What Time Remembered (formerly Generic Text Adventure)

[raekuul]

You find a woman sitting at a desk. Capricorn explains to her what happened, and she instructs you to lie down on one of the beds and rest as she works at cleansing the bite. "It's a good thing Capricorn brought you to me before you tried to cure yourself. Shadow Wolf venom is tricky to cleanse out of a system, and if people just heal themselves magically before getting the venom out it makes it harder to get over the effects."

Status:
23 HP
9 MP
90 EXP to next level
Ambient Magic: 30%

Inventory:
Waterskin (Full)
Food Rations (5)
Tribal Spear
Combat Hammer
Sword
History of the Five Kingdoms
The Tauropedia

Spellbook:
Summon Fey (5 MP)
Mana Arrow (1 MP)
Obscuring Mists (3 MP)
Freezing Mists (7 MP)
Burninate (8 MP)
Paralytic Flare (5 MP)
Light Bolt (2 MP)
Light Shower (5 MP)
Star Cure (Ritual)

[itisally]

Well I was glad for the good advice then.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

The medicine that the woman applies to your leg stings a fair bit and is quite smelly. You feel something being drained from the wounds. "This ointment isn't very pleasant, but the alternative is leeches and I don't want to waste perfectly good leeches on something like this." The woman must have seen the expression on your face. "I'll bandage this once the venom's neutralized, then we'll let you lie down. I'm Sagittarius Istari, by the way, and the second-in-command healer - but my birth name is Jane. Sagittarius is normally in charge of the infirmary, but he's meeting with Gemini and Taurus right now."

Status:
24 HP
12 MP
90 EXP to next level
Ambient Magic: 30%

Inventory:
Waterskin (Full)
Food Rations (5)
Tribal Spear
Combat Hammer
Sword
History of the Five Kingdoms
The Tauropedia

Spellbook:
Summon Fey (5 MP)
Mana Arrow (1 MP)
Obscuring Mists (3 MP)
Freezing Mists (7 MP)
Burninate (8 MP)
Paralytic Flare (5 MP)
Light Bolt (2 MP)
Light Shower (5 MP)
Star Cure (Ritual)

[itisally]

So the Zodiac is a title? How often do the position holders change?
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

Jane laughs. "The members of the Zodiac generally aren't immortal, though we all are longer-lived due to the Star Power. If Sagittarius were to retire or die tomorrow, I would become the new Sagittarius and would need to find my Istari." She starts binding your leg. "Though I have heard rumors that if Astra wanted to, she could use the star orb and completely depower the Zodiac, which would make us no more powerful than City Council... and probably just as effective."

[itisally*]

It is such a diffrent place here. It may take me a long time to understand how the government works. It seems like there is a lot of distrust and frustration.

[raekuul]

"There is these days. Wish I knew what was causing it."

There is a knock on the door. Jane looks over. "Come in."

Status:
30 HP
16 MP
90 EXP to next level
Ambient Magic: 30%

Inventory:
Waterskin (Full)
Food Rations (5)
Tribal Spear
Combat Hammer
Sword
History of the Five Kingdoms
The Tauropedia

Spellbook:
Summon Fey (5 MP)
Mana Arrow (1 MP)
Obscuring Mists (3 MP)
Freezing Mists (7 MP)
Burninate (8 MP)
Paralytic Flare (5 MP)
Light Bolt (2 MP)
Light Shower (5 MP)
Star Cure (Ritual)

[itisally]

Look to see who is here.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

You look over. It's Cancer, as well as a centaur that you saw at breakfast sitting with the Zodiac.

"You are excused, my Istari." he says.

[Itisally*]

Well I guess all i had to do was hold still long enough for you to find me.

[raekuul]

"We would have met today anyway, traveler." Cancer says. "What did Capricorn tell you of our current situation?"

[itisally]

Not much, there is strive between the Zodiac and Astra and the Zodiac dosent always work well together because individuals put thier own goals first. Some would like my help with the wolves and some want me to spy aonb Asta. You are right that Astra would like me to keep and eye on you guys, there seems to have been a breach of trust somewhere but I am not clear on the details. I have to admit though, I am a beliver in just sucking it up and communicating. Oh! and I would love to learn more about telepathy. And I can wait to go home to helpo out around here. I think that about sums things up. Anything to add?
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

"Heh, sounds like you know most of it already. We've been trying to talk sense into each other, but it doesn't help that Astra speaks for pretty much the entire government while the thirteen of us generally have our own goals and ambitions. Having you spying on us for Astra may at least help us unify long enough to figure out what we want to do about this." Cancer says.

Sagittarius unbinds your leg. "Did Jane already put ointment on this?"

[itisally*]

Yes she applied some medicine.

What begain all the mistrust to begin with. I can tell you aren't happy with her rule, but why?

Capricorn said something about Odysius and Astra not listening to reason. He seemed to think it was linked to the shadows.

[raekuul]

Your leg stings a little as Sagittarius applies more ointment to your leg. "Can never use enough of this stuff when it comes to Shadow Wolves. I can answer some of your questions. I'm probably the second-oldest creature alive on Odysseus right now, and the third-oldest in the solar system." Sagittarius applies fresh bandages. "The root of the problem is that Astra is of one mind and one purpose already, while the Zodiac has both good members and evil members. And in the previous Cancer's case, insane members. For example, this is the time of Cancer, so Cancer is the Ascendant One - and the rest of us pretty much have to do what he says simply because he is currently the most powerful. Cancer likes Astra, so we work fairly harmoniously with the Royal Family for now."

Cancer rubs the back of his head. "It's been like this for a long time. The first Zodiac was specifically gathered by that Queen Astra from among her friends. Sagittarius here was among them, so there's always at least one Loyalist among us until he passes on. The problem is that it's the Star Power itself, and not us or even Astra, that decides who our Istarii are. It was the third-generation Zodiac that started to muck things up. Our reputation has never really recovered, largely because the Star Power keeps giving us people like Scorpio and Pisces, who would use their station for their own gain. My own mentor, the previous Cancer, was one of the evil ones."

"As for Capricorn's suspicions," Sagittarius continues, "the only one who shares the suspicions is Pisces. They've both been acting like something was eating away at the planet from the insides ever since the last Grand Patrolling."

[itisally]

Astra made a comment about a legend or something that she seems to think is unavoidable. How does that relate?

Is the Star Power good or evil? What do they have to gain from the strife. and Whose cycle is next? what are their alignments like?

And while I am at it, what does Capricorn's machine do any way?
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

"Astra thinks everything is unavoidable and that every legend will come true eventually. It's part of being so closely tied to the Star Power - the threads of destiny kind of addle her head. But the current Astra is fairly well-grounded in reality." Sagittarius says as he works at your leg. Your leg feels ice cold.

"The Star Power itself isn't inherently good or evil so much as it's used for good or for evil. I think a good comparison for you would be swords. Swords are neither good nor evil, they're just swords. The star power is the same way." Cancer says. "It's my month to be the Ascendant one, and after me is Leo, if that's what you meant by whose cycle, and after him is Virgo... and I have no idea what you mean by Alignment. He's loyal to himself if that's what you mean."

"Capricorn won't tell us what his machine is supposed to do." Sagittarius says. "What it does is siphon out Star Power from all thirteen of us and pump it into the ground."

[itisally]

I was thinking more good or evil, but most bad guys don't think of themselves as evil.

Do you think the something Capricorn thinks is eating away has to do with the increase of Shadow wolves?
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

"Correlation does not imply causation. We flew through an entire thicket of rocks with Shadow Wolf dens on our last Grand Patrol." Cancer explains.

[itisally]

What about the tentacle thing?
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

"Those have been part of Odysseus as long as I can remember. Shadow Wolf venom drives them berserk." Cancer says, but Sagittarius pokes him.

"I believe our guest wanted to know what it was, exactly. Astra II took us out on the first Grand Patrol, and we 'rescued' a tribe of rock squid and stone shark. That particular rock squid is the oldest one. I'm surprised it hasn't died yet."

[itisally]

Tell me more about the Grand Potrols. Why do you do them and where do you go?
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

"Every so many thousand Terrestrial years, the Planet Odysseus actually meanders through one of the comet thickets in the solar system. Since invaders usually hide in the thickets, we make it into a patrol to purge the thickets of invaders." Cancer explains

[itisally*]

Why would you bring something home from that?

[raekuul]

A new voice speaks. "Because you never know where you will find new allies. Cancer, Sagittarius, Astra wants to meet with us. She's decided to move the castle."

[itisally]

do you think she would mind if I join you?
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

The new person glares at you, but Cancer shrugs. "It can't hurt to ask. Libra, this is our guest... whose name escapes me at the moment."

[itisally]

"Sam J Rizlams, pleased to meet you! " Extend my hand to shake.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

Libra just looks at you like you have two heads.

Sagittarius snickers. "I guess the name Sam undergoes a sex change over the next few millenia."

Cancer glares at both of them. "Sam just wants to shake your hand. It's a greeting tradition in Sam's time, from what I saw out of memory."

[itisally]

It is pretty androgynous in my time, and yes an extended hand is for shaking. It originated as a way to show that you weren't holding a weapon. Seems inadequate for magic users though.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

Cancer nods at your assessment of the potential dangers of accepting an outstretched hand in a world in which magic is readily accessible.

Libra turns to you, and you can hear exactly how unenthusiastic she is about the idea. "You're welcome to come to the meeting, since apparently we're going to end up moving the castle to your home planet. That is, if you can walk on that leg. Given when you took that bite, you're probably immobile."

Status:
40 HP
16 MP
90 EXP to next level
Ambient Magic: 30%

Inventory:
Waterskin (Full)
Food Rations (5)
Tribal Spear
Combat Hammer
Sword
History of the Five Kingdoms
The Tauropedia

Spellbook:
Summon Fey (5 MP)
Mana Arrow (1 MP)
Obscuring Mists (3 MP)
Freezing Mists (7 MP)
Burninate (8 MP)
Paralytic Flare (5 MP)
Light Bolt (2 MP)
Light Shower (5 MP)
Star Cure (Ritual)

[itisally]

Tentatively test out the leg.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

It hurts to stand on the leg, but it supports you just fine. You notice that you can't feel your foot.

Cancer sighs. "If you're that set on joining the meeting, you can use your spear as a walking stick. Just make sure it stays quiet."

[itisally]

"Pain is weakness leaving the body."

I get out my spear and explain the situation to him so that I can use him as a walking stick.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

The zodiac members look on in horror at your Tribal Spear.

You explain the situation to your spear, and he nods. "Any spear worth its wood will also double as a walking stick."

[itisally]

look up ready to proceed.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

Cancer is slightly unnerved, but manages to suppress it. "Come on, it's this way."

You exit the room. Cancer is in front of you, and the other two are behind you. You can hear them whispering to each other, but you can't quite make out what they're saying.

[itisally*]

Wisper so they can hear to my spear about how rude it is to wisper and what has been going on. Maybe they will take a hint. If not I will mention to my spear slightly louder about wanting to learn telepathy, after all I have learned many things I thought impossible lately and then I would know what was being said perposly out of earshot.

[raekuul]

Sagittarius sighs. "We know what you're trying to do, you know. Right now, I mean. If you don't want rumors to spread about you, don't use evil weapons."

[itisally*]

Evil is as Evil does. Have I or the spear done anything evil? Or have I at every turn tried to help. And at least have the decentcy to just say it to my face. All the secrets around here are the core of the problems you are having. In a time when you may need to bind together you are wispering behind peoples backs.