Limping return

[Anastasia]

You drift amid the warm clouds of your dreams, all right and worries left behind.

It's pleasant, a reverie that stretches on of its own will and without limitation.

Yet you find a thought pressing into your mind: Why?

[Nephrite]

A dream where he pulls himself away from this curse.

A dream where he is able to overcome the vileness of Orcus.

A dream where he shines with a brilliant light that lets all around him know there will always be Hope.

[Anastasia]

With that thought you drift in your dreams, drifting along.

"She thinks highly of Aurora." A man's voice, jovial and yet commanding, drawing you in. You lie on a small boat, barely more than a canoe, a blanket laid beneath you as you stare up at the night sky.

[Nephrite]

Mm... is he still asleep? ...Does it matter?

Moore slowly sits up. "There were many fey who call Lifasa home." A smile after that. "Who still call it home now."

[Anastasia]

Before you is an endless see of placid water, sparkling like the stars in the sky above.

"This is an age of great heroes. The Crimson Guard saved the children of Androlynne and then Aurora rose to such heights." The man's voice is gently amused. "An age of turmoil, above and beyond what is normal, where fey who simply call a realm home can be defended by champions of myth and legend."

[Nephrite]

"It seems unprecedented." Moore agrees. "I still get an occasional surprised look for working with Celestia."

[Anastasia]

"Now...we would help anyone who came to us under your curse. Even an agent of evil, though we would require them to atone and repent first. Mercy and the hope of rising above what you are is integral to Good." The man continues from behind you. "Redemption is open to anyone who is willing to seek it. What has Celestia taught you of things like this, Moore?"

[Nephrite]

"That there is always hope for those who seek it." Moore answers and moves to turn around. "That the only truly perfect and complete things realize themselves and move on to what awaits in Chronias. The most important thing that I think I've learned is that if one has a will to get better — to save themselves, there is always a path for them."

[Anastasia]

The figure before you is an eladrin, pale purple hair kept long yet not hiding his long ears. He is well trimmed, an athelet's form clad in an open chested tunic of pale blue and matching pants.

"Celestia has a saying - no one can walk the holy mountain but yourself," The eladrin agrees, "We prefer this one - only you can improve your soul."

[Nephrite]

"Ultimately it's all about improving who you are." Moore agrees. "I think there's always a common path in that for those who pursue good ideals."

[Anastasia]

A flash of a smile, "You've grown, Moore. Good. Yet how did you get cursed by Orcus?"

[Nephrite]

"In a rush to get out safely, I neglected to ensure all of my allies were with me. I went back to save one and in doing so was found by him." Moore says.

[Anastasia]

"Beastly," The eladrin agrees, "Utterly beastly."

[Nephrite]

"The fact that I'm even here to talk about it is impressive enough." A breath in and out. "I still have a lot of growing to do."

[Anastasia]

As you talk...

> roll 1d20+13
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+13 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{19}
> roll 1d20+20 +4 strata not Moore's week with this
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+20 strata not Moore's week with this --> [ 1d20=1 ]{21}

Kobot's flat trolling you. Before you ask, you can't auto fail rank checks - and deities are exempt from that sort of thing anyway.

A warmth settles over you, slowly going and slowly passing.

"You're alive," Faerinaal declares, "But Orcus refuses to let go of you. Few legendary heroes are so lucky as to let a demon forget about them once they have a grasp."