[Mkguild] MKGuild Digest, Vol 88, Issue 4

[christian okane]

Just a small question to be official - what is the email address we would
send stories to?


Chris
The Lurking Fox



-----Original Message-----
From: mkguild-bounces at lists.integral.org
[mailto:mkguild-bounces at lists.integral.org] On Behalf Of Virmir
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2014 10:06 AM
To: christian okane
Cc: Metamor Keep; Jessica Nichols-Vernon
Subject: Re: [Mkguild] MKGuild Digest, Vol 88, Issue 4

That is correct!

He needs to update the submission info page.  :)

On Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 12:25 AM, christian okane <chrisokane at optimum.net>
wrote:
> I thought we decided on Andrew getting the stories from now on?   Am I
> right?
>
>
>
>
>
> Chris
>
> The Lurking Fox
>
>
>
>
>
> From: mkguild-bounces at lists.integral.org
> [mailto:mkguild-bounces at lists.integral.org] On Behalf Of 
> kyle.vernon at gmail.com
> Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2014 3:16 PM
> To: mkguild at lists.integral.org
> Subject: Re: [Mkguild] MKGuild Digest, Vol 88, Issue 4
>
>
>
> 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:
>
> Send MKGuild mailing list submissions to
>         mkguild at lists.integral.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
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>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific 
> than "Re: Contents of MKGuild digest..."
>
>
> 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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--
-  Virmir | http://virmir.com
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