::"So its species Genocide or walk away, really you two": She says in a huff
::"So its species Genocide or walk away, really you two": She says in a huff
::One of the hardest lessons I had to learn as a paladin: is that you can't save everyone. No matter how hard you try. Don't destroy yourself trying to save the minds of a race that should pass on.::
Illithid technology, in fact, would be the only known mechanism by which millions of minds and souls could be productively harnessed and controlled. This is why the Dark Traders and similar planar bandits focus on more crudely consuming whole planes.
And so if Tz’z`z`z "contains" millions of souls, those may be salvageable. Indeed, they might be contained in Gift's demi-plane, if she freed it from her own control and allowed these souls to shape it themselves.
Also, this demonstrates the supreme audacity and danger of Ari's plan and the disguises offered by The Organization.
Terexaltherin finds an opportunity to slip into his library without being tracked by the surveillance.
We're not going to be able to replicate the illithid technology, but we might be able to fake it well enough to fool Tz’z`z`z, he reports. We might be able to set something up to release the souls while trapping Tz’z`z`z. But Gift, the genocide already happened. All that's in our power is making sure the souls from it get to a proper afterlife instead of whatever state they're in now.
Gift is lost in thought for a long time, you may get the feeling she is having an internal debate with the minds that make up who she is now.
Then she comes back.
::"This is an opportunity we just can't pass on. From what I saw of Tz’z`z`z mind, they hold a lot of information on our adversary organization. Information we need if we are to take the fight to them. Tz’z`z`z is only with them because Tz’z`z`z is seeking a way to stabilize its condition. We have that means, we can fake, no! that is wrong, we can rediscover the Progenitor Illithid technology. Just as with the minds trapped in the Soul Crystal. Let them finally find peace and as you say an after life. I know I can enhance my Psionic Demi-plane to become an afterlife for them. It has already for others. But I need mums help, she has to make more Psionic renators to expand the plane. I'm going to send her a message now and talk to her about it. Dad, I am sorry but I can't condone the willful genocide of an entire species. That is the kind of thing the traders would do and we are better than them, we have to be or what are we if not them."::
She sends, and then opens a link to her mother, spending some time talking to her.
Azzim frowned and glanced at Arlo before sending, ::Gift I'm worried, Tz’z`z`z is one of the beings closest to elemental evil we've encountered and your initial reaction is and I quote 'Tz’z`z`z psionically consumed his own species, that is soooo coool.'::
Shaking his head he paused for a moment before adding ::I do agree that the intel it has would be invaluable, but what you're proposing sounds extraordinarily risky::
There was much more that Azzim wanted to say but he didn't think Gift would be receptive. The fact that she thought she could contain millions of souls was concerning, since Azzim was well aware how mortal adulation empowered the gods. He wasn't sure however that Gift was fully aware of how much a god's followers melded and shaped the god itself. Also there was a long and torrid history of beings lust for power causing them to reject morality, did she have the fortitude to hold the course? And what if Gift had overestimated herself, the saying went pride goeth before a fall, was a reverse takeover of Gift by those millions of souls possible?
Azzim prepared another draught of tears to wine, which he downed in a single gulp before considering the implications of Gift's plan. Could it work? Where the dangers really as bad as he feared? Where the souls contained within Tz’z`z`z even worth saving anyway?
::"You are assuming he did it by choice. I think he wanted power and messed up. I think his species where a Hive mind evolved swarm. Queens psionically controlling mindless drones. All female with just a few male drones moving between them, spreading genetic diversity. Tz’z`z`z dose not come over as a Queen, they would protect not consume. I think Tz’z`z`z is a male drone, who gained sentence somehow, and did not like the idea he has been bread just death-shagging. Somehow he worked out how to hyjak the Queen control system. But it went horribly wrong. What he thought would give him power just about crushed him, Now what to do, well he went looking for anyone who had a means to death with his mistake."::
She then added, with a hunt of remorse.
::"Yerrr, I said it was cool, becouse I had never come across anything like it and well, its new to me. Not cool as in "Thats a smart thing to do" cus very soon his mind will overload and its not going to be pretty when it dose. "::
We should definitely free the souls *somehow*, and we can maybe give Tz’z`z`z the benefit of the doubt... but he's done a lot of horrible things after what happened, and even if it were by necessity that's a bad sign for when it's not necessary, Terexaltherin opines. Whatever the case, I don't think we're rediscovering any ancient Illithid tech to do it on short notice. We're good, but not *that* kind of good. But we don't necessarily have to, we can probably figure out something that will work *once* for this very particular circumstance just to move those souls to something resembling a proper afterlife, whether or not that's your demiplane.
As the groups mentally consults together, you notice several of the other guests also seem to engage in mental dialogue, the lodges veneer of affability fades entirely for tens to seconds.. Tz’z`z`z themselves pauses, their antennas buzz and then they/it walk out of the door and head in the direction of their "cabin". Several others also then leave.
Meanwhile, the Greech near Azzim tries to get his attention in a slightly wheeling voice that tries to be dignified and respectful, "I don't what been agreed but please understand, my master Volf can meet any price. He will need proof, of course but his resources are vast, vast...
The light of this zone's "day" is fading. Levin Munel switches his tune to one of sorrow and despair...
And Azzim and Terex can together estimate Tz’z`z`z' species was something like lawful-neutral, spanned several small galaxies and vanished maybe 200 years ago. How long Tz’z`z`z can hold the souls is uncertain - he may have been doing this a long time but Gift is likely correct that he's worried about how long he can continue... Why and how he absorbed the souls, even the wisest have trouble guessing some things.
::"I am willing to try, his race are not evil, and they should have a chance to come back. He will most likely not survive this as he is now. He will change as well. I am willing to try, I myself will have to make a big decision but I will deal with that then. I really think if we can get the information he has on the traders its worth it. They are a disparate group, and Axes of evils. If we can cut one out we weaken them"::
She then notes they have gone to Tz’z`z`z cabin.
::"Heads up they are on the move"::
::Gift I know you're interested in it but one of the dangers here is the consequences of apotheosis. Right now you are a free agent able to travel and intervene in all manner of affairs. Millions of souls is more than sufficient for ascension, however if you became a god you would suddenly have huge responsibility and the greater part of your essence would bound to your demi-plane. Also as I'm sure you're aware The Lady of Pain does not allow avatars in Sigil...::
He paused for a moment to let that sink in before adding ::I'm not saying you can't or shouldn't save them, in fact the intelligence gained could be a huge coup. The thing is you're going to have to decide who you are, perhaps you are destined to become the god of a race of insectoids or perhaps fate has something else in store for you.::
Azzim wasn't entirely sure what Volf suspected. But he felt he needed to stay in character so in his Githyanki Wizard form he shrugged, "Nothing has been agreed, as yet and we shall be sure to bear this in mind."
The shock of Zerbedekt and Tz’z`z`z' discussion apparently shocked the group of assembled villains and the party can plainly who looks upon who as friend, neutral or foe (basically, there are three poles of power, Tz’z`z`z', Volf and Rolf the collector. Only Omchat seems unaligned).
"Well this has been lovely, maybe we should retire for the evening?" suggested Kes'a'ldath.
Yeah, let's take this discussion back to our 'lodge, Terexaltherin says over the hive mind.
Aloud, The Bellis Cat says, "Yes, now that we have this hunt to think about, we should take our discussion to a more... private location to plan. Wouldn't want to spoil any surprises, after all."
So, the party returns to their "cabin" (a huge lodge), filled with every amenity that could be asked for. As you leave, a servant mentions one ad-hoc hunt at 10 am and another to be arranged (the guests were too occupied to plan much it seems).
All right, so... what do we think we can actually do to free these souls? It's possible we could do something with the malleability of the plane here, but... I *really* wouldn't trust it, Terexaltherin 'says' once the group is back in their lodge. Something still feels *off* to me about the whole thing, like there's a way using the plane can be watched or altered without our knowing, even beyond the surveillance we know about...
Grend kept close to the illithid mastermind, as all good bodyguards do.
Gift was lost in her own thoughts, she has alot to think about.
Replying to Terex, Azzim sent ::Yes I mislike this plane too. I would prefer any attempt to free the souls be done elsewhere. As for freeing the souls that needs research, I'm half tempted to contact Ari who clearly planned this and likely has a notion but I think there's a good chance any communication wouldn't be secure and a better chance I tell them what I really think about this mission.::
Azzim thought about security for a long while, he worried that Terex was right that this plane was fundamentally insecure in some way. Naturally those thoughts led to the question, how easy would it be to slip away unnoticed do some research and plane shift back? Could the rods be used to disguise planar travel and his temporary absence?
Gift specks up at last.
::"Terexa is right, Something is off, I'm sorry but something just dose not feel right with this hole set up, Tz’z`z`z and the rest. It's too, tempting... They almost had me, but life never stacks up this well. Dad you often say 'When things seem too good to be true, they after are now' Well I like Terexa am getting that not true vib. Where is the supition of us. Where is the testing of who we are. We show up and everyone just takes it that we are who we say we are. When has anyone liked to our adversary ever done that. They are hyper paranoid. And then each of us offered something just to our liking. Plane shifting tech, a well of souls to save, the adversary on a plate. Its all too good to be true. Deep down we know something is off here. Azzim you felt it about this plane. Dad you keep sticking to me like Glue, I know you. You'er instincts are trying to tell you something is off. Me and Terexa are Psions and we know our minds and when they feel something is off. "::
She bings up a thought block.
::"They were bound to do it, we have hurt them too much. They where bound too try and trap us. To dose so, we would have to have been compromised, how? no idea yet. But we have been. My feeling is all of this then is a trip. Well, we are probably in the most danger we have ever been in, That is the bad news. The good news is, The 1st step to get out of trap is knowing you're in one. So moving forward we can act with that knowledge, and try and get out of this."::
Azzim paused his research to reply, ::If you're right, and I think you might be, it's imperative we keep up the pretense for now and show them what they expect to see. However, what we need is a shaved knuckle, a way to change the rules without them realizing it until its too late.::
This set Azzim pondering and he thought of the mindscape he'd used on the previous mission and he got to wondering if this whole demi-plane wasn't an overblown mindscape of sorts. There were spells for escaping mindscapes. And then he wondered what would happen if the entire area was planeshifted into a veiled mindscape tuned to look and feel exactly like this one, with the rods and all but in reality it was an adjunct of the plane of dreams, one they controlled. Normally something like that was well out of his league, especially if it was to be done subtly, but The Organization did have some rather impressive planar machinery at its disposal... Perhaps with that it might be possible, and so the beginnings of a stupidly ambitious plan started to form in his mind. Why stop with Tz’z`z`z, why not bag all of them?
So, back in the "cabin" after an evening of faux-relaxation in a lair of villains, the party minutely dissects the events, the personalities and the magical effects involved.
The plane: Seeming to sit idly by, Azzim surreptitiously runs some subtle experiments looking at the hall mirror of their lodge through an ordinary hand mirror with an anti-magic field on it. Eureka! A series of flowing, crystalline quality can be seen. They remind Terex of something ... colors and facets of a particular sort. Not Shimmer but entities from the same 5th dimensional space as Terex' sometime "companion" "Shimmer" (see here)
The plane is indeed similar to a mindscape but also similar to the worlds which Shimmer could create (though a stronger and more impressive effect). These entities likely both provide power for the "control rods" and keep tabs on all of the guests. This also provides an idea for escaping any surveillance on the plane by using the mirror... There might even be some connection to Terex' library. Looking this you suspect that Fluenmuello didn't create this plane but rather found it somewhere in the multiverse... In anycase, using various tricks with the mirrors, Azzim is able to get a "secure line" to the organization finally (and with his understand, there are variety of ways the Planar Machinery might be used).
The mission: Ari quite possibly knew or guessed that the party would be facing something like a trap. And probably expected you to get out of that trap. (Lesson: when a thousand year old elf princess tells you "I want to show something more interesting", think carefully...)
The powers of the party were and are a bright lure for many villains - at the same, the villains must all also look upon each with suspicion and each villain is has pressure to act quickly because they can see others acting to gain the power. That is the situation - but who set up this situation? Clearly Fluenmuello himself/itself, the simplest possibility is he intends to watch the various guests come to blows and then step in and seize power and wealth for himself. While he has been very cagey about his motives and origins so-far, Fluenmuello apparently recruited everyone in the lodge and seemingly vouched for them.
And you can see that Tz’z`z`z is both vastly evil, vastly powerful and something of a dupe for the Traders. No doubt it was encouraged to absorb its people to serve Trader purposes and it will be either destroyed by the multitudes within it or it will give the souls to the Traders to be consumed, possibly becoming a meal itself in the end. But like any megalomaniac, it likely only accept a "partnership" with Zerbedekt where it is first among equals - except with a lot of persuasion. And it would likely demand an effective proof when it begins more bargaining...
::Oh no!:: Grend said with mock surprise over the hivemind. ::A lot of evil bastards need to die! Oh well.::
::"You said it Dad"::
She says.
Say... I think this place is actually a little like <Shimmer>, Terexaltherin states, after he's done with his studying. Not identical... more like, it's related to the place <Shimmer> came from. Fluenmello might have convinced the plane and its creatures that this whole lodge thing is 'interesting'. So if we make defeating the villains more 'interesting' than trapping us... we might have a chance at it. Of course, we can't let on we're onto them at all.
We might be able to start with Tz’z`z`z, if we can phrase helping the souls escape as an interesting challenge or experiment, something that would be more exciting than the alternatives. Hmm... while I'm thinking of it, I wonder what that crystal mirror-wood I collected would do in a plane like this? We might be able to use it somehow...
Whatever we do, we have to make sure not to drive these villains to work together. It'd be great if we could figure out a way to turn them against each other.
Terexaltherin pauses. I also kind of want to try to sneak into the downstairs area, but we'd have to be really careful about it. No doubt it's well-watched and likely trapped.
So, Terex and the party wrack their brain doing stealthy research on the entities in the tinny dragon's library but things aren't clicking, the surveillance and the day's events are a distraction and you seem to hit a wall.
Finally, Terex notices a book he's never seen in one of the front shelves of the library. When he attempts to open the thing, it proves to be more of a puzzle-box in book - interlocking curvilinear shapes move in strange patterns in response to the readers ... feelings. And these moving shapes in-turn projects feelings back. The thing could only be a "note" from <Shimmer>! It tells a story of a group of entities from it's realm and their experiment, it even gives their names...
::Well spotted Terex, lets hope you can convince them it would be extremely fun to change some of the settings in this demi-plane. I'm sure the aftermath of freeing Tz’z`z`z's souls would trigger extraordinary interesting and highly unpredictable events which would be far more entertaining than whatever stuffy nonsense Fluenmello has in mind.::
Azzim then set about setting up a secure connection to The Organization. He knew in theory how it could be done, using a dancing lights cantrips of just the right color between a pair of parallel mirrors to essentially send out a morse code message. This would only work if somebody was watching, but he was confident that they would be.
The message he sent was:
'Ari I don't know if you planned this but Gift was greatly tempted, thankfully choosing the path of wisdom. Terex discovered some of <Shimmer>'s well cousins I suppose, which could change everything. Please have the planar machinery on standby, we may need to call upon it at short notice'
Terexaltherin stares for a while at the 'note' after he's deciphered it. For a moment he broadcasts a sense of bittersweet memory before he pulls himself together.
Right, well... Fluenmuello must have some way of 'communicating' with these beings... maybe that's what's down those stairs... or maybe, actually... hey, could I see the rod for a bit? Wait, we should leave my library for this.
Once back in the lodge, Terexaltherin carefully reaches out towards the rod with his mind and sends a sense of curiosity, a sort of "Hello, anyone there?"
Holding the rod, Terex projects a feeling of curiosity into the Rod, having a memory of <Shimmer>. The rod ... reflects the sense curiosity but doesn't reply to the message. It takes a couple moments for Terex to realize he's a bit rusty with the particular sort of communication <Shimmer> required... but the thing did communicate on a different level than a world-shaping power rod, a different "voice" even, contact has been made
Meanwhile, Ari sends back to Azzim, Gift will do marvelously I'm sure. Godhood is much less exciting than most people imagine but some need to touch it to be sure. The planar machinery is available for you. We can remove you if necessary or create a modest effect in one location. However, from a distance we are less powerful than the strange local field We are detecting. Myself or Bethia will maintain contact, if possible, and try to be ready when you ask. Keep using your wiles...
Okay, I think I've got contact now, Terexaltherin reports to the others. Let's see, how would we ask this...
He sends some images of Tz’z`z`z to his contact, indicating there are a number of things inside Tz’z`z`z that he wants to get out, with the feeling that he has an idea of how.
The entire group receives back communication from the power rod in the entities image/sensation "language" but what you get is a feeling of understanding that is rather noncommittal...
::"The entities can understand your wishes... They don't find them... unique. They've clearly fulfilled many creatures desires by now, so just "what someone wants" may not be interesting to them..."::
::Well, we should commune with the rod then::, Grend offered. ::Give me a few hours with the rod, have it run through my experiences, and see what happens?::
With time fluid in the "cabin" areas, Grend is able "commune" with the rod for a couple hours and leave the party much time for other things... And when Grend finishes his meditation, he senses an amusement and feelings of "let's give this a chance". Indeed, this seems like the first time these entities have encountered something like a hero and they seem interested in both the selflessness and uncertainty of the outcome...
Well, that's progress at least, Terexaltherin 'says', Though I'd still be worried that they'd find it more 'exciting' to let our opposition in on what we're doing. So it would be best if the opposition's not paying attention. Have any ideas for a distraction?
::I agree with Gift, it sounds they've become jaded with countless selfish wishes. I wonder what their desires are and what hold Fluenmuello has over them... You know that perhaps is something a Vision spell could reveal, risky to do from here but perhaps I should try anyway. We can either trust them or we can't and we need to know.::
Azzim waited a few moments to see if anyone objected.
He sat in the lotus position and he emptied his mind as he prepared to cast his spell. With his hands upturned on his knees with his thumbs pressed into the chakras and his eyes blazing with power he whispered a question that was both loud and almost silent at the same time. "How is Fluenmuello able to influence the <Shimmer> like entities?" He went to to name several of the entities and as he spoke his body levitated smoothly into the air while still cross legged and there was a brief aura of intense heat as Azzim's mind contacted something very far away that was vast and extraordinarily powerful.
So, Azzim floats above the ground in the "safe zone" he has created outside all surveillance... First experiencing a mind-boggle streams of colors, feelings, structures, too much for even his great mind ... However, through the power of his spell, this data gradually becomes sensible information concerning the strange creatures behind the control rods... it seems paradoxical but in the "world" where these entities exist (I will call The Other Realm), your section of ordinary three dimensional multiverse is a small and very incidental place. Your multiverse still occasionally provokes curiosity on the part of one or another entities of The Other Realm but it's usually quite irrelevant given the complexity of the other realm.
Also, one of the qualities of these entities is they experience time very slightly and as a unified fabric. Which is to say they can spend thousands or millions of years in world and barely notice (also, in this dimension, they can only exist "passively", a something like magical items).
So, these entities (despite their rainbow appearance, they are very roughly known as the "Azure Eight" in their own realm) came this material world eons ago based on little more than what to you call "a barroom bet". And once here, they allowed any intelligent beings that happened to enter their area from other material planes to access their powers (and they used this judge the impulses of those beings).
Then at a quite recent point, only a few years back, came Fluenmuello. His exact place in the hierarchy is hard to say but he is apparently a high servant of an arch-devil who researched strange planar connections such as this and has been experimenting to discover one or another advantages for this, possibly by cementing alliances between the various villains he attracts here. Fluenmello's power over the entities comes as combination of leveraging their curiosity and making a series of seemingly innocuous pacts that actually wound-up binding to his plans (as devils are want to do). One thing Fluenmello could not do is end their original agreement, which was roughly "to stay until they saw interesting" (roughly, some being rise above power seeking).
Terexaltherin considers the new information. Well I don't like not knowing what Fluenmuello's agreements actually let him do, he states. I'd feel better if we could make sure he's not going to be doing something to interfere with us trying to free the souls... I'd like to sneak into that downstairs area, that seems like where he'd hide something like that. Azzim, do you think you can I could do something to make it so I can hide from the surveillance for a while so I could sneak down there and look around? Then we can figure out how we're going to deal with getting the souls out of Tz’z`z`z.
All right, I'm going to go see what's down there... Maybe try to draw some attention, I don't trust this to be a subtle trap in some way, Terexaltherin 'says'.
Assuming the others cover for him, he shifts to a small, vaguely griffon-ish form and slips down the stairs, wary of traps and alarms.
So, Terex (and any companions) leaves the subplane "cabin" of the group and makes his way like the shadow of a shadow, observing various not-as-well-hidden things watching the lodge as he slips into it - at the same time evading the attention of the shimmer-dimension-entities who normally watch diligently - and finally slipping through the false door at the end of the central staircase of the lodge.
Behind this door lies a metal, spiral staircase down. Descending, Terex finds an interesting scene. he see Fluenmuello, the living shadow floating in egg-shaped leather office chair surrounded by floating crystals, computer monitors, mirrors of seeing and so-forth (altogether, about twelve far-seeing devices) and apparently having conversations with various humanoids, monsters and devils... Usually psychic but you hear an occasional voice... "Allay their fear..." "Take the goblet when you get a chance..." The array of characters on the screens is dizzying but Terex feels like he can notice one pattern in the individuals...
Watching this several minutes, you occasionally see the image of the Shimmer-dimension-entities on a particular seeing-crystal... It's clear this has particular magic that can see into the alt-dimension of these entities. It's probably needed for whatever control he has... But there's little else that can be determined looking from "safe" distance...
Before setting off with Terex to explore, Azzim had cast a wind walking spell which gave him tremendous speed if he wanted. It also meant that even the tiniest gap would let him pass though.
Even so he wasn't as stealthy as Terex and so he relied on telepathic communication as the little pseudodragon scouted ahead. Based on the description he came to an immediate conclusion ::Fluenmuello it seems has been aiding Tz’z`z`z's galactic invasion. I still don't see where we fit into all of this but clearly the hells have been busy.::
Well, that confirms something we've suspected, and increases the importance of dealing with Fluenmuello, Terexaltherin adds after reporting what he's seeing. What worries me most is that seeing-crystal. It's probably tied into the contracts somehow... if I could just grab it without being noticed, we might have a chance to deal with Fluenmuello him/itself. But I think the best bet for now is to free the souls and hope that fulfills the conditions of the contract to release the dimension-entities.
He pauses a moment. Maybe I should keep running surveillance here while you guys work on that? Fluenmuello will probably try to escape if it works, and then I'd be in a position to tail them.
Gift now comes back into the convention, her mind now empowered by all of her talents.
::"Then we know what is off with all this. I think I can use Tz’z`z`z's situation to our advantage. He had aid that is clear now. And Fluenmuello was behind it. I will make clear to him he has to show me just how he did it and what state things are now for him. Before I can start to work on any Illithid technology."::
::"Elan council created a level of psionic tech far more advanced that older Illithid. You see the Illithid for all their psionic craft skill, have a built in limiter to what they could achieve. They had to keep the mind linked to the flesh. If they were not so limited, every elder mind would eventually evolve into godhood, lose any true connection with being Illithid. This would some become a death note for the Illithid as a species. As the level of incoded evaluation limiting to linked organic feel away. So the Illithid elder mind are at their core just massive psionic batteries for the race."::
Gift is talking truth now, she was and never has been organic. A crafted being.
::"The Elan counsel can take any race moves the mind outside flesh. Given time we aim to become a giuslat psionic matrix. And this is where we can use the Soul Crystal information we gleaned. of pour thought. I am not an Organism, I am Mecha, born an Android, became a Elan now an Psionic unbodied. I have not evolved instincts, just information. I do not think as you think, I do not feel as you feel. I have no need of flesh for I am and always have been a race of one. Even with 100os of minds held in me, I am just one."::
There is no emotion in what she says, Gifts mind means just feels and thinks many things simultaneously. Under the young Child of Lyra and Arlo, is a complex being made up of 100s of other lives. Wise yet foolish, smart yet dumb, happy, sad, all of it all the time. The Gift you see is like the surface of a sea, deep in the waters whole beings swim.
::"My plan is to offer Tz’z`z`z's a simulated artificial reality. An microscopic pocket dimension where all is just information. Where all the souls he devoured can be migrated too, transformed into information. There they would experience a local reality just as real as this one. And entire virtual cosmos to grow and expand into. Where time is slowed so that they can have infinity to do so. This virtual reality will be powered by their own minds. Faith doesn't just make gods, it can also make the reality one lives in."
::"Terexaltherin, Azzim if you would be willing to aim me, I think we can pull Tz’z`z`z's fangs and place them like a ship in a bottle. To be dealt with later. What do you think how do you feel about researching and making a infinitely small virtual reality to hold an entire evil race by sun rise tomorrow?"::
Hmmm... that could maybe work. We'll probably have to dress it up like Illithid technology to fool him, but that shouldn't be too hard to pull off. Probably the trickiest part will be making sure it's self-sustaining, but it sounds like you have that figured out? I'm still nervous about what Fluenmuello's up to, though. But I don't think I should try to stay here and watch him, so I guess I'm coming back now.
He carefully makes his way back to the group.