2006/2/4 Second Song of the Tallstar Chronicle Cera Lady Altair Trip Sir Al Thalimain Carl Sir Na'ir al Saif Neil Sir Horologii Two months have passed and the snows of memory have melted into water and are here caught and frozen back into smaller ice cubes of story, so I hope you'll forgive the lapses, and feel free to contribute your own memories and corrections. At the end of the previous song, Horologii, Altair, and the demon Ra are questing for the fallen star to take to Aludra, and Na'ir al Saif, Al Thalimain, and Gienah plan to take the cloven demon heart of Senator Scutum along with them to a spring where Al Thalimain will forestall his doom, then on to help Na'ir al Saif find Aludra, and eventually to return the heart to Tallstar. Long ago, the people were dying at the end of the world. But hope was not yet lost, for Al Thalimain still heard the song of the stars in his dreams. Al Thalimain lay wounded in the tiny hut in the wastelands, caught up in his fevered dreams of Algol, the fallen knight. Was the greatest treasure of the Aquili safe? I must try to be worthy? Am I the last of my line? He dreams of the water of the glacier spring that will save him from his doom, and of fighting Algol. He runs Algol through the heart, but only if Algol strikes the head from Gienah, but only if this is happening in the dream. But hope was not yet lost, for Altair and Horologii still heard the song of the stars. Altair and Horologii set out from Southreach with the demon Ra to find the fallen star. "Are we following a demon?" "Not blindly." They come to a frayed rope bridge across a chasm of fire, and it collapses under them. Ra extends his hand to Horologii who rejects it. Horologii instead falls onto a ledge which collapses, but the sword Altair carries protects them both from the fire. Altair: "My sword melted in the heart of a demon." Horologii: "A metaphor for our people." Horlogii gets an experience check and advances (Zeal 2, Ice 2, adding Fate; The Fallen Star). But hope was not yet lost, for Na'ir al Saif still heard the song of the stars. Gienah falls for Na'ir al Saif on their way to the spring with Al Thalimain, and the quenched demon heart of Senator Scutum that they carry grows brighter with each glance, but only if Na'ir does not notice. Al Thalimain reaches the spring of the Lady in Cyan Silk. Gienah stares at the spring rapt, but warns her master to drink from the spring but not enter it. Al Thalimain slays the Cyan Knight and the Lady declares him to be the spring's new guardian. Gienah drinks from the spring and Apollyon's hold weakens so she can warn (?). Gienah becomes the new lady of the spring. Na'ir al Saif, having watched all this, picks up the fallen heart of the senator and continues on towards Aludra, led by the silver chain, slaying flamed haired and golden eyed demons as he encounters them. Horologii wanders under ice tunnels with Altair and learns from her the Lore of the Stars, but only if it leads into terrible danger but only in the next 3 seconds. They come across an Ice Swimmers nest with four great worms sliding through the ice like water, and a fifth bigger than the others together, with a voice like glaciers rubbing together. The Knights slay all four worms but only if the great worm swallows them and regurgitates them into a smooth pit, but they sing to the worm of the stars, and it is overcome and declares "Though I perish I must see the stars" and digs to the surface, collapsing the cavern, but only if the knights are split up. After finding her way alone to the surface, Altair finds the fallen star and with it, Ra, who declares it to be "A creature of purpose." Ra leads them to an Icehenge. Altair converts the icehenge to ashrine of stars, knowing that Aludra will see the change reflected in the stars and come to her there but only if in so doing the Fallen Star is doomed and altair gains the Office: Priestess of the Star Shrine, and that was how it happened. Sir Al Thalimain, guardian of the spring, is confronted by Algol, fallen knight, who has poisoned the spring. Al Thalimain flings himself upon Algol's sword and his blood mingles in the spring binding Algol to the spring as its new Guardian and Al Thalimain dying and crawling towards Gienah winds up freeing Algol (Experience check rolls a 5, refreshing themes). Gienah takes the corruption within herself and al Thalimain is still the guardian of the spring. Gienah moves from new moon to mistaken in Al Thalimain's Cosmos. Na'ir al Saif rescues Aludra, not slaying her despite her appearance of flame-hair and golden eyes because unlike the mistaken she does not fear the sight of his starlight sword raised. He takes her to the Icehenge and she sings of her (fame?). Horologii wanders in tunnels and converses with a mirror image. He shatters the mirror revealing a passage out but only if a shard cuts him and he sheds three drops of blood for desires he will never know or achieve but only if his player decides what they are: 1) Identity of his Father, 2) Freedom from Love for the Siren of the South, 3) Escape duties of Knighthood. At the Icehenge Aludra explains to Altair "When you slay me..." as she lays herself out on the altar at its middle. Na'ir stops Altair's blade from slaying Aludra with his own, but then all is explained. Altair uses her sword which protects all that she loves, on Aludra who ascends to become the new star shown in her star chart. Altair becomes Best-Beloved of the Stars (gaining that office aspect) but only if the Fallen Star falls in love with her but only if Ra falls in love with her. Al Thalimain feels unwelcome in the spring where he is still Guardian. He attacks Apollyon, but only if Apollyon is not slain but grievously wounded and driven away but only if Apollyon takes the form of Alnilam, Na'ir al Saif's mother the senator because she has the vial of water from the spring. Gienah reveals the greatest gift of the Aquili is a gem in Al Thalimain's heart (stubborness). Algol returns and takes the former lady of the spring hostage. Al Thalimain manifests as guardian of the spring and Algol throws the lady on his sword (and she becomes both Lady and Guardian in one, Bellatrix) freeing Gienah who Algol siezes and flies away with. Bellatrix asks Al Thalimain to swear fealty and he does so to her heart, gaining the aspect "Fate: Bound to Bellatrix' heart". (She was already in his New moon as Bellatrix, the greatest swordsmistress.) At the Star shrine stars are reflecting like thorns. Na'ir takes this as a sign and on the way back to Tallstar takes Altair (but not Ra or the Fallen Star) through the secret ways to look down upon the Castle of Moonlit Thorns but only if he protects her but only if she swears to join the Circle of Moonlit Thorns. Ra is left behind in a cave with the Senator's demon heart, which he places within his own chest. Na'ir asks Altair of Ra, "Now that his task is done, why is he still living?" having no sympathy for the Mistaken in any form. Horologii climbs out of the ice tunnels at last and a search party returns him to the city where he takes on duties of his household while his Mother is indisposed with pregnancy, but only if it is not a demon baby, which causes the Mistaken to invoke you ask far too much. Horologii needs a 4 or less but rolls a 6, and then gets an experience check for the failed roll, getting a 1 and advancing: now Zeal 1, Ice 3. His mother claims Vega is the father. (But probably a shapeshifter - does this mean Electra's husband was innocent?) Altair talks to Ra in the cavern. He asks "Why do you not slay me?" She's weak and tired (experience check 5, so a refresh). Ra asks her to kiss him, and she does so on the hand. He kneels. She strikes at his neck but her sword (which is fated to protect those she loves) stops. Na'ir steps out of the cavern. (New moon suggests) The Fallen Star's tears strip away Ra's resemblance to Vega, revealing Ra's mistaken nature. But only if there is still love in the demon's eyes and that was how it was. Altair will carefully cut out the heart of fire that burns within Ra but only if it destroys him and furthermore it leaves a heart-shaped gem with glints of fire and further although she may not know it he will be reborn if she feeds the gem to another and that was how it happened. So Horologii is at his mother's bedside. Al Thalimain and Bellatrix are going after Algol who has kidnapped Gienah. Na'ir al Saif, Altair, and the Fallen Star set out for Tallstar. But that all happened long ago, and now there are none who remember it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Knights at the end of First Song ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Neil Sir Horologii Zeal 1 Ice 3 Light 2 Office Knight of the Order of the Stars Fate Relationship: Commander Keid (broken eggshell) Idea: Blood that Burns Event: Electra's Demon Baby Idea: The Fallen Star Ability Lore of Demons Attribute: Persevering Blessings Star Light Sword (appears) Mistaken The Crying Clown The Unknown Father New Moon Electra, the Wench, Niece of Keid The Siren from the South Countess Alcyone, Mother Full Moon Squire Cujam (club) Commander Keid (broken eggshell) Sir Mirfak, Bitter Enemy ________________________________________________________________________ Cera Lady Altair Zeal 4 Ice 1 Light 1 Office Knight of the Order of the Stars Priestess of the Star Shrine Best-Loved of the Stars Circle of the Moonlit Thorns Fate Common Fate: Commander Keid Star-Crossed Lovers Sword of Aladfar protects everyone Altair loves The Fallen Star Ability Lore of Demons Lore of the Stars Blessings Sword of Aladfar (Vega's father), black-bladed Heart of Ra Mistaken Lesath the Seer (sting and bite) of Southreach, looks not to the stars New Moon Vega (the swooping eagle) The Fallen Star (doomed) Ra, Demon of Ice & Sun Full Moon Aludra (maidenhood), Best-Loved of the Stars, her teacher [loyal++] Ra, Demon of Ice and Sun ________________________________________________________________________ Trip Sir Al Thalimain (2 ostriches) (aquila) Zeal 4 Ice 1 Light 1 Office Knight of the Order of the Stars Last of the Aquili Fate Relationship: Commander Keid Honor-bound to Bellatrix Ability Lore of Demons Blessings Star Light Sword The Aquila's Greatest Treasure Mistaken Algol, Fallen Knight Gienah, Last Servant of the Aquili, Former Lady of the Spring (?) New Moon Bellatrix, the greatest swordsmistress Aludra, Best-Loved of the Stars Full Moon (none) ________________________________________________________________________ Carl Sir Na'ir al Saif (bright tip of the sword) Zeal 4 Ice 1 Light 1 Office Knight of the Order of the Stars Circle of the Moonlit Thorns Fate Relationship: Commander Keid Ability Lore of Demons Attribute: Sincere Blessings Star Light Sword Demon Heart of Senator Scutum Mistaken My Brother Sir Orion Cloven Demon Heart of Senator Scutum New Moon Mother, Senator Alnilam Gienah, last servant of the Aquili Full Moon Sir Beid, boon comrade, once Guardian of the Spring of Purity Sir Groomian, Orion's Lieutenant ________________________________________________________________________