Alex jumps into Faerzen's treehouse

lexander_Pyrite> I try to roll over
<aberrantArtificer> You roll over
<Alexander_Pyrite> And feel if my legs are still there
<aberrantArtificer> Everything hurts
<aberrantArtificer> Your legs feel like they shouldn't be there, but they're still attached
<Alexander_Pyrite> I try to sit up
<aberrantArtificer> Make a Constitution check
<Alexander_Pyrite> 11+5 again
<aberrantArtificer> You sit up, seeing around what looks like a rather crude wooden room.
<aberrantArtificer> However, only for a moment.
<aberrantArtificer> After a second the whole room starts spinning.
<aberrantArtificer> Your head really hurts.
<aberrantArtificer> You hear a tapping noise coming from what you think is somewhere below you.
<Alexander_Pyrite> I fall back down on my back and listen
<Alexander_Pyrite> Just gonna try to not be dead for now
<aberrantArtificer> You fall back onto the ground with a thud.
<aberrantArtificer> Everything spins less.
<aberrantArtificer> The tapping noise grows louder and louder, and somewhere on the other side of the room, you hear a creaking noise followed by a gentle metallic thud.
<aberrantArtificer> "Holy Jurgen Fuck"
<aberrantArtificer> There is a bunch of scrambling and frantic sounding noises.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Juergen fuck..." I say breathlessly
<aberrantArtificer> There is a bunch of rustling nearby and you see some white feathers flit in and out of your peripheral vision.
<aberrantArtificer> Soon something tugs at the rope at your waist and its tension abruptly disappears.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Arugh"
<aberrantArtificer> The room begins spinning a little less, and you see what looks like rough wooden rafters above you. Bright light streams in from somwhere off to the side, and there is a large hole in the roof directly above you.
<aberrantArtificer> You feel your shirt being torn at, and a warm trickling feeling on your waist.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yo who's... Doin that"
<aberrantArtificer> "Holy Fucking Hell, Alex. Stay with me. Are you okay?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> I look up out at the sky
<aberrantArtificer> A searing cold sensation spreads across your torso.
<aberrantArtificer> "It's Faerzen."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Aarg!"
<aberrantArtificer> "Do not worry."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I try to sit up again
<aberrantArtificer> "This may hurt for a moment, but I assure you it is in your best interest that I continue."
<aberrantArtificer> You start sitting up again, another flash of pain running up your torso. A small hand presses on your chest.
<aberrantArtificer> "Both myself and you would greatly appreciate your not overexerting yourself. Exercise caution, Alex."
<aberrantArtificer> You see Faerzen crouched on the ground by your knees with several bundles and containers on the ground next to him.
<Alexander_Pyrite> I decide against arguing with the doc
<aberrantArtificer> It looks like you're in a wooden room of some sort. The bright orange-yellow sky shines through the hole in the roof and the window.
<Alexander_Pyrite> I close my eyes, I'll figure his out after surgery
<aberrantArtificer> As you close your eyes, Faerzen pulls out syringe with a needle on the end that is far too large.
<aberrantArtificer> You see an enormous bruise blooming across your torso with a fair amount of blood.
<aberrantArtificer> It doesn't look as bad as it feels though.
<aberrantArtificer> You shut your eyes.
<aberrantArtificer> You feel a faint pricking sensation on your side and the pain around your waist begins to subside.
<aberrantArtificer> With your eyes shut, you're better able to gather your thoughts and calm down a bit.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Hoo yah..."
<aberrantArtificer> "How does it feel?"
<aberrantArtificer> "I dare say it looks incredibly painful."
<aberrantArtificer> You feel occasional spots of gentle pressure, kneading the area around your waist and chest. It feels surprisingly nice.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I don't knooow anymore it feels wonderful now..."
<aberrantArtificer> "Uhhhhhhh..... Excellent... I suppose."
<aberrantArtificer> You hear Faerzen make an audible swallow.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "That was weird doc swallowin like that"
<aberrantArtificer> The hands continue rubbing and kneading for a short while before disappearing.
<aberrantArtificer> "Ah."
<aberrantArtificer> "It is of no concern. I was simply.... a tad caught off guard; you need not worry."
<aberrantArtificer> You hear what sounds like a bottle or a cap or something popping open.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Will don't"
<aberrantArtificer> "Pleased to hea--"
<aberrantArtificer> "Jurgen Fuck!"
<aberrantArtificer> You hear something clatter to the ground and some quick shuffling and a dull thud.
<aberrantArtificer> Feeling relaxed, you are pulled a bit back to reality from the medical massage by a strange warm tingling feeling around your waist.
<aberrantArtificer> You suddenly feel much better.
<aberrantArtificer> "What in Jurgen fuck are you doing at the present, Alex?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "How do I not be the present?"
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen sighs.
<aberrantArtificer> "No."
<aberrantArtificer> "Look."
<aberrantArtificer> "Immediately."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Immediately what?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "What am I looking st?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Open your eyes."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I open my eyes and look around the room
<aberrantArtificer> You see Faerzen back up against the wall pointing at your chest with a rather surprised look on his face.
<Alexander_Pyrite> I look down at my chest
<aberrantArtificer> The remainder of the room seems pretty much the same as before. Now that you are feeling better, you can see some rather simple furnishings around the room and an open trapdoor in the corner in the wooden floor.
<aberrantArtificer> Where you once saw bruises and blood, you see your torso. As usual.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Hey nice job doc"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Where's the rock go?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Woah and what was the green light???"
<aberrantArtificer> Some of your abdominal muscles are rippling involuntarily, and more of the dark green light the same color as your text swirls around before dissapating.
<aberrantArtificer> "That was not me."
<aberrantArtificer> "I stopped the bleeding, eased the pain, and worked in some healing salve."
<aberrantArtificer> "There is absolutely no way that any of my ministrations completely healed your injuries in a matter of minutes."
<aberrantArtificer> "What exactly was it that you just did there?"
<aberrantArtificer> "That light, despite it likely being appropriate, was none of my doing."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Shit... No fuckinf idea"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Might have been weird death guy? But I thought he was bullshitting"
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen raises an eyebrow
<aberrantArtificer> "Would you mind elaborating slightly on that point?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "There was this guy with a name that sounded like a bad game dev naming a main boss"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Anake or some shut"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "He killed Lyra and then I revived her and have me a wish"
<Alexander_Pyrite> Gave
<Alexander_Pyrite> "so I picked be able to fight any enemy"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Is a cliff an enemy though?"
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen shrugs
<aberrantArtificer> "You have much more information on what just occurred than I do, I must say."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Nah that's p much all the information"
<aberrantArtificer> "What did it.... feel like?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Other than that I just threw a rock really hard and Juan disappeared"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Like my arm was gonna pop"
<aberrantArtificer> "You threw a rock? From all the way down beneath the darkness?"
<aberrantArtificer> "That is quite an immense distance."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeah that's what I though"
<aberrantArtificer> "I would not have thought such a feat of strength was even remotely physically possible!"
<aberrantArtificer> "Not to mention that apparently you also applied enough momentum to the stone to be sufficient so as to carry you along with it!"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeah but damn this swirly green light shit works wonders"
<Alexander_Pyrite> I point to my abs
<Alexander_Pyrite> I start doing sit ups
<aberrantArtificer> "I cannot say I disagree with you in that regard. I was entirely expecting the pain and bleeding to subside quite rapidly as such is to be expected with the given medical supplies, but as far as I am aware, such rapid healing on the epidermis and inner membranes in unprecedented."
<aberrantArtificer> You do sit ups with ease.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Sick so I'm like Deadpool"
<aberrantArtificer> "Perhaps?"
<aberrantArtificer> "I cannot say."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I don't really want to try it out tbh"
<aberrantArtificer> "A wise decision, I must say."
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen pulls off the black feathered mask on his face, and crawls slowly towards you, extending his hand towards your torso.
<aberrantArtificer> "Do you mind? I am curious."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Feel me up, have at it"
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen makes a :| expression before crawling the rest of the way to you and tucking his gold-trimmed wings out of the way behind his back.
<aberrantArtificer> He carefully places his hand on your abdomen, kneading around like he was before inspecting your waist.
<aberrantArtificer> ".....Incredible...."
<aberrantArtificer> "....Absolutely incredible...."
<aberrantArtificer> He pinches you.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "damn bro like what you see that much" 0.o
<aberrantArtificer> He gives you a glare.
<aberrantArtificer> "Were you able to feel that?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Did it cause at least a little bit of pain?"
<aberrantArtificer> He withdraws his hand and sits back on the ground next to you.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeah I felt it"
<aberrantArtificer> "Well then."
<aberrantArtificer> "I dare say you have just won the title of most incredible medical recovery."
<aberrantArtificer> "Your muscles are clearly functional, there does not seem to be any structural abnormalities in your skin tissues, and even your more complex nervous receptors are functioning."
<aberrantArtificer> "Complete nervous repair can often be challening."
<aberrantArtificer> "Incredible, indeed."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "So I'm fine?"
<aberrantArtificer> "From what I can tell."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I see."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I bite my thumb and draw a bit of blood, naruto style
<aberrantArtificer> "That is up to you to ascertain for yourself. I cannot probe the functioning of your inner tissues, though given you were able to perform sitting exercises with ease, I would say it is probable."
<aberrantArtificer> You do so.
<aberrantArtificer> A drop of blood quickly beads at the spot on your thumb and it trickles down the side.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Good I don't want to not be fine."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I suck the blood off so I can see the cut
<aberrantArtificer> You see a small cut a couple millimeters long on your thumb where your tooth punctured the skin.
<aberrantArtificer> A little blood continues to bead at the cut again.
<Alexander_Pyrite> I wipe it off and stare at the cut intensely
<aberrantArtificer> "I presume you are attempting to investigate if you can trigger such a phenomena again with the green light?"
<aberrantArtificer> Make a Wisdom check and an Intelligence check.
<Alexander_Pyrite> 12 and 10
<Alexander_Pyrite> "You fuckin know it "
<aberrantArtificer> "I am intrigued to learn if it is voluntarily reproducible."
<aberrantArtificer> You stare intensely at the cut.
<aberrantArtificer> You see the fine details of the ridges of your fingerprint, and some blood slowly trickling down the side of your thumb.
<aberrantArtificer> The cut continues to exist.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Fuck!"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "It's still there"
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen looks a little disappointed.
<aberrantArtificer> "Alas."
<aberrantArtificer> "What were the circumstances of your previous encounters with this unusual phenomenon?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I was irritated with Juan and time I guess"
<aberrantArtificer> "Do you mean to say that you have only had one prior experience with this phenomenon?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Uh yeah"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Just now"
<aberrantArtificer> "Furthermore, do you mean to say that Juan is here now? I cannot say I have seen him arrive."
<Alexander_Pyrite> ((Lol rolled for int and got a 20))
<aberrantArtificer> ((lol))
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Actually maybe when I jumped up a cliff it happened then? That was a while ago though."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Juan disappeared using a pocket watch"
<aberrantArtificer> "Ah. I see."
<aberrantArtificer> "That is good to hear."
<aberrantArtificer> "You say he was irritating?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Just vague and shit about time travel"
<aberrantArtificer> "I see."
<aberrantArtificer> "I cannot say I find that surprising, given the topic of temporal mechanics."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeah fuck time travel!"
<aberrantArtificer> "The effects of temporal mechanics on this timeline can easily be widespread and incredibly intricate and complex."
<aberrantArtificer> "To some extent, I have resigned myself to never entirely understanding that aspect of our existence."
<aberrantArtificer> "I suppose that is why he is our Time player and I am not."
<aberrantArtificer> "For all of its sadistic and violent streaks, this game truly does show an fantastic degree of craftsmanship and insight."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeah sure."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "So faerzen where are we?"
<aberrantArtificer> "The treehouse in residing in my backyard."
<aberrantArtificer> "I dare say you have added some 'remodeling' efforts of your own."
<aberrantArtificer> He smirks.
<aberrantArtificer> "I am quite pleased to see you were able to escape that realm of darkness below."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh yah sorry about that."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Thanks"
<aberrantArtificer> "I have been working on some projects relating to the aforementioned darkness, and I am quite certain prolongued exposure to it is quite unsafe."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Shit" I wipe off my body
<aberrantArtificer> "You should be quite fine now."
<aberrantArtificer> "It is not a corporeal substance."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "What is it exactly then"
<aberrantArtificer> "It is capable of seeping through every material I have studied."
<aberrantArtificer> "It simultaneously has mass, temperature, and interacts with light, but also seems to be entirely nothing at all."
<aberrantArtificer> "It defies all conventional understanding."
<aberrantArtificer> "It spreads with nearly nothing capable of stopping its advances, overtaking everything in its path."
<aberrantArtificer> "Everything below the darkness there? That used to be a thriving civilization."
<aberrantArtificer> "No more."
<aberrantArtificer> "It seems it has also been interfering with my communications to some degree."
<aberrantArtificer> "A fact that Lyra has been quick to pin on me as an intentional act of antagonism against her, I might add."
<aberrantArtificer> "I have decided that it is likely not worth my energy to attempt to convince her otherwise as she is refusing to believe anything I say at the present."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh"
<aberrantArtificer> "Anyways."
<aberrantArtificer> "Discussing Lyra's disagreeable attitude towards me does not seem terribly constructive at the present, and you need not get yourself dragged into this."
<aberrantArtificer> "Why were you below the darkness to begin with?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Woah wait no"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "You're my friend and Lyra is also that"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Or more"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "So you guys should try to make up!"
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen sighs.
<aberrantArtificer> "Yes, that much is obvious."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Come on we're meeting up lets go!"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I'll tell you stuff on the way"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "But it's mostly boring"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh shit, I forgot"
<aberrantArtificer> "I have attempted to do so on multiple occasions, but Lyra has decided my actions thus far have not been excusable."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I take out milf faerzen
<aberrantArtificer> "Perhaps rightly so."
<aberrantArtificer> "In fact, I am currently in the middle of conversing with her right n--"
<aberrantArtificer> "FUCK!"
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen jumps back in surprise.
<aberrantArtificer> An expression somewhere between great sorrow and disgust immediately covers his face.
<aberrantArtificer> "Why the FUCK did you bring her up here!!!"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "What who is this"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Sorry I just found a corpse so I brought it should I have not"
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen quickly turns around to grab some towels to place under her body to contain the bit of blood.
<aberrantArtificer> "You had no idea, and from your perspective, finding such a corpse would certainly be worth informing me of."
<aberrantArtificer> "There is nothing wrong with your decision to bring her here."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Well shortly after I almost got hit by rocks"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "But uh..."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Tbh that would probably have been smart"
<aberrantArtificer> "I am in fact already quite aware of her existence."
<aberrantArtificer> He points to her chest wounds.
<aberrantArtificer> "In case you had not guessed, she is in fact me."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeah and I was gonna ask"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "How"
<aberrantArtificer> "You may be perplexed by the age differential between her and I."
<aberrantArtificer> "In fact, she died in my arms."
<aberrantArtificer> "I would prefer to not relive the experience more than is necessary to relate this information to you, if you do not mind."
<aberrantArtificer> "It was not even remotely a pleasant experience to endure."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh"
<aberrantArtificer> "I presume you remember the alternative version of Nickolai who has been traversing this timeline?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh I'm sorry"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeah I do"
<aberrantArtificer> "This version of me is the me from that timeline."
<aberrantArtificer> "With the exception of perhaps Juan, I am aware of that version of Nickolai having murdered every single one of us in that timeline."
<aberrantArtificer> "As it turns out, his choice method of dispatching me after a very lengthy duel was to torture, assault, then fatally wound this version of myself before taking her directly to me and abandoning her to die in my arms."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Right I sort of remember that being a thing but not that second thing"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "That's very unfortunate"
<aberrantArtificer> "I understand that I have perhaps been too harsh and quick to action to relatiate against that version of Nickolai."
<aberrantArtificer> "But given this context, I hope you can understand why."
<aberrantArtificer> "Also why I took such aggressive actions to contain our Nickolai lest he turn down the same road."
<aberrantArtificer> "Thankfully it seems that is no longer an issue."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "What is Nick up to these days"
<aberrantArtificer> "He is on his own land."
<aberrantArtificer> "We parted ways not too long ago. He said he had some things he wanted to do back at his home."
<aberrantArtificer> "I conversed with him recently, and he is doing well, though he is quite tired and wishes not to be disturbed."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Got it will dont"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Anyway should we do something about uh"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "You"
<aberrantArtificer> He raises an eyebrow.
<aberrantArtificer> "You mean this version of me?"
<aberrantArtificer> He points at the corpse.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeees."
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen sits in silence for a moment thinking.
<aberrantArtificer> "Taking her inside my house seems quite unwise at the present."
<aberrantArtificer> "I have an alternative, however."
<aberrantArtificer> "This is..... important to me."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Ok"
<aberrantArtificer> "I cannot say for certain precisely how.... but she is me."
<aberrantArtificer> "It does not seem right to take this situation so lightly."
<aberrantArtificer> "Especially because I was the last living being she interacted with before she passed."
<aberrantArtificer> "Yet, we do not have time at the present to address what may likely be a long and involved resolution to this."
<aberrantArtificer> "Here, follow me."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I stand and prepare to follow
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen stands up, stretching his wings out widely behind him, before walking past the open trapdoor in the floor and towards the window.
<aberrantArtificer> He makes a run at the opening in the wooden wall and deftly dives through it, pulling his wings in tightly behind him.
<Alexander_Pyrite> I look out the window
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Shit"
<aberrantArtificer> You see Faerzen gliding down towards the ground, approaching a massive glowing castle in his backyard.
<Alexander_Pyrite> I hop out and follow
<aberrantArtificer> You hop out the window and land heavily on the grassy ground below.
<aberrantArtificer> You're in Faerzen's backyard on top of the rocky spire with his house.
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen makes his way into an enormous glowing green castle that seems to be made out of sort of spectral blocks. It's *very* blocky looking.
<Alexander_Pyrite> I check out his house and then head to the castle
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen house looks rather modular, made mostly of white material and glass.
<aberrantArtificer> There are a couple of modules on the first floor with a lot of windows, and a small tower of modules near the back of the house that add small second and third stories.
<aberrantArtificer> One of the only two modules on the third floor is jutting out over nothing and kind of sags down precariously, somewhat slanted.
<aberrantArtificer> You approach the castle.
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen is standing inside the courtyard just inside the gate, waiting for you.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Nice place."
<aberrantArtificer> The whole thing seems to be made of cubes about a meter on a side.
<aberrantArtificer> Your feet sort of sink slightly into the cubes as you walk on them and they don't seem entirely solid.
<aberrantArtificer> They have texture, but seem to all be made of the same sort of glowy light green color.
<aberrantArtificer> "Indeed."
<aberrantArtificer> "My sprite constructed it one time when he was bored."
<aberrantArtificer> He points off to the horizon at an enormous statue of himself that is equally blocky looking.
<aberrantArtificer> "It seems to be a habit of his."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "That's kind of weird bro, mine just floats around"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Occasionally provides light or potatoes."
<aberrantArtificer> "I cannot say I entirely appreciate that most recent statue construction project, but I what am I supposed to do with a 50 story tall gift statue?"
<aberrantArtificer> "So there it remains."
<aberrantArtificer> "Yes, GCS certainly has his quirks."
<aberrantArtificer> "Though he is certainly personable enough and is quite polite."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Cool, it's interesting at least."
<aberrantArtificer> As Faerzen talks, a couple of black creatures wearing a tattered set of rags come out of inside the inner castle. They have skulls for heads and sharp claws.
<aberrantArtificer> http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/mspaintadventures/images/2/28/01763.gif/revision/latest?cb=20100426060330
<aberrantArtificer> "Indeed."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yo there's some... Stuff over there
<Alexander_Pyrite> "
<aberrantArtificer> "It certainly seems he has been quite a great deal more helpful than most others' sprites."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "skull dudes"
<aberrantArtificer> "Hmm?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Oh!"
<aberrantArtificer> He quickly puts his arm out between you and them.
<aberrantArtificer> "Do not hurt them!"
<aberrantArtificer> "They may seem to be monsters, but I assure you they have positive intentions."
<aberrantArtificer> "They have been quite a help to me in the past and I have permitted them to reside here in this castle outside of the darkness below."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I give him a caliborn state.
<Alexander_Pyrite> Stare
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Ok then."
<aberrantArtificer> He lowers his arm.
<aberrantArtificer> "Thank you."
<aberrantArtificer> The two creatures approach, gently floating. One of them holds what looks like a bowl, the other a very large spoon.
<aberrantArtificer> They approach you.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Nice spoon my man"
<aberrantArtificer> The one with the bowl extends the bowl towards you. It seems to be full of some very fragrant herb meat stew.
<aberrantArtificer> "Ah."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Dude that stew smells great"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I've got some veggies if you want them"
<aberrantArtificer> "Thank you very much! The two of you needed not go through that bother; I could have done it myself."
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen looks to you.
<aberrantArtificer> "This is the stew I mentioned to you earlier that Nick and I cooked together."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "What"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I guess you don't want rhe produce then"
<aberrantArtificer> "It contains lamb, but not terribly much in the way of produce."
<aberrantArtificer> "If you would like to add some vegetables of your own, you are more than welcome!"
<aberrantArtificer> "The firepit Nick made is still in the front."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Nice!"
<Alexander_Pyrite> I pull out the bag of vegetables, grab a carrot or two and some potatoes and drop those mofos in
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Alright. Cook those guys well skull guys, faerzen and I have some important business to take care of I think."
<aberrantArtificer> The creatures hands you the bowl and spoon with the vegetables added to the bowl.
<aberrantArtificer> Then they take it back upon hearing your words.
<aberrantArtificer> They look to Faerzen.
<aberrantArtificer> "Ah."
<aberrantArtificer> "The firepit is in the front yard."
<aberrantArtificer> He points them towards the front yard of his house.
<aberrantArtificer> "Thank you very much for showing such hospitality yet again. I appreciate it."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeah thanks dudes"
<aberrantArtificer> They bow slightly to you and Faerzen before exiting the castle with the food.
<aberrantArtificer> "Very well."
<aberrantArtificer> "Shall we continue?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Let's "
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen turns to enter the castle, heading down some very blocky spiral stairs inside the doorway.
<Alexander_Pyrite> I follow
<aberrantArtificer> Despite each stair being over a foot tall, you find them surprisingly easy to go down, almost like you're just gliding down them.
<aberrantArtificer> ((a la minecraft stairs))
<Alexander_Pyrite> "What the fuuuck" I say quietly
<aberrantArtificer> "I presume you are referring to these rather peculiar stairs?"
<aberrantArtificer> "They are simply strange stairs. This is their intended function, according to GCS."
<aberrantArtificer> "I understand not how they function, however."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Great"
<aberrantArtificer> He shrugs before reaching the bottom of the stairs and entering a rather dark crypt-looking room lit with glowing green torches on the wall.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Spooky"
<aberrantArtificer> There are several very blocky stone boxes along the walls of the room.
<aberrantArtificer> http://www.holoweb.net/~liam/pictures/2007-07-02-pisa-cemetary/pages/img_5855/img_5855-1600x1067.jpg
<aberrantArtificer> "What are your thoughts on placing her inside one of these for safe-keeping for the time being until we are at greater liberty to spend more time resolving this?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeah sure."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Sounds good to me."
<aberrantArtificer> "Excellent."
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen decaptchalogues a large flat sheet of wood.
<aberrantArtificer> "Can you place her inside this one then?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh shit"
<Alexander_Pyrite> I sprint back and grab her and come back
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen smirks as you run off.
<Alexander_Pyrite> Captchalogued so I don't run around with a corpse
<Alexander_Pyrite> I head back and put her on the wood
<aberrantArtificer> When you return, he's still standing there with the board.
<aberrantArtificer> "No no, place her inside that stone sarcophagus."
<aberrantArtificer> "I will place this as a sort of cap on top."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh alright"
<Alexander_Pyrite> I put her in the coffin.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Rip"
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen places the board on top and pulls out a very complicated looking brass crossbow covered in wires and tubes.
<aberrantArtificer> He aims it at the board.
<aberrantArtificer> "Hvil i fred, kjære."
<aberrantArtificer> He presses a couple buttons on the side of the crossbow to change the small display to say "Silicon Dioxide" and then fires at the board.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh right it's that crossbow"
<aberrantArtificer> The board immedaitely turns into a glimmering slab of clear quartz, sealing off the inside.
<aberrantArtificer> "There we are."
<aberrantArtificer> "We can return here at a later point in time to find a more long term solution if we so wish."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Sure, where to now?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Is there a place you intend to travel to? Was there a reason you traveled to my land in the first place?"
<aberrantArtificer> "We can check in on your stew, if you so wish."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh actually I came here to grab you and take you to Lyra's land"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "But let's grab the soup on our way
<Alexander_Pyrite> "
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen heads back up the stairs.
<aberrantArtificer> "Why do you intend to take me to Lyra's land?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I'm gonna be real here I do not remember."
<aberrantArtificer> "Excellent."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "But just to make up is a good enough reason."
<aberrantArtificer> "Was she the one that instigated this 'reunion' of sorts? Did she say she wanted to meet up with me in person?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "...yes"
<aberrantArtificer> "Intriguing."
<aberrantArtificer> "We are currently conversing electronically, and it does not seem as though she has any desire to see me in person at the present."
<aberrantArtificer> "She seems quite frustrated with me, actually."
<aberrantArtificer> He pauses in the castle courtyard, looking up intot he sky and enjoying the warm light for a moment.
<aberrantArtificer> "Not that I can blame her."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Well I lied and I'm gonna take you anyway, so"
<aberrantArtificer> "Although I still stand by the fact that what I did at that trial was the best given the information and resources we had at the time, I did essentially entirely ignore her opinion in a trial about herself."
<aberrantArtificer> "I am currently in the middle of several endeavors that I cannot leave at the present."
<aberrantArtificer> "In fact, I was preparing to return to one of them when you arrived, and I still need to do so."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Well what can I do to make those go more quick?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Honestly, nothing that I am aware of."
<aberrantArtificer> "They are complex tasks that I am currently in the middle of and there is little another could do to provide practical assistance at the moment."
<aberrantArtificer> He begins walking again towards the front yard
<aberrantArtificer> "May I ask why it is that you are so insistent on having the two of us reconcile?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I feel like I can't do much but like that would help."
<aberrantArtificer> "Another common friend is currently attempting to facilitate just that, and so far it has not seemed to help."
<aberrantArtificer> "In fact, in some ways, their presence has simply made Lyra more frustrated with me."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Oh"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I guess I'll go find a monster to punch"
<aberrantArtificer> "If you become directly involved with this, Lyra will pseudo-correctly come to the conclusion that your involvement is a direct consequence of my actions and blame me for you becoming entangled in a disagreement that is not yours, straining your relationship with both of us."
<aberrantArtificer> "Lyra is frustrated with my actions, and as a result is holding a sort of grudge against me."
<aberrantArtificer> "Or, at least, so she says."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "God dammit Lyra."
<aberrantArtificer> "She did not agree with almost all of my decisions and actions in the trial, and despite that I followed through in executing them."
<aberrantArtificer> "It was a trial in which her soul hung in the balance, and I overruled the opinion that mattered most."
<aberrantArtificer> Arrives at the fire pit, pointing to the stew on the fire and gesturing to the grass around it.
<aberrantArtificer> "Shall we sit?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeah sure you're on a roll."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I start having some soup
<aberrantArtificer> "Please do eat."
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen pulls out a couple of egg pastries and some fish, munching on the light snack.
<aberrantArtificer> The soup is really fucking delicious.
<aberrantArtificer> Your veggies are a nice touch.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Fuck yes this is good"
<aberrantArtificer> "Nick truly is a fantastic cook."
<aberrantArtificer> "He is the reason for the existence for that fine dish, I can hardly take any credit for it."
<aberrantArtificer> "Anyways, as I was saying previously, I believe she has quite valid reason for being frustrated with me."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I nod, "soup is good"
<aberrantArtificer> "My actions came across to her as a personal desire to exact my own wishes over hers and to effectively take control of the situation."
<aberrantArtificer> "However, I do find it unreasonable her expectations for what she would have liked for me to do otherwise."
<aberrantArtificer> "She supposedly had this 'plan' that she intended to carry out at the trial to address the problems we were facing."
<aberrantArtificer> "However, she refused to tell me a single shred of information about what said 'plan' was and expected me to simply go along with it and trust her."
<aberrantArtificer> "From what I had observed, that 'plan' included causing great disruption in the court and making violent accusations against Abyss, both of which would have certainly gotten her case entirely thrown out of court and her banished indefinitely beyond the Void for contempt to the court."
<aberrantArtificer> "I have verified these with the presiding judge of the trial, and I cannot help but agree that her case would have been thrown out considering when I arrived on the scene she was doing little other than yelling incoherent arguments at anyone who would listen."
<aberrantArtificer> He sighs.
<aberrantArtificer> "I must not get myself carried away here."
<aberrantArtificer> "So this is where I stood, and where you stood once you arrived."
<aberrantArtificer> "Lyra was effectively declaring legal war against an entity--and making threats I might add--with a shaky case given that the entity she was litigating against was a powerful entity."
<aberrantArtificer> "Her current actions would have led to her being banished from the worlds as we know it and her case being thrown out of court, meaning she would have lost any opportunity to press these charges in the future."
<aberrantArtificer> "This was apparently a part of her 'plan', which if it went awry, would have lead to her soul being bound to a powerful entity and potentially also great harm brought to the rest of us."
<aberrantArtificer> "Her argument is that the case only pertained to her and she could do whatever she liked."
<aberrantArtificer> "My argument is that she could not reasonably expect me to be complicit in a plan of which I know nearly nothing about developed by a nearly complete stranger in which many lives are at stake."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Dang."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "That's intense."
<aberrantArtificer> "I completely agree that I disrespectfully overruled her opinion."
<aberrantArtificer> "She vehemently opposed my plan and provided several valid reasons for doing so."
<aberrantArtificer> "However, she did not provide any information on her so-called 'plan' which could have easily been 'just wing it' for all I know."
<aberrantArtificer> "Instead, I discussed this matter with every single member of our team."
<aberrantArtificer> "Do you remember how I discussed this with you?"
<aberrantArtificer> "I also brought the matter up with everyone else as well, providing them with as objective a description of what was occurring as was reasonable."
<aberrantArtificer> "Every single one of them, including yourself, supported the measures and actions I proposed."
<aberrantArtificer> "Even then though, it is not infallible to justify overruling the most important opinion on our team simply because all others disagree with that one person."
<aberrantArtificer> "Particularly when that one person is the one whose soul is on the line."
<aberrantArtificer> "What I did was rude and disrespectful."
<aberrantArtificer> "However, given the circumstances, I do not see what other reasonable choice I had."
<aberrantArtificer> "I did not what I wanted to do, but what I felt had to be done."
<aberrantArtificer> "It is my belief that I am certainly not in the right in this disagreement. However, I do not believe Lyra is either."
<aberrantArtificer> "We both have, in my belief, valid reasons for choosing what we did and for being frustrated with the other."
<aberrantArtificer> "From what I have gathered however, Lyra is not satisfied with this and still believes that what she did and expected was entirely reasonable."
<aberrantArtificer> "Perhaps I am jumping to conclusions there."
<aberrantArtificer> "At the very least, it is clear that she does not seem to have accepted my apology."
<aberrantArtificer> "She continues to be antagonistic towards me when it is clear she relates amicably with plenty of other people."
<aberrantArtificer> "I do not wish to drag you into this. I have already said this multiple times."
<aberrantArtificer> "If you bring yourself into it of your own accord, Lyra may say that you only did so because of what I said, and how did you possibly have any other option without seeming like a poor friend."
<aberrantArtificer> "I want to make clear that I do not wish you to involve yourself in this because of what I have said."
<aberrantArtificer> "I certainly will think no less of you because of that."
<aberrantArtificer> "It is complex at times, and I sincerely wish none of this was even an issue to begin with."
<aberrantArtificer> "Do you have any thoughts?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> I exhale
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Just that this is probably too deep for me"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I'm gonna take your advice and try to stay out I guess :|"
<aberrantArtificer> "That would seem to be for the best."
<aberrantArtificer> "You and Lyra have, from what I can tell, a close relationship, and I want to play no part in forming a wedge between you to cause division."
<aberrantArtificer> "Unity and cooperation is something we need as a team."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Yeah but shit you're part of that team and I hate to see you have such a shit relationship with another member"
<aberrantArtificer> "Yes, I agree it is quite unfortunate indeed."
<aberrantArtificer> "I want to say that I have tried to repair this and that Lyra is the reason we have not reconciled, but placing the blame on her for this is both unfair and likely untrue, and is also yet another manifestation of some of the tendencies which led to this scenario in the first place."
<aberrantArtificer> "I believe all there is at the present is to continue talking with her and to wait and hope we can reach some sort of amends."
<aberrantArtificer> "It would certainly make life smoother."
<aberrantArtificer> "We shall see."
<aberrantArtificer> "I need not burden you with my emotional troubles further than I already have."
<aberrantArtificer> "How have you been?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Aside from the irritating temporal shenanigans, that is."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Pretty ok"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Other than insanity and falling down a cliff"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Got a girlfriend"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "That's cool"
<aberrantArtificer> "Indeed!"
<aberrantArtificer> "Congratulations."
<aberrantArtificer> "I am happy for you."
<aberrantArtificer> "Given that you are not currently with her, that would imply that you and Lyra parted ways sometime in the recent past. What have you been doing in the meantime?"
<aberrantArtificer> "Any intriguing adventures?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Other than my meeting with Juan in the darkness and meeting your corpse, no"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I've been trying to get back up here for a while"
<aberrantArtificer> "I apologize for that, that you had to see her dead body."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "It's fine? I've seen enough dead recently."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I sigh
<Alexander_Pyrite> "This fucking game man"
<aberrantArtificer> "As true as that statement is, it is unfortunate nonetheless."
<aberrantArtificer> "This game indeed."
<aberrantArtificer> "I believe we are nearing its conclusion."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Shit why?"
<aberrantArtificer> "It is my impression that Lyra has a key component of that conclusion in her possession right now."
<aberrantArtificer> "Has she mentioned frogs to you at all?"
<aberrantArtificer> "The 'goal
<aberrantArtificer> "The 'goal', depending on your point of view, is to create a new universe."
<aberrantArtificer> "It is my impression that Lyra currently has that in her possession, in the form of a frog."
<aberrantArtificer> "Do not ask me why that universe has taken the form of a frog, for I do not know."
<aberrantArtificer> "She has threatened on multiple occassions to kill the aforementioned frog in retaliation against this game or some other reason."
<aberrantArtificer> "She has her reasons."
<aberrantArtificer> "I do not know what she currently intends to do."
<aberrantArtificer> "My research has led me to believe that if the frog is killed we will be trapped here."
<aberrantArtificer> "Do you remember when I asked you about the net experience of humanity and whether or not it would be better to just not have a new world rather than having a world that had to endure life and then destruction via this game?"
<aberrantArtificer> "This is the reason."
<aberrantArtificer> "We can never really truly escape this game. If we do go forth with creating the new world and not killing it, it seems highly probable that that world will be subject to this game as well."
<aberrantArtificer> "It is complex, and if Lyra chooses to bring it up with you then you are free to discuss the matter with her."
<aberrantArtificer> "As I was saying though, I cannot say for sure what the future holds in store, but given that this universe now exists in the form of a frog in Lyra's possession, the end seems likely to occur soon."
<aberrantArtificer> "We shall see."
<aberrantArtificer> "In the end, it is Lyra's decision what to do, and I think it is fine that way."
<aberrantArtificer> "After all that has happened to her, she deserves to have some sort of input into her future."
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen finishes off the fish and pastries.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Shit."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Is it really such a great idea to leave our fate in her hands right now? She doesn't exactly seem 100% stable"
<aberrantArtificer> "I don't know, is it?"
<aberrantArtificer> "I have my own opinions on this matter."
<aberrantArtificer> "However, you need to develop your own."
<aberrantArtificer> "She is your girlfriend, after all."
<aberrantArtificer> "I am not going to push my thoughts and inferences on this matter onto someone else."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I guess"
<aberrantArtificer> "It is up to you to decide what you wish to do."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I will try to make a good decision"
<aberrantArtificer> "I am sure you will."
<aberrantArtificer> "Try to look at things objectively, and try to see all sides of what is at play here, not just what I tell you or what Lyra tells you."
<aberrantArtificer> "Go with your gut."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I run my hand through my hair
<aberrantArtificer> "You are a genuine person who cares about others, Alex. I know you will do what you think is best."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Thinking damn..."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Thank you."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Ill try my damndest"
<aberrantArtificer> "No, thank *you*."
<aberrantArtificer> "I appreciate your consistent encouragment and desire to help."
<aberrantArtificer> "There we are. Alex trying his damndest."
<aberrantArtificer> "The world best watch out."
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen cracks a smile.
<Alexander_Pyrite>  I smile too
<Alexander_Pyrite> I reach for a fist bump and stand up
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen returns the fist bump.
<aberrantArtificer> "I am afraid I must return to my work here shortly."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I need to go talk to my girlfriend anyway."
<aberrantArtificer> "Is there anything else you wish to discuss before we part ways then if you must also depart?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Nah."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Just let's keep in touch more."
<aberrantArtificer> "Agreed."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Ok, I'm gonna head out."
<aberrantArtificer> "Is there anything I can do to help you?"
<aberrantArtificer> "I should reciprocate your generous offers."
<aberrantArtificer> "Are you in need of any gear or any temporally related problem-solving?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "You've done enough man"
<aberrantArtificer> "Were you able to resolve everything with Juan earlier?"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I appreciate not being dead."
<aberrantArtificer> "Indeed, not being dead is quite nice."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Not totally, but apparently time will fix everything up"
<Alexander_Pyrite> "That's how it works"
<aberrantArtificer> "Yes, I suppose."
<aberrantArtificer> "I would stay in communication with him to ensure that."
<aberrantArtificer> "He is supposed to be the expert on all of this and he can take care of tying up loose ends."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "...ok"
<aberrantArtificer> "From what I have gathered, paradoxes are quite serious business."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "I'll send him a message"
<aberrantArtificer> "Excellent."
<aberrantArtificer> "Please feel free to relax here for some time if you so desire."
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Thanks faerzen, I'll take you up on that offer soon."
<Alexander_Pyrite> I grab the code for the soup
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Where is the gate?"
<aberrantArtificer> It is d4Mns0oP.
<aberrantArtificer> "Above my house."
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen points to the set of salmon colored gates towering above his house.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Ah of course thanks."
<aberrantArtificer> "From what I understand, you should have no issue jumping through them."
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen smiles.
<Alexander_Pyrite> I start strong jumping over.
<Alexander_Pyrite> "Nope!"
<aberrantArtificer> Faerzen waves farewell.