| Logs |
2010 June 27
| When The Bough Breaks |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Bough Logs |
Sixth Movement, Seventh Verse
Babylon is normally a busy city, and even now it is so; but the arrival of half a dozen angels from on high has sent a tension throughout the city, like a singing wire that is taut and vibrating. Even the faint wisps of incense from the Temples Quarter have stilled for the time being. Though the clouds once again becloak the peaks of Mount Zion, still there is the knowledge that six of Zion's messengers have descended; only a few know they entered the Basilica of St. George, and only the four mortals -- and Baal Hadad -- know that they have entered the depths below the mountain.
The group are within Saladin's villa, having been let in by the mujahideen Alonso. The others have taken to the streets surrounding the villa, to better observe any approaching threats. They are in the common room on the ground floor, seated around the table with Saladin at the head; he has made strong coffee, while Alonso remains at watch. The gryph-kits have immediately sensed the return of their people, and gallivanted and tumbled down the stairs happily, each to their own.
Jareth cuddles the little unnamed gryphkit against his chest, murmuring happily to it. This little mote of life seems to make him happy.
Mikal grins and teasingly tumbles her cute little gryphkit into her lap, stroking his tummy and crooning to him, "Hey, little one! Were you into all kinds of mischief while we were gone?" Raphael looks amused, glancing over Mikals' shoulder at the tiny purring entity.
Jareth doesn't seem to want to be too far from Baal.
Mikal sniffs at the coffee, then politely declines. Raphael, however, is happy to have a bowl-full! He inhales appreciatively, then slurps up quite a bit. He grins at Mikal, who laughs. "Eww! Why would I want hair on my chest, silly?!"
Norris puts Ferro on his shoulder, so the kit can keep an eye on things. Ferro thankfully grooms the big man's hair, chirping at him indignantly. Why is he not taking better care of himself, hmm? He does not choose to partake of coffee, preferring water.
Ferro, eventually climbs down onto Norris's chest, as if checking him out. The smith looks like himself, but the kit gives him this critical eye, like it can sense something has changed. Ferro chirps inquiringly, and Norris pets the kit. "Yes, I had an experience. Don't worry, it was good." Ferro seems to accept this, and nuzzles, purring loudly.
Baal doesn't look too good. Out in the light, he seems pale and drawn and a little shrunken. His proud Canaanite features appear softened and muted, and his eyes look almost sunken. Still, he's awake and regaining some of his strength.
"I admit," Saladin is saying, "I had very little idea that there would actually be something to John of Patmos's ravings. But in hindsight -- and please forgive me, Lord Hadad -- it seems to be poetic injustice the way the Architect has used you."
Mikal glances up from beneath her bangs, pausing in tickling Lazuli's soft belly fur to murmur, "About par for the course, really... from what we've seen of his works. He slaughtered one son to prove a point, after all."
Saladin steeples his hands before him. "Yes. And made the other son out to be the 'bad son,' literally the antithesis. The threat that would drive people to him." He considers for a moment, then stands. "Lord Hadad, you look unwell. May I show you to a room so that you may rest?" He looks to the others. "Might that be a good thing for him at this time?"
Jareth purses his lips slightly, "I should try to work on him. He has had sort of a long day..."
Hadad smiles warnly and a touch weakly. "Perhaps when I wake up, Stepmother. For now, perhaps some sleep would do well."
Mikal watches silently. She has no idea how to help the poor thing recuperate.
Saladin ushers Hadad to a second-floor room. He does not tarry, and is shortly coming down the stairs, looking quite, quite grim.
Mikal blinks a bit startledly at the change in demeanor, surreptitiously gathering Lazuli close and leaning back a bit, towards Raphael. Surely they've done no wrong in rescuing the immortal?
Norris straightens in his chair as Ferro settles down. The kit seems satisfied that his pet is okay, and curls up in Norris's lap. "What's the word on the street? Are the angels or any from the Basilica investigating the city?"
Alonso says in answer to Norris as Saladin sits back down heavily, "Things have been quiet. There have been no more movements into or out of the Basilica for some time, but it has only been an hour or two. I think that the angels will be returning to on high shortly, with great speed."
"And when they do," Saladin says, "they will be asking two questions: Why has the Antichrist been freed now? And, why has he not begun the Conquest? We know the answer to the first question." He looks to Jareth. "And your calming effect on him is, I suspect, the answer to the second. It... may not be enough, however.
Jareth sits up a little straighter as Saladin returns. He unconsciously squeezes the gryphkit a little too hard and gets a nip for that.
Mikal says confusedly, "Why not? Surely Baal doesn't want to help that sociopath's plans?"
Saladin says, "Of course he does not. No sane person, mortal or aethyr or god, would. But he may not have much of a choice." He folds his hands before him as he leans forward. "I will try to explain my reasoning. Please, bear with me for a little time. What is it that makes the mortal different from the god?"
Jareth says, "Besides death?"
Mikal smiles ruefully, "We come back when we die. Here we don't have to eat or sleep either."
Norris purses his lips. "I would have to guess it likely has something to do with the nature of a mortal, versus the nature of a god."
Jareth purses his lips again, "Mortals don't remember, either. Gods, do."
Saladin nods. "Very true -- all of you. The mortal lives in the Waking, is born, lives, and dies, and in time reincarnates. The god, however, is effectively eternal; they remember, and they remember everything, and they are, barring such events as the Godswar, unending. But there is a price for this.
"I have said before that the Dreamtime is malleable to mortals. This is true even for many of the inhabitants of the Dreamtime... including gods. The god is... 'grounded,' if you will, by their worshippers. Who they are is defined in great part by their worshippers. Now, the god has great power, both within the Dreamtime and within the Waking. but this is the price of that power, in that the energy, the awen, given to the god by their worshippers can affect the god.""
Jareth pales slightly, "But if the Architect's worshippers truly believe my stepson to be the Antichrist..."
Norris rubs his forehead, as if in pain. "...then the belief of those worshippers could make him a destroyer, whether he wants to be or not."
Saladin sighs. "They do not know him as Baal Hadad, Jareth. They know him only as the Crowned Archer, the Conqueror upon the White Horse. You have calmed him, and for the time being he is himself as he was when the Godswar was waged. But he will not remain so unless we... find some way to keep him, to us, sane."
Jareth's gryphkit senses his worry and half-scrambles, half-flies up to preen his hair worriedly, cheepurring. The goddess/bard/goatherd furrows his brow and says, "What if we can find those that remember him as he was? His old worshippers..."
Norris scratches his chin, as if itching from a beard that's currently not there. "I'm not sure it would be much of a contest. How many still believe in the Architect? Millions? Hundreds of millions? Can there possibly be that many left that remember Baal Hadad?"
Jareth says, "How many would we need, though, to let him hold onto the grain of his true identity? After all, we have held onto ours."
Saladin says, "There are very few of the old faiths in comparison to those who worship the Architect in some form. It would help him, again for a time, but I do not know for how long. This is... a level of applied metaphysics that none have ever studied before." He adds to Jareth, "You have held onto yours because you are mortal. Your god-selves are subordinate to your mortal souls at this time."
Mikal snaps firmly, "Come now! He can avoid archery and white horses, and search for his own worshipers. Worshipers of another god are not his destiny! For that matter, Baal is classically one of the christian demons. He's managed to avoid that too!" She folds her arms and adds grimly, "I think the deities have a little more free will than you propose, honored general."
Saladin spreads his hands. "Not being a god, I will take your observation of it, Rabbit. What do you propose, then?"
Norris looks at Mikal. "Do they? How many of the gods themselves changed, because the belief that sustained them changed? How many gods have been renamed, their stories retold, reshaped, their power and authority stolen from them?" he suggests. "That said...maybe there is a way we can level the playing field."
Mikal says, "I propose we not treat the poor man like a lost cause -- that's damn depressing. I think he should be allowed -- helped to go someplace where he doesn't have to cringe every time angels fly overhead, so he can recuperate."
Norris grins, leaning towards Mikal. "Do you remember the conversation we had earlier? That the Architect was sending his minions back to try and change the past? Maybe we can do the same...and change the story told about Baal Hadad. Keep the memory of him alive in the peoples of the past."
She glares at Norris, although her anger is clearly not directed at him. She snaps, "Were Inanna nothing more than her worshipers' beliefs -- I would be gone! Lilith would be a vengeful whore!" Lazuli tumbles out of Mikal's lap as she bolts to her feet, "And yet somehow we are not -- we are angry, and justifiably so, at being so abused for the Architect's perverse needs, but we are still us!" She's almost shouting as she finishes her sentence, fists clenched and her expression furious.
She whirls on Saladin, adding angrily, "Don't you dare give up on poor Baal now! He deserves better -- from all of us!"
Saladin says levelly, "I was not suggesting to consider him a lost cause. I was not saying to give up on him. Just the opposite, in fact. You four, after all, were once gods, and while mortal, still yet have knowledge of your god-selves, and more than just knowledge."
Norris would usually shrink back from that fury. Somehow he manages to stand his ground. "Alright, Mikal, we see your point." he agrees, careful, calm.
Mikal opens her mouth to yell again -- then pauses, realizing she's being agreed with. She hesitates, still angry but not sure what to say. Finally she simply grumps, "Well... well, good!" and sits abruptly back down again.
She folds her arms and glowers. After a moment she mutters, "Good. Sorry. Changing the past sounds good."
Raphael grins, sliding over so Mikal can lean against him. He gives her cheek a gentle nuzzle, and she abruptly throws an arm about his neck, still glowering as she buries her face against his heavy ruff.
Norris gathers up Lazuli. "As the closest thing to a doctor present, I prescribe...one gryphkit!" He looks at Raph. "And one wolf. Take them and call me in the morning."
Saladin continues. "Had I seen Hadad in the state he was in, without having met you four, then I would be despairing. As it is, there is at least one clear way that I see that the connection between Baal Hadad and the role of Antichrist can be broken. Bear, as he has said, has another idea, though I am not sure how to go about that."
Norris presents Lazuli back to Mikal grandly.
Mikal's small grin is sheepish, and she accepts little Lazuli carefully. She lets her hair swing to cover her face as she leans over the gryphkit, muttering again, "S-sorry..."
Norris says, "No, no, you are right to be angry, Rabbit, I was wrong."
Mikal glances shyly sideways at Norris, flushing as she smiles -- then goes back hastily to running her fingers through Lazuli's fur and feathers.
Norris sits. "And unfortunately, Saladin, this is likely not something you can assist with. But we, all four of us, have often gone back into the past, relieved old lives. We will have to find a way to do it when those moments come upon us."
Saladin sits back, considering. "You are right. I cannot help you with that. I would not know where to begin. I do not have the knowledge you would need to not only remember your past lives, but also traverse them."
Mikal murmurs curiously, "So... what do you recommend, honored general?"
Saladin considers carefully, then says, "Fortunately, something that you have already planned, actually. I know of only one person who knows more about the mortal wheel of life, and their myriad incarnations. She perhaps knows more about this than even any god. Raven."
Mikal laughs at that, then hastily covers her mouth, glancing apologetically sideways at Jareth.
Jareth smirks slightly and says, "One more reason to find her."
Mikal grins at that, then glances curiously back at Saladin.
Saladin nods. "Indeed." He looks upstairs. "In the meantime, we should think of a comfortable place where Hadad may hide in the meantime."
Norris looks side to side at his pack. "Should we...move him? Both to make him harder to find, and also to keep him away from a population?" he ventures.
Mikal shakes her head, "I don't think we should, Bear. I think Saladin and his people should, because they know how to disappear here better than we do."
Jareth nods and kisses the top of his gryphkit's head, murmuring, "You are a little saviour..." He raises his head and looks at the ceiling, "The people in this city remember the ancient ways."
Norris opens his mouth...and closes it. "Point." he admits.
Mikal nods to Jareth, "If Baal Hadad still has worshippers, they'd be here, true."
Jareth smiles as a bit of Lilith peeks through, "They remembered Lilith."
Saladin blinks. "Oh, of course! the Temples Quarter."
Mikal looks a bit wistful for a moment as she considers the state of Inanna's worshippers -- or lack thereof. She sighs softly, drooping for a moment... then takes a deep breath and puts her shoulders back. Her voice is brisk, "Well then! Good, that's settled. So, what's our next goal, Packmates?"
Mikal thinks, then nods firmly, "Jericho, right. Shall we get going, then?" She sighs softly as she adds, "Hopefully someday we'll figure out how to put together all this disparate information we're gathering." She pauses, then slowly adds, "No, wait. Let's get Azrael first. That will help Raven, and she in turn can help Baal. So that's... Neuschwabenland."
Norris nods grimly. "That's going to be fun." he says, unenthused.
Mikal nods in wry agreement, then determinedly gets to her feet. "Well! Sooner we get it done, sooner we can take a break." She puts her palms together and bows politely to Saladin, "Many thanks, our host, for your gracious kindness."
Saladin nods, "Very well. You came by airship, yes? There are settlements that have airship docks near Yggdrasil." He pauses. "Also," he says gently, "I think it would help you as well, if you came with us to bring Lord Hadad to the Temples Quarter. It... sounds like a place you may wish to see before you leave Babylon."
Jareth absently turns over the little gryphkit, tickling the little animal's belly and murmuring, "My little salwah..." He blinks and grins, "That's your name. Salwah." He takes a deep breath and looks at his packmates, "Soonest begun, soonest done."
Mikal nods to Jareth, then glances at Saladin. She sighs softly, "You're worried he'll lose it on the way?" She looks inquiringly at Jareth -- he knows best what his 'stepson' needs.
Jareth tucks the gryphkit onto his shoulder and says, "I think it will be best if we escort him, yes. I think that having us around, reminding him of who he is will help him keep hold of his identity."
Saladin smiles, still gently. "No, actually. I think knowledge that you are working towards breaking him from whatever bonds the worshippers of El-Amon-Re have placed on him, will help to soothe him. No, I say that you may wish to see the Temples Quarter because you have not been there yet."
Mikal smiles at the new name -- then blinks. She looks a bit wistful as she turns her gaze back to Saladin, nodding once. "SoÉ when he wakes up we can go?"
Saladin nods, "Yes. That may be best--" He is interrupted by a titanic thunderclap emanating from the northern part of the quarter, a crash of thunder that rolls over the city.
Mikal murmurs wryly, "There go the angels. Not a subtle people, are they?"
Saladin deadpans, "They can do 'subtle' but only if told to do so. Left to their own devices, they are rather passionate. Or rather zealous."
Jareth smiles, "Not all of them are so arrogant."
There is a rapid knocking on the door. Alonso checks outside, then opens it. The olive-skinned man in green fatigues enters hurriedly, looking rushed. "Three of them," he says quickly. "They left the basilica, and broke the sound barrier in their haste to return to on high."
Saladin makes a quiet sound. "They will surely return, then."
Alonso says, "General, it is not safe for us in the Scholars' Quarter. We can hide in the Silks."
Saladin nods, "Then we should not wait. If that did not wake Lord Hadad then I'm not sure what will, but perhaps we should go to see you the the Temples now.
Norris gets up, putting Ferro on his shoulder. "By all means."
Jareth smiles dreamily at mention of Silks.
Mikal looks thoughtful, "So three are still there. They are likely watching to see what flushes from hiding. We should not appear concerned."
Saladin nods, "A good point, Rabbit. Yes, and not go there as a large group."
Mikal says, "Umm... actually, a large and boisterously celebrating group might be just the thing?" She grins, "When they attract attention, as they surely will, a smaller group of two or three will be more easily missed."
Norris arches a brow. "You've got some folks that might be willing to have some fun, loudly, Saladin?"
Saladin smiles "They may not be able to do what you did last night in the Silks Quarter... but I think I can make such arrangements."
Jareth actually blushes at mention of that and then laughs warmly, "The people remember the old ways."
Norris puts a hand to the back of his head. "Oh, such a burden!" he faux-laments.
Mikal grins merrily at her companions! She loves seeing them happy.
Saladin confers quickly with Alonso and Farouq, the man in green. They look a little unsure, but Alonso nods and heads out. "He will go to Emily in the Silks," Saladin says. "She will see what she can do to incite something. Farouq will keep watch and let us know when her distraction is in full swing."
From the staircase, a tired and weary voice quips, "So I'm guessing that thunderclap itself wasn't this 'distraction' you're speaking of." Hadad is coming slowly down the stairs; the brief nap seems to have at least helped a little.
Mikal nods, swiftly repacking her gear so it will all fit under a cloak. She throws another cloak over Raphael's back and shoulders, pulling the hood over his ears and heavy mane. At his fussing grumble she mutters, "Oh, stop! You're too distinctive otherwise, Wolf, and you know it!"
Norris grins. "No, we plan much nicer distractions. That was just all the angels in a tizzy, going to report to their boss."
Jareth smiles to Hadad and reaches out to squeeze his hand, "We're taking you somewhere you'll be safe."
Hadad squeezes Jareth's hand. "I had thought it a dream," he says quietly. "When I woke up, upstairs. But you're... you're really you, aren't you?"
Mikal grins at that, murmuring quietly to Raphael, "Sure hope so! Otherwise am I me?"
Jareth smiles again and some of the goddess peeks through his eyes, "Yes, I really am. Even though I have a hard time believing it myself some days. And you are really you. You need to hold onto that."
Hadad mms, and nods, "I... I will. It's a little hard. I was in the vault for... for so long, the first thing I wanted to do was destroy everything belonging to the Architect, to destroy his people and to salt the ground where they sow their crops." He frowns, his brow furrowing. "I... still do. But that's what he wants me to do, isn't it? Ravage the Dreamtime... and the Waking... to raise up an empire against him just so he can topple it in his name...."
Mikal straightens up, her small fists on her hips as she stares up at the tall man. Her voice is pragmatic, "Yep. So don't."
Jareth laughs warmly at his beloved, "It is what he wants. And all it will do is cause more death."
Mikal grins a bit shyly at Jareth, hastily turning to continue her packing. When she's done she looks thoughtfully at Baal Hadad. "So... did you know someone named Cain?" She adds in partial explanation, "Since we have a bit of time before we can go?"
Hadad shakes his head, rubbing his forhead. "That's not going to be easy," he quips. "We used to go to war at the drop of a hat in the old times. But... that was a long time ago. And I still need to find out just what changed since I... since I was captured." He blinks to Mikal. "Cain? I... remember hearing of him. He was one of the Architect's first mortal worshippers, but... killed his brother, didn't he?"
Mikal nods silently, thinking. Finally she says slowly, "Does the name Bull of Heaven mean anything to you?"
Hadad sits, as Saladin places a cut of strong coffee before him. "Bull of Heaven.... Very vaguely, I'm afraid. Father... the Architect was called that, a very long time ago... or at least an aspect that was later syncretized into him. That is... I guess the best way to put it is that the Bull of Heaven eventually became El-Amon-Re.
Mikal looks very confused, "Wait... so he was always El-Amon-Re in your memory?"
Baal frowns in thought. "No... not really. It's... complicated. He started as the Bull of Heaven. Worship of him split up into any number of a dozen gods. Then the cult of Amon-Re started, and... it's like he latched onto that. It became worse when the cult of Amon-Re found it's way to the Canaanites, and he became identified with El Elyon."
Mikal nods slowly, "So... who was El Elyon, then? Was that the Metatron?"
Jareth shakes his head, "I wish I remembered more of this."
Hadad smiles wryly. "El Elyon was El'. My father."
Mikal blinks... then nods slowly again, "Okay. So we need to find you some Canaanites, yes?"
Hadad sighs. "I don't know when Metatron came about. It was sometime after he got that vowel-less unpronouncable name that the Israelites called him." He blinks. "There haven't been Canaanites since... well, since the twelve tribes of Israel took over the Levant. 'Conversion by the sword' doesn't do justice to what they did."
Jareth smiles, "And we are in a place where the things that no longer exist come to hide."
Mikal looks shocked for a moment -- then she snaps, "This is the Dreamtime, boy! Think! If there are any, they'll be here -- just as my followers might!" She scowls and pulls her cloak over her, adding grumpily, "Put on a robe, for pity's sake! You're too distinctive like that!"
Baal looks taken aback for a moment, then murmurs, "Yes'm," as he pulls on a robe.
Mikal nods sharply once, then heads for the door, where Alonso stands. She murmurs quietly to him, "Any sign of our man returning yet? Also, will you be leading us to the right place in the Temple Quarter?"
Jareth can't quite keep the smile from twitching at the corners of his mouth. Since the encounter with Cain, little trickles of memory are peeking through, nudging at the corners of his mind about Adam.
Farouq comes down from the upstairs floor. "I think Emily has made her distraction," he says merrily. "I've not seen the Silks quarter so chaotic in quite some time short of last night." Alonso nods to Farouq, then to Mikal. "Yes. The closest entrance to the Temples Quarter is through the Lugalgirra gate, in the south of the Scholar's Quarter."
Jareth laughs a bit, "I'm almost disappointed. Is she out-doing my distraction?"
Mikal nods firmly, "Good! Let's go -- no sense in wasting a perfect opportunity!" She turns to the others, adding quickly, "If we must split up, Baal should stay with Lilith, since she knows the city. Alonso, slip away quietly with Hephaestus, and I'll take Loki with me. We'll all meet up at some known landmark in the Temples." She turns to Alonso, adding, "Pick one, please."
Mikal adds, "With good fortune we won't need to split -- but it's good to be prepared."
Jareth's gaze is starting to get a bit distant, "I should probably pull her to the fore, then." He's reaching back into his mind, into hir soul. Into the past where zie was a goddess.
Mikal smiles quietly at Jareth, "Barring a riot or an attack, I doubt anything would outdo your lovely distraction, Lili."
Farouq smiles, shaking his head. "Oh, no. Hers is much more chaotic. Yours was a thing of elegance and beauty!"
Alonso thinks, then nods. "There is Esagila, the great raised area in the center of the Quarter. It is impossible to miss anywhere."
Mikal nods once more, "Esagila, good. If we must separate we will re-unite there. Now, let's go!"
Jareth isn't really quite aware that his walk changes when Lilith is starting to come to the fore, hips swaying slightly, "We should take my stepson through his gate. The people here loved him very much once."
Mikal nods slowly, memories coming back of a gate dedicated to one of her aspects. She sighs softly and nods, "Yes. That would likely be helpful, although I would recommend the temple rather than the gate. It's not far from the Lugalgirra gate, after all."
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