From: owner-willowholt-l@murkworks.net on behalf of Wolf031877@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 1998 2:59 PM To: willowholt-l@murkworks.net Subject: [willowholt-l] Visit by a Chosen Synopsis: Tsoran drops by a campsite near the Willowholt, and contacts Dusk. Players: Dusk (logger), Tsoran, and Trollkiller. Logged September 2, 1998. ------------------------------------------------------- Tsoran locksends ** Ashte. ** You locksend to Tsoran, Dusk's reply is a surprised one, then as she attempts to hide it, she returns, ** Tsoran..? ** Tsoran locksends ** How many others would know your soulname? ** Long distance to Tsoran: Dusk pauses, little to no humor evident in her words. ** What is it..Tsoran? ** Tsoran locksends ** I will tell you to your face, or not at all. ** You locksend ** (This time it's Dusk's words that hold a touch of humor) I can't exactly see your face if I don't know where you are, can I? ** to Tsoran. You sense in a locksend, Tsoran's send fades into an image of his surroundings. Dusk follows paths towards the location sent to her. Lost Marsh Camp Ringed on all sides by short, gnarled-branched conifers, this smallish clearing is noteable as a campsite only because of the ring of blackened 'stones' in its center. Little else here provides immediate motivation for a wanderer, whether of two feet or four, to stop and rest... yet, something draws attention here. Perhaps it is the almost-inaudible gurgle of water in the distance, or the gentle shallows between the roots of some of the trees, where a traveler might rest. Or, perhaps, the view of the Hubward mountains, peeking over the tops of the trees. Whatever it is that draws creatures to camp here, the packed ground around the stone-ring provides mute testimony that they do. The sun is high in the warm spring skies. Contents: Tsoran DarkWing Obvious exits: Crossroads Mountains Marsh Trail After a short time walking, Dusk finds the location, first spotting DarkWing. Tsoran appears to sit crosslegged on the ground, though on closer regard he is actually hovering a few inches above it, peacefully regarding a small fire in the ring of stones. DarkWing ruffles his feathers, cocking a head to give Dusk a beady glare with one eye. ** There you are. ** Dusk comments softly, wringing her hands momentarily as she watches you near the fire. She looks back at the bird with a somewhat uninterested expression. Tsoran looks over to you, grey eyes opaque. He gestures to the small fire, a silent invitation. How long has it been now..a turn of the seasons since the Recognition? Dusk has a few suspicions about this visit - one in particular, but she approaches, stopping across from you, separated by the flames. Tsoran scrutinizes you, almost critically, before concluding. "You look well." Dusk sits down, resting her hands in her lap, looking back through the fire at you, nodding slowly. "I've gotten better since coming back home..mother insists I eat, sometimes more than I need to." Tsoran's voice remains neutral. "I am given to understand that this is common for those carrying children." Like the glider's, Dusk's words are on the neutral side as well. "I can't claim to know..first time, and all." You sense in a locksend, Tsoran's send is as opaque as his eyes, betraying little of his emotions. ** I assume you did not inform your tribe of my whereabouts. ** You locksend to Tsoran, Dusk's answer comes slowly after a moment of pause. ** What do you mean? Are you asking if I told them about you? ** Tsoran locksends ** From previous experience, I believe you would not appeared here alone if your tribe knew you planned to meet me. Am I mistaken? ** You locksend ** /I/ did not even know we would be meeting..I've told no one, yet. ** to Tsoran. Tsoran murmurs. "Most trusting of you." Tsoran uncurls a pale hand. ** You have come this far. Now come closer. ** Tsoran extends his hand to you. Dusk comments back dryly, "I would hope I could even remotely trust the one I Recognized." She frowns, standing up. She takes a couple steps closer around the fire, but she keeps her eyes on you, suspiciously. Tsoran waits patiently, hand extended. Behind him, DarkWing goes back to preening his feathers. You locksend ** (The send is somewhat remote, suggesting Dusk is outside the holt a ways) Father? ** to Trollkiller. Dusk's eyes travel past Tsoran for a moment, to watch DarkWing. Then, slowly, she moves her hand towards Tsoran's. Tsoran closes his pale, chill hand around your smaller one, slowly. ** Sit. ** You sense in a locksend, Trollkiller looks up, you think, and sends, ** Mmm? Are you off somewhere? ** You locksend to Trollkiller, Dusk answers after a moment, a bit distracted by something. ** Aye..a nearby camp. Tsoran is here. ** Trollkiller locksends ** oh. ** Trollkiller locksends ** i should come, then? Should I bring anyone else? ** Dusk glances down at the pale hand over her furred one, feeling the icy grip through the thin hairs on the back of her hand. She nods, and sits down. You locksend ** <> I..don't know, yet. I think he just wants to talk..about what, I don't know. I don't think there's any danger, but I'm being careful. His bird is here.. ** to Trollkiller. Trollkiller locksends ** ooooo...kay. I'll head over, just in case. ** You sense in a locksend, Tsoran's initial send evokes images of his home. Darkness, chill... the echo of empty spaces. But the feeling is a passing one. His request is cloaked in dark velvet, soft and warm. ** With your permission, I would like to speak to the child. ** You locksend ** Aye, father..we're sitting, next to a fire.. ** to Trollkiller. You locksend to Tsoran, Dusk answers with a faint mental shiver at the images of the home. It is a place she wishes to avoid at nearly any cost. The shiver is replaced by momentary confusion. ** You want to..talk..? ** Tsoran locksends ** To send. Surely, you have tried this yourself? ** Trollkiller has arrived. You locksend ** Well, of course I have.. ** to Tsoran. Trollkiller ambles in from the Marsh Trail, loudly enough so that he's obviously not sneaking up on anyone, quietly enough to stay out of the way. DarkWing raises his head, wicked beak flashing as he gives a vocal warning. You locksend to Trollkiller, Dusk seems to know you're around, and she wonders, ** Should I..introduce you to him? ** Tsoran is seated crosslegged by a small fire, holding Dusk's hand. He looks over at the approaching Trollkiller, face expressionless. Dusk looks around towards Trollkiller's genral direction, then makes a face at the sound from DarkWing. ** There's no danger..I wanted you to meet him, Tsoran.. ** DarkWing settles down at some unspoken command. Tsoran turns his gaze on Dusk, intently. ** Him, and how many others? ** Trollkiller sends openly ** I'm alone, if _that's_ what you're wondering. Dusk is my daughter. ** ** Why don't you ask ** Dusk's send cuts off as Trollkiller answers for her, and she nods slowly to her father's words. Her hand still rests lightly in that of the Chosen's. Tsoran releases Dusk's hand slowly, legs unfolding as he floats into an upright position. His eyes narrow slightly as he studies Trollkiller. ** I see. ** Tsoran locksends ** A family resemblance, I take it. ** You locksend ** Of course. ** to Tsoran. You sense in a locksend, Tsoran seems faintly disturbed at this, though the feeling is quickly hidden. Tsoran sends openly ** And do you have a name, father of Dusk? ** You locksend to Tsoran, Dusk picks up on this, however, and challenges you. ** Is there a problem with that, Tsoran? ** Trollkiller laughs a bit under his breath. ** Not so entirely fond of the family resemblance, I guess... ** Trollkiller sends openly ** A couple. Most call me Trollkiller. ** Dusk sends openly ** No, he's not. <> ** Tsoran locksends ** There need not be. ** You locksend ** Good. ** to Tsoran. Tsoran sends openly ** Trollkiller. Are you? ** Dusk inches away a few feet from Tsoran, returning her hand to her lap. Trollkiller sends openly ** Once, or twice. A long time ago. ** Trollkiller smiles. ** Possibly even before your mountain was founded. Isn't _that_ an odd thought. ** Dusk sends openly ** If you haven't guessed, father, this is Tsoran, one of the Chosen...and the one I Recognized. ** Tsoran raises an eyebrow at Trollkiller. ** That does seem somewhat... unlikely. ** DarkWing unfolds his wings, then leaps into the sky with a rush of displaced air. DarkWing flies up. Trollkiller pads over and nuzzles Dusk's headfur, ** I know. ** Trollkiller sends openly ** And unlikely... yes. But possibly true, nonetheless. ** Dusk eyes DarkWing, distracted by the large bird. Then she smiles faintly, nuzzling back at her father. Trollkiller thinks about it for a moment, cocking his head to one side, and sends, ** I don't know how to compare such large numbers of turns, so I can't say for sure one way or another. But it isn't important. ** Tsoran scans the horizon while this greeting takes place. After a moment, he seems to untense slightly, and resumes his former seated position. "To the best of my knowledge, your kind do not live as long. Only a very few of the oldest gliders can still remember a time before the Mountain. But I am sure you are right, it hardly matters." Dusk remains quiet during this moment of speculation on the passing of the seasons, feeling a lot more comfortable with her father next to her. Trollkiller laughs. ** Oh, I haven't _lived_ that long. Certainly not yet. Tho' I don't know that we can't... but regardless, I didn't say anything about that. Only that it happened that long ago. ** Tsoran's cool gaze rests briefly on Dusk, then returns to Trollkiller. ** And what do you know of the Mountain, Trollkiller? ** Trollkiller sends openly ** But enough of all that. I'd been under the impression you were glad to have done with your recognition needs, and that we'd not see you... what brings you back near Willowholt? ** And still, the reddish-furred elf remains silent, content to simply listen for now. Trollkiller shrugs at Tsoran's question. ** This and that. What visitors, returning, have remembered and sent. ** Tsoran rubs his chin slowly with a white finger, considering a while before replying. ** Curiosity. ** Trollkiller thinks about _that_, for a second, a little surprised, but not necessarily too much... depending... ** About...? ** Tsoran steeples his fingers, regarding Trollkiller over them with stone-grey eyes. ** You have a child yourself. Do you need to ask? ** ** I don't see why we need to be talking about that place.. ** Dusk sends suddenly, not very comfortable with the current topic of conversation. Simply put, she'd rather avoid the mountain. Trollkiller smiles, and some warmth finally appears in his send. Something he can understand. ** Of course. Some of your tribe are sufficiently... different... that I don't assume such things always matter. But I'm glad they do for some of you. ** Tsoran locksends ** I am being quite patient with you, Ashte. Know that I would not have accepted this interruption as magnanimously for most others. You summoned him here, you will endure the consequences. ** Trollkiller blinks a bit at Dusk, very briefly, not sure he picked that up. Tsoran's bloodless lips pull into a faint smile. ** I am sure we have more in common than is generally held to be true. ** You locksend to Tsoran, Dusk bristles at that. ** Consequences? You don't control me, glider. He is my father, and sent to him because I wanted him here. You have no hold over me, Tsoran. ** Dusk doesn't say anything further on the matter, but she glares at Tsoran for a few moments, before turning away from him. You sense in a locksend, Tsoran's send is soft and dark. ** Do I not, Ashte? ** Tsoran continues smoothly. ** Among other things, I am curious to see which parent this child favors. Or whether a... blend is at all possible. ** You locksend to Tsoran, Dusk's words cloud over with some anger. ** You do not. ** Dusk makes an attempt to pointedly ignore Tsoran's openly sent words. She scowls, rising to her feet to step away from the fire a few steps, back to the Chosen. You sense in a locksend, Tsoran's send is mildly reproaching. ** And we were doing so well, too. I fear your father is not a good influence on you. ** Trollkiller giggles. ** What, fur on _half_ its body? ** Trollkiller looks at Dusk, with some concern. Tsoran cannot quite hide a shudder of revulsion at that thought, but composes himself quickly. ** That is not quite what I had in mind. ** You locksend to Tsoran, Dusk retorts, bluntly. ** And what do you intend to do about it? ** Trollkiller ignores that, and sends, ** What do you mean, then? ** Dusk sends openly ** <> My cub will be what my cub will be, whether it is Wolfrider, Glider, or both. ** Trollkiller chufs, amusedly. ** Of course it will, what else would it be? ** Tsoran looks at neither wolfrider, instead contemplating the fire in silence for a while. Tsoran sends, after some time. ** How frantic your kind is. And unsubtle. Perhaps it is as much a function of mortality as of mixed blood. ** Tsoran looks over at Trollkiller again. ** I cannot expect you to communicate at my level. So I will attempt to speak in ways you can understand. ** Trollkiller's fur hackles up a bit. Dusk turns to glare at Tsoran and the way he talks down to those he considers inferior to him. It's no secret that she doesn't think he cares much for her. ** Watch it... ** she warns. Tsoran sends openly ** You ask me why I came here. I will tell you what I told Dusk. I wished to... contact... our child. To know it at this early time. What I would have found, or not, would determine whether there would ever be further interaction between us. You can understand this much, I assume. ** Trollkiller locksends ** Pompous git, he is. ** You locksend ** He is..which makes it that much harder to deal with the fact we Recognized. ** to Trollkiller. You sense in a locksend, Tsoran brushes a silky strand of thought against you. ** Or else, Ashte? ** You locksend to Tsoran, Dusk shivers faintly, a mental image. ** ... ** The thing is, she /knows/ who you report to... ** If that's all you want to do..you may, then you can leave. ** Dusk sends, seeming a bit shaken suddenly. Trollkiller nods ever so slightly at Dusk, and sends, ** I understand. You're a pompous git who wants it both ways, to be a sire if the cub measures up before it's even born to some twisted set of alleged "purity" which keeps those bound in its clasp tied up deep inside a mountain barely able to breed, and not, if it's "tained" by the blood and calling of the Wolfrider daughter of mine you Recognised. ** Trollkiller reaches his arm around Dusk, and continues, ** _Our_ tribe, _we_ will love this cub whether it be furred or flying, Wolfrider or Glider, or anything in between. ** Tsoran's eyes narrow to pale slits. ** Take care, Outsider. I have strived to keep this conversation civil, but you are trying my patience. ** Trollkiller sends openly ** Am I wrong? ** Dusk smiles at her father as she nods in open agreement, for she has no doubt that Trollkiller's got it right. ** Your hackles raise, glider, because you know it is the truth. Do not do something so close to our home that you will regret. ** She stays close at her father's side, drawing some strength from him. ** My cub will also be free, not cooped up inside your cold mountain. ** Tsoran says, stiffly. "With an attitude like that, it is no wonder you outsider elves have degenerated. Yes, you are right. Only a true elf will be acceptable." Tsoran floats up again, looking down at the other two with cool disdain from his standing/hovering position a little above the ground. Trollkiller sighs. ** For a tribe that goes on so much about how much it disdains all the rest of us, you spend a lot of time coming around to bother our lot. ** Trollkiller sends, ** Once our tribes had better relations than now. Yours and ours in particular. But you seem determined to wreck what's left of that. Why? ** Trollkiller sends openly ** Are you _so_ insecure in that mountain of yours? Or simply so _bored?_ ** Tsoran sends openly ** You overestimate yourself, outsider. I have no interest in you, or your tribe. If my Lord wishes to maintain friendly 'relations' with you, I will obey her will. If she chooses to exterminate you, I will join the other Chosen in carrying out her will. But this time, my interest was only in Dusk. ** Dusk hugs close to her father, letting him do the talking. She has a nagging feeling that she may have made a mistake, but come what may. ** I don't know why you wouldn't be able to just accept how the cub will be. ** Tsoran turns his stony gaze on Dusk once more. Trollkiller locksends ** And he calls _us_ degenerates. ** You locksend ** Aye.. <> ** to Trollkiller. Trollkiller sighs. ** Yes, I think you might. That's sad. ** Trollkiller's Wolfrider pride can't resist adding, ** ...or at least, you might try. ** You sense in a locksend, Tsoran's send is a spiders web of silky strands, cold and slippery and unyielding, wrapping your mind in silence. ** One 'turn of the seasons', Ashte. The wink of an eye, to me. How long will the time seem to you? ** Tsoran's thin lips quirk into a humorless smile as he looks back to Trollkiller. ** You might yet have the chance to find out, killer of trolls. My Lord's favor is withdrawn as quickly as it is given. ** He floats higher, towards the circling bondbird. ** It does not end here. ** You locksend to Tsoran, Dusk 'turns away' from your send, reluctant to answer. Of course, she does. ** Time means little to me..to us. All that matters is Now. ** Trollkiller sends openly ** If it does, we won't start it. ** You sense in a locksend, Tsoran's dark mind touches yours a final time, a poisoned caress. ** Perhaps it is time you learned to think of the future, Ashte. We will meet again. Soon. ** Tsoran rejoins his bird, giving no reply to Trollkillers last send. Tsoran flies up. Dusk offers no reply to Tsoran, letting him go, happy that he is leaving. She looks up at her father, and hugs him, unable to hide a shiver. Above, Tsoran climbs onto DarkWing's back and settles himself between the giant wings. You locksend ** It was a mistake for me to come here.. ** to Trollkiller. Trollkiller locksends ** To meet him? No, it was worth a try. ** Trollkiller holds Dusk tightly. ** They don't have to be like this. Maybe someday they won't be. ** ** He said we'll meet again, father, soon.. ** Dusk send-murmurs, appearing vulnerable now that the Chosen has departed. Trollkiller nuzzles Dusk's headfur. ** It might be good to stay in holt for a while. For most of us. ** Trollkiller sends openly ** I wish Rillwhisper was here. She'd know what to do. ** Dusk rests her head against Trollkiller's chest, nodding slightly against him. ** I'll stay..I don't want to go out alone after this. I wish Rillwhisper was here too, and Strongbow. That glider wouldn't be so cocky if he were here. ** Trollkiller rubs Dusk's chest in return. ** Woodhawk's a fair shot himself, you know. ** Dusk mmms softly against you, as you rub her. "Mmmmhmmm.." she makes a faint sound, more comfortable with Tsoran gone. ** Wouldn't ask for someone to kill him, though.. ** Trollkiller shakes his head. ** But let's not tarry on that if we don't need to. ** ** Aye..let's get back home. ** Dusk sends softly, wishing to let things go now that the danger is past. Trollkiller sends openly ** Oh, I wouldn't want anyone to either. But. ** Trollkiller nodnods. ** Let's. **