Alternate realities, portal Xanadu

From: rip1@tank.uchicago.edu (The Armchair Ninja)

Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1989 19:47:40 +0000

First, I'd like to thank Vicki Wyman, author of Xanadu, a five-issue
limited series comic put out by, I believe, Thoughts and Images.  She provided
a basis for this Portal from which I have leapt and flown, hopefully as high
as the proudest eagle.  It is an Anthropomorphic animals book (that's funny
animals to you, buddy) for those interested.  All rights are reversed, I'm not
getting any money for this, it's just for fun, and I'd love to hear from her
on this subject, so if anyone can get any news to her, please do so.
     If you like what you read here, in Alternate Realities portal Xanadu, go
out and DEMAND the five issue series and the Summer Special (in glorious color)
and then Thoughts and Images will be happy for her to make it a continuing
comic, and we'll ALL enjoy it.  :)

Back in the Flying Fox II, The Guardian Who May Not See Her Realm takes
her attention away from her milk, and to the assembled crowd speaks.
     "Your memories from the translation should be arriving right about, NOW."
Those of you who drank Brannigan's special ale get it a little cleaner, those
who were suspicious get slight headaches that pass when the information
subsides.

Definitions:  Nobility.  Any and all magical creatures are members of the
nobility, the aristocracy, the ruling class.  As examples, unicorns, dragons,
pegasi, dire wolves, manticores, and so on.  Nobility are normally
characterized by innate magical abilities, like the dragon's ability to breathe
fire, the unicorn's ability to heal and purify, and so on.  As well, all
nobility are functionally immortal, the shortest natural life span (that of
the gryphon) of any member of the nobility is 1500 years, with dragons living
3000 and up, and the Phoenix lived for 10,000 years before dying unnaturally.

Freeborn.  Any wild, untamed, nonmagical animal.  They are societally
considered 'citizens,' and aid the Nobility in rule.  Examples include foxes,
bears, weasels, rats, and so on.

Domestique.  Any tamed nonmagical animal.  They are societally considered
serfs in Xanadu (and have only had that status for a historically short time,
some 400 years) and are considered slaves elsewhere.  In Xanadu, a domestique
is allowed to question the orders given to him, elsewhere, he is not.  In
addition, by law, the nobility hold the power of death over the domestique in
much the same way that the samurai had the power of death over peasants.  In
Xanadu, if this power is used, the nobility will find himself swiftly exiled,
elsewhere, it is still allowed.  Examples of domestique include cats, dogs,
horses, bulls, sheep, and so on.

There exist a variety of non-intelligent food and riding animals,
seemingly Pleistocene in nature.
     Having the capability to use magic does not make you a member of the
nobility, it makes you a spellcaster.  Spellcasters are, in general, highly
regarded as useful and helpful.  A greater percentage of the nobility are
spellcasters, but there are less nobility, of course.

History:  Around 50,000 years ago, several wars were fought between the
nobility, freeborn, and domestique.  The magical powers of the nobility
gave them the upper hand, and allowed them to declare the social order that
remains to this day.
     40,000 years ago, the Phoenix arose, and over the next 10,000 years, she
created a nation that dwarfs present-day Xanadu and it's enemy, Palisaad.
According to the historical accounts, she ruled wisely and well, but certainly
the voices of the domestique are not heard in these accounts.  Every 500 years,
however, during a certain conjunction of the moons, she had to immolate
herself and arise from her own ashes to maintain her youth.  One of her
advisers, a red dragon, coveted her power, however, and struck her with the
flames of her own immolation when the moons were not in conjunction, and
she did not arise from her ashes.  The dragon in question was killed by
nobility loyal to the Phoenix, and to this day, the honorable golden dragons
claim that the reason the red dragons no longer have wings (they had them in
those days) is due to this treacherous act.
     With the awesome power of the Phoenix gone from the throne, the empire
quickly collapsed into a number of warring city-states.  This state of affairs
continued until 1500 years ago, when Allynrud,  The Golden-Maned (a unicorn)
decided that he would unite the city-states under his rule.  His reasons for
this act are legion, but most important is the fact that he accomplished it
to a high degree.  First, he created the Ever-Changing palace, based upon
the magic of his unicorn's pool.  The magic of the palace stymies thieves,
spies, and assassins who enter it, and as it's magic extends to the walls
of the city, both the castle and walls 'regrow' and have never been taken or
destroyed in battle.  Then, with the aid of Reginald Plume, his general (a
gryphon, whom, at the present time, has not lost a single combat in 600 years)
Allynrud 'annexed' the city-states around him, those ruled by the
couatl and the green dragons.
     At this time, the Empress Joo-sama of the golden dragons was suffering
from an illness, one that the waters of Allyrud's unicorn pool could cure.
Allynrud healed Joo-sama of her illness, and then challenged her, as ruler to
ruler, in single combat, for her empire.  Since Allynrud's lands were smaller,
Joo-sama would have had a basis to refuse, but honor would not allow her
to do so after the unicorn had healed her.  What Joo-sama did not know was that
water from a unicorn's pool extinguishes all fires, including dragon's fire,
and that when she drank, she had lost her fire.  And so, Allynrud (whom most
had thought was taking this course of action to honorably lose and thus declare
fealty) won easily and honorably.
     With the might of the Empire of the golden dragons under his control, the
red dragons, the dire wolves, and several others fell to him quickly and
painlessly.  Allynrud then set about making his empire, in general, a better
place, and began winning emigres from Palisaad, the other empire, ruled by a
family of seven basilisks.  Captured emigres tend to become statues as a
warning to others with similar thoughts.
     Some 40 years ago, Allynrud died, having survived his wife, Amalthea.
His eldest daughter, Alicia, now holds the throne, and the unicorn pool
beneath the palace.  She is widely regarded for her just manner of rule, and
low taxes.  She is also known for the fact that her personal tastes transcend
caste, a fact that causes much gossip about court.
     Luagha is Alicia's younger brother by 20 years (she's 321, he's
302) and repeatedly disavows any desired for the throne.  He is popular with
the common people, perhaps due to the visibility he gains by fighting in the
gladiatorial arena (done with blunted weapons and healers standing by) and
his exploits in defense of the realm from natural disaster (flood, in
particular).

The Guardian Who May Not See Her Realm nods approvingly as you all
show faces of greater knowledge concerning her erratic actions in transforming
all of you.
     "I will open the portal in a moment, but I would like to make certain
things clear.  First, I will not force anyone to enter this portal.  Second,
some of you will be moving into a societally disfavorable position compared to
the one you now have.  It matters little how you act when in the company only
of other travelers from the Fox, but when in the company of others, a slip
or an insult could land you in serious trouble, and the others in disgrace, for
not restraining you, and having to take responsibility for your actions.
Third, some of you will be moving to a higher societal position, and you should
recall that responsibility comes with that power.  To rule is not an easy task.
     You should all know how your magical abilities have changed, and you
should all remember how your equipment differs in it's function.  You will
not be able to use your human forms there, for through this portal they do
not exist."

She takes her cane and, holding it like a two handed sword, touches the
ground, raises it up in a perfect archway, and touches it to the ground again.
Through it, you see some natural caverns, lit by the light in the Fox.

Luagha:  "Those are the caverns underneath the palace, correct?"
Guardian:  "Exactly.  You may now return, Luagha, and anyone who wishes to
accompany you may go."

As an afterthought, the small guardian points at Ian's hip with her cane,
and he is now armed with a sword, daggers, and a crossbow.
     "Those are creations of sorcery, Ian, and the only power they have is
quality.  However, as creations of sorcery, they have limited duration.  They
will disappear at the end of 30 days, so I trust you will be able to find
weapons of your own before that time.  You look as naked without them as a
wolverine without claws."

Tech note:  I'd like to have 10-12 players, not all of which will be on the
same mission at once, as some are best suited for various types of people.
Less I can certainly accept, more I'd rather not deal with.  This count does
not include Luagha, who goes NPC upon entry, and who will not make decisions
by which the rest of you will have to abide.  >R<eply to this, or send me
at rip1@tank.uchicago.edu, and change your alias file for Lua to the
beforementioned address.