milliways_bar | Initial entry post

Initial entry post

Accompanied by a blast of (literally) Arctic air, Felix stumbles throught the Door and looks around in surprise. "I don't remember a tavern in Prox," he mutters. When the expected response from Jenna or Garet doesn't come, he looks behind him. Not seeing any of the other Adepts, he reaches over, touches the wall, and spreads his Psynergy through it and the ground to find their Psynergetic signatures. Suddenly he reels; not only can't he find his friends, there are a large number of exceedingly strange power signatures here. He is quickly distracted from them, however, by the discovery that the world ends not far from his location; not the way it did at Gaia Falls, but in complete nothingness. Hurriedly he pulls back, lest he be sucked into that void and go mad. He regains his balance and asks in wonder, "Where am I?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Noting the now-familiar look of loss on the young man's face, Paul feels a twinge of sympathy. Across a couple empty tables, he offers an answer.

"You are at the end of all worlds. Or so I've been told."

"Well, I suppose that would explain the void out there."

Felix is obviously still confused, as well as rather lonely.

"By your look, I'd say you may wish to rest for a moment in order to get your bearings. This place can be shocking at first. Tea?" Gesturing to the pot and extra cup, as well as the empty seat opposite.

"Certainly, thank you." Felix fills the cup - slightly awkwardly, as teapots have different handles in Weyard - and sits down.

"I am Felix, originally from Vale in central Angara. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

"You are welcome. I am Paul, of the House Atreides. Were you in some jeopardy before you came here?" Death brought Paul to Milliway's, but not all come by that route.

"No. We were about to go to light the Mars Lighthouse, which I suppose is somewhat dangerous, but no more so than the other three. Why do you ask?"

Felix is surprised to find himself speaking so openly of his quest to a complete stranger.

"It may be possible that you are deceased in your world, as I am in mine, but if you remember no trauma then perhaps you can return." How much to say and no easy way to say it. "But if you cannot, I should tell you that you may be Bound here forever. I have met at least two who are."

"I see."

Felix gestures at several of the other patrons, particularly the cat and the reptile. "This seems to be a popular place; how does one come and go?"

Paul points to the Door from which Felix came.

"I came that way, like you. Some form their own doors as they please, though how they do it is still a mystery to me." Then he points to the Lake Door and the one leading upstairs. "That one leads to a lake and forest conveniently made for the comfort of the patrons. The other, to rooms where we sleep. You can get a key at the Bar if you stay. She will provide whatever you might need."

"She? Wouldn't that be 'it'?"

The Bar doesn't speak, but she is most certainly alive, and perhaps the most powerful being in this place. She seems to have a special connection to one of the bartenders, but I haven't spoken to that one, so I can't say what it is. As long as you follow the Rules, the Bar will probably give you whatever you ask, though it may come with a high price."

For Paul, the price was near-fatal withdrawal from the Spice addiction.

"Then is this Bar some kind of golem?" Felix is obviously struggling to understand concepts entirely alien to his experience.

"I'm not sure what you mean by 'golem'. When I first came, I thought her some manner of machine, but my last vision showed me that her powers are much more like those of a god. I saw nothing like a mind behind her works, but everyone here refers to her as 'her' and many of them are gods, so I question the clarity of my Sight."

"In any case, my Sight is gone now, but I suspect you have something like it. I could tell as much by your hesitation at the Door."

"Yes, if I understand you correctly. My Psynergy allows me to sense powers and sometimes events through the earth."

Now he's done it. Vale's foremost rule is that outsiders must never learn of Psynergy. Felix wonders why he feels that this man is so trustworthy.

Paul merely nods. "Many here have such powers, some more than others. We are forbidden from using any kind of violence, but I have seen many fights and one battle the likes of which makes that pale in comparison." waving nonchalantly at the Window where galaxies collide.

"Have you been here long, then? And if violence is forbidden, what happened to those involved in those fights?" Felix's hunger for knowledge is beginning to overcome his feeling of being lost, particularly at the thought of something more spectacular than the annihilation of stars.

"By my reckoning, I've been here for about ten days, but time runs differently for everyone here. That is, in itself, puzzling." He allows a self-deprecating laugh. "Of the fights I've seen, two were between mortals, and ended quickly, but one was out there beyond the Window. A duel between two beings who wielded enough power to destroy all you see." and create it anew when their battle was done.

"Several people have mentioned a security force, but I haven't met any of them, if they exist. Surely, those who run this place must be gods themselves, or insane."

Felix shudders. "I certainly would not want to anger such a being."

He chuckles, a remarkable event in itself. "I have often heard the same said of Weyard itself."

"Well, I don't mean to frighten you." Noting how not frightened the man is. "Beyond not fighting, patrons aren't supposed to engage in their own commerce while in the tavern, whatever their occupations are, yet I have seen that Rule broken also. From what I have seen, those professing godlike powers are the ones least tempted to anger, but the most apt to lead others into danger. For my taste, that is breaking the second Rule."

"Beware anyone who professes no power or desire, for appearances are the last things you should trust here."

"Are disguises and illusion so common in this place?" Felix suddenly misses Sheba for an additional reason: her Reveal Psynergy.

"Disguise and illusion are the fabric from which this place is woven. Look closely at those around you; there are very few who show their true faces and none who show all. In the world from which I came I was Emperor of the known universe, and could touch the future."

"Trust people if you find you must, but never let your guard down. There is supposed to be no Death here, but that Rule has also been broken."

No death? Felix supposes it could be possible, particularly after all Kraden has said about the Stone of Sages, but...

"How could such a Rule be broken if those who control this place are powerful enough to make that Rule?"

Paul smiles darkly over his teacup.

"You learn quickly. It is not just the motivations of the patrons that I question."

Felix blinks, surprised that the conversation has taken such a dark tone. "You suspect some ulterior motive in bringing together so many people from different worlds?"

[ooc: I have to leave. See you later, maybe.]

"I don't know any motive of the Management, as I haven't gotten any indication of who or what they are, but I have my suspicions. Don't just listen to my babbling, however, mingle. get a room and make yourself comfortable. Just don't get too comfortable, as long as you stay here, you can't rely on what you understood to be true in your world."

Paul rises.

"Finish the tea if you want, Felix of Vale, I need to sleep. Like I said, if you want a room or something to eat, just ask the Bar."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Initial entry post

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject