Twilight of the Abyss, Session 9.2

<DM> *You appear in a dark and damp location, with nothing but your guts and the pain of rolling around repeatedly, yet the ability to escape this cramped darkness escapes you.
<Corsava> "Ow."
<Corsava> "Why...just...why"
<DM> *There's been knocking sounds, regrets sounds, the pain of tumbling repeatedly, and you recall hearing some really loud explosion at one point.
<DM> *Like another island exploded.
<Corsava> sighs Well, at least I haven't had to interact with Dex.
<DM> *There was also some mumbling for a while, like some people in your party were trying to diplomacy some stuff, but..... you know how your party is.
<DM> *Suddenly, after some time in silence, there's a knocking sound on the walls of the chest you're stuck in.
<Corsava> "Go away."
<DM> *Or rather, you're not stuck. You can actually see the ability to open the latch from inside. If you so choose....
<Corsava> flips the latch open and peers out
<DM> [???]: Hmm, interesting. Don't think I've heard a chest talk like that before...
<DM> *You look out to see a Twili peering in. He's wearing regal robes, similar to Midna's, a dark mask covering the left side of his head, including an eye that has a remarkable resemblance to Majora's Mask, just without the flashy colors. And he's carrying a pair of curved swords. Specifically... you recognize them as Gerudo Scimitars.
<DM> *His one glossy yellow eye squints at you slightly.
<DM> [???]: ... the smart one of the group, I presume?
<Corsava> moves the lid up and down like a mouth "What? You've not?"(edited)
<DM> *You are 99% positive this is Zant.
<DM> *The other 1% is that it's DM in disguise. Then again, that's true for.... everyone.
<Corsava> "Yes, Zant. I would be the 'smart one' as it were."
<DM> *There's a faint smile across his face.
<Corsava> "Though, I must admit, it's not a particularly grandiose title."
<DM> [Zant]: Hah, grandiose is my master plan. I'm not quite there... yet.
<DM> [Zant]: You must be a bit cramped in there. Care to join me for a cup of tea?
<Corsava> "Ooh, schemes! I love a good scheme over tea."(edited)
<DM> *He draws his sword over the ground, and a dark portal of darkness appears. A moment later, a table with some tea cups planted on it, appears from the portal.
<DM> *The cups...... don't have tea in them.
<DM> [Zant]: Oh, that's not right. There's no tea here..... yes...... tea...... because that's what the QUEEN gets! Not me, who should be the rightful KING!
<Corsava> sighs Ah, succession crises always fall hardest on the noblest of men.
<DM> *He then goes nuts and flails the swords wildly upon the table, turning the cups to mince......cup. Mincecups.
<DM> *The wreckage of the table and the cups falls back into the portal, which then closes up.
<DM> [Zant]: Yes yes, the noblest, that is me! Can you believe it? Your dear party, or whatever they are to you, they thought my plan, just like the rest of the Twili, was incompetent!
<DM> [Zant]: As if they could come up with a better plan to kill the Interlopers! Oh, what's that Queen Midna, 20 years later and you're LOSING to them, kyahahahahah, OH you silly one, you've got the proper weapons to clear them in one fell swoop, and you just waste them!
<Corsava> "I can't say I'm surprised. The collective IQ of that group is only above average because of my presence. Without my voice at the discussion, they must've had the wit of a flea."
<DM> [DM]: Accurate.
<Corsava> "What ought to be done is that light beast should be turned to the interlopers and blessed with madness."
<Corsava> "It would tear them asunder in its glorious rage."
<DM> *His one visible eyebrow lifts upwards in curiosity.
<DM> [Zant]: ... madness?
<DM> [Zant]: ... please. Enlighten me.
<DM> [DM]: PUNS!
<Corsava> reveals my mark "I am...blessed with the capability to deliver the gift of madness upon those I deem to mark."
<DM> [Zant]: Really, now? And... just what does this madness do?
<Corsava> "To those creatures of weak mind and body? Little but drive them to rage. But to a creature of true power, or a being of great will and intellect, it enhances their prowess, and frees them from the limits their physical vessels would have imposed."
<DM> [Zant]: Ah, but the Spirits of Light have already transcended their physical forms. Then... this would ascend them to yet another form of existence, yes?
<Corsava> Perhaps. To a being of such form...it has yet to be tested.
<Corsava> "Though with a single shadowbeast and a mask of...unique qualities, I was able to destroy an island."
<DM> [Zant]: Oooooh....... so THAT'S how that happened!
<DM> *Your blast mask is almost reformed.
<DM> [Zant]: Why, it could even bring them to the level of our lord, the Fierce Deity! All with but a touch of madness! Truly, a work of art!
<Corsava> grins "Imagine the power of a being so heightened, and aimed at the interlopers."
<DM> [Zant]: Hah, it's a natural evolutionary step even upon my plans! I had no idea such a power existed.
<Corsava> "I do so love it when two keen minds come together."
<DM> *DM high-fives you.
<DM> [Zant]: The Spirits of Light have the collective power to destroy a realm. After Midna was elected Queen, she decided to imprison the Spirits of Light. Oh, a natural decision, but why let that power go to waste? Why not use the rest of their lifeforce to cause them to explode once more, only in the realm of the Interlopers themselves?
<DM> [Zant]: And yet, both the Twili and the rest of your group found that plan.... hmm.... "immoral".
<Corsava> "It is a fool's nature to let great power go to waste."
<DM> [Zant]: Yes, yes indeed!
<DM> [Zant]: One's locked up in prison, one's used to power a Sol Fountain, and the other keeps watch on the Twilight Mirror. Not that anyone but myself or Midna knows about the last one, heheheh. Oh, and well... you now, now that you've elevated my master plan, mwahahahah!
<DM> [Zant]: Now, before I work with you to go through with such a plan... I can't quite say I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.
<Corsava> "Of course. Trust is earned, after all."
<DM> *He turns away from you, then draws another portal on the ground.
<DM> [Zant]: Tell me, is there any Twili in particular you like?
<Corsava> "The one that's a double agent."
<DM> [Zant]: A what?
<DM> *He turns to you, genuinely confused.
<Corsava> "I have an asset in the city, keeping watch on the queen and the people, to determine what foolish ends she and my party conspire towards."
<DM> [Zant]: Oh.... interesting.
<DM> *He flashes a smile before you turns back away from you.
<DM> *A moment later, through the portal emerges that zippy go lucky Zuph and his golden armor, though unconscious.
<DM> [Zant]: I must ask... will Madness kill this one?
<Corsava> "Likely not, I don't think."
<DM> [Zant]: Good. Use Madness on this one.
<DM> *Zuph is unconscious and cannot defend this.
<Corsava> "As you wish."
<DM> *Zant stands back a bit, closing the portal.
<Corsava> grits her teeth and laughs through the pain as she delivers Zuph into madness(edited)
<DM> *Your screams echo outwards into the darkness- wait that doesn't make sense.
<DM> *Your screams pierce the abyss of darkness that surrounds you, deafening your own soul.
<DM> *Glowing teal blood erupts from Zuph's skin, some leaking out from under his Golden Armor. His veins start to glow as he awakens, suddenly screaming in complete agony, his neck twisting in unnatural directions.
<DM> *His usual comical demeanor is replaced by one of despair and insanity.<DM> [Zuph]: NO, WHAT IS THIS, MY BLOOD, IT'S LIKE THAT OF THE FURNACE, BUT I DON'T COOK WITH ME, I COOK WITH SCIENCE AND GOO AND MECHNANICAL DOMINATION! GAAAAHHHHHHHH
<DM> *Somehow, he is still retaining enough knowledge to speak of his machinations.
<DM> [Zant]: Hmm, impressive. Surprised he can still speak. Must be something that runs in the family bloodline, since his sister is the strongest Twili warrior.
<Corsava> nods "He's quite resilient. The magic of that armor being a light spirit artifact probably doesn't hurt."
<DM> [Zant]: Yes, though I imagine if he didn't have it... he'd probably be a bit dead.
<DM> *He stops screaming, then the glowing veins start to pulse in an erratic behavior. His body starts to convulse inwards, then outwards, before returning to normal.
<DM> *He falls back over, unconscious.
<Corsava> watches him collapse and then starts to work the armor off of him
<Corsava> "He's not a friend of yours, is he?"
<DM> [Zant]: Hmm... he's somewhat of a friend, though not that greatest. I'd actually very much like his armor, if you don't mind.
<DM> *Glowing veins continue to pulse through Zuph like permanent scars.
<Corsava> "Alright, you did catch him after all."
<DM> [Zant]: Yes. Though,in exchange... this is something that usurps my own plans, so...
<DM> [Zant]: How about I get the teleporty armor... and you...
<DM> [Zant]: Are you familiar with the Broken Bow?
<Corsava> "I am."
<DM> *As a Gerudo, you know it was used 20 years by the Gerudo Warrior of Light prior to going in and nuking the Twilight Realm.
<Corsava> "It's an ancient Gerudo weapon, is it not?"
<DM> [Zant]: Why yes. Yes it is.
<DM> [Zant]: Well, not that I'm too familiar with the Gerudo, asides from that one spirit that Midna has locked up...
<Corsava> "An artisan of my people gifted it with deadly accuracy and...also deadly everything else."
<DM> [Zant]: Oh, I'd say it has very deadly accuracy.
<DM> *He suddenly takes both of his Scimitars, then combines both of them at their hilts. A golden flare wraps around the scimitars, adorning the blades with jewels and wrapping the combined hilts with a extravagant handle of elegance in its simplicity.
<DM> *He keeps his left hand on the handle, then pulls his right hand back, materializing a golden arrow out of thin air. As he pulls back further, a magical string appears, connecting the tips of the blades. As the string is pulled back further, the air around the bow seems to shake and warp inwards towards it.
<DM> [Zant]: I imagine you can tell now why it's called the Broken Bow.
<Corsava> "Yes...the name is sheer elegance in it's simplicity. Disguised as scimitars, it's true utility is virtually unrecognizable."
<DM> [DM]: Cause it's Broken and OP as **
<DM> *He aims at the masses of small islands to the south, where you can hear the screams and cries of Shadow Beasts and whatever else is there.
<DM> *He releases the arrow, and it seems to just disappear, as if the arrow fizzled out.
<DM> [Zant]: Wait for it...
<DM> *A few moments later, in the far distance, you see an explosion of golden light, later followed by a deep booming noise.
<DM> [Zant]: As fun as this weapon is, I think I'd like the Golden Armor far more... valuable, for my tastes.
<Corsava> "Of course. It's a deal."
<DM> [Zant]: Plus, I have other weapons.
<DM> [Zant]: If you would step away from the Zuph, please...
<Corsava> takes a few steps back
<DM> *He walks towards Zuph,  divides the bow in half, immediately breaking its golden demeanor, and drops the swords to the ground.
<Corsava> picks up the swords and links them together so I can see the bow's stats
<DM> *He then draws his hand towards Zuph, and a moment later, his Golden Armor disappears.
<DM> *Bow's stats: ???
<DM> *The game is still comprehending its potential power.
<DM> *From underneath Zant's regal robes, you can now see a hint of a golden shine.
<DM> *He then uses his finger to draw a circle in the air. You notice, this time when he does, his half of a mask seems to pulse slightly. A dark portal appears, then draws Zuph away, sealing him into an abyss of potential eternity.
<DM> [Zant]: Far thee well, my dear Zuph. I'll see you again once I'm the King.
<Corsava> breaks the bow apart and sets the swords at my sides
<DM> [Zant]: Hmm, it's true. I really can't use this armor's teleportation effects down here. Seems teleportation without the power of darkness just doesn't work down here...
<DM> [Zant]: If you'd like, I can place a disguise on the blades, to keep their true powers hidden from your idiotic partymates.
<DM> [Zant]: A bit of a seal, actually. You just scrape the blades together, once each from the tip across the flat on both blades, and it'll remove the seal.
<Corsava> "That would likely be for the best."
<DM> [Zant]: Ah, that it would. Though... I would like to know just one thing first...
<DM> [Zant]: I asked the rest of your foolish team, and they gave me a... rather vague answer.
<Corsava> sighs 26 B.
<DM> [Zant]: Listening to the Interloper chatter, a name has come up multiple times. Do you happen to know who Bloodwind is?
<Corsava> "Yes. What do you wish to know in particular?"
<DM> [Zant]: Ahh, so you do know him. Well... I guess I'd like to know what relation he has to the Twilight Realm. I assume he's not native to this realm, much like you all.
<Corsava> "No, he's not. He's from our realm. He seeks relics of immense power to aid him in- I don't actually know what his goal is, though I know he's no particular interest in the Twili themselves."
<DM> (Bloodwind - https://zurpg.sephiroth.ws/thread-1135.html
<DM> [Zant]: Ah, fascinating. Do you happen to know where I could find this Bloodwind?
<DM> [Zant]: It would help to have another... ally. Surely, with the artifacts I've collected, he would surely assist in this plan, yes?
<Corsava> "Yes."
<Corsava> "He's in the Twili Palace"(edited)
<DM> [Zant]: What? He's... in the Twilight Palace? But... how?
<DM> [Zant]: I mean, it would explain why I could never find him, but.... to be inside there means you have the trust of the Twili.
<DM> [Zant]: There is, unfortunately, no other way.
<Corsava> taps her nose "Subterfuge and disguise allow him to operate literally in front of them, and they suspect nothing."
<DM> [Zant]: You don't mean he's actually getting away with using an illusion? That's impossible, the Sols would remove it.
<Corsava> "Could you create for me a portal to the library, by chance?"
<DM> [Zant]: Believe me, I tried.
<DM> [Zant]: Hm? Uhh.. hmm.
<DM> [Zant]: I'm afraid not. The only place I can access directly is the prison, and... I already sent your idiot party there, along with a few... minions.
<DM> [Zant]: Well, all except the small one. I sent that one elsewhere.
<Corsava> "I see."
<DM> [Zant]: I can, however, drop you outside the palace.
<DM> [Zant]: Surely they trust you enough?
<Corsava> "I should hope so."
<Corsava> "Though, I imagine returning without the crystals we were sent to get might put a damper on our relationship."
<DM> [Zant]: Oh yes, that. Hmm... I'll have Zuph harvest more for me. Fine, I'll give you the crystals he harvested.
<DM> *He portals up the crystals.
<DM> [Zant]: Very well. I'll meet with you in the Twilight Palace later, now that I've got an actual way in myself...
<Corsava> "Good. I'll likely be in the library."
<DM> [Zant]: Very well. I'll be personally visiting with Midna first. Well, if your party is competent enough. If not, then yes, the library shall do quite nicely.
<Corsava> "Oh, if that's the criteria, you'll be with me at the library. Sorry."
<DM> [Zant]: Well played.
<DM> [Zant]: Alright, I trust you enough, I don't need to go fish for another Twilightrobe to send with you. And those two with the party, well... heheheh, all those Sol orbs will make them virtually invulnerable. Their incompetence shall be their undoing.
<Corsava> smirks "I'll see about getting you an audiance with Bloodwind, Zant."
<Corsava> pauses "Oh those poor idiots."
<DM> [Zant]: Indeed. Actually, in that case...
<DM> *He flicks a tiny stone towards you.
<Corsava> catches it?
<DM> [Zant]: I gave the party one of those. I was going to use it to teleport straight to Midna with that, but if that doesn't happen soon enough... I'll just go along with you.
<Corsava> nods Thank you kindly.
<DM> *He makes a circle with his hand. A portal of darkness appears below you, and you start to descend. He waves at you, smiling.
<DM> [Zant]: A pleasure doing business with you.
<Corsava> gives a flirtatious wink as I fall through
<DM> *You fall into an abyss of darkness, and right as you're about to land in front of the Twilight Palace, you're stopped by a mysterious force.
<DM> -=LOADING=-
<DM> -=LOADING=-
<DM> -=SESSION END=-