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(1082) Demiurge: (So, you guys continue up the River, keeping an eye on Bill, of course.)
(1085) Sarpedon: (Heh, well now Sarpedon can yell things like "Taste the spear of the son of Zeus!" and really mean it.)
(1082) Demiurge: (hehe. Cool.)
(1082) Demiurge: (So, any plans? Do you plan to improve your boat? Or any new plans I should know about?)
(1085) Sarpedon: (Aside from the jacuzzi?)
(1072) Imhotep: (Still the same, I think, restoring Osiris to his rightful place as Lord of the Underworld.)
(1085) Sarpedon: (Finding the source of the river is the main priority, followed by keeping an eye on Bill and looking for allies.)
(1082) Demiurge: (Hmm. Have you guys discussed your thoughts on what you have discovered about the Riverworld?)
(1085) Sarpedon: (Oh, and let's not forget finding Imhotep's wives!)
(1072) Imhotep: (No, not since Bill's revelations.)
(1072) Imhotep: (Oh, yes, we must find the wives.)
(1082) Demiurge: (Why? Alice is available, and Gwenefra is growing into a lovely young woman. hehe. )
(1085) Sarpedon: (Agreed. We don't want Bill to become suspicious of our ultimate goal).
(1082) Demiurge: (And as arrogant as the Ethicals seem, at least one of them seems to be working against them.)
(1072) Imhotep: (Alice is from the Victorian age, right? Not such a good match there. And Gwenefra is like Imhotep's adopted daughter.)
(1085) Sarpedon: (Which is puzzling, but maybe not unexpected.)
(1085) Sarpedon: (Yeah, Gwenefra would be kinda pervy to have as a child-bride.)
(1082) Demiurge: (And the impression you get from Bill is that he is "going native" You could mention that to the Mysterious Stranger if you meet him. You may get a recruit.)
(1072) Imhotep: (I'd thought about that, actually.)
(1082) Demiurge: (Yep, the Quest for the Dark Tower! :D )
(1085) Sarpedon: (My thoughts, too.)
(1072) Imhotep: (So we'll camp onshore sometimes until I talk to him.)
(1085) Sarpedon: (We need to keep Bill alive and with us. He's probably the only one to have a key, so to speak.)
(1082) Demiurge: (Well, every several months, you have to pull over for maintanance. That takes a week or so.)
(1072) Imhotep: (That's very true, Sarpedon.)
(1085) Sarpedon: (Train, improve the boats, talk to the locals, get info on the local area.)
(1082) Demiurge: (Okay, let's assume you have stopped for a couple days. Want to ask Bill questions?)
(1072) Imhotep: (I'll leave Bill alone for a while, until I talk to the midnight guy.)
(1082) Demiurge: (Sometimes, during the stops, people leave, and new ones are recruited. There is a certain turnover to be expected. Of course, there are always those that are in for the duration.)
(1072) Imhotep: (Hardcore explorer types, heh!)
(1082) Demiurge: The midnight guy leaves you alone for a while.
(1082) Demiurge: One day, you are sitting on the bank with Martin and Loghu, when you see a boat drift by. Martin squints at it. and says, "Huh. That's odd."
(1082) Demiurge: (The boat is fairly large, and has some burly guys on it.)
(1072) Imhotep: "What sort of boat is that?"
(1082) Demiurge: (It's about 10 AR now)
(1082) Demiurge: (The boat is unremarkable.)
(1085) Sarpedon: "Gather the crew. This could mean trouble. Ready yourselves."
(1082) Demiurge: The boat seems to be just sailing by.
(1072) Imhotep: (Any marks on it?)
** (1085) Sarpedon squints to see if they are Greeks. **
Martin: "There is some english written on it. Mostly it's old runes, but someone wrote some english. I don't know what it means."
** Martin squints closely, "It says.... Dark Tower or Bust?" **
(1072) Imhotep: "What does that mean?"
(1082) Demiurge: (The boat is going upRiver.)
** (1072) Imhotep looks to see if Bill is nearby. **
Martin: "I don't know. I guess someone on board is looking for a Dark Tower."
** Bill is wandering around somewhere. **
(1085) Sarpedon: "They are pale men. Probably from the North."
** (1072) Imhotep thinks a bit. **
(1082) Demiurge: (Anyway, you come to the idea that there may be a potential ally on that boat. Someone who knows about the Tower.)
(1072) Imhotep: (Maybe even another spy going native...)
(1085) Sarpedon: "Perhaps they know something about what lies ahead," muses the King of Lycia.
(1072) Imhotep: "Sarpedon, should we catch them?"
(1082) Demiurge: (Or another valleydweller contacted by the Mysterious Stranger.)
(1085) Sarpedon: "Yes, if only to see how they are armed."
(1085) Sarpedon: "They appear to be warriors, or at least potential warriors. We will greet them cautiously. To the boats!"
(1072) Imhotep: "Call the men, then, and we'll sail near them."
** (1085) Sarpedon gathers his spears and heads off at a trot towards the shore." **
** (1072) Imhotep gets to the boat. **
(1085) Sarpedon: "Martin, Loghu, gather the crew of one ship. Have the others ready to sail if they are violent. We will sail out to greet them."
** (1085) Sarpedon heaves, pushing the ship out into the river after the crew boards. **
(1085) Sarpedon: "By Zeus, we shall see who else seeks the source of this river."
(1082) Demiurge: (Okay, you sail out. The ship sees you coming. The men immediately grab flint axes.)
(1072) Imhotep: (I assume our archers are at the ready.)
(1072) Imhotep: "Sail alongside, but not too close, just enough to shout."
(1082) Demiurge: One of the burly long-haired men shouts to you. "Saluton! Do you come to offer battle?"
(1082) Demiurge: (Saluton is an Esperanto greeting, by the way.)
(1072) Imhotep: "We offer battle if there is no other way. Where are you bound?"
(1085) Sarpedon: "Axes! Aha! They have skills and a source of good stone! SALUTON! We see that you are warriors and we greet you as equals! You sail to the source of the river, as do we."
(1082) Demiurge: (These guys are pale, muscular and axe-weilding. You almost hear Led Zepplin's Immigrant Song playing.)
(1085) Sarpedon: (Lol.)
** (1072) Imhotep notes that Sarpedon's diplomacy has much improved... **
(1082) Demiurge: One of the men walks to the side of the boat. He is blonde, and carries himself with authority.
(1085) Sarpedon: "Do you notice a certain theme, Imhotep? I do." The Lycian smiles.
(1072) Imhotep: "I admit I am at a loss, Sarpedon."
(1085) Sarpedon: "Hail to you. Are you the leader?"
Erik Bloodaxe: "Good day, Sinjoro. I am Erik Bloodaxe. Who are you?"
Erik Bloodaxe: He looks like he is waiting for you to say something wrong, so he can attack."
(1085) Sarpedon: "We will speak of it later. I think that your ragged friend has spoken to others with a yearning for battle and exploration."
** Erik Bloodaxe hefts his axe. The shaft is made of strong wood. The head and blade are made of metal. Yes, you read that right. **
Erik Bloodaxe: (Note: the Dark Tower line was in English. This guy doesn't look like an english speaker.)
(1085) Sarpedon: "I am Sarpedon, once a king, now an explorer and leader of a proud people." He hefts his triple-pointed spear and smiles. "There is no need to shed blood today, Bloodaxe, when there is much we have in common, though you do not know it yet.
(1085) Sarpedon: "Do you have an English-talker among you?"
Erik Bloodaxe: "English? Yes, there is one little pest here I can't seem to get rid of. Why do you ask? Has he been scribbling on the boat again?" He leans over to look.
(1082) Demiurge: You hear a voice. "Me."
** (1085) Sarpedon laughs. "Yes, and he has a tale to tell, I'm sure." **
(1082) Demiurge: You see a dark haired man looking at you.
(1072) Imhotep: "When were you slain, fellow?"
(1085) Sarpedon: (Anyone thinking of Antonio Banderas right now?)
(1082) Demiurge: "I'm Sam. Nice to meet you. I was slain in the 19th century. America." He has a drawling accent similar to Tom Mix.
(1085) Sarpedon: (Clemens? That'd be cool.)
(1082) Demiurge: (Wow! Got it in one guess!)
(1085) Sarpedon: (Lol!)
(1072) Imhotep: (Ergh! 13th Warrior, no doubt, Sarpedon... Worst... Casting... Evar!)
(1085) Sarpedon: (Again, LOL! Antonio was the weak spot in the movie.)
(1082) Demiurge: Sam goes to talk to Erik. They argue for a while, and eventually, they agree to pull over on the bank.
(1085) Sarpedon: "Sam, why journey to the tower?"
Erik Bloodaxe: "Tower? I know no tower!"
(1085) Sarpedon: "Never mind. They can talk on the shore more easily where we outnumber them." Sarpedon directs the boat back to shore. "No fighting unless they attack first. We want to learn their secrets first."
** (1072) Imhotep smirks. **
(1085) Sarpedon: "You will know soon enough, Bloodaxe."
** (1085) Sarpedon laughs merrily. **
(1082) Demiurge: You meet with Sam. He says, "I wrote that there, hoping to find allies, but Bloodaxe doesn't know where I am heading."
(1085) Sarpedon: "It's nothing a true warrior should fear."
(1085) Sarpedon: "From his reaction, we guessed that. This is Imhotep, my counselor and friend."
** (1072) Imhotep tries to look official. **
(1082) Demiurge: "Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Call me Sam."
(1082) Demiurge: "So, have you met anyone? You know, at night?"
(1085) Sarpedon: "I am Sarpedon. You should ask Imhotep that."
(1072) Imhotep: "Yes, I think perhaps I may have met someone of interest."
Sam: "Anyway, I joined Bloodaxe's crew, since I wanted to know where he got the metal, but I don't think he even knows where it came from."
** (1072) Imhotep looks to see if Bill is preoccupied. **
Sam: "That's what I am looking for. Metal. I plan to build the greatest riverboat this planet has seen. And get to the Tower in style. Are you in?"
** (1072) Imhotep perks up at the mention of building great things. **
(1085) Sarpedon: "Or you could join us if Bloodaxe dislikes that idea."
Sam: "By the way, you might want to talk to Joe Miller. He's been closer to the Tower than anyone I've met. He's also by best friend, and the only one Bloodaxe is afraid of, though he won't admit it."
Sam: "He's the only reason Bloodaxe hasn't killed me 10 times over."
(1072) Imhotep: "And what does he say of the tower?"
Sam: "Well, I'll let you talk to him. He walks toward the ship. JOE! Wake up, you big dumb ape! We've got people you're going to want to talk to."
** (1085) Sarpedon whispers to Imhotep. "Bloodaxe does not sound like a stable ally. Perhaps we should let him go on his way." **
Sam: You hear a rumbling voice from in the ship. "Why do you call me nameth, Tham? I don't call you a thrimpy little dwarf."
(1072) Imhotep: "I think that would be best."
(1082) Demiurge: The voice from the ship is easily the deepest voice you have ever heard.
** (1085) Sarpedon swivels to look at the source of the voice. **
** Joe Miller walks from the ship, groggily. He stands up. And up. And up. He is covered in hair so thick it's almost fur. He has a hideous face, and a ridiculously long nose,. He is well over nine feet tall. **
(1072) Imhotep: "You are one of the early ones? You can only be a direct son of Nut."
(1082) Demiurge: I won't call for a Fright Check. But I almost did, This guy is scary!
** Joe Miller regards Imhotep closely. Especially around the eyes. He seems fascinated by your eye makeup. Finally, he asks, "What is your name?" in ancient Egyptian. **
** (1072) Imhotep brightens at the sound of his native language. **
** (1085) Sarpedon 's eyes widen. "He speaks your tongue!" **
(1072) Imhotep: "I am Imhotep, once Chief Advisor to Pharoah Djosser, now counsel to Sarpedon, King of Lycia."
Joe Miller: "I am" he gives a strange long name. "But they call me Joe Miller these days. But some friends of mine called me Tehuti for awhile."
** Joe Miller speaks with a strong lisp. **
** (1085) Sarpedon regards the giant in barely contained awe. "You are surely one of Poseidon's children, though you have two eyes to their single orb. How can this be?" **
(1072) Imhotep: "Are you a son of the Goddess Nut?"
** Joe Miller laughs. "Nope. I am the thom of my mother, jutht like normal." **
(1072) Imhotep: "How came you to speak my language? Few others here may speak it, and they all look like me."
Joe Miller: "I learned it when I travelled with the Pharoah Ikthanon and his crew as they sailed to the head of the River."
** (1085) Sarpedon 's eyes open even wider. "The pattern, Imhotep. There is a pattern." **
(1072) Imhotep: "I believe you are correct, Sarpedon. Can you tell us, Joe Miller, about the journey, and what you found there?"
Joe Miller: "Yeth, I'd be happy to. But let'th eat, firtht."
** Joe Miller 's grail is odd. It's the same size around, to fit in the grailstone, but it is twice as long. **
(1072) Imhotep: "That is an unusual grail, Joe Miller."
(1085) Sarpedon: "His belly needs more to fill it, my friend." The Lycian grins.
Joe Miller: "Nah, all the titanthropth got these. They give thimple food, and no booze or thigaretteth. Tho, if you don't want yourth, feel free to offer." He smiles.
(1072) Imhotep: "The cigarettes you may have, I have no taste for them. I will share the beer with you, if you wish."
(1082) Demiurge: You hear a shriek of terror. Turning, you see the back of Junko as she runs toward the woods at full speed.
** Joe Miller nods. "Yeah, I get that, thomtimeth." **
(1085) Sarpedon: "Yes, I feared that would occur. She met your kind once, long ago. She believed them to be demons."
(1082) Demiurge: The grails discharge. Joe gets his and sits to eat. He winces slightly and rubs his feet.
(1072) Imhotep: If there are cigarettes in Imhotep's grail, he offers them to Joe Miller.
** Joe Miller found the F12 macro key **
(1072) Imhotep: (Heh!)
** Joe Miller takes the cigs, and lights up. He looks at Sarpedon. "Maybe you thould go talk to her. Calm her down a bit." **
** (1085) Sarpedon gives the huge "man" his cigarettes, if any appear. He also wonders, based upon Martin's comments about their harmful nature, why the so-called Ethicals would give them to their experimental subjects since they are a vice. **
** (1085) Sarpedon nods. "As you wish, tall one." **
(1082) Demiurge: You have also met people from the 19th century who say they are healthy, and act as an expectorant.
** (1085) Sarpedon gets up and tries to find Junko. **
(1085) Sarpedon: (Lol. I forgot about that. They also thought cocaine was great because it relieved teething babies.)
(1072) Imhotep: "Tell me of your travels, Joe Miller."
(1085) Sarpedon: When Sarpedon does, he attempts to assuage her fears. That might not be very easy.
(1082) Demiurge: Yeah, there's a lot of hugging and hair-stroking, before she stops crying, and you can talk her into coming back.
(1082) Demiurge: (So, it's getting late, and I am a little tired.)