[22:20] <Kotono> Once Afina and Annalise are by themselves, "You truly seek to master this blade, Afina?" Annalise asks.
[22:24] * Afina draws Hywelbane and stabs it into the table before them, the elegantly crafted blade of gleaming silver sinks its lethally sharp tip into the wood with no more resistance than water would offer. "There are few who can match my skill at crafting implements of death, Annalise. This is the finest expression of my work, a weapon I arrogantly believed would give pause to any lord of the
[22:24] * Afina Hells," she explains tautly. "In practice it's no better than a wooden stick. If that is the limit of my capabilities, I must look elsewhere."
[22:27] <Kotono> "I know." Annalise goes to sit, running a finger along the edge of Hywelbane. "You're good, but you haven't broken past your own limits yet." Watching as her finger cuts along the blade, staining it with blood as the wound is constantly re-torn open, "It's not the limit. There comes a time when the greatest overthrow their limits. The Master's reached that point in his art. You come close
[22:27] <Kotono> to it in your art."
[22:31] <Afina> "In theory I may have forever, in practice it would be futile. Lifasa's time is finite before there is nothing left to save," Afina goes on, "With the Duke of Destiny threatening if we move on Benfal - a move we can't afford to neglect since operating alone and letting the devils focus their forces is asking for defeat - we need a trump card. This Blade of Endings promises to be just that...
[22:31] <Afina> since someone can't be bothered curing herself just long enough to kill one stupid arch-devil," she glares at the vampire in mock rebuke, a little bit of humour to lighten the load of her heavy statements prior.
[22:36] <Kotono> With a dry smirk, "In actuality, I was going to make another argument about how you should submit to my embrace, Afina. I'm sure you can imagine the platitudes by now." Taking her finger back, mended in an instant, "I'm offering you a different trump card. I doubt any fey's fate has anything to do with being a vampire, let alone one of such potent bloodlines. You'd never agree normally...you
[22:36] <Kotono> could even say you're fated to reject me."
[22:40] <Afina> "There might be a few that would go for it, but they'd already be crazy and only get worse over time, trapped to a single isolated existence with no relief..." Afina trails off. "The human mind might be able to handle it, but it would break even the most debased Unseelie. Anyway, none of this gets us closer to our Wisemen," she pushes herself up, snatching her sword and sheathing it behind
[22:40] <Afina> her back again. "Rather than hitting the books right away, lets ask 27 and then Baleruk? More likely to get something current that way, I think."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Oh, I think you're stronger than that," Annalise murmurs with a smirk, listening. "Just bear it in mind." After that she listens to the rest, "Hm. Yes, let's find our slaad prophet."
[22:47] <Afina> Taking wing then, Afina flies around to the portal, intending to check the infirmary first.
[22:49] <Kotono> It takes some doing to find 27. It takes the better part of an hour, until you come across Adrian. "27?" he says, pausing from training a group of firre in training hall, "Way back there, he's taking a nap back there," Gesturing at several racks of weapons, "Don't think I've seen him get up yet."
[22:51] <Afina> "He said he was really tired a few days ago... I hope he's not still having to recover," Afina frets. "Thanks anyway, Adrian," she adds, flying past and away to find their skeletal-badger-slaad.
[22:59] <Kotono> 27 is found curled up behind the weapon racks. He looks to be completely aslumber - out cold.
[23:00] <Afina> "I think tapping into whatever knowledge he uses for his prophecies drains him somehow. Lets leave him to rest," Afina decides. "Baleruk's hopefully heard of Wisemen of Chaos from living in Limbo so long, so we'll try him instead."
[23:02] <Kotono> "Mmmm...undead don't get tired..." Annalise considers a moment, "No, I wouldn't lower myself to biting a badger-alike."
[23:04] <Afina> "I've seen how often you yawn when it's sunny out," Afina retorts as she flies off to her second favourite dragon's lair.
[23:13] <Kotono> Flying off to find Baleruk is easy enough. On entering the Dragon's Ego, yo ufind Baleruk atop his pile of gold. In the air before him are tablets, each one glittering rainbow as a single claw carves writing into them. HIs attention seems wholly focused on that, not even noticing the visitors at all.
[23:15] * Afina flies over towards the dragon and waits until he pauses between lines of his writing. "A moment of your time, please, Baleruk?"
[23:16] <Kotono> Baleruk turns, eyes on both as his head cranes forward. HIs long neck brings his gaze to both vampire and pixie, "WHAT?"
[23:17] <Kotono> Annalise stands unruffled, reaching out to pat the tip of Baleruk's snout. "Be a dear and listen while Afina asks you something? It's important."
[23:18] <Afina> "I wish to know if you've had any dealings with or heard of beings known as Wisemen of Chaos," Afina explains herself neatly to avoid taking more of his time than necessary.
[23:21] <Kotono> "I am familiar with them," Baleruk blows air out of his snout, enough to make a gust. This ruffles your clothes and hair as he stares down.
[23:24] <Afina> "Annalise and I are looking for them. Can you tell us where or how to find them? Anything else you've heard that would be useful to know?"
[23:34] <Kotono> "They suffer periodic SETBACKS," Emphasis on the last word, an absolute roar! What he says next is lost, as Afina's ears ring! When hearing returns to her, "-OLS THAT WILL SUFFER!" Snapping his teeth, "They reform and retreat to a secluded, converted githzerai monastery."
[23:36] <Afina> "Ah," Afina replies blandly, by now quite used to weathering his shouting outbursts, painful as they are to her delicate ears. "Do you know where we might find this monastery?"
[23:38] <Kotono> "There are but TWO WAYS!" Baleruk roars, "The first is to devote yourself to chaos. Shed all your possessions and shift to Limbo, and cast yourself into the roiling chaos! If you do not die, you will be taken to the monastery in time. The other is to teleport to the Arcanum Mark, a meteor that the monastery sits on. The monastery is warded, the meteor grounds outside of it are not."
[23:40] * Afina glances at Annalise. "Second sounds good to me. Sound good to you?"
[23:42] <Kotono> "I don't see why not," Annalise says, "Unless you want to cast yourself into Limbo?"
[23:42] <Afina> "If I did I would have picked the first!" she turns back to Baleruk, "Can you describe Arcanum Mark enough for Annalise to plane shift there?"
[23:44] <Kotono> "A pitted hunk of iron and metal, scorched black. A heavy walled monastary sits atop it," Baleruk so describes, "Mmmm, YES. I SHALL ADD THAT TO MY COMMANDMENTS. CHASTISE THE WISEMEN OF CHAOS EVERY CENTURY WHEN THEY LEAST EXPECT IT."
[23:45] <Afina> "Thank you, Baleruk. We will put your wisdom to good use!" Afina reassures the dragon before she hurries back out into Aurora proper. Glancing over at Annalise as they coast down to the courtyard, she mutters, "Lets not tell them we're friends with him."
[18:03] <Kotono> "I suspect there is no love between them," Annalise agrees with a humorless smile. "When do you want to go?"
[18:04] <Afina> "Now is good," Afina replies, calling out afterwards for the spirit of Aurora. "Elena!"
[18:05] <Kotono> Elena appears, clad in a ballroom gown. It is nothing but elegant satins and other soft things flowing around her, a fan held to her face and hiding it. "Yes?" she answers, an imperious lilt in her voice.
[18:07] <Afina> "Sorry for taking you away from your party," Afina deadpans, "But Annalise and I are going to Arcanum Mark in Limbo to look for the secrets of Unmatter, if anyone asks after us."
[18:07] <Kotono> "I'll forgive you this time, servant," With a hint of a smile behind her fan as she giggles, "I'll tell anyone that asks. You have my permission to go."
[18:08] <Kotono> Annalise watches her with a likewise deadpan expression, just a hint of a mocking smile starting to show itself.
[18:09] <Afina> "You are most gracious," Afina inclines her head respectfully, playing along that far before she resumes coasting down to the gate so they can freely plane shift.
[18:10] <Kotono> Annalise follows. AS she does, "Jaela's return will have her chastised," Annalise murmurs, "She has talent at dealing with Elena."
[18:11] <Afina> "Or at least encouraging her to dress as a maid instead of anything else," Afina retorts as they land on Ysgard's soil. "I don't understand the fascination, but she can wear what she likes."
[18:11] <Kotono> Annalise looks about quickly, taking Afina's hand. "Let us go - now."
[18:12] * Afina looks around to see what's got Annalise all heated up, but submits to being plane shifted as the vampire likes.
[18:13] <Kotono> In an instant, you stand on a pitted stone and iron rock. A vast rock, and far, far on the horizon you see a looming, walled complex. Above you? You see howling winds - quite literally visible, like great jagged lines. Green lightning dances amid them, constant thundercrashes devastating your eardrums!
[18:15] * Afina wastes little time in protecting herself from both lightning and loud noises, asking Annalise if she would like the same afterwards.
[18:15] <Kotono> In your mind you hear Annalise clearly, far clearer than any words could be in this din. 'I'm fine. Ahead.' She begins to fly, racing ahead towards the building.
[18:17] * Afina takes off after Annalise, senses alert for anything that might assail them from other directions while the vampire focuses eyes front.
[18:24] <Kotono> As you fly along, the crashing noises become louder! As the structure looms closer - an arched, closed gate ahead - you can see lightning strikes ahead! Green lightning, starting to rain down from the heavens of Limbo! 'Best hurry,' Annalise sends back, 'It will get worse. Dodge!'
[18:25] <Afina> Hurry Afina can do, and hastes them both to push on with that bit of extra speed!
[18:28] <Kotono> OOC: Reflex saves, you two.
[18:28] <Kotono> roll 1d20+32 Annalise evasion
[18:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+32 Annalise evasion and gets 35." [1d20=3]
[18:28] <Afina> roll 1d20+32 evasion
[18:28] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+32 evasion and gets 33." [1d20=1]
[18:29] <Kotono> Annalise and Afina both hurry! The lightning blasts slam down hard and harder, and Afina slips! It's a tiny slip but this miscalculation sends her headlong into a stroke of green lightning!
[18:30] <Kotono> roll 10d6+10d6+5d6 (lightning, sonic and acid, respectively)
[18:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6+10d6+5d6 (lightning, sonic and acid, respectively) and gets 81." [10d6=3, 2, 2, 2, 3, 6, 2, 3, 6, 6][10d6=2, 1, 1, 4, 1, 6, 2, 2, 5, 4][5d6=4, 2, 4, 3, 5]
[18:30] <Afina> OOC: 22 damage total, sac a 5th level spell for -25 damage
[18:31] <Kotono> The lightning blast zaps her hard, smoke rising from her! Parts of the electricity eat at her like acid, gnawing away at her flesh! Nonetheless she stumbles ahead, reaching the gates with Annalise as she throws up a spell shield to stop more pain!
[18:32] <Afina> That was embarrassing, for all she got out unsinged thanks to her magic. Not dwelling on it, she knocks her tiny fist hard on the gate to call for attention!
[18:34] <Kotono> On tapping the gate, a smooth hole appears in it, big enough for Afina or Annalise to head through.
[18:35] * Afina goes on through!
[18:37] <Kotono> On coming through, the duo find themselves on the other side. Several buildings are ahead, of varying sizes and made of plain, uninteresting gray granite. The biggest building is straight ahead, with a clocktower and a bell visible atop it. No one is immediately about.
[18:39] <Kotono> "I wonder if perhaps they have been discouraged too hard recently?" Annalise looks about slowly, "Baleruk did imply it is not an uncommon occurance."
[18:40] <Afina> Flying into the centre amidst the buildings, Afina looks around speculatively at each before deciding to go straight ahead... and stopping herself. It makes sense. It's the most eye-catching building, a straight line from the gate... but this is Limbo. This is where Chaos rules. "They could have fallen far from the state they were in when the Blade of Ending was forged. We may find no help
[18:40] <Afina> here," she agrees with the possibility even though hoping against it, picking a random building to go and look inside.
[18:43] <Kotono> On opening this building, you find it to be an auditorium. Rows of seats are before a stage. Atop this stage sit eight. Eight people, cut into parts. Legs, arms, torso, head. Each are seperated and connected only by chains, each one upside down. Yet all of them breathe and look to the door as it opens.
[18:45] <Afina> "H-hello?" Afina is made hesitant by sheer confusion. She doesn't know if she should be horrified or if this is perfectly normal here. Were they attacked and mutilated, left in perpetual agony? Or is this just how they spend their afternoons?
[18:47] <Kotono> "Good afternoon, teacher," They intone as one, followed by giggles. They begin to sing-song, "ABCDEF7HIJ0LMNO
PQRSTU8WXY and Z!"
[18:48] <Kotono> Annalise watches with a raised eyebrow, before clapping slowly. "Bravo." Under her breath she murmurs, "A recitation of one of the many variants of the chaotic language letters. They hardly put any color into it, but I suppose it's not bad for mortals."
[18:49] <Afina> "I heard
P," Afina offers from the colour front, though it really was paltry compared to Renbuu's speech. "I don't think these are Wisemen, though..."
[18:51] <Kotono> "Yes, it was a pleasant enough blue P, but hardly anything worth the time. A light blue
P, not a light green
P," Annalise frowns a moment, "It sounded a little green, but it was just a light blue. You have to appreciate the color differences." Raising her voice, "We seek the Wisemen of Chaos. Could you by chance direct them to us?"
[18:52] <Afina> "Ahh, you're right. I can see it when you say it," Afina nods in appreciation of Annalise's cunning linguistic skills. "The context is important."
[18:53] <Kotono> "Oh yes. You have to assert the blue-ness of the
P when you say it. It's like how you have to assert
P here so you don't get
P instead. It makes you look like an absolutely uncultured boor to a slaad of any refinement."
[18:54] <Kotono> The six answer in off-tandem - six voices, clashing into each other. You can make out, "In the lightning gardens next door."
[18:55] <Afina> "Lets go there, then," Afina readily departs from the chopped up people to find the lightning gardens.
[18:59] <Kotono> The next door leads to a garden. In this place are plants and trees - all made of green lightning, perfectly formed. Annalise clears her throat,
"The locals may appreciate a reflective color in the voice, if they're training those fools to speak in color. Focus on green when you speak - you should be able to do it, you have chaos in the blood. Focus on green coming out of your mouth and flowing out."[19:04] <Afina> "Like
This?" Afina tries, catching her error and shaking her head. "
No...She sells sea shells by the sea shore. She sells sea shells by the sea floor.." Nodding in satisfaction, "
I understand, now."
[19:07] <Kotono> Annalise smiles - a rare smile that touches her eyes and doesn't descend into a smirk.
"Yes, that's it. Just don't say proper names in this green. You'll want to use purple for proper names with the Wisemen of Chaos, unless they start with an X, B or Qre. If they do, you'll want to use searingly bright yellow, just for that name."[19:12] <Afina> "
Remind me never to bring Jarl Brigandsir here, then," Afina winces as she says the horrid yellow word. "
You're good with languages, aren't you?" she commends as they head into the garden.
[19:15] <Kotono>
"Yes, I've learned hundreds and hundreds of them." Annalise winces as well at that hideous yellow word,
"Chaos makes it easy to learn and adapt. Relatedly, you do realize this means you aren't a pure fey anymore?" Stopping and pausing to smirk just a little bit,
"The Planes and pure chaos have a hook in you now. If you chased it, you could connect yourself to pure Chaos like a slaad or eladrin is."[19:17] <Afina> "I'm still connected to the Cycle, I can feel that," Afina retorts quickly. "Even moreso than before, really. But Crystal... sorry,
Crystal would probably like that, with her leanings towards the Court of Stars."
[19:20] <Kotono> Smirking just a little bit more,
"The Planes change everything, Afina. Remember that. Yet Crystal wasn't blessed by Renbuu, was she?"[19:24] <Kotono> As the duo wander about, you see trees of lightning, a canopy above you of crackling. The gardens seem to be arranged around the center, a sphere surrounded by trees within the middle.
[19:24] <Afina> "
We'll see. But where are these Wisemen, anyway?" Afina wonders as they approach the centre.
[19:25] <Kotono>
"Within?" As you approach the trees, you find that there are gaps. Within you can see eight figures, robed in purple and sitting in the shape of some obscure geometric pattern.
[19:26] <Afina> Breaching one of those gaps, Afina looks to see if they're doing anything incredibly sensitive that she dare not disrupt...
[19:27] <Kotono> The eight look to be just sitting there. As you look,
"The first answer was paradox, yet it is forbidden." One of them speaks, you aren't sure which one.
[19:30] <Afina> Deciding to show off some (recently acquired) knowledge to flash her credentials and earn some respect so she can properly treat with them, Afina flies over and lands amidst their pattern. "
Forbidden, yes. But once formed, impossible to remove even by powers that forbade it."
[19:34] <Kotono> Another speaks now, a feminine tilt to the voice,
"I am Xanderella. What is forbidden is seldom easy to find, for those who enforce the Temporal Compact are not so restrained by it. The most effective method, but the most dangerous to pursue."[19:40] <Afina> "
Afina, and Annalise," Afina gestures to herself and her companion by way of introduction, doing her best not to wince over Xanderella's name. "
Was there not a second answer, though, if paradox was merely the first?" She doesn't even know the question, but she'll go along with them a bit before demanding answers about Unmatter.
[19:45] <Kotono>
"Quilium. From spheres beyond these reside madness. One form of it is known as the Q'Pa. One drop of the Q'Pa, distilled one thousand times in a boiling pool of cold iron, silver and adamantine can be forged into a stable metal that does not harm Creation. It is not subject to unmatter, for it is not matter. The cost of creating this is astronomical. Oceans of blood and treasure were spilled to make it so."
[19:45] <Kotono> On saying Q'Pa, you notice that the words change. The color from them bleeds away, the words thin, weak and entirely shuddering.
[19:53] <Afina> They're discussing unmatter already? Sounds good! Sitting down and getting comfortable, Afina tries and fails to put some colour into her words, but it just doesn't take after hearing... that one. Hopefully it's not permanent. "What of a seed of Creation? The not yet actualised potential to endlessly create all of a single prime reality?" she phrases her concept of the World Tree's seeds into a form that planar beings would more readily comprehend. "Infinite potential, yet not bearing a form that can be comprehended by something already created." It's just an idea, thrown out to engage with the discussion while they ponder strange and unreachable concepts. The problem that a seed couldn't be brought into an existing world remains insurmountable to her mind.
[19:56] <Kotono> Annalise follows, clearing her throat several times. "We do seek these ideas," she says, "You seem to know that we seek your council on it?
[20:09] <Kotono> "We do not know," Xanderella replies, "We had not pursued that particular idea. We-" A pause and then color returns, slow and flickering.
"-pursued other angles instead, for the armor of Quilium was stolen."[20:11] <Afina> Armour? Afina can't wear that! "Was that your only...
Was that your only solution?" she asks. "
Or has a third answer been found?"
[20:14] <Kotono>
"We found a third answer," Another one speaks, this one a man's voice.
"I am Millar. The final solution is Godsblood. True deities can withstand the Blade of Endings without obliteration. It harms them, but they endure it. An injection of Godsblood allows control of the Blade for 24 hours. Unfortunately, Godsblood is also highly toxic when flooded into the bloodstream in such a way - even to those who normally fear no poison."[20:19] <Afina> So either Makan had a paradoxical glove, a Quilium one, or is a god. Creating an illusion of the imposing Shade King in all his freshly remembered glory above the gathering. "
This is King Makan. He who stole the Blade in Acheron long ago. Did he steal the armour of Quilium as well? Can you see any piece of it on him?"
[20:21] <Kotono>
"No. We do not know how he bears the Blade. It speaks of at least a fourth way, and others yet to be found. Long has this mystery vexed us."[20:22] <Afina> Not as much help as she'd like - none of the methods are practical for her. "
How was the armour of Quilium lost?"
[20:26] <Kotono>
"A great calamity befell us. A creature of hate and contempt from the Heavens Fell, and in time came to us. He waged war on us and took the armor. His name is Eblis. It came to us later that the Princess Bristis Pel stole the armor from Eblis, and it was lost on her slaying. Our auguries reveal nothing. It may lie in the hands of Archomental Imix, in the hands of Zaaman Rul, back in the hands of Eblis, or in the hands of a nameless interloper. We have not bee able to pursue it."[20:28] <Kotono>
"It would mean meddling in the politics of Fire," Annalise hums that, and in Afina's mind, 'Nothing to do lightly, but not an overwhelming threat, either, as long as we don't directly cross any of them.'
[20:30] <Afina> "
Short of finding a third option, we have little choice," Afina reflects. "
The original shaping of unmatter, was it done through Quilium as well?"
[20:31] <Kotono> It is Xanderella that replies this time.
"No. One of our number fell into an estascy lasting 8 centuries. At the end he guided us in the Creation, speaking impossible spells to accomplish the task. At the end of the task he said it was done and touched the Blade, offering himself as the final affirmation of success."[20:32] <Kotono>
"He was another's pawn and tool," Annalise sighs slightly,
"Typical meddling by a power, no doubt. Perhaps one so self righteous as to find a convienent life to obliterate to make the Blade."[20:37] <Afina> "
You should meet a Leanan Sidhe some time. That sort of thing is classic work for them," Afina retorts. "
Gods don't have a monopoly on influence and inspiration. However, I think we've learned all we need to take our enquiries to Fire, now."
[20:38] <Kotono> Annalise nods.
"Thank you."[20:39] <Afina> Privately deciding to dissuade Baleruk from further assaults on these kind and helpful souls, Afina nods as well, rising up. "
Thank you and farewell."
[20:39] <Kotono> OOC: Going to head out and shift back?
[20:40] <Afina> OOC: yes, just so people can safely know we're in fire instead of Limbo, assuming Annalise doesn't mind blowing an extra plane shift
[20:41] <Kotono> On returning back and finding Elena within the Courtyard, she listens and nods, "Right. Oh by th eway," she adds, "Jaela's back, Annalise. She's looking for you, too." Ahead of you, you see a cluster near a corner of the courtyard's walls. It looks like a giant spiderweb is there, as well as...furniture and chairs made of webbing? Spiders the size of horses are about on the web, too.
[20:43] <Afina> "If you want to go see her I can wait," Afina tells the blonde, looking curiously over at the spiders and wondering how strong that webbing is...
[20:43] <Kotono> "I should," Annalise says, "How about we go in the morning?"
[20:45] <Afina> "Meet here early, then," Afina nods, letting her go. While those two get cosy, Afina can investigate these new spiders...
[20:47] <Kotono> Flying closer, you can see them. At the head of the people is a woman with gray-shot black hair, wearing a black cloak and hood. "Sit," she calls to the people, "They are not the carnivores that normal phase spiders are. The Goddess Syala blessed them, turning them into omnivores - like us. They're no more interested in eating you than you are of eating them."
[20:50] * Afina helps herself to a smaller seat and listens to the woman's speech for now.
[20:55] <Kotono> The spiders are about 8ft long or so, mostly of misty white shades in color. They spin and form the web larger and larger, interlocking it and working together without a hitch. The woman goes to one and runs a hand along it's back and head, smiling, "They're entirely tame, in other words. They're far smarter than animals. They cannot talk, but Goddess Syala bestowed limited empathic
[20:55] <Kotono> communications to them. Touch one and you can communicate in this way to them. This one here," she adds with a rich, stirring laugh, "Is daydreaming about spinning a web amid the spires of Aurora."
[20:58] <Afina> Deciding to show some initiative as a leader of Aurora with what appear to be new allies, Afina takes off and lands by the woman and her spider, placing a hand on its leg. "Lots of us like to fly around up there. Just be careful not to completely block any avenues and it would be fine."
[21:01] <Kotono> The spider's mind brushes against Afina's. You can feel the simple, content daydream to spin the biggest web you've ever made. Oh, you'll have such a grand web, the envy of all the others! You could store so much food on it! Meanwhile the crowd murmurs and a few even approach, touching other spiders.
[21:01] <Kotono> "Thank you," The hooded woman murmurs, just audible to Afina.
[21:02] * Afina nods, smiling a little bit at the spider's pleasant thoughts... and unable to keep from imagining a colourful dragon shouting his head off and flying right through the web. "I'm Afina. Did Jaela bring you here?"
[21:05] <Kotono> "Yes. Ebony of Sylica. I humbly serve the Goddesses Alicia and Syala," Ebony bows her head at those names, "I have been placed in command of the detachment from Sylica. You are General Afina - it would be best if we talk somewhere privately."
[21:06] <Afina> "Come with me, then," Afina bids, leaving the curious spiders alone and retreating back to the portal into Aurora proper, taking both herself and Ebony to the war room.
[21:08] <Kotono> The War Room is peaceable enough, Ebony sitting down and drawing back her hood. "I wish noot to circumvent your own methods of communication, so...has Jaela managed to yet pass on news of Benfal to Aurora's command?"
[21:11] * Afina shakes her head. "No, although I was working on something related to that..." she reflects on the irony for a moment as she takes her own customary small yet high chair. "I just got back moments before seeing you and your spiders. I haven't seen Jaela in weeks since she went to Sylica."
[21:13] <Kotono> "Allow me to summarize then," Ebony says, "Sylica has been working twenty years to liberate Benfal. We have secretly gathered the survivors to us, organized resistances and weakened the devils there, and are preparing for a final confrontation with the Archdevil Semyaza. A confrontation that may pit the two Goddesses against the Archdevil." Ebony shudders deeply, "Such a conflict would be cataclysmic, but there may be no other way to retreive the Icon of Compact...and the chance to end Semyaza is too great to pass."
[21:15] <Afina> "Icon of Compact?" Afina asks curiously, recalling Semyaza's name coming up in past interrogations, something tickling at the edge of her mind.
[21:16] <Kotono> "A powerful symbol of Benfal. With it Semyaza's invasion of Benfal was irresistable. In his hands he commands druidic magic of vast scope and potency." Ebony explains, "Until it is taken back, Benfal cannot be fully saved."
[21:21] <Afina> Details falling into place, Afina nods and begins to explain a little from her perspective. "In our dungeon we have one of the devils that participated in the invasion of Lifasa. It's actions were primarily against the elven seat of power, a tree simply known as the 'Elven Tree'. It, like all plants on Lifasa, died when Abigor entered our world, and a hundred thousand elves were crucified upon its branches." She relays all of this crisply and without emotion before getting to the point. "Semyaza took the time to visit Lifasa and view this tree. Apparently he was in a poor mood, but our captive said he bore an 'Icon' of great power, but couldn't account further for that knowledge."
[21:23] <Kotono> "The Icon of the Compact," Voice grave, Ebony nods. She also begins to smile - a cold smile indeed. "We've heard Semyaza's mood is poor all the time as of late. Indeed, it is almost as if we are trying hard to ruin all his schemes."
[21:25] <Afina> "Hopefully in time we can share that feeling with Abigor and Bel," Afina opines, before leaning forward. "Our plight and Benfal's are similar - we want to help. It suits both our interests to combine strength - and it suits Hell to keep us apart. That means we have a potent obstacle in our way; the Duke of Destiny. Have you heard of him, Ebony?"
[21:29] <Kotono> "We've already agreed ot that," With a hint of a smile, "Benfal gets Aurora's aid in the f inal battle, and in return we aid the liberation of Lifasa. The forces I brought are merely a vanguard - right now most of o ur forces are unfortunately tied up in preparing for Benfal." After that she nods, "...yes. Yes I have. In far more foolish days I paid homage to the cold Mephistopheles and came
[21:29] <Kotono> to his court. The Duke of Destiny is seldom seem but often talked about at the highest circles of power. It is said he can make it so any devil advances into victory and promotion, no matter what, by changing fate itself."
[21:35] * Afina narrows her eyes at Ebony's admission, but decides to let it go. She's here to help, now, that'll have to be enough. "Yes, he can control fate itself. This is why Lifasa fell so easily - it was fated to be so. However, there are countermeasures. The Child of Lifasa, a vile product of rape, was to be an invulnerable and eternal ruler of Lifasa. And indeed, normal weapons availed
[21:35] * Afina nothing - which is why we found an abnormal one, one with the power to slay even Abigor or Bel if delivered correctly. Now, however, if we move to Benfal's aid, the Duke of Destiny will take the field in person to battle us... a precious chance to end him for good, but armoured by fate he is impossible to harm. Currently I've been seeking ways to control the Blade of Endings, a weapon of
[21:35] * Afina unmatter that cannot be touched by destiny... or very much else at all, it seems. Once we have that, we can bring our forces fully to bear on Benfal, but until then we're in great danger from any intervention."
[21:40] <Kotono> "I see." A murmur as she bows her head at Afina's severe gaze. "We struggled with Semyaza's own schemes, and have slowly dismantled them. I see..." Repeating that, "Then we should find a way to master this Blade. We have time yet. If I can aid you in any way in obtaining and wielding this blade, I will."
[21:46] <Afina> "This is what we know," Afina begins to list so she can catch Ebony up, "The Blade of Endings was forged over eight centuries by a Wiseman of Chaos caught in an ecstatic fervour of creativity that took his own life in the final act of making it. Unmatter destroys all it touches, however - utterly. It would kill me and prevent me reincarnating as another fey. It would kill you and prevent
[21:46] <Afina> your soul returning to Sylica. This occurs whether you are stabbed by the blade or if you grasp its hilt. There are known exceptions, however: the first is a paradox. Anything that's existence is bound in a temporal paradox is protected from unmatter - it cannot be destroyed at a single point in time. The second is Quilium, a material from spheres of madness beyond ours, the form of the Q'Pa
[21:46] <Afina> being a notable example. The last is godsblood, which can give a temporary protection but is ultimately poisonous. There may be others - the shade king Makan of Acheron can wield the blade safely through a means unknown to us."
[21:51] <Kotono> "Speak not of the Q'Pa," Ebony whispers, averting her eyes, "Speak not of what lies beyond our Creation." Softly repeating that thrice, "I am familiar with Godsblood. In service to the Goddesses I was poisoned beyond magic to alleviate. Purging the poison was done by a transfusion of Alicia's blood into mine. It nearly killed me, even with Alicia's touch steadying me so."
[21:55] <Afina> Cocking her head at Ebony's fear of the Q'Pa, Afina decides she can understand it, how the mere word bled colour out of existence. Renbuu would surely be enraged beyond reason to hear it spoken in his presence. "Godsblood is too temporary and ultimately too harmful to rely upon. Some of our number are investigating previous acts of forbidden time magic and any paradoxical objects that could
[21:55] <Afina> have been left in their wake and used to safely contain the blade. Myself and Annalise are following a lead on Quilium used by the original creators of the blade, which appears to have been lost on the plane of fire, stolen first by Eblis, and stolen again by Bristis Pel."
[21:56] <Kotono> Paling at that, "...you continue to speak terrible names. Eblis is another, a hideous thing cast out of the light." Ebony exhales, "But Bristis Pel is dead. Did it pass onto the hands of her son?"
[21:59] <Afina> "We find ourselves often dealing with terrible things," Afina retorts. "Where the armour passed to after the death of Bristis Pel is unknown. We will have to court with the powers of Fire to possible unravel its progress, for divinations are fruitless."
[22:01] <Kotono> "Truth," Ebony says, "I am yours to aid you in any way you see fit towards this goal."
[22:03] <Afina> Well, the other groups all have three members, so why not take some extra company along with Annalise? "If you are willing to travel to Fire with us in the morning I would take you. Will you require help surviving the elements, there?"
[22:05] <Kotono> "Please," Ebony murmurs, "I never developed that particular spell, I'm afraid to say."
[22:07] <Afina> "I'll take care of it," Afina stands up and then takes wing, "Annalise and I are meeting early at the gates tomorrow - Aurora has a night and day cycle like anywhere else. Is there anything I can do to help you and yours get comfortable here?"
[22:12] <Kotono> You feel a faint wave of soft warmth brush against you, "I only submit that I am sanctified and blessed by Alicia herself, taught in the same holy knowledges and techniques that Mystra taught her. Should you face foes who inflict vile injuries on the body, my presence is sufficient to allow them to heal."
[22:15] * Afina smiles at that, putting aside her reservations. She knows enough that such knowledge is mutually exclusive with what Hell offers, so Ebony must be sincere in her change. "Our foes are quite fond of those same attacks. It will indeed be useful, Ebony. Thank you."
[22:21] <Kotono> "I am here to serve," She rises and kneels a moment before Afina, before standing once more. "It is possible enemies from Hell will attempt on me while we are there. I am a heretic of Baator, the highest capital offense, and I have thrown my soul in with the Goddesses. Hell hates them with a special fury for what they have done with Antenora and opposing Hell across Creation." A moment's pause, "From what I understand, this is hardly any different than your situation, so it may only be a matter of which commanding devil sent the reprisal."
[22:24] <Afina> "Mephistopheles hasn't given us any trouble that we know of. Bel and Abigor are likely to focus purely on Lifasans, but I doubt they'll care too much who they hit once in the heat of battle," Afina shakes her head. "If you stand with us, we will stand with you. The devils won't be given a chance against either."
[22:27] <Kotono> "Good. Be wary...my apostasy is so that the Nessian Pit Fiends have been sent at me before. That battle resulted in my nearly fatal poisoning, and Antenora and Latha were both wounded before they destroyed it." Ebony so says, "They are as to normal pit fiends as normal pit fiends are to barbazu."
[22:30] <Afina> "Ah... sounds like comparing Gathgarion to a normal cornugon," Afina frowns, considering that quite a problem. "In such cases we'll focus on retreating safely. Thank you for being open, Ebony. I appreciate it."
[22:36] <Kotono> "There's no shame in running from those horrors," Ebony says, simply. "To make you understand...Antenora is the shepard of souls in Sylica. Every soul that passes into the realm strengthens her with their virtous life. Latha is the sun of Sylica itself, a shining angel of light. Do not engage one unless you are terribly certain you shall triumph, or have no other choice."
[22:38] * Afina nods. "Hell has far too many such weapons, and we too few. Searching for the blade of endings is but one way to redress the balance. Now, is there anything else? Otherwise we should return to settling your forces here and linking them with our own."
[22:38] <Kotono> "I am ready," Ebony says.