John
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:48:00
Before Kip could put together a proper response to John's frontal assault, one of the old board members broke in - "Well [insert grandfatherly chuckle], looks like the two of you have plenty to sort out."
"Wish I had that kind of energy," lamented another, putting down his glass.
"Nice talking to you, John. Best of luck."
And the board members rose to make their exit.
Kip's eyes burned into John, as if to say, You're all mine, now.
Full Version: Hitting Bottom - Second Wave
Conall
A Timeless Place
The Lady Brane Deigh looked at Conall appraisingly. Then she decided - "So be it - if O'Donnell will have the summoning, let O'Donnell bear the weight of it."
Phineas O'Donnell stepped forward, not at all surprised that he was called upon to endure the strain of the ritual. Conall was not sure what sort of ritual might be used - he knew no one could bring Patrick's flesh back, but much was possible in the world of spirit. However it was done, the cost to the summoner must be terrible - he was shocked that it would not be a group ritual.
Reseated in his chair, he watched and listened as the old clan head stripped to his breeches and raised his arms, keening mournfully in Old Gaelic. Naturally Conall could not understand a word, but he could feel the emotional content, and suddenly his foe became more human to him - it was clear that however evil a man might be, however unjust his cause, the loss of a son must be just as crushing a blow. Tears streaked down the elder O'Donnell's face, running down his neck and mixing with the rivulets of sweat - and was it? Yes, now blood - that ran down his chest and back.
Long he wailed, and as his song took force, it was joined by phantom winds and fell breezes, until the whole canopy of the wood danced with the dark dirge, and the munchkins and sprites of the court fell to the ground and wept.
With the winds came the gloom - the torches and bright will o' wisps flickered and faltered until all was black, but the song of the damned spiraled on down and the air that whistled through the leaves sought out every nerve and chilled to the bone.
How long it was dark Conall could not say, but at last there was a light. A tiny ember at the first, but it rapidly gathered strength, a wavering quavering blob of vacuum tinged with just enough red not to be black - it grew and grew - not larger, but deeper, until there was enough of it that the barest hints of color it granted passage were enough to illumine the visages of all that stood in the court.
And then it was gone, and it is place, next to the kneeling and bowed figure of the exhausted Phineas O'Donnell, was a crawling and quivering and sobbing wretch - flesh charred, and in places still burning. It clawed its way forward, the flames still devouring its body casting the only light in the place, until a skeletal hand found it's summoner's knee. Surprised, the pathetic weeping stopped, and with a great effort, the figure lifted its head.
"Father! Father! You have rescued me from the flames? For ten thousand years I have burned and now it is done. Oh father!"
Whatever truth or lie Phineas O'Donnell would have spoken, it was cut off by the Lady - "Nay, Patrick O'Donnell, but a few minutes more and the powers of justice that consume you will claim their prize once more, and you shall be returned from whence you came."
"WHAT??? Father, no - you are here with me now. You can't let them send me back there. Father you cannot know - no mortal can know...no...NO...NOOO!!!...I will not go back to that torment, no no no no no tell me it is not so..." and finally he lost himself to despairing sobs, for he had known the truth when he'd heard it.
Sitting then on the scorching grass with his doomed son's head on his lap, the old man turned to Conall - "THIS for a finger? THIS - to any man - for one pathetic digit? For he is here now - here for the briefest of respites from a torment that is everlasting - to swear before all assembled that that mere fleshly finger was ALL that can be laid to his charge. What will you answer, O'Neill, to the torment you have wrought? Would you call THIS Justice?"
A Timeless Place
The Lady Brane Deigh looked at Conall appraisingly. Then she decided - "So be it - if O'Donnell will have the summoning, let O'Donnell bear the weight of it."
Phineas O'Donnell stepped forward, not at all surprised that he was called upon to endure the strain of the ritual. Conall was not sure what sort of ritual might be used - he knew no one could bring Patrick's flesh back, but much was possible in the world of spirit. However it was done, the cost to the summoner must be terrible - he was shocked that it would not be a group ritual.
Reseated in his chair, he watched and listened as the old clan head stripped to his breeches and raised his arms, keening mournfully in Old Gaelic. Naturally Conall could not understand a word, but he could feel the emotional content, and suddenly his foe became more human to him - it was clear that however evil a man might be, however unjust his cause, the loss of a son must be just as crushing a blow. Tears streaked down the elder O'Donnell's face, running down his neck and mixing with the rivulets of sweat - and was it? Yes, now blood - that ran down his chest and back.
Long he wailed, and as his song took force, it was joined by phantom winds and fell breezes, until the whole canopy of the wood danced with the dark dirge, and the munchkins and sprites of the court fell to the ground and wept.
With the winds came the gloom - the torches and bright will o' wisps flickered and faltered until all was black, but the song of the damned spiraled on down and the air that whistled through the leaves sought out every nerve and chilled to the bone.
How long it was dark Conall could not say, but at last there was a light. A tiny ember at the first, but it rapidly gathered strength, a wavering quavering blob of vacuum tinged with just enough red not to be black - it grew and grew - not larger, but deeper, until there was enough of it that the barest hints of color it granted passage were enough to illumine the visages of all that stood in the court.
And then it was gone, and it is place, next to the kneeling and bowed figure of the exhausted Phineas O'Donnell, was a crawling and quivering and sobbing wretch - flesh charred, and in places still burning. It clawed its way forward, the flames still devouring its body casting the only light in the place, until a skeletal hand found it's summoner's knee. Surprised, the pathetic weeping stopped, and with a great effort, the figure lifted its head.
"Father! Father! You have rescued me from the flames? For ten thousand years I have burned and now it is done. Oh father!"
Whatever truth or lie Phineas O'Donnell would have spoken, it was cut off by the Lady - "Nay, Patrick O'Donnell, but a few minutes more and the powers of justice that consume you will claim their prize once more, and you shall be returned from whence you came."
"WHAT??? Father, no - you are here with me now. You can't let them send me back there. Father you cannot know - no mortal can know...no...NO...NOOO!!!...I will not go back to that torment, no no no no no tell me it is not so..." and finally he lost himself to despairing sobs, for he had known the truth when he'd heard it.
Sitting then on the scorching grass with his doomed son's head on his lap, the old man turned to Conall - "THIS for a finger? THIS - to any man - for one pathetic digit? For he is here now - here for the briefest of respites from a torment that is everlasting - to swear before all assembled that that mere fleshly finger was ALL that can be laid to his charge. What will you answer, O'Neill, to the torment you have wrought? Would you call THIS Justice?"
Conall
A Timeless Place
Conall simply looked at the pathetic thing Patrick O'Donnell had become. He thought long and hard about the next thing he would say...
"Yes. It is well deserved."
A Timeless Place
Conall simply looked at the pathetic thing Patrick O'Donnell had become. He thought long and hard about the next thing he would say...
"Yes. It is well deserved."
Conall
A Timeless Place
Conall's bold answer somehow shook the creature that was Patrick O'Donnell from the whimpering despair that consumed him, catapulting what was left of the dead nobleman into a rage - transforming hopelessness into fury.
"DESERVED! DESERVED?! You bleeding git! Raping was too good for that whore of a sister of yours! I should have tied her to a post and flayed the skin from her flesh and then bathed the slut in salt - and believe me when I tell you, I KNOW what that feels like now." A fell mirth had overtaken the wraithlike form of Phineas O'Donnell's son as it struggled to its charred feet. Staggering drunkenly toward Conall it stretched forth a taunting finger as the last of its sanity melted into madness. "I maimed her and took what can never be restored, and now I'll burn the life from your bones!" He surged forward but was abruptly stopped by the outstretched hand of the Lady Brane Deigh. He screamed incoherently as he clawed at the mana barrier the Queen had erected, until his cries pierced heart as well as ears.
"Silence," proclaimed the Queen, "Your wretchedness has grown tiresome." And though his fleshless face continued to writhe in torment, no cries could any longer escape his cracked lips.
"So," she continued, "The facts of the case now seem to be clear. Patrick O'Donnell, of the Tir's first house, dead and suffering eternal torment, beat, maimed, and raped Etain O'Neill, herself not only of noble blood, but the first daughter of a Danaan-mor. Having discovered the crime, her twin brother Conall O'Neill slew, dismembered, and in part consumed O'Donnell and his accomplices. Do any present dispute these facts?"
There was silence from the assembly. Phineas O'Donnell still sat on the ground, head in his hands. The senior O'Neills bowed their own heads in acquiescence.
"Correctish," pronounced Martini.
The Queen spoke once more - "Then, the right of final statement before sentence is decreed goes to the accused - Conall O'Neill. dost thou dispute these facts?"
A Timeless Place
Conall's bold answer somehow shook the creature that was Patrick O'Donnell from the whimpering despair that consumed him, catapulting what was left of the dead nobleman into a rage - transforming hopelessness into fury.
"DESERVED! DESERVED?! You bleeding git! Raping was too good for that whore of a sister of yours! I should have tied her to a post and flayed the skin from her flesh and then bathed the slut in salt - and believe me when I tell you, I KNOW what that feels like now." A fell mirth had overtaken the wraithlike form of Phineas O'Donnell's son as it struggled to its charred feet. Staggering drunkenly toward Conall it stretched forth a taunting finger as the last of its sanity melted into madness. "I maimed her and took what can never be restored, and now I'll burn the life from your bones!" He surged forward but was abruptly stopped by the outstretched hand of the Lady Brane Deigh. He screamed incoherently as he clawed at the mana barrier the Queen had erected, until his cries pierced heart as well as ears.
"Silence," proclaimed the Queen, "Your wretchedness has grown tiresome." And though his fleshless face continued to writhe in torment, no cries could any longer escape his cracked lips.
"So," she continued, "The facts of the case now seem to be clear. Patrick O'Donnell, of the Tir's first house, dead and suffering eternal torment, beat, maimed, and raped Etain O'Neill, herself not only of noble blood, but the first daughter of a Danaan-mor. Having discovered the crime, her twin brother Conall O'Neill slew, dismembered, and in part consumed O'Donnell and his accomplices. Do any present dispute these facts?"
There was silence from the assembly. Phineas O'Donnell still sat on the ground, head in his hands. The senior O'Neills bowed their own heads in acquiescence.
"Correctish," pronounced Martini.
The Queen spoke once more - "Then, the right of final statement before sentence is decreed goes to the accused - Conall O'Neill. dost thou dispute these facts?"
John
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:50:02
Damn! For a moment, it looked like Kip was going to pick up Davian´s gun, the moment the old boys left the room. John already had his life streaming by his inner eye, but before the flick reached pre-school, he stoped it dead and turned his attention to the senior board members, totaly disregarding Chalmer´s glare.
He put down his drink as well and stood up, to say the elder men goodbye. Damn, did I botch it? Are they checking if old Chalmers is in on this? Calm down! They are probably just don´t want to become unnecessarily involved in the intrigue.
John: "It´s allways a pleasure, gentlemen!" See you basdards on your way down.
He waited untill the old men had left the office, gasting a sympathetic look on the guards and security hacker. Then he waits for a moment, to cut Kip´s word, just before he gets out the first syllable.
John: "So, Kip, what have you planed for our evening?"
He pauses for a moment, only to fall into his word again, as soon as hie enemy starts to speak up again. He totaly disregarding him, even as he dos not stop to speak for a few words, which are drowned out by John´s trained and steady voice, even though he dos not rais it.
John: "If you´d be so kind, to elaborate what exactly you await from me, I´ll be packing my personal belongings in an eyeblink."
Technically they could strip him of everything he was waring, but kicking him out naked, out of the HQ would be as bad pr-wise asspilling his brains all over the place.
John: "I suggest we leve this headware-probing kid-stuff aside," -otherwise, you might as well want to snatch a glove out of the medkit and put your finger into my back-door- "it´s of no use other then showing, that you are not in controll of the situation." As are the guards, really.
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:50:02
Damn! For a moment, it looked like Kip was going to pick up Davian´s gun, the moment the old boys left the room. John already had his life streaming by his inner eye, but before the flick reached pre-school, he stoped it dead and turned his attention to the senior board members, totaly disregarding Chalmer´s glare.
He put down his drink as well and stood up, to say the elder men goodbye. Damn, did I botch it? Are they checking if old Chalmers is in on this? Calm down! They are probably just don´t want to become unnecessarily involved in the intrigue.
John: "It´s allways a pleasure, gentlemen!" See you basdards on your way down.
He waited untill the old men had left the office, gasting a sympathetic look on the guards and security hacker. Then he waits for a moment, to cut Kip´s word, just before he gets out the first syllable.
John: "So, Kip, what have you planed for our evening?"
He pauses for a moment, only to fall into his word again, as soon as hie enemy starts to speak up again. He totaly disregarding him, even as he dos not stop to speak for a few words, which are drowned out by John´s trained and steady voice, even though he dos not rais it.
John: "If you´d be so kind, to elaborate what exactly you await from me, I´ll be packing my personal belongings in an eyeblink."
Technically they could strip him of everything he was waring, but kicking him out naked, out of the HQ would be as bad pr-wise asspilling his brains all over the place.
John: "I suggest we leve this headware-probing kid-stuff aside," -otherwise, you might as well want to snatch a glove out of the medkit and put your finger into my back-door- "it´s of no use other then showing, that you are not in controll of the situation." As are the guards, really.
John
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:51:03
John's implication that he was not in control struck home for Chalmers - he was visibly stung, and it showed on his face. "Listen, network security is the province of Mr. Korthals. You will not leave the room until he gives me his personal assurance that you are not in possession of any proprietary data or software. Now, while he makes that determination, these gentlemen are here to make sure that you waste no time in clearing out your personal belongings and take no corporate property with you. I'll be generous and let you keep that suit you're wearing, but it's to be returned the moment the guard's get you back to the apartment to remove your personal stuff from there as well."
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:51:03
John's implication that he was not in control struck home for Chalmers - he was visibly stung, and it showed on his face. "Listen, network security is the province of Mr. Korthals. You will not leave the room until he gives me his personal assurance that you are not in possession of any proprietary data or software. Now, while he makes that determination, these gentlemen are here to make sure that you waste no time in clearing out your personal belongings and take no corporate property with you. I'll be generous and let you keep that suit you're wearing, but it's to be returned the moment the guard's get you back to the apartment to remove your personal stuff from there as well."
Conall
A Timeless Place
Conall swallowed hard. He was relieved that the truth was out, and that his sister’s name wouldn’t be dragged in the dirt by the O’Donnells. He looked down, with disgust, at what was left of Patrick, glad of knowing he would pay for his crimes till the end of times.
“You got what you deserved…” he whispered through his teeth, feeling his clenched jaw twitch ever so slightly with anger.
As the Queen spoke, Conall stood as straight as he could, chin high, arms crossed behind him, at attention. When he spoke back to her, his voice didn’t betray a single trait of fear or anxiousness. All in all, Conall wasn’t afraid of what would come. At least not for him. The only thing that frightened him was that… he might not be able to watch over Etain anymore. Not after tonight.
“I do not, milady.” He said with a nod.
A Timeless Place
Conall swallowed hard. He was relieved that the truth was out, and that his sister’s name wouldn’t be dragged in the dirt by the O’Donnells. He looked down, with disgust, at what was left of Patrick, glad of knowing he would pay for his crimes till the end of times.
“You got what you deserved…” he whispered through his teeth, feeling his clenched jaw twitch ever so slightly with anger.
As the Queen spoke, Conall stood as straight as he could, chin high, arms crossed behind him, at attention. When he spoke back to her, his voice didn’t betray a single trait of fear or anxiousness. All in all, Conall wasn’t afraid of what would come. At least not for him. The only thing that frightened him was that… he might not be able to watch over Etain anymore. Not after tonight.
“I do not, milady.” He said with a nod.
Etain
Sunday 08/03/70 00:16:03
Before she retired to her bed, she looked back over her shoulder at Alcott and made one final request.
“I will agree to remain in my rooms and under guard but under one condition. The doors to my rooms must remain unlocked. I don’t wish to be locked in here should a second wave of spirits choose to pay me a visit. Especially with Paddy’s line of defenses compromised and he himself otherwise occupied.”
She didn’t wait for a counter offer to her negotiations but continued into her rooms with a bit of a struggle as the pain was still foremost in her mind. She closed her interior doors to offer her what little privacy she could manage before she sat on the edge of her bed and then laid atop the blankets. She had no intention of sleeping, too many thoughts were racing through her head at once to be able to find rest even if she sought it.
She was full of conflicting emotions, on one hand she was proud of herself for standing her ground and helping the Messenger. On the other hand however, the fact that it was Lady Brane Deigh’s own Messenger who came for her story led her to believe that Conall was facing the Seelie Court, perhaps even as she lay here. A moment of panic tore through her as she thought about her brother facing the Court without anyone to stand beside him, to defend him and his actions. Sure, her “testimony” would be of help, providing the Messenger made it back safe and was able to deliver it to the Lady before a judgment was given. But it would be Conall’s voice alone since her mother refused to accept what happened and had likely told her father what she wanted to hear. The O’Donnell clan would do anything in their power to insure that Conall “paid” for what he had done to their wretched son…
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, trying in vain to block the thoughts that came next of what would happen if Conall lost his fight in court. She desperately wanted to be there and not trapped here in her bedroom, locked away like something they were ashamed of. She forced herself calm, taking deep breaths as she lay there, eyes closed, letting herself feel like she was slipping away from her physical self. Without really thinking about it she was humming softly, a haunting tune which soon had her softly singing aloud.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me
You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts
My once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away
All the sanity in me
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When she caught herself singing she snapped open her eyes and instantly stopped the song. Her eyes moved over her surroundings, familiar as a glove as she was still in her bedroom but seated on a dais before her mirror was her mentor. Her beauty was breathtaking as she sat with her back to Etain she seemed to watch the girl from the mirror’s reflection.
Your voice betrays your young age my girl. You sing as though you’ve lived a thousand lifetimes, much like me. The world should not be denied your talents.
“That “talent” as you call it is what brought me to be locked up in my rooms, less of the woman than I was a mere week ago. You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t feel like sharing that “gift” with the rest of the world.”
Oh little one, your voice was but a vehicle to arrive at your destination earlier, not the cause of the action. It is perhaps inevitable that you’d be here with or without your performance. The choice is ultimately yours, but it would be a shame if you were to cast your talent aside because of the foolish actions of one ignoble man. Your voice could help you unlock many doors in your future, open your eyes to paths you cannot yet see girl. I can only guide you so far but you have to be willing and open to the opportunities that surround you.
Etain was about to speak, to press her mentor for more information to ask for help, but as soon as she opened her mouth the woman was gone. She blinked rapidly and was left confused, was she supposed to “chase” after her mentor on the astral? Was she supposed to suddenly go out and start singing to every stranger she came across as soon as she could free herself of the familiar prison her home had become? She sighed heavily and mulled over the questions that came to mind in silence.
Sunday 08/03/70 00:16:03
Before she retired to her bed, she looked back over her shoulder at Alcott and made one final request.
“I will agree to remain in my rooms and under guard but under one condition. The doors to my rooms must remain unlocked. I don’t wish to be locked in here should a second wave of spirits choose to pay me a visit. Especially with Paddy’s line of defenses compromised and he himself otherwise occupied.”
She didn’t wait for a counter offer to her negotiations but continued into her rooms with a bit of a struggle as the pain was still foremost in her mind. She closed her interior doors to offer her what little privacy she could manage before she sat on the edge of her bed and then laid atop the blankets. She had no intention of sleeping, too many thoughts were racing through her head at once to be able to find rest even if she sought it.
She was full of conflicting emotions, on one hand she was proud of herself for standing her ground and helping the Messenger. On the other hand however, the fact that it was Lady Brane Deigh’s own Messenger who came for her story led her to believe that Conall was facing the Seelie Court, perhaps even as she lay here. A moment of panic tore through her as she thought about her brother facing the Court without anyone to stand beside him, to defend him and his actions. Sure, her “testimony” would be of help, providing the Messenger made it back safe and was able to deliver it to the Lady before a judgment was given. But it would be Conall’s voice alone since her mother refused to accept what happened and had likely told her father what she wanted to hear. The O’Donnell clan would do anything in their power to insure that Conall “paid” for what he had done to their wretched son…
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, trying in vain to block the thoughts that came next of what would happen if Conall lost his fight in court. She desperately wanted to be there and not trapped here in her bedroom, locked away like something they were ashamed of. She forced herself calm, taking deep breaths as she lay there, eyes closed, letting herself feel like she was slipping away from her physical self. Without really thinking about it she was humming softly, a haunting tune which soon had her softly singing aloud.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me
You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts
My once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away
All the sanity in me
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When she caught herself singing she snapped open her eyes and instantly stopped the song. Her eyes moved over her surroundings, familiar as a glove as she was still in her bedroom but seated on a dais before her mirror was her mentor. Her beauty was breathtaking as she sat with her back to Etain she seemed to watch the girl from the mirror’s reflection.
Your voice betrays your young age my girl. You sing as though you’ve lived a thousand lifetimes, much like me. The world should not be denied your talents.
“That “talent” as you call it is what brought me to be locked up in my rooms, less of the woman than I was a mere week ago. You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t feel like sharing that “gift” with the rest of the world.”
Oh little one, your voice was but a vehicle to arrive at your destination earlier, not the cause of the action. It is perhaps inevitable that you’d be here with or without your performance. The choice is ultimately yours, but it would be a shame if you were to cast your talent aside because of the foolish actions of one ignoble man. Your voice could help you unlock many doors in your future, open your eyes to paths you cannot yet see girl. I can only guide you so far but you have to be willing and open to the opportunities that surround you.
Etain was about to speak, to press her mentor for more information to ask for help, but as soon as she opened her mouth the woman was gone. She blinked rapidly and was left confused, was she supposed to “chase” after her mentor on the astral? Was she supposed to suddenly go out and start singing to every stranger she came across as soon as she could free herself of the familiar prison her home had become? She sighed heavily and mulled over the questions that came to mind in silence.
Conall
A Timeless Place
"Very well then, this court shall hand down sentence."
"Correctish," sounded the voice of the centaur.
"First, although they are not defendants in this case, Clan O'Donnell shall pay the sum of Y10 million to Clan O'Neill. It cannot ever be enough to compensate from what their scion has stolen from Etain O'Neill, but it may prompt them to keep a tighter leash on the pampered and degenerate jackals they seem to be raising as children."
"WHAT?" cried Phineas O'Donnell. "Has Milady been so long sequestered here at Court that she has lost all sense of the magnitude of such a sum?" Defeated a man as he was by the sight of his son, the thought of paupery was apparently enough to rouse old O'Donnell from his grief.
"I am well aware," replied the Queen, "that such a penalty will significantly shift the balance of power of the Danaan mor in favor of Clan O'Neill. That is not my concern - my concern is keeping the peace among the clans, first, and justice, second. This decision, I think, will serve both in the long run. What you think is quite frankly unimportant to me at this point. Now be silent or be silenced."
"Correctish."
"The crime of Patrick O'Donnell were grave. The penalty of this court, had he been brought before it, would have been harsh. He'd have suffered at our hands, and perhaps unto death. But he was never brought before this court - as he should have been. The nobility must not devolve into some sort of animalistic cycle of violence and vendetta as a human or an ork civilization might. Furthermore, Etain O'Neill did not lose her life. Moreover, it has been amply demonstrated that the defendant had more than sufficient power to rescue her from her tormentors without resorting to the carnage that was displayed on that fateful night. Most importantly, this land cannot tolerate a neverending war of vengeance between the two great clans of Ulster, and satisfaction must be had by the bereaved. And thus, I condemn Conall O'Neill to death, sentence to be carried out here, presently, in sight of the head of Clan O'Donnell."
"Corre...??"
"But this is preposterous," asserted a shocked Liam O'Neill. The court has shown that the beast maimed and ra..."
"THERE WILL BE SILENCE!!!" demanded the Seelie Queen, and she stretched forth her hand, summoning a deafening crash of thunder that drowned out all the protests and murmurs that rippled through the grove.
As the thunder died down, the Lady spoke again. "Liam O'Neill, the only question for you to answer is whether you or one of your own people will carry out the execution, or whether I shall appoint someone from the court."
"To answer that question is to accept this unjust sentence. I shall NOT answer it."
"Then one shall be appointed."
Liam O'Neill paused for a space of time, clearly now as overwhelmed by loss as Phineas O'Donnell. "Nay," he finally said, "if this dread injustice will be imposed by the Court, than it shall be carried out by none other than myself."
"Very well, then, prepare. Conall O'Neill, have you any final words ere your execution is carried out?"
A Timeless Place
"Very well then, this court shall hand down sentence."
"Correctish," sounded the voice of the centaur.
"First, although they are not defendants in this case, Clan O'Donnell shall pay the sum of Y10 million to Clan O'Neill. It cannot ever be enough to compensate from what their scion has stolen from Etain O'Neill, but it may prompt them to keep a tighter leash on the pampered and degenerate jackals they seem to be raising as children."
"WHAT?" cried Phineas O'Donnell. "Has Milady been so long sequestered here at Court that she has lost all sense of the magnitude of such a sum?" Defeated a man as he was by the sight of his son, the thought of paupery was apparently enough to rouse old O'Donnell from his grief.
"I am well aware," replied the Queen, "that such a penalty will significantly shift the balance of power of the Danaan mor in favor of Clan O'Neill. That is not my concern - my concern is keeping the peace among the clans, first, and justice, second. This decision, I think, will serve both in the long run. What you think is quite frankly unimportant to me at this point. Now be silent or be silenced."
"Correctish."
"The crime of Patrick O'Donnell were grave. The penalty of this court, had he been brought before it, would have been harsh. He'd have suffered at our hands, and perhaps unto death. But he was never brought before this court - as he should have been. The nobility must not devolve into some sort of animalistic cycle of violence and vendetta as a human or an ork civilization might. Furthermore, Etain O'Neill did not lose her life. Moreover, it has been amply demonstrated that the defendant had more than sufficient power to rescue her from her tormentors without resorting to the carnage that was displayed on that fateful night. Most importantly, this land cannot tolerate a neverending war of vengeance between the two great clans of Ulster, and satisfaction must be had by the bereaved. And thus, I condemn Conall O'Neill to death, sentence to be carried out here, presently, in sight of the head of Clan O'Donnell."
"Corre...??"
"But this is preposterous," asserted a shocked Liam O'Neill. The court has shown that the beast maimed and ra..."
"THERE WILL BE SILENCE!!!" demanded the Seelie Queen, and she stretched forth her hand, summoning a deafening crash of thunder that drowned out all the protests and murmurs that rippled through the grove.
As the thunder died down, the Lady spoke again. "Liam O'Neill, the only question for you to answer is whether you or one of your own people will carry out the execution, or whether I shall appoint someone from the court."
"To answer that question is to accept this unjust sentence. I shall NOT answer it."
"Then one shall be appointed."
Liam O'Neill paused for a space of time, clearly now as overwhelmed by loss as Phineas O'Donnell. "Nay," he finally said, "if this dread injustice will be imposed by the Court, than it shall be carried out by none other than myself."
"Very well, then, prepare. Conall O'Neill, have you any final words ere your execution is carried out?"
Conall
A Timeless Place
Conall's mouth went suddently very dry. Until a few seconds ago, the deadly seriousness of his actions hadn't completely set in. He knew he had committed a crime, and he was ready to face the punishment.
But he had just been condemned to death.
Even with all his pride and willpower, holding everything togheter wasn't so easy.
That... and he was scared for Etain.
A slight tremble began in his hand, trembling all the way up his arm. Head low, eyes to the ground, the young shaman took a few deep breaths in and out. When he exhaled, his breath shook like his hand. He turned his golden eyes to his father's, simply looking at him while the court waited for his answer.
If this is the path Wolf had laid for me, than so be it. I shall die with honor.
He nodded slightly to his father, trying in a strange way to comfort him. Conall wanted to tell him her understood... but the words wouldn't come out. With his eyes still locked on his father, the young elf answered the Queen.
"I would very much like to speak with my sister one last time..."
A Timeless Place
Conall's mouth went suddently very dry. Until a few seconds ago, the deadly seriousness of his actions hadn't completely set in. He knew he had committed a crime, and he was ready to face the punishment.
But he had just been condemned to death.
Even with all his pride and willpower, holding everything togheter wasn't so easy.
That... and he was scared for Etain.
A slight tremble began in his hand, trembling all the way up his arm. Head low, eyes to the ground, the young shaman took a few deep breaths in and out. When he exhaled, his breath shook like his hand. He turned his golden eyes to his father's, simply looking at him while the court waited for his answer.
If this is the path Wolf had laid for me, than so be it. I shall die with honor.
He nodded slightly to his father, trying in a strange way to comfort him. Conall wanted to tell him her understood... but the words wouldn't come out. With his eyes still locked on his father, the young elf answered the Queen.
"I would very much like to speak with my sister one last time..."
Conall
A Timeless Place
"Then your last request shall supersede the sequestration request of your parents, and be granted."
The Queen nodded at the horned figure that still stood at her elbow, and he was gone.
A Timeless Place
"Then your last request shall supersede the sequestration request of your parents, and be granted."
The Queen nodded at the horned figure that still stood at her elbow, and he was gone.
Etain
Sunday 8/3/70 00:23:45
Etain's reverie was disturbed by an itch on scratching sensation on her cheek and the scent of hot musk. Opening her eyes, she saw the Messenger leaning over her, so close that the burlap of his hood brushed against her face.
His voice came, less imperious than before, more enticing - Thy presence is required. Take my hand...or I shall take yours...
Sunday 8/3/70 00:23:45
Etain's reverie was disturbed by an itch on scratching sensation on her cheek and the scent of hot musk. Opening her eyes, she saw the Messenger leaning over her, so close that the burlap of his hood brushed against her face.
His voice came, less imperious than before, more enticing - Thy presence is required. Take my hand...or I shall take yours...
Etain
Sunday 8/3/70 00:23:52
She blinked rapidly and tensed as the Messenger overwhelmed her vision. At first his words didn't register in her head and she just stared like a deer in the headlights for a moment. Finally it clicked and just where he wanted to take her fell into place.
"Required? What is happening? What about my brother?"
Tentatively she placed her small and delicate hand in the rough and oversized on of the Messengers, knowing her questions wouldn't be answered until she did.
Sunday 8/3/70 00:23:52
She blinked rapidly and tensed as the Messenger overwhelmed her vision. At first his words didn't register in her head and she just stared like a deer in the headlights for a moment. Finally it clicked and just where he wanted to take her fell into place.
"Required? What is happening? What about my brother?"
Tentatively she placed her small and delicate hand in the rough and oversized on of the Messengers, knowing her questions wouldn't be answered until she did.
Etain
A Timeless Place
Etain had inwardly gasped as, upon placing her hand in that of the Messenger, he spirit had been yanked from her body and catapulted through not only space but the very confines of reality, hearing only a whispered Our haste must be great in answer to her questions.
Now she stood in some sort of sylvan grove. She was dimly aware of a collection of individuals, and only half conscious of the various magical beings that scurried about her feet and whispered in the leaves above. Her entire focus was on what stood before her - her brother Conall.
A Timeless Place
Etain had inwardly gasped as, upon placing her hand in that of the Messenger, he spirit had been yanked from her body and catapulted through not only space but the very confines of reality, hearing only a whispered Our haste must be great in answer to her questions.
Now she stood in some sort of sylvan grove. She was dimly aware of a collection of individuals, and only half conscious of the various magical beings that scurried about her feet and whispered in the leaves above. Her entire focus was on what stood before her - her brother Conall.
Conall
A Timeless Place
Seeing his sister appear before him, Conall felt something ball up in his throat. She looked as beautiful and fragile as always. In a few minutes, the young shaman wasn’t sure in what world he would be…But where ever he was, what ever state he was in, he would miss her. Terribly. Always.
His vision clouded up.
He one hesitating step toward her, his footing unsure on the forest’s soil.
This was the last time he would see her. This was the last time he would hear her.
A few shaky steps later, he was close enough to take her in his arms. Gently, he wrapped his arms around her, putting his forehead against her own. His eyes closed, he mustered up the most reassuring and comforting tone he could.
“Don’t be afraid sister. All is well. I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”
His voice shook subtly as he spoke, his arms tightened slightly around his twin.
“I need you to be strong Etain.” He said as he leaned in head on her shoulder, whispering in her hear.
“I’ll watch over you. I promise.”
Slowly he released her, his face wearing a warm smile and watery eyes.
“You’re the most precious thing in the world…. I…… I have to go now”
He turned to his father, wipping away his eyes.
"I'm ready."
A Timeless Place
Seeing his sister appear before him, Conall felt something ball up in his throat. She looked as beautiful and fragile as always. In a few minutes, the young shaman wasn’t sure in what world he would be…But where ever he was, what ever state he was in, he would miss her. Terribly. Always.
His vision clouded up.
He one hesitating step toward her, his footing unsure on the forest’s soil.
This was the last time he would see her. This was the last time he would hear her.
A few shaky steps later, he was close enough to take her in his arms. Gently, he wrapped his arms around her, putting his forehead against her own. His eyes closed, he mustered up the most reassuring and comforting tone he could.
“Don’t be afraid sister. All is well. I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”
His voice shook subtly as he spoke, his arms tightened slightly around his twin.
“I need you to be strong Etain.” He said as he leaned in head on her shoulder, whispering in her hear.
“I’ll watch over you. I promise.”
Slowly he released her, his face wearing a warm smile and watery eyes.
“You’re the most precious thing in the world…. I…… I have to go now”
He turned to his father, wipping away his eyes.
"I'm ready."
Etain
A Timeless Place
Etain watched her brother approach. She could hear his words but they weren’t making sense. She could see him fighting back tears and instantly became terrified.
“I don’t understand Conall. What is happening, where are you going?”
When he wouldn’t answer her and he turned to their father she became more frenzied and more desperate for answers as her heart was telling her things she didn’t want to hear. They had passed their sentence, the Seelie Court was delivering their justice by taking her brother away from her… forever. She shook her head to try to silence the thoughts, her own eyes brimming with tears as she begged someone for answers. She looked at the back of the form of her brother, to her mother who couldn’t hold her daughter’s gaze, to her father who was beside himself with anger and anguish, until her eyes rested on the Seelie Queen herself. She took tentative steps towards the woman upon her throne yet kept a respectful distance as to not anger her or those who guarded her. She fell to her knees, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks as she looked up to the woman who held the fate of her brother in her hands.
“Please M’Lady, I beg of thee with all that I am, do not do this thing. Please do not take my brother’s life, for I swear he is all I have. And as certain as I kneel before you pleading, should he be put to death, I shan’t have reason to walk the earth still drawing breath of my own.”
A Timeless Place
Etain watched her brother approach. She could hear his words but they weren’t making sense. She could see him fighting back tears and instantly became terrified.
“I don’t understand Conall. What is happening, where are you going?”
When he wouldn’t answer her and he turned to their father she became more frenzied and more desperate for answers as her heart was telling her things she didn’t want to hear. They had passed their sentence, the Seelie Court was delivering their justice by taking her brother away from her… forever. She shook her head to try to silence the thoughts, her own eyes brimming with tears as she begged someone for answers. She looked at the back of the form of her brother, to her mother who couldn’t hold her daughter’s gaze, to her father who was beside himself with anger and anguish, until her eyes rested on the Seelie Queen herself. She took tentative steps towards the woman upon her throne yet kept a respectful distance as to not anger her or those who guarded her. She fell to her knees, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks as she looked up to the woman who held the fate of her brother in her hands.
“Please M’Lady, I beg of thee with all that I am, do not do this thing. Please do not take my brother’s life, for I swear he is all I have. And as certain as I kneel before you pleading, should he be put to death, I shan’t have reason to walk the earth still drawing breath of my own.”
Conall & Etain
A Timeless Place
"So, you would add a twist to the Justice I have decreed. For would it be just if you, too, lost your life to these events? Or is that even relevant since the choice would be your own. Yet I am moved by both your plea and the courage of you brother and father. Moved enough to go against my better judgement and offer another choice, though for your own sakes I should not do so.
"Indeed, it may seem like a hope to grasp at, yet I cannot stress enough how foolish I think it would be to accept such an offer. What is more, it would require not only the assent of your brother, but also that of the doomed Patrick O'Donnell."
She turned her attention from Etain to her twin.
"Conall O'Neill, what I speak of is a choice. On one hand, you may accept this court's decree. You will die here and now, but do not think existence stops there - as you can well see from poor Patrick here. You would die now, and your soul would be consigned to whatever Fate is required by those forces of Equity and Mercy that rule this universe from realms so far beyond human understanding that I will not speculate on their nature. You are an honorable man, Conall - I think things will go well with you in that next life.
"But if the things of this world are so dear to you, you may test the Justice of this court in personal combat. Your foe would be, of course, Patrick. If you win, your sentence would be reduced to Exile.
"I warn you, however, that as wretched as he appears, this one that has been summoned up for the briefest of reprieves from his torments may have powers brought with him from that dread realm that you cannot possibly be prepared for. I very much doubt you can prevail. And if you lose, son of O'Neill, then he will claim you his own - he will win the right to drag you down to share his own wretched fate - for Eternity. You would suffer unimaginable pains for longer than the moral mind can imagine, and lose any chance of a reunion with your sister."
She turned to Patrick, and with a wave of his hand his power of utterance was restored. "Would you accept this challenge?"
"Oh, Queen of Sluts, oh yes I would most assuredly."
"Then the grave choice is yours, Conall O'Neill. Will you die and live, or fight and perhaps die?"
A Timeless Place
"So, you would add a twist to the Justice I have decreed. For would it be just if you, too, lost your life to these events? Or is that even relevant since the choice would be your own. Yet I am moved by both your plea and the courage of you brother and father. Moved enough to go against my better judgement and offer another choice, though for your own sakes I should not do so.
"Indeed, it may seem like a hope to grasp at, yet I cannot stress enough how foolish I think it would be to accept such an offer. What is more, it would require not only the assent of your brother, but also that of the doomed Patrick O'Donnell."
She turned her attention from Etain to her twin.
"Conall O'Neill, what I speak of is a choice. On one hand, you may accept this court's decree. You will die here and now, but do not think existence stops there - as you can well see from poor Patrick here. You would die now, and your soul would be consigned to whatever Fate is required by those forces of Equity and Mercy that rule this universe from realms so far beyond human understanding that I will not speculate on their nature. You are an honorable man, Conall - I think things will go well with you in that next life.
"But if the things of this world are so dear to you, you may test the Justice of this court in personal combat. Your foe would be, of course, Patrick. If you win, your sentence would be reduced to Exile.
"I warn you, however, that as wretched as he appears, this one that has been summoned up for the briefest of reprieves from his torments may have powers brought with him from that dread realm that you cannot possibly be prepared for. I very much doubt you can prevail. And if you lose, son of O'Neill, then he will claim you his own - he will win the right to drag you down to share his own wretched fate - for Eternity. You would suffer unimaginable pains for longer than the moral mind can imagine, and lose any chance of a reunion with your sister."
She turned to Patrick, and with a wave of his hand his power of utterance was restored. "Would you accept this challenge?"
"Oh, Queen of Sluts, oh yes I would most assuredly."
"Then the grave choice is yours, Conall O'Neill. Will you die and live, or fight and perhaps die?"
Conall
A Timeless Place
Hearing Etain’s words only made things harder for Conall. He had tried his best to keep his head togheter, to face his own death with dignity and calm.
But when his sister, his own half, threatened her own life if that of her brother’s was to be taken, Conall felt as if someone had taken his hearth and crushed it. The young shaman didn’t fear his death because it meant his sister’s safety… but now… things had changed. He knew of Etain’s resolve. Her threat wasn’t empty and in vain.
“Etain… please…” started Conall before being cut short by the Queen.
And then, the challenge was offered.
Arms dangling on his sides, head low, chin down, Conall closed his eyes. What were seconds felt like years to him.
I need your help again. Grant me the strength to see this fight through. Help me protect my pack.
Opening is eyes back up, Conall felt a wave of calm wash over him. Gone were the tears. Gone was the lump in his throat. Gone were the trembling and weak hands. Turning toward Patrick’s grotesque form, the young wolf shaman started unbuttoning his dress shirt.
“I have beaten you twice O’Donnell.”
He threw his shirt away.
“Doing it a third time” he started to flex his hands opened and closed “won’t be much of a difference.”
Taking grab of the mana around himself, Conall felt Wolf instincts grab a hold of his own senses. Things became much brighter. Time started to slow down to a crawl. And then it froze. He looked straight into the monster Patrick O’Donnell was and saw all that was dark and ugly about the world.
Fight my cub.
Throwing up his hands before him, time started to flow again.
"Get ready to go back to whatever sulfurous pit you crawled out of Patrick..."
A Timeless Place
Hearing Etain’s words only made things harder for Conall. He had tried his best to keep his head togheter, to face his own death with dignity and calm.
But when his sister, his own half, threatened her own life if that of her brother’s was to be taken, Conall felt as if someone had taken his hearth and crushed it. The young shaman didn’t fear his death because it meant his sister’s safety… but now… things had changed. He knew of Etain’s resolve. Her threat wasn’t empty and in vain.
“Etain… please…” started Conall before being cut short by the Queen.
And then, the challenge was offered.
Arms dangling on his sides, head low, chin down, Conall closed his eyes. What were seconds felt like years to him.
I need your help again. Grant me the strength to see this fight through. Help me protect my pack.
Opening is eyes back up, Conall felt a wave of calm wash over him. Gone were the tears. Gone was the lump in his throat. Gone were the trembling and weak hands. Turning toward Patrick’s grotesque form, the young wolf shaman started unbuttoning his dress shirt.
“I have beaten you twice O’Donnell.”
He threw his shirt away.
“Doing it a third time” he started to flex his hands opened and closed “won’t be much of a difference.”
Taking grab of the mana around himself, Conall felt Wolf instincts grab a hold of his own senses. Things became much brighter. Time started to slow down to a crawl. And then it froze. He looked straight into the monster Patrick O’Donnell was and saw all that was dark and ugly about the world.
Fight my cub.
Throwing up his hands before him, time started to flow again.
"Get ready to go back to whatever sulfurous pit you crawled out of Patrick..."
Conall & Etain
"So be it," declared the Queen, and with a wave of her hand she unfettered Patrick from the forces with which she had bound him. "The only rule is WIN."
"Correctish."
"So be it," declared the Queen, and with a wave of her hand she unfettered Patrick from the forces with which she had bound him. "The only rule is WIN."
"Correctish."
John
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:52:19
It was almost audiable, when something was breaking inside Kip Chalmers. He was still desperately clinging to his plan, not giving in much about the what and when, but the how was almost entirely up to John. It seemed like Kip would have started to cry if they had been all on their own. While he speaks, he goes on sifting through the files he still held on his headware, trying to memorize as many key bits of information as possible.
John: "Well, Kip, since you insist to do this as quick as possible, I assume you are ok with me making a few calls, to speed this up a bit and get me some help from Ms. Mon, Mr. Parker and Mr. DelGato!"
The other elf grinded his teeth and glared at John, trying in vain to hid his insecurity, he couldn´t even keep his eyes locked with him for more then a few seconds anymore.
Kip Chalmers: "Allright, but make it quick. No media! ... and we will listen in on the calls."
He gave an unwilling nod to Korthals and the point-jamming on John faded. He lost no time, to initiate the calls, using the external devices he carryed on him, while he replyed.
John: "I expected nothing less!"
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:52:19
It was almost audiable, when something was breaking inside Kip Chalmers. He was still desperately clinging to his plan, not giving in much about the what and when, but the how was almost entirely up to John. It seemed like Kip would have started to cry if they had been all on their own. While he speaks, he goes on sifting through the files he still held on his headware, trying to memorize as many key bits of information as possible.
John: "Well, Kip, since you insist to do this as quick as possible, I assume you are ok with me making a few calls, to speed this up a bit and get me some help from Ms. Mon, Mr. Parker and Mr. DelGato!"
The other elf grinded his teeth and glared at John, trying in vain to hid his insecurity, he couldn´t even keep his eyes locked with him for more then a few seconds anymore.
Kip Chalmers: "Allright, but make it quick. No media! ... and we will listen in on the calls."
He gave an unwilling nod to Korthals and the point-jamming on John faded. He lost no time, to initiate the calls, using the external devices he carryed on him, while he replyed.
John: "I expected nothing less!"
John
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:52:19
John: "Apperantly, my loyalty to NeoNET and by extension RFS is no longer out of question. Untill this unpleasent incident is resolver, I am relived of any and all functions with RFS. Thus what I ask you to do for me next won´t be compensated for some time, you are free to decline and if you intned to go on working for RFS in the unlikely event that this situation can´t be solved amicably, you might be better advised tot do so. I am currently asked by Kip Chalmers to leave the corporation´s property emidiately ..."
Effectively at gun-point - seems to think I´d unleash the 3rd Crash otherwise.
"... and he is currently listening in on this conversation. Mr. Chalmers has been so kind to allow me to recover my personal effects from my office and HQ-appartment with due hast, however."
"So, if you decide to stick with me, I´d ask you to come over and lend me a hand. Prior to this I´d like you to call Kob and Mano and tell them what´s up - everything. If they want to help, ask Kob to go to my home andsecure my private posessions. Manolo could get his car and give me a lift there, once we are done here."
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:52:19
John: "Apperantly, my loyalty to NeoNET and by extension RFS is no longer out of question. Untill this unpleasent incident is resolver, I am relived of any and all functions with RFS. Thus what I ask you to do for me next won´t be compensated for some time, you are free to decline and if you intned to go on working for RFS in the unlikely event that this situation can´t be solved amicably, you might be better advised tot do so. I am currently asked by Kip Chalmers to leave the corporation´s property emidiately ..."
Effectively at gun-point - seems to think I´d unleash the 3rd Crash otherwise.
"... and he is currently listening in on this conversation. Mr. Chalmers has been so kind to allow me to recover my personal effects from my office and HQ-appartment with due hast, however."
"So, if you decide to stick with me, I´d ask you to come over and lend me a hand. Prior to this I´d like you to call Kob and Mano and tell them what´s up - everything. If they want to help, ask Kob to go to my home andsecure my private posessions. Manolo could get his car and give me a lift there, once we are done here."
Conall & Etain
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
At the Queen's words the charred and broken figure of what was once Patrick O'Donnell charged with an anguished roar. Here in this place, the ebb and flow of magical energies was readily apparent for all to see - and as the monster ran he hurled a blob of darkness straight at Conall's face. Too late the wolf shaman realized he had been too focused on weaving his own dweomer to properly keep his guard up. At the last moment, however, as the blob filled his field of vision it hit one, then two, then three walls of defense, dissipating a little as it passed through each.
And then it hit him. He'd expected to be blinded, but his sight was not affected, though what befell him was worse. Unbidden from the darkest places of his own heart came every shred of guilt and regret from every fault and misdeed he had ever commit. Every unkind hurt he'd done to another through his childhood and youth came crashing into his consciousness. But no mere forced sympathy this, for somehow all the bruised sensitivities, all the besmirched smiles, all the pain that had ever come to others through any thoughtlessness of his own pierced his heart. A full accounting of all his imperfection - and all the hurt he'd ever caused - a young lifetime's worth all in an instant, and somehow amplified by the power of the hellion's spell.
The brave warrior whose heart could not be touched even by the fear of an eternal hell, who had mastered himself with honor even in the face of his own imminent execution - the brave warrior quailed at this unlooked for onslaught of grief, this sudden awareness of all that was less than good within himself.
His knees buckled, his eyes filled with tears, and then through the anguish he heard a scream cutting through it all - there before him was the burning form of his foe. He felt Wolf's hot breath on his nape as he took one step back and to the side, grabbing Patrick and, using his own momentum against him, threw him hard into the ground. And at the moment they touched, Conall poured every ounce of his energy into a surely fatal Touch of Death.
On the ground, Patrick seemed to be writhing and sobbing - but before Conall could move in to finish his victory, he realized that what he heard was not sobbing but laughter. Patrick rose to his feet and this time he did not stagger or tremble - seemingly infused with power, he gloated "Ye bloody fool - already dead I am. Ye can na kill me twice....So ye can na win. Yer soul is mine, Conall O'Neill."
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
At the Queen's words the charred and broken figure of what was once Patrick O'Donnell charged with an anguished roar. Here in this place, the ebb and flow of magical energies was readily apparent for all to see - and as the monster ran he hurled a blob of darkness straight at Conall's face. Too late the wolf shaman realized he had been too focused on weaving his own dweomer to properly keep his guard up. At the last moment, however, as the blob filled his field of vision it hit one, then two, then three walls of defense, dissipating a little as it passed through each.
And then it hit him. He'd expected to be blinded, but his sight was not affected, though what befell him was worse. Unbidden from the darkest places of his own heart came every shred of guilt and regret from every fault and misdeed he had ever commit. Every unkind hurt he'd done to another through his childhood and youth came crashing into his consciousness. But no mere forced sympathy this, for somehow all the bruised sensitivities, all the besmirched smiles, all the pain that had ever come to others through any thoughtlessness of his own pierced his heart. A full accounting of all his imperfection - and all the hurt he'd ever caused - a young lifetime's worth all in an instant, and somehow amplified by the power of the hellion's spell.
The brave warrior whose heart could not be touched even by the fear of an eternal hell, who had mastered himself with honor even in the face of his own imminent execution - the brave warrior quailed at this unlooked for onslaught of grief, this sudden awareness of all that was less than good within himself.
His knees buckled, his eyes filled with tears, and then through the anguish he heard a scream cutting through it all - there before him was the burning form of his foe. He felt Wolf's hot breath on his nape as he took one step back and to the side, grabbing Patrick and, using his own momentum against him, threw him hard into the ground. And at the moment they touched, Conall poured every ounce of his energy into a surely fatal Touch of Death.
On the ground, Patrick seemed to be writhing and sobbing - but before Conall could move in to finish his victory, he realized that what he heard was not sobbing but laughter. Patrick rose to his feet and this time he did not stagger or tremble - seemingly infused with power, he gloated "Ye bloody fool - already dead I am. Ye can na kill me twice....So ye can na win. Yer soul is mine, Conall O'Neill."
Conall
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
“We’ll bloody see about that!”
His boots firmly planted into the forest’s dirt floor, Conall heard his own teeth grind against each other. The blow he had just dealt to Patrick would have been powerful enough to split any living being in half. He had thorn away at the dishonored elf’s life force, and had done nothing but empower him.
It was going to be harder than he had expected.
Conall’s ability to fight was based on two things: pure and raw emotions that fulled his actions, and sounded training and experience that dictated his tactics. He had more than enough of the first ingredient… but he had never been trained to fight revenants on a different plane of existence. Let alone with almost all of his magical gifts stripped away from him.
Taking a few rapid steps back, to give himself some room, Conall danced his away around Patrick, circling around his opponents… trying to find some sort of weakness. Odds were, Patrick was now a dual natured being, which meant his physical form was as vulnerable as his astral.
Brute mana had given him strength.
The only other thing Conall could think of, at the moment, was to use the other brute thing he had plently of: strength.
Ignoring the eyes of the Court all around him, tunnel vision started to set itself into the young Wolf shaman. The Queen vanished. His parents became but blurs. Paddy disappeared. Only Etain remained crystal clear in the mayhem of battle.
Pull yourself together lad. He has a weakness… you just have to find it.
Laughing and cackling at him, Patrick launched himself at him with a speed and a fury that surprised him… but not long enough to become vulnerable. Even if Patrick was faster, and now maybe even stronger, his approach was still the same… and this time around, the young O’Neill was more than ready for it. His willpower like a wall of iron around him, Conall deflected the spell like a mere fly, shooing it away.
Waiting until the last second, until he could feel Patrick’s putrid breath on his face, Conall moved into action. Ducking low under the outstretched arms of the undead thing, Conall found himself behind his opponent.
In a trained manner, he wrapped both of his powerful arms in a tight lock around Patrick’s head and neck, literally immobilizing him into place. Kicking him sharply behind the right knee, he obliged Patrick to twist away from the O’Neill clan, forcing his head in a position he couldn’t see any of them.
“Give up Patrick… Don’t make me kill ye twice" whispered Conall, already tightening his deadly grip around Patrick’s neck… getting ready to snap it.
Under his bareskin, the young elf could already feel his skin heating up... burning up in places. It only made his hold grow stronger.
It was now his will agaisnt Patrick's. The first one to give up would lose.
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
“We’ll bloody see about that!”
His boots firmly planted into the forest’s dirt floor, Conall heard his own teeth grind against each other. The blow he had just dealt to Patrick would have been powerful enough to split any living being in half. He had thorn away at the dishonored elf’s life force, and had done nothing but empower him.
It was going to be harder than he had expected.
Conall’s ability to fight was based on two things: pure and raw emotions that fulled his actions, and sounded training and experience that dictated his tactics. He had more than enough of the first ingredient… but he had never been trained to fight revenants on a different plane of existence. Let alone with almost all of his magical gifts stripped away from him.
Taking a few rapid steps back, to give himself some room, Conall danced his away around Patrick, circling around his opponents… trying to find some sort of weakness. Odds were, Patrick was now a dual natured being, which meant his physical form was as vulnerable as his astral.
Brute mana had given him strength.
The only other thing Conall could think of, at the moment, was to use the other brute thing he had plently of: strength.
Ignoring the eyes of the Court all around him, tunnel vision started to set itself into the young Wolf shaman. The Queen vanished. His parents became but blurs. Paddy disappeared. Only Etain remained crystal clear in the mayhem of battle.
Pull yourself together lad. He has a weakness… you just have to find it.
Laughing and cackling at him, Patrick launched himself at him with a speed and a fury that surprised him… but not long enough to become vulnerable. Even if Patrick was faster, and now maybe even stronger, his approach was still the same… and this time around, the young O’Neill was more than ready for it. His willpower like a wall of iron around him, Conall deflected the spell like a mere fly, shooing it away.
Waiting until the last second, until he could feel Patrick’s putrid breath on his face, Conall moved into action. Ducking low under the outstretched arms of the undead thing, Conall found himself behind his opponent.
In a trained manner, he wrapped both of his powerful arms in a tight lock around Patrick’s head and neck, literally immobilizing him into place. Kicking him sharply behind the right knee, he obliged Patrick to twist away from the O’Neill clan, forcing his head in a position he couldn’t see any of them.
“Give up Patrick… Don’t make me kill ye twice" whispered Conall, already tightening his deadly grip around Patrick’s neck… getting ready to snap it.
Under his bareskin, the young elf could already feel his skin heating up... burning up in places. It only made his hold grow stronger.
It was now his will agaisnt Patrick's. The first one to give up would lose.
Etain
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Etain felt like a million eyes were upon her and in this reality they probably were with the numbers of creatures present at the Court’s proceedings. Never before had she been so nervous amidst a crowd, too many precious and important things were on the line, most of all her brother’s life. Her parents appeared to be in torment watching what would become of their only son, the sweat was visible on their faces and it seemed as if her father was using every bit of his strength to keep himself from fighting beside his son. She could take in the entire scene, the Queen and her Messenger were watching every nuance of the upcoming events, Paddy and Delphina stood face to face, unblinking, as if they were just waiting for the other to flinch and give them reason....
There was little time however to worry about butterflies and pairs of eyes. No sooner than the Queen had lifted her hold on Patrick had he charged at her brother. The simple sight of his twisted and tormented form trying to once again hurt her family stirred up such a wave of pure anger that she felt heat rising inside her the longer she tried to contain it. Still unsure of just what the Queen’s words truly meant, she opted to start helping her brother by providing him a small amount of help the moment Patrick had started slinging spells. But it wasn’t enough. She watched with horror as the dark mass passed through her efforts like water through silk and while slowed still managed to hit it’s target. She gasped as Conall fell to his knees, appearing to be in pain and anguish all at the same instant.
She raged inside, when she couldn’t hold back her anger any longer it exploded from her as she summoned a large and nasty beast spirit to tip the scales back into her brother’s favour. She was so lost to the summoning she didn’t see Conall turn the tables on Patrick, the only thing that snapped her back to the fight before her was Patrick’s hideous laughter and dark threats.
As Conall managed to drive Patrick to the ground and hold him there, she whispered her command to her beast spirit who looked far too willing to do her bidding. She shrugged off any side effects from the summoning, in fact it felt nearly effortless to her this time, fueled by raw emotions.
Confuse the one they call Patrick my friend, distract him from the fight.
She held her breath and waited for agonizing seconds to see if she could tip the balance to the O’Neill side of the scales. Everything was riding on this fight and she refused to let Patrick ever take anything away from her again, especially her brother.
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Etain felt like a million eyes were upon her and in this reality they probably were with the numbers of creatures present at the Court’s proceedings. Never before had she been so nervous amidst a crowd, too many precious and important things were on the line, most of all her brother’s life. Her parents appeared to be in torment watching what would become of their only son, the sweat was visible on their faces and it seemed as if her father was using every bit of his strength to keep himself from fighting beside his son. She could take in the entire scene, the Queen and her Messenger were watching every nuance of the upcoming events, Paddy and Delphina stood face to face, unblinking, as if they were just waiting for the other to flinch and give them reason....
There was little time however to worry about butterflies and pairs of eyes. No sooner than the Queen had lifted her hold on Patrick had he charged at her brother. The simple sight of his twisted and tormented form trying to once again hurt her family stirred up such a wave of pure anger that she felt heat rising inside her the longer she tried to contain it. Still unsure of just what the Queen’s words truly meant, she opted to start helping her brother by providing him a small amount of help the moment Patrick had started slinging spells. But it wasn’t enough. She watched with horror as the dark mass passed through her efforts like water through silk and while slowed still managed to hit it’s target. She gasped as Conall fell to his knees, appearing to be in pain and anguish all at the same instant.
She raged inside, when she couldn’t hold back her anger any longer it exploded from her as she summoned a large and nasty beast spirit to tip the scales back into her brother’s favour. She was so lost to the summoning she didn’t see Conall turn the tables on Patrick, the only thing that snapped her back to the fight before her was Patrick’s hideous laughter and dark threats.
As Conall managed to drive Patrick to the ground and hold him there, she whispered her command to her beast spirit who looked far too willing to do her bidding. She shrugged off any side effects from the summoning, in fact it felt nearly effortless to her this time, fueled by raw emotions.
Confuse the one they call Patrick my friend, distract him from the fight.
She held her breath and waited for agonizing seconds to see if she could tip the balance to the O’Neill side of the scales. Everything was riding on this fight and she refused to let Patrick ever take anything away from her again, especially her brother.
Conall & Etain
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Conall felt his clothes starting to smolder, but still he applied steady pressure to his opponent's neck. Finally, with a satisfying CRACK it snapped. Conall breathed hard, and was about to release his grip in triumph, when he heard an impossible voice - "Fool - you cannot hurt the damned."
Patrick was still alive, and still very much struggling for his freedom.
Then, however, the fight seemed to go out of Patrick. He went almost slack for a moment, and then, "What the...? Where am I? Where's mother?"
But his flesh continued to get hotter, the flames of his body threatening to consume Conall as well...
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Conall felt his clothes starting to smolder, but still he applied steady pressure to his opponent's neck. Finally, with a satisfying CRACK it snapped. Conall breathed hard, and was about to release his grip in triumph, when he heard an impossible voice - "Fool - you cannot hurt the damned."
Patrick was still alive, and still very much struggling for his freedom.
Then, however, the fight seemed to go out of Patrick. He went almost slack for a moment, and then, "What the...? Where am I? Where's mother?"
But his flesh continued to get hotter, the flames of his body threatening to consume Conall as well...
Etain
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
She kept her eyes upon the duo locked in mid-fight and watched as her beast spirit started to do the job she asked. Whether it was all but an act on Patrick’s part, or if he was genuinely losing his place in the metaplane she didn’t care. As she continued to take in the entire scene she could see Phineas O’Donnell exhausted and holding his head in his hands just beyond the men.
Her anger slowly started a precipitous shift, one from anger and betrayal and all the other emotions she’d been through in the past week, snowballing the more she gave it thought into one single emotion.
Pity.
Patrick didn’t learn anything in his damnation. He was still as defiant and angry and cruel as he was before he left the green lands of Eire. His defiant words to the Queen, the fight that was still in him as he was held by her brother. Beneath an exterior of confidence and lots of talk and expectations, behind an brutal act to assert his dominance, he was nothing. He was weak. Perhaps he would never learn that lesson and the truth about himself but she could still take the higher road. Before she could stop herself, she found words coming from her lips she never in a million lifetimes thought she’d ever speak. Her voice was soft, melodious but loud enough to carry right to her intended target’s ears. Perhaps there was still a small part, no matter how tiny, of him that she could still touch.
“Patrick, I will never understand why… but I forgive you for what you’ve done.”
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
She kept her eyes upon the duo locked in mid-fight and watched as her beast spirit started to do the job she asked. Whether it was all but an act on Patrick’s part, or if he was genuinely losing his place in the metaplane she didn’t care. As she continued to take in the entire scene she could see Phineas O’Donnell exhausted and holding his head in his hands just beyond the men.
Her anger slowly started a precipitous shift, one from anger and betrayal and all the other emotions she’d been through in the past week, snowballing the more she gave it thought into one single emotion.
Pity.
Patrick didn’t learn anything in his damnation. He was still as defiant and angry and cruel as he was before he left the green lands of Eire. His defiant words to the Queen, the fight that was still in him as he was held by her brother. Beneath an exterior of confidence and lots of talk and expectations, behind an brutal act to assert his dominance, he was nothing. He was weak. Perhaps he would never learn that lesson and the truth about himself but she could still take the higher road. Before she could stop herself, she found words coming from her lips she never in a million lifetimes thought she’d ever speak. Her voice was soft, melodious but loud enough to carry right to her intended target’s ears. Perhaps there was still a small part, no matter how tiny, of him that she could still touch.
“Patrick, I will never understand why… but I forgive you for what you’ve done.”
Conall & Etain
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Etain's words cut through the haze of magical confusion that enshrouded her former lover and more recent tormentor. The effect was instantaneous -
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
He began to struggle against Conall's iron grip with renewed fury - not to hurt, but simply to escape.
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Etain's words cut through the haze of magical confusion that enshrouded her former lover and more recent tormentor. The effect was instantaneous -
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
He began to struggle against Conall's iron grip with renewed fury - not to hurt, but simply to escape.
John
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:52:19
After Alice confirmed, John dialed up the number of Castle Harlech´s head butler. Of course the time in Brittain would make it inappropriate to talk to the duchess on the spot, but her cousin had no such reservations to annoy the staff. Besides, he had never talked to the head buttler on the fone before, so it wouldbe hard for Chalmers to fake the connection.
He brifely informed his cousin´s trusted servant of the situation in little detail, sure that he would know what to make of the information. Rhiannon´s financial advisors would know how to make a big buck off the dive -shortlived as it might be- of RFS and NeoNET stock, without getting finned for insider trading.
Lastly, he contacted Ian. Telling him the storry, he asked for some assistence to set up a temporary lifestyle -and security, though that stayed unmentioned- in Boston. The McCaskill would be abled to make good use of this information, too, and that was realy the point in making those two calls. Still they where both legit, as John´s friends would be prepared to help him build a base of opperation. Though he doubted he would get to make use of that. His time was running out.
Kip Chalmers checked something in his own AR set-up, as John did not initiate another connection and asked impatiantlybut with a somehow insecure undertone.
Chalmers: "So are you done chatting?"
John: "Alright, Mr. Korthals,"
He waved his hand at Kip, without even looking at him, instead focussing his gaze on the Matrix official, as he took a few steps towards him. He spoke in a slow and friendly manner, but was still watching out, not to stretch Chalmer´s and the security guard´s patience too much, while he tryed to squeeze as much usable data out of his hardware memory, that his wetware could hold.
John: "I am sure you are aware of my own network security standards and know that I don´t take chances. I will have a clean-up of my headware, assisted by Ms. Mon -who should bearriving any moment- and you know I won´t be keeping any files or software from now questionable sorces. If you would attest this fact to Mr. Chalmers, I can go on with gathering my personal effects from next door."
He waited untill Korthals had said his pice. Meanwhile smiling at the two guards before he went on, to collect what little he officially owned inside his own main office.
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:52:19
After Alice confirmed, John dialed up the number of Castle Harlech´s head butler. Of course the time in Brittain would make it inappropriate to talk to the duchess on the spot, but her cousin had no such reservations to annoy the staff. Besides, he had never talked to the head buttler on the fone before, so it wouldbe hard for Chalmers to fake the connection.
He brifely informed his cousin´s trusted servant of the situation in little detail, sure that he would know what to make of the information. Rhiannon´s financial advisors would know how to make a big buck off the dive -shortlived as it might be- of RFS and NeoNET stock, without getting finned for insider trading.
Lastly, he contacted Ian. Telling him the storry, he asked for some assistence to set up a temporary lifestyle -and security, though that stayed unmentioned- in Boston. The McCaskill would be abled to make good use of this information, too, and that was realy the point in making those two calls. Still they where both legit, as John´s friends would be prepared to help him build a base of opperation. Though he doubted he would get to make use of that. His time was running out.
Kip Chalmers checked something in his own AR set-up, as John did not initiate another connection and asked impatiantlybut with a somehow insecure undertone.
Chalmers: "So are you done chatting?"
John: "Alright, Mr. Korthals,"
He waved his hand at Kip, without even looking at him, instead focussing his gaze on the Matrix official, as he took a few steps towards him. He spoke in a slow and friendly manner, but was still watching out, not to stretch Chalmer´s and the security guard´s patience too much, while he tryed to squeeze as much usable data out of his hardware memory, that his wetware could hold.
John: "I am sure you are aware of my own network security standards and know that I don´t take chances. I will have a clean-up of my headware, assisted by Ms. Mon -who should bearriving any moment- and you know I won´t be keeping any files or software from now questionable sorces. If you would attest this fact to Mr. Chalmers, I can go on with gathering my personal effects from next door."
He waited untill Korthals had said his pice. Meanwhile smiling at the two guards before he went on, to collect what little he officially owned inside his own main office.
John
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:53:00
Caught between offending the old master he respected (and whom he couldn't really believe was on his way out) and his new master, who annoyed him but could be dangerous, Korthals did what any intelligent employee would - he passed the buck.
"Well, Ms. Mon is certainly qualified to do the check, and she outranks me. I am willing to sign off on this security protocol once I receive her assurance that she has the situation in hand."
Tuesday 5/6/70 17:53:00
Caught between offending the old master he respected (and whom he couldn't really believe was on his way out) and his new master, who annoyed him but could be dangerous, Korthals did what any intelligent employee would - he passed the buck.
"Well, Ms. Mon is certainly qualified to do the check, and she outranks me. I am willing to sign off on this security protocol once I receive her assurance that she has the situation in hand."
Etain
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Emboldened by the reaction her words had on what remained of Patrick she decided to close some of the distance between them as he struggled and whimpered on the ground before her. She kept her voice calm and it didn’t waver or betray her display of confidence even though her fears were just beneath the surface after watching what he had done to Conall. She spoke to Patrick with her sweet voice, much like she would to a child, only without being condescending. As she slowly moved don to one knee, she raised her volume just enough to ensure that Phineas O’Donnell would be able to hear and feel the effects of her words as well.
“Patrick ‘tis all over now. The O’Neill’s have lost a daughter, for I am worth nothing now. They’ve lost a son to eventual exile and will mourn his loss. Just as yer parents shall mourn the loss of ye for the crime that ye committed. It’s time to go back Patrick.”
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Emboldened by the reaction her words had on what remained of Patrick she decided to close some of the distance between them as he struggled and whimpered on the ground before her. She kept her voice calm and it didn’t waver or betray her display of confidence even though her fears were just beneath the surface after watching what he had done to Conall. She spoke to Patrick with her sweet voice, much like she would to a child, only without being condescending. As she slowly moved don to one knee, she raised her volume just enough to ensure that Phineas O’Donnell would be able to hear and feel the effects of her words as well.
“Patrick ‘tis all over now. The O’Neill’s have lost a daughter, for I am worth nothing now. They’ve lost a son to eventual exile and will mourn his loss. Just as yer parents shall mourn the loss of ye for the crime that ye committed. It’s time to go back Patrick.”
Conall
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Agaisn’t his bare skin, Conall could feel the fire that burnt in Patrick. He could slowly feel his own flesh soften up under the firey heat. He could feel the overbearing urge to simply get away from the blaze. But even as he began to smell his own skin burn, the young shaman held fast. With every move Patrick made, the young O’Neill compensated by tightening his grip more and more.
Gritting his teeth, all his muscles straining under the effort, Conall let out a scream as he twisted Patrick head opposed to his body.
For a second, he thought it was all over…
But even as his head literally hung to the side, distorted in a grotesque manner from the ruptured neck, Patrick didn’t die. He simply would not die.
In an instant of panic, Conall could simply not control his instinct anymore, and so, pushed away from him the source of his pain. As Patrick yelled out something, the young shaman took the opportunity to make him hit the dirt ground. He felt his own skin rip apart and follow him. All over his body, dozen of tiny burnt patches started to drip blood.
His eyes darted from left to right, frantically in search of some sort of mean to end this duel. He had never met an opponent he could not defeat. He had never met a being he could not hurt or break. But Patrick wasn’t of this world anymore. He wasn’t even himself anymore.
Weapon. I need a weapon.
Doubling away from Patrick to give himself some room to maneuver, it was only then that Conall realized how close Etain now was. She was saying something… But her twin simply could not hear her anymore… not over the beat of his own hearth that pounded away in his head.
He extended a trembling arm towards Paddy, yelling over his shoulder.
“Blade! I need a blade! Get back Etain! Get the bloody hell away from him!”
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Agaisn’t his bare skin, Conall could feel the fire that burnt in Patrick. He could slowly feel his own flesh soften up under the firey heat. He could feel the overbearing urge to simply get away from the blaze. But even as he began to smell his own skin burn, the young shaman held fast. With every move Patrick made, the young O’Neill compensated by tightening his grip more and more.
Gritting his teeth, all his muscles straining under the effort, Conall let out a scream as he twisted Patrick head opposed to his body.
For a second, he thought it was all over…
But even as his head literally hung to the side, distorted in a grotesque manner from the ruptured neck, Patrick didn’t die. He simply would not die.
In an instant of panic, Conall could simply not control his instinct anymore, and so, pushed away from him the source of his pain. As Patrick yelled out something, the young shaman took the opportunity to make him hit the dirt ground. He felt his own skin rip apart and follow him. All over his body, dozen of tiny burnt patches started to drip blood.
His eyes darted from left to right, frantically in search of some sort of mean to end this duel. He had never met an opponent he could not defeat. He had never met a being he could not hurt or break. But Patrick wasn’t of this world anymore. He wasn’t even himself anymore.
Weapon. I need a weapon.
Doubling away from Patrick to give himself some room to maneuver, it was only then that Conall realized how close Etain now was. She was saying something… But her twin simply could not hear her anymore… not over the beat of his own hearth that pounded away in his head.
He extended a trembling arm towards Paddy, yelling over his shoulder.
“Blade! I need a blade! Get back Etain! Get the bloody hell away from him!”
Conall & Etain
A Timeless Place
As he called for a blade, Conall spied beyond Paddy the crouching form of his sister's beast spirit, peering through narrowed eyes at Patrick. That went far toward explaining his foe's current actions - behind him, Patrick had gotten up and was staggering around, alternately covering his ears to block out Etain's words and flailing at enemies that were not there. He was a total wreck, and Conall was suddenly relieved to find that the overwhelming feelings of guilt that Patrick's spell had awakened in his heart were also gone!
Padraig Cailleach responded without hesitation - keeping his eyes riveted on Delphina, he used his left hand to toss a nastily jagged dagger toward Conall - but that was all the break in the balance Delphina needed as she pounced with blinding speed, twin blades darting for the old human's throat - only to be halted by a "STOP!" from Phineas O'Donnell. She lit like a cat, hissing, but her master continued in a weary voice - "This tragic battle must unfold by the hands of the younger generation - for whom I fear there can no longer be any true victor."
A Timeless Place
As he called for a blade, Conall spied beyond Paddy the crouching form of his sister's beast spirit, peering through narrowed eyes at Patrick. That went far toward explaining his foe's current actions - behind him, Patrick had gotten up and was staggering around, alternately covering his ears to block out Etain's words and flailing at enemies that were not there. He was a total wreck, and Conall was suddenly relieved to find that the overwhelming feelings of guilt that Patrick's spell had awakened in his heart were also gone!
Padraig Cailleach responded without hesitation - keeping his eyes riveted on Delphina, he used his left hand to toss a nastily jagged dagger toward Conall - but that was all the break in the balance Delphina needed as she pounced with blinding speed, twin blades darting for the old human's throat - only to be halted by a "STOP!" from Phineas O'Donnell. She lit like a cat, hissing, but her master continued in a weary voice - "This tragic battle must unfold by the hands of the younger generation - for whom I fear there can no longer be any true victor."
Etain
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Between the shout from her brother and the piercing and authoritative voice of Phineas O’Donnell ringing out, her eyes and attention darted away from Patrick and his delve into deeper madness for a moment. His father’s words pierced her like an arrow.
If there can be no true victor…
“Then the answer is not to fight. All of our fates are sealed.” She spoke more to herself than anyone else as that path of options opened up to her.
She turned her gaze upon the Queen and gave her an imploring look.
“M’Lady, if there can be no victor the only way to win is not to fight. I’ll accept my fate, whatever it has in store for me, though it is up to my brother to accept his.”
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Between the shout from her brother and the piercing and authoritative voice of Phineas O’Donnell ringing out, her eyes and attention darted away from Patrick and his delve into deeper madness for a moment. His father’s words pierced her like an arrow.
If there can be no true victor…
“Then the answer is not to fight. All of our fates are sealed.” She spoke more to herself than anyone else as that path of options opened up to her.
She turned her gaze upon the Queen and gave her an imploring look.
“M’Lady, if there can be no victor the only way to win is not to fight. I’ll accept my fate, whatever it has in store for me, though it is up to my brother to accept his.”
Etain and Conall
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
For the first time since the commencement of the battle, the Queen spoke: "Noble words, but they must be proven by deed. If you would cease to fight, then cease to fight."
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
For the first time since the commencement of the battle, the Queen spoke: "Noble words, but they must be proven by deed. If you would cease to fight, then cease to fight."
Conall & Etain
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
His head now clear and a weapon in his hand, Conall launched himself at his foe with renewed fury, hacking violently at his opponent. Whether Patrick's boasts about being trained in the saber were true, he had no blade now, and Conall was able to score hit after hit on his burning foe - all to no clear avail! If anything, Patrick was getting more powerful, the flames burning brighter.
*****
Heeding the Queen's words, Etain somehow understood that attacking would be the worst thing she could do. She commanded her spirit to cease its befuddlement of Patrick's tortured mind, at which point the Beast departed whence it had come. Still, the daughter of Clan O'Neill could not bring herself to lower the web of protection her mind had spun around her twin.
*****
Patrick stopped moving for a moment, and shook his head as if to free it from cobwebs. Raising his gaze, he watched bemusedly as Conall cut him again, although no effect could be seen on his blazing skin. Than he saw Etain - "Ah, Etain, the last lover I knew in life - how the thought of your flesh warms me in my torments. My dear, you cannot imagine the insane things I thought I heard you say to me just moments ago - though now I must assume it was some spirit-wrought witchery. And since it is clear your brother poses me no threat - perhaps I shall have the pleasure of killing you ere I claim his soul and drag it with me back to Hell."
With that, the burning revenant charged at Etain, fingers outstretched into vicious claws. As time slowed and his figure filled her vision, Etain also saw, over his shoulder, the Queen of the Seelie Court looking into her eyes, as if willing her to be strong....
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
His head now clear and a weapon in his hand, Conall launched himself at his foe with renewed fury, hacking violently at his opponent. Whether Patrick's boasts about being trained in the saber were true, he had no blade now, and Conall was able to score hit after hit on his burning foe - all to no clear avail! If anything, Patrick was getting more powerful, the flames burning brighter.
*****
Heeding the Queen's words, Etain somehow understood that attacking would be the worst thing she could do. She commanded her spirit to cease its befuddlement of Patrick's tortured mind, at which point the Beast departed whence it had come. Still, the daughter of Clan O'Neill could not bring herself to lower the web of protection her mind had spun around her twin.
*****
Patrick stopped moving for a moment, and shook his head as if to free it from cobwebs. Raising his gaze, he watched bemusedly as Conall cut him again, although no effect could be seen on his blazing skin. Than he saw Etain - "Ah, Etain, the last lover I knew in life - how the thought of your flesh warms me in my torments. My dear, you cannot imagine the insane things I thought I heard you say to me just moments ago - though now I must assume it was some spirit-wrought witchery. And since it is clear your brother poses me no threat - perhaps I shall have the pleasure of killing you ere I claim his soul and drag it with me back to Hell."
With that, the burning revenant charged at Etain, fingers outstretched into vicious claws. As time slowed and his figure filled her vision, Etain also saw, over his shoulder, the Queen of the Seelie Court looking into her eyes, as if willing her to be strong....
John
Tuesday 5/6/70 18:01:09
When Alice finally arrived, John had removed half of his posessions from the office or marked them to be send to his office at the University. In the mean time, he had searched through the data in his headware, for any items that would be of use. Though he had expected it, it still fealt frustrating, that he had found nothing but bland paydata. Maybe 20k
- he probably could have found more, had he used all his time on it or been less picky. He wasn´t even hapy to lift this relatively save information to fence, as he feard for anything, that could be tracked back to him. Still, he would probably need the funds.
He forced himself, not to think about his contingencies. He was suspicious about mindprobes. Even though Manolo had told him, he would be abled to feel it when his thoughts where drawn from his head, he prefered to not think any compromizing thoughts at all, whenever possible - one never knew, what the spell labs had put out that month!
He smilled at his assistent -relived to have at least one friend present again- and took her hands in a gesture of gratitude. While he informed her what was expected of her, he send her some data over their skinlinks. Mainly the recording of the minutes that had passed, since Chalmers had entered the room, as well as some personal files, that he wanted to keep.
Alice brifely discussed the formalities and technicalities with Korthals, then he sat down, to have his cyberware cleaned and re-booted and she pluged in directly into his datajack. Vast amounts of information streamed over his field of vision, moving far too fast to read, while Alice´s gentle voice echoed in his head, as she gave instructions how he could repeat the procedure alone with his own software, if necessary. Then the lights went out and a moment later sound evaded him as well. A feeling of claustrophoby started to build up in the splitsecond, until he heard Alice voice a last time in his head, explaining that there wouldn´t be a conection over the datajack for the next few seconds as well. Then she was gone.
Robbed of his primery senses, John silently counted the seconds in his head, to keep the panick from building up too quickly. Still it rose steadily, as he began to question his sense of time, untill he fealt his assistents soft hand on his shoulder, her fingers taping slowly, as the seconds passed away.
Then he saw a blue screen and heard the introducory tutorial of his ears starting the calibration, before Alice abborted it and quickly set the correct parameters with a mental command. He heard her voice and when he could see her face again, it fealt as if all his problems were solved.
Again, system-informations started scrolling over his field of vision, as she installed a very basic OS from her private software-library. John could have his own software installed right away, but the rom-chip was in his smuggling-compartment and he didn´t want to open it right then and there.
As soon as his headware was operational again, he started to transcribe the data he wante´d to keep from his wetware into his hardware-memory. At the same time, he stood up and glared at Kip, who backed away half a step unconciously.
John: "Happy?"
The lawyer asked bluntly, but the CFO just opened his mouth and looked at Korthals and Mon, who where conversing silently over the waves.
Not waiting for the other elf´s answer, John resumed to gether his personal items from the office and when Korthals nodded to Chalmers, the lawyer went on to do so next door, without waiting for Kip´s approval.
The other elf was about to protest, but when the guards finally moved reluctantly to get John back into the office, he just waved his hand over it and followed them - as did Korthals. As long as they moved on, he was ok with it. Alice joined her former boss, to help him gather his stuff.
Tuesday 5/6/70 18:01:09
When Alice finally arrived, John had removed half of his posessions from the office or marked them to be send to his office at the University. In the mean time, he had searched through the data in his headware, for any items that would be of use. Though he had expected it, it still fealt frustrating, that he had found nothing but bland paydata. Maybe 20k
- he probably could have found more, had he used all his time on it or been less picky. He wasn´t even hapy to lift this relatively save information to fence, as he feard for anything, that could be tracked back to him. Still, he would probably need the funds.He forced himself, not to think about his contingencies. He was suspicious about mindprobes. Even though Manolo had told him, he would be abled to feel it when his thoughts where drawn from his head, he prefered to not think any compromizing thoughts at all, whenever possible - one never knew, what the spell labs had put out that month!
He smilled at his assistent -relived to have at least one friend present again- and took her hands in a gesture of gratitude. While he informed her what was expected of her, he send her some data over their skinlinks. Mainly the recording of the minutes that had passed, since Chalmers had entered the room, as well as some personal files, that he wanted to keep.
Alice brifely discussed the formalities and technicalities with Korthals, then he sat down, to have his cyberware cleaned and re-booted and she pluged in directly into his datajack. Vast amounts of information streamed over his field of vision, moving far too fast to read, while Alice´s gentle voice echoed in his head, as she gave instructions how he could repeat the procedure alone with his own software, if necessary. Then the lights went out and a moment later sound evaded him as well. A feeling of claustrophoby started to build up in the splitsecond, until he heard Alice voice a last time in his head, explaining that there wouldn´t be a conection over the datajack for the next few seconds as well. Then she was gone.
Robbed of his primery senses, John silently counted the seconds in his head, to keep the panick from building up too quickly. Still it rose steadily, as he began to question his sense of time, untill he fealt his assistents soft hand on his shoulder, her fingers taping slowly, as the seconds passed away.
Then he saw a blue screen and heard the introducory tutorial of his ears starting the calibration, before Alice abborted it and quickly set the correct parameters with a mental command. He heard her voice and when he could see her face again, it fealt as if all his problems were solved.
Again, system-informations started scrolling over his field of vision, as she installed a very basic OS from her private software-library. John could have his own software installed right away, but the rom-chip was in his smuggling-compartment and he didn´t want to open it right then and there.
As soon as his headware was operational again, he started to transcribe the data he wante´d to keep from his wetware into his hardware-memory. At the same time, he stood up and glared at Kip, who backed away half a step unconciously.
John: "Happy?"
The lawyer asked bluntly, but the CFO just opened his mouth and looked at Korthals and Mon, who where conversing silently over the waves.
Not waiting for the other elf´s answer, John resumed to gether his personal items from the office and when Korthals nodded to Chalmers, the lawyer went on to do so next door, without waiting for Kip´s approval.
The other elf was about to protest, but when the guards finally moved reluctantly to get John back into the office, he just waved his hand over it and followed them - as did Korthals. As long as they moved on, he was ok with it. Alice joined her former boss, to help him gather his stuff.
Conall & Etain
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Etain held herself firm, and did not flinch even as the flaming form of Patrick hurled itself at her - she KNEW Conall would never let him reach her, and indeed, just as the revenant's fingers stretched out for her neck her brother caught the monster and carried it to the ground.
He had put himself in peril, however, as the flames the licked at Patrick's flesh flared into life. But Etain gently approached, easily sidestepping Patrick's flailing arms as one would a child's. She lowered herself to one knee and looked into the black voids in his skull where eyes she had loved had once rested, and she said again - "Patrick, I forgive you."
His reaction was the same - only now, unshielded by the Spirit's power of Befuddlement, it was much worse. The flames sputtered and nearly died, he grasped at his ears and screamed in agony, he squirmed and writhed in Conall's unyielding grip.
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Etain held herself firm, and did not flinch even as the flaming form of Patrick hurled itself at her - she KNEW Conall would never let him reach her, and indeed, just as the revenant's fingers stretched out for her neck her brother caught the monster and carried it to the ground.
He had put himself in peril, however, as the flames the licked at Patrick's flesh flared into life. But Etain gently approached, easily sidestepping Patrick's flailing arms as one would a child's. She lowered herself to one knee and looked into the black voids in his skull where eyes she had loved had once rested, and she said again - "Patrick, I forgive you."
His reaction was the same - only now, unshielded by the Spirit's power of Befuddlement, it was much worse. The flames sputtered and nearly died, he grasped at his ears and screamed in agony, he squirmed and writhed in Conall's unyielding grip.
Etain
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Inside she was trembling, while she had nothing but faith in her brother’s abilities, she still saw her all too young life flash before her eyes in an instant when Patrick charged. She watched the effect her words had on his now clear head and something inside her clicked into place.
What was the cliché again… killing them with kindness…
She looked up, locking her gaze with Conall, reassured that Patrick was in no position to harm her by the sheer determination on her brother’s face and the tight grip he hand on her former love. She tentatively reached forward and placed a gentle hand upon the charred and smoking flesh of what was Patrick’s upper arm. She winced as she had a momentary second thought, but instinct took over and with a guiding hand of Moon Maiden her decision was sealed.
She whispered softly in Sperethiel, poetic flowery words of health, forgiveness and rebirth. Mana swirled and glistened in calm shades of every colour around her hands before spilling across Patrick’s form.
“May you find peace in your damnation Patrick.”
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Inside she was trembling, while she had nothing but faith in her brother’s abilities, she still saw her all too young life flash before her eyes in an instant when Patrick charged. She watched the effect her words had on his now clear head and something inside her clicked into place.
What was the cliché again… killing them with kindness…
She looked up, locking her gaze with Conall, reassured that Patrick was in no position to harm her by the sheer determination on her brother’s face and the tight grip he hand on her former love. She tentatively reached forward and placed a gentle hand upon the charred and smoking flesh of what was Patrick’s upper arm. She winced as she had a momentary second thought, but instinct took over and with a guiding hand of Moon Maiden her decision was sealed.
She whispered softly in Sperethiel, poetic flowery words of health, forgiveness and rebirth. Mana swirled and glistened in calm shades of every colour around her hands before spilling across Patrick’s form.
“May you find peace in your damnation Patrick.”
Etain
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Etain watched as her spell effected Patrick in ways she wasn’t quite prepared for. She watched somewhat in horror as parts of his form became transparent and faded in places, in others she saw burned and tortured skin begin to slough off as he struggled beneath Conall’s firm grasp. The wretched form writhed and whimpered pitifully in pain and agony
Inside she was tormented with emotions. The majority of her being was horrified denying to herself that she could be cold enough to cause such harm to him while a tiny part of her reveled in taking revenge upon him for what he had cost her and what he had done to her. She stood on the edge of a very slippery moral slope, on one side stood the opportunity to end this “fight” balanced against her revulsion at the thought of being responsible for his “murder.” But could one truly murder something that was already dead?
Tears welled up in her eyes as the mana surrounding her hands began to swirl again, shifting colours with more frequency and intensity as her emotions ebbed and flowed. She whispered softly as she made her decision final.
“I’m sorry Patrick, please forgive me Brigid.”
She tightened her grip on what was left of Patrick’s arm and hesitated for one more instant before deciding having this all be over was more important in that very instant. She’d deal with the consequences to come.
Some consequences came immediately. No sooner had she cast the spell than the feedback from it shot straight back to her, sending a sharp and piercing pain behind her eyes, exacerbating the physical pain she was nursing from her earlier fight. She yelped softly and fell back to a seated position, releasing her grip on Patrick’s form and holding her head.
A Timeless Place, Now Darker
Etain watched as her spell effected Patrick in ways she wasn’t quite prepared for. She watched somewhat in horror as parts of his form became transparent and faded in places, in others she saw burned and tortured skin begin to slough off as he struggled beneath Conall’s firm grasp. The wretched form writhed and whimpered pitifully in pain and agony
Inside she was tormented with emotions. The majority of her being was horrified denying to herself that she could be cold enough to cause such harm to him while a tiny part of her reveled in taking revenge upon him for what he had cost her and what he had done to her. She stood on the edge of a very slippery moral slope, on one side stood the opportunity to end this “fight” balanced against her revulsion at the thought of being responsible for his “murder.” But could one truly murder something that was already dead?
Tears welled up in her eyes as the mana surrounding her hands began to swirl again, shifting colours with more frequency and intensity as her emotions ebbed and flowed. She whispered softly as she made her decision final.
“I’m sorry Patrick, please forgive me Brigid.”
She tightened her grip on what was left of Patrick’s arm and hesitated for one more instant before deciding having this all be over was more important in that very instant. She’d deal with the consequences to come.
Some consequences came immediately. No sooner had she cast the spell than the feedback from it shot straight back to her, sending a sharp and piercing pain behind her eyes, exacerbating the physical pain she was nursing from her earlier fight. She yelped softly and fell back to a seated position, releasing her grip on Patrick’s form and holding her head.
Conall and Etain
A Timeless Place, Dawn Breaking
As Etain continued to pour her healing energies into Patrick's tortured form, the last of his manifestation crumbled away into nothingness, until at last only his cracked and scorched skull remained. At the end, the black wells in his skull turned up toward Etain, and a lipless mouth rattled a thin but distinct "Thank you."
And then all that had been Patrick O'Donnell was gone.
A Timeless Place, Dawn Breaking
As Etain continued to pour her healing energies into Patrick's tortured form, the last of his manifestation crumbled away into nothingness, until at last only his cracked and scorched skull remained. At the end, the black wells in his skull turned up toward Etain, and a lipless mouth rattled a thin but distinct "Thank you."
And then all that had been Patrick O'Donnell was gone.
Etain
A Timeless Place, Dawn Breaking
She wanted to cry. But the tears had all dried up. Instead she just sat there silent and staring off at some point in the distance, looking intently at anything but the pile of ash at her feet that was slowly starting to float away in swirls on the breeze that blew through. It was almost like a state of shock really and she couldn't bring her eyes up to meet her brother's gaze.
She wondered just what she had done, whether Patrick’s “thank you” would become an absolution from the guilt that was already stirring up inside her. She wrapped her arms around her knees as she drew them up tight to her chin and closed her eyes and waited for the fallout to begin.
A Timeless Place, Dawn Breaking
She wanted to cry. But the tears had all dried up. Instead she just sat there silent and staring off at some point in the distance, looking intently at anything but the pile of ash at her feet that was slowly starting to float away in swirls on the breeze that blew through. It was almost like a state of shock really and she couldn't bring her eyes up to meet her brother's gaze.
She wondered just what she had done, whether Patrick’s “thank you” would become an absolution from the guilt that was already stirring up inside her. She wrapped her arms around her knees as she drew them up tight to her chin and closed her eyes and waited for the fallout to begin.
Conall
A Timeless Place, Dawn Breaking
When Etain got closer, Conall thought for an instant that his sister was going raving mad. This… Thing had almost just try to take it’s life away, for a second time in a few weeks. And now she was creeping closer to it. As it flailed its arms around aimlessly, kicking up dirty and dust all around, trying to rip at anything it could get it’s crooked talons in, Conall grabed one of Patrick’s arms as it shot toward Etain. Taking him at the wrist, he pulled back and bent it in the opposite direction, locking it in place with his own knee. The more Patrick writhed around under him, the tighter Conall’s grip on him became. Like quicksand, each move he made only had him sinking deeper.
Looking up at Etain, Conall knew his sister had a plan. At least, it looked like she knew what she was doing… Her words were having much more impact than everything he had tried.
As his eyes crossed hers, he saw the hesitation and fear that were eating away at her… but there was strange sort of determination. He looked at her, long and hard, keeping the pressure on Patrick. She began to stretch her gentle and soft hand toward the undead monster. His bare chest shining with sweat, blood still running from numerous burns, every single of Conall’s muscles were tensed and locked up. He gave his sister a nod, letting her know that Patrick was in no position to harm her.
The young shaman grunted as his body strained under the twitching Patrick. It was as if a shockwave had sent him into a seizure. But nevetheless, Conall held his grip. Not even the burning fires of Hell itself were going to make him break hold.
Just die.
He heard bones crack here and there.
As quickly as it had began, Patrick stopped moving. His body relaxed. Against his bare skin, Conall could feel his adversary’s form turn from charred flesh and burning coal to ashes and dust. Kneeled only a few inches away from Etain, Conall’s chest kept rising up and down at a rapid pace, his hair all thriwled around, sticking to his face in a mess of sweat, blood and dirt. In and out, his breathing was rapid and deep.
Slowly, gently, he crawled over to his sister, putting both of his arms around her. His head resting against hers, he whispered to her.
“It’s all over sister. He’s never coming back. Never.”
A Timeless Place, Dawn Breaking
When Etain got closer, Conall thought for an instant that his sister was going raving mad. This… Thing had almost just try to take it’s life away, for a second time in a few weeks. And now she was creeping closer to it. As it flailed its arms around aimlessly, kicking up dirty and dust all around, trying to rip at anything it could get it’s crooked talons in, Conall grabed one of Patrick’s arms as it shot toward Etain. Taking him at the wrist, he pulled back and bent it in the opposite direction, locking it in place with his own knee. The more Patrick writhed around under him, the tighter Conall’s grip on him became. Like quicksand, each move he made only had him sinking deeper.
Looking up at Etain, Conall knew his sister had a plan. At least, it looked like she knew what she was doing… Her words were having much more impact than everything he had tried.
As his eyes crossed hers, he saw the hesitation and fear that were eating away at her… but there was strange sort of determination. He looked at her, long and hard, keeping the pressure on Patrick. She began to stretch her gentle and soft hand toward the undead monster. His bare chest shining with sweat, blood still running from numerous burns, every single of Conall’s muscles were tensed and locked up. He gave his sister a nod, letting her know that Patrick was in no position to harm her.
The young shaman grunted as his body strained under the twitching Patrick. It was as if a shockwave had sent him into a seizure. But nevetheless, Conall held his grip. Not even the burning fires of Hell itself were going to make him break hold.
Just die.
He heard bones crack here and there.
As quickly as it had began, Patrick stopped moving. His body relaxed. Against his bare skin, Conall could feel his adversary’s form turn from charred flesh and burning coal to ashes and dust. Kneeled only a few inches away from Etain, Conall’s chest kept rising up and down at a rapid pace, his hair all thriwled around, sticking to his face in a mess of sweat, blood and dirt. In and out, his breathing was rapid and deep.
Slowly, gently, he crawled over to his sister, putting both of his arms around her. His head resting against hers, he whispered to her.
“It’s all over sister. He’s never coming back. Never.”
Etain
A Timeless Place, Dawn Breaking
Bristling at first towards her brother’s offered comfort she soon relented and hugged him close, afraid to let him go at that very moment. By sending Patrick back to the damnation the Fates deemed just, she had condemned her very own brother to exile. And depending on how the Queen was to interpret her actions, might have caused punishment to be handed down upon her own head as well. Shaking her head she whispered softly to Conall’s ear.
“What have I done? The victory of the fight only brings true loss, not celebration. As much as he is gone, so soon shall ye be too.”
Her fingers gripped tighter on her brother’s form as she whispered on.
“No matter the outcome I was going to lose ye. To death, or to exile.” She shook her head against the crook of Conall’s neck, finally resting her forehead on his shoulder. Etain’s voice got even softer.
“I’m terrified to be alone.”
A Timeless Place, Dawn Breaking
Bristling at first towards her brother’s offered comfort she soon relented and hugged him close, afraid to let him go at that very moment. By sending Patrick back to the damnation the Fates deemed just, she had condemned her very own brother to exile. And depending on how the Queen was to interpret her actions, might have caused punishment to be handed down upon her own head as well. Shaking her head she whispered softly to Conall’s ear.
“What have I done? The victory of the fight only brings true loss, not celebration. As much as he is gone, so soon shall ye be too.”
Her fingers gripped tighter on her brother’s form as she whispered on.
“No matter the outcome I was going to lose ye. To death, or to exile.” She shook her head against the crook of Conall’s neck, finally resting her forehead on his shoulder. Etain’s voice got even softer.
“I’m terrified to be alone.”
Conall & Etain
A Timeless Place
Ignoring the quiet conversation taking place between the exhausted twins, the Queen of the Seelie Court spoke:
"The trial is concluded. Patrick O'Donnell has gone from this place, and Conall O'Neill has won the mercy of exile. This has been a dark and dread day for all, and a turning point in the balance of the Danaan mor. Phineas O'Donnell, learn from the evil that has been revealed here today about the rot of your clan, and know that I will brook no delay in the payment of your fine to the O'Neills. Now, take your guard and begone from this place that I may deal with the business still to hand."
"Correctish."
Staggering to his feet, helped by Delphina, the elder O'Donnell pointed a finger at Conall - "That one must never again darken this Isle!" he cried, and then he and his bodyguard walked into the surrounding wood and were seen no more.
The Queen turned to Conall - "You have won the contest, you and those that loved and supported you."
"Correctish."
"Now," continued the Queen, "Have you any words before the particulars of your exile are pronounced?"
A Timeless Place
Ignoring the quiet conversation taking place between the exhausted twins, the Queen of the Seelie Court spoke:
"The trial is concluded. Patrick O'Donnell has gone from this place, and Conall O'Neill has won the mercy of exile. This has been a dark and dread day for all, and a turning point in the balance of the Danaan mor. Phineas O'Donnell, learn from the evil that has been revealed here today about the rot of your clan, and know that I will brook no delay in the payment of your fine to the O'Neills. Now, take your guard and begone from this place that I may deal with the business still to hand."
"Correctish."
Staggering to his feet, helped by Delphina, the elder O'Donnell pointed a finger at Conall - "That one must never again darken this Isle!" he cried, and then he and his bodyguard walked into the surrounding wood and were seen no more.
The Queen turned to Conall - "You have won the contest, you and those that loved and supported you."
"Correctish."
"Now," continued the Queen, "Have you any words before the particulars of your exile are pronounced?"
Conall
A Timeless Place
Gently stroking his sister’s hair, Conall raised his head toward the Queen as she spoke. He had been ready, since the very beginning, to go all the way for his sister. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t have done for her.
He had also been ready to pay any tributes required of him; ready to face and accept the consequences of his actions.
Giving her a gentle kiss on the top of her head, Conall withdrew his arms and rose painfully on his two legs. His left arm holding his right, he slightly winced as he tried to unbent it properly.
The young shaman closed his eyes, and took a few deep and slow breaths. Standing as tall as he could, he let go of his arm, wincing internally in pain but ignore it. Sucking it up.
Standing at attention, Conall looked straight ahead
“Only that I said some things…” he turned his eyes toward his father “I wish I hadn’t.”
A Timeless Place
Gently stroking his sister’s hair, Conall raised his head toward the Queen as she spoke. He had been ready, since the very beginning, to go all the way for his sister. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t have done for her.
He had also been ready to pay any tributes required of him; ready to face and accept the consequences of his actions.
Giving her a gentle kiss on the top of her head, Conall withdrew his arms and rose painfully on his two legs. His left arm holding his right, he slightly winced as he tried to unbent it properly.
The young shaman closed his eyes, and took a few deep and slow breaths. Standing as tall as he could, he let go of his arm, wincing internally in pain but ignore it. Sucking it up.
Standing at attention, Conall looked straight ahead
“Only that I said some things…” he turned his eyes toward his father “I wish I hadn’t.”
Conall & Etain
A Timeless Place
The Queen let silence reign as Liam and Conall O'Neill met one another's eyes. Nothing more needed saying.
Then she proceeded. "In accordance with sentence and trial by combat, I now pronounce that you, Conall O'Neill, are to be stripped of your Clan and Name. Call yourself what you will, but you are absolutely forbidden from using your former name in any communication whatsoever. You are to break all ties with your house, and take none of its assets with you into exile.
"Since Liam O'Neill was willing to take execution of the previous, more harsh sentence upon himself, I entrust him with effecting this exile forthwith and without delay.
"Whence shall you go? Seattle. You shall trade the beauty of the Emerald Isle for the squalor of the Emerald City." The Queen paused for a long while, her gaze going far away. "I think there is some good for you to do there, or perhaps there is someone good there for you to help."
A Timeless Place
The Queen let silence reign as Liam and Conall O'Neill met one another's eyes. Nothing more needed saying.
Then she proceeded. "In accordance with sentence and trial by combat, I now pronounce that you, Conall O'Neill, are to be stripped of your Clan and Name. Call yourself what you will, but you are absolutely forbidden from using your former name in any communication whatsoever. You are to break all ties with your house, and take none of its assets with you into exile.
"Since Liam O'Neill was willing to take execution of the previous, more harsh sentence upon himself, I entrust him with effecting this exile forthwith and without delay.
"Whence shall you go? Seattle. You shall trade the beauty of the Emerald Isle for the squalor of the Emerald City." The Queen paused for a long while, her gaze going far away. "I think there is some good for you to do there, or perhaps there is someone good there for you to help."
Conall
A Timeless Place
Conall simply bowed his head, murmuring to himself "Let it be so."
A Timeless Place
Conall simply bowed his head, murmuring to himself "Let it be so."
Etain
A Timeless Place
Etain’s soft gasp of surprise was audible amidst the silence in the grove. With every nuance of the sentence handed down by the Queen her heart sank even further.
Seattle?!
Her lips trembled as she bit back the things she wanted to say. Exile was a far better option than death, but across the oceans with no money and now no name… She drew a shaky breath. She resigned herself to the hand the Fates had dealt the twins. She knew deep in her heart that if anyone would survive this trial and test of character it would be Conall. Somehow that provided little comfort, just enough that she didn’t break down completely then and there. She admired the way he accepted his fate with such dignity and bravery.
I won’t let him disappear… I can’t let him be forgotten.
She looked to her parent’s faces. Her father’s was grim with the acceptance of what he would have to do, though his eyes showed signs of relief that his son would still live. Her mother however looked like she would break in a million pieces should the wind shift it’s direction ever so slightly. For once it wasn’t an act, the realization of all that had taken place leading up to the Court’s sentence, and the genuine loss she was about to experience.
I’ll find my way back to him, if it’s the last thing I do…
She rose to her feet shakily and with careful steps and the bravest face she could muster she moved to her brother’s side and gently slipped her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Her mask faltered for an instant, forcing her to bite her lip to keep her composure. She'd stand by her brother till the very end, no matter the distance.
A Timeless Place
Etain’s soft gasp of surprise was audible amidst the silence in the grove. With every nuance of the sentence handed down by the Queen her heart sank even further.
Seattle?!
Her lips trembled as she bit back the things she wanted to say. Exile was a far better option than death, but across the oceans with no money and now no name… She drew a shaky breath. She resigned herself to the hand the Fates had dealt the twins. She knew deep in her heart that if anyone would survive this trial and test of character it would be Conall. Somehow that provided little comfort, just enough that she didn’t break down completely then and there. She admired the way he accepted his fate with such dignity and bravery.
I won’t let him disappear… I can’t let him be forgotten.
She looked to her parent’s faces. Her father’s was grim with the acceptance of what he would have to do, though his eyes showed signs of relief that his son would still live. Her mother however looked like she would break in a million pieces should the wind shift it’s direction ever so slightly. For once it wasn’t an act, the realization of all that had taken place leading up to the Court’s sentence, and the genuine loss she was about to experience.
I’ll find my way back to him, if it’s the last thing I do…
She rose to her feet shakily and with careful steps and the bravest face she could muster she moved to her brother’s side and gently slipped her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Her mask faltered for an instant, forcing her to bite her lip to keep her composure. She'd stand by her brother till the very end, no matter the distance.
Conall & Etain
A Timeless Place, Fading
With Conall's acceptance of the Court's judgement, the Centaur intoned for one last time: "Correctish."
And there was nothing more to be said or done. The Court began to fade, whether from this plane, from this time, or only from their minds, it was gone and replaced by the library in their manor.
A Timeless Place, Fading
With Conall's acceptance of the Court's judgement, the Centaur intoned for one last time: "Correctish."
And there was nothing more to be said or done. The Court began to fade, whether from this plane, from this time, or only from their minds, it was gone and replaced by the library in their manor.
Conall & Etain
Sunday 8/3/70 00:30:00
Paddy escorted Martini the centaur out of the residence, first retrieving his blade from Conall.
Liam O'Neill turned to his son. "My study," he said, and walked off. Conall followed.
*****
Waking from her voyage through the Messenger's Astral Gateway, Etain ventured forth hoping to see her brother in the flesh before their companionshipwas sundered. Ignoring the hurts of her body, she left her room, the guards making no move to stay her. Descending the grand stairway, she found her mother alone in the vast candlelit reading room.
"The Seelie Court is no keeper of secrets, my dear," her mother began. She tried to force a smile - "Too many damned leshies and munchkins and Saints know what other rumor-mongering faerie folk. But Etain, my love," she continued, her voice softening, "you must be aware that all will now know of your shame."
*****
In the study, Liam motioned for his son to sit. The senior O'Neill took shelter behind his huge polished oak desk. Relatively safe behind this emotional barrier, he braved words the like of which had never passed his lips. "Son, tonight you made me so proud...so very proud. You've brought honor on this house, and whatever that pretender to the throne may decree, your name is Conall O'Neill and ever shall be. Keep that in your heart through this trial, and let the knowledge of it guide your actions, as you have done so bravely this night."
Sunday 8/3/70 00:30:00
Paddy escorted Martini the centaur out of the residence, first retrieving his blade from Conall.
Liam O'Neill turned to his son. "My study," he said, and walked off. Conall followed.
*****
Waking from her voyage through the Messenger's Astral Gateway, Etain ventured forth hoping to see her brother in the flesh before their companionshipwas sundered. Ignoring the hurts of her body, she left her room, the guards making no move to stay her. Descending the grand stairway, she found her mother alone in the vast candlelit reading room.
"The Seelie Court is no keeper of secrets, my dear," her mother began. She tried to force a smile - "Too many damned leshies and munchkins and Saints know what other rumor-mongering faerie folk. But Etain, my love," she continued, her voice softening, "you must be aware that all will now know of your shame."
*****
In the study, Liam motioned for his son to sit. The senior O'Neill took shelter behind his huge polished oak desk. Relatively safe behind this emotional barrier, he braved words the like of which had never passed his lips. "Son, tonight you made me so proud...so very proud. You've brought honor on this house, and whatever that pretender to the throne may decree, your name is Conall O'Neill and ever shall be. Keep that in your heart through this trial, and let the knowledge of it guide your actions, as you have done so bravely this night."
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