Post by Callimpsest on Mar 30, 2011 16:53:06 GMT
[OOC: Callimpsest was last seen here. The next few posts will bring him up to the present in-game day.]
*Callimpsest stands outside the Wolf's Howl Inn. He sees a pair of twins. One has a kindly face, the other's is locked into a thunderous scowl. Each twin has a gold band spinning at his waist (known elsewhere as hula hoops), apparently by telekinesis.*
Scowling Twin: Who invited you? You can't have a go with my hoop.
Not to worry, I do n-
Kindly Twin: Hello, nice to meet you. You're welcome to have a go with my hoop.
Thank you, but I-
ST: Don't go getting any ideas, this hoop is MINE.
KT: Don't worry about him, if you'd like a go with mine just say so.
That's very decent of you, but I-
ST: Still here? You're not having a turn with my hoop, so don't even think about it.
*The twins carry on like this, getting ever louder. They are not listening to Callimpsest. He is growing anxious.*
Please, stop this.
*The twins are advancing. As he tries to flee, Callimpsest drops the book he was holding: an early, cherished copy of the [url=http://interactive.knightmare.org.uk/home/lexicon[/url]Knightmare Lexicon[/url][/i], known affectionately to Callimpsest as Lex. Before he can pick it up, he has stumbled backwards and the twins are trampling it.*
No...
Callimpsest is struggling to breathe. And still they are chattering about having a go, or not having a go, with their hoops.*
I, I, PLEASE...
KT: Just one go, you'll master it in no time!
I don't wanna go!
*Callimpsest wakes up screaming. He stares at the ceiling under a cold film of sweat. Then he leans an arm out of bed and sends his hand scuttling around the floor. It comes to rest on a familiar volume, and sends relief back up the arm to its owner.*
Lex! I've still got Lex. Good.
*Callimpsest sinks back into his pillow and is soon asleep again. He was not awake for long enough to wonder how the brick investigation, from which he departed some hours earlier, turned out.
But when he awakes the following morning, it's the first thing on his mind. He is alarmed to learn how many of his fellow investigators are missing. Of those who aren't, he tries to raise Dreslin, but cannot; he finds Zeytan and joins him on a search party, but nothing further is learned. The remnants of the brick have been removed, by Hordriss some say. The two scholars do at least conclude that whoever or whatever escaped the brick was benign, and will not be harming those who freed it. There is little left to do but wait.
Callimpsest withdraws into his own company - something that comes all too naturally to him - and having spent time with a KMBS colleague that never was, he is drawn yet again into thinking about KMBS, and what never was: the library, living long, living in peace, keeping him green with life force into his old - well, older - age. But because of a moment's violence, a moment's poison, this cannot be. Another day ends and Callimpsest sinks back into bed, feeling like the only person anywhere that cares.
Tonight, the school is in his dreams. He wants to enter, to make for the library, but as always he cannot. He drifts towards the Tin Child, the school's steadfast statue. He hears a cry for help. He sees a hooded figure trapped in a set of stocks. They are fading from view. Callimpsest rushes over - hurrying while stocks last - and manages to grasp and open the stocks before they disappear. Becoming whole, the man stands up and lowers his hood. Callimpsest's eyes widen.*
Merlin: Ah, team!
Sir, there's no team in I. Callimachus of the Palimpsest is my name.
Merlin: Ah yes! I can call you Callimpsest, can't I?
I'm honoured by your presence. I've read accounts of your visits to the dreams of Lord Dunshelm, and it's said that you rarely visit anyone's dreams.
Merlin: Would you like to pull a cracker?
Oh, no, no thank you, Sir.
*The world swims around Callimpsest for a moment. His lucidity sharpens. He forbids himself from waking up.*
Merlin, my library...
Merlin: Terribly sad. I regret that I was not able to help. I was needed in lands other than these. I forget exactly where. Or when.
I, Sir, am one who can never forget. I was only ever needed here.
Merlin: And that is why I find you here. With your memory you have gone back. In the book of your mind you have turned back to an earlier page. Were you a dungeoneer, from a realm where time must move forward, this could not be. But you are not, and onward may be backward.
I'm a little lost.
Merlin: Indeed you are. You want me to repeat it. Very well. With-
May I request the abridged version?
Merlin: Hmm, highly irregular, and not nearly as much fun, but if we must. In the Knightmare, as in the dream, there is turning back.
I can return to a past event? With magic presumably?
Merlin: Truth accep- I mean, that is so. But with great care.
And if I return to the school, before the wretched explosion, I can stop the explosion! I can save the books!
Merlin: Well, I really must be going.
No! I mean... thank you. Please wait. I must know more. How do I get the magic?
*Merlin's reply is almost unintelligible.*
I'm sorry, could you repeat that but without the mystical echo please?
Merlin: Find the Tower of Time.
*Callimpsest has heard of it.*
But no dungeoneer could ever find it, even on your advice. They crossed the Dunswater and there was a keep instead.
*The wind is whistling. Merlin is vanishing and will say no more.*
Thank you.
*The school recedes. Callimpsest blinks, awaking to a bright morning.*
[OOC: Continued in Turning Back.]
*Callimpsest stands outside the Wolf's Howl Inn. He sees a pair of twins. One has a kindly face, the other's is locked into a thunderous scowl. Each twin has a gold band spinning at his waist (known elsewhere as hula hoops), apparently by telekinesis.*
Scowling Twin: Who invited you? You can't have a go with my hoop.
Not to worry, I do n-
Kindly Twin: Hello, nice to meet you. You're welcome to have a go with my hoop.
Thank you, but I-
ST: Don't go getting any ideas, this hoop is MINE.
KT: Don't worry about him, if you'd like a go with mine just say so.
That's very decent of you, but I-
ST: Still here? You're not having a turn with my hoop, so don't even think about it.
*The twins carry on like this, getting ever louder. They are not listening to Callimpsest. He is growing anxious.*
Please, stop this.
*The twins are advancing. As he tries to flee, Callimpsest drops the book he was holding: an early, cherished copy of the [url=http://interactive.knightmare.org.uk/home/lexicon[/url]Knightmare Lexicon[/url][/i], known affectionately to Callimpsest as Lex. Before he can pick it up, he has stumbled backwards and the twins are trampling it.*
No...
Callimpsest is struggling to breathe. And still they are chattering about having a go, or not having a go, with their hoops.*
I, I, PLEASE...
KT: Just one go, you'll master it in no time!
I don't wanna go!
*Callimpsest wakes up screaming. He stares at the ceiling under a cold film of sweat. Then he leans an arm out of bed and sends his hand scuttling around the floor. It comes to rest on a familiar volume, and sends relief back up the arm to its owner.*
Lex! I've still got Lex. Good.
*Callimpsest sinks back into his pillow and is soon asleep again. He was not awake for long enough to wonder how the brick investigation, from which he departed some hours earlier, turned out.
But when he awakes the following morning, it's the first thing on his mind. He is alarmed to learn how many of his fellow investigators are missing. Of those who aren't, he tries to raise Dreslin, but cannot; he finds Zeytan and joins him on a search party, but nothing further is learned. The remnants of the brick have been removed, by Hordriss some say. The two scholars do at least conclude that whoever or whatever escaped the brick was benign, and will not be harming those who freed it. There is little left to do but wait.
Callimpsest withdraws into his own company - something that comes all too naturally to him - and having spent time with a KMBS colleague that never was, he is drawn yet again into thinking about KMBS, and what never was: the library, living long, living in peace, keeping him green with life force into his old - well, older - age. But because of a moment's violence, a moment's poison, this cannot be. Another day ends and Callimpsest sinks back into bed, feeling like the only person anywhere that cares.
Tonight, the school is in his dreams. He wants to enter, to make for the library, but as always he cannot. He drifts towards the Tin Child, the school's steadfast statue. He hears a cry for help. He sees a hooded figure trapped in a set of stocks. They are fading from view. Callimpsest rushes over - hurrying while stocks last - and manages to grasp and open the stocks before they disappear. Becoming whole, the man stands up and lowers his hood. Callimpsest's eyes widen.*
Merlin: Ah, team!
Sir, there's no team in I. Callimachus of the Palimpsest is my name.
Merlin: Ah yes! I can call you Callimpsest, can't I?
I'm honoured by your presence. I've read accounts of your visits to the dreams of Lord Dunshelm, and it's said that you rarely visit anyone's dreams.
Merlin: Would you like to pull a cracker?
Oh, no, no thank you, Sir.
*The world swims around Callimpsest for a moment. His lucidity sharpens. He forbids himself from waking up.*
Merlin, my library...
Merlin: Terribly sad. I regret that I was not able to help. I was needed in lands other than these. I forget exactly where. Or when.
I, Sir, am one who can never forget. I was only ever needed here.
Merlin: And that is why I find you here. With your memory you have gone back. In the book of your mind you have turned back to an earlier page. Were you a dungeoneer, from a realm where time must move forward, this could not be. But you are not, and onward may be backward.
I'm a little lost.
Merlin: Indeed you are. You want me to repeat it. Very well. With-
May I request the abridged version?
Merlin: Hmm, highly irregular, and not nearly as much fun, but if we must. In the Knightmare, as in the dream, there is turning back.
I can return to a past event? With magic presumably?
Merlin: Truth accep- I mean, that is so. But with great care.
And if I return to the school, before the wretched explosion, I can stop the explosion! I can save the books!
Merlin: Well, I really must be going.
No! I mean... thank you. Please wait. I must know more. How do I get the magic?
*Merlin's reply is almost unintelligible.*
I'm sorry, could you repeat that but without the mystical echo please?
Merlin: Find the Tower of Time.
*Callimpsest has heard of it.*
But no dungeoneer could ever find it, even on your advice. They crossed the Dunswater and there was a keep instead.
*The wind is whistling. Merlin is vanishing and will say no more.*
Thank you.
*The school recedes. Callimpsest blinks, awaking to a bright morning.*
[OOC: Continued in Turning Back.]