Home again. Home after the madness of Carceri, back to interrogate prisoners.
Unfortunately due to your positioning, you don't get the long post first off because you have an immediate action queued up. So we'll open this with questions instead so we can pare things down more effectively and get you to that longer post.
Do you want to do interrogations right away? If so, how do you plan to interrogate them? If you aren't going to interrogate them right away, hwat are you going to do instead?
Miracle boosted Zone of Truth and interrogate them in the light of Chronias. We will see if that works first, if not we can move on to knocking them out then more or less rifling through their memories if we have to.
I'm on my phone so it's hard, is there an Authority of Truth? If so we'd contact them as well. I remember Erathaol was mentioned so we will see if he has anything else to add.
It appears there is one (He-Who-Rose) so we will try with that.
Okay, thought I posted here but no? Okay.
Give me a quick d100 for part of that.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 5, total 5[/blockquote]
It's not hard to do so. A simple room more secure than anything else thanks to your presence along with Jetina's. Erathaol stands in a corner, quiet but with his gaze on the prisoners.
Go ahead and set yourself up, terror pixie, and I'll roll off of that.
"You are going to be truthful." Moore says. It isn't a request. "If you are, you'll be returned to whoever you serve."
He turns to The Red-faced man who kept lying before. "If you've got a spell on you that prevents you from doing so, you'd best dismiss it. In fact, if any of you resist our magic in any way, this deal is off. You will not resist us and we won't have to find creative ways to go through your memories."
A pause as he regards them all once. "Is that clear?" Again, this isn't a request. His voice brokers no argument.
Well that's certainly worth an Intimidate check, so we'll start with that. +7 bonus.
Take 10 for 127!! Be cowed!!!
Something in your gaze - perhaps merely the light, or the people here - visibly shakes them all. It's the red faced man who so speaks, "AH..." A shaky nod follows, as Moore simply gazes at them.
"Go on," Jetina steps back, "Since they seem perfectly willing to talk to you, Moore."
Erathaol merely watches, no direct involvement as of now. Instead he speaks in your minds. 'Often the proper truth is scarier than the darkest lie, especially when peering into the sinful heart.'
"So let's begin. Who is your master?" Moore asks. "We will get to what your were doing at the Prison once we establish that."
He looks at the red-faced man. "Actually, you tell me who you are first, then tell me who you work for."
Take 10 for 123 on K:P for whatever he says.
Also Sense Motive for 100 on anything any of them say, just to be super sure.
The being that called itself Death takes another step back.
"I..." It struggles, resists.
"Ma...ma...do...Madolas." The red skinned creature croaks out at last.
"Are you cursed in some way? Forced to not be able to speak truth easily?" Moore asks. "You may nod, or shake your head, if you're able to do so more easily. I can still discern the truth from you that way."
Take 10 on K:P for his name. I am also assuming I can tell he's being truthful.
To his allies, he speaks as Erathaol does. 'If it is magic or something of that nature, we may be able to try an antimagic zone again. It would dispel what we've set up, but it may actually be easier to get the truth from them if there's magic preventing them from speaking.'
Give me K:N instead.
Wow, it's been a while since I did one of those... 123 on that too, whew.
It's a fey name, you note. Not a common one but not rare, either. Certainly not something that fits the creature before you.
As far as I can tell, is he being truthful?
Yes.
"I am not going to harm you. Do not resist this."
Moore gestures as a ray springs from his finger.
Antimagic ray.
As he lets the antimagic effect settle, he speaks up again. "Is it easier for you to talk like this? I don't want you to struggle with every answer." He says - his voice does sound at least a little empathetic.
Give me a CL on that, +7 bonus.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+49 : 5 + 49, total 54[/blockquote]
Madolas recoils back once struck, falling into the ground and scurrying against a wall. His eyes are wide but there's nowhere to go from you.
"Peace." Moore says, making no movement towards him. "Are you able to talk normally now?" He asks - voice softer.
The others back away from him, leaving just you and him. "Can, yes. Wish to?" His gaze is venom.
Erathaol merely glances at you, as if considering before, "Aga-"
"Stop!" The creature cries loudly. "Cease! Ask what you will!"
"Your master, then. Their name." Moore says simply. "Their goals, where they are, and what you were doing at the First Prison, and where else you've been and why."
A sour shudder, "Monoxious," Is the answer at last, grudging. "He sees an opportunity in the First Prison."
"How long have you been working for them?" Moore asks - then glances at the other two, as if expecting an answer. "What is their ultimate goal? Just power?"
Take 10 on whatever K is relevant for that name! 123.
"Ages, long and longer yet. Their ultimate goal is power, what else is there?" The creature hisses.
Monoxious is an obscure daemon of great power. Little is known of him, but that's depressingly regular for the daemons. However, it's said the has something to do with internal purges.
"I see. What had you done at the Prison before we arrived?" He asks.
"Prepared and hunted," Is the answer, slowly, "What we were ordered to do."
"What were you specifically sent to the First Prison to do?" Moore asks. "I will ask you kindly, this once, to be more specific in your answers and not be as technically truthful as daemons tend to be."
Second Intimidate check, +14 bonus.
134. Am I scarier than Monoxious???
You had to ask?
"...opportunity," he says, "Prepare for others to come, capture any that are lucrative and take advantage of them."
"Did you know that an avatar of Mephisto comes by there every now and again?" Moore asks. "What do you think he would've done to all of you? I'll let you think about that."
A shake of his head. Honestly, how stupid are you?
"That's all you did there? Your master believed that you could capture people entering the prison?" Moore asks. "To what ends?"
"Blackmail, looting, enslavement," The words are spat out, "People are just property you haven't acquired yet."
Erathaol's gaze sharpens at that, and softly he adds, "Is that your opinion or your master's?"
The sheer fear from him spikes again as he beholds Erathaol's gaze, his back pressed all the way against the wall.
"Your name isn't demonic." Moore says. "It's actually fey in origin, isn't it? I really have to wonder what happened in the course of your life."
A small smile after that. "I know you're terrified, but let me ask you all something - when we let you go, what do you expect Monoxious to do? I haven't known many daemons to suffer failure. You all think about that during this." He says before he continues on.
"Has Monoxious been in contact with you since we captured you? Actually, which plane is he hiding out on? It sounds like we might need to take a visit there, since you all seemed to know an awful lot about us, but I know so little about him." He glances at them. "I'm sure he's in a demiplane somewhere that has a lot of tricks to getting is, but assuredly all of you know."
With a bitter, bitter look even as he goes on, "No, not a word. He resides in Glahhen." His voice is clipped but you detect no falsehoods.
Take 10 for 123 on K:P for whatever shitty part of the Abyss that's on.
"We'll get to how we get there eventually. I'm sure there's a special way rather than through the front door." Moore says, his divine will temporarily hiding his actions for the briefest of moments.
I am going to cast my favorite-ist spell, Bredanalundalum's Wit so they can't see it, I don't want them copying this later!
I get seven questions per cast and we may end up using several of them here, just as a warning!
Since we know Madolas isn't resisting and we got rid of his spells this shouldn't be too much of an issue. The other two we'll deal with afterwards - so let's see what good questions come out of this.
Are you discerning a question right now?
Yes.
"Where is the Ring of Three Spheres?"
Huh.
"Where is the Ring of Three Spheres?" Moore asks.
Take 10 on whatever K check is appropriate for that also in case it's anything I've heard of.
Madolas freezes cold a those words. His lips move but no words come out for a moment, then a screech of, "What?!"
Ring doesn't ring a bell to you.
"You really shouldn't underestimate your opponents." Moore says, simply, his expression neutral. "This is a life lesson for you. Now, please answer the question. Please also understand that quite honestly, we can simply knock you out and then simply find out everything we want to know. I don't say that to threaten you, but only so that I hope you'll appreciate that you're not being treated the same way you'd treat your own prisoners."
"..." A pause before, "It's....It's in an Astral pocket, a chest." he answers at last. "While it finishes."
A piece of paper and an inked quill appears in front of him.
"The exact coordinates, if you would please." Moore says. "And any instructions for the chest."
Next question! I get 6 more.
He does so under your watchful eyes and the light of Chronias. AS he does Jetina watches him, present if quiet, in case anyone tries.
As Erathaol copies the paper once done and that copy appears in his hand? Sylvie steps in, not saying a word, but watching.
The second question to ask is: "And the command word?"
Hah, he should've thought of that.
"I imagine it also has a command word, both the chest and the item in question." Moore says. "Those are?"
"Valoyre," Is spat out, "The only one."
More truth, at least. Doesn't seem to be lying.
"Thank you for your honesty." Moore says.
He may as well invoke the spell one more time to see what else there is to find out!
The next question is: "And the sacrifices for the ring, where are they?"
Inwardly he sighs. Sacrifices?
"The sacrifices for the ring, where are they located?" Moore asks, the expression on his face hiding that he has no idea what this is even referring to.
"In a separate Astral location," Is the answer, his anger growing and yet nothing but fear and the truth given to you. He writes more on that, not even resisting directly now.
He may as well go all in on the spell for now. Another question!
This is four of seven.
"Tell us more about your master."
"So, since we've been so hospitable so far, why don't you tell us more about Monoxious?" Moore says. "I mean, you know what you'd say if we were your prisoner and trying to scare us, right? So let's go with that - what you know about him." Moore says, gesturing for him to go ahead. "Don't spare any details."
"He calls himself the Prince of Green," He begins, "He styles himself as a ruler of worlds and domains. But they're only fuel for him to purge and take the choice bits while the rest destroys itself."
"A parasite," Jetina notes from behind you, "Feasting on the work of others."
"Why did you decide to ally yourself with him?" Moore asks. "The normal pursuits of power?"
Oh Moore, are you busy right now?
Interrogating some interesting people we found at the First Prison. I can spare a moment - what's going on?
Are you going to be dealing with Asani's sighting in Grumbar's court? We may if you don't.
I had not intended on taking any action on that, please feel free to do so. If Shar does have some influence on Grumbar, that may move to alleviate it, but just be warned that he may be a willing participant in the matter.
Thank you, Moore! I'll let you know if we do.
If I can be of any help, please let me know.
Now, back to the matter at hand - he gestures with a smile for his prisoner to continue.
"He came on me and convinced me," Is the answer, "Through strength and violence. How else? I had no choice."
"You always have a choice," Jetina disagrees, "It's that the other option wasn't acceptable."
"No, he didn't have a choice," Sylvie counters, coming forward, "A daemon like that knows how to stack the deck in an involuntary recruitment."
"Do you regret it? Any of it?" Moore asks, straight and to the point.
With a hiss, as if burned by the light, "None of it," he says right away, "Never a moment."
"Yet, here you are." Moore says. "I'd think you'd at least find something to lament about what led you to this moment."
A shake of his head.
He has two more questions, he's going to invoke the spell again now, let's see if anything else juicy comes out. If not we'll move on.
"There's no reaching a monster like you, is there?" is what you get back.
Interesting. Maybe this was something he said before all this?
May as well give it a try.
"There's no reaching a monster like you, is there?" Moore asks.
Diplo check, +30 bonus.
Take 10 for 166.
Madolas sneers back, "At least you understand that. Not after what I've done from Carceri to the Primes."
"Oh?" Moore asks with a smile. "I mean, you opened the door, so why don't you tell us what exactly it is you've done in that regard?"
Erathaol's gaze is on him as well, and with a gulp after he said those words and realized, "You can't-"
"I can." Erathaol says, the perfect image of calm. "A spell to read your mind and lay out every sin you've ever committed and record that in a book."
"You're welcome, by the way," Sylvie adds to that, a pointed look at the member of the Hebdomad.
"A copy of the spell will be provided to you," Erathaol concurs, "As thanks for the inspiration."
Moore claps his hands together. "Wonderful. I'm glad we've come to such a wonderful agreement." He says with a bright and cheerful smile that certainly belies the fear that's going through all of them right now.
'I'm done with this one, I think, if any of you have anything you'd like to ask you're welcome to, but I was going to move onto his friends.' Moore says to the others present.
Erathaol merely look at him and the monster is gone. 'I have other questions to be asked of him, but they need not interrupt,' Erathaol sends to you, 'Continue.'
"Rillea, wasn't it?" Moore says as he turns to her.
"Same story? Were you a willing participant in all of this or did Monoxious simply beat you into serving him?" He asks.
Her gaze is darker, cowed, "Willing." She answers succinctly.
"Do you think he's going to welcome you all back?" Moore asks. There's no hostility in his voice - no intent of antagonization. "I'm not trying to scare you into submission, If we release you all and he's just going to try and kill you for failure it doesn't make a lot of sense, you know?"
Rillea's look is less than amused, but she doesn't argue with you about it, either.
"Yeah, I thought so." Moore says. "Anyway, let's begin. I'm sure you know I've got some questions for you."
He clears his throat.
I've got one more question from this casting, so let's invoke the spell and then I can recast it as needed.
Ask her, "If you don't want to talk, we can move you along to the Authority of Wardens, can't we?"
"Actually, if you don't want to talk to us, we can move you along to the Authority of Wardens, if you'd prefer?" He asks.
Perhaps they have some history?
While she answers that, he recasts the spell behind a veil of divine secrecy!
A freeze, a hard one. Sylvie smiles faintly as Rillea growls, "What do you want?"
May as well strike while the iron is hot with this one and not squander it.
He will invoke it again to ask another question, six left after this.
"I want answers, so tell us the truth, if you'd be so kind." Is the question you get.
Interesting phrasing - he decides he may as well keep it himself and not try and spin it.
"I want answers, so tell us the truth, if you'd be so kind." Moore says with a bright smile. He's not asking anything specific with that, but maybe something about the phrase will get her to say something like her compatriot did...?
A darkening scowl, "Fuck you!" She approaches you, "How do you know that? How are you working with him? I won't go back to Phlegethos!"
As you'd expect, let's Knowledge that one! 123 on whichever is appropriate. Is that a person or a place?
It's a place. The Fourth Hell of Baator. Ruled by Belial, it's about fire, pain and pleasure.
Suffice to say it's not a place anyone sane should want to visit.
I can go into more detail if you want, that's just the barebones.
"Interesting." Moore says, not recoiling from her. "I'm not working with him. But again, why don't you elaborate on who that is? Did you garner the ire of Belial?"
"Toremal," She spits out, "One of his endless torturers!"
"So tell me about how you got out and got involved with Monoxious." Moore says.
123 on knowledge for Toremal while she explains.
"Slave trade," The answer is succinct, "Choice slaves traded, no questions asked, you get what you get."
Toremal is a minor erinyes in the Fourth Hell. A tormentor, but you don't know much else - obscure.
Let's invoke the spell again for another question.
"Would you like to rest now?" Simple and to the point.
Another specific question? Hm.
"Would you like to rest now?" He asks.
He's going to have to thank Bredna... that dragon for this spell someday.
A long stare, a jerky nod back to it. "...yeah." she finally says.
A wave and she's sent to a sparse room with a bed and some snacks and drinks.
'Please feel free to question her as you see fit, Lord Erathaol.' Moore says as he turns to Gyme.
May as well just invoke the spell again to get us started. I get four more after this.
Gyme glowers at you as you get a question back. "What will your price be?"
"So, it's your turn, Gyme." Moore says. "What will your price be?"
"A portal to Hades," Is his answer, holding his ground, at least for the moment.
Well, that's interesting.
He could ask the obvious question that's on his mind, but he may as well see where this goes - it may end up being the same question.
May as well invoke it again and see if we get anything other than the "Who's waiting for you on Hades?"
The question to ask is, "Erathaol?"
A glance in that direction.
"Lord Erathaol?" Moore voices.
His intervention or something else?
Erathaol's name makes Gyme flinch slightly, and the Third of the Hebdomad says nothing. He merely peers into Gyme's eyes, until the daemon cries out and shields his face with his many arms.
"Speak." Erathaol commands, and then nods to Moore. "Ask what you will of him."
Moore turns his attention back to the daemon.
We'll invoke the spell again and see if it leads to anything to ask about!
"If you would, tell me the location of Quinnar?"
Moore clears his throat.
"If you'd be so kind, then, please tell me the location of Quinnar?"
May as well take 10 for 123 on whatever that is!
A piece of paper and a quill appear in front of him, much like they had for the others.
Give me a Diplomacy check, pixie?
Take 10 for 136!
There is indeed writing that follows, under the watchful eye of several. Soon enough it's done and produced.
I get two more questions from this casting, so I may as well use another now since there's likely an important daemon-ish part of this that I need to ask about, like a password or traps or whatever else.
Also 123 on Knowledge to identify what Quinnar is.
"And do you think you fooled us?" Is what you should ask next.
"You probably ought to have expected this one." Moore says with a small frown. "Do you think you've fooled us?"
A snarl that dies as the light shines brighter, a cry. "To oblivion with all of you," Gyme tries to charge, but Erathaol's gaze freezes him in place.
After that Gyme collapses and snarls, "Fine, I'll write! Don't kill me!"
"Then please do so." Moore says as a fresh piece of paper appears. "You've got guts to try and lie here in front of all of us, I'll give you that."
He will wait until he's done writing again to invoke the last question - then recast the spell again. Having extra spell slots is great!
It's written with a glare, but it is written.
The last question is, "What tactical and strategic information do you know about daemon strongholds?"
"Someone like you who'd want to go back to Hades must have a wealth of knowledge about tactics and strategic information about daemon strongholds." Moore says. "Why don't you share that with us?"
A bright smile follows.
It is the kind of smile that you assuredly do not ever want to see if you're an evil outsider.
A grunt, "Paper," A single word is ground out.
Suddenly plenty is before him, Erathaol's gaze right on him as well.
As you might expect, a great deal of writing follows under your gazes.
He will wait until he's done writing (again) and invoke the spell.
May as well try it and see if we get anything else decent out of this.
"Is that it?"
Hm. It hasn't been wrong yet...
Moore glances at the papers, then back to Gyme. "Is that it?" He asks, straightforward - no hostility meant but plenty of rather surprised disappointment.
A growl, deep and low, then the creature's shoulders slump. The answer is a nod, broken, exhausted. No resistance, just silent consent.
"You lied to us." Moore says. "I explained the terms at the beginning of this and yet you still lied."
A shake of his head as he turns to Erathaol. "Lord Erathaol, I turn him over to your custody, or to the custody of the Authority of Wardens at your word." He says simply.
With a gesture Gyme is gone.
"I expected nothing less from a daemon, but there is still value in what he told us," Erathaol states calmly.
Moore nods. "Now, the next step is Monoxious. I don't appreciate what he's doing and I wonder how to proceed." He lets out a breath.
"I'm all for simply marching in and turning him into ash but I wonder if that's the most effective use of our time and ability." He says with a glance to the others. "There's still the matter of the First Prison that I think takes precedence over him anyway, but if anyone believes he is more a concern we can change our priorities."
Sylvie shakes her head, "We're stepping into deep daemon politics if we do," she begins, "That's a quagmire without end.At least with the Adversary you're dealing with someone on top. Who knows how Monoxious connects to everything?"
"Should you slay one daemon a hundred emerge to try and take over," Erathaol states, "It is not pointless, but there is an art to it to prevent it from being a zero gain game." He gestures ahead at the light of Chronias, "Often that is skillful manipulation and containment of the daemon you know rather than ones you do not."
"In other words, no, there's not a lot of point going first thing to deliver justice to Monoxious," Sylvie agrees, "On the other hand, it would be a short and sharp message that interference in our affairs has consequences."
"Then perhaps simply reaching out with a message will be sufficient." Moore says. "He's aware of who we are anyway, so this should be a simple enough matter. Any objections?"
"I don't have any," Jetina says, "Just make sure it's the right message."
Hello, Monoxious.
I am going to make this short and to the point. If we come across any more of your underlings in our travels, we will be putting a stop to your plans personally next. I suggest you recall all of them to Glahhen and stay there for a while and behave yourself for a few centuries.
If we're doing Intimidate it's 120.
There's no answer to that. Perhaps unsurprising, perhaps not. Only silence after your ultimatum is delivered.
"The message has been delivered." Moore says. "Now then, I believe we have two other prisoners from the First Prison to check on."
Refresh me on who that is and your plans with them?
I honestly think we just got two randos... yeah, just two random ones. A human for Cresiel and a nondescript prisoner for me.
Basically I'd just like to see if we can discern who they are and if they seem to be waking up now that they're not in there anymore.
Okay, just a quick question. If they don't wake up, how do you discern who they are?
We have a ton of magic to figure out who people are!
I could just Miracle a Divination for 'who is this' and go from there if we need a starting point.
That works.
First is Cresiel's. His name is Amadey. No last name, just Amadey.
Take 10 on whatever Knowledge is appropriate for 123 - it's entirely possible this won't turn anything up but if he landed in the First Prison you never know!
If this doesn't turn anything up we can resort to my other spells to try and collect some information on them.
Nope, nothing. Not cosmically significant, at least.
Well, he will try the other one and see if he comes up with anything.
Divination for 'who is this' for the other prisoner they have, and then a 123 check for whatever their name is.
If we get nothing we'll go with Commune with Knowledge to at least see what we can learn.
This one is named Firanze Firunze Faranza of Golden Way.
Doesn't ring any bells of note though.
Time for some more magic!
Commune with Knowledge, I get 19 questions.
'When was Amadey taken to the First Prison?'
Moore will test the waters to see whether being outside the prison allows him any information on these individuals.
'23,489,490 years ago."
...Oh.
Moore's avatar appears to supply the answers to the questions he's asking, in case anyone wants to chime in.
'Who took Amadey to the First Prison?'
"That old?" Kaja rumbles, "No wonder no one knows anything about him."
Meanwhile you get the answer of, "Unknown."
'Does Amadey remember anything of his crimes that brought him to the First Prison?'
"No."
He probably doesn't even remember anything... Perhaps he doesn't even remember the fact he's been there for millions of years?
He expects he's going to get a rather similar answer out of this, but he may as well ask.
'When was Firanze Firunze Faranza of Golden Way brought to the First Prison?'
Meanwhile, his avatar speaks up.
"I feel like we ought to involve Vel Custos in any discussion we have around this. In my opinion, if the prisoners don't even remember the crimes they committed, then they should be given a chance to live a better life." He says. "But we need to have a discussion about what to do with prisoners that do and how to navigate it."
"48,935,393 years ago."
"I agree," Jetina says right away, "Any crimes they committed would have long ago been paid for. Or if they are truly unpardonable, then at least send them back to the Lower Planes."
"If they remember nothing, they're blank slates," Sylvie observes, "Let them develop well."
Moore dismisses the spell for now.
"So how do you all want to proceed?" Moore asks. "I think another foray into the Prison is worth it, and perhaps we should invite Vel Custos this time?"
"I'm against it," Sylvie says, "If I'm being honest, we have better things to do than a task that could take us generations."
"We should do something," Jetina immediately disagrees, "Though Sylvie has a point that we'll be tangled in it and daemon politics for a long time if we do."
Meanwhile Xandra listens before, "What is right? That will be the answer to our question, Moore. Nothing less and nothing more."
Sylvie doesn't quite roll her eyes, but her expression says a lot along those lines. "I'm all for helping them, but this is not going to be quick, it is not going to be easy and we will not be left alone for it."
"Sylvie, I agree with your reasons for opposition." Moore says with a smile. "But given what you know about me and my past, and the past that led me to where I am today, how do you think I feel about a place that strips you of all of your memories and still leaves you in a place where you have no chance to ever become a better person?"
Sylvie crosses her arms, blows out a long breath and closes her eyes, "Of course," she says at last, "Like a dog with a bone here."
A bright smile and a grin. "Besides, we might find some lost knowledge there." He says. "You should be all for that."
Hello Vel Custos, do you have time to stop by Hope's Landing? We wish to speak to you about the First Prison.
'I will make myself available at your convenience.'
We await your arrival.
With that, Moore will go wait at the entrance as is the proper thing to do when you ask someone to come over.
As you go, Sylvie follows. "To follow up," she says as you walk out, past your servants, past those seeing to things. Past Grias too, who flutters past and telekinetically carries several dozen books with him. "Besides this, what are your current goals?"
"We have a lot to do." Moore says. "I want to wait to go to that awful Cathedral of Shar's until we have the Wheel completed so we have it available in case of an emergency. Other than that, we probably ought to start taking a more active role in opportunities against her. We got a bit of a bloody nose with the matter with Mask, but... well, I think that was unavoidable, given the circumstances. We might even turn up some leads with this operation."
"We had no chance there, we just didn't know it going in," Sylvie agrees, "We could have been more cautious, but hindsight is perfect." She reaches the gate with you and awaits, leaning against one of the walls. "The problem is that Shar can well send an avatar or worse when we meddle, and we're high profile enough now that it makes sense for her to. So we need to be both intelligent and effective."
Moore nods. "We can handle an avatar of hers when we're not fighting on her own territory, I think. We didn't do that badly for it when we were, anyway." Moore says. "However, we should probably start working on some specialized counters to her. I know it isn't possible, but it's too bad 21 isn't an option. I think there are a variety of paths for us forward, we just have to pick one and stick with it. There's plenty of Creation left unexplored."
"21," Sylvie reflects, "It's not worth it. If there's any lesson to be learned from my time with it, it's not worth it."
Moore smiles and nods. "I think you're right. I wonder if we should pursue the matter behind the planar... I don't know what the right word is." Moore says. "The planes themselves have a will that i think Shar has been able to tap into... but I think the plane of Shadow isn't doing it willingly. I wonder..."
He glances out across the planes of Lunia. "The will of the plane of Celestia..." He glances up towards the light. "...Is that just the same as yours, I wonder?" He murmurs.
"Many questions, few answers," Sylvie says as people come and go, but a bare bit of divine will provides both privacy and a lack of interruptions. "But you'd be happier without my opinion."
Moore grins at Sylvie. "If I didn't value your opinion, among other things, I wouldn't have kept hoping to find you one day. You're the logical counterpoint to my belief in hope - the reality of the harshness of Creation, just like Xandra is the wisdom of the unseen, and Cresiel is the worried parent."
"The funniest part?" Sylvie says wryly, "There's plenty of love and mercy in Creation to counter that harshness. The problem is that it's matched by cruelty and evil. Plus like reality, I have a habit of punching things in the face when it isn't expected."
"There is. Too bad love and mercy isn't going to work on Shar." Moore says. "But we'll find a way. It may just involve punching her, though."
"I look forward to it," Sylvie smiles rather tightly, "She has a lot of punches to the face coming."
"She does." Moore affirms. "More than we have fists for. But we just have to find a way." He says. "I wonder if any Sharrans are in the Prison. I guess we'll find out."
It's not long. Vel Custos arrives in a blur of magic and kneels, not a word said, merely awaiting your leave.
Moore nods and will invite him inside!
Once settled in, he will show him the two prisoners they have and tell him what they know about them.
"It's... troubling." Moore says. "What do you know about that place?"
"Very little, though Lord Barachiel recently informed me of some details," Vel Custos replies once the three of you are somewhere more private, a comfortable little room. "If they are truly shorn of their memories and have no innate inclination towards evil?" A pause and a thought, "Allow them to live freely on Lunia. Those who come to us from the Styx and cannot be restored partake of this strategy."
"There's no point in treating them like a prisoner if there's no malice in them," Sylvie listens.
"Just so," Vel Custos bows his head to this words momentarily. "My work is for those who remember their sins. Those washed so completely anew are more than adequately served by life on Lunia."
"Well, there's... quite a few of them there who still remember, at least, there were the last time we were there." Moore says. "Ancient horrors and yet things even more unspeakable. I... am not personally of the opinion that they should stay in that place forever. Even a devil... a demon, a daemon, does not deserve to be shorn of who they are over infinite millennia and reduced to some sort of husk that is barely even a thing. Should we be able to bring any back here, do you have an opinion as to whose care they go to?" He asks.
"Ultimately, I do not simply wish to bring you thousands of prisoners just for the sake of saving them from that fate. This is... going to be a big operation - honestly, we may not even be able to ever accomplish it, the First Prison may literally be infinite." He says.
"In my opinion, those down there that are not captives are exactly where they need to be," Vel Custos speaks plainly, "They did not end up in a Lower Plane after death without a good reason. Rescue the souls who were unjustly taken there and let whatever torment comes to the wicked come to the wicked. Every willing fiend, every soul accursed through their own actions bears deep sins that were bought through the suffering of others."
"Let those who truly wish to repent come to us," Vel Custos goes on, "But my heart does not quail for those who earned it, or those who rose from the primal evil of those places. Leave them in the care of the torment they deserve. In the end, being rendered to nothing is a kinder fate than many of them deserve."
Sylvie listens to that, a half smile on her face. "And yet you have a reputation as a believer in rehabilitation and purification."
"For those that are willing to," Vel Custos says, "Were a fiend to come to me and ask for it, I would not deny them. Those are the exceptions. For every Lady Antenora there are untold millions of schemes to allure the unwise, or those who forget wisdom in favor of hope. Lady Sylvie speaks of my own work - and know well that while I work with many, I fail far more often than I succeed, and to many times over with fiends." Here the Authority of Wardens turns to Moore, "I can provide a chance, but I cannot make them take it."
Moore nods. "I... don't agree fully with the idea of leaving them there forever, but I..." Here he closes his eyes for a moment, as he thinks about something and pauses for a moment.
He opens his eyes to continue, "I suppose even in my own sins of the past, I tried to amend them at some point. There is a great deal to be said of the difference between good and evil in that regard - there's a reason there are no spells which simply force an evil creature to be good... that isn't how 'being good' works. I understand where you come from in this."
He clears his throat. "With that said, though... I believe the powers that kept the fiends there to be weakening in some capacity, or perhaps I am simply stronger now than I was before... it could be one, both, or neither. I worry that the defenses of that place lay dormant in the absence of the warden. If I find that to be true, I may speak to the Hebdomad of installing our own there to prevent the demons, devils and their ilk from taking any out." Moore says.
"As you will," Vel Custos says, no argument to your words. "Though I believe a serious detachment to Carceri to be madness."
"Considering the local conditions, I agree," Sylvie points out, "We're beyond such things Moore, but remember that the plane entraps those who go there, good or evil. It's not something to be done lightly."
"Just because something is difficult doesn't mean it isn't worth doing." Moore says with a smile. "But let's take stock of what is there first, figure out what we can, then see if there's any merit in dealing with it."
Okay, quick OOC check on what your plans are here.
Before we go, we're going to go pick up the treasures that our prisoners mentioned. It should be a pretty painless endeavor since we have exact astral coordinates of them.
We don't have to figure out what to do with them right now, but I at least want to grab them before anyone else does.
Sure, list them and which one first.
-Ring of Three Spheres on the astral first
-Sacrifices for the Ring (or rescue them) second
Cool, prep and who is going?
Hit up the Blessing Stone. Me, Sylvie, Cresiel. This should be short.
It sits in an empty part of the Astral. A black wood and gold chest, closed and nothing remotely around it. It floats in the air, completely untouched. It's quiet here, no threats from the Silver Sea in the least.
Take 10 for 118 on Spellcraft, Arcane Sight. Is it trapped or anything? Also can I identify the magic on the Ring inside or us it shielded by the box?
The box's contents are shielded, but it's not trapped.
He will open it with the command word to see what the fuss is about!
Same checks on whatever is inside.
Within on a silk pillow sits a golden ring, polished. There are gemstones set into the ring in regular intervals, but they are gray and colorless.
Same checks again, as stated. 118 Spellcraft, Arcane Sight. What is this thing and how horrible is it?
It's an unfinished magical item. If finished it would have the power to capture souls and draw power from them.
"Well, this is awful." Moore says as he shuts the box and puts it away. "I'll have Will look at this and see if we can make it not awful."
Thus he will take them to the next coordinates to likely save whoever these sacrifices are.
It's a simple stone building that floats in Astral. Little more than a stone cube with doors hewn into it.
Moore will go inside! Or open the doors if needed. If they're locked then he will just make an entrance.
It's not hard to go in - you can just make one. Once inside you see dozens of mortals, each one deeply asleep and unresponsive. They're lined up one after another, unmoving and unresponsive.
"Disgusting." Moore says. "Let's get them all back to Hope's Landing and we can get them to their home planes. If we need to send some agents to their planes or primes to deal with whoever captured them we can do that as well."
"It will be done," Cresiel agrees as you do just that. Next move as he sorts that mess out?
The ring can wait for right now. It's probably time for them to decide who's going to go to the First Prison since they may be there a while. Anyone specifically want to go?
I'm also fine pushing the actual going part until next week if you'd rather not get started on it tonight.
Agreed, I don't want to start that so let's hash out who goes. Anyone you want to go, first o fall? Sylvie doesn't really agree but feels obligated to go for the sake of bringing Moore back down to earth as needed.
Considering we may have to beat some sense into some things there, Kaja is probably not a bad choice. So Maybe Sylvie, Kaja and Xandra so we have a pretty good spread of things.
That works. Any prep?
None in particular - we'll use the Blessing Stone but for the most part we know how to get to where we need to with minimal attention to ourselves.
Alright then, we'll pick this up next week. Go ahead and reply so I know it's my post come that.
Roger that.
Thus Moore, Sylvie, Kaja and Xandra return.
When you appear in Carceri once more, you find a pressure against you. It doesn't last more than a few moments, but it's like everything around you pushed inward against you. Like being smashed into a small, dark space without mercy.
"Carceri says hi," Sylvie declares with a note of quiet contempt in her voice.
"Let it try," Kaja bares his teeth, "Let it try."
"If we must, I can deal with it." Moore says.
He will proceed onwards, but some bardic music inspires them as they move.
Inspire Heroics for everyone, +20 morale bonus to saves and +20 dodge to AC for the trip along.
How long does that last? Also gimme a d100.
10 minutes. I can redo it as needed on the trip over.
[12:12] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[12:12] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=5 ]{5}
It's a relatively quiet trip over - perhaps none dare. You return to the First Prison, and it awaits you seemingly unchanged.
"So, how do you want to approach this?" Moore asks as he flies towards the entrance. "We can go floor-by-floor and see if there's any correlation to the length of time versus how deep in the Prison they are." He says. "When we were here last, there were those who knew me, so they must've been recently brought here. I don't know if there's any rhyme or reason to it... we should also be careful since there could be... an infinite amount of prisoners here."
He shakes his head. "Be aware that once we enter we can't communicate outside of here, so we're on our own for a while unless something else has changed about this place." He reminds them.
"I suggest magic to read minds first," Sylvie says, "Once we get a good idea of any overlying trends we can plan better."
"If there's none?" Xandra asks back.
"Then we make it up as we go along, best we can," Sylvie responds, "Not much other choice."
Moore nods and will proceed in and follow to the first prisoners they find!
We can divine will up some detect thoughts amped a bit type of magic I'd imagine for the purposes of this. Since everything should be asleep there shouldn't be any resistance.
That works. What exactly are you going to try to get out of them?
Let's go like this:
-Do they remember their names?
-How long have they been here?
-What crimes did you commit?
-if the answer to any of those is 'I don't know' we'll magic up Divination to answer who they are and how long they've been here. We'll see if there's any sort of correlation with this floor's prisoners.
During this I'll be taking 10 for 123 on any Knowledge checks that are needed to identify them.
A dwarf, a tiefling and then a goblin. None know their names or anything else - blank, empty. Divinations provide the information of the first two, but not the third. Each has been here millions of years.
"Millions of years." Moore says. "What even is the purpose of this place? It isn't rehabilitation, its just endless punishment." He says. "Let's go down a floor and see if it's any different here."
Assuming we don't run into anything in our way, we'll proceed on and down a level and see if the results are any different.
Actually, side question, have we seen any of those chain-type guardians around at all or is it just devoid of everything but prisoners?
It's devoid.
Same thing on the next floor, too.
Any significant differences in the years on the second floor?
We'll proceed onward regardless.
Okay, d100.
[14:49] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[14:49] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=66 ]{66}
Spooky!
Same thing on the second floor - no changes to casual testing. After a few you all get together, "Clearly this has gone on a long time," Xandra declares, "Who can understand the mind of such strange beings?"
"I imagine the Guardian was sent here to learn about punishment." Moore says. "I wonder if this places' name is actually true - I wonder if it was the very first prison in Creation. Let's keep going until we find something different. Regardless, we will be taking all of them back eventually."
Above - from the floors above, a sound carrying unnaturally far. A thump. A metal shod foot hitting the ground. Footsteps?
"It's-" Kaja stops, swords drawn, "Something's moving back above us."
"There was one missing." Moore says. "That one in the metal armor. We should investigate just to be safe." He says.
Back they go!
As you head back to the stairs up, you can hear the footsteps coming closer, towards that stairway as well. No effort to hide, a simple and inexorable approach.
Moore will simply wait, then, since whatever it is seems to be coming!
Sylvie steps in front of you as does Kaja, ready, while Xandra stays back with you.
"Ready yourself," she warns softly, "This may well be a battle."
Moore simply nods, quiet words of power to bolster them.
Inspire Courage and Inspire Heroics.
Immunity to charm and fear effects and a +24 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
+20 morale bonus to saves and +20 dodge to AC
It comes down the spiral stairs. A looming thing of metal, man sized but moving with purpose. Empty eyes, the creature advancing without care or concern. It is covered in carved metal armor, plain but thick.
"A golem?" Kaja asks, "But why?"
"A failsafe, maybe?" Moore asks. "Hello?" He calls out.
No response. It's approaching, slow and inexorable.
Init.
Supreme for Moore, everyone else gets +17.
[roll][22:10] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+28 Xandra
[22:10] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+28 Xandra --> [ 1d20=12 ]{40}
[22:10] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+18+17 Kaja
[22:10] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+18+17 Kaja --> [ 1d20=20 ]{55}
Is it even really coming for us or just coming down the stairs? We can't really tell, right?
You can't really tell, in case this influences your actions. Go ahead and go, I'll roll init for the other two after that.
'Down the stairs, we don't know if it's actually hostile. If it isn't, let's just follow it.' Moore says to the others.
To be clear you're at the bottom of the stairs already, it's coming down them.
Oh, I thought we went up a bit. Okay. Is there enough space for us to move out of the way? If not we'll just fly up over it.
There is space, yes.
Then we will go to the side and see if it tries to club us uselessly.
The golem...walks by. No reactions, it simply marches on past the party with the way cleared.
"Any ideas how to tell who sent it or why?" Moore asks as he proceeds to go to follow it.
"It's magic immune," Sylvie focuses on it, "Strong too. My divinations just slid off it. Xandra?"
"...nothing. It's both apathetic to us and powerful. Could it be something the Guardian left behind?" Xandra asks as you keep pace behind it. "I can think of little that would resist divinations from us so lightly."
"Could be," Sylvie speculates as Kaja stalks it from behind, ready to strike at a moment's notice. "Or the work of who knows what monster's interested in this place now. There could be any number of demon lords, daemons or who knows what deities who sent a powerful servant here."
"Well, we'll see where it goes." Moore says. "I'm surprised it didn't interact with us, though."
"It makes as much sense as anything in this place," Kaja growls, "We all remember our first trip here."
"Yeah, but those -did- interact with us." Moore says.
He will trail after the golem and see how far it goes!
It goes to the top of the next set of stairs, then stops. It turns around and stands there, blocking the way forward.
"...Hello?" Moore calls out again. "What is your purpose here?"
There is no answer.
"You there?" Sylvie goes up and waves a hand in front of it. Still nothing.
Kaja pokes it with Gem. Not even a reaction.
"We'd like to pass, please." Moore says with a shrug to the others.
No reaction.
"Well, may as well chance it..." He says as he goes to fly up and over.
The golem's hand goes up to stop you. Then it drops and begins to walk back the way it came.
"...I'm so confused right now." Moore says. "...Maybe it only stops actual prisoners?"
"We capture it if we can safely," Sylvie says decisively.
Xandra glances over at her, "You think it could be something the Guardian made?"
"Possibly, and it might have powers nothing else has available," Sylvie decides, "Just in case that longshot comes home."
"I wonder if we can even harm it." Moore says. "Do you want to investigate it more now, or stick with our original plan and come back to it?"
"We may never see it again if we let it go now," Sylvie points out, "While all of this isn't going anywhere."
"Sure." Moore says. "Ideas?" He asks as he starts to go back after it. "We can't just walk it into a trap."
Sylvie gestures and a wall of force springs up to block it.
The golem promptly walks right through it, as if it wasn't there.
"That's an impressive immunity to magic," Xandra remarks as she begins to follow it, as Sylvie gestures again and the wall is gone. "Conjure something not subject to that next."
"Or just move something existing," Sylvie agrees.
"Oh, I can do that." Moore says as he gestures.
Divine will emulation of Major Creation. Let's just create a wall of adamantine in front of it.
I'm not sure you have the cubic feet to do it, but I'm gonna be honest, I assume a partial will work for these purposes so that'll do.
Some adamantine springs up and it goes through the barrier like it isn't there. Sylvie scowls, "No, something permanent. A major conjuration is temporary and not a true - nevermind."
Another wall appears, this one of pure stone. "There," Sylvie says, "Instant and now non magical."
Sure enough, that doesn't top the golem, either. It just walks through it like it isn't there.
Sylvie's gaze sharpens as she follows, walls vanished away in a moment.
"Oh, right, sorry, True Creation is the one I'm looking for isn't it?" He asks. "But I wonder if I should just use the Words?"
"Try it," Sylvie agrees.
"The reaction should be telling, though we'll see," Xandra says as Kaja keeps pace, but barely even brandishes his weapons now.
A breath in, out (that he doesn't need) as he speaks.
A jailer, jailed in his own prison.
Idea is to use Words of Creation to try and put a cage of... uh, I dunno what, but let's go with adamantine again around it.
Give me Charisma in this case, please.
[12:01] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+19+19+19 charisma
[12:01] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+19+19+19 charisma --> [ 1d20=6 ]{63}
The creature pauses before the wall that briefly appears - before it doesn't bother to challenge it. It steps around, space itself seeming to change to allow the impossible passage.
You know that sort of trickery, you've seen the spell Space Compression before. Same idea.
"...Well, okay, that's... not what I expected." Moore says. "But perhaps I should've expected something like that. But we know at least it can't just -completely- ignore solid objects..."
"Interesting, but not definitive," Sylvie remarks.
"Yes, I've seen others use that trick," Xandra seconds.
"Anything else to try?" Moore asks as he flies after it. "We could always try disabling it, but I don't know that that's the wise way to approach this."
Since the wall is there we do probably need to get rid of it, not sure if we can just fly over it or not. If not, he'll Divine Blast it out of the way.
One blast clears the way.
"Attacking it is a last resort," Sylvie says thoughtfully, "But can you think of anything else that might work?"
"Well, if our hypothesis that it only does anything about prisoners is correct, why don't we try and take a prisoner out and see if it will chase us? If it chases us out of the prison, we have more options." Moore says. "We'd have to get it far enough away from the Prison to do anything with it, but if we can get it to follow us, perhaps that's the answer? We could just... make it follow us back to Hope's Landing?"
"It's worth a try," Sylvie says as she goes to get one.
Meanwhie Kaja readies himself. Going to do anything to prepare?
Just in case we need to fight, he'll throw out the following:
Courage Immunity to charm and fear effects and a +24 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls (Swift)
Competence +16 morale bonus to Skill Checks
Heroics - 12x Aliies +20 morale bonus to saves and +20 dodge to AC
Celestial Valor - +8 sacred vs fear and emotion effects that would sap the will to fight, +4 sacred to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, armor class and saving throws, weapons count as holy (25m)
The songs will all last for 10 minutes.
Total bonuses:
+28 to attack
+28 to weapon damage
+24 to AC
+24 to Saves
Let's just grab one of the prisoners from a cell nearby and see if that provokes any sort of anything from the golem.
Noted.
The moment you come out, the golem stops. It does not move, but it faces you and the carried prisoner - in this case a half elf man.
"Well, we have its attention." Moore says. "Hello? Can you speak?" Moore waves at it.
If I said we are friends of the Guardian, does that cause you to do anything?
There is no reaction to that.
"I'm sure the Guardian had the ability to give it orders, but I don't think I could use my force of will to do that. I can try?" He asks with a look over at the others. "Or we can just try and go over it with the prisoner."
"Try," Xandra suggests, "What do you think?"
"Either way," Sylvie says, "But on the other hand, going over it might work. What do you have in mind, Moore?"
"I met the Guardian... well, the new one. The original had died." Moore says. "I wonder if... maybe, it's..." A breath in and out. "I remember its voice, and I just wonder if I can enact my will in some way. Actually..."
He steadies himself as his words empower the group.
Inspire Excellence - Everyone gets +18 competence bonus to Charisma.
He then looks at the golem as his voice changes - he sounds the same as the Guardian he met here. It may be a new voice to the others, but it sounds the same as that daemon who wasn't really a daemon at all.
"We are taking this prisoner. Allow us to pass and follow us." Moore says.
TL;DR:
Moore's attempting to use the Words of Creation here and his own bardic talent to enact his will on Creation in order to sound like the Guardian and effectively impersonate it. I have a feeling this won't work at all but I'm gonna try!
[15:00] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+54+19 charisma
[15:00] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+54+19 charisma --> [ 1d20=13 ]{86}
Indeed, there's no reaction at all.
"Looks like it's up and over." Moore says. "If it attacks, just keep moving. We know it can cross space like teleportation, but we'll just have to see what happens."
With that, he takes to the air to move over it!
With or without a prisoner?
With the prisoner.
The golem moves to block your escape, leaving the ground as if gravity means nothing.
"Really should've figured it could do that." Moore says as he slowly starts to move back the way they came with the prisoner to see if it will follow them or just go back down to the ground. "Ideas?"
It slowly follows, ensuring you can't escape in any way.
"Put the prisoner down?" Sylvie suggests, "It's not productive now."
Moore does just that, and then slowly backs away from the prisoner.
The golem goes still, no more advancement or movement.
"...It doesn't even take the prisoner back?" Moore asks. "None of this makes any sense. Do we just go over it, take another prisoner and then have it follow us? It can assuredly still get in front of us from any distance regardless..."
"Maybe it's broken. Maybe it's part of a greater system." Sylvie speculates. "Xandra?"
"Still nothing," Xandra confirms.
"If that's the case, then should we try and go deeper in?" Moore asks. "Maybe we could wrest control over it?" He says. "...Actually, the first time I was here, remember - when we tried to take prisoners out? There was a tangible force that stopped us. I wasn't strong enough at the time to deal with it. I wonder if I could... I don't know, take control over it with my will? I tried to emulate the Guardian before, but... maybe I just need to... I'm not quite sure what the right phrasing is here." He says. "But basically subdue the Guardian's original rules with my own or something? I can't say I deal with things that aren't bound by the rules of Creation very often. Well, that's a lie, I do, but regardless..."
"Your last try didn't do anything," Sylvie points out, "Awful lot of assumptions and hope in that."
Kaja keeps his gaze on the creature, "It's better than the alternative. This...thing never speaks. It just moves and does. Soulless."
"I'm nothing if not optimistic." Moore says with a smile. "Actually... I think I know. Let me try something..."
You're free.
[21:44] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+4 come on 20
[21:45] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+4 come on 20 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{19}
He's trying to use his divine will to "free" the golem from whatever the Guardian's original orders were. Basically same concept as when he tried (and failed) to take the prisoners out originally.
Nothing happens, perhaps predictably.
"Aw, I really thought that one would work, too." Moore says, the disappointment obvious. "If we want to do something with this, I think we need to find... the core of this place, if it even has one. But I have no idea how we'd do that, given that the person who controlled it is gone... but... surely, it left some failsafes or... something, right?"
A sigh. "It's not fun trying to solve a puzzle when the puzzle doesn't have any rules."
"You're left guessing and hope you don't go out of bounds," Sylvie agrees, "But whatever this is, it isn't enforcement. It's containment."
"Containment?" Kaja asks, a glance over at Sylvie.
"It keeps prisoners in, but it doesn't deal with intruders. It might be why we didn't see it before." Sylvie suggests.
"I wonder if it got activated because we took prisoners out?" Moore suggests. "Well, since we know it's not going anywhere and... well, quite frankly, I'm not too concerned with it getting beaten up while we explore, should we just keep exploring for now?"
"I think so," Sylvie finally says, "It's ignoring everything we do otherwise, and I still don't relish the idea of attacking it."
"Then onward," Xandra agrees, "Before anything else finds us."
Moore turns and will resume their journey down into the bowels of the First Prison!
They'll resume their cursory scan of prisoners as they go by if there's anything of any interest that jumps out at them.
Sure, Perception.
Take 10 for 125
Another floor, all the same.
Another floor, all the same.
Another floor, all the same.
"No variance, no sign of an end," Kaja growls, "How many poor souls did it collect? Millions?"
"Assuredly." Moore says. "But... we'll give them all a better life. Somehow or another." He promises. "No one deserves this."
"What's left of their lives," Xandra notes quietly, "I suspect all of them won't remember anything. Blank slates, almost one and all."
"A mercy," Sylvie disagrees, "After all of this, let them forget and be reborn. Like those victimized by the River Styx. Like Jessica, Alicia's sister. You met her and look how she turned out."
"There's hope for everyone here." Moore says. "I wonder if there's some... room or something, where the Guardian oversaw the place from. That'd likely be too easy, but... well, for now, let's just keep going. I'm curious if anything about this place is different without it here."
I hate when I miss someone to post. Apologies.
"A Guardian wouldn't need that sort of place,' Xandra points out, "So it's highly unlikely."
It's all good.
"They wouldn't. But there has to be something... or... maybe we need to create it?" He asks. "I wonder if this place is like a plane and has some kind of will?" He suggests. "It might've been created by a Guardian, but they still have to follow SOME rules of Creation..."
A glance to the side of one of the prisons. "I wonder if when they left if they might've left anything behind..."
"I think the point of the Guardians is that they're outside of Creation's rules except as the Incarnation of Balance limited them," Sylvie disagrees, "But maybe we'll get lucky. Want to keep searching?"
"Given the unique circumstances here, I think we may find something." Moore says as he proceeds.
Just in case you need it...
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 69, total 69[/blockquote]
Take 10 on Perception 125 in case too
Another level, still the same.
Another level, still the same.
Another level, still the same.
You come to a different place. An empty courtyard full of chains and cages. Here thousands of cages can be seen. In each one is a monstrous thing, a mountainous demon. In each cage is a balor, rage and fury held back by steel and will. Fires burn in each cage from the demon's wrath, yet not a speck of heat escapes.
Were you mortal, you know you would flee. That the fear, hatred and raw evil here is unearthly. In every moment and every breath evil cascades around you, a raw chant to kill, to maim, to destroy, to take.
Sylvie grimaces and braces herself.
Kaja readies his swords.
"Be strong. Great evil is here, but we are here as well. We will triumph." Xandra declares, speaking loudly and projecting her voice. "Be not afraid."
"Interesting." Moore says. "An entire floor for one type of creature?" A shake if his head as he proceeds forward.
"It's like she said - we have no reason to fear this." And with that said he flies on, a determined look on his face.
He's faced worse than this before - he will face it again.
Glares. So many glares. Yet not a one can escape their cage or attack you. The four of you progress to the far side of this space, where stairs going further down are found.
Divine immunities saved you all a very unhappy time.
I'm sure there's worse waiting.
Moore proceeds down the stairs, these horrors left behind for now.
"I have an idea if we don't come across anything." He says. "I don't know if it will work here or not, but we can try it if needed." He says. "For now let's keep going and see where we end up."
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 46, total 46[/blockquote]
Just in case you need another.
This next floor is frigid. Ice everywhere, not a scrap of heat. Brutal and unearthly cold, cells frozen over with thick coats of ice. It's like the previous floor, a hall that stretches on seemingly impossibly far and long.
Moore continues along. "Prisoners that have to be frozen?" He asks aloud.
"Who knows what?" Sylvie glances over at them, "It might be, or it might be something else."
For now, he continues on.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 63, total 63[/blockquote]
In case it's needed.
Another frozen floor.
Another frozen floor.
Another frozen floor.
A stairwell with twenty separate stairways, each one going sharply down a different tunnel.
Moore glances over at Xandra. "I have a feeling we have to trust this to chance." Moore says.
"Twenty," Xandra take a breath out, "Far more than I hoped."
"Far less than I feared," Sylvie remarks back, "I agree, pick one and hope for the best. We can always come back."
Moore takes the first to the left!
You go down the stairs. At the bottom is a doorway, closed shut.
Moore looks around for magic on the door before he attempts to just open it!
Take 10 for 140 on Spellcraft, Arcane Sight as well.
There's no magic, but the door does seem to be locked.
Well, isn't it good that there's a spell for locked doors?
Divine will for an amped up Knock spell, whatever an amped up Knock spell even is.
CL check in this case.
[21:25] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+41
[21:25] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+41 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{50}
It takes a few moments, but the door pops ajar.
Now, Moore opens it!
It opens up into the front entrance of the First Prison, which lies ahead of you through the doorway.
"I'd say that this doesn't make any sense, but..." Moore says as he shuts the door. He does test opening it again to see if it goes somewhere else.
Nope, same place.
"But we may as well throw sense out the window," Sylvie agrees.
"Indeed. Still, why is this here?" Moore asks as he shuts it again and heads back up to try Stairway #2. "I mean, the Guardian wouldn't ever have used it... but maybe it was a shortcut for its creations or something?"
"I have no idea," Kaja growls, "It might be?"
You go to another stairway. It leads to an identical locked door that opens in the same way. You open it and...another passage to the front entrance of the First Prison, except intense heat comes out from this door when open.
"...Oh dear." Moore says as he stands at the opening. "...What if these are all... different prisons?"
There's silence until Kaja manages one word to sum that up.
"Fuck."
Sylvie takes a long breath, "...it would explain...and maybe you never go into the same one from the entrance?"
Moore puts a hand up to his head and rubs at his temple.
"But... hm." Moore huffs once. "Why would this be necessary? The Guardian absolutely could simply create one place with infinite space." He says. "But maybe it's like you say, Sylvie, and it's so that anyone who did come in here wouldn't have any sort of idea of what the real layout is, because it was different every time."
A shake of his head again. "Let's check the others out. If they're all the same... well, it's still more information than we had before."
Plan will be to go back and try #3.
Three is the same, only without the heat from the entrance this time.
"Isn't this just the same as the first one?" Moore asks. "Does this feel any different to you, Xandra?"
"It's not quite the same," Xandra finally says, "I'm not sure how, but I can tell it's different."
"Thin, but good enough. I trust Xandra," Sylvie crosses her arms under her chest, a long breath out before she releases her pose and starts to adjust her bracers. "You know, a Guardian could probably even create creatures to inhabit its prison, if it felt the need and wasn't forbidden."
"That's my fear, that countless souls reside here purely by one being's will," Xandra confesses softly, "And if this is right and it's twenty more prisons, what if those have more prisons attached to them, like a descending set of tree's roots that split into more and more as you go deeper?"
"If that's the case, then we could really be here forever." Moore says. "But I think what we should focus on is just trying to find out what we can for now. We need to find some way to either wrest control of this place away from..." Moore trails off.
He looks down and starts digging in his bag. He definitely kept it, right?
"Hold on." He says. "I think I forgot I had something important."
He's looking for the broken dagger that he used way back when he was here with the Guadian. The key too, actually.
https://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,104397.1020.html
The one he used to put everything here to sleep, and that broke on the noose.
Both are as they were before. However, the key feels like it moves in your hand, as if vibrating.
"I'm so stupid." Moore says. "He gave me the tools we need, and I just never realized it."
Moore holds the key up and out away from himself - does it feel like the vibration is getting strong in any particular direction, or pulling him in any particular way?
Sylvie looks on curiously but adds, "Well, the first step is admitting the problem."
"Sylvie," Xandra's voice has a note of chastisement in it.
Kaja just smiles.
Meanwhile, the key is not pulling you in any direction or vibrating differently in any direction.
"I think there's some saying about glass houses and stones, too." Moore says with a smile as he turns towards the door they have opened. He shuts it and then looks to see if there's an actual keyhole on it or not.
If there is, he will try and put the key into it!
There is no keyhole.
Moore tries putting the key up to the door.
"If this doesn't work, let's just keep looking." Moore says. "It's clearly reacting to something, but I don't know what."
Nothing happens.
"Let's just keep going for now." Moore says. "Maybe it'll react when we get close to something."
Where are you going then?
Back up, then try #4.
Four is the same, except the walls are old and pitted there, notably weathered by time.
"...Interesting." Moore says. "What do you all want to do? Keep checking each of these?" He asks. "I think it may be better to go back and see if we can find somewhere to actually use this key."
"I think so," Sylvie agrees, "We can navel gaze at all of these, but I don't think we'll see anything that useful with all of them."
"This might lead us to more answers anyway." Moore says as he heads back up to the main stairwell - then attempts to go back the way they came, keeping an eye on the key to see if anything changes about it when they're on the move.
You mean back up to the beginning, right?
Yes, back towards the entrance, through the freezing room and the Balor room.
Your trip back to the entrance takes some time, but is otherwise uneventful.
"I kind of expected something to happen on the way." Moore says as they approach the golem.
"Well, time to test theory number two..." He says as he holds the key up and out to it.
Nothing happens that you can discern.
"Well, I'm out of ideas." Moore says as he glances at the prison cages. Do those have any obvious keyholes?
Nope.
"It must have use somewhere," Sylvie says slowly, thinking aloud perhaps. "But we have who knows how much to search to find it."
"Maybe not this one, but another one?" Moore asks. "It's possible."
He looks at the broken dagger.
"I doubt this will work, but..." He murmurs as he musters his divine will.
He's casting Find the Path to the location the key should be used, but using the dagger as a focus for it.
CL check.
[22:07] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+44 CL
[22:07] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+44 CL --> [ 1d20=1 ]{45}
I mean he can't fail on a one, so there's that!
Nothing happens.
"Hm." Moore says. "Well, let's go back and check the other halls down first and see if there is actually 20 other prisons. Maybe we'll just find a door with a lock on it."
Let's go all the way back! This time Door #5.
After yet more walking and flying?
Door five is another prison entrance, this one seemingly identical to the first.
Moore will continue on to check the next, and next and next!
If it saves you time you can just do numbers 6-10.
In that case, Fortitude save.
[22:29] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+92 mettle, Moore
[22:29] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+92 mettle, Moore --> [ 1d20=7 ]{99}
[22:35] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+66+29 Xandra
[22:35] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+66+29 Xandra --> [ 1d20=12 ]{107}
[22:35] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+36+29 Kaja
[22:35] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+36+29 Kaja --> [ 1d20=19 ]{84}
[22:35] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+51+29 Sylvie
[22:35] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+51+29 Sylvie --> [ 1d20=1 ]{81}
As you begin to walk back, you feel a moment of disorientation.
"...Did anyone else feel that?" Moore asks as he comes to a stop.
"Yes," Kaja and Xandra say at precisely the same time.
"I did too," Sylvie says, "Now what?"
Take 10 on 123 on K:A and 118 on Spellcraft, anything I can identify from what happened?
Nothing you can discern.
"We won't learn anything by just leaving, and this isn't a place that we're going to be able to learn anything about except here." Moore says. "For now, we proceed on. If things seem like they're getting worse and worse, then we will adjust what we need to do."
He will refresh Inspire Heroics for the bonus to saves and Inspire Excellence for the bonus to Charisma (and bonus to saves and everything else.
"No sense but to go forward," Sylvie agrees, as you all go on.
Heading back down?
That is correct. We will go back to the stairwell if we can.
You return to the stairwell with yet more walking, but no threats, either.
Moore nods and heads down the 6th stairway.
We'll continue in order, 6 through 10 unless something of interest happens on the way.
On checking the sixth one, you find that door is instead locked - with a keyhole, even.
"I've stopped trying to understand this place." Moore says as he attempts to put the key in it and see if it fits!
If it does, he will see if it unlocks the door, then open it.
"Six. Demonic numerology? We are in a Lower Plane," Sylvie notes, "Or it could mean nothing at all."
"No way to know due to the Guardian," Xandra says as you put the key in. It fits and unlocks the door."
"I doubt it has any particular meaning." Moore says. "I don't think the Guardian was interested in numerology."
He takes the key out just in case and opens the door, curious to see if what's behind it is just another prison.
It leads to another stairwell going down. This one is dark and only lit by a few torches that burn away.
"Nothing for it except to go forward." Moore says as he proceeds on down the stairs!
Take 10 for Perception for 125, Spellcraft for 118 and K:A for 123 as we go. Arcane Sight is up.
[21:20] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[21:20] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=6 ]{6}
In case you need a roll.
There's absolutely no magic here. It may as well be a dead magic area for all the nothing you detect.
At the bottom of the stairs is a room. Unremarkable to your eyes, dull save for one feature. An over sized lever, a plain bit of parchment attached to it.
Moore will fly over to read the parchment, frowning as to what he thinks it might say.
It reads simply: "Your reward. You won't be able to keep any of them, but they'll be freed. It's your choice."
"There's not a doubt in my mind as to what we do here." Moore says as he holds the paper out to them. "But I don't think it's a decision we can unilaterally make."
Sylvie reads it. "Sounds like we give up the resources we'd get from them. Still worth it. We're not fiends who hoard souls."
Kaja reads it next, "I agree. However, does that mean all of them should be freed? There are monsters here, things that should stay sealed."
"I think it means we just don't get to keep any souls or... something?" Moore says. "I don't know. But I think, even if we return evil to the world... there are so many here who are unjustly stuck. Even good people."
'Is the good we'll do worth the bad?" Sylvie reckons, "Can we even discern that? Who knows how much time this will take, and what and who will come in the interim?"
"That is the question." Moore says. "But I think the question I ask is, how long has this Prison been here, and what percentage no longer deserve it? I think it's high enough that it warrants the possibility we unleash great evil, as we'll be releasing those who no longer deserve to be here. There are also those who may be good who will return as well."
"It's your choice, Moore. Sylvie's correct, we don't know enough to make a reasoned judgment."
"In other words, it was left for you so it's your choice." Kaja concludes, "What will you choose?"
"No one deserves to be here forever." Moore says as he goes over to pull the lever. "If we unleash great evils back into Creation, then we deal with them. It's simple."
The lever is slightly stuck. You'll need to grab it and give it a full, deliberate pull.
Moore grabs the lever with both hands and gives it a full, deliberate pull!
[22:39] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+7+15+4
[22:39] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+7+15+4 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{38}
Strength check if needed.
The lever is pulled.
Slowly all around you dissolves. In a moment you stand on empty ground in Carceri. All around you souls fly free, a storm of them more millions (billions? trillions?) than you can count. Motes and wisps of light, pure souls and pure awarenesses freed to go where they wish. Like a storm that reaches higher than you can see, farther and deeper as well. In instants they fly far and wide. To here and every plane, a barrage of them let free. It happens in mere instants, in defiance of all rules and logic. Afterwards there is simply nothing.
Moore watches this, as he casts his arms wide as if speaking to an audience that can't be seen.
Let today mark the day that Carceri saw hope for the first time!
Let those freed from this prison be reborn into Creation, absolved of their crimes they no longer remember.
Let the good and evil that was imprisoned here be released forevermore.
The souls here are freed, flying about and around. It's a momentary storm and afterwards is peace.
"It's done," Sylvie comes forward after the Guardian's last will is executed. "Feel better?"
"Of course I do." Moore says. "We did something no one else in Creation will ever be able to match. I daresay even other deities have never seen as many souls freed today as we have. Don't you feel good about this?"
"Some. I have a half formed hunch it's zero sum. Not what you did, but the balance of good and evil souls," Sylvie says, "Nothing I can prove, it just seems like something the Guardian would do."
"It is entirely possible." Moore says. "Regardless, our business is concluded here."
Moore will try and get them back home, assuming that there's no longer anything preventing them from doing so!
It's easy enough to home. Once there, "Moore," Xandra declares, "Come with me."
Moore will do as requested!
Once lead, you head to the light. Above Hope's Landing, the light of Chronias bright.
"Moore," Xandra begins, quietly.
Moore waits in silence to hear what this is about - although he knows he'd being judged for the decision he just made!
Somehow Xandra looks faintly cross, then openly embarrassed as a blush comes to her cheeks.
"I apologize, that was not my intent," Xandra declares. "That was not the tone I wanted for this."
"Oh!" Moore says with some surprise.
"I just figured... well, you know." He says with a gesture. "But please, speak your mind. I know this is serious, one way or another." He smiles, gesturing at her. "Your words are not spoken unless they need to be."
"The light of Chronias is everything right and important in Creation, Moore. Why would I not seek it?" Xandra asks. "It is, but not in the way you imagine."
Moore simply nods. "Is this about your mission?" He asks.
"No, more..." Xandra pauses a moment, "I understand why you freed them all," she says at last. "Any reservations I had about it faded when I understood that it was ultimately undefendable for us, and a prize beyond reckoning for fiends. To free them was necessary."
"Yet."
Xandra pauses here, "We have faced the mistake of the Gods in the Hecatoncheires. We have faced the cold logic of a Guardian and what mercy it deigned to give us." In a soft voice, "Can any of us wield power correctly without wisdom that eludes all but those who rest in Chronias?"
Moore smiles and reaches out to take Xandra's hand in both of his.
"Everyone makes mistakes. The difference is what you do with those mistakes - do you wallow in despair from the mistake or simply take it as experience and become a better person, for the sake of a better tomorrow?" He asks with a bright smile. "All we can do, all we can ever do, is do what we think is best to make tomorrow better for Creation. Even now, knowing that there are those with hope in their hearts that rest in Chronias gives me my reason to continue on."
A pause here as he gestures to the light. "Every day we make tomorrow better by doing what we do." He says as he gives her hand a gentle shake as if to reaffirm what he's saying.
Xandra smiles softly as you feel the connection between the two of you, renewed and strong.
Node update, go read. Note that she got epic paladin's spellcasting, which gives her access to 8th level paladin spells.
Got it.
"I really do need to do something with the power that we've gathered." He says with a bright smile. "Do you feel better now?"
"Yes," Xandra agrees, "Do you?"
"Of course." He verifies. "We not only set those souls free, but the Guardian is truly free of his duty now."
"Let's go," Xandra turns back to Hope's Landing, "Still more to do, even if this was another step forward."
"Yes, absolutely." He says.
Let's take the Ring of Three Spheres to Will and see if he can discern if we can do anything good with it - it may have souls inside it as well we need to release.
Refresh me what you already figured out about it?
"It's an unfinished magical item. If finished it would have the power to capture souls and draw power from them."
Thus you take it to Will and...
Go ahead and set up how you want to approach this.
"I'd like to better understand this." Moore says. "Can this be repurposed in some way so it isn't... well, drawing on the power of souls? Could we enable it to draw on something else - to effectively become a completely different type of magic item?" He asks.
"Like, say, could we have it draw on our own strength somehow to empower it?" He suggests. "Not necessarily our soul, but... I know there are some items that are strong because they're 'part' of someone, they've effectively bonded with them."
"No," Will says at last, "It is too focused on its task." Will speaks aloud, slow and thoughtful. "It is something the light here would revile."
"So there's nothing to be done with this?" Moore clarifies. "I just want to be sure - it's fine to destroy it, I just want to be certain."
"Yes," The answer is straightforward.
Moore nods. "Thank you." He says. "Speaking of, is there anything you can think of that would strengthen what you are?"
"...I will consider it," Will says after a moment's pause. "I am not certain."
Moore nods. "Please, let me know if there's anything I can do for you. I realize that... amenities may not be something you're necessarily interested in, but I'd like to give you as much freedom as you choose to have." He says.
Since I've never actually destroyed a magical item before, would magic disjunction do it? If not, I guess a good old divine blast probably would?
A divine blast would generally destroy non artifacts, yes.
Moore takes the ring outside and throws it up into the air before sending a divine blast at it, assuredly large enough to destroy it!
The ring is consumed by it, nothing left behind in the aftermath.
One horror has been stopped before it could be born. Far many more remain.
Moore huffs.
Still, even with everything that's already happened today, it's time to go find Jetina and work on something she'd asked about for a while!
The armor?
That is indeed correct.
Okay, what's your plan there?
i don't think we have anyone on hand who's much of a crafter and I don't want to bother Elle, so let's take the crystal to Jovar.
Okay, if you're just handing it off and requesting a commission this can be done OOC. Details?
since it's for Jetina she can specify, but I think we should prioritize as much bonus to CL for healing as they can get.
Okay, that'll take just a little bit. As that's brewing up, next move?
Theres not much that is super pressing since a lot of our operations are waiting on the last Wheel piece.
I'm open to any new quest hooks, although I can also come up with something if needed.
Sure, if you have something I'm all ears.
It may be time to try and procure a Ring of Air Elemental Command for Crystalle. I've got Ideas.
https://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,104439.msg1187207.html#msg1187207
Let's get everyone together to discuss this possibility or if we need to try somewhere else.
Okay, go ahead and expo to set that up since you clearly have an idea here.
"I was going to suggest we send avatars, but... that's too soon to do so, I think." He admits after some consideration. "So I don't think we can manage to get in and get out like I had wanted to with this original plan. Sending Melia is an idea, but that has risks as well, especially for something we can find elsewhere, I think. Unless there are other objections?"
"To refresh, what are our mission goals here?" Kaja asks, "Get that ring from the Jangling Hiter?"
"Yes. I want to present something to Crystalle that I know he'd see value in. It's... I'm hedging bets a bit against Shar's influence on Grumbar." Moore explains.
"Then maybe we call in a favor with Aurora or...?" Jetina's quiet, "This one's tough."
"I think it's easier to simply try a location that isn't in Hell." Moore says. "We do still owe a favor to Bel, so I'd rather not cause any upset there for right now. One moment."
He will just cast Commune with Knowledge again. May as well try it like this and see if we get anything.
'Where is one place we find a Ring of Air Elemental Command that has been forgotten?'
"The Plane of Air."
That would make sense...
'Where on the Plane of Air is it located?'
"One can be found in the ruins of Earthfall."
K:P or whichever is relevant here for 123 for Earthfall in case it would help me ask other questions.
'What is the most likely source of danger we'd face in Earthfall?'
Earthfall is a location in Air that Aurora battled at before your time. It had to do with Baleruk and a dragon there, and his quest to become a prismatic dragon.
Noted! Will leave the question as it is then.
A proxy of Yan-C-Bin, along with many things that are no true danger to you.
A proxy that isn't guarded enough to be detected? Tsk tsk, Yan-C-Bin.
Moore's avatar reports this information to the others!
"I don't think Akadi would be thrilled if I got into it with him again, but if they oppose us then we'll deal with it." His avatar says. "Anything else we want to ask about this location?"
Meanwhile, he'll ask a question himself to maintain the spell.
'Are there any other items of note in Earthfall we could make use of?'
For the purposes of helping you so you don't have to wonder, just assume this is 'magic items or equipment we could make use of' or even artifacts (as if they're there, but still) rather than '+1 dagger'
"Keep going for now," Sylvie says as they all consult, "And I know Aurora picked it over when it was there, so it must be hidden."
The answer is simple: None.
May as well see if he can get a more specific part of it rather than 'somewhere'...
'Where can we find the ring in Earthfall?'
Entombed within the largest cave, within several dozen feet of thick stone and metal a room before the cave in.
'Is there any particular landmark we can look for to find this cave?'
Yes, the cave with the biggest entrance.
Thanks, Oghma.
Moore dismisses the spell, since he's not going to likely get any further information out of it.
"All right, we're not looking for anything else, thankfully." Moore says. "I wonder what the proxy is doing there? Well, if we run across them we'll just shoo them off if we have to." He adds. "This should be a short operation, so I don't think we all need to go - probably just me and two others. I also expect it to be rather boring." He warns with a bit a smile.
Sylvie rolls her eyes so hard that you're pretty sure the building just shifted.
Eyes turn to her while Kaja says, "It has to happen once in awhile."
"Perhaps it does," Sylvie agrees, "When that day comes, I'll rejoice."
"Ahem," Jetina clears her throat, "I'll go with you. Cresiel?"
"As you request," Cresiel rises, "The three of us."
"The three of us." Moore confirms. "We'll be back shortly."
Hit up the Blessing Stone for Epic Mage Armor (CL24), Mind Blank (CL17) and Afina's Perfect Sight (CL27).
Moore will throw out Inspire Heroics for 10 minutes of +20 dodge to AC and +20 morale bonus to saves. That should cover our basics.
He'll just aim for Earthfall with a Greater Plane Shift and we'll go from there.
It's a big area, aiming for anywhere in particular?
If Sylvie has a suggestion as to where the largest cave might be there, but otherwise we'll go the center and I can Lay of the Land it.
"One problem," Sylvie points out when you ask her about that. "The area's teleport blocked. I'm not sure if that changed after Aurora, but you may need to approach from outside of it."
Moore nods. "If we do we do." He says. "Any reason why? Was it just something that happened?"
"I believe it was the dragon's meddling, but it's before my time," Sylvie admits, "I don't think it's important, anyway."
Moore nods. He will try and Plane Shift them there regardless!
If it doesn't work, he'll go try a mile out - then two, until it works.
The first one fails, sure enough.
The second one does not. In the distance of Air you can see it. A great, broken heap of mountains and earth, shattered. It is clustered - hundreds and hundreds of air elementals surround it, a whipping windstorm felt even from here. Dust is sent flying, broken apart.
"Interesting." Moore says. "We may have to deal with that proxy whether we want to or not. But let's try and avoid them if we can."
Moore will cast Moore's Marvelous Invisibility on the three of them and then continue on. We may as well try and do this stealthy-like!
In that case give me Stealth checks, oh pixie.
Take 10 for Moore.
Moore: 75
[12:22] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+48 Cresiel
[12:22] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+48 Cresiel --> [ 1d20=9 ]{57}
[12:22] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+37 Jetina
[12:22] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+37 Jetina --> [ 1d20=6 ]{43}
Hopefully the magic is enough!
You come closer - you see that the grit and rubble from it spreads outward like a sandstorm. You can first feel it as you get within a half mile or so. It doesn't feel painful, you're far too tough for that, but it's going to send grit everywhere and potentially over all of you.
Moore will create a bubble of force via alter reality around the three of them - it's invisible too so it shouldn't be an issue to be noticed.
Do I see anything within four miles that I would note as the 'largest cave'?
Yes, one huge, gaping cavern entrance on the largest chunk still intact.
'I see it. It's this way.' He sends to the others.
Since they can't see each other he will give them directions and guide them towards it!
As you come closer, you find your sphere of force buffers the windstorms. It's enough to let you sneak into that entrance, only a few elementals around. No sign of being noticed yet.
Moore will continue on.
Although they're being stealthy, he does decide to do something on the way. Akadi assuredly already knows they're here, but having some common courtesy goes a long way.
Lady of Air Akadi, greetings. I do not doubt you noticed us again. I thought it right to still send a courtesy message nonetheless to let you know we would be here only for a short time and then are leaving and do not wish to interfere with what is going on here.
A stirring of wind. Not quite words, but intent. Just a breeze that blows by, harmless and gentle. No sense of hostility at all.
His courtesy done, he will continue on towards the cavern!
You head in. The cavern's mostly quiet - and it's not too hard to find the room before the cave in, a fairly large chamber in any case.
While he could just blast it...
Moore will cast Wish three times for Earth Glide for the three of them and just use that to find what they're after! He'll use Arcane Sight to find it since it's probably like, in the rocks somewhere.
As said, that's exactly where it is. Deep into a wall, covered by thick stone for several feet. It's a simple chest trapped amid the stones, plain wood with metal hinges.
He should be able to just divine blast around the chest to allow him to open it, I'd think? Worst case, if there's another cave in they still have earth glide so it shouldn't be an issue.
Fine with me if that's how you want to do it.
Let's go with that, it seems the simplest plan.
Sure enough, you blow the space around it away, a little hollow for you as the chest drops to the bottom of the hollow.
Moore grabs it and puts it away!
'Let's go.' He says as he will intend to head right back the way they came in!
New round of Stealth checks.
[21:39] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+37 Jetina --> [ 1d20=9 ]{46}
[21:39] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+48 Cresiel
[21:39] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+48 Cresiel --> [ 1d20=8 ]{56}
Moore takes 10 for 75
It's not hard to sneak out as you did, soon away from this and with your treasure in hand.
Moore will open the box once they're safely away to ensure that it does, in fact, have what they are looking for!
Once that's settled, he will return to Hope's Landing!
It indeed has the ring in it, just as hoped.
You return back and...
Next move?
Lord Crystalle, this is Moore of Celestia. It's been some time, but I'm hoping you may have some time to speak to me. You're invited here if you'd like to come, or I am happy to come visit you if time allows for it.
You're welcome to come visit, Moore.
Moore will invite anyone who'd like to go along ... along, and will Greater plane Shift to Mineral!
I'm not sure if this is a case where there's a 'knock' like with Brightwater or whatnot, but if there is he will do so.
I'm also not sure if he still can't just go there directly but he knows the way by now so it won't be an issue to get there.
You get Xandra and Kaja.
Crystalle's palace is as you remember it. You enter the courtyard like you did so many times when you were with Aurora. Here there is a sense of warmth, of the warmth of stones and the deep earth.
Moore will proceed onward and ahead - he's been here enough times that if Crystalle wishes to send one of his voices to greet him he will do so!
Instead he appears before you - a mass of glittering minerals and gems. Larger than Hanna, radiant in mineral beauty.
Welcome, Moore.
Moore bows his head and then gives him a formal bow as well.
"Lord Crystalle, it's been too long." He says. "These are Xandra, and Kaja." He nods to them both to allow them to make introductions if they wish.
Xandra bows, "Lord Crystalle."
Kaja nods to him, "I've heard of you before."
You are welcome as friends of Moore.
"I wished to speak to you about some troubling matters." Moore says. "But before that, this is a gift to you that I should have given a long time ago. I hope it doesn't come too terribly late for you."
His divine will floats the chest with the ring in it close enough to Crystalle to inspect.
The chest is opened, looked inside and the vanishes.
Thank you, Moore. It is taken.
A small bow. "Please consider it a representation of our continued friendship." He says. "The matter I wish to speak of... is regards to Grumbar and Shar." He says. He's certain that Crystalle has his own way of maintaining privacy and does not do anything on his own, as this isn't his home and wishes to continue to be courteous!
He clears his throat and continues. "You likely remember my arrival in what seems like an eternity ago, when we spoke of Danaxmos? I had received the location of it from Grumbar a time ago as well, and recently made an effort to go find it for my own reasons. Grumbar interdicted me and prevented me from going there - we aren't quite sure of why. There's many possible reasons, obviously... but that leads me to this: I've recently come into some information that an agent of Shar named Asani was seen in his court. I do not wish to make any threats or suggestions of influence there... but I wished to hear if you had born witness to Sharran activity in Mineral or otherwise that you thought was strange."
I can assure you there has been no such in Mineral lately. Only the same thieves blinded by wealth as there always is.
Moore nods. "I understand. If you do hear of anything contrary to that, would you please let me know?" He asks. "I value your friendship - any of Mineral who ever wish to visit Hope's Landing are always welcome, and will be treated with due respect."
There is one thing, a gift. Look up.
Moore does so!
A large gemstone - a diamond. A diamond larger than yourself, cut and faceted. It descends ever so slowly, flickering with rainbow colors in the light.
This gemstone was recently found and it would suit you well.
"I would be honored to accept your gift." Moore says with a smile.
What to -do- with it is a different story entirely...
The gemstone comes to you, as Kaja stares at it.
Xandra bows, "Thank you, Crystalle."
Go with my well wishes.
"Know that we are forever allies of Mineral." He says as he leaves with the gemstone and the others!
You head out. Once you return to Hope's Landing, secure in one your internal rooms there, away from the traders, away from the light and the celestials?
"That could buy a kingdom and he just gave it to you?" Kaja says slowly, in wonder.
"Yes, but remember. Crystalle could likely create such a thing in a moment if he cared to. He has dominion over all of Mineral and its wealth." Xandra points out, "That may be equal to leaving half of a penny as a donation to charity when you walk with pockets full of gold. A meaningless bit of wealth to him, in other words."
"It's meaning is in its symbolism." Moore agrees. "The denizens of Mineral see the objects there are mundane, just like Xandra says. At the same time, Crystalle knows that the relationship we have is something special, so this was an item that symbolizes it. Yes, to him and to Mineral it isn't of much value, but the value simply lies in what it means, not what it is."
"In other words," Kaja finishes, "It may as well be a stone for all the value you can get for it, since you can't sell it." He lets out a sigh, "My dragon side thinks it offensive, even if my mind knows it's right and just." He goes and pats the gemstone atop its smooth top, as if it were a child that did well.
"Oh, we could absolutely sell it." Moore says. "But there's no point in doing so. Kaja, you can literally just... make things with your divine will that have value and then go sell them if you really want to!" Moore says with a laugh. "If we were ever in a position where we needed as much gold as this is worth, we would be in a lot of trouble, I think." He says with another chuckle.
"But still... if Shar is interfering with Grumbar, she's doing it quietly." Moore says. "I guess that makes sense. We'll just have to keep an eye on it going forward." He says.
I do not have anything else specifically pending to do, unless miraculously the people in Dis want to trade for Syllen's items. I am going to guess they don't, because they're assholes. Other than that, let's check in with Melia and see if she's found anything good. I -think- she was investigating the efreet the last I had her working? But any other interesting hooks she might've found are fine.
Or anything else too! We're mostly waiting for things with Danaxmos to move ahead.
You're indeed correct. It's almost like they're being told to sit on those items. Scary.
It's not too long before you get a visitor. Canderella enters Hope's Landing. The lightning bolts that slammed down and flash-glassed patches of sand were a pretty obvious attention getter, really.
We'll have to find some way to loosen their grasp...
Moore is there almost in the same instant with open arms to greet an old friend.
"It's been so long!" He greets her with a smile. "Goodness, and with such panache, too."
Canderella comes forward, "It has been a long time. You reek of divine power now," she greets, as glistening glass glitters in the sand. "Ilsenine's right, you've grown a lot."
"It's been... an interesting time." Moore says. "Please, I'd show you around, but if you wanted to do that you wouldn't have gotten my attention. Let's talk about what you want to talk about."
It's a moment before they're in a nice sitting room with a window view of the fields of Lunia outside and the light from above shining in - on a simple table with comfortable seats all around it.
Moore has Grias prepare some snacks and drinks for his guest - and does also let Sylvie know Canderella is here if she wants to see her!
"So." Moore says with a bright smile. "What can I do for you?"
"It's about Grumbar's entire mess," Canderella says as Sylvie joins you, "I'm the messenger because I was handy."
"Please." Moore says. "I've been rather curious about the truth of that matter, if you have any insight into it."
"Are you aware of what's happened so far?" Canderella asks at that.
"Danaxmos is Grumbar's offspring... or... something of that nature." Moore says. "Supposedly, Grumbar knows the day it will die, but isn't allowing anyone to get to it now for some reason." He says. "I admit, if there's a lot more to the story than what's happened then I don't recall."
"Right, and you requested Aurora's help with part of that," Canderella continues.
"Which we're all aware of," Sylvie goes on.
"Right - I asked you all to recover the piece of the artifact from it, since I figured Grumbar was just trying to stop me, and not anyone else." He says. "It sounds like it's more complicated than that, though."
"It is." Canderella says, "We kept running into problems. Nothing overt at first, but every time something happened to steer us off course. Subtle if we went along with it, and far more overt if we didn't. The sort of overt you can't ignore, because you're trying not to die."
"Interesting." Moore says. "So whatever is going on will likely require us dealing with Grumbar directly in the end, since somehow or another he seems intent on not allowing anyone to find Danaxmos."
"Yes. Sorry we couldn't do it, but something big's going on here." Canderella says, "And they keep escalating when we push back. If it's not Grumbar himself, it's someone not far below him."
"It's fine, you all did what you could. Consider me indebted to Aurora for the favor, should you all ever need anything from me." He says. "We can handle it from here."
Canderella accepts that, but as she does?
"If they stopped Aurora," Sylvie speculates aloud, "It's no small game. But we knew it had to be someone big."
"Yes, we're going to have to call in some favors again." Moore says. "It may be best to reach out to someone like Lord Barachiel who is more familiar with planar politicking at this stage."
Sylvie taps her teacup against her saucer. She half closes her eyes, "You can go now, Canderella. We'll catch up another time."
Canderella rises, "My, you rise high and suddenly you have no time for me?" Her voice isn't barbed, but sweet as honey.
"Tell it to Ebony," Sylvie doesn't miss a beat as she smiles, "Besides, two powers owe you a favor now. You're getting away richly rewarded."
"Until next time," Canderella agrees, going out. Once she's gone? Sylvie turns to you, "Yes, but if it is Shar we know what the answer will boil down to: Shar is a horrible bitch."
"You're right. But we need to prove that, if that's the case." He says, gesturing with a piece of dried fruit back at her. "If that is the case, we just have to find a way to influence Grumbar away from her. It's also possible Shar has sway with a confidant of Grumbar."
"And that servant of Shar we heard about too," Sylvie says, "There's too many questions we don't have answers for yet. Let's fix that. It's too bad that whomever is doing it doesn't keep a diary." She sips her tea, "People write the most interesting things in their diaries, and those count as a book."
"I do always have my Commune spell if we run out of leads." Moore says with a smile.
Lord Barachiel, do you have time for myself and an associate to visit? If it's easier, you are welcome here.
The answer is simple - mere moments later you hear Barachiel 'knock'.
Moore lets him in and to the seating room they're already in!
He stands to greet him when he arrives, offering a polite bow.
Barachiel joins you and sits. "You asked my aid?"
Sylvie pours him tea in the meantime.
Moore provides a brief explanation of Grumbar, Danaxmos, and the possibility of Shar's underling being sighted there. Also if Aurora's attempts.
"Right now, we have little actionable information. I was hoping you may be able to provide insight into diplomatic endeavors with Grumbar's court, or anything else you may have heard recently about it." Moore explains.
"Nothing revelatory," Barachiel notes, "But I can put you in contact with resources there."
Moore nods. "That would at least be a start." He says.
"Then one will be with you shortly," Barachiel says, "Is there any other way I can help you?"
"For now, anything you know of any influence Shar may have anywhere there we can investigate." Moore says.
You mean in Grumbar's Court, Earth or more expansively?
Earth in general.
With a simple nod, "Can you be more specific?"
Sylvie sighs there and puts down her teacup, "Your point is well made. Is it that bad?"
"Yes," Barachiel says, "Shar is seldom idle. She would well represent the virtue of industry were she not who she was." He drinks his own tea and continues, "Shall I presume something worth your personal attention?"
"Ideally." Moore says with a nod.
Quick d100.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 15, total 15[/blockquote]
"There's been rumbling of Sharran activity in Entemoch and Sunnis's court," Barachiel says, "As of today, it's new. I hear they've entrusted an investigation to several heroes, including a Tyrran."
Moore nods. "All right, we can investigate that further." He says. "Thank you."
"Be safe," Barachiel offers, as he rises and gets up.
Once gone as well? Sylvie looks to you, "You know them, don't you?"
"Of them, yes." Moore says.
K:P of 123 if there's anything non standard to know there
Entemoch and Sunnis are the Prince and Princess of Elemental Good for Earth. I can give you the rest of the standard information if you know it, but nothing non standard that you know stands out as immediately relevant.
"I never had a chance to meet either." Moore says. "I don't know how they'd feel about us just showing up to offer our aid, though."
"Well, it's a good thing you're such a good talker," Sylvie says blandly.
"Mm. Any opinion on which one to start with?" He asks.
"It doesn't matter that much," Sylvie remarks, "They're a couple of sorts." Wavering a hand back and forth, "Six of Entemoch, half a dozen of Sunnis."
Moore nods.
"I'm sure there's some amount of decorum that we should follow, but... time is rather of the essence here, so..." He takes a moment!
Lord Entemoch, my name is Moore, of Celestia. I apologize that we have not been properly introduced before now.
I am hopeful that you may have time for me to come visit to discuss a matter regarding Shar.
I'm going to ask for a Charisma check here right away. If you have the Epic Reputation feat, add a +4 bonus.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+55 : 18 + 55, total 73[/blockquote]
He does, in fact!
'Somehow I expected it would be about Shar,' Is the deadpan answer you get back. 'I've heard you have quite the grudge with her.'
We do not see eye to eye on many things, unfortunately. But I am not sure there are many who would say they don't have some sort of problem with her, really.
'I've heard many stories about you and her,' Entemoch goes on, 'Including one that she and a faerie queen both vied for your heart, and Shar lost.'
Moore snorts next to Sylvie.
That's an interesting take on the story, but it isn't quite the truth, unfortunately. I'm honored my name has gotten around so much in your halls, though.
Or is it? I mean, technically...
Sylvie looks over, an unspoken curiosity on her face.
'I suppose not. The faerie queen wouldn't survive long enough to win the contest.'
I've definitely seen what Shar believes is beauty, and I'll have nothing of it.
"Apparently there's a story that I broke Shar's heart when I choose a 'faerie queen' over her." He says.
He'll have to tell Ilsenine about that the next time he talks to her...
Sylvie gives into chuckles at that.
Meanwhile? 'But you wish to talk about something Shar plans?'
Yes. It was not so long ago that I dealt with a group of Sharrans who had decided it would be wise to set up their camp in Mineral - it did not end very well for them, as you likely are aware.
I have reason to believe she's being more subtle now, sending agents into courts to try and influence them, or at least get more information. If you had heard anything similar, I would be interested in pursuing a further investigation - with your approval if it was within your boundaries, of course.
'I'll consider it,' Is the answer you get back. 'I'll be in touch.'
Thank you.
"He'll be in touch." Moore says with a small shrug. "Not a lot we can do about it, especially if Grumbar has told them to not allow us to interfere in some capacity."
Still chuckling, "That as my first concern. After all, can't have you breaking more hearts in Earth." Sylvie responds.
"It's true." Moore says with a small sigh. "But if that ends up being the case then we have more answers than we do now." A shake of his head. "For now, it looks like we have to keep waiting."
With a wry smile, "You'll have a distraction soon enough, regardless." Sylvie says, smiling.
"I don't like the sound of that." Moore says with a frown.
"Don't you trust me?" A few more chuckles go through Sylvie, "You should be able to figure this one out."
A long, exasperated sigh as he just gestures at her.
"Yes, don't worry, I have a feeling I know what it is." He says. "Far be it from me to challenge a goddess of knowledge." He says with a smile.
"Go on then and get ready for it," Sylvie stands up, "It shouldn't be long."
Moore makes a non-committal noise before he's off to go freshen up for a guest.
It's not too long until you sense Sylvie opening a portal, and Ilsenine comes through. Truly a surprise indeed.
Honestly, she doesn't need to take cues from Sune too.
Moore will give them a moment to talk as they'd like before he will approach them both!
The two talk - nothing of importance, and seemingly await you.
"Moore," Ilsenine greets as you approach. Her expression is wistful, nostalgic, sad.
Moore gestures for her and will begin flying off, outside in the streets of Hope's Landing itself - he offers his hand out as he goes.
The newly-installed diamond from Mineral floats high over his central tower, bathing bits and pieces of the roads and building in a vibrant rainbow every now and again as the light from Mount Celestia hits it.
His divine will ensures them a secluded and private discussion as they go.
"I think I'd be doing you a disservice if I didn't ask what was on your mind." He says as they slowly float along.
Ilsenine looks up at that rainbow glory. "It's so beautiful," she murmurs, lost in it for a few wondrous moments. She slows once you address her and smiles with a sad look. Her eyes are almost wet.
"You've become so much more than I am," she says, "You've crossed a barrier that not even legends can cross."
A smile as he reaches out to put a hand on her shoulder. "That's not true. You bore a destiny more than I could ever, and have suffered through tragedies greater than many in Creation could ever witness."
A turn to look up at the light. "What you bear the burdens you shoulder are no less great than what any of us do here. You do yourself a disservice." He says with some admonition. "Is that what has you in such turmoil - that you worry such a divide impossible to ever bridge?" He asks. "Come now - you and I both know we're both too stubborn to let something like that stop either of us." A bright smile follows that.
"I imagine Lady Morwel and Lord Oberon had the same sort of bridge to gap." He says.
He could always ask them...
Okay, gimme a Charisma check with a +1 bonus, pixie.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+52 : 18 + 52, total 70[/blockquote]
Slowly Ilsenine sighs, "And yet I feel as if the gulf between us widens by the day."
A smile as he leans down to take her hand.
"These are not problems that can be solved in a day. I am certain that even the other legendary couples that exist had to maneuver through Creation's pitfalls as well." He says. "But ultimately... what is it that -you- want? Deep within your heart, your soul, the you that can feel Lifasa's very existence synchronize with your own... what do you want to do about the gulf?" He asks, as he turns to look at her.
"What does your heart say?"
"I don't know." Ilsenine admits it without hesitation, "I have encountered the divine before, and I have no answer to that."
A smile as he squeezes her hand.
"Know that I support you in whatever you decide to do." Moore says. "But... perhaps we should simply ask advice of those who have more experience in this?"
"If you know any," Ilsenine confesses, "I am more than open to it."
Is there any particular knowledge around Morwel and Oberon? I.e. any knowledge of Oberon from before he was a deity? He... -is- a deity right? Just to be sure, haha. That seems like a good place to start.
He is. K:R will work or K:N. Also it's Titania and Oberon on that side, but go on.
Take 10 for 127 - mainly looking for "pre with Titania" sort of stuff, like how that happened, if possible.
On which skill? Important distinction here.
Sorry, K:R
There's not much out there - fey myths don't talk a lot about the before, but it does mention their courtship. A courtship in the forests and the skies, a grand wooing that crossed all of reality. It's all mythical and quite grand in scope.
"As you can imagine, there's not much to go on." Moore says. "I think if we want an answer, we'll have to ask directly, which means a trip to Arborea, since I'm not foolish enough to believe Lord Oberon would be forthcoming without us going through a bit of a trip to meet with him." He adds with a smile.
"You could meet him as you are now," Ilsenine considers, "You've grown so far."
"Perhaps." Moore says. "But I think it's... more appropriate for you and I to go together and my not to use my station." He says with a smile.
"We can go, then," Ilsenine offers you her hand out, "We can go find our answers, together."
Moore takes her hand and then in a moment takes her to Arborea!
Obviously, he has to 'knock' first, and if Morwel asks him why he's there he can explain in what I assume instant to Illsenine.
Obvious question but asked anyway, but any prep?
Nah, this one doesn't feel fair to do anything on. Well, no, we'll hit the Blessing Stone since you should always have those spells up.
Epic Mage Armor (CL24), Mind Blank (CL17) and Afina's Perfect Sight (CL27)
So that, and that's it.
You appear in Arborea without incident. The forest is bright and cold. Wintry today, just enough snow on the ground to be pretty and little flakes occasionally making it through to above. Tree branches have a dusting of snow on them as the two of you appear.
"I wonder if we'd end up following the same path we did that time we got to Yggdrasil." Moore sys. "I doubt it... but for now, let's just... go." He says with a smile as he picks a direction (north) and just goes along.
"I'm certain we'll be guided as appropriate, given why we're here." He says.
"It's so peaceful here," Ilsenine says. After a moment, "I remember how hot Avernus was. I remember Hell's fire." She stops, "Moore. With what you know now, is there a why?" Her voice is quiet, "Some reason, some justification for Baator?"
"It isn't one worth dwelling on." Moore says after some thought. "I think one could argue that from Asmodeus' perspective, there is 'reason' and 'justification,' but I don't think those of Celestia would agree, you know?"
Silence is your answer as you go on and...
Give me a d100.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 51, total 51[/blockquote]
You wander a little bit.
In the distance you see a cozy little burrow, a chimney that slowly puffs out smoke. Snow falls around it, soft and gentle.
"What a nice, storybook location." Moore says as he heads towards it!
"It's pretty," Ilsenine agrees quietly as you approach. No sign of anyone outside of it.
Moore knocks politely!
A man's voice calls, "Come in!"
Moore opens the door and will enter!
"Sorry for the disturbance." He says as he enters.
No one is within here.
However, a warm meal for two is laid out on the table, a homey little burrow within. A nice, big fireplace keeps the room comfortable, lots of thick animal fur rugs and blankets are laid about.
"Who could ever turn down such a lovely invitation?" He asks as he flies over, properly pulling the chair out for Ilsenine first before he sits himself.
It's a honey stew and warmed milk. Ilsenine sits and has a sip, "Is this an invitation?" She asks aloud, "Or advice?"
"It could be both." Moore says. "But either way it'd be rude to not eat. We can catch up over the meal." He says with a smile.
A few tastes of it before, "Could we make a home for ourselves now? A life for ourselves?"
"I think it's possible." Moore says. "This is all just... theoretical, but we could very easily set up some sort of ease of transportation for you between Hope's Landing and the Lifasan Court. I am aware you can likely get here on your own means without any effort, of course." He says with a smile and a laugh afterwards.
"But... to be clearer, I suppose, what would that look like to you?" He asks.
A long sigh. A sip of milk.
"It doesn't," Ilsenine finally says. "As great or as small as we both were before, we were close to one another. Now, you are a mountain and I am a rock. What I'm saying is that..." A trail off, "At my heart, I feel as if you've gone across a river I can never cross myself to join you."
A small laugh at that. "I think you still do yourself such a disservice." He says. "I have... more responsibilities now, obviously, but I am still the same person. I'm still the same person who came to your court and embarrassed myself by casting spells in your presence."
A chuckle as he thinks about that and takes a sip of the milk himself. "I think perhaps I've not done well enough to spend time with you to begin with, despite my responsibilities. I have... ways to ensure that isn't a problem, but it would take some time to complete, so we'd have to figure out what to do in the meantime." He says.
He's quiet for a moment before he sets his glass down. "What I don't want is for you to feel discarded, or left on the sidelines... which is what's already happened. That is... my responsibility, because I simply... haven't done a good enough job, and I haven't treated you properly." He says, with some finality.
Diplomacy check here.
Take 10 for 125.
"You think it can still be done?" Ilsenine asks back at last.
"It's not going to change the river." Moore says. "But it'll give both of us a boat. The harsh reality is that I will still have to devote a lot of my time to my current tasks... but it doesn't mean that I want to neglect you over it. I can't visit Lifasa anymore... well, again, for a while. Once I have an avatar I can keep one there and I think that would make things a great deal easier on you."
"Until then," Ilsenine promises, "Until then I'll wait, Moore."
"Why don't we find a way to deal with it in the meantime?" He asks. "Your ring was a good start, but... seeing someone makes things easier, doesn't it? How about some sort of..."
He chuckles a bit. "It's kind of cliché, but a two-way mirror or something wouldn't be a bad idea. That way it'd be a bit more... in person?" He suggests.
"I'd like that," Ilsenine agrees.
Can you make such a thing?
I mean, probably? I can just ask Will to help with it and I'd imagine we could magic something like it up easily enough, or just have it created somewhere in Brightwater at worst.
I did a bit of digging, it'd basically be like a Crystal Ball (stock srd magical item) except it'd be limited to only seeing its paired item, so I'd think that'd be a pretty significant cut in the cost of it.
You could work something out I'm sure, yes.
"It shouldn't be too difficult to create." Moore says. "I can have it delivered to you." He adds with a smile. "Oh, would you like to hear a rather amusing story I was told by someone from Earth?"
"Go on," Ilsenine invites, letting you talk.
"Apparently, there's a bit of a story." He says. "There's a story that one of the reasons Shar hates me as much as she does is that I spurned her advances in favor of a faerie queen."
He calmly sips his milk after that.
Ilsenine puts down her milk.
"I see. I will have to take abundant precautions," she says, "Lifasa is as safe as anywhere, at least."
"You will." Moore says with a stern look. "Well, Shar can still send agents there I think... and I wouldn't put it past her to try and influence someone - that seems to be her thing these days."
"Perhaps I can lure Afina to court, but I fear she won't stop her pursuit of Gathgorian anytime soon," Ilsenine drinks slowly after, "Not that I wish to discourage her hunt."
"She's... going to need quite a bit of help to get him nowadays." Moore says.
"We know," Ilsenine mentions, her face becoming quickly neutral. "I worry for Afina, all I want is for her to return to us safely." Quieter now, "We lost too many, and when her quest is finished, all I desire is her return home."
"I think it may be a quest she best give up for a time." Moore says. "I... am aware of what I'm saying, but I think her efforts could be put to better use against people like Shar's minions."
"She won't listen." Ilsenine says, and with a soft sigh as she puts down her cup, "She shouldn't, I know that. Our court recovers and grows, I don't want to lose someone after we won. I was unkind to Afina before the fall of Lifasa. She was my killer, spreading death at whatever I told her to. I want her to live now, not race towards death."
Slowly looking up, "I hate death now."
"I understand." Moore says. "I'll do whatever I can to help her, then." He says. "I think you may have heard about how Gathgorian did it, anyway."
"How Gathgorian did what?" Ilsenine asks, "I'm far too familiar with a few things he's done." Her voice darkens at that.
Here Moore decides to ensure privacy. "The technique he used to attain divinity." Moore says.
"There's many whispers about the Godsrush," Ilsenine confirms, "But Sylvie informed me of the basics, and asked me to keep it private."
Moore nods. "There's more to it, but suffice to say Asmodeus chose Gathgorian and Bel to be the executors of his will." He says. "I think... I think that Afina could do it - she could defeat Gathgorian, but I don't think it's something that we're going to see for... well, I think it would be a long time." He says. "But it sounds like trying to sway her from that may not be possible... but perhaps if more immediate threats present themselves then we can at least apply her talents to those. Ah... I say we as if I have any control over it." He adds with a small chuckle.
"Whatever I can do to support her I will do." He says. "However I can."
"Help Afina if she needs you," Ilsenine agrees to that, going quiet. Pensive, perhaps.
"Of course." Moore says with a smile. "What else is on your mind?"
After a few more moments, "A lot," Ilsenine says, "Crystal's coming along well."
Moore smiles and leans in. "By all means, tell me."
He's realized through this conversation she really doesn't have anyone to confide things in, to unburden herself of all of this that's on her mind. If the most he can do is just listen for a while, he can do that.
He has avatars who can do the rest of his work anyway.
"Well, Crystal's getting close to her birthing," Ilsenine says, "Most of the court is waiting for it. She's resigned herself to a slower pace now that she's so far along."
Huh, that reminds him, wasn't Ruby due at some point in the future too? He'll have to check in on that.
"I see. I am certain the child will be blessed with the strength of Lifasa." He says. "Is there any concern about it taking longer?"
"No. All signs are positive," Ilsenine goes on, "Aurora's healers checked her as well, she'll be fine."
Moore nods and simply sits back and lets her continue!
"So is Lady Skye. She's keeping busy and doing well, and I think she misses Afina now, in her way," A half sad smile, "Sometimes there's things that we say or that happen that I understand, that the ones who served in Aurora do, but the new ones never will." Ilsenine is thoughtful, "Change is good but yet, should I be grateful that they did not have to know that mystery, or sad because in a real sense, our time in that great Crusade has wound down?"
"I think it's an ongoing crusade." Moore says. "Always fighting evil across the planes - that's what I think of when I think of Aurora as a whole."
"They're still busy - tangling with that vampire," Ilsenine notes, "As well as some tasks you've asked them to do."
Moore nods. "How's the rest of the court doing?" He asks. "Any visits again from Lady Titania?"
"No, just peace and growth," Ilsenine says, "And to that I'll appreciate every day of it."
Moore nods and smiles, just enjoying the quiet time!
Like this a few hours pass together. Is there anything you want to do here?
Nothing in particular, just enjoy a nice time.
This time passes well enough and...
Going to let Ilsenine go home? If so without anything further, what next?
We can probably offscreen the magical Zoom Call Mirrors and get that sorted. There isn't much else to do at present for us.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 81, total 81[/blockquote]
Here's a d100 for no reason at all.
Busy.
So much going on.
But after a few hours?
Events continue to move. I have been contacted by emissaries of the new Sultan of the Efreet, and I suspect emissaries of Kossuth will be here momentarily.
Huh, he had heard something about that, but hadn't really gotten into the specifics.
How interesting. What do you believe it to be about?
I am going off the impression that the Crimson Firebrand stuff isn't public knowledge!
Mineral's support in upcoming battles in Fire. It seems a war for the fate of Fire grows.
Do you believe that Grumbar has an opinion in this matter?
If they supported his position, then maybe he'd see it as favorable?
Yes, even if he may choose not to speak it.
Given what I know of him, I have a feeling I know what his thoughts are. Do you wish anything of me in this matter - or would you like me to simply keep this information for now?
I ask that if either side tries to force the question, you come at my call to aid me against them.
You have my word.
With that, he goes to inform the others to be ready!
It's not too hard to get them ready, "Did you get details of when?" Cresiel asks, "And if? Is it likely to happen?"
The others quickly prepare in the meantime, will and magic garbing them in their equipment in moments.
"It seems imminent." Moore says. "I don't have any details about what's going on on Fire, but it seems we need to get up to speed with it."
"Seira would be the one to know," Sylvie points out, "She's neck deep in Fire's politics."
Moore nods. "A moment, I'll reach out and ask." He says.
do you want me to post over there?
Sure, go ahead.
"She'll explain it at the Cauldron. Sylvie, you and Cresiel come with me. If anything happens on Mineral we will just excuse ourselves."
"Let's go," Cresiel agrees, as...
Okay, moving you over, locking this thread.