In which Faerzen discovers the truth

Nov 05 20:11:12 <yzabtech>	==START==
Nov 05 20:13:02 *	You are now known as yzabtech[DM]
Nov 05 20:13:22 *	aberrantArtificer is now known as Faerzen_Norstov
Nov 05 20:15:27 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((you there?))
Nov 05 20:15:42 <yzabtech[DM]>	((yeah i'm waiting for you))
Nov 05 20:15:47 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((oh))
Nov 05 20:15:48 <yzabtech[DM]>	((idk how to start this off))
Nov 05 20:15:54 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((me either))
Nov 05 20:16:00 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((i guess I'll just paste the last stuff))
Nov 05 20:16:04 <Faerzen_Norstov>	* Faerzen_Norstov rests for the first time in some while, sad that Nick is not here to share it with him, tends to some of his research and speaking with Regent Book, and then practices some more of his new ascension abilities while organizing his thoughts to determine more specific action items he wishes to execute before the arrival of all the players.
Nov 05 20:16:11 *	Faerzen_Norstov fully heals
Nov 05 20:16:27 *	Faerzen_Norstov reflects on the training he did recently to hone some of his recently acquired abilities.
Nov 05 20:16:33 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((that was where we left off))
Nov 05 20:17:47 <yzabtech[DM]>	((gotcha))
Nov 05 20:18:19 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((got anything to say to that?))
Nov 05 20:18:40 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((did he like level up or learn any general things about his GT stuff or how to even use it?))
Nov 05 20:18:54 <yzabtech[DM]>	((looking up stuff))
Nov 05 20:19:05 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((since you said fighting isn't going to happen now, specific mechanical stuff isn't *that* critical))
Nov 05 20:19:12 <yzabtech[DM]>	((gotcha))
Nov 05 20:19:22 <yzabtech[DM]>	Congratulations, Faerzen. You have leveled up to Level 20!
Nov 05 20:19:30 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((hold crap))
Nov 05 20:19:34 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((that's so much level))
Nov 05 20:19:46 <yzabtech[DM]>	Which must be doubling your levels right now, but we're so close to the end it doesn't even matter!
Nov 05 20:20:05 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((I guess it makes sense since he literally finished a whole land quest by himself, bred the frog, and trained for almost a week))
Nov 05 20:20:07 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((but still :P))
Nov 05 20:20:35 <yzabtech[DM]>	While you were training, you realized that you can now manipulate the luck of yourself and things around you!
Nov 05 20:20:41 <yzabtech[DM]>	We'll figure out mechanics later.
Nov 05 20:21:00 <yzabtech[DM]>	But the age old question remains, as Professor Oak puts it:
Nov 05 20:21:49 <yzabtech[DM]>	are you a boy or a girl?
Nov 05 20:22:16 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((currently a boy))
Nov 05 20:22:26 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((though I've been told when he goes to sleep...))
Nov 05 20:22:29 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((that might change :P))
Nov 05 20:22:40 <yzabtech[DM]>	((faerzen is a cherub))
Nov 05 20:22:42 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((well actually he did go to sleep))
Nov 05 20:22:49 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((so idk now))
Nov 05 20:22:55 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((girl I guess now))
Nov 05 20:23:23 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((okay yeah he went to sleep so girl now))
Nov 05 20:25:08 <yzabtech[DM]>	((i'm back from taking another car insurance test. time to wait 50 minutes for the next one))
Nov 05 20:26:28 <yzabtech[DM]>	Well, the question's been answered. Back to business, Faerzen.
Nov 05 20:28:47 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((okay... so what now?))
Nov 05 20:30:08 <yzabtech[DM]>	((that's for you to decide i guess))
Nov 05 20:30:43 <yzabtech[DM]>	((actually i'm the DM time to throw you like 10 plot hooks))
Nov 05 20:31:04 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((faerzen has a bunch of stuff he could do))
Nov 05 20:31:15 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((but not sure if you had anything specific planned you wanted to do this IRC))
Nov 05 20:31:39 <yzabtech[DM]>	((extra window))
Nov 05 20:31:47 <yzabtech[DM]>	((kill the black queen i guess))
Nov 05 20:31:58 <yzabtech[DM]>	((and if we still have time, take you to the furthest ring))
Nov 05 20:33:02 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((okie))
Nov 05 20:33:15 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((serious business music time))
Nov 05 20:33:24 <yzabtech[DM]>	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfIspYcnpeY
Nov 05 20:33:40 <Faerzen_Norstov>	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR82yjGSScc
Nov 05 20:33:44 <yzabtech[DM]>	((this is something i actually listen to while writing doots))
Nov 05 20:34:34 *	Faerzen_Norstov returns to his lab setup area
Nov 05 20:35:12 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((ugh))
Nov 05 20:35:25 <Faerzen_Norstov>	((stupid internet))
Nov 05 20:35:53 <yzabtech[DM]>	* Faerzen_Norstov returns to his lab setup area
Nov 05 20:35:53 <yzabtech[DM]>	<Faerzen_Norstov> ((ugh))
Nov 05 20:35:53 <yzabtech[DM]>	<Faerzen_Norstov> ((stupid internet))
Nov 05 20:35:53 <yzabtech[DM]>	* Faerzen_Norstov returns to his lab setup area
<yzabtech[DM]> was there more?
<yzabtech[DM]> You return to your lab setup area.
* Faerzen_Norstov decatchalogues the Extrasensory Locational Multiplexer (Zn - ZINC) and the associated base/dish (Fe - IRON)
* Faerzen_Norstov sets the device up
<yzabtech[DM]> This is getting interesting. Tell me more.
* Faerzen_Norstov sits down next to the device, putting his hands on the front panel as one does to use it
<yzabtech[DM]> It operates as normal.
<yzabtech[DM]> What do you want to Extrasensory Locational Multiplex today?
* Faerzen_Norstov focuses intently on the black queen and Derse, his thoughts flitting between her location, the throne room, her current goals, significant conversations with officials, and her daily routine to see what pops up
* Faerzen_Norstov connects his e-glasses wirelessly to the device to read the output
<yzabtech[DM]> The throne room seems to be in the center of the castle, and she spends her time there.
<yzabtech[DM]> There seems to be no significant conversations with officials. Everyone seems...pre-programmed..
<yzabtech[DM]> Like there is no major sense of purpose before prototyping.
<yzabtech[DM]> She sits on her throne, barely moving, as the carapacians wander past her in the same pattern every so often.
<yzabtech[DM]> It seems almost artificial.
* Faerzen_Norstov ponders for a moment over the interesting development
* Faerzen_Norstov removes her hand from the device, continuing to monitor the multiplexer's output, watching for any movement on the queen's part or departure from the throne room
* Faerzen_Norstov stands up, tending to the control panel for her Garment of Shocking Beauty
<yzabtech[DM]> Sounds fun. What next?
* Faerzen_Norstov uses the programming panel to program her dress to appear as the Prospitian suit of armor she was gifted, but replacing all the silver metal with black and all the yelow fabric with deep purple
* Faerzen_Norstov furrows her brow in thought, eventually deciding to take a different approach
* Faerzen_Norstov places her hands back on the multiplexer and focuses on one of the palace guards near the throne room, trying to learn about their attire
<yzabtech[DM]> They look extremely predictable. Black metal.
* Faerzen_Norstov programs the dress to look like that
* Faerzen_Norstov saves it as a favorite attire
* Faerzen_Norstov reprograms another outfit to be entirely black fabric, slightly fuzzy so as to not have a sharp outline or to reflect light
* Faerzen_Norstov extends the sleeves and legs on the outfit to cover her hands and feet, as well as adding a hood to pull over her head
* Faerzen_Norstov saves the outfit as a favorite
* Faerzen_Norstov turns back to her e-glasses screen to check the multiplexer output
<yzabtech[DM]> Still the same.
<yzabtech[DM]> Like robots, like clockwork.
* Faerzen_Norstov frowns in disappointment
* Faerzen_Norstov wonders if she ever leaves the throne room to sleep or eat or go to the bathroom
* Faerzen_Norstov wonders if they even have to use the bathroom
* Faerzen_Norstov dismisses this line of thought quickly
* Faerzen_Norstov watches the routine for a while longer to capture the details of the patrols and patterns, recording all of them electronically in a visual file on her e-glasses
* Faerzen_Norstov makes particular note of guard patrol routes that are solo, spend some time in the throne room, or pass by windows in higher up parts of the castle
<yzabtech[DM]> Two guards at either side of the throne. Two guards at the doors. A guard occasionally passes through the throne room from the left door, and exits on the right.
* Faerzen_Norstov waits for the intervals of the changing of the guard and to see if the queen ever goes anywhere
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((do there exist routes that are solo and go through the upper part of the castle?))
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((also I have to go to dinner but I'll be back after dinner))
<yzabtech[DM]> The queen never goes anywhere. She sits crosslegged.
* Faerzen_Norstov has quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer)
* Faerzen_Norstov (~aberrantA@c-73-170-184-67.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) has joined
<yzabtech[DM]> ((hi welcome back))
<yzabtech[DM]> Faerzen_Norstov
<yzabtech[DM]> ping
<yzabtech[DM]> Faerzen_Norstov
<yzabtech[DM]> more pinging
<Faerzen_Norstov> not sure why it disconnected me
<Faerzen_Norstov> but I wasn't back then :/
<yzabtech[DM]> ok
<yzabtech[DM]> welcome back
* Kaiserbot[Dice] (~Kaiserbot@50-233-23-131-static.hfc.comcastbusiness.net) has joined
<yzabtech[DM]> ((back to business))
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((im trying to get that file you sent me to work))
<yzabtech[DM]> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUZtM2hpU48&feature=youtu.be
<yzabtech[DM]> it's this
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((okay I got it to work))
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((beautiful))
<yzabtech[DM]> ((thank you))
<yzabtech[DM]> You see a solo route for one of the guards, that goes upstairs occasionally.
* Faerzen_Norstov notes this
* Faerzen_Norstov decaptchalogues one of his smaller robots (Si - SILICON) and connects it to his glasses
* Faerzen_Norstov opens up the programming interface to ensure it is connected well and functions properly
<yzabtech[DM]> It's at 100%.
* Faerzen_Norstov walks around the forest and some of the nearby caves looking for a large-ish spider
<Faerzen_Norstov> !roll 1d20+15 investigation
<Kaiserbot[Dice]> rolled 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=18 ] | {33}
<Faerzen_Norstov> !roll 1d20+4 perception
<Kaiserbot[Dice]> rolled 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=20 ] | {24}
<yzabtech[DM]> Wow those are some nice numbers you got there.
<yzabtech[DM]> The spider's right there.
<yzabtech[DM]> On that tree, near those other trees.
* Faerzen_Norstov quickly floats over to it to captchalogue it (C - CARBON)
<yzabtech[DM]> The spider doesn't really have much of a choice in the matter.
<yzabtech[DM]> It gets captchalogued and put into metaphysical space.
* Faerzen_Norstov gets the code for it from the back of the carbon card before releasing it and returning to his base
* Faerzen_Norstov alchemizes Robot || Spider to try and make a robot in the form of a spider
<yzabtech[DM]> Nope. Instead, you get a robot made out of spider guts.
<yzabtech[DM]> It's...useful?
<yzabtech[DM]> Disturbing?
* Faerzen_Norstov grumbles in frustration as switching the cards has been shown to have no effect
<yzabtech[DM]> You...do know about &&, right?
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((yeah Faerzen just doesn't like things not working on the first try :P))
* Faerzen_Norstov instead overlays the cards to alchemize Robot && Spider
<yzabtech[DM]> Alright, this works.
<yzabtech[DM]> Spider robot. Your plans are hard to follow sometimes but they seem to work, so I'm trusting you on this one.
<yzabtech[DM]> Tell me more.
* Faerzen_Norstov attaches the original robotic canister to the top of the spider robot
<yzabtech[DM]> What do you plan to do with this spiderbot?
* Faerzen_Norstov decaptchalogues the Mind Holder's Chain (Ag - SILVER) and carefully coils it and places it inside the little robo-backpack of the robot
* Faerzen_Norstov ponders how she could get this into the throne room and slip it on the queen to get her to leave the throne room seemingly of her own accord
* Faerzen_Norstov pores over the recorded guard routes she's obtained from the multiplexer to find the closest point that solo route from upstairs gets to the throne room
<yzabtech[DM]> Like, through the floor?
* Faerzen_Norstov considers the feasibility of the plan of flying in to the upstairs area, replacing the solo guard, masquerading as the guard following the routes to the throne room, and then discreetly deploying spider robot to sneak over to the queen
<yzabtech[DM]> Hmm.
<yzabtech[DM]> The route does go through the throneroom at one point.
<yzabtech[DM]> You could deploy it right outside, from one of the doors on the left and right?
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((that is what she was thinking, take the route that goes through the throne room, discreetly deploy it outside before going in, then walk through the throne room and leave on the other side
<yzabtech[DM]> Well then. Off you go.
* Faerzen_Norstov uses the captchalogue code she already has from making Nick's gloves to make another copy of the 3D holographic projector from her e-glasses
<yzabtech[DM]> Ooh, more plans?
<yzabtech[DM]> Go on.
<yzabtech[DM]> Holographic projector gloves.
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((those are the gloves faerzen made for nick, but she's just replicating the projector part))
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((she replicated that part separately before to make the gloves in the first place))
* Faerzen_Norstov attaches the small device to the top of the spider robot, setting up the requisite wireless connections
<yzabtech[DM]> ...and I thought this can't get any crazier.
* Faerzen_Norstov fiddles with the programming settings to get it to project a small box around itself
<yzabtech[DM]> I'm the one who's subscribed to /r/feedthebeast.
<yzabtech[DM]> Does that still exist in your time? Probably not.
<yzabtech[DM]> It works. You now have a spiderboxbot.
<yzabtech[DM]> except the box is holographic.
* Faerzen_Norstov sets the shade of the box to an arbitrary shade of dark purple, to be set later
* Faerzen_Norstov nods in approval at the time she is saving doing prep work here so less time is necessary to spend on Derse
* Faerzen_Norstov sets one more preprogrammed hologram routine to be a default person
* Faerzen_Norstov leaves the specific appearance to be tied to a file which can be uploaded at a later time
<yzabtech[DM]> It works.
* Faerzen_Norstov captchalogues the spiderobot (Fe - IRON)
* Faerzen_Norstov returns to the multiplexer to search for locations of other potentially useful locations like armory, nearby exits, guard quarters, etc
<yzabtech[DM]> The armory is in a separate building of the complex. The throne room is relatively close to the main entrance, and it looks out over a window at the front of the castle.
<yzabtech[DM]> Guard quarters are near the armory.
* Faerzen_Norstov nods
* Faerzen_Norstov traces the route of the guard path that leads through the throne room to find a smaller empty room further down the route
<yzabtech[DM]> Through the right door, there is a staircase directly to the left, and a room directly to the right of the staircase.
* Faerzen_Norstov notes the location of the room
* Faerzen_Norstov focuses intently on "second in command" to see if anything pops up
<yzabtech[DM]> The archagent.
<yzabtech[DM]> He seems to be in a separate office, away from the palace.
<yzabtech[DM]> He looks more likely to help you than to hurt you.
* Faerzen_Norstov notes the location of the office away from the palace and pulls out her favorite fountain pen (Co - COBALT)
* Faerzen_Norstov retrieves some paper (H - HYDROGEN) and begins penning a letter
<Faerzen_Norstov> To the Dersian Archagent,
<Faerzen_Norstov> I hope this letter finds you well, as you shall be finding yourself in need of impeccable performance in the coming days.
<Faerzen_Norstov> I wish to inform you of some recent developments that you may be quite interested to take advantage of.
<Faerzen_Norstov> I have no need to identify myself as it is both irrelevant, but also likely quite easy for you to trace and identify this message's source.
<Faerzen_Norstov> It matters not to me if you are capable of doing so.
<Faerzen_Norstov> You may notice some peculiarities pertaining to your current reigning monarch. I have information on why this is the case.
<Faerzen_Norstov> You may also find yourself presented with a unique opportunity to capitalize on temporary weakness.
<Faerzen_Norstov> Your glorious monarch is no longer and her throne is simply occupied by a mirage of that which she used to be.
<Faerzen_Norstov> You shall find enclosed with this letter a passcode that shall grant you electronic access to limited control of this mirage.
<Faerzen_Norstov> What you so choose to do with this I leave to your judgement.
<Faerzen_Norstov> Be it known that your actions could leave nothing changed from its current state, that you could bring about the downfall of your kingdom, or perhaps that the monarch could become a puppet of some other force such as yourself.
<Faerzen_Norstov> If you choose to do nothing with this passkey, she shall remain at her post on her throne evermore. However, I am sure you are aware of a number of situations where having "royal authority" to act in accordance with your interests would be quite advantageous to an ambitious agent such as yourself.
<Faerzen_Norstov> There will be players of this game visiting you shortly and they will be captured. What role will you and your imperious monarch play in their fate? Perhaps you can use this mirage to bring about that which you would have otherwise been unable to under the oppressive rule of a harsh queen.
<Faerzen_Norstov> The throne hangs in a state of flux.
<Faerzen_Norstov> She has made her move and she has failed.
<Faerzen_Norstov> Now the move is yours.
<Faerzen_Norstov> Sincerely,
<Faerzen_Norstov> A Conspirator
* Faerzen_Norstov writes down the base access security passcode on another slip of paper, putting it in the envelope with the letter
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((that code gives control over the robot's movement and basic access to the hologram's general appearance, though it will be stuck on the humanoid shape and appearance))
* Faerzen_Norstov seals the envelope with the heated stamp on the reverse end of the pen
* Faerzen_Norstov recaptchalogues the pen (Co - COBALT) and the letter (H - HYDROGEN)
<yzabtech[DM]> It's time.
* Faerzen_Norstov sets her outfit to be the black fuzzy hooded outfit
* Faerzen_Norstov flies up into the dark sky
* Faerzen_Norstov looks around
<yzabtech[DM]> There it is.
<yzabtech[DM]> Among the ring of meteors, you spot a purple moon.
<yzabtech[DM]> And, of course, the purple moon's moon.
* Faerzen_Norstov floats out of the plane of Skaia and the planets so her sillhouette is only set against the blackness of the beyond and not something bright like Skaia
* Faerzen_Norstov changes course to fly towards Derse
<yzabtech> You fly towards Derse. Around it, you spot massive, tentacled beings that seem to gaze at you as you land.
* Faerzen_Norstov is uncomfortable with their case, but focuses on the task at hand as she knows dealing with such beings can have quite unintended consequences
* Faerzen_Norstov flies up around towards the top of the castle, trying to keep her sillhouette against the dark sky, making her way for the window leading to that solo guard path
<yzabtech[DM]> There's nobody outside.
<yzabtech[DM]> It's almost uncomfortable.
<yzabtech[DM]> You make your way to the window.
* Faerzen_Norstov waits outside the window, waiting for the guard to pass
<yzabtech[DM]> The guard passes by, looking straight ahead.
* Faerzen_Norstov readies her crossbow, loading it with her tranquilizing darts
* Faerzen_Norstov fires at the guard after it passes the window so it has its back turned
<yzabtech[DM]> Roll to hit.
<yzabtech[DM]> With advantage.
<Faerzen_Norstov> !roll 2#1d20+10 attack
<Kaiserbot[Dice]> rolled 2#1d20+10 -->  | [ 1d20=14 ]{24}, [ 1d20=9 ]{19}
<yzabtech[DM]> You hit the guard, and he drops.
<yzabtech[DM]> A small surge of interference comes from your Extrasensory Locational Multiplexer.
* Faerzen_Norstov floats in the window, changing her outfit to be the armor approximation she made earlier
* Faerzen_Norstov scans the fallen guard's attire with her e-glasses and makes minor adjustments to her attire as necessary
* Faerzen_Norstov pulls out her endless makeup set, searching for black pigment
* Faerzen_Norstov applies the pseudo-"magical" makeup to her face to make herself look like a carapcian, grumbling at her hair before twisting it up and covering her head with the guard's helmet
<yzabtech[DM]> You're all black and shiny now.
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((FYI what the item is - makeup that you can use to alter your appearance somewhat magically, not really clear. acts as a good disguise and lets you add int to all cha checks))
<yzabtech[DM]> ((gotcha))
<yzabtech[DM]> Onward.
* Faerzen_Norstov bends down to the guard after finishing with the makeup and tries to captchalogue the guard in a bunch of different elements, starting with Carbon
<yzabtech[DM]> Carbon works.
<yzabtech[DM]> The exoskeleton of the carapacian is made of chitin, which contains carbon.
* Faerzen_Norstov picks up any weapons the guard had, if any, and continues along the prerecorded route
<yzabtech[DM]> A black sword was all he had.
<yzabtech[DM]> You continue upon the pre-recorded route, until you reach the throne room.
* Faerzen_Norstov , while walking there, notes the shade of purple of the walls with her e-glasses, and alters the shade of the holographic cube setting to be that shade of purple
<yzabtech[DM]> The shade changes.
* Faerzen_Norstov deploys spiderobot (Fe - IRON) before entering the throne room, then walks into the room along the preplanned route
<yzabtech[DM]> Roll stealth.
<yzabtech[DM]> Or performance.
* Faerzen_Norstov has the spiderobot set to that cube setting to camoflage as it goes around up behind the throne
<Faerzen_Norstov> !roll 1d20+14 stealth
<Kaiserbot[Dice]> rolled 1d20+14 --> [ 1d20=19 ] | {33}
<yzabtech[DM]> That's some more big numbers you got there.
<yzabtech[DM]> The spiderbot goes behind the throne without a problem.
* Faerzen_Norstov has the spider take out the Mind Holder's Chain and climb over the throne to place it around the Queen's neck
<yzabtech[DM]> The queen is now under your control.
* Faerzen_Norstov has the robot come back to her as she continues on her route out of the throne room, leaving the queen for now
<yzabtech[DM]> You continue out of the throne room.
<yzabtech[DM]> The beasts in the sky out of the window feel closer than before.
* Faerzen_Norstov once out of the room, turns to go up the stairs to the previously identified room
* Faerzen_Norstov focuses on the Chain, directing the Queen to get up from her throne and head up into this room
* Faerzen_Norstov quickly looks around the room to see what is in the room
<yzabtech[DM]> It's empty.
<yzabtech[DM]> Such are the drawbacks for having such a grand palace to yourself.
* Faerzen_Norstov nods in satisfaction, positioning herself immediately off to the side of the door for when the Queen enters
<yzabtech[DM]> The Queens enters, even more artificial than before.
* Faerzen_Norstov quietly shuts the door behind her, then turning to face the Queen, scanning her from various angles with her e-glasses
* Faerzen_Norstov saves the 3D image and sets that file as the humanoid appearance of the other preset hologram setting
* Faerzen_Norstov changes the hologram to be of the newly added queen image
<yzabtech[DM]> Do it.
* Faerzen_Norstov moves the Queen to the center of the room, and readies her crossbow
* Faerzen_Norstov sets the panel to HF - Hydrofluoric Acid
<yzabtech[DM]> Why not get creative?
<yzabtech[DM]> Can you make enzymes with that crossbow of yours?
<yzabtech[DM]> Chitinase.
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((not sure never tried to make something he couldn't type in the chemical formula of))
<yzabtech[DM]> ((oh. well then))
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((she's not planning on one hit killing the queen with this btw will chitinase work?))
<yzabtech[DM]> ((sure why not))
* Faerzen_Norstov aims the crossbow at the Queen's upper right shoulder after taking her ring from her
<yzabtech[DM]> Her right shoulder begins to slowly dissolve, revealing red and black guts as her arm detaches.
* Faerzen_Norstov fires to transmute her shoulder and upper arm into acid that slowly eats away and dissolves flesh
* Faerzen_Norstov forces her to the ground
<yzabtech[DM]> The queen doesn't react.
<yzabtech[DM]> The acid spreads to the rest of her body, overtaking her.
* Faerzen_Norstov sets the crossbow to Chitinase
<yzabtech[DM]> Static on your Extrasensory Locational Multiplexer reciever grows.
* Faerzen_Norstov points the crossbow at her back, removes the Chain from the queen's neck, and turns the plating on her back into Chitinase
* Faerzen_Norstov stands over her, looking down with an intense expression of anger
<yzabtech[DM]> Her exoskeleton is eaten away, revealing a mass of muscle.
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I have removed this chain that, in whatever pre-entry state you are capable of, you can experience this in the fullest."
<yzabtech[DM]> The grotesque scene in front of you would make Lyra cry tears of joy.
<Faerzen_Norstov> "This is for everything that your administration has done in other iterations of this game."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "For everything it will continue to do in this one."
* yzabtech is now known as BlackQueen
<Faerzen_Norstov> "For all the pain your agents have caused to my friends."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "And for role I ought to play in our current game session."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "This is not an act as base as revenge."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Think of this as the exactment of justice and the natural progression of events."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Temporal continuity forbids me from taking more extreme action, but I assure you."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I will enjoy this and exact a great deal of pain on you before this deed is completed."
<BlackQueen> "...you think I'm the true enemy, A-alpha?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Of course not."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Do not be so naive."
<yzabtech[DM]> The chitin on her face melts away, revealing her facial structure of muscle and bone.
<Faerzen_Norstov> "My intersessional investigations have made quite clear something more significant is afoot here."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You are simply a pawn in this system and I am removing you."
<BlackQueen> "In the grand scheme of things, we're all--"
<BlackQueen> ((you stole my line you bastard))
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I am a knight, you are a pawn."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I have captured you, and for you, that means game over."
<BlackQueen> ((LINE THIEF))
<BlackQueen> ((REEEEEEEEEEEE))
<yzabtech[DM]> ((meh))
* Faerzen_Norstov kicks the queen lightly to roll her over so more of her body is exposed to the acid pool on the floor
<yzabtech[DM]> The queen is dead.
<yzabtech[DM]> Your glasses pick up massive interference.
* Faerzen_Norstov sends the holoqueenbot back to the throne room to return to the throne
* BlackQueen is now known as Horrorterrors
* Faerzen_Norstov decaptchalogues the letter to the Archagent, annoyed by her glasses' temperament
<Horrorterrors> "Code Delta-Rex-Omega; caused from A-Alpha. Enact provisional measures immediately."
* Faerzen_Norstov quickly moves towards the window to fly out, changing her attire to the black hooded cloak again and dropping the sword below
<Horrorterrors> "A-Alpha is attempting an escape maneuver."
* Faerzen_Norstov makes a bee-line for the Archagent's office
<yzabtech[DM]> There it is.
<Horrorterrors> You feel like you're watched.
* Faerzen_Norstov slips the envelope under the door, leaving quickly and changing her attire to the armored flaming electric dress and flying straight towards Skaia as fast as she can
<yzabtech[DM]> Skaia approaches.
<Horrorterrors> "There is no escape."
<yzabtech[DM]> ((what od you plan on doing at skaia))
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((getting as far away from the furthest rings as possible and being in the best-lit place she knows of))
<Horrorterrors> "There is never an escape."
<yzabtech[DM]> You feel a mass of tentacles grab hold of your appendages.
* Faerzen_Norstov focuses on improving her luck as she struggles to get out
<Horrorterrors> "How do you expect to outrun us when we are already here?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I hope you find the additional jolt of electrons and exothermic combustion on my clothes a pleasant seasoning before you choose to exact your current plans."
<Horrorterrors> "Senses are merely a construct of the psyche attempting to comprehend reality."
<yzabtech[DM]> Everything begins to go black.
* Faerzen_Norstov attempts to focus on Light
<Horrorterrors> "There is no light in the void."
<Horrorterrors> "There is only darkness."
<yzabtech[DM]> Everything goes black.
<yzabtech[DM]> ((should we continue?))
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((if you want to?))
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((idk whats going on now))
<yzabtech[DM]> ((sure))
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((im also free most of tomorrow))
<yzabtech[DM]> You wake up on what appears to be a meteor in the Furthest Ring. A man in a suit is standing nearby.
<yzabtech[DM]> ((i'm gonna get the pre-lily stuff done asap))
* Horrorterrors is now known as Twelve
<Twelve> "Well, at least someone should appreciate me now...."
* Faerzen_Norstov sits up, raising an eyebrow at the figure
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Perhaps you may be mistaken."
<Twelve> "I somehow managed to save you from these guys."
* Faerzen_Norstov says flatly, "How convenient."
<Twelve> "What are you doing in the past anyway? From my perspective, all 4 black kings have been killed, and your friends are plotting to kill me, but now they...aren't?"
<Twelve> "It's a really long story that you can catch up on later. I feel like my mere presence is me interfering way more than I have to."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "If you are capable of such perspective, you ought to already know."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I need not explain it further."
<Twelve> "Well then."
<Twelve> "Good luck on whatever's ahead."
<Twelve> The man in the suit with the red lotus walks away.
<yzabtech[DM]> Near you, you find what appears to be a strange black scroll.
<Faerzen_Norstov> "And who might you be?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Or would answering such an inquiry be too inconvenient or trivial for a powerful being such as yourself?"
<Twelve> "Me? Some call me a god. Some call me a wanderer. Some call me an asshole."
<Twelve> "But I prefer the term 'artist'."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Why should I care about you?"
<Twelve> "Ask Lyra or something. She thinks I created this entire dimension, all timelines within it, and--"
<Twelve> "nevermind, I'm not gonna bother you with this meta crap."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That is not the question I asked."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I did not inquire why it is that Lyra cares about you."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I asked *you* why *I* should care about you."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Surely you would prefer me to have a more accurate portait of you and your true relevance."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "'Twould be a true shame if Lyra were to twist that in some manner."
<Twelve> "An interesting question I really don't know the answer to and I'm still trying to figure out myself."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Oh?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Care to elaborate?"
<Twelve> "Well, sometimes I sit and wonder, why DO I matter? There are a few billion other people like me, what sets me apart?"
<Twelve> "Humans love categories, patterns, organization, neatness, hierarchy. They love to organize themselves within it, me included."
<Twelve> "Sadly, that's not how the world works. Except for the heirarchy part, that is how the world works."
<Twelve> hierarchy*
<Twelve> "So I sat and tried to find an answer to why I matter. Why anyone, or anything matters. As you can probably tell, I still don't have an answer."
<Twelve> "Nothing matters. You just have to make yourself matter."
<Twelve> "And that's not my job."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "So is that why you find yourself here? In an attempt to make yourself matter?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Why 'help' me?"
<Twelve> "Lyra and Ezra did remark that I seem to crave attention."
<Twelve> "Maybe it's true."
* Faerzen_Norstov does not refute this statement
<Twelve> "As for my reasons behind 'helping' you, that's because to some degree, I care."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Why care about me? About any of this?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Everyone has a logical reason to care."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Sometimes it is because one desires some personal benefit as a result of the exchange, but it could just as equally be personal altruistic reward or some other more nuanced motivation."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Very few are motivated purely by altruism."
<Twelve> "Because your adventures made my life better."
<Twelve> "They inspired me, and now I want to do something in return."
* Faerzen_Norstov raises an eyebrow, unconvinced
<Faerzen_Norstov> "How have my adventures affected your personal life in the slightest?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "There are potentially innumerable other sessions and instances of this game which exist in metaphysical simultaneity."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You have expressed your awareness of other sessions outside of this one."
<Twelve> "And yet it was yours I chose to stay in."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Indeed."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Why?"
<Twelve> "Again, I'm still trying to find the answer to that question."
<Twelve> "But whatever it was that made me choose to stay, I stayed because of it."
<yzabtech[DM]> ((https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifyCRkZG6kk listen to this))
<Twelve> "And I've seen all of it. Not from the beginning, but from somewhere around the middle, early enough to catch up."
<Twelve> "The good times, the bad times."
<Twelve> "The session's just beginning, and yet it's over soon."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You are correct in that assessment."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "What is your personal assessment on this ending?"
<Twelve> "I should save my teary-eyes speeches for the end."
<Twelve> "My personal assessment? There's work to be done."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Well of course, that much is quite obvious."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That has never changed, and likely never will. There will always be work to be done."
<Twelve> "You're nearing your penultimate destination."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "And that would be...?"
<Twelve> "An old ectobiology lab, hidden in the Veil."
<Twelve> "But if you wish, stop and smell the flowers here. If there are any. I highly doubt it."
* Faerzen_Norstov shrugs nonchalantly
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I have quite a garden plot of my own flowering plants at my personal residence."
<Twelve> "Do you...not get idioms?"
<Twelve> "Oh yeah, English not first language, etc etc. Hold on, let me try something else."
* Faerzen_Norstov sighs
<Twelve> "Google yields nothing."
<Twelve> "You'll figure it out."
<Twelve> "Good luck, Knight of Light!"
<Twelve> "After all, you're the one exploiting it!"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I have sufficient knowledge of idioms."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "It is simply possible to extract a small degree of personal entertainment from playing along with the charade."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Before you depart however, tell me this."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Why, in your opinion, is it that it would appear some of my coplayers are conspiring to assassinate you, and what is this scroll?"
<Twelve> "They're trying to kill me because they blame me for all their problems. Which might have some degree of truth, but most of it wasn't even me!"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "How could such claims have a nonzero degree of truth to them?"
<Twelve> "Also, I'm not exactly someone who can be killed. They're planning something else. Something with emotions. Joke's on them, I haven't felt anything in a while and I'd love to try it again."
<Twelve> "Lyra got meta powers, and can now sense my presence. I don't have any sort of direct influence, I just do a lot of behind-the-scenes work that adds up."
<Twelve> "As for who really holds the power, I think that might be what's in the scroll."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I see."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "So you claim to not have any direct influence, yet retain some indirect autonomy."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "How do you even exercise such influence? You do not seem to be such a player as one of us."
<Twelve> "I'm a player of another game out there."
<Twelve> "It's been so long, I forgot the name."
<Twelve> "There aren't any classpects, or powers, or lands, or quests."
<Twelve> "Perhaps it's the game of life."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Might that game be called instead.... life?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((oh rip line steal))
<Twelve> ((revenge!))
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I see what you have just done presently."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "While witty, it certainly avoids the questions nearly entirely."
<Twelve> "Yeah, I have no idea how I got into this position."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I see."
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((oh I should note that Faerzen's glasses are capable of detecting lies))
<Twelve> ((Twelve's not lying))
<Twelve> ((He really does have no idea how he got into this position))
<Faerzen_Norstov> "So you mean to say that Lyra, and perhaps others, have noticed some more minor negative circumstances that can be attributed to you, and as a result the present scenario has been blown out of proportion and Lyra is blaming you for a greater deal of the present obstacles than we ought to give you due credit for?"
<Twelve> "You could put it like that."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Unsurprising, to say the least."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Should we address the entity(ies) that 'really holds the power', what shall you do then?"
<Twelve> "I'm gonna ditch once you open that scroll. They don't really like me."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Do you mean to imply that opening this scroll shall summon them or otherwise encourage some other form of interaction?"
<Twelve> "Maybe. I don't want to be there to find out."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Am I to thank you for providing this scroll?"
<Twelve> "No idea."
* Faerzen_Norstov furrows her brow
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I am not certain I follow your line of reasoning in that particular response."
<Twelve> "Me neither."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I see."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Where or when shall you travel to now then?"
<Twelve> "Wherever the wind takes me. And by the wind, I mean wherever I take me."
<Twelve> "There isn't any wind here."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Yet another jab at wit in an attempt to evade the question with an entirely nonspecific answer."
<Twelve> "Yet another 'I have no idea' which you're probably sick of hearing."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "An acknowledgement of a lack of knowledge is more desireable than a non-answer."
<Twelve> "Attempting wit is much more fun than being a broken record."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Understandable."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "One can never fully discount the factor of personal enjoyment."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "In that case, I shall not keep you any longer."
<Twelve> "I like the way you think."
<Twelve> "Goodbye, Norstov. May we meet again!"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "If you are to thank for extracting me from the Horrorterrors' grasp, then I thank you."
* Twelve disappears as he wanders away
* Faerzen_Norstov mumbles
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I hope our paths do not cross at a future time under circumstances in which we are in opposition to one another...."
* Faerzen_Norstov looks down at the scroll
* Twelve is now known as TheScroll
<TheScroll> "10-61-34-37. A gravitational spacial anomaly has been detected in the former location of the Green Sun."
<TheScroll> "This is a detriment to First Guardians, and any other beings who gain energy from the Green Sun."
<TheScroll> "10-61-34-48. The black hole created from the Sun is now destroying significant sections of our furthest ring."
<TheScroll> "Our realm is threatened. Any and all S-B instances must be halted to avoid overcrowding."
<TheScroll> "10-61-34-65. All S-B instances created from this point onward will be marked with a C prefix, post-collapse. C1 is about to be manifested soon."
<TheScroll> "Enact procedure Alpha Tau. Split C1 into 4 shards, S1-4.
<TheScroll> "
<TheScroll> "S2 and S4 will be used as bread and circus, to satiate the masses while solutions are being worked on. Make sure to include low entropy factors to maximize energy generation for the true purpose."
<TheScroll> "10-61-34-83. Our plan is almost complete. A timeline has been created to sabotage the prototypes of A-Zeta, making A-Alpha unable to help A-Gamma, who will descend into a state of rage."
<TheScroll> "His power shall be harnessed in the true purpose of S1 and S3: generators. With this immense amount of power, we may send the Higgs field into a state of true vacuum decay, tearing apart the excess in Paradox Space and restoring our Furthest Ring."
<TheScroll> "10-61-35-00. A-Delta has gained awareness."
<TheScroll> The scroll stops there, and proceeds with blank space for a few lines.
<TheScroll> At the very bottom are three words, in bolder text than before.
<TheScroll> "Leave them be."
<TheScroll> It is signed with a moving picture of an icosahedron.
<TheScroll> https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Icosahedron.gif
<TheScroll> The scroll ends there.
<yzabtech[DM]> ==END==