Journey abroad (Jaela)

[Anastasia]

Antenora snorts, a sound rather like a laugh. "You begin to see the self contradictory nature of chaos."

Mirima leans into Jaela, "I'll make sure she succeeds, or at least has a remarkably good time trying."

[Corwin]

"How about you?" Jaela asks Mirima. "What's in your plans of training, since you've reached the pinnacle of your style?"

[Anastasia]

"There's no pinnacle," Mirima says, "Only as high as you can make your way into the art. I can now see higher feats than before, ones I couldn't imagine before this."

[Corwin]

"Ah, really? That's just... wow, something beyond how you took that Nessian apart?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Is all Mirima says, smiling.

Antenora returns that smile, "There's always more to grow into. I've mastered the arts of the hellreaver and the paladin, yet as I train I see more potential on the horizon."

[Corwin]

"I just kept on getting distracted by shiny things, learned all the spells, then invented my own style of fighting," Jaela muses. "To each their own?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes. Though speaking of, this was supposed to be a romantic vacation," Mirima hmphs, "But somehow," she reaches out and flicks Jaela's ear, "We kept getting distracted by shiny things."

[Corwin]

"We killed a bunch of devils together!" Jaela protests, laughing. "What could be more romantic?"

[Anastasia]

"Oh, I don't know. You, me, Antenora and a rousing game of who can get naked the fastest?" Mirima smirks at that.

Antenora starts to open her mouth to say something, but Mirima cuts her off. "I'm not sure romantic is the word you're looking for," she says, after a beat.

[Corwin]

"I had a fun couple days and I'm sure the rest will be just as nice! But it's only fair you pick the next vacation?"

[Anastasia]

"Oh yes, I will," Mirima says, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "So many ideas..."

Antenora just shakes her head with a hint of amusement, going to check on Ellese.

Okay, your plan for the rest of the week is to have Ellese meditate?

[Corwin]

Meditate and get cooler spells! But yes. We'll just keep touring the city and generally have a great time and then go meet the druids.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+4 Ellese
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+4 Ellese --> [ 1d20=5 ]{9}
> roll 1d20+4 Ellese
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+4 Ellese --> [ 1d20=1 ]{5}
> roll 1d20+4 Ellese
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+4 Ellese --> [ 1d20=2 ]{6}
> roll 1d20+4 Ellese
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+4 Ellese --> [ 1d20=19 ]{23}
> roll 1d20+4 Ellese
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+4 Ellese --> [ 1d20=13 ]{17}

A few days pass. Ellese meditates a lot, making slow progress. After one long evening session, she says, "I've freed my mind, but my magic's harder. I'm starting to see it's woven to the deepest wounds and corruption." The two of you are talking in Ellese's inn room, Mirima off doing a spot of personal shopping. "It's like a gash at the bottom of a lake that constantly leaks poison into the waters of my mind."

[Corwin]

Jaela purses her lips, thinking on the problem. "You found your center," she voices. "It helped when you weren't alone for that, and in particular when the voices were cut off. If this is harder, then maybe you need a change of environment. I still think the basic idea is sound, but maybe what you need is to try meditating in Elysium or one of the other heavens." Tilting her head, Jaela adds, "Or maybe it's about taking smaller steps. Devil magic is associated with fire a lot, so rather than breaking free of the taint altogether what if you simply worked within those rules for now? Once you don't have magic that makes you sick to use, it might be time to try and push the boundaries again."

[Anastasia]

"Maybe," Ellese considers, "Though I think the best solution is to stop the poison from coming in, to address the deeper corruption. That may be where I need magical aid."