Terexaltherin is sad to find Emoree isn’t waiting for them when the group returns… until he realizes how long it’s apparently been. He wouldn’t have wanted her to be waiting for them for so long, even if he was hoping to see her again.
That night, as he’s winding down by (what else?) reading in his library, the little dragon glances towards one of the empty shelves… and notes that it’s not entirely empty. Curious, Terexaltherin bookmarks his place in what he was reading and goes to investigate. He finds a thick volume with a plain violet cover, not too dissimilar from the color of his own scales. Telekinetically lifting the book from the shelf, he reads the title:
Terexaltherin’s Childhood Memories
The little dragon stares blankly at his find for a few moments. It… has to be a joke, right? One of the others must have put this cover on a different book as a prank…
He opens it and begins to read. One sunrise I was up and I watched the sky get light but then there was this bug I hadn’t seen before and I chased it… Terexaltherin can picture the very scene in the memory. He starts flipping through the book frantically, stopping in random points. Every time it’s the same kind of thing, stream-of-consciousness writings as if his memories had somehow been transformed into words on a page. That… it… was someone spying on his thoughts? But then why put them in a book in his library?
Just at that moment he makes the connection to another thought. How he’d noticed, when he was studying things in his library, the next book Terexaltherin wanted to look something up in always seemed to be right at hand. And then… hadn’t he just been noticing how, a couple of times recently, passages he was sure he hadn’t actually read had popped into his mind while he was trying to figure something out.
It… it couldn’t be, could it?
Hesitantly, Terexaltherin reaches out with his telepathy to his library. Hello?
The little dragon feels… well, there’s something there. He doesn’t feel like he really connected to a mind, but he also… didn’t entirely fail? Well… that was something, for sure. Something to figure out later. For now, it was time to sleep. But before he goes to sleep, he replaces the book of his memories on the shelf… and sends the library a sense of gratitude. He may not exactly be happy about his memories being written out, but the rest? It would be rude of him not to thank it for trying to help.
*********************************************************
He’s distracted the next day by reuniting with Emoree. He welcomes the mutant bear with joy, flying to meet her as she bounds towards the group. Before long he’s sharing images and narration of what they’d done in the Black Lake, along with helpful explanations of things like differing flows of time on different planes and more context on the Dark Traders. He’s fascinated to hear how quickly things have started to change here, and he’s glad that life is recovering so quickly, even though it will likely lead to conflict in the future.
He quickly resumes language and reading lessons with Emoree, though he makes sure to save some time for further investigating his library. He doesn’t make any further breakthroughs, but he makes sure to extend a non-verbal thanks to it when he leaves each day.
When Lyra brings up selling the business they had set up, Terexaltherin proposes an alternate plan. We should act like exactly what our cover story is--investors. We leave the business in the hands of local management, provide support when needed, and reap the dividends. The Organization can always use more funds, and long-term we’ll get more this way than from the sale. And besides… we never tracked down how the Dark Traders were introducing the starlings. They probably still have some operations here in Kalthinia, so having a good cover for more Organization agents to come and keep an eye on things would be wise.
Earlier: Arlo analyzing the Arlo it doesn't seemed permanently damaged but drained for a bit. By the time he returns to Sigil, it seems to have recovered and even to have some extra piece of the spirit of the dead god Jalanwick.
Then: Once the party has had their rest and relaxation, you get called for a meeting with Bethia and Ari Shadowfire. Welcoming you in full evening dress, Ari seems reserved, even upset while Bethia hovers behind her. Ari is outwardly is polite and asks about little details in each of your reports with just slightest edge to her voice. Then, at some point, she ask "Are there some few details that might have been forgotten here?"
In any case, she briefly bursts into tears and hugs each of you, then says "We will be having a training retreat in just few days. Please stay and either take session or teach one...
Earlier: Arlo was overjoyed to see Lady Lyra again, and the married couple carried on like newlyweds like always, especially once the dwarf paladin regaled his heroic attack on the dimensional gem.
Arlo was also pleased to see The Arlosword recover on his own. With Lyra's techincal know-how and GIFT's psychic abilties, the paladin was able to discover a fragment of Jalanwick enhancing the already powerful weapon. Still, Arlo decided, he would have The Arlosword properly looked at by Dwarven smiths and Moradin priests when he returned to Sigil.
Then: Arlo was slightly embarrassed when Ari emotionally hugged him, the paladin gently patting her back, unsure what to do.
She agrees with Terexaltherin’s and enacts that plan and With the Boys there as well, Lyra takes for hole family out for a much needed brake. When done they all head back to thire Sigil home.
Upon reaching Sigil Azzim reflected that he had one lingering regret, a course not taken. At his core Azzim was a healer, but the further he traveled from his roots the less useful this seemed. Still it was clear the traders were a cancer upon the multiverse, one that had to be removed. It was clear to him now that fighting the traders was to be his life's work. A cause it seemed likely he may lay his life down for... He hoped the trade would be worth it. During the mission one possibility in that direction had suggested itself, but it hadn't been seriously considered. Perhaps that was a mistake, or perhaps when one door closed another opened. He needed time away to consider...
Azzim of course noticed something was bothering Ari and he knew exactly what it was. He replied somberly, "Yes there is one thing. We might, just might have been able to force our way to Dis... I have little doubt that to have done so would have been a one way trip. I also don't know what the consequences might have been for our allies if we'd tried. Perhaps we erred, perhaps we didn't. I tried to divine the truth of that, that but no entity I've been able to contact could say."
On a lighter note he added, "As for training. I've picked up a few small tricks with battlefield magic I could share if there's interest."
Terexaltherin is excited to show Emoree around Sigil--he doesn’t express any need to go somewhere else for a vacation. Of course, for those who know him, it’s obvious he’s already thinking of visiting Sigil’s bookstores again… in spite of the fact that he hasn’t even gotten close to reading everything he’s already purchased. Perhaps books are just what triggers his draconic hoarding instinct?
The first place he goes with Emoree is a place that makes custom magic items for non-humanoids, where (with Organization authorization and funding) he orders an amulet for her that will let her reduce her size--a must for the giant mutant bear to fit in most of the little dragon’s favorite locations. Once Emoree is properly equipped, he takes her to some of the universities he has contacts at, including introducing her to some of his contacts there. And of course, he shows her several libraries, explaining excitedly just how much knowledge they contain. If she wants, he’ll help her find a literacy tutor to help her continue learning to read, since he knows he’ll shortly have to go off on another mission.
He does, of course, visit some bookstores to add to his library. Thinking of what he’s finding out about his connection with it, he particularly purchases volumes whose contents would be useful for spur-of-the-moment reference, as well as some to cover what gaps he’s noticed in his collection. He also picks up a few just out of curiosity or because they look cool.
Terexaltherin doesn’t neglect his training during this time. He’s so close to a breakthrough in his spellcasting he can taste it, so he focuses a fair amount of time on it. Thinking of all he knows about spellcraft, he realizes that, while he’s focused on casting like a wizard since that’s sort-of what had worked for him before, and he’s tried a little to be like a sorcerer, he hasn’t really tried putting them together and casting like an arcanist. He focuses his training on that idea.
Not that he puts training his psionic powers aside. No, rather he takes advantage of having Emoree around to practice with her and converse about some different ways to use such powers.
Somehow, in between all of this, he manages to find time to write up his report. As usual he writes it by hand, in his small, neat style. He details how the group set up their business, tracking down one of the starling dealers, their journey through the blasted wilderness, and goes into particular detail about the Black Lake and the Dark Traders’ operations there. When he gets to destroying the Lake, he points out the oddity of the doors in the structure disappearing and suggests that it might have been the portal to Dys, but at the same time supports his allies in their actions, saying it was probably best that they didn’t risk using the bomb given the circumstances.
**************************
Terexaltherin is a bit surprised by Ari’s emotional outburst. Not being quite sure what to make of it, he just… kind of ignores it, though the surprise colors his mental voice. I think I covered everything important… anyway, I think I’ll work up a little something on how to deal with situations where you’re up against a superior force. Guerilla tactics, how to lose pursuit when the best choice is to run, that sort of thing.
Emoree follows Terex in through his tour and seems sometimes eager to learn more but sometimes a bit exhausted and overwhelmed. After a certain point, she communicates that while the city is fascinating, she thinks her most logical home is a natural area where she might serve as protectors of animals and people in certain area. She has learned enough to know the Organization can provide this - she puts things as "I will visit you sometimes and you will visit me sometimes..."
The training session is a success, you see old and new faces. The garrulous Armaund makes a brief appearance and greets all of you, asking what you've up to. Before taking off, He says spent quite a while in Hell Galaxy with Ari (where both of them suffered quite a bit) and now is chasing a strange artifact across the multiverse. You see other old and new faces but gather that, as always, some old faces will not be returning. On the last day, there's an exercise where experienced members of the Organization mentor members just starting out.
Gifts.
While back at Sigil, She headed to Hive Ward and Fell’s Tattoos – the king of odd and unique tattoos, She showed off her new shape-changing ability and explained she wanted all her tattoo animated and a few changes to the ones she had.
As soon as Gift had done her report and done family time with mum and head. She started on the project as she called it. Linking minds with the dying god Jalanwick, Gift had become and Ascendant, before she was formed form pour psionic energy now she had far greater control over it. Able to shift its from and power greater feats. But more Jalanwick had show her the root to becoming a god. It would not be easy she had a long way to grow yet, but the spark of divinity her father had given her lay at its core. She needed to start to from a following and for that she needed her own faith. She started work on that. 1st personal plane and expanded it, fixing the changes. No longer soon a small temple to "THE GIFT". A new form she would sift into when there.
Jalanwick had show her a lot and the knowledge of faith had been a boon to her, so she set about defining what she was to represent to the faithfull.
New feat Legandery Leader
Now has 150+ followers in the temple of the mind.
Only on her privet plane at the moment
This is what she is trying to become once asended.
The Gift - Lesser goddess.
Domains - Psionic, Mind, Knowledge
Followers being those who follow the way of the mind
->Any one with Psionic Ability, Monks, Rogues etc.
Symbol: Iridescent electric blue cycle with a dot at its Center, representing the mind and its point of focus.
Next her followers found that they where embodied in her plan, she split them off to populate it. Sitting with them and talking about the path of the mind.
At the training session, Arlo's sword technique lesson slowly devolves in to practical questions about the planes and it's inhabitants. Conceding, the dwarf paladin does his best to answer all questions, including some stories of his mission for The Organization.
During the lesson, Arlo gets sudden pricks of pain, like headaches, in his temple, unaware of what GIFT is doing.
So, finishing up the training session, the party gets a few more free days and then you receive an invitation from Livonia to return to The Spire for some consultation.
You are directed to the main Planar Machinery room and through this area to a small but ornately decorated meeting room where Livonia, dressed in a leather and Khaki riding outfit, offers you several varieties of unusual teas, candies and biscuits. After pleasantries, she begins "Things go well for The Organization generally. We have won on most fronts once the situation of Hell Galaxy was dealt with. But threats remain - The Black Lake could have been serious if you had not dealt with it in time and other teams have found some other, more minor threats. If anything, there are few enough threats lately that we fear the Traders are finding a way to hide their activities from us. So we must redouble our surveillance. With this in mind, we're asking all Organization members if they are willing to do a short shift with the machinery (and you can say no if you don't feel called). We think this will at least gives us ideas about other places to search. Also, each of you should check the machines for any subtle magical or psychic tampering. Again, the more eyes the better. And who knows, you may find your next assignment. That said, we have had reports, not from the machinery but agents, that an army of the dead may be assembling in the Karthak Plain outside Orguanion and investigating this will likely be in order..."
Arlo accepts helping to check the Planar Machinery for problems.
The dwarf paladin takes his time, retreating the machinery with a sensibility of a master craftsman.
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Gift was sat by one of the fountains to be found in Sigils Queens district. Head on her hand thinking. When a group of street kids ran past then one pearled off and doubled back to stopped in front of Gift. A Trifling child tall and thin from not eating enough. She pointed at Gift Psicyral and asked.
"Are you a mindMage?"
Gift looked up into the cat like eyes of the child.
"You know what that is?"
She spoke into the child's mind.
"Yes"
The child sent back.
"Ooo I see you have a little skill, You hid it from your gang don't you"
The Trifling child looked a little uncomfortable. Gift had cheated and read her mind. But she also felt the child try and read hers.
"If they Know I can read their minds they would kill me. I know all the things that have done. All of them..."
She left that hand, Gift could see what she meant, they where a street gang. Running from everyone everyone on spike, pray to some, food to others. The factions eat up kids like this a fodder.
"Why can't I see you thoughts?"
Gift smiled now.
"Your not close to your gang are you, your just with them for safety, some scare you. Others, will they would use you if you did not know when they where thinking of doing and hid. If you want to know how I block you, your going to have to give me a day of your time as payment. You will not be harmed or heart in any way. All you need do is come see where I live and tell me if its a place you think you could live."
the child looked worried and a little scarfed, Bad things happoned to those that followed others.
"You fear me, good you should, I have killed gods and monsters the likes of which you could not imagine. So you should fear me. But the questions if not do you fear me but do you fear the powers I could show you. You do want power don't, to use you mind to gain power. I can see how temped you are."
Gift stood, waved her hand a a gate opened.
"Follow if you wish"
And gift stepped thought the blue light into her demi plane. She waited a moment and when she felt the childs mind behind her she closed the gate.
They stood before a glowing blue Ziggurat, others could be seem walking across open spaces to buildings left and right.
"Everyone here has the gift like you and me. Well all give a little bit of power to build it. Come Let me show you around."
The child came up to Gifts side.
"I am called Gift, Alazya, yes I know your name. Did you think it was change I would be sitting there. I spent some time tracking you down."
Worry from the child again.
"Worry note, Everyone here was found by me and given the change to staying. I make no one stay who dose not wish to. You see we, and you will be able to, we can 'feel' others with the gift. When I found some one. Well... I see if they would like to come and stay."
They walked past some class rooms where adults where moving objects without touching them.
"This place is called the temple of the mind. Think of it as a kind of school. Where we of the gifted train, leaner and grow. In a safe space, that teacher there is Master Grinor, He was going to be barred alive for knowing when his lord and master lied to his king. An honest man in s bad world. I saved him, and here he is teaching others his powers."
The child asked
"What are you, you look human but you say you have killed gods. You seem made off.."
Gift stopped.
"I am, lets say a pretend god"
She winks at the girl.
"It's true, I do not lie to anyone who follows me. I tell them the truth I am a fake god. You see I am made from my own mind in that regard, And I have a very power-full mind so my body reflects that."
She shifted form into a large version of herself eye's glowing blue, and power lines arching around her, Then back to normal again.
"See fake. O I'm immortal as you think of it, but... even gods can die as I said. What I am is a teacher and protector of those like you and me. I am an example to others like us of what they could become, what you could become if you wanted it. If you wished, you can stay here and learn. And that is my offer"
Gift know the Child had agreed before she did. Gift was happy.
"Good, I will take yout to see Azzim who will check you healthy. If you ask him nicely you could even get a lollypop. And then I will intrude you to a Little Dragon I know. he has more books than you have ever seen. He will be teaching your 1st lessons, O its a good idea to get a lollypop for him as well."
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Azzim glanced at Terex before replying, "Oh I fear they may be after the library. Presumably there's knowledge within that could be misused..."
Later Azzim volunteered to run the planar machinery. The machinery was imposing and more than a little claustrophobic but he ran through simple breathing exercises and started meditating and soon his awareness of his physical body faded away revealing the spiritual realm in all its wonder.
He could sense the life forces of those around him like tiny candles flickering in the velvety darkness. His spirit rose higher and soon all of Sigil came into view, where the multitude of flickering candles became a constellation of stars of many hues. Following planar pathways Azzim's consciousness traveled far beyond, though the astral and then other planes. The astral plane was like looking at an unfamiliar night sky wheeling with strange stars. He found several that seemed strange, tinted red and he reached for them.
They where terribly far away and getting further away by the moment, and it took an aeon to reach them yet time meant nothing here so back in sigil less it took less than a heartbeat. As he got closer to them they resolved from pin pricks of light into galaxies and nebulae. One nebula in particular felt wrong, there was a cloying darkness to it and as he approached it became aware of him and suddenly there was a terrible screaming in his mind and something insidious tried to push through and would have done so if it wasn't for the vigilance of those guiding him and taking care of his physical body.
When he was coherent enough to speak Azzim spoke in a trembling voice, "I traveled far, perhaps father than was wise. There's something out there, something vast and it noticed me."
Gift went to the meeting but before she did she handed over a letter from her mother. She was retiring to concentrate on her family. She would still be working in the backroom as a researcher but her mission days where over until her children where fully grown.
After having collected himself for a bit, Azzim shared some more details, "The perspective provided by the planar machinery itself was incredible. I could see this intricate web of life, how everything was interconnected and as I traveled further away the pattern was self-repeating first with a web of cities instead of people and then a web of planes and there was a hint of structure beyond that."
He shook his head, "I regret I am not a poet, I lack to words to describe it fully - but it was akin to a religious experience. It felt like I'd witnessed the work of the divine." He paused before saying it affected me far more than i could have imagined, perhaps that explains what happened to my eyes."[/b] Ever since being in the machinery, Azzim's eyes had sparkled like starlight and he was changes with an aura of otherworldliness.
Sadly he concluded, "As beautiful as what I first witnessed was, there's a sickness infecting parts the web of reality. Perhaps its the traders, perhaps its something else, but I think something has to be done."
"Azzim I can shared your experience with the others of you would let me. I have that ability. It would be as if they where with you and saw what you saw. Their perspective could help'
Terexaltherin is sad, but not surprised, when Emoree wants to part ways. Yeah, I'm sure the Organization can find somewhere like that. I'll look forward to when I can visit!
***************************
During their downtime, Terexaltherin sends Azzim an invitation. Hey, Azzim, there's going to be a Fey Play in a couple days, with one of the reputable troupes that guarantees no transformations lasting longer than the duration of the performance. I can give you all the details if you're interested, it'd be fun to have someone I know there this time!
***************************
Terexaltherin is glad, as always, to see old friends in the Organization. He makes sure to spend some time with Armaund and wish him luck. He also gladly spends some time with the newest recruits, helping with the exercise to make sure it goes as well as possible.
***************************
I'll take a turn with the machinery, Terexaltherin offers. Curiosity about the devices wars with his recognition of the weight of responsibility in his telepathic 'voice'.
The shimmering colors of some of the displays remind him of <Shimmer>, but he focuses on what he's here for. He notes some dark threads woven into the colors, that seem wrong somehow, like they're leaching the color away from their surroundings. He points them out as he spots them.
You're probably right about the library, Azzim, he agrees when discussing the news about Orguanion. It's the most obvious target there. Though on the other hand, it *is* obvious, so it may be a distraction. There might be something else there that the masters of these undead know about but we don't. Whoever investigates will have to be doubly wary.
Gift took to looking around the device and found one of the researchers notes. Reading it she was a little shocked.
From the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy.
The Total perspective Vortex
“It is in theory possible to extrapolate the whole of creation—every plain, Galaxy, every sun, every planet, their orbits, their composition, and their economic and social history from, say, one small piece of fairy cake.”
—The Guide[src]
The Vortex is a device that was built as a practical application of the theory of atomic interactivity. The idea is that, if every atom of the Mili-Universe is affected by every other atom of the Mili-Universe, then it is theoretically possible to extrapolate a model of the entire Mili-Universe using any single piece of matter as a starting point. The Vortex does this employing a piece of fairy cake as its base of extrapolation.
The machine was originally created by its inventor as a way to get back at his wife. She was always telling him to get a "sense of proportion," so he showed her the Vortex. He was horrified to learn he had destroyed her mind, even as he proved his point that if life was going to live in such a vast Mili-Universe, one thing it could not afford to have was a sense of perspective.
The Vortex is now used as a torture. The prospective victim of the TPV is placed within a small chamber wherein is displayed a model of the entire Mili-Universe - together with a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot bearing the legend "you are here." The sense of perspective thereby conveyed destroys the victim's mind; it was stated that the TPV is the only known means of completely crushing a soul.
But she says nothing to the others,
It must not be fully powered, or they had place a safer way for the viewer.
Her problem was simple, to much information, she was getting overloaded with the minds of what the Device was focused on. But she had an idea. After Terexaltherin came out she asked one of the techs.
"Do mind if I try something."
She then place her psicsyal in the device, it could act as a firewall filtering out a lot of the overload Affecting her.
When ready she nodded at the Tech to to activate the TPV.
It seemed to work, with Nexqils filtered remote view point she could see some of what it was experiencing. It was not like being in there herself she could tell, she was not effected as they others had been. It was just a remote view after all. But it was the next best thing,
She recorded what her sent back to her.
A Smile crosses her face, the feed seemed to tallied with what the others where saying.
"Fascinating"
They had the information they needed, and later she would do a deeper review what he had sent her, But for now they had a mission and had the info they needed.
In between all of his other activities, Terexaltherin does make time to keep working on his magic. He still feels like he’s just on the cusp of a breakthrough in his use of magic, but he hasn’t quite figured out how to do it. Blending his innate draconic magical nature and his interest in learning by study to cast like an Arcanist seems like the right path, but he just… can’t quite get it to work. He keeps trying and trying, and it would almost work but it wouldn’t, and he’d get frustrated and then try to calm down and he’d lose it.
But then… one time when he got frustrated, he realizes something. He’s a dragon. He is magic. He’s not looking for some way to convince magic to work for him, he is deciding how to use his own magic.
And so he embraces his frustration, and demands that his magic works according to his desires. It resists, but the little dragon bares his teeth, growls, and tries harder. After a moment, he realizes there’s… something to to the resistance itself. It’s not an impossibility, it’s something he needs to change to make it work.
Terexaltherin would struggle to explain what he did even with telepathy, but somehow, he worked with and through the resistance until something clicked. The spell he’d been trying to work with, a simple web spell, finally flared to life, spreading webbing through the empty shelves of the corner of the library he’d been using to experiment.
The little dragon roars in triumph, then settles down to feel over his abilities. After a few minutes, he concludes that it’s exactly what he wanted… so he starts making a list of what he wants to add to his spellbook.
The various party members' "shifts" with the planar machinery take about two weeks total to between revelations, each of you comes home exhausted (or just crashes in a cot at The Spire).
Two days after the last shift, Ari and Livonia (Ari looking calm and composed) call the group together briefly, "You've done well, better than we could have hoped. Especially Azzim, who perhaps succeeded past the usual safe bounds ... still, he showed us a thing we absolutely must continue monitoring. Still, our thoughts are we should still send you to Orguanion, especially Azzim shielded by the usual antiscrying measures. Indeed, we shall be moving and reconfiguring the Planar after this experiment and we shall approach Azzim's discovery via a different planar route... I expect you all can research Orguanion and create an appropriate cover story. If this is acceptable, we shall meet again in a week. Also, the most obvious cover story is scholar seeking access to the library and this may be good for anonymity. Still, other stories might be considered...."
Gift has taken to being large as a size, standing some 16' tall, she shrank only when she needed to get into places. Walking the streets of Sigil she found making eye contact with larger inhabitants was a lot simpler. She had the same form, as before just large.
Gift claps as Terexaltherin makes his magic work.
"Well done, you are an amazing dragon Terexaltherin"
Behind her a small planes touched child can be see,
"This is Alazya, would you minds so much of your clone gave her classes on Telepathy and other Mindmage skills Terexaltherin."
While in Terexaltherin libury she looked up races that large that would fit Orguanion and not get looks. A researcher working for a scholar seemed like a good fit. Bookcases where high and someone with reach would come in handy to a scholar.
"Also, the most obvious cover story is scholar seeking access to the library"
Azzim nodded, "In truth I wouldn't mind exploring their library. Ever since my uh experience, strange spirits have been speaking to me, revealing peculiar insights to the magical world. It's all very strange but I feel surely this has happened to another practitioner before and maybe they left notes..."
He paused for a moment before adding, "Anyway re Orguanion, perhaps we should consider if that city or the library has certain specialist needs that we might might plausibly be able to assist with. For example book conservationists, fumigation suppliers for dealing with book worm infestations magical or otherwise and so on."
Terexaltherin is startled to find Gift has been watching him, given how focused he'd been on his practice. He looks up at her and rolls his eyes.
Really? You decided to be taller? he teases. The emotions along with his message make it clear he's just poking fun at her.
But you didn't know? Terecho is on an Organization mission right now. I suppose you haven't been in my library for a while, so you wouldn't have noticed, but he left before we departed for our last mission. I should have known anyone that was almost exactly like me would get tired of just reading and want to go out and make a difference in the multiverse sooner or later.
He helps Gift look things up in his library while doing his own research, and offers to have Azzim and Arlo (or anyone else going on the mission) come help, too.
For his own part, Terex looks up what else is of interest on the plane. He can't shake the feeling that their enemies might not be after the obvious target, so he wants to be prepared if he's right.
We could see about doing something more like that, Azzim. It might actually be better not to take the obvious cover. It's obvious, so it might be watched. But 'servant' type workers might not be as closely watched.
Gift discovers that most common multiversal races can all be found Orguanion (as well as Giths and a few obscure groups). Being a very old society, Orguanion has developed a group of rather rigidly organized guilds for most occupations - guilds often have majority of a single race but generally also include a few of other groups (about 50% of the population is in a guild, 30% are general labor and peasants and 20% are "citizens" and idle rich. Guilds vary from bakers to scribes to funeral speech composers).
Researching further, Azzim also discovers Orguanion has a separate guild of book maintainers (often gnomes). While remaining outwardly hostile to foreigners, the "Book Wardens" do hire experts off-worlder for special situations and these occur reasonably often. Usually they hire in the Toltesh market in Flanular but sometimes they go all the way to Sigil.
Those with strong general magical skills get hire as well as those with specialist training such as the book-gnome of the plane of Vaspula.
Arlo spent a week in his old armor, as Moradin priest-smiths took his dwarven plate armor and upgraded it's power. When the dwarf paladin had it returned, it was inscribed with dwarven runes and prayers etched in Celestial. When Arlo put his upgraded armor on, he immediately felt it's power. Arlo thanked the priest-smiths for their hard work.
Arlo's home life was great, but whenever he walked the streets of Sigil, it was obvious he was under the watchful eye of the dabus. The godling could also count at least two or three within his line of vision, regardless of where he looked.
Gift knows Terexaltherin is pocking fun.
"Just seems more me Terexa, a more gravitas me for my new ambitions."
She takes the girl to another teach and comes back, Terexa, had done some research for her. So she went over it with him. So a Giant races where just as common, She would go with a Cloud Giant look, A slender finely dressed female Humanoid. As a student researcher she also has a handy haversack prepared with fold out desk, writing and book materials and student kit.
You note that over the group link, gift HIvemind is much reduced, having placed all but her two cohorts into the Demi-plain of the mind.
Gift stood in her mothers Sigil lab. her brothers where playing with one of the house bots.
"So your retiring then?"
Her mother looked up from the soul forge she was working on.
"Yes, that last mission made me realise that if all three of use work for the organisation then there is a risk you brothers could lose all of us. Me you and your father, Ahrr don't object you know I am telling the truth. I have talked to your father about this and he agrees. He needs help others, its in his very DnA, I know I looked. And your, well when we made you we had no idea how you would grow. You have exceeded our wildest dreams. Your your own person now and your father told me all about your aims. I think they are great, making as safe place for those who would be persecuted for have gifts they can't control. We are both very proud of you Gift."
She went over and hugged her mother, they both cried a little. Her brothers came over and joined in and soon they where tumbling around.
They got some food and while eating her mother added.
"Gift when I came to this plain, I lost everyone, I was the only one who made it. We came looking for help for our reality and the organisation have that help. That was all that mattered to me. But after I had to pay the debt back. So I started doing missions. I had no idea how broken I was until I meet your father. He as just as broken as me, but somehow we made ourselves hole. He have me back my heart, my body and my mind. He gave me you and your brothers. I love him and you all more than anything"
Gift nodded understanding.
"My debt now is to him and you three. And I want a quit life after all I have gone through. But I think most of all, I want you and him to always have a home here you can come back to. So that is what I have set out to do. Keep yourself safe, and bring that grumpy old dwarf back with you."
The Arlo was there and they kiss each other.
Gift smiled, her mother and father where amazing in her view. They had done though so much. When she had touch the soul of the Dying evil god. It was the one thing he could not show her. Love, real love for its own sake. Not the sick and twisted love he had sort to create. For all his power it was the one thing he never had. true love. And in the end he had known it. It was what she had used to brake his will. That behind all his hate and anger was his own loss and pain. Until at then end he know he had fallen to where he was becouse he lacked it. His fate had been his own making. She got up to go play with her bothers.
Azzim sent Terex a belated reply, 'Sorry for the slow response, I've been quite distracted ever since manning the planar machine. Anyhow yes I'd like to see the Fey Play, please send me the details.'
Terexaltherin sends Azzim the requested details in the form of a brochure with annotations in his small, neat handwriting. The location for the play is actually up on the roofs of a small block of apartments--the brochure details several staircases and ladders to get up to the performance area. Terex has noted a couple that will be close to the seat he plans on taking.
A large portion of the brochure discusses a magical bracelet that all attendees will be given. Apparently it guarantees that any transformations applied to audience members will be removed at the end of the performance, or at any time desired by the wearer. Terexaltherin notes here that 'The transformations are the best part! But you can set it to prevent them if you want. It's interesting how it actually works--the bracelet is actually a booster and I'm running out of space'
********************
About the plan, Terexaltherin says, Well, all of us except Arlo could probably be hired on as magical help. Maybe Arlo could be our hired guard? But that wouldn't get him in the library if we find trouble there...
Some time after the play... Azzim receives a tip from a contact that a party from Orguanion will be looking for preservationist bibliophiles at Toltesh Market in the next week. Flanular, where the market lies, is close planes meeting spot for specialist wizards and is fairly simple to reach from Sigil.
Gift came into being lose to the entrance, and Changed form to be a pseudo dragon, like Terex, landing close to him. Another clone if him.
::”This dose sound interesting and will transformations, I think will be no problem.”::
Oh... hi Gift, I didn't know you had a ticket to the show, too, Terexaltherin 'says', clearly surprised and a little uncomfortable about unexpectedly meeting her here. And maybe about her copying his form, too.
****************************************
We should go see this group from Orguanion, the little dragon says to the rest of the group when Azzim passes the news along. But we should disguise ourselves as we'll want to be when we go to Orguanion.
Terexaltherin disguises himself as best he can--just a little something to change the hue of his scales and hide the iridescence of his horns.
He actually speaks aloud to answer the Orguanions, to further differentiate himself from his normal behavior. "I am Latheriax, and I am a student of many types of magic. This here is well within my capabilities to fix."
::”As you wish Trex”::
Gift shifts into her cloud giant form,
Her clothing is fine but with gems and cold, lots of gold. Half-Gaint in size she seems happy to let the two ‘academics’ do the talking.
During the play, Azzim was transformed into a Fey'ri. This type of humanoid fey has pointed ears, almond shaped eyes and its otherworldly beauty embodies the first realm itself. Fey'ri possess potent magic and a connection to nature. Everything inside the venue seemed to glow softly, and the vegetation was vivid emerald green.
"This is remarkable!" Azzim told Texrex, "I feel like we're actually in the first world!"
Then he noticed another pseudodragon and when it became apparent it was Gift he blinked in surprise and said, "Oh hi Gift! I didn't know you liked this sort of thing."
Azzim was wearing his businesses suit of anonymity along with a pair of sharp aviator sunglasses he found from a mid-tech world outlet store in Sigil.
"Greetings, I am Aaron. We are" he indicated his companions, "Monorock Industries a small arcane consulting and security collective, competitive rates, discretion guaranteed. Like my colleague Latheriax I too have experience with Delvonian script, please allow me to demonstrate."
He then easily fixed the problem within the time limit.
Hoping to sound them out, Azzim asked "Perhaps you could share some details about the job you are hiring for? If it's more Delvonian script conversation, we can certainly help with that. We can potentially assist with other trickier problems as well..."
Arlo Brighthammer finds himself staring at his feet as he walks up a flight of white marble stairs. After a while, Arlo looks around to find himself climbing a stairway into the clouds. The dwarf appears to be thousands of feet in the clouds, but is not overwhelmed by fear of falling. Suddenly, the sound of a large applause can be heard around him. Then, Arlo notices the cloud are inhabited by various humanoid races. As he looks closely, Arlo starts of recognize the people in the clouds. Arlo's father and mother, prominent nobles and heroes, dragons, halfings, famous artists, any other people the dwarf doesn't recognize. Yet, Arlo instinctively knows one things that binds these various peoples together: they were all from Žemėia. The dwarf paladin steps off the final step into solid cloud. As he does, a rush of Žemėians converge on a surprised Arlo, smiling and thanking him.
”What do you mean? What's going on?”
Arlo's father, proudly steps forward. ”My dear son. I've always been proud of you. But with the destruction of the planar gem you destroyed. Our souls can rest.”
”How?!”
”With Žemėia's destruction, our souls who died when the world died, were funneled into the planar gem, fueling it. We all existed in torment within the gem. But your Arlosword destroyed the gfem and freed us, boy! We're finally free!!”
A roar of applause and praise rises from the collected souls around him.
”I-I didn't know..”
”But now you do”, Arlo father answered. ”And one day, you will join us. But not today. And maybe not for a while now.” The spirit of Arlo's father looked at something behind his son's shoulder.
Arlo turned around to see the tall form of Moradin, King of the Mountain, God of the Dwarves. The Greater Deity rested his heavy hand on Arlo's shoulder.
”You are doing well, Arlo. There is still much to do. But I wanted you to see this. In hopes your own fractured soul may be mended. Rest now, Arlo. And be at peace. At last. You have earned it. Žemėia has been avenged at last.”
Arlo quickly woke from his dream. It all seemed so real. Was it. The dwarf wiped the tears from his eyes, realizing he must have wept as he slept. Lyra sleep next to him, unaware.
Was it a dream? Arlo looked inside himself and felt a change. A happiness of which he did not know the reason. Very similar to the feeling of the birth of his sons. A weight on his soul. Was gone. Arlo laid in bed, with his beautiful wife who loved him, in a large ship/holding to raise his family. This two sons sleeping peacefully a few doors down. The dwelling was quiet.
Arlo breathed. And smiled in the gloom. Lyra turned in her sleep, laying her lovely arm across his chest. The dwarf kissed it, unsure if waking his wife up for sex was a good idea. Lyra quickly made the sounds of deep breathing while in slumber. There's always tomorrow. And for the first time, in decades, tomorrow was a good thing.
When arriving for the play, each ticket-holder is led to a seat in the odd amphithetre, which is built into the roofs of the buildings on the block. The seats themselves have obviously been built with Sigil's metropolitan population in mind--Terexaltherin's perch isn't even the smallest one, while there's a least one spot large enough for the full-grown copper dragon currently occupying it.
The play itself is... chaotic. The actors are all smaller fey of various sorts, many of them winged. The plot starts out with the forbidden love between two memembers of warring fey courts, but before the first act is done the simple love story has become a complex web of sudden proclamations of infatuation, declarations of rivalry, and a half-dozen 'fights' that seem to consist mostly of firing transformation curses at each other, most of which miss and hit the audience.
The second act begins with a breathtaking ball which somehow involves the entire cast in spite of them supposedly being at war. At the height of the dancing, the action suddenly dissolves into another round of transformation curses, after which the remainder of the act is a bizarre combination of singing, dancing, and slinging more transformations around.
The final act seems to be entirely an excuse to get anyone who hasn't been hit by a transformation curse yet transformed in some way. Many members of both cast and audience get hit by multiple--the copper dragon seems a particularly popular target, and by the end is laughing uproarously at his mingled badger, rabbit, dragonfly, and turtle features. Any semblance of plot seems to have been lost by the end, and the finish of the play is marked simply by the actors all lining up and taking a bow rather than any sort of resolution of the story.
Terexaltherin is radiating amusement by the end, perhaps because of the fact that he's currently some kind of blend of hare and snake, or possibly because of all the mingled forms around him.
*******************************
Terexaltherin waits quietly for the Orguanions to respond to Azzim, having already shown his own skills.
When Azzim approaches the Orguanions in the Toltesh Market, they consider the response to the Delvonian script and look the part over carefully. They then seem to reject the group, retreat and confer among themselves and approach again, raising other several complex questions. There are apparently two leader, Aran (a human) and Dzitizim (a gnome) and they look at each other with nearly as much suspicion as they do the party. There are further discussion around potential pay and conditions, with Azzim carefully negotiating for the party to have "Layer two" access to the library as well as the right wander the city in exchange for salary on the low-end of the scale. Aran comments, "Should any die in your wanderings, all wages are forfeit and all work remains in our domain" The Orguanions are not surprise that some party members are body guards and indeed seem to approvingly at the measure.
Finally, Dzitizim smiles and says "My friends, you are clearly highly skilled and we will likely recommend you to the South Wing Group. The contract will be for four months. We will meet you again at this way point in three days and if our recommendations are followed, provide transportation to South Wing of the Orguanion library. Aran will be your contact point. We are hoping for salvage rate of twenty tomes per week. Let me know your style of work, what sorts of food and living quarters you need and so forth. We will our best to accommodate you" The group then leaves the party.
The question of Orguanions give sufficient clues to deduce (using The Organization's resources and records) that the text being preserved are records of the Isharians, a vastly ancient multiplanar empire about which knowledge is closely guarded.
Terexaltherin 'speaks' to the rest of the group, mental voice thoughtful, They're probably trying to preserve records of the Isharians, who were an ancient multiplanar empire. Definitely the kind of knowledge the Dark Traders would be after, so we'll want to keep our eyes open. It sounds like we have three days to get ready. I need to finish filling out my spellbook. Does everyone have what they need for our cover identities?
When the party meets with Aran and Dzitizim in three days, the group that meets them has one person less. The Orguanions waste no time and take you from the open area of the market to a nearby empty storefront, paying a hooded figure as you enter (apparently for the use of the space). Dzitizim removes a small wooden square from his haversack and unfolds it until it takes the shape of a door, which he opens. Functioning as such devices often do, the door show an empty blackness, which he beckons the entire group to walk through. When you do so, you find yourselves in a wintery, forested landscape near a door floating the air. Dzitizim reverses the door-folding process once all emergence and Alan points the group in a seemingly random direction and you set off that waay. After a short while you realize Aran is following a path marked by jeweled bands set high on certain tree. In any case, you hike for maybe five hours and come to a large boulder where Aran removes his own folding door, this one made of steel and you go through. Now, you find yourselves in a small irregular room, wood-paneled and lined with glass-covered and locked bookcases and Aran retrieves his door. He then leads you down a hallway and through several magnificent, high ceilinged reading rooms, the entire area sumptuous and exotically furnished and lined with more, very dark wooden panels. A variety of humanoids browse the books, all outsiders seemingly watched by library staff dressed similarly to Alan and Dzitizim's group. Alan remarks in passing "Now only twelve rooms and two staircases to The South Wing... and at this point, a strange figure, (a humanoid body but with cylindrical head, both entirely wrapped in rune-covered cloth) steps out from a side passage and says "But there yet, South Wingers ...". Simultaneously, one of the humans among the groups whispers something Aran takes out a piece of paper with a seal and says "We travel on official library business" to which the figure replies, "Your patron Boreas has lost his place on the council, that is worthless. Now you must bargain. I believe I will take Dzitizim and leave the rest of you..."
Whatever this creature is, you can guess it doesn't have real authority but rather is using the situation that you in a "no man's land" to bully the group into surrendering one of their members. It likely could be bullied itself...
Chella is surprised and left a little off-balance by the appearance of Livonia, but she only hesitates a moment before bowing politely and asking "Thank you for the most generous offer. May I consult with my partner before I accept?"
Livonia makes a magnanimous gesture, and watches the bull-headed woman retreat several paces away and cast a spell. "Tell me you knew this was going to happen?" she whispers through her message spell. "I'm beginning to suspect that maybe you aren't infallible after all!"
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND, THIS INTELLIGENCE WAS FIRST-HAND, CHELLA!" Peri wails through the magical tunnel between them. "I SAW THE ORGUANIONS MYSELF-- THEY MET WITH SEVERAL GROUPS OF POTENTIAL HIRES RIGHT HERE."
Chella chuckles, a rich snorting sound that wrinkles the end of her muzzle. "Well," she muses, "I don't suppose you've heard of the Organization, then?"
"POSSIBLY. I'VE READ THE NAME ON DISPATCHES FROM OTHER WORLDS, BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS REFERRING TO SOME KIND OF CRIME FAMILY. PERHAPS THEY ARE ANOTHER ORGANIZATION? IF THEY ARE A SECRETIVE MAGICAL SOCIETY, I MIGHT HAVE HEARD RUMORS OF THEM OPERATING HERE ON SIGIL. I SUPPOSE YOU SHOULD ASK HER!"
Chella looks over at Livonia, who appears to be patiently waiting. "I can't really afford to turn down a job. Unless they're planning to murder me and take all my possessions, I'm certainly willing to give it a try. And it would be nice to be part of a group again instead of doing everything with just us. What do you think, should I accept?"
"I WOULD RATHER YOU DIDN'T STARVE TO DEATH. THEN WHAT WOULD I DO? YOU'RE ALL PAID UP WITH THE HANDS, RIGHT? THAT WAS A WISE MOVE, DROPPING YOUR WINDFALL ON THE PRINCIPAL TO GET AHEAD OF THE INTEREST. IF THIS JOB BRINGS ENOUGH COIN YOU COULD FINALLY FINISH OFF THE LOAN. CAN YOU IMAGINE? MAYBE THEN THEY'D GIVE YOU A JOB INSTEAD."
Chella scowls. "I'm not joining the Hands," she whispers flatly. "I may be a monstrous creature spawned of evil and darkness, but even I have standards. Hey! Herbert! Wake up, I want to ask you something."
The toad dozing on her horns mutters something in their shared language.
Chella casts the spell again to include him. "If you don't listen, you don't get a say," she warns.
"WHAT A SHAME THAT WOULD BE," Peri's voice sniffs.
Chella pesters her familiar again. "Come on Herbert." she whispers. "I'm thinking of taking a job that involves a new group. The Organization. What do you think?"
"They gonna take a body part? Or make you swear an unbreakable oath?" the toad murmurs sleepily. "If there's a contract I'll take a look at it for you, but you know I don't remember much from those days. Try not to sign anything if you can manage it." He turns around on Chella's head and closes his eyes again.
Chella sighs. "All right, I've stalled long enough. Let's go convince this woman to hire me. I'm sure everything will work out fine."
After a semi-long discussion of terms of employment and things like room and board, working hours, training, and of course wages, Chella seems willing to accept the deal. Throughout the process she is friendly and charming, a tone that is much at odds with her appearance. At one point she asks if The Organization will require her to disguise herself. She is willing to do so for the job, but she prefers to have time every day where she can be herself, if possible. "This curséd visage was a gift from my father," she confides, "and I have made it my own. So I'd rather not hide its light under a bushel, if you understand?"
Finally Chella receives permission to make arrangements for an extended absence from Sigil, and she leaves her last two weeks' rent with her landlord's factor. Then she accepts the teleport, and finds herself in a strange complex with faint sounds of magic and machinery blended together. She waits in a comfortable meeting room until the Organizers (as she has begun to think of her employers) bring the other members of the team she will be working with. She is nervous, but excited, and desperately wants to make a good impression. They should start arriving any minute, she thinks. Does that mean they all live here, too? How fascinating!
Chella is surprised and left a little off-balance by the appearance of Livonia, but she only hesitates a moment before bowing politely and asking "Thank you for the most generous offer. May I consult with my partner before I accept?"
Livonia makes a magnanimous gesture, and watches the bull-headed woman retreat several paces away and cast a spell. "Tell me you knew this was going to happen?" she whispers through her message spell. "I'm beginning to suspect that maybe you aren't infallible after all!"
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND, THIS INTELLIGENCE WAS FIRST-HAND, CHELLA!" Peri wails through the magical tunnel between them. "I SAW THE ORGUANIONS MYSELF-- THEY MET WITH SEVERAL GROUPS OF POTENTIAL HIRES RIGHT HERE."
Chella chuckles, a rich snorting sound that wrinkles the end of her muzzle. "Well," she muses, "I don't suppose you've heard of the Organization, then?"
"POSSIBLY. I'VE READ THE NAME ON DISPATCHES FROM OTHER WORLDS, BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS REFERRING TO SOME KIND OF CRIME FAMILY. PERHAPS THEY ARE ANOTHER ORGANIZATION? IF THEY ARE A SECRETIVE MAGICAL SOCIETY, I MIGHT HAVE HEARD RUMORS OF THEM OPERATING HERE ON SIGIL. I SUPPOSE YOU SHOULD ASK HER!"
Chella looks over at Livonia, who appears to be patiently waiting. "I can't really afford to turn down a job. Unless they're planning to murder me and take all my possessions, I'm certainly willing to give it a try. And it would be nice to be part of a group again instead of doing everything with just us. What do you think, should I accept?"
"I WOULD RATHER YOU DIDN'T STARVE TO DEATH. THEN WHAT WOULD I DO? YOU'RE ALL PAID UP WITH THE HANDS, RIGHT? THAT WAS A WISE MOVE, DROPPING YOUR WINDFALL ON THE PRINCIPAL TO GET AHEAD OF THE INTEREST. IF THIS JOB BRINGS ENOUGH COIN YOU COULD FINALLY FINISH OFF THE LOAN. CAN YOU IMAGINE? MAYBE THEN THEY'D GIVE YOU A JOB INSTEAD."
Chella scowls. "I'm not joining the Hands," she whispers flatly. "I may be a monstrous creature spawned of evil and darkness, but even I have standards. Hey! Herbert! Wake up, I want to ask you something."
The toad dozing on her horns mutters something in their shared language.
Chella casts the spell again to include him. "If you don't listen, you don't get a say," she warns.
"OH, HOW WOULD WE MANAGE WITHOUT IT," Peri's voice sniffs.
Chella pesters her familiar again. "Come on Herbert." she whispers. "I'm thinking of taking a job that involves a new group. The Organization. What do you think?"
"They gonna take a body part? Or make you swear an unbreakable oath?" the toad murmurs sleepily. "If there's a contract I'll take a look at it for you, but you know I don't remember much from those days. Try not to sign anything if you can manage it." He turns around on Chella's head and closes his eyes again.
Chella sighs. "All right, I've stalled long enough. Let's go convince this woman to hire me. I'm sure everything will work out fine."
After a semi-long discussion of terms of employment and things like room and board, working hours, training, and of course wages, Chella seems willing to accept the deal. Throughout the process she is friendly and charming, a tone that is much at odds with her appearance. At one point she asks if The Organization will require her to disguise herself. She is willing to do so for the job, but she prefers to have time every day where she can be herself, if possible. "This curséd visage was a gift from my father," she confides, "and I have made it my own. So I'd rather not hide its light under a bushel, if you understand?"
Finally Chella receives permission to make arrangements for an extended absence from Sigil, and she leaves her last two weeks' rent with her landlord's factor. Then she accepts the teleport, and finds herself in a strange complex with faint sounds of magic and machinery blended together. She waits in a comfortable meeting room until the Organizers (as she has begun to think of her employers) bring the other members of the team she will be working with. She is nervous, but excited, and desperately wants to make a good impression. They should start arriving any minute, she thinks. Does that mean they all live here, too? How fascinating!
Gift had been keeping herself at 6' but when the being threatened them. she grow to her full size 16' and true form. A being rapped in psionic power, eyes blaze blue, her mind reached out and raps around the being in front of hers mind.
::"YOU WILL TAKE NOTHING, YOU WILL DO NOTHING!!"::
Azzim folded his arms and emphatically said, "I don't think you're really in a position to order anyone about! Still since you seem to know all the gossip why don't you tell us what happened to Boreas..."
Arlo folds his muscled armored arms and stares down Alan.
Azzim agreed with Terx saying, "I concur this is related to the Isharians... I think some research on them before we head out would be useful."
Azzim considered what little he knew about the secretive Isharians.
He also mentioned this to Ari and Livonia, [b]"Is there anything important about the Isharians we should know, alternatively is there anything important we should try to find out? The Orguanions have extensive records after all...
Lady Alya De Qill
