Alternate Realities, portal Xanadu From: rip1@tank.uchicago.edu (The Armchair Ninja) Date: Sat, 07 Oct 1989 01:25:51 +0000 The people who need to send me expanded character descriptions and personalities are: mato@sssab.se, michelob@pawl.rpi.edu, and russ@uokmax.etc. Until then, they will be present, but faceless and ineffective. Those who walk through into Xanadu are: Luagha, Tarrin (who, of course, flies in), Hachiro (who bows formally to the small Guardian before entering), Melanie, Casha and Morgan (everyone seems to be pairing these two, so who am I to stop a trend?), Ecrylion Farlasa, Swifteagle (who does NOT fly into the portal, having some restraint), Dorian (who walks with an air of disdain towards the obvious cowards who are not taking this opportunity), Ralph, and Viento Salvage (who takes out his sword to see if it's any easier to use, but discovers that it isn't because it got translated with him, and is now about a foot and half longer and an inch wider than it was). When all are inside, the portal closes with a whispering hush. You find yourselves in a group, in a large natural cavern, with several ways to go, some hallways small, some large, about 7 all told. Lanterns of a sort that do not burn line the walls, and provide a warm radiance. Viento : "Sir, as heir to the throne and pool, how does one of my station address you? For that matter, all nobility? Perhaps, to make my movements in this society more facile, I should become the personal bodyguard of either yourself or some other noble in the party." Luagha: "You address me as Prince Luagha, or, when speaking more informally, Sir, or Lord. Other nobility should be referred to as Lord, save those with high military positions, who should be referred to as Sir. My father got rid of that "Your Exalted High Grace" sort of thing many years ago. I am certain that I, or any here would be happy to accept you in such a position." Viento: "Then, Sir, perhaps you should tell us more about what we are needed for here in Xanadu. Is there an imminent threat to the throne or your sister?" Luagha: "There is always the danger of war with Palisaad, the nation to the west (ruled by a vile dynasty of basilisks), and several other things which need doing at any one time." Tarrin, after flapping his way around, exploring, comes back breathless. "How far do these caves go? Can I have a map of them? Which way do we go? Is there anything lurking behind hidden corners?" Luagha: "I am afraid that they are measureless, little one. This is the Ever-Changing Palace, and there is little hidden down here besides stores. We go this direction (heading towards one of the larger tunnels). You will find that all one has to do to traverse the Palace is think about where you are going, and go there. Different people have different priorities, so people like guards in a hurry have hallways in a straighter line towards their destination than someone going to get breakfast. By now, most of you probably have rooms set out for you, if you wish to stay at the Palace." The group comes to a set of stairs that leads up, depositing you all in a carpeted hallway. There is a window at the end of the hall, several ways to go, and several doors. Luagha hails a steward who happen to be passing by. Luagha: "We have some guests staying in the palace. Send the Fabricator around to their rooms, so the tailors will not be rushed. (To the rest of you) Dinner will be in (checking sun in window) about three hours, and Court will follow that. I advise that those who wish to appear at Court have proper clothes made for them by the Fabricator. To find your rooms and bath, I suggest that nobility take that passage, freeborn that, and domestique the other. Open the door that seems correct to you. The dining hall is easy enough to find." Luagha makes a head count, and discovers: "We seem to be missing someone already...the ferret. Well, no harm can come to him here, and I'm sure he'll be guided to his room eventually. I have some arrangments to make, so I will see you all at supper, then." And with that, he is off. Those of you who go to their appointed rooms will meet the Fabricator a bit after you bathe, most likely, those who wish to do something else should inform me, and I'll be talking to Dorian alone... -- "Let us live short lives of glory, let us burn bright, like a flame, And when the gods call, let the poets remember our name..." Up