| From: | ANGLISS@***.PSU.EDU |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Tara(Challenge post 4--last one, I hope...) |
| Date: | Fri, 1 Apr 1994 11:32:41 -0500 |
group
of runners try to break into the R&D facilities last night. Not that they even
came close to succeeding, but the computer went into emergency protocols right
after I finished uploading part 3 and didn't come back under standard control
until recently. Anyone know what I should do with a team of 6 runners who
couldn't even get into the main building before they were caught? Hmmmm....
Well, I'll think of something appropriate. Something that'll keep the corp in
the good graces with the authorities...
Well, sorry about the delay(again). Here's the last bit, even if the camera
is a little fragged up by the nature of the Arena Val was in...
*****Include TNO Trid, Decrypted and Hijacked*****
The camera again fades out, showing that Moriarity restarted the feed with some
overlap from the end of the last part of the feed. Then it begins to fade in,
but for some reason seems to be out of focus. Gradually you realize why.
You are in Tara, or a peice of it anyway. This place you are in is a large
circular arena lit by torches and a large bonfire in the center. But the flame
is cold, as are the torches. Magical in nature, they cast light but no heat,
and they don't appear to be using anything to sustain thier flame. No wood,
nothing. Even what appeared to be torches are just spots on the wall where
the magical flame appears. And the walls themselves are unusual as well.
Those of you who have traveled the metaplanes recognize some of the effects,
although it is highly unusual that a technical camera is photograping them.
The wall is a dark and rippling grey. It almost appears as if it is a fluid
barrier, or has heat rising off it to create the rippling effect. But upon a
closer examination you not only see that it is solid, but all the spectral
colors of all the planes exist within it. And you suspect that the reason it
appears to flow is the inability of the camera to keep up with changes in a
barrier that only barely exists to its purely physical sight. But through
the wall you see outlines of hills and trees, and guards. This arena looks to
be a hole in the planes, neither Astral, Metaplane, nor physical in nature, but
part of all three. How the Seelie Court was able to do this is beyond you,
but they have somehow. But maybe it's all just an illusion as Hermit said it
is...
As the camera turns toward the center of the arena, you notice three stands
set opposing each other. The one you are looking at now is the main stand, and
in it sits the Arbiter of the Challenge, Lady Deigh. Beautiful to an extreme,
she appears to be waiting for the other two parties to arrive in thier boxes.
Beside her stands several guards, all elves and definately Followers of one
Path or another.
The next box has Valentine, STREETWOLF, Stormfalcon, Morgan, Little Dragon,
and Hermit in it. They appear to have just arrived, and all are wearing thier
normal clothing. Only Val is still dressed in his ritual robe and mantle, but
he still has the lyre slung across his back. That is a little strange, but
perhaps he thinks he will need it. STREETWOLF appears to be tired still from
his Trials, but his face expresses the worry and nervousness that he must be
feeling by now perfectly. His wounds have been fully healed. Stormfalcon,
still in his armor but without the cloak, is standing to the right of Val,
and Hermit to his left(STREETWOLF is directly behind Val). Stormfalcon also
appears worried, almost as if he has an idea of what Val is about to go
through in the name of the Challenge. And Hermit just looks.... Well, if you
had to hazzard a guess, from the way he was standing and carrying himself, he
looks nervous if a bit subdued. In many ways his ordeal was the most difficult
especially the Trial by Self, and he might not have recovered from that long,
hard look into his past and personal pain. Morgan and Little Dragon are both
sitting to the far sides of the four, casting looks at the other boxes that,
were they capable, could easily blow up several small buildings. And with the
next camera shot, the reason becomes clear.
The O'Kennedy's. Standing within their box are six elves, headed by Dane
O'Kennedy herself. She is dressed in the hooded shadow cloak of the Steward.
On the cloak are all the symbols of the Path of the Steward, encorporating also
her family torc and the symbols of the O'Kennedy's. Without the hood lowered
you would very likely not recognize her. Beside and behind her are 5 others,
similarly cloaked and robed. But you notice that the robes each display a
seperate Path, with the exception of a double in the Path of the Warrior. Even
one of the elusive Righ Followers appears to be here, humbly remaining in the
rear of the group. And of all of them, only Dane has her hood off.
>From the main box, the Queen of the Court calls: "Approach and state your
buisness."
Both Dane and Valentine exit the boxes and walk to the center of the arena
before the main box.
"I, Dane Moire O'Kennedy, have been called here with my clan to face a
Challenge, issued by Patrick John O'Kennedy. My Champions and I have answered
the summons and stand before you to complete his Challenge."
"Are you, Patrick John O'Kennedy, ready to face the Champions of the O'Kennedy
clan, your own family, in the 5 Trials of Tara?"
"I am, my Lady."
"Then let the Trial of the West begin."
*****End Trideo Feed*****
Solitaire has informed me that we are having a small virus problem. The decker
that tried to run our system last night had a virus attached to his persona
that he was unaware of(bloody unprofessional) and it's trying to infect our
CPU. So I'll be back shortly to finish off this trid feed.]<<<<<
-- Moriarity(11:34:50/04-01-55)
