Patchwork Universe

Jones · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 9:42 pm Post subject:

"Then that is Kalyndis?" Jones the publican had turned to look at Kao Sheng and was now surprised into speech. "He really is a dragon? But didn't he kill the priest?"

The oriental sage's unusual brevity appeared to have completely confused Jones, who looked back at Dr Jewel for her take on this.

Dr Jewel · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 10:13 pm Post subject:

"Or do you mean that his body killed Father Michael, but he wasn't in control?"

Jewel could remember the Temple of the Birds although, there, she had been in control. Just not in control of herself.

She looked across at Dr Odom. Jewel wondered whether her friend could even hear the exchange above the wind. She also worried about how he would take this unexpected twist of events. Not least because it deprived him of an obvious action on behalf of the dead priest.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 350 Location: The Museum

Dr. Odom pressed forward a few steps through the whirling gale, trying to get a better look at what was going on but still mindful of the danger of getting too close.

Kao Sheng · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 7:28 am Post subject:

"Fairest lady, I believe you perceive the balance of the synthesis," Kao Sheng replied, looking anxiously towards the continuing melee.

Jones · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 11:11 am Post subject:

The troll's struggles were weakening. The dragon's grip on its neck had hampered the passage of air through its throat and its wild struggles had left it with little strength left.

The dragon was holding on like grim death and the whirling wind and water had died away so that the ring of observers had a clear view as the troll finally went limp and the dragon lifted its golden head to look around.

Jones gripped his axe tightly, ready for action.

Dr Jewel · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 12:35 pm Post subject:

Jewel realised that she had run out of time. Deciding to trust to Kao Sheng, she ran to Dr Odom's side.

"Wait." She said. "There's a... god here, he says that Kalyndis wasn't responsible for Michael's death. That Kalyndis, the gold dragon here, wasn't in charge of the decision." She hurried on, aware that she was starting to babble. "Just as I lost my normal physical shape in the bird jungle, Kalyndis lost his normal mental state when this patch went dark."

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

The dragon slumped down on top of the troll's corpse, looking somewhat the worse for wear. His golden scales were covered with mud. Scorch marks ran along his back. One of his wings was neatly furled, but the other trailed limply on the ground.

His body was not much larger than that of a horse, but bulkier, muscled more like a great cat; his tail and neck were each as long again. He did not look at all like the red monster that had slain Father Michael. On the other hand, he was unmistakably a dragon.

Large emerald eyes traversed the audience.

In injured tones, he asked "Would someone please tell me what's going on?"

That storm came out of nowhere. Did someone drop a thunderbolt on me, or was it an accident?

Jones · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 12:56 pm Post subject:

Jones' eyes widened as the dragon spoke but he was the first to gain the presence of mind to address it. Still holding his axe at the ready he demanded in a powerful voice:

"What is the last thing you remember?"

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

"I remember we were all in your house when the sky went black, and then we went out to deal with some ghosts, and then we were attacking a giant --" he prodded the corpse beneath him -- " something like this troll here, but larger. You were there with your axe, and your son Jack, I believe, and that fellow Michael. Then... er..."

Darkness. Darkness and flame.

Kalyndis shook his head as if to dislodge an errant thought.

"Then the sun was out again, and I was flying along, and I saw these people here busy with this troll. We can't just let the lesser races squash each other, you know," he finished with forced joviality.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 237 Location: The Zoo

"Oh well, I'm so glad we're all friends again now," interrupted a soaked and muddy Trubshawe, who had taken the opportunity afforded by the lull in violence to pick himself up off the ground.

"Myself and the pirate captain had this creature well in hand, and then you blithering idiots" - he gestured in a wide arc to encompass all possible perpetrators - "had to storm in and ruin everything. What a magnificent addition it would have made to the Zoo. But now I imagine it will be chopped up in Jones' kitchens and sold to gullible travellers as finest beef stew. A crying waste." [/i]

Dr Jewel · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 4:50 pm Post subject:

Jewel decided she recognised the arrogant tones of the man she had met in the pub.

"Lesser races?" She echoed, not really expecting an answer.

She then turned to Trubshawe.

"You wanted to catch a troll for your zoo?"

She gave Magpie a small smile, operating under the hope that the mad troll-catching plan had been entirely Trubshawe's.

Then she turned back to where Kao Sheng was standing.

"Could you explain what happened again, please?" She said, slightly pleadingly. "Erm.. I'm afraid I don't know your name, sir."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 350 Location: The Museum

Dr. Odom eyed Dr. Jewel with disbelief. "You're defending this thing?!? This beast killed Michael -- Father Michael," Dr. Odom corrected himself, "and I want it dead! I can hardly excuse it just because someone says it's that arrogant young bully from the bar!

"Don't you see? Michael was a visitor here and we -- you and I! -- were the Guides who brought him here!"

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 237 Location: The Zoo

"I certainly did want to, madam!" Trubshawe retorted, unwilling to abandon his dispute just because there were two or three others going on simultaneously. "And would have, given half a chance!

"Just what do you believe a Zoo is for, if not the collection, study and preservation of rare and unusual creatures? Of ALL such creatures, Dr Jewel, not just the ones you fail to develop a homicidal bloodlust for! Talking of which" - he ran a covetous gaze over Kalyndis' draconic form -
"I can think of much more suitable destinations for this impressive specimen than taxidermy..."

Dr Jewel · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 5:38 pm Post subject:

"I know. I'm truly sorry that I lead Father Michael here. I do feel responsible." Jewel bowed her head. "But the person inside the dragon now wasn't the one there when it killed Michael. This," she waved at the dragon, "wasn't the murderer."

She looked briefly across at Kao Sheng for some voiced confirmation or support, but turned quickly back to William Odom.

"Remember the Jungle of the Birds? Something like that happened to the dragon. If you kill it now another transformation has occurred, you won't be killing the being responsible for Michael's death."

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 237 Location: The Zoo

"Father Michael is dead?" asked Trubshawe blankly, catching up to the main thrust of the conversation at last.

I was Dr Odom and Dr Jewel's companion before they cast me aside in favour of the God-botherer, he thought to himself. The dragon's victim could quite easily have been me!

Thanking his lucky stars he continued:

"I'm sure you're right, Dr Jewel, and no jury in the land would convict this ravening beast, red in tooth and claw, of anything untoward. But you say 'the being responsible for Michael's death' like you know of another one."

Trubshawe thought he knew what she was getting at too. The self-styled Gods of this place, who else?