Justice Keep

Beyond Dominia: The Role Playing Mill: Justice Keep

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By Jaron on Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 12:04 am:

October 4, 794 TR

Jaron and Joerda stared at Justice Keep and the surrounding town. The wide, swift D'ner river flowed near the heart of Dantimos to the northern sea. Traffic hustled busily through the center of the nation. The two were agape, neither having ever seen such activity before in their lives.

After Jaron's encounter with the strange matrix of energy, he had without discussion begun to curve their trail along the D'ner river northward, where he knew Deep Shadow Forest must lie. Joerda made no comment, and in fact was pleased that Jaron had an idea of where to proceed. A purposeful journey made her more comfortable than the terrified flight that had compelled the beginning of their time together.

They reached a passive equilibrium as a pair, each finding their own niche to provide for the other's survival. Fear of the Wraith-kin jointly made them eager to move swiftly. Jaron had taken the task of body guard, and often used his powers to take control of an animal to scout their path before them. Joerda, who had seen more of the outside world than Jaron, taught him what she knew, and had proved to be a valuable companion on more than one occasion.

He had given to her the elven dagger that hadn't left his side in seven years, the weapon that slew Jake the Atog God. He refrained from telling her as much, but simply letting her know that it was a powerful magical artifact that would protect her, which sounded good enough to Joerda. No trace of the Wraith-kin was to be found, either before or behind them. Other than meeting a few other travellers on the way, the journey was quite uneventful.

Guards roamed the walls of the well-policed town, always on the lookout for enemies, either domestic or foreign. From here, Rolshin, High King of Dantimos nominally governed much of the known lands in a time of relative peace. He had settled back into the normal state of affairs upon his return from the Western Continent, where he had participated in the Black Monolith War and the victory over the First Evil. The Dantimian army was much decreased in size, both due to the massive losses it sustained in that war, as well as the decline of foes it was required to defend against.

The couple were not the only travellers on the road. Carts and horses departed and arrived constantly as they pressed their way into the town proper. Each gate in the walls was manned by a large number of guards on rotating shift duty. The duty officer and his assistant were responsible for meeting with all travellers to check their reasons for coming to the town. It was not a job either relished much, and the busy day had left them harried and short of temper.

When they reached the walls, Jaron and Joerda were stopped like all the rest. Joerda explained to the officers that they were simply looking for an inn to stay the night, regain their strength, and purchase supplies after a long trip. The duty officer was more than a little concerned about the sword Jaron carried, and asked him to relinquish it.

"But it's a family heirloom, sir. It's all we have for defense." Joerda was adamant that they could not part with the weapon.

"Why doesn't your lover speak for himself, miss? I'm sure he knows better what his intentions are with that sword than you do. How do I know you're not his hostage and he's using you to bribe his way into the city?" The officer wasn't about to take an argument from a girl more than half his age.

"He's not my..." she began, but Jaron stopped her with a hand to her shoulder. He shook his head and began unstrapping the swordbelt and scabbard.

{It's not worth arguing with this man about. I'll get it back later, Joerda,} he said, placing it in the officer's hands. {Tell him that I'll be glad to leave it here on the condition that I may retrieve it upon our departure.}

As the officer watched, unaware of the silent instruction, Joerda nodded and repeated the request. The officer laughed.

"We're not going to watch this sword for free, lady." He rubbed his fingers together. "A little compensation will be in order. We charge by the day."

"That's outrageous! You're confiscating our only weapon, and charging us for it at the same time? I want to speak to your supervisor."

The officer sneered at her. "I am my supervisor, lady. And if you don't like it, you can turn right around and leave."

Jaron was pacing around the room, absorbing the random thoughts flying at him from a thousand minds that he couldn't dampen. Still, he did not allow the disturbances to shake his concentration on the situation. He was mapping the layout of the building and forming a plan to return for his weapon.

{Sell the sword to him then. We'll need money once we're in the gates. It's no good to us right now anyway, and only prevents us from getting in. I'll help you.} Again, she nodded, uncertain of what he was planning.

"Fine. I'll make you this offer. You buy the sword from us and let us in. We both get what we want."

Jaron's eyes focused on the officer as he peeled his way into that mind. One hundred irons is all you'll get from me, he suggested. The officer turned the sword over in his hands and stared at the workmanship.

"Now who's making the outrageous offer? This sword isn't worth the steel it's made of. Perhaps one hundred iron coins, if that." It was a blatant lie, and everyone in the room knew it. Oor-Taelian weapons were priceless, and were far superior to the weapons even Dantimos furnished to its army. "You'll get no more than that from me."

"What?!" Joerda was livid. "You know this is Oor-Taelian and worth far more than that! I won't settle for outright theft like this."

{Take the offer, Joerda. One hundred is more than enough.}

"You want into the city, you'll get a hundred irons and I'll get your sword. We both get what we want," the officer smirked, returning her own words to her.

"Fine! Take it, you bastard," she said gruffly, confused at what Jaron was doing, only sure that he was getting rid of their only real protection for their journey to Kaat'n.

"I knew you'd see it my way. Wait here a moment." He went into a back room for several moments and returned with a pouch of coins. Joerda wasn't going to be pleased until she counted every coin to make sure they weren't being further swindled. The officer left her to that task while he returned to ushering other travellers. A short time later, Joerda was finished counting, and they left. Before walking out the door, Jaron paused and caught the officer's attention one last time with a scathing glance and a message:

{I will get my sword back.}


By Shadow (Shadow) on Monday, October 09, 2000 - 07:14 am:

Elro, you might want to e-mail me if and when your characters get to Kaat'n. The way things are going right now, I'm liable not to notice. *sigh*


By Shadow (Shadow) on Monday, October 09, 2000 - 07:21 am:

I mean, the amount of work I have on my back right now is just insane. I need some superhuman powers or something. Gawd I wish I had time to write. I love writing. I also want to play some chess; not online, real chess with wooden pieces. But then I'd need a chess set with wooden pieces. The set I have now has plastic pieces, and the board's missing; we use a red-black checker board. Not to mention the fact that I think I've hit a snag in my research. I'm sure I'll find a work around. Did you know there's a flaw in the Power Rule for differential equations? But that's not related. Do they make anti-nervous breakdown pills? Horse tranquilizer you say? Got anything stronger? Everybody needs a little humor in their lives. Stop and smell the roses. Right? Right? Am I right? WHERE ARE THE EFFING ROSES? WHERE ARE THEY?! I need my roses. For the smelling. Are you trying to say I'm on drugs? You think I huff glue? You can go to hell. I'm not on drugs. I'm clean. Cleaner than clean. You calling me crazy? If you really think that, is it such a wise idea to point it out? Are you familiar with the concealed weapons legislation in this state? What's that in my pocket there? Precioussss. I could use a good book. Everybody needs a good book now and them, some chess, some writing, some roses.


By Ziv, Prophet of the Unimportant on Monday, October 09, 2000 - 07:22 am:

Roses are red, violets are blue, pansies are pink, chipmunks are brown.


By Shadow (Shadow) on Monday, October 09, 2000 - 07:25 am:

Are you trying to tell me something, prophet? Are you talking back to me? Are you saying I'm crazyondrugscrazy? Don't laugh at me like that. I can see it in your eyes. Think I need more sleep, do you. Taunt me, would you. Just like all the rest. Prophet are you? What kind of. What kind of things you predict? Or Prophet? Or Prophecize I guessitis. Unimportant? You saying I'm unimportant? That's all I mean to you? You think I'm paranoid? You've got a lottolearn. Learn you good. What my father said. Never trust a prophet. Can't. Can't trust anyone. Specially no prophet. Never. Never trust a prophet. Sneak right in and. And steal your kids. Dirty prophets. Come right in the back door and take them. Right from under you. Never see them again. Happened to my aunt. I only have one and a half cousins. Your fault. Your kind. Never. Never a prophet. Trust.


By Ziv, Prophet of the Unimportant on Monday, October 09, 2000 - 07:26 am:

mmmm?


By Shadow (Shadow) on Monday, October 09, 2000 - 07:29 am:

whaddyu mean by that, huh? whatyousay my speach is runningtogether? noi'm not ondrugs. i'm clean. whaddyu meanbythat anyway. sthat somekina question. Or something? Or maybe you donknowotyer talking about. ever think of that? huh? huh? Huh? maybe you should. you should think before you speak. or type. i guess its type. effing internet. cant even type straight. hard to keep ideas in order. what kind of mmmm is that you humming at me. trying to say im somekina humming thing? a hummingbird? you sayinima hummingbird. im hyper. im not hyper your the one thats. What? pay attention. stop fading out like that. dirty prophets


By Ziv, Prophet of the Unimportant on Monday, October 09, 2000 - 07:32 am:

Actually, I was just thinking that I wouldn't mind playing some chess either.

Say, errr, you seem a tad...stressed?

I highly recommend caffeine pills, laced with Jolt. It eases you to sleep at night. It does me, at least.

Good luck with that workload. If you get a chance, I'm open for chess. You'll have to bring the dingo eggs though. I used all of mine when Mr. Bubbles came for a visit. Goddam chipmunks.


By Shadow (Shadow) on Monday, October 09, 2000 - 07:34 am:

whoa man. your just to crazy for me. i'm not crazy your the crazy one. too crazy. too crazy for me. take your chipmunks and go home, you prophet. i'm not crazyyercrazy. don't need any pills. i knew you thought i was on pills. stressed? trying to say something? I can't take this. I'm out. I'm outtahere. Too crazy for me.


By Ziv, Prophet of the Unimportant on Monday, October 09, 2000 - 07:53 am:

So long then...weirdo.

Oh, on the off chance that Newt is reading this, I was really wondering if he could help me with a proof.

Here's the hypothesis:

When n is an integer >= 0, m is an integer >= 1, and JsubN(z) is a Bessel function of the first kind, then JsubN(z) and JsubN+M(z) have no common zeros other than at z=0.

Oh, and while he's at it. I could use some help proving that for:

zeta(x) = 1/gamma(x) ò1 i [u^(x-1)]/(e^u-1) du

where i = infinity (oughta be an ascii character, no?)

all of the nontrivial zeros have real parts = 1/2.

Of course, that function is only defined for x with real part > 1, but I'm sure Newt can do the analytic continuation to carry it out. He's sharp like that.


By Ravyson on Tuesday, October 10, 2000 - 03:35 am:

Someone here need a good therapist?


By Rhisiart on Wednesday, October 11, 2000 - 07:08 pm:

I think Shadow needs the frickin' patron SAINT of therapists.


By Shadow (Shadow) on Saturday, October 14, 2000 - 07:36 am:

That's the problem. I am the frickin' patron SAINT of therapists. No, really, tell me your problems. I can help. I'm the man. BuuuYEAH.


By Ravyson on Saturday, October 14, 2000 - 11:18 pm:

Really? I was under the impression that I was the saint of therapists. No wait, they only call me a saint because I give them so much work. Never mind!


By Shadow (Shadow) on Saturday, October 14, 2000 - 11:26 pm:

Elro, Btw, what does a wraith-kin look like?
Or is that classified. :P


By Elrohir (Elrohir) on Saturday, October 14, 2000 - 11:39 pm:

I'm getting to that. For now, it's fairly classified. From what I've "shown" in the murder sequence of Master Sunset, the "Wraith-kin" that attacked him formed from the vapors in the air and was visibly holding Sunset's dead body. But I need to return to writing the story, so I can catch everyone up on it (school has really been tying me down).


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