[three_fourth]
Crysania: Ok, that’s it. Everyone out.
The Guild’s officers, MDQ, Schrodinger, and even Georgia all arise in unison, to depart from Crysania’s tower.
Crysania corrected herself: Schrodinger, and Simon. You two stay.
Spike pointed and giggled at Simon and merrily leapt down the all-too-familiar shaft of the tower. One, by one everyone left as requested and in its place lingered an awkward quiet. Simon’s flame died down in response, and Schrodinger clanked noisily as it shifted to and fro.
Crysania: First of all, Schrodinger is too long of a name. You’re getting a shorter name.
Schrodinger flexed: I claim ODIN! Mightiest of-
Crysania nodded to herself: I’m calling you rod.
Rod slumped in defeat and groans.
Crysania grinned: Would you prefer Bob? It comes with a Red Shirt, free of charge.
Rod shook its helmet vigorously.
Crysania /taunt: Then quit yer @#$%^in’. You’re lucky to be here.
Crysania turns to Simon: Which brings me to you.
Simon’s flame becomes mere embers as Crysania’s finger moves to him.
Crysania: So, Simon, I have to ask-
Simon blurted out: GUMMY BEARS!
Crysania isn’t amused: Simon…
Simon shouted: CARE BEARS!?
Crysania tries with a gentler tone: Simon?
Simon tried: My Little Bronies?
Crysania opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it again without saying a word. After a moment of pondering, Crysania spoke very quietly: Simon, Do you know why he’s here?
Simon nodded slightly.
Crysania sits down: Would you please explain it to me?
Simon nods: You see, it all started when Mumm-Ra attacked Cybertron. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were unable to drive back Skeletor without the help of Voltron, and Cobra Commander successfully diverted the Macross forces away. When the Silverhawks tried to execute a last-wave attack, Gundam rescued the Turtles and saved the day, or so I thought. Then it [Rod] started talking and we had to regroup at a safe rally point.
Crysania sighs: So you broke into Balreth’s basement, played with some toys and somehow animated Spike’s Iron Man suit.
Simon nervously taps his index fingers together: Maybe…
Crysania groans: We’re going to hear about how @#$%tty his guards are for weeks now. Thanks.
Crysania ponders a moment: Wait. You did this right before you told us about Castlequinia, right?
Simon nods cautiously.
Crysania looks at Rod, trying to figure out how to word the question.
Rod crosses its arms, exposing its absent elbows.
Crysania: Let me guess, you were hiding out down there.
Rod remains defiant: Or what? Go on these @#$%tty impossible missions? This is all your fault. You discarded me – us.
Crysania: That still doesn’t explain how you died and got trapped in Iron Man.
Rod flexes: That no longer matters! I am Immortal!
Crysania casually forcechokes the helmet and removes it from the rest of the suit, and watches the pieces fall to the floor.
Rod panics: Stop that! It’s creepy! Hey, this feels @#$%ing weird. Put me back!
Crysania drops the helmet across the room, and Simon giggles as Rod tries to put itself back together and find its head.
Crysania sighs: As durable as a novice skeleton. It only must have been able to go toe-to-toe with Balreth due to the sword.
Rod yells wildly: YOU LEAVE DEARHEARTSEEKER OUT OF THIS!
Simon’s flame flares out as he laughs merrily.
As Rod stumbles across the room towards its helm, Nyx comes back with Georgia who instantly gives Rod a run for his money playing Tug with the helmet.
It doesn’t take long for the smell to waft over to Crysania and Simon, and Simon’s flame begins burning a different color.
Crysania coughs: Good Lord, Friend Marquise! TAKE A BATH!
Nyx points to Georgia: I’M not the one rolling in Raptor poop.
Crysania, holding her nose: Then why did you bring her here?
Nyx flexes: Because I want people to clean the Menagerie.
Rod freezes in place, allowing Georgia to rip the helmet from its hands and run away.
Simon: Not me, please? Spike and I have tickets for the grudge match between Snagglepuss and The Pink Panther.
Crysania: How about the Renegade Faction? You could have all of them.
Nyx cheers: I think after that I’ll have them clean up the forest road too.
Rod slumps: Oh, @#$% me.
Crysania grins: They’re all yours. Lalandra was holding them for now, so go and get ‘em. Take Rod while you’re at it.
Nyx smiles: Georgia! Come!
Georgia returns with Rod’s helmet, to which Nyx puts back in place and watches in amazement as Rod regains full functionality.
Nyx: How’s that work?
Crysania shrugs: Still trying to figure that out.
Nyx smiles: Oh well, as long as it cleans raptor poop.
Georgia woofs with pride.
Nyx, Rod, and Georgia leave, and Nyx could be heard asking Georgia: What am I going to do with you?
Crysania stares up at the ceiling for a few moments before she remembers that Simon is still there.
Crysania: Simon, go watch your grudge match. I’ll let you know if I need something.
Simon leaps up from his seat with excitement: I’ve got 5 smurfs riding on Scooby and Scrappy being taken out by Huey, Dewey, and Louie in the opening round. Don’t want to miss it!
Simon be-bops his way out of Crysania’s tower, and passes an inquisitive Dandd.
Simon cheers: Go Go Gadget Roar!
Dandd just blinks a couple times and resumes his monk-bound stride.
Dandd asks cautiously: Is this a bad time?
Crysania sits upright: No, no. Have a seat.
Dandd: So how may I be of service?
Crysania gets up and stares out of her tower into the Mists beyond, hands folded behind her back.
Dandd strokes his beard: You’ve got plans.
Crysania: Have you ever given much thought to the Hoolequin Progeny?
Dandd nods: Certainly. I haven’t quite figured out how to factor movement bonus to armor ratings during an area attack though.
Crysania: I meant here, or in Tyria.
Dandd sobers rapidly: Oh.
Crysania: The Orders was a good idea and all, but we’re still so separate.
Dandd: You do get lonely all by yourself.
Dandd could practically see the light bulb appear above Crysania’s head.
Dandd: What did I get myself into this time?
Crysania: Nothing, nothing. I think Rod is a by-product of loneliness somehow.
Dandd arches an eyebrow: Rod?
Crysania: Schrodinger. Rod for short.
Dandd grumbles about enchanted armor bosses and lack of normal Hit Points.
Crysania: Spike was lonely when it was forged, I was lonely when he was sent on missions, and Simon was lonely when he was playing in Balreth’s Basement. Maybe they all converged. I’ve seen weirder.
Dandd: Like Entrail Dragons?
Crysania retorts: and dogs rolling in raptor poop.
Dandd sticks his tongue out and makes a ‘bleh’ noise.
Dandd: So does Rod have something to do with your plans?
Crysania: Kinda. I am worried that the lack of Assemble! calls and common space will have negative consequences wider then just one disgruntled Nameless Henchman and his band of unskilled help.
Dandd: We have common space.
Crysania: Yeah, but it’s only used for a quick merchant sale and that’s it.
Dandd: And storage!
Crysania glares at Dandd, who shrinks underneath it.
Crysania: I’m going to work with Magnifico about building a Quinhalla II.
Dandd tugs his beard again: I remember writing about a Quinhalla II WAY back in the Quinseeker Prophecies.
Crysania smiles warmly.
Dandd: So why do you need me?
Crysania: You’re going to help me design it. The three of us. We’ll have one walk-able entrance, a grand portal in the center, and at least 7 towers.
Dandd woofs: 7 towers?
Crysania nods: One per order. The nameless too, one Iron Man suit running around is enough. Although I’ll probably give the Party two towers and the nameless will just share space in one of them. We’ll figure it out.
Dandd sighs: So we’re moving everything again? …You’re abandoning this?!
Crysania waves her hand dismissively: No, no. My thought is to have smaller portals in each tower to our respective areas, but relocate all common affairs, admin stuff, merchant/storage, as well as Officer Space in each tower. So we CAN operate strictly out of Quinhalla II if we need to.
Dandd nods as he scribbles this all down.
Crysania: The world is changing, old friend. The Original Hoolequin won’t be around forever, and our Progeny may not operate the same. What if Quinland came under siege? An internal band of renegade henchmen almost assassinated an Officer, and succeeded in causing other damage. White Base failed us at that point as transportation was limited, and so was our ability to close ranks and respond.
Dandd begins seeing the bigger picture.
Crysania: I want to leave behind, for the Hoolequin yet to come, a safe haven for the guild to continue to live, learn, and thrive. Like the old days! Remember them?
Dandd smiles, watching Crysania speak.
Crysania: When henchmen had value, and we always travelled together. The fights were hard, and tensions soared, but we won. We aren’t in the thick of it like that anymore. Our glory days have passed. Most of us are just pursuing personal ambitions or tying up loose ends. No. Quinhalla II is for the Hoolequin Progeny: those yet to answer the call and those too junior to lead now.
Dandd looks at his little friend: You speak as if you’re leaving soon.
Crysania returns his look: You know as well as I do that neither of us will be here forever.
Dandd nods: Alright, So: You, Me, and Magnifico, here with plenty of stuff to draw/write on, yes?
Crysania: Indeed. I’m calling this the Progeny Project. HQI will handle much of this, but I will be laying stones myself. I built and paid for Quinhalla almost exclusively, and I will be equally involved here.
Dandd smiles: But this time, you’re not alone.
Crysania nods: I know, but I am throwing money and muscle at this. Crysania Anchorwind will forever be a part of the Hoolequin Lineage.
Dandd laughs: as if that was ever in any doubt.
Dandd: So shall I seek out Magnifico?
Crysania: no, let me do it. I could use a walk anyway.
Crysania takes a couple steps and turns: Oh. One more thing. Stay away from the Menagerie until the Marquise gives us the clear.
Dandd: Oh?
Crysania nods: She’s got Rod’s group doing Menagerie Maintenance, Deep Habitat Cleaning, Animal Cleansing, and Road pick up.
Dandd: I think I’ll stay here, and work on Quinhalla II.
Crysania grins and waves. She’s off to get Magnifico and his Hoolequindustries.
Crysania looks at Dandd: I know we say it a lot, but Quin or Quit still means a lot to me.
Down the shaft she went, leaving Dandd to wonder aloud: She had tears in her eyes when she said that. Underneath that travelled tattooed skin beats the heart of a true Hoolequin Guild Leader. Always finding ways to serve.
Dandd speaks to the table, as he prepares for the meeting: Just the other day, I saw her instruct Balreth on strategic planning and tactical execution of dagger usage as a Geomancer. Really! An E/A 20 Balreth. Without Snippy Snap nonetheless! Or Necrosis!! The world is indeed changing…
[/three_fourth]
[one_fourth_last]
Episode (67)
22 Dec 11
References: Norse Mythology, Star Trek, Care Bears, Thundercats, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Masters of the Universe, Voltron, GI Joe, Macross, Silverhawks, Mobile Suit Gundam, Pink Panther, Snagglepuss, Smurfs, Scooby Doo, Duck Tales and Guild History
[/one_fourth_last]