Ithea and Sylvie slip away, joined by 27. For the sake of privacy you head to Sylvie's room, the blonde going to sit in her desk chair and rest her head on her hand. "I'm tired," she says without much emotion, "What happened reminds me that it's still an open wound that's scabbed over. I'm tired and I just...I'm scared." She says in a drained, listless monotone. "I don't want to keep living until I die and get turned into something else. I don't want to have to embrace that through suicide if Hell would capture me, so that I can escape them. I want out of this entire damned cycle of souls, life and death. I don't want to be a mortal anymore."
Sylvie says all of that, voice growing calmed and a hint of determination in it. "I want to use the machine in Medi's quarters, Ithea. I don't want to lose myself or risk it and hope Oghma decides I can keep my memories. I don't want to forget those I've lost. Not Janson, not Andrea, not Wayland, not Muirfinn or Lief. Not anyone."
Ithea pats Sylvie on the back. "If that's something you think you need, I won't stop you. If you need someone to argue with you over the merits and disadvantages, well, Balyss might be a better choice once she's recovered a bit. I'd probably recommend finding someone well-versed for that before you make a decision, but if you're certain about it, you know that I'll be on your side. Eternity's a long time though, and even immortals forget things to the passage of time."
"I've already studied it," Sylvie demurs. "I've made up my mind. The main complication is how Oghma will take it. At best he accepts it and at worst he takes great offense. I don't think he'll smite me out of hand, but there could be consequences. I'm going to try and spin it as a quest for knowledge and write a book on it, then offer it up to Oghma. Maybe that'll help."
"Hrm..." Ithea raises an eyebrow at Sylvie's tone, but nods.
"The book thing is probably a good idea. Do you plan to just go through with it and offer the book afterwards, or to try and gain a blessing before the fact? You'd at least know the consequences going in, hopefully of which there are none negative."
"I've written the first half of the book and made an offering of it," Sylvie says, "I've been considering this for awhile and today made up my mind. The other half's to be written afterwards."
"Ah. Were you given any response on the first half offered?" Ithea asks curiously.
"Nothing definitive," Sylvie stands now, "So it's in my hands and my risk. I'd like you to be there in case something goes wrong, Ithea."
"Of course. And hey, at least no news can be considered good news here? Maybe?" Ithea notes, sounding optimistic. "When do you want to do this?"
"No time like the present," Sylvie finally smiles, lightening the mood. But it's a sad smile, "Seize the day, because we may not have tomorrow."
"Trust me, we'll have tomorrow and many more. But you're right, no time like the present," Ithea says, getting up.
Medi's quarters are semi-sealed. Only commanding officers can go in, most of it undisturbed beyond taking the various gifts he left for the inheritors of Medicant. The room in question is a small one, a massive set of ten magic circles drawn together. They seem to move, somehow being three dimensional despite being drawn on the floor. The ceiling is an array of clear crystals in various shapes and designs. As the two of you step in, you see various images move amid the circles. Pictures of all the realms, good, evil, lawful and chaotic. The whirl about the room, an endless order of change.
The air here is strangely electric, making your skin tingle. You feel oddly out of balance, a little taller than you should. Off in a way you can't describe. Like the inside of your body itches, chafing against your bones.
Sylvie advances towards the center, a place where all the circles meet. "Any suggestions before I begin?"
"Yeah, don't piss off any gods, don't die, don't turn into an abomination, and I'm raiding your library if you any of those things."
"Thanks," Sylvie rolls her eyes and simply stands there. After several moments she begins to float in the air and Elena's voice is heard. None of the playfulness is there, instead a serious and somber tone. "Are you certain? There's no turning back once I activate this."
"Do it," Sylvie says after just a single beat, and suddenly all the world seems to be light.
> roll 1d100 higher the better
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 47 > [d100=47]
Light. Light overwhelming. Ithea is sent flying back and out of the room by sheer force, landing in a face down heap on the floor. Her eyes are dazzled and she's dazed for a little bit. After shaking her head and blinking her eyes several times, she can see. Sylvie's there - about the same as before. Yet she appears slightly different. Her features are prettier in a way that seems different, unearthly. She appears perhaps 25, yet there a distinct quality to her looks that defies that. A timelessness, for a lack of a better word. Even her voice is subtly changed, though Ithea isn't sure how.
"It's done," Sylvie slowly flexes her hands, watching her fingers. She throws a few punches then takes a few steps forward. "It's different, but not different. Something I can't really describe."
DM note:
1: Oghma is mightily offended. Smited the next time she leaves Aurora with the intent to kill her and bring her soul to judgment before him. In the event she survives, she loses all access to clerical magic (chameleon) and opportunistic piety (factotum).
2-10: Oghma is offended. Sylvie loses access to clerical magic (factotum) and opportunistic piety (factotum)
11-30: Oghma is mildly offended. Sylvie loses access to clerical magic and opportunistic piety as above, but can regain them through an atonement spell and a quest.
31-90: Oghma is neither offended nor interested. The change happens with no action by him.
91-99: Oghma is pleased by the offering of a book and Sylvie's initiative. She gains a +2 bonus to an ability score (randomly determined) and spell resistance equal to 10 + her hit dice.
100: Oghma mightily pleased. He personally adds benefits and powers to Sylvie as he sees fit. Details on this will be determined in the event it happens.
Sylvie does gain the traits of the outsider type (darkvision, no eat/sleep/drinking needed, martial weapons).
Ithea gives a sigh of relief. "Well, at least you didn't come out all ugly and no fist of an angry god trying to smite us both, so I guess we can call it a success."
"Yeah. So this is eternity?" Sylvie flexes her fingers once more, studying her hands. "I've read that many mortals that directly become outsiders note a new tendency for time to slip away from them. Hours, days, years. But I still feel like myself. Now I need to figure out which plane my home plane is."
"Any plans for that? Besides the obvious and surely painful method that I will definitely protest against?"
Ithea moves towards Sylvie and then out of nowhere flicks her hard on the forehead. "Also, now that you have less existential angstiness to muse over, we should probably help Tepen with his research on Taelfagn's chains."
"Ow," Sylvie rubs her forehead and glares at Ithea, "Yes, yes. I suppose we should, shouldn't we?"
"Well, chop chop then! Us mere mortals don't have all eternity you know!" Ithea exclaims as she gestures to the exit with an amused grin. "Look, I'm already getting wrinkles waiting on you!"
Oh, that gets Sylvie to crack a smile. A small one, but a real smile. "Too late for that. Don't think I haven't noticed your wrinkles. Sharess must be scandalized."
"Hey! I'm only twenty. I don't -actually- have wrinkles," Ithea says with a dismissive sniff and an upturned nose. "I'm still young and beautiful and in the prime of my life."
Sylvie goes to crack her neck, "Yeah, and...my neck's not stiff," Sylvie remarks, rubbing the back of it with her hand. "I'm not tired at all, actually." she starts to head to a portal, "Not having to sleep's going to be nice. I'll have more time to read."
"Well, we do have a pretty big library," Ithea notes as she follows after Sylvie, closing the door to Medi's quarters behind her and following her to the portal.
From there, you find Elder Magi Tepen. He's sitting in the library, an ice pack on his head. He sips from a mug of something cold, chill mists rising from it. Nearby Ellese is buried in piles of parchment, reading them and scribbling on others. "Quietly," Tepen says as you approach, "Attempting to read information on such Hellish aligned magic has powerful psychosomatic effects from trying to process it. Overheating, parched thirst, burning sensations and..." A wince as he goes to adjust the ice pack, "Headaches."
"We wanted to share our insights having seen that magic in effect up close, and help out where we could with the research, Tepen. Sylvie probably got some feedback of sorts from 21 blasting away the chains on my portal and just being around them, and I analyzed them briefly as they attempted to corrupt my gate. Hopefully a shared headache isn't as bad?"
"Go on," Tepen waves a hand, "Help yourselves."
Go ahead and make a spellcraft check, Ithea.
[12:29] <Merc> roll d20+40+5 Spellcraft+Inspiration
[12:29] <Serith> Merc roll for Serith < 61 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+72 Sylvie spellcraft (+22 factotum)
<Serith> Koaway roll for Serith < 76 > [d20=4]
Will save, Ithea. Sylvie as well.
[13:51] <Merc> roll d20+33+11 will+inspiration
[13:51] <Serith> Merc roll for Serith < 52 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+46 will (+14 inspiration)
<Serith> Koaway roll for Serith < 59 > [d20=13]
Hours of hard study pass. A few things are abundantly clear. Firstly, this is intensely complex and difficult. Secondly, you indeed get a headache from it. Third, it's not being done soon. The sheer amount of work, decoding and analysis is staggering. But you do feel like you grasp the principals there.
Ellese looks up, face screwed up in concentration. "I think that's enough for today," she says, massaging her forehead, "I can virtually feel chains on me after all this."
"Agreed. A dip in the hot springs will probably help relax, followed by a nice filling dinner," Ithea says as she stretches, a few popping noises getting released as she does so while standing up fromthe chair she was at. "Anybody else want to join me? We can come back to this later after we've gotten some proper rest."
Tepen and Ellese both demur, Sylvie getting up and going with Ithea. Once outside of earshot of them, "I'm not even stiff from sitting for hours," she remarks. "It's like my body doesn't get tired any more. Everything works, no matter the stress on it. I'd read about the differences between mortal and spiritual bodies, but I never appreciated it like this." She slooooowly stretches and smiles, "You're right, I do feel better now."
"Shouldn't you be writing all this down for your book?" Ithea jokes.
"I'll remember it. I'm sure of it," Sylvie just laughs, "It really is night and day. I just feel good. I'm free from all the little aches and pains in life and it makes me feel so good."
As you chat, you go through a portal and another. Just before the entrance to the baths, you find 27 waiting in front of the door to the women's baths. He's staring right at Ithea.
Ithea stares right back at the little slaad. "You're not going in with us."
27 stares at Ithea for before saying, "There is more behind the stone. You have to resist more, even when the chains grow tighter. Something horrible is happening."
"...Of course. Sometimes I forget you do that with everything else you do," Ithea comments with a sigh as she muses on his words. "Sylvie, I don't suppose your super duper new spiritual senses know how to interpret that? Cause my own mortal take on it is that we should be heading back to the library and keep at the research...though the bit with the stone I'm not even sure what that'd mean."
"Hah. If I understood slaad, I'd be asking you to put me out of my misery," Sylvie matches that sigh with one of her own. Waving her hand at 27, "Shouldn't you be clinging to Hanna's bedroom roof or something?"
27 just keeps staring at Ithea. "The last puzzle won't open. Someone's coming to visit and you won't be ready. A dragon follows another dragon on the right path."
"Okay, and now I'm officially worried. Did that sound like an attack on Aurora is imminent to you? It did to me. Coupled with the previous statement, Taelfagn might be in the middle of setting up his own attack?"
Ithea starts furiously scratching her head and stomps her foot on the ground. "Argh, and I still don't get the puzzle and dragon things, unless we're going to get another prismatic dragon."
Sighing, Ithea looks back towards Sylvie. "I think the hot springs will have to wait. We should probably get with some of the others to figure out 27's latest."
Another sigh from Sylvie, "You do know you're trying to puzzle out a slaad's ramblings, right? I think that's enough to get you declared insane in Mount Celestia or Arcadia. Soon you'll be around the bend and Sharess will have you drag you to Rapture by the nape of the neck."
Meanwhile 27 starts mimicking Ithea - scratching at his head and stomping his foot. He then blinks and looks around, "Hanna," he mutters, starting to wander off.
"Maybe, but there's those rare useful nuggets in his sayings, and watching him go after Hanna is entertaining. Don't tell her I said that, by the way."
She also thought it was cute how he mimicked her, but she wasn't saying that part outloud!
"Sure, sure." Sylvie leans against the wall, "Anyway, we have a week minus today. What's Aurora's plans, General?" The last gets a little mocking tilt of her voice.
"Show more respect, or I'll have you tossed in the dungeons for an hour, and you get to listen to Yian bemoan his fate," Ithea says with a sniff before looking pensive as she considers the question.
"There may be a few enhancements to Aurora to make, though I'm not sure what can get fit in during that time. At least the Glade for obvious reasons. We're doing our research on the chains, which from the sound of things might be a higher priority. Improving defenses in case we're attacked before we're ready to launch our own attacks too. Other than that, have some people wiser than me consider 27's words and figuring out what's just 27 being rambly, and what's an actual prophecy. I prefer Balyss though, at least with her I know I can trust her words fully."
ooc: Who'd be best to pass info on 27 to? Not really sure who to talk to here.
It tends to get dumped on Tepen or other sages. Vul'lath is also a valid target. I'd say any general, but as you're one, you can't pass the buck that way.
The look on Sylvie's face is anything but amused, but she waves a hand, "Yes, I suppose we're right back to Tepen."
Ithea nods and heads back to the library! Hopefully they don't find Tepen nose deep in the research they all agreed to take a break from!
It's worse. Tepen isn't there. However, a bowing acolyte mage quickly says, "General, Tepen was called away to a book. To quote him, it's the book of 'The Father'. I understand it's showing unusual behavior?"
Ithea frowns. Oh great. "Do you know where he went?"
Actually, scratch that. "Elena? Where's Tepen right now?"
Elena so appears as asked, "He's checking the wards on The Father's books," she reports, "It just started shaking and writhing, plus radiating emotion."
Ithea nods with a frown. "C'mon, Sylvie," she says as she heads for a portal to where the book is kept.
"Oghma damn it," Sylvie darkly mutters, "This is not the time for this."
"When is it, really?" Ithea fires back.
Amid Sylvie's grumbling, the two head to the chamber The Father's book is contained in. Various wards and magical inscriptions are engraved all over the room. A rainbow of different color lights come from them as the book shakes in place. A moment later, a sheer, overwhelming sensation of frustration slams into the both of you. It's thick as honey and painfully bitter, leaving the taste of ashes in your mouth.
Tepen is nearby, studying the book with eyes that blaze with blue spellfire. One hand hovers above it while the other draws seven-fold patterns in the air. "By Mystra's Weave be calm," Tepen repeats, again and again.
Ithea eyes the book and tries to figure out if there's anything she can do to help.
OOC: knowledge/spellcraft/etc?
You can make spellcraft, assuming you detect magic or the like.
Ithea uses Detect Magic.
[12:54] <Merc> roll d20+40+6 spellcraft+inspiration
[12:54] <Serith> Merc roll for Serith < 66 > [d20=20]
"I'll hold back in case this goes sour," Sylvie steps back a little bit, Ithea studies the magic. A force is pressing against the book from inside, but it looks like the book itself will hold. It's already losing steam. A powerful eruption, but one that's about ran its course.
"It looks like things are going to be fine. Tepen's got everything in hand," Ithea says, though she keeps an eye on the book until it finishes acting up. "Whatever brought this on shouldn't last much longer, hopefully."
The book slows and finally goes still. After that Tepen seven times traces a magic circle across its surface, murmuring, "By the Weave, be still. Lest Mystra's magic burn you asunder, Azuth's spells turn you into a frog, Savras doom your future, Velsharoon steal your life and Alicia slash you with arcane fire." After that's done he gets up and leans on the Staff of Vithos, "The Father seems upset. Perhaps over Muirfinn or other things that I know not."
"Perhaps," Ithea agrees. "Muirfinn was the one of the driving forces on the quest to deal with him so the Father wanted to give us a reminder not to forget about him. Something like that anyway."
Ithea sighs, as she drops the spell she was using to detect magic. "If it isn't one thing it's another. Tepen, we just heard some potential prophecies from 27, one of which worried me in particular when I heard mention of the book 'acting up'."
"Thankfully I guess I was just overreacting, since problem's been solved for the time being. Still, I wanted to have you and/or Vul'ath going over his words. It might be more Vul'ath given you already have Taelfagn's chains on your plate."
"Take it to Vul'lath. My attention is already split too many ways," Tepen says, "In fact? Elena, can you pass word of 27's latest revelations onto Sage Vul'lath?"
"Sure," Elena calls from nowhere and everywhere around you, "It'll just make his day."
"Okay, that works. Let us know when you want to get back on the research for the chains."
ooc: Anything else to do here?
Not really. I'm going to move you along now.
From there you part with Sylvie and go to get some rest, to put this miserable day to rest. On entering your quarters, you find 27 curled up on your bed. The badger-slaad tightly hugs a long pillow, looking up from it as you enter. "Hanna says anarch needs company."
"Maybe I do," Ithea says as she changes out of her armor and then flops onto the bed. "Trying hard not to think too much on Muirfinn and Lief, and now I'm seeing dangers everywhere, thinking I need to do more and not fail everybody else, and...ugh. Just ugh..."
"Stupid day."
27 slides up to Ithea, hugging her from behind. He can feel the gentle push of his heart-sword, his heartbeat a steady pulse on her back. "Anarch be okay. See? Anarch has a message." 27 puts a white envelope in front of Ithea. A familiar sort of one - she's pretty sure the dungeon slaad has sent her ones just like this.
Ithea debates putting on her armor again in case it's a summon but figures it's enough to have it on hand. Gathering her armor and weapon and sitting them on her lap, she opens the envelope and pulls out the letter to read it.
The letter reads as follows.
Greetings and salutations! I must again warmly congratulate on your successes in dungeon exploring. I have recently dealt with less gifted amateurs and find myself missing your deft touch more than ever. Unfortunately, it is not yet time to invite you to another dungeon. Instead, allow me to extend you an invitation. There is a particular magic shop in Dweomerheart, Ella's Star. Go there and tell the proprietor that you come in the name of magic. I assure you that you will have a superb time of it.
You may wish to bring a few friends. A healer would be wise.
Ithea sighs as she puts the letter on a nightstand, followed by putting away her combat gear as she lays back down on the bed. Tomorrow she'll consider worrying about that invitation.
Any plans for the next few days, Ithea?
Various! Not sure what needs to be handled in game and what's just considered handled.
In no particular order:
Ithea would be helping with the Glade construction (duh), checking up on Balyss, mentioning the invitation to Sylvie/Balyss, helping Tepen out on the chains research, talkign to Vul'ath to see if he had any insights into 27's words, debating permanency stuff, getting to know the new recruits, checking up on the tortles to see how their morale is doing (she'll feel responsible for them), checking up on the catfolk (which she -is- responsible for and hasn't checked up on in a while).
Glade will be largely covered OOC in nagging.
Ithea sleeps poorly. She tosses and turns, just barely staying below the level of waking up. It's a half lucid hellscape of forgotten images and distorted dreams. She only remembers what finally awoke her - the feeling of an iron chain wrapping around her neck and squeezing tight. She hurts all over. Her muscles burn and she lies in a pool of her own sweat. Her stomach is cramping and her mouth tastes of ashes. She shivers despite being under blankets and with 27 next to her. A chill that reminds her of a wound from an icy weapon, spread out through her body.
"Ugh..." Ithea mutters as she forces herself up, checking the time. If its early enough, she might head over to the Healer Ward and crash in one of the blessed beds to finish getting some proper rest without nightmares.
Aurora's current time is a few hours past midnight. Her stomach churns violently as she gets up, another shiver passing through her.
Ithea heads to the Healer Ward. Hopefully someone is there to give her a quick check-up for her stomach.
You find it's quiet there. There's only two people around, Hanna and Balyss. The former watches Balyss sleep. Said Lunatic is covered by a white sheet up to her chin and snoozes away. "Ithea?" Hanna asks without even looking up. "Nightmares and associated trauma?"
Ithea nods. "Restless as hell. Stomach feels like I ate something foul too. Was hoping to see if using the beds here will help, at least with the sleep part."
Hanna comes over, checking over Ithea. "It's also possible you've been spiritually poisoned or wounded in some way. Remember what happened after Abigor? For that matter, after Muirfinn and company came back from killing Athux, they all had varying degrees of that. Fortunately, it means we're experienced in how to deal with it."
"Its possible," Ithea allows. "That nessian's weapon got more than its fair share of my flesh unfortunately."
Ithea stands still as Hanna examines her.
Hanna takes 10 on the relevant checks.
Ithea gets a long look over. Hanna's frown deepens as she goes, and finally says, "You're contaminated. Not greatly," She steps back and slowly goes on, "The presence of a Duke of Hell and Nessian Pit Fiends wounding you would be enough for it, not to mention whatever Lixer's puppet added. As it is, proper treatment should see you back to normal in a week's time. Sleep here for at least the first three days, as nightmares are common with this condition. You're lucky it wasn't worse. "
Here Hanna murmurs a few words and looks Ithea over again, "I can't tell what those axes were, but they likely contributed, whatever they are."
"Well, already what I planned to do, so glad it wasn't anything worse. How's Balyss doing by the way?" she asks, gesturing towards Selune's favored daughter. "Has she woken since then, or just been constant sleep for recovery?"
"She's still out. It takes time," Hanna says, and then pokes Ithea on the back of the neck. "But you go take a bed and get some sleep."
Ithea nods and gets in one of the blessed beds. "Thanks for looking me over," Ithea comments before she tries to fall asleep again.
Hanna's smile is the last thing Ithea sees as sleep quickly claims her. It is a deep and dreamless sleep, morning coming via the feeling of something wet splashing on Ithea's face.
Ithea sputters and gets up, swiping the liquid off her face (hopefully water?). "What the heck?!?"
"Morning, sunshine," Balyss sits next to your bed, dressed in casual clothes. An empty mug is held in her hand. At least it does seem to be only water. "You weren't waking up to anything else and you've been asleep about 12 hours."
"....you do know that I had an infernal contamination that needed flushing out, right?" Ithea mutters as she flings water drops at Balyss' face.
"Glad to see you're up too though, even if you decided to be a jerk about it. Just so you know that slaad sent another invitation and asked about you."
"I know," Balyss smiles widely, water splashing off her face. "Oh Ithea, I saw so much! You have no idea what Selune sees and I saw a fraction of it. There's so much happening everywhere. Everywhere the moon's light touches, she sees. Constantly, always. Her servants spread the light of the moon as much as the moon itself."
"Well, its good that its so far reaching that it gave us as much as it did on Muirfinn and Lief. Remind me to offer my thanks in prayer and an offering to Selune. Any suggestions on a proper offering in this situation?"
"Gold and silver. Incense grown under the full moon. Moonlight mithral, always that. The six who joined one to become seven. The frolic most of all, it's important. To lead and prepare dreams to a better tomorrow, we must offer our dreams. Our dreams are the key to the ethereal moonlight, it's because she's here but she isn't here. The sun and moon are always dancing, don't you see? That's one of the most important rules. White and black, fire and water, earth and air. Together and apart." Balyss doesn't stop for air once, just going on and on. "Because she is the moon and the moon is she. She dreams in the night sky and the sun brings those dreams to life in the daylight. As long as the dance continues, she can't win. They're battling to determine the fate of that. If one falls, the other will fall and she'll end the dance forever." Balyss has wide, glassy eyes as she goes on, finally drawing to a close and just staring at Ithea.
Ithea nods with each suggestion given at first, until the bit after the moonlight mithral and startled notes Balyss' glassy eyes. The catfolk duskblade stares at her with wide eyes and then once Balyss ends her speech, she grumbles. "Oh come on! Is there something in my face that screams 'recipient of prophecies'? Is there?!?"
She makes a note to share these words with Vul'ath too.
Balyss just stares at Ithea several more moments before flopping back on her chair. After a few more, "Sorry...still...not all there," she manages. "Seeing things. Prophet's rapture, but far more than before. Things. Just...things. Not sure if it's a meaningful prophecy."
"I'll let someone like Vul'ath make the judgement on that. I already fed him some from 27 yesterday, and while it didn't sound remotely connected to that, he might find something useful from it. At worst, we've occupied some more of his time."
"I...I know what some of it means." Balyss slowly blinks and rubs her eyes.
"That's one of us then," Ithea notes.
Balyss ever so slowly rubs her face. "There's six sisters, mortal sextuplets who were made into Shards of Selune as a reward for a lifetime of service. They serve Phoebe, an angel said to be sprung from the blood of Selune, shed during battles against the Lady of Loss. It's obscure but true lore of the faith. For the rest, I saw them on the moon. There's something important that has to happen there, some sort of festival. A celebration, a frolic. I'm not sure what it's about, but I know that it's vitally important. Selune ensured I knew how important it was when I saw it."
A longer pause as Balyss slumps in her chair. She stays that way a little while, eyes closed. "The sun and the moon, light and dark. Forever apart but dancing one after another."
"I'm still kind of lost. Is it basically a suggestion to recruit these sisters? I know we have people trying to recruit again, so is Selune offerig her own suggestions?"
"I'm not sure. I don't think so. I think...I think it's just what I saw. You don't understand, Ithea. Selune is so much. So much!" She sits up now, eyes snapping open, "I saw only a little of it, a few splashes from the ocean of everything she sees. My mind's still reeling from that contact. She guided me and protected me, but it's still overwhelming. It's just..."
Ithea snaps her fingers in front of Balyss. "If you keep thinking about the experience, you'll just keep stuck in a loop. Stop and try thinking of other stuff."
With a great, heaving shudder, Balyss sits up. "Y-yeah. I need to. It's just better than focusing on the present."
Ithea grimaces a bit at that. "Did I mention the slaad sent an invitation? Just think of giant boulders rolling down a staircase, black holes behind doors and fights against dragons atop a burning star. I bet that will distract you?" She offers.
"...right. Back to being delirium." Balyss says after a beat, "Maybe if I focus hard I can lose a few days in rapture."
"Better than splashing poor innocent girls with water."
"Better th-" Balyss stops and groans, "Oh, nevermind that one. That's entirely the wrong sort of joke to make. Anyway, so there's another dungeon invitation?"
"Well not yet, technically. Maybe. I think."
"Was mostly just distracting you with memories of you screaming in abject terror, though he did send a letter even if he mentioned he doesn't have a dungeon ready for us. On the other hand, he invited me to this other place...and recommended I take a healer with me. And friends. Which kind of implies a dungeon of sorts, even if not of his making."
"Take Hanna and 27," Balyss says immediately, "Friends and a healer. It'll work out great."
"Uhuh."
Ithea just gives Balyss a flat look.
"They will. Elena, could you tell Hanna that she's going out with 27 and Ithea? Thanks." Balyss just smiles wider now, "27'll think you're the best anarch ever."
"Pass. Also, now isn't exactly the best time to be making that sort of trip. We're trying to prepare an assault initiative against Lixer."
"Alright then, so now what?" Balyss asks right back.
"Well, I need to talk to Vul'lath, see if he's figured anything useful from 27's words. I'll also pass on your words a while ago, and your insight into those sisters. I may also pass by the library and tell Tepen I should probably be passing on the research on the chains given that contamination Hanna found. He probably got most he needed from me yesterday, I hope, and Sylvie's probably still helping."
Ithea pauses and asks, "Speaking of Sylvie, have you heard of what she did or talked with her yet?"
"I've been distracted," Balyss says blandly, before wincing a little bit. "Tell me she didn't do something rash after yesterday's disaster."
"Weeeeeell...does giving up your mortality count as something rash?"
Balyss stares a moment, "What did she do?" she asks after a long, uncomfortable moment. "How? Why?"
"Remember that device in Medi's quarter? She bribed Ohgma to look the other way with a book about mortality and promising to write a book about immortality. It worked."
A long stare at that, Balyss slumping back. "...at least the damn device worked. So she's an outsider now? Did it change her at all? Moonmaiden's love, Sylvie.'
"She seemed the same old snarky Sylvie to me, but you've known her longer, even if she does prefer my obviously superior company."
"Fantastic," Balyss groans, "An outsider of her power might have trouble on the Prime. Did she even think about that? Of course not, she was too all up in her own...argh!" Balyss gets up at that, "I'm going to go find her and give her a few pieces of my mind."
Ithea manages to resist the crack about Balyss not being able to spare any pieces of her mind, and instead notes, "Before you fully focus on yelling at her, remember that access to Medi's quarters requires permission from a general. So some of the blame lays on me as well."
Ithea shifts, preparing for Balyss to start yelling at her. Better that she gets some of it out of her system before she gets to Sylvie. Still, she'll take advantage of Balyss wrapping her head around the sequence of bombs she's dropping on her. "Also, don't forget that she has pretty weak ties back to her own Prime. You and Simmer are her in Aurora. What's in Balmuria for her? Sure that isn't the only Prime, but I asked her if she'd considered everything. If she'd done eveything to prepare... which she had given she had already considered Oghma and tried to curry favor."
"Muirfinn and Lief's death hit her really hard, and frankly I made the judgement call that even with its risks, she'd do something worse AND more monumentally stupid if I didn't give my support. Not sure what exactly, but she's smart enough to figure something, and unwise enough to go for it, probably with a heck of a lot less prep."
Unfortunately, Ithea only gets as far as 'weak connection to her Prime' before Balyss loudly interrupts, "WEAK? WEAK?!" Her golden skin turns darker, a flush coming to her as she stands. "I'll tell you what's weak! Weak is her son asking Auntie Balyss when his Mommy's coming home! Weak is her mother wishing her child would come back again! Weak is her friends missing her every day, like a piece of their lives that's just not there!" She gets to her feet during all of this, voice rising to a shout.
Ithea weathers the response and decides to wait for Balyss to finish before continuing, deciding to hold the rest for now.
"I can agree with that. I can also tell you that Sylvie had no plans to go back. When does her life there come up without you, Simmer or I bringing it up? I barely touch on it because of how she gets."
"Besides nothing stops those people from coming here if you want them to come. Open a gate, extend them an invitation. No one would stop you. Aurora is pretty safe, right? Though given her past behavior, I'd assume the only reason you've never tried is that you're afraid she'll still find a way to avoid them. If that's the case, how does her doing this change anything? Your base problem remains the same."
"Oh yes, like ninth circle magic is a practical solution to this problem," Balyss snaps, "They aren't heroes who travel the planes, they're her family! They shouldn't have to be dragged over here for Sylvie to give the slightest damn about them!"
"No they shouldn't. But they could. I have a gate item crafted under Sylvie's direction. I could easily expend the effort to do it. Frankly, I wouldn't even consider it an effort."
"Are you wanting some sort of moral victory? I agree that its not right. But they have means to come here, if they really wanted to see her. Is my other point less valid? Do you think she'd turn them away even if they had the means? Again, before you answer please keep in mind that I will gladly use ninth circle magic for such a 'non-practical' solution."
"She sure as hell didn't come back to them when she had the chance, over and over," Balyss glowers at Ithea now, "You're just enabling her."
"Probably. And you're dodging my question. I can open a gate right now or even whenever is convinient for them. I am fully at your service. Answer the damn question already so we can all agree that the problem isn't really what she just did, but what she hasn't been doing. And then if you want, we can try and figure a way to solve the issue without the stubborn yelling that never gets anywhere? I'm your friend too, Balyss. I can 'enable' you just as much as her."
Balyss twitches, opens her mouth - and stops. She takes a long breath and then another. Slow, tense breaths that get expelled with far too much force. In a quieter voice, "What do you think should be done?"
Ithea looks smugly at succeding in 'calming' Balyss. Balyss probably really really wants to punch her, but hey its keeping her off-balance and she's paying attention so that's a win.
"Well, I'm still for bringing them over here. Ninth circle or not, at the end of the day its not something remotely beyond our resources. Sylvie needs to reconnect with them, and if she won't see them, they're gonna have to come to her, hopefully just at first."
"We don't tell Sylvie they are coming, if anything I spring them on her as a reward or something. If she doesn't buy it, then concern over what immortality could do to her bonds. All true really, and hey if she's focused her negative feelings on me they're not focusing on her visitors."
"After that the trick is just making sure she reconnects and keeping her off-balance and distracted from feeling like she's being forced into some sort of intervention. I can keep askig her for information and introductions or what not. Repeat exposure without ever giving her a chance to say to never do it again."
Ithea then sighs and shrugs. "I don't really have better plans yet. We could also ask Jaela and Hanna about their relationship I guess, but I dunno that you want to involve them. There are a few parallels if you squint hard enough. But I think interaction is the only real solution. Telling her to man up and go home just sucks."
Balyss gives Ithea a sour look and goes silent for a bit. "I think we should ask a third party before bringing her family over," she finally says. "Hanna and Jaela are busy, but the idea's a good one."
"Adrian and Misalea would be my second thought, Stille my third thought. Adrian and Misalea would be more of a family and stable relationship perspective, I think. Stille would be an unrelated third party in that he's not connected to Sylvie, but has connections to both of us. I suppose maybe Simmer if she knew those friends well?" Ithea suggests some names. "Or do you have anybody in mind?"
"Let me think about it." Balyss gets up, "I want to stretch my legs and clean myself up. This can wait."
"Please don't go yell at Sylvie. If you need to vent, by all means keep yelling at me."
Balyss twitches again and ever so slowly says, "Am I that transparent?"
Ithea sighs and rubs her forehead. "No, but you're both my friends. I think that grants me a bit of insight into your heads. Look, when you first came to Aurora and did your rant then, it didn't seem to do much, did it? I popped by her room and learned a little bit about Calley, about Whimsical Sweets and Janson."
She makes a face. "She also mentioned an Andrea that was...no, best not to ask," she mumbles as he mind briefly flashes to thoughts of Father and does her best to rip her thoughts on track and focuses on Balyss again. "Look, the point is, she was pretty sure you'd never talk to her again and was probably about to vanish off into who knows where again. I'll admit some good did come out of it, as she did open up to me about it briefly, but if she vanished again, fat good that would have done you, me, or even Calley. At least right now he probably has an idea where she is?"
Make a Will save, Ithea.
[19:33] <Merc> roll d20+33+11 will+inspiration
[19:33] <Serith> Merc roll for Serith < 60 > [d20=16]
A deep chill washes over Ithea. Her fur stands on end and her skin crawls, but she shakes it off after several unpleasant moments.
"Yes, that's so nice when Calley wishes for his Mom on his birthday, or when he's lonely, scared or sick." Balyss rolls her eyes, "Oh don't worry, your Mom's off on Aurora! Isn't that better now that you know she's on an entire other plane?"
"I didn't say it was ideal, okay??" Ithea bites off in annoyance. "Sorry. Just... sometimes bad news is better than no news, alright?"
A pause by Balyss - for 27 comes into the room. He curls up at Ithea's feet, murmuring, "Anarch." She closes her eyes and goes silent for a time, "Let's just drop this one for now. As much good as it did at getting my mind off all I saw...just not this, not now."
"Okay."
Then...
"I'm sorry for exploding your temper. And thank you for not decking me."
OOC: And because Balyss probably would take a cheap shot after that, Ithea will put an inspiration point for defense. Just in case.
"Me too, all of that," Balyss says, "I'm going to get some air. Really this time." She strides out and away, leaving Ithea to her own devices.
Now that you've chatted/argued with Balyss, what's next on your agenda?
Ithea waits until Balyss leaves and slumps, rubbing 27's head. "If it isn't one thing, it's another, isn't it?"
She just sits there for a while, before she goes back to her room for her normal gear, and after getting ready, goes give Vul'lath a visit.
ooc: Vul'lath.
Vul'lath is found in the library, sitting at a table with several books in front of him. He's massaging his forehead slowly, looking up as Ithea comes over. "Good morning," he says after a moment's pause.
"Could be better, but thank you. Good morning to you," Ithea greets. "Any luck?"
"We believe The Father's eruption to be a one off event, but we will monitor the book for now. Muirfinn was concerned that he was coming close to finding a way out." Vul'lath explains, rubbing his head a little more. "The research on Taelfagn's magic continues slowly. On advice and study, a day in a Heaven after hours of studying the magic is accepted as prudent. We'll be going there tomorrow. The fate of the chains has a way of tangling you. Choking you."
Ithea nods. "I had to use the blessed beds in the healer ward last night, combination of the research and the fight, probably. I had an interesting experience and had words of prophecy (maybe) given by both 27 and Balyss. The research on Taelfagn's magic is still the priority, but if breaks are needed between studying it, it might not be bad to have someone look at their words and seeing if anything useful can be pulled out."
Sage Vul'lath frowns deeply, "The recent tragedy seems to have opened the floodgates, as if we are entering a new age."
Ithea sighs. "No kidding. Everyone's reacting in some way, and problems that were lurking in the background are all choosing now to come up."
"Yes. I blame the Duke of Destiny for it." Gesturing vaguely, a book and quill fly over and settle before Vul'lath. He takes up the quill, "Recite each prophecy verbatim. Leave out nothing, and if you aren't sure, we'll use magic to discern what you've forgotten."
"No magic should be necessary, but we can double check if you'd like. I'll start with 27's, as I got those yesterday while I was with Sylvie," Ithea replies, and clearing her throat intones: "There is more behind the stone. You have to resist more, even when the chains grow tighter. Something horrible is happening."
"He followed that up with: 'The last puzzle won't open. Someone's coming to visit and you won't be ready. A dragon follows another dragon on the right path.'"
The words are copied down. "The stone may be the Spawning Stone of the Slaad. 27 has mentioned it before. It is not uncommon for a slaad to be fascinated or obsessed with it." Rereading his writings, "The second seems obvious and the third even more so. The rest is inane to me. No matter." A grunt as he goes to the opposite page, "What did Balyss say?"
"The six who joined one to become seven. The frolic most of all, it's important. To lead and prepare dreams to a better tomorrow, we must offer our dreams. Our dreams are the key to the ethereal moonlight, it's because she's here but she isn't here. The sun and moon are always dancing, don't you see? That's one of the most important rules. White and black, fire and water, earth and air. Together and apart. Because she is the moon and the moon is she. She dreams in the night sky and the sun brings those dreams to life in the daylight. As long as the dance continues, she can't win. They're battling to determine the fate of that. If one falls, the other will fall and she'll end the dance forever."
Ithea takes several breaks, mostly to double check her memory than anything, unlike Balyss who'd said all that in almost a single breath. "She claimed it was a 'prophet's rapture' and that it might not even be a meaningful prophecy, though she did give a few insights into what she could recognize of her words."
Ithea then goes onto the bits about the six sisters, Phoebe, and the festival.
"Selunite theology," Vul'lath lets out a little hmph after, "Doubtless the other dancer is the sun with the blatant sun and moon symbolism. It seems less prophecy and more a distorted mix of religious dogma."
"Well, she did warn me it might not be anything meaningful, but I figured I would err on the side of caution and check anyway," Ithea says with a nod. "Anyway, I mostly just wanted to check in on the progress and pass on those messages. If you feel you need me to answer any other questions about the chains, ask for me, but otherwise I will probably sit out any further research sessions on the matter until I get all of the infernal contamination Hanna found flushed out or something."
"Quite," Sage Vul'lath finishes. "Is there anything else?"
If not, note what you're doing next since you have a few things on your agenda.
Ithea shakes her head. "I'll talk to you later then," she says as she moves on with her day of tasks.
ooc: In no particular order
Ithea would be helping with the Glade construction (duh), checking up on Balyss, mentioning the invitation to Sylvie/Balyss, helping Tepen out on the chains research, talkign to Vul'ath to see if he had any insights into 27's words, debating permanency stuff, getting to know the new recruits, checking up on the tortles to see how their morale is doing (she'll feel responsible for them), checking up on the catfolk (which she -is- responsible for and hasn't checked up on in a while).
Moving on to visit the catfolk group first, then the tortles and then you can figure out how to get me to meet the other recruits (are we only having PC recruits or any npc ones?)
Catching up to the catfolk is easy enough. They're practicing in the courtyard, going through drills. Weapon drills in particular, setting a steady and graceful pace as they go through them. Ithea gets looks, but none of them stop what they're doing, keeping focus on the task.
Ithea watches for a few minutes in silence, simply observing the drills. If she notes any mistakes or possible improvements, she'll offer them, however.
This leads into Ithea correcting a few drills - then a little more, soon making examples. An hour later, Ithea is sweaty and her fur is matted. But the catfolk are well trained and chatting away - mood seems to be good overall. Nothing immediately jumps out at her as wrong.
Ithea nods. "Good drills everyone. Any questions before I leave?" she asks as she swipes some sweat off her face with a nearby towel.
"Yes," One of the younger catfolks, still a teenager, calls out. "You're not hurt, are you, Lady Ithea?"
An older one grunts at this, "Yeah, don't overdo it. We're lost if something happens to you."
"I'm fine, don't worry. Hanna looked me over," Ithea replies full of mirth at the other youth. "I promise I had no problems during those drills."
Turning to the older one... "As for you, don't say things like that. I promise you won't be lost. Or at least you won't stay that way," she says to him. "All of us catfolk are the same in that regard."
Looking at all of the gathered catfolk, she notes seriously, "Look, when Lifasa was invaded, I froze. Maybe some of you think I was some sort of hero back then, but I wasn't. I hardly remember parts of it. I mean, I was fighting too at some point, but sometimes I don't even know if I was really helping. The -only- reason I lived was because I was lucky to get pushed into a portal by some of the other defenders there. What happened with Muirfinn and Lief, it's honestly been a pretty grim reminder of that day for me."
She looks solemnly at the others. "And maybe someday I'll be the one left behind as a portal closes behind one of you. I can tell you how I felt both those times. Yeah, I was lost for a while. I was afraid. Worried. Doubting myself."
"But I don't let myself wallow in those feelings. I can't, not when those same things made me so very angry. I want justice for all those that have been lost. I need to push myself, be stronger, be better. And I want to keep on hoping that what I do matters, that there's no inevitability like that so called 'Duke of Destiny' claims. Those feelings of wanting to fight back brought me here to Aurora, and its those feelings that have brought you all here too. All of you train every bit as much as I do, because you want to fight back too."
"So okay if something happens to me, maybe you will feel lost for a little while. You'll build a nice statue in my honor, I hope? You'll train some more. And then you'll keep fighting and show those devils what you think about that. And you won't have time to be feeling lost."
She pauses again and as she picks up her glaive, she tosses the towel towards the teenager who asked about her.
With a chuckle she adds, "Mind you, if I have anything to say about it all, I plan to die an old granny back in the valley I was born in, surrounded by brats that I'll have enraptured to tales of an impossible sounding youth. So yeah, no plans to overdo anything in my day planner."
Ithea, make a diplo check with a +5 bonus. Alternately, make a perform(oratory) check if that's higher.
ooc:
[13:26] <Sailor_Mercury> roll d20+37+5 diplo
[13:26] <Kobot> Sailor_Mercury rolled d20+37+5 diplo --> [ 1d20=1 ]{43}
[13:26] <Sailor_Mercury> ooc: fabulous
The speech goes over well enough, Ithea thinks. Murmurs of approval follow a round of applause. Not bad.
It wasn't anything you could really fail, but you missed something. So it goes. Now what's on your agenda?
Tortles is the last thing before trying to meet up with new recruits, otherwise don't have anything else. *shakes fist at Kobot*
Getting cleaned up is simple enough. The baths are actually empty for once and it's a quick soak. On the way out, you find Simmer waiting by the portal. She does not look like a happy pyrodryad, a terse frown on her face. "Ithea, there you are."
"You were looking for me?"
"Yeah," Simmer says, "I'd like to remind all of you that I'm around to help. All this trouble would've missed if we'd just set Taelfagn on fire more."
"Might have been nice to have you there, true," Ithea answers. "Hindsight is what it is though. It certainly wasn't on purpose that we didn't take you with us, we just didn't think it'd be as troublesome an experience as it turned out."
Well, at least Simmer wasn't here about the thing with Sylvie, or news of Balyss and Sylvie duking it out in some way. That's a plus, right?
"Yes, just remember that we need more fire," Simmer says seriously, "Any problem can be solved with enough fire."
"Unfortunate that I seem to have absolutely zero talent with the element," Ithea says with a sigh. "Still, I'll make sure you're kept in mind for whenever we get the intel on where to focus assaults. I'm sure those devils will just -hate- being burnt after being used to being immune to flames too, and anything they hate is always a good thing."
"Good," Simmer says, turning to go. "When in doubt, more fire. Remember that."
Now the tortles, I presume?
"I won't forget."
ooc: sure.
The tortles are found in Aurora's Memorial. They sit in quiet morning, faces of loss and pain. Several black-garbed pixies fly amid them, offering support and aid. Vivantha stands in the back, singing a sorrowful song.
Ithea looks on in silence herself, moving closer and staring at the words written there for Lief and for Muirfinn. At the moment, now in the presence of those mourning, she is lost for what words to give for them.
Right now it is a simple placeholder, just names and a note saying more will soon follow. Ithea gets several looks as she joins them, but no one says anything right away.
Perhaps now isn't the best time to share words then. She remains there in silence for some minutes then, giving a silent prayer to the few deities she respects and trusts and asks them to look over the souls of Muirfinn and Lief as best they are able to. One prayer is also given to the Mother Ocean, whom Ithea herself is mostly unfamiliar with outside of some readings she's done on the subject or things heard from Muirfinn. Still, its the most important deity to ask to watch over Muirfinn.
Barring anybody approaching her before her silent prayers end, she'll make a silent exit as well.
Ithea emerges out of the portal, back to the entry hall. She ponders briefly, only to be interrupted by Elena. "Hi," she says, "Are you available right now?"
"Rest of my day is free. Whatcha need?"
"Two things. Stille is looking for you," She giggles and makes little kissy faces, "Also, Crystal and Moore - he's the new pixie - are looking for you. They need transport and most of the normal ones are busy, so your gate maker appeals."
The duskblade nods at that, looking amused briefly at the kissy faces.
"I can get them a gate, as long as they understand I can only do it once a day. So they'll be stuck wherever they're going for at least that long unless they have their own means of getting back. If they're fine with that, and it's nothing urgent, I'd like to talk with Stille first though. Can you pass that on for them?" Ithea asks, pausing briefly before realizing, "Oh, and where are they? Stille and also Crystal and Moore, that is."
"Stille is outside your room," Elena smirks, "Crystal and Moore are outside of Queen Ilsenine's throne room."
Ithea nods again. Since Elena hasn't said anything about the pixies being an emergency, she heads for the closest portal towards her room.
You find Stille just outside. He leans against the wall, smiling widely as you approach, "Ithea," he greets you as you approach, going to gently put his arms around you. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner."
"It's fine. Nobody can be here all of the time," Ithea says with a small sigh, leaning against him. "I'm not gonna say I'm fine, but I'm dealing with it. Just got back from a quick visit to the Memorial, in fact."
"Otherwise managing to keep myself busy, which is helping. Comfort is appreciated though."
Being held is warm and comfortable, Stille's arms holding Ithea tight. "Sometimes it's all you can do," Stille whispers to her, "Would you care for a late breakfast? I've prepared something for you."
Ithea looks apologetic at that. "Crystal and that new pixie, Moore, are waiting for me. I can spare a bit of time and have a few quick bites of something, but I really shouldn't keep them waiting too long. If you'd like to tag along though?"
"Ah yes, that would be a smashing idea," Stille flashes a grin, "We can eat later. Let's go see them. Something to keep you busy, indeed."
"Do we need to put the food away or anything?"
"Sweet Elena will take care of it. If you would, Elena?" Stille asks, then offers Ithea his arm. "Shall we?"
Ithea nods. "Alright then."
Moving you on over to Moore's thread, Ithea. Expect a post there shortly.