OOC: This post is for everyone. I've got to put a lot of work into a side project for the next 2 months, but I don't want the momentum of things to slow down. So this is an invitation to all of you to sort of split your characters into two simultaneous stories.
-Time in the Sideways flows differently than regular space. Two people can have 1 hour of conversation while one foot over someone barely has time to blink an eye. You can retain your memories from Sideways anytime something happens in the regular threads if you want to. I'll still post in the regular threads as I am able.
-In the Sideways, your characters determine their environment. They can see each other, but they each exist in whichever place they choose to exist. They can go independent, or they can join another character's space. If they join a space, the creator of the space they join is acting GM of that space.
-No death is permanent in the Sideways. You respawn immediately in the room your character in the threads is currently existing, with those items.
-Each time you post, you can pull from anywhere an item worth the length and content of your last post. You can save up these pulls to use at a later time. You could pull copies of your own items, someone else's items, or even imaginary items.
-You drop your items wherever you die or faint (drop to (0/X) in your cliche), but you can retrieve them in one pickup in the second (or later) post of your respawn.
-Everyone should try to create at least one NPC to battle together in whatever way you each choose to do battle. One person could be fighting the dragon with sword and shield, while another is arguing the finer points of a legal case in court with the same dragon. So that you don't have to wait for someone to go first, there is a dragon in the Sideways, and he's after each of you. Battle (in your own way) the Dragon (5/5) and have fun.

EDIT: The events that occur in the Sideways are canon for the characters' memories, and will play an important part in future story. This isn't just a filler, it's part of the story.


Wherever you are, a hand reaches out to grab you through a slit in space and time. The hand pulls you sideways through that slit and looking at you as a vertical line, suddenly the short person squeezes through your mind into a 3D leprechaun. He says, "Welcome to the Sideways, chaps! Enjoy!" And he disappears.

You find yourself in the last room or place you remember being in, but all the people are ghostlike and stationary. You are alone. You ultimately go to the first door you see, and through that door, you see the next place you think about. Describe what happens.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:45, Mon 03 Feb 2020.

Scord finds himself suddenly pulled from the inside of a museum in a giant tree into the Sideways version of that place. All of the people around him are now ghostly and he listens to the Leprechaun with interest. He says outloud, "Hey, Leprechaun, are you a Pskaenian?"

The Leprechaun's head pops through a slit in the Sideways, "No... but this is the place you think it is. This wouldn't be the first time that a place's imagineer ended up inside the place they imagined. And it isn't the last. Bye now!" and he disappears again.

Scord walks to the door he last went through, and instead of seeing the outside of the tree, he sees a long corridor of closed doors as far as the eye can see. He says, "Hello! Is anybody out there?"

Finding himself suddenly surrounded by a non-audience of clearly illusory pirates, the balloon buffoon was greatly confused. He tried touching pirates, but his hand went through them. He looked left. He looked right. This was more confusing than a badly-done performance of The Marriage of the Tinalíya and the Shén was. Not that that play made much sense without explanations of Fasiltumian history (or was it mythology?) ahead of time.

Putting his wand-thing back into the carpetbag, the clown cautiously made his way to the doors he'd been brought in through. Warily checking to make sure everyone was still an illusion, he slid the door open and snuck out. Nothing made sense here, either. This wasn't what had been out here.

It was a gloomy-looking forest, and the trees bore sad, even crying faces on their trunks. How did you entertain trees?? He turned around again and tried the door which was standing inexplicably here in the forest without a wall. On the other side was a long corridor full of doors to the left and the right. Someone was calling out.

Bozon headed towards the voice.

Has been in places like this before... Immediately sinks off into a Japanese bathhouse to relax in a hot spring.

~.~ ahhhhh

Who wants to fight when you can be lazy and sooth your sore bits.

Scord headed down the corridor and met Bozon.
"Well hello there! Are you alive?"

One of the doors to the side opened, and he could see Azraile soaking in a hot spring. "Wait, are you Azraile!?"

OOC: The events that occur in the Sideways are canon for the characters' memories, and will play an important part in future story. This isn't just a filler, it's part of the story.

The barbarian clown nodded his head vigorously, trying to answer that question affirmatively. "Bozon!"

His nose lit up, startling him.

Looking back at Bozon, "I don't remember you, but you are certainly interesting. I have the ability to read minds. Do you mind if I communicate with you directly through our minds?"

In reply to Scord (msg # 7):

*blink*
*blink blink*

The clown pantomimed thinking hard about this, then pointed at his temple, then at Scord's own temple with a questioning look on his funny face.

He had no telepathic magic of his own, but 'thought' hard "You are a brother of Mahkailh?" with visualization of the rainbow symbol of that brotherhood in hopes that the other man would perceive it through his own arts.

Scord thought back, You bet I am! And I have the ability to teach my kind of telepathic magic. Um... I don't think your GM wanted me to admit that, but he's not going to take it back either. I know me. Sorry, I don't know who you are. I must be a version of ... someone who has alot of influence on your future but who diverged before you were known to me. I've already said too much about that, so I'm not going to explain that if I can help it. I'm not of this brother of Mahkailh and he shows that rainbow symbol group. But I do have access to this type of magic and I can teach it to those who want to learn.

"I also make cool magical armour and weapons from a perfected iron. I don't think your GM is going to like me. I'm going to make things harder for him."

"Hey, Azraile, you, I remember." Scord pulls a Fluffy Cat suit out of thin air and puts it on a stand-up clothing rack. "Your's to give to whomever for whatever."

((NPCs can be pulled in if the Player from that story is okay with it))

In reply to Scord (msg # 9):

Hergot has no idea what a 'GM' is, but he shook his head with an emphatic 'no' in response to the offer to teach him telepathic magic. "You using your own mysteries of the mind to enable clear speech between us is one thing, but I would be violating the spirit of my apprenticeship ordeal by studying magics that would permit me to easily bypass a limitation intentionally part of the ordeal itself," the king-turned-clown thought back. "I am of the brotherhood Enja-Osdeon, and live under the name 'Bozon' for the duration of my ordeal."


OOC: He's actually using the term "ahkheshne" (ah-KAYSH-nay) where I put "brotherhood," but the meaning is functionally the same save that the word in Antrat-Hea is gender neutral and can denote any sex. I can't seem to copy & paste in accent marks either from my source document, sorry about that.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:10, Mon 03 Feb 2020.

Raises a brow. "Do they HAVE to ware it?"

To Azraile, "To do whatever with. All yours."

To Bozon, I am impressed with your noble integrity, Bozon. I have no desire to tempt you away from such a commitment. Do you mind if I continue communicating with you in this way?

Gets Theo in a fluffy cute catsuit then, and giggles. ^.^

In reply to Scord (msg # 12):

"Bozon? Bozon bozon bozon," the clown said, shaking his head with a broad grin.
"Not at all. It is a welcome change, encountering someone with ways new to me," he thought back to Scord.

He looked away briefly, peering down the corridor each way, before returning his full attention to the other man. "You appear to be familiar with this plane. I fear that I am not, though I am grateful to the stranger who rescued me from those pirates and brought me here."

Looks like a cat-girl actually right now.... just relaxing in a steamy hot spring. Don't seam to bothered by the people popping in, but is a little supersized it keeps happening.... guess that's a thing.  "Yah some one had me train in a place like this... but why use getting torn outside of time to train if there is no reason for it?"
This message was last updated by the player at 05:33, Mon 03 Feb 2020.

Scord starts getting excited, "Azraile, did you just pull Theophili in with us!? By the way, this is Bozon. He can't talk, but I can translate for him."

The clown peered through (?) the door at Azraile, wondering at the place he sees her in and how the magic (?) corridor seemed to bridge between such disparate locales so easily. He made a respectful bow her way, making a conscious attempt to remember his current low place in social rankings rather than his royal upbringing. He saw that she had ears like some tourists did, but no people of his world had, atop her head. And that she seemed to be in a public (?) bath.

OOC: BY "the other man" in my previous post, I had meant Scord. Sorry about any confusion there.

"I can't really read his mind but long as he's sending his thoughts out I can listen to them, well I could read his mind I just don't want to do what it takes too..." Did bring Theo here..... in a fluffy kitten suit.
This message was last updated by the player at 04:38, Tue 04 Feb 2020.

Theophili greeted everyone,
"Bozon, I am pleased to meet you. I hope you are enjoying my home Oner, and the magic that it is being added to your own."
"Azraile, do you like the look of me?"
"Welcome, writer! How does it feel meeting those who are here?"

The barbarian clown peered at Theophili, and scratched his head with a puzzled expression. His hair squeaked softly as his fingers rubbed against it. He looked closer at her, trying to judge where the person ended and the furry garment(s) began. Or vice versa.

Theophili closed her eyes, shivered, and there was no distinction. She was furry and now wearing a red, blue and purple vest, boots and a Tam-cap to match.  Her fur was orange, yellow and white striped, and she had piercing green eyes.

Bozon's head twisted and turned, trying to examine her from different angles. He had no idea what people Theophili was of, but she was quite colorful with a definite, if foreign, aesthetic planned in her outfit and how it went with her own furred skin and features. He was puzzling over the design of her vest, boots, and cap, trying to make an educated guess as to what they might say about her culture and lifestyle.

That she'd said he was in (?) her home Oner had not been missed, which led him to wonder if she meant the Elf kingdom or the Nexus place. Either way, it was something new to experience and learn about. While being silly, of course.

"Nexus, dear clown. I was born on Pskaena, which is one of the worlds in the same Oner as Nexus. A very long time ago. Thank you for admiring my ensemble. I picked it for the colours of a morning sunsrise and an evening sunset."

It's hard for her to stay frustrated about things and rather than be dishonest just says "You look rather fluffy and snugly." Though is not sure rather to be disappointed or happy she liked it....

In reply to Narrator (msg # 23):

The burly clown straightened up, and nodded a few times sagely, expressing his understanding and thanks for the information. Sunrises and sunsets could be gorgeous at times, and Nanye's handmaidens were praised for exceptional ones. Some said that the sunset was an expression of their dance as painting in the sky, but that was not an orthodox claim of Nanye's church.

Theophili says, "Thank you Azraile!"

Scord recovered from the shock of meeting Theophili, and responded, "Theophili, I am honoured to meet you. Do you have an apprentice? Forgive me for my greed, but I'd really like to learn."

"I have an apprentice."

"Well, I had to ask. I am thrilled to be here. I assume since we're in the Sideways, that the 4th wall is down a little?"

"Leave it in place." Theophili thinks directly to Scord, Not everyone reacts well to the thought that their every choice is being determined by someone else sitting behind a keyboard in some other universe. This is a gathering of all the active player characters to see how they interact with eachother. They're not all here yet.

Scord continued, "If anyone's listening, I hope you join us soon, I'd like to meet you all. Time travels strangely here, so longer absences are non unusual and will fit right in.

4th wall?

Bozon shot Scord a sharp, querying look. He knew what the 4th wall was, both in normal theater and in the rules that the Watchers set in his own world. If something akin to that was present, it said volumes about the nature of this 'Sideways' place. A jump of logic suggested to him what the pirates becoming illusory might have meant, and the idea that they were 'backstage' here in the Sideways.

Hmm.

Scord thought at Bozon, This is a realm between all worlds. It was created by the Sprites who are the guardians of the Leprechauns. Space and time are more conceptual than any ordinary place, and are heavily influenced by our imagination, and also by the imaginations of our players. I am a real person with real thoughts and ideas, just like you. But there is another person who is writing my words for other people to read. That person is the GM of the game you're in. The GM is sort of like a god, but more like a narrator in a story. In this particular kind of story, many people are the writers, and each person writes the thoughts and actions of their Player Character. You and I are Player Characters, and the person writing out your thoughts and actions is your Player. My Player is also the GM of the game, so there is very little I can't do as long as I remain in character. If I were to suddenly claim that I am a T-Rex, I would be as long as it fit within the plotline of the story you're all in. My Player is also a version of me who never left his home universe. Your Player knows all of this stuff, but is apparently playing the part of someone like you who is unaware of these behind-the-scenes dynamics. Ask any questions you like, because apparently the GM wants you to be aware of this stuff for some reason. Probably plot related, but who knows? Actually, Theophili knows stuff that even the GM is unaware of.

Scord thinks at Theophili, Are you sure we can't talk openly about this with Azraile too?

OOC: Only Azraile can answer that question.

Bozon thought that over a bit, rubbing his beard and twitching his nose.

He thought back hard about an image of an onion being peeled, only getting larger with each layer taken off rather than smaller.

(yah that would be bad Azraile would react baddly to say the least)

Theophili looked at Bozon and said, "While you're here in the Sideways, you are outside of the regular timeline, so theoretically, you don't have to be bound by your gag order or the inflatable body ordeal. This place is a place of freedom and fun. If you'd like a different body while you're here, I can accommodate that desire. Just think at me what you'd like if you want to.

"Since I was dragged into this place, I'm dragging Aflae in."

Scord says, "Yay! Aflae! My longest consistent acquaintance!"

Aflae finds herself standing in the middle of the group.

OOC: hope you don't mind, but Scord and I really want her here too.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 31):

The big clown grinned, than shook his head no. He wanted to stick with it, even if they were 'backstage' from normal reality at the moment. He thought that he needed the practice for when he was 'onstage,' even if he did have an extra layer of actor ("player") that he hadn't known about before backing him up.

Shivers a little "Naked men covered in blood and guts in the middle of my lab is not a sight I want to see again." Shakes her head. "Nasty.... all the nasty.."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:47, Sun 09 Feb 2020.

Raises a brow. "umm....."

The burly, barbarian... clown... blinks several times at Aflae, puzzling over what she might be talking about. Her jewelry, for so he assumed the shards were, surprised him. It almost looked inset in her flesh, like some insect-like folk did in their carapaces. But she wasn't a bug...

Has a cybernetic eye, with the eye itself a rather large shard, and has several shards in her body indeed.... Bozon would guess several months worth of wages are embedded into her flesh, and from the way they are stylishly shaped you would almost think for looks alone if not for the half hazard placement of most of them. (he's not seen modern art so he wouldn't think anyone would just randomly throw things into place for looks!) She has a chuck of her lower torso made out of what looks like glass or plastic too with translucent organs too (that are smaller than they should be and in odd placements) with some organs that shouldn't be there... and is she pregnant? I mean she's not got a belly but there four little things in her belly all curled up with each other. She also has an arms looks to be made out of metal and plastic.

She blinks looking around "um.... ok where the fuck am I and how did I get here? You guys better not have done anything to Val..." her arm open up coming apart and reforming into some kinda device as little holes open up in her belly and the 'babies' fly out... little tinny machines made out of shards, that fly around the area.... one flying right up to Bozon, shining a light over him.

She's a very strange lady with lots of things Bonzon has no idea what they are..... she dose however have what looks like a cross between a guitar and a harp on her back though!!!

With Bozon still having only the slightest idea of how much these crystals were worth in terms of spending power, he's not guessing at the values at all yet. He stares at her arm more than at her belly, even more puzzled by what seemed to be (to his point of view) an ancient prosthetic limb from one of the lost cultures of the past.

The big clown ducks as one of the 'babies' flew towards him, then looks up at the light. His glowing nose seemed weak in comparison. Hmm. Bozon pantomimed looking over the 'baby' with exaggerated mannerisms while he went through the mental efforts to try and operate his cut-down, cantrip version of Enchantmentsensing (or, as D&D would call it, Detect Magic) in an attempt to find out if this thing was alive or a magical construct. Not that the cantrip form of the spell could tell that much, but he didn't know that. All it would tell him was whether magic was present or not.

"Bozon?" he asks Aflae, using the one word (of sorts) that he could say without expending mana for it as an all-purpose, vague query.

Of course the cantrip was being enhanced by Magus which only knew what Bozon knew, so he suddenly felt the mental knowledge that the 'babies' were a sort of magical construct made from a magical substance - the same substance that the payment crystals Bozon has seen seemed to be made from. He also felt that they were like guardian pets and under this woman's control.

Scord looked at Aflae and exclaimed, "Aflae! I'm so happy to see you! You look even more awesome in person than I'd imagined. I've been watching you from another universe and rooting for your cause. I was very impressed with how quickly you arranged your resources to work for you and created your company. Mostly I am constantly surprised by your ingenuity and creativity. You sure keep the Oner on the edge of its seat keeping up with you! For awhile there, I thought you'd for sure figure out a way to end the Balur War. I can't help myself, here, take this special knifemissile I made for you." Scord hands a white crystal knifemissile to Aflae. "It is made of Chaos Crystal - it's a different form of magic than is found in your home Oner. I programmed it to work like a normal knife-missile, but it has certain abilities that you'll enjoy exploiting. It can add or remove chaos or entropy from anything. Adding chaos makes things hotter, brighter, or dirtier and broken. Removing chaos cools things to room temperature, removes light from light-sources, cleans things, fixes broken things, heals body parts and generally makes things more orderly. Because of the way Magus works, it will be enhanced from its normal functioning, and you should find it very easy to use at first. I can't wait to see what you do with it."

Seams a little taken a back but tries to take it in stride as she scans the knife missile, virtually taking it apart with scans. Finding magus version of her creation fascinating... hoping it don't require hearts to run it. "Thank you? That still don't answer my questions..."

Chaos Knife Missile [7/7]


"Oh right!" Scord pulls up a screen from nowhere and watches a playback of the previous few moments to remind himself of the questions, then watches a video playback of Aflae's life since he last saw her, then one of everyone else present.

Then Scord looks Aflae in the eyes, and pulls her into a Mage's Stare which places avatars of themselves in a virtual reality operating on Scord's tattoos. He says in this aside to Aflae, "We are in the Sideways, which is a place... sorry to brag, but... a place I invented a number of years ago. I've been itching to pull it out in gameplay but could never find a good enough excuse. Apparently I've indulged." Scord ends the aside and returns to regular Sideways where everyone can see and hear.

"The Sideways are an Oner 'discovered' (and you know exactly what I mean, Aflae), by the Sprites and chosen as a place that would keep the Leprechauns - their descendent nephews and nieces - safe from all harm. Wherever Leprechauns are born, they instinctively teleport to whenever they're in any danger - perceived or real. Because of this they are free to watch anything from a safe distance and intervene when and if they feel like it. Their natural abilities of sliding between Oners and through dimensions in space, lets them be practically impossible to catch or harm in any way. They are some of the most truly free peoples in Oner 0.

They love to play tricks on people, especially when people make meta references or break the 4th wall. They are meant to encourage good natured chaos and beneficial mayhem. When the ordered system is stark and stale, they like to stir things up to bring justice to the oppressed.

"You got here because I wanted to meet you. I saw you grow quickly in power when you first came on the scene of my observations, overwhelming me and others.

"As for VelAnna, that dear tortured heart, she is safer now than she has ever been in her life, and she's about to receive some of the deepest healing of her life. Not the deepest healing, but some of it. There is a possible future for you where you become two people, both a combination of you, Velerie, Annabelle and Annabelle's lost twin, both connected like all Sangwen Twins (like one person in two bodies who can branch off if they need to, but are smarter than any one or two other people when together). This is more likely to happen if you want it to happen than if you don't. Because of the method Sangwens have to use to Turn someone, it is only possible in a loving and trusting relationship. You and VelAnna have such a relationship, so you could be made Sangwen if you wanted it. And Sangwen don't have to drink blood to live. Kurku's clan is actually fruitarian and partially photosythetic (like Metal Trees) thanks to their friendship with the Queen Sdrankhn's Dragon clan. Queen Sdrankhn is the first Dragon, and the most powerful. Though I think she might be in a disconnected Oner at the moment, I'd have to check my copy of the timeline to be sure.

"Anyway, let me know if you'd be okay with either
-becoming one person in two bodies, combining with VelAnna and her Twin
-or becoming a Sangwen

"Please know, this is a huge indulgence for me, so I'm very grateful to you all for being here.

"Oh, one more thing for you, Aflae," Scord hands her a black iron ring. "This is an Order Ring. An Order Magic ring made of Black Iron. Black Iron is a super dense perfected iron aligned with Order magic, the balance of Chaos. Adding Order freezes, quiets, darkens, arranges, fixes, dulls sharp edges, heals things and orders things. Removing Order warms them to room temperature, blurs shadows, sharpens edges, breaks things, and kills living things. It'll also give you super strength in whatever arm you wear it, freezing anything you want to freeze with a freeze punch. Magus will enhance it's abilities and make it easier to use. Actually, you should have 4 rings, since that is an orderly number."

4 Order Rings [8/8]

"Bozon, I have a bad feeling that you're going to be experiencing some sort of tragedy soon. Things are just going too well. It can't last. But if you never give up hope, I believe everything will turn out alright. If there's anything I can do for you, let me know. Also you might meet Aflae and Azraile back in the real world in the not too distant future."

Looking at everyone, "If you all think that would be a good thing."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 07:26, Mon 10 Feb 2020.

Bozon eyed the little flying thing with its' light. A magical construct, yes, but also... a pet? He didn't understand how the cantrip might have told him that, but accepted it as just more newness in his complicated ordeal.

He wasn't a threat to the woman - Aflae, he'd heard the others call her - but how to make friends with her pet? It didn't look like it had a nose to sniff him with, or any place to gently scratch or rub to comfort it.

Then Scord spoke up, and the clown glanced his way. "Bozon?" he asked, attention divided between Scord and the flying pet construct.

Alfae is one to look a gifted horse in the mouth, she takes the rings but dont put them on.... she plans to study them and especialy the knife-missile being she didnt awaken the spirit of it and no telling what kinda mind it has. She is of that mindset give everyone a chance to be trusted but expect them to be screwing you over.

"Not that it matters much to you but I kinda figured people already figured out I was doing the one person in more than one body thing already." Though it was more like one person with multiple personalities with a hive mind and a few bodies at this point... but only because she was waiting till she could make herself a dragon for the full blown pluraling of herself as it would be so much easier then.

She looks around thinking "Forth wall? You and the lepricons hu..... so you implying your some kinda higher dementional being or something? Your braking more than the 4th wall....your braking the 5th and 6th... Some dangerous implications there.... and some that piss me off. Considering it implies some one found it entertaining to watch... or orchestrate that I die four times..... well four times from my own relative view of time, I can't say for sure how many times I've died already as apparently I'm not only going to be more plural but an avid time traveler."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Tue 11 Feb 2020.

(and would it be ok to just say az don't hear all this x.x because knowing some of the things that happened to hir was ocistrated by other people for entertainment means would not be good for hir mental state.)
This message was last updated by the player at 16:36, Tue 11 Feb 2020.

Theophili actively prevents Azraile from hearing anything that will upset hir.

Scord says to Aflae, "Okay, let me try to be clear. I'm a human from a different Oner. In my Oner, magic doesn't really exist. To entertain ourselves, we sometimes imagine stories with magic and stuff. There is a theory that everything possible happens in some Oner somewhere. Well, I was killed in my home Oner and made into a sort-of immortal being. Whenever I die, I teleport into a new Oner. This time, I ended up in one of the Oners I used to imagine stories for. I have no real power here, other than knowledge and affinity. Since I imagined an Oner like this one, I'm familiar with it.

"When you imagined the Oner that became Stellaland, you actually just opened access to it. Just like me, you didn't actually create the Oner, you just discovered the Oner that you had imagined. In the same way, I've been teleported into this Oner which I had imagined before I first died. Since there are an infinite number of Oners, every thing possible that you can imagine happens somewhere. Somewhere there is an Oner where people are imagining these things, and even writing what I'm saying as I type it. When you refer to the people who are writing or watching your story, you are breaking the 4th wall. It'd all be theory, except that I came from the Oner where I imagined this Oner.

"As to your death, yeah, that was me. I imagined that too. But I also imagined your coming back to life! Also, I didn't actually cause any of that to actually happen. From my perspective at the time, I was just pretending and making things up. Besides, if I hadn't imagined all that, you'd have never gotten to be so powerful. Think about it: I know things about you that I couldn't possibly otherwise know, and I'm trying to help you.

"Like I said, I know almost everything there is to know about the Oner you came from. I've even got a list of all the High Wizards on my cellphone in my pocket! Also the timeline for the entire history of your Oner, from year 0 to the very end. You know that there is a Big Crunch coming in the distant future, but did you know that the Oner will be reborn afterward, and that everyone from Oner 0 who survives will eventually return? Did you know that Balur and Magus will eventually be at peace and cooperation with each other? Did you know that your jumper bracelet could teach you how to teleport without the aid of the bracelet if you used it enough?

"Seriously, dude, what do you want to know? I'm your genie in a bottle. I can even tell you how to find a Djin, from whom you could demand a wish- I shouldn't have said that."

Bozon just... stared... at Scord, his bearded jaw slack after what he'd just heard said to Aflae. The implications, both practical and philosophical, were beyond staggering.

"Uggg that's confusing.....  your still telling people about the backstage and the spotlight.... the only thing your avoiding is braking the 7th wall and telling about the author and the nature of the world." She stretches. "I would think it was more likely your imagination just 'saw' us than your imagination affected us.... And I think I can still end the war once I've got a Magem free me and the me's 'pick a side' to learn what the fuck is actually going on.... Figure if we can find a way to protect people from Magem we can take some skilled ambassador/negotiator and find some way to safely communicate with the balur oner directly.... likely with a Magum personal oner and some kinda drone."

"Yes! That's exactly what I meant - about joining with VelAnna that is - the idea was to get a Magem free you and a very Magem you. But I just realized that you could do that already, since you're a hive-mind. I had forgotten about that.

"VelAnna is going to find her Twin, though, and after some time with Kurku, they will reintegrate to be one person in two bodies. Regarding the Leviathan Lance curse, I believe you could find the Twin who was lost with the Humagus Guild people. If you go there, be careful. Humagus Guild Wizards are usually humanitarians, but not above doing nasty things for the 'greater good'. Also, I'd be willing to bet that they have a Magem-free, Magus-enhanced environment around them.

"Finding VelAnna's Twin would be fairly quick and easy for you. But she'll be found with or without your help.

"I can tell you that in the original timeline - before Azraile came into the universe- er, sorry, Oner - Balur was defeated after an alternate universe of origin was discovered in which it hadn't become the sole lifeform. In that alternate Balur Oner, many Balur predators were discovered. Like the ones on Gamma, but some even more intelligent than Balur. The predators were captured and used as a bargaining chip in discussions with Balur - if Balur didn't agree to work with Magus, stop fighting against other magics and technologies, and convert no more than a certain percentage of the mass in each Oner it was present in, the predators would be replicated and released en masse such that Balur would become an endangered species, or even extinct. It was a group of Wizards who were able to suppress the Magem around them to the point that Balur couldn't affect them or even reset them.

"Also, the Balur can be communicated with in any crystal large enough. I forget how large, but if you found a way to scan for Balur concentrations, you'd find a few planet-sized Balur crystals in Oner 0.

"Regarding the 5th and beyond walls, I'm not familiar with those terms, but if you want to know about the author who saw/imagined this Oner, ask away!

"Bozon, I have to say, that performance you did in front of the Pirate King was awesome! Also, I love the music you play. It sounds alot like music from the country called India in my home world. Beautiful."

(So did the events of Gamma, Lost and Found not happen?)

"Thats a lot to take in.... I think Val should probably handle this herself if she can... but I hope we can find some better means of more lasting peace than at gun point." She sighs and slumps into a couch which she has come into existence. "So Balur wants to replace other forms of technology and magic and convert all mater into it? I had theories this was the case... it's why I only made the generators available to high up company use and for worlds with exstream power needs that are threatening the loss of many lives. I didn't need to run similuations to know mass use of the generators would lead to post scarcity but would drastically incress the levels of Balur. Well there must be a way to convince them people do not want this and will fight and destroy them if they keep forcing this." Scord should be careful what he says....   "And yes I was aware of the big cruch, Balur manipulation of atoms has lead to a universe much older than it should be, and there constant manipulation of events is accelerating the relative time.... the relitive large number of damage and luck crystals shows just how much they have been toying with things."

She sighs stretching out on the couch.

"oh... yah... the stage stuff..... First is stage left, it's where actors come onto the stage, birth and the sorce of life the flow of living things into the system and the interduction o the soul. Knowing it is knowing your alive, being self aware of your own exsistance. Second is the back drop, the scene where everything takes place, the world itself or oner and what have you. Know it is knowing where you are and having knowlage of the world around you. Third is stage right, where actors leave the stage, where life ends and the soul leaves to well where ever the souls leaves. Knowing it means knowing you are mortal and will die, general the second part of self awareness and a sign of being an adult or a loss of innocence. The forth is the audience, those who watch the actors. Knowing them means knowing you are a form of entertainment and being aware of the world of the audience, being able to talk to them and converce with them... how well you know of the audience can varry really what this means as there is so much to know there and one can know so little but it still affect them. There all associating with directions... the fifth wall is up, the spotlight. Knowing it means knowing who the is the center of the story at any given time... who the world is focused around, the protagonist. So your letting us know the three of us are protagonist....   Then there is down, the sixth wall the various trap doors and ((what ever that thing is you call it where the dome at the front of the stage is where people hide i can't find it's name >.<)) where the script is read, props are brought in from offstage, and there is access to backstage. Knowing it means having access to backstage, being able to bring props into the world, and being able to have some ability to change the script...   The seventh is all around and is the author... Knowing of the author means knowing the nature of the medium itself and what kinda medium you are in, giving one access to do just about anything allowed within the bounds of that medium. This all of course an 'eventually' with practice and further understanding kinda thing."

Bozon gave Scord a 'what the?' sort of look before raising one hand and closing his own mouth by lifting his chin up until the dropped jaw was back in place. From his own point of view, that of the actor here in this backstage, his performance among the pirates was incomplete, yet somehow he remembered the rest of it and Summer Knight's aid arriving to reunite him with the Elf children. Likewise, the music at the restaurant was both in his future and something already performed. Was this how oracles and prophets felt, perceiving the tapestries of the future? Or was that more akin to reading the script-to-come?

Nonetheless, what Scord had said of imagining places into being and people's lives coming to pass reminded him of passages in the epic poem Chlòkh Azyshmé, as well as certain philosophical observations uttered by Mimulâno of Jtam Yss regarding the capabilities and limitations of the gods.

Paying closer attention now to both Scord and Aflae, the king-turned-jester pondered the war being mentioned, as well as the walls which Aflae described. The first four he had some knowledge of from both theatrical training and philosophical study, but the latter trio were new to his experience.

Am I to understand that this 'Balur' is the major antagonist of the living performance we are part, Vòrin Writer?



OOC: Vòrin is a high-level honorific, similar to the Japanese 'Sama' or addressing someone as 'Lord' in the mortal sense. It is also used as the rank-title for the minor gods.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Fri 14 Feb 2020.

Theophili asks Bozon, "Tell us about the guardians of your world. What do they do to inhibit outsider influence?"

Scord responds to Bozon, "Balur is the major antagonist of the setting, but was originally meant to be an unconquerable backdrop rather than a conquerable antagonist of the story. But Aflae started bringing in ideas from the Culture Series of books that both me and her writer are fond of, and I couldn't resist helping her guide the zeitgeist toward a post-scarcity economy.

"Also, soli deo gloria. That is to say, I give all the honour and praise to my Creator who gave me all that I have and am. Also, I'm no longer the writer. Now I'm like a copy of the writer who has experienced other worlds, and obtained other magics. Please just call me Scord. We are all equals in my eyes."

"Thank you for explaining the walls to me, Aflae. I'd say that you 3 are major protagonists in this story, though from experience I know you're not immune to death - just ineffectiveness.

"The Backdrop: Given the nature of magics that are appearing in the worlds, I'd say that the original restriction on the introduction of new magics has been lifted. This must mean that some major groups of powerful Magus Mages is fighting to change the timeline and bring about the fall of Balur earlier than the original timeline ordained. This is both exciting and dangerous, because it means that fate is less clear to the clerics, though any verified prophecies will still come to pass.

"Stage right leads to the Bow where the actors are given what they wanted in life. Those who wanted justice are given justice according to how they judged others. Those who are merciful and love Life are given Life and shown mercy as they showed mercy to others.

"The Audiance is, in my original world, a group of people from around a world that has little to no magic, who are mutually writing the story from the perspectives of their chosen protagonists. But there is also an audience here and in the Oners of the people who have exited the stage and are now given the opportunity to yell at the actors on stage, and occasionally throw things at them. In other words, the dead watch history unfold, and voice their opinions to the Owner. The Owner then affects the events as they unfold to ensure ultimate justice and mercy. It is a world where pain is very real, but every wrong will be righted in the end, and also after everyone exits the stage, they will all return for a cast party or go home to their treasure chests. But be aware that breaking the 4th and above walls tends to summon Leprechauns who are what is called a Deus-Ex-Machina in my world - that would be the 6th wall. They will reverse any advantages that the protagonists try to take by breaking walls if it has the potential to jeopardize the planned outcome - unless the new outcome is more interesting.

"The 7th wall is actually multiple people, but ultimately the Owner is above even the writers. The Owner controls chance, and even over-rules the writers.

"One little used effect of the medium of your story is the off-the-wall effect. When in a contest type situation, if you act in an unconventional manner especially to a humorous effect, and if chance allows success, you are much more likely to win the contest.

"Also, the more you exercise your diverse skillset, the more likely to succeed in your endeavours you'll become. That's why Aflae has done so well. Her writer knows how to game the system pretty well."

OOC:  What about Gamma, Lost and Found?  Did they not find the magem eating stuff?

OOC: Scord's post mentioned Gamma. Re-read it?

ooc maybe i'm reading the wrong part? but don't seam 100% clear

In reply to Narrator (msg # 50):

The big clown thought about Theophili's question, shifting pose several times as he considered different aspects of it. Guardians, yes... the various gods and the Watchers could be construed as that, along with the apparently unusual and abnormal location that Ushù'l held relative to other Oners. Tékumel, the homeworld of the Fasiltumians, had apparently had that same peculiarity, both worlds having experienced dire cataclysms that had thrown them free from their original realities. But what would inhibit outside influences? Other than the oddities of Fasiltumian culture with their duality of Stability and Change, what was constraining his people from being influenced unduly by tourists? Nothing, that he could think of. The Watchers set forth laws for interactions and portrayal of the kind of society that the tourists expected, but they did not forbid the locals from listening to tourists and taking in new ideas. Yet... come to think of it, very few such concepts ever took root beyond being incorporated into further theater. New tastes in the arts arose, grew, and faded as they always had, but what actually changed? It surprised him that he had never read of any philosopher approaching this. Like there was a wall, a blind in the mind, a direction that the peoples of his world could not look in. Could not be aware of, in their own realm. What lay beyond it, and why was it locked away?

He looked at Theophili having no real answer for her, only further questions that hers had stirred up.

OOC: The events of Gamma still happened, though I may have inadvertently contradicted myself. What lead you to ask the question? Also, I really want to free Kantoku from that world, and I plan on finding a way to do that when I have the chance to re-read that thread.

IC:

Theophili speaks to Bozon, "If reality is never truly presented, change is never given opportunity to take root. What do you think would happen if an alien lifeform too small to see, invaded your home world?"

Scord pulls Magusstone, and a few other things, then sits cross-legged and meditates while waiting in case anyone talks to him.

The burstbarian was taken aback by the question. 'Alien lifeform' he understood, like a creature from another world or from one of the Planes. But what kind of living things were too small to see?

Too small to see? I do not understand that, Theophili. Would that be like a very, very small seed, or the eggs of a wasp? Of what sort of lifeform do you refer? he thought hard.

"Come to think of it... even if Balur agreed to peace, peace couldn't be assured with out some gun pointed at it's head and it would know that so I don't think it would mind all that much as it would be a necessity.... as no one could ever fully trust it with out one." She sighs. "Thats.... kinda disappointing but with the nature of Balur mutually ensured destruction has to be set up for anyone else to trust Balur."


(well because Gamma is the story where they ran into those life forms that eat balur was)

Also.... throws a pillow at scorn for saying things he shouldn't say. =p

"Don't fuck with Djin.... no one in there right mind wants a Djin's wish. Everyone knows those daemons are twisted little fucks at best..... though usually your dealing with some evil soul manipulating psychopath." Rolls hir eyes. "To think my world fancies stories of good Djins and setting them free to be your friends." laughs "If your ever lucky enough to trap a Djin seal it away in the deepest darkest hole where no one can ever find it......"

OOC sorry just had to throw that in there... I mean come on! Aladin is a good movie and all but seriously! Djin where not nice, at best they got a kick out of tricking humans in horrid ways. The only 'good' Djin didn't leave there realm!

Theophili thinks at Bozon so that he hears, I am referring to at least 3 types of magic that are alien to your world, each of which spreads through tiny seeds that are too small to see, each of which is currently spreading into your world.

Scord catches the pillow Azraile throws, and turns it into cotton candy. While eating the cotton candy, he replies, "Djin in this world are descended from a Djini (like the two who were dancing on the Behemoth Scuttlebus in Bozon's adventure) and an angel. Some are evil, but they are people too, so some aren't evil. And they were all bound like Djin in Earth, to grant a certain number of wishes to the one holding their lamp or whatever. Also, are you referring to the movie Aladin?"

To Aflae, Theophili says, "It wouldn't have to be mutually assured destruction. Also, if someone had the ability to destroy Balur, but Balur couldn't touch them, they could pretty much make it do their bidding."

Theophili looks in no specific direction, but kind of toward Aflae as she says, "The creatures in Gamma were picked up when the planet Gamma teleported into an Oner where Balur had never gained sentience, but was the primary source of food for the entities who had gained sentience. They lost sentience over time because of the mind-killing curse thing."

The clown thought about this some more, running fingers lightly over his bearded chin. Strange new magics, seeds too small to see, how would the Gods react to such? Well, new magics would be the concern of wise Vìrya Nìa, feared Vìrya Hé-Enriath, and mysterious Væran Ya-Epré, as the deities who oversaw the magical arts. If they took the form of seeds, than gentle Vìrya Fèftian-Ithé would take note, as might the younger goddess Vìrya Karènn-R'Làché, both of whom dealt with plant life to a great extent. Among the Pavaric gods, sage Væran Thúmis and dark Vòrin Grugánu would seem to be the most likely to intervene, should these new magics cause grief, though one could never predict how, where, or why ever-changing Væran Hrü’ü and his cohort all-malign Vòrin Wurú might involve themselves.

Of the Khùl-Algrenàthi'i, the Watchers, he had even less solid knowledge to work with. Whereas the various Gods had long and extensive histories of contact with mortals, and the many dealings of their priesthoods, the Watchers were singular individuals of legend prone to absent themselves from recorded history for centuries at a time, with no worshippers depending on them as patrons.

I see. I can but guess which of our protectors might observe, but not how they might act should these new magics be a threat or break their laws.

"True more a stale mate than mutually assured destruction... but still disappointing it's a if you try and eat us we will send things to eat you stale mate...... But if everything Balur is Balur won't that mean that Kantoku will invertently let them know the moment he leaves the planet and they would try and stop anyone from finding gama..... just rewinding time and making sure no one goes there or something... heck you told me and I got enough Balur in me it if it's calous or evil it might just be connected to me agenst my will too even though i'm not a Balur lifeform..... and you just told it everyones plan in that case..... ether way seams your not being very carefull about messing with our world with your insights from watching it....."

"Why DID you bring us here... just to geek out and give us gifts?" Is wondering if Scord is just like a cooler version of Batmite... o.O

Hearing Aflae's words brought a few ideas to Bozon's mind.

"Scord, if I might speak to Aflae through your agency... if she is dealing with sentient but hostile food, why would she not be able to use food-affecting magics upon it? Purify it, rot it, poison it, cleanse it of venom, make it edible to a broader range of races...

Scord is taken aback, and then says, "I'm afraid I often act before I think. But I know that as a writer, I plan far ahead, and I'd have had a reason for all of this. It's got to be more than just a gift-giving marathon. Everything I've given you or you've received in the past will be useful for whatever is about to happen."

Theophili pipes in, "As for Balur getting wise to your plans, that's being covered by someone else's spell at the moment. I can't tell you too much, except that you don't have to worry about your minds being read by Balur for the foreseeable future. However, Aflae, you did bring up a good point. It is particularly hard to exist in 1 body with 2 modes, and much easier - especially as you are already a hive-mind - to exist in 2 bodies with different modes. Kantoku's companions are all dead, and Kantoku would be soon. I've been given permission to bring Kantoku here. I could then merge you with Kantoku and re-separate you so that your Kantoku self is 100% Balur with all of your Balur-based skills and all of your knowledge, and your Aflae self is 100% natural High Elf, with all of your Magus related skills and all of your knowledge. Would you like me to do this for you?"


Scord replies, "To be clear, I didn't pull you all in here, in fact, Aflae was pulled in by Theophili and I'll bet the rest of us were pulled in by one of the Leprechauns. HEY, LEPRECHAUN WHO PULLED US IN HERE, SHOW YOURSELF!"

The Leprechaun who pulled everyone but Aflae and Theophili into the Sideways says, "Wot?!"

"Why'd you bring us here?"

The Leprechaun laughs hysterically, sounding similar but different to the laughing voice Bozon heard out in the normal world a few minutes ago. After he recovers, he says, "You want me to tell you the whole plot? Well, too bad, bozos! Yoink!" And he rapidly drains through a tiny hole in the ground.

Hearing Bozon, Scord says to Aflae, "Bozon had an interesting idea - he suggested that you might be able to turn Balur into something edible to a broader range of races. I'm not sure if that would work, since its subatomic structure is so different than ordinary atoms and matter. But in my experience, if anyone can come up with a way to make it work, it'd be you."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 06:43, Wed 19 Feb 2020.

Hmm.

Bozon tried to pick up the small hole after the Leprechaun went down it, and reached in to attempt to pull the laughing fellow out again like a rabbit out of his carpetbag.

If it works, he holds the Leprechaun up close to his own funny face with one hand... and blinks at him a few times. "Bozon bozon, bozon bozon?"

"I would like it if you could save Kantoku, but I have plans for my own self and I might need my skills, and I Kantoku is happy being a scout."  Would think Scorn already knew she wants to split herself in two a dragon (in elf form) and her like she is now. Mostly because she knows she can't figure out angel yet. =p

Sinks into the waters of the hot springs..... well the lepricons do look more like batmite... wonders if that's a coincidence or not. "Yah I was sent to Earth as a baby to be raised ther far away from anyone associated with the demon god, are you from an Earth too?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:33, Thu 20 Feb 2020.

Bozon pulls the tiny hole off of the floor and holds a black hole that looks like plastic and expands to the size of his hand hanging down. He reaches into the hole and pulls out the Leprechaun who listens intently to Bozon, and replies with extreme seriousness, "Yalfa. Yalfa yalfa yalfa, yalfa yalfa yalfa yalfa yalfa yalfa. Yalfa?" Then he snaps his fingers and Bozon is holding a bowl of Lucky Charms instead of a Leprechaun or a hole.

Scord tries to read the Leprechaun's mind, but all he hears is, Stop trying to read my mind, Scord!

Theophili thinks at Aflae, Sorry about that, earlier it sounded like I said some things about Kantoku. But that was because the GM had forgotten some things, and the Sideways allow his mistakes to be heard. Kantoku will be back soon.

The barbarian clown nodded a few times, pretending to have understood what the Leprechaun said. So his name is Yalfa? Greetings, fair meeting.

Sniffing the bowl, Bozon found that it smelled sweet. He tried a taste of the stuff in it.


OOC: And I'm going to see if that leprechaun left his firstborn in the bowl. https://kol.coldfront.net/thek...Bowl_of_lucky_charms

One of the charms looks like a leprechaun, and Bozon suddenly finds himself pulled into the bowl as he is shrunk to the size of a marshmallow charm. The leprechaun charm says, "Fair meetin' ta ya back! Oi am indeed Yalfa! If you want a hint about someone you just met, check out this adventure book!" The leprechaun hands Bozon a book with the text of the thread in the following link to a message in another game

"It's a terribly long read, but there are some pretty disturbing things in it!" Yalfa says with a big too toothy grin.

Suddenly Bozon feels himself being lifted up quickly with Yalfa who starts screaming and pointing up. Bozon looks up and sees his own mouth rapidly approaching him. He and Yalfa are both poured into giant Bozon's mouth and just as giant Bozon's teeth pop Bozon between crushing molars, Bozon finds himself eating a spoonful of Lucky Charms and feels a disturbing little burst of air, fancying he hears a tiny high pitched scream. But the Lucky Charms do taste delicious.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:01, Sun 23 Feb 2020.

Magically delicious, and tragically malicious, it seemed.

Bozon finished the bowl and sat down on the ceiling trying to digest all that.

Bozon is an information hound, so a copy of every volume of that book ((all of the other threads in that game)) appears in his carpet bag in a text that only he can read. Anyone else who looks at the book will only see a child's crayon scribblings.

"So when I leave this place Balur is going to know I know and all eyes are on me..... You realize this means I have to drop everything and try and end the war now."

The clown peers down at Aflae from where he sits on the ceiling (like an helium balloon).

Leave? Scord, does Aflae not experience being both on-stage and here-backstage simultaneously like I do?

(Figures is ether not or is being keep seprate from her other self to prevent this *shrugs* because in acutality if she knew about this Balur would wipe her memories or kill her)

Theophili says, "Don't worry about keeping that knowledge. You'll see why soon. Aflae, as far as the Balur war is concerned, it wouldn't matter whether you were trying to end the war or to continue to look for VelAnna's twin. You are entangled in the situation on every front. It's become one of your fates/dooms to be involved in the conclusion of that war."

Player's choice as to remembering or not. Balur is not going to be resetting time any time soon.

"So things are going on that Balur can't be distracted with me, or it has realized peace and co-existance might be the only option so is letting things happen?" Wouldn't care if it was letting it happen, and wouldn't let anyone else know... knows that it's probably for the best for everyone elses mentality to think Balur had nothing to do with it's own 'downfall' so to say.

Aflae sees Yalfa's face appear over Scord's face. Yalfa mouths, 'spoilers' then Scord's face returns to normal.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:16, Wed 26 Feb 2020.

(ug remind me who Yalfa is.... there use to be a cast with ALL the chars so i could easy check there lol now it's been like over a year and my memory with names hasn't got better)

OOC: Yalfa was just here, silly. He's the Leprechaun we met.

Yalfa is the Leprechaun who appeared just a few posts ago to interact with Bozon, mostly. He'd the Leprechaun who pulled everyone (except Aflae and Theophili) into the Sideways.

Sicks down under the water with a frustrated grumble.

Shrugs and flumps into an appearing couch, gets out her harptaur, and tunes it.... then starts playing.

She then uses her magic to try and pull Cheet and Sooth here. XD

Oooo… music! That certainly got more of Bozon's attention, and the barbaric clown re-oriented himself so he was on the floor again.

He listened with interest to Aflae's playing.

It's elven music, of fair quality... she had decades to practice, but isn't a musician. She is a mathematician though and she puts some base 12 math into her music though and that works out well.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:15, Thu 27 Feb 2020.

Cheed and Sooth appear, both, however, are glowing as bright as the sun, though they are not hard to look at.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:36, Sat 29 Feb 2020.

She covers her eyes instinctively though. "Dammit you two, can you turn down the light show... holy shit.."

Startled by the light, Bozon winced and looked aside, shielding his face with one hand. What now...?

Cheed and Sooth feel powerful yet kind. When they hear the complaints about their brightness, Sooth says, "Though we will veil ourselves for your comfort if it is needed, I challenge you to stare directly at us and test me in my promise that you will feel no pain from our luminosity."

Scord's eyes go wide, "What can you tell us about Heaven!? And how soon can I get there?"

Cheed looks at Scord, "You will see soon enough."

Sooth looks at Bozon, "I am sorry for the pain you are about to suffer. But your suffering will be greater in the end if you do not allow yourself the full force of that pain as it happens. You are not promised all of your desires to be fulfilled, only that the right kind of hope will make a difference."

Sooth looks at Scord, "You can join any of those present in their other physical space, except the 2 you'd most want to join. Remember the upsidedown way. Also, stop being a fool!"

Sooth looks at Azraile, "You always have a choice. A future lifelong partner doesn't say her vows the moment she meets her lover. Why do you feel cornered? What is it you seek?"

Sooth looks at Aflae, "You aren't nearly as selfish as you think. You are far more selfish. But even a psychopath can choose to make their life have meaning beyond its end."

Sooth scolds Theophili, "Where is your love, woman?"

Cheed says, "Yo, oracle, do me!"

Sooth says, "Later, babe."

Bozon has no idea who these brightly-glowing people were, but he paid heed to Sooth's words. He did not deserve to have all of his desires, not after what he'd done. But for the time being, his main hope was to see Tine and Jen safely through their adventures and back to their parents unharmed.

And, what was the 'Heaven' that Scord spoke of? Different faiths had different views on paradise and the rewards of their gods for proper and honorable lives. He had no idea what, if any, religion the writer held dear, or even if it was comprehensible to such a lesser being as his silly self.

She blinks "HEY!" she's not sure how to feel about that or even what it means but finds it some what insulting the way it is worded. "I didn't get a chance to say goodbye properly I had to go so quickly.... your dead? Is that bad that your here and your dead?" Was kinda hoping she could just grab them from the past!

Rises out of the water and shrugs answering "Hell if I know...." is kinda running away having to always help people though and the pain of hir past.

Aghast, Theophili says to Sooth, "I... I think I had forgotten..." She closes her eyes and begins meditating.

Sooth looks at Bozon, "In your bag, you have a set of books. If you read this one: " she shows him an image of the book in which he'd read this thread: link to a message in another game
"and the book after that, you'll know more about Cheed and me. Basically, I'm a soothsayer, and Cheed is a master of rapid body-modification." To demonstrate, Cheed extends his arms like Mr. Fantastic and does a wave with his arms, making them look like elongated rubber.

Cheed jovially laughs and then answers Aflae, "It's not bad. You didn't intentionally summon a dead person, you unintentionally requested the presence of 2 post-death people, and you didn't ask us to come to an Oner directly, but to this semi-place. We didn't mind saying hi to y'all. We're still in the personal presence of the All-Child, and we're happier than you could imagine. It's only bad to force a spirit to come to you by summoning them - mainly because it's rude and harmful to the spirits who aren't in the good place."

Sooth adds, "Aflae, did you ever wonder how VelAnna knew to give you that element address to program your Portal with in order to end up on our island? You should ask her next time you see her."

Scord says to Azraile, "That was an interesting response. It almost seems Freudian. I've been watching what's playing out with you back in the real world, and I have a question if you don't mind my asking. Freedom seems to be extremely important to you. Are you free if you do what you want to do in the moment regardless of how it will affect you, or if you do what you would want to do if you knew exactly how it would affect you?" After Az's response he will also ask, "What era did you grow up in on Earth? I grew up in the 1980's and 90's."

"You know you could just tell me these things." she shakes her head. "Anyway I didn't just want to say bye I was hoping you could give me some names to some mages that might still be alive you know that could teach me some Formagus and Unimagus.... maybe the others too even if I know I'll be terrable at Imagus due to my natural Verimagus.  I also need an in to talk to some high ups in the magus community, preferably good people with level heads."

"That.... why even ask that, we don't... there is hardly anyone that can do that." shi huffs. "yah... about that time."

"Bozon?" The clown thought for a few seconds, then reached into his carpetbag and pulled out... the book Sooth had shown him the image of. He looked at it, not opening it yet, and facepalmed with his other hand. A book, and here he was among other people. Well... he was backstage, not fully in-character here so maybe. No. Just no. He'd stick with staying in character even here, and only try to read things surreptitiously or in private.

He made a pretense of trying to taste the corner of the book, and finding it inedible he returned it to his bag for later. Instead, he busied himself watching Cheed (as best he could despite the light), trying and failing to imitate his more rubbery motions. He clearly remembered some of the ways in which jesters had been inflated, but none of them could do such conscious personal changes as this.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Sat 07 Mar 2020.

Sooth winks at Aflae, "Where's the fun in that? Also, how can you change if you are never challenged? You've gone for long periods of time not being particularly challenged, and in those times, you've barely changed at all. When you are challenged, you grow. Therefore, the list of names you seek is in my ceiling room. Sit for an afternoon and the truth will be revealed."

Cheed smiles widely and adds to Aflae, "You're about to experience an entirely new kind of strategizing, and a vastly different era of power. I'd envy you if it weren't so much better where I am is."

Scord responds to Azraile, "What if I told you that in this world, at least, (though I believe all worlds) it is possible. Please, figure out which way you'd prefer to live: doing whatever seemed best to you, or doing what would actually be best even if it seemed unbearable at the time? Ultimately, it is your choice which way to live."

---

Spoiler for for Bozon: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Bozon suddenly found himself in 2 places at once within the Sideways. He remained with the whole group, but he also found himself alone with Theophili. She appeared to be made of blue glass. "Bozon, this is the Sideways. You can ... I just saw a future where finishing that sentence ended very badly... but I will tell you this. You can read here in private, alone, and unobserved by anyone. We are in a privacy bubble which here, is as simple as a visualization. Fair reading, friend." and she disappeared, leaving Bozon completely alone in the second place, and still with the group in the first place.

---

Bozon paused watching Cheed briefly to raise an arched, questioning eyebrow at Theophili.

---

GM's edit & consolidation:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Theophili speaks into Bozon's mind, "Spoilers"

---

PM to GM

PM to Bozon

PM to GM
This message was last edited by the player at 01:19, Mon 09 Mar 2020.

The clown suddenly got a VERY surprised look of consternation from what was happening in his "on-stage" existence.

Vòrin Scord? Could you please convey to Aflae that Balur is in immediate danger of annihilation by King Joe the Enormous and his allies Emperor Pontorna and a dragon queen whose name I have not heard yet? It appears that this war is ending with unnatural speed and intensity.

Scord looked surprised at Bozon, then slapped himself in the face as he got everyone's attention, "Excuse me, Aflae, Azraile, Bozon, please watch me for a moment. Once you see this, you'll be able to do it." Scord holds out his hand, and seems to think at his hand, and a screen appears with a video icon for each of the other people there. He selects the one with Bozon's face on it, and a video plays out of the events that have transpired with Bozon from the time that he and the others were swept away from the safety of the Comowe ship, to the present moment. "We can all watch the events transpiring in eachothers' lives back in the real world. I've been keeping tabs and watching everyone's lives unfold - I hope you don't mind."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:26, Tue 10 Mar 2020.

"Auricle!!!! SHIT SHIT SHIT.... I have no idea where you are and there is nothing I can do to help you agenst a djin that powerful.....  gah.... will magem even function with out the Balur hive-mind?  I could maybe teleport there but I don't think I could be any help at all....  ug..... you need to make him luagh though..... do some.... wait... calm down.... calm down..." she talks a LONG slow breath Sooth taking her hands and starts to meditate closing her eyes and opening up that third one. "Come on you old hag (she says teasingly) between the two of us we can zen up something so weird, something so off the wall, something so shocking and supersizing,  that will make a eons old bored out of his mind mad man laugh his fat uggly ass off."

Burning 3 Verimagus down to [4/7] and hopefully co-casting with sooth...

Looks to Scoorn  "What where you saying about djins not being evil in this univurse?"

Bozon watched, but doesn't mime anything or try to summon up a screen for himself. Most of his mental focus is on the other two instances of himself, particularly the one on-stage amidst the danger.

Sooth says, "Aflae, conserve your power. You'll be needing it very soon. Bozon, court jesters are comedians, and humour is the tool of prophets. Prophets speak truth to power. Reflect them their evil back to them in your actions. They see themselves as invulnerable, but there is just a (very real) chance that their evil will fall on their own heads. Karma will not treat them well in this life."

Scord replies, a little defensively, showing one of his flaws, "Well not ALL Djin are evil! Theophili, will you tell us where one if the good Djin are? We need the help, how are we supposed to fight an evil Sangwen Djin enslaved to an evil necromancer Leprecaun with a staff of unknown power?"

Scord's voice ((me, not Scord. Also, pronounced like "scored" as in "I scored a goal")) comes out of the ether, Az is the only one who doesn't hear it, "The current plan is to resolve this conflict without the use of a good Djin, but since 2 evil Djin have already shown up, it will be time to introduce a good one after this conflict resolves. Hmm... I wonder if Pontorna would keep any good Djin safely hidden away in a treasury. Perhaps hidden in a plain looking object that seemed out-of-place among valuable objects..."

(Is Pontorna a name I should know?)

((Yes. Pontorna is the name of the Leprechaun in the tie-dyed suit with the powerful staff who keeps showing up. His name was revealed by the Djin when he called on the "portal waif". The implication is that somehow he is the Portal waif, and knows about that nickname.))

"Well fuck.... how do you deal with an evil necromantic leprechaun anyway?"  She sighs shaking her head. "Wait the djin is being controlled? hum.... I seam to remember a story of a beggar prince becoming a thieving king some where.... you know... maybe you could put on a play of sorts shove show him how evil comes back on evil like she said in some theatrical way maybe that will at least make him laugh at the sure gaul of it all at least..... if we are lucky maybe it could get through to him."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:42, Fri 13 Mar 2020.

Raises hir brow at the beggar to thief thing. "He steals everything from people.... or gets them to do things for him by force, trickery, or bribery.....  if they REALLY arn't evil by nature... something drove him to this... maybe if you really felt sorry for him, least enough to give him something that might touch his heart."

She looks up and over to Bozon. "But it would have to be something you carred about, and it would have to be given because you cared and because you wanted to.... no strings attached... not because you thought it might save your friends, but because you thought it might save him...... sure he can sense such things.... if you can't say that's honestly the truth don't bother, but if you can.... it may do something."

".. are you kidding in the situation he's in and what he's seen, those kids... how can he possably do that we need pratica-" she looks over to Theo and Scoord. "Wait! Can anyone poking around in our heads know about whats going on here? Can you keep Pontorna out?"

Bozon tilted his head to the side, an eyebrow cocked. If Joe is not himself evil, but held in the grasp of one who is, would it be harmful to invite him here to discuss with us how we could free him and his kingdom from Pontorna's influence?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:07, Fri 13 Mar 2020.

Scord responds, "Okay, hold off on bringing him in here. I've got a mind-reading detection skill, and our minds aren't being read by Pontorna while we're here."

A screen appears above the ground, with an impenetrable shield. Yalfa appears, "That's right. Pontorna can't interfere in here & can't learn of it unless one of you purposely reveals it. I have spoken, my baby yoe dahs."

Scord continues, "What even is evil? Evil is totally subjective according to what you love. I've looked into your lives enough to see something of your own loves. One thing we all seek to hold in common is our love & respect of sentient life. Sure, from our perspective he's evil. But from my perspective, anyone who doesn't love All-Child is acting evilly, because my greatest love is All-Child. But All-Child loves everyone at the cost to Hir own life, so I judge no one since I'm just as bad as the worst. Az, Bozon, Aflae, you're all right. Look at what Joe has done without Pontorna's influence as far as we can tell. He didn't have to buy Bozon. He didn't have to tease Auricle like a cat. So she has no moral value to Joe. He doesn't see Auricle or Bozon as people to be cared about, and simply pointing that out isn't enough. The man is vastly powerful - power causes people to lose empathy. He and all his kind have been enslaved due to the curse of Grandel since the first era. He wants to be pittied, but by someone equal or greater in power. But pity him without showing him his own evil will only harden his hear even more."

Theophili added, "That said, you could pull a virtual copy of his mind in here, and if it was non-sentient, Joe would never know.

Thinks about this maybe a gift can work.....

Takes out one of her magus stones and some materials and starts working, while talking to Scord. "You gave us stuff, and we could take it to the 'real' world. Can I take something from that world, and give it to Bozon, that he can take back with him?" She keeps working while looking over to Theo because she said she made this world. "Can you create a VI of Joe before he became evil?"  She figures, store the VI in a Virmagus projector give it to Bozon, and he give it to Joe.... Joe confronts himself, takes piety on who he's become.... there you go!

The big clown looked confused. She was proposing making a prop that he could take on-stage? Why was she talking about it as the real world, though? He felt like he'd missed something subtle yet important here.

"Auricle! No... I was almost done.....NO!! WAIT! I'm almost done you can't give yourself up! That's nothing new to him! It won't phase him at all!" She works feverishly.

The clown shook his head sadly. There was no time, there on-stage, and he saw no other way through this. He was just a beginning apprentice at his art.

Theophili says, "Not before he became evil, but before he lost his humanity, yes. By the way, I didn't make the Sideways. The Sideways was created and discovered by the Sprites with the help of Rexeaufayael to guard and protect all Leprechauns."

Aflae finishes her projector, and Theophili creates a Virtual Intelligence of Joe to inhabit it.

Thinking, Hergot, Scord said, "Bozon, that was very brave and noble of you. You are in an impossible scenario, and I don't envy you at all."

The Joe VI turns on, and a boy of about 26 dressed in gold jewelry and fine silk appears before them. "Hi! Um... where's mom?"

Theophili presses a pause button that appears on VI Joe's forehead and says, "Where was Joe's mom? What is happening in VI Joe's conscious present?"

VI Joe begins talking mechanically, "Joe's mom had just been murdered by her subjects. Joe's father, the angel, was preoccupied in his pleasure palace on the other side of the world with some of his other wives. Joe had not yet developed his Djin abilities other than shrinking and growing, and his life had been filled with the pleasure and ease of a prince who didn't expect to become king for another 2-300 years."

Theophili presses play and says, "She's resting."

Scord asks, "Shall we show him his modern self?"

In reply to Narrator (msg # 116):

Hearing his real name momentarily jolted Bozon out of the growing depression that the choice he had had to make on-stage was bringing him to here. Noble, yes. But he couldn't see it as brave. He was terrified inside of what agony might be coming, but he had to face it like a man out there. This... wouldn't just be acting that he was in torment.

"Even if it's just a VI it feels wrong but we got to." She hands the VI projector off to Bozon.

The clown looked at what he was given, puzzling over how to operate it. And, more importantly, how to get it from here to there. Would his carpetbag do the trick, reach into it in Joe's throne room and pull this prop out of the bag?

"Try and make it an honest gift, if you can... the cat is right that might help if you can..." tries to weave a Unimagus/Formagus spell into Bozon's skin if she can.... rather kinds should be using Kenimagus but don't know it. So instead tries to make a spell to activate if he's popped to use Formagus to repair him and Unimagus to revurse entropy and re-inflate him to make up for a lack of kenimagus to blow air into him.

Figures that would at least let him survive a single popping before Joe just melted him into a puddle or something.

Aflae gets the feeling that her Order Knuckles from Scord might be able to work a repair/heal spell after he bursts, but this spell failed.

Scord, seeing Bozon's difficulty with the projector, showed him how to turn it on and off. He explains, "You can certainly take anything from here out there, as long as the thing you're bringing into the regular world is not just a copy of something. You could take it through your bag, for certain."

The projection of VI Joe says, "Can I have sweet-cakes?"

Theophili tells Bozon, "The curse on Djin was made by Grandel the Wisest. It will unravel on it's own at the collapse of Oner 0. The curse is tied to their power and the Oner itself, so it can't really be broken before then. Fortunately. All Joe really wants is freedom. He also wants diversion from his boredom, but his boredom is born from the fact that he wants the one thing he can't have. His second desire would be to no longer be the slave of Pontorna. But Pontorna would have to use up his wishes or give his staff (Joe's physical anchor ((in other words, his lamp)) ) to someone else."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 02:28, Wed 18 Mar 2020.

Bozon watched what Scord showed him carefully.

Can this curse be relieved, for a time, such as by Joe divesting himself of the power it is tied to until he should take it up again? he thought at Theophili.


The clown had no legends of genies from his world to grasp the idea of a lamp, but he could grasp that the staff was the key to Pontorna's power over him.

"You guys do realize Pontorna will have a chance here to give all of Balur a soul here.... any soul of HIS chosing...."  Also is checking with her company if they have enough magem to bring it together in one place and compress it into a cluster of there own so there will be more than one mind node for balur incase they have to destroy that one.

In reply to Aflae (msg # 123):

A very surprised look crossed Bozon's funny face. He didn't think that that possibility, of Pontorna doing some nastiness with Balur's very soul, had crossed his mind before. But now that he had heard it, that fertile imagination was going to work coming up with possible scenarios, both for ill and for weal.

Theophili thinks for a moment then says aloud to Bozon, "I suppose if the Djin was willing, their master could wish to become a Djin. But only if the Djin was willing could the two swap, the Djin becoming whatever the master was, and the master becoming a Djin."


Scord responds, "Including himself..."



OOC: You won't notice this set-back, so don't be too concerned, but...
IC:
They comply and are able to create a mind node within an hour. The mind node is able to communicate, and it screams at them all, "DOOOM!!! I cannot reset, I've been trying since the moment of the last reset! Something is holding me back! Now I am also being eaten alive by a mindless fool!"

Just then 39 people in robes appeared surrounding the node, and it blew into Magem dust, seeding all of Auraluna and Arbaelf with the dust.

Scord pulls some Magustone in and a copy of Pontorna's staff. He wears a pair of glasses with a black Order Onyx lens over the right side of each eye and a clear heavenstone lens over the left side of each eye. While praying for help, ((OOC: When I use the double parenthesis, it means OOC; also praying of any sort is a form of magic in this game, and is treated as such)), using his Order/Chaos crystal cross to help, and his psionics to manipulate the staff, he pours his effort into each of the multicoloured stones in the staff, and changes its shape into a living tree branch with multicoloured crystal leaves. Then he pulled a gold-plated wooden altar into the place, setting the branch on the altar and prayed over it, sprinkling it with holy water. Pulling in a spark of flame from Azraile's new sword, he placed that spark on the branch and stepped back, closing his eyes. The spark went out and after 3 seconds 12 leaves burst into the flame and spread throughout the branch. He picked it up, and placed it on his right arm where it curled around him.
23:45, Today: Narrator, for the NPC Scord, rolled 136,120,68 using 12d24,16d15,11d10.  Create armband.
Scord gets:
Omnimagus Holy Armband (10, +2d) +10 dice size, +2 dice, recover magus and spiritual energy faster

Scord takes his other hand, and pulls out copies of the armband and says, "Anybody want one?"

The big clown considered what Theophili said with real seriousness. He did not want to have to become a Djin, whatever they were, to gain Joe a taste of the freedom he craved.

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

Watching Scord work his magic on the staff, then branch, and now armband. An idea occurred to him. I would, if you please, great Scord.

And if he can, pulls his copy out of the carpetbag in the on-stage world, working it into his clown act impromptu. His idea? Since it was derived from the staff that commanded Joe, it seemed plausible that the greater reality of Scord, Theophili, and perhaps Azraile combined with it could override the lesser version that Pontorna had.

Shi holds up her bracelet (wich shi can't exsactly take off) "If you can restore this, I may be able to bind his soul after he's killed. I'm not sure I'm strong enough honestly... but with this like it is, there isn't even a hope of it."

Shows off the Angelic Sliver.....  (It's angelic armor vagely based off spawn (before there was anti-spawn or least i knew about it lol) and was only for the arm... though now it's kinda damaged enough it's only realy enough for the wrist >.>  But she uses the chains it makes to chanel her own binding powers. She could probably bind something with out the chains but just don't know how.)

(she wouldn't have them put one together just see if they have enough and gather it up... be ready to put it together.   If she was going to put it together she would have send it to StellaLand to create a large area to store it in creating a masive anti-magus zone and the moment they get it put together and Balur hive mind linked to it..... lock the whole area down in stasis.... just drop the timpature to 0 kelvin and stop lock entropy out so nothing can move or change or anything can happen in the area untill she starts it back up again)

Scord is fascinated by the sliver, and examines it closely.

Theophili says, "I'm not powerful enough to do much with that."

Cheed says, "No, but I'm authorized to help in that department." Cheed holds the sliver above his head in cupped hands, and brings back down a fingerless wrist-length gauntlet. "Heavenly armour cannot be damaged as long as it is being used in cooperation with the will of All. But still provides protection even when it is being used against the will of All."


Okay, they didn't. They kept the stockpile ready to combine if necessary. In that cace, AAFT did that thing and lost their node and reported the results to everyone.

Scord's eyes light up, "I can't believe I've never thought of this before!" He reaches through the fabric of reality and pulls in Een, a divergent version of his wife. "Een!! My love!"

Een replies, "Scord?! How is this... But you died!"

Scord explains, "We're in the Sideways! I pulled you in here. My version of you died before I left our home Oner. You are from a world where I died and you survived. There's some really powerful people seemingly working toward the genocide of a living magic, and my friends here are trying to save everyone, because in the meantime, a microscopic parasite is eating that magic which is keeping a whole lot of people alive right now."

Een replies, "And what is happening to those people?"

Scord's eyes go wide, "I hadn't looked into that..."

Een shakes her head and opens a window into the Onerverse. "Don't you see this? Tens of billions of people are sick, dying or already dead. This organism is mindless and infinitely voracious. Somebody ate away all of its mind! It is a heartless husk, and not alive at all. But it is being used as a tool by Na to delay and prevent interference. Na consumed the spirit of a shadowplanet that he caused to die. That's it. I'm taking the mindless thing here." She reaches into the window and pulls a long spiderweb-thin string knot the size of a person into the Sideways. It stumbles and buzzes like an animated child's scribble. She wraps it around herself and says, "I claim this body."

Scord says, "Een, no!"

The Rulab scribble that is Een settles down and organizes into an Een shape and appearance. "Nothing to fear, husband! I've dealt with far worse pain than what that took." She looks to Bozon, Aflae and Azraile, "You won't have to worry about that anymore. The 150 year pandemic has ended."

Scord says, "The what?"

The clown looked very confused, exaggerating what he actually felt for greater comedic effect (hopefully). That this was Scord's Lady, he understood just fine, but who or what was Na?

Scord, sensing Bozon's question says, "Pontorna isn't properly one person. Pon, Tor and Na are three different people. Pon is always intellectual and powerful with Magus. Tor is always strong and strong-willed. Na is always the crafty one. In the Oner of Pskaena, there are only 5 people who are regularly reincarnated. From the first generations of humans to the last, they each return during pivotal moments in history. It seems Na killed and consumed the spirits of Pon and Tor. Therefore he is Pontorna."

In reply to Narrator (msg # 131):

Bozon blinks a number of times, then scratches his head vigorously. How did consuming the spirit eliminate reincarnation? And would that throw off any number of prophecies and divine plans that required the missing spirits?

He thought about it some more, recalling the few beings of his two pantheons that were able to end a soul completely and utterly. It was not a common attribute even for the most malign of divinities and demons.

Scord, reading Bozon's thoughts, replies, "Oh no, they aren't ended. If Pontorna loses his bonds of control of them, they will be free to reincarnate, and he will lose their power. Sometimes some of the 5 reincarnate together in one body."

Scord shifts to Een, "What do you mean by 150 years?

Een says, "See for yourself! Everyone who is near the castle is in a time-locked zone. One mage created the base spell from within the area - that would be Pontorna. And another mage sealed the spell when he went through the outer limit of the zone. But he sealed it with one prior alteration - he reversed the polarity of the time-field effect so that the inside experiences less time while the regular world has a chance to get on with life without the oversight of King Joe or Pontorna."

Scord replied, "Wow! When did you learn that level of physics?"

Een answered, "When you live 800 or so years, you pick up a few things."

"You wha- I thought I took you from an Oner where I had died!"

"You did - but I came from the Oner where I became a Verser like you, and you became who you are... I am your Een!"

Scord's face lit up and they embraced, going off into a side-mindspace in the Sideways, duplicating theirselves to spend time secluded while things continued as normal here. Scord looked at Aflae, "Did you notice any time magic going on?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 04:30, Mon 06 Apr 2020.

"Yah but there isn't much time to explain it to anyone... if anyone could be able to do anything about it I would exsact they coudl sense it aswell"

Scord thought about what Bozon was thinking, and wasn't going to say anything, but figured he'd clarify. "Bozon, Oner 0 is based off of the beliefs about reality that I have, with a few modifications so that magic exists. In my personal belief system, normal people never reincarnate. The closest thing to reincarnation in this Oner is normally necromancy, where a dead spirit takes control of a living spirit's life. In extreme necromancy, the living spirit is permanently expelled from the body such that the body cannot survive without the necromancer's spirit remaining. Those living spirits are sometimes given time to wander the world as particularly potent spirits, but often move on. Such an expelled living spirit is more able to expel the spirit of another living person they try to possess. Thus the cycle of necromancy often grows in numbers over time. Binding the necromantic spirit is often used to limit the harm done, but it isn't easy to clean up after a necromancer. Necromancy is the magic surrounding death and the spirit realm's power over the physical.

"Ordinary people are embodied lives whose life and spirit is breathed into them by the All. They live ordinary lives, and when they die, their spirit leaves them and they are held in the mind of the All until their time to be put back into immortal bodies.

"Only 5 entities in Oner 0 are reincarnated, and they are reincarnated until the final generation of the descendants of Oner 0. The end of the timeline is trippy and gruesome but absolutely beautiful."

Theophili said, "Spoilers, friend!"

Scord says, "Does anyone have any questions about how to use the holy fire? Also, let me know when you think I should come in. I'll slip into the room at the most opportune time to help out however I can."

Most of what Scord said went over Bozon's head. He could grasp that gods knew far more about birth, life, and death than any mortal possibly could, but this "necromancy" seemed like a very foreign magic to him. The death gods - Sárku and Belkhánu in the Pavaric pantheon, Za-R'hàak in the Rocto-CathSinnian - oversaw passage into the afterlife and protection of souls. The dread Mêm-Uhùryo, the dead that lived, were creations of The Nameless One and of followers of one of the Khùl-Nolgùn who had taken up the lesser forms of his malign teachings. Sárku's followers made a form of blessed Mêm-Uhùryo, though, his devotees granted afterlife in the mortal world as part of his doctrine of seeking to protect and preserve the mind and personality through even Hrü’ü's "final change." The Worm God's followers were no more enemies of the living in death than they had been in life.

Though... one of mighty Væran Za-R'hàak's titles was "Guardian Against the Evil Dead," which did seem to relate to these wandering spirits that Scord spoke of. Hmm. Perhaps after the crisis was over and he had time to meditate in the on-stage world he could ponder the possible meanings and ramifications more.

"Well you never really confirmed our suspicions or told us why  the guys evil other than he's a necromancer...... some confirmation of what he's up to no with this or why he's so evil other than just 'necromancer bad' might help turn his allies agents him."
This message was last updated by the player at 23:27, Sat 25 Apr 2020.

Scord thinks carefully, "You know, that's a good question. I know Na is usually cast as the villian, but also that he is supposed to turn at some point. I'm just not sure when, because when I left my home universe, I hadn't decided when that would happen yet. Let's see what we can see."

He slows his perception of time to peer into the past and the present, opening a window as anyone familiar with the Sideways knows is easy to do. Through the window, everyone can see Pontorna in ancient times - but everyone somehow just knows that it was just Na at that time. She's in an old woman's body. Her own body, her own deathbed. Holding a twisted wand broken off of a branch that had been grafted onto its original tree's daughter. The grafted branch caused an infection above the grafting site that had killed all of its daughter's own branches. That wasn't an accident. Na was being tended to by her only daughter, whom she had taught everything she knew. Na poured poison into her own drink when her daughter turned her back. She drank her cup and stabbed her daughter with the wand, thinking, With this betrayal, I induct my whole self and my offspring into immortality.

She took her daughter's husband next, and then their only son.

Other than thousands of years of kicking spirits out of their bodies, often children, Na also obtained a Djin. When he summoned the Djin, knowing full well that the Djin's greatest desire was to be left alone, his first wish was that the Djin rule his kingdom well and wisely. He had no kingdom at the time, but as a well-ruling wise King of his Emporor's new kingdom, he immediately set to work expanding their borders from nothing through the ordinary means of kingdom building.

In truth, his Kingship wasn't truly wise - though it was cunning and intelligent, sreetwise, and diplomatically superior. But the citizens quickly grew in number as people flocked to the land of opportunity. Joe's was a benevolent dictatorship, after all, there was nothing Joe despised more than having to deal with disgruntled citizens. He was bound by the wish to rule wisely.

But the wealth of the kingdom was always at the disposal of Na. Na did his own things, always with an eye to gaining power. Were the happy, healthy and comfortable lives of billions of citizens justification for the hundreds of adults and children he killed for their bodies?

Wondering what he did with the power he was amassing, Scord pried further, revealing that Na was orchestrating the eventual mostly peaceful unification of every life into his empire, so that he would be able to direct the course of history, magic and technology with his will. His public manifesto declared the benefits of a united force of everyone alive toward the success of anything they set their mind to. In private it was clear that, though he listened to the wise counsel of his Stuart King and wish granting slave, Joe, Na lead for his long term personal benefit above all others.

Curious about the wishes, Scord looked closer and revealed that Na had been given 13 wishes, but he couldn't see how many had been used yet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:53, Sun 26 Apr 2020.

OOC: Can we "hear" what Na thought as she stabbed? If so, I think I see a weakness in her spell that Hergot might point out.

Yes, what Na thought everyone heard. It's basically the same idea as the trade for the Soul Stone Thanos made using his beloved daughter.

Bozon observed what the window showed them carefully.

Great Scord, would bringing the tree of which her wand was made here, from before it grew ill, then replanting it in the present time disrupt the spell Na worked with it? Likewise, would bringing one or all of those she slew to fuel the magic back to life be akin to stopping a spinning prayer wheel maintaining the effect?
This message was lightly edited by the player at 21:29, Sun 26 Apr 2020.

"So he may have had, or may still have good intentions..... he's just lost all sense of mortals getting there?"

To Bozon, "The tree was just symbolic in truth. It anchored the spell to reality at the time, but now the spells are held by the test of time and habit of mind. Na perceives those he cares for as his fodder, and those he cares nothing for as his food. The wand is a representation of his want. Ultimately it isn't necessary, though it will swap bodies automatically if it stabs someone. I believe the staff is the wand, modified over time. Bringing those Na killed back to life would steal a great deal of power from him. But it would cost us even more, by any means I know of."

Een spoke up, "You don't know everything, dear."

"My wife is right."

To Aflae, "He has certainly considered his current life more valuable than the lives of others. He knows fully well that if he dies, he will just be reborn in a new body without memories of his past lives until he reaches puberty. His necromancy isn't even to avoid judgement or permanent death. He just wants to retain his continuity."

Een replies, "At least that's what you believe."

"Fair enough."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:46, Tue 28 Apr 2020.

The big clown shook his head 'no.'

The staff is Joe. Not the wand she had, but his slave's true self. In the light of Azraile's holy fire I could see this about it, Hergot pointed out in his thoughts.

Do the laws which King Joe enacted for his people forbid and criminalize kinslaying?

After looking through a window, "They do. And Kingslaying as well. But those laws don't apply to the Emperor who has diplomatic immunity to all charges. They even know of his necromancy by rumor, and most excuse it as incentive for foreign nations to join the Empire, since he never takes bodies from citizens of his Empire."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:51, Tue 28 Apr 2020.

Diplomatic immunity?

Does this diplomatic immunity also protect visiting royalty, such as young Tine? At least under normal circumstances?

"If he was invited, then yes absolutely - except for crimes against the person of the Emperor or King. But as a prisoner, no. However, even as a prisoner, only the King or Emperor can harm him.

"Wow," Scord continues, "Things are really heating up! Aflae, did you want one of those arm bands I made?"

"I guess?"  She sits down though and goes into a meditative stance focusing on her virmagus and inverses here to help guide her. Fully cominuing with her inerselves and all of her virmagus powers here, while being active there should give her an advantage.

Aflae's inner-selves stood with her in a meditative area. Since I can't remember what they were called, I'm bringing in a few more. Aid, the brilliant animal instinct; Aego, the need to be the right person; Sego, the need for approval; Afa, the ascended.

(there was an assended future self and a child self that)

Aid is the child self and Afa is the ascended future self. Aego will seek the good of Aflae directly and Sego seeks the morally right course of action. You can talk to any or all.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:08, Thu 07 May 2020.

"So we kinda got rushed into this... any advice or details I might have missed that could help?"

Aid replies, "Get out fast! You're all in over your heads, and you've got a traitor in your party."

Aego says, "Do we even know what Pontorna has planned for Balur?"

Sego says, "It's clear that Pontorna is evil. We have to do something, the only question is what we should do. Running isn't an option. I'm not sure whether it's better to fight with all our might and probably die, or try to reason and talk ourselves out of this."

Afa answers, "Many will die today, but Pontorna is in their number so long as Azraile remembers to bind him when shi gets the chance."

Aid says, "So I'm the only one who thinks we should bow out now before it's too late?"

Aego replies, "I'm on the fence. It all depends on whether we survive or not."

Afa answers, "We will survive, though the world will be forever changed. Aflae, seek peace and act only from love, and the Holy fire of your armband will aid you."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:10, Thu 07 May 2020.

"He's exsperemented with infusing balur into peoples bodies creating the shard fordged.... and infusing souls into balur..... now he's reduced all balur conciouness to one ploint.... it is a logical step to assume he plans to infuse a soul into the balur conciouness and infuse it into some one."

Aid says, "He'd have to use somebody who was absolutely completely loyal to him. But the only one who would be loyal enough for him would be himself. He has no loyalty for anyone above himself, so he can't believe that true loyalty is possible. He expects to be betrayed, that's why he forces everyone to curse themselves if they should attempt to cross him."

Aego says, "And he could never subject himself to that degree of servitude which would be required of him should he duplicate his consciousness into Balur."

Sego adds, "He wants to control others. He desires power above every other good thing, so he seeks control over them. If he had learned that true power is found in kindness, he wouldn't have placed Balur in such a hard position."

Aego counters, "Unless his plan is to be the one who seems to save Balur from trouble, and he will somehow pin the blame on someone else or on an old body."

Afa adds, "Balur is a logical entity which isn't very aware of spiritual matters. If his voice doesn't have to go deeper (if he just chooses to make it artificially deeper), people who can't see spirits couldn't be certain if it was him or not. He could take a coup."

Sego counters, "He doesn't believe in try loyalty, but he has spent a great deal of effort in creating a loyal Empire. Without sufficient social unrest, the Empire would do everything it could to resurrect him."

"Your forgetting," Aid intercedes, "Over 150 years has passed since Pontorna and Court have been sealed away from the rest of the Onerverse. His Empire has likely forgotten him by now."

"Or Deified him," Aego proclaims cynically.

Aid says, "I think he'll just try to enslave Balur. Complex plans have a way of falling apart."

Aego says, "I think he'll either make himself out to be Balur's saviour, or use someone who has proven to be loyal to him by experience."

Sego says, "I think he'll force Balur to obey his will under threat of destruction, and build up loyalty over time, like most slaves and masters do."

Afa says, "Balur ends up in a mortal body."

"Balur having a soul that makes it aware of spirutal maters and emotions, in and of it'self isn't a bad idea but what soul is the problem and worries me... Maybe if one of us (herself or alt selfs) could move we could fuse balur into our own bodies... and then find a way to separate it later..... it having only a single body would just leave it vonerable to something like this happening again..."

Aid answers, "Fusing the Balur into one of your twins' bodies or our own body wouldn't give Balur a soul, it would just make them more powerful. You'd have to have your soul forced into it like a possession, for it to get a soul."

Afa offers, "If the consciousness of Balur is placed into a body, it will be an unusual person. But whose consciousness would take over Balur is an interesting question indeed."

Back in the regular Sideways, Theophili thinks to herself, I wonder how Aflae will feel when she sees someone else... stop reading my thoughts to the players, Narrator. Spoilers.

Scord asks Bozon, "I see you struggling to leave, yet safe in your bubble, and I have to wonder why you're being kept around. I feel like your role in the plot should be wrapping up. Can you think of any reason you might still be in the room?" Unbeknownst to Scord, the Narrator has a purpose, but would also like to hear Bozon's response.

Scord also asks Theophili, "Will I be able to slip into the regular world from here like I think I can?"

"You betcha."