Sādhanā goes upstairs to round up the group, approaching them as she encounters them, and asking everyone to meet down in the mess hall.
Ylrhea sits at the table next to Arista, once she gets to the dining area. "So I guess this isn't going to be a 'what do I need to buy for the baby' converation, right?"
Sienna changes into her clothes before taking Cyna's hand and heading downstairs.
Rikali stops Sādhanā as she passes through the hallway to the other tower. "Gukinshi told me about what was supposed to happen. Do you think we can change it?"
Toni sheathes the sword and buckles it around her waist. She heads downstairs and sits at one of the tables. "I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
Still in her pj's Arista shakes her head, her expression somewhat grim and a bit strained. Looking at Ylrhea she tries to give her a smile, her face still slightly pail and drawn, "No Rhea, I'm afraid not." At Toni's question she looks up at her while shaking her head again, "No....no it's nothing you did or didn't do. You haven't done anything wrong, but there are some things we need to talk about, and though some of them are gonna seem a little scary I need for you to really listen and try to hear me. I know how hard this is for you, and I'm afraid it's not going to get easier right away, but we're here for you and will do everything in our power to help you and Rikali both. As soon as everyone is here, I'll go ahead and start. I'll try to get through it as quickly as I can and then we can deal with questions. Oh, before I forget...Rhea, could you go get the bag that you found in the creepy headmasters office when we freed the children and bring it here please? It's time we figured out what was in there I think."
"Yes I do, that's why we're meeting downstairs, to come up with a plan that will keep us all as safe as possible and eliminate unnecessary threats." Sādhanā says putting a hand on Rikali's shoulder.
Toni nods. "Alright, I trust you guys."
Ylrhea nods and heads upstairs to retrieve the bag. When she comes back down, she opens it up. "Lots of papers, the breeding tables I mentioned. Some money...46 gold and 3 silver...a couple potions...these look like Cure Light Wounds...two of 'em. A couple of bracers...and a book."
Rikali nods. "I need to get Toni to open up to me at some point, I'm her Midwife, afterall. But she refuses to talk about House matters..."
"Hmm... she really does, I think she's still adjusting to having to deal with a whole new reality.....twice." Sādhanā says quietly.
"I don't know if the world will wait," Rikali says sternly. "But I can't drive her off the deep end. Well, let's head downstairs and see what this plan is."
"Ok, just try not to push too hard....Toni or yourself"
Sādhanā says as they head downstairs.
"I know," Rikali says. "I have a constant reminder."
Once everyone is gathered at the table, Arista takes a deep breath and starts to explain.
"Okay, I'm going to try and explain things as best I can. According to Oblivion, something happened and the day reset itself. That's why we're all having that weird 'I've been here before' feeling." She looks around the room at everyone, her eyes coming to rest on Toni and Rikali. "Toni, I know you didn't ask for this and I'm sorry that you've been basically shoved into a role that you don't even fully understand or want. Before when we met, you told us about how you were a cop? I'm pretty much guessing that, that means you were like a kind of peacekeeper? Well, that's pretty much what we are. Just like you protected people from bad guys, we have our own bad guys. The difference is, is that instead of our bad guys having guns, they have magic and other abilities that they use to spread darkness and despair. Right now we are faced with a serious issue. You Toni, are very important to us as well as the rest of Zahvroma and Vesaria as well. There are really bad people that want to get their hands on you so that they can take control of house Bok for themselves to use for their own nefarious schemes." Taking a deep breath she looks at the others, "Reinhardt, Chalandra, and Vencious are all near. While freeing the rest of the slaves is important, as well as retaking the tower. Our first priority is the safety of Toni and Rikali." She looks back at Toni, "You can not go back to Siphas alone, it's not safe. Also, you need to know that Rikali's tattoos are different. They are not like Sadhana's at all. They were placed on her by the Anizari as a curse to keep her from transforming and achieving her true potential. This is in no way, shape, or form your fault though. You are not the cause of anything that is happening right now and I really need for you to understand that and trust the decisions that we make are in your own best interest. You may not realize it yet Toni, but you have it within yourself to free her from this curse. The same way you've been helping Orias, you can help Rikali. Rikali's sword has the ability to break curses. You somehow have been channeling that ability and using it to help Orias, without even realizing it. Once you learn how to use it, there won't be any curse you can't break."
She gives Toni a reassuring smile, "By the way, those clothes look lovely on the both of you."
Turning to everyone else she says, "Magnus's son is being held hostage by a nasty halfling named Lucky One-Eye. Vencious is using that to make Magnus turn on us and hand Toni over to Chalandra. WE will not let this happen. All of us are going to go confront Magnus with what we know. We are all going to go to kill that bastard halfling and save his son thereby removing the threat. We will not take his son back to him, but take him with us to Siphas where he is out of the line of fire and safe. We are going to take Toni, Rikali, Orias, and Magnus's son back to Siphas. There are strong people there that can protect them. I'm not sure where Chalandra is exactly, but we know from what Oblivion told us that Reinhardt is somehow in the Nymph's woods, which we have to pass through to go back to Siphas. I believe it's time we finally end that twisted bastard's existence."
She stands up then, her pj's changing different shades of blue. "The time for waiting is over. This time we take the fight to them. Our enemies may be great in number, but when we stand together we are greater than them. They may think they have us surrounded, but our backs are not up against a wall. We have knowledge that they don't know that we have, and that knowledge gives us power and the upper hand. We will fight, we will win, and we will get through this. Together. No more splitting up. Everything we do from here on out, we do as a team. We do it together."
She looks down at herself and though her face seems a little paler and tighter looking than usual, she seems to blush momentarily. "Uuhhh, of course I'll have to change first. I don't think I'll look very scary like this." She turns and looks at Sadhana, "Did I forget anything? Oh yes, Ylrhea, we still need to look at those items. Everything seems pretty normal, but what's that book about? Sadhana can you take a look at it? I'm sorry everyone, my mind is still trying to process everything. Does anyone have any questions? I need to go get changed and get ready. Toni and Rikali, if you have anything you want to ask me you can come with me, or you can stay here with the others if you like. All I ask is that you please don't wander off, alright?"
She waits a moment to see if anyone has any questions for her specifically before getting up to leave the table and get ready for war.
Ylrhea flips through the book. "Looks like a list of things needed. Then some arcane mumbo-jumbo."
"Let me see that, half-pint," Sienna says, hovering over Ylrhea's shoulder.
"Nope, it doesn't make sense to me."
Sādhanā listens as Arista lays out the information as well as the plan of action, nodding when called for and looking to Rikali, knowing that Gukinshi would verify what was being said.
As Arista gets up, she looks over at the book after Sienna is done with it. "Can I take a look?"
Sadhana determines from the list and arcane rituals that Vencious is attempting to construct an amplifier, but there is no information regarding what it would be used for.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Toni looks at Rikali. "So let me try to remove that curse...Can I hold Gukinshi?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Rikali hands the blade to Toni. "Don't be discouraged if nothing happens."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Toni merely smiles and holds the sword. She closes her eyes and concentrates.
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Gukinshi hums as Toni concentrates, the air filling with a strange energy. Rikali's tattoos disperse as before, a mass of red ink swirling around the magus. The blade seems to pulse stronger, blotches of ink begin dissipating. Drago feels a sharp, painful sensation on the heel of his right foot, but suddenly it eases. You all hear screaming coming from the left tower.
Toni begins sweating, but she keeps concentrating. "Not giving up..."
Gukinshi's humming reaches a higher pitch before the blade turns a dull grey. The last of the red ink evaporates into nothingness and a pair of fuzzy ears emerge on top of Rikali's reddish-brown hair.
"Toni! You did it!" Rikali exclaims as her body changes to its original shape. She looks herself over and only sees the mark of House Bok on her arm.
Toni opens her eyes. "I think...I ruined your sword..."
The Summoner falls to the floor, exhausted.
Rikali takes Gukinshi back. "He's only sleeping."
She picks up Toni, surprised by her strength returning to her. She carries Toni to one of the beds upstairs.
"Weird stuff: check," Sienna says. "I suppose we move on to the ass-kicking portion of our day."
"Only if Toni isn't out for the rest of the day," Ylrhea says.
Arista is upstairs getting dressed when Rikali comes up with Toni in her arms. Arista looks up as the pair come in, her eyes go large and round with surprise. "Rikali? Wha...what happened? What was all that screaming I heard? Is everything alright?" Arista asks while pulling on her long sleeve gold top over her chain mail. She pulls out her dark green hooded cloak and fastens it around her. She looks at Rikali in amazement as she sits down on the bed to put her winter boots on. Her features still seem a little drawn, but some of the color has returned to her face.
"Toni was able to remove those tattoos from me," Rikali says, setting Toni on a bed. "As for the screaming, I don't know...probably Orias. Toni may need to rest for a bit. She exerted herself a bit."
Arista smiles, a look of relief on her face. "I knew she could do it. She just needed a little positive reinforcement. I know it's not gonna be easy for her, but we believe in her. More importantly, she needs to believe in herself. I think this is the start of that." She takes in Rikali's appearance, "Wow....you look great. So, how are you feeling?" She picks up her sword and straps it to her waist.
"I'm going to check on our friend down stairs."
Cyna leaves the others to check on Orias, making her way to the basement as quickly as possible.
"A little sore," Rikali answers with a smile.
***
Cyna arrives downstairs and sees Orias in the cage, doubled over and whimpering.
She frowns a little at first, then nods her head and smiles back. "It's just good to see you, the real you." She pats Rikali on the back and gives her arm a little squeeze before stepping to the door. "I'm gonna go check on Orias, I'll be back." Arista makes her way down to where Orias is and arrives shortly after Cyna.
Seeing Orias doubled over she looks at Cyna and shrugs, "Orias?"
"Who's there?" Orias groans.
"Just us, you were screaming are you alright?" Cyna answers.
"No, there was a fair bit of pain. I feel blood on my back, but I hurt to much to tell..."
"Maybe Toni unconsciously lifted the curse while she was helping Rikali. I'll get something to clean you up with and we'll see what is going on." She says before heading back upstairs to grab her supplies.
Looking at him she says, "Here, let me see if I can alleviate some of your pain." Reaching through the bars she touches him and lets her healing energy flow through her into him.
She looks at him, "Does that help at all?"
Orias looks into Arista's eyes. "Yes, it does...I...I remember a bit more now."
Arista looks at the bottom of the cage and sees silver dust scattered about. The back of Orias' shirt is also ruined.
She looks at the dust on the floor of his cage, and then at his back. "Well I'll be damned....I think she cured more than just Rikali's curse. I think Toni undid all of your curses." She stands there just stunned for a bit before she finds her voice again.
"So....what are you remembering? Do you want to talk about it? We should see if we can get you out of there. I don't think anyone will be controlling you now." She smiles a little at him as she holds onto the cage and takes a few deep breaths.
Cyna returns with her medicine kit and some rags. "Let's see what the damage is."
Sādhanā watches with rapt attention as Toni breaks the spell, the smile that crosses her face when Rikaly assumes her true form is halted at the scream from the other tower. When Cyna reports and gathers her gear, the magus follows Arista down to see Orias.
As Cyna prepares to attend to him after Arista heals him, the Magus studies the injured devil.
"An gceapann tú gur féidir leat a caitheadh leis an moráltacht léamh seal arís ? Níl a fhios againn cé mhéad a bhí an curse ag athrú air." she says quietly.
"I used to be a lord of a kingdom called Tamarlane," Orias recalls. "I had a wife, Gwendolyn, and just had a daughter...her name...I can't remember her name yet. We had just named her. Then Vencious came with Baraxias...I told my wife to escape...then I think I died and was taken to the Nine Hells."