Cleaning Up

(Picking up from the last comment thread...)

Mon'Fargret and Betham check out the nearly-dead female guard while Zeton sorts through the gear on the toasted male one.

The female guard is a Sark-type humanoid, meaning she could be Besteeng, but removing her helmet reveals round facial features that hint more toward Sarkon. Her wrister also appears to be in Sarkish script (but with a Yangae-language window open). Her main weapon is clearly the sophisticated baffler turret on top of her helmet, but the rest of her gear looks a bit primitive, even antique. There's the semi-automatic, small-caliber shotgun she was using (which has a laser designator/ range finder, possibly for use with time-detonating shells). She also has a well-used hellrager carbine and a large revolver that looks positively ancient. A large and attractively-styled (but now partly burnt) bandoleer holds, in addition to extra ammo for her firearms, a collection of shuriken and a handsome-looking dagger. Her utility belt holds still more ammo plus what appears to be a belt-mounted power generator and an accumulator array, obviously to power the helmet turret.

The male guard is even more intriguing. His size and build also suggest a Sark-type humanoid. The rigid parts of his armor actually held up surprisingly well considering the type of firepower that hit it, but the lighter, flex-jointed area of the lower torso is burst open, and there is little more than smoldering charcoal underneath. Zeton decides not to bother removing the guard's helmet, and instead focuses on his kit. In addition to the rapid-firing gauss assault rifle that he used (briefly) during the fight, the guard has what appears to be a grenade launcher. (Luckily, none of the shells tucked into his thermal-resistant bandoleer went off.) He also has a gauss pistol with a laser designator and an impressive but awkward-looking sword. His various (surviving) belts and pockets include extra clips for his firearms plus a Foldorian-made first aid kit, a hand-held multi-spectral flashlight (to supplement his helmet lights), a pocket welding torch, and what is most likely a small robot servant. His wrister is in a script similar to Sarkish, but not one Zeton recognizes. It also has a window open that is in Yangae script. Finally, the guard's helmet has a strange, antenna-like attachment whose purpose is uncertain, but it reminds Zeton of enhanced psy transponders he has seen used by Ehrlathagi spacers.

"Can someone use any of this equipment?" asks Zeton. "I don't think he'll be needing it anymore. I don't think I can manage the grenade launcher, but if no one else wants the assault rifle, I might take that for added firepower." Removing the guard's wrister and holding it toward Nekshi, he adds, "Do you think we can use this to listen in to the folks at the Eye of Tann?"

Over by the north entrance, Bina succeeds in convincing Lirassa to stop fussing over Ham and allow herself to be helped. The fallen priestess then leads the Besteeng over to the survival pod, which apparently has a medical station. Now that Lirassa is in full view with her helmet removed, it can be seen that her neck is injured, and her shoulder is awash with gore. Bina, who is about a head and a half shorter, is struggling to keep something pressed against the wound.

"It's just a flesh wound," Lirassa can be heard to say in a voice that is somewhat slurred.

Muttering darkly to himself, Ham sets to work on his own injury.

Pru comes down off the rack, eases herself onto her feet, and limps a step or two.

Betham grimaces and then glares at the Yangae. "You're gonna need to do something about that," he says. He nods toward Bina, who appears to be singing to the med station.

Pru only just fails to suppress a grimace of her own. "I'll deal with it," she retorts hoarsely.

Another Bend in the Tunnel

The Farbett who went ahead to make the guards "not see" is already well out of sight and sound. The party moves along down the tunnel in the direction he went.

"Something's not connecting," says Betham. Asked what he means, he adds, "He said the guards were watching the airfield. This tunnel doesn't really go there. I wonder if he meant the supply node at the junction with the main tunnel. It's just a bit further down."

"Supply node?" wonders Pru.

"Underground storeroom," continues Betham. "Emergency supplies in case of a disaster."

Pru chuckles. "Assuming those Farbetts haven't knicked 'em!"

Just as she says this, there is a roar from further up the tunnel followed by a more humanoid-sounding scream and a few sharp, muffled reports.

A Block in the Tunnel

"Widj, can you tell who, or what else is down there?" asks Zeton.

Widjgleeby's only reply is a Farbett-style shrug (which is really quite impressive).

The group rounds a shallow bend in the tunnel, and the scene changes dramatically. Actually, it's not that much; just a collection of traditional Farbett glowsacs stuck on the walls of the tunnel, but their thin luminescence reveals quite a bit more than the regular, dull red lighting.

Specifically, it reveals some ominous-looking shadows. The tunnel is blocked by what appear to be piles of trash. There is only a very narrow opening, and it is occupied by what is obviously a pair of large-bodied Farbetts in a stance that doesn't look very friendly.

The stench in the tunnel is considerably worse.

As the whole party comes into view, low growls can be heard from the Farbetts. Then one of them calls out in very badly-pronounced Her-galad, "You stop! Hands out! Where you go?"

(Lirassa's field translator is still on, so everyone more or less understands it.)

"Roots and sod..." mutters Pru.

Once More Into the Abyss

Zeton hurries to catch up to Mey after double checking to make sure he has all his gear, "I understand the desire to capture or destroy the Relay, but do we understand the consequences of that yet? Is it possible to rescue Adulie and destroy the Relay at the same time? What exactly is your plan?"

Mey'Luskar gives him a quizzical look.

"If you think I'm planning to go marching into a cave full of big, ugly lizard things right now...," she snaps.

Widjgleeby glowers down at her.

One could almost hear the air rushing out as she deflates. "Um...I'll stick with the caves full of good lizard things!" She gives the Farbett her most charming smile.

Widjgleeby looks away again.

Mey'Luskar sighs. "Anyway, I don't have a plan. I'm just following you guys. I just had a hunch that I should ask her that. Just in case."

As the party heads down the stairs, the Fasion pleads for them to wait and hustles to move ahead of them as quickly as her short legs will allow. Once in front, she assumes an air of rather uncertain authority and says, "Follow me!" Then she proceeds to lead the group around through the cavernous main parlor, down to the basement, and over to a stairway no one in the party has seen yet.

When the group starts to descend this last stairway, the clattering of someone running can be heard. Turning to look, the party sees Atraktu approaching. The Ahmonite halts a short distance away and bows to the floor.

"My lord orders Atraktu to serve brave sisters," she says anxiously.

There is some muttering in the party, but Bina expresses her understanding. The Ahmonite then takes up a position next to the disgraced priestess.

The group continues down. The Fasion turns on the lights at the bottom, revealing a dank cellar full of trash. The Fasion calls out a word that doesn't translate.

A Farbett voice demands, "What's this about?"

"The mystic gives these people clearance to enter the tunnels!" cries the Fasion.

There is a pause. "They got guns! They got Yangae! Not good!"

"They have a pass!" retorts the Fasion.

Another pause. "Alright, then!" There is a shifting of the trash, and a female Farbett emerges. Without looking at the party, she heads deeper into the trash and starts digging through it madly, throwing items in all directions. After only a few seconds, a path is cleared to a door. The Farbett opens it and moves aside.

"There you go!" she says. "But they're not gonna like this!"

The Fasion moves aside and gestures toward the door. "Be successful!" she says.

Gol'br'in's "Surprise Guest"

After a couple of minutes, the Fasion returns, erupting through the bead curtain as if it were her life's worst obstacle. Proceeding straight to Gol'br'in, she mutters something as he bends to listen. Then he clicks his tongue impatiently, stands erect facing the curtain, and barks something that sounds like, "Tcakin, mek-mek!"

Turning to the party sheepishly, he says, "That's about all I know of her language. If you have any translating devices, they'd be a big help right now."

Lirassa taps a key on her helmet with a huff. Then she says in Brekka, "Kekkin [Testing] i [one], kuli [two], zil [three]. Brakken kg'ford [Do y'all understand me, now?]"

Mey'Luskar huffs in turn. "Why didn't you tell us you had one of those?"

Lirassa, still speaking Brekka (though everyone understands her now), replies, "Y'all can't expect a girl to let fly all her secrets, now, can ya?"

Pru sucks air through her teeth.

"Now, what's your problem, pee-wee?" asks Lirassa, throwing out a hip cockily.

"Your Yangae is a lot prettier," replies Pru.

"'Cause it ain't my own language, right?" retorts Lirassa, putting a hand on her hip. "It's prettier 'cause it ain't natural for me, right? I only speak Yangae 'cause I have to!"

"There are reasons for that," offers Gol'br'in in Her-galad.

"Naturally," says Nekshi in Yangae. Then it occurs to her, and she switches to Zorlan Standard. "Subject: Yangae language. Former condition: official language of commerce and administration. Location: this area. Applied time frame: over two centuries. Current condition: replaced. Object: Her-galad language. Agent: new Ergothei administration. Corrected time frame: limited to past forty years. Result: Yangae continues to be prevalent. Conclusion: understandable." (This entire dialog is expressed within a span of two seconds.)

Ham sighs. He has never been fond of telepathic translators. At least he understands what everyone is saying for a change...but the grammar of certain foreign languages squeezed through his tired brain tends to give him a headache!

He's not the only one, either. "Please!" cries Pru. "Yangae! Speak Yangae!"

Nekshi glares in return. "Directive refused. Reply subject: Yangae language. Condition: limited and inefficient. Apparent time frame: any case. Conclu..."

"Stop!" Pru clutches her mop of curly, black hair. "Just stop! Don't! Just d...eh?"

A wave of surprise sweeps through the chamber as all eyes turn to the face that is shyly peeking through the curtain.

Few present have ever seen a face like that in person, and those that have recall the experience with dread and/or hatred. And yet there isn't a single person there who doesn't know the racial identity of those large, tawny, slit-pupiled eyes set in a gray, scaly face...a face that seems like an evil caricature of the human form.

The face of the enemy.

"Don't try to read her thoughts," warns Gol'br'in. "As you know, she doesn't like it, and she hits back. You might not want to get too close, either. Her claws are pretty nasty." He rubs a thigh with a shudder.

Lirassa clicks on her rifle. "Y'all better explain quick," she hisses.

"Put it down," says Bina. "Poor thing! She's frightened!"

"You might want to pull in your senses," says Gol'br'in. "She can turn those on you, too."

"I won't!" retorts Bina. Intrigued with the Ahmonite enough to forget her own problems, she asks, "Where did you find her?"

"She found us," replies Gol'br'in. "Just wandered up out of the tunnels in a state of shock. I gave her sanctuary. We don't have a common language, so communication has been tough. She ran away from something. Actually, you know, since you have a translator, maybe we can..."

"The only way I talk to 'grays' is with this," spits Lirassa, starting to raise the rifle.

Parting Gifts

The minutes pass.
Dabid stirs slightly but doesn't regain consciousness.
Mon'Fargret continues to wrestle with his guilt as both Mey'Luskar and Bina grapple with their respective inner turmoil. (Strangely, Mey'Luskar seems to be handling it with more grace than the disgraced priestess.)
Betham paces about edgily, watching both bead curtains while throwing occasional surreptitious glances at Bina and Gemma.
Nekshi examines the dismembered corpse of the Yoti, apparently interested in the implant that animated her.
Gemma chats with Zeton. He manages to find out that she is a native of Gôtheia (the Hergoth homeworld) who came to Lyranell about a year ago in answer to a job recruitment right out of college...only to have the company that hired her bought out and shut down leaving her with no way to pay her bills or return home. Moving into the squatter community eventually brought her to Gol'br'in...and the vine.
Widjgleeby helps herself to another severed Yoti limb.
Ham, Lirassa, Pru, and Granite Spear just wonder what they are doing there.

After a bit, the Fasion returns, bearing a very nervous look and a package wrapped in woven plant fiber. She toddles over to Mey'Luskar, who is closest to the bead curtain, and holds up the package.

"Here," she says.

"What is it?" asks Mey'Luskar, wrinkling her nose.

Bina looks like her heart has skipped a beat when she says, "Vine!"

Betham snaps to attention.

"You'll need this," says the Fasion, holding the package up more insistently.

Mey'Luskar stoops and accepts the package, glancing around at the others anxiously.

Bina moves away as if afraid of either the package or her own reaction to it.

"Why in Flames do we need that kèl'wòk?" demands Betham.

"To get past the guards," replies Gol'br'in just before he emerges from the curtain. "You'll know. Don't try to fight them. You'll only make it worse. Now..." He holds up his own cargo, a collection of what look like slips of paper. Each has a strange symbol drawn on it. "These need to be charged up." He looks intently at Bina. "Can you, uh...?"

Bina assumes a prayer stance without a word and starts a low chant. Soon her head and upper body are surrounded by a red aura. Using his wand, Gol'br'in starts to draw off some of the power and weave it into the runes.

"What sort of guards?" whispers Mey'Luskar to the Fasion.

"Farbetts," she replies.

Nekshi perks up immediately. Sneering slightly at the Fasion, she declares, "Farbetts wouldn't have much use for the vine! They don't have the correct physiology! We'd fare far better offering them abigatta-domi-fadikema-dallit-tasa!"

Widjgleeby grunts.

"It's not for them," retorts the Fasion flatly.

Spiritual Diplomacy

The figure that is apparently Gol'br'in emerges cautiously through the bead curtain into the room. He definitely looks like someone who has lived the greater part of his life in very strange company...if in any company at all.

Seeing him, Kiel'i immediately turns partly away so as not to make eye contact. Bina, however, eyes the mystic warily.

"I suppose I should thank you for your kind help," says Kiel'i flatly.

"You know I didn't help much," retorts Gol'br'in. "How long has Mountain-Eye known about me?"

Kiel'i assumes a prayer stance and then, in Per'anai's voice, replies, "You can't hide yourself as well as your master did. And besides, they call me 'Mountain-Eye' for a reason."

"But you never tried to stop me!"

"And hurt our own cause?" Kiel'i opens eyes which are glowing blue and faces the mystic squarely. "I'm under no obligation to stop you. Even if what you do disgusts me, I still know that it's for the best. For now."

"Fair enough." Gol'br'in bows Hergoth style. "For what it's worth, you've earned my respect."

Kiel'i returns the bow. Then the blue glow fades from her eyes. In her own voice, she says, "I must return now."

"Stay just a little longer," entreats Gol'br'in, stepping closer. "I know you're just as curious as I am. Allow me to do this one thing." He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a stick that has symbols carved on it. "I know you don't approve, but I have no power without this."

"What're you going to do?" demands Bina edgily.

"Just a little test," he replies, holding the stick up sideways in both hands so they can look at it. "I promise no one will be harmed."

Bina throws a bitter glance at Gemma, who says drowsily, "It's alright, Dear Sister. It's my energy to give."

Bina turns back to Gol'br'in and says, "You could at least let her bathe!"

"Of course!" replies Gol'br'in pleasantly. He holds up the stick, and the tip of it starts to glow. "Now, if you'll just put yourselves at ease..." He inclines the stick toward Mon'Fargret, and the glow flickers a bit. "Hmm. This one is aware but has no mastery. Good. That does explain some things." Next he angles the wand toward Lirassa.

"Point that thing somewhere else!" she spits in Yangae.

"You have a device in you that protects you," replies Gol'br'in in that language. "Very good." Next he moves toward Ham, who assumes a threatening stance. The wand changes color. "Sensitive," says Gol'br'in. Then he moves past the Fasion and points the wand at Dabid. Again the color changes. "Sensitive." Ignoring Betham, he moves toward Pru, who backs up to avoid him. The color changes. "Sensitive." He then moves past Widjgleeby and Granite Spear and proceeds straight to Nekshi. "Sensitive."

Not waiting for the mystic, Mey'Luskar actually approaches him. "What about me?"

Gol'br'in pauses, studying her. Then he angles the wand. It doesn't change color, but the glow suddenly increases in intensity. Gol'br'in jumps back as if shocked, his mouth dropping open. The glow decreases again, but not to its original level. Puzzled, Gol'br'in starts to probe around with it, slowly moving backward as he does so. Finally he stops, gestures puzzlement, and lowers the wand. "I can't find the edge. Your spirit..." He glances back at Kiel'i.

"Yes," replies the priestess. "It reaches out in all directions without a clear border."

"What does that mean?" asks Mey'Luskar. Her expression changes. "I was...I was helping you, wasn't I? Just like I helped Bina heal Gemma...?"

No one answers. Gol'br'in, Kiel'i, and Bina just eye her silently. Then Gol'br'in says, "I would very much like to find out about your parents."

"Her father is a mystery," says Kiel'i quickly. "Her mother is a scientist. There's nothing more to tell."

Once again the mystic and the two priestesses study Mey'Luskar quietly while she fidgets and glances around. Then Gemma says, "Hey! What about him?" She points at Zeton.

Gol'br'in approaches Zeton and angles the wand. There is no reaction. "You're immune!" he says, furrowing his brows. "Strange. But you're not really Hergoth...obviously. Either you have some kind of special ability I don't know about, or your kind is not one of the children of the Ancients. That's very interesting...and very good!" He glances at Kiel'i. "Okay, that's enough. I have what I came for."

The priestess acknowledges him with a nod. Then she turns to address to party. Bowing properly, she says, "May the Entity smile on all of you in this dark hour!" Then she gives Bina a last look before vanishing in a swirl of light.

"Now," says Gol'br'in. "You want to get to the Eye of Tann through the tunnels, right? There are some things I need to give you first."

Mystic Rhythms

Lirassa grabs Mon'Fargret's first aid kit and sets to work on his shoulder.

"I can't do anything about that bone," she says, "but you'll be able to travel."

Ham mutters something in Biton as he has a look at Dabid. Clicking his tongue with annoyance, he seals the stump of the severed leg with celluplasts from his own first aid kit.

Meanwhile, Widjgleeby pokes around the various bits of the Yoti's body (and casually snacks on at least one of them).

Granite Spear bursts through the bead curtain ready to fight, but then she is left looking in bewilderment at the floating cursor point.

"Flaming trickster!" yells Betham at the cursor point angrily. "What kind of sick game are you playing? Show yourself!"

"Show myself?" replies the voice lazily. "Why would I want to do that? I mean...I have a badge-less cop and a brooch-less priestess here, and either one of you'd tear me apart in a second! And if you didn't, there are a lot of very angry people with you. Verrrrry angry..."

"Well, of COURSE we're angry!" Betham shoots back glancing quickly at the others. "It's bad enough that you've turned this old mansion into a stinking cesspool of...drugs and...and..."

There is an annoyed sigh. "See? You're jumping to conclusions! You always jump to conclusions! Anyone with a badge or a brooch...even in past tense. Blinded by rules, rules, rules! You have no idea what's going on, or how much we've suffered to keep you people safe!"

"S-safe?" Betham stammers, clenching his fists. He glares down at Dabid and Mon'Fargret.

"Like I said," the voice goes on easily, "I had nothing to do with any of this. I'll even say I'm very, very sorry if it'll make you feel better. Look, I asked my people to...discourage you from coming in. No one was supposed to get hurt. I never wanted them to shoot at anybody, especially one of my own guests...and I certainly didn't know that one had a killer zombie implant! Now I have to wonder what they really wanted."

While this dialog is going on, Zeton steps through the bead curtain with Gemma in his arms.

"Ooh, I've only been up here a couple of times!" she coos happily. Then she wrinkles her nose. "I don't remember it being so messy!"

Come Into My Parlor...

Main Floor


Upper Floor


Lower Floor

Now that the truth of the situation is understood by everyone, Granite Spear proceeds through the inner door from the greeting/changing room and into the main chamber. Widjgleeby follows close behind, thankful that the doors and fixtures were clearly designed with Farbetts in mind. The Mon'Fargret/Ham/Lirassa group also moves on into the house.

A very embarrassed Dabid remains between the two groups, standing before a large, marble-lined staircase going up.

Betham, who is still out in the greeting/changing room, calls, "Stay alert! I can sense there are others in...UWAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!" The sound of him leaning heavily against one of the racks can be heard.

***

"Elder visions?" echoes Bina, looking at Gemma very intently. "What else did he say?"

Gemma seems distracted for a second or two. Then she looks at the disgraced priestess vacantly. "What? Who?"

"Gol'br'in," replies Bina patiently. "Did he ever say anything about...runes?"

"Runes?" echoes Gemma with puzzlement. Then she grins and gestures dismissal. "Oh, you mean those weird symbols he keeps drawing! Weird zone! He's on about that all the time! You mean you...wait..." She takes on a thoughtful look.

"It's just our group," says Bina. "They just linked up..." Her eyes suddenly go wide. "Flames of Goth!!!"

Mey'Luskar gasps and jumps. "What was that?"

"I think your cop friend found the one they're hiding," says Gemma nonchalantly.

At the Mansion

The party makes it to the side of the house without further incident (except for the fact that Dabid has run around the back side of the building and hasn't returned).

Zeton notes that there are nice, neat entrance and exit puncture wounds in Gemma's thigh and the tibia has been cleaved in twain. The projectile (or whatever it was) went through the limb like a red hot poker through a wax candle.

Lirassa insists her injury is "only a flesh wound", but she lets Ham have a look at it. Indeed, the projectile (or whatever it was) ripped a gouge in her thigh but doesn't seem to have hit anything vital (though there is more than a little blood). Ham puts a celluplast on it, and that's that.

Pru still seems rather freaked out over having had her arm healed completely by Bina. Her jacket sleeve has a nice hole on either side of it and is soaked with blood, but she is far more interested in the fact that there is no longer any trace of the injury.

Bina herself seems forlorn and pensive, rubbing her hands and looking anywhere except at anyone else.

Mey'Luskar, who was suddenly concerned for Bina at the end of the battle, moves away from the Hergoth without a word and starts looking about the side of the house. Betham follows a similar course but keeps his distance.

Nekshi finishes up her programming, still virtually oblivious to the fact that Granite Spear has half led, half dragged her along to the house.

Mon'Fargret is the last one to arrive at the house, popping a new power pack into his pistol as he continues to glance about warily.

Widjgleeby is standing at the top of the short stairway leading down to the door, her ultra-sensitive nostrils going.

The house itself has walls of a reddish-brown ceramic material. Its main section appears to be of a squarish layout with a tower on each corner. The bottom floor is half underground and, judging from the design of the windows and door, of a more utilitarian nature. The main floor sits on top of it about a meter and a half above the ground. The main section has one more floor above that. The lights of the veranda show that each of the corner towers has one more level above the main section terminating in a Hergoth-style spired dome. The central tower, also capped with a spired dome, has two floors above the main section.

A dim, flickering, reddish glow can be seen in one of the windows of the top floor of the central tower.

"Brrrrr!" says Mey'Luskar, shuddering and hugging herself. "This place gives me the creeps!"