Deep inside the vast depths of Jamie’s mind, the spirits in her body began to mingle with the other memories in her mental village.  In time they find out more about this benevolent witch who took them in, took them all in.  They learned of the coven she hails from, who has dealt with plenty of spirits in the same boat as they are in the past.  Some of the younger spirits even started to play with the other memories, while others settled down on a bench with a tea offered to them.  A couple of them even entered a store or a business and swapped their bloodied gown with something more appropriate, some in all white gowns but others opted to dress like the other villagers, in the hopes that they’d blend in.

In their midst, entering the village quiet and unassuming, was the very witch herself.  Only a bit different.  She looked older, wiser, with some wrinkles in her eyes and a grey streak in her otherwise reddish hair.  “Comes with being a half-elf,” one of the spirits mused, “they age slower than a human.”

<Gray>“It’s not that,” chimed another, “She’s wiser than her age.  Comes from being with spirits all the time.  Maybe she learns from them.”</Gray>

“How would she learn anything from us though,” asked a third.

The one from before, the ghost with no name, approached this Jamie.  She held the matronly witch’s hands.  “I will shepherd the spirits who are here while you reassure your team that you are alright. Then I will guide you to the lower, hidden basement..."

Her voice trailed off, because she realized that she’s making Jamie mouth those words in the real world.  She found herself seeing through their eyes, breathing through her nose, and flexing her hand while Jamie held it in front of her eyes, her face showing a bemused smile.

“Not like you’re expecting, is it?” Village Jamie cooed to No Name.  “You’ve heard of stories about being possessed, but you didn’t imagine that you’d be the possessing.”

Then Nathan let out his joke, which caused not just Jamie and No Name to laugh, but so did some of the other ghosts.  The laughter flowed out of the real-world Jamie in a choir-like melody.  Not like the jarring or frightening scene at all, if you don’t count for it coming from one person.

“I hear you Miss Noname Ghost!” Igatho said.  “You said there was a lower, hidden basement! Do you hear me?!”

That made Jamie jerk bolt straight, as the multitude in the village overheard what the frost giant said.

“...I suppose I shouldn't be surprised,” the ghost said, which whispered out of Jamie’s mouth. “Very young children often show the ability to communicate with spirits... please calm your friends? I will wait.”

With that, Jamie turned around, she closed her eyes to concentrate a moment.  When she reopened them, the others can see her green pools in her glowing eyes.
“Having all of these spirits in me was…a surprise at first,” Jamie’s voice seemed to echo throughout the room, seemingly coming from everywhere and yet nowhere at once.  “But I assure you, my friends, I’m quite all right.  I’m very safe here, as well as all of my friends.”

She then turned to Igatho, and as she met her eyes with her’s, a cool breezy feeling flowed throughout the frost giant’s body; a calming and comforting feeling to frost giants.  “I find that you able can speak to them a good thing, Igatho.  These spirits, they’re not as bad as you think.  Some of them are just as nervous as you are.”

And with that, Jamie placed Igatho’s large hands in her’s, and before Igatho’s eyes, a couple ghosts, including No Name, appeared around them.  They kept their distance, hoping that Igatho won’t just swipe at them.

“Some of them can be quite friendly if you let them,” Jamie said.  “There’s a lot of children who can easily see and speak to spirits.  You might’ve heard about someone’s imaginary friend, they could’ve been one of these spirits, who wanted a friend as much as the living person.” Jamie chuckled at the thought.  “While you might not need an imaginary friend, I can see a promise in this gift you have, and I can help you keep it when you’re older, if you’d wish.”  She nods to some of the ghosts.  “Besides, you can help them break this curse as well.  A spirit can do more things than just possess you; I can show you what they can do when you gain their trust.”

Back in the village, the spirits saw the Older Jamie hold hands with an ethereal Igatho, her eyes worried and concerned, as she sees the same expression on the others.   Some of them—the ones in villager’s outfits—were closer and even touching Jamie, allowing them to see through Jamie’s body too.

One of them even tried to speak to Igatho “You wouldn’t want to hurt us, would you, Miss Giant?  We don't mean any harm.”.

Edit:  Had to make the last part less jarring.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:54, Sun 11 Mar 2018.

Meiou just shook his head and looked to the rest of the party. This whole thing was definitely new to him but weird. "Would you guys consider this less weird or more weird than me loosing my memory and being raised a gentleman rabbitfolk thief? I mean to me this seems way more so. No offenses spirit people."

  "Gentlemen thieves are known for saving damsels in distress mid robbery Meiou, not creating them like that guy.  Which makes it a harder sell on which situation is stranger than the other."

  Tark hasn't forgotten the less than benevolent attempt to hurt Igatho and turn her against the party earlier.   So all this sudden whimsy does not change the fact Tark's greater concern is for the children who are still alive.

Igatho overhearing the voices in Jamie's head comes as a surprise to Nathan.  He gives an uncertain smile and thumbs-up at Jamie.

"Let's not keep them waiting from being released from this curse any longer, ok?  Please show the way."

He'd have a lot more material for the song putting itself together in his head if he could see what's going on inside Jamie's head...  Maybe she'll share later.

To Meiou he answers, "How in the world would that be weirder than this?

"That's a strangely specific question, too.  Like asking, 'Suppose someone were hollowed out and turned into a fur suit and the gentleman thief was forced to be the stuffing for that person, would that be just as disturbing as a witch being used by several cursed ghosts as a skin suit?  My answer is that we should resolve the awkwardness ASAP regardless."

Jamie had Igatho calming down a little. She looked receptive to what Jamie was saying to her. "...taaaay..." she says in a slightly pouty / hesitant tone.

To the ghost asking if Igatho would hurt them, she sucks in her thumb and grabs her ear to help herself think. https://talkanimal.files.wordp...11/01/robin-hood.jpg

Then pops her thumb out to say, "I hurt people all the time. Even people I love. I can even hurt ghosts! I did that upstairs. But I'm a good girl. When I hurt good people, it isn't 'cause I wanted to, and I only hurt them a little. When I hurt bad people, they get so hurt, they stop moving. So be good! And I might not hurt you."

Igatho's concept of weird is skewed. For one thing, she is a frost giant being raised by little (to her) people. For another thing, being a baby, even the standard or mundane is a little "weird" and new to her. But then again... 8 years old is old enough to know possession is weird. And what Nathan said is weird. And even Igatho got the idea that a nice orc is weird (honestly... normal people have a hard time telling the difference between orcs and half-orcs, let alone Igatho who thinks goblins are orc children). "You're nice, Meiou... you're nice, Nathan... you're nice, Tark... you're nice, Jamie... and you're nice, Darcy. That makes all of you weird. Now show the hidden elelator!"

Could be much worse. The last time Igatho felt this upset, a door got knocked off its hinges and a bandit got to feel what it's like to be a baseball batted into a tree. This group of goody-goodies must be having a positive effect on her.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:11, Thu 15 Mar 2018.

Jamie gave Igatho a knowing smile, patted her on the hands, and then turned back around, letting herself fade back among the others, who have now all changed out of those dirty clothes and mingling with the others in her mental village.
“Where’s the door,” Jamie asked the nameless ghost, which was echoed in the audible chorus whisper.

‘Over there,’ the nameless ghost said, pointing to a rollable cabinet.  The ghost’s hand was copied by Jamie’s who hovered before her pointing toward it.  At first, it moved as if not by Jamie herself, but then the wrist flexed with power.

The cabinet flew out with such force Igatho would’ve been impressed.  It crashed on the other side of the hallway revealing the door in question.

Another flick of that wrist and that door was nearly ripped from the hinges.
“My,” Jamie said in her multiple-octaved voice as she flexed her hand.  “All these spirits inside me have pumped my Mage Hand to Frost Giant levels.” Her back-to-glowing face revealed a bit of a smile in revelry. “Best we get this over with, I’d like my extra limb to have more finesse.”

Her steps had no sound as she approached the door, which revealed stairs downward.  Those who would look to her feet under her long skirt would reveal that she’s not even touching the floor.  Or even showing a shadow.

Jamie looked down herself, but her face didn’t even register any emotion on finding out.  “Yes.  Definitely need to get this over with.  I like having a shadow too.”

"I don't know! That's why i'm asking!" he says in reply to Nathan not real sure how to reply to what Tark had said. He wasn't that sure about this whole situation. Maybe things would be clearer in time. Meanwhile he just followed his companions following Jamie.

  "Well, thanks Igatho.  Though you try a lot harder than most to never hurt those you like." He has little doubt the whole group falls under 'wierd', if not quite for the reasons she was implying.

  Tark would expect 'Frost Giant' levels to know how doors work.  After all, even their babies can handle doors properly.  He finds himself thankful they are indoors lest Jamie float away into the sky if her current lack of floor contact follows this trend.

  ...Still....  "Nathan, Please be ready to keep Jamie from floating away if this keeps up."  These are the requests one must make as an Adventurer, that makes Meiou's questions both understandable and difficult to answer.

OOC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgH1078t45Y

Nathan isn't sure what to make of being called weird for being nice.  Or Meiou's uncertainty with levels of weird.  But he knows for certain that he does not like the flippant use of the dead to fuel one's magic.  He nods and makes a lasso while following along.

"Spirit energy is powerful.  In the dark places of the Astral Sea there are inter-planar pirates who live on the colossal rotting body of a long dead god.  They fuel their airships with ghosts.  Burning up immortal souls unfortunate enough to fall into their hands.  I recommend refraining from using magic while possessed.  Or you might find extra-planar celestial beings judging you for appearing to commit that kind of atrocity."

Although Tark's faith in Igatho's ability to use doors is not misplaced, Igatho's upset look lightens up a little at seeing the door ripped off and thrown. Like the others, Igatho follows. The steps were made for smaller feet, so most would think Igatho would misstep a few times. But being used to living in a manor with Justin means the baby has learned how to climb up and down human-sized stairs. Which means she walks down side-ways.

The lower level feels wrong somehow. As though the air was composed of the emotion of fear. But what the group finds is interesting to say the least:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals...da4b063f6665b3b9.jpg

The ghosts in Jamie's head comment, "This is the place... they called it the creation chamber. I call it Hell."

Nathan heard Jamie's voice as if she was next to him, even as he watched her almost float down the stairs. "I know about the ethics involved; the Coven taught me well on that.  I'm not quite tempted to use all of the energy from all of those souls in me, but according to my Grandmothers, while just burning up souls is definitely frowned upon, it's ethical if these spirits give me a boost on their own free will.  That's how I got my mage hand so strong."

She then spake up, mostly to the others around her in the village.  "I'll keep to the lower spells, Magic Missiles should be enough," she saw the others nod.  "That shouldn't tax you, especially when you're only need a small amount each.  I won't go with the more powerful stuff."  She then looked up, her eyes glowing bright enough to hide her green irises.  "Besides, there's the tunnels we have to deal with.  Wouldn't do to have a cave-in."

That last part was spoken by the nameless ghost who was holding up her arm up along with Jamie.  "I wouldn't be concerned if you did consume me, witch, after what I did to the others."

Jamie shook her head.  "Being a lost spirit imprisoned here is punishment enough. After all there is a possibility that you could have a new life to make up for the last one."

The ghost paused.  She looked out, and wondering just how much of her conversation is coming out of this witch's mouth.  "…I wouldn't mind that, Lady Wintertouch.  Oh, by the way, this is the place.  They called it the Creation Chamber.  I call it Hell."

Jamie's whistle was like several songbirds at once.  "Now this looks like something I should be seeing by now."  She blinked.  "I hope I didn't say that out loud."

She turned to Igatho.  "See if you can snap off some of these arms, dear."

Jamie then walked over to some of the screens, "What praytell were they creating?" she thought to herself, "It looks like one of those science horror stories I've read about."

Even though the tried to word it so that the others in her head would understand, she knew that she'd cause trouble for the spirits inside her who were listening in to her thinking.  "I'll pretend to understand what you're talking about," one of the ghosts said.

Jamie just sighed over that.

Meiou was starting to get abit creeped  out by Jamies discussions with the ghosts.
He shook his head and just kept quiet for now following her and the rest to the creation chamber. Even he had to shiver at this place. It Just had this unnatural feel to it that made even uncomfortable.

  Tark considers the latest room, and comments "Given the state ranging from dust, blood, and rust the rest of this place is in.  If this is the worst place of all, why is it the only one that looks like nothing has ever gone wrong?"

  Sure, surprisingly intact ruins are hardly uncommon. Dirt common in fact.  But there is usually some consistency for any given lair, without a very important reason otherwise.  Like a pristine carpet in the flooded remains of a dwarven mine.

  "At the very least.  What, specifically, Was this chamber used for.  For all the claims of how oh so sorry you are, the only thing to show for it is causing more suffering.  So I won't be surprised if you simply forgot along the way, and try to play it off as 'Oh, you wouldn't understand'."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Fri 30 Mar 2018.

Nathan is unconvinced by Jamie's "the spirits using me as a skin suit are letting me use them as fuel willingly" assurances.  The pall of palpable corruption in this place is even less tolerable.  His eyes turn white and without a word he begins attacking the room with sacred fire!




(( https://www.youtube.com/watch?...youtu.be&t=1m21s ))

(( This one was fun too:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?...youtu.be&t=2m40s ))

It is a good thing Nathan's sacred fire is white and doesn't really resemble fire.

Igatho goes to grab one of the arms and pulls with all her might, but the arm just moves with Igatho, than scoops her up from between her legs like picking up a baby and whirls around. Igatho squeals happily that she is suddenly on a fun ride with destruction happening around her!

But when one of the consoles catches fire, Igatho notices and looks scared and points. "Fire!"

The ghosts, in the meantime, appear to be very pleased by the destruction Nathan is causing and Jamie can feel most of them moving on. What few ghosts remain look to Jamie. "If... if it is OK, might we see more of the world through your eyes before we move on?"

Jamie couldn't help but laugh at Igatho's playing, but when the monitor caught fire, she was on it. "I got it, child," she said in her chorus voice as she fired an Ray of Frost at the monitor.  Only with her current power level, it not only put out the fire but also frozen the electronics to the point that they're brittle.  A couple more shots of Nathan's 'fire' and the rest of the electronics shattered.

As the remainder of the equipment was ripped away, Jamie's body floated up and the inner light inside her rose up out of her body upward past the ceiling.

In Jamie's mind, she could see the ghosts haunting her begin to disappear, floating up into the sky and into a requisite glorious light of the afterlife.  Some even thank her as they flew out.

In time, the light inside Jamie leaves her body, and disappear into the ceiling.  When the light faded away, Jamie's body floated down to the floor, where she collapsed to her knees.  She gasped and gulped gallons of air, her body limp, apparently exhausted.

When Jamie opened her tired eyes, they were back to emerald pools, and when she spoke, it was her own normal voice.  "I think that tuckered me out more than I thought.  Igatho, dearie, think you can help me out?"  It doesn't seem that she'd walk out until she got a long rest.

When she closed her eyes, she could see the few spirits still inside her mind, dressed in witch's robes, looking at her with concern.

They saw Jamie put a finger to her lips.  "I'll be fine, just tired.  Just be quiet for a while, we'll talk when I'm back home."

The rabbit jumped back at nathan letting loose on the room trying to avoid
getting caught in the fire or crossfire. "WHOA! COULD YOU NOT DO THAT! "
he cried at Nathan grumbling. He  shook his head as then Jamie cooled everything off.
"For the love of will you give a rabbit warning!?"

  Tark sighs, and says to Meiou  "I wish you and Darcy were not the only sensible people half the time." Pan's not here for comparison, but Meiou is still on that short list today.  Gods help us all.

  He walks towards Jamie, commenting "As amusing as the thought of a baby giving adults piggyback rides is, I'm less likely to inflict slapstick upon you."

"Sorry, Meiou," Nathan says darkly, glaring at the rubble, "Didn't think you'd need warning since you're not an unholy object of evil torture."

He turns a suspicious look toward Jamie, inwardly relieved at her returning to normal, but still quite unhappy and untrusting of the whole situation.

"In any case, let's get out of here."

Under nicer circumstances Nathan probably would have teased Tark that the name "Tark" wasn't on the short list of sensible people either.  Maybe later after cooling off.  He begins to guide Igatho back into the elevator.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:31, Tue 08 May 2018.

The group is able to make it out relatively safely. One of the ghosts reassures Jamie that the fire won't spread all the way upward, so chances are the gift shop, at least, will be safe from the fire.

Once the group makes it outside (Igatho is fine with sharing Jamie with Tark, but does seem to desire carrying the redhead since Jamie asked her), the creepy feeling of the place seems to disperse and most of the ghosts flee from the site! It feels like a huge burden is lifted.

Some of the ghosts stay behind to thank the group and thank Jamie before passing on. Fewer still decide they want to stay with Jamie for a bit longer.

One ghost specifically, approaches Jamie in her head. "...I want to be among the living again... will it be possible for you, with your magic, to give me a body I can use to go places with you and your friends?"

In reply to Igatho (msg # 386):

Some of the ghost's words of thanks slipped past Jamie's lips as they inadvertently say it through her.  "Looks like you've got some very grateful spirits in here," Jamie manages to say in between some of their voices.

As they do, and they pass on one by one, everyone else can feel the energy in the witch fade away, the bright light fading back to normal, and her body appears more physical and less about-to-explode.  Even Jamie had to lay out a sigh of relief before slipping into an exhausted sleep.

As Tark and Igatho carried the limp Jamie out, she stood among the spirits who stayed in her mind, hoping to get to know them better, if they're going to linger.  Already the spirits assumed the proper look as ghosts in her coven, with a similar colored gown as hers.  Some had pointed hats on, while others sported stripes.  Many of them even sported Jamie's hairstyle or color to show their wishes to remain with her.  She had them all in a group hug in her head.  Thoughts of hearth and home and a warm welcome to the fold filled the spirits' beings.  "You're welcome to stay with me as long as you wish, my friends," she promised them.  "We'll have lots of good times together."

Then one of the ghosts asked for a body.  She took a thoughtful pose with a finger to her cheek.  "That isn't an uncommon request, though there are many options to choose from.  I can't do resurrection magic, though I do know people who do.  I can also perform reincarnation rituals as well as instilling a spirit into a golem to power it up.  However, I have to admit that it would be my first time with either of those options."  She then smiled.  "Doesn't mean I won't try, though."

EDIT:  Note that, while Meiou might be aware of what's happening, thanks to his connection with Jamie, the others aren't aware of the spirit who wanted another body.  The most that they would know is that some of the ghosts wish to hang around with Jamie for at least some time.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:45, Sun 13 May 2018.

He kinda shot a glare at Nathan. He just bit his tongue thinking all the while
yes he wasn't an unholy machine but machines when you throw fire at them do tend to have this thing called EXPLODING and well given our proximity warning would be wise. but he kept all this to himself shaking his head. Maybe the resident safety expert could have some less snarky words for the angel. Getting back to the ghost at hand he couldnt help but feel this was a really bad idea. after all wasn't it the gods' choice on wether to reincarnate or bring someone back?

  Tark lets Igatho take over heavy lifting once height clearance won't make Jamie wish she had a helmet instead of a hat.

  "I wonder where that horde of depressed people is right now." Tark. Still more concerned about the living than the dead responsible for this headache in the first place.

  "Also creepy labs tend to be filled with things that blow up Nathan. Normally I would be all for whatever breaks them faster, but this was the first time ever we had all the time in the world.  Rather than needing to set a lab and several abominations on fire before they eat us."

  Safety concerns, for as above average Tark is, are still horribly skewed in a life of adventuring.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:54, Tue 15 May 2018.

With the ghosts banished, the accursed unholy site destroyed, and the witch in custody, Nathan begins to relax and allow his brain to re-engage.

He blushes from Tark's words, rubs behind his head, and answers sheepishly, "You're right.  That was foolish of me.  I'm sorry.  And I hope my words weren't taken the wrong way.  Last thing I want is for my friends to be hurt."

He plays some soothing music in hopes of calming his friends.  (( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-cYm5Kgv8g ))

"After we get back we can send word in the direction the crazy people went to inquire after their well-being."

The one ghost thanks Jamie and decides to go play cards with some of the ghosts to kill time while waiting for when Jamie will get around to finding a way for this one to live again...

FAST FORWARDING!

When the group makes it back to Parnast, Pan rushes out to greet them. "My friends! You're back!" and she swiftly gets to hugging each one of the team! (In no particular order, just whoever happens to be closest at the time, then the next closest, and so on)

It is clear from her expression, Pan was very worried for each of the team and is very relieved.

When Pan hugs Igatho, the baby smiles brightly and exclaims "Teddy bear hugs!" while picking Pan up off the ground in a big bear hug.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:50, Mon 21 May 2018.