From: <KiranaTi1@aol.com>
  Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 23:04:46 EDT
  Subject: and now, the continuing saga of Our Heroine and Company....^_~

  Estela sat by the fire with Wataru, Chuin, and Bubbles. "all right. I
  promised
  Chuin i'd explain everything tonight...and the rest of you should hear
  this
  too." They looked up, surprised to hear her speak after she'd been so
  quiet
  throughout dinner.
         "To begin with...neither Wataru nor I was born on this world. I'm
  not
  sure where Wataru's from --not MY world-- but not here either." Chuin
  was
  staring at her openmouthed, Wataru was nodding as if he'd expected this,
  and
  Bubbles was just watching her. "I came into this world-- and I mean
  "came into
  the world", not "was born"-- in the city of Jiran, capital of Alari,
  about two
  and a half weeks ago.  There's a temple there, the central temple of the
  Lady
  of Waters.... and when I went there...they told me about the Prophecy of
  Jiran... that when the world had come to a time of need, a young woman
  would
  appear in the city, not having entered by any normal means, and come to
  the
  temple seeking aid.  The temple is bound to give that woman help, for
  she,
  others of her world, and her chosen companions are to save the world...
  I
  don't know from what, but nothing good, if the world has to be saved
  from it."
      She pulled a medallion from the neck of her shirt, blue and silver.
  "I,"
  she declared in a clear voice, "am the woman foretold be the Prophecy of
  Jiran."
      They all stared at her openmouthed now. "Are you kidding?!"
  spluttered
  Wataru. I'll believe you're a sorceress, and I know you're from another
  world... but a prophecy?! no way!"
     "Yabsajubru beleive Estela. Estela prophecy woman," declared Bubbles.
      Chuin just shook his head.
       "Thank you, Bubbles. Wataru, I'm not a sorceress...one of the
  priestesses
  had foresight, and she told me that if I followed the East Road, I would
  find
  the 'power of my true heart.' Last night," she explained for Chuin and
  Bubbles, "Wataru crashed through my door at about 3 in the morning. I
  got
  upset...and all the sudden threw him across the room. By telekinesis,
  apparently."
       Bubbles looked confused. "Telekinesis means lifting thing with your
  mind.
  but I didn't have the ability until last night, and it's the only such
  ability
  I have. I'm no sorceress...I just discovered the power the priestess
  spoke of,
  i think. We're still following the East Road because it's the most
  logical
  place to go, since Chuin and I came from the west."
       She glanced at them. They looked stunned, but not confused. *might
  as
  well go through with it now....* "I'm going to give you three options,
  and
  each of you must decide for yourself. Either you split from me when we
  leave
  here tomorrow morning, you split from me when we reach the end of the
  East
  Road, or you swear yourselves, on this medallion, to be my chosen
  companions,
  that is, to be loyal to me until the world is saved or until I am dead,
  and to
  travel with me unless it is necessary to split up."
          She took a breath, and then went on before they could answer.
  "Wataru,
  if you become my companion, you're likely to be with me longer than I
  can pay
  you for regardless of your rate... but I am probably your best chance of
  getting home. Bubbles... you're very young, clearly...and there's a fair
  chance we could die...if we have to save the world, there's surely
  something
  nasty to save it from. But the choice is yours. Chuin... I have nothing
  to
  offer you, really, and nothing to hold you back... it's up to you. I'll
  expect
  your answer in the morning, before we break camp. For now, I didn't get
  much
  sleep last night, so I'm going to bed. Good night, everyone."
    She got up and wrapped herself in her blankets, away from the fire,
  ignoring
  the astonished stares they directed at her back.  Within minutes, she
  was
  asleep.

  {{memo to all: no additions/subtractions to the group till I return....
  memo
  to my group: no going past next morning, no leaving the cave area.
  anything
  else is ok.  I will be gone from tomorrow night until the end of the
  month.
  when I return I will update my webpage (including map) so if you have
  anything
  to add please drop me a note so it will be here when I return. I will
  also
  give Spiffy my writer's profile then, and get the story moving from
  here, so
  you three please give me your decisions by the time I return. thanks
  all...see
  you then.}}