Geoffrey Stone Elainne Dunaway GLOUCESTER ABBEY December, 1917 A.D. Gloucester .......... ~~ Elainne ~~ Elainne watches the woman leave and hears the echoes of her words come drifting back. "If you came to me, I would mentor you," Payal had said. She turned, trying to prevent herself from thinking about it all. Then, she eyed the scant amount of luggage she had with her -- nowhere near enough to last for the few days or more she suspected Geoffrey might want to stay. She wandered over toward the window to peer out at the surrounding grounds the the tendrils of a wandering vine. A frown had appeared to turn down the corners of her lips as she went back over the last twenty- four hours. Her mind ticked off the evidence so far. First, she had vivid memories of bombs going off very near her. Second, she remembered the sensation of skin being peeled off her face from the blast and impact. Third, there was a long period of time she could not account for.... Fourth was the strange feelings she kept having whenever one of "us" was near. Geoffrey made her feel it. The woman on the steps had done the same. Payal had, too. She realized that others in the abbey had created in her the same bizarre sensations. The only things speaking against some so-called transformation were common sense.... and common sense. She leaned her head against the window, fighting what she feared might be the truth. She already had quoted to herself the well-known line from Sherlock Holmes multiple times. And, no matter how she continued to consider things, the evidence kept pointing toward what these strangers kept telling her. A shudder ran through her, then she lifted her head to stare over her shoulder at the door. She had lost her clothes. She had lost her money. She had little left to her name. "What do I owe to the front?... other than that I'm a doctor and they need doctors?" And, with that, she made up her mind. She walked to the door and out into the hall, peering back and forth. Payal was already gone, which disappointed her only slightly. She immediately made a path for the main entryway -- hoping to find someone who could direct her to Payal's chambers. <><><><><> [GM] As you head for the main entry, you almost walk right into Geoffrey, emerging from the head Abbot's office. ..... "Not all immortals become so callous," Brother Paul replies. "We of the...order, try very hard to support those of you willing to seek our aid, in the hopes that by providing a place of refuge when the stress of the Game becomes too much, and offering spiritual guidance when it's wanted, more of you will NOT lose your humanity. We are not sure exactly where you immortals fit into the Lord's plan, but we believe you have a place in it as surely as mankind does. So we watch, and wait." "However, you are probably tired and hungry. And your new fledgling is no doubt as frightened and confused as you were when you first awoke. We'll have time to talk later, but I think we should see to Miss Dunaway now. Mmmm. Especially since there's no telling what our other guest will do with you two arriving." He rises, and opens the door, indicating you should precede him. Coming out of his office, you almost stumble into Elainne. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey relaxes a bit at Brother Paul's words. "I suppose there must be a reason why we are chosen, but there's no reason why we should understand." He grins. "Yes, I am hungry. It was a long journey." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ A quick smile comes. "Geoffrey!" She sounds like she has been off sight-seeing with the pleasant lilt to her voice. "I see you're done with your meeting." She looks past him down the hallway. "You wouldn't happen to have seen an Asian woman around here, have you? She and I had the most wonderful chat earlier, and I'd like to continue it." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey looks more relaxed than when he went in. "Sorry, I haven't seen anyone. Who is she?" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She smiles at him. "Her name is Payal. She's offered to tutor me..... so I don't lose my head." Although, the last several words are a bit mocking, they also contain a hint of bare honesty. She has come further in accepting everything and wants him to recognize it. <><><><><> [GM] Brother Paul, following behind Geoffrey, blinks and makes a small coughing sound when Elainne mentions being tutored by Payal. "Miss Dunaway.....I don't wish to be presumptuous, but...." he hesitates, glances at Geoffrey, and back at Elainne. "Well. I do hope you will....consider the matter, very carefully. Perhaps you should talk it over with Lieutenant Stone first, and then if you wish, I am available. A relationship such as you are considering is not one to be entered lightly." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She gave the monk an odd look as he walked away, not wanting to dismiss advice honestly given, but also not wanting to ignore her own instincts and intuitions. She looked expectantly to Geoffrey. "So, uh.... do you know something I don't?" <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey frowned, and spoke quietly. "No, not really. Brother Paul was evasive about her, merely referring to her as someone to possibly avoid." He shrugged. "A bit like that young woman we met - her name is Annafyn, by the way." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ "Annafyn, you say?" she muses for a bit. Then, she looks at him again, rather calmly. "Well, I'll think about this Payal woman. Maybe after I get to know her a bit better, I'll be able to tell. Did you find anything else out during your talk? I think I like the idea of learning ways to keep my head atop my shoulders. It might come in useful.... when I finally reach the front." The last little bit was her own way of justifying her curiosity about all of this. But, she did not mind. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "Not a lot, no. The monastery is a sort of refuge for immortals, and Brother Paul provides what spiritual help he can: feelings of guilt aren't unusual. I explained to him that I'm not a very good mentor for you - I don't know much about being an immortal myself, so I'm not much of a teacher. I think he'd rather you stayed here until a more suitable immortal came along." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ Elainne darkens a bit. "More suitable?" And, she looks at him pointedly for a moment, blinking once to accent her question. Just as quickly, she brightens and the look is washed away. She shrugs. "I suppose. I haven't had any other offers, though. Have you got someone to.... teach you what you need to know in sword-play?" Her gaze drifts down to the sword at his side momentarily before she again meets his eyes quietly. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] He smiled. "For all I know, his only objection to the other immortal here might be that she's a different religion. He certainly wouldn't explain why he thought her unsuitable. "General Cumberland is teaching me some sword-fighting, yes." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She was not exactly fond of how ready everyone seemed to determine her best course of action. But, then again, it certainly seemed more sane than the initial proposition that they all were immortal. No sense in arguing with Geoffrey about it. Her curiosity was high enough about Payal that she would seek her out again. Of that, she was certain. For now, she would follow along with the prescribed regimen, though, and wait things out. "Oh. Ok." She looks up and down the hall....then gives a slight smile. "So, did you learn anything new with your talk at all?" <><><><><> [Geoffrey] He gives her a quick summary of his talk with Brother Paul. "Brother Paul and some of the other brothers know about immortals, but not all of them. This abbey is a sort of sanctuary, providing refuge and aid to immortals - it seems that it's not unusual for a new immortal to feel guilty about their condition." He falls silent for a moment, then continues. "The tradition is for an older immortal to teach a new immortal about... well, about immortality. Otherwise, the new immortal is just easy prey for anyone who hunts us. "The young woman we passed, Annafyn, is at least three hundred years old. Her mentor is a pre-Christian Celt, obsessed with driving all non- Celts out of Britain. Immortality certainly allows for new extremes of racial intolerance!" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ "I see. And, I suppose that seems reasonable enough. But, if we are in a sanctuary, what would it matter if we try to learn from anyone here..... 'desirable' or no?" She muses. A bit of her pride shines through, but she falls silent to quell the other comments lingering on the tip of her tongue. She looks down the long entryway, breathing in long and slowly. Then, she turns a slight smile to Geoffrey. "I think it is time to eat." She says this as if it is some sudden revelation, and the smile broadens. "All this talk of elders and immortals still seems fanciful to me, no matter how much I have been convinced. I am going to seek out some dinner. And, I would be grateful if you would join me." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey laughs. "Yes, I think it is time to eat; I'm always hungry." Then he sobers slightly. "You're probably right; I'm only passing on what Brother Paul said. But bear in mind that he's unlikely to allow much training in the abbey; you won't be in sanctuary when your mentor starts teaching you. That may be what he's worried about: that an immortal will use the abbey as a way of locating easy prey." <><><><><> [GM] The abbey has two main dining areas....one for the monks, and one for visitors. The one for visitors is smaller, but more comfortable; it actually has fairly modern furniture, and a few periodicals sitting on the tables. Geoffrey and Elainne must fetch their own bread and soup. They also get some fresh vegetables. Not wonderful fare, but nourishing...and better than what Geoffrey was used to on the front (at least before he became General Cumberland's aide-de-camp.) Brother Paul and the other monks remain inobtrusive, as if loathe to disturb the two immortals. It seems they can wander wherever they will within the monastary, and remain isolated unless they actually seek out one of the brothers. However, the solitude of their dinner doesn't last long. Shortly after they've sat down to eat, Payal comes through the door, wearing a full- length sari, bright red with a blue and yellow pattern stitched along the hems. This is Geoffrey's first look at the Indian immortal. Involuntarily, he freezes and is caught staring at her. She is exquisitely beautiful. Her delicately tinted eyelids accentuate their exotic almond shape, her long black hair shines in the light of the new electric lamps installed on the walls. She still wears the silver bracelets she had on when she visited Elainne's room. And she still has the red dot set prominently on her forehead. As she moves, tantalizing glimpses of her slim brown waist are visible beneath the folds of her sari, and the way she walks is unlike anything Geoffrey has ever encountered....perfectly modest and decent, and yet every movement seems to draw his eye to the configuration of her garment, searching for the outline of her body underneath. The young Englishman is captivated for a moment. Elainne sees the effect Payal is having on him....she's every schoolboy's lurid fantasy come to life. As if totally unaware of her allure, Payal sashays over to the table where the two are already seated, and takes a seat on the bench next to Elainne. "Hello again, little sister." She smiles at Elainne, then turns suddenly and fixes her gaze on Geoffrey. Abruptly his blood runs from hot to cold. Her eyes, her smile, are as beautiful as before, but it seems to be the lethal beauty of a viper, poised to strike. General Cumberland, over three hundred years old, had an unusual presence about him, and Geoffrey sensed a little of it in his brief encounter with General Von Kesselnau....but never *anything* like the vibes this mysterious Hindi woman puts out. As if she can stop your heart with a change of expression. "I already met Miss Dunaway....ah, excuse me...*Doctor* Dunaway," the older immortal says. "I had to meet the other newcomer to our society." Her voice is soft and demure, yet there is also an icy quality about it. "You would be....Geoffrey?" She says this as if she is actually thinking of other words to use in place of his name....like "prey" or "dinner".... <><><><><> [Geoffrey] *God, that woman's beautiful* thinks Geoffrey, restraining his tongue from falling out and unrolling across the table. He stares, unable to help himself, taking in the veiled hints of the body beneath. Payal couldn't be more attention-getting if she'd walked in naked. Then she sits down and looks at him, and it's like a delousing shower at the Front. Now he could see why Brother Paul was worried about her; it wasn't a question of her religion or appearance. Payal was cold-blooded enough to freeze a snake. General Cumberland was a hunter, if not a very adept one. General Von Kesselnau was probably the same. Payal was to them like a three-year veteran was to a schoolboy. It further emphasized that he had a *lot* still to learn about immortals. "Greetings... Payal?" he responds, and briefly bows his head towards her. How he wished he'd had an upbringing to train him in the social graces, rather than how to lay bricks! <><><><><> [GM] "Yes. Payal." Her smile becomes tight-lipped. "Payal Khurjekar, of Hindustan. Or what you English call India." "So, have you taken it upon yourself to teach Doctor Dunaway the ways of our society, young man? You can't be very old yourself...." Physically, Payal looks younger than either of the other two, but Geoffrey can tell her 'young man' would be accurate even if he wasn't still the same age he appears. "Why, you hardly seem ready to venture out into the world by yourself yet." Is she bluffing, or is that obvious to her that Geoffrey is still a fledgling himself? And the implied menace is all too obvious. "May I ask who mentored you and sent you away so early?" Recent history in India suggests a number of attitudes this woman might have towards an English military officer....few of them pleasant. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey is confident that Payal is *not* bluffing. He must seem very green for an immortal; the immortal that General Cumberland had been hunting, von Kesselnau, had immediately known he was the General's pupil. Still, that was no reason to give any more away than he had to. "No, I'm only 22... and there are younger than me still in France. This war's going to tear the heart out of a whole generation, on both sides. As to why I'm not still in France, my CO ordered me to leave the Front and come here." *Now to see if Payal can deduce who he is from that*, thinks Geoffrey, *If she can, I'll know just how well she keeps tabs on other immortals.* <><><><><> [GM] Payal's response doesn't reveal whether or not she's guessed Geoffrey's mentor. She simply says "I see," and nods. "Twenty-two....a dangerous age for mortals. A very dangerous age for immortals." She smiles and turns to Elainne. "And what are your plans now, then?" <><><><><> [Geoffrey] *She's someone to watch* thinks Geoffrey. *In both senses of the word*, he adds wryly. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She listens intently to the two other immortals as they toy with each other. Clearly, Payal is a master..... and Geoffrey's admirable attempts at seeming fearless make her smile. She liked him. She was not exactly sure what about him made her feel that way..... his gentle British charm..... the matter-of-fact way he dealt with being immortal.... It didn't matter. She appreciated the company he had been affording her. Payal's question to her took her initially a bit off-guard. She enjoyed best being able to sit back and observe, to take in things around herself and assimilate it all. Payal's presence, with her attention more keenly turned to Geoffrey, was a prime opportunity to do exactly that. Certainly, she got the sense that this woman was a snake beneath the surface. But, she could not help but also get the feeling she could make a great role model in terms of strength and potential. She wondered just how much mental strength these immortals acquired through the years..... and how simple it might be to learn what she could, then move on......? "My plans?" she repeated, collecting her thoughts. "To be honest, I'll probably wait as long as possible to make my final decision on your offer." She felt like such an innocent school girl suddenly, but pushed aside the notion stubbornly. "I'd just been talking to Geoffrey about your kind offer..... and was considering what would be the best choice overall. Besides you two, though..... I haven't met too many others. Do many willingly teach the youn...," quickly she changed it to, "...less experienced ones?" She wanted to ask a lot more. The clinical instinct in her wanted to switch gears and start the open-ended questions.... get to the root of whatever Payal might have to offer..... illicit from her any information she might be willing and able to give. She could tell Geoffrey had wanted badly to help her, and she appreciated everything he had known. But, here was the prime opportunity to really delve into some of this -- and she feared passing it up. <><><><><> [GM] Payal considers you for a moment. Her expression is just as calculating as when she studied Geoffrey, but she doesn't turn that cobra's gaze on you. "Many elders will teach newcomers to the Game," she says. "And here in England there are many such elders." "However, women are comparatively rare among our kind. Oh, we *become* immortals in the same ratio as men....but few of us survive. It has always been difficult, for women." She smiles and relaxes slightly, regarding Elainne with an almost kindly expression. "You won't find many female elders. You won't find many men who are willing to train a woman, or who will know how." She glances at Geoffrey. "I doubt the Lieutenant's mentor will be a good teacher for you, even if he could be enticed away from the front?" She cocks an eyebrow at the Englishman. Then she leans forward and whispers to Elainne, "I have lived for *centuries*. Many have tried to take my head....but as you can see, it remains attached." "You need to find a teacher quickly, little sister. Honorable immortals will not slay one so young....but there are many who are not honorable. And you have already learned, we cannot hide from one another." "As for waiting, the longest possible time you have to do so is until tomorrow." She rises gracefully, and nods her head to both of you. "My business here is almost done, and I shall be leaving then." As she walks away, she glances over her shoulder at Geoffrey. "If you decline my offer, see that you both take great care, when venturing outside holy ground. It is a dangerous world for fledglings who have no mentor to protect them." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] >"I doubt the Lieutenant's mentor will be a good teacher for you, even if he >could be enticed away from the front?" She cocks an eyebrow at the >Englishman. Geoffrey nods in agreement. "He is not the best of teachers, no. Yet he appears to have mentored several other immortals." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ Her eyes did not leave Payal until she had fully left the room. It was strange to her.... almost as if the woman was surrouned by a strange aura. She wished she had thought about it sooner..... She turned back to Geoffrey with as matte an expression as possible, but she knew she was failing to entirely hide the little coy smile begging to come to the surface. "That...." she paused for dramatic effect, "was Payal." She was curious what Geoffrey might now say. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "That... was Payal" echoes Geoffrey. "I can see why Brother Paul is wary of her. Apart from her looks and her religion, that is... I think she's a hunter. Someone who hunts down other immortals." He purses his lips. "I don't understand it - Cumberland never explained it to me - but there's something special about the death of an immortal, something that causes some other immortals to seek it out. Cumberland called it The Quickening, and claimed that it looked like a fireworks display and felt incredible. I imagine it's like a drug, like opium - take it too often, and it becomes a habit that's hard to break." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ "Mmmm. I suppose that would make sense. I know she warned me earlier that others would be seeking us out while we were young and defenseless. But.... what a horrible way to live.... always in fear of being attacked." She places both elbows onto the table, then rests her chin into her cupped hands. "Well. You've got a mentor, Geoffrey," she finally adds resolutely. "I have nothing, as yet. And.... so far, my only offer is this Payal. I don't have a clue how to use a sword..... or a whip..... and I've only barely used my father's gun when I was younger." Her eyes took on a far-off expression. "My dad always wanted me to stick around the farm and tend things there.... so I got pretty good at some things you men do. But, playing around with long sticks and shiny objects was not one of them." She sighed. "Right now, I don't have a lot of options. And, I really am not ready to die.....," she finally focuses on him, offering a weak smile, "....again." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "OK. But take care - maybe it's just her different culture, but I don't think she can be trusted." He smiles at her talk of guns. "I'm told it's unsporting to shoot an immortal and whack their head off with a shovel while they're trying to recover. Shame - I thought I'd found a new use for an entrenching tool." His eyes twinkle mischievously. "`Fighting Immortals, the Spear & Jackson way'" [OOC: Spear & Jackson are a famous tool company, making everything from saws to spades] <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She grins at his joke and chuckles softly. It was nice to have a companion. Still... there was a slight edge to her every movement, as if much was on her mind. She was nowhere near certain what her best overall option would be. But, as time passed and she began more and more to subscribe to the notion that everything occuring around her was indeed true and not some fanciful dream.... she also became more wary of how best to proceed. Payal's offer was tempting. Elainne knew she herself had always been a quick study.... from everything like riding a horse... to reading volumes of literature... to catching greased pigs at the county fair. Her biggest fear was that Geoffrey was not only right... but that Payal would lop off her head as soon as they left together. She knew she could put up no fight. She let her chin slump a bit further between her hands. "Well.... maybe I'll get lucky and the perfect offer will come my way before I have to give Payal an answer." She smiled softly at him. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] He smiled back, and shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe Payal will turn out to be a great mentor. After all, my own mentor is a hunter, though he doesn't seem to be very good at it; Payal might be a hunter who only goes after immortals who cross her in some way. Maybe you can get more details out of Brother Paul than I could." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She nods, still with her chin lowered between her palms. It seems she really is considering her options heavily. She lifts her eyes to Geoffrey, takes a deep breath in....then straightens up. "I think I'll do that. I have to do something..... hiding here in a monastery for the rest of my life just does not sound enjoyable to me." She stands and smiles broadly at Geoffrey. "Wish me luck." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "Good luck" he says, cheerfully. Then, slightly more thoughtfully: "I think we'll all need it." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She gave Geoffrey a lop-sided grin. "Some say it's better to be lucky than good. It'd be nice to be a little of both...." She lifted to a stand. "I hope we can talk again later, Geoffrey." Then, she departed in search of Brother Paul. <><><><><> [GM] You find Brother Paul at the chapel, talking to another monk. When he spots you, he bows to the other man, murmurs something to break off the conversation, and comes over to you. "Is there something I can do for you, Miss Dunaway?" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She smiles softly at Brother Paul. "I hope so. I suppose my biggest question concerns my future." She takes a long breath in and looks out over the walls surrounding the abbey for several moments. Then, she looks back at him. "I recognize that I will need a teacher. I really do not want to live the rest of my life locked behind the walls of some hideaway..... and I don't want to lose my head. Can you make some suggestions for me? I really feel like a fish out of water here." <><><><><> [GM] "Hmmm." The abbot exhales at length, and then beckons for you to follow him. "Would you come with me to my office, please? It's a...better place to talk." Better meaning no other monks likely to wander through. In his small, crowded study, filled with books both ancient and recent, he sits behind his desk and offers you a well-worn chair. "The history of your kind does indeed suggest you've a much better chance of surviving if you find a mentor," he says. "If you cannot obtain the protection of an elder immortal, and are not willing to live on holy ground almost permanently....well, there aren't really many other options." He clears his throat and flips through a thick, ancient-looking volume. "From time to time, we have helped new immortals find a mentor in the past. But it may be rather difficult just now. You see, most of the older immortals that our order has enjoyed a...cordial relationship with, in the past, are not easily reachable. Major wars like the one going on now tend to send immortals running all over the world. The hunters come out of the woodwork, looking for new blood, and those who prefer to avoid conflict go find some secluded spot in the middle of nowhere to wait it out." "And I can't simply send you looking for them, even with references. Elder immortals would be understandably perturbed if they learned we were giving out information about them to other immortals, even for what we consider a good cause." He purses his lips and considers. "There are a couple of individuals I can send letters to. Whether or not they can or will respond, I couldn't say, though." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She quietly listens as Brother Paul peruses his tomes of references and information. His words were not encouraging to her, however, and she was working hard to prevent the lines from forming in her forehead where a scowl wanted to come. Automatically, she starts chewing on her lower lip before she asks, "Can you tell me what makes Payal such a poor choice? My impression is that she's a bit of a.... a snake.... but I also feel like she could make an excellent mentor." <><><><><> [GM] Brother Paul starts, then clears his throat uncomfortably. "Umm, did someone, err, tell you she would be a...poor choice?" He sighs and leans back. "That's a very difficult question, Miss Dunaway. I told you we try to remain neutral. That means it's also not my place to tell you who you should or shouldn't accept as a mentor." His fingers move restlessly over his thick leather-bound book. "But I am also a man of God. Our order often suffers these conflicts of ideals....how do we offer sanctuary to a known assassin, for instance, one even suspected to have taken part in massacres of innocent people? Such as at Cawnpore...." His voice trails off. "Payal Khurjekar would probably be a very good mentor, in that she is certainly a formidable individual, and would teach you to survive. I'm sure her weapons training would serve you in good stead. I am not sure whether your ethics, as a doctor, would be compatible with hers, however. You do realize that some immortals make a practice of hunting down others, to kill them? For some it is an obsession." He smiles wanly. "I'm afraid I really can't say much more. But if you'd like, I'll be happy to send those letters." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She watches the monk carefully as he attempts to describe the meaning behind the warnings she had received about Payal. She realizes she has moved into a different league than what she had been in as a mortal, but she wants to learn from the best. She smiles slightly at his automatic assumption of her morals but as quickly resumes her neutral visage before sitting forward in her chair. Her voice is calm, controlled...but genuine as she meets his eyes directly. "Yes. Please. If you would send some letters to find if anyone would be willing to teach me, I would appreciate it greatly." She knew very well that the main dilemma now was going to be how patient she was. If she waited, it could be anywhere from days to perhaps years before she could get a mentor by this route. She turns her eyes away from Brother Paul to look out the tiny window into the grey sky of Britain. "Lord help me," she thought inwardly. "I have until tomorrow to decide about Payal.... " She did not let herself finish the thought entirely. She knew the decision was weighing heavily on her. And, she had always been the sort to take things and run. Too many of her friends had missed things by waiting. The important consideration was always being able to turn a situation to your advantage. She just wondered if taking Payal's offer would allow her to do that. The image of Payal making a clean slice through her neck flashes through her mind, and she swallows, making no other reaction. Looking back to the monk to clear the vision, she asks, "Would you be willing to let me know who it is you'll be sending letters to? and a little about each?" A flicker of a nervous smile shows. "A girl can't be too careful, you know...." <><><><><> [GM] Brother Paul clears his throat. "Umm. Well." He shuffles papers in a folder. "I have a London address, and another in Paris, from which letters will supposedly be forwarded to Titania de Charbonneau. She is definitely not a fighter like Payal, but she's managed to survive for over a century by her wits. She's not fond of the violence that follows your kind about, so she's probably staying well out of sight right now." "The other best option may be John Smith, who was born in London but has been an American for the past three centuries. He's never actually been here, nor has he ever sought out our order, but we know of him. I'm sure he would see to your protection." "I'd seek out Reynald if I thought he was still alive...he was one of the oldest, benevolently-disposed immortals in Europe. But we have no sure sightings of him since shortly after the Napoleonic wars." "There are a few others....I can make inquiries to our other monastaries. I wish I could promise you a mentor, but we usually have only fleeting contact with your kind. Some immortals seek us out from time to time, others simply allow us to know where they are, but most are not even aware we exist. In many cases, that's for the best." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne Dunaway ~~ Elainne was not particularly fond of the way Brother Paul was putting things. Most immortals did not even know this monastery existed? Those who did probably would not even come if asked? She thought the monk kind for offering to help. But, things seemed suddenly clear as crystal to her. She flashed a smile at him. "Thank you." Then, she stood to exit. <><><><><> [GM] Brother Paul says "Certainly," and seems rather startled by your abrupt departure. He rises, but does not accompany you to the door, just stands behind his desk, staring after you. Payal is not hard to find; she is in one of the many cells where the monks go to read. She has a very old book opened in front of her, a volume that may be nearly as old as her, or older. You really haven't much way of knowing just how old either one might be. But the glance you get at its pages tells you it seems to be written in Latin. Surprising that the monks would lend what must be a very delicate and very valuable tome to this foreign, heathen woman, with a bloody reputation that seems known to the Abbot, at least. She looks up at you with half-lidded eyes and a mysterious smile, as if she was expecting you. "Hello, Miss Dunaway....or do you prefer Elainne?" she says with her lilting voice. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She slowed her approach as Payal noticed her, then she cleared her throat. "Doctor Dunaway.... but Elainne is fine." Moving to stand in front of Payal, her resolve suddenly wavered. She could not decide if it was the snaky feel the woman exuded -- or simply the newness of accepting that she was immortal -- but what seemed so clear just moments ago was suddenly no clearer than mud. She chewed on her lip, studying the pages before her to see if any of the Latin she had learned for medical school might help her understand what this foreign woman was studying. Without lifting her eyes, she asked quietly, "I'd like to discuss your offer of mentorship if you have some time." Finally elevating her gaze to meet Payals, she breathes in deeply then exhales. "Specifically..... what sort of obligations would it entail from me in return?" This woman gave her the willies too much to jump into this sort of thing haphazardly. Before she committed, she wanted as much laid out as possible. At least doing this would let her get a better feel for whether Payal had good or bad intentions. It certainly let Elainne pretend she had a small amount of control over the situation..... even if the woman lied and lopped off her head in the end. <><><><><> [GM] Payal leans back, her eyes opening all the way as she regards you. She manages not to look triumphant or smug, but you still feel like someone who has finally been enticed to step willingly onto the spider's web. "How strangely you speak," she says. "So very careful and precise. The bond between mentor and fledgling is not a....legal contract, Elainne." She rises slowly, gracefully, to face you. She's a head shorter than you, but her presence still dwarfs yours. "I expect loyalty....and obedience. I will not degrade you or make you do things to rob you of your dignity. You Americans, what I know of you, you are very prideful. Your...independence, is very important to you. But you must understand that you are a child. A child in a world of immortals who will happily kill children." She tilts her head and watches you as you try to maintain your composure. "You are a doctor. Do you think you can kill, Elainne?" <><><><><> ~~ Elainne Dunaway ~~ No man or woman had ever made her feel so small. The urge to politely bow out welled up inside her, but she swallowed it down. "Loyalty.... and obedience." The words held a certain ominous ring to them as she repeated them aloud. As before, the tender spot she was chewing into her lip had already begun to reseal. The tip of her tongue played at the healing wound in an errant fashion. "Do I think I can kill?" She could not help the short burst of nervous laughter that followed. "Yes," she answered almost immediately. "Do I want to?" she added. "No," came the simple reply this time. "But, I know what death is....." It was like a fierce fire burning inside her. "And, I do not want to die." She, like all of the other immortals had died once. She also had witnessed death in many before herself -- in many forms. So many deaths were peaceful, but those that were not had been painful for her to watch. "I will do what is necessary......" She was shaking violently now, and she knew it, "with your help." Emotions were gushing through her like a tidal wave, and it embarassed her that she could be so easily intimidated. She knew her words sounded brave. She just hoped she could convince herself they were true. She also hoped that the loyalty clause applied both ways. <><><><><> [GM] Payal grasps your hand. "Courage, little sister," she says. She picks up the book she was reading, and tucks it under her arm. "Now, pack your things, for we will leave before dawn. And say good-bye to Geoffrey. You will not likely be seeing him again." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ A wave of surprise swept over her. Payal's small but quick gesture of appraisal was enough to do the trick. Elainne squeezed back on the offered hand, grinning through the fear. Then, she nodded once as Payal finished her remarks. "I'll be sure to do that. Geoffrey has been good to me." She was uncertain how she would tell her newly-found friend of her decision. It was one she was both proud and afraid of -- with good reason. She felt sure that the brothers would tell him of her choice if she did not. After making specific plans for when to rejoin Payal, she departs one final time to search for Geoffrey. She wanted to be the one to break the news to him. If nothing else, she owed him that. As she left to seek him out, her mind was drawn one final time to the images she had conjured up about what the front in France would be like. She had planned for so many months to be dealing with war wounds and casualties that the knowledge she might never experience felt suddenly odd. It was as if some massive weight had been lifted -- only to be replaced by a possibly larger burden. Some small part of her wanted to rebel still -- to disagree with everything she had been told and everything her senses insisted was true. Things came together too neatly to ignore, though. She travelled back down the main hallway, lost in thought as her tongue ran smoothly over the inside of her lip now fully healed. <><><><><> [GM] Elainne finds Geoffrey easily enough. Now that his message has been delivered, he really doesn't have much to do except wander the monastary, worry about Payal...and wonder what to do about Elainne. In any event, by walking around enough, the Quickening sense can be used to "triangulate" the location of another immortal. <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ She lets the feel of the Quickening seep into her as her memories fade away. Then, she slowly approaches Geoffrey. She waits for him to see her there and sighs. "Geoffrey?" Her voice seems small in the expanse of the room. "I'm going to be leaving tonight. I wanted to say thank you for everything...." She merely stood still before him, solemn but steadfast with her decision. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "You're not staying? Payal must have accepted you, then." He smiled. "Good luck on the journey ahead of you. You never know, we may meet again some day." With a shrug, he added: "I don't know my own plans yet, except that I'll take a quick trip home before going back to the Front. Somehow, home life doesn't seem the same anymore - thanks to the War as much as anything." <><><><><> ~~ Elainne ~~ >> "You're not staying? Payal must have accepted you, then." She had thought he might guess why she was coming to him, but still, it stung being put so pointedly. The reaction she had just made her all the more hopeful that her decision had not been a poor one. >> He smiled. The flash of his smile momentarily surprised her. She felt the quick burn as blood rushed into her cheeks, and she swallowed several times in rapid succession, trying to get rid of the thick feeling in her neck. >> You never know, we may meet again some day." An embarassed smile settled across her lips, and she nodded, mumbling, "I hope we do." After he told of his plans, she replied, "I shall try to keep track of where you are. I do not know where Payal will have me go, though, so I cannot say when I can see you. Hopefully, it will be as friends and not foes....." She looked back and forth from one of his eyes to the other quietly. She wanted to remember this moment in every detail lest time and circumstances altered things between them. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] He blushes, and smiles awkwardly. "I hope so too - that we meet again, and as friends not foes. Payal will probably take you on a tour of India at some point - it's supposed to be a beautiful country." He laughs. "I'd never been abroad until I got sent to France. If this war ever ends, I think I'll find a way to travel more." <><><><><> [GM] Elainne departs mere hours later, following Payal. A last wave good-bye is the last you see of her. And you are left alone, with the monks. As when you were with General Cumberland, the constant presence of Elainne, and then Payal, had made the Quickening something you took almost for granted. Now, it is as if a constant drone that one might once have found annoying has been silenced, leaving an almost eerie vacuum. Brother Paul finds you, staring out across the lawn as Payal and Elainne recede up the road. "I wish she had been persuaded not to go with that woman," Brother Paul says sadly. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey nods. "I don't trust Payal; I wish she'd waited until another mentor came along. Still, she needs to learn quickly, and I've a feeling that Payal may prove a good teacher." He sighs. "I'd better be getting back to London. Do you have a reply for General Cumberland?" <><><><><> [GM] "Yes, just a small one," Brother Paul says. He turns back towards the monastery entrance, and an explosive belch of fire blows him backwards, knocking you off your feet at the same time. You are both hurled twenty feet, to land hard on the lawn, while a deafening explosion blocks out all other sound. You feel heat wash over you, and your eyes sting from the concussive blast of hot air, followed by thick gunpowder smoke. For the moment, you're too stunned to move. Stones and other debris begin raining down around you. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] For an instant, he thought he was back in France again. But the grass gave it away. There wasn't any grass left in the muddy quagmires of France. Instinctively, he rolled to cover Brother Paul, to shield him from the falling debris. As the stones rained down, thoughts flashed through his head. What had happened? If it was a bomb, Payal was the prime suspect. <><><><><> [GM] Brother Paul is unconscious, and bleeding. The blast caught him square in the back, and the older man was thrown hard to the ground. You can't tell just how badly he's hurt. When the stones stop falling, a look back at the abbey tells you that it could only have been an explosive of some kind. The heavy smell of gunpowder in the air is almost overwhelming. Flames have ignited everywhere where there is wooden structure to burn, and windows and doors are blown out all around the perimeter of the structure. In many places, the stone walls blew out as well. You can see a leg lying like a bit of random debris on the gravel walkway between a side entrance and the well. Inside, there have surely been many deaths. Inside there will be bloody, dead and dying men, bodies blown apart and burned beyond recognition, and the total destruction of what was once a peaceful, quiet place. You can't seem to get away from the front. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] *Oh God...* He shudders at the sight. He ought to be used to death by now, but this act of cold-blooded anarchy has a horror all of its own, different to the killing in France. Then his military training takes over. He might not be a doctor like Elainne, but he's been given a standard grounding in field medicine and first aid. He does what he can to make the wounded more comfortable and stable, tearing off strips of his shirt or the victim's clothing to bind their wounds. As soon as he finds someone reasonably healthy, he'll send them to fetch any medical supplies that are near at hand, and then into town to fetch an ambulance. He aims to save as many lives as possible. As he works, a chilling thought runs through him: *What sort of monster could do such a thing?* <><><><><> [GM] Ambulances soon arrive from town. The only monks not killed or severely injured were the ones who were outside at the time. The center of the monastary is completely gutted. A large smoking hole in the ground is all that's left of Brother Paul's office and the adjoining library. Initially, all efforts are devoted to searching the rubble for any injured men who might be saved, and carrying the casualties away. As the afternoon stretches into evening, however, the police begin questioning the survivors about what happened. Investigators from Scotland Yard are arriving, and a short, stout man with a walrus mustache approaches you and introduces himself as Inspector Clavell. "Mind answerin' a few questions, Lieutenant," he says, with no question mark at the end of his question, and no humor in his eyes. He looks at you with the same sort of look you imagine he must give everyone, a look that says "I know YOU'RE the culprit and it's just a matter of time until you admit it." He had the same look while he was trying to get some details from a monk on a stretcher, who was conscious but dazed from a massive head wound. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey had had run-ins with policemen before; he still wondered at the near-telepathic ability with which a constable had determined that it was his foot that had kicked the ball through the factory window when he was 10. Still, this time his conscience was clear... "Not at all, Inspector." ..except that how was he going to explain the presence of Payal? And if he identified her as a suspect, might this not result in more deaths when they tried to arrest her? <><><><><> [GM] "All right then," Inspector Clavell says. "Let's start with your name, your unit, and how and why you happened to be here at the abbey. Then tell me everything that happened leading up to the moment of the explosion, in as much detail as you can remember." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] He briefly considers the old "name, rank, number" routine, but decides that the Inspector has probably had his sense of humour surgically removed. "Lieutenant Geoffrey Stone of the 20th Division, Royal Engineers. I was at the abbey to deliver a message from my commanding officer to the Abbot." With a shrug, he adds: "I didn't see much of what happened. I was lucky - I was outside when it went off, talking to the Abbot. There was a huge explosion from inside the Abbey, gunpowder I think. I tried to shield the abbot from the worst of the debris, but he was badly hurt. Then I did what I could to help the others, but many of them were beyond help." *Far too many. Payal, if you're responsible for this carnage, I swear I will hunt you down and shoot you like the cur you are.* <><><><><> [GM] "The 20th RE? Aren't they in France?" the inspector asks. "What kind of message did your commanding officer need to send you to deliver to an abbey here in Gloucester?" "Were there any other visitors here? Did you see anyone strange lurking around the premises? Do you have any idea who might want to blow up the abbey, or why?" <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey looks annoyed at the inspector's implicit assumption. "Yes, we're in France at the moment. I've no idea what the message was - you surely don't expect an officer to pry into his commander's private messages!" He wonders whether he should mention Payal, then realises that she must have been seen by some of the other monks. "There was a mysterious stranger on the premises - of all things, an Indian woman! She called herself Payal; she left maybe an hour ago." Then something struck him, something that poked a hole in his suspicions. "She wasn't very friendly, but I didn't see her lugging any barrels of gunpowder around, if that's what you're thinking. In fact, I can't see how anyone could have hidden the bomb without being noticed." <><><><><> [GM] "From what we can tell, it seems the gunpowder was planted in an abandoned wineceller under the abbey," the inspector replies. "Whoever did it could have hauled it down there at night, and then left it with the fuse ready to be lit." He asks you a great deal many more questions about Payal, then tells you to stay around while his men keep combing the area. There must have been a lot of gunpowder, to gut the abbey (mostly stone) from one underground location. But you don't know what Payal was doing in the evenings, and the monks probably don't have watchmen at night. Just before sundown, the Inspector comes back, with another victorious "I've caught you out!" look on his face. "I've been talking to a couple of the other survivors," he says. "Why didn't you mention that American doctor you came with?" As you frame a reply, you almost bite your tongue as the Quickening hits you. Over your shoulder, you can see a long black car pulling up behind the police wagons. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "Dr Dunnaway was hardly a stranger, nor suspicious. I accompanied her from London, and she left earlier this morning to journey on to a hospital in Paris." But the Quickening distracts him. Another immortal? Disasters seemed to bring them out like flies around a waste pipe - was the new arrival friendly or hostile. He watches the black car, to see who comes out. <><><><><> [GM] "Then why didn't you mention her before?" Inspector Clavell asks doggedly. "She's an acquaintance of yours, I take it? Do you know how we might find her? Which hospital is she going to?" "Did she leave before or after this Indian woman?" Two men emerge from the big black car. You can't tell for certain which is the immortal (if not both!), but one is a more likely candidate. The driver of the car is a short, stout man with a fat, bald head surrounded by grey sideburns. He wears a dark grey suit with a gold fob stretched across his belly. The other man is much taller, and more formidable looking. He also wears a dark grey overcoat which, on a man of his height, could quite possibly conceal a sword. This man has brown hair that's a little long and unruly, and he's puffing on a cigarette as he looks around with a searching gaze that eventually falls on you. The two newcomers proceed to walks towards you and Clavell. The Scotland Yard detective frowns. "What's this, then?" he mutters. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] A childhood of mischievous pranks on the local coppers, and three years of war in France, lets Geoffrey cooly ignore the Inspector's attempts to intimidate him. "Well, if you're determined to feed your curiosity rather than investigate this bombing... You asked about suspicious people, which the doctor wasn't. Also, I didn't see when the Indian woman left, but she hasn't been around today." He thinks for a moment. "I don't recall the exact hospital she's headed for, but there can't be many in Paris with an American woman as a doctor. A few telephone calls should find the right one." As the two men approach, Geoffrey watches them carefully. "I don't know. Friends of yours, Inspector?" <><><><><> [GM] "No, I have no idea who they are," the inspector replies. As they approach, the short stout man holds out his hand, while the taller man stands aloofly to one side, smoking his cigarette. "Good day to you....you're in charge of this investigation, I take it?" The inspector nods warily as he takes the man's hand gingerly. "Lord Harold Wimberly. This is Sir Alastair Stewart." He gestures at the other man. Inspector Clavell raises one eyebrow. "An honour to meet you, My Lord," the inspector says, not sounding particularly honored at having a couple of titled noblemen showing up on his turf. Probably thinking they have old family connections or some other interest in the monastary, and are thus going to stick their officious noses into his investigation. "We're from the Office of Special Investigations," Lord Wimberly says. Inspector Clavell frowns. "Office of Special Investigations? I've never heard of it!" Wimberly proceeds to remove a sheaf of papers from inside his jacket, and peels off one document to show the inspector. "It's not well- publicized," he says. "We're commissioned directly by the Crown." Clavell looks extremely skeptical as he scans the document. The other man drops his cigarette and grinds it under his boot. "You carry on Harold, I'm going to have a chat with the Lieutenant here." Like Lord Wimberly, he has an aristocratic accent, but with a trace of Scots in it as well. The shorter man looks up, glances at you and back at Sir Alastair, and nods. Some sort of unspoken communication seems to pass between them. "If you don't mind, Lieutenant?" Sir Alastair beckons you, with an uncompromising, almost commanding expression. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] He isn't about to wander off with another immortal; not immediately after a bomb blast. For all he knows, these two might have been the ones who planted it. "Not at all", he says, but stays firmly rooted to the spot. <><><><><> [GM] Sir Alastair stands there for a moment, with his hand out, then drops it, scowling fiercely. He steps towards you and leans close. "If you'd prefer," he mutters, "I can have you arrested and we can have a talk with you in gaol. Now, why don't we just take a stroll around the grounds? We'll stay in sight of the bobbies, so you don't need to worry about me taking your head." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Well, that settled the question as to whether the newcomers were friends or enemies. "Maybe you've been out of the country a long time, Sir, but we have laws here now. Also journalists, who get very interested in people carrying on like feudal Barons. If you want to talk, go ahead - I'm not stopping you." <><><><><> [GM] Sir Alastair is beginning to lose his cool. "Listen you insolent twit! I'm very familiar with the law!" He clenches his fist. "The Office of Special Investigations *knows* about immortals. And we come here to investigate the destruction of a monastary that has provided refuge to immortals for centuries, and find *you* here. That's suspicious enough to warrant taking you in for questioning. And you can forget about journalists, because the Official Secrets Act most assuredly covers anything to do with immortals." Lord Wimberly, noting how Sir Alastair's voice is beginning to rise, puts a hand on the inspector's elbow and begins trying to lead him away as they talk. Sir Alastair glances at them, and takes a deep breath. "Now, unless you really want to reveal our existence to the entire bloody world, let's go out of earshot of these mortals. Assuming you *want* to convince me you're *not* the one responsible for this carnage!" <><><><><> [Geoffrey] The army officer is secretly enjoying making the nobleman apoplectic. "Well Sir, you're the only person here being insolent, and you're also the only person here going on about immortals. A bomb has gone off; barely has the dust settled when *you* suddenly appear on the scene, obstructing the official inquiry" - he jerks a thumb in the direction of Lord Wimberly and the Inspector - "and making claims about some organisation no-one's ever heard of. In your own words, `That's suspicious'. If you've got the connections you claim, you'll have no difficulty reading my statement in the police report, and I've nothing further to add. Good day." He turns, and heads back towards the Inspector. <><><><><> [GM] "Dust barely settled- ? Ye bluidy idiot, it's been nearly eight hours, we drove here from London!" Sir Alastair's Scots accent is becoming more pronounced as his ire rises. The beknighted immortal sputters angrily as you turn your back on him. "You'll regret being so thick-headed!" he growls menacingly. Lord Wimberly has put away his documents. Inspector Clavell looks unhappy. He glances at you and says "Make sure you let us know where you'll be staying, before you leave the premises, Lieutenant." He seems about to go off to rejoin his men. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Disconcerting Sir Alastair was fun, but Geoffrey was also feeling a bit out of his depth. He wished that either Brother Paul or the General was around, to fill him in. Still, now he could make plans to leave the scene of this horrible crime. "I came here straight from the station", replies Geoffrey, "So I'll have to find somewhere in town for the night - can you recommend a place to stay? After that, I was planning on returning to London to see my parents." <><><><><> [GM] "I'm not exactly acquainted with all the inns in this town, but I'm sure there are several," Inspector Clavell says gruffly. "You might try the Thackery Arms," Lord Wimberly suggests helpfully. "I happen to know the owner. He has a boy at the front right now....I'm sure he'll be happy to put you up." Sir Alastair stands back, lighting another cigarette and glowering at you. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Could he trust Lord Wimberly's suggestion? Well, there was a difference between healthy suspicion and paranoia. "Thank you" he says to Lord Wimberly. Maybe it would be wiser to stay somewhere else; still, they'd have no difficulty tracking him down if he did. * * * Geoffrey goes to the Thackery Arms, and books a room for the night. After a quiet meal at the bar, and perhaps some talk about the war with the owner, he turns in for the night, to ponder the previous day's events. Who had planted the bomb? Payal had to be the chief suspect, yet he could see no clear motive. If the rules were as important as General Cumberland made them out to be, then Payal was setting out to be an outcast. There also seemed no sense in her destroying a sanctuary for immortals - surely any immortal appreciated having somewhere they could relax? And any immortal would know that a bomb blast could, at most, merely inconvenience him. That seemed to leave two possibilities, one of which would be very dangerous for Elainne. Either someone else was behind the bomb, or Payal was mad. <><><><><> [GM] The proprietor of the Thackery Arms is, as Lord Wimberly said, very hospitable. As soon as he sees your uniform, you have a spacious room that you probably wouldn't be able to afford if he charged you regular rates, and he gets out his best bottle of wine and pours you a glass on the house. He spends a lot of time asking about how it is at the front, nodding sympathetically. "My son's a lieutenant, like you," he says proudly. "Got commissioned just a year before this war started. I served in South Africa, twenty years ago, but I was just an enlisted man. Still, I've done pretty well for myself. I figure Johnny will too...if he makes it back." He sighs. You eventually turn in, and sleep undisturbed. However, when you get up the next morning, you are heading downstairs when you feel the Quickening. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] He chats to the proprietor about the Front. "I only recently made lieutenant", he explains, "I haven't had much experience in command, but I'm being made to learn quickly!" - the last bit is with a laugh. "Surely the war can't last much longer; the longer it goes on, the weaker the Hun resolve must be." Of course, Geoffrey doesn't add his fears about the allied resolve. *** Geoffrey's not surprised to feel the Quickening; he's only surprised that the immortal waited until morning. He comes down casually, but looking around to see who it is. <><><><><> [GM] Sir Alastair is sitting at one of the tables in the downstairs room where food is served. He has a mug in front of him, and is already halfway through a cigarette. His trenchcoat lies on the chair next to him, neatly rolled up. "Good morning, Lieutenant," he says dryly. He glances at the doors to the kitchen, where the proprietor just disappeared, leaving the two of you alone in the dining room for the moment. "Right now, I'm following the rules of King and country," he continues, tapping ashes into his just-emptied mug. "Harold dislikes it when I go off acting like a....what was it you called me? A feudal baron." He blows smoke in your direction. "But, if I don't get some answers out of you properly, then I start following a much older set of Rules." His eyes gleam. "Are you planning to have journalists follow you around wherever you go?" <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey sits down opposite Sir Alastair. "No more than you'd like it" he remarks, "And they'll have to slog through Flanders mud to reach me. OK, since we're alone for the moment, how can I help you?" <><><><><> [GM] "You can start by telling me what *really* happened yesterday," the immortal nobleman says, lowering his voice as he leans forward. "I got everything you told the Scotland Yard detectives. Now tell me what you couldn't tell them. Especially about this *Indian woman*." His voice becomes cold and flat as he brings her up. "No, I take that back," he says abruptly. "*First*, tell me who YOU are. I don't recognize you, and I know most of the immortals in Britain, so you're either new, or you've been hiding yourself very well." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey sighs. "I'm one of probably several immortals created - or discovered, or uncovered - by the war in France. "I'm sorry, but there's not much more to tell. All I can add about the bomb is that Brother Paul was suspicious of the Indian woman, Payal, but he couldn't - or wouldn't - give his reasons. She seemed cool towards me, too, though that could simply be her nationality. Plenty of her people don't exactly welcome us with open arms." He wracks his brain for a moment, trying to recall the words of the beautiful Asian immortal. "She dropped veiled hints that life could be dangerous for immortals not on holy ground, but she seemed more to be trying to rattle me than threaten anyone. She did say her business at the monastery was almost finished. "As for the lady herself, she's extremely beautiful, but has a stare that could make an icicle look warm. I believe she's several centuries old." Then, since Sir Alastair is bound to ask about them, he volunteers some information. "Dr. Dunnaway is another new immortal, who was in search of a mentor; she left with Payal. Against the opinions of both myself and Brother Paul, though we could give her no concrete reasons to be suspicious. I've only met one other immortal in the last few days; she was leaving just as I arrived, and her name was Annafyn." <><><><><> [GM] "Payal!" he explodes, when you mention her name, half-rising to his feet. He barely lets you finish the rest, but exclaims again when you mention Annafyn's name. "You....you bloody eff'ing IDIOT!" He actually grabs you by the front of your uniform and hauls you to your feet. "Payal is at least four hundred years old!" he hisses. "She's a bloody murderous lunatic! She's been killing Europeans since they first reached her country, and the last few decades she's been involved with anarchist and terrorist groups throughout Europe, including the bloody *IRA*! And *Annafyn* is also involved with the IRA! And you waited until now to tell me about the other immortals who were at the Abbey? And you let a FLEDGLING go with PAYAL?" He flings you backwards, and you almost fall against the counter. "Who the hell found you?" he demands. "What immortal discovered you over in France?" <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey was rapidly tiring of Sir Alastair, and rose to his feet. "I thought as much: you were lying when you claimed to have read the police report, where I'd already identified Payal by name. Get out, you stuck-up, dishonest old fool!" Inwardly, he began to wonder - first General Cumberland, and now Sir Alastair, both a dramatic contrast to the similarly aged Annafyn and Payal. Did a few centuries of immortal life turn all women into psychopathic killers, and all men into porridge-headed idiots? <><><><><> [GM] "Lord Wimberly read the report and told me what was in it!" the other immortal snarls. "But either he or the report missed mentioning Payal's name, and I had my suspicions but had to be sure, I found it hard to imagine Payal coming to Gloucester Abbey!" He grabs his rolled-up overcoat- and as he lifts it, you see that it appears to be rolled around something long and stiff- when you insult him. His face turns red and he looks like he may be about to attack you. The innkeeper comes out of the kitchen, carrying breakfast, and stops when he sees you two confronting each other. Sir Alastair restrains himself, barely. You feel an involuntary nervous twinge. The other immortal has much the same force of presence as General Cumberland...or Payal. "Who did you....meet, in France?" he repeats, through clenched teeth. <><><><><> [Geoffrey] "In France? A lot of soldiers" replies Geoffrey. Angering an elder immortal may not be the safest course of action, but Geoffrey trusts this strange nobleman even less than he'd trust Payal. And since he wouldn't trust Payal at all, that's saying something. He might be a complete novice at this immortal business, but he was beginning to see the wisdom in revealing as little about himself as possible. He sits down at another table, not turning his back on Sir Alastair, and speaks to the innkeeper. "Sorry about the raised voices. That breakfast looks good." <><><><><> [GM] "Ye bluidy fool!" Sir Alastair hisses. "God ha' mercy on ye if I'm not able to save that American lass from Payal! I'd not be travelin' to London again if I were you, lad." He stalks out the door, pausing just long enough to say "I'd say we'll meet again....but with that mouth and lack of sense in ye, I doubt it." <><><><><> [Geoffrey] Geoffrey just ignores the arrogant immortal, and sits down to breakfast. He can't help worrying about Elainne, though. Is Payal as bad as Sir Alastair claims? Brother Paul mentioned nothing of this, which makes him sceptical; he's seen how blind hatred for another immortal could grip General Cumberland. That gives him another shudder: is that something that awaits him in the future? After breakfast, his plans are to return to London - whatever Sir Alastair may desire - and visit his parents, giving the inspector his address; then returning to France, perhaps to use up the last few days of his leave around Paris.