Respectively...
Mrs. Rich and Jaded.
Mr. Junior Partner
Mr. C.H. Cash
A man in a white suit who passes handsome and goes to beautiful
Mr. Worried Assistant
Miss Tourist
An astonishingly beautiful brunnette walking toward you now.
Mr. Boss to WA
Mr. Poker Faced Waiter
::Runic. Control of fire. Protection from fire and kinetic damage.::
You See, and you throw up in your mouth. The dozen or so beauties are each almost consumed/transformed by a black worm. They look with hunger and desire on the humans around them. Treachery, manipulation, and seduction are their nature before final consumption.
And turning about, you see a shimmering Veil around Molly who is standing two feet to your right. She's the source of teh peppermint.
Is the brunette worm still coming toward me? If so, what is her ETA?
I check Molly's surface thoughts (as well as the brunette's, if she is on an intercept course with me), without letting on that I am aware of either one of them.
Does my Sight reveal anything unusual about the surroundings themselves? For example, are those paintings really portals to Entropy that I can TK the worms into? :p
About twenty seconds.
Molly. ::Keep the Veil up. Man, Oak is such a stick. I've proven I'm powerful enough to handle things. He will be so shocked later when I show him I was at the gala thing. Heh. Maybe he will start treating me like an adult.::
Brunnette. Familiar lilac fog.
No. And no.
"Hello Oak. So good of you to join us." The brunnette says with a smile, and suddenly you can't see the worm as she cranks up whatever she has. You feel the magnetism of her beating on your shield.
BTW, what is Molly wearing?
I pray silently for the LORD's protection and wisdom.
"Thank you. Interesting weather we've been having lately, isn't it?"
Blue jeans, tennis shoes, and a green terry cloth pullover is Molly's apparel. Her hair is tied up in a ponytail. She looks dressed for action.
"Yes." She agrees, but you see a faint flicker of puzzlement cross her face. "How do you like our art exhibit. 'True Love as Illusion'?"
"A fascinating theme... but to properly treat such a theme, the exhibit would need something more, which it currently lacks."
"In fact, what is currently missing is the most important element of all..."
You again puzzle her, and this time she openly shows it.
"Now this is unusual. Master Oak as an art critic. Please inform us Raiths on our lacks."
"It is indeed the case that what most of the world thinks of as 'true love' is an illusion. For there is only One source of True Love."
"So to give a complete treatment to such a theme, the illusion must be compared and contrasted with the reality."
"As it is written, 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'"
I look at her kindly.
"Illusion is certainly not lacking here... but a proper treatment of the Reality is. For how can True Love be put into true perspective, without reference to the LORD Jesus Christ?"
She winces, and you feel her power rise even higher so much so that there seems to be a faint glow to her skin, and the men around you are staring at her.
"Master Oak has followed the swordswinger into delusion. Now that is unexpected. I always knew you played for the white hats, and not the white court, but a fool...I think less of you now."
"Ah, but that is the entire point, is it not? In the True Love of Reality, the LORD Jesus Christ is all, and we are nothing... apart from Him."
"As it is written, 'But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.'..."
"You are not nothing. You are a wizard of undoubted power, and a very handsome man." She smiles, and its hard to think straight for a second, or think at all.
"However, perhaps you can explain to my father, The Raith, your newfound beliefs?" She gestures to lead you up to what looks like a rather distinguished group of people surrounding a man in white.
BTW, do I sense any verser vectors?
I incline my head agreeably, and walk with her to the group quietly, not yet risking trying to talk again.
After the momentary muddling of my thoughts, I pray with renewed fervency for the LORD's strength, and protection, and wisdom, and discernment.
And I pray that I may be a faithful witness. A nest of vampires may not be the most promising ground to hope for repentance from, but who knew what ears might hear, and what seeds might be planted?
After praying I mentally recite relevant Scripture...
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You walk up, and you see and hear Mr. Boss to WA, and WA making an attempted subtle pitch to The Raith for him to intervene for a permit. Several others are standing about him, and right behind him is another female of astonishing beauty with red hair.
The Raith cuts off the Boss smoothly as you and the brunnette come up.
"Gentlemen, one of the loveliest flowers in all the Windy City. My daughter, Lara, and of course, her companion is welcome as well. Well done, Lara."
Lara preens a bit, and the redhead looks a bit put out.
"By the way, do you know where Cantos is?"
Lara shakes her head.
"Hmm."
The Raith turns to you with a charming smile.
"He is a devout friend, truly so, Father." Lara says low enough not to be an interruption that seems ungracious.
BTW, do I sense any verser vectors?
I continue my silent fervent prayers and Scripture recitations to strengthen me as I interact in this perilous setting.
While doing so, I acknowledge his welcome with a respectful inclination of the head, and a kind smile. My voice is quiet but friendly.
"Have you an interest in things devout?"
OOC: No.
He smiles back, and you feel a moment of pride in your skills that you let expand, and suddenly you realize your shield is gone. And the massive charm being put out by these vampires washes over you. Desperately, you fight back, and hold on to your mind.
"More in beauty and the profane, sir. Unless you mean the devout worship of beauty."
He holds out his hand, and you can see a ruby ring on it. And inscribed in the depths of the ring is a rune like on your staff. A rune for 'Fire'. You feel your mind falling into the ring.
More OOC: Botch. Followed by successful roll by you.
'O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.'
'Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.'
'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?'...
I prayerfully cling to relevant Scripture with great fervency, and silently cry out to the LORD, confessing my sin, and beseeching His deliverance...
You pray, and feel rescued, but then The Raith speaks.
"Your god has abandoned you, hasn't he?"
A moment of doubt, a moment of distraction, and you've fallen into the ring.
But here, you feel peace.
You stand, or seem too, on a pavement of fired stone, and around you at a physically, if not mentally comfortable distance are jets of fire. In the stone is a rune of enormous size taking up most of the pavement.
"I do not doubt your god, fleshling. In this place, of the NeverNever, my particular corner of it, half dream and all real, the lies of the White Court Vampire who sent you here, cannot exist." The voice is like a crackling fire, and it seems to come from all around you. Its male, and has a somewhat friendly tone to it.
"Your god has abandoned you, hasn't he?"
I shake my head.
"It is written, 'Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.' "
-=-
"I do not doubt your god, fleshling. In this place, of the NeverNever, my particular corner of it, half dream and all real, the lies of the White Court Vampire who sent you here, cannot exist." The voice is like a crackling fire, and it seems to come from all around you. Its male, and has a somewhat friendly tone to it.
:: Dearest LORD, please guard and guide me now, I pray... ::
I look at my surroundings, and listen thoughtfully to the voice.
"Please, who are you? And why have I been sent here?"
The Raith steps back as you quote that verse with a grimace, and then you're not there, at least in mind.
"I am the the Firey Rock that Rests Under the Waters, but that is too short for my people, and too long for yours. Call me Madric, its what the servants of Thor, who made my bed called me."
It pauses, and you feel a sense of sorrow.
"Your kind, child of Adam, and mine, are of the fabric of this world, but the vampire who sent you here is not. However, it is not good for you to meet me, for I burn up what is about me. Soon, I will burn your will, your understanding, and then the twisted thing will draw you back by the ring that holds me, and you, and he will use his charms on your weakened mind. I apologize for this, but fire is my nature."
"What may be done to free us?"
I silently pray for strength, and protection, and deliverance, and discernment.
"The vampire has made a mistake. Others he sent here lacked power. You may untrace the rune. However, while that will free you, it will also begin the process of freeing me. I am held in rest by seven rings."
He pauses.
"Fire is coming. Every spin of the earth, I can feel the call of the Great Fire. Someone, something must come, I believe. I will rise to the surface, and boil the land and the water, and cast forth ash from my mouth. The chains that hold me are weakening already."
It occurs to you as you pray that the evil of the city might be weakening those chains. And you feel protection around you, while at the same time you feel the massive power of Madric around that. Madric is far more powerful than The Raith. They're not even in teh same ballpark. Just by existing, Madric could kill you.
"How and why were you chained here, and by whom? And what is the Great Fire?"
I pray for discernment, that the LORD would guide me whether He would have me help free this Madric, or refrain...
"The servants of Thor made my bed with these runes in their seven rings. And the Great Fire is ....the Great Fire."
You pray, and you realize there are advantages both ways.
"Who else has been sent here before me?"
I attempt to stretch out my postcognitive senses...
You see nothing.
"My fire already begins to burn you, fleshling."
There are advantages both ways... and disadvantages.
And though this Madric seems honest, I have only his say so for what he says.
And the precognitive vision that I have had... If Madric is set free, then would I not end up as the agent that brought such a future to pass? And is that the purpose for my having been brought to this universe in the first place? But... who's purpose?
However, becoming a vampire's thrall isn't too nifty an alternative... as was no doubt foreseen.
And so... I pray.
:: Dearest LORD, 'I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.'::
:: You know all things, and you know every facet of my current circumstances, past, and present, and future. ::
:: If you would have this rune be untraced, then I pray that you would untrace it now. ::
:: If you would have me freed in some other way, then I pray that you would free me now. ::
:: And if not, then I pray that you would strengthen me and protect me to endure the flames, and be purified rather than corrupted and comsumed, and glorify you. As it is written, 'That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.'::
:: Thank you, dearest LORD. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ... Amen. ::
You pray and you receive a rather clear impression.
I'd like your opinion on this artwork we're creating together.
And its clear that 'artwork' has multiple meanings. In some sense you're a junior artist at the easel, and in another sense you're the painting. And in another sense, its the universe on the easel. And in another, its the relationship between you and your Friend that is the subject of the art.
I am awestruck at the grace shown toward me, and I bow my head in worship to the LORD.
For it is written, 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.' And again, 'But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.'. And again, 'I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.'
Yet with some objects of special grace, such as Abraham and Moses, You discussed Your intentions with them, and at times harkened to their voices.
Dearest LORD, I want You to be glorified.
The evils of this land are offensive, and I would like the evil to be purged, and all these vampires and imps and others that hate You to perish. But, as Abraham petitioned regarding Sodom, I do not want the righteous to perish with the wicked. And I want the wicked to have every opportunity to repent, and for all that You will to be saved.
I don't know if You want to use this Madric as an instrument of Your judgment upon this land, or if You want to use me as an instrument to free Madric.
I am privileged to live for You, or to die for You. But I beseech You to protect me from evil and corruption. Please free me or not, and free Madric or not, as it pleases You. But if I am to remain here, please strengthen me, that I would not be weakened by the flames, nor corrupted by the vampires. Please purify me, and make me into a more fit tool for Your Hand, and an instrument of righteousness rather than an instrument of evil.
Thank You, LORD. I pray in Jesus' Name... Amen.
You see a vision of a great city of shining towers, but upon the peaks of those towers you see Nero fiddling, and the great and mighty engaging in all manner of cheating and oppression.
And flying toward the city, racing each other, are seven beasts. One is a dragon with golden eyes who breathes out flames as it flies. Another is a maddened jackal who glows blue, and everywhere he steps the plants turn strange and start to die. Another is a cow who looks forlorn and resigned, but from each horn there is a torch. Another is two animals, a mighty hawk who flies without feathers on his wings, and in his claws is a skunk with a cigarette lighter and a key. One is a phoenix who blazes in the air with joy, and you know this is Madric. One is a snake who comes whispering words that set men on fire. And the last is more terrible than all these for he is yourself, coming to the city, a boil of fire all about him, command in his eyes, and terrible blasphemies on his lips.
And the giant walls about the city come down, brought down by the mighty, and by the beasts who scented corruption, and by their yearning for the burning sun in the pitiless sky.
"Son of Adam. This city, this great city, has with its oppressions and its cruelties called for its own dooms. Madric would be a more merciful punishment than many, but this is not punishment. This is consequence. They seek their own, and do not fear me. The little children in the streets cower in fear, but do not plead to me. I send them a protector and a prophet, but will they listen, will they allow him to rescue them?"
There is a long pause.
"Now, stand strong, Son of Adam, for the fire will not burn you. And you may ask one small question of Me, for I know you, you would ask for Me to begin reading all my books at teh beginning, and the City has but little time til it burns."
Another pause.
"And tell Madric that but a little time and he will meet the messenger who will bring him joyful news."
Dearest LORD, by Your gracious invitation, I will ask something of You that requires but little time.
When You said to Solomon, 'Ask what I shall give thee', he said, 'Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad.'
And it is written that You were pleased that Solomon asked this thing.
Solomon asked to know Your will, and You graciously answered him.
But his request was not enough, as it is written, 'For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.'
Solomon knew Your will... but he did not always love Your will, and he did not do Your will faithfully to the end.
Therefore, I ask You not just for an understanding heart to discern Your will, but also a faithful and enduring heart to do Your will lovingly and faithfully to the end.
It is written, 'And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.'
Please, dearest LORD, show me Your will clearly, and what You would have me do. And purify me, and strengthen me, to do Your will lovingly and faithfully to the end.
Thank you, dearest LORD. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ... Amen.
"You are clever, Son of Adam, and ask well." You hear a chuckle. "Let it be as you have said. Now save my city, and glorify my name."
The audience seems to be ended although you can still feel a faint bit of Presence. Its almost swamped in Madric's presence tho'.
OOC: Hmmm....+@1 Intuition, and a 1@3 Mag skill for Second Chances?????? Ask MJ too, maybe. No definitely.
Second post.
I started a thread 'Theology...' for some of the puzzlement you have induced in me. Feel free to look at it, although its nothing more than a plea for help now.
I give fervent thanks in silent prayer, deeply moved by this encounter and by this outcome.
Then I raise my head, and open my eyes, and look at my surroundings.
"The LORD is gracious to us both. He has said that the fire will not burn me. And He has said that but a little time and you will meet the messenger who will bring you joyful news."
"I have been waiting for the messenger all my life. Perhaps this is a true message from my Maker. I have not heard his voice since he made me, and then he told me to live, and that one day he would send me a messenger to summon me. And I would know that messenger was from him. I know not my Maker's name. I wondered if it was Thor as the servants of Leif Erikson said. Now I wonder if its your god. In any case, I shall wait in hope." Madric says.
You stand, and feel comfortable.
After a time, you feel drawn back to your body, and The Raith smiles at you.
"Now, my friend. We are friends aren't we?" He bends his charm your way...
I smile in response to Madric's words.
"The LORD God Almighty is the Creator of all things. And may the fulfillment of His words to me now as I endure the flames give you even more hope for the fulfillment of His words to you in but a little time."
While waiting, I answer any questions Madric may have about the LORD.
And when that portion of the conversation ends...
"Please, tell me more about the NeverNever..."
-=-
I pray for strength and protection as I feel myself drawn back into my body.
And I pray for discernment. Would the LORD have me immediately reveal His deliverance, and call The Raith to repentance? Or would He have me feign friendship for a time, in order to infiltrate and overthrow his evil plans? Or are neither of these pleasing to Him?
He's skeptical, but willing to listen, and hopeful at the same time.
After you tell him of the Fall, he hisses.
"So that's why the Great Pain came upon us. The world was pleasant and orderly before then."
He speaks of the NeverNever.
"All beings have magic of creation in their souls. And the NeverNever responds to this. And once something is created as not just a whisp, but as a solidly grounded reality, it has its own soul. So it too can create things. As to who exactly created the White Court of the Vampires, or the Red or Black Courts, I do not know. It is the Wizards who might know of such things.
There are great empires in the NeverNever. Much of it is ruled by the Sidhe, both Seelie and Unseelie. The Queens of Winter and Summer have dueled since before the Flood. I do not know if Man created them, or if my Maker did, or perhaps the Fallen Stars."
You are drawn back to your body, but the trip is rough, and so you are not focused on your prayer or extending a hand in faith as the charm of The Raith hits you. It bites into your soul, and you find yourself thinking....this is quite the most handsome and reasonable man I've ever met...and some distant part of you struggles...but happily the powers of the White Court are subtle, and so you pray again, and barely find protection in God's arms.
You pray for guidance, and it comes clear.
If you wish to strike with the fury of King David, and flail this room with the fire of Heaven, then speak to him of repentance. For if you speak to him so, and do not call down the fire of Elijah in this room, you will surely verse, and then my purpose will be thwarted.
OOC: What are our current surroundings? Are we still standing where we were before, at the gala, with all manner of bystanders around? Or are we elsewhere/elsewhen, with only the servants of evil in blast range?
As you were but seconds later. Lots of semi-innocent civilians around.
:: Dearest LORD, I do not want to sin, or to deny You in any way. ::
:: If these evil creatures require me to say or do anything that is displeasing to you, I must refuse, and lose any opportunity to infiltrate their ranks, and fight even in this crowded place, or flee. ::
:: If you want me to infiltrate them, please restrain them from putting my friendship to the immediate test, and forcing me to refuse them. ::
:: And if not, then please burn those You wish to be consumed, and protect those You wish to be protected. ::
:: Thank you, dearest LORD. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ... Amen. ::
I blink in confusion for a moment, even as I rapidly pray silently.
Then my face clears, and lights up with a genuine smile as I regard the speaker.
"Friends..."
"Excellent." And you can see that The Raith does not expect much out of you right now as you've presumably been seriously damaged in mind by exposure to Madric. "You know, I think our new friend here is not feeling that well. Why don't you take him up to a more private room, and let him sleep it off, Lara?"
The brunnette, Lara, takes you by the arm, and guides you up the stairs.
She mutters under her breath as she goes.
"Well, Oak, I expected better of you. I thought you'd break Dear Old Dad's ruby ring which he flaunts over us. But, being promoted to number one daughter isn't a bad consolation prize. Still I so wanted to rule." She laughs cruelly to herself. "But we're friends aren't we Oak?" She says as she takes you to a private sitting area on the third floor.
She waves at a couch near a fake fireplace.
"Rest, wizard." She's enforcing her command with her charm, but it merely batters on the outside of the divine rock you rest in.