Azlant Rising IC

[Genth]

Drip

You feel groggy, just barely coming out of sleep.

Drip

It's... cold. No blanket, and the air feels.. wet.

Drip

Wait, is that.... you're half submerged in water.

Drip

With a jolt, you come too, and as you sit up, you can hear water sloshing around your body, slapping against stone. You are within a dark stone chamber, lit by a collection of gently glowing blue stones set into the domed ceiling. You lie in what can only be described as stone coffins, each about four foot wide, eight foot long and two foot deep, half-filled with cold water. You are quite nude, as are the other four people sitting up in their own coffins

http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170531/2bcc887d3c1771cc760f3f07d619a9ba.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) speaks a cold, high-pitched voice from above, and down through the roof descends a translucent figure, humanoid from the torso up, though her lower body seems to disintegrate into tatters and a wisp. Her fingernails are long and pointed, and her face is obscured by an organic-looking mask, stretched over her head, blank save for three horizontal slits which glow red.

http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170531/daf2ae8eca18dc488365822a7413c8ce.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/)

[grifter730]

Endahar:

Blinking his eyes rapidly as he jolts awake, Endahar looks around the place to get his bearing. It seems a bit chilly. Why is it chill--naked. Of course. That's perfectly normal. And water sloshing around. All perfectly normal. Ah, and a floating ephemeral being. There's nothing strange about this at all.

"Hello. Oh, hello. Hi. Apologies for being naked. Unless that was your doing, though I'm not sure how that would be, since you look like a ghost, and if it was your doing, that's a rather immoral approach to getting someone naked. And this atmosphere, it's all wrong. But, oh, where was I? Yes, wait, wait. Did you say ten thousand years?"

[Recherché]

Kalisse's mind jolts awake immediately but she allows herself a moment to take inventory of her body and senses before opening her eyes. Naked which is uncomfortable at the least, especially without her ioun stone collection. Cold but nothing too threatening. Wet which is just odd. But no injuries and no restraints so that's promising. It's unlikely she's going to be tortured soon if they aren't restraining her.

So she lets her eyes open and rises, covering herself with her hands. Not because she's embarrassed about the nudity herself but because the identity she's about to enter would care. Also it gives a good opportunity for her to search herself for any messages or hold out items she might have concealed on her body.

Kalisse makes her eyes go wide and panicky as she stutters plaintively Where am I? What's going on? Why did someone take my clothes?

There we go. The model of a proper young lady who has never dealt with this kind of situation before.

[ChrisAsmadi]

Oderon (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o-tD5pnHEd0lzyyLszuNzmLfCZVhKGH7-HfZEPbTjOI/edit?usp=sharing)

"Anyara?"asked the mage, quietly, as his eyes opened, expecting to see a pair of brilliant blue eyes, expecting to wake up to another serene morning in the sunlight of the Villa on the Hill by the Sea, to live another day of his new life beside his bride-to-be.

Blinking at the unexpected sight of this dank cavern, he bolted upright, the cold water rolling off his athletic torso - adorned with mystic tattoos, a swirling design that flowed outwards from the closed book sigil of the god Amaznen over his heart and along his right arm - as he stretched, pushing away the stiffness of the long slumber. Peering around the chamber, his green eyes darted from face to face as he studied the others that had woken from these odd coffin-like devices.

Stretching his neck from side to side, the mage, Oderon, stared through narrowed eyes at the ghostly apparition before them. He'd seen ghosts before, fought them, even, but this creature seemed stranger still, with its three eyed mask.

Sternly, he asked, "What fell magic is this, spectre?"

[Hattish Thing]

Ivianna:

The woman wakes peacefully, rising with an elegant, almost unnatural grace, cold water roiling and churning as it slides and drips off her slender, yet curvaceous form. She effortlessly stands tall, like a corpse soaring from a coffin, supernatural agility and poise evident as she glides out of the tranquil waters without causing the surface to so much as ripple. As she ascends from the cold, placid waters of the vat, the woman cranes her neck, allowing her long, raven-black hair to fall over her back, her flawless porcelain skin glittering under the cold blue light above. The mesmeric woman's alluring, yet angled form remains bare, the resplendent woman's twisting, graceful form and round-shouldered, yet-angled frame exposed to wandering eyes.

The ethereal, youthful-looking woman stares ahead with haunting, almond-shaped eyes of pure, glistening, crimson light, a look of haughty, superior disinterest bare upon her beautiful, yet unhealthily pale, heart-shaped face. The regal, imperious figure maintains impeccable posture, her prying, bird-like eyes flashing about the room. In addition to her sunken, penetrating eyes of unnerving, pupilless crimson light, the woman's curling, disapproving deep red lips seem permanently set to scowl in an imposing sort of fashion, the blood-drunk shade of deep red standing out against the stark white color of her smooth, cold flesh.

She grins as she notices the others before raising an arm of wintry, unblemished flesh. A long, wickedly sharp fingernail is raised to her wrist, before the stranger gently glides the blade-like end of her nail across her wrist with calculated skill, groaning blissfully as pain courses through her, blood pooling at the wound.

The woman watches with a pleased expression on her face as she glides her fingers before the wound, making a pulling motion as droplets of blood are gently moved away from the wound and collecting into a floating globe of crimson liquid. Ivianna reaches down to kiss at the wound, maintaining her control over the levitating orb of blood as her kiss causes her wound to quickly and efficiently seal itself, without so much as leaving a mark. She then causes the globe to spread and grow in size, before forming a glittering gown of shimmering crimson fluid. The gown drapes itself over her bare body, the long dress of flowing, crimson blood draping behind her, seeming to swallow up the very light around it as it flows with Ivianna's elegant, graceful movements, not a droplet of the suspended liquid spilling.

She looks towards the others, a small, vaguely threatening smile set upon her face as she does so. "Now now. It's impolite to stare..."

--

Ivianna glances ahead now, towards the spectre that had appeared before her, a clear scowl appearing now upon her wintry face.

"And you, creature. Would be so kind as to explain what you have done here? Do you know who I am? Once the League discovers that you've kidnapped one of their own, you'll be executed, certainly."

"Although... it seems someone's already gone ahead and ended you."

"Not that that's stopped me before..."

[Taelas]

Achioun frowns slightly as he wakes, then his eyes snap open as he realizes he is not where he expected to be.

He leaps from the coffin, landing nimbly on the edge. "What...? he mutters, glaring at the spectre, then at the other four standing in the room. He glances down at himself, noticing his nude state for the first time, then shakes his head. Without any concern at his lack of clothes, he hops down, standing straight. Though thin, he is well-muscled, with numerous battlescars across his torso.

"Where are we? What is this place?" he asks, through gritted teeth. "What did you mean, ten thousand years? Are we dead?"

He shakes his head, as if to clear it, then glances at the others. "Who are you all? I am Achioun."

[Recherché]

Internally Kalisse rolls her eyes at the other woman’s display Really? Giving everything away in one failed attempt to intimidate a ghost? Also ugh blood magic. The other though, they’re more interesting. An old man, less likely to be tempted by the pleasures of the flesh but who knows. And surely there are other levers I can find and pull. The other tw,o a warrior and a mage, by the looks of it, maybe I can use them for protection from the ghost and the witch if things get bad. Either way they probably won’t respond badly to the frightened civilian act. And if they do, well they’re naked and I still have spells even if I don’t have a blade. This would be so much easier if I still looked younger though.

Externally the still naked woman cowers pleading Please don’t hurt me. I just want to go home! The second sentence may be the only true thing she’s said in the last ten thousand years. Kalisse debates fainting for verisimilitude but it would block her view of the proceedings and if she needs to sell the act more or take cover she can always collapse later.

[Genth]

The specter floats, idly watching the groups reactions with dimly glowing red slits before letting out a peal of laughter, her hands coming to rest, pantomime, on her stomach as she slips in the air onto her back, shaking.

http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170601/d87f1fa8a45f810a9040d246d092ab55.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/)

After a moment however, she calms and flips upright, making a small gesture towards the center of the room, and from the floor rises five large chests, springing open as they emerge to reveal your equipment.

http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170601/8447e7c2cfcc4a86846376f9b4f1633b.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) she says, insincerely, http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170601/6159d23d2eada5bf59726c6b23693823.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/)

She pauses, considering for a moment, then sweeps her arms down in a bow. http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170601/587fbcdfcb301c6d3138c5e14daffdaa.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) Aionious says, bringing a hand to her chin ponderously. http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170601/327920b24ffcd843d1e511a38f2932ff.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) she thinks for a moment again before snapping her fingers. http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170601/6a26b76d26df5a5dc1299a55ecb44f98.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/). And sure enough, if your fingers seek backwards, you find at the base of your neck a small, round, hard object. If feels... warm.

[Made you a perception check] With your heightened internal senses, you can feel your blood running through this stone. It is.. connected to you, very deeply, and you don't know what might come loose with it were you to attempt to remove it.

[Recherché]

Kalisse takes this as a perfect opportunity to let out a very convincing scream and then faint.

[Taelas]

As soon as the chests are opened, Achioun moves to the one that contains his gear. Smoothly he dresses; first in the soft linen that goes beneath his armor, then the bronze breastplate. He nods to himself as he pulls out a handful of small gem-like stones, which immediately start circling his head. He touches the jewel at the base of his spine, frowning. After a long moment, he reaches into the chest again.

As the warrior pulls out a dagger, drawing it from its sheath to check the edge, Kalisse faints. He raises an eyebrow, glancing at her. "What's with her?" he asks casually as he hangs the dagger from his belt, not sounding too concerned. He lifts a shield out of the chest, testing its balance and making an appreciative hum.

Then at long last Achioun reaches out to grab a bronze spear. Almost immediately, his stance shifts. While he looked dangerous enough before, every muscle honed for battle, it is nothing compared to the sense he gives with a spear in hand. "Spectre. ... Aionious? How could Azlant be destroyed? The greatest empire Golarion has ever known would not be destroyed so easily!" He points the spear at the ghost. "You should start talking sense. Who is your so-called 'Master'?"

[Hattish Thing]

Ivianna:

The woman glances forward intently, paying close attention to the others locked within the chamber as she listens to the spectre. A narrow, jet-black brow rises slightly atop her face, her shimmering porcelain skin still glittering from the water droplets trickling down her body. Her incredulous expression softens as the phantom continues to speak, spouting impossible claims and unlikely explanations. Ten thousand years was an awfully long time.

Although the Haemotheurgic Practitioner remains skeptical, she grows more comfortable as the ghost conjures forward a chest of her belongings.

--

The blood kinetecist raises a slender arm forward, splicing several droplets of brilliant crimson fluid from her dress, manipulating the blood into a wide, thin disc. Ivianna makes a fist, her spidery fingers curling as she does so, causing the disc of blood to quickly freeze over and solidify, floating just outside the tank of water. She steps out of the water, onto the frozen disc, before stepping down off the disc and onto the floor with elegance, having saved herself some effort.

She strides over towards the chest now, her hips sliding in place as she steps forward, the very ground before her freezing over slightly as she steps. Finally, the woman begins to don her usual garb, taking great joy in the familiarity of her iconic cloth.

Ivianna wraps herself within, pristine, ethereal white shades of expensive blanched cloth and glittering, crimson-colored jewelry incorporating complicated gothic designs, her blood-red lips forming a small smile as she clothes herself in her flowing, intricately-styled, form-fitting gown of sparkling alabaster cloth, lined with accents of an ever lighter shade of white and glittering rows of perfectly polished, blood-red rubies. A perfectly designed mantle of ivory cloth rests upon the woman's rounded shoulders now, decorated with shimmering white pearls. Ivianna dismisses her shroud of blood, transforming the previous gown into a cloak of blood, now attached to the glittering mantle. The long, magical cloak of crimson blood drapes behind the woman, the flowing cloak of blood seeming to swallow up the very light around it as it flows with Ivianna's elegant, graceful movements, not a droplet of the suspended liquid spilling.

Numerous rings of polished jet, glittering obsidian, and expensive-looking black tourmaline adorn her uncomfortably long, thin fingers, each ring worn over lengthy gloves of flowing, liquid blood.

--

After she finishes dressing and removing her equipment from the chest, she looks forward to the spectre. "Yes. Take us to your master, servant."

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

Endahar couldn't help but shiver as he regained his senses and was very conscious about his nakedness. No one else seemed to care too much, so he attempted to look nonchalant as well, though he tried to position his body in such a position as to cover as much of his private areas as possible. If he didn't have such pasty skin, he might not have cared too much either.

Through it all, he tried to dissect every word the ghostly being uttered. Asleep for ten thousand years. Or more. Azlant destroyed. We were preserved by "the Master". Aaand there were our clothing and other items.

Endahar smiled embarrassedly and slowly tip-toed his way towards the chest that contained his items. One of the best part of Endahar's day was normally the mornings, when he'd look at his closet and choose his garment. Today was not that day. Seems he'll have to put on the clothes he just wore yesterday. Or ten thousand years ago apparently. As he rummaged through the box, a connection was felt in his mind. His wonderful ioun wyrd familiar. He wondered if his familiar had gone insane waiting all that time for him to wake up. "How are you, my rock?" He asked the familiar, not really expecting any response, though the familiar did give him a sort of hug.

As he began putting on his garments, Endahar finally had time to assess his situation and inspected the other people in the room with him. The others seemed concerned about the situation. Endahar wasn't sure why he wasn't too concerned himself. All his family, friends, all gone, but all he could think about was losing his clothes. Surely none of this could possibly be true. The others already had questions, he figured it was best to wait and see how things developed.

[ChrisAsmadi]

Oderon (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o-tD5pnHEd0lzyyLszuNzmLfCZVhKGH7-HfZEPbTjOI/edit?usp=sharing)

Climbing out of the coffin with something almost approaching grace, Oderon's first thought as the chest opened to reveal his things was to check his pack, in spite of his lack of clothing. Carefully, he opened his haversack and drew out a heavy black leather bound tome, closed by thick mithral bands. Reverently, he placed it against his forehead before returning it, thankful that it was still there. He had his spellbook. That meant he could do something about this... madness. The rest of his travelling gear was here, too, along with his uniform robe. Who ever had taken him had seemingly raided the right wardrobe while they did it.

Half-way through dressing, still shirtless and bootless, his enchanted tunic-shirt in his hands, still watching the spectre warily, Oderon was interrupted by the scream of one of his new companions. Dropping the shirt back into his chest, he dashed across to her coffin, wet feet slapping against the stone, and lifted her carefully into a sitting position, keeping her head well above the water.

Just has he began to check she was alright, he heard the wraith's last proclamation, and snapped around, staring angrily at the spirit, "You lie. Azlant would not simply fall! Where is your master, so that we might learn the true purpose for this nonsense?"

Rubbing the back of his neck, he felt the embedded gem. Every time the fell creature spoke, it just raised more and more questions.

[Genth]

Aionious seems to find your reactions intensely amusing, the specter letting out small giggles and shaking her head slightly at your confusion.

http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170604/264e92463d1a6bcf07ddb90ca72f1bc5.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) she says, dipping down for a moment to peer at the women who fainted, before peeling away and settling above the chests, arms crossed.

http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170604/705c1c1ecf03148ac990c72a4d5ad961.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) she has a note of annoyance at this, and her red eye-slits narrow slightly. Then she moves towards a wall, the stone sliding apart to reveal a staircase.

http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170604/76882bfc35e91c96308cc006ec33a67b.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/)

[Taelas]

Achioun tsks, shaking his head. "We shall get no answers from this... thing," he says flatly, noting the pleasure the spectre is taking in the situation. He transfers the spear to the hand holding the shield, as he goes over to Kalisse and Oderon. "Is she alive?" he asks brusquely, but he does not wait for a response, kneeling down to grab hold of her hands. He pulls her into a sitting posture, then with a quick jerk while bending further down, he pulls her up and over his shoulders, then stands up. "I'll take her upstairs. Bring her clothes," he says to Oderon. Then he proceeds to the stairs.

[Hattish Thing]

Ivianna:

Elder Practitioner Ivianna delicately strides forward, head held high as she glances towards the others within the small chamber, an almost predatory look to her perfect smile, each pristine white tooth sparkling in the light.

As she turns to face the others, the woman peeks towards the final, unclaimed chest, a curious expression displayed.

--

Without letting any sort of reaction show upon her smooth face, Ivianna begins to speak.

"Hm. It seems we may be forced to get to know one another, then, if the spirit is to be believed. If the phantom meant us ill will, I imagine we would never have been awakened in the first place. What captor would provide luxuries such as those above?"

"Regardless..."

The woman smiles a little, before staring down at the gloves of smooth liquid blood, gently floating above the spotless white dress sleeves below. She admires the many polished gemstone rings and sparkling bits of jewelry below before continuing.

"It may be best to introduce ourselves to one another, especially if we are to be spending an extended period of time amongst eachother. No matter how distasteful that may be."

"You stand before Lady Ivianna, Elder of the League of Haemotheurgic Practitioners."

--

As Ivianna finishes speaking, she notices someone, Oderon. "Say. I recognize your face..."

[ChrisAsmadi]

Oderon (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o-tD5pnHEd0lzyyLszuNzmLfCZVhKGH7-HfZEPbTjOI/edit?usp=sharing)

As the soldier stomped off carrying the unconscious woman, Oderon rolled his eyes. Shaking his head and muttering to himself, "Frigging groundpounders..." he headed back to his own chest, grabbed up his tunic shirt and resumed getting dressed, hoping the infantryman wouldn't do something too daft with the lady.

--

Oderon was tightening his belt, with his robe, a thick black and red military affair, left open, as Ivianna introduced herself. League of Haemotheurgic Practitioners -
he'd heard of them before, if he could just place it. Those Knights in red and silver who helped with the warlock hunts? Nope, that was the League of St Orion. There were - or was it had been, now? - so many leagues and orders and brotherhoods to keep track of. Checking his quiver was in place (and that its contents were still there, leading to the somewhat odd sight of him pulling a stave out of a quiver far shorter than it), he kept thinking. Haemotheurgic... Of course, the blood mages. Last time he'd been on leave, his father had broken his leg in several places after a nasty fall from his horse and had hired them to fix it and keep him walking. It'd seemed like very strange spellcraft, at the time.

Nodding as she singled him out, he replied, adding a bow as he introduced himself, "Oderon, Lokhagos of the Imperial Battlemages, at your service, Ma'am. I am told that my portrait was included in several news-sheets covering the wars on Akiton. Perhaps you saw it in one of those?"

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

Endahar hadn't realized one of the women had fallen. Seems that the others have it under control though, so he continued to dress, wiggling around in an attempt to make his clothes fit him comfortably. His eyes kept darting to the ghostly being, not out of fear. His curiosity finally getting a hold of him, he walked over to the ghost as he continued to button and buckle himself into his clothing. His face was mere inches away from the ghost.

"You... are... peculiar," Endahar said to Aionious, examining the creature.


Knowledge: [roll0]
I assume it'll fall under Arcana, Dungeoneering, Local, Nature, Planes, or Religion, all of which are +24 for Endahar.

[Recherché]

Oh gods, this is why I don’t try and do ops in circumstances like this. No control whatsoever. The blood mage has already seen my gear and unless the ghost took the trouble to remove certain items she’ll see lockpicks and weapons. And even then the ghost will have known. Kalisse lets out her groan audibly. If the people around her choose to misinterpret it as her waking up then that’s on their heads And now these people know just how very good you are at acting. No way to walk this back and claim to be an honest thief. Not that the forgery kit would have let you do that anyways. All because you can fake some of your actions and you can lie to Asmodeus himself but you can’t fake your gear perfectly.


The woman opens her eyes tentatively and feels around the back of her head for wound she knows isn’t there before speaking. Uhm from my perspective, Azlant has had colonies on Akiton for centuries. The war to try and conquer the city was over, gods 421 years ago. We ended up with a few city states as colonies but not the entire planet if that helps anything. Kalisse tries to keep her voice relatively light and strike a balance between the completely panicked frivolous noblewoman she was acting a few minutes ago and the much more serious role she’s likely to have to portray once the truth of her gear comes out.

And as for the Haemotheurgic League, they haven’t been prominent since Emperor Auelri almost eighty years ago, my time. If they still exist they’re a very small underground organization. Kalisse levers herself up out of the man's arms and to standing before he can leave the room with her and isolate her from the good gossip.

I think we might not be from exactly the same time or reality. So the question now is whether anyone here is from a time when the war between the Storm King and Xeros the 3rd is ancient history? The Sunhawk incident? Anyone know about how that pile of refuse turned out? Turning her back to the group gives her a figment of modesty and just as importantly lets her shield the chest from view a little as she dresses.

Oh and my name is Kalisse of Agaeya. Poet, musician and composer extraordinaire at your service. The wavy haired woman hunches over her chest and feels around a little before pulling out a beautifully worked lyre. Another hand releases a few ioun stones to circle her head and immediately the woman loses almost a decade off of her age and looks like she’s barely out of her teens. Another wave of her hand and Kalisse’s hair begins to arrange itself into a complex style of braids and curls held back with a gold circlet. The woman who turns back around to face the rest of the rest of the group is not a typical curvaceous and pale Azlanti beauty but there’s something in her lightly tanned skin and dancer’s grace that attracts not only attention but adoration.*

Oh and I'm also a hell of a dancer if that matters. Kalisse sets down the lye and instead draws a gorgeous scarf worked in gold and beads from the chest. She spends less than a minute showing off a few moves that take advantage of her thigh length dress, bare legs and the near transparency of her dress. Strangely enough her eyes are not on the humans in her audience but on Aionious keeping a careful watch to her response to each swirl and shake. Stumbling carefully after her performance Kalisse once again leans on her chest. Okay I might still be in shock. Probably should take it a little easier


Kalisse is performing the dance of kindled desires (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/bard/bardic-masterpieces/masterpieces/the-dance-of-kindled-desires-dance/) not to try and tempt*Aionious yet but to take advantage of the clause above learning what it is that your target most wants in the world. There isn't anything in the performance description that says its mind affecting or that being undead or otherwise non-human stops it.

Spellcraft and/or detect magic: That wave of her hand was a mage hand cantrip used to move her hair to style it and that circlet she’s wearing is heavily enchanted to enhance various aspects of intellect, memory and persuasion

While feeling around in her chest Kalisse will be finding and hiding her lockpicks and a few other particularly incriminating items on her person.

[Taelas]

Achioun lets Kalisse down as soon as he realizes she is awake. He studies her face with a raised eyebrow -- that had been a remarkably short faint.

He glances around. "I am Achioun. Former soldier of Azlant's armies against the serpentfolk," he says, shrugging. "Most of what you are saying, I don't recognize."

Taking his spear in his other hand again, he begins spinning it around his fingers, an absent look on his face. "My family." He looks around, the spinning stopping abruptly. "All of our families. All of our lives. Gone!" Achioun's knuckles turn white as his fist clenches around the spear shaft.

Whirling around, the warrior stomps off through the water as he makes his way upstairs.

[Hattish Thing]

Ivianna:

The woman merely nods towards Oderon as he explains, her interest claimed elsewhere. "Mm, possibly." As Kalisse begins to speak and dress, the Haemotheurgic Practicioner clasps her hands together over her chest as if in prayer, a comfortable position for the woman. As she listens to the noblewoman speak, Ivianna smiles contentedly, feeling the monstrous beat of her engorged demonic heart contract and thump within her chest.

Colonies on Akiton?

The League, gone, since...

So much had been missed, time gone, never to be retrieved.

--

A twang of emotion surges within the woman, before her colder, calculative sections of her mind force them down. As Kalisse finishes speaking, Ivianna snickers darkly under her breath before reaching for some strange glass container at her lavishly styled white belt.

"Emperor Auelri... not a name I recall. The League must have persevered for some time. Oh, to think of it. At it's height, the League was one of the most powerful and prestigious organizations in all of Azlant. We were there, Emperor to Emperor, attending to the courts, preserving the royal bloodline. None could stand in our way or restrict us from our research without facing the wrath of the Emperors..."

"And there I was, on top of it all, unstoppable and decadent, the face of the League. Oh, but what a short time it was... Short, but glorious."

The woman's face contorts into an unsettling grin, sharp teeth glinting in the light, before a mournful look wipes it all away.

"And now, nothing. Thousands of years... If this creature is to be believed. The League, no more. At least... for now."

--

As Kalisse mentions shock, Ivianna perks up slightly, before twisting some sort of clasp on the glass container. "Shock, you say? Are you alright, lovely? Wouldn't want all that gods-given beauty to go to waste and wither under such stress as this..."

"You know, a good sedative ought calm and settle the nerves. What say you? I am a Haemotheurgic Practicioner, after all."

Ivianna calmly unsheathes the object in the container at this point, revealing a horrific-looking corked medical instrument, half-serrated spiral-blade, half painful sucker-like pump. A thin needle can be seen at the top of the instrument, and Ivianna's finger rests upon a small switch. She smiles softly as she looks towards Kalisse with her Extractive Scarificator in hand, her offer genuine but highly off-putting.

"Oh, you're not bothered by a little needle are you?"

[Recherché]

Kalisse jerks away from the needle. I'm bothered by blood magic not needles. It was . . . involved in the plague that nearly killed off the Imperial house. I'm sure I'll recover on my own with time.

[Hattish Thing]

Ivianna:

The woman smiles softly, before winding the complicated device and sheathing it once more in it's container. "Oh, you'll find I'm no spellcaster. Simply good medicine, after all."

"Ah, but the way of the Pureblood isn't for everyone."

"Suit yourself."

[Genth]

Aionious is clearly a ghost, and you can tell from the trapping she carries that she was a spellcaster before her death. However, the solidity of her lines suggests something a little more powerful. You also recognize those that three-eye pattern on her mask from some very old textbooks.

It takes a few moments for your performance to work, though Aionious merely floats, watching you carefully, not particularly resisting. Then you are almost knocked off your feet with the strength of the creatures desire.
Hate. Revenge. Blood. Not against you, but against.. against an event, even.

Upstairs is a rather beautifully appointed lounge area, a set of perfectly round, glowing stones on pillars giving off heat around the perimeter, and a central pit also filled with these stones. There are comfortable chairs dotted around, a clear pool of water about three feet across in one corner, and a dining table set for five. There are also five doorways with your names written in Azlanti, themselves leading into comfortable bedrooms. To the west is a baths including hot and cold pools. Aionious slowly floats up to the upper room, still staring down at your group.

http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170606/30ce40bd7c94bac721766a8b26f1e144.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/)

[Recherché]

Okay, you need a plan instead of just moving from hairbrained scheme to scheme. First up you need to confirm the information the ghost told you. So scry on your family and see what happens. If she is telling the truth you will need allies, back up. Its not good for you to be on your own and these people are what you have to work with. So decide who you can trust and then get to work. We need a covert communication system, we need more information about the world and you need a way to hide your secrets from those you decide not to let in.

I don't suppose you'd have materials to write out a magical scroll or two, Lady Aionious? Not immediately of course but it might be useful once I'm feeling a little better? Kalisse asks meekly before heading upstairs to the room with her name on it.

The noblewoman allows herself some time to lie down and process first. Also to try and make sure anyone who comes in does so when she's not in the middle of doing something more interesting.

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

Endahar slightly squinted his eyes. "You're... a ghost... but more than a ghost. How fascinating!" An open grin plastered itself on his face as he clapped his hand in exclamation and looked around the room as if expecting everyone to share his delight. His face turned into surprise when he realized most of the others had gone. When he turned back around, he found the ghost had moved on as well.

Shrugging his shoulders, Endahar approached the man with the military bearing, and cleared his throat. "Looks like we're the last one left here. I'm Endahar, author, scholar, military man, adventurer, and a student of life. Not necessarily in that order. Pleased to meet your acquaintance. Shall we go upstairs and get acquainted with the last of the Azlants?" He spreads out his arm as if giving way for the man to lead the way.

[ChrisAsmadi]

Oderon (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o-tD5pnHEd0lzyyLszuNzmLfCZVhKGH7-HfZEPbTjOI/edit?usp=sharing)

"Endahar?" asked Oderon, recognising the name, "The one who authored 'Musings Upon Conjuration'? I studied your works when I was a student at the Collegium of the Arcane. It's an honour to meet you, sir." Oderon took Endahar's hand and shook it before he headed upstairs.

--

Taking one of the comfortable chairs in the lounge area, Oderon was already hard at work studying his spellbook, the black leather tome, embossed with golden runes upon the cover, bound by mithral bands and a thick lock, its many pages covered in arcane writings, laid upon his knees.

As Endahar reached the top of the stairs, Oderon looked up and said, "Do you have means to scry upon Azlant and confirm the spectre's tale, sir? I fear my skills in the arts of Divination are lacking, and such a feat beyond me."

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

Endahar's face lit up at the mention of one of his works. "Indeed! I fear I was running low on funds at the time and simply published some random musings -- wait, did you say you studied it? Ah, of course, you're from the future. And now the past... This is quite the confusing situation I'm in, ha!" He slaps Oderon on the shoulder good-naturedly. "In any case, it's delightful to hear that my works were studied! Say, that means you dabble in the Arts!"

--

"Do you have means to scry upon Azlant and confirm the spectre's tale, sir? I fear my skills in the arts of Divination are lacking, and such a feat beyond me." The fellow arcane practitioner asked as they reached the top of the stairs.

"Ah, yes, yes I could scry, though I've yet to prepare my spells for the day. Do you not trust the ghost's words? We were all naked and asleep. If the creature wanted to harm us, that would've been the time to do it. Lying about the outside world would be a strange way to go about things. But I'm a rather too trusting most times, or so I've been told, so I shall scry for us all! This will be fantastic! Ten thousand years, surely we've traveled the stars by now! And think of what the people must be--oh dear. My family and friends... hadn't quite sunk it yet..." Endahar's stream of thoughts slowed and came to a stop as his shoulders slumped. He continued into the room, no longer eager to for the food.


Bonus Info: Endahar's first published book was called On the Summoning of Species by Means of the Arcane Arts, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. He originally wanted to call it Fantastic Beasts and How to Summon Them but his friends, peers, and mentor all said that the title wasn't long enough to be taken seriously, and would only ensure the work would never be read.

[Taelas]

Achioun's brow furrows at the sight of the luxurious rooms. He looks through the door to his own room, then glances into someone else's. With a sigh, he leans on the armrest of one of the comfortable-looking chairs.

He looks up when he hears Endahar and Oderon speak, and he almost leaps to them. "This... scry. It lets you see what has happened outside?" he asks, grabbing Endahar's arm. "Can you see if my family is truly gone?"

[Recherché]

Yes, scrying can be used to view people or places far away. Kalisse's voice calls out from her bedroom I was planning on trying to view my family in a little bit once I could review the spell. If you'd like I can try to view someone for you as well. I'd need a bit of a connection to them to get the spell working well. If you want to describe someone to me I might be able to make a drawing of them and use that as a focus. Alternatively if you have an object that used to belong to them I can try to trace the connection back. Kalisse's voice sounds hesitant and unhappy Unfortunately scrying can't distinguish between someone who's dead and who's body has been destroyed and someone who's in a room with lead walls or who's magically protected themselves from scrying.

I don't have high hopes myself but... I have to know. I can't just accept that my city is gone much less my family

The strange woman retrieves a book from her belongings and begins studying it intently while humming what appears to be some kind of memory aid about the basic processes of arcane magic

Arrowsong Lament let's me spend Bardic performance rounds to add a spell from a spellbook to spells known for 24 hours. Also for anyone who cares to read over Kalisse's shoulder her spellbook is very strongly oriented towards illusion spells while having practically no evocation spells. It's also warded by a low level illusion spell designed to convince casual readers that it's completely mundane and not important at all.

[Hattish Thing]

Ivianna:

The Lady pauses, her small, predatory smile never fading from her crimson lips. She watches the others as they make their ways up the stairs, taking carely note of Kalisse as she turns away. Oh yes, there was something more on that one...

She follows, exiting the lower area last.

--

Ivianna admires the upper level's extravagant architecture, enjoying each of the gem-studded pillars and luxurious decorations, taking great interest in the pool of water across the area. The chairs seemed comfortable enough, and her bedroom was acceptable. It was all thoroughly... satisfactory. However, it paled in comparison to the massive quarters that the woman once held ownership of, during the golden years of the League of Haemotheurgic Practitioners.

Where were the lavish crimson tapestries and carpeting, the ornate stained glass windows twenty times as large as a man, or the ostentatious portraits and rows of esoteric tomes? A bedroom adorned with potions, and tinctures, and tonics designed to preserve youth. A pool of purified crimson blood for bathing, and Pureblood, limitless. Her desires, tended to by masses of eager servants and slaves. A League of zealously devoted followers, ministrators sworn to obey her commands as law. Opulence, excess, decadence, these were the things Lady Ivianna missed most.

Not families, or friends, or even political allies.

--

The woman takes a seat within the main chamber, speaking softly as the others rush about, an amused look on her face. "So much effort. Why bother? Look around you. We are some of the most important individuals of our individual times, powerful, in one way or another." She laughs a little to herself before tapping her gloves of liquid blood against the glass canister at her belt. "The phantom has surely been truthful. We would have been discovered, or freed long before now, if the spectre or it's master had merely captured us."

She shakes her head.

"No... The phantom would not lie. Your families are dead. Everything you've ever loved or cared for is gone. There is nothing left beyond tatters, remnants of what once was."

"Nothing left... but us."

Lady Ivianna grins here, her crimson, pupilless eyes widening. "No one remains to restrict us, or hold us back. No one remains to stand in our way,
or stop us from taking what we want, or doing as we will."

"No one to tell us what's right from wrong... No one to tell me what I can or cannot do."

"Azlant has fallen, yes, but from the ashes, something greater shall come to be. This is an opportunity unlike any other, a blessing in disguise. We cannot waste time grieving over the unfeeling dead, a whole world awaits us out there, ready to be conquered."

"We'll be kings and queens, perhaps even... gods."

"I like the sound of that."

[Taelas]

Achioun listens to Ivianna's rant, his eyebrows slowly creeping higher with every additional suggestion.
"Are you completely daft?" he asks, sounding incredulous.

[Genth]

Aionius cackles at Ivianna's proclamation, the eye slits glowing brightly, the harsh voice echoing around the chamber.

http://fontmeme.com/permalink/170611/e32f7eb03528f882533b770befc30e08.png (http://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/)

She swoops over to an unmarked corner of the room, and after a few moments, the stone seems to swim, a table and cabinet, filled with parchment and writing tools emerges, ready for scribing.

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

Endahar regained his senses momentarily just long enough to hear a woman claiming some rather deranged thought. His sense of self-preservation kicked in as he realized he knew nothing of any of these folks he was now stuck with. They could all be lunatics with murderous proclivities. His mouth moved to respond, but he held his tongue, lacking the energy (and the spells) to defend himself or make good on any threats. It was good to hear another man voice the reaction his mind had though.

With a heavy sigh, Endahar enters his room and after moping for several moments, he goes through his morning ritual. For someone who's supposedly been asleep for over ten thousand years, he seems to feel fine. His fingers prod the back of his neck, and true enough, the ghost hadn't lied. Of course not. There was no to, he told himself.

Moving back out, Endahar notices a scrying area already prepared. He prepares the silver mirror and the pool of water, and begins the incantations. He found himself relaxed by doing something as mundane as spellcasting was to him. He thought of his family and friends, and though he knew them well, they were all adults and did not depend on him. His mind drifted to thoughts of Estar, of her family, wondering if she spent her last years cursing his name and thinking he abandoned her. No, she was better than that.

The rest of the day was spent scrying one person after another. Seemed to him that Endahar was to play the role of heartbreaker this day. For anyone that had hearts, anyway, he thought as his mind conjured images of the lunatic who seemed happy at their predicament.

"So, ghost-who's-more-than-a-ghost, where are we now, exactly? Why have you or your master gathered us here?"

[Recherché]

Well I suppose you're right about there being certain opportunities, but you forget that with such power comes incredible responsibilities and it comes at the cost of incredible loss. All of here have lost our homes and families. Will you not permit us the opportunity to grieve?

Kalisse's face looks completely blank as she walks out of her room and steps towards Ivianna. Inside she fumes with anger though. How dare this woman?

And are you prepared to give your life in the service of those you would become empress of? I do not mean merely to die for them but to dedicate your life to being worthy of their devotion. For if you do not honor those that give you power then you do not deserve power.

Kalisse stops impassive far too close to Ivianna for normal conversation. At this distance it would be easy to bend in for a kiss or just as easy to reach for a weapon and stab but instead she leans in and stage whispers in the other woman's ear

As for you're last comment about who would stop us? We will. We still know right from wrong and we can still stand in each other's way. We are each other's watchdogs. Her tone leaves little doubt that Kalisse would be the leader of the mob coming for Ivianna should the responsibility arise.

The two men hear both Kalisse's speech to Ivianna but also a completely different speech at the same time a second message in Kalisse's voice Testing testing? The way this spell works you should be able to hear a second message when I'm speaking but no one else can. However it doesn't similarly protect your replies back to me so please don't try and respond directly. If either of you think you might be able to learn it, I'd be happy to make a scroll for you tonight. Just tell me that you'd like to take a look at my spellbook.

I definitely agree that Ivianna's beyond daft. She's dangerous and I trust the ghost only slightly more. I did a minor spell on Aionius shortly after she woke up to try and get a little read on her mind. She's filled with hate and a need for revenge but its not against us. I suspect she plans to use us as her weapon. I for one do not intend to go along with this mindlessly. If any of you have a means of shielding me from scrying it would be much appreciated. I'd like to try and get ahold of a representative of my goddess, but I don't want to do so where Ivianna and the ghost can see what I'm doing.
http://www.archivesofnethys.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Secret%20Speech

This spell grants the target the ability to send secret messages embedded within normal speech. This is similar to the secret messages ability of the Bluff skill, but no check is needed; the speaker’s intended recipient always understands the hidden message perfectly, but other listeners cannot perceive the message at all. The target can send only one message at a time, though it can send that message to multiple listeners. The secret message is considered to be in the same language the target is speaking, and intended recipients hear and understand both the actual speech and the secret message. The target can make itself understood as far as its voice carries.




An hour of strange humming later Kalisse has also memorized spells and sets herself to attempting to scry her brother, father and city. After that she volunteers her service both to scry for anyone that others request and also to recite the histories of what happened in Azlant and to any persons that history has remembered.

How did you fare my twin and my city? Did I sacrifice for nothing? She wonders wistfully while full well knowing that there are likely few answers to be found

[Taelas]

Achioun blinks, frowns, then glances at Kalisse. He has a look of concentration on his face for a few moments, then he shakes his head slightly as he comes out of it.

"While I am no mage," he says, looking between Ivianna and Kalisse, "I am very good at using a spear. If ever the day comes where I need to use it, even against the last few of my people, rest assured that I won't hesitate."

He sends Ivianna a glare, then a significant look at Kalisse. Sorry, girl, I can't learn your spell, or help you hide.

The warrior shrugs. "That being said..." he says, dragging the words out, and his expression hardens, "If Azlant is truly gone, then there is no longer order in the world. I don't fancy myself an emperor, or even a "god"," at this, he makes finger quotes around the word, "but I do believe Golarion needs the stability of the Empire. The world needs Azlant. If we are the last of the Azlanti, the world may need us to take a leading role."

He nods in Kalisse's direction. "Naturally with the caveat that we must strive to prove we deserve such leadership to the lesser races -- we need to show we are better, more fit to rule. I certainly do not advocate abusing authority. But to leave Golarion descended into barbarism and chaos is unthinkable!" Achioun grits his teeth at the thought.

[ChrisAsmadi]

Oderon (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o-tD5pnHEd0lzyyLszuNzmLfCZVhKGH7-HfZEPbTjOI/edit?usp=sharing)

Oderon looked up from his spellbook with narrowed eyes. There was a confrontation brewing here, and one that might cause a rift within their ranks before they had any chance to even find a place for themselves in this new world.

Speaking clearly, with the voice of an officer used to being listened to, Oderon said, "What makes you think this new master will allow us such freedom that we might carve ourselves a realm? It would have taken much effort and expenditure to take five individuals - notable and talented individuals - out of time and hide them away for this long, not to mention our new... accessories, and anyone who put that much into us will want something - something big, no doubt. For the moment, I suspect we are slaves - ones given an long chain, but slaves all the same - and slaves do not get to rule."

After a pause, he added, "And even then, even if we are somehow freed from those chains, what right do we have to rule anybody?"

[Taelas]

Achioun raises an eyebrow at Oderon, seemingly surprised. "By what right?" he asks, incredulous. "It's not about right. When the Empire first expanded, it did so to bring the stability of the Empire to all corners of the world. If Azlant fell, then the world must have fallen back into chaos. It is not just our right, but our duty to once again rule."

He sniffs in disdain. "As for the spectre's master, it is one thing to abduct someone in the dead of night, when they are alone and vulnerable. There are five of us, and if you are as skilled in your respective fields as I am in mine, then I don't see how any creature can contain us for long."

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

Endahar was surprised to get the secret message from the woman speaking. He looked around for a moment to look her way, nodding to her simply to relay that he got her message. More spells to learn is always welcome, but he lacked the energy for a confrontation for the moment, and simply goes back to his scrying instead of partaking in the argument.

Keeping his ears open, he was glad to hear that the others objected to the deranged woman's desires, but Endahar himself couldn't say he truly agreed with everyone. With the ghost's words looking more and more likely to be truthful, he wasn't sure what he wanted, but it sure wasn't to lead the world. Leave me to live a life of obscurity, he thought to himself. Let me explore the world, enjoy it and study its new inhabitants, learn and partake in new customs and culture, and so much more. Ruling the world, leading it, playing political games of intrigues, the very thoughts are tiring. Why bother with such pointless ambitions?

In any case, back to scrying...

[Recherché]

Kalisse gives a barely perceptible nod to Achioun.

The other man is harder to figure out. He definitely heard her given his nod but beyond that she doesn’t know. He seems to be a mage but he didn’t say anything about her spellbook so should she make a scroll? No. Better not to have extra copies of an incriminating spell around for others who aren’t in on her little conspiracy to learn her tricks

It’s unlikely but it might be possible that the other humans have progressed beyond savagery over the eons since we were gone. There were some occasionally competent ones and honestly you only really need a few people with brains to run a basic civilization. If we have the time it might be something good to research. Kalisse deliberately avoids mentioning any of her own possible research methods. Maybe we aren’t desperately needed. That said I have no intention of letting Azlant die when at the very least I can keep her memories and stories alive by telling them to the next generation.

I understand. Your assistance is still appreciated and we’ll just have to figure out some other communication method for you. Oh and in case you haven’t figured it out, I’m not just a musician or a crazy woman. I’m also a diplomat, a politician, a spy, a conwoman and occasionally an assassin when there’s no other option. Sometimes letting people think you’re crazy is good option though. Few people take the crazy woman seriously which can let you get away with murder. I think you’re right that the people here are all extraordinary in their own way. I’m not sure we’re necessarily the greatest Azlant had to offer though. And I’m pretty sure that Ivianna here was not chosen for her leadership skills. Kalisse includes a soft laugh at the end of her message.

[Taelas]

Achioun looks curiously at Kalisse, his head tilted slightly. "I cannot speak of your time, obviously -- but in mine, other humans were savage at best, downright bestial at worst. I cannot see how they could have become civilized, but ... ten thousand years is a very long time. Perhaps you are right." He sighs, rolling his shoulders. "I cannot say that I look forward to trying to teach civilization to unwashed barbarians either..."

He looks over at Ivianna, a smirk curling up one side of his mouth. Leadership skills, indeed...

[Hattish Thing]

Ivianna:

The woman merely smirks slightly towards Kalisse as the other woman speaks, a bemused expression on her face. Ivianna crosses her legs as she listens to Kalisse, her posture impeccable as she rests within the chair before her.

Ivianna sighs when the noblewoman finishes speaking, ignoring the others entirely.

--

"I believe you are mistaken."

The Lady frowns slightly, her hand extended before her as she glances towards her fingers, admiring the way the dozens of rings and bits of jewelry shine under the light. Without taking her eyes off of her exotic gem-studded baubles, she continues. "Power comes with power, the cost of which is inconsequential. We, as the last of the Azlanti have the right to rule over the inferior races. Power is our birthright."

"It's in our blood. I would know."

She snickers to herself quietly at this point, the unsettling laugh echoing slightly in the chamber.

--

Ivianna rolls her eyes at this point, raising a delicate hand up to rest her chin upon as she lays back slightly, an amused expression on her face. "Honor? Dedication? Devotion? How disappointingly archaic. Does the spider devote itself to the fly? No. Just as I would not devote myself to the lesser species that now populates this planet. Our planet."

As Kalisse draws close, Ivianna sneers and whispers back. "What is history, but a fable to be agreed upon? Only the victors decide what is right or wrong, and only the winners write the history books."

"Your views are outdated, the time has come to modernize, or be forgotten."

"Decide. Are you a spider, or a fly?"

--

The woman smiles confidently, before looking away. At this point, Ivianna stands tall, before speaking towards the phantom. "Call for me once your Master shows his face, I tire of this waiting. I shall retire to my quarters."

With that, the woman makes her way towards her quarters, head held high. There was much to be done.

[Recherché]

Kalisse chuckles softly at Ivianna's remarks.

Oddly enough I'm neither a spider nor a fly. I'm a human and unlike insects we tend to have brains. This amazing advance in biology allows for such things as civilization, history, devotion and insecticides for taking out unwanted spiders. She keeps her voice light and sweet as though she hasn't even noticed the other woman's implied threat. Kalisse would love to unleash her oratorical skills and start speechifying about ideals, social constructs and civilization, but she suspects no one would be persuaded here and it would reveal far too much of her true beliefs. Also woman do you really think that you can control this group of people with fear? You've got at least two military veterans who have likely faced far worse than you and you should know it. They might look for leadership but they aren't going to be easily cowed by a few theatrics. You're setting yourself up for immediate conflict without feeling anyone out about their opinions and without a coalition on your side. Power may be power but having more people on your side is a remarkable force multiplier.

[Genth]

Aionious remains in the air during the argument, but when Ivianna retreats, so does she, vanishing through the roof, and leaving the group of you alone.

Waiting.

For almost three days.

Every attempt at scrying those you knew confirms what the spirit said, every attempt to contact or leave the place is stymied. Teleportation attempts merely deposit you back in the lower chamber, a simple teleportation trap for those with the knowledge to understand such things, but one of odd and advanced magic.

Finally, Aionious appears.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170614/4774182f91e5471b7d707e8b5292a630.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/)

Aionious appears... scared. And strangely excited, her clothing fluttering about her transparent body as if it had a mind of its own. She floats to the scrying pool, reaching down to touch the water with an outstretched finger. You hear a rumbling sound, followed by the roar of water as the pool suddenly drains, the raised edge splitting apart to reveal a set of steps heading down, the corridor below dripping and glowing slightly with the same eerie stone lights. The specter leads you forwards, the corridor turning this way and that, sloping slowly down with the odd set of steps bringing you even further. It seems like almost half an hour of walking before you come to anything that could be said to be a feature - a stone archway, like everything else, dripping with water.

Beyond the archway is a massive chamber, a good two hundred feet across, lit just to the point of vision by the stones. Featureless, save for what lies in the center, which by any terms would be a hell of a feature. A massive, sixty foot wide pillar of water, vanishing into the darker reaches above, and apparently flowing, slowly. In the water swims a massive, eel-like creature, the bulk of its body spiraling downwards out of view. A multitude of writhing tentacles emerge from the blunt, horrific head, the tips twitching, moving constantly. Three eyes glow in the dim light, a burning, ember-flicker red, set above a jaw straight from the nightmares of creative children, multi-hinged, with rows upon rows of scimitar-like, glassy teeth.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170614/68b757077aa2819c55177f05d93a33c1.png (https://fontmeme.com/outlast-2-font/)

You hear the voice, not in your ears, but in your mind. Loud, but not deafening. Arrogant... but with a drop of respect.

[Taelas]

Achioun has spent the past three days pacing around, occasionally chatting with the others (though he doesn't approach from Ivianna). He seems like a big cat in a cage, uneasy at being trapped.

"Finally! This master of yours isn't quite punctual, is he? After ten thousand years, you'd think he'd at least show up on time," Achioun complains, hopping to his feet. After fetching his spear and shield, he follows Aionious down the newly revealed stairs without hesitation, though he is cautious about his footing, given that the pool was full of water not long ago.

He is silent throughout the walk, but when they enter the large chamber, his eyes are open wide, horrified at the appearance of the monster.

"By Acavna! What is this... monstrosity?" he gasps, then clutches his skull with his free hand as he hears the voice inside his head. "What...?!"

He looks around for the spectre, then back at the creature. "Ah... forgive the outburst," he says, though he cannot hide a kind of dread on his features. "You are this... woman's master?" He gestures toward Aionious with an open palm. "Forgive me, but... what are you?"

[ChrisAsmadi]

Oderon (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o-tD5pnHEd0lzyyLszuNzmLfCZVhKGH7-HfZEPbTjOI/edit?usp=sharing)

Three days of study and several failed attempts at using teleportation spells to escape this prison, Oderon was growing anxious indeed to meet this mysterious master and learn what purpose they had been taken and enslaved to perform. A creature of habit, though, he had reverted to his usual array of battle magic, suspecting that he might soon need to fight - even if he didn't know what yet. It was just a shame that these tight quarters left him nowhere to practice.

-

At the soldier Achioun's side, he walked down the passageway, into the lair of the Master, quiet with anticipation.

Entering the chamber, he stepped backwards in shock. This creature, Aionious' Master, looked like something he had studied in historical tomes. A creature as much of legend as of historical fact, the Aboleths were aberrant creatures spoken of in hushed tones in the very earliest pages of Azlant's history. Some scholars had even suspected, much to the ire of their more nationalistic colleagues, that these creatures might have ruled Azlant at one point. But this one was different somehow, far larger than any accounting of these creatures described.

Worse still, this one was a telepath, a mind-speaker. Perhaps it could dig even deeper into their minds, reading their very thoughts. Oderon made a mental note to study spells that could blunt or even block such mental intrusions as he stepped forwards, glancing at Achioun.

Speaking aloud, he said, "He is an Aboleth. Judging by his sheer size, I suspect he is a very old and very powerful one, perhaps even one who has ascended to divinity." Turning to the creature, he added, "Why are we here? For what purpose have you taken us from our lives and families?"

Knowledge (History): d20+24 = 8+24 = 32

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

After the first day confirming his fear of losing his friends and family, Endahar retired to his room and avoided socialization at all costs. He spent the remainder of the night testing out all his spells, ensuring that they all functioned properly. The rest invigorated him somewhat, and he went to the common area to mingle, and spent his nights testing out other spells that he hadn't cast yet.

It was welcome news when Aionious finally appeared and led them to see the master. The massive chamber Endahar was led to impressed him, his eyes darting around to take in his surroundings, but inevitably they came back to the center, and he was glad he had prepared his spells for the day. He heard Achioun and Oderon speak, and he agreed with Oderon's assessment. The creature swimming inside the pillar of water looked like an aboleth, but he couldn't be completely certain, having never met any in his life. He had studied its tongue though, this was as good a time as any to put his knowledge to the test of application.

[In Aboleth] "Greetings, tentacled master. I hope I'm not butchering your tongue. In fact, I hope I make sense at all. If you could be so kind, perhaps enlighten us on why you've brought us all here."


Knowledge Dungeoneering (in chat): 1d20+24 = (3)+24 = 27

[Recherché]

Every morning begins with Kalisse singing her hymns to Shelyn. The rest of the day is spent further practicing music and dance and chatting with anyone who looks receptive including Ivianna if she's receptive. Kalisse seems interested in everyone's life story as well as their skills, though she's more subtle about the latter. As the days wear on though she becomes more impatient and twitchy till eventually one night the others find her having literally climbed the furniture and inspecting the ceiling for possible escape routes.

Finally though the day comes and Kalisse sets down her pen. The journey and the chamber do little to reassure her though and the artist can feel the bile rising up in her throat. The ghost's own unease only makes the situation more nerve-wracking. Its the creature inside that truly takes her aback though. It must be an aboleth, that's the only thing from even the most ancient or obscure legend that fits. Yet this creature doesn't quite fit.

When it begins speaking into her mind Kalisse does not reply. The other's are already taking care of much of what needs to be said and even thinking something true could be dangerous. Kalisse begins running through all the ancient legends of aboleths in her head instead. Nothing that would be terribly unusual in the situation but hopefully enough to keep it from reading any actually treacherous thoughts off her.

Kalisse will also be waking up Achioun late at night for sparring while under silence spells to conceal the sounds of combat. She's not a bad hand with a short sword and buckler, definitely trained, however neither is she among the best and Achioun can win handily most of the time especially since the silence prevents her from casting spells

[Taelas]

Achioun is only happy to accept the spars, though he seems grumpy to be woken so late at night. The warrior quickly gets back at her, though.

Achioun is insanely skilled; Kalisse has never quite encountered an opponent of his caliber before. He dodges almost everything she throws at him with relative ease, and his spear seems unstoppable. He expresses surprise at her skill, though, nodding in appreciation.

None of the spars last long.

[Hattish Thing]

Ivianna:

Days pass, and little of Ivianna is seen. For the most part, the mysterious woman remains comfortable within her room, having spent the majority of the time in meditation. Her days and nights were spent scheming and plotting, or in deep meditative trances beside bottles of ancient pureblood and other vile concoctions. So many years had passed, yet her power over the blood remained as it once was.

Her mastery of the blood remained as thorough as it did thousands of years ago.

--

At the end of the third day, the haemotheurgic practitioner emerges from her quarters, called by the phantom. She silently follows the spectre with a bored expression across her face, and fails to properly register the appearance of the others beside the ghost-like entity, ignoring them entirely, although onlookers may notice a strange sort of red tint to the woman's normally pristine, porcelain skin...

Once the spirit reveals the creature ahead, Ivianna seems to grow far more interested in the situation.

--

She does not speak, allowing the more scholarly figures bother with attempted communication. This was an... interesting advancement.

[Genth]

Aionious floats near the edge of the chamber, watching the Aboleth with narrowed eye-slits and clenched fists.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170621/ae73adf0fc31f32b475722d6d65a2565.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) she replies to Achioun https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170621/820c3b303556a6af2c69f41a57d42bee.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/). Suddenly, she flinches as one of the creature's eyes flick towards her, and she pulls her arms towards her body in a protective motion. A moment of silence follows before Oderon, then Endahar speak. The creature seems to listen in silence, its body twitching, moving slowly and slightly.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170621/356166d26afcf763b95cace84d5e13ed.png (https://fontmeme.com/outlast-2-font/) the thing replies, voice once again reverberating in your heads.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170621/9cda26ee84b90699efd5339789fddb8e.png (https://fontmeme.com/outlast-2-font/) A pause as its eyes flick from one to the other, tentacles sliding through the water.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170621/24b6c3e46de0b5d825c025ba1aa5c481.png (https://fontmeme.com/outlast-2-font/) Aionious lets out a small giggle of pleasure, slipping down to hover just a small way behind your group.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170621/3d2a8af9155355baa8e53bdafbce1964.png (https://fontmeme.com/outlast-2-font/)

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170621/49c3dc05b6bdd8cad2c28edae0c6ff8b.png (https://fontmeme.com/outlast-2-font/)

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170621/f494ca73e5be56f7da63bc371bbaeda6.png (https://fontmeme.com/outlast-2-font/)

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

Endahar was quiet for several moments, his mind knotted with thoughts of the aboleth's request and he was busy trying to unravel the words. Surely it wasn't a request, a demand, more like, if the jewel at the base of his neck was anything to go by. Still, as far as demands went, it didn't seem too bad, given what he got in return. It wouldn't necessarily hinder his interests, and helping to improve the world was always a welcome challenge.

"I don't suppose we have much of a choice in the matter, given the jewels at our necks. For my part, it would take me many years, first to get acquainted with this new world, study its new inhabitants, the myriad of new technologies, and the different cultures, so that I may better understand how best to mould them. Certainly it would take longer than a single human lifetime, but even that seemingly impossible obstacle could be overcome. So I suppose as long as you have the patience, I shall endeavor to resurrect the best of Azlant, and improve upon its many imperfections to help bring about a new age of glory to humanity." Endahar finishes with a flourish and a bow to the aboleth.

[Recherché]

Kalisse pauses choosing her words carefully. She can't risk outright lying to a mind reader or even seriously misleading it but neither is she in a position to say no.

I will do everything in my power to ensure that Azlant is not forgotten. However I do not and will not harm innocents lightly. The resurrection of Azlant will be by persuasion and enlightenment not by bloodshed if I can arrange it so.

[Taelas]

Achioun shakes his head, snorting. "Naïve," he mutters, looking in Kalisse's direction. "Nothing can be accomplished without bloodshed. When the Empire began expanding, we conquered the peoples around us. Through bloodshed. You cannot argue with savages."

He shrugs. "Azlant must rise again," he says simply. "I will not permit the efforts of my people to have been in vain. Order must be reestablished."

[ChrisAsmadi]

Oderon (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o-tD5pnHEd0lzyyLszuNzmLfCZVhKGH7-HfZEPbTjOI/edit?usp=sharing)

Oderon looked at Achioun and shook his head, "You assume that we're going to emerge into a world of barbarianism, where chaos and anarchy reign - but it's been thousands of years. There may already be order, and who are we to even think of breaking it to impose our own vision?"

He paused and nodded towards Endahar and Kalisse, "They're right. We can best serve Azlant by spreading it's knowledge, history and ideals, so that the memory of it is never forgotten."

[Taelas]

Achioun chuckles wryly. "Really. Then why wake us up?" he asks, gesturing in the direction of the aboleth. "Nothing could compare to the glory of Azlant. You cannot know! When you lived, the Empire was at its height! I saw the parts of the world untouched by the Empire -- untouched by civilization. How do I know the world without Azlant is a land of savages? I have seen it!"

At the end, the warrior is shouting.

[Recherché]

Kalisse shakes her head slowly. Also on a purely practical level, you and what army? Five people, even five very skilled people are not enough to conquer a large territory and hold it by force. We can't be everywhere and if we keep fighting eventually someone will get lucky and we'll get hurt.

[Taelas]

Achioun waves a dismissive hand. "A problem indeed, but hardly insurmountable. While Azlanti troops would make the conquest trivial, they are not required. With our leadership, even an army of the rabble will serve," he snaps, then visibly takes hold of his temper.

He takes a deep breath, then raises an eyebrow at Kalisse. "As for being only five... even I, who have barely any magic to my name, am a force to be reckoned with. You are all magicians of one kind or another. And even more importantly... Azlant will have existed in their legends for millennia. If they remember our people at all, I cannot imagine recruiting an army will be an issue."

Achioun winces. "That said, of course we need to inquire into the state of the world first. I am no tyrant. But I do not want to see the only evidence of our people disappear. I will not let us go 'quietly into the night', as it were."

[Recherché]

It's hard to get people to fight against their own kin and oppress their own countrymen. Not impossible if you can come up with the right ideology but it's hard. Kalisse purses her lips thinking through options. At least give my way a chance first? It's easy to move from words to violence but it's difficult to de-escalate from war to negotiations. Repairing a reputation for violence and oppression can be even harder.

[Taelas]

Achioun shakes his head. "Your suggestion will do nothing. Azlant has apparently been gone for ten thousand years. At best, you give them fairy tales." He snorts. "Not to mention, persuasion works only on those who are already inclined to your point of view. If I am right and they have abandoned order for anarchy, then no one will listen. There is only one way to truly implement a philosophy: through superior might."

[Hattish Thing]

Ivianna:

The woman raises an eyebrow here, standing tall before clasping her hands together and continuing to listen to the creature before you. The thing reeked of power, and control, a kind of power inaccessible even to her, for now.

It was glorious. Such an opportunity.

Ivianna speaks directly to the aboleth, though her response is fairly shallow and rehearsed. As she delivers her response, the woman continues to show her respect, raising a hand up over her heart in some sort of salutation.

"Your cause is as admirable as your presence is awe-inspiring, mighty Aboleth. I shall carry out your request to the best of my ability, in honor of your glory, and the glory of lost-Azlant."

--

She lowers her head, a sort of bow, before glancing towards Kalisse, her expression fading into a disappointed sort of scowl. Lady Ivianna rolls her eyes, before stepping forward slightly, positioning herself closer to Achioun.

"Achioun's assessment of the situation is both accurate and wise. War is inevitable, it'd be foolish to assume that this situation will result in anything other than war against the miserable inheritors of the world, our world. We will conquer, and crush them, and once we do, we will rule. They will be taught their position as inferior beings, and eventually cease resistance. Just as smaller prey fall limp when caught in the jaws of larger beasts, so too will our descendants."

"After all... at some level, food knows it's food."

A small smile appears on her face, as she speaks more directly to Kalisse.

"Which isn't to say, of course, that we need be cruel about what lies ahead. There's little reason to be excessive, although, certainly, examples will need to be made."

"And after it's all over, and the population is quelled beneath our combined might, we can rule as honorably and justly as we like, the process be damned. We will be heroes, and rulers, and legendary figures."

"Though this may not be the reality for some time, I've always lived under the philosophy that we see what we believe, rather than the other way around. Ages will pass, and the people will forget the wars."

"And to argue that they ever happened in the first place will be as to argue with reality itself."

--

Her soft smile only grows larger. "I believe in Achioun's cause, and if you consider yourself true loyalists to the glorious of Lost-Azlant, if you've any pride or respect for what once was, I beg of you, not to fight this."

[Recherché]

Or we could go with Ivianna's method and start everything with the slaughter of innocents who's only crime was to be born to a lesser race, then proceed to tyranny and brainwashing. Kalisse pitches her voice towards the disturbingly cheerful Frame it as Ivianna's suggestion so other people can back away without feeling like their abandoning their own positions. Keep up the chipper to highlight how wrong this is but don't let yourself become too convincing or they might not realize you're sarcastic

Because I'm sure we can rebuild the Azlanti empire with five people and a mass of terrified slaves. I'm sorry five people, a mass of terrified slaves and a healthy rebellion because the only way to completely stamp out people's desire for freedom is to kill them all.

The smaller woman leans forwards and stage whispers to Achioun If you want I can even mind control the slave women so they won't fight back when you have to rape them. Because there's not enough genetic diversity in 5 people to continue a race without inbreeding and once we've slaughtered our way to an empire that's going to be our only way to outbreeding.

[Taelas]

Achioun stares at her for a long moment then abruptly begins laughing. "You do not pull your punches, do you?" he asks Kalisse, shaking his head.

"I am not a tyrant. I have no wish to rule over a nation of mindless cattle. In fact... I do not want to rule at all." He looks from Kalisse to Ivianna then back again. "But someone must, or everything is anarchy. It is the burden of us, the Azlanti, to rule over lesser peoples. Our superiority demands that duty."

He shrugs. "As for breeding, just as dragons do not breed with sheep, I will not lower myself to lay with the lesser races. If we cannot restore the Azlanti people, then restoring the Empire and making it eternal will have to be enough." He looks at Ivianna. "I do not suppose your blood magic could..." He trails off, gesturing vaguely with a hand. "... help?" he finishes lamely.

[Genth]

Both the Aboleth and Aionious watch the argument flare and widen, the specter's mask twisting in glee as it gets more and more heated. Eventually, she lets out a peal of harsh laughter and swoops down to settle just a tiny bit away from Achioun's shoulders, hands inches from him.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170625/13a23aa9fd1034ca11325b104390810e.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) she says, cackling and floating a few feet away.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170625/a5648cf501dea2dece681c36dbed5de0.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) she adds, tilting her head slightly and looking from one to the other of you.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170625/021fffb9740751800361e4f8d718720a.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/)

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170625/3983bbf20d72f0449dc1585f409d3a7c.png (https://fontmeme.com/outlast-2-font/) the Aboleth sounds, a flick of a tentacle sending... something, an invisible force slamming against Aionious and sending the specter flying back, hissing in pain.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170625/16373672b6f8df28959bd78368321645.png (https://fontmeme.com/outlast-2-font/)

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

Endahar watches and listens to the argument with a concoction of amusement, shock, and annoyance, a final brew which left him perplexed. He opened his mouth to jump into the conversation several times, but bit his tongue each time, thinking better of it. His was a long view, a most basic plan that would take decades, perhaps centuries, to fully run its course. The idea of bickering over what will or will not happen at this point in time seemed moot. Nevertheless, kept silent and was waiting to see how it played out when Aionious opened her mouth and was slammed back through an unseen force.

Endahar's mouth was open in dumbfounded shock, his entire upper body seemingly bent forward frozen in place as he scurried over to Aionious without moving anything other than his legs. It wasn't until he reached the ghost that Endahar craned his neck around (his body still stiff, and his mouth still open) to look at his companions, to see what their reactions were. He turned his neck back around to study the ghost. Endahar peered closely at the ghost, deducting what had just occurred. He had seen the aboleth flicking a tentacle, and was surprised and awed by the aboleth's magical prowess. "Perhaps you should include an armor and helmet in your attire," he said to Aionious.

[Recherché]

Achioun, those first few statements were me pulling my punches. You didn't respond to gentle though so I had to bring out the forty pound hammer. I don't object to- Kalisse stops mid-sentence as the ghost begins to laugh.



Someone had the wrong idea about human social dynamics and courtship. I wonder if you were ever human at all. Still you don't deserve to be randomly blasted with magic. Kalisse keeps her face neutral though as she considers schemes to play the aboleth and the ghost against each other and then dismisses them. Both are too inhuman to be accurately predicted without large amounts of further observation. And in the meantime...

Okay if you know about this brave new world, what can you tell me of their level of advancement? How far has humanity come in
ten thousand years? Also what do their political systems look like? How much do they remember of Azlant and do they remember it favorably or with hatred for our slavery or jealousy for our advancements? Also what do the current religious systems look like?

I know Shelyn endures, for she is the eternal rose. Also I can still draw on her power a little. The question is whether her church would still be an ally to me. It seems impolitic to inquire after her directly with the aboleth and everyone else listening though.

[Hattish Thing]

Achioun stares at her for a long moment then abruptly begins laughing. "You do not pull your punches, do you?" he asks Kalisse, shaking his head.

"I am not a tyrant. I have no wish to rule over a nation of mindless cattle. In fact... I do not want to rule at all." He looks from Kalisse to Ivianna then back again. "But someone must, or everything is anarchy. It is the burden of us, the Azlanti, to rule over lesser peoples. Our superiority demands that duty."

He shrugs. "As for breeding, just as dragons do not breed with sheep, I will not lower myself to lay with the lesser races. If we cannot restore the Azlanti people, then restoring the Empire and making it eternal will have to be enough." He looks at Ivianna. "I do not suppose your blood magic could..." He trails off, gesturing vaguely with a hand. "... help?" he finishes lamely.


Lady Ivianna smirks slightly, greatly enjoying the direction the conversation was going.

For the most part, Ivianna remains quiet, watching intently as Achioun and Kalisse argue with eachother.

--

Once Achioun speaks to her, Ivianna brings her hands together, before merely nodding slightly, a mysterious expression upon her face. "Oh yes... It can help..."

"We thought of this, you know. Thousands of years ago."

"We needn't stoop so low as to interbreed with the vermin that populate the world above."

"There is... an alternative."

[Genth]

Aionious stirs from her stupor, looking up at Endahar and gliding back suddenly, eyes narrowing. But then Ivianna speaks, and the spirit's attention is fixed, arm rising close to her chest as if to grasp at the air.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170626/918b53f20b3bc688dcfeea6f7753a466.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) she whispers, barely audible.

[Taelas]

Achioun looks surprised. "Oh. All right. If that is the case, I suppose that settles that," he says slowly, looking from Ivianna to Aionious. For a moment, he seems lost in thought.

Then he shakes his head, coming back into focus. "Right. First, we ascertain the state of the world. Then we lay a plan for how to... civilize it. To bring the glories of the height of Azlant back." He glares at Aionious. "You can start by answering Kalisse's questions," he orders flatly. "Then list the countries by size and influence. Their philosophies. Are they anarchic or do they follow the rule of law? All of it, even the slightest bit of information may be important, so leave nothing out."

[Genth]

Aionious shrinks back from Achioun, head tilted, shaking slightly, and holding her hand up in front of her chest.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170628/613c394366410ad9b6942f314df814f7.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) she croons, slowly inching towards the man. A slight rumble indicates the noise of the Aboleth movind, starting to sink back down into the hole below it.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170628/c197114c21b4b8de4c1733604ee3b938.png (https://fontmeme.com/outlast-2-font/) it intones, vanishing after a few moments, and leaving you alone with Aionious.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170628/c324c4f41111b13c0638c48156dbb1bb.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/) she says, voice full of sickly-sweet intonations.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170628/3e8c943d0ed2ddc2df6f801033501e90.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/)

[Recherché]

More waiting. Joy of joys. Especially with that woman around. Still maybe I can get some actual information here or even get in contact with someone on the outside.

Kalisse keeps her expression neutral.

Very well. Lead on.

And maybe just maybe I can figure out what to do about the ghost.

[Taelas]

Achioun snorts. "Five days, huh? That's not a lot of time..." He looks at the others, sighing. They weren't who he would have chosen for companions if he had had the choice, but they were the remnants of Azlant.

"We have a lot to discuss."

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

Truly, the last thing Endahar wanted was to discuss the plan for world domination with anyone, present company or otherwise. The world was filled with such beauty, why must someone always wish to inflict their will upon others? Still, Azlant had some things right. Perhaps the outside world could use some old wisdom, and whatever failings Azlant had, it could be improved upon. Just need to stay away from the sociopathic blood aficionado.

"So..." Endahar said with an exaggerated smile as he began walking back towards their place. His voice was laced with an overabundance of sweets. "Shall we begin our discussion of Azlant domination? First we need to gather a few slaves to prop our feet upon. I simply cannot enjoy a good discussion without propping my weight upon the inferior beings. It goes so well with wine, don't you agree?"

[Recherché]

Kalisse shoots the wizard an annoyed look.

He's not going to persuade Achioun by going straight for emancipation. The man is too rooted in the idea of natural hierarchies.

No thank you. I much prefer my servants willing. They're much less likely to rebel and plot against me when they can walk away.

Kalisse can't quite bring herself to truly shut down the man but at least she can frame her views in practicalities rather than appeals to human dignity.

[Taelas]

Achioun raises an eyebrow, staring at Endahar as if the man has lost his mind. "What are you talking about?" he asks. "You have an issue with slaves?" By the warrior's tone, he clearly finds the idea absurd. Then he stops, as a seemingly horrid thought occurs to him, shock spreading across his face. "You're an abolitionist!?"

Achioun gives an incredulous bark of a laugh. "This just keeps getting better and better..." he mutters, shaking his head.

After a minute, he stops and turns to Endahar again: "Do you value any of our accomplishments? Are... are parks and-and benches offensive to you as well?" He hesitates, groping around for an obviously ludicrous example.

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

Endahar smiles at Kalisse. He ignored her comment, and responds to the warrior instead, as Endahar passes him by. "We were all enslaved once, and I gather it wasn't a pleasant experience. And we are, in a way, enslaved now, forced to do the bidding of the dark creature that just swam away. Fortunately he's not of the mind to inflict needless harm upon us so far, but you only need to look at our friend Aionious cowering in obeisance to see a glimpse of our future should we displease our new master. So yes, my friend, I am a man of principle, I do not discriminate, not even against mindless beasts that wield pointy steel."

With that, Endahar grins back at Achioun, and begins whistling a cheerful tune, making his way back.

[Taelas]

Achioun shakes his head, slowly. "There is nothing wrong with slavery, Endahar. It is the very fabric of civilization," the warrior says, his tone flat. "Without slavery, we descend into anarchy. The rule of law, of order, must be upheld. Surely you can see that."

He gestures back the way they came. "The spectre is indeed an excellent example," he goes on. "We know the thing is evil -- according to Kalisse, it hates above all else. Yet now it is given purpose, retooled. Instead of serving its own hate, it is forced to serve our needs -- and thereby the needs of the world. You would leave it to its own desires? Who knows how many innocents it might hurt in a destructive quest for vengeance?"

He rolls his shoulders. "The aboleth has not forced us to do its bidding, but asked us. It clearly does not seek to make us its slaves. I am not asking for us to enslave the world, but to bring it civilization. I would only make slaves of those who deserve it."

The warrior looks pointedly at Endahar. "You say you do not discriminate, but allowing monsters the freedom to destroy is precisely that. You would allow the subjugation and destruction of innocents beings. I only suggest the enslavement of the guilty. Do you honestly believe your stance is the moral one?"

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

"We vanquish evil where we must, for the sake of the helpless and all that is good. To enforce your will upon another, to keep them from fulfilling their dreams and desires would in turn be evil, regardless of whether one shows mercy to its chattel or not. I am bound to fulfil the aboleth's wishes, and cannot simply roam about, study life and all its splendor, because the master has commanded me to a task. Perhaps your goals simply align with the aboleth's goal, so you are fortunate, but we are by definition enslaved." Endahar shrugs. "Morality is the province of philosophers, far outside of my realm of expertise. I simply do not appreciate being subjugated, and view it as an evil act. I would never inflict it upon another."

[Taelas]

Achioun throws up his hands in disgust.

"You say one thing, then the exact opposite in the very next sentence! Either we vanquish evil where we must, or we refrain from forcing our will upon others. You cannot do both!" The warrior shakes his head. "You do not know that you are not free. Perhaps the aboleth will be as disgusted by your attitude as I am, and won't care what you do," he snarls as he storms off.

[Recherché]

Kalisse waits for the other to depart before whispering to Endahar I'm not a proponent of slavery for economic of moral reasons myself but I'd prefer to have as many allies as I can. Achioun can be . . . managed I think. Honor can be an effective leash for some people where compassion fails. Some of the others would be worse. Just keep in mind that alone we're vulnerable. Together we're stronger than our constituent parts.

[grifter730]

Endahar: (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1218924)

Endahar smiles wistfully at Kalisse and shrugs, before whistling a cheerful tune once more.

[Genth]

A few hours of blissful non-Aionious peace follow your return to the apartments, but soon enough she rises from the ground, her features stony and red eyes gleaming.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170711/81b5a5445fc0d7b8647a6a3c1ea6606a.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/)

For the next six hours, and thereafter for 8 hours a day, Aionious explains and describes the continent of Avistan, its current political makeup, offering you books to get up-to-date. She is a decent, if off-focus teacher, tending to focus quite naturally on the nastier aspects of the political climate.

Roll 1d6 each. You get that many bonus ranks to put into Knowledge (Modern History), (Modern Geography), (Modern Nobility) or (Modern Local). Endahar and Kalisse can treat all of these as class skills. Ivianna and Oderon can choose two to be class skills, Achioun can choose the one.

Eventually, however, the fifth day arrives, and Aionious arrives in the morning with a new passageway opened up, this time with stairs headed upwards.

https://fontmeme.com/permalink/170711/04a0c1ccbbc310115d8fb3e238f477f1.png (https://fontmeme.com/pandora-the-world-of-avatar-font/)

[Recherché]

Kalisse spends the next few days in what seems to the others almost a trance. When Aionious lectures she focuses raptly asking constant questions and still jotting down notes in shorthand at the same time. After the ghost finishes, the noblewoman does not stop, instead she reviews her notes composing short songs about the teachings of the day. The oddest part though is the way she doesn't seem to view any of the information they go over as separate but instead constantly seeks to integrate everything as one connected whole. Whatever she's doing seems to work though. Over the days Kalisse pulls far ahead and by the 4th day of instruction she seems to have memorized the order of succession for every noble house in Taldor and moved on to Chelaxian fashion trends and banking in Absalom.



If we crumble to dust I'm blaming you from the afterlife. Kalisse sing songs to the ghost with a tonw that's almost certainly teasing. So strategy time people. Absalom has a great deal of cultural influence and would be a good place to set up base if we want to try relatively subtle persuasion. Taldor does enough Azlanti worship and is weak enough that we could probably stage a bloodless political coup relatively easily and have ourselves a country to run without too much violence. Cheliax is likely to be one of our biggest threats once they learn who we are and what we intend. If we take them out before they know anything we could save ourselves some pain in the future but it would not be sweet or peaceful and holding the country might be difficult.

[Taelas]

While Achioun is not the best student, he does seem to try hard, and while he doesn't become an expert in any particular field, he learns a little of everything.

After, as they are about to ascend and Kalisse starts the discussion, Achioun nods slowly. "That makes sense. Other than Cheliax though, Andoran seems to be an issue, one way or the other. It may be that their democracy could allow us to easily rise to prominence -- but they have a history of revolt. Regardless of how we get there, it will be difficult to incorporate the country into the new Azlanti empire. But I agree that Cheliax is the first concern. An entire nation of devil-worshippers!" The warrior shakes his head. "This barbarism is what I was afraid of."

He sighs, then looks at Kalisse. "This Absalom. It seems to be the center of everything. It won't be easy to establish a rule from there, but if we did, everything following would be far simpler."

[ChrisAsmadi]

Oderon (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o-tD5pnHEd0lzyyLszuNzmLfCZVhKGH7-HfZEPbTjOI/edit?usp=sharing)

Oderon spends the sessions of tutelage engaged, for the most part, in the lessons on more recent history - the parallels between the various expansions of empires that had risen and fallen and that of Azlant were especially interesting to the warmage, who had spent significant amounts of his downtime between deployments studying Azlant's own history. Procuring an old and well-worn journal, inkpen and ink from his satchel, he took several pages of notes on both history and the various regions of the world in the back of his journal for later reference.

---

As they stood in the passage to the surface, discussing their first moves into this new world, Oderon said, "I agree, Absalom seems like the most prudent choice, if only to establish some sort of base upon the surface - we would do well to find somewhere secure to operate from that Endahar and I can actually teleport back to."