TheStarsAreRight:FirstNote2
ELWAR
After everyone has returned to the Inn and had time to rest and eat I am assuming that there is an opportunity to meet and discuss what occurred and our next course of action.
John Elwar says, "I must reveal what occurred to me during events beneath the church. After I had helped Bobby move the townsfolk into the passageway something happened. I heard a voice. A female voice that spoke about the Guardians that Henrik conjured with his etchings. The voice said that I should address the Guardians and "command them." That is why I returned to the room and commanded them in the way that I did. Carl...Auda...Rebecca have you encountered anything like this in the past? If it was not for many of the odd occurances that have happened in the recent past I would question my sanity. But...what could this unseen force be? Could it be possible that I was duped in order to thwart your plans Carl?
Elwars adds, "Carl you've had an opportunity to review the odd letter that I received prior to our meeting aboard the Augusta. What do you make of it? I am concerned for my friend and had planned to go to Cornwall to look for clues as to his whereabouts. I'm also concerned about the origin of the letter I don't want to buy into it wholeheartedly without some confirmation of what it contains. I can only assume that some of the forces we face would operate through webs of subtle deceit rather than by blunt force."
Continuing, "Also Carl, I heard a comment between you and Auda...I apologize for eavesdropping. However the comment indicated that Auda had received a new responsibility in relation to Bailey. I believe you also used the phrase "fiefdom." What does this mean? In your recent candidness you have discussed our dangers in a general way so do you have more specific information to impart?
CARL
Carl has been preoccupied, coming and going, wandering the room with a frown on his face. When he is addressed directly, however, he comes to himself with a sigh.
"You have a lot of questions, John, and rightly so. We -- Auda and I -- have been remiss, dragging you along in this with insufficient preparation. I've tried to give you some tools, but of course they weren't enough. They're never enough."
He sits, steepling his hands in front of him, looking from face to face but mostly at Elwar.
"If you've read the papers I gave you, you'll be aware that the world is facing a change in its preceptible natural laws. It's happened before -- in fact, it happens in a predictable cycle -- but a shift of this magnitude has not occured in many thousands of years. Things -- wonders, miracles -- will be possible that have not been in millenia; so too will horrors appear.
"I could talk for hours on what it all means and how it works." He smiles, a bit ruefully. "Ask the others; they'll tell you I often do. My point now, how- ever, is this: There is no modern record of the phenomenon, what it is and how it works. No scientific approach, unless we create i ourselves, which is what I have labored for the past few years to do. What there is is a body of folklore, a vast array of legends and laws and rules that have no unifying system -- but they work.
"They work. We use them. Very effectively. And hidden in those rules and legends are structures and processes and roles that have been successful, before, in preserving peoples and places from the tide of hungry change. These are a handbook, a guide to what has worked before; there is every evidence that those things, in some form, will work again. Especially since our predecessors have left tools behind, if we are willing to use them."
He pauses, swallows, then nods.
"Despite all this, one thing you should all be aware of is that none of us are experts. Just about every new manifestation is something of a surprise to us; there are simply too many things we haven't experienced yet, and the lore is often vague. We guess. Sometimes, it's all we can do.
"Now, John, you asked about Auda's fiefdom. I told you something of this before. Part of the change involves a ... weakening ... of the barrier between the world and another place, or places. Or perhaps we simply become more attractive somehow. Whatever the case, things from Outside begin to seep through, in greater and greater numbers. These cause trouble. Death, chaos, or worse: sometimes they change people and places so that they are no longer safe to live near.
"Some places are more at risk than others, and there are ways to shore up and strengthen the land, so that it is resistant to the Outside. People who are sensitive to these things have a better chance to defend the land.
"A few individuals -- the old texts call some of them Kings, others Principles -- are capable of taking ownership of places and peoples and making them strong, to protect them and defend the world. Their strengths come from different sources. Constance was a Principle -- her strength, and the strength of her people, came from the Island Lady; more precisely, from the union of the Island Lady with her own considerable Earthly self.
"Constance and some of her family had allied themselves with us, promised to help fight the Outside and defend the land. She -- they -- had an important role to play, a cornerstone of the defense. I do not know now how that will play out. The Lady seems to have turned them away from the world. By the time we arrived, it seems, it was too late for talk."
Carl pauses, pensive, then collects his thoughts.
"So. I had had hopes that the Principle and her family would be the defenders of the British Isles against the Outside. Perhaps the family will still fight -- I hope so. but without their Lady, they are less than they were. Also, the Lady's recent change has left a gaping emptiness in the land here -- a weak spot, a hole, that must be defended or the Outsiders will pour through.
"Auda -- one of the Kings -- has stepped into the gap. He has claimed the land, tied himself to it and will, I hope, continue to actively grow it and strengthen it as time goes on. It is a very Mallory-an thing; the King is the Land, and the strength of one affects the strength of the other. With his help, this weak place may be made strong, and over time, perhaps the entire Britsh Isles. It is a grave responsibility.
"Now -- about the other things -- I can be less certain. Have I heard voices like the one you mention? Yes. Can I be certain of the source of yours? No. I hope what you heard was the voice of the one I call Sofia -- the voice of the infant World Soul, whom I have been trying to help to grow.... but not having heard her, I cannot say for sure. " He grins. "We can speak more of entities and avatars later, if you like.
"The letter -- I am dumfounded. I do not know what it means. Who is Laura? Who is the writer? Do you know them? I certainly wasn't in Cornwall in the 1890s, I was not even born then.
"You are right; some of those we face do work through lies and subtlety. It is wise to be careful, even if what you have been given is a great gift."
Carl looks at Elwar, awaiting comment, then pours himself some tea.
ELWAR
"Hmmm...should I start by asking what has been left out? Hehe...but then how can we accept the things you're talking about
without some actual experience with the things you describe." Elwar looks at Bobby Hansen.
"But I guess we know enough...eh? For now anyway."
"For my part I'll answer your questions as best I can. As I told you before I don't know the author of the letter. It was originally sent to my missing friend Jock Mahoney though he is addressed by the name Donal in the letter. Who sent the letter to me? I can't fathom to guess at this point. The source though, can be verified easily enough though since it was sent from Cornwall. You agree that the letter describes you though you could not possibly have been present at the time the letter was written. So it could be a hoax meant to gain your attention. In that case I would be an unwitting pawn and some force must have brought us together since until a few weeks ago we were strangers. Prior to our meeting I had a knowIedgeable Stationer check the letter and he verified the age of the paper, but I guess that really doesn't mean much does it? I suggest that some or all of us should proceed to Cornwall and attem pt to end this mystery."
Elwar picks up the packet of papers and begins to rustle through the pages. He stops at a page and shows it to Ellis and says, "But while we have time perhaps you could better explain some of the topics covered in your paper. Maybe it's me....but could you explain what the flyswatters and screens are and how to use them? I'm fascinated by the Hayes-Waite wards and also the Seal of Soloman... and the Spirit loops you describe. But it's unclear to me what they're good for and I would have add the Baxt spices...here on this page. "
"You showed Jack and I how to transfer or personal energy to you. And since then Rebecca has shown Jack a method or focusing personal power and tranfering it to a ring for use in powering devices of various kinds. What else should novices like ourselves learn? Perhaps rather then us guessing you or Auda or Rebcca even could chart out those things we should be studying."
CARL
"All right, John." Carl grins. "Be careful what you ask for, you might get it.
"Let me correct one thing -- I don't particularly see that the fellow in your letter resembles me, aside from a mention of glasses, which could be anyone. What does seem clear is that whomever he was, he was speaking or acting in a role that I might take in like circumstances; and he had information I lack, and wanted to pass it on. A message is being sent -- to whom, or why, remains unclear -- and however much we might be suspicious of this technique of speaking through others, we can't deny that someone spoke, and someone else -- you? -- was meant to hear.
"Doesn't mean any of us should buy it untested, by any means. It does mean that you're right -- Cornwall is starting to sound interesting again.
"What's been left out? Of the package I gave you? Quite a bit. It was intended to be information that was testable by those without my experience, so that they could decide for themselves. With a few weeks and a lab of your own, you might do the same. All of the items listed there are easy to make -- some require a bit of practice, but once you know how to move the energy, the rest follows.
"What else should you learn? That depends on you. How much you want to be involved, and how. Up until a year or two ago I would have recommended -- urged -- you all to simply walk away and forget the whole thing. I can no longer ask that of anyone. You are already involed. Everyone is; and the only reason I'm not on the radio, or banging a drum from a Hyde Park soapbox, is that people demand proof and would rather find it themselves. I have more important claims on my time.
"Speaking of which -- Lord God! -- we've lost more than a month, and things are moving on. I have no idea what needs me the most now, or how things have progressed on a dozen fronts. Do you have any idea how much that frightens me?" He stares at Elwar for a moment, for the first time filled with stark worry. "Sometimes it's hard to sleep," he says in low tones, "there's so much at stake."
One deep breath,. exhaled slowly. Carl shrugs, a bit rueful.
"Apologies. You don't need the drama, nor do I. What should a novice know? For someone like you, who has just stumbled into this, there are really two simple choices. Three, if you include walking away. The other two are a trip to the library, and read read read for a few days or weeks, or to take a couple of classes and kit up in the field. We give classes -- when we have the time, and the manpower to spare. I don't know if we do right now.
"Unless you're a psychic, or have an newly-found gift, the best thing to learn is to use the mechanical tools. Like the wards, the ritual gear, the flyswatters and guns and all of that. I know those well enough, most of them are my designs. I can teach you to use it all in a couple of hours -- to make your own in a little longer. Read what I gave you -- it's a start. To help, though, hand me that packet for a moment -- who has it? Ah, yes. Thank you. Let's see..."
He thumbs through the packet for a moment, continuing in a quick clipped tone, as if marking off a checklist in his head.
"Setting aside the theory... think of ponic flux as a bit like electricity. It's got its own behavior, different rules. All this equipment makes use of basic rules. The more advanced stuff can't be made with simple wires -- needs fancier tools and rules.
"Mostly we use silver. Variations on the focusing rings Rebecca showed you. SIlver rings can collect energy, build it up until it's enough to do work. We use cascades of rings to power the bigger devices. But beware -- energies beyond what the human body is meant to hold can poison you, damage tissue, even kill.
"The base model EPG -- the galvanometer -- is just a bridge transformer between ponically activated silver and normal copper wire. Measures differences in level of flux. That little rod I gave you to use yesterday is a more advanced design, no more sensitive, just more sturdy and reliable than the ones in here.
"Flyswatters and screens -- sometimes you, or someone else, charges up the air. The charge, if it stays there, can be annoying -- especially if it's meant to do something you don't want, like spy on you or attack. Swatters are just metal mesh -- sometimes silver, or copper, or iron -- that you wave through the area. That alone is enough to disrupt any active organized structure there, but it usually causes random effects to be generated, sometimes annoying ones. You make a swatter more disruptive by running alternating current through it; make it safer by running a silver conduit from the mesh to a large mass of retentive metal, like a heat sink. The principle's simple -- silver sinks can be expensive though.
"Screens are the same. If a sorceror's aiming something at you, it's probably a bad thing. Block it with a disruptive mesh, preferably powered. Surround a sorceror on all sides with a powered mesh, it's very hard for him to call for help. Again, simple once you know the secret.
'Hayes wards, baxt spices, those are different. They come from published folklore, and have been proven effective in the field. Baxt comes from gypsy lore -- it's just a mixture of salt and pepper and herbs that drives off ghosts and spirits. Works well on disembodied people doing astral travel also. Don't try astral travel -- it's dangerous these days. Very. Hayes-Waite wards are passive defenses, they keep spirits and watchers, and other influences, away from you when you rest. They also contain the damage of an effect performed inside the ward; it works two ways. Learn them, draw them, mark them on the ground or lay them out in silver wire. Seal of Solomon, same idea. There are other seals too, more active ones. We can go over those some other time.
"What else, what else ... Photo fogging; Normal photographic film uses a silver emulsion. Silver reacts with the flux, so photos of flux phenomena, or in charged areas, rarely come out -- the emulsion is egraded by the energy. I understand that the Eastman company in the US is now producing flux-safe film for the American government, but I haven't seen any on the shelves here in Europe.
"Rituals and repetition -- read the packet. No secrets there. Spirit loops -- that's right, you asked about them, didn't you? More folklore that works. A little knotted silk string, like a hangman's noose; the knot is easy to learn. Loops attract passing spirits, trap them, and often destroy them. I don't know why, but they do function, and you can see them activate -- all you need is a spirit that doesn't mind dying to do a demonstration."
Carl looks arounf the table.
"There's a lot in here, gentlemen. I'm happy to answer your questions, but it's easier if I know exactly what you're looking for. For the moment, let's assume I'mheaded to Cornwall; meanwhile, I have to get in touch with others, find out what is happening out there, and see just how much damage we caused here in Bailey."
ELWAR
"Well the whole episode with our loss of time reminds me of Twain's story, "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", the protaganists unexplained travel back in time I mean, not the whole knights in armor tale. I understand the musical they did on Broadway in '27 was really good...but I'm getting off topic."
"Umm...two choices you say. I won't consider the third at this time. It really sounds as if the only immediate choice would be a trip to the library since you don't have time for a class. But what library? And what to read? You know Redland did mention a library in France that was of interest...Jack?" Elwar turns to Redland. "Allright you think about it Redland."
Addressing the group Elwar continues.
"I'd suggest waiting a week or two prior to moving forward to Cornwall, the Padstow area to be more specific. This would give those of us who need it time to adjust to this odd turn of events. I don' t have any pressing business at this time, but I'm sure others do. But I would like to read from the letter if you all don't mind, just the portion that seems to pertain to someone of Carl's general description and refrences the letter bearer."
Elwar pats his jack and then reaches into his coat producing an envelope. Removing the letter from the envelope he clears his throat and begins to read from the second page.
"As I walked along the road - I saw in the distance a figure standing upon the little bridge that fords Myers Stream. When I drew closer - I was not alarmed, becuase the man seemed to radiate from himself an aura of comfort and peace.
I thought perhaps that it might be a ghost or some other spirit - becuase as you have seen - sometimes they abound hereabouts.
But it was not a ghost - and I am unsure exactly what it might have been. Then, when I came upon the bridge, he made me a very elegant bow. He wore no hat, and was in a state of undress, having neither coat, nor vest nor tie - but in shirt sleeves like a common laborer."
Elwar looks up and says, "I'll add that author is named Laura and the letter addressed to Donal, I suspect that Donal is my missing friend Jock. The letter is dated January 1890, written from Answell Estate, apparently near Padstow." He looks back at the letter and continues.
"He was of middling height, with rich brown hair, and wore small glasses - his face was kind, and his eyes dark - he seemed to hold many secrets, and yet there was an honesty that inspired trust.
He said to me - You do not know me yet - but you will. And what I have to give you will bring both great sorrow and joy. I am but a King in disguise, hidden now so that my enemies cannot find me. My realm is that Which Will Be - and while you cannot be a part of my realm, you will partake of it - and or something greater - should you accept what is offered.
Laura drew up her courage and asked, "If you you are in disguise - how will I know when you have come?"
Elwar traces a finger down the page, "Let me see....ahh." He continues.
"You will know me when someone who is dear to you brings you the letter you will write about me. He will read your words, and he will recognize my face. He will lead my court and I back to Answell, and many things that were hidden from you by purpose may be made clear.
Laura - you may trust the bearer of the letter with your life - for you will find all who come under the protection of your letter to be honorable - and to be worthy of that Which Will Come."
Elwar places the letter back into the envelope.
"Oh and if we do have time Carl could you help me construct the devices you mention. Maybe starting with the flyswatter unless you think something else more appropriate."
CARL
Carl listens to the silence for a moment, after John finishes speaking.
"All right, John," he replies simply. "Thank you for the comparison, and for your trust. I'll be happy to show you what you want to know."
He looks around the remainder of the group.
"There are good libraries in France, and central Spain, and in Tibet, and a couple in the States. We don't have time for those. We cannot afford even to lose a week; if any of you wish to go to the house in France, I shall be happy to furnish introductions, but too much time has alerady been lost.
"Rebecca, do you have a complete field kit with you? If not, we can get all the equipment we will need at my house in London. It's on the way. The other question -- Auda? Will you stay here? They'll need you, or at least the land will. And we shall have to meet with Cedra, either here or in London also. "
Carl's eyes rest briefly on each face.
"What say you all?"
