Insanity

[Brian]

"Understandable," the detective says.  Once the elevator comes back, he steps inside, gesturing for Nathan to follow.  He doesn't say anything else, and the elevator does have a man at the control panel to handle it, until it drops some thirty stories and spills out into a well-lit corridor.  The walls appear to be made of crystal, and are luminescent, but not transparent.  Doorways of oak line the corridor in either direction, and it curves -- possibly part of some great circle.  The occasional guard stands at attention, and a half-dozen servants scurry around, two of them approaching the detective.

"Inspector Holmes," one of them says, bowing profusely, while his partner (both are very slightly men with dark hair -- one with freckles, one without), "The Maestro said you would require a tailor?"

"In a moment," Inspector Holmes agrees, taking Nathan's shoulder and directing him down the corridor.  "First, the good doctor needs a bath -- and some real food.  See about that, then meet me in the guest room past my quarters.  Doctor Shuker will be staying with us for a while, but I'd also like a carriage ready in two hours."

"Understood," the man without freckles barks, before scurrying back off into the maze.

The indicated room is not far from the elevator, and once Nathan is within, he quickly takes some measurements.  "Within an hour," he promises, vanishing.  The room is very nice, crystal walls, wooden floors, a wide window offering a spectacular view of the city, and two side-rooms.  One is a bedchamber, the other is a (modern-looking) washroom with all the amenities.

Gesturing to the washroom, Holmes says, "Make yourself at home.  I'll return in about twenty minutes."

Someone's thoughtfully left a one-size-fits-all robe hanging from the back of the washroom door, too.

[Rezantis]

"Well this is a surprising turn of events," Nathan murmurs to the ghost - assuming he's still around to hear.

Regardless of whether there's a response or not, Nathan goes into the washroom.  It's unlikely that Doctor Shuker has been washing regularly, for one, and apart from that he'd like to look into a mirror.

[Brian]

The specter is there, though very faint.  "I think I'm going to follow this inspector character," he decides, before walking through the door and vanishing.

Once Nathan enters the washroom and takes a look at himself, he sees that he's very pale, has a thin, almost gaunt expression, is far too think to look healthy, with dark circles beneath his eyes....  Much more Gothic than Victorian.  The not-thick-enough-to-bother-trying beard doesn't help.

Height would be slightly above average, and eyes are almost as black as the hair.  Nathan's eyes have whites, unlike the orderlies, but his irises are almost indistinguishable from his pupils.  The washroom looks like it's actually equipped for a shower, if one is willing to stand in the copper basin, but the basin is sized comfortably for a bath.  There's soap, and clean towels, and the room smells ... clean.  The only source of unpleasant odor is Nathan and his inmates-pajamas.

[Rezantis]

Well, Nathan's going to take a bath.  Then he's going to shave.  After that, probably don the bathrobe!

[Brian]

It's a refreshed and somehow, less gaunt looking Nathan (after a glance in the mirror) that emerges from the bath.  The running water is both hot and cold, which is pleasant -- then again, even Stormwall Keep had heated baths.  Still, Nathan finds by the time he's gotten the sweat and grime of the asylum off of himself, a full outfit (underclothes and everything) is waiting for him in the main room, draped over a chair.

The outfit consists of: Undershirt and underpants.  Socks.  Trousers.  A shirt.  A vest.  A light coat.  A jacket.  And an overcoat.

In addition, comfy leather shoes, a bowler hat (brown, to match the suit), and a rather nice looking silver watch, marked on the back with the symbol of a crown in a wheel, surrounded by a ring of lightning bolts.

Just as Nathan figures out how to anchor the chain of the watch in his vest, and slide it into a tiny pocket there, a knock sounds at the door.

[Brian]

<Session START: Thu May 03 19:16:33 2007>
Session Ident: #ether
* Now talking in #ether
* Nathan (~r@ppp240-91.lns2.bne4.internode.on.net) has joined #ether
* Chibi-Suu (~kaora@netblock-68-183-233-7.dslextreme.com) has joined #ether

Brian> The scene is thus: You are in a large, well appointed room, standing on the carpet by a large oak table with four high-backed chairs around it.  A knock has just sounded at the door.
Nathan> Nathan looks across at the door.  "Enter," he says loudly.
Brian> The door opens, admitting a servant in the same dress as the tailor.  Behind him is the inspector.  Both step in (the servant first).  The servant quietly sets a large covered tray on the table, then bows his way out.
Brian> The inspector nods at him, and closes the door behind.  Without waiting for an invitation, he takes the seat roughly opposite Nathan's position.  "Now," he begins, without preamble, "I have had no success in locating your friends.  Have you any idea where they might be?"
Nathan> "Not remotely," Nathan says simply, "honestly I was expecting to just follow the metaphorical trail of destruction."
Nathan> "But given my situation . . ."
Brian> Holmes snorts, uncovering the tray.  "An invention of my own devising, here," he advises, revealing a pile of small sandwiches, a teapot (and cup), and a small plate with a napkin.
Brian> "Destruction would be unfortunate.  The kingdom is in a bit of a delicate state at the moment ... and I imagine you've none of the memories that would make this situation more understandable, do you?"
Brian> At this, the specter materializes from behind the inspector, giving Nathan a confused frown.  "He is a friend of yours?" he asks, guardedly.
Nathan> "No, I don't.  Destruction isn't the intent, mind, I just imagine -someone- will end up making a mess - I very nearly did myself.  However, one thing that I should clarify -"
Nathan> Nathan looks across to the ghost.  "Yes, he is a friend - if not an acquaintance - and I owe you an explanation, so this seems like a good time."
Brian> Holmes looks over his shoulder, perturbed.  Then he looks back, eyes narrowing.  "So it wasn't truly madness after all?" he half asks, half states.  He shakes his head abruptly.  "Sorry.  Please, continue."
Nathan> He turns back to Holmes again, "Some of it was - but that particular piece wasn't.  As it turns out, Doctor Shuker can see - and speak to - the ghost of his father."
Brian> Holmes nods slowly.  "Is it limited to simply him?"
Nathan> "I don't know," Nathan looks at the ghost quizically.
Brian> The specter shakes his head.  "That was the problem," he says ruefully.  "The anabaric shroud was a bit ... overwhelming.  Too many presences, perhaps."
Nathan> "Ahh.  Apparently not," Nathan passes on, "apparently part of the problem was that there were too many presences in the . . . anabaric shroud."
Brian> Holmes sighs.  "That would suit the church quite well," he mutters.  "Still.  Information, I've found, is the greatest resource one can obtain.  And right now you have very little.  Let us arm you: Where should I begin?"
Nathan ticks off on his fingers. "What exactly is the Shroud, what is the church, what is the political situation and why am I useful?"
Brian> "In order, then," Holmes says without delay, "the Shroud is the layer of anabaric energy wrapped directly around our sphere -- it's responsible for the diffusion and illumination we recieve.  We're also able to tap it directly for anabaric power.
Brian> "The gates are linked to it in some way, though even our gate technicians don't know all of the details.  The Church probably doesn't, either, but they obviously do know quite a bit more than we do.
Brian> "If all of the spheres are taken as separate entities ... the common comparison is pearls on a string ... then the gates link them.  Since the Church of the Gate controls passage everywhere but here, Anabara, they are the defacto rulers of the rest of the world.
Brian> "Obviously, being this close to total domination over reality as we know it and still having us to resist them rankles.  They've made many attempts over the years to convert us to their way of thinking, to coerce us into joining them...."
Nathan> Nathan nods as he digests this.
Brian> "All of which have failed.  Their knights and muskets are nothing before the power of an anabaric brisance projector.  But at the same time, we're trapped, here.  Our most powerful technologies are either prohibitively expensive, or too large to fit through the gates."
Brian> Holmes pauses, then pours Nathan a cup of tea.  "You should regain your strength," he says in an aside, which the specter nods in agreement to, before he continues full force:
Brian> "His Majesty -- as all royals -- possesses the Spark."  He frowns.  "You won't know that, either.  The Spark is a potential that we learned long ago, though the records of how are long lost.  But generations past, it was introduced to the royal bloodline.  It promotes genius, occasionally at the cost of sanity.
Brian> "His Majesty, three years ago, developed a plan to cross through the anabaric shroud with a massive sky-ship of incredible expense.  The theory was that if we could cross the shroud spinwise, then we could ... glide on the current until we reached the next gate -- without needing to cross through."
Nathan> "Did that work?"
Brian> Holmes shakes his head.  "Unfortunately, while it was well provisioned, the Great Council has determined that the Starflare was lost.  This undermines His Majesty's credibility, and causes the people to wonder if he's erring closer to madness than genius."
Nathan> "What happened to it?"
Nathan> "Or was it just a loss of contact?"
Brian> "We observed it entering the shroud, but there's no way to speak across great distances once signal mirrors won't carry.  Anabaric message projectors are unweildly, and while the Starflare had one aboard, it couldn't pierce the shroud.  Once it passed through the shroud, it vanished.
Brian> "Oh, it's possible, I suppose, that the crew is still alive, or that they're stranded somewhere ... but it no one knows, and we haven't any spies in the church lands.  They control access to our territory, after all.
Brian> "And this," he leans forward a bit, frowning, "is where you enter the picture."
Nathan> "So what precisely do the different sides of the political divide want?"
Brian> "Anabara wants to expand," Holmes says with a shrug.  "Truthfully, our providence got out of hand.  We don't have the territory we need to maintain our society for much longer.  It would be advantageous for us to branch out and spread our knowledge to at least another sphere."
Nathan looks thoughtful.  "So what use is my support to the King, precisely?  I'd think that I was a discredited madman."
Brian> "If we prove your sanity, then it's a simple matter to denounce the entire affair a plot of Hathoway to obtain your property -- which is also the truth, at least in part."
Brian> "I'd rather that didn't happen," the specter adds dryly.
Brian> "But as for your support ... you're one of the first of our people to cross through the Gate and return in years.  You're the only person who has a chance of explaining what the situation is in the Church lands."
Nathan> Nathan looks across at the spectre, "Rather not lie like that, or rather not let Hathoway scheme?"
Brian> "Hathoway," the specter says quickly.  "It's not much of a lie, if your mind is back."
Brian> "The catch of this all is," Holmes says, frowning again, "that either you need to pass through the gate again ... or we must establish some other way to get that information to you.  I can only deduce so much, and if you can't remember, then we've almost nothing to work with."
Brian> "I think passing through the gate is a terrible idea," the specter says quickly.  "Now.  The man who my son spoke to -- the one called Christianson -- he can see and speak with spirits.  I could pass through the shroud with ease, and pass messages to him.  In fact, that may even be faster."
Brian> "Certainly it would be safer," he adds with a ghosty sigh.
Nathan looks at the spirit sharply. "Do you think you could find Christianson?"
Brian> "I believe I could," he says, affably.  Then he pauses.  "Is this important?"
Nathan> "It is.  I should give you the explanation first, though . . ."
Brian> The spirit nods.  Holmes looks curious, but wait to hear this.
Nathan> "Alright then,"  Nathan pours himself a cup of tea, "this will sound odd, but . . . there are other worlds out there - outside of the 'string of pearls' that you're used to.  On my world, there is a contest - to decide who should have the power to choose how to protect our world from the Enemy."
Nathan> "As part of this contest, five people from each faction must go into other worlds - dreams of great spirits - and make a mark on the world.  We have to accomplish something so great that the world itself recognizes us for what we are, and sends us home with it's recognition."
Brian> Holmes nods thoughtfully.  The spirit nods, but looks confused.
Nathan> "We take on the roles of . . . our counterparts, sort of, in these worlds.  I -am- Nathan Shuker, but I'm not . . . your Nathan Shuker.  I have his skills, but not his knowledge.  As to what we need to do here . . . I'm not really sure yet."
Nathan grins sheepishly.
Brian> "To make a mark, you'd have two choices, I think," Holmes says after a pause.  "On the surface.  More will appear with further consideration.  But essentially, you could choose to ally with us against the Church ... or with the Church against us.  Still, those would seem your easiest options."
Nathan> "I don't see myself allying with the church at this point," Nathan says drily, "'Doctor Shuker' had a path that he was no longer capable of following.  Balance dictates that I lend my strength and walk it for him."
Nathan> "There are other ways, but unlike some of our opponents," Nathan grimaces, "I know right from wrong."
Brian> "That's a relief," Holmes says with a wry grin.  "I sense there's more you wish to say, though?"
Nathan> "Not about our opponents," Nathan frowns, "they aren't here yet and they could be years in the coming.  But Christianson," he takes a drink of his tea, and looks at the ghost, "is one of our five.  If you can find him, tell him where I am - and find out what the situation on the other plane is like . . ."
Brian> "I will do this, then," the specter says, nodding his understanding.  "Is there something I could say that only you and he would know?  A trusted phrase?"
Nathan> "Yeah, tell him he still owes me cookies."
Brian> "Very well," he says with a smile.  "Could I ask you a favor, in return?"
Nathan> Nathan nods.  "Ask away."
Brian> "I would like to see that the house which has been in my family for so long stays there," he says, smiling.  "If you wouldn't mind...."
Nathan> "Of course," Nathan grins, "Your son's goals are my goals - and I'd like to rub that arrogant clown's face in it anyway!"
Brian> "Excellent!" the specter says.  "Then, I must away."  And just like that -- he's gone.
Brian> "I trust things went well?" Holmes asks guardedly.
Nathan> Nathan nods.  "He says he can find Christianson - who is also the man I went to see in the first place."
Brian> "That much was in the records," Holmes agrees.  "Now, if this is according to your plan, will you support His Majesty?"
Nathan> "I owed him for breaking me out of the asylum anyway," Nathan nods, "but yes, I can do that.  You being on his side pretty much seals it."
Brian> "Excellent," he says with a smile.  "Now, 'that clown' needs to be shown up.  Shall we go the carriage?"
Nathan nods.  "I'm going to claim memory loss on anything on the far side of the gate, I think - my past, well, I'll wing it."

<END session>

[Brian]

After wrapping the sandwiches that Nathan hasn't eaten yet in a cloth napkin for the journey, Holmes quickly guides Nathan through a maze of corridors and elevators, until they both emerge at the street level, though inside the castle walls.

From here, the crystalline spires loom overhead ominously, jutting out over the city and spreading their own eerie illumination in this sunless land.  The day is still bright, even with a lack of sun (and thus, much less distinct shadows).

The carriage looks like a wooden black lacquered box on wheels, led by a quartet of horses.  A driver sits atop, expectantly, and a footman opens the door for the pair.

After that, the box begins lurching (though, not too much, which is nice -- apparently the thing does have shocks of some kind), through the streets.  Though with the curtains closed, it's difficult to see much.

[Rezantis]

"Anything you can think of that I need to know for this?" Nathan asks, moving one of the curtains aside slightly so he can look out a window.

[Brian]

"It shouldn't be difficult.  I don't expect anyone but your staff to be there -- I'll simply tell them that you've suffered memory loss due to the gates, but your sanity has been restored.  The only real concern is if Hathoway has exceeded his legal limits by sending men in to try and claim your property."

Through the windows, Nathan has a view of the city once they clear the palace gates.  For the most part, it looks clean.  No smog, since apparently anabaric power doesn't produce pollution.  And everyone in this neighborhood is well dressed, too.

"I should add that you've been taken on as a retainer for my ongoing investigations into Church plots," Holmes says after a moment.  "The watch you have now is your badge of authority.  It gives you access to the palace, and the constabulary will know not to harass you if you show it.  By that same token, be sure not to lose it.  And I imagine Maestro Aliester Sondheim will wish to speak with you about various things -- later, though, later.  You may not wish to tell him about where you are from, in truth.  I'll leave that decision in your hands, however."

Holmes proffers the sandwiches again.

[Rezantis]

Nathan takes a sandwich.

"I wasn't intending to, I think," Nathan responds slowly, "you already knew, the ghost knew something was wrong the moment I woke up - plus I can't tell if he's listening, so trying to hide it wouldn't work in any case.  Anyone else . . ."

[Brian]

The sandwich is adequately tasty, but a bit dry.  The Shuker residence is not terribly far from the palace, regardless.  Very shortly, the carriage comes to a halt, the driver knocking on the box to alert those within that the destination has been reached.

The footman scurries around to open the door, revealing Nathan's first sight of his home.

It's a mansion.  The thing is five stories high, with towers that go an additional three.  There's a massive yard walled off by a large wrought-iron fence, with sharp and angry looking spikes lining the top.  A crest of some sort is on the gate -- at the moment, it's split in half because the gate is open.

"No," Holmes murmurs, eyes narrowing as he climbs out of the carriage.  "This is not good."  More loudly, he orders the footman: "Get the constabulary here -- quickly."  To the driver: "Block the gate with the carriage."

Turning to Nathan, he adds, "I will go 'round the back, keep them from getting away."  He hesitates, while the footman and driver are busy, and in a quieter voice asks, "Are you able to defend yourself, if you must?  The staff may be in danger, if they're witnesses, but I'd also rather keep anyone from escaping."

[Rezantis]

Nathan nods, and responds quietly - "It could be . . . obvious, though - have a spare weapon?"

[Brian]

He checks his coat, and produces a gun, shaking his head.  "Obvious isn't a problem, generally.  We can attribute it to the gate.  It's your health that's the greater concern."  At this point, the front gate is blocked by the carriage.  "We must hurry, though."

[Rezantis]

"An excuse widens my options considerably," Nathan says as he starts moving towards the front door of the mansion, "I should be able to handle them then, I think."

OOC:

If the Mad Stormrider is willing to spare them, I want +1 HtH OCV, 4 points of stealth and +2 Dive For Cover (11 points of 11.5)

RealRez donates +1 all rolls and +1 Dex (3 points) for a total of 15 influence.

[Brian]

Holmes runs around the hedge inside the fence, to the rear of the house.  From here, the double-doors are open, revealing a darkened interior -- like a gaping, toothless maw, or a wound punched in the structure.

Once Nathan climbs the steps and peeks inside, dim anabaric lighting fills the room, but it's nothing compared to the light of day.  Directly inside the door, at the foot of a tall pair of stairs, are a pair of twins.

They look like fairly pretty young girls, in conservative (but traditional) maid's outfits.  One of them is lying on the floor staring upwards with a blank expression, unmoving.

The other is staring down at her evident sister in dismay, shaking slightly.  After an eyeblink, Nathan realizes that the standing 'twin' is partially see-through.