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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 4745773" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter Sixteen, “Decisions” September 1st, 1882, 8:00 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>James had explained the purpose of the organization and asked, “So, my question is, will you join us?" Thomas stands, looks at the gathered luminaries, holds his wine up in the air, and says, "You have my unequivocal and hearty yes!" Roy exclaims, "I think you already know my answer, Doc." Nanuet stands and says, "I too agree to join this worthy and noble group. Count me in." Fish looks about the room at his new associates. "Beauty, brains, brawn and good bourbon. How could I refuse, Mr. Parker? Count me in!" Thomas muses to himself as to where he falls in Fish's taxonomy... brains or brawn ... or both? ... and then quietly chuckles. </p><p></p><p>Still curious about what they would do with this knowledge and these artifacts once they'd assured that peace, Abigail chimed in, "You couldn't tear me away, sir." Hardin affects his best West Texas accent... "Gosh James, that sounds like an awfully long list of 'people who might not be very nice'...sounds like fun!" Hardin's thoughts turn inward for a moment. “Wonder if I still have it...” Lawrence touches the badge on his shirt. "James, you don't need to ask. In for a penny, in for a pound. It'll be just like the old days." </p><p></p><p>George had been taking notes as he was often doing. And he looked up at James, quite pensive and set his pen down and looked at his finance. And was silent for a long time as he stared at the ceiling. "When do you require an answer James" he said finally "I have ongoing commitments as you well know as well as important future plans" said George as he squeezed Ruby's hand. "This is a monumental commitment you are asking of us, one I cannot make lightly or on the spur of an impassioned plan." "Bookworm..." think Fish to himself, "...and brains!"</p><p></p><p>James replies, "George, I recognize that you have other commitments. We are not looking for you to remain here permanently, nor will every mission be using Jacksonville as our base. Our Corporate headquarters in actually in the New York City area, no more than a half-day's train journey from your Rochester. What I am seeking is to occasionally call on your specific area of expertise. Two members of the French wizarding sponsor group are photographic experts, so we may need somebody to help counter that. I will ask each of you again tomorrow afternoon following the follow-up discussion about the Timucuan." </p><p></p><p>Ruby nodded and smiled reassuringly at George. "We can speak about it tonight if you like darling and work it out. I know your expertise is probably greatly needed here if James is asking for your help. Let's discuss it later." She squeezed his hand." George and I will discuss it tonight but you can consider me very interested. Someone has to take care of my grandmother after all," she teased. James smiles and replies, "And I was thinking that was my job!"</p><p></p><p>Ruby says, "And I’m curious...about Atlantis rising. I have heard this story before but didn't know I would end up involved in it! So what happened to the land? Why did it rise up and where did it go, did it sink back into the water? Is it there and just invisible possibly?" </p><p></p><p>Alsoomse says, "We do not know actually why, but it appears to have both risen and sunk. My druidic leaders believe the timing now has something to do with the Atlantic Ocean Earth Spirit having moved south of the equator to watch over the South American continent." Mina interjects, "Ruby, I believe that you said that you and Nanuet know something about what transpired with the earth spirits." Ruby replies, "Umm, yeah, we do."</p><p></p><p>Ruby looked around to the group of people gathered. They all seemed very enthusiastic about joining with James's new group. Everyone except for perhaps George, who admittedly already had a lot on his plate. Plus he was never one to make a hasty decision. "I don't know what you all know about the earth spirits. Before my own little adventure with them I didn't know anything either. I suppose I could talk a little about it." Ruby swallowed the rest of her drink, recalling the dangerous times she has shared with her friends. </p><p></p><p>"All of the major lands and oceans of the world have their own spirit. They are actual physical creatures and they live a long time, like 500 years. They influence the land they watch over, some for the good, some for the evil or others chaos or neutrality. We were told that during the time of the Vikings their spirit was hospitable and allowed a lot of travel over the seas for exploration. After that spirit passed on the next spirit wasn't as nice and the oceans became untravelable. The spirit in Africa has great hatred in it's heart and allowed it's people to become slaves to the human people."</p><p></p><p>"So anyway, not too long ago," she scrunches her nose, "Um... in January, two of the spirits mated, which is what they do... the baby will take the place of one of the parents. The current North American spirit who is good natured and the South American spirit who is not so much. The North American spirit contacted our little group, which included Nanuet and I, to protect her after giving birth, because the South American spirit set in motion a plan so she would be killed and he would survive to go on, the baby replacing the mother instead. Hmmm...," she tapped her lips, "You may be curious to know the North American spirit is a huge, beautiful metallic... dragon. The baby is, was a baby anyway, a chimera, like it's father before him.</p><p></p><p>The father lured hunters to where she was protecting the baby, hoping she would die so he could live. We protected her and in the process the other spirit was killed. That baby will eventually take the place of his father in South America. But I guess for now the Atlantic Ocean spirit needed to watch over South America so the ocean has been left untended, allowing Atlantis to rise and fall?" </p><p></p><p>Hearing lots of yammering about stuff which Trout had no earthly idea... he looks into the bottom of his old-fashioned, now empty of bourbon, Fish asks himself, "Did she put something in my drink?" Fish sidles up to Luiz, swirling the last cube of ice in his empty glass. He says very quietly, "Thank you, Mr. Luiz, for keeping our little episode with the flatware on the low-go..." </p><p></p><p>Turning back to the assembled group he says, "Well, I don't have anything else planned for tonight or tomorrow morning either. Feel free to make yourselves at home. The Delroy-Kingsley family will be bringing up lunch for us at noon and after that we'll meet upstairs in the conference room to discuss my findings." Lawrence says, "That sounds good. I'm going to get another drink. Anyone else want one?" </p><p></p><p>He walks over to the bar. Pouring himself a whiskey, he asks James, "This deputy thing, do I need to get a gun? You know I only own a derringer." Hardin ambles over to the bar as well. "Sure, I'll have another. Also, see me later if you want an iron bigger than a pop-gun...I would be happy to help you out." He winks and grins broadly... "Lawrence replies, "My pleasure, Mr. Hardin. Here you go." He hands Hardin a glass of whiskey. "I'll have to take you up on that offer. If I'm going to be any sort of self-respecting lawman, I'm gonna need a proper shootin' iron." He grins. "How about that, me a 'proper lawman'?" </p><p></p><p>"It doesn't hurt to have some extra help in that department," Ruby winked at James. "I think I will head to my room to get comfortable then perhaps some stargazing is in order. I still have some unpacking to do too." She walked to the bar and reached far over it, stretching to get her hand on the bottle of bourbon she left out. In her other hand she grabbed two glasses with her fingers then nodded for George to follow her. "Good night everyone, I hope there are pleasant dreams all around. I will probably see you all... at lunch tomorrow," she grinned. There was no reason yet she had to suffer and get up early. That would be cruel punishment for everyone. </p><p></p><p>Fish joins the others at the rail. "Mr. Hardin! Do that trick where you bounce a quarter off the bar and draw your pistol before it bounces again!" he says cheerfully. "I read about it in one of those silly rags that seem so fascinated with you!" Hardin sighs a bit and looks at Fish. "Don't believe everything you read there, youngster. Besides, it has been a long-time since I tried that."Fish sees a glint in his eyes...”Still..." Hardin trails off and fishes around in his waistcoat pockets. His fingers emerge with a pair of silver coins. He glances at Fish. "Say 'when'..."</p><p></p><p>Hardin waits for the 'when' and bounces the quarters off the bar and has both Colts out of their holsters and leveled before the coins hit the apex of their bounce. "How's that?" Fish is beaming. "That was magnificent!" With sleight of hand Fish then grabs and pockets the two coins then adds the comment, "...but where'd your coins go?" </p><p></p><p>Doctor Pedro Luiz Chernoviz joins Lawrence, Fish and John at the bar and says, "Well, as the co-founder and Chairman of this new venture, I can attest to you gentlemen being exactly what we need for lawmen on this site. And the key law that will need to be enforced is no trespassing, otherwise we might have witnesses to our own breaking of this fine nation's laws. I for one have never lived within a anti-Wizard magic nation before, and have no intentions of finding myself imprisoned or executed for practicing witchcraft." </p><p></p><p>With a flip of his wrist, Fish slaps Hardin's coins on the bartop. "Misdirection is a beautiful thing, Dr. Chernoviz. A beautiful thing! If people don't see you do something, they can't get their knickers in a knot, now can they? I happen to know a thing or three about subterfuge!"</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Ruby returned to her room where she spent some quality time unpacking, and imaging in her mind what other furniture she would like and how she wanted her room set up. The bourbon was delicious and she had forgotten any old feelings that came with imbibing in that particular demon. She carefully took out and arranged her bath and personal items in the bathroom between her and George's room. It was a beautiful and modern bathroom and as she ran a hot bath and the room filled with steam she sighed happily, hanging her crisp new white nightgown and pink silk bathrobe on the door. Here she thought she would be camping and instead she was spoiled with more luxury then she thought she would ever have down here in sunny Florida. </p><p></p><p>The bath was just filled to the brim with hot water and bubbles as she twisted her thick red hair above her head. She slipped into the relaxing bath to soak away any bit of strain the earlier trip has caused her. She leaned back into the large bathtub and the songbird sang herself a beautiful and happy lullaby to calm herself into contentment. </p><p></p><p>George listened to Ruby sing as he too unpacked, and as she finished he entered the bathroom, bringing a chair with him which he set by the tub, sitting down facing his fiance. "The accoustics in here don't do you justice my love." he says with a smile. "So Constance, what shall we do about your Step-Grandfather?" says George as he pours himself a bourbon. " I fear I am faced with a difficult choice as we discussed on the train. I know you answer already, though I am grateful you did not express it to James yet." says George with a sad smile. </p><p></p><p>Ruby hesitated just a moment before answering. "I cannot know my answer until we know yours baby. Yes, I am very excited to join the group and all the mysteries and adventures to be had stir my heart." She tilted her head and looked into his eyes. "But if you have some good reason why I shouldn't...And what of you? Why can't you join up? I know your photography business needs you now. However, you have so many competent people in charge, I can't see any harm in it. James even said you don't have to go on every mission or you... we... could work out of the New York office. Occasionally. Your smarts and your expertise in photography and your business sense is probably very much needed here. </p><p></p><p>So why are you sad? What is the problem?" She reached out of the tub, dripping bubbles on the floor, to retrieve her glass of bourbon. She sipped at it slowly, giving George time to think on his answer. George sighed and took off his spectacles rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Yes I do have several good people in place to run the business. But I don't know that I am ready to give that up."</p><p></p><p>"Or you" he adds looking at Ruby. "After all these years, our wedding is imminent and now you at least are rushing off into gods know what danger and will be rushing about on the ocean now instead of the desert. This was not the life I envisioned for us Constance." George sighed again and put his spectacles back on. He stood up, filled Ruby's glass to the top with bourbon and leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. He picked up the bottle of bourbon "I am going to talk a walk and think on this" he said as he left the bathroom.</p><p></p><p>"Wait!" Ruby called out after him as he walked away, "Don't go!" She jumped out of the tub and grabbed a towel, barely covering herself with it as she ran into George's room. Bubbles dripped down her arms and legs and formed into a puddle at her feet as she followed him. "Hold on baby, I want to TALK about this. Don't walk away from me please. Please tell me, what is the life you envisioned for us? I thought that as long as we were together, everything was perfect. I didn't know you were so against this."</p><p></p><p>George smiled at Ruby, "Well, I don't know that I am so against this, I need to think about it." George leads Ruby back tot he tub so she doesn't get a chill and sits down as Ruby gets back into the bath. "But yes, together life is wonderful. But Constance, have you ever stopped to wonder about life after this? Life not spent running from place to place, but staying in one place and building something. A company, a marriage, a family?"</p><p></p><p>" I did envision quiet Sunday picnics in the park with you, our children playing near us. I fear that vision may not come to pass if we spend all our time gallivanting about the globe. The others down there aren't......anchored to things they way I am. They way I want to be. While I love adventure and exploring, I am getting ready to want to settle down, establish myself, lead a life of quiet. Where I can buy tickets to the theater and expect to actually be there for the show. But I need you to finish your bath and get all clean my love. And I also need you to let me go think on this for a while." </p><p></p><p>Ruby blinked at him at few times. He was so handsome but right now all she saw was the worry on his face. "I don't understand, George. I..." She again reached for her glass and this time took a huge gulp. "I'm not ready to be a mother. I don't know if I'll EVER be ready to be a mother. You know, that is a really scary thought..." She shivered, and it wasn't from the water being cooler now than it was. "I... I'm not really sure what to say. I thought you would just be happy being with me. I told you that I can't be that girl... the one who dresses up like a doll everyday to look pretty for the few minutes that day she gets to see her husband... the girl who goes to teas and gossips and is expected to tighten her corset and sit up straight and be quiet and have absolutely nothing to do all day but eat and get fat. And raise babies." </p><p></p><p>She took another sip and looked away from those big brown eyes of his. "I can never be that girl, even if I wanted to." She rubbed her forehead as if a sudden headache had come on. "I understand a bit about the company... I am very proud of the life I made in Promise City and my Saloons there but you convinced me to be with you instead of help them grow. And I made that choice, for you. But you know, George you KNOW how badly I have wanted, no needed, to travel and see the world. I mean, we could even have babies and travel... you said you would open an European office and we could make our family while we were there off doing..." </p><p></p><p>She stopped. All this blabbering was foolish. She turned her gaze to look out the bathroom window, the white curtains blowing in the warm breeze and she was quiet for a few minutes. Finally she said, with just a tinge of flatness in her voice, "Why don't you go think on it. I'm sure you have all the information you need to decide. And then you can tell me what our decision is so we know what to tell James tomorrow." Ruby hears the door to his room slowly close as George leaves. Ruby sits in the tub, drinking large swallows of her bourbon, hoping he'll be back soon. </p><p></p><p>Downstairs, Nanuet approached Alsoomse and spoke "Now that the business of the day is over I am going to spend some time with Maska. You had shown interest in her before, perhaps you'd like to meet her now?" Nanuet heads outside and walks back up the driveway about 50 yards or so before kneeling down to pet his invisible companion. "Find yourself some dinner girl? I think it's cheating since you're invisible. Now that were here I'll have to ask Ruby to fix that, so that everyone can see how pretty you are." All the time that he is speaking he is gently stroking the invisible wolf. </p><p></p><p>Alsoomse has accompanied Nanuet. She says, "I could do that if you would like, dispelling magic is a fairly easy spell. I could teach it to you later if you would like." He replies, "But I have no arcane skills. All of the 'magic' I have ever done has been through prayers and magical artifacts." She replies, "There is a clerical version of the Dispel Magic as well, that is the one that I can teach you." Nanuet motions towards Maska "But yes, that would be a very handy trick to know. If you could lift the spell I would be grateful, if you could teach me how I would be indebted." </p><p></p><p>She approaches the wolf and speaks softly to it using words from her own native language, with a soothing tone. She removes from a belt pouch a polished stone that is approximately five inches long and an inch in diameter that is flat on one side with runes carved into it. She then softly casts a spell with a minimum of hand gestures. Maska does not immediately appear, but instead slowly materializes over the course of a minute, becoming transluscent at first and then visually solidifying. Nanuet watches Alsoomse closely, even mimicing her when he could trying to get a feel for the spell. Alsooomse tells Nanuet, "Maska is beautiful. My brother had the wolf as his spirit guide and raised several New England Gray Wolves." </p><p></p><p>He replies, "Thank you. She has been an important and loyal companion. You say your brother 'had' the wolf as his spirit guide? Was their bond broken somehow?" She says, "He, like most of the Wampanog tribe, have been gone for three centuries. Our tribe once occupied most of what is now known as the state of Massachusetts, as well as the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut and the eastern half of Long Island. At our height the tribe had a population of 12,000. We welcomed the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620, and I attended the First Thanksgiving with them. Chief Massasoit sought peace with the humans, which lasted for over a half-century. </p><p></p><p>But the humans brought diseases that we had no immunity or cures to, which depleted our numbers. Elvan enemy tribes, the Micmac to the north and Pequot to the west then attacked us for our lands, further reducing our tribe. However, our true downfall was due to our new Chief, Massasoit's son, Metacomet, who the humans called King Philip. He led an indian rebellion is 1675, uniting the New England tribes against the 35,000 humans who had settled in our lands. The history books call it 'King Philip's War', we lost with over 5,000 elvan casualties. Metacomet was executed by firing squad. At the end of the war only 400 Wampanog remained, most of us women and children. We were relocated to reservations on the Island of Martha's Vineyard. That was where I met my human husband, a Portuguese fisherman." </p><p></p><p>He replies, "That is an amazing story. You have seen so much in your life. Most of my tribe, the Yavapi, are gone also. Those that are left have mingled in with other tribes now, forced to live on reservations also." Nanuet absentmindedly strokes Maska's fur gently, hint of sadness in his voice. "It seems to be turning into a sad story, the history of our people. There are too many tales similar to the ones we share now." </p><p></p><p>She replies, "That is true, and I have made the study of the Elvan people my life's work. We each do what we can. I have read the treaty that you helped negotiate between the Army and the Apache last January. You should be very </p><p>proud of what you did for them. And while we have each known sadness, there are things to be happy about at well. My daughter and great-granddaughter live happily back in Massachusetts. My great-grandson is currently away in Africa but I have hopes to see him fairly soon. And with my grandson and his loving wife here in Florida, I am quite content to be here as well." </p><p></p><p>Nanuet says, "Thank you, it was my first experience with such things and I learned much from it. The Apache are a proud people and fierce warriors, it was not an easy peace to make, but I am sure you understand all that. You speak of places I have only read about in books as if they are around the next corner. Is not Africa the land of the Ogres and across the ocean?" Meanwhile, Thomas had stepped outside and hears Nanuet ask Alsoomse about the ‘land of Ogres.’ As he may have something relevant to add to the conversation he wanders over in that direction to join them. </p><p></p><p>She replies, "It is, and they are a greatly mistreated people as well. My Great-Grandson Jonathan is currently in the colony of Portuguese Guinea, south of Senegal and north of Guinea. He is in its port city of Bissau, establishing one of the commerical ports for the AGELESS Corporation. The goal is to have the local ogres sell their products directly to us. We in turn will maximize the profits to the workers for their rubber, palm oil and animal hides rather than having to go through intermediaries who typically pay the orges only a fraction of what the goods are worth." </p><p></p><p>Thomas says, "I would very interested to lend whatever assistance or advice I could to their ventures," Thomas says. "As you might imagine, I would be very supportive of any African ogrish commercial ventures, and have some background in sea borne commercial ventures." </p><p></p><p>Alsoomse welcomes Thomas's arrival outside and says "Two of the AGELESS Corporation ports are in Africa. My young great-grandson Jonathan first established one in the port city of Luanda, in Portuguese West Africa, also known as Angola. My late husband's nephew Alursius Ruiz da Rosa will be managing that office. For the time being Jonathan will head up the office in Bissau, Portuguese Guinea. One place that you might be able to help while you are here Thomas is with the Jacksonville Office, as Sol is still getting it organized." </p><p></p><p>Thomas replies, "I would be honored to assist Mr. Star in getting the offices here in order. Also if, perchance, there would be any need to route goods from the African ports to the Mideastern or Northeastern Seaboard, say Norfolk, New York or Boston, then I believe I could easily facilitate a port office and way station in Bermuda as well." Alsoomse replies, "I am sure that is a distinct possibility, Sol can tell you more about the ship movements. I do know that they are planning to avoid the more common trade routes, so Bermuda might not be very far out of the way at all."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 4745773, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter Sixteen, “Decisions” September 1st, 1882, 8:00 P.M.[/B] James had explained the purpose of the organization and asked, “So, my question is, will you join us?" Thomas stands, looks at the gathered luminaries, holds his wine up in the air, and says, "You have my unequivocal and hearty yes!" Roy exclaims, "I think you already know my answer, Doc." Nanuet stands and says, "I too agree to join this worthy and noble group. Count me in." Fish looks about the room at his new associates. "Beauty, brains, brawn and good bourbon. How could I refuse, Mr. Parker? Count me in!" Thomas muses to himself as to where he falls in Fish's taxonomy... brains or brawn ... or both? ... and then quietly chuckles. Still curious about what they would do with this knowledge and these artifacts once they'd assured that peace, Abigail chimed in, "You couldn't tear me away, sir." Hardin affects his best West Texas accent... "Gosh James, that sounds like an awfully long list of 'people who might not be very nice'...sounds like fun!" Hardin's thoughts turn inward for a moment. “Wonder if I still have it...” Lawrence touches the badge on his shirt. "James, you don't need to ask. In for a penny, in for a pound. It'll be just like the old days." George had been taking notes as he was often doing. And he looked up at James, quite pensive and set his pen down and looked at his finance. And was silent for a long time as he stared at the ceiling. "When do you require an answer James" he said finally "I have ongoing commitments as you well know as well as important future plans" said George as he squeezed Ruby's hand. "This is a monumental commitment you are asking of us, one I cannot make lightly or on the spur of an impassioned plan." "Bookworm..." think Fish to himself, "...and brains!" James replies, "George, I recognize that you have other commitments. We are not looking for you to remain here permanently, nor will every mission be using Jacksonville as our base. Our Corporate headquarters in actually in the New York City area, no more than a half-day's train journey from your Rochester. What I am seeking is to occasionally call on your specific area of expertise. Two members of the French wizarding sponsor group are photographic experts, so we may need somebody to help counter that. I will ask each of you again tomorrow afternoon following the follow-up discussion about the Timucuan." Ruby nodded and smiled reassuringly at George. "We can speak about it tonight if you like darling and work it out. I know your expertise is probably greatly needed here if James is asking for your help. Let's discuss it later." She squeezed his hand." George and I will discuss it tonight but you can consider me very interested. Someone has to take care of my grandmother after all," she teased. James smiles and replies, "And I was thinking that was my job!" Ruby says, "And I’m curious...about Atlantis rising. I have heard this story before but didn't know I would end up involved in it! So what happened to the land? Why did it rise up and where did it go, did it sink back into the water? Is it there and just invisible possibly?" Alsoomse says, "We do not know actually why, but it appears to have both risen and sunk. My druidic leaders believe the timing now has something to do with the Atlantic Ocean Earth Spirit having moved south of the equator to watch over the South American continent." Mina interjects, "Ruby, I believe that you said that you and Nanuet know something about what transpired with the earth spirits." Ruby replies, "Umm, yeah, we do." Ruby looked around to the group of people gathered. They all seemed very enthusiastic about joining with James's new group. Everyone except for perhaps George, who admittedly already had a lot on his plate. Plus he was never one to make a hasty decision. "I don't know what you all know about the earth spirits. Before my own little adventure with them I didn't know anything either. I suppose I could talk a little about it." Ruby swallowed the rest of her drink, recalling the dangerous times she has shared with her friends. "All of the major lands and oceans of the world have their own spirit. They are actual physical creatures and they live a long time, like 500 years. They influence the land they watch over, some for the good, some for the evil or others chaos or neutrality. We were told that during the time of the Vikings their spirit was hospitable and allowed a lot of travel over the seas for exploration. After that spirit passed on the next spirit wasn't as nice and the oceans became untravelable. The spirit in Africa has great hatred in it's heart and allowed it's people to become slaves to the human people." "So anyway, not too long ago," she scrunches her nose, "Um... in January, two of the spirits mated, which is what they do... the baby will take the place of one of the parents. The current North American spirit who is good natured and the South American spirit who is not so much. The North American spirit contacted our little group, which included Nanuet and I, to protect her after giving birth, because the South American spirit set in motion a plan so she would be killed and he would survive to go on, the baby replacing the mother instead. Hmmm...," she tapped her lips, "You may be curious to know the North American spirit is a huge, beautiful metallic... dragon. The baby is, was a baby anyway, a chimera, like it's father before him. The father lured hunters to where she was protecting the baby, hoping she would die so he could live. We protected her and in the process the other spirit was killed. That baby will eventually take the place of his father in South America. But I guess for now the Atlantic Ocean spirit needed to watch over South America so the ocean has been left untended, allowing Atlantis to rise and fall?" Hearing lots of yammering about stuff which Trout had no earthly idea... he looks into the bottom of his old-fashioned, now empty of bourbon, Fish asks himself, "Did she put something in my drink?" Fish sidles up to Luiz, swirling the last cube of ice in his empty glass. He says very quietly, "Thank you, Mr. Luiz, for keeping our little episode with the flatware on the low-go..." Turning back to the assembled group he says, "Well, I don't have anything else planned for tonight or tomorrow morning either. Feel free to make yourselves at home. The Delroy-Kingsley family will be bringing up lunch for us at noon and after that we'll meet upstairs in the conference room to discuss my findings." Lawrence says, "That sounds good. I'm going to get another drink. Anyone else want one?" He walks over to the bar. Pouring himself a whiskey, he asks James, "This deputy thing, do I need to get a gun? You know I only own a derringer." Hardin ambles over to the bar as well. "Sure, I'll have another. Also, see me later if you want an iron bigger than a pop-gun...I would be happy to help you out." He winks and grins broadly... "Lawrence replies, "My pleasure, Mr. Hardin. Here you go." He hands Hardin a glass of whiskey. "I'll have to take you up on that offer. If I'm going to be any sort of self-respecting lawman, I'm gonna need a proper shootin' iron." He grins. "How about that, me a 'proper lawman'?" "It doesn't hurt to have some extra help in that department," Ruby winked at James. "I think I will head to my room to get comfortable then perhaps some stargazing is in order. I still have some unpacking to do too." She walked to the bar and reached far over it, stretching to get her hand on the bottle of bourbon she left out. In her other hand she grabbed two glasses with her fingers then nodded for George to follow her. "Good night everyone, I hope there are pleasant dreams all around. I will probably see you all... at lunch tomorrow," she grinned. There was no reason yet she had to suffer and get up early. That would be cruel punishment for everyone. Fish joins the others at the rail. "Mr. Hardin! Do that trick where you bounce a quarter off the bar and draw your pistol before it bounces again!" he says cheerfully. "I read about it in one of those silly rags that seem so fascinated with you!" Hardin sighs a bit and looks at Fish. "Don't believe everything you read there, youngster. Besides, it has been a long-time since I tried that."Fish sees a glint in his eyes...”Still..." Hardin trails off and fishes around in his waistcoat pockets. His fingers emerge with a pair of silver coins. He glances at Fish. "Say 'when'..." Hardin waits for the 'when' and bounces the quarters off the bar and has both Colts out of their holsters and leveled before the coins hit the apex of their bounce. "How's that?" Fish is beaming. "That was magnificent!" With sleight of hand Fish then grabs and pockets the two coins then adds the comment, "...but where'd your coins go?" Doctor Pedro Luiz Chernoviz joins Lawrence, Fish and John at the bar and says, "Well, as the co-founder and Chairman of this new venture, I can attest to you gentlemen being exactly what we need for lawmen on this site. And the key law that will need to be enforced is no trespassing, otherwise we might have witnesses to our own breaking of this fine nation's laws. I for one have never lived within a anti-Wizard magic nation before, and have no intentions of finding myself imprisoned or executed for practicing witchcraft." With a flip of his wrist, Fish slaps Hardin's coins on the bartop. "Misdirection is a beautiful thing, Dr. Chernoviz. A beautiful thing! If people don't see you do something, they can't get their knickers in a knot, now can they? I happen to know a thing or three about subterfuge!" Ruby returned to her room where she spent some quality time unpacking, and imaging in her mind what other furniture she would like and how she wanted her room set up. The bourbon was delicious and she had forgotten any old feelings that came with imbibing in that particular demon. She carefully took out and arranged her bath and personal items in the bathroom between her and George's room. It was a beautiful and modern bathroom and as she ran a hot bath and the room filled with steam she sighed happily, hanging her crisp new white nightgown and pink silk bathrobe on the door. Here she thought she would be camping and instead she was spoiled with more luxury then she thought she would ever have down here in sunny Florida. The bath was just filled to the brim with hot water and bubbles as she twisted her thick red hair above her head. She slipped into the relaxing bath to soak away any bit of strain the earlier trip has caused her. She leaned back into the large bathtub and the songbird sang herself a beautiful and happy lullaby to calm herself into contentment. George listened to Ruby sing as he too unpacked, and as she finished he entered the bathroom, bringing a chair with him which he set by the tub, sitting down facing his fiance. "The accoustics in here don't do you justice my love." he says with a smile. "So Constance, what shall we do about your Step-Grandfather?" says George as he pours himself a bourbon. " I fear I am faced with a difficult choice as we discussed on the train. I know you answer already, though I am grateful you did not express it to James yet." says George with a sad smile. Ruby hesitated just a moment before answering. "I cannot know my answer until we know yours baby. Yes, I am very excited to join the group and all the mysteries and adventures to be had stir my heart." She tilted her head and looked into his eyes. "But if you have some good reason why I shouldn't...And what of you? Why can't you join up? I know your photography business needs you now. However, you have so many competent people in charge, I can't see any harm in it. James even said you don't have to go on every mission or you... we... could work out of the New York office. Occasionally. Your smarts and your expertise in photography and your business sense is probably very much needed here. So why are you sad? What is the problem?" She reached out of the tub, dripping bubbles on the floor, to retrieve her glass of bourbon. She sipped at it slowly, giving George time to think on his answer. George sighed and took off his spectacles rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Yes I do have several good people in place to run the business. But I don't know that I am ready to give that up." "Or you" he adds looking at Ruby. "After all these years, our wedding is imminent and now you at least are rushing off into gods know what danger and will be rushing about on the ocean now instead of the desert. This was not the life I envisioned for us Constance." George sighed again and put his spectacles back on. He stood up, filled Ruby's glass to the top with bourbon and leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. He picked up the bottle of bourbon "I am going to talk a walk and think on this" he said as he left the bathroom. "Wait!" Ruby called out after him as he walked away, "Don't go!" She jumped out of the tub and grabbed a towel, barely covering herself with it as she ran into George's room. Bubbles dripped down her arms and legs and formed into a puddle at her feet as she followed him. "Hold on baby, I want to TALK about this. Don't walk away from me please. Please tell me, what is the life you envisioned for us? I thought that as long as we were together, everything was perfect. I didn't know you were so against this." George smiled at Ruby, "Well, I don't know that I am so against this, I need to think about it." George leads Ruby back tot he tub so she doesn't get a chill and sits down as Ruby gets back into the bath. "But yes, together life is wonderful. But Constance, have you ever stopped to wonder about life after this? Life not spent running from place to place, but staying in one place and building something. A company, a marriage, a family?" " I did envision quiet Sunday picnics in the park with you, our children playing near us. I fear that vision may not come to pass if we spend all our time gallivanting about the globe. The others down there aren't......anchored to things they way I am. They way I want to be. While I love adventure and exploring, I am getting ready to want to settle down, establish myself, lead a life of quiet. Where I can buy tickets to the theater and expect to actually be there for the show. But I need you to finish your bath and get all clean my love. And I also need you to let me go think on this for a while." Ruby blinked at him at few times. He was so handsome but right now all she saw was the worry on his face. "I don't understand, George. I..." She again reached for her glass and this time took a huge gulp. "I'm not ready to be a mother. I don't know if I'll EVER be ready to be a mother. You know, that is a really scary thought..." She shivered, and it wasn't from the water being cooler now than it was. "I... I'm not really sure what to say. I thought you would just be happy being with me. I told you that I can't be that girl... the one who dresses up like a doll everyday to look pretty for the few minutes that day she gets to see her husband... the girl who goes to teas and gossips and is expected to tighten her corset and sit up straight and be quiet and have absolutely nothing to do all day but eat and get fat. And raise babies." She took another sip and looked away from those big brown eyes of his. "I can never be that girl, even if I wanted to." She rubbed her forehead as if a sudden headache had come on. "I understand a bit about the company... I am very proud of the life I made in Promise City and my Saloons there but you convinced me to be with you instead of help them grow. And I made that choice, for you. But you know, George you KNOW how badly I have wanted, no needed, to travel and see the world. I mean, we could even have babies and travel... you said you would open an European office and we could make our family while we were there off doing..." She stopped. All this blabbering was foolish. She turned her gaze to look out the bathroom window, the white curtains blowing in the warm breeze and she was quiet for a few minutes. Finally she said, with just a tinge of flatness in her voice, "Why don't you go think on it. I'm sure you have all the information you need to decide. And then you can tell me what our decision is so we know what to tell James tomorrow." Ruby hears the door to his room slowly close as George leaves. Ruby sits in the tub, drinking large swallows of her bourbon, hoping he'll be back soon. Downstairs, Nanuet approached Alsoomse and spoke "Now that the business of the day is over I am going to spend some time with Maska. You had shown interest in her before, perhaps you'd like to meet her now?" Nanuet heads outside and walks back up the driveway about 50 yards or so before kneeling down to pet his invisible companion. "Find yourself some dinner girl? I think it's cheating since you're invisible. Now that were here I'll have to ask Ruby to fix that, so that everyone can see how pretty you are." All the time that he is speaking he is gently stroking the invisible wolf. Alsoomse has accompanied Nanuet. She says, "I could do that if you would like, dispelling magic is a fairly easy spell. I could teach it to you later if you would like." He replies, "But I have no arcane skills. All of the 'magic' I have ever done has been through prayers and magical artifacts." She replies, "There is a clerical version of the Dispel Magic as well, that is the one that I can teach you." Nanuet motions towards Maska "But yes, that would be a very handy trick to know. If you could lift the spell I would be grateful, if you could teach me how I would be indebted." She approaches the wolf and speaks softly to it using words from her own native language, with a soothing tone. She removes from a belt pouch a polished stone that is approximately five inches long and an inch in diameter that is flat on one side with runes carved into it. She then softly casts a spell with a minimum of hand gestures. Maska does not immediately appear, but instead slowly materializes over the course of a minute, becoming transluscent at first and then visually solidifying. Nanuet watches Alsoomse closely, even mimicing her when he could trying to get a feel for the spell. Alsooomse tells Nanuet, "Maska is beautiful. My brother had the wolf as his spirit guide and raised several New England Gray Wolves." He replies, "Thank you. She has been an important and loyal companion. You say your brother 'had' the wolf as his spirit guide? Was their bond broken somehow?" She says, "He, like most of the Wampanog tribe, have been gone for three centuries. Our tribe once occupied most of what is now known as the state of Massachusetts, as well as the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut and the eastern half of Long Island. At our height the tribe had a population of 12,000. We welcomed the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620, and I attended the First Thanksgiving with them. Chief Massasoit sought peace with the humans, which lasted for over a half-century. But the humans brought diseases that we had no immunity or cures to, which depleted our numbers. Elvan enemy tribes, the Micmac to the north and Pequot to the west then attacked us for our lands, further reducing our tribe. However, our true downfall was due to our new Chief, Massasoit's son, Metacomet, who the humans called King Philip. He led an indian rebellion is 1675, uniting the New England tribes against the 35,000 humans who had settled in our lands. The history books call it 'King Philip's War', we lost with over 5,000 elvan casualties. Metacomet was executed by firing squad. At the end of the war only 400 Wampanog remained, most of us women and children. We were relocated to reservations on the Island of Martha's Vineyard. That was where I met my human husband, a Portuguese fisherman." He replies, "That is an amazing story. You have seen so much in your life. Most of my tribe, the Yavapi, are gone also. Those that are left have mingled in with other tribes now, forced to live on reservations also." Nanuet absentmindedly strokes Maska's fur gently, hint of sadness in his voice. "It seems to be turning into a sad story, the history of our people. There are too many tales similar to the ones we share now." She replies, "That is true, and I have made the study of the Elvan people my life's work. We each do what we can. I have read the treaty that you helped negotiate between the Army and the Apache last January. You should be very proud of what you did for them. And while we have each known sadness, there are things to be happy about at well. My daughter and great-granddaughter live happily back in Massachusetts. My great-grandson is currently away in Africa but I have hopes to see him fairly soon. And with my grandson and his loving wife here in Florida, I am quite content to be here as well." Nanuet says, "Thank you, it was my first experience with such things and I learned much from it. The Apache are a proud people and fierce warriors, it was not an easy peace to make, but I am sure you understand all that. You speak of places I have only read about in books as if they are around the next corner. Is not Africa the land of the Ogres and across the ocean?" Meanwhile, Thomas had stepped outside and hears Nanuet ask Alsoomse about the ‘land of Ogres.’ As he may have something relevant to add to the conversation he wanders over in that direction to join them. She replies, "It is, and they are a greatly mistreated people as well. My Great-Grandson Jonathan is currently in the colony of Portuguese Guinea, south of Senegal and north of Guinea. He is in its port city of Bissau, establishing one of the commerical ports for the AGELESS Corporation. The goal is to have the local ogres sell their products directly to us. We in turn will maximize the profits to the workers for their rubber, palm oil and animal hides rather than having to go through intermediaries who typically pay the orges only a fraction of what the goods are worth." Thomas says, "I would very interested to lend whatever assistance or advice I could to their ventures," Thomas says. "As you might imagine, I would be very supportive of any African ogrish commercial ventures, and have some background in sea borne commercial ventures." Alsoomse welcomes Thomas's arrival outside and says "Two of the AGELESS Corporation ports are in Africa. My young great-grandson Jonathan first established one in the port city of Luanda, in Portuguese West Africa, also known as Angola. My late husband's nephew Alursius Ruiz da Rosa will be managing that office. For the time being Jonathan will head up the office in Bissau, Portuguese Guinea. One place that you might be able to help while you are here Thomas is with the Jacksonville Office, as Sol is still getting it organized." Thomas replies, "I would be honored to assist Mr. Star in getting the offices here in order. Also if, perchance, there would be any need to route goods from the African ports to the Mideastern or Northeastern Seaboard, say Norfolk, New York or Boston, then I believe I could easily facilitate a port office and way station in Bermuda as well." Alsoomse replies, "I am sure that is a distinct possibility, Sol can tell you more about the ship movements. I do know that they are planning to avoid the more common trade routes, so Bermuda might not be very far out of the way at all." [/QUOTE]
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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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