Grins evilly at the mook summoning.
"I can do that too..."
The runes on his stone arm glow for a second, and seven Kytons appear in a circle around him.
"'Clean up on aisle three' boys. Eliminate the minions. Do whatever you need to. Leave the wolf and the snake woman alone." He instructs them, gesturing to the lesser folks, They all look around with glee, and proceed to do just that. He then turns and focuses on the armored guy. He rolls his head around on his neck, making cracking noises. "This is gonna hurt you, more than it'll hurt me..."
Ephebe walked up to Kamenwati and put a hand gently on his shoulder. She crouched down so that her face was level with his.
"I don't know what you were thinking that made Taron so angry, but I can guess. I was raised there too. Different section, same idea. I know what it is to accidentally cause the deaths of millions....though I think my intent was considerably less good at the time than yours was with this. It doesn't actually get better. But you learn to live with it. You learn to change so that it never happens again. If there's any secret to it beyond that, I haven't found it yet either."
She stood up. "Krays. Beloved. Saving Taron and Kam, bringing them here, that isn't what puts us all at risk. From the moment they tried to assassinate Mezzenbone we've all been at risk. Because they know we still live now. If their attempt had succeeded we'd all be dead already. Along with more than half the rest of the sentient beings in this galaxy...that war would have been truly disastrous. Instead...the wards are good, but they won't hold. Not against this. We have a matter of months at most. Why did you think James was building giant robots?"
"We need to stay calm and work together if we're going to have any chance at surviving."
Dave immiedietly chalanger the first person he sees to a sparring match and he charges at him with great ferosity breaking the poor kid's loner sword, and knocks him to the ground. The rush of battle a much more easily understood and more expirenced emotion than the confusion of the feelings Tybalt invoked, so he delved into that which he understood…
When Ace returns with Tybalt, Phaezeriel turns to look at the cat person, and his thoughts are received by all present, ::A moment, please, Melody. Tybalt, I do not believe we have met, I am Phaezeriel. I am a psychic and a healer. My task in this will be to ensure that Vai is kept healed, and that task will be greatly aided by adding you to the collective that includes everyone in this room. Will you allow this? The privacy of your mind cannot be compromised by the collective, and we can discuss it at great length later; but for now it will have to suffice to say that no one can use the collective to force you to do anything you do not want, or to enter or read your mind. This will also allow me to give some additional help to Ace as he keeps you from being harmed.::
With that, Tybalt will feel a gentle including pressure that he can choose to accept or ignore as he wishes.
Phaezeriel will also manifest Schism at this point.
"Um. Ya. I'll try. But... when I get colder, it uses the same emotions that close up my mental lock thingy. Would it hurt the process if I got locked out of it suddenly?"
Before he freezes over, he answers Phaezeriel's question, skipping over formalities, trying to get to it as fast as possible to minimize damage and suffering to Vai.
The gentle psychic tap Phaezeriel gives feels like it knocks against a metal wall.
"Um. Ya. I'll try. But... when I get colder, it uses the same emotions that close up my mental lock thingy. Would it hurt the process if I got locked out of it suddenly?"
Before he freezes over, he answers Phaezeriel's question, skipping over formalities, trying to get to it as fast as possible to minimize damage and suffering to Vai.
The gentle psychic tap Phaezeriel gives feels like it knocks against a metal wall.
::I will assume that at some point you will drop out and so the loss will be planned for. Thank you for the warning.:: He looks back to Melody, ::I am ready.::
considering the collective thing as well as telepathy in general is completely new, and she only yesterday started manifesting psionic powers. she probably would definately be caught off guard at first.
so she would have let some stuff slip before her subcincious realized what was happening.
I am sure he would keep it to himself and possibly want to discuss it sometime later
Tybalt manages to open the mental circuit, trying to assist as much as he can, before his condition snaps the link shut inevitably.
It's easy to do, but still hard on him to have to focus on the feelings he must to become colder. Loss, sadness, vulnerability, fear... but all still in the name of helping a friend.
As Halo walks past she stops when she see's Silinrul
"Hi there what's your name"
Toby stops some why behind her, hes been working hard to keep out of the way.
Jessa draws a deep breath and steels her nerve. It is clear from her body language that she is not reacting out of fear of harm, but out of fear of giving up her one safe refuge. Finally she lets her breath out and nods her head to Nala, "I am ready. You should be aware though, that she destroyed the mind of the last person who tried to enter my mind. Hopefully that I am letting you in will make the difference."Nala nods. "That is a perfectly reasonable request. And ethically necessary. As I told you before, I will do nothing without your permission. And if I have anything to say about it, the day you are free of scientists will be today. I am a physician. My job is to heal you and send you on your way, not study you indefinitely."
"Please let me know when you are ready for me to begin."
Nala nodded. "Thank you for the warning. I think that she will find that I am not so easily destroyed."
She reached out a hand to touch Jessa's forehead lightly with her fingers. "Physical contact makes this easier."
She began a telepathic scan of Jessa's mind, especially looking for points of connection to the other personality and any information she can find about how the two came to be residing in the same mind.
What Nala finds in Jessa's mind is all too familiar; it is the damaged mind of one who has been tortured repeatedly for no perceivable reason. As she spends time looking for the links to Evil Jessa, she feels the growing awareness of that personality. Here in the mindscape of Jessa's mind, Evil Jessa is powerful indeed; she can totally supplant Jessa when she takes over. Finally, Nala becomes aware of three things. The first is that the triggers that are most likely to cause Evil Jessa to emerge are related to fear, pain, and anger. The second is that Evil Jessa was born to protect Jessa from the agony of torture, both mental and physical. And finally, that Evil Jessa is awake and has found her.
Ryuzo has mere moments of warning as Jessa's eyes snap open with malevolent purple irises. Evil Jessa lashes out with mind and fists simultaneously, the sudden ferocity of the attack catching Nala slightly off guard. The wards are not caught off guard, however, and Jessa is encased in a block of stone to the neck before she can harm Nala physically.
The stabbing mental attack of Jessa's malevolent psyche pierces Nala's mind, leaving behind a seed of itself which attempts to take root, threatening a much more horrific death than simply dying; Nala would become, mentally, an exact duplicate of Evil Jessa.
Kim and Trista wandering the grounds looking almost completely lost.Kim points to a building where there are several really young children playing. maybe over there, maybe someone over there will know where we need to go?
"Ya! They can help us. Let's go ask."
They get over to the group.
"Um. Hello. Can anyone help us find someone?"
The professor was still not in the classroom when David charged in and challenged the poor soul in the first row. With no teacher around, it is practically lawless and David knocks the other student backward. As he was about to hit the ground, he stops, suspended in mid air. David's movements are restricted, as well. A voice arises, "Now, now, there will be plenty of time for fighting later."
A portal appears in the front of the room and an old gnome floats through it; levitating upon a crystal. "Please take your seats, as we are about to begin."
"I apologize for my lateness, but it couldn't be helped. Let's get started. This is Heavy Blades and I am your teacher, Artha Cid."
As he speaks, the crystal paces and hovers throughout the room.
"So now I ask you all a question, and please feel free to yell out your answers... What is the most important thing about fighting?"
"Winning, or more precisely surviving and ensuring that those you care about do likewise" he says with inflection indicating it was a rote, automatic statement.
"Winning. There isn't really honor in battle, it's brutal, and something to typically avoid. It's not a sport or a game."
Dave nods in agreement to Florence.
"Good answers, winning is certainly important, although not exactly what I was looking for. "
"Anyone else?"
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Seeing the first two get it wrong a few students in the back speak up, from looking at him he appears to be a rather bulky paladin "Uh fighting with honor, respecting your opponent and yourself"
He is then punched in the shoulder by a halfling at his side "nah it's like the rocks for brains up front said, surviving, nothing about a fight matters if you're dead!" he then chuckles manically vibrating as he does so before being silenced with but a look from the girl at his side, the woman has bone spurs all over her body and purple eyes "skill, being willing and able to do what your opponent is not"
A thin warrior with a massive sword speaks up from the left side of the class... "There is only one reason. to Cut. Once committed to fight, cut. Everything else is secondary. Cut. That is your duty, your purpose, your hunger. There is no reason more important, no commitment that overrides that one. Cut. Cut from the void, not from bewilderment. Cut the enemy as quickly and directly as possible. Cut with certainty. Cut decisively, resolutely. Cut into his strength. Flow through the gaps in his guard. Cut him. Cut him down utterly. Don't allow him a breath. Crush Him. Cut him without mercy to the depths of his spirit."
The one who responded spoke the words with fervor as if they were the only thing he cared about, the only answer he would accept and the only thing that he believed in
A thin warrior with a massive sword speaks up from the left side of the class... "There is only one reason. to Cut. Once committed to fight, cut. Everything else is secondary. Cut. That is your duty, your purpose, your hunger. There is no reason more important, no commitment that overrides that one. Cut. Cut from the void, not from bewilderment. Cut the enemy as quickly and directly as possible. Cut with certainty. Cut decisively, resolutely. Cut into his strength. Flow through the gaps in his guard. Cut him. Cut him down utterly. Don't allow him a breath. Crush Him. Cut him without mercy to the depths of his spirit."
The one who responded spoke the words with fervor as if they were the only thing he cared about, the only answer he would accept and the only thing that he believed in
Once all were in positionand the ideal temperature is reached, Mel begins to switch everything on.
Aanada, that monitor will keep you informed of theelectomagnetic radiation field intensity. just rememeber that green is good, red is bad. when you see green, thats your cue. I will scan and provide input for your display.
Once everything is switched on there is a sudden shower of sparks and for a second all the scanners go dark. There is a dimming of the lights in the infirmary for a few seconds.
sorry, wrong switch. Mel gives a swift bang to the side of the main controls and everything comes back
There is a wave of electomagnet radiation now circiling vai in opposite directions the frost from tybs being propogated up the metal antenna.
Melody's plan appears to be working - the electromagnetic field within Vai is softening and softening... and then is snuffed entirely. Melody gives the signal that the field is clear, and the gathered healers pour healing energy into Vai. The burns all across her body vanish, and she tenses, her back arching slightly at the massive spike of positive energy. Her heart rate spikes for a moment, and the medical equipment bleeps angrily. After a moment though, she relaxes. Her face is serene and peaceful, and no more burns are forthcoming...
Unfortunately, this isn't the end of Vai's problems. The nanites in her bloodstream are reporting an extremely low white blood count. As Fei feared, the ultraviolet radiation has completely decimated her immune system. She will recover with rest, and the nanites can substitute in the short-term, but the medical staff will have to carefuilly monitor her, lest she succumb to an infection and develop Immune Reconstitution Syndrome or another auto-immune condition.
She immediately narrows her gaze at Illithia, who'd been poking her, then around the room.
"I have lost track of time, what has happened and for how long?" She frowns after speaking this, realizing full well where she is, and how she is not affording her Professor, regardless of their association, her best behavior.
The thought of that washes over her expressive features, and she looks downward, self-chastised at her manner.
Glancing towards Illithia, she whispers, "I apologize for my lapse, I'm unclear what happened or for how long." Even when out of control, she's polite.
Illithia frowns, and glances at Vare who is also looking worriedly at Anahita's outburst in the middle of the lecture.
"Anahita, you just had an absent seizure." Illithia responds worriedly, looking at her, though returning the whisper. "That's really not good." Her black ink has shifted now towards a yellow-green, sickly colour, and she's standing raising a hand and looking at Vare, who has yet to resume his lecture. "Professor, permission to take Anahita to the infirmary. I think she just had an absent seizure, and she should be checked."
"It's only self-pity if you dwell on it. Nothing wrong with learning from past mistakes. Everyone has a few. Nobody is perfect. But little by little we can change to become better people. Still not perfect, but maybe moving on to new and different mistakes at least," she said with an encouraging smile.
'See, now there's something I'm really good at. Making different mistakes anyway.' Ehos says, trying to cheer himself up with a bit of levity, hiding the pain behind humour as he always does. 'I can think of at least one thing I did that wasn't a mistake though.' he displays, and nibbles playfully on Jaiye's ear as she reads it.
"Fei, Professor Sunwake, would a blood transfusion help Vai recover her white blood cells? I can change my shape to try and match her blood type, though I am uncertain if it would be exact." Ace asks, worn out from all the healing he had to do.
Illithia frowns, and glances at Vare who is also looking worriedly at Anahita's outburst in the middle of the lecture.
"Anahita, you just had an absent seizure." Illithia responds worriedly, looking at her, though returning the whisper. "That's really not good." Her black ink has shifted now towards a yellow-green, sickly colour, and she's standing raising a hand and looking at Vare, who has yet to resume his lecture. "Professor, permission to take Anahita to the infirmary. I think she just had an absent seizure, and she should be checked."
Looking a bit put out at the request without involving her in it, Anahita states firmly, "I am fine. There is no need for further attention on this-- nor further interrupting the Professor. My apologies. I can assure those interested that this will not happen again. I am physically well, a healer is not required."
She seems a touch flustered at the assertion, and request, trying to stave it off with her assurances. If there /were/ any ulterior motives behind Illithia's request, she didn't get it.
She smiled warmly afterwards adding, "It will not happen again. In class. Today."
He sends his love over the bond...and she'll get the normal concern and empathy for her troubles with Kronos...
"Tarka, she will be alright. Her patron is trying to influence her or make a decision that Ephebe doesn't agree with. She'll recover, she just needs rest. But thank you for letting me know."
He turns back to Morrivan.
"I'm sorry, Morrivan. My wife comes first, of course. Now, what did you need?"
"I...ummm.....well...." she began quite timidly. "My....my cousin....Rodhas.....he....he died.....during the attack....and.....and didn't come back," she added, fighting back tears. "Ummm.....Ardiente said that when his parents d-died that you were able to let him say....g-g-goodbye.....can you....can you help me...say....say g-goodbye too....p-please?"
When the energy flows through the bar, Tybalt almost drops it.
He clenches his teeth and grips the bar tighter instead, exhaling through his teeth.
The poor catfolk has never taken pain well and collapses to his knees, but never lets go of the bar.
The heat burns his hands and travels up his arms in a circuit, going up one arm, around his shoulders and down the other. The healing and the lace keep him from blacking out, but it's obviously still very painful.
When they end he drops the bar, and is on the floor on hands and knees, breathing heavily with his head hanging, being the one that took the most of this other than Vai herself.
"Is... she... OK...?" He asks, not lifting his head
As the tour moves on Halo gets a bit board, just walking up and down hallways looking at rooms has its limits.
The tour went past several classrooms before stopping briefly at the cafeteria.
"And this is the cafeteria. Food is provided to all students and staff so you don't have to worry about paying for food. Firebird food is kept on that section over there. For the rest of you, that skull and crossbones symbol over a flame means don't eat it. Our food is even more poisonous to you than yours is to us. For some reason non-firebirds can't seem to digest delicious things like butane and only eat water based food."
"Now, if you would like a brief tour of the grounds we can step outside for a moment. The grounds are quite large so we will only see a small fraction of them. The wards protect students to the edge of the grounds. They end just a little way into the forest there. You are not supposed to leave the wards without permission. Occasionally students are allowed to visit the nearby town of Kuros on the weekends, although all such trips are on hold while the town is being rebuilt. And you may once in a while have a field trip that will be accompanied by a staff member. But aside from that, you are asked not to leave the grounds."
"Fei, Professor Sunwake, would a blood transfusion help Vai recover her white blood cells? I can change my shape to try and match her blood type, though I am uncertain if it would be exact." Ace asks, worn out from all the healing he had to do.
He looks at Repp's feet.
"At the last murder scene the only foot prints that were found were small ones, my suspicions are justified... however, I'd like to look for tracks again, before the scene is too disturbed. Please stand back."
[dice=Survival]1d20+32
Repp's eyes continue to stay trained suspiciously on Al'rqyq, watching the Maftet to ensure he does nothing to disturb the crime scene or destroy evidence. Occasionally his glance strays to the dead form of Ginni herself, worry plain on his face.
Ardiente had nodded gratefully to Krays when the necromancer had entered, but is otherwise staying stoicly at Morrivan's side, doing what little he can to help the fellow Bender stay calm. A detatched part of his mind mused at how he had first met Morrivan, only a week previous.
Looking a bit put out at the request without involving her in it, Anahita states firmly, "I am fine. There is no need for further attention on this-- nor further interrupting the Professor. My apologies. I can assure those interested that this will not happen again. I am physically well, a healer is not required."
She seems a touch flustered at the assertion, and request, trying to stave it off with her assurances. If there /were/ any ulterior motives behind Illithia's request, she didn't get it.
She smiled warmly afterwards adding, "It will not happen again. In class. Today."
Vare spares a worried glance for Anahita. Knowing her stubbornness though, he simply nods. "Very well" and continues with his lecture.
Illithia sits back down, her ink still the same sickly-yellow-green colour. Her whisper as turned into a slight hiss. "It's really not a good thing Anahita. You could have epilepsy or porphyria or something. You should be checked."
Cultist City Assualt
** spoiler omitted **...
The ray of negative energy misses and the now very frustrated black wolf is once again trying to rip the throat of the ichor cultist out. Stupid spellcasters.
::There are invisible creatures in the room,:: he mentally shouted, to give some warning to his companions.
evil stuff
::Well, that was an interesting reaction there,:: she said coolly, examining the mind of Jessa/Evil Jessa to determine if their schism is natural or the result of a mind seed. ::You have too much confidence in yourself to pin your hopes on that against a skilled mentalist.::
The tour went past several classrooms before stopping briefly at the cafeteria. Then onto the ground.
As soon as they get outside, Halo, gets into Toby her Mecha and carry's on in him, following in the group. At the end of the tour when Prof del Sol talks about the wards. Halo opens up Toby and hears what he has to say about the town and wards. She nods as he tells them to stay in the wards.
Then as the others start to head back, she preps toby for a run.
"I'm going to have a look around the warded ground some more, Anyone wish to come let me know"
She closes up Toby with her inside as his Jocky and moves off at full running pace, jumping over bushes and trees as she gos.
Illithia sits back down, her ink still the same sickly-yellow-green colour. Her whisper as turned into a slight hiss. "It's really not a good thing Anahita. You could have epilepsy or porphyria or something. You should be checked."
Anahita considers the Halfling for a moment then leans over, when available to whisper closer, "I appreciate your concern, however, I have yet to be ill in any fashion. I doubt there is an issue with my mind either. I'm not quite certain, to be honest, what checked means along with some of your words. I do not have the one sickness, nor am I familiar with the latter in any manner. My well being is, I assure you, quite well in hand."
While leaning there, she looks back to Vare, then whispering to Illithia discretely, "I do, however, believe that investigating this demi-plane of mine further, needs to cease at this time. That was my last thought before some time was lost.. delving into that again may be the cause of my just recent loss of time. I remain more curious though, and thank you for that."
She smiles after that, then leans back and looks on at Vare's teaching.
When the energy flows through the bar, Tybalt almost drops it.
He clenches his teeth and grips the bar tighter instead, exhaling through his teeth.
The poor catfolk has never taken pain well and collapses to his knees, but never lets go of the bar.
The heat burns his hands and travels up his arms in a circuit, going up one arm, around his shoulders and down the other. The healing and the lace keep him from blacking out, but it's obviously still very painful.
When they end he drops the bar, and is on the floor on hands and knees, breathing heavily with his head hanging, being the one that took the most of this other than Vai herself.
"Is... she... OK...?" He asks, not lifting his head
As everything finishes. Mel breathes a sigh of relief.
looking to Tybs. She's gonna make it, everyone, we did great.
Going to Ace. You see Ace, what you can accomplish with others by your side. I have to admit, I put you with Tybs on purpose. you both needed to see that when it comes down to it, you both have what it takes to be friends. you can work together. and Tybs your cold isn't a curse, its a blessing. I am sure there are more great things that you can due with that cold. Mel smiles hoping there is a tiny glimmer of hope that Tybs and Ace can look past their disagreements and find common ground.
regarding Ace and the blood, Ace, before we jump into that, lets give her a chance to recuperate on her own for a bit first. at least until we know for sure it would work. ok?
Toby is moving fast, once Halo gets him to the lake she slows down, keeping in the wards. She takes them around the water until they get to the other side of the grounds, then off again at speed.
"It's only self-pity if you dwell on it. Nothing wrong with learning from past mistakes. Everyone has a few. Nobody is perfect. But little by little we can change to become better people. Still not perfect, but maybe moving on to new and different mistakes at least," she said with an encouraging smile.'See, now there's something I'm really good at. Making different mistakes anyway.' Ehos says, trying to cheer himself up with a bit of levity, hiding the pain behind humour as he always does. 'I can think of at least one thing I did that wasn't a mistake though.' he displays, and nibbles playfully on Jaiye's ear as she reads it.
She smiles at him, giggling a little as he nibbles at her ear. That made her tingle down to her toes. She had very sensitive ears. Which he knew full well. She laid a hand along his cheek for a moment before turning away. "We really should get to class...before first period is all the way over," she said regretfully.
evil stuff1d20+14 +10
::Well, that was an interesting reaction there,:: she said coolly, examining the mind of Jessa/Evil Jessa to determine if their schism is natural or the result of a mind seed. ::You have too much confidence in yourself to pin your hopes on that against a skilled mentalist.::
The schism seems to be a completely natural response to psychological trauma.
The hostile personality in Jessa's mind seems to be confused for a few moments by the ease with which Nala crushed the mind seed. Evil Jessa regains her mental balance, however, and seems to draw in on herself becoming more dense if such a thing were possible for a mind. It seems she is gathering her strength for another attack.
"Fei, Professor Sunwake, would a blood transfusion help Vai recover her white blood cells? I can change my shape to try and match her blood type, though I am uncertain if it would be exact." Ace asks, worn out from all the healing he had to do.
Aananda was checking on the scanner readouts. She gently smoothed the hair back from Vai's forehead as she did so, every bit the worried mother.
"The nanites are working for now. This wasn't meant to be a long term treatment though. It's just a stopgap. A blood transfusion might help. I'd have to scrub the blood using nanites to make it compatible for her. Nobody else has Vai's exact bloodtype. But there are other options. I just can't use those without her permission. Once Vai wakes up I'll ask her what she wants. Depending on her choice she may need a lot more of these treatments in the future. Or none of them. But it has to be her choice."
The schism seems to be a completely natural response to psychological trauma.
The hostile personality in Jessa's mind seems to be confused for a few moments by the ease with which Nala crushed the mind seed. Evil Jessa regains her mental balance, however, and seems to draw in on herself becoming more dense if such a thing were possible for a mind. It seems she is gathering her strength for another attack.
::Doors work two ways, Jessa. If you continue to attack me I will show you exactly why there is nothing you can do to hurt me. You think that you are so powerful and malevolent, but you're just a frightened little girl lashing out at the universe. And that I know a little too much about,:: she warned, examining the cracks in Jessa's psyche. It would be dangerous to push her too far, but it might be the only real chance to save her.