8Zad4reg

1[20:51.28] <DM> So we begin again. 
2[20:51.35] <DM> You are tired. 
3[20:51.40] <DM> This day began weeks ago. 
4[20:51.48] <DM> Or so it felt. 
5[20:52.04] <DM> Yesterday, the confrontation with Kharvalath, finally ended, Flame secured, Madei lost. 
6[20:52.17] <DM> Today began with the politics of the future, and the past. 
7[20:52.29] <DM> The imprisonment of Delia Celtari on charges of usurpation of power. 
8[20:52.38] <DM> Carcephon's last message, gift, or curse. 
9[20:53.21] <DM> And the skeleton of an empire, struggling to form from the ashes. 
10[20:53.41] <DM> Ashes from the immolation of your friend. 
11[20:54.01] <DM> And now, at the end of all things, an unexpected emissary. 
12[20:54.38] <DM> The brilliant, muscular, handsom form of Lakhmul, wearing a patterned golden robe, embroided with elegant filigreed spiders in silver. 
13[20:54.42] <DM> handsome*
14[20:55.10] <DM> "Well hello there," he says, with a grin. 
15[20:55.20] <DM> "We've come to offer you a deal." 
16[20:55.42] <+Mel> "What possible offer can the Nameless have in this hour?"
17[20:55.43] * Repriever slumps against the quarterdeck's wall.
18[20:56.44] * You are now known as Lakhmul
19[20:57.04] <Lakhmul> "Perhaps some tea?" 
20[20:57.07] * Penumbra immediately looks for any tricks or deception
21[20:57.15] <Lakhmul> "Our last meeting was...well." 
22[20:57.18] <+Penumbra> [in general, not in the tea]
23[20:57.27] <+Repriever> "You have no place on this vessel," he says, hoarsely. 
24[20:57.36] <Lakhmul> "We certainly both contributed to a rude reception, didn't we." 
25[20:57.47] * Repriever looks like shit, but the essence still glows within his grasp, crackling with electricity. 
26[20:57.53] <Lakhmul> Roll insight, Penumbra 
27[20:58.26] <+Mel> "The body you've stolen would have done well to strike a bargain long before it released you on itself."
28[20:58.28] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+11
29[20:58.28] <%tBot> Penumbra: 16 ([5] +11)
30[20:58.54] * Lakhmul chuckles. 
31[20:59.03] <Lakhmul> "Oh believe me, that was fully my intention.'
32[20:59.26] <Lakhmul> "I was drafting the terms of my surrender myself when I was taken, unawares." 
33[20:59.49] <Lakhmul> "I believe we have what's in our good friend Shala's mind to thank for my...present circumstances." 
34[20:59.55] <Lakhmul> "But I am just so..." 
35[20:59.56] * Mel rolls her eyes at the nameless' charade of pretending to be an individual.
36[21:00.01] * Lakhmul twitches. 
37[21:00.06] <Lakhmul> "Happy." 
38[21:00.14] <Lakhmul> "To be, of use, now." 
39[21:00.29] <Lakhmul> "A familiar face." 
40[21:00.36] * Repriever presents an entirely displeased expression from where he slumps.
41[21:02.22] <Lakhmul> "But we have, so many of those." 
42[21:02.47] <+Penumbra> "We are well aware how you use them."
43[21:02.54] <Lakhmul> "What does, my great patron, desire?" 
44[21:03.11] * Lakhmul awkwardly pauses, as if its words are not quite what it would prefer. 
45[21:03.11] <+Repriever> "You bring yourself into our house," he stops to inhale, "uninvited and unwelcome."
46[21:03.20] <+Penumbra> [Who is he addressing? or is he addressing the six as a collective?]
47[21:03.34] <Lakhmul> [he's answering mel's rhetorical question from before] 
48[21:03.46] <+Penumbra> [ah]
49[21:03.51] <+Mel> "I'd assume if it had any sense and held any regard for its constituent parts, such as yourself, it'd wish to sit down and quietly die."
50[21:04.03] * Lakhmul sweeps back his robe, to reveal in his hand, in short-speared form - Atrament. 
51[21:04.14] <Lakhmul> "Simply to return what you have lost." 
52[21:04.25] <Lakhmul> "Your soul, Penumbra." 
53[21:04.27] * Lakhmul smiles. 
54[21:04.36] * Penumbra narrows her eyes
55[21:04.44] * Repriever grits his teeth and watches. 
56[21:05.01] <Lakhmul> "Do you remember, Repriever?" 
57[21:05.08] <Lakhmul> "When you gave her to me." 
58[21:05.18] * Repriever places his hand on his sword's hilt at this call out. 
59[21:05.22] <Lakhmul> "Again and again, it will return." 
60[21:05.30] <+Repriever> "I didn't mean to."
61[21:05.35] <Lakhmul> "This was your will." 
62[21:05.47] <Lakhmul> "We brought your old friend back to life."
63[21:05.52] <Lakhmul> "To serve at your side." 
64[21:06.06] * Lakhmul changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 115: Charming Smile - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9XMd2eAy_4，
65[21:06.33] * Repriever draws his sword in an sharp arc as he steps away from the quarterdeck wall, brandishing steel. 
66[21:06.45] <+Repriever> "Leave!"
67[21:07.00] * Lakhmul chuckles. 
68[21:07.10] <Lakhmul> "Before my offer?" 
69[21:07.19] <Lakhmul> "Repriever, we have...so much to discuss." 
70[21:07.21] * Repriever stumbles a few steps, but just balances himself. 
71[21:07.27] <Lakhmul> "Our greatest mutual interest." 
72[21:07.36] <Lakhmul> "Our daughter." 
73[21:07.41] <+Repriever> "Everything you offer is a trick--"
74[21:07.48] * Repriever stops midsentence. 
75[21:07.55] <Lakhmul> "Our precious, lost, little Madei." 
76[21:08.01] * Penumbra grits her teeth but grabs Repriever's other hand
77[21:08.10] <+Mel> "She will replace you."
78[21:08.11] <+Penumbra> [half to hold him back, half to hold herself back]
79[21:08.26] <Lakhmul> "Nothing...would please us more." 
80[21:08.36] * Repriever tightens his clutch on his sword and makes frustrated grunts at Lakhmul.
81[21:08.53] <Lakhmul> "But you see, we have a mutual problem." 
82[21:08.56] <Lakhmul> "We are...cow." 
83[21:08.59] <Lakhmul> "We love her." 
84[21:09.03] <Lakhmul> "And we love you." 
85[21:09.12] <Lakhmul> "We're family." 
86[21:09.28] <+Repriever> The cosmic arm flexes under your grip, Penumbra. 
87[21:09.34] <+Mel> "Your love is anathema to all independent life."
88[21:09.38] <+Penumbra> "Perhaps a discussion is possible." says Penumbra in a low, careful voice.
89[21:10.03] <Lakhmul> "Penumbra, Penumbra." 
90[21:10.08] <Lakhmul> "You are the voice of reason itself." 
91[21:10.20] <+Penumbra> "Now is not the time."
92[21:10.31] * Shala holds back, clasping her hands near her chest as she watches the back and forth 
93[21:10.32] * Lakhmul nods, spreading his arms placatingly. 
94[21:10.38] <Lakhmul> "You're right."
95[21:10.44] <Lakhmul> "But you need assistance." 
96[21:10.46] * Shala would like nothing more than to blast the blighted dragon off the deck 
97[21:10.54] <Lakhmul> "With his growing armies, and his final plan." 
98[21:11.04] <Lakhmul> "The Endless Well, no?" 
99[21:11.15] <Lakhmul> "We, offer, assistance. With each of these problems." 
100[21:11.24] <Lakhmul> "And at the end of it, we will help you free our child." 
101[21:11.44] <+Repriever> "She is not yours. She will never be yours."
102[21:12.08] <+Penumbra> "And your final plan? Will you acquiesce to the Throne?" 
103[21:12.08] <Lakhmul> "Well, she will be no one's if the Apastron annihilates her." 
104[21:12.26] * Repriever 's mouth twitches in frustration. 
105[21:12.32] <Lakhmul> "Gladly."
106[21:12.40] <Lakhmul> "Shade is merely - " 
107[21:12.43] <Lakhmul> "An abode." 
108[21:12.48] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+11
109[21:12.48] <%tBot> Penumbra: 18 ([7] +11)
110[21:12.53] <+Penumbra> [sense motive]
111[21:13.05] <+Penumbra> "Assistance, perhaps. Assurances, definitely."
112[21:13.14] * Lakhmul speaks, and as he speaks, echoes of different voices slide into and out of his voice. 
113[21:13.19] <+Penumbra> "I do not forget the lies you wove within my soul."
114[21:13.25] <Lakhmul> Women, men, old, young. 
115[21:13.35] <Lakhmul> "Oh, Penny, you wound us." 
116[21:13.41] <Lakhmul> "Not lies, merely...guidelines." 
117[21:13.54] <Lakhmul> "Every living being creates such, as it ages, narratives, justifications." 
118[21:14.37] <Lakhmul> "But we understand...we were..."
119[21:14.40] <Lakhmul> "Uncareful." 
120[21:14.45] <Lakhmul> "In our creation." 
121[21:14.59] <Lakhmul> "Our sincere and heartfelt apologies." 
122[21:15.10] <+Penumbra> "You are dismayed because you were caught."
123[21:15.30] * Lakhmul rolls his head around his neck. 
124[21:15.37] <+Repriever> "You talk of fighting Apastron, but you poisoned Zarmahl. You undermined us and empowered him."
125[21:15.41] <Lakhmul> "Yes," he finally concludes. 
126[21:15.43] <+Mel> [I assume he does that in the physically impossible way]
127[21:16.04] <Lakhmul> "I?"
128[21:16.07] <Lakhmul> "Oh..."
129[21:16.15] <Lakhmul> "But I was called." 
130[21:16.21] <Lakhmul> "I did not call myself." 
131[21:16.25] <+Repriever> "Then do not answer!"
132[21:16.37] * Lakhmul laughs with the voice of a little girl, and then just as quickly stops. 
133[21:16.38] * Repriever stumbles a bit in Penumbra's grip.
134[21:16.57] * Penumbra squeezes back, twisting her wrist a bit to provide more support
135[21:17.06] * Repriever gestures threateningly with Nameless... at Nameless. 
136[21:17.16] <Lakhmul> "I have recently...inherited a Tower." 
137[21:17.25] <Lakhmul> "Transmutation, in fact." 
138[21:17.30] <+Repriever> "...what?"
139[21:17.34] <+Penumbra> "... what"
140[21:17.39] <Lakhmul> "It was fertile ground!"
141[21:17.42] <Lakhmul> "So much war. So much life." 
142[21:17.55] <Lakhmul> "And I'm very, very old." 
143[21:18.12] <+Penumbra> "There were millions of souls at Transmutation." 
144[21:18.35] <Lakhmul> "There still are..." 
145[21:18.48] * Repriever is breathing heavily, his posture slipping a bit, the sword held lower. 
146[21:18.52] <Lakhmul> "I ended the war?" 
147[21:18.57] <+Mel> "If you had any desire to build towards the kind of world that we desire to exist, you would have self-annihilated and released every last piece of yourself that you had stolen and sacrificed into yourself."
148[21:19.03] * Lakhmul says this, as if expecting praise. 
149[21:19.18] <+Mel> "As it is, you remain a mental weed, that pollutes the fresh-turned soil."
150[21:19.27] <Lakhmul> "But inside me, there is peace!"
151[21:19.29] <Lakhmul> "There is love." 
152[21:19.38] * Lakhmul sighs.
153[21:19.45] <Lakhmul> "Our perspectives differ." 
154[21:19.45] <+Repriever> "THERE ARE CHAINS!"
155[21:19.45] <+Mel> "Your love is anathema."
156[21:20.08] <+Mel> "What possible end do you see this reaching?"
157[21:20.21] <Lakhmul> "Speaking of chains..." 
158[21:20.25] <Lakhmul> "...and ends." 
159[21:20.31] <Lakhmul> "You're beginning to see it now, aren't you?" 
160[21:20.45] <Lakhmul> "The trap Bel has set." 
161[21:20.52] <Lakhmul> "A genius mechanism, self-starting." 
162[21:21.08] <Lakhmul> "We admire it." 
163[21:21.23] <Lakhmul> "There is only one entity that exists outside Bel's plan." 
164[21:21.27] <Lakhmul> "WE." 
165[21:21.36] <+Mel> "A surprisingly common boast."
166[21:21.42] <+Mel> "Kharvalath argued much the same."
167[21:21.48] <Lakhmul> "Yes, that is correct." 
168[21:21.55] <Lakhmul> "But you killed Daddy, didn't you." 
169[21:22.10] * Repriever tenses in Penumbra's grip. 
170[21:22.17] <Lakhmul> "Oops."
171[21:22.34] <Lakhmul> "So I should say, now there's one." 
172[21:22.37] <+Mel> "Maybe we'll all be dead 'ere this is done."
173[21:22.50] <Lakhmul> "Well, our disagreements on the proper organization of life aside..."
174[21:22.58] <Lakhmul> "We share a love, for life." 
175[21:23.06] <Lakhmul> "Can we not focus upon that?"
176[21:23.09] <Lakhmul> "As comrades!" 
177[21:23.24] <+Penumbra> "Your "welcome" wears thin tonight, Nameless."
178[21:23.27] * Lakhmul spreads his arms, as if in brotherhood. 
179[21:23.29] <Lakhmul> "Yes, yes." 
180[21:23.36] <Lakhmul> "We have put our cards on the table."
181[21:23.46] <Lakhmul> "Our transmuted legions against Apastron's."
182[21:23.46] <+Mel> "Presuming we abruptly abandoned the foundational principle behind the fellowship you speak to, what would you propose in this grand alliance of the living of this world?"
183[21:24.06] <Lakhmul> "Assistance with the secret traps of the Endless Well, which Penumbra has, er, had, memories of." 
184[21:24.17] <Lakhmul> "A backstab that the Apastron will never see coming."
185[21:24.26] <Lakhmul> "Madei's freedom, and ascension." 
186[21:24.31] <Lakhmul> "And, perhaps a bit of help at the Ritual."
187[21:24.35] <Lakhmul> "What's not to like?" 
188[21:24.53] <+Repriever> "What use do we have for madness?"
189[21:25.01] <Lakhmul> "What use? What use?" 
190[21:25.04] <Lakhmul> "What USE?" 
191[21:25.12] <Lakhmul> "Apastron, cannot predict...madness." 
192[21:25.15] <Lakhmul> "As you call it." 
193[21:25.22] <Lakhmul> "Nor can Bel."
194[21:25.25] <+Mel> "What reason do we have for a world where your existence continues?"
195[21:25.29] * Lakhmul gives a lopsided grin. 
196[21:25.38] <Lakhmul> "And what do you even know of Bel?" 
197[21:25.42] <Lakhmul> "What are you allloooowed to know." 
198[21:25.47] <Lakhmul> "We have secrets." 
199[21:25.52] <Lakhmul> "Secrets your gods do not tell you." 
200[21:26.15] <+Mel> "Secrets the likes of which we would never know to trust, when coming from you."
201[21:26.25] <Lakhmul> "Naturally."
202[21:26.37] <Lakhmul> "I'm sure we'll fight, after. To decide the fate of existence."
203[21:26.40] <Lakhmul> "Or perhaps it's a trap."
204[21:26.42] <Lakhmul> "But."
205[21:26.47] <Lakhmul> "You need me. For now."
206[21:27.03] * Lakhmul holds out his hand, and drops Atrament with a clunk on the deck. 
207[21:27.14] <+Mel> "You'll have to sell us on how an eternity of slavery is preferable to a fresh start with none of us at all."
208[21:27.16] <+Repriever> "I don't need you," says the man who clearly needs help. 
209[21:27.20] <Lakhmul> "We won't possess you, Penumbra, or dominate your mind."
210[21:27.25] <Lakhmul> "We just want to watch!" 
211[21:27.28] <Lakhmul> "And sometimes..to play." 
212[21:27.45] <Lakhmul> "And, you'll all be off limits, until...hmmmm." 
213[21:27.52] <Lakhmul> "Until we break the truce." 
214[21:28.17] <Lakhmul> "I'm a reasonable man. Well. I'm not a man." 
215[21:28.19] <+Repriever> "You would steals the souls of our friends and allies from the start!"
216[21:28.22] <+Repriever> [steal]
217[21:28.32] <Lakhmul> "Ughhh." 
218[21:28.33] <+Mel> "Come Apastron's death and ice... come the armies of Kasatha, come the age-old machinations of Bel... all of the direst of these futures pale before the one you offer, name-stealer."
219[21:28.33] * Penumbra does not flinch as Atrament drops, but it's dull thud have her swallow
220[21:29.03] <+Mel> "You will have to provide us a far more generous offer to make it remotely acceptable."
221[21:29.31] <+Mel> "I know what lives inside that mind-hive. So do several of us here."
222[21:29.33] * Lakhmul groans. 
223[21:29.37] <Lakhmul> "Fine."
224[21:29.42] <Lakhmul> "I won't take any more souls." 
225[21:29.47] <Lakhmul> "While our truce lasts."
226[21:29.54] <Lakhmul> "You love that sort of thing. Innocents and the like." 
227[21:30.24] * Mel rolls her eyes.
228[21:30.30] <Lakhmul> "I just took a few million anyways, and they'll...take a while...to digest" 
229[21:30.30] <+Mel> "You've always been comically bad at this."
230[21:30.52] <Lakhmul> "And you've always been tragically good." 
231[21:30.56] <+Shala> "So we are making a truce with this creature?"
232[21:30.59] * Lakhmul winks. 
233[21:31.18] <Lakhmul> "You don't even really know what you did."
234[21:31.19] <+Mel> "A surprisingly thoughtful compliment."
235[21:31.28] <Lakhmul> "I think you censored your own mind to protect yourself from it." 
236[21:31.35] <Lakhmul> "From the secrets of your...cutter." 
237[21:31.41] <Lakhmul> "Oh, oh, what I could teach you." 
238[21:32.04] <+Repriever> "Shut your insane face, spider."
239[21:32.16] <Lakhmul> "Just think about it!" 
240[21:32.26] <Lakhmul> "You can...put that little spear in a cage." 
241[21:32.34] <Lakhmul> "And let me know." 
242[21:32.41] <+Mel> "You've given us no better offer, no promise beyond a temporary abatement to your rape and enslavement."
243[21:32.52] <Lakhmul> "This is a temporary arrangement." 
244[21:33.01] <Lakhmul> "We're still going to need to have it out at the end." 
245[21:33.23] <+Mel> "You have still offered nothing that makes your 'end' any better than the ends promised by the rest of our foes."
246[21:33.30] <Lakhmul> "It's just a question of disposing our mutual enemies efficiently, first." 
247[21:33.39] <+Mel> "You joke at your own unpredictability and irrationality."
248[21:33.40] * Repriever lets his sword tip fall to the deck.
249[21:33.44] <Lakhmul> "Apastron's world is nothingness, in which neither of us exist." 
250[21:33.53] <Lakhmul> "And that world is actually...rather...close." 
251[21:34.00] <Lakhmul> "He's almost through Atris' seal." 
252[21:34.01] <+Mel> "But do not underestimate our ability to all die, alongside you, defending the world we seek to create."
253[21:34.10] <Lakhmul> "So I'm actually really a bit alarmed." 
254[21:34.25] <Lakhmul> "I don't want to die!" 
255[21:34.31] <Lakhmul> "So..." 
256[21:34.32] <+Mel> "Yet not alarmed enough to gaze into that infinite mass of navels you've acquired."
257[21:34.39] <+Mel> "And introspect."
258[21:34.43] * Lakhmul laughs. 
259[21:34.45] <+Mel> "Surely you have enough intros to spect."
260[21:34.51] <Lakhmul> "Oh Melchior."
261[21:34.58] <Lakhmul> "You know I can see that spell of yours." 
262[21:35.10] * Lakhmul decomposes into spiders that flow through the deck rails. 
263[21:35.15] <+Mel> "Yeah, dimensional anchor's not one of the most subtle ones is it."
264[21:35.23] <Lakhmul> "Think about it..." the spiders hum, as they jump off the ship. 
265[21:35.29] * You are now known as DM
266[21:35.30] * Repriever panics and lunges forward to the railing.
267[21:35.35] <+Mel> wait can the spiders escape the dimensional anchor?
268[21:35.41] <+Mel> should still work on their swarm mass
269[21:35.49] * Penumbra runs with him, looking over the edge
270[21:35.53] <DM> You prepared it, but didn't cast it
271[21:35.53] <+Repriever> [where are they going?]
272[21:36.14] <DM> Unless I didn't judge your words' intent correctly 
273[21:36.18] * Mel drops a magic circle sealing in void.
274[21:36.29] <+Mel> [I was aiming for a 'if he tries to run away I want to trap and fight him]
275[21:36.40] <+Mel> Stomping on some spiders within this area might have to do.
276[21:36.42] * Penumbra senses outward, trying to see where the spiders have disappered to
277[21:36.53] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+12
278[21:36.53] <%tBot> Penumbra: 24 ([12] +12)
279[21:36.58] <+Penumbra> [shadow planes]
280[21:37.02] <DM> Alright, so, let me adjudge this. 
281[21:37.26] <DM> Mel, roll a reflex save, we'll decide if you cast the spell fast enough to catch the spiders before they escape. 
282[21:37.29] <+Mel> So I would like to drop a dimensional anchor as well as a Thaumaturgic circle to prevent its escape, without having to go against my spellcraft check.
283[21:37.33] <+Mel> prescience
284[21:37.35] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20
285[21:37.35] <%tBot> Mel: 10 [10]
286[21:37.48] <+Mel> I'll take second roll
287[21:37.51] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+5
288[21:37.51] <%tBot> Mel: 18 ([13] +5)
289[21:38.21] <DM> Alright, so, here's what happens. 
290[21:38.49] <DM> As Penumbra rushes to the railing, she sees a shimmering, flickering golden sphere of Melchior's power, partially encompassing the deck and the night air just outside it. 
291[21:39.09] <DM> About...let's say, 20% of the spiders escaped and fell to the ground below, trailing on silk lines. 
292[21:39.53] <DM> The remainder are writhing in a roughly Lakhmul-shaped mass, lounging at the base of the containment sphere. 
293[21:39.57] * You are now known as Lakhmul
294[21:39.59] * Penumbra spreads wings, and gives chase
295[21:40.09] <+Mel> "Careful Penumbra, you may need to stay in here."
296[21:40.17] <+Mel> "The sphere may hold you in too."
297[21:40.18] * You are now known as Arachnid_Mass
298[21:40.22] <+Mel> "But not the others."
299[21:40.24] <+Penumbra> [are we still over the city?]
300[21:40.29] <+Repriever> [are we airborn?]
301[21:40.35] <Arachnid_Mass> "wwwwwhatssss your goal heeeere, mellllchiorrrrr" 
302[21:41.07] <Arachnid_Mass> "tooo killl thisss....emisssary...?" 
303[21:41.30] <+Mel> "You haven't lost anything but a bit of mass."
304[21:41.48] <Arachnid_Mass> You have gotten out over open sky by this point, and are about halfway between Sapphis and Tetraea, which hovers a few miles above Carcephon's old capital. 
305[21:41.56] <Arachnid_Mass> So the falling spiders are probably falling down towards Sapphis. 
306[21:42.08] <+Penumbra> [ok, I was worried... ok I'm still worried]
307[21:42.29] <Arachnid_Mass> Some of them might fall in the ocean too, though. 
308[21:42.42] <Arachnid_Mass> "wwwwhatever makessss you feeellll better...." 
309[21:42.45] * Repriever shouts and draws in more of the essence to unleash his angelic aspect, then hurls himself over the railing.
310[21:43.07] * Repriever is now known as Parhelion
311[21:43.12] <Arachnid_Mass> You have it contained, Mel so you can essentially kill whatever's inside the thaumaturgic circle by pulsing positive energy into it. 
312[21:43.36] * Penumbra grits her teeth, in a way trapped by Mel as well, watching Repriever throw himself over
313[21:43.48] * Mel drops a secondary circle around Penumbra, to protect her from the channel that is about to come.
314[21:43.55] * Mel channels ARTAN DIVINITY.
315[21:44.02] * Parhelion flies after the descending spiders.
316[21:44.07] <Arachnid_Mass> "although I shouuuuld teeeelll youu aboout astarraaAAAHHAHHHHH!!" 
317[21:44.39] <+Mel> ?roll 7d6
318[21:44.39] <%tBot> Mel: 21 [3 2 1 1 4 6 4]
319[21:44.42] <Arachnid_Mass> The arachnid mass doesn't scream so much as buzz as its individual organisms light on golden fire and burn, as the sphere shines. 
320[21:44.57] <+Mel> "Yeah should have brought that up when we were talking."
321[21:45.01] * Mel says quietly to the ashes.
322[21:45.20] <+Parhelion> [I would like to channel burst in the air to burn the falling spiders]
323[21:45.33] <Arachnid_Mass> Using the Essence? 
324[21:45.41] <+Parhelion> Using my channels.
325[21:45.46] <Arachnid_Mass> You could probably easily cover the area with some chain lightning just to be sure. 
326[21:45.48] * Mel checks to make sure that her secondary circle has protected Penumbra and that the AoE channel of golden light has seared away the motes of the namestealer.
327[21:45.58] <Arachnid_Mass> It has, thoroughly.
328[21:46.01] <+Mel> Once I am confident the channel's done it's work I'm dismissing it.
329[21:46.01] <+Parhelion> But can I combine holy energy with chain lightning?
330[21:46.06] <Arachnid_Mass> Although there is, of course, still the problem of Atrament to consider. 
331[21:46.09] * Mel releases the brief lockdown.
332[21:46.11] * Penumbra is at the edge of the railing, trying to track Parhelion and the spiders
333[21:46.14] <+Mel> "Sorry about that Penny."
334[21:46.20] * Mel looks at her comrade sympathetically.
335[21:46.26] * You are now known as DM
336[21:46.31] * Penumbra breathes out
337[21:46.41] <+Mel> "You might want to follow Ducky."
338[21:46.48] <+Parhelion> Cause I will absolutely holy-lightning burst this sky.
339[21:46.51] <+Parhelion> [I'm already in the air]
340[21:47.01] <+Penumbra> "Watch Atrament."
341[21:47.11] <+Parhelion> [your circle has no strings on me, tony stark]
342[21:47.29] * Penumbra follows after Parhelion, staying out of range, and pointing out the Spiders as she can
343[21:47.39] <DM> You can, Parhelion. 
344[21:48.19] <DM> Nothing but ash falls into the empty air as you dismiss the containment circles, Mel. 
345[21:48.41] <+Shala> "Eek!" 
346[21:48.46] * Shala is resisting the urge to run below deck
347[21:48.49] * Parhelion opens the container even more to feed the power of Calcis into his righteous fury at the Nameless, erupting in a storm of divine lightning as he descends through the sky.
348[21:49.27] <DM> The lightning that flows branches and breaks like a bare tree in winter, but it shines with the blue-white light of the furthest stars. 
349[21:49.43] <DM> Tendrils seek out and pierce the individual, falling spiders as they tumble through the air. 
350[21:50.04] <DM> Make a fort save, Repriever. 
351[21:50.08] <+Mel> [I assume they're ballooning, so they're probably falling really slowly :P]
352[21:50.16] <DM> DC 25 to not pass out. 
353[21:50.18] <+Parhelion> ?roll 1d20+19
354[21:50.18] <%tBot> Parhelion: 33 ([14] +19)
355[21:50.27] * Parhelion is a furious angel. 
356[21:50.39] <DM> You don't pass out, but a wave of nausea crests your subconscious, still suppressed by angelic.
357[21:50.44] <DM> It will return in force when you dismiss the angel. 
358[21:51.34] <DM> You survey the skyline with eyes that are untroubled by darkness. 
359[21:51.42] <DM> Eyes that see the language of divine law written into all things.
360[21:51.49] <DM> This place has been cleansed of corruption. 
361[21:52.17] <+Penumbra> "Repriever, it's gone."
362[21:52.22] * Parhelion emits vast, smoky wings of starlight from his back, lighting the night sky like a nebula deep into outer space. 
363[21:53.12] * DM changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 115: Charming Smile - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es5bxYUvk3E，
364[21:53.18] <+Parhelion> The essence howls with stormwinds in his hand, arcing power into his body in loud cracking pops. 
365[21:53.57] <+Penumbra> "Let's return to the Reme."
366[21:54.30] * Parhelion turns his celestial runed eyes to Penumbra, seemingly lost. 
367[21:55.07] * Penumbra floats there, above and behind him, her shadowy wings disappearing into the night
368[21:55.27] <DM> Will save, Repriever. 
369[21:55.33] <+Parhelion> <<There is more to be done.>>
370[21:55.43] <+Parhelion> ?roll 1d20+15
371[21:55.43] <%tBot> Parhelion: 32 ([17] +15)
372[21:55.45] <+Penumbra> "You can have rest. Succor."
373[21:56.22] <+Parhelion> "The Apastron will not wait."
374[21:56.40] * Parhelion soars upward to the Reme. 
375[21:57.25] <+Penumbra> [sense motive for what he might be planning D: ]
376[21:57.31] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+11
377[21:57.31] <%tBot> Penumbra: 26 ([15] +11)
378[21:57.47] <DM> That's good enough for Lucky to probably tell you some details
379[21:57.51] <DM> Either way, you should follow him closely
380[21:58.37] <+Parhelion> You've seen this look in his eyes before. You know what he's planning. The angel believes it can challenge Apastron, now.
381[21:58.40] <+Penumbra> I do
382[21:58.57] <+Parhelion> But it needs something else.
383[21:59.42] * Parhelion swoops down onto the railing, stepping off and to the Reme in a liquid motion. 
384[21:59.59] <+Parhelion> [who has the other essences right now?]
385[21:59.59] <+Penumbra> "Repriever, you can come back now." 
386[22:00.06] <+Penumbra> [no scratch that]
387[22:00.42] * Mel looks to the side and bac.
388[22:00.45] <+Mel> *back
389[22:00.54] <+Mel> "Preev. Come out of it."
390[22:01.34] <+Parhelion> "Give them to me, and we will be done with him."
391[22:01.41] * Penumbra follows closely behind repriever
392[22:02.02] <+Mel> "Repriever. You know that is the path to ruin."
393[22:02.10] <+Mel> "Let it out."
394[22:02.22] <DM> The angel carries a sword, and holds the Essence of Air. 
395[22:02.29] <+Parhelion> "It is the path Carcephon has chosen for us. Unite them. Do as she did."
396[22:02.35] <DM> Its feet do not quite touch the ground. 
397[22:02.42] <+Parhelion> "A new weapon."
398[22:02.51] <+Parhelion> "We must hurry, Arta."
399[22:03.18] <+Mel> "No, haste will destroy our efforts."
400[22:03.39] <+Mel> "Let yourself out of the storm."
401[22:04.20] * Shala swatily readies her key if the angel attacks 
402[22:04.26] <+Shala> sweatily*
403[22:04.41] <+Vaalo> <<stop>>
404[22:04.45] <+Parhelion> "There is no escaping the storm, Arta. It rages."
405[22:04.45] * Vaalo whimpers
406[22:05.06] * Parhelion turns his head to Vaalo. His eyes glow fiercely. 
407[22:06.30] * Penumbra has not spoken. she dips the tip of the spear of Calcis slightly, giving Mel a look
408[22:06.43] <+Mel> "Assan."
409[22:06.59] <+Parhelion> "Is not here."
410[22:06.59] <+Mel> "Come out of it or we will have to force you out. Your mind is storm-tossed."
411[22:07.15] <+Vaalo> <<stop>>
412[22:07.31] * Mel pauses for a moment to see if Parhelion is listening to the flame-child's exhortations.
413[22:07.37] <+Parhelion> <<You are on the path of your destruction, Arta.>>
414[22:08.00] <DM> Calcis' angel, judges. 
415[22:08.12] <+Mel> "Let's discuss that when you're not about to throw half of the magical essences in the world into an all or nothing gambit."
416[22:08.36] <+Parhelion> [does vaalo have fire still?]
417[22:08.56] <+Vaalo> [[No, mel took it]]
418[22:08.57] * Mel walks forward and places on hand firmly around Parhelion's forearm.
419[22:09.07] <+Parhelion> "You command me, small divine? I apologize. But--"
420[22:09.16] <+Vaalo> [[or preev did, I don't remember]]
421[22:09.23] * Parhelion is caught midsentence by Mel's touch.
422[22:09.48] <+Mel> "Breath out the wind. Deflate the sail."
423[22:10.04] <DM> Will save, Parhelion. 
424[22:10.04] <+Mel> "Come down back to yourself."
425[22:10.21] <+Parhelion> ?roll 1d20+15
426[22:10.22] <%tBot> Parhelion: 20 ([5] +15)
427[22:10.34] * Mel grapples Parhelion aggressively, CMB.
428[22:10.36] <+Mel> Prescience.
429[22:10.39] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20
430[22:10.39] <%tBot> Mel: 13 [13]
431[22:10.49] <DM> Something pushes back against the angel.
432[22:10.54] * Penumbra acts, there are no foot steps
433[22:10.54] <+Mel> 29
434[22:11.00] <+Mel> [Very aggressive smooch]
435[22:11.08] <DM> It is just enough distraction for Melchior and Penumbra to act. 
436[22:11.13] <+Parhelion> [29 matches]
437[22:11.13] <DM> In, uh, very different ways. 
438[22:11.53] <DM> So, what happens is this. 
439[22:11.57] * Parhelion is suddenly confronted with a kiss.
440[22:12.16] <DM> As Arta - Melchior's...lips, meet those of the angel with a light spark of static - 
441[22:12.30] <DM> The Spear of Calcis moves forward in Penumbra's practiced lunge in a flash. 
442[22:13.09] <DM> It pierces through the roiling, cosmic arm of air and sparks, and dislodges the Essence. 
443[22:13.37] <DM> There is a massive electrical flash as the air-aligned spear, Essence, and arm all interact, becoming a linked system before breaking apart violently.
444[22:13.48] <+Penumbra> [yeet]
445[22:14.11] <DM> The feedback energy dismisses the cosmic arm, power exploding outward as shocks arc across Repriever's chest, neck, and head. 
446[22:14.20] <+Parhelion> His eyes flare open, and he gasps into Mel's mouth. 
447[22:14.32] <DM> Fort save, DC 30, not to pass out, Repriever. 
448[22:14.34] * Penumbra tries to take the essense of air, multiple arms flying in arcs towards it
449[22:14.55] <DM> You scoop it up from the deck where it fizzes with power and slot the armature closed, Penumbra. 
450[22:14.59] <+Parhelion> ?roll 1d20+19
451[22:14.59] <%tBot> Parhelion: 32 ([13] +19)
452[22:15.19] <DM> So, you don't pass out.
453[22:15.22] * Mel channels Artan divinity.
454[22:15.25] <+Parhelion> [I think it should be a pass out anyway]
455[22:15.29] <DM> Which means the nausea from before will kick in about now.
456[22:15.32] <+Parhelion> [I mean, there's no fucking way lol]
457[22:15.36] <DM> So instead you're going to, uh 
458[22:15.40] <DM> do something grosser 
459[22:15.42] <+Mel> ?roll 7d6
460[22:15.43] <%tBot> Mel: 23 [5 2 4 5 3 3 1]
461[22:15.47] * Penumbra quickly reabsorbs her excess arms and tries to place the essence on the spear
462[22:16.04] <DM> You succeed, Penny. 
463[22:16.22] <+Penumbra> [and then I get hit by the channel?]
464[22:16.29] <+Parhelion> The light of the angel snaps away instantly.
465[22:16.36] <+Parhelion> [I assume she's just laying on hands]
466[22:16.48] * Parhelion is now known as Repriever
467[22:16.48] <+Mel> It is focused on the person Mel is grappling.
468[22:16.51] <+Penumbra> [ah, earlier she had to seal me away to channel]
469[22:17.08] <+Mel> Yeah that was me trying to fry an area, this is me targeting, but I do not have any shaped channeling feats.
470[22:17.33] * Repriever begins to fall immediately, and as he does pukes downward to the deck.
471[22:17.41] <+Mel> It's an area of metamagic (shape mastery) that Mel hasn't formally learned or studied.
472[22:17.47] * Mel gets puked all over.
473[22:17.55] * Mel is holding onto Repriever tightly.
474[22:18.17] * Penumbra gives a quick glance to where Atrament has fallen earlier, to ensure it was still there
475[22:18.20] * Mel carefully bends one leg and lowers them both to the ground.
476[22:18.40] * Repriever has a glazed over look in his eyes.
477[22:18.52] <+Repriever> His body feels uncharacteristically limp in your arms. 
478[22:19.16] <+Repriever> Also, the cosmic arm has disintegrated. 
479[22:20.05] <DM> Atrament lies where it fell, inert.
480[22:20.13] <DM> As the mock-dragon promised. 
481[22:20.52] * Mel lies down next to Repriever, one arm under his upper back, the other resting on top of his sternum.
482[22:21.06] * Repriever is out of it. 
483[22:21.06] <DM> Most of what Repriever vomits out is bright, white, glowing mucus. 
484[22:21.13] <DM> It sparkles on the deck. 
485[22:22.33] * Repriever stares up to the endless night sky, silent and still. 
486[22:22.57] * Mel breathes with him.
487[22:23.55] <+Repriever> "I'm sorry," he whispers, to either Mel or Astara. Who can be sure?
488[22:24.31] * Mel does not need to respond, just be there.
489[22:24.41] <+Shala> "Too much is happening at once..."
490[22:24.45] * Shala whispers to herself
491[22:24.53] * Mel nods to Shala.
492[22:25.53] <+Mel> "Hin, get some sweet beverages and gentle, hearty food."
493[22:26.22] <DM> Hin, having previously been warned by Penumbra, has already brought up some warm bread, butter, honey, and ham slices, as well as a few tankards of cider. 
494[22:26.53] * Penumbra is looking at Atrament, pondering how to proceed
495[22:27.06] * Mel slowly moves Repriever into a sitting position.
496[22:27.15] <+Mel> "I think-"
497[22:27.24] * Mel says to Penumbra, and to all others around.
498[22:27.44] * Repriever allows her to do as she pleases. He isn't really doing anything but following her direction.
499[22:27.51] * Penumbra does not turn but listens
500[22:28.22] <+Repriever> [was my cloth of blinding on my cosmic arm or other?]
501[22:28.28] <+Mel> "We tell our emissary in that stick to stay out of our way and cease its further expansion, and we'll avoid looking for trouble by hunting down its frayed constituents."
502[22:28.43] * Mel put it on your head, I thought.
503[22:28.51] <+Repriever> [it was an arm]
504[22:29.08] * Mel had tied it around the upper arm then.
505[22:29.51] <+Repriever> [the whole cosmic arm is energy, from the shoulder, and that vanished]
506[22:30.15] <+Repriever> [so am I seeing ice king visions? :p]
507[22:31.13] <DM> [moment]
508[22:33.26] <DM> The "bandage" is still on Repriever's flesh arm, I'm going to say
509[22:33.26] <+Repriever> [we'll go with real arm, so it is still on]
510[22:33.33] <+Repriever> [k]
511[22:34.08] * Repriever sits there, on the deck, covered in some of his miracle vomit. 
512[22:36.12] <DM> Hin has two manniquins already unrolling one of his stitched cloth pre-made containment circles for Atrament, and a manniquin places it daintily in the circle for now as a temporary measure. 
513[22:36.35] <DM> Penumbra, will save. 
514[22:36.39] * Penumbra nods, having overseen this carefully, and turns to Repriever and Mel
515[22:36.47] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+22
516[22:36.47] <%tBot> Penumbra: 37 ([15] +22)
517[22:38.40] <DM> Penumbra raises a hand to a temple, a moment of self-reflection and awareness. 
518[22:40.10] <+Repriever> Nameless lies on the deck nearby.
519[22:41.25] <DM> Repriever, a steaming plate of ham is not far from your face
520[22:41.38] <DM> As well as a pot of honey and bread, laid out in platters by the deck. 
521[22:41.41] <DM> You are, most likely
522[22:41.45] <DM> extremely hungry.
523[22:41.49] <DM> In fact, almost all of you probably are.
524[22:41.56] * Penumbra walks over, kneels down and takes a cloth to start to wipe at his face
525[22:41.58] <DM> Although...I'm not sure if Vaalo quite knows how to handle food yet. 
526[22:42.09] <+Vaalo> [probably not]
527[22:42.14] * Repriever goes to reach for the ham with his cosmic hand, but finds it not there and sighs. He uses his real hand instead. 
528[22:42.28] * Mel has helped Repriever to get over to his seat.
529[22:42.44] <+Penumbra> [scratch what I said earlier then]
530[22:42.46] <+Mel> "You'll want to take some time before summoning your arm again."
531[22:42.58] * Shala eats in deliberate bites and nibbles
532[22:43.18] * Repriever quietly, ashamedly, eats under her guidance. 
533[22:44.01] * Mel remembers how, just days ago, she was struggling to speak and eat without Repriever's aid.
534[22:44.12] * Mel is unabashed about returning this aid.
535[22:44.39] <DM> Repriever, you will likely not have the strength to summon it for some time. 
536[22:44.50] <DM> You are beyond exhausted.
537[22:45.05] <DM> You have passed beyond being able to sleep and are actively afraid of sleeping at this point, since you don't know how long it will be for. 
538[22:45.19] * Repriever swallows ham while staring across from his seat as unseen figures.
539[22:45.21] <+Repriever> [at]
540[22:46.50] <+Repriever> "She told us we would never see her again," he mumbles. 
541[22:46.55] * Shala (IceChat9@24-72-172-24-72-172-62.cpe.sparklight.net) Quit (Quit: I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.)
542[22:47.13] * azale (IceChat9@24-72-172-24-72-172-62.cpe.sparklight.net) has joined channel #nesdnd
543[22:47.25] * DM sets mode +v azale for #nesdnd
544[22:47.31] <DM> For certain definitions of you, and her. 
545[22:48.00] <+Repriever> "What does it mean, Saeie?"
546[22:48.13] * Repriever speaks quietly while eating much slower than you'd expect him to.
547[22:49.09] <+Mel> "Carcephon was afraid of the risks and fled. The nameless was afraid and tried to make a 'deal', inasmuch as it can."
548[22:49.28] <+Mel> "There are still other forces who believe in the freedom to be."
549[22:50.05] <DM> Repriever eats like the old, infirm man he once wore the flesh of.
550[22:50.23] <+Mel> "We approach them, we find our common ground, we defeat forces inside and out of our world."
551[22:51.09] <+Mel> "And we create a better future. One with less war, with less domination of some over others. We dream that both of those might be reduced down to nothingness."
552[22:51.44] <+Repriever> "The angel knew the path."
553[22:51.48] <+Mel> "We fight to create this world. Or to die in effecting its creation."
554[22:52.25] <+Mel> "There isn't a singular path."
555[22:52.33] <+Mel> "That's what you will come to see."
556[22:52.46] <+Mel> "I have to teach you how to understand what Carcephon did to you."
557[22:52.59] <+Mel> "She opened your sight into the Akashic."
558[22:53.09] * Repriever turns his face weakly to her.
559[22:53.13] <+Mel> "Into the unwoven threads of all that might be."
560[22:53.16] <+Repriever> "I would have stopped him."
561[22:53.34] <+Mel> "You are a smasher of towers in your fury."
562[22:54.14] * Repriever looks down at his plate in shame. 
563[22:54.59] <+Repriever> "What she did to Akvan... we could do again."
564[22:55.19] <+Mel> "And you would be destroyed."
565[22:55.32] <+Mel> "I know you are willing to die if it means the salvation of the world."
566[22:55.44] <+Mel> "We all are at this point."
567[22:55.50] <+Penumbra> "She had centuries to plan her spell."
568[22:56.06] <+Mel> "And you had seconds to plan yours. That is why we stopped you."
569[22:56.07] <+Repriever> "This isn't about the world. This is for Madei."
570[22:56.27] <+Mel> "The Apastron wants to break you."
571[22:56.33] <+Repriever> "He already has."
572[22:56.51] <+Mel> "We are all broken, in our ways. But none of us are ruined."
573[22:57.51] <+Repriever> "I thought Kharvalath would fade without Fire," he changes the topic, biting into some bread.
574[22:58.17] * TheMeanestGuest (smuxi@CPE84948c355f33-CM84948c355f30.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com) Quit (Connection closed)
575[22:58.57] <+Repriever> "And yet, there he is."
576[22:59.08] <+Mel> "An impression of him."
577[22:59.18] <+Repriever> "More than that, I think."
578[22:59.20] <+Mel> "Powerful things are monumentally hard to erase."
579[22:59.27] <+Mel> "As we know well."
580[22:59.34] * Mel gives a severe look for a moment.
581[23:00.03] * Repriever stares at the unseen dragon, then.
582[23:00.12] <+Repriever> "Take the cloth from my arm, Mel."
583[23:00.31] <+Repriever> "I need to hear him."
584[23:00.57] <+Mel> "You can have your fire daddy dessert once you've eaten your dinner."
585[23:01.13] * Mel gestures to his food and eats some of her own.
586[23:01.31] <+Mel> "I want to be there, and help show you what I've learned to... manage sight."
587[23:01.44] * DM changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 115: Charming Smile - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmL9DVS0snY，
588[23:01.44] <+Mel> "Before now, you have had visions that have been curated for you."
589[23:01.45] * Repriever continues eating.
590[23:02.00] <+Mel> "Now, you are seeing them with only a coarse filter."
591[23:02.47] <+Repriever> "He must live in me."
592[23:02.57] <+Repriever> "He is not like the other ones."
593[23:03.17] <+Mel> "He claims a way to break the cycle."
594[23:03.20] * Repriever does not expand on what he is more like.
595[23:03.25] <+Mel> "It's a useful tool if we come to find that necessary."
596[23:03.58] <+Mel> "But first, when you see visions, you must remove yourself from bias. I realize as a palatine this is very difficult."
597[23:04.33] <+Mel> "But you must force your sight to be even, as one might shape a piece of pottery to be even, extended out the same amount in all directions."
598[23:05.07] <+Mel> "Otherwise, you are liable to becoming focused, obsessed, with singular outcomes."
599[23:05.24] <+Repriever> "As you said, I am a palatine."
600[23:05.29] <+Mel> "ESPECIALLY-"
601[23:05.29] * Repriever weakly smirks. 
602[23:05.43] * Mel says, punctuatedly.
603[23:06.06] <+Mel> "Given that beings of flame influence your sight, and might try to pull you in line with their own perspectives and biases."
604[23:06.25] <+Mel> "In sight, embrace evenness. You will see good things and terrible, but you will learn to discern the likely from the unlikely."
605[23:06.31] <+Mel> "Thousands of possibilities, versus dozens."
606[23:06.56] <+Mel> "When there is vast overlap, you perceive likelihood. When there is blurriness and clouding, you are looking at narrow chances and unlikeliness."
607[23:07.09] <+Mel> "Yet those unlikely outcomes can be so intoxicating."
608[23:07.29] <+Repriever> "And what if they're all clear?"
609[23:07.44] <+Mel> "Two things."
610[23:07.52] <+Mel> "One, perhaps you are still being fed curated visions."
611[23:08.31] <+Mel> "But if you have learned to heed what I tell you about the third eye, and a vision comes true in a vast array of possibilities, then you must accept the reality of that chance, and the probability of its realization."
612[23:08.46] <+Mel> "But it is for us, outside of the realm of supernatural sight, to determine which unlikely outcomes we want to pursue."
613[23:09.01] <+Mel> "Otherwise, we just become fatalists, pining for the faintest hopes and resigning ourselves to the likeliest outcomes."
614[23:09.30] <+Mel> "It is not a simple thing to be both a seer and a doer, and I am sorry that you have found yourself in that position."
615[23:09.32] <+Repriever> "We did not believe in inescapable fates."
616[23:09.43] <+Mel> "There are infinite possible fates."
617[23:10.02] <+Mel> "The only inescapability is that one of the infinite shall be realized... and all of them, in some aspect of reality."
618[23:10.13] <+Mel> "But we can never dwell too much on possibility."
619[23:10.24] <+Repriever> "They may all be equally possible."
620[23:10.25] <+Mel> "I cannot dwell on all of the times that the Aboleth Slave murdered her closest friends."
621[23:11.50] <+Mel> "Time is a growing tree, and we can only proceed further down our branch."
622[23:11.56] <+Mel> "Cull aside the what-ifs."
623[23:11.57] <+Repriever> "But there is only one future I care about, no matter how tempting the others may be."
624[23:12.13] <+Mel> "Then speak it, and seek it, and know the threads that draw you towards them."
625[23:12.16] <+Mel> "Learn to recognize them."
626[23:12.16] <DM> The Reme has come in high, and it glides through frosty cirrus clouds that wisp past the masts. 
627[23:12.19] <+Mel> "Tug on them."
628[23:12.23] <+Mel> "And, in time."
629[23:12.26] <DM> The lights of Tetraea sparkle below. 
630[23:12.28] <+Mel> "Learn to accept being tugged by them."
631[23:12.38] <+Repriever> "I'm going to kill your keeper's ghost."
632[23:12.54] * Mel blinks.
633[23:13.21] <+Mel> "He's never been my keeper."
634[23:13.34] <DM> [crowd goes ohhhhh] 
635[23:13.52] <+Mel> "Only the keeper of a being who may become reconstituted within me."
636[23:14.21] <+Mel> "I pity and mourn his loss, but he's shown that he can't be turned away from his course."
637[23:14.46] * Repriever doesn't know how to express himself.
638[23:14.52] * Repriever eats ham.
639[23:15.10] <+Mel> "The salt will be good for you right now."
640[23:15.25] <+Repriever> [the salt of apastron?]
641[23:15.27] <+Repriever> [:p]
642[23:15.41] <+Mel> [no, salty ham]
643[23:16.22] <+Repriever> "Will you speak with Calcis for me?"
644[23:16.37] <+Repriever> "Tell her I won't be able to speak with her for a while."
645[23:16.59] <+Mel> "Yes."
646[23:18.51] * Repriever makes sure to fill himself on the meal.
647[23:18.55] * Mel eats her fill, looking over the rest of the table.
648[23:19.28] <DM> it's less of a table, and more of a 
649[23:19.32] <DM> impromptu setting up on the deck
650[23:19.40] <+Mel> [pic-a-nic]
651[23:19.41] <DM> since Repriever's capacity to move is questionable. 
652[23:19.52] <DM> Ironrose is poking her head up, now. 
653[23:19.58] * You are now known as Ironrose
654[23:20.04] * Repriever thousand-yard-stares at her.
655[23:20.12] <Ironrose> "I see ham, so that usually means it's safe." 
656[23:20.37] <+Mel> "As much as ever."
657[23:20.42] * Mel uses aura sight on Ironrose.
658[23:21.00] * Penumbra was taking measured, mostly listening in the conversation and thinking
659[23:21.04] <+Repriever> "Wasn't Vyriscine onboard?"
660[23:21.57] <Ironrose> She probably flitted away. 
661[23:22.08] <Ironrose> Ironrose's aura is strong and clear, untainted. 
662[23:22.25] <Ironrose> Unlike the once. 
663[23:22.36] <Ironrose> "You're so far beyond my skills at this point."
664[23:22.37] <+Mel> [fool me twice, not gonna fool me again]
665[23:22.55] <Ironrose> "I don't know how to heal fallen angels." 
666[23:22.58] * Ironrose smiles solemnly. 
667[23:22.58] <+Repriever> [fool me once... fool me.. you can't get fooled again]
668[23:23.24] <+Mel> "What would you say to a man who seeks to win a war in one night?"
669[23:23.30] * Mel looks to Ironrose.
670[23:25.07] * Repriever gnaws on a bread, as Madei would say. 
671[23:25.32] * Ironrose ponders. 
672[23:26.04] <Ironrose> "We do have a saying, which, I'm not sure if it translates well to other cultures." 
673[23:26.18] <Ironrose> "In the bedroom, every woman is a general." 
674[23:26.40] <Ironrose> "Many wars are fought and won, or lost, in a night."
675[23:26.41] * Mel can't suppress a small chuckling smile.
676[23:26.49] <Ironrose> "But they almost always return to be fought again." 
677[23:27.08] <Ironrose> "Some battles, we need to fight over time."
678[23:27.12] <Ironrose> "Over lifetimes." 
679[23:27.21] * Mel nods.
680[23:28.07] <+Repriever> "That sounds like Cal."
681[23:28.29] <+Mel> "That is why we stopped you, Repriever. You can win a battle, and you're willing to pay your life to win the most important battles of them all. But there is not one battle. There is not but one foe. The things that seek our ruin are multiple, and we need you for all of them."
682[23:29.34] * Repriever smiles sadly.
683[23:29.40] <Ironrose> "I would say that's very flattering."
684[23:29.45] <Ironrose> "I once aspired to follow Calcis in all things." 
685[23:29.51] <Ironrose> "In many ways, I still do."
686[23:29.59] <Ironrose> "I still venerate and pray to her."
687[23:30.16] <Ironrose> "Even if Astara the creator is now first in my prayers." 
688[23:30.37] <+Repriever> "You must draw breath to admire the stars, Ironrose."
689[23:31.16] * Repriever inhales deeply, deciding he is through eating and much desires to sleep.
690[23:32.00] <Ironrose> "Calcis is quick."
691[23:32.08] * Ironrose agrees. 
692[23:32.26] <Ironrose> "I think I can help you downstairs, Repriever." 
693[23:32.32] <Ironrose> "If, perhaps, Mel will help?" 
694[23:32.32] <+Mel> "As can I."
695[23:32.36] <+Repriever> "That would be nice."
696[23:32.48] * Mel nods at Ironrose with a smile as we had the same thought at the same moment.
697[23:32.49] <Ironrose> "I've carried more than a few drunk novices to bed in my day." 
698[23:32.55] <+Repriever> "I would not stop two women taking me to bed."
699[23:33.03] <Ironrose> "Babbling about the boys who rejected them, usually." 
700[23:33.11] <Ironrose> "Oh, those boys." 
701[23:33.22] * Ironrose looks over Repriever's head to give Mel a knowing smile. 
702[23:34.06] * Ironrose takes Repriever's arm over her shoulder. 
703[23:34.19] * Mel helps to hoist Repriever up with a firm grip around his midriff, as he is down an arm right now.
704[23:34.31] <+Mel> [or as we say in the limb-construction business, mostly 'armless]
705[23:34.42] <+Repriever> "I once asked you to marry me, Ironrose, do you remember that?"
706[23:35.36] <Ironrose> "Mmm, we don't typically marry in my order." 
707[23:35.47] <Ironrose> "Although I suppose I'm not in my old order anymore, am I?" 
708[23:36.19] <+Repriever> "You said as much then, and my fortune is squandered besides. No point leaving empty air to you."
709[23:36.56] * Repriever is clearly unwell and just saying random things. 
710[23:37.18] <Ironrose> "Not to mention, my inability to give you heirs."
711[23:37.31] <Ironrose> "I fear my menopause is a few years over my shoulder." 
712[23:38.31] <+Repriever> "Mel gave the Isles something much better than a dead man's pittance."
713[23:40.49] <Ironrose> "You're right."
714[23:40.52] <Ironrose> "I should marry her instead." 
715[23:40.58] * Repriever snorts.
716[23:41.00] * Mel laughs.
717[23:41.15] * Ironrose chuckles slightly as they get him down the stairs to the officer bunks. 
718[23:41.35] <Ironrose> "So um."
719[23:41.39] <Ironrose> "Bit of a party up there tonight." 
720[23:41.50] <Ironrose> "Almost came out, staff blazing."
721[23:41.54] <Ironrose> "But I think you had it well in hand." 
722[23:42.12] <+Mel> "Not as much as I'd have preferred. I let /it/ make the first move."
723[23:42.31] * Repriever holds back his own thoughts, embarassed by how he handled it. 
724[23:42.37] <+Mel> "If I'd just circled it at the start rather than waiting for it to finish Repriever wouldn't have had to blast himself so."
725[23:43.09] <+Repriever> "I have never listened very well."
726[23:43.26] <+azale> "There's no reason to slag yourself there, we're all of our game."
727[23:43.30] <+azale> [pff*]
728[23:43.34] <+azale> [off*]
729[23:43.40] <+azale> [wtf my name]
730[23:43.42] * azale is now known as Shala
731[23:43.57] <Ironrose> "Repriever." 
732[23:44.02] <Ironrose> "This might not be the time."
733[23:44.16] <Ironrose> "But eventually, we need to talk about our faith." 
734[23:44.21] <Ironrose> "And the future." 
735[23:44.27] <+Repriever> "What about it?"
736[23:44.36] <Ironrose> "I've met with Jari."
737[23:44.39] <Ironrose> "His faith is strong." 
738[23:44.42] <+Repriever> "Are you worried I'll die without direction?"
739[23:44.52] * Repriever says, being supported by them.
740[23:45.13] <Ironrose> "Astara is of course coming into ascendance." 
741[23:45.31] <Ironrose> "But we run the risk of...reviving weaknesses in Old Elydia without clear doctrines." 
742[23:46.26] <+Repriever> "You fear the politics."
743[23:47.06] <+Repriever> "I do not trust them, either."
744[23:47.25] <Ironrose> "Not this generation, Repriever."
745[23:47.28] <Ironrose> "Maybe not even next."
746[23:47.39] <Ironrose> "It is to us to think in terms of centuries." 
747[23:47.54] <Ironrose> "Maybe that's just the amateur historian in me talking." 
748[23:48.05] <+Repriever> "You're right."
749[23:48.06] * Ironrose slowly lowers him into bed with MEl. 
750[23:48.10] <Ironrose> Mel*
751[23:48.17] <+Repriever> "I have never been good at seeing the future."
752[23:48.22] * Repriever pauses.
753[23:48.26] <+Repriever> "Until now."
754[23:48.41] * Ironrose slowly helps him out of his armor and clothes. 
755[23:49.00] <+Repriever> [where am I being dumped]
756[23:49.09] <Ironrose> In your room. 
757[23:49.14] <Ironrose> Well.
758[23:49.16] <Ironrose> Penumbra's. 
759[23:49.28] <Ironrose> But the room where you traditionally sleep. 
760[23:49.35] <Ironrose> As everyone knows. 
761[23:49.41] <+Repriever> [ok]
762[23:49.48] <+Penumbra> [fine]
763[23:50.05] <Ironrose> And as she does, the bandage holding in the visions slips off. 
764[23:50.12] * You are now known as DM
765[23:50.33] <DM> Tied over a vambrace. 
766[23:50.41] <+Mel> "Now remember what I told you."
767[23:50.48] <+Mel> "Evenness of perception."
768[23:51.25] <+Repriever> [ ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwmeH6Rnj2E， ]
769[23:52.14] <+Repriever> "It is."
770[23:53.03] <+Repriever> "What do you want from me?" he asks a vision.
771[23:54.43] * Repriever focuses on visions while the two of them help him out of his plate. 
772[23:54.45] <+Mel> "Remember. A vision is just a slice of what can be."
773[23:54.48] <+Mel> "Look broadly."
774[23:55.11] <+Mel> "A vision has no opinion. It answers questions only through your own observation."
775[23:55.51] <+Repriever> "Is that so, Mel? Then what is he?"
776[23:56.26] <+Mel> "Not a vision."
777[23:56.30] <+Mel> "A passenger. A commenter."
778[23:57.17] <DM> The lanterns on the ceiling abruptly flare, and then dim. 
779[23:57.22] <+Repriever> "I see."
780[23:57.33] <+Mel> "Sight of the future offers no such curation."
781[23:57.53] <+Mel> "The Akashic record is dispassionate, and the threads that comprise its future similarly so."
782[23:58.16] <+Repriever> "You know I killed Zathindra, don't you?"
783[23:58.21] * Repriever says to the vision.
784[23:59.06] <+Mel> "The echo of the dragon offers its views. Do not mistake them for a glimpse of the future, nor for a true vision in and of themselves."
785[00:00.51] <+Repriever> "I tend to agree with her. She's smarter than I am."
786[00:00.54] <DM> The room heats, perceptibly. 
787[00:00.59] <DM> Then uncomfortably. 
788[00:01.11] <DM> Then begins to shimmer, as sweat beads form on everyone's skin. 
789[00:01.40] <+Repriever> "No."
790[00:03.02] * Repriever frowns and considers something.
791[00:03.22] <DM> The room slowly cools. 
792[00:04.01] <+Repriever> "How can I protect my child?"
793[00:04.41] <+Repriever> "Maybe I'm a better father than you?"
794[00:06.22] <+Repriever> "Replace the cloth, please."
795[00:06.25] * Repriever says to Mel. 
796[00:06.54] <+Repriever> "I won't."
797[00:07.29] * Repriever is clearly talking to Kharvalath, but had asked Mel to put his bandage back.
798[00:07.34] * Mel picks up the cloth and carefully checks its inscriptions, then ties it around Repriever's arm, just below the armpit, once again.
799[00:08.12] * Repriever rubs at his eyes.
800[00:08.57] <+Repriever> "Please, stay with Penumbra," he tells Mel.
801[00:09.09] <+Mel> "I think I need to stay with you right now too."
802[00:09.22] <+Repriever> "She needs you as much as I do."
803[00:09.32] * Penumbra looks to Mel and smiles with some relief
804[00:09.33] <+Mel> "Yes, and Vaalo and Shala are with her as we speak."
805[00:09.50] <+Shala> [it's true]
806[00:10.08] <DM> Let's check in on them, then, shall we 
807[00:10.17] <DM> Vaalo, Shala, Penumbra. 
808[00:10.23] <DM> The dream team of emotional coping skills. 
809[00:10.45] <+Vaalo> [[what's emotion, precious?]
810[00:11.02] <DM> [it's the thing you feel when you say 'mine' ] 
811[00:11.06] <DM> What are you up to, Vaalo
812[00:11.15] <DM> You just watched a lot of confusing and scary stuff happen 
813[00:11.43] * Vaalo is still nestled in a blanket in a nook on the deck of the reme
814[00:11.56] <+Vaalo> [still, or again]
815[00:13.14] <DM> You are cozy.
816[00:13.22] <DM> Although you don't know that word. 
817[00:13.31] <DM> At any rate you have little desire to move. 
818[00:13.45] <DM> What are your thoughts on these people, so far? 
819[00:14.12] * Vaalo shrugs
820[00:14.32] * Vaalo hasn't had many experiences to compare them too
821[00:14.54] <DM> That is true
822[00:14.58] <DM> But you can compare them to each other
823[00:15.02] <DM> There is the golden woman
824[00:15.23] <DM> There is the bright blue man 
825[00:15.32] <DM> There is the dark shade 
826[00:15.42] <DM> There is the almost equally dark boy
827[00:16.00] <DM> And there is the girl carrying that thing 
828[00:16.05] <DM> With all the lines 
829[00:16.52] * Vaalo hasn't interacted with most of them. The blue man is scary, of course. The Golden woman was nice. The Shade, too. The others? who knows, who cares. They're irrelevant to my experiences at this point
830[00:18.04] <DM> Shala, you're close enough to interact with Vaalo right now 
831[00:18.08] <DM> or Penumbra
832[00:18.23] <DM> Vaalo is obviously passive at the moment 
833[00:18.39] * Shala is monitoring penumbra, trying to pretend to study to get her mind to a normal level of some sort
834[00:18.54] * Shala she spares a few glances for Vaalo, half hoping she'll speak up on her ow n
835[00:19.29] <DM> It has been kind of a lot.
836[00:19.32] <DM> Losing Akvan.
837[00:19.34] * Vaalo is nestled
838[00:19.41] <DM> Kir has withdrawn mostly into himself since then. 
839[00:19.48] <DM> And what's left of Akvan went into her. 
840[00:20.37] * Shala twirls a curl
841[00:21.00] * Penumbra is kinda absent mindedly rubbing a bit of honey on a piece of bread. She is deep in thought and some worry.
842[00:21.24] <DM> A lot of introverts in this party. 
843[00:21.27] <+Penumbra> [twirls a curl?]
844[00:21.33] <+Repriever> [her hair is curly]
845[00:21.40] <+Repriever> [she fingers her hair]
846[00:21.53] <+Penumbra> [ah got it]
847[00:21.55] <DM> [for pleasure, she caresses her keratin] 
848[00:21.55] <+Shala> [there's not a lot to say to this particular crew right now :p ]
849[00:22.33] * Vaalo doesn't know them to have convos with them
850[00:22.41] <+Penumbra> [remember when you died on that spear, shala]
851[00:23.43] <+Penumbra> "Any thoughts about powering spells with combined essenses, Shala?"
852[00:24.12] <+Shala> "Ah...oh um...I've thought a bit on it.../"
853[00:24.17] * Shala trails off into tired mumbling
854[00:24.29] <+Shala> "if we could keep straight who has which essences"
855[00:25.07] <+Shala> "Different personal energies mesh with different elements, and then to combine those in a way that wouldnt be dangerous to the host...and then harness it."
856[00:25.09] * Shala yawns
857[00:25.24] * Vaalo eyes them
858[00:25.26] <+Shala> "So yes I've thought *of* it "
859[00:25.51] <+Shala> "I always want to go faster."
860[00:26.32] <DM> There's also the possibility of making sub-crystals from the essences themselves, which can then power more human-level spells.
861[00:26.46] <DM> You could potentially make hybrid crystals with weaker effects from two or more essences. 
862[00:26.52] <+Penumbra> "The host doesn't have to be a person, does it?"
863[00:26.57] <DM> Less epic level spells, but less chance of blowing your face off. 
864[00:27.07] <DM> Same principle as the white air gems you saw so long ago
865[00:27.08] <+Penumbra> "There are circles, automotons, artifacts..."
866[00:27.14] <DM> Or the black gem that controlled Couplet 
867[00:27.23] <DM> And many other examples. 
868[00:28.21] <+Shala> "Yes, there are. More factors, most of which I can't study directly and don't have research at hand."
869[00:28.50] <+Shala> "I have a few mental leads, but nothing I've had time to experiment with."
870[00:29.36] <DM> The meta-essence that carcephon made definitely got your mind jogging. 
871[00:30.43] <+Penumbra> "We should be ready to ask for resources. Preev is the Lord Regent, afterall." Penny says, with a slight playfulness. 
872[00:30.45] <+Mel> [ ＋https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-z96gbsJFKXTGk48EzoUkfVEQarGd_5OdyH8677NKl0/edit#gid=1511090456， for instance ]
873[00:31.17] <+Vaalo> ?roll 1d20+7
874[00:31.17] <%tBot> Vaalo: 17 ([10] +7)
875[00:31.19] <+Vaalo> spellcraft
876[00:31.26] <+Vaalo> see if I understand what in the blazes they're talking about
877[00:32.40] <DM> Yeah, you do. 
878[00:32.51] <DM> They're talking about the thrones. 
879[00:33.03] <DM> There's the throne thats yours, and there's the others, too.
880[00:33.13] <+Vaalo> [am I familiar with the others?]
881[00:33.16] <DM> And something changed, once. 
882[00:33.20] <DM> You are, intuitively, yes.
883[00:33.24] <DM> And Mel told you a little. 
884[00:33.36] <DM> You can feel your place in the cube of six. 
885[00:33.40] <DM> The hypercube. 
886[00:33.43] <+Shala> ""We'll demand them. We've survived on a shoestring long enough, I think."
887[00:33.53] <DM> Although you can't put it into words, you understand the shape 
888[00:33.56] * Shala wants to be determined but feels weighed down by something 
889[00:34.27] * Vaalo crawls over to them, and grabs at the honey bread
890[00:34.38] <DM> She does a wiggle.
891[00:34.45] * Vaalo sits down back against the banister of the reme
892[00:34.45] <DM> Legs are only tangentially involved.
893[00:34.53] <DM> Vaalo does not exit the blanket. 
894[00:35.01] <+Vaalo> she does not exit the blanket
895[00:35.57] * Vaalo curiously brings the bread to her mouth and confusedly pushes it at her lips
896[00:36.27] <DM> Your face is bombarded by a wave of sensory information.
897[00:36.35] <DM> You discover smell, and texture, and then taste. 
898[00:36.41] <DM> Honey bread is very good. 
899[00:37.04] * Penumbra smiles slightly at Vaalo tasting some food
900[00:37.24] <DM> Maybe you can eat more things. 
901[00:37.31] <+Penumbra> "Want to try something else?" she offers a piece of ham. 
902[00:37.46] * Vaalo snatches it and puts it in her mouth quickly
903[00:39.42] <DM> This one is different.
904[00:39.49] <DM> Things have been done.
905[00:40.05] <DM> Sweet and savory can now be defined against each other. 
906[00:40.28] <DM> After eating enough food, you eventually begin to feel a different sensation.
907[00:40.37] <DM> A desire to, essentially, shut off.
908[00:40.40] <DM> You may be dying.
909[00:40.43] <DM> But it does not hurt. 
910[00:41.12] * Vaalo nods off against the bannister, to the low tones of Shala and Penumbra talking
911[00:41.37] <DM> Vaalo becomes distinctly less orange when she is asleep.
912[00:41.45] <DM> Some of the color fades from her skin and hair. 
913[00:42.00] <+Repriever> [she is a squid]
914[00:49.01] * Repriever sleeps beside Melchior, and unending visions. 
915[00:49.02] * Shala (IceChat9@24-72-172-24-72-172-62.cpe.sparklight.net) Quit (Quit: Take my advice. I don't use it anyway)
916[00:49.17] <DM> Eventually, everyone sleeps. 
917[00:49.19] <+Repriever> [clearly the quiet dc'd him]
918[00:49.19] * azale (IceChat9@24-72-172-24-72-172-62.cpe.sparklight.net) has joined channel #nesdnd
919[00:49.20] * Mel lies next to Repriever, thinking until she drifts to slee.
920[00:49.24] * azale is now known as Shala
921[00:49.25] <+Mel> *sleep
922[00:49.43] <DM> Penumbra probably eventually drifts into night meditations. 
923[00:49.48] <DM> Vaalo is already asleep. 
924[00:50.07] <DM> Kir probably falls asleep with his nose in a book just before the Reme touches down in the waters of Tetraea. 
925[00:50.39] <+Vaalo> (Kir? who's that?)
926[00:50.56] <+Repriever> [I think he means Piro]
927[00:51.44] <DM> Rylia Partascene paces the deck on the night watch. 
928[00:52.09] * DM sets mode +v Shala for #nesdnd
929[00:52.19] <+Repriever> [who put rylia on watch?]
930[00:52.27] <+Repriever> [no wonder lakhmul showed up]
931[00:52.40] <DM> [likely self-appointed, she's been trying to act captainy] 
932[00:53.27] <DM> Hin is tinkering away at his workshop on something
933[00:53.35] * Shala (IceChat9@24-72-172-24-72-172-62.cpe.sparklight.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 121 seconds)
934[00:53.43] <DM> He has several manniquins working on dissassembling and making etchings in another. 
935[00:54.01] <DM> But only muffled sounds emit from the quarterdeck where he's supervising the work. 
936[00:54.19] * Repriever is dead to the world, who actually is present, so it might be fair to say dead /with/ the world.
937[00:54.32] <DM> Eventually, everyone sleeps.
938[00:54.38] * Shala (IceChat9@24-72-172-24-72-172-62.cpe.sparklight.net) has joined channel #nesdnd
939[00:54.44] <DM> And unheralded, uncontested.
940[00:54.50] <DM> Without event or remark. 
941[00:54.57] <DM> Comes the dawn. 
942[00:55.01] <DM> End session.