [Zacariah] *mumble* * Mikel announces himself and Trune by rapping his staff on the doorjam. [Zacariah] *mumble* ...last time I send my secretary off with the adept teams... * Trune eyes his father and tenses, silent for a moment. Until Mikel raps on the doorjam. So much for sneakiness. ...Hey Dad. There's a long moment when Professor McVrey just ignored the repeated taps of Mikel's staff. But when Trune speaks, the rustling stops and the door apruptly opens. [Zacariah] ...Trune! What in Althena's name are you doing here! Thankfully, this kind of greeting is fairly normal for the man. Well, uh...an enthusastic hi to you too. [Zacariah] What kind of trouble are you off causing for your father this time? * Mikel lets out a sigh, shaking his head. "This is off to a good start..." * Trune looks hopeful, "Actually, this is better than I expected." Look, Dad, I know you're ticked off at me and I wouldn't be in your face if it wasn't urgent, but it is. Really, really urgent. I need your help. The elderly man taps his cane on the floor, about to go off on another tirade. "Now, look here boy, I've just about had enough of..." Then, for some odd reason he bites his white bearded lip. [Zacariah] ...what the devil has happened to your willforce. That would be why we're here. That's what I came to see you about. [Zacariah] Dear me, are you summoning demons now or such? What would your mother's spirit say about that? I knew these 'Elementalors' and that Mikayla were going to get you killed or worse... << nix the spirit part. oops. >> * Trune looks defensive, "They aren't demons. They're people. Like me. Like you." [Zacariah] I don't know what you've been up to, but you're obviously radiating the early signs of soul sickness or possession. I've seen this more times than I can count. I don't...really know if it's possession or not. I guess it could be considered that, but that's not quite it. Though...now that I think on it...maybe I should start from the beginning. [Zacariah] ...once again you're going to give me a heart attack. Sit down and close that door. * Mikel waits for Trune to step in, then goes in after him and shuts the door behind him. There's a few chairs and a small sofa in the office, a lamp in the corner radiating a light glow. [Zacariah] Let's start this conversation again, my boy. Tell me everything in detail... * Trune sits down on the sofa, rubbing the temples of his forhead with his index fingers, "Okay, I guess it started when..." >> Some time passes as the whole situation up till now with the virus is explained. Zacariah has his turn to rub his temples now. "... your curiosity was always going to be the death of you. Now, I think you've really topped yourself this time." I swear to you it's not like I wanted to MAKE myself a willforce powerkeg. It...just happened when Leah...well, when she... I don't even know how she was able to keep it at bay for as long as she did. I'll give her credit. [Zacariah] I suppose it's time I shared a secret with you that not many are aware of. [Zacariah] I've always been trying to salvage the psyches of the many people dislocated by the Unraveling. When leah was found, I was one of the first medical professionals to see her at Dyne's request.. So, you knew then? About her being...? [Zacariah] *nod* That's right. It was different than the others, being more a disease of the mind than the soul, which is a big distinction. While I wasn't able to 'cure' the malady, I did manage to put in place several mental blocks to reduce the pain and stress. [Zacariah] I would think they finally broke down and she became the monster that you had to destroy, and now she's passed along this infection to you now. *mumbles to self* Did Leah know about this? * Mikel ...tchs, leaning back against the wall as he watches the professor. "Are you able to put the same blocks on Trune, then?" [Zacariah] I doubt she remembered. It was when she was a baby. The hope was as she grew that she'd be able to learn discipline and control of such things, so as to not overload her physical body's ability to handle the magics. [Zacariah] That is the cusp of the issue here , my boy. This thing is trying to evolve your mind to a higher energy state of a pure elemental force. Humans are not meant to be pushed this far! It's not even so much the pushing my body issue that scares me so much as what it's making me think, or if I'll even be me when this is all finished. Zacariah starts to yell, obviously both worried and frustrated at events. "Those blocks were easy to place on a child. But an adult... it's very risky." How risky? * Trune grits his teeth at the word, risky, but says nothing. [Zacariah] But I can't sit idly by while both your body and your psyche are being broken down! Gragh, you always were pushing yourself, trune. Always. But now you might become a threat to others instead of yourself. The professor starts pacing. [Zacariah] ..no, I shouldn't blame you. This isn't really your fault. * Trune snaps his head to his father, his voice agitated, "Don't you think I don't know that? That I might be a threat? I'm trying to prevent that!" Look...whatever risk it is... I want you to do it. I don't care if it's the most goddessdamn painful thing I'll ever experience. I want you to do it. He continues to pace back and forth. "Painful, yes. Though this also means I might be able to devise a cure with enough time to study it." * Mikel frowns. "How much time?" [Zacariah] I was never able to keep Leah here for long periods, as she ran off to adventure. Yeah...how much time? [Zacariah] How the devil do I know how long? This is not adept work, nor demonic possession. it's something entirely different! I've got to adapt my technique considerably! At least long enough so that I won't lose it within, say the next couple of weeks? [Zacariah] I'm being straight with you, Trune. There is no gaurantee I can cure this infection. The best I can do is keep it at bay for that amount of time until everything settles down with this dark god business. * Mikel rubs his forehead. "Can you do it within a day?" * Trune stares at the wall for a moment, his mouth set in a line. He finally sighs and looks back at his father, "I don't care. A little time is better than none at all. Please do it." [Zacariah] The mental block I can attempt right here. But there's a substantial risk that when placed it could cause you to entirely lose the use of willforce, or have it be highly uncontrollable. recall Leah's scatterbrained chaotic magic? [Zacariah] I have to shut down all but the lowest energy pathways for the sake of your health... Heh, so when we face Zophar, I might end up being as useful as a punching bag? ...well, least we know what the risks are. The risks if we do nothing are worse. I...I'll find a way to stop him, handicap or not. [Zacariah] I can't predict what might happen on someone of your age and skill. It's highly likely you'll retain some ability as you are of a strong bloodline, but -- will, think of it like being right back to where you started in the Academy. Where every spell was difficult and you told me to try ha---er, um. How much abuse can the blocks take? * Trune bites his tongue, "Yeah, I remember. Magic was really hard back then." His father cracks a small smile. "You have to keep trying. Harder than ever." * Trune can't help but crack a smile too, "Man, you're so tough to please." [Zacariah] I won't be satisfied if my son gives in to some goddess-forsaken bug he picked up on his misadventures. I won't. It's why I'm here, after all. [Zacariah] Right. Now, sit still in that chair and take a few deep breaths. * Trune closes his eyes and tries to calm himself, knowing that this will not be pleasant, "Okay." Professor McVrey shuffles over to his son, and puts his hands at the sides of your temples, squeezing them powerfully but not enough to truly hurt. It's a good pressure that offsets the headache you've been having. [Zacariah] I never thought I'd be doing this to you, my boy, but you are always full of surprises. You know me, always giving you a near heart attack. There's a pause, and then the physical pressure is augmented by a gigantic amount of life energy that pusles through the man's fingers and wraps your head in a coma of force. One by one tendrils shoot into the side of your skull, the pressure becomign greater and greater now, as it feels like the brain is being compressed in a set of vertical and horizontal vices. * Mikel raises an eyebrow, watching the show. The mental images of gigantic iron-wrought security doors slamming shut on the pathways of the mind echoes throughout, and the virus within his head seems to scream and be imprisoned in a gigantic impregnible jail cell. * Trune tenses and goes ram-rod straight, letting out a short cry of surprise before going slack against the chair. The thunderings resound in the adept's head for a few more moments as the old man begins to sweat with exertion and Trune goes slack. The flow of willforce oozing out of him briefly comes to a complete and utter halt as neural cells make alternate pathways and his awareness comes back. Zacariah staggers bacl. "Guh... that took more than I expected." He shoot a look of concern to his son in the chair. * Trune opens his eyes slowly, shooting his father a disorented look. "...good, good." mumbles the medical adept, as one would to any patient recovering. How are you feeling, Trune? [Zacariah] It might take a moment to realign, I was forced to shut more than I'd like. * Trune 's head slowly turns to Mikel, his expression still dazed. He blinks hard several times. Zacariah moves back in closer, examining his son in several ways, shaking hands poking and prodding. "Senses. Are they all there?" * Trune 's head slowly turns back to his father, and attempts to tell him something -- only no sound seems to come out, execpt perhaps a brief intake of air. Trune blinks hard once again, and tries once more, but the same result occurs. * Mikel frowns. That... that isn't good. * Trune begins to look not only dazed, but fustrated, and tries yet again. This time, there's perhaps the faintest grunt, but beyond that no sound comes out. Zacariah pauses as Trune attepts to vocalize, and attempts casting a healing mantra. "...hmm. Cleansing Litany!" >> The willforce washes over Trune, but he remains without voice. [Zacariah] The shock must have been greater than I thought... damn that accursed virus! * Mikel pushes off the wall, walking over to the two. "...well, Ryllan's going to just /love/ this." * Trune shakes his head, mouthing something. The Professor slams a fist on the desk, shivering in anger. * Trune looks at his father, some of his disorentation finally easing, and waves his hands frantically in an attempt to get his attention. The man looks up, some of the emotion leaving him. * Trune raises his right hand and puts his index and middle fingers together. He then takes his left hand and lies it flat as he holds his two fingers to it, as if writing something. Zacariah McVrey nods wordlessly, then points to the back of the door to his office. on it is a blank white slate hanging up with an erasable writing tool. [Zacariah] Take it. I never use the damn thing anyway. * Mikel steps over to the door, pulling off the slate and tool and passing it over to Trune. [Zacariah] There's even willforce versions where you can move the pen mentally, if you think you can manage that. *still grumbling at what he's done* * Trune takes the whiteboard and pen and seems to calm down slightly. He writes something on it in haste and then flips the whiteboard to his father. It says: "Not your fault this happened. Knew the risks. Thank you." He then pauses, and writes something else, then flips the board over once more, "Prefer writing by hand. Not as lazy." [Zacariah] ...at least I don't have a lazy son, then. But a mute one.. well, I can only hope you can shake it off in a few days with some rest. Is your head feeling better? * Trune wipes off the board with his sleeve and writes once more, then flips the board towards his father, "No pain. Quiet." * Mikel takes a couple of steps to read the board as well. "That's good, at least." The professor nods. "Should be easier to sleep now at least. You look positively haggard, son." [Zacariah] If I could, I'd lock you up in the infirmary for a few days. But I know you're not going to stay put. * Trune quirks a small smile, nodding to his father. [Zacariah] I'm going to take the residual willforce of you and the patterns of Leah and see what i can come up with. Gives me something to do more than this annoying paperwork. * Trune looks curious for a moment, but that look leaves his face as he once again takes up his pen. He scribbles something on his whiteboard, then flips it over, "Thank you." The senior professor waves dismissively. "For heaven's sake, stop thanking me. I'm your father, after all. Now leave me to my research, and don't get yourself killed until I'm done!" [Zacariah] And you, Mikel.. you better make sure those friends don't mistreat him. Or I'll throw all fo you in detention for life! * Trune laughs, though it's a silent laugh for now, and stands. He sways for a moment, still apparently getting his bearings, but rights himself. He writes something else on his board, "Won't die. Say hi to mom." * Mikel raises an eyebrow, actually grinning a bit. "Noted, Professor." Zacariah pauses in his diatribe, then add quietly as an afterthought. "Try not to give her a heart attack either." * Trune gives a slight nod to his father, as if to say, "I won't", then quietly heads out the door. * Mikel follows Trune on out. * Stelas is now known as Stelish And so Trune takes the drastic step of lowering his magic power inexchange for a moment's peace to plan his recvery. But how long will this reprieve last? ANd can he cope without his voice? == Lude End == Session Close: Sat Apr 19 22:18:52 2008