Himyulmaion's page

Samen relaxes a bit but still is not sure this won't end in bloodshed.

"Very well. There is obviously much I do not know of historical humans, and I would very much like to learn. You however, accused my friend, a fully independent soul, yet fully human, of thievery. This is a serious yet baseless charge, and I will have none of it. There will be no peace between us until you recognize Gabriel's independence and humanity. I apologize for being overly harsh on this point, especially after you've just woken up, but there will be no better time to make things clear.

Furthermore, you are not the first hivemind I've encountered."

Samen's eyes glass over for a moment as he has visions of his childhood home. Friends and neighbors walk amongst the streets, devoid of will or ambition, enthralled by a proud brass dragon. The beginning of a long journey of destruction and the breaking of his family.

He thinks of the antics of Gems, stealing the will of the weak, corrupting the Fey, and dominating any they could tempt.

He thinks of the collective manic frenzy of Light, drunk on Moon madness, tearing itself apart.

He thinks briefly of Abnaki, and the dream terrors he may yet inflict.

"So then, possessor of ancient wisdom, what makes you, me, and Gabriel different from your drones? How is it that we have independent wills and they do not?"

Samen pauses for a moment, but can't help himself. "And what's with the bones? Is that really how humans reproduce? It doesn't seem sustainable, nor in line with the character of Sun."

Samen frowns deeply at this revelation. This is not at all what he was expecting. He wanted other humans so that he would not be of a limited kind, and perhaps other more qualified individuals could do the work of offering humanity to elenity. Now it seems there's another monster of his own creation he must slay.

"Greetings. Things are not the same as they once were. Our world today knows nothing of sentient hiveminds. Ants exist, and bees exist, but in this world in this day, you are the anomaly, not me. I'm curious to learn more of what once was, but I must confess, you strike me more as monstrosity than humanity. You could possibly set my mind at easy by revealing what you were doing in the Darkness for all this time."

"That's a grim suggestion. I'm perfectly happy with my bones where they are, thank you very much! Honestly though, I don't think it would work anyway. I would expect the bones to need to be long detached from whatever soul last clung to them to be useful.

Or not, I don't know. Maybe humans are bone burglars at heart."

Samen rushes over to Gabe's side to have a more normal conversation. "A spirit trapped in the Dark. I don't know why this one can't be freed like the others, but it seems a ritual, similar to how I achieved humanity to begin with, is necessary to restore their leader."

"Very well. However, I prefer to do introductions before entering eldritch pacts with creatures borne of Darkness. I am Samen, the first human of this age, former elen, bearer of Sunlight. Who are you?"

"Take care, these are not mindless spawn! Move to isolate them from civilians, but do not engage."

Samen focuses, trying to concentrate on the oily thoughts. These ideas are ephemeral, weak, and muddled. Almost...

With a flash of an idea, Samen moves toward a smaller group of blobs. "Be at peace!"

(Casting Remove Fear on up to three targets.)

Samen nods at Aisling's perspective. "I won't argue, but I've seen elementals perform what we would classify as heinous acts while being as innocent as a child. Fire burns, wind blows, and humanity invents philosophies."

"Ibinu, I hope there are dust creatures out there that aren't terrible. If the whims of fate had been slightly different, I might be speaking with one right now."

Samen mutters to himself quietly. Earth and air...

He collects himself a bit, but seems pale and ashen. "If we are to do battle on the boundary between Earth and Air, we are to encounter Dust. I had an old 'friend', Stof, who was a dust elemental. He was characterized by hatred, malice, and power beyond your imagination, only matched by his patience. Our corrupt gods will be hard enough to kill, but a mere misplaced footprint could spell our immediate suffocation. Water is an effective counter measure, but the best strategy is to leave it alone."

Typically smug and full of bravado, Samen is now clearly and visibly experiencing a dread beyond death.

Samen observes the first two rounds, then goes up to the priest. "I see what's going on here, and it is an intriguing phallus measuring contest. If enduring psychic abuse it to be a tenant of this order of paladins, so be it. However, while these tests are interesting and demonstrative, they are more appropriate for school children than hardened soldiers. Moon will bring much higher stakes. I promise no long term harm, save perhaps their pride. May I?"

If the priest allows him to have a go, he will turn to the two belligerents. "This test is simple and of a level of barbarism commensurate with this demonstration. The first one of you to punch the other wins."

Casting Unadulterated Loathing on both of them, using the persistent rod, making the object of their loathing the other person (Will save DC 21 at disadvantage). On a failure, target is nauseated while within 60 of the object of their loathing. For 10 days.

"Theoretically this wears off eventually, though I've never seen anyone survive long enough to overcome it. This is more akin to what Moon can and will do."

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.

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.

I'll RP the spell. I just didn't have time to get to it today. I'll do it tomorrow afternoon/evening.

Assuming Sophia is willing and findable...

Samen gathers everyone and everything, including Ibinu's body, for the rituals back in the room where he died.

"By my estimates, we will have about ten minutes before my anchor burns out. If he is to be convinced to return, it will be within that time or not at all."

He closes his eyes and uses his other senses to perceive the area. He runs his mind over the area until he feels the ripple of psychic energy left by the desperation of a dying mortal. Lighting a single candle at the exact spot of his death, Samen grasps at the thread of anguish and ties one end to the small guttering flame.

With the skill of an experienced fisherman, he pulls the thread, wrapping it around the candle, coil after coil. Little by little, Ibinu is pulled back from beyond the veil of mortality itself to speak with his loved ones once more.

(Casting Speak with Soul)

"Hello again, Ibinu. Our last encounter was decidedly uncivilized. I was hoping for a more cordial conversation with fewer threats and less rancor."

"I have the means for you to return back to the land of mortals, though I sensed some hesitancy from you. You hold the same spark of divinity that led to Inam's ascendance. There is still work to be done here to usher in harmony. I believe the worst of the bitterness is behind us, but much work remains. Your gifts, skill, and tenacious will are things that we desperately need in the fight to come. I will not attempt to leverage your sense of duty, as you were sorely abused in that area by your prior master. I merely ask, as one soldier to another, for your aid in the fight."

"Sophia and Kallik are here too. I'm sure you'd rather spend these moments conversing with them."

Samen pauses for a moment, deciding how to repsond.

"Respectfully sir, this is none of the gods' business. I don't know this Phoenix, but I suspect it either is the ascended Inam, or a force created by her sheer devotion and force of will. We've encountered similar entities in the past and they are nearly invariably power hungry and troublesome.

No, this is a mortal matter. My will to pursue, Ibinu's will to decide, and yours to judge."

Samen gets down on his knees in a show of humility. "If you must see me supplicate myself to grant the boon you offered, I do it before you and the rest of the council, fellow mortals. Perhaps I am mistaken and the gift of darkness resistance was merely a side effect of the times. Perhaps it was a harbinger of the return of Sun and nothing more. I suspect, however, it has greater relevance to come, and its extinction could be deleterious to all mortality."

Samen nods in appreciation of the display. "At least he waited until I had my coffee first."

Samen continues drinking his coffee in peace. As they arise to make their way to the council, "Qizz, I need your assistance with a project. I sensed that Ibinu was going to be resistant to the idea of coming back. I am going to conjure his spirit, and I would very much appreciate it if you and Kallik could encourage and persuade him that now is not yet the time to rest."

Awwww. Coward (Ibinu, not you).

"In my experience, there's always trouble under this temple. In my opinion, it should be razed to the ground. Ky La is a slippery Moon el. He is all the Moon el. I've killed him twice now, but I've heard of him showing up in other places as well. He's short, bald, smirking, and speaks in questions. It's surprisingly satisfying to kill him."

"So, that's our story. What led the three of you to be hunting darkspawn in the basement?"

"Erghf!" Samen grunts as he tries to move Ibinu. He sighs in relief when Benedetto comes to help. "Thank you so much! He's even heavier than he looks."

He nods in agreement as Gabriel recounts their tale. When he finishes, Samen takes over to fill in the religious details. "The history and religion that is common knowledge is all lies and legend. Please don't get mad at me if this runs counter to your worldview. I'm very tired, and I frankly don't care what you believe. The gods are not so different from us, it seems. They squabble and scheme, they live and they die. Every time they die, they are eventually reborn, but some of their essence is diminished. Sometimes mortals gather that essence and become something between mortal and god. Mortals like Abnaki."

"Anyway, In ancient times, as Gabriel says, there were no el, only humans. There was an overall Harmony. We had Sun and Moon, Forest and River, Volcano and Sky. Probably others, but you get the idea. Gods granted 'gifts' to mortals, but it was like gifting a pagona a harness, making mortals suitable servants for their own interests and preferences. Sun alone despised this practice, but he held a position of great power and respect. Moon and Volcano conspired to eliminate Sun and his ally Sky. They succeeded, but Moon fell as well. What they failed to consider was that this divine war also ruined the Harmony. More pirmal, unthinking forces emerged and covered the land. Darkness wasn't born, it had always existed, but it was now unchecked, save for the feeble efforts of Volcano to preserve the world it had destroyed."

"If I was a betting man, when I reveal where we learned this, I would expect you to have met one of him. Does the name inquisitor Ky La ring a bell to any of you? We killed one of him and I took his glasses."

He sets Ibinu down for a moment to catch his breath, to continue the story. "Recently, Sun, Moon, and I presume Sky have all begun to be reborn. A side effect of this is a thinning of boundaries between elemental planes and our own home, resulting in the gods effectively carrying out territorial disputes, carving up mortal lands. What I suspect was a blessing from Sun, though it was interpreted as coming from Volcano, was a small group of people who proved to be immune to the corrupting influence of the Dark. The 'Blessed Ones'. One ascended like Abnaki, one died and now possesses a mushroom friend of ours, and the last is Ibinu here. They were instrumental in the overthrowing of the inquistion and aided greatly in the fight against Moon."

"Opræterius is an agent of Sun, but has no more knowledge as to Sun's whereabouts than I do. This realm is too dark for him, so he stays put in my teapot unless the situation is dire. He has the power to revoke elemental yokes that render you all els and elles, to restore your humanity. He has declared me to be a priest of Sun, though I have no religious proclivities. I suppose I do serve his interests, though."

He takes a deep breath and gets under the burden of Ibinu once more. "He has also granted me the ability to restore life to the recently deceased, though it comes with a muddling of elemental gifts. I figure the world needs at least one of these Blessed Ones to be alive for whatever is coming. I assume Dove will have access to the supplies I need."

"Anything else you wanted to know?"

Through gritted teeth of rage, Samen takes a deep breath.

"Your magic is powerful Ibinu. Her magic is powerful. You wield it well. It makes me want to kill you so much. Freedom, in the ultimate sense, may be an illusion, but most of us retain a level of cursory autonomy through this mortal world. I have found a god who delights in and celebrates this. If you serve her as a willing slave, there's not much else to talk about. We must fight.

But, if you wish to be free, I can give you a new and free body and my friend can free your soul. I ... don't think it would work unless you wanted it, though. So blessed one, what do you want?"

Samen steps forward as well, with contempt clear on his face. "Oh, it's you. Good to see you again 'blessed' one, last living of your order. Your god is as charming as ever, and you conform nicely to her methods. I had thought better of you, that you would protect Hearth, but it seems every last one of us volc'ing mortals is prone to divine corruption. Our deaths truly are our greatest mercy."

"Speak plainly and quickly. Tell us why this rancorous web is somehow for the greater good of the city, not just in the service of your mistress, and we may have a momentary piece. For the friendship of Kallik's spirit, I give you this one chance."

Nope, it was a typo. I miss-spelled amateur and spell check replaced it with armature. I didn't double check it until I was past the edit window.

I hoped nobody would notice. lol.

"Curious. He was our companion until he ascended... or descended... or maybe it was more of a lateral move to godhood. His domain is self declaration. If he wanted a result, reality would bend around him to accommodate. When we have a chance, please explain how you know of him."

Samen reevaluates the situation based on Aisling's demonstration and the newly shared information. "Anyone else lurking unseen in here?"

He scans around, groping for minds, candles in the dark.

"Don't mind Qizz, he's the best amongst us."

He looks between the Sylph, Undine, and Ifrit, considering them as potential allies instead of threats or civilians. "The foes we're hunting, cultists, are expected to be using fire and mind control magic. How strong are you against enchantments? If they kill you with fire, that doesn't hurt our mission, but if they take your minds, you will be a liability. Are you sure you're up for this?"

Samen peers into the aura, attempt to ascertain its meaning.

When he sees, he is disgusted and explains it to his compatriots. "Ugh. City-wide mind control. A nasty business. This one seems more insidious than usual. It magnifies the certainty and pride of every individual, leading to extreme tribalism. It masks itself behind the certainty that it's only affecting other people, so discovering it, usually the first step in unwinding the magic, rather only serves to strengthen its effect. The strongest deception comes from the mind of the victims."

Samen examines it closer to see if he can find a link between this graffiti and the larger scope of the enchantment.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (18) + 25 = 43

I can't believe you invented magic social media :P

Samen considers sending word to anyone else in town, but it occurs to him that, other than Dove, everyone he knew here is either dead, missing, or elsewhere.

"No, thank you, that will be all."

Samen nods in understanding. "I am Samen. Much has occurred since we last met. An elemental titan of death killed us all. Our bodies and souls were consumed into the earth where ancient magic stewarded by a fungal society stitched a few of us back together in unexpected ways.

What's new here?"

"Ha! No, the feathers are temporary, they'll fade in a bit. If Dove asks who we are, tell him that the remnant of the Swords expedition has returned. That should get his attention."

I imagine it would be heavily based on how the Sunlord looked, but the primary features would definitely include the feathery wings and glowing skin.

"I am an emissary of a forgotten god, and if I must be honest, I've had a rough day. Feels like I've been to hell and back. I have no interest in this particular locale, but I demand to be taken to councilman Dove; I have important information for him from outlying regions."

I'm imagining a hierarchy of evil doggos now.

heckhound < Heckhound < hellhound < Hellhound.

Samen very carefully and concisely communicates the exact location to slice open a rift.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

I'd also like to get a clearer idea of exactly where we are, if possible.

knowledge planes: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (1) + 24 = 25
knowledge planes: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (18) + 24 = 42 (Thank goodness for advantage!)

"We have no need of sustenance in this dream state, and taking food from Fey folk under unknown conditions is always foolish. Your hospitality is appreciated, but Kallik is right, either help him or we'll end him. He's too much of a threat to leave in this liminal state."

Cotton candy golems would certainly be a sticky situation.

I'd kinda like to see the look on its face when it tries to possess Kallik's "body".

Samen keeps focus on the Carrion. "No, you can't have them either. Individually, you'd likely have overcome any of us, but together we are stronger than you. You had your chance to discuss this civilly and to leave in peace. This will not go the way you expect it to. They are not suitable hosts."

Samen holds tight to his rod of persistence and casts Unadulterated Loathing on the creature, making its potential new hosts odious in its sight.

(2 DC 21 will saves or be repulsed for up to ten days)

will v fear: 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 4 = 32

Samen, buoyed by disdain, breaks through the dread. "Ahh, this one is for me, isn't it? You know my fears, but your worldview is one dimensional. I've been asking myself that question since this gods forsaken nonsense started. Why did I bother leaving home in the first place? Everything I've done has resulted in death, suffering, fear, and pain. If I'm lucky, it happens to my enemies, but I'm not usually very lucky."

"Why bother? Why bother? You want an honest answer? No, you don't care, you're just a bully. I'll tell you anyway. ... I don't know. I've never known. I may never know until I die another futile death and face oblivion. Nothing I can do will matter in the face of eternity. But every time I think that, every time, there's some volcing idiot standing in front of me that needs whacking with a big stick. Why bother? I don't know. And today? You're the idiot. Come get some stick."

Samen then unleashes Sunbeam into the very fabric of dreamstuff.

What!?

Samen is most immediately more confused than afraid.

This isn't right. Or is it? Has this always been the way?

Samen struggles through the fog of the dream, grasping at his own identity. Who am I? If not human, elen. If elen, which? What is my name?

First things first, we must stay calm. If sanity has just been regained, or just been lost, either way, circumstances have changed and now is the time to act decisively.

He takes a deep breath, and casts remove fear on himself, Gabe, and Qizz. (+4 against fear effects for 10 minutes, suppress any current fear effects)

Samen is probably most afraid of existential futility. He's seen gods rise and fall. He's witnessed civilizations collapse and be rebuilt. He's died, had his soul spliced and torn asunder, then stitched back together again. He's faced monsters and created monsters. He's killed in cold blood and shown mercy. He's watched family die and friends mutate. He's experienced more of elenity and humanity than any other living being. All of this in, what, 1 to 2 years?

Sure, he thinks, there could be worse things to come, but he's relatively numb to terror at this point. No, the thing that nibbles at the back of his neck is the growing dread that none of this matters.

Samen shudders against the cold, pulling his cloak tighter around himself. "If I had to guess, I would suspect that the guilty party is unaware of it themselves. That seems to be a common symptom of Moon-madness amongst Sylphs. If you can assemble everyone, I may be able to search your minds for gaps and answers for everyone."

He hesitates for a moment, wanting to ask something more personal, yet unsure if this is the time. In the end, curiosity overcomes discretion. "I don't suppose you saw any twinkling lights as you were led through the valley? Perhaps a couple of Sylphs, a male with a stupid hat and a female with bright red hair?"

Samen nods. "That would be wise. However, I'm expecting our next destination needs to be Light. We dealt Moon an unexpected blow and we need to see the extent of it. It's possible the Sylphs have been freed and are in need of direction."

He grunts, characteristic of his former self. "And it's also possible they're all dead."

"Regardless, we need to know, and we can be faster than any scout."

Samen pinches his nose where his new glasses rest. It's been a long day, and Abnaki's sanity has deteriorated observably.

"Abnaki, I do recognize you, more than you think. You are no doubt growing in power, and your question of the sunlord is reasonable, but there is something I would like you to consider. You were once an elen like any other. But you took power from the dead hands of the declarative. You took power from the dead heart of the fey in Hearth. You bargained away the part of your soul that remembers your love for power from Dream."

"Fey, Declaration, and Dreams. At the price of your own essence, you melted down and merged those divine essences. You became the Storyteller. Truly, you're a more accomplished warlock than I ever was. Two dead aspects and strength taken from another to create one. Someday someone may kill you for a scrap of your power, but the point is, there's always a reduction. Eventually, there will be nothing left."

"But I want you to consider something further, Storyteller. Do some introspection. What is your metanarrative? You write the story of your life in real time, but consider where your narrative arc is leading. You've sacrificed yourself to become this, and now you claim divinity and worship as your birthright. In any story, this arc leads to either great hubris, proceeding to a great downfall, corruption unto becoming a worse villain than any you've defeated, or the character growth and wisdom that comes from humbling yourself. Which is your arc?"

Samen tenses up as he asks this, ready for conflict should things go poorly.

Samen deflates with a defeated sigh. "I don't know, Wamblee. The drakes are an old thing made new again. For now, they seem to exclusively be guardians of knowledge, much like they were before, so I don't see them becoming a wider threat. But then, I didn't anticipate an army of salamanders on your doorstep."

He pulls him aside, and privately explains the more disturbing truth of the finiteness of divinity. "Every time we change something, or kill something, or restore something, a little bit of divinity dies. Maybe 'dies' isn't the right word. Maybe weakened, or lessened. We're fighting a war we can't win, Wamblee. It's a war the gods cannot win. Whether it be a year, a century, or a dozen millennia, all discernable distinction will be lost. Death will look like life, hot like cold, light like darkness. There's no champion who can save us. Reality is dying."

"The best we can hope for is a temporary stabilization under an acceptable new balance. But the more we change to achieve that balance, the more damage we do."

I'm a touch confused on the round economy; I'm not sure if there's anyone left in round 4, or if we're on to round 5. Regardless, this is what I intend to do next.

Samen shouts back at Abanki, "Be right there!"

He moves just far enough north to be able to get off a dispel magic on the Oreads, then moves back to keep the metalcrafters in the insanity aura.

Dispel Check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Samen makes a double move down to the remaining metalcrafters to attempt driving them mad.

Now would be a good time to manifest Sun's glory all over that thing over there. Just... be careful of Gabriel. It wouldn't do to fry half the human population.

It hasn't been relevant because we've all made our saves so far, but I'm pretty sure we're all still under the effect of Mind Blank potions.

Regardless, Protection from Evil (From the magic circle against evil) makes one immune to compulsion effects.

But I suppose there's no reason the enemies would know that. :D

Fittingly, Samen casts silence without saying a word.

He gestures to his allies to grab hold of his hands, and wills them back to the Tribe.

Teleport Mishap check: 1d100 ⇒ 67 (This is a success)

Know History: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (9) + 29 = 38
Know History: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (11) + 29 = 40

Know History: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (12) + 29 = 41
Know History: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (16) + 29 = 45

Know History: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (5) + 29 = 34
Know History: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (19) + 29 = 48

(Rolling with advantage due to glasses, so 40, 45, and 48)

Abanki finds Samen and shares his idea. Samen collapses to the ground, immediately exhausted, barely avoiding breaking the jars. How long has it been? Months? Has it been a year yet, since his quiet life was ruined? Hard to say, what with being dead part of it himself.

"Krissa..." Samen weeps bitterly as her name leaves his lips. She had perished so long ago, and so far away, outside of any ability to protect her. Traumatized by failing to save her sister, abused by her brother, smothered and then puppeted by Abbygailwy. It was all out of his control, but yet he now realizes he had compartmentalized so much of himself to hide the grief and shame. It all comes flooding out in a torrent of tears.

He manages to pull it together well enough to cast Remove Fear on himself. He cannot center himself with this many emotions. Samen takes a deep breath and looks Abnaki in the eye. Glib Abnaki, oblivious to the emotional destruction he just wrought. "You speak into existence powers I've always had, and you speak into existence desires I've always had. Are you a loving friend, or a fey tempter, Abnaki? Are you both?"

"Abby is a loose thread of my life, and I'm content to leave her trapped, buried in the tomb until she becomes someone else's problem millennia from now. I already have one or two gods that I'm fighting a war with, and leaving her alone is the path of wisdom. To recover Krissa's soul, we would no doubt need to find, free, and destroy Abby. You tempt me SO much, 'friend'."

Samen wipes away his tears and hardens his expression. "But we need to stay focused. This is the second time I've turned down an unspeakably tempting eldritch bargain on this very site. We have a job to do, and a world to save. It wouldn't do for the heroes to act selfishly in the story, would it? Perhaps this tale can come later, yes?"

Samen frowns at the skins. He frowns deeper when Abnaki suggests it might be "fixable". It escapes Samen whether the idea came to him independently, or if Abnaki reshaped reality to make it true, but he does indeed think it might be possible to restore at least some of them to life.

"You terrify me, Abnaki. In so many ways. We are indeed free to do what we want. Nothing can take that way. The essence of manipulating a will, whether through magic, coercion, or syrupy words, is not in forcing it to do something it doesn't want, but to change the balance of its desires. Thus you may consider your will 'free' or not, depending on how you define it, but the key is that we're all responsible for the consequences of what we do with it."

Ky La would've enjoyed this conversation. It surprises Samen how much he misses the villain.

He sighs heavily, setting his will toward a course of action. "I need to go look for some magic oils from the levels above. There should be some around here, and if these librarians were at all skilled in divination, it should be in the first place I look. It's time to perform a miracle. As much as I fear librarians, they may be our best hope at descending further."

-HP/BaB/Saves increment.
-Skills increment, and lvl 10 means skill focus feats grant an extra +3 (know history is at +29 baseline now! I now have a personal goal to hit a 50 on a knowledge history check.).
-lvl 5 spell slots (subclass grants reincarnate, and I picked teleport)
-Most of the time I expect I'll use those slots for metamagic.
-I changed my Mnemonic Esoterica to paladin and took Greater Angelic Aspect as a 4th lvl spell (I assume we'll give it a good dose of sun-flavoring).
-I discovered I've had a couple class features I didn't write down and forgot about (I am immune to confusion and insanity, and if I get knocked below 0 hp, I can immediately heal 3d8+10 for 2 phrenic points).

Samen doesn't grasp the full extent of what just happened, but he senses its importance. A piece of divinity just died. Given the revelations of the first Ky La, their actions, while necessary, have brought the universe that much closer to its inevitable oblivion. A victory, perhaps, but bittersweet in the knowledge that all victory is meaningless.

He takes a deep breath and consoles himself in the possibility there may be a balancing and eternal force above the gods, perhaps outside the knowledge of Ky La. Perhaps in the level right below them.

He catches the glasses from Abnaki and examines them closely, scrutinizing them for magical properties. He also spares a glance to Serv, to see if his immobilization was a temporary consequence of Ky La's assault or if he, too, is an unrecoverable relic of history.

I see. Clever.

Samen silently points to Gabriel, then the puddle. At this moment, he really misses Qiz and Kallik. They were always good at disposing foes that this new body just can't handle.

Samen glares at the ooze. I should've known that wouldn't work well.

"STAY DOWN!"

2nd use of Sonic scream, Single DC 18 reflex save for half and avoid dazed for two more rounds.

Scream!: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5