Dragon quickstep

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+18
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+18 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{28}

Akil doesn't move - but you notice thick steam begins to rise from his hand that holds Razalim. No, not steam - smoke. The scent of cooking flesh begins to fill the air.

[Corwin]

"Open your hand or you'll lose it!"

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+18
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+18 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{36}

With a cry of pain Razalim is hurled. It slams against the wall as Akil slumps to his kneels and then to hands and knees. He gulps down air, chest heaving. Razalim itself sits there, not damaged in the slightest as it lies on the ground.

Ranbar goes to it, kneels before the silver blade. "Seira," she intones, very softly. "Come here."

[Corwin]

Seira gives Akil a look of concern, and gestures towards him before catching Sanzha's eye. He's absolutely reprehensible, but no one deserves to have their own sense of self overwritten.

At the same time, Ranbar might be indicating a serious problem so she makes her way over to the blade to see what she sees.

[Anastasia]

As the guardian of the treasury stays back, Sanzha approaches Akil. She doesn't say anything, merely keeping guard.

Ranbar gestures to the hilt of Razalim. Imprints - bloody imprints. Most of it is burnt away, but what remains is a blood red sigil of a dragon.

[Corwin]

Once, as she was younger and far more impulsive, Seira would take great and objectively pointless risks like pick up shady cursed artifacts because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

As she picks up Razalim by its hilt, Seira muses to herself that she never really grew up deep down.

[Anastasia]

The moment you grasp Razalim, you have a tremendous sense of rightness. The sword feels like it was made for your hand, and everything about it feels right to you. The world is sharper now, everything is clearer.

You know that, deep down in yourself, you have a weapon you were always meant to wield.

[Corwin]

"How is he?" Seira asks Sanzha. "Is there any permanent damage?"

[Anastasia]

"I live," Akil says, voice shaking. He rises with a big smile. "Take Razalim and go, with our complements. There's no need to be afraid anymore."

[Corwin]

"Free will is free will," Seira finally says, after studying his smile for a long moment. "You know how to get in touch with me if you need to. Let's go back, people."

[Anastasia]

One question: How are you planning on leaving?

[Corwin]

As a DvR6 deity I should be able to bypass wards that are banning dimensional travel, and Akil apparently gave permission, so I'll try plane-shifting to Bytopia.

[Anastasia]

Rank check then.

[Corwin]

18:57 <Corwin> roll 1d20+6
18:57 <Rei-chan> Corwin rolled : 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{25}

[Anastasia]

For a moment you feel a tremendous force, but it simply steps back. There's no resistance to your spell, but as you shift?

I'll see you soon, Seira Aryn.

Take Razalim with my complements.

For now, rot and weakness will be seared away.