The cycle of improvement

[Anastasia]

Give me a Diplo check her.e

[Iron Dragoon]

Diplo/Cunning Knowledge:

[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+105 : 15 + 105, total 120[/blockquote]

[Anastasia]

A look. A long look before Gathgorian states, "Do not misuse this, for all our sake's."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa raises an eyebrow, "One does not rise from mortality by being a fool. I'll contact you."

With that, Alyssa aways to meet with Io, sending her people a message to meet her there.

[Anastasia]

Thus reunited, your party heads up to meet Io. He awaits all of you once more, "You return, Alyssa," Io states at last. "Welcome." The great dragon looms over all of you, yet distant and far away at once. A paradox before you that defies answer and awaits your words instead.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Hello! It's good to see you Io. I've returned with something of a conundrum. I met a Guardian and obtained a seed from him. He was tasked by the Incarnation of Balance, yet he tampered with the seed he was given. He covered it in some... network of veins that required my blood to open, and then, a strange energy on the seed. Like nothing I've ever come across before. Not even in lore."

Alyssa produces the seed for inspection.

[Anastasia]

Io inspects the seed, looming in closer and closer to it.

"Curious," he finally says, after a good minute of inspection. "Curious and more curious."

[Iron Dragoon]

"I was concerned about sabotage. He mentioned breaking it, and all of the tests he set up were to emphasize the pointless nature of our struggle. And he said he was looking forward to what was going to happen to Creation. Any idea what he's done?"

[Anastasia]

"No," Io finally says, "Lord Zaphkiel, do you?"

Yes.

The energy will seem to lead to a breakthrough, to power - but it is a dead end, a mistake. The seed itself is not harmed, but it is nothing more than bait. Ignore the energy. Do not study it in depth. Do not experiment with it. Use the seed and forsake the energy. My counterpart and I agree on this.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods.

"I wanted to be sure that the seed was safe to use. Thank you for your help."

[Anastasia]

"Continue to grow, Alyssa," Io instructs, "Use the seed wisely."

As you all depart, "How are we going to use it?" Emily asks, "How many charges are there?"

Honeydip eyes the seed, quiet and thoughtful.

Dolmaya merely adds instead, "It's a gift of incredible power. One of last ones, so best used wisely."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Four. But there's a catch. The Guardian required me to work with Galgathorn. Well, maybe not required, but the options were work together or fight. So by rights, he's owed at least one charge."

[Anastasia]

"He'd be a fool to settle for less than two," Jarem remarks, "So we have two charges. You're the one who did it, Alyssa, so you're due at least one for yourself if you want it."

Bastian crosses his arms, "What say you on that, Alyssa?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"He might want two, but I'll argue it. All he did was stand around and talk about victory and power. He barely contributed. In any case, yes, at least one for me. If I can't get away with another, what do you all think? If we're looking to improve raw combat power, that narrows it down to Jarem, Emily, and Bastian."

[Anastasia]

Jarem consider this silently, but Emily speaks up instead. "I think we all want a charge, but I think it all depends if you think you can get Gathgorian to settle for one."