| Logs |
2009 March 08
| When The Bough Breaks |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Bough Logs |
Second Movement, Sixth Verse
It is some days later and Menelaus Ataraxos, the satyr, has led the group back towards Thebes, with one new addition to the party: Ghaniyah, a desert-tracker who had been hired by a Mordredite legate to follow them. But some timely work by the group convinced her to throw in her lot with them instead.
Now the glittering basalt and limestone of Thebes rises out of the fertile river valley ahead of them, bustling with activity and trade. It is a matter of a short while before the group arrives at the entrance to the Theban embassy with Ghaniyah in tow. While done in Theban style, the markings are clearly alfar, including the runeline writing on the steles outside the entrance. It is a warm day, and the light breeze makes the linen drapes in the building's openings billow slightly.
Mikal is striding along next to Iron Antlers, giving Ghaniyah a chance to ride for a bit. It's a lovely day, and the small woman is very much enjoying the weather and the exercise. She cheerfully announces, "We're here!" as she trots up the stairs and knocks on the doorframe, then pulls aside the curtain to peek inside, calling, "Hellooo, the aelfar!"
Norris is content. They completed their mission, learned new things, made a new friend... Mikal is even sharing the stag with her. He thinks. Maybe Mikal just convinced Iron Antlers to be friendly? He's still not sure how that works...if the stag is just a pet, or if he's like Raph.
Inside the embassy is dark and cool, and the aide is there, slready standing from his desk opposite the entry way. "Hello!" he says cheerfully. "And welcome back! Please, come in, there's some water on the table here. I'll go and get the ambassador." He ushers the group in, in past the front, half-circle desk, and to the tables beyond it. He pours out several clay cups of water for the group. "I hope your trip went well."
Jareth has been having a lovely time on the trip, talking with the satyr and the tracker, coaxing information and stories out of them and storing the information away happily.
Mikal makes sure everyone else goes inside, and collects up the reins of all the horses to head for the back, to make sure they get a drink and some shade as well. She lets her friends know she'll be back in just a bit before she pads happily off with the riding beasts.
Tomas finds a chair and drops into it.
Norris drinks water. He doesn't care if he needs to eat drink, or any of that. He's thirsty, darn it. And he gestures with the cups, offering to bring some over for his friends.
Jareth accepts some water as well. Need it or not, cool water feels nice after a long journey. He slaps his large friend on the shoulder in thanks.
Mikal has no trouble stabling the animals in the embassy's stable, and shortly after serving the water, the aide descends the stairs to the belowground floor. She takes a moment to untack the horses and let them all slake their thirst at the water trough. She takes a moment to splash a bit of water on the sweaty saddle marks, their chests, and the horses' lower legs too, to help them cool off some. She does the same for Iron Antlers, then neatly stacks all the tack and lays out the blankets to dry. After that she politely asks the big fey stag if he'd keep an eye on their stuff, please? She takes a moment to pull off her shirt and splash herself as well, then dresses again and heads on inside, humming happily to herself.
Norris grins at Jareth, and eases into a chair. He doesn't flop. He's too big for flopping. THat's how chairs get damaged. He savors the rest of his water, sighing contentedly and reaching over to scritch Raph's ears as the wolf wanders in range. He looks over at the quiet Ghaniyah. "Not feeling trepedacious about yer decision?" he queries. And then he blinks, and mouths 'trepedacious' to himself again. This is only getting more disconcerting.
Ghaniyah lets out a breath, shaking her head as Swanlinde comes up the stairs. "No," she tells Norris, "not entirely, at least yet, anyway...."
After a minute or two, Swanlinde ascends the stairs with the aide, still clothed in Theban-fashion. She is beaming. "Welcome, welcome back!" she says. "I'm glad to see you, and I hope you have some news...." Her voice trails a litle as she spots Ghaniyah but not Mikal. "Where is... Rabbit was her name? And who is this?"
Tomas says, "Rabbit is seeing to the mounts. This is Ghaniyah."
Norris ohs! as the group is addressed. "Uh, Rabbit's puttin away mounts. She's, uh...real concerned about disposition of..." He scowls. Disposition! What. The. Hell. "She cares about em." he finishes.
Jareth rises from his seat when Swanlinde arrives, grinning and bowing, "Rabbit is off taking care of our hard-working four-legged companions. This fortuitous addition to our motley little band is Ghaniyah. We talked her out of reporting us to Mordred's flunkies. She's a bit interested in how the other half live."
Swanlinde arches a brow, then nods a little, smiling to Ghaniyah. "Wonderful, then. Welcome, Ghaniyah." She settles into a chair. "So... I take it that you did indeed discover Mordred is up to something in Jericho?"
If the ambassador lets him, Jareth takes her hand and kisses the back of it with an impish grin and a wink.
Jareth says, "Oh, aye. He's telling the people there that stale bread is better than starving and recruiting them."
Norris rolls his eyes good naturedly. "Get a room." he mutters under his breath. He blinks, then, and abruptly clams up. That...was not his voice.
Jareth glances over at Norris, blinking a bit and starts making an effort to ratchet back a bit on the flirting. For the moment.
Mikal can be heard humming softly as she arrives, slipping into the room and smiling shyly at the ambassador.
Tomas glowers at Jareth. "You need to be a bit less metaphoric." He then gives a rundown of the arguments the Mordredites made.
Norris says nothing. He's sure he's blushing hotly, now, but embarassment is the least of his worries.
Mikal looks confusedly between Tomas, Norris, and Jareth, then mentally shrugs and settles down next to Raphael.
Swanlinde's expression warms and becomes mischievous for a moment as Jareth kisses her hand. "Always the charmer, yes?" she murmurs to him, then laughs at Norris's comment. She nods a little at Tomas's explaination. "I see. So Mordred was hoping to recruit the mortals of Jericho. It's as we feared, then; he is looking to expand his army, even as he almost laid siege to the Winter Palace. He seems to have many plans going on at once." She smiles and nods to Mikal as she arrives.
Norris blinks. "Almost laid siege? Seems lak he wuz doin a good job o' it when we left." There, that sounds normal. Norris relaxes.
Tomas says, "Mikal managed to disrupt their presentation with a few well-aimed questions, which is why they sic'ed Ghaniyah on us."
Mikal grins shyly again, blushing as she glances towards Swanlinde, then away again.
Swanlinde nods to Norris, "Yes, but I understand we've you to thank for that, as well!" She considers for a moment, then says, "We've had a few reports from the Viceroy of Thebes that Mordred's forces are gathering, and in particular he is hoping to consolidate his power in this region. He has been attempting to generate popular support for his army here in Thebes, in fact. Fortunately, you stymied him in Jericho, so he will have that fewer mortals to rely upon.
Mikal says, "S-so, um, so are w-we supposed to go back to the Winter Palace now with the news, or what?"
Swanlinde nods slowly. "That might be best," she murmurs, then she brightens and smiles. "I'll send a courier, but I'd be grateful if you could take the news back to the Palace as well. In the meantime... there is no reason to rush. Why don't you stay in Thebes for a few days? It's a lovely city and you've earned the rest. We'll make lodging available for you if you like."
Norris looks confused, at first, but then Jareth takes him aside and explains to him something that had eluded him before: the army was not going to try and force the gate. They wanted to sneak in, which their little band had foiled. Failing that, they retreated to consolidate and build up strength. Ergo, the importance of recruiting at Jericho. Norris understands more clearly now.
Jareth is quite happy to stay a few days in Thebes. He does ask Swanlinde, discreetly, if there is someone he can speak with to learn more about Anubis and the other mythology of Thebes. The bits and pieces he got from Belisarius have made him very curious.
Mikal looks a bit perplexed, unsure what one does in a city for days. "Stay... in a city?" She looks around, wondering if she can sneak off into the countryside without being missed.
Norris understands what that catch in Mikal's voice means. "Hey! Now there's an idee, Rabbit. We aint never explored a city none, before. Surely there's lotsa inneresting things t' see. Like more'o that writin', annat. We kin go siteseein!" he suggests, reaching over and squeezing her shoulder.
Mikal gives Norris a tragic look, much like sad puppydog eyes, "I... suppose so..."
Tomas doesn't see the point of delaying returning to the Winter Palace, but is willing to bow to the majority.
Norris purses his lips. "Rabbit...yew wuz allus talking about wantin t' explore th' Deep Wyld annat, right?"
Jareth pats Mikal's shoulder and says, "I'm sure you can find plenty to explore outside the city, little one."
Mikal brightens at both comments, "Yes, please!"
It is currently late afternoon. The light is dimming, the sky turning yellow-orange with the fading light and the onset of twilight and evening. The city is beginning to turn to the evening meal and non-work activities. Swanlinde follows the interaction, then smiles quietly. "Well, I won't force you to stay, of course! But do feel free to return at any time, you are always welcome at the embassy here." She has the aide make arrangements with the same hostel they stayed at the last time they were here.
Tomas thanks Swanlinde and gets up to head for the hostel.
Norris nods. "Right, so...how's that different from explorin a city? Instead o trees, yew got buildins. Instead o animals, y' got people. if there's inneresting thins in th' wyld, seems just as likely there's innesting things in th' city."
Mikal gives Norris a shocked look, "Nnnn- Bear! It's nothing the same at all!"
Norris looks almost comically perplexed. "Why'zat?"
Mikal counts briskly off on her fingers, "Cities stink, people are pushy and rude, it's unsanitary, it's too loud, people sometimes point at you and whisper, Raphael is uncomfortable too, Iron Antlers doesn't fit inside anywhere with us, people throw their garbage out in the street, everyone's busy claiming this or that thing is all theirs so you can't climb on it or play with it or fix it or anything..." she looks up, "Want me to go on?"
Jareth does his very, very best not to laugh.
Swanlinde looks like she's about to burst into laughter herself, though she refrains, heroically.
Mikal blinks at the others, wondering what they're thinking... then oh!s and adds sympathetically, "You all can add your reasons too, if you want. I don't think Bear wants to hear only mine, after all."
Norris blinks. He opens his mouth, and then shuts it. "Uh...in the forest, there's wild beasts what try t' kill ya, tho. An beasts have lairs too, annat. Think a bear might take exception t' yew sleeping in his cave." he suggests back, tenatively.
Mikal gives Norris a startled look, then laughs! "Bear, in the forest Raphael and I fit in just fine -- and now Iron Antlers will too. Why would the wild beasts want to kill us? And killing the monsters was just good -- good to help the villagers, good to help me and Raph learn to be a really excellent pack, good to make sure we were sharp and alert." Curiously she adds, "Why on earth would we try to move in on a bear's cave, too?"
Norris should be relieved. Mikal has outargued him, which means he's still himself. Yet, he puts his hand on his hips. "But yew're not lookin at th' big picture. We's trying t' find stuff what kin help us fight the wasps, annat. An' we's not gonna find that stuff iffn' we ignore all th' cities around. it's where th' people are, an the writin. Yew know, where people left they's learning cause they's no longer around? An yew can read...an ah caint. So...ah need yer help."
Mikal gives Norris a curious look, "What makes you so sure the weapons to kill the wasps are in the cities?"
Jareth clears his throat, "Bear, Rabbit can find things... and people... in the forest that we'd overlook. And I'm better in the cities than she is."
Mikal beams at Jareth, then looks back at Norris, still beaming, "What he said! You should get Cat to help you in the city!"
Norris waves a hand. "Not sayin th' weapons is there, necessarily. But y' find books in libraries, not in random trees." He starts to say more, but then Jareth interjects. "oh." He pauses. "Well, yeah, guess that'd work."
Mikal giggles, then grins and waits for the others to be distracted to slip out and head off. She doesn't have anything else to say here, and the horses are cared for, after all.
The group essentially splits up: Mikal wanders around outside the city, Ghaniyah helping to show her a bit about tracking in an arid, desert environment. The others do as they please for a few hours, before by chance meeting back at the hostel onward towards midnight. The evening activity is winding down by then.
It is then that there is a shout raised somewhere in the city, and in short order, the smell of smoke begins to fill the air, and the air takes on a faint orange tint. A fire has started in the city.
Tomas goes to see what is burning, and if he can help.
Mikal blinks as she stares towards the glow in the distance, and murmurs softly, "There's another reason to stay out of the city..." She looks at the others, "So, um... why don't folks don't just run for the nearest river, when something catches on fire in the city?"
Jareth says, "Who says they don't?" He looks nervous, "I think we should go see if they need help, though."
Ghaniyah murmurs, "Because running for the river just lets the fire spread, and by the time Dawn comes a town can be reduced to ashes."
Mikal looks confused again, trotting along next to Jareth, "But, um... if they're going -- oh," she glances at Ghaniyah, then adds puzzledly, "But, um... isn't that a good thing? Clears out the city for new buildings?"
Norris blinks when Tomas gets up out of nowhere, and then he realizes what it is he was smelling. He abruptly climbs up off the cot he was laying on and follows the older man, his long legs helping him catch up.
Jareth can't help but smile a little bit, "It's not like a fire in the forest, my Rabbit."
The first thing Tomas sees on the scene is a large number of people, shouting, sweaty, panicky but keeping themselves calm, as they form a line of water buckets going to the fire. It appears to be the granary that has caught fire, one of the few sources of flammable materials in a city made mostly from stone.
Tomas looks to see if anyone is in charge.
Jareth looks for anywhere he can join the line of the bucket brigade, smiling tightly to the people on either side of himself just to show goodwill even though he's a stranger.
There are a few people in headdresses that look somewhat official and are directing the actions of the volunteer fire brigade. There's a lot of shouting and the roar of the flames is getting deafening too close to the granary.
Jareth shouts to one of the people in line with him, "What happened?"
Tomas goes to the nearest official and asks if he can help.
Mikal looks a bit shocked, fading back into the shadows as folks rush past her. She watches silently for a moment... then slips around the burning building with Raphael, making sure there's no one caught inside or anything.
Norris stares at the fire grimly. Fires can be bad, get out of control. People are already lining up with buckets, trying to put out the fire. He doesn't focus on that. He instead is scanning the surrounding buildings. What's the liklihood that the fire will spread...the granary might have to be partly demolished to save the surrounding areas.
Mikal whispers softly to Raphael, "Is it just me, Raph... or is this reminding you too of raptor wolves stampeding the herd into ambush?"
The prefect looks at Tomas and nods, "Aye, help get water on to that fire. Damned arson! We've already lost a good amount of this year's harvest...."
The woman Jareth asks answers, as she passes buckets to him. "Heard someone say it was arson, someone protesting against Mordred's army. Something about some sort of bill the priests are discussing with the viceroy about supporting Mordred. Or something, I didn't get the full story...."
To Norris's eye, it looks like the granary is going to be almost a complete loss. The surrounding buildings should be all right; despite the billowing linen curtains that many Theban buildings have, the fire should be well contained.
Raphael sneezes a little, uncertain as to how to answer Mikal. He does agree, though, about the stampeding people.
Tomas joins one of the bucket lines. He hopes the grain dust in the granary doesn't explode. With this many people around it, it could be a disaster.
Mikal spreads out the stealthy search she's doing with Raphael, trying to find out more information. It's likely too late to catch the person who set the fire... unless they chose to stay and watch. More likely, she thinks, that there'll be a group gathering somewhere to go do something bad -- so that's what she'll search for.
Norris grimaces unhappily. So the fire won't spread, thank god. Or not. Thank someone else. The builders, maybe. But that still leaves these people with lost food. And sadly, no one here is capable of replacing that much food out of thin air. He ponders his next move, a bulwark against stampeeding people...calm them, perhaps? He tries it briefly, but without a target, his attempt to impose order on the chaotic fear seems to go nowhere.
Tomas's fears are well-founded as one of the smaller silos bursts -- not enough to be a true explosion, as the silo was mostly full, but enough to raise the fear levels of the people. Many pause, and wonder if they should just run, but then the prefect remind them that they can still save most of the grain, which means they won't starve this flood season. They return to work, a little more wary and edgy.
Raphael pauses at one point in an area behind a building. Though hard to tell, he does paw a bit at what looks like a trash bin, revealing small clay jars of light oil. He lets Mikal know that the stink of the oil fills the area, even if subtly.
Mikal nods thoughtfully at Raphael, then looks over at the firey building. It's then the thought occurs to her: if she can make fires spread out to scare off monsters... could she maybe make a fire gather itself inward and burn less?
Norris's brow knits. Maybe there's a firebrand he can target...someone that's spreading the fear. He scans the crowd, looking for a likely focus.
Tomas continues to pass buckets forward.
Norris blinks as he gets a thought...when he first learned he had the power to calm, Jareth shared with him that he could sense the emotions of others. Maybe his friend could tell him where to look! He starts scanning for the goatherd, and moves urgently to his side, explaining his idea.
Mikal looks consideringly at the fire, then takes a deep breath, telling her half-brother what she intends to try, [-and if I fall over, Raph, because it's exhausting? -then could you please carry me back to the stables where Iron Antlers is?] She hugs the big raptor-wolf about the neck at his short tail-flick of agreement, then stares at the base of the fire. Put it out at the base, she thinks, and there'll be less fire to billow up and damage more things.
Jareth blinks at Norris and nods, looking around and taking a deep breath. He doesn't have time to really concentrate, so he just crosses his fingers and hopes he's able to get a good read. He looks around quickly, and there's one person at the front of the line who looks -- and more importantly feels -- like it'll take very little to make him panic. And the people around him, so close to the fire, are not likely to think twice if someone starts bolting....
Norris pays attention when Jareth points him out...he squeezes the other man's hand, and fixes the man in his vision, trying to recreate what he did with the bandit leader. A blanket, smothering that fear. He can do it.
Mikal can sense the fire reacting to her, and in several places that had started to smoulder and burst, the flame retreats. It's a little subtle, but the firefighters on the front line can tell that the fire is beginning to draw back, better than they thought it would, and they redouble their efforts. That one person in the front, though, could make the entire effort for naught if he panicks....
Meanhile, Tomas is a rock. His presence and focus seems to be butressing the firefighters around him.
In his mind, Norris is there next to the agitated man, with the comforting blanket to sooth. But it's as if the man has caught fire, the 'heat' repelling Norris, and the big man almost staggers as the fear...well, it doesn't exactly fight back. But it's like trying to quench an actual fire with nothing more than your body. "Uh. He's too close...I can't get hold of it..." he mutters.
Jareth purses his lips and says, "I might be able to get him to back off slowly..." He hands Norris is bucket and starts to make his way toward the panicky man, jaw set.
Tomas senses the hesitancy of the person in front of the line and shifts his position so he is the lead bucket handler, and water thrower.
Jareth moves carefully up next to the unstable man and says in a low voice, "You look a little nervous friend..."
As the fire retreats, Tomas starts moving closer to the granary, trying to put out hot spots.
On the other side of the building, Mikal takes a deep breath, then gives Raphael a tight smile, "So far so good... let's see if we can do more!" She closes her eyes and rubs her face once... then takes another deep breath and tries again.
The man blinks, focussing on Jareth, letting Tomas slip to the front of the line without any hinderance or disruption. "I... I do...?" he mumbles, looking a bit dazed. "I mean.. yes... yes, of course, I am, I mean, the thing could... could go up in flames!"
Meanwhile, Mikal is having a further effect on the fire, and it reduces still more. The effects are visible even to those not in the front line, now.
For the small woman, however, this second attempt is too much -- she staggers, then sits down abruptly on the ground, looking a bit dazed. "Ow. Th-think I... kinda overdiddit, Raph..." The big raptor-wolf steps forward worriedly just in time for Mikal to slowly keel over onto him.
Jareth smiles warmly, putting his hand on the man's shoulder. If he can just keep his attention focused long enough to draw him away from the fire, he may be able to keep him from causing a panic, "Everyone's doing a great job, though... and you look tired. Why don't we take a step aside and get away from the excitement..."
Mikal is out like a light, so Raphael slings her over his back and paces slowly and carefully back to the hostel. Then, as per her request, he and Iron Antlers curl up around her, keeping her warm and safe while she recovers.
Norris is watching his friend anxiously...he, unfortunately, cannot tell if Jareth is succeeding, so all he can do is watch and hope.
The man looks like he's going to argue, but Jareth's words talk him out of it, and he weakly lets himself be led away. It isn't long after that the fire is officially under control, and efforts switch from containing it to minimizing damage to the grain stored in the grainery
Once the fire is under control, Jareth lets his concentration on the man waver a little and he smiles in a reassuring way, nodding toward the granary, "See? It's all under control now. People working together and just a little bit of hope can work miracles, eh friend?"
A few minutes later, Mikal is back at the hostel, coming to slowly and groggily. The fire is now under control, and panic has been averted.
Tomas leans against a wall, recovering his breath.
Norris breathes a sigh of relief himself...well done.
Mikal sighs, rubbing her forehead and grumbling slightly, "Bleah. Headache, stinky. Hope it worked..." She looks around, then sighs again and leans her head against Iron Antlers, relaxing as the big raptor-wolf lets her know the fire is pretty much under control now. "Oh, good... hope there's a stream nearby. Need a bath in a bit. Everyone else okay?" That, Raphael doesn't know.
Once he has recovered, Tomas will start checking for hot spots that need to be put out to prevent the fire from restarting. He will also look for obvious evidence of arson.
Tomas discovers, almost immediately, the area where the fire started. It's clearly, based on some residue, from some kind of oil. It was most definitely arson to his determination. He goes outside to collect one of the officials to show his discovery.
The prefect Tomas shows the oil to is surprised at first, then his face is clouded in a mask of rage. "Damned Mordredites! What were they thinking?"
Tomas asks the official, "Why would they do this if they are trying to make friends with you Thebans?
Mikal frowns puzzledly as she rests against the fey stag's side. She's a bit uncomfortable -- the more she thinks about it, the more she suspects the fire was just the distraction. How to tell what the real target was, though? She pulls herself a bit wobblingly upright, using one antler, and shares her concerns with Raphael and Iron Antlers... then she decides to check the embassy. A bit sheepishly she adds, "Come with, Raph, please? I'll be embarrassed if I fall over again... and I don't know who else to mention this to."
Raphael helps brace Mikal upright as she paces slowly and silently towards the embassy. They both listen at the curtained doorway, and Mikal whispers mentally to Raphael, [Sing out, Raph, if you scent the person who left the oil, all right?]
The prefect frowns, then, and then shakes his head. "That... I don't know. It's a little confusing, but I admit, I'm probably not at my best at the moment. That was a damn big fire... and there'll be hells to pay when we find the arsonist. Thank you for pointing these out to me, I'll get the constables to here as soon as possible."
Tomas nods and starts to head back to the hostel, where he can clean up and rest.
Raphael pauses almost immediately at the base of the steps. He can smell traces of the oil. He is not liking this at all and strongly recommends the others be present, if for no other reason then because Mikal should not try to fight them alone.
Mikal whispers softly to Raphael, [Run get my equipment, and send Iron Antlers for them, please? I'll keep watch here, to make sure no one escapes.]
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