Eternal questions (Ithea)

[Anastasia]

Ithea and Sylvie slip away, joined by 27. For the sake of privacy you head to Sylvie's room, the blonde going to sit in her desk chair and rest her head on her hand. "I'm tired," she says without much emotion, "What happened reminds me that it's still an open wound that's scabbed over. I'm tired and I just...I'm scared." She says in a drained, listless monotone. "I don't want to keep living until I die and get turned into something else. I don't want to have to embrace that through suicide if Hell would capture me, so that I can escape them. I want out of this entire damned cycle of souls, life and death. I don't want to be a mortal anymore."

Sylvie says all of that, voice growing calmed and a hint of determination in it. "I want to use the machine in Medi's quarters, Ithea. I don't want to lose myself or risk it and hope Oghma decides I can keep my memories. I don't want to forget those I've lost. Not Janson, not Andrea, not Wayland, not Muirfinn or Lief. Not anyone."

[Merc]

Ithea pats Sylvie on the back. "If that's something you think you need, I won't stop you. If you need someone to argue with you over the merits and disadvantages, well, Balyss might be a better choice once she's recovered a bit. I'd probably recommend finding someone well-versed for that before you make a decision, but if you're certain about it, you know that I'll be on your side. Eternity's a long time though, and even immortals forget things to the passage of time."

[Anastasia]

"I've already studied it," Sylvie demurs. "I've made up my mind. The main complication is how Oghma will take it. At best he accepts it and at worst he takes great offense. I don't think he'll smite me out of hand, but there could be consequences. I'm going to try and spin it as a quest for knowledge and write a book on it, then offer it up to Oghma. Maybe that'll help."

[Merc]

"Hrm..." Ithea raises an eyebrow at Sylvie's tone, but nods.

"The book thing is probably a good idea. Do you plan to just go through with it and offer the book afterwards, or to try and gain a blessing before the fact? You'd at least know the consequences going in, hopefully of which there are none negative."

[Anastasia]

"I've written the first half of the book and made an offering of it," Sylvie says, "I've been considering this for awhile and today made up my mind. The other half's to be written afterwards."

[Merc]

"Ah. Were you given any response on the first half offered?" Ithea asks curiously.

[Anastasia]

"Nothing definitive," Sylvie stands now, "So it's in my hands and my risk. I'd like you to be there in case something goes wrong, Ithea."

[Merc]

"Of course. And hey, at least no news can be considered good news here? Maybe?" Ithea notes, sounding optimistic. "When do you want to do this?"

[Anastasia]

"No time like the present," Sylvie finally smiles, lightening the mood. But it's a sad smile, "Seize the day, because we may not have tomorrow."

[Merc]

"Trust me, we'll have tomorrow and many more. But you're right, no time like the present," Ithea says, getting up.

[Anastasia]

Medi's quarters are semi-sealed. Only commanding officers can go in, most of it undisturbed beyond taking the various gifts he left for the inheritors of Medicant. The room in question is a small one, a massive set of ten magic circles drawn together. They seem to move, somehow being three dimensional despite being drawn on the floor. The ceiling is an array of clear crystals in various shapes and designs. As the two of you step in, you see various images move amid the circles. Pictures of all the realms, good, evil, lawful and chaotic. The whirl about the room, an endless order of change.

The air here is strangely electric, making your skin tingle. You feel oddly out of balance, a little taller than you should. Off in a way you can't describe. Like the inside of your body itches, chafing against your bones.

Sylvie advances towards the center, a place where all the circles meet. "Any suggestions before I begin?"

[Merc]

"Yeah, don't piss off any gods, don't die, don't turn into an abomination, and I'm raiding your library if you any of those things."

[Anastasia]

"Thanks," Sylvie rolls her eyes and simply stands there. After several moments she begins to float in the air and Elena's voice is heard. None of the playfulness is there, instead a serious and somber tone. "Are you certain? There's no turning back once I activate this."

"Do it," Sylvie says after just a single beat, and suddenly all the world seems to be light.

> roll 1d100 higher the better
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 47 > [d100=47]

Light. Light overwhelming. Ithea is sent flying back and out of the room by sheer force, landing in a face down heap on the floor. Her eyes are dazzled and she's dazed for a little bit. After shaking her head and blinking her eyes several times, she can see. Sylvie's there - about the same as before. Yet she appears slightly different. Her features are prettier in a way that seems different, unearthly. She appears perhaps 25, yet there a distinct quality to her looks that defies that. A timelessness, for a lack of a better word. Even her voice is subtly changed, though Ithea isn't sure how.

"It's done," Sylvie slowly flexes her hands, watching her fingers. She throws a few punches then takes a few steps forward. "It's different, but not different. Something I can't really describe."

DM note:

1: Oghma is mightily offended. Smited the next time she leaves Aurora with the intent to kill her and bring her soul to judgment before him. In the event she survives, she loses all access to clerical magic (chameleon) and opportunistic piety (factotum).
2-10: Oghma is offended. Sylvie loses access to clerical magic (factotum) and opportunistic piety (factotum)
11-30: Oghma is mildly offended. Sylvie loses access to clerical magic and opportunistic piety as above, but can regain them through an atonement spell and a quest.
31-90: Oghma is neither offended nor interested. The change happens with no action by him.
91-99: Oghma is pleased by the offering of a book and Sylvie's initiative. She gains a +2 bonus to an ability score (randomly determined) and spell resistance equal to 10 + her hit dice.
100: Oghma mightily pleased. He personally adds benefits and powers to Sylvie as he sees fit. Details on this will be determined in the event it happens.

Sylvie does gain the traits of the outsider type (darkvision, no eat/sleep/drinking needed, martial weapons).

[Merc]

Ithea gives a sigh of relief. "Well, at least you didn't come out all ugly and no fist of an angry god trying to smite us both, so I guess we can call it a success."

[Anastasia]

"Yeah. So this is eternity?" Sylvie flexes her fingers once more, studying her hands. "I've read that many mortals that directly become outsiders note a new tendency for time to slip away from them. Hours, days, years. But I still feel like myself. Now I need to figure out which plane my home plane is."