Dream--02/24/78
It is night - I am in my Garn aspect, that part of me that is my future son. My wolves stand with me. Roderick and Breane are with me. We are in the cave of crystal prison on Srourain. The others are at the gateway of the Mountain Shorn. Virling Kerlan has given us a further refining of information. The sons and daughters who make up the Pentacle Choir formed in the seam between our universe and Octolin Berella's, to exist as sort of a third force. On my sister Bevev's recommendation, Fleece and Jarane were admitted. Kerlan is the overseer of the Pentacle Choir, whose abilties are based in different magickal archetypes than our own. Their powers are based on sound rather than light, and they can literally hear all. Virling Kerlan trained them to the same high degree of sensitivity and control that he possesses. We go here to request their aid against Berella, so his might is magickal not mystical. Along the corridor are gold and green grasses - the corridor is pale green, then light blue, then tan, then yellow - shifting as we move, almost. Again Breane has her olympiad compass and the circles glow as we make turns down the corridor. We reach a chamber - there are three fires that blaze in the room. With his back to us is a figure before the fire. Robed in gold and grey, a black belt at the waist cinched tightly, greying hair, he turns. He is an exact duplicate of Roderick, only lined and older. His eyes sparkle, he reaches towards us with an opaque sphere in one hand and candlefalme from the fingers on his left hand. His "voice" is telepathic and Breane is staggered by that fact for an instant. He says, "Greetings, I welcome you all to Srourain again." Roderick's hand is on his sword, and Bone and Blood growl, then are silent as the man gestures. "Who are you?" comes from Roderick. "Ah -ho-ho, I? I am you." There is a shimmering, sparkling quality in the room - or is it his voice in our minds? "I am you, you know, from a time far distant and yet precise, a place of beauty and beings wise, where lives end - and begin again." It is a quote, I should know it, familiar. Roderick also understands part of it. Breane has gone silent, stock-still as she has before when sensing, all her empathy focused in one place. Again the being speaks, "Look at her, she knows, and she should, for her mother was my daughter." Breane gasps and falls forward. I catch her and her eyes open, reach out to me - her thought pictures show a distant universe, distant in the sense of alien - and the being's name is in her mind: this is Solomon Kraft. I turn to face the man. "What do you want of us?" Again he laughs. His thoughts are splendid, brilliant, white ringed with yellow and grey islands form in their center. "I am the Mage at the end of the Maze." Roderick entrances himself as he "says" this. "I am the ending for you all - and the beginning - greet my warriors gently," and motions behind us, where Jarane and Fleece lead the Pentacle Choir as the dream ends.
Dream--02/26/78
There is a vast ocean before me - the seas are bluegreen, and there are whitecaps. I have come to this place for solitude, to gain some time away to sort out my lives. I drove here in a Kharmann-Ghia, and rented out a house for a week. The house is located at the end of the strand, and is finished in late 19th century style oil lamps, frilly things, Victorian furniture. The porch goes three-fourths of the way around the house. My very strong impression is that this is not Earth, but another place. I sit in the lone overstuff and sort through small photographic representations in my hand. Outside there is constant thunder. There is a lamp burning, and at my feet are my two wolves, sleeping, but lightly. A yell from outside makes me go to the door. A huge storm has formed out in the ocean, a waterspout reaching high; waves wash up over the top of the cliff, which is at least 80 feet above the coastal shore. A neighbor from down the road calls to me - his car needs moving to a higher ground. I walk down, help him carry it to the highest point; by this time, rain is pelting us. Getting back is not easy, waves wash over my head, but I hold firm. My house is at the peak of the pennisula, and water has not yet reached that point. As I re-enter the house, I sense a shift in the reality - and from the shadows cast by oil lamp, Breane stands by the chair. "I did not know you knew of this place," I say. She smiles and nods. "Yes, it is a place I've known before." I motion her to the chair and I sit cross-legged on a cushion. "This place I built long ago while wanting to honor my place on Earth." I pick up a small wooden puzzle. "It is where my father grew up." The clock strikes eight, but outside is still the greying night. "See-" I show her a picture of this world. She looks at me and focuses - I allow it because I must. "Now you truly know me," I say. She has a tear at one eye - her thoughts are gentle, soothing - and informative. She was not a native to Mander's land, but brought there from the Mountain Shorn. She exists separate from any reality, a constant - her people are all this. Her voice: "We are gateways, we are ships." I touch her face and my features are replicated on her face, as tho they'd flowed into her. I ask if she has offspring, and she smiles. "No - I am untouched in that manner." "Why did you come here to see me?" Her thoughts show consternation, then focus again. "Octolin Berella must be destroyed - he is too close to my people, to their secret. If he achieves it, he will be in all places, all times - invincible." I take a balalaika from the wall and turn it in my hands. "You are the focus, you and Roderick." "What of my sisters - aren't they part of it?" She leans towards me, "Your sister Victoria is dead and re-created - her life is Berella's. Your half-brother Jowennes is dead and re-created," I look up at that, "and will strike from an unthought quarter." "Bevev and Beveth?" Breane touches the instrument. "Bevev is now and forever her mother's creature, and Beveth-" she shakes her head - "will die" I strum on the balalaika, "after birthing the quadratwins." From outside the sounds of storm flow to fury. I look at her - she is unsmiling, watching my soul. I feel her pain at my pain at her words. "May I give you a song?" I ask. She nods - and I begin playing Earth's House Carpenter. As the storm breaks - when I finish the song - she takes my hand. We walk into the shadows and reappear in the crystal labyrinth as the dream ends.
Dream--03/03/78
There is a wavering window in space - it is cloudy, but the images come through well enough. Breane and Roderick and I are with Solomon Kraft and the Pentacle Choir on Srourain. We have established a link with Danielle, Virling Kerlan and Bartholomew at Sanctuary's Mirror. Beveth and Anatana are oddly not to be found. Danielle says that they are with J'siere, and both Roderick and I are uncomfortable with that. He sends out a telepathic probe to her, but it is as tho she is on no known channel. Bartholmew, somehow, has grown in abilities and presence; he is somewhat of a prankster, but it's as tho he were much much younger than the rest of us. He wears a jester's cap, but the tassle is one of intertwined skull faces. Solomon Kraft is conversing in beams of light with Kerlan - there are tremendous amounts of energy being exchanged between their forms; there is a strong semi-sulphuric smell in the ethereal. Danielle interrupts the exchange of energies; there is an analogous effect to the exchange, tho, much like the time Angra burned out Don's mind - the communication is on that level. When she interrupts it, Kraft stares at her and is somewhat surprised that she could. "What is your wish?" his thoughts drift. "Identity," she responds. As she says this, I find a bulge growing from my hand into the ethereal. "I am Kraft, grown from seeds chaotic and unformed - I shared with Adrionna Keep." There is a recognition in her, Leahan's, eyes - but it seems subliminal.
"She brought me a son, now destroyed, and a daughter." The pocket in my hand glows - Bartholomew notes this and laughs heartily. Kerlan watches me. Danielle is suddenly fluid, her form shifts into that spacetime aspect we've seen once before. Roderick has gone to silence; he is "hearing" for Anatana. "Am I one of you?" she asks, and Kraft nods. "Yes - before your time, changeling, a random element - and those of you are also unplanned factors." Suddenly, in my hand is a pack of bound Tarot cards. "You are supposed to be a forerunner, but you share both states equally - I pity you," and Kraft's eyes close. Kerlan is watching me turn the cards over in my hand, and he suddenly moves towards me. Somehow I know that he wants the Tarot - and I hurl them towards the flame, but as they descend, I can sense his power altering their composition so they will not burn. He asks why I threw away the future, and I reply that "It is not a future I would choose" as the dream ends.
Dream--03/04/78
Several months (?) - some time (subjective) has passed. Kraft and Kerlan have remained with us, both on Srourain and in the sphere of Sanctuary, teaching us certain skills. They cannot interfere directly, because their code prevents it, but they can aid us. Berella's force is along the same transparent road in space where Bevev attacked us. Roderick and Danielle have been focal points for the teaching, and then passing it on - except that I have been kept away from the true workings. This is due to my discarding of knowledge of the future, and Virling Kerlan's subsequent distrust of me on that score. Beveth is about to give birth to four sets of fraternal twins. Anatana and Bartholomew are with her for protection and comfort. My time is spent with Breane, speaking with her. Her people are the Illithians; they are different than we in psychic abilites - and they produce only one child at birth. Her people are also equal to, but different from, Kraft's people. Kraft and Kerlan are "realized futurities" of my people. Kraft wed her grandmother as a seal, and her mother married in turn right back into the Illithian pool. I tell her of my doubts, that Berella certainly possesses enough force and sorcery to win. She said, "Yes, until the choice." I am still amused at her oblique way of phrasing. The final meeting before our first confrontation is taking place. Kraft projects on the wall the force that Octolin Berella has compiled. Morganna is there, and Victoria - and Bevev - and, unexpectantly, but not too, J'siere. They are slowly walking along the way and where they pass, stars wink out, going black. As we watch this, scene, Anatana breaks through frantically to Roderick. He gasps, and stands, points at me - he says, "Someone administered poison to Beveth." Instantly I flash to the place and find Anatana shocked and Bartholomew silent. My twin lies on a bed suspended, her eyes open but hollow. "The twins?" she murmurs. Anatana to her left shakes her head. I say, "They will live, my sister." Anatana again is watching, wondering why I lie. Breane suddenly appears to my right. "How could this have happened, Shardow?" comes from her, but not in question, in knowing. I pause, putting a blind on my actions as I reach for a fitting farewell for her. I pull out of midair the tiny coat of arms seen once on a trip through confusion - it has on it the words 'The World Cries.' I place it in her folded hands and turn to Bartholomew. He is silent, solemn. He speaks, "You know?" I respond, "How could I not?" He draws his sword, as I draw mine. "What of Arthur?" I ask. "In the pocket where is his world," he replies. "Oh, I needn't have killed him, my brother, he is quite content to be worshipped there - t'is better than our father's fate for him." "But why-" "Why? To revenge myself for the realdeath you visited upon me - and - of course - to be our father's true heir." He sidesteps, slicing my shoulder, and drops into a challenge stance. Inside of me, I feel the wolf stir, then fade. Quickly I shout instructions to Anatana and Breane: "Take samples, small ones, of each of the twins" I dodge a thrust, batter it away, "blood and mix them with a sample of my sister's." Jowennes' face and form now match the voice and mind. They do so, as he and I match strengths. I break through his defences, tho, and his sword clatters away. As I turn back to deliver a killing blow, he mists and his laughter trails with him away. I turn back to Breane and Anatana; the flask they've prepared has nine samples in it. The blending of them has turned them a pale shade of bluegreen. I look at Breane - she meets it, telepaths: "You are aware that the poison is still present." I nod, but take the flask and empty it. It is rich and yet sour-sweet at the same time. As it hits my system, I can feel the reawakening of those called my sons within me, but there is another strong force, too - the strengths of my twin wife and daughters. Suddenly, there is a blinding flash and I lose the sense of just who I am - there is an internal shifting. I am there, but not in the degree of control as before. Breane's eyes open wide in shock, but Anatana shows only confusion. Then as abruptly as it occurred, it ends. I am there, but feeling somewhat different; my appearance is the same, tho. The integration is complete. Breane is staring. I ask her what caused her shock - she telepaths that "in the first blinding flash, you were not there - in your stead was the same golden-haired woman who freed us from the crystal prison." I raise my eyebrows at this. "I come from a seam in time," were her words, vivid with no identity - as the dream ends.
Dream--03/22/78
I stand, alone, on the opaque walkway facing the forces of Octolin Berella. The others, far away, safe in the sphere of Sanctuary, are aware that I am here. As I walk towards them, my brother blinks into the scene, his hand wounded from our battle before. He is dressed all in green armor. The others are there: Morganna, Victoria, Bevev, J'siere - and Berella. He is gaunt and regal - his armor is black and on his gauntlets are entwined Dragons blessed in gold. His eyes glow, and he stares at me, probing. I can "feel" my people in the distance, in my mind, concerned and anxious. "Hellmann" - my voice is rich and controlled. "You chose the path - it could destroy you - the blade falters only when sheathed," he responds, coldly. Behind him, Jowennes makes a sudden motion; Berella slashes at him with force from his hands, and welts arise on my half-brother's face. Bevev comforts him with a star-song, and Victoria moves to stand ready at Berella's side. "The path must be cleared," I say, and as I say that, part of my synergic soul opens. I "sense" that it is Jarod, never-spoken, speaking now. "You chose to throw away all the building of our building on years, to recreate from birth - it is unfair and unnecessary - we will prevent it." Berella looks at me, impassive. Behind him is the black satin of starless void. Deep in my mind I hear a chorus of those left behind calling my name. Irritated, I cast them through the distance separating and bring them here. Anatana silent, watching, red hair tied back causing a skull-effect on her face - her hands blur and she seems to be murmuring. Roderick, in black and red, black hood fallen to his shoulders - his visage shows surprise that I brought them all through. I smile at him, but speak harshly, "Don't be shocked, brother, I am your counterpart -in-between "laws" of magick." Danielle watches me, her gaze penetrating - she questions "Who am I?" and I respond (NOTE: all the arrivals, questions, remarks, responses take place simultaneously, operating on a blur of consciousness.) "You are the mother-of-demons, you are the cast out, you are ego-and-humility, you are my mother, you are justice." She nods - and spreads her arms; her form becomes indistinct and I can "see" her entering Breane, Anatana, Roderick and finally myself. Berella roars - but for a frieze, an instant, Anatana freezes the moment. I look at Breane. "You know the way now, don't you?" she questions. My eyes in the affirmative - she produces her compass, shatters it in her hand and we turn to face the enemy as the dream ends.
Dream--08/01/78
Breane and I stand on a distant shore. The snads are red and the sea before us is shifting in color from red through gold. In my mind is an image of a leviathan, but not in this sea. Roderick and Anatana are on Srour, Fleece and Jarane on Srourain. We are here because we've come to the final battle with Octolin Berella. In a carnival-type place in Anatana's world, Berella had appeared. Tall and massive, dressed in black, he'd taken all life from her world. Only Anatana and Virling Kerlan were left, and then only because they'd been on Srour. Solomon Kraft directed that we split our energies because there were now only four worlds remaining. He remained in Sanctuary - Danielle and Arthur went to Arthur's world, and Danielle was suited in rainbow armor. Her words to us were: "There will be a gale of magicks and through the confusion, Berella will appear to capture a world." Breane is telepathing to her people, scattered through dimensions. I am in my Shardow aspect, but grim and distant. Roderick has set up linkages that allow us to view which world will be attacked first. My wolves are there on red sands, pacing. Solomon Kraft breaks in, "The Phoenix has fallen" are his words, in great sadness. He projects to us an image of their world, 2nd Table of Sons - a grisly scene as Jowennes and Morganna hold the severed heads of Angra and Atara in triumph. Their world is burning, and all of us sense the power flowing to Hellmann. I am tremendously sad, for Gina was on that world. Her death is marked, tho; as I watch the tableau, her Ankh materializes out of mid-air, floats to my hand. In such a time, would the Ankh contain her energies? I voice the question and Breane shrugs in her mind. Roderick answers, "Any symbol that is yourself will act to hold your essence if it is close at the time of your death." Danielle breaks in, however, saying,"Normally that's so - but these are "real" deaths, not dimensional ones - and only the exchange of life can remedy." Out to sea, a storm gathers - clouds, too, now are red and gray. I finger my rope measure around my waist. Breane is dressed in bluegreen to match her skin. Suddenly, through rolling clouds a figure in gold appears; it is the woman Aliana. She vanishes and reappears in beat to the clouds. She reaches her hand forward and a beam of gold reaches to my hand, picks up the Ankh and draws it to her. She places it around her neck and it shimmers. From Anatana is a cry - in the globe showing Srourain, Hellmann and Morganna appear and also a shadowy blur without identity. It takes Jarane and Fleece by surprise, and Virling Kerlan suddenly appears in the scene. Morganna is battling Fleece, Kerlan takes on Berella. The shadow becomes Jowennes, locked in a death struggle with Jarane. The two older ones vanish. Morganna, laughing, draws a sword from mid-air, a curved sword with two blades, and stabs Fleece in the back. She falls, Anantana falters and goes unconscious. Jarane sees his sister die and whirls on Jowennes. His eyes blaze and above his head appears a horned wolf. His eyes are fiery and he directs their flame, white-hot, at Jowennes. In my mind, Roderick notes: "Beware the hidden hand" - Breane gasps. I look to find J'siere hurling Breane from a cliff into the hole in the ground on the sea. Instantly, I transport - in mid-air, falling - I grip Breane's unconscious form and weave a crystal about us. We hit the red sea amidst our bubble, the waves take us to shore. Above us in a purple robe of mist, J'siere reaches to the sky and grasps a hand, which plucks her from our plane. We return to the strand. I contact Roderick, who's been urgently calling. Jowennes is dead once more, a burned husk. Jarane is between and coming. Fleece is dead, and the blood flows once more. In my mind, Roderick - "At crescent's end it will be we against Berella, you and I." Danielle speaks from far away, in a land only Arthur wholly recalls, "This land will fall next - but you must attack Berella immediately afterwards - he will be weakened. As I love you all, fare me well." Next moment, Roderick, Anatana and Jarane appear on red sands and in the sky overhead comes an image of Aliana, looking drawn and sad as the dream ends.
