Griznuq Gaming

There were so many lovely pictures in this little treasure trove, but some seemed to be screaming some not-quite-audible message to the youth.

He placed this image down and rose stiffly; he needed to move around. He also needed to get things prepared for the evening, as he noted that he had spent several hands in study of his father's belongings. It'd be night soon enough, and he didn't want to be without dinner or fire for the evening. He could get back to the pictures tonight, when there was nothing else to do anyway.

The reality was that it'd probably take the whole summer to decrypt these pictures anyway. Plus, he needed coffee.

Have you checked those notes yet? :)

Wildfire, have you checked the log that I e-mailed to you? Any comments?

Not for nothing, but on this journey, Maccabeus is bare-backed and bare-footed. :)

Fin?

Maccabeus became figety as Dale finished his question. The little gnome rocked a bit side-to-side as he sat and his feet moved about as if on their own. Wolf lifted his great head and gruffed quietly, looking at Maccabeus. Maccabeus shared a long stare with his wolf friend.

"It's good that you should be curious." Maccabeus said, still looking into Wolf's eyes. "And the nature of your questions reveals an agile mind." He at last turned to Dale again. "But these particular questions aren't so readily answered; the power of Mahiya and Her children isn't something that we command, and how they work through us is not something that can be explained. Many of my kindred walk the land for decades doing Mahiya's will and never are able to articulate the answers to the questions that you ask.  It's something that must be experienced to understand, and that path is long indeed."

Maccabeus stared at Dale, a somewhat blank look on the gnome's face.

Maccabeus chuckeld lightly as Dale's rapid-fire inquiries. "These are among the  many questions of wisdom." He said. "And by and large, they need to be answered for you...BY you." This was an answer that Maccabeus had received continuously throughout his time with Shankaria; it had irritated him to no end, but now he understood better the power that was in it: there was no way that anyone would be able to answer those questions for Dale. His mnd and spirit would have to be ready for those answers, and only his mind and spirit knew when that might be.

"You have more information that I do, it seems" Maccabeus conceded. "I would caution you though: when you say that Whisper said that Valekai abused that power and the Wasteland resulted, the suggestion that one draws from there is that there were no other influences that contributed to that result. I don't know the one way or the other of it, but I believe that Ashe does; he and I spoke on it shallowly once before."

"Tread carefully, Dale." He warned. "A large part of what I understand about your argument is that it wasn't Sorcer'Nyx that caused problems; it was the people who abused Sorcer'Nyx, but I'll tell you that not all powers are without sentience, and without goals of their own. This isn't a tool like a hammer, which will do ought but what its weilder tells it to. All aspects of the power of Mahiya are living and sentient, and it may be that the power will have you do what IT wants YOU to do, and not the other way round."

"Am I curious? Of course; I'd be remiss to not be curious. But I'm also highly wary; I leave it at this time to others, who are far wiser than I, to explore those realms. Mahiya has other work for me, and I attend that, as I believe it to be no less important than any of Her other work."

Dale was in interesting fellow to Maccabeus. At heart, it seemed to the little Dale Gnome, this human was a good fellow, but it also seemed to Maccabeus that Dale had blinders on. He saw only what he wanted to see, and assumed much en route to his pre-concieved conclusions. Maccabeus hoped that he was wrong.

"You make fair arguments, but I'm not sure that you're hearing what I'm saying." Maccabues said, adopting a balanced posture and tone...inasmuch as he was able.

"Your argument assumes that use of the power of Sorcer'Nyx is the only way for us to defeat our enemies. History tells us that this is not true (as far as I understand history). They've been defeated in the past, and we can do as much in the future."

"Also, you take my example in only the shallowest turns; of couse we would all leap that chasm if it meant to save lives. But you seem to suggest leaping your chasm for the purpose of proving it can be done, and that's really a faulty reason in my thinking."

"You posit that 'if the Xan'Thankians use the power of Sorcer'Nyx'. This is an assertion that I do not know to be true. If you know it to be true - if you have good evidence - then I would hope that you would share that knowledge, especially with Ashe and Jullian."

"You also posit that use of that power would be the only thing that can defeat weilders of that power, but I say to you that fire does not put fire out. I do not toss burning branches into a fire to try to extinguish the fire; I use water to quench fire, or I rob it of its air; I might even smother it with earth. I do not try to stay an overflowing river by dumping water into it. I build levies of earth, I dig channels (again of earth). In times of dire need, and when I can, I might try to build a fire to turn that water into steam. It seems folly to me to think that I can use a power to destroy that same power.

"In the end, though, you're right: we all of us have our calling. We also all of us must ultimately walk our paths alone. Side-by-side, to be sure, but alone nonetheless."

After speaking Maccabeus retreated to the observant side of his mind, interested in every aspect of Dale's response. Dale had a way of appearing angry at the slightest provocation, and Maccabeus wondered if in fact the human was angry, or was it just an appearance.

From Dale's arguments, Maccabeus guessed that the human was already on the path that this Valekai had taken, and if Dale's tendency towards emotional response was any indication, the human might indeed be following in Valekai's footsteps towards losing his way and not knowing it.

"Easterly from the north-west-most finger of the forest that is my homeland, across the Dale of Wolves in the foothills there is a narrow chasm. The younglings in their bravado often will ride out to this chasm and leap across it; it's their way of proving their bravery and thus consider themselves men grown."

"It is not uncommon for a youngling to lose their life in this foolishness. The chasm is a goodly leap in distance across, but the jagged rocks at the bottom ensure that one will not survive should they miss their leap. This ritual is forbidden, but as we all know: the fact that a thing is forbidden rarely causes it to not happen. Indeed: there are those who tempt fate specifically because it is forbidden."

"I don't think that I would like to be the gnome who leaps across that chasm to demonstrate to other gnomes that it is not dangerous."

"A wise man that I know - one who dwells in the Dale - is quoted as having been very happy to have been able to answer such a question with alacrity and accuracy: he said that he didn't know."

"I've never heard the name of Valekai, and I therefore can know nothing about his powers, but the power that created the Waste Land of Archea is the weapon of my enemy: that which consumes the life force, never to return it to the Great Cycle."

Maccabeus was indeed disappointed with how the game of chance turned out, but he also knew that it was no game of chance. "That is a kind gesture, Dale." Maccabeus answered his friend. "But I would be remiss to take something that Golden Whisper bestowed upon you." He hoped his refusal would not be mistaken. "Plus, we Gnarcheon pride ourselves on living within the generosity of Mahiya and Her Children - what we need, they provide."

"In rolling the dice, I like to think that we are in some part revealling Mahiya's will. She has ever been my armor (note: Maccabeus wears no armor of any kind) and I take my loss as an indication that She favors me yet." He leaned in close to Dale then, that others may not so readily hear, saying, "Additionally, from our earlier conversations I know you have great need to watch after your own hide, and this prize will help you, who have no other aid, to do just that."

"Keep that skin close to your heart Dale." He said. "The fey do not bestow such treasures lightly, and when they do, their gifts are suited to those who recieve them. That gilded skin was meant for you specifically. For the cloak: Wear it in good health, Dale." Maccabeus entreated.

"As for gaining from my efforts," he continued. "I'm on the literal threshold of seeing the Valley of Mists - Mahiya's cradle - the most Holy of destinations to we who serve Mahiya, and a place that I had long thought but a fantasy. This is a gift that few Gnarcheon get to see (I'll not sleep much this night, I can tell you!!). I've lived another day, acquainted myself with more of Mahiya's lands, and I've learned a thing or two of my enemies. This has been a profitable day indeed!"

'cause he's a PC,  asshole!

/grumbles...sighs

Let me work on this.

Maccabeus' brow knotted briefely...apparently the Elder had been away from his ears a moment, he thought. "A-ya." He answered. "As I say, I need you to beg Mahiya's deepest touch for a Hammarahn." He swayed back and forth a bit, seeming to need his feet moving in order for his mind and mouth to work.

"As you've been away," he started, "We found a great mystery buried 'neath the Foot - ancient pathways and burial chambers, some of Wild Land Heroes. The catacomb led us ultimately to the Fortmount where, with Severen's help, we drove out Shadow Riders who had taken up residence there in the absence of the militia."

"Unfortunately, Ragnar lent his very life to that effort, and waits now in repose. I was hoping that we might be able to bring him forth through Mahiya's grace, but aside from Shankaria, I know of only one Torqanic who might be able to do that." His sapphire eyes looked meaningfully through his shaggy brow at Ashe.

Dray? Other Dude?