Journey to Mariabronn

[Bynw]

[08:07:05 PM] <Nym>   ((The day after Tara And Nym awake from their honeymoon in the grove deep within the Tennes forest Nym stands in his solar looking out at the lush gardens of the Tennes country side attended by Druids in training and those of that faith. It is Mid-morning. It is quite obvious Lord Nym is mulling over a something and deep in thought. Tara sits nearby, reading a book of arcane lore))
[08:09:48 PM] <bynw>   *Tara sips on warmed wine enjoying the light of the suns morning rays touching her skin. Always appearing as human through the use of magic.
[08:10:39 PM] <Nym>   ::Without turning to look to Tara, still gazing out at the garden, he speaks. Tara is the only one in the room besides himself:: "I must return to Mariabronn."
[08:11:26 PM] <Nym>   "I'll be leaving today,"
[08:12:39 PM] <bynw>   "They are a stuburn lot. Always have been. More so than most Deryni." *she says to him* "Will you be needing my presence there?"
[08:14:05 PM] <Nym>   ::Smiles, but does not turn:: "I always feel the need for your presence."
[08:15:16 PM] <bynw>   "So then, Today now or today later?"
[08:19:02 PM] <Nym>   ::Turns then to Tara:: "Now. I expect we will have to take the ferry, unless you know of another way. I've no taste for niceties with that over-stuffed king and even less taste for observing his stagnant rituals of entering his kingdom. Not to mention the sea..." ::he trails off::
[08:20:16 PM] <bynw>   "I like the sea ... lakes, rivers ... swamps." *she gives him a toothy grin* "You should have thought of that before marrying a black. We do like water."
[08:22:56 PM] <Nym>   ::Chuckles:: "Water is a fine thing. Boats on the open sea are another..."
[08:25:32 PM] <Nym>   "I was made to run through the forests, glide through the sands, and run on the open plains."
[08:26:00 PM] <bynw>   "I'm sure that swimming there is out of the question. Given the distance between the mainland and the island of course. Let me see if I can dig up a Poral address, I'm sure we might have one recorded some place."
[08:28:17 PM] <Nym>   ::nods:: "I will gather my things. We shouldn't be gone for more then a few days. I think I will wear my house horizon robes. It aught to stick in King Van Starra's side."
[08:32:01 PM] <Nym>   ::Walks into the bedroom to gather a few traveling supplies, his star sword, and don his anadari robes::
[08:35:39 PM] <bynw>   "Want me to check on that portal address while you get ready? It will be considerably earlier in Torr than it is here."
[08:37:28 PM] <Nym>   "Please."
[08:38:36 PM] <bynw>   *she utters a few words of arcane power and vanishes from Tennes*
[08:40:37 PM] <Nym>   ::Continues gathering his things and changing. Taking his time he also breaks his fast::
[08:44:21 PM] <bynw>   *more than an hour passes before Tara returns, carring a bundle with her which she spills out on the table in the solar*
[08:45:17 PM] <Nym>   ::Stands and walks closer to look over the mess Tara is making:: "This looks fun."
[08:46:25 PM] <bynw>   *the bundle has an assortment of maps, tomes, scribbled notes, sealed letters and even a few shiral and other crystals
[08:49:27 PM] <Nym>   "Do you need my help looking?"
[08:52:41 PM] <Nym>   ::Begins to browse the assorted writings::
[08:52:53 PM] <bynw>   "Oh no not at all. This one is rather recent." *she says holding up a letter with a wax seal on it* "Within the last 6 months in fact. Correspondence between a minor Lord and Lord Volik"
[08:54:53 PM] <bynw>   "Apparently there is talk of a State visit. Two rather isolated nations having a conversation." *she brushes the wax seal with her fingertips*
[08:56:25 PM] <bynw>   *she shakes her head* "No portal location there ..."
[09:00:32 PM] <bynw>   *nothing in the writings themselves that would suggest a portal location*
[09:01:12 PM] <bynw>   *Tara looks at the maps and beings spreading them out. One of the island, one of the city, one of the palace area.*
[09:03:09 PM] <Nym>   "It seems likely they would have a community portal in the castle courtyard..."
[09:03:52 PM] <bynw>   "Or in some part of the city ... if not both."
[09:09:12 PM] <Nym>   ::Begins flipping through the assembled writings looking or clues to a portal::
[09:15:14 PM] <bynw>   "Maybe the head libriarian should begin a project such as this ... to catalog all known portal locations ..."
[09:16:09 PM] <bynw>   *tara looks at the map of the city of Mariabronn, running her fingers across the streets, parks and squares*
[09:17:52 PM] <Nym>   "It certainly would be a noteworthy mission."
[09:18:41 PM] <bynw>   "This square ..." *she says while tapping it on the map* "...
[09:19:17 PM] <bynw>   'Anthony's Steps' its called. That sounds promising."
[09:19:57 PM] <Nym>   ::looks at what she is pointing at:: "now how do we use this information?"
[09:23:16 PM] <bynw>   "It's a cryptic name ... steps to what? ... could be a good place for a portal. There is a near by market place as well. Even more likely its a portal location. Now we have to figure out how to get there ... "
[09:24:27 PM] <bynw>   "We could always try a blind jump ... or maybe, if its a portal ... it could be less shielded than the rest of the city and we could magically teleport into that location."
[09:25:03 PM] <Nym>   "Iamar could help us here."
[09:26:22 PM] <Nym>   "She can sense the strength of teleportation warding in localized areas and even push past light wards."
[09:26:58 PM] <bynw>   "Mariabronn is anything but light ... even without the full strength of its matrix."
[09:27:35 PM] <bynw>   "Want to ask her to check it out for us?"
[09:29:56 PM] <Nym>   ::Nods to Tara and motions her to follow him. He walks outside to the gardens and mentally calls out to his Tricon Iamar::
[09:32:35 PM] <bynw>   *Iamar appears infront of Nym, lowering her head to him* @@ "Welcome home" @@
[09:35:27 PM] Join   DesertRose has joined this channel (~azdesertrose@DesertRose.Editor.Writer.Creator).
[09:35:53 PM] <Nym>   ::Pats the side of her neck:: "Greetings Iamar and thank you."
[09:36:31 PM] <Nym>   "I have to return to Mariabronn and I could use your help in getting there. Are you up to it?"
[09:38:48 PM] <bynw>   @@ "I am always up to such a task for you. What do you need?" @@ *Iamar replies with a nuzzeling of her head against Nym's chest
[09:41:12 PM] <Nym>   ::Rubs her neck:: "Thank you. Tara and I have chosen some likely spots that portals exist in Mariabronn. Can you scout the areas and see if you can sense a thin spot in the wards we can exploit to gain access to the island?"
[09:42:44 PM] <bynw>   @@ "That should be easy ... not without dangers though but easy
[09:42:49 PM] <bynw>   " @@
[09:43:39 PM] <Nym>   "Shall I come with you?"
[09:44:25 PM] <bynw>   @@ "Purhaps you should to better guide me to the locations" @@
[09:46:07 PM] <Nym>   ::Nods and pulls himself onto Iamar's back::
[09:46:28 PM] <bynw>   *Tara* "Hurry back ..."
[09:46:41 PM] <Nym>   ::To Tara:: "I will return shortly." ::Smiles warmly at her::
[09:47:43 PM] <Nym>   "Let's go Iamar." @@::sends a mental image of the map Tara used and the location she pointed out as Anthony's steps to iamar::@@
[09:48:24 PM] <bynw>   *Iamar and Nym vanish into the astral*
[09:51:55 PM] <bynw>   *on the Astral near the location of the 'Anthony's Steps' Iamar informs Nym that this point is weaker than the surrounding area. There could be a Portal at this location.
[09:53:33 PM] <Nym>   @@"Can you push through the wards?"@@
[09:55:39 PM] <bynw>   @@ "Yes. But we may not be able to go back" @@
[09:56:16 PM] <Nym>   @@"Let's return then and gather Tara."@@
[09:57:45 PM] <bynw>   *Iamar and Nym reappear in the gardens*
[10:00:04 PM] <Nym>   ::To Tara:: "Iamar says there is a thinness to the wards at Anthony's Steps as you thought and that she should be able to push through but we wont be able to return on her. Care to join me?" ::Extends his hand to pull Tara up onto Iamar:
[10:09:17 PM] <bynw>   *Tara takes his and sits infront of him*
[10:10:34 PM] <Nym>   "Please return us to Mariabronn Iamar, this time push through the wards."
[10:13:59 PM] <bynw>   *Iamar, Nym and now Tara return to the Astral near the point of Mariabronn's location. In a blur of the hues of the rainbow Iamar pushes through the warding of centuries that surround the area*
[10:16:09 PM] <Nym>   ::Looks about at his surroundings::
[10:18:07 PM] <Nym>   ??where are we??
[10:21:21 PM] <bynw>   *both Nym and Tara are lying on the paving stones ... there are is a crowd gathering around them*
[10:23:54 PM] <Nym>   ::Stands up and helps Tara up as well::
[10:25:18 PM] <bynw>   *the sun is nearly directly overhead ... and several men in the livery of the Van Starra approach them.* "What is your business here Anadari ... How did you learn of this Portal?"
[10:25:49 PM] <Nym>   ??Do I recognize them or where I am in relation to the palace??
[10:26:46 PM] <bynw>   *Looking around Nym is at Anthony's Steps in the city. Not near the Palace area at all, across town from it. It can be seen in the distance*
[10:28:11 PM] <bynw>   *guard* "Well speak! Who are you, what is your business here and how did you learn of this Portal?"
[10:29:18 PM] <Nym>   "That is many questions."
[10:31:03 PM] <Nym>   "I have business with your king, Richard. He will know me."
[10:31:50 PM] <bynw>   *guard2* "This one is using magic!" *he steps forward to Tara* "Cease your spells at once" *he command and levels a crossbow at her*
[10:33:02 PM] <bynw>   *Tara calmly looks at the guard and then to Nym and back again with a nod of her head* "Very well. I shall at your request."
[10:34:32 PM] <Nym>   ::Raises an eyebrow at the guard:: "Escort me to your king."
[10:35:25 PM] <Nym>   ??Did the guard lower his crossbow??
[10:37:13 PM] <bynw>   *without a word, the magic that holds Tara's human guise ends. And her true form materializes before the guards and the crowd that has gathered. 55 feet long, towering 12 feet high and she streaches out her wings a full 60 feet ... jet black scales and her head resembles that a skull with horns pointing out from either side*
[10:39:20 PM] <Nym>   ??How are the guards and on-lookers reacting??
[10:39:24 PM] <bynw>   *the guard falls over backwards droping his crossbow, it discharges into the air ... the crowd screams in terror at the site of the huge & very old black dragon staring back at them with hollow eyes, as the crowds run in every direction ... most of the guards have also fled a few stand, shaking but holding their grownd*
[10:41:01 PM] <Nym>   ::to Tara:: @@"I do so love to make an entrance."@@
[10:42:13 PM] <bynw>   *she leans her head down and puts her snout right up to the face of the standing, and shaking guard and in deep rattling voice as if it came from the depths of hell utters the words* "Now. Take us to your King."
[10:43:40 PM] <Nym>   ::Chuckles at the guards and begins slowly walking towards the palace, looking once over his shoulder to motion for the guards to hurry up::
[10:43:48 PM] Join   Cathrak has joined this channel (~xxx@OWIRCN-7fc476a5.pools.arcor-ip.net).
[10:44:34 PM] <bynw>   *the guard almost gagging on the breath of the dragon falls to his knees and lowers his head sending a psychic cry for help*
[10:45:38 PM] <bynw>   *The dragon takes a few steps away from the square and looks about a few times, to make sure the affect is felt by anyone left on the streets before reactivating the magic talisman she carries with her*

[Bynw]

Log #2 has been unfortunately lost

[Bynw]

<08:41:17 PM> <bynw>   ** Nym's suggestion has been rejected by King Richard. And now Nym and Tara have been dismissed and ordered to leave Mariabronn by royal edict. As they exit the palace, the guard captain and his men wait below the steps on the boulevard ... the shimmering golden platform can be seen there still as well**
<08:41:28 PM> Nick   Kagi is now known as Nym_Gibran.
<08:43:29 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Pauses as the Captain nears him, he looks rather disappointed and annoyed:: "Do you know what was said? Do the people of Mariabronn?"
<08:45:44 PM> <bynw>   *captain* "At this moment, I do not know what was said in the chamber with His Majesty. But I will know later as will everyone else. All I know is that I am to escort you back to the Portal where you arrived."
<08:47:15 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "What do you mean 'later'? You mean the edited version?" The version the King deems you to hear?"
<08:50:05 PM> <bynw>   *captain* "Not all information is known to everyone the moment it happens. are not all skilled in such arts, however we will know what transpired later today. possibilby within the hour. all audiances with His Majesty are archived."
<08:52:07 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "Archived." ::Chuckles:: "And who edits them?"
<08:53:23 PM> <bynw>   *the archivists would do so if such a thing were necessary"
<08:54:06 PM> <bynw>   *a lithe man approaches down the steps, he has narrow light blue eyes and shaggy golden hair worn in a long ponytail. Nym would recognize him from one of the many retainers who were with the King. He wears a long cloak in the colors of the Royal House of Abronn. A King's man, in direct service to the Crown.*
<08:56:51 PM> <bynw>   *As he reaches the bottom of the steps to the palace before the great boulevard, he inclines his head toward Nym. "Master Gibran", he says before turning his attention to the guard captain.
<08:57:24 PM> <bynw>   "Captain. I will escort our guest back to the portal. You and your men are dismissed."
<08:57:29 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Inclines his head to the man, same depth same duration::
<08:59:22 PM> <bynw>   *captain* "Farewell Lord Gibran" *he says taking his helm from the crook of his arm and placing it on his head and then he and his armored men depart, leaving the golden platform behind.*
<08:59:29 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Bows to the Captain respectfully::
<09:00:14 PM> <bynw>   * Returning his attention to Nym and Tara, the King's man steps on the shimmering platform before the great boulevard and gestures for the 2 to join him. With a circular motion of his hand, he calls the platform's controls to appear. Shrinking the size of golden disc to comfortably hold just the 3 of them and easily move down the city's normal sized streets. *
<09:01:42 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Joins the man on the platform. He remains silently scornful of the man, declining to even ask his name::
<09:03:11 PM> <bynw>   "I am Master Kenneth Jandl" *he begins* "of the Van Starra Celestials. The only other Anadari House before your founding of House Horizon. It will be good to have more Houses within the Order again. A long time in coming."
<09:06:34 PM> <bynw>   *the platform beigns to move away from the palace ... back down the wide boulevard heading toward the narrower streets which were walked on the way to the palace.*
<09:06:46 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Laughs loudly and honestly:: "I love life and it's contradictions, it is my life's blood...."
<09:08:34 PM> <bynw>   "You came as an Anadari and you sit on the Council in Iceland. Thus you attract the attention of His Majesty and your Anadari brothers here. We knew that you would come."
<09:08:36 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "I stood before the Anadari council and declared my house and met resistance. Yet here I stand before a man declared to a kingdom that holds to it's past the way a child does it's mother's apron strings and find approval."
<09:09:26 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "We?"
<09:12:14 PM> <bynw>   *Master Jandl* "We, your brothers. The House of the Van Starra Celestials. And Master Gibran, you will find that all kingdoms hold to the past and ancient glories. Even your own. The mother Kingdom of us all. Adan ... or if you prefer the more formal version .. Adanac. Thus your own king has reformed the 4th version of the ancient Adanac Empire."
<09:13:38 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Turns his full attention to Master Kenneth now, his face warmer:: "Ah Master, you do not understand me."
<09:15:23 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "I am a lord of Adanac tis true, sworn to the king. However there is a higher duty I am obligated to. My only true duty."
<09:18:25 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "Change. Evolution. Ascension."
<09:18:58 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "It goes by many names...even Akasha."
<09:20:05 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "Some also call it entropy."
<09:20:24 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "Some deem it good, some evil."
<09:20:50 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "I say it simply is."
<09:21:53 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "However it has no kingdom, nor does it cling to history." ::Gazes off to the path of the disk and goes silent::
<09:22:12 PM> <bynw>   *Master Jandl* "I understand you well. Those are indeed goals for people. But Kingdoms do not operate that way. Although entropy leads to chaos and disorder. And Kingdoms will eventually get there ... as Cana did before Adan."
<09:26:26 PM> <bynw>   "Chaos and disorder are not the way of Abronn. It is not in our culture. All of our cities have been carefully planned. Even down to the point where we would build one."
<09:28:10 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Continues gazing off on the path of the disk:: "It is true that kingdoms do not operate that way and cannot. Pure entropy cannot exist. Order must exist for form. It must be a balance to be healthy, and Adan as a whole is out of balance. However..." ::Turns his attention to the man:: "Nothing can stand in the way of entropy, not even Abronn. Those kingdoms that do do not survive. It's a simple law of the universe."
<09:29:04 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "For Mariabronn to survive it must adapt."
<09:29:19 PM> <bynw>   "these are not winding streets we are travelling down. these were all planned in advance ... even areas where one day the city would expand was surveyed and plotted out beforehand."
<09:31:02 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Laughs:: "Nothing. Nothing! you build will last forever, no matter how well planned sir. Nor will it need to last, it WILL become obsolete one day. No matter how well planned."
<09:31:51 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "Even my house will either change and adapt as time passes or it will be ground into dust and pass into history."
<09:32:20 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "We will adapt and change, and continue I hope. Time will tell."
<09:35:08 PM> <bynw>   *the golden platform carring the trio is within sight of the once public portal square where Nym and Tara arrived ... although forcing their way through the barrier that exists near it*
<09:36:47 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "Mariabronn is clinging to the past. How well does it fair? How far has it fallen from it's glory? Would it's Matrix really restore that glory, or would it be different?"
<09:37:33 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "It all comes down to choice however."
<09:37:41 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "It always does."
<09:37:42 PM> <bynw>   *Master Jandl* "Once we arrive at the portal. I will lower the veil that protects the area. That way you may easily summon Iamar without her having to force her way inside."
<09:38:58 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::inclines his head at Master Jandi::
<09:39:12 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "I have a question for you."
<09:39:56 PM> <bynw>   "There are always choices. And each choice brings with it consequences, good or ill. Each must be messured to bring about the destination invisioned."
<09:42:05 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Laughs again at the man's words::
<09:42:16 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "Illusions of control."
<09:42:37 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "Do you believe in God Master Jandi?"
<09:43:45 PM> <bynw>   "Without a vision, the people perish Master Gibran."
<09:44:47 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "Do they? What vision do cockroaches hold?"
<09:45:36 PM> <bynw>   "To properly answer that question, one must first undersand what you mean by 'God'."
<09:46:11 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "I believe there is a plan to the universe. For there to be a plan there must be a planner."
<09:47:09 PM> <bynw>   *Cockroaches are not people, cockroaches simply exist. But their vision, is to eat, to breed, to swarm to conqure new territory and survive."
<09:47:28 PM> <bynw>   "And they do that very well."
<09:47:46 PM> <bynw>   *the platform stops next to the portal square*
<09:48:28 PM> <bynw>   "I would not disagree with your statement. And we are mimicing our creator by planning ourselves."
<09:49:43 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "And people's vision is SO much different then cockroaches? Your king is planning on moving into the West Abronn territories. He arrogantly claims your vision is perfect and needs to be forced on those people."
<09:50:50 PM> <bynw>   *Master Jandl* "The Akasa is the building blocks used by the Creator. To be able to touch it as we do ... does put us on a much closer level to the Creator than those that cannot. We must listen to what the Akasa tells us, as whispers from the Creator himself."
<09:52:02 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "And I say you put yourself in God's place by saying you can control your destiny. You defy his plan by planning. You control yourself, hence he does not."
<09:53:14 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "I say God's plan IS change. Evolution, learning. What else could all this mean?"
<09:54:10 PM> <bynw>   "Cockroaches war against all other life they encounter. Infact all other life is food to them. The territories of West Abronn is nothing more than the western half of our Kingdom, Abronn. Given over to a govenor who was not ready to handle the responsiblity. Like allowing a boy king to rule before he can learn statecraft. Or allowing a Deryni child to have full access to the powers he possess without any training. Entroy set in."
<09:56:30 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "Mariabronn wars against all other philosophies. Infact all other ways of life are inferiour and in needs of your enlightenment."
<09:56:38 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Smiles at the Master::
<09:58:30 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "God created nature. Even cockroaches. You want to hear him? Listen to Nature. The Akasha is nature. Nature is change. Change is the Akasha. It's all the same."
<10:02:18 PM> <bynw>   "Differences of Houses and philosopies were common in ages past. And it will be the same again. We war against chaos and disorder that bring darkness. Our allies will rejoice in coming and our enemies will tremble in frightful memories. Master Gibran, you have listened to far too many old tales, created by our old enemies to instill fear and distrust of the Deryni of Abronn. Seek the truth to know."
<10:04:23 PM> <bynw>   *Master Jandl looks over to the portal square rising from the crossroads* "The veil is lifted. Iamar may be summond to further your journey."
<10:09:40 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "Stop spouting rhetoric, it's the refuge of the weak minded. Think for yourself, don't just repeat the same tired rhetoric told you. I have seen the truth in your king's action Master, I don't need tales Master Jandi. I do not distrust the people of Mariabronn. I believe they are complacent, but they are people just like me. I only wish they could hear me and make their own choice without the interferance of the King."
<10:11:48 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Steps from the platform and calls to Iamar::
<10:13:19 PM> <bynw>   *the tricon appears on the portal's square @@ "They have indeed lowered the veil that protects this area. Oh, it's Master Jandl" @@
<10:13:42 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   @@::To Iamar:: "You Know him?"@@
<10:14:38 PM> <bynw>   @@ "Of him. As my clan has sworn service to all Anadari .. he has called his own tricon companion to serve him." @@
<10:16:10 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Nods to Iamar, then turns to Master Jandi:: "Master, is it evil when a wolf pack takes down a sickly cow?"
<10:16:36 PM> <bynw>   *Master Jandl* "I bid you farewell Master Gibran" *he turns slightly to Tara* "And to you as well m'Lady and sister Anadari too."
<10:18:25 PM> <bynw>   *Master Jandl* "No it is not evil. It is the way of wolves. It is evil to take down a foreign government and culture because you do not agree with it."
<10:21:24 PM> <bynw>   *Master Jandl* "We will speak again ... soon. I look forward to our next meeting at a more neutral location than our respective homes"
<10:21:26 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Looks confused:: "How can you possibly justify marching into the West Abronn territories then? What of House Adamant, do they deserve to live and prosper then? Or the dark-hand Deryni? All Governments and culture's Mariabronn does not agree with. What a foolish statement Master jandi."
<10:22:07 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   "I am sorry for you Master, and Mariabronn. We all have choices to make."
<10:22:39 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Climbs aboard Iamar and bids her to take him home to the Tri-sun fortress:
<10:23:18 PM> <bynw>   *Tara slips in behind Nym and the three enter the astral and return to the Tri-sun fortress*
<10:24:13 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Drops to the sand, with a look of seriousness::
<10:24:27 PM> <bynw>   (gonna have to stop here ... need sleeps)
<10:24:38 PM> <Nym_Gibran>   ::Pats Lamar:: "Thank you Friend."