--- Session 40: Folly of Babel --- Session Start: Sun Nov 04 15:45:50 2001 --SESSION START-- >> The group tentatively makes its way across the dry, cracked earth of the cursed island towards the tower looming in the distance -- the ghost of Ka Dingel. Pockets of timespace fluctuation float by them like soap bubbles suspended in midair. A soft drizzle begins to fall. «ooc: The soft, skin disolving drizzle of ACID RAIN. » «ooc: >> Ellena trips and dies! » «ooc: Haha! Why did I sense that was coming? ^-^ » «ooc: Ow! I am dead. » « I'm meltiiiiinnnngggg....* ^^ » «ooc: Nooo! My life mas no meaning. *checks watch* But I can't mourn forever...it's time to get on with my life! » «ooc: IC, ash » «ooc: No, it'd be more like... Aaahhh---! Shane...Hikaru....this is...your fault...can't trust hu- *dies* Shane and Hikaru: ..Angst ;_; » * Neydisa makes her way forward to the looming tower, looking back once or twice to check on the Metal Bird... * Shane grimaces at the firsthand sight of dimensional sciences gone wrong, and his stomache drops slightly. * Ellena wraps her cape tighter around her body, trying to keep out the chill of the rain. ...You know... I just realized how extremly lethal and dangerous this task of ours will be. «ooc: Hmm, Ash has been idle 9 minutes. Oh well. He'll miss the exciting "walking" scene. » * Allen watches a dimensional bubble drift by. "Well, this is pretty cool." * Shane looks to Ellena. ...You didn't realize this before? O_o Rayle: 'Owzat? ...You know, we could randomly die at any point just by being in the area... Watcher: Be careful. Those bubbles won't kill you, but they CAN be dangerous. Then we'll have to be super careful, then... * Allen nods and steps out of the path of one approaching disturbance. If the gate's malfunctioning enough to do this, what's to stop it from becoming destructuve before we get there? * Shane frowns. We should hurry... «ooc: I mean, you could step in one...and WHAM! You'll grow something silly...like three asses! » << This monkey only has three asses. It's of no use to me! >> >> Watcher digs around in his bundle and produces a small grey stone statue the size of a large man's fist. "Don't tire yourself out yet...this is the easy part." << need ooc script! >> * Allen watches his footing as he scrambles along to catch up with everyone else. * Neydisa swallows once, then focuses her eyes forward, admitantly afraid. "...the Guardians will guide us... we'll make it if we keep going." « one second.. ^^ » /o /o say «ooc: $$1- » «ooc: ...doh » «ooc: ... » «ooc: Ashton! C'mon! Be a part of the winning team! » «ooc: Someoen could have let me know we STARTED » «ooc: We...uh...did. » «ooc: I didn't know you were away. Also I don't have you on ICQ anymore. » «ooc: IF I DON'T REPLY, MSG ME ;P » «ooc: test » «ooc: sexy » *** Ashton is now known as Hikaru « back. lovely drink. ^^ » «ooc: Besides, you were here when I posted the final post from last sess. :P » «ooc: you need two dollar signs? » «ooc: so, the stats are current, ya? » «ooc: yes. and two $ denotes a require parameter. » «ooc: I've only got one. » «ooc: *shrugs.* » «ooc: One means you can do the alias without that parameter » «ooc: Two is best for talkers and IRCRPG combat aliases » «ooc: » «ooc: I see. » >> As he walks, Watcher points the statuette at each bubble he passes. Each pocket undulates rapidly in turn, then shrinks away. He continues in this fashion, striking out a clear path. * Ellena glances around once more, quietly, and seems to concentrate. * Allen strides forward a bit to have a closer look at that statuette. "Hmm!" Watcher... ...what are you doing? What is that? >> it's a small stone figurine shaped like a cat. Ancient tech? * Hikaru sticks close to Watcher, glancing at the figurine and at Shane. "Probably something he wouldn't explain to us. Leave it at that." * Shane cranes for a closer look. Watcher: No, much more complicated than that. This is the Dispellado. It fixes reality when it's proken. Or I could be mistaken. * Shane ,par for his course, ignores Hikaru. * Hikaru shrugs * Neydisa studies it briefly, unable to palce it quite, but feeling like she somehow knows it... It mends tears in the continuum? * Shane squints at it. Everything here...disjointed... Watcher: Not tears, just shifts. It smoothes things out. It can just as easily undo careful weaving as repair accidental rifts. * Ellena shakes her head. * Allen asks Watcher, "If we get out of this mess, would it be all right if I had a chance to study it?" Ellena, you all right? Watcher: We'll see. * Allen smiles. I'm...I'm okay. Rayle: If yeh coulda just zapped the problems away t'begin with, why didn't yeh do it t'begin with? Okay.. don't lose your head in here, okay...? . o O ( I have never felt anything like this...Even the spirit world is in chaos...all in this one sp- ) Watcher: This is a spot of permanent instability. It's like trying to drain the ocean with a teacup. Oh...! ^^; I won't...thank you, 'Karu... * Hikaru nods once and then glances at Watcher, taking in the conversation * Neydisa blinks at the metaphor and gazes at the chaos around her, recalling holding the stars in her hand like a ball just a short time ago. "...I only hope we can set things right in time..." * Shane chuckles quietly at Neydisa's comment. Watcher: I'd be thrilled just to get to where I'm going without anyone dying, at the moment. * Shane eyes the statue uneasily again. «ooc: Similie actually, Ney.. "like draining the ocean with a teacup" » « details, details.. ^^ » *** Blaze (capote824@206.42.103.8) has joined #warpg «ooc: like MY COCK slapping YOUR FACE » «ooc: ahem » «ooc: ;p » «ooc: HA! :D » «ooc: I would have said analogy. But. » «ooc: Oi. » «ooc: oooh, double entendre. » >> Keeping a slow pace behind watcher, the small clutch of people continues to trek quietly across the eerie, barren landscape. >> The tower gradually grows closer. * Hikaru keeps one hand on his sword, constantly on the lookout for inconsistencies or traps * Allen looks rather oblivious to the danger as he studies his surroundings. * Ellena wraps her hands around her body, looking pensive. «ooc: hands=arms » * Shane mentally goes over the Gate Schema, thinking about what could be wrong in the plans to do all this, trying to prepare himself. Don't worry...we'll do okay somehow. We can only hope. Mmhmm. Sure.. *** Blaze (capote824@206.42.103.8) Quit (Quit: ) *nods* That's enough. Hope is on par with Luck right now. I don't like the uncertainty here... ...I really don't like the unexpected. There's been *far* too much of it in my life of late... If there's anything certain, it's that we've faced Metal demons and their legacy before and lived... «ooc: where's boomer? » Yeah... if anyone in the world has a chance in here, it's our little misfit group.. «ooc: he went ahead. Probably already in there. » * Shane darkens at the mention of Demons... ...I hope the demon isn't being brash. I don't want to fight him again if he's recontrolled... * Ellena smiles slightly, "I wouldn't say misfit...maybe rag-tag?" * Shane stares incredulously at the conversation... * Allen stops for a moment and writes himself a couple of notes, then catches up again. «ooc: Shane: That Ellena! What a dork! » * Hikaru lets out a quiet chuckle at Ellena, shifting to a harsher seriousness and glancing at Shane. "We may not have a choice. There's no telling.." * Allen notes that he's running out of paper, stops for a moment to write "get more paper" on a mostly filled piece, and then starts walking again. But if we're going to have anything resembling a chance, we'll have to endure, or else we -won't- survive.. >> Finally, Watcher stops, craning his head upward at the vast tower. The party stands at the base of the bridge to the spire, a flickering, half-there stretch of spectral rock across a charred, twenty-foot-deep crater. At the bottom of the crater and perhaps thirty meters away is a large device emitting a vast beam of energy straight up through a huge lens. * Shane refrains from saying anything inflamitory. ...For five years, I've endured...I can endure for a bit longer.. * Shane unholsters his gun and goes on guard. * Neydisa peers around again at the unnerving landscape spread out before them, then follows watcher's gaze up to the spire. «ooc: where is the energy going? » «ooc: dispersing? » «ooc: disappearing? » * Hikaru tenses his fingers around the hilt of his sword, getting into a purely defensive position «ooc: directly up. It's what's keeping the tower in this dimensiomn » «ooc: Lenses rarely make things disperse » Ashes and bolts... Watcher: So...that's the machine. *whips off his top-hat to scratch his head* * Ellena looks down at the machine in slight disgust. * Shane squints at it, flipping down all of his lenses to get a clearer view. Hrmm... ...hard to tell from this distance. Looks rushed. * Neydisa looks down at the beam's source. "So that is what they were building..." Watcher: I suppose it was. Any longer and we'd have gotten here first. ...Too early to tell, but it looks repairable. Rayle: So, d'we smash it? Fix it? Wot's th'game plan 'ere? .oO(I know my plan. My part of the plan is to be the tank here... protect the ones who know what they're doing... and Ellena..) Watcher: The Dimensional Elevator is at the top...if whoever did this has already arrived there, they'll probably be on Malduc already...on the other hand, if they're still in the tower, they'd be trapped if the machine were destroted. So we either keep them from leaving or... hmm. * Ellena hmms, thinking. But then we could never find out, and if they already did... * Neydisa looks back up. * Jeff closes his eyes, deep in thought. «ooc: okay, forgive me but I've totally forgotten what we're trying to do. » ...we'll destroy any hope of stopping them as well. «ooc: That was why I asked how far you wanted me to recap back. ^_~! » * Hikaru nods. "We'll have a chance of losing either way. If we destroy the machine, we lose our one point of access if they're already in Malduc... If we follow them, we'll be on their turf.." «ooc: It's been too long and I wasn't being as attentive as I could have been when we last played. So. » «ooc: The master is going to Malduc. We don't know why but figure it's bad. » «ooc: We want to stop him because he's a meanie » «ooc: right. » «ooc: nobody really knew about Malduc, btw. » «ooc: And what is Malduc? Oh. » «ooc: yeah, watcher just dropped that on you recently.\ » «ooc: ah. » Watcher... What exactly is on Malduc? «ooc: /me turns to Watch- » What can they do there? So he's going to Malduc...*shakes her head*... * Allen blinks. "Do you about Malduc, Ellena?" «ooc: +know, I take it, Allen » * Ellena nods, "...A little bit..." Watcher: Well, like I said...from what I understand, it's a colony in space. Humans built it, but the demons took it over. There's probably nothing alive there now. ...probably? * Shane grimaces. So it isn't safe by any means for any of us. So we should destroy the machine. * Allen nods. And risk the Master finding some way of destroying the world. Not an option. I say follow him. Watcher: To be honest, I'm not even sure if there will be air there. Presumably whoever is ahead of us will find out... * Neydisa looks aside to Shane and Watcher. "Shane, you said you could repair the Gate, didn't you? and find another way to the Null Moon?" Rayle: Wonder if Boomer's up there already... ...Most of it is destroyed, I believe....But even a small bit of it functioning could be trouble... Neydisa... I could get us there very easily with a fully functional gate, if everything works... But we can't GO there, Shane! ...or, in a few months, with Adlehyde's resources at my disposal, I could build a ship... ...Why not? .oO(A few months. We don't -have- a few months...) Because we don't know what's waiting for us. We could die from lack of air as soon as we step through. Hrmm... Or we could be tossed into space or... it's too risky. ...You don't die immediatly from Aspyxiation.. * Neydisa sighs. "We don't have any more time... we need to find out if theyve used that Elevator... then the next part is up to Shane..." Rayle: Too bad Joseph ain't 'ere. We could send 'im in first. ...and we could find an air-conjurer, if needbe. I don;'t suppose you can do that? * Allen shakes his head. I could make something that did that, but it would take too long. Should we split in two groups? One to the elevator, one to the gate? Allen, how long is too long? Watcher: Malduc had sustainable environmental controls at one time...its possible that thay're still in effect. «ooc: eh? I'm confused again. » Watcher: Hmm. That's a long way up. I think it would be best to go to the gate generator first if we're going to. Harumm... But how long has it been? ...Yes. I'm with watcher. * Allen grimaces. Well... I'm not going in first. * Allen crosses his arms. If they're in the elevator when we stop the gate... well, we won't have to worry about anything then. And if they're already there? -eldrasia.cv.uk.lunarnet.org:@#warpg- Ellena invited Amy into channel #warpg. *** Amy (ariana@24.248.112.163) has joined #warpg You know... This is where the Earth Golem perished... * Neydisa sighs distantly. "...then we can only hope those old notes are right." * Shane cranes around, looking for a ghostly Golem. ...What's that got to do with anything...? Hrmm... Watcher: That's true. I've never seen any sign of its ruins. ...still, it's not very helpful right now. Was just wondering if the shadow effect could apply to it. ..... . o O ( Guardians...which way is right...? ) If we had a shadow of it, I'd feel alot safer. It was a fortress, if I recall... Look, this isn't the time for wondering. We need to act, or we're going to waste our chance. * Allen nods. Watcher: It seems to primarily affect the tower itself. *shakes his head* If you could alter the direction the generator is firing its flux beam, you might find something else's shadow. That would be a lot of work, though. Uh, I didn't stop, fool. We're still on course, aren't we? Thinking is never a bad idea. * Shane scowls venomously. * Hikaru sighs and rolls his eyes Watcher... please... take us to the generator. It seems the only way we'll know anything for sure. Rayle: 'Ey, ease off. Watcher: Okay...watch your step... «ooc: walks up to Shane and gives him an Utena slap. » «ooc: Wow. Shane's in bitch ass mode. ^^; » >> Watcher gingerly steps into the edge of the crater, sliding down the ashen earth slowly and raising a line of dust behind him. « Shane = Anthy? ^^ » «ooc: Wow. Zathras watches Utena. » «ooc: heehee! » * Ellena sighs softly at Shane and Hikaru, "(w) Not now...not now..." «ooc: The crater is several stories deep at a gradual ioncline. » * Hikaru follows close after, making sure he doesn't become a dustball * Neydisa puts a foot ont he edge of the cater testingly, then slides down after him... «ooc: Okay. Wait. The generator is at the bottom of a crater and that's what controls the gate, which is at the TOP of the tower? » «ooc: Shane's a bit on edge. » «ooc: No, the gate controls itself. However, the gate doesn't exist in this dimension. » «ooc: Shane, for all his bravado, hates knowing he's in immediate peril. » «ooc: The generator itself doesn't have enough power to portal to Malduc directly. » «ooc: Oh, okay. So the generator is keeping the portal open on this side? » «ooc: So it's been slightly altered to shift the shadow dimension here so that they can use the elevator to go the rest of the way. » «ooc: Ahh! » «ooc: okay. » « That's it, yep ^^ » * Ellena tries to follow the others, stepping gingerly. «ooc: And they needed the generator because the elevator only exists in another dimension now. » «ooc: www.verge-rpg.com/~mcgrue/apps/Zelda64.zip » * Allen stands at the lip of the crater. «ooc: Shane! :D My lover!! » *** Ras-logging is now known as Rasis «ooc: If only ;) » «ooc: Rasis! » *** Rasis is now known as Jeff >> Watcher trips, pinwheeling his arms before falling and rolling the rest of the way. He lies at the bottom in a heap for a minute before standing and brushing dust off of himself. «ooc: someone recap ras quick. ^^ » <> * Allen shakes his head slightly, and starts to make his way down. * Neydisa coughs a few times at the dust kicking up, but continues down to the bottom, though she almost teeters as the footing levels off. ^^ Watcher: Hi. I have dust in my mouth. « Jeff! :D » * Hikaru coughs in Watcher's wake, making sure not to trip, himself * Ellena tries not to cartwheel her way down the crater ^^; <> >> Rayle floats effortlessly down on a breeze, alighting on Watcher's tilted hat. «ooc: Hmm. Can someone? I'm kinda occupied. » «ooc: I will. » «ooc: yay » <> It's just a *cough* just a little.. I'm ok. «ooc: ...never mind » * Hikaru sneezes and stumbles a little, trying to keep his balance * Shane proffers her a hankerchief «ooc: Neydisa » *** Amy is now known as AmyReading * Ellena stumbles a bit down the rest of the crater, landing hard on her bottom. ;_; >> After a difficult descent, the group reaches the flat bottom of the crater, walking the remaining distance to the machine. Closer up, its size is noticable -- it stands a full seven feet tall, though the mechanical parts seem to be primarily located around the bottom. * Shane offers Ellena a hand. * Neydisa looks behind her to see if everyone followed safely, taking the hankerchief and getting some of the dust out of her face, handing it to Watcher next. You okay? Rayle: Well, there's the generator. I'm...fine. Thank you. ;) «ooc: er :) » * Ellena takes Shane's hand, and hauls herself up. * Shane looks worried. Shane looks uneasy in general, actually. ...Have faith, Shane... * Shane offers her a hanky as well. Oh! ^^; Thank you... I don't need faith, Ellena. I just need focus... ...The pressure's on me. * Ellena takes the hankie, and wipes some of the dust away, "Perhaps you can have both..." * Hikaru coughs as he slides to the bottom, dusting himself off. * Neydisa looks up in partial awe at the machine standing nearly two feet taller than herself. "So this is the source of all the troubles..." * Shane shrugs. Perhaps. * Shane walks to the machine. * Shane starts examining it, cautiously. Watcher: Hmm. This is a bit beyond even me. Hrmm... rmmm... * Shane 's eyes whir from part to part. * Shane walks around it, cataloging mentally. * Allen has a look at the machine, looking for anything that he could recognize as being magical in origin. Okay... I think... * Allen raises his eyebrow when he notices a few familliar magical designs, but so much of it is foreign to him that he cannot begin to get a grasp on it. * Hikaru looks at the machine and sees a big hunk of metal shooting out various colorful things. He decides to just sit there and be useless, not knowing how to stop the thing short of hitting it with a big heavy rock * Allen mutters, "Hmm, I'd better leave this to more capable hands." * Shane starts concentrating. Anyone magically sensitive can feel a magical aura start to eminate from Shane, an aura of schemtics and logic eminating from the field... * Neydisa runs her eyes over Shane as he inspects things in his meticulous fashion, mind wandering to what the Guardians may have meant for him and this device... * Allen does take a few notes on his rapidly dwindling supply of papers, though. * Ellena also examines the machine closely. «ooc: sorry, deep in msg atm » «ooc: thasscool. » * Jeff stares at the machine, hoping Shane can make far more of it than he can * Shane 's surrounding aura looks like a ghostly image of the machine, and fades out of the visible range as it moves towards the gate-generator. In a few moment's time, all of the unhealthy cluicking and grating dissapates, so that it whirs like a well-running machine. * Shane wipes some sweat from his brow. He looks deep in concentration still. * Allen goes wide-eyed. Watcher: Hmm. You've got some game. * Shane walks slowly to a panel, and punches some keys... The life energy in this place...it's all being drawn into this machine. Odd... * Shane watches as the machine slowly whirs down, and when it stops, he sits down against the machine. * Shane pants. Rayle: Well, it needs life energy to run, right? Looks like there ain't a lot o' that around naturally. ... Monsters and metal... ...that's the most cmplicated machine I've ever tried that with... Shane... are you alright? * Allen offers Shane a hand. ...I guess that's what happens when you start up your own schools of Thaumaturgical thought. * Shane waves allen's hand away politly. >> The machine ceases to run. The beam shrinks, vanishing. The ghost tower remains a moment longer, then vanishes. I just... need a minute. * Allen nods. «ooc: Eheheh, Super Spy Shane » So... * Jeff stares at the tower. «ooc: too much vanishing. Oh well. » Let my mind unwind... * Hikaru looks skyward. "Think we got them?" ...that was... I hope so, 'karu....I really hope so... ...I doubt we are so lucky. Watcher: I've been watching the top of the tower, but there's no way of knowing... Assume the worse. What now? * Shane grunts, standing up. * Hikaru eyes Shane. "Assume the worst? The master made it, and Boomerang's trapped in there...?" Watcher: Well...the worst-case scenario is that they're already on Malduc and can somehow get back from there even without the tower. * Shane pulls a flask from his flask, takes a sip, and grunts. ...or that. Allen... could you warm this? * Neydisa looks up at the space where the Tower once stood. * Hikaru sighs and looks at Ellena.. «ooc: Shane pulls another flask from that flash! » «ooc: flask » * Allen raises an eyebrow. * Ellena glances at 'Karu. 'Lena... Cold coffee is horrible. I thought you might have some heat magery... * Jeff glances at Watcher. "If that's happened... then what?" Er, actually... I'll just find a hotplate, shall I? Does this mean our atsk is done... somehow I still feel uneasy... * Shane places the flask on top of a hot panel. No. We ust assume the worst. * Allen stalks off. Allen, could you start work on an air-artifact? >> Watcher stares up into the sky. "You can almost see the new moon." Allen? Rayle: ...huh. Rayle: Wonder where 'e's goin'. * Shane unfurls his pack, removing some tool packs. * Allen pulls reaches in his pockets, looking for something to enchant while taking his little stroll. «ooc: -pulls. » * Hikaru sighs again. "It's might all getting to be too much.." I'm going to work on repairing the gate. * Neydisa makes an attempt to discern the strength of the Guardian's presence here, to see if the viel has been lifted from it now.... I hope everything is all right...I pray... If we can't get to Malduc with it, we can at least attempt to use it to send anything they bring back straight to the Abyss... Repairing? But if you turned that on again, wouldn't it let them go if they are trapped? ...or maybe just rend half of them to one dimension, and half to another. Watcher: If they are...but if they aren't, it's the best way to follow them. Who knows? This isn't what this machine is meant to be used for...anything could happen. ...Jeff, I can point it wherever I want. I'll repair it, and not use it to make the tower reappear. * Shane pats the Gate. Ah.. all right. You're the expert here. This device is amazing. * Neydisa sighs once shaking her head to herself... * Jeff scratches his head. "At least as much as anyone can be." * Hikaru heads over, placing his hand on Ellena's shoulder. "Don't worry... as long as there's life in these bones, I'll protect you..." The barrier is still in place... whatever's doing it isn't gone. >> Watcher sits down and pulls a soot-covered strip of jerky from his pack. "Ew." He brushes it off a bit and takes a cautious bite. Watcher, do you know enough about dimensional science to help me here? * Allen pulls a small stone with the Geo crest drawn on it out of a pocket. "Hmm." * Ellena tries to smile at Shane, to give him confidence, but there's a nervous quiver around her mouth. The more cooks, the merrier. Watcher: Nnngh. Okay. >> He stands back up again and walks over to Shane. * Shane removes some heavy looking tools. * Shane hefts large leaden objects with a grace that one wouldn't assume from such a small man. * Jeff looks up at the tower again. «ooc: Years of practice with a wrench ;D » «ooc: Tower's not there at the moment. » * Neydisa looks at the new moon in the sky, dterminedly. "The master must still be alive..." * Hikaru sighs once more, watching Shane and Watcher.. idly playing with a few strands of Ellena's hair as he gets lost in thought... «ooc: It went away when he turned the machine off. » Guys, could you watch the perimeter? I don't think they'd really leave this undefended iunless they had to... * Ellena blinks, and turns around to 'Karu with a slightly puzzled expression. ^^; ...I'm a little leary... * Shane grimaces again./ Rayle: We don't know 'ow many of 'em there are, tho'... <> Right, but still.. caution. * Hikaru blinks, taken out of his train of thought. "Hm? Okay..." «ooc: Nah, they were pretty much vaporized when it exploded way back. The ghost pieces are all that's left. » Watcher, shall we dance? * Hikaru glances at Ellena. "Something wrong...?" <> Watcher: Chamred. «ooc: charmed » * Shane nods to the machine, and starts removing panels. No...nothing... ^^; Right... caution... * Shane starts explaining which areas need calibration, from the memory-map in his head remaining from the Sustain. You wanna keep me company while I keep watch for Shane...? Of course. :) * Hikaru smiles distractedly.. "Thanks.." >> Rayle floats off to look for Allen. «ooc: brb » * Allen takes a moment to draw Fray on the other side of the stone. * Neydisa swiftly bears her slim katars, her uneasiness only growing larger... «ooc: keep doing stuff » You're welcome... * Hikaru heads off towards the edge of the crater.. This will do nicely. * Ellena follows 'Karu like a shadow... * Jeff turns away, looking around in a basically random direction. "Shane's right.. why was this unguarded.. unless maybe they were done with it?" * Allen starts to enchant. * Hikaru glances at Jeff. "I don't even want to think about that... that's probably how it happened..." * Shane removes his now-heated flask, and polishes off the coffee in one pull. * Shane gags a little at the end. * Shane looks disgusted, hunches over, and pulls something out of his mouth. ... «ooc: 'eya. » * Shane tosses the flotilla of mold to the ground, spitting. <> *cough* Can't win all of those judgement calls, I guess... * Neydisa takes a few steps forward towards Jeff, guarding Shane with her diminuitive frame. "If anything, we still don't know what else could be out here..." * Hikaru sighs, keeping watch out for anything as he quietly talks. "Hey, 'Lena..." Yes 'Karu? * Jeff nods. "Especially in a place like this." You think we really have a chance...? ...I think so, yes... «ooc: I hate that. » * Hikaru chuckles. "I dunno why...but I don't see it...we're too unorganized..." * Shane swears at the machine like he does on large jobs. Watcher, you got that wire? I think we're doing just fine for fighting something no one has really had experience in before... Watcher: Right here. >> Rayle rests on Allen's head. "Whatcha doin'?" «ooc: How tall are Ellena and Neydisa? » «ooc: Just a random question » * Neydisa mumbles softly, "It's so alien, and so cold without the touch of the Guardians... I don't like this at all. But at least I'm not alone." * Allen looks up from his enchantment. "Enchanting. Getting some time to myself. You?" * Hikaru runs his hand through his hair, looking up at the sky briefly. "Half the time we're too worried about ourselves...You can't protect others when you're protecting yourself... they're just gonna pick us off one by one... or end up taking out the world while we're trying to stop them from doing it..." « ney is about 5'3" ^^ » Rayle: Oh, I'm gettin' some time ta meself too. * Allen nods carefully so as not to dislodge the windrat. I dunno. Everything is so tense. ...I wouldn't assume that. Years ago...three people alone went up against the demons...and survived. We'll survive too. * Jeff looks at Neydisa, and smiles. "No, we're not alone. With all of us here.. we can handle whatever they throw at us." Rayle: This's big stuff. True. * Hikaru mutters quietly. "The bigger a group, the easier it is to take out of commission.." I guess I just don't feel cut out for saving the world. But I'll do what I can. * Ellena takes up 'Karu's hand, "...I'll be there to help you. I'll fight as hard as I can." * Allen waves his hands through the air through the enchantment forms. Rayle: Well, start small an' work yer way up. «ooc: Ellena, how tall are yooou » Yeah. «ooc: *points to the "you must be this___ tall to enter Ka Dingel" sign* » * Hikaru smiles softly, looking at Ellena. "You... th..thank you, 'Lena..." «ooc: Uh...5'4, I think » * Neydisa pushes some hair out of her face, thinking to herself aloud more than speaking to Jeff in particular. "I have to... there's still something I..." «ooc: Heh, this is a party of mostly short people. :D » You're welcome. «ooc: I'm tall! » * Ellena smiles. :) «ooc: I might be 5'3. Actually, hang on. I'll look it up » «ooc: Hahahaha... If Shane knew you two were being googly, he'd be out of commision for thinking. » * Allen starts to intone several magical incantations, concentrating on making this little stone conjure as much air as possible. Watcher: Hmm...it's really pretty amazing they got this machine functional at all without the plans. * Hikaru stares into the distance, running his thumb along the top of Ellena's hand.. "How can you endure this for so long...? I don't think I'd be able to survive what you have, 'Lena.." «ooc: Actually, she IS 5'3. » Watcher: It's not at all simple. « really? i thought you were bigger than me. hrm ^^ » * Jeff falls silent, again looking around for any sign of a threat «ooc: Hence why Hik took the excuse of guarding » I... wonder how they did it actually... ...I don't know anyone professionally who could guess at this kind of work... Although I never want to suffer again....I like the world...I do...I don't want this world to dissapear. It's...worth suffering for, I think, even if I get scared sometimes... ...evem the best machinist or meister would need the plans... >> The island is curiously silent now that the tower has vanished. * Shane tinkers. * Neydisa gazes at Jeff once, her eyes softening, then she peers the other direction. * Hikaru smiles softly at Ellena's words for a fleeting second before looking generally uneasy. "It's quiet. Way too quiet..." Watcher: Whoever it is, they must have gone inside. There wasn't time for people to do this and get out before we arrives. * Allen takes a moment to playfully scritch the windrat's ear before returning to the enchanting. >> Rayle chitters. * Ellena blinks, and nods, "You're right..." * Ellena closes her eyes and concentrates. * Shane looks uneasy. Watcher, maybe we should be looking for explosives... Watcher: Pardon? I don't feel anything different, 'Karu... Just in case this thing is rigged to blow remotly... I know...but.. it's so still.... I can barely even hear the ocean... something isn't right... Watcher: I see. Hmm. Normally I'd've said it'd be too complex, but...what the hell, it's been a weird day. Better make sure everything here is in the plans. * Shane pulls the book. «ooc: Hikaru: My hearing aid is out of batteries! » «ooc: actually... » * Shane pulls the notes from the book. * Shane hands half the sheaf to watcher. Lets go. Remove anything not found in the pans. * Ellena closes her eyes again, "I'll keep trying to feel for something unusual, but I'm not feeling anything right now..." Fix anything you find miscalibrated. * Shane goes into super-tech mode. * Jeff sighs, slipping his hands into the opposite sleeves of his cloak. «ooc: SUPER TECH MODE....MAAAN! » * Neydisa coughs once again, breaking the silence. I know... I don't think it's something out there...it's...I don't know... call it instinct... * Ellena strains, concentrating. * Neydisa mumbles something about dust, then looks back to her companion. "Jeff... can I ask you something?" * Jeff looks over to Neydisa again. "Sure.. what is it?" «ooc: You just did! HAHAHHAHA no seriously what » * Hikaru glances at Ellena.. "Don't overdo it... It could just be me.." When this is over... what are you going to do? I wonder... «ooc: Die. Duh. » <> « ;_; » I... I wonder if something is clouding our sight...? * Jeff frowns. "I'm honestly not sure what'll happen to me.." * Shane looks at watcher. Almost done on my end. «ooc: Sersiously considering summoning Stare Roe ^^ » ...It could be... Ney said something about the guardians' influence being hidden or something... «ooc: ...Then again, there's Shane. :p » ...The only problem is I don't want to upset Shane... * Jeff thinks for a moment, then shrugs, smiling again. "It's in the hands of the Guardians, I guess. If Ge Ramtos sees fit to leave me here for a while afte this is all over.." ....Hm..? <> You know how he gets whenever any Guardian is summoned...Now's not the time to disrupt him... Ah...yeah... he doesn't need to go insane at a time like this. ...Too bad... :/ * Neydisa slowly takes on a sad expression. "You know I trust the Guardians with my life... and I trust them with yours. I hope there's still time for a second chance at things..." «ooc: *chokes* pardon?! I so like driving him mad and making his acne glow in the dark... >) » «ooc: NO! ^^; » * Shane looks up. * Allen is surrounded by a dim glow of light that abruptly fades. He stops enchanting to say, "Well, it's a start." He returns to his incantations and gesticulations. I'm finished, I think... «ooc: I mean too bad...cuz I'd summon him. It's worth wasting a bit of MP for it ^^; » Watcher: It looks good...but...now what? * Shane starts punching diagnostic buttons. Lets run a few tests. * Shane 's paranoia makes him look up. >> Watcher wipes the sweat from his brow, shedding a layer of dirt in the process. Hey, guys.... I'm done. * Jeff keeps smiling, but it's a little sadly now. "Maybe... I don't regret what happened, though. Even if once this is over, that's it... I can know it was worthwhile." Guys? * Shane looks up, and walks to the group. * Allen is too engrossed in what he's doing. * Jeff looks over to Shane. "Already? That was quick." I'm done. Could you all summon that... thing that finds secrets? I'm worried about mines and the such. * Shane smiles at Jeff. I had help. * Hikaru glances at Shane. "I am, too. Something's not right, here..." I'll do it, Shane... * Neydisa nods once, and tries to smile, before her thoughts are broken by Shane. She slowly turns around. "I'm not sure if it will work fully, but with all of us..." I know it hurts me, but I think I'd prefer knowing... I was considering it already...but well... ^^: So, I'll stay present. «ooc: So am I doing it? ^^; » * Shane clenches and unclenches his fists. * Jeff nods slowly. "That might be a good idea.." «ooc: Pose » Here goes... «ooc: Let me work out the cost. » * Shane looks scared, but stands fast like a man. «ooc: Posing...now! » * Ellena reaches down, and scoops up a handful of dirt, dust, and debris from the floor. She opens her hands slightly, and the stuff runs through her fingers, sparkling with light and magic. The debris swirls around her in all directions, creating a sphere around her of magical energy. Truth in the cracks, fib in the mold, darkness in the heart, truth in the sight. Help me, mighty Stare Roe! Help me to see the truth, and stare past the face of lies! « I'll assist if she needs help.. ^^ » * Hikaru kneels, keeping fully alert as Ellena summons the (as usual) odd-looking guardian «ooc: 16 MP. » «ooc: Kay. :) » * Shane 's body clenches a little as the he watches, the pentagram of fingerprints on his face flaring to life, his soul leaving his eyes... * Allen gasps as his enchantment breaks while the Guardian is being called upon. "Jeez, careful." * Shane stands up straight, dead to emotion once more. * Allen mends the break and returns to his work. Watcher: ..huh. Thank you. If everyone would scour the area for glowing incidents, I would very much appreciate it. * Shane looks at Watcher. * Neydisa watches, solemnly, saying a prayer of her own quietly to the mighty Guardian of Truth. Have you noticed something. * Hikaru does so, scouring. >> A bright light illuminates the area, allowing everyone to see clearly what was obscured before. The group sets to looking for anything suspicious while the Guardian's power lasts. * Jeff bows his head briefly. Watcher: I've noticed lots of somethings. Anything in particular? Which made you proclaim the expression of wonder a few moments prior. <> * Shane 's voice is, as always in Stillwater, even and cold. «ooc: low. » <> «ooc: I thought High was the cool thing! » «ooc: Then you guys help me ;) » «ooc: I assumed I did high ^^; » <> «ooc: High destroys illusions. Low lets you see through them. » «ooc: Low also doubles Per, which is good. » «ooc: we don't need high until we identify, then. » <> «ooc: Whoa! Per-god! :D » * Ellena looks out for anything suspicious, and concentrates. «ooc: /me can see all of your underwear! » «ooc: I kinda expected you to use that during the minigame. » * Neydisa fans out... eyes open and aware... «ooc: /me isn't wearing any » * Shane waits stiffly for Watcher's reply. « heh.. aww.. it wouldn't have been fun then ^^ » * Allen keeps on enchanting, oblivious to the search going on. * Jeff walks around as well, looking carefully at basically everything he can find Enigmatic one. If you would reply I can return to the tests. We have much to do still. This...is incredible... «ooc: I didn't really parse shane's question. » «ooc: Shane asked "What made you say "huh", dude?" » «ooc: Oh » There's powerful magic being used here...Like the force of controlled life... ...Say what...? Watcher: Hmm? Oh. I don't see a lot of summonings. "Controlled life....?" Oh. Controlled life...magic that is tied to life itself... * Shane walks to the machine, and starts testing it and turning it up slowly. ....Meaning we can't just get rid of it...? I'm not sure... Ellena. That would make sense. The machine needs life, and this isn't exactly a haven of it. Desolate. >> The dimensional bubbles can now be more clearly seen to be areas in which the rules of space and time function differently...aside from that, though, there are no clear illusions, no secrets hidden. Rayle: Sounds like somethin' from that whatchamoo place. The lab. ... * Neydisa frowns slightly. "Controlled life... but to what end? To feed the machine?" Neydisa. Do you think it's safe enough to bring the bird near here so we can remove the machine? >> Hikaru glories in briefly having a perception rating that doesn't suck! «ooc: ...er, ignore that. » <<*laughs*>> <> «ooc: HEY! ;) » * Neydisa titls her head to Shane. "I can see the distortions.. but there's not much power left..." In the Bird? I have another cel. We should remove the machine to a safe location with a lot of life. A tropical island is my bet. Watcher: Let's hope there aren't any goons left to come looking for it. Filgalia has a tropical island? O_o * Hikaru glances at Shane. "Maybe.. does it drain life or just exploit it...?" «ooc: FILGAiA, even » «ooc: PARANOiA » It uses the ebb and flow of life. Very efficient and non-destructive. «ooc: FUcK » «ooc: ;) » It's like a water-wheel. Rayle: Ain't we near th' Isle o Conflict? That oughtta do if we can keep people off our backs. * Shane nods. * Neydisa shakes off a nagging doubt, but she tries to trek back to the Bird. "I'll do what I can..." ...Hm...Adlehyde or the Isle of Conflict seem like the best choices... <> Adlehyde is fairly desolate. We need a dense forest, potentially with game to kill if we need the blood magic... «ooc: a mile or so. » « I was just stating I was going to start retracing our steps. ^^ » * Allen shivers. ... ...The Isle of Conflict is ideal. ...there are more than just animals dying there. ...Jolly thought. Energy is energy. Neydisa.. do you want me to come with you? It might not be the best idea to go by yourself.. just in case. ...unfortunately, that's the truth. And we need a lot. >> Neydisa begins the rather difficult task of climbing out of the dusty crater. The going is rather more difficult on the way up, as the slope offers little purchase, but eventually she makes it. * Hikaru nods.. Perhaps we can purchase the freshly slain from Pegguchi. * Shane has been quite reasonable in tone this whole conversation. «ooc: >:D » * Hikaru glances at Shane. "Or perhaps if we're desperate, I could actually have some sort of purpose in this little endeavour. * Ellena doesn't like this conversation at all. :/ * Neydisa huffs and coughs a few more times, surmounting the crater's edge. "Come on then Jeff..." Watcher: Well, we'll worry about buying dead people later. Right now we've just got to see if we can get this thing on the Bird. Actually.... ...one moment. * Jeff nods, and tries to catch up to Neydisa Neydisa. Please wait. * Shane fiddles with the controlls. * Neydisa pauses, offering a hand to Jeff up, calling down. "What..?" * Shane punches a few buttons. * Shane watches the gate hum. This should save effort... Shane...what are you doing? * Allen loses concentration. Saving time. A sound test. * Hikaru blinks. "A what..?" >> The lens tilts to face Neydisa, firing a ray of rippling air that passes by her, opening a rift in the air behind her with a "pop". The Bird is visible directly through the rift, like a doorway. * Neydisa reels a second startled. * Allen stands up and walks over to Shane, gritting his teeth. «ooc: * Shane fools around and decides to play Super Spy Shane, fiddling with the volume and going wheee! » * Jeff stops dead and stares. "Incredible.." Rayle: Neat trick. G..Guardians... Pass through it. Could you truly go anywhere..? I shall open a wider door to taxi through when you're in. * Hikaru is taken aback a bit. "Woah... it's just like you keep describing it... You'd think that a crater in the middle of nowhere would be quiet and ideal for enchantment, but with Guardians popping in and out, and ancient machines warping the flux of magical energies, I can't concentrate! I'll open this end right there. * Allen looks mad enough to hit someone. * Shane points to a large clearing. Allen...calm... «ooc: Poor Allen » * Neydisa looks to Jeff one time, then back at the rift. She holds her breath as if by reflex and takes a step into it... * Allen wheels on Ellena, "I'm trying to help! What do I get? Distracted beyond conceivablility! * Shane turns slowly to allen. * Ellena steps back a bit, "I'm sorry, Allen...we're just all trying to do our part!" >> For a single moment, Neydisa's body seems to stretch to an infinite length, as though she's a thousand places at once. Then, suddenly, she snaps back into her body wirh a dizzying rush, finding herself directly outside the Metal Bird in front of a portal leading back. My apologies, enchanter. Your skills are vital, but so are our actions. Look, I'm sorry. It's not your fault. * Shane turns back at that comment. * Neydisa exhales, positively shocked. * Allen grimaces, finally realizing how worked up he's gotten. * Hikaru sighs, tugging his hat over his eyes... "This is what I was talking about.." I.. I.. agh, dammit. * Allen stalks off again. Watcher: ...see, you've gotta be mellow. * Ellena shakes her head sadly. * Shane closes the gate after the transaction is complete, and starts to open another one, one door in front of the bird, the other on the other side of the gate. * Neydisa looks behind her into the warped space, assuring everyone she is unharmed. >> She finds herself staring back at Jeff, despite his beind a mile away. «ooc: being » .o( Maybe I shouldn't think about the power Shane has now... ) «ooc: I read that as, "she finds herself staring at Jeff's behind" » «ooc: or how he was casually talking about defiling the dead a few seconds ago? » * Jeff looks through in amazement until Shane closes the gate, then starts back down, shaking his head and murmuring to himself. "Amazing.." * Neydisa looks back at the Bird, and sets about preparing it, hoping the time damage wasn't too severe... ^^ <> . o O ( So much power Shane has now...is it right? ) «ooc: *Shane opens a gate to the Dimension of Ecchi. » «ooc: Ellena is yoda » «ooc: heh! » «ooc: ^^ She's got the ears. » « ^^; » >> Luckily, most of the harm was superficial -- neydisa is able to get it in flying shape, though she can see it needs a full refit eventually. «ooc: the great thing about Emotionless Shane. No Ellena-Angst. » «ooc: Ellena looks at Shane. A few brethless moments pass....Ellena: Big penis you have! Yes! Hmmm! » <> «ooc: How did you get penis so big eating food like this? » «ooc: /me was just laughing like a dork at the Taxi comment. Ask Zath ;) » «ooc: indeed! » * Neydisa pats the side of the control panel once as if to reassure the vessel of better days ahead, and powers up the engines with what she can muster. She looks for the opening Shane has hopefully created... * Shane stares through the wide gate at the bird. >> With the aid of the gate, she can simply roll the bird to where it's going without needing to actually take to air. I find it intresting that these doors are not parallel in real space, yet they are here. Distance and orientation have no meaning to the gate. * Neydisa makes sure there is no distortions directly ahead of the trajectory, and taxis it into the gate carefully... * Ellena watches Neydisa in awe. ^^; Watcher: The whole thing makes me a bit uneasy. «ooc: Heh, there's that taxi again » * Allen massages his temples, all the errant magical activity is giving him a headache. « poor allen :( » The power is amazing. Imagine. If you saw an army approaching, you could open a gate underneath them on one side, and above the ocean on the other. ...and that would be the most charitable location. ...Shane, now's not the time to get corrupted by power.. * Shane turns to Hikaru. * Shane 's face dots pulse. If a nation had access to something like this... Corruption is not a factor. This is merly a fact. They'd be unstoppable, Jeff. Jeff sees the dilemma. This is why we cannot bring this to even Adlehyde. Watcher: That's the weird part. It's hard to think what they hope to accomplish by going to malduc that they couldn't just using it on its own. * Hikaru glances at Shane. "So do I...it's far too powerful to be used safely... I see your point..." Especially without knowing where the Queen-apparent is. I trust that this device will be dismantled once we're finished with it. * Ellena sighs, twiddling her fingers. Watcher, wasn't Malduc the home of the..metal demons...? * Jeff nods slowly. "Who could we trust with something like this? And where could we keep it safely. If people knew about this.." It will be dangerous at the isle, but perhaps we can use the chaos to our advantage.... * Hikaru slows his talking as he mutters. "Oh bloody hell..." 'Karu? Watcher: Not precisely. They lived there at certain periods, but it's unknown where they came from originally. ...I am the only one who can operatate this device, appart from our adversary. I will become the Gatekeeper. * Hikaru shakes his head. "Don't worry. It's nothing." This gate will let me travel the stars. * Allen raises an eyebrow at Hikaru. ...And I will leave. That puts you in a lot of danger, Shane, if people found out.. * Ellena gives Shane a weird look. * Shane looks down at the panel. « And Elena is my Keymaster! ;) » ...It's best that way. «ooc: heh! » «ooc: I KNEW SOMEONE WAS GONNA MAKE THAT COMMENT ;) » «ooc: I almost DID. » I get my dream. Filgaia is safe. Everyone can be happy. Rayle: I'd say we're past the "in a lotta danger" phase 'ere. * Shane turns around slowly, still speaking in calm tones. * Allen starts to crawl up the side of the crater. * Hikaru glances at Rayle. "For now." True enough. But when this is over, I shall take the machine far away from here. . o O ( Something about this doesn't settle right with me...why? ) That.. might be best, Shane. .oO{ I leave. He stays with her. And I... can forget myself in the stars... } * Shane nods to Jeff. * Jeff looks a little uncertain. «ooc: WE ARE HERE TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE TERRIBLE SECRET OF SPACE » * Hikaru mutters... "Hell...something's wrong...I feel it... I can't place it, though..." But at any rate, we need to save filgaia. Building a ship will take years, and I must preserve the planet until then. This is simply logic. Shall we move the machine to the bird? * Allen struggles over the edge and finds someplace comfortable to sit while resuming his enchantment. « I assume I amde it through ok? » * Hikaru nods to Shane. «ooc: yeah. I'm gonna fast forward to getting the machine inside, if that's OK. » « no problems here. ^^; » * Shane powers down the gate so it can be moved >> The guardian enchantmenty gradually wears off. «ooc: Yes indeed! » «ooc: Yes indeed! *WHACK WHACK WHACK& » «ooc: ^_^;;; » «ooc: O_o » * Shane sighs as Stillwater leaves his face. «ooc: LOL I WAS THINKING OF THAT AS I TYPED IT » * Shane looks very, very sad now. >> With the exercise of quite a bit of muscle, the group manages to load the machine onto the Bird, though the lens has to be removed and placed beside it to provide enough clearance to fit. «ooc: shane is a sad space panda » * Shane sits in the corner with the lens, looking a bit spaced out. « heh. ^^ » * Ellena keeps a very close eye on Shane. «ooc: Ellena: Looney bin time1 » * Shane examines it ponderously, but he looks distracted. * Hikaru gnaws on his lower lip, eyes closed, trying to place what's wrong... * Neydisa patiently awaits the loading to complete, hoping that the flight will not be too perilous this time... she carefully makes adjustments for a short hop southwards, to the Isle of Conflict. Watcher: So...leaving again. I hope we made the right decision. *sighs* We'll want to head for the eastern side of the Isle, a bit away from the coast. The area is quite verdant, and we won't arouse anyone's ire by flying in so far from a settlement. I agree... I've heard stories of Pegucci's armies... * Jeff nods, smiling faintly. "We don't need to go looking for trouble.. we have enough of our own." «ooc: We ending? » «ooc: ??? » So early? «ooc: why? » «ooc: OOC! » «ooc: I dunno. It just seems like it O_o » * Neydisa looks troubled by more than just the thought of an army, but nevertheless lifts off from Ka Dingel, into the skies above the belak landscape. * Allen sits on the broken plain, pouring over his enchantment. « er bleak ^^ » «ooc: LOL WE'RE LEAVING ALLEN BEHIND » « aclk o_O » «ooc: O_o Uh, Allen? Aren't you in the ship!? » «ooc: oh, we took off? » «ooc: LOL YES! ^^ » «ooc: ...eheh » « I asusmed so... ^^; » «ooc: not yet » «ooc: I thought we were still stting on the ground. » « nuke my comment then. » «ooc: But we'd all be waiting for you at this point. :D » «ooc: yeah. Allen is sitting outside, not paying attention. » Rayle:'Ey Allen! Light a fire under yeh! «ooc: BRB » * Allen looks up. "Hmm?" * Allen notices the bird and no one hanging around and jumps up, "Yikes! Hey, wait for me!" * Allen dashes back to the ship. «ooc: OK, NOW we have Neydisa's comment » « hehe. i shall also grab some water. one second. :) » * Shane stands up after securing the lens, and sits in a seat, quiet./ «ooc: sorry about that. I was typing what I was doing while Ney was typing lifing off. » «ooc: OK, I'm going to pause here.... » * Allen finds a seat as far away from everyone else as he can and resu- --PAUSE!-- ... okay. --RESUME!-- >> The Metal Bird sits quietly in the jungle clearing, birds and insects reclining on its wings and roof. Everything is quiet save for the sounds of nature and Shane's tinkering. The rest of the party sits about, fitfully preparing and waiting. «ooc: My tinkering is my nature! ;D » «ooc: ... » « Ah there's the mating call of the red bellied Shane » «ooc: LOL » * Hikaru has already checked his items, and not wanting to bother Ellena too much, just idly nudges the ground with his sword, bored * Ellena quietly looks above her to the canopy of jungle foiliage. «ooc: My belly insn't red. It's tawny and cute! » «ooc: ^_^ » * Jeff is sitting on the ground with his legs crossed, leaning against a tree. * Shane soldiers some wires together in a fit of sparks. * Neydisa has taken to sitting on the roof of the Metal Bird, staring up and thinking deeply about things... >> Rayle alights next to Neydisa. ""Ey." * Ellena whispers, more to herself, "It's so beautiful here..." * Neydisa hangs her head a bit, some blue acscading down it, as she looks to the windrat nearby with a confused expression. Rayle: Whatcha thinkin' 'bout? .oO(Yeah. Beautiful. So are certain types of predators...right before they eat you.) * Shane sits back down with his sliderule and notes... «ooc: God Hikaru! ;) » Rayle... I can't help but think about what Shane told me once... Rayle: Oh? «ooc: Is that in reference to Shane? >:D » «ooc: ...is double-penetration *really* that fun? » «ooc: No, actually » «ooc: he has a point. The jungle is full of vicious predators and deadly poisonous animals. » «ooc: See the yellow bellied shane. So handsome. So bishoden. See him bite off the female mate's head. » «ooc: *chokes on his Dew* » «ooc: Hehe. I know. But that could be anywhere, really. » «ooc: mmm... Shane likes getting head ;) » * Allen looks up from his enchantment for a moment. "Well, Shane, I hope you don't plan on getting to the new moon for a quite some time. Or let's hope there's air on the moon after all." * Shane looks up. Watcher: There could be. I'm constantly amazed by how ancient technology holds up... How 'quite some time' are we talking? * Neydisa looks aside. "About his past, about why the Guardians sem so intent on watching him..." * Hikaru is lifted out of his angstythoughts by Allen's voice. "Having problems with the enchantment...?" * Allen sighs. "Weeks." hrmm... well, if it comes to it, weeks are better than never... ...how about enough air for just me, though? I could reduce the scope of the enchatment... Just you? If need be, I could go alone, and turn on the air supply, feasably? * Allen furrows his brow. So it need only be enough air for one... Shane, if there are things there living, it wouldn't be safe for just one person... Yeah, how long for one-man units? * Allen considers. Rayle: Watchin' 'im? Hikaru, if it's from the first demon war, I don't think the danger will be less for 10 over 1. ...... Shane.. I.. hrm. If I enchanted something that was small enough to put in your mouth, perhaps it could... but no, that won't deal with lack of air pressure. In fact, I'm probably best suited to be there alone, seeing as I'm intimate with relic-tech... you'd all just be in peril. * Hikaru sighs. * Ellena frowns. Watcher: There's a problem besides air. * Allen mumbles to himself as he tries to figure out a better solution. Allen, we could get a diving suit for pressure, as long as there was an out-valve for the exces air. Besides... we won't know about the exact situation until we run the test... * Allen looks at Watcher with a questioning glance. We don't even know if we can reach it. * Hikaru glances at Watcher. "There's a lot of problems besides air." There's a lot of problems in general. And I don't plan on dying... Watcher: It's forgivable not to realize since you've never been there, but space is terribly cold. If Malduc's systems are off, it will be too. *he sighs* On the upside, it means whomever's behind this can't either. * Neydisa looks back to Rayle. "I still don't know if it's true, but apparently Shane has a power that they fear... yet it seems he's the only one who can ultimately save Filgaia with it and this machine." Wait, so the master behind all of this may have already frozen to death? Watcher: Anything's possible. * Allen chuckles. Allen, so... * Hikaru chuckles lowly. "That'd be morbidly ironic, wouldn't it?" ...what I really will need is a enchanted presurized diving suit, with heating and air. ...are we back to a few weeks? * Allen blinks. Shane.. if you want, I could come with you after Allen makes one of those things.. assuming it's not freezing solid, anyway. I don't know how I'd deal with the cold, but I can go without air.. Really? ..oh... ...right. * Shane looks a little unnerved at that realization. * Ellena blinks a bit at Jeff, "...Hmm. I guess you could...." ...so, you really are dead? Shane, I don't know about enchanting a diving suit to do all of that. * Hikaru sighs. "I thought we went over this." * Jeff sighs. "...yeah." Why don't we rely upon technology for.. for.. no one's listening to me. ... * Allen goes back to his enchantment. * Neydisa continues, "I want to put all my faith in him, but I'm still so uncertain where he rests with them. I hope he can find out one day..." ...you know, that's really, really weird. * Shane reaches to touch Jeff. May I? * Hikaru glances at Allen. «ooc: AGHAIUGHVWIOUSHOU » «ooc: NO YAOI » «ooc: Shane: may I...fondle you!? » «ooc: slash » «ooc: ... » * Jeff blinks. "Er.. go ahead.." * Shane touches Jeff's forearm. «ooc: Flowers and feathers suddenly appear. » «ooc: is he warm? » Rely on technology for the pressurizing and heating...? «ooc: Jeff is actually quite slashable from a fangirl perspective » «ooc: LOL » * Allen looks up at Hikaru. <> ...odd... * Shane digs into his pack for a small mirror. That what you were going to say? «ooc: Ask Nadia, rasis » Well, he's warm... «ooc: Shane: He's a vampire! » <> Jeff, could you hold this under your nose? Under my... all right. Yeah. I doubt several enchantments could coexist, and not end up frying the person or hyperventiating him. «ooc: * Shane gives Jeff the coffee mold » * Neydisa wraps her arms around her legs, and watches the goings on below. "I feel he's doing the right thing, though... that's what's important right now. It's... all we have." * Jeff looks puzzled, but takes the mirror This would have to be done very carefully. «ooc: is it steaming up? » So if we rely upon technology and magic at the same time, it'll work better. «ooc: one sec » * Shane nods. * Allen points to the machine. "It's how that works, so.." * Ellena quietly watches the proceedings. >> The mirror fogs slightly at Jeff's breath. In every way, he seems alive. Okay Allen. We'll discuss the exacting details after we know the situation. * Hikaru nods. "This is probably going to take more than a few days, no matter how you slice it..." >> Rayle floats back down. Do you want me to keep working on this, Shane? Jeff, you do realize you're breathing... * Allen holds up the conjure Air stone. ...how do yuo know you won't need air? Rayle: 'Ere we go with the pokin' an' proddin'. * Allen looks at Rayle. I mean... you think you're dead, but you seem pretty damn alive... It's.. kind of complicated. * Shane nods. * Jeff sighs, and slips his hands into the sleeves of the opposite arms, closing his eyes for a second or two Well... You're welcome to come... ... * Allen shakes his head and puts the stone in his pocket, reading over some of his old notes. * Jeff opens them back up, looking at Shane. >> Rayle sits on Jeff's head. odd... ...you're paler... * Shane feels his arm again. >> it's still warm, but a bit less so. * Jeff blinks as Rayle lands. «ooc: imagines a stylized rose spinning in the foreground. » * Neydisa looks down at Jeff, wondering about him... Jeff... that's *really* weird. I'll take your word on the breathing. «ooc: WHY? O_o » Believe me, I know. «ooc: Utena. ;) » Rayle: Yer th'one with dots on yer face. «ooc: Duh » The.. guradians.. gave me a way to.. feign being alive? ... That's not exactly the right word. Because I guess I am, but I'm still not. I don't really understand how it works. * Shane looks at Rayle. The... Guardians... did that to me as well. <> <> I guess they didn't want me going... ...I guess they want me to do their bidding, and I don't know how I feel about that. ... * Neydisa closes her eyes, getting a slight shiver despite the warm environ. Shane.. Rayle: Would you rather be wiggin' out? ...Shane... .o( So much I don't understand... I don't want to think I'm some tool of the Guardians... I owe them everything... ) ...Forgive my having no faith, but there must be a very good reason why I react like that... ...I don't think I'm insane, you see. * Shane smiles wryly... «ooc: Grgh. I'm going to have to leave soon. Noisy in the dorms :p Neighbors are cleaning their room with the NOISIEST vaccum EVER » ...and if they 'fix' me so I can tolerate them, because I'm *useful*... well, I'm not sure how to take any of thar... «ooc: Hmm. I can actually end around here. I was gonna end when Shane was ready to do the thing, so it's either end now or do talking for longer. » There must be a reason, yeah. I can't explain why the Guardians do things, but.. desperate times call for desperate measures? Ge Ramtos seemed to think something very big was coming.. Rayle: Well, I don't pretend to know any o' that. «ooc: Theys topped. Keep going » «ooc: Why don't they tell us, if we're their tools. » Rayle: But it seems ta be, if ya have a gift, it doesn't matter why you got it, only what you do wit' it. «ooc: why not tell us, unless none of us really would want to do it? » ... Why not tell us, unless none of us really would want to do it? «ooc: could be. could be they don't trust you, too. » Why don't they tell us, if we're their tools. «ooc: revrse thatr. » «ooc: ah » ... .o( A higher purpose behind everything... why Jeff came back, why Shane's been gvien the marks, why I'm here, now, thinking and seeing these things... they are guiding in an infinite wisdom towards a greater end we just can't see. ) Shane, do you NOT want to save the world? * Jeff looks a little troubled. "I don't think they know exactly what's going to happen.." * Ellena snaps her attention to Allen. ... Watcher: ...heh. All this metaphysics doesn't mean a thing to me. I've never heard of the Guardians being terribly forthcoming, though. * Hikaru blinks. "Pardon.....?" It seems unlikely that we'd be able to do much. But whether or not the Guardians are helping shouldn't matter. >> Watcher trails off. So let's just do what we can and let the cards fall where they will. * Jeff nods to Watcher, being careful not to dump Rayle off. "True.. I don't think anyone really understand them.." * Neydisa sighs, resting her head against her knees. .o( I just hope I can keep going to find out how this ends... ) * Allen blinks. Shane, do you have an extra set of clothing? «ooc: Hmm. I think I'll end around now anyhow, if that's okay. » Yeah, sure... ...Formal or work? «ooc: That's fine. :) » «ooc: heh. » * Shane turns back to the Shamans... Shane? ...I think I liked life before I knew that there were gods whom were real. I'll enchant it to bring a pocket of our atmosphere with it, so we can check it out. * Shane nods to Allen. * Ellena frowns at Shane, but says nothing. * Allen writes a few notes, trying to work it out in his head. Watcher: *chuckles ruefully* I know that feeling. I... I could've been very happy knowing there was nobody manipulating me that I couldn't manipulate back. I could've been very happy being my own god. >> The hobo scratches his head, hanging his hat off a metal spoke on the machine. * Jeff shrugs a little. "I trust them... I'm their tool, yes... but of my own will." I...I agree with Jeff. * Jeff smiles. "They can't manipulate you if you choose to follow them freely." Then that was your choice. But I didn't choose to do their bidding. I was manipulated... * Hikaru glances at Shane. .oO(Your own god...something fundamentally wrong with that. I won't argue it though..) ...if not by the Guardians... then by something else... * Ellena looks down. «ooc: Hik, personal philosophy. You should always be your own god. » «ooc: ..Yes! I did it! I manipulated you Shane! All I had to do was look cute! CUTE! And you were MINE » «ooc: of course, that's also what the canonized CoL says. » «ooc: I know. Hik doesn't share it » Rayle: Well. I'm not really sure what ter say to yer. I've always pretty much accepted that most thin's in life'd be outta me control. S'not so bad, not bein' on top of every situation. Well, I don't know what to think anymore. I just plain need more information... Half of the point of life, I think, is to discover things on your own. I'm sure the Guardians, if they using us as tools, will not keep us in the dark for much longer if they know. Theya re not vindictive... ...and I swear on my father's grave, when we're in less clear and present danger, I'm going to get to the bottom of all of this. «ooc: are using, even ^^ » Right, Ellena. I owe them my lif-.. well.. my.. «ooc: Pardon me. I need to take care of something » * Jeff shrugs helplessly. "My whatever. I trust them... even if they can't tell us everything." >> Watcher scans the sky, where the New Moon is faintly visible, banked by clouds, in the light of the slowly setting sun. "I'm hoping we'll get all the information we need...once we get up there." If the guardians haev granted me the ability to withstand their presence, I'm going to use it to go before them and find out what's going no. If they need us so much, we deserve answers. * Shane sets down his pad, and looks up. I warrant it's time to test. She's moving into position... Everyone, find something sturdy to hold onto, out of the way... >> Watcher braces himself. * Allen wraps his arms around a tree a few meters off. * Ellena nods, and walks to another tree, and holds on tightly. * Allen pokes his head around the side to watch. * Ellena does likewise. ^^ * Jeff stands and braces himself against the tree he was leaning against. >> Rayle lands on Hikaru's shoulder and bears down; * Allen grins, expecting this to be pretty cool. * Neydisa looks up from her perch, and scrambles down to something secure.. *> HIkaru grabs onto a tree. * Shane stands alone in front of the machine, feet braced, one hand in a death-grip on a handle, the other on a switch. * Shane looks around? Ready? Yep! Go for it! 5... 4... 3... 2... Watcher: Let's hope those environmental controls are working. Um, and that our calculations were correct. >_< 1... * Shane hits the switch. --SESSION END-- Session Close: Sun Nov 04 21:55:16 2001