Patchwork Universe

Jones · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 2:36 pm Post subject: The Black Rider

ooc: From Jones: 'Leaving Home'

From the mists to the west came a rider in black, on a black horse. Charging across the green turf of Alcos they came to a halt as the rider reined in. It was a young woman and she looked around with amazement.

"I'm still here," she said to herself. "I mean, I'm still somewhere." Suddenly she laughed out loud. "I didn't vanish! Dad was making it up. I'm real, Buccaneer. I'm real!"

The horse bent down to crop the grass philosophically. If he had been more than a simple horse he might have thought that his new mistress was as unhinged as his last one.

Karl Groever · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:50 pm Post subject:

As Karl passed through to the other side of the mist, the first thing that he set eyes upon was the black horse...and its rider. 'See, Jane, you did it.' he called to her. 'I told you that you could...your father held you back from coming here all these years...and yet, you were only fearing what he told...you?' Karl's momentary excitement seemed to turn abruptly to bafflement, and then grim certainty. As he had half suspected, the stones he had thrown were no longer present on this side of the barrier. They did not lie upon the verge.
'He tried to convince you that nothing could exist beyond the boundaries of his own domain...' Karl mumbled, half to himself. Abruptly, he reached into his bag, and produced one of the stones that he had deposited there, back in Jones's Patch. 'What the ?...'
At that moment, Larkin stepped into the picture.

Larkin Quickgrip · Strong Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Slums

Larkin stepped through, still sniggering slightly at Karls turn of phrase, however he quickly stopped. As mentioned somewhere earlier, Larkin had a rather acute sense of danger and it had just gone off link nothing he had ever felt before. Turning to look behind him he saw that the mist appeared to be much thicker than usual and he was unable to see through.

Looking back at his two companions he said "Come on, lets just do the job and get the reward. Ive got a bad feelin." Looking up at Jane he added "Oh yeah an well done fer not vanishin." as an afterthought.

Then looking decidedly spooked he turned to the South and set a quick pace.

Jones · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 1:15 pm Post subject:

Jane too has noticed that the mist seemed darker behind them but Larkin's quick change of the subject and setting the pace south made her forget the moment of fear and she turned instead to Karl.

"Have you noticed anything unusual about this place," she said. "Larkin doesn't seem to have but..." She pointed up to where the Academy floated above them. "That is definitely strange," she said, her expresion was a mixture of awe and delight.

Karl Groever · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:09 pm Post subject:

'Remarkable,' Karl breathed, as he gazed up at the floating isle. 'But then, aren't most things in this place? Of course, Jane, you're unused to the change. It shocked me when I first encountered it, too, and I wouldn't say that I've lost my sense of wonder just yet. Larkin, on the other hand, seems like a very old hand at all this. So, maybe we'll have to keep on with him, and come back and explore this place later.'
Karl then added 'He does seem to be in something of a hurry. Has a day to complete his task, apparently. You came for some adventure, ma demoiselle. It may have to wait a little while, but I'll wager it'll find us sooner rather than later. Each of these patches of space appears able to hold anything, regardless of the fact that the size of the place seems circumscribed. We've been lucky...from one pastoral idyll back home to another here...although one where the normal laws of gravitation do not appear to hold. But my first journey was to a living hell of a place, a fetid, evolving jungle...or so it seemed. And were you ever to set foot in my City, or the surrounding Desert, well, best you do it with me, Jane.'

Karl's musing drew to a momentary stop. He took another tack, keeping a close eye on Larkin's retreating figure in the near distance. 'You didn't happen to see any stones come through the Mist, did you?' he asked Jane. 'I was just trying an experiment.' Karl looked back at the bank of mist behind him. It seemed oddly darker than before. Momentarily puzzled, he took a few paces back in the direction of the mist, reached his fingers out briefly towards it... 'If I were to go back across this boundary briefly, try it again,'.

As Karl's fingers tangled into the yielding mist, he suddenly became aware of a low noise, growling and determined at the edge of his hearing. Then, without warning : something reared up on the other side of the boundary, appeared to smash against it, in an effort to reach Karl - he had a brief glimpse of teeth, jointed sinews, bulbous eyes. Let out a momentary cry of astonishment, and tumbled backwards, onto the verge, covering his face with his hands in self - defence. To his immense relief, there was no follow -through; whatever had been on the other side had fallen back. He was too shaken to begin to realise what the encounter seemed to portend.

Larkin Quickgrip · Strong Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Slums

Larkin heard the cry and in a moment had his knife out and was back with the other two in less than a second. Looking at the fallen Karl he said "Whats up, what happened?"

Karl briefly explained about the monster and this proved to Larkin that something was going on "I knew it. Somethins happenin at Jones'. Come on." He held out a slightly grubby palm and helped up the man.

He then turned around and speeding up slightly continued southward. It was at this time that it occured to him just how authorative he was acting "But hell" he thought to himself "So long as it gets the job done faster." He just hoped that the other two would take his lead.

Jones · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 12:51 am Post subject:

Jane rode after Larkin, slowly at first but picking up speed as she progressed. Her replies to her companions were taciturn, her mind occupied with a fug of denial, shame and anger.

'It's not my fault', she thought to herself. 'Why should anything have happened just because I left? Father lied to me, anyway.'

What she was trying not to think about was a slow creeping worry that it was not herself but her home that had vanished when she crossed the boundary.

Kicking Buccaneer into a fast trot she followed Larkin south, trying to bring her mind around to concentrate on the thief's quest.

Karl Groever · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:05 pm Post subject:

Karl kept pace with the others. The adrenaline rush had dissipated now. But his mind was still whirling. First, the stones failed to cross the boundary, Karl thought to himself, and then Larkin's 'monster', or whatever the horror on the other side of the boundary had been. Now, he was recovered from his initial shock, that fact was starting to seem more and more significant.
Karl was also worried for Jones and the mass of individuals left behind in the previous patch. What could be happening to them, if bulbous eyed beasts were suddenly sullying its green and pleasant pasturage? He worried for Jane. too. It seemed likely that they might have to come back this way, return to Jones's and hope the situation had not deteriorated too far in their absence. Perhaps, Karl thought, time slips might work in our favour this time round? But, for the moment, Larkin seemed hell bent on his quest. Karl was still uncertain as to whether he wholly believed in these mysterious Gods or not, and doubly uncertain, because from what Jones had said, his namesake - whoever he truly was - had been involved in a War against them. Maybe they were not to be trusted, or maybe, the other Karl Groever was not to be trusted. He had no clear idea of the answer. But Larkin evidently believed in the God, and feared for the outcome of the quest, and that seemed enough to Karl, for the moment, to urge him onward. For the sake of curiosity...and not a little awe.

Larkin Quickgrip · Strong Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Slums

Larkin reached the mist to the south and turned round to the other two and practically yelled "Would yers hurry up!"

Larkin had in fact noticed the floating academy. However, rather recently he had decided that the impossible was probably quite possible somewhere in the universe. He had also decided that if he had the time he would probably kick back and marvel at them.

However he didn't think he had the time and he had probably left Yarrow waiting just a bit too long now.

Besides, it was his job and it wouldn't look too good if the head of the job had to keep stopping for a spot of sight-seeing.

Peri · God Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 56 Location: Terminus

[ooc: from "Further Peregrinations"]

As he waited, a girl with a large rucksack came dashing up to him. "Hello. Are you travelling?" she panted. "So am I. Can I come along? You're - er, you look like you're on your way to somewhere interesting."

Karl Groever · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 1:40 am Post subject:

Karl had noticed the newcomer standing beside Larkin. She looked harmless enough, but he knew that it always paid to be careful. Surreptitously, he removed the peperbox, secreted it within the palm of his hand as he came closer. 'Good day. ma demoiselle,' he greeted her, insouciant, 'and who might you be? Do you live in this place?'

Peri · God Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 56 Location: Terminus

Peri laughed. "No, I'm not from here. What is it, the hair? I suppose at the moment I don't really live anywhere. I'm an explorer." Her wary eyes, looking Karl up and down, contrasted with her carefree voice. "I've been travelling on my own for a while," she went on, "so I just thought I'd say hello."

Karl Groever · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 5:16 pm Post subject:

'I see,' Karl murmured. 'That is perhaps only to be expected, I suppose. I've said it before, but I hold by the idea that this network of worlds is some kind of haven for lost souls...wandering ever and anon.'
'I'm sorry, I don't mean to brood, but I have recently had a number of rather personal shocks to my system, and am still a little on edge, ma demoiselle. I am Herr Karl Groever, of the City of Constant, archaeologist and adventurer, not to be confused with any other Karl Groever that you may encounter about these territories someplace' he added, ruefully, then shook his head and laughed.
'If it's questing you're after then you have found the right party. But the man to talk to is my associate here,' Karl nodded in Larkin's direction 'he is masterminding the current mission and knows- to at least a vague extent - what the point of it is. But whether you'll get much out of him at the moment is an open question - he's a little preoccupied. We may also be wanting some proof that you bear us goodwill, and mean us no harm, of course', he finished.
'Now, if you'll excuse me a moment,' he turned from the girl, and began to wander over in Jane's direction.

Jones · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 6:00 pm Post subject:

Jane nodded to the woman from the top of her horse in a distracted way.
"I'm Jane," she said, flipping a hand in a casual salute. "And that's Larkin. I don't mind if you want to trvale along with us but it's Larkin who's in charge and he's in a bit of a hurry. He's on a mission, you see..."

Avoiding Karl's solicitous look she urged the horse on at a trot towards Larkin and when she came alongside him asked quietly:
"What do you think, Larkin. Do you mind if she comes along with us? She looks a bit lonely."
Her expression showed that perhaps she shared the feelings of isolation she imagined the newcomer to have.

Larkin Quickgrip · Strong Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Slums

Larkin had given the newcomer a quick absent-minded nod while the others talked. Now however he glared momentarily at the woman on horseback before sighing and giving a slight shrug.

Stepping back from the girl he said "Yeah sure yer can come. Its a free multiverse." He took a deep breath and looking slightly preoccupied said "Course a name would be nice. An yeah any proof yer not gonna cut our heads off in our sleep like Karl says?"

Larkin then stepped forward and gave her quite an appraising look, just like the one she had given Karl earlier. "Oh yeah an me names Larkin Quickgrip of the Slums by the way"