[Mkguild] MKGuild Digest, Vol 88, Issue 4

[kyle.vernon at gmail.com]

Question, did we ever figure out who would take over for Virmir?


On Sat, Jul 12, 2014 at 11:19 PM, <mkguild-request at lists.integral.org>
wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Experiencing the Dawn part 3 - the final part (christian okane)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:57:50 -0400
> From: christian okane <chrisokane at optimum.net>
> To: mkguild at lists.integral.org
> Cc: 'Furry Literature ML' <furry-lit at lists.integral.org>
> Subject: [Mkguild] Experiencing the Dawn part 3 - the final part
> Message-ID: <000001cf9e46$3c3cf180$b4b6d480$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
>
> Here is third and final part of Experiencing the Dawn. Some questions are
> answered but yet others are raised. And it does end in a cliffhanger.
>
>
>
>
>
>    Chris
>
>    The Lurking Fox
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>    The arrival of Father Philip Guthrey into the office of Cardinal Antione
> Bertu was something of an anticlimax. No being stunned and dragged, wrapped
> in chains. He was simply shown into the room with only Marchel as his
> escort.
>
>
>
>    The man himself was of middling height and his black hair that was cut
> short as dictated by the rules of his order. His clothing was the black
> robes of a priest. The only sign of color was his white collar. He tried to
> hold himself with a calm bearing of one in full control, But that calm was
> only skin deep, His mind was in turmoil of questions and confusion. He had
> expected to eventually be brought before the cardinal at some point. he had
> not expected his reception to be so  . . . firm. There had been no choice.
> He could go quietly or have the entire church and congregation dissolve
> into
> a riot. Guthrey wanted many things but hurting innocent people was not
> among
> them. His escorts had been calm and correct but had remained silent for the
> entire trip.
>
>
>
>    To greet him was the cardinal who was standing as still as stone behind
> the desk. His face was cold and devoid of emotion, like the statues that
> festooned the exterior of many churches.
>
>
>
>    Marchel bowed to the cardinal. "Father Guthrey is here as you requested
> your Eminence."
>
>
>
>    The cardinal gave a nod of the head. "Thank you. You are dismissed.
> Please leave the two of us alone."
>
>
>
>
>
> ********************
>
>
>
>
>
>    Salona cocked her head to one side. "You're taking me where?"
>
>
>
>    "A little trip into the sylvan mountains," Carlisle explained. "I think
> we both need time away from the guild to just relax and talk."
>
>
>
>    A short carriage ride took them out of the city and to the south. Soon
> they were deposited on a small side road that lead towards the Sylvan
> mountains that loomed up ahead.
>
>
>
>    She stood in front of a large field that was filled with new wheat that
> was barely knee high and was slowly rippling in the breeze. The only sign
> of
> civilization was a small group of farm buildings off in the far distance.
>
>
>
> "There used to be a farming estate here with a large villa. It was home to
> over two hundred people. At least it's still farmland."
>
>
>
>    They skirted past several houses and a farm and soon left the cultivated
> fields and orchards behind as the ground started to rise. Looming up over
> them was the tall, glowering Sylvan mountains.
>
>
>
>    The path in front of them led up the mountainside switching back and
> forth as it climbed higher. Carlisle paused a moment and checked the quiver
> of arrows on his back. Then he calmly strung his bow.
>
>
>
>    "Expecting trouble from mountain raiders?" Salona asked.
>
>
>
>    "No but I'm not taking any chances," he answered.
>
>
>
>    "The mountain folk are still causing trouble?" She asked with an amused
> tone in her voice.
>
>
>
>    "No one has conquered them," he said. "Not for lack of trying. The Dukes
> have attacked several times but failed. But they at least broke them of the
> habit raiding and pillaging us lowlanders."
>
>
>
>    "That is an impressive feat!" She said.
>
>
>
>    "They do come down to trade occasionally," the mage said. "But mostly
> they keep to themselves. I'm not worried about the mountain people. Them I
> can handle. There are things in these mountains far more dangerous than
> temperamental humans."
>
>
>
>    "I am well able to  defend myself." Salona responded, sounding mildly
> insulted.
>
>
>
>    "You are one of three known surviving automatons in the world and are
> very valuable. There are many who would dearly like to take possession of
> you regardless of what you want. Also many are not happy with your being
> revived," he said calmly as he slung his bow over his shoulders.
>
>
>
>    "I'm not sure I am happy with it either," she said honestly.
>
>
>
>    "You were in limbo for over five hundred years," Carlisle countered. "No
> one or nothing deserves that type of cruelty. I'm glad you are back."
>
>
>
>    Salona was silent for a moment. "Thank you."
>
>
>
>
>
> ************************
>
>
>
>
>
>    Both the cardinal and Father Guthrey remained quiet as Marchel left the
> room. The oak door closed behind him with a solid sounding thump.
>
>
>
>    Silence filled the room. The father stood quietly and waited for the
> cardinal to speak and the elder cleric remained silent.
>
>
>
>    "Father Philip Guthrey." The cardinal said slowly. Finally breaking the
> silence.
>
>
>
>    "Your Eminence." the priest said and bowed.
>
>
>
>    Bertu gave the man a nod of the head. He picked the letter from off the
> desk. "I received your letter. You did not hesitate to state your feelings
> about Salona."
>
>
>
>    "I am not alone. I was simply stating the feelings of many people,"
> Guthrey responded nervously.
>
>
>
>    "Every living creature has a right to live and be happy but technically
> she is not a flesh and blood creature and therefore not living," the
> cardinal said calmly. "But Salona is mobile and can obviously think. She
> could be called living - sort of. She most certainly does have a soul."
>
>
>
>    "I do not argue that point your Eminence," the priest countered. "What
> appalls me is that soul was ripped from its Creator-given shell and planted
> into another. A false counterfeit of a flesh and blood life."
>
>
>
>    The cardinal glowered at the younger man. "I can understand your
> feelings
> on this but what I don't understand and will NOT allow is your agitation.
> First you loudly railed against the cursed folk of Metamor and now you are
> agitating against the automatons. I can understand your feeling troubled
> over those. Both are difficult issues that must be considered carefully.
> But
> you have used phrases like 'demons to be cleansed.' and I have even heard
> you talk of a crusade." There was anger and disgust in the man's voice. We
> cannot afford such public displays," the cardinal said harshly. "We cannot
> allow such agitation. Marigund has seen too much of it in the past. You
> will
> behave yourself from now on," the cardinal ordered. "Father Larbourne."
>
>
>
>    The priest opened his mouth to respond as his face filled with anger.
> Then surprise replaced the anger. "What did you call me?"
>
>
>
>    "Father Franklyn Larbourne," the cardinal answered simply and in clipped
> words.
>
>
>
>    That earned the cardinal several moments of confused silence and a
> puzzled look on the man's face.
>
>
>
>    The cardinal gave a faint, wry smile. "Have you read Mister Rouis
> Mountbaun's book?" Bertu said coldly.
>
>
>
>    "I have read the Canticles and the prayer book," was the younger
> priest's
> cautious answer.
>
>
>
>    The cardinal nodded and sighed. "I thought so."  He pushed a black,
> leather bound book across the desk.
>
>
>
>    Guthrey picked up the book and examined it. On the cover in white
> lettering was the title "The Burning. A History of the Marigund Civil War
> by
> Rouis Mountbaun."
>
>
>
>    "Read it," the cardinal ordered. "Perhaps it will teach you how to speak
> wisely and not loudly."
>
>
>
>
>
> ************************
>
>
>
>
>
>    The lower slopes were heavily cultivated and as they walked the two
> passed groves of trees interspersed with fields of grazing sheep. As they
> made their way upward the path grew steeper. The meadows and groves
> gradually thinned out, replaced by true forest until all trace of
> civilization was gone. All that remained was the forest around them and the
> trees that crowded close to the trail.
>
>
>
>    Salona kept climbing the path with the steady, untiring precision of a
> machine but Carlisle had to stop every so often to catch his breath.
> Finally
> the path leveled out into a small level area on the steep mountainside.
>
>
>
>    "They say from up here you can see the whole country," the man sat down
> on a large flat rock.
>
>
>
>    Carlisle rested his back against a rock and stared down the
> mountainside.
> Laid out below them was the fields and farmlands of the country. In the
> distance was the gray/brown shape of the city itself.  Beyond that was the
> looming, green mass of Tol Doron. Even at this distance the ancient forest
> looked foreboding.
>
>
>
>    "You can," the feline answered delightedly. Her eyes sparkled with
> excitement. "It's a spectacular view!"
>
>
>
>    "I have always loved this view," Carlisle said. "I proposed to Gina up
> here."
>
>
>
>    "From up here I can see the changes time has wrought," Salona said
> calmly. "Towns and cities gone and farms and fields reclaimed by the wilds
> they were taken from."
>
>
>
>    "Things are always changing," the man said. "The one constant is
> change."
>
>
>
>    He turned to the metal feline. "Who are you Salona? We know what you are
> physically but what is the soul inside like?"
>
>
>
>    She didn't answer immediately but kept staring at the world below. "Who
> am I?" she asked in a whisper. "That's an excellent question." There was a
> long moment of awkward silence. "I don't know anymore. I'm lost in a world
> that has passed me by and is strange to me."
>
>
>
>    "Madog is still here," Carlisle responded and leaned close to her. "And
> you will always have a home at the guild."
>
>
>
>    "Thank you," she said simply.
>
>
>
>   "Watching you experience things for the first time has been a true
> epiphany for me," Carlisle said. "It's like seeing the world for the first
> time. I am seeing old things in new ways and new things in old ways."
>
>
>
>    "What will happen to me?" She asked in a somber tone.
>
>
>
>    "I am not sure. Technically you were the property of the Guild. We are
> listing you as a guest, but that's only till we can make you an official
> member," the man responded. "There is a huge debate going on about exactly
> what to do."
>
>
>
>    The feline gave a low growl. "There is always such a debate. Usually it
> all ends with killing, burning and destroying."
>
>
>
>    "You are safe with the guild," he said firmly. "We will never allow
> anyone to take you apart ever again. But we must tread carefully. Everyone
> is stumbling around in undiscovered country here. No one knows exactly how
> to handle this."
>
>
>
>    "So we aren't up to the smashing and killing phase yet?" Salona
> commented
> sarcastically.
>
>
>
>    "No. Hopefully we'll avoid all that. Marigund has already had too much
> of
> that in the past." He was silent a moment as he looked at the world spread
> out below them. "I have received several requests for private audiences
> with
> you," Carlisle said slowly.
>
>
>
>    "To be expected," Salona answered in a bored tone.  "Some self important
> person."
>
>
>
>    "The king himself has asked to meet you," the man answered in clipped
> tones. "And he is a man I hold in high regard."
>
>
>
>    "I have met too many leaders to hold any in high regard," the automaton
> shot back  "But you I do trust."
>
>
>
>    The man smiled. "Thank you Salona. He is not a self important noble. I
> have met many of those myself. Alfred is ruler of this land and we must
> gain
> his trust and support if we are all to survive."
>
>
>
>    "Could he destroy me and the guild if he wanted?" The feline asked.
>
>
>
>    The man shrugged. "I am not sure. But I'd rather not find out."
>
>
>
>    Salona nodded her head slowly. "I am all too well aware of how the game
> of politics is played. Unless the rules have changed."
>
>
>
>    Carlisle shook his head. "No it's done the same as in the empire days.
> There is lot less of the torturing and slaughtering of whole families."
>
>
>
>    She gave a growl of amusement. "I guess that is an improvement."
>
>
>
>    He gazed at her intently and with a seriously look. "We need to
> cultivate
> allies and Alfred has always been a friend of the guild."
>
>
>
>    "All right," she said. "I'll meet him. Who else desires a private
> audience?"
>
>
>
>    "Three people you've met already," he answered. "Cardinal Bertu, Bishop
> Harson and Rabbi Arstein all wish to meet with you."
>
>
>
>    "What of the Lightbringer priestess?" Salona sarcastically, showing her
> teeth in a growl.
>
>
>
>    "She sent a long list of questions but has kept her distance," Carlisle
> responded. "But that is not surprising. When we first showed them your
> culua
> she was hit with a bolt of light that knocked her twenty two feet across
> the
> room."
>
>
>
>    "I don't like her kind," she growled.
>
>
>
>    "So Madog informed us. He also told us why," the man said solemnly.
> "Lady
> Delminie is a good person at heart. She has good bones as my father would
> say. Very dedicated to protecting her people. You must meet with her at
> some
> point."
>
>
>
>    "Someday perhaps," she answered. "But not soon. I want to gain the
> measure of that female first."
>
>
>
>    "I think she wants to gain a measure of who and what you are too before
> even attempting a meeting. I understand how you feel about the
> Lightbringers. But high priestess Delminie is the leader of all
> Lightbringers in the Outer Midlands. As such there are hundreds of
> thousands
> who follow her command. She is someone we cannot afford to make enemy out
> of."
>
>
>
>    "She is already my enemy," she answered flatly.
>
>
>
>    "No," He said with more anger then he had intended. "She is not our
> enemy
> but if we are not careful she can be. You cannot compare the Lothanasi of
> the past with those of today. Five centuries has passed and great changes
> have occurred. Both to the people and to the Lothanasi itself. But do not
> misunderstand. King Alfred might not be able to destroy the guild but the
> Ecclesia and the Lightbringers could."
>
>
>
>    The feline leaned close. "Could but will they?"
>
>
>
>    "I do not know," the mage answered honestly. "It's plain that they don't
> know either. Yet." He sighed deeply. "What we do and how we act will affect
> automata for centuries. This can either be the rebirth of Automaton magic
> or
> its destruction."
>
>
>
>    "I will not let myself be taken apart again," Salona snarled.
>
>
>
>    He placed an arm around the felines shoulders. "Salona my friend. I will
> not let them destroy but things aren't that bad. We must move and act
> carefully until we can consolidate our position."
>
>
>
>    "What happens if we do gain the ability to live here," she asked.  "What
> happens then?"
>
>
>
>    "We recover what knowledge that we can and relearn what we can't
> recover," Carlisle explained. "And we make sure that knowledge will never
> be
> lost again. That objective was, is and will remain the Guild's primary
> goal."
>
>
>
>    Suddenly Carlisle stiffened and cursed loudly in several languages.
>
>
>
>    "What's wrong?" Salona curled her lips in a snarl and looked around for
> any trouble.
>
>
>
>    "Something just tripped wards and alarms back in Guild hall," the mage
> answered. "Someone is trying to break into the Automaton department!"
>
>
>
>    She looked down towards the city and using her magically enhanced sight
> soon found the Guild's property. It wasn't too hard as a pillar of blue,
> green and black smoke was starting to billow up from one part.
>
>
>
>
>
> ****************
>
>
>
>
>
>    The jewelry market was busy today. Everywhere the booths and stalls were
> filled with merchants trying to sell their wares. Misha and Caroline made
> their way through the crowd but quickly became the center of attention.
> Word
> had spread that not only was the fox a Brightleaf (a wealthy family) but
> was
> also rich and spent his coins freely. This meant that every merchant within
> range was trying to convince the Brightleaf of the wonders of their own
> merchandise.
>
>
>
>    Misha paused at one of the vendors' booths. The simple structure held a
> wide variety of jewelry. He picked up a silver cross inlaid with bits of
> what could have been jade. "Drift would have liked this."
>
>
>
>    Madog raced up to them and danced excitedly in a circle around before
> coming to a halt in front of Misha. "Papa come NOW!"
>
>
>
>
>
> The End
>
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> End of MKGuild Digest, Vol 88, Issue 4
> **************************************
>
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