She struggled to a sitting position, finding the heart shaped sapphire resting warm and heavy in her hand. She stared at it, remembering having left it wrapped in silk, back at the apartment. A dim flicking flame still danced in its depths, hypnotic and slightly frightening. She turned it, accidentally shifting it through the sunlight from the mostly drawn drapes. Once again the air shimmered with a deep gong sound. The flame flashed to brilliance and in the after image, burned across her eyes, she saw a shadowy scene of a woman in a throne. A second woman stood in front of her. Then the flash faded and she was staring at cheap hotel walls once again.
Irena rose on unsteady legs, packed her bag, and left. On the highway she floored it, staying at the head of traffic instead of with it, slowing only where she thought there might be traffic officers. Her instincts were perfect, slowing her every time before a radar car came into sight. Her thoughts were too frantic already to notice the strange coincidence.
She pulled into the drive an hour and a half sooner than her previous best time, dashed upstairs and shouted for Shandi. "Hey, I thought you were gone for three weeks," Shandi's voice called from her room.
"I was going to be, but it was too weird being back there. Remember those friends I mentioned? They're still exactly where they were when I left. I don't know what I wanted, but I should have taken your advice and gone somewhere different. Has there been any word on Sophia?"
"No. The police are still nosing around, although their enthusiasm seems reduced. We're starting to slip at work. We need to have an internal beta running next week, that's what we promised Rani Corp."
"Rani Corp? Who're they?"
"Jaime's backers. It's their money funding this venture and we promised a live demonstration server running by next week so they could take a look at the final concepts."
"I'm not a game developer, but I do know Jaime's characters pretty well. Reading through her notes, while I was gone, brought them all back to mind. If there's any way I could help, I'd be happy to."
"I don't know, maybe. It's not just knowing the characters. You need to set them up, but that is done in an editing environment, so you wouldn't have to code them directly," Shandi said, more to herself than to Irena. "It might just work. Come in with me tomorrow and I'll run it by the director. You still have the rest of your time off, right?"
"I did take three weeks for a break, yes."
"Then come in tomorrow morning with me and see. I think you can help."
"Uh, sure, I can do that," Irena replied, nervous, now that her offer was accepted. She opened her laptop and began looking through the game docs as soon as she had finished unpacking. Looking through the files reminded her of the incident of the morning. "Hey Shan, did anything strange happen this morning?"
"No, why?"
"You know that sapphire we found? It appeared in my hand this morning. I was certain I had left it here when I left."
"I saw you put it in your drawer. You didn't grab it on your way out?"
"No."
"Strange, very strange indeed. Where is it now?"
"In here, on my desk. I'm not sure what to do with it." Irena stared at it and continued slowly, "Did...anything...strange happen for you today?"
"Not really, why? Did something happen to you?"
"I've been having really strange dreams lately. And I've been drifting into waking dreams over the past few days."
"It could just be stress. I've gotten that kind of thing before."
"Maybe..." Irena trailed off. "It was a long drive. I guess I'll read a bit and sleep if you don't mind."
"See you in the morning. Remember, off to game we go."
"Sure."
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Sophia - Dorotea
Sophia awoke and stumbled to the kitchen. Blearily, she looked for the coffee maker before memory returned. "Awake at last," Dorotea called from her seat on a high stool near one of the many counters. Sophia fumbled through the steps to make coffee, without replying to Dorotea. "What are your plans today? Going to fix this thing so I can go home?"
Sophia just grimaced, filled a cup and sipped coffee. Finally she replied, "Is there any way to convince you that I have no clue about how to fix this thing?"
"Not really, no. You have a magical aura that is obviously attached to this thing and you are able to command it. How could you be in that position without understanding?"
Sophia slumped forward on her stool and put her head in her hands. "Believe what you have to. I know I need things called 'Control Crystals' for something in the 'Core Systems'. The Core Systems I will look at this morning, and I know what control crystals look like, but I have no idea how to find them."
"Let's go then!" Dorotea stood and headed for a door. "Lead on."
"I need coffee and food first," Sophia replied, still leaning heavily on the counter next to her stool.
Dorotea stared at her for a few minutes, then rose, walked to the cooler and began pulling out food. She slammed a large plate of cheese, cold mystery meat, and bread in front of Sophia. "There, food." She hovered while Sophia slowly ate several bites and then said, "Ok, you can come back for the rest."
Sophia glared at her, but got slowly to her feet and led the way through the dining room, the throne room, and to a hidden door in one of the skull carvings behind the throne. She kept a firm hold on her coffee cup as she descended the narrow ladder to a small room with a single oval metal door. The wheel handle spun easily, withdrawing the heavy steel locking pins from their holdings and the door swung away from her on well oiled hinges. A ragged, uneven pulsing sound beat on them as they stepped into the massive room. Machinery, wires, cables, tubes, and odd constructions filled the room in a tangle of confusing clusters. Magical energy hammered against Dorotea's senses, driving her into a huddled crouch as she slowly followed Sophia into the room.
Sophia stopped and stared around the room. Concept sketches came back to her and she slowly approached the third panel on the right. She reached out and touched one of the buttons. A screen lit up and text began scrolling up it. "Damn it, what was that command, ah right!" Her fingers flew as she typed in the command for low level details of all failures. A list of damaged control crystals and their locations printed across the screen. "Why didn't I pay attention in those design meetings?" she muttered as she looked at the list.
"What?" Dorotea asked from where she was huddled on the floor next to the console.
"Nothing, just wishing about the past and mumbling to myself."
"When I want to remember, I try thinking of something else. What the sky was like, if there was a particular scent in the air, what I had recently eaten, things like that. It tricks the mind into a context and then the memories often return," Dorotea suggested through clenched teeth. "Are you close to finished? I can't take much more of this."
"You could wait in the throne room." Sophia frowned in concentration and then smiled, "Yes, I remember. They are accessible from this world. If they weren't, there would be no way to get anywhere. Where were they going to be? Right, we hadn't decided yet."
"This isn't a game, girl. Unless you are a godling, and if you are, you should send me back. Right this instant!"
"Godling, right, in my dreams. I'm just a community coordinator and character designer. I bet I could tell you a lot about yourself, Tyana, and Kyira, and maybe even some of the citizens of nearby cities, but that's it."
"Can we talk about this somewhere else?" Dorotea muttered, crawling toward the door.
"Oh, yeah, sure..." Sophia replied in a distracted tone. Once they were back in the throne room Sophia settled into the throne and asked, "Are you ok?"
"Not really. I can feel magical energy and that place was worse than the rest of this place. Can't you feel it?"
"A bit, maybe. There's a sense of warmth and comfort but also a sense of sickness and pain. If you can sense magic, can you also find magical items? If I were to show you one of the control crystals, could you narrow in on it? It would really help."
"What you ask is no simple thing, girl. It would require great spells and months or years of research to create such a spell and it would only work if the thing in question was not ensorcelled to prevent discovery. Why can't you find them? You're linked to this thing, shouldn't you be able to feel parts of it?"
"I don't know. It didn't occur to me to try it."
"Maybe we should go try then? You seem completely confused about so many things, so I must ask, what skills do you have?"
"I can create characters, set them up, recruit actors and..."
"No girl, what kinds of survival skills? What magics do you know, what weapons can you wield, that sort of thing."
"Uh, none..."
"None! And I have to rely on you to get me home? What sick fate have the gods conspired for me now?" A deep gong shimmered through the air of the throne room. "What the hell was that?"
"A summons from friends of mine. I could go to them if this thing worked."
"I need to think. I'll be in the library," Dorotea said as she strode off abruptly.
"Do you think she's safe?" Tyana asked from the air.
"Keep an eye on her. Tell Kyira to carefully watch what she selects to read. I think she's ok, but let's not take too many chances with her. Is there any way you can speed teach me anything to help me venture out of here sooner? She's going to get bothersome very soon, I suspect."
"I'm afraid it isn't that simple, mistress. I wish it were," Tyana replied.
Sophia just grimaced, filled a cup and sipped coffee. Finally she replied, "Is there any way to convince you that I have no clue about how to fix this thing?"
"Not really, no. You have a magical aura that is obviously attached to this thing and you are able to command it. How could you be in that position without understanding?"
Sophia slumped forward on her stool and put her head in her hands. "Believe what you have to. I know I need things called 'Control Crystals' for something in the 'Core Systems'. The Core Systems I will look at this morning, and I know what control crystals look like, but I have no idea how to find them."
"Let's go then!" Dorotea stood and headed for a door. "Lead on."
"I need coffee and food first," Sophia replied, still leaning heavily on the counter next to her stool.
Dorotea stared at her for a few minutes, then rose, walked to the cooler and began pulling out food. She slammed a large plate of cheese, cold mystery meat, and bread in front of Sophia. "There, food." She hovered while Sophia slowly ate several bites and then said, "Ok, you can come back for the rest."
Sophia glared at her, but got slowly to her feet and led the way through the dining room, the throne room, and to a hidden door in one of the skull carvings behind the throne. She kept a firm hold on her coffee cup as she descended the narrow ladder to a small room with a single oval metal door. The wheel handle spun easily, withdrawing the heavy steel locking pins from their holdings and the door swung away from her on well oiled hinges. A ragged, uneven pulsing sound beat on them as they stepped into the massive room. Machinery, wires, cables, tubes, and odd constructions filled the room in a tangle of confusing clusters. Magical energy hammered against Dorotea's senses, driving her into a huddled crouch as she slowly followed Sophia into the room.
Sophia stopped and stared around the room. Concept sketches came back to her and she slowly approached the third panel on the right. She reached out and touched one of the buttons. A screen lit up and text began scrolling up it. "Damn it, what was that command, ah right!" Her fingers flew as she typed in the command for low level details of all failures. A list of damaged control crystals and their locations printed across the screen. "Why didn't I pay attention in those design meetings?" she muttered as she looked at the list.
"What?" Dorotea asked from where she was huddled on the floor next to the console.
"Nothing, just wishing about the past and mumbling to myself."
"When I want to remember, I try thinking of something else. What the sky was like, if there was a particular scent in the air, what I had recently eaten, things like that. It tricks the mind into a context and then the memories often return," Dorotea suggested through clenched teeth. "Are you close to finished? I can't take much more of this."
"You could wait in the throne room." Sophia frowned in concentration and then smiled, "Yes, I remember. They are accessible from this world. If they weren't, there would be no way to get anywhere. Where were they going to be? Right, we hadn't decided yet."
"This isn't a game, girl. Unless you are a godling, and if you are, you should send me back. Right this instant!"
"Godling, right, in my dreams. I'm just a community coordinator and character designer. I bet I could tell you a lot about yourself, Tyana, and Kyira, and maybe even some of the citizens of nearby cities, but that's it."
"Can we talk about this somewhere else?" Dorotea muttered, crawling toward the door.
"Oh, yeah, sure..." Sophia replied in a distracted tone. Once they were back in the throne room Sophia settled into the throne and asked, "Are you ok?"
"Not really. I can feel magical energy and that place was worse than the rest of this place. Can't you feel it?"
"A bit, maybe. There's a sense of warmth and comfort but also a sense of sickness and pain. If you can sense magic, can you also find magical items? If I were to show you one of the control crystals, could you narrow in on it? It would really help."
"What you ask is no simple thing, girl. It would require great spells and months or years of research to create such a spell and it would only work if the thing in question was not ensorcelled to prevent discovery. Why can't you find them? You're linked to this thing, shouldn't you be able to feel parts of it?"
"I don't know. It didn't occur to me to try it."
"Maybe we should go try then? You seem completely confused about so many things, so I must ask, what skills do you have?"
"I can create characters, set them up, recruit actors and..."
"No girl, what kinds of survival skills? What magics do you know, what weapons can you wield, that sort of thing."
"Uh, none..."
"None! And I have to rely on you to get me home? What sick fate have the gods conspired for me now?" A deep gong shimmered through the air of the throne room. "What the hell was that?"
"A summons from friends of mine. I could go to them if this thing worked."
"I need to think. I'll be in the library," Dorotea said as she strode off abruptly.
"Do you think she's safe?" Tyana asked from the air.
"Keep an eye on her. Tell Kyira to carefully watch what she selects to read. I think she's ok, but let's not take too many chances with her. Is there any way you can speed teach me anything to help me venture out of here sooner? She's going to get bothersome very soon, I suspect."
"I'm afraid it isn't that simple, mistress. I wish it were," Tyana replied.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Irena - Dreams
Once more Irena sat on a hotel bed, enthralled by the laptop in front of her. She scanned indices and tables until she found the entries she was looking for. The first detailed a bar in the depths of Centrys, City of Doors, Eternal City at the center of the multi-verse. The description and sketches matched her imaginings at Brochan's perfectly. Down to the small table in the alcove and the urchin seated there. The second description was of a public market in the heart of Jakara, Gem of the Lotus, capital city of the Lotus Empire.
She sipped slivovitz from the bottle she had bought, nibbled on greasy pizza, and wandered the descriptions and renderings of the game world for a couple of hours. She turned the laptop off and slid under the covers, falling rapidly into a deep sleep.
Her dreams were random and unmemorable until a strange purple flash occurred in one. The heart shaped sapphire of Sophia's rested in her hand, pulsing and glowing with a deep purple light. She lifted her eyes from her hand to the table in front of her. Knives, swords, pouches of grease, and sharpening stones were laid out where possible customers could examine them. Overhead dark grey clouds shifted and swirled above the market area. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed in the distance. Cloths and tarps had been hastily strung up on poles to protect wares and the people close enough to browse them. Canals were visible behind the merchants not backed up against tall wooden buildings. Her table was set back in a narrow space between two buildings, their balconies and bridges providing shelter from the drizzling rain.
Balconies, bridges, and narrow walkways snaked between the tall buildings and arched across the canals in front of her. The throng of people gave little attention to the storm, instead focusing on haggling for food and goods as if it were a normal day. Few found their way to her small table, which was just fine. The flow of faces and styles in front of her was more interesting than the thought of having to sell anything.
A bright purple flash of light blinded Irena and, when it cleared, she found herself looking out into a forest glade. In the center of it a hexagonal wooden hut crouched. Smoke curled from the chimney and a white fence surrounded a stretch of emerald green grass and beautiful flower arrangements. Behind her the forest brooded, dark and forbidding. Animal cries echoed in the distance. Overhead the sky was deep, crystaline blue with tiny puffs of white cloud. Behind the hut, rising in the distance was an impossible spire of rock, thrust up sharply, and rising out of sight into the sky.
Irena began walking toward the hut. As she neared the fence it resolved into bones, woven together to form a fence. Grinning skulls rested atop the fence posts and seemed to watch her with dim, orange fire eyes. The gate swung open as she approached, while a voice softly whispered, "Welcome home, Mistress."
A loud honking and banging slammed her awake, abruptly ending the spell. Her head pounded with the suddenness of the intrusion. The cheap hotel clock showed five in the morning and the sky was just showing the beginning of day.
She sipped slivovitz from the bottle she had bought, nibbled on greasy pizza, and wandered the descriptions and renderings of the game world for a couple of hours. She turned the laptop off and slid under the covers, falling rapidly into a deep sleep.
Her dreams were random and unmemorable until a strange purple flash occurred in one. The heart shaped sapphire of Sophia's rested in her hand, pulsing and glowing with a deep purple light. She lifted her eyes from her hand to the table in front of her. Knives, swords, pouches of grease, and sharpening stones were laid out where possible customers could examine them. Overhead dark grey clouds shifted and swirled above the market area. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed in the distance. Cloths and tarps had been hastily strung up on poles to protect wares and the people close enough to browse them. Canals were visible behind the merchants not backed up against tall wooden buildings. Her table was set back in a narrow space between two buildings, their balconies and bridges providing shelter from the drizzling rain.
Balconies, bridges, and narrow walkways snaked between the tall buildings and arched across the canals in front of her. The throng of people gave little attention to the storm, instead focusing on haggling for food and goods as if it were a normal day. Few found their way to her small table, which was just fine. The flow of faces and styles in front of her was more interesting than the thought of having to sell anything.
A bright purple flash of light blinded Irena and, when it cleared, she found herself looking out into a forest glade. In the center of it a hexagonal wooden hut crouched. Smoke curled from the chimney and a white fence surrounded a stretch of emerald green grass and beautiful flower arrangements. Behind her the forest brooded, dark and forbidding. Animal cries echoed in the distance. Overhead the sky was deep, crystaline blue with tiny puffs of white cloud. Behind the hut, rising in the distance was an impossible spire of rock, thrust up sharply, and rising out of sight into the sky.
Irena began walking toward the hut. As she neared the fence it resolved into bones, woven together to form a fence. Grinning skulls rested atop the fence posts and seemed to watch her with dim, orange fire eyes. The gate swung open as she approached, while a voice softly whispered, "Welcome home, Mistress."
A loud honking and banging slammed her awake, abruptly ending the spell. Her head pounded with the suddenness of the intrusion. The cheap hotel clock showed five in the morning and the sky was just showing the beginning of day.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Irena - Shopping with Stacy
Stacy spoke to Irena in the morning, however, she was still distant and formal. She thawed slightly as the day progressed and a bit more when they met up with Amy to go shopping. Once again it proved how much Irena had changed and what her expectations had grown to be. Even the chain pseudo-goth shops weren't available in the local mall.
While Stacy and Amy sorted through clothes, scurried back and forth to the fitting rooms, and chattered on excitedly about the men they'd seen at Brochan's, Irena let her mind wander. She was in a roofed over street market. The murmur and crest of numerous conversations swirled around her. The air was heavy with spices, scented smoke, perfumes, and sweat. Women walked boldly in the bustle, often followed by men carrying bundles and bags. Here and there friends met and chatted at small tables near food and drink vendors. The clothing was a riot of vibrant colors and rich fabrics. Hot yellow sunlight smote the streets beyond the market. Jugglers and musicians performed for copper coins in open spaces in the bustling crowd.
"Irena. Irena! Hey, what do you think of this?" Stacy almost shouted in her ear. Irena snapped back into the tawdry mall shop to find her friend standing in front of her in another hideous outfit. It was pink, with little embroidered unicorns, and made of saggy knit fabric and might have looked good on an eight year old. Irena couldn't choke back all of the laugh that rose unbidden at the sight. "Hey! I think it looks great on me," Stacy snapped back.
"I'm sure it does. I'm fashion impaired, remember?" Irena replied.
"Yeah, yeah you are," Amy added with real venom.
When they headed into the next shop, Irena pulled her cell phone and dialed. "Alex, could you call me back in half an hour?"
"Sure boss, what's up?"
"This vacation was a bad idea. I need to leave, but I want to give my friends an excuse, something like a disaster at work."
"Sure thing. Not enjoying the old haunts?"
"Realizing there are some places it's better not to go back to."
"I hear you there! Got to go, we're getting busy."
Rather than follow her friends into the shop, she continued down the walk until she found a book store. She was wondering the aisles, finding a few interesting titles, when Stacey stormed up to her. "You trying to ditch us or something? Too good for your friends now? What happened to you?"
Irena started to answer when her phone rang. She made a show of looking down and checking the number before answering it. "Yes?" She listened for a few minutes then ended the call with, "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Who was that?"
"My assistant manager. Someone disappeared after leaving Waverly's and they want to question everyone that was on duty that night. I'm going to have to head back right away."
"Disappeared? Why do you work there? Why do you live in that city? It's a dangerous, nasty place!"
"Because I like it, Stace."
"I don't think I know you anymore. You used to be sensible and interesting. Ever since you started hanging out with that weird Esther character in high school and then those gaming geeks in college, you've just gotten weird. I thought you wanted to see us but I guess I was wrong."
The ride back to Stacey's was spent in silence. Their goodbyes were pleasant but distant as Irena climbed into her car and drove away. She kept going until she reached the motel she had stayed in on the way out.
While Stacy and Amy sorted through clothes, scurried back and forth to the fitting rooms, and chattered on excitedly about the men they'd seen at Brochan's, Irena let her mind wander. She was in a roofed over street market. The murmur and crest of numerous conversations swirled around her. The air was heavy with spices, scented smoke, perfumes, and sweat. Women walked boldly in the bustle, often followed by men carrying bundles and bags. Here and there friends met and chatted at small tables near food and drink vendors. The clothing was a riot of vibrant colors and rich fabrics. Hot yellow sunlight smote the streets beyond the market. Jugglers and musicians performed for copper coins in open spaces in the bustling crowd.
"Irena. Irena! Hey, what do you think of this?" Stacy almost shouted in her ear. Irena snapped back into the tawdry mall shop to find her friend standing in front of her in another hideous outfit. It was pink, with little embroidered unicorns, and made of saggy knit fabric and might have looked good on an eight year old. Irena couldn't choke back all of the laugh that rose unbidden at the sight. "Hey! I think it looks great on me," Stacy snapped back.
"I'm sure it does. I'm fashion impaired, remember?" Irena replied.
"Yeah, yeah you are," Amy added with real venom.
When they headed into the next shop, Irena pulled her cell phone and dialed. "Alex, could you call me back in half an hour?"
"Sure boss, what's up?"
"This vacation was a bad idea. I need to leave, but I want to give my friends an excuse, something like a disaster at work."
"Sure thing. Not enjoying the old haunts?"
"Realizing there are some places it's better not to go back to."
"I hear you there! Got to go, we're getting busy."
Rather than follow her friends into the shop, she continued down the walk until she found a book store. She was wondering the aisles, finding a few interesting titles, when Stacey stormed up to her. "You trying to ditch us or something? Too good for your friends now? What happened to you?"
Irena started to answer when her phone rang. She made a show of looking down and checking the number before answering it. "Yes?" She listened for a few minutes then ended the call with, "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Who was that?"
"My assistant manager. Someone disappeared after leaving Waverly's and they want to question everyone that was on duty that night. I'm going to have to head back right away."
"Disappeared? Why do you work there? Why do you live in that city? It's a dangerous, nasty place!"
"Because I like it, Stace."
"I don't think I know you anymore. You used to be sensible and interesting. Ever since you started hanging out with that weird Esther character in high school and then those gaming geeks in college, you've just gotten weird. I thought you wanted to see us but I guess I was wrong."
The ride back to Stacey's was spent in silence. Their goodbyes were pleasant but distant as Irena climbed into her car and drove away. She kept going until she reached the motel she had stayed in on the way out.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Sophia - Into the Realm
Tyana opened the door at Sophia's nod, Dry air, laden with the scent of old dust and stone, filtered into the room. Outside an enormous cavern vaulted overhead, above a large stone platform, sitting on a tongue of rock, over a vast chasm. Tyana wavered, sagged, and would have fallen if Sophia hadn't grabbed her. "What's wrong?"
"Too much damage. I can't maintain outside with this much damage."
"You there! You, near the strange building, where did you come from?" A tall woman, wearing silver and grey leather and metal armor, called as she strode toward Sophia.
"Us?" Sophia asked puzzled.
"Yes, you. Are you touched or something, girl? Who else would I be talking to? Why did you bring me here?"
"I didn't..."
"You did. I saw your building shimmer and fade then some type of magic wave crashed over me and I woke up here."
"Field and nav system damage. It must have been worse than I thought," Tyana whispered, sinking lower. "Get me back inside, please." Sophia turned to help Tyana back through the door.
"Oh no, don't you leave me here with no answers!" the woman shouted, running toward Sophia.
"Oh alright, come on in then," Sophia snapped over her shoulder. "Tyana, where are those stone doors and that chamber we saw?"
"I don't know. Echoes from the nav sys maybe. With the power systems as damaged as they are, it might be almost anything," Tyana replied as Sophia helped her to one of the battered old chairs in the entry room.
"Who the hell...holy hells, what kind of magic do you have here?" The woman staggered as she cleared the door, sinking to the floor and clutching her head. For a few moments she huddled there before slowly easing herself onto a low stool. "Who are you, how did you learn to control such powerful magic, and why have you brought me here?"
"I'm Sophia and this is Tyana. I..someone brought us here against my will as well. I don't know what is going on, other than this thing, that supposedly brought me here, is damaged."
"I've been waiting for days for you to come out of your little house. My world is being ravaged by a mad-man and I won't be able to stop it."
"Who is this mad-man?" Tyana whispered from the chair.
"Lord Shalmar, one of the Wizard Lords of my world, and he is seeking to conquer the other Wizard Lords and enslave everyone under his rule. I was trying to acquire a powerful artifact that would have let me defend against him, until your magic brought me here. Please, you must send me back!"
"What do I have to do to convince you that there is nothing I can do? I was brought here, just as you were. This thing is broken, it can't go anywhere."
"Liar!" the woman screamed. She pulled a dagger and threw herself at Sophia, only to be stopped in a pillar of harsh red light. Tyana groaned and Sophia staggered as exhaustion ripped through her.
Sophia staggered to the woman, pulled the dagger from her hand, and collapsed to her knees on the floor. "Stop," she called in a ragged whisper. "Stop or it will kill you." For long moments the woman stared defiantly at Sophia before relaxing slightly. Instantly the light snapped off and she stumbled forward a step and slid down to sit on the floor. Sophia rocked back until she was sitting cross-legged facing her.
"What happened to you?"
"She is bound to this item. Everything that happens to it, happens to her, and happens to me," Tyana answered. "It is damaged, so we feel the damage as pain and weakness. You are lucky. If you had tried that under normal conditions you would have been turned inside out without having a chance to reply." Tyana almost smiled at the shock on the woman's face. "You know who we are. I think it's time you returned the favor."
The woman hesitated long moments, the replied slowly, "I am Lady Ayrthane."
"Dorotea, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Sophia said without thinking. In her mind she saw the character data for Lady Dorotea Ayrthane, wizard lord of Formnought Holding, on the world designated as Wizilandria, world after the wizards went to war.
Dorotea stiffened, "How do you know my name?"
"Oh, um, oh..." Sophia trailed into silence, shocked back from her memories.
"Names have great power in many realms, mistress," Tyana added. "You would be wise to be careful in the sharing of ours and the mentioning of others."
"Where do you come from to know of realms? What matter of sorceress are you and what have you studied?" Dorotea asked.
"Sorceress? I know nothing of magic," Sophia answered.
"Mistress, I must rest. Please excuse me," Tyana rose slowly and stumbled toward the hanging at the back of the room.
Dorotea's eyes followed her, then turned a puzzled gaze on Sophia. "I thought this was a single roomed hovel."
"I am remiss, now that I have invited you in, I should offer hospitality. Come, let me offer you food and drink," Sophia said as she struggled to her feet. Dorotea rose and followed her through the hanging, into the throne room.
"This..this is the Hut of All Worlds," Dorotea whispered. "The oldest myths speak of this room and its curious ceiling. Forgive me mistress. If I had known I would never have spoken so harshly to you." She dropped to her knees in a deep bow.
"Get up!" Sophia said sharply. "I don't deserve to be bowed to." She turned abruptly and shuffled toward the door in the wall to her right. She crossed the richly appointed dining area to the far corridor and then to the kitchen. She pulled a bottle of wine from a place on the counter and laid out the bread and cheese she had found earlier. "I am sorry I cannot offer more, however, I don't know where the store rooms are yet. Please, eat, drink, and relax," she explained as she sank onto a stool. "Soon I must rest. I am sure there are guest chambers in here somewhere if you would choose to rest here instead of at your camp."
"You are treating me well, mistress. I will accept and enjoy your hospitality and remain so you cannot slip away without me."
"Tyana, where would we find rooms for our guest?"
"The door on the fifth landing of the Central Stair has the least oddly decorated bed chamber."
"Thank you, Tyana." Sophia waited until Dorotea had finished then conducted her to the chamber. "If you wake up before me, you can get something in the kitchen, wait in the dining room, or take the stairs down to the fifth door, cross the cloisters to any of the inner doors and wait in the library. I'll join you when I wake up." She then turned to her own chambers and fell into dreamless sleep.
"Too much damage. I can't maintain outside with this much damage."
"You there! You, near the strange building, where did you come from?" A tall woman, wearing silver and grey leather and metal armor, called as she strode toward Sophia.
"Us?" Sophia asked puzzled.
"Yes, you. Are you touched or something, girl? Who else would I be talking to? Why did you bring me here?"
"I didn't..."
"You did. I saw your building shimmer and fade then some type of magic wave crashed over me and I woke up here."
"Field and nav system damage. It must have been worse than I thought," Tyana whispered, sinking lower. "Get me back inside, please." Sophia turned to help Tyana back through the door.
"Oh no, don't you leave me here with no answers!" the woman shouted, running toward Sophia.
"Oh alright, come on in then," Sophia snapped over her shoulder. "Tyana, where are those stone doors and that chamber we saw?"
"I don't know. Echoes from the nav sys maybe. With the power systems as damaged as they are, it might be almost anything," Tyana replied as Sophia helped her to one of the battered old chairs in the entry room.
"Who the hell...holy hells, what kind of magic do you have here?" The woman staggered as she cleared the door, sinking to the floor and clutching her head. For a few moments she huddled there before slowly easing herself onto a low stool. "Who are you, how did you learn to control such powerful magic, and why have you brought me here?"
"I'm Sophia and this is Tyana. I..someone brought us here against my will as well. I don't know what is going on, other than this thing, that supposedly brought me here, is damaged."
"I've been waiting for days for you to come out of your little house. My world is being ravaged by a mad-man and I won't be able to stop it."
"Who is this mad-man?" Tyana whispered from the chair.
"Lord Shalmar, one of the Wizard Lords of my world, and he is seeking to conquer the other Wizard Lords and enslave everyone under his rule. I was trying to acquire a powerful artifact that would have let me defend against him, until your magic brought me here. Please, you must send me back!"
"What do I have to do to convince you that there is nothing I can do? I was brought here, just as you were. This thing is broken, it can't go anywhere."
"Liar!" the woman screamed. She pulled a dagger and threw herself at Sophia, only to be stopped in a pillar of harsh red light. Tyana groaned and Sophia staggered as exhaustion ripped through her.
Sophia staggered to the woman, pulled the dagger from her hand, and collapsed to her knees on the floor. "Stop," she called in a ragged whisper. "Stop or it will kill you." For long moments the woman stared defiantly at Sophia before relaxing slightly. Instantly the light snapped off and she stumbled forward a step and slid down to sit on the floor. Sophia rocked back until she was sitting cross-legged facing her.
"What happened to you?"
"She is bound to this item. Everything that happens to it, happens to her, and happens to me," Tyana answered. "It is damaged, so we feel the damage as pain and weakness. You are lucky. If you had tried that under normal conditions you would have been turned inside out without having a chance to reply." Tyana almost smiled at the shock on the woman's face. "You know who we are. I think it's time you returned the favor."
The woman hesitated long moments, the replied slowly, "I am Lady Ayrthane."
"Dorotea, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Sophia said without thinking. In her mind she saw the character data for Lady Dorotea Ayrthane, wizard lord of Formnought Holding, on the world designated as Wizilandria, world after the wizards went to war.
Dorotea stiffened, "How do you know my name?"
"Oh, um, oh..." Sophia trailed into silence, shocked back from her memories.
"Names have great power in many realms, mistress," Tyana added. "You would be wise to be careful in the sharing of ours and the mentioning of others."
"Where do you come from to know of realms? What matter of sorceress are you and what have you studied?" Dorotea asked.
"Sorceress? I know nothing of magic," Sophia answered.
"Mistress, I must rest. Please excuse me," Tyana rose slowly and stumbled toward the hanging at the back of the room.
Dorotea's eyes followed her, then turned a puzzled gaze on Sophia. "I thought this was a single roomed hovel."
"I am remiss, now that I have invited you in, I should offer hospitality. Come, let me offer you food and drink," Sophia said as she struggled to her feet. Dorotea rose and followed her through the hanging, into the throne room.
"This..this is the Hut of All Worlds," Dorotea whispered. "The oldest myths speak of this room and its curious ceiling. Forgive me mistress. If I had known I would never have spoken so harshly to you." She dropped to her knees in a deep bow.
"Get up!" Sophia said sharply. "I don't deserve to be bowed to." She turned abruptly and shuffled toward the door in the wall to her right. She crossed the richly appointed dining area to the far corridor and then to the kitchen. She pulled a bottle of wine from a place on the counter and laid out the bread and cheese she had found earlier. "I am sorry I cannot offer more, however, I don't know where the store rooms are yet. Please, eat, drink, and relax," she explained as she sank onto a stool. "Soon I must rest. I am sure there are guest chambers in here somewhere if you would choose to rest here instead of at your camp."
"You are treating me well, mistress. I will accept and enjoy your hospitality and remain so you cannot slip away without me."
"Tyana, where would we find rooms for our guest?"
"The door on the fifth landing of the Central Stair has the least oddly decorated bed chamber."
"Thank you, Tyana." Sophia waited until Dorotea had finished then conducted her to the chamber. "If you wake up before me, you can get something in the kitchen, wait in the dining room, or take the stairs down to the fifth door, cross the cloisters to any of the inner doors and wait in the library. I'll join you when I wake up." She then turned to her own chambers and fell into dreamless sleep.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Irena - Brochan's
Brochan's was the local version of what everyone thought an Irish pub would look like. Before Irena had left for the city it had seemed exotic, now it felt ordinary and rather fake. Every table was filled when they walked in. Fortunately, Amy and Tricia had already arrived and grabbed one. Seeing her friends in the same styles they had worn in high school, going to clubs with the same kinds of music, forcefully reminded her how much she had drifted out of their circle.
As soon as they were seated a waiter came over for their orders. "Slivovitz, please," Irena added to Stacy's order of Irish Cream. She tried again when the waiter shook his head, "Jameson Limited Reserve?" He shook his head again. "Jameson Gold?" He nodded at that one.
"Still drinking weird stuff?" Amy asked.
"There's nothing odd about slivovitz," Irena replied.
"Ok, big city girl," Tricia added.
The first drink relaxed her enough that the thoughts she had pushed away while driving returned. Stacy and the others started comparing the guys in the pub while Irena's mind wandered, painting a picture of a very different place. Dark stone walls arched over a rough hewn floor. Smoke hung heavy in the air, thick with the scents of grilled meats, tobacco and other smokes, sweat from many different races of creature clogged the air. Booming echoes of conversations, shouts of greeting, food and drink orders, and music from a stage in a small pocket cave partway up the far wall crashed around her in a deafening tide. Shadows flickered from lamps and torches hanging from the ceiling, placed on tables, or jutting out from the walls. She was seated at a small table, tucked into a little alcove against one wall. A single candle guttered in the air currents, flickering light and shadow across the top of the dark black liquid she was drinking. Across from her a small urchin girl sat, sipping a bile green colored sludge and smiling with genuine delight.
"Earth to Irena. Hello, where were you? I've pointed out the same guy four times now and you haven't even twitched your eyes," Stacy hissed.
"Oh, um, nothing, just more tired than I thought from the drive," Irena responded slowly. She forced her eyes to focus where Stacy was pointing. None of the guys in that general direction caught her eye.
"That one. The one in the denim jacket," Stacy almost huffed. Irena looked at the man in question. He was the blandest looking one of the bunch, although he was handsome enough. He could have been a final year student, a law clerk, or an insurance man. "Maybe you are becoming a lesbian," Stacy said with an edge when Irena just looked away.
"Sorry Stace, he just looks boring. I don't see anything edgy about him at all."
"Damn it, what's wrong with you? That ass hole you dumped sure was edgy enough. Abusive, drunk, and rude. Is that what you want again?"
"No, but I want someone with some fire, some passion, and who isn't afraid to be different."
"Is that some type of comment on me?" Stacy asked.
"No. No, of course not," Irena responded, almost too quickly. That actually was what she was thinking. When she had planned the trip home, she'd thought it would help to see her old friends, go to the old haunts, and drool over the boys again. But it all felt empty and hollow. She began to regret having taken an entire week, then told herself if she still felt the same way tomorrow, she'd head back early.
"At least get out there and dance," Stacy pressed. Reluctantly Irena hauled herself up and edged through the crowd to the dance floor. Not very many people were dancing, so she stood out both in her darker attire and because she was dancing alone. Several guys tried to join her, but moved away when she ignored them.
"You didn't even try to dance with any of those guys," Stacy accused when Irena returned to the table.
"Not interested," Irena replied. Stacy pointedly turned away from Irena and only talked to Amy and Tricia for the rest of the evening. After five or ten minutes of the silent treatment, Irena rose and spent the rest of the night alternating between the bar and the dance floor. It wasn't the music she particularly liked to dance to, but it was easier than being near Stacy while she pouted.
The ride home was spent in strained silence. "We have to share my bed, but don't talk to me until morning," Stacy said when they entered her room.
Cloying perfume, scented powder, and overpowering lavender scents clashed in Irena's throat and lungs, forcing a short bout of violent coughing. Stacy just glowered until she was finished, silently handed her a box of tissue, and stomped off to the bathroom. She returned a few minutes later in her perfect pink nighty, flopped down on the bed, rolled to the far side, and stretched out facing away from Irena and the room. Irena stared at Stacy for a long time before pulling a pair of sweats out of her bag, changing into them, and slipping into bed. She stared up at the ceiling for a very long time until sleep finally pulled her down into more strange dreams.
As soon as they were seated a waiter came over for their orders. "Slivovitz, please," Irena added to Stacy's order of Irish Cream. She tried again when the waiter shook his head, "Jameson Limited Reserve?" He shook his head again. "Jameson Gold?" He nodded at that one.
"Still drinking weird stuff?" Amy asked.
"There's nothing odd about slivovitz," Irena replied.
"Ok, big city girl," Tricia added.
The first drink relaxed her enough that the thoughts she had pushed away while driving returned. Stacy and the others started comparing the guys in the pub while Irena's mind wandered, painting a picture of a very different place. Dark stone walls arched over a rough hewn floor. Smoke hung heavy in the air, thick with the scents of grilled meats, tobacco and other smokes, sweat from many different races of creature clogged the air. Booming echoes of conversations, shouts of greeting, food and drink orders, and music from a stage in a small pocket cave partway up the far wall crashed around her in a deafening tide. Shadows flickered from lamps and torches hanging from the ceiling, placed on tables, or jutting out from the walls. She was seated at a small table, tucked into a little alcove against one wall. A single candle guttered in the air currents, flickering light and shadow across the top of the dark black liquid she was drinking. Across from her a small urchin girl sat, sipping a bile green colored sludge and smiling with genuine delight.
"Earth to Irena. Hello, where were you? I've pointed out the same guy four times now and you haven't even twitched your eyes," Stacy hissed.
"Oh, um, nothing, just more tired than I thought from the drive," Irena responded slowly. She forced her eyes to focus where Stacy was pointing. None of the guys in that general direction caught her eye.
"That one. The one in the denim jacket," Stacy almost huffed. Irena looked at the man in question. He was the blandest looking one of the bunch, although he was handsome enough. He could have been a final year student, a law clerk, or an insurance man. "Maybe you are becoming a lesbian," Stacy said with an edge when Irena just looked away.
"Sorry Stace, he just looks boring. I don't see anything edgy about him at all."
"Damn it, what's wrong with you? That ass hole you dumped sure was edgy enough. Abusive, drunk, and rude. Is that what you want again?"
"No, but I want someone with some fire, some passion, and who isn't afraid to be different."
"Is that some type of comment on me?" Stacy asked.
"No. No, of course not," Irena responded, almost too quickly. That actually was what she was thinking. When she had planned the trip home, she'd thought it would help to see her old friends, go to the old haunts, and drool over the boys again. But it all felt empty and hollow. She began to regret having taken an entire week, then told herself if she still felt the same way tomorrow, she'd head back early.
"At least get out there and dance," Stacy pressed. Reluctantly Irena hauled herself up and edged through the crowd to the dance floor. Not very many people were dancing, so she stood out both in her darker attire and because she was dancing alone. Several guys tried to join her, but moved away when she ignored them.
"You didn't even try to dance with any of those guys," Stacy accused when Irena returned to the table.
"Not interested," Irena replied. Stacy pointedly turned away from Irena and only talked to Amy and Tricia for the rest of the evening. After five or ten minutes of the silent treatment, Irena rose and spent the rest of the night alternating between the bar and the dance floor. It wasn't the music she particularly liked to dance to, but it was easier than being near Stacy while she pouted.
The ride home was spent in strained silence. "We have to share my bed, but don't talk to me until morning," Stacy said when they entered her room.
Cloying perfume, scented powder, and overpowering lavender scents clashed in Irena's throat and lungs, forcing a short bout of violent coughing. Stacy just glowered until she was finished, silently handed her a box of tissue, and stomped off to the bathroom. She returned a few minutes later in her perfect pink nighty, flopped down on the bed, rolled to the far side, and stretched out facing away from Irena and the room. Irena stared at Stacy for a long time before pulling a pair of sweats out of her bag, changing into them, and slipping into bed. She stared up at the ceiling for a very long time until sleep finally pulled her down into more strange dreams.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Sophia - Stepping Out
Sophia stirred in the throne and said, "I need to see outside, even if just a little bit. Then I can accept returning to training."
"Very well, but you should at least put on some of the protective wear."
"None of it looks any better than what I have on, and most of it looks like it was designed by a deranged fan-boy."
"All three versions provide the same level of protection, which is quite high by most standards."
"Even the one that looks like a glorified swim suit?"
"Even that one. I did ask Irena why those designs once. She just smiled and said, 'Sex distracts. While my oponent is looking at what I'm not wearing, I get an extra few moments to act first. Besides, if you've got it, flaunt it.'"
"Oh. Am I to assume Irena is quite beautiful then? That attitude might work for the beautiful people, but what about the rest of us?"
"Ah, another person with self-image issues. You are quite beautiful, even if you can't see it. Nothing says you have to wear the revealing ones, there's still the more modest, full body version. Once you decide on a style you prefer, we can modify something to your personal tastes."
"I'll go change and be right back." Sophia returned a few minutes later in the full coverage, black silk set of trousers and long sleeved top. It clung and fit tighter than she was immediately comfortable with, but wasn't nearly as bad as the next choice. "It clings more than I would like, but it will be ok, I guess."
"What you arrived in was more revealing than that," Tyana reminded her.
"Yes, but I was going clubbing, and hoping to attract notice. I don't want to do that here."
"You'll probably be fine. We can also change the wardrobe after we see the local conditions. Do you still want to go or shall we return to your training?"
"I still want to go outside," Sophia replied as she walked toward the door to the interface room.
The interface looked like a small peasant hovel, with a small fire pit, a rough cot, tiny table and a couple of chairs, and cookware hanging over a narrow counter. A ladder led up to an attic and a trap door closed off what might have been a cellar. A small brazier, sculpted to resemble an impossible monster of teeth and claws rested on the shelf. Something about it drew Sophia's gaze.
"That won't work while the power system is damaged," Tyana said.
"Won't work?"
"Oh, right, you wouldn't know. That can be expanded and controlled by a whistle in the desk in your room. It expands to a size that can hold four people comfortably and then it travels under whistle commands."
"Oh," Sophia said, staring at it for a few more moments.
Tyana crossed to the far door. It was ornate, carved in strange beasts and symbols, everything so detailed they seemed to move around the door when Sophia wasn't looking. "This is the main portal. Outside of here we are back in the Real Space Realms. Nothing can gain access through this door without your direct approval, although, once it is given, that being may come and go as they please, unless you rescind the permission. Are you ready?"
"Very well, but you should at least put on some of the protective wear."
"None of it looks any better than what I have on, and most of it looks like it was designed by a deranged fan-boy."
"All three versions provide the same level of protection, which is quite high by most standards."
"Even the one that looks like a glorified swim suit?"
"Even that one. I did ask Irena why those designs once. She just smiled and said, 'Sex distracts. While my oponent is looking at what I'm not wearing, I get an extra few moments to act first. Besides, if you've got it, flaunt it.'"
"Oh. Am I to assume Irena is quite beautiful then? That attitude might work for the beautiful people, but what about the rest of us?"
"Ah, another person with self-image issues. You are quite beautiful, even if you can't see it. Nothing says you have to wear the revealing ones, there's still the more modest, full body version. Once you decide on a style you prefer, we can modify something to your personal tastes."
"I'll go change and be right back." Sophia returned a few minutes later in the full coverage, black silk set of trousers and long sleeved top. It clung and fit tighter than she was immediately comfortable with, but wasn't nearly as bad as the next choice. "It clings more than I would like, but it will be ok, I guess."
"What you arrived in was more revealing than that," Tyana reminded her.
"Yes, but I was going clubbing, and hoping to attract notice. I don't want to do that here."
"You'll probably be fine. We can also change the wardrobe after we see the local conditions. Do you still want to go or shall we return to your training?"
"I still want to go outside," Sophia replied as she walked toward the door to the interface room.
The interface looked like a small peasant hovel, with a small fire pit, a rough cot, tiny table and a couple of chairs, and cookware hanging over a narrow counter. A ladder led up to an attic and a trap door closed off what might have been a cellar. A small brazier, sculpted to resemble an impossible monster of teeth and claws rested on the shelf. Something about it drew Sophia's gaze.
"That won't work while the power system is damaged," Tyana said.
"Won't work?"
"Oh, right, you wouldn't know. That can be expanded and controlled by a whistle in the desk in your room. It expands to a size that can hold four people comfortably and then it travels under whistle commands."
"Oh," Sophia said, staring at it for a few more moments.
Tyana crossed to the far door. It was ornate, carved in strange beasts and symbols, everything so detailed they seemed to move around the door when Sophia wasn't looking. "This is the main portal. Outside of here we are back in the Real Space Realms. Nothing can gain access through this door without your direct approval, although, once it is given, that being may come and go as they please, unless you rescind the permission. Are you ready?"
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Irena - Old Friends
The hotel shower was almost too weak to pound the kinks from her muscles, but it did enough for her to painfully climb into her car and resume her drive. She pulled into the parking garage for Stacy's condo just as the sun was setting. Stacy met her at the elevator doors on her floor, "I hope you brought something sexy to wear. We're meeting Amy and Tricia at Brochan's for drinks and dancing." Stacy was bubbling enough to not notice Irena's smile was forced and her eyes didn't light up like they should have at the prospect. "Come on, hurry up and change. They're probably waiting already!"
"Traffic sucked. Sorry I'm running late," Irena apologized.
Stacy hauled her into a tight hug, "That's ok. Brochan's will work its magic and you'll soon forget about that ass hole ex of yours and any sucky things that have happened at work. Oh, yeah, a bit of fucked up news. My ass wipe brother is down for the weekend and parked on the couch, so we have to share my room until next monday." Stacy led the way to her room and motioned for Irena to drop her bag near the door. Irena followed, stopping to take a deep breath before following her in.
"That's ok, I guess. Couldn't he stay with your parents? He has a bit more of that man smell than I like."
"Not really. You know how they are. This weekend is some sort of fund-raiser or something. They have a bunch of people from elsewhere in the state at their place," Stacy said, making a small face, "You're not turning into a lesbian are you? I love your roomy to death, but she's a bit of an odd one."
"No, just your brother has more of that man smell than I like. Beside, Shan's never put the moves on me, ever. And she's bi, just ask her last boyfriend."
"Bi? I still don't get that. Can't she make up her mind?"
"Stace, I've told you, it doesn't work that way. She likes people, not genders."
"Yeah, ok Rena, whatever you say. Now go, get dressed," Stacy gave her a swat as she left the bedroom, pulling the door closed behind her. The room hadn't changed since the last time Irena had visited. Dolls and stuffed animals still crowded the shelf over the bed. Boy band posters clung to the walls, pink lacy curtains framed the large window and the thick pink quilt was perfectly smoothed over the large bed. Scents of lavender, vanilla, and lilac collided in the air, making it almost too thick to breathe. Irena struggled to hold back her coughing, knowing once she got started, it would be almost impossible to stop. She stripped out of her travel clothes and slid into a long black velveteen skirt, tight, laced up, blood red corset top, and six buckle boots, something that would have been tame by Waverly's standards. Stacy looked her up and down when she emerged, almost frowning in disapproval for a split second, before pasting on a cheerful smile. "Still into that dark stuff, I see."
"Yup," Irena answered, not wanting to get into the old discussion again. "Guess we should get going."
"Traffic sucked. Sorry I'm running late," Irena apologized.
Stacy hauled her into a tight hug, "That's ok. Brochan's will work its magic and you'll soon forget about that ass hole ex of yours and any sucky things that have happened at work. Oh, yeah, a bit of fucked up news. My ass wipe brother is down for the weekend and parked on the couch, so we have to share my room until next monday." Stacy led the way to her room and motioned for Irena to drop her bag near the door. Irena followed, stopping to take a deep breath before following her in.
"That's ok, I guess. Couldn't he stay with your parents? He has a bit more of that man smell than I like."
"Not really. You know how they are. This weekend is some sort of fund-raiser or something. They have a bunch of people from elsewhere in the state at their place," Stacy said, making a small face, "You're not turning into a lesbian are you? I love your roomy to death, but she's a bit of an odd one."
"No, just your brother has more of that man smell than I like. Beside, Shan's never put the moves on me, ever. And she's bi, just ask her last boyfriend."
"Bi? I still don't get that. Can't she make up her mind?"
"Stace, I've told you, it doesn't work that way. She likes people, not genders."
"Yeah, ok Rena, whatever you say. Now go, get dressed," Stacy gave her a swat as she left the bedroom, pulling the door closed behind her. The room hadn't changed since the last time Irena had visited. Dolls and stuffed animals still crowded the shelf over the bed. Boy band posters clung to the walls, pink lacy curtains framed the large window and the thick pink quilt was perfectly smoothed over the large bed. Scents of lavender, vanilla, and lilac collided in the air, making it almost too thick to breathe. Irena struggled to hold back her coughing, knowing once she got started, it would be almost impossible to stop. She stripped out of her travel clothes and slid into a long black velveteen skirt, tight, laced up, blood red corset top, and six buckle boots, something that would have been tame by Waverly's standards. Stacy looked her up and down when she emerged, almost frowning in disapproval for a split second, before pasting on a cheerful smile. "Still into that dark stuff, I see."
"Yup," Irena answered, not wanting to get into the old discussion again. "Guess we should get going."
Friday, April 11, 2008
Sophia - Restless
Sophia stopped in the middle of practice the next afternoon. "This is good and all, but how long do I have to stay in here? I need to get out. The emptiness and silence is beginning to get to me."
"I can't keep you here. You are the mistress and you are free to come and go as you please. Just be aware, it can be very dangerous outside. You would be safer with more training." Tyana replied.
"I have to get out and see for a bit," Sophia said. She started toward the door from the throne room to the interface. "Uh, wait, is there any way I will be able to learn the local languages?"
"Are you good at languages?"
"No."
"The hut has a translation system, however, it works best on places where it has been before."
Sophia took a few more steps toward the door and stopped as her confidence seeped away. "I, ok, you win. I don't know anything about this and I don't know what I'm doing, and I am scared, and tired, and," she folded to the floor and began crying in ragged sobs. "I can't do this. Please, just send me back."
"I can't do that. There is no way to get you home without your help." Tyana crouched down next to Sophia and held her close while she continued to sob. "It'll be ok. You'll do fine. Just give yourself some time to figure things out."
"Time? What about my friends? What about my life?"
"I understand about friends, but was the rest of your life so good you wouldn't want to change it?"
"No, but I didn't get a choice."
"Would you have changed things on your own? Sometimes change needs a trigger, something to get started with." Tyana helped her rise and settled her into the throne. "Take a few minutes, then, if venturing out would help you, I can come along."
"How does that work? Aren't you, you know, like a hologram or something?"
"I have a shell I can use to leave for short times. I don't use it much because I can see and feel things much more completely through the hut interfaces."
"I can't keep you here. You are the mistress and you are free to come and go as you please. Just be aware, it can be very dangerous outside. You would be safer with more training." Tyana replied.
"I have to get out and see for a bit," Sophia said. She started toward the door from the throne room to the interface. "Uh, wait, is there any way I will be able to learn the local languages?"
"Are you good at languages?"
"No."
"The hut has a translation system, however, it works best on places where it has been before."
Sophia took a few more steps toward the door and stopped as her confidence seeped away. "I, ok, you win. I don't know anything about this and I don't know what I'm doing, and I am scared, and tired, and," she folded to the floor and began crying in ragged sobs. "I can't do this. Please, just send me back."
"I can't do that. There is no way to get you home without your help." Tyana crouched down next to Sophia and held her close while she continued to sob. "It'll be ok. You'll do fine. Just give yourself some time to figure things out."
"Time? What about my friends? What about my life?"
"I understand about friends, but was the rest of your life so good you wouldn't want to change it?"
"No, but I didn't get a choice."
"Would you have changed things on your own? Sometimes change needs a trigger, something to get started with." Tyana helped her rise and settled her into the throne. "Take a few minutes, then, if venturing out would help you, I can come along."
"How does that work? Aren't you, you know, like a hologram or something?"
"I have a shell I can use to leave for short times. I don't use it much because I can see and feel things much more completely through the hut interfaces."
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Irena - Vacation 2
Cheap, greasy pizza in hand, she returned once again to the screen. Twenty-four hours after she had first started reading, she leaned back and stared out at the tiny room. Unexpected tears dripped down her cheeks at the realization that the game was all just a fantasy. Uru, while real, had been a dead place, filled with the ghosts of the past and the hushed echoes of tourists. Very little of the actual research had been made available to the masses, and what places were open to explore were mostly sanitized and safe. The world trapped in her computer was vibrant and alive with possibilities, dangers, and conflicts.
She pushed the laptop to the other side of the bed, slid down, and stared at the ceiling until sleep slowly claimed her. Random images from the things she had read drifted through her dreams. Sophia's sapphire was always there, hidden, calling to her to find it and touch it. Every time she did, the air would start to shimmer and her dream would change to a new place. She tossed and turned fitfully, waking up in the early morning light, tangled in the bedding, almost unable to move.
She pushed the laptop to the other side of the bed, slid down, and stared at the ceiling until sleep slowly claimed her. Random images from the things she had read drifted through her dreams. Sophia's sapphire was always there, hidden, calling to her to find it and touch it. Every time she did, the air would start to shimmer and her dream would change to a new place. She tossed and turned fitfully, waking up in the early morning light, tangled in the bedding, almost unable to move.
Sophia - Training
Sophia opened the wardrobe in her room and stared at the various items hanging within. They ranged from very revealing to almost fully covering and were in deep reds, purples, and blacks. None of them looked like the bullet proof vests and body armor she had been expecting. "Tyana, I thought you said protective wear?"
"All of those are enhanced with magic. They will protect you against most average weapons."
In a large chest she found an assortment of shields and helms. In another there was an assortment of knives, swords, battle-axes, and other edged weapons. "No guns?"
"There are a few energy weapons available, however, finding replacement power crystals is very difficult most places. They wouldn't serve you very well. It's even worse for slug-throwers. You're better off with simpler weapons that function everywhere."
She tried several different weapons before settling on two short swords. One looked to be extremely sharp and narrowed to an impossibly long point at the end. The other had small burst of lightning crackling along the length of the blade. "Good choices, however, for training, could you take the other two? The ones you just picked up have enough enchantments to be really dangerous before you have sufficient skill."
"Which of the garments would you recommend?"
"Any of them. They all have similar protection, so pick the style you like." Sophia pulled out the dark black, most covering, set and set them on the bed. She started to say something, then shrugged, stripped, and slid into the clothes. They settled on her frame and seemed to shrink and expand until they fit perfectly. She picked up one of the swords and swung it clumsily around, noticing the clothes didn't grab or bunch as she moved.
"Florentine style? Just so you know, that's one of the harder styles to learn. I'm going to start by teaching you simple blocks and parries. Then we'll work up to attacks. And you're going to have a training regimen to tone you up and increase your stamina." Sophia rolled her eyes. "Or you can go outside unprepared and probably die." Sophia just nodded and gripped her practice weapons.
"All of those are enhanced with magic. They will protect you against most average weapons."
In a large chest she found an assortment of shields and helms. In another there was an assortment of knives, swords, battle-axes, and other edged weapons. "No guns?"
"There are a few energy weapons available, however, finding replacement power crystals is very difficult most places. They wouldn't serve you very well. It's even worse for slug-throwers. You're better off with simpler weapons that function everywhere."
She tried several different weapons before settling on two short swords. One looked to be extremely sharp and narrowed to an impossibly long point at the end. The other had small burst of lightning crackling along the length of the blade. "Good choices, however, for training, could you take the other two? The ones you just picked up have enough enchantments to be really dangerous before you have sufficient skill."
"Which of the garments would you recommend?"
"Any of them. They all have similar protection, so pick the style you like." Sophia pulled out the dark black, most covering, set and set them on the bed. She started to say something, then shrugged, stripped, and slid into the clothes. They settled on her frame and seemed to shrink and expand until they fit perfectly. She picked up one of the swords and swung it clumsily around, noticing the clothes didn't grab or bunch as she moved.
"Florentine style? Just so you know, that's one of the harder styles to learn. I'm going to start by teaching you simple blocks and parries. Then we'll work up to attacks. And you're going to have a training regimen to tone you up and increase your stamina." Sophia rolled her eyes. "Or you can go outside unprepared and probably die." Sophia just nodded and gripped her practice weapons.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Sophia - Throne Room 2
A deep gong pulled Sophia slowly awake. A strange bluish-green glow flickered against her eye-lids and a feeling of enfolding warmth and comfort held her securely. The bones of the massive throne were warm and pulsing slightly to the deep, steady heartbeat Sophia could feel more than hear. Her eyes opened to see a translucent image floating in front of her. Written on it were clusters of strange symbols that slowly twisted and morphed into words. "Summoning Gem AE3_666_01 activated. Coordinates transmitted. Jump system inactive. Data: Save/Purge"
"How do I get more detail?" A second window faded into view with more text and an image of two women in the early morning light with a heart shaped sapphire gem held into a shaft of sunlight. She stared at the image of two familiar faces before shouting, "Irena? Shandi? Can you hear me?"
"I'm sorry mistress, the summoning gems aren't communications devices. If everything was working, we could jump to them. But that isn't possible until the hut is fixed. I would recommend saving their location," Tyana commented as she faded into view , standing to the side of the glowing windows.
"What if they change location?"
"Then we hope they use the gem again."
"What is our current status?" Sophia asked. Instantly half a dozen screens popped up in the air in front of her with status for various sections of the hut. Many were green, however, the ones dealing with main power and jump systems were red. In each one power and control crystals were marked as damaged. "What do these crystals look like?" Another screen opened with images of seven crystals, each a different color, displayed inside. Three, a blue, a dusty rose, and a scarlet shot through with blue had red circles around them. Underneath, they were marked as "damaged, non-functional". "What size are they" Immediately a three dimensional image of a crystal appeared, rotating near Sophia's right hand. The crystal was about the size of a closed fist, egg-shaped, with seven flat pads polished into it. "And there are no spares inside the hut?"
"No mistress," Tyana replied.
"They can't be natural with those polished points, can they?"
"No, they were created by technology and were originally designed for hyperdrive systems. The creator of the hut based the power systems on a similar unit. In some places they are very common, in others, almost impossible to find."
"What is outside the hut? Can you tell me that? Do you think we are in a place where I can find these easily?" Another widow opened, larger than the others, showing a round dark granite chamber, lit with phosphorescence on the walls. Odd patterned carvings swooped between tall protrusions of rock, whose function was not at all obvious. A round well, surrounded by twisted spines of rock, puffed steam into the center of the chamber. A dark passage ramped up from an opening in the far wall. "Alright, that's rather strange."
"I don't know how easy finding them will be here. The air will support you, ambient temperature is cool compared to your body temperature, but barely below the comfortable range. I have no indication of local conditions or life-forms. There are none in the immediate area. I recommend selecting protective gear and weapons from your wardrobe before exiting the hut," Tyana replied.
"Weapons? What am I going to do with weapons? I've never fought in my life!"
"I am afraid you will need to learn, mistress. Most of the multi-verse is rather hostile, particularly to strangers."
"Uh, and where am I supposed to learn? Can you teach me? Do I have to worry about survival in here with the power systems messed up?"
I can teach you some things. We have as long as it takes. There is no serious risk with the systems as they are. I will join you in your rooms, you can select weapons, and we can begin. You realize, I hope, that this will take a while. These skills aren't learned overnight."
"Figures."
"How do I get more detail?" A second window faded into view with more text and an image of two women in the early morning light with a heart shaped sapphire gem held into a shaft of sunlight. She stared at the image of two familiar faces before shouting, "Irena? Shandi? Can you hear me?"
"I'm sorry mistress, the summoning gems aren't communications devices. If everything was working, we could jump to them. But that isn't possible until the hut is fixed. I would recommend saving their location," Tyana commented as she faded into view , standing to the side of the glowing windows.
"What if they change location?"
"Then we hope they use the gem again."
"What is our current status?" Sophia asked. Instantly half a dozen screens popped up in the air in front of her with status for various sections of the hut. Many were green, however, the ones dealing with main power and jump systems were red. In each one power and control crystals were marked as damaged. "What do these crystals look like?" Another screen opened with images of seven crystals, each a different color, displayed inside. Three, a blue, a dusty rose, and a scarlet shot through with blue had red circles around them. Underneath, they were marked as "damaged, non-functional". "What size are they" Immediately a three dimensional image of a crystal appeared, rotating near Sophia's right hand. The crystal was about the size of a closed fist, egg-shaped, with seven flat pads polished into it. "And there are no spares inside the hut?"
"No mistress," Tyana replied.
"They can't be natural with those polished points, can they?"
"No, they were created by technology and were originally designed for hyperdrive systems. The creator of the hut based the power systems on a similar unit. In some places they are very common, in others, almost impossible to find."
"What is outside the hut? Can you tell me that? Do you think we are in a place where I can find these easily?" Another widow opened, larger than the others, showing a round dark granite chamber, lit with phosphorescence on the walls. Odd patterned carvings swooped between tall protrusions of rock, whose function was not at all obvious. A round well, surrounded by twisted spines of rock, puffed steam into the center of the chamber. A dark passage ramped up from an opening in the far wall. "Alright, that's rather strange."
"I don't know how easy finding them will be here. The air will support you, ambient temperature is cool compared to your body temperature, but barely below the comfortable range. I have no indication of local conditions or life-forms. There are none in the immediate area. I recommend selecting protective gear and weapons from your wardrobe before exiting the hut," Tyana replied.
"Weapons? What am I going to do with weapons? I've never fought in my life!"
"I am afraid you will need to learn, mistress. Most of the multi-verse is rather hostile, particularly to strangers."
"Uh, and where am I supposed to learn? Can you teach me? Do I have to worry about survival in here with the power systems messed up?"
I can teach you some things. We have as long as it takes. There is no serious risk with the systems as they are. I will join you in your rooms, you can select weapons, and we can begin. You realize, I hope, that this will take a while. These skills aren't learned overnight."
"Figures."
Monday, March 17, 2008
Irena - Vacation 1
It was late in the evening when Irena pulled into the cheap hotel. She grabbed her bag, the bottle of Aquavit, and paused with her hand near her laptop bag. She had planned to take a break from the chat rooms and social sites when on vacation. Lately the flame wars and snarking had grown and a number of her friends had dropped off the sites. She turned on the TV and tried to find something to watch, however, she couldn't forget the disks in her bag.
After five minutes of the sappy movie, the best thing she could find in the wasteland of channels, she turned it off, fired up her laptop, and slid the first disk into the drive. There were directories filled with image files, hyper-linked text files, program executables and assemblies. On the last disk was an index file, close enough to the top that looked like a starting point, but when she tried a couple of links, they were broken. She waited impatiently for the time it took to copy all the directories to her laptop, then tried again.
Hours passed while she followed links, read pages, scanned images, and slowly immersed herself in the designs Sophia had been working on. Some of it she remembered from Jaime's tabletop role playing game. Much of it was expanded details and concepts for turning the bare bones of that early campaign into a world rich enough for a massively multi player environment. Other sections contained character write-ups and creature descriptions, linked to sketches, found images, and concept art to help with development.
It was four in the morning when she remembered to look at the clock. She was going to shut the machine down when another heading caught her eye. Suddenly she was immersed in the politics and power struggles of the campaign. The tabletop game had only scratched the surface, even after three years of playing once a week. Page after page detailed factions, power brokers, minions, and themes. The deeper she went the broader the scope became, until the final conflicts were being waged on a multi-versal scale, crossing times, parallel worlds, and the planes of existence as defined in many of the various gaming source books on the market.
Irena looked at the clock again and it said eight in the morning. She shook her head, stood unsteadily, and reserved the room for another night. She called the friends she was meeting and gave a flimsy excuse for a late start, promising to be to their place the next day. She had been planning to sleep, but tossed fitfully for a long while before turning the computer back on and continuing her research.
Stomach cramps pulled her away at noon, forcing her to consider the food she had skipped the night before as well as in the morning. Her hands flew to the keyboard first, then with a raw chuckle, she grabbed the handful of fliers the hotel had left in the room. She ordered from the first one that had delivery service.
After five minutes of the sappy movie, the best thing she could find in the wasteland of channels, she turned it off, fired up her laptop, and slid the first disk into the drive. There were directories filled with image files, hyper-linked text files, program executables and assemblies. On the last disk was an index file, close enough to the top that looked like a starting point, but when she tried a couple of links, they were broken. She waited impatiently for the time it took to copy all the directories to her laptop, then tried again.
Hours passed while she followed links, read pages, scanned images, and slowly immersed herself in the designs Sophia had been working on. Some of it she remembered from Jaime's tabletop role playing game. Much of it was expanded details and concepts for turning the bare bones of that early campaign into a world rich enough for a massively multi player environment. Other sections contained character write-ups and creature descriptions, linked to sketches, found images, and concept art to help with development.
It was four in the morning when she remembered to look at the clock. She was going to shut the machine down when another heading caught her eye. Suddenly she was immersed in the politics and power struggles of the campaign. The tabletop game had only scratched the surface, even after three years of playing once a week. Page after page detailed factions, power brokers, minions, and themes. The deeper she went the broader the scope became, until the final conflicts were being waged on a multi-versal scale, crossing times, parallel worlds, and the planes of existence as defined in many of the various gaming source books on the market.
Irena looked at the clock again and it said eight in the morning. She shook her head, stood unsteadily, and reserved the room for another night. She called the friends she was meeting and gave a flimsy excuse for a late start, promising to be to their place the next day. She had been planning to sleep, but tossed fitfully for a long while before turning the computer back on and continuing her research.
Stomach cramps pulled her away at noon, forcing her to consider the food she had skipped the night before as well as in the morning. Her hands flew to the keyboard first, then with a raw chuckle, she grabbed the handful of fliers the hotel had left in the room. She ordered from the first one that had delivery service.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Sophia - Throne Room
The directions were simple, but they didn't prepare her for what she saw when she pulled open the door. The far wall was seventy feet away. To her left the massive hall extended another fifty feet, to the right it extended almost two hundred feet to a raised dais, supporting a large throne, crafted from enormous bones, and illuminated by a single shaft of light from above. Raising her eyes she saw a spiral galaxy swirling high overhead, where the ceiling should have been. The walls were black obsidian with veins of golden light shimmering from them. Tall, graceful columns of the same material reached to where the ceiling should have been. The floor was pink granite with etched black runes swirling and eddying about.
Her footsteps echoed in the cavernous hall as she started walking, then running, toward the throne. Caution tried to pull her to a stop, but the need to be in the throne won out. Warmth and comfort enfolded her as she settled onto the cushion resting in the hollow of bone forming the seat. Images crashed into her head, faster and faster, twisting and roiling like an angry sea. For long moments she tried to cling to them, make sense of the currents. As they overwhelmed her she fought against them, pushing and twisting, trying to claw free of the pounding intensity of them. Blackness closed in around the edges of her vision and Tyana's voice whispered softly, "Let go. Let it happen. Become one with us and find peace." She fought to relax, to give in to the sucking blackness, but her mind fought to hang on.
One scene flashed by, clear and complete. The view was from the throne, looking down on a blonde haired, boyish looking man. His face was pouty and spoiled looking, wearing a pleasant but almost gloating smile. He was dressed in rich, gaudy black clothes trimmed with orange. Four men in black armor with orange trim flanked him. "Mistress of the Hut, I would ask you to grant me the knowledge of the shifting magic you use to move this hut. In return I shall grant you several Ancient Magic items I have in my possession."
A name flashed into her mind, Aztol, followed by various incidents of horrific deeds perpetrated by him. After a pause she spoke, "Upstart, what makes you think I would wish your tech? You seek knowledge beyond your wisdom, power beyond your ability. I shall not grant you anything. Take your rag-tag bunch of misfits and leave. Seek not to bother me again, for that day shall be your last."
His composed face twisted into a mask of rage. "You think you are so powerful. I will crush you like the insignificant fool you are. Soon the very demons of hell will tremble before me. You will beg me for mercy but it will be too late." His wild violet eyes stared into Sophia's calm ones as he spit and twitched with rage. "Doom shall fall upon you and I shall be its instrument." He turned and stalked from the room as the image faded and Sophia slid into unconsciousness.
Her footsteps echoed in the cavernous hall as she started walking, then running, toward the throne. Caution tried to pull her to a stop, but the need to be in the throne won out. Warmth and comfort enfolded her as she settled onto the cushion resting in the hollow of bone forming the seat. Images crashed into her head, faster and faster, twisting and roiling like an angry sea. For long moments she tried to cling to them, make sense of the currents. As they overwhelmed her she fought against them, pushing and twisting, trying to claw free of the pounding intensity of them. Blackness closed in around the edges of her vision and Tyana's voice whispered softly, "Let go. Let it happen. Become one with us and find peace." She fought to relax, to give in to the sucking blackness, but her mind fought to hang on.
One scene flashed by, clear and complete. The view was from the throne, looking down on a blonde haired, boyish looking man. His face was pouty and spoiled looking, wearing a pleasant but almost gloating smile. He was dressed in rich, gaudy black clothes trimmed with orange. Four men in black armor with orange trim flanked him. "Mistress of the Hut, I would ask you to grant me the knowledge of the shifting magic you use to move this hut. In return I shall grant you several Ancient Magic items I have in my possession."
A name flashed into her mind, Aztol, followed by various incidents of horrific deeds perpetrated by him. After a pause she spoke, "Upstart, what makes you think I would wish your tech? You seek knowledge beyond your wisdom, power beyond your ability. I shall not grant you anything. Take your rag-tag bunch of misfits and leave. Seek not to bother me again, for that day shall be your last."
His composed face twisted into a mask of rage. "You think you are so powerful. I will crush you like the insignificant fool you are. Soon the very demons of hell will tremble before me. You will beg me for mercy but it will be too late." His wild violet eyes stared into Sophia's calm ones as he spit and twitched with rage. "Doom shall fall upon you and I shall be its instrument." He turned and stalked from the room as the image faded and Sophia slid into unconsciousness.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Sophia - Tyana 2
Slowly she set the book back down on the table. "Tyana?"
"Yes mistress?" Tyana's voice answered from the air.
"Where is the rest of the crew?"
"The rest of the crew? You are the crew, mistress. Kyira and I are here to assist you. There are no others."
"Then what's this?" Irena asked, waving the book in the air.
"An echo...um, nothing mistress, just a book."
"An echo? Tyana, what is going on?" Sophia paused for a long moment, thinking of other similarities between her project and this place. "Unless... Are you doing what we did, creating instances of this construct, based off a master version, and giving them to random people? It was the only way we could figure out for working a magical device into our game." Tyana faded into view and just smiled. "You aren't supposed to answer questions like that, are you?" Tyana just continued to smile. "We created a way to meet the master version and crew, did Irena do that as well?"
Tyana waited for a few moments once Sophia stopped speaking, before asking, "Was there anything else, mistress?"
"Are you allowed to tell me the best way from here to the throne room?"
"Of course, mistress. Return to the kitchen, walk to the door on the far well and furthest to your left, cross through the formal dining room, exit through the single door on the far side of the room, and you will be in the throne room. Since you will ask anyway, the door to your left, as you enter the throne room, will take you to the interface room and the exit to the current realm."
"Yes mistress?" Tyana's voice answered from the air.
"Where is the rest of the crew?"
"The rest of the crew? You are the crew, mistress. Kyira and I are here to assist you. There are no others."
"Then what's this?" Irena asked, waving the book in the air.
"An echo...um, nothing mistress, just a book."
"An echo? Tyana, what is going on?" Sophia paused for a long moment, thinking of other similarities between her project and this place. "Unless... Are you doing what we did, creating instances of this construct, based off a master version, and giving them to random people? It was the only way we could figure out for working a magical device into our game." Tyana faded into view and just smiled. "You aren't supposed to answer questions like that, are you?" Tyana just continued to smile. "We created a way to meet the master version and crew, did Irena do that as well?"
Tyana waited for a few moments once Sophia stopped speaking, before asking, "Was there anything else, mistress?"
"Are you allowed to tell me the best way from here to the throne room?"
"Of course, mistress. Return to the kitchen, walk to the door on the far well and furthest to your left, cross through the formal dining room, exit through the single door on the far side of the room, and you will be in the throne room. Since you will ask anyway, the door to your left, as you enter the throne room, will take you to the interface room and the exit to the current realm."
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Sophia - Book Part 2
Angelique of the Many Names
So many names, yet, this is the one I have liked the best. Shape Dancer is good, but I am not the only one within these walls with that distinction. Mereret, my birth name, but she seems so long ago, and so much more confused about what she had become. Angelique knows and in it is empowered.
Angelique for Shan, the demon girl
I presume to speak for my lover, for words are not her strength. But it matters not. She has so many strengths that this small failing is inconsequential to her being. She muses, behind those troubled eyes, about her past and her future. We have helped to restore her from the abuses she has suffered, yet we cannot undo them. I love her more than my long life, yet, even that is not always enough to keep the demons from chasing her.
Aztol. I will kill him if I see him, assuming Shandi doesn't get to him first. What he did to her, what he did to so many, cannot be forgiven. And still, he threatens even more, for he has great power as well. His killing will be hard, but I will see it achieved, even if it requires my ending.
But this section is supposed to be about Shan. I promise the rest of it will be her thoughts instead of mine.
Mom told me, after Angelique and the others saw me home. I always knew he was not Father, even as he tried to act the part. Poor, sad little man, hiding in the shadows, trying to play god, and failing so miserably. He wanted to bring it all back, his Golden Time. My moms have explained what those times were like. They may have been good, but they were never what he remembers. The times now are no worse. In many ways, they are better, he just cannot see.
Irena, how do I speak of her? With her friends she rescued me, gave me hope, and drove my demons back enough for me to live again. She is the god my self-professed father wanted to be. He should thank the universe he never was. Irena has aged, even though she is ageless. We are fighting so many battles on so many fronts. I hope her latest plan will let her be happy again.
And Aztol, I should hate him more for what he did. I must thank him though, for without his tricks I would never have found true friends or my lover. I would still be wrapped in cotton and sitting on the high shelf, waiting for my "father" to take me down and look at me. Maybe not. Maybe my mothers would have freed me and saved some trouble. I will never know.
Krystal
What does one say in something like this? I have lived, I live still, and adventure awaits. What more is there that is important?
Darina
How strange it all is. I followed Irena because she fascinated me. Maybe there will be more to say later.
M'Hriss
I am glad I stayed when Margla offered me freedom. I can tell her story now. Let the multi-verse know she was more than just the 'evil old monster' in the magic building. Although, the few that came seeking knowledge can tell this as well.
I hope Klktzash is happy in her new life. I do miss her. She remembered her life before the Hut. That is something I do not, thankfully. Many of my kind are vile, evil, and cruel. I was no better until I was enslaved here. This place changed me as it changes all who are bound to it. I still have so many questions about what we do and why. We walk the multi-verse as gods, deciding the fate of civilizations, even though we come from lesser stock. Well, except for Irena, maybe. There is a force, a presence in her that is more than even this place gives. But what gives us this right, the right to dictate fate and destiny? What if we are wrong?
Tyana
Wow, my own section. He never would have treated me as a real person, even though I was. Sharyl and Kayara, two of the greatest friends I have ever had. They suggested Irena help me escape. Now I have new friends and an interface that allows me to see what they see and go with them into the Realms. To feel the life around us. And revenge, it will be sweet when he realizes what we took from him. His hidden library, the carrot to dangle before adventurers in a clumsy attempt at motivation. It is here with us, a gift to all who seek it. Perhaps Shan is right, a sad little king of a dank and moldy hole, fighting demons, many who no longer live. I do pity him. I wonder if he will notice the soul of the machine is gone from his realm?
So many names, yet, this is the one I have liked the best. Shape Dancer is good, but I am not the only one within these walls with that distinction. Mereret, my birth name, but she seems so long ago, and so much more confused about what she had become. Angelique knows and in it is empowered.
Angelique for Shan, the demon girl
I presume to speak for my lover, for words are not her strength. But it matters not. She has so many strengths that this small failing is inconsequential to her being. She muses, behind those troubled eyes, about her past and her future. We have helped to restore her from the abuses she has suffered, yet we cannot undo them. I love her more than my long life, yet, even that is not always enough to keep the demons from chasing her.
Aztol. I will kill him if I see him, assuming Shandi doesn't get to him first. What he did to her, what he did to so many, cannot be forgiven. And still, he threatens even more, for he has great power as well. His killing will be hard, but I will see it achieved, even if it requires my ending.
But this section is supposed to be about Shan. I promise the rest of it will be her thoughts instead of mine.
Mom told me, after Angelique and the others saw me home. I always knew he was not Father, even as he tried to act the part. Poor, sad little man, hiding in the shadows, trying to play god, and failing so miserably. He wanted to bring it all back, his Golden Time. My moms have explained what those times were like. They may have been good, but they were never what he remembers. The times now are no worse. In many ways, they are better, he just cannot see.
Irena, how do I speak of her? With her friends she rescued me, gave me hope, and drove my demons back enough for me to live again. She is the god my self-professed father wanted to be. He should thank the universe he never was. Irena has aged, even though she is ageless. We are fighting so many battles on so many fronts. I hope her latest plan will let her be happy again.
And Aztol, I should hate him more for what he did. I must thank him though, for without his tricks I would never have found true friends or my lover. I would still be wrapped in cotton and sitting on the high shelf, waiting for my "father" to take me down and look at me. Maybe not. Maybe my mothers would have freed me and saved some trouble. I will never know.
Krystal
What does one say in something like this? I have lived, I live still, and adventure awaits. What more is there that is important?
Darina
How strange it all is. I followed Irena because she fascinated me. Maybe there will be more to say later.
M'Hriss
I am glad I stayed when Margla offered me freedom. I can tell her story now. Let the multi-verse know she was more than just the 'evil old monster' in the magic building. Although, the few that came seeking knowledge can tell this as well.
I hope Klktzash is happy in her new life. I do miss her. She remembered her life before the Hut. That is something I do not, thankfully. Many of my kind are vile, evil, and cruel. I was no better until I was enslaved here. This place changed me as it changes all who are bound to it. I still have so many questions about what we do and why. We walk the multi-verse as gods, deciding the fate of civilizations, even though we come from lesser stock. Well, except for Irena, maybe. There is a force, a presence in her that is more than even this place gives. But what gives us this right, the right to dictate fate and destiny? What if we are wrong?
Tyana
Wow, my own section. He never would have treated me as a real person, even though I was. Sharyl and Kayara, two of the greatest friends I have ever had. They suggested Irena help me escape. Now I have new friends and an interface that allows me to see what they see and go with them into the Realms. To feel the life around us. And revenge, it will be sweet when he realizes what we took from him. His hidden library, the carrot to dangle before adventurers in a clumsy attempt at motivation. It is here with us, a gift to all who seek it. Perhaps Shan is right, a sad little king of a dank and moldy hole, fighting demons, many who no longer live. I do pity him. I wonder if he will notice the soul of the machine is gone from his realm?
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Sophia - Book Part 1
Musings of the Hut Crew
Notes
These are random thoughts of the crew, collected here for reference later. Each of us have recorded various thoughts and ideas in our sections, in no particular order. Read them, muse upon them, use them to form your own concepts about those that have recruited you.
Kyira Dzahmahth,
Head Librarian and Historian of the Hut of All Dimensions
Irena
Power corrupts everyone. Even those most determined to help others find themselves believing only they know the true good. I fell prey to it, as did those that I lifted up to help me. Even now, I am not certain I have managed to step beyond my own ego. I have been gifted or cursed with a destiny I only barely understand, yet must make decisions about on a daily basis.
That will be for you, the reader, to determine, from what you have seen of my policies and achievements. Be careful how you judge, for history and historians are harsh critics. Particularly if those who oppose you are the winners.
Kyira has asked me to discuss the Tools of Statecraft. Quite simply, they are the policies, procedures, and practices used to create and maintain a group. The tools can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful depending on the tool and how it is used.
Tool: Fear and Self Doubt
It is used by any group to convince the members of the group that they are flawed, worthless, or damaged in some way. Once this is established, the various power groups can then sell the "fix", be it religion, goods, services, or whatever. Since the core belief remains, this tool keeps the populace properly docile and receptive to the control group(s) and constantly seeking confirmation of the "fix".
Tool: Control of Information
Any group can only act based on the information it has at the time. If you can provide only desired information, then the group will more easily follow desired guidelines. An educated, thoughtful populace is not easily led or controlled.
This can be used for good by providing more positive and accurate information and reducing the titillation factor of the bad news. Do not attempt to suppress all the bad news or the good news will be viewed as false by anyone with any intellect.
Kyira
It would seem I am not beyond ego myself, to judge from that fancy-ass title I have given myself in the introduction. Such are the seductions of this place, the ease to feel above those we seek to serve. It is so easy to lose sight of the good that can be done in the light of the gratifications that can be accrued. Still, we try to catch each other and remind ourselves when we see it happening. Bring your friends with you on your tasks. Sometimes they are the only ones that can stay your hand when you lose your perspective.
Irena rescued me and brought me to this place. Nothing has been the same since. Even the ever-present hunger is lessened as long as I remain cloistered in this place. The freedom to feed only when I truly wish it has allowed me a view of reality I never could have imagined. Then, when Klktzash asked to resign her post, I became The Librarian, instead of only an assistant. I wish Zash well, wherever she ends up. With luck, she can stay at the Center and not be dragged back into the machinations of the hells. Machinations, a good word, fruity and rich, one she taught me, along with the tending and keeping of this vast library. A library stolen from one who knew not what to do with it, except hide it away and pretend to be keeping it for the future.
Now it is a living place. Fed by the adventures of Irena and the rest of us, offered to those that come after, who help in the Keeping of the Great Balance. Cherish what you find here.
Notes
These are random thoughts of the crew, collected here for reference later. Each of us have recorded various thoughts and ideas in our sections, in no particular order. Read them, muse upon them, use them to form your own concepts about those that have recruited you.
Kyira Dzahmahth,
Head Librarian and Historian of the Hut of All Dimensions
Irena
Power corrupts everyone. Even those most determined to help others find themselves believing only they know the true good. I fell prey to it, as did those that I lifted up to help me. Even now, I am not certain I have managed to step beyond my own ego. I have been gifted or cursed with a destiny I only barely understand, yet must make decisions about on a daily basis.
That will be for you, the reader, to determine, from what you have seen of my policies and achievements. Be careful how you judge, for history and historians are harsh critics. Particularly if those who oppose you are the winners.
Kyira has asked me to discuss the Tools of Statecraft. Quite simply, they are the policies, procedures, and practices used to create and maintain a group. The tools can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful depending on the tool and how it is used.
Tool: Fear and Self Doubt
It is used by any group to convince the members of the group that they are flawed, worthless, or damaged in some way. Once this is established, the various power groups can then sell the "fix", be it religion, goods, services, or whatever. Since the core belief remains, this tool keeps the populace properly docile and receptive to the control group(s) and constantly seeking confirmation of the "fix".
Tool: Control of Information
Any group can only act based on the information it has at the time. If you can provide only desired information, then the group will more easily follow desired guidelines. An educated, thoughtful populace is not easily led or controlled.
This can be used for good by providing more positive and accurate information and reducing the titillation factor of the bad news. Do not attempt to suppress all the bad news or the good news will be viewed as false by anyone with any intellect.
Kyira
It would seem I am not beyond ego myself, to judge from that fancy-ass title I have given myself in the introduction. Such are the seductions of this place, the ease to feel above those we seek to serve. It is so easy to lose sight of the good that can be done in the light of the gratifications that can be accrued. Still, we try to catch each other and remind ourselves when we see it happening. Bring your friends with you on your tasks. Sometimes they are the only ones that can stay your hand when you lose your perspective.
Irena rescued me and brought me to this place. Nothing has been the same since. Even the ever-present hunger is lessened as long as I remain cloistered in this place. The freedom to feed only when I truly wish it has allowed me a view of reality I never could have imagined. Then, when Klktzash asked to resign her post, I became The Librarian, instead of only an assistant. I wish Zash well, wherever she ends up. With luck, she can stay at the Center and not be dragged back into the machinations of the hells. Machinations, a good word, fruity and rich, one she taught me, along with the tending and keeping of this vast library. A library stolen from one who knew not what to do with it, except hide it away and pretend to be keeping it for the future.
Now it is a living place. Fed by the adventures of Irena and the rest of us, offered to those that come after, who help in the Keeping of the Great Balance. Cherish what you find here.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sophia - Kitchen
Sophia managed to get across the stairs over the open place by once again focusing on the far doorways. She breathed a large sigh of relief when she passed through the door back into her courtyard. The Main Stairs were light and airy, windows at every landing let in bright sunlight and warm breezes. Beyond the door was a small room with large bay windows overlooking a large garden
The dining alcove held a small table, with place settings for two, set in a large bay window overlooking a beautiful formal garden. A purple cloth bound book sat on the table with a quill pen and bottle of red ink resting next to it. She looked at it for a few moments, then entered the kitchen.
The kitchen was enormous with a large wood burning stove crouched in front of one wall, throwing heat out in great waves. Large wooden block tables held large knives, earthen bowls, and other kitchen tools. Along the far wall a marble counter contained three deep basin sinks and drain grooves for the dish racks on one end. Various cabinets and counters filled the rest of the space. She wandered around the space, opening cabinets, peering in drawers and into the ovens. A large cooler provided a wedge of cheese, the sink a tall mug of water, and one of the ovens a fresh loaf of bread.
Food and drink in hand she returned to the dining alcove and settled in. For a while she ate and looked out at the garden. When the food was gone, she slowly picked up the book and flipped it open. There were sections written in seven different hands on the first few pages.
The dining alcove held a small table, with place settings for two, set in a large bay window overlooking a beautiful formal garden. A purple cloth bound book sat on the table with a quill pen and bottle of red ink resting next to it. She looked at it for a few moments, then entered the kitchen.
The kitchen was enormous with a large wood burning stove crouched in front of one wall, throwing heat out in great waves. Large wooden block tables held large knives, earthen bowls, and other kitchen tools. Along the far wall a marble counter contained three deep basin sinks and drain grooves for the dish racks on one end. Various cabinets and counters filled the rest of the space. She wandered around the space, opening cabinets, peering in drawers and into the ovens. A large cooler provided a wedge of cheese, the sink a tall mug of water, and one of the ovens a fresh loaf of bread.
Food and drink in hand she returned to the dining alcove and settled in. For a while she ate and looked out at the garden. When the food was gone, she slowly picked up the book and flipped it open. There were sections written in seven different hands on the first few pages.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Sophia - Library
Sophia slowly pushed herself off the bed, stood on still rubbery legs, and inched over to the nearest window. She stood, staring into the courtyard, until she felt like she could walk without falling. She took the stairs one at a time and slowly, noting the arched opening to the sitting room. The second landing ended at a short hallway leading to the courtyard. The scents of rich earth, flowers, and greenery greeted her. The late sunshine was warm on her face. 'No way,' she thought to herself, 'This can't be some constructed thing, it has to be real.'
The courtyard was narrow and long, sandwiched between the walls of the rooms around it. Two four foot wide by fifteen feet long flower beds stretched down the center of it and a small fountain splashed into a pool between them. At the end opposite her a bench sat, sheltered under an overhanging balcony, and facing the flowers. Two doors led out of the long wall to her right, a single passage continued behind the bench, and another door opened in the ivy covered long wall to the left of the bench.
The heavy wooden door, in the first doorway, opened with the squeal of long unused hinges. Beyond the door was a narrow wooden stairway over a yawning black void. It rose to meet a small stone chamber, seeming to float in the vast darkness. Other wooden stairwells rose and descended from the stone chamber to other floating stone chambers, as far as she could see in the light from the door behind her and spilling from the various floating rooms. Terror constricted her chest, driving her back into the sunlight. She collapsed onto the paving by the nearest garden bed and sat, head in her hands, shaking and breathing with great difficulty.
Within seconds the attack passed, leaving Sophia surprised but pleased. Rather than return to the door right away, she walked along the paved sections of the courtyard, listening to the fountain and soaking in the warm light.
Slowly she returned to the open door. Focusing her attention on the lighted doorway at the top of the stairs she hurried up the narrow flight. Vertigo pulled at the edges of her mind as she stumbled into the small chamber. A flickering oil lamp sat in the center of a rough wooden table, casting dancing shadows around the six sided room. A small wrought iron stool was pulled up to the table and a closed book, bound in a light tan leather, rested next to the lamp. Hanging from the center of the ceiling was a large bronze bell, dark with age and soot. A small mallet hung next to it.
She reached for a book in one of the niches and her hand passed right through it. The same thing happened with every shelf and book except for one. A small green volume came back from the last shelf she tried. Flipping it open she read a short, hand written passage.
Akhalt
Devil cursed and demon haunted Akhalt, center of the Galhai Wastes, where power mad sorcerers of yore called down to this earthly sphere a demon from beyond, to their unending sorrow... Akhalt, where the Undying One rules from the Glowing Throne to this very day... doomed, cursed Akhalt, which the very gods spurned, transforming all the realm around it into a burning waste...
Akhalt, where Tesch Mar and Nyigroth battled for the Star Stones, greatest of the Ancient Magics. Desolation is all that remains and the Star Stones are scattered to the winds.
She set the book back on a different shelf than it had come from and turned to the book already on the table. She had just flipped it open when a woman stalked in from one of the entries. "The least you could do is put it back on the right shelf," she said. Sophia jerked her head up in surprise and stared at the person in front of her. She was tall, almost six feet, with curly blood red hair on top of the most beautiful face Sophia had ever seen. Two strips of cloth dropped from her shoulders, barely covering her breasts, and fanned out to circle her waist. A small section continued down to mask her crotch while revealing most of her thighs. What caught and held her attention though, were the large, black, bat-like wings folded neatly against her back and the long, twitching tail just brushing the floor.
"I...I'm sorry..." Sophia stammered, jumping up from the table and backing to the offending shelf. She grabbed the book and held it out to the woman with shaking hands. "Where...where does it go?" she asked timidly.
The woman gently took the book, turned, giving Sophia a clear view of just how little the cloth covered, and placed the book on the original shelf. "Right here. If you are ever in doubt, place the books on one of these shelves. They will reshelve themselves from there." She pointed to a small niche next to each of the doors. "I am Kyira, the librarian. And you are?"
"Sophia...Nelson."
"Welcome to the Hut and to the library. If you need anything, ring the bell and I will come and assist you." Kyira turned to go.
"Could you...could you find a few volumes for me? A note from Irena said I should ask you for....for...oh, what were they again?"
"It's ok, I think I know the ones you mean." Kyira slowly reached up toward the ceiling. Sophia stared, mesmerized, at the way the cloth moved up Kyira's body. When Kyira lowered her hands they held five books. "Liking what you are seeing?" she asked, with a wicked smile.
Sophia turned bright red, stared down at the table, and mumbled, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare."
"That wasn't the question. Not just into boys, are you?" Sophia mumbled something. "What was that? I didn't quite hear you."
"No, I find both boys and girls attractive," Sophia said to the table.
"So, I'm so ugly you can't look at me?" Kyira teased.
"No, that's not why. I shouldn't stare, it's not polite."
"Maybe not where you come from. However, I find it a compliment, so stop cowering." She set the books down in front of Sophia. "These should get you started."
"Can you tell me about Irena?"
"What about her?"
"Who she is, what she wants, why I'm here, what I'm supposed to do, where I am?"
"No. That's for you to discover, sorry. Oh, and the Short History book, that only applies to one of the worlds, possibly the one the Hut originated from. Irena never said. And the diary on the table is from the previous owner, the one who gifted it to Irena. It's an interesting read, although it won't tell you much about your situation. Need anything else? Otherwise I have things I can be doing."
"I think I'm ok." Sophia answered. Her stomach cramped and rumbled as she reached for the first book. "Before you go, do you know where I could find food? I haven't eaten in quite a while."
"I was afraid that noise meant the Hut was falling apart around us. Go back to your courtyard and turn to the right from the library door, toward the overhang and bench. When you reach that area, take the passageway to your left. That takes you to the Main Stairs. Go down to the floor and take the door just to the left of the single staircase. This takes you to the dining alcove. The other door in the alcove takes you to the kitchen. Any other questions before I go?"
"Why can't I touch many of the books in these shelves?"
"I'm not certain. You can always ask me to find anything you need if you don't find it on your own. Do you need something in addition to these volumes? Or, if you want me to reach again, all you have to do is ask. The bell will let me know if you need something when I'm not right here."
"No, not right now, just curious, that's all," Sophia replied, eyes back on the table. She rose, still not really looking toward Kyira, and started for the door to her courtyard. "I've got to eat. I'll read through these later."
"Sure, they'll be here for you."
The courtyard was narrow and long, sandwiched between the walls of the rooms around it. Two four foot wide by fifteen feet long flower beds stretched down the center of it and a small fountain splashed into a pool between them. At the end opposite her a bench sat, sheltered under an overhanging balcony, and facing the flowers. Two doors led out of the long wall to her right, a single passage continued behind the bench, and another door opened in the ivy covered long wall to the left of the bench.
The heavy wooden door, in the first doorway, opened with the squeal of long unused hinges. Beyond the door was a narrow wooden stairway over a yawning black void. It rose to meet a small stone chamber, seeming to float in the vast darkness. Other wooden stairwells rose and descended from the stone chamber to other floating stone chambers, as far as she could see in the light from the door behind her and spilling from the various floating rooms. Terror constricted her chest, driving her back into the sunlight. She collapsed onto the paving by the nearest garden bed and sat, head in her hands, shaking and breathing with great difficulty.
Within seconds the attack passed, leaving Sophia surprised but pleased. Rather than return to the door right away, she walked along the paved sections of the courtyard, listening to the fountain and soaking in the warm light.
Slowly she returned to the open door. Focusing her attention on the lighted doorway at the top of the stairs she hurried up the narrow flight. Vertigo pulled at the edges of her mind as she stumbled into the small chamber. A flickering oil lamp sat in the center of a rough wooden table, casting dancing shadows around the six sided room. A small wrought iron stool was pulled up to the table and a closed book, bound in a light tan leather, rested next to the lamp. Hanging from the center of the ceiling was a large bronze bell, dark with age and soot. A small mallet hung next to it.
She reached for a book in one of the niches and her hand passed right through it. The same thing happened with every shelf and book except for one. A small green volume came back from the last shelf she tried. Flipping it open she read a short, hand written passage.
Akhalt
Devil cursed and demon haunted Akhalt, center of the Galhai Wastes, where power mad sorcerers of yore called down to this earthly sphere a demon from beyond, to their unending sorrow... Akhalt, where the Undying One rules from the Glowing Throne to this very day... doomed, cursed Akhalt, which the very gods spurned, transforming all the realm around it into a burning waste...
Akhalt, where Tesch Mar and Nyigroth battled for the Star Stones, greatest of the Ancient Magics. Desolation is all that remains and the Star Stones are scattered to the winds.
She set the book back on a different shelf than it had come from and turned to the book already on the table. She had just flipped it open when a woman stalked in from one of the entries. "The least you could do is put it back on the right shelf," she said. Sophia jerked her head up in surprise and stared at the person in front of her. She was tall, almost six feet, with curly blood red hair on top of the most beautiful face Sophia had ever seen. Two strips of cloth dropped from her shoulders, barely covering her breasts, and fanned out to circle her waist. A small section continued down to mask her crotch while revealing most of her thighs. What caught and held her attention though, were the large, black, bat-like wings folded neatly against her back and the long, twitching tail just brushing the floor.
"I...I'm sorry..." Sophia stammered, jumping up from the table and backing to the offending shelf. She grabbed the book and held it out to the woman with shaking hands. "Where...where does it go?" she asked timidly.
The woman gently took the book, turned, giving Sophia a clear view of just how little the cloth covered, and placed the book on the original shelf. "Right here. If you are ever in doubt, place the books on one of these shelves. They will reshelve themselves from there." She pointed to a small niche next to each of the doors. "I am Kyira, the librarian. And you are?"
"Sophia...Nelson."
"Welcome to the Hut and to the library. If you need anything, ring the bell and I will come and assist you." Kyira turned to go.
"Could you...could you find a few volumes for me? A note from Irena said I should ask you for....for...oh, what were they again?"
"It's ok, I think I know the ones you mean." Kyira slowly reached up toward the ceiling. Sophia stared, mesmerized, at the way the cloth moved up Kyira's body. When Kyira lowered her hands they held five books. "Liking what you are seeing?" she asked, with a wicked smile.
Sophia turned bright red, stared down at the table, and mumbled, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare."
"That wasn't the question. Not just into boys, are you?" Sophia mumbled something. "What was that? I didn't quite hear you."
"No, I find both boys and girls attractive," Sophia said to the table.
"So, I'm so ugly you can't look at me?" Kyira teased.
"No, that's not why. I shouldn't stare, it's not polite."
"Maybe not where you come from. However, I find it a compliment, so stop cowering." She set the books down in front of Sophia. "These should get you started."
"Can you tell me about Irena?"
"What about her?"
"Who she is, what she wants, why I'm here, what I'm supposed to do, where I am?"
"No. That's for you to discover, sorry. Oh, and the Short History book, that only applies to one of the worlds, possibly the one the Hut originated from. Irena never said. And the diary on the table is from the previous owner, the one who gifted it to Irena. It's an interesting read, although it won't tell you much about your situation. Need anything else? Otherwise I have things I can be doing."
"I think I'm ok." Sophia answered. Her stomach cramped and rumbled as she reached for the first book. "Before you go, do you know where I could find food? I haven't eaten in quite a while."
"I was afraid that noise meant the Hut was falling apart around us. Go back to your courtyard and turn to the right from the library door, toward the overhang and bench. When you reach that area, take the passageway to your left. That takes you to the Main Stairs. Go down to the floor and take the door just to the left of the single staircase. This takes you to the dining alcove. The other door in the alcove takes you to the kitchen. Any other questions before I go?"
"Why can't I touch many of the books in these shelves?"
"I'm not certain. You can always ask me to find anything you need if you don't find it on your own. Do you need something in addition to these volumes? Or, if you want me to reach again, all you have to do is ask. The bell will let me know if you need something when I'm not right here."
"No, not right now, just curious, that's all," Sophia replied, eyes back on the table. She rose, still not really looking toward Kyira, and started for the door to her courtyard. "I've got to eat. I'll read through these later."
"Sure, they'll be here for you."
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