Alternate Realities

From: jefyoung@pawl.rpi.edu (Jeffrey Young)

Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1990 21:34:44 +0000

i
(Move from Luagha #14)
Luagha: "Morgan, I am afraid that I both wish to apologize for Captain
Plume, and not apologize.  Unfortunately, it is a fact that some
people are abrasive, and Reginald is one of them.  He has many duties,
and he fulfills them more than adequately, the main being the defense
of the nation as a whole.  His personal life has not been pleasant due
to the his wife's disappearance and his estrangement with his son, and
his public life has been one of continuous violence and bloodshed.
Now, some might say that he'd rather his public life was like that, and
they'd be right, but still it graves on his personality.
     Xanadu owes him much for his past duty, indeed, it wouldn't exist
without him.  I think a moment of discourtesy, when he thought you were not
living up to his rigid standards of honor, is perfectly excusable.
     Really, just be careful around him.  He's not an easy person,
but a valuable one, and a loyal one.  All of my combat prowess, I learned
from either him or my father, and I owe him my life countless times.
Gryphons are a symbol of honor and courage, just as Dragons are a symbol
of power, and Unicorns a symbol of purity.  May I ask you to excuse him?"

(Morgan's reply:)
  "It's difficult to deal with the social graces as they exist in
    your world.  I suppose mine would seem equally strange to one
    of your people.  Understand that in my society, the sort of caste
    system your world has is considered unjust at best, and morally
    repugnant at worst.  I am trying to adjust to the different value
    system, but I have more than 30 years of societal inertia to
    overcome.  (He grins at the last statement.)

"As far as excusing Captain Plume is concerned, If his attitude
    toward me changes when he sees my actual performance in service
    to Xanadu, I will consider his statements understandable.  If
    his initial assessment is cast in stone however, my opinion of
    his character will be less than sterling, no matter how much I may
    admire his combat skills.

"Bravery is the ability to do what must be done even though you
    fear doing it.  It's a test I've passed more times than I care to
    count, both in military service, and in the intelligence community.
    I have no need, nor any desire, to prove myself to anyone.  I can
    look myself in the mirror and not be ashamed.  When someone who
    knows nothing of me maligns my character, I get a bit upset.

"In any event, what happened, happened.  We can't turn back time, so
    let's go forward and do our best.  When you need me, I'll be there."

Morgan raises his glass towards Luagha: "To our success."

Luagha:  "Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you that, in fact,
the best way for you to change Plume's opinion of you will be for you to
distinguish yourself in battle.  Take Buckminster, for instance (the rabbit
wearing the Commander's ruby who was sitting with the Nobility) as an example
of one who, through good work, and combat prowess, managed to prove himself
and was rewarded.
     I will not defend our caste system by saying that it has been in place
for fifty thousand years, and therefore must work; clear evidence is that it
does not work in a place like Palisaad.  It requires an enlightened ruler,
like Phelia Majoris, the Phoenix, was, or Empress Joo-sama, or my sister,
and it requires that the Nobility, in ruling, truly serve.  Remember that
our society is one in which a select few have power that places them far
and away above the norm.
     Far to the east, past the mountains that are the border of the
Golden Realm, are vast plains with none but Freeborn and Domestique.
They live in tribes, and all are equal, for while one may excel above
another, it is not to the extent that it is with the Nobility.  There
has been discussion as whether or not they would be 'happier' under
our rule.  Fortunately, they have nothing desirable, so they remain.
     I recall that the Guardian mentioned that some may not wish to come
for just the reason of caste you mention, but you elected, and after you
were informed of the nature of things (which is different from experiencing
them)."

Move from Serroli (#27)
    [To Tarrin]
    " Your bardic magic can be explained by a similar reasoning as other
magic is explained.  You use music to manipulate magical energies,
while I use word and gesture.  A simple change from words chanted
to music played. "

Tarrin's reply: (Tarrin Sandwhitt #4)
   "Ah.. I see.. I think.. well in fact I always like to think it's
got to do with the magic of the instrument.  This is a magic recorder,
see?"  The Kender holds up the small flute-like instrument. "Made
by the bard who taught me himself."

"Can another's enchantment aid one's performance?  While it's
true I do know how to play the recorder, I have heard of magical
instruments made to improve the skill of others.. and even magic
ones designed to play by themselves.  There was this air harp
owned by this king in Nordmaar, and he would have to set it out
in his gardens, and the wind would play it for him... what magic
is this then?  The wind has no skill.."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
*DESCRIPTION*
   Out in the swirling pink mists of Limbo, an unlikely pair of
Adventurers meet as they follow the noise of the Flying Fox to it's
source.  The young blond lady in the jeans, sorority sweatshirt,
and Nikes, along with a pale grey cloak that doesn't look at all part
of her normal dress, regards the man clad in flamboyant reds, yellows
and oranges and his silver flute with curiosity. "Like, wow, man, are
you, like, one of those SCA dudes?", she asks.  Just then, a third
Adventurer-- this one in jet-black plate mail, a little battered
and dusty, but the red oval Bloodstone with a sword superimposed
is unmistakable.  "Aelric Steelblade, at thy service, m'ilady,
but thou canst call me 'Justice.'  Pardon mine appearance, but
I have been in a very dusty place just recently.  Tell me,
what is this strange place?"

"Got me, dude, but I'll bet someone in here knows.."

As the three enter the Flying Fox II, the Guardian known as Taldin
looks up from where he'd been talking to Serroli.

"Greetings, Leigh Zar, Allison Paul, and thee also Aelric Steelblade!
Thou'rt just in time to make the Proving Grounds Adventure..."

"Proving grounds? What's there to prove?  Like, this isn't one of those
Math theorems, is it?"

Taldin chuckles.  "No, it's an Adventure, like one of those D+D games,
you know, except you get to be in it."

"Gnarly.  So that's what this book is for."

"Again, welcome, and Janus will find ye rooms upstairs for the night."

Taldin then addresses the room in general.

"So far we've got these teams:"
   Serroli and Srien
   Melanie and Marin
   Ralph and Hachiro
   Midnight and Peter Herrick

"We're still accepting team submissions, so if you are new to this
place, you can team up with one other person.  If you are Morgan,
Tarrin, Viento, Luagha or Swifteagle, you are out of luck and have to
go it alone if you want to at all."

"Until then, see you in the morning, all."

(any actions you wish to do during the night you have a week to send.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the morning, Serroli and Srien (each carrying mysterious brown
wrapped parcels) are the first to disappear down the trapdoor
to the Portal (which, incidentally, is directly beneath the stairs)
As they look up, Taldin calls, "If you leave thru this trap door, you
automatically exit and are out of the Portal.  So it is in your best
interests survive as long as possible."

...anyone who goes down the trapdoor (the next team to report both members
in is Team Two) will find a 20'x20' scrubbed stone room with three
exits:  A 10' cube passage to the north; a 5' cube passage to the west;
and a 3' cube passage to the south.  The first two are lit by torches
in the walls spaced every 15'; the 3' is dark.  Teams, please inform me
in your report in move which passage you choose.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

-Taldin

--
"You are blue, Unicorn.. the Blue of clear, cloudless days where
everything seems like it's going right and nothing could go wrong..
and the Blue of despair and lonliness."
                                       jefyoung@pawl.rpi.edu

References

Alternate Realities
jefyoung@pawl.rpi.edu (Jeffrey Young)
Wed, 07 Feb 1990 20:57:33 +0000