Rivers Between Us - Revision history

Rivers Between Us: /* The Least God's Master */

2007-02-09T02:23:43Z

The Least God's Master

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 ==The Least God's Master==
 Of course I only recall your prior incarnation's latter days, after he had already reached the height of his powers and achieved the pinacle achievement of the entire first age, that being the genesis of that most marvelous apogee of mortal achievement, that fantastic, metamorphasizing, splendid and...
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 -''[[Seven Thousand Wonders Unfolding]], Least God of [[The Infinite City]]''
 == A Clockwork Prodigy ==

JasonK at 02:52, 19 January 2007

2007-01-19T02:52:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:52, 19 January 2007
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	-''[[Seven Thousand Wonders Unfolding]], Least God of [[The Infinite City]]''		-''[[Seven Thousand Wonders Unfolding]], Least God of [[The Infinite City]]''


	== A Clockwork Prodigy ==		== A Clockwork Prodigy ==

JasonK at 02:52, 19 January 2007

2007-01-19T02:52:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:52, 19 January 2007
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	-''[[Gallian]], Rivers' Uncle''		-''[[Gallian]], Rivers' Uncle''


	==A Cog in the Machine==		==A Cog in the Machine==
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	-''[[Elyssa]]'', Serving-girl		-''[[Elyssa]]'', Serving-girl


	==The Wondersmith Reborn==		==The Wondersmith Reborn==
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	-''Rivers Between Us''		-''Rivers Between Us''


	==Epilogue==		==Epilogue==
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	“I will always be there for you.”		“I will always be there for you.”


	----		----

	[[River's Contacts]]		[[River's Contacts]]

	[[Heaven's Mandate]]		[[Heaven's Mandate]]

Rivers Between Us at 19:54, 18 January 2007

2007-01-18T19:54:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:54, 18 January 2007
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	-''Rivers Between Us''		-''Rivers Between Us''

			==Epilogue==

			The frame was nearly completed. Struts of alloy had been welded to the chassis, wrapping snuggly around the essence collectors and mist generators in a scaled down, modestly constructed version of its first age predecessors. The clockwork efficacy servitors worked silently around him, never questioning, never speaking. Rivers Between Us worked alone in the dream and the nightmare of the subterranean fortress, the Infinite City.

			“Brother?”

			[[Marta]] entered accompanied by a folding servant. She was still small, like her brother, though the past year and the many preparations for the wedding had given her a deeper bloom. She was becoming a woman; her eyes no longer shined with the bright, tenuous hope of her childhood. They were somehow softer, more lovely, with the wisdom gained by living through the events of the past years. She entered wearing the same dress she had worn last time she had entered the Infinite City, but her solemn expression was so changed that she was barely recognizable as the same person.

			“Ah. Marta. What are you doing in this horrible place? The Halls of Venus are not for the living, not these days.” He bent over his blueprints and began flipping through them.

			“I was looking for you… you know, after the prayer, I thought you were going to start living in the Retreat again…”

			“I was.”

			“But I haven’t seen you… for almost three months now.”

			Rivers winced and grabbed a wrench. He half ran to the project and began tightening bolts. The servitors looked at him with confusion for a moment, then began following him and loosening the bolts to the appropriate level of tension. Marta did not notice.

			“Is it true… about the wedding?”

			Rivers dropped the wrench. “Blast those spies. I told them to get back to work. Will they never stop watching me?”

			“Oh…”

			He placed both hands on the frame and leaned over it, staring at the floor. “I’m sorry. I just… really needed… uh…”

			“No, it’s all right, I understand completely…” She began blinking rapidly. Her voice caught in her throat, and she found herself looking for a place to sit.

			The sorcerer stood and drew his robes about himself. He stepped over to her slowly and lifted one hand to hold the back of her head gently. “There’s more, actually. Marta… sister… you have someone else to look out…”

			“Will you be there?” She interrupted him breathlessly. “It’s just a couple of months away. You can wait that long, right? You haven’t finished your project.”

			Rivers’ face became blank. He too had changed much in the past year; though he was still shorter than all of his automatons, his hair had grown into an unruly tangle, constantly on the verge of sweeping into his face. His round face had lost the boyish glow and feverish tinge that had flushed it for so long, the features hardening through the rigorous training of the snake style. His voice was even, almost flat when he spoke the words, as though they were a scripture written in stone since the beginning of time.

			“I will always be there for you.”

	----		----

Rivers Between Us: /* A Clockwork Prodigy */

2006-11-27T20:56:54Z

A Clockwork Prodigy

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:56, 27 November 2006
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	== A Clockwork Prodigy ==		== A Clockwork Prodigy ==

	My wife died ~~in the last charge~~. [[Red Flanks]] was her captain, but I bear him no ill will, for he too was felled by the side of his ~~own~~ mate, the fair haired Selenn. My only shame is that I was in the forge when they made their last charge, for I have never been a warrior.		My wife died there. [[Red Flanks]] was her captain, but I bear him no ill will, for he too was felled by the side of his mate, the fair haired Selenn. My only shame is that I was in the forge when they made their last charge, for I have never been a warrior.

	In a single day in the battle of Mishaka, thousands were felled at a time, so my sorrow is not a lonely one. It is still mine. Wife, ~~Sister~~-in-law, and ~~Brother were~~ all seeding the earth, slain not by the honorable edge of a sword, but by the pitiless ravages of sorcery. I wept for them for a day, then I took our children, my own [[Chester]] and their three young ones, and I went home.		In a single day in the battle of Mishaka thousands were felled at a time, so my sorrow is not a lonely one. It is still mine. Wife, sister-in-law, and brother are all seeding the earth, slain not by the honorable edge of a sword, but by the pitiless ravages of sorcery. I wept for them for a day, but then I took our children, my own [[Chester]] and their three young ones, and I went home.

	Nathan was their eldest, and he was only four. The others were too young to feel the loss as more than a nameless ache, but he knew their absence as a real thing. Perhaps that is what bound us. Every day he followed me, will I or nil I. So he followed me to the forge. ~~The forge is~~ a dangerous place, and I knew this. My own son I would not allow within (and he had not the patience for the craft; he rides, and that is enough for both of us), but if I had barred the child then he would have died of his misery, sickly as he was. Thus at six he knew all of my tools, ~~and~~ how to make horseshoe, plowshare, ~~and a~~ sword. In another two years he had the strength to attempt such things, if he deigned to.		Nathan was their eldest, and he was only four. The others were too young to feel the loss as more than a nameless ache, but he knew their absence as a real thing. Perhaps that is what bound us. Every day he followed me where I went, will I or nil I. So he followed me to the forge. It was a dangerous place, and I knew this. My own son I would not allow within (and he had not the patience for the craft; he rides, and that is enough for both of us), but if I had barred the child then he would have died of his misery, sickly as he was. Thus at six he knew all of my tools, how to make a horseshoe, plowshare, or sword. In another two years he had the strength to attempt such things, if he deigned to.

	His was a mind of gears and metal.		His was a mind of gears and metal.

	I knew when he rebuilt my bellows that I was not ready for him. He redesigned the forge so that the heat of the fire fueled a device that pumped the bellows automatically, with three speed settings as necessary. He constructed a system of waterways that traveled above the ground to provide irrigation to distant fields in our village, and when he fancied making a lizard skin boots he designed a set of traps that would not harm the skin of its prey. All this he did to impress me, I knew, for he wanted me to be his father, which I am not. Even so, I tried to act the part ~~of the father~~. I knew that this adopted son had learned all he could from me, so I arranged for him to be taught in Lookshy by ~~the sorcerer engineers at~~ his ninth birthday.		I knew when he rebuilt my bellows that I was not ready for him. He redesigned the forge so that the heat of the fire fueled a device that pumped the bellows automatically, with three speed settings as necessary. He constructed a system of waterways that traveled above the ground to provide irrigation to distant fields in our village, and when he fancied making a pair of lizard skin boots he designed a set of traps that would not harm the skin of its prey. All this he did to impress me, I knew, for he wanted me to be his father, which I am not. Even so, I tried to act the part. I knew that this adopted son had learned all he could from me, so I arranged for him to be taught in Lookshy by his ninth birthday.

	I was proud of Nathan. I still wonder if I killed him.		I was proud of Nathan. I still wonder if I killed him.

Rivers Between Us: /* The Least God's Master */

2006-11-27T20:50:37Z

The Least God's Master

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:50, 27 November 2006
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	His creation was never truly tested. He had studied the pattern spiders extensively while creating the Infinite City, and found it necessary to carefully integrate certain fate interdiction engines into the city's essence reactor core. These extreme measures were required to accomodate the massive essence drain of the city into the very fabric of creation. However, as soon as the city was fully activated, it buried itself beneath the surface of the earth a full hundred miles before it could be shut down. After extensive study, and several false restarts were the city again began burrowing, Jeddish realized the truth. The city's fate engines had integrated with the control grid to provide a destiny aversion countermeasure. By studying the city, he predicted the usurpation.		His creation was never truly tested. He had studied the pattern spiders extensively while creating the Infinite City, and found it necessary to carefully integrate certain fate interdiction engines into the city's essence reactor core. These extreme measures were required to accomodate the massive essence drain of the city into the very fabric of creation. However, as soon as the city was fully activated, it buried itself beneath the surface of the earth a full hundred miles before it could be shut down. After extensive study, and several false restarts were the city again began burrowing, Jeddish realized the truth. The city's fate engines had integrated with the control grid to provide a destiny aversion countermeasure. By studying the city, he predicted the usurpation.

	Thus he sealed the city. He chose to face the usurpation bravely and meet his accusers, to live and die without fear or regret. He was at the banquet. Allegedly (and there are no reliable memories of the event) they attacked him with a dozen warstriders, but the war machines refused to attack ~~him~~, instead kneeling in a circle ~~before him~~. The operators climbed from their machines and slew him while he laughed ~~at them~~, cryptically saying, "Your glory will rust and fail you, but ours is infinitely renewing!"		Thus he sealed the city. He chose to face the usurpation bravely and meet his accusers, to live and die without fear or regret. He was at the banquet. Allegedly (and there are no reliable memories of the event) they attacked him with a dozen warstriders, but the war machines refused to attack, instead kneeling in a circle at his feet. The operators climbed from their machines and slew him while he laughed, cryptically saying, "Your glory will rust and fail you, but ours is infinitely renewing!"

	-''[[Seven Thousand Wonders Unfolding]], Least God of [[The Infinite City]]''		-''[[Seven Thousand Wonders Unfolding]], Least God of [[The Infinite City]]''

Rivers Between Us: /* The Least God's Master */

2006-11-27T20:49:32Z

The Least God's Master

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:49, 27 November 2006
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	''A little while later...''		''A little while later...''
	His creation was never truly tested. He had studied the pattern spiders extensively while creating the Infinite City~~. It was~~ necessary ~~for him~~ to carefully integrate certain fate interdiction engines into the city's essence reactor core. ~~It was necessary~~ to ~~incorporate~~ the massive essence drain of the city into the very fabric of creation. However, as soon as the city was fully activated, it buried beneath the surface of the earth a full hundred miles before it could be shut down. After extensive study, and several false restarts were the city again began burrowing, Jeddish realized the truth. The city's fate engines had integrated with the control grid to provide a destiny aversion countermeasure. By studying the city, he predicted the usurpation.		His creation was never truly tested. He had studied the pattern spiders extensively while creating the Infinite City, and found it necessary to carefully integrate certain fate interdiction engines into the city's essence reactor core. These extreme measures were required to accomodate the massive essence drain of the city into the very fabric of creation. However, as soon as the city was fully activated, it buried itself beneath the surface of the earth a full hundred miles before it could be shut down. After extensive study, and several false restarts were the city again began burrowing, Jeddish realized the truth. The city's fate engines had integrated with the control grid to provide a destiny aversion countermeasure. By studying the city, he predicted the usurpation.

	Thus he sealed the city. He chose to face the usurpation bravely and meet his accusers, to live and die without fear or regret. He was at the banquet. Allegedly (and there are no reliable memories of the event) they attacked him with a dozen warstriders, but the war machines refused to attack him, instead kneeling in a circle before him. The operators climbed from their machines and slew him while he laughed at them, cryptically saying, "Your glory will rust and fail you, but ours is infinitely renewing!"		Thus he sealed the city. He chose to face the usurpation bravely and meet his accusers, to live and die without fear or regret. He was at the banquet. Allegedly (and there are no reliable memories of the event) they attacked him with a dozen warstriders, but the war machines refused to attack him, instead kneeling in a circle before him. The operators climbed from their machines and slew him while he laughed at them, cryptically saying, "Your glory will rust and fail you, but ours is infinitely renewing!"

JasonK at 01:40, 3 July 2006

2006-07-03T01:40:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:40, 3 July 2006
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	[[Image:Rivers.jpg\|thumb\|Rivers - Circa RY 768]]~~== The Least God's Master ==~~		[[Image:Rivers.jpg\|thumb\|Rivers - Circa RY 768]]

			==The Least God's Master==
	Of course I only recall your prior incarnation's latter days, after he had already reached the height of his powers and achieved the pinacle achievement of the entire first age, that being the genesis of that most marvelous apogee of mortal achievement, that fantastic, metamorphasizing, splendid and...		Of course I only recall your prior incarnation's latter days, after he had already reached the height of his powers and achieved the pinacle achievement of the entire first age, that being the genesis of that most marvelous apogee of mortal achievement, that fantastic, metamorphasizing, splendid and...

Rivers Between Us: /* The Wondersmith Reborn */

2006-06-30T21:13:15Z

The Wondersmith Reborn

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:13, 30 June 2006
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	----		----

			[[River's Contacts]]

	[[Heaven's Mandate]]		[[Heaven's Mandate]]

Rivers Between Us: /* A Cog in the Machine */

2006-06-30T20:36:04Z

A Cog in the Machine

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:36, 30 June 2006
Line 33:		Line 33:
	==A Cog in the Machine==		==A Cog in the Machine==

	I remember thinking it was funny that a student ~~in the Division of Sorcerous Tactical Support~~ spent so little time in the ~~Fabrication Sector~~. To be sure, Nathan always had three books open in front of him, even when he was ordering. I can read, you know, but I couldn't read the books that he had in front him. I did like to look at the pictures sometimes, and if he was in a good mood (he usually was, at first) then he would try to explain them to me. It set my head spinning for hours at a time; I'd stay up late at night thinking of ritual empowerment interlacing interfaces and automated implosion defences.		I remember thinking it was funny that Darius's favorite student spent so little time in the Savant District. To be sure, Nathan always had three books open in front of him, even when he was ordering. I can read, you know, but I couldn't read the books that he had in front him. I did like to look at the pictures sometimes, and if he was in a good mood (he usually was, at first) then he would try to explain them to me. It set my head spinning for hours at a time; I'd stay up late at night thinking of ritual empowerment interlacing interfaces and automated implosion defences.

	I understand people. Since I've been helping my mother, serving drinks and cleaning tables since I was old enough to walk, I've been listening and watching. I knew that Nathan wasn't happy here. He was a Murakani at heart; he never did like the curfews and the mandatory military training. Oh, he was fine with it at first, I think, as long as he could keep reading. He loved the libraries and the machines. I think he liked me too... but...		I understand people. Since I've been helping my mother, serving drinks and cleaning tables since I was old enough to walk, I've been listening and watching. I knew that Nathan wasn't happy here. He was a Murakani at heart; he never did like the curfews and the mandatory military training. Oh, he was fine with it at first, I think, as long as he could keep reading. He loved the libraries and the machines. I think he liked me too... but...
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	Only later did I learn the whole story; how he had tried to flee the team in the middle of an expedition, and the cruelty of [[Eight]] in response. I haven't seen him for months now; [[Berren]] says the whole team was... but I can't believe it, I can't even think about it. It's too horrible.		Only later did I learn the whole story; how he had tried to flee the team in the middle of an expedition, and the cruelty of [[Eight]] in response. I haven't seen him for months now; [[Berren]] says the whole team was... but I can't believe it, I can't even think about it. It's too horrible.

	He was so quick, bright, and funny, but so sad near the end. I pray~~, in spite of myself,~~ that he made it out safely, that maybe in the end he escaped. I know I shouldn't; I know he tried to abandon his responsibilities, which is criminal, but he wasn't meant for [[Lookshy]]. I don't know which I want more, to see him safely again, or for him to never return.		He was so quick, bright, and funny, but so sad near the end. I pray to Tien Yu that he made it out safely, that maybe in the end he escaped. I know I shouldn't; I know he tried to abandon his responsibilities, which is criminal, but he wasn't meant for [[Lookshy]]. I don't know which I want more, to see him safely again, or for him to never return.

	-''[[Elyssa]]'', Serving-girl		-''[[Elyssa]]'', Serving-girl


	==The Wondersmith Reborn==		==The Wondersmith Reborn==