Rissada - Session 56.5

As the night stretches further, Engir emerges from his room after ensuring Arastalia's return to sleep, before encountering a patrolling Nalzij and overeagerly awake Na'nabi.

Nalzij: "Engir?"
Na'nabi: "Hey, Engir. Seems none of us can sleep."
Engir: "I wonder why."
Nalzij: "The others managed it. It's just you."
Astrid emerges from her room, hearing talk coming from the other side of the wall.
Astrid: "Or not..."
Na'nabi: "Oh, Astrid. I just finished a drawing you might like, f you can't sleep."
Astrid: "Drawing?"
Na'nabi: "I've been drawing everyone today. I just finished your portrait."
Nalzij: "(She's like a child the night before the solstice festival...)"
Na'nabi: "Except a solstice festival is a fun time for all the family."
"I'm just nervous, okay? I'm trying to keep my cool with art."
Nalzij: "I know. It still won't keep you alive tomorrow like rest would."
Astrid rests against the wall, crossing her arms.
Engir: "Anyone know a good method to shut the mind up?"
"Do we have any sleeping draughts?"
Christine , one of the only other people awake at this hour, twitches her ears at the conversation, before deciding to make herself busier as to not interfere.
Nalzij: "Were there any of those creepy potions that would do something like that...?"
Na'nabi: "There was an offer to keep us up all night from someone."
Astrid: "You'd want us to risk that, Nalzij?"
Nalzij: "I'm certain Ara has a reason for not wanting us to talk to her..."
Engir: "That's the thing..."
Na'nabi: "I think she's just having a gut reaction."
Engir: "My head's just trying to fill in whatever she's not telling us."
Nalzij: "On the other hand, I'm not sure she considered mortal nervousness and that sleep charm offer."
Nalzij shoots Na'nabi a frustrated glare.
Engir sits down on the step, rubbing his head.
Engir: "Gut reaction or no, there's something she doesn't want me to know. Or any of you, by the sounds of it."
Nalzij sits down next to Engir, retrieving the parchment and reading over it.
Astrid: "Who, Ara?"
Engir: "Yes."
"We made a pact. We need to be open about something like this..."
Na'nabi: "It sounds like something we should know. I mean, we're her friends and companions, aren't we?"
Nalzij: "At least, I can make sure she can't sneak into the guild withou-"
Nalzij looks up, staring toward the brazier.
Engir sinks his head lower in contemplation.
Nalzij: "I wasn't alerted to her presence. At all."
Astrid turns her gaze toward the brazier, glancing back at Nalzij.
Astrid wanders down towards the fountain, sitting beside it and running a hand slowly through the water.
Nalzij: "If she can get past the ward, that's... not good. And that's only the simple answer."
Engir: "...the simple answer?"
Na'nabi: "What's the complex answer?"
Nalzij: "You remember examining my gauntlets, right, Engir? I should be alerted by fiends entering the guild..."
Na'nabi: "Maybe she's some sort of special fiend, or she's got something that bypasses that?"
Astrid looks up from the fountain at Nalzij.
Astrid: "There are plenty of loopholes."
Na'nabi: "She could be even half fiend, even."
Engir: "...right."
Na'nabi: "I'm just throwing ideas up in the air."
Engir: "A spell to be undetected seems possible, though strange if she explicitly wanted our attention."
"You did specify fiends, right?"
Astrid scoops up a handful of water, letting it trickle back into the fountain slowly.
Astrid: "Let's ask her, then. We could do so now."
Nalzij: "...I guess not. I specified outsiders with an evil aura."
Na'nabi: "Maybe she's not evil. And she did also promise to give us something to keep us from sleeping."
Nalzij: "You're just calmly saying a succubus might not be evil."
Na'nabi: " Might. "
Engir: "...hmm..."
Engir presses his temples.
Nalzij: "Keeping people from sleeping is plenty within their nature."
Engir: "It's... possible. I think."
Nalzij: "I've wondered myself."
Engir: "And yes, that is certainly true."
Nalzij: "If celestials can be corrupted... why not the reverse?"
Engir: "Additionally, consider the circumstances for a nephilim to be born."
Astrid: "Not that I'm a perfect example, either, but..."
Na'nabi: "True. It's definitely possible."
Nalzij gives Na'nabi a dubious look.
Astrid rests a hand on her chin, closing her eyes in thought.
Astrid: "Hmm... Say, Engir."
"I should probably bring this up sooner rather than later."
Na'nabi: "Don't give me that look when Engir's suggesting the same things..."
Engir: "What's the matter, Astrid?"
Nalzij: "Engir's studied things like this."
Astrid: "How to put it..."
Engir: "(As someone with succubus blood, I suppose Na'nabi has some right to speak of it.)"
Astrid: "I've tried not to take notice of it, but... since we encountered the rakshasa, I've been feeling... different, slightly."
Nalzij: "(I suppose... )"
"Different?"
Engir: "You'll have to elaborate."
Astrid: "I thought it was voices in my head, but... they were others'. Some of them were yours, in fact."
Na'nabi: "Mine, Engir's, Nalzij's, or all of ours?"
Nalzij: "What were they saying?"
Astrid looks at the three with slight unease.
Na'nabi: "We're not going to judge you, Astrid, it's okay."
Astrid: "...Nalzij, you've had your father on your mind a lot, haven't you? And Engir..."
Astrid trails off, allowing her words to sink in first.
Nalzij: "I... yes, I guess I have."
Astrid: "And Engir, you're worried that Ara will be... hunted. For what the... quill archon did."
Engir: "It does seem that way, yes..."
"That Rakshasa was quite cryptic. And the succubus, too."
Engir slumps, before catching himself and adjusting posture.
Engir: "So, you think contact with it stirred up some old blood? Or just that it made you aware of it?"
Astrid: "Right... the former, I think. I've never been aware of it before."
Nalzij: "Did it do anything to you?"
Astrid: "Or perhaps another reason entirely..."
"Not directly, at least."
Nalzij: "...Damn it. Let's just talk to the thing, it's keeping us up whether it's here or not."
Na'nabi: "What's my voice been saying?"
Engir: "I suppose that's true, Nalzij."
Astrid: "Now? ...A lot, I suppose. Something about the paladin order, wanting to protect us, your artwork..."
Na'nabi: "Huh, you're a mind reader."
Astrid screws up her face slightly.
Astrid: "I-It's not like I want to, you know...!"
Nalzij: "Not an easy talent to have, I'd guess."
Na'nabi approaches Astrid, patting her on the back.
Astrid looks down, perking her ears to focus on the sound of the running water next to her.
Engir: "Well, hopefully it won't overwhelm you in battle."
Astrid: "With so much ruckus, I doubt it would make a difference."
Astrid sighs, standing back up and glancing around the guild longingly.
Astrid: "Isn't it strange? Tonight, this quiet solace... tomorrow, a bloodied battlefield..."
Na'nabi: "Yeah... it's a pretty terrifying shift."
Engir: "I can't make myself less aware of it."
"Nalzij, were you going to summon her?"
Astrid: "Right, I suppose we should make us of our time, rather than brood."
Nalzij: "...That's life, I guess."
"Do you think I should?"
Na'nabi: "We may as well."
Engir: "You're here, if things go awry."
Na'nabi: "We're all here if things go wrong."
Engir: "(And I have some silver bolts in this bag, still, I believe. )"
Nalzij: "Alright."
Nalzij stands up and walks over to the brazier, tossing the parchment in.
Astrid watches from a distance, remaining in the garden.
The parchment ignites in the flame, flickering as a sigil formed of fire, matching the one on the parchment, appears above it.
Engir walks over, and watches the brazier, expectantly.
After a short delay, the flames coalesce into a familiar figure, a leather satchel slung over her shoulder.
Senephiria: "Hi! I'm back, did you... you don't look all that happy."
Engir: "We're having trouble sleeping. Perhaps you can give us some peace of mind."
Na'nabi: "Yeah, impending war isn't the biggest smile-giver."
Senephiria: "I'd be glad to help out! Is there anywhere you want to talk at in specific?"
"I mean, this corner feels... well, a little like I'm being interrogated."
Na'nabi: "Do we have anywhere less flammable?"
"I suppose we could bring some chairs into the forge room, or something?"
Nalzij: "That may work best? Less likely to wake the others, too."
Engir: "Indeed."
Na'nabi: "Right. Nalzij, help me grab a couple of chairs, please?"
Na'nabi carries one of the chairs over to the forge room.
Nalzij picks up another three chairs, following after Na'nabi.

Moving over to the forge room, the group finds the forge kept at a low heat. The vampire, Lorelei, seems to be in this room, sitting quietly in the corner.
Nalzij: "(She's lost a lot of her enthusiasm since they left, huh?)"
Na'nabi: "(She must've really adored him.)"
Engir: "(Yeah... damn war, it's hard even to make time for them.)"
Senephiria: "(We're not... intruding. Right?)"
Astrid: "Um... Lorelei, are you alright?"
Lorelei opens her eyes, looks at Astrid for a moment, then returns to her previous stance without responding.
Nalzij: "(...Wait, has she... you know. Eaten?)"
Na'nabi: "(Oh jeez, that's not good.)"
Senephiria: "(Eaten? Um, I didn't bring any snacks in this bag, if you guys were expecting any.)"
Na'nabi: "(She's a vampire.)"
Nalzij: "(No, don't worry about-)"
Na'nabi pre-emptively elbows herself.
Senephiria: "(...You guys have a pet vampire and it's me you're suspicious of?)"
Engir sighs, palming his forehead.
Nalzij sighs, seeing Na'nabi preempt her.
Na'nabi: "Me and my big mouth..."
Engir: "It's a complicated story. Not all of us are happy about it, but she's proven nice enough and industrious."
Astrid approaches Lorelei quietly, resting a hand on her shoulder.
Lorelei opens her eyes to look at Astrid again, offering a sad, quiet expression.
Astrid: "Have you eaten at all, Lorelei?"
Lorelei shakes her head, then looks at the empty chair at the crafting table.
Engir: "I see the issue."
Astrid watches Lorelei understandingly.
Senephiria: "She looks so sad and heartbroken."
Astrid: "Say, Lorelei, I have something I can give you. It could help, okay?"
Nalzij: "We'll make sure you can follow him soon."
Lorelei tilts her head slightly.
Na'nabi: "Her... boyfriend? Went away yesterday, to get help for the war."
Astrid winces slightly at Na'nabi's description, before extending her hand out to Lorelei.
Engir: "We wanted to find a solution to her sunlight vulnerability, but time has been an issue."
Senephiria: "That sounds pretty sad. Sunlight vulnerability, huh...."
Na'nabi: "Unless you can give us something to help with that?"
Astrid: "Lorelei, will you come with me...?"
Senephiria: "That's... very much 'special order'. Mistress Sibyl does not often entreat with people with light sensitivity."
Lorelei looks at the offered hand, then to Astrid's eyes.
Lorelei: "Mistress...?"
Nalzij: "Could you ask for us? It would be quite useful."
Engir: "Even if not, there should be something about it in Athel's spellbook."
Senephiria: "Athel... oh, the twerp."
Engir: "Ah, you are familiar with him, then."
Senephiria: "...Kinda."
Nalzij tries not to chuckle at the description.
Astrid: "Astrid, not mistress."
"Would you like me to bring it here for you then, Lorelei?"
Senephiria: "So, the girl's one of his...?"
Na'nabi: "Yes."
Nalzij: "Right. One of two left."
Lorelei rises to her feet carefully, sweeping dust from her maid uniform.
Astrid: "Hmm, wait here, actually, I'll be back in a moment, okay?"
Astrid wanders out of the room and back towards the garden area.
Engir watches Astrid leave, then turns back to the centre of the room.
Engir: "Either way, we need to work out who takes care of Lorelei in his absence."
Nalzij: "If she's even willing. She said she wanted it to be a single person."
Engir: "But to have her waste away, here..."
Senephiria: "Mistress Sibyl doesn't really have anything to help. We... don't really work with undead."
Nalzij: "Right... I just don't know what to do."
Engir: "We'll find a way, Senephiria. Thanks, all the same."
Astrid makes a trip to her own room and Pitch's room, returning to the party with her hands full.
Astrid lays out a bedroll beside the forge, placing on top of it a slightly creased blanket and pillow.
Engir: "That's an idea."
Nalzij leans back against the wall, fishing out her wayfinder and checking it while Astrid arranges things for Lorelei.
Lorelei looks at the bedroll, before crawling inside of it.
Astrid: "Is that a little better, Lorelei?"
Lorelei nods quietly, wrapping herself into the provided blankets.
Lorelei: "Pi...tch..."
Nalzij glares at the device, rather indiscreetly walking to the other side of the room while watching it.
Astrid retrieves a small brass necklace dangling from her wrist, offering it to Lorelei.
Na'nabi: "(What are you looking for?)"
Nalzij: "(Either of them!)"
Na'nabi: "(...we can see them.)"
Senephiria: "A compass?"
Nalzij puts away the wayfinder with a sigh.
Na'nabi: "I think?"
Nalzij: "...thanks, Astrid. That's pretty cute of her, really."
Engir: "It is."
Astrid: "This belonged to Pitch... do you want to keep it with you?"
Engir: "...makes me worry a little more about Ara, really."
Nalzij: "We'll all make it back."
Lorelei doesn't respond, seemingly having returned to her meditative rest while surrounded by the newly provided blankets.
Astrid lays the necklace beside Lorelei, turning back to Nalzij.
Astrid: "We will... we have to."
Engir: "It's not that."
Na'nabi: "If it really comes down to It, I can do some sort of heroic sacrifice and save all of you, and be remembered as a great hero."
Engir: "Just... what is better off left unsaid?"
Na'nabi: "Well, we do have someone who can say."
Senephiria: "I wouldn't count on it, actually. People have a tendency to, um, alter history for their own purposes."
"You likely won't be remembered as a half-elf, at best."
Astrid: "What are you implying, Engir?"
Engir nods at the truth of Senephiria's words.
Nalzij nods in reluctant agreement.
Engir: "There's something Ara's done, or that I've done, that's upsetting the lower planes."
Na'nabi sighs.
Na'nabi: "I could go out there tomorrow and single handedly defeat that army and people still won't like me just because of my race."
Nalzij: "Senephiria has a point. Just look at the tales of the Tyrantslayer."
Senephiria: "Higher ones too, from the rumors I heard."
Engir scowls at the thought.
Astrid: "That's why we all have to survive. To spread the real truth."
Engir: "Truth. That's just it."
"Knowing who I am, what we both agreed to do, why won't she say anything?"
Senephiria: "Truth is tricky."
Na'nabi: "Anyway. I guess I have to ask. Why do a lot of fiends, at least, not like Arastalia? From your view."
Senephiria: "Well, I don't know what she told you she was doing."
"So I can't really... offer 'corrections'? I mean, I like her as a person."
"Thenagain, I like everyone that's not a blatant jerk."
"Soooo, you know."
Engir: "I see..."
"Well, we're aware of her losing her power as a divine being."
Nalzij: "Still. What is it the others don't like?"
Senephiria: "But there's the whole truce between abyssals and celestials thing, and the last thing we need is something to happen that causes it to break."
Engir: "...right. That's what he said, too."
Senephiria: "Some of the big guys would be all too happy to resume hostilities, but, uh... people like me?"
"I like the status quo."
Nalzij: "What would cause it to break?"
Engir: "Was it the merge with the archon? Can divines innately tell that?"
Senephiria: "Merge with an Archon? I don't really know anything about that."
"I'm not a mind-reader or anything. I don't know what you guys are basing your information off of."
Engir: "I'm trying to think of what she's done that would upset the pact, or the balance."
"I suppose that was the incident back at the manor, but it seems she's received punishment appropriate to that."
Nalzij: "I thought it was just destroying the other vampires."
Na'nabi: "Vampires aren't outsiders though, so how do they affect it?"
Engir: "Exactly that."
"Outsiders mustn't interfere with the mortal world too much."
Senephiria: "Well, there was definitely something bad that happened twelve days ag-- oh, right!"
Senephiria starts to delve into the leather satchel she was wearing, pulling out a series of thin vials of an unknown liquid.
Na'nabi: "Is that the awakeness charm?"
Senephiria: "Basically. Mistress Sibyl is... um, let's say a night owl."
Engir: "That appears to be a popular trait among magic experts."
Senephiria begins to float around, offering one vial to each person present.
Nalzij: "(Maybe why they're so odd...)"
Na'nabi takes the vial, uncorking and drinking it.
Nalzij: "...No thanks, I'll stick with methods I know."
Na'nabi: "Well, I definitely feel less sleepy."
Engir: "Very well."
Engir consumes his own vial.
Na'nabi: "It's like magic coffee."
Engir: "I hope not."
Nalzij: "Agreed."
Engir: "Well, the taste is the same."
Senephiria: "I would not recommend getting used to it."
Engir: "So it is like coffee. Okay."
Senephiria: "The human mind kinda needs sleep every now and then not to, like, meltdown."
Engir looks at Astrid.
Engir: "We've learned that one, yes."
Nalzij: "I can believe it."
Senephiria: "Um. I use 'human' generally. No offense."
Engir: "None taken."
Engir pauses, reflecting on something.
Engir: "You said something bad, but unknown, happened twelve days ago, yes?"
Senephiria: "Yeah. A... display of power of some sort."
Engir: "...so it probably was the vampire situation."
"I should make it clear that it is not something Arastalia could, nor wishes to repeat."
Senephiria: "I hope you're right about that."
Nalzij: "Nor was it something we wanted her to do."
Senephiria: "Divines have been trying to, well, generally discourage the siring of nephilim."
Nalzij: "Would it need discouraging?"
Senephiria: "And if one is born, we try to ask them not to use their power and just live quietly as they can."
"Yeah, it does."
Engir scowls.
Engir: "Elaborate."
Na'nabi: "They're the biggest threat to breaking down the truce, right?"
Engir: "Even though they are born of peaceful interaction? Or because they may side with one group specifically?"
Senephiria: "Well... due to the circumstances of their birth... they're actually kind of the closest thing this world has to gods."
"There's nothing keeping them from being born, of course."
Nalzij: "More than the Divine Star?"
Na'nabi: "Wha...?"
"So Arastalia's... whoa, Engir's partner is a god."
Senephiria: "Not actually a god. Just... close to it."
Na'nabi: "Still..."
Engir: "Hrmm, thinking about it..."
Senephiria: "We're called divine beings because we're descended from the gods."
Engir: "But... Arastalia has shown interest in becoming more mortal, nontheless."
Nalzij scowls at Senephiria.
Na'nabi: "She's displaying a lot more mortal tendancies recently."
Senephiria: "...Um, did I say something upsetting?"
Nalzij: "No. My question?"
Senephiria: "Oh, yes. The... Divine Star?"
"Sorry, I'm trying to keep up on all of you."
Nalzij: "Right."
Na'nabi: "It's a big star in the north that many worship. It has very powerful divine energies."
Senephiria: "I don't know a lot about it. I do know it's not of abyssal origin."
"...Which I feel might come as a relief to you, even though the fact that it does is kinda hurtful to me."
Engir: "Learning more about the nature of divines is of interest to me. But experience and research both naturally leave me skeptical of denizens of the abyss."
"You, at least, I do not distrust."
Nalzij: "(...For it to be a relief, I would need to have thought it a possibility.)"
"...Right. Senephiria. You said earlier that fiends aren't all bad."
Senephiria: "Which is kind of why girls like me find it so tough to get by in the first place."
Nalzij: "Can you explain?"
Na'nabi: "People just assume she's going to do horrible things, I guess."
Senephiria: "You know how we were talking about how, if your half-elf friend went and became a war hero, people will probably write it out of history or change things to make it less displeasurable, right?"
Nalzij: "Right."
Na'nabi: "Same with demons, you're trying to say?"
Senephiria: "What if I told you the same thing happened with some of us?"
Nalzij: "Some?"
Senephiria: "Well... it's a lot like you."
"You aren't necessarily predisposed to good acts or evil acts, right?"
"As a race, I mean."
"There's you, but there are also evil half-orcs, right?"
"There are good humans, but there are also evil humans."
Nalzij: "Right..."
Engir: "But... are fiends not physical embodiments of sinful acts, and the like?"
"That is how it is written, though I see your point of history."
Senephiria: "But, well, a lot of history has been written to, um, favor celestials. Which ends up making it so their more evil actions are seen in a positive light, and some abyssal's more benevolent actions are seen in a negative light."
"Impressions color impressions."
Na'nabi: "That's very true."
Senephiria: "Suddenly, 'all fiends are evil', and we can't get words in edgewise."
"We're... kind of physical embodiments, but not of 'sins'."
Engir: "Hmmm."
Senephiria: "Sometimes, it takes the form of sins. And I'm not going to defend any succubus sisters who take their form to mean things like lust or seduction."
"But other succubi are more inclined to follow roles such as love and cherishing and friendship."
"That's why Mistress Sibyl entreats with fiends, the 'evil outsiders', but does not deal with Valesians, the 'evil humans'."
Nalzij: "What about the celestials?"
Engir: "Interesting."
Na'nabi: "Very intriguing."
Senephiria: "Not all celestials are all that motivated by love and happiness and kindness."
"There are certainly types out there that just love violence and bloodshed."
"But because of human interpretation, you flavor them as 'good and just', and therefore any of their violence is a holy crusade and any of their victims had it coming."
"Fill in the gaps in the history books as appropriate."
Engir: "I see your point. Something to watch for on my travels."
Senephiria: "If you grind it up into averages? I can definitely tell you that abyssals are more likely than not to do selfish, pragmatic, not-very-nice things. But not everyone."
Engir: "Naturally."
Senephiria: "It would be no different than people assuming you're a sneaky duplicitous, illusion-crafting trickster that's up to no good."
"Just because you're a gnome. Just because you're a Gythel."
Engir sighs, reflectively.
Na'nabi: "Huh, you've definitely shown me a different side. Not considering your opinion right now would just kind of prove your point, I guess."
Engir: "I really do need to work out a new family name."
Nalzij: "Hm..."
Senephiria: "You're the one that signed the letter 'Gythel'."
Engir: "That's the trap of it, Na'nabi. I think she has a point, but time will tell."
Senephiria: "Noble houses are not outside my mistress's knowledge."
Engir: "I do not think stating that I am formerly of Gythel in a letter is the best way to make a good impression."
"I have my reasons, but I can't exactly derail the letter to do that now, can I?"
Senephiria: "You're welcome to ally yourself with the de Rosas, at any such time you feel more open about us."
Na'nabi: "Hmm... about noble houses. Apart from Sibyl, who else would be my relatives?"
Senephiria: "I do understand you may still have reservations."
Engir: "That might cause concerns with my benefactors."
Senephiria: "You make it sound like all celestials hate all abyssals."
Engir: "I did say might."
Nalzij: "Don't they?"
Engir: "Nephilim."
"Gee, this really is a mess."
Na'nabi: "A mess and a half."
Senephiria: "It's not super-complicated."
"You just don't need to think about it so hard."
Nalzij: "It's asking us to believe a lot."
Senephiria: "Yeah, I get that."
Na'nabi: "She's asking us to beleive that celestials and Abyssals are more "human" than we originally considered."
Engir: "That, I understand."
Senephiria: "I'm trying my best to be sociable about all this, because I like you guys and you're giving me the time of day... well, night... to say my piece."
Nalzij: "...I have to admit, you're a fairly compelling argument for this."
Na'nabi: "I'm probably going to get a lot of glares for this, but..."
Senephiria: "I know it kinda clashes with a lot of books a lot of you read as a kid, but it's not like anything makes those books more 'truthful'."
Na'nabi: "...yeah, I can believe you."
Nalzij: "If that's how it works, are there many celestials who would tell us the same thing?"
Senephiria: "It really does depend on who you ask!"
Engir: "That's the real headache, Senephiria. Writing books on this kind of thing is exactly what I want to do."
Senephiria: "In general, the lower someone is on the divine 'ladder' of strength, the more likely they are to just try to get along with others."
"The most powerful abyssals and celesials, though, the ones the gods actually created..."
Na'nabi: "(Huh, no glares...)"
Engir: "That makes a great deal of sense."
Senephiria: "They kind of WANT to break the truce and get back to trying to kill each other."
Engir: "Explains the quill's openness, too."
Senephiria: "Which is bad for not only you but also me."
Na'nabi: "You'd be forced into combat against other divines, something you'd rather avoid, right?"
Engir: "And you were worried that Arastalia's use of her power was leading to just that?"
Senephiria: "Yeah. It has people on edge."
"Last time a nephilim tried to abuse their power... well, it didn't go well for us."
Engir: "That probably explains the imprisonment, and hunting."
Senephiria: "Oh, you heard about him?"
Nalzij: "What happened?"
Engir: "Only that he was."
Senephiria turns to Nalzij, floating casually in the air.
Senephiria: "He wanted to be powerful. He wanted to usurp the most powerful divines."
"Kinda like a tyrant."
Na'nabi: "Huh."
Engir: "...oh, no... really?"
"Is that who the Tyrant King was?"
Nalzij: "...Wait a minute...?"
Senephiria: "Even as is, he had so much power that it took--"
"Tyrant King?"
"Oh, not him."
"This was MUCH earlier."
Engir: "Ah, I see."
Senephiria: "Like, uh..."
Engir: "( This scale of time... )"
Senephiria begins to count on her clawed fingers, laying on her back in midair.
Senephiria: "Twelve.... thousand... ish?"
Engir: "Long beyond any existing documentation, then."
"Mortal documentation, at least."
Senephiria: "I think humans were still banging rocks together back then."
"...No offense."
Engir: "None taken."
Na'nabi: "It was a long time ago."
Engir smiles at the thought.
Nalzij: "It hurts my head to imagine that much time..."
Na'nabi: "We now bang metal sticks against each other instead."
Senephiria: "You guys were brought to basically nothing before the truce was called."
"You were told that one, at least? Of Nephilis?"
Engir: "...yes, I was."
Senephiria: "Okay~! Yay, I don't have to say it."
Engir: "I'll explain it to you three and the others, later."
"Basically, the original divine conflict was halted by the first Nephilim."
Senephiria: "So, uh, yeah, second nephilim was kind of frighteningly powerful. Even the most powerful divine beings could barely so much as scratch him."
"The best they could do was hold him still."
Engir: "I see..."
"Well, I shall say this."
Na'nabi: "Does he still exist somewhere?"
Senephiria: "Somewhere. We can't actually kill him, we can only keep him still."
Na'nabi: "That's not scary at all."
Engir clears his throat.
Na'nabi turns and listens to Engir.
Senephiria turns around, floating inquisitively towards Engir.
Engir: "Ara wanted to rescue the mortal companions who saved her from loneliness. Naive, and foolish, but something she won't repeat."
Senephiria: "Be careful with that, okay?"
Engir: "Yes. I understand the knock-on effects it could have."
Senephiria: "Sometimes they might not even know how much strength is too much."
Nalzij: "Why would she want to hide that from us this way...?"
Na'nabi: "Fear of judgement, I would guess?"
Senephiria: "Nothing weird's happened? No, wait, you said she ate an Archon or something."
Engir: "After that act... she was dying."
Nalzij: "Ate... an archon?"
Senephiria: "Dying?"
Engir: "Dying. I have... no other word for it."
"It was as if she had exerted herself too much, and could not recover."
Senephiria: "Definitely seems like she didn't know how much of her strength she HAD."
"So she might have just, I dunno, used up ALL of it?"
Engir: "Plausible. Her talent was divination, not evocation."
Na'nabi: "She seems like she's been losing her outsiderness ever since then."
Senephiria: "I'm just guessing, of course. I doubt she'll tell me."
"Wait, losing her outsiderness?"
Engir: "Na'nabi, let me explain."
Na'nabi: "Okay."
Engir: "There is an order of events here."
"I tried to find a cure, to no avail. My archon companion suggested it could help her. It seemed to offer itself, its own life, to restore enough to her to live."
Senephiria: "That's kinda weird if you ask me. Divine beings use up a little too much of their strength all the time and they eventually recover."
Engir: "Maybe, she would have. I am not exactly experienced in these kinds of fine detail."
Senephiria: "Well, that's why I'm asking!"
Engir nods.
Engir: "Either way, I was not going to leave my cherished companion's life to chance."
Nalzij listens to the exchange with confused curiosity.
Senephiria: "Cherished companion~?"
A sly grin forms on the succubus's face.
Engir backs away slightly.
Senephiria: "Aww, sorry! I was just teasing, I didn't know you'd be so shy about it!"
Engir looks to the side.
Na'nabi: "Engir isn't used to being in this sort of relationship."
Engir: "It's okay. I do feel that way."
Senephiria: "Sometimes that sort of thing happens."
Engir: "She is someone I am happy to swear my future to."
Senephiria: "I mean, if it never did, we wouldn't have tieflings."
Nalzij grins at the admission.
Na'nabi: "Congratulations, then?"
Engir: "What are you saying?!"
Senephiria: "I didn't say anything! I think it's cute!"
Na'nabi: "I'm just saying that I'm very happy for you and Arastalia. You're a good couple."
Engir: "...ah. Right."
"Finding her was quite the miracle, I admit."
Senephiria: "(Though she ate an archon when she was feeling under the weather, and now she's 'losing her outsiderness', and the two are in a relationship...?)"
Na'nabi: "(I don't think they'd go that far yet.)"
"(Wartime's not the place for that.)"
Senephiria: "But, uh... you DID say thre was an order to things."
Engir: "Yes?"
Nalzij: "(Wartime is when people remember to do what they want to with their life while they can. When would it be more likely?)"
Senephiria: "Your friend melded with the archon to regain her strength, and then something something, and then your half-elf friend said something about losing outsiderness?"
Na'nabi: "(...right... maybe a second congratulations'd be in order.)"
Engir: "Oh, right."
Engir: "About a day after the melding, she was expressing a need to eat and sleep."
"She's lost her innate knack for divination, too."
Senephiria: "Hmm."
Engir: "As you can see, she is no threat."
Senephiria: "...I'm a little shaky about the loss of divination. Perhaps she's just shy about it now?"
Na'nabi: "She had a breakdown earlier when she couldn't read someone's memories."
Engir: "I asked the Archons about that. It sounded like she had not lost them, from their perspective."
Na'nabi: "...doesn't seem like shyness."
Engir: "But, for all intents and purposes, she cannot use them."
Senephiria: "Suddenly eating and sleeping... losing some of her innate strength..."
"Okay!"
"I can tell you, or you can try to get HER to tell you."
Na'nabi: "I'd like to hear both points of view, personally."
Engir looks at the succubus anxiously.
Nalzij: "You know what happened?"
Senephiria: "Well, all the signs certainly point to it."
Engir: "Does it matter to her safety?"
Senephiria: "It doesn't affect her safety for me to tell you, at least."
Engir pauses for a moment.
Engir: "This is something that is dangerous to tell the other fiends, isn't it?"
Senephiria: "Actually, this has been very illuminating."
"If I get permission, I can spread word around."
"So there should be less animosity. ...On our side, at least."
Nalzij: "What about from the celestials?"
Engir: "If you are absolutely certain it would reduce animosity, then it is acceptable."
Senephiria: " 'My side' includes all celestials willing to entreat with me."
Engir: "Those who wish the covenant to be secure."
Nalzij: "Would it anger any of the others more?"
Senephiria: "Can't do much for the stubborn ones, but it at least predisposes the De Rosa associated fiends on your side?"
"...It's probably going to worry some people but this guy has a good head on his shoulders."
"It'll change some things, but then again that's nothing new when it comes to nephilim."
Engir: "So it all comes back to that."
"Before I give you my answer, I would ask you one more thing. Would any of her power return, in time?"
Senephiria: "I think that depends on her. Both consciously and subconsciously."
Engir: "That is... as she would want it, I suppose."
Senephiria: "The, uh, power isn't gone. It just kinda moved."
Engir: "...moved?"
Nalzij: "Moved?"
Senephiria: "Well, for starters... have your own arts in divination improved any since, uh, the night in question?"
Engir: "Significantly so."
Senephiria: "Hmm~"
Engir: "Aparrently, I have been performing acts no mage in Broken-Top could, for example."
"So, she's passing that power onto me?"
Senephiria: "Some of it."
"If she subconsciously doesn't want to be a nephilim, then the divine power will find its way somewhere."
"(Also you kinda verified my suspicion, teehee~)"
Na'nabi: "(Suspicion?)"
Nalzij: "Is that really alright?"
Engir tilts his head.
Senephiria raises a finger to her lips mischievously.
Senephiria: "So, did you want me to tell you the truth of the matter?"
Engir: "...I think I might have enough of an idea."
"At least, I understand Arastalia enough."
Na'nabi: "Anyone care to enlighten the rest of us?"
Nalzij elbows Na'nabi again.
Senephiria: "I'm more than willing to, if he lets me."
Engir takes a long, deep breath.
Engir: "I chose the path of truth. Not the path of dignity."
"Ara has lived a long, lonely life, hasn't she..?"
"I really should get to work on a family name. You can tell them."
Senephiria leans back from her levitating posture, smiling slyly.
Engir leaves the room hastily, flushed.
Senephiria: "Okay!"
"He's cute when he's embarrassed, isn't he?"
Na'nabi: "He is."
Nalzij: "(I think maybe Ara should have some right to privacy about this...)"
Senephiria: "If you don't want to know, that's fine."
Na'nabi: "I'll have to give them a second congratulations, won't I?"
Senephiria: "But he did give me permission to say."
Nalzij: "I know enough."
Na'nabi: "Still, I'd like to know, please."
Senephiria: "Well, let's start at this."
"Divine beings never need sleep or food or any of those other biological necessities. Never ever. Not even poisons work right on most of us."
"If, all of a sudden, she starts needing sleep or food..."
"Then it's not for her, get my gist?"
Na'nabi: "Wow they really WERE bus-"
Na'nabi shudders a little.
Nalzij: "Na'nabi!"
Na'nabi: "Okay, yeah, really don't want to think about that..."
Senephiria pokes Na'nabi with a lightly fiery claw.
Na'nabi: "Hm?"
Senephiria: "Your great grandmother, or at least the person you claim is your great grandmother, went through the same stuff."
"It's how I know~"
Na'nabi shifts uneasily.
Na'nabi: "I see..."
Nalzij: "Wait, you...?"
Nalzij looks at Senephiria dubiously.
Na'nabi: "Do you know who such a person would..."
"...it's you, isn't it?"
Senephiria: "What's me?"
Na'nabi: "I dunno, the way you phrased it made it seem like you were suggesting that was you are my great grandmother."
Senephiria: "That's a pretty wide assumption. I just said it's how I knew."
"I told you before, I'm simply Mistress Sibyl's handmaiden."
"I was just also her mother's handmaiden before that."
Na'nabi: "Right. Does Sibyl, aside from her sister, have any other relatives?"
Senephiria: "Mistress Sibyl has her parents, of course. And, in theory, a brother-in-law, though current suspicion is that he's dead now."
Na'nabi looks down.
Na'nabi: "...he is, as well as her sister."
Senephiria: "...Yeah, we know about Mistress Hana."
"The Valesians have made no shortage of requests for Mistress Sibyl's aid in their conflict."
"She was asking me to incinerate the latest one before we realized the penned name was different."
Nalzij grins despite the tone of the conversation.
Senephiria notes Nalzij's expression, nodding.
Senephiria: "I know you guys probably got a bad impression, thinking 'oh, this family deals with fiends, they must be evil with a capital 'E'!'."
"But the De Rosa family is important to me."
Nalzij: "I'm starting to like them, too."
Senephiria: "It's one of the only places someone like me can have a family."
Na'nabi: "As it is to me."
Nalzij: "...Hm. You said all divine beings were embodiments of things besides just sin. What about you?"
Senephiria: "Succubi are embodiments of attachment. Love, lust, attraction, sex, that general line of things."
"You know, when a man and a woman love each other very much... or even two men or two women or any of the more unorthodox combinations, I don't judge!"
Na'nabi steps back for a moment, turning away.
Senephiria: "Hey, Na'nabi."
Na'nabi: "Yes?"
Senephiria: "At some point in the past, your parents had sex. How does that make you feel?"
Na'nabi: "...I'm not fond of thinking about sexual things."
Senephiria: "I'm just teasing."
Nalzij: "What kind of a question is that?"
Senephiria: "(Kind of prudish to supposedly be part succubus...)"
Na'nabi: "I know. I've just had a... really quite horrible experience with sex."
Nalzij glares at Senephilia
Senephiria: "Aww, sorry to hear that."
"I didn't mean to step on any nerves, really."
"Will you forgive me?"
Na'nabi: "Of course."
Senephiria: "If it's any consolation, I'm more the type for emotional love. Romantic and platonic."
"Not, you know, carnal satisfaction."
Na'nabi: "Okay. Then I just have one more question, if you don't mind?"
Senephiria: "Yes?"
Na'nabi: "My mother never once mentioned to me, when she was alive, that we were a noble house, or anything like that. Did my mother separate herself from the rest of the family, or for another reason?"
Senephiria: "I don't know."
"Are you sure your mother was actually Hana de Rosa?"
Na'nabi: "Yes. I've never been more sure in my life. She had lovely white-blonde hair, downwards curled horns, and a smile that could warm any heart."
Senephiria: "Hmm..."
"Still, I need to maintain skepticism. It's nothing against you."
Na'nabi: "It's okay."
Senephiria: "It's not that I distrust you."
"Okay?"
Na'nabi: "Okay."
"And just so you know. I'm not interested in having any prestige, or wealth, or power..."
"I just want to see my family."
Senephiria nods.
Senephiria: "And, knight girl?"
Nalzij: "Yes?"
"My name is Nalzij."
Senephiria: "Nalzij, then. Hi!"
"I hope this all... means you're not as distrustful of me as you once were."
Nalzij: "...Yes. I don't know that I believe you, at least not entirely. But I think I'll give you a chance."
Senephiria: "I'll take any chance I can get."
Nalzij: "If there's a way I can talk to one of the celestials on your side, too... That would help."
Senephiria: "It's hard to live in a world where people think you're a horrible person just because of your race, isn't it?"
Na'nabi grimaces
Na'nabi: "It is..."
Nalzij: "That much, I can agree with."
Senephiria: "Anyways, you guys can't see it, but dawn's kinda breaking. I guess we were up all night."
Na'nabi: "Yeah. I guess we'll see you another time?"
Senephiria: "You should still have one paper with my personal sigil on it."
Nalzij: "Ah. I'd best be off. ...Thanks. Sene."
Senephiria: "You can just kinda write the symbol onto any other paper before putting it in the fire, so you don't have to be limited."
Na'nabi: "Hey, Nalzij, before you go, I want to just ask you something."
Nalzij: "Yes?"
Na'nabi: "Well...something to ask a little more privately."
Senephiria bows before the party, before vanishing into a burst of flame, which quickly turns into mundane smoke.
Na'nabi: "..well, I guess that means that's privacy."
"Well..."
"I don't know if you remember earlier, but Astrid read my thoughts or something, and I was thinking about the paladins, right?"
Nalzij: "Right...?"
Na'nabi: "Well... um... (how to say...)"
"Do you... think someone like me can become a paladin...?"
Nalzij: "All who accept the Star and Shield are welcome."
Na'nabi breathes a sigh of relief
Na'nabi: "Um... then."
"After this war... I'd like to see if I can be a paladin, please."
Nalzij: "I'll support you in any way I can."
Na'nabi: "You would?"
Nalzij: "Just be sure you know what you're agreeing to."
Na'nabi: "It's protecting and serving the people, right?"
Nalzij: "Right. Among other things."
Na'nabi: "...t-then, yeah. I want to be a paladin."
Nalzij: "I'll speak to my father on your behalf. When we have time."
Na'nabi beams.
Na'nabi: "Thank you, now I've got something more to look forward to after tomorrow."
Nalzij: "Good. I'd better go, though. Prayers, and gathering the others, and we'd best be ready when the battle starts."
After spending the night with negotiations with the succubus, the party faces the dawn with new resolution, prepared to face the great battle ahead.