Session Start: Sun Dec 19 19:46:36 2010
Session Ident: #panmeridian
03[19:46] * Now talking in #panmeridian
03[19:46] * Topic is 'TOPIC CHANGE wtf'
03[19:46] * Set by sofacoin on Sun Dec 12 19:11:09
01[19:46] <sofacoin> BATHROOM THEN GAME
03[19:47] * Khryesl (betamax@86070258.A4F11344.B9E69C72.IP) has joined #panmeridian
06[19:47] * Peek_and_Char stand before the imprisoned kender in the Wings, shunted into surreality, looking upon his swirling mind and the dream demons. Eager to explore the possibilities of this new dimension, a twin reaches out to attempt to pluck one of the demons from the kender's mind.
03[19:50] * Spark (recon@cena.acentauri.gal) has joined #panmeridian
01[20:07] <sofacoin> Touching the dreamdevils makes the twins feel angry, truculent and petulant. It's a little overflow from the instinctive creatures that live inside this Kender's mind, and from touching them, there's also just a little whisp of the Kender's knowledge- his name's Ksak-k-nnr, and he's very, very bored.
[20:08] <Spark> After scouting a little ahead to make sure Gungri hasn't gotten there beforehand, Spark knocks on Kole's door. It's probably best to do this while the others still think he's out, anyway...
06[20:09] * Chelsy waits for a response to her story from H'k-kun
[20:09] <Spark> He instinctively braces himself for the heat, even though his jumpsuit has some small measure of thermos-like insulation.
01[20:10] <sofacoin> There's no reply from the forge's familiar red door. Indeed, it feels almost cold in there, against the general warmth that Dunroamin tends to bask within.
[20:11] <Spark> That's... new. He pushes slightly against it, seeing if it's unlocked.
01[20:11] <sofacoin> H-k'kun chews his lip. "That's a heck of a history, Chel'. Sounds like you've... had some bad times." He sniffs. "You sure it's not okay to kill anyone? 'Cause I suddenly know one guy who I'd like to wipe from Panmeridian."
06[20:12] * Gungri makes his way through Dunroamin, carrying a huge, finely worked stone countertop over one shoulder. He doesn't seem to mind the weight as he retraces his steps back to the shop where they originally got the tip from the dwarvish merchant.
06[20:12] * Xaos starts exploring the ship, poking around this peculiar moving home Panmeridians seems to enjoy.
01[20:12] <sofacoin> The door isn't locked, most likely because anyone robbing Kole would then have Kole upset with them.
[20:12] <Spark> Well, Spark is a friendly face and doesn't have any intention of robbing Kole. He pushes open the door, calling out Kole's name as he shuts it behind him, recalling the last time he was here.
[20:13] <Spark> So many... weeks? Months? Maybe even a year? He's lost track of the time, and it could be anywhere in between.
01[20:14] <sofacoin> There's just coldness and darkness inside. Everything's carefuly been set down: the onyl item of note is a curled scroll on the table, unstamped and without a tying ribbon. It's just visible from the crack of sun-glare that slips past Spark's silhouette.
[20:15] <Spark> Something's wrong here, Spark thinks to himself. Very, very wrong.
[20:15] <Spark> He takes a small stick from his bag and pokes at the scroll, imploring it to unfurl itself.
01[20:16] <sofacoin> Xaos finds all the many rooms and doors: the cargo-bay with Jk and Crocus, napping in a hole; Roopool, a tentacled priest who seems unable to speak common, and a strangely disturbing ball of bright white light... the huge brain under the tarpaulin, the converted bathhouse room, the stores (so much stuff in there)...
01[20:16] <sofacoin> The scroll unfurls with simple pressure. It reads, in very elegant, cursive and elaborate script:
01[20:17] <sofacoin> "Gone out. Pleaze rite ye orderrs belowe. I shalle returne aforethee skye is blodreddenede by thee sunne, moste likelee."
[20:17] <Khryesl> "Thou Cvainte"
[20:18] <Spark> "Well... fuck." Spark looks around a little more... maybe Kole knew he was coming here as he was here 'last time', and left something for him.
[20:18] <Spark> Or maybe something here will jog his precursor memory of what 'this' is...
01[20:20] <sofacoin> There's nothign forthcoming: nothing glowing, and it's pretty hard to see anything notably colorful in the dark. There's one or two items that strike spark as distincly precursor, but he's seen them before: that box, that hammer, that hand-carving (what is it with these people)
01[20:20] <sofacoin> H-k'jkun looks amazed.
06[20:20] * Spark shakes his head, a little disappointed. He'll go out into the countryside a little and experiment with this thing a little more.
01[20:20] <sofacoin> "That's incredible. I wish I could be reborn. How... how do you feel?"
[20:21] <Chelsy> "Like myself." Chelsy smiles.
[20:21] <Chelsy> "Though I can feel anything that touches my armor as if it was touching my skin. It's weird."
[20:21] <Spark> A short run later and nobody in sight, Spark decides to start screwing around. A small log in front of him, Spark experimentally hefts his item in his hand and slashes it across the wood.
06[20:23] * Peek_and_Char ponder and deliberate a bit amongst themselves. With a measure of reluctance, one of the twins goes: +Hey, Ksak-k-nnr. How does this feel?+
06[20:23] * Xaos examines some of the curiosities, like the brain (Kind of a tacky decoration, really) and the ball of light.
01[20:24] <sofacoin> Gungri finds a familiar face peering over a desk at him- the frown like it's not changed in months. "Oh, how nice to see you again." He sniffs. "I know this will sound very human of me, but business is a fast-paced thing when living with them, and this many months... yes. I'll say it. You took your sweet time."
01[20:25] <sofacoin> +Interesting. Mind you, most things would, at the moment. You're Peek and Char, right?+
06[20:26] * Peek_and_Char frown - or make the surreal gesture that equates to a frown. +How'd you know?"
06[20:26] * Gungri chuckles "Aye, s'right enough. I'll apologise for the wait, but we got a little... Caught up, in various matters. Aint had time t'stop back properly for a while. Still". He taps the counter "S'a fine bit o'work, if I do say so myself. All the finer oer the extra time I took on it"
01[20:26] <sofacoin> The orb floats gently away from Xaos as he taps it.
[20:27] <Xaos> "Really, eccentric decorations."
01[20:28] <sofacoin> The wood seems to be unflustered-- except that, like cut paper, there's a thin grey line in it. It begins to seep a familiar liquid and gapes gently, weeping, opening up to that greyness seen before.
01[20:28] <sofacoin> Quietly, the orb begins to uncurl, growing and twisting out like a foetal position of some ineffibly complex design.
01[20:29] <sofacoin> The whie flows along itself, thickening here and there, all the while as the orb turns, unreeling more and more, folding around existing structure... until a toe with far too many brachating toes presses onto the cargo bay floor.
06[20:29] * Spark thinks. If this is a weapon, he'd expect the wood to fall apart or something. He pokes at the 'line', seeing if it'll widen or anything, hoping any of this would trigger a memory or somthing.
06[20:29] * Xaos Detects Magic to study the spells used on the orb, interested.
[20:30] <Chelsy> "So, H'k-kun, I think we might be in trouble soon. An ancient dragon is searching for and recently found us, though we escaped."
01[20:31] <sofacoin> Long legs, with two forelegs below the knees, join to an inhumanly thin torso, navelless. Two arms, again with two forearms at the elbow, share the same number of digits, with black nails pushhing themselves the wrong way up the paper-coloured skin.
01[20:32] <sofacoin> A great, wide, curling smile plays over a face below eyes with more pupils than seem necessary as golden hair spills down the back of the creature's head, a mane of it falling as much from his back as his head. It sputters in some strange language.
06[20:33] * Xaos mutters "Should have brought the Piece of Language Comprehension."
01[20:33] <sofacoin> There's no magic except that which all living creatures faintly radiate.
01[20:34] <sofacoin> H-k'kun sniffs. "That doesn't sound fun. Think we can convert it?"
[20:34] <Xaos> "Do you speaking Common?" to the creature.
01[20:34] <sofacoin> Spark's finger enters a region that feels like it's sucking very gently, without any warmth- too cold for comfort- and very, very dry. It's like a cold wind.
[20:35] <Chelsy> "There's no telling how open he would be to diplomacy, though I hope things can be settled with bloodshed."
01[20:35] <sofacoin> The creature shakes its head, and says something again. It shrugs, grinning. The corners of its mouth turn again, coiling in on themselves.
01[20:35] <sofacoin> The Kender-mind would sigh if it could +Same as you know mine, I guess. I just know.+
[20:36] <Spark> That's... odd, to say the least. Maybe it's a portal to Elsewhere? But no, that goat had the same sort of thing happen and that was *in* elsewhere. He makes another slash on another part of the wood and sees if that does the same thing.
06[20:37] * Xaos directs at the creature: +Oh, wait, maybe you can hear thoughts?+
01[20:37] <sofacoin> The dwarf leans over his counter with a frown. "Well. It doesn't look terrible." He seems to be trying to hide his grin with a big ol' frown.
01[20:38] <sofacoin> It does. The world over the wood sags, gently opening.
[20:39] <Spark> Well, neither of them seems to be opening exactly wide enough.
06[20:39] * Gungri doesn't bother to hide his "Oh, really? I doubt y'could get anything as good, or better, for a great deal o'money anywhere near here. And I'm offerin' t'give it t'yeh now, along with a bundle o'cash". He taps the bag of assorted gold and gems, the merchants share of the spoils.
[20:39] <Spark> Spark is probably going to regret this but he lowers his head to one of the cracks and tries to look in.
06[20:40] * Peek_and_Char say nothing to Ksak-k-nnr for a while. They retreat in distaste, then eventually shift back into reality to inhabit their bodies again.
01[20:40] <sofacoin> It looks like a distant grey. It hurts the eye like staring into a bright light, or straining when one's eyes have failed in the dark.
[20:40] <Chelsy> "H'k-kun, how physical can you dream projections become?"
01[20:41] <sofacoin> "About physical enough to rip someone open. Not much more."
[20:41] <Chelsy> "And how big can they be?"
01[20:41] <sofacoin> The creature bats its eyelids, which are creasless. It slowly curls back into a sphere, apparently bored.
01[20:42] <sofacoin> "Uh, I've not tried. As big as a baby wurm, at least. Pretty big, but they tend to be deadlier if they're smaller. Compressed mass, see?"
06[20:42] * Spark ... tries putting his arm in?
01[20:42] <sofacoin> The old merchant bites his lip. "Alright. Alright. I suppose... I suppose. Look, this is a little hard for me. But... I'm grateful."
01[20:43] <sofacoin> It feels like shoving one's arm in a running stream, except dry. It's not comfortable in the least, but not painful.
06[20:43] * Xaos shrugs and goes to visit the other denizens. Maybe if he studies them for longer periods of time they'll start making sense too.
[20:43] <Chelsy> "Ah. Because I was thinking that, if we are assulted by the dragon, it might be to our benifit if you could dream up a dragon, at least as a distraction."
06[20:44] * Spark tries putting his other arm in the other hole. If these openings are spatially related he should be able to feel his other hand in there.
01[20:44] <sofacoin> "I could dream up a dragon, but it'd be as impressive as a cloud."
06[20:44] * Gungri smiles, and brings the counter around "Want me t'set it up for ya? After the fact, me payin' yeh that comission can be your first transaction usin' it".
01[20:45] <sofacoin> Spark can easily reach his other arm. In fact, the two seem very close to one another- closer by several inches than his shoulders would indicate.
01[20:46] <sofacoin> The old dwarf nods. "I'd like that. Perhaps, yes..."
[20:46] <Chelsy> "Hmm. Well, I'm sure if the dragon attacks, you'll dream up something useful." Chelsy smiles and pats H'k-kun on the head.
01[20:46] <sofacoin> ++Gungri and associates. Can you hear me? It's Runhild.++
[20:47] <Spark> +Oh, hi.+
[20:47] <Spark> +...are you calling in whatever favor I owe you?+ Spark asks as he extracts his arms, trying to find a way to seal up the holes. Don't wanna just *leave* this here.
06[20:47] * Gungri busies himself, putting the counter in place. Good, well worked stone, solidly set and giving the store an impressive look. Gungri installs it with speed and professionalism. +Aye, Runhild! Good t'hear from yeh+
[20:47] <Chelsy> +Hmm?+
06[20:48] * Peek_and_Char look around the isolated storeroom they find themselves returned to. They spend scant moments arguing amongst themselves about something before returning to their room. Their thoughts have a timbre of annoyance to them as they receive the telepathic message. ++Oh, it's you.++ ++What do you want?++
[20:48] <Xaos> ++???++
[20:49] <Khryesl> +Hello?+
01[20:49] <sofacoin> The holes seem to be slowly receding. Looks like they shrink with time as the world restores itself.
01[20:50] <sofacoin> Runhild's voice comes through from telepathy to literal, audible words- or at least, they seem like it to the brain. "Gungri and company, please immediately come to waypoint Llwydanawc'sShiningFortressPoloxitar7. It is most, most highly important."
[20:50] <Spark> No matter to worry about that. "Uh, sure. I'm on my way, be there in... two minutes."
06[20:50] * Spark sprints.
06[20:51] * Peek_and_Char grumble mentally. ++Can't it wait?++ ++We're in the middle of something.++
06[20:51] * Gungri frowns, and glances at the merchant "Looks like I got another call". He dumps the bag of jewels and such on the counter. "Count it in yer own time, if y'feel like yer owed more, or 'ave any other tips, I'll be around and about". With that, he sets off.
01[20:52] <sofacoin> Runhild's voice echoes in Peek and Char's ears, a bit louder. "I would rather immediately." There's a lot of stress on the last word.
[20:52] <Spark> About one minute later Spark hits the waypoint and goes through.
06[20:52] * Peek_and_Char let out an irritated 'ughh' vocally.
[20:53] <Chelsy> "Well, it sounds like something important is going on." Chelsy says to H'k-kun. "I'll be back after this over." And with that she goes to wherever she's supposed to go...does she even know where that is? Oh well, she can wander aimlessly, in that case.
06[20:54] * Peek_and_Char exit their quarters. Seeing Chelsy leaving for the waypoint as well, one of them moves up to walk beside her. The other twin seems to simply follow out of an obligation to stay with his brother. "You know what's going on?" the first one says.
06[20:55] * Xaos abandons the exploration and tries to meet up with someone who knows what's going on.
[20:55] <Chelsy> "Not at all."
06[20:58] * Peek_and_Char make it up on the deck, which looks comparatively empty for once. They twitch their noses. "Usually someone stands at the wheel thing and makes it go through," one of them comments to Chelsy.
[20:58] <Chelsy> "Can't be that hard." Chelsy says, approaching the wheel.
06[20:58] * Gungri makes his way back to The Wings +Everyone get back onboard, make ready t'go through+
[20:58] <Chelsy> "But it looks like Gungri is here!"
06[21:02] * Peek_and_Char greet Gungri perfunctorily when he gets back. They seem impatient.
01[21:02] <sofacoin> Khryesl and Xphazjat arrive below the Wings, just in time.
01[21:02] <sofacoin> The ladder's still shaking with Gungri's footfalls as he climbs.
06[21:03] * Gungri takes a glance at the others as he gets onto the decks, and then nods, and says "Lets get goin' then"
01[21:04] <sofacoin> *retcon
06[21:04] * Xaos finds his way back up to the deck, finally.
[21:04] <Khryesl> Retcon: I'm not here yet :3
01[21:04] <sofacoin> Khryesl and Xphazjat arrive just after Spark and before the wings, but are out of the way of the Ship by the time it arrives
01[21:04] <sofacoin> INCOMING WALL OF FLUFF
01[21:04] <sofacoin> The wings slowly creeps back in reality to the dizzying sight of waves so far below it the endless seas look like crawling blue slate. It rests, gently, on a waypoint: in this case, a wide cylinder of sorcerously-preserved pale granite, a human footstep down and many feet across, inset into a carefully made brick stucture held together mostly by moss.
01[21:04] <sofacoin> It makes a pleasant change- for most people aboard, anyway- for the Wings to be so easy to leave as simply lowering one's self carefully off the side. To the north and east, there are green and verdant isles in the distance, some with tall white buildings.
01[21:04] <sofacoin> To the west, a face of steep rock, a cliff held together with wire nets, bolts, and geomancy- and atop it, greenery, and the faint view of church-slate rooves and red brick and granite and shining metal and windowglass. To the south, a four-storey granite tower gatehouse straddles a relatively steep, right-curving ramp that curves up and round the back of the island.
01[21:04] <sofacoin> There's no way onto the ramp save through the wide vaulted archway that makes up most the bottom level of the tower. Standing at the front of the archway is Runhild, her three-day wake face taught. She attempts a placid, friendly smile, but it looks more like she's trying not to yawn.
06[21:05] * Spark waves at Runhild as he approaches. "What's the cause for these sudden summons?"
06[21:06] * Chelsy makes her way over to this myserious person.
06[21:07] * Khryesl looks with some perplexity at the party.
01[21:07] <sofacoin> "Matters of very, very grave import. You know you are being hunted by the dragon, and about the island of Vathdhafahnmlel, and the effects of that word upon those listening with the correct magic? I have been watching over you... and these things are coming to a head."
06[21:07] * Peek_and_Char are, despite their grouchiness, quite taken by the view of the ocean far below. It takes a few moments for them to notice people heading toward Runhild, and they jog to catch up.
06[21:08] * Gungri makes his way down "Runhild! Good t'see yeh...". He hears her news "Tell yer tale lass. You've always been a one for insights"
01[21:09] <sofacoin> Runhild looks to Gungri. "Is everyone relevant off of the Wings?"
[21:10] <Spark> "Uh, define 'relevant'," Spark says.
06[21:10] * Xaos has been following for some time. Not really relevant, but there.
06[21:10] * Gungri gives Spark a glance "Well, we've got some other guests, but aint sure if they're 'xactly relevant, as the lad says"
[21:10] <Spark> "I mean, we've got the Preacher and Roopool and..." Spark starts rattling off their manifest of passengers.
[21:10] <Spark> "...so if you're going to blow it up or something, please don't."
06[21:11] * Khryesl strides over. "Hello."
01[21:11] <sofacoin> "No, I'm not destroying anything. I merely need to eject the Waypoint so you cannot be followed by the dragon."
[21:12] <Spark> "Oh. That'd be... a good idea."
06[21:12] * Peek_and_Char blink. "Hey, whoa, wait!" "How are we gonna kill it if it can't find us?"
[21:12] <Spark> "Wait, we have a waypoint on our ship?"
01[21:12] <sofacoin> She smiles at Khryesl. "Oh, a Scabmettler. It's an intrigue to meet one of you, at last." The woman's incredibly beautiful, with hair like spun gold and all the usual: it's most likely high magic making her look like that.
06[21:13] * Gungri is waiting in quiet contemplation of the events leading up to this
01[21:13] <sofacoin> "No. Waypoint Llwydanawc'sShiningFortressPoloxitar7 needs to be gated to a hell-realm. And, twins, if he DOES follow you through that waypoint, he will die."
01[21:13] <sofacoin> "Possibly."
[21:14] <Spark> "...well, everything there is se- wait."
06[21:14] * Peek_and_Char frown deeply. "But then it won't be us."
[21:14] <Spark> "Wait."
[21:14] <Spark> "Shit, I put the ship through Xaos's village's waypoint to try and get it off our trail! Shit!"
06[21:15] * Spark starts cursing in his native language a little.
01[21:17] <sofacoin> "I don't think he can trace the ship itself. He is using spies, and he is only hostile to your crew. While I would not say, for certain, Xaos' village is safe, they are an unusual people and would probably have nothing to fear from Horoshnigaldt. Anyway..."
[21:17] <Xaos> "Euthraxis can defend itself. I am not the strongest guardian it has..."
06[21:17] * Spark stops panicking and breathes a sigh of relief. "Xaos, you obviously haven't met a truly ancient greater dragon yet."
[21:18] <Xaos> "And you obviously haven't met the Euthraxis of my village yet. So we're even."
[21:18] <Spark> "I probably haven't either, but I hope this friend is the closest I'll ever meet."
[21:18] <Spark> "Fine, twenty coins says this dragon could take your 'Euthraxis' in a fight, to be judged by Runhild."
[21:19] <Xaos> "As long as the possibility of victory exists, Euthraxis will win. I'll take those twenty coins in that event."
[21:19] <Chelsy> "I'll go get everybody off the ship." Chelsy says, extended her wings out of her armor and flying up to the Wings.
[21:21] <Peek_and_Char> +Miss Chelsy, wait a second,+ Chelsy hears in her mind, before she gets too far away. +Don't look toward me, just listen for a minute.+
[21:22] <Chelsy> +Okay.+
[21:24] <Peek_and_Char> +There's this kender on the ship. Peek put him there.+ - The twin relates how the kender broke Peek's jaw and was then subdued way back in the temple, then brought to the chamber on board the Wings and shunted to subreality as revenge. He's still there somehow, trapped and stuck in that lifeless plane.
01[21:24] <sofacoin> "In a fair fight," breathes Runhild, "There's not much that could beat an ancient dragon. Happily, Euthraxis never has a fair fight. Mind you, nor does an ancient dragon."
01[21:25] <sofacoin> Runhild watches the twins with growing, fascinated and subdued horror.
[21:25] <Chelsy> +Right. How do I get him off?+
06[21:25] * Spark announces "Whoever doesn't want to be stuck on the ship for a while, get out now, and probably wear your fighting gear" to the entire ship.
[21:25] <Spark> He takes extra caution in making sure Ember and Tez do so.
06[21:25] * Gungri just sighs. These large matters they were getting into... What was an old dwarf to do?
[21:25] <Peek_and_Char> +Umm... Think you need to get Peek to do that. I can't. I don't wanna ask him.+
[21:25] <Xaos> "You mentioned it again. You knew a Euthraxis?"
06[21:26] * Chelsy flies back to grab Peek, picks him up despite any protests that may occur, and brings him aboard the ship. "You're going to fix the kender you put into subreality, okay?"
01[21:26] <sofacoin> "I have been watching the ship's travels, and researching whatever I see. I don't know much mrore than I've read in my books, though."
[21:26] <Peek_and_Char> "Hey, hey, wh-! What? Why?!"
01[21:27] <sofacoin> Runhild yells to Chelsy. "Please bring them back. Let them do it afterwards. We don't have time."
06[21:28] * Spark escorts Ember off the wings, with Tez and presumably anybody else that elected not to stay on in tow.
06[21:28] * Chelsy brings Peek back and goes back aboard the ship, not bothering to comment. Fine, it can be dealt with later.
06[21:29] * Chelsy continues getting people off the ship, including H'k-kun.
[21:29] <Xaos> "I'd like to see these books you have written about Euthraxis. It was surprising to meet someone out here who knows of its existence."
01[21:29] <sofacoin> Kafka seems intrigued, and thus follows, at a distance. Roopool, nervously, stays to enjoy a bath. H-k'kun seems positively excited.
06[21:30] * Chelsy also gets...the Dryad, Jk, Crocus, etc.
01[21:30] <sofacoin> "That place," sighs Runhild, "Isn't very well documented at all. Even Kole seems to find it a pperverse and unintriguing place that he's barely spent more than a few decades studying."
01[21:31] <sofacoin> As soon as all the willing crew (and Xphazjat) are off the ship, Runhild snaps her fingers. Immediately, the waypoint falls into a gaing black-and-red void below it, and vanishes with a literal plume of smoke.
01[21:32] <sofacoin> The Wings sinks down onto the surrounding circle of red bricks, landing with the gentlest of bumps.
06[21:32] * Gungri smiles a bit. Runhild always had style.
[21:32] <Spark> "Why is Xphazjat still here?"
06[21:32] * Xaos responds blithely "It's really quite normal compared to a lot of things I've seen here, though."
[21:32] <Khryesl> "He's taken a liking to me."
01[21:32] <sofacoin> With the railing in the way, it looks impossible for a normal human to jump.
[21:33] <Peek_and_Char> Peek stands with a furrowed brow and bunched fists, thinking furiously for a moment. He whips around to stare witheringly at his brother for a long, uncomfortable moment. Char flinches and takes a step back, before Peek forces himself to return his attention to Runhild. They're left standing rather far apart as they listen to her.
01[21:33] <sofacoin> Spark, obviously, could do it flat-footed and subconsciously.
[21:33] <Spark> "Is he staying?"
01[21:33] <sofacoin> "No," sighs Runhild.
[21:33] <Khryesl> "I am not his keeper; ask him."
01[21:33] <sofacoin> 14I was not looking to sta- Ms. Runhild, you seem to have decided for me?
06[21:34] * Xaos is quite convinced that Panmeridian is the insane area, and Elsewhere is the normal, non-reality-warping one.
01[21:34] <sofacoin> "I hardly think the Wings needs fae aboard it. Especially when one notices how Horoshnigaldt only seems to have been able to track it since you met the party."
01[21:35] <sofacoin> Kafka is looking at Xphazjat angrily. "Oh. Yes, that would explain it, Tez." 12...
[21:35] <Spark> "Who let this guy aboard again?"
06[21:35] * Gungri raises an eyebrow, and glances at their now under suspicion guide "Oh?"
06[21:35] * Spark looks to Gungri, being his superior.
06[21:36] * Khryesl rolls his eyes. "Don't blame me."
[21:36] <Peek_and_Char> "Uh..." - The meek-looking twin raises his hand. The other one is simply standing with his arms crossed, looking angry.
[21:36] <Chelsy> "It doesn't matter."
01[21:36] <sofacoin> Xphazjat holds up his hands. "14Really, what is this? I have already explained my reasons to you. And do you think I would honestly hurt Khryesl in any way?"
[21:36] <Chelsy> "Yes, Char?"
[21:37] <Peek_and_Char> "Was us, kinda," he mumbles. He looks at Peek but finds no moral support there.
[21:37] <Khryesl> "And what is your definition of hurt, Xphazjat? If my crewmates were all slaughtered, yet not one of my bones crushed, would you be proud of yourself?"
[21:38] <Spark> "You want me to get the tinder and stake?"
[21:39] <Peek_and_Char> The angry-looking twin rounds on Xphazjat and stares intensely at him. "Are you working for the dragon?"
01[21:39] <sofacoin> "14That would broach me no delight. But... it would be preferable to a home of many of your kind being destroyed. And, of course... I would never allow something to harm you." Even as he speaks, a faint translusence in the air can be seen around him.
[21:39] <Chelsy> "So you were threatened and bullied into working with him?"
[21:40] <Khryesl> "He's not... malicious," Khryesl directs at Spark, "just misguided."
06[21:40] * Gungri takes his axe in hand. Not exactly in a threatening manner. But he's holding it in a firm grip.
[21:40] <Spark> "So, we misguide him back onto the stake."
[21:40] <Chelsy> "No need for violence."
01[21:42] <sofacoin> The translucense is very much manifest, now. It's like he's in a glass sphere, though very much immterial. There's a faint distortion over his face, like an illusion crackling. Runhild rolls her eyes. "Crack their ego even slightly..."
06[21:42] * Gungri gives her a glance "What's 'appenin to 'im?"
06[21:43] * Peek_and_Char stare at the man, one with tight-faced fury, one with fearful fascination. "What are you?"
06[21:43] * Spark just ...s.
01[21:44] <sofacoin> "Fae don't think. They're physical literal projections, magically-made minds and matter made by a greater mind. That's that 'shell' right there. It can't agree its actual actions with those its 'avatar' believes."
[21:44] <Spark> "Oh, so it'll just... undo itself?"
[21:44] <Spark> "From the whole paradox thing?"
[21:44] <Chelsy> "Here's a question; what mind made him?"
01[21:45] <sofacoin> "Probably not. It'll redefine itself. Hopefully not as a servant of the dragon. Maybe it will just carry on as before, working out a decent answer to the paradox."
01[21:45] <sofacoin> Tez smiles and raises a hand. 12I can answer that! This glass shell, here? That's the mind that makes him.
[21:45] <Spark> "Wait... what?"
[21:45] <Spark> "So, it's... self-made?"
06[21:46] * Khryesl draws a pistol and points it at the shell. "What if I fired upon it?"
01[21:47] <sofacoin> "You'd likely kill the avatar, bringing the mind into full reality. It wouldn't be impressed, so you'd have to kill that too."
[21:47] <Spark> "Well, that raises the question of... if it's not affiliated with the dragon, how is the dragon tracking us through it?"
[21:47] <Khryesl> "The same way a bear tracks blood, I imagine. It just can smell it."
[21:48] <Peek_and_Char> "So do we kill it or not?" Peek asks testily.
[21:49] <Chelsy> "No."
[21:50] <Peek_and_Char> The boy purses his lips and emits a frustrated 'gnrrrr'.
06[21:50] * Khryesl holsters his gun, and pulls the brim of his hat down low.
[21:51] <Xaos> "I've seen something like this before, elsewhere."
[21:52] <Xaos> "Sometimes an entity likes to play games against itself."
[21:52] <Spark> "Just... you guys take care of it. This is starting to hurt my brain."
06[21:52] * Gungri is frowning. He really doesn't get this hit...
[21:52] <Spark> "Actually, Runhild, while they're doing that can I ask you to take a look at something?"
01[21:53] <sofacoin> Xphazjat winks out of existence, leaving only a glassy sphere.
01[21:53] <sofacoin> Runhild looks to Spark. "Looks like he's giving it some thought. Anyway: yes, I can answer your question, but htere's people waiting for us."
[21:54] <Spark> "Uh,t here are?"
[21:54] <Xaos> "So while one personality is working toward one end, another is opposed... but since it's the same creature in both bodies, there's a connection between them that's pretty easy to track."
[21:54] <Chelsy> "So there's an 'evil' version with the dragon hunting us now? That means he likely is viewing the same thing we are."
01[21:55] <sofacoin> "Indeed. I wasn't about to bring a Fae up to meet them, though."
[21:55] <Xaos> "It's even possible the evil version IS the dragon, depending on how powerful the creating entity is."
01[21:55] <sofacoin> "No, Fae don't tend to be able to exist in two bodies at once. They have to be where the mind is localized."
[21:55] <Xaos> "... But that's a very low possibility."
06[21:55] * Spark takes Runhild a bit away from the party and opens up his sketchbook, showing her the items he had seen. "Do any of these items ring a bell with you?"
01[21:56] <sofacoin> Runhild looks over them. "Not really. Kole might know. He's amoungst those waiting."
[21:56] <Spark> "I was looking for him earlier, wondered where he got off to."
[21:56] <Spark> "Anyway! Off we go!"
[21:57] <Xaos> "Well, that's how Demokankers work. If that dragon is as powerful as you say, I hope I never meet a Demokanker strong enough to create one."
01[21:57] <sofacoin> Runhild touches the wall again and closes her eyes, like passing through a point-to-point waypoint. She disappears in the manner one would expect.
06[21:57] * Gungri nods, and starts walking. Walking. That was simple. Not headache inducing uncertainty and confusion. He contemplates for a moment, remembering why he'd ever left the safe and simple stone... Lots of good reasons. But he still has a tug to the tunnels in his heart.
01[21:57] <sofacoin> Kafka balks, gently. "Someone's going to have to hold my hand."
06[21:59] * Spark has already followed through.
06[21:59] * Xaos looks at Kafka.
01[21:59] <sofacoin> Spark, you quickly awaken on a surface that appears to be a rough-stone mosaic mandala in brick red, granite, microcline and olivine, interrupted only by a low wall with shining metal rails and a large white-and-black marble slab bench that forms up an entire circle, draped here and there with thick blankets and familiar faces.
[21:59] <Chelsy> "Xaos, would you be so kind?"
01[22:00] <sofacoin> Kafka looks back. "I'm dead. To a waypoint, I'm an object."
[22:00] <Xaos> "That makes sense."
06[22:00] * Spark silently wonders if he's about to be held on trial for something as he takes inventory of each of the faces.
06[22:00] * Xaos offers a hand to Kafka.
01[22:00] <sofacoin> 12(mumblemumble Freak)
06[22:00] * Gungri follows Spark
06[22:00] * Chelsy follows Gungri.
06[22:00] * Khryesl follows
06[22:01] * Xaos walks through the waypoint with Kafka, not following anyone but simply stepping through to the same destination, coincidentally behind them.
06[22:01] * Peek_and_Char follow as well. Char tries to approach Peek on the way, but gets shoved away. They go through the waypoint individually.
[22:01] <Spark> "We're... not in trouble for anything, right?"
[22:01] <Spark> "I hope?"
01[22:02] <sofacoin> Everyone is now, apparently, on top of the tower. Runhild has taken a seat next to a man dressed in dark-green, bright red, and lots of bronze, with a face that wouldn't look out of place on a dwarf. He shakes his head. "No. We're here to help you."
01[22:03] <sofacoin> There's others, here: Rolf, mayor of Dunroamin, sits a few feet away doing paperwork, while Kole in his (metaphorically?) infernal glory sits on the floor, crosslegged and apparently meditating. Kagamagak, or someone like him, is here, too.
06[22:03] * Gungri has sheathed his axe, and looks around the crowd, a quizzical look on his face
[22:03] <Spark> "I'm not sure if that's better or worse."
01[22:04] <sofacoin> There's a couple of others who you haven't seen before, including a man so obviously Ndrrskrri he might as well be wearing the flag.
06[22:04] * Khryesl bows his head and touches the brim of his hat
06[22:04] * Spark makes some small gesture of respect, which for him means staying still and quiet.
06[22:04] * Chelsy bows and takes a seat wherever avaliable.
06[22:05] * Gungri gives some nods around the table, especially to Rolf and Kole
06[22:05] * Peek_and_Char mostly just look around at all the faces, looking uncomfortable. "Who're all these guys?" "Why're they all here?"
06[22:08] * Xaos studies the different creatures present, carefully.
01[22:09] <sofacoin> The red/green man speaks again, Runhild too busy luxuriating in being able to sit. "Make yourselves at home. Grab some of the cushions if you ant, or sit nearby. Conjur up some chairs if you like. The mosaic is fixable, so mess it up as needed. I am Llwydanawc, apprentice of Corbuodua- like Runhild."
06[22:10] * Spark just smiles (well, not really smiles) and nods, keeping himself on his feet as is comfortable for him.
06[22:10] * Xaos suddenly notices the chill on his hand, and lets go of Kafka.
06[22:10] * Khryesl grabs a cushion, and uses sits on the floor with it. "Hello Llwydanawc, I am Khryesl."
01[22:11] <sofacoin> "Yes, I can make waypoints, like the one I had to destroy. No, it's not anywhere as easy for me as for you, Gungri. That one took me a year's work, but I can't risk that bloody dragon... It's a pleasure to meet you, Khryesl. You're one of the newer members, correct?"
01[22:11] <sofacoin> Kafka nods gratefully. "I almost regained feeling there, you know."
06[22:12] * Spark pauses. "...have you been *watching* us?"
[22:12] <Xaos> "Oh, I apologize, then."
[22:12] <Khryesl> "As much as you could call me a member."
06[22:12] * Gungri stands, preferring it to sitting for now. He gives Runhild an odd look at the mention of being an apprentice. She'd always played the masters role... He gives Llwydanawc a slight grin "Guesss y'wont be much financial competition then. I'll offer you a good rate on future comissions"
01[22:12] <sofacoin> "Runhild has. I have been watchign the Dragon and, moreover, the island of Vadh- oh, that would be a silly thing to say."
[22:13] <Spark> "It would, wouldn't it." Spark twitches a little.
[22:13] <Chelsy> "Hm?" Chelsy turns her head. "What island?"
[22:13] <Spark> "Except you're a little late to the party and we're all familiar with that name, save Xaos and maybe Khryesl."
[22:13] <Spark> "Some of us more than others."
[22:13] <Chelsy> "Oh." Chelsy deduces it.
01[22:15] <sofacoin> Kole's eyes open as Rolf finally puts his pen down and pays proper attention. He shuffles in a bit as Kole speaks. "That Island knows of you, now. Ever since you met the Illithid." He speaks as quick and mororsely as ever.
06[22:16] * Gungri gives Kole a look, but simply nods
[22:17] <Spark> "So... now we have an entire Island, capital 'I', probably intelligent, trying to kill us."
[22:17] <Khryesl> "Trying to kill us."
[22:17] <Chelsy> "So what do we do?"
[22:18] <Spark> "The usual two options are 'run' or 'kill it first'."
06[22:18] * Gungri says, in a stony voice "Islands can be broken"
01[22:18] <sofacoin> "It gets worse." Runhild takes over with a nod. "Soon after you left the Black Heron corpse-ship, Horoshnigadlatdghanamaxarin, the most very ancient greater purple wurm, met up with it. He asked it for information."
06[22:18] * Xaos shivers and reflexively casts the protection spell on himself.
01[22:19] <sofacoin> "Hristht, an Illithid you had met very recently, was more than happy to be of assistance."
[22:19] <Spark> "But he should only know where we were then and the direction we were going. We can just keep moving, right?"
[22:19] <Spark> "And he'll give up in a millenia or so."
06[22:19] * Peek_and_Char groan.
06[22:20] * Gungri says "I don't think things are gonna be that simple lad"
01[22:20] <sofacoin> Llwyd takes over from here. "Running isn't that simple when you're against a Wurm like that. He-" 12Yes, he'll have a very, very large information network. And waypoints are everywere, and faster than a ship.
06[22:21] * Khryesl closes his eyes, thinking deeply.
[22:23] <Xaos> "Then you just create a misinformation network."
01[22:23] <sofacoin> "...As I was saying, the Island is also taking an interest in you. You are, to it, and to Horosh, a bastion of Precursor culture: somethign they want to destroy. They have been spreading foul, foul lies about you-- remember the incident in BroollmuGiandoo, the Sequipiid city..."
06[22:23] * Gungri sighs. He Knew that would come back to haunt them...
01[22:24] <sofacoin> "And that," Rolf interrupts, "eas accidental. Imagine what the ACTUAL lies they spread are like..."
[22:24] <Spark> "Um."
[22:24] <Peek_and_Char> "Told you the Word was bad news," a twin mutters.
[22:24] <Chelsy> "Obviously the Island cannot be reasoned with, but can the dragon?"
[22:24] <Khryesl> "Excuse me."
01[22:24] <sofacoin> 12Probably. Eventually...
[22:24] <Spark> "Not really. I mean, have you heard me talk with Tez?"
[22:25] <Spark> "Worse than immortals, they are."
01[22:25] <sofacoin> Llwyd nods, curtly. "Yes, holy man?"
[22:25] <Khryesl> "You call me a 'member' of this crew. Can I opt out?"
[22:25] <Spark> "...slightly."
06[22:25] * Spark smirks at the expense of the quarelling pair.
[22:25] <Chelsy> "What if we offered to help remove the word from him?"
[22:25] <Spark> "Easier said than done."
[22:25] <Spark> "I've tried upon myself and failed."
[22:25] <Spark> "Even if the word itself is gone the knowledge it imparts remains."
[22:26] <Chelsy> "Hmmm."
01[22:26] <sofacoin> "You didn't just spread the word to him. You're also spreading The Word. He had a LOT of resources in High Ndrrskrr, which is now, effectively, the largest Precursor-cultural outpost on Panmeridian."
[22:26] <Spark> "Listen, we didn't do that one!"
01[22:26] <sofacoin> "That entire city hails you as messianic figures."
[22:26] <Spark> "They just found out the name of the island somehow."
06[22:26] * Gungri listens, in deep thought. He wasn't a one to waste words while others would do it for him.
[22:26] <Spark> "And I have no idea how that happened."
[22:27] <Xaos> "Have you considered lobotomy, Spark?"
01[22:27] <sofacoin> Kagamagak(?) grins at Kole. Kole raises an eyebrow.
[22:27] <Spark> "Do you think Hor's going to consider that, Xaos?"
[22:27] <Spark> "But that does raise a question. How *did* the word get into High Ndrrskrr if we didn't do it?"
[22:28] <Spark> "We found out that was the name of the Island from them."
[22:28] <Xaos> "Well, a mini-lobotomy. I'm certain it would be possible to craft a spell to remove specific memories."
[22:28] <Spark> "You underestimate just how extensive these memories are."
[22:29] <Chelsy> "Why does the word garner hate?"
[22:30] <Spark> "Too many questions and not enough answers to go around," Spark mutters to himself, lamenting their own lack of information.
06[22:30] * Gungri simply nods "Aye lad"
01[22:32] <sofacoin> "Thank your lucky stars that they DO so praise you as they do." Llwyd braces his hands in front of his face, restng them on his knees. "Abelocke, over there, was one of those whom was a spy for Horoshnigaldt. He turned Rogue after the Word touched him: no way would he want to help destroy those whom first, brought The Word-as High Priest Drum calls it-nor help destroy a precursor craft that carries presursor relics."
01[22:33] <sofacoin> The gentleman next to the one who looks, basically, LIKE High Ndrrskrr given legs, gives a little wave.
06[22:33] * Spark chokes.
06[22:33] * Spark stares at Drum.
[22:34] <Spark> Were he supernatural Drum would probably be roasting in eye-powered jets of flame right now.
06[22:34] * Peek_and_Char squint, suddenly more in tune with each other again when there's a third party to be hostile to. "So all of you know the Word?"
[22:34] <Spark> As he isn't, however, Spark simply looks like he's a hair's breadth away from stabbing the fuck out of him.
[22:35] <Spark> Then the hallucination of Drum disappears and all is fine and dandy.
01[22:35] <sofacoin> "I do. Rolf and Runhild don't. Kagamagak and Kole are likely immune. Both Ndrrskrr chaps are."
06[22:36] * Spark starts angrily ranting in a tongue that likely only Ember understands and that, were they to comprehend it, would probably be percieved as foul enough to warrant tape over the mouth.
01[22:36] <sofacoin> (...Both Ndrrskrr chaps know the word, sorry)
[22:37] <Spark> (The word does not impart knowledge of Espolia's dialect.)
01[22:37] <sofacoin> Ember quickly smacks her brother with a frown. "Spark!"
06[22:37] * Gungri stays quiet, still, stony face locked like a statue of a philosopher in thought. This was all So bloody complicated...
06[22:38] * Spark quiets down. "If I ever see that fat [expletive] again..." he mutters, but beginning to behave himself again.
[22:39] <Peek_and_Char> "So..." "What do we do about it?" "This is kinda heavy." "A dragon and an island and everything."
[22:39] <Xaos> "Tell the island the dragon knows the word, let them fight each other?"
[22:40] <Chelsy> "It wouldn't be that easy."
[22:40] <Spark> "It never is."
06[22:41] * Spark seems to have barely regained his composure, still quite upset over the gravity of the whole thing.
[22:41] <Xaos> "It's a start! If the servants of the island and the servants of the dragon start distrusting each other, it might help more than you would think!"
06[22:41] * Chelsy hisses softly, contemplating the situation.
[22:42] <Spark> "Well, I mean, if all those people from High Ndrskrr are all hopelessly brainwashed, they probably have a slight dislike for dragons in general, so can't we just stir up an army if conflict is inevitable?"
[22:42] <Chelsy> "But is conflict really inevitable? With the island, maybe, but the dragon?"
[22:43] <Spark> "If you want to try to reason with the dragon, feel free. If Tez didn't have any luck I doubt you'll have more."
01[22:43] <sofacoin> "You'll likely need to. That island is a danger to many: the word, much less so, and the dragon, only to you. I want you to help me stop the island. In return, I will help you stop the dragon."
01[22:43] <sofacoin> 12Maybe Kafka could have a go. "Not the time, Tez."
06[22:43] * Gungri smiles "Sounds like a bargain"
[22:43] <Spark> "You two still owe me a report."
[22:44] <Spark> "Anyway, yes. Let's... well, how do you kill an island?"
[22:44] <Spark> "How is the island even intelligent?"
01[22:44] <sofacoin> 12It was the fairy. "What he said."
01[22:45] <sofacoin> "The island isn't. It is, however, piloted. It's a great... nation, city-state, country, raiding-vessel, attack boat, patrol craft... of the Illithid. It's like your Wings, in many ways, except the Precursors weren't slavers."
[22:45] <Spark> "Oh."
[22:45] <Spark> "So, we just need to kill... a bunch of Illithids."
06[22:45] * Spark sighs.
01[22:45] <sofacoin> "Possibly thousands."
[22:46] <Chelsy> "And we can't just blow up the island because we must free the slaves."
06[22:46] * Gungri grimaces "That sounds like a problem"
[22:46] <Peek_and_Char> "Sounds good to me," says a twin with grim anticipation.
[22:46] <Spark> "The word from my language is [expletive], but there's no exact translation in Common. Something like a 'metric fuckton'."
[22:46] <Spark> "Well, wait... it might be like a snake."
[22:46] <Spark> "Cut off the head..."
01[22:47] <sofacoin> "Also," Runhild interjects... "I'm not so sure Horosh's threat to the Faerie was idle. It could be the fae making things up, or he really could be threatening to destroy a centre of Scabmettler culture."
[22:47] <Spark> "...unless, of course, the Illithids operate as a commune, psionically communicating to each other and coming to a consensus on what to do."
[22:47] <Spark> "I hate to say it, but if we find some way to destroy the island whole... well, there are only so many slaves aboard..."
[22:48] <Spark> "That'd be more likely to succeed than taking on thousands of Illithids individually."
01[22:48] <sofacoin> "It's more imperial, I believe." "One acts not as a head, but as a queen. No matter how she dies, one shall sieze her position."
06[22:48] * Gungri says "Islands can be broken"
[22:48] <Spark> "Okay, Gungri, you're the expert. How do we break an island?"
[22:48] <Chelsy> "But we are not going to let the slaves die just to destroy the island." Chelsy firmly notes.
[22:49] <Spark> "Listen, Chelsy, there are at most what, maybe a few thousand slaves on there? We have safety of entire islands of people at stake."
[22:49] <Peek_and_Char> "Pff, why not? Just break the thing and we'll have it done." "Uh, yeah, what he said."
06[22:49] * Gungri grins "Same way y'break every tough stone lad. Either, y'chip away, or y'find a weak point, and put enough force into it to crack it open. My people are experts"
[22:49] <Spark> "Maybe better to lose a few than to fail and lose plenty."
[22:50] <Chelsy> "Better to lose none. People are not ends to a mean."
[22:50] <Spark> "But is losing none a viable option? If we fail, we're back where we started-- farther back, even."
06[22:50] * Spark thinks.
[22:50] <Spark> "Kafka, you know that mass spell to understand languages you casted?"
01[22:50] <sofacoin> "I can help," notes Llwyd. "The Island does have a waypoint. Indeed, it's a waypoint you need to destroy."
01[22:50] <sofacoin> Kafka nods. "I do."
[22:50] <Spark> "Theoretically, how much can we amp that up?"
01[22:51] <sofacoin> "Given enough Rockmilk or such, enough to affect an entire island." 12I like this idea!
[22:51] <Spark> "I'm probably going to regret this."
[22:51] <Chelsy> "So we teach them all the word...and then what happens?"
[22:51] <Spark> "Well, then they'd have no reason to destroy that which contains the Word."
[22:52] <Spark> "Either that or they all kill themselves."
[22:52] <Chelsy> "I see. It could work."
01[22:52] <sofacoin> Llwyd sighs. "...But they all know the word, gentlemen. It has a meaning in their language."
[22:52] <Chelsy> "I like this idea the best."
[22:52] <Spark> "Now let me guess, 'Rockmilk' is some ultra-rare ore only found in the bowels of Hell itself, guarded by the darkest demons and brightest angles."
[22:52] <Spark> "Or that."
[22:52] <Spark> "No way to force them to comprehend it?"
01[22:53] <sofacoin> "They DO comprehend it. It's the name of their island, and thus of the waypoint onto the island."
01[22:53] <sofacoin> "Now, think of how inquisitive and explorative humans are."
[22:53] <Chelsy> "But do they know the meaning of the word?"
[22:53] <Spark> "No, the same way like I do and how most of Ndrskrr does."
[22:53] <Spark> "You know what I mean."
[22:54] <Xaos> "Wait... so the Word is the essence of the Illithid race?"
01[22:54] <sofacoin> "It may work, but as far as I know, the word roughly means 'moving target' in the Illithid tongue."
[22:54] <Spark> "Wait."
[22:55] <Spark> "If this is an Illithid word how the hell does it do what it does?"
01[22:55] <sofacoin> "It has one word in one language, and another in another. If the person infected knows no language, they'll learn it as both; if they have an expectation, they'll learn it as one or another. There's a simple way to immunize people: teach them Illithid."
[22:56] <Spark> "Well, having them forget Illithid is impractical..."
[22:56] <Spark> "...guess we're back to 'blowing up the island', then."
[22:56] <Spark> "Anybody here got any previous experience in genocide?"
01[22:56] <sofacoin> Tez raises Kafka's hand for him.
01[22:57] <sofacoin> H-k'kun also raises his.
[22:57] <Chelsy> "We are not killing all those slaves."
[22:57] <Spark> "Ignoring the slaves as collateral for a moment, how would you deal with this?"
06[22:57] * Gungri says "The Guild sometimes wipes out small settlements on hostile islands... But that aint 'xactly the same". He gives a glance to Chelsey, and sighs at the naivety.
06[22:58] * Gungri says "But I know who we could go to for help"
[22:58] <Spark> "Listen, Chelsy. Let me tell you a story."
06[22:58] * Chelsy listens to Spark for a moment.
01[22:58] <sofacoin> "If it was as simple as a massive burst of Word Comprehension, I'd have done it myself. Brute force might be easier, and I'm no slouch at that. I'm currently helping hide the last place you went-- with that tower- from the Illithid Island..."
[22:59] <Spark> "Long ago, in some island you never heard of, there was a nice, peaceful commune. At least a couple thousand people there. The downside of it was that they weren't really armed at a moment's notice."
[22:59] <Spark> "So, one day, this scout at the end of the settlement sees this massive army, outnumbering them fifty to one. The commune would only be able to escape if they were given appropriate notice."
[23:00] <Spark> "The scout himself lost the ability to run, but he could comand another -- a sort of slave-prisoner -- to run all the way back to the settlement and warn them, but the effort would surely kill him."
[23:00] <Spark> "Would it be better to let the slave-prisoner die, or to let that man and all of the commune die and worse?"
06[23:01] * Gungri smiles at Sparks story. It was oddly similar to an old dwarven tale. Although, that one involved more gold.
[23:01] <Chelsy> "People are not" Chelsy blinks each eye individually "Ends to a mean. If there is a way, it is better to have all live. In your story, it is not possible, but in ours, we do have a possibility."
06[23:02] * Gungri sighs, and calls through his heart and stone for his familiar.
[23:02] <Spark> "If there is a possibility then I invite you to share it with us."
[23:02] <Spark> "Because right now I don't see one."
[23:03] <Chelsy> "Then we look for one."
[23:03] <Spark> "Every moment we wait, more people die. We don't have that kind of time."
06[23:04] * Chelsy casts an eye out to behind Spark for any that may agree with her point of view.
01[23:04] <sofacoin> Twrra-chan makes a sudden mess of the mosaic. <Yaho, minna-chan!>
01[23:04] <sofacoin> Rolf fails to hide his delight.
06[23:04] * Gungri smiles at her, and asks <Terra-chan, how many of your people would it take to break an island?>
[23:05] <Peek_and_Char> A twin sniffs. "I like what she said." - He points at Runhild. "Brute force. Blow it all up."
[23:05] <Spark> "I think I proposed that, not Runhild."
[23:06] <Spark> "Not that I really *want* the credit for some small-scale genocide, so she's more than free to have it."
[23:06] <Chelsy> "I will not allow us to take any action which give the enslaved people no chance to live."
06[23:07] * Gungri says "No you won't lass. You'll let us get on with it". He says it as if its a final word.
[23:07] <Spark> "You won't allow us, Chelsy? How are you going to enforce that?"
[23:07] <Spark> "Sure, you can slay me, I don't doubt that. And then Gungri, too? Khrysel, Runhild, Kole, even Kag?"
[23:07] <Spark> "Do you really think you'd be able to do that?"
06[23:08] * Chelsy stands up. "Why would I slay you? You're worth nothing more and nothing less than the slaves I am trying to protect. Lives are of equal worth and who are we to say who lives and who dies?"
01[23:08] <sofacoin> Terra shrugs. <Betsunei. Shiranai. Dono kurai ookii no?>
06[23:08] * Gungri says "We're the people who have to make the choice lass. And part of being a good leader is Making those choices. People die. It happens. Y'gotta live with it"
[23:08] <Spark> "Tell me, then, how are you not going to allow us to take this action?" he asks with a shrug.
[23:09] <Spark> "Ask kindly? Because I don't think that'll work."
[23:09] <Spark> "Or rather, has."
[23:10] <Chelsy> "I guess I will be going to the island myself - and with all others who wish to join me - and try to free them myself. If you want to blow up the island while I'm there, I guess I can't actually stop you."
[23:10] <Spark> "And you think that'll work? Well, I certainly can't stop you."
[23:10] <Spark> "Have fun... dying in vain, I guess."
[23:10] <Gungri> <A couple of miles at least, Terra-chan, maybe bigger>
[23:10] <Spark> It finally occurs to Spark to gauge Ember's reaction to his last half-hour of morally questionable lecturing.
06[23:10] * Gungri says "Chelsey, stop being stupid"
06[23:11] * Chelsy turns to Gungri. "Yes, Gungri? What do you want to say?"
01[23:11] <sofacoin> Runhild looks to Llwyd, who nods to her, then to Kole. "We can help if you want to stage an invasion. Stopping it at any cost is the main thing: perhaps by making it so it cannot be controlled. Freeing the slaves, or their survival, is secondary in my eyes, but still preferable."
06[23:12] * Gungri gives her a long look "I've lived twice your years lass. I've had lives in my hands, and I've had to choose who lives and who dies. Its a fact, its somethin' you can't avoid. If we can save 'em, we will. But stop being an idiot and saying you'll risk anythign to try. All that does is get even more people killed"
06[23:12] * Spark has the sinking feeling that as soon as he looks at Ember's expression he's going to be disappointed (with her or himself, he's not quite sure) but he does so anyway.
[23:13] <Chelsy> "Gungri, I want you to think for a second about what you said. If we can save them, we will. But here we are, actually considering an option that allows them no chance at survival. I'm not saying we have to save them at any costs. I am saying that we can't condemn them to assured death. They must, at the least, have the chance and oppurtunity to live."
06[23:15] * Gungri says "If you have an idea that can accomplish that, then by all means, share it. For now, I'm gonna try and destroy the island and stop this bloody mess. I've had a thought that some o'Terra's people could do a good job, tearing an island apart. Its only stone, after all"
01[23:15] <sofacoin> <...Okusan no Terrajin. Gomen nasai, hyakusan..."
01[23:15] <sofacoin> >
[23:16] <Chelsy> "I don't have an idea, but we must think of an idea. Why should we even consider anything which garauntees death?"
01[23:16] <sofacoin> Ember isn't even looking. She seems distracted by the back of her hand.
06[23:16] * Spark sighs a little.
06[23:16] * Gungri nods, thoughtful "Accordin' to Terra, it could be done with a few hundred elementals...". Gungri looks to Chelsey again, and his voice is losing its calm. "Because there isn't Time. We need to act soon, and we don't have time to wait"
[23:16] <Spark> "Because it's the only way to guarantee even more people not dying?"
[23:17] <Spark> "A guarantee is much better than a twenty percent chance."
[23:17] <Spark> "Now, to logistics. What do we need to raise a few hundred elementals?"
[23:17] <Spark> "And then get them on the island and get them through their defences?"
01[23:17] <sofacoin> "Time isn't of the essence. I can keep the island distracted- only the occasional fool using the Word as a waypoint name will get themselves enslaved. I can wait for your decision."
[23:18] <Chelsy> "Gungri, if we blow up that island, -we- will be responsible for their deaths. Directly."
[23:17] <Spark> "I can live with that."
01[23:17] <sofacoin> "Gungri." It's Rolf, standing and frowning like he's telling off Anderson.
06[23:17] * Gungri says "We could use magic, or negotiate with Terra's folk for their aid. As for reaching it... I can make waypoints, and we have a cannon". He looks at Chelsey again "I'm already responsible for the deaths of... Hundreds? Maybe more. Mining is a tough business. Choices must be made"
[23:18] <Gungri> But, after a moment, he adds "But while we have breathing room... We can look into alternate options"
06[23:18] * Chelsy breaths a sigh of relief.
[23:18] <Gungri> "We'll still prepare t'destroy it. But, while we're preparing, you can look for a better way, Chel. I hope t'the stone in my heart that you find one"
[23:18] <Gungri> "If you don't..."
06[23:18] * Gungri looks grim
[23:18] <Chelsy> "I understand." Chelsy nods.
01[23:18] <sofacoin> "Gungri. Realize if you DO doom so many people to die, and there is no even risky alternative, you will not..." Rolf lowers his eyes, and then struggles with his words.
[23:18] <Peek_and_Char> A twin raises his hand. "Well, um... I had a thought..."
[23:19] <Chelsy> "Yes, Char?"
06[23:20] * Gungri turns to Rolf again, listening
[23:21] <Peek_and_Char> "Can... we make a new Word? I mean, the Word does stuff to your brain, to make you want to do certain things and stuff... What if we make a new Word that they don't know yet?"
01[23:21] <sofacoin> "You won't be welcome. In... Dunroamin, old friend." Rolf covers his eyes with his hand. "Gods knows I've killed, myself. But... this isn't something I could live with doing. And I couldn't live with you if you did it."
[23:21] <Chelsy> "...That is an interesting idea. Is it possible?" Chelsy turns to the group.
06[23:22] * Gungri nods slowly "I understand Rolf. I wouldn't want one o'that sort by my side, neither. Its why I'll hope that we find another way. But...". He crosses his jobs "When there's a job t'be done, I'll do it. Its my way"
[23:22] <Spark> "Unless you could limit it to just Illithids, the slaves -- and possibly more -- would be forfeit to it that way."
[23:22] <Peek_and_Char> The other twin stares at Char, who turns around to look back. Peek looks even angrier now, and their facial cues betray an argument taking place.
[23:22] <Spark> "But if we could, what would you have it do?"
01[23:23] <sofacoin> H-k'kun chimes in. "Orgy!"
06[23:23] * Chelsy shakes her head.
[23:23] <Spark> "...I fail to see how that furthers our goal."
[23:25] <Xaos> "It could serve to distract them."
[23:26] <Peek_and_Char> The twin hesitates, his attention mostly on arguing with his brother. "Peace," he says off-handedly.
[23:26] <Chelsy> "While I don't...agree with the method...maybe a distracting word would be benificial."
[23:26] <Spark> "Also, I don't think Illithids even reproduce that way."
[23:26] <Spark> "Char, as much as I'd love for that to happen, that kind of thing seems... way out of our power."
06[23:26] * Spark looks towards Kafka and/or Runhild for confirmation thereof.
[23:27] <Chelsy> "If we could get them so focused on one thing that they don't even notice us if we waltz in, it could be benificial."
[23:27] <Xaos> "Know any bards?"
01[23:27] <sofacoin> Kafka looks excited. Runhild looks to Llwyd, who smiles. "It seems possible."
06[23:27] * Gungri is thinking again
[23:27] <Spark> "Even the Word I have now is only a 'suggestion', nothing like an actual compulsion."
[23:28] <Spark> "It'd have to be really powerful to foist peace upon such a warring people."
[23:28] <Spark> "...not that I know anything about magic," he concedes.
[23:28] <Xaos> Imagine a level 9 version.
06[23:29] * Gungri says "Do we 'ave any maps, or general layouts of the island?"
[23:29] <Spark> He doesn't bother to add he's on the verge of losing the last remnant of his psionic ability.
01[23:31] <sofacoin> "Well, it should be easy enough to find. It is, after all, more than easy enough to just jump through a waypoint and be there. I can send through some allies to map it, if you like."
06[23:32] * Gungri nods "That'd be useful. I've 'ad a certain thought...". He returns to contemplations
[23:32] <Spark> "So, what kind of materials would we need? We already have a *bunch* of Rockmilk on the list, whatever that is."
[23:32] <Spark> "And we might have to recruit some more magicians too or something."
[23:33] <Spark> "Maybe. I don't know."
[23:33] <Spark> "Magic scares and confuses me."
[23:34] <Spark> "We have a giant Aboleth brain, if that helps."
06[23:35] * Gungri says "If we can get those maps... I've had an idea"
01[23:36] <sofacoin> Runhild and Llwyd explain looks. "That's an impressive thing to have", says the male archmage. "A psionicist would pay a LOT for that."
[23:36] <Spark> "You'd probably have to kill Preacher to get it away from him, though."
[23:36] <Spark> "Regardless! Back to the matter at hand."
[23:37] <Spark> "What would we need to get this psuedo-Word plan to work?"
[23:37] <Spark> "Magically speaking."
01[23:37] <sofacoin> 12Twelve million years of thought worked last time, I hear.
[23:37] <Chelsy> "How do we condense twelve million years of thought into a day?"
[23:37] <Spark> "I don't think we have quite that long." He pauses. "I don't think I'm capable of iving that long."
03[23:37] * Spark (recon@cena.acentauri.gal) has left #panmeridian (Alllriiight then... *backs away slowly*)
03[23:37] * Spark (recon@cena.acentauri.gal) has joined #panmeridian
[23:38] <Spark> "Wait."
[23:38] <Spark> "How fast can an Aboleth brain think?"
[23:38] <Xaos> "What is an Aboleth?"
[23:38] <Spark> "I dunno."
[23:38] <Spark> "Big... psionicky... thingy."
[23:38] <Spark> "Kinda watery and fleshy and a little transparent."
[23:39] <Spark> "But we have its brain because Preacher wanted it."
06[23:39] * Xaos notes that Preacher must be extremely influential.
02[23:40] * Peek_and_Char (Emo_Duck@D2EEB8A7.2B9F18C2.4D15F0B7.IP) Quit (Ping timeout)
01[23:40] <sofacoin> Kafka looks excited. "I have an idea! An idea for a machine made from the undead that can do all the thinking one would need!"
03[23:40] * Peek_and_Char (Emo_Duck@D2EEB8A7.2B9F18C2.4D15F0B7.IP) has joined #panmeridian
[23:40] <Spark> "He got lucky, anyway, we bought it off the corpse ship for a few coins."
06[23:40] * Chelsy turns to Kafka. "No."
[23:40] <Spark> "And Kafka, wouldn't... I'm no smartist, but wouldn't that actually take longer than regular thinking?"
01[23:41] <sofacoin> "No, it just needs a simple demirealm for..." He blinks and looks at Runhild and Llwyd. "You guys can make a demirealm right?" "No." "No." Oh." "...Are you a lich?"
[23:42] <Xaos> "There are places Elsewhere where time travels differently."
06[23:42] * Xaos offers.
[23:42] <Spark> "What the hell is a demire-- you know what? I don't want to know."
[23:42] <Xaos> "If it takes millions of years, though, it would be your descendants who deal with the problems.
[23:42] <Spark> "[expletive] magic, how does it even work?" "...actually, don't answer that."
[23:42] <Spark> "Do any of you know how fast an Aboleth brain thinks?"
01[23:43] <sofacoin> "Right, so just an area of Elsewhere that's real fast a few thousand miles in size and a few hundred thousand pixies with rings of-" 12Tell me about your idea later. Keep quiet, for now.
[23:43] <Spark> "I'm sure... Peek could mind meld with it or something."
[23:43] <Spark> "And it's not like it would have much more to do than think."
[23:43] <Spark> "It's just a brain."
06[23:43] * Gungri is in his own little world of slow, cold thought, ignoring the hubbub
01[23:43] <sofacoin> No-one seems to really know. Mind you, there's only 3-4 Psionicists here.
[23:44] <Spark> "Peek, Char, think you could try it?"
[23:44] <Peek_and_Char> A twin - most likely the twin in question - raises an eyebrow at Spark. He's still looking pouty, but less so now in favour of guardedly considering what's being said. "Uhm..." Char looks at Peek. "... Maybe...?"
[23:45] <Spark> "Good. You two will be in charge of that."
[23:45] <Spark> "Meanwhile, Kafka and other magicians."
[23:45] <Spark> "Tell me how much Rockmilk we're going to need and where we can find it."
[23:46] <Spark> "Or... what exactly Rockmilk is."
06[23:47] * Gungri smirks a little bit, rising from his earthbound thoughts
[23:47] <Spark> "Let me guess, it's ridiculously rare."
01[23:47] <sofacoin> Kafka does some math, "For a mass comprehend languages that scale...", while Llwyd smiles. "It's basically chalk, but infused with enough magic it becomes a heavy liquid. It's... rare. Gungri should know more about this."
[23:48] <Spark> "Called it."
[23:48] <Spark> "Why does it always have to be rare."
[23:48] <Spark> "Can't it run off of dirt or air or something?"
[23:49] <Xaos> "It's just because you'd actually have to be good at using magic to cast a spell that powerful so easily."
[23:49] <Spark> "Do we have to go through another tower of danger and monstrosities to collect this, too?"
[23:50] <Spark> "And the fact that Kafka is thinking so long to calculate the amount we need is a little more than worrying."
06[23:50] * Gungri says "We could go to The Guild. They've got good trading connections. We'd need stuff t'barter with, o'course"
03[23:51] * Princess_Duck (Emo_Duck@D2EEB8A7.2B9F18C2.4D15F0B7.IP) has joined #panmeridian
[23:53] <Chelsy> "If we go back to my armor's maker, I'm sure there's some reward to be found there. He told me there were additional things he was going to give me for completing his task."
[23:53] <Chelsy> "It might not be enough, but it could help."
01[23:53] <sofacoin> "Kafka was never too good at mental maths. It's why he took up poetry. Anyway... I estimate, oh, only about... five hundred gallons."
01[23:53] <sofacoin> 12Three hundred would do.
02[23:53] * Peek_and_Char (Emo_Duck@D2EEB8A7.2B9F18C2.4D15F0B7.IP) Quit (Ping timeout)
01[23:54] <sofacoin> "How would you know?" 12I, too do magic. And, happily, I am mathematically competent.
03[23:55] * Princess_Duck is now known as Peek_and_Char
02[23:56] * Khryesl (betamax@86070258.A4F11344.B9E69C72.IP) Quit (Quit: Leaving)
01[23:56] <sofacoin> Rolf sighs. "I don't see why you don't just take up arms against this... island of troubles and, by opposing, end them. Wade in there with axes and armour and kill or imprison the villians and smash however they control their island."
06[23:57] * Gungri says "Its an option... But a lot o'people would die Rolf. And I don't have an army"
[23:58] <Peek_and_Char> Peek sniffs. "Could make one."
[23:58] <Chelsy> "What if we marched int with a dream army?"
06[23:58] * Gungri says "Although... I've had a thought on how we could get the slaves out, if we can find a central holding pen"
[23:59] <Spark> "Wait, I have anothe ridea."
[23:59] <Spark> "How high up does the Wings go? I've never actually tested it."
[23:59] <Spark> "But if you drop something sufficiently heavy from high enough, it's *like* an explosion."
Session Time: Mon Dec 20 00:00:01 2010
01[00:00] <sofacoin> "Oh, like the Railcannon," giggles H-k'kun. "I guess a little aerial bombardment would certainly mess 'em up!" He turns to Peek, one hand raised. "Can I get a high-five?"
06[00:00] * Chelsy gently places her face into her palm.
06[00:00] * Gungri chuckles "I've got a better idea for the cannon. I can make waypoints as shells, and fire 'em onto the island"
[00:01] <Peek_and_Char> Peek gives the kender his best 'sod off' expression.
06[00:01] * Spark tosses his sketchbook to Kole. "Look at the marked page. Do you know what any of that does? And if it'd help if I could get any of those?"
01[00:06] <sofacoin> H-k'kun tries not to sulk as Kole flicks through the notebook. "Dragonslayer. Well named weapon. An athame of the sundered realm. It has been too many years since I have last beheld such an item. The climbing wings. They bestow flight on those that wear them. These gauntlets can strike targets that one can see, unbeholden to distance. I *know* all these."
06[00:07] * Spark nods. "Think you can write out a list? I... saw these, in my dreams," Spark technically not-lies.
[00:07] <Spark> "And I found this," Spark says as he holds up a curved, black knife.
[00:10] <Spark> "Do you know what it does? Or, more specifically, how to use it?"
01[00:11] <sofacoin> It cuts through the world itself. Through these cuts, one enters the central nothing to which all Panmeridian touches. One may leave through it again using this knife. Speak the word "Derodha" as  it flies, and it shall shear the world through which it flies, and then return to you."
[00:12] <Chelsy> "Could we use the knife to cut a way into the island and pull slaves through that?"
01[00:12] <sofacoin> "I would not advise that."
06[00:12] * Chelsy nods and goes back to thinking.
01[00:12] <sofacoin> Kole's voice is deep and sepulchural, miserable and quick and clipped.
[00:13] <Spark> "Okay, thank you. Could you just write out a list or something of the other items so we know which ones to look for that'd help?"
[00:14] <Spark> "And... well, anything anybody else wants to ask of Kole, while we're at it?" Spark asks.
01[00:14] <sofacoin> "Nothing would make me happier, save for a final and triumphant end to all the terrors and horrors of the world."
06[00:14] * Chelsy raises her head. "Kole?"
[00:15] <Spark> "That's his name."
[00:15] <Chelsy> "-The- Kole?"
[00:15] <Spark> "Ask him."
06[00:15] * Gungri is in his contemplations, but gives Kole a glance. Sadly, this wasn't the time for catching up with old friends...
06[00:15] * Chelsy asks him. "-The- Kole?"
01[00:16] <sofacoin> "No. Simply a Kole. There are many millions alive by that name. None are anly more or less notable than I."
[00:16] <Spark> "Except you were worshipped by the Precursors as a god."
[00:16] <Spark> "That's pretty notable."
06[00:17] * Gungri grins "And y'forged Vallation. That's pretty good too"
01[00:17] <sofacoin> Kagamagak sputters something in Parsee.
[00:18] <Chelsy> "..." "I think my father is a worshiper of you."
[00:18] <Spark> "And you, if I remember when I first met right."
[00:18] <Spark> *met you right
01[00:19] <sofacoin> "I have had several cults. If only I were as omnipotent as a god."
[00:19] <Xaos> "What would you do?"
[00:19] <Spark> "You're strong enough and, at least from our viewpoint, somewhat immortal."
[00:19] <Chelsy> "But wait, based on what Kag said..."
[00:20] <Chelsy> "Shouldn't you already know how this all turns out?"
[00:20] <Spark> "Hell, not that I'd impose it upon you but I wouldn't be surprised if you could take on all of those Illithids with a hand behind your back.
06[00:20] * Gungri gives Spark an odd look "Don't ask Kole t'draw blood lad. Just... Don't."
[00:21] <Spark> "I'm saying he could. Not that he should."
[00:21] <Spark> "Hence the part saying I wouldn't impose anyhting.
01[00:21] <sofacoin> "Each iteration is different. I have fought them before. Please do not ask me to meddle too much. I am happy with my work as a sunderer of metals."
[00:22] <Chelsy> "...So if each one is different..."
[00:22] <Chelsy> "You should at least know what's worked in the past?"
06[00:22] * Spark curses his own luck in getting caught up in all of this.
01[00:23] <sofacoin> "Yes. I remember. But there are numerous things that have happened this time that never happened before."
[00:23] <Spark> "It's never easy."
06[00:24] * Spark sighs. "My luck. Listen, there's always like... hordes upon hordes of adventurer-types seeking glory and all, I see them all the time in taverns."
01[00:24] <sofacoin> "For one thing, Horoshnigaldt actually learned the word this time. He knows it."
[00:24] <Spark> "Can't we just recruit some of them?"
06[00:24] * Gungri says "That's a good thought, lad"
[00:24] <Spark> "And... I dunno, throw them at the Illithids like lemmings until one or the other are all gone."
[00:25] <Chelsy> "And waste lives?"
[00:25] <Chelsy> "If we're going to recruit an army, we aren't using them as fodder."
[00:25] <Peek_and_Char> "So when can we go?" Peek asks impatiently. He casts a glance over all the assembled people. Char seems to scoot closer to Chelsy.
06[00:25] * Gungri says "I have a suggestion"
[00:25] <Gungri> He says it quite loudly
01[00:26] <sofacoin> Kafka pipes up. "Well, don't you need an army to--"
06[00:26] * Chelsy turns to Gungri.
[00:27] <Gungri> "I can build waypoints we can fire from the cannon. When we get a map, we can plan better, but If there's a central slave holding area, we could land one in, or close to it, and set up a beachhead, as well as a way to get the slaves out. Then, we can try and invade proper, or destroy it some other way"
06[00:27] * Chelsy thinks on the idea.
[00:27] <Spark> "Kafka, your turn."
[00:28] <Chelsy> "...I think that might work." Chelsy says.
01[00:29] <sofacoin> "Well, you sort of needed an army for going into Elsewhere, anyway. I mean, I'm sure Xaos will agree, it's not a place for a group of our-realm Panmeridian natives to go wandering around casually: I doubt his kind go much further than a few hundred yards from their Euthraxis without at least a half-dozen colleagues."
[00:29] <Spark> "Where are you going with this?
[00:30] <Xaos> "Depends on our specialty, but it's true enough."
[00:30] <Chelsy> "Yes, what does this have to do with the problem at hand?"
[00:30] <Spark> "More matter, with less art," Spark complains.
01[00:30] <sofacoin> "So... an army would work for both exploration for the Ore, and for conquoring and subjugating the Island. And, of course, for other potential things, such as defeating the red golem."
[00:30] <Spark> "...and let me guess, you want to raise an undead one."
01[00:31] <sofacoin> Kafka shrugs. "I'm not bothered either way. A non-undead one is less work for me."
01[00:31] <sofacoin> Llwyd turns to Runhild. "So he IS a lich. Ugh."
06[00:32] * Gungri says "Well, we could go to the Elementals, or try and work up some Golems of our own... I mean, we have the knowledge..."
[00:32] <Spark> "Okay, how are we supposed to quarter an army?"
[00:32] <Chelsy> "A golem army..." Chelsy nods.
[00:32] <Spark> "We need resources we, again, don't have."
[00:33] <Spark> "...actually."
[00:33] <Chelsy> "We have an entire city on our side, Spark."
[00:33] <Spark> "Uhm... I think I might actually know where to find some golems," Spark starts to admit rather sheepishly.
[00:33] <Chelsy> "???"
[00:33] <Spark> "I don't know if they're even controllable by us, though."
01[00:33] <sofacoin> Kafka sighs. "We hardly need to tap one resource. Undead, golems, elementals, retired adventurers, Word-knowing humans, Kender mercenaries..."
06[00:33] * Gungri gives Spark an odd look
[00:33] <Spark> "They weren't working when I saw them."
[00:33] <Spark> "...not that I tried to raise them."
[00:33] <Chelsy> "Where were they?"
03[00:34] * Xaos is now known as fuwaway
[00:34] <Spark> "There's... I found a secret passage in the Wings. It's filled with all sorts of equipment... and a huge barracks, making the Wings a sort of mobile staging for war as well as an exploration ship."
[00:34] <Spark> "It goes to more than one 'ship', I think."
[00:35] <Spark> "...but there's a reason that I didn't want to mention it."
06[00:35] * Gungri frowns, and says, in a very deliberate voice "And when were you going to inform the Captain, first mate?"
[00:35] <Spark> "There's a Precursor down there. Alive."
06[00:35] * Chelsy stares.
06[00:35] * Chelsy STARES.
[00:35] <Spark> "Probably not for much longer if we were to wake him, mind..."
[00:35] <Spark> "...but alive in some respect."
01[00:36] <sofacoin> Kafka tries to spill a drink he doesn't have, while Tez is apparently speechless.
06[00:36] * Peek_and_Char both frown with revulsion at the memory of the last one they found.
[00:36] <Spark> "Those among us who were there for the discovery of the Wings knows what I'm talking about."
01[00:36] <sofacoin> H-k'kun boggles. Jk and Crocus seem to be having a tug-of-war halfway across the courtyard.
06[00:36] * Gungri raises an eyebrow
[00:37] <Spark> "And Captain, I *did* mention it with the financial report and the resource report, but you apparently weren't listening. Again."
06[00:37] * Gungri raises the eyebrow further "Is that so lad"
[00:37] <Spark> "Yep."
06[00:40] * Gungri frowns "I'd advise yeh to better structure your reports then, if priority information can get lost so easily"
[00:40] <Spark> "Regardless."
[00:40] <Spark> "What are we supposed to do with a sleeping Precursor that'll die if we wake him?"
[00:40] <Spark> "I don't even want to start thinking about the ethical implications."
06[00:41] * Spark looks towards the wiser ones seated upon the benches for their advice.
01[00:41] <sofacoin> "We could always make him into an undead being."
06[00:41] * Gungri thinks for a moment, and glance at Kole "Could The Ore help one in his state?"
01[00:42] <sofacoin> "Yes. It is why I kept that I have some from you. My endless apologies, but only now may I let you see it."
[00:42] <Peek_and_Char> "Could just go take his memories," Peek suggests.
06[00:43] * Gungri blinks, and then says, his voice cold as mausoleum stone. "You had some. All this time?"
[00:43] <Spark> "...so, what, we're going to have a Precursor with us now?"
[00:43] <Spark> "This is going to be... interesting. Kole, do you know how to properly apply it or whatever you do with it?"
01[00:44] <sofacoin> "Not enough to help you in your quest. But I have some. You have squandered it before in vain hope in older iterations. I would not hide it from you if I had not before seen the endless depths of your pain."
[00:45] <Spark> "Enough to help this Precursor?"
06[00:45] * Gungri nods, slowly. "Aye Kole... I can accept that. S'for the best". He shakes his head, and continues, "So, it can help this Precursor?"
01[00:46] <sofacoin> "Potentially. I do not have much left since I created the Ter-- excuse me, that is rather more information than you care to hear..."
[00:47] <Spark> "You what."
01[00:47] <sofacoin> "It was a long, long time ago."
[00:47] <Spark> "...what's a terythingy?"
06[00:47] * Gungri asks "Created what Kole?"
[00:49] <Chelsy> "Yes, what?"
01[00:49] <sofacoin> "A race. They live a long, long way from here. It was several iterations ago. They seem to have persisted through iterations. I am not sure why. I blame Kagamagak, however."
01[00:49] <sofacoin> Kag shrugs
06[00:49] * Gungri asks "Which race?"
[00:49] <Spark> "Eh, it's not so important."
[00:50] <Spark> "Anyway... if it's not enough, we're going to have problems."
[00:50] <Spark> "Because I'd bet whatever process you do with this ore, it'd wake that Precursor up."
[00:50] <Spark> "So we're most likely going to have one shot and one shot only."
[00:50] <Peek_and_Char> "Maybe I can make more," Char quips hopefully.
[00:50] <Spark> "I somehow doubt it."
06[00:51] * Gungri says "We can see how much we've got... And if need be, we know where to get more"
[00:51] <Peek_and_Char> "Well, lemme me look at it."
03[00:52] * Spark is now known as recon
03[00:52] * Chelsy is now known as Rhandor
03[00:53] * Gungri is now known as Earthflame
01[00:56] <sofacoin> Kole takes a small box out of seemingly nowhere, metal and dull. He walks over to Gungri and sets it on the ground. "Do not touch the metal."
01[00:56] <sofacoin> Kole takes a small box out of seemingly nowhere, metal and dull. He walks over to Gungri and sets it on the ground. "Do not touch the metal."
01[00:56] <sofacoin> He opens it, briefly, just long enough...
01[00:57] <sofacoin> It looks just like Vallation.