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April 8 , 2004 | |
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Plains Outside Vrokk City...
This is a wide-open plain covered with metallic-looking grass, tinted a slight blue. Above, the sky burns red-black like a scattering of hot coals. Set against the sky to the east lies Vrokk City itself, a towering gothic gear-like structure composed of twisted black metal and concrete. Thudding music and the grinding of gears emanates from the city, as though the monstrous clockwork it seems to be a part of still works, turning still behind the black walls.
As you trek over the plains of Vrokk, in the distance is the figure of a woman. Auburn haired and claid in fine linked chain and leather. About her, a multitude of spider-like machines that stand no more then six inches in height.
Nemi pauses in her trek across the plain to observe the woman and her mechanations.
A blue white spike of energy protrudes from the woman's fist. She flails the spike at the spider creatures as their fragile looking arachnid legs scurry to and fro, darting at her quickly and then retreating just as readily. Those that are fortunate enough to get close to her discharge an electric bolt in her direction. She winces in pain at each assault.
Nemi studies the scene, leaning against her staff. She rolls her neck making up her mind to help the woman or not.
A small red eye sits atop the body of these creatures, roaming the area. The auburn haired lady thrusts the energy spike into one machine as it leaps from the ground and thrusts itself in her direction. It falls, abruptly, to the ground. In but a moment it rises. The small red eye now glowing blue, it turns on the nearest red eyed monstrosity and attacks.
Nemi's eye narrow at this. Interesting... She decides that maybe she should aide this one..." She lowers her travel pack and lays aside her staff. Drawing her twin guns. She closes the distance between her and the valiant women.
The woman is accosted from the rear as two more creatures fire their bolts at her back and into her thigh. She drops to her knees, teeth clenched. The energy spike dissipates and her right hand goes outstretched.
At the same time, the single blue eyed machine disengages itself from its assault on its companion who now dons a single blue eye atop it's body. The two units target adjacent red eyes and attack.
Nemi begins targets the red eyes nearest the woman. She begins to run now, aiming for the eletric red lights. He aim is true and her trigger fingers quick on the release.
The spider creatures are quickly dispatched when fired upon by Nemi. A number of Red Eyes quickly redirect their attention on the lithe woman as she charges.
The woman mutters something inaudible amidst the fray and the opaque white stone at her wrist flashes brilliantly.
Nemi doesn't pause taking aim at the nearst one. She turns, and moves side ways aacross the field still firing one gun for those near the woman and one for those near her. Pause.. Shoot. Reposition.. Shoot Reposition. Two quick shots ejects clip slide clip home fire.
More Blue Eyes. And though their numbers seem to increase at an exponential rate, the Red Eyes still outnumber them twenty to one. Nemi's efforts draw a frenzy of response in her direction as the creatures begin the same dance for her, darting to and for, waiting for an opportunity to get close enough to discharge a bolt in her direction.
The auburn haired woman makes a meek effort at detaching the Reds from her body as they dive atop her. The white stone at her wrist pulses slowly...
Nemi keeps up her ritual. Leading the red eyes away from the woman. Her next pause. She see the blue eyes have grown and begins formulating a plan... After her next reload. She begins moving towards the blue eyes.. leading her red eye into the path of the blue eyes.
Nemi's actions seem to have the desired effect. The Blue Eyes are placed between she and the Reds and they quickly accost the Reds, turning them with a single discharged bolt.
The woman on her knees grunts meekly. From her wrist the white stone ceases its rhythmic pulsing as a wave of energy is dispersed outward. It is felt, deep in the chest, rather then heard or seen. A low rumble like a pulse wave, washing over the plains.
The machines freeze and, in a heartbeat, begin to fall, one by one. Reds and Blues, in a heap.
Nemi stops firing and begins to scan looking for the rogue one who doesn't get the message.. There is always one in a crowd. Not seeing one she begins to make her guarded way towards the woman.
Yosannah supports herself on her hands and knees. Her breath comes quickly, she is disheveled, weak and weary. Her head lifts to regard the woman as she nears, hair fallig over her face. "... thank you," she exhales.
Nemi holsters her guns and quickly kneels down to help Yo up. "Its what we friendly sort do... help the needy." She quickly glances about for signs of activity. "You live around here?
Yosannah takes Nemi's hand, looking her over as she slowly attempts to rise. It is clear that she is physically drained. "Not... in this place. I'm visiting."
Silver studied forearm guards are joined to Nemi's snug fitting leather bodice by puffy translucient black sleeves. The cut and overall practical look of her ensemble screams fashionable feminine body armor. Her steel-toed calf high boots and leather-like gloves follow the same vein.
Nemi says "How did you turn those things off?"
Yosannah stands with the woman's help but she is hunched over, hands on her knees, inhaling and exhaling with deep breaths. "I didn't... at least not for good... I shifted the technology of this place... the level of functioning AI."
Nemi says "Then Perhaps we would be best to not be here when they wake back up." She studies Yo. "You know of the Courts and the True city?"
Yosannah nods her head to indicate 'Yes'. It is her only response.
Nemi says "Then I can offer you a way out. I've a card or two... If you can't travel."
Yosannah nods again, agreeable, "... thank you. I don't think I have the strength to concentrate."
Nemi says "I've a card to that bar or I could try Riva, if you know of her?"
"The bar is fine. But we had better get going..."
Nemi nods and takes the card she had tucked under her belt. She holds it up. "Then let us leave this place.
Yosannah wets her lips then extends her hand.
Later...
To the image of Lisle, Yosannah says "Hello, Lisle."
The image of Lisle is in a garden somewhere. She says, "Good evening, Yosannah. Have some time to talk? I had some ideas."
To the image of Lisle, Yosannah nods. She appears worn and weary, but otherwise in good spirits, "Absolutely. I'll come to you." She holds out her hand, expectantly.
The image of Lisle says, "I cannot bring you here, for I am in my Aunt's garden and she would be powerfully put-off if I brought anyone there without her express permission. Can I come to you?"
To the image of Lisle, Yosannah nods again indicating 'Yes'.
Gideon Club - Conservatory...
Lisle steps through, in jeans, a sweatshirt tied around her waist.
Yosannah is not so casual. She wears a fine chain shirt and her leather pants are gashed about her legs. She intones, "I tested its magics, Lisle." She forces a thin smile from her lips, "We've done quite a thing."
Lisle looks Yosannah over, from crown to toe. Her hand slip casually into her jeans pockets, and she wonders out loud, "And I wonder what it does. I mean, I know what my own strand did, but its interaction? That is the stuff of dreams. How is our moon ring?"
Yosannah slides the item from her wrist and holds it out and up. Peering at the thing with a technical eye she offers, "It is incredible. To say the least." She extends it to Lisle so that the Princess might inspect the thing if she so desires, "But it's use has worn on me. Drained me. I wonder if that might be an unfortunate side effect of the interaction and joining of such powerful forces." She wets her lips, "It's use is dangerous, Lisle."
Lisle takes the wrist ring, holding it outward in the palm of one hand, palm flat, studying it carefully. She, too, has a technical eye, and the cataract milky white of a lens just produced. It can be seen fainly, hovering near her shoulder. "You are worn," she says, her voice holding the same wonder as before. "Indeed, for it is impossible to bind -- or at least I -think- it impossible -- to bind things together, but these braids, they are a different thing all together." Turning her eyes on Yo again, she says, "Tell me what you found."
Yosannah crosses her arms over her chest, her gaze remains on the thing, "The power you conjured into your strand is of a temporary nature. It made a minor alteration to the functional level of AI in the shadow of Vrokk." She bites at her lower lip and shakes her head, "But it seemed to draw from my own energy when the power was dispersed. And after that, I was in no condition to risk using it a second time so soon after."
Yosannah adds, "I'll need some rest before I'll risk using it again."
Lisle's blonde brows lift, "That potent? I tell you, changing the nature of a shadow is a difficult thing. This is terribly interesting. And do tell me, what do your own two strands do?"
"The first, the sorcerous strand, I drew from the energies in the room as we were doing our work. It is force, the power of the winds. The second I imbued with the protective nature of the tarots. Technically, it should sustain that force around the wearor." She shrugs her lithe shoulders, "Though, as I said, I didn't feel comfortable testing either of them so soon."
Lisle says, "Well we shall certainly have to test them. Yosannah, I do believe this is quite remarkable. For the next ring I think we should change things a little, perhaps try to create each strand already prepared to be wound with the others. I wonder what that will do." She glances back at the ring, smiling so deeply s he's terribly pleased. "And I'd like to do it back at that place. I don't suppose you can convince the proprieter to hire us as teachers? Lord Scott looked quite put-out."
Yosannah let's a smile escape her lips and lowers her head and her gaze to the floor. "Well, we'll just have to ask Ryker if he doesn't mind." She raises her gaze to meet the woman's and smiles, coy.
Lisle's own smile is a flash of delight. She says, "Ryker and I are old friends. How wonderful. We should try him now." That's Lisle, something in her mind, and nothing will stand in her way.
Yosannah tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and a knowing smile escapes her lips, "All right. Let's see if I can reach him..." With that, her gaze goes distant. There is a tight knot at her brow and a tenseness about her eyes. After a moment, her attention returns, she shakes her head and her hand goes into her rear pants pocket, "Not answering, lemme just check something..." She withdraws a small pack of tarots and begins to thumb through them.
"Here we go." Yosannah settles on a single card, a likeness of Ryker that, upon closer inspection, is clearly not a card of her hand. She traces her fingers of the item, letting them linger there for a long moment. "Cool." To Lisle, "Either he's not going to respond, or he is in a place where he cannot."
Lisle looks a bit disappointed, her hand curling around the wrist ring, to slide it on her own wrist. "Well that is too bad. I could send him a letter. I have before."
Yosannah scratches at her neck, "Sure. And I'll leave word at the usual haunts." She lifts her chin, "Do you want to take it. Test it for yourself? I'll need a day or two before I give it another go anyway."
Lisle says, "Indeed I will," her eyes brighten. She leans down behind one of the soil boxes, finding a pad of paper and a pencil. She begins scribbling. "Contact me in another few days, or I will you."
Yosannah tilts her head in an effort to better observe what it is that she is writing, "Fair enough."
Lisle goes so far as to read it to Yosannah, "My dear Ryker. Yosannah and I have some business at your Academy of Magic and hoped you'd appoint us teachers for the nonce. Our efforts will, I think, benefit you. Lisle.
Yosannah chuckles, a single short exhileration of breath, "How can he refuse?"
Lisle asks, "Can a bird get in here?"
Yosannah offers, "I don't see why not." Her expression is curious. Nevertheless, she moves to a window and slides it ajar.
Shortly after, through the window flies a snowy white owl. He's a little big and has to shrug his way through. He circles overhead.
Lisle holds her arm up, and there the bird lands upon her wrist. "You know where to go," to him, as his wings flutter. "Find Ryker."
Yosannah seems sufficiently impresses, "Neet trick."
Lisle ties the note to the bird, and he flies off and away, a sliver of white out the window.
Lisle says, "I will see you later, Yosannah."
Yosannah smiles warmly, "No doubt. Good night, lady."