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This freeform adventure, which happened last year, was an attempt on my part to bring some mythical and storytelling themes into my roleplay. I'd been doing a superpowers-themed freeform the day before with a different player, and wanted to break it up for the audience. Eventually it got a Thousand and One Nights vibe going on, and definitely isn't complete, but unlikely to continue, considering the last and only session was so long ago. I had a lot of fun with the flowery language though and would love to play with Randomling again. :)
(01:49:19 PM) me: randomling: The sound of a gong awakes you. You are lying on a bed of cushions, on an octagonal raised dais, surrounded by gauzy curtains, swaying in a slight breeze.
(01:49:51 PM) me: Elegant pillars rise at each of the dais's corners to a high dome. The stone is light-colored, sandy even.
(01:50:02 PM) randomling: (oooh)
(01:51:23 PM) randomling: azetidine: I sit up and look around me.
(01:53:43 PM) me: randomling: The gauzy curtains give everything soft edges. Your dais is located roughly in the center of a plaza made out of the same stone. Other buildings rise in the distance. The air is cool, and smells faintly of pure water.
(01:53:50 PM) me: It is twilight.
(01:55:12 PM) randomling: I turn (to my left, for what it's worth), part the curtains, and put my feet on the floor.
(01:57:14 PM) me: Your feet are bare. The stone is that odd temperature that is slightly warmer than the cooling night air, but still trending towards chill. It was a sunny day.
(01:58:16 PM) randomling: (Question: did I go to sleep here? Was it day when I went to sleep?)
(01:58:16 PM) me: Ahead of you is a large rectangular temple-ish sort of building. It has similar columns, taller than the ones on your pagoda. Braziers descend from each of the corners, the sullen flames lending reddish glows to the deepening shadows.
(01:58:44 PM) me: You feel rested, calm, and alert. It's likely that you were sleeping for the last few hours.
(01:59:04 PM) ***randomling nods
(01:59:45 PM) randomling: Okay. I stand up, reflexively brush myself off, smooth my hair, and walk towards the temple-like building.
(02:00:00 PM) randomling: (Your description is lovely.)
(02:01:00 PM) me: You are wearing a lavender toga that drapes gracefully off one shoulder, belted at the waist, to your knees. Your dark hair is elaborately coiffed, piled on top of your head, and you only need tuck in a few flyaway strands.
(02:01:45 PM) me: You descend a few wide steps only to ascend about twice as many to reach the temple's main level.
(02:02:39 PM) randomling: I look around me, taking in my surroundings.
(02:04:35 PM) me: You feel a sense of apprehension. The twilight is lovely; off to the right behind the temple is a small grove. The trees are black silhouettes against the deepening blue velvet of the eastern sky. The temple ahead of you rises to an elaborate stone frieze; the patterns are whorled in a way that seems designed to make the eye slide away from them. The flickering light from the braziers doesn't help.
(02:05:20 PM) randomling: Oh.
(02:05:52 PM) randomling: Hm. If I concentrate hard, can I make out anything of what the pattern might represent? Or does it seem totally abstract?
(02:05:55 PM) me: Orange light starts to seep from within the temple. More braziers, probably.
(02:06:13 PM) me: Leaves, probably. Some kind of fruit. Innocuous enough.
(02:07:05 PM) randomling: Okay.
(02:07:38 PM) randomling: All right. I want to head into the temple. Is there a door to open?
(02:07:59 PM) me: No, just staggered layers of columns blocking any direct view of the interior.
(02:08:20 PM) ***randomling nods
(02:08:39 PM) randomling: I walk past the first row of columns.
(02:09:33 PM) me: The shadows deepen. The second row is decorated much like the first, although a bit slimmer.
(02:09:46 PM) me: Voices begin to drift to your ears from ahead.
(02:10:03 PM) randomling: Oooh. Curious. Ears prick up.
(02:10:19 PM) me: A deep voice says something. Higher voices twitter.
(02:10:28 PM) randomling: I'm trying to keep my foosteps quiet now as I walk past the second row.
(02:10:56 PM) me: It's very easy; you seem to be trained to walk gracefully and without noise.
(02:11:45 PM) randomling: Lucky me! How far apart are teh columns? And can I hear what the voices are saying yet, or see who is talking?
(02:12:08 PM) me: The columns grow thinner and thinner as you proceed inward. They grow from three feet to four, then five and six feet apart.
(02:12:44 PM) ***randomling nods
(02:12:54 PM) me: The voices seem to be coming from an inner chamber, formed out of the same stone, but covered with rows of hieroglyphics. It has rectangular openings in the three sides that you can see. The orange light is coming from in there, as are the voices.
(02:13:28 PM) me: The deep voice intones something. The light noise of a stringed instrument being plucked graces your ears.
(02:13:54 PM) me: The soft trickling noise of water falling does as well.
(02:14:49 PM) randomling: I cross the next two sets of columns, towards the inner chamber. I keep myself a little to the right, out of the line of sight of the entrances.
(02:15:16 PM) me: The columns end here, the last set barely six inches in diameter.
(02:16:43 PM) me: "One of you," the deep voice says. "Go fetch that lazy whore. She does not need to sleep the night away." The higher voices twitter again, then one of them says, "Yes, Highness."
(02:17:10 PM) me: The very soft noise of leather sandals brushing the stone comes towards you.
(02:17:52 PM) randomling: How far to a pillar that would be wide enough to hide me?
(02:18:27 PM) me: At least three tiers back. If you ran forward, the inner chamber is not too wide, and you could hide around the corner of that.
(02:19:40 PM) randomling: Great. Okay, I will do that - I'll hide around the corner of the inner chamber.
(02:19:44 PM) randomling: And watch.
(02:20:35 PM) me: Your footsteps make the tiniest of slaps on the stone floor.
(02:20:59 PM) randomling: I hide, and hold my breath.
(02:21:00 PM) me: Peeking around the corner, you see a woman garbed much as you are, hair also coiffed, leave the inner chamber and walk out towards your dais.
(02:21:09 PM) me: She doesn't look behind her.
(02:21:21 PM) me: She is wearing leather sandals with laces that come up to her knee.
(02:21:39 PM) randomling: Interesting. (Are my shoes similar? Am I barefoot?)
(02:21:44 PM) me: You are barefoot.
(02:21:48 PM) randomling: Okay.
(02:22:01 PM) randomling: Right. What else can I see from here? Any other temple exits?
(02:24:34 PM) me: It's the same forest of pillars on all sides of the inner chamber. You remember, a bit fuzzily, what's inside the central chamber: a large throne, facing your dais, in the center of a well-lit stone vault. Soft cushions like those you awoke in would fall artfully to either side. If that bastard is still doing as he pleases, then nymph-like women with platters of fruit, shining golden goblets, and one with a harp will be nearly hanging off his arms, and kneeling on the cushions, arranged for best display.
(02:26:09 PM) randomling: Grrrgh. Okay. I want to get out of here.
(02:26:43 PM) me: You can sneak off to your right, and exit the temple. The small grove would be near from there.
(02:27:04 PM) randomling: I will do exactly that.
(02:27:52 PM) me: You successfully go outside. The twilight is shading into night, and stars are beginning to come out.
(02:28:24 PM) me: The grove is of modest trees, gnarled and bent with age. Fruits dangle from many of them.
(02:29:23 PM) randomling: I walk through the grove, and as I do, I reach out and take a fruit from one of the trees.
(02:29:40 PM) randomling: I'm walking straight ahead, hoping to find whatever is on the other side of the frove.
(02:31:02 PM) me: It is a delicious pink color, and feels ripe in your hand. It smells somewhere between pomegranate and grapefruit.
(02:31:02 PM) me: On the other side of the grove is a wide canal. A ferryman is stationed there at all hours, should His Highness wish to make an excursion.
(02:32:03 PM) me: You hear a faint tinkling sound of tiny bells, then the slapping of the leather sandals.
(02:32:14 PM) randomling: Oh, BALLS.
(02:32:29 PM) randomling: I hide behind the nearest tree.
(02:33:49 PM) me: they're very slender, and therefore not much to hide behind.
(02:33:49 PM) me: The soft dirt here slides between your toes.
(02:33:49 PM) me: You recall the ferryman being a cynical soul, and not terribly enamored of His Highness.
(02:34:18 PM) me: A deep shout of rage rips from the temple.
(02:34:55 PM) randomling: Oh, INTERESTING. Also, you read my mind.
(02:35:09 PM) randomling: Okay. I glance behind me briefly, then run to the canal.
(02:35:45 PM) me: Orange light slips out between the columns in shifting rays. Torches are being grabbed.
(02:35:59 PM) me: The dirt gives you good traction, but is likely to leave obvious tracks.
(02:36:37 PM) randomling: Okay. That's fine. I can deal with that. I'm just running right now.
(02:36:55 PM) me: You gain the dock. The ferry man is a skinny old coot with an impressive beard. He gives you a gap-toothed grin. "So, escape, is it?"
(02:37:46 PM) randomling: I smile, glance behind me nervously. "Will you help me?"
(02:39:24 PM) me: "Oh girl." He smiles, a bit indulgent and avuncular. "It means my life, y'realize." He glances at the fruit in your hand. "Though there might be a suitable price."
(02:40:13 PM) randomling: "If I can pay it, I will."
(02:40:24 PM) randomling: I hold out the fruit to him.
(02:41:28 PM) me: "Hrmph." He gazes critically at it. "They din't teach you much yet, did they? 'Course not."
(02:42:10 PM) me: Shouting from the deep voice emanates from the temple. And... that noise. The fearful tocking of his gold-plated sandals.
(02:42:17 PM) me: It makes you want to shudder.
(02:43:02 PM) randomling: I glance behind me again, nervously.
(02:44:02 PM) randomling: Then I pull myself together. "Look," I say. "You don't have to die. You could come with me."
(02:44:17 PM) me: Hetaeras are fanning out from the temple. Some are starting to head into the grove. They all carry torches.
(02:44:46 PM) randomling: Under my breath: "shitshitshit".
(02:46:07 PM) me: He smiles, sadly. "Ah, girl. I can't come wi' ye all the way. I'd want ter-- well. Hop in." He holds up a dark cloth, under which are bundles. You'd look just like one of them when he puts the cloth back over them.
(02:46:12 PM) me: "an' don't lose hold of that fruit."
(02:47:41 PM) randomling: I nod once, briskly, get on board and fairly dive under the cloth. "Thanks," I say as I move past him.
(02:48:15 PM) me: "Jes' hold still." He drops the cloth then mutters a short rhyme.
(02:49:09 PM) randomling: What's the rhyme?
(02:49:21 PM) me: It's in a guttural language that you don't understand.
(02:49:37 PM) me: You feel an odd presence settle over you. You feel more non-descript.
(02:49:51 PM) randomling: Interesting!
(02:50:37 PM) randomling: I do my best to hide under the cloth. Keep very still, breathe as quietly as I can, no sound.
(02:50:47 PM) me: You feel aided in this by the strange presence.
(02:51:01 PM) randomling: Yay!
(02:51:13 PM) randomling: I guess now all I can do is wait and see what happens next...
(02:51:25 PM) me: Footsteps come nearer. It's probably a hetaera, by the sound. Leather on dirt.
(02:51:39 PM) me: She queries the ferryman in incongruously light tones.
(02:52:46 PM) me: "Oh aye, been keepin' an eye out," the ferryman says, just loud enough for you to hear distinctly. "I seen a dark figger movin' in the grove. Went south."
(02:52:49 PM) randomling: I listen.
(02:53:08 PM) me: The hetaera responds with an incredulous "Oh?"
(02:54:09 PM) me: The ferryman grunts. "Y'wanna look?" He lifts the corner of the cloth. The hetaera pauses.
(02:54:29 PM) me: "I'd better," she says. "He would be able to tell if I didn't."
(02:54:34 PM) randomling: Breath, I am holding it.
(02:54:45 PM) me: The ferryman lifts the cloth.
(02:55:03 PM) randomling: I stiffen all over.
(02:55:17 PM) me: You feel exposed, but, oddly, you know that if you hold still you'll be safe.
(02:55:36 PM) randomling: I do just that, then...
(02:55:36 PM) me: The hetaera peers at the bundles in the flickering light of the torch for a very tense minute.
(02:55:54 PM) me: She makes a noncommittal grunt, and the ferryman drops the cloth.
(02:56:43 PM) me: In haughty tones, she says, "Your life if you deceive him, ferryman."
(02:56:43 PM) me: "'m well aware, child," he responds.
(02:56:45 PM) randomling: I want to breathe a sigh of relief but I don't yet. I'm not there yet.
(02:56:50 PM) me: The hetaera walks off.
(02:57:15 PM) randomling: Okay, NOW I breathe a sigh of relief.
(02:58:33 PM) me: The ferryman chuckles a little bit. "Did well," he says, almost muttering to himself. "Now we wait. Ferry change at twins' rise."
(02:58:51 PM) me: The sounds of feet scurrying and hetaeras calling diminish.
(02:59:17 PM) me: The fearful tock of the gold sandals walks away. Probably towards your dais.
(02:59:33 PM) randomling: I rearrange myself into a more comfortable position, stow the fruit under my belly, and reach up to take my hair out of its coiffe.
(03:00:13 PM) me: hungrily at the fruit.
(03:00:37 PM) me: *You can sense the ferryman's gaze on you, through the cloth. He is probably staring hungrily at the fruit.
(03:01:33 PM) randomling: When I'm done undoing my hair, I pick up the fruit again, and hold it against my chest while I wait.
(03:01:34 PM) me: It's necessary to find the pins holding it together, but once you do, your hair comes down. The untangling process leaves you with a few rats' nests.
(03:01:56 PM) ***randomling nods
(03:02:09 PM) randomling: I can fix that later.
(03:02:10 PM) me: You feel the fruit pulsing oddly. The scent intensifies a bit. Perhaps even changing.
(03:02:19 PM) randomling: (How long is my hair now it's down?)
(03:02:30 PM) randomling: I look at it. Has its appearance changed?
(03:02:40 PM) me: Past your breasts.
(03:02:49 PM) ***randomling nods
(03:02:59 PM) me: The fruit is glowing slightly in the gloom. Eerie.
(03:03:09 PM) randomling: That is eerie.
(03:03:24 PM) randomling: But I will hold onto it. I haven't forgotten what the ferryman said.
(03:03:27 PM) me: "Y'know what you're doing, girl?" the ferryman asks quietly.
(03:03:59 PM) randomling: Sotto voce: "Not a clue, ferryman."
(03:04:13 PM) randomling: (Do I know his name?)
(03:05:40 PM) me: (finding one for him)
(03:05:47 PM) randomling: (np)
(03:07:41 PM) me: "Y'can call me Amichai." He says the 'ch' with the back of his throat, like "Bach".
(03:08:55 PM) randomling: "Call me Ann."
(03:09:15 PM) me: "Ann then." He pauses, keeping his voice low.
(03:10:58 PM) me: "Y' picked the Fruit of Desire. If y'peel it, thinkin' of yerself, it becomes th' most delicious thing y'ever tasted. Y'can't not eat it." He heaves a small sigh.
(03:11:44 PM) randomling: "That's..." I look down at it. "What if you're not thinking of yourself?"
(03:12:15 PM) me: The fruit is glowing a bit more. It smells fantastic.
(03:12:52 PM) randomling: I smell it, waiting for Amichai's answer.
(03:13:36 PM) me: "If'n ye genuinely wish someone else t'have it, yeh can kiss it. It turns old an' bitter, but the seed grows inside. If th' person y'give it to eats all the bitter parts, then the seed will grant them one boon."
(03:14:00 PM) me: He grunts a little. "Don't go kissin' it yet. I don' think ye truly understand."
(03:14:10 PM) randomling: "I don't think I do."
(03:14:28 PM) me: It smells like peaches, and ripe, red, fleshy things. A little like sex.
(03:14:35 PM) randomling: "What does happen if I eat it myself? A curse?"
(03:15:05 PM) me: "Seven years o' bliss. Then seven years o' livin' hell. If ye try to kill yerself, ye find y'can't."
(03:15:28 PM) randomling: I look down at it onace again.
(03:15:31 PM) randomling: once*
(03:15:44 PM) me: "After that, well... them that eats it generally don't want t'go on livin'. It's a rare one that does."
(03:15:53 PM) pineapplechild left the room (quit: Quit: pineapplechild).
(03:15:57 PM) randomling: I smile to myself.
(03:16:05 PM) randomling: "I don't think I want to pay that price."
(03:16:18 PM) me: The fruit looks like a glowing pomegranate. Still smells delicious.
(03:16:25 PM) ***randomling nods
(03:16:30 PM) me: The glow fades a little bit as you say that.
(03:17:20 PM) randomling: "You're a knowledgeable man, Amichai. How did you come to... to work for him?" A little emphasis on "him" - but Amichai knows who I mean.
(03:18:13 PM) me: He lets out a long low groan. "Oh, well. Long story."
(03:18:34 PM) pineapplechild [~pineapple@65-128-247-89.mpls.qwest.net] entered the room.
(03:18:41 PM) randomling: "We have until twins' rise, I seem to remember." (How long IS that, anyway? Do I know?)
(03:20:25 PM) me: Twins' rise refers to the time of night when Castor and Pollux, in the constellation Gemini, are both above the horizon. Depending on the season it can be almost any time of night. You get a sense that it probably won't be much more than a quarter of the night though. A couple hours.
(03:20:40 PM) me: You're not sure why you know this.
(03:21:18 PM) randomling: Cool.
(03:22:04 PM) randomling: "That's enough time for a fair-sized tale. And mine's no different than the rest of them, I'm sure. Tell me."
(03:22:38 PM) me: Amichai grunts again. "All right." He adjusts his pose, switching his ferryman's pole to his other hand, leaning that direction. A couple of his joints pop.
(03:23:38 PM) randomling: I shift under the cloth slightly.
(03:23:54 PM) me: ----AMICHAI'S TALE---- You are now piloting Amichai.
(03:25:11 PM) me: You are in a plain, low mud-brick house. There are maybe two rooms.
(03:26:07 PM) me: You are sitting at a simple table. Across from you is a beautiful woman. She is glowing with an advanced pregnancy. Seven or eight months along, probably.
(03:26:22 PM) randomling: (Oooh.)
(03:26:39 PM) me: "Amichai," she whines. "Please?
(03:26:42 PM) me: Just one?"
(03:27:08 PM) randomling: I smile. "No, sweetheart," I say. "It's not good for you."
(03:28:17 PM) me: She rubs a hand on her belly. "For the child. He will be special, I know it. Just one."
(03:29:07 PM) randomling: I get up, walk around the table and kiss her on the top of the head.
(03:29:25 PM) randomling: (Okay, Amichai knows what she wants, but I don't.... one of those fruits?)
(03:30:30 PM) me: She looks up at you. She has a curious look in her eyes. Suffused with love... and glassy desire. "But the dream, my dear."
(03:31:28 PM) me: "I... I smelled it. He had me feed it to him, not have any myself. I need one. It's such a small thing, dear... can't you get just one?"
(03:32:37 PM) randomling: "Sweetheart. No. You know what it will do to you." A pause. "To us."
(03:33:57 PM) me: She looks crushed. "I... I think I will lose him. If I don't. Please, Amichai. You don't want to have to suffer through that... again." She looks like she's about to cry.
(03:36:05 PM) me: You recall that your beautiful, loving wife has suffered through several miscarriages at this point. She's getting old enough that it's becoming unlikely that she'll ever bear you any children. And children is the one thing you have always wanted.
(03:36:21 PM) randomling: I stroke her face, kiss her forehead, sigh deeply. "My love," I say, "if..."
(03:36:37 PM) randomling: And finally: "All right."
(03:36:51 PM) me: The thing that's different about this one is the dreams. About that infernal fruit. As the child grows, so does her desire for one.
(03:37:08 PM) ***randomling nods
(03:37:25 PM) me: The tale shifts.
(03:38:03 PM) me: You are in a walled garden. There is one tree here, in the center.
(03:38:17 PM) me: You have just climbed over the wall.
(03:38:37 PM) randomling: I sigh deeply and look up at the tree.
(03:39:44 PM) me: The tree has several fruits on it. They gleam blue and silver in the moonlight.
(03:39:44 PM) me: A fountain tinkles softly against one wall. Two corners have watchtowers on them, both deserted, thanks to your judicious bribe of laced mead.
(03:40:41 PM) randomling: I sigh again, step forward, and grab hold of a low-hanging fruit.
(03:40:47 PM) me: It comes off easily in your hand.
(03:41:12 PM) me: It smells like a fresh breeze.
(03:41:41 PM) randomling: I look down at it.
(03:42:14 PM) me: It begins glowing, rosy and gold. You only have a short while to get it back to your wife before it loses its efficacy.
(03:42:20 PM) randomling: I guess it doesn't seem so bad. Well. I turn to climb back over the wall.
(03:42:55 PM) me: The leafy vines give you good purchase.
(03:45:35 PM) me: Footsteps sound on a parapet nearby.
(03:48:00 PM) me: a slow tock -- tock -- tock.
(03:48:23 PM) randomling: (out of character: oh god)
(03:48:39 PM) randomling: I keep climbing.
(03:49:33 PM) me: The tocking enters one of the towers just as you reach the top.
(03:50:10 PM) randomling: I look over towards the tower.
(03:50:57 PM) me: A stout, shadowy figure wearing a pointed hat leans, insouciant, in the doorway.
(03:52:14 PM) randomling: I quickly swing myself over the top of the wall and start to climb down.
(03:53:54 PM) me: The stout man steps out of a doorway, crooking a beringed finger at you. You freeze.
(03:53:59 PM) me: *out of the doorway
(03:54:35 PM) randomling: I look him in the eye and climb to the bottom of the wall.
(03:54:48 PM) me: You can't, you're frozen. You very much want to, though.
(03:54:51 PM) me: "Veeeery cleeeveeer," he says. His voice oozes out of his nose.
(03:55:31 PM) randomling: Oh. Okay. :) Sorry!
(03:55:48 PM) me: "Lacinnng their drinnnks." He sniffs dismissively.
(03:55:59 PM) me: You realize you can move just enough to speak, if you care to.
(03:56:17 PM) randomling: "Seemed the thing to do."
(03:57:07 PM) me: "Takinnng THAT--" his eyes shoot towards the fruit -- "back to your lnntle wife, hnnn?"
(03:57:47 PM) randomling: As calm as I can manage. "Think you know a few things, do you?"
(03:59:06 PM) me: He chuckles cruelly, enjoying himself. "No, no. Nnneverrr. Always more to learrnn." A glint of moonlight winks off the many rings that adorn his hand.
(03:59:50 PM) me: "Inn fact, I will let you hnnnve that fruit. Call it a fnnnnvorrr."
(04:00:19 PM) randomling: "What's your price, then," I say flatly.
(04:02:02 PM) me: "You will owwwe... a fnnnvor to me. Nnnnd be sure--" his eyes flare with an eerie light -- "that I will COLLECT."
(04:02:02 PM) me: He studies you.
(04:02:02 PM) me: "But nnnnt soon."
(04:03:06 PM) randomling: I study him back.
(04:03:11 PM) randomling: "Done."
(04:03:51 PM) me: He nods, and his finger uncrooks. You can move again.
(04:03:51 PM) me: The soles of his shoes glint silver in the moonlight.
(04:04:18 PM) randomling: I climb down to the bottom of the wall and head back to my wife.
(04:04:35 PM) me: The tale shifts.
(01:49:19 PM) me: randomling: The sound of a gong awakes you. You are lying on a bed of cushions, on an octagonal raised dais, surrounded by gauzy curtains, swaying in a slight breeze.
(01:49:51 PM) me: Elegant pillars rise at each of the dais's corners to a high dome. The stone is light-colored, sandy even.
(01:50:02 PM) randomling: (oooh)
(01:51:23 PM) randomling: azetidine: I sit up and look around me.
(01:53:43 PM) me: randomling: The gauzy curtains give everything soft edges. Your dais is located roughly in the center of a plaza made out of the same stone. Other buildings rise in the distance. The air is cool, and smells faintly of pure water.
(01:53:50 PM) me: It is twilight.
(01:55:12 PM) randomling: I turn (to my left, for what it's worth), part the curtains, and put my feet on the floor.
(01:57:14 PM) me: Your feet are bare. The stone is that odd temperature that is slightly warmer than the cooling night air, but still trending towards chill. It was a sunny day.
(01:58:16 PM) randomling: (Question: did I go to sleep here? Was it day when I went to sleep?)
(01:58:16 PM) me: Ahead of you is a large rectangular temple-ish sort of building. It has similar columns, taller than the ones on your pagoda. Braziers descend from each of the corners, the sullen flames lending reddish glows to the deepening shadows.
(01:58:44 PM) me: You feel rested, calm, and alert. It's likely that you were sleeping for the last few hours.
(01:59:04 PM) ***randomling nods
(01:59:45 PM) randomling: Okay. I stand up, reflexively brush myself off, smooth my hair, and walk towards the temple-like building.
(02:00:00 PM) randomling: (Your description is lovely.)
(02:01:00 PM) me: You are wearing a lavender toga that drapes gracefully off one shoulder, belted at the waist, to your knees. Your dark hair is elaborately coiffed, piled on top of your head, and you only need tuck in a few flyaway strands.
(02:01:45 PM) me: You descend a few wide steps only to ascend about twice as many to reach the temple's main level.
(02:02:39 PM) randomling: I look around me, taking in my surroundings.
(02:04:35 PM) me: You feel a sense of apprehension. The twilight is lovely; off to the right behind the temple is a small grove. The trees are black silhouettes against the deepening blue velvet of the eastern sky. The temple ahead of you rises to an elaborate stone frieze; the patterns are whorled in a way that seems designed to make the eye slide away from them. The flickering light from the braziers doesn't help.
(02:05:20 PM) randomling: Oh.
(02:05:52 PM) randomling: Hm. If I concentrate hard, can I make out anything of what the pattern might represent? Or does it seem totally abstract?
(02:05:55 PM) me: Orange light starts to seep from within the temple. More braziers, probably.
(02:06:13 PM) me: Leaves, probably. Some kind of fruit. Innocuous enough.
(02:07:05 PM) randomling: Okay.
(02:07:38 PM) randomling: All right. I want to head into the temple. Is there a door to open?
(02:07:59 PM) me: No, just staggered layers of columns blocking any direct view of the interior.
(02:08:20 PM) ***randomling nods
(02:08:39 PM) randomling: I walk past the first row of columns.
(02:09:33 PM) me: The shadows deepen. The second row is decorated much like the first, although a bit slimmer.
(02:09:46 PM) me: Voices begin to drift to your ears from ahead.
(02:10:03 PM) randomling: Oooh. Curious. Ears prick up.
(02:10:19 PM) me: A deep voice says something. Higher voices twitter.
(02:10:28 PM) randomling: I'm trying to keep my foosteps quiet now as I walk past the second row.
(02:10:56 PM) me: It's very easy; you seem to be trained to walk gracefully and without noise.
(02:11:45 PM) randomling: Lucky me! How far apart are teh columns? And can I hear what the voices are saying yet, or see who is talking?
(02:12:08 PM) me: The columns grow thinner and thinner as you proceed inward. They grow from three feet to four, then five and six feet apart.
(02:12:44 PM) ***randomling nods
(02:12:54 PM) me: The voices seem to be coming from an inner chamber, formed out of the same stone, but covered with rows of hieroglyphics. It has rectangular openings in the three sides that you can see. The orange light is coming from in there, as are the voices.
(02:13:28 PM) me: The deep voice intones something. The light noise of a stringed instrument being plucked graces your ears.
(02:13:54 PM) me: The soft trickling noise of water falling does as well.
(02:14:49 PM) randomling: I cross the next two sets of columns, towards the inner chamber. I keep myself a little to the right, out of the line of sight of the entrances.
(02:15:16 PM) me: The columns end here, the last set barely six inches in diameter.
(02:16:43 PM) me: "One of you," the deep voice says. "Go fetch that lazy whore. She does not need to sleep the night away." The higher voices twitter again, then one of them says, "Yes, Highness."
(02:17:10 PM) me: The very soft noise of leather sandals brushing the stone comes towards you.
(02:17:52 PM) randomling: How far to a pillar that would be wide enough to hide me?
(02:18:27 PM) me: At least three tiers back. If you ran forward, the inner chamber is not too wide, and you could hide around the corner of that.
(02:19:40 PM) randomling: Great. Okay, I will do that - I'll hide around the corner of the inner chamber.
(02:19:44 PM) randomling: And watch.
(02:20:35 PM) me: Your footsteps make the tiniest of slaps on the stone floor.
(02:20:59 PM) randomling: I hide, and hold my breath.
(02:21:00 PM) me: Peeking around the corner, you see a woman garbed much as you are, hair also coiffed, leave the inner chamber and walk out towards your dais.
(02:21:09 PM) me: She doesn't look behind her.
(02:21:21 PM) me: She is wearing leather sandals with laces that come up to her knee.
(02:21:39 PM) randomling: Interesting. (Are my shoes similar? Am I barefoot?)
(02:21:44 PM) me: You are barefoot.
(02:21:48 PM) randomling: Okay.
(02:22:01 PM) randomling: Right. What else can I see from here? Any other temple exits?
(02:24:34 PM) me: It's the same forest of pillars on all sides of the inner chamber. You remember, a bit fuzzily, what's inside the central chamber: a large throne, facing your dais, in the center of a well-lit stone vault. Soft cushions like those you awoke in would fall artfully to either side. If that bastard is still doing as he pleases, then nymph-like women with platters of fruit, shining golden goblets, and one with a harp will be nearly hanging off his arms, and kneeling on the cushions, arranged for best display.
(02:26:09 PM) randomling: Grrrgh. Okay. I want to get out of here.
(02:26:43 PM) me: You can sneak off to your right, and exit the temple. The small grove would be near from there.
(02:27:04 PM) randomling: I will do exactly that.
(02:27:52 PM) me: You successfully go outside. The twilight is shading into night, and stars are beginning to come out.
(02:28:24 PM) me: The grove is of modest trees, gnarled and bent with age. Fruits dangle from many of them.
(02:29:23 PM) randomling: I walk through the grove, and as I do, I reach out and take a fruit from one of the trees.
(02:29:40 PM) randomling: I'm walking straight ahead, hoping to find whatever is on the other side of the frove.
(02:31:02 PM) me: It is a delicious pink color, and feels ripe in your hand. It smells somewhere between pomegranate and grapefruit.
(02:31:02 PM) me: On the other side of the grove is a wide canal. A ferryman is stationed there at all hours, should His Highness wish to make an excursion.
(02:32:03 PM) me: You hear a faint tinkling sound of tiny bells, then the slapping of the leather sandals.
(02:32:14 PM) randomling: Oh, BALLS.
(02:32:29 PM) randomling: I hide behind the nearest tree.
(02:33:49 PM) me: they're very slender, and therefore not much to hide behind.
(02:33:49 PM) me: The soft dirt here slides between your toes.
(02:33:49 PM) me: You recall the ferryman being a cynical soul, and not terribly enamored of His Highness.
(02:34:18 PM) me: A deep shout of rage rips from the temple.
(02:34:55 PM) randomling: Oh, INTERESTING. Also, you read my mind.
(02:35:09 PM) randomling: Okay. I glance behind me briefly, then run to the canal.
(02:35:45 PM) me: Orange light slips out between the columns in shifting rays. Torches are being grabbed.
(02:35:59 PM) me: The dirt gives you good traction, but is likely to leave obvious tracks.
(02:36:37 PM) randomling: Okay. That's fine. I can deal with that. I'm just running right now.
(02:36:55 PM) me: You gain the dock. The ferry man is a skinny old coot with an impressive beard. He gives you a gap-toothed grin. "So, escape, is it?"
(02:37:46 PM) randomling: I smile, glance behind me nervously. "Will you help me?"
(02:39:24 PM) me: "Oh girl." He smiles, a bit indulgent and avuncular. "It means my life, y'realize." He glances at the fruit in your hand. "Though there might be a suitable price."
(02:40:13 PM) randomling: "If I can pay it, I will."
(02:40:24 PM) randomling: I hold out the fruit to him.
(02:41:28 PM) me: "Hrmph." He gazes critically at it. "They din't teach you much yet, did they? 'Course not."
(02:42:10 PM) me: Shouting from the deep voice emanates from the temple. And... that noise. The fearful tocking of his gold-plated sandals.
(02:42:17 PM) me: It makes you want to shudder.
(02:43:02 PM) randomling: I glance behind me again, nervously.
(02:44:02 PM) randomling: Then I pull myself together. "Look," I say. "You don't have to die. You could come with me."
(02:44:17 PM) me: Hetaeras are fanning out from the temple. Some are starting to head into the grove. They all carry torches.
(02:44:46 PM) randomling: Under my breath: "shitshitshit".
(02:46:07 PM) me: He smiles, sadly. "Ah, girl. I can't come wi' ye all the way. I'd want ter-- well. Hop in." He holds up a dark cloth, under which are bundles. You'd look just like one of them when he puts the cloth back over them.
(02:46:12 PM) me: "an' don't lose hold of that fruit."
(02:47:41 PM) randomling: I nod once, briskly, get on board and fairly dive under the cloth. "Thanks," I say as I move past him.
(02:48:15 PM) me: "Jes' hold still." He drops the cloth then mutters a short rhyme.
(02:49:09 PM) randomling: What's the rhyme?
(02:49:21 PM) me: It's in a guttural language that you don't understand.
(02:49:37 PM) me: You feel an odd presence settle over you. You feel more non-descript.
(02:49:51 PM) randomling: Interesting!
(02:50:37 PM) randomling: I do my best to hide under the cloth. Keep very still, breathe as quietly as I can, no sound.
(02:50:47 PM) me: You feel aided in this by the strange presence.
(02:51:01 PM) randomling: Yay!
(02:51:13 PM) randomling: I guess now all I can do is wait and see what happens next...
(02:51:25 PM) me: Footsteps come nearer. It's probably a hetaera, by the sound. Leather on dirt.
(02:51:39 PM) me: She queries the ferryman in incongruously light tones.
(02:52:46 PM) me: "Oh aye, been keepin' an eye out," the ferryman says, just loud enough for you to hear distinctly. "I seen a dark figger movin' in the grove. Went south."
(02:52:49 PM) randomling: I listen.
(02:53:08 PM) me: The hetaera responds with an incredulous "Oh?"
(02:54:09 PM) me: The ferryman grunts. "Y'wanna look?" He lifts the corner of the cloth. The hetaera pauses.
(02:54:29 PM) me: "I'd better," she says. "He would be able to tell if I didn't."
(02:54:34 PM) randomling: Breath, I am holding it.
(02:54:45 PM) me: The ferryman lifts the cloth.
(02:55:03 PM) randomling: I stiffen all over.
(02:55:17 PM) me: You feel exposed, but, oddly, you know that if you hold still you'll be safe.
(02:55:36 PM) randomling: I do just that, then...
(02:55:36 PM) me: The hetaera peers at the bundles in the flickering light of the torch for a very tense minute.
(02:55:54 PM) me: She makes a noncommittal grunt, and the ferryman drops the cloth.
(02:56:43 PM) me: In haughty tones, she says, "Your life if you deceive him, ferryman."
(02:56:43 PM) me: "'m well aware, child," he responds.
(02:56:45 PM) randomling: I want to breathe a sigh of relief but I don't yet. I'm not there yet.
(02:56:50 PM) me: The hetaera walks off.
(02:57:15 PM) randomling: Okay, NOW I breathe a sigh of relief.
(02:58:33 PM) me: The ferryman chuckles a little bit. "Did well," he says, almost muttering to himself. "Now we wait. Ferry change at twins' rise."
(02:58:51 PM) me: The sounds of feet scurrying and hetaeras calling diminish.
(02:59:17 PM) me: The fearful tock of the gold sandals walks away. Probably towards your dais.
(02:59:33 PM) randomling: I rearrange myself into a more comfortable position, stow the fruit under my belly, and reach up to take my hair out of its coiffe.
(03:00:13 PM) me: hungrily at the fruit.
(03:00:37 PM) me: *You can sense the ferryman's gaze on you, through the cloth. He is probably staring hungrily at the fruit.
(03:01:33 PM) randomling: When I'm done undoing my hair, I pick up the fruit again, and hold it against my chest while I wait.
(03:01:34 PM) me: It's necessary to find the pins holding it together, but once you do, your hair comes down. The untangling process leaves you with a few rats' nests.
(03:01:56 PM) ***randomling nods
(03:02:09 PM) randomling: I can fix that later.
(03:02:10 PM) me: You feel the fruit pulsing oddly. The scent intensifies a bit. Perhaps even changing.
(03:02:19 PM) randomling: (How long is my hair now it's down?)
(03:02:30 PM) randomling: I look at it. Has its appearance changed?
(03:02:40 PM) me: Past your breasts.
(03:02:49 PM) ***randomling nods
(03:02:59 PM) me: The fruit is glowing slightly in the gloom. Eerie.
(03:03:09 PM) randomling: That is eerie.
(03:03:24 PM) randomling: But I will hold onto it. I haven't forgotten what the ferryman said.
(03:03:27 PM) me: "Y'know what you're doing, girl?" the ferryman asks quietly.
(03:03:59 PM) randomling: Sotto voce: "Not a clue, ferryman."
(03:04:13 PM) randomling: (Do I know his name?)
(03:05:40 PM) me: (finding one for him)
(03:05:47 PM) randomling: (np)
(03:07:41 PM) me: "Y'can call me Amichai." He says the 'ch' with the back of his throat, like "Bach".
(03:08:55 PM) randomling: "Call me Ann."
(03:09:15 PM) me: "Ann then." He pauses, keeping his voice low.
(03:10:58 PM) me: "Y' picked the Fruit of Desire. If y'peel it, thinkin' of yerself, it becomes th' most delicious thing y'ever tasted. Y'can't not eat it." He heaves a small sigh.
(03:11:44 PM) randomling: "That's..." I look down at it. "What if you're not thinking of yourself?"
(03:12:15 PM) me: The fruit is glowing a bit more. It smells fantastic.
(03:12:52 PM) randomling: I smell it, waiting for Amichai's answer.
(03:13:36 PM) me: "If'n ye genuinely wish someone else t'have it, yeh can kiss it. It turns old an' bitter, but the seed grows inside. If th' person y'give it to eats all the bitter parts, then the seed will grant them one boon."
(03:14:00 PM) me: He grunts a little. "Don't go kissin' it yet. I don' think ye truly understand."
(03:14:10 PM) randomling: "I don't think I do."
(03:14:28 PM) me: It smells like peaches, and ripe, red, fleshy things. A little like sex.
(03:14:35 PM) randomling: "What does happen if I eat it myself? A curse?"
(03:15:05 PM) me: "Seven years o' bliss. Then seven years o' livin' hell. If ye try to kill yerself, ye find y'can't."
(03:15:28 PM) randomling: I look down at it onace again.
(03:15:31 PM) randomling: once*
(03:15:44 PM) me: "After that, well... them that eats it generally don't want t'go on livin'. It's a rare one that does."
(03:15:53 PM) pineapplechild left the room (quit: Quit: pineapplechild).
(03:15:57 PM) randomling: I smile to myself.
(03:16:05 PM) randomling: "I don't think I want to pay that price."
(03:16:18 PM) me: The fruit looks like a glowing pomegranate. Still smells delicious.
(03:16:25 PM) ***randomling nods
(03:16:30 PM) me: The glow fades a little bit as you say that.
(03:17:20 PM) randomling: "You're a knowledgeable man, Amichai. How did you come to... to work for him?" A little emphasis on "him" - but Amichai knows who I mean.
(03:18:13 PM) me: He lets out a long low groan. "Oh, well. Long story."
(03:18:34 PM) pineapplechild [~pineapple@65-128-247-89.mpls.qwest.net] entered the room.
(03:18:41 PM) randomling: "We have until twins' rise, I seem to remember." (How long IS that, anyway? Do I know?)
(03:20:25 PM) me: Twins' rise refers to the time of night when Castor and Pollux, in the constellation Gemini, are both above the horizon. Depending on the season it can be almost any time of night. You get a sense that it probably won't be much more than a quarter of the night though. A couple hours.
(03:20:40 PM) me: You're not sure why you know this.
(03:21:18 PM) randomling: Cool.
(03:22:04 PM) randomling: "That's enough time for a fair-sized tale. And mine's no different than the rest of them, I'm sure. Tell me."
(03:22:38 PM) me: Amichai grunts again. "All right." He adjusts his pose, switching his ferryman's pole to his other hand, leaning that direction. A couple of his joints pop.
(03:23:38 PM) randomling: I shift under the cloth slightly.
(03:23:54 PM) me: ----AMICHAI'S TALE---- You are now piloting Amichai.
(03:25:11 PM) me: You are in a plain, low mud-brick house. There are maybe two rooms.
(03:26:07 PM) me: You are sitting at a simple table. Across from you is a beautiful woman. She is glowing with an advanced pregnancy. Seven or eight months along, probably.
(03:26:22 PM) randomling: (Oooh.)
(03:26:39 PM) me: "Amichai," she whines. "Please?
(03:26:42 PM) me: Just one?"
(03:27:08 PM) randomling: I smile. "No, sweetheart," I say. "It's not good for you."
(03:28:17 PM) me: She rubs a hand on her belly. "For the child. He will be special, I know it. Just one."
(03:29:07 PM) randomling: I get up, walk around the table and kiss her on the top of the head.
(03:29:25 PM) randomling: (Okay, Amichai knows what she wants, but I don't.... one of those fruits?)
(03:30:30 PM) me: She looks up at you. She has a curious look in her eyes. Suffused with love... and glassy desire. "But the dream, my dear."
(03:31:28 PM) me: "I... I smelled it. He had me feed it to him, not have any myself. I need one. It's such a small thing, dear... can't you get just one?"
(03:32:37 PM) randomling: "Sweetheart. No. You know what it will do to you." A pause. "To us."
(03:33:57 PM) me: She looks crushed. "I... I think I will lose him. If I don't. Please, Amichai. You don't want to have to suffer through that... again." She looks like she's about to cry.
(03:36:05 PM) me: You recall that your beautiful, loving wife has suffered through several miscarriages at this point. She's getting old enough that it's becoming unlikely that she'll ever bear you any children. And children is the one thing you have always wanted.
(03:36:21 PM) randomling: I stroke her face, kiss her forehead, sigh deeply. "My love," I say, "if..."
(03:36:37 PM) randomling: And finally: "All right."
(03:36:51 PM) me: The thing that's different about this one is the dreams. About that infernal fruit. As the child grows, so does her desire for one.
(03:37:08 PM) ***randomling nods
(03:37:25 PM) me: The tale shifts.
(03:38:03 PM) me: You are in a walled garden. There is one tree here, in the center.
(03:38:17 PM) me: You have just climbed over the wall.
(03:38:37 PM) randomling: I sigh deeply and look up at the tree.
(03:39:44 PM) me: The tree has several fruits on it. They gleam blue and silver in the moonlight.
(03:39:44 PM) me: A fountain tinkles softly against one wall. Two corners have watchtowers on them, both deserted, thanks to your judicious bribe of laced mead.
(03:40:41 PM) randomling: I sigh again, step forward, and grab hold of a low-hanging fruit.
(03:40:47 PM) me: It comes off easily in your hand.
(03:41:12 PM) me: It smells like a fresh breeze.
(03:41:41 PM) randomling: I look down at it.
(03:42:14 PM) me: It begins glowing, rosy and gold. You only have a short while to get it back to your wife before it loses its efficacy.
(03:42:20 PM) randomling: I guess it doesn't seem so bad. Well. I turn to climb back over the wall.
(03:42:55 PM) me: The leafy vines give you good purchase.
(03:45:35 PM) me: Footsteps sound on a parapet nearby.
(03:48:00 PM) me: a slow tock -- tock -- tock.
(03:48:23 PM) randomling: (out of character: oh god)
(03:48:39 PM) randomling: I keep climbing.
(03:49:33 PM) me: The tocking enters one of the towers just as you reach the top.
(03:50:10 PM) randomling: I look over towards the tower.
(03:50:57 PM) me: A stout, shadowy figure wearing a pointed hat leans, insouciant, in the doorway.
(03:52:14 PM) randomling: I quickly swing myself over the top of the wall and start to climb down.
(03:53:54 PM) me: The stout man steps out of a doorway, crooking a beringed finger at you. You freeze.
(03:53:59 PM) me: *out of the doorway
(03:54:35 PM) randomling: I look him in the eye and climb to the bottom of the wall.
(03:54:48 PM) me: You can't, you're frozen. You very much want to, though.
(03:54:51 PM) me: "Veeeery cleeeveeer," he says. His voice oozes out of his nose.
(03:55:31 PM) randomling: Oh. Okay. :) Sorry!
(03:55:48 PM) me: "Lacinnng their drinnnks." He sniffs dismissively.
(03:55:59 PM) me: You realize you can move just enough to speak, if you care to.
(03:56:17 PM) randomling: "Seemed the thing to do."
(03:57:07 PM) me: "Takinnng THAT--" his eyes shoot towards the fruit -- "back to your lnntle wife, hnnn?"
(03:57:47 PM) randomling: As calm as I can manage. "Think you know a few things, do you?"
(03:59:06 PM) me: He chuckles cruelly, enjoying himself. "No, no. Nnneverrr. Always more to learrnn." A glint of moonlight winks off the many rings that adorn his hand.
(03:59:50 PM) me: "Inn fact, I will let you hnnnve that fruit. Call it a fnnnnvorrr."
(04:00:19 PM) randomling: "What's your price, then," I say flatly.
(04:02:02 PM) me: "You will owwwe... a fnnnvor to me. Nnnnd be sure--" his eyes flare with an eerie light -- "that I will COLLECT."
(04:02:02 PM) me: He studies you.
(04:02:02 PM) me: "But nnnnt soon."
(04:03:06 PM) randomling: I study him back.
(04:03:11 PM) randomling: "Done."
(04:03:51 PM) me: He nods, and his finger uncrooks. You can move again.
(04:03:51 PM) me: The soles of his shoes glint silver in the moonlight.
(04:04:18 PM) randomling: I climb down to the bottom of the wall and head back to my wife.
(04:04:35 PM) me: The tale shifts.
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