Patchwork Universe

Kao Sheng · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 6:38 pm Post subject:

Kao Sheng regarded the ensuing argument with slight dismay.

"If this humble philosopher, who would if time allowed be exceedingly honoured to introduce himself as Kao Sheng, might make a slight interjection at this juncture," he said mildly, "the insightful Doctor Jewel does indeed have the measure of the situation. In this place, it is under some circumstances possible for travellers to become subject to temporary yet uncontrollable changes of an unexpected and often highly disconcerting nature, particularly if the unfortunate subject of the event is far from home."

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

"So this creature is allowed to get away with murder because it was temporarily insane? All the more reason to kill it before it kills again in another little fit of oh-so-forgivable insanity!"

Dr Jewel · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:13 pm Post subject:

Jewel was on the verge of giving up. She had tried to explain what she thought had happened to Kalyndis and it had not helped. Perhaps the Jungle of Birds comparison had not been a useful one; after all she had not lost her mind, merely assumed a new shape.

She stared rather hopelessly at Dr Odom. Jewel could not fault him for wanting to bring Father Michael's killer to justice. Particularly as he was right about the two of them being responsible for Michael even coming here in the first place.

Additionally, she could sense another problem building fast. Any minute now the dragon would react to Trubshawe's thinly-veiled remark that he wanted to put it in a cage. From a creature that already referred to humans as one of the "lesser races" such a response was to be feared.

Jones · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:20 pm Post subject:

Jones had listened to the debate with a strangely blank expression. At a couple of points his gaze had flickered towards Kao Sheng. Eventually he took a deep breath and turned to face Odom.

"Doctor," he said. "If you want to look for the true murderer of the priest, I think you will find that although he stands among us, it is, as this lady says, not the dragon."

"In this place, monsters live underground and it's kill or be killed with them. But never before has the world above ground been plagued with them. Look to the first event, gentlefolk and I think you will come to agree that our troubles have but one cause."

"I say, that if Father Michael is dead it is because the Gods wish him to be."

Slowly he turned his head to fix Kao Sheng with a cold look.

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

"What is going on here?!?" Dr. Odom raged. "This animal is demonstrably murderous and now that's also acceptable because someone else is responsible? Now I'm supposed to let a savage animal run loose while I try to make some gods answer for its actions?"

Kao Sheng · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 10:21 pm Post subject:

Kao Sheng met Jones's gaze calmly.

"Such a profound remark might be taken to be mere philosophical speculation, even if not intended as such," he replied sadly, "But, O stalwart Mister Jones, although I sympathise with your hostility I must ask you to consider that it is a great claim indeed to place the responsibility for anything at the door of any one person, and to attribute it to forces which you consider beyond your control might be considered by some to be somewhat evasive.

"In any event," he continued, "I sincerely urge each of you to allow a few moments of reflection in which to consider your actions and the future consequences thereof, both to yourselves and to others, for the step that is taken in haste may often go awry."

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

To students of draconic physiognomy, an expression of increasing puzzlement would have been obvious on Kalyndis's face as he followed the conversation around him. He ignored Trubshawe, assuming the zookeeper must be referring to the troll as a desired acquisition. He had also initially assumed that the troll had killed Father Michael -- they had, after all, been fighting a similar beast together -- but this interpretation could not be maintained.

Sounding now rather aggrieved, he said, "Could someone please tell me what happened to Michael? If I did kill him, I have no recollection of it, and cannot imagine why I would. After all, he never called me a vicious, brutish, stupid predator. He seemed both polite and brave."

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

"Yes, polite. Brave, too, to follow strangers to a place they understood little better than he did. And trusting. The man who entered the bar just before it-all-fell-down told us that you killed Michael. Poor trusting Michael is now a charred corpse."

Dr. Odom had begun to advace slowly on Kalyndis. While he was speaking evenly, his voice was rising, as was the wand in his hand.

"If you are that young thug from the bar -- and I have seen far too many strange things in the past day to think that impossible -- then 'polite' and 'brave' are not attributes I would have granted you. As big and strong as you appear to be, I would say it was certainly vicious and brutish rather than polite or, most definitely, brave to kill such a man!"

Dr. Odom was now well within what he thought must be the danger area. His hair and clothing were wet and disheveled, but at this range Kalyndis could see that the moisture welling in Dr. Odom's eyes had little to do with the recent chaos. Kalyndis could easily kill Dr. Odom at this range, but then Dr. Odom could hardly miss if he had time to use the wand.

Dr. Odom's voice dropped so that only the closest witnesses could make out what he said next, only stern self-control keeping his voice from breaking.

"What gives a bully such as you the right to live after murdering such a man as you admit he was after knowing him even less than I did?"

Dr Jewel · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 7:17 am Post subject:

Jewel moved two steps to put her next to William Odom. She would not be able to stop him if he did attack Kalyndis again, but she hoped it was not going to happen.

She looked across to the dragon. Jewel wondered how long it would take for Kalyndis to accept that the gap in his memories held Michael's death. Wondered what he would do and say when he did.

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

Trubshawe had been kneeling by the corpse of the troll, using a scraper and a test tube to take some sort of sample. He stoppered the tube and placed it in an inside pocket before yelling over to Odom:

"If that creature is Kalyndis - and I have to say I don't quite understand how, but if it is - then whatever he's done he has the right of a fair trial. It looks as though we have our prosecution and defence counsels ready made, but if, ahem, temporary accommodation for the accused were required in the meantime I would be only too happy to oblige. I can't imagine anyone else has rooms purpose-built to contain dangerous predators, after all?"

Jones · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 12:00 pm Post subject:

"As to that, Mr Trubshawe, I believe I can supply a similar service," Jones said dryly. "And if we're to discuss the matter together perhaps we'd best return to the pub in any case. From the looks of it my family have finished dowsing the fire - a fire that the dragon caused - and they may be able to add more detail about the events in the darkness."

Looking towards Odom and Jewel he added:
"Dr Odom? The weapon the lady has is enough to keep the dragon in check. Kalyndis, you may trust me that she could do you a lot of damage with it and you'd not be able to touch her. That being so perhaps you can change back into a man and come with us to the bar so we can find out what happened. Is that acceptable to people?"

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

When this little man had insulted his race the first time, Kalyndis had been angered. But now he realised the man was simply mad, and thus his remarks could not really be taken seriously.

"Has it occurred to you that if I was the murderous beast you claim, shouting further insults at me might not be the wisest course of action? Perhaps instead someone else could give me answers to my simple question: how did Michael die? The eloquent Kao Sheng can apparently provide complex answers, but simple answers would be more useful to start with. So, honourable Jones and estimable Jewel, I ask if one or both of you can explain." He looked measuringly at Dr Jewel. "Then I might accede to your politely worded threat."

Dr Jewel · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 2:30 pm Post subject:

"Father Michael was burned to death by a dragon." Jewel stated with a slight catch in her voice. "His body is over there." She pointed. "We plan to give him a proper burial. One of Jones' kinsmen saw it happen."

She took a non-existent breath and continued.

"The dragon in question then attacked Dr Odom. It flicked its tail at him. I watched that through my own eyes. Next it set fire to the inn roof. If you look over there, you can still see the smoke, although I think they've managed to put the actual flames out by now. At that point the light came back."

She glanced at Kao Sheng.

"Kao Sheng has said that the dragon in question was you, but under the influence of something else. Given that his explanation ties in with the loss of memory you have displayed in your own account, between being in the pub and being here, it seems a plausible one."

She tightened both fists, one still on the spirit blade, glad to have finished her account of events.

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

Trubshawe snorted at Jones' suggestion.

"I'd say that your facilities have proven singularly unsuccessful at keeping dangerous beasts under lock and key, Jones! Still, if you must insist on undertaking like a ham-handed amateur tasks best left to experts, don't come crying to me the next time your pub burns down.

"In any case, I wholeheartedly approve of this idea of yours to go back inside - I think I've spent enough time in this muddy field for one day - and perhaps there we can decide whether we have gods or dragons to blame for our present woes."

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

"Hmm."

The dragon shivered, and within a few moments his body shrank into the shape of the young man from the pub, complete with mud-stained white robe.

"You're quite sure, Jones, Kao Sheng, that there isn't another dragon in this territory? If not, it seems I must offer you all my apologies."