"Presuming Taron hasn't also already taken care of that."
The squirrels return triumphantly carrying a flower pot, except that the flowers in it are blue with green stripes instead of red with blue stripes.
"Oh, it's the wrong one....no, no, don't be disappointed. It's okay. It was unreasonable. Squirrels aren't so good with color. It's okay. Umm....how about we all just try again?"
She sighed as the squirrels scampered off again. "This whole day is surreal. It would be nice if we could sit in the shade, but with the plants being all attacky..." She jumped out of the way of a blackberry bush and winced as she felt that strange pull again.
A donkey materialized out of nowhere and started munching on the blackberry bush, oblivious to thorns and the tendency of the shrubbery to try and run away.
Kitty sat down. "I don't understand what's going on."
Around the same time the squireel's spot it, Kitty does as well: there is a flower pot at the bottom of the Koi pond, safely shrouded in a bubble of air.
Michael's eyes widen as he figures it out, but decides to say nothing for now. This was a neat development indeed, and he wanted to be absolutely sure before he said anything and got her hopes up.
Vai hugs Aananda tightly, the soothing slowly relaxing her grip. When Jiminy mentions Ephebe, Vai's head turns, still resting on Aananda's chest, tear-streaked face looking worried. Something doesn't quite register, but she says: "Whu-What's wrong with Ephebe?"
She stroked Vai's hair gently. "Shh. Shh. It's alright. You're safe now. The nightmare is over. He won't hurt you or anyone else ever again."
I will try.
Phaezeriel flutters over to the dragon. He raises his hands and with some complicated gestures looses magic into the massive form.
Around the same time the squireel's spot it, Kitty does as well: there is a flower pot at the bottom of the Koi pond, safely shrouded in a bubble of air.
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Michael's eyes widen as he figures it out, but decides to say nothing for now. This was a neat development indeed, and he wanted to be absolutely sure before he said anything and got her hopes up.
The squirrels are dancing around the koi pond in excitement and Kitty looks into the water.
"Oh, look, there it is. Well it will be a bit of a swim, but it shouldn't be too bad. The koi pond isn't that deep," she said, wading into the water, the squirrels following. They don't seem to be the best swimmers, but what they lack in skill they make up for in enthusiasm.
Vai hugs Aananda tightly, the soothing slowly relaxing her grip. When Jiminy mentions Ephebe, Vai's head turns, still resting on Aananda's chest, tear-streaked face looking worried. Something doesn't quite register, but she says: "Whu-What's wrong with Ephebe?"
Ryleh shifted back to human form. "I want you to understand that no one blames you for any of this. Keep that in mind."
"After he kidnapped you, Aegythrax left a simulacrum of you in your place. He used that simulacrum to lure Ephebe into a trap. Apparently he had made a deal with Madness to deliver Ephebe to him in exchange for the help Madness provided him in getting into Agartha in the first place. She was taken this morning. Krays and the other Champions have gone after her. Since we could not accompany them due to the high risk of having our minds taken over, we came to rescue you. We are understandably rather eager to get back and make sure that Ephebe is ....safe."
I will try.
Phaezeriel flutters over to the dragon. He raises his hands and with some complicated gestures looses magic into the massive form.
Phaezeriel felt the magic twist unexpectedly as he cast it. The result was not quite what he expected. Aegythrax was still recognizably himself, but he was the size of a house cat.
"Uh, sorry. I interfered. It's just....it's easier for Krays to kill him this way....also the spell wasn't going to take and it seemed like that would be a waste. And it's a lot easier to warp reality around something real rather than having to call it into being all on my own....I'll try to give you some warning in the future before I go tampering with your magic again."
Jen finally finishes reading the relevant pages (at least, the ones that seem relevant) and sympathizes with the lowly mite in a conflict, as they are a small fey creature like herself and the fey already know plenty about each other. However, there was a little question that wasn't answered in the entire reading...
Jen tries to balance herself on her hind feet and raises her hand (paw) to try and attract Professor Relkav's attention.
"What's a Derro?"
"Oh, look, there it is. Well it will be a bit of a swim, but it shouldn't be too bad. The koi pond isn't that deep," she said, wading into the water, the squirrels following. They don't seem to be the best swimmers, but what they lack in skill they make up for in enthusiasm.
As Kitty and her squirrels make their way toward the potted plant, the lilypads move with more speed than they would if a fish had brushed against them, aiming for Kitty's legs.
"Kitty, watch out!" Michael cries as the lily pads attack.
Ryleh shifted back to human form. "I want you to understand that no one blames you for any of this. Keep that in mind.""After he kidnapped you, Aegythrax left a simulacrum of you in your place. He used that simulacrum to lure Ephebe into a trap. Apparently he had made a deal with Madness to deliver Ephebe to him in exchange for the help Madness provided him in getting into Agartha in the first place. She was taken this morning. Krays and the other Champions have gone after her. Since we could not accompany them due to the high risk of having our minds taken over, we came to rescue you. We are understandably rather eager to get back and make sure that Ephebe is ....safe."
Ryleh shifted back to human form. "I want you to understand that no one blames you for any of this. Keep that in mind."
"After he kidnapped you, Aegythrax left a simulacrum of you in your place. He used that simulacrum to lure Ephebe into a trap. Apparently he had made a deal with Madness to deliver Ephebe to him in exchange for the help Madness provided him in getting into Agartha in the first place. She was taken this morning. Krays and the other Champions have gone after her. Since we could not accompany them due to the high risk of having our minds taken over, we came to rescue you. We are understandably rather eager to get back and make sure that Ephebe is ....safe."
Vai finally stops shaking, trying to act brave, and says: "*sniff* Let's go then. I'll... I'll try not to feel like it's my fault. Thank you. Everyone, thank you." Krays would save Ephebe. She's alright. It's not your fault. She's fine. Just get home and see her...
Phaezeriel turns back to Vai. Though it is hard to tell exactly where his glowing silver eyes are looking, Vai can feel the intensity of his gaze almost like a pressure against her own eyes, We will never betray you. We will always be here to help you when you need it. Do not blame yourself for the bad things that happen; none of the rest of us do. Blame those that do the bad things.
Vai nods tentatively at Phaezeriel, and opens her mouth as if to say something, but instead gives her tiny friend a hug. "You're right. I... I'm sorry I didn't tell you about me earlier, especially since you've been such a good friend to me."
"Oh, look, there it is. Well it will be a bit of a swim, but it shouldn't be too bad. The koi pond isn't that deep," she said, wading into the water, the squirrels following. They don't seem to be the best swimmers, but what they lack in skill they make up for in enthusiasm.As Kitty and her squirrels make their way toward the potted plant, the lilypads move with more speed than they would if a fish had brushed against them, aiming for Kitty's legs.
"Kitty, watch out!" Michael cries as the lily pads attack.
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Kitty managed to dodge the first couple of lilypads, but dodging in water was more difficult than she realized.
"Ow!" she yelled as one of the razor lilypads brushed against her leg.
She felt that strange pull on her mind again and the koi pond was suddenly infested with squid who joined the squirrels in trying to wrestle with the lilypads...they were just better at it. Kitty looked bewildered, but took advantage of the confusion to try and grab the flowerpot.
Aananda gets a starcaster strapped to Vai, and the proper coordinates programmed in. Once she's sure that everyone is all set, they travel back to Avalon.
Once they arrive, Aananda activates her communicator.
"Harbinger, this is Avalon calling. Be advised that the girl has been safely retrieved. Also, you can take Aegythrax off your threat list. He has been dealt with. To the best of my knowledge we were in and out without being spotted by any of the natives."
Once he gets over the sight of squirrels and squid working together to fight lily pads, Michael jumps into the Koi pond to help Kitty get the flower pot and get out of the water.
"What an interesting way to get around the rule against hurting the plants." Adsila says as she walks over, three flowers like the ones Kitty and Michael just got wrapped around her. "You both did a great job, except for the part where you missed the flower pot right under your nose. I thought for sure after you dived in for your little blue creature you'd see it."
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Jen finally finishes reading the relevant pages (at least, the ones that seem relevant) and sympathizes with the lowly mite in a conflict, as they are a small fey creature like herself and the fey already know plenty about each other. However, there was a little question that wasn't answered in the entire reading...
Jen tries to balance herself on her hind feet and raises her hand (paw) to try and attract Professor Relkav's attention.
"What's a Derro?"
Vakkler starts. "A derro...derro, also known as 'white dwarves', are insane people of the Underdark. Derro are not born insane, but drive their offspring to madness at a young age through an unknown ritual. Derro are extremely sadistic, and take delight in capturing unwary travelers and torturing them to death. This particular conflict, as you have just read, started when the derro tribe kidnapped several sons of the mite shaman for such a purpose."
"Harbinger, this is Avalon calling. Be advised that the girl has been safely retrieved. Also, you can take Aegythrax off your threat list. He has been dealt with. To the best of my knowledge we were in and out without being spotted by any of the natives."
"That is good news, Avalon. I'm glad she is alright."
"Is there anything for us to bother trying to clean up at the site, or was it obliterated?"
Phaezeriel speaks to Ryleh, ::You seem to be very psychically powerful, so far I have not found anyone from whom I could hope to learn, perhaps if you have time and the inclination I could learn something from you.::
"And please elaborate on the phrase 'dealt with'..." the elf adds.
Once he gets over the sight of squirrels and squid working together to fight lily pads, Michael jumps into the Koi pond to help Kitty get the flower pot and get out of the water.
"What an interesting way to get around the rule against hurting the plants." Adsila says as she walks over, three flowers like the ones Kitty and Michael just got wrapped around her. "You both did a great job, except for the part where you missed the flower pot right under your nose. I thought for sure after you dived in for your little blue creature you'd see it."
"I don't understand. I don't know what's going on...get around the restriction? How? And where are all these creatures coming from???!" she said, near tears. "My head feels funny," she added, sitting down abruptly at the edge of the pond.
"And please elaborate on the phrase 'dealt with'..." the elf adds.
"The site has been scrubbed clean."
"You might not want to know. Technically he's still alive, but that is a temporary condition. And I have been assured that he will not be enjoying the afterlife...or coming back from it."
Phaezeriel speaks to Ryleh, ::You seem to be very psychically powerful, so far I have not found anyone from whom I could hope to learn, perhaps if you have time and the inclination I could learn something from you.::
Ryleh studied him gravely.
::Yes, I would be willing to teach you,:: she said finally after an uncomfortably long pause.
Phaezeriel speaks to Ryleh, ::You seem to be very psychically powerful, so far I have not found anyone from whom I could hope to learn, perhaps if you have time and the inclination I could learn something from you.::Ryleh studied him gravely.
::Yes, I would be willing to teach you,:: she said finally after an uncomfortably long pause.
"Pheebs says that she and Krays are in the kitchen in the cottage. She sounded okay. But I'm guessing we're all going to go see for ourselves," he added with a grin.
"The site has been scrubbed clean."
"You might not want to know. Technically he's still alive, but that is a temporary condition. And I have been assured that he will not be enjoying the afterlife...or coming back from it."
"....Acknowledged, Avalon. We'll have agents monitor the system for any chatter or other activity, just in case. And congratulations on a successful rescue. Tell Vai I hope she can have at least a couple of days of nice, boring rest after all of this. Harbinger out."
"I don't understand. I don't know what's going on...get around the restriction? How? And where are all these creatures coming from???!" she said, near tears. "My head feels funny," she added, sitting down abruptly at the edge of the pond.
"You mean you don't know?" Adsila asks as she sits down next to Kitty and takes her her in her own. "You summoned the animals, Miss Tanaka. With a spell. Ormarr had suspected it after you calmed down the snakes."
"I don't understand. I don't know what's going on...get around the restriction? How? And where are all these creatures coming from???!" she said, near tears. "My head feels funny," she added, sitting down abruptly at the edge of the pond."You mean you don't know?" Adsila asks as she sits down next to Kitty and takes her her in her own. "You summoned the animals, Miss Tanaka. With a spell. Ormarr had suspected it after you calmed down the snakes."
"I what? Spells? I...but I don't know how to cast spells....or at least I think I don't know how...I'm certainly not doing it on purpose anyways."
"I remember the thing with the snakes. They were upset. I wanted to help. I don't know. I was humming something I think? And then they felt better. But I don't know how I did it."
"That funny feeling in my head...like something is pulling at my brain....is that a spell being cast?"
"That funny feeling in my head...like something is pulling at my brain....is that a spell being cast?"
"It won't be very noticeable once you're used to it, but yes, that is what casting a spell can feel like. It's a very easy course to take if you want help learning, and it takes very little time out of your day."
"That funny feeling in my head...like something is pulling at my brain....is that a spell being cast?""It won't be very noticeable once you're used to it, but yes, that is what casting a spell can feel like. It's a very easy course to take if you want help learning, and it takes very little time out of your day."
"Oh," she said,still just a bit bewildered. "Umm....that would be natural magic? I was wondering why I had a magic course on my schedule, but I was so happy to actually have a schedule, I didn't question it too much..."
and not checking first to see if there was any intel or tech worth salvaging from Aegythrax's lab before it all got slagged.
Vai doubled over, nauseous after the arrival. She recovers, and stands up straight, her speech is pained. "I don't think I'm ever going to be used to teleporting." The nausea fades after a couple moments and she takes a deep breath and looks around. The mechanics workshop. She had been here. She was home. Ephebe. James said she was in Ryo's cottage. Vai remembered being there.
[i]With the starcaster finally unstraped, Vai screws up her courage and gives Ryleh, James and Fieri hugs, thanking them again, before saying: "I'm going to go see Ephebe."
"Oh," she said,still just a bit bewildered. "Umm....that would be natural magic? I was wondering why I had a magic course on my schedule, but I was so happy to actually have a schedule, I didn't question it too much..."
"Yep, nature magic. Fitting that you'd learn about it in a garden, don't you think? Now, why don't the both of you go find a nice tree somewhere to sit under and rest? Looking for the plants takes more time than you realize, and you've covered a lot of ground."
"Wait....I want to go see Ephebe as much if not more than you do, but I want to do a full medical scan on you first."
Especially if teleporting is making you sick, she thought to herself, but didn't say out loud.
"Just to be safe. Aegythrax's genetic manipulation tech was pretty far behind the curve. The time demon was centuries ahead of him and she still left Ephebe in an unstable state that nearly killed her. I'm not about to take that chance with you now that I know better," she said, gently leading Vai towards the scanning platform.
"Oh," she said,still just a bit bewildered. "Umm....that would be natural magic? I was wondering why I had a magic course on my schedule, but I was so happy to actually have a schedule, I didn't question it too much...""Yep, nature magic. Fitting that you'd learn about it in a garden, don't you think? Now, why don't the both of you go find a nice tree somewhere to sit under and rest? Looking for the plants takes more time than you realize, and you've covered a lot of ground."
"That sounds like a great idea."
"Thanks, Professor Agave. Sorry, this is just...unexpected," she said with a wobbly grin.
She followed Adsila's instructions and flopped down in the shade, exhausted and a little overwhelmed.
"Here, drink this." Michael hands Kitty a tiny vial that says "Healing" on the side. "It's the only one I made today, but it should fix that cut."
"So... you're a nature mage now? That's pretty cool."
"Here, drink this." Michael hands Kitty a tiny vial that says "Healing" on the side. "It's the only one I made today, but it should fix that cut."
"So... you're a nature mage now? That's pretty cool."
"Thanks," she said, taking the vial and drinking it.
"That does feel better," she said, her smile becoming more cheerful.
"It's pretty overwhelming right now. I mean, before I couldn't cast any spells, and now I can't seem to stop, only I don't know what I'm doing. It's kinda a little bit scary actually."
"But I think it will be cool, once I understand it better."
The mole tips over onto it's feet, and waddles over to Kitty. He stands up on his hind legs, and sqeaks and nose twitches follow...
The mole tips over onto it's feet, and waddles over to Kitty. He stands up on his hind legs, and sqeaks and nose twitches follow...
** spoiler omitted **
Kitty shrugged, unconsciously replying in mole language.
"You know some of them can turn into animals, right?"
He takes his normal human form
"...And you speak mole. Very nice. Well on your way to becomming a druid, I'd say." He turns to Micheal
"Where was you two's plant at?"
Aananda breathed out a sigh of relief. Well, at least it wasn't that. Just an unfortunate tendency to motion sickness.
"Okay, here's the deal. This is really not the best splice job. I don't think I can return you to the way you were before. Not without a sample of your unaltered DNA. But I can fix the hatchet job he did on you. There are quite a few options, none of which we'll go forward with without your permission. It won't hurt. All we have to do is inject some nanites and they'll take care of it on a cellular level. You can take your time and think it over. No hurry."
"Aside from that, you appear to be in excellent health, so that's good news."
"You know some of them can turn into animals, right?"
"Really? Oh, that would be cool! I could turn into a cat! Sakura-Neko indeed," she said, laughing.