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"zoneRenderer" is null error executing expression imp =
getImpersonated().
Error trace : powerBarEx@lib:BS <<< macroLink
Server started; please wait for map to refresh.
=^v^= has connected.
Ganaroth has connected.
Riot has connected.
vonel has connected.
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=^v^=:
everyone
chillin in server
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Ganaroth:
Neither
me, really.
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Riot:
Same.
Sorting life out, you know
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Ganaroth:
Well
then. I honestly don't have much to say as far as small talk goes,
since I haven't really DONE anything, but I absolutely would if I
could.
If anyone does have something they want to bring up, feel free,
though! Otherwise, I'm more or less ready.
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Ganaroth:
Just
confirm when you are.
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=^v^=:
I'm
good to go, technically I did stuff but it's not relvent!
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Ganaroth:
It's
okay. You're clearly in good company. Or at least company.
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Ganaroth:
(So,
since it was a bit ago now, can you tell me what resolution the
conversation with Orbras the hapless halfling had, if any? I just
want to know where we are in my mental conversation map.)
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Riot:
I
can't remember and I'm getting a 502 gateway error on logfox
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=^v^=:
o
logfox's php got blown up via dist upgrade nice x.x
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vonel:
(( not as pretty but I tossed the log
file from the last game in to discord ))
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Ganaroth:
(Von,
thank! I now have the info I wanted.
)
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Orbras:
"Very
well, then, since you seem agreeable to my terms, I'll get to
work. It shouldn't take more than, oh, four or five days. Less, if
you'll allow me to co-op that spirit of yours." He hesitates. "It
also depends on exactly what you want my measures to entail. A
simple reversal charm would be the easiest, of course, but there
are more creative and, potentially, vicious, methods of keeping
this place safe."
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=^v^=:
(( fixed logfox ))
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Kris:
"If
we intend to stay here I'd say go with something strong."
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Ra'ven:
"i'd
prefer to not have to go thorugh a lot of steps to prevent a
random guest from getting turned inside out or the like."
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Orbras:
"Hmm...
Stern but fair. I'm with you so far."
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Vul:
"Perhaps
its the Argen speaking, but could you do something that waylays
people? As that works on more then violence..."
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=^v^=:
(( argent ))
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Orbras:
((Waiting
before answering.))
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Vul:
?
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Lucky:
"I'm
not really familiar with any of that stuff, so don't mind me if I
just drink on my beer a while."
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Lucky:
"I
punch and stab things, that's about it."
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Orbras:
(Sorry!
I was just letting folks know that I've finished my response, but
I'm waiting for y'all, in case anyone says anything more."
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Vul:
"Didn't
you run a bar? how did you keep peole out of the back room?"
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Rai Patience Cantor:
"Lucky,
you're being uneccessarily humble, or possible self-deprecating."
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Orbras:
"Er...
if there is going to be an argument, I could just step out..." He
honestly looks uncomfortable at the prospect.
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Lucky:
"Eh
I dunno, I didn't have many people try and push past me. I guess
I'm just that intimidating," she laughs.
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Ra'ven:
"it's
been a rough day is all..." Ra'ven still hasn't actually done more
the sip the drink she started with, then turns to Lucky, "Basicaly
what do you want the magic traps to
do
to intruders?"
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Rai Patience Argent:
"Mm,
I suspect a combination of that, and people simply... liking you.
You're easy to get along with, you know."
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Orbras:
"Well,
as long as you aren't going to quarrel... Well, if you're looking
for something nonlethal and low-maintenance, but which will still
keep casual incursions at bay, I do have an idea. I'm a specialist
in translocation, after all! The... blood dungeon... you
encountered me in before was only the Patina segment of my
experiment. Now, I can't fully simulate the effects of a maze,
obviously, but how about this? I can probably manage a facsimile
of the most famous effect: I can make it so that attempting to
enter the grounds without permission will cause the space ahead of
them to expand, and the space behind to contract. So any attempt
to walk to the front door from the street would be a distance of
many miles, while attempting to turn around would place the
intruder right back at the start."
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Ra'ven:
"Though
since Vul said so, I do like the 'make them get lost and end back
where they started' and maybe a traditional, 'extreme lethargy' so
we can go address anyone particularly insistant..."
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Kris:
"I
like it."
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Vul 's eyes light up, "That's pretty
cool! I tend to make forward more... a different direction that
isn't where it was, so they tend to pop back where they started
but arent' there for a while.. yours sounds more... sustainable."
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Ra'ven:
"How
would
we
get through it though?"
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Orbras:
"Lethargy
is more difficult for me, but not impossible. It would actually be
easier with that little necromancer of yours assisting me, though.
I SUSPECT that her knowledge in that area would outstrip mine. My
own necromantic endeavors have been... well, she'd laugh at me,
I'm sure. But the actual distorting wards are definitely possible.
Functional within... five days, and permanent within a month of
continuous application. I would need to stay on-site for the
duration, of course. As for yourselves, a simple password,
assigned when the wards are first completed, will suffice." He
gives a sly smile. "Little known fact: magical passwords don't
have to be verbal. A gesture, symbol, or written word works just
as well, and not everyone thinks to try those."
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Orbras:
"Well,
technically even more obscure methods of communication will also
work, but the more exotic the method, the more difficult it is for
the magic to detect.... ahem. Apologies."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"I
feel as though I should put you, Yltheria, and Kaylen all in a
room together at once."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"That
being said, I myself think that's quite good. We might consider
increasing security at another time, if it seems necessary, but I
like the sound of this so far. After all, I doubt anyone could
make this house truly impregnable; not in this city. So really,
our best bet might be the same as most locks and bolts: to make
breaking in as ANNOYING as possible."
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Ra'ven:
"Plus,
what if it turns out a bunch of people are going to come to kill
us? We probably shouldn't stay if that's the case, right?"
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Ra'ven:
"I
mean we are Silverfang spies and also stabbed the Emir..."
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Ra'ven laughs at her joke
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Lucky smiles a devious smile at that
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Rai Patience Argent:
"Another
fair point. Unless anyone has something more to add, I think
that's what I'd like you to do." She smiles. "Honestly, I somewhat
like our new "infamy.""
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Ra'ven:
"Ha,
i bet (insert that wolf cult leader) would be impressed and
jellous that we
did
manage that."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"Vayak
probably would, yes. He was... direct."
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Kris:
"Your
the spy... he wants me dead."
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Ra'ven waves Kris off, "He just thinks
he wants you dead."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"If
it becomes necessary, we can probably just lie to him, and make
him doubt his own sanity. After all, if five other people in a
room absolutely swear that really, this was an elaborate bluff of
some kind, I think he's slow enough to fall for it."
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Ra'ven:
"I
mean he's a vicious killer who isn't good at plans but belives in
a higher calling. He seems the sort who'd like someone to give him
actually
good
plans and pat him on the head and say he's a
good boy."
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Kris:
"I
don't think you'd need five people, I conviced him there was other
spys by just saying it."
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Rai Patience Cantor laughs.
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Ra'ven:
"I
sorta wanna steal him from his higher ups..." Ra'ven mumbles, "I
feel bad for him..."
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Ra'ven:
"Or
at least beat
those
people up."
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Kris:
"I'd
rather be as far from him as I can... that whole damn house
smelled like wet dog."
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Ra'ven gives Kris a dirty look at that
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Ra'ven:
-.-
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Orbras:
"Eh...
I see. Well," He looks uncomfortable again. "I... don't know this
person. But if that's good enough, I should start working. I don't
know how long this Argent is going to last, and it will be easier
to complete if people aren't bothering me the whole time.
Healthier too; I used a device to conceal my approach to the city,
but..." He looks a bit embarrassed. "It only worked to a point. I
was able to see some things about the nexus under the island, but
as I got closer, it quickly burned out. Really, I should have
guessed that my own magic wouldn't be able to penetrate something
like that, but that's hindsight. In any case, having a place like
this to shelter me until I'm ready to flee the city is welcome."
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Orbras:
"If
I can finish laying the groundwork before the cycle ends, they'll
have a much harder time tracking me down."
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Kris:
"Sorry
no offence, you do seem to like the guy but he's not a stable
person." He get's up, "I wouldn't trust him to do what's best for
a group like the bosses here, but maybe I'm wrong... either way
I'm going to go find some food." He heads out of the room.
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Riot:
(( Sorry I got quiet, I forgot it was
Father's Day so I had to call my folks and that meant talking about all
the stuff going on ))
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Lucky:
"I
don't think we need to bring Vayak into this equation unless
absolutely necessary. Dude merc'd an innocent person and was
prepared to do the same to an entire auditorium full."
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Ra'ven laughs,, "I mean, innocent of
what they were being accused of, but it was an assmebly of rich
and imoprtant people, so they probably aren't
really
innocent... Do you not feel bad for a lost puppy even if it bit
you?"
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Orbras looks uncomfortable again.
"Well, I hope I didn't... ahem. Look, I'm going to start working,
if that's alright with you. Just make sure to check with me before
using the front walk! Oh, and I'll need someone to bodyguard me
while I'm working..." He clearly doesn't want to be in the middle
of this discussion. "Also, if someone can assign me a room for the
duration of my stay, I'd appreciate it. I don't have any luggage
you need to worry about, though." The little man lists off several
more requests and requirements, each stated for all the world as
though the new consideration just didn't occur to him before.
Luckily, none of the requests are actually problematic, but his
conversational style is a little offputting.
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Orbras:
(brb,
sorry! No worries, Riot.)
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Kris nods at Orbas, "Let me know ere
you'll be working and I'll head over once I've gotten soemthing to
eat."
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Lucky:
"I
don't know the woman who got her neck slit open but I also don't
consider the Silverfang cult leader a lost puppy," Lucky answers
with a shrug.
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Ra'ven:
"
Cell
leader, and he was rather obviously duped, likely by my mother."
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Lucky:
"My
point is I'm not hanging out with someone who uses murder of an
ostensibly
innocent person as a persuasion tactic. That's all."
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Lucky:
"If
it can be at all avoided."
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Riot:
(( for the record Lucky isn't trying
to start an argument, to be clear ))
Riot:
(( She's just not a fan of the guy ))
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Ra'ven hmms, "I wonder if he thought
they were innocent? Maybe I should ask him if I see him..."
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Orbras:
(I
know you're not trying to pick a fight, don't worry. Orbras just
REALLY doesn't like being in the room when other people are
arguing.)
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=^v^=:
(( ra'ven happens to feel stronger
empathy to cornered people stuck in the bad part of society is all,
metawise nbd dont need to bother recruiting wolf guy ))
Riot:
(( I mean so does Lucky, which is why
she was a big fan of working with those people who were being forced to
attack them by Anand, but I think she just didn't get the vibe that the
Silverfang people fit that bill, especially after meeting the rich guy
funding them lol ))
=^v^=:
(( Ra just happens to think that they
WERE screwd over by Anand's plots as well, plus nobody
else
would
care ))
Riot:
(( fair ))
=^v^=:
(( also she has a bit of a thing
about worring about people abandoning someone just cause they are a
horrible monster who might end up killing everyone ))
Riot:
(( so she projects a bit then lol ))
=^v^=:
(( A BIT YA LOL ))
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Rai Patience Cantor:
(So,
with the exception of an ex-post facto thing that will be done in
an rp session with Sera and Hector, does anyone else have stuff
they would like to do before Orbras goes to his task, or in the
next couple of days? Otherwise, I will move forward.)
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Rai Patience Cantor:
(If
there IS something, please say so! I'm okay doing that too.)
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vonel:
(( I got nothing at the moment ))
=^v^=:
(( I mean other then Ra probaly
wanting Hector's friend to double check that whole Annad is Ra's mom
thing that he was going to send for during that time. But that also
doesn't really need everyone to be here ))
Riot:
(( I got nothin ))
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Rai Patience Cantor:
(I'd
be happy to do a session about that too, Akaiku, if you want.)
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=^v^=:
(( sure, but we can prob skip a head
a couple o days nao ))
Regardless, the next several days pass in palpable tension. As with any
Argent cycle, only necessary traffic passes by the silver-lit streets,
but on this occasion anyone paying attention to the world beyond the
front windows would see that there is an unusual amount of activity.
Symbols, colors, and coats-of-arms can't easily be seen from that
distance in this lighting, but boots marching in lockstep are
unmistakable no matter the light, and given the variety of portable ward
styles they are marching under it seems overwhelmingly likely that a
number of armed factions are currently traveling about under the cover
of Garmera's silver eyes. Too much travel, too well armed, of too many
groups. Fallen continues to cheerfully make up stories about the
terrible war about to be waged in the streets, a habit that stops just
short of being impossibly irritating by his propensity for adding the
rest of you in as "heroes" during the meandering climaxes to his tales,
thereby making sure that the terrible conflict is eventually solved. By
you. The stories clearly aren't rooted in reality, but as the days pass
an no lack of material for these imaginings ever manifests, they start
to seem more and more plausible. However, not everything that happens
during this period is dire or concerning. Over the course of this
period, three letters arrive at Nasi Manor, each inquiring after your
group's willingness to take on a task. More specifically, each asks you
to meet in person with the client to discuss the job. Two of the
requests ask to meet here, while the third turns out to be a request
from Pasha Phelgon, the financial backer for the Silverfang Cult that
you'd previously met. The other two consist of a stained letter
attributed to "Krak Yon, Ferras Warden of Mekanice" which nonetheless
appears to be written in some kind of gold-infused metallic ink, lending
the messy paper some degree of credibility, and crisply folded envelope
of thick, expensive paper purporting to be from a Cor Falcan City-Lord
named Korrath. This last could potentially be an issue, considering that
Korrath is Perra's father. He probably wouldn't be the person coming to
meet you, but it could still be a small problem.
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Rai Patience Cantor:
((Feel
free to respond to any, all, or none of these requests, as you
would like.))
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Vul absolutly would wanna check out
the Mekanice thing
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Ra'ven:
"Hey
Perra? Does your father know you are here?"
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Perra:
"I
don't think so... I mean he may have seen me during that meeting
thing sense we all jumped down to the main floor. But I don't know
for sure."
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Riot:
(( I assume it's safe to say Sera and
Hector are back? ))
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Rai Patience Cantor:
((By
this point, definitely.))
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Sera:
"Where
the hell is Mekanice?"
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Rai Patience Argent:
"Ah,
right. You're not from the League. Mekanice is another city-state,
closely allied with Si En Kelar. It boasts the largest and most
sophisticated shipbuilding industry in this part of the world. I'm
afraid I couldn't tell you how it compares with other places."
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Sera:
"So
any idea what a Ferras Warden is, then? Or maybe who that person
is?"
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Perra:
"Should
probably answer it regardless though, even if we don't do what
ever it is he want's then at least having heard himn out won't be
seen as a snub by him." She sighs, "Him being at least neutral is
better then him being upset."
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Lucky:
"Probably
smart, yeah. I don't think we want him crawling up our ass."
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Ra'ven nods, "I mean if you and Vul
just aren't there, that'd be fine right? Since both of you didn't
hop out and make a scene with me?"
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Vul nods to Patie, "Ya all the coolest
ships come from there! Also quite a bit of shiny objects as well.
Io would like it I think."
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Perra nods to Ra, "Vul can probably be
there, I'm the one that should be in another room until who ever
they send leaves."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"I've
never been, but I'm told that while it's a place of incredible
beauty, should you happen to be wealthy and powerful, many of the
citizens live relatively poor lives. Cramped conditions, little
light or fresh air, the dust of mining and industry in the air. It
sounds unpleasant to me, but it's a crucial component of the
League's power." She purses her lips. "I must stress that I'm not
sure, but I think that a Ferras Warden refers to a kind of sheriff
or law enforcement official who is tasked with overseeing a tunnel
community."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"Mekanice
is very rich in minerals, and the miners themselves tend to take
up residence and raise their families in the mines themselves,
once they are no longer being actively worked. So these
communities are crucial... though not always treated well."
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Lucky:
"I'm
interested in what that one says, then."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"In
any case, I definitely agree with Perra. Obviously we need to keep
her safe, but actually talking to this person might do that better
than refusing to meet. And remember, we do have a good sized
roster now. Even if we decide that two of these requests are worth
doing, we have enough personnel to attempt them. A third would
likely have to wait, however."
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Sera:
"I'd
rather be flayed alive than deal with that Pasha character again."
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Ra'ven nods, "I mean, I am rather
curious why that silverfang guy would call on us, it's not like he
doesn't recognize us...."
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Ra'ven:
"Oh,
do you think he's trying to blackmail us?"
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Rai Patience Argent:
"Ugh.
I'm... not happy about it. But he is our link to the cult now, for
better or worse. At least finding out what he wants might be a
good idea. I'm willing to go by myself, though, or with a single
bodyguard. Nobody else needs to be subjected to it. He'll probably
be flattered, the ape."
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Sera:
"I
will not let you go near that man alone."
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Ra'ven nods, "Realy probbably should
be you and me then, if we are going that way."
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Kris:
"I'd
offer... but..."
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Ra'ven:
"Since
I'm tenchincally the leader of our chapter."
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Ra'ven:
"Made
up or not."
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Lucky:
"I
definitely forgot about that."
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Ra'ven:
"Plus,
I think you underesitmate our dear owner's martial and negotional
skills."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"Sera,
I'm flattered that you care so much." She looks at you, curiously.
"But if you are concerned, then I'm very happy to have Ra'ven
accompany me. And don't worry, Kris. I wouldn't expect you to
place your neck on that block."
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Eileen:
"I'll
go if you want. I can at least stand around and look scarry pretty
well."
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Sera:
"I'm
not underestimating
her,
I'm just... Nevermind. Just don't
let him touch her."
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Ra'ven waves Elieen off, "I can almost
certainally run with her if it comes to that... apparantly..." she
frowns recalling the throne room.
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Ra'ven:
"Also
it'd be somewhat odd for it to be a straight trap."
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Eileen shrugs, "All right."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"There's
nobody so skilled that they can't use a second set of eyes and
hands. I'd be happy to have you come along. However, from your
reactions, it seems as though we have two other requests that, at
least initially, seem more attractive, no?"
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Ra'ven nods, "Oh absolutly! I really
really doubt that guy has any actually
good
offer, but we
probably should play along, at least I should since it's my mess
right?"
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Ra'ven:
"Plus,
maybe I get to laugh at him for a stupid threat."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"Our
mess. This organization will not last if we don't show loyalty to
each other. I intend to support you, as you support me."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"And
if it comes to laughter, I'll laugh right along with you."
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Ra'ven:
"Plus
we get to eat his food and drink his wine."
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Ra'ven hmms, "Really the biggest
threat we'd face we coudl bring Abner for, but seems like a dumb
move on Mr Phelgon's part to poison us."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"You
make an excellent case. So, assuming that we save his request for
last, which of the others should we respond to first? I would like
to accept at least one, if we can. Among other things, it would
give us an excuse to leave the city, and perhaps attempt a glimpse
at the nexus Orbras described."
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Ra'ven:
"Eh,
Perra's dad probably? He's the most important right? That's sorta
how you are supposed to order things?"
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Rai Patience Argent laughs at the
mention of Abner. "No, I don't think we have to worry about that.
It's an amusing thought, though, considering what I did to him
last time I was there."
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Lucky:
"I'd
like to know what the Warden wants, at least. Maybe we can punch
up at some people who are punching down."
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Vul suddenly gives a laugh, "Hey
Perra, remember when your dad threatened to storm the palice to
yell at the Emir? It'd be funny if that was what he wants, since
we could say we actually
did
do that already..." a pause,
"Well, the rest of them could say it, but I will absolutly
watch... I can be something unobtrusive..."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"I'd
like to know about both, actually. But Ra'ven does make a good
point about precedence. A City-Lord outranks a Ferras Warden by an
enormous amount... enough that it is actually interesting that the
warden..." she taps the letter "...suggests that she is willing to
pay a competitive price. But interesting or not, the status
difference should at least be considered."
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Perra:
"I'd
like to know what he wants my self, but I'm sort of biased in this
choice."
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Vul nods, "Hepilly we can find out
what each of them want, before we make plans on exactly if we can
take on what they want. Maybe their request is unreasonable or
bad?"
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Vul:
"I
mean I wanna go to Mekanice again, cause it's all caves and
burrows and cool airships and fancy ticking things and shiny
things..."
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Vul:
"Plus
they could probably fix up that ahirship we crashed and flew away
to be even better...."
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Rai Patience Argent:
"Well,
I think we should listen to both, but I think listening to Perra's
father's request first might be the best move. And yes, of course
we won't agree to anything without understanding what it is first.
In fact..." She purses her lips. "I've been thinking... and this
isn't something that concerned me before, but lately has been in
my mind... perhaps before we begin operations in any place, we
should at least perform a cursory investigation about whether we
even SHOULD be doing that job. It would affect our efficiency,
but..." She makes a vague gesture with her hands. "Perhaps we
should take some responsibility for ourselves as well, instead of
trusting that the client is just. I'm sure they won't like that,
but we could do it covertly. Not good business practice, but there
are other considerations, I suppose."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"I
think making sure we're not doing wetwork for an Iron puppet is a
good business practice, honestly."
|
|
|
Kris:
"Agreed."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"That
was my concern as well."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Well.
I will allow that interpretation of business sense to win, then.
If we do end up helping them in some way, I'd at least like to
know that we haven't helped them through murder."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Really
though, discountiong it because it happens to be that... what if
it was lilke, rescue Perra's sister or Alsyne's village?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"But
it happend to help Iron."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods to the Rai, "Ya, trying to
figure out her game is good."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Note
that I didn't suggest a policy of rejecting all requests involving
the Iron Empire, Ra'ven."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"That's
not the same as acting as a kill squad for assholes."
|
|
|
Vul nods, "Also hopefully we aren't
being asked to be a kill squad in general."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Yes,
if we have the opportunity to rescue the people of Alsyne's
village we should consider it, even if the request comes from the
Iron Empire. But that's considering, not accepting. We don't need
to agree to specifically kill people for them, and some
investigation might help us determine if that's what they really
want us to do."
|
|
|
Vul:
"At
least
half of us are too cute for a kill squad."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Agreed,
Vul. Although there might be exceptions to that rule. Sometimes a
monster really is just terrorizing a village, you know?"
|
|
|
Vul:
"That'd
be a party of vallent heroes instead of a kill squad, which is
allowed to be cute."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent smiles in real
amusement.
|
|
|
Vul appears to be completely serious
in these assessments
|
Riot:
(( would Furball be offensive to Vul ))
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
((I
want to know this also.))
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Well,
if people are agreed, I'll send back a response to Lord Korrath,
asking him to send a representative. Perra, if you want to sit in
on the conversation, we can definitely either arrange for a
discrete place to listen from, or a disguise to keep your father's
man from recognizing you. It's up to you. There's a little risk,
yes, but you would also know the most about your father's
dealings, and might spot things we don't. As I said, it's up to
you."
|
=^v^=:
(( vul isn't offended by any term not
being used derogrativly and actually happens to like collecting names ))
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
(Sweet.)
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Careful
who you're calling cute, Furball," Lucky says with a smirk,
clearly not meaning any real offense.
|
=^v^=:
(( he prefers names that are, you
know, fancy or cute or the like, but gets otherones ))
|
|
Vul nods, "I know Io hates it."
|
|
|
Sera shrugs, "If the shoe fits, butch
biscuit."
|
|
|
Lucky glares at Sera, but responds to
Vul, "Io has the right idea, then."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Io
still thinks that he's due the deference of a god... whatever a
god really is. I think he has difficulty grasping that we don't
really hold the term in awe... to him it's important; to us, it's
just a weird historical term."
|
|
|
Perra:
"I
can be disguised."
|
|
|
Vul:
"Io
is the coolest best little dragon I can carry around and i will
allow them that huberous because it is cute, as the cost of
extracting the deferrence."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Good.
I have really quite good skills with nonmagical disguises, which
are safer. I'll just get Yltheria to help touch it up with magic
around the edges. That way, if he comes with the ability to see
through illusions, you still shouldn't be exposed."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
(Assassins
and disguises, lol.)
|
|
|
Perra:
"Assuming
he's the one who actually comes, he might just send someone else."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Still,
it's not entireuly unlikely someone he sends has seen you right?"
|
|
|
Perra:
"Yeah."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Courtiers
like gossip, you running away sounds like the best gossip."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"That's
what I'm concerned about, yes. We don't know, so we should be
cautious." Her mouth twitches. "Though I'll admit, I'm tempted to
ask about Korrath's wayward daughter, just to see what would
happen."
|
|
|
Vul:
"I
don't know, he has two of them right? The one Perra is looking
for..."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Oh,
of course. I was just thinking of that. ...Zhensa, correct?"
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Well,
it would be interesting to see the response either way. But I'll
try not to rock that boat."
|
|
|
Perra:
"Yes,
but it's not like she was banished or any thing. She's just out
doing adventure-y stuff from what I heard."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"it
would be pretty funny to see how you'd disguise someone as
striking as Perra though, especally with her chill."
|
|
|
Perra:
"The
cold thing only happend after I took this." She holds out the rod
she uses in fights, "I wasn't born that way."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"I'll
send the letter, and tell his representative to meet us here
tomorrow. Kaylen told me that it should have receded to a silver
cycle by then." She smiles at Ra'ven. "Come now. The chill is easy
enough; you simply don't get close. As for the rest, the easiest
possible thing to do is to use coloring powder and change her
scales. I doubt her father is looking for his daughter, but as a
BLUE dragonborn."
|
|
|
Perra:
"...and
that was as I was leaving, I'm not even sure father or any one
else back home knows about the cold thing."
|
|
|
Ra'ven frowns, "I assume you leaving
it behind doesn't make the cold go away right? So it's not relly
known?"
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Even
easier then."
|
|
|
Perra:
"Nope,
always cold now."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"...I
used blue only as an example, but also because it is one of the
easier colors. Attempting to turn you red would have...
unfortunate results."
|
|
|
Vul:
"I
mean you'd need a bit of a hat too, since horn shapes are pretty
distinctive...."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Very
easy to deal with. Horn shapes are distinctive, but also not hard
to sculpt additions to."
|
|
|
Vul:
"True
dragons' scale patterns are also distinctive but I think
dragonborn have enough diveragnce..."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Scale
patterns would be hard, so yes, we're lucky that dragonborn aren't
quite as speciated."
|
|
|
Perra seems a bit embarrassed at being
fussed over suddenly.
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
"Er...Apologies."
She seems embarrassed too. "I was talking shop directly over your
head."
|
|
|
Vul nods, "Io is actually extremely
intersting, in that they aren't any dragon I know of but also
follow the correct patterns of if they were a dragon I haven't."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
((Hey,
do you think you could restate that? I think I understand, but I
want to be sure.)
|
=^v^=:
(( Vul is saying that Io doesn't look
like any known dragon. But he also thinks Io looks like a proper unknown
dragon unlike someone who doesn't know dragons extremely well. ))
=^v^=:
(( basically Vul is fairly certain Io
was either a dragon or someone who REALLY knows their dragons beffore
turning into their current form ))
=^v^=:
(( with a side of "Well, if Io was a
normal dragon before this they'd probably turn into the same sorrta
normal dragon except maybe black cause shadow magic but this clearly
isn't that either." ))
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
((Ah,
I see. Vul sorta recognizes a certain level of platonic
dragon-ness in Io, then. Which is accurate.))
|
|
|
Rai Patience Argent:
((Anyway,
is there anything else you folk want to take care of right now? We
can also start the convo with Korrath's rep, if you would like, or
we can wait until next time.
|
=^v^=:
(( we can skip to convo ))
Riot:
(( I'm good either way ))
=^v^=:
(( vul just tends to try to build up
Io, since Vul has decided to go along with Io having made all teh
dragons in the first place ))
vonel:
(( It is almost 10, don't know if we
want to start the convo and then stop in the middle. ))
vonel:
(( might just be eaiser to wait for
next time. ))
=^v^=:
(( did you waanna next time next sat
at 5pm instead? ))
|
Jasse:
((I
was kinda thinking that too, but wanted to offer the option. We
can also take care of something ahead of time, if you can think of
it. Like, at the very least I can give the description of the rep
etc.))
|
|
|
Jasse:
((I
will do whatever time seems good.))
|
=^v^=:
(( also a heads up, starting the
weekend after the 4th fo july and for the 2 weeks after it, (3 weekends
total) I miiight not be available, unsure. Vacation. ))
vonel:
(( if people want to do saturday at 5
sure. Really with my schedule change either sat or sun works, so what
ever is more convienint for you guys. ))
Riot:
(( I'm fine with whatever, unless I
end up moving soon, in which case I'll have to let y'all know ))
Riot:
(( but that would just be a pause most
likely while I get set up ))
|
|
Jasse:
(Righto,
then. Ok, I'mma leave y'all with a small introductory paragraph,
which is more like a next time on than anything else. Just so you
know what we're currently working with.)
|
Korrath's representative is fairly small dragonborn woman with brassy
scales and a low, quite voice. She looks about the room, noting the
relative sparseness of the furnishings, but her eyes linger on the crisp
uniforms and well-used martial accoutrements in evidence. "Hello. My
name is Jasse, ambassadorial seneschal to Lord Korrath. I will be as
clear as possible from the outset: My lord owns a part share in a mining
village, alongside the Emirate of Si En Kelar. Given the volatility of
current events, he is concerned that it might be seized, or the citizens
subjected to abuses by the Emir's people, intends to purchase the Emir's
share. He would like to hire you to guard the site and oversee it while
the handover is being finalized. He has reason to believe that you might
be fair in this matter."
|
|
Jasse:
(Anyway,
that's just the opening bullshit, regardless. Obviously the plot
will not just be about you watch a mining town get handed over,
lol.)
|
vonel:
(( Any time, in any game, you get
hired to stand there and look pretty things go south really fast and
really bad. ))
|
|
Jasse:
((At
least this time you're being hired BECAUSE people think that
things might go south!))
|
|
|
Jasse:
(So
it's not really a surprise.
)
|
|
|
Perra:
Indeed
|
|
|
Vul gets hired to stand around and
look pretty, gets first place ribbon in dog show
|
=^v^= is disconnected.
Riot is disconnected.
vonel is disconnected.
Riot has connected.
|
|
Ganaroth:
Sorry
you're not feeling well.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
I'm
not too bad. I ended up a little more tired today than I thought I
would, but it wasn't really an issue. I'm in reasonable spirits.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Watching
Overlord reactions is incredibly interesting for Reader Response
analysis. People respond to this show in a startling array of
different ways, most of which depend on what amounts to castles in
the air. Ie, the person in question makes a theory, and then
starts interpreting everything as though that theory is already
confirmed, leading them to quickly get off-track. In particular,
it's really interesting to see people twist themselves into knots
trying to figure out the MC's master plan which definitely isn't
villainous. No, folks. No. He's not trying to wipe out the
lizardmen villages because he wants to force them through an
evolutionary crucible or anything like that. Sometimes a dark lord
shows up and just wants to wipe out some villages and turn them
all into undead. And in this case, let one of his subordinates
gain some tactical experience. He genuinely didn't care about the
lizardmen, and was going to kill them all, and watching people
either slowly realize that they've been following the baddies all
along or, alternately, dive down the well of delusion regarding
it, is super fucking funny. But also interesting! I've been
cataloguing flashpoint where misinterpretations take place. And
finding some interesting blind spots in my own interpretation!
Ahem. Sorry. So, shall we begin? Sera and Hector were about to
leave the house.
|
|
|
Riot:
I
haven't even heard of that show but it sounds like how people were
convinced Homelander and the rest of the supers on The Boys were
the good guys, even though Homelander literally shoots down a
private jet with a man and his small child in it with his heat
vision
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
(Yeah,
it's a bit similar, though more explicable, since Ains in Overlord
is definitely the main character as well as the villain, so it's
like if The Boys was told through Homelander's perspective. It's a
story about a world in which the greatest heroes are people like
Aragorn and Legolas, and the biggest villains have been people
like Sauron. And then what amounts to an actual max level D&D
villain and all of his subordinates and all of his armies just
suddenly show up with no warning, transported to their world. And
then you get to watch the world react to this sudden descent of a
dark god, which contains all the horror and dismay of people
trying to fight off modern main battle tanks and air power with
arrows and horse cavalry. Only the disparity is actually worse.
And, again, all told from the perspective of the villains doing
the conquering.)
|
|
Hector Achilon is waiting for you at
the entrance, with a portable ward affixed to his staff and a grim
expression on his face. "I'll take point, if that's okay, since I
mix it up a close range. You'll have to tell me where to go,
though." He sighs. "This isn't how I wanted things to go, but
remember that our plans aren't dead, just delayed. As long as we
get that sword, we can always do what we planned later. Right?"
|
Riot:
(( also, I can't remember - did we
already send for Pell? I feel like we did ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(A
message was sent, I believe.)
|
|
|
Riot:
"Yeah.
There's also a chance that this might be able to tell us something
simpler, if my hunch is right. If not, we'll have to take that as
it comes."
|
Riot:
(( woops ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(kay)
|
Riot:
(( also I have no idea where the sword
is, so I'll just assume she does and can direct Hector ))
Riot:
(( *similar ))
Riot:
(( not simpler ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((Hey,
can you really quickly give me the rundown on the plan? It's been
a while, and although I remember the shape of it, I don't want to
mess up the details.))
|
Riot:
(( As far as I can recall, it was just
to go retrieve the sword, and then Sera intends to see if it reacts to
Lucky and possibly Patience, or just how Patience reacts to it. If it
means anything to her. ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Sorry
about this. I'd just rather not run into "wait, but what about
that important thing you totally forgot was the whole point of
this?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((Ohhhhh.
Okay, sorry. I thought there was more going on right now. We're
good then.)
|
Riot:
(( sent you a snip from the graduation
scene I wrote ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((My
bad. Thanks for the snippet! Very helpful.))
|
Riot:
(( lol no worries ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Of
course. I hope for it too. Even if she doesn't immediately regain
any memories, or anything like that, if she reacts to it at all,
it might give us an idea for the next step, at least."
|
Riot:
(( I think it's too soon for Pell to
get here, but I imagine he'd be here around the time for that meeting ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((The
meeting with Korrath's rep, you mean?))
|
|
|
Sera:
"I
also want to see how the sword reacts to Lucky. Iann Aistrithe was
Resena's
sword. It spoke to her. If it does the same thing with Lucky..."
|
Riot:
(( Yeah. I think it was supposedly
gonna take like 5 days of game time for him to get there? So maybe
shortly after ))
|
|
Sera:
"Gods
she was so
proud
of that thing."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Hm.
Makes sense. I wonder if it'll react to Patience too. Hell, I
wonder what will happen if they're both in the same room with
it..." He walks outside, trying to carefully survey the area as he
goes, and following your directions down the streets all the
while. "Attached to her sword, eh? Wouldn't be the first warrior.
Though from the way you say it, it seems like there might have
been more to it. Like it meant something more than just proof of
her abilities."
|
|
|
Sera:
"When
a Vanguard passes the Candidate's Course, they're given a weapon.
Always specially chosen for their personality and their abilities.
Sandstorm was mine, because according to the cadre, I had 'a sharp
eye and a mind for my team'. Resena was given a sword that could
speak, in a sense. She said she could feel things it wanted to
tell her. That it had been lost for a long time, and when it
connected with her, it felt at home. And I think they chose that
for her because... for a long time, she was lost. Her family was
loving, her brother, too. She joined the National Service after I
did the same, and went through the full Academy process, to become
an officer. And then she followed me into the Vanguards, if a bit
behind. But I think she always wanted to lead. Wanted to protect
people, and be the one who they could look up to and know would
move the world for them. I think Iann Aistrithe was proof that she
was good enough. Even if Pell and I always knew she was good
enough."
|
|
|
Sera:
"I
think she and that sword knew each other better than she knew
herself. The way she and I used to be. And no, I'm not jealous of
a sword, before you ask. The way she loved that thing always felt
like a reflection of the way she loved me, and it made me so
proud."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon is silent for a long
stretch, almost uncomfortable, but speaks just as it's beginning
to become worrisome. "I wish I could remember your people, you
know. I'm not even sure I ever knew about them, but I'd like to
think that I did. That tradition speaks so much about what you
value, and how you express it. Your Vanguard sound like some of
the better Philosophies that I've dealt with. It sounds as though
they understand your loyalty, and are loyal right back. And I'll
bet anything that it was a damned rare thing for any of you to
run. But right, if that sword is connected to something that deep,
that meaningful..." He sighs. "Maybe this is the thought of a
romantic, but it almost seems to me that if this symbol of what
she dedicated her life to, a thing given to her because it already
resonated with her, doesn't get some response out of her, then she
must really be gone. And we've already seen that isn't true." He
looks at you and nods. "I want you to know that I don't think this
might work. I think it WILL work."
|
|
|
Sera:
"I
hope so. I kept coming to her hospital room for weeks after
everything happened. When she vanished, and she left that sword...
I thought my world had ended. And I wish you could remember my
people, too. Maybe, if we go there, past the Seclusion, those
memories will return. I don't know how it works, really. It's
beyond my pay grade. But my people are... loyal is definitely one
way of putting it. Sure, we've made mistakes. And there are
assholes, just as everywhere. But especially for the Vanguard -
they cared for our home, and everyone in it. Whether you were born
there, or came to the Reach by some other means, you were
protected. The Vanguard would die to protect you. Hell, half of
each Vanguard was made up of Warforged - all former Vanguards who
died or were mortally wounded and chose to keep fighting for the
Reach. It aches in my heart every single day that there are only
seven of us left, out of so, so many. The Iron took so much. And
three of us are out here, not there to help rebuild. It's a waking
nightmare."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Damn."
He shakes his head. "I have no words for that, I really don't. My
own order is on it's last legs these days, after the disaster at
the Ice Mouths, but to have only three companions left, and the
rest of everything you fought for beyond your reach is more than I
can imagine. I know you don't do what you do for the hope of
reward, but I you deserve something for the level of your
sacrifice. I'm a chaplain of the Silent Gate, so I might it might
seem weird, or possibly appropriate depending on how you view
things, but instead of ordering you to die for them, your people
expected you to live for them instead, and that's a much harder
task. Death is silence. It is release, both from hurt and
happiness. But you're life contains a lot of hurt right now, and
you're expected to keep refusing that release. Not cruel, but a
hard fate nonetheless."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Not
that I think it's better that you die. Hell no. But it's not even
an option, now, even if it was what you wanted."
|
|
|
Sera:
"There
was a time, after she left... But no. Not anymore. And never
seriously. Not if there's a chance. And I want to see my home
again. With her at my side."
|
|
|
Sera:
"I'm
sorry about your order, by the way."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Well,
lets make that happen, then." His mouth quirks to a small smile.
"The Order of The Silent Gate doesn't worship death. It's a common
misconception. If your life was filled with pain and despair, and
nothing was going to get better, I'd counsel you, and aid you in
passing through the gate. But if there's a possibility of your
life regaining happiness, it's better to do that instead. The Gate
is a last resort. Filled with secrets, to be respected and feared,
and sought as solace if there's nothing else to be done. But only
after that point. For most, it's my duty to help people avoid it,
and seek something better." He shrugs, jangling the ward as he
walks. "It's complicated. There are a lot of volumes written about
it... not that it's going to be relevant. The writing on this wall
is pretty clear. Maybe in the future, our beliefs will rise up
somewhere else, and people will learn the truths we've discovered
there, but that will be there and then, not here and now. The
order I joined is dying. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to help get
the new one on its feet." He coughs. "Ahem. Anyway, yeah. There
was a conflict at a remote region in the mountains of Lansir. A
lot of undead, a lot of problems. We went in to try and help. It
worked for a while, and the people loved us. And then mistakes
were made. We underestimated things. Made bad calls. A major
battle was lost, and the enemy poured through. A lot of people
died, and suddenly we went from being their saviors to the fools
that promised to save them, only to let them get slaughtered. We
tried to keep going, but we couldn't hold the region after that.
Even the people that survived lost everything, and we limped home,
maybe... one in five of us still alive, and our moral and
reputation smashed. A lot of the others retired after that."
|
|
|
Sera:
"You
know, she used to do this trick... She would be so cocky about it,
too," Sera starts, a far off look and a smile that reaches her
eyes, recalling a fond memory. "-The sword itself, when she would
swing it - the blade would vanish. And when it did, the hilt and
pommel were the only things that had weight. So she would toss the
sword in the air, spinning it as she did so, and she'd have to
catch it just by the hilt, which would have changed its movement
as the blade disappeared. She loved to do it whenever we had
downtime, when we were off on a mission, or she felt like she
wanted to entertain the rest of the Lance. And like I said, she
would be so cocky, and it always seemed to amaze people, but - and
don't ever tell her I told you this - I remember how many times
she almost took her own damned arm off practicing that little
trick."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"That's
a dangerous trick. If she catches it wrong, couldn't that blade
reappear where she wasn't expecting, and slice something?" He
actually looks impressed, rather than concerned. "She must have
had a lot of confidence in her control."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Oh,
you even said so. Oops.)
|
|
|
Sera listens to Hector's story, a
somber look coming over her face. "That's terrible. I'm so sorry.
Even the best and most well intentioned make mistakes, though. I
hope you're able to bring it back, even if it's not the same."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"I
hope so too. And I hope that you get to see your home again, with
Resena at your side, even if that isn't quite the same either."
Your steps take the two of you into a Tinton warehouse district;
great container buildings stacked atop each other to make use of
the limited horizontal space of the city. The complex is massive,
and more than a little confusing to navigate, as the low, sturdy
buildings are nearly indistinguishable from each other, all red
struts and white concrete. However, your own knowledge quickly
leads the two of you to what looks like an old mainanence hatch.
The cover itself is badly rusted, but closer inspection shows
where Sera had previously forced it loose. Hector looks about,
trying to spot any guards. Luckily, the Argent cycle has cut down
on their presence, and so far you've been able to evade them. "So,
this is going to sound like a stupid question, considering... but
what is food in The Reach like? Everwhere has their own style, but
if I ever knew yours, I definitely don't now. I'm curious about
whether I'd like it." He nods to the hatch, indicating that he's
ready to follow your lead.
|
Riot:
(( are we about to climb down into
somewhere dark and nasty ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((Not
really. It's more like an old shaft that was mostly used during
construction to work on the foundations, but it clearly hasn't
been used in a while. It's not clean, exactly, but it's not filled
with slime and monsters either.))
|
Riot:
(( lol okay ))
|
|
Sera laughs quietly, "We're about to
be climbing down a dark, dank hole, and you ask about food?"
|
|
|
Sera:
"But
now that you made me think of it... Gods, I'd kill for a
traditional Reach dinner. Everything here has been so... bland, I
guess? Our food is so much spicier, and has so much more flavor."
(she proceeds to describe what amounts to a mix of Mexican and
Thai food. Poultry, rice, fresh vegetables to offset the
traditional spiciness)
|
|
|
Sera:
"What
about where you're from? I admit the only foreign foods I tried
back home were from people who emigrated, and I couldn't tell you
if any of them came from your area."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon chuckles. "You might
find it a little bland, if you're used to all that sharp spice.
Where I come from, the spices tend toward smokey, or different
varieties of savory. Mm, except garlic, we do love that. We use a
lot of flatbread, sauces and cheeses, and strips of grilled and
seasoned meat, with bitter peppers to help bring out the richness
of everything else. It doesn't bite you, the way that spicy food
does, really. It's... warm. Comforting."
|
|
|
Sera:
"Sounds
amazing. And yeah, the Reach is just always so cold, so the spice
keeps us warm."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Mmhm.
Lansir is a big place; I'm just talking about where I come from,
you understand. And I do love trying out other people's cooking.
That's why I brought it up. If I have ever had any, I don't
remember it, so if I ever get a chance, I'd like to try it for the
first time again."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Your
reach cooking, I mean."
|
|
|
Sera:
"Unfortunately,
that was all Resena. I didn't get the cooking gene. Though Pell
makes a serviceable meal."
|
Inside the tunnel, the light from the ward dims substantially;
surrounded by all of this concrete and steel, the fey spirits on the
wind are less attracted to you, and Hector swiftly brings out a small
torch to make up for it. "A shame. I guess we'll really have to bring
her back, then." The two of you stop in front of an old grating; it may
have been a tool closet many years ago, and is now little more than a
mess of rusted tines, promising filthy wounds for anyone trying to force
it open. And, known specifically to Sera, there is a new, quite sturdy
lock keeping the entire thing closed, just in case. You placed it there
yourself... but as you approach, you notice something slightly wrong.
When you arranged everything, the lock was deliberately placed out of
view, impossible to see without getting under the grating and looking
for it. Now, a very visible sliver of shiny metal peeks out.
|
|
Sera looks at Hector, "Something's not
right. Someone's been here."
|
Riot:
(( can I tell if there's anyone
around? ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((If
you want to see if anyone is currently around, a perception check
would be the thing.))
|
|
|
Sera:
|
You don't immediately sense anyone else nearby. The hallway is silent
aside from your and Hectors' breath, and the slow drip of some pipe onto
the floor.
|
|
Sera:
"Can
you tell if there's anything magical going on? Booby traps or
anything?"
|
|
|
Sera:
"I
don't even know if that's your skillset, but I did
not
leave that lock like that."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Actually,
checking for that sort of thing is in YOUR skill set! You have an
ability called arcane trapsmith.)
|
|
|
Sera:
|
|
You can use your intelligence modifier (
5
) instead of your dexterity modifier (
0
) when making Thievery checks to disable traps or open
locks. In addition, you gain a +4 feat bonus to arcana
checks related to traps or hazards.
|
|
Riot:
(( Well then ))
|
|
Sera:
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Is
what happens when you're a battle technician, right?)
|
Riot:
(( apparently lol ))
You easily discover a small present that was left behind. Nothing
immediately harmful; in fact, if you hadn't looked, you probably never
would have known. Since you were last here, someone has laid a weak
Alarm enchantment on the lock, which would alert the caster if it were
opened. Then enchantment is inexpertly applied, and you're pretty sure
you can dispel it without issue. Further, you can see a series of fine
marks around the keyhole. It looks like someone attempted to pick it,
although you can't tell if they managed to get inside.
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"I
don't sense any curses, if that's what you mean. If it's not
something like that, though, you're probably the better bet."
|
Riot:
(( So should I roll Thievery to disarm
it? ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Sorry
for the delay there. Yeah, that would work.)
|
|
|
Sera:
|
Riot:
(( no worries on the delay ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(You're
able to easily disrupt the enchantment. It looks as though it were
either applied by a beginner, or somebody merely following a set
of instructions. Either way, it won't be alerting anyone now.
There is one interesting wrinkle, though: Even if the magic wasn't
particularly skilled, you recognize the form. This is the same
form of the charm taught to warmages in the Reach, with little
variance.)
|
|
|
Sera stares for a minute, at the lock,
blinking. The breath has clearly been taken out of her, and she
sits on the tunnel floor, crosslegged, as if in a daze.
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Is
something wrong?"
|
Riot:
(( warmages have no relation to
swordmages right? ))
Riot:
(( I guess it doesn't matter, it
wouldn't have been Patience anyway, since she doesn't even remember the
Reach ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((Yeah,
sorry. I know there are a lot of class names floating around, as
well as just descriptive terms. This is one of the latter. I'm
just using it to refer to magic-using soldiers that were given
training by the Reach's military.))
|
Riot:
(( Ahhh that's what I was kinda
wondering, I figured I'd have seen it in the class list ))
|
|
Sera:
"This
magic... it's Reach magic. I didn't recognize it at first. Someone
from the Reach put an alarm enchantment on this lock."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon scowls. "Any chance
someone is trying to mess with you? No... that doesn't make sense.
Does it? Is that less or more likely than there being another
survivor out here? One who would try to grab what you left,
instead of talk to you..."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((It's
funny, you get that with Overlord sometimes. The big plot point is
that the main character WAS just a dude playing a futuristic vr
game. And now that is no longer the case, because when the game
shut down for the final time, with him online, he and his entire
guild base and his inventory and all the npcs etc etc were
transported to a DIFFERENT fantasy world. The new fantasy world is
not a game, and is not familiar to them, but as it turns out,
other people from the game had been transported to this world,
across its history. So even though that actual people of this new
world don't really have "classes," they actually occasionally
refer to things in those terms. There's one guy who claims to have
both Illusionist and Fencer as his "character classes." Thing is,
that's all actually just cultural. The great gods of the past, who
were players from this game, DID refer to things in those ways, so
things got transferred down through the public consciousness.
Levels, though, really didn't. Like, the main characters will
describe people, or themselves, as being of a particular level,
but it's just them estimating using familiar measurments, rather
than a number that actually means anything.))
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(And
refering to other people in those ways confuses them. And they
dispute the rankings.)
|
Riot:
(( Wild ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(The
show is HEAVILY based on D&D, specifically 3rd edition. Apparently
the whole impetus behind it was his own emotional frustration from
his D&D group no longer being able to get together and play.)
|
|
|
Sera:
"I
don't think... I don't think anyone would mess with me. But as far
as I know, the only other Reach survivor out here is Resena, and
while she does like to avoid me, or find excuses to dodge me - she
would have to
remember
. But if that were the case, I'd
expect it to be more advanced than this. Resena was one of the
finest swordmages who ever lived in the Reach."
|
Riot:
(( Ahhh that makes more sense ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(I
get the feeling that he would have just gone with D&D -> Fantasy
world, instead of VR MMO that is like D&D -> Fantasy World, except
that D&D wasn't well known at the time in Japan.)
|
Riot:
(( Ahh yeah that tracks too ))
|
|
Sera:
"Honestly
I wish I'd recognized it before. I would've just triggered it
myself and let them come to me."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Hm.
I think we can probably table that possibility, then..." He raises
an eybrow. "Not sure I like it. We're down at the bottom of a hole
here, with no room to manuver. If we're going to lure them, we
should be the ones doing the ambushing, not the other way around.
Is the sword still here?"
|
|
|
Sera:
"True,
but I figured it would take them enough time that we could get
back out. Either way, it's too late now."
|
Riot:
(( is the sword there? It being taken
would have triggered the alarm Sera set, right? I hope. Unless they took
it and put that weak charm there to know when someone came looking ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Well,
you're the actual military lug. I'm just pseudo. You probably know
better than I do."
|
The sword is there, apparently undisturbed. It seems as though the
intruder either didn't manage to get inside, or left it as it was an
closed everything up again. Nothing seems to be amiss, other than the
fact that someone was nosing about, and that said person knows at least
one unexpected trick.
|
|
Sera grabs the sword, carefully
opening the cloth it's wrapped in, verifying. She lets out a deep
breath when she realizes it's there, and it's the real
Iann
Aistrithe
|
|
|
Sera:
"Let's
get out of here, but keep your eyes out for anyone who might be
watching for us to leave."
|
As you lay eyes on it, the blade almost seems to hum, like the ghost of
sound feather-touching the back of your mind. Barely anything, but still
a touch of acknowledgement. You aren't it's wielder, but to the extent
that it knows anything, it knows you as well. Hector watches as you take
it into your arms, and proceeds to exit the hatch the same way you came
in. He's admirably vigilant as you make your exit, but when you get back
to the road his curiosity doesn't take long to bubble forth. "Ok, so
what are the chances that somebody from your country is somehow outside
this Seclusion. And knows you hid something there. And knows that
enchantment, but isn't good enough to get inside? It's a weird
combination, but the alternative is an enemy doing the same thing,
right?"
|
|
Sera smiles at the feeling the blade
imparts, and tries to reciprocate. "Honestly? I have no idea. At
this point Pell is the only one who knows I'm here, but he
shouldn't be here yet. But no, I don't think it would be an enemy.
Even Anand doesn't have the magic to break through the veil that
keeps our identities hidden."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Yeah,
I noticed. She's your greatest enemy, and she doesn't remember you
at all. A few flashes, here and there, sure. And she knows that a
mystery exists now, which isn't good, but as long as we're careful
and make sure she's not getting info leaked to her, there
shouldn't really be much she can grab ahold of. Even if she
realized that there's an unknown foe out there, she wouldn't know
where to find them. But if it's not her... well, an unknown friend
can sometimes be almost as bad for us as an unknown enemy."
|
|
|
Sera:
"I
don't know how to find out. Maybe they'll follow us, if they know
we have the sword."
|
|
|
Sera:
"And
as much as I don't like to sound arrogant, most people from the
Reach wouldn't dare to mess with a Vanguard Lance. Especially not
a Lance Captain and a Lance Sergeant."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Urgh...
Yeah, I don't think I can help. A failed lockpick isn't much of an
impression for Psychometry to pick up on, and they didn't touch
the sword itself, so there won't be an impression there." He nods
at your statement. "Well, I certainly wouldn't want to mess with
you. If they saw you, and realized who you are, in a general sense
at least, maybe they're just curious." He rubs his chin. "I
thought for a second that maybe they'd be trying to contact you,
but they didn't leave a message. Being cautious, maybe?"
|
|
|
Sera:
"Maybe.
The only other person I know of outside the seclusion is Deket,
but he has a post, and it's not here. If it's someone trying to
find Resena, it would have to be someone willing to track her
down. Tracking her sword should have been... tricky. I know I
haven't exactly been discreet," (she gestures to her uniform,
which, while now colored in the style of their 'mercenary' outfit,
is still clearly a Vanguard uniform, "but it would be surprising
if anyone followed me. I just don't know who else would
care
."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Me
neither. Well... it's probably not a problem for now. If it was,
they would have come to find you at the mansion already. Probably
something to keep in mind for later though, when we get a chance
to breathe. If nothing else... tugging on loose ends sometimes
produces nice surprises." He gives a wistful smile. "There was a
compatriot of mine... tough lady with an axe, great mind for
riddles. Anyway, we made it out of the Ice Mouths together, and
everything is hell, right? All those refugees streaming out of the
mountains, trying to guard them while they spat at us... well,
turn out that if that had never happened, she would never have met
her neice. Her brother was one of the refugees, from a different
town than the one she guarded. They'd separated years ago; she had
no idea he was living there. But she ended up in their group while
we were clearing out, and in the middle of a damn near death
march, she got to be reunited with her brother, and meet that
niece for the first time." Another smile. "Not that it was worth
it, really. But it's better than nothing good coming from it. Keep
that in mind, okay? It's still possible that this is actually good
news."
|
|
|
Sera:
"I
hope you're right. I suppose we'll find out, one way or another."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Agreed."
A pause. "I hope you know that I'm in this with you. Even if this
mission didn't entwine itself with the philosphies of my order,
and it does, I'd want to help. Nobody deserves to
be...diminished.... the way that you're talking about. It's almost
a death without dying."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"And,
if I'm honest, it's something I've noticed about Patience since
I've known her. The ache. The yearning towards being meaningful.
To have this stuff restored... it would really help her, I think."
|
|
|
Sera:
"Thank
you. First thing's first though. Letting Lucky hold the sword."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((Sorry,
he brought up patience without Lucky... but he knew Patience
first, so that's where his mind goes. He does know the objective.))
|
Riot:
(( Oh I was typing that before you
posted his line, no worries ))
|
|
Sera:
"After
that... We'll see what happens. If we can even convince...
Patience... to hold it."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Absolutely.
How do you want to play that, by the way? Just hand it to her when
we get back, or something more elaborate?" He nods. "Yeah, if she
thinks that you're trying to fix her, she'll dig in like crazy.
Better to go for lucky first."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Well,
you know Resena better than I do... which means you probably know
more about Lucky too. You'll come up with a good way of doing
this."
|
|
|
Sera:
"Lucky
is easy. Toss her the sword and see what happens. Patience? I'm
not sure. I was just going to ask her. Maybe offer it as a gift."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Ok,
makes sense. Just let me know when you're going to do it, ok? I'm
not sure what kind of backup might be necessary, but we're talking
about trying to drag somebody's identity back out of the shadows
to which it was banished. I'm not saying something dangerous might
happen, but it would be real dumb to assume that it couldn't, on
something like this. Right?"
|
|
|
Sera:
"Lucky
I was going to do as soon as we got back. Patience, I don't know.
I think it kind of depends on what happens with Lucky."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Well.
I'll be there to help, then. And to talk after, if you need it."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((Is
that ok for now, do you think? I'd like to think a little about
the scene before giving the sword to lucky, if that's okay.))
|
|
|
Sera:
"Thank
you. For what she's capable of it in her current state, she trusts
you. And so do I."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon smiles, and nods in
appreciation.
|
Riot:
(( Yeah that's fine lol. I was gonna
have Sera knock on the door, go "Hey, butch biscuit. Catch." and toss
the sword to her. What happened next would be whatever you decided lol ))
Riot:
(( knock on Lucky's bedroom door, I
mean ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
That's
fucking amazing, and I will write my own material around that.
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
If
you want, we can finish it up with that scene another day this
week, so that everything is ready for the next session.
|
Riot:
(( sure! I'd like that. No idea what
you're planning for Patience but I was gonna have Sera ask her how she
felt. Like really, really felt. Is she looking for something she's
missing? Because Sera has an idea what that might be. Maybe it will do
nothing to calm that thing inside her, but maybe there's a chance. And
if there's a chance to feel like she's something more, shouldn't she
take it? Or at least that's what I have running through my mind, anyway.
Spitballing ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(nodnodnod.
I've been trying to play Patience as a person who feels that way,
so I think that's a fruitful path to take.)
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(I
have some ideas for what might happen, too. We'll see!)
|
Riot:
(( Okay! ))
Riot is disconnected.
=^v^= has connected.
|
|
Sera:
|
|
|
(0) Sera
|
—
|
Rolled
22
vs. AC
( Miss )
|
—
|
19
Force damage
.
|
|
Hit:
and the next ally to attack the target before
the end of your next turn gains a +2 power bonus to the
attack roll.
|
|
Apply
The
next ally to attack the target before the end of your next
turn gains a +2 power bonus to the attack roll.
|
|
|
|
Sera:
|
|
(0) Sera
|
—
|
Sera
|
Effect:
Choose one of the following effects:
Resistive:
Target gets +1 to ac until end of encounter. They can
dismiss this as a free action to gain
19
+
5
temp hp.
Healing:
Target regains
19
+
3
hp.
|
|
Apply
The
ally gains a +2 bonus to all defenses until the end of your
next turn.
|
|
Apply
Target
gets +1 to ac and can dismiss for thp
|
|
|
|
Sera:
|
Effect:
She can roll a heal check to stablize the
dying as a minor action
|
|
|
|
Sera:
|
|
|
(0) Sera
|
—
|
Rolled
29
vs. Will
( Hit )
|
—
|
9
Psychic damage
.
|
|
|
|
Sera:
|
Effect:
+1 to all defenses vs ranged attacks 5 or
more squares away.
|
|
|
|
Sera:
|
Effect:
+1 to all defenses vs ranged attacks 5 or
more squares away.
|
|
Riot has connected.
Riot is disconnected.
vonel has connected.
vonel is disconnected.
=^v^= is disconnected.
=^v^= has connected.
|
|
Ra'ven:
yay
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
Yo.
|
Hector returns from his excursion with Sera, looking pensive. She
quickly moves away, holding a long, thin package, but he remains in the
doorway, frowning and looking back the way they came from. He doesn't
seem to have noticed you, yet.
|
|
Ra'ven teleport/shuffles up to him,
"Bad time?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon starts. "Oh! Damn, Ra.
You should probably warn a person before doing that. Some people
might have better reflexes than me, and not wait to find out who
you are." He shakes his head. "No, not really. I'm just thinking.
There's a lot of complicated stuff going on. I'm okay, but I
wonder how much our group can absorb before we start to shake
ourselves apart. Even the parts that might be good are starting to
become dangerous, to my mind. Anyway, how can I help?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven frowns, "Well, about that
complicating stuff... You were going to ask your friend about that
past I don't really remember and I sorta think maybe I should get
another opinion if Jydeth is my mother, or however she is actually
relevent if at all."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
'I
mean I know she didn't raise me that I remember, but I also know I
don't remember a bit and she seems familiar... Plus she claimed it
where that'd normally be pretty bold to claim for someone else."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean I remember my birth parents dying... I think..." she frowns,
"... and I'd assume she wouldn't be that, but she also possess
people so."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Yeah.
I sent a message to him a few days back. He a... well, lets call
him a scholar, okay? He's not from here, but he lives here now,
and he knows a lot about lineages. We occasionally used him when
trying to identify the descendents of old remains and such." He
looks at you, curious. "I don't know if your memories are real or
imagined. He'll probably have a better idea, though. If there is a
possibility to her being... well, he'll tell us."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Before
we go, though, I need to make sure. You're prepared to hear
whatever he has to say, even if it doesn't make you happy?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven tilts her head, "I... huh..
well..." she frowns, "None of my sisters or Vul even have parents
really."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"It
doesn't mean that much to me, but it means a lot to others?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Also
if she's just making it up, that'd be a thing we should know
right?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven frowns, "... I... don't think
there is a good answer so I don't really think it will make me
happy either way right?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Well,
I agree, but we both know that's not the only answe we could get.
I want to make sure that you aren't going to lash out if we get a
worse one. Look, I won't judge you if so. My order doesn't really
think of the truth as an unvarnished virtue. Truth that help are
good, truths that harm are bad, and the awareness of the
difference is very important. It's a whole gateway metaphor thing.
Point is you're making a choice, and I want to make sure that
someone else isn't going to pay for it. And, if possible, you
either."
|
|
|
Ra'ven gives a sad chuckle, "I don't
intend
to at least, but you have heard that I rather fully believed I was
going
to
for unknown reasons, or that it would happen because of me."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I...
am under a gies that I can't... " she stops and sorta gestures,
"So who knows if I'm under more?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"That's
true. Well, you've given me a statement of intent, at least. And
I'd like to think that if you really thought it was going to
happen now, you wouldn't try going at all. So... lets go. You just
confirm for me before we go in, to make sure nothing has changed."
He nods. "We never know what we don't know. I get it, and I won't
blame you for that. I'm only asking for what you know and believe,
not what IS."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((Need
to brb, sorry.))
|
=^v^=:
(( k ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((Aaaaaand
back. Also, goddammit. While I was away, I thought of an actually
interesting thing that one could do with the character of Bulla
from Dragonball Super. WHY?! That's stupid on multiple levels! All
of them, in fact, except for the idea itself, I believe. Every
impetus or application of the idea is dumb as fuck. But the actual
thing you could do with the character might actually be neat. Why
don't I get cool ideas for GOOD properties more often?))
|
=^v^=:
(( lol I feel ya ))
=^v^=:
(( stupid brain trying to justivy
it's annoying focus on dumb and bad thing ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(That
might be a reason, yeah. Actually, I know why I had the thought. I
saw an image on YT as I was scrolling that appeared to show that
character in a dbz game, with a jetpack. And then an idea flashed
in my mind. I'm just not sure why my brain picked that moment to
spend inspiration points.)
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(At
least I can say that my brain didn't wander to db super on its
own!)
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Anyway,
were you going to respond, or should I just move things along?)
|
=^v^=:
(( o rite, ya we can move along ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(kk)
|
Hector grabs his staff again, the wrought-iron feyward dangling from it
like a charm, and holds the door for you. Once outside in the silver and
still, a kind of dour heaviness emanates from him even as he leads you
on. You're somewhat surprised when, instead of walking the entire way,
he instead leads you to a nearbye carriage station. Thanks to the Argent
cycle, the streets are clear enough to make carriages a time-saver
again, even with the city as crowded as it is, and so some conveyances
are up and running, their wards clanking under the pale light. He pays
the driver a few gold, and the elemental wind spirit that draws the
carriage spins up, the vortex drawing you along behind it. Soon you see
why Hector has chosen this method; you pass out of the Goldfire district
and into the Brass Quarter... and keep going, through Fisheries and
finally out to a rim community, commonly called The Spurs. Several
centuries ago, a large scale project was taken to expand the periphery
of Si En Kelar by manuvering new islets into place near the main city,
and then connecting them via construction in order to lock them in
place. Several such expansions were made, but it soon became clear that
it was a losing economic proposition, and the project was abandoned. The
existing expansions were put to use as military forts, and in the time
since a number of odd and eclectic communities have sprung up around
them, primarily catering to those who for one reason or another have
little other place in Si En Kelar's society. They're generally better
off, economically, than places like Fisheries, but not as good as people
in the Brass Quarter or Redstone. It's more like Tinton, which is to
say... lower middle class. They tend to be the sorts of people who not
only don't get invited to parties, but don't even want to be, though.
That Hector knows someone who lives here is interesting. That he would
bring you to them is possibly even odd, but Hector does seem to know a
number of strange people. After all, he somehow knew Patience.
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Bout
as far away as you can get without flying huh..."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Yeah.
There have always been people who end up in this city, but
wouldn't be here if they had better options. Some of them
assimilate. Others... well, they end up in places like these,
trying to hang on to something. A dream of the past, a dream of
the future, a dream of what things are like somewhere else... that
kind of thing. And they don't really want to be in the middle of
Si En Kelar any more than the city wants them to be there, so they
set up out where nobody would care. Great, but it would take half
a day to walk there on foot. We're lucky we don't have to use
something horse drawn, or we'd still be at this for hours."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Or
bother Vul, since he'd probably worry."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
suppose his foxes would also be an unwise decision during an
argent...."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"In
the case of the person I'm taking you to see, he just couldn't go
back home, after what happened. He was a member of my order, up
until the Ice Mouths. After our lines collapsed, and the people
turned on us, something in him just gave out, I think. I can blame
him. He fought with so much strength for so long, but it was
finally too much. He quit the order and retired here. We've still
used him as a resource, but since we're dying off too, less and
less. I think he was glad to hear from me." Hector smiles. "Yeah,
I'd rather not attract trouble from your brother's magic. The two
of us managed to avoid a fey onslaught this time around, and I'd
like to keep it that way."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(I
CAN'T blame him.)
|
The carriage eventually stops in front of an oddly well-kept cottage,
looking for all the world like something tranplanted out of a
picturesque Lansiri village. A tidy, vivid garden fronts the street,
surrounded by a shoulder high wrought-iron fence, currently glowing
blue, the shimmering light reflecting off the spotless white paint of
the house itself. Hector chuckles. "Well. Looks like this part of him
hasn't changed."
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Really,
it's hard for any group to accept betrayal, hopefully this isn't
too much an ask..." she pauses a bit, "... do I owe you?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"What?
No, of course not. As life returns to the gate upon death, it
flows forth from the gate upon birth. Understanding the miracles
of genesis is as important to us as understanding the secrets of
cessation." He laughs. "Sorry to sound like I'm preaching. I'm
just giving you an idea of the philosophy. The point is that the
mysteries of where a person came from are as important to us, as a
whole, as where they eventually go. Helping people commune with
their ancestry is also part of my job."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Admittedly,
I myself focused more on the other end of these things. The, uh,
death end. But some people were the opposite, like this person. I
know him as Chaplain Grast, but he'll probably want you to call
him Bullope."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "It's sometimes hard to
keep straight sometimes."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Don't
worry about it. I don't think you're all that familiar with
Lansir, right? As a people... well, we believe very strongly in
our philosophies. Especially if it's the one we actually joined,
right? But we don't expect everyone to know anything, or even
anything, about them. The idea is that a philosophy DOES things,
and in so doing spreads their name and gathers followers. If
somebody doesn't know about a philosophy, it's beliefs, or its
rules, then that's the fault of the philosophy for not making
enough of an impact, not the person for not knowing it."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(*everything,
or even anything.)
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Where
me and Vul are from we just sorta took what we needed and made
what wasn't there...."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Ignorance
is never a sin, unless it is willful. Though it does mean that our
society tends to be run by the people who shout the loudest."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"And
do what needed to be done, you know? But that really brings
trouble most places..."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon nods at your statement.
"Makes sense. But Lansir is probably a lot larger than your home.
It covers a huge amount of territory, with several large cities
and any number of towns and villages. What's needed isn't the same
everywhere, and it often make a lot more sense to trade for what
you need than attempt to provide it yourself. But that also means
that everyone's material, intellectual, and spiritual interests
aren't always aligned, so different things get emphasized. Hence
different philosophies that try to govern or explain different
things, and fulfill the wide-ass range of things people in a place
that big and diverse need."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"In
a small village, everyone is already in it together, and they know
it. In a place like Lansir, people need something else in addition
to make them feel like they're part of a tribe."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods "it's big and complicated,
but it seems having stuff to give people for other things is
mostly always true."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Exactly."
|
|
|
Ra'ven giggles, "It's actually pretty
funny to see Vul wearing something I didn't."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"If
your friend quit, though, why is he still helping?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"And
that's not just stuff for other stuff. It can also be knowledge,
or comfort, or companionship. And it doesn't need to be an
explicit trade either. But we do need something to give us
identity, to know what we can ask of each other. You get me?" He
raises an eyebrow. "People do change once they leave home, but
you'll have to tell me what that's about. Anyway, Chaplain Grast
can't go out in the field anymore, and that's one of our duties.
You can't be part of our order and sit at home. That's not how we
work. His spirit just can't go back to violence and danger and
suffering. His own or others. And that means he can't do what we
do. But his knowledge didn't disappear, or his desire to help
where he can."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Oooh,
he lost the status, not the drive."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Sorta.
Though remember, he wasn't driven out, or ostracized. He chose to
leave. Those of us that remain still think highly of him. Most of
us, anyway."
|
|
|
Ra'ven hmms, "Well, lets go see him..
Er... is there anything I need to do first? I still don't feel
bitiing or clawing or stabbing anyone..."
|
|
|
Ra'ven didn't bring her bow
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"No,
not really. It should be okay. Um..." It takes a moment, but then
he sighs. "You will need to offer a small blood sample. Less than
a teaspoon, but it's a necessary part of the Chaplain's process.
Once you give it to him, everything should go pretty quickly. Is
that okay with you?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"He
won't do anything else with it. I can even watch and make sure, if
you'd like."
|
|
|
Ra'ven plucks a spine from her tail
with a practices flick of her wrist (also tail) "I have needles,
ya."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Mm.
Right, well, that's probably a good idea, unless you want to let
him take it directly." He gets out of the carriage, walking up to
the door and giving it a series of gentle thumps. It takes a few
moments, but eventually the door opens, revealing a thin elderly
man with pale skin and milky eyes.
|
|
|
Ra'ven waves a little, "I'm Ra'ven..."
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Ah!
My dear boy... so good to see you again." He envelops Hector in an
attempt at a hug; Hector probably weighs about twice as much as
this man, so it's not easy. He then turn to you, giving nervous
grin that reveals a pair of very sharp canines. "And you... you
must be the woman with the parentage issue, correct? Hello Ra'ven.
I'm Bullope. Some people have called me a hemomancer, but I don't
really like that name. It's much too grandiose for me. I prefer to
be called a bloodtracer. Essentially, by tasting a bit of your
blood, I can peer into your ancestral past. Does that sound like
something that might be useful to you?" He blinks. "Goodness. How
rude. My apologies, Ra'ven, I'm very happy to meet you. Can I get
you something? A snack, or a beverage? At the very least, you
should sit down. Come, come." He waves you inside to a cozy living
room, with four overstuffed chairs arranged around an oval table
in front of a burning fireplace.
|
|
|
Ra'ven does a little teleport half
step in towards the chairs, "Oh taste? Um, probably should warn
you that my blood tasts... wierd."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
have taht... what did Yith call it? something apeture? Aside from
other obvious issues..." she looks to Hector.
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Thanic
Aperture. Yes, Sentinel Captain Hector told me about that. It's
definitely interesting! Now, I have tasted that blood of creatures
with both Thanic and Zoic energies before, but it's not a
completely homogenous experience. Some tastes are, admittedly,
more pleasant than others. But given my specialty and, well,
nature, I have to tell you that yours would not be the first
"weird" blood this I have drank. Don't worry. The number of
creatures that can actually harm a vampire that bites into them is
much smaller than even legends would have you believe. And I don't
intend to even do that; most people prefer to produce their own
blood, rather than offering themselves up for my teeth. Completely
understandable, by the way!"
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
(Forgive
typos, please.)
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Oh,
you are a vampire?" She holds up her needle, "Ya, I... Well
wouldn't really like a stranger biting me."
|
=^v^=:
(( it'd be hilariouly hypocritical
for me to not forgive them ))
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Oh,
yes." He looks at Hector, somewhat surprised. "He didn't tell you?
Well, I suppose he might not have wanted to risk it..."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"I'm
not going to tell anyone what you are outside of this house,
Chaplain. It's not safe, and you know it."
|
|
|
Ra'ven tilts her head, "Sorta strage,
he doesn't seem the sort to feed someone to a monster. So you must
not be one."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Oh,
she's a flatterer, this one. You should have brought her around a
long time ago. But yes, I'm a vampire. Many of the Chaplains of
Order of the Silent Gate are. Or were, anyway. It's not something
we advertised, but there are those of us whose wisdom the order
has deemed to valuable to pass beyond the gate, and those are
allowed to undergo this holy rite. We are, however, aware of what
others might think. I ask you to please understand, instead, that
because this is a long tradition, we have placed safeguards upon
ourselves. We feed only on avowed enemies of the order, or on
offerings given to us by those we guide, and never turn another
who does not ask for it. Even then, there are many tests that must
be passed. In return, our identities are kept secret. For those of
lesser rank, it is forbidden to speak of our nature to anyone
without permission. For those who have attained the rank of
Sentinel Captain, their judgement is trusted."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean, it'd be a bit hypocritical of me to... I mean...." she hmms,
"It's actually sorta a bit of a relief? Basically everything bad
thing with blood involves keeping it that I know of. The ones that
involve consuming it ususally are bad for the one consuming it..."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Oh..
um... Did you tell him about... err... my 'mother'?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven looks sheepishly to Hector
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast reaches out and plucks
the needle from your fingers. "No, no he didn't, and he was right
not to. Letting me know about the Thanic aperture is one thing; it
helped get me interested, and it's hardly something I would have
missed in any case. But he didn't want to prejudice my results in
any other way. I know nothing of your mother. Instead, when I tell
you what I've discovered, you can feel free to tell me if that
sounds like anyone you know."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Ah...
it's more that it might carry a bit of a risk if she was, you
know, responsible for why i can't remember her."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"If
you need to not know, then perhaps just... be on your guard?"
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast gently takes hold of
your wrist, and stabs the needle into your wrist with such a
practiced hand that there's barely any sensation, let alone pain.
Instead, bright red blood wells forth in a slow trickle, which he
slowly collects with a small spoon-like implement. "I'll be on my
guard, and appreciate the warning. That is, in fact, a possible
concern. But I'm quite good at this, and still willing to take a
LITTLE risk." He brings the spoon up to his face, studying it for
perhaps half a minute. Then he pops it into his mouth, visibly
swishing it around his mouth for a while before swallowing.
Suddenly his eyes go wide, and he grasps the front of his chest,
coughing. "Ack! Ah... hah. ha.... Well, you did warn me. Not
unpleasant, actually. Just much... hmm. I suppose that the closest
equivalent would be to say that it's very, very spicy? I'm in no
danger, however, I promise. Now, please wait here. Hector, my boy,
you should make her some tea, and possibly give her some fresh
biscuits. They're in the drawer next to the glowstove. I'll be
back in about a half hour. I need to perform a ritual to truly
link with the blood I've just consumed."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast steps through a doorway
into a second room, which probably makes up the majority of the
rest of the cottage.
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Well,
there he is. Any thoughts?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven rubs he wrist as the prick
fades, "Well, I mean he didn't explode?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Seems
nice enough but I guess you'd have to be?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Heh.
Not really. There are Chaplains that scared the absolute willies
out of me. But honestly, most of those are dead now. Just wanted
to make sure that you weren't too uncomfortable. He really
couldn't do anything to you, even if he wanted. And he really,
really doesn't. Frankly, it's a wonder he can even still feed,
considering how bad he was turned off of violence."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Thats
a bit sad, a good scrap gets the blood flowing..."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon makes some tea, and
even brings out some sweet homemade cookies for a snack. "Yeah,
well, that's the problem, as it turns out."
|
After about forty minutes or so, the Chaplain returns. He doesn't look
any paler than before, but he does still look slightly shaken. And then
he looks at you, and you realize that he's not concerned for himself,
but rather for you.
|
|
Ra'ven gives a smile with a sad sigh,
"That bad huh?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven did, in fact, eat the cookies
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Well,
Ms. Ra'ven. You're comfortable, I hope?" He sits himself down in
one of the other chairs. The motion is smooth and sure; once you
know to look for it, it's obvious that the old man is moving far
too well for his apparent age and condition, in a clue to his
nature. "I wouldn't say bad, per se. In fact, when it comes to
your own general health and such, I have nothing to tell you but
positives. However, that's not why you came to me." He takes a
deep breath. "There is very little way to demure about this: You
have two mothers and two mothers, and I do not mean this
metaphorically. Four entirely separate family lineages exist
within you, with very little crossover, and two of those lineages
are diabolic in origin. One could call you a half-devil, but
really that would be misrepresenting the issue. It actually might
be more accurate to say that half of you is entirely devil, as
counterintuitive as that sounds."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
(Two
mothers, two father, derp.)
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"In
some ways, your nature is much like that of a Lycanthrope."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "I can sorta change into
a somewhat wolf."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Like
them, you are not a "half wolf." A lycanthrope is both wolf and
human, entire. Similarly, you are both mortal and devil, entire."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Does
that make sense, in any way?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven hmms, "I mean that would
somewhat work out? A devil did claim she raised me and that she
was my mother, after a fashon."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"And
I can... well..." she frowns, "Sorta 'be' a devil if I try?" more
frowning, "It's... odd, because it's not like I change how I look
like being a wolf."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"I'm
afraid that I can't tell you how diabolic powers work, only where
they come from. Well, I can confirm that at least one of your
mothers was definitely a devil. I cannot confirm who raised you,
however. What KIND of devil is much more difficult, since we know
that devils are frequently promoted and demoted in their
hierarchy. Nevertheless, I can confidently tell you that one of
your mothers at least was linked strongly to hellhounds... but was
otherwise a unique devil, outside of their normal classification
system." He levels his gaze at you. "Do you have any idea how
unusual it is for a devil to be an EXCEPTION?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven frowns, "I... somewhat have
avoide it, but that being the case fits with who claimed me...
Jydeth... err..." she frowns, "... I guess people call her Aanad?"
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"I've
heard the first name. An artist, I believe? She was briefly in
vogue in Lansir... maybe three, three hundred fifty year ago? I
remember some of my friends absolutely would not shut UP about her
for an entire winter. From the Iron Empire, although I didn't
realize that she was a devil herself. And I certainly didn't
realize she was such an important one. Exceptional devils are
always either created or evolved for a purpose, which means that
their status is higher even than their strength would command. If
your mother is less than a full general, I'd be very surprised."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Apparently
she is a 'hero' of the devils..."
|
|
|
Ra'ven sighs, "Well, I suppose her
telling the truth is a better reason for the feeling I get from
her then others."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I've
never heard of a devil hero, but what you say might be a thing
that they get from it?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"it
feels... wrong... to think fo status without power for a devil."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"a...at
least I'm as much
not
a devil as I am one?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven sighs, ".. all I reallly
remember of my... I guess mortal parents was... blood... and
fire.... and screams... theirs and others and gnolls... and
crunching...."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Status
without power is unusual, yes, which is the point of unique
devils! You see, a unique devil's status is the product not only
of their own power, but that of the power that caused them to
become what they are. To go against such a devil, you must also be
willing to cross their creator. You see?" He winces. "No, no...
you absolutely are a devil, and no part of you is not a devil. It
is more that you are not JUST a devil, just like no part of a
werewolf is not a wolf, but there are not JUST a wolf. I'm sorry
if that causes you pain, truly. Now, your other diabolic bloodline
could either be from your second mother, or from one of your
fathers. I'm sorry, but I can't tell which. Regardless, though,
this other devil is a Malphagon, otherwise known as a Mindfire
devil. They're a standard type, but rare all the same, and serve
as high ranking officers and inquisitors. Your other bloodlines
are human and eladrin. I can tell you nothing relevant about your
human parent, other than to say they had a chill in their blood,
but your eladrin parent was of the Sunlit court, though not an
archfey. I'm afraid that, as you were born before the incident in
question, your blood cannot tell me anything of what happened to
them."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"That's
an interesting part, though. That eladrin parent is where you
inherited the Thanic aperture from. NOT your diabolic parents."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "Well, that's a bit more
then I had at least?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"If
I'm going to care about one of them because they are my parent, I
feel I should also care about the ones that aren't sinister as
well..."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"I'm
sorry I couldn't be of more help. Well, I actually know many other
things about your lineages now as well, but I don't know what, if
any of it, is relevant to you. I am willing to answer any
questions if you have them, though."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"What
I've told you is the fundamental overview of what I learned, not
all the details."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
suppose... is there a reason why I'd think I can dream the future?
Even though it's just bad things happening to those near me..."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"There
are possibilities. First, a Malphagon has the ability to peer into
the minds of its allies, and those under its command. It's
possible that you are instead dreaming their fears, or something
similar. Second, we cannot discount the possibility that your
unique devil parentage plays a role as well. Third, while your
Eladrin parent was not an archfey, the Sunlit court is often
associated with prophecy.... apparently the word is an ancient
reference to something of the sort... and since we already know
that they were unusual in some respect, it's possible that the
ability may have been at least partially inherited. It's also
possible that any combination of these might have been in play. It
is very unlikely that your human lineage played a part in it. Most
human lineages do not bind to supernatural powers, no matter how
talented the human." He laughs. "I was one, so I should know."
|
|
|
Ra'ven sighs, "Ah, unfortunate... It
seems some of my dreams were of me killing them..."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Or,
something that I can take the form of."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Possibly.
A further possibility, which can be a part of any or all of those:
what you dream of may be couched in symbolism or metaphor. Some
oracles see clearly, while others must spend great effort to
decipher what they have seen. It's not fair, but the universe is
rarely in the business of fairness."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"In
other words, do not resign yourself quite yet to the fate of
murdering your friends."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "I was hoping a litte for
'no it's just dreams, you worry too much.' but..."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
suppose that my current friends draw disaster to themselves either
way, remvoing me from the list won't... save them."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"And
as i somewhat told a little dragon, I... want to
live
"
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast nods. "Then you SHOULD
live. All who wish to live should reach toward the light, and hope
they find it until they do, or fall in the attempt. But because it
worries you, I will share what I have learned over the course of a
very long life. It is rare indeed that one's friends are made
safer through ignorance and separation. If you do not know the
danger that tomorrow may bring, it is almost always better to face
it with them than to assume you will be the cause."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"The
almost
happens to haunt my dreams..." she gives a somewhat
smlining sigh-giggle, "Which is too bad, the rest of the deal is
actually fairly good."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Yes,
well, that *almost* is the devil in everone's details, not only
yours."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"We
mere mortals aren't afforded the luxury of certainties."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I'm
also not mortal, right?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven hmms
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Heh.
You are both mortal entirely, and immortal entirely. But I meant
that in a metaphoric sense. We are not great spiritual entities
whose minds transcend common concepts of time and reality. We are
but flesh, whatever that flesh may look like."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"There
is a thing I'd ask your opinon of."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Please,
ask."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"The
fey, the devils, they are all high ranking and important with
fancy bloodlines...." she frowns, "Why the human?"
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"I'm
sure that you're tired of my uncertainties by now, but it really
does depend. All that I can say is that for some reason, one out
of your three other distinguished bloodlines must have thought
that this human was worth it. That tells me that, unless they were
simply infatuated with them as a pet, the human must also have
been exceptional. And what I can sense bears that out as well;
there is exceptional vigor from that line. But exactly who this
person was, and why their essence was joined to another? I cannot
possibly know."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "Vul woul'd have liked it
to be 'cause love' I think."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"And
it may well be. Even if the human was joined to one of the devils,
it is a misconception that devils do not feel love. Their
interpretation of it is merely somewhat grotesque to us, on
occasion."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "I.. sorta get that sense
from my mother... err... the devil one..." she hmms, "You know, if
she's responsible for this, she might even tell me. She likes
talking about her plans after they come to fruition."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Then
perhaps that's where the connection is to be found. If you think
that this Anand might have taken a human lover to produce you,
then looking into her past would probably be the easiest way to
uncover his identity, no?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Or
however it worked, since there are 4 people in this."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Should
you wish my advice, I would look into the MECHANISM of your birth.
If you can discover the means by which you have four parents, I
imagine that much would be made clear."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"She
does not seem the sort to
not
know the why of it..."
|
|
|
Ra'ven laughs, "Oh that would be a
funny thing to ask my friend in the Observatory."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Oh,
would it? Well, if you think your friend might have something
useful to add, by all means take this information to them! I'd be
very curious as to what you learn too. Unfortunately, I am not a
detective, and only even incidentally a historian, so discovering
the answers to these questions are not within my expertise.
However, I am very willing to interpret your blood again, if you
have new information. Now that I have read your blood for the
first time, and have a decent idea of what it's like, I should be
able to narrow my perception further in the future."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean she probably will immediatly imagine something hilarious, but
she also has resources and connections and is good at looking
stuff up."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Heh,
well, unless you're shy about your friend's imagination, it seems
like an excellent notion."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Now,
is there anything else I can tell you, or help you with? I credit
Hector as being a trustworthy judge of character, so I am willing
to lend a certain level of aid."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast 's hand twitches a
couple of times as he says that, the first moment he ever actually
looks old.
|
|
|
Ra'ven hmms, "Actaully, can you feed
off blood without biting someone?"
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Yes,
I can, although maintaining the freshness of stored blood is
sometimes difficult."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
can give you more of mine if you would like. I... well, heal
extremely quickly and it's not like it hurts meaningfully or
anything. You really did help me out even if it's helpful to your
pupposes."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast sighs. "And, though I
shouldn't take such things into consideration... it doesn't taste
quite the same."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"Ra'ven,
I will only drink from you when given your explicit permission,
and only if I believe that you truly wish to give me that gift. I
will not pretend that the idea does not please me; I am a vampire,
and I do not deny that feeding thus is pleasurable. It is a joy
that comes with the transformation. However, there are more
important things in this world than my desires. Even if I have
given over most of my duties now, I still remember why I carried
them out. Thus I will not take your blood as a reward if I believe
you offer it out of perceived obligation. The offer must be
completely your own will, without reservation. Can you say that is
true?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven tilts her head, "It... is the
effect
of a reward...? You have a need that I can easily fufill. Because
you helped me out we are...." she frowns, "... I mean, sorta a
same villaige for now? I
want
to help you out and all. Do
you have a different thing you want?" She frowns a bit, "I mean
the biting part is a problem, cause only animals, children and
lovers bite and you are extremely none of those, no offense."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"You
just don't like hurting people and it's really not a hurt to me."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast smiles. "If the biting
is a problem, then I want no part of it. Should you wish to give
me a gift of blood in a different way, however, I would gladly
accept."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "I mean, back in the day
I actually did use it as a sorta ink when I ran out..." she shakes
her head, "Really not how anyone elsewhere would do things."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Huh...
maybe its a devil thing?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"But
those spines are fairly good at drawing blood at slight rates as
you saw..."
|
=^v^=:
(( ra totally would give him like a
pair of surges out of comeradery ))
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"There
have been cultures that use blood as ink, or an an ink component,
but it is true that one of those cultures is in your background,
so it could be linked. Beyond that, as you yourself observed, it's
simply quite useful." He takes out a small bottle, and hands it to
you, implying that it's to be used for your gift.
|
|
|
Ra'ven fills bottle, "I mean you
almost always have it at hand and it's famously hard to get out of
things."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean people use pixie tears and dryad leafs and the like..."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"My
sister said the Crows were happy I provided quills because they
need their long feathers."
|
=^v^=:
(( n e ways ))
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
"You
know, I never thought of the idea of crows requiring quills, or
what that would mean for them. Something to think on, as well as
commend you for."
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
(Sorry
for the delay there. I think I do have to go to bed, though.)
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
(I
hope this worked for you.
)
|
=^v^=:
(( makes sense it's like 10 ))
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
Yup.
|
=^v^=:
(( sure! now she can bother Kaylen
about it x P ))
=^v^=:
(( 100% over a drink whilst she is
drinking it ))
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
lol
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
ra'ven
"I can get this reaction like, once, ever, out of anyone I even
know total
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"it'd
be wrong not to try it!"
|
=^v^= is disconnected.
Riot has connected.
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
Sorry
about that! I got a little distracted by Akaiku (in person.) He
just gave me this absolutely incredible line involving the
universality of deontology being comparable to physics, and then
posited that ethics would change the closer you got to a black
hole, via moral relativity.
|
|
|
Chaplain Grast:
(This
guy here was part of an rp with him yesterday. Switching off him
now, and going back to Patience.)
|
Riot:
(( yeah that's above my head right now
lol ))
Riot:
(( not Hector? ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(Sorry.
Deontology holds that ethics and morality are universals. That
murder is always evil, etc. In that way, they are described as a
kind of physics of ethical philosophy, since they theoretically
originate from platonic forms, and constitute actual rules. So if
morality is physics, it should be affected by physics, hence
warping in the presence of black holes, as a result of general
relativity. Thus "moral relativity," as a riff on moral
relativism.)
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(Ok,
if you want to start with Hector, we can do that too.)
|
Riot:
(( I just meant my brain can't parse
that stuff right now lol ))
Riot:
(( Well I figured we were gonna go
bother Lucky first, but if there was a step in there with Patience
beforehand that's up to you ))
Riot:
(( obviously ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(No,
it's okay. Bothering Lucky is fine.
)
|
As you return home, Hector sighs and rolls his shoulders. "Ok, you're in
charge. I'm just your assistant for this, so what do you want me to do?"
|
|
Sera:
"I
guess just walk with me?" (has everyone dispersed at this point or
are people still hanging around?)
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(people
have dispersed pretty well at this point. Orbras is busy working
on the new defenses, and everyone else is doing stuff on their
own.)
|
Riot:
(( I'm trying to decide if Lucky is
still hanging out in the bar area or if she's up in her room ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Of
course. But if you need anything specific out of me, or need me to
NOT do something, just tell me."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((Up
to you. I can go with either.))
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
Room
is much more private, if that is a consideration.
|
|
|
Sera:
"Honestly?
I have no idea what's going to happen. Maybe nothing. But who
knows, maybe something will happen that you can see and I can't.
|
Riot:
(( I guess let's go for the room ))
|
|
Sera walks up the steps to the area
where most of the rooms are, veering off toward Lucky's door,
which is currently shut
|
|
|
Sera knocks on the door.
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Come
in!"
|
|
|
Sera swings open the door, and before
Lucky can so much as get out a "Blondie, what-", she tosses the
wrapped sword to the woman who is still in the process of sitting
up on her bed.
|
|
|
Sera:
"Hey,
butch biscuit. Catch."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Lol.
Just tell me if she catches it.)
|
Riot:
(( I mean she's surprisingly athletic
and coordinated, even after a day like that and a few drinks. I imagine
it takes her a bit by surprise but she makes the catch ))
Riot:
(( I saw you typing so I figured I'd
wait ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
.e
There is a reaction as soon as Lucky touches the wrapped blade. At
first it's like an echo, a ripple, felt by all three of you, like
the vague realization of something forgotten stealing over you. An
unease, an uncertainty, the sense of something wanting. And then
what follows, only felt by Lucky. It's as though you're too FULL.
You have the memories of your life, yes, though they somehow feel
incomplete. Wanting. But as something attempts to push into you,
it conflicts, as though attempting to replace what you know.
There's no room in you for another person, or even half a person,
and there is nothing to help reconcile them. It's as though three
skins worth of wine are being forced into two containers. It's not
pain, exactly. It's just... impossible. Impossible, at least for
now, and very uncomfortable., though not actually painful. It's
more the sinking sense of consequence that one gets while
hesitating at the mouth of a blind alley.
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
Dammit.
|
There is a reaction as soon as Lucky touches the wrapped blade. At first
it's like an echo, a ripple, felt by all three of you, like the vague
realization of something forgotten stealing over you. An unease, an
uncertainty, the sense of something wanting. And then what follows, only
felt by Lucky. It's as though you're too FULL. You have the memories of
your life, yes, though they somehow feel incomplete. Wanting. But as
something attempts to push into you, it conflicts, as though attempting
to replace what you know. There's no room in you for another person, or
even half a person, and there is nothing to help reconcile them. It's as
though three skins worth of wine are being forced into two containers.
It's not pain, exactly. It's just... impossible. Impossible, at least
for now, and very uncomfortable., though not actually painful. It's more
the sinking sense of consequence that one gets while hesitating at the
mouth of a blind alley.
An image. Blood flowing from you, from somewhere it shouldn't be. Pain.
Adrenaline. Duty. Rage. Fear. And satisfaction. Two eyes, red irises and
white pupils, feminine. And then separation, like being gently prised
apart.
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(sorry
for being slow.)
|
Riot:
(( absolutely no worries and no rush ))
Riot:
(( Does Lucky recognize the eyes? ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Actually,
no, not really. The shape is like Anands, certainly, but that
isn't an impossible coincidence. The coloration, however, is
wrong. Aside from the cruelty of her expression, her eyes looked
human.)
|
Riot:
(( I am going to go insane not knowing
who actually made her lmao ))
Riot:
(( okay is it time for Lucky's
reaction? ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Muwahaha.
I actually have a plan, rather than just being Wile. E. Coyote
this time. Yeah, sure, go for it!)
|
Riot:
(( imagine I'm giving you the Futurama
Fry Suspicious eyes right now ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(I'm
also imagining that.)
|
|
|
Lucky jumps up, flinging the sword on
the bed, rushing to the other side of the room as if the bed has
suddenly caught fire. "What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck
did you just hand me? What the fuck did you just
do
to me?"
She's shaking, and she flicks her eyes back and forth between Sera
and the sword, still lying mostly wrapped on the bed.
|
|
|
Sera opens and closes her mouth once
or twice before she finally speaks, "Sorry, I- I'm sorry. I didn't
expect that kind of reaction. Are you okay?"
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Okay?
Fuck no, I'm not okay. I just felt myself fucking
die
. Not
like, in a metaphorical sense, either. Like I was literally ripped
in two. There was blood everywhere... It was. I don't even know
what it was. It felt like I had done everything
right
and
then just-" she waves her hands, as if the other two people in the
room can see what she saw.
|
|
|
Hector Achilon keeps his hands in
front of himself, open and raised slightly above his waist as he
approaches Lucky. His face is concerned, but he doesn't yet make a
move to speak. He's just ready to offer what's needed if it's
needed.
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(I
was writing that before you spoke, sorry. I'll continue, then.)
|
Riot:
(( no worries ))
|
|
Sera slowly walks over and sits on the
bed, carefully taking
Iann Aistrithe
into her lap, and
unwrapping it, her eyes never really looking up. Clearly, she
feels guilty for putting Lucky through that, but she's not sure
what to say.
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"have
you ever died before, that you know of? For some people, the
memory is difficult. It can get locked away, along with the
sensations of it. If you saw something like that, it would make
sense that you're feeling like this. And it doesn't reflect on
your own strength as a person, I promise."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"What?
No! I don't- I've never-"
|
|
|
Lucky slides down to the floor, knees
to her chest
|
|
|
Lucky:
"It's
not like I've lived any other life. I used to do some adventuring,
sure, but it's just been me running my family's old bar for the
past two years. Wouldn't I remember if I died and got brought
back?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon swears softly under his
breath. He kneels next to Lucky, palms raised slightly above her,
and a faint glow, like warm firelight, emanates from them. In a
moment, some of the edge of the pain lessens. Your own internal
responses remain, but whatever Hector is doing seems to be
interdicting at least some of the outside pressure. His own face
furrows in concentration. (successful religion check, yay!)
|
Riot:
(( Ohhhh nice ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"You
might, you might not. Sometimes people remember things in funny
ways. If it was real, you might remember it as a nightmare, or
even as a different memory couched in metaphor. If nobody sticks
around to explain to someone who's been brought back what has
happened, people can react in all kinds of ways, and think all
kinds of things about it." He coughs. "Until I talked to Io, I
actually assumed that's what the old fragmented stories about
"gods" were really about."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Does
that feel better at all? It's been a long time since I've tried a
Lionheart charm."
|
|
|
Lucky looks past Hector at Sera, who
is examining the fully uncovered blade. "Why would- why would
touching a sword do that to me? Make me see those things? Feel
those things? Why can she touch it just fine?"
|
|
|
Sera:
"Resena
did."
|
|
|
Lucky just blinks. "What?"
|
|
|
Sera:
"Died.
She died holding this sword. It was hers. I think it thought- it
thought she was you."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon remains silent, but
watches carefully, maintaining his minor invocation.
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Why
the fuck would it think that? And if she's dead, then why were you
going on and on about-"
|
|
|
Sera:
"She
came back. I don't know how. I held her lifeless body in my arms.
She was so pale, and she wasn't breathing. She was-" she looks
away, struggling. "But she came back, a few minutes later. And the
sword... I think the sword thinks you're her because somehow, you
are. Both of you. It doesn't make any fucking sense, and I've been
trying to figure it out ever since I met you, but- tell me about
your life before you took over your bar. If you're feeling up for
it, I mean."
|
Riot:
(( I need to look something up from
one of their interactions, gimme a sec ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(kk.)
|
Riot:
(( found it ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(nodnod)
|
|
|
Lucky knits her brows and stares at
Sera, confused but feeling just this side of defensive. "What do
you mean? I went on adventures, I found stuff for people. I found
people for people. I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not
her."
|
|
|
Sera:
"Give
me a specific instance. Something you can remember and point to
and say that you
did
. Please. I'm not trying to accuse you
of doing anything wrong, Lucky. I promise."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon mutters, just barely
audible. "Memory as metaphor..."
|
|
|
Lucky:
|
Riot:
(( just to see if she heard it lol ))
|
|
Lucky scrunches her eyebrows further
together. "I- There was- It's there, I swear it. It's just. It's
been a long day."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Oh,
you heard it.)
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(he
doesn't have a good stealth check.)
|
|
|
Lucky turns back to Hector, "What?
What does that mean?":
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Shit.
I'm... look, it's like what I was saying before, about
reinterpreting memory. Coming back... it's a difficult thing under
the best circumstances, and if any of this is true, these were
pretty far from it. You remember adventures. Saving people. Stuff
like that. Ok, say that's real. What about the details? Who did
you save, exactly, and why did you do it? I mean, why were you
there? Why were you on these adventures, and what happened?" He
looks uncomfortable. "Sera told me a thing or two about this
Resena... and it sounds like she did these things too. Just under
a flag."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"I
don't want to push too much, Lucky. But when she or I touch that
sword, nothing happens."
|
|
|
Sera:
"I
only have one more question, and then I'll leave it."
|
|
|
Lucky just looks exhausted, but
answers anyway, "What?"
|
|
|
Sera:
"Your
best friend? The one who's running your bar right now?"
|
|
|
Lucky looks as though her hackles are
raising, "Yeah? What about him?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon closes his eyes.
|
|
|
Sera holds her hand up to indicate a
height, "Tiefling? One broken horn? About this high?"
|
|
|
Lucky stands back up, "How the fuck do
you know that? Who the fuck are you?"
|
|
|
Sera doesn't rise, doesn't look at
Lucky with anything but compassion. "Pell Harm is Resena's little
brother. Her family adopted him when he was like, 11. He followed
us both into the Vanguards. He was there at the very end."
|
|
|
Sera:
"Sorry.
I saw his name on that wall at the Emir's palace. I didn't want to
say anything then, because, well."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Anand."
The fight seems to drain out of her and she moves to sit on the
bed too, careful to keep her distance from the sword.
|
|
|
Sera:
"I
figure I owe you the truth. What I know if it, anyway. Pretty
shitty way to end your day, feeling yourself die."
|
|
|
Lucky lays back on the bed as Sera
begins to stand up, having rewrapped the sword. "I'm not sure I
believe any of it, you know. Like, at all."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Remember...
we don't -know- anything yet. There are no guarantees here. We
haven't proved that you are HER. We only know that there is a
connection, ok? There is some evidence that it's not as simple as
you waking up thinking you're a different person."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Everything
we're talking about, everything I'm talking about, is all just a
rough guess."
|
|
|
Sera:
"That's
okay. And what Hector's saying is true. There's a connection and
I'm just trying to figure it out. In the meantime, I've got
something that might help us both out. I need some information,
and maybe it'll give you something to keep your mind off all this
crap I just dropped on you."
|
|
|
Lucky sighs, clearly turning things
over in her head. After a few moments, she finally responds, "What
do you mean, information?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"I'm
just the assistant. This is you two's story to tell."
|
|
|
Sera tells her about the sword, and
the Reach magic alarm, explaining how there's someone here from
the Reach and she needs to know who and why, because there should
only be herself and Patience, and it would be nice to know if
someone was after them.
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"...So,
that's what is going on. It's not that you have to help. Honestly,
I'd completely understand if you wanted to bury all of this.
Having to rexamine yourself is one of the hardest things anyone
can do, and this is even worse, because it doesn't just stop at
reflection, does it?" His voice is gentle, and steady. "I've
helped Sera with this, because she needed help. And I want to help
you too. But if helping you means leaving this alone, I will."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"I
can help. It's fine. And maybe my memory's a little fuzzy but I
know
who I am. Whoever your Resena is, she's not me. I don't know what
the fuck is going on, so don't expect me to have any good answers
for you about whatever happened to her. I'm good at a lot of
things, but coming up with answers for what is either magic or
memory bullshit isn't one of them."
|
|
|
Lucky is clearly trying to hide a
feeling of unease, projecting barely believable confidence.
|
|
|
Sera:
"That's
fair. I'm sorry, again. I didn't expect... that... to happen when
you touched the sword."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"I'll
help you with everything I know about. The girl might know more,
as well. And I know... a couple of people. There's a person in the
city who is good at analyzing blood, for instance. I don't think
we're really going to understand what the relationship between
Resena and you is without looking a little deeper. So I'm glad
that you want to."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Yeah,
look. It sucked, but Hector helped, and it's over. I'm going to go
to bed and try and forget about it. But a word of advice? For the
love of everything that exists, do
not
just toss that sword
to Patience. I've seen her when she's down bad, and it is
not
good. I figure that's next on your agenda, right?"
|
|
|
Sera has the decency to look
embarrassed.
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"It
was supposed to be. We really didn't expect it to be this
volatile. I'm sorry too."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"It's
fine. But just for the record, this is the second time I've seen
memories that didn't - fit, for lack of a better word, and it
fucking
sucks
. Just be careful with her, okay?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"I
will, best as best I can. I apologize for making you the test
subject, though. We don't want to hurt her either, after all.
She's as bound up in this as you are, and she's our ally too. Even
if she's pricklier than you."
|
|
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Lucky:
"That's
one way of putting it." She smiles, as much as she feels up to it
right now.
|
|
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Sera:
"We
will."
|
|
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Hector Achilon:
"Ok.
Rest, Lucky. Okay? You probably need it after all that. If you
need anything simple, I'll get Wan to watch you. And if you need
anything more complicated, just ask him to get me, okay?"
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Lucky:
"Sounds
good. Thanks."
|
Riot:
(( did you want to do Patience
tonight, too? I'm up for it if you are, if that was your plan ))
Riot:
(( also I hope Sera kinda just putting
the chips on the table and very possibly giving Lucky an existential
crisis didn't mess up anything you had planned ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
Whether
it messes up Lucky is sorta up to you. Unless something beyond my
ability to predict happens, you didn't mess anything up. Lucky and
Patience discovering this issue right as we start to transition
into Paragon tier is the plan. Just keeping it a secret forever
and then resolving it in one adventure is no fun, so this is
likely to be a quest for a bit, depending on how focused you are
in following up on it.
|
Riot:
(( I think it probably gives Lucky
some doubts, but even if it turns out to be true, she's secure in who
she is. Why that is, she doesn't know. ))
|
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Hector Achilon:
(Well,
good.)
|
Riot:
(( and I personally think it's because
she really is part of Resena, or at least a reflection of who she was,
and the old Resena never doubted who she was. Doubted her skills, her
choices in battle? Sure, sometimes. She was the leader, that's to be
expected. ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Completely
makes sense. I don't think I can do Patience tonight, but we can
definitely ex-post facto it later.)
|
Riot:
(( Okay that's fair ))
|
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Hector Achilon:
(Thanks,
I appreciate it. I hope that was all okay, and that I didn't screw
up anything YOU wanted either!)
|
Riot:
(( No way, it was great ))
|
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Hector Achilon:
(Oh,
good. Thanks! If I ever do go in a direction you didn't really
want, please tell me, though. Ok? I can back up.)
|
Riot:
(( of course, and same ))
|
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Hector Achilon:
(nodnod)
Haven't had a problem from you on that so far, though.
|
Riot:
(( well good ))
|
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Hector Achilon:
(And
honestly "problem" would be overstating it. Players doing
unexpected things is usually really fun for me! I just ask that
people tell me if they have expectations, so that I can try to
meet them.)
|
Riot:
(( right ))
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Sorry,
I think I's got to go. But thanks a bunch!)
|
Riot:
(( Okay, Gnight! ))
Riot:
(( and thank you! ))
Riot is disconnected.
Ganaroth is disconnected.