Planescape: Center of All - IC

[Archmage1]

Eilyra frowns, remembering her similar experience, before asking one more question. "Have you heard of a man who goes by the name Antis?"

[kinem]

Hesum replies "Yes, I have met a few. It's a name used among my people. But I don't know of one in particular who would be relevant to the situation."

[Toliudar]

Ash

Sensing that the conversation had reached a natural stopping point, Ash maintains her watch on the man while sending to her colleagues.

*Perhaps the cult used this as a repository for future sacrifices. Or test subjects, like Antis. We can always return to Hesum later if desired.*

She nodded to Hesum.

"You have done well, Hesum. We will speak again."

She speaks the word to dismiss him, then summons the next prisoner. Unless it's Antis, she leads off with a simple series of questions.

"Please state your name, and tell us the circumstances leading up to your residency in this mirror."

Spoiler: OOC

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Sense Motive on whoever appears next: (1d20+29)[46]

[kinem]

Hesum nods as his face vanishes from the mirror.

Soon, it is replaced by that of another human man, with light skin and dark hair.

He says "So! The mirror has at last been found. Who are you?

I am Pilo Malik. How I got here ... some fool must have wanted me out of the way. Perhaps just to steal my wordly possessions.

It appears that you have me at a disadvantage, so I am willing to bargain for my freedom. What do you seek?"

Spoiler: Ash

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He hasn't lied, but he seems to have a lot to hide.

[Toliudar]

Ash

Ash weaves a spell to refresh one of her protections, and smiles blandly at Pilo. She sends a quick mental missive to her colleagues.

*This man is less forward than the last one.*

She speaks quietly to Pilo.

"Hello, Pilo. Call me Ash.

"We are very interested in the people who put you in here. It sounds like you were a follower of the sleeping one. If you want any chance of us releasing you, you'd best start by telling us more about yourself, and about the people most likely to have orchestrated your imprisonment."

Spoiler: OOC

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Sense Motive: (1d20+29)[33]

[kinem]

Pilo replies "So you know about the sleeping one, do you? Few know as much as I do.

Fun fact: His power continues to increase even during his imprisonment. As he gets stronger, he is able to influence the outside world more and more. Thus, it is inevitable that he will eventually be able to arrange to escape his prison. When he does, he will rearrange the world to his liking.

Thus, there are only two real questions: How much unnecessary destruction can be avoided by hastening his arrival before the world grows ever more populous? And, who will be in his favor when he does arrive?

I aim to be in his favor, as should you. However, I do not wish that honor to go to those who betrayed me. Therefore whichever side you are on, whether you wish to delay or hasten the arrival of the sleeping one, there is only one logical course. Release me! I you wish to hasten, I can help with that. If you wish to delay, then I will help you foil the plans of my rivals and betrayers."

Spoiler: Ash

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He does not seem to be trying to deceive you in what he just said.

[Archmage1]

Eilyra gives Pilo a look, quickly assessing why he had been imprisoned. A worm. How useful. And how unreliable.. "Why don't you tell us what you know about recent events?"

[kinem]

Pilo replies "I don't know how long I've been in here, but it feels like it's been a while, so I have no idea what's been going on in your recent time. But if you tell me what's afoot, I can tell you what I know about it. Preferably over a bottle of fine wine."

[Archmage1]

Eilyra frowns, and shakes her head. "Recent events, from your perspective."

[kinem]

He says "Alright. I wasn't planning to mention this so early on, but we succeeded in drawing a good deal of the gate's power into an artifact. Under the right conditions, it should be able to release the big guy. We were on the verge of victory! But that must have been a long time ago, and even from our brief conversation, I can see that it hasn't occurred yet.

So my rivals either relented or screwed up. I am sure it was the latter. But the artifact is probably still out there, and probably, some of my rivals are still around.

That should be enough to raise your curiosity. I won't say more until you release me. No point in giving away the goods without any leverage."

[Archmage1]

Eilyra gives Ash a look.

[Cavir]

Avakuss, out of sight from the mirror, nods his head as he's just had a revelation. He knows not to say it within earshot of the enemy but it's a signal to the others he has some information.

[Toliudar]

Ash

Ash notes both Eilyra's look and Avakuss' nod, but lacks the context to understand the significance of either. She nods to Pilo.

"Well, that certainly is intriguing. We'll be in touch."

Speaking the word to send Pilo back to his soul-itary confinement, she then turns to her colleagues.

*He's gone. Well, that was intriguing. He's definitely hiding things, but seemed genuinely interested in getting revenge, and seemed to be honest about the story he told.*

[Archmage1]

Eilyra nods. "Whatever his motivations, it is clear that he is very self motivated." She frowns. "Without some way to cross check what he says, trust would be unwise. That said, Joel may have additional information on that, which could be useful. But without more information, I'd recommend against talking to him again. Additionally, there was no mention of any such artifact, or plans to make such a thing in the books I reviewed."

[Cavir]

Avakuss stands to stretch his legs and leans back against the wall. At 7'7" his knees are nearly table high. "My first encounter with Rule had us running an errand for him. We had to retrieve a sack from a cavern that was dropped when the cultists carrying it were killed while trying to find a refuge. In Pandemonium. The same monster we killed just outside the library. The sack contained a few items, including A Deck of Many Things. You can guess who had it last that I know of."

[Archmage1]

Still frowning, Eilyra seems thoughtful. A deck of many things? Formed of the power of the seal... I suspect that is no ordinary deck or else it was an example. Since I don't think Rule wants Thazzie freed, it might be worthwhile telling him. Of course, the deck may not be an ordinary deck, and might have other effects built in, especially if it was designed to break a seal.
After a few moments, she nods. "Well, that is interesting, and worth sharing. The question is whether the deck was the example, or the artifact. Either way, following up there seems wise."

[Cavir]

"Example? The Deck Is an artifact, maybe not The artifact, but something that has totally chaotic results. There were other items in the sack but we never saw what they were."

[Archmage1]

Eilyra shrugs. "Crafting an artifact is not a simple thing. Having one on hand to observe may have been beneficial in their efforts to create one of their own. Or it might be what they made. Without further details, determining which is the case is challenging." She pauses for a moment. "Of course, considering the insanity of their religion, the deck may well have appealed to them. Regardless, Joel may know more."

[Toliudar]

Ash

Ash shrugged noncommittally, clearly not convinced but willing to explore further.

In the interim, she moves on to the next command word to bring a prisoner to the surface of the mirror, and prepares to launch into the same opening questions as last time.

[kinem]

The next (and presumably last) man in the mirror proves to be none other than Antis.

He says "What's going on? I'm trapped again! Can you free me?"

[Toliudar]

Ash

Ash winces slightly.

"Antis, we're not sure that it's safe to let you out yet. Patience!"

She maintains eye contact with Antis while sending to her colleagues.

*Do any of you have more questions for Antis? I sense that he is the only remaining occupant in the mirror.*

[kinem]

Antis says ”Safe? Why not?”

[Archmage1]

Eilyra shrugs. "After the troll, the altar, and the ooze attacked us, we left the astral. Unfortunately, by all the information we have, you have been in the astral long enough to instantly die if you are ever outside of it, due to time buildup. Speaking of which, did you have any idea about those?"

[kinem]

Antis replies “What? No. But don’t worry about me. What was done made me tough. I’ll take my chances.”

[Archmage1]

Eilyra looks interested at that statement. "What was done to you?"

[kinem]

He says “Your friend knows. Some kind of power from the gate was put into me.”

[Toliudar]

Ash

Ash arches an eyebrow. Fascinating that Antis should actually know the memory that she had been able to access from him. She sends to her colleagues.

*As I told you before, I saw a memory of him being infused by some sort of dark energy at the portal. We've seen his resilience in the face of the piercing cold of the cavern. So it may be possible that the same fortitude has made him immortal.

*Regardless, though, I see no particular reason to release him from the mirror. He is quite mad, and already ran away from us, ignoring orders, once before. If you have questions for him, ask. If you think that we should release him, state your case.*

[Archmage1]

Eilyra shakes her head, firmly. "Antis, I don't know if you intended to, or not, but you lead us directly into a trap, and into a place where the only other location was also a trap, one that we prevented from triggering. Without more information, we will have to consider you compromised."

[kinem]

Antis says “Didn’t plan that. What more information can I give that would make you free me now?”

[Archmage1]

Eilyra frowns. "I don't know. What do you think? What were you trying to do in returning to that room? How did you come to be in that cell?"