[Mkguild] MKGuild Digest, Vol 88, Issue 4

[Virmir]

I think his preferred email is dimensional42 at gmail.com

On Fri, Jul 18, 2014 at 9:37 PM, christian okane <chrisokane at optimum.net> wrote:
> 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
>>
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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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>> ------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> MKGuild at lists.integral.org
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>>
>>
>> End of MKGuild Digest, Vol 88, Issue 4
>> **************************************
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
>
>
> --
> -  Virmir | http://virmir.com
> _______________________________________________
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>



-- 
-  Virmir | http://virmir.com