The_Guild	The planet Tenwald in the Regency is a sophisticated and advanced population, but also a relatively sparse population. The environment is relatively earthlike, with the habitable band being just a couple degrees above 0 celsius. The terrain is relatively flat, though ranges of hills do break the rolling plains.
Lopez	"Nice place you've got here"
The_Guild	Far from being a city planet, Tenwald is a centre of commerce in their empire, the home of hundreds of corporate headquarters, each of which being surrounded by the equivalent of a small country's worth of land.
Lopez	and I wonder how many of those corperations have there head offices in this reality
The_Guild	In times past there have been brutal corporate wars, actual armed conflicts between economic powers vying for control of this or that new resource or technology. As a result, the complexes on this planet are well defended, sometimes resembling more of a military installation than a corporate headquarters. But at the moment, no battle threatens, and the scene is placid. The Guild frigate enters orbit and docks with one of the megaplatforms. Mr. Clairune goes with you as you take a private car down to the planet's surface, to the headquarters of The Guild. When you arrive it is night time, but the complex still thrums with activity. From space you had seen that there were several large buildings, surrounded by innumerable smaller buildings, with a shielding wall surrounding the whole complex. Small, compared to some corporate headquarters, but still impressive. At this time of night, docking is quick and easy, as there isn't much traffic to contend with. In all directions from the complex stretches the rolling plains of the planet, with the only hint of other people out there being a faint orangeyblue glow on the western horizon. Too much! :) In all directions from the complex stretches the rolling plains of the planet, with the only hint of other people out there being a faint orangeyblue glow on the western horizon.
Lopez	"Nice Place "
The_Guild	Mr. Clairune smiles as the two of you walk toward the entrance. "It's small, but it's home."
Lopez	"Huh...So now what?"
The_Guild	Entering the Guild Office is like entering any other place in the universe - big lobby, big desk with security, leading to hallways and a bank of elevators. A large map of the complex hangs over the guard's desk, and the emblem of the Guild is emblazoned across the floor. "Now you meet the Guildmaster so he can approve your export, and then get you on your way to Shar Torin."
Lopez	"Shar Torin? "
The_Guild	"The real Guild Headquarters."
Lopez	Ahhh so this is just a regional office
The_Guild	"Yes."
Lopez	I see
The_Guild	Mr. Clairune approaches the guard desk and shows his pass, then indicates you. "Mr. Gordon has an appointment with Tericho." The guard looks you over, then nods. "If you could leave your weapons with us, and sign this form here and here please." The guard passes you a clipboard.
Lopez	"I Sign it..leave my side-arm and dagger with the guard"
The_Guild	Mr. Clairune steps forward, "Actually..." he picks up the monomolecular dagger and hands it back to you. The guard looks like he might say something but Mr. Clairune smiles at me. "It's alright. He's with me."
Lopez gives him a look
The_Guild	[Smiles at the guard, not me.] The guard nods and takes your sidearm. "Thank you. Have a great day Mr. Clairune, Mr. Gordon."
Lopez nods to guard
The_Guild	Mr. Clairune takes you to the bank of elevators and steps into an empty one. As the door closes he presses his pass to an ID scan, then says "Penthouse." There is a beep and the elevator begins to rise. A few seconds later, there is another beep and the doors open onto a huge room. You stepping out and looking around, it seems that this entire floor is walled in glass, looking out over the complex and the land surrounding. It is richly furnished, and well-equipped for comfort, including a hot tub and small pool over on the far side, as well as a stocked bar, couches and, to the left, a desk.
Lopez	[a desk}
The_Guild	At the desk sits a man. Blond hair and blond beard, he's a well-proportioned man dressed in a suit but without a tie and with his top button undone. He's leaning back in his chair, feet propped on the corner of the desk as he flips through a holoreport projected in front of him. As he sees the two of you get off the elevator, he grins. "Roal, you found him. Congratulations." His voice is cultured, accented in one of the billions of ways that voices are in this universe. The Guildmaster stands, the holoreport flicking off as he circles his desk, walking toward you and extending his hand. "Jowal Tericho, good to meet you."
Lopez Extends hand as well "Eric Gordon"
The_Guild	"Have a seat, guys, this shouldn't take long." Tericho leads you to a sunken area strewn with couches and chairs and sprawls across one of the couches. Mr. Clairune follows, sitting straight and proper in a nearby chair.
Lopez Sits in Military Matter bakc staright head level
The_Guild	The guildmaster tilts his head to look at you. "So you've decided to join us, hmm? I trust Roal has filled you in, more or less, about what you'll be doing?"
Lopez	Pretty much what I do now...but on a Bigger scale
The_Guild	"Sounds about right. And you're okay with this? Once you've left you probably won't come back."
Lopez	*shrug* doesn't really matter...they'll just find another volunteer. I'm expensive not irreplaceable
The_Guild	"I have a feeling they may already have another volunteer, waiting in the wings for you to kick the bucket." He smiles slightly.
Lopez	They Always do They'd be stupid otherwise
The_Guild	"You'd be surprised."
Lopez	Maybe...maybe not
The_Guild	The Guildmaster sighs. "I haven't slept in three days, this couch is too comfortable. I should have them put metal benches in here instead." He trails off, silence in the room descends for a few seconds. The Guildmaster glances at Mr. Clairune, who shrugs, then nods. The Guildmaster nods back. Mr. Clairune stands up. "Would you like to meet Adenhyal before you go, Mr. Gordon?"
Lopez	No...not really.
The_Guild	"No?"
Lopez	No...What would I want to say to him...my Job was to bring him to justice...not have a tea party with him.
The_Guild	"It is not a meeting for tea. Think of it as field research. Adenhyal has changed a great deal since his last public appearance."
Lopez raises eyebrow "how so?"
The_Guild	"The Void has corrupted him."
Lopez	Corrupted?
The_Guild	"He is being twisted into something not of this dimension, a hybrid mongrel which the Void intends to use as a gateway to enter our Realm."
Lopez	well I guess I'd better see what I'm up against then...lead on
The_Guild	Mr. Clairune turns to the Guildmaster. "I'll take him to TransLoc when..." he trails off, for Tericho is asleep. "Let's go." Mr. Clairune leads the way out.
Lopez	"has Mr. Tericho ever thought of being modified to eliminate the need for sleep?"
The_Guild	You go down the elevator to the main floor, then walk for several minutes through the complex, passing outdoors one time to a smaller building, and then down another elevator. You step out onto a balcony platform overlooking a large, dim room with a ceiling that reaches up into nothingness. A column of light illuminates the center of the room. A solitary figure huddles in the light, and shadowy figures stand in the darkness around the column of light. "It has been recommended to him, but he places great importance in his dreams."
Lopez	"ahh well I really don't miss it...if that counts for anything"
The_Guild	shadowy figures stand in the darkness around the column of light. Maybe ten of them.
Lopez	[how many show up on Radar?]
The_Guild	"Some people like their sleep. I believe Tericho may actually sometimes receive prophetic dreams." Does not.
Lopez	[Does he show up on anything Thermal X-ray anything?]
The_Guild	[No. You can see him, but he doesn't detect as anything else.]
Lopez	"That's ood"
The_Guild	"What is odd?"
Lopez	That form in the center...adenhyal I assume...doesn't show up on any of my sensors
The_Guild	"He is in a protected circle. Adenhyal is in the late stages of his transformation, so he has been quarantined until he dies, to prevent the release of the Void."
Lopez	Ahhh...I see
Lopez approches to get a better view
The_Guild	Mr. Clairune murmurs a warning before you do. "Don't break the circle." The stairs circle down around the wall of the circular room, and you approach across the floor toward the light. Adenhyal is dressed in a wrecked leather duster, his hair is, long, black and unwashed. He huddles, his face hidden in the shadow of his cloak.
Lopez	So this is what its come to?
The_Guild	Adenhyal does not stir. A second later a quiet, muted moan fills the room, a sound that evokes a feeling of dark dread that strikes deep into the pit of your stomach. A voice behind you murmurs, "You can speak with him now."
Lopez	Why...he's pitiful...just a husk.
The_Guild	The moan changes pitch, hiccuping once... twice... more and more and in quicker succession until it sounds like low, deep throated laughter. The figure stirs, rising slowly to his feet as if pulled up by a string attached to the top of his head. His hair and coat are dirty, his clothing is merely rags. But you can see black lesions, oozing wounds covering his face, hands and body. His skin is mottled, large areas having turned jet black. His eyes, too, are black - whites and all. He smiles in a blind way, looking up and over your shoulder, and you see that his teeth are falling out, the remainings ones crooked and oddly sharpened.
Lopez	Pathetic
The_Guild	His face contorts grotesquely, his jaw dropping to open his mouth three times the normal maximum. The stuttering moan becomes a shriek, a howling wind which surrounds your mind with a cloud and rains shards of broken glass into your brain. But... no. No, it goes away, the shriek fades and loosens it's grip, and as it's effect lessens, Adenhyal closes his mouth to that disjointed smile once more.
Lopez	So he'll die here?
The_Guild	"You are the pathetic one, Eric Gordon. You could not catch this husk as it stumbled across this board, this plate, this fragile land. For every Realm in which the Guild thwarts the Void, the Void consumes ten more. The Void knows you now, Eric Gordon. The Void will consume you."
Lopez	*shrug* don't think I'll be a very good meal...might give you some gas.
The_Guild	Adenhyal raises a hand, reaching out to you. It explodes in a liquidy torrent of blackness, gushing toward you like a flood of darkness. It strikes the edge of the circle though, and is halted. Adenhyal stands at the edge of the circle now, his hands splayed against the invisible barrier. The light begins to dim. Still he looks at you, his black eyes like pools of infinite loneliness, his grin insulting.
Lopez makes a point of adujsting the dagger I wear and turn to leave
The_Guild	His palms grow dark, spreading out across the invisible barrier. He presses his face to the barrier and it too darkens, flattens, spreads like an oozing plague across the barrier. Suddenly Adenhyal is gone, and only a creeping black doom remains, an amorphous liquid nothing that probes at the wall. Suddenly it curls back, becoming the shadow of Adenhyal kneeling as he was when you entered, and then it explodes outward, blotting out the light completely, filling the pillar of protection from top to bottom, plunging the room into total darkness.
Lopez	And that's all? (looking at Mr. Clairune)
The_Guild	That is all. "That is all." "We will keep the Void contained here until we receive permission to force it out of the Realm."
Lopez	I see...well we should go now.
The_Guild	Mr. Clairune nods and you step back into the elevator, travel up, and cross the complex to yet another elevator, which again takes you down to an identical room, only this one is better lit and has a large archway set into the far wall.
Lopez	And this will take us to... Shar Torin? ?
The_Guild	"Yes." As you approach the archway, the wall shimmers and you can see through it, as like a doorway, into a large circular room with a shallow depression in the centre and archways lining the walls all the way around. In one way it seems like it's the next room in the complex, but your mind doesn't quite accept that as truth. In fact, your mind can't seem to make up it's mind on what it thinks.
Lopez	So I just step through?
The_Guild	Yes.
Lopez	Huh...kind of a denumont
The_Guild	Mr. Clairune steps through with you and you find yourself with little ado in that new room. The archway behind you is filled with a blank wall.
Lopez	[doing a full systems diagnostic] "Please bear with me...I'm running a diganostic to make sure nothing is out of sorts
The_Guild	"Shar Torin is designed to be hospitable to all visitors, regardless of origin. Translation will be more difficult once you start visiting other Realms." All systems check out, but there seems to be some sort of mild kinetic resistance field. Not enough to be noticeable by anything but sensors. [It's kinda like a simulated higher gravity, or greater air resistance right now.]
Lopez	well aside from teh mild keinetic resistance field everything checks out...shallwe continue?
The_Guild	"Certainly. This..." Mr. Clairune indicates the room. "Is central TransLoc."
Lopez	The interdimesonal landing pad as it were?
The_Guild	"You got it."
Lopez	and This world is a giant free-port
The_Guild	"Not really a free port, no. It is Guild Central. It is secure from most undesired intrusion, and generally inaccessible to those who are not sympathetic to our cause."
Lopez	Ahhh I see. Please continue
The_Guild	"Through here," he says, approaching another archway, the top of which is labeled 'The Chamber,' "Is the Chamber. It is the central room of the Guild, where visitors are oriented and can meet with clerks who can help them orient themselves. The chamber beyond is immense, reaching out into the distance in all directions, the ceiling above a huge glass dome which shows a varicolored sky dancing with all shades of subtle pastel hues. Huge pillars stretch up, each one intricately carved in unique designs and decoration. The walls are draped with giant tapestries, each one depicting a different abstract scene of peace and prosperity... This room, too, is lit from an unidentifiable source, dimmer than the office but still bright enough to make out several people moving through the chamber, many carrying clipboards or the like... The floor is tiled and smooth and slightly reflective, not a speck of dust tarnishing it's burnished beauty. Your eyes can pick out subtle differences in the hues of each tile, one connecting to another... until you realize that they are guideways, paths that lead to this corridor or that.
Lopez	kinda like light stips on ships to find the bridge follow the red line engineering Green medical Blue etc etc
The_Guild	Exactly. But they're part of the tiles on the floor, not obvious unless you're looking for it.
Lopez	Cool
The_Guild	"I will show you to your quarters, now."
Lopez	Very well
The_Guild	He leads you down a hallway, pausing by an archway that reads "Hub 14." Stepping through you enter a smaller room quite similar to Central Transloc, only with fewer arches. Then, crossing the room he passes through another archway, this one labelled "Kalarta." The hallway you enter is carpeted in a blue so dark it is almost black, and the walls are a sort of shale blue. The hallway extends off in the distance in both directions. Mr. Clairune leads the way down the hall.
Lopez	"Kalarta?"
The_Guild	"Shar Torin is split into several overlapping phases. Kalarta is a residence phase."
Lopez	I see...kinda
The_Guild	"In most cases a full understanding is unnecessary, as the portal archways take care of the navigation for the most part."
Lopez	Ok
The_Guild	"Here you are." Mr. Clairune stops before a door, K21 says the small plaque. He motions for you to enter. "Take a few minutes to get acquainted, and then we must head to the infirmary for a quick checkup. Then you'll be left to your own devices.
Lopez	I enter
The_Guild	Your room is kind of plain, spartan. A comfy bed, a small desk, a closet and a set of drawers. There is a bathroom off to the side.
Lopez	Mental Checklist..ok Bed can go...bigger desk and just need a shower...they gave me a very big room
The_Guild	So what are you going to do now? Mr. Clairune is waiting in the hall.
Lopez	well I've checked out the room...better go to medical...don't know why...but *shrug* oh well
Lopez goes off to find Medical
The_Guild	Mr. Clairune leads you through a couple arches, back through the Chamber (where you notice a two-headed giant chatting with one of the clerks,) down a hallway and under a white marbled arch (which sends a shiver up your spine when you pass under it), into a white-walled corridor lined with doors.
Lopez	"So why exactly are you having me a person with almost no biology take a physical?"
The_Guild	"Despite your own immunity to disease, you may still be a carrier. And there are always going to be foreign virii and hybrid viruses that are able to affect the few fleshy parts you still own."
Lopez	well i could just dispose of the old stuff and grow more
The_Guild	Toxnix is faster and more effective.
Lopez	Fair enough
The_Guild	Mr. Clairune opens a door for you, showing you into a room that looks like every other medical check up room in the Multiverse. The table/bed in the middle, counters and cupboards, counters covered with medical miscellania. "Someone will be with you shortly."
Lopez	I go and sit on the table/bed
The_Guild	You don't hear the door open, but suddenly you hear someone behind you.
Lopez	Hello
The_Guild	A young woman in a grey robe, with pretty long brown hair and grey eyes is standing beside you, smiling. "Hi."
Lopez	Nice Trick..you didn't even trigger Radar or motion detectors
The_Guild	She smiles, blushing slightly and looking down. "Thanks. It's not so special."
Lopez	*shrug* well lets get this over with.
The_Guild	"Okay. Oh, I'm Hlemstr Igaru, your Shargat for today. Could you look at me for a second?" And it literally does take a second. She stares at you, then goes to one of the cupboards and pulls out a small bottle.
Lopez	I'm sorry my translation software missed teh meaning of "Shargat"
The_Guild	"What? Oh! I'm sorry! A Shargat is a member of the research combine. We provide the technical, magical and psychic ability of The Guild."
Lopez	Ahhh...I...see
The_Guild	The girl looks worried, looking down at the bottle in her hand, seeming to have trouble with the lid. "Do you? I'm sorry if my description isn't very good."
Lopez	Nonono...its just a lot to take in...I mean I have no...experience with well you used the word magic..I mean we have Psionics and Techno-mages..but real magic...its just a lot to take in
The_Guild	She smiles slightly, almost pained. "There will be a lot more, but if you ever have questions, you can ask anybody. You can come find me, too, if you want." She wrenches at the lid one more time and fails to get it open. She offers it to you. "Could you open this for me?"
Lopez reaches out...and just spins it
The_Guild	She takes it back, blushing furiously. "Thanks. Here." She takes your hand and shakes out a pair of pills into it. " "These are Toxnix, they'll kill off those bugs you brought with you, and boost your immune system against bugs that you'll encounter here in Shar Torin."
Lopez	Ummmm it might not be a good Idea for me to ingest those.
The_Guild	"Why?"
Lopez	My interal systems will break the chemicals down into constituant atoms and reassemble them for reconstructive pruposes..also I'm immune to any sort of infection.
The_Guild	She smiles slightly. "It is not the atoms that are important. It is the symbolism."
Lopez	symbolism?
The_Guild	"Toxnix is not a purely chemical drug. Their effect is more of an abstract cleansing of your personal space than an actual drug."
Lopez	errrr.ok..if it makes you happy...*swallows pill* anything else?
The_Guild	"Nope, that's it. Have a good stay in Shar Torin!" She steps to the door and opens it for you. "Oh, hi Mr. Clairune. Are you waiting for Mr. Gordon?" Mr. Clairune is waiting in the hall. "Yes, I am Hlemstr. How are you doing? How was the concert?" "Oh, it was wonderful. Embamber plays the most entrancing piano I've heard." "I thought you'd like it, I'm sorry I had to miss it. Next time, neh?" "We should go together!" "Maybe we will." Mr. Clairune smiles at the girl, then looks to you. "Ready to go?"
Lopez	Yeah...*nods to Hlemstr* Have a good day
The_Guild	"Thanks! You too! I'll see you around!" The Shargat closes the door and Mr. Clairune looks at you. "And now I'll leave you to explore on your own."
Lopez	ummm Ok...so I just walk around?
The_Guild	"Walk around, ask questions. If you need help, a Clerk in the Chamber can give you a tour."
Lopez	Alright...well I guess I'll see you later then? is there any tiem scheule I should be on? meetings that sort of thing?
The_Guild	"You have a little while to explore, but you'll be contacted when orientation begins.~
Lopez	Ahhh..ok well I'll see you around then...*extends hand*
The_Guild	Mr. Clairune takes your hand and shakes it warmly. "Welcome to The Guild, Mr. Gordon. I trust you'll find it an exciting change of pace."
Lopez	"I hope so"...turns around and walks in the opposite direction
The_Guild	Perhaps. :) Do you want to take different arches, or stay on one level as long as possible?
Lopez	Just gonna wander...see where I go when i get there
The_Guild	Okay. You wander for a while, and eventually find Comestibles, a large open room filled with tables and chairs which is the cafeteria. You locate the library and a variety of Shargat facilities, large workfloors that you look down on from above. You find several banks of offices and a number of different residence levels. Everything is ornate, done in rich colors with soft carpets and wood panelling. Handsome furnishings, yet at the same time quite practical. Handsome furnishings, yet at the same time quite practical.
Lopez	cool...well if I can I take out some interesting books to read [What else do you do with the extra 10 hours when you don't sleep] maybe see someone about changing my room around a bit
The_Guild	You can't actually take books out, but the library (which has considerably fewer books than one would expect in the library of an interdimensional guild) is comfortably furnished for studying. The index consists of one huge tome set on a pedestal, from which you can find anything.
Lopez	cool...well just gonna wander around a bit more..then head back to my room
The_Guild	You inquire in the Chamber about getting your room rearranged, and a clerk assures you that it will be dealt with.
Lopez	cool.
The_Guild	So when you get back to your room, everything is already rearranged.
Lopez	Excellent
The_Guild	I'll have to see what my rehearsal schedule is like. I'll probably be able to play at least one more time during the week. OH!!!!!!! I'm coming to Guelph sometime this week!