Fastball o/` The Way o/`

[Rezantis]

"One more question.  Shade's dream showed a wounded serpent under Uluru, which I imagine is the Rainbow Serpent out of aboriginal legend . . . what exactly is it and why did the Seventh Cabal drop a nuke on it?"

[Brian]

"The ... Rainbow Serpent," Ezmereth says slowly.  "It has many names ... as do all of the Guardian Spirits.  If a Guardian Spirit should fall, and die ... then a new one must be born to replace it.  But while weakened, it is mad ... and any who are within its challenge may be lost to the Guardian Spirit's mind.  For that is where your journey will take you.

"Into the dreams of the Guardian Spirits of this world."

[Rezantis]

So . . . if we're looking to awaken the Guardian Spirit and learn their dreams, I assume that Pax Arcana and the SEventh Cabal have different objectives?  Having dropped a nuke on the Rainbow Serpent, for instance . . . actually," Rez's eyes narrow, "do you know why they dropped a nuke on Silicon Valley, three years ago?

[Brian]

"I would guess," Victor says dryly, "that they've already completed that stage of the Contest and are just engaging in a scorched earth policy.  As far as the Silicon Valley incident, Ezmereth doesn't follow the local politics as closely as I do.

"If you're familiar with Moffet Field, which you likely aren't, it was a big place.  It was originally built as a hangar and airfield for derigibles, long ago.  The military base adjacent to it would have served a similar function ... but there was a specific peculiarity to Moffet's design.  The hangar was high enough that it, when closed, would actually cause rain-clouds to form inside.

"An educated guess, if you'll take one from me, is that the explosion served both as a convenient distraction, and escalation of their manipulations of people via their terrorist organizations ... and destroying a possible new location for the Guardian Spirit of ... well, the one that sleeps beneath Ayer's rock to be reborn.  It would probably have been young as a myth ... but that's the only explanation I can think of."

He turns to Ezmereth, and the ancient man only says, "I cannot easily understand the minds of new Men."  Seeing as Nathan doesn't accept the pipe, Ezmereth takes a tug on it before handing it back to Victor.

[Rezantis]

"Sorry, but . . . my throat tends to make me pay for it if I do things like that," Rez indicates the pipe, "So, what comes after that stage of the contest?  And are the Seventh Cabal beyond the stage where they need Rasputin?"

[Brian]

"It's a race, really," Ezmereth says.  "But they must find us -- the keys.  And after they find us, they must find the hearts of the land.  They know where some of them are ... but the last remains hidden to them.  Their oracle couldn't guide them to it.  None remember where it is, save the Warriors of Dream.  Perhaps that is your greatest chance, then.  For the Warriors of Dream seem to favor you.

"With that key ... you may yet succeed.  Because their means may be brought about despite the contest, should we delay too long.  Machines ... these things bind old spirits that had been long put to sleep, and bring them back.  They missuse Grandfather Thunder's spears.  They may herald a new heart of the land ... a poisoned heart that serves the corrupted, instead of the pure.  And then, their own aims aside, they turn us all to the Enemy."

[Bjorn]

"The keys," Bjorn says slowly.  "Right.  Rez, can you go set up the satellite uplink?"  At Rez' sudden start, he explains, "Because, as I recall, step one was to consult the Oracle, and step two was to find the keys.  And, if I'm not much mistaken, we have a key sitting in front of us right now.  So why waste time?"

Bjorn blinks.  "I assume, by the way, that your being a key is why you were captured by the Workshop?"

[Rezantis]

"Because I'll get sand in my laptop, and in the uplink, and because I know she's going to ruin the solemnity of the occasion?"

[Bjorn]

"And you bitching and moaning doesn't?  Get your ass in gear."

[Brian]

"Not ... entirely," Ezmereth says, shaking his head.  "They captured me to keep any others from accessing the Guardian Spirit of the land I protect.  They captured me because they sought to learn my powers and make them their own.

"This is what I believe.  As always, I do not truly understand the minds of modern men."

[Bjorn]

"Well, then, I'll ask one someone who does."  Bjorn cocks an eyebrow at Victor.

[Brian]

"Scorched earth policy," he says lazily.  "It's been their way for some time ... when the leader of the Sixth Cabal declared himself to be the Seventh, and then slaughtered the other of the five who journeyed with him on the last Contest."

[Rezantis]

"Fine, fine," Rez heads off towards the car, "but this is your fault!"

With intent to get uplink, bring back, dump bag on ground, unpack bag, and set up laptop . . . assuming he doesn't see anything -too- untoward.

[Brian]

Rez returns and has shortly set up the satellite uplink and his laptop.  Still no commotion from your protective guard of college kids with polar-bear furs.

[Dracos]

Dracos ended his silence, pondering, "What is the Guardian Spirit of the land you protect?  And what land is it that you protect, Ezmereth?"

Dracos