[WeaversFiction] Digest Number 1036
There are 2 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. [DL-W] Watching from the Shadows
From: Allen Veazey <veazeyae@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
2. [DL-J] War Or Peace?
From: John Pepper <trissana@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2005 19:13:00 -0500
From: Allen Veazey <veazeyae@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-W] Watching from the Shadows
Day 16
Early Evening
Dining Hall
As was his usual habit, Ash'chenon appeared quietly in the
dining hall. What was completely different was his dress;
instead of his normal mish-mash of clothing from all over the
realm, he had chosen the clothing of a BladeMaster; black
pants and boots, black tunic, and a black leather belt. Viper's
jade hilt was clearly visible at his hip, as were the nomadic
as-en knives.
He scanned the room, easily picking out im****tant people
in the crowd. There was Reolden. There was Reginald. And...
Christalla!?
In a flash, their plans were laid bare. Of course. An official
announcement. But what would Ari do? He had a pretty good
idea. Ash hoped her title and lands would not suffer... but then,
Reolden would already have made provision for this. Yes.
Another look at the smug visage of Reginald. If the man knew
what was coming, he wasn't showing it. He had the look of
someone ready to jump forth and make a claim. No. It would
be a suprise to him. Ash himself had better find a good place
to be protective. He moved along the wall, finding the most
comfortable spot.
[old]
Reginald breathed deeply and smiled as if nothing was out of the
ordinary.
He watched as his bride made her first circle of the room, and then was
joined by her cousin and his escort. When the dance area began to
slowly
fill up he moved with deliberate purpose across the room, with a bored
and
indifferent air.
Oh they thought they were so smart, that such a meaningless and
worthless
bit of pomp and circumstance would stand in the way of his plans? How
little
these people understood the workings of the ruling class.
Turning around just once as he stood at the entrance to take in the
spectacle before him he smiled. This was really too sickening and
pathetic
for words. He glanced over and saw the sullen....but evident gloating
of that
over the hill poor excuse of a mentor and body guard.
Their eyes met and he was taken back by the raw power that seethed
beneath
the mask he wore. Reginald was in no position to play these games. Not
now....not here....but soon...very soon.
Without a word or sound he turned and vanished from sight.
[new]
Ash blinked as the Earl of Ravencroft left the dining hall. Just the
backlash
of the man's hatred was nearly enough to make him slump against the
wall; blocking himself out from the emotions of this crowd of people
was bad enough.
He did a mental shrug. The man was dangerous. He would strike, and
he would do so soon. There was nothing to do until the man played his
hand.
So, instead, Ash sought out the Dragonlady. How long had it been?
Years. Christalla was the one who had pardoned him after the Geode
war. He and Wyndamenth had left soon after. It had been a long, long
time.
That fact registered in the Dragonlady's expression as well, as shock
and
suprise. "Ash'chenon?!" she nearly whispered, as Ash cut in during the
dance.
"Yes," he said in his clipped tones. "Keep dancing, would you?"
Christalla was nothing if not emotionally centered. She regained her
composure with record speed. "Of all the places I expected you to be,
this was not one of them."
"Wyndamenth is ill," he replied. "This was the only place I could go."
"Oh," Christalla said. "How long?"
"Not long at all, a matter of days," Ash said. "Already, she begins to
feel better from her time in the Wastelands. I expect her to be fully
recovered
soon. And you... you are as
ravi****ng as ever. It is good to see you again."
"It is strange to see -you- again, Ash'chenon. But I am happy to
be here, to do what I could for your dragonhealer."
"And my protege'."
"What?" Christalla nearly stopped again, then chuckled. "Reolden
told me she had a guardian angel. He didn't mention that it was you.
It seems almost fitting."
They chatted a little while dancing, mostly about the state of
things in Keldarra and Telnor. Ash felt a little let down when the
song ended.
"Be well, Dragonlady," he said. "I owe you more than I can say. So
does Aridergh. Perhaps we will meet again." He let go of her hand
as he spoke. "Me, I should find Ari and congratulate her."
"Take care of yourself, Ash'chenon. I said this to you before, and I
say it again: what happened was not your fault, though there are many
people who would lay the blame at your door. I wish you peace, and
what happiness you can find."
He bowed, and turned into the crowd, looking for Ari.
-------------------
Summary: Ash attends the announcement party, where he learns of
Ari's choice, locks horns with Reginald for a moment, then shares a
dance with Christalla.
Respectfully submitted by:
Allen Veazey
veazeyae@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
'chenon and Wyndamenth
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2005 21:30:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: John Pepper <trissana@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-J] War Or Peace?
Tanami
Undersea, offshore from Jasra
Evening, Day 1
The envoy from General Sentari's brigade could only stand nervously in
the presence of his Emperor and his commanding general as his superiors
considered his message.
"So," said General ****amo, the army commander, as he stood up
impatiently and made a sweeping gesture that left a trail of tiny water
bubbles its wake. "Brigadier Sentari himself ordered the attack earlier
today? Did he present written orders?"
"N-no, sir," the colonel stammered. "He said the orders came directly
from you."
"And General Sentari is now dead?" ****amo pressed.
"We assume so," said the colonel. "He did not return from the assault,
and the casualties were very heavy. Many bodies have been returned to
the sea and identified, but the task is far from complete. It may be
tomorrow before..."
The general waved his hand for silence, and turned to the Emperor.
"Your majesty, General Sentari is not the only officer to 'go missing'
today, leaving only subordinates to attempt to explain their actions.
None so highly-placed as Sentari, but one regimental commander and key
staff officers from two brigades."
"There is one other, more highly placed than General Sentari," the
Emperor said thoughtfully, "who is also conveniently absent. Counselor
Oga."
"But at least we know where he is, your Majesty," Tanami offered. "He
is prisoner at the warren." She and Clowie had stood in silence for
some time, off to one side of the area which had been cleared for the
Emperor to hold court. More than once, the two riders had wondered
whether their presence here was intentional on Toru's part, or whether
they'd simply been forgotten in the excitement following the Emperor's
return.
Toru turned calmly to her, in a way that told her that he'd not
forgotten their presence after all. "You have confirmed this by having
your dragons contact those on shore?" he asked. "Oga is a prisoner, not
a casualty?"
"My dragon Kethriss has spoken to the Queen herself," Tanami said.
"They hold him until such time as you come to claim him - on the
condition that he leave as your prisoner."
"Normally I would say this was a pity," said the Emperor. "His survival
forces us to deal with him rather than simply to claim his body. On the
other hand, my daughter's whereabouts remain a mystery, and he is the
only one who may be able to answer my questions regarding her." He
stood up and faced General ****amo. "Have another officer - one you
trust - take over General Sentari's command, and then instruct commands
that no one is to set foot shore without my express order." He sighed.
"Hopefully we may still hope to clear up this mess."
"And the parties reclaiming the dead and wounded of Sentari's brigade?"
asked General ****amo.
"They are exempted, of course," said the Emperor. "Also, a small honor
guard will be needed in ten minutes time. I am going ashore to confer
with Warrenlady Tara." He turned to Clowie. "Will your Warrenlady
listen to you if you go ashore in advance and tell her that I request a
truce, effective immediately? And that we come ashore to parley?"
"I am sure she will," Clowie said, bowing. Knowing the urgency of the
situation, she lost no time in making her way over to where Faragone
waited. In a matter of seconds, they were arrowing toward the surface.
(Katie, feel free to add at this point)
* * * * * *
Tara
Evening, shortly afterward
The sudden appearance of Clowie and Faragone had scared the wits out of
the guards posted just behind the waterfront, and a few crossbow bolts
had been loosed in the confusion - fortunately missing their intended
target. Word was quickly passed, and within a short time Tara was
waiting in one of the high lookout points built into the seaward wall
of the warren. Precisely at the time predicted in the message Clowie
had brought to Tara, a party of Kataani soldiers walked solemnly out of
the sea.
The warren guards stood back from them, as ordered. There were, she
saw, too few Kataani to cause any real trouble unless there were a lot
more behind them. Silently, they formed a double-file and stopped,
facing one another and then backing away from each other to form a
corridor between them. Each carried a trident which, when held up
before them, emitted a soft blue glow.
"Magic?" Corwin asked, looking down at the display over Tara's
shoulder.
"No," said Clowie, shaking her head. "The tridents are glass, made with
a phosphorescent substance that causes them to glow briefly when shaken
- as the guards did when they held them up. Such things are common
where I come from."
Tara shook her head in wonderment. "Not only magic, but science too,"
she said to herself, wondering how much they could learn from these
people.
Just then, two more Kataani emerged from the sea. Tara recognized
Emperor Toru at once, and was surprised to see Tanami walking alongside
them. Kethriss followed close behind, giving herself a shake as soon as
she was clear of the water, managing to thoroughly drench the Kataani
honor guard. Neither the Emperor nor Tanami seemed to notice.
"Good thing they weren't carrying torches," Dolfis remarked. "Or the
Emperor would have to make his way in the dark."
Tara strode over to an ornate stone chair, mounted on a low dais.
Nobody knew why or when it had been built here, or what purpose it
might have once served, but because it was close to the opening in the
outer wall it did make a good vantage point for looking out over the
ocean. It would serve a different purpose tonight, thought Tara, as she
seated herself in it.
"Holding court?" Corwin asked, guessing her intent.
"Well, this is a more impressive place to meet a visiting head-of-state
than my office or the dining hall," Tara said. "Who knows, maybe that's
what this was designed for in the first place."
"Except that we've never had a head of state to come visit," Tyler
Grouty pointed out. "Unless you count my father and his forebears."
"Things may have been different, long ago," said Rellik, having just
finished his climb of the steep, stone staircase that led up here. "Our
people have legends...most do not believe them, but still they exist.
They tell that our two peoples were once one, and both came from
somewhere far away. Beyond the borders of the world, they say..."
"Really?" Tara asked, leaning forward. "Then what happened?"
"Some preferred the land, some the sea," Rellik said. "Those who loved
the sea became our people, the Kataani...those who wished to live on
land, of course, became the Landers..." He cleared his throat in
embarrassment, realizing he'd uttered what his people would consider a
derogatory term. "Became...your people," he said apologetically.
Tara leaned back in the stone chair and stared out over the sea. "We
have a few minutes before Tanami and the Emperor arrive," she said.
"There's no space for a dragon to land, so they'll have come up the
stairs." She was silent for a moment more before speaking again. "We
have legends too," she said. "They say that our people came here in
****ps, and landed on these shores. They almost immediately encountered
the wraiths, and wild dragons, and other horrible things...probably
wyrms, like Peren's mount Sheava, and magical creatures of the wastes.
It's said that they were nearly wiped out, and would have been
completely had they not constructed a great fortress to keep the
monsters at bay."
"I wonder what sort of ****ps they must have had," Corwin mused. "We
know of no lands on the other side of the sea where our people might
have come from.
"Nor even do we," said Rellik. "There are tales of lands to the far
west, but unimaginably distant...so far that even our people do not go
there, and some do not believe they truly exist."
"Perhaps ****ps more advanced than we can imagine," said Tara. "From
shores that are likewise more distant than we can imagine today. But
the legend goes, that our people would have been destroyed except that
a wounded dragon - a queen carrying eggs, much as the one who bore your
daughter Augusta's dragon, Dolfis - fell from the sky into the
fortress, and there laid her clutch because she could do so nowhere
else. Many of the people wanted to kill the dragon and destroy the
eggs, but some of the wiser among their leaders kept order and saved
the eggs...and it was there that the first human and dragon became
bondmates. This was, as I understand it, long before our society
developed as we know it today, and long before the Contract between the
Warrens and the landbound society."
"Where was it that this happened?" Clowie asked, fascinated.
Tara gestured around her. "It may well have been right here," she said.
"Jasra."
Dolfis chuckled. "Not likely, after this long. If your story's true,
the place has probably gone to dust with its makers."
Tara smiled. "Perhaps, she said. "But there is no doubt that this place
is older than any of the other known warrens. And its design - at least
this part of it - is unique. The landward side of the warren was made
to look as much as possible like the place we're in now, but it's
actually far newer. This ****tion - the taller, seaward side - is
constructed much differently. Builders and architects who've looked at
it say it's construction techniques are more advanced than the newer
****tion. And all the long, narrow passages that wind all through this
part of the warren certainly don't look like they were built with
dragons in mind." She sighed wistfully. "Just think, the first joining
of dragon and human might have occurred right here, uncounted ages
ago."
"Fitting," Corwin remarked. "Since the future of both of our races may
soon be settled here."
By now, there was a large group in the chamber. She could pick out most
of Corwin's riders plus quite a few from Alpha Wing. She saw her
brother Ansel, who waved nervously at her. Hsina, of course, was still
recovering in the med center...which was too bad, because her imposing
presence might well have proven useful if what she had in mind didn't
come off as she hoped. For she intended to do something unexpected,
something that no one other than Dolfis knew about. She turned her head
slightly and saw that the pirate captain had backed off into the
shadows, where he was less likely to be seen by the incoming party. He
clutched something in both hands, a long, narrow object covered in
wrappings.
It was just then that the sound of footsteps was heard on the long
staircase leading into the chamber where they all waited.
"It's time," she said.
The Emperor's honor guard strode into the room, taking up guarding
positions on either side of the entrance. Again they hefted their glass
tridents, which bathed the room in their eerie blue light. Once they
were in position, Tanami entered, turned, and knelt as Emperor Toru
made his grand entrance. At Tara's nod, the rest of the group paid
their respects, the Kataani kneeling and the humans bowing. But only
for a moment, before straightening up and facing him again. This was
part of the protocol, As Emperor, Toru commanded respect - but here, in
this place, he was not owed homage or tribute. Tara, for her part, kept
her seat and faced him impassively - a reminder that it was she who
ruled here, not him.
The Emperor, of course, was well versed in such protocol. He strode up
to stand before the dais where she sat and gave a short, stiff bow
before giving her a penetrating look.
"Warrenlady, I come in peace - as trite as that may sound," he said.
"And as unusual as it may sound, under the circumstances," she replied.
"Only this morning, our warren was attacked without provocation. Many
of our people are dead, and several dragons as well. The attack was
made by soldiers under your command, Emperor Toru. Why should we now
believe that you have peaceful intentions?"
Toru sighed. "This verbal fencing is pointless," he said. "By now, my
cousin..." and he turned his head to indicate Tanami, "...has informed
you by way of your dragons that I was being held prisoner along with my
immediate staff in the Moaning Caves. Our generals were misled by the
one you now hold prisoner here, into believing that that you were
responsible. Many of my people died too, but we should direct our
grievances at the one who betrayed us both. I have ordered my generals
to stand down their forces and maintain a defensive perimeter only -
and that, only as long as I and my daughter are here. The general who
launched the attack to the north of here, which I understand caused a
large part of your casualties, is now a fugitive...others have been
arrested on charges of conspiring with Counselor Oga in treason against
the crown. I propose that we make a truce to consider our positions,
Warrenlady."
Tara leaned forward in her seat. "I agree to the truce, Emperor Toru,
but that is only for now...what about tomorrow, and the days that come
after? We need a more lasting peace between our peoples, or else
nothing good will have come out of any of this." She hesitated a moment
before going on. "I must tell you, Your Majesty, that your daughter
Princess Kiyomi remains unaccounted for. She was known to be in the
warren until last night, but since then her whereabouts are unknown, as
are the whereabouts of one of my dragonriders who was with her."
Toru's expression darkened. "My daughter MUST be returned to me if
there is to have any peace...!"
Tara held up a hand. "Emperor, I will do what I can...in fact, a search
has been going on for your daughter since this morning. We will
continue to do what we can...but I must also tell you that we found
evidence of a Kataani raiding party having come ashore *before* the
attack took place this morning, and very likely before your daughter's
disappearance. It may be that Counselor Oga knows what has happened to
her."
The Emperor clenched his fists. "Then you must turn him over to
me...now."
"I don't want him here, and will be very glad to give him to you," said
Tara. "On your word that he remains a *prisoner,* and does not manage
to worm his way back into your good graces so that he can go on
conspiring against us as he has in the past."
"You need have no fear of that, Warrenlady Tara," Toru said gravely.
"Our society is based on order and discipline, as you have no doubt
observed, and our system of justice is both swift and - when
appropriate - harsh. Counselor Oga will, most likely, face execution
once we return with him to Neaopi."
Tara nodded, as if deep in thought...actually, she was trying to work
up the nerve to do what she knew she had to do next. "That is
acceptable to us, Your Majesty," she said. "But there is just one more
matter to be settled between our peoples if there is ever to be true
peace between us."
"And that is?" the Emperor inquired, clearly becoming impatient.
"I'm speaking of the reason Oga betrayed you and tried to destroy us,"
said Tara. "I'm speaking of the thing he came ashore seeking when he
tried to kill me earlier this afternoon, and nearly did kill my junior
queenrider Hsina. I am speaking of THIS!"
She abruptly stood up, and raised her left arm. From the shadows,
Dolfis tossed his bundle toward her. Seeing it, the startled Emperor
stepped back several paces, and his guard immediately assumed combat
positions, going into crouches with their deadly tridents extended.
There was the sound of swords being drawn throughout the room.
All this took place in the couple of seconds it took the bundle to arc
its way over to Tara. She deftly caught it and gave it a shake, and the
wrappings fell away. She held up both arms, grasping the golden Scepter
of Ythfaru before her as a fighter might do with a quarterstaff. A
collective hush fell over the room. The Emperor stared in shock.
"The Scepter!" he rasped. "You DID have it, all along!!" He took a
couple of steps forward. "It is mine - give it to me!!!"
"STOP!" Tara commanded, and Toru halted, the look of shock and surprise
on his face growing even more pronounced. And there was something else
there, too...lust.
"Emperor, when you asked me, I told you truthfully - it was not in the
Warren, but elsewhere. I concealed that knowledge for your protection,
as well as mine. And as for right now...you may be the greatest
sorcerer of your people, except for Counselor Oga," said Tara, "but if
my knowledge of this artifact is accurate, you cannot attack me as long
as I hold it, or try to take it from me. Nor, if you order your guards
to do so, could they obey that order." The look on Toru's face told him
that she was right. "And I am just a 'mere Lander.' If I were one of
your own people, you would be forced to obey my every command."
"You don't know what is that you are holding!" Toru said, his voice
heavy with menace. "You must give it to me now, before..."
"Before what?" Tara demanded. "Before someone else gets it? Believe me,
Emperor Toru, I know very well what I am holding. Better than you do,
in fact. It is my people who have repeatedly paid with our blood
because this damned thing came into our hands by accident. I would
gladly give it to you, along with Counselor Oga, if I thought it would
bring peace. But it would not. It is no safer in your hands than it is
in Oga's."
"And it would be safer with you?" Toru sneered. "If you had not hidden
this from me before, and lied when you told me it was gone, then all of
THIS might have been prevented. Our two peoples would be at peace
today, and we would be far from here, in our own territory."
Tara sat back down, her hand caressing the intricately-carved length of
the Scepter. Toru licked his lips and took an almost involuntary step
forward. He stopped when she turned a hard gaze upon him.
"Do you really believe that?" she said sadly. "This is the first time
in your life you have ever laid eyes on this thing, and already it's
affecting you this much. How will it...?"
"It is a sacred instrument of our god!" Toru insisted. "In the right
hands...!"
Tara ignored him. "...affect you within a few days, or a few months, or
a few years? What kind of a ruler would you be if all you could do, day
after day, is what I am doing right now? Sitting here, staring at it,
holding it, never wanting to let it out of your sight. That's what I am
feeling right now, and I am a human, not even fully attuned to it as
you are. How will your Empire function without its Emperor?"
"There will always be an Emperor," he replied. "You speak nonsense!"
"Do I?" Tara asked. "Well, perhaps I do...because you're right, there
would be an Emperor...it may not be you anymore, that's all. Emperor
Oga I, perhaps...or one like him. It really doesn't matter in the long
run. And then another new Emperor, and another..."
"An Emperor who holds the Scepter of Ythfaru would have absolute
power!" Toru countered. "With that instrument, I could ensure peace
forever - and an orderly succession of the crown, with no threats from
traitors such as Oga. It was *because* you withheld it from me that
your warren was attacked, and I almost lost my own life."
"If that is true," Tara said softly, "then perhaps you can tell me why
the Scepter was not already in your possession? Why it was not handed
down from heir to heir, continuously, down the centuries? How it came
to be in the possession of a human pirate captain?"
Toru opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. She had finally
asked a question he had no answer for. It was Rellik the scholar who
broke the silence.
"Your Majesty, I have studied the histories," he said. "I know that you
have always ruled as a wise and just Emperor, and that you honestly
believe what you are saying now. But I too have held that Scepter, and
know its effect on our people. And the histories are clear - no monarch
who has ever laid a hand on the Scepter of Ythfaru has ever finished
out his or her reign and died a natural death. All were, eventually,
overthrown, until the Scepter was lost for a time. Then an uneasy peace
would come, until the Scepter was again found. Its last absence has
been the longest known, and this coincides with the longest period of
peace and stability our people have ever known."
"And to absolute power," Tara observed, "don't you already have that?
What *more* power do you need, that this artifact could give you? I
think you would find that if you held it, you could never put it
down...never! You would have to sleep with it...eat your meals with one
hand, because the other would always have to be holding the
scepter...make love while holding it..."
"Enough!" Toru roared.
"...because the moment - the very moment - that you laid it down, there
would be Counselor Oga, or his like, ready to snatch it and take your
power for themselves. You would not have ultimate power, Your
Majesty...you would be the ultimate prisoner of THIS!" Tara held up the
gleaming Scepter again, and the Emperor averted his eyes.
"And is that your price for peace?" Toru asked. "To keep it here, for
yourself? That is unacceptable!"
Tara shook her head, lowering the Scepter. "No, that's not what I want.
I propose to take it out of the Warren - not to an inhabited place,
like Haven, but somewhere far out in the wastes, where wild dragons and
wraiths and waste-monsters rule. Joined dragons cannot go there, nor
their riders...nor, I suspect, could your people. I would have it
buried deep in the ground, somewhere off the known trade paths. There,
both you and I - and our peoples - will be safe from it. Not forever,
maybe, but for a very long time."
"And if I refuse?" the Emperor asked.
"Then it is within your power to keep peace from becoming a reality,"
Tara affirmed. "But is that *really* what you want?"
Toru did not answer at once - for he was realizing, deep down, that she
was right. He had ruled all his life without the Scepter, and didn't
need it to secure his power. It truly was more likely to threaten his
rule than to make it any stronger. But the Scepter belonged to the
Kataani, for better or for worse, and its recovery had been the sworn
duty of every Emperor for centuries. For the moment, the Emperor was
torn between duty and expediency.
And then the moment was ended - and not by either the Emperor or by
Tara. "It is not what *I* really want, Warrenlady Tara," said a
familiar voice from the entrance.
The Kataani guard turned, swinging their tridents around to bear on the
intruder. Oga waved his hand almost negligently, and the glass tridents
shattered in the guards' hands. Oga used the moment of confusion to
race forward, past the Emperor and his party. And then he did something
Tara thought would have been impossible - he snatched the Scepter from
her hands. Laughing maniacally, he held it up before him. All the
Kataani in the room - including Tanami, Clowie, and even the Emperor
himself - froze into immobility, their gazes locked on their new
master.
"Simple, really," Oga said, as he pointed his new possession out over
the crowded room. Power was gathering around him, like a thunderstorm
forming right inside the room. "There are magical preparations one can
make that can, briefly, nullify the Scepter's prohibitions from anyone
seizing it from the grasp of the holder - as long as the holder is a
mere human, of course."
He was focusing on the Emperor, the only Kataani sorcerer in the room
that was near his own level. In so doing, he momentarily ignored Tara,
who stood behind him. It wasn't until she lashed out with a vicious
kick to the Counselor's mid-back that he realized his mistake. It was
too late, however, as the Scepter flew out of his hands and skittered
across the floor.
Toru shook his head and tried to snatch it out of the air. Oga had
already regained his balance and was chasing the prized object, but
collided with Tyler and Rellik. What looked like a momentary struggle
ensued, with Tyler getting his hands on the Counselor before being
knocked backward by Oga. Toru reached up to grab the scepter, but
Dolfis was suddenly in the way. With unexpected speed and agility, the
pirate Captain leaped in front of the Emperor and plucked it from
midair.
[I am getting re****ts from dragons whose riders are down below in the
warren!] Varaenna re****ted. [They say the guards are dead, and the door
blasted off its hinges!]
Tara silently cursed herself for not having taken greater precautions.
She should have known that Oga was always more dangerous than he
seemed. She raced after the Counselor, who had pushed Tyler and Rellik
aside, and was now going for Dolfis. He raised a hand and hurled some
type of unseen force that knocked Dolfis flat - but only a half-second
after Dolfis had hurled the Scepter like a javelin. Oga, whose first
thought was always for his own safety - instinctively ducked. But the
Scepter was not aimed at him, it was flying toward Tara. She just
managed to grab it, though she lost her balance and fell to the floor
with it. And then Oga was there, standing over her, his finger pointed
at her. She knew that he was about to use some sort of magic, but could
not guess what - other than that it certainly boded her no good!
But Oga had no chance to do whatever he intended, for behind him, the
assembled riders and Kataani guards were surging up to seize the
traitor. "Counselor Oga, you are under arrest for treason against the
Crown!" the Emperor shouted. Oga turned and raised both hands, and yet
another unseen force interposed itself between the Counselor and his
attackers.
"Your Majesty, you must do something!" Tanami cried. "Tara cannot keep
the Scepter from him alone!"
Toru raised his hands. "I will...bring this wall down...!" he said,
through gritted teeth. But he knew that it would take several moments
to do so. Oga had not come here unprepared, he knew. A magic of this
complexity took long to prepare.
Tara, meanwhile, saw that she was on her own. She swept out her sword,
and held it up to ward off the traitorous Counselor's approach.
Oga laughed. "Do you believe that a piece of pointed steel can stop a
person who can do what you just witnessed?" he asked. He pointed his
finger at her again - and nothing happened.
Now it was Tara's turn to laugh. "No," she said. "But a piece of
pointed steel in the hands of someone holding the Scepter of Ythfaru
apparently can. You may have ****elded your mind against its influence,
but your magic won't operate against its holder - Kataani or human."
Oga scowled. "Then we will have to fight for it on even terms,
Warrenlady!" He gestured again, and a sword that had been dropped on
the floor flew into Oga's hand. He advanced on her, blade raised, and
then slashed it at her.
But Tara was ready, holding her own sword in a blocking position. The
blades rang together, the sharpened edge of Tara's sword sliding to
where it would have cut Oga's fingers had he not quickly pulled back.
But the Counselor was back on the attack without a second's hesitation.
Tara was forced back into the narrow passageway behind her, and the two
were lost from view to the spectators in the main chamber.
Tara was as good with a sword as any queenrider she knew - which was,
of itself, no great achievement, since queenriders were not supposed to
be trained in swordplay. Vignette had frowned on Jerram's training her,
but had consented because the Dragonlady knew it would help keep her
mind off of her family problems. She would have been inordinately
pleased to know that Jerram considered her a fine student considering
the limited amount of training she'd gotten. She'd never stand up
against a master swordsman, but against anyone else she could give a
good account of herself. Oga, for his part, shouldn't have been such a
good swordsman either, given his position at court. But he, too, seemed
to have had training at some point, and was very competent with a
sword.
And strong, too! He swung his blade around, and it clanged so hard
against her blade that she felt the vibration throughout her body. Her
arm hurt from the shock of impact, but she had no choice but to block
again as he struck with even greater force. She knew Kataani were
stronger than they often appeared, but even with that as a given, the
power of Oga's blows surprised her. It was then that she realized what
he was doing - he was using the power of his magic to augment his
blows!
Well, two could play at that game! She moved her sword to block yet
again, and Oga struck yet again. But this time, Tara ****fted at the
last second so that it was not her sword that Oga's struck - instead,
it was the Scepter itself. The impact made a ringing sound that was so
loud it hurt both antagonist's ears, but this time Tara felt no force
at all from the blow. Oga, however, staggered back as the entire force
of his strike rebounded back against him. Tara pressed her attack,
making a forward stab with her own blade - but Oga parried it, and had
time to catch his second wind. He attacked her again, and the fight
continued. Oga wasn't one to repeat such a mistake, and relied upon his
own skill rather than magic - and as long as he did that, Tara found
that the Scepter wasn't all that useful as a ****eld. It wasn't balanced
like a sword, and was heavy to carry with one hand. By its preventing
Oga from using magic, it was of great value, however.
Oga lunged at her, and for a moment appeared to slip on a wet spot on
the floor. Tara lunged in with a swing that she hoped would take him
right across the neck. Instead, she realized an instant later that the
slip had been feigned, when his sword came up with blinding speed,
deflecting her slash and boring in with a stabbing thrust that she knew
she couldn't avoid. There came a deep, burning pain from her
midsection, and the next thing she knew the sword was dropping from her
fingers. Her last conscious thought was to keep Oga from getting the
Scepter at any cost, and she twisted so that she fell right atop the
Scepter, her body ****elding it from Oga.
Her sword clattered to a stop at Oga's feet, and he kicked it aside
disdainfully. Now, all he needed to do was to take the Scepter, and he
could bring this Warren right down on top of them! He reached down to
try and roll Tara over to get the Scepter, when he had a sudden feeling
he was no longer alone. With a snarl, he jumped to his feet, sword
raised.
(Tag...anyone!! I think we can assume that Toru would break thru Oga's
barrier in a relatively short time, and that someone would be arriving
to help. Who gets there first is up to you all - and remember, it
doesn't necessarily have to be someone who was written as being in the
room with Tara and the others)
NRPG: Ok, I've pretty much left it so that anyone can jump in who wants
to - all I ask is that we make this a good fight and make time for
others to get involved. A few notes:
1. If Oga gets the Scepter, he can command any Kataani's loyalty - and
automatically, no Kataani can attack him (as noted, even Oga's own
spell that allowed him to fight Tara for it would not have worked if
one of his own people had been holding it. He cannot command humans,
but his power of sorcery - already very great - will go up about
tenfold. Dragons are immune to Oga's own power, but not to that of the
Scepter.
2. If a human gets his or her hands on the Scepter, they'd have the
same advantage pretty much that Tara did, i.e. they're immune to any
Kataani magic. In an "even" fight, where neither has the Scepter, Oga
can cheat using magic.
3. If another Kataani gets hold of the Scepter, it would bring the
fight to a swift close...but remember the seductive power of the
Scepter ("Use me, use me!")...and nothing that is done by the Scepter's
power is likely to turn out well.
Ok, can't think of anything else - everybody have fun!!
Submitted by:
John
Tara & Varaenna
Tanami & Kethriss
Jasra Warren
And
Counselor Oga
General ****amo
Emperor Toru (on loan from Kris :)
Kataani Empire
Summary:
Evening: Day 1
Emperor Toru gets control of the situation undersea, then sends Clowie
ahead to announce that he wishes to come ashore to meet with Tara.
Tara and a number of riders and warrenfolk discuss the warren's history
while waiting for him. Toru appears and asks for a truce, which he and
Tara discuss. Tara shows him the Scepter, and the two argue over what
should be done about it - but both know that its fate must be decided
before there can be peace.
Oga escapes, and seizes the Scepter from Tara. She gets it back, and
the two draw swords and fight their way into a narrow tunnel leading
out from the main chamber, while Oga's power tem****arily holds everyone
else back. At the end of the fight, Oga stabs Tara and reaches down to
reclaim the Scepter - with which he intends to destroy the Warren.
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