Ch'ack Hammer's page

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

Arielle wrote:

"Mom! Dad!" Arielle whined. "You're not supposed to be all mushy when I'm standing right here."

"Oh yeah?" CH makes big fishy lips and goes after Arielle to give her a kiss too.

Arielle shrieks and runs away, giggling wildly.

"Hmmm, it seems I have a new sneak attack I can use." ;)

"Mom! Dad!" Arielle whined. "You're not supposed to be all mushy when I'm standing right here."

"Oh yeah?" CH makes big fishy lips and goes after Arielle to give her a kiss too.

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

How about a locket? I could tuck it under my shirt, near my heart.

I know. I'm sentimental. A big softy.

She smiled.

"I like that you're sentimental."

She concentrated on something in her hands for a few minutes a soft glow coalescing into a small silver locket with tiny diamond stars on it making the shape of a lightning bolt.

"Here you go. Is this what you had in mind?"

"Perfect." He leans over and gives her a kiss.

"You probably wouldn't like the smell of burnt hair if she zapped me. I know I wouldn't." ;)

How about a locket? I could tuck it under my shirt, near my heart.

I know. I'm sentimental. A big softy.

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

Arielle wrote:

Little Kiba wrote:

Arielle wrote:

"Of course he looks familiar silly. He's my Dad."

Lk looks closely, then smiles.

"Does this mean he'll have you using a padded hammer when you train?"

"....I don't know. I hadn't really thought about that."

"Don't worry. I have armor."

"And I expect I'll need it."

"Probably. Especially with the lightning."

"But I might be learning how to control that better during my lessons with Grandpa. I hope."

"Maybe your mother could cast Energy Immunity - Lightning on me beforehand?"

Little Kiba wrote:

Arielle wrote:

"Of course he looks familiar silly. He's my Dad."

Lk looks closely, then smiles.

"Does this mean he'll have you using a padded hammer when you train?"

"....I don't know. I hadn't really thought about that."

"Don't worry. I have armor."

"And I expect I'll need it."

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

"I'm sure you'll do just fine. Your grandpa knows all kinds of stuff about the weather."

"Well, I guess I just hope I'm a fast learner then."

She hugged him.

"I love you, Daddy."

"Luv ya, honey."

"Speaking of honey...", he reaches over and wipes some honey off of her chin.

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

Ch'ack reaches over and gives Arielle a kiss on her cheek, clean or not. As he does, his morning stubble tickles her face.

"Oops. Looks like I have to remember to shave again."

She giggles.

"I want to show you something," she says, pulling a piece of something glasslike out of her pocket. "LK gave it to me. Will give it to me. It's confusing. I really hope he's done with the time travel thing. It makes my head hurt. Anyways, it's supposed to help me learn how to control my abilities better. I hope so. I really don't want my friends to get hurt because of me," she added looking worried. "Mom told me that Grandpa Azuri'ith is going to help me learn weather magic, but I'm still kinda scared about it."

"I'm sure you'll do just fine. Your grandpa knows all kinds of stuff about the weather."

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

Arielle wrote:

"Are you gonna try some of my special pancakes?"

"Sure! I'm as hungry as a tarrasque!"

Despite the taste, Ch'ack enjoys the experience like a starved man. his appetite has certainly been worked up by something... ;)

"You like my new look?"

"It's going to take some getting used to," she said thoughtfully, "but it does involve a lot less explanations when we go places. People can be so weird about stuff like that."

She piles a stack of overly sweetened pancakes on her plate and drenches them in syrup before happily wolfing down her breakfast. When she doesn't think anyone is watching she adds some syrup to her orange juice to make it sweeter.

Ch'ack reaches over and gives Arielle a kiss on her cheek, clean or not. As he does, his morning stubble tickles her face.

"Oops. Looks like I have to remember to shave again."

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

Ch'ack stares at Arielle, unable to speak at first.

"Hi, Sunshine."

"Hi, Daddy." She gives him a quick hug.

"Are you gonna try some of my special pancakes?"

"Sure! I'm as hungry as a tarrasque!"

Despite the taste, Ch'ack enjoys the experience like a starved man. his appetite has certainly been worked up by something... ;)

"You like my new look?"

Ch'ack stares at Arielle, unable to speak at first.

"Hi, Sunshine."

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

He looks on admiringly, "Do you realize how warm your skin is?"

"You're making my warmer right now."

"We'll have to explore that more later," she said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "A lot more."

"But right now, we're going to go find Arielle and make sure that she hasn't caused too much trouble."

"Lead on, milady. I could use something to drink. I think I've dried out our stores up here."

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

"I've lived that dream..."

He brightens, "Yes, I'd like to see her. Err...what way should I look?"

"Of course we could always pretend that you snuck in a stranger into your bedroom. Wouldn't that make some eyes pop? Until Arielle blasted me with a lightning bolt. Then my eyes would pop."

She laughed, throwing off the last of the lingering terror of the dream.

"You can fool everyone but Arielle. She'll know exactly who you are. Come on, she probably went to get some breakfast. And if she's not there, then Djuhah will know where she went."

She gets out of bed and quickly dresses.

He looks on admiringly, "Do you realize how warm your skin is?"

"You're making my warmer right now."

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

He sighs. "I hope it ends too."

"The dreams that aren't an exact memory of what happened are the worst. Especially the ones where I can't save her."

"But dwelling on it doesn't make it go away."

"And I bet Arielle is starting to wonder where we are. You know what an early riser she is."

"I've lived that nightmare..."

He brightens, "Yes, I'd like to see her. Err...what way should I look? What should I wear?" laughs at his nervousness

"Of course we could always pretend that you snuck in a stranger into your bedroom. Wouldn't that make some eyes pop? Until Arielle blasted me with a lightning bolt. Then my eyes would pop."

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

lynora-Jill wrote:

She woke up screaming, the dream only just beginning to fade. She punched a pillow with frustration when she realized what had happened. Exactly how long was it going to take her mind to accept that she wasn't mortal anymore? She was so tired of having this dream, reliving her death over and over again.

Ch'ack jumps as Lyn screams. He rushes to her side, trying to comfort her. He holds her as long as she needs him to.

When she calms herself he asks, "I wasn't that bad was I?" ;)

"Seriously though, do you want to talk about it?"

She took a shaky breath.

"It's...I may not really be mortal anymore, but my mind doesn't seem to know that. I keep dreaming about dying. Over and over and over. The battlefield, the dagger in my heart, the desperate attempt to save our daughter. I'm sure it will stop eventually, but I really wish it would end sooner rather than later."

He sighs. "I hope it ends too."

She woke up screaming, the dream only just beginning to fade. She punched a pillow with frustration when she realized what had happened. Exactly how long was it going to take her mind to accept that she wasn't mortal anymore? She was so tired of having this dream, reliving her death over and over again.

Ch'ack jumps as Lyn screams. He rushes to her side, trying to comfort her. He holds her as long as she needs him to.

When she calms herself he asks, "I wasn't that bad was I?" ;)

"Seriously though, do you want to talk about it?"

Stands in the doorway to the balcony and takes in the smell of the sky, the sounds echoing off the cliffs, the feel of the breeze, and the warmth of the sun.

As Ch'ack relaxes he contemplates the happiness he feels and the twinge of guilt. Part of him felt like he was betraying the memory of Liselle. Was he reading too much in the similarities Lyn shared with her?

Her body was buried in the dust, as his own was until recently. But her soul, her essence, may yet be out there. Yet there was no sign of it in all his years of searching.

Aiselle. His first daughter. Life snuffed out before she had a chance to truly experience it. How could he not look at Arielle and see Aiselle's smile behind her eyes?

His yearning for redemption was overwhelming, renewed by the return of his flesh.

"Wow! My sense of touch has definitely improved! But Oww! Those nail and nibble marks are gonna be noticeable."

"I haven't felt...so alive...in such a long time!"

He watches her try to ignore his words and get more sleep. He smiles.

"Well, can't make up for centuries all in one night."

He tries to settle in but can't fall asleep. He's still too wound up, and his stomach is growling like a bear. Heading to the side table he eats everything in sight, and finishes every drink. Even the water. Each morsel is savored, as if tasted for the 1st time.

"Looks like I should probably see if any of my old clothes fit." They don't, but he is able to cobble together something.

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

"Maybe I don't need to find some clothes right away. Then you can 'help' me learn how to make all the parts work. You might need to be a little gentle with me though."

"Hmm. An interesting change. Usually I'm the one having to remind you to be gentle. Yes, I think a tutorial in just how pleasant having skin can be is in order," she added leaning in close to him and giving him feather light kisses across his face.

"This could take quite awhile, you know. Just to make sure you really get to appreciate the experience."

He soaks in every kiss.

"It's been centuries since I've felt these things. I'm fine making the moment last a long while. Or should I say 'moments'?"

He returns the kisses, adding soft caresses for good measure.

fade to black....

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

"I fear that I have forgotten what it is to be human. I would like to remember...err, discover what it means."

"My mask will always allow me to return if need be. It's magic has not faded over the centuries. Though it has changed form a bit, to suit the circumstances."

BTW, what happened to your game?

It got a late start and ended early.

"Then be human. And whatever help I can be in that discovery process," she added with an impish smile, "I will be glad to provide."

"Maybe I don't need to find some clothes right away. Then you can 'help' me learn how to make all the parts work. You might need to be a little gentle with me though."

Ch'ack Hammer wrote:

"Ahh, the face. I have three choices for names, but only two for a face."

"I miss feeling, as a human does."

"Is that what you wish to be then?"

"I fear that I have forgotten what it is to be human. I would like to remember...err, discover what it means."

"My mask will always allow me to return if need be. It's magic has not faded over the centuries. Though it has changed form a bit, to suit the circumstances."

BTW, what happened to your game?

"Ahh, the face. I have three choices for names, but only two for a face."

"I miss feeling, as a human does."

"Or by something that reflects both of...me. How 'bout Ch'ack Hammer? In honor of both my families?"

The mists around him fade, and the eagle screeches once more. He finds himself in a familiar place.

Heading to the Eyrie

From somewhere strange words echo after the departing Ch'ack.

So long ago.... Once I think I trained you in spirit combat, but the time for that is long past. All you can do now is pray to the gods that you remember. That you remember everything and in time... The shadows of the serpents walk still.
With the dissipating sigh of lost and forgotten lore, the words break apart into fading susserations.

Ch'ack Hammer shivers as the words float across the mists. He turns and looks, but cannot find their source before they fade.

LJ feels JH's awakening. His life force is stronger than it ever was. More complex. More thirsting.

Very Tempermental PlantJack wrote:

The Executioner of Lilies wrote:

For a moment Plantjack has a sense of unease - a feeling almost of the creeping shadows starting to gather of a tormentor he had dared to hope that he had rid himself of a long time ago.

Edit:
See the profile, though doubtful that Plantjack knew what she was or the extent of any limits that she has (such as the restrictions to shapechanging); just that she seemed impossible to kill and that for a period of twenty seven days she seemed bent on making his life as miserable as possible without actually physically harming him.

Plantjack feels a chill. "Arielle, I think it best you get out of here soon. The Weedwhacker is near. My soul can be saved by incarnum. That is the only way I know of, and only a god--or one who knows certain secrets of the gods--can give me enough incarnum to help. I am like a swarm of bees, trapped in a jar. I can only be saved if I have a bigger jar. They must cast the incarnum harvested with their knowledge to Plant of the Ch'acks. It will find me. Please, this is my last chance. Now go!"

"Yeah, I think you're right," she said shivering. "I'm not supposed to stay here long anyways. Mom won't say why, but the dreamlands are not a good place for us. I'll tell mom about what you said. She'll help you if she can. Bye, PlantJack."

With that the girl disappears.

The mist carries within it a smell of ozone and roses. Familiar, but much stronger than JH can remember.

"Aise..Arielle?..."

Yay! I'm alive! I'm alive!

JH wakes up lying next to the pool surrounded by mist. The memories of his past life swirl in his head. He weakly pushes himself to his knees. His hammer lies on the ground by his feet. A mask of bronze lays beside it. He reaches for his hammer.

The arm moving to the hammer is made of flesh!

He pulls back. The arm follows. Holding his hand to his face, he examines it. He reaches to touch it with his other hand. It too is made of flesh. His heart races. Placing his hand against his chest he feels flesh, and the pulsing of life.

"It was not a dream...", he whispers to the mist.

He stands and picks up his hammer. Tentatively he picks up the bronze mask. It's like looking at a mirror, or at one of the other Jacks. He holds it up to his face. Magic courses through his body, and the hands holdng the mask transform to the bronze skin he has worn for so many centuries, the mask becoming part of him. He goes to remove the mask, fearing that it would resist. It does not. His flesh returns. It dawns on him.

"I am two people."

He begins walking, naked as the day he was born. The sensation of the mist upon his body is exhilarating.

The screech of an eagle echoes thru the mist.