As others experience at the same time, a war is a busy enterprise. You are occupied with it and a dozen other tasks, but come evening time Amaryl insists on a break. A quiet balcony that's yours alone overlooking much of the lower levels of the Cauldron. A plate of snacks is shared between you as Amaryl takes it in.
"Even now," Amaryl says, "A single leaf that has fallen is amazed that the ground is as it is when it was but a seed. After such a battle, I almost believe even the Cauldron itself will be different."
As Amaryl ruminates, it is something else that gets your attention. Ranbar approaches, carrying a box. Her face is a perfect study of restrained nervousness, you note.
For my reference:
1. Node stuff
2. Visit Primus
3. Visit Io
"That we would stand with our friends and allies was a foregone conclusions, but that we can meet parallel commitments of that strength and send them packing is bound to make waves," Seira agrees with Amaryl, before waiting for Ranbar to approach as she waits with an encouraging smile on her lips.
"It reminds them we are not babes anymore - divine children, perhaps," Amaryl ventures, but leaves it at that.
Ranbar approaches, "Ah, Seira?" she asks. "My Lady?
"Yes?"
Amaryl smiles as Ranbar fidgets a moment. "Do you want to play Ierriil?"
To forestall the obvious and easy knowledge check for you...
Ierriil is a game played by some residents of Air, primarily djinn and smarter elementals. It consists of five boards stacked atop each other and is similar to chess, but in three dimensions and with added rules for wind currents. It's natural for natives of Air to understand it, though it's an extremely complex game for others to learn, let alone master. The goal is either control four of the five boards or eliminate your opponent's Gale Princes, of which each player has 3 of.
"Sure!"
It might've been an issue if Seira were restricted to a single body, but ever since her avatar emerged into the world she's always found time for fun and to mingle with her people!
Ranbar immediately gets to it as Amaryl sits back and watches, the table expanding with a faint tickle of her divine will.
As Ranbar sets up the boards, "I know you're so intelligent, but I...I wondered if you even had to maintain it, to work your mind like we have to. I play this to keep my mind sharp and to think in many different ways at once."
"Honestly, no," Seira admits, arranging for light snacks and some refreshments for them. "I keep it sharp through spell research and other pursuits. The games are something I do for fun to avoid losing touch with mortals, however, which is just as important."
Amaryl watches as its done, adding after, "It's...easy to do that," she says, "We look mortal, we may act mortal, but we aren't. Certain other deities have lost that almost entirely, or never had it to begin with. Kossuth is one, as are all the elemental lords. They exist for what they are, first and foremost."
Once finished Ranbar sets up the pieces, "Zaaman Rul seemed like a victorious king, content to bestow gratitude and rewards on his subjects. I..." A moment's hesitation, "I found myself wondering if that was him or merely another face. If any of what I've seen isn't a face, My Lady. And I just...how do get you to know the divine, something that is so much more than I am?"
Seira allows Ranbar to make the first move, telling her in the meantime, "At least for myself, it's both. I keep my ideals, my thought processes... pretty much everything from my mortal days. I haven't changed my perception or way of thinking upon ascension, but rather acquired another point of view. It might be far stronger in some ways, and feel truer to the reality of Creation in others still, but maintaining a dialogue between them is what I've found works best for me. That, and clinging to some habits from my mortal life. During that fight with Imix, I wasn't in any actual danger of death, merely a setback, but I went into it as if it was all or nothing."
"The way Donald was hurt, it was all or nothing," Amaryl points out, "How he's still alive I'll never understand." Darkening at that, "If that had gone a little worse, I fear what would've happened. Yet we won. We protected our allies in Fire, Seira." Her expression softens into happiness, as - !
You feel it, a connection to Amaryl, growing stronger and tighter yet.
Node update. You can choose if you or Amaryl gets this ability.
Champion of Fire (Ex)
Good aligned creatures of Fire instinctively recognize you are one of their defenders. This grants you a +4 bonus on Charisma based checks against them.
Let's go with Amaryl.
"I'm already working on magic to stop Imix's spells flat for our next bout, and we're going to take the fight to him soon," Seira states.
Node updated then.
"We're going to need to," Amaryl says, "I have to imagine he's preparing the same for your tactics."
Meanwhile Ranbar watches quietly, "You can defeat him, Seira," she says quietly, but with conviction. "That of I have no doubt of, even if it's hard."
"I just got too fancy," Seira admits. "That, and I wished to remove that army given it was an actual invasion. I even kept reminding myself to keep it simple, but an elaborate plan was so elegant I had to try it first. Then the bastard ran off!" She snorts, past her anger by now. "Imix is the only real threat, and know how to handle his ridiculous magic now."
"Then you'll win next time," Ranbar says, voice completely assured.
"We'll win," Seira corrects Ranbar with a grin.
"We'll win," Ranbar smiles, the game set up and...
Have ranks in anything appropriate?
Profession/General (33) at +69, so taking ten for 79.
Did I say that applies to games? I recall making some ruling related to it, but I'm drawing a mental blank at the sec. Do you recall?
It's pretty much for strategies and tactics, and an otherwise useless skill I took for flavor. I can't recall.
Okay. In that case I'm punting it here since who wins honestly isn't important. It's added a medium priority todo in the todo topic, I'll track it down one slow day or another.
Thus the game proceeds, but Seira quickly grasps it, starting to blow ahead of Ranbar, which...
Go ahead and describe how you're doing this and what to play it? This matters here.
She'd said her goal is to have fun, and she does, though in this instance it's less by cutting loose and trampling the opposition but rather by teaching Ranbar a useful strategy for the mid-game phase as they enter it.
Ranbar is utterly focused on it - she's played and it's clear she has, but she's just not a match for you. Yet she silently watches and moves her pieces carefully on her turn. Amaryl settles into watch...and soon enough Donald and Elle come join you, the latter murmuring, "We heard there was a game here."
Meanwhile Donald says, "Never played myself, but show her you can do it, Ranbar." Lowering his voice, "Seira pouts when you beat her at a game. It's cute."
"It's just not fair when luck taken up to eleven triumphs over skill in a game where luck isn't an actual factor by design," Seira says in a huff.
Ranbar's eyes widen a bit at that while Amaryl chuckles. Donald smiles at that, "Sounds like a sore loser to me."
"A sore loser would refuse to admit a loss, which I'm not," Seira points out, moving a piece even as divine power sends a gust of wind through the central board.
Ranbar quickly reacts, gauging it and trying to counter - but the current wind patterns are against her.
"You're still complaining about luck," Donald says with an impudent smile. "That counts."
"I like luck just fine in games of chance, such as the roulette or most card games," Seira insists, "where it is the actual contest and not a blind swing. It's like that saying about how the best swordsman doesn't fear facing the second best in battle, but the worst."
"Sooo...I shouldn't fear facing you in a sword battle, but I should worry about facing Elle instead?" Donald rubs his chin, "I'm not sure that's where that should be going."
In an amused voice, "Talk like that and you won't have anyone to face in a sword battle, especially me," Elle retorts, as Ranbar turns and laughs lightly into her hand, blushing a bit even now.
"For normal people it means you can't predict someone who hasn't learned proper swordsmanship and they can stab you when you least expect by accident," Seira helpfully teaches Donald. "In our case, however, it means Elle summons a sword and has it stab you while playing another game with me."
Ranbar's laughing now, really laughing as Amaryl's smiling as well.
Donald's grin is as big as can be, "It's hard being the best, isn't it?"
"Hypothetical best, darling," Seira tells him with a smile. "The student still has a bit more to learn before he can beat the teacher~"
Quick question. Without a bunch of boosts on and the like, what's your RAW to hit with your primary attack option? It influences Donald's answer a bit, he'd be familiar enough to have an idea of your raw skill level before spells jack it up up up.
My calculated attack with Dragon's Grace is +61, +3 from it comes from an item, +5 from Knowledge Devotion and +1 from Blinding Speed/Weapon Focus. So if we discount spells and booster items but allow weapons and skills/feats/abilities, it would be +58.
"Proven best," Donald retorts, "Well, at least until it's a race to pile spells to make us better in combat on. You're definitely the master at that."
"She should be, it's the smart way to fight," Ranbar adds in, "Isn't it?"
"The bladesinger way is the only way," Seira agrees. "Don't accept pale imitations." She winks at Donald, then. "If you want to measure brute force alone, I've got a few aces up my sleeve I could show you since it sounds like you're ready for the next step of mastery~"
Amid this all Ranbar laughs...and that's when you feel it. A connection to her, growing stronger in those moments.
Node update.
Read it.
"Since you've been taunting me since arrival," Seira tells Donald with a grin, not giving him a chance to respond, "perhaps we should see how far skill can take us, even before magic helps us further along?"
"Oh," Ranbar mumurs, a hand to her lips.
Donald shakes his head, "At the moment, I think Ranbar just grew up a little more. Hey Ranbar, you aren't seeing angels and visions of light from above, are you?"
"We're in heaven, how much above can there really be?" Seira asks quite reasonably.
"I dunno," Donald says, "Which layer of the Cauldron are we on again?" He glances up, rubbing his chin, "If there's a few hundred feet each, then..."
"We do have a hundred terraces, but only three layers so far. This is the third!"
"A lot of feet," Donald concludes with a pleased little nod.
Elle sighs with a smile, trying not to laugh right now and seeming to succeed, a hand to her mouth.
"Regardless of the foolishness here," Amaryl cuts in, "How do you feel after that, Ranbar?"
"More...more, somehow? It's clearer to express myself?" Ranbar says, "Like how it is when a spell like Eagle's Splendor wraps around you. But it doesn't have that faint feeling of not being myself but a spell on me."
"It's because Zaphkiel's blessing slots in pretty well," Seira helpfully points out. "At first it was annoying, frankly, but I've grown to accept it pretty quickly. You're doing even better than I did, at first!"
"Annoying?" Donald gets you a sidelong look, "Why?"
Meanwhile Ranbar smiles, reddening, "Thank you, my lady!"
"If you've chosen me to fix Creation, give me the power directly and let me decide what to do with it. Also, it's more satisfying when my own divine power rewards people for exceptional actions," Seira tells Donald, smiling at Ranbar. "And speaking of that, an excellent baptism of fire, I think."
As discussed for divine rewards, I want to give Ranbar the Easy Metamagic: Barrage Spell feat.
Sure. One note first: Easy doesn't put it to +0, that's specialized, which is an epic feat. If your intent is to open that option up for her, more power to you. Just making sure you're on the same page before committing to that.
It's fine, she'll either get that as a reward later or grab it herself.
Just as well. I'm still feeling out how barrage spell works and balances, so I'm in no hurry to make it +0 for her yet, if I ever go in that direction.
"Oh!" Ranbar gasps as your will flares out, "T-thank you, Seira!" As she rises and bows deeply to you, paying you homage?
"How about as thanks you cook Seira dinner?" Elle suggests, a hint of a twinkle in her eyes, "I can tell you what foods she likes."
"Vayley treats it as serious business, so you might have a hard fight on your hands," Seira warns.
"I...of course I will, thank you. I'll...I'll go ask Vayley for help," Ranbar rises, "A good game, but I concede." She hurries away at that.
"She's adjusting," Donald says easily, starting to put away the game board. "Still, I got what I wanted - a good fight and a good time doing something worthwhile."
"So you had!" Seira agrees. "Fulfilling your heart's desires it in the job description~"
"Yeah, and I got a lot of practice moving around - need to move better so I don't take it next time," Donald grimaces, and then you feel it. A connection to Donald, a sudden shock as you feel it grow stronger.
Node update.
Read it.
Seira blinks. "Seriously? Are you sure about that?"
'...yes?" Donald says slowly, "If I'd been able to avoid being stopped on my charge, I may not have been smacked around as badly by Imix," Grimacing there, "Let me tell you, Imix's flame tendrils hurt."
Elle's color darkens at this, "Donald, you really do have to be more careful. That was horrifying to see. Don't make me afraid like that again!"
"Oh, not that, it was inspired as f-- I mean... yeah." Seira shakes her head. "I seriously worried for you, and cursed myself for being too far to help in time. But when you spat in his face, I knew it right then. We had this. That's why Imix ended up running, because he knew it too."
She shrugs, then. "So if you want to adjust yourself a bit, Omni recently had a breakthrough on our elemental uplifting project. You're not an elemental but it'd work for you, guaranteed! Or if not that, I'm cautiously optimistic about a swift advancement of the prismatic research past the prototype stage."
"Yeah?" Donald considers, "I was actually thinking of something like that. Maybe find some powerful blood or essence and -"
Elle quietly sinks her head into her hand. "Donald," she says slowly, "Don't be an IDIOT! You already have traces of fey blood, dragon blood and are a human reincarnated into an elven body. You don't get a bonus for adding more and making it work."
"...I don't?" Donald says, completely earnestly, "But it always seems to work out for me."
Meanwhile Amaryl's lips quirk up, "Then some balance is just what you need."
"Also, Elle is utterly wrong. This is exactly how such things work! And if you want to live adventurously, I do have some premium Grand Sultan blood in cold storage."
"Mmm." Elle's expression becomes more calculating, "If you even think about it, I'll launch your things out of the Cauldron like a volcano erupting."
"I don't know," Donald says, "Efreet's blood is like fiendl's blood - you have to be really desperate or stupid." Humming to himself, "Really stupid."
"If it helps, they're not inherently evil. Zaaman Rul has several very decent and brave efreet serving him. Still, no rush. I often regret not getting some fey blood myself or dabbling in celestial bloodlines, so taking your time to decide is perfectly alright."
Seira turns to Elle next. "And the same offer is open to you as well, of course! We've talked about elemental harmony previously, but now that it's been made a reality I think it would be a good fit for you. It's very well rounded, and even as it uplifts our elementals it'd boost your magic in quite interesting ways!"
"Go on," Elle invites as Donald gets a long look, "I haven't read the finalized research report yet."
"I suspect you'll like it more than Donald, given that the final stabilization gave up a bit of power in favor of a noticeable increase in intellect," Seira informs her. "The standard energy immunities you would expect from a project like this are in effect, but more importantly your magic becomes malleable enough to be used as advantageously as we've made our homegrown weapon enchantment for meleers. Finally, the wizards have caught up!"
"Well, I've done plenty of testing on evil lately," Elle admits, "I think that's cleared for a time. In fact, with that battle-" It's then that you feel it, that pulse-throb of a connection to Elle. You feel it and you feel that bond as...
Node update.
Seira nods eagerly. "I figured, yes," she agrees. "Well, like with Donald, take some time to think about it. Read over Omni's project documents. Feel free to suggest any last-minute adjustments before we codify the process for our elementals, that sort of thing."
Tapping her lips, she asks, "Incidentally, I never checked with you about the Prime uplifting project we discussed. Did you get a chance to work with Laurenal to upgrade the portal network on our Prime of birth?"
"We did some," Elle says, then with a gusty sigh, "Even with all this and power, there's not enough hours in the day. My shops for chronomancy!"
"I'm afraid we won't have that as an option," Seira says with a grin. "Please try to finish up within forty eight hours. I want to establish the basics on Lifasa as well, and then we'll be ready for a new quest."
"I will," Elle promises as...
I think this scene is winding down. Next move?
Quadrus, I believe my audience with Primus had been rescheduled? Seira asks the Voice of Primus.
'Yes,' Is the answer you get back. 'Are you prepared to receive a time?'
Yes, please
'4 hours, 4 minutes and 4 seconds from now,' Is the answer you get, 'Come to the Rigid Hall. You will be expected.'
Seira shall do so, with a partial combat loadout (no Glorious Rally, Celestial Valor or per-round spells). Going alone.
Okay, as discussed in loot you're gonna drop into visit Alyssa and friends first. Any prep or companions?
I'm already prepped. Though for this, I'll bring Oraga.
Alyssa's new demiplane is bright today, sunny. You approach the great academy and tower as you find Emily waiting for you outside. "Mooooooom," she calls and waves, jumping up a bit. "This way!"
Seira shares a grin with Oraga before waving back at Emily, approaching with a steady gait.
Emily hurries up as Oraga hangs back behind you. "How do you like it? Shaundakul was generous to Alyssa."
"It looks a lot like her school back on Prime, actually," Seira muses, looking about. "Did she bring everyone over to resettle the deminplane?"
"A selection and..." Lowering her voice, "I heard more are coming to give her resources, Shaundakul's keen on helping her. Don't tell anyone I told you, Bastian told me that and I don't know who knows and who doesn't yet, but he didn't ask me to keep it a secret, either."
Seira decides to nod, before changing the topic. "How about we first handle all the pesky cursed artifacts and then have lunch together?"
"Oh yes," Emily says, "Have you been informed of all of them yet?"
"In very broad terms," Seira responds. "Show us around and we'll deal with what comes up?"
Thus you are lead to a sealed room, in which the artifacts sit and...
We went over this in loot, so go ahead and take initiative on the ones you want to deal with personally.
Seira stops by to take a look at Demmlar, first. "Nasty piece of work," she agrees, calling upon Legend Lore to learn more of its history.
Short version or long version? Long versions of these take 30-60 minutes to type, so will effectively get you paused. See the discussion from loot today. I don't mind doing it, but it is time consuming.
Short is fine for this one, it's not my stuff.
Demmlar's legends relate to its creation at the hands of an unknown follower of Umberlee. A weapon plunged into conflicts across the Lower Planes, and in particular to demons looking to eliminate celestials who meddle in the Blood War. It's a story repeated again and again and again, killing celestials who were working to their own purposes in that vile conflict.
Can divine power tell me who was its last owner?
Shadin Fescion.
"Interesting. Emily, you should follow up on that," Seira says, gesturing at the vile greataxe with her thumb. "It's legitimately Shadin's to my sight, and since Chauntea wasn't behind some gambit of his keeping it stowed away secretly was all him. Seems like a fun and fulfilling quest to me!"
After that, it's time to look in on the evil souls.
"Yes, Mom," Emily agrees, "Didn't you ask Chauntea about that?"
Looking for anything in particular with them?
"I got the ball rolling, but following up on things is very important!" Seira lectures her. "And it'd be good for you, too, since it'd build ties for you outside your immediate circle of acquaintances."
After studying the souls, Seira frees them of their containment with a burst of holy power! In that instance that they are purified, she offers the sinners a choice of making up for their past mistakes upon a rebirth in her realm while letting those few who rightfully belong to the non-evil pantheons and were captured unjustly the chance to proceed to their original destination instead.
Freedom. Joy.
Many see you and recoil, screaming as they plunge to the afterlife they embraced in life, unwilling or unable to consider anything else. Others yet are freed to go as they were meant to, no longer burdened by the greed of fiends. The last coil around you, as if children seeking protection from their mother.
True to her word, Seira takes on their sins and reincarnates them to be raised properly this time around over at the Cauldron!
Light bursts around you as you work your will, blinding radiance as it is done.
Emily watches as Oraga looms protectively behind you. Once it's done, "You really are on another level, you and Alicia and the others." she remarks, "As powerful as Alyssa is, she isn't there yet."
"Eh, you're stronger than her," Seira says absently. "It's not about power but what you seek it for, corny as that sounds."
She claps her hands, then. "Let's get to the main event! Show me the cursed royal efreet jewels~"
Thus you are taken to them, glittering jewels that...
Go ahead with your plan.
A container filled with blood is produced out of thin air, and Seira opens it and tilts the vial until a drop of blood slides out to land on her palm. She sends it back into storage, properly corked once more, and then draws a symbol representing fire upon her palm as if it were a canvas. As a henna tattoo, the mark remains upon Seira's skin even as she picks one of the opals and studies it, the very image of efreet royalty!
UMD times!
22:09 <Seira> roll 1d20+86
22:09 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 96 > [d20=10]
Intention is to deceive the opal into thinking I'm efreet royalty and thus allowed to pick them up and move them. Then, once that succeeds, I wish to examine the curse. If it was placed by the royals, perhaps while emulating one I could alter the conditions. I somehow doubt the efreet royals had been moving the collection in person every time they needed to polish it or what not.
With that and your sublime focus, you pick up the gems. It's strangely hard to do so, but you grasp one and lift it up. Got it!
Give me a quick Spellcraft?
18:56 <Seira> roll 1d20+93 divine insight
18:56 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 108 > [d20=15]
The curse is pretty straight forward. The way to break it is surprisingly simple - splash the opals with the blood of marid royalty.
"What an interesting curse!" Seira exclaims, gathering the opals. "You'll have to come back with me to the Cauldron to uncurse them properly, Emily. Let's do that once we're done here?"
Next on her agenda is taking a look at Alyssa's ring.
For reference since the Spellcheck is trivial for you:
Black Signet Ring: This gold and onyx ring is invisible when worn (as if by a superior invisibility spell). It grants a +20 competence bonus to Stealth checks and the ability to detect good at will (caster level 25th) as a free action. It grants a +5 profane bonus to saving throws against spells and spell-like abilities with the good descriptor, as well as supernatural and extraordinary abilities of celestials.
If you have a particular action in mind like wanting to look into a purification quest or some other thing, just say so and I'll go from there.
Seira examines the ring in more detail, focusing on its history and maker.
If I know who made it and for what purpose, I'll make a purification quest that fits into that. A short version is fine.
The ring was made by shadows. Hateful shadows, looming shadows amid an endless wealth of shadows. It is not spoken of, it is only whispered of in the darkest words. It is made to hide and kill, to spread hate and misery for the sake of it.
To purify it, it would need to be used to protect lives and ensure life prospers.
"We can certainly do something with that," Seira says, reaching out to tap the ring. The touch channels goldenfire into the ring, and it begins to shine brightly, its onyx segments bleached away. "When the wearer rescues innocent life from the grasp of shadows, this signet ring will be reforged in their determination."
For the duration of the quest, the +20 competence bonus to Stealth is flipped to a -20 penalty to Stealth.
Thus the ring obeys your will, so charged to be possibly changed. Goldenfire crackles around it and sinks in, leaving a golden sheen that only slowly fades away.
"Oh," Emily murmurs, "That should be powerful if it's completed."
"And happily, it's very straight-forward," Seira agrees. "The abyssal armor, now. What are your goals for it? Is Alyssa thinking only of selling it, or is there interest in using the armor that is held at bay due to its construction?"
"The money," Emily admits, "We want it out of circulation or purified, but primarily we need the gold." Here she shakes her head, "As long as it's taken care of one way or another, I'm fine with it, Mom."
"One option is bringing it back with you when we go fix the curse on the Nine Stars," Seira offers. "Elle could reforge it into something nice, and then you'll be able to sell it without worry." She produces a signet ring of the Hamawi family. "Alternately, you might use this to call the Hamawi out. It'll serve as definite proof that you're both their enemies and have their things. I'm not going to purify something that won't see use, since the quest is tailored towards the recipient, so that option's out. Your call."
Hamawi Ring: A signet ring of the Hamawi family. Grants a permanent protection from chaos and protection from good spell, CL10th.
"Mmm."
A long, considering pause by Emily, "Is this a test, Mom?"
Seira shakes her head. "Sometimes, a choice between several options is just a choice. If someone does want to use the gauntlets, for example, and not the armor itself, another option is opened. If you need a few minutes to decide, I'll be over here."
After giving Emily the chance to decide, Seira picks up the ebony skull lying near the armor and frowns at it.
Emily slips out and returns a few minutes later, "I think the money'll be best," Emily says once she's back, "This will help up and we can focus less on it in the future with that extra gold."
Seira pockets the Hamawi signet ring and nods. "Grab it, then. In the meantime...."
She exerts her divine will on the creepy skull in her hand, and it melts like candle wax in a blaze. At a gesture, the structure adjusts, growing larger and hollowing out, until a draconic helm rests within her grasp. It looks too plain, however, and with a thought the helm acquires a coloration matching Blaze. "This is the test, Emily. It's up to you whether you embark upon it, but think carefully about it first."
The Darkskull has been changed into a dragon-themed helm. The first person to wear it will suffer from spell failure 35% for both divine and arcane spells until exemplifying a tenant of Seira's faith through her actions, at which point the spell failure will end and the helm will provide a permanent Hallow effect. On top of that, the user could activate Death Ward, Freedom of Movement and Remove Fear 1/day each within the Hallow effect.
Anyone studying the helm will only gain an understanding of the quest and the 'win' condition, not any of the rewards, and the understanding that removing the helm before fulfilling the quest would result in the permanent failure of said quest.
Alrighty then, looks good. Got anything else here or good to go back? If so, next move?
The plan is to take the armor and the Nine Stars to the Cauldron with Emily. There she'll wait until Sanzha has a chance to bleed on the opals, and Elle a chance to reforge the armor into something non-shitty.
For my part, I'll go meet Primus!
Sure thing. One quick question: Are you bringing Oraga or dropping him back off?
Not for this. I'm going alone.
The Rigid Hall looms endlessly on a gear so vast as to be an entire world. A hall of perfect metal and gears, not the slightest thing out of alignment. You take it all in, the music of the gears a symphony of noises here that washes over you, as you arrive outside.
Mechanus always feels so strange whenever she visits. Nothing quite fits 'artificial' as much as this land of orderly gears.
Still, Seira is perfectly comfortable waiting here for her audience with Primus!
Deeper within. Deeper and deeper and deeper yet. Deeper through flawless halls of gears and metal, past Inevitables of all kind working in perfect tandem. You can see them as you go, everything perfect. Not a wasted motion, not a word spoken that is not essential and fitting. It's like watching a grand performance, everything in its proper place and executed flawlessly.
There is no art, yet the gears are beautiful. The music of it is strangely pleasing as you go, resonating within you. It feels right somehow, a sense of everything being how it should.
Sending Emily here to train would have been an interesting experience, Seira muses. Alas!
Deeper in yet, deeper. Past vast chambers of gears, lead ahead. Further on.
To a room vaster than your divine vision can see. A room with thousands and thousands of the same serene, calm face carved from metal, each bigger and wider than a human. They adorn the walls, the ceiling and even the floor at places. Here a figure awaits.
It is perfect. It is without flaw. An Inevitable that whirls with flawless sound, seemingly in perfect tandem with the noise here. Tall, made of shining mithral, clad in armor made of the same. It watches you with easy composure, "Right on time," the voice is one you know: Quadrus.
Those that escorted you are simply gone in the same moment.
"It's basic courtesy," Seira agrees, stepping closer to Quadrus.
What is a Voice of Primus, incidentally? Primus's avatar? His proxy?
The check is made without fail with your mods.
A Voice of Primus speaks for Primus. An extension of his will. Not always a proxy, but often so otherwise immensely powerful. No resident of Mechanus will dare question any command it gives, for it comes with the weight of Primus himself.
They are sometimes known by other names, but Voice of Primus is the most common.
"Stand here," Quadrus says, "And you will speak to Creator of All Gears."
Seira inclines her head in understanding, before getting right to the chase.
"I've first heard of the Prophecy two decades ago," she speaks up. "Of how you calculated that Creation will end from Shar's actions, if I understand it correctly. First, I decided to learn all I could about Creation and the main players, but now I find myself in need of clarifications. To begin with, is there an actual prophecy or are your conclusions merely called that amidst those in the know?"
The faces move.
The thousands of them are one.
It is a face without flaw, a handsome face. Not a flaw can be seen, the sculpted metal more lifelike than life itself. In the same voice they intone the same deep, smooth and calm tones, "Seira Aryn, my Prophecy is the only outcome. The calculations cannot lie, there is no deception in pure numbers. It is perfect and the one, absolute future."
At this Quadrus kneels, bowing his head in silent supplication.
That doesn't actually answer her question! But she can work with that.
"May I have the exact text of the Prophecy?"
"There is no text, only numbers." Primus agrees, but before you a simple scroll appears.
Seira unfurls it for a quick read, even as she asks her follow-up question. "Is the calculation based on all variables that existed prior to the point it was made? Can you correctly account for the Beyond and the Incarnations and predict them?"
It is....far more than a scroll. It is countless calculations and numbers, variables and math. More than you have ever seen, miles and miles and miles of written math, all slowly, inexorably building to...something. Something great and terrible, far beyond your ability to tell on a quick read, or get anything beyond a feeling of dread.
"All is accounted for," Is the answer you get.
"Please tell me who are the three Incarnations and where I can find each of them," Seira requests. "To be able to predict the architects of Creation, you would logically have to know this much. It is my belief that by appealing them to take action, the outcome will be changed."
"You cannot," Is the simple answer.
"Are you one of the Incarnations?"
"The Incarnations are absent save for Chaos," Is the answer you get. "Your question has become meaningless."
"I have good reason to believe that is not true," Seira tells him evenly. "Can you please inform me on what basis are you relying to state otherwise?"
"All is within the Prophecy, if you can understand it," Primus says, "The logic and the calculations are flawless. All is as said within it."
"Even if we agreed that Creation was a deterministic system, there would still be no accounting for those from Beyond. The Far Realm does not operate by our rules, and that includes any math that would exist within Creation," Seira reasons. "From your words it sounds as if you have given up on trying to save Creation, because you believe it cannot be done. Yet in a hypothetical situation where the Prophecy had still yet to be calculated, would you have an opinion as to whether Creation should go on? Would you, in that scenario, wish for Creation to be saved?"
"I believe there should be an Answer, the proper Answer," Primus intones, all of the mouths speaking as one, amid the ever present song of gears. "But the math is impossible to deny."
"I will study the information you have given me in detail before scheduling another appointment, to be prepared to discuss it properly," Seira tells Primus, before making her request again. "Won't you tell me what you know of the Incarnations? Where the other two have gone, where you know they were seen last?"
"Read the math," Primus answers, "There are answers to everything within it."
Seira inclines her head. "I shall do so. Thank you for this audience, Primus. I will contact Quadrus again once I have a proper grasp on the equations."
Let's go see Io, we've hit a wall.
Sure. One quick question before I go to the closing phase of this: Are you going to do anything with the Prophecy you were given right away?
I'll try to decypher the math while boosted by Honeydip.
We'll cover that shortly then.
It is done.
Quadrus rises once it is complete, "Shall I schedule another appointment?" He asks, "Or will you contact me later?"
"I will contact you, but rest assured that I will return without fail."
"Until the chosen time," Quadrus says, "I will walk you out."
Io or Prophecy first? Your call, just needed to know if I needed something prepped for that.
You know what, let's Prophecy first.
Okay then, gimme your setup here, any spells, ect ect ect.
Seira locks herself away in the same spell research room she uses to design new spells, although this time she's figuring out far more difficult equations. Honeydip is there as a sounding board and for her abilities to create a productive thinking environment, and Donald, too, is present for his unique insights.
I'll have the Princess Int spell for +4 the entire day, Honeydip will have the Princess Cha for +4 to cha and Righteous Halo for +4 to cha, both for the entire day. I can also swift-cast Extended Good Hope for 70 minutes per casting, so I think it's reasonable to have it available. Ideally, Donald and Honeydip would be able to aid another me.
Sure. Do you have a skill that's relevant here, just for the record?
Actually, yes. Profession/Researcher (33) +64 should be of use.
Incidentally, Greater Heroism gets the same treatment as its kid brother Good Hope.
Give me a check on that as well as a raw Intelligence check.
01:59 <Seira> roll 1d20+64+4+2+18 researcher
01:59 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 107 > [d20=19]
02:00 <Seira> roll 1d20+18+2+2+18+2 int
02:00 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d20=3]
If Donald and Honeydip are aiding me, that's +4 more.
It's absurdly long and complex, you can tell that much. Attempts to distill it or speed it up fail uniformly, and thus you begin it the long and hard way. While you aren't a trained mathematician, you are superhumanly intelligent and bolstered by as many means of supernatural power as you can lay hands on.
The math is intensely beautiful and complex, like entire worlds in each long equation that describes but one point of the great Prophecy of Primus and its conclusions. It's like reason, thought and power were distilled into formulae. It's like reading math with each number or letter beyond a word of power, resonating with the greater document in ways you can't even begin to comprehend.
You're certain a lesser mind would go mad merely reading this.
You're also certain it is the greatest thing you've ever read, as if Creation was formulated and expressed through this Prophecy.
After a day of study, you're convinced of one thing: You could spend eons plumbing every bit of the calculations here, and thousands and thousands of eons coming to fully appreciate and understand what Primus has written. Yet you begin to see the basics of it, the very beginning of it.
You also believe that you can go in several directions from here, all given from the insight of your research chops.
You could continue to study the Prophecy of Primus directly, learning more about it and gaining further insight in general.
You could attempt to find some bit of useful formulae and study it, and perhaps gain an insight and power from it.
You could attempt to find a trained mathematician or numerologist, which would doubtlessly provide additional insight and aid.
You could attempt to bolster your lawful nature somehow, as surely the unity would make it easier to understand such a fundamentally lawful thing.
You could attempt to find a way to make the words of power and the greater structure illuminate the way - high difficulty but possibly high reward, and possibly dangerous as well.
"Oghma gave me a list of highly qualified archmages living in seclusion," Seira muses. "I'll make visiting them a priority and see if any of them dabble in numerology before proceeding, I think."
And maybe read more material on mathematic formulas in the meanwhile, too.
Looks like it's Io visiting time.
Donald just flops back, "Someone who specializes in this," he agrees, "We need a big gun to help us go faster."
Okay, any prep for it?
"And keeps an open mind," Seira agrees. "If there's no one suitable, I'll just try to brute force it! Won't that be exciting?"
None, the standard travel spell package is standard.
Donald's groan is surely heard across the Cauldron as...
----
Thus you return to Io. The great wyrm awaits you once you approach, "Seira," he greets, "How progress your efforts?" He is the same as before, perhaps will always be the same. His massive form raises over you, though he speaks softly and is yet heard clearly.
"Very well, thank you for asking!" Seira responds brightly. "Imix ran away from me recently, and my talented people made a breakthrough with one of my research projects. That brought to mind my other research project, and I decided to come here and consult with you on the specifics. When I was here last, I talked about leading the Astral Reds and other dragons, and researching means to empower them. It occurred to me after the fact that while being incredibly well-informed, you may not have realized that I was talking about a prismatic format inspired by Baleruk, Tiamat and Afina, albeit one that ultimately went into a different direction. And then I thought to myself, who best to consult on such matters with but the God of All Dragonkind?"
"I understand," Io intones, "Speak of what you wish, Seira, and I will advise you."
"Part of it is the basic package, a really lovely prismatic appearance and some Light-based powers that are tied into the prismatic nature," Seira is all too happy to elaborate. "This is the core of the process, and we really can't force a transformation without them. There's always some give and take, but that's the basic concept. Then, there are the inspirations that advance the dragon's nature, mostly focused on the spiritual aspects but certainly boosting mental capabilities as well. It is my belief that finding further insight down this path would lead even Reds to value cooperation over seeking short-sighted gains that would be revealed as the lesser path with a touch of introspection. The carrot of using these new abilities properly towards defense, where most dragons have shown traditional weakness, should be a clear hint of the benefits of following the prismatic way. I've been pondering the stick of evil natures precluding the transformation, but it might be best to focus on the positive and on guidance. After all, you told me I should lead other dragons as a dragon, so perhaps it'd be as simple as showing them a better way in person rather than trying to entrap them as a mage."
Io listens to all of this before going on, "I will support you on this, so long as it drives them to continue to seek perfection. Do so and I have no quarrel with what you wish."
Seira nods gratefully. And in a sense, she and Donald keep on seeking perfection even now, don't they? Perhaps even Elle and Sanzha will be swept along!
"Now..." Io's head comes down, closer as he inspects you. "Tell me of your ongoing war and how it progresses, Seira. I would hear of what you have stirred with your claws."
"My plans didn't survive contact with the enemy, as you might've expected," Seira says with a rueful grin. "After the liberations of Benfal and Lifasa and the rescue of Zariel, I decided more direct action was needed. We've changed the planar status quo before, and this time I decided that I would rid the Inner Planes of the plague of slavery. I planned to work through diplomatic and financial pressure and approached various planar establishments to form my coalition. Celestia was amidst them, the largest one in fact."
She shrugs helplessly. "We planned to help slaves escape their masters while fighting the worst of the lot for negative reinforcement, but the fighting on the Celestia side turned quite overt and the Grand Sultan decided to escalate. I tried finding a formula that would allow him to make slow changes in our favor, but in the end he let fear and pride rule him, and the Abolition War began in earnest."
That covers the opening point, and Seira gathers her thoughts for a few moments before continuing. "The Sultan lead a massive assault against Lunia, possibly with Eblis's aid. It was repelled, and remains to date the sole attack on Celestia itself. Its interests across the planes were attacked, as we ours, and Imix stirred up trouble for mortals on my Prime of birth. I kicked him out with Waukeen's help, but that probably lead to our recent clash when I came to Zaaman Rul's aid. That's also when Alicia joined the fight, facing off the Grand Sultan, while I called your own chosen over to help Zaaman Rul. Duke Moore, of course, has been involved in the war effort from the start alongside myself."
Snapping her fingers, Seira produces a sheet of parchment (http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,104208.msg1126336.html#msg1126336). "One of the things I came across while raiding efreet interests. It seemed like a diversion at the time, but I've been thinking of taking a look at it again. Nice riddle, right?"
Io listens to everything and then looks at the paper.
"The efreet have been busy," Io declares in a calm voice. "Though that was supposed to have been destroyed eons and eons ago."
"Slavery? I suppose, though I'd be happy if we manage it now," Seira responds. "Earth is a bit low-key right now, but we're fighting there as well. I gained the aid of Air, though uniting its powers wasn't very easy, and the Great Xorn is on our side after he got rescued. We'll free everyone soon, I just know it!"
"No," Io says, "That paper. What do you know of it?"
Blinking, Seira admits, "Not much. I thought it was one of those dimensional vaults, albeit one that moves itself all the time. From how you're acting, I take it there's a lot more to it?"
"You're right on what it is - but this one is special," Io says, "Mask stole something from Grumbar long ago. His price to return it was for Grumbar to enlist the aid of the Lords of the Elements and make him a vault that traveled the Elemental Planes, ones with a defense that only Mask could bypass. What he stole isn't important, only that it was so valuable that Grumbar agreed to it."
Here Io smiles ever so faintly, just for one moment, "Mask was daring and canny, but he made one mistake. There was no promise that Grumbar wouldn't destroy it once it was done, and Grumbar had every motivation to have it destroyed."
"Doesn't seem like he succeeded, though," Seira muses. "Or was it like the Cauldron, and lost in a clash between them? If so, I'm obliged to follow the pattern and reclaim it!"
"I suggest you do," Io says, "A worthy quest and one with a great reward if all those treasures are still within. A veritable dragon's horde."
Seira grins, asking innocently, "Do you mind giving me a hint where to start? I can't exactly go ask Musk or Grumbar what happened. If it's supposed to only be on the Elemental Planes, how can there be a Null? Is it traveling through Astral?"
With a challenging look back, "Does a dragon need hints?" Io asks.
"A dragon would never admit so in mixed company, but a smart dragon always likes to have an edge on the competition~"
"Very well," Io says, "There are four elements as well as life and death, but the question is how they mix together."
"The basic premise was a misdirection," Seira murmurs, starting to smile slowly. "Not the cardinal four, but so much more. Thank you! Sometimes you just get stuck in tunnel vision and lose sight of other possibilities. I'll get right on that!"
Time to return and see if I can figure out why there's 6 numbers and 7 planar indicators.
Sure, any prep on how you're approaching this?
I'll bug Honeydip again, it'll be max research mode.
Sure. Okay, go ahead and list any spells, same long term duration format as the Prophecy.
Give me an K:P check, an K:A check, a Spellcraft check, a Profession (Researcher) check and a raw Int check.
22:31 <Seira> roll 1d20+64+4+2+18 researcher
22:31 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 97 > [d20=9]
22:31 <Seira> roll 1d20+18+2+2+18+2 int
22:31 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 50 > [d20=8]
22:32 <Seira> roll 1d20+89+4+2+18 K:A
22:32 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 125 > [d20=12]
22:32 <Seira> roll 1d20+89+4+2+18 K:P
22:32 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 122 > [d20=9]
22:32 <Seira> roll 1d20+74+4+2+18 spellcraft
22:32 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 115 > [d20=17]
Interesting results. Give me a followup on that Int check with a second Int check real quick.
Dragons are always interesting!
05:53 <Seira> roll 1d20+18+2+2+18+2 int
05:53 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 53 > [d20=11]
As need as you can tell, it seems to be sets of coordinates. Coordinates that change incredibly fast and are complicated, some sort of key or tracking. You're fairly sure you'd need to be in all the places indicated at once, as well as likely develop means to open the vault and more. You'd need to figure out the coordinate system first and how that works out for the planes.
Moreover, you're fairly sure that some of the names/nulls are meant to be combined in some way to produce locations - quasi and para elemental planes, you believe now. It's like trying to solve a 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzle, only that the entire thing changes every moment, forcing you to start over.
The only way to work out the coordinates would be some hands on exploration and work in the elemental planes, getting data to begin unraveling the mysteries of the coordinates.
Since that's how things seem to work, Seira invites Honeydip, Kascha and Oraga to take a trip to Magma with her! They'll make a round trip of the planes. Kascha had recently traveled them all, and might have some interesting insights while they're there.
How long is this meaning to take you, Cor? Honeydip does have various military responsibilities to see to. Oraga's much freer as is Kascha.
I'm actually thinking we'll make excellent bait by traveling the planes and that the dao or efreet would try something. If she prefers to stay behind and general it up, I'll invite Amaryl instead.
Mmmm...
We'll go with Amaryl here, I think. Okay, any prep?
Our standard combat loadout minus Glorious Rally and Celestial Valor.
All spells here are to be precast before leaving home [CL 34]. They are shared with all party members unless explicitly refused or are marked with *.
Overall: Glorious Rally, Celestial Valor, Ghost Touch (Armor, Shield and Weapons), Recitation (per round spell)
Defensive: Shield of Warding, Foresight, Visions of the Future, Dragonskin, Foresight, Superior Vigor (per round spell)
Perception Modes and Protections: True Seeing, *Sensual Blessing, Vision of the Omniscient Eye, Detect Scrying, Greater Arcane Sight
Movement Modes and Protections: Freedom of Movement, Pass Without Trace, Greater Anticipate Teleport
Skill Checks: *Bibliotheca Arcana, Greater Heroism, Voice of the Dragon
Ability Checks: Good Hope
Immunities and Resistances: *Mind Blank, Nondetection, Mass Death Ward, Heroes's Feast, Energy Res 30 (all)
Esoteric Boosters: *Many Moments of Prescience, *Moment of Prescience, Fortunate Fate, Spell Turning
Okay, this is bookmarked and I'll do spoiler blocks if they end up needed or after session, whichever comes first. Amaryl will add planar tolerance, so add that to the list?
Magma.
You appear on floating block of burning black stone amid a seemingly endless underground sea of lava. The red glow is intensely bright, as creatures of flame are occasionally seen wading or diving within the molten stone. Heaps of burning stone or lava given form, magma elementals. Every breath is a mix of heat and volcanic gases, the air thick with the fury that can end an entire civilization.
Oraga merely looks comfortable here.
"At least it's not Earth," Kascha says. "I miss Earth."
"Since you ascended, I don't think your death from before counts," Seira points out, before clapping her hands. "Now then! We have three goals with this trip across the planes. First, to see if we hit upon another clue to this parchment. Second, to try and manipulate elemental forces in order to create a little brother or sister for Omni if the conditions allow for it. Third, to take down any slavers or their allies once they catch wind of this trip. Any questions?"
She brings out the parchment in the meanwhile, intending to see how it reacts to Magma.
"Does it?" Kascha asks, "I can't imagine if anyone actually knows that." Perking up, "Maybe it doesn't! Oh, I'll have to try and find out."
The parchment is acting the same as before, at least on a glance.
"Well, I'm not barred from Fire if my avatar dies on it...."
Seira decides to collect a few numbers from Magma, writing them down. At the same time, she tries to approach the problem via another direction and tries to will into being their present location on the plane of Magma as represented numerically.
So run me through what you're trying to will into being here, I'm not sure if I follow the intent. Like you want to teleport to there?
I'm on Magma. I want to use divine power to translate my absolute position on Magma into numbers. If nothing instinctively bites, then as Mechanus would do it (because Mechanus would have GPS coordinates for everything).
I will also try to sense whether Mask's dimensional vault shares the same plane as I do every other moment, to see if I manage to spot a correlation between the planar indicators and Magma itself. I'll keep at it for ten minutes.
Okay, that makes sense. Give me a rank check, would you?
20:50 <Seira> roll 1d20+2
20:50 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 11 > [d20=9]
No roll, can't lose the roll.
The first approach doesn't work - you do need some method to frame it, some system. You invoke what Mechanus uses - and it doesn't seem to match, or at least easily lineup.
You can't sense the vault, or at least don't feel anything from it.
"Suggestions?" Seira voices, thinking out loud. "The elemental planes are infinite, so counting from an edge doesn't work. There aren't really edges, they just merge together into the quasi and para planes. There is no single, universal center from which to start counting, either. The divine realms might work, such as Kossuth's on Fire, but by their very nature they are not exactly on the planes themselves...."
Peering towards the distance, Seira wonders, "What if 'Null/Air/Fire/Fire/Fire/Fire/Fire' means the spot where the plane of Fire meets with Air and Negative Energy? Not Smoke nor Ash, but a spot the three meet? And on Fire itself, obviously."
Kascha takes the paper and reads it. "...I think we're overcomplicating this, Seira. Kossuth and the other three made this. Have you considered asking them or someone knowledgeable?" Now she's frowning," The problem is that we know it's a system but we don't have the foggiest of how to read the system or the system's rules. That's as good as being meaningless when we're dealing with an entire plane."
To this Amaryl comes over and peers at it, "No, I think Seira's onto something. That could be worth investigating."
"To my knowledge, Mask blackmailed Grumbar over it and then they fought. I'd prefer to solve this on our own rather than risking bringing more complications into this thing," Seira tells them. "Anyway, it's been a while and no attack or curious local conditions, so let's do the same at all of Magma's edges with the other planes, and then we'll hop over to Smoke?"
General agreement to that and...
Gimme an Int check as you work.
21:34 <Seira> roll 1d20+18+2+2+2 int
21:34 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 43 > [d20=19]
I'd also like to confirm the code is decimal based, and to see whether anything pops other than Null/Air/Earth/Water/Fire.
You see sets of four numbers with no decimals. It looks to be consistently four numbers for each entry, though, such as:
1394 4582 9238 2098 2398 5992
9234 5920 5839 5029 1113 8392
You don't think it uses decimals based on this. It sticks to whole numbers, though you have a suspicion that the numbers may be used together in some sort of fine tuned coordinates rather than being separate ones.
It's all patterns of various Null/Earth/Air/Fire/Water in various permutations. You notice it tends to be 'chunky' for lack of a better word. One element usually dominates. For example:
Null/Air/Fire/Fire/Fire/Fire/Fire
Air/Air/Air/Air/Air/Earth/Null
Fire/Fire/Fire/Fire/Null/Null/Water
However, you never see seven of the same, there's always at least one that's another element or null.
You also notice that with rare exceptions, opposing elements (earth/air and fire/water) are separated by an element or null in the sets of seven. Something like Fire/Water or Earth/Air is extremely rare, in less than 1% of sets.
Sorry to trouble you, Seira reaches out to Kossuth. Kascha and I are discussing ways to ascertain location on the Inner Planes, and she suggested that you might already have a system in place where a set of numbers correspond to a location on Fire. Could you please tell me if this is so?
It is true.
Could you please teach me how to use it?
There are several for different needs.
I see. May we visit? I have a cipher that might be using one of them, and I would appreciate the insight.
Come.
Thanking Kossuth, Seira gives Kascha a bright smile. "You were right, at least in the sense that Kossuth has several ways to detail locations in numbers. We're heading over to see him."
And then she transports them to the edge of Kossuth's divine realm, knocking politely.
Oraga rumbles, "Good. A fool's chase otherwise."
Amaryl hms, "Well, if one of them fits, great. If not, I would think Kossuth could discern it nonetheless."
Enter.
"Fighting some uppity efreet slavers would've been fine too," Seira reminds Oraga with a grin, heading into Kossuth's realm.
You are all immolated in flames.
Amid this infero is a great whirlwind of flames, rising high into the sky. Thousands of feet tall, and from it comes a gaze of intense, endless fire.
Speak.
We are on a treasure hunt, Seira responds, producing the scroll. I am convinced this represents ever-changing locations amidst the Elemental Planes. The code has eluded me so far, and trying to reinvent the cipher is a fool's task if you happen to recognize the one used here.
"Any aid would be helpful, sir," Amaryl adds, stepping forward and bowing.
Kascha does the the same, "It's interesting but we just don't know much about it and it's divinely made, so divinations are unlikely to help."
I do. It was made on request for a treasure vault.
That fits with what I heard. Can you please teach me the code so that I could run it down?
I will not; I gave my vow that I would not spread knowledge of this system.
However, I have no love for the one who obtained that vow. I know of another who solved the mystery for the sake of solving it and has no interest in the treasures. Seek Thurmar.
My knowledge of everything at 10 for 103 wants to know who that is.
It's obscure - ages ago a figure known as Thurmar had a place in Magma. A Magma Para-Elemental Sage you believe he called himself, a self styled great learner and wise man.
In more recent times you've heard of him every great while, the occasional figure mentioned in passing by those who sought knowledge in Magma.
Thank you, I believe I know of him.
Then go and seek him.
Seira bows respectfully, and once the niceties are observed leads the way out of Kossuth's realm. Then, she plane shifts them back to Magma, musing, "Back to where we started."
She then teleports them five hundred feet away from Thurmar's place of residence, opting to approach it slowly.
Once you're on Magma but before the teleport, "Oh, we'll meet a wiseman. That's always worthwhile," Kascha smiles, "I wonder what he knows?"
Amaryl's more thoughtful, "If this vault is so rich in treasure, why wouldn't a wise man want it, Seira? There must be more to this than is apparent."
"Pistis Sophia wouldn't want it either, and he's a sage of Fire. Still, it can't hurt to talk to him. Kossuth wouldn't send us into a trap."
Even though she's always prepared to face one!
Amaryl readies her bow nonetheless, while Kascha is prepared and Oraga at your side.
One shift later and you appear at the foot of a looming volcano, within a massive cavern with the roof thousands of feet above you. Great waterfalls of lava cascade down at points, forming great lakes of lava all around the volcano. Lakes that swim with fire and magma mephits, swimming about like fish within.
Fire resistance would help, but it's not immunity....
"Are you two alright with heading down there?" Seira asks Kascha and Oraga.
"We're fine," Kascha pipes up, "I can cast energy immunity twice. Give us just a minute, Seira."
"You've got it!"
The spells are thus cast, the party protected.
Amaryl meanwhile takes to the air, starting to fly up the volcano.
Seira follows suit, once everyone is ready to take on the worst fires!
Quick Perception?
103
Thus you crest atop it and over. Inside the volcano's crater lava waterfalls come from above, forming a great lake of pure, red-orange molten rock. Here great islands of solid steel float, and on them are bookshelves. Great bookshelves stacked on top and top and top and top of others, making spires of them. Each bookshelf is taller than Hanna, stuffed to the brim. In spite of the heat here not a book burns.
A series of elevated bridges and steel pillars rising from the lava sea provide passage from one island to another, forming a great maze of bookshelves, steel islands and bridges, often with gaps or tops in the shelves forming great ledges, where various equipment and strange things sit.
"Oh!" Kascha gasps, a hand to her mouth, "Seira, we've made a terrible mistake!"
"This is where you should explain what the mistake is, and if it's time-critical lead with the information," Seira prods Kascha.
Smiling, "We didn't find Simmer and invite her. She'd think this is paradise," Kascha declares.
Amaryl's expression softens into a fond smile, "From what I've heard, she would think that."
"She would," Kascha agrees, "I even heard she settled in her own volcano, but I doubt she's made it as grandly as this."
"I might be biased but I think our volcano is the best volcano," Seira says quietly, looking around for any sort of directional signs or guards.
"Of course it is," Amaryl agrees, "Though I do like this style. Oh, I want an area like this, Seira. I'll have to make it when we have some time."
Peering about, you see on one of the islands an elemental sits. A being of burning magma, the size of Hanna or so. It reads a book that does not burn in its burning grasp, head down as it reads.
"I'm getting ideas for a magical library as we speak," Seira assures Amaryl, flying over towards the elemental. It seems large enough to hold a decent conversation, and the book-reading supports that.
"Hello!" she greets him, albeit not that loud since they are in a library. "I'd like a moment of your time."
The elemental looks up and waves. "Good ladies, of course you're welcome here," he calls," Come join me!"
Success! "Do you get many visitors here?" Seira asks him, questioning her power in the meantime whether this is Thurmar.
Should be fairly easy with either knowledge or a divine power emulation of commune (with self).
Can't commune yourself and get info you yourself don't know. That's common sense. Knowledge would suggest this is him, though.
"A few," he calls back, Kascha taking out her book and writing. "Adventuresome types, knowledge seekers and treasure seekers. Which of those are you?"
"All of the above!" Seira brightly responds. "I'm Seira, and these are Amaryl, Kascha and Oraga. Kossuth recommended that we stop by, so here we are-- and let me tell you, we like what you've done with the place! I especially like the way knowledge is provided safely to the Fire-natured. Insisting on using regular paper is very elegant."
"It is," Kascha agrees as she scribbled away.
Amaryl inspects a bookshelf, "Ah, fire warding," she says, "Well woven magic. Is it yours?"
Here the elemental chuckles deeply, like a rumbling volcano. "All of the above? That's new. Then just tell me what you want here?"
"I want your help deciphering some code," Seira says, producing the marque 1394 4582 9238 2098 2398 5992 Fire/Earth/Fire/Fire/Water/Fire/Earth in golden letters floating in the air between them. "Kossuth said you cracked it, and that while he was bound by a vow to not teach anyone, you weren't."
"Oh ho ho ho," Chuckling at that, "That one was a volcano of a code to crack. The numbers mean different things depending on the alignment of elemental zones," he begins, "So there's something like...." a pause to think, "Trillions of quadrillions of possible combinations just to begin with, not even counting different planes and instances It took a lot of math and work to get anywhere on it, I lost a few good eons to that. It's impossible to brute force, you absolutely have to have the code and have it solved to use it. What's better is how the code resists magical means to divine its system. Are you familiar with the theory of Primus Numbers, where certain numbers in the right numerological context can refer to certain established important number strings instead of the number? Well, it uses that and some wonderful design work to tap into certain forbidden places with at least one location each time, each warded and that warding extends to the entire thing through the numerological context, which in turn means the entire thing may as well be blank to a typical divination. You can tell a superior being made this when you see things like that, since no mortal mind could hold the numerological contexts needed to properly attune the spell, let alone manage the folds and the work around of forbidden areas."
Kascha scribbles away furiously, "So it's using number combinations as a shorthand to signify and direct that other work? Fascinating. I've overseen portal creations before, and usually that's the role of something like a metal for a plane shift or certain construction materials for a permanent gate, like rubies in a gate to Baator."
"That's what makes it so brilliant," Thurmar goes on, "It applies the principle in another way and uses what they are to leverage it, it's really fascinating."
Still writing away fast as she can, as Amaryl looks lost, Kascha says, "I was having a talk with Surru about that - Surraruthru, a dragon friend - and he was talking about potential uses for similar things in dispel magic, though it doesn't look like it'll easy work out. Dispels come down to the strength of the casters rather than outside magic."
Oraga rumbles, arms crossed.
"Surraruthru, is it?" The elemental says, "A dragon of good taste if he's looking into that sort of magic. Really though, he should talk to a skilled numerologist about it, they can give more insight and a professional opinion."
"Not in this instance, since Numerology is not among my skills, but I am aware of using numbers to represent series of numbers." Seira projects a fresh marque alongside the previous one, consisting of 1 1 2 3 5 8. "Also, I know that some numbers are more unique than others from a mathematical standpoint. How did you break the code, though? If it's impossible to brute force, even a skilled Numerologist like you would have been rebuffed through its protections. I've hit on them myself. So how did you do it?"
"Well..." Smiling at that, showing a craggy maw full of sizzling lava. "That's a sage's secret to keep. I'm rather proud of it myself, I have to say. Some of my better work."
He probably brute-forced it, Seira decides. He did mention spending eons on it.
"I like you!" she declares. "Let's be friends!"
Kascha's still writing away as the elemental offers his hand out. "We can negotiate over the code after that," he says, "Since you want it?"
"Yep," Seira agrees, shaking his hand.
He has a strong grip, the hand shake back and forth. "Now you want the solution to the code and I want something for it. Lady Aryn," he goes on, "You're not a normal quester seeking the answer to some trivial question. Do you really want to go on some quest when you have nothing to prove? I don't think you do, so let's talk a trade instead."
"I'm listening," Seira says pleasantly, visibly calming down since they're entering negotiations.
Amaryl settles in as well, "We'd love to talk," she agrees. "What is it you want?"
Kascha's still writing, utterly lost in it.
"I'm aware of you by reputation - I'd like some of your own hard won knowledge," The elemental says, "This won't be cheap, understandably."
"Have you studied Primus's Prophecy?"
"I haven't gotten my hands on a copy," he admits, "But I've heard it's complex."
"Primus wrote it down at my request. It is indeed as complex as it is beautiful, and the numbers are very orderly. They contain many insights, and as many references as I've caught, I know enough to tell a skilled Numerologist would derive far more benefits from studying it. I'd be happy to examine it together at length, and share our findings. And if the process proves as beneficial as I present it, it could open the door for further collaboration along the same vein. I do happen to have my share of esoteric knowledge."
"You have a copy?" The elemental slowly strokes his chin, the grinding of stone heard at that. "Do you have it here?"
"It honestly doesn't matter whether I carry it on my person, because the proper answer is 'I have it if I want to have it'," Seira responds. "Do I take your question to mean that you're interested in pursuing this avenue of research together with me?"
" I am, but I insist on a chance to see it first," The elemental says, "So I can make an informed decision."
Seira pauses in thought, tapping the table with the tip of her index finger. "Very well," she says finally. She did happen to bring it along, since Seira figured that getting numerologists interested in studying it would require some form of proof, although it is kept quite protected in her possession.
On second thought, after showing it to Thurmar she really should leave it in her avatar's protection at the Cauldron. For now, however, she produces the scroll.
The elemental takes the scroll and open sit. He stares for long moments, before gently closing the scroll.
"Eruption," he says mildly.
"I should note that I intend to study it to disprove Primus's ultimate conclusion," Seira voices, storing the scroll away. "I have it on good authority that there are things he couldn't have accounted for, although he refused to consider it without detailed mathematical proof."
"Well, you have me," The elemental agrees, "I can't pass up that chance to study."
"Glorious! My quest shouldn't take that long since you know the cipher, after all, so would you like to stop by the Cauldron tomorrow? It's a safe environment to study in, if I say so myself."
"I'll bring the cipher," The elemental agrees, poking to a particular, large shelf stuffed with thick tomes, "I think that's the cipher bookshelf, I'll have to check."
Rather than rudely search his place for him, Seira lets Thurmar find the cipher. Meanwhile, she retrieves the scroll with the ever-changing coordinates as she waits.
The elemental doesn't move. After several moments, "...yes?" he asks, "Are you waiting on something? Oh! I meant I'd bring the cipher with me tomorrow."
"Works for me," Seira agrees. "Until then."
There's really no point in traveling the Inner Planes until then, so in a change of plans she takes her friends home with her.
Okay then, cool. Next move then?
I'll wait until tomorrow and if Elle is available invite her and Kascha for the study session with Thurmar.
Fantastic, give me a quick d100.
21:33 <Seira> roll 1d100
21:33 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 39 > [d100=39]
Thus the next day passes and soon enough? He's here, an entire massive bookshelf following him like a lost puppy.
Seira has her avatar guide him over to a library established on palace grounds. Located in an out of the way corner of the gardens, it is filled with reference materials and, most importantly, provides a chance of pace from the more modern research chambers she had been using before. Given lackluster progress made there, Seira figured to try a change of pace.
"Welcome!" she greets, gesturing at her sides. "You've already met Kascha, and this is Elle."
Kascha smiles and starts to rise but stops and instead clears her throat. Hello, it's good to meet you again.
Elle does rise, a warm smile as she offers her hand out, the two shaking hands as much as they can.
"A remarkable opportunity," is the response, "Also, your world's design is beautiful. A volcano is a natural choice, don't you agree?"
"Oh yes!" Seira eagerly agrees. "During my mortal days, I recall having an argument with fellow archmages. It revolved around how male wizards were drawn to magely towers while female ones apparently preferred caves, but why not both? And then, set it on fire?"
Kascha blushes and looks down, while Thurmar chuckles like rumbling stones. "Why not set it on fire," he agrees. "Now that bookshelf there is a good copy of the cipher. You'll need to read up on it and practice some, but that's hardly an insurmountable goal for you."
"Thanks! I'm sure we'll find a good home for it here," Seira agrees, and the room grows in response to her will to allow for an empty spot for it in the cryptography section.
"For now, how about we focus on the Primus Prophecy?" she offers.
My setup! I'll have the Princess Int spell for +4 the entire day (+2 to int checks and int skill checks), and can provide it for everyone here on request. I can also swift-cast Extended Good Hope for 70 minutes per casting (+2 to int checks), so I think it's reasonable to have it available. Same for Greater Heroism (+4 to int skill checks). It got glossed over last time, but are Elle, Kascha and Thurmar allowed to aid another me? Or roll their own checks and have it contribute?
Motivate Intelligence would be +20 to int checks and int skill checks.
Aid another is possible - Elle and Kascha will, Thurmar will fulfill this own role to help. Any other questions before we get this going?
I'm ready.
Okay, give me Profession (Researcher) and a raw Int check, same as last time.
18:58 <Seira> roll 1d20+64+4+2+18+4 researcher
18:58 <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d20+64+4+2+18+4 researcher --> [ 1d20=8 ]{100}
18:59 <Seira> roll 1d20+20+2+2+20+4 int
18:59 <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d20+20+2+2+20+4 int --> [ 1d20=5 ]{53}
Last time, for reference:
It's absurdly long and complex, you can tell that much. Attempts to distill it or speed it up fail uniformly, and thus you begin it the long and hard way. While you aren't a trained mathematician, you are superhumanly intelligent and bolstered by as many means of supernatural power as you can lay hands on.
The math is intensely beautiful and complex, like entire worlds in each long equation that describes but one point of the great Prophecy of Primus and its conclusions. It's like reason, thought and power were distilled into formulae. It's like reading math with each number or letter beyond a word of power, resonating with the greater document in ways you can't even begin to comprehend.
You're certain a lesser mind would go mad merely reading this.
You're also certain it is the greatest thing you've ever read, as if Creation was formulated and expressed through this Prophecy.
After a day of study, you're convinced of one thing: You could spend eons plumbing every bit of the calculations here, and thousands and thousands of eons coming to fully appreciate and understand what Primus has written. Yet you begin to see the basics of it, the very beginning of it.
You also believe that you can go in several directions from here, all given from the insight of your research chops.
You could continue to study the Prophecy of Primus directly, learning more about it and gaining further insight in general.
You could attempt to find some bit of useful formulae and study it, and perhaps gain an insight and power from it.
You could attempt to find a trained mathematician or numerologist, which would doubtlessly provide additional insight and aid.
You could attempt to bolster your lawful nature somehow, as surely the unity would make it easier to understand such a fundamentally lawful thing.
You could attempt to find a way to make the words of power and the greater structure illuminate the way - high difficulty but possibly high reward, and possibly dangerous as well.
And now part 2.
With Thurmar's help and more time, you make headway.
"If nothing else," Thurmar says, "There's numerological patterns to be understood, if excessively complex. The sheer self referencing and interlocked nature of it's unlike any work I've seen before. That math flows together, and more than that, each answer suggests the next, building on it."
You can see the pattern yourself now, more evident with a ringer to help you in that field. It all leads to some sort of great final answer, though you're still quite far from it.
"The way it weaves in numbers and patterns that are words of power is remarkable," Thurmar continues, "You were correct about those. Numbers have power of course, everyone who is familiar with the field knows that, but I'm startled out comprehensive this set is."
"My intention is to get as far as we can manage, and then have the words of power show us the rest of the way to the greater conclusion," Seira voices. "And once we've taken the whole thing in, something of this level of complexity would be altered by a single unforeseen variable. We just need to find the right spot to use it."
"That assumes it's possible and not accounted for," Thurmar says, tapping the scroll, "Anything like this tends to self reference and self reinforce. For example, have you ever read a Baatorian document? If you look carefully, the number nine will feature repeatedly and often, lending power and support to it, especially if used with any other relevant numbers. Imagine that on a far greater scale an far more empowered and you begin to get the lava flow of it. Properly done, it's hard to alter a system like that because it's so well reinforced by itself that a deviation is accounted for and corrected automatically."
"Are you saying that..." Here Kascha peers in at once such formula, "That it's a self reinforcing reality?"
"I wouldn't call it with those words, but yes," Thurmar explains, "If merely changing a number or adding a bit could invalidate such a grand calculation, what would be the point? Now it's possible the Beyond may suffice regardless, and if anyone could plan for that it would be Primus, but it won't be plugging in a single variable and gleefully watching it crash down."
"Primus might be reinforcing reality in this manner, but he isn't the only one in play," Seira says reasonably. "Besides, Creation is not a deterministic multiverse. To even suggest it is ridiculous, since its most important rule is the existence and importance of free choice."
"What precisely do you mean by deterministic?" Elle asks at that, "It really depends on how you define terms."
"AHEM!" Thurmar clears his throat, "Winnowing down the vent of philosophy and definitions is a great way to waste time," he says, "When we aren't trying to do that, it's best avoided. You still test yourself against the magic, sight and mind of Primus, even if so."
Kascha studies the scroll a little more, "Saying it it or isn't doesn't help if we can't keep up with Primus and counter him," she says. "For our purposes, it doesn't matter because if we can't, it's meaningfully as if it was because we can't use that information to effectively prove that it isn't. In other words: We need to keep going and not put the cart ahead of the horse."
"If we show him an alternate path, I believe Primus will actively move to counter Shar. So in a sense, we're trying for a self-fulfilling prophecy here ourselves. Now let's find that one thing unaccounted for, be it the Beyond or Antenora's ascension."
"Something, anything," Elle agrees, as...
Going to spend more time on it, then?
Of course
Gimme the same checks again, spending another day on it.
21:06 <Seira> roll 1d20+64+4+2+18+4 researcher
21:06 <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d20+64+4+2+18+4 researcher --> [ 1d20=13 ]{105}
21:06 <Seira> roll 1d20+20+2+2+20+4 int
21:06 <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d20+20+2+2+20+4 int --> [ 1d20=1 ]{49}
A day of work and you can tell one thing - so far, nothing seems unaccounted for. At least in the sphere you're slowly working through. Everything is incredibly interlinked and tight, leaving no openings that you can see for such a thing. Every time you think you have one, you soon find something that ties into it, denying that and strengthening the Prophecy.
It's rather like if you try and push someone aside, only to find two people are holding that person in place. You go to shove one of them, but two more are holding each of them, and in turn that lets that one holds the first one, who is surely holding someone else and so on and so forth. It's almost as if it's anticipating your questions and answering them by the very way it flows.
You feel as if you could sometimes stop thinking and simply follow the Prophecy, understanding that's complete and can provide you everything you need. You merely have to trust and submit to it.
You haven't hit on mention of the Far Realm yet, admittedly.
You now have a beginning grasp of the Prophecy of Primus. This grants a +1 bonus to any rolls related to it. You aren't remotely close to the full thing, but you at least understand how it's structured and how the logic tends to work.
Seira maintains a wall of separation between her growing understanding of the Prophecy and her instinctual rejection of it. Thurmar might dismiss it as philosophy, but everything in Creation was made to seek the Answer and Primus's Prophecy isn't it. Seira's own belief is that the Answer is in cooperation for mutual benefit and the decent nature of people.
But there are concrete reasons to think the Prophecy is wrong, even if she won't voice them in present company. She knows far more of the Beyond than she's spoken, and she knows of Io's efforts. She knows of One, and of how Asmodeus and Zaphkiel must be working towards a common cause in saving Creation from Shar, which would no doubt shock most who learn of it. She knows of Ao's plans, and of the Arbiter's counter-plans, and Primus simply cannot be privy to all that for if his Prophecy had revealed suchit is likely Ao would have moved to neutralize the threat or merely rejected she and Alicia when they were candidates for Ascension. And finally, Primus cannot understand Hope properly. Could he have accounted for it, when Seira is the first deity to represent that power? What of how Hope saved Lifasa? Would Baator had moved against it if everything were predetermined, given how much they must have studied the Prophecy? Seira has to trust in herself and in that power to make a difference as she seeks to find her mathematical proof!
I will keep going for up to a week, unless I feel I'm treading water. Given I got a bonus for rolls, I feel I'm on the right path.
As you mull that all over, and during a break?
"Seira," Amaryl comes to you, hugging you from behind. "I have wondrous news - our war effort has become easier now."
"How so?" Seira asks her curiously, startled from her thoughts.
"Alicia and Antenora reached Eblis," Amaryl explains, "He'll no longer interfere." Her smile is radiant, "He's no longer a factor on Fire at all."
"That's our in!" Seira exclaims, absent-mindedly making plans to send the world's biggest fruits basket to Sylica. "I know I haven't seen anything of the sort in Primus's work so far, and it touches on other elements, too!"
Like One, and the power of ridiculous victories no one believed were possible.
I'll try again!
Sure, gimme the rolls again.
22:12 <Seira> roll 1d20+64+4+2+18+4+1 researcher
22:12 <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d20+64+4+2+18+4+1 researcher --> [ 1d20=19 ]{112}
22:12 <Seira> roll 1d20+20+2+2+20+4+1 int
22:12 <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d20+20+2+2+20+4+1 int --> [ 1d20=9 ]{58}
It's more complex than you first thought. You begin to see signs of it - beyond the formula supporting one another, the greater hunks of formulae and structures do the same. It's all neatly regulated, interlocking on a grander scale as well as a smaller scale. Patterns within patterns, the logic perfect. You've yet to find even the slightest gap or hole, everything working together with a flawless logic that you've never seen before, not like this.
If the Prophecy is a system, it may be the first system ever recorded with no flaws from within it.
On a short break, Kascha rests her head down and dozes. Thurmar has gone to get some lava while Elle rubs her head. "Are you thinking the same thing I am, Seira?"
"No, I'm thinking that I've yet to find a chink in the armor. You?"
"I'm thinking there isn't one," Elle says, "At least from the inside. Which means we need to be reading more for understanding and hoping to beat it from the outside, rather than the inside." Standing up, going to a liquor cabinet nearby and pouring herself a glass of wine, "You don't win by sitting in your shop and being meek, you win by making it fly off and making a name for yourself, rather than being limited to one city." Raising her glass to you in toast, "Or do you think you can beat it from the inside?"
"I do indeed," Seira asserts, ensuring that her conversation with Elle cannot be overheard via divine will. "The logic must account for the Beyond, for One, for Antenora's Ascension, for Syllen and Io and Zaphkiel and Asmodeus plotting, for the Nodes, for Eblis's choice. At a minimum, they must all be allowed within the greater framework, or I could point at an event, then point at the body of work and tell Primus this particular Hopeful act is unaccounted for and thus invalidates his conclusion. His theoretical model, after all, must perfectly represent reality right now or it cannot be stated to represent the future in perfection. So long as the Prophecy does not represent for the future perfectly, we have a window of action."
"You're more optimistic than I am," Elle admits, draining her wine in a long gulp, then pouring a half glass and taking that to sip. "It feels too perfect to me."
"It's trying to get me to go along with it, which suggests to me there is a weakness," Seira insists, shaking her head. "If it were so perfect, that perfection would stand on its own. There would be no need to insight others to accept it quickly."
She shrugs then, asking Elle, "What would your outside approach involve?"
"That's a wobbly leg to stand on," Elle observes, as Kascha murmurs something her sleep. Something like, "Ooooh...Surru....I told you to clean up..."
A pause at that, Elle giving Kascha a resigned, amused look. "I'm not sure yet, I'll tell you when I've read more."
Seira nods her agreement. "We have a week to hit this with all we've got, so let's pursue all angles. By all means, do it."
Okay, gimme another round of checks, would you?
d100 as well.
20:14 <Seira> roll 1d20+64+4+2+18+4+1 researcher
20:14 <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d20+64+4+2+18+4+1 researcher --> [ 1d20=4 ]{97}
20:14 <Seira> roll 1d20+20+2+2+20+4+1 int
20:14 <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d20+20+2+2+20+4+1 int --> [ 1d20=11 ]{60}
20:14 <Seira> roll 1d100
20:14 <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=82 ]{82}
You're about halfway when Donald pokes in, "Seira," he calls, "Got an intelligence report you need to hear."
"Apologies," Seira tells the others, exerting her will to this time exclude all but Donald from the conversation. "Please fill me in."
"Zaaman Rul's man on the inside of the Sultan's court passed word on when news about Eblis hit the court," Donald looks amused now, "That his divine realm was just gone. He described it as disbelief given way to confusion, panic and some considerable arguments with the Hellish representatives at court."
"Amaryl gave me the heads up the other day," Seira voices. "Does Zaaman Rul feel we should use aggressive diplomacy against the Sultan at this time?"
"That's the other part - he wants to meet with you," Donald says, "Perhaps we can get a favorable settlement in light of that, or at least some concessions."
"Invite him over," Seira decides. "We'll play host this time, and an avatar is fine. Ask Romiel if he is able to do the same. Perhaps we'll find fresh insight this way."
"I'll see to it," Donald agrees. "Anyone else?"
"Please ask for Istishia to send a representative, but we'll keep them separated until a consensus had been reached. The rest of our friends can be contacted at that point, but doing so now would be premature."
Donald smiles a bit, "Ooooooh, now that's interesting. What should I tell her?"
"That I would like a consult from Water's perspective, considering recent developments during the Abolition War. Istishia's edict ensures there are no other possible candidates, after all, yet someone needs to advise us as to Water's interests."
Donald nods and lets it go at that and...
Going to get the results now?
Yep
It's a day of generic progress, seeing more of the same unfold. A day of needed steps, not the most interesting but essential to progress. Simply tying up loose ends, establishing the next phase and so on and so forth.
You do feel you're getting more of a grasp how dense this is. How it accounts for everything, including the feelings and even hopes of others, tying them into the greater calculation iwth a machine like coldness and precision.
How insidious. Can you quantify hope, god of inevitables? Seira decides, however, that she might be getting too heated about this and opts to try for a different angle. There are a number of potential black swan events, and she looks at the Prophecy with an eye for how it predicts and then accounts for those she has personal knowledge of, before tackling the entire mechanism for such.
Gimme the next day's checks since you're working on that angle first, I think.
18:52 <Seira> roll 1d20+64+4+2+18+4+1 researcher
18:52 <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+64+4+2+18+4+1 researcher --> [ 1d20=6 ]{99}
18:52 <Seira> roll 1d20+20+2+2+20+4+1 int
18:52 <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+20+2+2+20+4+1 int --> [ 1d20=7 ]{56}
Could you elaborate on the events you're thinking of here as black swan events?
Let's say that they are events that changed the planar status quo, or would have had they become known, while being a real surprise for anyone in the know. Liberation of Androlynne, fiendish invasion of Lifasa, Benfal's ascension to Elysium, Lifasa's liberation and the defeat of the Duke of Destiny, the Abolition War, Eblis's remorse, Torm's fall, Zariel's fall and rise, the destruction of the nameless deity in the Fairest Star debacle (and said debacle in the first place), Io's return, the Nodes and Oberuth being chosen by Syllan, the First Vampire crusade that already got several second generation vamps killed....
You begin to look towards that and you slowly discern an important trend.
There's a 'core' of normality to the prophecy. It covers the most common things of course, a base for lack of a better phrase. Yet that's far from everything in Creation, and in time it begins to account for less and less likely scenarios. Things such as overthrows of evil regimes or good ones, the fall of worlds, the defeat of prominent figures, planar wars and more. You haven't found everything yet, and at times things are only insinuations backed and supported logically as you explore the Prophecy, but one thing seems to be in common.
If it can happen in Creation through normal processes, you get the feeling it's accounted for in some way.
Then the Beyond is the key, and Seira focuses on that next. Antenora, Eblis and that devil flunky of his who became One, Io and Sylian who not only became One but chose champions of their own and empowered them with inspiration from Beyond, the Arbiter who might not be one of the three founding Incarnations but a visitor from outside Creation, Pale Night and her own champion and Seira's long-term pal, Zguujaj....
As you start to?
"Seira," Donald ducks in, "Are you ready for that meeting?"
"Sure thing," Seira agrees. "Kascha, can you entertain Istishia's avatar or delegation when they arrive?"
For her part, she decides to freshen up quickly and asks Amaryl to greet the arrivals, intending to join them just as pleasantries have been exchanged.
You find your two guests already waiting in comfort, the two in a deep conversation. Zaaman Rul is there...and so is an avatar of Barachiel.
"Seira," Zaaman Rul rises, coming forth. He comes to you...and pulls you into a hug, lifting you off the ground. "You're well," he says, "Everything smiles on our war for such a victory to follow our last victory."
Barachiel's own expression is calm, "Were nothing else to happen, we have still tilted the balance of Fire in our favor."
"Thank you for coming, my friends," Seira greets the pair happily. "I too agree that the balance of Fire has already shifted, and wondering whether it might have shifted enough resulted in this impromptu conference. Allow me to sum up our situation."
She nods at Zaaman Rul, saying, "Your power is ascendant on Fire, while Imix was shamed and forced into a retreat during an assault he put much of his political capital into. Eblis has abandoned the enemy's side, returning home. Kossuth has watched these events, and allowed them to pass without intervention. To that, we might add that Asmodeus has yet to act in Fire's favor, perhaps waiting for Akil bin Faheem to betray the Sultan and back him when he seizes power. Water has remained silent, while events on Earth are going our way." She pauses briefly, before adding, "The following information is secret at this time, but our elemental allies on Earth and the Xorn are aided by both Princess Chan and Yan-C-Bin, and Alicia has decided to direct Sylica's resources towards that front. I don't expect help to come from the Dao again to their allies on Fire, not after their disastrous attempt in support of the Sultan."
There is the temptation to turn it into an inspirational speech, but Seira tempers herself and merely asks out loud, "What if conditions on the ground are enough for the Grand Sultan to abolish slavery throughout the efreet empire?"
"If we could get him to agree to it and trust him? I would be willing to accept that," Barachiel says, "If such a thing can be done, and I doubt the Great Sultan will accept it even now."
Zaaman Rul considers those words, "Not lightly, but perhaps with a proper boot to the throat and blade to the heart. He may be powerful, but his position has become abruptly vulnerable."
"My analysis from the outbreak of hostilities suggests that Water staying neutral hurt us more than the enemy," Seira voices. "Do you concur?"
Not waiting for the answer, she goes on to say, "It was my failure in convincing Istishia to allow Water's powers to follow their conscience, but what if we were to present an added incentive at this point? My analysis also believes that Water will act when Istishia judges it most beneficial to Water's interests."
"We've come to the same conclusion in our own councils," Barachiel concurs, "We've discussed it and made efforts, but the Water Lord has rebuffed all attempts thus far. Do you have a gambit now?"
"I asked Istishia to come over for negotiations," Seira responds. "Once we formulate a strategy, I hope we can make an offer that sees Water benefit from joining the fight on our side. Then, the Sultan will be faced with three grand losses in quick succession, and Akil with his devil allies ready to stab him in the back. Since few efreet deserve to die as badly as Akil does, I intend to force a duel with him and kill him, and the Sultan gets the breathing space he needs to maintain control of the empire for a while longer. No complicated gambits this time around. An offer to Istishia, and a follow-up offer to the Sultan, the latter delivered with the backing of overwhelming fire. Let's force a choice out of him, to either accede to our wishes on the matter of slavery or formally align with the Hells. Everyone's been holding their collective breath on that, and I suspect none more than the Sultan because he knows he has lost once he'd brought them in."
"Then do it," Zaaman Rul agrees, "If you can properly barter it out of Istishia."
Barachiel merely says, "Then a third setback to finish this," he agrees, "A third may indeed be decisive or force a decision. I agree - try. If the Water Lord will support you in this, all the better."
"What would you be comfortable offering Water for their aid?" Seira inquires. "I think we should be direct and open about this negotiation, and my realm is still new by planar standards. My promises alone may not be sufficient in securing Istishia's agreement."
"I have a great deal of authority here," Barachiel continues, "Zaphkiel has given me great latitude to act, as long as it is within Celestia's interests. As long as it is morally clear and does not compromise Celestia's mission, I can offer almost anything."
"In that case, let's have that chat," Seira voices. She glances at Zaaman Rul, saying, "Due to your natures, I presume you would prefer to stay out of this part?"
I'd like us to talk to Istishia, who I presume either is here or sent a representative.
"Yes," Zaaman Rul says, "The Water Lord makes my skin crawl."
Seira smiles at him, saying, "Wish us luck, then."
Let's go do this thing with Barachiel and Donald and Amaryl.
Awesome. Any prep needed?
No.
The represenative of the Water Lord is an elemental. A human sized one, pure water and nothing else. "Seira," it greets in a voice that is not quite its own. "Barachiel, Amaryl, Kascha. Speak."
"The Abolition War has been going well for us, especially on Fire," Seira leads with, to get straight to the point. "Imix and the Grand Sultan were sent back in defeat, and Eblis has rejoined Celestia's ranks. The Sultan's closest advisers are reaching for the knives and he knows it, too. We feel the time has come for a decisive move against Fire."
"You desire my aid," The elemental says, " A bludgeon to enforce compliance."
Seira nods. "This is a situation where mutual benefit can be derived from working together. Water has waited for a chance to make the most impactful entrance into the War, one which would benefit Water the most. Barachiel and I believe the moment is now. If you enter the fight on our side, that very act may well be enough to leave Fire lessened and our enemies signing a peace treaty under our terms. In that case, you suffer no losses, gain the prestige of acting presciently and Celestia and the Cauldron would gladly support our friends of Water who made this all possible."
"We will," Barachiel agrees, "Celestia and the Cauldron stand together in this matter, and wish for you to stand with us as well. If you have waited for this chance, you will not come to a better one, a chance to be the third and decisive factor to end this war to all of our victories."
To this the elemental listens and replies after, "What would those terms be?"
"We would demand that all slaves are freed and slavery itself is outlawed in the Efreet Empire. That alone would incur massive financial losses to the efreet, and eliminating some of the die hard nobles who refuse to comply would likely be necessary, further weakening the empire. Imix's recent loss and Eblis's departure from Fire means Fire itself is undergoing realignment, and the efreet accepting our terms means that this realignment will continue at an accelerated pace. The devils will be shut out of Fire further, as Fire loses its traditional allies. All of this would inevitably shake Fire up, destabilizing and thus weakening Fire's ascendancy while it figures out its path. While not permanent, it would take time, and you would be best placed to take advantage of it. With our support provided freely and happily, things will only go more smoothly for Water, so the relative power balance will shift far more than any conventional analysis would suggest."
Give me Diplo here, would you? -20 circumstance penalty, no getting around it regardless, but you at least got your foot int he door for a check.
18:53 <Seira> roll 1d20+85-20
18:53 <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d20+85-20 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{84}
There is but a moment's pause at this, "Words are as free as rain in the jungle," The elemental says, "Deeds are as precious as rain in the desert."
"My deeds speak for themselves, and my word is my bond," Seira responds. "If there is a specific deed you require to decide favorably for us, however, please tell me what it is."
"Bring me knowledge and proof of what game the devils play here and why," The Water Lord commands. "Events move in curious eddies and strange currents."
"That sort of thing is by its nature difficult to prove beyond all doubt," Seira admits, being upfront with Istishia. "However, I believe Barachiel both knows the first devil plan in play and has corroborating evidence of it. Would you mind sharing that here?"
I'm referring to how we discussed that the devil plan is likely to support Akil in gaining or seizing/usurping power and thus influencing the efreet empire. Barachiel should have access to the letter sent to Moore via an intermediary and a recording of the memory of Moore's meeting with said intermediary.
"I have no objection," Barachiel says, as a gleaming white letter appears in his hand, a few crackles of electricity around it. It is passed to the elemental, who looks as it but a moment.
"Akil bin Faheem," Istishia says, "The devils. A befouled and unholy unison." His voice is cold and her body posture disdainful.
"My thoughts exactly," Barachiel seconds, "Regardless of all else, none of here have any love for diabolical politics. Do you want Asmodeus to have yet more power in the Elemental Planes?"
"Things are going so well our window of opportunity of dealing with the efreet before the devils decide to abandon the long con with Akil and act directly is surely shrinking," Seira adds to that. "Let's crush the Sultan's will to fight in one swift strike rather than have it and the efreet noble houses's allegiances erode slowly, bit by bit, which might well lead to an undesirable outcome."
Since Istishia wanted specific deeds, Seira follows that up with a concrete proposal. "There is an outpost on Ash with a considerable garrison. Powerful for a prewar deployment hub, yet drawn back now due to its strategic importance dropping in favor of other avenues. A first strike by you, even if announced properly, will achieve tactical surprise and enjoy overwhelming advantage. If you wipe it out, the efreet will be forced to reconsider their deployment at the creation of a fresh front and reinforce all of their other outposts at the same time to avoid a similar fate. We'll take advantage of that to press our terms."
Give me one more diplomacy check, this time only a -10 penalty.
19:57 <Seira> roll 1d20+85-10
19:57 <Kobot> Seira rolled 1d20+85-10 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{81}
"Then you will have a contingent of forces from Water," Is said at last, "But not the marid, who will stay out of the war."
"Thank you," Seira says gratefully. "Would you mind not sharing that last bit with the enemy until we've had a chance to present our terms?"
"That is acceptable," The elemental says, "Go forward and make your demands to them, Seira. The attack will be done by the time you do so."
Seira inclines her head. "I hope to bring back favorable news soon," she says, before leaving Istishia in the care of Kascha.
Plan is to regroup with Amaryl, Donald, Zaaman Rul, Barachiel and Oraga.
This is easy enough to do and...
"You got it?" Donald's grinning now, "Now the trick is, do you think they'll agree to it?"
"There's a chance, the politics around this will grow ugly," Barachiel agrees, "I will seek council from above to best use the chance we are given."
"Can you get the Sultan to come to Celestia?" Seira asks Barachiel. "Different format than the conference on Fire, just the three of us in attendance. I think it would be better to lay out the facts from a seat of power rather than intrude on his and have it be publicly seen by his backstabbing nobles."
"It may be so," Barachiel says, "At least not Fire or a place of power for them, not this time."
"I think the shores of Lunia would be perfect," Amaryl says, "Aren't the waves lovely there?"
"If it's Lunia, we do have a proper host for the occasion," Seira muses. "Let's do that. Meanwhile, my avatar would like to enjoy your hospitality," she tells Zaaman Rul. "If the enemy tries some gambit, I will be with you from the very start."
For my reference since I think it may align with my own plans, who are you thinking of as a host?
"Then you'll have it," Zaaman Rul agrees, "You always have a place in my realm, friend."
It's clearly Moore. Let's do this thing.
One sec, I need to get Moore on board. I'm 99% certain he will be, but there's a few logistical things on that end.
In the meantime, go ahead and list your plan and I'll start running through it.
Seira's plan is fairly simple. The Sultan must arrive for negotiations, hosted by Celestia this time around. Seira would be accompanied by Donald and Oraga, plus Sanzha if she is available, while her avatar will ensure Zaaman Rul remains safe. Defense of the Cauldron will be left up to Amaryl and her own avatar, Kascha and Na'lith, aided greatly by the newly joined water elementals.
Valar and Honeydip are to marshal their forces for an imminent assault on efreet targets on Fire, however, an attack Seira will lead in person should negotiations break down this time. Only the two of them will be told that the attack is on the City of Brass itself. Seira's avatar will rely on Zaaman Rul's contacts to gain all proper military intelligence about the city's defenses and defenders to create a viable plan of attack.
It's not long before a voice intrudes into your mind, 'Seira.' The voice of the Grand Sultan, sent right to you.
Greetings
'I was not expecting you to play so strongly,' he admits, 'I am impressed. You have earned more than I ever thought you had.'
It is a matter close to my heart
'Perhaps some tribute would better smooth over your rise,' The Grand Sultan says, an image coming to you. A vast room filled to the brim with golden coins - millions of them, you can see. 'A tribute worthy of a dragon.'
I've been busier than you think, Seira responds to the Sultan, opting to change the subject. Celestia should be cordially inviting you over as we speak. I hope you accept, so that we could discuss our offers and counter-offers properly face to face.
'I am aware of the offer, but we can come to a private agreement instead,' The Sultan says, 'Something palatable to you and worthy of you.'
You should come, Seira recommends. Celestia has something interesting in store. We can always have a private chat afterwards, if things don't work out.
'I will consider it,' Is the answer, and nothing more.
Turning down an avenue of diplomacy while pursuing one of his own? Yeah, right. He'll come, alright, the only question is what angle the Sultan will go for.
But that's something Seira can put out of her mind for the time being. Until she's called over, she can focus on the culmination of her research into the prismatic transformation!
Amaryl's overwatching them as you walk in, "Seira," she meets you at the door, putting a finger to her lips.
'It's almost time.'
I love it when things fall in line like that!
All the dragons lie curled up, as if fast asleep.
Golorodalas shifts in his sleep, the massive space ahead enough to hold him.
The Red Mountain is perfectly still, multicolored lights floating around his head.
The Crowned Wyrm is tense, tight - but unmoving.
'Are you ready?' Amaryl asks.
Ascending has robbed Seira of the comfort of praying to a greater power than she in an attempt to shelve responsibility onto a patron, so instead of it Seira trusts in her own power as she nods at her wife.
And then...slow, slow and slower yet the magic begins to gather. A rainbow of colors, a rainbow of power spreading between them.
Amaryl watches closely, the magic swirling as it gathers, manifests. This rainbow light begins to flow into all of them, arcing between them and gathering, pooling across their red bodies and staining them another color altogether.
The red splits into the colors of the rainbow at the final infusion of prismatic power, first orange and violet, before both provide yellow and blue respectively. They mingle together, forming green and indigo, and Seira has to stop herself from clapping!
Those brave dragons should know what is happening, they should witness this monumental event, and so Seira extends her divine power to show it to them as a vision, before her voice echoes Io's dictate to her. Become more than you were at the start of this journey, Golorodalas. Shine with the colors of the rainbow, proudly-earned, Crowned Wyrm. Continue to seek ever-further perfection, as any dragon should, Red Mountain. From this moment forth, you three are prismatic dragons!
To your words, the dragons seem to s hift further. Red becomes prismatic, the color spreading about them as they awaken, a sudden roar of triumph shared. You can feel the power stabilizing in them, settling in them - you did it!
Three successes, the first of many! Seira greets them with a brilliant smile, saying the only word necessary here. Congratulations!
"Congratulations," Amaryl adds, clapping her hands together.
Red Mountain is the first to rise fully, looming over you as he says, "I understand now."
"This is just the start," Seira says, still smiling, "but what a start, isn't it?"
The Crowned Wyrm rises as well, "Let the world tremble before us!"
Amaryl's smile is broad, "Ah yes, a dragon motto to live by. You must feel marvelous."
"How are you feeling?" Seira asks curiously. "Tired? Filled with energy? That's the one part I haven't been able to determine yet in the process. Are there any new and unusual sensations? Fresh desires? The insights are an intended feature, of course."
"Energized," The Red Mountain declares, "So full of energy and the elements. Everything seems anew to me now."
"As if all of Creation was a rainbow I was blind to," Golorodalas seconds, rising as well.
"Glorious!" There's no need to press them for more detail, and the increased cognition should allow for better memory retention. If Sanzha can think of more details to ask, they can always do so later, and thus Seira changes the subject to another that's been pretty prominently on her mind. "I know it's on short notice, but would you like to attend some aggressive negotiations with me in Celestia? I don't know how much you've been following recent planar events, but we have the efreet on the back foot."
The Crowned Wyrm leans in and slowly smiles, white teeth sparkling, "All dragons negotiations are aggressive."
"So they are~"
With that you get agreement and...
Okay, any more prep before this negotiation?
Let's negotiate! I'll bring these three guys and Oraga and Donald. Amaryl will keep the Cauldron safe!
Okay, will set up a new topic once Moore's ready.