Greer nods grimly. "It's like pulling weeds," he says "One shows up every couple of weeks. But, with the new detection equipment we have, we usually find them before they're 3 feet tall. We seldom need to dispatch more than three agents. The only real threat is the mind control."
Greer has no real plans but was thinking of taking a walk to the Away Market and looking at trinkets from other worlds.
"Well, I suppose you can't fault their persistence..." Unity comment. "Just everything else about Void." "There must be a way to solve the issue permanently..." "But now's not really the time. We've only been here... what, twice? Any recommendations on where to go?" "Honestly, we'd probably find any kind of park or nature area like that they have here interesting, if you know of a place like that here."
They almost ask Greer if he has a farm, but... well, it seems wrong somehow to ask someone how close they are to a dimensional duplicate.
"I'm going to hunt for holy weapons at the Away Market. They make a big difference in the field," says Greer, referring again to the market for those who visit Tarokh from other dimensions and unload other wordly goods. "But, if you want a park ... in the city ... you could visit The Gates, but it's tiny ... larger on the inside though. If you're just looking to stretch your legs, there's the beach, or the bay if you want to fly. I could head down that way with you if you'd like."
'LET'S GOoooo!""I'm gonna go up and meet the godlings", Theo nodded, looking around. "And try to find The Queen of Swords. A hotter MILF I've never seen."
Theo walks up the stairs his arms wide. "ENYO! My family! How the Tartarus are ya?!"
The band of half-Olympian demigods thump their chests and hoot as Theo approaches. "We're going on a pub crawl," says Enyo. "Want to join us? We start in High District, hit Book Row, circle down through the Away Market, to the Open Market, and, if no one has been arrested, we finish at the Docks."
The demigods hoot and urge Theo to join them.
And, so, begins Theo's second night of drinking in a row.
Any questions you want to ask the demi-gods during the pubcrawl?| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Henri responds to the news from the World 12 contingent, "Really! That sounds fascinating - has he shown a knack for the arcane, then? I have always wondered if a scientific mind would interfere with grasping the arcane. Have you other news of home? As you have probably heard, I am afraid I have been a bit out of touch."
"He has zero knack for the arcane," says John, "But he's into classic fantasy literature and got it in his head to go to wizard school so we let him try."
Hector responds to Henri's other question, "Back home, the reptilian invaders stopped coming shortly after you left. I assume that had something to do with you. It took April, John, Zellgato, and me about a year to eradicate what we hope was the last nest of them. Since then, much of our time has been spent protecting that continuity from another future-based organization called FATE which, coincidentally also has a Zellgato and a version of April."
"We're going to go meet young Theo for a meal," says John. "Would you like to come with us?"
[dice=Surprise!]d20
Nissa ultimately decides to spend the evening with Tarantula. She might end up talking about the past instead of the present, but the Dawnflower asked honesty of Nissa. So no good comes of lying to myself.
She flutters over to Tarantula. “It’s been too long, and we went through too much, and both of us came too close to death in the two missions we were in together. We’re going out, having fun, talking shop, catching up… are you free for something like that?”
Tarantula, it turns out, is heading down to a local armory where she had a helmet made for Greer in a Tarokhian style. It looks pretty fierce and impractical but the kind of thing that would look great in a man-cave.
"So, ..." says Tarantula. "You're back. Does this mean you and the Marshall are getting back together?"
"So, Guys! You know the normal questions I'm asking? What the latest news out of Greece Triumphant! What's the latest gossip among the Gods! What are some of the latest trends and music!" Theo smiled as he held his cousins by the shoulders. "I met my future son! Well, one of my future sons. Hahhaha!"
Beat me to it…!
Nissa answers honestly, “I hope so… I mean, it’s what I want. But a relationship only works if she wants that too, and I know she’s lived a whole other life for three years and three months. It was three days for me.
“I stopped by a planet of women on the way back. There was a six-foot-tall muscular version of myself and L.C. just—“ She magical-girls her outfit to a backless version of alt-L.C.’s open blouse.
“—hangin’ out together.” She cups her hands close to her exposed side-boobs for emphasis before buttoning up.
“We made such a cute couple, and… they were unfazed by my new look. It was a shock to… well, let’s be fair, not just L.C. I know she wants to try, but… I’m afraid that she’s—that I’m—”
Nissa magical girls on an outfit that she thinks will better fit her tiny form in a way that’s more flattering.
It is, but marginally so.
“—not attractive! Y’know, in that way. Like, I’m cute in the way Tinkerbelle is cute, but Peter Pan can’t f%!$ Tink. He wants Wendy. She’s plain, but that’s what Peter wants.” She blushes, aura reddening as Tinkerbelle’s does. “So am I like Tink? Just getting in the way, wanting a human existence that I can’t really have?”
Making his way to Tony, he'll address him. "How's life been, any more incursionary situations worth mentioning. Or enjoyable aspects of life for divulging in a public setting?"
"It's true then," says Tony, "Gaia's dead?"
It's hard to read his tiger face, but he seems sad about it.
"It seems as such. I've not been to her territory, I tried looking when the others were lost. However, given the lack of incursions and lack of other evidences. It seems apt to say Gaia is deceased. Until shown proof otherwise." Zellgato pulls a chipolte and prickly pear lollipop and holds it out to Tony. "Random food helps."
"We're going to go meet young Theo for a meal," says John. "Would you like to come with us?"
”Yes, thank you. I’d like to hear more about this FATE group, but I suppose there will be plenty of time for business. I do suspect the lizards stopped coming because we presented a problem for them much closer to home.”
Zellgato tries to read Tony stronger. sense motive]1d20+16
"It seems as such. I've not been to her territory, I tried looking when the others were lost. However, given the lack of incursions and lack of other evidences. It seems apt to say Gaia is deceased. Until shown proof otherwise." Zellgato pulls a chipolte and prickly pear lollipop and holds it out to Tony. "Random food helps."
Tony's face shows grief--a very deep sadness--but also a mix of guilt and relief. "I guess it's for the best. I'm relieved everyone made it back."
”Yes, thank you. I’d like to hear more about this FATE group, but I suppose there will be plenty of time for business. I do suspect the lizards stopped coming because we presented a problem for them much closer to home.”
"We're going to go meet young Theo for a meal," says John. "Would you like to come with us?"
"That's a story that I'd like to hear," says John as Hector and him head out to find Theo. They head east through the wealthier part of the city towards the house of the wizard Theo is getting lessons from.
"So, Guys! You know the normal questions I'm asking? What the latest news out of Greece Triumphant! What's the latest gossip among the Gods! What are some of the latest trends and music!" Theo smiled as he held his cousins by the shoulders. "I met my future son! Well, one of my future sons. Hahhaha!"
They regale Theo with stories of threats they face on their world and that they need to handle in order to keep the mortals safe. Other than Enyo, Theo is the only one in the group to have faced both a minotaur and a medusa. They recently took out a cyclops as a group.
They are only able to share the usual gossip about the gods and get kind of depressed thinking about their negligent divine parents. Then they start talking about their mostly mortal moms and cheer up. Then Enyo starts telling a story about the time she met on the bridge in the Superman story and everyone cheers up.
She shoots Theo a glance that says, "You should know better than to ask them about that."
"I'm going to hunt for holy weapons at the Away Market. They make a big difference in the field," says Greer, referring again to the market for those who visit Tarokh from other dimensions and unload other wordly goods. "But, if you want a park ... in the city ... you could visit The Gates, but it's tiny ... larger on the inside though. If you're just looking to stretch your legs, there's the beach, or the bay if you want to fly. I could head down that way with you if you'd like."
"No reason we can't visit both, is there?" Unity ask. "Stop by the market, then go down to the beach?"
Beat me to it…!
Nissa answers honestly, “I hope so… I mean, it’s what I want. But a relationship only works if she wants that too, and I know she’s lived a whole other life for three years and three months. It was three days for me.
“I stopped by a planet of women on the way back. There was a six-foot-tall muscular version of myself and L.C. just—“ She magical-girls her outfit to a backless version of alt-L.C.’s open blouse.
[dice=Supermodel]d20+17“—hangin’ out together.” She cups her hands close to her exposed side-boobs for emphasis before buttoning up.
“We made such a cute couple, and… they were unfazed by my new look. It was a shock to… well, let’s be fair, not just L.C. I know she wants to try, but… I’m afraid that she’s—that I’m—”
Nissa magical girls on an outfit that she thinks will better fit her tiny form in a way that’s more flattering.
[dice=Supermodel]d20+17
It is, but marginally so.“—not attractive! Y’know, in that way. Like, I’m cute in the way Tinkerbelle is cute, but Peter Pan can’t f@%& Tink. He wants Wendy. She’s plain, but that’s what Peter wants.” She blushes, aura reddening as Tinkerbelle’s does. “So am I like Tink? Just getting in the way, wanting a human existence that I can’t really have?”
Tarantula leans in close and smiles, "I bet Tinkerbell gets whatever she wants from any of those lost boys."
It doesn't take a Sense Motive check to know the smile is flirtatious.
"Got any more outfits you want to show me?" she asks.
"I'm going to hunt for holy weapons at the Away Market. They make a big difference in the field," says Greer, referring again to the market for those who visit Tarokh from other dimensions and unload other wordly goods. "But, if you want a park ... in the city ... you could visit The Gates, but it's tiny ... larger on the inside though. If you're just looking to stretch your legs, there's the beach, or the bay if you want to fly. I could head down that way with you if you'd like.""No reason we can't visit both, is there?" Unity ask. "Stop by the market, then go down to the beach?"
Greer grins. Walking through Tarokh, Unity attracts attention, but so much less than he attracts almost anywhere else.
Unity's sword buzzes repeatedly as they walk, indicating each of the gates they pass. Tarokh is called the 'City of a Thousand Gates'. Unity passes by at least 40 of them.
The closer you get to the Away Market, the less out of place Unity seems. The majority of the vendors are from Tarokh and either human, dwarf, elven, or halfling. The creatures visiting the market are mostly humanoid, but even that isn't a given. Some wear furs and tattoos. Others wear clothes that look high tech, if strange. Atlanteans are common, including several of the former slave races. Unity sees one who looks quite like Pah, but isn't.
Most of the technology is less advanced than what Boston Theoretical can build, but they have a lot of magic items.
Tarantula leans in close and smiles, "I bet Tinkerbell gets whatever she wants from any of those lost boys."
It doesn't take a Sense Motive check to know the smile is flirtatious.
"Got any more outfits you want to show me?" she asks.
She twirls once more, and her clothing is a replica of Tinkerbell’s minidress with the dandelion fluff shoes, though chartreuse is the greenest color Nissa can possibly create. Her solar-flare-hair is even twisted into a bun!
She smiles brightly at Tarantula. Though she would never forsake Peter Pan for a Lost Boy, it’s nice to know she hasn’t become undesirable.
“If you want, we can do a photo-shoot,” she says, noting the camera. “Unless of course you need to save film for your errand. I remember in the movies from your era, film was a thing.”
Tony's face shows grief--a very deep sadness--but also a mix of guilt and relief. "I guess it's for the best. I'm relieved everyone made it back."
"In the future, in a differing setting. You could inquire upon the exact circumstances of their trip. Or request a report from Boss. Take it from an amalgum of unfillfed regrets... Find a new goal for life."
Greer grins. Walking through Tarokh, Unity attracts attention, but so much less than he attracts almost anywhere else.Unity's sword buzzes repeatedly as they walk, indicating each of the gates they pass. Tarokh is called the 'City of a Thousand Gates'. Unity passes by at least 40 of them.
The closer you get to the Away Market, the less out of place Unity seems. The majority of the vendors are from Tarokh and either human, dwarf, elven, or halfling. The creatures visiting the market are mostly humanoid, but even that isn't a given. Some wear furs and tattoos. Others wear clothes that look high tech, if strange. Atlanteans are common, including several of the former slave races. Unity sees one who looks quite like Pah, but isn't.
Most of the technology is less advanced than what Boston Theoretical can build, but they have a lot of magic items.
Unity browse more out of curiosity than anything else. They trust more to their own abilities than anything else, though they appreciate their armor.
"You know, we've never asked about the rest of the world here. There's more than Tarokh, right?" they muse as Greer browses.
”Yes, thank you. I’d like to hear more about this FATE group, but I suppose there will be plenty of time for business. I do suspect the lizards stopped coming because we presented a problem for them much closer to home.”
"We're going to go meet young Theo for a meal," says John. "Would you like to come with us?""That's a story that I'd like to hear," says John as Hector and him head out to find Theo. They head east through the wealthier part of the city towards the house of the wizard Theo is getting lessons from.
She smiles brightly at Tarantula. Though she would never forsake Peter Pan for a Lost Boy, it’s nice to know she hasn’t become undesirable.
“If you want, we can do a photo-shoot,” she says, noting the camera. “Unless of course you need to save film for your errand. I remember in the movies from your era, film was a thing.”
Tarantula invites Nissa to do a sexy pose on the helmet she's just purchased for Greer and snaps some photos saying something like, "The boss is going to like this." and other things that might have been okay to say about a sexy work colleague in 1992 where she's from.
She points out the outdoor food vendor just outside the armoury district and asks Nissa whether she needs to eat. She picks up some kind of kebab on a metal spike and eats it by the stall with the metalworkers with ash-blackened hands.
"In the future, in a differing setting. You could inquire upon the exact circumstances of their trip. Or request a report from Boss. Take it from an amalgum of unfillfed regrets... Find a new goal for life."
Tony's face shows grief--a very deep sadness--but also a mix of guilt and relief. "I guess it's for the best. I'm relieved everyone made it back."
Tony nods glumly. "What do you think of the Marshall's proposal? You must be in favour; how many worlds have you fought on now?"
The Marshall hasn't, as far as Zellgato knows, proposed anything specific, but she has been talking about TAROT becoming more pro-active. Tony must be referring to that.
Greer grins. Walking through Tarokh, Unity attracts attention, but so much less than he attracts almost anywhere else.Unity's sword buzzes repeatedly as they walk, indicating each of the gates they pass. Tarokh is called the 'City of a Thousand Gates'. Unity passes by at least 40 of them.
The closer you get to the Away Market, the less out of place Unity seems. The majority of the vendors are from Tarokh and either human, dwarf, elven, or halfling. The creatures visiting the market are mostly humanoid, but even that isn't a given. Some wear furs and tattoos. Others wear clothes that look high tech, if strange. Atlanteans are common, including several of the former slave races. Unity sees one who looks quite like Pah, but isn't.
Most of the technology is less advanced than what Boston Theoretical can build, but they have a lot of magic items.
Unity browse more out of curiosity than anything else. They trust more to their own abilities than anything else, though they appreciate their armor.
"You know, we've never asked about the rest of the world here. There's more than Tarokh, right?" they muse as Greer browses.
"Yeah. A lot more. Ever hear of Lord of the Rings? Do you have that on your world? It's a lot like that. Or like some of that Dungeons and Monsters role-playing stuff," Greer sneered. "You need permission to visit the rest of the world. And you need an escort and to follow a bunch of rules. The city of Tarokh was built up around these always active gates and contributes a lot to this world, but the aristocracy contains and controls our influence, turning it into another source of their power. We had some intelligence officers come here and do up a briefing on how it all worked."
Unity and Greer pass an alley that looks dark and dangerous. Unity's sword jangles with excitement. Someone has drawn a series of skulls outside of the alley. A light flashes in the depths of the alley and three dangerous looking men step out of the light and head into Tarokh; one has clearly never been there before and is stunned while the other two laugh.
"Welcome to the City of Gates!" says Greer sarcastically in English as the men pass and offer a greeting or a curse in their own tongue.
"So, what do you think of the Marshall's proposal? Would living here full-time suit you?"
Unity have not heard any such proposal from the Marshall.
”Yes, thank you. I’d like to hear more about this FATE group, but I suppose there will be plenty of time for business. I do suspect the lizards stopped coming because we presented a problem for them much closer to home.”
"We're going to go meet young Theo for a meal," says John. "Would you like to come with us?""That's a story that I'd like to hear," says John as Hector and him head out to find Theo. They head east through the wealthier part of the city towards the house of the wizard Theo is getting lessons from.
"This is the house," says Hector, worried, pointing to a house with black smoke pouring out of all four visible windows. With a poof of black smoke Theo (Boy Jupiter) appears on the sidewalk. His face and hands are covered with dark soot. His white teeth are grinning comically from the blackened face.
A grey-bearded wizard in red robes covered with black ash leans his head out the window and yells, "And stay out!"
"Dads! I did magic!" says Boy Jupiter.
"THAT WASN'T MAGIC!!" yells the angry wizard slamming the window.
"I'm a wizard!" grins Theo. "I can't wait to tell Genius; is she here?"
Nissa has too much of a love for modeling to care about how probably-wrong it is to pose on the helm in that way. And… Tarantula’s comment definitely made her feel desirable. While she’s concerned about Tarantula possibly having loved and lost, she doesn’t pry. But she wants the woman to know she does care.
“Thanks, Tarantula… the Lost Boys comment was clever and funny, but more than that, it was helpful. If you ever need to talk about that sorta thing, even if you just need someone to listen…”
But if Tarantula doesn’t want to get into her personal stuff, Nissa will ask about the big issue everyone is meeting about.
Tony nods glumly. "What do you think of the Marshall's proposal? You must be in favour; how many worlds have you fought on now?"The Marshall hasn't, as far as Zellgato knows, proposed anything specific, but she has been talking about TAROT becoming more pro-active. Tony must be referring to that.
"Expensive, complicated, logistically strange. But doable. There already exists simliar agencies, entities and such that traverse the worlds. The biggest issue are the logistics, tracking assets, costs, and primarily--the discussion of imposing outside influences on world. " pausing a moment. "This latter one I believe are the biggest issues any such inititive would face. Considerable red-tape bureaucracy to start an investigation, much less the proposed outcome of one."
Giving a shrug "Those logicstics are beyond me, but given who I am, what we have been involved in. I lean towards a proactive approach. Insidious foothold situations, such as the previous incursions, should be dealt with strongly regardless of how its chosen-violence, sanctions, or conversations. However, I don't believe involving in world-origin issues is something that should happen. Every world is full of (****) situations. Its up to those involved to fix it. Not another world-offer aid, don't impose aid."
And you Tony? I think perspective of someone with your vast experience is important."
"Yeah. A lot more. Ever hear of Lord of the Rings? Do you have that on your world? It's a lot like that. Or like some of that Dungeons and Monsters role-playing stuff," Greer sneered. "You need permission to visit the rest of the world. And you need an escort and to follow a bunch of rules. The city of Tarokh was built up around these always active gates and contributes a lot to this world, but the aristocracy contains and controls our influence, turning it into another source of their power. We had some intelligence officers come here and do up a briefing on how it all worked."
"Ah, typical. strange that the gates only appear around here, though. I'm sure there's lots of entertaining theories as to why that is?"
"So, what do you think of the Marshall's proposal? Would living here full-time suit you?"
Unity frown slightly. "The Marshall hasn't shared the exact details of the proposal with us yet," they admit. "Perhaps because we were a bit busy discovering our creator is something like an interdimensional virus."
"Oh yes, did we fill you in on that? Apparently they go from world to world making clones of themselves, with built-in orders that they don't even know about until they trigger them. It's... tragic, in a way."
"Ah, typical. strange that the gates only appear around here, though. I'm sure there's lots of entertaining theories as to why that is?"
"Well, the elves believe that this is where many of the shards of the Celestials crystal craft landed when they were thrown back from the end of time, whatever that means. Our World 16 scientists believe that Tarokh sits on a large deposit of Omnisium, whether crystalized or not. Tarokh lore refers to a magical experiment that went awry, tearing open the fabric of reality. I think all three could be true."
Unity frown slightly. "The Marshall hasn't shared the exact details of the proposal with us yet," they admit. "Perhaps because we were a bit busy discovering our creator is something like an interdimensional virus."
"Wait! God is a virus?" says Greer shocked. "Oh! You mean your creator. That must be tough, man."
"Oh yes, did we fill you in on that? Apparently they go from world to world making clones of themselves, with built-in orders that they don't even know about until they trigger them. It's... tragic, in a way."
"Wait, so that terror cell we busted on World 16 really were transdimensional clones? Huh. I guess they were telling the truth. They kept saying weird s%+@ like 'Unity is not possible is unlocked. Exit stage left' and then exploding. The ones we managed to stop from doing that kept saying that we were too technologically primitive for their mission and they were required to seek a more advanced world."
Nissa has too much of a love for modeling to care about how probably-wrong it is to pose on the helm in that way. And… Tarantula’s comment definitely made her feel desirable. While she’s concerned about Tarantula possibly having loved and lost, she doesn’t pry. But she wants the woman to know she does care.
“Thanks, Tarantula… the Lost Boys comment was clever and funny, but more than that, it was helpful. If you ever need to talk about that sorta thing, even if you just need someone to listen…”
But if Tarantula doesn’t want to get into her personal stuff, Nissa will ask about the big issue everyone is meeting about.
Tarantula remains flirty as the day proceeds.
She gets into 'the issue' when Nissa raises it. L.C. has been making the argument that the TAROT groups should work together the way you did with World 16 and World 12. She managed to get TAROT members from several worlds involved in looking for you and was elected Marshal when she promised to form a pro-active interdimensional TAROT force. This raised concerns among some of the member worlds who took that as a threat. Other worlds pointed out that few TAROT members are appointed by democratically elected governments. (One member, for example, is a university professor found a chalice in Viking burial mound.) So, it's controversial. The Parliament will be the place to discuss it.
Giving a shrug "Those logicstics are beyond me, but given who I am, what we have been involved in. I lean towards a proactive approach. Insidious foothold situations, such as the previous incursions, should be dealt with strongly regardless of how its chosen-violence, sanctions, or conversations. However, I don't believe involving in world-origin issues is something that should happen. Every world is full of (****) situations. Its up to those involved to fix it. Not another world-offer aid, don't impose aid."
And you Tony? I think perspective of someone with your vast experience is important."
"If we had better communication ... more connection ... shared intelligence ... your team would have been back sooner and your world wouldn't have gotten as messed up. That invasion was caused because I didn't kill Gaia when I could have. It could have been prevented if we'd been able to make the connection. I'm for shared intelligence among cooperating worlds, but no missions without invitation. You should know though that my TAROT is illegal on my world; some wonder how legitimate an invitation from me is."
Tarantula remains flirty as the day proceeds.
Nissa is so tempted to ask Tarantula about her love life. But that she’s flirting could mean she’s ‘open’ or lonely… or just being playful and fun. So why am I being so serious about it? She sticks to the topic that masters most to the multiverse…
She gets into 'the issue' when Nissa raises it. L.C. has been making the argument that the TAROT groups should work together the way you did with World 16 and World 12. She managed to get TAROT members from several worlds involved in looking for you and was elected Marshal when she promised to form a pro-active interdimensional TAROT force. This raised concerns among some of the member worlds who took that as a threat. Other worlds pointed out that few TAROT members are appointed by democratically elected governments. (One member, for example, is a university professor found a chalice in Viking burial mound.) So, it's controversial. The Parliament will be the place to discuss it.
“That’s weird that anyone took that as a threat. I mean… the Atlantean Prince murdered two of my colleagues, and we lost Greer and almost lost L.C. to… umm…”
It’s at this point Nissa realizes she can’t avoid talking about April.
“…well, I had known her as Miss Gray at the time. But you know her younger self is…” She looks at Tarantula a moment. “I’m sorry, Tarantula. I missed so much in three years, here I am worried that April is a touchy subject, but it’s possible that I’m only seeing things as I wished they were. And a lot can happen in three years.”
"Wait, so that terror cell we busted on World 16 really were transdimensional clones? Huh. I guess they were telling the truth. They kept saying weird s!~& like 'Unity is not possible is unlocked. Exit stage left' and then exploding. The ones we managed to stop from doing that kept saying that we were too technologically primitive for their mission and they were required to seek a more advanced world."
Unity growl softly. "That sounds like them," they state. "That's the sort of thing they said when we caught some of them."
They think it best not to mention the 'Unity must reign' part.
They nod at the market stall they're near. "Anything you like?"
Tarantula remains flirty as the day proceeds.Nissa is so tempted to ask Tarantula about her love life. But that she’s flirting could mean she’s ‘open’ or lonely… or just being playful and fun. So why am I being so serious about it? She sticks to the topic that masters most to the multiverse…
She gets into 'the issue' when Nissa raises it. L.C. has been making the argument that the TAROT groups should work together the way you did with World 16 and World 12. She managed to get TAROT members from several worlds involved in looking for you and was elected Marshal when she promised to form a pro-active interdimensional TAROT force. This raised concerns among some of the member worlds who took that as a threat. Other worlds pointed out that few TAROT members are appointed by democratically elected governments. (One member, for example, is a university professor found a chalice in Viking burial mound.) So, it's controversial. The Parliament will be the place to discuss it.“That’s weird that anyone took that as a threat. I mean… the Atlantean Prince murdered two of my colleagues, and we lost Greer and almost lost L.C. to… umm…”
It’s at this point Nissa realizes she can’t avoid talking about April.
“…well, I had known her as Miss Gray at the time. But you know her younger self is…” She looks at Tarantula a moment. “I’m sorry, Tarantula. I missed so much in three years, here I am worried that April is a touchy subject, but it’s possible that I’m only seeing things as I wished they were. And a lot can happen in three years.”
"Oh, that? That was years ago. Look, we're from different worlds. Talk about long distance!" laughs Tarantula. "I say, you gotta enjoy what's right in front of you, not starve yourself for little scraps of time with someone who isn't really there."
"This is the house," says Hector, worried, pointing to a house with black smoke pouring out of all four visible windows. With a poof of black smoke Theo (Boy Jupiter) appears on the sidewalk. His face and hands are covered with dark soot. His white teeth are grinning comically from the blackened face.
A grey-bearded wizard in red robes covered with black ash leans his head out the window and yells, "And stay out!"
"Dads! I did magic!" says Boy Jupiter.
"THAT WASN'T MAGIC!!" yells the angry wizard slamming the window.
"I'm a wizard!" grins Theo. "I can't wait to tell Genius; is she here?"
Henri grins back, "Well, congratulations, young Theo! Not everyone can be a wizard. Now, to be a good wizard, you must be able to repeat the results when you want to do so without unintended side effects. What precisely was your spell supposed to do?"
“Okay… so since it isn’t a tough subject to bring up. Y’know, ’cause life went on during the years I missed… But you get the idea, right?
“April’s alt killed Greer’s alt, Void attacked L.C., and—even if we had just heard about Void and he never did anything on our world, how many heroes died trying to stop him? I saw a vrock kill a man—”
For some reason, Nissa kept leaving him off of her mental list of those she had failed to save. Maybe because I thought one of the civilian women would be next, or Tarantula, or Greer—we almost lost him…
“—it just didn’t make sense to me that, you’re all part of TAROT, yet it’s the unofficial team that got involved. But I guess that’s what tomorrow is all about, right? Winning hearts and minds?”
Tarantula is obviously on the same side of the argument as Nissa. Unless she knows (or sleeps with?) someone with an opposing point-of-view, this conversation is taking place in a bubble.
—and it occurs to Nissa that Tarantula knows the answer to a question she’s afraid to ask L.C. She’s not afraid of the answer, but that the question would make L.C. uncomfortable.
“Tarantula, there’s something I kinda want to know… and L.C. has so much on her plate, I don’t want to ask her now. In fact, I thought it could have waited… but with the Parliament coming up tomorrow, I’m not going to win anyone over if I come off as ignorant.
“Marshall Alashine… how did she…?” Nissa hesitates to say ‘die.’ She does say the full ‘how did she die?’ in Tarantula can’t see where the sentence is going.
“In three years, Marshall Alashine died and now L.C. is Marshall Preston, head of TAROT. And she’s proposing something great… I don’t want to let her down. She’s come so far with me out of her way, and I’m not the only person she grieved. That Amun and others on the opposition—they aren’t villains, but I have to assume they’re going to take advantage of my ignorance just to stop me from swaying people on the fence.
“So anything you know about Alashine, even if you think it’ll be hard for me to hear… better from you than at Parliament.” Nissa gives Tarantula a serious look, “Unless you’re sworn to secrecy, please, spare no details.”
“—and just in case, don’t spare my feelings either.” It may seem clear to Tarantula that Nissa expects there’s a lot to this story, and she isn’t afraid of the truth, whatever it may be.
Henri grins back, "Well, congratulations, young Theo! Not everyone can be a wizard. Now, to be a good wizard, you must be able to repeat the results when you want to do so without unintended side effects. What precisely was your spell supposed to do?"
"Well, he tried to teach me to read magic, but he said it would take years, and then I tried to do a cantrip, but I couldn't pronounce one sound right and it wouldn't work, but then he said, 'what about alchemy?' and he showed me some chemicals, and, well, you remember that flash powder you taught me to make, Hector?" Boy Jupiter asks. Hector nods and looks back at the house. "He had lots of the right ingredients. And, now he knows how to make it too."
"I heard Antonio feels awful about it. He's the one who put her there ... trapped her in a forgotten story dimension and left her with no way out ... rigged it to collapse if she tried to escape ... Wizard stuff," says John.
Boy Jupiter looks up at the word wizard and says, "I'm a wizard!"
"Not even a chemist," says Hector shaking his head and looking back at the wizard's house. "I do hope this doesn't cause trouble for the Marshall after she has been so kind."
"It's not my story to tell, but you can't hold it against Tony. I heard he knew the human whose body Gaia took. Perhaps a lover. I don't know. The rakasta? Rakshasa? I don't know the word ... the demon. The demon needed killing but Tony couldn't do it so he trapped it until it somehow found a tiny gate into World XII and got you all involved."
“Okay… so since it isn’t a tough subject to bring up. Y’know, ’cause life went on during the years I missed… But you get the idea, right?
“April’s alt killed Greer’s alt, Void attacked L.C., and—even if we had just heard about Void and he never did anything on our world, how many heroes died trying to stop him? I saw a vrock kill a man—”
For some reason, Nissa kept leaving him off of her mental list of those she had failed to save. Maybe because I thought one of the civilian women would be next, or Tarantula, or Greer—we almost lost him…
“—it just didn’t make sense to me that, you’re all part of TAROT, yet it’s the unofficial team that got involved. But I guess that’s what tomorrow is all about, right? Winning hearts and minds?”
Tarantula is obviously on the same side of the argument as Nissa. Unless she knows (or sleeps with?) someone with an opposing point-of-view, this conversation is taking place in a bubble.
—and it occurs to Nissa that Tarantula knows the answer to a question she’s afraid to ask L.C. She’s not afraid of the answer, but that the question would make L.C. uncomfortable.
“Tarantula, there’s something I kinda want to know… and L.C. has so much on her plate, I don’t want to ask her now. In fact, I thought it could have waited… but with the Parliament coming up tomorrow, I’m not going to win anyone over if I come off as ignorant.
“Marshall Alashine… how did she…?” Nissa hesitates to say ‘die.’ She does say the full ‘how did she die?’ in Tarantula can’t see where the sentence is going.
“In three years, Marshall Alashine died and now L.C. is Marshall Preston, head of TAROT. And she’s proposing something great… I don’t want to let her down. She’s come so far with me out of her way, and I’m not the only person she grieved. That Amun and others on...
Tarantula scrutinizes Nissa for a bit and then stops flirting. "If you're asking about L.C. and Alashine and the Three Musketeers, I don't know. I mean, I know that they were trapped in 17th Century France with a bunch of ridiculous characters and nest of vampires who didn't belong in the story. And, I know it was 7 months for them and only a couple days for us. If anything happened between them, it happened then."
Tarantula looks at Nissa and for a moment looks like she's about to say something flirty. She doesn't. She gets serious again.
"I guess you should know how she died. She was on World XX. Some call it Purgatory. She was looking for you. I guess she ran into some kind of monster called a Regret and didn't make it out. They're one of the less friendly TAROT worlds. I mean, they let you come in, but you aren't allowed to leave. They made an exception: an angel brought Alashine's "corporeal matter" back to us--that's what the angel called her body--but they don't normally like people leaving and aren't open to the idea of cooperation really."
"Is that what you wanted to know?" asks Tarantula eager to get back to flirting.
Nissa’s aura pales. She is feeling anything but flirtatious. But there isn’t any jealousy. What Nissa feels is remorse.
“She died because of me? I don’t mind if she and L.C… I mean, they thought I was dead.” She can’t talk about the time ship. Valkyrie has no recollection of being rescued from the Regrets, so it’s best not to specify how, but “I encountered Regrets before. I wonder if they made Alashine realize I was alive, after she’d convinced L.C. to move on.
“But Alashine didn’t wrong me, no matter what happened.” Nissa starts to tear up, not over the ‘affair,’ which is not even an accurate term. Of all the innocent deaths she blames herself for, Alashine’s death really has her name in it. “She shouldn’t have died for me.”
And even more disturbing is the ‘corporal matter.’ The angel called her body that, but what about Alashine’s soul?
“It is what I wanted to know… I mean, it’s a lot more horrifying than I expected. But thank you, Tarantula.” She flutters close and gives her friend a platonic peck on the cheek. “Is there anyone from World XX here? Because if anyone’s getting blind-sided, it’s those f~*!ers.”
But we have a time ship… so the real surprise can wait.
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"Well, he tried to teach me to read magic, but he said it would take years, and then I tried to do a cantrip, but I couldn't pronounce one sound right and it wouldn't work, but then he said, 'what about alchemy?' and he showed me some chemicals, and, well, you remember that flash powder you taught me to make, Hector?" Boy Jupiter asks. Hector nods and looks back at the house. "He had lots of the right ingredients. And, now he knows how to make it too."
"Does he? If that's what's caused all that smoke, are you sure the mixture was correct? Here I thought you had magically transported yourself before us, but it was just your flash powder causing a distraction?"
"I heard Antonio feels awful about it. He's the one who put her there ... trapped her in a forgotten story dimension and left her with no way out ... rigged it to collapse if she tried to escape ... Wizard stuff," says John.
"It's not my story to tell, but you can't hold it against Tony. I heard he knew the human whose body Gaia took. Perhaps a lover. I don't know. The rakasta? Rakshasa? I don't know the word ... the demon. The demon needed killing but Tony couldn't do it so he trapped it until it somehow found a tiny gate into World XII and got you all involved."
"There was a pool in their compound and a pool in her pocket dimension. Something about the pools allowed them to gate their influence across and infect people in World XII. But our team has some power - I frankly don't understand wizard stuff - and was able to hop into the pocket dimension. It was an odd mix of horror and fairy tale, so story dimension sounds right. But I was under the impression that there were a lot of gates in the dimension. There was a big fight and we defeated her, but Tony's failsafe triggered. When she died, we had to run for our lives or we would all perish as the dimension collapsed. We went through a random gate - I don't recommend it - with as many of the slaves or hostages or what have you that she had taken. We saved as many of those as we could, but Nissa died in the process - did you know that? As you say, not my story to tell, but that's not entirely the Nissa you remember. Ask her about it."
He thinks about the nanites coursing through his veins and adds, "I think I will save the tale of the next stop on our fantastic voyage for another time, but I will tell you that Nissa is not the only one that returned changed."
"Does he? If that's what's caused all that smoke, are you sure the mixture was correct? Here I thought you had magically transported yourself before us, but it was just your flash powder causing a distraction?"
,
"I'm pretty sure he teleported me," says Theo, still smiling. "He pointed his wand at me and said, 'You miserable little stinking ...' and poof I was on the street."
"There was a pool in their compound and a pool in her pocket dimension. Something about the pools allowed them to gate their influence across and infect people in World XII. But our team has some power - I frankly don't understand wizard stuff - and was able to hop into the pocket dimension. It was an odd mix of horror and fairy tale, so story dimension sounds right. But I was under the impression that there were a lot of gates in the dimension. There was a big fight and we defeated her, but Tony's failsafe triggered. When she died, we had to run for our lives or we would all...
"Sounds like a story dimension. Those other gates would be linked to other stories or other worlds where the story was known, but from what I understand, the dimension was rigged to collapse if she tried to leave through one of them. Tony felt terrible and didn't explain it clearly. He looked for you, you know. For about three months," says John.
Nissa’s aura pales. She is feeling anything but flirtatious. But there isn’t any jealousy. What Nissa feels is remorse.
“She died because of me? I don’t mind if she and L.C… I mean, they thought I was dead.” She can’t talk about the time ship. Valkyrie has no recollection of being rescued from the Regrets, so it’s best not to specify how, but “I encountered Regrets before. I wonder if they made Alashine realize I was alive, after she’d convinced L.C. to move on.
“But Alashine didn’t wrong me, no matter what happened.” Nissa starts to tear up, not over the ‘affair,’ which is not even an accurate term. Of all the innocent deaths she blames herself for, Alashine’s death really has her name in it. “She shouldn’t have died for me.”
"Well, I mean, she was looking for all of you," says Tarantula. "She just ran into something she couldn't fight off. It's no one's fault. Better to go that way than of old age."
Tarantula starts heading back to the Black Keep which houses the TAROT HQ.
And even more disturbing is the ‘corporal matter.’ The angel called her body that, but what about Alashine’s soul?“It is what I wanted to know… I mean, it’s a lot more horrifying than I expected. But thank you, Tarantula.” She flutters close and gives her friend a platonic peck on the cheek. “Is there anyone from World XX here? Because if anyone’s getting blind-sided, it’s those f&*~ers.”
"Ambassadors are still arriving for the Parliament. World XX will probably send their Paladin. I wouldn't mess with him," says Tarantula. "Not without a tank. Or one of those mechas you brought to World 16. Those were awesome."
Theo gives a haughty 'Hmmph!', looking down at Jupiter Kid. "I think this Paladin will NEED the tank!"
Nissa clarifies, “I’m not going to fight them.” But she doesn’t really have a plan, and she isn’t even sure that she should save Alashine. Her death just feels so… meaningless.
And we have a time ship.
Am I no better than Ms. Gray for even thinking this…?
“I don’t know what I’m going to do, really. I need to think about it, but later. Tomorrow I need to help L.C., and you as well, seeing how it was Greer who first proposed this.
“Thanks, Tarantula.” She adds flirtatiously, “You know how to show a girl a good time.”
Theo gives a haughty 'Hmmph!', looking down at Jupiter Kid. "I think this Paladin will NEED the tank!"
"Exaxctly," slurs Enyo as Theo and her catch up to Henri, John, Hector, and Jupiter Boy near the Black Keep that houses TAROT HQ.
"World XX is so not open to transdimensional intercour- intersexchn-- inter-exchange and stuff," Enyo yells in Theo's ear. She's been yelling in his ear since they left the Falstaff's, a pub run by a fugitive fictionaut from World V. She has yet to notice that none of the boys have managed to keep up with Theo and her on this pubcrawl. Half a dozen frat boys with divine parentage lie in alleys, brothels, pub booths, and benches throughout Tarokh.
"World 19 too, eh? I heard you met Amun. He's so severe, but you have to understand--they're ruled by the Sun, right? The Elves call her Saranwrap or something. So, like, that whole world has to struggle against its own anathema, the dimension that lies beneath them ... which is, for them, Shadow. Shadow is the necessary and essential opposite of the Sun," she's been getting weirder and weirder since that bar in the Away Market that sold a fizzy green glowing drink called 'Don't Worry. It's Safe.' "And, so, Shadow invades World 19 all the time in the form of undeath and living nightmares and and and and evil energy and negative energy drains and all sorts of stuff like that. And Amun and his army are like always fighting these shadows."
She turns around, realizing now for the first time that the rest of the World 7 crew has fallen somewhere on the pubcrawl, "Anyhow, how would you feel about outsiders if all the outsiders you usually met were undead? He's serious because he has to be."
Nissa can’t help but hear an extremely loud woman.
“Oh—Tarantula, I think that’s—“
Nissa is cut off by more yelling. She follows the noise and sure enough, it’s “Enyo!
“Hey, maybe you already know Tarantula? Or if you don’t, maybe tonight you could? And Dad, how’s your night with…” She notices Enyo’s entourage is absent. She thinks Enyo is a cousin or sister or both, so she’s not interrupting anything. Maybe. “…well, just you two it seems.”
While the rest of you are having heavy conversations, Unity relax by the water for a while in company with Greer. For all the advantages of they have, being out in populated areas does just make them tense.
While the rest of you are having heavy conversations, Unity relax by the water for a while in company with Greer. For all the advantages of they have, being out in populated areas does just make them tense.
Greer leads the way down some winding streets that lead to a hill overlooking the bay. From here, the people are too small to make out, but you can still tell that a mix of Tarokhian and Atlantean ships spot the harbour. The largest gates in the City of a Thousand Gates are the two that rise out of the natural harbour.
"If you want to stretch your wings, you're allowed as far as there, where the bay meets the sea. If you want to go further, you need permission from one of the royals and an escort," says Greer. He makes it clear he's happy to wait if Unity that is what Unity would like to do.
Nissa can’t help but hear an extremely loud woman.
“Oh—Tarantula, I think that’s—“
Nissa is cut off by more yelling. She follows the noise and sure enough, it’s “Enyo!
“Hey, maybe you already know Tarantula? Or if you don’t, maybe tonight you could? And Dad, how’s your night with…” She notices Enyo’s entourage is absent. She thinks Enyo is a cousin or sister or both, so she’s not interrupting anything. Maybe. “…well, just you two it seems.”
"Yeah, whereIzeveryone?" slurs Enyo looking back the way they came and seeing no Greeks. "Wusses."
The bells of the Black Keep ring twice. Enyo listens, waits, and says, "World 2. Guess one of the sisterhood just arrived. They creep me out. They always look at you like they know when you're gonna die."
Enyo seems ready to retire to the Keep.
Nissa does actually need to get to her room, just in case L.C. will meet her in the middle of the night.
“Good night, girls. Dad…”
If Theo wants to come to Nissa’s room, he’s welcome to.
"You're sure you're fine just waiting for us?" Unity ask again.
"We appreciate it," they say. "The more comfortable we get with ourself, the more having walls around us gets to us, it seems."
They take off and spend several minutes soaring around, then return.
"That should get it out of our system for the time being, thank you."
The bells of the Black Keep ring again, 20 times, which seems excessive. Enyo loses count as has to look to the others, "Wuzzat 20? That's gonna be the group from Purgatory then." she says.
Zellgato's evening post Tony convrsation, as well as deciding it might warrant tracking how many worlds have functionally illegeal leanings towards this sort of organization for the future.
but for now. He goes and tries to find some nice souviners to bring back later. Aiming mainly for snacks and preserved food type items.