User blog:Stirling Silverstine/Procrastination Station: Log276.

I was bored.

And even though I had no right to be, as I have about 7 different story ideas, with about 3 halfway (or halfway to halfway,) done, I decided to write something totally pointless.

Dreams of Future Possible: 

A snippit of a possible near-final chapter to Scattered Ashes. 

This was shortly before I finished my story with Theo, so acutally, some of this stuff is probably inaccurate now.. Still, I wanted to use that final line so bad!!! :P Also, this was helpful in realizing that Perry is not loved by all, as Jonna and I discovered as I just basically 'doodled' with words.

Final Disclaimer: I do not expect any of this to be accurate in any way by the time we get there. I really doubt everyone listed will even be alive. :P This is straight-up just for fun. (or to waste time. Thus the 'Procrastination Station' tagline. :P )

The inside of the tent was variously tinted gold and red due to the sun showing through the fabrics. It made the central furnishing of two 6-foot fold out tables side-by-side look vaguely like rich mahogany... Though everyone around it knew they were plastic, and from a flea market. Right now, it was covered in sticky notes and a large, hastily drawn map of Orlan's updated defenses. Underneath Talmid's armored gloves was a smaller map. Peragrine didn't have to be a magician to know that was the Map of Ankoria. A magical page from the fabled Book of Ankoria, possessing the ability to show you a perfect map of any area, big or small. Detailed or broad. Like Google Maps, but even more accurate.

Still, that relic did not long hold Peragrine's attention. Rather, his attention was drawn to the owner of the hand, and the others standing around him. 

There were quite a few people in this tent. 

Foremost among them, Sir Talmid, looking haggard, yet determined. He was wearing full plate armor, and the patch of gold-filtered light he stood in made the metal glow. His family crest embossed on the chestplate was magnificent. In this light, he definitely looked the Legend that everyone believed in, and would rally behind. He just needed to smile. And believe it himself. 

Standing to Talmid's right was Sir Thingguy, who certainly was quite the contrast to Talmid. He was smiling roguishly, or perhaps gamely. While he too was in full plate, he had no clear insigna. (And he wasn't standing in the perfect light,) His full orange beard and shaggy hair made him look like a cuddly lion. Of course, Peragrine knew that lion had some serious claws, being the best swordsman in this room. Peragrine was just glad he was whole again.

On Talmid's left was Lady Jonna, who wore a lighter set of armor comprising of leather underlain with mail. The leather appeared to have been hastily dyed a deep royal blue. She was ready for battle, according to her attire and demeanor. 

On Thingguy's left was Sir Luke. Peragrine didn't know Sir Luke very much. Story went that he had gone into hiding as an Innkeeper named 'Sakul' after the first war. Peragrine decided that if he had been an Innkeeper once, he was a cool guy. He looked very fine in his own set of mail, and notably carried two swords. 

Before Peragrine could oogle at the others; Stirling, Dewin, Iamos, Drumr, Shard, Vorpal, Tain, James, Ember, the 4 knights of Morcia, Squeaky in an old fishbowl on the table, Miyuki, Nuncius,- Lady Jonna spoke.

"Good, Peragrine, you're here. We have a ... Problem."

"What sort of problem?" he asked cheerily.

Jonna looked to Tain, who was standing in front of the table. Tain turned around to face Perry. He had his left upper and lower arm bandaged and the left side of his face was a bit beat up, but he was standing, and Perry knew that Tain wouldn't let those linens stay on long.

"The walls are enchanted. The magician in my scout party said she could feel them as soon as we saw them. They're emanating force. It will literally be like walking against a current. This also affects missiles. Their cannons had more range than we anticipated, as the ammo is carried by this same current against us. My expert says that the power needed for such a strong and consistent force could only be possible by Mythrans. Though it is very likely they don't do it 24/7. That would be insanity."

Peragrine nodded as he began stroking his goatee. "So that's why your face is all botched?"

Tain glared at him.

"Right, right, staying focused," agreed Perry. "So, do you have an idea for what you would want me to do, or am I here to help brainstorm?"

Dewin stepped forward from the back of the room as he rose his hand to point at Peragrine. "You are here because we need brute strength of the mystical type to negate this. If it is indeed the Red Mythrans fueling this, then we cannot truely stop it, but perhaps we can deflect, nullify, or reflect. . . If we work together."

Peragrine gasped. "You mean it?" 

Dewin invouluntarily flinched. "Yes-"

Peragrine began to squeal but was cut off by Dewin.

"-But that means no flailing, no spontaneous combustion, no spastic behavior, no cheap catchphrases, AND ABOVE ALL, NO IMPROVISING." 

Peragrine shook his head in agreement, as he clasped his hands together to refrain from spontaneous dancing. "I've never actually worked with another magic user in concert before!"

Dewin paled.

Talmid breathed a sigh of relief, and rapped the table. "Good, now that that's in the works, you two should head to Dewin's tent. I'm sure between the two of you, you'll find a way to get us to the walls." The two magicians exited, one bobbing up and down on the balls of his toes with excitment, and the other bend double as if carrying the weight of the world. "As for what we'll do when we get there..." mused Talmid.

James stepped forward as Stirling nodded and motioned to him. '"his is where James comes in," he said.

James placed his hands on the table, a rare smile creeping onto his face. He looked at all the faces in the room, then at his friend Stirling, who smiled back.

He turned around to his left, and said to Talmid:

"I have a tank."