Alexis lets Beldal go. He called her friend. That didn't take long. She is sad, though, watching him walk away deep in hurt. She then faces the others once Beldal is out of hearing range (or out of sight). "Durtendin's right. We have nothing to lose by righting wrongs we always thought were impossible to change. Now that we can, all of our actions can only lead to good." after all... the world will end. Butterfly effect be damned. If there's no Butterfly, then there is nothing to worry about with changing the past.

She then pays attention as Eletor asks Criss his question. Alexis is curious too how the warlock's powers work. She had admittedly not teamed up with a dark pact before.

He hadn't really said anything since leaving the store, but found himself curiously surprised when Eletor approached him and asked him a rather harmless question.  My claims are quite literal, my friend.  My powers are dark and even most warlocks do not dare to delve into the realm that I have.  I can understand your concern though, but allow me to demonstrate.  He said, chanting words of a language that only warlocks know, spidery words of magic before an orb of pure dark energy began to form in his hand.

(OOC: This isn't a particular power and just merely a bit of showing off.

My computer has completely crashed and is unrecoverable and as such I have lost this character sheet, so there will be no further posts from this character.)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:32, Tue 07 Dec 2010.

Beldal weeps for his lost at the cemetery where such things don't look out of place.  Once he's fought off his inner demons, he returns to his friends.

"Thanks for your support, everyone," he says, "I've decided that I must visit home before I proceed.  I must warn them what is to become of this city if they don't prepare.  I don't expect to be very long.  You all are welcome to join me if you like."

He heads in the direction of his childhood home.

  Eletor considers Criss's explanation.  "While I have little personal basis to judge how valid your claims are, it does seem that pacts with Fey aspects are the sort you hear about most often compared to the Dark."  When you hear about a Warlock, most often people think about pacts with in fernal beings.  When you hear about a Warlock who was around recently, most often it's about a Fey Pact Warlock running around (or some other CHA based varient).  Dark pact, not so much.

  He nods in approval to the input from his allies he has known for more than an hour.  "It would be shameful of us to ignore you in this time of personal and public need.  I shall go with you and suspect the rest of us will do so as well."

  OOC Style: Pure ARG for the loss of your computer.  Hope things work out as well as they can for you.  I had a near miss on that regard myself a bit back (luckily, some reason it reformatted my other drive instead of main drive.  lost a bunch of stuff but not the RPOL stuff.

  In this moment of RPOL carnage, I will take a moment to say this to everyone.  Write up your sheet in your cast clicks, for every character.

The Wilden Druid nods, “I will join you,” as Durtendin follows Beldal since Durtendin figures that the dwarf might need some assistance in convincing them depending on how things turn out.

Alexis watches the dark energy form and only seems fascinated, rather than uneasy. Then Beldal comes and Alexis immediately follows, even jogging to catch up and be next to him. "We stick together from now on... through everything." sure, she's thinking they can't AFFORD to split the party for any reason. But she's also thinking about Beldal's feelings and how hopefully, these events will not weaken the group or Beldal, but rather strengthen them.

Soon, the bunch arrive at Beldal's old home. It is exactly as he remembers from his childhood...

Beldal nods and grunts in approval to his friends.  He doesn't repeat his thanks because that would be improper by his culture.  Once he arrives home, he knocks on the door and waits for an answer.

Beldal's mother answers, "My my! Adventurers! What kin I do yeh fer?" she puts a fist on her hip. In said fist is a rolling pin. She has a friendly, inviting smile.

"Mam," Beldal says with a nod, taking off his helmet to show his steely, grim face, "Name's Beldal.  These are my allies, Alexis, Durtendin, and Eletor.  We've seen many a strange thing in our time, and one of them concerns a powerful magic relic and your family, the Anvilbreakers.  May we come in?"

The dwarf nods and lets the group in. She shows standard hospitality, offering them places to sit at the table while offering food and drink. "My husband won't be home fer a spell, s'just tell me what it is."

"Thanks for the hospitality, Mam," Beldal answers, taking a seat, "After fighting off some would-be bank robbers in Sharn, we've been a team ever since.  Well recently we came upon a terrible creature known as a gibbering beast that was guarding a relic that gave us a glimpse through time..."

His face contorts into a deep frown.

"I hope that what we saw can be prevented.  The first night of the year (insert year), meaning, around midnight before the dawn of that first day, this city is invaded.  The enemy caught the city completely by surprise because one man left his look-out post to drink with his buddies.  Many lives were lost.  The city devastated.  I believe that if they had been ready for a fight, the invaders could have been held off."

Mrs Anvilbreaker huhs. "So... you mentioned my family specifically. What does my family have t' do with it?"

"The name of the man is Beldal Anvilbreaker," Beldal answers darkly, "Figured you might know where I could find him to warn him."

The lady looks dour. "This better not be a joke. I'll have you know my husband is a powerful, influential man around here." she calls aside "BELDAL! C'MERE!" along comes a child dwarf. "This man who happens to have your name wants to talk to you."

The little boy looks up at Beldal. It's him alright. No mistaking it. But it's amazing what a beard, a helmet, a dark look, a time jump and Emo McMuffins can do to keep even a mother from recognizing her own son.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:37, Mon 03 Jan 2011.

The surprise on Beldal's face is genuine.  But for a different reason than he's letting on.

"I guess... I shouldn't be surprised," he says, "He'll be an adult by the time of the invasion.  Well.  I suppose I should start from the beginning.  My name is Beldal.  These are my allies, Alexis, Durtendin, and Eletor...."

Beldal repeats the story for the boy, again leaving off the all important name of who the person responsible.

"By the time all this happens, you'll be a man.  A soldier trusted with the defense of the city.  Be sure that you and your friends are ready."

  Eletor would hope that Beldal doesn't become an accountant due to the 'If you *censored* up, people will DIE' talk.  But he doesn't need to because otherwise Beldal would have exploded mid conversation...  But then having had this conversation right now would mean Beldal wouldn't be here to have this conversation.  Which would mean it's time to remember wise words of lore.

  Dol Dorn will not think too hard about time travel and just roll with it. Just so long as you don't do anything retarded.*

  "I suppose this would be the time you tell yourself things only you would know after initial disbelief?" Well, only possibly for Dol Dorn to know outside of several dozen arcane and divine methods.... Shut up logic.

  OOC Style: *Dol Dorn's logic of time travel paraphrased from Homestuck... MAN I got a lot of that to catch up on.  Also *eyes Beldal's Avatar Icon* I can't possibly see how Beledal's own mother would not recognize Beledal through a full face helmet ;P  Nevermind he likely doesn't have that as part of his actual look.

Although the Wilden Druid nods when 'adult' Beldal introduces him, he remains quiet till Eletor speaks up. At that time Durtendin softly retorts to Eletor, “The problem with trying to use logic, is that many do not grasp it. Although in such cases, how can someone throw logic out the window if they can't even grasp it?”

Durtendin then says for everyone here, “It may be better to explain in more detail, yet in the manner that a young-ling will understand in order to avoid the fate that we saw from occurring. Fate is not set in stone, it is malleable like clay and there is still time to mold it into a better shape than what we saw.”

Alexis raises an eyebrow as she hears what she hears.

Beldal's mother is calming a little. She addresses her son, "This man says it's someone named Beldal. He could be you, son. He could be someone else. But whatever the case, I know you'll make yer father and yours truly proud! Now run off and we'll talk s'more later, OK?"

Little Beldal nods and hurries off. Probably to play Drow Slayer or some such. The mother looks back at the group. "Iffin' ye got more details, I kin pass it along. If not, you're welcome to stay anyway and eat with if you like. But if yer the bunch going to check on the mines, ye best be hurryin' along me thinks."

Alexis looks at Beldal. It's entirely up to him, really.

Facemask is a go!

"The events themselves will prove us true," Beldal answers, "I hope that destiny is in fact changeable.  But we are the ones tasked with dealing with the trouble in the mines.  Thank you for your hospitality, mam.  Perhaps another time."

Kindofa double meaning there.  He's hoping that when this is all over, he'll be reunited with long dead family.  Erase his past.  He leads the way out.

  Eletor considers Durtendin's words of wisdom, and after a moment replies with some literal ones of his own.  "You use a net."

  The self appointed Avenger says to Beldal The Later "There would be no need for Gods of Fate and Destiny, if such concepts were of the sort none could alter."  Well, unless said Deities had just wanted a really easy job that ran itself.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:59, Sun 06 Feb 2011.

Alexis follows Beldal out with the others.

"On the contrary," Alexis answers Eletor, "there would be such a need that the universe continuing to exist would rely upon them. Thankfully, fate is a concept that only exists in theory. By its true definition, fate is unavoidable. So if you can avoid it, it is no longer fate." Of course, in the Eberron setting, there ARE no gods of fate, technically speaking, unless you believe in fate and put it in with the Sovereign Host's "we are the gods of everything else" portfolio. So it all works out.

As a paragon tier elf, Alexis likely could have heard what Durtendin said to Eletor and what Eletor said in reply. But Alexis doesn't comment on it whether she heard them or not.

Durtendin grins slightly at Eletor's comment as the Wilden finds it to be an amusing solution to the problem as he follows the rest of the group out while asking, “So where to from here?”

These guys must have never heard any stories about altering fate = that was meant to happen anyway, but Beldal figures the point isn't worth laboring.

"I'm not making any assumptions about the outcome of our efforts is all," he says, "That said, I'm not going to let second-guessing about the nature of fate stop me from trying for a better outcome than what we saw.  Let's go."

He leads the way to the mines, increasing caution as the group approaches the place where danger was reported.

  Eletor, as the sole party member with Religion training is offhandedly written off as wrong.  Just like all religious authorities.  A larger point of consideration will of course be the 'what does happen to PC Beldal if they manage to edit his own Backstory.  This would be found out either soon enough, or in a very long time from their perspective.

  At least 'meeting your past self destroys existence' has already been written off.  Unless that's why they were here in the first place.

  "Regardless of the outcome, your actions were the best ones to take at this time Beldal."

Somehow, Alexis' player was afraid Eletor would feel written off. But that wasn't the case. Alexis wanted to challenge the religious authority to get him to speak his mind and debate a little. Didn't work. She wonders whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand, it's good because it's a sign of Eletor's consistent humility. On the other hand, maybe he's just the kind to seethe in brooding annoyance at someone rather than speak his mind, which could be dangerous later. Or he could just be too lazy to debate. Or Alexis intimidates him somehow. Or he could even just feel Alexis is right. No way of her knowing, but all those possibilities run through her head.

She nods in agreement with Eletor to Beldal and gets underway towards the place where the encounter will happen. When they get there, the place is empty due to everyone not daring to set foot there ever since the monsters showed up. Alexis looks around. She doesn't want to say anything lest the sound give them away to ambushers. She is genuinely nervous as the creatures described to her were still not something she has run across.

(Init rolls as you post your reactions / thoughts in the seemingly empty mine. Don't worry, we aren't going to be ambushed.)