((Opal Challenge SL -- Jaycy)) Lost and Found

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/3/2000 12:57 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jaycy Ashleana


It was an accident with harmless results, really.

Or was it?

If anyone was to blame, it was Drake. She had cast the initial spell, ironically meant to protect the gypsy. Jorah had still been around, and after the three women. A protection spell cast by a fine mage to protect Jaycy ... a protection spell went awry.

It wasn't until shortly after the spell was cast that the effects were discovered. A jack of all trades, Jaycy had taken the time to learn some of the shadow magicks of her former husband, Furyion Shadowsbane. After such a long time, those spells became second nature to her, almost as natural as breathing ... perhaps a little too natural. One of the more simple spells involved a form of teleportation, one used quite often by the woman.

That night, after the spell was cast by Drake, she tried that oh-so-simple spell. Expecting to find herself at home as the shadows faded, she instead still stood in the Arena. Becoming a little more worried, she tried another spell, but to no avail. Her magick ... her shadow magick .. was gone.

Or was it?

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/3/2000 2:00 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jaycy Ashleana


Time went on, and the gypsy slowly adapted to a "normal" life; one without the magick that once flowed so freely through her veins. Magick was like a drug, and without it coursing within, she felt lost. Jorah was still plaguing the ladies, and they were no closer to finding a way to be rid of him. The horrid man tried to use her against her friends, and Jaycy felt there was only one way out.

She killed herself.

Well, it might not be called a proper "death," because she took a poison which stopped body activity and allowed her spirit to roam free through RhyDin. She was unable to do harm, but also unable to stop harm from coming to others. The air elemental had regained magick in some form, by the grace of her goddess, and when finally returned to her body, it was enough.

But ... she would never hear the enchanting call of the shadows within her blood again. She would never dance among their kind, nor ever feel the chill of the dark.

Or would she?

Deep within, it lay imprisoned, waiting. Biding its time, the captured essence of the shadows lay still, growing in power by stealing minute amounts from the gypsy woman's returned magickal energy. In the process, the energies, combined, warped.

Time went on, and the shadows ... gained sentience.

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/3/2000 2:11 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jaycy Ashleana


For many, attaining the rank of Emerald was little more than the reward for training hard and becoming accomplished in fist fighting. For Jaycy it was that. For the shadows within, it was more ... so much more. It had spent long months waiting for the right time to begin its work in taking over the gypsy. Its goal was simple, really. It wasn't so stereotypical as to wish to take over the world and
bring it to the shadow. It wasn't even really an "evil" wish. It merely sought to bring a semblance of balance to RhyDin, for without the shadow, there can be no light.

Slowly strengthening, the essence within passively watched the various do-gooders as they went about saving the world. How could it ever bring a balance with so many in the mortal world? It would never be able to achieve it alone.

Wait.

What was that? Something ... familiar. Power. Not much, perhaps, but there was potential. It sifted through the gypsy's mind, looking for an answer. There was something there ... where? The Outback! The living power had felt it there, yes. What was that? It paused in its search. Of course. The Opals.

ShadoWeaver? Competition ... or ally? All power was sentient, after all. It had to be. It must have this stone, this power. The essence searched for a way to attain this ShadoWeaver. Finally receiving the answer, the shapeless energy could have frowned. Jaycy was not yet of the proper rank to win this Opal. Still it must wait.

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/3/2000 2:14 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jaycy Ashleana



Finally! Jaycy was an Emerald! She grinned as she looked down to the stone presented to her, satisfied with herself for the first time in a long time. It was something she had worked long and hard for, and it was finally hers. Of course it was luck, but who cared? Unfortunately, the Diamond Quest had just happened, so she had several months to wait. But she was already looking forward to it, looking
forward to competing in the tournament with the DoF best.

She set the emerald alongside the ruby in the sheath of YinBlade, the green stone joining the red. The ruby wasn't from the DoF, to be honest. It was, along with the Celtic knot, a symbol of her employment as an Ambassaduer. Even though she no longer worked for 'Shani, really, she would never be rid of that symbol. Setting the sheathed blade on its customary place by her bed, she lay down for a restful sleep.

Or not.

That night voices plagued her dreams. "It is time.." was the repeated mantra. While her eyes remained closed, she heard those three annoying words, accompanied by spinning balls of colored "light." Red, yellow, blue, green, and a glowing black. What could it all mean?

One night of the dream turned into several, and the gypsy grew more upset. She had stopped sleeping, in an effort to avoid the cryptic dream. Oddly, it seemed she was dueling better than ever, and she shrugged it off as more luck.

All went well for a few days, until she heard the voice again. This time, however, she was awake. This was strange, what was going on? She tried to ask other people, but they started thinking she was insane. Heck, she was thinking that about herself. Drugs? No, it would seem that way, but she had never touched those.

They seemed to happen much more often when she was in the Outback, which led her to the conclusion it was the Opals speaking to her. But why? Time went on, and the colored lights disappeared one by one, until all that was left was the glowing black. "ShadoWeaver!" she exclaimed. ShadoWeaver was talking to her! It wanted her for something. Yes, that had to be it.

But no, no she wouldn't be a willing pawn to the plots of those Opals, and she determined to ignore the compulsions.

At least she could sleep now, knowing what it was.

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/3/2000 2:17 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jaycy Ashleana


Now it was upset. The woman, Jaycy, had steeled herself to ignore the "suggestions." Now drastic measures had to be taken. It started small, testing its power over the woman. A simple duel on the Isle ... one that proved quite successful. She was dueling with that horrid joke of a wand, and not doing so well. It extended a "hand," tugging on her mind. As the shadows took over, the wand was lost in
the sands, and she began to win.

The duel done, it receded from control, satisfied. It could control her, and work through her. It would be enough. Perhaps this control would help her in other areas ... perhaps it could make the gypsy stronger, a better fighter. It would be very useful in the time to come. This ... would have to be tested.

There were, however, two telltale signs of its control the essence failed to overlook in its gloating. After the duel, Jaycy couldn't remember ever fighting, and appeared rather confused when people told her she had just dueled. Her eyes, also, were as black as the starless night.

Nevertheless, its time for victory was almost here. The true reason for her crazy behavior would never be revealed.

Right?

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/3/2000 2:19 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jaycy Ashleana


It was black eyes that stared at the empty parchment before her, black eyes that seemed to absorb the soft light from the candle. With Nicky's revelations, she was forced to move now. Time could not be spared on this endeavor, not with that boy knowing so much. Nicky had won this round, but she... no, it... would win the war. There was talk of finding that man, Neris. No, that could not happen. He
would be the factor to ruin everything. Things had to be sped up, and that was why she was here.

She could hear Nicky and Winter down in the common room of the Rising Moon Inn, talking. Most likely about her. No matter, she would wait until they were asleep to deliver her letter. Putting pen to paper, she began to write.

Matthew Simon;

You are currently the holder of the Duel of Fists Opal ShadoWeaver. As is my right as an Emerald within the sport, I hereby challenge you for the right to hold the mentioned Opal.

Jaycynda Ashleana

The letter was short and simple, and made her point. She rolled the parchment up and went downstairs, slipping past the two talking. She hurried from the Inn and made haste to the courier's office. Once there, she gave them the letter, with her instructions that they be wrapped in black ribbons, sent to Rask and Matt.

No one would see the letter, right? And no one would notice the color of the ribbons, that they weren't her usual combination of silver, forest green and black, right?

Returning to the Rising Moon, she again snuck past the two in the downstairs room. Reaching her own rented space, she slipped in, and readied for bed. Tomorrow, she would need to be ready to combat Nicky's planning. Neris would not be found, no. As the gypsy laid down, the dark force within receded to its corner of her mind, and emerald eyes slowly shut.

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/3/2000 2:21 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jaycy Ashleana

Jaycy left the woods with a slight smirk, wiping the blood from her hands. She had been hunting, as she often did, but today ... today was different. Somewhere, under the canopy of bare branches, a man lay, disemboweled.

Its work was beginning, it had been able to dispatch of one of those do-gooders who overrun RhyDin. It had taken considerable power to control the gypsy long enough to get it done, but it had been accomplished.

The challenge for ShadoWeaver was looming, and soon its power would be complete. It would make an ally of the Opal, if it was possible, and offer it unlimited power for cooperation. It would bring balance to RhyDin.

At least it was hoping.

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/3/2000 2:23 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jaycy Ashleana


"If only we could have MoonBeryl as well," the essence thought. It pondered the possibility of enhancing the gypsy's own air powers with the yellow opal, and marveled at how much more power that would bring to accomplish its task. Combined, things would be so much easier. There must be a way.

There was!

It took very little energy, really, to take over Jaycy's mind once again. It was getting easier ... perhaps the shadows coursing through her had taken hold, and she had stopped fighting it. After all, who could resist the dance?

Maetel was easy to manipulate as well, it found out. Through Jaycy, it explained she could challenge for the yellow Opal, and how to do it. She happily followed the instructions to have the "pretty-shiny-Opal-thing" and gave the official challenge notice to Rask. Maetel trusted Jaycy, Maetel would let the gypsy see the Opal, let her touch it.

It would have MoonBeryl, as it would have ShadoWeaver.

And in time, it would have the other three.

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/11/2000 10:33 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Goldglo

Busy…that's what he'd been since his return to Rhydin. The time he was actually able to spend on-planet was rare. Perhaps that's why Jaycy had never spoken to him about her desire to fight for ShadoWeaver, the Opal he'd held for over a year and only defended one time. Her letter had been sitting on his desk for weeks now and he'd yet to respond. He wanted to seek her out and talk to her, but the war took
precedence over personal matters. For now, all he could offer was a short reply to her notice of intent.


From: simon@tcsdaedalus.tcsf.mil
To: Jaycynda Ashleana
Re: The ShadoWeaver Opal

Jaycy,

Your message received and acknowledged. The challenge valid, I must, as dictated, defend what you seek to gain. Will make every effort to find a mutually acceptable time. I leave the choice of referee up to you. Reply at earliest convenience.


Colonel Matthew Algiers Simon
Wing Commander
TCS Daedalus

((Author's Note: Some references in this storyline refer to elements found the Wing Commander game series produced by Origin))

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/13/2000 10:31 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Jaycy Ashleana

It had taken her some time to get the response from Matt. When she did, she nodded and went to seek him out.

Some time later, she returned to the Outback to post the notice to the general public. It was short and to the point.

To whom it may concern.

Matt Simon and I will be fighting for the black Opal, ShadoWeaver, on the 15th of January at 3pm (EST).

Jaycynda Ashleana