Patchwork Universe

Dr Jewel · Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 4:39 pm Post subject: Middle of the Patch

Dr Jewel emerged from the kitchen wall and found herself standing on the road to the west of the pub. She looked around, blinking in the light.

To the north she could see the new building. It appeared suspiciously twenty-first centuryish and she decided that she needed to take a good look at it soon.

But first - the dragon.

Jewel moved a little further from the pub and looked up and around, trying to work out where it had gone.

Jones · Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 9:27 pm Post subject:

As Dr Jewel looked around she saw a figure running at some speed in her direction. It was Jones, the publican, carrying a huge axe. His eyes were fixed on the burning pub and it took him a moment to notice Dr Jewel. When he did, he skidded to halt and gasped out a few words:
"Miss, sorry I don't recall your name, can you tell me what's happening at the pub?"

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 349 Location: The Museum

[OOC: moving from "Outside: A Dragon Dices with Death"]

Dr. Odom noticed Dr. Jewel and Jones and started to work his way toward them. He kept watching for the dragon, all around and overhead.

Dr Jewel · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 7:39 am Post subject:

"A dragon set fire to it." Jewel replied. "I think the beast is still up there as well." She pointed into the sky. "Fortunately none of the family were hurt and they're sorting out a bucket chain to deal with the burning."

She looked up again.

"Being a ghost, I couldn't help with the water." She said, sadly. "So I'm trying to find the dragon instead before it causes more damage."

She suddenly realised that Dr Odom was coming towards them.

"Dr Odom's planning and take it down with the wand he's carrying." She pulled an empty-handed expression at Odom to explain she hadn't see the dragon again, yet. "And Juniper was going to hunt for more weaponry to use against it, although I think she's now got her hands full with the damage to the pub."

Jones · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 4:52 pm Post subject:

Jones peered into the sky. It's surprising how hard it is to spot something even as large as a dragon and hie eyes watered uncomfortably.

"A dragon," he asked, out loud. "That's not something you'd expect to come out of the first level... unless... was it that fellow Kalyndis?" He turned to Odom to add: "The one threatening you in my bar? I thought we'd got him calmed down."

Glaring, the publican added:
"I don't appreciate it burning down half my pub, whoever it was, any more that I like people digging their station things in my farm." Pausing he added more thoughtfully:
"You said none of my family were hurt, miss. What about the customers? That poor lass with cold-burn, for example, is she alright?"

Dr Jewel · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 6:06 pm Post subject:

"The girl with cold-burn will be fine, I think." Jewel said slowly. "She was being treated in the kitchen and they didn't look too concerned. However... well, there's no good way of saying this. Father Michael is dead. He was burned to death by the dragon."

She gazed up in the sky again.

"I can't believe that Kalyndis would do that. Particularly as he seemed to have no quarrel with Father Michael at all. And yet, I'm worried that there would just happen to be one other dragon coming out of the dungeon. Particularly as there is now no sign of Kalyndis."

Jones · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:25 pm Post subject:

"I'm sorry to hear that," Jones said, bowing his head.

He wondered whether to mention to the woman some of the things he suspected about death. But it wouldn't do to raise her hopes fruitlessly.

"The priest was a good man, at least what I saw of him. I grieve his passing. But if there is a dragon on the rampage that must be attended to first."

"So, this gentleman," he nodded at Odom, "has a wand. I have my axe and i see you carry a blade. But a dragon will require more than this." He paused for thought and then continued. "A dragon is a creature of fire and air, vulnerable to water and earth. Perhaps if we could lead it to a sea we might be able to drown it... tell me, have you passed through any expanses of water recently?"

Dr Jewel · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:53 pm Post subject:

Dr Jewel considered this for a moment.

"No." She said, getting out her map. "But I copied this down from the place with the map of symbols, do you know it? Anyway I would guess that two steps to the West and East both have water."

She looked back up.

"I wish it would come back into view." She remarked. "I don't like the fact that there's a huge fire-breathing dragon out there and we can't even see it."

Jewel glanced around at ground level again. After all, if the dragon had shapeshifted, there was no telling who or what it might now be. Her eye fell on the modern building again.

"Did you say that hole was caused by a station being built?" She suddenly remembered. "Does that mean it's an underground station? What's it doing here anyway?"

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:57 pm Post subject:

Lady Violetta appeared to be undulging in a fit of uncertainty since she came out of the kitchen door, went back in again, and the re-emerged. The diminuitive woman was carrying her clothes, and seemed to be doing her best to conceal herself beneath a large blanket, a process not exactly aided by the large steaming mug of tea she had in her hands. Smiling shyly at Jones and the Doctors, she took a seat on a nearby bench, breathing heavily. She looked very worn out, and as if she might burst into tears at any moment. At least her hair now seemed to have thawed out.

Jones · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:49 pm Post subject:

Jones nodded in Violetta's direction and thence up to the first floor of the pub where the bucket brigade had come out through the attics to dowse the roof with water before turning his attention back to Dr Jewel.

"Station is what it says it is, but I've no notion as to what that may mean. Jonestown Station is written up outside this new building and aside from taking liberties with my name I don't know what its about."

"Back to the dragon though, it's useful you've copies the map. Although I have to say we can't rely on everything being in the same orientation." Thinking back to what he had seen the work crew doing an idea struck Jones and glancing back to the burning pub, he suddenly beamed with delight.
"I've an idea as to what might help though," he said. "Excuse me for just a minute. I'll be back soon."

ooc: Jones now heads back inside the pub.

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 11:23 pm Post subject:

Observing the burning roof, Lady Violetta was struck with a sudden thought and placing her clothes in a neatish pile beside her, she started leafing through the book to see if there were any spells that might cause a large quantity of water to fall on the roof.

Kalyndis · Good Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 188 Location: Kerya

Dr Odom was the first to notice a glint of gold off by the barns to the southeast, maybe a mile away. A dragon was crouched on the ground near a milling group of humans. In the sunlight it looked smaller and paler than the terrible monster that had struck in the darkness.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 349 Location: The Museum

Lips tightened to a thin, tight line and eyes narrowed more than just against the returned sun, Dr. Odom set off at a sprint. The uneven ground gave him a little trouble, but he had run from the 38th floor to the Commissary often enough that if he did not twist an ankle he ought to be within range of the dragon in a minute or two.

Jones · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 11:14 am Post subject:

Jones came running out of the pub a moment later. He didn't seem to have noticed the dragon but was thrusting something into the hands of passing members of the bucket chain.

Seeing Lady Violetta, he crossed to her side and handed her a short stick.
"Mangrove Wand," he explained quickly. "Directs a blast of water. The narrow end is the one to point with. Use it if the dragon comes back."

He had obviously provided other members of the bucket chain with similar items because they were now pointing wands of their own at the smoking roof. The jets of water were quickly putting out the remains of the fire.

Leaving Violetta behind, Jones hastened to join Dr Jewel and, en route, spotted the golden form of the dragon and Dr Odom chasing towards it. Falling into pace with Dr Jewel he showed her two wands, both held in his left fist.
"Mangrove wand, shoots water, Cedar wand, wind," he explained as they ran. "Let's see if we can get rid of this thing, eh?"

Dr Jewel · Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:45 pm Post subject:

"Good idea." Jewel said.

She kept pace with him, aware that Dr Odom was ahead of them.

"Amazing what a difference sunlight makes." She remarked. "That thing seemed twice the size in the dark."