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High Fantasy Modern Storyhour - The Long Road (updated December 7)
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<blockquote data-quote="RangerWickett" data-source="post: 3206233" data-attributes="member: 63"><p><strong>Session Thirteen, Part Five</strong></p><p></p><p>The transition from Forsyth Park to the sparse woods of Gaian Savannah is actually not that jarring. Robert graciously picks up Jenny's duffle bag, nods to her ghost Pataman politely, then gestures toward the distant Bureau offices. They walk.</p><p></p><p>Robert says, "Yeah, I know about Legion. Michael told us. Some ghost managed to survive after the guy it bonded to died, and it hopped around from person to person until it turned evil and started killing <em>dragons</em>." He says the last part with a verbal flourish, amused by the idea.</p><p></p><p>Jenny nods. "The older he got, the stronger he became, and he was able to cast spells himself. Most ghosts just give the living power to use magic."</p><p></p><p>She looks at Terry's ghost. "I mean, you can see why the Chief would see a parallel with you, right?"</p><p></p><p>Terry glowers. "From what Michael told us, it sounds like you were just pissed because 'dragons' provide a lot of funding for you, and you didn't like your donors being killed. Well, y'know, I'm not looking to kill any dragons, so you can keep up your extortion racket."</p><p></p><p>Jenny's expression darkens. "Legion killed three agents. And a lot of innocent people, along the years."</p><p></p><p>Robert and Terry exchange an uncomfortable glance.</p><p></p><p>Jenny nods. "Yeah, Michael wouldn't have mentioned that. Did he mention that Legion possessed him too, and that one of the agents killed was his girlfriend at the time?"</p><p></p><p>"Sh*t," Terry says. "I'm sorry."</p><p></p><p>"It was years ago," Jenny says. "Don't worry about it."</p><p></p><p>Robert says, "He did mention that something went on with the telepaths -- one of them betrayed the Bureau to work with this Legion guy, and that's why your boss has a problem with Nathan. Did he leave anything important out there?"</p><p></p><p>"A little bitter?" Jenny asks.</p><p></p><p>"It just seems like everybody's got a problem with just telling the total truth." Robert shrugs, momentarily disturbed by his own hypocrisy. "I know your whole job is to keep secrets, and that's seriously frustrating us, Jenny. John and Scarpedin practically want to just go on the internet and tell everyone the truth about magic."</p><p></p><p>Jenny chuckles, then sighs. "I used to feel the same way."</p><p></p><p>Terry asks, "What changed your mind?</p><p></p><p>"I don't know," she says quietly. "After enough time doing this job, I guess I stopped questioning it."</p><p></p><p>They walk quietly for a few moments.</p><p></p><p>Jenny says, "Yes, he left something important out. One of the telepaths killed by Legion -- or rather by Autumn, his accomplice -- was J'quwon, a . . . I don't suppose you know about though eaters, do you?"</p><p></p><p>A memory assaults Robert, of tentacles and eyes peering out from shadows in the New Orleans night. For a moment he thinks he feels something writhing inside his tongue and he coughs, but then the sensation passes.</p><p></p><p>"I know about 'em," Robert says. "We saw one in New Orleans."</p><p></p><p>"Well," Jenny says, "J'quwon was the Chief's friend, or as close as either of those two could have had to it. Honestly, he was creepy, since it felt like he always knew what you were thinking, but kept the rest of the Bureau honest. I think that since he died, as strange as it is, things have gotten worse."</p><p></p><p>"Weird," Robert says. "So, any other secrets?"</p><p></p><p>Jenny shrugs. "I tried to date Sean - Tagin, the guy who does our tech work. When I left, they had him under examination to see if he was charmed, to find out why he just let you guys in with the prisoner. And now that we're back to this topic, what actually happened there?"</p><p></p><p>"Sure thing," Robert says. "But first, I um . . . I need a favor. I need you to let me into your prison. There's a guy I need to see. O-Ragumaro."</p><p></p><p>Jenny stops and looks at Robert with bemusement. "Alright, I'm going to need an explanation for this. Why do you need to see a Japanese sorcerer?"</p><p></p><p>Robert looks chagrined, and Terry laughs.</p><p></p><p>"Oh, we wish we knew," he chuckles.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">* * *</p><p></p><p>Robert and Wiji-wiji stop outside the cell door. The prison is dark, short hallways and thick walls composed of strange alloys and unique magic holding an undisclosed number of prisoners too dangerous to kill. Robert errantly fingers the golden Japanese coin Wiji-wiji gave him as a prize back in the Renaissance Festival. It shocks him to realize it's only November 3rd today, and that he first met Wiji-wiji less than a week ago.</p><p></p><p>He knows there are no cameras watching the cell. No eyes peering inside other than his own and his strange Japanese companion's. Through the etched glass view hole of the cell door, he can see the aged sorcerer, his skin withered gray and skeletal, his eyes invisible amid wrinkles, his arms and legs chained together like a Depression-era convict working on the railroad, and a magic-suppressing collar around his neck, slightly hidden by the folds of his tattered green kimono.</p><p></p><p>The sorcerer's head tilts up ever so slightly, and turns to face them. Robert releases the coin in his pocket with a start, and he wishes that he had not been quite so effective in convincing Jenny to let them do this.</p><p></p><p>He again wonders why he did, and all he can decide is that he is either too afraid of Wiji-wiji, or he actually trusts the fey.</p><p></p><p>Robert forces out a chuckle at the thought, then pulls out the antiquated key Jenny gave him. He waves down the darkened hall to the squad of Bureau agents watching in the distance, and with an audible click and hiss of pressure, the door to the cell opens a crack.</p><p></p><p>Wiji-wiji told him exactly what to do and what to expect, and has given him a crash course on Go rules and strategy. Jenny assured him that never in the sixty years they have kept O-Ragumaro has he tried to escape. And yet still, Robert is fairly certain something is going to go very badly. He takes a breathe, and pushes open the door. Wiji-wiji follows him, and closes the door behind them. </p><p></p><p>Both Wiji-wij and Robert bow, and the sorcerer slightly tilts his head in response. Wiji-wiji holds out an ornate, traditionally-crafted Go board, complete with four bowls for beads. While Robert wonders where the slight man was hiding all these things, Wiji-wiji begins to place the board on the ground and speak in Japanese. Something about his voice is different - less jovial, more polite, the words much longer than Robert is used to. It sounds like he is addressing an employer, or an old, respected relative.</p><p></p><p>Wiji-wiji finishes, and O-Ragumaro nods, gesturing with one hand to the floor. The chains on his arms clink, and at this cue, Robert cautiously steps over next to the sorcerer and reaches for the locks on the bonds. Meanwhile, Wiji-wiji again miraculously produces a pair of rice-straw mats and lays them on the floor.</p><p></p><p>The lock turns, and the cuffs fall away. The skin under the cuffs is worn to the bone, but the demon-bonded magus does not seem to care. Robert awkwardly bows again then backs away, and both he and Wiji-wiji kneel across from the sorcerer, the board laid out between them, a bowl of black or white beads on either side.</p><p></p><p>Majestically, O-Ragumaro stands, his kimono roiling about him like a wave on a stormy sea. Then, almost meekly, the ancient sorcerer kneels as well, picks up a black bead, and places it on the board.</p><p></p><p>Okay, Robert thinks to himself, time to figure out how to cheat.</p><p></p><p>A few times he tries palming beads and placing them elsewhere while he makes his moves, but each time the sorcerer notices and says something to Wiji-wiji, who then directs Robert to put the piece back. He tries to drop two beads at once while clearing his throat to distract the old guy's attention, but it doesn't work either. When the magus catches him cheating by trying to switch a white bead for a black one, he is thankful that the evil demon-bonded sorcerer isn't a bad sport, but he's no closer to winning.</p><p></p><p>Then, just as he's beginning to contemplate flipping the board and ending in a draw, O-Ragumaro makes a slight wave of his hand instead of placing a bead, and Wiji-wiji gasps.</p><p></p><p>"Oh," he says. "He passes."</p><p></p><p>Robert looks at the board, covered in beads - many more of the sorcerer's black beads than his own white ones. Confused, he picks up one of his beads and places it. He notices Wiji-wiji frowning next to him, then sees O-Ragumaro again gesture that he's passing. Robert shrugs, feeling lucky that his opponent is cocky enough to give him extra turns, and he places another bead, thinking that he's finally getting a feel for the game.</p><p></p><p>Again the sorcerer passes, and again Robert places a bead, but with growing trepidation. This repeats a half-dozen more times, until Robert realizes he's just filling in spaces already controlled by his opponent. He sees that eventually he'll run out of spaces. He is trapped, and he did not even notice it. He has already lost.</p><p></p><p>Robert concentrates, looking for a trick he can pull. Then he hears Wiji-wiji whisper to him, "<em>Domo arigato gozaimasu,</em> Robato-<em>san</em>."</p><p></p><p>Despite all his instincts, Robert lifts a hand, and waves over the board. "I pass."</p><p></p><p>O-Ragumaro bends his head in a seated bow, as does Wiji-wiji. Robert leans back, pulls his legs out from himself, and sits cross-legged on the floor.</p><p></p><p>"Best of three?" he suggests.</p><p></p><p>But the two Japanese men ignore him. Wiji-wiji begins speaking, and finally O-Ragumaro responds, his voice windy, and Robert thinks he hears the voice hissing through a hole in the old man's neck. The words are all gibberish, but Robert senses something building, a power gathering in the room.</p><p></p><p>Wiji-wiji listens to the sorcerer, then nods and stands. He looks once at Robert, his expression apologetic, and then he steps over to O-Ragumaro and removes the mage's collar. Robert leaps up and tries to stop him, but then his legs go weak, his vision blurs, and he stumbles forward, landing on the Go board and scattering white and black beads in all directions. As he blacks out, Robert chides himself for not thinking to fake getting sick. That one just might have worked.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RangerWickett, post: 3206233, member: 63"] [b]Session Thirteen, Part Five[/b] The transition from Forsyth Park to the sparse woods of Gaian Savannah is actually not that jarring. Robert graciously picks up Jenny's duffle bag, nods to her ghost Pataman politely, then gestures toward the distant Bureau offices. They walk. Robert says, "Yeah, I know about Legion. Michael told us. Some ghost managed to survive after the guy it bonded to died, and it hopped around from person to person until it turned evil and started killing [i]dragons[/i]." He says the last part with a verbal flourish, amused by the idea. Jenny nods. "The older he got, the stronger he became, and he was able to cast spells himself. Most ghosts just give the living power to use magic." She looks at Terry's ghost. "I mean, you can see why the Chief would see a parallel with you, right?" Terry glowers. "From what Michael told us, it sounds like you were just pissed because 'dragons' provide a lot of funding for you, and you didn't like your donors being killed. Well, y'know, I'm not looking to kill any dragons, so you can keep up your extortion racket." Jenny's expression darkens. "Legion killed three agents. And a lot of innocent people, along the years." Robert and Terry exchange an uncomfortable glance. Jenny nods. "Yeah, Michael wouldn't have mentioned that. Did he mention that Legion possessed him too, and that one of the agents killed was his girlfriend at the time?" "Sh*t," Terry says. "I'm sorry." "It was years ago," Jenny says. "Don't worry about it." Robert says, "He did mention that something went on with the telepaths -- one of them betrayed the Bureau to work with this Legion guy, and that's why your boss has a problem with Nathan. Did he leave anything important out there?" "A little bitter?" Jenny asks. "It just seems like everybody's got a problem with just telling the total truth." Robert shrugs, momentarily disturbed by his own hypocrisy. "I know your whole job is to keep secrets, and that's seriously frustrating us, Jenny. John and Scarpedin practically want to just go on the internet and tell everyone the truth about magic." Jenny chuckles, then sighs. "I used to feel the same way." Terry asks, "What changed your mind? "I don't know," she says quietly. "After enough time doing this job, I guess I stopped questioning it." They walk quietly for a few moments. Jenny says, "Yes, he left something important out. One of the telepaths killed by Legion -- or rather by Autumn, his accomplice -- was J'quwon, a . . . I don't suppose you know about though eaters, do you?" A memory assaults Robert, of tentacles and eyes peering out from shadows in the New Orleans night. For a moment he thinks he feels something writhing inside his tongue and he coughs, but then the sensation passes. "I know about 'em," Robert says. "We saw one in New Orleans." "Well," Jenny says, "J'quwon was the Chief's friend, or as close as either of those two could have had to it. Honestly, he was creepy, since it felt like he always knew what you were thinking, but kept the rest of the Bureau honest. I think that since he died, as strange as it is, things have gotten worse." "Weird," Robert says. "So, any other secrets?" Jenny shrugs. "I tried to date Sean - Tagin, the guy who does our tech work. When I left, they had him under examination to see if he was charmed, to find out why he just let you guys in with the prisoner. And now that we're back to this topic, what actually happened there?" "Sure thing," Robert says. "But first, I um . . . I need a favor. I need you to let me into your prison. There's a guy I need to see. O-Ragumaro." Jenny stops and looks at Robert with bemusement. "Alright, I'm going to need an explanation for this. Why do you need to see a Japanese sorcerer?" Robert looks chagrined, and Terry laughs. "Oh, we wish we knew," he chuckles. [center]* * *[/center] Robert and Wiji-wiji stop outside the cell door. The prison is dark, short hallways and thick walls composed of strange alloys and unique magic holding an undisclosed number of prisoners too dangerous to kill. Robert errantly fingers the golden Japanese coin Wiji-wiji gave him as a prize back in the Renaissance Festival. It shocks him to realize it's only November 3rd today, and that he first met Wiji-wiji less than a week ago. He knows there are no cameras watching the cell. No eyes peering inside other than his own and his strange Japanese companion's. Through the etched glass view hole of the cell door, he can see the aged sorcerer, his skin withered gray and skeletal, his eyes invisible amid wrinkles, his arms and legs chained together like a Depression-era convict working on the railroad, and a magic-suppressing collar around his neck, slightly hidden by the folds of his tattered green kimono. The sorcerer's head tilts up ever so slightly, and turns to face them. Robert releases the coin in his pocket with a start, and he wishes that he had not been quite so effective in convincing Jenny to let them do this. He again wonders why he did, and all he can decide is that he is either too afraid of Wiji-wiji, or he actually trusts the fey. Robert forces out a chuckle at the thought, then pulls out the antiquated key Jenny gave him. He waves down the darkened hall to the squad of Bureau agents watching in the distance, and with an audible click and hiss of pressure, the door to the cell opens a crack. Wiji-wiji told him exactly what to do and what to expect, and has given him a crash course on Go rules and strategy. Jenny assured him that never in the sixty years they have kept O-Ragumaro has he tried to escape. And yet still, Robert is fairly certain something is going to go very badly. He takes a breathe, and pushes open the door. Wiji-wiji follows him, and closes the door behind them. Both Wiji-wij and Robert bow, and the sorcerer slightly tilts his head in response. Wiji-wiji holds out an ornate, traditionally-crafted Go board, complete with four bowls for beads. While Robert wonders where the slight man was hiding all these things, Wiji-wiji begins to place the board on the ground and speak in Japanese. Something about his voice is different - less jovial, more polite, the words much longer than Robert is used to. It sounds like he is addressing an employer, or an old, respected relative. Wiji-wiji finishes, and O-Ragumaro nods, gesturing with one hand to the floor. The chains on his arms clink, and at this cue, Robert cautiously steps over next to the sorcerer and reaches for the locks on the bonds. Meanwhile, Wiji-wiji again miraculously produces a pair of rice-straw mats and lays them on the floor. The lock turns, and the cuffs fall away. The skin under the cuffs is worn to the bone, but the demon-bonded magus does not seem to care. Robert awkwardly bows again then backs away, and both he and Wiji-wiji kneel across from the sorcerer, the board laid out between them, a bowl of black or white beads on either side. Majestically, O-Ragumaro stands, his kimono roiling about him like a wave on a stormy sea. Then, almost meekly, the ancient sorcerer kneels as well, picks up a black bead, and places it on the board. Okay, Robert thinks to himself, time to figure out how to cheat. A few times he tries palming beads and placing them elsewhere while he makes his moves, but each time the sorcerer notices and says something to Wiji-wiji, who then directs Robert to put the piece back. He tries to drop two beads at once while clearing his throat to distract the old guy's attention, but it doesn't work either. When the magus catches him cheating by trying to switch a white bead for a black one, he is thankful that the evil demon-bonded sorcerer isn't a bad sport, but he's no closer to winning. Then, just as he's beginning to contemplate flipping the board and ending in a draw, O-Ragumaro makes a slight wave of his hand instead of placing a bead, and Wiji-wiji gasps. "Oh," he says. "He passes." Robert looks at the board, covered in beads - many more of the sorcerer's black beads than his own white ones. Confused, he picks up one of his beads and places it. He notices Wiji-wiji frowning next to him, then sees O-Ragumaro again gesture that he's passing. Robert shrugs, feeling lucky that his opponent is cocky enough to give him extra turns, and he places another bead, thinking that he's finally getting a feel for the game. Again the sorcerer passes, and again Robert places a bead, but with growing trepidation. This repeats a half-dozen more times, until Robert realizes he's just filling in spaces already controlled by his opponent. He sees that eventually he'll run out of spaces. He is trapped, and he did not even notice it. He has already lost. Robert concentrates, looking for a trick he can pull. Then he hears Wiji-wiji whisper to him, "[i]Domo arigato gozaimasu,[/i] Robato-[i]san[/i]." Despite all his instincts, Robert lifts a hand, and waves over the board. "I pass." O-Ragumaro bends his head in a seated bow, as does Wiji-wiji. Robert leans back, pulls his legs out from himself, and sits cross-legged on the floor. "Best of three?" he suggests. But the two Japanese men ignore him. Wiji-wiji begins speaking, and finally O-Ragumaro responds, his voice windy, and Robert thinks he hears the voice hissing through a hole in the old man's neck. The words are all gibberish, but Robert senses something building, a power gathering in the room. Wiji-wiji listens to the sorcerer, then nods and stands. He looks once at Robert, his expression apologetic, and then he steps over to O-Ragumaro and removes the mage's collar. Robert leaps up and tries to stop him, but then his legs go weak, his vision blurs, and he stumbles forward, landing on the Go board and scattering white and black beads in all directions. As he blacks out, Robert chides himself for not thinking to fake getting sick. That one just might have worked. [/QUOTE]
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