Shade of Ithran's page

No these are not true zombies, more like animated puppets of mutated flesh. I would say these were once men, twisted into this form by foul magic and then reanimated as shock troops. While they won't reanimate on their own, burning them will prevent the enemy from further attempts at reanimating them. Be careful, whoever created these ghouls is a master of alchemy. Quite likely, Lord Sinh himself.

Of course true zombies exist. They just haven't reached this galaxy yet.

Rule One: Third incantation is the same length as Amicitus.

Fortunately, I am no mere magiciain.

Any attempt at dispelling these chains will take concentration however and I cannot be disturbed while I am un-eaving them.

Expertise (Magic) check and a full-round action to attempt to dispell the chains.

If it is the correct incantation, it should create a portal from this plane to the designated location in the mortal plane. It's a fairly common incantation but most Darjekians would only need to to say the first two phrases of that incantation. I feel like there is a catch to that final phrase. That is where the bulk of the power comes from.

Ithran continues to ramble "out loud".

It is too simple to be a direct threat...but this reminds me of something from my youth...

I have it! He's using a Darjekian transit gateway! The gateways were decommissioned several thousand years ago after we reached certain limitations with the gateway. Only a handful remained but you have to know the true name of the portal to be able to use it. But he isn't giving us the correct name for the gateway, he's given us a close likeness. The gateway's power is limited by the user's magical abilities so he's likely intending for you to use the Heart to power the gateway or perhaps power the gateway from his side after he knows we have the Heart.

If we could guess the name of the portal we could gain control of it! Until then all we can use a mere shadow of it's true abilities. Might be fun to test it though.

Ithran grins.

You may make an Expertise (Arcana) check. Due to the Darjekian nature of the spell, Ithran's knowledge on the subject grants a +5 circumstance bonus. This Expertise check is still INT based. You may treat now until next combat as an encounter for purposes of your Jackpot ability.

What voice? I heard nothing...The Wistwood plant doesn't speak to you directly, it uses magically enhanced chemicals to influence your actions. Ithran appears to not have heard the voice from beyond the Doorway.

Wistwood: A plant native to the realm of Darjek. Parasitic by nature, the Wistwood vines will implant themselves in nearby living creatures be they flora or fauna. They were named Wistwood for their penchant to lead their host organism back to the vine's sporing grounds. In fauna, this usually results in a certain wistful behavior that escalates into full blown obsession within a week. Seeds and heartwood of the Wistwood plant are prized by summoners as the Wistwood has latent magical properties that cause it's effects to work between dimensions.

It was the only way to get it out of your friend before he was sucked into the portal. I switched the Wistwood seed into your hands instead of Archy's. You have maybe a day before they start growing, two or three before you start to feel it's persuasion. No one has lasted longer than a week before sucumbing to it's influences.

Margenlius...arcantem...vantrelius...sputum!

You worry needlessly over small details when time is of the essence! Fear not, your mortal compatriot will likely see no further incidents from that creature, which I would like to point out is not from my realm at all but from a realm much much more twisted.

Retrieving any remaining Wistwood essence will require you to recite a minor incantation upon your friend. If you so wish I can easily remove any traces of it from him as well. It will not prevent whoever or whatever is hunting him from trying again but he will be safe from the mawworms...for a time.

The substance covering him was obviously intended to lure the creature to him but that raises mroe questions: How did he come into contact with the mawworm paste? And how did this mawworm travel to this plane? I can only suspect that one of your idotic earth spell-flingers must have called the worm here after tricking Archy into holding some object or device that was smeared with the paste. He then transfered it onto any nearby surfaces he touched.

I must acquire a potent sample of the substance on this mortal. The substance was created in part from a magically imbued plant from my realm. If there is even a trace of Wistwood still undissolved...

Ithran catches himself before continuing.

I truly do not care how you mortals go about killing each other but as you seem determined to continue along your current course I am forced to mention that the substance the elderly one was smeared with is a potent lure for creatures...not of this world. Dark Ones as you call them are no trivial matter and whoever summoned this beast truly wanted this "Archy" dead. I would suspect one of your Earth spell-flingers to be responsible. Though crude, given enough time even a mortal can come to wield powerful magic energy. To one such as I they pose little threat of course but you are receiving only a fraction of my power at present. If you die I will have to wait another five thousand years before I can again attempt to contact Earth in this way.

...

I will NOT let that happen. You sense both a threat and a dire warning in his word-thoughts.

The voice pauses as Ithran scans your recent memories.

It would seem you have stumbled into something quite rare. A joining of worlds has occured in this region and that creature comes from the other side. Something isn't right about this though.

Ithran ponders a few moments longer.

Stop toying with this creature! I must get a sample off of the source material. Take me to the sickhouse where this "Archy" is being held. Hurry before the essence decays!

You feel lightheaded for a moment only to find you have spun in place as if readying to take off.

He's obviously giving no concern for the damage this monster can do unchecked or for the safety of your comrades. To abandon your friends now might endanger them or the neighborhood and certainly give them no reason to trust you. Not very superheroey. He also has not given any indication of what he is researching or why he needs a sample.

I am not your personal genie, mortal. Now speak what is on your mind so that I may continue my research in peace.

You ask him the question about Tempest again.

That buffoon appears to have a truly unique gift I must admit. He is a wild card in this game of heroes that you play. He does not spring from my ilk however if that is your question. He is not of the gods nor blessed by them...at least as near as I can tell from our encounter. While I admit I had thought there was a passing resemblance to the powers I granted you, in the end it comes from a different source entirely.

Whatever abilities he possesses likely stem from the unlimited potential locked away in you pitiful meat sacks. Why Gaia would waste her time with the likes of lesser beings like you is beyond my comprehension.

How many times must I explain it? Your "jump" was a manifestation of my will channeled through you. I simply reduced the universal gravitational constant as it applies to you. Simple really. If you insist on playing with you little friends I suppose I shall allow you use of this ability for the time being.

If that is all mortal, I wish to meditate further.

...

Wait, you are concerned about your vestments not being suitable??

*derisive snicker*

You are hopeless. You really have no idea what kind of POWER you wield, do you. To end your suffering (and mine) look into your reflection and picture yourself wearing the appropriate vestments. Then recite Al zhul, al braken. Roughly translated it means "My image, my attire".

The last 1d10 ⇒ 6 x 10 minutes of video for this room have been deleted.

Less of a power and more of a minor trick really. You see that armored chariot your timeless friend has summoned? I want you to jump to it. I will explain everything once you have done so. No guarantees that your pathetic mind will truly comprehend it all of course.

On an entirely seperate note, you don't get airsick do you?

Now your new friends, they know how to party! We can't let them show us up! How about you and I make a deal? You do what I say and I'll grant you a new ability? It'll be fun...
You can feel him grinning somewhere inside your skull.

After a minute he calms long enough to sneer,
Even if I DID know anything, I cannot imagine why I would tell YOU, you snot-faced brat. ***mumble*** Socrates didn't complain nearly this much. ***mumble*** need some hemlock...***mumble***

Unless it's plot-important or you spend PP on it, Ithran seems reluctant (or unable) to help you with whatever knowledge he has on this subject. By all means, continue to ask him questions as you proceed or new things come to light. You may even be able to trick answers out of him if you're clever enough.

Now if only that incompetent hick were to have a slight "accident" you could take all the credit. ...also the women.

Seriously I'd tap that before it's too late. Your species doesn't live forever you know...

Regardless of its origin, it's no match for you. Blow it up. Now. Before I grow yet MORE tired of this situation.

Ithran smirks inside your head.

Heh, guess he really IS as unsuspecting as I'd thought.

Make an Insight check

Please tell me you aren't going to spout any of that horrid poetry you wrote for her last week.

A one Archibald Louvre appears to be the Director of the Sphinxonium and judging from the e-mails, has no great skill with computers. One entire section of his e-mail seems to have been typed with the CAPS LOCK ON.

There does seem to be mention of a malfunctioning set of the new HoloCore FX 3000 models. Both of them apparently are working erratically and they are "of absolute necessity for today's joyful gala on the re-discovery of the mysteries of the Great Pyramid" or some such.

Ithran intrudes into your thoughts.

We aren't seriously going to this bore-fest are we? I saw GORE III is now showing in that sorry excuse for an arena. I am interested in what your culture calls "The goriest massacre yet to date!" I contest that anyone can out perform the Romans in terms of gore and yet I am ...curious what this "3D" is...

You can sense Ithran smirking inside your head.

I've told you what I can do. Use it know, like I showed you!