Log Date: 6/28/96 Log Cast: Karga, Rhentagoth, Alorn, Zichri Log Intro: Time -- how much time, Karga is not sure, for it is difficult to measure the passage of days in the remote darkness of Blue Mountain -- has passed since the human child was brought into the place of the floating ones by Alorn. And Alorn has proved troubling, for despite her claim that she would teach Karga how to hunt demons, she has persisted in avoiding her human charge most of the time. When she has come to see Karga, it has been only to punish the one Glider who has proven friendly to her, and to utter cryptic statements of lessons Karga is not sure she wishes to understand. At last, aa Alorn's latest absence from her grows too long for the young human to bear any more, Karga begins combing Blue Mountain for any sign of her patron.... ---------- Chamber of the Egg Somehow this room seems level while the rest of Blue Mountain is at a disturbing angle. Somehow the damage that has wracked the very foundation seems faultered before it hit this room. But it's only an illusion created by the tilted form of the large stone Egg floating in the center, twisting just a bit off its axis. Obviously the pillars here, majestic once perhaps, have crumbled and split. Obviously the walls here, once smooth, are riddled with curls just like on the Egg, as though this room was once part of the Egg, as though the Egg is inside itself. And you with it. Despite the dizzying effect there is obviously one way 'out' of the room, back inot the more tangible halls of the Mountain. Another opening seems to lead northeast. Contents: Rhentagoth Egg Obvious exits: Western Hall Rhentagoth looks at you. Karga steps warily into the room, looking from side to side, frowning. Karga then pauses, and stares at the great floating form of stone. She utters a small gasp, clutches her heavy spear closer to her, and turns to skitter back out. Rhentagoth looks up from his comtemplation of Egg as he hears another figure enter. Then blinks in surpise as you skitter out. Karga scowls fiercely, eyes glimmering, as her slight form vanishes out of the chamber. [Karga spends much time combing the Mountain for any sign of Alorn, though she grows less and less certain of succeding at that. Finally her thoughts turn in growing panic to finding a way out of the Mountain itself, and eventually, she chances to reproduce the way back up to the Aerie....] You go up... and up... and up... twisting in the guts of rock... and up... lit by dim, high glows... and up... --- Aerie At the very summit of the Mountain you find the clearest signs of the transformation initiated by the Dreaming gliders at Winnowills bidding. The rocky surface is still shaped in intricate loops and whirls, echoing the wonder of the great Egg. Half familiar shapes can be sensed as much as felt among the twisting and folding surfaces..some utterly alien, other of a disturbing familiarity. Pain cries from the walls, but so do joy, and wonder, and the dizzying echoes of the long gone Dreams. The gargantuan latticework forms a dome to crown the Mountain with shapes that from afar might seem to be the roots of some twisted tree. Even here, the tiny cracks can be seen criss-crossing all surfaces. The loops and folds open out to the open sky in unexpected places, and ways. Though none of the openings are larger than the armspan of a glider, and most much smaller, there are still few places left shadowed. The light of the sun and the moons weaves intricate shadows, that changes in fascinating ways as time passes. In some nooks and crevices there have been placed furs or pillows, telltale traces of the gliders spending hours and days in dreamy contemplation of the sky. There is a confusing number of passages here. The one to the East seems promising. Contents: Alorn ShootingStar Obvious exits: Sky Hall of the Chosen Eight <8> Nesting Ledge Karga comes clambering slowly up the stairs, dragging her spear with her. Alorn is hovering near Star, quite obviously making preperations to leave. Karga pauses, and stares. Then shouts, angrily, "" Alorn pauses, and turns. She nods once, lightly. "" Karga stalks nearer, warily eyeing the great bird. _Those_ words take her aback, though, and she demands, "" "" The elf drifts to the ground, bending down to pick up the last bundle of things. "" Karga clutches her spear to her, glowering, but somewhat less fiercely. "" She trails off, vaguely aware that she has not figured out how to mark time within the Mountain. "<... a long time.>" Alorn turns to look at you, unfolding the bundle as she does. "" The bundle drops out into a length of shadowy grey cloth.. a cloak. "" Karga blinks, still wary, but her anger draining out of her when it seems that this was part of some strange Plan. But the idea that she has still been told nothing leaves frustration in her voice as she reaches a hand at the garment. The other raises an eyebrow critically, looking you over. "" Karga's face tightens. "" Alorn nods faintly and sighs. "" Karga stares up at Alorn -- less so than she did a few moons ago. Is this child getting taller? She says tautly, "" Alorn answers quietly, if cooly. "" Zichri makes it to the top of the long, wide stairs. Zichri has arrived. Zichri comes in quietly. As usual. Zichri looks at you. Karga stares at Alorn longly, then leans the spear against her and tries on the cloak. Her hands are careful on the garment, steady, without shaking. Her eyes, though, are troubled. Zichri sends openly ** Why's this thing here. ** Alorn watches Karga for a long moment, thoughtful. Then she looks up, and over at Zichri. That comment she ignores. "Zichri. Are you ready?" Karga lifts her head as Alorn looks past her, and glances round. Zichri sends **As soon as you answer, I will be** Zichri Borderline adolescent is Zichri, an even 4' tall and very slender. His face is unmistakably like his father's, though softened somewhat, with large night-blue eyes and his mother's smirk. Locks of raven black hair frame his face, tumbling in loose waves to his shoulders, a single pure white feather braided in for contrast. He wears a loose tunic of white cloth, with threads of silver woven in over tightly fitting black breeches. Alorn narrows her eyes slightly. "She's coming with us." Zichri says "Why." "Because it will be educational for you both." Alorn looks back at Karga, tipping her head slightly to one side. Then she nods and turns back to her hawk. "" Karga studies Zichri's cold expression, puts on one of her own, and pointedly turns away, continuing to inspect the cloak Alorn has given her. To Alorn, she looks back, and nods shortly. Alorn has left. From ShootingStar's back, Alorn has arrived. Zichri floats over to his mothers bird, pointedly ignoring the thing. Zichri has left. From ShootingStar's back, Zichri has arrived. From ShootingStar's back, Alorn settles down on feathers and harness, frowning a bit at Zichri. Then she leans over.. way over.. and holds out a hand to Karga. ShootingStar You sit in the specialized flight saddle on the back of a huge blue hawk. When in flight, the wind blows past your face and whips your hair, and the powerful wings of the bird spread out, further dwarfing the ground far below. When not in flight, you tower over most things. Contents: Zichri(#7878PJXce) Alorn You climb up into ShootingStar's saddle. Karga's climb onto the bird is made awkward by her grasp on her heavy spear, but she does not ask for help as she finally hauls herself up. Zichri turns and looks away trying not to smell the stenchfiled thing as it gets onto the bird. Alorn nods faintly to Karga. "" Karga crosses her arms around her spear, still visibly scowling. She gives Alorn a curt nod. Zichri holds on.. and wonders if smelly things can fly. Alorn nudges Star then, who moves to the edge of the Aerie ledge. A pause, and then the bird steps off the ledge, dropping down the side of the Mountain for a few moments before catching herself and leveling out. You fly up into the sky. Sky Above Blue Mountain(#415RL) The top of Blue Mountain is shrouded in clouds, the circling hawks mere specks. Below are the meadows surrounding the Mountain, and a short distance away the huts of the Hoan village. The brightness of noon fills the chill winter skies. Contents: Vaaljade Obvious exits: Aerie Hoan Village Field Karga's only response to the bird's launch is a short sharp intake of breath. The hawk catches a thermal and rises, circling up around and above the Mountain. You fly up. West Sky The brightness of noon fills the chill winter skies. You can fly to the Ocean, Briarholt, Ravenholt, the Mountain or the Grove. Karga doesn't _quite_ clamp her eyes shut, but she does tighten her hold on the great bird's harness, and on her spear. Her hair and the cloak whip back around her wiry form. Alorn nudges Star again and she banks, flying now toward the shimmering expanse visable on the horizon. You fly down. Sky over the Oceanshore Sky and water meet, both endlessly reaching for the horizon. The brightness of noon fills the chill winter skies. Contents: FreeFlight Beach Beach DancerBeach DancerPoint Water The flight lasts some time, but eventually the bird decends, coming to land on the strip of sand along the water. You fly down. Beach on the VastDeep Water The pale sand is full of river-born crystal and gleams with tiny rainbow lights in the early morning light. Wide and inviting, the sands stay warm long after sunset. There are drift logs here, and a large boulder pushes its shoulders above the surface of the sand. You can see footprints, small bare footprints, leading into the water and out. There is dense foliage to the north that follows the coastline closely where it bends to the northwest. The sun is high in the chill winter skies. Contents: Jolan's Tent(#9062Jas) Obvious exits: Forest Up the Shore Water Along the beach Great River Alorn glances around the beach for a moment, then nods once. Alorn slides gracefully out of the saddle. Alorn has left. Around ShootingStar, Alorn has arrived. Zichri slides gracefully out of the saddle. Zichri has left. Around ShootingStar, Zichri has arrived. Karga opens her eyes a little more, at last. Her face has whitened somewhat under her brown skin; after a few deep breaths, she moves to climb down. You slide gracefully out of the saddle onto the ground. Beach on the VastDeep Water The pale sand is full of river-born crystal and gleams with tiny rainbow lights in the early morning light. Wide and inviting, the sands stay warm long after sunset. There are drift logs here, and a large boulder pushes its shoulders above the surface of the sand. You can see footprints, small bare footprints, leading into the water and out. There is dense foliage to the north that follows the coastline closely where it bends to the northwest. The sun is high in the chill winter skies. Contents: Zichri(#7878PJXce) Alorn ShootingStar Jolan's Tent(#9062Jas) Obvious exits: Forest Up the Shore Water Along the beach Great River Alorn turns to look at the both of you, steepling her fingers together. She chews on her lower lip for a bit before speaking. "Zichri, " That said, she watches Zichri to see just how much of it he understood. Zichri listens to this an thinks for a moment. Karga flicks her yellow regard to the young floating one. Zik-ree, she thinks, filing this word in her head to go with this floating one. But when she speaks, it is only to Alorn. "" Zichri has to think back... it's been awhile since he used this archaic language.. **I'll find something.** Karga turns without waiting for Zik-ree, then stalks off into the woods. Her glance lingers on the trees, though, almost gratefully. Alorn nods a bit, lightly. [Karga goes wandering...] You walk north along the beach on the soft golden sands. Beach on the VastDeep Water The pale sand is full of river-born crystal and gleams with tiny rainbow lights in the early morning light. Wide and inviting, the sands stay warm long after sunset. There are drift logs here, and a large boulder pushes its shoulders above the surface of the sand. You can see footprints, small bare footprints, leading into the water and out. There is dense foliage to the north that follows the coastline closely where it bends to the northwest. The sun is high in the chill winter skies. Contents: Zichri(#7878PJXce) Alorn ShootingStar Jolan's Tent(#9062Jas) Obvious exits: Forest Up the Shore Water Along the beach Great River Karga comes back after a time, frowning intently, and continuing on up the beach. [And Karga continues to wander, seriously considering stealing the chance to escape Alorn and Zichri, now that she is free of the Mountain... end log.]