A Faraway Victory

[Anastasia]

"It's been a wonderful day," Antenora agrees, coming and putting an arm around Marie. "You were lovely, Marie. I'm so proud to see how you've grown. Alicia, it's flattering that you're speaking in colors close to mine."

"You were rather inspiring, charging that tarrasque. Before you bounced off, but it's a good image. Your charges are like a moment of art," Syala remarks, going to Alicia.

Meanwhile in your mind? 'Good,' Empress Sulia sends back. 'When shall we continue this?'

Go ahead and pass your message on in Cor's thread if you haven't already.

[Ebiris]

"That was a good first outing, wasn't it?" Marie agrees, leaning into Antenora. "It felt nice actually keeping up with you all and contributing as an equal."

"You were very helpful Marie," Alicia agrees, smiling at Antenora as well.

I'm waiting on word from Seira, if it's convenient for you both I'd like to act quickly.

[Anastasia]

Antenora holds Marie, a simple moment of togetherness and warmth shared.

Meanwhile Antenora adds, "Even if Chaos was tiresome, at least Chourst chose wisely."

'I can be there when you are both ready,' Empress Sulia sends, 'Which spark did you get? I was working on a lead and hoping to contact the two of you in the next day, dears.'

[Ebiris]

It was Jade, one of Malcanthet's Radiant Sisters. She's not happy.

"Mmm, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to do too much against a tarrasque, but still probably better than what happened last time!" Marie says brightly.

[Anastasia]

'I can bear Malcanthet's setbacks with great fortitude,' Empress Sulia replies pleasantly.

"Much better," Antenora agrees. "But...why jelly?"

[Ebiris]

"I don't get that either," Marie says. "I mean the tarrasque's big point is its invulnerable hard carapace. It feels like making it an ooze would take that away, wouldn't it?"

[Anastasia]

"It must gain something from it. Oh. Of course. An ooze's imperviousness, it's ability to rebound, to avoid harm," Antenora says, "Really rather ordered like that, the whole stopping a single impact and negating it, don't you think?" Her lips twitch up, "Do you agree, Alicia?"

[Ebiris]

Seira says she'll get back to me, I think she's in the middle of something right now.

"Oozes don't normally do that, though some of them can divide which is its own kind of horror. I think he just genuinely wanted one that's more comfortable to sit on - a pet tarrasque is more vanity than a meaningful weapon," Alicia says, considering it. "Oh sorry, you were doing one of your bits, weren't you?" she looks over at Antenora and an amused looking Marie. "Yes, hidden depths of order in Chourst's machinations are evident, I agree."

"Anyway, what are we going to do about that statue and Jade's things?" the eladrin asks.

"We'll need to put it somewhere it can't disturb anyone else while we consider what to do with it," Alicia says. "And study it properly of course. I know a place."

A moment later and the four stand inside a cavern deep under Sylica, no tunnels or the like connecting it elsewhere, just an empty void in the earth. A thought from Alicia and sconces of blue-flame illuminate the walls so they needn't rely on darkvision as Alicia opens her portable hole to take the statue and Jade's equipment out for study.

Taking 10 for 75 on spellcraft on anything magic using divine insight and with Marie inspiring competence.

[Anastasia]

Okay, loot post incoming.

[Ebiris]

Just to make it safe for now after she figures out its functionality, Alicia tries to dampen the radius and perception boost on the statue down to their minimum once it's out in the open again.

[20:00] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+17 charisma, using good hope for +2
[20:00] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+17 charisma, using good hope for +2 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{18}

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+10
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{13}

Done. It's now affecting a 100ft radius with a +5 bonus.

[Ebiris]

She also uses the anti-addiction spell on Antenora and Syala. "Alright, it's safe enough for the moment. It probably has more potential if we find something that can shape chaos... possibly an anarch could do something with it," she muses. "That leaves the rest. Any claims?"

"I wouldn't mind that ring of piercing might," Marie pipes up.

[Anastasia]

"It's a piercing of arcane might," Antenora corrects, "With where it was probably pierced on Jade, do you really want it?"

[Ebiris]

Marie frowns a little. "Actually I don't want any of it. Probably someone'll buy the piercing," she says, stepping back. "Also what are we doing with the evil stuff? Destroy it or do one of those redemption quests?"

"I'll just hold onto them, if someone comes to me looking for a quest I can hand them out that way," Alicia says. "Anyway, I'll take the ring of wizardry. Because you," she looks at her hand and plucks off the ring of eternal celerity, "Haven't done me any good in a long time."

[Anastasia]

The ring comes off, no protest from it.

"Off with a whimper, but you've gone far beyond it," Antenora says, smiling, "Good memories."