Through the Looking-Glass

[Lesingnon]

Triquetra spent a brief while perusing the selection before picking out the closest thing to Tequila she could find, and promptly tosses back the shot. She'd had plenty of practice with that, at least. Though the wriggling feeling was distinctly...weird. Very, very, weird. Especially as that drowning sensation really started to grow...

Then it was gone, and she found herself intensely relieved to be standing on solid ground again. To the point where she didn't really care how they'd gotten from...wherever to wherever. "In Animus's Oneiros?" That's where she thought they were, at least, if she was understanding everything right.

[Animus]

Animus glances around slowly, the aftereffects of the upwelling of feelings till washing over him. They felt familiar, somehow. But as he takes in his surroundings, not everything seems right.

"Why a truck?"

[Iblardora]

"Remember the day we went flying? We sat on the tail end of my truck and talked. Its the place I felt we could be most ourselves. " He laughs lightly. "Come on, we cross that old bridge over there and we are in your oneiros. It connects to what you feel of me. "

[Animus]

The Thyrsus nods briefly, memories flitting through his mind as he stands and climbs out of the truck. "Yeah, it does feel comfortable here. But yeah, I'm ready." He takes a deep breath as he wlaks toward the bridge, nervousness beginning to wriggle through him. What would he find on the other side?

[Animus]

Triquetra hopped out of the truck, padding lightly after Animus as her head twisted to and fro while she looked around. This...seemed less confusing than where they'd been, she guessed. Though she had no idea whether that was a good or bad thing. "And what happens once we're in his Oneiros?"

"We walk until we find his Daemon, who will probably have some words for him to set him right." He moves through the grass. "He will have to try to find him though." The bridge shivers and shakes across the onieros gap. " He will concetrate on his feelings of wholeness.. hopefully.

Animus glances nervously at the bridge before stepping onto it, one hand slipping into Triquetra's. "Should be a piece of cake, right?" His attempt at a lighthearted tone is betrayed by a very real worry of what might come next, but he concentrates as directed.

"Oh..."

"...what's a Daemon?"

She gave Animus's hand a quick squeeze as she continued walking, feel the ground give way to planks of the bridge under her feet.

"Daimon is more the proper term but." he keeps walking. "Its your inner drive , the thing that keeps you moving towards what you want. Mine was the bartender, and as you could see that was the idealized me, calm confident and strong willed. The ideals I have struggled towards. Animus's might be similar to him or completely different depending on how close he gets to being what he wants to be."

The bridge wobbles as he steps on it. "The main reason for one is to keep your mind running and your soul moving towards its ultimate end. Its concious id ego and super ego all rolled into one."

A flicker of fear as the bridge wobbles, but Animus presses on anyway, trusting that it would hold. The talk of the daimon brought back some of his earlier conversations with Ahriman, but still, he couldn't help but feel that as soon as they finished crossing, things were about to get considerably more dangerous. Ahriman's Oneiros had seemed relaxed, but what did an untamed one look like?

Triquetra pauses as they set foot on the opposite side of the bridge, eyes flickering about to try and make sure she saw whatever might happen. The unasked question was easy enough to pick up on.

What happens next?

Ahriman steps away from himself and steps forward into the new person. He looks around hoping to see the others oneiros .

The bridge opens into a deep forest, the trees seeming even larger than ordinary. Sounds of movement fill in from all directions, and glimpses of creatures can easily be seen.

But these are no animals that would grace any ordinary habitat. They move too quickly, seem more active, more alive. And every one of them is locked in an intense game of predator and prey. It almost appears to be one giant, deadly, ever-shifting dance.

Which begs the question; how long until one of those fearsome beasts notices you?

A forest, at least that much she could understand. And she seemed noticeably more comfortable here, in a Thyrsus's Oneiros, than she had in that of a Mastigos. "So, is this daemon going to be in the heart of the forest?"

"Iiiif that is where it wants to be. It can also come to us if it feels the need." There is a russel in the bushes as he says this and the Mastigos turns to the side a gun materlizing in his hand. He is obviously less comfortable in this inviroment.

Animus' eyes flick warily towards the source of the noise, hands immediately shifting to wolf's claws. This place seemed almost familiar, but instinct told him that the slightest bit of relaxation could be deadly. Whatever came through that undergrowth, he meant to be ready for it.

Triquetra takes a small step backwards, settling herself in behind the two Arrows. She had no illusions about how her combat prowess compared to theres. Not that she considered herself helpless, as the punching dagger that appeared in her hand attested to.

Something growls deep with in and suddenly the vines around them come to life curling over and around them snaring their legs.

Ahriman shouts as the vines tug the gun out of his hand and he fights them as they inch up his body.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 14:11:48		Ahriman rolls 5 to getting out of the plants. (10 Again)		6, 3, 5, 6, 4		failure

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 14:14:31		Animus rolls 18 to plants! (10 Again)		5, 3, 6, 1, 5, 1, 6, 5, 10, 5, 10, 2, 2, 6, 6, 10, 5, 2, 9, 6, 2		4 successes

The flicker of movement barely registers before the Thyrsus is in motion, dodging effortlessly around the clutching vines before a claw flashes out at the ones that had caught Ahriman. He wasn't about to let his friend remain trapped.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 14:39:11		Animus rolls 15 to StrBraSpClw (10 Again)		1, 3, 1, 9, 1, 5, 4, 10, 2, 7, 6, 8, 4, 2, 5, 3		3 successes

Triquetra stifles a yelp as she leaps away from the vines, leaving them grasping at empty air. Almost immediately afterwards her eyes settle on the vines holding Ahriman still. But instead of striking with her blade she grasps the pendant hanging from her neck. A wild drumming sound rises in the background, the ambient light turning silver like that of the moon; her nimbus shining forth as she relied upon the power of her will instead of that of her limbs.

She seized the threads of the vine's pattern with a deft touch, rearranging him to suit her liking. Watched them warp, change...and disperse. A sudden flurry of dandelion seeds borne away on the wind.

  Transform Base Life

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 18:30:05		Triquetra rolls 6 to Rest of spellcasting dice (10 Again)		5, 4, 5, 3, 10, 10, 4, 2		2 successes
2012-07-29 18:29:48		Triquetra rolls 1 to Transform Base Life		9		1 success
2012-07-29 18:29:33		Triquetra rolls 1 to Paradox (10 Again)		1		failure

The creature pounces foward, Aiming for animus, Large black and vauegly human the creatues eyes burn like fire.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 18:48:46		st rolls 8 to do something insignificant (10 Again)		5, 6, 9, 3, 10, 1, 7, 5, 9		3 successes

Ahriman though surges forward attempting to takle the thing mid air. He latches on causing the creature to go off course, as it slams into him claws out.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 18:49:38		ahriman rolls 4 to do something insignificant (10 Again)		10, 3, 3, 8, 5		2 successes

Animus spins around with a growl, claws flashing with blinding force. It was hurting his friend, and that he wouldn't allow.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 18:55:49		Animus rolls 15 to do something insignificant (10 Again)		9, 7, 8, 7, 3, 10, 3, 10, 2, 7, 1, 10, 9, 7, 10, 1, 10, 3, 6, 6		8 successes

Triquetra leapt forward alongside the other Thyrsus, sunlight glinting off the honed edge of her blade as it rose, and plunged downward. It may not have inflicted the same damage as Animus's claws...but it was still something.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 18:59:17		Triqeutra rolls 8 to Str + Brawl + Eq + 2(AoA) (10 Again)		5, 3, 10, 8, 6, 3, 7, 9, 3		3 successes

The creature rolls over, taking the hits, the out black layer shreading away, leaving nothing but a fearal scream. Ahriman lay still.

[Animus]

"T-that was... no fun. A-animus, what would you... connect with going behind the secnes?"

Animus glances around, thinking. "Maybe a waterfall, passing under the cascade."

The Thyrsus inclines his head, listening for sounds of water.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 19:21:55		Animus rolls 4 to Wits (10 Again)		8, 3, 4, 6		1 success

Animus hears water to his left, deep resounding rushing over a waterfall.

After a brief moment, he turns left, following the sound. "This way."

Triquetra falls in behind Animus as he moves after the sound, the knife still held tightly in her grip as her gaze flickers warily about their surroundings.

The branches bend back as you feel magic flow around you. Its vaugely familar. You shoon realize Ahriman is holding back the branches through magic. You enter into the waterfall area and you find yourself in front of the rocks. It seems fairly safe.

The Thyrsus slowly relaxes as he takes in the surroundings. It seemed peaceful somehow, as if he didn't have to be quite so alert here. After a moment, he presses on, glancing back to be sure the others were still with him as he walks toward the back of the waterfall. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," the words are, perhaps, a bit absentminded as she moves forward. It's obvious that her attention was on the waterfall, theoretically where they'd find Animus's Daemon. But this was his Oneiros, so she certainly wasn't about to plunge through it before he did.

The cave in the back is deep and dark, if you enter you find its slippery.

Ahriman waits.

A quick glance around to reassure himself that nothing had changed, and Animus begins picking his way among the rocks, wondering what he might find back here.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 19:59:41		Animus rolls 1 to 10a (10 Again)		8		1 success
2012-07-29 19:59:20		Animus rolls 10 to balance		4, 8, 6, 1, 8, 1, 3, 4, 10, 5		3 successes

Triquetra, still, follows after Animus; face scrunched slightly in concentration as she navigates the slick floor without losing her footing.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 20:00:53		Triquetra rolls 3 to Dexterity (10 Again)		2, 1, 10, 8		2 successes

Ahriman follows behind letting the darkness flow around all of them.

As the darkness closes in around the three, senses begin to jumble. You know the rushing water was to your left as you entered, but the sound seems to come from the right and below. Smells flicker past your nostrils, changing even as you attempt to identify them. Before long, any sense of direction has vanished. It's as if the setting itself has conspired to render you lost.

Animus' gaze darts about uselessly, as he grasps at Triq's hand. He couldn't afford to lose her, or ... "Ahriman?" Even his own voice comes out distorted, wavering in pitch.

Triquetra stumbles slightly, fighting down a sudden sense of vertigo as the world seems to turn around her. This was...new. Though Animus's hand was a welcome touchstone. "What's going on?"

A grunt behind them as they hear Ahriman slam into the wall. "yOu SEeM to haVE leaD uS into the rLEAM of CONfuSIOn... or A RAVe. We HaVe to figure OUT what we need to DO to get oUT of here."

Animus does his best to follow Ahriman's voice, but begins to get turned around until he finally falls back on his sense of the living to cut through the fog. Although even that seemed to have much more static than usual. Finally he manages to grab Ahriman's arm with his other hand. "Okay, what sorts of things normally work?"

His head was already pounding. If they didn't find something soon, he could tell it would become a full migraine.

Ahriman pauses. "Yeah. We need to get rid of your confusion and become one with the relam around us. "

"Like...meditation, or something?" It was the best suggestion she had, as she swayed slightly while trying to maintain her balance.

Animus shakes his head. "With all this going on? I just ... It's hard to focus on anything right now, but ... I think I can try."

"Good you best. Or at least try to put things in order."

The Thyrsus turns his focus inward, trying to ground himself. At first the constant din is distracting, throwing him off. But slowly, he begins to find some focus to move beyond his surroundings.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 20:55:37		Animus rolls 4 to Wits + Comp - 4 (10 Again)		4, 9, 4, 9		2 successes

The surroundings righten slowly righten and things seem to brighten and the word flexes once more.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-07-29 21:07:05		Animus rolls 4 to Wits (10 Again)		9, 1, 2, 2		1 success

The world around them warps.

Triquetra blinks as the world shifts suddenly, swaying slightly on her feet again. She hadn't felt like this since back in her high school days when she'd been a bit...prone to trying new substances. "Umm...now what's happening?"

"Transition"

When the world settles, the three stand at the top of a tower, jutting defiantly toward the sky. A door is seen leading into the depths, a bell logo just visible at eye level; and near the center of the rooftop lies a perfectly circular hole, several meters across.

It only takes a few moments to realize you aren't alone. Another man stands, staring at you from the other side of the gap in the roof, waiting. He is well muscled, of averaged height and simple dress. Buzzed brown hair and brown eyes complete a look that would suggest nothing but average, were it not for his mixed heritage.

Animus' eyes go wide as he recognizes the other's face. "Invictus?!"

[Animus]

Triquetra blinks, apparently caught off guard by the sudden change in scenery. And by the new figure in front of them. Did daemons look like their...person, she guessed? Ahriman's had looked like him. And Animus didn't seem to think this person was him. "Who?"

Ahriman shrugs and settles back. "This might take some time. "

The man smiles and then he shifts forward, as if teleporting and grabs him by the throat. "About time Fredrick! I was growing impatient."'

Animus reels, momentarily at a loss for words. Slowly the realization sinks in, that in life he'd never given the man his True Name. Which probably meant something else entirely. Perhaps only one denizen of the astral would know something so personal.

Finally, the Thyrsus chokes out, "Why him? Why his form?"

An attack, that awas something she understod even here. Her eyes narrowed, one icy even as she gathered threads of Life around her. Which would, likely, be the most worrying aspect of her current demeanor. "Let him go."

Ahriman puts his hand on her shoulder. "Calm.. this is probably normal. You know how hard he beats himself up."

'The man turned, still gripping Animus. "Back down girl. I will get to you in a minute." He turns to Animus. "Do you know I think I might put you down. " with that he launches him over the hole and towards the other side of the tower. "How dare you come here after all this time."

Animus growls low in his throat, drawing threads of life to himself. But long before he can finish, he slams back into the roof with a heavy grunt, before slowly climbing back to his feet. "This is my dream realm. I have every right to be here."

Triquetra practically snarls at the insinuation that the apparent-daemon would come after her. But does manage to hold her tongue, and resist pulllng away from Ahriman's restraining hand. She's willing to let Animus handle this...for now.

Ahriman nods. "Hes just trying to beat some... sense into him."

The creature moves next to him and grips his shoulder tight. "Is it? You rarely use it." he slams his fist hard into his stomach. "If you had it wouldn't have been like this. Rotting from the inside out."

Animus gasps for air, before snarling up at his adversary. And you think throwing me around on rooftops is the way to make things better for you?" One claw whips out in a wide swing, but there's no force behind it. Deep down, he knew the daimon was right.

The creature chuckles. "It seems like you take so much refuge in your instincts that the only way I can get through to you is pain. " He grabs the claw and twists hard. "You loose your common sense when you hide your cowardly face in the wolf."

A pained whimper, as he tries to twist the claw out of the other's grasp. Unfortunately the effort only makes his daimon's hold more painful. "Have you looked around you? Thought's too slow. Spend the time to think and you're already something's lunch. Is that what you want?"

"hardly but you are a lemming." The man jerked his hand harder. "You rush head long and nearly kill yourself then you spend days moping about it. What makes you think thats right?"

He could barely even think through the haze of pain. Words were starting to blur together, and it felt like bones were about to snap. "Have to ... have to protect .. the people I care about."

When would it end? When would the pain stop?

The Pressure releases. Animus falls forward and suddenly The daemon is crouching infront of him. "So you do that by weaking yourself through mental pressure, hiding behind your insticts rather than thinking and allowing the instincts to enhance that, and the Moping about that. You ignore your inner world and fear what we can give you." A hand reaches out. "You do this by never allowing others to protect you and repay you in kind?" A soft touch to his arm and Animus can feel himself healing. "You forget that to grow strong you must push yourself to the limit, then rest and let you body heal and become stronger."

[Animus]

Ahriman breaths out. "I will honestly never get thyrsus. " he mutters. "Even my daimon doesn't hacky sack me around my onerios to prove my worth. "

"Try being a Thyrsus caught up in Mastigos mind-magic..."

She was almost certain that she'd need a tylenol to deal with the headache induced by trying to wrap her head around everything once she was back in the physical world.

The purple flames boil slightly as he looks at her. "I guess that would be difficult, I hope this hasn't been too weird for you. " He thinks for a moment. " though I am sure you would like the Anima mundi."

He glances upward, trying to make sense of what had happened. Healing warmth. Triq? No, it was ... him. "But when ... when is there time to heal?

"I'm awakened, weird comes with the territory." Goddess knows that if she tried telling this story to a sleeper they'd probably think she was tripping on something potent. Which it kind of felt like she was. "And...I have no idea what the Anima Mundi is."

"Now. You heal always. You study the world around you and you learn to strengthen yourself to it. You heal even as more cuts come in. You heal a little every day. " He smiles and sits back. "You have failed, now what are you going to do about it. "

Ahriman grins. "Mind is a little weirder than most things, don't worry about it. " He looks over keeping an eye on things. "The anima mundi is the worlds conciousness, not the human conciousness, but the worlds. Huge animals and trees, All the perfect versions of what their animal is. Its a world rules by tooth and claw. Its rather different from the Temenos... the collective view points of humans."

Triquetra tilts her head slightly to the side, "That sounds just like the Primal Wilds."

"Does it?" the flames... blink and some how look intrested. "I figured it would look something like it." Ahrimans hand comes up. "Its probably NOT the same thing, but I would be intrested in seeing it with you some time just to see how it compares."

He rubs idly at his wrist. It shouldn't surprise him that such pain could be made whole in a matter of seconds. After all, he often relied on it himself. But somehow, here, ... it was surprising. The Astral must still be keeping him off balance. "Then I'll get back up, and keep fighting, until I succeed."

"Alone?"

"Well...yeah. Idealized nature, a world dominated by the trees and beasts. That's most of what the Primal Wilds are." She spares a glance for her surroundings. "It's a lot simpler than all this dream stuff."

"No." Eyes flick over to Triquatra and Ahriman, as he picks himself up, skirting around the edge of the gaping hole. "I have friends."

"And what if they are gone?"

"For some. I think I would have died there. I am not cut out for might makes right. "

Triquetra giggles slightly, "Just because you're not cut out for it doesn't make it complicated...just different."

Eyes flick downward, flaring with pain at even the thought. He wanted to run to his lover, hold her tight. That maybe if he clung hard enough, she'd never go.

But something held him back, kept his mind on the question. His voice wavers unsteadily. "Then I guess ... guess I'd have to find new friends, and ... work through my grief, somehow."

A sheepish grin spreads across the other mages face. "I'll tell you something. I was in the boy scouts once. Ate the wrong type of flower and got sick. Its a bit more complex than you give it credit." he pauses. "but your right. I think its more that being so insignificant in the world scares the crap out of me. "

The man looks at him. "Not somehow, just like every other person out there. You will mourn but you will keep going. " He looks over at the two chatting. "They are brave and powerful to have brought you here, but you will notice that you have yet to thank them for their efforts. "

"Aha," a finger stabs into the air to emphasize her point, "But in the Primal Wilds a flower is a flower. In here it could be...umm...some metaphor sor some deep-seated desire or something, much more complicated."

"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." was the reply. "But you caught me" A hand spreads over the mans face, clinking slightly. "I am gay! the flower represents my inablitly to appreciate the... fairer sex! " a hand over his heart and a grin on his face, the flames sparking slightly.

Triquetra quirks an eyebrow at him, expression a touch mischevious as she flips her hair back over her shoulder. "And it makes you sick." She stifles a giggle, "Obviously you need to develop more of an appreciation for the female form."

There's a beat of silence, "But not mine, it's taken."

"ah I have tried, but there is nothing I appreciate more than a good looking man." He smiles. "and trust me ma'am, I wouldn't take you away from Ani if my life depended on it, as good looking as you may be."

The daimon's words slice through him, and the Thyrsus stumbles a few steps before righting himself, thankfully not dropping into the pit. Finally he reaches the other two, giving Triquetra a quick hug and briefly grasping Ahriman's hand. "Thank you both, for everything." A quick, mischievous grin at Triq. "Oh, it's you that's taken? I thought you were the one holding the leash."

Triquetra giggles again, and stands up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Spoken for then," she arches an eyebrow back up at him, "Better?"

Her gaze shifts back to Ahriman, "That's good...because wolves can get possessive."

Ahriman grins. "I think I could tell." He looks up at Animus. "Got what you need? " he asks. "Or is this just an interlude where you come over and thank us."

Eyes track back to the daimon. Maybe the man would never answer his first question. "I ... think so. Besides, not sure if I could survive another lesson right now." The last is accompanied by a weak chuckle.

Ahriman nods. "This part is really simple then, wake yourself up. You just wake up, stretch and go about your day."

The daimon is suddenly behind Animus. "Do come back and see me." he says. "next time I won't make you trek through the jungle. "

"So...can I just pinch myself, or something?"

"sure.. or will yourself to wake up?"

Triquetra shrugs, and pinches her arm. "Ouch." A frown, followed by a second pinch, and she fades slowly from the dreamscape.

Ahriman looks over at Animus.

"Ready? " he says. "Or do you want me to go ahead and let you say your goodbyes?"

Animus nods. "I'll be around, just ... try not to break me, okay?" Without waiting for a response, he wills himself awake, slowly fading out.