Ah, home at last. Stone and Rock step aside for you to come in - !!!
A big dog is in the courtyard, easily over one hundred pounds and with long fur a golden brown color. It barks as you come in, running up to you, tail wagging.
"I've heard of hound archons but this seems a little bit extreme..." Moore says with a bit of a laugh. "Hello there."
"Woof! Woof!" The dog wags its tail and licks you, tongue big enough for a near full body lick.
"Wood, come here! Wood!" Grias cries, hurrying along from the other side of the courtyard, "Ah! Welcome back! Wood's happy to meet you."
"I can see that. I'm happy to meet you too, Wood." Moore says with a nod and a pat on the dog's head. "Has anything transpired while we've been gone?"
"Lady Xandra has retired to her room to rest," Grias says, "We have put the keep in order and can discuss banners or servants if you want additional ones." Floating along and around you as Wood trots along agreeably, "Cresiel has not returned, but while you were gone, a messenger delivered a message from a Queen Ilsenine."
"I think we're fine for now. As we add additional help we may need more. I would like to task you or someone else to go to Lifasa, to meet a merchant named Filbrez in Aurora, though. He was working on providing me with an anatomical chart for something and I'm sure he must have procured it by now. It's already been paid for, so whomever goes would simply need to pick it up from him." Moore says.
"As for the message, please let me see it." Moore adds with a smile.
A gesture and the letter floats out from...nowhere, just appearing. Curious.
"I'll go get the chart presently then," Grias says, "Oh, you have dinner waiting in your room if you're hungry. I also procured a few changes of clothes and prepared a bath for you, it should be warm whenever you want it." He starts to vanish then stops, "Oh, and I got you some reading material in your room, as well as copies of the various liturgies of Celestia. I personally recommend starting with Cerulean Joy's, but any of them is a good choice."
"Thank you. Please let me know if you need anything yourself." Moore says -- leaving it at that, as he takes the letter to open it and read it. He'll start to fly as he reads -- hopefully he won't run into anything while he's distracted.
"Dearest Moore,
How do the days find you? I can only hope and pray that you are well, that your health is blessed and your days are filled with happiness. Things are well here, for the court is alive and bright with many members. Our celebrations are free and earnest, for the threat of Hell looms over us no more. What a wondrous thing it is, to be free of an oppression so deep as to seem eternal! I can only marvel at our blessed fortune and give praise to Her Majesty that we are so fortunate.
But I write to you not of personal matters, but to disclose information I have gathered. It is mostly business of the Aurora, but allow me to keep you abreast of such events, from the titanic to the mundane. "
As you read, you reach you room. Everything's laid out as Grias said, even a small, pixie sized tub with steaming warm water.
Feel free to describe you rroom if you want to.
Moore's room is surprisingly reminiscent of the one he had back on Aurora, though sized slightly differently -- it wouldn't do for just him to fit in the room, would it? It's large enough for normal folks, too!
There is a bookshelf on the right side filled with this and that, with a table and a chair for any time where he needs to sit and write something. Next to that is the closet for his outfits in case he decides to don something a little different and Prestidigitation simply isn't enough.
Near there is his comfortable bed with a window right above it so as to let just enough light in when it's time to get up. In the corner that doesn't have the tub in it is a sitting area with some chairs of varying sizes.
"I wonder if we can make some sort of two-way communication device..." He muses to himself. A Mirror that allows for plane shifting to the glade on Lifasa, perhaps and also allows for whoever looks through it to see the person on the other end? Hmm.
He continues to read -- surely Aurora must be busy, even in this downtime.
"Firstly, I bear good news of Crystal. It seems she had an indiscretion during the victory celebrations - and a child will result from it. While she laments her poor choice, she has made peace with the father and they are getting to know one another. I have not ordered a wedding - it is a mistake they made, I will not force them together from it. If they come together regardless, all the better, but allow the flower of romance to bloom at its own pace. Technically, the child will be a bastard, but I will legitimize them on birth. I personally am hoping for a daughter for Crystal, but I feel either will be a joyous blessing to her, do you not agree?
Secondly, I have met with Antenora of Sylica while visiting Brightwater. She sends her congratulations on your new position - word passes fast when gossip comes, does it not, even amid the planes? Perhaps she studies your career or perhaps it is merely fortune's whimsy that she knew. Regardless, I know you met her during your negotiations over Muirfinn, so enjoy her well wishes and keep them well to you.
Thirdly, I have heard Tryll has been active and taken Dana with him. I am not clear precisely on what he is doing, but I know he is out in the tropical oceans, seeing to new Irrigo. I must confess how disquieting I find them to see, yet I cannot deny that Tryll has a worthy heart. Perhaps this is a lesson from Her Majesty, for not all who are blessed with a free and goodly heart are blessed with outer beauty. Is not the tale of the merciful crone and the cruel maiden not instructive? Perhaps in that I see some of myself, for once I was a colder, crueler woman in the traditions of courtly power. I confess that I spend time pondering such things even now, so that I may be a better Queen than I was before."
As you read, Wood trots right on in. He sits at your feet, eyeing you intensely and then your covered meal, then you again.
There *was* an awful lot of liquor that night, it's really no surprise something like that happened. At least it's being handled. If it's a boy, will she name him Lief? Hmm.
Hell have to make a trip to Sylica at some point to officially meet everyone there -- they are neighbors in one way or another, so it's the nice thing to do. Maybe he can bring a gift of some nature.
A gift... Hmm, that strange crystal he picked up would be a nice gift for Tryll, wouldn't it? Perhaps it's a good excuse to go visit sometime.
He muses over a good reply to offer... maybe a personal visit would be warranted soon.
He looks up from the letter at Wood, then over to his meal and back again.
"Okay, but only a little bit." Moore says as he flies over to inspect his meal and find something healthy to pass over.
It's a bowl of honey, a little bit of beef, mixed vegetables and a tall glass of milk. A few tiny, hard pink candies are dessert.
"If you're -really- good, I'll give you some of the beef later." Moore promises. He holds out a vegetable first before he'll go in to eat himself.
Wood sniffs it before scarfing it down, then continues staring at you intently.
Moore will go through the rest of his meal -- saving the candies, before he takes a small piece of the beef left over and tosses it to Wood.
This passes well enough - and by the end, a knock on the door. Cresiel comes in, "Moore," he greets, getting a visitor's chair and sitting. "The victims are being tended to whilst Duran is facing judgment for his crimes."
"Did I ever tell you about the time I was part of one of the Whirlwind Throne's trials?" Moore asks. "I can imagine that Duran's going through something a bit more... personal than that." He says with a small shrug.
"I imagine we'll be called back to Jovar in due time. Oh, I forgot to give Grias that stone I found there to take to Aurora... ah well, there's time enough for that eventually."
"Far more personal," Cresiel confirms, "Those who will not repent, those who embrace evil until the end, are ultimately sealed away until the Last Day. It is said that they will be faced with the unbound light of Chronias on that day, and what happens to them..." Here he pauses, "No one quite agrees, but either a final annihilation or an ultimate salvation."
"No one can know indeed." Moore says with a nod. "I think history has proven that even devils capable of atonement, though, so... I'd lean towards salvation, myself. I think everyone has a shred of goodness in them somewhere." He says as he tilts his head back and forth as if verifying his thought process.
"What do you think? I'd imagine with your beliefs, you'd think that the light of Chronias and of Celestia itself can reach anyone if they're willing to open up to it." He says.
"I have no doubt that the light of Chronias could reach them. The only question is if the light finds them worthy." Here Cresiel pauses, "Legends say that the few times a wicked creature has dared to enter Zaphkiel's presence, they have been immediately obliterated by holy light - a final death of the body and the wicked soul that resides within. I know not what the ultimate righteousness will choose in the end, nor do I presume to have the answer. I can only have my personal opinion and hope, and trust in what is righteous to do what is right, beyond my own limited perspective."
"It was less about passing into Chronias and more about what one does prior to that time." Moore says with a smile. "More about redemption and salvation in the lives we lead in the here and now."
"Aye, there's wisdom in that," Cresiel concurs, "Though that touches on why I came. Do you have immediate plans after our victory? I find that after a victory, should nothing be immediately pressing, a rest to digest it and reflect on what was learned is often valuable."
"I've spent a lot of time trying to get you to change the way you think about things, I see no reason I cannot reciprocate and try things your way." Moore agrees. "I'd like to see if I can find more wisdom in how I used the Words of Creation anyway."
"Wisdom. I will aid you if you need my help," Cresiel says, then slowly exhales, "It has been too long since I've lost myself in a good history, and I desire to write a history of Aurora, from the beginning to Lifasa's liberation. I can begin that during this."
Meanwhile, Wood comes up to Cresiel and sits before him, the solar absently petting his head. "Just don't tell my mother," he murmurs to him, smiling, "She is very much a cat person, as are many with a chaotic nature."
Moore laughs at that. "I won't, I promise. Mm, I suppose it's only fair I do this one without any magical aid... Baleruk would probably tell me something like 'SUCH MAGIC IS BENEATH ONE OF YOUR STATURE' or something like that if he knew what I was trying to do." Moore lets out a breath.
"I'd ask Xandra if she wanted to join us, but she probably has her own way of doing things. ...Hm, I wonder if I'll be able to hear the music..." He trails off as he gets lost in some thoughts before he shakes his head quickly. "Yes, let's try."
"The music? What Xandra speaks of?" Cresiel asks, still petting Wood.
"Correct. She seems blessed in a unique way." Moore says. "It's worth a try to at least hear, right?"
Cresiel nods and from there...
How do you plan to hear it, precisely?
That is a GREAT question.
I don't know. He's just going to try and listen for ~the voice~ and see if maybe if he's trying to only listen to that if he can hear something else.
He has to start somewhere.
Make a Wisdom check, +1 circumstance bonus.
[22:26] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+7 let's get a 20 this time instead then
[22:26] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 16 > [d20=9]
It's a pleasant hour or two, but ultimately you don't hear any song.
By now Wood is asleep at the foot of your bed, curled up.
He agreed with himself to not use magic to help himself -- he takes a breath and lets it out he shuts his eyes again.
He's got all the time in the world, he may as well try again.
Make the check a second time.
[22:44] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+7 let's get a 20 this time instead then
[22:44] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 21 > [d20=14]
You mind simply wanders, little coming over it. It's not quite time for you to hear the song. But know should you hear the Song of Ending, it will be time to hear it, no matter what.
Do not yet look beyond the Empyrean Gate.
That's the name of the gate that leads to Chronias, right?
So it's that kind of song...
It wasn't time for Xandra to come with him either, though -- even so, perhaps it's best to let this one be for now.
He opens one eye -- as if verifying that no one is watching him.
http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,103953.msg1090818.html#msg1090818 Refresher, inc ase that impacts your actions.
It was one or the other.
That gate is... where she is, isn't it. Where they both are.
No, it's not time to see her yet. But he'll see her on his own terms and no one else's.
The first step is... remembering. That's right... Moore forgot. He never forgets -- not anymore. Not since he woke up.
But there's that gap... that time he was trying to find...
He takes a breath. That's right. It's the reason he wants to have a conversation with Elena.
He'll find a way to overcome that limitation.
He closes his eyes for a moment before he takes in another breath.
"I will." He says to himself. "I have to."
Trying again, then?
He'll try once more, with the goal of some sort of solution to anathemic knowledge on his mind.
Make the same check one more time.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 14 + 7, total 21[/blockquote]
How thematic.
Make a Will save.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+46 : 18 + 46, total 64[/blockquote]
You blink.
Did you doze off?
You're awake and aware now, everything a bit of a haze at the moment. If not for a man sitting in your room, an unfamiliar man with a scrubby gray beard and weathered face, perhaps in his 50s? It would be entirely normal. He's scribing a scroll, glancing up as you recover. "There you are," he murmurs. "Chronias does that to people."
Moore reaches up to rub at the bridge of his nose for a moment.
"I'm still getting used to being so close. This is a vision or something, right?" Moore asks. "Or whatever it is you want to call it. I guess it doesn't really matter what you call it, at the end of the day. To whom do I owe the pleasure of meeting?"
"An anonymous man. I'd rather not lie in Celestia, it's bad manners." He looks up from his spell scribing, "Though I like your spirit. Pushing in past being told not to? Daring, stupid and courageous at once." Putting away his quill and scroll with a twisting gesture, causing them to shrink and fly into his pocket, "I wanted to get a look at one of the people he chose."
"You don't mean Erathaol, do you?" Moore asks -- it isn't even a question, it's a statement. There's really only one 'he' that they could mean anyway, given the topic he was thinking of most recently... right?
"It... well, it's hard to explain in words, right?" Moore says with a smile. "I refuse to let something as simple as a cosmic law get in my way -- at least now. I think a lot of people look at something like it and just resign themselves to the way Creation is. I'm not satisfied with that answer... heck, isn't a fey from Yggdrasil sitting in Celestia enough to prove that you can find differences if you look? That's how I think of it, anyway."
"I completely agree," The man says, pausing to adjust his simple traveler's clothes. "The trick is you need talent to back it up. I've met a fair few people who thought that, most of them soon were divorced from their mortal life permanently. I also see one reason he may have chosen you." Getting up now, "Do me a favor and don't mention to your friends that I showed up. They aren't aware and I'd rather keep a low profile."
"I think I managed once. That's why you're here though, isn't it?" Moore asks. Again, not really a question, just a statement. "I can only give you my word -- I have a feeling that's enough for you anyway, considering the lengths it likely took you to get here. I'm going to keep pressing at it when I have time, so I'm sure we'll see each other again. I appreciate the... hm, let's call it a confidence booster." Moore says with a smile.
"Not really, but I only visited the Lost Realm briefly," The man mentions passingly, "Too much light for my tastes. Seek the truth and what you will, but remember your limitations. He's patient and loving, but not all who guard such things are. Especially _______ __________ or ______ ____ __ ___ ___________ __ ___." He speaks but does not speak, your mind unable to hold onto it. He meets your eyes again, "It can be done, I eventually figured it out, just too late."
At this he turns to go, strolling out of your room casually.
"I appreciate the time, regardless." Moore says with a smile. "I'll try and avoid using 21, too, that's a little bit more extreme than I think I need to go for this one. Feel free to come back whenever you'd like."
"She'd appreciate that," The man agrees, leaving you with that comment.
Next move?
Let's wait and see if we're summoned or if Grias comes back with any news.
Grias comes in soon enough, floating on along and in. "Oh, there you are," Grias greets you, "I've meant to ask - do yo uneed many basements here? There's a few shallow ones, more can be built if you need that sort of storage."
"We will likely need some eventually." Moore responds. "I don't think they need to be a priority or anything. Did you have any issues with Filbrez, or have you or whomever is going not gone yet?"
"Oh, the chart. It's in your library. Oh, and I had a library set up for you," Grias bobs in the air, "Along with a representation of Mount Celestia for studying. Oh, you really should go read some of the literature and liturgies there. I took the liberty of curating a collection for you to begin with, it's wonderful stuff."
Moore can't help but smile at his earnesty -- of course he's read some of the liturgical information, what else was he going to do in Xiranthador?
"Of course, I'll take a look." Moore says. "Oh, here." He reaches into his back and takes out the shiny stone he took from Jovar. "When you have time, would you be willing to take this back to Aurora and put it in the shrine to Celestia there? It was a personal project for me, I'll find stones from the other three layers that are missing eventually. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"I will," Grias bobs in the air as the stone vanishes, "Filbrez says hi, by the way. So does Elena and Hanna. 27 too, and what a strange thing, it wouldn't leave Hanna alone."
"I admit I'm surprised that 27 is still hanging around there, but he's basically Hanna's pet at this point, so it's no real surprise." Moore says with a laugh. "Grias, I'm curious, what's your story if you don't mind my asking? There's clearly something unique going on and I don't just mean because you're older than most other lantern archons."
"Well, technically I'm not a lantern archon anymore," Grias bobs in the air back and forth, "I'm a unique spirit now. So I started growing up more."
"Have you ever thought of taking on a more unique appearance?" He asks. "Even if it's still the one you have now, you could always wear a hat."
"That would look silly," Grias says, but hesitates, "Well, maybe a magical hat. I've always fancied the fancy hats women wear, but I'd need one that floats above me. A really fancy hat, maybe."
"I'm not nearly as talented as Afina is at crafting items, I think I could make you a nice hat regardless, though." Moore reasons. "I'll put it on my list of things to do. Is there anything else you have to update me on for now?"
"That's all," Grias bobs once more in the air, "Call me if you need anything, Moore."
Next move?
Bath time! Then he'll go to the library to do some reading while they wait for any missives. If it passes into the next day then he has plans.
You're deep in your reading when Grias floats in, "Moore, you have a visitor," he says, "It's a servant of the Authority of Rebirth."
Take 10 on K:P (I assume that's the right one) for 89 on the Authority of Rebirth and what he handles other than, uh, you know, the obvious here...
"Oh, of course." He sits up with a stretch and will head out to meet them!
The Authority of Rebirth is Raquiel, she oversees the rebirth of righteous souls into Mount Celestia, as well as their proper integration into Celestia proper. It's said she's a patient, wise old celestial who tends to work in the background, her best deeds done when no one is aware of her at all.
Would it be logical to conclude she has a hand in the recovery efforts Moore both went through as well as the ones he witnessed on Mercuria?
It's possible, yes.
Okay. Moving on, then.
Inside a trumpet archon sits. He is tall, waiting patiently in your meeting room. His skin is green and his features are fine, a well kept and light beard of brown matching his long hair. His trumpet rests on his lap.
Go ahead and intro yourself here.
"There are many reasons someone working with Raquiel would be here, but many more I can think of that they'd want something to do with me." Moore says as he flies out to offer a proper bow.
"Moore, Duke of Songs, at your service. To what to I owe the pleasure?" He asks as he takes a seat opposite the trumpet archon.
"Morningvale," The trumpet archon rises to introduce himself, bowing deeply to you. He sits after that, "My master sends a greeting to anyone who establishes a home on Lunia. It's being neighborly, as she likes to say." His voice is strong and stirring, a battlefield commander's. "As well as an invitation to visit her, should you wish to learn more of rebirth and resurrection."
Moore smiles and offers a small chuckle at that.
"It's funny, a while ago I never would've imagined Celestia even had the concept of neighbors." Moore says with a chuckle. "Sorry, I mean no offense, of course even angels understand what it means to live next to someone. It's just... funny. It's a simple mortal concept that's managed to make its way into the highest of heavens."
He shakes his head a bit after that. "I do have a topic or two for her I would like to discuss on a personal matter. I'm still waiting on a resolution from..." He gestures upwards with a hand absently. "So I have time now, if you think she'd agree to meet on short notice."
"If you would allow me to the time to craft a message to that effect?" Mornigvale asks. "Raquiel also considers everyone on Lunia her neighbors. She has quite the expansive opinion of it."
Moore laughs a small bit at the last part. "I understand, I'm sure for an Authority things are a little different in that regard anyway. I still have to get used to how certain people view things from their perspective." He nods again. "By all means, take all the time you need, I'm in no hurry."
What follows is prayerful spellcasting. Morningvale kneels and murmurs his words long and...
> roll 1d100 higher the better
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 39 > [d100=39]
"She is currently occupied with her duties," Morningvale says, regret in his voice. "If you are willing to come tomorrow, she should be able to meet a visitor then."
"Tomorrow it is, then." Moore says with a smile. "You're always welcome to come back if there's anything you'd like to discuss on your own, Morningvale."
"Thank you, kind sir," Morningvale replies, "At the moment no -I have duties to attend to, but perhaps in the future."
"Of course. Please give my regards to Lady Raquiel, then." Moore says as he gets up to show Morningvale out.
Okay, you have some time to kill until that. Any plans or going to wait, see if anything happens then go tomorrow?
Since he's got time, he'll go back to the magical prime he had gone to before.
The last time Moore went to visit the magic prime Here (http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,103878.120.html) he didn't have to worry about spiritual wounds -- presuming that's the same case as this time, he's going to Greater Plane Shift himself back outside the NO TELEPORTATION ALLOWED forest and go back to the cave. Hopefully getting in won't be a problem since Dana's not here this time.
Sure. You will get interrupted first, though.
Disclaimer, I'd want to brush up on reading that and with Avernus going ons I won't have time until tonight, so I'm going to knock out a small scene first. Less interrupting you and more making time with what I have ready due to oh crap shenanigans over there taking DM focus.
As you head to the courtyard to go out, you find Xandra out here. She is in her child form once more, sitting on the ground near the gates. Her gaze is upwards, towards Chronias, radiant in the sky.
"Moore," She greets as you come by.
Understood and understood.
"I'll admit, I didn't think you were going to go back and forth. ...You're not the dog, too, are you?" Moore asks with a smile.
Xandra smiles ever so slightly and utters, "Woof." She shakes her head afterwards, "The form matters little, so long as one can see and hear Chronias. Moore," Gaze still upwards, "You are aware of the Dukes of Hell and the Authorities of Celestia. Tell me, which do you believe calls a dragon one of their own?"
"I don't think I've ever heard of a dragon Duke from Hell... though I admit I didn't spend a lot of time studying their hierarchy. If I were to take a guess, I'd say it was the Authorities. He doesn't happen to be a great gold wyrm that tends to live in Venya, does he?" Moore asks with a small pull upwards of his lips.
A simple nod at that, "You're correct. Do you know why?" Xandra asks.
Were all the people he met that day Authorities...?
It might make some sense if that was the case...
"Hmm... I'd imagine it's because... well, besides Bahamut being up here and aligned with Celestia... it probably has something to do with dragon pride. The pride of a dragon wouldn't allow it to be chained into something like Hell's system. Even a dragon that did align with the ideals and archetypes of Hell... I think that it wouldn't work. Their pride would never allow them to take orders from someone just because of their 'stature.'" Moore reasons.
"Meanwhile, here... it has nothing to do with pride, nor stature, it's simply... doing the right thing. I don't know how an Authority is created, but I imagine it has less to do with the desire of the individual to become one and more... what they're good at, how they do it. Like... I could probably be the Authority of Music or Inspiration someday -- it wouldn't be because I pursued being an Authority, it'd be because I did it so well as part of my life." He says, then offers a small shrug. "At least that's how I see it."
"You're right about the motivation," Xandra remarks, gaze locked on Chronias. "But that wasn't the point I was driving at. The Voice once taught posed that very question to me. After a long time I discovered the answer. Should a creature beyond Hell's devil order become a Duke of Hell, they are made into a devil. Yet not all Authorities are archons or even angels."
A pause to ponder the light above, "Hell crushes everything under its chains. Celestia...you are here as you are, are you not? It is a lesson I have long pondered, especially as all who come here are called to Chronias and the same ultimate holiness."
"Oh, I see. Is that why everyone liberated from Hell seems to turn into something else?" Moore asks. "You're right, too, no one's ever asked or expected me to change my viewpoints here -- everyone has their own opinion and... well, maybe I don't think the exact same way archons or others do with regards to the finality of Chronias... that doesn't mean I can't still follow the basic ideals that the Mountain represents."
"In the end, we all find Chronias and the truth," Xandra remarks, "We all come to find the truth and recant our errors - at our own pace, and at our own time," Xandra says, voice almost a sing-song. "But Chronias loves us. Zaphkiel loves us. They accept us, different shapes and flaws, weaknesses and strengths all. It is said we are all works in progress until the day we pass into Chronias, Moore."
"I'm going to ask you a question that may sound entirely sacrilegious." Moore says with a small smile. "What if you pass through the Bridge and into Chronias, and what's waiting on the other side isn't what you expected? What if it's... I don't know, what if it's Queen Morwel's dream, mixed with the light and hope of Celestia, all swirling around like clockwork from Mechanus? I don't mean to cast doubt or uncertainty into Chronias, or try and suggest I know any better than anyone else." He says with a hopefully reassuring add of his hands. "I'd just like to hear your opinion."
Laughter. A warm laugh, one that washes away your worries and brings a sense of relaxed contentment. "I have faith, Moore. I do not understand Chronias yet, nor will I until that day I pass to it. But no matter what is there, I have faith it is worth it, and whatever I find there, it will be right and it will be everything I have hoped for and so much more. So if it is something unexpected...then so be it. I have faith it will be what is right. What is truly right beyond my limited understanding."
Moore smiles and nods. "I think that's the right attitude to have. It's hard to be so sure of something you can't have any way of being sure of." Moore says with a knowing nod. "I don't know that I'll ever know who or what that voice is, but... it's never steered me wrong, so... I'm willing to trust that whatever it is, it's part of the life I choose to lead now."
"Have faith," Xandra murmurs, "I believe I understand now. There is still so much you have to teach me."
At that moment, you feel a jolt. A connection between yourself and Xandra, a sense of strength and resonation from within her to you.
Congratulations, you completed a node goal by answering wisely and getting a conversation done.
Post that you read it in your next post.
I read it but I don't understand what it means.
Elaborate? What part don't you understand?
Xandra: Item Strengthening (____; <-- that part
Check her sheet, that's one of her items.
Oh, I'm dumb. Okay. So read and so understood.
Awesome. Go ahead and react to the IC happening, then.
"That keeps happening..." Moore murmurs to himself. "It never happened on Aurora... at least, not like this. I wonder, did something else happen after Lifasa, or..." He glances up towards the top of the mountain.
Wis check.
[23:46] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+6
[23:46] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 17 > [d20=11]
You feel peace overtake you, peace and reflective serenity. You spend some time looking up at Chronias, lost in it. Yet no immediate answer comes to your question.
"...It's impossible for it to be a coincidence, but you won't tell me until I figure it out on my own, will you?" He asks no one in particular.
He turns back to Xandra. "Well, I'm glad whatever the force is, it's helping us get stronger."
"We're involved in heady things now," Xandra replies, "The light of Chronias will show us the way ahead."
Moore nods. "We'll forge ahead one way or another. I'm going to go on a short sojourn to finish up some business, I should be back shortly."
"Good fortune ahead," Xandra bids to you.
"I... really hope so." Moore says with a smile as he heads off.
He'll throw up a Foresight, Surge of Fortune and Greater Improvisation before he goes.
The air here is still chilly as you stand here, alone. The forest is as you remember it, nothing having changed right off.
Well, at least no one's going to suddenly appear in front of him.
He heads back the way to the secret location!
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 99 > [d100=99]
> roll 1d100 subtables
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 64 > [d100=64]
You walk to the cave - and as you flutter there, anyway, not walking? You hear a thrashing behind you, something loud and perhaps big.
Moore turns invisible and turns to look at what may be causing the noise!
...crap. Bear. Giant bear! A big, spiky, spined, bony bear. A dire bear! You know what this sort of thing is as it roars defiantly at you - it looks HUNGRY. You maaay have a problem here.
Moore tilts his head. A dire bear that can see through invisibility? Isn't that a little unusual?
Well, this is a suspiciously magical prime, isn't it...? Oh well.
Even if it can see him, it certainly can't fly, so... up he goes!
He's just going to fly straight up, presuming that the bear can somehow see through his invisibility, which it seems to be able to do for whatever reason.
Easy enough. The bear lurches to where you are and sniffs and sniffs, roaring and pacing around, constantly sniffing the air.
Honestly...
Moore shakes his head and will simply fly back along, invisible this time. He'll do his best to be quiet!
Take 10 for ... 32 on Stealth. He's apparently not trying -that- hard.
Bears happen sometimes, y'know?
Easy enough. You return to the cleft as you remember it, nothing different there, either.
Now, was it this one that needed the princess, or...
Take 10 on Spellcraft for 73 on the magic there, I forget if there was a barrier here or if it was further in.
There no is barrier immediately nearby, nor any magic whatsoever.
Do you mean 'no barrier,'?
Moore will head inside and to the actual barrier he remembers, then!
You are correct, typos suck.
You go in and find the wall of shimmering purple has returned, glowing and blocking your way ahead.
Well, he also knows that the lich that lives here is perfectly aware of whatever goes on in this part of his home.
"Hello again." Moore calls out, holding up the rolled up parchment. "It's been a while, but I brought you back what I promised -- the anatomical chart. I'd like to see if you're still willing to trade in information for it."
The field promptly fades away, vanishing in moments.
Well, that seems like an invitation if he's ever seen one. He flies forward!
He's going to be Spellcraftin' for 73 along the way just to make sure he doesn't run afoul of anything. That and since this is an impressive place, after all.
The same carpeted path ahead, the same golem of brick emerges out.
"You have the chart?" The voice is raspy like you remember.
Be aware!
Yes, he remembers that from where this all started -- be aware of the cost. Beware the cost? Something like that. If this is some elaborate trap, though... it's a really long-time coming.
"I do." Moore says as he shakes the parchment once. He'll leave it at that for now.
"Then here," A scroll with a wax seal appears in the golem's hand. "The trade will be done."
Moore will put the chart in the golem's other hand and attempt to take the wax sealed scroll!
"I hope you find what you're looking for out here." Moore says.
The golem merely sinks back into the wall, scroll and all at that.
Next move?
He'll politely leave and go back home before he opens the scroll. He'll also do magic-ing on it before he opens it. (Take 10 for Spellcraft for 73)
Back in your room you find a few things. Another meal is laid out - a tossed salad with a honey glaize dressing and lots of various chopped foods mixed in. Wood is curled up on and over your bed, taking up most of it and snoozing away.
As you settle in with that and make your spellcraft...
CL check on whatever you're using to detect magic.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+30 : 15 + 30, total 45[/blockquote]
It's subtle and powerful, but there's a simple spell woven in. It makes it vastly easier to scry on the scroll or a person who has it in their possession.
Does he let this go? I mean, he could be a positive influence...
Is that possible? A 'good' lich? I mean, stranger things have happened...
For now, he's willing to let it go. He'll open the scroll and read it.
EDIT: He does still have mind blank up, for whatever that is worth.
It provides a detailed map, showing paths and means to find the gate, as well as various instructions on how to overcome various magical difficulties en route.
Moore nods to himself. Good, at least the guy isn't a liar.
He glances up at no one in particular. "If you'd like to work together towards a common goal, you know where to find me. I'll forgive the small amount of deception as an act of good faith towards that." He says as he puts the scroll away in his bags.
He'll save that adventure for the next day.
Okay, anything else to do today IC?
Nah, he can visit the Authority of Golden Dragons another day.
The next morning you awaken refreshed, revitalized. Grias is in the room, breakfast on the table. "Oh, good morning," Grias calls, "Come, come, your breakfast is ready. Oh, and there's a message for you by it, it's from above," he says, "I think it's about your recent mission."
"Thank you. Hey, do lantern archons sleep?" Moore asks as he gets himself properly dressed to eat as well as read the message.
"Oh no, no need to," Grias says, "Besides, there's always something for me to do, like seeing to your home"
"Well, just make sure you take breaks when you need to." Moore says with a nod.
Grias hovers in place, "Oh, don't worry about me," Grias says, as you check the message. It reads as follows.
Moore, congratulations on your victory over Duran Emptyeye. You have made Creation a little brighter with your victory, but do not rest on your laurels. For now, you have leave to pursue general goals as you see fit. These goals are as follows.
1. Continue to research and find opportunities to oppose Shar and do so.
2. Establish useful and productive contacts with those who are not evil throughout the planes.
3. Gather useful things (magic items and curiosities primarily, but with an understanding to use your own judgment) and bring them back to your home.
4. Find other worthy warriors who are willing to take up the good fight.
5. Oppose other evils as you come across them, but do not lose sight of your main enemies. There are many wicked forces across Creation and they are all worthy to fight, but have the wisdom and clarity to remember who your primary enemy is.
6. See to your own development, be it magical, physical or spiritual; see to your the development of your companions as well.
7. Prepare yourself through deed, action and thought.
Moore shakes the paper like he's expecting a hidden message to come out of it.
Didn't they mention something about getting a reward when he was given this missive in the first place?
He shakes his head -- it isn't important right now, it'll come eventually.
For now...
He takes the scroll out and opens it, casting a quick spell to copy all the information onto a mundane piece of parchment. He then rolls up the scroll and puts it on his shelf.
Idea is to copy all the info from the spying scroll and leave it here while taking the information with him.
"Let's see here..." Moore looks at his instructions again and then nods. "All right. Grias, I'll be leaving for a small bit of time. Do me a favor, Xandra, Cresiel and I need some sort of means of communication... on Aurora, we had someone who could cast an interplanar telepathy spell, but none of us know how to do that. Can you see if you can find out if we can procure one from someone here in Celestia?"
The idea after that will just be to do the following:
Surge of Hope
Mind Blank Cube
Greater Improvisation
Righteous Halo
And then Greater Plane Shift to wherever the map shows me to go!
It is a quiet place. Empty. The smell of the sea, the sound of seagulls nearby. You are in a forest, thick and untamed. The path should be just ahead. So long as you stay to the path and utter the right names at the right time, you should be fine.
Time to go and officially meet Makim! Moore does indeed go on ahead.
Take 10 for 73 on Spellcraft as he goes. He has an always-on detect magic.
Oh! He's also going to cast Foresight just in case. :)
There's indeed magic here - powerful magic, nigh overwhelming magic. Magic to separate this place, to war doff the unworthy. Yet as you find a broad, wide path of cobblestones, you utter the names and prove yourself. On and on and on you go, until at last you reach it. Here a portal swirls, dark blue and pulsing, a light wind whipping around it.
How in the world did that guy even know all this stuff? Hmm...
Well, it isn't really important for right now. There's no sense in worrying, through the portal he goes!
A moment of flipping disorientation. Movement. Confusion.
You stand atop a cliff, overlooking a misty valley. Behind you is thick pine forests, a light misting of snow over everything. It's rather on the cold side here, your breath visible and body shivering. As you stand there, a chill wind blows. As it scythes through you, leaving you numb? The mists below are momentarily parted, showing a vast tower of red stone, rising high up. Higher than it should, hgiher than the mist should be able to hide it, yet it is there only when the mist is momentarily blown away.
It was a volcanic island last time... well, that might've just been one part of it.
Hmm, if this is a demi-plane, then he probably already knows he's here, but he's going to fly towards the red spire!
He'll keep up his spellcrafting as he goes, he's guessing he's either going to be scryed or something along those lines since he's sort of coming into someone's house uninvited.
You begin to fly from the tower. As you do...
Perception and K:A, Moore.
Take 10 for 70 and 99, respectively.
You see it come up - an eagle-lion, a cross between the two. A griffon, a magical beast. Fairly mundane as they go, dangerous to mortals but largely manageable to adventurers like yourself. It is coming in your direction, though.
Moore makes no attempt to flee, guessing that this is a welcome party or... well, it's not going to be able to do much to him regardless, so he just lets it come!
The griffon flies up to your level, about 20ft away and not advancing.
"Hello," It greets, a man's voice coming out of it, rather quiet but carrying on the wind.
"Hello." Moore says and offers a bow. "Are you the master of this place? Well... not you, obviously..." He gestures at the griffon with a smile. "Either way -- my name is Moore, I am the Duke of Songs of Celestia." He offers another bow afterwards.
"I am Prosperity," The griffon introduces himself, the winds stilling and yet the beast has no trouble staying aloft, hovering in place. "Why have you come here, Moore?"
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Prosperity. I would like to speak to the master of this place -- I believe his name is Makim, but truth be told, the legends tend to get a lot of things wrong..." He shakes his head. "It's a bit of a long story, but I found myself here by accident some time ago and the master of this place helped me get back to where I needed to be. Anyway... I've come to seek his aid, in a matter of speaking. I'm happy to explain the full story to you if you'd like." He says, offering an open-armed smile.
"Tell me," Prosperity says, "We have time." The griffon holds his position, seemingly waiting on you.
E-E-Expo ball. Goo dluck.
"Very well." Moore nods. "I am going to work on the assumption that you know of the planes outside of this place, if I use a term you are unfamiliar with, please let me know and I will be happy to explain it."
He clears his throat.
"For some time, I worked with a group known as Aurora. They were fighting to reclaim their home, a prime called Lifasa, from the clutches of Hell. That journey ended in a complete success. I still work with Aurora, though my primary goal is establishing a group within the domain of Mount Celestia. I am the Duke of Songs of Lord Erathaol of the Hebdomad, I've been tasked with many things, but chief of them is to stymie the efforts of Shar. We stand opposite to her destruction and corruption as well as for justice and to aid and liberate people from oppressive forces like those from Hell."
He takes a breath. "If it sounds fanciful, I can't blame you for being a bit incredulous. At the same time, I have no reason to lie about the story -- I'm sure your master has a spell or two that can verify what I'm saying as truth, regardless." He offers a smile afterwards. "So the long and short of it is -- I'm seeking allies who threaten Creation itself. That is the reason I am here."
The winds are silent as you speak, the griffon hovering. His lionish face watches you, sharp eagle's eyes on your every word and move. "So you seek allies for Celestia, in essence?"
"It isn't just Celestia." Moore says with a smile. "That's who I'm aligned with, but... well, as you can see, I'm no angel or archon." He does gesture at the halo above his head. "That's just magic, it isn't part of... nevermind. Anyway! You're not wrong to say I'm seeking allies for Celestia, but... the way I see it, I'm seeking allies against Shar and the evils of Creation." Moore says.
"Tell me: What profit is it to participate in your struggle?" The griffon now asks.
"It depends on perspective, I suppose." Moore admits. "However, there are several I can think of: To profit by a growth in skill by both defeating the forces of evil as well as learning more about Creation itself, to profit simply by locating artifacts and other valuable items, to profit in terms of growth as a person -- just by being exposed to the various planes, the people and deities, you add more to your understanding." Moore says.
"I think the best way to look at it is you profit by aiding the world around you and making it a better place -- by leaving your own influence there." Moore says.
Make a Diplo check here since you're being all diplomatic, pixie. -3 circumstance penalty.
Take 10 for 96 with the -3 factored in. He is using 15 Greater Improvisation points.
"I understand. I will pass on your important words," The griffon agrees, "Do you wish to stay long?"
"Only so long as I am welcome here." Moore says. "If he wishes me to leave and wait for an answer, I can do so. I do not want to offend."
"No, good sir, do not let me offend you," The griffon says, "Would you like to ride me? If you wish to stay, I will take you to quarters suited for an important guest like you."
"Only if it isn't an inconvenience for you." Moore says with a smile. He'll take the offer to ride nonetheless.
"Oh no, get on," The griffon insists, "It's no inconvenience for me at all."
"Thank you." Moore says as he hops on! "What do you do here, if you don't mind my asking?"
"I practice my magic and patrol the skies," The griffon says, "Oh, my name is Aerwing, Duke Moore. I've learned up to the fifth circle under tutelage and I hope to reach the sixth within a century."
The griffon called itself Prosperity on the last page!!!!
"That's very impressive!" Moore says with a smile. "You should never give up, keep trying. What's your favorite spell so far?"
I know, ask him about it. It's not just a seeming contradiction.
"Cone of cold," he answers, "It freezes things so well, like a harsh wind high in the sky." You're flying towards the tower in the meantime up and up towards the roof there.
Okay, so it's not user error this time!!
"That is a good one." Moore agrees. "I need to add a few more offensive spells to my own repertoire. Say, you introduced yourself originally as Prosperity, but your real name is Aerwing?" Moore asks.
"Prosperity is a title," The winds do not interfere at all as you fly in, staying unnaturally quiet. "It is given to those who prosper."
"So would Prosperity Aerwing be the polite way to refer to you?" Moore asks as they fly along.
"One or the other...but you can use both if you want," he says. The roof is smooth stone, large and with plenty of space to land. As he swoops in, several pegasi tied up here, drinking from troughs of water, "I'll get you right on in, Duke Moore."
"Thank you very much." Moore says. "You can just call me Moore, if you'd like. I try and not get too tied up with titles if I can help it."
"That will do." As you land, another voice sounds. A man's voice, rather average and unremarkable. He appears next to Prosperity, clad in flowing red robes and hood, an iron mask over his face, painted white with red swirls across the cheeks, side and forehead.
"Before anything else? Duke Moore, is this an official diplomatic effort from Mount Celestia?"
Moore blinks and rubs his chin for a moment.
"I... hmm." He considers, again as he looks upward at the sky. "I have been given authority to speak on behalf of Mount Celestia. You can consider this an official diplomatic effort from there, yes." He nods afterwards, seemingly satisfied with that answer. "To add, they did not send me to find you, the reason for being here is my own."
The man holds out a glove covered hand, "Come with me, then," he says. "Take my hand."
Moore gives a not to Prosperity before he takes the man's hand!
Hopefully it isn't just a fancy way of asking him to leave.
In an instant you are elsewhere.
A hallway of portraits, showing wizards of all shapes and sizes. You can tell they are wizards by the fact that each name is followed by a noting of a circle beneath it, such as second circle, tenth circle and so on and so forth. It stretches far and longer, longer than you can see in either direction. The robed man begins to walk, "Speak then," he says, "Explain."
"Ah... the short version." Moore says as he clears his throat. "I found myself here some time ago on accident. The master of this place helped me get back to where I needed to be. Since then, a lot has happened and I've found myself in a position to search for allies against Shar." He says. "I believe Makim, if that's the correct name, would be a strong ally against her forces."
He clears his throat afterwards as he flies along. "That's the short-short version. I'm happy to go into longer specifics if you'd like to hear them, I don't want to bore you, though."
"If you wish to meet Makim," The man replies, "You will have to be found worthy. Tell me, why are you worthy?"
"Because my words and actions are always true to my beliefs." Moore says. "I've endured hardships that would shatter the souls of normal people and have come from them stronger -- and yet still humble of my knowledge." He adds.
He takes a breath at this. "I'm worthy because I make myself worthy. Because I make others worthy. I wouldn't have attained the heights of where I am if I wasn't."
Diplo, +5 bonus. You said something in there that connected.
Take 10 for 103, using 15 Greater Improv points.
With a blur of afterimages, the wizard glides to 40ft away from you. He raises his hand, blue spellfire gathering around his hand. "Then prove it! Show me how worth you are or suffer in ignoble defeat forever! Show me how you've made yourself worthy!"
Init.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+36 : 8 + 36, total 44[/blockquote]
> roll 1d20+21 (+5 nerveskitter)
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+21 (+5 nerveskitter) --> [ 1d20=3 ]{24}
Open.
"I'm ill-suited for this type of thing." Moore admits. "Can we agree to terms that don't involve the standard format of two people slinging spells until the other falls over?"
With that, however, he gestures -- maybe this will get his point across.
Reaving Dispel.
Gimme seven checks.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+20 : 5 + 20, total 25[/blockquote]
Hm. Is that format bad for a lot of checks, Moore? If rolling seven's hard, gimme the number and I'll Rei-chan them real quick.
[blockquote]Rolled 7d20+20 : 4, 16, 8, 10, 12, 9, 14 + 20, total 93[/blockquote]
Let's try it this way and see what happens.
Well, that's... better, but not exactly elegant for something like this. Good to know for the future. For reference, the rolls with the bonus are
24 36 28 30 32 29 and 34 just so you don't have to do any extra calculations.
Bursts of red and blue arcane energy erupt from the robed man as it flows into you, then...
You reaved the following spells and can choose to take them: Greater Mage Armor, Superior Resistance and Makim's Arcane Insight.
Makim's Arcane Insight looks like an improved version of Greater Arcane Sight.
He already has Superior Resistance, so he'll take Greater Mage Armor and Makim's Arcane Insight!
Moore raises his eyebrows in slight surprise. "It would make sense that someone like him would have created his own magic." He says with a smile.
"You've proven your point to take my spells so easily, only a master could do so. Reaving Dispel?" The robed man asks, stopping and lowering his hand.
Free act.
Moore nods with a smile. "I'm not as practiced at dispelling as some of the friends I've met, but I dabble enough here and there."
He'll borrow the fact that he's got Makim's insight to see if there are any other custom spells here on the man.
"I'm glad we didn't have to come to serious blows." Moore says with a grin. "I'm really not well-versed in destructive magic."
No, that was the only one. You can also tell all the spells are safe and with no hidden traps in them or the like, no rider spells either.
"Oh," Starting to walk again, falling back and in step with you, "What is your specialization?"
"I inspire people." Moore says. "I make them better than what they realize they're capable of doing. I've been trying to think of ways to better augment my allies' spellcasting abilities... that may be something good to focus on, even if Makim decides to decline any partnership with me."
"You impressed Prosperity and inspired him, your words are strong," The wizard concurs. "Makim prefers to keep to himself. Why should he go and pick a fight with Shar at your behest?"
"Shar and her followers will find this place eventually." Moore says. "It may not be within a century, it may not be within a millennia. But what good is all the research he's doing here... the creation he's doing, the knowledge he's passing along, if one day, when someone wants to come out of here and go see the rest of the world, it's covered in darkness and despair?" Moore asks. "I don't intend to let that happen. I also don't intend for Makim to help me out of the goodness of his heart -- I know I can return the favor in many ways to him, show him knowledge so vast even he would be impressed."
"Prove it," The robed man says, "Prove you can show him something that impressive and he'll meet with you right away."
Moore considers this for a moment... then smiles.
It must've been fate that he forgot to give it to Grias.
Moore withdraws from his bag a shiny stone and holds it out. "I'm sure you have magic that can tell you where this stone is from and why it's impressive that I have it."
It's the rock he picked up from Jovar, for reference.
PREPARE.
The moment the man touches the stone he falls in a dead faint, soundlessly. Yet the stone is clenched in his hand, tightly, actively squeezing it.
"...I admit, that wasn't quite the response I was expecting..." Moore murmurs as he flies down to make sure the man's all right. Well, he won't be able to tell easily, exactly, but...
He gives the man's arm a gentle pat. "Sorry, that may have been thoughtless of me to expose you to."
The man groans, slowly sitting up. His hand goes to his masked face, holding it as he shakes. "W-what manner of sorcery was that?"
"It's no sorcery. It's a stone from the sixth layer of Mount Celestia, called Jovar." Moore says as he helps to pull the man back to his feet.
"Everything is sorcery," The man retorts, rising by floating up and righting himself. "There is only sorcery and sorcery we cannot yet master."
Moore smiles and offers a bit of a laugh. "I suppose that's one way of viewing the world. So I guess I'll say Jovar is created with a lot of divine sorcery."
"Sorcery to prepare," The man says, then shakes his head. "You've impressed me. Follow me, Makim awaits."
Moore smiles and goes along. "Thank you, sir. Oh, what should I call you, by the way?"
"Prince," The wizard says, saying no more. He makes a few steps - and the hallway is done abruptly. Here is a plain door, nothing remarkable at all. Pleasant enough and well made, but still just a door.
"Go on through here," Prince says. "Makim awaits."
"Thank you, Prince." Moore gives the door a polite knock!
He casts a quick spell and then will go and open the door!
Divine Insight.
"Enter," The voice that answers is normal enough, if a bit on the young side. A man's voice.
Moore opens the door to go inside! Is he prepared enough for this...?
Inside is a simple balcony, the view showing the mountain and valleys for miles around. The only furniture is a table and two chairs, one of them filled by a brown haired, unremarkable human - or perhaps a bit more, as his ears have a bit of a point, a hint of the almond-shaped eyes of the elves as well. His expression is pensive, nursing a glass of amber liquid. "Spirits," he says and takes a sip, "A magic of their own. Useful when one wants to unwind, relax...or free the mind to wonder at your sheer persistence. Most people take the hint of how hard it is to find here and leave us be."
The young man - perhaps twenty or so years, not a hint of a beard on him nor the slightest sign of aging - has another long sip of his drink before going on. "Then again, the inheritors to Medi's legacy would have to be tenacious. Doubly so a pixie who ends up with rank Celestia of all places."
Moore smiles and offers a flourishing bow.
"I've been known to be persistent and annoying at times, I admit." Moore says. "You keep yourself abreast of the world outside quite well for someone who secludes themselves as you do. I apologize for the ignorant question, but what is the purpose of all of this?" He gestures around. "It's obviously more than just a place to study magic in silence, you could've just as easily come to Aurora's libraries for something like that. I could freely speculate, but if you'll humor me, I'd like to understand."
"Got tired of the world," The young man shrugs, "So I took and made my own." Finishing his drink in one last gulp, "Why live in someone else's world when you can live in your own?"
Moore nods. "I do understand that. I think, for me... living in an imperfect world lets me help more people, and allows me to feel like I'm making it a better place. I'm not going to try to drown you in flowery words or a speech that moves your soul," Moore says as he coughs once. "Although I'd like to. It's certainly worked for me so far. I want to ask you for your help against Shar -- I want to ask you to come out of the world you've created to help save countless others."
"I'm not going to make a plea to your conscience -- the fact is you're an accomplished magic-user who would be of immeasurable help." Moore says. "I'm not trying to appeal to your ego, either, I'm just speaking as honestly and as plainly as I can."
A long sigh, "You know, you're the first person who has made it that far to try this? I've heard impassioned speeches, seen bribes worth entire kingdoms laid at my feet, had women so beautiful that rain refused to fall on them offer themselves to me. But never a forthright appeal to my better nature."
A moment's pause and he pulls a decanter of amber liquid out, refilling his glass. "I'm not drunk enough for this." He puts his bottle down and has another long drink. "The only one that worked was one of the women, she became my wife. Go ahead and ask her, my better nature's a rare beast to be seen." A peer at you, "You're what, a few hundred years old? That's nothing. You still think you can change Creation? Make it a better place?" A long drink follows again, "Fight the good fight and rest the rest of champions after succeeding? Here's a big, dirty secret: It doesn't matter."
Staring down at his glass, "You kill the petty bandits, you learn that they prosper because of a crooked baron taking bribes. Kill the baron, you find out that the court wizard encouraged him to do so as long as he paid taxes on them. Kill the court wizard, then get surprised by the fact that the king and entire court is crooked. Overthrow the government in a violent revolution, and it turns out that the entire thing was orchestrated by a cult of whatever dark power you don't like today. Wipe out the cult, find information that suggests that a powerful spirit is manipulating them. Hunt down the outsider and kill it, find out it has a dozen more plans to wreck misery. End all of them? A dozen new cultist cells of various flavors have sprung up while you were busy. Somehow realize that's a waste time and go up the chain. Kill, kill, kill. Stronger and stronger and stronger and you know what? You do it. You punch out the dark power, get them to stop it on your world...and so what? A dozen others are moving on your world. Go beyond that and somehow kill that dark power for good? Another will rise."
His diction starts slow and becomes tired, tense. He turns his attentions to you and meets your gaze as he goes on. A breath once he finishes, "It's a zero sum game. Rigged up to be by the creators of this Creation, all to answer an impossible question. We're all rats running on a wheel, chasing something we can never have. So to hell with the rest of Creation. Make a place you can be happy and tell the rest of it to have fun tearing itself apart." Finally you get a long look, a few more breaths and more booze poured. "I'd offer you some," he says, "But you strike me as a teetotaler. All that good hope and energy ruins the booze, anyway."
Moore simply takes all of that in stride, nodding to his words as he goes along.
"You're not wrong, of course. Living for, what, thousands of years will make someone bitter about that sort of thing." Moore says. "I will disagree with you on one particular point -- it does matter. I don't care if you have no idea who I am or what I did when we liberated Lifasa -- I care, and I know all my friends who participated in it care too. Whether in ten thousand years or even a few dozen anyone remembers me is irrelevant -- I did what I did for the sake of others and I can be proud of that." He clears his throat and looks apologetic for a moment.
"Sorry, I said no speeches. Here's the brass coins version -- you can stay in here and delude yourself that the world outside isn't your problem. It's not, you don't have any obligation to it. But what about when Shar's cronies come in here? What then? Is it your problem at that point? Why even let anyone in here learn and grow like Prosperity or Prince do if you care so little about everything? Why even create any of this?" Moore asks, taking a breath after that.
"I said I wasn't going to try and sway you with speeches, but your actions don't match your words. Deep down, you want to believe in something, so you went with the only thing you could trust, which was yourself. I can understand that way of thinking -- but I believe in other people too. I'm not going to sit here and bore you with how I've already made Creation a better place, or about how I've already changed things -- you can see it plain as day from the fact that I am standing here, keeping you sober." Moore throws an arm out at this.
"Stop hiding here and creating your own perfect world and go outside and make the world less awful for the people in it. I'm not asking you to help me kill bandits, or do some parlor tricks. Have you ever been to Xiranthador?" Moore asks. "Don't worry, I don't have to be a supreme sorcerer to know the answer to that one -- but hey, maybe you'll surprise me." He takes a breath at all of this, as if he's trying to stop himself.
"I've seen the face of hope. I'm not willing to give up on Creation just yet, not after everything I've seen. I may not have been around for very long, but when was the last time you did anything you were passionate about? Why even have these other people and things here? If everything was really as you said, you'd just have one entirely endless plane of existence with nothing else in it but you and a glass of wine." Moore gets out, then huffs.
"...I really failed at that no speeches thing..." He rubs the bridge of his nose.
Make a Diplo check, -40 circumstance penalty. Good luck.
That's what all the magic is for!
Take 10 for 72. Admittedly the DC is still probably pretty high, but I have faith!!!
"I know your type," Makim retorts, "Can't pass up a good speech, can you? You care too much. You think words can really change things, you believe. You have faith." Another drink goes down, no refill as he banishes the glass and decanter with a wave of his and murmured words. "You think deep down I care, because in the end, you're too young to see anything but yourself."
Sitting back, gesturing to the horizon, "Mount Celestia's pretty nice for you, huh? Your own little world to get away from it all when you aren't doing this or that?"
"It has its charm." Moore says, smiling. "It's good to have a place to return to -- but I wouldn't want to live there forever."
"Then why work for them? You choose a side and you're stuck there usually, unless you fall or rise. Why, got your eye on a nice castle in Avernus one day?" Makim retorts. "Most archons can't shut up about going to Chronias forever."
"How much do you know about the Lost Realms?" Moore asks. "Oceans of light, all that stuff?" He clarifies, since just calling it 'the lost realm' may not be clear.
"Enlighten me," Makim drawls, waving a hand.
"Think of it as a purgatory." Moore says. "It's an entire plane, locked off the rest of the world, where people are given a second chance at life to see if they can ultimately overcome their own personal demons and persevere." Moore says.
"I did, apparently. I'm not sure exactly what I did there, I don't have all my memories of it... but... I did. I got out. When I woke up, I was in Venya." Moore explains, gesturing to the side. "I was told that I was needed and given a mission to join Aurora. From there, fate's guided me trough trials, tribulations, ups, downs and all arounds. I work with Celestia because I choose to -- because they've helped me see."
He clears his throat and takes a deep breath. "They've helped me see." He takes another breath. "I could just as easily work with Arborea, I could just as easily go back to Aurora and work there. The only side I'm choosing is the one where evil doesn't triumph in our world. It's just what I do. I'm not led by the nose by the will of Chronias. Why, I even got an archon friend of mine to admit that what might be in Chronias could be an amalgamation of Morwel, Zaphkiel and Mechanus."
He grins a little at that. "I think the world's changed a lot while you've been in here."
"Why come after me, then?" Makim asks, shaking his head and eyeing you oddly at your words.
Diplo again, -40 like last time.
"Because you can make a difference." Moore says, plainly.
Take 10 for 57.
"Besides that, Makim snaps, "I don't exactly make a big profile out there."
"I found myself here a long time ago. Someone -- I thought it was you -- helped me get back. Short, brown hair, beard... He was on the volcanic portion, if that helps narrow it down." Moore says. "I've wanted to come back since then to see what I could do to make an ally of this place." Moore explains. "Look, if you're dead-set on never going back, I'll respect that."
He takes a breath. "I just think it's a waste of your talent and all the talent you're creating and fostering here."
The reply is stopped by the door opening. Prince comes through, bowing. "Master," he greets.
Makim sighs deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "What is it now?"
"We have to prepare," Prince says, "...Moore is right. That's all I want to say, I'll accept any penalty for eavesdropping that you like."
A moment's pause as Makim snaps off a few words, looking around. "Clever," he says slowly, "I'd have rather found out about this in a proper demonstration, but clever. Go clean out the stables by hand," he gestures, "Get out of my sight."
With a bow Prince vanishes and Makim sighs. "Do you know how long it look to make this a teleportation enabled demiplane without letting anyone travel to it by magic? Over a thousand years. I spent more time on a luxury than you've spend in your entire life. And in a few minutes you have Prosperity acting like an overawed kitten and Prince openly defying me." Makim rises, raising his hand. A torrent of spell energy gathers there, "I should strike you down like an armed enemy, because your voice is as much a threat as any drawn blade."
"You and I both know that it wouldn't be nearly as easy to do as you think it would." Moore says, no malice or threat in his voice at all, he shrugs with a smile afterwards.
"Makim, all this time you've been sitting here, the world outside has changed. It's not the same anymore. Don't you think it's at least time to come outside and take a look? Is there any harm in that? I mean, you know how to get back here and then you could just close your front door if you really wanted to." Moore says with a small shrug.
"That," Makim says smoothly, "Is enough of that. Maybe I will go see things now, if things are truly so dire. Maybe I will not. But if you utter another bewitching word in my presence, it will be the last mistake you make in this life or any life. For most of all, I will make MY own choices."
He holds there a moment, as if waiting and challenging you to speak.
Your call how to react there, Moore.
It wasn't a very thinly veiled threat at all, was it?
He considers, for a moment, what the most diplomatic thing to do would be. Would he take -that- as a threat? Hmm... It's worth the risk.
He simply takes the stone from Jovar and puts it on the ground, offers him a polite, low, bow, then will turn and head back for the door.
With a bare gesture, the door slams shut. "I did not give you permission to leave, did I?" Makim says, not even looking at the stone. His voice is cool, controlled.
"Before anything else, I want to know what magic you're using to enhance your words. All of it." Makim takes his seat again now, "Speak that much, just tell me the spell names. You almost had me, you know. It's so damned easy to lose yourself in a voice like that. You're one of the better word fighters I've ever ran into. I'm sure you think it's for a good cause, maybe it is. I'm aware of the Prophecy of Primus; I am withdrawn, not ignorant of the world beyond here. That's what's driving you with your crusade against Shar, hm? No, don't answer that. Just tell me your spells. That, and what that stone was about. Yes, I would like to hear that...but I'll settle for having it written." He reaches into a bag on his hip, one you're sure wasn't there a moment ago. He takes out quill and inkpot, placing them on the table. "Write it out. In fact, write your spell names instead of speaking them, too."
Sitting back and exhaling, "Oh, and pick that stone back up on your way over here and put it back away."
There are things he'll do, and there are things he won't do.
He slowly turns around.
He closes his eyes for a moment -- is there wisdom in this?
A breath. Another breath. Yes, this is the right path.
Beware the cost.
He leans down to pick up the stone. "It's from Jovar." Moore says. There's no malice -- no heat in his voice. It's just calm. "I'm not writing anything else down. You have the means to find out what spells I have on me -- you developed the spell yourself. I don't have anything to hide from you. I didn't come here to be duplicitous." Moore says, simply.
Makim sighs, standing up. "You damned fool. Do I look like a liar? I warned you to be silent or it would be your last mistake; I fulfill my promises."
Init. That was a gamble and it wasn't the right one to push him on, not there and like that. Good luck with salvaging, try not to die.
Beware the cost indeed.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+36 : 17 + 36, total 53[/blockquote]
> roll 1d20+23 (+10 ???)
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+23 (+10 ???) --> [ 1d20=10 ]{33}
Init is Moore (53) > Makim (33)
Open.
What does Makim's magical sight tell me about the spells he has on him?
"I'm sorry to have offended you. In the future, you shouldn't treat a guest so rudely, though." Moore says. There's really no chance he can do this by himself, so... maybe proving a point to him will be enough?
He waves a hand, casting a spell himself.
Casting Harmonize, presuming that doesn't get countered then he's going to Inspire Courage himself.
[blockquote]Rolled 3d4 : 2, 2, 4, total 8[/blockquote]
> roll 1d20+19
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+19 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{25}
You can tell that Makim has Mind Blank or a similar divination defeating protection active on his person. That makes learning more impossible, the stolen spell not enough to penetrate whatever defenses he has.
He's not countering, any other actions this round?
Nope, that's it. Here's hoping SR and other things hold!
I'm hoping too. Even when the PCs are in a tight spot, I hope they pull it out instead of dying. Good luck.
"Alurra zom sekmid! Sekmid! Fool and lost Sekmid, I invoke you!" Makim chants, holding his ground, helixes of spellfire cascading around his body. "Sekmid's Trap!" Around you a cylinder of force appears, shimmering and semi transparent. You're at the end closest to Makim, extending well past beyond you and out over the ground. Just below your feet is a floor of the same stuff, and it extends up to the ceiling, where it stops with a ceiling of force just below it.
Go.
To be clear, are we in the same cylinder or did he put me in a cylinder he's outside of?
He's outside of it. It's sealing you in rather tightly.
Okay.
"I'm not really sure this will work, but let's try something creative." Moore says and gestures with his hand again. Heck, if Makim is going to shout spell names, then... "Unbinding!"
From the description of it, I would think that it would work here.
He'll also use Inspire Heroics.
[blockquote]Rolled 18d4 : 3, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 1, 1, 1, 4, 2, 1, 2, 3, 1, 4, 1, 2, total 42[/blockquote]
You would be correct.
The cylinder of force is wiped out in a flash of light, banished away instantly, freeing you. Makim merely nods slightly and makes a strange, curious gesture. Twin green clouds flank you, one on each side. They pop and sizzle with acid, flying around and around you, seemingly ready to strike at any minute.
A field of force surrounds Makim a moment later, dozens of images of body-hugging force armor overlaying his body.
Go.
"I know I can't beat you." Moore admits. "I was never much for destructive magic, myself. Hopefully I can make it worth your time, nonetheless."
Take 10 for 79 on Spellcraft. Can I identify what these clouds are or anything about the spell involved?
He takes another breath. There are a few ways out of this... even if he can't win. There's no reason to lose hope, not now, not ever. Makim isn't an evil person -- no, he's...
Inspire Greatness.
[blockquote]Rolled 8d10 : 3, 4, 10, 10, 6, 3, 8, 4, total 48[/blockquote]
He makes an elaborate gesture -- he may as well get as into this as Makim is. "Refreshment!" He shouts. He's... he's casting Refreshment!!! he's getting rid of all of his nonlethal damage.
It's a custom spell named Acid Twins. The two acid clouds will relentlessly hound you whenever you cast a spell, attack or basically do anything but move. They follow you naturally and a decent speed.
Still going to cast Refreshment in light of that?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. How much do I believe in my protections... He'll chance it.
I'll do some AC calculations.
> roll 1d20+41 touch AC 1
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+41 touch AC 1 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{44}
> roll 1d20+41 touch AC 2
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+41 touch AC 2 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{59}
Touch AC?
It is 61! Thank you, magical songs and other things!
Refreshment covers you as Makim snaps his fingers again. As the acid twins rove around you, looking for a shop, a wave of sheer magic hits you hard. "Impressive, for a pixie," he says coolly, "But let's take away all your precious defenses. Artsym worg!"
You're being dispelled. Number of spells to be hit?
Eight, if I am doing my calculations correctly. Does the True Seeing bestowed from his glasses count? If so, then nine.
List the spells and CLs, please.
Surge of Hope (30)
Mind Blank Cube (17)
Greater Improvisation (30)
Righteous Halo (30)
Superior Resistance (30)
Bibliotecha Arcana (30)
Greater Mage Armor (whatever the CL of Prince is)
Makim's Arcane Sight (whatever the CL of Prince is)
Or maybe I should say the CL of The Artist Formerly Known As?
> roll 8#1d20+30
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 8#1d20+30 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{49}, [ 1d20=14 ]{44}, [ 1d20=10 ]{40}, [ 1d20=11 ]{41}, [ 1d20=19 ]{49}, [ 1d20=12 ]{42}, [ 1d20=4 ]{34}, [ 1d20=18 ]{48}
Everything but Greater Improv is gone. Go.
Moore takes another breath.
"I can't win in a battle like that, so I'll fight the way I know how."
Another breath.
"With words!"
He's going to just try and blast the room with his Words of Creation like he did against the Eye. I'm not sure if he needs to roll the Wisdom and Charisma again, though.
That'll be 77d4 damage that may or may not do anything and you'll provoke from the twin acid clouds. You okay with that?
He's not had a lot of luck with gambling, but he really doesn't have anything else to do here. Even if it doesn't do anything, his point will have been made.
[blockquote]Rolled 20d4 : 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 1, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, 3, total 55[/blockquote]
> roll 1d20+41 touch AC 1
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 48 > [d20=7]
> roll 1d20+41 touch AC 2
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 51 > [d20=10]
Does your AC still hold after dispelling?
It does! It is actually only down to 59 now, for your reference, since most of this touch AC comes from items and his songs. Also he does have a 20% miss chance, but it's irrelevant at this point.
Also, it was 77d4 damage, not 20d4 like you rolled.
[blockquote]Rolled 20d4 : 4, 2, 3, 2, 1, 3, 3, 4, 1, 2, 4, 1, 2, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 1, total 51[/blockquote]
[21:44] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 195 > [77d4=195]
(195)408/408+55
You utter words of powerful holiness and energy...but besides the massive strain on your body, nothing happens.
Makim merely tilts his head to the side as a wind begins to blow, whipping across the balcony. Thet able and chairs are on the sides, knocked over by some spell or another. Rising up the tower is a massive eagle, big enough to dwarf several Hannas. "The Words of Creation? I'll ask your corpse as to why." Makim adds as the eagle ascends, seemingly utterly unsurprised by it.
As you battle, the eagle flaps its wings and utters a piercing cry, before intoning strange words like gusts of wind. Auran, you know the language. "Black wind, slash true!" A black ray flies from the eagle, aimed right at you.
Init is Moore (53) > Eagle (35) > Makim (33)
> roll 1d20+28 touch aC
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=5]
But you manage to ride the winds away from it, dodging the assault as your sight momentarily blurs and swims from the sensation of fatigue, the Words having been far from free to invoke. Makim meanwhile rises in the air, beginning to fly as winds batter the both of you. Suddenly a searingly hot ball of fire erupts around you, seeking you and moving as if alive, diving and juking at you constantly as you try to evade.
Reflex save, -8 penalty.
[22:00] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+34-8 evasion
[22:00] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 35 > [d20=9]
120 searing fire damage, failed the save so full. Searing ignores resistance to fire and deals half damage if you're immune. HP after that?
I'm so sorry, I forgot my songs are still working, so the save was actually 47. I don't mind if you want me to deduct the HP anyway due to my error.
That makes the save and you caught it in time so you're off the hook.
Yet Moore manages to dodge even that, flames constantly licking and searing around him. He only manages to dodge by the barest of margins as...
Go.
"It was to prove a point." Moore says, his voice a bit hoarse. "I wanted to show you something you hadn't seen before. Also to show that it only works on evil things. By the way, the spell was a stronger version of Improvisation." He adds.
"Look, I can't beat you, I know that. I'm not a fighter. I surround myself with allies because I'm weak by myself. That doesn't mean that I'm weak, though... it means I know how strong my allies are. It also doesn't mean I've given up." He just shakes his head at that.
"If you're going to kill me, you should probably know about the guy-who-I'm-pretty-sure-is-a-lich that gave me the map to get here who's still living where you came from." Moore adds, not making any movements except to fly in place. "That's the only way I found my way back here."
Since there's so much talking I am assuming this takes his standard action. Even if it doesn't, he's not making any other moves.
"I surround myself with allies because no one can stand alone." Makim finally speaks after a few moment's consideration, "I hate killing. I've done enough for my lifetime a dozen times over and in the end, it never solves anything meaningful. All it does is fill up the graveyards and makes widows." His expression is controlled, emotionless. "But if the road to my freedom must be awash in blood, then I shall kill enough to make a demon green with envy."
Moore takes a breath.
"What is it you want to be free from?" Moore asks. "I mean, besides me. Unless that's it."
"Right now? You." Makim says and...
Round was lost in talking. Your go again.
Moore takes a breath again.
"You know, I never broke my promise when I came here originally. The one who helped me made me promise to never tell anyone about this place. I never did." Moore says. "If you want to be left alone for the rest of eternity, then by all means, I'll go and never come back. You can even just erase the memories of Prince and Prosperity to be fully rid of my influence. Regardless, I don't regret coming here and meeting you. It's good to see the other side of the spectrum and to have a good argument."
A pause, a beat.
"I never thought of my words like a poison. Poisons hurt people, you know? But they're like your children, aren't they? No wonder you want to protect them. But all children grow up, even us fey." Moore adds with a sad smile.
"Well, come on, if your heart isn't in this then we're never going to get anywhere." Moore says, flying amidst the acid clouds.
That your turn, Moore?
Yes, just more talking. No readied actions or anything like that.
"Enough." Makim utters one word, and suddenly iron surrounds Moore from all angles, slamming into him like a tomb's door.
> roll 1d20+59 AC?
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 64 > [d20=5]
AC, Moore?
76 by my count.
Makim then makes a sharp, slashing gesture as dozens of points of light form behind him. These points of light glow like all the stars in the sky, a sweep of his arm towards you. With nary a sound they all fly out, seeking you with instinctive and unnatural accuracy.
You're eating magic missiles by the boatload. Do you have anything relevant that protects against them besides SR?
No, I don't think so. I don't think DR or miss chance works on force effects?
What's the miss chance from?
20% from my cloak.
The quilium cloak?
Yes, correct.
> roll 1d100 vs 20 applies to virtually everything
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 vs 20 applies to virtually everything --> [ 1d100=65 ]{65}
> roll 1d20+43 (+??? ???) SR
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+43 (+??? ???) SR --> [ 1d20=16 ]{59}
> roll 40d4+40
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 40d4+40 --> [ 40d4=110 ]{150}
Make a Fortitude save as well, assuming you survive.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+47 : 7 + 47, total 54[/blockquote] mettle
I do, by the way.
Pain. Dozens of magic missiles pummel you like fists to a boxing bag. You stay up despite the flares of pain as...
Go. Also the cloak wasn't supposed to apply to that but it missed, so no big deal.
"If you're so insistent, then you should at least be willing to hear a dying man's last request, right?" Moore asks. He fishes out the stone from Jovar and tosses it, gently, towards Makim so it will roll to him. "I can't exactly make a break for it."
Could he, though? A Time Stop would buy him enough time, but... there's no point, that's not his way.
Hopefully that doesn't anger the stupid clouds.
"I didn't enchant it, and I don't know what it is Prince saw or what spell he used." He says.
That's it.
> roll 1d20+41 touch AC 1 the clouds are persistent annoyances
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+41 touch AC 1 the clouds are persistent annoyances --> [ 1d20=8 ]{49}
> roll 1d20+41 touch AC 2 the clouds are persistent annoyances
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+41 touch AC 2 the clouds are persistent annoyances --> [ 1d20=1 ]{42}
Yet you dodge the cloud, dropping the stone. At this point the eagle chooses to join the battle again after Makim raises his hand, another call as a black beam flies right at you, again.
> roll 1d20+28 touch AC
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+28 touch AC --> [ 1d20=10 ]{38}
Not that he hits you, but it's still close, making you dodge to the side as...
Makim.
Makim just looks as you, utterly expressionless, "Do I look like a fool?" he asks, entirely plainly and without inflection. Instead he raises his hand and draws a complex symbol in the air with his finger, forming lines of fire that converge, before becoming a flaming cage of fire, surrounding you utterly, 10ft of space to the sides (and keeping the clouds within) and 15ft above you. It meets with the ground, the flames marinating you within. It's hot!
30 fire damage, ignores resistance and deals half to immunity.
Go.
"No, I don't. I also don't think of you as a coward. I have no idea what your objection is. What power do you think I have here in your own world? You know nothing I've said is a lie. I'm not trying to trick you into letting your guard down, where would I even go?" Moore asks, as he merely stands his ground in the cage, making no other motions.
More pain. The cage burns you as Makim watches you, the heat of it blistering your flesh.
30 damage, same conditions as last round.
Makim merely watches, doing nothing, letting you cook.
Go. Makim's holding.
Moore winces at the pain -- he's been through worse than this, though under slightly less awful circumstances...
He certainly thought his death would be a little bit less ridiculous than this, too...
He could just as easily break this cage as he did the last one, but would that prove a point? Is there a point to prove here?
He takes another breath. "What are you so afraid of that you think you'll see?"
"Fool, waving around your weapon and wondering why you're dying," Makim drawls, as the flames continue to scorch you.
30 more damage. Go. Remember you pass out if your HP equals or is less than your temporary HP.
"It isn't a weapon. I didn't come here with any hostile intent." Moore says with a shake of his head. He takes another breath. Maybe his final one? "Nor do I leave here with any. I'm not a very good assassin, unfortunately."
'Cresiel, Xandra -- hopefully I can see you both again and make up for this.' He thinks to himself. 'I don't regret coming here, hopefully this will spur him to action...'
I don't want to die again.
He takes another breath. He's not going to try and run away -- no matter what, he can take heart in that. He didn't run away.
The next tick knocks him out, for reference.
Makim merely looks on, the pain of it too much. You fall and black out, vision darkening as...
More.
You're cold. Your body aches, groans. Your mouth has a foul taste in it, your eyes gummed shut with something. Your arms are above your head, entire body throbbing, aching, and numb at points.
You're at 1 HP, for reference.
Well, he's -probably- not in Hell, so that's a plus...
There's not much for him to do since he can't see and he likely can't use any of his magic from where he is...
Are his permancy'd spells active right now?
Moore isn't sure in the circumstances.
"There you are." Makim's voice, distorted. "Don't bother to say anything, your vocal cords aren't there." The sound of wood scraping on something. A seat moving, perhaps. "You know what else I hate? Martyrs." A clink of glass on glass, the sound of liquids moving. "Anyone with half a brain would have ran, and I've seen enough death not to kill the suicidal. If that was your goal, you could have survived easier by running, I would have let you go since I'd made my point. You damn fools are all alike. This and that, martyrdom and dying and killing and fucking too, probably."
The sound of swallowing, a gulp after. "Aaaah. Your permanent spells are gone, destroyed. Your spell powers are all expended for the day, don't bother trying. That includes your natural pixie magic. Your eyes are gooped up, don't bother trying to open them. Moore, Moore Moore. Such secrets your mind had. I helped myself as compensation for the stupidity. You know how many times I suspected Titania and Morwel were the same? Seven times. Each time I managed to find something I was sure proved it wrong. Every fucking time. Deflected away like a master martial artist deflects an arrow. Or all that anathemic knowledge. Beautiful stuff. I knew about Arborea's hidden layers, though I'd never been. Oh, and the Yggdrasil! That will be useful to know where it is. I suspected of course, but again, I'd never gone and confirmed it. Let alone the light, whatever it is. Erathaol, Zaphkiel, Zaphkiel's poodle, I care not."
More liquid moving, more swallowing, another clink of glass on glass.
"Seeing a Duke of Hell die was new, too. You've been remarkably active - even before you woke up in the Lost Realm. Gotta say, you've pulled it together since then. But you had nowhere to go but up. That's the only reason you're alive, by the way, despite your colossal fuck up. You have a lot of powerful people who need you or will rain vengeance on me for killing you and using your soul as kindling. I could handle it, but why bother? You were enough of an annoyance as it was. Aurora's not worth trifling with, nor is your sponsor and Crystalle might care, too. I value my freedom from all the endless futility of planar war, including having it brought here for fulfilling my promise to you. Your Ilsenine would call in favors. Crystal, Afina, Jaela, all of Aurora she can. I don't need Medi's legacy attacking me, frankly. So I'll settle for tribute. All the knowledge you have to start with. Blood and bone, to wreck unholy havoc on you if you try and take revenge. You won't, I saw your mind, but consider it a contingency. Having to explain to someone like Queen Morwel how you managed to lose her secret and get it spilled. Oh, and tell her I won't spread it, I don't need HER making trouble as much as I don't need Celestia or Aurora attacking me."
A pause, another drink faintly heard.
"I like you more like this. You really should learn to shut up when someone tells you to shut up. That voice of yours, it's a weapon as terrifying as one of Jaela's spears, Erathaol's staff or Afina's golem works. So this is how it's going to be. You go back, you get yourself healed and you never come back. Consider that my contribution to the war effort against Shar. You come back and I use something besides my fun magic and I take you seriously. See, have another lesson. People like Medi? There's more in his same vein. Not with his sheer ability to do the impossible, but ones strong enough to do what they want in the cosmos, so long as they aren't stupid. You're on your way to being one of them and I'm already there. All the shit Medi can rain down? I can keep up. Medi's legacy was enough to pry Hell off an entire world. My wrath will make that look like a fucking spring dance. Clear? Clear."
A pause, silence for perhaps a minute.
"Sleep. You'll wake up somewhere more comfortable. I strongly suggest you learn from this experience and learn when to shut up, too. I'm merciful because I'm pragmatic enough to be. Many others won't or won't care to be."
He really doesn't have a choice -- at the same time, there's no malice there, is there? No, it isn't pragmatism either. He's still hiding behind...
...
No, he's made his point -- both of them have.
Was it worth the cost?
...
...
...
Absolutely.
And next time, he won't stop talking, either.
Someone else would want revenge -- it's like he said, though, that's not what he was after.
Both of them made their points to each other, whether he thinks it or not.
But maybe now's as good an opportunity for a nap.
You stir, awaken. The sound of waves, the feel of wet sand. Light. Light peeks through your eyes as you open them, stirring you.
He rubs at his throat first of all as he moves to sit up.
He clears his throat -- still there? Good. Still making noise?
He blinks his eyes open... where in the world did he end up?
You can talk, it feels like. You're on the beach of Celestia, Lunia. A lantern archon is nearby, floating as a sea shell is picked up, floated into a floating basket. "Oh! Moore!" Grias floats over, "What are you doing here? You're all sandy and wet! Come home, you need a bath. Xandra's waiting for you, she was worried but wouldn't say why, just that you were in danger."
Moore smiles.
"Of course, let's go home, Grias. I have a lot to think about." He says.
You fly home - and find your golems joined by Xandra. She is there, expression relieved. "Moore," she says, "What did you do? What happened?" She stands befor eyou, in her adult form as a trumpet archon.
"I went on an adventure." He says. "I learned a lot from it and shared my experiences with someone who I hope will be a better person because of it."
He offers a smile, a sincere one. "I'm sorry to have worried you."
"Alone?" Xandra challenges, "Cresiel told me about Smoke. What if you didn't come back because the devils abducted you? They've done it before and they can do it again."
"Not Lixer for awhile, apparently," Grias chimes in.
"Not now," Xandra gives him a look, firm, that makes the lantern archon quickly scurry away, sea shells clinking in his basket. "Moore, please don't go out where you could be ambushed or worse alone."
"Yes, I'd have to make a huge celebration feast when Cresiel and Xandra brought you back, too," Grias chimes in as he flees rather swiftly.
Ignoring that, "Take me or take Cresiel, or take us both. That's better odds of surviving or getting away if it does happen. He also told me what happened to Lief and Muirfinn. It's a very real threat."
Incidentally, I'm mildly breaking my Hell embargo here again, but it's 100% a legit concern for Cresiel to have. Hell does shit like this and did so repeatedly in B3.
Moore holds a hand up. "I'm aware of what happened on Smoke. This wasn't the same sort of situation."
Well, it was, in a way, but it wasn't, too. This wasn't overconfidence or being pulled into a trap.
"Where I went was perfectly safe for me to be." He says, then takes a breath. "I was never really in any danger, I promise."
His pride may be another thing, but even so...
"I promise, though, it's the last time I need to go where I went and it's the last time I need to go anywhere alone unless expressly asked for by some power. You have my word on that." He offers a smile afterwards. "
Xandra exhales after that, "Good. The paths I see are difficult enough, the songs complex. Without you they become more complex yet. Please, value your life and safety. There is glory in martyrdom, but please, do not embrace it."
Then an exhale, "Grias has prepared a meal for us. Let's go eat and talk about what happened. Where were you?"
He smiles at that. "I'm not much of a martyr if I survive the encounter. I understand what you mean, though. I accept the chastisement."
There's a pause to her question before he smiles again.
"I can't say." Moore answers. "Not out of fear or compulsion. I simply made a promise not to discuss it."
"I see. Why?" Xandra asks, pointedly. "The signs around you were not good. The songs were distressed. That was not a pleasure trip."
He takes in a breath and lets it out. "It's hard to say without breaking my promise. I'll admit, it didn't exactly go like I planned it would, but I promise you, I was never in danger of dying. I know you're worried something happened to me or what-have-you, but I can assure you, nothing like that happened. My soul wasn't secretly poisoned or anything."
He shrugs with a lackadaisical smile. "I know that's probably not a sufficient enough answer for you. I can only give you my word that everything is fine, now."
Inside the dining room a meal is laid out. It is a rich soup, steak and mushrooms. Thick, meaty, hearty. Fresh bread joins it, as well as glazed carrots, pure water and fruit juices. Xandra sits and inhales slowly, "Our chef is skilled."
"I'll admit, I have even more questions about how you do it." He says with a laugh.
"I'm surprised recipes like this even make it up here, I always had a mental image that no one ever ate because they never had to." A shrug as he has a seat.
"Where does this stuff even come from? Venya?" He asks in Grias' direction.
"Many archons and angels eat for pleasure at least occasionally, there is farming and food produced - or simply produced by the land's bounty, no farming needed, when Celestia wills it." Xandra eats, the food rich, hearty. "There is no sin in food, so long as it is in moderation and not to gluttony."
"Oh, there's a little farm a ways on a terrace that way," Grias bobs to the west, "Lovely people there, they give away the food to any who need it."
"I suppose that makes sense." He nods. "So who taught you how to cook, Grias?"
What was her name... Iris? Iria...? ... Iris!
"It wasn't someone named Iris by any chance, was it?" He asks.
There's surely no Incarnation of Food, right...?
"Iris?" Grias asks, "Why do you say that?"
"Why, is there something strange about the name? I met her... uh... a while ago. when I was passing through on my first... visit, I guess you'd say." Moore says. "She was a really good cook."
"No, I didn't," Grias says, "I mostly learned myself."
"It's good," Xandra adds, "So, Cresiel's training and preparing in between waiting for you to get back," she says, "Along with reflecting on the past battle. I also know you got recent guidelines - how are you going to fulfill them?"
"Well, you did an excellent job." Moore says as he turns his attention to Xandra. "Well, we need more allies, that's for certain. There's a lot of ways and means to go about it... I have a contact within the Silverbrow Consortium in Brightwater. I think I'll start there -- I can also visit Lliira's area since I do owe them a visit too."
He leans back and looks upwards. "Honestly, I relied so much on Aurora's information network, we really need someone... we need a good investigator. Someone who's really good at finding information and leads. They don't necessarily need to be good at fighting, but right now I'm just grasping at straws for things and that's... well, we can do better. So I think that'll be my first question to them." He nods afterwards, as if satisfied with his own answer.
"I'm not sure where else to focus our attention right now, I think that should be first. Do you have any suggestions?" He asks over at Xandra. "Or you, Grias?"
Before an answer can be given, the door opens. Cresiel strides in, face solemn. "Moore. A word, please."
Xandra merely clears her throat and rises, "Thank you for the meal. I believe Cresiel wishes to talk to Moore privately."
"No, it's fine. You two keep eating." Moore says as he gets up and heads out.
You head out into the hallway. Cresiel looms over you and shakes his head, "Moore. You know better and I know you know better than to take risks like that. If you need me, get me, for anything big or small. I can protect others around me."
"I know." Moore insists, smiling nonetheless. "I also know you're angry. I had to go by myself. It won't happen again." He takes a breath. "I promise. I'm not going to leave here anymore without at least one of you. Consider what happened to be the last, selfish request of Moore of Aurora."
Cresiel's gaze stays on you, "And what was this request you had to do by yourself?"
"I made a promise to not talk about it." Moore said. "Not to anyone in particular, more to myself. I know that's not a satisfactory answer -- it wouldn't be if I asked someone the same thing." He shuts his eyes for a moment.
He opens them again. "I understand your concern. I know we both bit off more than we could chew once and managed to live to tell the tale." He stops and looks off to the side for a moment before he looks back. "I also realize this looks like the second time I did that... I can only say it was different - and that I understand that it was inexcusable. There will come a time when I can share it."
"Wait. Stop." Cresiel says, "Back up. You made a promise to yourself not to talk about it, something that had dire and ill omens sending Xandra into a spasm of worries." His gaze is on you, the full gaze of a being born of fire and justice, of love and fury.
"I don't think anything except the truth is going to satisfy you and that's something I can't share right now." Moore admits. "I can only give you my word that I'm in full control of myself and didn't suffer any lingering effects. If you have further concerns, then I welcome you to take me wherever you wish to prove it."
"Why, then?" Cresiel says, "What provoked this entire situation and promise?"
"It was a lead on someone who I think will be an ally to us." Moore says. "I still do."
"You think?" Cresiel says, "Heaven's enemies and allies are usually clear cut," he remarks.
"A few years ago, what would you have said if someone told you they saw a pixie in Celestia, leading you on a journey?" Moore counters.
"That it must be Celestia's will," Cresiel counters right back.
"Nothing gets past you, does it." Moore says with a huff. "Look, it's complicated enough that I don't feel like talking about it would be prudent. Can you accept that with my promise that I'll explain it all in due time?"
Cresiel gives you a long look, but finally nods. "Very well," he says, "I will trust you for that."
"That's all I ask." Moore says. "I am going to go to Brightwater soon, would you care to accompany me?"
"I will," Cresiel says, "I understand we have been given guidelines from above. How do you intend to accomplish each of them?"
The hall outside of the room is quiet, stone work and well made. Simply a place to travel from one another, but a window on the far side lets in the light from above. It seems to radiate out, refracting off the glass into a kaleidoscope of radiance on the ground.
"There's too many directions to go in at once." Moore says. "I'm going to write a note to Tannin -- do you remember him? We need to find someone who is at least as good as him for gathering information. Divinations can only take someone so far and I'd rather not insist upon the wisdom of the Holy Mountain every time I'm unsure as to how to proceed."
A beat as he considers something. "I'm going to see what my contacts in Brightwater can offer up for potential allies and leads, but send a note to Tannin on some like-minded individuals we can bring into the fold for ourselves. Once that's done I think I'll have a better idea of how to proceed. It also may not be a bad idea to shore up our relations with other likeminded entities and planes." He nods afterwards, seemingly satisfied with what he's said thus far.
"That's at least the short-term goals for me. Do you have any suggestions?"
"No, I think you're right. We've made a statement, now we need to gather more resources - allies, materials, support. All kinds of resources," Cresiel concurs. "We can still be checked or even defeated by a powerful enough force."
Moore nods. "I'd rather not involve Aurora unnecessarily in anything, but I think asking for advice on good people shouldn't be frowned on too much. Let me compose a letter to him."
He takes a moment to pen something and hands it off to Grias to deliver.
"It will likely take some time to hear back, so we may as well head to Brightwater and see what's going on." He nods.
For reference letter will read something along the lines of:
Tannin,
I hope you're doing well. I also hope 27 has not tried to further sabotage you in the intervening time I've been away.
I know you always provided Aurora with a great deal of information and so I am hoping you will be willing to do the same for me. I am seeking allies in the overarching battle against Shar and need someone of your prowess to aid the band that I'm currently the head of.
I do not expect it to be you, of course, unless you are extremely bored and wish to involve yourself in more planar politicking. I somehow have a feeling you will pass on that matter. If you would be willing, however, I would very much appreciate a lead on a person or two who you think could fill this role for me. I'm sure Celestia has their own spies and gatherers of information, but I'm trying to branch out a little bit and diversify.
Any assistance you could provide would be appreciated -- and I would be happy to return the favor if I can.
Thank you.
Moore
Done and done.
Any prep before Brightwater?
Righteous Halo
Greater Improvisation
Divine Insight
That is it.
Brightwater is vibrant and moving as always as the two of you appear, a flash of light that gets attention as...
Go ahead and outline your goals here.
First stop will be Silverbrow Consortium to meet with Ruby if she's available. If not, we'll go from there.
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 36 > [d100=36]
This time, the eatery has the chocolate cake ready for you. Cresiel merely has a single bite before putting it aside.
Ruby enters soon after, "Moore," she greets, "Welcome. How can we do business today?"
"Lady Ruby, please, let me introduce you to my comrade, Cresiel." He makes a gesture to him.
"I have come to you today in an official capacity as Duke of Songs of Celestia. I am aware we have done business prior while I was with Aurora and wanted to make sure that all of my contacts were aware that I still do support Aurora's endeavors, my primary focus is now leading a group within Celestia." Moore explains.
"I did not want to put the Consortium in a tight situation as I am not personally aware of your history of working with Celestia, so if that is a problem, I understand." A nod after waiting a moment. "Regardless, the reason I am here today... I am seeking allies. My current goal is to stymie the work of Shar and any of her inner circle. I was hoping that we might be able to trade, as we always have, either in information or otherwise. I will start there." He smiles, to let Ruby take it from there as she wishes to.
"We may be able to come to an accord," Ruby concurs, "First, clarify your position. What sort of allies do you seek?"
Moore considers for a moment. If they get someone who handles information, then...
"To round out our combat readiness... hmm. Someone handy with a blade or otherwise would be beneficial. Cresiel is a stalwart fighter -- we could use more like him." Although they could use a healer, ... no, he knows exactly who he'll pick up for that.
"Beyond those who can fight, I do seek those with a knack for gathering intelligence, or even simple diplomatic affairs." Moore says. "I cannot be everywhere, so people who can keep me abreast of planar happenings and help to relay our intentions to others, as well as to provide assistance to those allies. I am not familiar enough with the various groups around the planes, so having those I can rely on if I need to approach someone would be of great assistance as well."
"Then let us begin negotiating," Ruby says. As she does, Cresiel softly hms and speaks up.
"I can heal as needed, but I am not dedicated at it. I suggest further reinforcements there, but that is a niche we can easily fill locally. I also suggest a skilled fighter and man of many talents, a general problem solve in the vein of Sylvie or Tannin from Aurora."
Ruby inclines her head to that, a moment's consideration. "Mister Sisatar is curious as to what is happening with Mount Celestia. Sufficiently insightful information can be accepted as payment for information."
Moore nods to Cresiel.
"I was actually going to see if Jetina was available." Moore smiles at Cresiel. "Having another wouldn't be a bad idea, though. Especially if we eventually want to have more than one group."
Moore turns his attention back to Ruby. "I won't say that I fully understand the situation, but please accept my interpretation of things." He clears his throat.
"I think the battle for Lifasa was the first step of many towards something much larger. It was the first time, to my knowledge, of direct deific intervention over a prime world. Whether Bel intended to set certain things in motion or not, he certainly did. When I was part of the final battle there, the Duke of Destiny, Taelfagn, mentioned something known as the Prophecy of Primus, which I am going to presume Mister Sisitar is already aware of. If not, I will be happy to explain."
Moore pauses for a moment. "Anyway, it wasn't that long after Lifasa was saved that the light of Chronias started to shine a bit more brightly. I think I'd be remiss to not see at least some sort of connection there. I think that someone, perhaps even higher up than Zaphkiel, has taken a direct notice of the goings-ons and has opened the proverbial gate to Chronias a small bit in hopes that people will prepare for what may be a much larger fight across the planes. Be it with Shar or anyone who aligns themselves with her and her misbegotten ideas."
Moore clears his throat. "I'm more than happy to share anything I learn, provided that I am not bound to secrecy on that subject."
"It is not the first time," Ruby says coolly, "But one of the most blatant that was not the result of mortal foolishness, such as the tale of the Ash'arai."
Ruby listens to the rest, "I will need to consult with Mister Sisastar. I will return, enjoy your hospitality until then."
"Of course. Please, take your time." Moore says with a smile and a gesture. "If there are any further matters he would like clarification on, I am happy to provide them."
K:P the right check for Ash'arai?
K:L, one you don't have, so bardic knack would apply.
Hooray, Bardic Knack is useful!
Take 10 for 72.
Using Greater Improv points.
You recall something on one of Jaela's old reports. The Ash'arai from the world of Alere, a group of elves touched by fire and Kossuth directly. Something about Kossuth himself being summoned by one of them and that going as poorly as you'd expect. Details are hazy, and you distinctly recall it's something you read, also. You can't recall which is which, but you think you have the truth of it.
Moore makes a sour face at that memory.
"It's never a good idea to summon a primordial elemental like that." He murmurs quietly.
Once Ruby is gone Cresiel has another bite of cake. He ponders for a time, before saying, "Jetina, hm? Do you know where she is right now?"
"I have not kept tabs on her, no." Moore shakes his head. "But I imagine she's probably studying in Celestia somewhere. I'm sure I can find her if she's allowed to leave her tasks."
"If it is willed that she joins us, she will," Cresiel says, "If not...not. Also, do not overlook my contacts and any Xandra may have. I can seek through Celestia and even into my mother's contacts, should it be needed. Though many of those contacts are not ones I believe will greatly avail us."
Moore smiles and offers a nod. "I know. I have no doubt you and her both have many friends and allies -- that will be my next step, actually. I wanted to avail myself of outside contacts first, as I have no doubt there are those within the Mountain. I think one of Aurora's strengths was its differing opinions, you know?" A pause. "I know this is different -- I'll be happy to hear about who you would suggest, though."
"Let me ask you a statement that is used as philosophical training. Is there a Blood War between Celestia and Arborea?" Cresiel sits back, pushing the rest of his pie to you, a questioning look as he does.
"No." Moore says. "Do people actually answer 'yes' to that question?"
"On occasion." Cresiel's lips twitch upwards, "Invariably by fools or those trying to subvert the old truisms that come of the discussion. No, we are not at war - but nor do we agree on many important things. There can be disagreements deep and vital between us without bloodshed, but do not lose sight of those disagreements. Peace does not mean perfect harmony or freedom from any conflict at all."
"I think having a unified goal helps avoid any strong disagreements on how to get there, for better or for worse." Moore says. "I know the main difference between Arborea and Celestia is about... mm.. I suppose it's a question of following a road or paving a road yourself, right?"
He shifts in his seat for a moment. "I think, at least in my opinion... I don't think everyone can be happy with any end that involves someone else's dream. And not everyone will see the wisdom of Celestia. I suppose those sorts of questions aren't really that important for right now, are they?" He sighs. "One day, I suppose, it's a conversation we'll have to have."
"Allow me a question, then," Cresiel taps his chest. "Tell me, Moore. Answer me this truthfully: When the heart wants something and what is right wants another, how shall you choose? What of when the heart wants something sinful, something dark, something evil. What of when the heart is greedy, the self is petty and the flesh is insatiable? Can one trust yourself to find the way, even when the greatest of us are not free of evil's temptations?"
"I wasn't prepared to have a theology discussion here." Moore says with a grin. "I think that depends on the person. If you're asking me? You have to find a way to get as close to what your heart wants as well as what's right. Even if that means finding another way to get there." He smiles. "I can only say that I understand the general idea of your questioning."
Cresiel sits back, "To distill the point of this: I believe those of Arborea would rely on the self to determine what is good, flaws and all. A path that ultimately cannot be right, as a flawed vessel will inevitably leak. Or one can look to the only perfect thing in Creation, the only thing beyond the stain of evil. That is why I look towards Chronias every morning, because only in that can we find something that can withstand and overcome all of our weaknesses. Only in giving ourselves to it can we overcome our own weaknesses."
After that Cresiel leans forward, gaze intent on you. "Arborea is about the self, taken to the best conclusion possible from the flawed self. Celestia is about something beyond the self, taken to the only perfect conclusion. It is the heart of the disagreement between Celestia and Arborea. All else is window dressing compared to this profound point. In the end, does one chose themselves or something else greater than them?"
Moore nods.
"I know what you mean. At the same time, I've relied on what *I* think is right so far and it's worked out pretty well for me. Is there room for improvement? Sure, of course there is." Moore says with a smile. "I understand your devotion to the perfection of Chronias and I respect your viewpoint. If I thought about it long enough I'm sure I could give you a quote from Erathaol that helps support the idea that people have to find themselves before they can find anything else, or something like that.
He leans back to consider for a moment.
Actually, can I do a K:R check for a quote from Erathaol or someone else relevant? He's looking for something along the lines of 'one has to find perfection inside before seeking it outside' or something like that. Love yourself before loving someone else, etc.
Sure, make one.
Take 10 for 107, using 15 Greater Improv points.
The best idea you can come up with is Pistis Sophia. She discusses mastering the self and self perfection as one rises higher towards Chronias.
"One could argue that before you can consider following the perfection of Chronias, you should look to yourself and improve it. Isn't that one of the tenets of Pistis Sophia? You improve yourself first and climb towards Chronias?" Moore asks.
"What I mean to say, is that you have to follow yourself and improve it before you can consider following the wisdom of an outside force. In that regard, I think both Arborea's way and Celestia's way lead to a more wholesome individual." Moore says.
"I don't disagree with the essence of that," Cresiel, "But to one who follows Celestia, improvement from within is molded from what is outside, guided."
"Well, then we can agree on a few points, at least." Moore says with a smile. "I'm sure there'll come a time where I have to choose between following the outside path and following what my heart says is good. I hope when the time comes that those around me will offer their opinions so we can move forward."
"In that you will have my support," Cresiel, "One must walk the path to Chronias alone, but one need not be solitary in this labor."
Moore smiles. "I don't know where the journey will take me, but I'm glad to have support on the way there."
Ready to move along now or anything else to add here?
Good to move along.
Soon enough Ruby returns. She takes a seat and speaks without preamble. "Mister Sisatar is interested, but he requires one more thing before an agreement can be reached."
"Of course." Moore says, waiting for Ruby to elaborate.
"Collateral, as your information must be ascertained, and providing information back is not free. A deposit of 3,000 gold coins will suffice," Ruby says.
"Of course." Moore says as he withdraws his Brightwater writ.
"Will taking the sum from this be acceptable?"
It has 9000 left on it, at present.
A look over it, "Mmm, yes, that will do. We'll see to it, we'll need to borrow it to facilitate the exchange." Ruby says, "But that is acceptable."
Moore hands it over to Ruby.
"By all means, please do what you need to do." Moore says. "You all have always been stalwart allies for me in the past, I see no reason for that to change now."
"Mister Sisatar appreciates your business," Ruby smiles.
"One thing," Cresiel speaks up, "Is your chef willing to share his recipes? I know someone who would appreciate them."
With a look of amusement, "Well, our particular set up for refreshment...perhaps we could negotiate favorable terms for both sides." Ruby says, putting down the paper.
Moore blinks, then his smile spreads into a grin.
"I'd be happy to add in whatever we would need to on our side of things." Moore says.
"To a large degree we use magic, though a chef is behind it all. He is amply compensated for his excellent work, his name is Daraguluthios, a brass dragon. One that only stops talking when his mouth is busy eating." Ruby remarks, "So this may be expensive."
Moore considers for a moment. "I suppose we could always trade in new recipes or... perhaps even some exotic ingredients?" Moore taps his chin. "But if neither of those are of interest to him, I'm sure we can find ways and means otherwise."
Ruby rises, "Well, regardless, it is his choice. Please wait."
This time, it's not long. A fat man dressed in white and an apron waddles out. Yet your true seeing can see the form of a brass-coated dragon above him, his current form clearly a lie. "Oh, what's this, someone likes my cooking enough to want to copy it? I'm flattered, really, but who are you and what are you willing to offer, and it had better be good because these recipes are one of a kind, including a lot of the ones for dragons and earth elementals!"
Moore smiles. "I see you follow the creed of not trusting a thin person's recipes, Mister Daraguluthios."
"My name is Moore, I'm the Duke of Songs of Celestia. This is my comrade, Cresiel. Yes, the food here has always been quite impressive." He nods afterwards.
"As for what we can offer... working with Celestia does allow me some measure of freedom, I understand you use magic for most of the food, but if I was able to bring you exotic ingredients from Venya itself to add to your repertoire, would that suit your fancy at all? I am also quite familiar with the food from Aurora and would be happy to share some of their recipes with you, or even the recipes from Mount Celestia itself."
Moore folds his hands in his lap to await an answer.
Diplo here.
Oh ho ho, no -40 this time!!!
Take 10 for 95, using Greater Improv points here. I have 45 left for reference.
"Well! Well, well, well," The dragon slaps his belly with both hands, "That sounds like a good deal! I've heard of Cresea, he's a son of a bitch, but he's good at what he does, so I'll accept."
Who in the world is Cresea?!
Take on K:P for 89 presuming that wasn't a typo.
Moore smiles and nods. "I'm sure we can establish a trade route with you if that's what you'd like to do. I have a home in Lunia, so if you'd like to write out any specifics for us to follow they can be brought there."
Creasea is a chef from the employ of Princess Chan of Air. He is a master of creating rich food from thin air. On occasion he creates one of a kind works of food that transcend mere taste and offer genuine benefits to the imbiber.
Just a typo of the chef's name from B3.
"Oh, I will, I will, I have just the plans, let me get them," The dragon walks off - slimming down as you go, hurrying.
Well I still had no idea who it was anyway, so I didn't actually know that was the typo -- I figured he misspoke Cresiel's name.
Moore turns to Cresiel. "Here's hoping Celestia doesn't forbid cake anytime soon." The grin still apparent as he laughs a little.
Smiles and a moment of respite as...
Okay, so you want info from Ruby next, I presume? Going to wait for her to finish with the writ?
Sure thing.
Soon enough Ruby returns. She takes a seat before replying, "We have various leads that could help you. What would you say is your most desired trait?"
"I think for now, adding to our combat capabilities is more important than anything else, so we ought to start there." Moore says. "After that is likely information and then whatever else comes after that."
"Alright," Ruby says, "We can facilitate it. What combat capabilities do you most favor?"
"For now, martial prowess over spellcasting for right now." Moore answers.
"Hmm. I would sugest Kaja, a half golden dragon warrior," Ruby says, "Are you familiar with him?"
Moore considers for a moment!
Take 10 for 89 just in case on K:P if it helps turn up anything! If that's even the right one!
Ah yes. Kaja of the Bright Blade, known for smashing headlong into a Blood War unit, slaying the commander and escaping Hell intact. That made his name about a decade ago, though lately he's been quieter and out of view.
Moore nods. "I understand he had his time in the spotlight some years ago and has been quiet as of lately." He says.
"Yes. What is not known is that he was dealing with a cursed wound, one that took him nearly a decade to have mended," Ruby remarks, "He is currently evaluating his options to return to the fray. A good time to talk to him, as he's looking for ideas and causes." With the faintest smile, "I believe Mister Sisatar would say this is a prime opportunity."
Moore laughs a bit. "Does Mister Sisatar mind if I explain to Kaja that he's who suggested him?" He nods afterwards. "Regardless, I will be happy to speak to him -- even if he says no, at least giving him an explanation of current events is a wise choice."
"That is not a problem," Ruby says, "Go to 1830 Platinum Street and ask for Wyleth. That will set you in the right direction to meet with him."
Moore nods. "We shall do just that. I have a homestead in Lunia if there is any correspondence that you would care to relay my way or if anything comes up that require my talents for the Consortium."
He stands at that. "If you could send anything you have on good information gatherers and the like for the future, I would be most appreciative." He offers a bow. "Thank you as always."
"We always enjoy profitable business," Ruby says, and from there...
Next move?
We'll get whatever it is from Mr. Dragon Chef and then go to the address we were asked to go to!
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=75 ]{75}
All the streets of Brightwater are rich. Some are richer than others, just as some are quieter than others. This street is tucked away between two markets, the noise barely reaching it. Tall oak trees on the side walks provide ample shade here, the buildings right off the sidewalks and narrow but multistoried.
1830 Platinum Street is a seven story house more a tower than a house. It's quiet here, only a few people on the streets, most of them going into or coming from the buildings here. The building itself is made of red brick, rising up and with glass windows liberally added - albeit most of them have curtains drawn.
"I'm not much of a betting person, but this seems like an obvious... what's the word, front?" Moore says as he approaches the building. "'All that glitters is not gold' or something like that..."
"Glitter is greed's deception," Cresiel agrees, "The greatest tragedy of gold is the value others assign it."
He nods and flies up to open the door -- unless it's already open, he will go inside!
Knock, knock, knock.
A gruff looking dwarf (as if there was another type) opens the door. He's squat, stout and wearing scale armor and a horned helmet. He gives you a long look, moving to shut the door firmly in your face.
"I'm here to speak to Wyleth!" Moore tries say before the door is shut.
The door pauses and opens. The dwarf gives you a long look and points to his mouth, opening it. You see no tongue in his mouth, only a jagged, faintly orange glowing scarring all across his mouth.
He then takes out a scrap of parchment and focuses on it, writing appearing. In simple Common it says, 'What do you want?'
"I need to talk to Kaja." Moore explains.
If that isn't enough he can name-drop others, but he leaves it at that for right now.
More writing. 'Why?'
"Mister Sisatar suggested him for something I'm involved with." Moore says.
Cresiel waits, arms crossed and a wing on the door, holding it open.
More writing. 'Why do you want him, then?'
Moore takes a breath in through his nose.
"Fighting Shar." Moore answers.
More writing, yet again. 'Why do you want to fight Shar?'
Cresiel exhales, "Is that answer not obvious, or are you that unfamiliar with Sharrans?"
"To keep her evil from Creation." Moore answers with a calming smile at Cresiel before he looks back. "We're gathering allies for that reason."
Yet more writing. 'Why oppose evil?'
Cresiel glances at you, "Shall I?" he offers.
Moore smiles. "I don't think he's looking for that sort of answer."
He turns back. "It's the right thing to do -- and if we have the strength to do so, we should use it in a pursuit of goodly things, such as protecting the innocent and weak people from being harmed by evil like those who follow Shar." He offers a smile afterwards. "If your follow-up question is 'why is it the right thing to do,' then the only thing I can answer to that is 'because not everyone can do what we can do,' I think."
A stony look and more writing, 'Why are you special, then?'
Moore looks thoughtful at that.
Does everyone who comes to this house get grilled like this? Jeez.
"Because I've survived all the trials and tribulations put in front of me." Moore answers. "I refuse to give up, even in the face of adversity -- it's important to inspire other people with both your words and your deeds, rather than just one or the other. I've been given a chance to do something special for Creation itself and I don't intend to squander that chance. If you ask me 'why don't you give up,' I... don't know that I can answer that. I just don't -- I can't. I can't simply be a non-participant in something as important as this."
More writing. 'You're an idealist and stupid. You'll get along just fine with Kaja, come in.'
Moore can't help but laugh at that. "I wasn't expecting a test of character." He will accept the invitation and come in.
The two of you are escorted within. Up stairs through decorated rooms, up to the top floor. Here is an open space, no barriers within, an open floor plan. Before one window a half-dragon sits, skin with golden scales rising out of it on places. He wears a simple tunic and pants, gaze faraway and out the window as...
Go ahead.
Moore clears his throat politely first to get Kaja's attention.
"Good day. My name is Moore, Duke of Songs of Celestia. This is my comrade, Cresiel." He offers a bow and gives Cresiel time to do whatever introductory gesture he feels like doing.
"I will skip the pleasantries and pageantry of all of this and get directly to the point." He clears his throat again. "I have been tasked with leading a group, based out of Celestia, that's primary goal is to stymie and defeat Shar and her agents. There are other goals as well -- defeating evil wherever we find it, that sort of thing. I am here to see if there would be interest in joining that group." Moore stops there for the time being.
Dragon's wings wrap around Kaja as he turns, Cresiel merely staying respectfully behind you.
"Which one sent you?" Kaja asks, right to the point.
"I'm going off of conjecture here based on your question, so I'm thinking you mean 'who told us about you,' and the answer to that is Sisatar." Moore answers.
"So convince me: Why should I fight with you?" Kaja asks, "What glory comes from battling at your side?" His gaze is on you now, eyes like pools of molten gold.
"Besides 'it's the right thing to do,' right?" Moore says with a smile and a grin.
His face takes on a more serious look as he continues. "We are in an age now where the rules have changed. The gods themselves walk among the primes to set their plans in motion."
He gestures and creates an image -- the battle for Lifasa. The set pieces of Bel facing off against Seira and Alicia, Aurora's forces facing Taelfagn. The battle that the soldiers fought across the entire plane as darkness swept in.
"I participated in the liberation of Lifasa, after Bel himself stopped foot there. I'm sure you've had plenty of time to keep yourself abreast of planar happenings, so you know I speak no falsehoods in this regard." Moore explains. "I want you to help us, because I know you are a renowned fighter who makes even Mephisto's frozen heart quiver with fear. We need exceptional people to do the exceptional -- to be able to dive into the heart of darkness itself and come back alive."
A beat, a pause before he continues.
"Things are different, now. I do not know why -- I do not know what has changed -- nonetheless, we cannot sit idle while the Dukes of Hell, Shar, Umberlee, whoever else is out there plotting against Creation to submerge it into darkness and takes greater steps to their own goals." Moore asserts, gesturing again to his image.
"As for the question of 'why me,'?" Moore asks, but gives no time to linger on. "Because I can make you even more exceptional. Because fighting with me will allow you to push yourself further than you've ever thought possible. I am a person who inspires -- who allows people to go from the mundane to the amazing -- imagine what will happen when someone who's already exceptional fights with me?" He asks -- a question that needs no real answer.
He lets the image continue to play out -- Bel being defeated by the goddesses he fought -- Taelfagn defeated by Aurora's forces, and the darkness being purged from Lifasa forever.
"More exceptional..." Kaja murmurs that back, looking down at his claw, balled up into a fist. "Even more exceptional! Hah." Looking up at you, "I like you, pixie."
Then a moment later he's on you, fast as a blur, claw out...only for Cresiel to have his shield out instantly, blocking him and shoving him back.
Kara rubs his claw and looks on at Cresiel, the solar's expression stony.
"How do you do treasure shares?" he asks then.
Somehow Cresiel briefly turned into Morniel, then back again. What sort of celestial magic!!!
"Everyone gets equal parts for things they were involved in." Moore answers. "They can do with them what they wish -- donate them or what have you. If we acquire some sort of weapon or otherwise that seems obviously suited to one person... hmm. I'd say in that case they simply put it to good use and not worry too much about the rest of the share from selling everything. If we find something for someone who wasn't there, I say just give it to them -- better to put it to good use."
Fixed, I usually catch that typo. No idea why I keep making it.
"Equal shares? What sort of home base do you have? Amenities? What about healing and support? What's your adventuring tempo?" Kaja asks, attention on you all the way now. His eyes gleam golden, a faint light notable this close to him.
Ah, this is the 'dragon' half, isn't it.
"It's a small base at the moment, but we can expand it easily enough as needed. We have the day-to-day tasks handled, currently and can add staff if we need it." Moore explains.
"I handle a majority of the healing and support at the moment, though we're looking to get a dedicated person or two who can handle healing magic stronger than what I do." He adds. "As for the tempo... we're still starting off, but we're all quite experienced, so I would imagine it's 'standard,'? We don't need to fill every day with a trip somewhere. We're currently three, I'd like to get it to around five or six so people can rotate as they need to."
A closer lean in, "How good IS your healing magic, Moore?" Kaja asks, voice quieter.
Is this a dragon thing??? Baleruk did this all the time! He figured it was just part of him being chaotic and a little touched in the head...
Moore will demonstrate with a gesture!
Mass Heal, CL19.
"It isn't the best, but it's good enough in a pinch." Moore says. "If you know someone, we're happy to conscript them."
Astute pick up, Moore.
Kaja sits back at that and gives you a nod, "Alright, that's strong. Not anyone can toss around that magic, not even most celestials can."
"Making sure my light show wasn't just show without any lights, huh?" Moore asks. "I've got one for you, now. Do you mind telling me where you got that wound from and what happened? I'd think that you could've gone a few places to get it mended faster than ten years. If it isn't something you're comfortable sharing, you don't have to. I won't think any less of you."
"I wear my scars with pride. I fought a corrupted quarut," Kaja says, "A type of Inevitable that deals with time. The wound was cursed to never heal by being eternally fresh, but I ultimately found succor." Tapping his chest with a single claw, "In the end, I found one with dominion over time who mended the wound as thanks for stopping the rogue quarut."
Moore nods. "I will trust your judgement on how to deal with any of those we happen to run across."
"Do you have any more questions for us or can we consider this a done deal?" He asks with a grin.
Do you wish to simply recruit him, or add him to your node?
Let's go with part of the node. I think after this, for your reference, I'd want one or (maybe) two more as part of the node, and then the rest would likely fall as recruits.
Okay. I'll work him tonight and tomorrow.
"No," Kaja says, "Yours seems a worthy cause, and one to bring me glory." Standing up, "I will join you."
Moore claps his hands together. "Wonderful. We still have some work to do here, can you get to Celestia on your own? It shouldn't be too hard to find the base, just tell the golems Moore said you could come in."
"I will," Kaja says, and from there...
Next move?
He's going to head for the Lliiran quarter.
Moore's going to go give everyone an impassioned retelling of the Battle of Lifasa. Both because he knows that's the best way to get her attention, as well as to showcase that he's still fulfilling his promise to her to be a good orator.
Sure. Go ahead and describe how you do it along with making an Perform (Oratory) check after.
Moore will take a stroll into the Lliiran quarter of Brightwater and look around for a good place to start.
A few preparatory spells here...
Divine Insight, for reference.
"My friends! Let me tell you a story." He will begin, to get the attention of those around him. "You have perhaps heard the tales of the battle for Lifasa -- the battle for the soul of an entire world. But have you seen it? Have you lived it? Of course not!" A dismissive wave of his hand.
"Today, however, I will show it to you -- show you all the finer points and showcase a great victory over Hell. I ask you all to keep your money to yourselves, as I do this only to repay a kindness given to me by the Lady of Joy herself." Moore says as sweeps his arm across and outward to those he's gathered.
"With that, I begin, on the eve before we set foot on Lifasa..."
Take 10 for 120. For reference, he's weaving in Inspire Competence, Song of Fortune, Divine Insight and Greater Improvisation points into this. I can put all the math out there if you need it.
With Cresiel standing behind you and on guard, Moore tells his tale. A story of struggle and triumph, darkness and light. A story that draws people in by the hundreds, gathering them in. It's simple to have them hanging on every word, your wordcraft and charisma drawing them like moths to the flame. An entire swarm of moths, endless and seemingly without limit, filling the street you are on.
Still they yet gather, your story going on and on, eyes on you as you weave your tale.
Go ahead.
"We thought we were pressing forward -- making headway, until we heard it." Moore stops, as if to take stock of his own memories. "A cry, shattering the skies and darkening them. A cry so horrid it made our very souls seize up for a moment. Tiamat herself had sent her own avatar into Lifasa." Moore says, his word becoming darkened. "While the rest of us were on the ground, facing the hordes of devils, some went up to face Tiamat -- chiefly, Generals Jaela and Afina."
A pause, a hold of his breath.
He snaps his fingers once, as if to break the silence.
"A pitched battle between them... Tiamat's avatar began to spew a horrid five-fold breath -- until an intervention came." He smiles, his words changing dramatically to match the shift in tone. "Bahamut, The Triune, Queen Titania, Lathander... even Auril! They each helped to dissolve Tiamat's attacks on us." Moore grins, as he remembers the celebration.
"The gods themselves were willing to intervene on our behalf! Because of the bonds we had made, even Auril was willing to let her frosty heart melt a little that day to aid Lifasa's liberation from Hell. Let it be remembered that one should always strive to make allies, to mend fences with each other, rather than burning bridges." Moore calls out.
Another pause, as he stops. He shakes his head.
"Hell wasn't ready to lose yet, even with that. They had another plot, and another, and another... It was then that the entire battlefield was cast in darkness!" Moore shouts as he swings his arms wide. "Prince Lixer himself had cast a spell to douse Lifasa into eternal night, summoning spirits and the damned to rise against our army! No one could see but a precious few!"
"Even while that was going on, Seira and Alicia were battling against an avatar of Bel that he had brought to the forefront of Lifasa. The magic between them all was harrowing -- literally planar-level strikes being sent both ways!"
This retelling will continue until the downfall of Taelfagn. I have no issues typing all of it out if you'd like.
By all means, go for it, it's entertaining. I'll reply when you're done.
"Yet, even in pitch darkness, we could still fight!" Moore shouts. "Healing magic spread wide to our battered armies as General Afina managed to get herself to the magical nexus creating the false images."
An elaborate wave of his arms. "Facing off against horrors even worse than Nessian Pit Fiends, she fought! Bolstered by the courage of the rest of the armies, she defeated the Hellish creature and managed to unravel the magics around the nexus!" Moore shouts. "A few powerful strikes and spells, or so I'm told, and she shattered the mirror that Lixer had used. The darkness fled, the risen horrors seeping back into the ground - gone, just like Hell's chances against us!" Moore balls a fist up and raises it high!
He probably shouldn't mention the stuff about Levistus... damn, that was a good story, too, he thinks. Oh well.
"We had no time to rest on our laurels, we couldn't sit around and wait. Thankfully, we heard word that Bel's avatar had been defeated. We knew it was time for our final battle." He takes in a breath.
"Into the heart of Lifasa we went. We knew not what horrors we'd face... knew not what was waiting... but we had no fear. We all knew we could do it." Moore affirms. "Each of us, bolstered by the other, stepped foot after foot through the very soul of the Prime world."
A breath to pause for effect.
Another.
"It was silent. We could only hear the voice of Lifasa, calling out to us to save it." Moore says, quietly.
Another pause.
"We continued. Moved forward."
"Then we found him. The Duke of Destiny, Taelfagn. He and his cronies were performing a ritual to cast the soul of the world into damnation forever. To kill the world! We WOULD NOT stand for that!" Moore shouts, raising his voice.
"We dove into combat! Even the strongest spells and blows against him did nothing! He had guardians all around him -- they were absorbing the pain he was supposed to! What a coward, to shirk off damage onto his own allies!" Moore cries.
"More and more and more, we fought. He even used the power of destiny against us, to try and inflict such damage that we could never survive. Even with that sort of power, we managed. We had the powers of those that have given us strength -- those that had supported the Aurora crusade. Selune, Erathaol, Waukeen, Lady Lliira herself gave generously to us. We couldn't lose. What sort of story is that if we did?" Moore asks.
Another pause.
"We didn't lose." Moore says.
"He screamed, 'IMPOSSIBLE! I HAD THE POWER OF DESTINY ON MY SIDE!' as his body was torn apart by the powers he had misused." Moore says with a grin. "We had done it. We had defeated one of the Dukes of Hell. ...Yet, we still had to save Lifasa." Moore shakes his head.
"Another ritural, this time to purge the corruption -- to save the world, unlike the way Benfal had been saved. To purify the world itself." Moore says. "Nine rings -- nine traitorous rings, were shattered like Hell's chains around Lifasa's heart. A light, an overwhelming light of salvation passed through us all and..."
A clap together of his hands. "We had done it. Lifasa, in an instant, was purified. Devils can no longer even enter that place, it is so protected by our hearts and souls."
Another clap. "Why have I told you all this? To remember -- even in the darkness, you can still find hope. You can still find light. Always remember to be friends with each other. Even if you can't agree on everything -- find something to agree on. Anything. Don't make enemies unnecessarily -- we never would have won in Lifasa if we spurned help from those who we didn't see eye-to-eye with."
Another clap. "I tell you this story, for the world is changing. Steel yourselves, my friends, and prepare. Know that your bonds with each other are even more important now than ever, and make friends with those around you. Do it for yourself, and do it for Creation.
One more clap. "Don't lose your joy for any reason."
Clapping and cheering follows your performance, a standing ovation that thunders throughout the street. Flowers are thrown, followed by heaps of coins. Cheers, a riot of applause and cheering, deafening.
Your story seems to have done well, you note.
Moore holds a hand up in acknowledgement of the praise. If Lliira wants to say anything to him, she certainly knows he's here.
Regardless, he's done what he promised and hopefully fostered some goodwill for the time being, so after the din of the cheering dies down, he will offer one more humble bow and a smile, before he will turn to head back and away from the quarter.
Within you, you feel a sense of happiness and accomplishment. Lliira is watching and you feel her approval at buoying everyone's mood with a good story.
That's all he came to do -- he makes good on his promises.
He turns to Cresiel. "Is there anything you'd like to do here before we return? I could spend some time chatting it up with Empress Sulia or Sune's entourage to just make our presence known, but... I don't think there's any need to do that right now, especially since we're still a new entity in terms of things."
Cresiel speaks immediately, "Empress Sulia is...tolerable, by Brightwater standards, and a trip there could be productive." He keeps his voice down, "I would not recommend going to Sune or Sharess's quarters without Ilsenine, and until the two of you are wedded. You understand what they are about?"
Cresiel's biases amuse me.
Moore blinks... a grin creeping into his face again.
"Yes, I am aware of what they both stand for." Moore says, not even trying to hide his amusement. "I've come by both places before -- on my own, in fact -- and am aware of the perils."
He never took Cresiel for someone who clutched their pearls at the mention of something like this. This has been an interesting trip!
"At any rate, then, yes, let's at least stop by Empress Sulia's section of town and introduce ourselves. I've never had any dealings with her but it's my understanding that she did help Aurora on occasion." Moore says.
Empress Sulia's quarter is sunny, warm but not hot. Broad streets, tree lined and linking to estate after estate, palatial homes for one and all. The people about are all well dressed and well kept, be it in clothes or more martial armors. Gardens and parks are also common, the streets labeled and the paths clear.
Gallant knights travel to and fro, in armor and as often celestials as mortals - or were perhaps once mortals not long ago.
Clerics walk the streets, in fine vestments and carrying Sulia's holy symbol - a white star rising from a corpse - on golden chains around their neck. As one, they nod to you as you pass and say, "Empress's blessings on you this day." Brightly dressed bards hold court in the parks and gardens, small crowds listening to poetry while enjoying refreshments and sunshine, while others watch bards on stage, theaters full of costumed performers.
Go ahead and elaborate what you're trying to do.
Moore nods and gives waves to the passer-bys as they go.
"I think the easiest thing for us to do would be to simply introduce ourselves and make our case for further collaboration." Moore says to Cresiel.
The next time one of the more knightly folks happen to walk by, Moore will flag them down.
"Good day -- My name is Moore, Duke of Songs of Celestia. This is my comrade, Cresiel. We'd like to talk to whomever handles diplomatic affairs for Empress Sulia, would you be so kind as to point the way for us?" He offers a smile afterwards.
Roll 1d100.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 99, total 99[/blockquote]
The next one is a tall, well built man in full armor. It is decorated with images of roses and doves, beautifully engraved in gold and pure, milky white gemstones. The only thing he lacks is a helmet, long brown hair flowing in the breeze, perfect. He's handsome to the point of being pretty and feminine. His smile comes quickly, "Ah, a duke!" he greets you, "I believe I can do that. Moore of Aurora and Cresiel, son of Villisa? What guests honor us so! Tell me, good sirs, how is Aurora. Sir Cresiel, how is your mother?"
"She is as she always is," Cresiel replies, a wry shake of his head. "Strong, confident and far too interested in everyone else's love lives."
"You have me at a disadvantage, I'm afraid, Sir...?" Moore says with a smile. "Aurora is doing well. A lot of us have split off to our own projects and things but should the need arise for us to join under their banner again, I think we would all do so quite willingly."
Moore turns to Cresiel slowly -- this time he does hide his grin. THAT is why he acts like he does... So many pieces put into place.
He turns back and this time just smiles.
"Sir Martan of Falinor," The knight turns and bows deeply to the both of you, "Though I think I'll just go by Martan Falinor soon. Still, I'm pleased to hear that. Aurora's success is an inspiration!" Then with a look to Cresiel as he begins to lead the two of you on, "I'm glad to hear it. It met her a few weeks ago when she visited Empress Sulia. A lovely woman, so vigorous and vital. Tell me, do you share her enmity towards Lovitar, Sir Cresiel?"
Cresiel inclines his head forward slightly as he walks along, "I have no use for her or anyone of her ilk. Mother suffered terribly at Lovitar's hands, one day the Mistress of Pain will answer for that and so much more. But I do not presume I will be the one who will do it; I feel drawn to other causes and crusades."
Moore inclines his head in greeting and respect as they go along.
Take 10 on K:P for Lovitar! 89.
Goddess of Pain and Suffering. Wears leather, uses a cat o' nine tails. She's a bitch in short and is exactly what you'd expect to be. Also minors in poison, torment and all sorts of related things.
I can go into more detail if you like.
By all means, though it doesn't have to be right now if that's easier. I can remind you in nagging.
Do so. Go ahead and reply now that you've been K:Ped.
Moore frowns. "At the same time, Cresiel, dealing with anyone who follows that path is likely to be as helpful to Creation as dealing with the Sharrans. We can discuss it later, but I think it's a worthy investment of our time to consider." He says as they go along.
"Of course," Cresiel says, "There are merely man crusades and only so much energy to give them all, nothing more."
Martan leads you along the streets, eyeing one particularly large manor home, several stories tall. "Ah, the both of you can fly, of course?"
Moore nods!
Martan takes to the air, flying up towards that particular mansion, to the roof in particular. The roof is furnished, a rose garden sprawling about it. Several sets of chairs and tables are about, as well as a fountain in the center. He takes you to one of those tables and says, "Sit, rest, someone will be with us presently."
Moore nods and takes a seat.
"Thank you for the hospitality." Moore says
Martan sits with you, "It won't be long. So! Cresiel, your mother mentioned you haven't settled down yet. Have you considered dating? I have a niece here - terrible incident, really, but she's recovered from her death nicely - who would get along with you like cats in Rapture."
Cresiel shakes his head, "Perhaps a companion to join my crusades, but not merely for the sake of it. Someone who looks towards Chronias as well, and is welcoming and unafraid of the great joy that awaits all who embrace it."
"I'm working on getting him to lighten up a little bit." Moore interjects.
"It's a work in progress." Moore adds with a grin. "But I'm sure he'll find someone suitable for himself in time."
Your discussion is interrupted. The neigh of horses. Pegasi pull a flying carriage, coming down to the roof steadily, landing just above it. A butler in fine clothing drives them, then hops off and goes to open the carriage door.
"There we are," Martan says, "That was a pleasantly short wait."
"Goodness, I wasn't really expecting all of this. I hope it doesn't seem like I'm trying to throw my self-perceived importance around." Moore admits as he gets back to his feet!
"Yes, Duke," Cresiel says, voice bone-dry. "You are not, but in a place where rank is expected, titles are meaningful."
"You -do- have a sense of humor sometimes." Moore says. "I'm learning all sorts of things today."
With another grin he goes to get inside the carriage.
"I have not yet developed a spell to remove it," Cresiel says, deadpan.
You rise, but it is too late. The door opens and a woman in a rich, red gown is inside. Within sits a woman, of lucious red hair and vibrant green eyes. For a second you are utterly overwhelmed by her, seeing the most perfect beauty of all time, but this passes after a second. She rises, wearing beauty as naturally as her gown.
In an instant Cresiel rises and bows, "Empress," he greets. "You honor us with this unexpected meeting."
"Come now, Villisa is a friend," Empress Sulia smiles, "Your mother always enjoys your company; as such, I have invited her. Now then, you also bring Moore of Aurora. Greetings, Duke."
Moore follows suit with Cresiel, offering a proper bow.
"It was not my intention to trouble you as such, Empress. I thank you very much for the opportunity to meet you personally, nonetheless." He rises afterwards. "Please accept my heartfelt thanks to the assistance you have given to Aurora in the past as well as the aid that I am sure they will continue to need in the future."
There was part of that that went by almost unnoticed... she invited Cresiel's mother, too?
Oh boy...
A laugh, a beautiful thing that thrills your hearts. "Why thank you, Moore. What aid was that in particular?" Empress Sulia asks.
Cresiel merely takes his seat again, offering no comment.
Martan rises and bows as well, "Empress," he greets.
"Ah, if you want specifics, I'd have to go back there and ask around." Moore admits. "However, I know Brightwater in general was a staunch ally to Aurora, it would be quite a surprise to me to find that you didn't have your hand in one particular piece of information or some subtle donation to them."
He pauses a moment. "I should note that although I do not officially work for them anymore, I do keep tabs on them -- it would be hard not to, after all they've done. Regardless, even though my focus is primarily Celestia now, I couldn't have managed to get where I am without Aurora to have helped me on my path. That's actually what brought me here to Brightwater." He explains.
"Oh really, do go on," Empress Sulia begins, "You've been a busy pixie to obtain ducal rank in Cele-" A pause, Sulia smiling.
"Cresiel!" The voice that speaks is melodious, that of a siren merely deigning not to sing. The woman that appears is a solar, ten feet tall and with six wings flaring out. She wears a wedding gown of white silk sans a veil, a red string wrapped around her right wrist. Her blonde hair is worn long, swaying as she comes over and half pulls Cresiel up into a hug. Then over his shoulder she peers at you, "Curious. That raises all sorts of questions about you, but if he makes you happy..."
Cresiel closes his eyes a moment, "Mother." A single word, loaded with meaning and a hint of exasperation.
"Yes, yes, I know Debonah has no dominion over you. But that's what shape changing is for, dear. You'd make a lovely woman - no offense, of course, Mr...?"
"Duke Moore of Celestia, the Duke of Songs and formerly of Aurora," Martan adds in, "Greetings, Lady Villisa."
This day.
Oh, this day.
Everything about this day is perfect in every way a day could be perfect.
Moore tips an invisible hat and offers a sweeping bow. "My introduction has been preempted, though the pleasure of meeting more of Cresiel's family is an honor." He offers as he stands back up with a beaming smile.
"Charmed," Villisa lets go of the embrace with her son and takes a seat, which grows to accommodate her. "Ah, so I presume you're working with Cresiel? Or was I right? Cresiel has had to take female form on occasion as a disguise, he makes a lovely woman. Don't worry, dear, I won't judge."
Cresiel merely keeps his expression calm and as stony as a mountain. "Mother."
"Oh, hush," Villisa says, "Smile! Act like your face isn't carved out of Moradin's stony ass. I'm just thrilled to see you, I heard about the work you did with Aurora. Excellent, excellent, all the lines of love destroyed by Taelfagn's schemes demanded nothing less than his destruction." Smiling herself as refreshments appear on the table in between the blinks of an eye, Villisa helps herself to tea. "I just want you to be happy, Cresiel. You're always off crusading along, fighting the good fight and being a role model for brooding, lonely paladins across Creation."
"Do leave time for love," Empress Sulia says agreeably, "Please excuse Villisa, she's...well, you see as she is. Attention flows to her like gold flows to Waukeen. I daresay she could entertain the dead so much they return to life."
"I'm happy crusading. Every time I see a soul freed, a life saved, that's my reward." Cresiel busies himself by having a glass of golden liquid, taking a long drink. "Also, don't."
"Don't what? Point out that saving them is only the beginning? That without making sure they're happy, the life you saved is empty and hollow. That without love, no more little mortals and no one to save?" Villisa says. "You're so focused on your crusades that you miss the bigger picture, Cresiel. You and your father both, but even he finds time for love if it smacks him in the face. Which I thought I might have to do, but he surprised me by taking the ini-"
"Mother." Cresiel closes his eyes a moment.
P E R F E C T I O N
"I can understand both sides of this, I think." Moore says, gently. "It's important to make sure people do lead fulfilling lives -- though if we stopped to ensure the happiness of everyone that we ever liberated, I think we'd... well, it'd be a laborious process. Not a bad one, of course, just..."
He smiles afterwards. "Regardless, I can only give you my word, Lady Villisa, that I'm taking good care of Cresiel. Ah... in a... platonic sense, I'm afraid. Perhaps in another life." He grins a bit at that before he continues. "Ah, I suppose I may as well take the opportunity to explain why we're here."
He clears his throat and straightens his posture a bit. "I wanted to introduce myself as working with Celestia. We've been given a missive to begin actively working against Shar and her agents across Creation. I know no one in Brightwater is a friend to Shar, so I thought it prudent to make sure our neighbors understood where we stand on that matter. I am not here asking for any investment of money or individuals, just ensuring that we are aware of each other, in case mutually beneficial information were to cross our paths."
"Ah, a worthy cause. Cresiel always finds his way to those," Villisa says, a gesture of her hand, dainty and elegant. "I'd be glad to pass on any information about Shar that I come on. Cresiel, I'll just have to inform you whenever I do. Moore, where are you at in Celestia?"
Empress Sulia's smile is unhidden, watching the byplay. "Though Moore, does this mean another has your heart?"
Cresiel merely stands his ground, as best he can.
"You can find our base of operations in Lunia." Moore answers. He turns to Sulia and bows his head once in deference. "Yes, I am with Queen Illsenine of Lifasa's Court." He smiles and looks off to the side. "I will have to let her know she missed quite the event."
"Oh, lovely." Empress Sulia raises her glass, "May you have many long years together, and may the path you follow stay as flat as the plains and as bright as the noon sun."
"Cheers," Cresiel adds, raising his glass after, everyone following suit.
"Mmm, yes," Villisa says, "I hope you have many wonderful children together. Cresiel-"
"Mother." Cresiel says, completely deadpan.
And picking up without missing a beat and smiling, "-I would adore grandchildren. I know Romiel would as well. If that stodgy Vel Custos can find a wife, surely Celestia can find one for you."
"Perhaps it's not his fate to find love there?" Martan says, "If a forest is empty of game, then travel to another forest to hunt. What forest is more full of game than Brightwater?"
"Lovely! Moore, I'm sure I could find someone who would contribute to your efforts and would be a lovely match for Cresiel." Villisa says, drinking from her glass, golden liquid shimmering like the sun. "What do you say?"
Moore can merely raise his own glass in response.
"We can use as many allies as we can get right now, Lady Villisa." He just smiles at Cresiel at that before he adds, "Of course, the relationship side of things I leave up to Cresiel's discretion. You can bring a horse to water, and all that."
"Moore." Cresiel says, just as deadpan before. "I was not aware you were familiar with the rituals of Stygia."
Villisa claps her hands together, "That's wonderful, Moore! I'll send her along as soon as I find her. Of course you can't make a horse drink, but I'm sure you can help them along. Oh, how about double dates with you and Ilsenine?"
Martan starts to laugh, hiding it by having a long drink of his own.
Cresiel slowly closes his eyes and takes a long breath out. "Mother, the last time I had a double date, I spent a decade tracking down a balor as a result."
"I still maintain that was Beatrice's fault," Villisa retorts, a wistful look. "Such a lovely young woman. Bloodthirsty, but she applies it so well by being bloodthirsty for fiends. Really, it's a miracle she ended up in Sune's realm. Then again, Syala."
Here Empress Sulia merely says, "I would not think hunting a balor would be objectionable to you, Cresiel."
Taking a breath, "The circumstances were...difficult. I would prefer not to talk about it."
Moore takes a drink himself to hide his smile, at least for a moment.
"There's time enough for the... extra-curricular side of things when we've got a better handle on our fledgling escapades." Moore says with a smile. "I'll certainly ask her the next time I go visit Lifasa."
A turn to Sulia at this. "Empress, is there anything I can do to help you at all currently? Any projects that need a bit of aid or anything of that sort? I'd hate for you to have been so hospitable to us without at least being able to offer something to you in return."
"Why thank you," Empress Sulia says, "There is. I am interested in commissioning a golem from Aurora, would you know how to best get in contact with them? I've heard marvelous things about Afina's craftwork, and a mercane I discussed this with had nothing but complements."
Smiling, a thing that makes her all the more radiant, Empress Sulia presses on. "Alternately, if you ever find the Mantle of the Martyr, please bring it to me. You will be richly rewarded for it."
Moore nods a bit. "Afina is on a bit of a sojourn at the moment, though I would imagine anyone in Aurora could still help. I could probably take a swing at it too, though if you're dead-set on Afina and willing to be patient, I'm sure she'd be happy to do so." He smiles. "As for how to best get in contact... I believe they're still stationed in Lifasa. I'd be happy to write a letter for you if you think it'd smooth things over."
A nod again after that. "Certainly, if fate finds it to be put into my hands."
"A letter would be lovely, thank you," Empress Sulia says.
A moment of peace before Villisa speaks up, "Cresiel dear, so tell us more about your-"
"Ahem." Cresiel clears his throat, "Mother, I believe you owe me the story about that Loviatar cult from last time."
Villisa's expression turns cooler in an instant, like fall overtaking summer. "I did, didn't I?"
Moore nods and reaches into his clothes to get out a parchment and something to write with. It's always good to have those things handy!
"I wouldn't mind hearing that myself, if it isn't an imposition." Moore says as he starts writing. "I haven't had any engagement with Loviatar or her ilk since Aurora's crusade was rather firmly cemented in opposing Hell."
"Ahem," Empress Sulia clears her throat. "How violent a tale will this be?"
"...moderately," Villisa finally replies, taking a few moments.
"Ah. Then let us focus on more pleasant matters." With a warm smile, "I recently had a lovely engagement in Avernus. Why, such luminaries like Lixer and Glasya were in attendance. Quite the time for all, though I do not believe Lixer enjoyed the fete. Perhaps it was Alicia Reynes throwing a ship into Noir Jardin that did it."
"Goodness, I'm sorry I missed out." Moore says with a smile. "I can only imagine his pride was harmed rather fiercely from the whole affair. It's certainly good timing, what with his takeover. I wonder if the likes of the Abyss will want to capitalize on the situation?"
As he muses he continues to write.
"A marvelous time," Martan agrees, "Though I had an encounter with one of Glasya's dogs. An entirely poisonous woman named Kaessa. I am not ashamed to admit I fled, as I knew the battle was not one I would triumph in. I do not believe she counted on someone seeing through her and fleeing so decisively."
"Discretion, is that not the word?" Cresiel says, "I would have spared myself some trouble had I used more and not been captured by Lixer's forces." Looking down into his glass and then drinking, "But what's done is done."
At this Villisa's face softens and she reaches out, laying her hand over Cresiel's.
"There's no sense in spending time worrying about your mistakes when you've gained wisdom from them." Moore concurs. He neatly folds the letter up and gently pushes it across the table to Sulia.
"Besides, in the end, it worked out -- you were rescued by Aurora and now you're with me." He beams a small bit at that. He nods to Martan afterwards. "I've heard of Kaessa, she attended a diplomatic function some from Aurora went to some time back. I'll be honest, I don't quite understand having charm and charisma and using it in such a vile manner... it feels like such a waste and perversion of something so graceful."
He sighs and shakes his head. "It's just very saddening. I suppose it's because I don't live to try and ensnare people with what I do, I use it to let them become more -- show them what they can do with a bit of support. Ah, excuse me, I've rambled." He smiles and holds his drink up. "Do you have any other children, Lady Villisa?"
"Two. I've always meant to get married, but it's never quite worked out," Villisa says as Cresiel squeezes her hand back, "One was a mortal named Crystal - a man, I assure you," she appends quickly. "In that world Crystal was a man's name, not a woman's name. We had a beautiful baby girl named Eluya. This was countless ages ago, and she has long since become a part of Arborea and Brightwater." A pause, Villisa's voice faraway a moment. "Oh, my beautiful baby girl. Hair as fair as spun gold and a face as innocent as an angel's. You were too good for Creation. You were too good to last long, to do anything but become part of eternal goodness and joy."
Meanwhile, in a softer voice once Villisa speaks, "Moore," Empress Sulia asks, "Is the letter done?"
Moore nods politely as he turns to Sulia and gestures at it with a smile.
"Yes, Empress. I addressed it to Morniel, who should still be serving as Aurora's diplomatic advisor and general counsel. There should be no issues with further establishing diplomatic ties with them and requesting golemancy work be done."
He turns back to Villisa and offers a sincere smile. "I'm certain that even now she bolsters your spirits in a way even I could never hope to match." He clears his throat politely afterwards. "Ah, if the third child is equally as painful to talk about, please don't feel the need -- I apologize for prying."
It is Cresiel who speaks up, "We are immortal, but we are not free of loss." His voice is quiet as he speaks, but powerful and resonant nonetheless, filling the air. "We are not maimed as those victims of Shar's vile clergy are, but we suffer our wounds. Mortals pass on, becoming something new and forget our bonds forged in mortal life. Immortals pass into true glory above us," Cresiel's gaze goes up, as if the light of Chronias could be seen even here, "And are lost to us for a long season. Others...do not have a miracle happen and are lost to unspeakable places below, and one can only pray that they find the escape of true death somehow."
As Cresiel speaks, you feel a connection to him. It is bright, warm, strength filling you.
"Yet like them, there are seasons for loss and seasons for healing. What is lost may well never be found, but there is more to be found beyond a loss. There is always more. That is what keeps us going."
Cresiel satisfied a node goal and is updated, so go check that out.
So noted.
Moore briefly glances over at Sulia before he looks back to Cresiel.
Could Sulia's presence be somehow bringing this sort of thing out of them...? He puts a hand on his chest for a moment and nods to himself.
He offers a smile.
"Trust me, I understand what you mean. When I was able to be in the presence of the tree of Yggdrasil, I was overwhelmed by the whole... ah, process." Moore says. "Still, despite your obvious differences, it's good to see you both agree on certain things. That's the way I think myself about a lot of things. Ah... so, about your father then, I take it he's in Celestia somewhere?" Moore asks in Cresiel's direction.
Cresiel is silent for several moments, Sulia's gaze on both of you. Ultimately Cresiel nods, "Yes, my father is Romiel, a solar who lives on Lunia. He oversees many and varied duties, and recently lead a crusade to Avernus."
"A successful one," Martan notes, "I've heard the stories. That was the first real appearance of Seira and Alicia on the planes, was it not?"
To this Empress Sulia chimes in, "Yes, it was. Their coming out party, one may say."
Moore nods. "I'll have to introduce myself to him sometime. I don't think he'd make the same connection between us your mother did, though, I'm afraid..." He offers a smile at Villisa.
A clear of his throat afterwards. "At any rate, I'm sure we've impressed upon your hospitality enough for the time being, Empress. I should probably head back before Grias starts to worry about everything. If you'd like to stay for a bit to catch up, by all means."
"Oh no, I believe we can go now," Cresiel says, rising, "Thank you, Empress," he bows deeply, "An honor to meet you, Martan." A look to Villisa, a pause before he simply says, "Mother."
Empress Sulia nods, Martan smiles and Villisa...just returns his look. "Oh yes, mother me. Because I'm serious about coming to visit Moore. Moore, kindly prepare me a permanent guest room, for I plan to visit often enough to make it a requirement."
"As you like, mother," Cresiel says, then with perhaps the faintest smile, "Until then."
Moore just offers a merry laugh. "I'll make sure it's taken care of when I return." He offers a bow to her. "Empress, thank you again. If you have any need of my services, please don't hesitate to reach out, either via magic or more mundane methods." He smiles again.
He will bow a final time before he takes his leave with Cresiel!
Once a sufficient distance away, he will give him a pat on the shoulder. "I won't tell anyone, don't worry. I think that about does it for anything of much excitement that could happen here for us on this trip, though, don't you agree?" He asks.
"I believe so, but yet again - you felt that?" Cresiel asks, turning his gaze to you, looming over you by sheer dint of height.
"Yes." Moore says with a nod. "It seems like... mm. It seems like something is happening ... I would be remiss to say that Chronias being brighter didn't have at least some relation to it. Whether it's actually an effect of that or both... circumstances are simply a byproduct of something else..." He shakes his head.
"I'm sure we'll find out eventually, but for now it seems like we should strive to continue to forge bonds with each other. Ah... we don't have to tell your mother about it, though." He offers Cresiel a cheeky smile.
"Hmm, I'll have to ask Illsenine if she's noticed anything similar happening, I wonder how widespread the effect is." Moore hums once.
Cresiel merely nods at that and from there...
Any other todos in Brightwater?
Nope, we've had enough fun for one day. Time to return Home.
When you plane shift back, you simply are not awake.
You awaken.
How curious. Instead of Lunia, you lie on a thin layer of snow, besides a babbling brook with bits of ice floating down it. Sitting on a boulder by the stream is Erathaol, no sense of presence for him. For he instead is intent on the stream, watching it.
There's no sign of Cresiel, for that matter. You remember going to return home, then you're waking up here.
Yeah, it's about that time, isn't it? Regardless, he knows in his heart what his answers are to all of this...
Moore regardless pulls himself to his feet and dusts some of the snow off before he flies over to sit down next to Erathaol.
Wordlessly, Erathaol gestures at the stream, hand open as he brings your gaze to it.
In the waters you can see images - your battle with Makim, your fall. Makim above you in darkness, magic weaving into your mind, seen as dozens of eyes observing you from all over.
Then in the water, images refract off one another, countless paths forward.
In one, Makim murmurs, "21," then vanishes, leaving you never to awaken. Makim is never seen again in this Creation.
Another refraction. In this one a dapper, athletic fiend shakes Makim's hand, as your unconscious body is carried away by servants. You are never again seen in this Creation.
Yet another refraction. Makim stands amid Aurora, the defenders defeated to the last. Elena screams at him, crying...and she is ignored, as Makim travels to Medi's quarters before Aurora vanishes. Aurora is never again seen in this Creation.
A fourth refraction. Makim stands before an angel of fire and fury, withstanding all of his endless hatred. Instead he presents something in his hand...and the angel is never again seen in this Creation.
A fifth. A seventh. A tenth. A one hundredth. A one thousandth. Ten thousand. A hundred thousand. Ten million. Ten billion. A hundred trillion.
Voice barely a whisper, "Look on the prism of what may be, all that could spring from one event, one person gaining knowledge they never should have." Erathaol states. "You know much, Moore, and you will in time learn far more."
The stream continues to flow.
Makim sits alone in darkness. He ponders, "Morwel, eh," he murmurs aloud, inspecting his wine glass, seemingly lost in reflecting on it. "Let's bring this to the light, Titania."
A hundred million futures. Makim slays the celestials who ask him to hold his tongue. On occasion he is slain by the Children of Liberty in self defense, great battles that shake his entire demi plane. Occasions where Makim succeeds, fey revolt. War. Old bonds reexamined, reevaluated. Wars of good and evil spilling to the prime, fey courts thrust into a new age of violence and bloodshed.
The stream continues to flow.
Makim. Sehanine Moonbow. The Yggdrasil looms on the horizon. In some, she stands aside and he reaches the Yggdrasil, its magic studied. In others they battle, terrible conflicts that shatter the puzzling manor he emerged from.
The stream continues to flow.
The Eye of Shar looms high in the sky, darkness enveloping all.
"Not all have the wisdom to act responsibly with what you know," Erathaol says, "The future is ever uncertain until it happens. Perhaps Makim will use wisdom, perhaps he will not. Another may not be so wise nor so merciful."
He's about to open his mouth, before he just smiles. "I don't need to defend my actions because you already know why I did what I did." Moore says, not sounding upset -- or resentful, or anything. Only honest.
He takes a breath. "Regardless of how I feel about it, I still recognize what could have been, though you know I still believe in the futures where he will be an ally." He turns to Erathaol and offers a sincere smile. "It's naive, I know. But the experiences that've shaped my life are now part of him -- the good things you've helped me accomplish. I don't think someone who knows everything that I do can still stay out of this conflict and let Shar win."
He turns to look back at the stream. "Nonetheless, I will accept responsibility for my actions. Whatever I need to do, I'll make amends, whether it takes me the rest of my lifetime or the rest of my soul's investment."
Voice a gentle rebuke, "If everyone felt the way you did, no one would serve Shar." Erathaol says, "Yet she is not wanting for cultists." He looks to the stream, a brush of his hand stilling the waters. "What I want from you is to learn from this. There is no sin in secrets held for a good reason, nor is there any sin in prudence." A single alabaster fingers gently taps your forehead, "In your mind is treasures of knowledge worth more than all the gold in Baleruk's hoard or Aurora's coffers. Guard it fiercely and spread it generously, but with the utmost wisdom."
"I'm working on changing Creation." Moore responds with a smile.
He takes a breath and merely nods to his words. "I understand."
...
...
Oh, just ask him.
Some hesitation before he speaks up again. "...Do you know why these bonds are forming between us?" Moore asks. "It isn't just here in Celestia, is it?" It's less a question and more of a statement.
Erathaol looks up, to the ever-present light of Chronias above. He studies it a time before replying, "I do. There are four other groups that have the same bonds. Find them and in time, more shall become clear."
"It's a bit too hopeful for me to guess they're all from Aurora..." Moore says with a wistful sigh.
He looks up at the light of Chronias for a few moments himself.
He'll just have to reach out to people he knows and go from there.
"Are there any other official apologies I should make with regards to this incident?" Moore asks.
"Makim knows all of Aurora's secrets now," Erathaol notes. "He knows every thing friends told you in confidence. He knows secrets entrusted to you by others, secrets not meant to be spread beyond you." He turns, his gaze like the winter breeze and a burning fire at once, a glory that makes you unable to look at it, as if all the light of Chronias was there for one moment. "Go and ponder this, and decide whom you must apologize to."
It's going to be a difficult matter to apologize to people and not explain why he's apologizing, but he can leave the details out and leave it at something simple.
He merely nods as he looks away. "It's the right thing to do."
"Go, Moore. Grow and continue." Erathaol says.
A blink. You're in your bed back home, Grias floating around your room. He's just placing a covered tray down on the table, humming to himself.
"Hi Grias." Moore says, entirely too nonchalantly for his own good as he sits up.
"Oh! OH!" Grias vibrates all over, "Moore, you're up! Cresiel said you were so tired you dozed off resting on the beach." Your tray is promptly floated over to your bed, revealing a bowl of noodle broth and sliced fruit. "Eat up and recover your strength."
Ah, so that's how they do it. His physical body was still here the whole time.
"Thank you." He smiles and takes the tray to seat it next to himself. "Did anything happen while we were in Brightwater? Also, I have a request for you to expand our base a bit." Moore says as he starts on the fruit first.
"Oh yes, we attracted a few followers. A small band of hound archons wish to serve, because they heard of your service in the Lifasa war. There are seven in total and I think they'd make good men at arms to have around, plus give Cresiel someone to spar against when he practices. Oh, and Wood likes them quite a lot." Grias clicks his tongue - a feat as he doesn't have one - and adds, "I've always thought it a little curious that Celestia gives such a position of place to dogs. Certainly they're wonderful creatures, but sometimes it seems a bit much."
"I think it's because Zaphkiel didn't want to be one-upped by Sharess and cats." Moore says, entirely jokingly. "That's perfectly fine, we can expand things to accommodate them."
"Great, so what did you need upgraded or expanded?" Grias asks, "I'll have workers come along to help me do it by the afternoon. Maybe another observation tower? A nice sitting room atop a tower is rather pleasant, if I do say so myself."
"I expect we're going to have some guests on a regular basis, so could you have a few guestrooms prepared? I'm not sure what amenities are appropriate, so I'll trust your judgement." Moore explains.
"Oh good!" Grias says, "I'll prepare Miss Ilsenine a lovely room, and I'm just relieved you aren't having her in your room, since you aren't married yet!" Bobbing in the air, "Then again, there's nothing with you and Miss Afina, is there? You being her muse when she makes her golems that I've heard about, one things leads to another and then you're living in sin!"
Moore is about to say something, but he just opens his mouth and closes it.
"First and foremost -- no, Afina is already seeing someone. Secondly, how do you even know about any of that?" Moore asks. He'll just start with that.
"I asked Cresiel for stories about Aurora," Grias says, "How else? Well, that and those hound archons did have some stories they heard, but you know how second hand stories become distorted. It's true, the more times a story is told, the more it changes. The entropy of chaos gnaws away at information, I'll have you know."
"I'm not sure that's how it works exactly." Moore says with a laugh. "No other news to report on?"
He takes the time to dig into the soup.
If there's nothing else to do then it'll probably just be waiting for news back since there's no need to rush headlong into anything for right now, he thinks. Maybe a little bit of training to see what else he can do with... ah, Xandra would probably know.
"Not right now," Grias says, "So eat up and rest up!"
Next move?
Also, if you could make a simple list of everyone in your household here along with very basic info, I think that would be really useful.
The DM is blatantly trying to enlist a PC to do work. Is it effective?
He's going to talk to Xandra about Words.
Also, sure, I'll see about getting that taken care of today.
Yaaay.
You find Xandra sitting on the roof of the keep, looking up at Chronias. Her gaze is locked above, seemingly oblivious of all around her.
Go ahead.
Moore will politely clear his throat, as her usual for this sort of situation.
"Yes?" Xandra asks, only slowly tearing her gaze away from the light above.
"When I woke up in Venya some time ago, I found myself with the ability to augment my songs at the cost of fatiguing myself. I eventually learned that it was because I was using the Words of Creation. When we fought that construct in Mineral, something built up inside me -- the ability to use them offensively against evil creatures." Moore explains as he turns to gaze up at the light himself.
"I'm sure that's not the only thing they can do that I've never tried doing before. I'd like to learn more about how to wield them properly, and maybe not cause myself so much fatigue when doing so." He says. "Is that something you think you can aid me with?"
"I can," Xandra agrees, "You have discovered one use - to chastise which is diametrically opposed to creating. Spoken properly, the Words can rebuke those who follow Shar's oblivion. There are two others that you must reason out and discover, then I can teach you fully. For these uses of the words are never taught, but learned and then honed. They cannot be taught, for one has to master the words on their own."
"Hmm..." He rocks back and forth in the air as if thinking. "One of them has to be actually creating something... I mean, that's only logical, right? I know, I know, you can't tell me. Hm... maybe an entire song that only uses the Words?" Moore snaps his fingers. "Like when I was trying to merge in the anarchic powers, but... yes, of course."
He nods, as if he figured something out. "My voice is going to be hoarse after all of this, but..." He shrugs. "All right, let me go give this a shot."
Okay, so he's going to cast a few preparatory things, Greater Improvisation and Surge of Hope, then he's going to go off a bit and try a few things:
1) So, he has anarchic powers that only work in Limbo. He's going to basically try and apply his willpower the same way he does for that, except his intention is to use Words in place of the anarchic power. He's going to try something like using Words to say the word 'barrier' or something and see if he can create a barrier or something of that effect from the ground, or just through sheer force of will.
2) He's going to try just casting a bunch of random spells except use the Words in place of the verbal components.
3) Finally, he's going to just see if replacing all of the words of one of his Inspiration songs (we'll say inspire courage) with Words has any effect. This may result in the same thing as normal but he's going to give it a whirl.
Make a Charisma check.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+30 : 4 + 30, total 34[/blockquote]
Using Greater Improv points here
What's your current HP?
408
Fort save.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+43 : 8 + 43, total 51[/blockquote] mettle
You sing - and you feel something. Something gathering, as sheer, overwhelming pain assaults you. It's like you just carved your own middle out, causing you to fall to the ground in thrashing agony. The world is darkness and pain, "Moore, heal yourself," Xandra's voice penetrates it, commanding.
300 points of damage, full.
Don't have to tell him twice!
A feeble gesture as he calls on healing! Twice, in fact!
2x Heal for 300.
Uuuugh.
You feel better at least, vision clearing as you find yourself curled up on the ground, gasping.
He takes a moment to get his bearings and get his breath back.
He takes another moment, then another and another.
"I can't tell if that actually worked or not..." He admits as he flops back into the grass.
Xandra merely gestures ahead. On the roof sits a single blade of grass, as if plucked from a field.
"...I can't say I'm very impressed with the work so far." Moore says as he reaches out to grab the blade of grass. "...Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself, though."
"You should not be. A typical mortal can only speak a few words. What you tried is unthinkable - these words brought about everything in the beginning. It uses yourself directly to create like that - not the Weave, not the power of your mind, but yourself." Xandra explains, "It is orders of magnitude harder than any of those methods - but it is virtually free of shackles otherwise."
"Well, I suppose I'm a step closer, if nothing else." He says as he shakes the grass in his hand. "I'll have to work on the return on investment, though..."
He takes a breath.
"Hmm... so does that mean there's still one more, or did I miss the target so far that I managed to hit something else completely?" He asks with a bit of a laugh.
"One more," Xandra advises, "Do you have an idea?"
"So there's literal creation and then using them against something that's the antithesis of creation..." Moore says to himself quietly. "If it isn't using them to augment something like I've already done, then... hmm... ..."
Three ways... one, two...
He takes a breath and considers.
"I... the only thing I can think of is somehow combining those two things -- both creation and..." He sighs as he falls back against the roof. "Destruction...?" He asks quietly. "Hm..."
He blinks, then sits up. "Creation... spells?" He taps his chin. "Can it augment things that create something else, maybe?"
As a matter of fact, it can. That's in the standard uses for the feat. Go check the BoED for more information.
You'd think I'd have checked there first, wouldn't you? Whoops.
Moore flops back onto the roof. "The only thing that comes to mind is using it as some sort of destructive force -- the other cycle of creation, after all. I may have to do some thinking on this."
Xandra comes and sits next to you, "There's no hurry," she says, "Chronias is neither slow nor fast - it is at the speed it needs to be. Have faith and patience, the way will reveal itself."
"There's no point in forcing something, right?" He asks. "Still, if I'm this close... I don't feel right leaving it undone."
"You may think you're close, but you may be wrong," Xandra says, "Learn to respect your limits when you come on them. But if you think you can finish it..." A trail off at that, "Go ahead."
Moore smiles a bit. "No, you're right. It'll come in time. Trying to do too many things is what's gotten me in so much trouble. Maybe in a dream or something. Say,"
At this, he takes out Shredblade. "I don't think this is Cresiel's type of weapon, but it seems too useful to just...not have someone use. What do you suggest? I could give it to someone in Jovar to pass along." Moore just smiles at that. "I suppose one of our missives was to collect valuable items..."
Last I thought, Cresiel had that in his inventory, Moore. Did that change?
I said he could have it and then I don't think I ever saw a verification so figured he did not. Scratch that then!
Moore smiles a bit. "No, you're right. It'll come in time. Trying to do too many things is what's gotten me in so much trouble. Maybe in a dream or something."
He shakes his head. "Though, now you've got me thinking... I wonder if you can use them to do something totally unexpected, like open doors...or..." He looks up towards Chronias. "...gates?"
For a moment, he hesitates. Is that how -she- opened t__ g___?
Pretty sure I did a loot post on it. Maybe not though.
"___ ____," Xandra says, your head swimming, buzzing.
___ ________ ___e, _____ __o_ ______ _____, o__ __ ___ _____ H___ __ ______.
Huh? You remember talking, talking about maybe in a dream. Did you fall asleep a moment?
You look up and see Elena-no, Xandra. It's Xandra, not Elena.
"Moore?" Xandra asks, voice gentle. "Are you well?"
Moore blinks... and blinks.
...
"...I..." He stammers for a moment, before he smiles.
"I was just... remembering..." He shifts and straightens up. "One of my other goals while I'm here is to try and find a way around anathemic knowledge. I don't know that the Words of Creation can help with that, but... well, I wonder... could you create words with them that could be remembered? Hmm..." He looks off towards the fields of Lunia, as if waiting for an answer that isn't coming to come.
"I wonder..." He trails off.
"___ ____," Xandra says, your head swimming, buzzing.
___ _m______ ___e, _____ __o_ ______ _____, o_e __ ___ _____ H__y _f ______.
Something. For a moment you had something, but it slips through your mental hands like a fish out of your grasp and back into the stream.
He can't help it -- for some reason he's smiling.
"I was just thinking about something." He takes a breath in, as if clearing his head. "So, Xandra, I've more or less heard Cresiel's story, so I think it's your turn. Surely, you didn't spend all the time sitting in that cave until I came along, right?" He turns to look at her. "I'd like to better understand you."
"I died."
Xandra's story begins with that and a smile. "I'm told it was a wonderful death, worthy of passage to this blessed mountain. I gave aid to the sick and saved many lives, even knowing the plague would infect and likely destroy me. Dozens survived thanks to me, seeds that ultimately overthrew a corrupt dynasty dominated by Banites."
Moore can't help but laugh at the bluntness.
"I imagine a lot of people's stories start that way here." He says with a smile. "How long ago was it that you started to hear..." He gestures around them. "...You know."
"As a lantern archon. On occasion I would hear a gentle voice telling me bits of advice. I naturally followed it, always to my ultimate benefit." Xandra says, turning to you. "Eventually, I mentioned it to a hound archon overseeing us, and he recognized it as the signs of a seer. The next day a Prophet of Erathaol came down and talked to me, and on identifying I had the gift, I began a metamorphosis into a higher form of archon. My childhood ended that day, but I was ready. The voice had been preparing me."
Moore nods.
"I wish someone had explained any of this to me at some point." Moore admits with a sigh. "But I guess there was wisdom in figuring it out on my own and learning to hear it better. Did you ever... collapse?" He asks.
"...Wait. No, no, nevermind." He shakes his head. "I'm sorry, I just realized the reason why I was collapsing back then had nothing to do with the voice... there was a plot that some devils were participating in to poison the Yggdrasil tree." Moore explains. "I never put it together until just now. I was collapsing because they were poisoning it... poisoning... us, in Aurora. But you... knew that." He nods. "Sorry, thinking about the time I met you helped put this into perspective."
"You helped make sure Aurora didn't drown in poison," Xandra says, "You did well, all of Aurora did."
Moore shakes his head. "I couldn't be here today if it weren't for them. But where I go from here... is up to me, I guess."
He takes in a breath. "I'm good at inspiring other people, but sometimes I have to remember that I have to inspire myself."
"If the inner self gives up, the outer self will follow," Xandra agrees, "Most of the cryptic warnings I've given others over my career are aimed to help with that. By giving enough to pique interest and stir the mind without revealing too much that may overwhelm or discourage, a hero can be born."
"...Why -did- you take that form, anyway?" Moore asks.
Xandra shifts, taking on her child form once more. "Because," her voice is childish, higher pitched, "Is not childhood a blessed thing, and from the mouths of babes can come great wisdom, not yet clouded by an adult's judgment."
"It's okay to admit you just like not being as intimidating." Moore says with a smile. "No, I understand. It's why I can get away with so much, I don't think many people take the fey seriously."
"Those who do not are fools," Xandra notes, "But few assign much threat to a mere pixie, until proven otherwise. Something that benefited Aurora more than once."
"Well, I think a lot of that was Hell in general, too." Moore says. "I noticed they tend to not respect anyone outside of their chain of command... which, you'd really think they'd have learned by now is pretty foolish. But I suppose that's just how they are down there."
Moore shrugs at that. "At any rate... I'm going to go see if I can find someone. Would you care to join me?"
"Yes," Xandra agrees, rising and transforming back in a moment.
Next move then?
He's going to go see if he can find Jetina.
Cool, how are you going about it?
Since she mentioned something about Raziel, he's basically just going to go up to Raziel's "section," (he can K:P this if you want) to see if she's there. Otherwise he'll just get guided by the Mystic Mountain.
You fly up to Mertion. Amid the wide, flat planes and platinum white sky, Xandra says, "If you seek a person here, head to Empyrea, for it is Raziel's capital," Xandra explains. From here the light of Chronias is even brighter, more intense. It shines like a star, ever glowing and ever radiating.
"It's hard to top an underwater library." Moore says as he flies along. "But yes, let's go there first and see what we can find out."
Roll 1d100.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 70, total 70[/blockquote]
Appropriate.
Empyrea is by a vast, cold mountain lake. You can see ice floes in it, floating along the otherwise still surface. The city itself is white stone, glassy and glossy, polished to a mirror sheen everywhere. There are no walls to it, for dozens of celestial armies practice around it. Vastly more than you can count, training together as you fly above.
Moore looks around as they continue to fly along. "Is there any particular starting point that you'd suggest?"
"Let's go down and ask around," Xandra suggests, "We will see wonderful things as well. Empyrea is a city of healing. The fountains here can cure many maladies, while great hospitals are tended by healers, priests and celestials. Raziel himself visits the hospitals to aid and see to the worst accursed wounds." AS she speaks, you see her face is radiant with the reflected light of Chronias, descending down to the city. "Those that fight in Celestia's armies can come here for treatment. This is where Cresiel took the Sharran hostages as well."
"Did I ever tell you I briefly met Raziel?" Moore asks as they start going down. "He was present at a battle in the Astral we were a part of. I actually met Vlaakith too, although I didn't really have a lot of, uh... words with her."
"BE thankful. Many do not survive meeting a being like Vlaakith," Xandra observes, a slight sigh. "Not to belittle you, I merely find the gith queen worrisome. She is far too entrenched and accepted, if only to prevent greater evils from moving into the Astral Plane."
"She offered to arbitrate a meeting we had with Hell to rescue one of our comrades, too." Moore says. "It's an interesting political game she's playing -- I imagine she's trying to build up capital so she can move on certain things without being accosted from all different sides. I suppose one could argue she's perhaps mellowing out somewhat, but I think that's likely wishful thinking."
"A snake waiting to pounce and strike," Xandra says, "Though your hope does your spirit credit, even if I fear reality will dash your hopes against it."
"I'll just have to hope harder, then." Moore says as he continues along. "Still, it's good to keep her in the back of our minds, as our work may inevitably take us nearby something she's responsible for."
From there...
Plans here?
Start asking around if anyone's familiar with the name Jetina -- we'll go from there.
Diplo check for GI.
Take 10 for 78.
It is a city of shining stone and fountains, of broad walkways and pine trees. It is a city of calmness, of serenity matched by energetic soldiers. The air is cold yet all the buildings are warm within, even if no fire or hearth can be seen.
Eventually, you end up in a restaurant. The food is free, plentiful and hearty. A meal to rest and gather your thoughts, and when you happen to mention it to the waiter who brought your foot over, "Oh, Jetina, I know her," the man says, a gold-skinned humanoid, no wings. He wears simple, plain clothes, a worker's clothes.
Moore perks up at that. "Can you remember within what context? I'm looking for her, actually."
The man smiles - he has a nice one, you idly note. Brown hair, nothing special there, unfortunately. "She came by...a month ago? Something like that. She mentioned she was getting a meal before heading out of Mertion."
Moore nods. "Any chance you happen to remember where she said she was going afterwards? If not, it's not a big deal." Moore blinks, then realizes something.
Even if this person doesn't know, he does have magic that would let him see what happened here a month ago... provided that it works in Celestia, anyway...
"I do remember. She was headed to the House of the Triad, though she didn't mention where in it or why," The waiter says, placing your food down.
"It's still enough to go on. Thank you." Moore nods. "And thank you for the food, also."
He picks up a fork. "Well, we're here, we may as well enjoy. We might be able to take a recipe back to Grias. ...Am I just making excuses to eat everywhere now? Hmm..."
He shrugs.
Xandra merely takes a bite, "Crusade, fight and do better - but do not forget to rest yourself and sustain yourself."
Next move?
Moore makes a mental note of the food for later. There's wisdom in adding to new recipes for Grias, after all.
Take 10 on K:P for 89 for maybe a section of the House of the Triad responsible for healing and that sort of thing. We'll then Greater Plane Shift there. If he can't think of anything good, just a general place that's a hub for travelers would be fine too.
Thinking about it, Moore realize it's fairly simple. There's healing there whereever Ilmater's faithful are. It's what they do, after all. It's fairly decentralized, as most of Ilmater's clergy wander or oversee poor areas that need their help the most. However, there is a formal central hub - the Healer's Cathedral, where Ilmater himself sometimes instructs his faithful.
Then it's off to the Healer's Cathedral they go! Whoosh! Okay, maybe there's no whooshing, but he's going to do it mentally.
Roll 1d100.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 24, total 24[/blockquote]
Healer's Cathedral is exactly what it sounds like. A big and yet undecorated cathedral, simple. People are gathered inside and out, the wounded being healed, plain dressed and yet hale and hearty men and women seeing to it. Celestials are here as well, participating.
The gates of the cathedral are thrown wide open for any and all to enter. Further inside, are countless people, sitting in clusters as armored warriors, vestment wearing clergy and similar types lecture.
Magic washes over you, your body light, restored.
HP fully restored, fatigue eliminated.
"Welcome," From the side he approaches - a plain faced man with a crooked nose, wearing a hoodless cloak of dark blue, black tunic and hose worn beneath, along with dark brown boots. "Let my magic take away your pain. For those who reach here are freed of pain here, for here we are rewarded for our suffering by Ilmater."
He takes in the locale -- this is such a peaceful place for those who need it. An approving nod afterwards.
He turns to the approaching man and Moore offers a bow to him.
"Thank you for taking care of those who are in need of it. I have come in search of someone by the name of Jetina, of Celestia. Have you by any chance heard of her or know where I may find her?" Moore asks.
"I do not, but others may," The man says, "Please, feel free to ask around. The Crying God comes every seven days to see to petitioners. He would hear your request and help if no one else does, so long as you relieve the suffering of others."
He nods. "I'll ask around and see if there's any way I can help out while we're here."
He will do just that -- ask around about Jetina and if there are any extremely egregious cases of healing needed, he'll offer a Healing Hymn and help out otherwise.
Diplo to GI again.
Take 10 for 78 again.
About two hours later and a few mass heals on the side? You eventually talk to a hound archon. He is standing guard before a door deeper within, but on asking, "Jetina? A female who serves Raziel?" he asks. The hound archon is bare chested and muscled, head resembling that of a golden retriever.
"Yep, that's her." Moore agrees.
"She was here for a day or two," The guard says, licking his chops idly. "She said right away she was just visiting because she had to head to somewhere called the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls."
"Oh, really... interesting." Moore nods. "Thank you."
A turn to Xandra at that. "I have a feeling I'd be better served just casting a divination to find her, but I think there's good reason to follow in her footsteps, too."
"Or a telepathic message," Xandra agrees, "But there may be so. Finding two people who know exactly what we were looking for is rather suspect."
Moore nods. With a gesture, he whisks them off to Water!
So, he doesn't want to just show up in the Citadel unannounced, and I'd like to think he learned a bit about politics with regards to the marid from before -- so is there a protocol here he ought to follow? He's also willing to fudge things a little because of his rank in Celestia, but otherwise would want to follow customs.
Have you ever been there before, first of all?
Isn't that where the Padisha resides? He's been there twice.
In that case, teleport there. They have officers who take care of this manner of thing.
Greater Plane Shifting to the Citadel then!
You appear in a room - above water, no water in here. A simple room with table and chairs, on one end a marid in a rich white jacket and pants sitting there. He looks up from a book, speaking in lightly accented Common. "Ah, return guests without an invitation. Who are you and what is your purpose in visiting the glorious throne of our great Padisha, a thousand blessings on her."
Moore offers a bow and switches his language to High Maridi. TL Note, I think this is the fancy aquan language? "My name is Moore, Duke of Songs of Celestia. I am here in search of a comrade named Jetina, also of Celestia, who I understand visited here some days ago."
A beat, before he speaks again. "If the Maharaja of the Oceans also happened to find it in her heart to see me while I was here, I would of course be indebted to her. If she is not, I would be happy to simply convey a message to the Pearl of the Sea."
"Ah, I see, I see," The marid says, voice placid, relaxed. "Before anything else, is this an official diplomatic visit?"
Moore taps his chin for a moment. "It is not, no. I would be happy to arrange for an official one, though."
"Then please wait here," The marid rises, exiting out of the room and leaving the two of you be.
Xandra sits, floating just above her chair.
"You're going to have to teach me that trick sometime, flying with my wings forever gets really tiresome." Moore says as he decides to take a seat himself. Like a normal person.
"A celestial's wings are decoration and a symbol," Xandra remarks, giving you a look. "The ability to fly comes beyond them."
Moore huffs. "Well I'm sorry I didn't graduate enough when I got out of the lost realm." Moore says with a small smile.
Going to do anything except wait?
Nah, he's not into mischief right now.
About an hour passes - boring but uneventful. When the marid comes back in, "Terrible news for you - Jetina is no longer here. She was exiled by order of the Padisha herself."
Moore blinks as he pulls himself back up. "Goodness... do you know under what circumstances and where she was exiled to?"
"I am not," The marid says, "Though I do know that the Padisha chose to have her exiled to Fire."
Moore nods. "Very well then. In any case, I would be happy to return for an official diplomatic visit at a later time, if someone from this court wishes to reach out to me they are welcome to do so -- my current base of operations is Lunia."
A nod and from there...
Next move?
Take 10 on K:H and K:L (Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls) for 72 for a specific location on Fire where people usually get exiled to by the Padisha, if available. Take 10 on K:P for 89 for anything relevant to that location.
The marid and efreet don't really get along to say the least, but they do have some diplomatic relations. Salty Pier is a nexus between the two realms, a location on Fire relatively cool and choking with sea salt from the occasional overflow from Water. It's about as survivable as any part of Fire is for a non native. Between that and the diplomatic access there, that's where she usually banishes those bound for Fire.
It also is a considerable source for salt on Fire and the efreet control it with a military garrison lead by a military governor, who is usually a minor noble.
"This is a really curious set of circumstances." Moore says. "In for a penny, in for a pound, though..."
Off they go to a pier made of salt via Greater Plane Shift.
"What was she up to," Xandra murmurs, "We have more questions than answers now." She floats along as...
Heat. It's hot, hotter than a summer day, and yet bearable. Not instant incineration. Great planes of cooled black stone are here, vast dunes and drifts of whit salt all around. A town has sprung up amid it, rather large and walled. You can see efreet lording over gangs of chained workers as they harvest the great mounds of salt, working away.
"It sounds almost as if she was following through on a very specific set of orders." Moore says. "I can't think of anything she'd do that would get her exiled, unless..." He taps his nose a few times. "...I think I'm starting to understand."
For now, he heads towards the city itself.
"Let's see if there's anyone outside the city we can talk to so we don't run afoul of any laws within it." Moore says.
Xandra follows along, gaze on the slaves. Her trumpet morphs into a greatsword in her hand, gaze burning into the efreet overseeing them. No comments, attention wholly and utterly on them.
Moore turns and looks at Xandra. He pauses for a moment to give her a shake of his head before he resumes flying forward.
"Why?" Xandra obeys nonetheless, "Let us return to Celestia with many freed slaves."
"We were not sent here to free slaves today." Moore says as they continue on. "That isn't to say it isn't a good deed that we should still do if an opportunity arises -- if we need to free Jetina, for example. But I don't think that's what the Mountain is trying to show us."
Keeping her voice low, "If we find Jetina has left this realm safely, then shall we deliver justice unto slavers?"
Do not turn your back on evil in front of you, yet do not turn your back one evil to fight another blindly. Many times there are no easy answers.
Moore pauses to consider that for a moment.
"Yes, but not today." Moore says, quietly. "We have more allies now and could save more if we bring a larger force. So for now, let's just keep an eye on fortifications and how we might accomplish that goal when we do return."
Xandra agrees with a curt nod, "Very well," she says, "If not today, then one day."
"Maybe even tomorrow." Moore says with a smile.
With that, he continues towards the city itself.
Plans here?
Guessing there will be guards posted outside the city, we'll just be open and honest and say we're looking for someone named Jetina who may have arrived recently.
Diplo for GI times.
Take 10! For 78!
There's a bar of sorts. A watering hole for non-natives. Mortals, a few outsiders of various stripes, odder things yet. You sit at the bar, manned by a headless figure clad in armor, who speaks nonethless, "Jetina? You mean the healer?"
Moore has so many questions about this...
Regardless, he nods.
"Yes, that's correct, she should've shown up a day or two ago." Moore says.
"A little longer than that, she had cold water and paid good gold for it," The headless warrior explains, voice deep and resonant. The voice of a commander, perhaps. "I remember her because she offered to regenerate the head she thought I should have."
"That sounds like her." Moore says with a nod. "I'm sure you get a lot of questions about that. Anyway, do you have any idea what she was doing here or where she might've gone?"
"She said she was heading to the House of Nature to meet a friend," The man says, "Someone from a war."
Moore nods. "All right, thank you."
He takes out some gold coins and puts them on the bar.
-50 gold.
"Make sure the next person who comes in here gets a good drink, okay?" He offers a smile and then will head out with Xandra.
I'm guessing the House of Nature is in Arborea or somewhere similar? K:P for 89 if necessary. If there are no hangups about us getting there he will whisk them off.
Go post the expense in loot.
It's the realm of Lathander, Chauntea and other nature deities. You've been there before, I believe.
Briefly. Either way, whoosh!
A warm field. It's noon here, standing amid a field of growing corn and wheat. In the distance is a farm house, barn and related buildings. It's nice here, nothing wrong in the slightest.
Xandra takes a breath, "Who do you think she is visiting of your friends?"
"I... have no idea." Moore admits.
He pauses for a moment. "...No, I take that back. I think I know." He nods. "Either way..." He gestures towards the farm house itself and starts flying above the field.
A pause, a thought.
"Moonlight?" Xandra finally asks, considering it.
"You're familiar?" Moore asks.
"No," Xandra says, "I asked." Her gaze goes upward.
"She died on Lifasa helping to take over a ziggurat that Hell had brought." Moore explains as he flies on. "I'm not sure why Jetina would be visiting her here though, I admit."
"Do you know where she is?" Xandra asks, "If not, allow me to consult above us."
"Moonlight? Hmm... Not specifically, no." Moore shakes his head as he glances up. "By all means, ask the guy with the sunny disposition."
Xandra closes her eyes. She is still several moments, until she speaks in a voice you have never heard before. It is a quiet voice, but a true one, every word truth in a way you cannot comprehend. "Seek a quiet grove 12 miles south of Miller's Fortress." Xandra says, then opens her eyes.
"...ah. Teleport us to that place, Moore?"
...Ah, so that's the third way.
"You got it." Moore nods and off they go!
Roll 1d100.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 61, total 61[/blockquote]
You find the grove in question is quiet - a cluster of trees in the middle of nowhere, the center free of tree branches and letting pure sunshine down. Here Moonlight naps away as she lies on the grass, head on her folded up clothes as a pillow. She's not wearing anything, a glimpse before Xandra steps in front of you. "Ahem, a moment? I don't believe she anticipated being disturbed in her sunbathing."
Moore smiles and nods as he turns to fly a polite distance away and keep his back to them.
You hear it.
"Wake up, please," Xandra calls.
"Mgh....mmmmmmmm? Who're you?" Moonlight says around a yawn.
"Xandra of Celestia. Duke Moore is here to see you." The reply is cool, pleasant enough.
"Oh, is he...ah!" Moonlight shrieks, "Can't a girl tan without someone peeping on her?!" The rustle of cloth, "Send me a message if you're going to show up next time!"
"Sorry!" Comes the call from a few feet away. "I wasn't expecting to drop in if that helps!"
Sorry, got hit by an RL thing. Back now.
"A little, but how do you get here without expecting it," Moonlight shoots back. "I'm dressed, I'm dressed."
"You'll Have to ask Xandra." Moore says as he flies over. "We are on a bit of a hunt for Jetina. Was she here to see you by any chance?"
Moonlight is wearing a simple red dress, matching her hair. With a faint blush and her arms crossed under her bosom, "Yes, she stopped by.
"Do you mind if I ask you why, exactly?" Moore ... asks.
Blowing back one of her bangs out of her face, "She said she'd been traveling and wanted to stop by, wash the scent of Fire out of her clothes. We didn't talk that much back on Aurora, but there was hardly time near the end. So we spend a day talking and getting to know each other."
"So she didn't leave too long ago, then?" Moore asks. "Do you know where she was headed after that?"
He knows the answer to that question, of course, but he has to ask anyway.
"A few days ago," Moonlight takes a long breath in and out, "I haven't had time beyond that, I've been busy until today."
Moore nods. "Okay. Do you know where she got off to after spending time with you?"
"Lunia," Moonlight says, "She said she wanted to spend some time on a real beach with real water, whatever that meant."
And thus, of course, it all circles back, like it should.
"All right. Hey, I'll send you a message in a few days, but if you want to come visit, I have a base of operations on Lunia myself." Moore says. "We ought to catch up and see if there's some collaboration we can do that isn't just selling ravages to people -- but that was really lucrative, so maybe we'll do that again too."
"Once I take a few days off, sure," Moonlight agrees, "All I want to do today is work on my tan."
"Then I'll cross my fingers you're not unduly bothered by anyone else. Please excuse us. ...And sorry!" He manages to remember to say before another Plane Shift returns them to Lunia!
Thus you stand on the beaches of Lunia again and...
Next move?
"So, let's review." Moore says as he starts to fly on the beach.
"I'm looking for someone who went to Mertion. She left Mertion and went to the House of the Triad and ended up helping out in Illmater's realm. From there, she went to Water and met the Padisha, got into some sort of trouble and was exiled to Fire. She went to Fire, -happened to have water on her,- and then left Fire and went back to the House of Nature." Moore explains.
"It seems like a rather elaborate way of bringing water to Fire, doesn't it?" Moore asks. "I'm afraid I think I'm missing the ulterior motive or the wisdom behind all of this. I don't really think it was for my benefit..."
"I don't really see it, either," Xandra admits as you fly along, "It's possible we're watching some plan we're missing parts to understand, or perhaps this journey was something else? Still, we now have a target at Salty Pier, so perhaps that was the greater meaning?"
"We could've just as easily been given a missive to go to Salty Pier for some other reason." Moore says. "You're right, though, it's entirely possible I may be misreading it. It might've been for Jetina's benefit more than ours and we just got... tied up in it? I don't know." He shakes his head. "Ultimately, I could've just used a Message spell to find her, or a Divination. I think us seeing those places was important for... some reason."
"Now that Jetina's back," Xandra continues, taking a breath out, "Let's go home and contact her directly with magic."
"I was kind of half-expecting her to already be there, If I'm being honest." Moore admits. "Or for us to find her on the way." A shrug and a smile as he flies back towards home!
Although they could just teleport...
Regardless, you're soon enough home. Stone and Rock hold guard as in the courtyard? Sure enough, Jetina is there. She's sparring with Cresiel, the two going back and forth as a familiar face watches. Kaja sits against a wall, watching the two practice away. Several hound archons also watch the frantic, fast-paced back and forth.
Moore looks at Xandra and gives an almost apologetic shrug.
He gives Kaja a wave as he settles in to watch the sparring match.
It's reasonably close, but Cresiel is slowly, steadily pushing Jetina back.
"You're all good," Kaja says without preamble, "And somehow I'm as good as all of you after a few hours of sparring." Turning to you, expression incredulous, "You're sitting on a goldmine, however you do this."
Moore blinks. "Huh? You mean you gained some sort of... accelerated knowledge by coming here?" Moore asks him. "Or would you say it was more like you gained knowledge all of a sudden?"
"In an hour or two of sparring with Cresiel, I advanced more than I have in entire years," Kaja says, bluntly, "I thought I was good before, but I've reached a new level now."
"Really..." Moore rubs his chin and looks up towards Chronias. "That's... unexpected. I suppose you're the first person we've recruited from outside here, so... it may have just happened naturally to us... but it bears keeping in mind."
Did you anticipate this, Sylvie?
"You'll be happy to hear we have a target, on that note." Moore says as an aside. "I hope you don't mind salt."
Wait, salt?
Wasn't there a salt dragon somewhere he read about once...?
Perception real quick.
Take 10 for 66
Back and forth, back and forth. Jetina's slowly losing as Kaja watches, yet this attention is focused on you. "You mean you have no idea what's going on?" Kaja's voice flattens, "That is not something you simply say you don't know what is going on! People don't learn this fast, like this! My weapons are even stronger now!"
"Well, I'm unfortunately not much of a liar, though I could probably convince you otherwise." Moore admits. "I've noticed minor things -- the bonds that we have becoming tangible things. Like I said, you're the first person who's come from 'outside' the circle as it were, so it's entirely plausible that you're seeing things through a different lens." Moore says.
He glances over at the fight and then back. "One could say it's the Light of Chronias doing it, but I don't think so. It's something we're going to discuss once this is over." He gestures back at the fight. "I have a few leads."
CLANG! Cresiel slams his hammer down hard, knocking away Jetina's shield and leaving her on the ground, in a groaning heap.
"You'd better, you really are sitting on a goldmine if you can reproduce this," Kaja says.
Now that the battle is finished, Moore flies over to rest a hand on Jetina's shoulder. She can handle healing herself, after all, so this is just moral support.
"Everyone, I come with some information." Moore begins.
Once he has their attention, he continues. "There are four other groups out there that are similar to ours -- at least in regards to the mysterious effects that we've been witnessing. I do not know who they are or how they're related to us, though I think it's easy enough to imagine they're fighting against the same sort of evils we are."
He gestures all around. "We've been given a gift, either because of fate ordaining it or simply deific intervention in all of this. Regardless, it seems there are two facets to this gift and maybe more. Each of us, as we grow closer in understanding one another, seem to be forming a tangible bond between us that is giving us each strength. Along with that, anyone who joins this cause finds their powers accelerated. I admit to being just as mystified by it as everyone else, though I think we'll find the answer as we continue to work together." Moore says.
"With that all said and done, I would like us all to plan to go to Salty Pier tomorrow. I think we can make a good showing of releasing the slaves there and giving them new hope. In addition, I'll do some research on any other targets of opportunity there that we can use." Moore gestures again to everyone. "By all means, if you have any questions about this, feel free to speak up. I'm no dictator."
Cresiel nods, as if expected.
Xandra watches, saying nothing and listening.
"What's Salty Pier?" Kaja speaks up.
Jetina raises her hand slowly, rubbing her shoulder, "Ah...what did I step into?" she asks aloud. "I just stopped in to say hi."
"It's a bit of a nexus town between Fire and Water." Moore explains.
He turns to Jetina and with an apologetic smile, "I was actually going to ask if you were interested in joining up with us. We need a competent healer for all of this craziness. Besides, I still need to find out what mission you were on that had you take water from the Court of Ten Thousand Pearls over to Fire."
"That just raises more questions. Can we talk about it over lunch? I'm hungry," Jetina slowly stands up, dusting herself off.
"Sure, of course." Moore nods. "Let's all eat and talk things through. Hey, Grias!" Moore calls out.
Kaja cocks her head at Jetina, but holds his tongue.
Xandra goes over to Kaja, murmuring something to him.
Grias floats up, "Oh, Moore! There you are. I have people working on what you wanted already. I'll have a meal prepared. I'm thinking something heavy since it's been an energetic day, you need energy. Oh, and Wood is sleeping on your bed again, he seems fond of it."
"I'm used to having things much more exotic than dogs sleep in my bed, don't worry." Moore agrees. "Have you heard back on the letter I sent out yet, by the way?"
That gets several long looks from Kaja and Jetina, the latter blushing. "W-what?!"
Grias bobbles inthe air, "Oh yes, I-" A beat at that. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
That sounded so wrong.
"Well how would you phrase it if you had a badger slaad take over your bed so you couldn't sleep there?" Moore asks. "I mean, really."
"THAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE!" Grias shakes wildly in the air.
"That's what I thought too!" Moore nods agreeably. "He'd just show up whenever he wanted, I have no idea how Hanna ever put up with it."
"H-Hanna?! THREE?!" Grias squawks, as Cresiel starts to smile.
"Grias, he doesn't mean it like that, worry not." Cresiel steps forward, "Let's go get a meal, everyone."
"Oh, would there have been less confusion if I said 'on my bed,'?" Moore asks. "You all need to get out more if that sort of thing confuses you!"
Amid general laughter and Grias sputtering, the five of you end up at a table. It's well lit here, a sunny dining room as everyone eats. The meal is pleasant, a few roast chickens out along with potatoes and greens.
"So," Jetina says after everyone eats a bit, "What's going ON here?"
"I've been entrusted with a goal of leading a group against evil." Moore says. "I probably ought to make it sound a little more grand than that... and I think I need to come up with a name for us, too. Anyway, I've been entrusted with facing off against evil in the world and making it a better place. Primarily the goal is weakening Shar and her influence." He clears his throat. "With less overreaching than the Smoke incident."
"Okay," Jetina says after a mouthful of chicken, "So how did that lead to everything else?"
"Well, I went looking for you. I heard you went to the House of the Triad, and... well," Moore gestures at Jetina. "Maybe you can fill in the gaps from there? We followed in your footsteps, so can you elaborate on what exactly you were doing?"
"Oh, that's easy," Jetina says, "I went to the House of the Triad to deliver something since I was going there anyway. Then I went to Water to try and meet Bubbles, but it didn't work out. Then I stayed in Fire for a little bit to study it, then I stopped in to spend some time with Moonlight, then came back home."
"'It didn't work out'?" Moore asks. "You got exiled!" Moore says with an accusatory point across the table. "What'd you even do!?"
"...exiled?" Cresiel's brow furrows. "How?"
Kaja laughs at that, waving a forkful of chicken and potato in Jetina's direction. "Exiled from where? That sounds like a story, one way or another."
As Kaja leans forward, Xandra seems content to sit back, "Raziel?"
"...yes." Jetina finally says, "I got in an argument with a noble marid and rather lost my temper. I said a single flame on Raziel's head could outdo all of the Padisha's glories." A moment and then a sigh, "Foolish and lost in the moment, I had forgotten we were supposed to be politely conversing in a soiree the Padisha was personally attending. She was not amused. In my defense, the marid's alcohol is remarkably strong."
"Well, I'm sure Raziel wouldn't disagree." Moore says with a grin. "Don't worry, I don't see us needing to perform many operations on Water anytime soon and if we do, I'll just ask her to undo it. At any rate, if you need time to think over joining with us, you're welcome to it. I don't want you to feel pressured."
Kaja throws his head back and laughs, laughs and laughs some more.
Cresiel shakes his head, chuckling a little in wake of Kaja's mirth. "That is why drink is best in moderation."
Turning back to her meal with a blush, Jetina eats a little bit before adding, "I felt better after saying it, anyway," she mutters. "The marid were self important bores, one and all."
"They're not all bad." Moore says with a smile. "Some people might say the same sort of thing as a generalized statement about celestials too and call them all stodgy." A laugh afterwards. "I'm sure you could make a spell that helped you hold your liquor better."
"Regardless of my mistakes, let me think about it," Jetina says, "This is all so sudden."
"Sure, take all the time you need." Moore says. "You're welcome to come with us to Fire tomorrow if you want, but I'll let you decide that on your own time. In the meantime, Grias, you mentioned that we'd heard word back on my letter?" Moore asks.
Grias bobs in the air before going on. "Yes, Tannin sent back word. Ahem." A clearing of a non-existent throat before Grias speaks. "Dear Moore. Salutations this fine-"
"I don't think Tannin has used the word salutations in his entire life," Cresiel observes as he slowly eats his meal.
"True enough, but his writing is rough," Grias sniffs, "Regardless, fine. Moore: I have a few people in mind. What sort of qualities do you need beyond information gathering? Aim high, I'll work from there."
"Well, what do you all think?" Moore asks the others at the table. "Someone who could hold their own in a fight would be helpful if they're ever caught, I'd think, but are we looking for something else? Or, maybe to look at it a different way, what are we currently lacking in?"
Xandra and Cresiel exchange a moment's look, "An active telepath would be good," Xandra says, diplomatically.
"Here i thought I was good at miming..." Moore shrugs. "All right, Grias, can you respond to him and say someone skilled with psionic abilities? Tryll's abilities always did come in very handy... I wonder how he's doing." He taps his chin. "I'll have to write him a letter too, or just go visit."
"Oh, of course," Grias bobs in the air again.
"Telepathy?" Kaja speaks up, spearing meat onto his fork and munching it down after. "Why telepathy?"
"We had an incident where our lack of telepathic communication came into... full view, let's say." Moore says. "I do need to see if I can have something made that can recreate the effect of the telepathic bonds, that's a useful tool to have available. Maybe I should go to Jovar and see..."
Jetina smiles a bit, "Or you could learn telepathic bond. Is such a spell in your reach, you think?"
"Psionics are rare. Met one once, did strange things with slime until he died." Kaja remarks, "Got caught between a minotaur and a fiendish lion. He was able to entangle one in slime, but it didn't stop the lion from biting most his stomach away. Too bad."
Xandra hums slightly at that, eyes closed. She just seems to drift and slowly says, "Yes, a pity. How did you survive?"
With a lithe shrug as he continues to eat, "Slashed the minotaur while a friend clubbed the lion," Kaja says. "A sharp sword usually works."
"For whatever reason, that sort of magic is outside my realm of expertise. Just like teleportation, but I found a neat helmet the other day that solves that problem." Moore says. "I'm sure I could emulate it with a stronger spell, but I know every time you use something of that magnitude you generally can't cast spells very effectively for a while."
He turns and nods to Kaja. "Yep, that sounds like Tryll too. He's blast things with slime or just all sorts of weird psionic powers. It was really interesting to watch, for sure."
"That's my problem with magic - it's interesting to watch, but tends to fail when you need it the most. Fiends and dragons resist spells by second nature, while a strong mind or body can throw off other spells with minimum impact." Kaja eats away, "You can't argue with a sword like that, you can only dodge."
"Oh, that's why I know how to use a sword and shield too - I think," Jetina admits, "You have to know how to fight and how to cast spells to make it. One complements the other."
"There are some pretty strong spells that can impede swords, though." Moore says. "But a good balance is the best way to do it. I fear sometimes I've made myself too much of a generalist, but I know what my role is and I think I'm fairly good at it."
"Sure," Kaja says, "But how are you with a sword, then? A rapier, knowing your body size, or maybe a dagger. But you don't strike me as a dagger person."
Xandra merely asks to that, "And what makes someone a dagger person?"
Kaja waves a forkful of chicken and potatoes at her, "Speed and a certain sneakiness, or a penchant for fighting in close. Moore's entire style is about getting attention, and he doesn't have the look of a person who relishes fighting in melee. He doesn't fit a dagger fighter's profile. I'd suspect a rapier - it looks good, can make a sharp stab and doesn't require much strength when called on."
"I do have a rapier, actually, though I don't fight with it." Moore says with a bit of a laugh. "It makes my songs a bit stronger and lets me draw on its power a bit to do so. I'm sure I COULD land a hit or two if I wanted to, I think my songs are strong enough that with my natural talent I could manage something. I just generally don't since I'm otherwise occupied with keeping everyone else going."
"Bullshit."
Kara says it casually, finishing off a forkful before putting his fork down. "So I'm guessing you don't practice much, either? Rely on your magic and words to win battles, rather hoping you don't have to fight in melee?"
Jetina frowns as Cresiel leans forward, "Your point is taken," he says softly, "But do not forget there are those with more delicate sensibilities here."
Kaja looks to a frowning and now blushing Jetina and a more reserved Xandra, "I concede Grias," Who squawks in indignation but is ignored, "But no real warrior like us should be called delicate. Jetina, you're a healer? You see a maimed body and do you hold a perfumed kerchief to your mouth or do you heal them? Xandra, you see a naked succubus trying to seduce a mortal. Do you gasp in scandal or do you send them screaming back to the Abyss, short her head?"
"If I'm fighting underneath an antimagic field then I'm already in a rather lousy situation." Moore admits. "I'd say it's less that I 'hope' I don't have to fight in melee and more that I can think well enough on my feet to not let it happen. If someone comes at me to try and engage me, I have enough skill to evade them."
A shrug as he drinks some juice. "It's a weakness of mine, I fully admit to that. But like I said, it isn't where I've chosen to focus my talents." He shrugs again. "If it's something you want to school me on, then I'll make time for it."
"I might," Kaja concedes, then shakes his head. "Never mind this. I don't want to turn this meal combative."
A moment later he blinks as a slice of potato bounces off his forehead. Notably, it came from the main serving platter, flying over without being touched. "Hmph." Grias ripples as he floats in the air, "I am not delicate!"
Smiling now as he picks up the potato and popping it down, "I suppose your specialty is food fighting, then?"
Moore laughs a little. "We'll talk later." A gesture of a piece of bread in Grias' direction. "You're fine the way you are, Grias, delicate or not."
A huff from Grias and then...
Next move, waiting on Jetina?
That's fine. He'll do some research as best he can (knowledge checks, mostly) on Salty Pier and high-profile targets (either in terms of super bad dudes or super notorious places for slaves and that sort of thing) and he'd try and do some digging on what sort of response this is likely to provoke.
By high profile targets, do you mean in Salty Pier or in a wider sense?
Let's limit it to Salty Pier at first and if there don't seem to be any good ones there we can branch out to the surrounding areas.
Okay, K:P.
Take 10 for 89, then.
Salty Pier is under military administration and thus the Sultan directly. In a general sense, everything traces back to him.
More locally, Azam the Firebearded is the local source of slaves. He works with several slave networks, supplying fresh bodies for the market here. The salt mining is hard work that has a high fatality rate, thus even with good treatment - the slaves are treated reasonably well for economic reasons - they require a lot of new slaves. Under him are various overseers and managers, that sort of thing, but he's the face of it for Salty Pier.
Okay. In that case the gameplan is this: Go beat up Azam, find his sources of slaves and then go disrupt those too.
As Moore works up his plans in his room...a knocking on his door.
"Come in!" Moore calls.
Jetina comes in, wearing her armor and gear. She takes a seat, "Talk to me," Jetina says, "I'm hearing so many strange things are going on here."
Moore puts his work down to turn and give Jetina his full attention.
"Here as in here, or here as in general here?" Moore asks. "Let me start at the beginning as best as I can. When we defeated Taelfagn in Lifasa's Heart, he mentioned the Prophecy of Primus. That is apparently a prophecy wherein Shar wins and completely destroys everything and shrouds Creation in total darkness." Moore says.
"I've been charged with opposing Shar and any other evils in creation to the best of our ability." Moore goes to his desk and takes out the missive he received and the various charges he'd been assigned and offers it over to her. "This should explain it for the most part."
While she's reading, "There is apparently more to all of this than I realized originally. As you've probably noticed, the light of Chronias is brighter. There's something afoot in creation itself that seems to be manifesting itself as... bonds? That's the best way I can describe it. The bonds people forge between themselves seems to be taking tangible form and offering boons to people. I don't know how or why it's working, but it's happening. Finally, there seems to be an accelerated growth that's possible with everyone... my guess is it's a result of these bonds." Moore says.
A terse nod is your reply as Jetina sinks back into her chair. "I've hardly had a breath since beginning this second life," she remarks, "But idle hands are the tools of devils." After a few moments, "What do you think of all of it?"
"I can't say I like obviously being someone's pawn." Moore admits. "At the same time, the decisions I've made in my life have been my own, for better or for worse. I intend to keep following the path in front of me and taking turns as I deem necessary. "
Sitting back at that, eyeing you and taking a long breath, "What about Ilsenine? Are you still going to marry her? Oh, and congratulations, I heard the rumors. I mean, you are marrying her, right?"
"Yes, we plan on doing that eventually." Moore says. "We're both fighting the same fight, just in different ways. She has her role on Lifasa and I have mine here. I do plan on installing some way to keep in contact with her on a more regular basis, though."
"Congratulations," Jetina says warmly, "So those rumors about you and Afina were just rumors?"
Moore takes in a deep breath. "Afina would literally turn me into one of her golems if she ever found out someone even suggested something like that, I think."
A laugh at that and then from there, "Well, you need my help, then?"
"I can do some healing, but you were always much better at it." Moore says. "I... ..."
He trails off for a minute as some sobriety forms and he looks down at the floor.
"I got you killed once. Maybe even twice, because of my stupidity and foolishness." Moore says as he raises his face. "It's not going to happen again. I will not let it."
"Facing your mistakes?" Jetina asks, quieter. "I've had to do that. I'm sure I'll have to do it for my miscues in Water." A pause, a lull in the conversation. "You know why they say it's hard to reach Chronias? It's because self improvement hurts. Who wants to admit they're wrong?"
Moore laughs a bit at that. "I'm not sure I'm destined for Chronias, I've got too many objections to to just agreeing to abide by every rule that they have here. At the same time, bettering myself is a good thing to do and will help everyone else, so I'm willing to follow my gut on things for right now and worry about perfection later."
"I think you will if you're here, but...I'm in, Moore," Jetina decides. "And this I'm sure isn't a mistake."
Moore smiles and nods. "I don't expect that we're going to put the whole team back together -- I'm glad you're here, nonetheless. Thank you."
Jetina joins the party. *Dun dun duuuuun*
I'm going to level her up and add her to the node soon, but it'll probably be a day or two.
Next move now, bearing in mind I need to get her up before combat operations.
Next move will simply be us deciding as a group what exactly we want to accomplish in Salty Pier - i.e. are we going in to rescue all the slaves, etc.
We'll start with that tonight, since I'm trying to finish that combat in Air before work. Go ahead and post back so I don't forget to reply to it after work.
No worries, that's fine with me.
Thus everyone soon gathers in a meeting room and...
Go ahead and set up, Moore, I'll roll off how you start.
"So, I'd like to review our operation and decide on how we want to proceed from there." Moore explains.
"We're not going to dismantle Fire's slave operations by doing this -- we can still save many lives and help them. So I'd like to hear opinions. I was thinking we'd simply gate in and go after Azam the Firebearded, he's the local leader and slave trader. He should know where exactly the various slaves are coming from. From there, we can get several more leads on rescue operations, I'd think. We also will likely draw the attention of the Sultan and his ilk, though I have absolutely no reason to think any of us will find ourselves in any trouble."
He clears his throat. "With that in mind, we still need a plan of action -- are we going to just try and liberate every slave we can find in Salty Pier in addition to this? Where do we try and take them all to?" Moore asks the gathered individuals. "I don't have any issue with gating them back here and helping to sort it out afterwards, though I admit I don't know what the politics of doing something like that is."
"Frankly, it's the efreet and freeing slaves. No one will mind in the slightest." Cresiel says, "Celestia's relations with the efreet are strained at best, and seldom that good."
Kaja nods, "I say we go in, have a clear plan to get out as soon as possible if we need to and we drag every hostage, slave, bit of treasure and anyone else who needs liberation there out. Bags of holding, preferably, so we can grab valuables and sort them out later. If we're going to personally kick over an efreet anthill, I want it worth our time."
Jetina hmmms slowly, "What sort of resistance are we looking at here?"
Take 10 for 89 on K:P again, and 72 on K:L (Salty Pier) or K:L (Fire) if needed to answer the question of resistance beyond 'probably a lot of efreet'
The most likely opposition is efreet with azer and mortal slaves, as well as dashes of various elementals and probably a few surprised. Hellhounds and hellcats are both possible, due to Hell's good relations with the efreet. There's a decent chance the efreet have adventurers of their own there - as a portal to Water it's a natural nexus for that sort of thing.
"We're likely to find efreet and slaves of all kinds, evil elementals and things from Hell, too. I don't imagine anyone important from Hell is going to bother making a showing, but Kaja is right that we should have an exit strategy. I can keep a Gate open for a good while to let people pass through while doing other things and if we need to we can plane shift out." Moore says.
"If we follow Kaja's suggestion, then pretty much gating in and going in the front door of Azam's base of operations in Salty Pier is the way to make an entrance. That's also likely where all the valuables are going to be stored." Moore says. "Once that's done, we can just announce ourselves and do what we need to do. If anyone challenges us then we take them out. I'd like to try and spare any slaves fighting on their side if we can... mental torture can be worse than physical."
"This sounds like we can win - but the main problem is going to be getting a high number of escapees out," Jetina says, a thoughtful half-frown on her face. "We don't have an Aurora to pour them into, we have to manage them with gates. How many slaves are there?"
"I would guess hundreds." Moore says. "I can handle the gate part, I'm pretty sure. And if we can get a few people through every few seconds, that's probably enough. I would imagine we'll make such a showing that there won't be a lot of resistance... and if there is, then we simply buy them enough time to get through."
"It sounds as if only ill fortune can defeat us now," Xandra says, and after a beat, "Which makes ill fortune all the more drawn to us."
"Or," Kaja drawls, "No plan survives contact with the enemy. Sitting here after dinner and talking this over? Easy. Good luck when we're in the field trying not to die."
"You're right," Cresiel concurs, "Then we will stand firm and show them our strength."
Moore smiles at Kaja. "I think we've all faced much worse than a few angry efreet before. But you're right, if Duke Malphas or something shows up at Salty Pier tomorrow then we should just escape with the people we can and agree to return."
"Good enough," Kaja says, "Good enough."
Anything to add here?
Nope. I will say OOC that I don't expect you to run 4 NPCs and combat, so I'm fine if we want to come up with an excuse to have everyone be paired off into two groups or something.
I still need to get Jetina's sheet done, so is there any non combat stuff to do before this?
Other than preparatory talking, not really.
Okay, gonna start on Jetina then. Ideally I get her done in time for tomorrow. If not, I have something for tomorrow in that case for you.
All good!
Starting on Jetina prep now again, should hopefully have it done in 2 hours but we'll see.
No worries if you don't.
Not going to quite make it - she's 95% done, but the last 5% is gonna take some time. So to side trip land for the day.
You're resting in your room a bit, preparing mentally. Tomorrow's the operation, when Grias flutters in. "Oh, Moore," he says, "Kaja's getting a card game going and he invited you."
"It'd be rude to decline, I suppose." Moore says as he gets up. "All right, let's go see him."
Kaja's in his bedroom, a table set up there. Cresiel, Xandra and Jetina are already here, "Moore," Kaja calls, "Come and join us."
"Hi!" Jetina gives you a smile.
Moore gives a wave and takes a seat. "So what's the game?"
"Dragon's Eye," Kaja says, "The goal is to get all four aces and..." As he explains the rules, Jetina says in an aside, "I think the real point is to take and have fun."
Cresiel merely nods as Kaja deals the cards, "It's been some time since I've played cards," he remarks, "I believe Aurora had an occasional poker game, but I never got involved."
"Didn't take you as the type," Kaja notes as cards are passed around, "You're as serious as a golem."
Cresiel inclines his head to the point, "I am also a historian." Ignoring Kaja's look at that, "One can understand a people by understanding how they play, and understanding people is a vital part of any history."
"Bahamut's scales," Kaja groans, "You're a knight, a solar and a historian from Celestia. Did they build your spine of adamantine and include a dragon's worth of stuffiness?"
"No, after all, I am not a dragon," Cresiel smiles slightly, looking over his cards.
"There were all sorts of social things going on there." Moore agrees. "I think a lot of people thought of it as just an organization... which it was, but there were so many people there that it had to more than just military."
A smile at the banter back and forth."You can thank me for his sense of humor." Moore says. "It's still a work in progress, though."
Kaja laughs ab it as Jetina adds, "Really, you can learn about people by how they play?"
As Kaja mouths, 'Thank you,'s ilently, Cresiel nods. "You can. How a people raise their children says much about their society, as well as how they relax."
"Oh, yes, there are all sorts of visual cues people give off when doing things." Moore says. "There's a lot you can learn about people from the way they move and that sort of thing. A lot of people have things they do when they're lying, for example -- like they scratch their hands or shift their posture."
Cresiel shifts a bit as he says, "Yes, you can learn a lot from watching people - any aspect of them, really."
Xandra nods slightly, "There is much wisdom to be gleaned from eyes that watch and ears that listen. Kaja, you're brash, powerful and confident - all traits that indicate you embrace your draconic heritage?"
"No great secret there," Kaja draws a few cards and tosses a few more down, "You can tell the way Cresiel carries himself that he's serious. He's focused. Reminds me of a dwarf who had a growth spurt."
Jetina laughs a little at that, "Ah! Then what can you conclude about me?"
"You're the type of person who's very honest with their emotions." Moore says with a smile as he puts some cards down. "You're also the type that wants to eventually stand on her own feet but you don't think you have solid ground enough there yet, so you look to others for inspiration and a helping hand."
"That's...true," Jetina finally concedes, "I'm still learning everything out here, and I have power others would kill for."
"It's not uncommon when a newborn celestial is incarnated powerfully," Xandra speaks up as she puts down all four aces, getting a groan from Kaja. "Also, I win this hand."
Collecting all the cards, "Yeah? You're born with it so you flail with it like a child at first?" Kaja says. "Also, aren't you a seer?"
"So I am," Xandra says coolly, "Did you think playing cards with me would work out well for you?"
Moore grins and slides his cards over. "Still, there is some luck in these sorts of things. Well, usually, anyway."
He nods to Jetina. "You've had about as long as I had from when I first woke up here after... everything. I totally empathize with your situation and realize it's a lot to take in. You have to go at your own pace and not try and keep up with anyone else."
Kaja laughs some more, a loud and full laugh. "Bwahahhahaa...no, well said." Dealing more cards, "So what is this Lost Realm?"
"A place of the light.," Xandra says, the last word radiant, bright. Her eyes close as she speaks it, staying closed even as she takes her cards.
"I'm remembering more, but it feels like living a day at a time and a fragment of memory at at ime," Jetina admits, "Some days I feel myself, some days I feel as if I'm all wrong and other days I remember acting just as I am."
"So you've moved past childhood into adolescence?" Cresiel murmurs, taking his own cards.
"It's a long story that I don't remember all the details of. Think of it like a purgatory for people who deserve to be tested." Moore says. "I think eventually we'll remember everything that happened to us there, but... regardless of the good or bad of it, we came out stronger, better people than when we went in." Moore says with a smile.
He takes a few cards and glances through them. "Ultimately, we were strong enough to leave. I think that says a lot about us."
"You're strong of will and character," Xandra agrees, "WE all are as we gaze above."
Kaja clicks his tongue against his teeth, "With all due respect, what makes the two of you human? You talk of lofty things, but what motivates you? What makes you more than bland puppets following Celestia's will? If I wanted that, I'd go marry an erinyes and replace Celestia with Hell."
Cresiel passes two cards to Jetina as he says, "I don't need to be vivacious. I don't need to be loud. I don't need to be brash. I am." After a few beats, "And I find the same behavior from my mother tiring."
"A hah! A sign of life! You may not be a golem yet," Kaja declares, "So you're not a mother's boy?"
"You could say that," Cresiel replies after a few moments, "I take after my father, who serves Celestia. My mother serves Brightwater."
"Being in a place like Aurora tends to give you a wide variety of dispositions to work with." Moore says. "I think it's what helped him be a little less stodgy." Moore laughs a bit at that as he pretends to duck under a swipe that never comes.
"Honestly, it's interesting to me that you don't share the same kinds of sentiments, Kaja. I mean... you know, the dragon stuff and everything. What's made you follow the path you're on now?" He asks.
"Well..." Kaja begins, as Xandra again lays down all four aces. This time Jetina groans along with Kaja, as the cards are shuffled by Cresiel this time.
Xandra merely smiles, "Such is the will of above - do not think any one thing is beyond it."
"LIke you answering that question, but hold on," Kaja shoots back, sighing mournfully. "Also, I'm glad this isn't for money. Anyway, well...I had a tough time as a teenager, but I finally found one thing out that showed me my path."
"Which is?" Jetina asks, taking a new hand of cards.
"I'm really fucking good at killing." Kaja says, bluntly.
"Hah!" Moore puts a hand over his mouth apologetically. "I suppose that would do it. As much as I'd like to peacefully resolve every difference of opinion in Creation, that simply isn't going to happen. Sometimes force is necessary, either as a deterrent or just because some people are really stubborn." A sigh afterwards. "It's too bad, but no sense in lamenting over it. I'm not the type of person to follow a path of non-violence."
Cresiel smiles - not a kind smile, but the smiles.
Jetina can't keep a half laugh out either, shaking her head.
Xandra merely looks on.
"Such a gift may seem like a nightmare, a prelude to being a serial killer or a monster," Cresiel says, then bows his head deeply to Kaja, "You have turned it into a holy profession, fighting the good fight and fighting what must be slain to save others."
Kaja smiles, sharp teeth gleaming in the light. "You get it. You both do. I could be a monster, but I choose instead to be an avenger. Creation has plenty of things that need to die."
Moore nods along with Cresiel and Kaja.
"It's grim business, no matter what it is you're doing. I'm glad that you found your purpose, both with the act itself but as well as with us." Moore gestures at the others. "I know you'll learn a lot and will be able to grow more, both professionally and as a person."
"Yes, so...Xandra?" Kaja turns to her.
Xandra hums, "Why I act as I do?" she asks, "You have to understand, I see and feel things hidden to most. I feel the will of Celestia and Chronias. Imagine the greatest compulsion you have ever felt. Remove the compulsion by force unknown and replace it with knowing this is the right thing to do. Amplify it by a thousand fold. It is so easy and so natural to guide, to act in a way that is inhuman because it is so focused on matters beyond the flesh."
"Really? What's it like?" Jetina pipes up, passing a card over, which Xandra grabs double speed.
"Indescribable. Whatever it is, whatever there is that awaits us on Chronias, is something we simply cannot explain or describe. It is something utterly beyond us in every way. It is perfect." Xandra takes a breath, "I find it too easy to lose myself in it. I become...rigid, in a way. Unable to relate at times, or relying on speaking of what should be said. But I'm not able to fully handle that, none of us are."
Moore smiles a little, almost nostalgically.
"I'll see what I can do to help translate. I think you and I can hear the same things, though I never really questioned where it was from until I met you." Moore admits.
"It is hard to relate, especially when the message is... confusing or doesn't make sense." Moore agrees. "I'd like to one day understand what it is beyond 'something unknowable,' but there's time enough for that."
A moment, a flicker of memory.
_h_ _m______ ___e, _____ __o_ ______ _____, one __ ___ _____ H__y _f ______.
"There's time enough," Cresiel says, as he places down four aces.
"Okay," Kaja turns to Cresiel, giving him a look, "How'd you manage it against a seer?"
"I noticed Xandra has a tell," Cresiel says solemnly, "She looks at cards that are aces too long, longer than other cards."
One day, he'll be able to -- ... something...
Moore just starts laughing as he puts his cards down. "I'm beginning to think you just got a deck that can be manipulated, Kaja." He clears his throat to calm himself down. "You all would be a nightmare in Brightwater, I can already tell."
Cresiel gives you a loooong look at that, while Xandra smiles.
Jetina sits back, "I'm going to get us some drinks. Who wants what?"
"Red wine," Kaja says, while Cresiel adds, "Water," and Xandra says, "Honeyed tea."
Oh ho ho ho, did he figure it out?
"Some fruit juice would be fine, thank you." Moore says.
Once Jetina is gone off to get that, "So...this is something. A trumpet archon, a pixie, a solar, a human hero and a half dragon are playing cards," Kaja says, taking the deck and shuffling away, hands a dexterous blur. "Sounds like the start of a joke."
"All are welcome here," Xandra says, and on Kaja starting to say something, bulls ahead. "Especially or perhaps because of that, here we are."
"Here we are," Kaja agrees, "So the question for the entire hoard: You all think Moore can really lead us to glory?"
"Yes," Cresiel's answer is immediate. "I have seen him. He has his flaws," Another long look to you, "But we all have our flaws. Tomorrow we'll merely remind the rest of Creation of how much glory we can obtain."
"You'll understand what I can do when we get into a fight." Moore says. "I think you'll be able to see why I'm here in the position I'm in, too. I'm not just a rosey-cheeked pixie who just fell out of a tree."
He smiles and nods to Kaja and gestures at Cresiel and Xandra. "I think you'll be able to understand the sort of bonds we're forming too, and learn to draw the same strength from them that we have. But I know you're not someone who got by on words much in your career, so I'll just promise you plenty of action."
"That we will," Kaja says, as Jetina returns.
"Juice, honeyed tea, water and red wine," she says, passing them out. "Did I miss anything?"
"Nope, you got it." Moore nods to her at that and raises the glass. "To tomorrow, then."
"To tomorrow," Glasses are raised and...
Do you have anything you wanna add here?
Nah, this is a good stopping point until tomorrow. In both cases.
Cool, shall have Jetina done in time for tomorrow.
Jetina didn't get done, but it's just a few minor things so we'll work without it. She's going to be posted once I post Iddy and Yuth (nag at me here if I haven't in 20 minutes) and start a new topic after that for this. This topic is open until then in case I need that nagging.
Jetina's up and noded, so locking this thread. New thread incoming.