Zorlon - Levdia

[Switch]

"Hmm... I suppose you're right. Hey, maybe that bizarre thing that reformed it's shape was some sort of... dimensional transporter?"

 

Ford opens his pack as well and pulls out an apple, taking a bite.

 

"Well, if I was dead, I doubt I'd be hungry..."

 

He grins.

 

"I'm just glad we got away from those lunatics... I didn't fancy getting impaled on an angry Alyssian's spear..."

[Malchik]

OOC> My mispelling, the internet sites you are looking for are zbigniew beksinski (start with page 2 if using google)

 

The craft changes levels and moves towards one of the huge buildings banking steeply at an awe-inspiring angle of forty-five degrees. It enters a small rose window above the main entrance. Inside, the huge building is almost empty. A walkway hugs the wall just below the ceiling. The craft follows the walkway to the back of the building. It is almost pitch dark. A door opens and the craft enters a small room, still relatively poorly lit. There is a table against on side of the room with three people seated on a bench behind it; two women and a man. At first sight they are typically human, though the lower parts of their bodies are concealed by the table. Each wears a silver robe made up of thousands of small, silver interlocking v-shapes. They are very alike until studied closely, when an increasing number of differences from human beings becomes apparent. Their complexions are very pale, though not white, whereas eyes and hair are a violent orange. The pigmentation in the lips is yellowish.

 

The three rise and bow to you. This incorporates a complex movement involving folding their arms across their chests. Except they have no arms but delicate metal constructions more like wings.

 

“You are almost the first of Zorlon to visit us. Welcome.” The woman who speaks, the one who occupies the central position, has a clear bell-like voice. Each syllable sounds individually minted. "We must thank you for coming to our aid."

 

Glancing beneath the table you see each wears a pale skirt that stops a boot's height above the ground. There is however no evidence of any legs.

 

"Please have some refreshment."

 

A bowl containing a grey sludgy paste that resembles - as close as you can imagine - congealed vomit - floats across to you.

 

The three smile, their heads nodding as if uncontrollably.

[ThetaOrionis01]

"I suppose it's probably a good sign that they haven't killed us outright," Lurel replies, nibbling on some dried fruit he has found in his pack.

 

"But at the moment we don't know what is going on, or which faction has captured us. Unless that metal thing really is some strange sort of teleporter.... in which case we need to work out how we get back. But the very fact that we're alive, and still have our packs... well, the first thing you'd do with a prisoner is to disarm them, isn't it? So perhaps whoever sent us here wants something from us."

 

Lurel sighs, and glances uncomfortably at the strange surroundings.

 

"I suppose we'll have to wait and see. I'd be happier if I knew what caused Midge and Lisette to stop reacting, though. I hope it's not something controlling their minds."

 

 

EDIT: Argh - posts crossed. Will post again soon.

[ThetaOrionis01]

Lurel tries to imitate their hosts' bows as best he can. While he is doing this he is attempting to use his empathy on them - though he is not sure whether his empathy will be able to tell him anything about the inhabitants of this dimension.

 

"We thank you for your welcome," he says. "Please, I am curious to find out the name of this dimension - you have heard of Zorlon, but I must confess that I am ignorant of your dimension. And naturally I am curious as to those other visitors you mentioned. What aid is it that you require of us?"

 

 

Hesitantly he accepts the bowl.

[Malchik]

Something pink wriggles in the grey sludge. Could it be a worm?

 

The woman looks at her companions. "I will tell you a little but much you should hear from our ruler. We are, I suppose a part of Zorlon - Avelyssia - deliberately hard to reach accessible from Levdia and Jourtres though none has done so for millennia. My name is Tallian, a Laridian"

 

Her two companions start getting excited and shout "long live the Laridians, defy the Corvidians!"

 

The second woman shrieks at you, "They betray us!"

 

Tallian calms them. "We are, I suppose rebels. To be honest we did not want you here but since you are here it may prove to our advantage. When we die we are entombed in the necropoleis. Each family has their own. But great warriors are buried in the hallowed ground of Xetcherin. A tomb has been defiled."

[ThetaOrionis01]

Lurel has the suspicion that the objects they found may have something to do with this tomb desecration, but he asks anyway - he finds it preferable to keep talking rather than brave the 'refreshments'.

 

"A tomb desecration?" he asks. "Please, can you tell me more about this? Whose tomb was it? And who would do such a thing?"

 

He pretends to sip from the bowl, then hands it to Ford while he continues to talk.

 

"I hope you will forgive my curiosity, but how did you know that we were on the beach, under attack - I presume by the... the Corvidians? And how where we transported to your dimension? I remember only that everything turned black, then we awoke in your flying boat."

[Switch]

"Er... thank you."

 

Ford cringes slightly at the bowl floating in front of him. He picks it up none the less and runs his finger through it. Then just out of sheer curiosity tastes a bit.

[Malchik]

Ford

 

It tastes pretty much as you imagine congealed vomit with live worms would taste.

 

The party

 

Tallian nods repetitively.

 

"The Corvidians attacked, but the Falconians would have done, too. Fortunately for you they hate each other more than anything. It gave us the chance to get you out. We sprinkled something we call Lethe Water on you. You lose all knowledge of where you are and what is happening for a short time."

 

Tallian glances at the others. "We need to take you to the princess. She is under guard so it will not be safe to do so until it is dark. We can take you to sleeping quarters to wait. Or if you have any questions I will try to answer them. Which would you prefer?"

[ThetaOrionis01]

Lurel realizes how tired he is after all the climbing they have been doing on the storm beach.

 

"Some rest would be good," he sighs, "but I have so many questions too. Maybe you could tell us a few things - it might be easier to sleep with our curiosity satisfied. How did you know we were on that beach? And can you tell us something about those wards, which are discouraging the Levdians from even thinking about the sea?"

 

He yawns, and covers his mouth with his hand.

[Malchik]

Tallian inclines her head. "We do not know how the wards were made. We have no magic in Avelyssia and they are magical. They warn us of any who approach and try to keep them back. If any reach the beach the birds watch for us. Should they become too inquisitive we destroy them. Unfortunately we need you alive."

 

She glances at her companions. "You will have time to talk again as we go to meet the princess. Think of any questions you may have until then. You are clearly tired."

 

She claps her hands and your craft moves out of the building and into one of the huge 'faces' of pipes. You still cannot decide which they are. It stops in a huge void filled with floating platforms that are sleeping pallets. Each is large enough to sleep six or seven. When you get on you find no blankets or pillows but a job-lot of pebbles and chunks of metal - apparently scavenged items from the beach at Levdia. Although it looks impossible to rest on, you are all asleep in moments.

 

OOC> Post any thoughts or dreams you have. I am not back now until Tuesday 4th am when I will get you to the princess (Kethruch). If you have questions for Tallian you can ask them on that trip.