Soon enough Alyssa is at her tower, resting. She looks out over her realm, the expansion going ever onward. She's had a chance to recover and rest, the treasure from Ash being analyzed at this very moment. It's a chance to rest, or to do something - or...?
We'll begin with ball in your court. Decent odd of an interrupt since things are happening, but go ahead and set the stage.
Alyssa sends for Delaize.
This is simple enough. "Alyssa?" Delaize asks once he's here, waiting on your word.
Alyssa smiles at him.
"Sit, sit. I wanted to catch up with you and see how things are going. I've put a lot on you and wanted your feedback and input. And to see if you needed a vacation."
"Ask what you want," Delaize sits, "Though how is Ianvasah?" he asks quietly, "I hear she has spent a great deal of time in her room."
Alyssa nods. "She had a very rough encounter with Shar. She'll be one of my next visits. I'll likely have her speak with one of our Enchanter or Illusionists. Those that study to break things often have better insight in how it works.
As for you, you've been in charge of the school and infastructure. How's the work load? Ha e you been able to find an assistant?"
"Yes, several," Delaize says, "They are of..." A quiet pause, "Varying skill, but all are eager. The ones who learn and listen are passable of that. There's too much to be done every day, and that won't change for some time."
Alyssa nods thoughtfully.
"We'll need to break things down into departments. Planning, sanitation, layout, and the like. Start narrowing down your choices. We can teach what they don't know, but we need to identify the right traits more.
What about a personal assistant? I think it's time you officially named someone."
"I will before the week is out - I have a promising young man, he needs a little more first." Delaize explains.
"Good! What about personal plans? Have you started building for yourself outside if building our school?"
"Yes, a nice house on good land," Delaize murmurs, pausing. He glances back, just as Bastian walks up. He's wearing no shirt, entire upper body rippling with muscle. A long cloth is draped over his shoulders, a pause as he uses it to wipe away sweat. "Alyssa, do you need any sort of physical practice today," he asks, a nod to Delaize after that. "Jarem and I are practicing along with Dolmaya."
"Exercise will do me good. I've got a few things to finish first, though. Could I ask you a favor, however?"
"Yeah?" Bastian asks back.
"Ianvasah."
Reaching up to rub the back of his neck and audibly pop it, "Yeah. Emily's with her. Easier that way."
Alyssa nods.
"She's in a rough spot, but Emily's not a rough person. Ianvasah might need some conflict to remind her of her strength."
"Yeah." A grunt at that, "Like tossing her in a stream of cold water, a shock to the system." A pause for just a moment, "I have something that will suffice, something to turn her brain back on."
Alyssa nods.
"Don't start a blood feud. I'll see you there in a bit."
Bastian nods and goes.
After a few beats, "I'm not sure if I'm less used to an orc that is smart, or him walking around without a shirt," Delaize murmurs quietly.
"Feel free to explore both. On topic, how's the school doing? Have we established core curriculum and started classes yet?"
"Yes," Delaize says, "A simplified teaching since we're starting from scratch, but we hope to change that as we build up a better base and train more potential wizards."
Alyssa nods, "Good. Excellent. We can start the next step, then. I want to organize classes beyond magic. I'd like to set up a system of introductory classes followed by an aptitude test. We need some numbers run, though. I'd like to offer the introductory skills courses freely to everyone. Logistically, I think we'll need some level cost on the aptitude tests to cover the spread or the like. There's a great many people across the planes who are miserable in life because their paths lead away from their talents. I'd like to offer a chance to correct that.
But... Let's not forget we're a magic school. Let's roll magical aptitude in there too. A standardized entry test, perhaps?"
"Standardized? You mean the same test every time, nothing adjusted?" Delaize asks.
Alyssa nods.
"A basic evaluation, yes. I think it'll help us find everyone's starting point. If the tests change with each evaluator, we'll see deviation in results. One may weigh something more than another thing. I don't mean within our advanced classes, but more as a... placement test? Simply to see where people are starting from and where their strengths and abilities naturally are. Access to education is rather restricted by monetary class in most places, after all. How many talented scholars might have lived in obscurity because they were born as farmers and never learned to read, for example?"
"I understand," Delaize does not argue, and instead says, "I will see it done."
"Delaize, you're here to advise and minister. If you have input, I want to hear it. Always. Test it. Find the limits of what this can do, and then we can move from there."
"Very well. It's a terrible idea. Talent is not something you can treat the same every time," Delaize replies, "I've never seen two students who learn best in exactly the same way."
Alyssa nods. "Entirely true. My goal isn't to take advantage of it, simply to identify it. Do you have any other ideas?"
"Right now, no," Delaize says, "Unless you can make connections with more schools of mages...or I can," he says. "In fact, I know how I can."
"Excellent. Give me your plan, but Delaize... Delegate. I need you flexible, not mired."
"I know someone who owes me a favor, who can get me in with others," Delaize says, "I'll see to it."
Alyssa nods. "I may ask you to take up a new position when I announce myself Queen. This fight with Shar is going to require my attention. You're my first pick to be my Prime Minister. I want you to think on it and know that I'll expect you to work with Dolmaya on structure and planning. She's got more experience at it than all of us combined.
I'll help you with the framework, but my intent is to set up a system that that has a strong check and balance structure built in. But every such system is prone to corruption. Before we put anything into action, I want to find people who are... Extremely efficient at bypassing governments and laws to pick it apart for us. People whose greed we can count on."
"The theory that a rogue is the best to design a secure vault, because they know all the tricks?" Delaize asks back quietly, fingers drumming on the armrest of his seat. "It will cost us, but I see the wisdom of the approach, if we can find people reliable enough not to use that information against us."
Alyssa nods. "Perhaps conducting the evaluations of the documents in a room enchanted with a Zone of Truth spell?"
"I'll consider that," Delaize says, "Is there anything else?"
"Thank you. What's your opinion on being Prime Minister?"
"Acceptable once supporting aides are in place," Delaize says after a few moments. Then quietly, "They will have to be there."
"I'm not asking if it's acceptable. I'm asking if you want it."
Delaize is quiet before he shakes his head, "No," he says at last. "Not with so much else going on."
Alyssa nods, "Would you prefer to hand thing off in favor of the new position or stay where you are?"
"Stay where I am," Delaize says, no hesitation there, "Let someone else have that role, Alyssa."
Alyssa nods. "You've been a help and mentor, Delaize. You've earned whatever you want. Including retirement when you're ready. Though I'll have to come up with a title for you either way."
A ghost of a smile for a moment, a small nod of understanding.
"Then be off with you old man! Enjoy beating some apprentice in to shape. I apparently need to go swing an axe around."
With that, she stands from her desk and pulls Life-Drinker into her hand, being nearly over matched by the huge axe.
Going to go meet up with the rest of them then?
Drop by Ianvasah first to make sure she isn't arguing.
As you approach, you see Bastian exit. Blood trickles form a swollen lip, though it goes down and heals by the moment.
"She's doing better," Bastian says evenly, turning to spit blood out to the floor.
Alyssa pat's him on the shoulder.
"Thanks. I'll owe you a favor for that. Let me get her pissed at me and we'll all meet you down at the field."
A short nod, Bastian going off and leaving the entrance to Ianvasah's room unguarded.
Alyssa heads in!
Ianvasah is there, rubbing her hand and glaring death. "I said-" she begins, "Alyssa," she clears her throat.
Alyssa grins and leans against the door. "And what was it you said?"
"That isn't important," Ianvasah says, "Since you aren't...him." A twist of her lips down, a sour frown.
"It's more important than you think. I asked him to rouse the dragon."
Ianvasah's appearance ripples, a beautiful half elf woman who regards you coldly, hands on her hips, "That was you?"
"Oh, it was Bastian through and through. I just asked him to do it. You've been having a rough time, Ianvasah. You needed time to rest and collect yourself. But you also needed to remember the fire in your belly that drive you to be the dragon."
"Fire in the belly, is it?" Ianvasah glares, "Fire destroys and leaves behind only ash."
"And a forest fire enriches the soil for new growth, Druid."
Alyssa grins at her, "You're angry and rightly so. So how about we deal with it at the exercise field?"
Ianvasah strides up to you and - !
> roll 1d20+39
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+39 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{55}
AC?
58 ac.
A sharp, sudden punch - that your mage armor blocks. Ianvasah's fist stops an inch from your face, a loud crack. She grimaces and shakes her hand, "Chauntea's mercy!"
Alyssa puts her hand on Ianvasah's shoulder.
"It'll be my mercy, next."
"Try," Ianvasah says shortly, striding ahead of you.
Plan is to train or do you have anything more elaborate re: Ianvasah?
Not until after the training.
It's training. You've done it before and in many ways, it's normal. In others?
Ianvasah simply fights. She fights aggressively, with bare hands at first, then claw and tooth. It is savage and direct, challenging and brawling. With a tail lash she sends Jarem several step back, as the warrior brings up his practice shield. Admittedly, facing a dragon brings its own complication, but he's holding his own, even as Ianvasah roars at him.
Alyssa uses her telepathic bond to send Ianvasah a message, 'More tactics. Jarem'll find a hole if you keep it up.'
The answer you get is an incoherent, loud roar.
'Good distraction, take advantage of it. Maybe a wing slap then try to pin him to the ground.'
Ianvasah charges in, the attack pressed.
Which has Jarem juke aside, a roar of draconic pain as Jarem's practice blade slams into Ianvasah's side repeatedly, a flurry of strikes. Ianvasah comes around for a bite, mouth open and lightning crackling.
"IANVASAH!" Emily calls, a rush towards Jarem.
Jarem's faster, a leap into her head. A firm, hard kick to the top of Ianvasah's head, whirling around to smack his practice blade across her snout. This gets another roar as Jarem shouts, "Use your mind or you're nothing but a dumb beast," he calls, leaping off as Ianvasah lashes out. "FOCUS! You're a champion, not yet another victim who can't pull it together from that bitter bitch!"
Alyssa watches, but holds her tongue for the moment, letting it play out but ready to intercede if needed.
Ianvasah charges again and Jarem moves - only for Ianvasah to morph human, going low with a head first dive, momentum changing in an instant.
Jarem kicks her in the face, a blow that sends her back and onto her rear. A crack of flesh and bone, loud. Blood pours down from her nose.
"Better," Jarem says, as the wounds begin to heal before your eyes.
Alyssa claps her hands and walks towards them both.
"Time to change out. Who wants to fight with me?"
Ianvasah glares at Jarem with a face tight, furious. Her fists clench tight as she gets up, nose setting itself back into place.
"I'll fight you," Ianvasah declares.
"Whenever you're ready, then."
Ianvasah shifts into an elemental, ready to come right at you.
Approach here?
Gonna Dimension Door behind her and pick her up with TK.
Gimme a CMB check.
TK CMB/Cunning Insight:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+57 : 1 + 57, total 58[/blockquote]
This doesn't go well for you - you throw it at Ianvasah but she's too fast, and the next thing you know you're on the ground, aching everywhere. What...what happened? You feel like you got ran over by a rampaging cornugon.
Alyssa takes the chance to use her flight ability to launch herself into the air, flipping over to get sight of Ianvasah.
You push yourself as Emily calls, "Stop! Let me check Alyssa after that, she doesn't heal fast," Emily insists, flying in.
Not that it stops Ianvasah, whirling around and looking for you.
Alyssa grins at her and sends to Emily, 'I'm not that fragile. Just watch for death. Everything else can be healed later.'
Okay, what's your plan here?
Trying to pin her down and force her to shift into something other than a dragon. Get her thinking instead of just anger. Once she breaks through that, I'll have one of our people who's knowledgeable about psychology talk to her.
Sure, CMB again.
CMB/Cunning Insight:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+57 : 15 + 57, total 72[/blockquote]
This time she charges - right into your force, your telekinesis pinning her down. She struggles but you have her good and caught.
"And now for the learning part of training. The dragon isn't always the best option. I can keep you down, so what's the best move?"
"Magic," Ianvasah snaps, "Do I look like a dull acolyte? It's weapons and arms training."
"It's a developed ability, dragon-lady. Find the best form."
"Let me up," Ianvasah growls.
Alyssa leans on her axe and raises an eyebrow.
Then lifts her into the air and lets her hang.
"Now the best form is a different form. All that time spent figuring out which would be best now needs to be started over."
Ianvasah says not a word, glaring absolute murder your way.
"Well if you give up this easily, no wonder your dragon form lost to Jarem. A single good hit against me, a mage is all you managed. Then again, you are new to all this. Not too long ago you were hiding in that grove from a mortal king."
If it was murder before, her glare could double murder you now.
"Tick tock. I can send for lunch for the rest of us. There's a limit to what my telekinesis can do, but what you are now isn't even a strain."
"Let. Me. Go." Ianvasah says, long and slow.
"Figure your way out."
"Let me out!" Ianvasah repeats, struggling against your force.
"Well, you certainly won't beat me like that. At least you're not giving up anymore. You want out fast? Then think about what you've seen me do and find the limit."
Ianvasah grows, larger and larger, into a massive earth elemental.
What's your weight limit?
1,700 lbs.
With a groan it's too much, Ianvasah's body too heavy. She lands and gives you a rocky glower, shifts back human and storms off.
Alyssa chuckles. "Now she's managed to think through her anger. She just needs to deal with the defeat. She'll be touchy for a while, so let's let her be. She'll either head out on her own for a bit or confront me later."
Emily silently goes after her.
Bastian watches, "Better than despair. A good round of anger and hate breaks right through apathy."
Jarem watches her go, "Use a softer touch next time," he adds, "Too much anger is as bad as too much apathy."
"Focused anger is easier to deal with than wallowing in it. She won't respond to me right now, but she'll be more open to others. She's not a soft touch Jarem. She's a dragon, even if she forgot it for a moment. You're probably the best to help her. Emily might be the worst. I won't tell you to council her, but you've probably seen this more than anyone else here."
"I have," Jarem agrees, watching Emily go. As Bastian goes and gets some water, "I've seen good soldiers self destruct over too much anger, too. She's not a soft touch, but she's still fucking flammable."
"Yes, she needs lots of support. I doubt she's faced anything like that before. But her reaction to you proved what I was worried about. She was likely to lash out at anyone. I wanted to focus it on me so the rest of you could get through to her."
"Yeah," Jarem shakes his head, "Hey Bastian, hold on a minute."
"Hopefully now she'll let all of you pull her out of this. If you need anything from me, let me know."
"Yeah, speaking of that," Bastian comes over, "Glad we got a chance to knock some heads in. About time, wasn't it?"
Alyssa gets a look of distaste, "We smashed her outpost but I wanted to beat her champions. We did the wise thing, but still. Grates a bit."
"We still won," Bastian says, as...
You feel it. A connection with Bastian, sharp and strong.
Node update, go read and note you've read it.
Read it.
"We'll, glad to see you're finding fulfillment at least."
"Again?" Jarem says, "I was about to say I was happy for a chance to use my skills," he admits.
Again it happens, the same connection, Jarem and yourself linked.
Another update.
Alyssa raises an eyebrow, "If all it takes to make this work is my tossing you about, this'll be easy."
Jarem just smiles back as meanwhile...
Next move here?
Not much, honestly. Now that the Sharrans are out of that Outpost, I suppose I can use it as leverage to intro myself to the new Ash archomental.
Okay, and how do you plan to do that?
Well, elementals generally don't like outsiders so I figured kicking a cult off their rock would be a good in. Figure I summon an ash elemental and use it to send a message to the new one. A calling might be better than a summoning? I dunno there.
Your call, or feel free to make a relevant knowledge check or ask someone.
Knowledge first and go from there. Planes?
Sure.
K:P/Bibliotheca:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+62 : 8 + 62, total 70[/blockquote]
A personalized message would work well enough, if done properly.
We have some conjurer who's good with Ash elementals?
No one specialized, that's a pretty obscure focus.
Think I'll summon an ash elemental just so I can get the details of the message right before I send it.
Cool, how and what kind of ash elemental? Gimme details and we'll roll with this.
Just a medium size one. I just want to make sure I get the language and names and stuff right, primarily.
Okay then like I asked, how? A summon monster spell? Planar binding? Something else?
Oh. Was just going to do a summon spell, yeah. I don't think there's really a need for anything super fancy for this.
Thus the ash elemental rises up when summoned, watching you impassively, awaiting.
Go ahead.
Alyssa leans on her Bibliotheca spell to provide her the language of the elemental, "Greetings. I seek to make formal contact with the new Archomental of Ash. I would ask you their name and what the proper way to greet them is."
In a plain, dull voice, "Don't know."
Alyssa raises an eyebrow, "Who would know?"
"Bigger ones," Is the elemental's answer.
Alyssa closes her eyes and takes a breath, "Thank you. Good luck."
With that, she releases it.
I didn't really do spell list rebuild. You good with assuming Alyssa had more than one ready?
Sure.
Alyssa attempts to summon the biggest ash elemental she can!
She's capable of Summon Monster X, and I'd be okay using the slot for it in this case.
Cool. What type of ash elemental are you summoning with it?
The biggest I can. Elders, I believe.
Thus you summon an elder ash elemental. It looms over you and awaits your command, silent.
Alyssa tries again, "Greetings. I would like to ask you to help me contact the new Archomental of Ash and the proper way to greet them and speak with them."
"I hear and will obey," Is the reply you get.
"Please explain what the correct way to request a meeting on Ash with the new Archomental and tell me what their name is."
"Risen," Is the answer, "Bring a sacrifice of heat and flame to the Crumbling Palace."
"What would make a good sacrifice?"
"Fire and heat," Is the answer, dully spoken.
"What things have been offered before?"
"Flames and warmth," Is the answer you get, slowly.
"Alright. What about removing foreign cults?"
"Ash is all. All is Ash. All is Ash," It says, "Are there things not Ash?"
"There are things that want to change Ash into not Ash. I found some and got rid of them. I would like to tell the Archomental."
"Then come and offer fire and warmth," The elemental says, simply.
"I will. Thank you."
Anything else to ask?
Nothing I really have the desire to beat my head against to translate.
Cool. Next move then?
Try to find 'fire and warmth' and check in with Emily/Jarem on Ianvasah.
What do you mean by finding it?
Narrowing down options and where to find said options. I was hoping to do so with some research as I'm not really in the headspace to try and get details from elementals.
Sure, gimme an K:P check.
K:P/Bibliotheca:
Take 10 for 72.
It means exactly what it means: Heat and fire. Flame, something warm, anything like that.
Alyssa tries to find something like an everlasting coal.
You mean something that burns forever or a long time at least?
Yeah.
K:A.
K:A/Bibliotheca:
Take 10 for 72
There's various materials like that from Fire, yes. To get some Everfire would cost you about 1,000 gold and a bit of effort.
Alyssa adds that to the list!
Realistically, can I fob this off on someone? Unless this is something Alyssa needs to do?
Sure, no problem. Post the purchase in loot. Next move after that?
Posted. Guess go find Jarem or Emily to get a check in on Ianvasah.
It's not too hard to find Jarem. He looks up from his reading, "Well, strategy one's adequately described, go run them through it," he commands, an aide off to do that. "Alyssa, you need something?"
"Just checking in. Get a chance to look in on Ianvasah?"
"She's out with Emily at the moment," Jarem scratches his chin, "But I did talk to her. She's still wrathful, but a little better than she was last time."
Alyssa nods.
"Then it worked. To a degree, at least. At least she's at a point where she can take a step forward.
In other news, I figured out what to take the new Ash Archomental. I couldn't get them to go into details on customs beyond taking a gift, though."
"Good enough," Jarem says, "What sort of gift?" He sits back now, clad in simple, light clothes rather than armor. A tunic of black, emblazed on with the red symbol of the Red Knight, and plain pants go with it.
"Everfire, in this case."
Alyssa sits next to him, "What's the Red Knight have to say about our run in with Shar's champions?"
"A tactical review," Jarem says, with a wry smile growing on his face, "There's only so many tactics when you pass into such a disadvantaged position, but we couldn't ignore it and not go in."
Alyssa nods, "Emily seemed to trust the exit almost implicitly. That concerns me. Dolmaya seemed to at first, as well. I'm not sure what they went through, but it seemed to make them eager to jump at any offer of exit."
"We were desperate," Jarem says, "Desperate men do desperate things. We're lucky we were able to beat those undead before it go out of hand, it almost did."
"She'll have seen it though. She'll likely mark it as a weakness and try the same again, with a second trap under the first. We'll have to watch for it.
Unfortunately, I'll have to say I found my preparation lacking. This was the first real confrontation with her forces for me. I'll need to revise what spells I prepare.
Emily and Dolmaya have the firepower covered. I'll need to supplement them with area control, I think. In this case, terrain control, alteration, and light. Opinions?"
"That's not bad - just have a few spells that can kill," Jarem suggests, "A lot of the time things come down to battle."
Alyssa nods. "Still. It's grating."
"Then improve," Jarem says, "It's the best and easiest answer. Strive to be more and use your mind doing it."
"Yes, indeed. What about you? What are your plans?"
"Sleep on it," Jarem admits, "See how it all makes sense when I'm not tired and busy."
"Yes. I'm going to check in on my sister and parents, then get some rest."
d100 real quick, would you?
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 21, total 21[/blockquote]
What's the goal with your parents?
Just general check in and see how their respective shops are going.
You find over dinner, sharing a quiet conversation as you approach.
Goahead.
"Hello! Mind if I join?"
Father turns and looks up from his meal. "Alyssa," he says, "Join us."
"There you are," Alihana says, "At least you aren't that slave driver."
"Yet. Wait until I take you as a proper apprentice."
Alihana groans loudly, "Mercy and light, take me now."
Mother turns at that, "Speaking of, how is Emily? Jarem mentioned she wasn't doing so well."
"She's upset. Ianvasah was in a bad way. She was getting lost in her weakness. I had to give her something to focus it, so I gave her a hard time."
Walt nods in understanding, while Alihana frowns.
Mother murmurs, "Will that really help? It sounds like she needs a hug, not cruelty."
"She does now. She was close to starting to lash out at anyone. Now that she's been given some focus, she can start walking forward."
"Then give it to her," Mother says, "She sounds like she's in a lot of pain."
"It's not how it works, dear," Walt says, "A female adventurer is more like a man in temperament. She knows battle and blood, not the tender mercies of a maiden's heart. No, she needs to fight."
"This one aspires to be a dragon. Shape-shifts into one. Emily's giving her the support she needs, don't worry mom. I'll make up with her when she's ready. She just need a push out of the door, so to speak."
"You make her sound so..." Mother frowns even more.
"She'll be fine, she's made of tough stuff," Father retorts, "What of the others, are they well?"
"Bumps and bruises and frustration, mostly. And mom, she's pretty rough and tumble. I found her sitting in a grove telling a king to screw off and bring his army."
Mother goes quiet at that, "...oh."
"So," Alihana says, "How is your band of misfits, sister? Besides tougher than nails?"
"Still a work in progress. Everyone's finding how they fit together. Jarem and Dolmaya started... dating I guess. I'm not sure if it's as serious as dating or just fun for them."
"Really?" Mother asks, "It doesn't sound like a serious courtship then?"
Alyssa shrugs.
"Dolmaya's a few thousand years old. She's had kids, grand kids, great-grand kids, great-great grand kids and so on. I'm not sure she's all that interested in going down that road again. Jarem's a soldier, through and through. He goes where battle is and expects to die. How it develops is up to them."
A silence from that, as Mother settles for making you up a plate of food. Once done, "Expects to die? How can you live like that?"
"You come to terms with it. To a degree, I have. Alihana will too. Or she'll plateau in her magic. It's less expecting to die and more accepting the possibility of it. He's a soldier, and soldiers die. For mages, magic can go out of control or be too powerful, or do something you don't expect."
"Though," Alihana frowns, "If he serves the Red Knight, doesn't he know where he's going when he dies anyway? I've talked to a few of the spirits here and it's maddening. Dying sounds so...normal to them. It's impossible!"
"That's partly because you've still got a short view of life. It's a hard thing to do, shifting your perception. There's all kinds of things. Wait until you meet a fey and talk about their rebirth. Dying is normal. Everything does it."
"Even you?" Mother asks, voice quiet.
"It's entirely possible. You too, you know. But what you'r learning, Alihana, is that death doesn't mean the end. I guess an easier way to think of it is... Getting married and moving to a town on the other side of the mountains. Another stage in the cycle, but communication isn't impossible as long as you have the means and put the effort in."
Father eats a bit before, "It's hard to put our minds around," he finally says, "You hear about bard stories and tall tales, but to live is another thing."
"It scares me," Mother admits after, "To speak of life and death in such a cavalier manner."
Alyssa nods, "It should. Keep it close. That fear will keep you wise and cautious, and many who don't soon become foolish with risks. But don't let it rule you.
And papa, you're running a Smith shop in a God's garden, effectively. You're going to have stories about you eventually."
"What a life," Walt smiles faintly, "To what tomorrow will bring under that."
"Well if my big sister gets off her rump, more family hopefully!"
Laughter at this as the night goes on, togetherness and happiness.
Next move?
Guess it's either Ash or Ianvasah.
Gimme a d100 real quick.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 76, total 76[/blockquote]
Back in your office, you find Dolmaya waiting for you. She's sipping a cup of warmed cider, gaze out the window as a light breeze blows in against her. The air is cold, the scent of leaves and pumpkins on it.
Odd, considering that part's new. Must be magic.
Alyssa raises an eyebrow as she takes a seat at her desk, "Your magic or this places'?"
"A trinket I have," Dolmaya says, "Made by a wizard who would later try to stop the turn of the seasons so that his kingdom was always in autumn." There's a few moments before, "I had to kill him, but the Inevitables would have done the same, or the agents of the House of Nature who were offended at overturning the natural order, or Auril smiting him for denying winter, or however other many were offended over his foolishness."
"Always bigger fish. Is that what you're here about or Ianvasah?"
"Neither and both at once," Dolmaya says, "Sit down."
Alyssa is already sitting at her desk.
"Please, continue."
"You have an interesting group here, Alyssa," Dolmaya says, drinking up before, "Everyone here is unique, far better than many places I've come to."
"It brings it's challenges but nothing ever improved by staying the same."
"Tell that to Mechanus," Dolmaya smiles tightly, "Does anything ever change there?"
"And does it get better for it?"
"They're still going strong," Dolmaya replies, "I'd say they're doing something right."
"Sustaining isn't improving, but that's getting into semantics on a long enough timeline. I assume you foresee both strength and conflicts from our... Diversity?"
"That's exactly right. It'll be entertaining," Dolmaya smiles, "Don't you think?"
Alyssa grins, "I don't know. I suppose an old lady like you has to look for fun everywhere she can."
In that moment Dolmaya chuckles, and you feel it. A connection to her newborn but growing, a connection with her.
Node update.
Alyssa puts her hands under her chin, "Aww, you really do like me. More seriously, I'm glad. I was worried if you could accept someone less experienced than you. I can't begin to touch your practical application experience."
"Speaking of that, we have time now," Dolmaya finishes her cider and stands, "Let's make magic."
"Yes, I've been considering that. Do you know the Nightmare Terrain spell? And how deeply have you studied phantasmal magic?"
"I'm familiar with the concept," Dolmaya says, "I've found battle illusions too unreliable to invest much in anymore."
"Hence the phantasmal part. Or perhaps ectoplasmic would be a better descriptor... Either way, my idea is a phantasmal terrain spell. There void in our last encounter would have been far less effective if we could have layered another terrain on it. If we combine it with a light element, we could use it to control the area as well as impede her servants."
"Hmm...Illusions tie more to shadows, so it would be difficult," Dolmaya says, "But that merely means we get creative, because magic has few limits."
"If we start with a planar bubble as the base instead of illusion, we may circumvent that. Instead we make it... An imposition of new terrain over the existing. But if we can convert the terrain to some sort of ectoplasm, we may be able reduce the power needed, or extend the range for the same energy.""
"So how about..."
Just for my own clarity, do you have an actual and written up spell for this, by any chance?
Nope. On the fly right now.
Do you want to write up this spell then?
I can try when I get home, sure.
Sure, post about that when you're back home and have something.
In time you come up with an idea for a spell - an outline. "It's still weak," Dolmaya says, "We could invest more into it, expand it."
"In what way?"
"Add more weight to it and perhaps...hmmm..." Dolmaya says, "Hmmm...."
She eyes the scribbled notes, "Maybe if we..."
Alyssa waits for great insights to happen!
"I'll be some time," Dolmaya says absently, starting to work away. "If you'd like to work on something else."
"If I leave, does it really count as together? The only other things I plan to do soon are visit the Archomental on Ash and check in on Ianvasah, if she's moved on enough."
"Then stay," Dolmaya agrees, "I don't mean to shoo you away," she adds absently, "But when I create, I tend to lose track of others."
Alyssa nods, "I'll stay. Perhaps I can learn a trick or several."
"Try and keep up," Dolmaya chuckles warmly. "Few can."
"You've just got years more experience. Years and years and years."
Alyss grins again.
"Age brings wisdom and power, once you get over the pesty problem of aging." Dolmaya says, "Have you done that yet?"
"Wizard's Grace spell. Enough for now, I can pick whatever other solution I want later."
"Good. You'd be amazed how quickly your figure goes and how things droop and sag," Dolmaya doesn't keep the scorn out of her voice, "Bah, it's just a reminder for the powerful to take steps."
"Well, do you have a specific suggestion for regaining youth? My parents might like that."
"Spiritual ascension - you keep your memories that way. It's far easier to do for yourself than others, but you could manage something." Dolmaya doesn't look up, "Mortal bodies aren't build to last forever, or even a very long time."
"Hm. Something to look into."
Okay, as that's worked, next move?
See Emily about Ianvasah.
This is what can be called an awkward situation, since they're over in a Seira thread. I thought I had a few more sessions with Cor before vacation, I was wrong. Suffice to say this puts me in a stick situation DMwise. In light of that...
"Alyssa," Delaize says as you work in your office, "We've been sent something from Celestia."
"Oh? Let's see. I need to head over there soon, speaking of."
Delaize opens up a bag of holding and withdraws an assortment of weapons, all made of obsidian. "A note is enclosed," Delaize says.
Alyssa looks them over, holding out a hand for the note.
You read it.
"Dear Alyssa: I heard you've settled a new domain. Congratulations from Hope's Landing. As a gift, several display weapons taken from a cache in Fire are enclosed. These weapons are flawed inside due to the malice of the elementals bound to create them, so they are not suitable for use as weapons. However, they serve excellently as decorations and are of fine craftsmanship. They are forged of obsidian and have some value as pieces of art, should you need coin urgently. I will understand if you are in a situation where that is necessary and hold no offense if you do.
Enclosed are two greatswords, a longsword, a longspear, a heavy mace, four daggers, a staff and a flail.
May the light of Chronias guide you in the future.
Xandra of Celestia, servant of Moore, Duke of Songs."
"Hmm... Quite an interesting choice. Weapons as art. Implication of military support, but preference of peaceful coordination perhaps? Still, quite nice. We'll get them mounted in the main hall of the school with a plaque for now. I'll arrange a reply soon. Thank you Delaize. Would you happen to have any interest in meeting an Archomental?"
"Will they be hostile?" Delaize asks right back.
"Hopefully not. We kicked a Shar cult off their plane and come with a gift."
"Then I'll come," Delaize agrees, quietly.
"You and Jarem, then. Let's get ready and meet back here."
Cool. Prep?
Probably just regular stuff. Anything deeper would need to pause the thread until tonight.
Sure, that's fine, just had it ready then. I feel pretty badly all told so waiting until the evening is for the best.
Actually what I got prepped should cover most things.
Cool. Where in Ash are you traveling to via magic?
As close to the Crumbling Palace as I can without being attacked?
Ash blows, a thick and choking ash that is only held at bay by your protective magics. It is like a blizzard of quenched and dead flames, obscuring everything around you as winds howl.
Alyssa sends, 'Well, this is pleasant. Ideas on direction? See if we can get above this?'
Jarem raises his shield up to help deflect, though your magic holds. ""Yeah, or control the winds," Jarem agrees.
"Sensible," Delaize says, "Better to avoid than contest the powers here."
'Up and away then. Let's go.'
Alyssa flies up!
You fly up hundreds of feet until you escape the storm. All below you storms rage, ash flying in every direction. Up here it is still, though it is bitterly cold. Only warding magic protects you from it, and even then you're starting to feel a chill.
"Well," Jarem says, "We can fly around and see if we can see a castle or something poking above the storm."
'It's a good bet that it's defensive, which means it's probably centered on whatever it's protecting. So, it's either find the center and break through one of their defenses or find the edge and see if there's a guard to announce ourselves to.'
"Yeah," Jarem says, "Can't rule out it being something natural, but that's a good idea." He peers ahead, "I don't see anything nearby, but let's look and get an idea of how big this is?"
Alyssa nods, 'Jarem leads, Delaize in the middle, I'll take rear.'
Sure, gimme Perception real quick for my own reference.
Perception:[/b]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+47 : 16 + 47, total 63[/blockquote]
You fly about. You quickly notice towards the south, the storm is getting more intense, and it slackens ever so slowly in any other direction.
Alyssa points it out to the others.
"There may be a center to the storm," Jarem says, "Have you ever seen a great coastal storm, a hurricane? I had to fly into one once, and in the center you'll find that after the strongest winds, the core of it is still. There's no wind or rain, it's entirely calm. Except for all the storm elementals drawn to it. That may be what we're looking for."
'Let's try it. It may put us on their porch, but hopefully they don't throw fireballs first.'
Gimme a d100 real quick.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 14, total 14[/blockquote]
You fly ahead - and in due time you see what must be the center of the storm - for it goes still, a great and crumbling castle of ash sitting within it. From this distance you can only see a glimpse, yet it must be massive from what little you can see.
'Looks like we were right. Let's keep an eye out for anyone who wants to fight.'
"Careful," Jarem agrees, "You need any spells before we commit to this, Alyssa?"
'I don't think so. All my standard spells are in place. Can you think of anything I missed?'
"No," Jarem agrees, "Then let's go visiting."
'You're good with doors, Jarem. Let's go knock.'
Thus you fly on. It is indeed a massive castle, so large you can't see the rear of it as you fly inward. It reaches up hundreds feet in the air, several stories for certain. No one is around it, only piles of loose ash and little else.
'Let's find the door. Call out if you see anything interesting. Or worrying.'
"There," Jarem points. Below is a grand drawbridge, currently up. Below it is a moat of ash, pale white and like clumps of dust far below.
Alyssa angles towards it!
You fly down. As you approach a gust of ash blows, checking your advance just before you can land.
'Who?' A single word sounds in your mind.
'Alyssa Songsteel. I bring a gift of warmth to meet the Archomental and discuss those who want to make Ash into not Ash and steal the minds of your kind.'
'Show it.' Is the answer right back.
Alyssa takes out the Everfire piece.
'End it,' Is the answer from there.
Alyssa looks at Jarem and Delaize, running through what she knows of it that can put it out.
A dispel magic or a powerful enough cold or water spell can do it.
If I do that, will it fire back up? Or does it just suppress it?
Strong enough magic will end it.
'We can put it out, but it will be forever. I was told by an Elder that you wanted warmth forever?'
'Quench,' A single word, imperious.
'He wants us to quench it.'
'Then quench it,' Jarem says, 'There's no sense arguing with him unless you think we're being given the run around.'
Alyssa casts a spell at the thing!
Water Blasting (Chain), CL 34
1d6 water damage per CL, max 15.
[blockquote]Rolled 15d6 : 6, 2, 6, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 5, 6, 6, 6, 3, 5, 5, total 68[/blockquote]
What level of spell is that?
9th with the Chain metamagic feat.
Without?
8th
Under powerful water magic, the fire gutters out and dies, leaving behind naught but ash.
The voice is silent, yet a great groan is heard as the drawbridge begins to lower.
'Guess they wanted the ash, not the fire. Let's go."
'Could have been worse,' Delaize says softly in your mind, 'They could of wanted more ash, right from us.'
'Wouldn't put it past them,' Jarem says, 'Ash is influenced by the Negative Energy Plane. Death comes easy here.'
'Hopefully we can redirect that death towards Sharrans.'
Alyssa heads in!
Are you immune to cold or just warded against planar effects?
Energy Immunity.
A great gust of cold washes across you as the drawbridge comes down. It leads to a vast emptiness of ash and bitter winds.
Delaize merely looks on, unphased. Jarem squares his shoulders and starts to walk forward. 'Long on hospitality, aren't they?'
'Remember the death thing? Let's go.'
As you walk down this passage?
Faraway you can hear songs that..
Quick check on languages spoken?
Bibliotheca gives all languages.
It is a long, wistful song of the cold of winter, the smothering fires against it. A song with no resolution, only a paean towards the struggle and the ash that comes from it.
'I sort of like this song. I'll need to do something similar for common area in the school.'
'Really?' Jarem asks as you walk on - no sign of anything further, just more path and more ash and more song.
'I mean, I wouldn't want to wake up to it, but it's well done '
Before Jarem can reply, you're out. Out suddenly and in a courtyard, one long, ashen path ahead towards the castle. Skeletal horses can be seen tied to posts nearby, while the scent of smoke drifts on the wind.
You notice the path ahead leads to a great pile of ash blocking any further progress.
'I'd say this was for artistic placing, but that's not a very elemental-like design feature.'
Jarem glances at the horses and keeps going, though Delaize lingers. "Either way," Jarem remarks, "Feel like going to see what the ash pile does?"
'Onward, valiant knight.'
You reach the ash pile. Nothing immediately happens.
Ball is in your court here.
Alyssa inspects the pile and tries to send back to the voice that spoke to her earlier, 'Do you want me to add the gift to this pile?'
There is no reply.
Checking over the pile, it's a big pile of ash. You can tell there's a door behind it all, but you'd have to move it or plunge through it to reach it.
Alyssa attempts to move the pile with TK!
Easily enough done. The pile is moved, it is just ash after all. A doorway is beyond, waiting to admit you further.
Alyssa walks up and knocks!
The door opens.
"Finally," Jarem murmurs as ahead is...a big, smelly ogre with skin the color of gray ash. It looms and stares you down. Greasy, stringy hair is visible and it reeks of old smoke. It wears plate armor, dented but recently cleaned and polished. A half wiped away sigil can be seen, of a roaring fire. It speaks, wisps of black smoke coming from its mouth with every word. "Who are you and what do you want?"
Unneeded knowledge checks skipped since Alyssa can't fail them.
"We've come to meet the new Archomental. I've brought a gift of warmth, made into ash. I'd like to speak to him about a group of invaders I've run into here on Ash."
"I know you. Alyssa," The ogre says, "Heard of you, the other human to." His gaze is narrow and yellow.
Jarem smiles and shrugs, "I do the will of the Red Knight. Fools don't know not to oppose it."
The ogre gives all of you a longer look, "What kind of invaders?"
"Cult of Shar. Hollowed out an area, destroyed the minds of Ash elementals, and had a couple Champions of Shar in the caverns."
"As I knew," The ogre says immediately, then narrows his eyes, "If you'd lied to me, you'd never see your precious sun again."
Delaize looks on, unimpressed.
Alyssa raises an eyebrow, "I contacted you. Why would I suddenly decide to lie?"
"I know your kind, human," The ogre holds up a finger, right in your face. Jarem smoothly steps forward and grasps his wrist, pulling the finger away.
"I know your kind, ogre," Jarem returns, "Don't put your finger in her face. Or you won't see your precious finger again."
"Now, now, Jarem, he's just trying to goad you into proving him right. And, to a degree, he is right. But humans aren't the only ones that go back on deals or twist things, so how about we keep our hands to ourselves and have a discussion with at least a veneer of civility?
To prove my point more, I've summoned a few of your elementals, as you've heard. You'll also have heard that I haven't summoned them, thrown them into battle only for them to be violently returned here. So, how about we take that as a point in my favor, combine it with my honesty, and build from there?
If you're honest with your concerns, I'm fully willing to address them until we come to an understanding. But, I've been nothing but polite, to the point of finding out how to approach formally and with a gift, so at least attempt to curb the insults once in a while, hm?"
Gimme Diplo here, you said something right.
Diplo/Cunning Knowledge:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+68 : 11 + 68, total 79[/blockquote]
The ogre glares at Jarem, but your words at least slow him. "You, at least, have a modicum of manners."
"Please return them in kind."
Alyssa smiles at the ogre.
A sour grunt, a whiff of stale smoke from his mouth. "Fine, humans," the ogre grunts, "Follow."
"Gladly!"
This fortress descends. It descends into gold and an ashy haze, deeper and deeper yet. On occasion you pass ash elementals, each one watching you unblinkingly from sight until you leave their field of vision, ceasing their activities entirely.
"I gather you don't bring non-elementals down here often "
"They usually have the good graces to die before getting here," The ogre rumbles.
"What is even your name," Jarem speaks up here, "Or does everyone call you asshole?"
Alyssa whaps Jarem in the shoulder and sends him, 'Pretend he's an enemy general you're meeting for terms. Diplomatic and professional.'
"...Grannoth," The ogre finally says.
'What can I say? I know his type and he irritates me,' Jarem retorts.
'I'm not responsible for him. I am for you.'
Jarem smiles slightly at that, but doesn't push it with another comment.
"Grannoth, would you be willing to tell me about the Archomental?"
"It's big," Grannoth says plainly, "Good taste, though, and rich." A smoky grunt before he continues on, "Extremely rich. Heard it got the better of Mineral."
"How well does he understand other races?"
"Well enough to pay well," The ogres replies shortly.
Alyssa nods, "Good. Will make it easier to not have to explain Shar cults."
Down this path - until you come to a place where the ash is pushed aside. Solid stone is here, dull gray. A door has been carved out of the the stone, a few marks on it, perhaps the start of engravings, but nothing more is there.
Grannoth pounds on the door several times and calls, "Humans!" he shouts, "They're here for you!"
"I do have a name."
Your comment is ignored as the door opens. "In there," Grannoth says, "Go on."
Alyssa shakes her head and heads in.
Within is no ash. There's a small throne room - barely bigger than a typical bedroom. No one is here yet the door closes.
'I can feel you,' A dispassionate voice is heard in your mind. 'Your mind is strong, Alyssa. All of your minds are strong.'
'Thank you. I assume you know about the Shar cult?'
'Yes.' Is the simple, plain answer you get. 'I know all of Ash.'
'There was one foothold, there may be more. I'd like to form an alliance to fully remove them.'
'There may be.' A general agreement, 'I will pay you to do exterminate them for me.'
'If you know all of Ash, can you find the rest of them?'
'I can,' Is the answer, 'I will. What payment will be sufficient?'
'An alliance, first of all. I have a small group of Earth elementals in my city, learning about mortals to better our understanding of each other. I'd offer you the same if you have any of sufficient curiosity and intelligence; mainly to avoid unintentional conflicts.
Beyond that, I'm at war with Shar. I can't call upon an army of elementals, I can only pay soldiers and pay for equipment. It's an unfortunate fact that the mortal worlds run on money and not exchange of knowledge and friendship. An alliance has value, but it's up to you what the value of the integrity of Ash is worth. Make an offer and we'll start there.'
'25,000,' Is an immediate offer back.
'Per site or in total?'
'Per site.'
'How many sites? How long is this campaign?'
'It is to be determined,' Is the answer to both.
'Hmm. Not unagreeable, but there's a possibility of complication. The last site had two champions of Shar. If she allocated two to a single site, she'll certainly allocate more. Or even something else. We can't wage that sort of protracted war on our own, and the fact that you want us to fight them hints that you don't want to divert the resources either.
How about you map out the sites you find, do some basic reconnaissance, and we work together to figure out best deployments? Jarem here is my battlefield commander. He'll be able to bring significant experience to the discussion.'
'That is acceptable,' The voice says. 'It is agreed.'
'Let me discuss it with my commander and see what he has to say. I won't fully agree until we meet face to face, though.'
Alyssa then sends Jeram a quick summary of the conversation.
'He seems focused,' Jarem remarks, 'Think he's telling the truth?'
'People only lie when they get something out of it. The only thing he could gain from lying to us is our dying. The only way he benefits from that is if he gets something better at the end of it. So it comes down to: is he working with someone to bait us in return for what he wants. Which is the same for all elementals: Ash to be left to Ash or to expand it further.'
'Alright, then go for it unless you think you can get more money out of him,' Jarem says.
Alyssa nods and waits for Archomental to show in person.
CLUNK! What appears instead is a thick, large wooden chest. The top pops open, revealing a great heap of platinum coins within. 'For the first, when I need it done,' it declares.
This was an empty room, right? Like the guy isn't standing in front of us?
Correct.
'That's generous, but we don't have a deal unless we meet face to face.'
'There is no need for that,' The elemental says, 'Do not try my patience.'
'If I'm going to be fighting for and with you, I want to meet, in person. You're an Archomental of Ash with an Ogre for security, a castle, a defensive storm, use telepathy, and you're quite eloquent compared to even elder elementals.
Which adds up to a unique individual. I'd like to quantify that and allow you to evaluate me in return. Chalk it up to a failure of mortals. I know you're not here for my curiosity, but if we're to be allies, I'd like to get to know you, personally.'
'Perhaps we can come to a better situation,' The voice says. CLUNK! A second chest of platinum coins appears besides the first.
Alyssa sends Jarem, 'He's trying to bribe us to keep from meeting in person.'
'Now isn't that interesting," Jarem sends back, 'I can think of many things for Archomentals, but shy isn't one of them.'
'I'm tempted to walk away.'
'Do you think this could be a setup of some kind or a scam?' Jarem asks back.
'I doubt it'll go that far, but it's a matter of trust. Or am I going too far with it?'
'Tough question. The payment means he either needs you or wants you not to ask any more questions.' A consideration, 'I've heard of stranger from reliable agents. I'd say consider it and go with your gut.'
Alyssa turns back to the chests and considers, then sends back to the Archomental, 'No deal. I'm not here to be paid off, I'm here to build an alliance and trust. I've put myself in your center of power with little chance of back up. That's my show of trust. If you're unwilling to so much as meet me face to face, I can't see this alliance building into anything significant or lasting.'
'Then leave,' Is the demand right back.
'As you wish. I truly do wish you luck with the Shar cults and bear you no ill will, so let me tell you this: whatever they're doing, they're using some form shadow manipulation to isolate the area into some odd form of almost demi-plane. The entirety of it is similar to a void and the terrain itself counters spells. However, if you can impose a different terrain type, such as with a planar bubble, you can lessen the effect. Good luck.'
With that, Alyssa turns to leave.
CLUNK! One of the two chests of platinum coins flings forward, in your path.
'You will be paid for that information,' The voice declares.
'Fair. Hopefully you can take the next step with me someday. I truly look forward to meeting you. My door, so to speak, is open any time.'
Alyssa lifts the chest with her TK and continues on.
Thus you head out. AS Grannoth leads you back without comment, 'At least it was profitable,' Jarem remarks.
'I suppose. It's a shame, really. Perhaps one day, though.'
Grannoth escorts you out, firmly closing the door within behind him. Once done...
Going back home?
Yup
Thus you get back home. It's a relief as Jarem stretches and Delaize dusts himself off.
"That was some sort of interesting," Jarem finally remarks, brushing ash off his shoulder. "Though I've never been rejected and paid so well."
"I told him about the planar bubble. It was payment for information."
"Mm." A noise, "Still, we got something worth our time."
"Yes. Anyway, let's check in on the others. I'll have to see about working on the book, too."
Next move then?
The others back yet?
IC they should be due to the timing of it, but Cor's vacation has that running slow.
Alright, then I'll do a quick lap around checking in on things and then work on the book.
Gimme a quick d100? Realm updates will cover some things, but this will largely be to check for any fires to be put out.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 68, total 68[/blockquote]
Nothing immediately urgent is going on here, leaving you to work on what you will.
Alyssa sits down to do some work on the book!
Cool, refresh us both where you were on it last time?
That'll take some log diving. I was working on it with Ianvasah and had a handful of low rolls and then like a 12.
Sure, just check up on it real quick and let me know.
last post was here: http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,104328.msg1152206.html#msg1152206
Last rolls were 13, 14, 16.
Int check then.
Int:[/i]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+12 : 4 + 12, total 16[/blockquote]
The first day makes little progress. You have a bit of a headache. More study is required.
Feel free to commit more days to it, we're not time compressed here.
Sure, until something interrupts. Bastian, Jarem, and Dolmaya are still around. And that spell thing with Dolmaya.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+12 : 15 + 12, total 27[/blockquote]
You're making steady progress now, forward and ahead. It's going to take time, but you're starting to get it at least, get the secrets of One. Ever so slowly.
Even with successful checks you can tell this will take time and study - it's simply a lot to understand. Feel free to continue.
I mean, I can't go do fighty stuff down Emily and Ianvasah. I do gotta get the book back to Moore, so we can try to set that up.
Then there's general checking on things and trying to find a way to make cash. Unless Shaundakul has something he wants done.
It's up to you. If you want to focus on the book, focus on the book, it's not a huge deal timing wise here. There's a lot of events and building for you that simply take time to pass as well that don't need constant monitoring.
Well, since I've got Moore waiting on the let's get some done there until we can get together.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+12 : 6 + 12, total 18[/blockquote]
Time passes and with it you begin to get an understanding and....
This takes some time but you're in free time so whatever. PM incoming a few, reply here once you've gotten it or if you haven't gotten it in 5 minutes.
Sent.
Post back here when you're ready, Iddy.
Alyssa leans back in her chair, drumming her fingers against the book, considering.
Then sighs and thinks to herself, 'Work with the tools you have, not the ones you wish.'
She settles in and sends a message to Dolmaya, 'Could you come to my study when you have time?'
Like with telepathy since you used the ' ' tags?
Yeah, since I set up planar telepathic bond as a normal daily.
Oh right.
'Hm? I'll be there in a shake.'
It's not long for Dolmaya to come in, Bastian with her. The latter goes to relax in a chair by the window - dragging it there, really - while Dolmaya sits primly. "Ah yes, spell business?"
"More serious. Let's keep this as close to the chest as we can. Dolmaya, what have you come across about the Ones before joining us?"
"The Ones of what?" Dolmaya says, a wave of her hand, "What sort of ones do you speak of?"
I don't recall, did Io say this demi-plane was safe to talk about this in?
Io's suggestion was if in any doubt at all, come to his realm and talk there in safety.
"Well, let's take a trip to a friend. He can more fully and safely explain."
"Then we shall," Dolmaya agrees, "Where are we going?"
"Our benefactor."
Alyssa stands and sends a message to Jarem to meet them.
'Talking to Ianvasah and Emily,' Jarem sends back. 'They're talking about quests and some business.'
'They should come with us. I figured out something significant.'
'Alright, meet us down here.'
Alyssa heads that way!
You find Jarem, Ianvasah and Emily outside. Ianvasah takes a breath, "Alyssa," she calls as you approach, "Come here."
Alyssa approaches, ready to take the right hook.
Ianvasah bows her head, "Everyone, I apologize."
Jarem rubs the side of his chin, "Yeah? Good. First step to getting your shit together."
Bastian nods, unphased.
"Also...I have a quest I wish to go on, an offer of understanding and growth from Seira. She...has suffered at Sharrans and understands." Ianvasah goes on.
Alyssa shoots Jarem a look and a telekinetic thwap to the shoulder, "What is with you lately? You've been snappy."
She then turns to Ianvasah and gives her a hug, "Don't ever feel bad for reacting to something like that. What you did was perfectly normal, and having us step in and help is exactly what we want to do.
After we get back from our talk, you can head over anytime you want. Just make sure your new dragonness that you bring back is more huggable."
Jarem doesn't respond immediately as Ianvasah returns for that, "It's about the quest," she says, going right on, "I have to have a companion to go on it with me. Are you interested?"
"Me? Perhaps. Let's talk details after we get to where we're going. What I've discovered may have impact on certain timelines."
A nod of understanding as...
Heading on over now?
Yup.
The return to the entrance to Io's lair is without incident. How far are you going in, to Io himself or not as far?
Might as well go to him. He may be able to give insight or want to pass it on to the other nodes.
Thus, soon enough the party returns to Io's presence. The great wyrm looms far and above all of you, his voice in your mind. 'You return, Alyssa. Do you seek my council?'
"I may have information about becoming the One that may be of use to you, and may also require your council. I've worked through enough of the book Moore lent me to figure how to become one of them."
'Good,' Io says, 'It is not an easy ordeal, but it offers a chance to do it free of any will but your own.'
"There are significant requirements and tests. I think Dolmaya and Emily might have the best shot at it, right now. I may be able to set myself up for it as well. But the two of you have less work to do on that front than I, at the moment."
You...do remember the book originally came from Io, right?
Yeah but I got it from Moore and didn't Io say the details weren't exact to him?
Okay, just wanted to make sure you remembered.
'I agree,' Io concurs.
"If I want to," Emily's quieter about it, "It's so much responsibility if you succeed, Alyssa. My Mom's always answering prayers, hundreds and hundreds at a time. Mom Amaryl let me listen once and it's like standing amid a flash flood, and you have to continue to drink it all every moment, all while doing your normal business."
"If this is what I think it is, a bold claim," Dolmaya says, "But you would be right, if it is done."
"From what I can tell, a One isn't like divinity. There's no prayers. Nothing of the sort. It's just you and your own power."
'Yet it can be divine. Eblis did not have faithful, but Antenora has pursued that,' Io points out.
"Emily, this will be hard to hear. You need some love like Ianvasah did.
You're going to fail to be your mother. Every time. You keep trying to live up to her an you're going to fail every time.
You wanted to make your own story, so do it. You don't want to be divine, then don't. You don't want to be a One, then don't. The only way to write your own story is to to put pen to paper. The only wrong decision here is no decision.
Fortunately, you don't have to make a decision today, but you do need to start deciding what you want to do. Even if you do want to try to be a One, there's still an insane amount of preparation beforehand.
No matter what it is, you'll have my support.
Dolmaya, what's your opinion?"
"...ah..." Emily blushes bright, "That is..." Perhaps the floor will swallow her up?
"We can consider it," Dolmaya says, "How reliable is it?"
Bastian watches, arms crossed and taking in the spectacle.
"Reliable. But we'll have to spend time in the far realms for it. And you'll be defenceless, so we'll have to guard you."
"Dangerous," Dolmaya says immediately, "Only the greatest madmen and fools spend time in the Beyond. Madmen!"
Io merely is there. He is merely more a moment, attention drawn to him utterly.
'Madmen?' Io asks, gently so. 'Am I mad?'
Dolmaya turns and smoothly as butter says, "Ah, I misspoke in not clarifying my intent. A dragon is not a man, naturally a dragon would be superior and able to handle such things.'
"Well, I'm empowered by a dragon. That dragon, actually."
Alyssa points at Io.
"And Emily is half dragon half God. Or... However that parses out."
"It's complicated," Emily speaks up, "Ah, I'm not divine by myself. A divine child conceived faces Ao's judgment, so it's rarely done. But deities can also conceive non divine children, which aren't subject to that judgment."
"Well, you're closer than any of us, I'd think. My point was the deck is as stacked in our favor as it could be."
"I'd still struggle with it I fear," Emily says quietly. "I think anyone would...except Aunt Antenora." Emily confesses. "She's always so...she just does things and they happen, even if it's impossible, like a fiend becoming an angel. At least when she's with my other aunts there."
"If you don't want to try, or want to try in the future, that's fine. But that doubt of yours is now a new project for us, either way."
"It's not doubt, it's common sense," Emily retorts immediately, "I know it won't be easy, no matter what I do."
"Still a project. Dolmaya, what do you want to do? I think with preparation you can pass the challenges. You talk about insanity, but let's face it: at this point, your thousands of years of life are an insane story anyway. What's one more thing?"
A glance, "Dragons leave thousands of years. Outsiders live thousands of years," Dolmaya challenges back, "As of now?" Dolmaya turns to Io. "Lord Io, what say you?"
Looming far above the party, 'I say pursue it, when ready in body and mind. Only a fool rushes too fast, but only a wastrel lingers too slow.'
Alyssa nods, "There's a bunch to do before any way. I'll have to teach you about it and you'll need to prepare. I have a significant amount of preparation to do myself."
"Enough to keep us occupied," Dolmaya says, "What else?"
"It requires us to spend time in the Far Realm and may attract attention, is what I've read. Lord Io, what can we do to prepare or hide from that attention?"
'Little,' Is the answer, 'Should you seek a warrior who can grapple with Beyond, seek Hellman Oberuth. Simply tell him that I sent you and he will understand enough. He will explain, as he has learned how to fight the nightmares of Beyond.'
"Any idea where he might be?"
'For the moment he wanders, merely send him and tell him that I sent you,' Io says, 'He will understand.'
"Will I need to talk to him here? Or, rather I suppose Hope's Landing would be best. Moore will need the information as well."
'Do so,' Io agrees, 'That would be wise.'
"Alright, anyone else have questions before we leave?"
"That's enough for me," Bastian says, as no one else adds anything.
"... On an idle thought, there wouldn't happen to be another hidden labyrinth you built, would there, Lord Io?"
A moment's consideration, perhaps amusement. 'Yes. One none of you are ready for yet, one that will serve a purpose of preparation far closer to the end. Should it be needed, you will make use of it.'
"Sounds fun. We'll leave you to your peace. For as long as it lasts."
With that, thus the party goes out and...
Next move?
Back and discuss Ianvasah's thing and arrange things with Moore.
Okay. Ianvasah first for practical reasons.
You meet with Ianvasah on your return, "I have a quest," she begins, "Would you hear where it entails, Alyssa?"
"Certainly. But first... I'm sorry for pushing you the way I did. I could have done it in a better way, but at the time I thought it was the best chance."
A slight nod, "How did that even come about?"
"As indelicate as a word it's, sulking tends to lead to two places. One is shutting down and wearing away at yourself. The other is they explode and push everyone away. You were deep in the first and starting on the second. I wanted to have you focus it on me and have the others still open to help you."
"So the approach of the lurking bitch," Ianvasah says, "Like a female dog lying and snarling in the bushes." She gives you an exasperated look, "Was it Bastian's idea? It seems like one of his."
Alyssa smiles a bit and raises an eyebrow, "I don't know the reference there, but I earned the venom. No, I asked Bastian to make you angry so I could draw it out like puss from a wound. Once you weren't repressing it, I could make you focus it on me.
Emily is naturally supportive, but I knew at a certain point her mothering would begin to grate on you. Jarem has experience dealing with this sort of thing, but he would have had to work through Emily. If you broke with her, I couldn't have seen a way to you."
A long consideration before, "Of course," she finally says, "Jarem's approach would be some manner of ill informed barbarism."
"Regardless of that, I have to ask for your forgiveness."
"You'll have it," Ianvasah says after a short time, "You'll have it, Alyssa, in time."
"Thank you. Now, what's this quest?"
Ianvasah rests back for a good time. "We must each take one of Dead Moons and find a Lunatic that will help us reach the moon. Once there we must find sacred oils and anoint the chakrams with them, then let them rest on the moon for one week. Each of us must wield one of the two chakrams and seek a Sharran of vast power on Ash, then we must vanquish him.
We must only wield those as weapons during this quest, nothing else," Ianvasah continues, "Our dreams will be the things of nightmares. They will be a heavy stone on our souls until this task is complete."
Alyssa stares blankly at Ianvasah.
"... You understand I'm a wizard, right? I've only read about chakrams in passing, much less with any real use. As for the rest... Do you have any leads on these Dead Moons or Lunatics? "
"Yes," Ianvasah says, "I have the chakrams for our quest, and the rest we can discover in time. I ask you because I trust you more than Bastian or Jarem." She meets your gaze, "That's why."
Alyssa leans back in her chair, "I very much appreciate your faith in me, and I'm fully willing to help you. But I feel it would be a failure of that trust to not point out that you're effectively asking me to help you with a significantly difficult mission while relying on things I'm the weakest at.
I'm not a fighter, I have never touched such a weapon, and the wording implies that I won't be able to use magic. My defenses will be next to non-existent, my combat abilities will be crippled, and I may not even be able to use my telekinesis.
Frankly, you're stacking the deck against yourself. Do you want to risk failure? Honestly, I think this may be a chance for you to improve your relationship with one of the others.
If, however, you've weighed all this and still want me to go, I will. But we'll need to pull the others in to plan out the best chance. There are pitfalls we need to plan for."
Give me a Diplo check.
Note that I'm not really shooting her down. I just want her to have the best chance of success here. Taking a wizard to a melee boss fight is a poor tactic unless I misunderstood. Can I use magic in this?
Diplo:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+44 : 10 + 44, total 54[/blockquote]
Granted, but they're fair points.
Ianvasah considers, silent a time. "No," she says at last, "You raise fair points. Let me have an afternoon to think on it."
Alyssa nods, "Ianvasah, let me be clear: I'm not turning you down. I owe you for all your support and more than that, I want to help my friends. But I want you to have the best chance at success."
"I know. You speak wisdom, not cruelty," Ianvasah blows out a breath.
"But you have an issue. Speak it. Remember where holding it in led us before.
I sometimes forget you're not as open to socializing as I am. Part of my scholar's blind spot, I suppose.
Know this, though: when we talk I will always do my best to keep in mind the intent behind the words, not just the words."
"You're the one I want," Ianvasah says, "Though you're also right that you're an ill considered choice for such a mission." She blows out a sigh, "Wisdom often does not spare one's feelings."
Alyssa nods. " If you go with someone else, then I'll do my best to help."
"I'll let you know once I've decided," Ianvasah says, going up and off.
Anything to do while she takes a bit of time on that, or just wait for an answer?
Book to Moore maybe a WoC lesson?
Okay, see Moore's thread.