08/06/06:

                Leo woke me late this morning and we went to check on Olivia but she would only speak to us through the door. Alfred came out and reassured Leo that she's fine. Physically, anyway. Cordelia examined her and was sure she was uninjured, but she had nightmares all night and 'is out of sorts'.
Leo spent the day with Cordelia, giving me the chance to sleep most of the day.

08/07/06:

                Checked on Olivia after breakfast, but she still won't come out of her room. This afternoon I saw Rodrick leaving the House with a guard contingent to take a shift on the perimeter.

08/08/06:

                Olivia still will not come out of her room and Leo is getting to be more annoyed with her than worried about her. Trying to distract him, I showed him around the place today (and found out that he's not real happy on horseback). I took him out to the Grove and explained how I had found it. While we were there I asked Leo for a few moments of privacy.

                I asked Corellon if He was okay with my leaving the Temple and going to Vegas. I got no 'real' answer, just a vague feeling of approval.

                Back at the House, we saw Rodrick at dinner. He had a nice cozy little corner with two of his girls from Montrose and looked pretty happy.

08/09/06:

                Leo told me he ran into Rodrick again today, this time at the firing range. He was working on his two handed shooting. They spent some time talking and comparing stories while Rodrick thoroughly cleaned and examined his guns - he's tired of them misfiring on him.

                I spoke to Malcolm this afternoon regarding Olivia. He's really worried about her. I told him, "Give her some more time, she'll be fine."

                He agreed and asked me if I had made a decision about the Ambassador's position. I told him that I had and that I accepted.

08/10/06:

                I called the Believers to the Grove for services today. I showed them the berries that I'd been given and explained about them. I planted them near the altar and spoke a Blessing over them. Then I turned to the matter of who should lead the Temple once I leave. I asked, "Corellon, this assembly asks You for Your help. Who should take my place when I leave?"

                His answer was, "All who think they are worthy should come forward and try to make the berries grow."

                Olias moved to where they had been planted and I Felt him call upon the Power. But nothing happened. He was obviously startled, as was I. I'd seen him do it many times before, and there was a murmuring from the Faithful. I tried to regain my composure and asked if anyone else was interested in trying, but no one else would step forward. Olias asked if he could try again. He did - and again - nothing happened.

                I said, "It looks like I may be commuting to and from Vegas."

                Then a woman, a newcomer, gathered her courage and stepped up to try, but she had no luck, either.

                Confused, I tried the Blessing myself. And it didn't work. My mind began to reel. Was He punishing me for something? I sent a question to Him; "Ok Corellon, what are you trying to tell me?"

                "I simply gave you what you asked for?"

                I thought about my request, "Who should take my place?" Then it hit me. "Oh, right. I can't replace myself." Then I said to the congregation, "People, this will require more thought and prayer, so please, I ask for your patience, your assistance and your prayers." With a final plea for guidance, we adjourned. I tried to speak to Olias, but he slipped away before I could.

                At dinner I told Rodrick and Leo about my little dilemma. Rodrick asked, "This Corellon, He's an Elven God, right?"

                "Yes, but all are welcome in my Temple."

                "Yeah, yeah, yeah," he said, "What about Ellen?"

                Ellen? That's a thought. Thank you."

                But it was getting late so I decided to talk to her tomorrow.

08/11/06:

                Followed my new morning ritual today - had breakfast and went to check on Olivia. I saw Alfred taking her a tray and he told me, "She's better, really, I'll tell her you came by." So I went to see Ellen, instead.

                "Hi Jazz, what's up?"

                Trying to sound casual, I said, "I was just wondering if you had any particular religious affiliation."

                "No not really. The pack had something sort of like communal services. We'd all gather and everyone was free to pray to whichever God they preferred."

                She seemed embarrassed about something so I encouraged her to go on.

                "Well, we met at each full moon and we'd, well, you know, howl."

                "I think that sounds great," I told her. "Very liberating. Did any of you pray to Corellon?"

                "I think a few of the others did."

                Damn!

                "Why do you ask?"

                "I'm not trying to convert you," I assured her and shared my problem with her.

                She commiserated, "Keep trying, there has got to be someone out there. If Corellon didn't approve of your leaving, I imagine He'd let you know."

                I thanked her for her time and left. Passing through the halls I ran into Rodrick. He was on his way to report for duty.

                "Well?" he asked.

                "No luck."

                "Don't give up,"

                Damn SEALs.

08/12/06:

                Spent most of the morning meditating, trying to figure out the puzzle, but all I got from Corellon was a faint feeling of encouragement. I went to the hydroponics guys and asked for a small flowerpot and some soil. I planted a couple of the berries and began making the rounds. I plan on meeting with every single member of the congregation, individually.

                The people I met with today were very reluctant to try and some wouldn't. But the few who did try all had no luck.

                Maybe tomorrow.

08/13/06:

                Had breakfast, checked on Olivia and continued making the rounds. It's not easy, though - trying to catch people when they're not at work. I hope to finish tomorrow.

                I am trying to not get discouraged.

08/14/06:

                I'm discouraged.

                I met with the last of the Faithful today and still no luck.

08/15/06:

                Spent some more time meditating today - then I went for a long, quiet horseback ride around the House and saw Rodrick out on patrol with Malcolm's men.

                Leo tried to cheer me up at dinner, told me to not get discouraged. I told him he was too late!

08-18-06:

                Oh, God, I'm so depressed...

08/20/06:

                Rodrick, Leo and I were joined at breakfast this morning by Malcolm, "I've had enough of this," he said, "we're going to get Olivia out of that room. There is work that needs to be done, come with me."

                Malcolm pounded on the door, "Olivia! Come out of there. We don't know that we found all the impersonators."

                There was no response and Rodrick suggested that he and Leo make chicken noises to get her out. Leo talked him out of that idea!

                Leo banged on the door and ordered Olivia to open up.

                Still no response, so I gave it a try, "Olivia, remember when those people tried to kill us in Vegas? And we found out there was a price on our heads? You wouldn't let me hide. Now get out here."

                Leo yelled, "She's right and you know it, Olivia!"

                Finally, Olivia acknowledged us, "Leo - aren't you supposed to be in Nebraska with Walter?"

                "You've got the ring to get us there."

                "Oh."

                Malcolm said, "Olivia, I need your help to continue the questioning of the populace."

                There was a minute of silence before Olivia said, "Only if we do it in the Main Hall."

                "Agreed," Malcolm said.

                "And Jazz is standing by with a flame strike."

                "Fine with me," I said.

                The door opened!

                "Good," Malcolm said. "We'll begin again this evening." And he left.

                Olivia invited us in to her room and asked what had been going on. "Is Olias all ready to take over when you leave?" So I told her everything that had happened and how Corellon didn't seem to think Olias was the one for the job - nor anyone else in the congregation.

                "What about Thomas?" she asked. "Maybe you two could 'swap' Temples."

                She offered me the use of her teleportation ring; "Can I use it?" I asked.

                She shrugged, "Let's find out, but maybe I should go with you in case something goes wrong and you can't get back here." So I went to my room and got my flowerpot. She gave me the ring and I 'popped' us to the Temple in Vegas. I did a quick check to make sure we had all our clothes and body parts, then knocked on the Temple door.

                Thomas was very surprised to see and invited us in, "What can I do for you, Sister?"

                I explained the problem and he agreed to see if he could do anything with the berries, "If it is Corellon's will - I will go to Colorado."

                But nothing happened. I asked if his acolytes were still in town.

                "Yes, but they're about town, seeing to their duties. They'll be back later this afternoon."

                So I decided to wait. Olivia said that she was going to visit the Temple of Crom and she invited me to keep her company. I told Thomas I'd be back for evening services and Olivia and I made our way to the Reformed Temple.

                The priest, Alexi, greeted us, "I didn't know you were back in town."

                "We're not, really," I said.

                Olivia told him, "We just popped in."

                He just nodded, "So how've you been?"

                "Not good, I've lost my confidence," Olivia told him. "There was this problem you see - with a squidhead…"

                "A squidhead?" he interrupted. So she Created the illusion of a MindFlayer.

                "That...is unpleasant," he conceded.

                Olivia snorted, "Tell me about it."

                "No, why don't you tell me about it." He excused them and they went to speak in private.

                A while later, there was a knocking on the front door. Not wanting Olivia and Alexi to be disturbed, I answered it.

                It was a young girl. A Gold Elf, maybe 16 years old. She was dirty, tired and carrying two babies. She said that she needed food for all three of them and asked if I could help her, "Do you need any help around here? Odd jobs that I could do for food?"

                "Please, come inside," I said.

                Helping her and the babies get settled in I got a better look at the babies. Both were half Elven, both girls and both must have been under a year old. But one was definitely older than the other.

                Once they were all comfortable, I conjured up some food for the girl.

                She thanked me as she ate and tried to sneak some into her pack, "For later, you know." When I didn't stop her, she filled the bag. I warned her the food would only be good for the next 24 hours. Then I asked her if she and the girls had anywhere to stay.

                She shook her head; "We're just passing thru."

                I told where I was from, "And my friend and I are going back there tonite. We could take you with us, if you'd like."

                She was real hesitant, "I'll think about. Where's the restroom?"

                I looked around, "Hmmm, I don't know. This isn't my Temple." I helped her to find it and offered to watch the babies while she cleaned up.

                When she didn't return for quite a while, I looked in the restroom and she was gone. But there was no other exit from the room!

                Anyway, there I was with two babies. That's when I noticed that each girl was wearing a tiny little bracelet. Both had charms on them - a crest with a lion's head imposed over crossed spears!

                That was when Olivia and Alexi returned.

                They stopped, looked at me and the babies and Olivia said, "Jazz, what happened?"

                I explained and showed her the bracelets, "I think that these babies are meant to go to Hadass' people."

                "Or maybe we were meant to keep them," Olivia pondered.

                Alexi shook his head. "With your lifestyles? Highly unlikely."

                I reminded Olivia that it was getting late and I needed to get going. So we said our good-byes and the four of us returned to Corellon's Temple.

                Thomas didn't skip a beat when Olivia asked him to find some baby bottles. He found some right away in the donation bins and I filled them with milk that I Created. He left to find some diapers while Olivia and I fed the girls. They had just fallen asleep when there was a knock on the door. Hoping it was the Elf-girl, back to get the babies, I answered it.

                Not the Elf. It was an Orc. A particularly unpleasant looking (and smelling) Orc. He was filthy, hunched over, covered with scars and was missing an arm.

                He drew back and said, "Don't come near me," he said. "I'm diseased and believe it to be contagious. I'm just looking for some food, please."

                He was so pitiful, I called on the Power and cleansed him of the contagion he carried. Then I asked him to come inside for some food.

                "No thank you, I couldn't do that, Elves revile me, and I know this is an Elvish house of worship. I do not wish to enter and upset anyone."

                But I insisted and he relented.

                "In the back there's a shower. You can wash up while we find you some clothes."

                Olivia dug thru the donations for clothes while I Created some more food.

                He reappeared, clean and in new clothes. He thanked us both and sat down to eat.

                After a few bites he stopped and said to me, "May I ask you something?"

                "Sure."

                "I was not good looking, Before, and I've only gotten worse. And I wasn't a very nice person - but I'm trying to do better now. May I kiss you?"

                That surprised me! (and Olivia, too, she laughed.) But I said, "Certainly you may."

                He got up, walked over and gave me a polite little kiss on the cheek.

                He finished eating and said, "I've got to be going now. I need to find work."

                "Go to the Excalibur, tell them that Jazz and Olivia sent you. They'll find something for you to do," I told him.

                He bowed to me and as he did, he - 'blurred' and Changed into a young Black, Human male, with both arms intact.

                He smiled and said, "You are indeed kind. I wanted to see if there were still such people left in the world. Let me help you with your problem. "

                He gestured to the flowerpot with the berries, "The person you seek is in your Kingdom. Look to your berries for your answer."

                And before I could say a word, he bowed again and left.

                Thomas had returned in time to see all of that and said, "So. You won't be staying for evening services?"

                "No, it seems not," I said.

                Then he offered to keep the babies. He told us that some Temple members had lost some children and would be happy to take them in.

                But I was reluctant; "They're wearing the symbol of Hadass. What if they were meant to go to Colorado Springs?"

                "Ask Corellon," Olivia suggested.

                I did and His response was "They should be with the People."

                So we stayed long enough to meet the couples that Thomas summoned. They were very happy at the thought of having the girls to take care of and both Olivia and I got really good feelings from them and felt safe leaving the babies with them. We thanked Thomas for his help and I teleported us back to the Temple in the Grove.

                I showed Olivia where I had planted the berries next to the flowers that Corellon had sent the Temple. The area was neat and clean, someone had been there recently. The plants had been fertilized and had grown. Quite a bit.

                So, feeling a tad bit silly, I asked the plants who had tended them.

                "Two legs. Ripe wheat hair. Smelled of hay and barley."

                That was all I could get out of them so we wandered back to the House. The gang met for dinner in the Hall, (Olivia sat with her back in a corner the entire time) and we told them about our trip to Vegas. Olivia summoned Otsune and asked her to find a blonde who smelled of hay and barley. After some negotiating, Otsune agreed to do it for a Dove bar. She vanished and came back after a while - but she hadn't found anything.

                I noticed that the Farming Guild was sitting as a group, so following a hunch, I approached them, "Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt your dinner, but I wanted to thank whoever was out at the Temple of Corellon, tending the garden."

                A Gold Elf woman shrugged, "Oh it was no problem. Whoever planted the garden, didn't know what they were doing."

                She saw my reaction and said, "Oh - was that you?"

                "Yes it was, um, could I talk to you in private for a moment?"

                "Okay, but I'm straight," she said.

                "Good, so am I."

                Out in the hallway I introduced myself.

                "I know who you are."

                I finally got her name - Henrietta, and she admitted that she'd been to services a few times, but generally went to the Temple when it was empty, "Is that a problem?"

                "Of course not - it's always open." I explained that I was looking for someone to lead the Temple when I leave.

                "I thought that the job was already filled."

                "Olias? Yeah, he thought so, too. But Corellon didn't agree," I said.

                "Oh really?"

                The way she said it - I could hear the bitterness, and it was deep.

                "What will he do?" she asked.

                "I don't know, I haven't spoken to him about it."

                She agreed to go to the House Temple with me. I showed her the flowerpot with the berry plant in it; "These are the same type of berries that are out in the Grove. They're special. Given to a Believer by Corellon himself."

                "Yeah," she snorted, "Now pull the other one."

                I smiled and said, "I'm completely serious. He has told me to find the person who can make these grow. That is the person who will lead this Temple. Would you like to try?"

                "How? By yelling at it?"

                "No," I said, "just wish it to grow."

                "Would that work on a penis? If so, can you make one shrink?" But she took the pot. She looked at it and said, "Corellon, I don't know what You want, so if You want this to grow - grow."

                The plant spurted up a few inches, right in front of our eyes.

                Olivia said, "Looks like you found your replacement." Until she spoke I didn't know she'd followed us.

                Henrietta looked at me; "Did you do that?"

                "Nope. You did," I assured her.

                "So do I get some fancy robes and a tiara?"

                "No. Sorry. Plain robes and no tiara."

                "What's next?" she asked.

                "We'll meet tomorrow and begin the teaching. I'll include the acolytes, if you don't mind."

                "Olias won't be there, will he?"

                Olivia and I exchanged a look; "No he won't, why?"

                "I want nothing to do with him."

                It took a lot of coaxing, but we finally got her to tell us what was up.

                When I was in Vegas, Henrietta had gone to the Temple looking for solace after her lover had dumped her and Olias had 'taken advantage' of her.

                I was shocked! "Did you report it to the King?"

                "Yes, I did."

                "And?!?" Olivia and I demanded.

                "And Morag used a truthspell on him. He said that he'd done no such thing and Morag confirmed that he was being truthful. Then he used a truthspell on me. I had asked him to make love to me."

                She stopped and we had to convince her to continue, "I'd been drinking and part of me really did want it."

                Olivia stormed out to find Olias while I stayed to comfort Henrietta.

                Olivia told me later that she found Olias and asked him if he remembered an incident involving Henrietta.

                He sighed and said, "Not again! I went thru all of this with Morag and the King. Morag exonerated me. She wanted it. She asked for it. It was consentual. I never lied to the girl - I told her I was there for anyone in the congregation, but she worked up some kind of romantic image of true love. When I told her it wasn't going to happen, she got pissed and went to the King."

                "Did it ever occur to you that screwing an emotionally distressed member of the congregation wasn't such a good idea?" she asked him.

                "Look. Morag has already read me the riot act about this."

                She persisted, "Do you agree that it was a conflict of interest?"

                "Is this why Corellon has deemed me unworthy?"

                "Ask Him," Olivia told him.

                "No, that's it. And all because I didn't know what to tell her so I didn't tell her anything at all."

                "Well guess who's taking charge of the Temple when Jazz leaves?"

                "Oh, fuck me," Olias said. "I guess that's a pretty good indication of what I should be doing with my life."

                They were interrupted by one of Malcolm's pages who told Olivia that the King was looking for her.

                "He want's you 'and the rest of the wrecking crew' is what he actually said."

                Olivia sent him to find the rest of the crew but came looking for me herself.

                I told Henrietta to go get her stuff and began to show her to my room so she could start moving.

                "Oh, I know where your room is. I've been there."

                That made me crazy! "In my room?!?"

                "Oh yeah," she said, "it's closer to the Temple."

                She left to go to her room and Olivia and I left to go to the Council room.

                Once we were all present Malcolm told us that he'd spoken to a messenger from Alamosa.

                "They have a problem and you folk are just the people to take care of it. Harvest is getting closer and we're having the expected problems with scavengers, raiders and nomads, but this is different. There is some sort of creature attacking and killing my farmers. The Kingdom forces are calvery - archers, they have the wrong training for this sort of thing. These things appear to be living underground and unconventional opponents call for unconventional tactics. That would be you."

                Olivia turned to her brother, "Leo?"

                "Walter said that we can stay until you can get us to Omaha. I'd like to go along as his representative, if that's alright."

                "Okay Your Majesty, when would you like us to go?"

                "ASAP, but tomorrow morning would be fine," and with that, he dismissed the council.

                I asked Olivia, "You didn't hurt Olias too much, did you?"

                "Why would she be hurting Olias?" Malcolm asked. "Isn't he taking over for you?"

                "No he's not," was all I said.

                He raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Fine. Please bring by whoever does for a formal introduction."

                "You already know her," I said, "Henrietta - of the Farming Guild?"

                Olivia said, "She had a small problem with Olias that you and Morag had to handle."

                Malcolm said, "I remember, is this decision for the best?"

                I shrugged, "It was Corellon's decision, not mine."

                "But Henrietta? How is Olias taking that?"

                "Olivia?"

                "Not too well," she said.

                Malcolm told me, "I don't want a problem with the transition."

                "I'll go talk to him now." I asked Leo if he would start packing up our stuff in my room and went to find Olias.

                I found him in his room - packing.

                "Well this is dramatic."

                He just looked at me so I tried again, "So…where are you going?"

                "I don't know and I didn't think you'd care."

                "Ouch!" I said, "That was harsh, of course I care. But remember, this was Corellon's decision. You don't think you can stay here?"

                "No, I don't. And Corellon doesn't want me to."

                "Did He tell you that?"

                "No."

                I asked, "Why don't you stay and help Henrietta?"

                "So she can stand up and proclaim to all, 'He date-raped me!'?"

                "Olias, she told me that after Morag and the King, she hadn't told a soul. I can't see her publicizing the incident, now."

                He was silent.

                "Will you at least stay 'til tomorrow?"

                "Okay."

                "Good. I'll be back." I found Henrietta in her room packing. Her roomies were helping, happy at the prospect of having more space. They excused themselves so we could speak in private.

                "What would you say if I told you that I found someone to help you with the Temple?"

                "Who?"

                "Olias."

                She was not happy! "Are you kidding? I'd be afraid that he'd get a woody every time I bent over to pick something up."

                I decided to leave it for a while, she was done packing, so I helped her carry stuff to her new room.

                When we got there, Leo was just finishing up with our stuff, "Where should I take this stuff?"

                "To Izzy's office for now, thank you dear."

                Henrietta and I went into the Temple. I composed myself and said, "Corellon - here is the one that You told me to find, Henrietta. She has chosen to serve You here, but she needs someone to help her."

                "I am here to help her," He said.

                Henrietta's eyes flew open wide; "I heard that!"

                "Get used to it," I told her, with what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "Goodnight, get some rest. We'll talk as soon as I return from doing a job for the King."

                I ran into Olivia on the way to Izzy's and filled her in.

                "Did you offer him a ride to Vegas?" she asked.

                "No. I didn't think you'd want to be around him for that long of a trip."

                "I'm fine with it," she assured me.

                We found Izzy and I asked her to find a room for Leo and I for the night, "Since Henrietta is in mine, now."

                Izzy clapped her hands, "She is? Good for her!" Then she turned business-like, "It's late - I'd hate to disturb anyone. You could store your things here for now…"

                I told, "That's fine, Leo and I can sleep in Scooby tonite, since we'll be leaving early anyway."

                Then I turned to Olivia and Leo, "Dammit, I don't get it! I never had any kind of troubles with Olias. He was always kind and polite and caring. But then I wasn't looking for anything serious, certainly not true love; maybe that was the difference. I don't know, I'm just having trouble making sense of this."

                Olivia said, "He made a mistake and now he's paying the consequences."

                I nodded, "I'll go ask him if he wants that ride to Vegas."

                "Do you want me to do it?" Leo asked.

                "Yes. No. I should do it."

                I found him just finishing with his packing and asked him if we could give him a ride as far as Vegas, anyway.

                "When are you leaving?"

                "I don't know. The King is sending us to Alamosa tomorrow, and we don't know how long we might be gone."

                "Ahh, going off to save the world again?"

                "I don't know about the world, but hopefully a few farmers."

                He didn't say anything.

                I pressed, "Will you wait until we get back?"

                He wouldn't look at me, "Yes, I'll wait."

                "Good. Try to get some sleep. Okay?"

                I was walking out to Scooby when Rodrick stopped me. He was carrying a huge ax and asked, "Where might I be able to get this sharpened?"

                I directed him to the tool shop and he wished me a goodnight and bounced off whistling.

Continued...