A Handful of Dust Session 76

[20:45.29] <DM> Then, so we begin.
[20:45.49] <+Kir> [going to have to disappear for a few min in a couple seconds]
[20:45.58] <+Kir> [should we roll init or did we already?]
[20:46.09] <DM> [you always find a way to raise my BP, ork]
[20:46.18] <DM> Shala pulls up short, barely avoiding a headlong tumble into an illusory spike trap as her feet catch thin air.
[20:47.14] <DM> As she does, all around you, the shattered porcelain shards begin to tremble, by the hundreds of thousands, as a throbbing psychic pulse is let out by a sapphire box, bound in sigils of blood, that begin to ooze out from its many crevasses, as it levitates with a hum.
[20:47.31] <DM> All of you.
[20:47.37] <DM> Roll initiative, and then roll a reflex save!
[20:47.43] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+1
[20:47.43] <%tBot> Repriever: 14 ([13] +1)
[20:47.43] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+7
[20:47.44] <%tBot> Kir: 26 ([19] +7)
[20:47.58] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+2
[20:47.58] <%tBot> Mel: 9 ([7] +2)
[20:48.01] <+Mel> 7 init
[20:48.06] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+5
[20:48.06] <%tBot> Mel: 24 ([19] +5)
[20:48.09] <+Mel> Reflex save.
[20:48.11] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+11
[20:48.12] <%tBot> Shala: 19 ([8] +11)
[20:48.14] <+Shala> [init]
[20:48.17] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+11
[20:48.17] <%tBot> Kir: 25 ([14] +11)
[20:48.17] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+8
[20:48.17] <%tBot> Repriever: 27 ([19] +8)
[20:48.25] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+6
[20:48.25] <%tBot> Shala: 9 ([3] +6)
[20:48.27] <+Repriever> [14 int, 27 reflex]
[20:48.27] <+Kir> [second was reflex]
[20:49.21] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+7
[20:49.21] <%tBot> Akvan: 17 ([10] +7)
[20:49.22] <+Akvan> init
[20:49.36] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+6
[20:49.36] <%tBot> Akvan: 26 ([20] +6)
[20:49.57] <+Repriever> [always with the one upping D:]
[20:50.00] <+Akvan> reflex
[20:50.04] <+Akvan> :p
[20:50.44] <+Akvan> always
[20:51.08] <+Kir> [ok, brb]
[20:51.15] <+Kir> [unless I'm first turn]
[20:51.19] <+Kir> [fuck, I am]
[20:51.20] <+Kir> :P
[20:51.24] <DM> Akvan, Repriever, Kir, and Melchior, you have enough time to react as the thousands of shards zip through the air towards you to protect yourself from them.
[20:51.43] <DM> Depending on the efficacy of your action, I will decide if you take some damage or none.
[20:52.08] <DM> The levitating box calls the shards to itself.
[20:52.20] <DM> Meaning you are in the way of the shards behind you.
[20:52.23] * Akvan flares his heat aura, creating a turbulance of wind
[20:52.28] * Repriever raises his shield, protecting himself, and instinctively, the illusioned Cleric Mel as well.
[20:52.31] <+Akvan> that knocks them away and out of the path
[20:52.50] * Kir shields himself with the sphere while diving to the floor
[20:52.59] * Mel , in a flash, creates a swift pulse of negative gravity, deflecting the shards away from her at oblique angles.
[20:53.07] <DM> Shala, you still need to make a reflex save.
[20:53.14] <+Shala> [it was 9]
[20:53.28] <DM> Got it.
[20:54.00] <DM> Surprised perhaps by the revealing of the trap, you are caught off guard, Shala.
[20:54.21] <+Kir> [ok, brb]
[20:54.26] <+Kir> [family mandate]
[20:54.38] <DM> In exposed locations on your body, neck, face, and in the chinks between your elementalist armor, dozens of tiny cuts are sliced across your body.
[20:54.50] <DM> ?roll 2d8+5
[20:54.51] <%tBot> DM: 9 ([3 1] +5)
[20:55.05] <DM> Take 9 damage.
[20:55.25] * Shala crumples to the ground nursing her wounds
[20:55.45] <DM> ?roll 1d20+7
[20:55.45] <%tBot> DM: 9 ([2] +7)
[20:56.29] <+Repriever> "You okay!?"
[20:56.39] * Repriever shouts down the length of the hall.
[20:57.13] <+Repriever> [did my actions spare Cleric Mel from being sharpneled?]
[20:57.31] * Shala grunts and winces a bit
[20:57.34] <+Repriever> [oh god I can't spell]
[20:57.40] <+Shala> "Not enough time...to protect myself"
[20:58.05] <DM> They did, Repriever.
[20:58.27] <DM> As the shards zip towards the levitating box, they gather, with a humming mass of rattling chinks.
[20:58.42] * Repriever lowers the shield, scanning the powdered shard remnants at his feet.
[20:58.53] <+Repriever> "Get away from it!"
[20:59.11] <DM> The box, swathed in thousands of shards that obscure its core, now stants in the midst of a thirty-five foot tall behemoth, a golem of swirling psychic power and murderous intent.
[20:59.16] <DM> stands*
[20:59.17] * Mel casts preparatory combat spells.
[20:59.50] <+Mel> Lead blades, physical enhancement, legacy weapon.
[20:59.52] <DM> Lumpy, formless limbs, great stubby feet, and a blob of a head swirl, as it steps forward, the shrouded box forming its heart.
[20:59.54] * Repriever has a bad feeling about this.
[21:00.44] <DM> Kir is up!
[21:00.54] <DM> Although we can skip him for now if he's busy.
[21:01.24] <DM> We can start with Shala.
[21:02.54] <DM> All of your efforts, by the way, are effective enough to negate the impending damage of the shards.
[21:03.18] <+Shala> [can i do teleportation stuff now?]
[21:03.25] <DM> They ping off Kir's and Repriever's shields by the thousands, zipping up into the air.
[21:03.35] <DM> [short range teleportation stuff is ok]
[21:03.49] <+Repriever> "That's new," he says to Cleric Mel.
[21:04.11] <DM> Akvan and Mel's auras have similar protective effects.
[21:04.16] * Shala shifts in surprise behind her, and then scrambles to be nearer the rest of the team, casting MAGE ARMOR on herself
[21:04.28] <+Shala> [turn]
[21:04.38] <+Kir> [back]
[21:04.49] <DM> Kir, you're up!
[21:05.27] <+Mel> Cleric Mel gives a small nod and mirrors the same preparatory enchantments being done by the other images.
[21:05.30] <DM> You've shielded yourself in time to see thousands of shards gather in a giant, blobby construct form around the levitating sapphire box at the end of the mysterious blue hall.
[21:06.02] <DM> A spike trap fifteen feet in width stands between you and the monster.
[21:06.05] * Kir slings a length of sphere towards the core of the shards, arcing its impossible thin thread around all of them
[21:06.24] * Kir then fires a single shot along the length of this guided thread, giving his shots a track to follow
[21:06.40] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+15
[21:06.40] <%tBot> Kir: 24 ([9] +15)
[21:07.01] <+Kir> [that's higher if the thread helps accuracy, which, along with damage, is the point]
[21:07.10] <DM> The line of liquid metal you arc into its core is torn apart by the swirling mass of porcelain as you attempt to penetrate its body.
[21:07.26] <DM> Your bullet has an unclear effect as it vanishes into the mass.
[21:07.43] <+Kir> [turn
[21:07.44] <+Kir> ]
[21:07.47] <DM> It roars, a sound less biological then mechanical, a rattling whisper of a china rainstorm.
[21:08.12] <DM> Akvan!
[21:09.39] <DM> Akvaaaaaan!
[21:09.42] * Akvan cocks his head to the side at the monstrosity, draws claws, and rends the air infront of him. The air flickers with heat
[21:09.45] <+Akvan> (Im' WRITING!)
[21:09.48] <+Akvan> (DAMMIT)
[21:09.52] <DM> (noted!)
[21:10.05] * Akvan steps back as the air distorts
[21:10.16] * Akvan nods at the creatures that steps through, and points at the golem
[21:10.18] <+Akvan> "Kill"
[21:10.48] <+Akvan> (DM< can you PM me?)
[21:10.52] <+Akvan> (I'ts not letting me PM you)
[21:10.53] * Shala perks her eyebrow at Akvan's summong style
[21:11.11] <+Akvan> (So I can send you the stat block)
[21:11.32] <DM> (What's the spell?)
[21:11.37] <DM> (Oh, what's the creature)
[21:11.40] <+Akvan> SUmmon Monster 5
[21:11.40] <+Akvan> ＋http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/outsiders/salamander，
[21:11.41] <+Repriever> [ use [] ]
[21:11.49] <+Repriever> [you're cramping mel's style :p]
[21:12.18] <DM> The salamander writhes forth from the elemental plane of fire.
[21:12.32] * You are now known as Salamander
[21:12.37] <+Mel> Aboleth Mel shudders.
[21:12.41] <Salamander> "Krrrrikikikikik."
[21:13.21] <Salamander> It turns its sapphire head, bejeweled in scales like glowing blue coals, fixing its burning eyes on Akvan's for a command.
[21:13.31] <Salamander> [you can order it around]
[21:13.40] <+Mel> [18:10] * Akvan nods at the creatures that steps through, and points at the golem
[21:13.40] <+Mel> [18:10] <+Akvan> "Kill"
[21:13.41] * Akvan 's brand burns bright and hot
[21:13.43] <+Mel> []
[21:13.51] * Akvan repeats himself
[21:13.53] <+Akvan> "Kill"
[21:14.54] <Salamander> Standing up on two legs, long flaming tail unfurling forth, it summons a spear of flame into its claws, triangular head pointed down as it leaps across the spiked abyss...
[21:15.32] <Salamander> ?roll 1d20+3
[21:15.32] <%tBot> Salamander: 15 ([12] +3)
[21:16.06] <Salamander> With a hiss of fiery hatred, it barely makes the jump.
[21:16.45] <Salamander> It sweeps away a mass of shards with a swipe of its fiery spear...
[21:16.59] <Salamander> Which are quickly replaced by the creature.
[21:18.01] <+Akvan> "There's a cntrol cube in the middle!"
[21:18.11] <Salamander> Repriever.
[21:18.51] <Salamander> You estimate the approximate location of the cube, although it can no longer be seen in the swirling mass of shards, to be approximately 15 feet high.
[21:19.08] * Salamander changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 76: Trembling Shards - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQ2fwUOxe0，
[21:19.22] * You are now known as DM
[21:19.35] * Repriever hustles the short distance to stand in front of Shala and Kir, shield ready. Nameless held to the side as a slithering jewel serpent works down his sword arm, to the hilt, where it coils and unleashes a coating of blue fire up the length of the blade.
[21:19.48] <+Repriever> [turn]
[21:20.20] <+Repriever> [flaming burst weapon bond]
[21:22.05] <DM> The creature roars again with a rattle of shards.
[21:22.18] <DM> It throws its fist forward...
[21:22.26] <+Repriever> The bauble dragon has latched itself into the hilt.
[21:22.59] <DM> And it elongates into a massive stream of thousands of shards which flow forward like a river, towards Kir, Shala, and Repriever.
[21:23.06] <DM> The shard punch engulfs you in its vast mass.
[21:23.19] <DM> A swirling cloud of razors tears at you incessantly.
[21:23.31] <DM> ?roll 4d8+5
[21:23.31] <%tBot> DM: 20 ([5 3 6 1] +5)
[21:23.38] <+Repriever> [oh, I smited it, too]
[21:23.50] <DM> Kir, Repriever, and Shala, take 20 damage.
[21:23.51] <+Mel> [smote?]
[21:23.59] <+Repriever> [it is thoroughly smitten]
[21:24.11] <+Repriever> [no saves, dm?]
[21:24.14] <DM> Additionally, you are blinded and for the duration of your time in the cloud.
[21:24.16] <DM> No saves.
[21:24.28] <DM> blinded and staggered*
[21:25.06] * Repriever is swarmed in razor sharp fragments, scratching into the plate armor and tearing at his face under the helm.
[21:25.52] * Repriever cannot be blinded, but is briefly dazzled.
[21:26.34] <+Repriever> [nameless has constant recentering drone]
[21:26.37] <DM> Mel's turn!
[21:26.53] <DM> Oh, one more thing.
[21:26.59] * Mel seeks arcane insight as she runs towards the monstrous swarm construct.
[21:27.01] * Shala (IceChat9@cpe-97-98-83-80.stx.res.rr.com) Quit (Ping timeout: 121 seconds)
[21:27.03] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+20
[21:27.03] <%tBot> Mel: 23 ([3] +20)
[21:27.15] <DM> With a massive whumpf, the creature knocks the salamander down into the spikes.
[21:27.34] <+Mel> The illusory Mels run together and gather to fight as one.
[21:27.40] <DM> It coughs a spurt of bright blue magma blood onto the spikes as it is impaled, seeking to pull itself off.
[21:27.56] <+Mel> What can I tell of the enchantment powering this thing?
[21:28.05] <+Repriever> [for those unaware, staggered means move OR standard, but not both]
[21:28.22] * Mel activates MIND BARRIER in preparation, as a swift action.
[21:28.56] * Shala (IceChat9@cpe-97-98-83-80.stx.res.rr.com) has joined channel #nesdnd
[21:29.54] * DM sets mode +v Shala for #nesdnd
[21:30.00] * Mel clutches her gauntlet, pouring energy through it and pointing, charging, towards the center of the swarm.
[21:30.35] * Mel feels the power of the gauntlet, and channels the golden, earthen power of Arta, into an exact pattern.
[21:30.37] <+Mel> SEISMIC BLAST
[21:31.14] <+Akvan> [DETROIT SMASH]
[21:31.24] <+Mel> ?roll 8d6
[21:31.24] <%tBot> Mel: 30 [3 4 3 5 4 5 2 4]
[21:31.39] <+Mel> 30 points of damage as a massive shockwave strikes a point within 100 feet
[21:31.43] * Kir (45cb4c0c@ircip1.mibbit.com) Quit (Quit: ＋http://www.mibbit.com， ajax IRC Client)
[21:31.53] <DM> Can you link me?
[21:32.09] <DM> I'm just curious if there's a save or not.
[21:32.23] <DM> Okay, noted.
[21:33.20] <DM> [sec]
[21:33.54] <+Repriever> [how long is this swarm going to last?]
[21:34.07] <+Shala> [swarm?]
[21:34.15] <+Repriever> [is it retreating from us, or do we need to move]
[21:34.18] <+Mel> there is a reflex save
[21:34.27] <+Mel> to half damage
[21:34.46] <DM> [it doesn't seem to be retreating]
[21:34.54] <DM> Roll a fortitude save and a con check, Mel.
[21:35.20] <+Mel> Prescience preroll
[21:35.22] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20
[21:35.22] <%tBot> Mel: 13 [13]
[21:35.30] <DM> [repriever, pcmw Shala with what happened]
[21:35.31] <+Mel> I'll keep that for a 22 fortitude save
[21:35.41] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20
[21:35.41] <%tBot> Mel: 14 [14]
[21:35.46] <+Mel> and a 14 for my con check
[21:36.36] <DM> Okay.
[21:37.04] <DM> You will take -1 con ability damage from this attack, but
[21:37.29] <DM> It succeeds.
[21:37.43] <DM> A swath of golden energy surrounds your fist as you channel energy into it.
[21:37.44] * Mel grimaces.
[21:37.51] <DM> And is sucked into the gauntlet.
[21:38.07] <DM> As you close your first and twist it as you charge, space distorts.
[21:38.49] <DM> The gravitational shockwave penetrates through the shards, to the core of the being, and there is a sound like a crunching of glass from deep within it, even as it keeps its giant "fist" extended to swarm around Shala, Repriever and Kir.
[21:39.00] <DM> It takes the full damage.
[21:40.12] <+Repriever> [did kir leave or what]
[21:40.40] <DM> [texted him]
[21:41.38] <+Repriever> [just move on to Shala then]
[21:41.56] <DM> Okay, Shala, you're up.
[21:42.07] * Shala tries to stagger and move out of the shard vortex
[21:42.18] <+Shala> [to the right]
[21:42.22] <DM> ?roll 1d8+5
[21:42.23] <%tBot> DM: 7 ([2] +5)
[21:42.53] <DM> You take an additional 7 damage. Your robes in tatters, blood runs down your arms and legs, and is soaked into your hair, as you break free of the cloud.
[21:43.18] <DM> Only by shielding your face with your arms do you avoid worse damage to the soft parts.
[21:43.25] * Shala gasps and clutches her robe to her chest
[21:44.17] <DM> Your mage armor hums and sizzles as drops of blood pass through it to patter onto the floor.
[21:44.23] <DM> Akvan!
[21:44.52] * Akvan tries to make out the cube
[21:44.56] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20
[21:44.56] <%tBot> Akvan: 20 [20]
[21:45.04] <+Akvan> i accidentally clicked enter
[21:45.05] <+Akvan> D:
[21:45.08] <+Akvan> without my modifier
[21:45.10] <+Mel> [make out with the cube]
[21:45.16] <DM> Lol
[21:45.23] <DM> [the cube falls in love with akvan]
[21:45.23] <+Akvan> but, 20+5
[21:45.35] * Kir (45cb4c0c@ircip2.mibbit.com) has joined channel #nesdnd
[21:45.52] <DM> Akvan, casting your eyes into the flame, you are able to see the pulsing of the life signs of the brain inside the sapphire cube.
[21:46.05] <DM> You target it precisely.
[21:46.06] * Akvan points at it, and a beam of blue light casts out
[21:46.29] <+Akvan> ?roll 5d8
[21:46.29] <%tBot> Akvan: 20 [7 4 2 3 4]
[21:46.42] * Akvan 's beam sweeps across the cube
[21:47.04] <DM> Your beam impacts the shards.
[21:47.10] <DM> And sweeps a huge mass of them away.
[21:47.39] <+Akvan> (and now the salamander?)
[21:47.46] <DM> The cube, cracked by Melchior's gravitational onslaught, is revealed.
[21:47.53] <DM> Yes.
[21:49.02] <DM> Trailing bright blue blood that shines on the ground as it falls, it climbs its way out of the pit, takes aim, and flings its flaming spear at the exposed central cube.
[21:49.31] <DM> ?roll 1d20+11
[21:49.31] <%tBot> DM: 30 ([19] +11)
[21:49.43] <DM> Oh, critical threat.
[21:49.46] <DM> ?roll 1d20+11
[21:49.46] <%tBot> DM: 27 ([16] +11)
[21:49.47] <+Repriever> [someone hire this guy]
[21:49.51] <DM> Confirmed.
[21:50.14] <DM> ?roll 6d8+24
[21:50.14] <%tBot> DM: 51 ([5 6 5 3 3 5] +24)
[21:50.23] <DM> ?roll 1d6
[21:50.24] <%tBot> DM: 5 [5]
[21:50.27] * Akvan cheers the salamander on!
[21:50.56] <DM> There is a massive explosion of blue flame as the flaming spear shatters on the sapphire cube, with a gout of glorious fire.
[21:51.28] <DM> Chunks of sapphire rain down, before the creature is able to summon a new swirl of shards to protect itself.
[21:51.42] <DM> It must now withdraw its assault on Repriever and Kir.
[21:51.58] <DM> Kir, we'll take your turn now.
[21:52.51] * DM sets mode +v Kir for #nesdnd
[21:54.12] <DM> Kir!
[21:54.14] <DM> ughhh.
[21:55.13] <+Repriever> [I'll go]
[21:55.30] <DM> Sure..
[21:55.51] * Repriever blinks the blood out of his eyes and jogs after Shala, hunkering down in front of her with the shield held high. [total defense]
[21:55.54] <+Repriever> [turn]
[21:56.52] <+Repriever> [my ac vs cube is 38]
[21:57.41] * Mel watches the creature reel from the attacks. She charges together now, the trailworn explorer with her enchanted flail, the elegantly tortured mindslave, the satrap with her staff and blade, the cleric with holy aspergillium and symbol to the left and right, the Lady of Kesh, the huntress, and the draconic warrior.
[21:58.27] <DM> The many Mels approach the spiked pit.
[21:59.09] <DM> And as they charge, the creature writhes with a twin blast of bifurcated shards, one directed at her and the other at Akvan and the salamander.
[21:59.36] <+Akvan> D:
[22:00.06] * Kir (45cb4c0c@ircip2.mibbit.com) Quit (Quit: ＋http://www.mibbit.com， ajax IRC Client)
[22:00.43] <DM> ?roll 3d8+5
[22:00.43] <%tBot> DM: 27 ([7 8 7] +5)
[22:00.49] <DM> You both take 27 damage, no saves.
[22:00.55] <DM> But this blast is smaller, so no status effects.
[22:01.24] <DM> As does the salamander.
[22:01.46] <DM> It is a hardy creature, but its shining blood is opened in many places along its gleaming sapphire skin.
[22:03.27] <+Repriever> [whose turn is it?]
[22:03.38] * Kir (45cb4c0c@ircip3.mibbit.com) has joined channel #nesdnd
[22:03.41] <+Mel> Mine.
[22:03.48] <+Mel> Unless Kir gets to go.
[22:04.01] <DM> If he's got something to do, I'll let him do it quickly.
[22:04.08] <+Mel> [Sounds good]
[22:04.16] <DM> Kir, the shards retreated from your position but are now striking Akvan and Mel on either side of you
[22:04.29] <DM> While Repriever shields Shala.
[22:05.32] <DM> What do you do?
[22:05.48] * DM sets mode +v Kir for #nesdnd
[22:05.53] <+Repriever> [is he even paying attention?]
[22:06.02] <DM> [it's annoying as hell]
[22:06.10] <DM> [I know he's at a family gathering, but jeez]
[22:06.52] <+Repriever> [just let Mel go, then]
[22:07.00] <DM> Yep.
[22:07.07] <+Mel> The seven Melchiors charge forwards towards the core, accelerating with every step, before hurtling into the air, born aloft on draconic wings, abreast of the winds of enchantment, the strings of unseen things, or the power of sheer will alone. Together they fly at their target, resisting the shredding swarm, utterly focused on their target.
[22:07.08] <+Kir> [I have a thing}
[22:07.14] <+Mel> oh
[22:07.20] <+Mel> [lol now you say it]
[22:07.29] <+Mel> [MEL DOES ALL THAT STUFF BUT... A BIT LATER]
[22:07.58] * Kir calls the sphere into a great solid ball, that flies towards the wall of shards
[22:08.30] * Kir places it in the center of the mass, then expands it slightly while hollowing the center of this circle
[22:08.54] <+Kir> [I try to stop the shards covering a spot in the center of the elemental, so as to open an unshielded target for the others
[22:09.02] <+Kir> ]
[22:09.18] <DM> That's actually pretty good.
[22:09.24] <DM> It makes Mel's job a bit easier.
[22:09.29] * Kir prepares to withdraw the sphere into a shield for himself if the elemental attacks, assuming he still has time
[22:09.38] <DM> Now she only needs to make one CON check instead of 2.
[22:09.40] <+Kir> [held action to revert to a defensive shielf]
[22:09.54] <+Mel> Prescience preroll #2.
[22:09.56] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20
[22:09.56] <%tBot> Mel: 11 [11]
[22:10.16] <+Mel> I'll roll again, even though that's statistically not on my side.
[22:10.21] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20
[22:10.21] <%tBot> Mel: 16 [16]
[22:10.25] <+Mel> [FUCK STATISTICS.]
[22:10.31] <+Repriever> [lol]
[22:10.32] <DM> [stats are a lie!]
[22:10.38] <+Mel> The seven Melchiors charge forwards towards the core, accelerating with every step, before hurtling into the air,born aloft on draconic wings, abreast of the winds of enchantment, the strings of unseen things, or the power of sheer will alone. Together they fly at their target, resisting the shredding swarm, utterly focused on their target.
[22:11.06] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+15
[22:11.06] <%tBot> Mel: 22 ([7] +15)
[22:11.18] <+Mel> [power attack with the gauntlet]
[22:11.23] <DM> Kir's attack is timed in such a way that a swipe of shards are swept away near Melchior's angle of attack as she soars into the air with the power of her gravity gauntlet!
[22:11.32] <+Mel> [teamwooooork]
[22:11.38] <DM> A corner of cube is revealed as she leaps at it!
[22:11.47] <DM> Roll a con check!
[22:11.51] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20
[22:11.52] <%tBot> Mel: 18 [18]
[22:12.00] <+Mel> [FUCK THOSE STATISTICS ONCE MORE]
[22:12.02] <+Kir> [statistics is a damned lie]
[22:12.15] <+Mel> [DON'T TELL MY GRAD SUPERVISOR ABOUT THIS SHIT]
[22:12.32] <DM> [You took that tailed t-test and swung it around by its tail]
[22:12.36] <+Mel> Ooh that's critical threat range actually.
[22:12.46] <+Mel> [wait sorry that was con]
[22:12.48] <+Mel> [derp]
[22:12.55] <DM> You pass the con check.
[22:13.03] <+Repriever> [you're so healthy you get twice the damage :p]
[22:13.09] <DM> Roll damage!
[22:13.56] <+Mel> The punch itself does 1d6+8
[22:13.59] <+Mel> ?roll 1d6+8
[22:13.59] <%tBot> Mel: 14 ([6] +8)
[22:14.14] <+Kir> [stats as a discipline is disproven]
[22:14.21] <+Mel> But then there is also the fact that it is the GRAVITY GAUNTLET, and Mel's doing her damnedest to shatter the thing.
[22:14.36] <+Mel> [Should I treat it like another seismic blast, for damage?]
[22:14.47] <DM> That's acceptable.
[22:14.58] <+Mel> [But cast as a touch this time. Direct application.]
[22:15.02] <+Mel> ?roll 8d6
[22:15.02] <%tBot> Mel: 36 [6 1 5 4 5 6 4 5]
[22:15.31] <DM> The cube shatters on its right side, chunks flying away.
[22:16.05] <DM> You expose the inner core of the being as you fall.
[22:16.35] <DM> A vast, pinkish-red, brain, nestled in a gelatinous crimson fluid that leaks out of the shattered box.
[22:16.49] <DM> You are falling, now.
[22:17.12] <DM> If you're going to use the gauntlet to break your fall, roll CON or take the fall damage.
[22:17.35] <+Mel> Mind over Gravity is a continuous flight spell
[22:17.46] <+Mel> So I'm currently not going to fall unless I choose to for the duration.
[22:17.52] <DM> Oh, okay.
[22:18.01] <DM> Well, last time you tried this, you overdid it a bit. :p
[22:18.14] <DM> But we'll say you've learned from that experience.
[22:18.53] <DM> As you are knocked back from the impact of your strike, however....
[22:19.17] <DM> The shards that were previously enveloping you behind you now zip through your back in an attempt to regather around the exposed brain.
[22:19.28] <DM> Roll a reflex save!
[22:19.44] <+Kir> [does my sphere thing help at all?]
[22:20.08] <+Akvan> [DM, Please PM me?]
[22:20.17] <DM> Your sphere thing knocked it out of the way for Mel's initial blow to work.
[22:20.21] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+5
[22:20.22] <%tBot> Mel: 24 ([19] +5)
[22:20.23] <DM> Now it's recovering from that.
[22:20.24] <+Akvan> [Mibbit aint letting me pm you]
[22:21.03] <DM> You're able to dodge the shards as they regather.
[22:22.10] <DM> Kir, you're up!
[22:23.35] <DM> Shala, you can go too.
[22:24.34] <DM> Initiative is clearly not very effective when people are AS DISTRACTED AS THEY ARE TONIGHT
[22:24.37] <DM> >:[
[22:24.48] <+Shala> [am i debilitated still?]
[22:24.49] <+Mel> [I do what I can :O]
[22:25.16] <+Repriever> [you shouldn't be, shala]
[22:25.49] <DM> Nope, you're out of the shards.
[22:26.03] <DM> Those status effects were only for as long as you were in the cloud.
[22:26.11] <+Shala> [does the monster and its core count as two targets or one]
[22:26.59] <+Kir> [did I see the brain?}
[22:27.02] <DM> [sounds like something you could make a SKILL CHECK] to figure out
[22:27.10] <DM>  ]*
[22:27.16] <DM> You saw it, Kir, if briefly
[22:27.17] <+Mel> [perception probably]
[22:27.27] <DM> That comment was addressed at Shala
[22:27.32] <DM> However, based on what you've seen
[22:27.37] <DM> They're generally two separate targets
[22:27.42] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+7
[22:27.42] <%tBot> Shala: 22 ([15] +7)
[22:27.55] * Kir makes a complex sphere attack
[22:28.22] * Kir sends the mass of the metal as a sphere, like before, to break through the outer layers of shards
[22:29.12] <+Kir> Having done this, some (as much as possible) of the sphere pierces like a needle into the brain, and attempts to stay embedded in it and cause as much trauma as possible
[22:29.39] <+Kir> The rest of the sphere, breaking the screen, should fold in behind the needle and join in the carnage-causing
[22:29.46] <+Kir> [want me to roll anything for that?]
[22:29.59] <DM> Yeah.
[22:30.14] <+Kir> [umd, cha, ??]
[22:30.26] <DM> As you sweep away the shards with your mental control, you feel the intelligence of the being pushing back against you.
[22:30.35] <DM> Trying to prevent you from piercing its brain.
[22:30.42] <DM> Roll a will save.
[22:30.50] <DM> And roll UMD.
[22:30.56] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+3
[22:30.56] <%tBot> Kir: 9 ([6] +3)
[22:30.58] <+Kir> will
[22:31.10] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+16
[22:31.10] <%tBot> Kir: 36 ([20] +16)
[22:31.12] <+Kir> umd
[22:31.58] <DM> You are able to perfectly order a piercing strike into the core of the brain...
[22:32.17] <DM> But seconds before you do so, your hand jerks to the side, as if pulled by an invisible string.
[22:32.38] <DM> The sphere and its spike withdraws, as its telepathic defenses stymie you.
[22:32.46] <DM> But a momentary gap in the shards remain.
[22:32.46] <+Kir> [I should have said, the goal is that the sphere doesn't leave the inside of the shards, but hangs out to try again]
[22:33.01] <+Kir> [unless the telepathic defenses can do that, yeah]
[22:34.49] <DM> Got it.
[22:34.55] <DM> Shala!
[22:35.02] <DM> You can see a spot that Kir has exposed.
[22:35.20] * Shala screams at the top of her lungs and unleashes a ferocious bolt of eletricity, conducting a LIGHTNING ARC between the sphere and the creature
[22:35.31] <DM> Over Repriever's glistening shoulder, as he holds his flaming sword protectively over you.
[22:35.33] <+Shala> [roll reflex for creture]
[22:35.44] <+Kir> [clever combo!]
[22:36.06] * Repriever has a sudden flash of a memory of his eyes burning out in the springs in Tetraea.
[22:36.48] <DM> It has no reflex save in this situation, so it fails automatically.
[22:37.42] <+Shala> ?roll 1d6x10
[22:37.42] <%tBot> Shala: "1d6x10" not a valid roll.
[22:37.47] <+Shala> [lol how do i do that again]
[22:37.49] <DM> 10d6
[22:37.54] <+Shala> ?roll 10d6
[22:37.54] <%tBot> Shala: 34 [3 4 2 2 3 6 3 3 2 6]
[22:38.10] <DM> Your lightning arcs directly into its brain!
[22:38.14] <+Mel> [I rolled more than that with 8d6 :P]
[22:40.56] <DM> The upright figure wobbles...ripples...
[22:41.14] <DM> And collapses, falling into an amorphous spherical mass of roiling shards, like a fountain of water from a broken pipe.
[22:41.21] <+Repriever> "Little loud, mancer."
[22:41.29] * Repriever japes.
[22:41.39] <+Shala> "Not nearly loud enough!"
[22:41.42] * Kir bleeds from a thousand cuts
[22:41.45] <+Kir> "Aah
[22:41.45] <+Kir> "
[22:41.51] * Shala curls her nose at the smoking corpse of the monster
[22:41.58] <+Repriever> [is it dead?]
[22:42.20] <+Mel> [it goes before I go, if it moves I kill it some more]
[22:42.57] <DM> It tries to right itself.
[22:43.06] <DM> It seems the lightning has not quite killed it, but it is stunned.
[22:43.17] <DM> Akvan, Repriever!
[22:43.53] <DM> Thousands of shards skitter across the floor as the being tries to regain control, the mass wobbling and throbbing in the corner as some fall into the spiked pit
[22:44.03] * Akvan cautiously moves forward, before leaping over the pit on wings of flames
[22:44.11] * Akvan stabs his claws into the brain
[22:44.14] * Repriever does not move from his defensive position, even if his ears are ringing a bit. He tastes something metallic from the aftermath of the lightning.
[22:44.42] <DM> The brain has re-covered itself in shards again, Akvan.
[22:45.14] <DM> As it fell backwards into the corner, it was buried in a mass of regathering shards, some of which came from withdrawing its attack on you.
[22:45.53] <+Akvan> [are we in initiative?]
[22:46.02] <+Mel> Yes.
[22:47.51] <DM> I'm going to be a bit liberal about letting people take teamwork actions, as long as they're next to each other in initiative order
[22:48.01] <DM> Or they specifically hold their initiative to do so
[22:48.26] * DM changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 76: Trembling Shards - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHxte9laxpU，
[22:48.36] <+Repriever> [I am not taking any action, as said]
[22:49.08] <DM> Anything, Akvan?
[22:49.21] <+Akvan> I'd roast it with flame
[22:49.34] <+Akvan> or getting the salamander to finish it off
[22:49.35] <+Akvan> actually
[22:49.35] <+Akvan> that
[22:49.40] <+Akvan> "Finish it, please!"
[22:49.46] <+Mel> [Just realized I didn't locate myself right next to it, I should be there]
[22:49.56] <+Mel> [oh wait I did move NM, it moved away]
[22:50.30] <DM> It croaks at you, gesturing with a swipe of its claws to indicate that you must knock the shards away again before it can strike.
[22:50.52] * Akvan nods
[22:51.09] <+Mel> "Air blast!"
[22:51.34] <+Shala> [am i the only one who can do that?]
[22:51.47] <+Mel> [I can do it too but you have the key which would make it better.]
[22:51.54] * Akvan raises his hands and a jet of flame comes bursts forth, blue, cooling to orange at the edges.
[22:51.54] <+Mel> [plus I can thwack it with linecutter]
[22:52.02] <+Akvan> ?roll 5d4
[22:52.02] <%tBot> Akvan: 16 [4 3 4 1 4]
[22:52.12] <+Akvan> hopefully pushing the shards away for a moment
[22:53.23] <DM> You push them away long enough for the salamander to dart forward and belch forth a jet of flame into the space your cone opened.
[22:53.59] <DM> The gelatinous mass of the brain is charred, and the smell of its smoking flesh fills the room as the half-shattered box, brain exposed on one side, crashes to the floor.
[22:54.52] <DM> The roiling mass of shards collapses, skittering across the floor by the thousands, washing over Melchior's boots like the tide of a glass sea.
[22:55.19] <+Mel> The Melchiors boots, bare feet, claws, slippers, foot wraps, etc.
[22:55.34] * Repriever relaxes his stance.
[22:55.59] <DM> The salamander croaks with pride.
[22:56.02] * Akvan looks around for another threat
[22:56.05] <+Akvan> "Good Job!"
[22:56.07] <+Akvan> "Nice kill!"
[22:56.09] * Akvan tells it
[22:56.27] * Shala loosens a few more shards from her hair
[22:56.33] <DM> But then...the brain pulses once more.
[22:56.41] * Mel and the illusions inspect the cube, ready to strike.
[22:57.02] <+Akvan> "I think it sent a message..."
[22:57.07] <DM> The salamander stands stock still, its back arching, as it screams as the brain possesses it.
[22:57.12] <DM> And it speaks.
[22:57.17] <+Akvan> "Or... shit. not."
[22:57.36] * Mel sunders the braincube.
[22:57.41] <+Mel> [Improved sunder.]
[22:57.54] <+Repriever> [not wanting to hear its final message? :P]
[22:57.58] <DM> "Inheritors of a new cycle, you will be consu-hrkchlkt...."
[22:58.10] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+14
[22:58.10] <%tBot> Mel: 18 ([4] +14)
[22:58.36] <DM> The salamander falls to its knees as a gelatinous mass of brain matter is squelched across the ground.
[22:58.51] * Akvan rushes over to it, kneeling
[22:58.53] <+Akvan> "Are you alright?"
[22:59.14] <+Mel> "If we wish to hear what it intended to say, we will speak with the dead."
[22:59.23] * Repriever eyes Shala, shrugging. He didn't hear the final message from that far away.
[22:59.27] <DM> A blast of massive psychic power washes across you as it dies, rippling the Mellusions as it does.
[22:59.30] <+Shala> "Probably wasn't going to say anything interesting anyway."
[23:00.26] * Mel inspects the case and the brain. Was it human? What enchantments and enhancements once held it?
[23:00.29] * Repriever lofts the burning sword, turning it to meet the jeweled eye of the miniature dragon belching for the flames just as they cease with a whoomp.
[23:01.06] <DM> Perhaps it's your imagination that the dragon smiles before it retreats into its torc form.
[23:01.16] <+Repriever> [forth]
[23:01.43] * Akvan puts his arm around the fallen salamander
[23:01.46] <+Akvan> "Thank you"
[23:01.47] * Repriever imagines nothing, and is fully aware that the little sapphire torc is a living extension of its mother.
[23:01.48] * Akvan releases it
[23:02.34] <DM> It croaked in pain, and thanks when you released it.
[23:02.40] * Shala perks another eyebrow at Akvan, thinking he has much to learn about the proper code of conjuring
[23:02.45] <+Shala> [no getting attached D: ]
[23:02.54] * Repriever sheathes sword and racks the shield onto his back with a clank as he approaches the precipice of the spike trench.
[23:02.57] <DM> With a rush of blue flame, it limps back into the great flaming crevasse.
[23:03.08] <+Repriever> "Now what?"
[23:03.23] <+Shala> "I walk firmly behind you armored lot, that's what"
[23:03.28] <+Mel> "Before this fight, we began a search."
[23:03.45] * Mel draws again the image of the porcelain sugar bowl.
[23:03.55] <+Mel> "A fragment of this. Here."
[23:04.17] <+Kir> "Sphere may help"
[23:04.18] * Repriever gives Shala a generous trace of his hand, pulsing with healing light over her wounded bits.
[23:04.20] * Akvan starts to look
[23:04.20] <+Repriever> ?roll 6d6
[23:04.20] <%tBot> Repriever: 22 [6 5 4 1 5 1]
[23:04.23] <+Repriever> [heal 22]
[23:04.25] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+5
[23:04.25] <%tBot> Akvan: 20 ([15] +5)
[23:04.27] <+Akvan> perception
[23:04.36] * Repriever then does the same to himself.
[23:04.39] <+Repriever> ?roll 6d6
[23:04.39] <%tBot> Repriever: 21 [6 1 6 1 2 5]
[23:05.01] * Kir envelops the shards of bowl with the sphere, to gain a feel for the intended shape and the break surfaces, then begins spreading the sphere across the shards, attempting to recognize the corresponding pieces
[23:05.17] <+Kir> [want me to roll anything to help with that?]
[23:05.37] * Repriever takes the time to clean the blood from his face, while watching the others work.
[23:05.42] * Mel is now known as AbolethMel
[23:05.51] <+Repriever> "Haven't seen anything quite like that before."
[23:05.55] * AbolethMel collapses and begins screaming muffledly into her collar.
[23:05.58] * AbolethMel is now known as Mel
[23:06.08] <+Shala> "I've never read of such a creature"
[23:06.16] * Shala looks at the woman who's been to a thousand worlds
[23:06.19] * Repriever pauses, staring blankly at the collapses Abomel.
[23:06.24] * Mel is now known as ClericMel
[23:06.25] <+Repriever> "What the fuck?"
[23:06.37] * ClericMel goes over to check on Aboleth Melchior.
[23:06.46] <+ClericMel> "I thought it too."
[23:06.58] <+Akvan> "Was it human?"
[23:07.04] <+ClericMel> "No."
[23:07.20] <+ClericMel> "I suspect it was the brain of one of... her masters."
[23:07.23] <+Akvan> "at some point, I mean."
[23:07.27] <+Akvan> "An... aboleth?"
[23:07.30] <+Repriever> "An aboleth in a cage?"
[23:07.45] <+Akvan> "Is that possible? I thought they were... from outside, and not really ever here."
[23:07.49] <+ClericMel> "There are more perverse and dire things than that in this place. I would not be surprised."
[23:07.50] * Repriever gives Shala a reminding glance.
[23:07.55] * ClericMel is now known as Mel
[23:08.21] <+Mel> "A crystal aligned to elemental water."
[23:08.27] <+Repriever> "They are, but we spilled one's guts in the mountain, so what would keep mancers from trapping one?"
[23:08.52] * Akvan grabs a few pieces of the crystal, and maybe a bit of aboleth juice in a vial, if you'll let me DM
[23:08.59] <DM> I will
[23:09.01] <+Mel> "They're corruptions of the mother waters."
[23:09.04] <DM> There's enough.
[23:09.06] <+Mel> "Lethe's wellspring."
[23:09.29] <+Repriever> "A thousand thousand of them swim between."
[23:09.40] <+Kir> [dm, did what I try to do to look for sugarbowl shards work at all?]
[23:09.47] * Kir continues searching for bowl pieces
[23:09.59] <DM> Kir, you're able to sort the pieces into those of likely and unlikely sizes.
[23:10.07] <+Mel> "Perhaps it was here willingly. Perhaps not."
[23:10.10] <DM> You can't find the exact right one, but you're able to help narrow down the search.
[23:10.19] * Repriever cleans by rubbing Lethe on his face.
[23:10.22] * Kir now applies his own eyes
[23:10.25] <+Kir> perception
[23:10.36] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+14
[23:10.37] <%tBot> Kir: 31 ([17] +14)
[23:10.39] * Mel makes use of her third eye and searches.
[23:11.07] <+Repriever> [is malkara still lurking?]
[23:11.13] <DM> As Kir sorts, picking through, his fingers touch quickly on one which, instantly...seems right to you, Mel.
[23:11.24] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+5
[23:11.24] <%tBot> Mel: 8 ([3] +5)
[23:11.24] * Shala summons an unseen servant with the purpose finding
[23:11.33] <+Mel> [Malkara is about.]
[23:11.38] * Repriever will promptly sit on his ass and watch.
[23:11.42] * Mel is now known as Malkara
[23:11.49] <+Malkara> "Haetta!"
[23:12.01] <+Malkara> "That ein."
[23:12.04] * Malkara gestures.
[23:12.04] * Kir pauses
[23:12.06] <DM> It is a long, thin, sliver.
[23:12.10] * Repriever tries to pretend he didn't hear Malkara speak.
[23:12.18] * Kir 's hand slowly picks through, and holds it aloft
[23:12.19] <DM> A fleck of blue painted on bone white, the rest unblemished.
[23:12.25] <DM> A splinter.
[23:12.32] <+Kir> "Bring bowl"
[23:12.40] * Repriever mutters quietly to himself.
[23:12.42] * Malkara is now known as Mel
[23:12.43] * Akvan finishes gathering peices of brain juice
[23:12.46] <+Mel> "We do not have it here."
[23:12.49] * Akvan wanders over to the shala windo
[23:12.52] <+Akvan> w
[23:12.53] <+Mel> "It is aboard the Reme."
[23:13.00] * Akvan looks through the opening
[23:13.09] <+Mel> "But this is the piece. Please, let me hold it."
[23:13.13] <+Akvan> [what's on the other side?]
[23:13.14] * Mel reaches out a hand.
[23:14.04] * Kir gives it to her
[23:14.23] <+Mel> "It is somewhat odd to have you all around... this may be the first time that we have all survived a fight."
[23:14.36] <+Mel> Intones Melcirath, the draconic occult warrior.
[23:15.02] <+Akvan> [Is there a mel that has taken the heart potion?]
[23:15.09] <+Repriever> "You're free to bring more of you."
[23:15.15] * Repriever says from his seated position.
[23:15.25] <+Mel> [That seems quite likely, you could ask her.]
[23:16.43] <+Repriever> "I don't like trenches full of spikes. Is that just me?"
[23:17.20] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+5
[23:17.20] <%tBot> Akvan: 20 ([15] +5)
[23:17.21] <+Akvan> perception
[23:17.26] <+Akvan> looking out the window
[23:17.29] <+Akvan> using the fire gaze
[23:18.54] <DM> Melchior is lost to time for a while.
[23:19.03] <DM> Akvan, as you look out the window, you realize there is noting there.
[23:19.22] <DM> That is to say, nothingness is beyond those windows.
[23:19.34] * Repriever takes of his helm as he waits, so he can rake his hair and comfort himself after the loss of his things.
[23:19.40] * Mel shakes from her reverie.
[23:19.50] <+Repriever> [off]
[23:20.03] <+Akvan> "So, what's next"
[23:20.17] <+Repriever> "I don't see a door. Yet."
[23:20.43] * Mel takes the shard and wraps it carefully in fabric, placing it in her bag.
[23:21.08] <+Mel> "Well, now I'm just curious how long ye's gonna last."
[23:21.20] <+Mel> Speaks tomb-explorer Mel to her compatriots.
[23:21.45] * Mel is now known as Mellakarta
[23:21.54] <+Mellakarta> "Or how long you'll last."
[23:22.00] * Mellakarta winks, playfully, darkly.
[23:22.26] <DM> Cicada Mel has considered the previous turn of events fairly unblinkingly as well.
[23:22.27] * Repriever finds nothing insane about watching his friend speak to her various selves in a room at the bottom of a tower of animal people.
[23:22.40] <+Mellakarta> [Cicada mel is still under illusion until all illusions fade]
[23:22.43] <+Shala> "Until we have what we need"
[23:22.43] <+Akvan> (are we at the bottom?)
[23:22.53] <DM> [ah]
[23:23.06] <DM> [so you're a human, masquerading as a cicada...masquerading as a human]
[23:23.11] <+Mellakarta> [ja]
[23:23.20] <DM> ['_']
[23:23.29] <+Repriever> "So, we've got a clutch of Mels and no door."
[23:23.38] <+Mellakarta> o='v'=o
[23:23.54] <+Akvan> "everyone move away from the door, please!"
[23:23.58] <+Akvan> wall*
[23:23.59] * Mellakarta is now known as Mel
[23:24.00] <+Mel> "Ah quitcher worryin' Ducky."
[23:24.20] * Mel withdraws her sapphire and, as she has done in the past, seeks to follow Lethe's path.
[23:24.41] <+Mel> "Guide us to the waters, guide us to illusion."
[23:24.50] <+Repriever> "It's not me I'm worried about."
[23:24.54] * Repriever says lightly.
[23:25.00] * Akvan tosses a fireball at the wall opposite the door we came in, as soon as everyone is away from it
[23:25.11] <DM> The back wall is solid stone...
[23:25.15] <DM> Or so it seems to be...
[23:25.24] <DM> Until Akvan's fireball passes straight through it.
[23:25.32] <DM> A simple illusion.
[23:25.33] <+Akvan> "oops
[23:25.34] <+Akvan> "
[23:25.45] * Mel is now known as Mellakarta
[23:25.56] <+Mellakarta> "Spend sixty years working stone and still get caught out by that."
[23:25.59] * Mellakarta chuckles to herself.
[23:26.15] * Akvan tries to walk through the wall
[23:26.20] <DM> You succeed.
[23:26.25] <+Repriever> "I'd rather not admit how long I would've taken to catch that," he says, standing with a groan and grunt.
[23:26.54] <DM> Those of you without wings still need to jump the gap, or get across somehow.
[23:26.58] <+Repriever> "But how do I get over there?"
[23:27.06] * Repriever turns to Shala.
[23:27.17] <+Repriever> "You can float me. You've done it before."
[23:27.23] * Kir gauges the difficulty of a simple running jump, and goes for it if possible
[23:27.30] <DM> Kir vaults it easily.
[23:27.34] <+Shala> "Oh, I certainly can"
[23:27.43] <+Shala> [you mean telekinetically?]
[23:27.54] <+Repriever> [yep]
[23:28.09] * Kir can help swing or drag people with the sphere
[23:28.12] <+Repriever> [not sure what other kind of floating you can do]
[23:28.18] <+Shala> "But only because I am a supremely talented warlock"
[23:28.20] <+Shala> [i can fly]
[23:28.48] * Shala telekinetically possesses Repriever, vaulting him over the gap while she levitates herself
[23:28.50] <+Mellakarta> "Or Kir can make a line to shimmy across on with his sphere."
[23:29.15] * Repriever stumbles as he reaches the other side, like coming down on slick ice.
[23:29.20] * Mellakarta is now known as Mel
[23:29.46] * Repriever nods off this lapse of dexterity to the crowd of Mels.
[23:30.07] <+Akvan> [what's on the other side?]
[23:30.33] * Repriever follows through the illusion.
[23:31.04] <DM> You pass through the illusory back wall with a curtain of mist.
[23:31.40] <DM> Behind it is a hallway.
[23:31.54] <DM> The hallway is made of shimmering crystal, like the cut facets of a diamond.
[23:32.05] <DM> But there is a pulsing sound.
[23:32.06] <+Mel> The Mels speak quietly among themselves, all apparently coming upon the idea that this is a great opportunity to try and figure out a few things about how the heck mirror image actualy works and how conscious each illusion is.
[23:32.08] <+Repriever> "Hm."
[23:32.14] <DM> Like the beating of a heart.
[23:32.26] <DM> Each time it beats, the color suffusing the crystal changes slightly.
[23:32.32] <+Kir> "We kill brain, now we find heart?"
[23:32.36] <DM> A different color, different shades reflected in the shards.
[23:32.47] <+Repriever> "Why do you have to say things like that?"
[23:32.55] * Kir shrugs
[23:33.09] <+Mel> Aura sight.
[23:33.15] <+Mel> Elemental associations with the colours?
[23:33.18] <+Mel> Or just plain colours?
[23:33.31] <+Shala> "Maybe we kill the kidneys, or the bladder"
[23:33.36] <DM> It seems just plain colors...
[23:33.36] <+Shala> "Who can tell with this hellworld"
[23:33.45] <+Repriever> "I'm hungry, maybe it'll be the liver."
[23:33.46] <DM> Although the aura of transmutation suffuses this place...
[23:34.35] <DM> And then, very suddenly, the crystal hallway opens up into a great chamber.
[23:34.55] <DM> Papers, a few lanterns, and some desks are scattered about alongside the walls.
[23:35.03] * Repriever puts himself in front of Akvan.
[23:35.16] <+Mel> "Familiar at all?"
[23:35.26] * Akvan looks in askance at Repriever
[23:35.31] <+Repriever> "Someone's been working here?"
[23:35.50] <DM> There is a staircase alongside the roughly egg-shaped chamber, swirling upwards.
[23:36.04] <DM> And then, hanging from the ceiling, like a great, multicolored, crystal fruit, is a...thing.
[23:36.13] <DM> It feels like a heart.
[23:36.17] <DM> Even if it doesn't look like one.
[23:36.27] <DM> It certainly has more chambers than a regular heart, perhaps a hundred.
[23:36.47] <+Repriever> "Any guesses?"
[23:36.59] <DM> High above, a tiny figure sits before it.
[23:37.00] <+Shala> "I'm sticking with my bladder prediction"
[23:37.02] <DM> Cross-legged.
[23:37.03] <DM> Floating.
[23:37.07] <DM> Meditating.
[23:37.11] <+Mel> Perception.
[23:37.13] <+Akvan> "The crystalized humanity of the life consumers?"
[23:37.19] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+8
[23:37.19] <%tBot> Mel: 9 ([1] +8)
[23:37.20] <+Kir> perception
[23:37.24] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+14
[23:37.24] <%tBot> Kir: 15 ([1] +14)
[23:37.32] <+Kir> [lol what even is stats]
[23:37.34] <DM> The pulsing crystal heart throbs and grows before him.
[23:37.37] <+Kir> [numbers are fake news]
[23:37.40] * Mel doesn't notice shit because she's busy talking interdimensional and intercausal summoning and illusion.
[23:37.57] * Kir is still tired, and still down 20 hp
[23:38.15] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+5
[23:38.15] <%tBot> Akvan: 25 ([20] +5)
[23:38.20] <+Akvan> perception
[23:38.20] * Repriever can fix that.
[23:38.23] <+Repriever> ?roll 6d6
[23:38.23] <%tBot> Repriever: 25 [3 4 5 5 4 4]
[23:38.33] * Repriever touches Kir, sealing his wounds.
[23:38.36] <DM> "If you don't mind," comes the quiet, calm voice of Azri Bel Azimel, echoing in your ears as if he were right next to you,
[23:38.45] <DM> "I am trying to study."
[23:39.10] * Repriever inhales very deeply.
[23:39.28] * DM changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 76: Trembling Shards - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYc-443G6E，
[23:39.31] * Akvan sends a beam of searing light up into the crystal heart
[23:39.34] <+Akvan> a shit
[23:39.39] <+Akvan> didnt meant to hit enter on that yet
[23:39.41] <+Repriever> [uh, why?]
[23:39.44] <+Akvan> I was prepering a ready action
[23:39.47] <+Akvan> incase things went down
[23:39.55] * Shala taps her foot
[23:39.57] <+Akvan> can I, like, NOT have done that?
[23:39.58] <+Akvan> DL
[23:39.59] <+Akvan> D:
[23:40.03] <DM> We'll negate it then, it was accidental.
[23:40.15] <+Akvan> completly accidental tap of the enter, there
[23:40.15] <DM> "Make yourselves at home," he says, quietly.
[23:40.22] <+Repriever> [how high are we talking?]
[23:40.24] <DM> "There should be a kettle somewhere."
[23:40.26] <+Shala> "Deep, but not quite deep enough is it?"
[23:40.58] <DM> He is at the top of the spiral staircase, there appears to be a study platform erected, a few feet away from which he is floating.
[23:41.11] <DM> It is some seventy five feet up.
[23:41.18] <DM> "Quiet," he says calmly, but annoyed.
[23:41.41] * Repriever is visibly flexing beneath his plate, tense.
[23:41.56] <+Mel> "What's the cause for /this/ particular show?"
[23:42.45] <DM> Papers, illegible shorthand are scattered across the desks.
[23:42.47] * Repriever counts every desk and step of the stair, gauging distance, thinking on the obstacles.
[23:43.20] <DM> Crystals small, large, dark and bright, not many spellbooks.
[23:43.30] * Repriever shuts his eyes, praying silently.
[23:44.34] * Shala taps on the bannister as she ascends
[23:44.57] * Repriever grunts, annoyed, eyes opening suddenly.
[23:44.57] <DM> The stairs are clearly Azri's summoned work, not native to this crystal chamber.
[23:45.01] <+Mel> "You seems to be making some play of this, why might that be?"
[23:45.18] <+Repriever> "Where is She?"
[23:45.20] * Repriever asks quietly.
[23:45.31] * Mel nods, knowing what this is building up to.
[23:45.35] <+Mel> The other Mels know as well.
[23:46.04] <DM> Azri sighs, his eyes opening as Shala reaches the top of the platform.
[23:46.30] <DM> He looks tired, gaunt. His clothes are simple, aside the cape.
[23:46.51] <DM> "Hello, Shala."
[23:47.07] <+Shala> "You look terrible"
[23:47.17] * Shala states plainly enough, to shock even herself
[23:47.29] <DM> "I defeated a god for you."
[23:47.35] <DM> He smiles, lopsidedly.
[23:47.45] <DM> "Well, more than one. But one recently."
[23:47.49] <+Mel> "Which one this time?"
[23:47.50] * Repriever grits his teeth, looking down.
[23:47.54] * Shala stops
[23:48.11] <DM> "The Apastron."
[23:48.48] <DM> "Pulling back north now, with everything."
[23:49.01] <DM> "Perhaps he'll crawl back under the ice, disappear for an age."
[23:49.08] <DM> Azri sighs.
[23:49.10] <DM> "You're welcome."
[23:49.48] <DM> "Oh, you were all words just a second ago."
[23:50.04] <+Mel> "You're toying with us. You know our conflicts."
[23:50.15] <+Mel> "Frankly, I'm confused."
[23:50.20] <DM> "Perhaps better than you do."
[23:50.30] <DM> "It's understandable."
[23:50.39] * Repriever scrunches his face in thought.
[23:50.39] <DM> "Astara always wanted you that way."
[23:51.00] <+Repriever> "Where is She?"
[23:51.07] * Repriever repeats a little louder.
[23:51.11] <DM> "Hmm."
[23:51.17] <+Mel> "You're tormenting my friend, Azri."
[23:51.17] <DM> "Yes, that's it."
[23:51.35] <DM> "I offered your friend a deal."
[23:51.41] <DM> "He told me to go to hell."
[23:51.44] <DM> "Sooo."
[23:51.55] <DM> "I think he lacks experience with just what hell can really be."
[23:52.38] <+Mel> "He's seen every fate conspire to deny him happiness, seen his greatest efforts be torn down, and has lost almost everyone he has ever been close to, yet he perseveres."
[23:52.50] <+Mel> "He knows well what hells the world can offer."
[23:52.55] <DM> "Mm."
[23:53.01] <DM> "I'll give you credit, Shala."
[23:53.01] * Repriever growls and moves to one of the desks down here, thumbing through the papers.
[23:53.15] <DM> "For a time your research advanced quite quickly past my own."
[23:53.44] <DM> "And you raised an important point."
[23:53.50] * Shala dismisses the praise
[23:53.59] <+Shala> "Residue from your teaching, and a bit of luck"
[23:54.04] <DM> "The thing we saw."
[23:54.10] <DM> "And the One we faced."
[23:54.46] <DM> "How can it be avoided if you don't die?"
[23:54.59] <DM> "A summation of the question, to which destroying the world is an insufficient answer."
[23:55.05] <DM> "Am I missing anything?"
[23:55.13] <DM> He raises an eyebrow at her.
[23:55.19] <+Shala> "Well, I have died, havnt I?"
[23:55.40] <+Repriever> "And what good did you do?," he says from below.
[23:55.47] <+Shala> "Time is permeable, as is death, why not prophecy?"
[23:56.09] * Mel thinks and listens.
[23:56.10] * Repriever speaks casually and low, staring at the papers on a desk, even if they're nonsense.
[23:56.38] <DM> "Don't you know what this is, Melchior?"
[23:56.54] * Mel looks around at the study chamber.
[23:57.05] * Mel looks at her fellow Mels.
[23:57.19] <+Mel> "Not that I recall seeing before."
[23:57.33] * Mel considers the architecture, the images.
[23:57.41] <DM> "Oh, but you have."
[23:57.43] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+16
[23:57.44] <%tBot> Mel: 23 ([7] +16)
[23:57.52] <+Mel> [knowledge history for familiarity]
[23:59.08] <+Repriever> "You fought the Apastron, but still he came after us, after her."
[23:59.50] <DM> "Oh?"
[23:59.56] <DM> "With all his strength?"
[00:00.09] <DM> "Defeating you in the process?"
[00:00.47] <+Repriever> "I seem to recall fighting, too."
[00:01.08] <+Repriever> "But not to a draw."
[00:01.31] * Repriever tries to make out anything on the paper. What language is it?
[00:01.33] <DM> "What is it that warriors say about those who choose to negotiate."
[00:01.48] <DM> None that you know, Repriever. Seems to just be small squiggling lines.
[00:02.19] <DM> "But I suppose I'm guilty of that as well."
[00:03.00] <DM> Azri begins to gently float towards the ground.
[00:03.08] <+Repriever> "I'm not a diplomat."
[00:03.14] <DM> "Let us write a new holy book."
[00:03.20] <DM> "Shall we?"
[00:03.31] * Repriever is wary of the drifting mancer.
[00:03.36] <DM> "In the beginning, there was Bel, who made the heavens and the earth."
[00:04.13] <DM> "And he left six Essences to hold the prayers of man."
[00:04.45] <DM> "And so that he would hear their prayers, he built nine pylons to carry those prayers to him."
[00:05.27] * Repriever raises his chin.
[00:06.13] <DM> "And with the prayers of man, God would cast down the rebel angels."
[00:06.31] <DM> Azri floats to the ground in front of Repriever and the others, except for Shala.
[00:06.55] * Repriever stares intently into the mancer's eyes.
[00:07.04] <DM> "Really ties it up rather neatly, doesn't it?"
[00:07.13] <DM> Azri's eyes are shining bright white.
[00:07.23] <+Mel> "Somewhat cuts out the divines."
[00:07.39] * Mel keeps her distance.
[00:07.40] * Repriever gazes at him with evil sight.
[00:08.41] <+Mel> "I suspect that is your intention."
[00:08.57] <DM> "I'll tell you my intention."
[00:09.02] * Repriever cannot unsee Azri's white gaze.
[00:09.06] * Mel listens.
[00:09.25] <DM> "Remaking the world...freeing us of this cycle."
[00:09.41] <+Mel> "But what you suggested would destroy the world, save a few elect."
[00:09.57] <DM> "I'm aware that is of concern to you."
[00:10.09] <+Mel> "And what then of the power drawn by the ritual?"
[00:10.35] <DM> "It is more difficult than I expected."
[00:10.58] <DM> "I had hoped to reverse it, using the Key."
[00:10.58] <+Repriever> "Where is She?"
[00:11.02] <+Mel> "You may be pulling out the lowest support of a towering magical edifice that hangs over us."
[00:11.07] * Repriever asks again, more desperate.
[00:11.33] <DM> "Do you want her back, Repriever?" Azri says quietly.
[00:11.36] * Shala clutches her artifact in her pocket
[00:11.54] <DM> "I'm curious..."
[00:11.55] <+Repriever> "More than anything."
[00:12.03] <DM> "If you could only see one of them ever again."
[00:12.14] <DM> "And the other was condemned to eternal perdition..."
[00:12.18] <DM> "Which would it be?"
[00:12.21] <DM> "Astara..."
[00:12.24] <DM> "...or Calcis?"
[00:12.28] <+Mel> "That is a sick question."
[00:12.32] * Kir (45cb4c0c@ircip3.mibbit.com) Quit (Quit: ＋http://www.mibbit.com， ajax IRC Client)
[00:12.38] <+Mel> "Why seek such binaries?"
[00:12.59] * Repriever uncomfortably holds his tongue.
[00:13.03] <DM> "It isn't sick for a paladin."
[00:13.07] <DM> "Paladins are all about binaries."
[00:13.12] <DM> "Good, evil."
[00:13.16] <DM> "I think you know that well."
[00:13.27] <+Mel> "An argument beneath you, Azri."
[00:13.29] <DM> "There is always a first loyalty, with them."
[00:13.44] <+Repriever> "I serve the divines."
[00:13.48] <+Mel> "A child hanging from a string, one caught in a fire- both are worthy of rescue."
[00:13.59] <DM> "If you asked me, who would I rather condemn to eternal torture, Shala, or the world, I would say the world."
[00:14.17] <DM> "Perhaps I've simply just thought things through."
[00:14.19] <+Mel> "That is not a healthy thought."
[00:14.26] <DM> "On the contrary."
[00:14.29] <+Mel> "Not one of us is worth more than all."
[00:14.37] <DM> "It doesn't mean I lust for the world's destruction."
[00:14.43] <+Mel> "No, it does not."
[00:14.52] <+Mel> "But it shows that you weight it so lightly."
[00:14.53] <DM> "Simply that I know what choices I would make."
[00:15.02] <DM> "No, no indeed."
[00:15.10] <DM> "Shala is far more important than the fate of one little world."
[00:15.19] <DM> "There are others."
[00:15.22] * Kir (45cb4c0c@ircip2.mibbit.com) has joined channel #nesdnd
[00:15.24] <+Mel> "The most precious of any life could not outweigh the lives of all that were, are and shall be."
[00:15.32] <DM> "Repriever would choose his goddess over a city."
[00:15.36] <DM> "Or an empire."
[00:15.41] <DM> "In fact, that is exactly what he did."
[00:15.48] <+Repriever> "Then why am I the one saving her, over and over and over?"
[00:15.54] <+Repriever> "Where the fuck have you been?"
[00:16.05] <+Repriever> "Where is your blood?"
[00:16.17] <DM> Azri flicks his eyes to the crystal heart again.
[00:16.17] <+Mel> "If you have sought to save the world, to keep Shala safe, why have you acted counter to us so?"
[00:16.19] <+Repriever> "For this thing you believe in."
[00:16.27] <DM> "Did he tell you?"
[00:16.35] <DM> "I offered him the Essence of Air."
[00:16.39] <DM> "He spat in my face."
[00:16.54] <+Repriever> "Do not lie."
[00:16.55] <+Mel> "Why have we not cooperated to stave off the ruination of our world, to avoid the terrible choice you presented us with?"
[00:17.11] <DM> "It requires a deeper question, Melchior."
[00:17.16] <DM> "A question the real players are asking."
[00:17.20] <DM> "What is this world?"
[00:17.37] <DM> "And is it healthy for the universe to let it live?"
[00:17.49] <DM> "That is the scale I am thinking on, while you play here in the mud with monsters and toys."
[00:18.23] <+Mel> "Then perhaps it would be best that you left this little world o' mud and toys."
[00:18.35] <DM> "Would it."
[00:18.45] <+Mel> "And let us do what we can to try and save it, for those who believe in its value."
[00:19.00] <DM> "It's funny."
[00:19.07] <+Mel> "Do say."
[00:19.23] <DM> "You have a vested interest in protecting this world."
[00:19.28] <DM> "You ARE the world."
[00:19.36] <+Mel> "So people have told me."
[00:19.40] <+Mel> "But that is not what motivates me."
[00:20.04] <+Mel> "Perhaps you will say that it has motivated me since before I can remember."
[00:20.26] <+Mel> "In which case this whole debate dissolves into meaninglessness as you question my motives and the validity of my consciousness."
[00:20.30] * Repriever shakes his head gently.
[00:20.34] <+Mel> "Which would be a thoroughly silly discussion for both of us."
[00:20.51] <DM> "Come down, Shala," Azri calls.
[00:20.56] <DM> "I want you to hear this."
[00:21.03] <+Repriever> He doesn't understand. He thinks he knows a person from what he can piece together."
[00:21.07] * Shala carefully picks her way down the stairs
[00:21.24] <+Repriever> "He doesn't know."
[00:21.34] <DM> "Thank you."
[00:21.40] <+Shala> "Ive likely heard it before."
[00:22.06] * DM sets mode +v Kir for #nesdnd
[00:22.48] * Kir snakes the sphere inside his suit, seeing if there is any response
[00:23.01] <DM> "Ah, ah ah."
[00:23.11] <DM> "I don't want Kallos seeing this, Kir."
[00:23.35] * Repriever slumps a hair under the hand of Cleric Mel on his shoulder.
[00:24.03] <DM> "So what does Bel do?"
[00:24.20] <DM> "He imprisons the universal forces in these jewels and sets them to run across the world."
[00:24.33] <DM> "He sets the world to react and collapse in cycles..."
[00:24.48] <DM> "And he programs the jewels to call heroes forth to end the collapse."
[00:25.10] <DM> "The ritual channels the energy of the gathered jewels into the pylons."
[00:25.13] <DM> "Such as these..."
[00:25.22] <DM> "Their development into 'Towers' purely incidental..."
[00:25.39] <DM> "Sends it to Bel, and leaves a little for the heroes as payment."
[00:25.58] <DM> "Although there are likely curses woven into the post-Ritual experience..."
[00:26.24] <DM> "It is all very neat, and clean."
[00:26.24] * Repriever 's eyes twitch at nothing, thinking about long ago things.
[00:26.28] <DM> "And it works."
[00:26.36] <DM> "For six thousand years, until the Key breaks it all."
[00:26.46] <DM> "A simultaneous act of monumental brilliance and stupidity."
[00:27.14] <DM> "I thought we could simply use the Key's authority to end it."
[00:27.23] <DM> "And with it, Bel's stupid, toybox world."
[00:27.27] <+Repriever> [are his wounds from apastron obvious, or is he just gaunt?]
[00:27.31] <DM> "But it doesn't...exactly solve the problem, does it?"
[00:27.37] <DM> [just gaunt]
[00:27.40] <+Mel> "It was a world before Bel made it a tool."
[00:27.54] <DM> "So I've read."
[00:28.16] <DM> "But ending the Ritual doesn't solve the core problem."
[00:28.20] <DM> "The problem of Bel."
[00:28.54] <DM> "And to your credit, Shala, you've helped me to realize this."
[00:28.57] <DM> "And to remember."
[00:30.02] * You are now known as Azri
[00:30.15] <+Repriever> "And now what, you demand more from us?"
[00:30.45] <Azri> "I know the answer to the question, by the way."
[00:30.52] <+Repriever> "The girl you claim to care so much for, just sent off to another campaign for your whim?"
[00:31.05] <Azri> "You would choose Astara over Calcis, wouldn't you?"
[00:31.30] <Azri> "Of course you would."
[00:31.38] <Azri> "The secret history of the Bladesong says as much."
[00:31.57] <Azri> "Oh, don't take it personally," he says to the air.
[00:32.11] <+Mel> "You're doing this taunting again, Azri."
[00:32.17] <+Mel> "Are you just trying to provoke violence?"
[00:32.39] <+Repriever> "He won't, because he's too smart for that. Aren't you?"
[00:33.03] <Azri> "Violence doesn't really give me much joy."
[00:33.21] <Azri> "So, Shala, for all the points."
[00:33.24] <Azri> "What is my plan?"
[00:33.35] <+Repriever> "This isn't about the world, the divines, or any of us. This is about her."
[00:33.43] <Azri> "Why have I been studying this pylon?"
[00:33.49] <Azri> "And what must we do?"
[00:34.10] <+Shala> "Bring...down the towers, or Bel himself"
[00:34.25] <Azri> "Correct on the latter note."
[00:34.44] <Azri> "The Towers are actually irrelevant."
[00:34.58] <Azri> "The pylons within, the core to Bel's power."
[00:35.03] <Azri> "So."
[00:35.08] <Azri> "I am designing a spell."
[00:35.14] <Azri> "My greatest spell."
[00:35.24] <Azri> "And it will be used by you."
[00:35.28] * Repriever sighs and steps aside, turning his back.
[00:35.40] * Shala gulps
[00:35.45] <Azri> "And this..."
[00:35.56] <Azri> "This is what we do."
[00:36.21] <Azri> We reverse the ritual.
[00:36.23] <Azri> " "*
[00:36.33] <Azri> "We follow the pylon stream, to Bel."
[00:36.44] <Azri> "We pull him back along his lines."
[00:36.49] <Azri> "Then we chain him."
[00:36.52] <Azri> "And then we kill him."
[00:37.08] <Azri> "And that is how we save the universe."
[00:37.14] * Azri half smiles.
[00:37.19] <Azri> "So how about some tea?"
[00:37.24] <+Mel> "That presumes a great deal of knowledge about what Bel is doing."
[00:37.36] <Azri> "No it doesn't."
[00:37.44] <Azri> "It doesn't matter where he is."
[00:37.53] <Azri> "His lines are intact."
[00:38.07] <+Repriever> "It presumes a great deal about what Shala is going to do."
[00:38.12] <Azri> "Yes."
[00:38.16] * Repriever has turned back around.
[00:38.25] <Azri> "But you know it is right."
[00:38.28] <Azri> "All of you."
[00:38.35] <Azri> "Look into your fucking souls."
[00:38.46] <+Shala> "What is the point of being the keybearer but to..."
[00:39.39] <Azri> "Free the Divines from their prisons. Break the Essences."
[00:39.55] <+Repriever> "You are their prison."
[00:39.57] <+Mel> "Is an important step of freeing the divines imprisoning and seizing their power?"
[00:40.13] * Azri snorts.
[00:40.20] <Azri> "Am I the first?"
[00:40.42] <+Repriever> "Does it matter if a rapist is the first?"
[00:41.16] <Azri> "It's really very simple for you, Repriever."
[00:41.29] <Azri> "If you ever want to see Astara again, you will do as I say."
[00:41.57] <Azri> "The rest will follow your lead."
[00:42.08] * Azri stands up, stretching his back.
[00:42.13] <Azri> "Fine, I'll make it myself."
[00:42.35] <+Repriever> "And what do you imagine happens to Shala if you kill me?"
[00:42.42] * Azri walks over to one of his desks, humming as he lights a small fire from a camp stove and pours water.
[00:43.06] <Azri> "Why would I kill you?"
[00:43.17] <Azri> "She likes you best. You would obviously be last."
[00:43.29] <+Mel> "What happens then, to the 'saved world', if Bel is doing something that is of great importance to the world."
[00:44.00] <+Mel> "We must act on what we know, not one what we suspect."
[00:44.02] <Azri> "Do you want to know what Bel is doing?"
[00:44.06] <+Repriever> "You sound like a palatine, when you say things like that."
[00:44.09] <+Mel> "Do you know?"
[00:44.11] <+Akvan> "But the rest of us"
[00:44.15] <Azri> "I do, Melchior."
[00:44.36] <Azri> "He is doing exactly what he has been doing for the last six thousand years."
[00:44.54] <Azri> "He is destroying."
[00:45.08] <Azri> "World, after world, after world."
[00:45.15] <Azri> "Every planet the kasatha have ever touched."
[00:45.17] <Azri> "He cleanses."
[00:45.21] <Azri> "And extinguishes."
[00:45.50] <+Mel> "Then has he left ours only because it powers him?"
[00:46.01] <Azri> "Correct."
[00:46.11] <Azri> "And I suspect, when he is done."
[00:46.17] <+Kir> "Then Kasatha - who?"
[00:46.17] <Azri> "He will destroy us last."
[00:46.23] <Azri> "And then kill himself."
[00:46.34] <+Mel> "How nihilistic."
[00:47.02] <Azri> "Set yourself an eon-long task of killing hundreds of billions, it will make you a bit depressed."
[00:47.04] <+Mel> "Of course, if he returned, his source of power would be cut off."
[00:47.19] <+Akvan> "What does he have against the Kasatha?"
[00:47.22] <+Mel> "Would they know of his coming."
[00:47.25] <+Akvan> "sorry, not my place."
[00:47.46] <Azri> "The kasatha enslaved us."
[00:47.52] <Azri> "Naturally, they were superior beings."
[00:48.03] <Azri> "But those days are gone."
[00:48.45] <Azri> "I think we can agree that his mission has become more than slightly misguided."
[00:49.03] <+Repriever> "And yours?"
[00:49.17] * Azri looks over his shoulder, white-irises shining as he pours the tea.
[00:49.25] <Azri> "I have plenty of guides."
[00:49.34] <Azri> "Two, lovely guides."
[00:49.39] <Azri> "Would you like one?"
[00:49.46] <+Mel> "You're taunting again."
[00:49.56] <Azri> "He deserves it."
[00:50.07] <Azri> "He is so pathetically foolish and short-sighted."
[00:50.11] <Azri> "Blinded by his sect."
[00:50.45] <+Mel> "You'd be more than likely to achieve your ends if you were less prone to setting others against you."
[00:50.51] <Azri> "And now, so desperate that he flings himself into the arms of dragons."
[00:50.52] <+Repriever> "You speak of sacrificing this world for yours. I already did it."
[00:51.17] <+Repriever> "Everyone I knew, and loved, and cherished, and protected, died an eon ago."
[00:51.22] * Azri changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 76: Trembling Shards - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_zqdnl09VI，
[00:51.28] <+Repriever> "On promises of a new start."
[00:51.37] <+Repriever> "A way to save the world."
[00:52.20] <+Repriever> "They failed, and you will fail, too."
[00:52.45] * Azri takes two cups of tea, and walks to Repriever.
[00:53.13] <Azri> "Why don't we work together, against the demon that would consume us both, and the wizard who is our true enemy?"
[00:53.27] <+Mel> "That is a case that you must make as well."
[00:53.32] <Azri> "As much as you dislike me, I at least have a plan to save Shala, and the world."
[00:53.51] <+Mel> "And again we must set out what we consider 'the world' to be."
[00:53.53] <Azri> "I am simply not sure Arta will withstand the reversal of the ritual."
[00:53.55] <+Repriever> "I might not have a plan, but I know how to save people."
[00:54.04] <Azri> "The forces unleashed..."
[00:54.05] <+Repriever> "Comes with the name."
[00:54.07] <Azri> "I have calculated."
[00:54.16] <+Mel> "Considering that you felt that our world was a major potential risk to our universe..."
[00:54.21] <Azri> "If the energy isn't given to Bel..."
[00:54.33] <Azri> "If the pylon network is not used..."
[00:54.46] <Azri> "It is a catastrophic quantity of energy."
[00:54.49] <+Mel> "We have potent magi, wizards, clerics, thaumaturges and more still left in this world."
[00:55.00] <+Mel> "We would be wrong to presume Bel's work to be perfect."
[00:55.10] <+Mel> "For he was but a man too, and even gods have erred egregiously."
[00:55.16] <Azri> "It is perfect."
[00:55.39] <+Mel> "Said by a student of a student of a student of the second teacher."
[00:55.48] <+Mel> "Perhaps within his school, it is."
[00:55.49] * Azri smirks
[00:56.01] <Azri> "Very few make it this far."
[00:56.03] <+Repriever> "That's always been the problem with mancers. You do too much godsdamn thinking."
[00:56.13] * Azri points to the glowing, pulsing crystal heart-thing
[00:56.17] <+Mel> "Perhaps there is a way to channel the energy away."
[00:56.21] <Azri> "That is Bel's work."
[00:56.25] <Azri> "A small piece of it."
[00:56.28] <+Mel> "Vent it. Create something new, here or elsewhere."
[00:56.46] <Azri> "Don't you understand, Mel?"
[00:56.47] <+Mel> "Set it to protecting the world, rebuilding it, or making an ark to rescue its people."
[00:56.58] <+Repriever> [did he pour two cups for himself, or is this dude gonna share?]
[00:57.20] <Azri> "If the Essence of Earth is broken, you will be..."
[00:57.28] <+Mel> "Just me."
[00:57.32] <+Mel> "As I have ever been."
[00:57.34] * Azri hands the cup of tea to Repriever.
[00:57.45] <Azri> "You will be released."
[00:58.04] <+Mel> "That's a rather vague descriptor."
[00:58.09] <Azri> "You will be mighty, wondrous, universal beyond measure."
[00:58.09] * Repriever sips it.
[00:58.15] <Azri> "Transcendant."
[00:58.26] <Azri> "But you will certainly, not...be Melchior Boone."
[00:58.33] <+Mel> "Everyone dies."
[00:58.39] <+Mel> "Everyone faces that mystery."
[00:58.41] <Azri> "That is no death."
[00:58.51] <Azri> "It is true ascension."
[00:59.05] <+Mel> "Perhaps this is where our views are apart, Azri."
[00:59.23] <+Repriever> [what's this tea?]
[00:59.24] <+Mel> "That is not the ends I seek for myself, though it may be the ends I some day reach."
[00:59.25] <Azri> "You would become a universal goddess, Melchior."
[00:59.38] <Azri> "You would not look after one world, but all worlds."
[00:59.44] <Azri> "That is the fate you are supposed to have."
[00:59.50] <Azri> "The fate Bel has denied you."
[00:59.59] <+Mel> "If I didn't know better I'd suspect you were trying to tempt me."
[01:00.08] <Azri> "You are honest."
[01:00.10] <+Mel> "The whole world was meant for better things, Azri."
[01:00.27] <Azri> It is mint and juniper tea, Repriever.
[01:00.34] <+Mel> "Perhaps seeking the resurrection of Arta is the path to that."
[01:00.45] <Azri> "I see."
[01:00.49] <Azri> "To follow Bel's plan."
[01:00.56] <+Mel> "Perhaps breaking the essences and returning their powers, so that the sisters are a force united as one, is that path."
[01:01.07] <+Mel> "Honestly I don't know."
[01:01.37] <Azri> "My belief, based on my research, is that this is the only way."
[01:01.52] <Azri> "Unless we choose to live as slaves in Bel's world."
[01:02.24] <Azri> "To reincarnate, and to erase Shala's soul for his project of genocide."
[01:02.29] <+Mel> "Slaves as humans are slave to the sun or the seasons, perhaps."
[01:02.43] <+Mel> "The destruction of one was a product of the ritual broken, was it not?"
[01:03.10] <+Mel> "That one would be annihilated from the record, because of the breaking of the ritual."
[01:03.26] <Azri> "The Ritual is still broken."
[01:03.40] <+Mel> "Because of the key's creation."
[01:03.46] * Azri nods.
[01:04.01] <+Mel> "It's a potent tool."
[01:04.11] <Azri> "Consider this."
[01:04.15] <+Mel> "A precious one. One that we would probably be better off having no one possess."
[01:04.19] <Azri> "What does Bel want you to do?"
[01:04.37] <+Repriever> "Does that matter?"
[01:04.46] <Azri> "Perhaps."
[01:04.47] <+Mel> "Bel, I suspect, wishes me to see that the world is restored."
[01:04.55] <+Mel> "Wishes that of all of us, most likely."
[01:04.59] <Azri> "Exactly."
[01:05.03] <+Mel> "Wishes for us to pursue that to the best of our capacities."
[01:05.22] <Azri> "But do you know what remains within his power?"
[01:05.30] <+Mel> "I do not know, however, if his crusade across the cosmos is what you describe."
[01:05.43] <Azri> "To end it."
[01:05.48] <+Mel> "You offer this to us on faith, but you have also given us many reasons to be distrustful of you."
[01:05.52] <Azri> "He has already missed one cycle, Boone."
[01:06.08] <Azri> "He is hungry."
[01:06.18] <+Mel> "You speak of him like a vampire."
[01:06.34] <+Akvan> "Speaking of vampires...."
[01:06.35] <+Repriever> "He does dance with those."
[01:06.42] * Akvan gestures around to the tower around us
[01:06.57] <Azri> "Fools, playing with potions."
[01:07.04] <Azri> "You want to see, then?"
[01:07.08] <Azri> "I'll show you."
[01:07.11] <Azri> "I was there."
[01:07.25] <+Mel> "Show us why you believe Bel must be stopped."
[01:07.31] <+Repriever> "You were where?"
[01:07.34] * Azri holds out his hand, and the Essence of Air zips into it.
[01:07.41] <+Mel> "If what you tell us is true, then we would wish to unite all the world against such a fate."
[01:07.49] <Azri> The crystal ceiling turns dark.
[01:07.55] <Azri> And then sparkles with stars.
[01:08.06] * Repriever takes in the changes.
[01:08.07] <+Mel> "Dragons, the hidden ones, both factions of towers, and all things that wander the earth."
[01:08.16] <Azri> And you are standing in the void.
[01:08.28] <+Repriever> "A vision?"
[01:08.32] <Azri> A sun, blue-white, burns.
[01:08.55] <Azri> And before you, an orange and white world, with green oceans.
[01:09.03] <Azri> A silver ring courses around it.
[01:10.18] <Azri> "This world has a name no human tongue can pronounce," says Azri. "But in Kasathic, it was ||murmuring-acid-susurrus-knowledge-haven||. "
[01:10.48] <Azri> "I had trailed his fleet through the void...I was young, in the height of my powers, and curious."
[01:11.00] <Azri> "I sought to speak with Bel, the great wizard...perhaps even to become his apprentice."
[01:11.54] <Azri> A gate opens up, indigo and blue, black lightning crackling around its edges, and through it, amber whales course.
[01:12.38] <Azri> Great, bulky beings usher forth, yet graceful in their way, all smooth lines, drifting through the void.
[01:12.52] <Azri> "Bel's fleet," says Azri.
[01:13.18] <Azri> "I hope you're watching, Shala."
[01:13.45] <Azri> "They aren't coming to enjoy the susurrus."
[01:14.03] <+Repriever> "A war fleet?"
[01:14.46] <Azri> "Wars are two-sided."
[01:14.59] <Azri> There is a flash.
[01:15.14] <+Repriever> "Yeah, the living and the dead."
[01:15.35] <Azri> The beam of light pierces the planet in a blinding instant, so narrow - like Kir's sphere-blade poking through an unsuspecting enemy.
[01:15.52] <Azri> It comes smoothly out the opposite side.
[01:16.01] <Azri> And then the global firestorm begins.
[01:16.19] <Azri> Volcanoes choke the white clouds with black ash.
[01:16.52] * Repriever is reminded of the Emergence.
[01:17.00] <Azri> Acid waves that must be the size of mountains wash over continents.
[01:17.22] <Azri> And then, the light comes again, and it neatly bisects the sphere.
[01:17.49] <+Kir> [falling asleep here, sorry, but I think I've got to call myself out for the night. it was a lot of fun - sorry for screwing things up earlier!]
[01:17.54] * Kir (45cb4c0c@ircip2.mibbit.com) Quit (Quit: ＋http://www.mibbit.com， ajax IRC Client)
[01:17.55] <Azri> Molten rock bleeds, and the planet collapses in on itself.
[01:18.21] <+Repriever> "Is this what he does with the power?"
[01:18.39] <Azri> "Over, and over."
[01:19.11] <+Repriever> "So how do I get him to come do that to you?"
[01:19.11] <Azri> "More beings died in this vision than live on Arta."
[01:19.24] <Azri> "And still you joke."
[01:19.25] * Akvan remembers pillars of salt
[01:19.28] * Repriever sips his tea.
[01:19.40] <Azri> "So do you understand, now," he says, dismissing the vision.
[01:19.50] * Repriever thinks it isn't a joke at all.
[01:19.59] <Azri> "Why I treat this world as if it were not the most important?"
[01:20.16] <Azri> "Bel kills more for breakfast."
[01:20.47] <+Mel> "If this is accurate as you depict, then we would be right to stop the power from being sent to Bel."
[01:21.10] <+Repriever> "I had superiors who thought the same way."
[01:21.24] <Azri> "Perhaps this, then."
[01:21.43] <Azri> "I can be..."
[01:21.47] <+Repriever> "What is one life?"
[01:21.52] * Azri grasps for a word.
[01:22.01] <Azri> "Difficult, for some."
[01:22.07] <Azri> "Long years of study."
[01:22.13] <Azri> "Isolation, intense focus..."
[01:22.19] <Azri> "It does many things."
[01:22.21] <+Mel> "You can't say that I haven't done similar, Azri."
[01:22.34] * Azri gives Mel a sidelong glance.
[01:22.36] <+Mel> "Spending a decade and more wandering the wastes, talking only to memories and a donkey."
[01:22.40] <Azri> "No."
[01:22.50] * Repriever chuckles to himself.
[01:22.53] <Azri> "And you haven't been afraid to kill, either."
[01:23.01] <+Mel> "When I needed to."
[01:23.07] <Azri> "So you understand, then."
[01:23.23] <+Mel> "I understand that sometimes violence and death is necessary, or the better choice."
[01:23.44] <Azri> "That's good."
[01:24.02] <+Mel> "However, I have not come to the point where I agree with your actions elsewhere."
[01:24.12] * Repriever bites his lip and minutely shakes his head.
[01:24.15] * Azri sighs.
[01:24.29] <+Mel> "I will not take an easier path if it is the bloodier path."
[01:24.48] <+Repriever> "One life is everything."
[01:24.58] <Azri> "I've done my best to convince you all."
[01:25.00] <+Mel> "Our party has, right or wrong, placed a great deal of faith in helping people."
[01:25.07] <+Mel> "I think we may yet be making progress, Azri."
[01:25.16] <+Mel> "But we would both have to concede points to one another."
[01:26.01] <+Mel> "For one, why do you hold Calcis and Astara prisoner still- if your intentions are true and genuine, then they could be allies to your, and our, cause."
[01:26.19] <+Repriever> "He knows he can't let them go."
[01:26.46] <+Mel> "We can argue against their vengeance, if that is the concern."
[01:26.48] <Azri> "We are in a difficult position."
[01:26.51] * Repriever finishes the tea.
[01:26.59] <+Mel> "We can forgive those who have crossed us."
[01:27.02] <Azri> "You are, very technically, contracted to kill me, Melchior."
[01:27.15] * Azri finishes his tea as well, and sets down the cup.
[01:27.16] <+Repriever> "And do you remember why?"
[01:27.30] <+Mel> "And if you had to be the sacrifice that was needed to save the world, if it meant that you were doomed to the Hell you earned, but have forestalled-"
[01:27.48] <+Mel> "Would you accept that, knowing what you know, or would you fight to the last?"
[01:28.09] <Azri> "Of course I would, but I'm not."
[01:28.33] <Azri> "When this is finished, you can kill me."
[01:28.39] <Azri> "If it's still your desire."
[01:28.49] <+Mel> "It is what we had to do to save Shala."
[01:28.58] <Azri> "Mmm."
[01:29.09] <+Mel> "Fitting, I suppose, given your truly stated wishes."
[01:29.13] <+Mel> "The world, before her."
[01:29.17] <Azri> "And if I think killing all of you is necessary to save Shala, well."
[01:29.29] <+Mel> "Then we would understand well your actions, no doubt."
[01:29.43] <Azri> "I'm glad we have such a warm understanding of one another."
[01:29.47] <+Mel> "Speculate with me then."
[01:30.14] <+Mel> "What if Repriever and his party... what if we could bring together the essences."
[01:30.27] <+Mel> "Find another way to break Bel's shackles on our world."
[01:30.31] <Azri> "You might have two by the end of today, if you play your cards right."
[01:30.36] * Repriever furrows his brow.
[01:30.46] <+Mel> "Find a way to restore the things divine and mundane alike."
[01:31.11] <+Mel> "Create a world that no longer feeds Bel's rampage, if that is what his actions have devolved to."
[01:31.39] <+Mel> "Create a world that has preserved those things which are good in ours."
[01:32.03] <+Mel> "One that can defend itself should he attempt to return to it, to shackle it once more, or to destroy it in nihilistic vengeance-"
[01:32.16] <+Mel> "If we could do that, why would you work counter to us?"
[01:32.27] * Repriever moves to climb the spiral stair to the giant crystal above.
[01:32.33] <Azri> "That plan exists, Melchior."
[01:32.41] <Azri> "Trapping Bel."
[01:33.27] <Azri> "Once we contain him...in your circle..."
[01:33.45] <Azri> "We'll both get what we want."
[01:34.00] <Azri> "Perhaps you can even save the world, in the process."
[01:34.04] <+Mel> "It's not just about us both getting what we want."
[01:34.09] * Mel looks across the rest of the group.
[01:34.17] <+Mel> "I can speak for no more than myself."
[01:34.25] * Repriever is climbing to the crystal.
[01:34.45] * Azri sits down in his chair.
[01:35.03] <+Mel> "Shala. Akvan..."
[01:35.09] * Mel looks up
[01:35.12] <+Repriever> "Tell me a truth, Azri."
[01:35.12] <+Mel> "Repriever."
[01:35.21] * Akvan looks at mel
[01:35.26] <+Repriever> "Are you in love with her, or the idea of her?"
[01:35.39] <+Akvan> "Mel...?"
[01:35.57] * Repriever makes it to the platform up top where Shala had stood.
[01:36.15] <Azri> "Funny, coming from a man who fell in love with a statue."
[01:36.18] <+Mel> "What do you seek for this world, Akvan? What do you think?"
[01:36.39] <+Repriever> [can I touch that crystal from here?]
[01:36.45] <Azri> [yes]
[01:37.29] <+Akvan> "A good place to live for everyone, where the things that happened to me, happened to all of us, don't happen again."
[01:37.30] * Repriever reaches out to the crystal with the cosmic hand, fingers trailing a hundred colors and shadows.
[01:37.46] <+Akvan> "An honorable place. A good place.
[01:37.47] <+Akvan> "An honorable place. A good place."
[01:37.51] <Azri> Azri starts as Repriever reaches out.
[01:38.00] <Azri> "You fool, don't fucking touch it!"
[01:38.09] <+Mel> "What is it?"
[01:38.22] <+Mel> "I'm afraid I'm not quite as clever as we'd both hoped, I can't say that I recognize this place."
[01:38.24] <Azri> "It's a gods-damned pylon, it will send him to Bel!"
[01:38.31] * Repriever has halted his fingertips an inch from the crystal.
[01:38.43] <+Mel> "How did you escape Bel?"
[01:38.53] <+Mel> "When you realized what he had become?"
[01:39.42] * Repriever slightly withdraws his hand.
[01:40.03] <+Repriever> "It wasn't the statue. It was everything."
[01:40.33] <Azri> "I asked him to send me home."
[01:40.43] <Azri> "He said I had made a good apprentice."
[01:40.56] <Azri> "But he would be taking my memories."
[01:41.09] * Azri chuckles.
[01:41.22] <Azri> "But if you break your mind properly, you can fool even a master."
[01:41.31] <Azri> "Bel is a monster."
[01:42.34] <+Repriever> "Maybe..."
[01:42.59] <+Repriever> "We've learned a lot about monsters lately."
[01:43.03] <+Mel> "Well, if you propose us working towards a common end, Azri, why not suggest a plan?"
[01:43.17] <+Mel> "There is yet time."
[01:43.52] <Azri> "Will he agree, Boone?"
[01:44.01] <+Mel> "Perhaps we can find the narrow path that sees the world saved, in a way agreeable to us both."
[01:44.01] * Azri eyes Repriever.
[01:44.05] <+Mel> "And that is for you to decide."
[01:44.18] <+Mel> "He has been wounded in his very soul."
[01:44.38] <+Mel> "You are right, his goddess is worth more than cities to him- and he has seen those cities lost."
[01:44.46] <+Mel> "He's already lost his world."
[01:44.59] <+Mel> "Give him reason to believe you to be of good will."
[01:45.19] * Repriever still focuses on the crystal, not looking back, clearly deep in thought.
[01:45.21] <+Mel> "Show him that you, greatest among mancers, act for the same good as he."
[01:45.38] * thomasberubeg (177c2db4@ircip2.mibbit.com) has joined channel #nesdnd
[01:45.49] * thomasberubeg is now known as Akvan2
[01:45.55] * Azri slowly withdraws the Essence of Air, and gently sends it floating up through the air, towards Repriever.
[01:46.10] <+Mel> "Show him that you trust us, as we would need to trust you."
[01:46.23] <Azri> The egg-sized jewel, white, perfect, rotates gently, over and over, as it floats up towards Repriever.
[01:46.33] <Azri> And hangs, before his face.
[01:46.36] * Repriever can feel it coming.
[01:46.52] * Repriever snorts.
[01:47.01] <+Repriever> "That is not what I want."
[01:47.18] <+Mel> "Is she contained within?"
[01:47.43] <Azri> "Calcis?"
[01:47.50] <Azri> "She is within my mind."
[01:48.01] <Azri> "But if you take the Essence, she can be in yours."
[01:48.18] <Azri> "I took something from you, I'll give something back."
[01:48.26] <+Mel> "Is it the same thing?"
[01:48.31] <Azri> "No."
[01:48.42] <+Repriever> "You tempt me with power."
[01:48.49] <Azri> "But he will not see Astara back until I believe he will cooperate."
[01:48.59] <Azri> "I believe he will not accept anything that doesn't leave me dead."
[01:49.08] * Akvan (177c2db4@ircip1.mibbit.com) Quit (Quit: ＋http://www.mibbit.com， ajax IRC Client)
[01:49.19] <+Repriever> "So did the spider, so did Apastron."
[01:49.25] <+Mel> "Repriever."
[01:49.33] <+Mel> "Will you..."
[01:49.39] * Mel thinks for a moment
[01:49.48] <Azri> "Melchior, it is very simple."
[01:49.54] <Azri> "It is simple for all of you."
[01:49.59] * Akvan2 is now known as Akvan
[01:50.06] <Azri> "You work with me, or this ends here."
[01:50.09] <Azri> "It is time to decide."
[01:50.13] <Azri> "This is my final offer."
[01:50.15] * You are now known as DM
[01:50.17] <DM> End session.