Patchwork Universe

The Janitor · Posted: 03 Mar 2004 02:59 pm Post subject: Sign of the times

At the edge of the clearing a man in lightweight grey clothes emerged from the dense forest. From a sack he pulled a large brass arrow, which he then nailed to a tree such that it was facing east.

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 64 Location: Kerya

Most of the villagers were crowded around Petra, but a few had stayed by the fire. One of these noticed the Janitor.

He growled and pointed, "Look! Another stranger!"

Two of his companions picked up spits lying by the fire and took a few slow steps towards the Janitor. Some of the group near Petra turned their heads. Then for a moment everything was still except for the dancing flames and one solitary butterfly, bright orange and black, that came fluttering down as if curious to see what all the fuss was about.

The Janitor · Posted: 11 Mar 2004 09:17 am Post subject:

Seeing that he had attracted attention the man turned to face the villagers.

He pointed to the arrow then the group surrounding Petra.

"It's for travellers who are lost."

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 64 Location: Kerya

The lizardmen scratched their heads. One of them said, in a deep, guttural voice, "But no travellers ever come here."

The butterfly landed on the sign, feelers twitching rapidly.

The Janitor · Posted: 11 Mar 2004 05:41 pm Post subject:

"Ah, well, it's just in case. If you do get travellers you can point them at the sign."

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 64 Location: Kerya

The lizardman looked at the Janitor with puzzlement but did not respond. His comrades appeared to have lost interest. As the butterfly fluttered up into the tree, they shuffled back towards the fire.

The Janitor · Posted: 15 Mar 2004 05:23 pm Post subject:

Aparently satisfied that the lizards were not going to cause problems, the man turned and headed into the jungle.

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 64 Location: Kerya

The butterfly fluttered off in the direction the Janitor had gone

Shortly thereafter, a lizardman came running down the path behind the Janitor.

"I'm sorry about all that, but the villagers aren't used to strangers. Are you with the humans who were washed up to the east of here?"

This lizardman was altogether different from the other villagers -- taller and more slender, with fine copper-coloured scales quite unlike their coarse, grey-green skin. His brows flared into horns that curved back along the sides of his head, and his eyes were a glittering green. He wore a loose wrap of white cotton.

The Janitor · Posted: 16 Mar 2004 05:34 pm Post subject:

The man stopped and turned.

"Ah, well, not exactly. But I'm sort-of responsible for them. That is why I've been putting up the signs. In case they get lost you see."

The man peered at the lizardman.

"In fact, you might find following them to be educational."

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 64 Location: Kerya

Responsible for them? Could he be their owner?

The lizardman bows. "Forgive my lack of manners and allow me to introduce myself. I am Kalyndis, son of Kalmerrynd and Bhrhthaon. Might I ask who I have the honour of addressing?"

The Janitor · Posted: 23 Mar 2004 01:31 pm Post subject:

"Ah, well, that's a bit complicated you see. It falls to me to clear up problems and keep a certain amount of order. Most refer to me as the Janitor."

"I hope I have not caused you any inconvenience with the sign. It seemed the simplest solution as people do seem to be getting rather lost these days."

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 64 Location: Kerya

"Don't worry about the sign, the villagers don't seem to mind. Might I ask who refers to you as the Janitor? There seem to be people around here -- not to mention landscapes -- that I have never met before. And where does the sign direct these lost travellers to?"

The Janitor · Posted: 23 Mar 2004 11:56 pm Post subject:

"As to who calls me the Janitor, well, mainly the more longstanding inhabitants of these landscapes. Now, as to the landscapes themselves, that is rather the point of the signs. They are intended to lead lost travellers to a place from which the composition of the lands may be clearer."

Kalyndis · Average Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 64 Location: Kerya

"That would indeed be useful. Tell me, Janitor, if you will, why are these surrounding landscapes--" Kalyndis makes a sweeping gesture from west to east -- "not the forests that were there yesterday? I know some of the northern elders were dabbling with temporal magic -- has there been some calamitous accident?"

The Janitor · Posted: 29 Mar 2004 08:35 am Post subject:

"Not an accident as such. Things have just been... rearranged. The land your are standing on is no longer where it once was."

"Others could probably tell you more of how and why. The one called Kao Sheng likes to go on about things at great length. I just get left to clear up the mess when things go wrong."