| Logs |
2009 January 26
| When The Bough Breaks |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Bough Logs |
Second Movement, Second Duet
The group is travelling along the ridge of the beginnings of a river valley; Ataraxos explains that it is called the 'Khem of Duat,' and wound it's way outward towards Thebes. They would follow it for the next seven Dawns and it would lead them right to the city. It is becoming, bit by bit, warmer, and a little more humid as they travel along the river, though it is still somewhat comfortably cool. The trees begin to take on a slightly odder look, being a little more narrow with the broad leaves gathered higher along the trunk.
Mikal says, "What's a kem or a dwat?"
Norris has been a little standoffish since the altercation with the bandits. The conversation with Jareth helped some, but the two friends don't know any more about magics than the other. And while Jareth assured him that what he did was right, he's still a little unnerved by this power that seems to have come out of nowhere, to him. He's studying the different looking trees when Mikal speaks up, and absently listens to the conversation.
Ataraxos considers for a moment. "I know 'khem' is a word for this particular river. As for 'Duat,' I'm afraid I don't know. 'Khem of Duat' just has been the name of this river for as long as I remember.
Mikal huhs, then simply nods and continues riding. She's shed the outer coat, hat, and mittens, and is happily riding in a light, loose shirt -- she likes the warmth!
Norris is, oddly, just as comfortable in heat and cold. Yes, while the padding in his armor is what helps him stay warm, being in the forge as often as he is, he's used to the heat as well. He did, however, remove the lovely hat Mikal aquired for him sometime back. "Why's it get warmer? Izzit because o' th' river?"
Ataraxos nods, smiling a little though he's starting to shed more clothing as well. "In part, yes. Mostly, though, from what we can tell, the Waking people which Thebes' culture and area are taken from, lived in a warm place. So, Thebes is in a warmer area, even when it's Winter."
Mikal nods in silent acceptance. It's no stranger than anything else she's seen here, after all.
Norris's brow knits. "Uh..." He seems to have a thought, and is working on it. Finally it coalesces. "Would'nit make more sense iffn all the warm places were close to th' Summer Palace, tho? R' are things kinda outta balance b'cause th Winter Palace is th' last bastion 'gainst th' spider-wasps?"
Mikal says, "Maybe we're almost there already?"
Ataraxos says, "The alfar have always moved between the courts, at least before the Godswar. Thebes is where it is because it seems to have been influenced by the cultures of Mount Zion, and Mount Olympus. At least, that's what some of the scholars thing.
Mikal says, "Near the Summer Palace, I mean?" She looks out ahead of them, adding dreamily, "Wonder what it's like?"
Ataraxos coughs a little, "The Summer Palace is on the other side of the Mirror from here, actually. We're actually getting farther from it as we go towards Thebes.
Mikal says, "Oh, all right." She's silent a moment, then curiously asks, "Are we near a Spring Palace?"
Norris looks a little uncomfortable himself. "Mebbe ah heered it wrong, but aint th' other palaces, like...uninhabitable or sommat?"
Ataraxos considers for a moment. "The palaces surround the Mirror, much like the Winter Palace does. They're equally distant from one another."
Mikal grins amusedly at the satyr, and tries for a clear answer again, "So are we near a Spring Palace?"
Ataraxos says, "Ah... no, we're not."
Mikal nods relaxedly, "And... Norris's question about their livability?"
Norris's face screws up, trying to picture it. "Wal, Mikal...iffn we's moving directly aways from th' winter palace...an we's also moving aways from th' summer palace...iffn th' palaces is lak, inna circle lak onna compass, then it stands t' reason that we's movin away from alla them...we's not going towards th' center o' th' compass, after all, yeah?"
"They're sill uninhabited. Not uninhabitable, but not inhabited."
Mikal shakes her head to Norris, "Even going around the outside of a circle, you have to be approaching something on its border, Norr, y'know?" Curiously she says to the satyr, "How do you know there's no one there? I mean, would anyone know if Mordred took them over?"
"Well, when the alfar troop to the next Palace, the previous one is sealed. I'm not entirely sure how it works, but the Palace is simply sealed and it can't be entered from outside the wall. I think the alfar send the occasional scout to the other Palaces just to see what's going on there, but for the most part they're not inhabited.
Mikal says, "Oh, got it. Um... so they're still traveling from palace to palace then?"
Norris is trying to get this straight in his head. "Wait, wait...mebbe I dinna unnerstand." He goes over, and takes a stick...stopping a second, he draws a circle in the dirt. "Heers th' mirror...th' circle." And then he takes four small stones, and places them equidistant around the circle, like north, south, west and east. "This is th' Winter castle." he points to th' south stone. And then draws a line leading away from the stone, directly south. "Ah thought this is th' way we's goin? Not around th' circle, but aways from it?"
"Supposedly, yes. They did it all the time before the Godswar. I get the impression that something's not working right, though. They've been in the Winter Palace now for... for a very long time."
Mikal gives the satyr a slightly confused look, then nods and leans down to watch Norris. "Huh... so we're going straight away, into the wilderness? I'd thought we were going around the circle, Norris?"
"We're actually moving away from the Mirror, yes," Ataraxos says. "Almost directly away from the Palace and the Mirror, actually.
Norris shrugs. "Ah wuzn't really think bout it too much...but iff'n ah unnerstand what 'taraxos, says, the place we's on...less lak a circle, an more lak a millstone. Smaller circle inna middle, an' large circular space surroundin."
Mikal leans her elbows on the pommel of the saddle and her chin on her fists as she studies the drawing. Her voice is musing, "So... we're actually headed into the wilds then, yes? But not the deeper wilds?"
Ataraxos nods, smiling. "Yes, that's right. We'll be several days from the Deep Wyld itself.
Mikal huhs thoughtfully, then looks around curiously, "So... where's the dangerous part?"
Norris stares at his drawing. "Ah wunner if th' millstone ever ends, then."
Mikal says, "How do you mean, Norr?"
Ataraxos says, "We're avoiding any of the dangerous parts. Fortnately, the route from the Winter palace to Thebes is fairly clear. Those highwaymen we saw were almost as bad as this route gets.
Norris draws a much larger circle. "So...here's us. We's goin towards th' Deep Wylds...which is th' outer circle. Outer circle normally be th' end of the millstone. But th' Wilds is just another place, so the 'stone, as twere, extends further. But we doan know iffn' th' Deep wilds ever...ends."
Mikal nods thoughtfully, "Yeah, I asked someone that -- I wondered if you went far enough, would you end up on the other side of the millstone? So like you'd start out heading the way we are, and keep going through the Deep wilds... and then at some point you'd come out of the Deep wilds and be at the Summer Palace!" She grins, "He didn't know, though I think the idea startled him."
Mikal also nods politely to Ataraxos. She's starting to wonder if mortals really have much to fear, aside from physical damage, here.
Ataraxos nods. "It's... possible. But the deep wyld changes so much it's hard to make a map of the further reaches of it.
Mikal says, "Why does it change?"
"Nobody's really sure. Most people believe that it's simply because it's so far from the Mirror and the Dawn.
Mikal blinks, "Huh? How does that follow?"
"You know the awen tide that comes with the Dawn? That rejuvenates you and refreshes you? It also refreshes the Dreamtime at the same time. But as the wash moves outward, it has more area to cover and renew. The scholars believe that by the time the awen tide has passed the edge of the wilds, that there's just barely enough to maintain little pockets of stability in relation to the rest of the Dreamtime. And even further out, there's not enough to maintain even that.
Mikal hms thoughtfully, considering that. Finally she says, "Then... there must be folks who're strong enough to draw the awen to them, to hold those pockets together, yes?"
Ataraxos nods. "Yes, which is what I think your friend Tigernmus must be doing. Uhm... somehow."
Mikal nods firmly, a determined look on her face, "Then... we shall simply have to learn how to do that ourselves as well!"
Norris blinks. "Why's we need to do that?" He clearly is missing something, here.
Mikal smiles at Norris, "If we're going to travel in the Deep Wylde we need to be prepared, Norris. It's like... like knowing how to hunt if you intend to be in the forest for a month." She pauses, blinks... then adds a touch forlornly, "Back home, at least..."
Norris uhs. "Is there a reason we's gonna be in th' Deep Wylde, tho?"
Mikal says, "We're going with Tigernmus, remember?"
Norris looks confused at first, but then remembers what he'd been told about, a while back, that Mikal wants to explore the Deep Wylde, in hope that questions and answers can be found there...maybe even help of some kind against their would-be enemies. He certainly can't argue with that logic. He does not, however, have any intelligent contribution to make. "Sounds t' me, then, lak ah shoul be learning how t' use this crossbow sooner rather'n later, then." he comments, patting the new sidearm, shoddy as it is.
Mikal grins cheerfully at Norris, "I think so, Norris! I don't want you to have to close to hand-to-hand with any really nasty monsters here, after all." She considers a moment, then adds pragmatically, "Especially since if all the legends are true, any place there's a truly worthwhile weapon to be found -- one capable of harming the spider-wasps -- there'll be monsters to guard it." She pauses, considering... then adds unhappily, "Although... if it really is just one spider-wasp per weapon, we're going to need an awful lot of them, I suspect..." Her voice trails off as it occurs to her (not for the first time) to wonder if this is really just a hopeless cause.
Norris shakes his head. "Naw, that's not whut they saids. From whut ah 'members, th' weapons they has whut are that powerful only work once inna long time...like hundreds o dawns. At just means that we's gotta find sommat more powerful...r' make wun...or find some way t' stop em what don't involve outright killin, hey? They's in-sects, after all. Mebbe we's can find sommat what makes em stay aways."
Mikal frowns thoughtfully, "Maybe... maybe they just need to be charged up with more awen?" She brightens a bit, "If that's the case, then there's another reason to learn how to go safely into the Deep Wylde!"
Norris nods. "We'd definitly needs t' be finding out whut makes magicks weapons werk...but first things first." He hands the unloaded weapon to the huntress. "Part o me thinks mebbe ah shoul be learnin more abouts how t' shoot a bow lak yew...after all, crossbows is fer folks what aint strong enou' t' use a bow, yeah?"
Mikal shakes her head and grins, accepting the crossbow and sliding easily off the fey-stag's back. As he immediately starts unconcernedly grazing, Mikal explains, "It actually takes more strength to cock a crossbow. What it's really good for, that a bow isn't, is to learn how to use it quickly." She selects a quarrel from the quiver slung at Norris's back, then shows him how to load, cock, and fire a crossbow, "See? It's very easy. The hard part is holding it steady while you're aiming. Now you can try, all right?" She hands Norris the crossbow; she doesn't bothering trying to retrieve the quarrel, since it's nothing more than a simple wooden stake -- and the crossbow will have embedded the quarrel too deeply into whatever it hit to pull it out anyways.
Mikal adds in explanation, "A bow is a fairly finicky tool; crossbows are very straightforward. They also can fire things a bow can't, like shorter quarrels. Depending on the strength of the crossbow, they can fire farther too. They're just not as accurate or fine-tuned as a bow, you know?"
Norris huhs thoughtfully, loading it like he was shown. Looking at Mikal now and then for assurance that he's doing it right as he cocks it, and hefts it to aim at the tree that she had. "Ah dunno, Mikal. Ah spect yew coul make yer arrows do annehthing." he replies with an aw-shucks sort of admiration. Hold it steady. He can manage that, right? His finger closes on the trigger mechanism, and then it bucks in his hands...he wasn't prepared for the recoil on it. Or the trigger responding so easily. When he sets himself, Norris is hard to move... in this case, he staggers back when the trigger is released, and the bolt shoots up into the branches of the tree. "oops."
Mikal grins, "There you go! You loaded and cocked and fired just fine -- now you know how to use a crossbow! Now we can start on the tricky part: aiming. Load another quarrel, please?"
Norris clears his throat, and nods. This is a different sort of skill...he's used to less yeidling things, like iron. He reloads, recocks, but this time handles the crossbow more gingerly. "Should ah stand like ah do when ahm using muh hammer? Or different?" he asks, this time, instead of just trying to feel on his own.
Mikal shows Norris how to aim first, "Be ready for the recoil into your shoulder, all right? Hmm..." she stares narrow-eyed at the crossbow from the side, mumbling to herself, "This is really too small for you... we'll have to get you a bigger one in Thebes." She smiles, adding cheerfully to Norris, "All right! Now, see where I shot? Breath in a deep breath, then let it out slowly and evenly. As you're doing that, squeeze the trigger -- don't yank! It doesn't need that -- and keep your target steady in the sights the whole time. All right! Ready?"
Norris tries to do what she says, taking that breath. Holding firm and steady. Pulling on his inner patience, taking the time he needs. Squeeze. The crossbow bucks again, but this time he's ready for it. That said, the bolt goes whizzing past the tree entirely. Norris looks hurt. "Thought ah did it right..." he murmurs, lifting it back up, aiming the empty device, looking through the sight. "Yuh. Shoulda...worked."
Mikal smiles, patting the larger boy's arm gently, "Norris, don't feel bad. The sights on that thing are terrible! Plus it does take practice. Here's what I'd suggest: whittle yourself a bunch of simple quarrels from sticks and use them for practice -- and practice every chance you get, all right? You'll get good in no time that way, and we'll get you a real, a good crossbow in Thebes. That'll help a lot."
Mikal looks more serious as she adds, "But keep this in mind, Norris, please? Every time you aim that thing -- every time, no matter what your quarrel is made of! -keep in mind you could kill someone with it." She pats the crossbow's stock gently, "It's not a well made crossbow... but it is still a lethal weapon. Never use it carelessly."
Norris nods a little grimly. "Ah member...ah heered from folk in Stanton that y' doan leave th' crossbow loaded, particularly when it aint well made. Doan care t' be killin folk much on purpose, much less by accident." The boy may be slow, but he remembers the lessons drilled into him by his elders.
Mikal nods approvingly, pleased Norris understands the seriousness of the weapon. She smiles up at him, adding, "That's really all there is to it, Norris. It's slow to load, it's quite lethal -- it can drive a quarrel right through most light armor -- it can fire farther but not as accurately as a bow. Also, we'll get you a good one at Thebes -- don't let me forget that, please. So, any questions?"
Norris ponders. "Yew might not be able t; answer...but issit dangerous t' try t' smash a loaded crossbow?"
Mikal grins and shrugs cheerfully, "Depends on what the quarrel is pointing at, Norris!"
Norris's brow knits. "Ah mean...durin that whole mess. ah wuz gonna knock th' crossbow outta the fella's hands, before he dropped it...but iffn' he wuz pointin it at th folk, still, does that mean ah coulda inadvertantly set it off?"
Mikal nods quietly, "Yes. If you're attacking a weapon, especially a distance weapon, always try to make sure it's not pointing at something which could be harmed. Knock the quarrel or arrow off the weapon, or push the person or weapon so it's aimed down into the ground or up into the sky -- but even then, remember projectiles have to come down sometime, and you don't know where that quarrel will land, you know?"
Norris looks a little amused. "Mebbe not. Mebbe it keeps goin, an a wasp gets a sudden ache in it's belly."
Mikal snorts amusedly, using two fingers to flip a quarrel out of the quiver on Norris's back. She watches it go up into the air, turning end over end -- then as it comes down she snatches it easily out of the air and smiles, holding it out to Norris on her palm. "Does this look like a spider-wasp stopper to you?"
Norris shrugs, grinning. "Not saying it'll kill th' wasp. But maybe e' gets th' equivalent of a bad rash, r' needle in th' finger, r' a twisted ankle. Could annoy th' wasp plenty, distract it." he drawls playfully.
Mikal laughs at that, her storm-gray eyes sparkling as she neatly tucks away the quarrel again, "You're funny, Norr!" She grins, adding, "You should practice riding too, so you're more comfortable with the horses!"
Norris beams. It's always better when Mikal is happy. "Oh, ridin' aint so much...ah doan have th' talent f'r bodnin with animals lak yew r' Jareth. But ah kin ride well enou'. Ahm just givin th' horse time t' get used t' the idee o carryin a heavy load lak me."
Mikal giggles, patting Norris's arm, "That is why I gave you the huskiest horse from the ones we got from the bandits!" She turns and bounces lightly back up onto the stag's back, adding, "Onwards! First Thebes, then..." she grins, waving a hand expansively, "-the Deep Wylde!"
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