This picks up Michael Washer's game from Eli and Michael Gathering.
You collapse on the grass. Nerfy jumps back out of your way, and morphs into an octopoid warrior, and then into a human with pointed ears. He becomes several pointy-eared humans, all not much bigger than a naga. Then more people appear, flying overhead, riding something small and thin. They circle above you several times, and then return the way you came. The little people scatter, and you are alone on the grass, which is darker than you remember, and doesn't have that familiar smell of tangerine and celery to which you've become accustomed.
--M. J. Young
"Nerfy? What happened to you buddy? Where did you go...oh shit"
The grass is darker, but what color is it now? Also whats the temperature, it was abnormally warm in NagaWorld right?
I'll stand up and look around. Is there a moon or sun in the sky (or more than one I guess) and what color is the sky? Are there clouds?
Also, what's on me? The first thing I'll do is relax and get a fix on where my stuff seems to be. I'll then round it all up and pack it into my backpack. Also did the psionic drill end up tagging along? Not really clear on whether it was on my person when I versed out...
You manage to pull yourself fully awake and get a look around. The grass is probably green, or something close to it, assuming the moonlight is relatively white. It is a night sky with a single moon similar to but distinct from Luna, full or near full and rather high in the sky. The sky is the dark blue/black of night, with stars not immediately striking you as fitting familiar patterns.
It was generally about seventy degrees at night in NagaWorld, considerably warmer in the day; it is cooler than that here, perhaps below sixty, probably above fifty.
You are still holding the psionic drill. The rest of your equipment is lying on the grass about forty yards away, looking a bit jostled as if it fell a few feet from its original position, but otherwise undisturbed.
--M. J. Young
I'll pack everything up then, putting the psionic drill in an outer compartment so it's easy to get to if I need to.
I'll put my backpack on and then start searching for people. I'll keep my hands out of my pockets and opened so that I appear less threatening. I don't want someone to perceive me as a threat and shoot me or something. I'll be walking around pretty much aimlessly but looking around frequently, don't want to be snuck up upon after all.
Couple of things I'll make note of while looking for people is are there many trees around and if so what type. Also is anything visible on any of the horizons?
While you are packing, two more moons rise, one considerably larger and the other much smaller than the first.
You are on an open grassy plain, the grass rather tall. Assuming that the moons rose in the east, the grass extends west rather a long distance, sloping downward. To the east is the cover of woods, closing on the grass to the south, but there is an open way between the eastern and southern woods for travel south. North is also open, with mountains in the distance.
There might be a north-south road, of sorts, not far east of your position, between you and the woods, but it's difficult to see from this point in the moonlight. There are no other signs of civilization that you can see from here.
There is something in the sky, to the north, a long distance away but rather large--not dinosaur large, but certainly large like a condor, or maybe a missile, and moving rather fast from north to south.
--M. J. Young
I'll walk east towards the road/path and follow it south. I'll follow this road south. During this I'll be keeping tabs on the something in the sky and also looking around for either people or animals, and checking the horizon every so often.
Another object flies up from the southeast at high speed. It appears to be on an intercept course with the object from the north--which now is close enough to be distinguished as three objects.
By the time you've reached the edge of the field where the road begins to be occluded by the trees, the objects have come together and have started circling each other and making noises--which, you suddenly realize, is speech, and that the objects are three people coming from the north, and another person from the southeast, some of them riding brooms and some simply floating or flying in the air. The three from the north have been laughing loudly, gleefully, for some time, as if flying were great fun. The one from the southeast is definitely a woman--a rather good looking girl in her late twenties, perhaps, riding on a broomstick. As she approaches the other three, you pick up some of what they are saying.
One, a boy, says, "Rejoice my children! 'Tis Lady Gwen!"
Another of the threesome, a girl, says, "Hast thou, then, come at least to be mother to our coven, Gwendylon?"
"Thy beauty hath but waxed, sweet Gwendylon!" the boy exclaims. "How dost thou?"
The one called Gwendylon is apparently the one from the southwest, the good-looking one, and she now answers, "Not yet robbing cradles, Randal," and the wind shifts, carrying their voices elsewhere.
They appear to be descending on the spot where you arrived, though, the girls coming in gradual circling descent aboard broomsticks, the boys simply lowering themselves from the sky.
--M. J. Young
Well, looks like finding people won't be that hard after all. I'll begin walking back towards where they are descending. When I get closer I'll say "Hello, My name is Mike. Could someone tell me where I am?"
I'll continue to keep my hands visible and open, and also focus on not moving them quickly.
The boy called Randall answers, "Hail and well met, Warlock Mike! Whence cometh thee, and art thou staying?"
--M. J. Young
I am culling information about these characters as quickly as I can; the hero in the book does not get a close look at them until later, so I can't yet tell you too much about their appearance, but remind me in a few days and I'll give you what I've got.
Sorry, didn't mean to rush into information that's not ready yet MJ, just my first instinct is to make contact with the nearest friendly person I see. I'll remind you in a few days then. Also, I apologize in advance for the fact that in an attempt to fit in my old English is going to be painful... maybe it'll eventually get better as I hear them more but I doubt it.
"Well met indeed, Warlock Randall, although I fear I am not qualified to be labeled warlock. I'm not sure whence I came, my memory is a bit fuzzy. I do hope to be staying however, although I do not yet know exactly where."
(obviously not even trying old English entirely, as I don't know a bunch of ways to say these things. But then again, I wouldn't there either so the number of words I get that way are roughly appropriate for what I would say.)
Michael, it is not your fault that my information on this world is not well organized yet.
"Not a warlock?" The witch who is not Gwen giggles at this.
"If thou sayst thou art not a warlock," Randal says, then breaks off. "There is no need of fear; our Queen Catherine has welcomed warlocks and witches and extended her royal protection to us. Indeed, thou wilt have to stay with us in the castle. Fly back with us, and we shall introduce thee to our coven."
For what it's worth, their old English is not very good, either. Its virtue is that it does not seem to be affected, but is simply poor because that is the way they speak it around here.
--M. J. Young
"I've never tried to fly, is it difficult to do? I would like very much to go back to the castle with you all, if one of you would be kind enough to show me how I will try to learn and keep up."
Randal explains that you focus your thoughts on the ground and press it away from yourself, and then you can move yourself by changing the direction you are pushing.
You attempt to do this, with no luck at all.
"Interesting," he says. "A warlock who knows not how to fly. Perhaps then Gwen will carry you on her broom...."
"Ah, but Randal, I am not going with you to the castle; I am come to meet the newcomer also, not to visit the Queen."
"Then it would be Molly. Molly?"
Apart from Gwendylon, these are all teenagers--high school aged, from their appearance.
"Aye, I can carry our foreign warlock, if he wishes to ride with me."
"Then is it settled?"
--M. J. Young
"I would appreciate the ride very much, thank you Molly. I'll have to learn to fly at some point though after reaching the castle, seems it would become inopportune very quickly if I do not."
When they're about ready to go I'll climb on the back of Molly's broom and hold on tight. I really don't want to fall, and I do have a mild fear of heights. To clarify this fear, I get adrenaline rushes and slight fear from heights whenever exposed to them. I tend to love this feeling which prompts me to enjoy things such as rock climbing and why I hope to skydive this summer.
You climb on the back and wrap your arms around Molly's waist.
"Don't worry about the height," she says as if reading your thoughts. "Randal will catch you if you fall."
With that, the broom abruptly rises sharply beneath you, lifting you off the ground. The quartet circles several times at increasing velocity, and then splits apart as Gwen heads back toward the southeastern woods and Molly, Randal, and the other boy fly northeast. The ride is accelerating until you are traveling at highway speeds.
Within the hour you can see a few lights most of which centered on a structure that has the look of a medieval castle, a town scattered around it. That appears to be your destination, and you will be there before another hour has passed, certainly.
--M. J. Young
I'll remain quiet until we get there, the less I do to distract them the less likely I am to plummet towards the very solid ground. Plus hopefully I'll have time to figure things out when I'm standing on the ground later.
You fly over a quiet and mostly dark medieval/renaissance village and land on the roof of an imposing stone castle. There are about twenty mostly teenagers there, and I guess the best thing to say about them is that they are dancing--but very few of them are actually on the ground, most of the guys floating in the air holding the girls aloft with them.
Someone offers you a glass of a beverage.
"Ought we to tell the Queen?" someone asks.
"Nay, it would fash her unduly," another replies. "We'll tell Brom; he will know what to do. He probably already knows of our warlock's arrival."
"Indeed he does," says another. "He will be here in about an hour to meet the new warlock."
--M. J. Young
As we're descending I'll say "Molly, if I may ask, what's the occasion for the celebration down there? It looks fascinating."
I'll thank whoever offers me the drink and try to stay out of peoples way and just see what's going on and wait for Brom to arrive. I don't want to risk doing anything and offending people right as I arrive. I'll slowly sip on the drink I was given while waiting. What does it taste like?
"Occasion? It's just a party. What else should witches and warlocks do when permanent guests of the Queen?"
The drink is wine, white, decent quality. The mostly teenage partiers seem to be feeling the effects at least a bit, at least of the angles at which they stand in the air while dancing are any indication.
--M. J. Young
"Oh, ok. Well this is all very impressive."
I'll continue waiting for the Brom guy that I overheard someone was saying was coming. Don't want to make it difficult to find me. I'll just continue sipping at the wine slowly and continue staying out of peoples way, don't want to ruin their party. For the most part I'll just wait along the perimeter of the festivities and stay in one place so Brom doesn't get frustrated looking for me.
Perhaps an hour into the party, you hear a new voice--a booming bass voice unlike all the kids around you, but coming from above. You turn toward it, and see someone seated on the edge of the castle wall above, who can only be described as a dwarf. His head is the size of a man's, surrounded top and beard by curly black hair, but his body, although the right diameters for a man, seems to have had about three feet removed from it inch by inch along the length so that he is only about three feet tall.
The voice says, "So, you're the new warlock who appeared in the fields, no one knows whence."
--M. J. Young
"That's what I'm told. Are you Brom? I heard someone mention you would be coming to see me. As from where I came, I'm not exactly sure, the last thing I remember is feeling like my brain was being torn asunder and then waking up where I was found. I also don't seem to remember how to do anything. Do you know someone who could help me relearn how to fly and whatever else I have forgotten?"
"Aye, I'm Black Brom O'Berin; but what's this? A warlock who needs to be taught what comes natural to a warlock? One who can wish himself to a place he's never been, and not remember where he was before?" His attention seems to turn to the kids. "Did any of ye think that perhaps he might not be a warlock, but that some black warlock tossed him where he landed? Or did ye ask whether he was a black warlock or a white? Apart from him appearin' from nowhere, and the strange wand he carries, is there any suggestion that he's really a warlock? Does he even know how to use the wand, and is it really a wand?"
The kids look a bit embarrassed.
--M. J. Young
"I think I still could manage to function my wand, although I haven't tried since I've landed. As I said everything is a little fuzzy but it's slowly coming back to me. I was attacked by a malevolent force, it gave me a splitting headache and seems to have robbed me of my abilities. I'm definitely not a black warlock however, and would mean you no harm. This is all quite embarrassing. Allow me to try and use my wand."
At this point I'll get my psionic drill from the backpack, and try to activate it aiming it at the ground. I'm don't want to do any significant damage with it, just prove that I can work it. If I fail I'll retry 3 times. (that being the initial time plus 3, for a total of 4 tries)
You nick a hole in the stone roof of the castle on the first attempt.
Several of the kids leap back as the chips fly; Brom raises a bushy black eyebrow in the midst of the curly black hair and beard and nods appreciatively.
"So, we've established that ye are a warlock. Ye can do someat I've not seen in humans afore, but canno do what comes naturally to most warlocks. Yet ye can perhaps be taught. I reckon yere parents dinno teach ye; perhaps they lacked the gifts themselves, or perhaps they were protecting ye from the burnings."
--M. J. Young
"I don't remember ever receiving lessons from my parents or anyone else, although my memory does seem quite fuzzy still. I also don't know of the burnings, I seem to have lost quite a bit of my memory. Do you know someone who would be capable and willing to assist me in learning these things? I would appreciate it very much, and am willing to do whatever is needed to help out around here in return. Also, I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I'm Mike.... Warlock Mike I guess is the correct title."
"Don't know of the burnings?" one of them says. "I thought all witches and warlocks knew something of the burnings. Thank the Good Lord for Queen Catherine, who ordered them stopped, and who provided haven for us from those who would ignore her commands."
"Ah, but I've not heard of a Warlock Mike," Brom says. "Perhaps, though, ye were baern to peasants with no powers, and ye suddenly wished yourself away from them at--how old are ye, boy?"
"We can teach him, Brom," Molly says.
"I'll be ye can, Molly," Brom answers. "All right, then, I leave him to ye all."
As an aside, I will need you to keep me informed of your characters thoughts as much as possible in this world. Particularly at the moment that's important, because your present company has the ability to read thoughts; but since they can read thoughts remotely and you won't always know whether the people you are with have the ability or not, I can't ask what you're thinking when it might give away that your thoughts might be monitored.
--M. J. Young
"I just recently turned 21 and I don't remember my parents being warlocks, and thank you very much Molly, I look forward to learning from you all. When is good to begin my lessons Molly?"
Thoughts:
Hmm, I'll have to find out about the burnings later, they seem bad and over, that's what I need to know for now. Molly sure is helpful, I am lucky that her group found me and is willing to help. I hope I can return the favor at some point. I'm looking forward to these lessons very much.
Young Molly latches onto your arm, and another glass of wine floats toward your hand. "Ready for a refill, Mike?" Molly asks.
"As to the burnings, well, it seems that since the beginning there have been witches about, but the lords and the kings feared the witches and called them practitioners of Satanism--which wasn't true, as most were faithful to Jesus Christ and the Holy Mother Church, but were born with these powers. So the lords, with the approval of the king, would capture witches and warlocks and put them to the trial, or the water, or at times the burning, to rid the world of witches.
"Queen Catherine ordered it changed. She said the trials and the water and the burnings were all to stop. The lords, I think, complied; but there were many among the peasants and the merchants and the church leaders who continued the persecutions. So Catherine invited all the witches and warlocks here, to her protection in the castle. Not all the lords are happy with that, as they think us dangerous; and not all the witches and warlocks trust her. Gwen was here for a while, but she's so old--almost thirty, you know--and she didn't feel comfortable being mother to all of us when she's never had children of her own nor even lived with children--she was raised among the elves. Anyway, so here we are, most of our parents either glad to be rid of us or still hiding for fear.
"And I'm sure you'll help. After all, good warlocks can only be an asset to the queen, even if her protection of us has cost her some of the loyalty of her subjects.
"We can't start the lessons tonight; it's a party. But I'll be glad to start sometime after lunch tomorrow--say, the seventh hour of the day? Meanwhile, do you dance?"
--M. J. Young
I'll say "Oh, yes. Thank you Molly." and then take hold of the wine glass.
"After lunch works for me and as to dancing, I love to dance."
Is there music and if so what type?
Either way, I'll start off with some really simple swing dancing. Swing is a very organic dance and very easy for the follow, even if the specific footwork wouldn't be correct.
Is there a more complete description of Molly by the way? Don't mean to rush you for information you don't have yet but when visualizing what I'd be doing I find myself asking what color hair she has, how tall is she, and what color are her eyes.
Thoughts:
I'm glad the burnings are over, and the party seems a better focus right now than catching up on everything. Molly is rather insightful though, she must be able to read my body language extremely well or something. I am glad to have the opportunity It's been a while since I've danced. It's too bad I can't fly yet, hope Molly doesn't hold that against me. Hope my dancing isn't too rusty either.
I see a response in behind the scenes but no post here, posting to see if it's a bug that'll get cleared up.
I don't know what happened to the post, and I don't remember too well how the session went last night, so although I remember writing it I don't know what became of it. I apologize.
You dance impressively well, for an amateur, sweeping Molly off her feet not literally but suitably.
A quick list of those warlocks and witches you've met and what you can see about them. There are fifty-three at the party not counting you (or Brom), and Gwen is not among them:
- Randal, Young, Woos Gwen
- Molly
- Tobias, called Toby, probably the eldest here, might be eighteen or nineteen
- Nell
- Andreyev
- Brian
- Dorothy
- Bridget, might be 13
- Martin, burly
- Aldis, buxom pretty sweet-sixteen
- Missed the name of a girl, good looking, fairly bursting her bodice.
Molly says that she knows nothing about body language, but like all witches and warlocks she hears the thoughts of those around her.
--M. J. Young
It's no problem. :) I just got confused by the lack of post when I was in the behind the scenes, glad it's cleared up.
---------------------------------------------------
"Oh, ok. I apparently have a lot to learn, but that can be saved for tomorrow."
"Also, where will I be sleeping and is there anything I should be doing before lunch tomorrow? I don't want to be ignorant or neglect anything I should be doing."
No real questions I have about specific people yet. Thank you for the summary though.
Thoughts:
Molly is a wonderful follow, she's a lot of fun to dance with. (a success in swing dancing tends to make the lead think highly of the follow, whether it's because she's doing a good job following or he's just having a good day leading, or this is my interpretation. Either way I tend to think this way when I'm doing well at swing.)
It's a little weird knowing that people can read my thoughts, will have to try to avoid thinking of anything too embarrassing... I hope I'm making an ok impression though, everyone seems so nice here, would hate for them to dislike me.
Molly smiles and blushes. "'Tis all thou, I assure thee; I've never danced thus before."
"We have rooms, boys in one wing, girls in another. At some point, the queen will summon thee, to have thee swear to live by Christ's law. 'Tis a requirement to stay in our coven, that is, the queen requires it of those witches who seek her sanctuary here. Brom will inform her--he has the Queen's ear, and she prefers for us not to disturb her, lest we appear to be advising her as to how to rule. She is but nineteen, and newly ascended on the death of her father, and many of both lords and peasants think it wrong of her to defend us. The appearance that we had influence over her would weaken her position significantly.
"But it might be any time. She might be too busy tomorrow to entertain you.
"But since the Queen does not ask our aid, and Brom Berin only observes and attempts to keep some kind of order in the castle, nothing much is expected of us. I'm sure you could have breakfast, if you wished; but it would mean going to sleep sooner, and most of us would rather stay up and enjoy the night."
"It is sometimes difficult to keep one's feelings out of one's thoughts. I have wondered whether the fact that our parents rarely had to deal with others of the same abilities prevented them from considering a way to shield thoughts from others, so the best we can do is control our thoughts. It does wonder for our discipline, I expect."
--M. J. Young
"Well you're a very naturally talented dancer then."
"I'll enjoy the night with everyone. This all seems very fun and if there is nothing I need to do before lunch tomorrow sleeping in sounds wonderful. I imagine that keeping a constant vigil on your thoughts would keep you focused and aware."
I'll stay awake until the party dies down. I'll follow whoever Molly tells me to to where I'll be sleeping and get to sleep for the night, with the intention of sleeping in. I'll keep my equipment in my backpack next to my bed.
I don't really have anything I particularly want to do before being taught by Molly after lunch. I plan to sleep in, wake up and get ready for lunch, see if I can meet up with Molly and the group for lunch and then continue to training, following whatever she has me do.
Thoughts:
My thoughts are mainly following exactly what I mentioned. At this point I'm speaking what I think as I think it, as Molly will know either way.
As I go to sleep my mind will probably be buzzing with a recap of what's happened during the day. Possibly repeating peoples names while flashing pictures of their face in my head.
Toby, whose name is Tobias and who as mentioned is probably the eldest at maybe nineteen, is the guy who shows you a bed. There are three other beds in the room, occupied by Toby and Martin, the burly sixteen-year-old.
Dawn is beginning to glow when you reach the bed.
Dawn is still glowing a few minutes later when Brom appears at the foot of your bed.
"Warlock! Mike! The Queen would have you in attendance before breakfast today. Make yourself presentable, and let's go."
The dwarf is seated on a rafter above your bed.
--M. J. Young
Thoughts:
No sleep for me I guess, oh well I'm used to being up for 20 hours in a row this shouldn't be much different.
Actions:
I don't have much in the means to make myself presentable. I'll stand up, brush my clothes a little to try and get the wrinkles out, rub my eyes a little, and run my hand through my hair to get it to behave a little better. Then I'll respond "Good morning Brom. I'm at your disposal, lead away."
The dwarf nods, and leads down the corridor to the stairs. You're in one of the towers, and the path is down to the main building.
He takes you to a massive iron-studded oak door draped with velvet in green and gold, where two armed and armored guards stand. He nods, and one hammers on the door with the back of his gauntletted hand, then opens the door. Brom leads you into a high ceilinged room with dark wood paneling, 4 great candles on velvet-draped table, small tiled hearth, rich carpet over stone floor, wall tapestries, huge bookcase at one end, books on table, 4 chairs heavy armchairs, 2 flanking the fire, 2 at the table. There is a girl seated at the table, young, perhaps 19, pale, small-boned finely-chiseled face, near-platinum blond hair, large dark blue eyes, small red lips, slender child’s body, slender, frail, with budding breasts and kitten hips.
Brom's booming bass voice announces you: "Queen Catherine Plantagenet, I present Mike the Warlock."
She looks at you with arrogant eyes, but speaks in a gentle, slightly husky contralto voice.
"You are the latest to seek sanctuary in the castle at Runnymede. You are here to swear to keep the Law of Christ, and to give adequate explanation of yourself. Where are you from? Who are your parents? How long have you been a practicing warlock, and who trained you?"
--M. J. Young
"Greetings your Majesty. My memory is a little foggy still, I had quite a jolt not too long ago. Bits and pieces are starting to come back to me however, how they piece together however is less clear. My parents names are Dorothy and Michael. As far as I know or remember neither was a warlock or witch. I only became a practicing warlock a few months ago when I stumbled upon a wand and sought to learn how to use it. I have never received formal training that I remember. As to where I come from, I vaguely remember the town of bath, although it seems so far distant now..."
"I will gladly swear to keep the Law of Christ, as I attempt to be goodly in all actions in my life."
If I'm required to repeat any particular phrases I will as soon as they tell me, happily swearing to what they tell me too.
Thoughts:
Ugh, my history. Let me think here... My parents are Dorothy and Michael... I live just outside of Bath... my time practicing is more of a recent event then history heh.... I wish someone had trained me, but I just stumbled into things until now. As to swearing to the Law of Christ I like to think that I've always lived by such, no reason not to swear to it now.
OOC:
I've mostly avoided explaining my feelings on religion, but if anyone can read my underlying thoughts it may be important at this point. I don't fit into the church near me. As such there was some bad blood between them and I. As such I live by what I like to think is what any good god would want. I am nice to others, help people within reason, and don't try to harm others. I obviously am not flawless in this, I doubt anyone is. But for religion I've just never been any good at it. I live to be a good person. But living to be a good person by a groups doctrine has often rubbed me the wrong way. I hope I haven't offended by my comments here, but I feel it may be important to explain myself at this point.
Also since I'm disclosing my religious views I may as well get all of it out at once. I have no commitment to whether I believe there to be a god. The reason for this is it has no impact on how I live life. I attempt to be a good person to be a good person. Not to appease a higher power. I hope any good god would find my life passable on the merit that I try to be good. I would do this whether I knew for a fact there was a god or knew for a fact there was not a god, therefore I honestly can say I have no stance because it doesn't make sense to me to attempt to have a stance.
The only thing you will be required to say is "I do". Brom will administer the oath, holding a Bible (a large very old leather-covered book) and saying, "Do you, Mike son of Dorothy and Michael, swear to keep the Law of Christ, to live by love and to do to others as you would have them do to you? And do you swear allegiance to the Line Plantagenet, royal family of Gramarye, and to Catherine, Queen of Gramarye? If so, say I do?"
Assuming you do, the Queen will respond, "We accept your oath, Warlock Mike son of Dorothy and Michael, and extend to you the freedom accorded warlocks within our demesnes and the courtesy of our hospitality in our home in Runnymede."
After that, she will dismiss you with not more than a nod, and Brom will escort you to the door and walk into the hall with you.
"I find it strange that ye are a warlock who did not know't 'til grown. Did ye not wonder at your strange abilities when a child?"
--M. J. Young