Huh. Apparently Orochi lost his heart to Radnaghast... literally, what with it being the Tree and All Mythic All the Time there. Gah. Macy convinced Radnaghast -- a city and a fortress -- to give it back and to come along for the giving. The miracle involved gave Macy quite a nasty wound.
So Mace carried the heart in a box, and an avatar of Radnaghast, and me in plasmaform and I boosted her speed with what amounted to an ion drive while frying our scent trail, thus avoiding the Humungous Bees.
Orochi bitched about Macy exceeding her mandate and acted like a frigging teenager about talking to his ex. We made encouraging noises. He finally bit the bullet and talked to Radnaghast. He did acknowledge owing Macy a smallish favor. Probably. We'll see how it goes with the Romance of the Gargantuas.
I carried Macy in to the Chancel, which was completely unnecessary, physically, and installed her in one of the nicest chalets. We learned that Scorn's Regal was requesting the favor of being allowed in to the resort facilities before opening day. I convinced Macy we were better off knowing where he is and using Chancel power to bollix him up. Did Preservations on her secrets (including her location) and on the Chancel's secrets --- on my notion of them vs. outsiders. Put Joktan in another Macy Masterpiece chalet, one distant from Macy but chosen partially by chance. Assigned a ton of former London streetwalkers to attend Scorn's every need, real or imagined, twenty times over, outside of secrets and all. Worth a shot.
Briefed June vis a vis Orochi and Radnaghast, Scorn and Macy. She's still playing chicken with a Strategist. Still alive and kicking, too. Didn't call Terminus. Don't want to know what he's up to.
Made nice to our Cammoran and asked him to find out who Baalharmon was to nettle and what he could about Scorn's character, strengths and weaknesses.
Need to get La Fleur on board for the anti Joktan op.
Will spend some time trying to get a handle on using Thunderbolt more effeciently.
I'm full of Brotherly pride and affection for Macy and June, getting the jobs done, taking hits for the team, wrestling devil gods and living to tell the tale. I'm full of Familial apprehension about whatever Terminus is up to. Is this me becoming one with my Familia? Is it an Amaciel effect? Is there a difference? Regardless, there it is.
June
June is going to start looking for the weapon and butting in where she shouldn't (her words). Hank is in a bar at a booth staring at Vera. Vera is staring off into space with a very vacant look. Hank is starting to remember who he is. The bartender is looking at Hank and asks him if he is all right. Hank is starting to remember more things.
Macy
Uses a knife to open a wound in her heart and bleeds on the carved heart in the wall. A statue walks out and the wall's heart becomes fleshy. Donner shows up shortly after. They discuss stratagy for getting the statue, heart and themselves back in one piece. They arrive back in Noctus. Jurai greets them at the gate and they pretty much ignore him. They use the fairie rings to get outside New Orleans and near Orochi's blockade. Orochi starts out with a flippant tone but changes Orochi tells Macy to give Amacil his regards and that she may call on him if there is a need. He carefully avoids saying he is in her debt. Orochi turns into an old Japenese man he offers his arm to the statue and they go off together. Donner asks Macy if she wants to be carried and she accepts his offer. Donner contacts Gwen and she tells him she cannot talk now but there is stuff going on. Macy is put up in one of the pretty houses. Griv flies along and talks with Donner as he takes her to a house. Joktan asks for permission to stay in the chancel for a time. Macy is very against the idea. Donner does two perservation miracles - one for Macy and one for the chancel in general.
Donner calls June on the communicator. Donner recalls the tale of Orochi's heart to June. Donner asks the Commoran for two favors - one is to see whom Baalhermon is to nettle and what are Japtan's gifts. The commoran is known for his prowess, intelligent and master of his domain, and irragant. Japtan is known as the grey king of the cleave of the botonist - sorcerors who worship him in effigy. Donner assigns Joktan all sorts of whores to please him and dictates his location to the chancel.
June heads towards the blood flowing downhill to find the weapon. Alcatraz is shuttering and convulsing. She has one of her anchors with her. He wants to know if she wants to use a ferry or rent a boat. He decides to procure a boat for them to drive. The water is choppy - June sees this is coming from the island not the tide. The island looks anthopormophic in the mythic. The island when she gets close looks like a giant burnt body. The body does seem to be dead and yet thrashing. June looks around and one of the ferries is bringing over one of the excrutions and some tourists.
Donner checks in on things while he has been gone to make sure Mion has kept out. .
HG: Justice has gone thru at least two verifiable reincarnations.
Sian: Yes, and it is a good time for a third…
***
Sian: When we go back to the chancel we need to inform …
Guilt: Alajandro?
Sian:…(in a sotto voce reserved for the insane) Cathatel.
HG: (Laughing) Oh, That was great! What a great insite into both of the characters…One concerned about the Chancel and the Realm, and the other concerned about their Imperator.
***
Jourai: Consider me at your disposal
Sian: There’s an Idea!
***
HG: You see Cathatel in a position you’ve never seen before…
Dave: Taunt…
Stan: Mating…
Margie: Waiting for belly rubs…
HG: While all of these are positions…no….ummm…
Dave: Exotic dancing…
Stan: Erect…
HG: Closer…
Stan: Hanging…
Dave:…Noose like…
Stan: Hanging around noose like with Orachi…
HG: Funny…That would really mess Jackie and Randy, but no.
Margie: A tower of power…
HG: ARRRGGGHHH…umm, well toweresque. Ok. He’s Toweresque, does that work for you?
Fungus
In a large long-hall in Utgard (Chancel) Fungus stood discussing the situation with Ratatosk and Hrungyr. Ratatosk beings, “You are familiar with the legends of Ragnorak. The very specific details of which were detailed far before the actual events. The prophesies of Ragnorak were very detailed and accurate. The reason is it is a cycle, recounted from past Ragnoraks.
Originally it was easy for the Norns, the goddesses of destiny to be the ones who remembered it. I remembered it because I was outside of it. But even an idiot like Thor eventually, after 700-800 times, remembered it and did not want it to happen again and again. Aside from our pre-determined internal struggles, Jotunheim was peaceful. We are not rich in any resource so we were pretty much left alone. When we were given an opportunity to trade away some of the aspects of Ragnorak, after so much time it did not seem to be a sacrifice. The cycle itself became less repetitive. Thor wandered off as did Loki. Eventually a certain accord was reached and ceased to have meaning to us. We gained somewhat from what was traded away. Jormungand, the world serpent, traded away these things to another world serpent. We lost our connection with your world, but that was a small price. There were other benefits.”
“Who did you trade with?” Fungus asks. “It was another world serpent.” He came in many guises. He had many names – Amaciel was one. Loki advised against it, but we just assumed that he was up to something else. Sometimes he sent emissaries mostly he came on his own. I gathered that he and Jormungand were related or lovers or allied in some way.”
“We felt that we had lost nothing. Then the Excrucians came. We never thought that our world was never important enough to warrant the war coming to us. Thor had already left with the other serpent. We are not a well covered world. We are near the edge of the tree. That put us in easy reach of the Excrucian when they came through the wall. Then they realized that we had something they could use. Jormungand was the first to die and with her death we realized what they wanted. So Azgard was razed and the bi-frost bridge was destroyed. The bridge was not strong enough at the time, but they had hoped to strengthen it and use it to pour legions into the Earth. The Svartalf fell in with them and the Dwarves, the Aesir and the Giants have been fighting a slow battle.”
“What we discovered was that we had destroyed the bridge but not the spirit of the bridge. They have rebuilt the bridge. We made one more deal with our old partner to bring us weapons that could destroy the spirit of the bridge. We intend to make one more run at destroying the bridge. Heimdall is dead, as is Brokk the smith. They have their memories. They can cause the bridge to reach out to any world on the tree.”
The Giant Hrungyr adds “We have decided that they will not have that, if we can prevent it.”
Fungus observes that the other end of the bridge is not currently held by the Excrucians. Such a presence would not be tolerated by the other worlds on the tree. He would raise an eyebrow if he could when she hears the list of powers that have left Jotunheim – Thor (Electricity), Freyja (Lust), Verdandi (Reality) Forseti (Justice), Vali/Vider (Vengeance on those who have done wrong), and Loki (Trickery). All that remains in Utgard are Ratatosk (Stories), Einmyria (Ashes), Eisa (Embers) and Thrud, Head of the Valkyries
Punishment & Guilt
Sean and Mariska head towards the Seattle Fairy-Ring. Christopher asks Mariska “So, if you want your daughter to be happy, but you want her fiancé to suffer, won’t you end up causing her to be unhappy.”
“I wonder if we should stop by and inform…” begins Sian. “Alahandro” Mariska says the management of the chancel at the forefront of her thoughts. “Cathetal” Sean replies disturbed by her sense of priorities. (You psychotic woman)
They go to the courthouse to take care of both. They first notice Jurai by the scent of bitter almonds. “Mariska, it feels as if I have been away for ages. It is so delightful to see you. You have had a bit of excitement, fighting Excrucians hoard and all.” Sean replies with a curt “Yes.” Mariska is more friendly “Good to see you. How are thing going?” Sean resists the temptation to bandy words with Jurai, while Mariska bandies on. He brings up Sean’s recent trip to the court and Mariska’s
“I haven’t been able to talk to your master. He doesn’t seem to be around the house. Perhaps he is in the heart of the chancel.” He says with a knowing look. The powers choose to ignore this and ask “Is there a message we can deliver?” “Just remind your master that we are at his disposal.”
They them proceed to the heart, making sure that Jurai doesn’t know where they are headed. They find him is a different position. He is poised with the bulk of his body straight up in the sky, swaying slightly. Punishment flies Guilt up to Cathetel’s head.
“My lord” Sean says with respect. Her voice does not carry far in the heart of the chancel. When there is no response, Mariska tries again “Hello, are you well?”
“I am merely seeing to certain tasks. Everything is going well enough.”
They discuss the situation with Cathetal. He recommends that they see to they’re sister chancel for assistance. Some are already on the tree. He also tells Mariska that he may have need of her soon. “Go with speed. The Excrucians in Asgard are known. I do not know this tactician you traded the boy to. That was unfortunate. He too will know where the weapons are and be heading there soon.
Punishment and Guilt receive a prayer from The Graf. It is very strange since they are in the heart of the chancel. They agree to meet at the crossroads near the cemetery were Amaciel was buried. Fungus shares her learnings. When he was going through the powers that were traded away to Cathetal, Punishment shares that Amaciel and Cathetal were once one. She learned that from the first apple. They discourse and plot the destruction on the bi-frost bridge.
Who’s who in Asgard
Jormungand: World Serpent
Hrungyr: Strongest Giant
Ratatosk: Stories
Einmyria: Ashes
Eisa: Embers
Thrud: Head of the Valkyries
Brokk: master smith – dead
Svartalf: Dark Elves
Thor: Electricity
Freyja: Lust
Verdandi: Reality
Forseti: Justice
Vali/Vider: Vengeance on those who have done wrong
Loki: Trickery
Utgard: Citadel
Asgard: Fallen Chancel
Bifrost: Rainbow Bridge
Nidavellir: Nine lands of the Dwarves