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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A
Subject: Hooray for postiness!!!
Speaking of posts... i was just reading my last and realized I'd forgotten to mention that, if the plan goes forward "as is", Jal can handle "cloaking" Valentine and Talas (that's assuming that Adrian doesn't have an invisibility spell of his own... for some reason I'm feeling more "melee" spells on that one  ). That said, is the intent for Adrian, Jal, and Talas to follow Arien and Kilgrim at a "practical distance" or are we hanging way back?
Posted on 2006-10-26 at 15:19:45.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off
Subject: Torture, you say?
Do not presume to speak to me of torture, Valentine! I can assure you that you know nothing of what torture truly is!
Jal didn’t speak the words, of course. Arien had already called a halt to the disagreement and, despite how angry Valentine’s retort had made him, the urchin-mage knew that to pursue the argument further was pointless. The spellbinder did glare the rebuke at the former Red for a good while, though. Perhaps if the flesh was peeled from your back for no other purpose than to have material upon which to scribe a spell you would understand suffering…Perhaps if the one thing you truly loved was consumed by flame and you stood helpless…
Jal, Wynter’s voice snapped him away from the dark thoughts, none of that!
“Sorry, Wynter,” he mumbled, tearing his gaze away from Adrian and turning his attentions to the others.
Char, for some reason, seemed to be gawking at him – as if something the mage had said or done somehow surprised him – but, when Jal met the ranger’s gaze, the man quickly averted his eyes. Jal watched the pathfinder as he chewed over Arien’s proposed plan and listened intently as he offered up his own thoughts on the matter. Between the tack laid out by the knight and the additional details sketched in by Char, Jal had become fairly comfortable with the strategy – although, he was thinking that simply telling the lads up ahead that their father would not condone what they were about to do and offering them the coin it would take to get into Freegate would be a much simpler solution – and nodded his agreement to the proposed course of action. If necessary, a minor spell to put the lads to sleep could be used, he supposed…
"I have never liked deception,” Valentine said, following the ranger’s offering, “My magic is of a more... material nature. I will wait here if the group desires, although I would prefer to be in the meat. I do have a few tricks, though, depending on how the situation plays out."
Jal sighed, biting back any commentary he might have been inclined to make, and once more tore his gaze from Adrian and allowed it to wander over the others. He wondered what the cleric’s thoughts on the matter might be, just as he wondered if Talas was more inclined to agree with the aggressive approach that Adrian seemed to favor or, instead, the more compassionate but still cautious path. Dapple, he imagined, would likely be indifferent one way or another, but he had no doubts that the boy would let either choice be made without a biting comment tossed in for good measure…
“Very well,” he said, voicing his assent to the plan, “If it comes to it, these bandits will be taught their lesson…” his eyes dipped to the cross-hewn spirit that still pleaded for his sons’ salvation, “…but I think, perhaps, they may already be aware and shamed by their own intent.”
Save my sons…
“Yes, old man,” he answered, once more trying to wave the spirit into silence, “we will…”
Posted on 2006-10-26 at 09:26:36.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A
Subject: Jal Spellbinder; Dept of Spirit Welfare
Agreed, agreed, agreed all around! Great characters, great game, and great Scott we've barely gotten started!
I will say, though, if Char at some point actually hugs a tree, the party as a whole may need to seek therapy.
Posted on 2006-10-26 at 06:01:16.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off
Subject: I beg to differ, Sir Othermage... ;)
"Children are ignorant. If these want to live the lives of bandits, they need to be shown the danger they are putting themselves in.
In our world, the weak are at the mercy of the strong. If we simply pat their heads and give them coin, they will turn to this path again once our donation has run dry…”
Jal looked up from the insistent spirit that still hovered nearby, pleading again and again for his sons to be saved, and shot a disapproving or perhaps disbelieving glance at Valentine. Apparently, ignorance wasn’t reserved only for children; the former Red still seemed to carry his own reserve. Had the man not been listening to what Char had said about these so-called bandits? Valentine had obviously never experienced the kind of hardship and desperation that oft times led good folk to bad deeds; or, if he had, the man had forgotten. Or was it, perhaps, that the warrior-mage was still thirsty for that unstructured violence that he had mentioned the night before; so much so that he was willing to bare steel and spell against even the smallest of threats?
As difficult as it was to do, Jal held his tongue as Adrian continued and completed his recommendations on how to handle the would-be highwaymen. When the “other mage” had finished his discourse, Jal leaned forward in his saddle and, taking a deep breath in order to subdue the disapproval he was sure would seep into his tone, shook his head slowly.
“Were I to venture a guess, Sir Valentine,” he said, “it would be that these ignorant children have no desire to live the bandit life and that what they plan to do is born of desperation and necessity rather than desire…”
…my sons, sir, please, the dead man reiterated, imposing his bisected form between Jal and Adrian and, for a moment, distracting the urchin-mage.
“Sir, please, a moment of silence,” Jal whispered to the spirit, “I will do what… I can…for… your sons?” An expression that mingled realization and uncertainty passed over Jal’s features then and, though he had been trying to silence the spirit, he couldn’t help but wonder now if the timing of the dead man’s pleading wasn’t somehow more than a coincidence… Could the bandits ahead be this man’s sons? He studied the spirit curiously as he pondered the possibility and then, as if suddenly realizing that he had, once again, abandoned a conversation with the living in deference to the dead, blinked and turned his gaze back to Valentine.
“Have you never known hardship or hopelessness, Adrian,” he asked, “Have you never done something simply because there seemed to be no other options left? You have said that, in our world, the weak are at the mercy of the strong. Which of those words would you emphasize, then? Weak? Strong? Or, perchance, mercy?”
The odd little mage’s lips tightened as his pale eyed gaze swept over the rest of the party and he warred internally with whether or not to reveal to them the musings that had been inspired in his mind by the apparition that still lingered amidst the troupe… likely not the best thing to share, he decided after an instant; there was a certain amount of distrust and uneasiness about him amongst his companions already…
“I have known the kind of adversity that leads to this,” he said softly, his eyes ticked between Talas and Dapple, “as have some of you, I’d wager; and I, for one, choose mercy without… how did you say it? …slapping them around?” He offered a faint shrug and, with a cluck of his tongue, urged his horse to the outer periphery of the group; “Lessons can be learned without blood being spilled.”
His gaze ticked up the road again and, hoping that the girl was still close by, whispered into the air; “Wynter, my love, if there is anything else you can tell me about these men, I ask that you do it soon…”
(OOC: Based on Char’s report, among other things, Jal is starting to wonder, of course, if the ‘bandits’ might be the ‘sons’ he is supposed to ‘save’ and, as such, isn’t certain that violence of any sort will be necessary, here… He has started to formulate a plan of his own based on this but will wait for more from the others before he says anything else about it. He’s also kind of hoping that Wynter might provide some more info, soon, as “dear, dead Daddy” seems to be looping… ))
Posted on 2006-10-25 at 12:31:36.
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Topic: Getting to know you
Subject: Halloween, ESP, doodle doodle dee
Favorite Costume:
So far, I think the best costumes i've done have been a "kung fu tiger" (a la Tai Fu) and a costume that was based on one of a character I created many,many,many moons ago, named Ch'dau... Got a really good concept for a "Jal Spellbinder" this year, though, so we'll see how that works out.
Favorite Treat
Ummm... beef jerky? Does that count?
What age did/will you stop trick or treating?
You're supposed to stop? Oops!
Psychics, ESP, Lemon Pledge, etc
Yes, I've been to psychics... No I don't think all of them have the "gifts" they claim to have... Do such abilities exist? IMHO Absolutely! We only use 10% of our minds, so they say... the other 90% has gotta be there for something doesn't it? It's all out there floating around in the Universe people... ya just gotta be open to it.
Posted on 2006-10-24 at 13:34:10.
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Topic: Getting to know you
Subject: A consolidated list, cuz Fuby demanded it. ;)
Musical Performer:
Live, Johnny Cash, Disturbed, many, many more...
Places to visit:
All of them... every place is interesting in it's own right, I think. I am most at home, at peace, whatever you want to call it, when I'm in the Adirondacks, though.
What astrological sign are you and do you think it fits your personality?
Aries. I think a good deal of it fits... not all, of course.
Sleeping position?
Hanging upside down... Don't know really... I'm usually asleep when I'm sleeping and don't think to check how I'm doing it.
Favorite Holiday
No favorites as far as holidays go, these days. I do have quite a bit of fun on Halloween, though...
What's the first thought that crosses your mind when you get out of bed in the morning?
Awwww F>bleeeep
What's your idea of the perfect romantic evening?
Whenever, whereever, whatever... as long as my wife's there, I'm in good shape.
Favorite color
Deep greens
Fave website
This one!
What is your favourite drink - with or without booze?
With booze - M-m-m-my Corona! Tequila's good too but I'm not allowed to drink that in public anymore. Without booze - Coffee!!!!.
Posted on 2006-10-24 at 12:51:35.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off
Subject: The voices say....
Jal’s conversation with Talas earlier in the morning had served to keep him occupied for a time and, for a while, the spellbinder had simply enjoyed the ride away from the gates of the city and the prospect that he might actually have found someone he might soon call friend. As the day progressed, however, and the conversation with the mercenary had tapered off in deference to keeping a keen eye on the trail and the lands about them, the urchin-mage appeared to steadily become more withdrawn and, in the eyes of the others, perhaps, a little less lucid than he had been at dawn. Though the sun had climbed higher in the sky and served to warm the day by the time the troupe reached the spread of lordless lands, Jal frequently tugged his cloak closer about him as if warding off a chill and occasionally muttered strange things…
“Do not worry about the bugs in the flour, Old Mother,” he whispered at one point as they passed an apparently abandoned farmstead, “your daughters have plenty…”
…At other times, the mage seemed to stare in revulsion at nothing, as if he saw some great spectacle of carnage amongst the pastoral landscape through which they traveled. It wasn’t only the living that Jal saw as their steeds clopped along these rural paths, after all – more than the skeptical and untrusting stares of the “free” farmers greeted him from the rough land and crudely constructed farmsteads. The spirits of the dead wandered here, too, and for each inhospitable glance cast in the parties direction by the living, Jal Spellbinder received just as many from those spirits on the other side of that realm. Many of them simply wandered about from overgrown field to rundown house as if continuing about the routines they had followed in life… as if they had no clue that their lives had been extinguished already and that there were other concerns they should tend to aside from the running of a farm that no longer mattered. Others roamed the hills, forests, and fields with more purpose though – some, missing arms or legs or heads, ambled about dripping phantom blood and bits of flesh as they sought out the rest of their earthly remains in hopes of at last finding some modicum of peace in the knowing that their bodies could be whole again… other lamented the fact that, after years of searching, those missing pieces of their once physical selves had yet to be discovered. He offered words of encouragement where he could but was somewhat saddened in knowing that there was truly little he could do to help any of them. Not until they are ready to accept…
Most of the spirits that had accosted him were dealt with easily enough – “I’m no thatcher, sir,” he mumbled to one who complained to him about the state of the roof on his house, and that seemed enough to dispel the ghostly farmer – but there was one among the countless wandering spirits who wasn’t so easily dissuaded.
Save my sons, the man pleaded as he trotted along beside Jal’s horse, please, sir, I beg of ye…I know ye c’n hear me, m’lord! I know ye c’n see me! Please, sir! They be good lads… save 'em for me?
“What is it that you would have me do,” Jal asked, finally acknowledging the man’s presence if only to quiet him down. The way the man was whining and begging, the spellbinder was sure that the others would hear him. He reined his horse to a stop, allowing Talas to canter past before leaning over in his saddle to speak with the anxious spirit; “Where are your sons? What danger are they in that they need saving?”
Save my sons, the man repeated please, sir, I beg of ye…I know ye c’n hear me, m’lord! I know ye c’n see me! Please, sir! They be good lads… save 'em for me?
DM's Note - that is all the spirit tells you.
Jal prepared to assure the man that he would do what he could when Wynter came whisking back to him from the road ahead. She whirled about him once with such speed that it almost rocked him from his saddle and served to spook his horse.
Danger ahead, my spellbinder, she said urgently as the mage clamped his legs tight around the mare’s ribs and tightened up the reins to calm her prancing, four men with swords… ready yourself!!!
“Thank you, Wynter,” he nodded rather breathlessly as his eyes flicked up the roadway and he tugged his staff from the slings that secured it to his saddle. Arien’s horse, too, seemed skittish and had shied more than once of late, this last time just as Wynter had come racing back to warn Jal of the apparent ambush that lay in wait ahead.
“I will do what I can for your sons, Father,” Jal muttered to the spirit that still stood nearby eyeing him imploringly. Then, with his staff held at the ready and with several of the runic tattoos scribed on his flesh tingling for attention, the mage spurred his mount forward to rejoin the party.
“Best be on our guard,” Arien was saying as Jal trotted up and scrutinized the road ahead once more, “Can any of you, by sharp eye, or, mayhap, spell, see any cause for his fear?”
Wynter whispered in his ear again; Four men with swords…
“I believe, Sir Thedell,” Jal offered as he nudged the hood of his cloak back with one end of his staff, “that your horse senses the ambush that awaits us.” He points up the road with his staff; “Four men, armed with swords,” he had waited for Wynter to offer more information but it didn’t seem as there was any forthcoming, “Other than that, I’m afraid, I can tell you very little…”
“Yes, sir,” the spellbinder murmured… there was a slight tinge of impatience in his voice as he addressed the empty air to his right side, “I said I would do what I could… Now, please, quiet for a moment…”
((OOC: All right then, given the information he’s been supplied with, Jal’s got his staff at the ready should things get “close” and is prepping a spell or two (still determining which… will update soon) for range or diversion as necessary… Unless circumstances dictate otherwise, Jal will wait for Arien’s “orders” before doing anything else.))
Posted on 2006-10-24 at 11:16:22.
Edited on 2006-10-24 at 11:34:36 by Alacrity
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A
Subject: All you magic users look alike!!!
No problem, Brom... Didn't offend me in the slightest. It is kind of a big party to keep track of, after all, and with a pair of mana-mashers hovering about - both with tattoos nonetheless - who can blame ya? *grins* I imagine that once the steel and magic starts flying there'll be more of a distinction between Jal and Valentine... I'm rather curious about those distinctions, myself, now that I think about it. 
Posted on 2006-10-24 at 09:23:30.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off
Subject: Shared pasts -- more line chatter...
As the ex-gladiator spoke, Jal listened with interest though his gaze often wandered from the big northman to the trail ahead. It was curious, he thought, that he and Talas shared somewhat similar histories – the mercenary a slave to the whims of the Empire’s Pits and himself a slave to the whims of the Master, each for large portions of their lives – and that the goal of freedom (no matter the differing forms) had drawn them both to Freegate. His gaze returned to Talas as the man finalized his volley in the conversation with a question of his own; “And you good Jal why are you here in this city?"
He glanced back over his shoulder, studying the buildings and streets behind them for a moment as if the answer to Talas’ question was somehow written there, then, regarding the man again, he offered an uncertain shrug. “It is my home, I think,” Jal said, “my earliest memories are of these streets, at least.
It was many years ago when I left here,” he sighed, shifting in his saddle and settling his ice-colored eyes on the road again, “a lifetime has passed between that day and this one, it seems. The city has changed little, I suppose, much of it is as I remember…there are more souls on the streets…” a mirthless smile flicked across his lips, “but, then, I am not the same as I was when I left.
We both seek freedom, friend Talas,” Jal said, catching sight of the hem of Wynter’s skirt as she danced through the gate, “and we have both known the other side of that coin… now, where is she going?” He shook his head, almost lost in the phantom girl’s laughter for a moment, then, as Sir Arien officially defined the column and led the party through the gate, the mage smiled at the imposing man at his side; “It would seem that this city has given us both the opportunities we seek, yes? A chance at freedom? And this thing we do for Lord Dwan, perhaps, is a step on the path to that redemption…”
((OOC: Just continuing with the conversation... waiting to see what might become of these bandits...))
Posted on 2006-10-24 at 07:27:46.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off
Subject: Odd couple?
"And good morning to you Jal, it is Jal right? Jal Spellbender, if I remember correctly…”
The fact that the big gladiator seemed so ready to talk to him took Jal somewhat by surprise – it wasn’t often that someone spoke to him for the sake of nothing more than conversation. Behind the veil of his hair and within the depths of his tattered cowl, the strange mage smiled and nodded in response to the large man’s recollection of his name.
“Yes,” Jal nodded, “Jal Spellbinder, it is.”
“…What can I do for you this morning?"
The urchin-mage was perplexed by this next bit and had to ponder the question at some length before he could answer. After a moment of trying to determine if there was, in fact, anything that the man could “do for him” at the moment – blot out the painful memories stirred in him by the rising of the sun, perhaps?..
“Just a bit of conversation to pass the time, I suppose,” the mage answered at last, “If we are to travel together it would be wise to know more about one another before those things that we can actually do for one another become necessary, yes?”
“These others,” the spellbinder gestured to the loose column of adventurers ahead of them, “seem already to know one another and Valentine, our once Red friend, there, seems to have an already sour opinion of me. As you and I are the apparent outsiders, as it were...”
Jal shrugged then, realizing, perhaps, that he was starting to ramble. His pale eyes drifted from the trail to the large man riding beside him; “Tell me of yourself, Talas,” he continued softly, “What has brought you to Freegate… to this?”
Posted on 2006-10-22 at 10:24:17.
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Topic: Getting to know you
Subject: So what does it mean if...
..you're an Aries/Rooster/Blue Chipmunk who likes to sleep hanging upside down while listening to Pakistani Speed Metal? 
C'mon! There's gotta be a website out there somewhere that has this information!!!! I NEED to know!!!!
Nothing? All right...
What's the first thought that crosses your mind when you get out of bed in the morning (or evening depending on how you do things... )?
Posted on 2006-10-20 at 16:07:18.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off
Subject: Morning at the West Gate
“This is what I disliked the most about the last time, Wynter,” Jal muttered as he squinted against the rising sun and gathered the reins of the dappled, mist-grey mare he had been provided, “watching the sun come up… the way it flickers like an infero across the horizon…” The sunrise always reminded him of the way the flames had spread out from the center of the mill and rose with horrifying slowness to the peak of the roof.
You should have gotten more sleep, my love, she answered, dispelling his morbid recollection, given your mind more time to prepare for this.
“I’m sufficiently prepared, dear girl,” he said as he thrust his staff through the slings on his horse’s saddle, “I have readied my spells, gathered my supplies…”
Spent yet another night wandering the streets, Wynter added. I think Lady Gwanele had been expecting you earlier.
“Not wandering,” Jal scowled, swinging himself up into the saddle before tugging the cowl of his patchwork cloak over his head to shade his eyes, “and I don’t think that Gwanele was terribly upset… do you?”
Look at the dragon, Wynter giggled.
Jal’s eyes skimmed over the party, then, seeking out the little creature. He smiled when he saw it perched on the knight’s helm – its skin no longer grey but a gleaming silver that matched Arien’s brilliant armor – and snickered a bit when he noticed that the pseudodragon’s tongue was poking out of its mouth and its eyes were crossed. For his part, the knight was grinning too, as if Sunset’s pretending to be a part of his helm were something he had grown accustomed to and, perhaps, enjoyed to some degree.
“Funny,” Jal chuffed. When he noticed that Wynter had wandered off, likely fascinated by Sunset’s antics and trying to get closer to the little creature, the vagabond mage took a moment to study the rest of the party. The ranger, Char, seemed anxious to get out beyond the city walls, of course, and his mount seemed to empathize as it pranced anxiously before the gates. Dwan’s cousin, on the other hand, looked less than happy to be astride the back of his pony and, Jal imagined, was probably as anxious about being off the beast as the ranger was about setting off into the wild…
Dwarves dislike for their feet to be far from the earth, Jal, Wynter’s voice wafted through his mind from some distance away, it makes them uncomfortable.
“And what about this one, then,” Jal queried as his ice-hued eyes slid over to Dapple Moon. The boy was as sullen and withdrawn as he had been last night and, like Jal, seemed to hide from the sun in the depths of his hood but, despite outward appearances, the spellbinder sensed… what?... trepidation… resignation… something.
Remember the Halfling, Fast Toes? One of his, I think…
Jal smirked; “So I am 'Spooky' to him, as well, I suppose.”
Perhaps, he caught a brief glimpse of Wynter’s eyes when she answered - she thought the nickname given to him by Freegate's thieves guild was somehow cute. While Jal wasn't bothered by the monker, though, he didn't find it 'cute' in any way. Perhaps not. Remember what I told you last night, my spellbinder…
“Trust,” Jal nodded as his gaze tracked away from the roguish lad and sought out the other, newer members of the group, “Yes, Wynter, I remember.”
Yes, trust, the girl cooed, A bond of true-felt trust is a bond of love, my sweet spellbinder; this is how great friendships are made.
“So you have said before, Wynter,” the mage whispered as his eyes settled on Valentine. The former Imperial Red was tugging at the straps that kept that huge blade snugged to his back and looking as eager for action as the others. Jal had encountered Reds before – quite a few, in fact, as he traveled from the ruins of the Master’s tower far to the north and before he found his way to Freegate – none of them had been friendly but all seemed to be rather well off in their positions even though some bristled at following the commands of their superiors. He wondered what had transpired with this one that had brought him to this side of the Iron League’s borders…
Perhaps you should ask…
Finally, there was the burly pit-cat, Talas. “Perhaps I shall,” Jal whispered as the former gladiator coaxed his massive steed to the rear of the still loosely formed column, “but I get the feeling that I’ll be in closer speaking proximity to this one for at least the first part of this trip. We seem to favor similar spots in the marching order.”
I will leave you to it, then, Wynter smiled before her voice went silent and she disappeared.
Jal tugged on his own horse’s reins as Talas clopped by and shadowed the huge fighter to the trailing portion of the column. “Good morning, Talas Mohar’Jerale,” the mage said softly, turning his pale eyes on the warrior as he drew along side him… he wasn’t sure what words should follow that, though, so he simply nodded – a gesture that was likely partially lost in the depths of his cowl – to punctuate the greeting.
(OOC: All righty, then, looks like Jal will be bringing up the rear with the big guy for the time being… )
Posted on 2006-10-20 at 11:09:26.
Edited on 2006-10-23 at 07:17:13 by Eol Fefalas
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Topic: Star Trek: Discovery - Q&A
Subject: As a matter of fact it WAS!!!!
Nope, just an experiment in oops I forgot to put in the subject line and didn't realize that I hadn't actually posted... it's there now.
Posted on 2006-10-19 at 11:28:12.
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Topic: Star Trek: Discovery
Subject: ~Skip, skip, skip to m'post...~
Stardate: 2366.10.22
USS Discovery; Corridor outside the observation lounge – 1106
“Aye, lass,” he nodded, reluctantly letting Chantelle slip from his grasp, “et’s a date.” Let’s ‘ope tha’ th’ day dinnae run away wi’ th’ both of us, though, aye? Else et mebbe a later date. As nice as that little stolen moment had been, Jack knew that there was quite a bit to be done and quite a few issues to address before he would have the time to actually let his mind slip away from work. Even more certain than that, though, was that his briefing surely put more concerns about him in the minds of Blair and Gavison and, considering the events of the past twelve hours or so, the Discovery’s CTO had to prioritize a number of things above alone time with Chan, regardless of how centered and peaceful that time made him feel.
Time ta bite tha’ bullet, Jack-lad, he sighed inwardly as Chantelle disappeared from the corridor, Ef yer gonna make yer amends an’ get this theng turned aboot ye’ve gotta get tha’ talk wi’ th’ Counselor oota th’ scope. He turned his gaze towards the door at the end of the hall that Arevaci had passed through just a moment ago, rubbed absently (or perhaps nervously) at the short crop of stubble on his chin, and then, steeling his resolve strode down the path the Counselor had just taken.
As the door whisked away before him, Mac caught sight of the Counselor just a few meters farther along the corridor. The TACman hesitated for the briefest time, still somewhat reluctant to let anyone into his had, but for the sake of his career he forced that uncertainty aside and actually broke into a light jog in order to close the distance between himself and Arevaci.
“ ‘Scuse me, Counselor,” he called as he drew closer and slowed his pace again, “would ye mind if I bothered ye fer a spell?”
(OOC:RK, feel free to pick up this convo, here, or if you wish we can collab from that point and backpost it later...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Main Engineering, Deck 36 – 1200 hrs
Captain Blair had been right about Arevaci, of course. Despite Jack’s inherent distrust and lack of confidence in those who chose to make a living poking about in other people’s heads, he had found the new Counselor to be quite approachable and receptive, and, before he knew it, Lt MacTavish found that he had spent a considerable amount of time in conversation with the man. Of course, when he realized that he had spent the better part of an hour batting thoughts back and forth with Arevaci, Jack had felt the need to cut the conversation short and get on about his day… There be more pressin’ wairk ta do than tha’ what’s in yer ‘ead… So, with a promise to the Counselor that he would indeed make an appointment to continue their talk, Jack had left Arevaci to his day and made his way down to the belly of the ship to finally have that face-to-face with the new CEO.
As usual, Main Engineering was bustling with activity; a veritable ant-farm of technicians and specialists tending to their duties with all the dedication and efficiency that Starfleet (and Avanti) had instilled in them… an’ by th’ looks o’ thengs, they be doin’ fine by th’ new Chief, ’s well… A few glances and nods were offered by the engineering crew as Mac skirted around the ‘Pool Table’ and…
“JACKDUDE!”
MacTavish started at the sound of his name – sort of. The attachment of dude revealed who was speaking long before the Scotsman saw the blue dreadlocks and the yellowish skin of Lt. Bob N’Doog. He had been walking along with a PADD in hand when he spotted Jack.
“H’lo Bob,” Jack nodded. Something about the Catullan computer wiz always brought a grin to his face. “How’re ye, lad?”
((OOC: See Al's last post for the bulk of this convo))
Bob turned to walk away, “Got to fly. The Commanderdude needs to see this report, so I better get a crackin or I’ll be packin.” The Catullan left Jack behind, all the while making a tapping gesture at his comm. Badge and mouthing “call me”.
“Aye lad,” MacTavish snickered, watching Bob jander away, “I’ll do tha’.” Still grinning, he shook his head and glanced down at one of the multiple displays on the Pool Table. He scowled a bit when he noticed that the graphics and data scrolling across the thing indicated a running test set for a shield harmonics diagnostics and calibration routine. Wha’s this all aboot, he wondered as his gaze lifted from the display and scanned the immediate vicinity for someone who looked as if they might be working on a related task, There be nothin’ wrong wi’ th’ shields tha’ I’ve been told… an’ testin’ resonance buffers aginst… wha’ th’ hell is tha’? The energy pattern that had caught his eye looked curiously like a standard transporter signature in many respects but, unlike the continuous flow of energy that he was used to seeing, it seemed that the energy in this model was shooting through the shields in quick, erratic pulses… Fargin’ odd.
The TAC Officer watched the display for a long moment, occasionally looking around to see if one of the gold-clad techs might be returning to the station to monitor or record some results, then, when none of the Engineering crew appeared to have even the remotest interest in the thing, he secured the terminal and strode away from the table. Something about that particular program stuck in his craw for some reason and he hoped it was merely a test being run for the new CEOs benefit or, perhaps, even something that was being tested as part of the vaccine delivery scenario for Aldor V. His gut, though, told him to keep the info fresh and in the forefront of his mind. With the way things had been turning of late something like that could have major tactical considerations.
He reached the CEOs office just as Bob was exiting. The Catullan grinned at him and made the motion of tapping his commbadge, again. “Aye, Bob lad,” Mac smirked before the computer wiz could mouth the words, “I’ll call ye.”
The door to the Chief Engineer’s office had slid shut in that short span of time and, as Jack’s gaze panned back to the portal, he noticed that the name on the placard had already been changed from Avanti to Waldgrave. Mac had grown accustomed to stepping through that door with a “H’lo, Ly” on his lips in the past few months, and probably would have done so again out of habit if that nameplate hadn’t checked the tendency. Instead, as the TAC Officer strode through the door, he offered the new Engineering Chief a crooked, MacTavish smile and said; “Aft’rnoon, Commander Waldgrave. I ‘ope I’m no’ interruptin’ anythin’.”
Chroist, but she dinnae look a thing like Avanti, does she? Mac joked to himself as the lovely, dark-haired woman looked up from her study of the terminal on her desk; I dinnae reckon ye’ll be confusin th’ two o’ them.
(OOC: Assuming some kind of response other than; “Actually I don’t have the time right now, Lt…”)
“Grand,” Jack grinned, “I apologize fer no’ gettin’ doon here ta speak wi’ ye sooner, Cmdr Waldgrave, but thing’s’ve gotten a wee bit crazeh ‘round ‘ere this marnin’. I reckon ye’ve been in place long enough ta notice tha’ there’s been some mods made ta Discovery’s weapons an’ defensive systems, aye? I dinnae know ef yer lads’ve given ye th’ detailed brief on any o’ tha’ as yet, so I figgered I’d pop in an’ see ef there be any questions ye might need addressed from the TAC perspective. Yer predecessor an’ I wairked fairly close onna mods, y’see…”
((OOC: And, there’s your cue, kicktoria… feel free to run wherever you wish with this conversation…  ))
Posted on 2006-10-19 at 11:27:00.
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Topic: Star Trek: Discovery - Q&A
Subject: UFB News Feed
Looks like the world's got a good working prototype of a "Cloak of Invisibility". Wonder if we're ahead of the Romulans on this?
Sorry for the posting delays folks... been trying to "fill in gaps" before committing to a solid post... Got something out there now, though. 
Stu!!! Welcome back and "Ow!" Surgery always sux! Glad you made it thru and are on the mend.
Posted on 2006-10-19 at 11:13:20.
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Topic: Getting to know you
Subject: My sign...
"Not fit for human consumption"
And, yes, I think it fits.
P.S. Favorite music = Live, Disturbed, Enya, Loreena McKinnet, Drowning Pool, Johnny Friggin' Cash, Evanessence, (the list goes on and jumps all over the place of course)
Places I'd like to visit = All of them... even the ones that only exist in my imagination... or yours ....
Posted on 2006-10-19 at 10:09:31.
Edited on 2006-10-19 at 11:05:48 by Eol Fefalas
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off
Subject: On the streets of Freegate
Jal lingered outside the door of the tower, leaning on his staff for a moment before pulling his tattered, patchwork cloak tighter about him as his gaze scoured the street in both directions. The roguish Dapple Moon was nowhere to be seen, of course, and without the use of an incantation (or asking assistance from Wynter) the Spellbinder knew that he would likely not be able to discern where the boy had gotten to. “No matter,” he sighed softly, “He didn’t seem the most trusting sort, anyway, and likely wouldn’t care to be followed through these nighted streets.”
You wonder after the little dragon, my love? Wynter’s ethereal hand reached up and pushed a tangled shock of hair from his eyes.
He nodded absently, undoing her attempt at straightening his wild locks, and offered the girl a faint smile. “I suppose, Wynter,” he muttered, “The creature sees more than the rest, I think, and I find myself curious as to exactly what that might be.”
All in time, my spellbinder, the girl cooed softly, The others, too, might see what the dragon sees if given the chance.
Jal fixed Wynter with a curious look as he, at last, decided on a direction and strolled languidly toward the mouth of an alleyway a few dozen yards down the street; “You know what the dragon sees?”
The girl’s laughter splashed about him like the water that once tumbled from the wheel of her father’s mill; You don’t? Wynter’s form dissipated as she skipped into the alley and through a tumble-down heap of refuse.
Jal paused in the alley’s mouth, contemplating her question for a moment and casting a somewhat perplexed glance at the ghostly girl as she evaporated from sight. His eyes widened a bit as the realization struck him and, as his feet moved again to take him deeper into the alley; “It saw you?”
After a fashion, my love, Wynter’s voice replied, her whispers a susurration from every darkened part of the alleyway. What I was, perhaps… beads, shorn and scattered from a thread of the past…more of you than of me, my sweet spellbinder…
“The past,” Jal grimaced as he plucked the remnants of a spider’s web from beneath the sill of a shuttered window and gingerly placed the silken fibers into a pouch that hung from his belt. “Could it not find anything more pleasant to gaze upon? I would leave the past where it belongs, Wynter,” he sighed, choking back the vile memories of his years in the Master’s tower and the even more bitter recollections of the events that caused Wynter to be with him as she was now rather than as he had once hoped she would be, “That past is… is…”
…is what has made you what you are, Jal, Wynter’s voice was fading again. As it has made me what I am and has kept me with you these long years. To deny your past is to deny me, my love, and…
“Never,” he cried, “Never would I deny you, Wynter!” A chill gripped his spine just then and, drawing in a sharp breath of suddenly frigid air, Jal crouched down in the alley, huddling himself against the cold and the memory of time when he had, in fact, denied her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“What have you told her, you filthy gutter rat,” the Master demanded again shoving the dirty, wild-haired youth roughly down the road ahead of him.
“Nothing, Master,” Jal replied through clenched teeth, wincing as the wizard’s staff cracked across his back. The blow had opened the still healing runes that the Master had carved there the night before and, even through the spark of arcane power that rippled through him when those runes were disturbed, he felt searing pain and each rivulet of blood as it trickled down his back. And worse, he felt his heart crumple when he uttered his next lie; “I told her nothing… She is nothing, Master…She means nothing… What can I tell to nothing? Please...”
“Shut up,” the Master snarled, clubbing him across the shoulders again. When Jal stumbled over a cluster of rocks jutting out of the dirt and toppled to the ground, the Master added a kick to the boy’s ribs for good measure. “If you told her nothing,” the wizard sneered, “then, pray tell, why would she be speaking to you at all? Look at you! You’re disgusting; a foul, malodorous little urchin with no redeeming qualities aside from the price that you’re obviously willing to pay for your lessons. You are of no value or concern to anyone but me!”
Jal cowered, tensing for the next blow and also hiding his tears. “Yes, Master,” he replied over trembling lips, “Please...” He was sure that it would have been then that the Master’s staff would come whistling down on his head but instead, the old wizard simply snorted, spit on him, and proceeded down the road.
“Besides,” the Master hissed as the third of his footsteps reached Jal’s ears, “if this miller’s daughter is nothing and means nothing, then why do you continue to beg? Get up, you rotten splat of rat snot! I’ve got to go and undo what it is you have done and, as your lesson for today…Well… Take notes.”
A wave of nausea crashed over Jal when the field came into sight and, just beyond it, the waterwheel of the mill…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No, Jal, Wynter’s voice whispered… very close now… he could almost feel her lips brushing across his ear, you would never deny me. I know.
The spellbinder gasped as the chill faded and nodded weakly in response as he fought against spewing up the goblet-full of wine he had sipped away in Granitecrusher’s hall. After a moment, he drew himself up again and glanced almost apologetically in Wynter’s direction… he couldn’t see her just then and, after that memory, he was certain he didn’t want to…
Now, come, my love, she whispered as Jal felt her move deeper into the alley, You have much to do before dawn…
Posted on 2006-10-18 at 06:07:49.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A
Subject: No worries...
...none at all. What's an adventure without a little tension, eh?
Posted on 2006-10-17 at 05:55:12.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A
Subject: Jal's failure... ;)
Well, of course he failed... If Brom and I had characters that actually got along methinks it'd be a sign of the apocolypse!
Ah well... off to the alleys and gutters for the freaky spellbinder...
Posted on 2006-10-16 at 17:33:10.
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Topic: These are the Questions of our Lives.
Subject: A round-about...
...is a lot like what we might call "traffic circles," Fuby. Kind of like that loopy little bit of Main Street in Troy...
Posted on 2006-10-16 at 11:27:44.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off
Subject: Back a little and then onward a bit...
Valentine had been answering the youth’s query of how to handle the Red Corps and Dwanele, too, had offered some advice. Char, though, seemed to have more immediately pressing concerns.
“Well, now I guess be da time t’ say such things. Wha’ ye likely t’ bring t’ da table, lads?”
Jal turned a curious eye in Char’s direction when the ranger posed the question. Of course, a majority of this party’s members were already familiar with the capabilities and skills of the others they had traveled with before, and just as likely, they were all curious as to what might be expected of those that were new to the group but…
“…Is it a display you wish to see, ranger,” Jal asked cocking his head to one side as he regarded the man, “a demonstration of power?” He could feel Gwanele’s eyes on him and could sense the cautionary sentiment behind her glance. “Mana was neither intended to be bent for the entertainment of others, sir, nor to simply prove the existence of power or the degree of skill with which that power might be wielded. There is always a price to be paid for tapping into the arcane energies that flow across our world and I would much prefer to pay that price out of necessity.
Suffice it to say,” the spellbinder offered, “that I have honed my own skills, of late, under the tutelage of Lady Gwanele and her associates in Freegate’s own Mage’s Guild. Prior to that, I was instructed by…”
Carefully, my Spelbinder, Wynter’s voice whispered from a distance even as he shuddered at the memories of his ‘initiation into magic’ at the hands of The Master, very carefully.
“…by various others of considerable power.” His pale eyes ticked to Gwanele and then Dwan before sweeping the assemblage of adventurers again. “Be assured that, when the time comes, the spells I have bound will serve you well enough.”
Very good, my love. No need in associating your skills now with what once was…
Hoping that his reply to Char’s query wasn’t construed as rude or haughty, Jal fell once more into silence, leaving his answer as it was with no further validation. He did, however, continue listening to the conversation as it was volleyed back and forth about the table and, at the same time, became somewhat engrossed in his own conversation with the pseudodragon that was perched on Dapple’s arm. He had been asking the creature about sausages when, to his surprise, the thing had launched itself across the table and found a new perch on a bookshelf not far from his shoulder. He smiled gently at the little beast, resisting the urge to reach out a hand and stroke the thing’s neck, as it seemed to examine him and the air about him very closely. After a moment, Sunset launched herself across the room again and came to light between Char and Dapple.
As Dwan drew the gathering to a close and Terrin distributed the advance portion of their promised pay, Jal found himself curious as to what the little wyrmling might have suddenly found so interesting about him. It wasn’t long after Dapple had excused himself from the dining hall that Jal followed… perhaps hoping to catch up with the roguish lad on the streets and, maybe, speak a bit more with Sunset.
(OOC: Juuust playing along… If Jal doesn’t catch up with Dapple and the wee beasty, no big deal, he’ll likely visit a few shops and supplement his material spell components, then return to his own rooms (in the Mage’s Guild, I’m assuming) to prepare himself for the morning…unless our evil DM has other plans…)
Posted on 2006-10-16 at 08:34:59.
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Topic: Star Trek: Discovery - Q&A
Subject: Not tabled...
I don't think your original idea was "tabled", Av... Just "tweaked" or "nudged" to get the whole crew on the same page, so to speak.
The research that Keely and crew were doing could "easily be applied" to the vaccine that Dr Milikens brought aboard and so forth - perhaps that vaccine and the one Keely was working up for Rautos Prime have simialr properties or components, etc... maybe while researching the Rautos Prime business Keely finds something that may help to "stabilize or improve" Milikens vaccine, etc. Like I said, not tabled, at all, just nudged so that you can get in play with the rest of us on the Aldor V business.
Posted on 2006-10-14 at 05:34:12.
Edited on 2006-10-14 at 05:43:15 by Eol Fefalas
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Topic: Star Trek: Discovery
Subject: Revelations Pt 2
USS Discovery, Observation Lounge – 1100 hours
The reactions to Lt MacTavish’s briefing thus far had been pretty close to what he had imagined they would be – a concerned expression here, an almost shocked look there, and more than one double-take affected when the surveillance images of Ian had flicked by on the display – there had been a couple of reactions he hadn’t expected, though. Chantelle hadn’t looked anywhere nearly as surprised as he had imagined she would, especially considering that, during the course of their relationship, any time she had asked about his brother Jack had quickly diverted her off to any other subject he could get to. Arevaci’s reaction, too, had been somewhat of a surprise – interested and a bit more than curious, from the looks of it, but not in an ‘I’m eager to get in your head and see what kind of scars you’re hiding’ that Mac had come to expect from any other shrink he had ever known… Mebbe th’ Cap’n’s spot on wi’ this’n, the TAC chief had mused when Arevaci hadn’t immediately started scribbling notes, I reckon it’s no’ gonna hairt too much ta catch th’ man after the meetin’…He hadn’t lingered on the thought for too long, though, before moving on.
His part of the briefing continued for several minutes more, effectively nullifying Blair’s promise of a relatively short meeting, as he proceeded to run through a list of the BTFs more notable (or, rather, noticed) operatives, a summary of the group’s penchant for guerilla-style small unit tactics and covert/subversive operations, and finally a quick timeline of the BTF’s more recent exploits.
“As I’ve said,” MacTavish rumbled as the display finally went dark and his eyes made the circuit around the table once more, “There be nothin’ ta indicate tha’ th’ Discovery er Dr Milikens’ vaccine’re definitely bein’ targeted by this lot but, considerin’ th’ intelligence repairts an’… an’ knowin’ Ian… I’m no’ jus’ yet ready ta dismiss tha’ possibility. This mission’ll present th’ BTF wi’ a golden opp’rtunity ta get their ‘ands onna possible biological weapon ta add ta their arsenal an’, if they’ve become aware o’ the shipment in any fashion, ye c’n bet tha’ they’ve a’ready go’ a bloody slick plan ta do jus’ tha’. I know I would…”
Mac noticed the chrono-display on his PADD at that moment. “…an’ I’ve run off a’ th’ mooth fer long enough,” he chuffed. His gaze tracked to the new CEO; “Commander Waldgrave, if ye reckon ye’ll ‘ave a bit o’ time, I’ll be makin’ me way ta Engineerin’ shortly an’ I’d like ta get tagether an’ discuss some o’ the defensive system mods ye’ve likely noticed. Yer predecessor’n I wairked fairly closely onnat project an’, wi’ circumstances th’ way they are, I think we two should be onna same page afore we get much closer ta th’ Aldor system, aye?”
“Tuvar,” he nodded to the SEC Chief, “we’ve discussed this at length a’ready but I’m sure I’ll be round ta see ye agin afore th’ day’s done.”
“Chan,” one corner of his mouth twitched, threatening to curl his lips into a faint smile, “Ye know I’m no scientist, lass, but I reckon tha’ wha’s jus’ been said here’s got ye thinkin’ in formulae an’ itchin’ ta pick Doc Milikens brain, hasn’it? I’ll be round ta yer shop sometime ta see if yer crew’s got anythin’ else tha’ may be a consideration.”
At long last, Mac nodded to Blair; “Tha’s all I’ve go’ fer now, sair. Thank ye.”
(OOC: At this point, Mac will retake his seat and wait for the meeting to be brought to a close. Once we’re all dismissed, Mac will try to catch the good Counselor – RK, knowing your dislike for the “one sided convo” thing, we can get a PM session going to collaborate on that meeting if you like. Drop me a message whenever you’re ready – after that, Mac’s got to get to ENG and have a chat with Kat (and Bob-dude)… from there… we’ll see what develops. As always, room for interjection, etc, throughout…))
Posted on 2006-10-13 at 08:55:50.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A
Subject: And then...
...salvage their implants to make a raft that can float the rest of the party (horses included) safely across Lake Prostitot!
Posted on 2006-10-12 at 15:03:50.
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Topic: Star Trek: Discovery - Q&A
Subject: Awww, c'mon Brom...
...you know that Kel wants to be like Jack when he grows up!
Or is that Kel wants to beat Jack up?
All the estrogen on this boat is confusing me...
Posted on 2006-10-12 at 15:01:43.
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What game do you own the 
Return to Charadun - Q&A
The Morphing Game
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