Strange, but with elements of truth....

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 21995

"The Order of Eternity Incorporated," Cuthbert says to the crowd, looking the part of a religious pilgrim.

He'd read in Dune how, back on Earth there had been a breakthrough in theology where all religions had been united together into one. While not quiet like what was happening in Eternity Inc., it had made him smile a bit and had stuck in his mind. With Jarlath having mimicked that one line from Dune, Cuthbert's mind had turned on that memory....and thus had fell upon the idea of coaching their mission in religious terms.

Thus coaching the truth in mystical, vague terms with religious overtones, Cuthbert conveyed his message to his audience. He didn't go into great, revealing details, but enough to convey the problems they faced and such...

And thus throughout the night and somewhat into the morning (on the move down away and off the road and into the remote wilderness) Cuthbert explained what was happening. At first, they had been stationary, this odd group of injured and confused New Amazons and the others. However, the one known as Cuthbert soon was making....enough sense that his gentle suggestions that they all ride off away from the crowds that might come down the road were heeded. He and the Champions rode on their magical carpet (drawing mutters of awe and suspicion at first) all the while the New Amazons (and Prince Aaron) followed on horseback. Thus when scouts and such sent out by confused field commanders went down that very road to soon come upon that fell field of battle, the scouts at least didn't run into the survivors. With the magic spells cast by Jarlath and others to hide the New Amazonian's path, the existence of survivors was at least safe for the moment.

For the moment....

While still not exactly sure what to make of his group, the others no longer thought them an enemy. Especially when Cuthbert pointed out how erroneous it was to think that some of the Champions might be powerful enough to do all that had been done to them tonight AND still vulnerable to melee attack. Shall not go into details on how he did it, but after Cuthbert was through those who'd raised such doubts in the first place were feeling....rather silly to have ever thought such thoughts.

What really clinched it was something of an inspirational vision he shared with them as well as sharing a bit of info that drew a lot of manna with the New Amazons. Or rather he handed off the last part to Astra. By that time he was more than a little raspy!

While not exactly sure what to make about her claims to being a real Amazon, some soon began to wonder about their doubts as she gave them "tips and tricks" of the trade as what she’d learned from her stint in Diane’s Rangers. Was pretty...er....interesting and eye raising. Good for guerilla like tatics...which is good considering that they as such a small group might well need to resort to such in order to be effective still. Fight only battle that they could win. Use your weakness as a strength. You’re small but agile, fast. While the enemy is large and stationary....slow. Slowly the Amazon blazed a trail into the minds and hearts of the New Amazons. Maybe things weren’t as hopeless as they seemed.

Stay alive and recruit from the shadows and grow strong again..... Maybe that was their hope. It may well be their only hope, anyway.

That’s to be seen, sooner or later. Maybe well after the Champion’s business here was done...

As for the inspiration?

The inspirational vision he gave the New Amazons was a glimpse into what it was like living inside The Order of Eternity Incorporated. He revealed how it was made up of not only human beings but other races (and religious beliefs) as well. Races not only like the demifox, but other mythical races like the centaur, the unicorn, and even the mighty dragon! He shared with them how, while different, they all respected one another enough and could even sanely discuss those differences....knowing that in the end their questions on the ultimate truth would sooner or later be revealed to them all. The New Amazons figured that Cuthbert was speaking in a religious sense. Something like along the lines where those answers would at last be answered when the members died. All would be revealed in the Here After, they thought. Cuthbert actually was talking about how eventually, given the special evolving nature of Champions, they'd (given enough time) evolve enough to be able to take in such wonders while alive (instead of having to die first).

Something like that, anyway.

That was, however, a long time away. How long was to be seen, but it was a LONG time away.

Anyway, that vision of tolerance (and equality) was a comforting balm for the women, who'd grown up in such an environment where intolerance had lead them down the path eventually to where they'd fight for equality. Kind of....soothing..... and thus made the Champions messages more receptive to weary ears.....

It even worked, somewhat, on both Rebecca and Illura, in fact. Far enough to the point where they didn't get paranoid all over again when almost out of the blue Synizn offered to look into Rebecca's amnesia. Caused quiet a stir, mind you. With Rebecca because she'd not revealed such things and with Illura (and the other New Amazons) who hadn't known about the amnesia. Went over so well, in fact, that another suffering with amnesia asked to see if something could be done about it as well. That person's name, according to the other New Amazons, was Karen.

Frankly, Cuthbert and the others knew very well that nothing really could be done about Rebecca's amnesia as a cure. However, some of the demifoxes were rather interested to see if, in that Angel's haste to return her to life....if some fragments of her old life remained. Oh, it was a bit of curiosity Synizn wanted to pursue....which he rationalized (and realized) that he could also well use that probing session to get a "print" of that mind in case Rebecca should get swept away like last time. With it, the mage would be able to track her down again where otherwise he might not. Only due to the fact of lingering spells last time allowed him to track Rebecca last time so quickly. Next time (if it came), he reasoned, they might not be so lucky.....

As for the others, he and the other mages would do some low level magery to heal and help where they could. High powered magic might be too dangerous and draining....just in case enemies of the New Amazons should come despite everything.... Besides, it would do a lot for good will towards the Champions, he and the others well knew. It fit with the cover story of them being a (rather odd) religious order of sorts, as well....

What they find out with Karen might be more than they expect. Or maybe not...

Whatever.

And what of Prince Aaron?

Cuthbert is about to rasp out that very question when he looks out to a clearing where Joan and Aaron have gone aside to talk. The prince had done some kind of double take when he’d taken a look into Joan’s eyes..... Something had seemed to call to him within there....

He'd been hovering by Joan all this time, Cuthbert seemed to recall now. Interesting.

"I know...that look," Cuthbert rasps softly to himself, slowly smiling.

Moments later, a somewhat dazed but happy Aaron comes over.

"I think I’m in love," he nearly croaks, somewhat dazed still from that discussion with Joan.

"What did she tell you?" Cuthbert asked softly, awaiting the answer.

Whilst Joan had pretty much kept to the coverstory Cuthbert had come up with, the topic had soon come up about her...er....former nature. However, by that time (much to the jangled Prince’s surprise)....he was now in "too deep" to care....

"I must meet her parents!" Aaron begins to say fiercely, "In order to....."

  1. "But to do that....you know what it means," Cuthbert said quietly.

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11/10/2002 6:07:38 PM

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