Healing isn't hard, you sing and enable others. The wounded are relatively minimal, at least those you can heal. Kascha in phoenix form oversees it all, constantly healing with her phoenix cry. Once that's done, "Attention! We need those who can cast wish or miracle to come forward," She calls. "If you can, present yourself now."
Well, he can't cast those -exact- spells, but he can do something similar! He'll fly forward nonetheless.
Healers - Hanna, Balyss, Priest, the Jarl. They all step forward with you. "Good!" Kascha says, "You'll need to go to the infirmary, since our research suggests that's the most reliable way to cure Styx exposure." Kascha retakes human form, fiery feathers shrinking into her body and form shifting back. "I've worked with all of you before," The others get a nod, "What spell can you manage, Moore?"
"Ah, the more limited version of Wish. But I can also help augment the spells of others, if that would be more beneficial." Moore answers.
Kascha pauses in consideration, "Come along," she finally says, "Most of the healing's done anyway.'"
"I might be able to help with the memory loss, also. Well... mm, maybe not, but I can try, if you'd like." Moore says as he follows along.
"Another hand could help, even one that's only possible," Hanna agrees, "We'll be busy with this for days either way."
"Alright then," Kascha smiles brightly and leads you within.
Gonna briefly move you back into Jaela's new thread then probably back to this one after.
So noted.
He's going to go back to his room and use Divination (the spell) to ask the following question: "Where should we seek answers to nullifying or protecting ourselves from the waters of Styx?" The chance should be 85% and I will post the expenditure.
"Seek the truth that cannot be taken away." is your answer.
Is it reasonable for him to believe that that's most likely referring to 21?
You aren't sure.
Hmm. Well, the best he can do with advice like that is go ask someone who might know, so he'll go look for Tepen!
Tepen is hectic. He's made a base of operations in the Entrance Hall, a single chair and desk having been moved there. Runners come and go as he talks to them, giving out orders. Sage Vul'lath's acolytes help him as he writes away. There's a line and you have to wait a good twenty minutes before you get to see him. "Moore?" he asks, looking up, "As you can see, I'm busy settling out the results of the battle and comprising a battle summary. What do you need?"
"It may not be the best time, but I'm trying to help find a solution to Styx. I was given the divination to 'seek the truth that cannot be taken away.' I know the explanation of 21 has something to do with that, but I wasn't sure if that's exactly what it might be referring to. Do you have an opinion? I... ah, well, if you think it'd be best to just seek the knowledge in the library, I can do that." He says, offering a small smile. "Or I can help with this, if you need."
"It might be. It might also refer to Chronias," Tepen scribbles down another thing, "We'll try Sylvie when she gets back. Generally, the Styx is best healed by a wish or miracle, though in certain realms, the ruler of it can reverse it as well. Asmodeus in Hell is likely the relevant example here. It's whispered he devours the memories, and reliable accounts of recovered memories are...ah, ahem, I digress."
Moore nods. "All right. In that case, please let me know if you need any help with anything." He nods and will fly off!
For now he'll check on Gold.
Gold's found in one of the officer's quarters. He greets you with a nod, "How was the battle? I was chosen to stay aside this time, as I had not yet been integrated."
"We didn't breach things the way I think we wanted to, but we found out a great deal about the defenses and I think it was a good enough feint operation for where miss Afina is." Moore explains. "Ah... have you decided on whether you wish to stay, sir?"
"What is war?" Gold asks right back, "What is purpose?"
Moore blinks. Well, if he wants to talk philosophy... "War can be many things... but I think in our situation, it comes down to a fight between what is good and righteous and what is evil and foul. Purpose, then... is the will and the drive to act on that war." Moore answers. "The power to help the powerless."
"Your situation, but what of beyond it?" Gold asks, "What of war and purpose beyond your own battles?"
Moore considers this for a while. "Everyone is fighting their own war, whether it's against some evil somewhere or against something more sinister, like complacency. No matter who you are, across all of Creation, you're fighting a war... in so many words, anyway. Some people reach a point that they are completely satisfied with themselves and have a perfect balance, but those I think are rare. Purpose beyond this place... really depends on who you ask, doesn't it?" Moore says, thinking aloud.
"Unless you mean to ask if this place gives purpose to those outside it -- which I suppose in some ways it does. It gives purpose to those we may not fight, but work craftsmanship. We buy and sell things all the time, for example." Moore explains. "However, I fear I may have gone off the original tangent you meant to bring up."
"Hmmm." Gold considers, "So all of Creation is at war, you think? The same war or a different war?"
"No one's war is the same as another, even if they fight in the same army for the same causes. Everyone has a personal war they fight... perhaps it isn't one that they think is a war in that exact term, but I think everyone is always trying to fight something, be it internal or external, or even existential." Moore says. "I think even on Celestia itself one could say there is a war being fought -- perhaps in Venya it's a war of knowledge, or in the pursuit of such... but I think it's still the case."
"Then," Gold asks, looking right to you, "How is it best to fight this war?"
Moore smiles at that. "By finding those with the same goals and pursuits as your own. They will give you perspective, but also enlighten you as to other purposes."
"Strength in unity, eh?" Gold asks. "Not an argument a normal fey makes."
"As I'm sure you've already figured out, not a lot of us here are very typical." Moore says with a grin. "Probably aren't a lot of fey that follow the doctrine of Erathaol either."
Gold considers this for a little time, "I only have one other question - what happens if you fail?"
"Then Creation will have lost a great force for good." Moore replies. "However, should that happen, it will be... ...there will be time where the loss is felt, and then there will be time where new good will fill the void that we left."
"A time when the loss is felt." The gold dragon repeats, his humanoid form deeply frowning. "It is not even at the funeral, but later, when one's presence is most keenly desired. To miss a father's advice, a wife's touch or a brother's laugh. Loss. That's what everything comes to that is wrong in this Creation. There is one that chills my heart like no other, for I have encountered her servants twice, and I pray to Bahamut that there is no third time."
That sounds an awful lot like Shar to him, but he stays quiet.
"Did they take something from you?" Moore asks.
"Yes." It's all Gold says, lapsing into silence afterwards.
"There is only one thing that can recover from loss - healing by replacing what was taken. Not to forget it, but to move on." Gold offers his hand out.
Moore nods and takes Gold's hand with a smile. "You can never replace what was lost, but you can become stronger and always remember it."
It's ironic for him of all people to be saying that...
Because----
Because----
It's nothing. You can't quite bring it to mind. Gold shakes your hand, a tiny pixie hand shaken. "I accept your offer. The road of the righteous is a hard one. Baleruk alone will make it a rocky journey, but wisdom lies in every overcome trial."
Moore smiles. "I'm glad to have you. We'll be stronger because of you, and I consider this the first step on a path to repairing relationships with Lord Bahamut. Consider me a dragon envoy." Moore beams slightly at that.
"Perhaps it's still a bit early to be saying that, but... well, like I said earlier, I'm unique, right?" He shrugs with a smile. "I have to keep my goals lofty."
"I'll need to leave for a few days to set my affairs in order, then I'll return," Gold says.
"Of course. If you have need of me during that time, by all means, please feel free to let me know." Moore says. "Thank you."
Anything else to do right now?
Not in the immediate short term, no. He has a few longer term plans but those are on hold pending all the other stuff going on.
You rest a few minutes, gathering yourself after that. Crystal catches up to you as you do, and without preamble, "Her Majesty wishes to ensure you are well," she says.
Moore blinks, then smiles, he really is being rather thoughtless about that, isn't he? "Yes, I am doing fine. I can relay that to Her Majesty in person. I am certain she would appreciate not wasting your time any further on an errand such as this."
Crystal clears her throat. "A-HEM! Thank you, but that wouldn't be proper. As Queen, she has to show faith in you and not publicly worry. She seldom calls Afina or I after missions, save to hear the details. It is the same with you."
"Well, nonetheless, wouldn't it be proper for someone to relay the details anyway, without needing to be asked?" He smiles a little more at that. "I'm not quite the same as you two -- I like talking. You know how Afina gets sometimes, so laser-focused on certain tasks." He laughs a bit at that. "However, I will defer to the one with more experience in the matter. Please tell Her Majesty I am fine if she needs my services for anything."
A short nod to that, Crystal leaving you be after that. The moment she's gone, Elena appears, "Oh, Moore," she says, "Gisfal wants to see you in the strategy room."
"All right." Moore will head that way!
You find three in there - a scribe who writes everything down, Adrian and Gisfal. It's the last who speaks first.
"Moore, at ease." He commands, "I'd like you to recount what happened to you, from when you walked out of Aurora's gates to start the battle to returned to them to finish the retreat."
Ah, this probably has something to do with the memory loss... To make sure everything lines up.
"Very well." Moore nods.
"From the first cry of 'for Lifasa!' that was echoed across our battlefield, Surraruthru and I took position in the back of the main forces, trying to coordinate things as best we could with supportive spells. It was only a few minutes before our line crossed with that of the devils, at which I began to offer my support through words and magic." Moore says. "Something about showing them our courage, if I recall correctly."
"We maintained this for... a good while, before Surraruthru and I happened to notice small droplets of black water in the air around us and our forces. We identified it as water from Styx. We called for a runner to inform you --ah, to inform Commander Gisfal of our findings. I studied the magic for a brief time and discovered that it was slowly stripping away the magic around our troops. I would presume this has something to do with its forgetful properties -- perhaps making the magic simply forget what its purpose was?" He shrugs idly at that.
"Surraruthru and I called for another runner to pass that information on again. We tried to come up with some ways to disrupt the water, but none of the magic I have would have sufficed and Surraruthru didn't want to disrupt our battle lines with stronger spells to make wind or blizzards, but I am of the opinion that those spells would probably work to at least clear the area." Moore says. He clears this throat and continues.
"Some time passed again with us maintaining, when we hit the outer line of defenses of the devils. From where we were we couldn't see much, but my guess is they were somehow using the Styx water on our forces through the fog. A runner informed us around then that Aurora had been flanked. We called again for a runner to inform Commander Gisfal that the concentration of the water had become stronger in the area we were moving into. Some martial artists around then were carried through our lines, I'd assume victims of the water." Moore says.
He pauses a moment and clears his throat again. "We passed along our need of magic to get the water away from us, but I presume that was waylaid when we were attacked by some spinagons and malebranches. Surraruthru dealt with most of them with some magic, but they tried to go into melee with us -- they failed, but they tried. We then heard the call to retreat and held our lines. Jaela and her forces must've come back around this time as we were reinforced around then. I took the time to call out words of healing power and Surraruthru summoned a unicorn to help. We continued to retreat, I met up with Jaela, and then I helped her with a healing spell. After that we came back inside." Moore concludes.
Adrian speaks up as the scribe takes it all down, "From your position, was was your opinion of how the battle went? Do you think the battle plan was sufficient?"
"I think we vastly underestimated the Styx water in the surrounding area. Were we go back, I would say we should have magic users dedicated to using spells to get rid of it around our forces and being ready to try and dispel any magic used to make it worse." Moore responds.
"However, it's my opinion that we saw the majority of the forces. From Lixer's side of things, anyone that assaults that place has to do so very quickly, which they can't really do due to the fog and his defenses. I would imagine that he effectively puts all his eggs in a basket on that defense, and that whatever is beyond isn't as significant." Moore says. "I mean, we should probably assume it is significant, regardless, but I don't see how he could manage to put up that strong a defense on both sides, as it were."
Adrian considers that, while Gisfal says, "It's my opinion that we only ran into a delaying force, with the real defense held in reserve. What about Lixer makes you think he'd rely on only that defense?"
"I suppose I don't have any hard evidence, but if your defensive line is effectively just one where even a limited amount of time erodes the fighting forces of your enemy, why would you see any reason to have a stronger force held in reserve?" Moore asks. "I mean, we met rather significant resistance outside, it just seems... I don't know, It doesn't strike me as very tactically sound to put that much into defending, along with the Styx trap, and then still put even more inside. If he's doing that, then this must be one of his most important holdings... I don't think even Hopelorn was that bad in terms of reinforcements, from what I heard." Moore says.
"One reason - paranoia. Devils are nothing if not prepared," Gisfal says. "If this is something serious, I'd expect multiple layers of defense and reserves. Right now, our working theory is that even if we busted inside, it was set up to be a kill zone, funneling our troops into carefully prepared killing zones. The butcher's bill would be a nightmare."
"Well, there's really no reason to assume otherwise, no matter what." Moore says. "If we happen to be wrong and there aren't that many forces inside, then it doesn't really change much for us in the end. Did it seem like they were prepared for us?"
"Yes and yes," Gisfal agrees, "This doesn't go beyond you, but the devils seemed more than prepared. How could they not be, after our attacks on Castle Crumbling and then his other holdings? If it seemed under defended, I'd assume it was a trap."
Moore nods. "Yes, I would agree. It felt like they fielded their forces far too quickly, at least from what little I saw." Moore says. "But... then, isn't that still odd? Why not just let us get closer, where the concentration of Styx water was worse? As we got closer, it seemed like it was increasing..." He trails off, looking to the side. "Perhaps it isn't a constant defense, then..." Moore raises his hand to his chin in thought. "Perhaps there was someone, or something... or someones controlling and directing the water... perhaps it took them time to muster enough of it, which is why the force was sent out to delay us."
"Possibly, or possibly Lixer has troops to burn." Gisfal admits.
"It comes down to the fact we just don't know enough." Adrian says, "We're taking measures that none of this will be forgotten, but we don't know how they'll hold up and what here is anathemic knowledge. In a week's time we may even forget we attacked Lethe and records of it will be wiped clean." He checks a sheet of paper nearby, "You have the ability modify a creature's memory? Here's an order: Use it on yourself every day and magnify various points of the battle at Lethe. Try to remember everything about it."
Moore blinks, then nods. "All right, I can certainly do that."
"Others are trying that as well," Adrian goes on, "We're hoping your fey nature might provide some extra measure of resistance, due to the fey's trickster nature." He sits back with a sigh, "Sylvie will as well for 21, as well as Morniel for his celestial nature and Baleruk, in the hopes his nascent divinity will shield him. If you start to forget, notify one of them and see if it's spreading, and also tell one of us. Myself or Gisfal if possible, otherwise another general. Tell them I sent you if you can remember."
Moore nods. "All right. In the meantime, just to inform the both of you, I'm working on something to try and either protect us or somehow counter the effects of the Styx water, but I think we have to wait until Miss Sylvie returns."
"More power to you," Adrian says, "Good luck."
Anything else to add here?
Not particularly.
Okay, anything else you wanna do while you're in quasi-downtime?
I suppose I should at least go ask Dana if she'd be interested in going on a trip.
You find Dana in the courtyard, overseeing soldiers as they unwind from the short battle. Some train and others eat and drink, the mood somewhat subdued for it all.
Moore flies up. "Miss Dana." He clears his throat a bit. "This isn't something pressing, but I was wondering if you'd be interested in going with me to find something that I think would lead to another ally for Aurora." Ah, maybe that was too polite...
"Hold on a moment, I need to finish telling these cock sleeves how to shake off after taking a fucking piss over the battlefield," Dana declares, going off amid them and then snapping a few more orders off.
Once she's done with that, she comes back over, "What sort of fucking ally?"
"One who has their own demiplane." Moore answers.
"That's pretty fucking good," Dana agrees, "What's his name?"
"Um... that's the problem, I don't know." Moore says with a sheepish smile. "To make a long story short, I ended up there on one of my very first missions, which was a horrible embarrassment on my part. I've been trying to find a way back there since some divinations have shown me that he'd be an ally to us. It's led me on a bit of a wild hunt, which led me back to you. I can go into more detail, but I had a feeling you just wanted the important parts."
"No, why the fuck did it lead back to me?" Dana asks.
Moore takes a breath. "So, the way to get back to this demiplane is to find this lost island called Algorand. In order to find it, we need to go to the Samgan Empire on one of the primes and find someone called the Buried Prince. I was told that you'd be the best person... well, actually, it just said to 'seek the princess,' but it's my understanding that you're the only one who fits that description, so here I am." Moore explains.
"Fucking great," Dana says, "Fucking capital bullshit, so did any of the cunts involved in this think to tell you how I'd be able to solve this problem?" Yet she's grinning, "For that matter, who pointed you in this direction?"
Moore waggles his fingers up near his face. "Maaaaaaaagic." He smiles a bit at that since she hasn't punched him in the face yet. "It was some divinations I did on the subject, so I'd hope they came from a reliable source. As for how? Not in the least! But where's the fun in at least being a -little- bit surprised by something?"
"Oh great, here we fucking go," Dana rolls her eyes, "Some spirit or fucking power decides that I have the magic key of solving this problem lodged firmly up my ass, so it's time to go and blunder along with it. So when do we start?"
"I have a feeling it has more to do with your martial prowess than anything." Moore says with a grin. "Um... as for when, probably after all of this business settles down." He frowns slightly at this and looks off towards the soldiers before back at her. "I imagine when Afina gets back we're going to be going somewhere again, so probably not for a bit. I just wanted to ask you before I just, you know, suddenly showed up one day and said 'hey let's go to a random place, it'll be fun!' or something."
"Shit, my best dates start with someone dragging me somewhere incredibly dangerous." Dana smirks, "Usually there's bloodshed and fucking, sometimes at the same time."
"Well, I can't promise you any of that, but... then again, I guess I can't promise that there won't be any." He smiles at that. "I'll see if I can do some research on if the 'Buried Prince' is... you know, like some sort of undead lich lord or damnation or just, you know... the name of something. ...It'd be a lot better if it was an undead lich lord." Moore says with a laugh. "But either way, thank you for being willing." He looks around again and then up. "...This waiting around stuff is killing me, though. I know we should be patient, but still."
"Holy fucking hell, yes!" Dana growls, "Wait on the sidelines like a pretty princess. Fuck these sneaky missions, just send me and I'll fucking smash all their heads in. Or hell, bring me to take the hits."
"Despite being able to do this," as he turns invisible and then back, "I've never been one for stealth at all. But then again, talking a lot and singing don't usually go hand in hand with sneaking. I'm sure everyone's fine, though, I just wish I could do more to help than just sit on my hands."
"Yeah, fucking right. Hell with this shit, I'm done." Dana says, "Hey Moore, let's go get some drinks."
"Oh, sure." Moore nods. He certainly isn't going to get into a contest here, but who knows!
Aurora even has taverns along side the shops. This one's dark, quiet and made up of padded, secluded booths. Dana passes by a waitress and adds, "The usual, two of 'em," she says.
"Oh, this is nice and homey." Moore says as he takes a seat. "Your favorite hangout?"
"Sure, great place to get fucking drunk," Dana says, as two shot glasses with pale golden liquid are placed down, one in front of you. Dana takes hers and guns it down immediately, "Liquor before beer, get drunk quicker." Wow, it smells strong. The sort of strong that you swear it setting your nosehairs on fire.
"What's your favorite type of alcohol, or do you just like them all?" Moore asks. Oh goodness, it'll just be awful if he forgets to drink this.
"Anything strong. Home brew." Dana guns hers down and gestures for another, "Fuck all that prissy wine bullshit and sipping. If you're gonna drink for anything other than sanitation, drink to get fucking drunk."
Moore smiles a bit. "I'm not really that into different kinds of drinks myself, I usually stick to fruit-based drinks... probably a fey thing. I don't really drink that much either, usually. It's good to try new things, though, right?" He shrugs and takes a breath. As long as he doesn't do anything unseemly... He'll take a sip at least of the ...whatever it is. It can't be worse than that cheese, can it?
Make a Fort save.
[14:16] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+39
[14:16] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 42 > [d20=3]
Ugh, it's really strong. You manage a sip, your tongue going numb and then burning like cold fire. Gaaah!
Moore swallows, putting a hand to his chest. "I probably should've started with something less, uh... potent. What is this, anyway?" He thinks for a moment. "Actually... is this just made here? I wonder if there's a market for strong stuff like this..."
"A mix of whiskey and bourbon, along with a special third secret ingredient." Dana says, gunning down another shot and then waving, "Bring on the ale!"
"I bet we could make some decent money for Aurora selling this in places like Brightwater. I'll add it to my list of things to do." Moore nods. "So, Dana, how'd you end up here anyway?"
"Got bored one day, decided to get drunk," Dana says, Place had just opened up." She shrugs and get sa mug of ale, half drinking it as another is placed in front of you. "Minimal bullshit and good booze."
Moore blinks, then starts laughing. "That's not nearly as majestic as I was thinking, but I suppose it's entirely in character. Not everyone needs to have a grandstanding story behind their actions."
Finishing her mug off, Dana rolls her eyes, "It's a fucking tavern, not a lifetime commitment. What, did you think this place fucking romanced me, bent me over, and fucked me to get me in here?"
"What? Oh... no, I meant Aurora." He says, laughing again. "I'm sure there wasn't some secret story into how you got to the tavern your first time. You probably have a sixth sense for them."
"Oh. Ran into Aurora, fought Jaela, one thing lead to another. Now Jaela," Another mug, another long gulp of ale, "That bitch has it together. She gets it."
Moore grins at that and nods. "She really does seem like she's a natural leader. I've been trying to shift to doing that myself -- there's a line between motivating others and leading them, you know? She's very gung-ho about everything, I've noticed... she's very straight-forward."
"Fuck yeah, if she were a man, I'd have her babies," Dana grins, "Hell, even if she just had a dick, I would. She doesn't, checked last time she was in the baths. World would be better with more Jaelas."
Well, there probably -are- spells for that... ...Moore shakes his head. "I suppose you don't get to be as noted and well-known as Aurora with a few people who know what they're doing around." Moore agrees. "What do you think we're going to do next? It feels like we're waiting for Afina and Jaela's missions before we really do anything, but... even with that said, I don't know what we -can- do."
"Kick Hell's teeth in somewhere, what else?" Dana replies. "It's what we do."
Moore nods. "Yes, a good plan. Maybe we'll find some devils when we go on our trip."
"Hope so." Dana grunts, another ale brought over. "Fuckers took Willim from me. Still have to pay those motherfuckers back for it. Never gonna be able to."
Moore's ears perk up. That's not a name he's heard before. "Friend of yours, I take it? Or... a drinking partner?" Moore asks.
"More than a friend. Fiend-blooded half troll, served Tempus. Great brawler and a great big cock. Died saving Queen Ilsenine from Gathgorian's lair."
Moore smiles and nods. "It's weird... to exist and be in a place like this, where death seems like an afterthought, almost. It doesn't change much for those left behind." He shakes his head. "I hope Afina finds something we can use against them."
"Fucked up shit. Now a wise man said we aren't supposed to fuckin' be here, but here we are." Dana slams down another drink, getting a refill and working on that one slower.
Moore smiles. "I think Creation would be a lot more boring without us here."
"Damn straight!" Dana agrees, "We got some fucking great people here. Shit, there's Jaela and she's awesome. Afina's pretty fucking hardcore too, even if she needs a dick more than Lixer needs a smiting. Muirfinn was here and he wasn't bad at all, but fuck that shit. Oh, and even the little prissy blonde's not so bad if you set her on some devils." Another drink drained, "Baleruk ain't so fucking terrible despite being a rainbow dragon."
"We really have a surprising amount of varying types here." Moore nods. "It seems like as of late we've been increasing the number of, uh... I call it mind magic, is there a better term for it? People like that, with Tryll and Calleigh and Hamogan."
"Yeah," Dana agrees, "All sorts of types and it's good." Sitting back, "So what's your bony ass get out of all of that?"
"That it's important to have different perspectives, even if your goal is the same." Moore says. "We wouldn't be who we are if we were all celestial archons and all followed the same deity. Our diverse nature makes us a force to be reckoned with, especially in comparison to Hell -- they all are rigid in their ways, they don't bring in allies, they just try and overwhelm with what they have. It's what gives us our greatest advantage, I think. Well, that, and we're way more awesome than they are, too." Moore concludes.
"Heh, heh, fought some fucking 'loths," Dana grins over her ale, "Fuck the rest of that, you got it in the last. Oh look, I'm a sissy devil who hides behind all his servants and goes on about how awesome I am."
Moore laughs at that. "Yeah, exactly." At this, Moore affects as deep a voice as he can manage. "Ha ha ha, I'm Lixer, I have all these bases everywhere to try and pretend like I know anything when all I do is mooch off the efforts of other devils, I'm so smart!"
Dana laughs and finishes her drink, getting yet another. "And make it half whiskey and half ale this time," she says, grabbing the mug and drinking deeply. "Fuck, you know how hard it is for me to get drunk these days? Hell, this armor makes it about impossible," she taps her stony breastplate, "Sucks toxins right out, and apparently booze fucking qualifies. Have to drink like a horse to get a buzz. Let alone that I can drink a normal man under the table faster than Lixer gets on his knees for the other devils."
Moore rubs his chin. "Why not just add an enchantment to the armor that lets you summon it to you at will? That way you could take it off and get as drunk as you want, then when it's time to fight, just summon it to you and be good to go."
"Nah, see, the stone it's made of bleeds. Celestial blood and shit, it's from Elysium. There's a bunch of pins that have to be stabbed into me to have it work, since the blood has to flow into my bloodstream." She sits back and shrugs.
"Wow, that's pretty extreme." Moore says with a wide-eyed expression. "Hmm, when we have some downtime, I'll find a solution for you. Everyone has to have their own enjoyment, so it's not right that you have to go to extremes for yours."
"Bah, fuck that. These pins are great." Dana grins, "Plus I drink more." She slams down another mug of mixed whiskey and ale, "Next time I catch Jaela in here, I'm going to drink her under the table."
"Haha, all right, if you insist. But I do want to see if we can produce the alcohol here and sell some." Moore says. "It feels like there's a lot more we can do with Aurora than we have in the past. Ah... here I am, talking as if I've been here for years." Moore laughs. "But I want to help out, you know?"
"Shit yeah, I know. I know." Another drink, and she calls to the waitress as she passes, "Fuck, mix in some schnapps or rum or something into it too. Fuck the ale, just mix a bunch of hard shit together!"
After that and yet another mug comes over, "Feels like I've been here forever. You have a reason here, a purpose. It's a lot of high thinking bullshit, but it works. It's home now."
Moore smiles at that. "Yeah, I kind of... stumbled onto it, but it seems to be working out. Sometimes you just have to trust that you're doing the right thing." He says, looking down at his drink ,then back up at Dana. "Sometimes it really is simple and people over-complicate it. I think your approach is more correct in most situations."
"Yeah, damn right." Dana agrees, slamming back another drink.
Good here, Moore? I'm aiming to pause you pending resolving the two Styx things still in play.
Yes, this is fine (https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PaaZUu8Z6sqOS8IACK9OA0UQrrY=/75x0:825x500/1280x854/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49493993/this-is-fine.0.jpg)
Okay then.