Tryll's Paragon Quest (Tryll)

[Yuthirin]

"We've got forever!" Calleigh pipes in, nod-nodding, "Well, not forever-forever, cuz we've got stuff to do. But we'll be around forever! Unless we die. But then we don't have to worry about it, cuz we're dead! But we're not dead. Sorta. But we don't age! That's what I'm saying. Yep!"

'Yes. How aware are you of events outside of Arvandor?' Tryll interjects.

[Anastasia]

"Somewhat," The elf replies as he sits, walking stick put across his lap. "In a broad sense yes, in specifics no, unless it pertains to something I am studying. I would know if either side won the Blood War or if a great power was slain, but beyond that less so."

[Yuthirin]

'Lifasa and Benfal?'

[Anastasia]

"I do not know of them," The elf replies, "But continue, this strkes me as a story."

Prince Westwind chuckles, "Are you familiar with Semyaza, an outcast Archduke of Hell? He was chastised and chased off Lifasa like a child running for his mother's skirt. A wonderful time all around."

[Yuthirin]

"We kicked his butt off of Benfal too, right before things got nuts!" Calleigh is helping!

[Anastasia]

"Well then, continue on," The elf encourages.

You're firmly holding the expo ball now, Yuth. Up to you how you use it. Short reply since this is in your court to what you tell him and how you convince him.

[Yuthirin]

'Very well. We will start at the beginning. Lifasa is a Prime that was experiencing a golden age. Things were going very well, and the overwhelming majority of the plane's residents were happy-'

"Yep! It was great! I got to meet a unicorn there once! It was pretty!" Calleigh interjects.

Tryll continues on as though uninterrupted, '-with their lives. The plane appeared to actually be shifting toward a naturally Good alignment. In all, things were looking very well. Unfortunately, not everyone was happy, and Baator capitalized on that. They found people who craved power above all else, and used them. Nine people, traitors all, were recruited by the Hells to enact some sort of ritual, we're still unsure of how it was managed.'

"Nasty-mean people! We caught a couple of them though!" Calleigh again.

'Unfortunately, they succeeded in their ritual, which caused the plane to slide toward Baator. There was a full-scale invasion mounted by one of Bel's lieutenants, named Abigor. The plane instantly began to twist and corrupt, and the plane's defenders rose to push the devils back. They failed.'

'Those who remained free fled the plane in all directions. A small handful of those defenders managed to find each other, and then locate the ancient demiplane of Medicant. After activating the plane's controlling intelligence and restoring it, they began seeking out other survivors and recruiting help. Eventually, they were able to mount several incursions back into Lifasa to free enslaved citizens and even caught one of the traitors. A dragon, I believe.'

'Shortly after that, the leaders of Medicant, now renamed Aurora, mounted an attack on Abigor and slew him. Unfortunately, by this time there were other infernal players in the game. Lixer, son of Asmodeus; and Taelfagn, the Duke of Destiny. Lixer appears to have set himself up as an infernal version of Orcus. He is, thankfully, not nearly as powerful. Taelfagn, though, has something that we as yet have been unable to counter. I believe he is a paragon among devils, and uses this power to manipulate the forces of fate and destiny to his own ends.'

'We've been able to thwart him a few times now, most notably with the salvation of Benfal, a Prime that nearly suffered the same fate as Lifasa. This is where Semyaza lost to us, and was ejected from the plane. Benfal now appears to be loosely attached to Elysium. Possibly. I don't understand the planar metaphysics yet, or quite how it occurred. It's not really on my list of things to do, as the citizens appear to be permanently safe now.'

'We are here, at your door, seeking this ritual so that we might be able to oppose Taelfagn. My race is dead and gone, and our destiny is expended. I am among the few living souls in creation without a fate, and I want to capitalize on this. If I can negate Taelfagn's efforts, if I can face him in combat and even the odds, then we might yet be able to save Lifasa and those that remain enslaved there.'

A beat, then, 'As for Calleigh, she just wants to be all the courre she can be. Can you blame her?'

[Anastasia]

The elf listens throughout the story, never interrupting. At the end he claps slowly several times.

"It has been a long time since I've heard such a fanciful tale from anything but a traveling bard's mouth. More so that they have the ring of sincerity to them! How long has it been since such desperate heroes have come here, I wonder?"

A long sigh as the elf closes his eyes, letting his hands go limp and rest in his lap. He is silent for a time and still, not once reacting and instead merely there.

"They're right, my good elf," Prince Westwind speaks up, "I've seen the place, lovely in a mage-built sort of way. There's good people there, the sort to break a greater ring of djinn summoning rather than using the bound djinn to grant any wish they desire."

"I have researched the ritual you seek," The elf finally says, "What do you wish to know about it?"

[Yuthirin]

'How to conduct it, and what the costs are.'

[Anastasia]

"The ritual is difficult and the price is a tricky one," The elf replies, resting back in his chair. "You must be prepared to represent a fundamental question about the destiny of your race. You must have accomplished deeds to represent this. Calleigh, what shall be the question you represent, and how will you strive to answer it in your life?"

[Yuthirin]

"Hmmmmm...What is best in life?" Calleigh asks.

[Anastasia]

"A question many have asked. Do you have an answer?" The elf asks right back.

[Yuthirin]

"Well, yeah! Yo be a courre, of course! My life is awesome!"

[Anastasia]

"What is a courre, then?" The elf says.

Prince Westwind puts his hand to his face and sighs. "Philosophy! The enemy of all right thinking winds, for how else can wise men make such foolish claims?"

"I ask not out of philosophical drive, but to instill the point. You must represent something, a question. What is a courre, then?" The elf banters back, giving Prince Westwind an even look before turning his attention to Calleigh.

[Yuthirin]

"A courre is fun and light and joy and pies and pranks and fun and sometimes real scary and also me!" Calleigh replies.