"Leaving him alone here seems unnecessary cruel. And if we plant him by the encampment, it is not like he can run away ..." Elise offers her thoughts. "And even if his goals may not align with us in the end I am sure he could be a great source of information still. Maybe just don't let him be alone with anyone until we are really sure?"
"And about your Fae - they were looking to backstab the Tyrant once he won right? I wonder if we could somehow trick them into doing that a bit early ..."
Once they reach the man/tree himself Elise offers a crisp greeting. "Does 'Eþnui' mean anything to you?" she asks and maintains a healthy distance. Seeing what sort of company Kizutena held, she couldn't help but wonder if this man too was a pawn of the Tyrant.
"Aye. Introducing the 'sisters' to each other will be a fun endeavour, no matter what. And I'm curious as to see where the compass points ..." Elise commented.
"I do not know what the name means but I have heard it chanted in the skies here every so often. The name appears to be associated with heat or fire as that is what rains from above each time I do hear the name in this place." The treeman replies.
[ooc]@Compass - All right!
"Moretti then?" Elise crosses her arms. "And Arazni?" It seemed as if they had plenty of foes, it wouldn't be wise to bring another back home with them. On the other hand, she didn't know much about the Harlot Queen to gauge if she would be with or against them on this.
After everyone looks at the Bloodstone compass, he places it back in his pocket.
Nethan shakes his head, "We can not return any of the Bloodstones to Geb, The Herald herself, nor Moretti, or anyone else. If we can, we need to see if we can resurrect Aroden with the power contained within the Bloodstones."
"Who can we trust, besides ourselves? "
"Moretti, ah yes, one of the Harlot queen's best knights. He is one of the five that serve directly under her, those who protected her tomb." The tree continues "I did.. or rather still do serve Arazni, I thought that much was apparent by her titles. I was indeed meant to bring Kizutena to Geb." The tree says slowly.
"I do not know why she was so adamant on the mission but her wish is mine, I would like to see her will through." The tree continues at Amelia's questions. "Even now I beseech you to continue where I have failed, I am sure that the queen will reward you greatly."
Spook replies to Dreyyn saying "Well, we have a quite a few allies but I'm not sure who to trust out of them. Sarangeral likely should be fine, Ayla owes you her life, the 'sisters' could be trusted though one is very unhinged. Xanroa has looked out for our interests in the past though his head rather does have a screw loose. The arena team seem to serve Sarangeral quite strongly so they might be good allies but trusted.. perhaps we should think about knowing them more?"
"Tar-Baphon..." Elise spoke slowly, tasting the name. He was their enemy. She didn't really know enough of Geb and the Harlot Queen to know where they stood. "There is no love between your Queen and him? It is by his machinations that you are trapped here, by his misdeeds that your quest has failed. While I cannot complete your ordeal, I can offer a chance at vengeance."
She let the words hang in the air for a while. A truthful response may be a bit much to ask for, but maybe they could discern his intents from his reaction. And maybe, given the surprisingly helpful attitude he had displayed for someone of Moretti's "friends", he would share his piece of mind.
"Knowing what allies we can expect would certainly be helpful." Elise agrees with Spook. She leaned back a little where she sat, enjoying the rest. "We could probably afford a day or so recuperating here in the camp without this world falling apart. Hopefully. But then? I'm not sure." She frowned - she really preferred if her enemy could be defeated trough simple and obvious application of force. Then again, I am not sure how we would stack up against the Whisper Tyrant in battle. "Maybe find another siphon and try and figure out where the energy actually goes?"
Nethan nods his head in agreement, "I agree with Elise, we should recuperate! After we rest, we either find another portal by asking perhaps
Sarangeral or figure how we could use the siphon to jump between Demi-Planes without becoming a casualty?"
Nethan then looks at Alþórel,
"Uncle Al, do you mind if I borrow your spell book or exchange spells?"
Nethan shrugs, "Amelia, the last time we look, the compass pointed at both Kizutena and Atenzuki, then pointed aimlessly. So I am taking that to be there are no more Bloodstones on this demiplane, and possibly pointing at the others on the other demiplanes or will not point to the next bloodstone until we enter that demiplane?"
The group recuperates for a while in the inn. Atenzuki and Kizutena are wary of each other for a time due to their almost twin like appear, save for the disheveled look of Kizutena.
The group can spend this time trading spells or retraining as they plan their next move.
When they are ready the group arranges a meeting with Sarangeral. The main agenda of the meeting is to find another siphon which is fairly easy for them to determine, after wrapping that up Sarangeral asks. What's you plan for when you find the siphon? Will you just destroy it like the others?
"No. Somehow, if we could, finding out were all that energy goes would be helpful..." Elise looked to the pair of mages. "Any idea *how* we would accomplish that?"
We have never been close enough to study them. Though we have never been able to track them using colour magic before. I wonder if your unique magic would have ways to sense where the energy is being taken. The Eldred die after the fact so it might have something to do with any magic that could detect life or something that registers as life. Though I'm guessing you'll need to get close without disturbing the siphon. So I'd suggest dressing like Eldred." Sarangeral adds as a suggestion.
Kizutena is first confused by the proposition. Amelia later finds out that Kizutena while she has done basic grooming while in the castle, she never really tried to do anything beyond rinsing herself. It might explain why she is such a disheveled mess. Atenzuki joins you and you also realise that the pair share a common mark or tattoo on their skin. Atenzuki has a winged eye mark on her chest on the side of her heart, whereas Kizutena has one on the back of her right shoulder.
"Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyway to do so. Possibly if we could put some unique energy in, we could track that?" Al looks confused.
"On the other hand, this sounds like necromancy. It's possible necromancy might be able to analyse it. While my knowledge of most magic is... adequate... I have always abhored and therefore avoided necromancy. It is an abomination... though, I must admit, a useful one at times."
Nethan arrives back from copying all of the spells Alþórel has in his books and he hands them back, "Thank you Uncle Al for letting copy your materials. I do not have as many spells as you since I copy Psionic formulas as well but there are few. Do you need to copy my book later?"
"It is a good idea to see if we can open a tunnel through the siphons but we are not sure the energy is not sent to an energy plane where matter can not enter. We may want to ask around to see if anyone has seen a portal. Or, we find a way to view the other side of the siphon before tunneling through it?"
Dreyyn's expression is blank, having no idea about the magical processes behind tunnels and siphons.
Wasn't Ayla a holy warrior from your plane? Spook asks. Perhaps she has this spell you are speaking off or maybe something similar?
Sarangeral adds a thought to Nethan's idea. Perhaps you could try to trap one of the siphons and test the idea of those portals.
Atenzuki replies saying. It's a mark that I use as a focus, the clergy always told me it was a gift from my birth. I don't remember my childhood all that well but it does have magical properties.
Kizutena shrugs and says Most things I make connect to mine... Maybe we are sisters like the adventurers say we are. I thought this brand very much unique to myself. She then cackles a little as Amelia does her hair. She is quite surprised by how she looks after the cleaning. She is also looking much more similar to Atenzuki now.
Even with a basic grasp of magic, Elise expression soon started to mirror Dreyyns as the finer points of the siphons are debated. Eventually she sighs and throws up her hands. "They are common enough the siphons; we could probably try a few things on them - and if it doesn't work - simply find a new one and try again?"
Later that day she has to rub her eyes in disbelief when she sees not one but two Atenzuki's. Wow! Amelia's help really helped! Maybe we should give them colour-coded clothing or something?
Nethan arrives back from copying all of the spells Alþórel has in his books and he hands them back, "Thank you Uncle Al for letting copy your materials. I do not have as many spells as you since I copy Psionic formulas as well but there are few. Do you need to copy my book later?"
"That would be good, thank you Nethan." He sighs "I realise this will sound pompous, but these are some of the most dangerous spells known to man or elf. Please be careful with them."
Kizutena scratches the back of her neck while replying to Amelia. "I can infuse things with a hint of magic, nothing much... Just a bit of animation." She then pauses to think about the voices "Oh, like that man saying let me out? He has such a mellow voice yet it doesn't sound like he's begging.
[ooc] So is the plan talking to Ayla to see if she can help out then go to a siphon? I get internet back 3rd of Nov, yay, it should be far easier to post ftom then in! [/b]
Nethan gives Alþórel a comforting smile, "Thank you for trusting me with these spells Uncle, and I agree with our stance on who or who should not perish."
He looks to the crowd, "I would be more comfortable if we can convert a siphon to look more like a portal and see if there is a way to peer through the portal to see what is on the other side. Again, I would hate to find ourselves in dimension or pocket dimension which is toxic for us. Perhaps we should learn more about colour magic which may help with the siphons?"
"Can you convert it into a portal?" Elise asks. She was feeling a bit out of her depth. And it was only getting worse it seemed. "How would we look trough? Maybe if you made a tube out of eldred spirit?" She suggests in an effort to be constructive.
Dreyyn will lend his spear to any plan, not really understanding how the plans will work but sure he will have to stab something.
"Learning more of the color magic would be useful."
"I do know the man's name, just that he wants to get out of... My head? Somewhere .. it sounds like my head." Kizutena says while scrunching her face up realising she is confusing herself more than anyone else.
Sarangeral says I'm sure you'll pick up a bit more of the colour magic soon, your skills will see to that.
The group after some discussion pack their things and with the help of Sarangeral they pinpoint some of the nearest siphon activity. Spook and the sisters stay in the safety of the camp for now but are ready to be called on when needed. The defenders that the group fought against before in the arena are also willing to help if need be but since siphons cause issues for Eldred they are incapable of helping at the moment. The odd mercernary trio are also willing to help out claiming that Sarangeral has already paid them for odd jobs.
The group approaches one of the siphons by going in through the forest. The reach the clearing and stay on the edge of it. Looking into the clearing they see that the siphon is a lot smaller than they are used to seeing, it stands in the middle of a pond as always but the pond has overflowed and started drenching the earth that contains the water. The major difference this time appears to be the guards for lack of a better term.
The water creatures that surround the siphon appear to be elementals supported by an undead skeleton in the middle of them of various creatures. One looks a little like a centaur, another a human or elf, another is a dwarf. There are just these three but the water around their hands are mimicing weaponry. They are more powerful, yet the siphon is weaker. The group wonders why that is.
They doubt the guards will prove a challenge to them but there might be other questions arising from this predicament. The focus now however is which plan are they willing to try first?
"More water and less siphon." Elise notes as a matter of fact. "Though I can't figure out what that means - any ideas?"
But she did have an idea of how to process Amelia's plan! With a grin she pointed to the watery creatures. "Let's beat them up and quiz them then!"
Nethan looks over the area, "So either they are trying to be ready for us and/or these siphons are more different than what is already apparent?"
Nethan looks at Amelia and Elise, "I am not sure if we can subdue these guardians into giving us what information we need? But I guess it wouldn't hurt to try?"
Nethan continues to ponder ...
Dreyyn also waits to see what angle they play it. He can sneak or charge, either way.
"Let's subdue everything except for the skeleton and the siphon. Too bad, we could not gain control of the siphon? Hmm? ..."
Nethan looks to his right thinking about something.
Continuing to think and talk at the same time, "You know, there maybe a portal some where here? We have not mapped out the whole demi-plane and we are just wasting our time here?"
Elsie carefully pushed herself trough the bushes and mumbles a quick war creed to herself to heighten her focus. Her draconic blood sings in resonance and for a moment, her world seems to slow down.
Dreyyn readies his weapon and prepares to charge when the attack begins in earnest.
ROUND 1
"HOL...!"
Nethan was about to utter the word hold but Amelia charges in. Nethan shrugs, "I do not feel we are prepared enough to use a siphon as a portal nor do I want to test the theory of it draining us to another demiplane. Perhaps subduing it, which will be our first, will lead to other discoveries? Make sure to use subduing or merciful skills and magic."
Nethan casts Force Screen on himself, "FETHOS!"
Dreyyn, already coiled for the charge, leaps in to attack the subject of Amelia's stars.
As Dreyyn leaps into attack, Nethan quick draw his two-handed crystal sword in the merciful configuration.
Merciful Mind Blade +10 (2d6+8 nonlethal/19-20 plus 1d6 non-lethal acid)
Mage Armour
Ablative Barrier
Heightened Awareness
Waterbreathing (Split duration for everyone) = 1 MP
Arcane Sight (you never know)
As the fight starts, Al chants long forgotten words as he walks forward. A moment later a vortex forms in the middle of the lake.