Moore returns to Aurora's court. It's empty right now save for two. Lady Skye and Bubbles are sitting and talking, a conversation that stops as you enter. Lady Skye looks to you, "Her Majesty is currently resting."
He's got mixed emotions about doing this, not wishing to send the wrong message... but there's no way he can simply sit idly by and wait.
"I need to speak to Her Majesty as soon as possible." Moore says, plainly.
Bubbles pauses, a cup of tea in hand. She puts it down and rises, "Ah, urgent court business. I'll not interfere in politics, it isn't my interest." she says, "Another time, Lady Skye. I'll bring those dresses over then."
Lady Skye looks at you evenly, "On what grounds? Her Majesty does not wish to be disturbed lightly."
"If I told you that I could not even tell you, would that suffice, as itself, for a reason, Lady Skye?" Moore asks. He does his best to not sound rude, as he doesn't wish to come off that way in the least.
That'll require a diplo check.
Take 10 for 55.
Lady Skye gives you a look like you're the worm that came out of the apple, but she turns and goes back into the Queen's private chambers. Ilsenine emerges a few moments later, fluttering to her throne and sitting. "You have urgent news?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Moore says.
To be clear, is there anyone else there at all?
Just you, Lady Skye and Ilsenine.
"Your Majesty, may I have permission to cast some spells in your presence?" Moore asks.
"Granted," Ilsenine says.
"Then allow me a moment, Your Majesty." Moore says.
He's going to cast Sending. Message is as follows: "Please forgive the rudeness of this question. Do you trust Lady Skye completely, implicitly and 100% with your life?"
Sending also has a 10 minute casting time, y'know.
I am aware.
Ilsenine takes 10 on Spellcraft.
Ilsenine watches quietly and intently, and when the sending is sent, she speaks aloud. "Yes, I trust Lady Skye with my life."
Moore nods to that answer.
"Then allow me to explain. I have just returned from Mount Celestia was a message for our future." He begins. "I will do my best to quote it exactly and not paraphrase, for I believe the meaning within the message is key. I was told that there is a rot -- a poison within me and of a funeral veil that drapes over me to block out life.
I was told of the harmony of order speaks of malice, that a song of hatred ripples through it all. A captive world where the poison of one suffering soul flows. I would presume this speaks of Lifasa, but the one suffering soul is not one that I know personally." Moore says, taking a moment before he continues.
"They couldn't defeat Medicant last time --" Moore stops here for a moment, "I presume this the devils? My apologies, I will stop interrupting my own retelling." Moore adds. "They resorted to discord, strife and betrayal." He says.
He clears his throat and continues. "Save he who is lost or drown in poison. Evil never learns, never changes. It always degenerates. The devils repeat themselves. Do you understand? Save him or drown in poison. End his suffering, give him the rest a hero deserves." Moore says. "The final part is that we must 'pierce the veil,' and that you must go yourself, Your Majesty, as you are the one who has 'the will and power to resist the longest' along with myself and, I quote this very specifically, you must surround yourself with those you trust with your life."
He takes another breath. "We are to go to the place above all to our kind, and apparently someone already suspects we need to go there. We must to the Yggdrasil."
He looks over at Skye as he finishes. "Please accept my apologies -- I did not mean to exclude you, but I did not wish to presume when it came to this matter." He turns back to Illsenine and bows. "That is my retelling, Your Majesty."
Lady Skye gives you a chilly look and nothing else.
Queen Ilsenine is silent for a good time, then beckons Skye to her. She whispers into her ear, Lady Skye coming to you. "I see there are parts of Aurora's history you are not conversant on. We will correct that, as the meaning of her words is clearer to us."
Moore nods. "Yes, I suspected there were meanings I did not see, beyond the words that were used." He bows to Illsenine and then looks to Skye. "Please, as you will, Lady Skye."
"Medicant and Medi's failure was from within. The fiends were unable to overcome Medi and his allies, so they sowed discord and betrayal to destroy Medicant from within. Only Medi's last actions prevented it from falling into the hands of fiends." Skye takes a moment, appraising you silently.
"So within that regard, it would sound as if that they are trying something similar -- is that your understanding as well?" Moore asks.
"It might be," Lady Skye says, "Who of us knows where Yggdrasil is, though?"
I can't tell via text whether that's her asking him directly like he might know or if she's being vague.
She's asking you.
Would he able to guess? Sorry, I guess I'm not that familiar if it'd be entirely obvious to him or not!
It's not obvious, no. It's nothing you'd know casually IC. Yggdrasil's location is a mystery IC.
Moore shakes his head. "I think that's part of the mystery. But the seer I spoke to seemed to indicate that someone knows, or has a feeling about it. If we go on that... has anyone here ever searched for it before?" He asks. "Barring that, I could try and simply perform a divination to uncover it if we can't think of anyone... but I do not know if it will work."
He pauses a moment. "Wait... she did say -- 'one of your number suspects she knows and she is correct' -- so... it must be someone female, and I would presume it's also someone within this court, going based on that. Does that narrow it down at all...?"
"No, but I will ask," Lady Skye says, "We must ask, now."
Moore nods. "I'll help however I can."
From here it's talking to members of the court. By and large, most have no true idea where Yggdrasil is when pressed, but...
Make a Diplomacy check and a Sense Motive check.
Take 10 for 55 and 42, respectively.
It takes time. Many are offended by the question or are defensive, but you get answers out of most. By and large people tell the truth and none know the location of Yggdrasil. It takes well over a day of work to do the rounds with Lady Skye and only a few are left - Afina and Crystal, both of who are on missions. Or in the former case, who has just returned. Lady Skye exhales slightly, "Of course it would be one of them," she murmurs as you stand in the court.
Moore chuckles a bit. "I suppose we should've known better."
"Quite," Lady Skye bites off, "Elena!"
The ghost girl appears, today dressed up as Misalea. The outfit look surprisingly cutesy on her. "Hi, you called?"
"Yes, get Afina for us. Now." Lady Skye crosses her arms, "It's court business."
Soon enough Afina comes in, Lady Skye immediately telling her, "Afina, we have questions for you on behest of Her Majesty."
Moore gives a small wave, although he doesn't look like his normal and cheery self.
Afina gives them both a funny look before looking at her Majesty herself. "Yes?" she asks neutrally.
"Afina," Queen Ilsenine asks, "For reasons Moore will make clear momentarily, we require the location of the Yggdrasil. Do you know where it is?"
"No more than anyone else does... why are you asking?" As far as she knows you go there when you die and begin a new cycle... of course things like the leaf they found in Castle Crumbling and the fruit Ilsenine was gifted from Titania suggest it can be physically reached somehow, but perhaps only Titania herself knows.
Queen Ilsenine sighs slightly, "Please explain, Moore."
"I'll give you the short version -- if you want the longer one let me know. I visited Celestia and was given a vision of the future. We need to take Her Majesty to Yggdrasil, and apparently someone in the court has a suspicion about where it is and they're apparently right. We have to go there in order to counter... something that I think the fiends left undone when it came to Medicant and Lifasa. There is apparently someone tied to that that we have to put to rest."
He scratches his cheek at that. "There was a lot more to it, but that's the boiled down version."
"Lief," Afina says sadly. "Lixer and Taelfagn captured him shortly before you arrived here. It's what provoked our attacks on Lixer's holdings. But unless you're Queen Titania isn't the only way for a fey to visit Yggdrasil to die?" She supposes someone could kill themselves and then get resurrected afterwards, but she's highly dubious on that working well.
Queen Ilsenine considers, "So you have no idea, nor you have found any possible clues in your adventures, Afina?"
"Only that leaf we found in Castle Crumbling - which I had always been suspicious of," Afina answers, shaking her head. "More tangible was the fruit you were recently gifted with, your Majesty. Can we not follow the chain backwards, even if it takes us to Queen Titania herself?"
"We may have to if all else fails," Queen Ilsenine says, "For now, would you explain the situation fully, Moore?" It isn't really a question, not the way she says it.
Moore takes a breath. "This is going to be a bit long. They really need a spell that can transfer knowledge in an instant... they probably do. Ah, anyway."
"This all started a few days ago -- I was in Limbo and felt a horrible sensation befall me. It was like a sickness... like something just... hit me out of the blue. I don't know what it was. Anyway, once I got back I had Balyss check me over and she said I was fine, but something about her divination seemed... off a little bit. Like there was some kind of interference in what she had seen. I was told 'time' would fix my issues, but I didn't want to leave it at that, so I went to Celestia." Moore explains.
"There, I met a dwarf who had died, blind and deaf from a disease, I presume caused by some poison or something. Cresiel was with me and said that it was a message -- that we were blind and deaf to the problem. So we took off to Venya." Moore continues.
"I was told that there is a rot -- a poison within me and of a funeral veil that drapes over me to block out life. Now that you've mentioned Lief, I wonder if that makes the rest of this make more sense.
She said 'the harmony of order speaks of malice, that a song of hatred ripples through it all. A captive world where the poison of one suffering soul flows'. Again, my assumption is now that this is Lief. Perhaps somehow the devils have used him and are poisoning the tree itself? That... might explain a lot, actually..." Moore shakes his head.
"They couldn't defeat Medicant last time, so they resorted to discord, strife and betrayal." He quotes.
"Save he who is lost or drown in poison. Evil never learns, never changes. It always degenerates. The devils repeat themselves. Do you understand? Save him or drown in poison. End his suffering, give him the rest a hero deserves." Moore says. "The final part is that we must 'pierce the veil,' and that Her Majesty must be the one to go with those she trusts with your life."
He takes another breath. "We are to go to the place above all to our kind, and apparently someone already suspects we need to go there. We must to the Yggdrasil."
"I should really write all of this down..." He says as a bit of an afterthought.
Afina listens to all of it and at the end mentions, "I felt momentarily ill yesterday. I'd thought it was something from the lich we were hunting, but perhaps there's a connection?" Not that she's even a fey anymore, but perhaps she still counts as close enough for such things?
Moore nods to Afina. "I think we should work on the assumption that it is." He looks to Skye and Illsenine. "Your Majesty, considering the importance of this, should we have Crystal recalled back to Aurora immediately?"
"It might be," Queen Ilsenine considers, "Can you think of anyone else in Aurora who might know beyond our court, Afina?"
A short nod, "Yes, she will be back soon."
"No one I can think of," she shakes her head. Why would a non-fey know more about that which is most sacred to their kind?
"Actually, Crystal is the one who ate the fruit, right?" Moore says. "That's... probably the connection."
"Pursue that," Queen Ilsenine orders, "As soon as Crystal returns."
"Barring any surprise business I should still be on Aurora for the next few days. Have Elena fetch me if I'm needed?" Afina says, going now to the laboratory to catch up on her orders, or maybe make something nice for herself.
What are you two going to do in the meantime?
Due to lag on Cor's end due to his computer issues, it'll probably be at least a few days until Crystal gets back. Bear that in mind.
You mentioned in chat that there might be quests I could do to upgrade Afame, any leads on that and if there's anything I can knock out in the time given?
We're still a few days out on the dragon and Moore doesn't want to start any adventures that are long-term since they have a looming problem. I suppose he'll just see if he can rally some spirits or help out with anything for the time being.
EDIT: He'd be happy to help drum up business for Calleigh's thing, also. Or help create something.
I'll move you into your own thread, Afina.
Moore wanders Aurora a bit, seeing what's going on and what's happening. He ends up Mirajane - almost literally, as she comes around a corner a little sharp. Somehow she knows precisely where to move to prevent it at the last moment. As you fly by, unable to stop but not hitting her, "Hello, Moore," she greets, "You're seeking spirits to soothe?"
Moore blinks, then seems to realize something as their paths cross. "Oh, yes, that's correct." He nods a few times. "I've been rather remiss in that lately... I pride myself on motivation and being uplifting and haven't really put it to any application here."
"Aurora is driven. The Crusade sustains many here in all its forms, from justice to revenge." Mirajane stops and walks with you instead, changing her course. "There's one person I know you can help."
Moore smiles and nods. "Yes, it's been a bit of a culture shock." He flies along with her. "Of course, who is it? ...Actually, once all is said and done, I may sit with you for a time, I've heard about your feats of clairvoyance -- it's something I aspire to."
"I'm a natural, it's simply what I am. We all serve the same purpose in the end," Mirajane says, "That person is myself." As you walk the halls, quiet and well away from other people, "Our purpose is to liberate Lifasa. Once that is done, what do we do? Do we break apart to live our lives, standing in defiance of diabolical retribution? Do we stay together and fight further, until we break or Hell is no more? Do we seek refuge beyond Hell's reach and accept our time is past?"
"What did you do before you joined Aurora?" Moore asks as they go along.
"Nothing. I was born and matured within weeks," Mirajane says, "I am not mortal, not in any real sense."
Moore smiles a bit at that. "All right. What do you do in your free time?"
"Spend time with Mother and Grandmother," Mirajane promptly says, "Do things that my sight suggests I do."
Moore smiles a little more at that also. "When you say that -- do you enjoy that? Or do you simply feel that you 'should' do it?"
"I enjoy it. All of it, but I know there's more. My first instinct was to ask Mother or Grandmother, then I realized that relying on them leads to the same paths, over and over. One must seek new paths."
Moore nods. "Yes. I don't think this will come as a surprise to you, but there may be a time where you have to suppress your urge to follow what your sight tells you. Let me give you an example -- I came across Sage Vul'lath just a bit ago. He was enjoying some..." Moore wrinkles his nose. "Awful-smelling cheese. I decided to try some. Do you know how it tasted?" He asks, not waiting for a response. "It was awful. It tasted like a devil died in my mouth." He gags a bit just thinking about it. "Even though it was an awful experience, I'm glad I tried it anyway."
He shakes his head. "Not that it's exactly the same thing, but there have to be things you'll enjoy if you try them once or twice that you've never thought of trying before. How about... hmm... how about art? Do you enjoy painting, or sculpting, or anything like that -- or, rather, have you ever even thought about them?"
"No, I have never tried. Grandmother knows how to forge stars, though I have not seen her do it."
Mirajane pauses in her walk, "Simpler forms of art I fear I will see the result and lose interest in."
Moore rubs his chin. "Hmm... so something that you can do with knowing the outcome anyway... ah!" Moore smiles. "Writing. I think that's the perfect solution... it's a tangible thing -- you can start to create a story and almost inspire yourself as you go along with writing it. You can even start with something small, like... a poem about your gifts." Moore says. "I'd be happy to help you if you'd like to try that."
"Writing? I could write," Mirajane agrees, "I'll try it. Would you help me?"
"I'd be happy to." Moore answers.
Going to boost her check at all, Moore? If so, how?
+8 via Inspire Competence and +5 via Song of Fortune for +13, plus an arbitrary bonus of 0 for taking 10 on Profession (Motivational Speaking) for 36 to make her feel good about it.
What bonus types are those?
Competence and untyped, respectively.
I'll fiat call the profession check worth at least a +2 identical to aid another. You could extrapolate a few more uses for the skill ranks you have into it, but it's not important right now.
> roll 1d20+22 (+2 motivationa, +8 inspire competence, +5 song of fortune)
<Rei-chan> Koaway rolled : 1d20+22 (+2 motivationa, +8 inspire competence, +5 song of fortune) --> [ 1d20=14 ]{36}[/i]
Poetry ends up not happening - she doesn't really have the knack for it. But basic prose is easier for her, and over time she writes. She eventually manages the first draft of a short story about Aleaj, a warrior who liberates people from devils. Not the most original thing ever, but the writing's promising.
Moore can't help but grin at the name as he gives it a once over. "So, at this point, what does your gut tell you about how the story unfolds?" Moore asks, looking at a few lines of the writing. "Not your visions -- not what you're being told, but what do -you- think should happen?"
"All the devils are smited and everyone lives happily ever after," Mirajane replies right away.
Moore smiles and starts to laugh. "A good ending, but then what? Do Aleaj's adventures continue? Think of it this way -- when you're really absorbed into a good book, you want it to continue to last, right? So while your ultimate ending can indeed be that the devils are smited to the last, perhaps continue to add more stories for Aleaj to partake in." He smiles a bit at that. "Perhaps Aleaj finds some companies to adventure with for a brief period -- something like that."
"Ah, of course, more stories," Mirajane murmurs to herself, taking another sheet of paper and starting to write.
Moore lets Mirajane write, but offers pointers whenever she asks for them and continues to offer words of encouragement.
Same bonuses as before, he doesn't think she's quite ready to go without training wheels.
> roll 1d20+22 (+2 motivationa, +8 inspire competence, +5 song of fortune)
<Rei-chan> Koaway rolled : 1d20+22 (+2 motivationa, +8 inspire competence, +5 song of fortune) --> [ 1d20=12 ]{34}
Same thing, more or less. Aleaj smites devils with a mercenary company. About the same as the last, really, and by the end of it your stomach's starting to rumble.
"It's okay to take time to write." Moore explains. "Don't be rushed -- let the ideas come to you slowly and just write what you think makes sense. I'll be more than happy to help you with further endeavors if it's something you want to continue -- but I think you're well on your way." He smiles and then glances down as his stomach makes another noise. "Ah... ha. I get too caught up sometimes -- would you care to get something to eat?"
Make a Will save.
[13:37] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+45 Will save
[13:37] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+45 Will save --> [ 1d20=12 ]{57}
You're hungry, so hungry. Your stomach is rumbling and all you want to do is to eat and feast, because you've been hungry for so long and it's tearing you up inside, and all you want to do is to east and to feast becau-ugh. You snap out of it, shaking your head as Mirajane quickly shakes your shoulder. All the humor is out of her voice, "Moore!"
Moore's eyes widen as he comes to his senses. "A...augh..." He mumbles an aching sound to himself. "I..." He takes a deep, cleansing breath. "I'm sorry -- what happened? I... I was overcome for a moment by this intense and awful hunger..." He shakes his head rapidly. "I think... ugh, it must all be related to Yggdrasil somehow..." He says quietly.
"No." Mirajane says, "Have you heard about The Father yet?"
"It sounds familiar, but I don't think so." Moore shakes his head.
Mirajane's wonderfully tender and juicy arm passes you by as she lets go of your shoulder. "He is a blight and a corrupter, an unwanted child of Demogorgon and Pale Night. Aurora has the tome he is sealed in and Muirfinn sought to destroy him, before he was lost to us. Come, there's lore in the library about him that Muirfinn recovered."
Moore frowns, rubbing at his eyes. Think about that awful cheese -- yes, that awful, awful cheese. No one in their right mind would be hungry after thinking about that... "All right, but... why did you suddenly bring him up? Do I have a mark on me or something...?"
Yet you are hungry. Growingly so. Mirajane speaks, her tongue dancing like a steak on the grill. "I can see the future," Mirajane says gently, "Resist. Fight it!" Her voice rises sharply, "The Father's touching your spirit. Resist!"
Moore takes in another deep breath. He'll just have to hope that Erathaol will give him some luck and see him through this trial -- and he keeps thinking about that awful cheese. Ugh, even that horrible mess is sounding rather appealing right now.
He's going to try and cast Improvisation if he has the time, otherwise he's more or less doing as requested.
Yes. Make another Will save.
[14:45] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+45+4+12 Will save (+4 resist fiendish lure, +12 improvisation)
[14:45] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+45+4+12 Will save (+4 resist fiendish lure, +12 improvisation) --> [ 1d20=12 ]{73}
Slowly the feeling recede as you focus. Your will is a mountain, unable to be overcome. You're shaky but the strange sensations have stopped.
Moore lets out a breath and a gag or two. Ugh, that awful cheese taste is back...
"...Limbo." Moore mumbles quietly, before he looks at Mirajane. "The slaad -- in Limbo -- they had eaten the gith when we got there. I... oh no, did I somehow bring something back with me when I returned from there?" Moore asks, his voice wary. "I'm sorry, thank you for helping me through this, Lady Mirajane. Please, let us go to the library as you suggested."
Mirajane leads you on without comment. She takes you to the library and provides you a copy an ancient scroll, recovered by Muirfinn.
The link to the material is here: http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,103088.msg1052591.html#msg1052591
Moore takes all of this in, then looks at Mirajane. "You said he was sealed... right? So, if that's the case, then what exactly happened? I..." He glances back at the scroll. "This really couldn't have happened at a worse time..."
"He's been slowly leaking out, and we know one day the seal will fail," Mirajane says gently, "Muirfinn had been investigating the means to end The Father, but his capture by Asmodeus plays that plan low. Regardless, his influence has been felt by several, including Ithea and Muirfinn. I know they've also fought partial manifestations of him on occasion."
"When we were in Limbo-- Moonlight and I -- there was a chapel of gith." Moore explains quietly. "They were eating them -- the slaad had attacked and somehow broken in... it couldn't just be a coincidence..." He looks down and shakes his head again. "Ah... look at me." He takes a long, slow and deep breath. "Do you think there was a reason He came after me?"
"I honestly don't know," Mirajane admits, sitting quietly in the library and considering. Dana's not too far away, dozing with a book on her lap. Otherwise all you can hear is the gentle murmurs of the library, the flipping of pages and the slow breathing of readers. "He's a nightmare, Moore. Nightmares don't have reason."
"I was recently awakened to some anarch powers." Moore says quietly. "I... hm. Perhaps He was looking for something in that chapel." Moore says, looking at the table. "I mean... I know it's impossible to reason with slaad, but... It seems awfully too much of a coincidence that we ran into them there and then this happens. I also was overcome with... something when I was there and tried to see the area around me with magic... I initially thought it was related to what's going on with us in the Court, but now I'm not so certain."
"Too many nightmares, not enough heroes," Mirajane murmurs, "Then we must do as we must do. Enough with divining motives we cannot and dare not know, we can only deal in realities. So thus, now what?"
Moore chuckles. "Two people who see the future, asking each other what to do." He looks off to the side and then frowns. "I suppose we should begin preparations to put that foul creature to rest. I take it that the scythe mentioned in that passage is here?"
"No, we got the information but not the scythe," Mirajane says, shaking her head with a sad smile, "However, we do have something that the writer of this did not. We have 21, which will serve well against him. We must not pin all our hopes on it, for The Father was capable of destroying entire nations in his prime."
"Do you think we could petition for aid from our like-minded benefactors? The most obvious to me would be Celestia -- I would imagine they would be quite happy to lend aid to rid Creation of such an abomination." Moore says. "Ah... wait, you said 21? Is that different from 27...?"
"Yes. 21 is..." Mirajane pauses, then slowly stops. "No. It's best you hear it from her mouth. Elena," she calls, "Would you send Sylvie over here?"
"Oh, it's something Miss Sylvie uses?" Moore says and then blinks. They've weaponized slaad???
Sylvie soon arrives, giving the two of you a curious look, arms crossed. "What did you need me for?"
"21. Could you tell Moore about it?" Mirajane asks, "The Father stirs and even without Muirfinn, we must hurry to take action."
With a slight grunt, Sylvie sits down, "Moore, what do you know about numerology?"
"Oh, the study that numbers make up everything, right?" Moore asks. "I've met a few people who dabbled in it, but it usually seemed like they were just trying to convince themselves of something that they wanted to believe in... I'm sure there's more to it than that, I don't think I've ever met someone dedicated to the art."
"There's two numbers that are important for this, three and seven. Three is a number of power that repeats itself and shows itself in endless echos. Why it does will matter, so remember that." Sylvie begins, falling into a lecture pose. At rest, using her hand to gesture and make points. "Seven is the number of the Heavens, of holiness and all that is good. It's also a prime number and a few other things that signify importance. When you multiply two numbers in numerology, you use them to enhance each others effects. Three is the number of power and seven is the number of the Heavens. Do you understand so far?"
Would it be a reasonable thing for Moore to know about 77+7?
Make a quick K:P check.
Take 10 for for 45
You'd know the basic idea of the 77+7 archangels, but not much more. They're obscure and intentionally so, they hide themselves.
"Oh, is that why you get something like, um... what is it, 77+7?" Moore asks.
"Something like that, though the numerology of is debated. Is it supposed to mean 84, 21 or something else?" Sylvie asks, but goes on, "It's not important. In any case, do you know of the Three Incarnations?"
I'll take 10 on either K:P for 45 or K:R for 48 on that one!
Moore calls...something. It's too obscure, he can't quite recall.
Moore looks very thoughtful for a moment. "I... think I heard someone here talk about it once...? Ah, no, I can't recall."
"The Three Incarnations are the ones who created everything. The beginning, the end. We've found frustratingly little of the beginning that's reliable, every faith has a story and they don't match." Sylvie blows a breath out, brushing back her hair out of her face. "The Incarnation of Law, the Incarnation of Balance and the Incarnation of Chaos. Together they made Creation itself and monitor it. You may know one of them, as the Incarnation of Chaos is also known as Ao."
Moore nods. "Ah, so there's that 'three' thing again..."
"Yes.' That draws a smile from Sylvie, "We found out later that the reason three is so powerful is because it's an echo of the Three Incarnations. We learned all this and more from the Guardian of 21, a being the Three Incarnations personally created to watch over it. We can't confirm it past him, but it fits everything we've learned so far."
A pause, blowing a breath out, "See, the Three Incarnations are about law and chaos, not good and evil. They had no concept of good or evil until Creation introduced it to them. They sought to understand good and evil, and they made a tool to do so. That tool is 21 - a presence that can destroy any evil and even destroy a deity."
A laugh. Not a nice laugh, but a bitter laugh. "For my own reasons, I sought 21 and so did Aurora. Circumstances with my world, well, the best thing to say is that it has a heavy destiny. It's cosmically important out of all the Primes. That's why I was able to find 21 when so many others failed. I wish I hadn't. 21 isn't meant for mortal or immortal hands. It's something beyond, something meant for the Incarnations, who came from Beyond and made Creation. I can't lie, I see every sin of a creature I look at and I can't even fool myself. I have to face the cold, bitter truth about myself every day."
The laugh picks up, sharper. "The power to slay any evil and even take revenge on a deity. It's not worth it, but I'm too prideful too let it go."
Moore blinks, then smiles a little bit. "It must be difficult to never be able to even tell someone a small lie, Miss Sylvie. But even so -- hm. Well, perhaps it's a conversation for another time. One of these days I'll ask you to help me find what I lost a long time ago." Moore smiles a bit more at that. "But... so 21, um... this is probably obvious, but there really isn't any relation to 27, right?"
Sylvie laughs. It's a sharp, sudden laugh, as Mirajane snickers into her hand.
"None at all. As I understand it, 27's name has to do with the alphabet and how it first communicated with Ithea." Sylvie says. "Anyway, 21 can potentially destroy The Father, I have no doubt about it. I know in my bones it could permanently destroy even a Lord of the Nine if I hit them with it enough times. That's the catch, it's not a single blast and a kill. It takes being strong enough to hit them many times. When it does, though? 21 can even destroy the something that cannot be killed."
Moore rubs his chin. "So in the hypothetical fight, it'd basically be as many of us trying to protect you while you keep at it, right? Mm... but I suppose if we know how to break the seal, then we can fight The Father anywhere, anytime we want to. Have any of the... ah... hm... Have any of the divine realms shown any interest in aiding us when we take on this task? It feels like it's something that we assuredly can't come out of unscathed, but... having allies is always important."
"Not quite," Sylvie says, "Muirfinn was pursuing knowledge about The Father. About Valgadda, which is no more. He had vowed to build a collation that could oppose him, like you propose. But he needed to know more, to find out the deeper mysteries first."
"Well, it seems the task is falling into my hands in a more direct way than I had planned originally, but... I think it's a worthy cause." Moore sighs, but smiles afterwards nonetheless. "What deeper mysteries are there to find in this, though? It seems like that scroll was rather informative."
"Muirfinn can to suspect Valgadda, which is no more, was important to it all and part of it, but he did not complete his research," Sylvie says.
"Well, I have some free time until Crystal gets back." Moore says as he rolls his sleeves up. "I imagine there may be some new books here from the last time he did it, I don't mind doing some library-diving." Moore chuckles. "I find myself drawn here every so often anyway."
What precisely are you researching then?
If there's anything on Muirfinn's research, he'll pick up there. Otherwise he'll start from scratch with anything on Valgadda and work his way backwards. He'll also magic himself up as much as possible for doing the research since he knows this'll take a while.
Okay, roll. K:P.
Is this something he can Take 10 or even 20 on since he's basically spending time looking over a bunch of stuff?
Take 10 yes, but not take 20. You can't take 20 on Knowledge checks, since you just get one bite at the apple.
OK. In that case it's going to be take 10 for a total of 60. If he gets the library bonus then it's 75. Improvisation won't work here since it's too short a duration, alas. He'll also throw up Scholar's Touch to try and help, but it only lasts 23 rounds, so YMMV on that one. Comprehend Languages will get thrown up too, that one lasts 230.
You look about - but it seems Muirfinn's exhausted the library's books. You don't learn anything more or useful about Valgadda, which is no more.
Well, if it isn't in this library, then Moore can think of another that might have it... But getting there will be a bit of a challenge.
Well, when you run into issues like this, the correct solution is always magic.
He's going to go back to his room to do a Divination(the spell) on "Where can I go to learn about Valgadda?" I will post the expense.
Noted.
No good, the spell fails.
Hmmm.
So perhaps he should go with his gut instinct. He'll try again, this time with a different topic in mind.
"May I return to Xiranthador to research a topic?"
It isn't even so much a divination as a question for those in Celestia. Is this sort of thing even allowed?
Posting second expense.
Argh. Again another failure, another failed divination.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
Moore sits back and looks up at the ceiling in his room. Is this because of what's going on with Yggdrassil? Maybe this entire situation needs to just wait until that's over.
Actually, no -- he can't just sit on his laurels and wait. He has to do something else...
Would Moore know if Commune can theoretically be used to bypass Divination failures? It seems like it's a different sort of spell, but I figured I'd ask first.
Yes, you can ask the same question with commune and possibly get a different answer. It's up to the deity responding to it.
Okay.
Moore considers his options while he's alone. It seems like a foolish thing to constantly return back to Mount Celestia every time he has a problem, but this seems like a much larger problem than just him -- and Mount Celestia always provides wisdom to those who seek it... yes, that's the best course of action for now. If the Mountain doesn't wish for him to be there, then he'll leave.
Plan is to go and Gate to Celestia and see where it takes Moore.
> roll 1d100 Moore
<Serith> Koaway roll for Serith < 29 > [d100=29]
You gate in - and step right through the portal like it's not there, appearing in Water rather than Celestia. Plus you're now all wet.
Well, that's a sufficient answer. He would've appreciated not getting wet, but alas and alack.
Just to be clear, he is still right outside Aurora and not in some random part of Water, correct?
Just outside of Aurora.
Moore will quickly swim back inside and get himself dried off!
Well, now that he's exhausted most of his magical options, it's time to turn to the one thing everyone does when they're stumped -- go and eat.
The cafeteria's bustling. You eat, only for Sylvie to join you. She focuses and draws a meal of bread and meat from the cafeteria's magic. "You know that if the Father's touched you, he may not stop. He was fixated on Muirfinn for Oghma only knows what reasons."
"What an honor." Moore says with the barest hint of a smile. "I suppose I should keep refreshing the magic on the arch then." He sighs after that, taking a bite of some bread. "I tried to divine how to proceed with all of this and got nothing. I also tried to go to Celestia itself for guidance and got rather summarily returned here." At this, his expression hardens a bit. "I think it's their way of saying we need to figure out this on our own for now. What do you think?"
> roll 1d20+14
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 31 > [d20=17]
Int check. Having friends who are superhumanly smart helps.
"The Father was cast out of the Outer Planes by Demogorgon. He is a plague on the Prime - I think it's obvious that they're telling you that you're looking in the wrong place." Sylvie says, making a sandwich out of her meal.
"Well, if the only place to look is one that doesn't exist anymore, where does that leave us?" Moore asks. "Hm... if the information isn't here, then... augh, it feels like it's something that's far simpler than I'm making it out to be."
"Not quite." Sylvie says, "I should bring you up to speed on that, too. You're really inheriting a lot of Muirfinn's research here. He found signs that performing the ritual to free The Father would be best in Valgadda, which is no more. I would suspect it would be best at the place where Oghma warned his servant that the Father would one day break the bindings, but I don't have anything to prove that."
"I suppose the best we can do then is try and figure out where that place is." Moore says. "Do you know if Muirfinn left any writings or anything I could review? I might be able to piece it together from that... I know the library hasn't added anything relevant since... er... he did the research." Moore says, clearing his throat.
That's actually a really good question and I don't know the answer to it. I need to ask Yuth about that, so let me pause you pending that.
Yuth, if you see this before you check your PMs or reply, feel free to reply in here.
Muirfinn in fact kept meticulous research of his encounters with the Father in his rooms, though the Father is never mentioned by name. The book would have been kept away from the Library due to the fact that knowledge of the Father appears to be corruptive, and innocence was believed to be a valid shield. It was easier that way. At least so Muirfinn thought. Who knows if he was right?
Note that included are Muirfinn's thought experiments on how to deal with the Father, including: Exposure to Chronias, pitched battle employing 1000 epic clerics of various faiths, and convincing Demogorgon to do it.
The book would have been kept on a bookshelf in his rooms, not carefully hidden. Without knowledge of the subject, it would have been mostly useless ramblings to whoever found it.
"Yes," Sylvie says, "I believe there is. Muirfinn left...notes, of a kind. You'll need to study them, we have them preserved and enspelled to hold the Father's corruption at bay."
Yuth, go ahead and outline what's in there to be found. I don't need chapter and verse, just the general drift and what IC knowledge you've found and recorded there.
Encounters with people possessed by the Father, his cult, what he appears to represent, and encounters with his apparitions and avatars. Best way to deal with the Father: Holy power and fire. Lots of both. Thoughts on the scroll that was recovered as well as revelations regarding it. I can go into more detail if you like, but it'll be hours from now.
Please do when you have time.
I presume that was Sylvie and not Sage Vul'lath wearing a dress, by the way.
Moore nods. "That's probably exactly what the divinities wanted me to look at instead. What awful timing, though..." Moore looks off to the side, then snaps his fingers. "It can't be just timing... He must know about all of this somehow and be taking advantage of it. In the meantime, I'll go by the arch. Mm... it may not make a difference, but... I want to prepare for something, in case anything happens to me. Do you mind being my confidant?" Moore asks.
Yes, topic cross up. Sylvie wears pants anyway, more practical for her.
"Is it dangerous?" Sylvie asks right back.
Moore shakes his head. "No. I was going to try and modify my memory, but in hindsight, even if I did that, I don't think it'd work." He makes a sour face at that.
Further comment is stopped by Elena appearing, "Moore, Crystal's back and she's ill," the ghost girl reports. "Really ill, Jaela had to carry her in."
Moore frowns. "As I expected... Where is she, in the healer ward?"
"Yes," Elena says, "Hanna and Jaela are checking her over."
Moore will head there right away!
Moving you on over, locking this thread.