Ibinu Choice's page

Qizz stretches their flesh to wrap around Ibinu multiple times like crawling ivy, if it were a sentient fungi obsessed with cookies. One tendril reaches behind them to try and snag Kallik into a group hug but they get swatted away. Blowing brown bubbles into the air and smiling as it mixes with the undines' hair in a fascinating way. Peace.

The smile is gone and it is one of the few times they seem genuinely serious. Before four cookies are pulled out. "For travel."

Ibinu smiles as he returns the odd hug, and takes the 'travel' cookies with him. He bids farewell to the rest of you. Along with his wife and bodyguard Sophia, he takes a retinue of undine trader-warriors that have been stranded in Hearth since the troubles with Moon began. Time to see what has happened in the southern lands.

"Nothing to apologize for, Kallik. I know you...need your space. Maybe even more so as a stubborn ghost." He smiles, the gesture somehow familiar despite the unfamiliar face.

He hugs the myco, which in a strange way feels like getting hugged yourself. "Don't throw your life away. Or your ghost's...umm, existence away. You're still worthwhile as you." You don't know why he chooses those particular words, right now-- can he see your plan, and detect the counting-down-the-days-fatalism in your downturned eyes and bland expression?

Before you make your final preparations to leap into danger once more, Ibinu and Sophia stop by. As always, they hold hands as they walk, like a newly-married couple. "I've talked it over with Sophia, and we've chosen to go south, to see who survived all the flooding in the undine lands." He indicates his own undan body. "I think this is a sign that someone from Hearth needs to head that way."

we'll be heading 'through the portal' this upcoming week, so narrate any last good byes, updates, purchases, actions, etc before we go

Taking his new form as a call from the gods--or fate--Ibinu and his wife use their resources and their pull with the Council to investigate the destruction that has been happening in the south.

Flooding and sleeping sickness are the two major reports from the area - trade is nonexistent, and only non-undines have been seen coming from the south (undines are either dead, immobilized, or hiding out somewhere)

Ibinu wonders if there is anyone left to save in the southern half of the world.

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."

Ibinu shakes his head, this time in good-natured defeat. "Ha, you've got me there." You all make it to the base of the Temple.

As the candles get closer to dim, Ibinu excuses himself for the evening. "I'll see you at the top of the Temple in the morning, I suppose? We can all watch that Sun guy do his thing?"

He meets Sophia as he goes to the 6th floor, to claim one of the quarters reserved for council members, visiting dignitaries, and (while they were alive) the Blessed. Ibinu knows there will be a few vacancies.

Ibinu laughs at the question. "It was literally two lifetimes ago. Before I was...blessed by the Cauldron Lady with sorcery, I was an alchemist."

He sighs. "The price of her favor was a scouring of my old knowledge. What She would have called 'faithless science'." He shrugs. "I'm afraid I can't be of much help to you, but my old assistant Culkin would still be a good resource. I can introduce you, if you're interested."

**

He shakes his head as the other conversation wears down - not in argument, but simple puzzlement. "I still think there's something wrong with a world that births dust devils with one hand and then casts them down as monsters with the other."

Samen appreciates Ibinu's honest question, having pondered and explained it many times. "Is it evil for a fire to burn, or for River to drown? No. The elements are what they are, which we imbue with 'malicious' intent. If an elen behaved that way, I would call them evil, but I cannot call the wind evil for blowing or dust evil for suffocating. Inconvenient and intolerable, yes. Needing destruction, yes. But not evil. Unless some standard higher than the gods were to separate evil from good, it's purely a construct in the hearts of elenity trying to make sense of a crazy world."

"But is Dust always bad, just because it's crazy and in conflict with itself? Doomed when it was born? I used to be an alchemist, and I knew the elen body fairly well. Brains are just lumps of chemicals, and some have too much of the ol' bad chemicals. Is there any choice there, either?"

He smiles, to lighten his tone. "Tell me when you meet a nice Dust guy, okay?"

Samen, as you leave the Elder's base and walk beneath its canopy for another quart-candle, Ibinu squeezes Sophia's hand and slows down to walk beside you. "That thing you called Stof sounded...evil. Malicious." He pauses, trying to form the right words. "Fire, water, all those elemental forces...is evil somewhere in there, too? Was that something the gods put in us? Or just our own lousy choices?"

"Did you get the better of this 'Stof', or should we be expecting a visit?" Ibinu is peering at you, clearly trying to understand more of what has you so shaken.

"We need the might of all the races on our side if we're going to make a final push toward Light. If Moon's other plans around the Branch Library and those lenses are failing, then we need to strike before things get even worse. The last time Moon took the fight to us, the death toll in Hearth was several thousand people."

Ibinu observes all the others say their piece. "I appreciate the honest words, and the votes of confidence." He pauses. "And the votes of 'we'll see'. Anything is better than assuming I still have cauldrons and spears floating around in my brain."

He takes a sip of his tea--far too bitter for his taste--and suppresses a wince. "That being said, if you still don't trust me, Dowanhowee, I'm willing to leave while you make plans with the others. Say it now, because you can't trust someone by half. You either choose to trust, or choose to cast me out." He keeps his eyes on his tea, the words calm and mostly neutral.

Ibinu is not sure why -- the timelessness of death, or the off-kilter time sense of a newborn -- but the slow walking pace and the creaking of the basket seem to take a lifetime. In some ways, this journey has taken up a significant part of this current...'lifetime'.

The slight jolt at the end of the basket ride is enough to shake him from his reverie. Shaking his head to clear it, he steps onto the wide branch and follows Dowanhowee. Slowly. He gives Sophia's hand a squeeze, tries to relax and focus on good things.

After the tea is -gradually- prepared, Ibinu waits for Dowanhowee to sit, then starts to ask, "So about the ritual to bring the oreads from the north-"

Ibinu gives a small, polite bow to the attendants--an el and ele, possibly brother and sister--and asks if Dowanhowee is back from the Council meeting yet. They reply no, she is not expected for another candle or two.

Ibinu holds his chin, thinking, then turns to Qizzlvutz. "Hey Qizz, any good spots you can recommend on this Elder while we wait?"

I think Ibinu would use this as an opportunity to encourage Kallik to speak, and to get to know Qizz better, too

Ibinu listens to Qizz, and tries to think out a reply. "Hmm. I don't think all these phoenixes came from death, Qizz. I think this might be...new life." He strokes his chin in thought. "I don't see anyone casting a hundred resurrection spells, at any rate."

Ibinu continues to hold Sophia's hand. He would not separate from her right now.

Ibinu looks stunned at the phoenix chicklet on Samen's shoulder. "It's like having her close by again..." He turns away, covering his eyes, and the moment is broken; to tiny red bird flits away.

Ibinu stands, listening to Qizz and waching their movements. He nods his understanding and smiles, then gives Qizzvultz a warm (but wet, thanks to his newly undine nature) hug. "Tell Kallik she can show her old grumpy face, if she has a mind to."

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.

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 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?

"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?"

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.

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.