spellbind inbox;

[rebells]

send message?

Comments

[rebells]

Oh? . . . Well, that's better than nothing, I suppose. I'd like the bad news first, please.

[talim]

Well, almost all the info I dug up was essentially useless.

I didn't realize this until I was a good several thick books in. And that whole time, I thought I was onto something huge.

[ jude puffs out a sigh. ]

[rebells]

Ah. Don't worry, I didn't expect much out of you.

[Sounding very much like someone who thinks he is hilarious, because he does.]

What did you think you'd found?

[talim]

Gee. Thanks.

[ sounding so very, very amused. ]

I found a variety of different maps detailing the land of a place called Elphebalor. There was information on all kinds of different creatures— elven warlock, succubi priestesses... the list goes on and on. Tales of wars, fallen kingdoms and rebuilt societies...

[ wait for it. ]

... All a guide to a tabletop role-playing game. Snakes & Shackles was the nane, if I'm remembering correctly. I don't know why I bothered to latch onto that, but I did.

[rebells]

[--okay, he can't help it. He starts laughing.]

What a curious game. Is that all you found?

*name...

[talim]

So far? Pretty much. It took me a good week to get through all those books, too. Needless to say, I'm feeling a little discouraged.

Good thing you kept low expectations, huh?

[rebells]

Yes. If I thought you'd actually turn up anything useful, I'd be crushed right now.

What was the good news, out of curiosity?

[talim]

Oh, the good news was that the game sounds pretty interesting. That's why I'm glad you asked for the bad news first.

[ jude... ]

[rebells]

[ . . . ]

Ah. An idiot.

[talim]

... I'm just trying to look on the bright side of things.

[rebells]

[As though talking to someone else:]

Yes. Definitely an idiot. There's no help for it.

[talim]

[ jude thinks jay might actually be the first person who has ever called him an idiot. he's used to being teased for being an honors student, not... the opposite. ]

Is that your diagnosis? Idiocy? I'm the doctor here, you know...

[rebells]

Oh, it doesn't take a doctor to see that you're incontrovertibly stupid. Incurably idiotic. It's such a shame, really.

[He's saying this all in the most cheerful tone of voice possible.]

[talim]

At least I know how to play Snakes & Shackles. I bet I could even beat you in a fair match.

[ that's all he's got........ ]

[rebells]

I'll pass on that, thanks.

Was that what most of the books were about? A game?

[talim]

Pretty much. I thought I was reading about the long and varied history of the island hub until I noticed the small print.

Fascinating stuff.

[rebells]

I suppose whoever owned the house must have been a huge fan.

[There's a hmm noise, a thoughtful sound.]

It seems like a very complex game. Is it meant for many people?

[talim]

I believe so. I can't even imagine what kind of person created it... The amount of lore is almost staggering.

[rebells]

So more than a few people must have lived in this general vicinity, if they were playing complicated games on a regular basis. Yet we've only found the mansion and the one house on this island so far.

[He pauses to think about that.]

Although I suppose the mansion could have been inhabited solely by--what was it called?--Snakes and Shackles devotees.

[talim]

As ridiculous as it is, you're probably onto something. See? It wasn't completely useless.

Maybe it was their only cure for boredom besides, I don't know, poking each other with sticks.

[rebells]

They had poker too. Have you been in the games room?

[talim]

I've been holed up in the library so much I haven't really taken a look. That's something.

[rebells]

They seem to have had a lot of things, for a deserted island in the middle of space.

I think this place must have been attached to a planet at one point.

[talim]

I think so, too. I wish there was more to point us in the right direction when it comes to solving this mystery, but I'm sort of at a loss here.