Dionysus Arsul, your mount quickly wings around & going higher than you can tell.

• Arsul_T is a bit scared but tries to master his fear

Arsul_T he listens to the wind, trying to picture what's happening

Dionysus You feel a very cold sensation, & then you begin to descend.

• Arsul_T shivers slightly

Arsul_T Im not wet am I?

Dionysus You are not.

Dionysus You feel the descent slow to that of a feather.

• Arsul_T relaces considerably

Arsul_T relaxes

Dionysus You find this descent is taking a while. What do you do while sitting there?

• Arsul_T feels a bit silly just sitting there but isn't sure about suddenly talking to the pegasus either

Arsul_T I try to divine the purpose of this test

Dionysus No vision.

Arsul_T the outcome then

Dionysus Your vision is of a pegasus in a pool of starlight, slowly fading.

Arsul_T does it look distressed?

Arsul_T and do you mean an actual pool? Or like moonlight?

Dionysus More like it is surrounded by the glimmer of stars.

Dionysus Arsul, the vision ends & you find you are still airborne, slowly descending.

Arsul_T "You can fly to the stars?" he asks the pegasus as he pats its' neck

Dionysus The pegasus does not respond.

• Arsul_T gives it up for a lost cause and listens quietly for the time being. He's relaxed a lot though and even has stopped holding the pegasus with his hands

Dionysus It holds you steadily as it floats down like a feather.

Arsul_T after 20 minutes I'll try divination again

Arsul_T if we're still floating

Dionysus You actually start to descend more quickly, & you land gently. You hear a murmur of greeting--Hunny is nearby.

• Arsul_T grins. "Thanks for the trip." he tels the pegasus before climbing down
• Arsul_T greets Hunny as soon as he's off

Arsul_T "Guiteau? How did the scrutiny go?"

Dionysus "It has yet to begin. It appears the pegasus wants us to talk."

Arsul_T "Oh. I see."

Arsul_T "What should we speak about?"

Dionysus "Your power, I think, would be a good place to start. What do you see?"

Arsul_T "All sorts of things. Things that might be, things that will be."

Arsul_T "I saw you speaking to your deities in the woods."

Arsul_T "What of you? How do you affect change on Shem?"

Dionysus "I can see all that happens in the past. I felt you, viewing with me, once."

Arsul_T "Through our line? All the way back to the agreement with the stranger? He blocks me from viewing."

Arsul_T "Have you been able to see him?"

Dionysus He shakes his head, "No, that is one of the few moments of the past that is blocked to me. Everything our ancestors have seen, I can see, save that."

Arsul_T "An amazing ability."

Arsul_T "I suppose our gifts in general are amazing though." he smiles slightly

Dionysus "You said you saw me speaking to my deities in the woods. When? How? Explain, please."

Arsul_T "I saw you with other druids in a ring of trees. Perhaps praying is not right, it was almost as if you were waiting, expecting domething. There were auras around the trees, brown and green. Those are the gods, or I assumed they were."

Dionysus Guiteau sighs, "No, those are the treants. Their souls are in another realm. But you misunderstood. I have the ability to see the past. Adam saw alternate parts of the tapestry of existence. Domy's powers are unknown to me, though. Where does your vision bring you?"

Dionysus Use it, then

Arsul_T "It brings the truth. I believe it also gives me direction to my path. If I learn from my visions I can arrive at the future that is meant to be."

Dionysus He laughs, "Ahh. So you are the prophet."

Arsul_T "Yes, some call me that." he smiles

Arsul_T "I found the visions of another prophet in our line."

Dionysus "Oh? From before?"

Sue r athletics 11 athletics 11

Arsul_T "Yes. Ruisello Toutant."

Dionysus "Ahh, yes. I have glimpsed some of his sights before. So shall we exchange information? A question for a question, future for past?"

• Arsul_T frowns. "There are some visions I cannot give away so freely. But you may start the questioning and I will do my best to answer."

Dionysus He nods, "Do you know what has gone Wrong?"

Arsul_T "I know that it happened when a demon of great power and a Lost God made a deal. I don't know who they were or what went Wrong in the end." (correct me if I'm wrong, I didn't reread all my visions)

Dionysus That sounds about right.

Arsul_T ok

Dionysus "I see. Your question."

Arsul_T "Are you able to see things that happen on other planes?"

Dionysus "Only if one of our kin went there. I have seen but one vision, of a distant ancestor on the Mountain of Trials. He died there."

• Arsul_T frowns and nods

Arsul_T "Your question brother."

Dionysus "Who is responsible for the weakening of the Summer Gods?"

Arsul_T "The son of the Goddess of Envy and her Champion. The King of Thorns. I cannot say his name."

Arsul_T "Where is my oldest living daughter? She has a large family but I cannot see where they live and I would like to meet her."

Dionysus "She lives in Ienova, in Maraddon."

• Arsul_T frowns but nods. "Thank you."

Dionysus "What is the purpose of the Contest?"

Arsul_T "To choose wielders for the First Song. The winners will use it to right the Wrong and free the Sumemr Country and the Mother of Music."

Dionysus You hear him sigh with relief.

Arsul_T "What did you think it's purpose was?"

Dionysus "I worried that someone sought to give it away, having won it as a prize from the dead Champion. If she lives..."

Dionysus "Does she live?"

Arsul_T "I believe so."

Dionysus "Your question."

Arsul_T "Do you know the terms of our family's agreement or is that hidden as well?"

Dionysus "We agreed that each of us would gain some sort of ability, but that some time in the future, he or she who made the deal with us would call upon a monumental favor of one of our descendents. We did this in order to defeat some common foe back then."

Dionysus "The details are unclear."

• Arsul_T nods. "I thought as much."

Arsul_T "Your question."

Dionysus "Brother, tell me about your companions."

Arsul_T "They are all important to save the goddess and set things right. Avery is a fairie prince. Aurelia is searching for a change, a seer of beauty. Arlie is-- a sometimes destructive but always compelling force. Jack is from a line even longer then ours. He is descended from Crane's of First Shem and has holy blood. Dionysus is a saint in his own right. Sue is a different sort of prophet. He is a vessel of void and never. And Magnum

Arsul_T is the newest addition to our band. I'm not quite sure of his role but I know he belongs with us and will fight with us."

Dionysus "The silver arm. Where did that com--no, your question."

Arsul_T "You may ask it next. How long have we been hunted because of who we are and what we see? Does it stretch back to our beginnings or is it a more recent development?"

Dionysus "We have been hunted since the arrangement. Forces seek to influence us, & the Stillborn Cult takes pleasure in seeing our children die."

• Arsul_T frowns but nods

Dionysus "Tell me first of this faerie prince. How did he come to be on Shem? I thought the fay had left on First Shem."

Arsul_T "His father is a son of the God of Wealth. But there was also a switch at his birth I believe. He was living here on Shem as a Great Talent. A mage had taken his faerie eyes and given him eyes filled with monsters and marvels, even a son of the God of Truth. They all escaped though and his faerie eyes were taken by the King of Thorns. Now he has none. I'm sure you saw."

Dionysus "So the King of Thorns now has a faerie prince's eyes, a goddess's soul. I wonder ifhe hs the other parts of the perfect body... But it is your question."

Arsul_T "Tell me of the soul. I only knew she was unable to act, as if imprisoned. Please, explain."

Dionysus "The Summer Gods are all weakened. Beings are taking their power. If he is seeking to find his perfect body, a divine soul is part of it. I am... extrapolating from the current events what must be.:"

• Arsul_T nods. "Thank you. Your question."

Dionysus "What changes does the seer of beauty seek?"

Arsul_T "I'm not sure that is mine to tell. It is her secret that I know. But it was not freely given."

Arsul_T "I sought the answer without her consent."

Dionysus He nods, "Your question."

Arsul_T "You may have another question. I could not answer the last

Arsul_T ."

Dionysus He shrugs, "How is Arlie destructive?"

Arsul_T "He doesn't think before he acts. It leads us to trouble. However, he's usually good at getting out of it in the end. Even if it means fighting his way clear."

Dionysus "Impetuousness. I see. Your question."

Arsul_T jsut a sec, thinking

Arsul_T "How many of my children have died?"

Dionysus A pause, then after a few minutes, "I cannot sense fifteen of the twenty-three I used to sense. That does not mean there are not more."

• Arsul_T grimaces slightly. "That's many more then i ever thought." he sounds tired and sad suddenly

Dionysus "I am sorry, my brother. I had six myself, but only one has survived. She is... within an aura, like the treants. Tell me of Jack's holy blood."

• Arsul_T will explain what he can of Jack. (I forget some of the details)

Dionysus He's descended of the Messiah of Light's nephew, Crane.

Arsul_T "My children you can still sense, who are they? I know only of the daughter in Ienova, two boys in Myrmexia and my daughter Lucilla who I brought back from Mwyr Aeld."

Arsul_T I knew he was related to the Messiah but I wasn't sure of how the Crane's came in

Arsul_T Arsul would also describe his turning abilities but also that they've fallen by the wayside since we first met the Devil

Dionysus "There are two more in Maraddon, one in Kren'atan, & one who travels. The two in Maraddon are twins in the north. They are children still, but their mother died recently protecting them. They were taken in by Roma. The one in Kren'atan is a soldier, a corporal in the army. The one who travels... He is a priest of hatred."

• Arsul_T frowns. "Thank you brother. I want to try and meet them. All of them."

Dionysus "I wish you luck, brother. If you do, tell them they are welcome here if they need solace. Tell me of the athak."

Arsul_T "He was a prodigy among his people. But he grew tired of the rules of their music. He joined us after coming above ground. He hears voices he says. The void father and this other, the never. He is searching for the name of the never."

Dionysus "Ahh. Your question."

Arsul_T "Is there something special about the prophets in our family? You seemed unsurprised when you understood my ability."

Arsul_T :Is it a common gift among us?"

Dionysus "It reoccurs, as does mine, & as does Adam's. Domy's might as well, but he never lets me in his mind."

• Arsul_T nods

Dionysus "Others have different powers. Some can repress memories. Others can alter time lines with great power. One could do all of what we do & more, but he was killed long ago."

Arsul_T "I will ask about him after your next question."

Dionysus "Explain the silver arm."

Arsul_T "We helped to raise the new Sather. As a reward for our help we were each allowed to choose an item from their stores. I chose the arm for Magnum."

Dionysus "You--your question."

Arsul_T "Tell me of this ancestor with all abilities in one."

Dionysus "He was a full gatorman, of course, & he lived in the swamps of Taggarus. He was a leader of the tribes, a shaman of many gods, & very influential, but the Stillborn Champion itself came after him. He died horribly, they say, reduce to childhood, then eviscerated."

Dionysus "Tell me of the Never."

Arsul_T "He is a god of the planet Ie. He fled before our own God of Destruction. I know little else. We briefly met another of his followers while in Myrmexia(?)" he'll describe that interaction. "I know little aside from Sue's quest."

Dionysus Tamarnthek

Dionysus "Your question."

Arsul_T "You say that Domydoesn't let you in his mind. Do you come in mine?"

Arsul_T look, not come

Dionysus "Occassionally, though rarely."

• Arsul_T nods

Dionysus "Tell me about the Sather."

Arsul_T "The last one had grown mad from being exposed to our father's Sword. He died near the Mountain of Trials. The new one is a doppleganger but I'm not sure if he survived his assassination of Civitello, the lich mage."

Dionysus "I see. Your question."

Arsul_T "I hear the Sword of Movement is not in his hands any longer though. Perhaps the newest Sather has reclaimed it?"

Dionysus "I will assume that isn't your question, as you would know I've no way to answer it."

Arsul_T "No, it's not. Do you know Lucilla's ability?"

Dionysus "To repress memory."

• Sue (~bjm@c-69-255-26-20.hsd1.va.comcast.net) has joined #dunmanifestin
• Arsul_T nods

Dionysus A pegasus landsin the clearing. You hear it. Sue, Guiteau & Arsul are talking.

• Arsul_T turns to the sound. "Someone else has returned."
• Sue climbs down and carefully gets the box down.

Dionysus "Young Sue. Welcome back."

Dionysus "What do you bring"

Dionysus ?

Sue "A kidnapper and his prisoner, their positions now reversed."

Dionysus He frowns, looking over the box, "This is a machine."

Dionysus "A very unpleasant one. Explain, please."

Sue "Yes. Its creator is trapped within. The pegasus brought me to the vicinity of a cave where Katzenheim, the gnomish machinist, had built a deadly gauntlet of traps. I was captured, but escaped and captured him in his own machine. This was necessary to bypass his traps on my way out of the cave."

Dionysus He shakes his head, "The pegasus confirms much of this. He has violated our most sacred laws. By rights, he should be fed to the wolves."

Arsul_T "The gnome?"

Dionysus Guiteau says, "Yes."

Arsul_T "I'm glad you're safe Sue."

• Sue bows his head a degree. "He does not belong here - he never did. The Contest enticed him to come to Berellia, even though he had no hope of winning. With your permission, I would bring him with us when we leave, that he might redeem himself."

Arsul_T "How?"

Sue "Here he is an abomination. Elsewhere, he might be called a genius."

• Arsul_T nods

Dionysus Guiteau considers, then says, "Guarantee he will never return, & I will report nothing of him to my superiors."

• Sue touches his chin. "I can do that two ways. One is to imprison him until the Contest is over. The other is to give him a song."

Dionysus Guiteau frowns, "The latter is only acceptable if you guarantee he can be beaten in the final Contest."

Arsul_T "He will not win. We will."

• Sue smiles. "He has no chance against the Color, or against many others. His only claim to fame among musicians was a 'composing engine', but it was a fraud. Here is his engine'
• Sue smiles. "He has no chance against the Color, or against many others. His only claim to fame among musicians was a 'composing engine', but it was a fraud. Here is his 'engine'." He gestures to the other athak.

Dionysus Mux blushes, but only Sue can tell.

Arsul_T "What is it, Sue?"

• Sue pauses. "Oh, sorry. His engine was actually a box with an athak in it. My fellow apprentice, in fact, Muxiat Solgheraq."

Dionysus Mux bows, then says in broken Maraddonian, "Pleasure meeting."

Arsul_T "Oh. It is a pleasure Muxiat." he grins. "Ah yes, I remember you now. I'm glad you've been freed."

Dionysus "You."

Arsul_T "Right. Maybe you'll translate Sue?"

Sue "Of course."

• Sue translates anything Mux has trouble understanding, or wants to say.

Dionysus Mux says nothing more, really