The Marshall, while in the room for part of this discussion, doesn't seem to mind it. "If you break the rules, leave the TAROTverse out of it ... but, from what I understand about 'Trial by Combat' there aren't really much in the way of rules ... more guidelines."
"That darkness was certainly a bother. Or I'd be the one on trial for poisoning him to death to save the hostage. That said... We need to work on getting some kind of night vision-tech, or this magic stuff. I don't know which is more durable. Precautions and all. I have some credits-but we'd have to return. We could try some trade. I don't have much but some uh.. requsitioned items from my world."
Flipping through his pack, Zellgato comes across his little comm device, "Maybe I'm biased though; but something we didn't really have much in my experience was all your media. We probably have some collectively right? I know I filled up on TV Shows, documentaries, some books. That's probably kind of rare culture perspective here ? It was for me; so I imagine it is for here. Since your world isn't part of it all... Any idea of that would be tradable for much Sir?"
"Or we could just get something from home. We've got the time for a trip there and back," Charles points out.
Nissa says, “I’m happy to grow back and use the wand. The sooner the better though. Ya know Theo and I only stayed that long on World 7 ’cause we had to, right?”
She adds ruefully, “I wanted to tell you guys about it, but…”
"We should probably check in with the boss before disseminating cultural materials that might end up who knows where. Without context, they might end up giving the wrong impression about our world," offers Kai. "And if we do end up becoming part of TARTOverse, there will probably be trade agreements and treaties, and I just don't feel comfortable with the idea of selling this stuff and potentially having be used against us in the future. And I don't even want to think about copyright laws, I doubt many of them have clauses covering distribution on other worlds..."
"Sounds like a plan to me. Plus, on our own world its a bit harder for them to get wind of things.
Nissa transforms and waves the wand.
Her intent is to go to the Flight Deck.
You're home safe. Boston Theoretical is still hopping with excitement about this whole dimension hopping thing working so well. They also don't point guns at you this time because they aren't under alert.
Nissa is now in the form of a Valkyrie with wings of light and luminous armor. This is the armored form she was able to create after her trip to World 7… she wanted to tell L.C. all about it but lost the mood.
She won’t let tragedy stop her this time.
“Where’s L.C.?”
L.C. is in her office with Scarlett Meadows and Ian, from Thin Spot.
"Nissa!" Ian shouts with the enthusiasm he only shows about technology. "My friend in the Marrakech underground sent me the device he's working on. It's a thought projector tied to the wearer's visual cortex. He was thinking of ... disreputable uses, but it will do what you want. It projects what Scarlett sees. It took us a while to make it work with Scarlett as she does it differently, but, if Scarlett uses her telepathy to see the images you send her, we think we will be able to make it work!"
Those are the most words you've ever heard Ian speak period, and they were all in one burst.
Nissa replies, “Then how would ya like to see all that happened on Tarokh?”
She is feeling quite proud of her performance, though the guys were all willing to fight the prince and Kai discovered the danger of the coin. Nissa will flash those memories as well.
The images relayed are kind of fuzzy. "Fresh images are better," Scarlet explains "You're visualizing from memory now and I'm reading what you are able to reconstruct. If you were visualizing fresh memories, we should be able to solve the problem of no camera small enough to see into your world. I'll be able to read your mind while you're shrunk."
Mackie joins the room, hanging up on a phone call. He says, "So, the guys who built this, Ian's friends, were like a techie and his telepathic boyfriend. They were going to use this to rip, project, and record this politician's girlfriend's mind during a risque moment and use it to blackmail the politician. I told him that Boston Theoretical might pay better than blackmail. This is one of a kind tech?"
"I really doubt we can pay better than blackmail," says L.C., "But, this does sound like the kind of tech we are supposed to share with our government sponsors."
The godlings from Greece Triumphant (World 7) have been around to let you know they're keeping an eye on the Prince. They tell you that he's been in a good mood. They also introduce you to a Roman Centurion Space Soldier. He carries a Sword of Truth on one hip and a laser gun on the other. "World 4 TAROT" they explain. "He's also keeping guard with us."
Later, Charles, Theo, and Zellgato are sitting near their cabins in the garden of the TAROT HQ when a man with the head of a tiger and backwards facing hands enters the garden and heads over to the statue of the Celestial for World X. A Chalice dangles from his belt and he wears a cloak very similar to the one Charles sometimes wears. He doesn't appear to have noticed you.
It's dinner time.
[dice=Sense Motive 15]1d20 + 5
[dice=Mysticism (to identify 'tiger man')]1d20 + 5
Charles gives the being a nod of acknowledgement, but doesn't press. Given his own issues with appearance he isn't going to bother someone else who looks a bit different.
Nissa says to L.C., “I’ll tell you about it after. I know you want to see at the subatomic level… and I’ve always wants to show you.
Get ready for a grand tour.”
She walks up to L.C. Looks her in the eye… or is it her forehead Nissa’s looking at so intently?
“Kai has my ship, or I’d start there. But anyway, hold out your fingertip, like the day we met. And… after that, would you like me to fly inside your head and show you your brain? I’ll have to grow past atomic size while in there, but you’ll be safe. And my luminous body will allow you to see.”
Zellgato blinks a few times, and simply decides to scan folks while they wait and have dinner. Far too little information on these worlds. Zellgato simply starts a biology catologuing system for himself. Encoded within his microlab.
Nissa says to L.C., “I’ll tell you about it after. I know you want to see at the subatomic level… and I’ve always wants to show you.
Get ready for a grand tour.”
She walks up to L.C. Looks her in the eye… or is it her forehead Nissa’s looking at so intently?
“Kai has my ship, or I’d start there. But anyway, hold out your fingertip, like the day we met. And… after that, would you like me to fly inside your head and show you your brain? I’ll have to grow past atomic size while in there, but you’ll be safe. And my luminous body will allow you to see.”
"Making you can find the source of my headache," says L.C. "The doctor couldn't."
Nissa was afraid the headaches were something serious.
“Where does it hurt?” she asks. “Forget landing on the fingertip. Hold your fingertip against your head so I know where to enter.”
Nissa shrinks to microscopic size. She flies through ridges in the skin and easily weaves between strands of hair—thick as skyscrapers and endlessly tall.
Soon Nissa is on L.C.’s fingernail. (Is it polished?) She follows it straight to the skull!
Now she becomes subatomic. A universe of tightly-packed atoms expands, until Nissa is minuscule enough to navigate past them. When the molecules are further apart, Nissa understands she is in the skull! She grows a little, so that the outer edge of the brain can be perceived.
She moves where she can, not knowing what’s problematic.
She guesses it’s something that doesn’t look like the rest of the brain.
Zellgato sighs heavily and stands up. Then mayhap foolishly walks over to the ...gentlecreature?
"I'm sorry to bother you...and apologies if its perhaps rude. May I ask where you hail from? You remind me of a former coworker."
Kai returns with Nissa, and sets about acquiring technology that might help Theo in the upcoming fight.
Zellgato sighs heavily and stands up. Then mayhap foolishly walks over to the ...gentlecreature?
"I'm sorry to bother you...and apologies if its perhaps rude. May I ask where you hail from? You remind me of a former coworker."
** spoiler omitted **
The tiger-headed man with the backwards hands stares at Zellgato for a while before answering, "World X TAROT ... If you really have a rakshasa co-worker than you're probably in more trouble than you realize."
He looks like he's annoyed at having to explain things and, possibly, anticipates you being afraid of what he's about to explain, "Look, World X is ruled by rakshasa--evil spirits that take over a human body and transform it into a magical, animal-headed being. Every one in a million, the human mind stays in charge. I'm that one. So, I'm not going to eat you, but if you really have a rakshasa co-worker, you'd better hope they don't."
Nissa finds, within L.C. brain, a part that could be inflamed, but no tumours or anything weird.
It's rare for Nissa to have any communication while this size, but Scarlett narrates at first. Before you enter the skull, she tells you that all is good and they are seeing everything and it is fascinating, but, when you enter L.C.'s brain, she goes quiet. After a while she says she isn't sure that this is going to work.
It isn't until Nissa exits that she sees what they saw.
The picture is too scrambled. There are flashes of images that look right, but for the most part, it's a mess.
"I couldn't separate L.C.'s thoughts from yours," she says.
"I could clean this up," says Ian. "But it's going to take a while. I think we'll be able to sort and separate the data. Give me the night?"
L.C. tells you here headache is worse than ever and asks if Nissa is sure she didn't bump anything down there.
The tiger-headed man with the backwards hands stares at Zellgato for a while before answering, "World X TAROT ... If you really have a rakshasa co-worker than you're probably in more trouble than you realize."
He looks like he's annoyed at having to explain things and, possibly, anticipates you being afraid of what he's about to explain, "Look, World X is ruled by rakshasa--evil spirits that take over a human body and transform it into a magical, animal-headed being. Every one in a million, the human mind stays in charge. I'm that one. So, I'm not going to eat you, but if you really have a rakshasa co-worker, you'd better hope they don't."
"Well, to be fair I promised to kill him before he was lost." Zellgato giving a light shrug, half wondering if that was offensive, "Wasn't able to keep that promise-Doubt I could find him at this point. I'm not sure about evil spirits-I'm new to those concepts; there was certainly a hitchiker in him I couldn't remove. They were Lizard-like though-en mass, although it was more like they grew inside the host instead of mixing. I don't suppose you have any advice other than run? I'll have to research more. "
Pausing for a moment, "Its probably rude but. Are you happy? VJ retained himself for surprisingly long."
After Nissa transforms to her full size form, she halves the brightness of her armor. The armor now appears as a sundress.
Nissa takes L.C.’s hand, and looks her in the eyes—her own are like molten gold. She is worried.
“No… I couldn’t have hurt you, even if I bumped into an atom. It would be like a spaceship hitting an asteroid. And I didn’t touch your brain.
“There was an inflamed area—” Fresh memories! She turns to Scarlet. “Can you see it now? The fresh memory?”
Nissa focuses on what it was like to see L.C.’s brain. It’s the first time she grew inside a person—the first time she saw a living human brain. The memory is vivid!
"I'm not sure about evil spirits-I'm new to those concepts; there was certainly a hitchiker in him I couldn't remove. They were Lizard-like though-en mass, although it was more like they grew inside the host instead of mixing."
"Svartakarna," spits the Rakshasa in disgust, "The lowest of the low. They're sent to prepare the way for the Lesser Masters and their Lords."
"I don't suppose you have any advice other than run? I'll have to research more. "
"If he was truly a friend," replies the rakshasa, "You'll track him down and kill him."
[b]"Its probably rude but. Are you happy? VJ retained himself for surprisingly long."
"I was born human. Married human. Procreated. All of this before I was taken. Before gaining control over this form, I saw things and did things I would not describe," says the tiger-headed man. "I'm determined. I'm set on vengeance. I am not 'happy'. If you need help retaking your world from the svartakarna, which is surely an advance party, you can find me through the Marshall."
After Nissa transforms to her full size form, she halves the brightness of her armor. The armor now appears as a sundress.
Nissa takes L.C.’s hand, and looks her in the eyes—her own are like molten gold. She is worried.
“No… I couldn’t have hurt you, even if I bumped into an atom. It would be like a spaceship hitting an asteroid. And I didn’t touch your brain.
“There was an inflamed area—” Fresh memories! She turns to Scarlet. “Can you see it now? The fresh memory?”
Nissa focuses on what it was like to see L.C.’s brain. It’s the first time she grew inside a person—the first time she saw a living human brain. The memory is vivid!
They do see the image now. It's a bit fuzzy, as it was before when it was a memory, but not quite as fuzzy, seeing as it is very recent.
Everyone is suitably impressed. They've never seen a brain from the inside before, especially not on video like this.
"Should I still clean up this data we recorded then or don't bother?" asks Ian.
Regarding the inflamation, ...
"I'm not that kind of doctor," says Ian. "I'm an engineer."
"I'm not that kind of doctor," says Scarlett. "My doctorate is on self-deception."
"I'm not that kind of doctor," says L.C. "My doctorate is in transdimensional physics."
Nissa squeezes L.C.’s hand. She says to her, “Show your doctor. And… find out if Portly is having headaches too. And… Madame President.
“It’s a hunch. It’s probably just me worrying because…” Nissa gives the hand another squeeze. “…I’m not a doctor at all.”
"As if we didn't have enough problems already..." Charles comments. "We'd better hurry up and finish with the Warlock so we can stop another threat to huge numbers of people."
He shrugs with both sets of arms. "I'd ask if it ever stopped, but I don't think I want the answer." His tone manages to be both joking and serious at the same time.
Theo smirks. "Some have said 'it's the never-ending battle for truth, justice'..you get the idea."
"Truth, justice, and keeping billions of people from getting murdered." There's no hint of levity to Charles's tone now. "You know, a year ago I thought that kind of sheer evil only existed in bad fiction. I've been pretty thoroughly disillusioned on that now."
Theo chuckled, trying to find the morbid levity. "Then the day that you realize the distance between you and some of the most powerful elder evils in the universe..well, multiverse, is a few generations. Say goodbye to a restful sleep."
"I try not to sleep too soundly," replies the tiger-headed man, "lest the beast begin to prowl. A silk curtain hangs between me and evil; through it, I hear a growl."
He smiles a big-cat smile, "Still, TAROT fights for humanity on my world, against these invaders from another realm that plague us. I've come to believe that TAROT is the answer to my world's problems. Are you TAROT then? Which of these celestials represents your world?"
Charles gives Theo a sidelong glance before turning back to the tiger-man. "And I thought I had it bad. At least my getting turned into something not human left me without an enemy in my own head."
"As for your question... we're not sure yet. There's a lot of discussion about us being a new TAROT world for... various reasons. Certainly we're dedicated to stopping the kind of evil that seems all too common in the worlds. But if there's a celestial helping us, we don't know it."
"Violent revenge is certainly on the table when I head back there- For that promise and for the mess. But I've got no illusions that it will likely be quite violent, and extensively time consuming. Baring someone messing with the timeline again. That said. I'll certainly reach out. Honestly I have no clue how I'd find one in many-so it probably would be more apt to say pest extermination-just pests that can tear you in half from the inside or out."
At the input of Charles and Theo, "Its not you two's world-and it would be asssuming a rather extensive campaign and dangerous. Likely inviting an.. examination of your world by whatever sent them. That said, it is quite a lot of lives; some of which you probably have met in a fashion.-and would require taking many to protect. Though different versions; that whole thing is a mess."
Reaching his hand out to shake the Big-Cat's hand-best as he can considering the hand shaping. "I am from the TAROTverse; I'm not sure if I"m classified TAROT exactly yet. I don't know s**t about celestials, or anything else until recently. I knew nothing up until lizard monster battling. I'm working on some poisons for them; was my plan for my friend-although I don't know how effective that is yet.."
Charles gives Theo a sidelong glance before turning back to the tiger-man. "And I thought I had it bad. At least my getting turned into something not human left me without an enemy in my own head."
"As for your question... we're not sure yet. There's a lot of discussion about us being a new TAROT world for... various reasons. Certainly we're dedicated to stopping the kind of evil that seems all too common in the worlds. But if there's a celestial helping us, we don't know it."
"A Hand of TAROT without a Celestial? I'm still wrapping my furry head around this belief that 21 immortal beings fell from the end of time and bestowed gifts on protectors of the 20 Worlds of the TAROTverse," says the Tiger-headed man. "This is the one they say protects World X."
He points to a statue of a jackal headed creature as seen on the Wheel of Fortune Tarot card. "Fortune has many names. It feels like a joke though. The rakshasa make their human slaves fight in gladiatorial competitions and feast on both the victors and the vanquished. In World X, you're either the player or the played. I'm lucky to have escaped."
The man doesn't sound lucky. "I'm Tony, by the way."
Nissa squeezes L.C.’s hand. She says to her, “Show your doctor. And… find out if Portly is having headaches too. And… Madame President.
“It’s a hunch. It’s probably just me worrying because…” Nissa gives the hand another squeeze. “…I’m not a doctor at all.”
"I'll show one of the doctors downstairs tomorrow. And I'll ask about Portly and the President," says L.C. "But, let's call it a night. You need to get back early tomrrow. Luckily you've got an extra hour. World One moves slower than ours according to Green Witch Mean Time ... I mean Mean Green Witch Time."
Kai returns with Nissa, and sets about acquiring technology that might help Theo in the upcoming fight.
“Sure,” Nissa says, painfully aware of the lack of a briefing—of L.C.’s hurry to be rid of her. “Interplanetary war’s not gonna prevent itself.”
She turns to Scarlet.
Something’s wrong. Terribly wrong. I think someone messed with her brain when she was captured. Or maybe it’s her mysterious disappearance when the President met her. Maybe it’s a dumb idea to ask the President about the headaches.
To L.C., “Y’know what? The President probably gets headaches from her job. Maybe just ask about Portly.”
I’m scared, Scarlet. I just hope the President isn’t involved in this inflamed-brain thing. I voted for her.
"Charles Wilde." Charles responds to the introduction reflexively. "I've, uh... never been a religious sort myself, so I can't say I can theorize much on that side of things. I just try to do the best with what I've got, which is now four arms and claws."
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“Sure,” Nissa says, painfully aware of the lack of a briefing—of L.C.’s hurry to be rid of her. “Interplanetary war’s not gonna prevent itself.”
She turns to Scarlet.
Something’s wrong. Terribly wrong. I think someone messed with her brain when she was captured. Or maybe it’s her mysterious disappearance when the President met her. Maybe it’s a dumb idea to ask the President about the headaches.
[dice=Bluff (nothing alarming about my sudden backpedal, heh!)]d20+14+d6
To L.C., “Y’know what? The President probably gets headaches from her job. Maybe just ask about Portly.”
I’m scared, Scarlet. I just hope the President isn’t involved in this inflamed-brain thing. I voted for her.
"Look, I try not to read minds, but I got enough of that to know you're misreading her. She isn't anxious to call it a night because she's anxious to get rid of you. She was wanting to call it an early night ... together. ... I don't have clearance to go scanning the head of Boston Theoretical's brain. If I did, Dyer Greer and I would have spent a lot more time together before ... Oh no. ... It. Was. Not. Your. Fault!"