[Game Thread] Chapter 6c: A Shadow Over Feid

[Acathala]

Nallaul remains silent in the presence of Acedia. His red eyes are on the Drow prisoners. One of them looks familiar, someone from the old neighbour, from before Nallaul joined the First House. A butcher, Nallaul doesn't remember the name, though Tel'shar probably would. The Arachnomancer remembers the man for two reasons. Firstly the green eyes. Green was a very rare shade for drow eyes. Secondly, the man visited the brothel where Tel'shar lived every night. Wondering how a mere butcher could afford to go there every night, he asked Tel'shar about it. Tel'shar laughed and told him the butcher was actually a fence, and the shop was a front. The man shifted suddenly and Nallaul got a better look. The Drow mage realised he was mistaken. The eyes were golden not green, and the nose was smaller.
He returns his full attention to the woman of the hour. Not being a diplomat, Nallaul is uncertain if Mrith's approach will work. Hopes it will, but hoping for a thing doesn't make it happen. I am uncertain whether this is going to work. Probably going to end in bloodshed. It has been the crappiest day so far.

[Makenshi]

Acedia regards Mrith's words with a blank look, while many of the nearby followers smirk. "Words we have heard before many times, in one way or another. Pretty words and pretty ideals that do not stand up to the cruel world we live in." There is a feel of pressure against their minds, as if the Goddess was flexing her mental influence, but their protections held. "Once, we thought we had found a true friend, but even he abandoned us."

Her eyes shift towards Bane. "We recognised you before you said anything. Shear away a little of the beard and you would be the spitting image of his father." She reaches out a hand towards Bane, but the Godling steps away, drawing a frown from Acedia although she doesn't attempt to reach out again. "He had much and more to say about Vulcar."

"Do you want to speak you him again? My father?" Bane asked.

Acedia's expression hardens. "Why would we wish that? He abandoned us. Like everybody does sooner or later. Whether through choice, violent ends or old age."

"Then why agree to meet with us again? Do you intend to hurt us to get to him?" Bane asks wearily, looking around at Acedia's army of followers, while placing his hand on his belt, near but not quite on his sword sheathe.

Acedia gives him a withering look. "Vengeance is petty and pointless." She looks from Cypher to Bane again. "We want you."

~MTWC

[Blue]

Mrith shook her head after Acedia's reply. She endured the pressure against her mind and her expression strengthened.
"True friendship is not measured by distance. He had important things to do and as a friend you should have understood his heart and given him your support or at least your blessing. He did not abandon you, you failed him. In the process we found a way to separate you from Acedia. You would be able to return to him and leave this hole."

"Why would we wish that? He abandoned us. Like everybody does sooner or later. Whether through choice, violent ends or old age."

That almost made her angry.
"You're not eternal either; The day will come where you will also be forced to leave your friends - Be it by a violent end, the end of time itself or by being touched by the Mystery - the fault is not his. Dragons such as Mirik Orn and myself know well that our human friends will all perish long before we do but that doesn't stop us from building several relationships with them, still. I'll see most of my friends pass on but I'll carry the memory of them with me until my flame burns out. Even mortals go through the joys and griefs of friendships - Dragons and immortals alike will only have more of those moments to reflect on throughout the silences. Why would would waste yourself away here when you can build something real outside? He is doing his part in making this 'cruel world' better for you and everyone else he cherishes. If you don't like this world then do your part to make the change.

She gazed back at the portal.
"There is nothing in that place. For us, for you."

[Acathala]

Acedia seemed just as unreceptive as Nallaul feared, and he privately shortened the odds on there being a fight. It ssemed unlikely that Acedia was going to listen.
Acedia's reply made him think of two people he had lost recently. Alamen, the weapon master. They had been.....friends though more allies. Neither of them was in the other's paths career wise, and they had worked well together in combat, and had done favours for each other. Nallaul had suspected his unofficial alliance with her was one of the main reasons he was still alive. Her final fate was unknown to him, but it was unlikely she was still alive, given Deimos' impersonation of her.
There was also Gul. His former apprentice. Once upon a time Nallaul thought him the same as him. That was until Nallaul discovered Gul's penchant for torture. Up to that point Gul had been the closest Nallaul had to a son. Re-evaluating that relationship, Nallaul was forced to admit to himself that friendship was one-sided. Whilst Gul had respected him, it would not have lasted, and eventually he would have turned on him.

[Makenshi]

Once again, it is the people around Acedia who react, rather than the Goddess herself, with most of them looking angry and a few of them even outright snarling at the young Dragon's words, at least until Acedia silences them with a gesture. "We do not desire to return to him and we do not desire his friendship. He made his choice plain when he lied to us and left us. Of this and more you know little, if not nothing, Mrith Jenn'lar Rudaa, crippled dragon of Quall." There is a slight pause before she adds with more venom and emotion than she has displayed so far. "So still your tongue or we will still it for you. You upset us and ours with your ignorance."

Cypher attempts to distract the Goddess from her heated words with Mrith. "You say vengeance is petty and pointless, but when you say you want 'us', that is what it sounds like. Perhaps you can enlighten us as to what you mean exactly?"

"You are not your father. Perhaps you will be the ones."

"'The Ones'?" Prompts Cypher, but in vain, as Acedia completely ignores the question.

"You will come with us and we will let the others go." She gestures to Morgan, Mrith, Nallaul, Kala and the others.

Cypher and Bane share a look before the latter speaks up. "We can't-"

"They're not. No one is." The siblings aren't the only ones who look surprised at Xu'deln's interruption. "No one living in this life at least."

Acedia looks curiously at the Half-Drow. "You speak as if with knowledge. Explain yourself."

Xu'deln cocks his head to the side, seemingly distracted by something, before speaking again, but it wasn't exactly an answer. "When your mother released your Potential, expanding upon your psionic gifts, did you think that was where the voices came from? Passive mind reading from a young Godling."

Both Acedia and her followers are quickly becoming agitated, although it is obvious that the latter are also confused as well, as it wasn't the simple anger of their reaction to Mrith. "Explain yourself."

Xu'deln either doesn't notice or isn't bothered by the situation. "But still you hear something...something just beyond hearing. Like words and thoughts at the tip-" The Binder is brought to a sudden stop as he lurches forward by an unseen force until he stumbles to his knees in front of the Maiden of Misery.

"Explain." Acedia practically hisses.

Xu'deln sits back on his haunches, looking up at her with only a hint of trepidation. "They can't help you Eleeza. But I can. I think its why the voices led me here." Acedia flinches when he calls her 'Eleeza' while many of her followers look stunned.

~MTWC

[Blue]

She expected that the audience would be greatly displeased and the fiends' anger was exquisite. Acedia's rebuke was interesting and her choice of insult only indicated her poor imagination. She tried not to laugh considering the uncomfortable situation they were all in. Still, she began to suspect why he might have left her. She was still somewhat interested but had a great dislike for self-absorbed drama-queens. They were really exhausting emotionally but this one apparently still had some mystery going on if really there was much relevant that wasn't part of some lunacy.

Her later outburst did not intimidate her. The dragon was brave but not completely nuts. She did indeed shut it out of caution. Acedia was an unstable concoction though she did not believe her to be the lunatic she was said to be. It was still highly possible, of course, but Nevh's voice in her head insisted and reinforced her belief that there was a pattern so far. Like any other unknown factor, once Acedia would be understood it would be possible to get somewhere. Unfortunately, unlike most people she didn't come with a manual.
That made things more interesting, at least.


The whole exchange with Xu'deln confirmed that much. It was interesting. The mood, however, was certain that now was a good time to stay silent and let things go as they went. These two had more to say to each other.

[Battlechaser]

As soon as they stepped out of the building Léon put his right hand on Min's shoulder. "Wait." With a nod from his head he gestured towards a shadowy recess between two decrepit houses.

As soon as they were settled, the spy turned towards the Child and whispered. "They did not specifically forbid us to follow them. And I've got a feeling they might need someone watching their back."

[Acathala]

Given Acedia's reaction to Mrith, the pragmatic drow mage begins to look for alternative exits out of here. However this stops when Xu'deln starts speaking. He's reminded of the time the half-drow was prattling some nonsense that could have been construed as heresy against Lolth, had the nearby young priestess taken it that way, and if she had, an unpleasant death would have awaited him. She either didn't notice, or didn't want to make an enemy of Xudaer. However, unlike that time, Nallaul thinks Xu'deln knows what he's talking about, and the situation may well be retrieved.

[Makenshi]

Leon & Min

The two of them effortlessly melted into the shadows, and in Min's case by DM's Note - Min is a known Elocater (Psionic Prestige Class that can defy gravity) to the group, so this won't be a surpriselying down on the wall, giving them both enough room to stay out of sight in their little recess. Despite their simply spying on events going on the Child kept a hand on the hilt of Witherbane, occasionally tightening her grip when she didn't like what she saw.

When Acedia advanced on her kin Min kicked away from the wall and looked like she was about to throw herself into the building until a soft voice from above spoke out. "That would be ill-advised at this point Min." Min's head shot up at the same time as she withdrew Witherbane, and it was plain by the way she grasped the sword in both hands that she didn't know the voice or its owner.

Floating above them was a woman with pearly white skin, long dark hair, one blue eye and one green eye, with a pair of curved, crystalline, pale blue lenses hovering a fraction of an inch in front of her eyes, moving in concert with them. She had a plain silver mask obscuring the lower part of her face (from her nose down) except for shifting images and patterns which seem to move across it with more intensity as she spoke. She was wearing a fine long-sleeved silver robe with shifting blue patterns on it that seem to dance and change randomly, leaking a silver and blue mist at its edges which mingles with the cloak of heavy mist spilling forth from two blue, crystalline pauldrons atop her shoulders which seemed to lattice across her back. The cloak is half wrapped around her, obscuring almost her entire body from view and making it appear like she is floating in mid air.

She also has large, snow-white wings extending from her back, piercing through the robe and cloak with no discomfort from just just below the pauldrons, and through the slits in the side of her skirt you can also see that she is wearing midnight blue knee-length leather boots which seem to have fused with her skin, with tendrils of them crawling up her thighs like veins towards her waist. Cinched at her waist is a wide belt of silver plates with fine azure chains linking them all together. The rest of her visible skin has similar vein-like blue patterns across it, concentrated towards her torso from what you can see. The only weapon she had was a silver war hammer that was attached to her belt or rather, hanging off of it through some unseen force or enchantment, although she made no move to retrieve it.

Her whole form seemed somehow indistinct, like she wasn't really there, and with a start Leon realised why he hadn't sensed her presence - as far as he could tell she wasn't there, not physically at least, and combined with her general mist-like appearance it wouldn't be much of a stretch to assume that she was incorporeal to some degree or another.

"Please, don't be alarmed, I just didn't want you to endanger yourselves needlessly. I am Airiel the Unbound." She looks to Leon. "I believe that you met my brother, Airin, earlier. Probably while he was beaten half-to death, knowing him." She sighed at that last part. "So I can understand why you want to protect your siblings Min, but trust me when I say that barging in there now will only makes thing worse, especially with that sword of yours."

----------------------------------------------------

Everyone Else

There is a long moment of silence before Xu'deln continues, taking Acedia's silence as a good sign, although her own followers seem unsure of how she will react. A few of them even back away. "I heard them too. And saw them. Sometimes they would take the form of someone I knew and I simply couldn't tell the difference between what was real and what was in my head. It almost got me killed more times than I care to count. But now...now that I understand it things are different, and I can teach you too."

"Then you will come with us." Is Acedia's immediate reply, but just as she turns away from Xu'deln, presumably about to leave, the Half-Drow speaks up again.

"Only me."

She turns back around. "Explain."

"I'll go with you and I'll teach you, but you have to leave the Drow and everyone else that you've...'collected' today."

Acedia does not look amused by the demand, looming over Xu'deln once again. "We could crack your mind open like an egg."

"Maybe, but even Shade, the one who taught me, didn't know if I'd hold out or not. Not even he understands my limits. So yes, maybe you'll break me and get what you want. Maybe the voices will protect me as they have in the past. Or maybe when you try to break me I'll bind something that even Shade didn't dare." He waits a moment until he's sure he has Acedia's attention. "Those voices are vestiges, remnants of beings and people who have died, and that is a very, very long list of beings. Gifted mortals, former gods and even...Old Ones. How do you fancy pitting your will against Xarax and Cehrencha?"

Acedia cocks her head to the side, much like when she first approached them, her expression unreadable. "You play a dangerous game."

"All games are dangerous to Drow because every game could mean the end of your life. How is this any different?"

Acedia appears to crack a smile for a moment before schooling her expression again. "We are leaving. Take only our own." For a moment there appears to be some dissent among her followers, but it is over almost as quickly as it begins with no obvious act on her part. Her followers begin rounding people up, several of whom teem terrified of the prospect of not going with Acedia. Although several remain near Xu'deln and the others, they are not immediately moving to force him away, but it was likely that if any of them wanted to say anything to the Binder now would be the best time. There was no telling when or if Acedia would let him go.

~MTWC

[Acathala]

Nallaul looks at a group of drow, before turning his red-eyed gaze to Xu'deln. "They won't understand why you have done this for them, you know. I doubt I could explain it to them. Perhaps in time they will, now that Lolth's poisonious influence is gone, but perhaps and time can be lengthy concepts." He sighs. "In any case Xu'deln Rilyn'und, you're a better and braver man than I. It is doubtful that I could do what you are doing. Any message for your mother? She will ask." Nallaul was so not looking to forward to that conversatiom with Xufaer. However Nallaul realises he cannot let the Binder go without asking one question for his sanity. Leaning in he whispers "Was it you who spoke to me on my worst day? Said that it wasn't worth it was it?" The Arachnomancer refers to the day he became a child killer.

[Blue]

Mrith was greatly impressed. Xu'deln's gamble had been well measured and he managed to discern what she wanted while also happening to be among the unique individuals whom could provide it. How lucky!
She watched the scene unfold, quietly, captivated. This very moment was great story material and so she silently retrieved one of her booklet to write down the details and the words that had just been exchanged. Nevh's impeccable echoic memory helped to get it right.
She didn't mind changing the words for the sake of Art but there was also some history to be made out of this.

Then, as it dawned on her that it may take a while before the Drow would be able her side, she really wished they'd get along enough to get some fresh air out of that awful world once in a while or he might get bored out of his mind. Something that perhaps wasn't entirely impossible with Acedia, and in a place like Acedia.
"My most gracious thanks, Xu'deln."

He was smart and resourceful and learned from the best. She wasn't worried for him all that much but it was a darn shame to lose a great element. Acedia was a lot of wasted potential but maybe with someone like him it could still turn around.
"Here's hoping she's a fast learner. Some news once in a while would be great. We'll try to get you updated on whats going on here too, if you want..."

She knew he was probably well informed through the voices he heard but maybe having social contacts, limited or otherwise, with other people than Acedia and fiends would be nice ever so often.

Those left behind were more people she'd rather not stick around with too long but they would probably need someone to get them organized. Soon.
Still, they had important stuff to do, like getting a certain Pharean queen and princess an urgent return to lifedom.
Once Acedia and her minions would be gone, she sigh and exclaim: "All right. Let's get those Phareans their liege back."

[Battlechaser]

His attention focused on spying his companions, Léon relied on his touchsight -and Min- to warn him of impending danger. Apparently the ghostly lady did not tingle his spidersense. At least his shame was lessened by the fact that the Godling wasn't able to feel Airiel either.

Trying his best not to let his hand slide to his rapier, Léon looked up at the apparition. "Oh, we're not planning to attack. Unless you know something we don't. What is Acedia doing?" Meanwhile he scanned the area for escape routes should this self-proclaimed sister of Airin turn on them. Not that walls would do much to stop her.

[Makenshi]

Leon and Min

"Oh, I didn't think that you'd be the one to attack Leon. Min is well known for her recklessness." Airiel smiles, or at least Leon's pretty sure she's smiling by the movement of her eyes and what he can see of her face.

The Child gives an annoyed look at the perceived chiding. "I wasn't going to jump in, I just-"

"I'm only teasing Min. My apologies for any offence. While I didn't think it likely either of you would attack, there didn't seem to be much point in not showing my face a little earlier than I intended to avert disaster, no matter how unlikely." She turns her focus towards the window. "As for Acedia, I can't say for sure, but hopefully she will leave without any of your friends or family. She is in the habit of abducting people after all."

"Then why don't you interfere?" Min snaps. "You and yours have several Demi-Gods from what we've heard."

"True, however not truly individually. Wra was killed by Lady, Snark and Tinker, and it was an artifact that weakened him enough to be killed. While Sublime killed Superbia in single combat her brother, Art, was using his magic to counter any of Superbia's own magic, forcing her into a more physical confrontation which is Sublime's own strength. As for Gula, my brother managed to kill him because he forced Gula to use a poison he developed which targets Deities - as it became increasingly obvious that he couldn't kill him quickly or easily through other means - not realising that that was what Airin wanted, so that he could pass it back to him." She looks back to Min. "Not only is Acedia more powerful than all of them, but she is surrounded by her followers, has an open Gate to her realm nearby and, finally, there is not much I can do to counter her abilities, let alone turn them against her as we have done with others. Acedia is Power. With a capitol 'P'."

"So why are you here? Just to stop us doing something stupid?"

Airiel turns back to look at the unfolding events through the window, where Xu'deln is being pulled to Acedia's feet. "As I said, hopefully I'm here to watch Acedia leave peacefully."

Min growls softly. "Are you being deliberately obtuse or does it just come naturally?"

Airiel's eyes tighten a little, with a tone sounding a little forced, but still polite. "Not unless you consider True Magic Bindings to be 'natural'. Whether you wish to or can believe it, or not, we are all here to help. Circumstances have just limited us in exactly how we can help."

Min looks as if she is about ready to speak again when Airiel cuts her off. "But you needn't concern yourselves with Acedia any more." She points to the window, where Acedia and her followers are beginning to move, although it takes them a few moments of watching to confirm their initial thoughts - they were retreating through the gate. Airiel smiles again as she turns to look at Leon and Min. "I suggest you wait until the Gate is closed before entering. I'm going to ensure that none of her followers remain to create a foot-hold." Although she doesn't 'sprint' off (if gliding can be considered sprinting in the first place), she moves away quickly, her form seemingly to disperse and spread itself, so if there was anything else that Leon wanted to say or ask her, he likely wouldn't have long.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone Else

Xu'deln smiles, not a half smile, or a smirk, but an honest-to-goodness smile, which not even Nallaul has seen on the Half-Drow's face before. "I'm not sure even I understand yet entirely." His smile does falter when Nallaul mentions his mother though, as if it hadn't occurred to him before. "She won't understand either. Tell her...tell her that...I'm not even sure what to tell her. No matter what you say I'm still not even sure how much she cares. You of all people know how my mother can be. She has always fiercely protective what she saw as hers, even if it was a student she herself hated and tormented who was being targeted by another. Even if that is the case though, she protected me for a long time and suffered for it, so I guess my message for her would be to trust in and work with the Halvans." He gives a significant look towards Morgan. "She'll need help if she's to survive up here, and not just from you Nallaul. Just warn her that she will need to adapt to their ways. Her own power with magic will give her some room to maneuver and barter, but...well, she's not the most powerful any more, and that's not even including the various Demi-Gods or Archgates."

Xu'deln shows Mrith a more typical half smile in response to her words. "I'm sure we'll find a way to keep in touch."

Surprisingly the Half-Drow seeks out Kala afterwards. "Before I go, here is something I must tell you." Kala frowns, but doesn't sign in response, letting the Binder speak. "Your friend, the headless one, she is not immortal, not really."

Kala frowns and signs, with Mortimer translating. "What do you mean?"

"I've seen her, several times. Until recently I didn't realise who and what she was - she never remains for long - but the last time I saw her she gave me a message for you: destroy the body. I hope that helps."

OOC Spot for Spat to have Morgan say farewell if he gets a chance/time.

Even before Xu'deln had finished his goodbyes it was clear that the Acedians were getting impatient, but they managed to hold out from forcing the issue. By then most of Acedia's followers had either left through the gate or were heading there while sometimes having to physically force the enthralled away. When the last of Acedia's followers entered the gate it snapped shut, just in time to stop several of them from jumping through, although it didn't stop them from falling flat on their faces.

Rather than Acedia's influence ending, it appeared that the soldiers, Drow and other people present were even more unpredictable than before. Some of them laid down on the floor, catatonic, while others brawled and others still fled. The Pharean soldiers and Drow were particularly problematic, as several Drow seemed to be genuinely (if unsurprisingly) trying to kill one another and when the soldiers started fighting they were much more dangerous, having presumably be chosen for their skill.

Looking around, Kala looked lost, signing quickly. "I...even if I had time, there's far too many of them for me to try to break whatever lingers of Acedia's influence, but we can't just leave them here like this."

~MTWC

[Acathala]

Nallaul nods "I will try, but again, you know how she is. Shade said pretty much the same thing in a slightly pratonisingly way." He gives him a smile in return, before glancing at Acetia's minions. "I don't think they're able to restrain themselves much longer, so Goodbye." it was on the tip of his tongue to ask Xu'deln to give Alamen and Gul's spirits a message if he saw them, but Nallaul was unable to think of exactly what he wanted to say to them. Both had been close allies to him. He had trusted Alamen a tad more than Gul. Deep down he had always suspected Gul would eventually turn on him.
As Kala wonders what to do with both groups, Nallaul replies "We need Zilira. She might be able to calm the Drow faction. Morgan, is she free to come?"

 

How big is the Pharean "section", and how many could Nallaul catch with a standard web spell?

[Acathala]

Nallaul nods "I will try, but again, you know how she is. Shade said pretty much the same thing in a slightly pratonisingly way." He gives him a smile in return, before glancing at Acetia's minions. "I don't think they're able to restrain themselves much longer, so Goodbye." it was on the tip of his tongue to ask Xu'deln to give Alamen and Gul's spirits a message if he saw them, but Nallaul was unable to think of exactly what he wanted to say to them. Both had been close allies to him. He had trusted Alamen a tad more than Gul. Deep down he had always suspected Gul would eventually turn on him.
As Kala wonders what to do with both groups, Nallaul replies "We need Zilira. She might be able to calm the Drow faction. Morgan, is she free to come?"

 

How big is the Pharean "section", and how many could Nallaul catch with a standard web spell?