From afar, Leia sends, across Crinos, ~Turgul?~

Leia mentally senses that Turgul is somewhat surprised. His send is a little bit cold, but only a little. ~Yes?~

From afar, Leia sends gently, ~It's Shadowfire of the Tenebrae. May I speak to you?~

Leia mentally senses that Turgul nods, intrigued. ~I come.~ The sending end abrutly in a flurry of magical energy, much like static.

Luna's Tear of Crinos

A large lake dominates the expanse of this grassy plain, its surface ever calm, allowing one to see the heavens reflected in its crystal depths. Life abounds here, creatures of all types graze, mate, stalk, and exist in the presence of the lake. A small river flows in from the lake to join with a larger one that cuts through the plain from the west, its soft murmur bearing an aura of peace.

Morning has come. A pleasant breeze blows in from the east, bringing with it the scent of spring. The heavens are grey with clouds.

Leia is sitting by Luna's tear.

After perhaps 10 minutes you see a spec in the distance, flying towards you. It quickly resolves itself into a seated humanoid.

Leia squints up at the air. "ONe of those Marswts?" She asks, frowning.

The humanoid moves towards you, apparently riding on a translucent puff of air. He alights next to you and takes his hood of, revealing himself to be Turgul.

You send, ~Hello Shadowfire, Luna bless your travels.~ to Leia.

Leia yurps slightly, and then squints at Turgul again. She sends, ~And you.~

Turgul grins a little. "Mind if I sit with you? I must say, you have me very curious. I was hardly polite the last time I saw you. For reasons I hope you understand."

Leia brushes the hair off her face, "Sorta. I do. Ummmmm..."

Leia says "There's something I want to talk to you about...."

Turgul takes that as a yes and sits down across from you, crosslegged. "I'm listening."

Leia says "Umm, Jeeez. I don't know how to explain this but...."

Leia says "Do you know a man named Seth? Or Set?"

Turgul looks like he's been hit in the head by a charging rhino. He opens his mouth but (for once) no words come out. He closes it. He opens it again and manages to croak, "How did you... But he... Hold on a minute..."

Turgul tries to pull himself together, concentrating.

Leia cross her legs, indian style, and squints at Turgul. But, she waits.

You say "OK, big, imposing, snake's head,named Seth, oozes power, ego problems, doens't seem too nice?"

Leia says "Ummm. Yah. That's him."

Leia pulls her knees up, hugging herself a bit.

Leia says "So...how do you know about him?"

Turgul's eyes get _really_really_ wide. This looks bad on a guy with no eyelids. "He's been in my dreams. You have ot understand, I'm a Lemesech, we don't sleep like you mammals. We have 5 minute naps 20 or 30 times a day, it's about all you can get with your eyes open. I've been having 20 minute dreams about his guy. I've _never_ had 20 minute dreams. He's been telling me to 'Come home', and there's this wierd flag and..."

Leia wrinkles her nose a little, but, simply listens.

Turgul pauses for a breath. "it looks like a chaos house flag and he's eally menacing like he has the right to tell me anything and I'm not doing anythign in the dream and, most importantly, WHY DID YOU COME AND ASK ME ABOUT HIM?"

Leia squints at Turgul, "Er. Cause. He's your dad. That's why."

Leia says "And he's a major fucked up son of a bitch. Don't trust him."

Turgul just sits there. His mouth is open, but nobody's home.

Leia spreads her hands wide. "Look. Umm. This is hard to explain, but, I thought I should tell you before someone else did. or Before Seth found you." She sighs, "Fuck, If he's sending dreams, he could be around. We gotta get out of here."

Turgul manages to wake up. "He's here? That _thing_ is in Crinos?" He's clearly getting pissed. All pistons do not appear to be firing yet. "Could you hold on just a second? There's spell I used on a friend when he was insane that I could really use right now, it takes just a minute or two."

Leia says "Ummmm. On whom?"

Turgul _looks_ at you. "Me, who did you think?"

Leia says "Oh..."

Leia ummms, "Sure?"

Turgul closes his eyes, and start to chant softly, visibly calming. After a minute or so, a surge of energy is felt, and he opens his eyes. "Right, I'll deal with the emotional crap later. For now: Seth is my father (I hope you have proof), he's a bastard, he's here. I'm a clear on the major bits?"

Leia says "Yup. I think that's the major bits." She runs her fingers through her hair."There's a couple more..."

Leia says "Seth is the founder of the House Amonra, in Chaos...and I'm his daughter."

Leia watches him, really carefully.

Turgul nods, totally matter-of-fact. "Right. So you'd be my sister, unless mammals are even wierder than I've thought. And I'm chaosian, which means that my inability to shapeshift arbitrarily is inexplicable and I have a chance, however minor, at learnign Logrus. Anything else I'm missing?

Leia says "Ummmm...No, I think that's the major points."

Leia squints at him, "Turgul, I ...Stay away from Seth, if you can."

You say "OK, so, is there any chance of me being able to run the luraturanun out of Crinos, or would he just mop the floor with me?"

Leia says "Mop. Total mop."

Leia sighs, "Turgul, he..probably knows your soul name. I know this probably doesn't meean much to you....but, it gives him power. Power over his children."

Turgul looks at you in surprise. "I guess we don't know each other that well. I'm a mage. It's what I am. It is almost all of me that has meaning, the only other significat part of my ego is my responsibility as leader of my tribe. When you say that someone knows my soul name, if I wasn't in a very altered state, I'd be gibbering in fear. Tell me, what powers has he?"

Leia gets this look of..something, and her face gets somewhat stoney, "High levels of Logrus. Conjuration. Sorcery. High Mental powers, he can ra...rape people's minds. For information." Her voice catches, no matter how much she tries to keep it from doing so.

Turgul places his hand on you arm, attempting to comfort as best he an in his current state. "I know, I know." He sighs. "Will I definately be safer in Chaos, because I'm inclined to stay here where my power is."

Leia says "I am the Lord of the House in Chaos. Of Amonra. He'll have a harder time harming me there."

Leia says "Look. Turgul... I think you should leave here, for a littl whilee. Come to Amonra, and find out things about your father. Knowledge is power."

Turgul grins. "And I am Sha'Cri here. But I'll take your word for it. Shall we walk or fly?" He nods. "OF course, you're right. The timing is bad, but I must learn." His eyes glitter. "The Tandrai ccomes again. You will fight with us?"

Leia scowls, "Oh fuck. They're coming /here/?"

Leia says "Yah yah yah."

Turgul gives you a 'where have you been' look. "It was here, it was beaten back, it's on teh advance again."

You paged Leia with 'What di you mean by 'yah yah yah' ICly? Missedit.'.

Leia pages: As in Yah, she'll fight wiht you all.

Leia says, "Oh."

Leia frowns, mostly at herself. "Where did they attack?"

You say "Sol managed ot hold it for a while, but it was only a matter of time. Anyways, shall we? I can afford a week or so, at least. They helped the Marswt, mostly, and are very active in the old cities, many Rets have been lost."

Leia says "A week in Crinos or a week in Chaos?"

Leia says "Time fluctuates there."

Turgul draws out a Niemand's trump in preperation.

You say "It does? I'm thinking I could go two weeks here without feeling _really_ guilty. I'll be useless for the next day or two anyway once that spell wears off, which will be very soon now..." He is frantically sending mental calls back towards the village, so much so that it's really obvious."

Leia says "Okay, that should be about...3 days or so in Chaos."

Leia says "More in Amonra proper."

Turgul shrughs. "We'll have to talk fast then, but we really should get me to someplace where I can lie down and gibber within the next, say 20 minutes."

Leia says "Okay, Niemands it is."

Leia holds out a hand to you.

Turgul takes your hand and holds up the trump.

As you stare at the image before you, it slowly becomes more real.

Niemand's

Bizarrely, today all the furniture of Niemand's appears to be serenely floating in the center of some universe. As in, you can see no walls, floor, or ceiling, but you do have a lovely view of stars, comets, planets, and the like. Indeed, you have a marvelous view above you of an enormous constellation that very obviously looks like a partially-coiled serpent. You note that the shoggoth at the corner table looks very happy here.

Please read the SIGN! Abuses here will not be tolerated for long!

Turgul nods to you as he puts the trump away. "Lead on."

Leia heads for the door. "It's a shortway."

Leia leaves through the only door.

Leia has left.

You leave through the one stable, solid exit and emerge onto the street.

Plaza of the Flowing Stone

The road from the bridge detours through a massive plaza filled with a wildly diverse melange of creatures and people from every corner of the Courts of Chaos, and the nearest of shadows beyond. Jeweled sculptures undulate and curl into new forms with a slow, calm fluidity. Farther to the Rim, rising above the nearby buildings, you can see the huge, glass-like needle that is the Thelbane.

The avenue extends in one direction towards the bridge out of the Courts, and in the other direction towards the Thelbane, and the distant Rim. A number of small side-streets branch from the plaza, where businesses might be found. A long road winds into the mountains from here, and a small courtyard lies in the opposite direction.

Leia steps past everyone, nodding slightly, and heads for the Knight's Concourse.

Leia heads towards the busy concourse near the bridge.

Leia has left.

Nicholas's attention shift towards Leia and Turgul. He nods and moves past.

Nicholas heads into Niemand's.

Nicholas has left.

You travel out of the plaza, onto a busy concourse, winding between spires and fortifications.

Knight's Concourse

The roads flow together like dark obsidian, muted colours twisting through their depths. Tall spires jut upwards from the ground to either side, their structures elegantly fluid as they reach into the white Chaosian sky. The Courts are coursing with activity under every sky, both Lord and lackey sailing through the travails of the turning. The Knight's Concourse is a joining of many roads and ways -- a point of departure and arrival. It is a place to say goodbye to soldiers marching off to war, and to greet those who made it back alive.

The coliseum and black spire of the United Chaos Army Headquarters dominates the nearby landscape. Opposite it are a number of small buildings and ways to other places. Drawing a tangent to this line of sight, the bridge leading out of the Courts spans the tumultous chasm of the Abyss, and the road continues onwards towards the Plaza of the Flowing Stone, and ultimately, the Rim.

Leia enters the lone, quiet structure that is located within the forebidding gates of House Amonra.

Leia has left.

A triangle shaped structure, not vary large, and very non-descript. It looks to be made of a light colored sandstone. The ground around it looks to be a mix of dead grass and sand. A tall square iron bound fence surrounds the house.

You enter the gates of Amonra. The house itself is entered through a lone, unlocked door. Guards appraise you as you enter, and you go through several checkpoints before you are allowed to enter the main area of the House.

Tiered Hall, House Amonra(#1270RJ)

Blocks of sandstone teir up the three walls to form a point above. These walls are grainy in texture and offer delightful contrast to the smooth marble floor that echoes even the softest of footsteps. This hall serves as an entrance as well as a gathering place, though the entirety of the room could only hold a few score. It is simple, and its emptiness stands out. Vague egyptian-like runes carved into the walls are lined in colorful faerie fire, shimmering and dancing. This provides the only light, as well as flickering shadows. Two guards stand at either side of the lone door. A square portal in the middle of the floor stairs downward, further into House Amonra.

Leia speaks to the guards, gently, pointing out Turgul, and giving instructions.

Turgul looks around. "Impressive."

Leia smiles, "We're rich." She says with a grin.

Leia says "Comeon. Lemme show you a place you can crash."

Leia descends the stairway in the middle of the hall.

Turgul grins. "Thank you."

You descend the stairway in the middle of the hall.

Temple to Bast, House Amonra

Cats. Both exotic and bland, all have representation in this cozy area of the house. The brown mountain lion of Kashfa, the white siberian tiger of earth, the sleek displacer of Chaos; all stand motionless and posed as they looked in life. Actual cats do roam about, but are much smaller than their deadlier cousins. These friendly felines are quite vocal at times, meowing their desires. Mostly, they just pad about, exploring the various cushions and furniture scattered about on the plush carpeting. An ornate statue of Bast herself is found opposite the stairway, which leads up, or continues down.

You go down the stairs.

Living Quarters, House Amonra(#8854RJL)

This large circular room was once a secondary burial chamber. It has since been converted to a communal lounge. Chairs and couches surround a coffin that now serves as a coffee table. Some long dead scion of Amonra, name lost to the winds of time, may or may not lie within. Lush plants, big and small, line the sandstone walls. They add a fresh aroma to what would otherwise be a very dank smelling room. Odd doors and portals also line the walls, leading to more private area's of the House. Two sleeping doberman-like dogs lie near the stairway.

You say "Very impressive."

Leia smiles. "I like it. Anyways, that Golden arches room is our guest rooms. You can stay there for a while. Or tonight, or until you quick gibbering."

Leia says "Here, usually."

Turgul grins. "I meant _where_ here. It's big, here."

Leia says "Turgul, this is a small shadow. Just a couple of rooms. Servants can always fidnd me. Never fear."

Turgul grins. "Oh. That's fine then. See you later." He touches your arm again. "And thanks for coming to find me."

Turgul turns to go.

Leia runs her fingers through her hair, lopsidedly, "See you in the morning."

You enter the guest quarters.

Amonraways - Guest Quarters

This room is opulant. The entire room is decorated in a rich Egyptian style. There's a humongous round bed, decorated with gold silk sheets, and a multitude of pillows. The floor is a white polished marble, and there are several mirrors, and dressers that match the room. Off to one side, hidden by several white screens, is a sunken bath, decorated in blue mosiac tile.

Obvious exits:

Out