Ok, so maybe there was still a little more to Chapter 3 than I thought. Hmm, where did all the other posts go? That's od-
This message was last updated by the GM at 17:58, Fri 28 Oct 2016.

In the blink of an eye, the two heroes were in darkness. The world, their companions, even their familiars and Many were gone. The two were not floating in darkness, it felt as if the dark landscape had a ground. And if so, that meant it had a sky.

Looking up, in the vast darkness, subtle gradations of light could be focused on. Eventually, it became clear that there was something in the sky. Some dark, barely ignited star threw dull red light across a barren, flat world. The sun itself semed to be obscured at times by a slowly whirling chaos around it, a set of trailing clouds. They formed a shape, a streamer, it was as if the cloud was torn apart and being slowly pulled in to the dark red heart.

The shape of it was the same coil as the symbol that had obscured Melora's sign on the altar. It was the same shape on the skeletal crate in Krunluc's library. It was the sign of the chained one, it seemed. Thrazidum. If Meri's comments were to be believed, not The Shadow, but The Other.


And somewhere in the dark red, something stirred. The elemental chaos around the sun stirred, and the sun itself pulled across the sky until it filled the vision of the champions.

A shape moved, the sun uncoiled itself. At first it was a dark humanoid, as black and formless as The Shadow, but then as it bent a face towards the two red light caught its human features. They were dark and cruel, eyes like a shark's yet the red fire dances wickedly. There was a large smile on its lips, all malice and derision. The eyes rolled one way and then the other.

The figure for a moment made as if to reach for the two, and then thought better of it. [Private to Nym: For a split second it feels as if there is a frustration on the thing's face. The figure did not willing stop itself from grabbing the pair.][Private to Meri: There seemed to be a shift in the figure's movement when it reached for Meri and Nym, as if it was pulled or hit a barrier. The swirling chaos does not seem to be a decoration, it appears to be a restraint.]

Laughter. Meri, a pleasure to see you once again. With my own face. And Nym, we have not met before. But we will again, sooner or later. More laughter.

The figure looked up and around for a moment. When the moon moves, tides rise and fall. So it is with the power of the gods. They stretch forth their hands with a miracle, and then their influence must ebb. You have no idea the chaos they had to deal with when they combined their full 'might' to try and trap me. Oh, the demons that rose that day. You would think Lolth would have returned the favour. A barked 'hah'. I could not resist the opportunity to bring you both here, let you see me as I am. Well, as I am for now. A deeper laugh.

The figure drifted closer, or at least drifted sideways and felt closer. So, Meri, have you worked out which is which yet? Who the freed little puppet is, and who is the barely chained master? You made the mistake of walking in to the arms of my mind reading acolytes, so I know the answer you hold deep in that mind of yours. But I do so wonder what you tell yourself that answer is. And what words you will smith to get at me.

While the question is addressed to Meri, The Other looks sideways at Nym, as if sharing a joke at Meri's expense.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:58, Fri 28 Oct 2016.

Nym blinks in surprise as everything changes abruptly, but otherwise seems rather unfazed by reality apparently rewriting itself on a whim.

"Well, this is new..." she says casually as the enormous face takes shape above the two of them and speaks to them.

"Um, hello." she says, with a small wave. "So you're that one whose name we're not suppoed to know, or something, are you? Hey, are you saying you made the Blight, or that you told those Teacher thingys to do so? That wasn't very nice - there were all dead trees and stuff, and the lake was all gone. Everything was all icky. I realise that means you probably like things being all icky, but...maybe you could find somewhere else to do that, instead of a place where there's stuff already living?"

I figure if there is one character who isn't going to be particularly bothered by the apparently insta-restructuring of the universe and being addressed by a godlike entity(though this is probably just some kind of shared dream or vision or whatever, even if it is "real" at the same time), it's gonna be one whose very existence seems formed of chaos ;).

Meri blinked and looked around at the sudden change of scenery, her gaze immediately settling on the figure before them.
While looking immediately wary and apprehensive, her manner didn't seem to be quite tipping over the edge into fear.

"Strange thing to ask" replied Meri to his question to her.  "Not too sure I care which of you is which really.  For all I know, you're both the same, two sides of a coin and all that.  Maybe I made a mistake in tampering with that portal, rather than simply killing Krunluc and burying that place under a few thousand tons of rock.  Then again the Blight would still have been there, and perhaps that would only have delayed matters.  The world is full of fools after all..."

She glanced around them once more, her eyes studying the strange symbol, then back at the figure as if content to wait and see what he would say or do next...


OOC: Hmm, sinister, but interesting :)

[Private to The Altweaver: While Meri might be outwardly "meh", inwardly her mind is working though.
Rolling Arcana to see if I can figure out anything about this place, whether it's a simple mind trip (like when Meri touched the clear stone before) or if we've actually been teleported somewhere: 18 (5 + 13)  (Bleh, used up all my good rolls I think, and I probably get a -2 to that skill if Timur isn't here too!)

Also, would trying to recall info about a god be religion?  (Or is this guy more aberrant in nature?)
Rolling religion anyway to see if Meri has ever heard or read anything about an imprisoned god: 12 (6 + 6) - (Ick, not really Meri's area of expertise, and I should probably have done that check earlier when I first heard about him anyway, hehe!)

The name I saw in the library before was "Tharizdun" though (had it noted on my scratchpad since then in case it meant something important.  Understatement!  hehe), which spelling is the right one?
Not even sure if it's an actual D&D god or just one you made up for this game either.  (Currently listing items and powers for now, haven't gotten to deities and in-universe lore yet).

Also, Meri really isn't afraid here.  Talking about someone who actually went looking for death once :)
A part of her is concerned for Nym, but she's pushing that to the back of her mind for now.
And she really doesn't care too much for the Shadow, since a part of her has always wondered if she really did make a big potentially world-breaking mistake by releasing him.  And on learning that there are two of them, and that they share knowledge and memories and can most likely impersonate each other perfectly, she's determined not to trust either of them.  So if he even needs to do an Insight check on her, he'll probably realise she's not lying :)
(At least not about that anyway!)

(If he can actually read her mind, feel free to ask me about Meri's real feelings on anything though.  Some things even she might not admit to herself!)]
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 14:53, Sat 29 Oct 2016.

A devilish grin at Nym. Those who made the blight made it themselves. The Nothics first, they did seek me out.

The figure made a circle on his face, indicate he was speaking of the one eyed horrors that had tried to inflict their will on the group in the previous battle.

Great mages of a powerful world, their lusts and insanities and ambitions turned them in to monsters. Well, outwardly monsters, to match their monstrous natures inside. Their appetites corrupted their world, and turned it to sludge and ash, and their minds more so. Nothing left when I needed them. Still, what benevolent patron would not help His people, and open up a new world?

A laugh. A shrug.

Not yours, no, the new world was the world of Thrass. That world did not worship gods nor demons nor idols, no, they worshiped knowledge. And tolerance. And understanding. What a delightful world it once was. And it is amazing how the threat of the Nothics turned them to me. Even when the Students, as one of the most devout races called itself, understood what the Nothics had been. A deep laugh, full of mock innocence and shock. Oh, they almost called me forth. But then they realised the trap of it. Ah, too late, too late. What is Time to me?

The figure looked to each in turn as if for an answer, yet carried on instantly to undercutting his comment. Or simply convey a lack of care in their thoughts. They battled for a thousand years after that, the Nothics and the Thrak'i. Mostly the Students. Some of the Nothics recalled what it was to think, in time. At least, what it meant enough to find how to corrupt and tear the mind rather than the body. To feast on suffering rather than carrion. The Students were far too open to the world, so vulnerable. But in turn the Students learned well. Oh so well. They learned how to turn their enemy's corruption in to a weapon, to wield the power of it, even as it became their existence too, and waged a war of attrition to a great and noble and pyrrhic victory. Ah, I wonder when their consciences and pride finally eroded? I wonder what horror it finally was that broke them? Seeing themselves become the enemy, each so alike they couldn't even fight anymore? A snort. When they finally had nothing left but their ruined world, the few shattered races and solitary creatures all huddled as one in the blight, calling to me. Clinging to each other, and singing my song, all Thrak'i now. Those Students had assimilated all the lessons so well, until they became The Teacher's. Mine. A smug pause. Of course, by then they had managed to pull their world in to the Abyss, so really their supplication meant nothing anymore. Still, what patron would not help His people?

A long, biting laugh. [Private to Nym: Yes, that apostrophe is correctly positioned in "teacher's" :D][Private to Meri: Amazing how punctuation gets lost in translation, isn't it, yet can mean a great deal...]

I am The Teacher, Meri. You may ignore the import of my question if you wish, for I am not your Teacher. Those Thrak'i were not the students I ever cared for either. I care not if you killed Krunluc after you opened the portal, rather than before. I can point out to you that the cult you happily annihilated were the dying, tortured remnants of not one but two worlds too twisted to be of use to me. But I care not if you take anything from that or not. The world is indeed filled with fools. Fools so easy to manipulate. No, I only care to teach those who imprisoned me here. They are the students, the ones who will learn well when I show them all they care for ruined, crying my name, joined in my hymn.

[Private to Nym: It might be your imagination, but he might have shown a blip of relief when Meri mentioned Krunluc being killed.][Private to Meri: Interesting, he seems to think Krunluc is dead, when The Shadow actually sent Krunluc 'somewhere'. ]

The Other made to reach for the two again, and once more stopped. And then smiled. With exaggerated moves [Secret to Nym: and smiles he showed that his previous frustration had been an act. ][Secret to Meri: he showed his previous entanglement had been a sham.]

I have so enjoyed our little talk. Still, I am sorry you could not tell the difference between master and puppet. Or do not care. I forget which you protested. It is as insulting to me as it is flattering to my work. Perhaps both of you are needed for a comparison. And perhaps both of you need to look more closely.

The Other raised his hand as if to swat two flies.

Goodbye for now. See one of you again very soon. And both of you later, have no doubt. Give my regards to The Other, if you can tell us apart. Just remember one thing - you are not the students. You are The Lesson.

And with that, the hand swiped sideways, and Meri and Nym's world was filled with nothing but darkness...
This message was last edited by the player at 18:50, Sat 29 Oct 2016.

“Let us go forth, the tellers of tales, and seize whatever prey the heart long for, and have no fear. Everything exists, everything is true, and the earth is only a little dust under our feet.”

 - W.B. Yeats*




*Real quote, not game world quote :)