Otataral, 956th Year in the Time Dying

[shiivster]

Aki waits where she is for another hour, before mounting up and catching up to the others. in her mind she will put herself at ease. she whistles for the bloodhawk. once it moves into view she'll circle with one hand and point up the trail the others took before.

the camel will catch up to the others. [who without the lead camel or Aki, have slowly started to dwaddle and drag their feet.]

Aki catches up sooner than expected and the camel train seems to relax and slowly picks up their speed.

[thorley]

"We might as well hire him" responds Bellephoebe to Tesla. "After all, we're going to be in his territory anyway".

Bellephoebe will hand the guide another silver ingot and say "your information about this location is interesting, we'd appreciate it if you could take us there, it might be what we are looking for".

[albatross]

The bloodhawk follows Aki's instructions and scouts, and finds a rabbit, but no treachery.

The guide looks at the ingot and says, "Keep it. Instead, teach me something from your world. It is only four days beyond the pass, so it will have to be quick. An ingot I will have to share with everyone and a share of one ingot is small. If you teach me then I will know something valuable."

[thorley]

"I don't think you'd really want to know much about my world" and Bellephoebe means this because RIFTS earth is an unpleasant dimension, and besides Dweamor where she is from is technically a secret

"I can share some knowlege with you, though... let's talk about this thing called electricity...."

Bellephoebe will give him a run down on early electrical generation (step by step) conductors, and similar things. Very primitive level knowlege of the whole Ben Franklin or Edison/Tesla level, but enough to start with.

Bellephoebe can be fairly naive, and is hoping such information might lead to the improvement of the standard of living in this dimension if the guy is able to put it to use (assuming he can understand it). Besides Bellephoebe is curious what Tesla will have to say, since she doesn't actually believe he's the real Nikola Tesla and is just using that name.

[albatross]

Tesla listens keenly. "Good idea, but they might need some more metallurgy to really get proper circuits and batteries. We'd better explain that too. And then in a couple hundred years they would be switching to an alternative because of coal pollution."

"Maybe we should skip the early stage?" He says to Bellephobe. He turns to the guide, "Do you have water or wind mills?" Tesla begins by explaining how to harness wind and water for mechanical power, and sketches a few diagrams. Then he explains the materials and designs necessary for a circuit and a battery. He tells the guide some of the materials may need to be invented for the circuit, but the wind and water mills should tide them over in the meantime.

He takes the sketches carefully out of his notebook and hands them to the guide. The guide nods and says to Bellephobe and Tesla, "Please explain to me more about this electricity while we travel."

[shiivster]

Aki nods and returns to the group and wanders along in the rear of the group. the bloodhawk is pleased with its hunt and is settled on the camel and is ripping bits off. the Night one half stirs and chirps sleepily and is fed a little bit.

Yumi has climbed to ride on Aki's shoulders and peers about with beady eyes. alert as a predator looking for ambushes as the group continues. she wonders if the warbird would like to stay with the guide. he's on the larger size and she's unsure if he'll be happy to travel off world. the camels all want to go home.

[albatross]

After four days of traveling they reach the ruins. The guide shows a keen interest in everything they have to tell him about electricity. The warbird tries to eat him twice, but it tries that with everyone but Aki.

The large bowl shaped depression is ringed with cliffs inside as if the ground sank millions of years ago. Inside is a ruined maze.

The guide stops outside of it curious to see what will happen but unwilling to be sucked into another world. Bellephobe can tell this is a place of heightened magical energy. Ora and Tesla start securing things and leaving other things behind in preparation for the journey, however it will work.

[thorley]

"Ahhh" goes Bellephoebe "Feels MUCH better here. If all else fails I might be able to open a portal on my own, but I suppose it's up to Allen to try that key of his first"

Bellephoebe will try and cast a globe of daylight spell, to try and get a feel for how much magical energy is actually present.

[albatross]

The globe of daylight is cast, but it seems warped and weak.

Allen is getting his strength back however. Roused from his shell shocked state he attempts to open a portal.

At first it seems like nothing happens.

Then each of them realize they are having a vision of their own life flashing before their eyes, from the beginning.

Those who are younger, like Yumi, the visions move fairly slowly and they can see the highlights of their years of life.

For the ancient characters, like Sapphire and Romidus, everything moves in a blur - the years and events blending together with little more than a vague sense of familiarity. The details are impossible to pick out.

Then, as if of the corner of their eye, they realize that their lives flashing before their eyes isn't all they can see....

Dryzh can see the life of the Atorian, the one he chose for his stone weapon. Allen can see the life of Ba'al. Bellephobe is looking at a blur that reminds her of Lord Splynncryth. Tesla sees Cara and Kara's lives.

But that isn't all. Beyond those visions, on both the right and the left are other visions. On the right they can see Ora's life. On the left, Allen's.

But within Ora and Allen's visions are all of their lives. Allen is connected to everyone through the key except the new birds, even the camels. And Ora named a boomerang after Allen, Sapphire, Tesla, Aki, Yumi, Dryzh, Romoidus and Bellephobe. Just as those with linked stone weapons can see the life of the person the weapon is linked too, Allen and Ora can see all of their lives. And through the connection, everyone in the group can see them too.

Of course, its a lot of information to take in, and its impossible to watch all of the visions at once. While they watch one, the other visions flash onwards.

Then Tesla's voice enters all of their minds telepathically. "Woah. Take a look at this. I guess Cara and Kara weren't minions of Fakir after all..."

[shiivster]

Aki worries about what will happen to the birds if she leaves. she knows that the old warbird will most likely attack the guide and kill him. she likes the birds, but then, she likes the camels as well.

*her attention moves to look at the visions of Cara and Kara, then wonders what is really going on. in the back of her mind, she starts to think about how to deal with the birds. as they do not appear to be attached to the group. the rest of the people have everything they need and have started with.

[albatross]

The nighthawk chirps excitedly somewhere out of sight. Aki can feel the presence of all three birds though they aren't linked through the visions. The linked visions seem to be a separate power in addition to the key's ability to open the portal.

Cara and Kara's childhood is very strange. They are raised to be time travellers. But rather than being Fakir's minions they seem to be part of a group that is hunting him. Though they are technically Harriers their organization is very strange. It appears they hunt for DNA samples and make clones from them. The hunt for Fakir is not to kill him, but rather to collect his DNA.

Kara and Cara's search lead them through many confusing situations, and each time they thought they had accomplished their mission it turned out Fakir had tricked them. Before they met at Joy's the twins journeyed to the home world of Fakir's master in order to see if they could recover his DNA on any old belongings there....

[albatross]

Fakir's Master

Cara and Kara disguised themselves as teenage girls in order to infiltrate the temple of Fakir's master on a world similar to Earth. They trained for a few months, each in a different martial art. Then they took the place of two students who were accepted. The temple was high in the mountains, along a beautiful stream. High-altitude, with a cold, majestic beauty above the tree line. The very best martial artists in the world trained and taught there.

Although they say Fakir's master regularly, many other students were present and there were no clues to indicate Fakir had ever stayed here.

One day however, they did find out that they were on the right track when King Talon and his warrior nuns arrived to demand information about Fakir.

The King knocked down the massive front doors and demanded to see the head of the order. She appeared, a skinny young woman dressed in a simple white martial arts uniform - and bowed.

"Don't patronize me," King Talon said. "Where is he?"

The headmistress replied with practiced patience. "My master has never been here, and I don't have any information about her father."

"I don't want your master or her father. I want your student." King Talon said through gritted teeth.

The headmistress looked puzzled, "Which student? I have many thousands...."

"FAKIR!!!" The King bellowed.

"A-ha," the headmistress smirked. "Fakir was expelled. He no longer acknowledges me."

"Then you will tell me where and when I can find him." Talon grated.

"You must be his friend King Talon. He spoke of you often, I will certainly tell you when you can find him."

Just then all the color drained from King Talon's face and his eyes narrowed to slits. He had noticed one of the students watching him.

"You are lying. You helped Fakir kidnap my daughter."

"What!?" The headmistress exclaimed.

"She is right there among your students."

*****

[albatross]

A young woman steps forward from beside Cara and Kara.

"You are wrong Father. The Teacher and Fakir have no idea I'm here. Why do you think you've been unable to find me?"

"That witch!"

"Yes, mother hid me here after you tried to kill her."

"Where is she?!"

"Why? Are you going to try to kill her again?"

King Talon is clearly furious. As they are talking, Cara and Kara since the arrival of twelve other people. A young man and a young woman about the age of the headmistress called The Teacher now flank her. But only three of the other ten arrivals are visible. Seven hide in the shadows - casting spells, boosting karma, and projecting psychic defenses to the young people and the other three visible arrivals: two men and a woman.

"Your daughter is my finest student," the headmistress says. "You should be proud."

"She was kidnapped. Return her to me."

"What age were you when you left home to student your art?" The Teacher asks perceptively.

The King is silent. He was no older than his daughter is now. His rage at being wrong grows.

"Surrender her or I'll kill you."

The teenagers around Cara and Kara quickly run to the Teacher's side. Kara and Cara follow reluctantly to as to not appear out of place. They know the people of this Earth treat the Teacher as a savior. The prayers of millions rest lightly upon her shoulders and the twins have no doubt that the other students, including King Talon's daughter, would die in her place if they could. And these bodyguards who arrived... smell like time travelers.

"We are the honor guard of the United Nations. By unanimous decree we defend the Teacher and her friends. Your threat is an act of war against Earth. Harm the Teacher or her students and we will hunt you down across time."

King Talon notices the new arrivals for the first time. The man who spoke has a remarkable presence. The kind of man who has been in a thousand battles. The woman beside him blinks one eye slowly as if insane. All five of the visible arrivals are spaced wide apart - to far to be taken in a single blast. The seven concealed body guards cast spell after spell, strengthening those who are visible. The honor guard is no simple police escort. The most powerful warriors of this Earth appear to have applied themselves wholeheartedly to the task.

The King pauses a moment. He looks over at his daughter and extends his hand. He wants to ask he to join him. But he is uncertain. She might betray him. Like her mother. His hand closes into a fist.

King Talon puts his hand on a small scroll strapped to his armor. "The Ghost Knight." He says quietly.

And a knight in ancient looking blackened armor appears.

[albatross]

When the knight appears, the Teacher gently touches her student's shoulders as she glides forward to stand between them and the armored warrior. Her two young friends move to stand a little ways off on her right and her left.

The Honor Guard does nothing, at least the visible ones. They stand and watch. The seven hidden in support roles also cast spells and various abilities onto the Teacher and her two young friends. Kara and Cara aren't puzzled. They know the deadly warriors of the honor guard are merely a pledge to avenge the Teacher should she fall. The students know her other names, the ones whispered by the pilgrims to the temple: the Commander of the Orders, each martial art and order of knighthood on Earth lists her as its head. The Living Saint. And her two her friends are not simply childhood friends. The three of them saved the world together.

The Ghost Knight points at the Teacher and says, "Die." But the young woman who is the Teacher's friend steps between them.

"You are a Death Knight," the teacher's friend says casually.

"Death!" Laughs the young man. "Death doesn't scare me."

But the Teacher is scared. In fact, only the teacher's two friends and the woman in the honor guard with the long, crazy blink appear to be able to move against the Death Knight.

The Death Knight moves to draw his sword. The gorgeous woman in the honor guard waves her hand and the Ghost Knight slows. The young man who laughed at Death moves. His speed is superhuman. No one sees his first step. His leg is already slamming into the Ghost Knight's waist doubling him over by the time anyone realizes he moved. The young man's friend kicks the bent over knight on the chin. When did she move? The knight flies into the air. And not just a foot or two off the ground. Getting kicked by the teacher's friend is like being hit by a car. He sails through the air his hand still caught in the act of drawing his sword.

Then the Teacher recovers. Like an arrow from a bow she leaps forward and taking the knight by his armored collar hurls him away, chucking him hundreds of feet through the air. One of the hidden wizards opens a portal mid-air and the Ghost Knight sails through. The portal closes and King Talon and his warrior nuns disappear.

Fakir's master and her friends make it easy to see why he is so hard to beat. A war god would have trouble with the Teacher.

[shiivster]

Aki stops watching the visions for now and looks about to see what has the Nighthawk excited. her eyes will scan the area's ridges first then further up and about the full area.

if there were wild birds in the area, she's loosen the leg ties and release them to the wild. but they aren't hawks or falcons from earth. [not to mention whe would have already removed them]

'what is it little brother?' *speaks to the nighthawk and hopes she will learn something else from the birds