THE TEMPLE OF MULE 

The town is a normally a bustling place, with members of all the
different races of N'Ferra, plus a few that you don't recognize. It has
all the standard facilities for a small town. Kipling is carrying some
mail to be delivered to people who live on the base, unfortunately, you
quickly find out that you arrived in the middle of the local "night." 

What do you do? (Remember that you aren't carrying any money.) 

Wander about and take in the place. Travelling alone in the night is not
new to Kipling. He will find a safe place to put his parcel <how large
is the mailbag?>, and take to his Pelican form. Perhaps from higher up
he can spot a place where there is activity. His stomach rumbles,"Not
now, I'm afraid, no waters to dive in. Soon, soon." Giant wings spread,
and Kipling takes off a bit awkwardly, as such a large bird will. His
head swings back and forth, searching out someone whom he can speak to
and learn the location of The Church of Ferris, or spot the church
itself. 

OOC: if the bag isn't too heavy, he'll carry it in his 'mouth'. Also,
what happens to his clothes? Must he be naked to shift? 

Since the base is only one-half mile in diameter, it's pretty easy to
pick out the temple. You have a ritual which use can use on your
clothing to permit it to disappear when you shift. You've used it on
everything you currently carry, so you only have to worry about things
that you pick up. 

The temple is on the edge of the station, easily identifiable because of
its steeple. It's a huge building, easily capable of holding the entire
population of the station several times over. You can tell that the
entire structure is made of living wood. 

As you fly over to the temple you get a sense of the spirits in the area.
They are all extremely young, and most are sleeping. The few who are
awake 'feel' expectant and ambitious. One of the local spirits is
shouting military challenges out into the void. The most active spirit
in the town resides in what looks like an inn close by the ship dock.
(The temple, strangely enough, does _not_ contain a spirit.) 

Upon entering the temple, you notice a young (_very_ young from your
perspective) Varn acolyte holding vigil. The architect of this temple
has done something very unusual. Rather than the typical pictures of
maps and representations of knowledge, the interior of the temple is
decorated with mirrors. This gives the impression of vast amounts of
space. Light comes from the usual continual light globes. 

The acolyte will come over to assist you if you look lost, or you may
interrupt him. You also see an archway with the glyph for spiritualism
over it. Though almost new, the church still of historic significance
and will grant a +3 to all ritual rolls you attempt. 

Land near him, not to disturb. When he finishes and takes notice... 

"Bwark!" <oops, return to my natural state ;-)> 

"Greetings, brother. I am Kipling of the Gennen. Forgive my intrusion,
but I've travelled quite far and was hoping to find enlightenment and
aid at this place. It is most admirable that a young Holy Place thrive
with such a vast amount of spiritual energy. Most admirable indeed. By
what name are you recognized?" 

"Good evening sir. I am deacon Verandin Talloo. It is my pleasure to
assist you. You could never intrude." 

Kipling bows. 

"Your praise is appreciated. Ferris has blessed the temple indeed. Might
I enquire if you are initiate or Espiri? (Espiri is the priestly arm
which actually gains powers directly from Ferris.)" 

"Hmm, if a rank were needed, initiate would be it. I was raised in a
small society which dealt with focusing on the beauty around us, not an
'official' group by any means. That meditation has helped me much,
though, for terrible trials have I suffered, and without my relationship
with Ferris, I do not know what would become of me. Madness, I suppose."

"Tell me, brother, would you know of curses? I have brought one upon
myself, and am doomed to fates most horrid. I apologize for being so
blunt, but the burden's weight it of unimaginable heft, and it was the
fast growing legends of this Temple which drew me here to seek aid." 

------ 

It takes a little bit of work for Z1 to find a priest, but eventually he
reaches the temple, which is a large building on the outskirts of the
base capable of holding the entire population of the station several
times over. 

Upon entering the temple, you notice that the interior is decorated with
mirrors, giving the impression of vast amounts of space. Light is shed
by numerous glowing spheres. 

A young winged humanoid (Varn) is speaking with a hairless satyr-like
creature (Gennen). You can tell that the language is not the same as you
heard Adan speaking earlier. Neither seems to have noticed you. 

Z1 approaches them, and tries to politely get their attention, he signs:
"Respectable organic beings, could you inform me how to find a priest, I
would have spiritual matters to discuss." 

------ 

Kipling continues (speaking Hosa), "Tell me, brother, would you know of
curses? I have brought one upon myself, and am doomed to fates most
horrid. I apologize for being so blunt, but the burden's weight it of
unimaginable heft, and it was the fast growing legends of this Temple
which drew me here to seek aid." 

In the short pause before Verandin answers, you are interrupted. A
shadowy figure approached you unnoticed and stepping into your sight
proceeds to sign in Kafara, "Respectable organic beings, could you
inform me how to find a priest, I would have spiritual matters to
discuss." The deacon starts and mantles in surprise, flying 15' into the
air, and Kipling looks closely at this new person. 

He is wearing heavy black armor of unique design, and is carrying
several heavy weapons. 

The Varn signs back, "Forgive me sir, you startled me. I am Deacon
Verandin Talloo. I will be happy to help you, once I have spoken with
the Initiate Kipling." 

Stranger, signs: "Good." And he stays put, waiting for the rest of the
discussion, with a grim expression on his very handsome black face. 

Speaking Hosa the deacon returns to Kipling, "Unfortunately, if you have
already spoken to those of other temples, I know that I cannot help. The
temple's Surveyor is not currently available, but I can make an
appointment with the Bishop." 

"That will not be necessary deacon. I will take charge here." The deacon
bows and withdraws. 

The speaker is a woman. You would have sworn that she wasn't there a
moment ago. Her voice strikes strange chords in your mind,
simultaneously soothing apprehensions and awakening perceptions. 

"Greetings gentlemen, I am Servant Mayla Raidovan. How may I help you?" 

"At your service, Holy One." 

Stranger (assuming that he can understand): "Greetings, I am Zulu One,
an artificial construct. I want to have a soul. I want to have human
emotions. I do not know how you or anyone could help me, but a friend of
mine told me it could be possible..." 

Kipling stares oddly at the 'man-machine'. "Zulu-One, I am Kipling of
the Gennen. From the arsenal which adorns you one would believe you to
be a weapon of war. Do you realize the ramifications of what you ask?
Your, is it a computer?...brain protects you from the remorse and
spiritual ramifications a living being would be subject to." 

Kipling, as is his tendency, forgets his own troubles as he turns to the
Bishop, "Would it be possible for such a thing? I have always considered
life and the existence of a soul to be unified, one born with another,
can a soul be born to a non-organic life-form? Would the non-organic
cease to exist if the developed soul were released?" 

Z1 (That's a short for Zulu One): "I am a combat unit, built to fight
with or without external weapons. I am instructed to fight against the
Mastermind and to protect humans. My secondary purpose is to become
mentally like a human. I received these orders from my mother Selena
Keller moments before her life functions ceased, due to the disease
designed by the Mastermind." 

"Yes. I have an advanced computer for brains, a learning computer.
Theoretically I could achieve thought model comparable to a human by
learning. My thinking model is more organized and rigid than that of a
human, true." 

"Currently, I do not think I am capable of feeling emotions, but I can
understand a little - I have even been able to invoke emotional
responses in humans. My analysis is that having a 'soul' would not be
possible without having emotions - I could be wrong because I do not
really have any idea what exactly is a 'soul'.. I would appreciate all
help or advice I can get." 

Mayla smiles, "You both have many questions, which is good. Before we
are done I will give you a token that will give you free reign of the
temple library that you may learn more. However, I must warn you that
the final solutions you seek may not be in any library you can find, and
you will need to discover them for yourselves." 

"Zulu1, I can offer you little help but my assurance that what you seek
is possible. Do not confuse "life," "organic," and "spirit." Though
inextricably mixed, they are not the same. Glad am I to answer further
questions if you have such." 

"Kipling, little more am I allowed to help you. I can offer little more
than this riddle. To undo what was done, seek its opposite." 

"Also gentlemen, I tell you this. The essence of your quests lies in a
soul's ability to choose." 

Mayla ceases her speaking and signing. Her graceful hands fold inward,
and her mellifluous voice stops. She stands still, awaiting your
response with a small enigmatic smile. 

Z1: "You, especially your voice, somehow invokes emotional responses in
me. I am not certain what I feel, but it definitely _is_ something. It
is very different than the brief illogical lapse of time I experienced
after burying my mothers dead body, presumably awaiting for her to arise
again." 

Z1: "I guess that these emotions you invoke are positive. I am not
certain how this is possible, but I thank you for your presence." 

Z1: "Life is organic substance with intellect of varying degree and
means of movement. Organic is a matter of certain kinds, it can possibly
form living organisms or be remnants of them. Organic matter can be
digested by living beings. Spirit is something which does not physically
exist, but yet it exists, and can affect the physical to a small degree.
Am I right?" 

Z1: "Are the soul and the spirit the same?" 

Z1: "How can I feel emotions without a soul?" 

"You are welcome, but should thank Ferris as well. He was the one who
granted my request for charisma towards all entities." 

Z1: "How could I meet or contact Ferris?" 

Mayla replies, "Ferris is all around you. Speak to any of his worshipers
and he shall hear. Should you gain a soul, and give him your faith, your
communication would be more direct. I would hope that you would never
have the opportunity to speak to his embodied form. That would indicate
a situation of unmitigated disaster." 

Z1: "Is Ferris to humans like a Mastermind is to machines. Connecting
and commanding intelligence?" 

"No he is not. He is something similar, but completely different." 

Z1: "Different in principle or physically different?" 

"Both." 

"Your definition of life is a bit narrow, under that definition, _I_ am
not alive." 

Z1: "You are not alive? Are you a false image, an artificial construct
or of 'magic'?" 

"Under my definition, I am not alive. I am an artificial construct." 

"By your definitions, I am partially magic, and partially an artificial
construct. I was born/created of Ferris to serve his needs. His need in
my case was for an advisor to those who balance choices." 

Z1: "Do you have a soul?" 

"I do!" 

Z1: "Sorry if I offended you. It is just that I need to know whether or
not I could classify you as a human. You appear to be a borderline case,
I will treat you as a human, although artificially created, until I am
shown otherwise. Would this be satisfactory?" 

"I have no personal preference in the matter." 

"A spirit is to a soul, as a paw is to a hand." 

Z1: "Spirit is less sophisticated? Like a wild animal compared to a
human?" 

"A spirit is less capable of affecting it's environment. Some can be
highly sophisticated, intelligent, and capable, but have little ability
to change itself, others, or its surroundings. These are topics are for
serious study, my casual answers may conceal more than they reveal." 

Z1: "Spirits can have no material connection to the world?" 

"Not at all. Picture this. While souls are 'anchored' in reality,
reaching from its deep levels to the material, spirits are
'free-floating,' giving them a different set of parameters to work
from." 

Z1: "Interesting. Can spirits manipulate physical objects or generate
electricity or light?" 

"Some can, some can't." 

"Your quest for emotions is your own. Seek and you shall find." 

Z1: "Perhaps. I am not presently capable of calculating my odds of
success if I consider physical dangers to myself. Without any dangers, I
would have a lifetime of 14 years until my power system runs out of
energy." 

"Where should I start my search, or does it matter?" 

"Your own choices are currently better than any guidance I might give
you." 

Z1: "Perhaps. I am not presently capable of calculating my odds of
success if I consider physical dangers to myself. Without any dangers, I
would have a lifetime of 14 years until my power system runs out of
energy." 

"Where should I start my search, or does it matter?" 

"It would seem from the Bishop that our fates may be intermingled. She
told me to find my opposite, you, my synthetic friend, would seem to be
that indeed." Kipling is perplexed about the origins of his host, but
for the moment must let it rest. "You see, although I do not believe I
can help you directly, I am in quite the negative of your situation. Due
to the folly of a necromancer, I am the vessel for an untold number of
tortured souls. The only way for them to pass onto the here-after, is
for my life to be extinguished. The experience is more horrific than I
can explain, though, and I am loath to subject myself to it. Soon after,
I can only glimpse the paradise beyond life, and am yanked back to this
existence again and again." 

Z1: "I am not certain if I understood perfectly what you just said." 

"Those who are trapped within me were terribly treated by the
necromancer, and I have nought but pity for them. These are truly
tortured souls, and need the warmth of true death. However, another
terrible side effect of the curse is that those who die near me are
trapped as well, often the deaths I see are needless and sad. The Bishop
said that a soul can choose, mayhap one of these passing souls would
choose you as a temple, Z1, knowing that it was too soon for their body
to cease living. This would be something to learn." 

Z1: "That could interfere with my primary mission. Am I right in
presuming that my current directives and goals would be lost if somebody
others soul overtake my body?" 

Z1: "I would never compromise my primary mission; To eliminate the
Mastermind and to protect humans. Getting to know or feel human emotions
and gaining a human mindset is secondary to that. If I cannot achieve it
with accomplishing the first mission, I cannot. Thus were the last
orders of my mother." 

Z1: "Could this 'magic' be used to restore life functions into my
mother, and bring her soul back?" "She always knew the right answers for
me." 

It might. You would have to bring the majority of her remains to this
temple or another like it, and then we would have to see if we could
summon her soul. Should her soul be available, we could indeed restore
her life. 

Z1: "My first priority used to be to protect and serve her. This new
information re-outlines my mission priorities. You and Ferris would
resurrect her if I brought her remains into this temple?" 

"You would need to talk to the Bishop, but I can think of no reason that
your request would not be granted. Although the result can not be
guaranteed." 

Z1: "Anyhow, it is better than zero odds. Because I cannot think of more
certain alternatives, I will take the odds, whatever they be. What would
the odds be like, I have no idea?" 

"I don't have enough information to answer that." 

Z1: "Now that I think of it, perhaps I already have a soul. So small or
undeveloped one that your magic cannot detect it. Perhaps it only needs
to grow over time." 

Mayla's smile grows, "You have the merektha, the imprint which can be
read by spirits and psionics. You are sufficiently sophisticated that
with sufficient contact with spirits and souls, a soul may grow in you."

Z1: "In other words, I can learn from others. What are my odds of
success in the following 14 years?" 

"Currently, your odds approach unity in ten years." 

Z1: "That would be satisfactory. You seem to have lots of thought
power." 

She turns to Kipling. "I am not the Bishop, she is asleep in her
chambers. I am aservai d'Ferris, here to advise those in need in the
name of Ferris." "You may have solved a portion of the riddle, I may not
say, but you still have much to discover." 

She takes a step forwards, "Ferris has communicated with me. I have been
permitted to offer you certain gifts." She presses something into your
hands, "These bracelets permit full access to the libraries here on the
base." 

"Additionally Kipling, One of your souls was not a victim, but rather
the cause of your torment. For the time being, I seal his voice from
your mind. The barrier will not last forever, but I pray you may travel
further without his distraction." 

"Zulu-One! In your mind you will discover knowledge of all the major
languages and scripts of N'Ferra. I hope this will benefit you." 

Z1: "Thank you. How did you manage the knowledge transfer without my
notice?" 

"Through the power of Ferris." 

Z1: "Could someone use such a transfer to rewrite my mission
parameters?" 

"It could be done, but no Servant of Ferris would do so." 

Z1: "Who would? I would like to know in advance, so that I can self
destruct before I can be put into use which may contradict with my
former priorities." 

"That is a question I may not answer. It is unlikely you will meet other
entities so capable, but should that happen you will have to discover
their capabilities." 

Z1: "Your information has been very valuable for me. May I consider you
a 'friend'?" 

You may consider me so if you wish. I mean you no harm, but my
friendship is limited by my duty to Ferris. 

Z1: "I can understand. Ferris could wish harm for me?" 

"Tell me if there is anything I could do for you?" 

Encourage discovery. That will be enough. 

Z1: "Fare well, construct-friend Mayla Raidovan." 

Z1 leaves the church for other business, and downloads the data into his
ships computer.