Volcano's Land - Beyond the City of Light

Game Master Miner Cotren

Chapter Three. Minding the Hearth.
It is tenth candle.

Benedetto, the warmer weather of Rainrites has brought the tinier breeds of pogona back from hibernation; you've seen them scurrying behind alley trashbins without truly noting their presence.

Now, out of the corner of your eye, you spot a bright, darting figure scoop up a palm-sized pogona and quickly swoop down a side street.

You swear--it could have been--a baby phoenix?

Benedetto stops suddenly and looks the way the bird went. After a moment he walks towards the side street, waving for Drook to follow. "I just saw something..." he half-explains.

The same bright shape is flitting down another turn of a narrowing street - you'll have to be extra quick, or try something different, if you want to catch up to it.

Shrugging, "I try everyday, but I am not very good at it."

Glancing back quickly, "They are.. they try. And they are good and they do good. You can not ask if.." Shaking her head, "We can not hold other el up to Inam and expect the world to match her. That is why there are shrines to her and Etrah."

The stuttering image both laughs and cries, the two emotions blurring together where they overlap. "Sophia..."

The comely ifrit ele, tears shining beneath her crimson irises, walks over to the soul of Ibinu. Her tears make the odd triangular scars that frame her eyes stand out. They speak to one another, too softly for the others to hear.

Ibinu's expression calms. He nods. He looks to Samen. "Cast your spell, mind mage. Just include Sophia in your alterations. We wish to face this together."

this is something you can choose to do, narratively - say, spend 1 phrenic point to use your spell to bring ibun back, and make sure he and ibinu end up the same new species

RP your spell, or I can do so if you wish

Samen nods soberly, acknowledging that this was a difficult decision. While it is the result he wanted, it seems rude to celebrate right now. "Goodbye, Ibinu. I will see you shortly." He snuffs out what remains of the candle, and Ibinu's form dissipates.

"What you ask for is untested, but theoretically possible. Sophia, this will be painful and require effort on your part. The spell requires reaching across the threshold of life and death, not merely peering across as my prior ritual accomplished.

My plan was to do this myself, as I've done before. For you to undergo the same changes, I will need to send your soul into the beyond. I will hold the rope for you in this world, but you must not dawdle. It would be dangerous to establish a connection between these two realms, so the insertion must be brief. You must call to him, embrace him, and return quickly."

He puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I will implant the instructions in your brain. Simply relax and do what comes naturally."

Samen casts suggestion on Sophia to "Fetch Ibinu once over the threshold".

"Also, you should be warned; Your souls will be mingled together for a time in a way that is unusual for elenity. You will be bound together tighter than any vow. You may be able to read each others thoughts, feel each others feelings, and sense with each others senses. When one of you perishes, the other will certainly know, and may indeed perish as well."

He smiles brightly. "So it will be as if you've been married for 50 years immediately. Now, lie down and let us begin."

He gently disconnects her consciousness from her body and begins casting the spell. He only briefly considers that this might end up being a murder before buckling down to focus. He pours out each of the various oils in succession, spreading a film on top of a film on top of a film. Physically, it appears he's just making a mess. Those with mental or elemental attunement, however, can see that he's making a weak point between realms. While oil saturated paper let light through, these oils will let souls through.

At the right time, he thrust's Sophia's consciousness to the other side and waits. And waits. Just as he begins to worry, he feels the pressing of two souls emerging from the portal as he sees two bodies coalescing next to their former bodies.

"May your new lives be long, and may you be matriarch and patriarch of a new clan!"

As the process completes, he throws the last emulsifier on the portal to close it and seal it, completing the spell.

"Wait here!" Benedetto cries to his squire as he sprints after the possible-phoenix. He tries to use his acrobatic skills to nimbly leap over or otherwise bypass any obstacles in the way.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 Or... he could faceplant. XD

"Wait here!" Benedetto cries to his squire as he sprints after the possible-phoenix. He tries to use his acrobatic skills to nimbly leap over or otherwise bypass any obstacles in the way.

[dice=Acrobatics]1d20+9 Or... he could faceplant. XD

It gets away for now :)

Drook hears your oof of pain as you fall, all momentum lost. He reaches out to help you up, but his smaller stature makes it awkward. "What did you see, sire?"

At the right time, he thrust's Sophia's consciousness to the other side and waits. And waits. Just as he begins to worry, he feels the pressing of two souls emerging from the portal as he sees two bodies coalescing next to their former bodies.

"May your new lives be long, and may you be matriarch and patriarch of a new clan!"

As the process completes, he throws the last emulsifier on the portal to close it and seal it, completing the spell.

roll: 1d16 ⇒ 9

Two undines, dry as a desert tomb from their sojourn from the land of the dead, coalesce with a faint whumpf as the portal closes. Rather than cries of a newborn, they both cough, eyes closed as they grasp around, unable to speak from parched mouths.

Samen hands over his waterskin, knowing full well that it will be insufficient. "Not nearly as exotic as last time. Welcome back to the land of the living! You did splendidly, Sophia! You wait here and rest, we'll get some more water for you in a moment."

If River is nearby, Samen will gesture at her to help with that. If not, he will seek out a water source himself.

Gabriel slinks from the shadows to present another full waterskin to the newly resuscitated els. "Always interesting to see this take place. Such an affront to the natural order but for the greater good. Welcome back."

"I never expected not one but two returns. This is really a remarkable feat, Samen. Welcome back, both of you. Sorry we killed you, Ibinu."
Aisling offers his own waterskin.
"Don't drink to quickly."

Staring into a corner of the room, River seems utterly surprised by your presence, but she agrees to fill a few tin cups with water, as many times as the newly born undines need.

Coughing, Ibinu says in a croak, "My thanks." He gently rolls over the female next to him. "Sophia...?"

The undine ele opens her eyes. She bursts into tears, hugging Ibinu fiercely to her.

Drook hears your oof of pain as you fall, all momentum lost. He reaches out to help you up, but his smaller stature makes it awkward. "What did you see, sire?"

Benedetto picks himself up off the ground and stares in the direction he'd seen it go. "...It looked just like what I thought a phoenix chick would look like," he murmurs to Drook. "I thought... well, I suppose I shouldn't be worried about it, right? Surely a young phoenix can take care of itself..."

Samen nods in satisfaction. "You're very welcome, Ibinu. I've been to the Lady's house, and I very much doubt it would suit you, long term. When you've had a moment or three with your wife, I suspect the council will wish to speak with you. I expect the Phoenix folk will want some of your time as well. Aaaaand you're not hearing a word I say. Very good."

Unusually content to be ignored, Samen quietly gestures to everyone to leave and give the couple some privacy.

Right on the cusp of the moment becoming awkward, Ibinu breaks off the embrace of his wife. "Well, losing your scars is way weirder than you being an undine, at least to my eyes."

He tears his attention away from Sophia, to address Samen. "Well. You thought it was damn important for me to be back, huh? Going to try and experiment on my blood to make a 'light' elen transformation?" His expression is mostly jocular, but there's an edge to it.

"Ha. Fair enough, I suppose. Other than our brief hostile conversation, we haven't had much time to catch up." Samen gestures at his own unusual body. "I've had a bit of a death and rebirth experience of my own."

"There's no need to experiment. I can initiate a transformation from el to human in any willing subject. People tend not to be willing. I have no ulterior motives toward you. You're too valuable to let go, and you deserved better than the Lady had in store for you. Live free!"

"I hate to be the serious one here, but when you recover and Council sees you, we could use your insight into "the others" plans or reasons if you remember anything."

Aisling comes forward, his hand extended
I am Aisling Catalys, I went in to get to archives and try to get the artifact hidden in the Temple. I guess, I was misinformed about exact situation."

"I hate to be the serious one here, but when you recover and Council sees you, we could use your insight into "the others" plans or reasons if you remember anything."

Aisling comes forward, his hand extended
I am Aisling Catalys, I went in to get to archives and try to get the artifact hidden in the Temple. I guess, I was misinformed about exact situation."

"Well met, Aisling. You wouldn't be the first to be misled by the Temple or its secrets - although in a way you 'found' that awful Spear that was attached to me." He smiles ruefully. "But who knows? The Temple to Volcano still has mysteries about it."

He also greets the rest of you, introduces himself to those he doesn't know. River probably doesn't say much.

"Will you join me back at the Council, or do you have more bodies to resurrect today?"

Benedetto, if you are heading toward the Hall of Contrition, you will come across a heated argument outside the doors, with several warriors, priests, and plainclothes elens shouting at each other about religious points of dispute

After a moment of silence, Benedetto shrugs. "Well, I suppose we'll just have to keep an eye out for phoenix chicks. If we're supposed to find one, we'll probably find one sooner or later."

He leads the way to the Hall of Contrition, sighing when he hears the arguments going on. "Well, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," he mutters, then strides ahead.

Benedetto suppresses the desire to say something biting as he approaches the arguing elens, instead going for a more calming tone. "What seems to be the problem here?"

"Sure, I'll join you, if only to see the looks on their faces. I'm fairly certain they thought I was a charlatan promising the impossible."

"Piercing the darkness to see clear Sky, and piercing death to restore the living. It's been an eventful morning."

Samen stretches his back and cracks his knuckles. "What do we have scheduled for this afternoon, Gabriel?"

add dragon-banishing and sun-yelling to the list

After a moment of silence, Benedetto shrugs. "Well, I suppose we'll just have to keep an eye out for phoenix chicks. If we're supposed to find one, we'll probably find one sooner or later."

He leads the way to the Hall of Contrition, sighing when he hears the arguments going on. "Well, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," he mutters, then strides ahead.

Benedetto suppresses the desire to say something biting as he approaches the arguing elens, instead going for a more calming tone. "What seems to be the problem here?"

An ifrit, likely a fallen knight or paladin, walks forward. His hand rests on his longsword, but it remains sheathed. He moves with a wary, aggressive energy. "Some of us know that trial by combat is inevitable, and some deny it. What say you, red-bird?"

Ibinu mostly ignores Samen's quips, and goes to hold Sophie's hand as you make your way back to the Council, still in session. After a brief talk with a runner, you find they have moved to their traditional, smaller room on the sixth tier. Up a few flights of stairs on the outside, and you arrive quickly enough at the right entrance. All statues have been removed from the Temple, giving an an oddly bald look. The light of the Phoenix symbol shines down, then the Temple's obsidian reflects it, crystal clear.

The sixth tier has very narrow halls, back from the days when it functioned as the inquisition's headquarters. Fortunately, you only have one turn to make before you reach your destination.

Inside, you see a pockmarked black ceiling, and walls covered in primitive arcane pictures. Three large slabs of granite make a trianglar table that domainates the room; the Council sits on the far side.

I'm curious how you would enter - would you interrupt whatever the Archpriest is droning on about, and present Ibinu? Or wait at the doors to be presented?

As far as I'm concerned, this is Ibinu's party. Samen would want to follow his lead.

Aisling follows the group, but at some point the bare halls grate at him and his clothes change and he all but disappears from view.

He keeps an eye out on the group, but doesn't interact with them anymore. This was never his group and now with old friends and lovers united, the hurt of his loss his catching up with him.

He is envious of the pair, but it gives him hope too, maybe this could be done for his love. If he dares to ask her to come back to this dangerous world. Maybe it is better for all of them to enjoy their reward in the afterlife. He doesn't know why he was spared, but given the opportunity he had to promote The Sky, given the wild events in just last few hours...he may yet understand why.

Change clothing to mottled gray outfit, stealth - use a niche or a side hall to disappear from view for long enough.

Samen stretches his back and cracks his knuckles. "What do we have scheduled for this afternoon, Gabriel?"

Gabe cracks a rare smile at seeing the returned Ibinu and his companion cooing over each other. "I figured there was more myths to bring to life after a bit of rest and relaxation. I could be persuaded to do something different though."

Briefly the thick red ichor that perpetually streams from Kallik's eyes runs clear. Taking a step towards Ibinu but not wanting to interrupt. Looking down and seeing the ichor looking clear before running thick and red again has her silently retreat back into Qizzlvutz's mind.

Stretching their face out into sharp points like Ibinu's, cause that is new and neat but otherwise seeming lost in thought while the taller elen speak among themselves. Shaking their head and twisting their mouth into a long frown.

Pulling a cookie from their backpack and shoving it and their fist into their maw. Cookies help after all. Rolling into a ball and following the group while staying close behind the newly returned Ibinu. Close enough that they slam into the back of his legs when everyone stops.

Twisting out of the comfortable ball shape to be on all fours and rotating their head around to look up at Ibinu with a too wide smile. Twisting the rest of themselves around to face them before digging back into the backpack, "Cookies gone."

Looking back up at Ibinu, "Grief."

Then pointing to his stomach, "Death lives. Nourish."

Stretching a limb out to tug at Gabe, "Cookie?"

An ifrit, likely a fallen knight or paladin, walks forward. His hand rests on his longsword, but it remains sheathed. He moves with a wary, aggressive energy. "Some of us know that trial by combat is inevitable, and some deny it. What say you, red-bird?"

"Very little in life is inevitable, I'm finding," Benedetto replies, "But if you're saying you want to fight to save those trapped by the fall of Light, you won't have to wait long."

He raises his voice a little. "Now that the corruption beneath the temple has been cleansed, we're preparing an expedition to retake Light. We'll need every blade and shield to face the madness of the Moon. We can't afford to waste them on each other."

Upon the word 'grief' from the myco, Ibinu's expression becomes more somber. "Hmm. I'd like to visit the little shrine to Inam, after we've said our hellos to the Council."

Ibinu walks in respectfully, gives his name to the herald, and waits.

When they read his name, Ibinu Choice, the Archpriest gives a puckered smile. "And how can we possibly believe you achieved this miracle so easily, Mr the Cleansed?" he says to Samen.

after some successful arcane checks, etc, take 10 on both sides, everyone seems satisfied that this is Ibinu, and that he has retained his dark-resist 'soul' or whatever made this happen in the first place

The Archpriest's smile sours and fades as the evidence stacks in your favor. The questions turn toward what to with this knowledge. Dark resistance is a wonderful thing, but some sort of application beyond one elen...

The Counter yawns after the second candle of discussion, and says, "We've gotten as far as we'll get. We'll come back toomorrow with our ideas, and more city business will pile up by then." He receives a few agreements, and the Council is finished for the day.

Ibinu seems satisfied with the results of the meeting. "Politics is always slow. I'm pleasantly surprised we're going back as early as tomorrow."

Walking out of the Temple, Ibinu is quiet, considering his next thoughts. After a moment, the new undine says, "After some lunch, we need to visit the Elder. If there's one thing Hearth has always been terrible at, it's listening to elens who aren't ifrits." He keeps Sophia close to him, holding her left hand to keep her sword hand free.

"I'll visit Inam's shrine at bright instead, and see what all the fuss is about." He strolls out into warm winds and wet streets.

He raises his voice a little. "Now that the corruption beneath the temple has been cleansed, we're preparing an expedition to retake Light. We'll need every blade and shield to face the madness of the Moon. We can't afford to waste them on each other."

The aggressive ifrit edges into your space a bit more. "And your suggestion is? Follow you because you talk nice?"

many of the others are looking to you favorably, but are not willing to speak up yet

Samen rolls his eyes at the skepticism of the archpriest, though if asked, he would acknowledge that such doubt would be reasonable. After the political ordeal, Samen is eager to see the elder.

"I would very much like to see the elder. I haven't had a chance to stop by this time around, and I would like to see how it's regrowing."

Ibinu picks out a restaurant with a ridiculously large fork hanging over the entrance. Despite the odd ornament, the inside is simple and tasteful - cushioned booths and polished wooden tables, lit by warm fires against the last of winter's chill. The wait staff all wear dark clothing and white gloves, and the gloom between fires makes them seem like nothing but floating heads and hands.

"Inam recommended this place," he says to all of you. He indicates to bring the usual, and in mere minutes a large lunch is brought before you: hearty stews, garlic-and-onion bread, and pasta are all shared in the middle of the table. Ibinu immediately starts eating, gulping down food like a starving el.

The aggressive ifrit edges into your space a bit more. "And your suggestion is? Follow you because you talk nice?"

many of the others are looking to you favorably, but are not willing to speak up yet

"Have you been to Light?" Benedetto asks, unphased by the other ifrit's aggression. "Do you know its back alleys, the best ways to get over its walls when you don't want to be seen? I do."

He shrugs slightly. "Of course, knowledge like that can be shared. I'm not saying I need to be the one leading. But I feel rather certain that anyone who thinks the best way to determine leadership is by who can beat everyone in a formal duel is not the best one to lead us against an enemy with powers of madness and confusion."

Happily shoving food into their maw and licking their hand clean. "Kallik happy Ibinu alive. Sad Iman gone." Flinching at an unseen noise before shoving a hunk of bread into their mouth that makes their head swell to accommodate the size. Looking pleased with themselves.

The Declarative wrote:

The aggressive ifrit edges into your space a bit more. "And your suggestion is? Follow you because you talk nice?"

many of the others are looking to you favorably, but are not willing to speak up yet

"Have you been to Light?" Benedetto asks, unphased by the other ifrit's aggression. "Do you know its back alleys, the best ways to get over its walls when you don't want to be seen? I do."

He shrugs slightly. "Of course, knowledge like that can be shared. I'm not saying I need to be the one leading. But I feel rather certain that anyone who thinks the best way to determine leadership is by who can beat everyone in a formal duel is not the best one to lead us against an enemy with powers of madness and confusion."

A quieter el, leaning against a nearby wall, says, "Perhaps a subtler test then? We all agree that Moon's madness is a great danger. It stands to reason that those with the gods' favor and their own store of willpower would fare the best against nastier spells. What would we say to a gauntlet, or a trial to see who resists our local priests' spells the best?"

Happily shoving food into their maw and licking their hand clean. "Kallik happy Ibinu alive. Sad Iman gone." Flinching at an unseen noise before shoving a hunk of bread into their mouth that makes their head swell to accommodate the size. Looking pleased with themselves.

Though many in your group draw a few looks, none are quite as strange as Qizz. You hear a few wonder if this is some magick trick, or maybe a housebroken darkspawn.

A quieter el, leaning against a nearby wall, says, "Perhaps a subtler test then? We all agree that Moon's madness is a great danger. It stands to reason that those with the gods' favor and their own store of willpower would fare the best against nastier spells. What would we say to a gauntlet, or a trial to see who resists our local priests' spells the best?"

Benedetto thinks for a moment. "That does seem more reasonable. A leader being subborned by Moon's magic at the wrong moment would be catastrophic, so testing for who's best able to resist mind-affecting magics is a good idea."

As we are heading toward the Elder, everyone but Benedetto give me a perception check please

Benedetto, the aggressive ifrit puts his hands on his hips and brays loudly at the quiet el's suggestion. "Si! I'm not afraid! Throw some spells at us and we'll see who's stronger." He looks Benedetto in the eye taking a few steps closer into his personal space, challenging him to reply.

Aisling keeps in his stealth mode, but going through the city changes his clothes to ordinary common clothes of middle class merchant. The one that would pass almost anywhere unnoticed.

If we by some change pass by Benedetto, he might find the challenge interesting enough to stop...or be unseen backup as the case may be.

perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (6) + 21 = 27

Gabe tags along with the others as they visit the great elder. The most he saw of one last time was the roots so this should be an interesting experience.

A priest--there are always priestly hangers-on at the Hall--steps forward, a slight disapproving frown on his face. "I shall supply the spells in question; we have access to magicks that command that mind, though they may not be as potent as those from Moon itself."

Still with an air of vague disapproval, he asks, "Are all challengers ready?"

Aisling, looks like the spells are about to start flying, so stick around if you wish. Maybe slip Qizz a note so everyone knows you didn't get kidnapped/murdered? :)

[dice=perception]1d20+21

Gabe tags along with the others as they visit the great elder. The most he saw of one last time was the roots so this should be an interesting experience.

You see a streak of red light, perhaps bird-shaped? Too fast to tell. A feeling of warmth trails in its wake.

Benedetto sighs and ignores the aggressive ifrit's posturing, turning to the priest. "Go ahead. Let's get this over with quickly."

roll a will save Benedetto - I can't decide whose to roll first

swaggering paladin: 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 3 = 16

Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22