CAST OF PLAYERS:

Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………..…Human Psionic


Jera Morrison…………..….Alseyne Aulaudin……………………Sidhe Changeling


Kendall Nye………….……Joseph McAdoo………………………..Ronin Garou


Jeremy Whitener………….Korin Alabaster…………………………Were Mongoose


Aron Head………………….Story/Setting/Everything Else………Game Master

*********************************************

“Too bad our one ally in that field of expertise skipped out on us,” Alseyne commented. “I suppose we can try calling her again but she’s not been very reliable so far. I would hesitate to put much faith in her assistance.”

“Lena?” Pip asked. “Yeah.  She was kind of flakey.”

“Careful,” Yggthor cautioned. “She may have been devoured by the River Hag.”

“Sorry.”

“But I thought she was flakey, too.” Yggthor added.

“Yggy!” Katherine scolded.

“Sorry, dear.”

“It’s been days since I’ve even thought about that hag,” Alseyne mused. “I suppose we should call — just to see if she was the victim or not.  I doubt she was though — I think she took off to chase whomever was running that tornado that attacked us on Sunday; that’s when she disappeared.”

“One hopes he leaves traces enough to follow. However, I have a request.” McAdoo adjusted the Guardian blade next to his leg. “Yggthor, remember that house we were at just before we met the children? That place is a node that masked the presence of an abomination skindancer named Phil. I would like aid in chasing him down and support against whatever else was upstairs.”

“Od’s blood, I almost forgot about that.”  Yggthor looked to Pip. “He’s right.  Something bad was up there.” The troll looked back to McAdoo. “Tonight?  After dinner?” Read the rest of this entry »

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………..…Human Psionic
Jera Morrison…………..….Alseyne Aulaudin……………………Sidhe Changeling
Kendall Nye………….……Joseph McAdoo………………………..Ronin Garou
Jeremy Whitener………….Korin Alabaster…………………………Were Mongoose
Aron Head………………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

The ghoul growled, madness finally gripping him.

Falco regarded the creature with hard eyes. :: SLEEP! ::

Casey felt the ripple of the command, as Yaqub dropped to the floor. ** Handy, ** she smiled.  ** Think he’ll be okay here while we go find Houseman’s stuff? **

:: As long as we’re not gone long. ::

** Let’s get it done, then.  Don’t know about you, but the charm’s pretty much worn off this place for me. **

Before long, the two found themselves in a large chamber originally sealed from visitors by two vault-like doors, easily cracked by Falco.  In the room were row after row of lateral cabinets.

:: We won’t be able to take it all. Just an armful for each of us. :: He gestured for her to go right.

She nodded, turning to the nearest cabinet and looking into the first drawer. Files, all coded with a series of ten digits, a decimal point, and two additional digits. Casey reached for the first file, then paused and examined the codes themselves.  The first ten digits were in numerical order; the numbers after the decimal were not.  A classification system, like Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress.

:: It’s all interesting.  It’s all valuable.  Some is likely powerful. Keep your eyes open. And let me know if you find anything referencing something called Xard. ::

** What’s Xard? **  She didn’t take anything out yet, just went through each item in the cabinets, looking for things of particular interest or power and for any references to Xard.

:: I am not altogether certain.  When I first heard of it many centuries ago, I understood it as a metaphor.  Now?  Now, I suspect that it was a real place pre-dating our civilization by hundreds of thousands of years.  And for reasons I have yet to divine, this Xard is influencing our world today. ::

Casey’s eyebrow lifted as she glanced though the files.  ** A metaphor for what? **

:: Lost knowledge.  Like Atlantis. ::

She moved swiftly through the cabinet, finding nothing of particular note. ** How is our world being influenced…I mean, in what way? **

:: Artifacts have been turning up.  Items from this lost world.  And knowledge.  Texts.  Power. ::

Frowning, she paused in her rummaging to look over her shoulder at Falco.  ** Like there’s a line blurring somewhere?  A portal that shouldn’t be open? **  

:: Exactly. ::

** Is it a local thing?  Where are the artifacts turning up? **  

:: They’ve appeared all over the world. ::

Casey came to a large folder containing more than a hundred pages of glyphs of an almost asian design. She pulled a page out and held it up for him to see.  ** Do these glyphs mean anything to you? ** Read the rest of this entry »

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

Casey considered attempting to seal the smoke and as many spheres as possible behind a flat shield that would fill the corridor from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, but that seemed like a rather short-term solution if they planned on continuing farther down.  Besides, it would only make things worse should the remaining balls roll into the barrier on her side.

Instinctively holding her breath as she levitated up off the floor, she sent, ** Maybe they’re only dangerous if we touch them.  Think we can hop past and then get a door closed between us and them somewhere farther on? **

Falco had been scrutinizing them. :: I agree. :: He joined her, rising.

As they moved off, eight panels slid away on the walls — four on each side.

Eight ghastly figures stepped out, the mouths full of sparkling white and beastly pointed teeth. Each was nude, but the gender almost unidentifiable due to the advanced state of… decay? Their flesh was mottled and gray. A hideous reek emanated from them.

:: Welcoming committee? ::

** Somehow I don’t feel all that welcome. **  Casey eyed the creatures uncertainly, wondering if they had a taste for brains or hearts or some other human organ that Houseman and his freaking vampire buddies couldn’t supply.  She gestured toward one of the undead figures, sending a wave of heat to ignite it, prepared to quickly raise a protective shield if her effort should spark off a conflagration.  Read the rest of this entry »

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

…Zzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Casey blinked, squinting at the deep shades of red and orange washing across her room. Her eyes flicked to the window. Dusk.

A long, deeply luxurious stretch revealed a few sore muscles here and there, but all in all she felt pleasantly rested.

What was that…?

Breathing.

Peering down over the edge of her bed, she saw Pana curled into a tight ball, sound asleep. Smiling, Casey slipped off the other side of the bed so as not to disturb the dog’s well-earned rest.  Read the rest of this entry »

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

Casey padded barefoot down the hall following a warm, savory aroma and into the kitchen where she found Cerberus sitting at the counter on a stool sipping a cup of coffee.

She gave him a smile as she settled onto the stool beside him.  “Morning.”

“Mornin’.” He tipped his head. “Feelin’ human again?”

“A lot closer, anyway,” she nodded with a crooked grin.  

“Pana has prepared for you her signature dish,” The dog-man said “Kibble.”

Casey glanced uncertainly toward the stove.

“Never mind him,” the Malamute smiled at Casey and plated up a wedge of frittata featuring pan fried potatoes and onions, yellow squash and zucchini, red bell pepper, eggs, sausage, and cheese. It smelled wonderful. Beside it were several slices of apple and a wedge of navel orange.

Casey nearly swooned as the fragrant steam filled her nose.  Her hand trembled as she carefully speared a chunk of potato and took her first bite. It was quite simply wonderful.

“How do you take your coffee?”

For a moment Casey was too absorbed in the simple hedonistic pleasure of chewing and swallowing the savory mouthful to answer.  But between the first forkful and the second she managed to look briefly up from her plate.  “No coffee for me, I need to sleep.  Is there any milk back there?”

“There is,” Pana drew the jug out of the refrigerator, “Skim okay?”

That struck Casey as humorous.  Falco, able to maintain his ageless state of superlative physical perfection merely by willing it so, declined to indulge in whole milk.  ”Skim’s fine,” she chuckled between mouthfuls. Read the rest of this entry »

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

Casey hovered in slightly dazed silence, blinking around at the dark ruins.  “What…what was…”  Her mind felt like it was revving in park, trying to process the images, sensations and transitions that had just flooded through it.

Falco hooked an eyebrow at her.

  Her gaze settled on the inert amulet, focused there with an effort.  “Good.  We’ll keep it somewhere safe.”  She looked around the dusty, settling ruins and a shudder rippled though her.  “Let’s get out of here.”

“Agreed.” He slipped the amulet into his pocket and exited the chamber.

Casey followed more slowly, the lingering images of things and people and places she’d never known still teasing her curiosity.  Were those scenes from Falco’s long life?  For an instant she’d seemed to be a part of him, sharing his experiences and memories.  It had been marvelous while it was happening, but now she felt rather awkward, as if she’d snuck in and read the diary of someone she barely knew.  It was a level of personal intimacy completely out of synch with the usual mentor/student nature of their relationship.

And Casey instinctively shied away from the thought of letting their relationship become personal.  Having a mentor with a penchant for manipulation and deception…she could handle that, now that she knew to be aware of it.  But to think of him as a friend, and to always wonder what deceptions her friend may be practicing upon her at any given moment?  That would be soul-withering. Read the rest of this entry »

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

Casey moved swiftly back through the door and onto the swaying staircase, seeking out Yggthor’s mind on the roof above.  ** Yggthor, take off as soon as you and the Stonwolf and Korin are aboard.  Alseyne says to call her at the Pendleton once you get it landed; she’s going to go collect Percyndi and head back there. **

Traveling alone she made better speed: it was more levitation than footwork that carried her swiftly down the stairwell toward where she sensed Falco’s presence. ** Done; everyone’s gone or going. I’m going to come down and see if I can help you squelch that thing. **

:: Casey… This place is about to come down around our ears. You may not get here in time… ::

Unshakable determination suffused her mental presence.  ** You’re here because I called you.  Going back for the amulet was my idea too.  Basically if you die here it’ll be because of me. **  If anything, she was plunging down the stairwell even faster than before.

She sensed a scowl from him. :: I make my own choices, just like you, Casey. No one is responsible for what happens here other than ourselves… and Mardmor. ::

  ** I’m not prepared to accept that.  If we don’t have time to kill the amulet, then at the very least maybe I can help you not get crushed. **

:: Well, I can’t argue with that. ::

Casey was a bullet heading down the passages. She was moving faster than she would have imagined possible — but having navigated the way up made maneuvering the descent easier. She homed in on Falco’s mind like a laser-guided missile.

As she approached, sickly emerald light beamed forth from the chamber. She entered to find Falco floating over the wreckage far below. Concentration was etched on his face, as he extended in the direction of the glowing amulet hovering several feet away. Read the rest of this entry »

CAST OF PLAYERS:
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Jera Morrison…………….Alseyne Aulaudin……………………Sidhe Changeling
Jeremy Whitener………….Korin Alabaster………………………Were Mongoose
Kendall Nye………………Joseph McAdoo……………………..Ronin Garou
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

Pana fell into step alongside Casey as she hurried to catch up with her comrades, still puzzling over Falco’s actions.  It made no sense that he would actually feel threatened by Alseyne.  The Sidhe had seemed to approve of the plan to destroy the amulet anyway.  And even if it did come to a fight, Alseyne would be no match for Falco.  

And what in the world had made him think that Casey herself would go along with his plan?  If he knew her at all he should have known she wouldn’t let herself be drawn into betraying the trust of people who had earned her respect and loyalty tonight.

She frowned.  Maybe he’d known she wouldn’t go along with it; maybe his intention all along had been to go alone to find the amulet. But what use would a psionic, a proven enemy of Mardmor, have for a goblin artifact?  On the other hand, if he only meant to destroy it, why couldn’t he have done that with Casey and Alseyne present?

None of it made sense.

And what if he wasn’t the only one searching for it?  What if he ran into more of those thaumaturges or whatever they were called, and they took the amulet?

Nothing was ever as simple as it should be. Should she just keep her mouth shut and roll with the flow, or would she have to choose a side to be on?

A few steps above her, the Stonewolf was engaged in an in-depth discussion with himself concerning past Guardians and the nature of the Well. The rumbling “conversation” filled the stairwell, making it easy for Casey to put off saying anything herself.

After some time climbing up and pushing past debris, Pip and Yggthor muscled a door open. Daylight filtered in and the hint of a cool breeze.

“What?” Pip asked, shielding his eyes from the morning light entering the stairwell. “Did we pass her?” Read the rest of this entry »

CAST OF PLAYERS:
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Jera Morrison…………….Alseyne Aulaudin……………………Sidhe Changeling
Jeremy Whitener………….Korin Alabaster………………………Were Mongoose
Kendall Nye………………Joseph McAdoo……………………..Ronin Garou
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

“I almost forgot the amulet — it’s still in there somewhere!” Casey exclaimed.  “I need to find it before someone else does!”

Alseyne nodded slowly. “Yes. We don’t want that thing just lying around, though I’m not sure how we can find it amongst all of this. But, no offense meant, Casey — I don’t think you should hold onto it yourself.”

Casey frowned, then shrugged.  “Falco can carry it, then.”

Falco nodded. “Why don’t Casey and I seek out the amulet while the rest of you head up top?”

“Frankly, I think it’s too dangerous for anyone here other than maybe Korin to hold onto for any length of time,” Alseyne commented. “We don’t know what it does but I’m very afraid it could potentially negatively affect anyone with either telepathic skills or kithain heritage. Korin is the only one of us present that doesn’t fall into one of those two categories so therefore should be the least likely to be able to be affected by it.”

Casey mulled that over.  “Korin may not be able to communicate with it, but that doesn’t mean weres can’t be affected by bad Fae juju.  Look what happened to McAdoo.”  

“We should take it back to Graford,” Pip shared. Catching Falco’s questioning eye he clarified, “To our Duke. He has people that can study it, contain it.”

“Aye,” The General agreed.

Falco shook his head. “It should be destroyed as should this entire facility. Mardmor’s artifacts can only cause more trouble.”

Pip disagreed. “But we could learn…”

“We could be corrupted,” Falco interrupted.

“Pip love, I have to agree with him on this,” Alseyne nodded towards Falco. “It’s happened in the past where it was thought that something could be learned from the artifacts left behind by one of us gone bad and those items ended up corrupting those who tried to study them. It’s simply too dangerous.”

“I agree with him. ” The Stonewolf nodded toward Falco. “For what my decisions are worth lately.”

Alseyne looked at Falco. “I don’t know if it is a good idea to destroy it here, though — too unstable on the one hand and could open up doors best left closed if it’s destroyed in Mardmor’s stronghold. I think we should find it and take it to a neutral location to destroy it.”

“Do we even know how to destroy it?” Casey wondered aloud.  “Seems like throwing it into the Fae version of the Fires Of Mordor would likely just make it stronger.  Crushing it might work … or it might release the contained sentience to do even more harm, like the Elementals.  How does one destroy a talisman of goblin power?” Read the rest of this entry »

CAST OF PLAYERS:
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Jera Morrison…………….Alseyne Aulaudin……………………Sidhe Changeling
Jeremy Whitener………….Korin Alabaster………………………Were Mongoose
Kendall Nye………………Joseph McAdoo……………………..Ronin Garou
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

Pip smiled, looking around from face to face. “Ummm… anyone seen Percyndi?”

“She was above us on the ladder, up nearer Korin and Marlboro and Wynne,” Alseyne said. She looked around, “Where’s he, by the way? Or Andali or Wynne?”

“I’ll see if I can find them now.”  Casey extended her restored perceptions out through the wreckage, into what was left of the compound, searching for the missing members of their group. She found Elijah … and Percyndi and the other two surviving prisoners. They were outside the Machine room, but still within Mardmor’s subterranean sanctum.

She brightened.  “Percyndi’s alive, Alseyne.  And Elijah, and two of the other prisoners.”  She indicated the direction.  “That way.”

Alseyne smiled widely over at Pip before turning back to Casey. “Good to hear! Let’s go get them!”

“No sign of Marlboro or Andali, though. Or Wynne,” Casey added.

Alseyne frowned. “Maybe she’s out already. Sluagh are able to get through very small openings.”

Casey started to say that her telepathy had a broader range than a person on foot could have walked out of yet, but then realized that she didn’t know how long she herself been unconscious after the explosion.  And Sanctuary’s dampening effect on her psionics seemed to be be preventing her from reaching outside the structure anyway. “Maybe,” was all she said.

“Wynne lives,” Yggthor rumbled. “I’d know were it otherwise.”

Alseyne nodded. “That you would. You and Pip both.” For the first time she really *looked* at the figure behind Yggthor, “Uh…Mac? Is that you? What in Sefu’s name happened after you and the General fell through the catwalk?” Read the rest of this entry »