Just a small question to be official - what is the email address we would send stories to?
Chris The Lurking Fox -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] 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 <[email protected]> wrote: > I thought we decided on Andrew getting the stories from now on? Am I > right? > > > > > > Chris > > The Lurking Fox > > > > > > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > [email protected] > Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2014 3:16 PM > To: [email protected] > 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, <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Send MKGuild mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [email protected] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [email protected] > > 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 <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Cc: 'Furry Literature ML' <[email protected]> > 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 > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was > scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.integral.org/archives/mkguild/attachments/20140712/bad27 > b06/attachment.html> > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > MKGuild mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild > > > End of MKGuild Digest, Vol 88, Issue 4 > ************************************** > > > > > _______________________________________________ > MKGuild mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild > -- - Virmir | http://virmir.com _______________________________________________ MKGuild mailing list [email protected] http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild _______________________________________________ MKGuild mailing list [email protected] http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild
