The City of Arch: Arch Academy (Inactive)

Game Master Doomed Hero

Central Planning


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Esoteric (Magus) 2: HP 15/15 : AC/T/FF 16/13/12 (20/17/12 w/Shield): Fort: + 4 Reflex: + 2 Will: +3 : Perception +0

"Uhm...yeah. Yeah we shoud go." Ariela says wincing for a moment then shaking her head and gaining a determined expression. Aware of Kestrel's constantly looking at her with concern she reaches out to squeeze her friend's hand. "I'll be ok,"

She hoped that was more convincing than it felt.


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Teral:

You have a strange memory that clearly isn't right, but that you can't shake. The Harbinger and the other towers didn't used to be attached to the temple walls, did they? Weren't they in a different part of the city? On the other side of the Crossroad?

Crossing the temple courtyard to the doorway of the tower called the Harbinger, didn't take long. The tower was made of the same ivory colored stones as the temple. The doorway was wide open and a pair of blue-clad fellows who looked like a cross between maintenance workers and young mages came out discussing some incredibly technical details of interplanar travel.

"...the resonances match too well couldn't it fold into a breach?"

"Yes, but that would create the instability we need."

"Oh, so like a springboard?"

"Exactly."

"No way to get back though."

"Well, no, but..."

One of them nodded at Thedra as she passed, and then they were out of earshot and the Recruits were inside the tower.

The whole ground floor was abuzz. It was like a tavern for a very specific kind of magic user. Tables were set around a circular bar. People were talking and drinking and arguing about magical theories that flew far above the heads of the Recruits. Each table had a Scrying mirror built into it's surface. Imaged of other places and times wavered in the mirrors all over the room.

A sleek, black cat slept on the bar amid the noise. Other animals scurried through the supporting rafters. Many of them were talking to each other.

While some of the people in the tavern looked like Adventurers with an array of armor and equipment, the majority of them wore a simple uniform of trousers and jerkin. Most were black or white. A few were blue. Two wore red. Most of them had the city's sigil on their lapel with some additional heraldry denoting their job, house and station. They talked and laughed and tapped at glassteel tablets covered in magical glyphs or scrolled through semi-transparent illusions of books or displays of arcane ritual.

"This is the Eleventh Hour. Not a bad place if you like loud diviners and overly analytical abjurers. Really, it's more like a noisy teahouse for brainy people. Never gamble here. You'll lose." Thedra said as she moved toward the stairs. She waved at the bartender, who was a stunning woman with long blond hair who looked like she could have been Thedra's older sister. She was also clearly blind, a white cloth was bound over her eyes, but she still waved back.

"What do you need, Thedra?" the blind woman called over the din of the room.

"Drinks! For all of us." Thedra called back. "It's been a long day."

The barkeep laughed. "I'll bring 'em up in a bit."

Thedra walked up the curved stairs, avoiding the fairy dragon who was draped limply on the railing, the Recruits trailing behind her.

All along the stairwell were alcoves with incredibly lifelike busts carved in stone. Each one had irises cut from gemstones and a spherical orb, like a small crystal ball, set into the base. They had names carved below the orbs. 'SIR HERRIK FELL' 'MASTER BYRON STARK' 'LORD SHIFTER' and 'LADY ANGELICA SOLAR'

The second floor was quieter. It was essentially a loft above the bar, but the noise didn't seem to travel much. Overstuffed chairs lined the walls with small shelves full of books between them and low tables all around. The whole atmosphere was more of a communal study or library lounge than what you'd expect above a tavern. More people in city uniforms were quietly reading or playing complex board games.

Thedra continued up the stairs passing more carved busts. 'GRANDMASTER CAINE' "LADY MERCY CALLISTER' 'GREAT WYRM ANAXAMANDER DRAKE'

The third floor stairwell came up out of the floor into a round room lined with doors. A large circular table sat in the center. The angel who had rescued them from the Abyss and her two companions sat with Spectrum speaking to a pair of men. One was a human of strangely indeterminate age, with dark hair cropped very close to his scalp. He was dressed in a blue priest's robe and was sipping from a wine glass. The other was a middle aged half elf dressed in a white swordsman's shirt with flowing sleeves and black vest and trousers. A rapier of breathtaking craftsmanship hung on his hip. He was leaned back from his chair with a stein in his hand and his boots on the table.

All heads turned to the group. The man in the blue robe smiled. "It is good to see all of up upright. I understand it was a trying day. Please sit. We have much to discuss."


Half-elf Rogue 2 | HP 17/17 | AC 18 - T13 FF15 | F+1 R+6 W+0 (+2 vs enchantments) | Per 10 (+11 vs traps), Init +3

Talas craned his head at the conversation of the two people who were walking past, his ears pricked up at the mention of unfamiliar terms, but ultimately they were so much white noise. And it still didn't feel like his ears were-- where they should be, for lack of a better way to put it. He tried to shake off the sensation and kept up, mostly.

The statues were fascinating; he slowed down before the first two, then wound up having to double-time up the stairs as he realized there were many more ahead and it wasn't the time to sightsee.

Inside the room, he was brought up sharply by the sight of the angel-- the others were there, but the angel sort of arrested the eyes. He cleared his throat, then offered a bow out of ingrained habit, one hand over his heart.

"As you will, my lords, my ladies." For it was clear enough to Talas that aside from having literally rescued them from the pit of the abyss itself, these were people-- beings-- of considerable puissance. He felt like a fish who had been perfectly content in his little pond, then thrown into the wide wide ocean, where dwelt entities he had never before imagined.

He unslung his blade from his shoulders and eased slowly, carefully, into a seat.


Male Human 2 hit dice, Hp: 20/20, Ac. 22 Touch Ac. 12, FF Ac. 19, Bab. +1, Cmb. +3, CMD: 15, Init: +2, Fort: +, Refl: +, Will +*, Perception +. S. Motive +,

Eythil walked closely behind the others, his understanding of words but lack of comprehension confused him so much that he mostly hid in the middle of the group, hoping to not get separated or lost.

The merriment at the ground floor as well as the sight of so many strange animals at the Eleventh Hour seemed to startle him a little and he found himself looking around with curiosity at the mages animatedly talking to one another. As they headed up to the second floor, he found himself staring at the lifelike busts with such fascination that he reached out to touch one, as if to make sure it was not alive. He seemed like he wanted to examine it longer but he was more interested in keeping up with the group.

As they cleared the stairs and came to the loft he started to feel a little more at ease at the much quieter nature. As they ascended to the third floor and saw the three figures from within the Abyss, Eythil's uneasiness returned as he suddenly felt a sensation of apprehension and anxiousness. The memory of being in the black river was still fresh in his mind and he gritted his teeth.

Even as the man in the blue robes invited them to sit, he moved a little closer to Ariela. For although she was somehow much smaller now, she had been the one to pull him out of the dark waters.


Esoteric (Magus) 2: HP 15/15 : AC/T/FF 16/13/12 (20/17/12 w/Shield): Fort: + 4 Reflex: + 2 Will: +3 : Perception +0

Ariela's eyes lock onto the angel. Though the final fight to........something she'd fought to get to recently, it was...hazy but she could clearly remember the warrior's blazing golden anger. Though she seemed.....larger.

Taking the blue robed man's cue to sit, she does so, noting that.....Eythil? She thought that was his name.... moved to sit next to her, bringing an unexpected smile to her face. For some reason she felt good about the fact that he was there.....that he was alive actually.


Male Varisian 2nd level Monk | HP 20/20 | AC 16 | T 16 | FF 12 | CMD 20 | Fort +5 | Ref +7 | Will +2 | Init +4 | Perc +7 | Sense Motive +6

Garridan was simply overwhelmed by everything. He followed along, openly staring at the sights and not many words or questions flowed from his open mouth. Eventually they stopped and were invited to take a seat. He sat down next to Talas and shared a look with his companion that said it all without a word. 'What in the hell did we get ourselves into?'

Garridan felt like a simpleton amidst these great minds and leaders. He was sharing a table with an angel, one of the most powerful mages he had ever laid eyes open, two unknown creatures that had terrified him as he had watched them decimate the ranks of hellish monsters, and two other men he had never seen before. He sat quietly and waited for the others to speak... he had not the slightest clue what was expected of him at the moment.


Half-elf Rogue 2 | HP 17/17 | AC 18 - T13 FF15 | F+1 R+6 W+0 (+2 vs enchantments) | Per 10 (+11 vs traps), Init +3

Talas gave a toothache sort-of-smile to Garridan, and a nod, and a little shrug. No idea, my friend, no idea...


Male Half-Elf Witch 1, Cleric 1, HP 13/13 (14 NL dmg)

Teral plopped down in a chair, his recent dark mood and confusion fading and some of his usual bravado returning as the situation seemed to be getting more and more in hand. He nodded amiably to those already seated. "Hello again, all. Quite the hand we got dealt today."


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"That is why we're here." the man in blue robes said calmly with a nod to Teral. "First, introductions."

"I don't believe any of you had the time to formally meet your rescuers." he continued, gesturing to the angel. "Lady Sabriel of House Solar. The Hellguard. Knight-Commander of the Jury." The angel scanned them all soberly.

"Her assistants today were Sir Link, of the Temple Guard" he said turning to the man in white who still wore his mirrored faceplate helm and clinked a bit as he nodded to the group. "And Azrael, Lieutenant Investigator of the Census." he continued, introducing the man in stained, grey clothing. Bandages still covered his arms and came out the neck of his tunic, and his strange diagonal mask covered half his face, which was weirdly flat now that they could see him more closely. Those sitting near him could faintly pick up the smell of blood. He raised his hand slightly when he was introduced, seeming a bit out of place and uncomfortable at the table.

"With us also is Darian Kale, Headmaster of the Academy." The man with his boots on the table smiled and set his feet on the ground, taking up a slightly more respect table posture as the meeting got underway.

"And I am Jon Shepard, the Oracle." he said with a welcoming smile. "I am glad all of you are here."

He placed a slightly glowing half-sphere on the table and tapped it gently.

"Any time a mission involves the Abyss we have a full, investigative debriefing. None of you are being accused of anything. It is simply protocol. We also need to move forward on enrolling you into the academy, so we arranged to do both at once. We will try to keep things brief."

The blind woman made her way up the stairs carrying a large tray full of mugs and glasses. "Don't mind me." she said as she started passing out drinks.

"This meeting just got a lot better." Darian the Headmaster said with smile and a flirtatious wink at their server. She put a mug in his hands and whacked him on the back of the head.

The Oracle raised an eyebrow at Thedra. Thedra shrugged.

The angel Sabriel put her hand up, denying the offered drink. "I am on duty."

"I know. It's water." the blind girl said, slapping the glass right into the angel's hand.

She skipped Link but said "Yours is downstairs and I've reserved you a private booth."

"Thank you." he said quietly. His voice was muffled by his faceplate, but sounded like someone each of the recruits recognized. An old friend, but none of them could quite place who.

As their server finished her round about the table, she stopped next to Thedra. "Your tab?"

She looked at Darian. "His. He makes more than all of us put together."

Darian shrugged and nodded.

"Thanks, Cass." Thedra smiled.

"I'll be up with another round in 20 minutes." she looked at the oracle. "Should be enough time to get everything done to where I won't overhear something outside my clearance, right?"

"Yes, that should be..." he blinked and looked at Thedra. You... just gave me a time limit, didn't you?"

Thedra looked innocent. "You're the Oracle. You tell me."

"He does like to talk." Cass said ruffling Darian's hair and sauntering back down the stairs.

The mood in the room was suddenly a lot less tense.

In front of everyone was a different drink. It was exactly what everyone wanted.


Esoteric (Magus) 2: HP 15/15 : AC/T/FF 16/13/12 (20/17/12 w/Shield): Fort: + 4 Reflex: + 2 Will: +3 : Perception +0

The interaction between what were very clearly higher ups, spoke volumes of the way things were done and honestly put her at ease for the first time since........since Thedra had showed up at the monastery.

She picked up the drink and takes a sip, astonished to find that it was Rahadoumi rose wine, something she'd had only once but absolutely fell in love with.


Half-elf Rogue 2 | HP 17/17 | AC 18 - T13 FF15 | F+1 R+6 W+0 (+2 vs enchantments) | Per 10 (+11 vs traps), Init +3

Talas did his best to commit the litany of names to memory, eyes momentarily closing as he used the trick his mother had taught him as a boy-- imagining a caravan with lots of wagons, and each different wagon had stuff he wanted to remember, with colors or scents or objects associated...

He collected the glass served to him, blinking down into it at the purple liquid contained within. Elderberry wine, such as they'd made on the caravan when he was a child-- he'd gotten a good birching for having made off with a skin full of it when he'd been fifteen-- Talas smiled down into his cup at the flood of nostalgia, then it turned into a sharp frown and he set the glass back on the table, untouched.

Talas offered another half-a-bow from his seated position. "I'll endeavor to remember your names, my lords, my ladies; if I fail, please forgive me as a man who is out of his depth rather than one seeking to be rude. I... no doubt you know our names, already..."

He trailed off, gazing at his goblet, "...since you seem to know so much else about us. And I am sure that Lady Thedra has no doubt explained who we are, in any case."

Talas cleared his throat, feeling ill at his ease. "All the same, my name is Talas Arduinn, of Varisia, currently... far from home. And I should say I'm at your service for the rescue, and such, but my tongue, which feels ill-attached to my mouth at this point in time anyway, inclines rather to truth: I won't feel I owe a debt for the rescue at all, for surely if I'd never said yes to Lady Thedra I should never have needed rescuing." The half-elf lets out a slightly-weary, slightly-frazzled laugh. "From what Lady Thedra says, that was not a normal path of arrival to your fair city, and I suppose that's well as far as it goes, but on my honor, it does make me feel nervous as to what life will be like, here among you mighty folk. If that makes me a coward, so be it."


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Male Dwarf Fighter 2 | HP 22/22 | AC 16 T 11 FF 15 | Ft +6 Rf +1 Wi +0* | Init +5 | Perc +0 l CMD 16 l

After a small, polite bow, Dolgrin took a seat on the opposite side of Ariela. He was used to meeting with higher ranks in the military, but meeting an angel... that would definitely be a first. Brought to him was a tankard of good ol' Dwarven Firebelly. When he realized, it shocked him for just a moment, but then he muttered about the 'city where anything's possible' and drank deeply. A sigh, followed by a wisp of smoke, escaped his lungs. "That's the stuff."

He didn't say anything for the time being. In his culture, it was considered rude to begin a conversation. That was left to the higher ranking member. He grimaced a little when Talas began, but he did agree with the majority of the statement. Even if it was round about, flowery, and much too long.


Male Varisian 2nd level Monk | HP 20/20 | AC 16 | T 16 | FF 12 | CMD 20 | Fort +5 | Ref +7 | Will +2 | Init +4 | Perc +7 | Sense Motive +6

Garridan nodded to Talas as he addressed this menagerie of what he assumed was some of the most powerful beings on the plan---well, in the Multiverse apparently. He stands next to his companion, offering his support. "I am with h my friend, Talas. While I am honored to be considered worthy to stand amongst this gathering, I would like to know that our lives are as important to you as they are to us." He was completely unaware of the steps taken to recover he and his companions from the depths of the Abyss. How could he?

Garridan nodded and then took his seat again, looking at th cup set before him for the first time. The amber-colored liquor within could have only been a Opparan brandy... He had only tasted it once after escorting some rather pompous, but generous Taldan nobility to Magnimar. His skills had gotten them to their destination two days ahead of their schedule and Garridan was gifted with a glass of the fabulous beverage. He took a sip and sa bored the bold flavor, then looked up at Talas with a stunned expression. 'How?!'


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Male Human 2 hit dice, Hp: 20/20, Ac. 22 Touch Ac. 12, FF Ac. 19, Bab. +1, Cmb. +3, CMD: 15, Init: +2, Fort: +, Refl: +, Will +*, Perception +. S. Motive +,

Eythil took his drink as everyone else had with obvious mimicry. He watched the others for a moment without saying anything and carefully followed suit, sniffing at it. He sipped and immediately smiled as a pleasant sensation washed over him. Then he downed half of what he had.

"Mmmm."


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The Oracle smiled, waiting until Cass had made her way down the stairs a ways and then replied to Garridan. "That is a somewhat complicated answer."

"Oh, here we go..." Darian muttered.

The Oracle stopped and looked at his companion a bit crossly. "Isn't it?"

"No." Darian said. He turned to Garridan. "It isn't. That's the long and the short of it. Your lives aren't as important to us as they are to you. That would be impossible. Your life is your responsibility. What we do is give you the tools and the support and the skills to be able to look after yourself as best as you can. If you get in over your head, we'll help, but if you screw up and wind up dead, that's on you. Relying on anyone else to save you isn't going to work out for long."

"Well, that's entirely accurate. We did just save them." the Oracle said.

"Maybe yeah, but that wasn't a normal situation. They all need to act like their asses aren't going to get pulled out of the fire." Darian said pointedly.


Esoteric (Magus) 2: HP 15/15 : AC/T/FF 16/13/12 (20/17/12 w/Shield): Fort: + 4 Reflex: + 2 Will: +3 : Perception +0

"That would be much easier if people were't throwing us into a fire." Ariela says, a bit of her usual spark showing for the first time in hours.


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Darian raised an eyebrow. "Which people would that be?"


Esoteric (Magus) 2: HP 15/15 : AC/T/FF 16/13/12 (20/17/12 w/Shield): Fort: + 4 Reflex: + 2 Will: +3 : Perception +0

"Well perhaps if you'd like to tell us how our trip here resulted in a detour to the ABYSS or was it the NINE HELLS?. My memory's a bit sketchy right now, thanks for that by the way, but I don't remember that being in the recruitment pitch." She responds.

If anything it seemed that anger was helping her regain a bit of her sense of self.

Might technically be a monk, but Wisdom isn't my strong suit. lol


Male Varisian 2nd level Monk | HP 20/20 | AC 16 | T 16 | FF 12 | CMD 20 | Fort +5 | Ref +7 | Will +2 | Init +4 | Perc +7 | Sense Motive +6

Garridan nodded to Darian and was about to say more when Ariela spoke up. He kept quiet for a moment to let her speak her peace and then chimed in. "I should have chosen my words better. What I mean to say, sir, is that you all will take necessary steps to come to our aide should we require it. Such as in this instance. I do not understand planar travel and shunting or whatever it was called; however, I pray to Erastil that I never have to see that place ever again." He shudders just thinking about the Abyss. "Being capable and reliable in the field is one thing, that I can do. Being sent into Hell is another matter completely. I would just like some assurance that such things do not happen often to your people."


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"We are getting ahead of ourselves." the angel Sabriel said gently.

"Of course. Let's call this meeting to order. These are the things we intended to speak about anyway." The oracle nodded, tapping the half-sphere crystal in front of him twice.

Abruptly a glowing sphere about the size of a man's head popped into existence above the table. It's presence felt like hope and a faint music seemed to emanate from it.

"Official Record begins now. This debriefing is an addendum to Mission A234H. Things went awry. The Abyss Protocols have been enacted. The details of this mission are now under those protocols. In attendance, representing the Council is Jon Shepard. Representing the Temple is Sir Link. Representing the Jury is Lady Sabriel. The first order of business is the inquiry as to how the mission ended up in the Abyss in the first place."

Thedra took over at that point. "From what we have been able to piece together, the creature we fought was infected with Abyssal energy. When it was slain, that energy was released and Desecrated the surrounding area."

"That plane is saturated with Abyssal energies." Sabriel said tersely. She gave Darian an angry look. "I warned you about that when you decided to make that forsaken forest your little proving ground."

"It worked for a while. Now it doesn't." Darian shrugged.

"It was reckless then, and it nearly lost us these recruits." the angel continued.

"Now is not the time." the Oracle said firmly.

"Isn't it?" the angel asked. "As the recruit mentioned, none of this would have happened if they hadn't needed to go to that forest."

"It was a sanctioned part of the mission, to find and attempt to recruit Eythil. The forest hasn't been Darian's crucible for almost three weeks now. This was the last mission to the forest." Spectrum said, speaking for the first time since they'd all sat down. He still looked a bit haggard, the bloody corona around his eye still present.

"I approved this mission personally." the oracle added.

That seemed to modify the angel, she nodded, not happy about the answer, but able to accept it.

"Anyway." Darian said. "Keep going Thedra."

"I don't really understand a whole lot of this part myself. Spectrum, you want to take over?"

Spectrum nodded. "Addryn was Gatecrashing. He was breaking through the desynchronized flux and forcing open an emergency planar breach. At nearly the same time, the corrupted creature was killed, directly on top of the portal site. The surge of Abyssal energy was dumped right into the forming gateway. It shunted Addryn's portal to the source of the energies."

Noting the confusion on the faces of the recruits, and Darian, Thedra held a hand up to halt Spectrum's slightly technical dissertation and tried to explain. "Here's my understanding of it. Getting to the forest is hard because it is mostly desynchronized from other planes. That means it is out of alignment. Exactly how much out of alignment carries from day to day, or even moment to moment."

She made two circles with her thumbs and forefingers, and lined them up so she was looking through both. "Think of it like a spyglass. You're trying to look at something really far away. That's kind of how opening a portal works."

Then she started moving her fingers around so that the circles only matched up every once in a while. 'Now imagine you're trying to look through the spyglass but the lenses are doing this."

"Right." Darian nodded, "So our people were trying to force the lenses back into alignment, only on your side, back in the forest, it was like that creature's death suddenly stuck a third lens into the spyglass, and suddenly you were looking at a whole different thing."

"A crude, but reasonable analogy." Spectrum nodded.

"In any case, we call that a planar shunt." Thedra said to the Recruits. "They are pretty rare. Most of the time we can compensate for them, but Addryn, the portal technician who made contact with Talas, was pushing too hard to, uh, line up the lenses. When then the third lens was added he couldn't compensate fast enough. It was just bad luck."

"So, I am to understand that if he had waited any longer, the planar breach to the Forest would not have been possible?" the Oracle asked.

Spectrum slid a piece of paper across the table toward the Oracle. "His report estimated the next synchronization would have been three hours."

"So it had to happen at that moment, and simultaneously, the corrupted creature was slain?" the Oracle reiterated.

Thedra and Spectrum nodded. The Oracle shook his head, surprised. "Very bad luck indeed."

"Things go sideways." Darian said with a sympathetic look to Ariela. "It isn't anyone's fault. All we can do is analyze things afterward, and try to reduce the risks later. Sometimes things happen that there's just no way anyone could have seen coming."

"Even me." the Oracle said with an apologetic shrug. "And that is supposed to be my entire job."

Sabriel seemed like she did not want to take the 'it was no one's fault' party line and shook her head. "We take interactions with the Abyss very seriously. Of all the planes we deal with, it is by far the most dangerous to us. That is why when we learned where you had all ended up, we took immediate action. Just because it was no one's fault does not mean it was no one's responsibility."


Esoteric (Magus) 2: HP 15/15 : AC/T/FF 16/13/12 (20/17/12 w/Shield): Fort: + 4 Reflex: + 2 Will: +3 : Perception +0

"Thank you for that." Ariela says a bit more calmly, looking directly at the Sabriel.


Male Human 2 hit dice, Hp: 20/20, Ac. 22 Touch Ac. 12, FF Ac. 19, Bab. +1, Cmb. +3, CMD: 15, Init: +2, Fort: +, Refl: +, Will +*, Perception +. S. Motive +,

Eythil watched the entire scene unfold. At first it seemed to wrap his attention but by the end he looked like he had a headache and seemed too overwhelmed to add much of anything.


Male Syrinx Wizard 2 HP 12/12 AC 17(Mage Armor) (15FF) BAB +1 CMB +1 CMD 12 INIT +1 SAVES +2 (+4 vs mind affecting) Perception +3(+8 in low light or dark) S. Motive +2

Ylmen's eyes smiled silently. While many of the other recruits in his company seemed overawed by the spectacle and scale of both this place and those who inhabited it, Ylmen's expectations of the City had been steadily inflated for years while he trained day after day at the remote mountain enclave.

This, all this, was exactly what he had hoped the City would be. His shoulders trembled with excitement, but he otherwise maintained his composure. His impulse to explode into the air and let out a booming screech of joy was kept in check only by his practiced discipline, and his unrivaled urge to not ruin his opportunity to fulfill his dreams here.

His whole life had been leading up to this day. He had never known his family. He had never known his society. His story had been one of waiting, one of preparing. It was all for this.

Very few of the technical details of the conversation meant anything to Ylmen. It all sounded very impressive, and he was very grateful that these potent beings had found it fit to rescue them, twice, from what seemed certain doom. He sat quietly, sipping at his warm, thick, savory beverage as quietly and politely as he could manage.

With his other hand he gently scratched Wink, who had not emerged from his hiding spot at Ylmen's neck since he had a glimpse of the Abyss.


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Half-elf Rogue 2 | HP 17/17 | AC 18 - T13 FF15 | F+1 R+6 W+0 (+2 vs enchantments) | Per 10 (+11 vs traps), Init +3

Talas rubbed at his jaw, a ghost of a smile flickering over his face at Ariela's answers.

"You said we ought not expect to have.... 'our asses aren't going to get pulled from the fire,' I believe it was, sir." Talas looked serious. "I've never expected anyone to get me out of a situation I got myself into... save possibly my friend Garridan here, but then, I'd do the same for him."

He smiled again, faintly, but his voice was earnest. "But that's the rub that I believe Ariela was speaking of. We didn't get ourselves into the situation. From what you say," he inclined his head at the Oracle and at Spectrum, "nobody did, precisely. It was only... bad luck. But--"

He trailed off and rubbed at his forehead. "--I guess what I'm saying is, exactly how often should we expect this sort of bad luck? You are all-- mighty people. Well beyond anything I ever dreamt I'd see. Just today, I saw Lady Thedra raise the body of our good dwarf here after his head was cut off. You saved us from Hell itself, or the Pit or Abyss or whatever we're calling it. I am grateful I still breathe, but I am as far out of my depth among you all as a minnow with sharks. What is 'bad luck' by your standards was nearly lethal to us lesser mortals. I believe it was lethal to Dolgrin, however temporarily."

Talas spread his long-fingered hands in a shrug. "Is this merely another day in what life is like, here? Is this sort of thing something our souls must be prepared to deal with as one deals with stormy days or clear?"


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"Some days are worse than others. Most of them don't end up in the Abyss." Darian shrugged.

"We have never before had a recruiting mission end up so wildly outside of the original mission projections." the Oracle said, hoping to reassure the Recruits.

"That said, yeah, things can get pretty bad sometimes. My job is to train you to handle it." Darian continued. He pointed to the Oracle. "His job is to make sure that you never get sent into a situation you can't handle."

"There is an important thing to address regarding how far awry this recruitment went." Sir Link said, speaking up for the first time. His voice was reassuring. "The Recruits are not citizens."

Sense Motive, DC 15:

Sir Link's voice sounds like someone you trust. Not just that he is trustworthy, but that he sounds, exactly like someone you know well and trust completely.

It is up to you who he sounds like to your character.

"So?" Darian said.

Spectrum blinked and cursed under his breath. The angel paled. "So they aren't covered by the Accords."

Sir Link nodded. "The mission was to retrieve our people. The letter of the law says that only included Thedra and Spectrum."

The Oracle closed his eyes tightly. "So they are all, technically, stolen property?"

"No. People aren't property." Sabriel said firmly.

"While I agree with you morally, in terms of spiritual currency, that is debatable." Link said "Spiritual planes function entirely by claiming possession of souls."

"They didn't belong to the Abyss though. They got there by our accident." Darian said, not looking quite as sure as he sounded.

"I'm pretty sure everyone who ever ended up there would probably say the same thing." The Oracle said with a sigh. "I don't think it matters to the Abyss how someone ends up there."

"Correct." Sir Link nodded gravely.

"So what does this mean?" Darian said, clearly out of his area of expertise.

There was a few moments of quiet. Then Spectrum, in typical, academic fashion cut right to the heart of it.

"It means we are harboring fugitives."


Esoteric (Magus) 2: HP 15/15 : AC/T/FF 16/13/12 (20/17/12 w/Shield): Fort: + 4 Reflex: + 2 Will: +3 : Perception +0

"So now we're also fugitives from Hell because of Bad Luck? @#@$%$!" Ariela curses. In resonse to any looks caused by her language she stares back. "I'm sorry but when I got out of bed ....two days ago?I'm not sure what I expected but it wasn't becoming illicit property of the Nine @#$#%$ing Hells."


Male Varisian 2nd level Monk | HP 20/20 | AC 16 | T 16 | FF 12 | CMD 20 | Fort +5 | Ref +7 | Will +2 | Init +4 | Perc +7 | Sense Motive +6

Garridan patted Talas on the back as he spoke, glad to see his friend understood what he had been trying, albeit poorly, to say. He listened intently to the group before him speaking about training and bad luck and then property. Suddenly Garridan turned to look at Talas, thinking he had been the one speaking about property of the Abyss, and blinked when he realized that the voice he had been hearing had come from the strange being, Sir Link. He shook his head and figured it was likely just the stress of the day; however, the more he listened... the more he knew that was Talas' voice, but it was coming from---

"Fugitives?! From Hell?!" He suddenly blurted out. "So what exactly does that mean? Does this mean I have to worry about a demon sneaking into my bedroom every night to snatch me back into Hell? And that when I do finally die that is where I am going to end up?" Garridan clenched his teeth, trying very hard not to loose his calm... but given this sudden turn of event, it was very, very hard.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23


Half-elf Rogue 2 | HP 17/17 | AC 18 - T13 FF15 | F+1 R+6 W+0 (+2 vs enchantments) | Per 10 (+11 vs traps), Init +3

Talas offered a slight, crooked smile to Garridan when the other Varisian clapped his back, gave him a tiny nod of acknowledgment.

Sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

He looked blankly at Garridan when Garridan fixed him with a startled stare, but before he could ask why Garridan was gazing at him like that, the stuff about property of the Abyss hit.

The expression drained out of Talas's narrow face like water from a basin. He stared blankly at the powerful people in the room with them, as Garridan's questions rang off the walls... and then he just started laughing, soundlessly to himself. He placed elbows on the table, his face into his hands, and let his shoulders shake with the overwhelmed 'mirth' that was currently his attempt to cope with this.


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"Not the Nine Hells." Sir Link corrected Ariela. "That is the plane of Devils. If you had gone to the Nine Hells, they wouldn't have wanted you there. Souls who end up in the Nine Hells are there for very clear reasons. Rules are very important to Devils."

"Demons are different. Power is the only law in the Abyss."

Darian leaned forward. "So can we use that? From what it sounds like, the Abyss might not even know it has a claim, and even if it does, we have them and we have the power to keep them."

"Yes!" Sabriel said, fiercely agreeing with the Headmaster.

"No." The Oracle said. "The Abyss might not have many allies, but they have enough. If word gets out that we are ignoring our own laws, that threatens the Accords themselves. We can't let that happen."

"We can't give these people to the Abyss, either! They came here on our offer, to offer their services to us! This is our problem to fix!" Sabriel said angrily.

"I agree. There has to be another solution." Sir Link said, sounding tense.

"We make them citizens. Retroactively." Azrael rasped. His voice sounded like he had blood in his lungs.

Silence echoed for a few moments. Everyone looked to the Oracle.

"Can we do that?" Thedra asked.

The Oracle considered for a long moment and looked up at the silent glowing orb above the table. "Halt the record." The orb changed colors slightly and chimed.

The Oracle looked at the Recruits, and then to Darian. "Has your Crucible been changed yet? Has the council approved your new site?"

Darian shook his head. "No, technically it's still the forest. There haven't been any classes who needed to take the Crucible, so it hasn't mattered, which is a good thing because the council is dragging their heels waiting for the Architect to give his assessment. That old elf can't do anything fast except complain." then his eyes went wide. "Waitaminute..." he smiled. "You crafty sonofa..."

Darian stood up and turned to the group, grinning from ear to ear. "There aren't many pieces of old tradition the city still clings to. One of them is the Crucible. It is an ancient rite of passage that involves leaving the safe walls of the city and venturing into the wood where the youths must rely only on their own skills and each other to survive. Those who return home have earned their place and the respect of their fellows."

"You have all passed your Crucible. Each of you is now an Academy graduate with all the opportunities and privileges that affords."

"First among those privileges is your right to take the Oaths of Citizenship, which, among other things, will afford you full protection under the Accords..."


Esoteric (Magus) 2: HP 15/15 : AC/T/FF 16/13/12 (20/17/12 w/Shield): Fort: + 4 Reflex: + 2 Will: +3 : Perception +0

Ariela looked like she was in the midst of developing another headache as she tried following the conversation. Which for someone who usually understood everything going on around her was indescribably frustrating.


Male Varisian 2nd level Monk | HP 20/20 | AC 16 | T 16 | FF 12 | CMD 20 | Fort +5 | Ref +7 | Will +2 | Init +4 | Perc +7 | Sense Motive +6

Garridan listened to the back and forth about the possession of his soul with an ever darkening mood. When the one called the Oracle mentioned their presence threatening the Accords, whatever that was exactly, and the tone of his voice caused Garridan to tense. His hand touched one of the few remaining weapons left from their fight in the Abyss, but he would go down fighting! He would not let these people send him back to that place when he came here on their request!

The angel's reassurance gave him pause and so he simply waited to see how things would unfold, though he did keep his hand upon his boomerang...


Male Half-Elf Witch 1, Cleric 1, HP 13/13 (14 NL dmg)

Teral waved a hand dismissively and leaned back in his chair, tipping it up onto two legs with one foot on the edge of the table.

"Gosh, I don't know. Swear allegiance to a city as weird as this one? Sounds like it might be risky." He kept his face serious for a moment, but his eyes danced with mirth, and his expression quickly cracked into a grin. "Nice work, Jon. I keep telling you, you should roll the dice more often."


Male Human 2 hit dice, Hp: 20/20, Ac. 22 Touch Ac. 12, FF Ac. 19, Bab. +1, Cmb. +3, CMD: 15, Init: +2, Fort: +, Refl: +, Will +*, Perception +. S. Motive +,

Sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Eythil nodded, smiling in a confused manner as Sir Link spoke.

The gravity of the situation seemed grim to him as the arguing started but the reassuring voices fom several of the group members was heartening.

"How do we do that?" audibly his words were mostly a questioning mumble but the magic made it so that his intent was clear.


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The Oracle waved his hand and conjured a translucent illusion of a words written in the air "This is the Oath that is written in the Council Hall. Usually this is done there, but that's just a formality. You say the words, give an offering of blood, and accept your Heraldry."

"The offering of blood must sound sinister, but it is kept in a vault in the Temple. Blood makes Scrying much easier, so we can find you if you are captured or lost. Also it helps if you need to be resurrected."

"The choice is yours, of course."


I am a Warden of the Crossroads.

I am a Keeper of the Gates.

My ties are broken. My titles renounced.

I forswear all allegiances save this one.

I will not Return.

I am a Citizen of the City of Arch.


Half-elf Rogue 2 | HP 17/17 | AC 18 - T13 FF15 | F+1 R+6 W+0 (+2 vs enchantments) | Per 10 (+11 vs traps), Init +3

Talas's inappropriate humor drained away from him at this new wrinkle. He read the words with his long face longer, mouth drawn into a line. He looked at Garridan, and then he looked at Thedra, and then finally at the Oracle.

"The choice is ours? Really? What choice is that?" he said wearily. "What happens if we refuse? As I understand it-- though I confess most of your planar politics are far beyond me-- we're now a political thorn in your side-- a rules-violation the Abyss can exploit. The things you're not explicitly saying.... the demons could force you to give us up, is that it? Or you risk losing face with... all these other forces of the wild beyond. I don't flatter myself that my life is worth your city risking a war beyond my imagining."

Talas leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, gaze dropped to his goblet of untouched elderberry wine. "So the solution is to make us swear a binding oath. To make us yours. Well."

His dark eyes cut to Thedra again. "I asked you before, whether there'd be the chance to return to my home if your life, your city, wasn't for me. You said yes, then-- at any point until I took the oath. No longer the case, I take it-- as I suppose these demons would then find me there? Since they now believe I somehow belong to them?"

Talas shook his head. "A choice where one side is certain death is hardly a choice. I'm not fool enough to say I'll take my chances with demons on my own-- I like living, yet-- but if it matters to any of you, then you can record that I go into this under duress."


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"We will not give you to the Abyss. This is our solution to protect you." the Angel said gently.

"This is unprecedented. None of this is being archived. Right now, we are still just discussing options." the Oracle added. "You still have the choice of returning to your home plane. We cannot be forced to give you up if we do not have you. If the Abyss wants you, they would first have to realize they have claim over you, then they have to find you. Teral would call those good odds. We do not want anyone's oath under duress. That goes against the entire point of them. This is our solution, should you choose to stay."

Spectrum wasn't quite so gentle. "Do not be stupid. This is what you were offered in the first place, and what you said you wanted. It's being offered early in order to protect you."

Sir Link held up a hand to the others to silence them and simply asked "What do you need?"


Half-elf Rogue 2 | HP 17/17 | AC 18 - T13 FF15 | F+1 R+6 W+0 (+2 vs enchantments) | Per 10 (+11 vs traps), Init +3

Talas looked sharply at Spectrum. "No, sir, it is not. I said I was interested in the training, in seeing the city, and asked how long I should have to make my choice, and I was told four to six months, before I had to decide to swear myself over to a life-long service. Now that timeframe has been compressed to one day, and the choice is here-and-now: and before, where I could have walked away freely, I would now walk away with the knowledge that certain demons who did not know of my existence before now do, and that I have only 'good odds' that they won't seek to hunt me down. You'll pardon my lack of belief in 'good odds,' given the current 'bad luck'."

Talas paused and drew a shaky breath before continuing.

"And I don't feel-- right. Whatever happened, the shifting between places... my very body feels no longer my own. Like I do not recognize my hands, my skin, my limbs. I am changed, maybe damaged, maybe forever-- and I have potential foes now, powerful beyond my ability to fight, and now I must commit my steps now to either the path of your fine solution and safe haven, or I must decide to take my changed self back to my world and trust to my luck that demons won't hunt me down, or claim my very soul when I die. Do you believe I ought to be happy about all this?"

Sir Link's frank question brought Talas up. He paused again, and shook his head, staring at the table. "What do I need...? ...a knife, to draw my blood, I imagine. I threw mine at something in the damned forest. I could also do with less glib jesting," he gazed sidelong at Teral, "over the fact that all of this has... happened."

Leaning back in his chair, Talas glanced at Garridan, and said a few words in a musical-sounding tongue.

Varisian:
"Talk to me, brother-of-the-road. Where is your heart in all this? If you want to leave, I will go with you."


Esoteric (Magus) 2: HP 15/15 : AC/T/FF 16/13/12 (20/17/12 w/Shield): Fort: + 4 Reflex: + 2 Will: +3 : Perception +0

Ariela glares at Spectrum for a moment before drawing a dagger from her belt. "Nobody mentioned that the price of admission would be a demonic bounty on my head... or the fact that for the last hour I've been trying to remember the sound of my mother's voice.......and I can't." she finishes as she drags the blade across her palm.

"Where do you want it?"


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Male Half-Elf Witch 1, Cleric 1, HP 13/13 (14 NL dmg)

Teral raised an eyebrow at Talas and lowered his chair to the floor, facing the man directly. His face was earnest as he replied. "Might as well get used to it, friend. You live here awhile, you learn that there's almost nothing that isn't worth a laugh now and then.

Curses, monsters, Hells...even death, from time to time. If you take it all so Takh-spawned seriously, you won't ever be able to get used to it. You won't ever be able to take it and make it a part of you, make yourself stronger by its presence. It'll only weigh you down."

He shook his head, remembering. "I know as well as any the prices we have to pay sometimes for the life we live. Some of the things I've seen, things I've done, are literally too awful to remember, most of the time. But I stay, and yes, I laugh at it." He cocked his head slightly. "There's a reason for that."

"Those odds you mentioned. They change." He took out the talisman he'd employed earlier, the golden coin, and flipped it back and forth. "Two sides to any coin, right? One side, Fortune's with you." He placed the coin on the table, holding it up on edge with one finger, one side facing Talas. He turned it slowly, so the other side faced the man instead. "The other, she has it in for you. Every day, every moment, no matter where you are, you flip the coin, and you get a different answer. Some days," he snapped the coin to the table with a clack, "the coin comes up wrong, and you end up with a day like today." He flipped to coin over with a practiced twist, and it rang with a pure-sounding note as it rolled around on its edge, settling in place. "Others, it comes up right, and damn if those days aren't amazing. They can make up for all the bad, if you take the right advantage of it."

"Being here?" He gestured around at the chamber, including all the city in it. "Here is how you take advantage. In Arch, you learn that life and luck is more than the coin flip. It's a card game. There are ways you can improvise, rules you can twist, some you can break."

He nodded to the Oracle. "Jon over there has figured out that time isn't always a straight path forward, and with the Godstone as his seeing glass, he can watch the paths we all walk and tell us which one to take."

Gesturing to Darian, he went on. "The Headmaster has more combat tricks in his head than any dozen other brawlers, and you can bet he does his damnedest to share them with every last recruit that comes through his Academy."

He waved at the rest of the table. "Look around you. We have every single kind of guardian, every trainer and every aide you can imagine. Of every world I've ever heard of, there is nowhere you could go that would ever give you the tools that Arch can. Here, you learn to play the game with the best. You learn how to walk up to Lady Fortune and tell her what game you'll be playing today." He paused just a moment, looking around at all the recruits. "And yeah, sometimes we lose a hand, and we have to give up the pot."

He kicked back in his chair again, tossing his coin into the air and slapping it to the back of his hand. "The trick is to win it back." Peeking at it, he looked up at Talas and the rest again and smiled warmly. "If you'd care to learn how, I say stick around."


Half-elf Rogue 2 | HP 17/17 | AC 18 - T13 FF15 | F+1 R+6 W+0 (+2 vs enchantments) | Per 10 (+11 vs traps), Init +3

Talas listened. His arms were crossed over his chest, his body language less than pleased, but he listened.

As Teral spoke, Talas's shoulders slumped a little, his face long and thoughtful. His soul yearned always for the open road, for the freedom to make his own path, and the words of the Oath that still hung in mid-air seemed to be a binding chain. Oaths. Talas kept his word when he gave it-- but gave it rarely. The events that had piled one on the other since they'd entered that damned jungle had seemed like a forceful turning of his path, finishing off with this choice between the city's safety and the risk of pursuing one's own path... and possibly being hunted upon it. It was hard to see how one might regain control of one's own fate in the midst of that.

But if the training the City offered could give him that chance...

When Teral had finished, Talas gave a small nod, to indicate he had heard the words, was not dismissing them out of hand. He still looked to Garridan, one brow arched, to know his friend's thoughts.


Male Varisian 2nd level Monk | HP 20/20 | AC 16 | T 16 | FF 12 | CMD 20 | Fort +5 | Ref +7 | Will +2 | Init +4 | Perc +7 | Sense Motive +6

Varisian:
"It is not quite the optimal choice we have been presented, but what are our other options? Try to dodge demons dogging us for the rest of our lives and then perhaps we do elude them... do we still end up back in that horrible place for eternity?" He shakes his head. "I do not feel that is an option worth pursuing. Despite all this I do feel this was something far outside their control. We have both seen what can happen during a routine expedition in the wilderness of Varisia." He smiles. "I do not like this any more than you do, brother; however, we both saw what these people can do... if they can protect us and even keep us from the Abyss, then by the gods I will side with them."


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Darian coughed a little into his drink as Ariela cut her hand. Out of his pocket he pulled a small pouch and spilled a handful of teardrop shaped clear crystals across the table. "Sheesh. Glad I have a few of these with me. Take one. Hold it in the blood until it goes red."

Thedra stood. "This isn't supposed to feel forced. Let's call a recess and clear out so they can think and talk."

The Oracle nodded and stood as well. "Recruits, the room is yours. We will be back in fifteen minutes. If you have any questions, you can ask the Archivist. None of this is on record." he gestured up the the musical ball of light that hung in the air above the table.

In a few moments the recruits were alone with each other and their thoughts.


Half-elf Rogue 2 | HP 17/17 | AC 18 - T13 FF15 | F+1 R+6 W+0 (+2 vs enchantments) | Per 10 (+11 vs traps), Init +3

Talas's eyes slide nearly shut as he listens to Garridan speak. At the end of their quasi-private communication, he gives the other man a crooked smile and nod.

"Well," he says in the language that most of them seem to speak, "I can't argue with your logic, and I won't be fool enough to try things on my own."

He idly watched Ariela, whose hand was welling red, then looked around, slowly, at the others in the room.

"Not precisely what any of us expected, is it? Well, I shouldn't say that, I can't speak to whatever you were told. Or what you thought."

He gives a small nod at Eythil and Ariela. "I don't think I'm the only one a bit worse the wear from it all, am I? You said you can't... remember your mother-- Ariela, was it?"


Esoteric (Magus) 2: HP 15/15 : AC/T/FF 16/13/12 (20/17/12 w/Shield): Fort: + 4 Reflex: + 2 Will: +3 : Perception +0

"Yes. There are.....holes in my memory. Things I shouldn't possibly be able to forget...But they're......just gone. It's as if a part of me is missing." she replies, picking up one of the crystals with her other hand.


Male Varisian 2nd level Monk | HP 20/20 | AC 16 | T 16 | FF 12 | CMD 20 | Fort +5 | Ref +7 | Will +2 | Init +4 | Perc +7 | Sense Motive +6

Garridan weighed his next words carefully. "I understand everyone's frustration at the change of expectations and I am just as upset as everyone else; however, let us examine something here that I think we all seem to be overlooking. These folks are willing to stand up to the demons of the Abyss for us. And we have not even done anything for them. Yes, if it were not for them that would never have happened, but they could just as easily wash their hands of this entire mess and throw us back into that portal..." The young Varisian shuddered. "That thought terrifies me to my very soul. I will do whatever is necessary to avoid going back there ever again. And I am sorry for what seems to have happened to the rest of you... I seem to be okay, at least I'm not aware of any lingering effects from our brief stay there."


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Male Human 2 hit dice, Hp: 20/20, Ac. 22 Touch Ac. 12, FF Ac. 19, Bab. +1, Cmb. +3, CMD: 15, Init: +2, Fort: +, Refl: +, Will +*, Perception +. S. Motive +,

"If this is what can happen... on a bad day... Then I want to... be able to stand up to them too. The... Demons." Eythil said in a even voice.

"I want to... win the pot and take advantage of good fortune." he said going over and taking one of the small crystals.

"I want to be someone who can pull people from the... Abyss." he said looking at Ariela and he held out his hand.


Esoteric (Magus) 2: HP 15/15 : AC/T/FF 16/13/12 (20/17/12 w/Shield): Fort: + 4 Reflex: + 2 Will: +3 : Perception +0

Eythil's words draw a smile from Ariela, accompanied with a positive feeling of having done something right. Looking him in the eye she nods before she gently draws the blade across his palm, while holding one of the crystals in her own bleeding hand.


Male Half-Elf Witch 1, Cleric 1, HP 13/13 (14 NL dmg)

Teral spread his hands, smiling. "Said my piece already. This city's been my home for longer than I can remember. Literally. There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

He leaned forward with his elbows on the table, picking up one of the little crystals and examining it closely. "Huh. Can't figure out if this is new, or..." He shrugged. "Either way, doubt it'll hurt to give it a go."

Reaching down to the pouch at his belt, he withdrew a furiously squirming little animal and set it on the table, where the hedgehog proceeded to glare at everyone with malevolent rage burning plainly on its tiny adorable face.

"Little monster," he muttered. "Meet Mr. Prickles, everyone. My familiar, and a right nasty little jerk." Teral's face became a mix of irritation and amusement as he held out his hand toward the furious creature, whose needle sharp teeth immediately sunk into his palm. He winced and withdrew his hand swiftly, gripping the crystal tightly in his now-bloodied fist.


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The teardrop gems had an aperture at the tip. They were hollow. Blood welled in and quickly filled the small reservoir.. They grew heavier and become stained fully with the blood, turing them from clear crystal to dark rubies.

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