We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, sisters and all

[zerostao]

Owl returned as quickly as had left, “They’ve broke camp and embarked on their journey.”

Z told his critter allies, “I have gone to join them. Squirrels, stealthily, tag along the troupe so that we have you close by. Owl, of course you are Ranger Night Commander, Crows, set up sentinels, keep watch ahead of us, beside us, and behind us.”

Old Crow said, “That is exactly what we always do Ah ah ah.”

Gray fox said, “I will contact gopher, in case the troupe needs something shuttled in or out. Gopher can relay with the squirrels. I wait for Raven’s return and will update Raven, Coyote, Opossums of the troupe breaking camp and on the move.”

 

[Apech]

13 hours ago, dwai said:

@Apech masterfully maintained the threads of the adventure, while calmly guiding the direction when needed. 
 

What lies in wait for this band of lovable misfits, at their destination? Or is there even a destination?

 

@dwai fell into a deep reverie, as he  pondered whether the purpose was the journey or the destination. 

 

One more heave they thought, but no.  Their feet scratching the dry earth sending up clouds of dust.

"Again," shouted @zerostao ," all together."

They strained at the rope scratching the skin of their hands.

"Now!" said @zerostao .

A head.  Two hands. Arms and torso.  And finally legs slithering across the ground.

@zerostao stood over the prone body of @dwai and wagged his finger.

"Do. Not." he said emphatically, "fall into a deep reverie again!"

 

 

[zerostao]

Then Z picked up dwai, dusts him off, the squirrels were galloping in excitement, not sure what to do. 

Crows all over the place were caw cawing.

Z tells dwai,  "To answer your reverie, it is both, shake it off, we need you and we need to press onward."

Edited February 5, 2022 by zerostao

[blue eyed snake]

15 hours ago, Apech said:

The camp fire cleared, the troupe of Daobums made ready for the day's journey.  They had come far together.  Or so they hoped.  Or had they, as @Bindi feared, just gone round in circles?

 

oh, it's nice to walk, as this trek is magical the bounds of my body have disappeared. Also funny to observe the behavior of the companions, where they take up position in our little groupe and what roles they seem to take.

All kinds of memories come back now, and Nungali grumbling about his backpack is more then funny, he is the one that gathered all that knowledge in this life, so now he has to carry it into his old days.

 

It's so good to see how @mrpasserby takes care of @questionmark Being a young woman comes with it own set of dangers. It feels like he's taking care of me when I was younger.  Looking back, one of the reasons I buried in that fort of analytical thinking was the memory of assault and rape lodged inside of my body. Among other things, walking the path means looking that demon in the eye and come to grips with it.

Experiences like that are too horrid to behold, especially when there is no end in sight. I bow deeply to the granddad of Nungali, as he seemed to have transformed the dissociation experience that goes with the horrids he experienced in another, better way of leaving the body.

Meanwhile I overheard something  @ralis said about drug induced weird states.

 

Quote

 

Starting at 1:53 are several Afghans smoking hash. These guys would smoke most under the table. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1026737454365803

 

https://www.edrosenthal.com/the-guru-of-ganja-blog/2018/7/12/the-lost-art-of-temple-balls-a-hashish-master-and-his-student-explore-the-preservation-of-resin

 

 

 

I can still smell and feel those small rolls of very potent Afghan stuff, also remember the talk about temple balls that were deemed to be even more potent. Smoking this sometimes resulted in "me" leaving body and hang around somewhere else in the room. Yet another kind of getting unstuck from the physical body. But yet different from the near death experience. How many ways are there? 

Life is just weird.

 

----

 

@Bindi noticed the danger to our beloved elder @C T so I looked back. Glad to tell you the old deity took care of him, he would guard our friend and keep the fire burning indefinitely. So when next we'll pass this spot we'll find him there, meditating as always, slightly more ethereal then before

 

---

Earthgates are bot alluring and intimidating but we'll enter when our time is ripe. There are places on earth where we can find them. This is what the locals call a Fogou, the meaning of the word is unknown to me ( maybe it resides in Nunglis backpack?)

underground you find a round chamber and, at least in the one I visited, the entrance is bended and out of the dark central chamber a very small hole that you can crawl through to the light is present. Even though it was part of a touristic setup, there was a palpable energy

 

In the same region this portal is found, it's called Men an Tol, meaning simple " stone with hole"

or is it hole in stone? hmm

What is inner, what is outer

It pulls you through, quite literally, even my former spouse crawled through.

 

 

Sometimes I think the path of women is more daunting then that of men, but that of course, is a purely personal musing. Still,  seeing how the fate of Eowyn enfolds, that's quite a demon she had to conquer and see how she stood up to the task. Thanks @old3bob for reminding us of this strength that lies dormant at the core of every woman amongst us.

 

but, even though that strength is somewhere to be found in me, the body needs coddling and a soak in that bathtub of Nungali would be heavenly.  After his deep dive @dwai is gonna need a bath too I think. Lets be grateful for Nungali as he carries that bath with him too. Ah, no wonder he's grumbling.

[Apech]

"You know where you are by reference to where you are not," said @blue eyed snake.

The cat looked at her, up to the sun and back again.

"Do you need a hat, or a parasol?" he asked.

"No," said @Bindi , "she means we need a map.  One with a big blue arrow saying 'YOU ARE HERE', or several red arrows saying 'YOU ARE NOT HERE' ."

@Nungali put down the pack and took out some paper, carefully unfolded it, gazed at it for a moment and then folded it again.

"A map?" asked the cat.

"No," said @Nungali , "I just like origami."

"Perhaps," said @zerostao, "if we go to that high point we can get our bearings."

He pointed up the ridge line to a huge outcrop of glistening rock. And with that the company made their way up the natural weathered steps to the very top.  The view spread out before them.

 

A winding river ran Northwards, to the Western bank of it was a vast ochre coloured plain which seemed to have no other side, on the East, tall hills of tortured and twisted rock.

@steve gasped, "I know this place!" he exclaimed.

Smoothing the rock at his feet with his hand he exposed it as white shot through with red.

"This is the Marblehead," he said, " and before us runs the river Taomeow.  If we follow it North we will eventually come to the hamlet of Drew Hemple and the McDonald Inn."

The group gazed in amazement that they had come to such a mythic place.

"What then," asked the cat "is that horrid plain and those twisted tortured hills?"

It was @dwai's turn to speak in awe.

"That horrid land is no other than the Plain of Buddhawarz ... a place so desolate and empty of life and meaning ... and those twisted tortured hills are the ancient battle ground where the giants of Kun Lun and KAP fought for the possession of Daobumia in ancient times."

They all said wow.  Then not thinking of anything else to say, said wow again.

"But what if we follow this river to the village of Drew Hemple - eat at the MacDonalds - without any untoward and unwelcome feelings at a distance of course - what then?" asked @Bindi.

And @steve then hung his head.

"Beyond, " he said with gravity, "lies great peril, the Gorge of Jeffery ... and then the dark walls of Castle Mo Pai with its flickering light bulbs of doom."

And with that they sat upon the Marblehead and wept.

 

 

 

[dwai]

After his bath, @dwai turned to @Apech and said with great excitement, I saw @zerostao during the reverie, who told me that it’s both…AND, btw, folks - a reverie only works at the level of the mind! So no baths are necessary @blue eyed snake - irrespective of whether the reverie was deep or light. 
 

Of course, that happened as a flashback (before reaching the great Marblehead). 
 

The intrepid travelers spoke in unison, “you must become our official historian @Apech— you have a way with words. Your skillful means make even nefarious activities in the McDonald’s Inn seem somewhat hilarious and mysterious at the same time!”

 

The group turned around again, taking in the ancient landscape (“with their eyes, mind you!”, should anyone be getting any silly notions in their minds). They saw that from a distance, they didn’t look so scary or desolate anymore. The lands that were once ravaged by battles lay fertile once again — the warring tribes that stayed behind had learned to coexist harmoniously, thanks to the work that was done by sheriff @Trunk and his trusted deputies @steve, @thelerner, @zerostao, @ilumairen and @liminal_luke! 

Edited February 5, 2022 by dwai

[blue eyed snake]

"You know where you are by reference to where you are not,"

 

now that sounds deep and wise but actually I've no idea what I meant by that. Maybe the meaning will pop up later.

Bindi was close with her blue arrow, but I fear we do not need a map, it's a blue pointed hat that I need, thanks Apech for reminding me.

 

Some of us know the laying of the lands so a map would be useless, we can follow the river of Taomeow safely, but beware of the rapids, those can be dangerous. Then we'll very unobtrusively pass the Hamlet of Drew and you all can visit mc Donalds inn and stuff yourselves. Meanwhile I will sit outside, acting as if I am on guard but using the time to fold some cranes with the folding paper from the backpack. I've enough elvenwaybread in my cloak to last me a lifetime so the horror of that food can pass me.

 

Then we'll need to decide, I for one will not pass the Jeffery gorge to enter that castle. It's useless, all past and done with, those lads can do as they please as long as they stay in their castle, they may come out later, grown up a bit and wiser. But that time has not yet come.

 

So as it looks to me, there's no other choice then the uncharted lands to the east.

 

about baths...well they may not be needed but it's very nice to be clean. Plus I prefer my reveries to take place in a hot tub smelling of roses. Then have both the reverie and the getting clean plus the peace and contentment. 

 

So first, lets think of where we are, mount Marblehead has a teaching for us.

Peace and contentment,

lets not forget about that while running towards enlightenment or other fancy-sounding ideals

 

Edited February 5, 2022 by blue eyed snake

[natural]

The sky was pregnant this day

the water was angry

@blue eyed snake taking notice of this consulted with @nungali

Who was reminded by others that this was the year of the water tiger

the others included @steve, @dawei, @manitou, @thelerner and so many others

finally, the group decided to leave mount marble head and endeavor to Father Paul harbor

it was agreed @zerostaoand @ilumairen would lead with their superior tracking abilities backed up by both @trunk and @ralis meanwhile @Iliketurtles would slowly and methodically have our collective hind parts covered and gently nudge stragglers forward with @apech and @bindi helping to keep the unruly crowd on task.

@liminal_luke along with Jose prepared outstanding refreshments for one and all!

@old3bob and @mrpasserby paused to answer @questionmark questions and along with @steve and @apech worked to reduce the groups anxiety and uncertainty.

all together they were endeavoring to persevere, and @bindi was very good at reading people's moods and offering calm assurances

meanwhile @natural and @ct foraged for medicinal edibles and slowly the sun set ...

[steve]

... as the sky darkened and the air developed a chill, there was a soft glow just beyond a patch of blue spruce. 

@zerostao led a small recon group to investigate.

Crawling stealthily through the undergrowth, a wide-mouthed cave came into view.

Just inside the opening was a small fire. 

An androgynous appearing form sat dimly illuminated in the shadows, cloaked in ochre, creating complex mudras using both hands and feet. Only a distinctive birthmark and sanguine lips could be made out at this distance.

Perched above the fire, immune to the heat and stinging smoke, loomed a tall, gangling figure shouting pornographic obscenities at a superhuman rate and volume... 

... shimmering, colorful figures danced above his head, writhing in rhythmic bliss... 

RON JEREMY! hissed @zerostao just loudly enough to be heard by his companions,

and that must be deci belle in the shadows! added @Apech with a sense of urgency.

With that the small band quietly made their way back to report to the larger group.

This unexpected discovery would certainly mean rethinking their next steps...

 

[natural]

 

 

5 minutes ago, steve said:

... as the sky darkened and the air developed a chill, there was a soft glow just beyond a patch of blue spruce. 

@zerostao led a small recon group to investigate.

Crawling stealthily through the undergrowth, a wide-mouthed cave came into view.

Just inside the opening was a small fire. 

An androgynous appearing form sat dimly illuminated in the shadows, cloaked in ochre, creating complex mudras using both hands and feet. Only a distinctive birthmark and sanguine lips could be made out at this distance.

Perched above the fire, immune to the heat and stinging smoke, loomed a tall, gangling figure shouting pornographic obscenities at a superhuman rate and volume... 

... shimmering, colorful figures danced above his head, writhing in rhythmic bliss... 

RON JEREMY! hissed @zerostao just loudly enough to be heard by his companions,

and that must be deci belle in the shadows! added @Apech with a sense of urgency.

With that the small band quietly made their way back to report to the larger group.

This unexpected discovery would certainly mean rethinking their next steps...

 

 

I laughed so hard I expelled the tea I was drinking out thru my nose!

 

 Bravo sir!

 

[liminal_luke]

Trunk found Luke wandering on the ridge again au @natural.  Although @thetaoiseasy the provincial moderators agreed that there are still rules and it's not like he had a @Spotless record. Luke claimed to be delirious after a bite from a @blue eyed snake but Steve had examined him and said "that's no bite, it's barely @Apech."  (A @C T scan showed no abnormalities.)  Desperate to stay out of lockup, Luke next claimed to be insane, something about a @helpfuldemon, and kept muttering @Iliketurtles.  "Most people do," said ilumairen, shining her usual wisdom.  Almost out of options, Luke buried his face in his hands.  Outside the courtroom he could hear a street preacher's booming megaphone voice, "repent, repent, the end is @dwai."  Oh, this was bad.  Where Luke was going he would never again see the sun, feel the rain on his face, or hear the sound of @silent thunder. 

[steve]

... Don't you see?!  mumbled @steve,

It's RON JEREMY and deci belle, they're controlling everything! it's why @liminal_luke is wandering around in the buff,

going on about vaccines and viruses, and now locked in a paranoid delusion of incarceration... it's the only possibly explanation!

We need to save @liminal_lukefrom the large-breasted blonde!

@Apech recognized her at the cave.

We always thought she was being channeled by @Jeff, but it seems he was only one of @RON JEREMY's many masques...

This is a matter for our occultists and mages... 

[mrpasserby]

22 hours ago, dwai said:

The old man, threw up his hands in disgust, as he was familiar with the fear and suspicion he evoked on strangers. He wasn’t really a demon, he was actually a native deity who had aged due to the erosion of faith and trust in him over centuries, as mankind lost its moorings and became besotted with science and technology  (the new gods). 
 

@silent thunder noticed this. He turned back around, and left an offering of a fruit, flowers and mead for this forgotten deity.

 

Ancient @mrpasserby bringing up the rear of the group briefly stopped his forward motion to pause and give a slight bow to @silent thunder to sincerely thank @silent thunder for the long over dew tribute to Jonah.

Stating: In my experience: He has been a somewhat unwilling gate guardian, sitting upon his magical shading plant while judging those who would enter the 5^th gate for at least the last 2 millennium, according to the historical documents called the bible.

Smiling his tootles smile he continued: who knows what destiny changes you may have brought about by your kind thoughts.

Then marking the direction of the group, @mrpasserby hobble on to Ketchup the rest of the group who where passing to near to Mc Donalds, for his home cooked taste.

Edited February 6, 2022 by mrpasserby
must edit

[natural]

8 minutes ago, steve said:

... Don't you see?!  mumbled @steve,

It's RON JEREMY and deci belle, they're controlling everything! it's why @liminal_luke is wandering around in the buff,

going on about vaccines and viruses, and now locked in a paranoid delusion of incarceration... it's the only possibly explanation!

We need to save @liminal_lukefrom the large-breasted blonde!

@Apech recognized her at the cave.

We always thought she was being channeled by @Jeff, but it seems he was only one of @RON JEREMY's many masques...

This is a matter for our occultists and mages... 

 

Over the top! 

On point and hilarious!!!

Thanks for that!

 

[Apech]

44 minutes ago, steve said:

... Don't you see?!  mumbled @steve,

It's RON JEREMY and deci belle, they're controlling everything! it's why @liminal_luke is wandering around in the buff,

going on about vaccines and viruses, and now locked in a paranoid delusion of incarceration... it's the only possibly explanation!

We need to save @liminal_lukefrom the large-breasted blonde!

@Apech recognized her at the cave.

We always thought she was being channeled by @Jeff, but it seems he was only one of @RON JEREMY's many masques...

This is a matter for our occultists and mages... 

 

Hugs anyone?…..thought not.

[natural]

2 minutes ago, Apech said:

 

Hugs anyone?…..thought not.

 

between liminal_luke wandering around in the buff, @nungali with the missing hot tub

well no wonder the great unwashed masses don't want to hug 

[zerostao]

Z and the small recon group make their way back to the main group, he is trying to talk but has lost his voice. 

@Nungali splashes z with a bucket of ice water containing chunks of ice, "Get hold of yourself, we already have @liminal_luke ranting around like a babbling loon, saying he has encountered a large breasted blond" Nungali yells at him.

 

"On a related note, I was given a message to give @Bindi" Z said while coughing out small chunks of ice.

Nungali inquired, "What message?"

"Please find Bindi."  Z implored

Bindi made her way up to z, who had shards of ice falling from his nostrils. "Please overlook me in this condition, but I have a personal message from the wayfairie tumbir aka @deci belle to be delivered to you."

"What message?" Bindi asks. 

Z looks over to make sure Nungali is present to also hear of this message. Z also looks to make sure Nungali has no handy bucket of ice water. 

"I need to scrawl a diagram." Z reaches in his backpack and finds a note pad and pencil. 

Z then draws a pentagram that when looked at turns into a pyramid. 

Bindi and Nungali raise their eyebrows but wisely say nothing.

the wayfairie tumbir said to say this after I scrawled this, to quote--

 

"Reality has no meaning, it just is as it is. Seeking meaning in things (body, mind, society, events— the four empty names) is just the perpetual result of mental agitation of the intellectual apparatus.

 

Seeking anything is simply over-stepping upright immediate acceptance and selfless response to reality as is. By virtue of this psychological momentum, habit-energy provides an arbitrary construct based on the personality’s endless quest to seek ascendancy over the fundamental reality of causeless unity.

 

It is just evidence of self-servility habituated to death-seeking energy constituting karmic bondage. Living sane energy is open awareness no different than your own mind. That which is self-evident is immediately known without discriminatory awareness habitually seeking reasons for meaning.

 

Knowing the taste and temperature of water as you drink it is experience beyond the ken of meaning. Further removed is speculative processes rationalizing (comparing) data. Eschewing habitual intellectualism until it ceases to be a psychologically compulsive activity is the basis of self-refinement."

 

Z, then said, "The message I was told to give you was actually about seven times longer than what I could remember." I apologize for my fragility of mind in this important moment, but that recon trip was a bit overwhelming."

 

Z yells for @Apech

the white cat appears in front of Z.

Z asks, "When we were coming down from that cave, did you notice a @soaring crane fly overhead?"

 

 

 

 

[natural]

I am appreciative of the story telling abilities of all!

[zerostao]

BRIEF INTERMEZZO------END OF ACT ONE---THE MEANING OF NO MEANING-----

[natural]

11 minutes ago, zerostao said:

BRIEF INTERMEZZO------END OF ACT ONE---THE MEANING OF NO MEANING-----

 

wats up dude?

[zerostao]

9 minutes ago, natural said:

 

wats up dude?

to quote a wise white cat

"It's Shakespeare, mate"

Brief intermezzo ends, the Troupe bravely enters 

ACT II

albeit somewhat unstabled....

Edited February 6, 2022 by zerostao

[silent thunder]

*wanders in

 

Anyone see a leather cheerio roll through here?

 

I carried something hella heavy this morning and I think I blew my O-ring out and it rolled out my pant leg...

Anyway, I'll be wanting that back if anyone does come across it.

 

*wanders out

[natural]

correct me if I am wrong, but I think "cheerios" fall under @apechs umbrella, 

@Nungali may also bear some responsibility if it involves the down under or nakid peeps&*

Although honestly the resident expert on Nakidness seems to be @liminal_luke both him and his artistic partner are very creative in so many areas  

[Geof Nanto]

 

1 hour ago, zerostao said:

"Please find Bindi."  Z implored

 

I believe @Bindi has an out of control bushfire getting uncomfortably close to her campsite. (In real life.)

[zerostao]

13 minutes ago, Yueya said:

 

 

I believe @Bindi has an out of control bushfire getting uncomfortably close to her campsite. (In real life.)

Thank you for that information.

The Troupe huddles together in solidarity support for @Bindi