Library: Tales of Adventure I - Tulkas

Transcribed: Sat Nov 26 21:39:55 EST 1994 The world of Batmud had reincarnated again for its fourth time and once more I found myself upon this land's soil. After exploring the remodelled Bat City, I continued my re-orientation by wandering the player valley and looking for castles of long lost comrades. The shouts of alarmed figurines echoed constantly throughout the valley during these days of Batmud's re-awakening. "Help me, I'm being attacked by Shades!" "Help me, I'm being attacked by Greyhame!" I shrugged; business as usual. "Some things never change," I quietly chuckled to myself. My explorations of the valley had exhausted me, so I started a fire and began hunting. The routine screams from figurines worked to my advantage, as the rats and squirrels I came across could not hear my clumsy approach. Soon I had a veritable feast before me, and began cooking my meals. Suddenly I felt another being's mind merge with my own, and a message popped into my mind: "10." That was it. I could sense the calling came from Tulkas, but as to what the mysterious message meant, I had no idea. I checked my local surroundings, and yes, Tulkas was indeed in the valley with me. I pondered what I should do, while the continual cries of figurines echoed around me. I was about to inquire Tulkas about the meaning of his terse message, but my stomach grumbled, reminding me of my hunger. "Oh well, it was probably just an echo from an immortal", I thought to myself. "Tulkas would have no reason to communicate with me, and he certainly wouldn't recognize me under this incarnation." I shrugged and returned to finishing my savory meal. After filling my stomach with the finest of Bat's woodland cuisine, I snuffed my campfire and was ready to explore some more -- when suddenly there was a warp in the space time continuum! To my horror, an exact duplicate of myself crawled through this rip in time and immediately began attacking! I recognized these evil clones from my previous visits to this world, but this was a new body I had incarnated into: I knew I could not defeat this nightmarish foe on my own. I mentally called out to Gunbuster, and found he too was battling these malevolent creatures in Bat City. I dodged another strike from my relentless enemy and, swearing to come back later to exact my revenge, I entered Bat City to help Gunbuster battle these twisted fiends. Gunbuster and I quickly met at the central square, and then, with grim determination, we began exterminating this alien threat. Side by side, we battled these clones up and down the streets of Bat, occasionally passing other citizens who had also taken up arms. We passed by Chra, who was calmly incinerating clones with a wave of her many legs. The mighty Haulk ran by, chasing a fleeing clone while grinning with bloodlust. We ourselves were pursuing Gunbuster's clone, when we passed Tulkas in the streets. Gunbuster hurried by in order to keep up with the clone, but not before Tulkas took a few swings at Gunbuster! "Was that Tulkas' clone?" I asked Gunbuster in confusion. Gunbuster stopped for a moment and paused, concentrating on something. "No," he abruptly replied. "Break your link to this world!" I was bewildered now, and was about to ask for further explanation, when Tulkas stormed into the room, chopping away with two fearsome axes. Gunbuster again broke into a run, and I followed swiftly behind. "Why is Tulkas after you?" I asked. Gunbuster turned to me and answered in a dead serious tone: "He's not. He's after *you!* Break your link to this world, quickly!" Before I could act, Tulkas suddenly burst into the room again, hatred burning in his eyes. Gunbuster parried Tulkas' axe swings bravely, in order to give me time to escape, when I noticed the wands Tulkas had palmed in his hands. Gouts of flames shot out from these wands, engulfing my friend in a firey fountain. I rushed over to Gunbuster to help him drive off this crazed lunatic, but Gunbuster just shouted at me, "Go! Just drop your link! NOW!" I couldn't bear abandoning my friend, but the urgency in his voice was too demanding. I hastily evoked the spell of disconnection, and suddenly the world of Bat disappeared around me... ++++++++++++++++++++ Concerned for Gunbuster's safety, I quickly returned to Bat, although I chose the incarnation of a Visitor until matters could be resolved. "Are you okay??" I asked Gunbuster via a mental message. "Yeah, I'm fine," Gunbuster's reply promptly came back, "but apparently Tulkas thinks you robbed somes castles, that why he's after you." I rolled my eyes as I recalled the message I had received from Tulkas earlier in the day, when we had both been in the player valley amidst the figurine shouts. "Oh, yeah, well fuck 'em, I don't care what he thinks", I told Gunbuster. "No, just trying straightening things out," Gunbuster advised. I sighed to myself, but sent a mental message to Tulkas explaining my innocence. No response at all. I remembered him from the world of Bat's previous incarnations, but of course since I had not been under the incarnation of Shadowjack when Tulkas was born into Bat, there was no reason he should recognize me now. Growing impatient, I checked to see who in the lands of Bat might still remember me, to vouch for my innocence. Aha, my long time friend, Mowgli! I quickly relayed the situation to Mowgli, who then in turn began reasoning with Tulkas. In the meanwhile, the clone crisis continued. Gunbuster was continuing his bitter struggle with these bastard beasts, which made me think of my evil clone which I had left roaming free. After what seemed like hours, Mowgli sent word to me that a resolution had been made; Tulkas would stop hunting me if I promised not to rob any more castles. I laughed to myself at the absurdity of this, but this was better than nothing. I thanked Mowgli for his help, and told Gunbuster that I would incarnate as Shadowjack again to aid in driving off the remaining hardy clones. I promptly returned as Shadowjack -- but on my re-arrival, Gunbuster immediately sent me the urgent warning, "Tulkas is after you!" Instinctively I spoke the word of disconnection, and for the second time that day, the world of Bat disappeared around me... ++++++++++++++++++++ ...And for the second time that day, I returned to Bat incarnated as a Visitor. "*Now* what??" I asked Gunbuster in exasperation. Gunbuster's reply soon came back to me: "Hehe, you disconnected too quickly for me to finish what I was going to say. Tulkas is after your *clone!*" Grrr. :)

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Library: Tales of Adventure I - Tulkas