The Living Dress- an alternative universe community story

JesIdres · Post by **JesIdres** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 12:22 am

Ok, the rules of this are self explanitory, I think. This is an improfic, so I'm encouraging people to come and have their fun in this little story.It's alternative universe, so go ahead and include sorcery and such. I do request that ou guys try to include some Y&Y characters. I'll post the cover as soon as I get my work computer back from interview magazine. >_<--------------
<h2>The Living Dress</h2>She moved without a sound. Tall and elegantly poised, she walked into the court, her violet eyes focused in front, never wavering. A red coronet holds back the hair that could easily touch the ground if unwound from it's intricate design. The courtiers stepped back, but not in awe of this great lady. They knew her well, this woman who strode into the emperor's court with more power than any duchess should have.
She was the woman of the living dress.
It was black, but the highlights were firey red. Crimson jewels sparkled at the end of spindles around her shoulders. The train was the most amazing creation. As the woman walked, the train was a living entity of its own. tenacles of fabric jumped and curled, dancing around her intracingly. When she stopped, they continued to move, adjusting to make a circle around its mistress. No one was quite sure how it was created, or what kind of sorcery went into it's fine stiching. Some said it was filled with he souls of loyal slaves; others whispered it was given to her by a demon, and it was created by the fires of hell. But ll belived the dress was a sinister force, and dared not to tread near it. It was widely known that the dress had caught arrows in midflight, and had choked a theif who had thought to rob the seemingly helpless woman who walked alone.
The duchess stopped at the edge of the circle around the Emperor's throne. A small, closed-lipped smile appeared on her face, tilted up to the older man who sat pensive on the golden chair. The Emperor smiled back, but the smile was that of wariness; even he was worried of the woman who ruled the duchy of the eastern border. "Duchess, so you have come again for the auction, I see. Run out of fresh meat already?"
The duchess ignored the comment. "Where have the wretches come from this time? Within the empire, or some new place you've taken fancy to?"
The emperor scowled. "New; a set of barbarian near the mountains of Kraviana. I think they will not dissapoint you."
The duchess did not answer, but quirked a single black eyebrow in interest.
"Indeed." she thought. "We will see."

JesIdres · Post by **JesIdres** » Fri Jun 15, 2001 6:51 am

As I promised... (no comments yet? huh. I'd thought someone at least say something about this....is this like the pr0n?)<CENTER> <IMG SRC="http://yinandyang.keenspace.com/images/livingdress.jpg">
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Cpl. Haas · Post by **Cpl. Haas** » Sat Jun 16, 2001 5:30 am

Overseers drove the Barbarians, one at a time, from the holding area, up to the block.
This was only a preliminary viewing, a taste for the purchasers, as it were.
the males were tall, with varying shades of hair and skin, as if they were from many places, rather than just one. The Duchess held back, none of them were quite "Right" for her purposes. "You say they were ALL from the Mountains of Kravinia??" she asked, dubiously, after seeing one specimen with skin so dark it was almost blue-black.
The Emperor nodded, "Barbarians, our troops followed the light of a Traveling Star, and found their rude encampment, we took the best of the lot, the others were burned in a fire or somesuch." She nodded her head gravely, and turned her attention again to the Previewing. The next one brought up was a Fair-skinned male, around twenty, unlike the others, the Overseers and Guards handled him with great wariness, and he wore heavier chains than all she had seen so far. (Spirit...That one may do.) She gestured, offhandedly, at the one in chains, "Why are his bonds so much thicker and stouter than the others, he isn't any larger?" She asked.
The Emperor's guard chuckled, "He is, apparently, Immune to the Controlling spell, and a vicious fighter, though he speaks no word of a Civilized Tongue," The Guard-Captain snickered, "He won't fetch much of a price, except, perhaps, as a test-subject for the Sorceror's Guild."
She smiled, and gazed pensively at the heavily manacled foreigner. "I want THAT one." she murmured, and turned to the Emperor, "I will pay 150 Sovereigns for him, right now, in Cash," The Emperor looked confused, "Why?" he asked, ever wary to remain outside the (believed) reach of her dress, "Why so much?" she finished for him.
Then, she smiled, and he felt a chill race down his spine, "Because, Your Majesty, I see something about him that I desire..." her face Darkened, menacing, "...and I know you won't get nary that for the whole lot of them." The Emperor nodded, slowly, "One Hundered and Fifty, but- there is a condition," She inclined her head, and asked, "What is the Condition?"
the Emperor nodded, indicating a command to one of his servants, "You take the Female as well." a Girl, trussed like a pig on a spit, was brought in, the Chained man Screamed out a word: "JESS!!!!" and began struggling, to free himself. "Deal." The duchess handed over the coinage, and wended her way down to secure her prizes... (all the while, contemplating the word/sound that the male had uttered... "What is a 'Jess'? is it the name of the female, perhaps? or a curse?") She shook her head, and thought to herself, "All will be known in good time."

Cannonshop · Post by **Cannonshop** » Sat Jun 16, 2001 5:45 am

The Emperor felt a surge of relief, as the Duchess took those two off his hands. The female had to be bound and gagged, she uttered curses, some of them quite potent, as his former Guard Captain had been kind enough to discover, (the man was, even now, babbling incoherently on some street-corner, his wits gone.) He smiled, and hefted the bag of coin-"Got rid of two problems, and inconvienienced that BITCH at the same time..." he mused. (Today, was a good day after all...)"maybe she'll unblock the girl's throat long enough to have that precious dress despoiled.." he smiled at the thought, for too long, in his mind, the woman had intimidated his Courtiers with her mere presence, a situation bad enough, but now, maybe, he could do something about it, aye, something to make her owe HIM.
All for the price of two uncontrollables...
"And I didn't have to sit through the whole Auction to be rid of them." he muttered.

Cpl. Haas · Post by **Cpl. Haas** » Sun Jun 17, 2001 1:47 am

"Sire, the Delivery of the Duchess' merchandise was successful." The Guardsman reported. "Excellent. There were no problems?" the Emperor asked, knowing the answer. "Well... the Male ALMOST made an attempt on Seringer, but the fool would have had it coming, Sire." The Guard said, smirking grimly. The Emperor laughed aloud, "That would be Count Sandramas' boy?"
The old Guardsman nodded, "The very one, Sire." The Emperor laughed again, paused, and looked serious, "Did that fool put my plan at risk?" the Guardsman looked confused, "Your Majesty?" the stories of the Emperor's "plans" were whispered about in the guardrooms and barracks, as something best unknown in detail by anyone, including and especially, Soldiers and Guardsmen, at least, those who desire to continue living...
"I see." The Emperor said, looking certain, "Have him Executed at dinner tonight, and have his Father, the Count, arrested." The Guardsman, who'd served the Emperor over the course of a Forty-Year Career, looked-was, in fact, confused, "My Lord?" The Emperor laughed, and poured a portion of white powder from a snuffbox, and looked over, at the older man, "I CAN'T have undisciplined men under me, Sargeant, and, as we all know, lack of discipline begins at home... Count Sandramas is guilty of Treason, because his son, one of my guards, is undisciplined." The Emperor sniffed the concoction, and gestured dismissively, "Go, DO AS I SAY!!"
Guardsman Sargeant hurried from the Chamber.
"The Emperor grows increasingly unstable..." he thought, and glanced hurriedly over his shoulder, (It would be better to transfer to one of the Attack units-Safer, at least, How I wish his Father were still...) He Squashed the thought, as he reached the Guard Barracks. Faintly, he wondered if he should seek a means to escape, before the Emperor's attention turned further inward.

Cannonshop · Post by **Cannonshop** » Sun Jun 17, 2001 2:22 am

Later that evening, at the One-Eyed Badger, a Tavern, a man waited in silence for someone. This man was heavily clothed in travelling cloaks, his face mostly hidden by a hood...
"More Ale, M'Lud?" a serving maid asked.
"Yes, that would do nicely, this has already gone flat." He replied. she took the tankard, still mostly filled, and placed a second, fresh one on the table. he handed her a Decisovereign, a silver coin worth roughly one-tenth the value of a Gold Soveriegn. "I'll be back wi' the Change?" she said, turning the statement into a question. He shook his head, "No, keep it."
The door slid open, and a large, gray-haired man with scars across his face stepped in, looked about the room, and walked towards the stranger's table. He reached it, and looked down, at the heavily garbed traveller.
"I'm looking for a Good man." he said.
"Good fellows are rare, in these times." The Traveller responded. The code-phrase and response were correct. "You weren't seen coming here, were you?" The Traveller asked.
"I doubt that I was, and, even so, It is known that I often drink in the-Lower Town." the Older man said, and leaned forward, "They've taken old Sandramas." the traveller nodded, and spoke, quietly, "You think the Emperor is going to Purge the Guard next, don't you?" The Older man nodded, "It's assured, Sandramas was one of his followers from way back, supported him when he deposed his father." The Traveller nodded, and locked gazes with the man, "So did you, if I recall correctly, Saved his life, even, Guardsman Sargeant." The older man nodded, looking pained, "What else could I do? The man was running the Empire to ruin with his policies- The Taxes, the debaucheries, Mr. Goodfellow, we had to do something, or there would have been the most destructive revolt you can imagine." Robin smiled, "I know, I was there." The old man shook his head, "You're what, Twenty? Maybe? it's been Thirty years, though I never would have believed I would be sitting in this tavern holding a conversation with the son of the man who-" he narrowed his gaze... "You are his son, right?" The traveller inclined his head, and asked, "What do have for me besides news of old Sandramas?" Sargeant slid an announcement-poster across, "Look at the Underside. That's where the pair you inquired about are currently located." He looked back, and signalled the Barmaid, "Fetch me Firewater, and make it quick."
He looked back, at "Mr. Goodfellow", "I'd be Wary before entering that house, young fellow, she's got magicks that the Court's Sorceror can't crack, though I wonder that you would ask ME about something you could have learned on your own." Robin shook his head, "I've been away for some time..." He didn't bother to finish the statement.
The maid brought a bottle sealed in wax, and a small cup, almost child-sized. the Guardsman poured the cup full, downed it, and gave her the bottle, and the cup, and a sovereign, as Troops burst into the tavern.
"Guardsman Sargeant, I have this Writ for your Arrest!!!" the lead Soldier bellowed.
The old man stood, "So it begins..." And drew his Gladius-Hispanica. "...Well, Meredith? You have ORDERS, carry them out." He said, and stood at the ready, "IF you've the Courage."
Robin slipped quietly away, as the old man prepared to die.

Sgt. C. Kurtz · Post by **Sgt. C. Kurtz** » Sun Jun 17, 2001 3:35 am

And then, thought better of it, he angled his course around the side of the Tavern, carefully skirting tables, as the "regular" patrons began surreptitiously placing bets.
The One-Eyed badger was a place Robin had carefully chosen for one reason: Most of the patrons would not be "Helpful" in identifying anyone who came in-it was a meeting place for Thieves in the Capitol City, and the Theives were recieving a special treat tonight- Galman Sargeant, feared Guardsman, who'd been the personal dread for many of them (not to mention the death of many of their colleagues) was standing, sword drawn, ready to resist the Guard Force he'd led for decades. Robin loved Irony too much to QUITE just run off, at least, just yet...
Meredith advanced, leading his men, as the crowd moved to the sides, almost forming a small arena. The Old man stood there, waiting, as the younger Guardsmen moved into postion at the flanks, forming an equilateral triangle behind their leader. The room became very, very, still.
"Please, You know it's hopeless!" Meredith said, sword drawn, and weaving a complex waiting pattern. Sargeant said nothing, sword held loosely, arms down, waiting.
"GET 'IM!!" someone in the crowd shouted, and Meredith, suddenly bold, struck at the waiting man. Steel was met by- Air. Sargeant had moved away, and brought his blade up, the point sliding neatly between the polished bronze of the younger man's breastplate, and his head, "Careless." Sargeant said, turning to face the next two.
(He's gotten even better than he was forty years ago...) Robin mused, watching the next two guardsmen advance, each with his square sheild raised, sword held close, in a defensive position, hoping, no doubt, to box the older man in, and force him to surrender.
Robin smiled, and carelessly, he fumbled a bag of marbles, scattering them across the floor among and behind the wedge of Guardsmen. "oops." Several of them slipped, their heavy armor dragging them down hard.
And then, the room went dark, as if all the lamps and torches had been extinguished. When the light returned, the Guards remaining alive would testify that the old man was gone, along with their money, most of their weapons, their cloaks, helmets, and Boots. In an alleyway several Stadia from the Tavern, Sargeant asked Robin, "Why did you step in?" The younger man laughed, and, patted the loaded cart, filled with the things he had gathered from the Guards and thieves he'd made to sleep. "Forty Years ago, a young Guardsman made a deal with a burglar he'd caught, instead of bringing this poor young man in as a prisoner, he would instead let the Burglar go, in exchange for a favor to be named later. That burglar was owed by a man named Goodfellow, for a task he completed a few days later. I inherited the debt." he paused, "What are you going to do now? you can't go back, and the Empire's bigger than it used to be." Sargeant shook his head, "I have no idea."
Robin suddenly laughed, "I have an idea, though it's a long-shot... Still, I think she'll take you on..." (The boy is strong, but untrained...) Robin looked thoughtful, pensive, and asked, "Why DID you side with Emperor Laonar, Forty years ago, against his father? You don't strike me as being particularly Loyal to him now..." Sargeant thought about the question, sighed, and looked over at the younger (seeming) man,
"I've been called 'The Emperor's Man' often enough, but it's never been the Emperor that I've been loyal to." He paused, watching the other's reaction, and then, continued, "It's the EMPIRE itself. An Emperor is just a Man with a lot of position, a figurehead, if you will..." He shook his head, "The Empire is supposed to be for the people..." He scowled, Robin could almost see the disappointment, the disgust, "These roads, they're in terrible shape, and the Army marches now all the time, it's as bad the other way as it was under old MarGus, with his taxes, and his parties..." He struck the side of the Cart with his fist. "You could have retired, you know." Robin said.
Sargeant looked up at him, his eyes reflecting a pain made of forty years of bad compromises and missed opportunities, "And who would have been left to hold it together? Who would make the sacrifices to keep it all running long enough for there to be a chance to change it?"
Robin nodded slowly, "That's why you drink Firewater, instead of Ale, isn't it?"

JesIdres · Post by **JesIdres** » Sun Jun 17, 2001 11:34 am

The duchess waited until the guards had left the three of them at her house in the imperial city. The young man had sniffed at the black glassy arch that breached the wall around the noblehouse, before looking quizzically at his girl companion. After he noticed they were going to be together, he had stopped struggling with the guards. In fact he had become quite docile. The phrase 'overgrown puppy' flashed through the duchess's mind. The girl, on reaching the house of the duchess, suddenly perked up. She scrutinized the archway with intense fascination before the guard kicked her to keep moving. He, in turn, suddenly found himself face to face with the male, teeth bared in a growl. The duchess tried to school her expression when she saw that the male had over turned the four guards holding his chains in the process. A nod from the girl, though, sent him sulking away. So, the duchess mused, the tribes do have such things as lifebonds, and used them to their full extent.
The duchess watched as the imperial guards scurried away from the gate. She knew they went to tell the Emperor that the delivery was successful. Had the Emperor really believed she had not heard the stories of the two captives that had caused so much trouble? She knew though, that had the Emperor resorted to cutting the girl's throat, he would have found that the girl would have been the least of his problems. His grandfather had been smart enough to heed the rumors that the divine were much more tied with the "barbarians". She had seen a miracle there as a younger girl. Magic could do much, but not everything. And tattoos, like that on the male's chest were not common. Indeed, they were seen very rarely every few centuries.
The duchess turned to the girl, and gently tugged on the gag. "Girl, I know you understand me. Please understand that I have no plans to harm you. I am no friend of your shackles, so keep thy curses for a more worthy foe." She gently pulled off the gag.
The girl rubbed her mouth in relief. She looked up at the Duchess with dark purple eyes. "Thank you greatly, it dried my mouth horribly.
Thank you for rescuing us,
Kin."

Cannonshop · Post by **Cannonshop** » Mon Jun 18, 2001 9:36 am

(back at the Duchess' home) Everything smelled wrong here, the odor of powerful magicks. Jess didn't seem to notice the cloying odour of it, but HE did. (Oh, to be free of this hive of humanity, to smell the air, and, not smell the stench of this city...) he watched as they spoke in that, that... babbling tongue of theirs. Bad enough that she had drawn him down from his hills to be among the Crazy-People-Who-Stay, but, now, thanks to his love, he had to stay here, in this immobile, dead-walled, place, a place where he could smell the scent of Human Misery wafting in through the windows.
J'm wanted to to tell Jess, but, she would not listen, just like when the Hard-Shirts came to the village of the Madmen who Stay, there was much danger then, and it has not ceased. (If ONLY she would pay ATTENTION!!!)
But, she ignored him when he signed to her, or worse, she dismissed his warnings, and continued making the Noises. (At least, the strange-woman-hardshirts-fear had taken his chains off.) Speaking was hard enough, the outcry he made hours ago still scorched his throat...
"J'm doesn't speak" Jess said. The Duchess looked at her quizzically. "He is one of the N'Fantrie, then?" Jess nodded, and the Duchess asked, "What brings him down to the Southern Lands, then?" Jess blushed, and explained, "He was on a Visioning, or so I've gathered. I ran across him by accident, but, I'm glad I did, the S'varro are not people to be caught by, I was, at the time, travelling south to join my Brother in Fr'ten." The Duchess was even more impressed, "You Travelled through S'varro Lands, you are from further than I thought." she Paused, and poured another cup of selim tea for her guest. "What happened to the others travelling with you?" Jess shook her head, "There were no others."
The Duchess was more impressed, "That's nearly...(quick calculation) 3000 leagues."
Jess nodded, "I would have gone by ship, but the Port City was already under Seige by the Empress of Omer'ka, and Merchant fees were too high."
J'm started examining the room. It was a good layout for a holding action, Narrow windows, the doorway was small, and raised, it would force an attacker to crouch upon entering, exposing head and neck, and blocking line of sight. Several of the bronze torches were of a convienient size to brain an attacker. (It would be better if she had spears here...) he thought, and looked down at the streets, filled with the sound of an enslaved and miserable people.
(Why do they CHOOSE this?) he wondered. It was a question he'd asked himself over and over again, the whole time they were held captive, it was strange how unhappy their captors had been. The armor was clearly restrictive and uncomfortable (The Long-Knives, while wonderfully sharp, did little to make up for the deficit...) And the men who wore it smelled, and, acted, as if they were attempting to overcome some deeper fear, not of him, but of (Someone else?).
He decided he was thirsty, and sought water in this man-made cave.
"J'm's thirsty, Milady." Jess said, noting J'm sniffing at various containers.
"perhaps-" The Duchess said, reaching for the Tea, Jess shook her head, "He doesn't drink 'Medicine' unless he's sick, he will, as far as I know, drink only water." Jess shrugged, and added, "From what I've learned from him, it's a religious thing, something about Wasting divine blessing, or something, Their language is many-layered, and totally nonverbal. I've had a hell of a time teaching him basic N'glis." The Duchess laughed, a musical sound that startled J'm.
"I forgot, the N'fantrie don't speak." she reached down, and drew out a sheet of parch, and a quill, and wrote a sentence, then, she held it up, for J'm to see.
"Would You like some Water" it said, in plainest speech-mode of n'glish.
J'm's face brightened instantly, and he gestured in the affirmative, and then, gestured to the stack of Parch, a questioning look.
"I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD READ!!!??" Jess exclaimed, her eyes wide. J'm smiled, spread his hands, and looked upward. The Duchess handed him the Parch, and a Quill, he found a flat place on the floor, and wrote: "Yes, I would very much like some water, Honored one."
The Duchess rang for water, and a trusted Servant brought it in a pitcher of fired clay.
"I think you'll have to write it to him, Jess, He won't understand it if you speak it." Jess sighed, and shook her head, "I've been with him for nearly a year, and, the whole time, I didn't know..."
she Wrote: "How long have you known how to read, J'm?"
He read it, thought... "The Correct Spelling is James, Jess. J'M was what my Grand-dam called me in the safe cave where children are kept, It's called 'Bunker'. The walls are soundproof, and it has two doors, one in front of the other."
She Replied in Gesture, with one of the few words she was sure of "Why?"
He wrote, "Because of the Death beetles, they home in on Human sounds, and swarm. It's said to be a curse from the Sky-Gods,a damnation on my people."
The Duchess wrote, "Tell her what that damnation was, if you will?"
He wrote: "Many thousands of years ago, my people were the Warriors of the Sky-Gods, but, they were not free." He looked meaninfully at the Duchess, and continued:
"When my people had grown weary of the constant bickering, between the two Greatest Gods, they protested. We were being spent to no purpose. The Gods ignored them, and continued their fights over things that made no sense. My people became ever better at fighting, but, also, ever-bitter at being wasted. The final straw came when Unsec and Usasec decided to hurl armies at one another over a single bolt of cloth. We revolted. In our Anger, we used the God-Weapons we had been given, and slew both. The Other Gods were furious, for now, they had no Leader. In their anger, they gathered, and, hurled our people down into a deep valley, where they set the Curse upon us. It is simply this: the Gods do not wish to hear of us again." He grinned, "The Animal Spirits took us in, and showed us how to survive." He carefully sketched an image of a Wolf, standing astride a mountain, "My People, in particular, are the children of Wolf, and Coyote." He looked at the quill (Not out of ink yet? what a wonderful tool...) "Wolf is Mother, Coyote is Father."

Cannonshop · Post by **Cannonshop** » Tue Jun 19, 2001 4:16 am

"You looked like a god..."Jess stared at the words, and blinked, stunned. The Duchess scratched her head, and mumbled something about seeing to supper.
Jess thought carefully about the events of their first meeting, and remembered the advice of her first Teacher in the Art- ("You must not be showy about it, some of the less developed peoples will not be so understanding of your gifts, there are tales aplenty of Scholars murdered in the darkness of sleep for merely showing such elementary abilities as shaping light.") Of course, in most lands, the Purges were a thing of the distant past, a relic, like the Iron ruins in Staaa-Bas'in, or, the strange tools that many of the Craft preserved. (I was not using the Art... But, I was carrying a coldlight.) She looked at him steadily, and wrote, "It was the coldlight, wasn't it?" He nodded, and wrote: "God-Tool. All of the God-Tools my people had don't work anymore, anyone who could make a God-Tool work, well... at the time, it did seem reasonable."
He shrugged, and wrote below that, "As soon as I realized you weren't more than a girl, I felt bad. Later, I realized that Wolf had led me to you for a reason. By then, I couldn't think of NOT being around you, even if you did make too much noise." He smiled, and stroked her hair, "By the time I realized that I Loved you, we were crossing the lands of the Lying Thieves. I couldn't continue the Mission, if it meant leaving you in their hands."
Jess read this last part with a startled expression. "What Mission?" she wrote.
James looked around the room, to ensure that the Duchess was gone. "The part about being Kicked out, it was true, but not the whole truth, I was Dangerous, so, I had to make amends." The Duchess, nowhere in sight, he added, carefully, "I was to find the Crypt of Am'ree, and, bring back a God Weapon, because the Shaman Com'ofsa has predicted that the Sky Gods are going to return, this time, they will make slaves of ALL humans."
"What???" she wrote, looking at him, in confusion.
"The Shamans go into the Temple, it's one of the few Hard-Tents we have, and there, they recieve visions of things, the past, what the weather will bring, sometimes warnings about strangers or Armies coming into the Valley, sometimes warnings to take food into the caves. Then, they send messages to the Shaman-Comofsa, sometimes, you can see them do it, with lights, at night. Every Hunt-Band has at least one, to read the lights, or, the sky."
"When were you supposed to fetch this...'God Weapon'?" she wrote.
He shrugged, "I was told only that it would be needed very soon, maybe as soon as five years."
He suddenly grabbed this piece of the parch, and tossed it in the fire.
Then, he laid one finger across his lips, a gesture he copied from watching the villagers when they seemed to want silence.
(No one can know.) Jess heard in her mind.

Cpl. Haas · Post by **Cpl. Haas** » Tue Jun 19, 2001 4:28 am

Robin looked down the street, "We're almost there... what should your name be, now that Galen Sargeant is a wanted man?" Sargeant shrugged, "it won't matter, my face is famous enough, I really wonder why you've not simply sent me on my way, it would be safer, you know."
Robin Laughed, "Send away one of the best swordsmen in the Empire because of his looks?" he said, shaking his head, "Not Hardly." Sargeant shook his head, and said, "That was some years ago, young sir, I'm an old man now, past my prime, as it were." (the old pain in his joints flared up) "It's going to rain." he added absently.
Robin looked at him in all seriousness, "You can STILL teach, though." Sargeant thought about this, and said, "If they're willing to learn, yes, I CAN still teach... This would be why you didn't ditch the weapons, then?"
Robin nodded.
(So, now I'm to train an uprising...I feel older than Sixty-four.)

JesIdres · Post by **JesIdres** » Tue Jun 19, 2001 8:34 am

Jes'sica Socerati of the White Sands sat pondering this new revelation. She picked up the pen and wrote in the corner of the parchment.
"James, why did you leave? You said a vision led you to where I found you. Why did you follow me, then?"
James blinked at the question, before shrugging his shoulders in a silent sigh. Then quietly he answered under her question. "It is as you said, we have a bond." He smiled softly at her.
She just glared back and wrote under it, "That wasn't it originally, though. You tried to kill me, the first time. And what about" she tapped her first question.
He looked at her writing with an utterly pathetic face. Jess, in a change of heart, wrapped her hand around the hand holding the pen. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push. I just wanted to know why you left the one place you called home. It obviously wasn't willingly."
James dropped his head on her shoulder, and blew a gust of air through his nostrils. He wrangled his hand out of hers and wrote simply, "I am cursed." He then tapped the red tattoo on his chest. "When I was twelve, during training, a outsides came to steal from us and I beserked. I killed them all. I was covered by a wave of blood. When they washed while I was unconscious, the mark appeared. It was a sign of the gods, and they were afraid of me. The elders said it was dangerous to keep me in the children's camp any longer, and I was sent beyond to the outer territory. Alone, I saw a black wolf and followed it. When it dissappeared, I met you."
"Is that why you tried to kill me?"
James shook his head. He picked up the pen again, and paused. "You looked like a god."[edit: stupid crashing keyboard!][This message has been edited by JesIdres (edited 06-19-2001).]

Cannonshop · Post by **Cannonshop** » Wed Jun 20, 2001 7:33 am

Thunder pealed across the city, as an unseasonable storm broke. "Damn, I hate it when you're right..." Robin muttered, miserably.
Sargeant nodded, amiably, as they trudged through the muddy alleyway that parallelled the Avenue of the Gods, where the Upper-crust of the Imperial Capitol serviced decidedly unspiritual needs. "I told you. What are you complaining about, Mr. Goodfellow? it's only a little rain." Robin snorted, and remained quiet, as they reached the end of the alleyway.
"You know where we are?" Robin asked.
"Of course, remember, I patrolled these alleys, sometimes alone, for years." He stopped, and reached behind a pile of broken crates. "Here we go." He lifted a sack of coins. Robin looked surprised, "How-?" Sargeant laughed, "The alley's haunted, Robin, has been for twenty years or more, thus making it a favored dumping ground for certain... individuals with Hot loot." He pointed at a mark scratched into the wall, "that's a place marker. made by... Yes, Rendsmon Dol, a burglar languishing in the dock for breaking into a Brothel." He paused, "You are sure the Duchess expects us BOTH?" Robin nodded.
"She knew you would be, um, 'free', fairly soon, and she has need of a Weapons Master."
As Robin said it, he realized it wasn't just an excuse, it was true... and he hadn't been the originator of the thought.
Sargeant grunted, and fastened the money beneath his cloak. The Duchess sat in her kitchen, staff busy, and watched them in the spring. (Robin, I think you should hurry.) she sent.
and smiled, sending feelings of 'Well Being' to them both, then, she allowed the image to "slip" away. Sargeant pointed down another alley, parallel to the intersection, "By that path, we'll be at her back door in less than ten minutes. This is the good side."
Robine peered down the alley, "and the bad side is-?" he asked.
"The bad side, is that I've only one sword, and no backup to go down it." Sargeant said grimly.
Robin laughed, "I am quite able to fight on my own, thanks." he said, confidently.
"Better be." Sargeant said, and started down the alleyway. The first wave of ghouls hit as they rounded the third dogleg in the alley. Ghouls are actually similar to Rats, crossbred with dogs, that move on two legs.
they're smart enough to use a club, or even a hand-axe, but not well. As carnivores, they eat meat. As Urban Predators, they are fond of many things that other animals won't approach, and have no fear of Man. Like Men, they kill for pleasure, as well as food. These were well-fed, some wore collars. "Sport. DAMN!" Sargeant snarled, and waded in, driving forward, while Robin covered their rear. Sword Work is Hard Work. By the time the first wave, mostly "Pets" gone Feral, had decided to seek prey elsewhere, both men were breathing hard, and Sargeant had an unhealthy pallor. "I (HUHF) hate, (Huhf) Ghouls...(huhf.)" Robin nodded, in agreement, and added, "And, those rich fools who buy them, then, turn them loose when they're not 'Entertaining' anymore."
No other packs attacked them on the path, the Ghoul is at least as smart as a Ch'mpnzee, and most will leave an obviously dangerous prey alone. Robin knocked, three times, on the plain wooden door. It opened, into a kitchen. "I'm HOOOME!" he called out, and laughed, as a voice from inside said, "After all these Years, Robin Goodfellow, you finally have the Nerve to Darken MY Door again?" The Dutchess reached out, and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "Um, I brought you a flower?" he said. She gestured to Sargeant, "Supper is almost ready, Galman, you'll want to get cleaned up..." she gestured more emphatically, "Hurry UP! Come IN!!!" He stepped across the threshold, watching her hemline warily. "It doesn't BITE... unless you're threatening me." she said. He relaxed. "Now, that's better." she said, as the door closed behind him. "down the hall, second door on the left, I've got some clothes that should fit you." she directed, "Unlike Robin, here, who's grown a BELLY!!!" she tickled Robin's midsection, and they both giggled. Reassured that things were not dangerously Amiss (anymore than they already were) he left the kitchen, following directions as instructed.
(This is strange.) he thought, and filed it away for later contemplation.

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Fri Jun 22, 2001 10:55 am

"Down the hall second door to the left...ok" Galman walked down the hallway and turned to the right (damn dyslexia). As he opened the door he was surprised to find an empty room but all clothes that were in the closet were women's clothing. Surely the dutchess hasn't forgotten my manliness THAt quickly. Oh well he moved to check the chest at the foot of the bed...suddenly he heard a muffled moan coming from within the curtained recesses of the bed..."OH Goddess I better get out of here and go ask the Dutchess where she put my clothes!"

Cannonshop · Post by **Cannonshop** » Sat Jun 23, 2001 7:55 am

The room distorted, walls growing further apart, and he was-
"rather foolish, old man, to be turning the wrong way like that." Galman looked up, into a blur. "Wh-?" He felt Motion, then, darkness. "You didn't say he was under a Control Influence." Robin said, looking down at the old man. "I wasn't sure." The Duchess replied, and stood. "He'll wake up in a few hours." She looked down. "My, my my... He's gotten OLD so quickly..."
Robin chuckled... "He hasn't aged quickly, it's just that WE don't age AS quickly..." He paused thoughtfully, and added, "...It's a wonder he isn't senile, you know, and even more of a wonder that he's in that good a shape after forty years-" She held up her hand, "Don't say it."
"Say what?" Robin asked, looking a trifle hurt.
"Don't tell ME what Galman Sargeant's been up to over the last Forty Years, I KNOW..."
She turned, and the dress lifted body, Robin noted that it held the man restrained, the folds wrapped tightly around his arms and legs. (the way a prisoner might be restrained if there's a danger of suicide...) "He's a lot to make up for." She added.
Robin sighed, "Bad choices and worse compromises..." he muttered. She fixed him with a glare, "Exactly.""Exactly." James signed. He was pleased, Once the writing had been revealed, it was much easier to make her understand the hand-language. She was actually picking up specific words now, rather than mere general impressions. "What about when it's dark?" She signed, "How then?".
He Thought about it, and picked up the pen, for the first time in the last two hours. "I'll teach you Tap-Speech when you've mastered Sign-speech. The alphabet's different, and there are certain words that don't translate exactly to Written forms."
The Duchess walked into the study, trailed by a young man. "Dinner is almost ready." she said, and, signed, as well. James cocked an eyebrow, and, signed, "Where did you learn??"
The Duchess Replied, "I knew a scholar who could not hear, he learned it from a man who did not speak." James nodded, thinking "Outcast" Her short-forms looked like Raven, or, maybe, Mountain Cat, both groups have exiled many of their people, usually when food in their infertile regions grew short.Robin watched the exchange, and noted the burnt Parch in the fireplace. (Still Paranoid about your security?) he wondered, but, he offered the two only an open, honest, smile. "Hi, I'm Robin>" he said, and Jess Laughed, "Of Course You Are!" (Her grin left James looking confused) "I remember when you visited my Teacher, you looked-" she stopped, and her eyebrows knitted together, "The Same..."
Robin laughed, "Clean Living, and wise choices." He said, merrily.
The Duchess shot him a nasty look, and Robin spread his hands in the universal "What did I say???" gesture.

Cannonshop · Post by **Cannonshop** » Sat Jun 23, 2001 8:07 am

The Palace Sorceror, Dens Richter, looked worried. "She didn't take the bait, Sire." he reported sadly. The Emperor sat up, dislodging a concubine. "What do you MEAN she didn't take the Bait, Dens?" Richter shook his head, looking sadly down, "Her defenses against my scrying are still working, which means that the bait is dead." The Emperor laughed, "That's WONDERFUL news!" The Sorceror looked confused, and his Lord, the Emperor spelled it out. "All we have to do, is wait for the man's corpse to be found..." Dens looked dubious, "Sire?"
The Emperor smiled, "...and then, we can bring forth witnesses saying she lured him away, and used that Dress of hers to kill him, probably in some gruesome mystical rite or another." Dens nodded, understanding, "Poor old fool..." he said, and the Emperor nodded enthusiastically, "And then, I'll be rid of TWO potential enemies." He reached over, and slapped the concubine awake, "Fetch my Robes, Woman!!"

JessIdres · Post by **JessIdres** » Sun Sep 16, 2001 4:30 am

Robin sat on the chair, trying to fight the urge of just leaving the man to sleep and go find a a nice tavern wench and prove to himself he wasn't as old as he felt around the poor captian of the guard.
'Stupid human popula-' A noise outside the door perked his intrest. Someone was moving out there, and if it wasn't for his sensitive ears, they would have easily gotten through. It sounded familiar, though...but why? He then placed the sound. It reminded him of the padded footfalls of a wolf from Home. Before he could bother with being nostalgic, he moved to the door and opened it before the visitor moved away.
In front of him crouched the young man, frozen, unsure whether to bolt or to attack. Robin read the thoughts of the shock of being caught, and the amazement of the sudden realization that what stood before him wasn't actually human at all.
:I'm not human, but don't flatter me. Must you humans call everything strange to you 'Gods"? No wonder you people get confused all the time.: Robin gazed calmly down at the boy, who grabbed his head in shock. :Yes, I can speak mind to mind. You can too, my fine little ape cousin.:
James snarled slightly at the comment. :I am no ape, nor cousin to a..a...: Robin read the boy's distress, what to call this thing that was quite like a god before him?
:You can start by callling me Robin, it is my given name. I'm a half-breed, of a human and faerie nobility. And you, my little dog cousin, are a very rare half-breed. You are indeed touched by a god, though not in the way you think.:
Robin smiled, and guestured the young man into the room. :You are the soul-son of a god. A Wolf god in fact. Did you not wonder why the gods showed such favor to a young outcast? Or place the sacred tattoo of Life on his chest? It is a rare blessing.:
The boy touched the mark on his chest. :It is no blessing. It makes me lose my mind, and made me be sent far from home. It ties me to a woman who does not even know my own tongue, or even understand what I risk to be here, to follow her.:
Robin did respond, but instead peered closer at the mark he had seen only a few times before, but knew by heart. He could not keep his anger in check. :YOU TRIED TO DAMAGE YOUR OWN MARK?:
the boy cringed at the angry voice in his head. :No! No...a priest tried to exorcise me of the god's curse, when I was still unconcsious from the madness. I had no knowledge of what it meant until I was sent away. By then, what good would it be? They still knew I had be Touched.:
Robin wanted to cry for the poor, wretched boy in front of him. To be told such lies, to never understand his own heritage. Robin sighed, and bit back the torture that was not spoken of. "You were told a lie, boy of N'Fantrie tribe, son of the God once known as Odin." He said in the Old Tongue. He boy jolted more at the fact he understood the weird tongue than at the revelation. 'he knew something was wrong.' "The priest who took blade to your flesh was frightened by the idea of a man more powerful than himself, and wished to gain your boon as his own. How was he to know it was your own father that gave you the power than flows through your viens, not the blood of the barbarians you fought? He sent you away when he heard the message of the need of the God weapon. Let a boy fail, and be declared an outcast. And let me ask you this, o son of man and god, did you ever ask yourself, what might the shape of your 'God Weapon'? Could it take the shape of a spear, a sword, a wolf, or even a woman?"

Cannonshop · Post by **Cannonshop** » Sun Sep 16, 2001 7:34 am

James looked at this "Robin", and, snorted. A woman is NOT a Weapon. Maybe a Warrior, but, not a WEAPON. The very idea that any woman would be so... disposable. He decided he didn't like this "Robin" fellow very much, but, he also decided that this Robin fellow might be wise (amoral, the very idea...) but wise, nonetheless. sent me to fail, eh? but I guessed that already. He flexed his hands, and signed "explain."
(if this "Robin" is truly civilized, he will understand the speech of the people, as well as the words of the gods, and the noise of the foreigners.)

Kaifeng-Christine · Post by **Kaifeng-Christine** » Tue Oct 23, 2001 5:27 am

Outside, in the darkness of the streets below, things were happening. "In a Capital City, things are always open for business..." This is usually pretty good for a certain sort, even in a city as heavily "run" as the Empirial Capital.
A downside to this, is that lives become very cheap, indeed.
okay, now, concentrate... she reached out, and touched the lock again.
her eyes closed, and she felt the inner workings, the neglected brass tumblers, the bear-grease encrusted mainspring, suffering under its weight, pushing the latching bar against unyeilding doorjamb. As she reached deeper into the mechanism, she was the lock, and it wanted to open.
"Click." The lock opened, and so did her eyes.
"I'll show them... the guild's afraid of her dress, well, I'm not attacking her, just making a little donation- something to keep from starving, and a nice place to crash until I can get a caravan or passage on a ship out of this hell hole..." her small hands reached into a sack, and brought out an oil bottle, she dabbed a little clean lubricant into the lock, and a little more on the hinges. "Thank you." she whispered, and slipped inside.
The place fairly stank of "Stuff". she could see patterns of color in the darkened entry, warding spells, mostly, and alarms.
"damn, this place looks tight..." the mechanical alarms were no problem, but the "magickal" ones she would just have to try and avoid. She could hear voices coming from other parts of the house. Absently, she re-locked the door behind her, in case someone came downstairs while she was here.
"If I were the good stuff, where would I want to be kept?" It was a silly question, since valuables would not WANT to be kept hidden away- merely protected from- "someone like me."
she stepped carefully, aware of the danger.
In the passage leading to the kitchens, she saw something that made "Petty Thievery" irrelevant.
A familiar sword lay, just out of reach, inside the doorway of an occupied room.
the last one father made... she reached into her pocket, and drew a dagger.
"The Emperor's men, crucified him for that sword..." She could feel the metal from the sword from where she crouched, and the keen dagger's reluctance. I'm not a killer... she put the knife away, and crouched in indecision.
"What now? she thought, and suddenly, started, as a hand rested on her shoulder, only, it wasn't a hand!!!!
She screeched, and, jumped, only to be wrapped in SOMETHING.
"Not a very good burglar, coming in when there are people about, are you?" a soft, feminine, voice said, adding, "Not very big, either, or, well fed." She felt herself being turned around in mid-air. The Lady of the house stood there, draped in rippling darkness, (but, there are shapes in there-patterns...) "Make it good." But Izumi was lost in the patterns, and heard only with part of her mind, as she gazed at the patterns of energy, unlike "magick", trying to understand what she was seeing.
Every belt-buckle, latch, lock, and hinged door opened inside the house, and the clock started to run backwards...Upstairs, Robin suddenly felt a surge of... Something. It was as if every metal object with any moving parts had decided to MOVE, this left him picking up his belt and scabbard from the floor, after re-fastening his pants (which had, unceremoniously, opened up and dropped to his ankles.) Metal influence? Who had that? The last one was... Ichiro, the smith, from that village eight years ago... crucified, wasn't he? Robin was certain that the man had been. had a kid, if I remember... must be just about seventeen now... if she lived.The Dutchess looked surprised for exactly half of one second. "Untrained. lots of talent, but untrained... she isn't a very good thief in spite of that talent,either.
"What shall I do with you..." she muttered.[This message has been edited by JesIdres (edited 10-30-2001).]

JesIdres · Post by **JesIdres** » Sat Nov 24, 2001 5:19 am

James scowled at the retreating figure. Robin was in the middle of explaining so much to him, and then something came rushing through the walls. A wave of energy flushed through him, around him, ...metal? and then it was gone and Robin was picking pants of the floor and running down the hallway. A confused mindspoken :Something's up! Must go see!: and he was out of sight.
After a moment of wondering whether to follow, he instead padded up the stairs to where Jessica was still asleep. He had been gone a while, no point in scaring her by staying away too long. She had a knack of noticing when he left, even when she slept.
He padded to the door and stopped to peek into the room, to assure Jess was asleep.
She wasn't but instead sitting up in the dark room, staring at a faintly glowing ball that hovered away from her face at a few inches. She wore a sorrowful look.
"Look what I've gotten him into! First the whole Kravania tribe business, then the capturing by this god awful city, and now this. And I said I was going to help him! How could I do this? He follows me, and only because now he has no choice. I would loathe me if I were him. Gods, he probably does.
Goddess, you said I needed to find who I truly was. And I have. I'm an idiot and a fool! Damin was right, I should have been thrown of the unwanted cliffs as a babe. Goddess, as soon as I find a temple, I will go and sever the bond. I know doing such a thing is sacrilegous, but I will gratefully take the burden. He needs to be free. Let him go free, Goddess, for if I had seen my foolishness what it truly was, he would be home and free of this tangled web." A soft sob was heard in the darkness, and Jess bowed her head. "A savior such as he is a gift I can't take. *Dissado*" A curl of mist unwound from the ball, slowly snaking out the window, until the ball dissappeared.
James shifted slightly and stood up. She turned to the door, eyes still lightly glowing a faint purple, like the ball had been. Then she curled swiftly into a ball, pretending to sleep.