Nymph interlude (Afina)

[Ebiris]

"It's hard to see future advantages if the status quo benefits you," Afina says, seeing the viewpoint of those who hate it. "But the concept of recycling like that is central to fey existence, so that's an illuminating perspective. Looking at it another way, Earth is what things grow from, and Water is a source of nourishment that enables growth. Take them together and yes, what's there might not survive the transition, but there's a promise that something new and valid will form from it."

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Bwimb II agrees, stopping and jiggling on the floor. "It's like manure. It's a great fertilizer, but it's still disgusting. Life isn't always pretty."

[Ebiris]

"An excellent example," Afina says, pleased. Really, having a helpful archomental on hand makes all the difference when it comes to understanding elements! "Now if you'll give me a moment I can try to put this all to some practice by embodying those concepts in my own elemental mixture."

Closing her eyes and focusing inwards, she lets her elements of Earth and Water off the leash, free to mingle inside of her while she focuses her thoughts in the direction Bwimb II has explained for her. A point in the cycle, not the tall and proud beginning, nor the vibrant promise of what's to come. The middle step, the rot that brings down the first so as to make way for the last. That's what ooze is.

[Anastasia]

Wis check, +5 circumstance bonus.

[Ebiris]

[16:51] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9+5
[16:52] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 31 > [d20=17]

[Anastasia]

You feel it - your elements mix and grow, understanding coming from within you. It's like a switch was thrown and you get it. You get ooze, feeling your body drip and turn slime like for a few seconds before reverting.

How did you miss this before? It feels so obvious to you now.

[Ebiris]

"Yes..." Afina murmurs after briefly turning into iridescent slime and then back again. "I understand ooze, now," she smiles and opens her eyes. "That's what we came for, but it feels like we only just got here. You don't mind if we stay a little longer, do you?" she asks Bwimb II. "I'd love to hear more about what you do here, or we could share stories from our own travels if you have the leisure to listen."

Given how lonely the poor archomental must be, giving her a few hours of their time is the least they can do.

[Anastasia]

Bubbles gasps at your change, while Canderella just nods.

"Oh, you can stay as long as you like. Pleaaaase?" The slime becomes a long, thin band that spins around you like a helix, "Pretty please?"

[Ebiris]

"It's fine, we'd love to!" Afina insists, fluttering over to sit on one of the couches and patting the ruined and dirty cushion beside her in invitation to her companions. "What would you like to talk about, then? Do you want to hear about our travels, or our homes? The Crusade we fight for? Or is there anything you want to tell us all about?" They'll either give her some fun stories or provide a captive audience for anything Bwimb II wants to get off her proverbial chest. It's only fair after the help she's given without a thought for compensation.

[Anastasia]

Bubbles sits with a hidden grimace,s while Canderella takes it without complaint. 27 sits at your feet and says, "Crusade."

"Oh, that's right, you cheated!" Bwimb II laughs, "Silly seer slaad! Oooh, all s! Isn't that neat? Tell me all about your Crusade!"

[Ebiris]

A subject dear to Afina's heart! "Well, it all starts and ends with Lifasa, the world I came from," she begins, patting Bubbles' hand to show her a little appreciation for being nice. She'll do something good for her later! "No doubt from the outsider perspective it's nothing special, just one Prime amongst many. But it's home, and I'm sure you understand the pull of such a thing even if it's humble." Ooze is certainly the humblest of the planes that she's visited, but now that she's met Bwimb II and heard her speak of ooze she can't say it's a place without pride, even if it presents a run-down appearance.

Continuing her tale she goes on, "Years ago Taelfagn, the baatezu Duke of Destiny approached nine Lifasans all of different races. He indoctrinated them in the ways of devils and taught them profane rituals. A ritual they performed to allow Bel's armies to assault Lifasa on a grand scale, with no warning. Or at least no warning that I'm aware of." She does wonder if anyone ever caught wind of what was going on but was silenced or discredited. So many died that the stories of what happened then will always be a bit blurred. "There are tales of heroism and valour from everywhere, I can only really speak for my small part of the world, a remote and isolated forest called the Gloaming Wood which was the seat of power for traditionalist fey. We fought off the first wave in a bloody grinding battle that left us battered but triumphant, believing we'd weathered the worst and that we'd have time to rally ourselves, that we'd bought time for old and powerful magic to be brought to bear. I only heard snatches but the very spirit of our world was stirring, and the greatest of us were working on calling on it to turn the tide everywhere, to defeat the diabolical invasion at a stroke. Then Abigor set foot on Lifasan soil and every plant, every tree, every dryad burned and died. A great many old and powerful dryads were part of that ritual conclave, and the backlash of their interrupted ritual sent magic wild, planar rifts opening everywhere even as we were being hard pressed by the second wave of devil invaders that were far more potent than the first.

"So goes the fall of Lifasa. Abigor victorious, the nine traitors exalted and each given rule over a part of our world, and Taelfagn continuing his work to drag that conquered world fully into Hell. Its defenders scattered and lost to the planes, or fallen to the last in that overwhelming and unexpected attack. For many stories this would be the end. Certainly I'll wager the devils wish it were so. But a new chapter was to open, one man's desperate search for a legendary fortress was about to bear fruit, and his travels took him to a particular tavern in the Silver Sea where chance would unite several sons and daughters of Lifasa... I speak of course, of Medicant."

[Anastasia]

Bwimb II splits into two, each half vibrating and wobbling in an identical pattern. As she speaks they  merge back into one, "Oh! Of course, home is home!"

"I heard of Medicant! Dad talked about it a few times," Bwimb II pipes up, "Medi's the only mortal who has ever beat my Dad in a fight. So good, that sounds like Hell was mean again. The ambassadors they send are always so cruel." Bwimb collapses into a pancake of slime, whimpering. "Dad likes the yugoloths who visit the most, though. The devils are too arrogant and demons start too many fights."

After that digression, Bwimb II springs back up into a giant blob and says, "Ooooh. So all of you met in a tavern, just like the bard told me of." At this she slumps down again, "The bard's gone like your world is. Dad killed him, just like Abigor killed so many of your friends."

[Ebiris]

"Does your dad kill a lot of your guests?" Afina asks what she feels is a very pertinent question after that digression!

[Anastasia]

"Yes, we really do need to know that, dearie," Bubbles says, leaning forward.

"Sometimes," Bwimb II slumps again, becoming a bubbling little puddle of slime on the ground. "If he doesn't like them."

[Ebiris]

Didn't 27 say that he hates her? This axe better work as a bribe to not get attacked in that case.

"Why do you stay here, then? Surely Ooze is big enough that you could set up a more welcoming home of your own somewhere else?" Afina asks, figuring this is worth putting aside the history of Aurora for a while to discuss.