Sept. 21, 1999
The angels are talking all over town - -in groups of two, to make the GM's life more interesting.
Matt and Alaric, over at the Board, discuss everything from Rook's ability to make friends to the Tapestry to the purpose of Alaric's assignment to Boulder. It is decided that Rook, the Stoic, resembles a Highlander (why, only Matt can elucidate) -- but if he's a McCleod, he's one of the stern Duncan types. Nothing earth-shattering is revealed re: the Tapestry that we do not already know, though Matt did try to read the Mercurian's motives and failed.
Arashiel and Jael talk in transit about Irad's inclusion in our road trip to Wyoming. With stunning verbal ability, Arashiel manages to make the already uncomfortable Jael paranoid, then explains that she, Rashi, is not worried overmuch because Eli did not fry Irad when he had the chance. This leaves Jael still uneasy with the idea. But the pair did leave Arabis with him, and Jael is not getting danger-tweaks from that...so maybe Irad is on the level. Then Arashiel admits she has been projecting her wants onto reality, and the pair mull that over until they arrive at the Board.
Now picture this: Arashiel comes through the door, projecting mean gangster type, Jael in tow. "As we'd agreed. We trade the Cherub for the Elohite," Rashi-Capone grates.
Alaric cracks up. "Now I know why Rook is a basket case," he murmurs.
The little game continues, and Rook can hear the noise out in his class. Eventually, the trade is made, and Rashi-Capone leaves with hostage Matt...which leaves Jael alone with Rook (OK, not *alone*, cuz Alaric's there, but it sounds better that way...). [cue ominous music]
Meanwhile, back at the Pot, we left OfanRaven and Irad together on a bench. Arabis decides against using a song to protect herself from Habbalation, and launches right into conversation with the Fallen. No, this is not listed in the Handbook of Dealing with Demons as 'wise' -- but Irad is well-behaved. Arabis learns that he does not want Jael become a Djinn, and that he believes the Tapestry should be Heavenside, not Hellbound -- and unravelled. Arabis can find no cruelty -- how odd, for a servitor of Nightmares -- and Irad can find only her suspicion and mistrust of him. He assures her she is strong and has no reason to fear him.
Matt and Rashi confer in the car; Matt is interested in bringing Irad along, but thinks Rook will not take that well. Then they arrive at the Pot and go to retrieve Arabis and Irad. More talking ensues -- involving Irad's introduction to video games (thanks, Rashi) and Irad's opinions on the Tapestry. [GM notes that Rashi takes this redemption thing very seriously...] It is concluded too that Irad and Matt have some things in common. The Flower Power is not too reassured by that.
So there's Jael, stuck with explaining to her lover that her sister is bringing a Word-bound demon along on the visit to the roc. And she has the official negotiator from Heaven there to watch. Well, at least he can stop bloodshed... First, she tries the cheerful approach, but Rook is not easily conned by cheer. He balks at the first mention of driving, rather than Tether-hopping. Alaric senses the mounting tension, and rather than interfere, elects to go ready his car. Yes. Exit, stage left.
Jael proves once again she cannot argue successfully with Rook (Irad is a touchy subject on several counts), and Arashiel is summoned to explain why it is Rook must come along, and why Irad must, and what the purpose is again. Rashi leaves Irad with Matt and Arabis and the Sony Playstation, and goes celestially to the Board, pausing long enough to strut past an amused Alaric with her/his ki-rin tail in the air all proud-like. Well, that tail comes right down once she's inside and vesselized. Rook is not a happy Malakite.
There is no preamble, just genteel argument. Why should Irad be trusted? Because he helped Jael and Arabis out of Hell, because he does not want to see Jael as a Djinn. ("Is there a danger of this? Is there something *Irad* knows that I do not?" -- jealousy rears its ugly head). Rashi wins...if Rook's acquiescence is the goal. It's more like he gives up arguing, rather than agrees to anything at all.
And the angelic road trip gets underway.
The van is definitely more fun, as such things go. Arabis is driving (in her battered vessel), so that leaves Matt and Arashiel free to make mischief. Water balloons are thrown. Water guns are fired. Alaric's car is bombarded by wet weapons. And still -- no one is it is talking -- Alaric is smiling, by the Malakite and Jael have caught a case of Grim and Silent.
Rest stops are the interesting moments...first one, and Alaric bails into the van to leave the Grim and Silent couple to talk alone with each other, since they will obviously not speak with him around. So keys are passed along, and more driving ensues. Arashiel makes known her intention to take up the Tapestry matter with Heaven, preferably when she is not attuned to it. The more paranoid angels think this might be unwise -- what if she is detained for questioning? And the same tried and true arguments about what to do with it begin yet again, with everyone's opinions sounding just as they did the last time they argued. Irad's input is a bit different -- insofar as he thinks Daspit is a unique problem -- which makes Arabis mention her prophecy and her theory that Daspit is the seller-of-souls. And then she decides that Daspit should be removed.
Rest stop yet again -- van is not gas efficient. Arabis elects to go speak with Rook -- the nosy Mercurian's presence leads her to believe that something must be wrong with him. Arabis reminds Rook of the times they've worked together in the past, and how he taught her to work with others -- and how he suddenly is pulling away, not cooperating, not participating. Rook's answer: I kill demons. There is argument, and some shouting -- Arabis: "You're giving up, Rook!". Rook's response: " I cannot organize this group. I tried to work with this group.... All of my ideas were shot down. They were not taken and worked with, constructive ideas offered to replace that which was unacceptable. They were simply cast aside. There was no support for my efforts. This group wishes to work in pure chaos alone." Arabis is stubborn, stays and argues and finally convinces (one hopes) Rook to help her plan to track Daspit and smoosh him in his lair.
To this little drama we have had witnesses: the angels, pretending not to listen. Irad, who could not hear (angels between him and the drama), watched with interest. Rashi prompts Jael to 'talk to Rook'.
Then the roadtrip continues.
Jael and Rook have a brief conversation in which the Cherub tries to pull teeth -- erm, no, get Rook to talk about what he and Arabis discussed, since there was shouting and emotional content, even from him. They discuss Alaric, in which we learn that Rook is not happy to have someone there to assist him, because it means Michael noticed he was unhappy. Jael, who would kill for similar displays from her Superior (and thinks Rashi is just that -- sent to keep her sane) does not get it. Rook also expresses a reluctance to deal with an angry Jael, who *really* does not understand that.
So no, nothing was resolved.
At long last, the angelic road trip (plus one demon) arrives in Yellowstone and starts meandering along to the Tether -- much harder to find from earthside than it was in Heaven. Luckily, we have Arabis. They drive as far as they can on paved roads, then park to hike the rest of the way in...and there are cars in the lot, Montana cars. Hmmm. Rook resonates Irad and discovers him to be the demon who unlocked his door in Hell, among other things.
Arabis becomes OfanRaven and flies ahead -- uh-oh. There are armed men around the Tether. She strafes and resonates, and no, this man is not cruel -- though he does shoot at her. This naturally alerts the rest of our angels, who come running. Minor mayhem ensues, involving Arabis diving into the Tether-cave and Rook arriving on scene, frothing for demons. Matt sings Harmony and squelches all violence. In the following moments, Rook learns he is facing angels of the Sword on orders from their superior (note the capitals, or lack thereof) to barricade the Tether and limit traffic in and out of it.
Can you believe our angels argue about it? Protest? Defy Sword's orders? Rook is under stress...and he is furious. He argues with Sword, and tries to enter as a human vessel. When it becomes clear they will not allow it short of violence, he then takes his sparrow vessel and flies into the cave after Arabis.
Irad wisely walks away...Arashiel follows.
Arabis, in the cave, meets Althea, the wolf-vesseled Seneschal. Her Tether is very small, very weak. She cannot take on Sword by herself, nor does she wish to, lacking orders from Jordi, who is not answering just yet. Sword is barricading, not storming or attacking -- there is some violation of a Heavenly edict, and they are acting under orders. Rook arrives, and the conversation goes on -- Althea suspects the Sword is barricading to block other servitors of Animals from coming out to help the roc, and that the raven vessel made them think Arabis was Animals, not Fire. Whatever, Althea is annoyed, and would like the darned roc dealt with in such a way that it's not hurt and the Sword goes away.
Outside, Matt tries to reason with the unreasonable, to no avail.
Irad and Rashi murmur away from the action -- Irad has no intention of letting the Sword harm his 'new friends' -- though his presence will not help their cause. Rashi asks for 3 measures of essence from him, and he grants it.
With Althea's blessings (and her directions to the roc's last known location), Arabis and Rook reemerge from the Tether, collect the rest of the party, and head off to find the roc. (Matt leaves flowers, like he always does -- not acting on his emotions, which might dictate rather different actions). It's mostly on foot -- Arabis and Rook are flying, but Irad is reluctant to take his dragon vessel for obvious reasons, so everyone else is walking.