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story:chapter_8 [2026/03/09 13:50] – davenportstory:chapter_8 [2026/03/14 19:02] (current) – Ged -> Geb davenport
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-====== Chapter 8: GEB - The Ruins and Sacred Beasts ======+====== Chapter 8: Geb; The Ruins and Sacred Beasts ======
  
-Will woke up feeling very refreshed, almost as if the day before there had been no 'jump'. He took a long deep breath, drawing in the various energies of Ged. 'It felt so much like mist, Will thought, 'only more wild and untamed.' Turning, he noticed Jack had already left for his morning scouting. Will wished Jack had at least offered to take him along, there was so much to see.+Will woke up feeling very refreshed, almost as if the day before there had been no 'jump'. He took a long deep breath, drawing in the various energies of Geb. 'It felt so much like mist, Will thought, 'only more wild and untamed.' Turning, he noticed Jack had already left for his morning scouting. Will wished Jack had at least offered to take him along, there was so much to see.
  
-Taking off his covers he noticed a slight chill and quickly changed into his clothes. He'd need a new outfit; the jeans he'd worn from Earth were in need of a good cleaning. It would also be nice to see what other options he'd have for clothes on Ged.+Taking off his covers he noticed a slight chill and quickly changed into his clothes. He'd need a new outfit; the jeans he'd worn from Earth were in need of a good cleaning. It would also be nice to see what other options he'd have for clothes on Geb.
  
 Walking down the stairs into the main eating hall, he saw that Kadde was sitting enjoying a few nuts and a hot drink. Kadde was glad to see Will up so early, there was still so much to discuss. Walking down the stairs into the main eating hall, he saw that Kadde was sitting enjoying a few nuts and a hot drink. Kadde was glad to see Will up so early, there was still so much to discuss.
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 "So where are you headed? What is your team looking for?" Will asked as he finally had some of the tea. It was a bit hot, but not bad. Will had never had much taste for tea, it all seemed to taste the same to him. "So where are you headed? What is your team looking for?" Will asked as he finally had some of the tea. It was a bit hot, but not bad. Will had never had much taste for tea, it all seemed to taste the same to him.
  
-"I found some new information a while back, and it's been a dream of mine to learn more about Ged's 'World Clock'. I mean, I've seen the clock and all, but I want to find more about its origins." Kadde explained.+"I found some new information a while back, and it's been a dream of mine to learn more about Geb's 'World Clock'. I mean, I've seen the clock and all, but I want to find more about its origins." Kadde explained.
  
-"What is the 'World Clock'?" Will asked. He had another piece of toast and settled into his chair a bit. " The clock itself is a marvel of ancient engineering. It keeps track of the hours, days, weeks, months, and years of its entire operating life. It tells time, obviously, but it also records all the arcanic activity of Ged. "Truly amazing!" Kadde said excitedly. "I've always wanted to know more about how it was made. Who made it? and Why?"+"What is the 'World Clock'?" Will asked. He had another piece of toast and settled into his chair a bit. " The clock itself is a marvel of ancient engineering. It keeps track of the hours, days, weeks, months, and years of its entire operating life. It tells time, obviously, but it also records all the arcanic activity of Geb. "Truly amazing!" Kadde said excitedly. "I've always wanted to know more about how it was made. Who made it? and Why?"
  
 After a little while Miila and Julia came down stairs and joined Kadde and Will. "I take it 'Vul' will be digesting today?" Miila asked 'matter-of-factly' After a little while Miila and Julia came down stairs and joined Kadde and Will. "I take it 'Vul' will be digesting today?" Miila asked 'matter-of-factly'
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 "Hey Will, feeling better?" Julia asked with concern. She knew, that for better or worse, she needed Will to help get her back to Earth. "Yeah. Much better. You?" "Hey Will, feeling better?" Julia asked with concern. She knew, that for better or worse, she needed Will to help get her back to Earth. "Yeah. Much better. You?"
  
-"Still getting used to the whole 'another world' shock, but otherwise not bad." Julia said nervously. "Oh, you'll be fine. Just act like yourself and you'll be okay. With so many different cultures and peoples on Ged, most don't mind the everyday weirdness." Miila said as she stretched out and looked for something meaty on the menu.+"Still getting used to the whole 'another world' shock, but otherwise not bad." Julia said nervously. "Oh, you'll be fine. Just act like yourself and you'll be okay. With so many different cultures and peoples on Geb, most don't mind the everyday weirdness." Miila said as she stretched out and looked for something meaty on the menu.
  
 After a nice conversive breakfast the group finally got down to the day's business. "It'll be 3 days before Vulgurutt is up for the next leg of the journey. After a nice conversive breakfast the group finally got down to the day's business. "It'll be 3 days before Vulgurutt is up for the next leg of the journey.
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 Will took a moment to think over the mechanics of his shield spell. At the academy, his instructors had always emphasized the size to be big enough to protect other people from injury, but the efficiency of spells was left to advanced combatives; reserved only for Myrah's select corp of secret police. Will took a moment to think over the mechanics of his shield spell. At the academy, his instructors had always emphasized the size to be big enough to protect other people from injury, but the efficiency of spells was left to advanced combatives; reserved only for Myrah's select corp of secret police.
  
-"Since Ged can be a dangerous place at times, versatility is highly valued. How about this; project your shield again, but only use one hand. A smaller projection point." Kadde explained as he took some paces back. Will relaxed and just focused his energies through one hand.+"Since Geb can be a dangerous place at times, versatility is highly valued. How about this; project your shield again, but only use one hand. A smaller projection point." Kadde explained as he took some paces back. Will relaxed and just focused his energies through one hand.
  
 The shield spell activated, though this time it felt a bit lighter. The strain was half of what it used to be, and Kadde threw a small stone at the shield. The stone connected with the repulsing energies and outlined an area about the size of Will. The decrease in output also made it easier for him to hold the shield in place. The shield spell activated, though this time it felt a bit lighter. The strain was half of what it used to be, and Kadde threw a small stone at the shield. The stone connected with the repulsing energies and outlined an area about the size of Will. The decrease in output also made it easier for him to hold the shield in place.
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 In the distance the sun was starting to dip bit-by-bit as the afternoon began to pass. They both took their seats on a few large rocks and discussed the various techniques Will could use for increasing his arcane arsenal. Originally Will had thought his selections of spells was quite nice as it was, but after listening to Kadde he knew that there was so much more. In the distance the sun was starting to dip bit-by-bit as the afternoon began to pass. They both took their seats on a few large rocks and discussed the various techniques Will could use for increasing his arcane arsenal. Originally Will had thought his selections of spells was quite nice as it was, but after listening to Kadde he knew that there was so much more.
  
-"On Ged alone, there are at least 200 different known spells for elemental magics alone. Not to mention various non-elemental types of energy bending, magics used by creatures, or even the sacred beasts. That's the wonderful thing about being a scholar; you never stop learning about all of the surprises life has in store."+"On Geb alone, there are at least 200 different known spells for elemental magics alone. Not to mention various non-elemental types of energy bending, magics used by creatures, or even the sacred beasts. That's the wonderful thing about being a scholar; you never stop learning about all of the surprises life has in store."
  
-After a while of discussing arcana and its nature on Ged, Kadde had convinced Will to try his attack order again. "Remember, two fingers, one hand up should reduce the output to a much smaller number." Kadde said from behind Will. He didn't want to be in the way.+After a while of discussing arcana and its nature on Geb, Kadde had convinced Will to try his attack order again. "Remember, two fingers, one hand up should reduce the output to a much smaller number." Kadde said from behind Will. He didn't want to be in the way.
  
 Will did as Kadde had suggested and allowed the energies to flow through only two fingers on his right hand. Only 5 small orbs could be seen. Will selected a single target, a rough rocky lump, and directed his spell at the lump of rock. Will did as Kadde had suggested and allowed the energies to flow through only two fingers on his right hand. Only 5 small orbs could be seen. Will selected a single target, a rough rocky lump, and directed his spell at the lump of rock.
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 "I guess you could call it that. We look for ruins and information concerning the ruins. If there's some thing of value though, it's usually handed over to the institute where Kadde works. They pay well for the trouble of finding their trinkets." Jack answered. "I guess you could call it that. We look for ruins and information concerning the ruins. If there's some thing of value though, it's usually handed over to the institute where Kadde works. They pay well for the trouble of finding their trinkets." Jack answered.
  
-Will tried to wrap his head around the different facets of Ged. It was likely a world older than his own, or at least it seemed like it. Myrah had some ruins, but the ruling elites had done so much to erase any relics that might have told a different story than the one they wanted to tell. 'Victors write the history books.' The Earth phrase came to mind.+Will tried to wrap his head around the different facets of Geb. It was likely a world older than his own, or at least it seemed like it. Myrah had some ruins, but the ruling elites had done so much to erase any relics that might have told a different story than the one they wanted to tell. 'Victors write the history books.' The Earth phrase came to mind.
  
 "Jack, how is it you can change color? Is it magic or something?" Will was curious if Jack had a special skill or art to change his appearance. "Jack, how is it you can change color? Is it magic or something?" Will was curious if Jack had a special skill or art to change his appearance.
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 "Yeah. We naturally can change our skin color to whatever shade or texture we need. Very useful for stealth work." "Yeah. We naturally can change our skin color to whatever shade or texture we need. Very useful for stealth work."
  
-"What about the other races of Ged, what can they do?"+"What about the other races of Geb, what can they do?"
  
 "Well, the Animal traits are usually obvious. Flight, senses, healing factors. But, there are a few races I'm not too sure about. Sprites and Dark elves are generally very secretive about their gifts. Some races actively avoid contact with eachother." "Well, the Animal traits are usually obvious. Flight, senses, healing factors. But, there are a few races I'm not too sure about. Sprites and Dark elves are generally very secretive about their gifts. Some races actively avoid contact with eachother."
  
-"Forgive my prying, Will. But, how and why did you come to Ged?" Jack asked, but Will by this point was very tired and was starting to slip into a deep rest.+"Forgive my prying, Will. But, how and why did you come to Geb?" Jack asked, but Will by this point was very tired and was starting to slip into a deep rest.
  
-"I... want... to... understand. Myrah, Mist, Earth, Ged.... I don't understand yet."+"I... want... to... understand. Myrah, Mist, Earth, Geb.... I don't understand yet."
  
-That night Will could swear he felt a cold presence in his room as he slept. Eyes from the shadows, scurryings in the walls. The smaller ones didn't bother him, but tonight some thing was there. It was the same aura that had tried to push Will away from Ged before.+That night Will could swear he felt a cold presence in his room as he slept. Eyes from the shadows, scurryings in the walls. The smaller ones didn't bother him, but tonight some thing was there. It was the same aura that had tried to push Will away from Geb before.
  
 The feeling lasted mere moments, but Will could have sworn it had been there half-the night. Finally after getting back to sleep he heard its voice. It had to be its voice, he was asleep! The feeling lasted mere moments, but Will could have sworn it had been there half-the night. Finally after getting back to sleep he heard its voice. It had to be its voice, he was asleep!
  
-"Much weighs upon your mind, child. Too much, alas. Ged has too many secrets for you to find peace, Will. You have much to learn, and so little time. Rest for now...."+"Much weighs upon your mind, child. Too much, alas. Geb has too many secrets for you to find peace, Will. You have much to learn, and so little time. Rest for now...."
  
 The voice sounded deep and old. It was like a chilly winter breeze, with clasping hooked fingers. Will tried to resist, but soon he drifted into a dreamless sleep. The voice sounded deep and old. It was like a chilly winter breeze, with clasping hooked fingers. Will tried to resist, but soon he drifted into a dreamless sleep.
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 "What is a 'monster' exactly?" Julia knew of various creatures back on Earth; Dracula, Wolfman, the Mummy, the recent rash of Zombie movies and T.V. shows. But, they were all just fiction. "What is a 'monster' exactly?" Julia knew of various creatures back on Earth; Dracula, Wolfman, the Mummy, the recent rash of Zombie movies and T.V. shows. But, they were all just fiction.
  
-"Guess I should clarify a bit," Kadde took a deep breath before beginning. "The term monster usually refers to 8 specific creatures that inhabit Ged. They are very unique and much of our world's magic history involves them.+"Guess I should clarify a bit," Kadde took a deep breath before beginning. "The term monster usually refers to 8 specific creatures that inhabit Geb. They are very unique and much of our world's magic history involves them.
  
-It is said that when a person dies on Ged, their soul will be reborn into a monster. It is a cycle of birth - death - and re-birth. A second chance to help keep the balance of Ged."+It is said that when a person dies on Geb, their soul will be reborn into a monster. It is a cycle of birth - death - and re-birth. A second chance to help keep the balance of Geb."
  
 "Why would your soul return as a monster?" Will asked. Curious about its reasons. "Why would your soul return as a monster?" Will asked. Curious about its reasons.
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 "It was said, there is a King of the monsters. There isn't much besides some old references, but it states he is their lord and ruler.... "It was said, there is a King of the monsters. There isn't much besides some old references, but it states he is their lord and ruler....
  
-"When life began on Ged, eons ago. The first man created the first spell of Arcanic arts. Giving rise to a multitude of millenia of mystic forces. When he died, he was reborn as the first monster."+"When life began on Geb, eons ago. The first man created the first spell of Arcanic arts. Giving rise to a multitude of millenia of mystic forces. When he died, he was reborn as the first monster."
  
 "Kadde, you read too much." Miila said from nearby. "Kadde, you read too much." Miila said from nearby.
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 It was said, there is a King of the monsters. There isn't much besides some old references, but it states he is their lord and ruler... It was said, there is a King of the monsters. There isn't much besides some old references, but it states he is their lord and ruler...
  
-When life began on Ged, eons ago. The first man created the first spell of Arcanic arts. Giving rise to a multitude of millenia of mystic forces. When he died, he was reborn as the first monster."+When life began on Geb, eons ago. The first man created the first spell of Arcanic arts. Giving rise to a multitude of millenia of mystic forces. When he died, he was reborn as the first monster."
  
 "Kadde, you read too much." Miila said from nearby. "Snark it you must, but it is a possible explanation," Kadde returned. "Kadde, you read too much." Miila said from nearby. "Snark it you must, but it is a possible explanation," Kadde returned.