020.2 "It seems fate has favored your victory."

[Corwin]

[20:16] <Kotono> Rest and recovery puts the Battle of Earthfall behind the heroes. The next day, the four sit with Adrian and Elder Magi Tepen. Mundane things like losses, figures and booty are gone over. Once that ordeal is finally done, "There are a few other matters," Clearing his throat, "The dire wolves seem entirely docile and under the command of Annalise. What I'd like to know is how the Heavens she did
[20:17] <Kotono> it. I've been studying vampires, and by all reports that should be beyond her capacity."
[20:17] <Jaela> "Did you try asking her?" Jaela has to wonder. "I was going to, but didn't have a chance yet."
[20:17] <Ithea> "I just figured it was some ancient vampire trick that got lost eons ago," Ithea says with a shrug, not really finding it that important.
[20:18] <Afina> "It's strange, since animals usually fear undead, though. Maybe they fear her enough to be obedient rather fight or flee?" Afina suggests, also finding it passing strange, if useful.
[20:20] <Kotono> "I did so. She said she was their master," Elder Magi Tepen nods to Afina, "While wolves, spiders and bats have been known to serve vampires, the scale and skill of command is unbelievable."
[20:20] * Willim shrugs. "I don't know much about vampires."
[20:21] <Jaela> "Why were wolves and all those things known to serve vampires? Why them, specifically?"
[20:21] <Kotono> "I'm hard pressed to complain over a boon that solves a battle easier," Adrian sits back deep in his chair, "She's made no secret of being superior, in her own words."
[20:21] <Afina> "Annalise is no ordinary vampire," Afina reminds everyone. "She said she seduced it out of the very first vampire himself."
[20:22] * Jaela nods at Afina. "That's pretty hard to forget, yeah."
[20:25] <Kotono> "Vampires have the ability to influence and command the lesser creatures of the world. A powerful elder vampire from Lifasa could, perhaps, command a pack of 18 normal wolves at the most. Annalise commanded nearly 4 times that number of dire wolves." Frowning at that, "It is food for thought." A moment's pause, "Second of all, regardless of what our further plans will be, we have a fine laboratory
[20:25] <Kotono> and not enough support staff to use it on our own. It would behoove us to focus on gathering those of magical skill so that we need not hop to Brightwater or another plane to equip ourselves with magic."
[20:26] <Afina> "I've been working on ways to speed up my own production of weapons, as well as learn how to make quality armour," Afina adds if they're on that subject. "Sources of superior materials would help all of us if anyone finds any leads."
[20:28] <Kotono> Nodding, "That as well. As for that, do any of you have any suggestions or people who could be drawn to our cause for any of that? If not we'd have to go looking for our own."
[20:28] <Jaela> "I figured about the same thing," Jaela responds, putting the matter out of her mind. Elder vampires? On Lifasa? Sounds more like a fairy tale. "Since the mess with Elrisa her pal didn't come, and I was thinking of recruiting someone in Arvandor. More of a healer or support kind than forging and crafting, but it would help?"
[20:30] <Afina> "There may be help to be found among the Seelie, but without a noble voice to ask for us it would be a trial to be heard. Better to leave that until Queen Ilsenine has been rescued," the fairy suggests on the subject of the magically talented.
[20:32] <Kotono> Tapping his fingers on the table in though, "Mmm. It may be best to ask a more approachable source. I have long revered Mystra. I could use my magic to ask of her guidance, and if she would bless our crusade with her aid. The Gods work in mysterious ways, and she may not do what we wish."
[20:33] * Jaela pauses at Afina's words. "Say, is the Court of the Stars in any way related to you guys?" she has to wonder.
[20:34] <Afina> She shakes her head. "That's an eladrin court. Some fey are members and it's allied with the Seelie but it's not part of our hierarchy."
[20:34] <Jaela> "I might have an in with them, so I could check there as well. If they've got fey too, wanna try going together to take a look?"
[20:35] <Afina> "We might have more luck together - Crystal is a member herself so we should bring her as well," Afina nods at that, not finding the idea as objectionable as she once would have.
[20:36] <Jaela> "That seems like plenty of angles to try," Jaela muses. "I guess what we should go over is what we're gonna do about our dragon pal?"
[20:37] <Kotono> "That
[20:38] <Kotono> "That's the third andf inal thing," Nodding heavily, "You hold Arandalhaz's essence in Val'Finnegan. Will you give it to Baleruk?"
[20:38] <Afina> "From what the angel said, the only Prismatic Dragon is Tiamat - she's as good as a devil, so I don't mind usurping her with one allied to us," Afina says, sounding rather pleased at the symnetry. "I'm not sure if Baleruk will submit himself to our control unless handled very delicately, but at the very least he could be a useful ally."
[20:40] <Jaela> "Let's acknowledge something, first of all. Just because the guys serving Bahamut are self-serving assholes doesn't necessarily make them wrong." Jaela sighs. "Look, if he goes on this villain rant about having tricked us all along and we have another Tiamat on our hands, that's just bullshit. We have to at least look into this. And we really need to see if it's a dragon god issue, or something every pantheon will attack us over. We can't afford to make a move where even Chan will abandon us, yeah?"
[20:44] <Afina> Disgruntled over bowing to the whims of capricious gods, Afina looks away. "I suppose we could do without more enemies, but we shouldn't be so quick to fawn over the desires of Gods that are no use to us."
[20:45] <Kotono> "I've been wondering about that myself." Adrian grumbles from where he sits, gesturing with one hand towards Jaela, "If we alienate them, they're not only no use to us, we have yet another enemy. Tiamat can go fuck a devil, she's no better than them. I went and read up on her," With a grimace, "Bahamut's close to the Triad and Celestia, isn't he?" Pausing a moment, "If giving Baleruk the essence
[20:45] <Kotono> isn't possible, perhaps we can approach Bahamut and use him as a mediator over that mess with Helm?"
[20:45] <Jaela> "Because Tiamat is against it, I actually figure it's not as bad as it sounds." Jaela shrugs. "She wouldn't be doing this if she thought her side would win from it, I think. As much as I can get inside a crazy bitch goddess head, anyway. But there's really a point where we can't just make everyone an enemy. Plus, it seems a lot like Annalise. What do we do if he's still angry at us for trying to kill him before, but is immortal now?"
[20:48] <Afina> "On the other hand," Afina reasons, "Powerful as he'll become, he'll have powerful enemies. This fortress once stood against the combined lower planes - what better sanctuary could he find?"
[20:49] <Ithea> "There's that, and I suspect he's actually egotistical enough to start considering us his first followers or something, and to start up a church in his name..."
[20:49] <Jaela> "A valid point," Jaela agrees, nodding at Afina. "And fuck the Triad, anyway. I'd much rather trade it to Bahamut for a tithe and some dragons for our forces if it comes down to us not being willing to hand the essence over to Baleruk."
[20:49] * Jaela just snorts at Ithea's suggestion, even as she finds it likely.
[20:51] <Jaela> "Anyway, here's what I was thinking. We made a promise with Chan to knock off that asshole lich devil, right? So let's take the Aurora on a direct course to a portal to the negative plane. While it lumbers over, we'll plane shift here and there and try to figure out what the whole thing means, and what everyone's really thinking about it. I'll say right here that if the Seldarine don't give a shit, neither do I, whatever else the other pantheons would want."
[20:53] * Afina finds those terms agreeable and nods. "We may as well talk to that angel since he's so insistent on it before we cut him loose as well."
[20:53] * Willim listens to everything, trying to learn more about this all. "I doubt Tempus would really care, so I have no problems with this."
[20:53] <Jaela> "S'long as we don't bring him into our confidence, sure thing. What's his name, anyway? Did he say?"
[20:53] <Kotono> "Tempus cares about war," Adrian smiles a bit, "So far I think we're doing good on that."
[20:54] <Ithea> "I honestly don't recall if he did," Ithea says with a shrug.
[20:54] * Willim nods at Adrian. "As long as the fight is honorable, be it for good or ill, he rarely gives a damn."
[20:54] <Afina> "Not to me," Afina shakes her head.
[20:55] <Jaela> "Let's go see the sighing guy, then."
[20:56] <Afina> "Lets bring him somewhere that doesn't have an audience of devils," Afina suggests, "I think we're all safe in here even if he tries something stupid?" she looks to make sure no one seems hesitant about the idea.
[20:57] <Kotono> Elder Magi Tepen nods, "In that case, Adrian, could you get him?"
[20:57] <Jaela> "I'll keep the spear stored," Jaela voices, not having an objection of her own.
[20:59] <Kotono> Rising, "Yes." Soon after Adrian returns, the angel along with him. He wears a simple white tunic and pants, armor gone. He walks with his head held up high, a look of calm serenity to him. "Thank you for seeing me," he greets you, inclining his head towards all of you.
[21:00] <Jaela> "No problem. Do you object to a truth spell?" Jaela says, nodding back at him.
[21:00] * Willim nods, waving his hand.
[21:01] * Ithea just sits quietly with her arms crossed, looking at the angel as she waits for the discussion to go onward.
[21:01] * Afina merely watches the angel cooly, hoping he won't be so sanctimonious after seeing what sort of thing he allied with.
[21:02] <Kotono> "I have no objection," The angel says, still calm.
[21:03] <Jaela> With a wave of her hand, Discern Lies settles over their prisoner. "Right, then. I'm Jaela. I think this is where we introduce ourselves."
[21:04] <Kotono> "Saziel," With an inclination of his head forward, "Planetar, in service of the Platinum Dragon."
[21:05] <Willim> "Willim," Willim nods at the planetar, "I'm a troll. I think."
[21:05] <Jaela> "And these are Ithea, Afina, Adrian and Tepen," Jaela continues with the introduction. "All in the service of Free Lifasa. So, with introductions over, what did you want to discuss?"
[21:09] <Kotono> "It seems fate has favored your victory," he says, not a hint of rancor in his voice, "Should you give the essence of Arandalhaz to Baleruk, he will be transformed. Bahamut understands forgiveness, and if you give him the essence and ask for it, it will be given. If not, all of dragon kind shall become your enemy. Such is the sanction against the recreation of prismatic dragons." After a moment's
[21:09] <Kotono> consideration, gaze going to each person in turn, "I do not intend this as a threat. As a result of causing this violation of the draconic laws, it is an inevitibility. Every dragon, from chromatic to metallic, to planar to terrestriel, will be your foe. I ask that you turn away fromt his course. Allt hat will come of it is needless bloodshed, misery and loss. There will be no winners in it."
[21:10] <Jaela> "What about the pesky free will individual dragons have?"
[21:12] <Kotono> "Few dragons will deny what the King and Queen of dragonkind request," His face is yet more serious, "Nor will the Dragon Above All sit while his children go to war."
[21:13] <Jaela> "Even if the new prismatic dragon helps Bahamut overthrow Tiamat?" Jaela asks. "How about teaming up with him against her?"
[21:16] <Afina> "Let them come," Afina replies brazenly, outraged by his threats - and for all his protestations that is how she sees them. "Whether we rout the arrogant wyrms in their own lairs and use their treasures to bolster our Crusade, or whether they humble themselves to take the field alongside pit fiends and lemures to bring us down, we will not be cowed by your kind. Your deities did nothing for the
[21:16] <Afina> dragons of Lifasa, so if these other dragons you speak of are so deluded as to put their lives aside for uncaring deities they will find no pity from here."
[21:17] <Kotono> "That I cannot easily answer," Saziel replies after a long pause. HIs face does not lose its calm serenity, yet his words come slow. He closes his eyes, "I understand well you would have no need for Tiamat. Bahamut allowing a prismatic dragon to live would disintegrate what agreements there are between the two. A great war between dragons would result, across all of Creation."
[21:18] <Jaela> "I'm with Afina," Jaela says, as this answer comes. "Can't say I'm surprised, either. It's this sort of bullshit agreements that let our world fall, and it wasn't even the only one. It's what's making everyone look the other way and pretend it didn't happen, instead of helping us. Status quo for the sake of status quo? Fuck that. Come after us and die in droves."
[21:20] <Willim> "Girls, hang on. Let's calm down." Willim attempts to placate. "We have a good opportunity here in front of us, and I don't know if you're seeing it. If we can kill Baleruk and seal his essence inside of Jaela's spear, then maybe the dragons would owe us. They'd be a big help in the fight to retake Lifasa."
[21:21] <Kotono> With a long sigh, "Do you truly think those of Good would let your world be freely taken? I am not overly familiar with it...but I know that this is not how it would be so." After that he looks on at them, "I confess, the fate of your world troubles me."
[21:21] <Jaela> "How about Benfal's fate? Does it trouble you, too?"
[21:22] * Willim looks at the angel. "What? What do you know about what happened?"
[21:23] * Jaela crosses her arms before her chest. "Look, what I think is that your kind of Good finds it easy to team up with hideous shit for the sake of guarding an evil dragon, all so that evil dragons across Creation will be appeased. That's dumb, you do know that, don't you? Because the other side cheats, all the fucking time."
[21:25] <Kotono> "I speak not of anything beyond dragons, but there have been times when the servants of Tiamat have protected metallic dragons from the same fat as Arandalhaz." Shaking his head slightly before going on, "I know more of Benfal, if you would care to hear it."
[21:25] <Kotono> *fate
[21:25] <Afina> "It's all well and good to be troubled, but we're the ones that have to suffer the consequences," Afina folds her arms uncompromisingly. "You're right, Willim, a group of ancient dragons would be powerful allies - perhaps as much as a prismatic dragon. But we have an agreement with Baleruk."
[21:26] <Jaela> "I'm all for listening." Jaela gestures for Saziel to proceed. "Can we start by confirming that some sort of agreement between Good and Evil let Evil take over and rape that world?"
[21:28] * Willim frowns. "Baleruk is a chromatic, right? Aren't they evil too? And as powerful as he is, there's only one of him. There are...well, probably a lot more dragons under Bahamut."
[21:31] <Kotono> "No!" With a look of horror, "Benfal was trickery and a coup. The archdevil Semyaza came into possession of an ancient power related to the creation and control of the world, known as the Icon of Compact. Somehow Semyaza stole it, and with that power Benfal could not resist. He stole Benfal and twisted it to his whims. But all is not lost, for resistance is being prepared for liberation."
[21:32] * Jaela raises a hand. "Wait a sec. Archdevil influences Prime, shows up, steals stuff, conquers and rapes. What sort of Archangel was sent to oppose him as soon as Good found out about this trickery?"
[21:33] <Willim> "Do you think something similar happened to Lifasa?"
[21:33] <Jaela> "I know no one sure as hell showed up to help."
[21:34] <Kotono> "With the Icon of Compact, he had the power of an entire world to use. A devil akin to a Lord of the Nine with that power is not so easily stopped." Shaking his head, "It may be so. What devils are behind it's conquest."
[21:34] <Jaela> "Look. You didn't even fucking try."
[21:35] * Jaela rolls her eye. "Whining about how hard it would've been, or how impossible? Yeah, that you guys can do. I'm sure you're all very sad."
[21:35] <Kotono> "Who says we did not?" Saziel says in a quiet, calm voice, "Who says Semyaza has not been challenged before, and that more challenges do not await him? It is not the matter of a single battle to defeat a being with that much power."
[21:36] <Willim> "A servant of Bel, Abigor."
[21:38] <Ithea> "It certainly isn't a matter of a single battle...but how many battles have been waged for Lifasa outside of those we've fought?" Ithea asks just as quietly to Saziel, speaking for the first time.
[21:44] <Kotono> "I do not know," Admitting as much, "I am not as familiar with your world as Benfal, but I know you are not the only ones who battle for it, who battle Baator. You are not alone." After a moment, "I offered to be your friend once before, I offer again. I cannot speak for other angels, but I would fight to help your world."
[21:44] * Willim looks at the other girls, to see if they're still going to bite his head off.
[21:44] <Kotono> After a moment more, "How many times have you been attacked by Baator?" He asks, voice still calm. "Since you began your crusade?"
[21:45] <Willim> "Twice if you count the general in the tent?"
[21:46] <Kotono> "They know you're coming and can plan for you. You are a known factor. What they don't know, what is not shouted amid the planes?" He pauses there, "They cannot so easily anticipate and prepare counters for. The liberation for Benfal uses secrecy for those reasons. I would warrant that many who are preparing as not being as obvious as driving this fortress aroudn the planes.""
[21:47] <Afina> "Three times," Afina shakes her head, not forgetting the assassin. "We are not cruel people, Saziel, you can go freely," she gestures to the portal, obviously done with him. "But if your God makes us his enemy we will resist just as much as we do against Hell."
[21:48] <Ithea> "Four if you count the spying attempt as an attack," Ithea adds.
[21:50] <Ithea> "Saziel, just as an aside...a driving fortress certainly is obvious. But remember that we don't want to just get the devils' attention. We'll keep fighting, the devils will keep losing. We'll give hope to those your secrets can't."
[21:50] <Kotono> "They won't stop, trying to lay you low," Saziel replies, "Baator cannot abide your threat and by its nature strangles resistance to its laws and rule." He nods once, "Please...consider, and then come to Bahamut's realm, for forgiveness and to become our allies and friends." With that he turns and walks, going through the portal and away.
[21:51] <Afina> "Elena, please make sure he leaves," Afina asks their majordomo as he crosses the portal.
[21:51] <Jaela> "I wonder if they'll stay low and let us kill a few of their enemies first?" Jaela muses, before shaking her head. "Adrian, free the deva too, won't you?"
[21:51] <Kotono> "Hmph," Adrian holds his amulet as he goes, "I'm not sure if I like that I had about the same idea he did." He rises, "Alright." Meanwhile you hear Elena go, "Right!"
[21:52] <Kotono> Elder Magi Tepen is silent for a little time longer, "...it seems we have choices to make, indeed." He murmurs, "What do you think of this offer?"
[21:53] <Afina> "I think I've made my position clear." That's all Afina has to say further on the subject.
[21:54] <Jaela> "It's only good until they change their minds, and you just know Tiamat will oppose us because we chose Bahamut and not her. If spite wasn't enough. Or opposing him and his allies simply because she can." Jaela snorts. "Even if he sends us a legion of metallics, a legion of her chromatics will oppose them in the end. And that's even without going again into why I agree with Afina on principle."
[21:54] <Ithea> "I still don't trust Baleruk...but I trust Bahamut's aid less. How likely is it that his dragons will just go 'Oh sorry, my hands are tied, you'll have to fight alone' once we enter Baator?" Ithea says with a snort.
[21:54] <Jaela> "Dragons are individuals, anyway. Greedy and prideful and all that sort. What, anyone here has illusions about them playing the part of good, docile troops?"
[21:55] <Willim> "I still believe that allying with Bahamut would give us superior numbers to allying with Baleruk, but you all are likely to know dragons better than I am. I've only encountered two, and we killed them both."
[21:56] * Ithea snorts. "No, no illusions of that, Jaela. But as long as we're talking about principles, on principle alone, I would aid Baleruk. We accepted to do so when we accepted Val'Finnegan," Ithea says.
[21:57] <Afina> "Becoming known as oathbreakers would harm our cause," Afina agrees.
[21:59] <Jaela> "Contingent on him being on the level with us," Jaela qualifies. "And yeah, that's another pretty good reason. If we break it off, we need to do it right, not because we got bribed."
[22:00] <Willim> "So..." Willim says, trying to understand, "If he honors our agreement, we give him the essence, but if he tries to kill us before or afterward, we kill him?"
[22:01] <Afina> "Of course we kill him if he tries to kill us," Afina blinks. "But he shouldn't."
[22:01] <Jaela> "Or if we discover every pantheon out there will become our enemies over this, not just the dragons. Or if we learn becoming a prismatic is sure to turn him into another Tiamat, personality-wise."
[22:02] <Ithea> "I'm not sure how we'd be able to tell the second thing," Ithea notes.
[22:02] <Willim> "Maybe weshould learn more about these prismatic dragons first, then."
[22:02] <Jaela> "They're worried about this, and it came close to happening before. There could be records?"
[22:04] <Afina> roll 1d20+22 maybe I know! (arcana)
[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+22 maybe I know! (arcana) and gets 33." [1d20=11]
[22:04] <Ithea> roll d20+24 K:A might as well check...
[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+24 K:A might as well check... and gets 38." [d20=14]
[22:09] <Afina> "We do have an ancient library we just spent some time repairing," Afina points out.

[Corwin]

[20:14] <Ithea> "That'll take a while to research, but we might get lucky and find something there," Ithea agrees. She certainly can't think of anything useful about prismatic dragons off the top of her head.
[20:15] <Jaela> "Yeah sure okay. We've got time till we really decide, anyway."
[20:17] <Ithea> "Speaking of mysteries and hitting the books, what do we want to do about those two books? I'm a little concerned that we had 27 give us some cryptic message about keeping two books apart just before all this and suddenly we have two books that try to compel us to do just that."
[20:18] <Jaela> "I'll try to read one," Jaela responds here. "Let's keep the other locked away. If it tries to do something to my mind, I'll probably get through it."
[20:20] <Afina> "Reading them makes sense before doing anything," Afina agrees.
[20:21] <Jaela> "In fact, Tepen, got a book-reading spell for me? Might help if it's in some strange language."
[20:21] <Kotono> "Book reading spell?" Arching one eyebrow up, "Do you mean Comprehend Languages or a similar spell?"
[20:21] * Ithea shrugs and nods. "Works for me," Ithea says.
[20:22] <Jaela> "That's the one I know, but if you've got a better one, I'm good for it."
[20:24] <Kotono> "I am afraid not. Besides, that spell only works on yourself." Tepen shakes his head.
[20:24] <Jaela> "I can cast it from a scroll. You know, if we had one." Jaela shrugs. "Wanna just do this tomorrow, guys?"

[20:25] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, if you're going to go read that book, what precautions are you going to take?
[20:27] <Jaela> OOC: Divine vigor for 30 temp hp, greater heroism for immunity to fear and +4 to saves, and resist energy x5. I'll also Imbue with Spell Ability on Kitty with Resurgence x2 in case I need to make a second save? Seems like it should be safe enough. Other precaution is being in a place that's blocked to dimensional travel.
[20:27] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[20:27] <Kotono> roll 1d2
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d2 and gets 1." [1d2=1]
[20:30] <Kotono> Safely within Aurora and so protected, Jaela opens one of the two books with others around. The writing is a smooth, spidery script that is like reading warm air. It breezes through your mind effortlessly, understanding coming right away. This is a book about the concept of faith. Jaela understands immediately that this book could be of great boon to her or anyone else who has faith and divine magic.
[20:31] <Jaela> "Right. Right, I see," Jaela says, leafing though the book in search of an index or any mentions of its author. "This is a theology text." She tilts her head, searching herself for any hidden urges to read the other book as well.
[20:32] <Kotono> As Jaela looks for an index and author, finding no signo f them - a terrible feeling takes her. A powerful urge, aching in her bones. The other book. She has to get theother book and place them together.
[20:33] <Jaela> "Ah, there it is." She frowns, but then tries to understand the fragments she has read already. Are the books arranged like a story and its sequel, so that one cannot be understood without the other to provide context?
[20:35] <Ithea> "A theology book?" Ithea repeats.  "For what deity?" she adds soon after, still watching Jaela, ready to use the spell she was imbued with if it looks needed.
[20:36] <Kotono> The fragments are about faith. They flow together - Jaela understands them, but at the same time, the knowledge she reads slips through her fingers. She feels she's learning, but at the same time she can't conciously retain anything.
[20:37] <Jaela> "Dunno yet." With regret, Jaela places the book down. "Listen, let's lock this one up and give the other a try. Maybe it'd be clearer."
[20:39] <Ithea> "As long as the books aren't brought together, that seems safe enough," Ithea says, figuring it's worth a shot.
[20:40] * Jaela heads to do just that!
[20:40] * Ithea accompanies her!
[20:41] <Kotono> OOC: Reading the other book?
[20:41] <Jaela> OOC: Yes!
[20:41] <Kotono> On taking theother book and opening it, Jaela reads one word. She cannot understand what the word is and a moment later...(More)
[20:41] <Kotono> roll 5d6 damage, no save. Further, make a fort and will save.
[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d6 damage, no save. Further, make a fort and will save. and gets 18." [5d6=4, 6, 1, 2, 5]
[20:41] <Jaela> OOC: SR?
[20:41] <Kotono> OOC: No.
[20:42] <Jaela> roll 1d20+33 fort
[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+33 fort and gets 51." [1d20=18]
[20:42] <Jaela> roll 1d20+33 will
[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+33 will and gets 38." [1d20=5]
[20:42] <Kotono> Reading that single word causes Jaela's eyes to bleed, her body automatically casting the book to the ground! She feels revulsion rise up in her - she doesn't know what it is, but she knows it hurts her. Offends her.
[20:43] <Jaela> "Fuck that book!" She kicks it away for good measure.
[20:44] <Ithea> "What happened?" Ithea asks, eyeing the book and then Jaela.
[20:44] * Willim blinks.
[20:45] <Jaela> "The fucking tears of--" Jaela presses a hand to her cheek and recoils when it comes back red. "I knew it! Blood! I'm crying fucking blood that's how horrible that damned book is! Augh, cannot unsee...."
[20:46] * Willim picks up the book and very clearly does not open it.
[20:46] <Jaela> "Yeah, lock that shit up," Jaela says, making shooing motions at the book.
[20:46] <Willim> "Shall we burn them then?"
[20:46] <Kotono> The book looks undented and undamaged to Willim's eye. Jaela's kick didn't even ruffle the pages.
[20:47] <Jaela> "Burn the ancient artifact that survived a magical tornado? I'm thinking no, just lock it," she says, rolling her eye. "Anyways, I'll go chill at Brightwater for a few hours and ask around. These things gotta be ancient, so maybe someone knows about them. Anyone wanna come along and look?"
[20:48] * Willim carries the book through a portal and off!
[20:48] <Ithea> "I'll come with you," Ithea says, curious about the books since Jaela didn't seem to get anything more out of them.
[20:49] <Jaela> "If we turn up nothing, I'll just drop my spells and lock myself up with the good one for a few days."

[Corwin]

#d

[20:50] <Jaela> OOC: Let's roll separately
[20:51] <Ithea> roll d20+23 GI
[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+23 GI and gets 30." [d20=7]
[20:51] <Jaela> roll 1d20+21
[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+21 and gets 25." [1d20=4]
[20:54] <Kotono> The two chat around here and there. You end up in a golden pavilion, one half tavern and one half swap meet. Here people drink, buy and sell. As Jaela is nearby pursuing another lead, Ithea chats with a blue skinned Mercane. "Oh, I'm sorry." He frowns a little bit, "Did you say two books like that?"
[20:55] <Ithea> "Yes, why? Know something?" Ithea asks back, happy to finally have a (possible) lead.
[20:58] <Kotono> "Yeah. Two books, last seen several centuries ago after being read." Tapping at the table in front of him, "I know what you have. Make it worth my while to tell you."
[21:01] <Ithea> "And what's worth your while?" Ithea asks with a raised eyebrow. If he wants a lot of money, she might need to find Jaela and see if between the two of them they have enough. But hopefully he's not going to gouge them like Val'luth would.
[21:02] <Kotono> "Two hundred gold," he replies.
[21:04] * Ithea nods. That's actually pretty reasonable. "One moment, I do have another friend who'd want to be around to hear this, and might have questions to add besides me," Ithea says before going to find Jaela to let her know she has a lead.
[21:11] <Jaela> "What've you got?" Jaela asks the Mercane once Ithea waves her over. With luck not being on her side that day, it's probably best to just consolidate their efforts.
[21:15] <Kotono> "Payment first," He taps the table with his knuckles.
[21:15] <Ithea> "Oh, sorry. He wanted 200 gold for his information, Jaela. You mind paying half? I don't have as much cash as I used to," Ithea adds as she hands over half.
[21:16] <Jaela> "Not a problem," Jaela says, having enough to handle her part.
[21:20] <Kotono> With the money passed over, "About twenty or thirty thousand years ago, a particularly deranged student of the arcane took up the study of faith. The story goes that he grew to understand faith, but it was incomplete. He sought the opposite as well - disbelief, atheism, denial." A shrug as he drinks, "The dwarf was utterly mad, but it's said that two books came from his studies, each one perfectly
[21:20] <Kotono> explaining the concept they embodied and balanced by the other."
[21:21] <Jaela> So far, so good. "Twenty thousand years or more?" Jaela whistles. "Nice. So that means they've been used once or twice since?"
[21:23] <Kotono> "Yes, according to what I know. If the faith book is read by the faithful of any religion - doesn't matter which one across the spectrum," Sipping his ale a little more, smouthering a belch in his hand, "They benefit. If they read the other, I've heard the results are spectacularly grisly. If someone who disbelieves in divine power and the gods reads the other, they gain benefit. If they read
[21:23] <Kotono> the book of faith, well...same result as the faithful reading the book of disbelief. So...how'd you get your hands on them?"
[21:25] <Jaela> "What if you bring them together?" Jaela asks curiously, ignoring his question for the time being.
[21:25] <Kotono> That draws the ghost of a smile, "What happens when you combine two opposing forces?" So asking he puts his mug down, wiping his lip of the froth.
[21:26] <Jaela> "Bag of holding and portable hole?"
[21:28] <Jaela> "What I can't tell is why someone would make books and place a weird enchantment on them for people to bring them together." Jaela shrugs. "That's dumb, innit? And I bet someone would've in all those millennia, so what, they don't actually get destroyed?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "I honestly don't know." He admits, "Once read, the books slip away. They don't stay around. Useful things, but once used they're gone. Why I don't know. Sometimes powerful artifacts and relics are like that. The old dwarf that made them managed to hold two completely opposing concepts in his head. He perfectly believed and at the same time perfectly disbelieved. Frankly, I'm happy he didn't
[21:30] <Kotono> try and turn Elysium purple and make the Abyss do jumping jacks."
[21:31] * Jaela snorts. "So, you wanted to know where we found them?"
[21:31] * Ithea snorts as well.
[21:33] <Kotono> "I am curious," he agrees, "I specialize in finding oddities and making money off selling them. I didn't have any particular lead on those books, but I admit I'm curious as to where they were."
[21:33] * Jaela stretches out her hand. "Two hundred gold." She can't help but grin at him afterwards.
[21:34] * Ithea snorts again, and grins. "You're mean."
[21:38] <Kotono> "Now now," Grinning back at that, "I may just have a business propisition for you if I learn more. You seem to be women of wealth and of the proper taste to appreciate my wares. My clientele is fairly exclusive, after all."
[21:40] <Jaela> "Yeah I was just messing with ya," Jaela responds. "Two hundred isn't much, so it's not like you gauged us or anything. Let's just say a dragon had them. Some of them seem to think they can take us on, you know? Weirdoes."
[21:41] <Ithea> "Heh...'some of them'..." Ithea laughs.
[21:41] <Jaela> "I bet plenty of them know better!"
[21:41] <Kotono> At that he sighs. "Dragons. It's always dragons," With a mourful sigh again, "Ah well. So are you part of any particular band or are the two of you just freelancers?"
[21:41] <Ithea> "The first one," Ithea answers cheerfully.
[21:42] <Jaela> "We're with the Aurora," Jaela follows smoothly. "If you didn't hear of it, you will soon enough. You mentioned, what, business ties? We could go for that sorta thing."
[21:43] <Kotono> "Aurora? Oh yes, I've just started hearing of it. A mobile fortress that travels Creation?" Folding his hands together, "What sort of numbers do you have there, and what sort of commerce?"
[21:45] <Jaela> "We've got a growing army, for once," Jaela is all too happy to fill him in. "An anti-devil one, so if you hear of any hopefuls send them our way. We're plenty self sufficient, but that doesn't account for luxuries or some raw materials. And then there's all the devils who attack us, or their allies. Sometimes they have pretty neat stuff! Just the other day this asshole general thought he could intimidate us but once we kicked his ass we got his sweet planar-traveling tent."
[21:49] <Kotono> "Well," Stroking his chin, as if an unseen beard was there, "Would you be interested in a Consortium sponsored shop at your Aurora? You get a market for rare and luxury items out of it."
[21:50] <Jaela> "I'm not really that up on the politics of you guys," Jaela admits, "so first I'll have to ask this. You're pretty much neutral and stay out of conflicts yourselves?"
[21:51] <Ithea> "What would you do when we get into a fight? Aurora is a mobile fortress, so it does get involved in battles," Ithea asks at the same time.
[21:51] * Jaela shrugs. "It's not like anyone can take the courtyard, much less the main castle. I figure that at least won't be a problem?"
[21:52] <Kotono> "We're traders, not warriors," Nodding in agreement, "The Mercane Consortium is willing to accept those risks. In fact, Blood War outposts are known to be among the most lucrative in the Outer Planes."
[21:53] * Jaela nods herself as this confirms her suspicions. "If you want to open shop with us, there'll be a few conditions. Don't collect information about us or our visitors. Don't allow any third party to do it via you. Fiends and dragons and Triad flunkies are off limits unless explicitely cleared with us first." She glances at Ithea. "I think that about covers things?"
[21:56] <Kotono> "All of that I can follow...but the Triad? The House of the Triad, right?" Tapping his fingers on the table, "That's not a restriction I'd expect."
[21:56] <Ithea> "I can't argue with any of those conditions," Ithea replies.
[21:57] <Jaela> "We're having legal disagreements at present," Jaela says informatively. "Since they're inflexible fuckers better to just save the headache altogether. It's not like they're kill on sight like devils or whatever, you know?"
[21:58] <Kotono> "Mmmm. That should be acceptable, considering the location," He says after some thought, "I suppose it's time to introduce ourselves. I'm Filbrez the 19th."
[21:59] <Jaela> "Jaela. The, uh, first."
[21:59] <Merc> "Likewise first. Ithea though," Ithea says.
[22:02] <Jaela> "Since we're fighting devils and devils have a bunch of allies, we're bound to step on a few toes while we go," Jaela muses. "I bet there would be more names added to the banned list. But we'll try to keep a lid on it."
[22:05] <Kotono> "Fair enough," He nods, "What sort of shop conditions are there? Is there space for an interior shop or will an exterior shop be more realistic?"
[22:07] <Jaela> "There's plenty of space, and I think going with the inner shop would work better," Jaela muses. "We can probably find you a roomy one with a great view, and you'll be safe if someone does manage to sneak past the front gates somehow. Plus it'd be a hell of a lot easier for people to visit, since the courtyard's more of a mesh of cultures. Talking business seriously might be a pain if you have to yell over some knuckleheads playing their dumb stone-throwing game. A bazaar is fun and all, but you don't always have to go for one."
[22:15] <Kotono> "Oh Gods, don't tell me it's Galuh," Abruptly the mercant rubs his forehead, "I had a client who played it and went bankrupt betting on himself, instead of buying more curiosities."
[22:16] <Jaela> "You're a man after my own heart, Fil!" Jaela pats his shoulder. "Yeah, they won't shut up about the game. That's why I live on the highest floor. Does wonders!"
[22:17] <Kotono> Sighing long, "Yes." After that, "Besides this shop, does Aurora have any more commerce?"
[22:19] <Jaela> "We trade with Brightwater and allied realms, but you'll be the first outsider shop to open. Should give you a nice start, even if you do compete with our local crafters."
[22:21] <Kotono> "Mmmm." Idly starting to smile again, "Then perhaps we're thinking too small. Tell me, how does an entire marketplace strike you? A miniature version of a street here. Several shops, stalls and all of that. Buying and selling. A mobile fortress with its own production to add in would ensure you have the materials you need, especially if you open it to trading when you visit friendly locals."
[22:23] <Jaela> "It's a bit too advanced for me. What's the difference between a catch-all shop and a whole slew of smaller, single purpose ones?"
[22:25] <Ithea> "I wouldn't mind seeing that eventually, it's nice to have a few more options, but it probably is too advanced. Introducing too many things at once and you might have start-up problems, and we'd still not have a very good set-up for security of many shops versus a much smaller number," Ithea muses.
[22:31] <Kotono> "Mmm. Let's start small then," Filbrez shakes his head, "Oh yes, let's start small. Besides, if it's worthwhile, things will expand. They always do."
[22:32] <Ithea> "Don't they?" Ithea says with an agreeing tone as she nods.
[22:33] <Jaela> "Sure thing," Jaela agrees. "Once you set up shop, pun and all, you can just tell us what's better about having markets. I can be taught, even if it's surprising." She grins again, offering him her hand. "Anyway, we're on Air right now. I don't think you could miss us, but just give me a Sending if you get lost and I'll plane shift over to show you the way."
[22:34] <Kotono> "Who said anything about not going with you?" With a small smile he rises, tapping a small, plain bag hanging from his belt. "All I need to set up is within this bag. I can send a message to the Consortium later."
[22:35] <Jaela> "Even easier. We're about done here anyhow, so...."
[22:36] <Ithea> "Convinient to be able to carry your shop with you," Ithea comments.
[22:37] <Kotono> With that, the trio return to Aurora! Filbrez looks up, "I am impressed. This entire fortress can fly around on its own power? I've been on gith ships...the Gith Queen would give her shriveled womb to have a fortress like this, ships or not."
[22:38] <Jaela> She tried, it sounded like. Jaela snorts at the phrase.
[22:40] <Ithea> "She's asked to meet us before, so that's probably accurate," Ithea notes.
[22:46] <Kotono> "Hah." After a moment's laugh, "Take me to where I'm going to set up."
[22:47] <Jaela> "Elena!"
[22:49] <Kotono> Elena appears after a few moments, "Hi!" She says, "Oh, another new person? A mercane?" Smiling, "Welcome to Me-er, Aruroa!"
[22:49] <Jaela> "Wow, that sounded so dirty. Hey, say that again!"
[22:51] <Kotono> "Welcome to Aurora!" Elena says without missing a beat.
[22:52] <Jaela> "Good girl." Jaela pats her incorporeal head. "Treat yourself to a cookie after showing Fil to a neat place where he can set up shop? Close to a portal, decent view of the courtyard, not in some busy area. Can do?"
[22:54] <Kotono> "Sure! Come with me!" At that the two go off, leaving Jaela and Ithea to themselves.

[Corwin]

[23:01] <Kotono> On reading the book, Jaela finds the hours pass by! She feels her mind focus and grow sharper!
[23:06] <Kotono> On reading, hours and hours pass. Not that Jaela notices, engrossed in her reading! When at last she turns the final page the book snaps shut! Resting atop the back cover is a golden holy symbol for Jaela's patron deity, shining with an inner light.
[23:08] <Jaela> She always liked Lady Angharradh's symbol, with the three entwined circles contained by an upside down triangle. It just looks so mysterious! And probably means something about the power of friendship, but she never really got that beyond the literal Trinity representation.
[23:08] <Kotono> Meanwhile...
[23:09] <Kotono> Afina opens up the opposite book and reads! Thew ords flow easily, making great sense to her. As she reads...
[23:12] <Kotono> On finishing her reading of the book, Afina finds that the book rises up and vanishes away, gone! Meanwhile Jaela finds the same thing, her book vanishing as well.