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"Is it time? Time for what, the end of the world? Almost. Just a few more moments and you will all die." The clone laughs at Sirettis' question. Though the miasma has evaporated and the machine is weakened, a small amount of temporal energy remains. Lady Arodeth is still in the Sky Key chamber, working tirelessly on disrupting the time bubble so that every Pathfinder may finally get home.
Gallix blinds yet another Arodeth clone with an old barroom tactic, and Blaster fires at it with his musket, his shot easily hitting the blind clone. Everyone else is distracted by the sudden evaporation of all the accumulated miasma and miss their attacks.
Surrounded by Gallix and Uesugi, the clone raises its staff and starts casting.
An image of the clone appears next to it, and it's impossible to tell which one is the real clone and which are the ... clones of the clone.
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Mr Peppers now a bit more used to these old spell casting movements is able to figure out what's going on, although the results are fairly obvious. "Its merely an illusionary double, nothing more than a delay tactic. I guess in our present situation a viable tactic indeed. A magic missile should clear things up hopefully for you heavy hitters."
Mr Peppers then shifts his crossbow to one hand, draws out his wand and fires off another glowing force missile at one of the clones.
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A small tien woman that you recognize as one of the society's runners pauses a moment between fights to catch her breath. Then seeing you engage in battle once more, she bursts into song to encourage you.
[Intro]
A long, long time ago
Pathfinders searchin’ for pieces of that sky key
And we knew if we had our chance
We could move through time in a trance
And travel through empires lost to history
Going to Sesshigoss made me shiver
With every serpent death we delivered
Bad news in the Slave Pens!
Revolution all over again!
I can’t remember if I cried
When all the serpent priests were fried
Secrets from Azlant were pried
The day of our time slide
[Chorus]
So bye, bye, let’s let Aroden lie
Time to berate the Anchors of Fate the best we can try
And them murder hobos looking at death in the sky
Singin’ this’ll be the way that we die
This’ll be the way that we die
Did you write the book of fate
And know the prophecies they relate
If Arodeth tells you so?
Now do you believe in destiny
Will one asteroid set us free
And can you take me to the vault beeee-lowwww?
Well, I know you reset fate on a whim
Though your chance of success is slim
You’re bathed in that green glow
Oh babe, you gotta go!
But now I really can’t complain
We’ve got a copy of Kreighton Shaine
But I worry we’re out of luck
The day of our time slide
[Chorus]
So bye, bye, let’s let Aroden lie
Time to berate the Anchors of Fate the best we can try
And them murder hobos looking at death in the sky
Singin’ this’ll be the way that we die
This’ll be the way that we die
Now for two hours we’ve been on our own
(Well, us and our Kreighton clone)
So Alrule thinks she’s an Azlanti
And Binui shuffles harrow for the Queen
Calling doom on all he’s seen
Trying to con the likes of you and me
Gad Gemple thinks he’s a god newborn
Omandi Mil was left forlorn
Her hopes like skin were all burned
No one could say what she learned
And then Romnus stole his golden hoard
So he could be a dragon lord
Yeah, he kinda went overboard
The day of our time slide
[Chorus]
So bye, bye, let’s let Aroden lie
Time to berate the Anchors of Fate the best we can try
And them murder hobos looking at death in the sky
Singin’ this’ll be the way that we die
This’ll be the way that we die
Helter skelter there’s nowhere to shelter
If you meet the witch can you melt her?
Earthfall’s high and falling fast
Now I don’t mean to be crass
But I don’t want to wind up on my ass
In a crater of molten glass...
Now the vault is open is there room
To convince Arodeth she’s a loon?
And now the simulcra advance
Well, they haven’t got a chance!
'Cause simulcra tried to take the field
The Pathfinders refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day of our time slide?
[Chorus]
We started singing bye, bye, let’s let Aroden lie
Time to berate the Anchors of Fate the best we can try
And them murder hobos looking at death in the sky
Singin’ this’ll be the way that we die
This’ll be the way that we die
Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Snuff anchors like a candlewick
‘Cause we don’t like where this may end
Oh, and as we came upon them in the vault
We doubled the strength of our assault
We wouldn’t let the cult
Determine our end result
And as we stacked anchors high that night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Arodeth shrieking full of fright
The day of our time slide
[Chorus]
She was singin’ bye, bye, let’s let Aroden lie
Time to berate the Anchors of Fate the best we can try
And them murder hobos looking at death in the sky
Singin’ this’ll be the way that we die
This’ll be the way that we die
[Outro]
I met a girl who wanted sense
But realized that we’d be past tense
If her followers had their way...
We went down to her secret vault
She told us it was not our fault
And to fix things she would have to stay
And in the streets, Azlanti screamed
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The prophecies were broken
And the three men I admire most
Shaine, GM Mars, and Aroden’s ghost
Told us to flee or we’d all be toast
The day of our time slide
[Chorus]
And they were singing bye, bye, let’s let Aroden lie
Time to berate the Anchors of Fate the best we can try
And them murder hobos looking at death in the sky
Singin’ this’ll be the way that we die
This’ll be the way that we die
They were singing bye, bye, let’s let Aroden lie
Time to berate the Anchors of Fate the best we can try
And them murder hobos looking at death in the sky
Singin’ this’ll be the way that we die
This’ll be the way that we die
Song finished, she grins and says, "Good luck!" before disappearing back into the crowd.
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Just as his wand discharges its seeking glow missile a song can be heard springing up. An oddly familiar song it seems, with a catchy tune and well thought out lyrics. Never a with the time to be a songsmith, but with the talent to at least carry a tune, Mr Peppers begins to hum along with the cheerful woman. His heart rate slows, his mood brightens, and his mind reinvigorated. "Master Shane, would you please enhance Uesugi's stamina, we must keep that katana held high if we hope to continue this endless onslaught. Anything else to assist the rest of us would be greatly appreciated!"
He then turns to the source of the song only to see a woman disappearing into a crowd of battling Pathfinders.
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Mr. Peppers
Uesugi
Gallix
Mr. Peppers' force missile hits the actual simulacrum, piercing another hole through its shoulder. D's sand bullet misses the clone but manages to smash the figment, shattering it into pieces.
With the image gone, Uesugi unleashes a wicked attack, holding his katana high above his head and bringing it down over the clone's chest. She shrieks in pain as the sword connects and opens up a harsh wound. Urrgghhh....
The clone blinks a few times and feels her vision restoring. She dodges out of Gallix's way as he swings at her.
"Oh, I thought you had forgotten all about me!" Shaine smiles as Mr. Peppers requests his magic. "It would be my pleasure." Kreighton Shaine waves his hands over Uesugi. Uesugi suddenly looks more focused and full of life.
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Seeing the latest set of clones go up in a puff of musket smoke, Mr Peppers will nod in approval to Corsac. "Way to take her out with a bang my furry friend." He then stows his wand and begins reloading his crossbow "One... two... three... Oh Master Shaine, may as well make Gallix here giant sized. Bigger fists can't be a bad thing right Gallix?" With that Mr Peppers will go back to his reloading tedium.
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The asteroid looms impossibly large overhead, and the air grows stiflingly hot as the world itself begins to rumble. High overhead, the dome of green energy shudders, twists, and finally shatters, and Pathfinders’ bodies begin melting into flowing particles as the world slips away.
Just as quickly, you stumble as Bloodwatered Meadow coalesces beneath your feet, as it does for countless other Society agents. The wildflowers bob lazily in the wind, and nothing but a few still bodies stand as testament to the bloodshed and struggle of the past five hours. Kreighton Shaine, looking several years older, staggers to his feet and gives a nervous chuckle before climbing up a small knoll and waving his arms for the crowd’s attention.
“What we have all witnessed here today has been a remarkably journey that included sights no living soul on Golarion has witnessed. The Sky Key has allowed us to walk among the serpentfolk and Azlanti, gazing upon several of the greatest events to shape Golarion and the region that would one day become the Inner Sea. Let the catastrophe that we witnessed and narrowly escaped humble us and teach us so that we might find value in preserving the messages and wisdom those lost people may have left behind for us to discover. I think we all have some responsibility to remember those who passed so that our modern world can exist.
“You have all observed great things and have notes to share. This much is certain. But for now, let us… let us simply take a few days to reflect. The Society, I imagine, will send agents to collect your notes and interview you about your experiences. Until then, find your families and loved ones, as I know I shall. Failing that, find some passion that ties you to the here and now, and embrace it.
“We survived, Pathfinders. I am proud of your Unrivaled Accomplishment!”
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After the last clone had been disposed of, D. feels his body feel lighter, and sparkling.
"What is this.....?", he looks at the others around him, seeing the same thing happen.
========== Time trip ===========
Once again on and in, the present Golarion, D. takes in the surroundings.
The horde of other agents standing in equal surprise....
To his surprise, D. finds himself at a brief loss of words, before he snaps back to focus and looks to see whether all of his compatriots are there as well.
To his 'relief', rather satisfaction, the others seem to be there too.
"That, was one big event i am both content to have taken part in, but am not in for repeating."
[oooc]Supper time, but... HELL YES!!!![/ooc]
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The light begins to change. The sounds too are changing. The smells smell different... better, much better. The smell of ooze and smoke and blood now are replaced with the smell of fields and grass. Mr Peppers blinks his eyes rapidly to see the fields once again under his feet, and the feet of his companions. A wide smile crosses his lips as he looks around at the scores of battered Pathfinders strewn about the field looking around in bewilderment just as he is.
"Thank Aroden its finally over. Thank you Arodeth for your change of heart." He then pulls out his journal hoping to see all of it still chronicled within.
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Uesugi Hideyoshi kneels down on both knees and sits comfortably down on the heels of his feet. Removing a short sash from his belt he cleans off the beautiful blade. The weapon was an extension of him and he cared for it as such. Wiping off the green substance he waited for the gleam to come back to the blade.
The plaza in Absalom was busy and alive. Uesugi and the other Pathfinders had seen much. Probably too much. All the while as people moved to and fro conversing amongst themselves or others going about to provide aid for those that were still injured the samurai knelt there his mind completely focused on his blade. After several minutes he puts the sash away and holds the blade in two hand examining the edge. Grabbing the sheath at his side he slides the blade in slowly. With practiced fluidity he rises to his feet stares at each of his companions for the first time he smiles.
"It is good to be home. I greet each of you as brothers and sister of our clan, Red Arm of Absalom."
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As the world around him begins to dissolve, Gallix stares around wildly, the red smoke of his strange alchemical cigarette mingling with the green energy of the temporal field. Both begin to dissipate and drift away to nothing as the young ruffian and his fellow Pathfinders arrive back in a wide grassy field on the outskirts of Absalom. As Kreighton Shaine proclaims the success of the endeavor, Gallix collapses into the grass and breathes deeply as the last of his cigarette burns away. After a few moments of rest, he props himself up on his elbows and looks over at Uesugi. He resists the urge to run n over and embrace the man, deciding that he would not appreciate having his ritual interrupted. Once he finishes, however, Gallix stands and walks over. He lays an arm around the samurai's shoulders and says, "So we're ina clan together now, eh? Sounds good to me. Tell ya what, I was hoping to find a ride back to Jalmeray sometime to reconnect with my training a bit. If there's a mission to head down that way, would you wanna join me?"
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Mr Peppers smiles at the young woman.
He then waves goodbye and gathers up his companions. "I believe now would be a fine time to celebrate together before the inevitable parade or key ceremony scatters us to the winds?"
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The last simulacrum locks her gaze with Sirettis. Somewhere behind her mocking tone is a creature that knows it's incomplete, yet struggles for identity. The thing grins wickedly as the air heats up and it evaporates.
Yes, that used to be me. Rest now, Artificial.
Sirettis shouts to Lady Arodeth as the world around her melts. "We shall not forget your deeds, nor sacrifice!"
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Sirettis nods as Isa chirps away.
"The Red of Absalom...I will remember that name. Thank you for including me." Sirettis thanks Uesugi. Hearing Mr. Pepper's invitation, she nods in agreement. "This may be the first celebration I will... enjoy. But first..."
Sirettis walks forward a bit, and pulls her hair out into a bundled mass and uses it like a third hand. She quickly gathers, sorts and discards rocks until she builds a small burial mound. Satisfied, she tears her hair out with a single motion.
"For our fallen Pathfinders. For the Harbingers who lost their way. And for Lady Arodeth. Grief brought her to the brink of insanity, but Love saved her soul and well being."
Sirettis hands Blaster his wand back.
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Mr Peppers agrees with Sirettis and will assist with the building of the small stone memorium, including paying his respects in silence.
Do you have an idea as to where?
"Well, I believe the best place to celebrate this is back at the Grand Lodge? While I most want to celebrate together as the Red Arm, this celebration should include all Pathfinders that would like to attend. We are but one 'arm' of the entire Pathfinder organism. Lets use this arm to raise a few glasses in toast to the whole."