What Time Remembered (formerly Generic Text Adventure)

[raekuul]

If you stand with the discolored patch of wall to your right, the footsteps sound like they're coming from ahead of you.

[itisally]

Sit on the floor and attempt to look confident in waiting for them to arrive.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

Gutsy decision.

As the footsteps come closer, you realize that it is not the slap of feet or shoes, but rather a clop sound, akin to those of hooves. You wait.

Sagittarius pokes his head through the wall across from you. He pauses for a moment. "No, it can't be. Sam Rizlams?"

[itisally]

*a sigh or relief, I agonized over that choice*

Indeed, I am so glad to see someone I know.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

Sagittarius approaches you warily. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't call the others over here right now."

[itisally*]

There isn't a good reason not to, and you know how I hate secrets so you may as well call them. However I do appreciate that you know me and what I am about so you may be able to smooth the way. I am unsure of what the issues are in this time.

[raekuul]

Sagittarius sighs. "Well, I guess you haven't changed much. I'm the only member of the zodiac left that you met when you paid your little visit. I think I've seen about two hundred different combinations now, though - and I say this to you because I know you'll do the right thing with this information - this is the least unified Zodiac I've ever been a part of."

He taps his arm. "This is Sagittarius. I've found our intruder near the Illusion Wall. He's an old friend of mine, not like that will matter much to you all."

[itisally*]

SO I take it we are before the Eclipse?

What is the current status on the Star Princess?

[raekuul]

Sagittarius rubs his head as though he has a headache. "Where to begin...? To make a long story short, the Star Princess is alive and well, and has allied herself with the reborn Princess Serenity. Unfortunately, she also has about half of the Star Power, which makes it really hard for us to do our job of protecting the Earth from outside threats. With Jadeite and the Dark Kingdom on the rise again, we really need to either ally ourselves with Serenity, or else kill the Star Princess from underneath Serenity's nose. With how divided the Zodiac is, we would need a miracle in order to get anything done first. Libra's working on some plan that will destabilize Serenity's group long enough for us to get to Astra, but I don't see how letting their parents in on their secrets is going to work..."

[itisally]

Is there no common ground between members of the Zodiac?

I am supposed to help remind you guys of what may have been forgotten, or something like that, and it was that criptic. And something has been left in the deepest vault for me. Pluto said that these may be troubled times.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

Saggitarius sighs again. "The only common ground we really have is the Star Power. Because Astra has half of it, we can all agree that something needs to be done about her. The main dissension is on whether or not she needs to survive our decision. There are enough council members that say we should just take the star power from her for that to be our general plan. Libra wants to please everybody, so she'll go with the majority decision, though she agrees with me that we should have allied ourselves with Serenity when Astra did."

He stands in a ready stance. "As for the Deepest Vault, we guard this place out of habit more than anything else. Most of what we could use was moved to our current base of operations a few centuries ago. Still, after Astra and the Plutos breaching our defenses on the Astral Library, we are all on edge for any intruders."

A tall woman in a dark dress enters the area. "Well, Sagittarius, is this the one you warned us about, or is this another false alarm?"

[itisally]

Smile and give appropriate deferance to the new comer.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

Sagittarius speaks slowly and clearly. "Scorpio, This is Sam Rizlams. He has seen Odysseus as it once was, though by what power I cannot say. He is not the one I warned you about. To be quite honest, I had assumed that he had died long ago."

Scorpio frowns. "How do we know that this isn't Jenine in disguise? For all we know, he could have the Shield of Atlantis and be the true heir to the throne of the Dark Kingdom."

"I can't say for certain about that last one, but as for being Jenine in disguise, this is the same Sam Rizlams who freed Ophiuchus the Wyvern. If he is Jenine, then we have more problems than an intruder in an all-but-forgotten castle."

[itisally]

Will the rest of the Zodiac be joining us?
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

Scorpio looks around. "The Amberson Twins, Chester and Polly, who are together the present Gemini, should be here shortly. Why are you in this ancient ruin that time itself has all but forgotten?"

[itisally]

Officially I am to “Bring to light what treasures would have been otherwise lost” Unfortunatly I am not totally sure what Pluto ment by that.
And Astra left something for me in the Deepest Vault, but didn’t tell me what it was. I would like to find out.

I wish I had had more time with the Zodiac in the other time.It was so busy and there was so much going on. They knew that you would stand divided at some point.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

Scorpio howls with rage. "Sagittarius! This 'friend' of yours is a spy for Serenity! I will be telling Libra about this when we get back."

Sagittarius grunts. "I had no memory of Pluto's involvement with Sam's appearance back then. Though perhaps it would be worth our time to get into the Deepest Vault and see for ourselves what Astra left for him?"

[itisally*]

Such distrust Scorpio. I assure you I have never heard of Serenity before seeing Sagittarius today, but I assume that will do little to alleviate your fears. As far as working with Pluto, I am not sure that with is the right term so much as caught up in whatever enigmatic plan they had going. I feel more like a pawn.

Furthermore, I think that honesty is the key to unraveling the problem as secrets bread distrust and contempt. It is, at times, in our nature to be suspicious, but I am sure that with your determination we can come to a solution for these challenges. As with most things it may take a leap of faith or two.

I will answer any question you have as honestly as I can. I have not been sworn to any secrets, but I have been given very little information.

[raekuul]

Scorpio scoffs. "When Pluto is involved, words like 'today' become meaningless." Her voice becomes softer, almost sweeter. "Though I can understand it if you have been used by Serenity and her pawns."

Sagittarius growls. "Scorpio..."

The false walls fade, and a pair of twins come into view. They are equally tall, pale, and red-haired. "Hello, Sam" the female of the pair says.

[itisally]

Hello? Have we met?
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

The female laughs. "No we haven't, but you three were loud enough for us to hear all the way from the downward stairs. I am Pollux, birth name Polly Amberson, and this is my brother Chester Amberson, who is Castor. Together we are Gemini."

Castor turns to Scorpio. "It's not your Month, Scorpio. Nor yours, Sagittarius. Nor ours, sister. I say we detain Sam until Libra can make a judgement. It won't be too hard, given we're in the Maze of Winds and we have two Airs and a Fire here."

[itisally*]

Shall we wait for the party then?

Scorpio, I believe you asked why I was here. Sagittarius mentioned that I was here in a previous time. In my time the vaults are decimated. Nothing exists of the southern wing. I was drawn to explore as many adventures before me had been. When I collected the last available scroll I was pulled (although I am not sure that is the right term) to this place in the past. I helped to fight some raiders with Wyverns and bonded with Ophiuchus. At the end of that scuffle Astra came to me with an invitation. I wanted everyone to go, but she made it clear that I was the only one invited. I met the Plutos, went to the southern vault and was then sent to this time. To me it seems that just a few days have passed, but I know that much has transpired in this place. I don't know what they had planned for me, just that I should be here to help you remember what may have been forgotten.

[raekuul]

"I can't guarantee that you'll survive the encounter unless you side with us." Pollux says. "Having said that, I'm still not entirely sure we know what side we Zodiac are on."

Scorpio sighs. "I told you, Polly, that the only way we can be strong enough to protect the Earth is if we end the foolish tradition of monarchy and take back the power that is rightly ours."

"But the power was never rightly ours to begin with" Sagittarius whispers to you. "We were only given our positions because of Astra the First."

[itisally*]

Sagitarious, tell me more about that. Was Astra the first the first Monarch?

[raekuul]

He sighs and speaks at a normal volume. "Astra the First was one of the Five Rulers that delivered this star system from the grasp of the Things From Beyond. She was the first monarch of the Star Kingdom, yes. Just as Serenity established her Senshi, her warriors, by drawing from the tribes of Man, so too did Astra create and endow the Zodiac to be the chief defenders of the Star Kingdom. Each of the five kingdoms had their own defenders in this manner, and it was the duty of each of the kingdoms to help stand vigilant against the Things from Beyond.

"But we as a collective grew complacent, and we never expected that the Caretaker of the Shield, Metallia, would grow to be resentful of her position. The Kingdom of Atlantis followed her always, even into her madness, and they became what is now the Dark Kingdom. I would say that this is common knowledge, but I guess a species without genetic memory forgets a lot over twenty five thousand years.

"I don't know how, but the Great Shield survived the end of the Silver Millenium though it was in a greatly reduced form where it could only protect Earth and the Moon. Ever since the Atlantean Rebellion, we Zodiac were the second - some of us would go so far as to say only - line of defense between the Earth and those Things that could make it past the Great Shield in its reduced form."

Scorpio speaks up. "I do not deny that the allegedly reborn Serenity did much good in defeating Beryl and the Pharaoh, but the time of the monarchs has passed. We Zodaic have been the sole defenders of Earth for millenia! What right does that upstart who claims to be the reincarnation of the Moon Princess have to deny us the power that is rightly ours?"

Sagittartius sighs again. "And that, Sam, is the root of the current division among the Zodiac members."

[itisally]

Aren't there certain prophicies that can only be fullfilled by someone of the star line, and is there some power inharant to the line? I don't know, they are questions to be asked. Perhaps the time of overall monarch rule has passed, but does that mean that there is no value in the monarch's blood line? And what will you do as a zodiac if you do away with the monachs? Is there a unifying principle that you wish to follow, or will infighting lead to your disolution by some new and up coming power?
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

Sagittarius very deliberately does not answer your questions, despite being the only one present who could possibly answer them truthfully.

Pollux fidgets as she answers. "To be honest, I only know that getting rid of the Princess will free up the part of the Star Power that's beyond our reach. Aquarius and some of the others say that we have to take the power from Astra in order to keep it from being misused, but then I see people like Pisces doing..."

Scorpio frowns. "Doing what?"

"Well, Pisces made a deal with something from outside the Great Shield. I didn't want to say anything because she was the Ascendant One at the time and we did manage to pinpoint Osaka as Astra earlier than we could have because of it, but she still deliberately opened the way for a Thing."

Scorpio sighs. "Oh, that. I already confronted Pisces over that; the alleged Thing would have breached the Shield anyway, possibly bringing along more Things with it. By 'assisting' as she did she made sure only one made it through. And it was just Ravator, it's been deceased for a long while now."

Castor nods. "To answer your other questions, Sam, in this day and age there is no value in a bloodline that has been completely forgotten. The Star Princess and her allies... Besides, Osaka Naru isn't even a blood-descendant of Astra if you were to look at her literal genealogy. She's the reincarnated Star Princess. What claim she would have to the power by blood descent is lost because of that. She can only claim to be the reincarnation of the heir to the throne of Odysseus because the Star Power chose her."

Sagittarius finally speaks again. "What I hope is that in overcoming our current challenge we can be united in purpose and get rid of the Dark Kingdom before they can get a major foothold. I have the potential to live to see the end of time itself, so I will do what I can to be the moral compass that the Zodiac Council often finds itself lacking. What I fear is that in taking this power by force we would then try to force our dominion upon each other and upon the peoples of Earth, setting up a tyrant - or tyrants - in place of who we would dethrone. Our lot is to protect, not to rule."

[itisally]

The trends I hear are graps for power with no real goal other than having power, but more troubleing are breaches of protocal and secrity that are brushed aside because the result wasn't really that bad. It is laying the ground work for a double standard. And what is inharently evil about this reincarnated Princess? The only thing I have heard about her directly is that she did some good.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

There is a moment of silence as the others try to respond to that without coming across as power-hungry or bigoted. Sagittarius is looking pointedly at Scorpio, with an I-Told-You-So look on his face.

"This is what I have been saying for millenia." Sagittarius says after a moment. "Even more now that the Star Princess has chosen her side."

After a few more moments of awkward silence, a newcomer appears. She is of moderate height, and carries a staff. On her hat is the mark of Libra. You are not entirely certain as to how you are able to recognize that mark. She has a pale, sickly look to her face, as though she is about to vomit.

"Mars has been taken by the Dark Kingdom. The Princess will soon be left vulnerable as the others of Serenity's army go to rescue her."

[itisally*]

The bloodeline has obviously not been completely forgotten or there would not be plans to eradicate it. If it had no value, would you care?

Dark times... Do you spend your efforts protecting the solar system, or getting the girl. What side is she on? more importantly, what side are you on?

Oh and I have a history book that may have information on the things forgotten that I was sent to remind you of.

Take out the History of the five kingdoms.

[raekuul]

"I don't think you truly understand our situation." Scorpio purrs. "We are literally half as powerful as we can be because of the Star Princess. Half of the Star Power has attached itself to her simply because she's the reincarnation of Astra. We seek to take the Star Power from her so that we can better protect the Earth and its inhabitants. Because of this, we are opposed to the Star Princess and all those who protect her."

Libra taps Scorpio on the head with her staff. "In case you forgot, Scorpio, I am the Ascendant One. Do not speak for the whole yet. Sagittarius, who is this man and why is he so deep within this place?"

[itisally*]

Scorpio, you seek to take power by force rather than work together?

Libra, it is a pleasure to meet you, I am Sam.

[MNOWAX]

Just want to say this is epic story telling. I hate to even post anything else other than this.
_________________
The Man The Myth The Legend
MNOWAX

[raekuul]

Libra frowns. "A royal sympathizer, I see. We don't rightly know what will happen if we leave Osaka alone. The power may return to us when she dies of old age - if she dies, with how close she is to two Icon-Wielders - and it may die with her. Obviously, we do not want the latter. She may pass it on to her offspring. The only way we can be certain to recover and obtain the fullness of the Star Power is to take it from her. By force, if necessary."

Scorpio laughs. "You're too soft, Libra. Your own face is proof of that, if what you said about Mars had anything to do with our visitor this morning."

Libra scowls at Scorpio. "I intend on speaking with my successor before this day is over, Scorpio. I suspect that there has been a greater betrayal of trust among us than just Pisces assisting Ravator. Especially since Marcasite spoke of a truce that I did not know about. In any case, I must set things right between Ibrahim and myself. He at least deserves to know the truth."

She turns to you. "The Senshi, the warriors of Serenity, they are our enemies only so long as they protect the Star Princess. I do not see how you factor into the balance of this war, but you cannot follow us by your own power anyway. Zodiac, we return to our headquarters."

[raekuul]

I actually had to refer to the source story to make sure I got the names right ^^;

[itisally]

I don't really know enough to sympathizer with anyone. But by your own admission your don't know what will happen with the power, and how woud you take such a power anyway? To consolidate power may be the best option, but the zodiac is obviously not even in agreement on what to do with the power they already have.

I can't imagine that I was sent here fo no reason, but I was given little guidance, just to remind you all of what had been forgotten. Return to your headquarters if you must, but I would like to stay to find what was left for me.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

The zodiac members nod, then leave.

You have the strange feeling that you won't be seeing Libra again after today.

The area lights up. The false walls disappear. An arrow on the floor points to the left.

[itisally]

go left
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[raekuul]

You go left.

There is an arrow on the floor pointing forward. You feel like you are forgetting something.

[itisally]

go back to see what I may have forgotten or to jog my memory.
_________________
I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.