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Gallix stands above the guard as he comes back to consciousness. Looking down at the man, Gallix can tell that he is a warrior, and hopes that he will be able to connect to the man as a fellow warrior and avoid the kinds of actions he had to take against the last Harbinger he had confronted.
"Stay on the ground, disarm yourself, and let us bind you. You don't have to die here. Live to fight another day so that you can find a worthier cause than this. Otherwise, we will end you." Gallix's tone is calm, steady, and laced with deadly seriousness. His eyes similarly show the danger of refusing this offer of mercy.
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The guardsman looks up at Gallix and Mr. Peppers, a confused and fearful look coating his face as he hears nothing but foreign words. He responds in Azlanti, muttering a soft response that no one can understand, but Gallix's intentions and tone are clear, and the guard looks to be shaken in fear.
D's sand bullet impacts the floor in between the guardsman's thighs, shattering one of the smooth tiles. The expression on his face is simultaneous shock and relief.
He places his sword on the ground and uses it to stand up.
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Uesugi nods to the spirit. With an even tone and straight face he answers back, "You have proven yourself a resourceful warrior, spirit. To defeat your enemy without drawing blood is the way all true warriors strive for. Now what do we do with this one?" he moves over to shinobi and puts his blade at the man's throat.
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Even distracted while he bends his knees to stand up, the guard is able to dodge the non-lethal blow from Gallix.
Now on his feet, he shouts something in Azlanti and strikes out at Gallix with his longsword, but the sword bounces off his magically-enchanted skin. He looks at the blade in confusion.
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Uesugi's katana enters the Azlanti's chest, piercing through the sternum and severing a few major arteries. The shinobi coughs up a mouthful of blood, choking on it violently as he's awakened only to pass away moments later.
Still far back at the entryway to the Vault, Master Shaine shudders as he watches another of the ancient humans die a horrible death.
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Gallix recoils as the protective barrier Master Shaine...er...the younger one...had provided earlier deflects the guard's blade from slicing into his chest. "Fine then," he says to his attacker, "You wanna go to the death? Let's do this."
As he squares off agains the swordsman and prepares to retaliate, he sees a spray of blood erupt from the sneak's chest as Uesugi buries his blade in the sleeping man's form. He looks over and catches the honorable warrior's eyes for a moment and nods, once, to show his understanding and respect.
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Gallix isn't pulling any more punches. He is ready to be done with these Azlanti people and their ancient relics. At least for today. He ducks below another swing of the swordsman's blade, feints a blow to the man's torso, then strikes in earnest, his spiked cestus ready to shred the obstinate guard's face to ribbons.
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Gallix's armed fist shaves off the guard's cheek, and Uesugi finishes him with two lightning-fast slices across his chest, blood coating the ceiling and the blade.
"Good show, Pathfinders," the injured form of Kreighton Shaine manages between blood-soaked coughs.
Your Kreighton Shaine runs over and examines the other. "Um... I am really not sure what to say to... Myself." He leans over to get a closer look.
Injured Shaine continues, "Yes, I know this is odd, but let's spare the fascination for now. We've no time to waste. Lady Arodeth is a true savant and driven to fanatical extremes. The same energies that infected her casters above have also seized her soul, and I fear she has already killed several of your fellow chroniclers. Or will have killed them. Blast, but this is confusing!"
Shaine props himself up to continue speaking. "However noble her goals may have been, if Lady Arodeth forces us to remain in this time, we will all die. If the Sky Key is still functional, you must reactivate it before the Starstone arrives."
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The machines in this chamber begin to spark and smoke, and female bodies take shape from the green miasma.
Shaine continues, "She has learned to create temporal copies of herself, as I have. She can produce an army, left unchecked. Some teams will need to hold the line here, in this chamber, so that anyone confronting the true Lady Arodeth in the room beyond isn’t overwhelmed by these simulacra. You know your team's capabilities better than I, but I promise you Lady Arodeth will be not yield easily."
With that, the chorus of murky green figures announce, "I would have brought destiny back to this world."
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Mr Peppers quickly rushes over to help the older Master of Scrolls to his feet as he fills the group in on what's going on.
"This sounds very dire indeed Master Shaine. Staying here to fight an endless army of copies seems folly, just what this Lady Arodeth would want.. to delay us and join in her doom. Lets meet her head on as fast as possible before the simulacra overwhelm us. At least maybe we can slow them down in the hallway."
With that Mr Peppers will wave the others towards the hallway.
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"Right. Let's get after this crazy old lady. Sounds like she needs some sense talked into her...or beat into her as the case may be." Gallix hurries after Peppers and pulls a small roll of paper with a red tip from his satchel. He places the roll between his lips, but leaves it there for the moment. Looks like he may have remembered to bring one cigarette with him after all...
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After hearing Injured Shaine's grave words, you quickly rush down the hallway, ignoring the "Danger" sign imprinted upon the door. Opening the metal doors at the end, you enter a large room featuring heavy walls and strange panels all focusing on the strange orrery in its center. Raised on a small dais, and separated from the rest of the room by a wide trench, the device oozes a thick, emerald light. The air smells of ozone, like standing amid a roaring thunderstorm.
You recognize the mysterious object in the center of the room as the elusive Sky Key, glowing brightly and humming with power as Lady Arodeth stands by, obsessively staring at it. A few conjured servants hover nearby.
She turns to look as you enter.
"Pathfinders..." She waves her wand around a few times and her eyes begin to glow. She stands in a trance for a minute before shutting her eyes and then continuing
Lady Arodeth was using the status spell
"It is too late. Although you have dealt with my Heralds nonviolently, the Sky Key cannot be stopped. The world I envision - a world free of suffering - is well on its way, as predicted by the Book of 1000 Whispers." She crosses her arms and looks at the group. "I see the Master of Scrolls accompanies you. A pity that he will have to die several times in one day!" She throws her head back and cackles.
Although she seems determined and fanatic, the wavering of her voice would have you believe she is beginning to panic.
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Gallix jogs into the room after Mr. Peppers. As they and the rest of the party enter the room, he gives a small gasp at the sight of the noblewoman standing near the Sky Key. The group moves around to another side of the room away from the doors, and Lady Arodeth calls out to them.
"It is too late. Although you have dealt with my Heralds nonviolently, the Sky Key cannot be stopped. The world I envision - a world free of suffering - is well on its way, as predicted by the Book of 1000 Whispers." She crosses her arms and looks at the group. "I see the Master of Scrolls accompanies you. A pity that he will have to die several times in one day!" She throws her head back and cackles.
Gallix steps toward the woman, his arms spread out in a display of peace. "My lady, you and your Heralds may wish for a world free of suffering, but you must be able to see the destruction brought about by the course you have taken to attain that goal. You cannot depend on bringing back the past in order to secure a better future. You have to work in the present, and learn from the past as we Pathfinders were trying to do, otherwise we are doomed to repeat the mistakes and tragedies that have come before."
The normally brash young man looks down at his right arm, still stained red with the blood of one of the Harbingers, and a look of sadness and regret passes over his features for a moment. He looks back to Lady Arodeth and continues, "Lady Arodeth, if you do not stop this, I fear that what little goodness existed in our own time will be lost forever, completely undone by the destruction wrought by you and your myopic understanding of your Book. If the world is able to recover from yet another Earthfall, it will take millennia to limp back to anything like a civilized world, and all the progress, all the hope, all the goodness that has been achieved will be gone. Stop this now, and you can save all of that goodness and help us work toward new hopes, new peace, and a world free from suffering. That is the only way to move forward."
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Sirettis has many questions as she enters. Gallix gives a beautiful speech, and Sirettis sees Lady Aroden ponder his points, for even just a moment. She also notices how Gallix looks at his blood stained arm.
"Despite your attempts to avert disaster, the Starstone will fall anyway. The Book of 1000 whispers has predicted much, yes. But it's our actions have altered history. You mock our interference, yet it helped the Azlanti civilization for many centuries- unpredictable. How can you be so sure you are in total control? You have no idea what you have done."
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Uesugi looks at the wu jen lady her ears glowing in the loud dimly lit room. While she talks Uesugi speaks in low tones to the others "The wu jen woman has been completely corrupted by this sky key. IF she listens it will be a miracle brought about by the four winds. We will parlay but let us be ready to engage her at a moments notice."
As she finishes he begins to move toward Lady Arodeth speaking calmly his blade lowered.
"Lady the book you speak of sounds like it will bring about peace but the way you have chosen to do so will bring about a multitude of pain and one where there will be no world at all. Surely in the wisdom that you have learned from this great book it does not support causing suffering to people so that they will no longer feel suffering? We must find another to go about laying down our weapons to create a better world.
I have trained and lived with this blade since I could raise it Lady. I also look for the time where my blade is no longer needed. Until then it is our duty to protect those that are suffering. To destroy the world in this manner we will become what we are fighting against. Think of how many deaths will be upon our hands should we not return back our actual time."
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"Arodeth-sama, consider your actions.
You are trying to alter history, with unforeseen consequences.
Sirettis-san here is correct, the outcome will be unpredictable and potentially worsen the state of the world in our actual current time. Of us all, yourself included, our relatives and friends might not exist, our very lands might not exist, if things go bad."
He waits a moment.
"You were a respectable agent in the organization, were you not?
You would help the world more, by being a capable agent, than a rogue agent, whose actions might shatter the foundations of civilization as we know it. Embrace your passion, but do not let the things in the past cloud your mind of what future improvements you could distribute, and bring you to ruin."
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Gallix, Sirettis, and D appeal to Lady Arodeth's sense of duty and compassion. She considers their words, "You have a point. I wish for Lord Aroden to walk this world again. The Sky Key is able to turn time as if it were the pages of a book, and my actions were intended to spare people, not cause them to perish all over again in Earthfall, as you say." She becomes a lot more receptive to your line of reasoning as she considers that she may have failed at what she and the Harbingers of Fate had worked towards.
She nods at Uesugi, "You are more noble than I, but I do not wish for so many deaths..." She trails off, feeling defeated and lost now that her plan is foiled.
"A respectable agent... Perhaps I was.. You see, my father and I believed Lord Aroden's disappearance was but a mistake at the cosmic level. The Sky Key is the only thing that can correct such a mistake, the only thing that can turn back time. I had no choice but to try." She glances at the humming Key as it spills green light across the floor.
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"Arodeth-sama, i would present a few words of eastern wise men.
Those are not dead,
who are kept in the heart of them who remember.
Continued is the work,
of those whose followers proceed with where they left off.
The honor remains,
of those whose cause is carried by the faithful.
In time, one with a soul similar to those passed on,
may be born to the world, and inspire the faithful anew.
A prayer for our honored dead, for they are the ones who watch over us from the beyond, our comrades, family and leaders."
He puts a clenched fist into the palm of his other opened hand, holding them in front of his chest.
"In our own simpler words:
Honor Aroden-Sama by continuing his cause and his ideals, through those actions his work and legacy may continue. Along with that, i've seen devotion and admiration for particular leaders and elders increase after their deaths.
It inspired the younger generations to live by standards, and take up admirable causes in life."
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"Lady Aroden. Your actions clearly show your dedication to bringing your beloved one back. But at what cost? The generation of multiple simulacra across time must cause incredible physical and mental stress to you. As we approached, you were laughing at us maniacally, preparing to kill the Master of Scrolls multiple times in multiple ways."
"I have witnessed many who have tried to bring loved ones back from the dead. They always turn down a dark path, their minds warped into performing unspeakable acts. You understand, don't you? The memories of your Lord are more than enough. Stop this madness."
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Lady Arodeth locks her gaze on D as he delivers his prayer. She feels a stirring inside and deep down, she feels her emotions get the best of her. After Sirettis offers a more pragmatic and compelling opinion, Lady Arodeth drops her guard and looks for forgiveness.
"I have learned something of these controls, and I fear the damage my Heralds and I have inflicted in our zealotry has damaged your Sky Key. It now acts less as a projector and instead like a bridge... And a bridge must be anchored at both ends. For any of you to return now, something - someone - must remain behind or else the path home will collapse."
She shudders as she continues, and you're certain you can see tears begin to form in her eyes. "I have earned this fate. As I said before, I can think of no finer way to die than in the fiery cataclysm that spurs on Lord Aroden's journey to divinity. It will never be enough to make up for the blood we have shed here, Pathfinders, but know that I truly regret what I have done here today."
She walks over at the Sky Key and holds her hands above it, attempting to dismantle the temporal energy, but it seems something is holding her back.
"I apologize, Pathfinders, but the anchoring energy is still prominent. Too many Harbingers are still acting to serve my ... misled desires ... Perhaps defeating any evil that should appear as a result of the time storm will assist in weakening the field, but you must be quick. Go now, I will wait until the field is sufficiently weakened, and then I will have everyone sent back."
Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine nods at Lady Arodeth, acknowledging her remorse. "Well, I suppose one could make a bigger mistake. Possibly." He grins, trying to make light of the situation. "Anyway, as she says, let's get back out into the city and do what we can to weaken the field!"