h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

His total is now 8.

Now, ghost, that will not earn you blessings on the other side!

*firmly blows the match out, then holds her spirit spear over both herself and the mage*

Ancestors! The spirit whole
Has many facets to its soul.

Too much good is zealous and
without humour, partisan.

Too much evil shrinks the heart,
Makes bitter, and from love apart.

The shaman learns to understand
and to take the sickness by the hand,

With Raven's agent, make it so!
Cure him by melding head to toe,

I will absorb this wounded mage
And make him part of Uli sage!

Instead of death let him persist
Not in evil. We resist

The sickness as we take it on
as Ulyclept, a shaman upon

The Astral Plane, still doing good
With added wisdom, as we should.

*begins whirling her spear over their heads*

Let the Individuated One
Work together, Shadow and Sun!

Dispensing advice to those still living
Helping with good works, always giving!

*there is a loud crack as if the spear had whipped the air, and blue fire envelops both YClept and Uli*

*Uli's spell is successful!

Within the blue fire the spirits of Uli and Yclept begin to circle one another, slowly gaining in speed until they become a tornadic blur. Sparks fly out in all directions, then there is a sudden flare and the spinning begins to slow. When it stops, the blue fire goes out, revealing a single spirit. The spirit radiates goodness, but there is a cold fire of determination in its eyes. The spirit looks around, then, suddenly, laughs.*

*Uli's spell is successful!

Within the blue fire the spirits of Uli and Yclept begin to circle one another, slowly gaining in speed until they become a tornadic blur. Sparks fly out in all directions, then there is a sudden flare and the spinning begins to slow. When it stops, the blue fire goes out, revealing a single spirit. The spirit radiates goodness, but there is a cold fire of determination in its eyes. The spirit looks around, then, suddenly, laughs.*

You see. I told you that I'd survive this.

Ah, but the new direction you'll be going!

*grasps her spirit spear and looks around*

My dark side blew up the ship! There was nothing to be gained from such an act, but it seems to have made him feel better. Like a phantom meal.

There is no longer a body to satisfy. I find much of this new lore repellent -- who would willingly cause pain? -- but I understand better the face of evil. I maintain honesty as my personal standard... but now I will know better than to assume it from others. We are a new tribe!

*goes off to see what news can be gleaned of those who remained on board the Mary Celeste*

~ Captain McLellan shuffles along with thousands of other spirits through the Astral Plane to the general vicinity of Normandy, France. ~

What's this all about, stop shoving, I've got a headache! That spirit up there said something about helping ferry souls, there bein' too many for the regulars to handle, but what does he know. He doesn't look like one to be in charge, he looks like he used to be in a circus. Stop shoving! Aye, if only they gave some whiskey in our rations, I haven't had a drink in nearly 100 years. Stop shoving!

That's funny, those two over there look familiar. The living one is dressed something like a woman from my time, give or take a decade. And I think I've seen that bird-thing before.

~ McLellan decides to take a closer look, slips out of line, sneaks past the circus-spirit, and crosses the field to where the two figures he noticed are standing ~

Sarah Briggs! But how? And still alive! I must talk to her!

~ Looks around for something to use for communication. Sees nothing but rocks. ~