Dr. Hannibal Lecter is ready for the labyrinth

[cook_the_rude]

The door opens, and Dr. Hannibal Lecter looks in.

The door closes again.

The door opens again, and Dr. Hannibal Lecter strides in, wearing sturdy clothing and sensible hiking shoes as well as carrying a small canvas rucksack.

From it, he takes some fruit and leaves them with the bar.







Then, he takes off his coat and has a coffee while he appears to wait for something.



[[meta: ep is open, but all other threads must happen before yrael]]

Comments

[mogget_cat]

Yrael's gaze lifts to follow the slope of the mountain as their path begins to rise.

"Much of the labyrinth is so, but there are civilizations to be found in its ways, occasionally, some of them beautiful and ancient. Rarely though are they human civilizations, and they are not what one would consider tame."

[cook_the_rude]

"I'm not here for tameness," Hannibal says. "Not today. Ancient alien civilisations can surely be fascinating. I have seen some science fiction films, after all."

[mogget_cat]

Yrael smiles. "My total number of science fiction films comes to three, and those were because a friend of mine was horrified to find I had not seen them, and insisted," he smiles, following the meandering path among the rocky outcrops.

There had been popcorn and beer and many pillows and the rebellious character who only wants to go his own way eventually decides it's in his best interest to help save the day - how was he to refuse?

"I do hope we are able to find Wan Shi Tong's library. I believe you would enjoy it, and I have not visited in some time."

[cook_the_rude]

"The name sounds Chinese," Hannibal says. "I take it there are some unique books in that library that we might be able to appreciate."

[mogget_cat]

"'He Who Knows Ten Thousand Things,'" Yrael replies. "Wan Shi Tong is one world's Knowledge Spirit, and his library of hidden knowledge is a labyrinth unto itself."

By which he means it is vast and glorious.

"I have brought three original manuscripts of lore from the Old Kingdom, just in case, as the price to use his library is that one must add to it."

[cook_the_rude]

"Should I have brought something as well?" Hannibal muses, stopping in his tracks. "A library of hidden knowledge would be extremely enticing."

[mogget_cat]

Yrael stops, and turns to look back at Hannibal.

"Knowledge worthy of being added to his library can be anything, from a newly-invented type of knot to simply a scroll with illustrations he finds pleasing. I brought three unique manuscripts because while he and I enjoy a certain level of rapport and mutual respect, Wan Shi Tong does not trust humans; if we do happen upon his library, I intend to vouch for you."

[cook_the_rude]

"Well, then," Hannibal says, sounding somewhat relieved, "I can draw something for him on the spot that he might treasure. The early modern Wound Man, for example, a key element of medical history."

[mogget_cat]

"That will do quite nicely, I suspect," Yrael replies, with a slight smile, taking another step up the path.

"Human soldiers once found Wan Shi Tong's library, and proceeded to burn the part of the library that held knowledge relating to their own country, so as to keep others from potentially learning their secrets. He has allowed few humans the use of his library since."

[cook_the_rude]

"Understandably," Hannibal says. "How very rude of them."

He follows along the path, looking at trees and clouds and darting black animals with red-tipped ears with what seems equal calm interest.

[mogget_cat]

"From what I have heard in subsequent visits, their country was defeated anyway, a few years following." Yrael follows the path upwards, as it circles around a very large outcropping of rock. Beyond it, nestled in the hollow between the outcropping and the sheer bulk of the mountain, is a door.

It is very plain, dark wood, apart from the small Delta carved in its center.

[cook_the_rude]

"I take it this door is always here?" Hannibal says, having followed quickly and silently.

[mogget_cat]

"From what I can tell, the door has been here as long as the mountain has," Yrael says, approaching it. "And it is always to be found when I have sought it out."

That isn't to say that it is always there. Just that it is there when needed, like much of Milliways.

[cook_the_rude]

"I'll make sure to remember the way, then," Hannibal says, touching the door.

[mogget_cat]

The door is warm, warmer than a wooden door merely warmed by the sun should be, and opens just a crack under Hannibal's touch.

The Bright Shiner is smiling. "Shall we?"

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal nods, and opens the door.

[mogget_cat]

The warm humidity of a temperate rainforest welcomes them in, enveloping them in the green smells of wet earth, rotting logs, and growing things. Narrow, winding trails like those left by animals meander among the lush ferns and the towering, ancient trees that are green with thick moss, leading no one knows where. Apart from the occasional drop of moisture from mist-dampened leaves far above, all is still.

For the moment.

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal stands quietly for a moment, taking several deep breaths and observing everything before taking the first steps inside.

"This is certainly unexpected," he says, running a finger almost playfully along a fern. "A lovely surprise. I was expecting corridors and colonnades. Never expect the expected, in Milliways!"

[mogget_cat]

There is no scent of humanity. None. Shoes have never pressed into this soil.

"There may yet be corridors and colonnades, Dr. Lecter," the Bright Shiner smiles, "in some other section of the labyrinth. The sections that comprise the labyrinth change, and bear no similarity to one another apart from they are bounded by doors."

Loosely, to judge from the wide open forest before them.

"To advance, we must find the door."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal stands very still, closes his eyes, and breathes in the forest air.

"Do you think there might be dinosaurs here?" he says.

[mogget_cat]

"There may be," Yrael replies, steppping up onto one of the large, fallen logs to see what can be seen over the underbrush.

Never expect the expected.

Dropping back down to the ground, he hands on the balls of his feet with a soft sound. "Let's go find out."

[cook_the_rude]

Twenty minutes later, they are huddled in a cave, with six small velociraptors (presumably) clawing at the large stone they had just barricaded themselves in with.

"Definitely dinosaurs," Hannibal says, in a tone of voice that hold no complaint at all. "So?"

[mogget_cat]

"Their skill with diversionary tactics is quite admirable," Yrael remarks, leaning on the stone. With a slight motion, he sends a small spell up towards the roof of the cave to give them light. There is blood in his hair.

"But unless they make considerable gains in strength in a very short period of time, the stone should hold them." Beyond the light of the spell, the cave continues back into darkness. Creatures have used this cave as shelter, presumably when it rains, but the scents are old. "The only way to go is onward."

[cook_the_rude]

"I see a door," Hannibal says, peering into the dark. "We can reach it before the raptors catch up with evolution. It smells interesting."

[mogget_cat]

Yrael straightens, listening to the lack of progress in the sounds of claws scrabbling against the far side of the hard stone. "Lead on."