"I'm going to need assurances, but I feel there's a deal to be made here. How's about an item of your choosing, refit to your comfort, for each member of your band who returns from a little quest for me? Hell even your less than respectful friend would be included. He's cute enough to earn a second chance." he flashed a toothy grin, savoring the opportunity that had unexpectedly fallen into his lap.
"There just so happens to be an item myself and my rather... mortal... allies have struggled to retrieve. But a group of mighty Solars like yourselves... shouldn't be much issue at all."
"There just so happens to be an item myself and my rather... mortal... allies have struggled to retrieve. But a group of mighty Solars like yourselves... shouldn't be much issue at all."
Eida took a step back as the Zenith's radiance enveloped the room. It was his place to be deferential to royalty as the court sorcerer, and not out of place for the 'mortal' adviser to back off once an important card has been played. "But truthful nonetheless. You would not have gotten so angry had there not been a kernel in there." Eida smiled from his place of 'safety' behind the obvious solar. "What is this item you let your allies die to retrieve for yourself?"
Now comes the dangerous part. Tsubaki thought to himself as Eida asked his question.
"Awfully bold to continue speaking to me in that tone after being chastised. Should I assume you're one of the Lady's Circle, Nahautl?" Mlungisi couldn't keep the anger from his words, and Tsubaki wanted to strangle Eida. Instead he placed a calming hand on the man's bare chest.
"Tell me my friend, have you ever heard of Essence Fever? It makes even intelligent advisors such as yourself act like arrogant fools. I've only just found Cion, I'd hate for us all to die here." he whispered softly as Mlungisi began to explain.
"I am looking for an item so old only a few remember it. It's called the Ledger of the Aesthete, and it is rumored to still remain within the Manse of the Solar who created it. Unfortunately the city he built around his Manse was destroyed long ago in the great betrayal. The God who protected it went mad with grief that his friend and the people he protected were slain. In the ages since he has wandered the ruins, slaying any who dare to disturb the peace and quiet of those he failed to save." he told the tale with a trace of empathy. Tsubaki's eyes went wide and he bit his tongue before saying anything more. It would be best if Cion's companions didn't know what the God was truly asking.
"Awfully bold to continue speaking to me in that tone after being chastised. Should I assume you're one of the Lady's Circle, Nahautl?" Mlungisi couldn't keep the anger from his words, and Tsubaki wanted to strangle Eida. Instead he placed a calming hand on the man's bare chest.
"Tell me my friend, have you ever heard of Essence Fever? It makes even intelligent advisors such as yourself act like arrogant fools. I've only just found Cion, I'd hate for us all to die here." he whispered softly as Mlungisi began to explain.
"I am looking for an item so old only a few remember it. It's called the Ledger of the Aesthete, and it is rumored to still remain within the Manse of the Solar who created it. Unfortunately the city he built around his Manse was destroyed long ago in the great betrayal. The God who protected it went mad with grief that his friend and the people he protected were slain. In the ages since he has wandered the ruins, slaying any who dare to disturb the peace and quiet of those he failed to save." he told the tale with a trace of empathy. Tsubaki's eyes went wide and he bit his tongue before saying anything more. It would be best if Cion's companions didn't know what the God was truly asking.
Callista pondered his request for a moment, fully aware that this deal was probably not all it seemed but he did not seem to be planning any deceptions. Artifacts were not easy to come by, and she did not expect him to part with them for just the offer of peace in his delinquency but she had also anticipated a more monetary request from him. She had to seriously think for a moment if mere objects were worth potentially risking their lives for.
”The only thing you need to assume is that my advisors are all capable in their own ways, just as I am sure yours are. We will go looking for your Ledger of the Aesthete but will make no guarantees that we will return it, as I see no reason to put my company in grave danger over a trade. Perhaps this mad god will be more inclined to reason with a chosen of the Unconquered Sun. If you would give the details of the location to Jillian here, we will let you get back to your evening.” Callista was hoping the so-called mad god would be easier to deal with than Mlungisi and she was eager to be out of the house of sin. Not even Mercy’s book covered everything that was happening in here.
”The only thing you need to assume is that my advisors are all capable in their own ways, just as I am sure yours are. We will go looking for your Ledger of the Aesthete but will make no guarantees that we will return it, as I see no reason to put my company in grave danger over a trade. Perhaps this mad god will be more inclined to reason with a chosen of the Unconquered Sun. If you would give the details of the location to Jillian here, we will let you get back to your evening.” Callista was hoping the so-called mad god would be easier to deal with than Mlungisi and she was eager to be out of the house of sin. Not even Mercy’s book covered everything that was happening in here.
Visions from another life- of excess mirroring the god’s own debauchery filled Donovan’s mind.
He saw a sadness and hopelessness in the god that mirrored the people they had passed along their way here, and that he felt he too had known at one time.
He spoke carefully, and with all the love and compassion of knowing where the current path of the god would lead.
You are a sad god, Mlungisi. You rest upon your laurel’s of ages past; you claim a greatness that is no longer yours. I mean this not as chastisement, but plead with you to not diminish yourself any longer.
The pleasure you keep here must be constantly provided to keep you entertained, and yet you find pride and joy in creations long forgotten by many, and never known by your present company. While once you were befitting your title of god, now you are little more than a cypher in a smoke filled room, the only consequence you make upon the room is the exchange of moneys that occur to keep your pleasures flowing.
We will bring you your prized Ledger of Aesthete, but in exchange you will return to your forges for two years. You will claim your people and your title. You will shake off this, and return to your true purpose and calling. Be a god worthy of worship, rather than one of used only as a curse and a byword. Return to your bliss.
The dim light and noise that passes for music here only serves to mask the emptiness in this room. Return to the light of the forges, where toil- yes, is required, but brings forth lasting fame and glory. BE all that you can be, not merely a shadow of what you once were.
If you agree to this I will seal this pact between us. You lose nothing if we fail, and may even follow the stirring in your heart that I know is there. Yet you gain everything if we succeed, for nothing has been forbidden to you, only your promise to test my words and prove them true or false by your own hand and heart.
Donovan knew his words were true, and hoped the pierced the heart of the god, even if he would deny them. Hopefully it was enough to get him to agree, and in so doing, return to his divine calling.
He was confident the weapons would follow.
He saw a sadness and hopelessness in the god that mirrored the people they had passed along their way here, and that he felt he too had known at one time.
He spoke carefully, and with all the love and compassion of knowing where the current path of the god would lead.
You are a sad god, Mlungisi. You rest upon your laurel’s of ages past; you claim a greatness that is no longer yours. I mean this not as chastisement, but plead with you to not diminish yourself any longer.
The pleasure you keep here must be constantly provided to keep you entertained, and yet you find pride and joy in creations long forgotten by many, and never known by your present company. While once you were befitting your title of god, now you are little more than a cypher in a smoke filled room, the only consequence you make upon the room is the exchange of moneys that occur to keep your pleasures flowing.
We will bring you your prized Ledger of Aesthete, but in exchange you will return to your forges for two years. You will claim your people and your title. You will shake off this, and return to your true purpose and calling. Be a god worthy of worship, rather than one of used only as a curse and a byword. Return to your bliss.
The dim light and noise that passes for music here only serves to mask the emptiness in this room. Return to the light of the forges, where toil- yes, is required, but brings forth lasting fame and glory. BE all that you can be, not merely a shadow of what you once were.
If you agree to this I will seal this pact between us. You lose nothing if we fail, and may even follow the stirring in your heart that I know is there. Yet you gain everything if we succeed, for nothing has been forbidden to you, only your promise to test my words and prove them true or false by your own hand and heart.
Donovan knew his words were true, and hoped the pierced the heart of the god, even if he would deny them. Hopefully it was enough to get him to agree, and in so doing, return to his divine calling.
He was confident the weapons would follow.
Mlungisi's smile and friendly tone washed away as Donovan spoke to him.
At first he was angry, then he felt a trace of guilt at the truth of the young Lawgiver's words.
"My people have forgotten me? My works are....." he seemed to struggle with the idea a moment.
"I... Bring me the ledger and I will put weapons in your hands or armor on your bodies that will show all of Creation my prowess is not diminished." he said, a fire in his eyes.
At first he was angry, then he felt a trace of guilt at the truth of the young Lawgiver's words.
"My people have forgotten me? My works are....." he seemed to struggle with the idea a moment.
"I... Bring me the ledger and I will put weapons in your hands or armor on your bodies that will show all of Creation my prowess is not diminished." he said, a fire in his eyes.
Eida was tired of the back and forth with no real answer. They needed more to go on if the good for nothing god wanted help, and Tsubaki questioning the way he did things just frustrated him. The man was new to the group, but if he had asked any questions at all before they convened, he would have understood why the sorcerer prods open sores. "Mlungisi, it sounds like Princess Callista is willing to entertain your request. Where is this fallen city so that she and her companions may investigate for themselves?"
"I can provide you with a map to the Ruins of Ataraxia. But remember, all I need is the Ledger. Don't get greedy, that is how the Ruins get their reputation." he cackled a little thinking about all the fools who'd gone there to die.
Jill didn’t need to get directions to the forsaken city but she went ahead and took what the God had to offer thinking he may know something she didn’t. She’d avoided that place in her travels so far, not willing to see if the rumors were true or not. After thinking about it a bit, Jill wondered if it was worth sending all of her friends in for a single item. Scavenging was her job, at least until she’d found Ruby and it couldn’t be that hard for her to sneak in and out of the city with one thing.
Moderators: cyranax Callista (played anonymously) Eida (played anonymously) Kellian Roux (played anonymously)