Session 103.2

Glitch has connected.

Glitch:Arright. :U So...

Liatai:I just put Gnogglebolt in the forge room because it seemed appropriate -- you're free to move him wherever you like. :3

Glitch:Well, the first thing Serrierr -will- be doing come next session is asking the folks in charge about what new plans and conclusions have been made, and what the next actionable plan is.&quot;Must keep moving! Must stay in action, hit hard and fast!&quot; I presume he's going to be told to chill because the next operation isn't ready -yet-. :B

Glitch:(oh my, map is -so- less laggy without fog. :. )

Roy Stanford:Mortals need sleep, angel.

Serrierr:It's noon!

Roy Stanford:They were up all night fighting devils.

Serrierr:You are forgiven. -3-

Glitch:Right, well. After Serrierr-in-the-future gets over the mortals sleeping through the day...

Glitch:He goes around the temple again, offering blessings and prayers to those who look like they could use a cheering-up.

Serrierr:Aaaand at some point...

Serrierr:He returns to the lower level, and looks around the corner of the improptu 'refugee mace' section

Serrierr:He spots the man he's looking for, smiles, and waves. His meteor hammer is currently wrapped around his waist like a belt. &quot;Hello there, Lyle Petersen. Would you allow me a word with you?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">He puts a fist over his heart. &quot;I promise I won't touch you this time. I would just like to talk.&quot;


 * Lyle Petersen is speaking with a horned woman over a scroll in Infernal. &quot;(Almost. It's beseech, not beseech--)&quot; Aaaaaand as soon as Serrierr poked his head around the corner and said Lyle's name, the archivist broke off and started a brisk walk toward one of the doors. =3=;;;;


 * Tiefling Archivist looks confused... then swiftly makes way.

Slouching Fellow:<font color="#000000">&quot; Locked. &quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Oh, come now Lyle, I gave my word as a champion of the Upper Planes!&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Surely that means something, even to you?&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot; That would have been wonderfully handy to know ten seconds ago, Forrest, &quot; the archivist grumbles back. =w=; He sighs, and turns around, arms folded, waiting.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Taking that as a begruding 'yes', the giant hulk of a winged creature makes his way into the small space, then sits down cross-legged on the floor.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;So...to start with, I have just this to say.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr holds up a hand, and flourishes it slightly as he bows his head. &quot;I must offer you an apology, Lyle Petersen.&quot;


 * Lyle Petersen says nothing, though he does quirk an eyebrow in a &quot;well? continue&quot; fashion. He's also about as far as he can possibly get from the celestial while maintaining a polite appearance. Someone has experience with the promises of beings of chaos. =3= *brick'd*

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr seemed to be waiting for an 'accepted', 'rejected, or even a 'what for', but seeing no response is forthcoming, he continues. &quot;I apologize for my actions towards you upon my initial arrival, along with this explanation; You were never actually in any true danger, I could not, would not, and did not want to actually harm you.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">A grin then tugs at Serrierr's mouth. &quot;It's just really fun scaring you Children of the World.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;I've heard so many times, eladrin.&quot; =w=;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">The grin fades away as Serrierr re-adopts a neutral expression. &quot;But, I could tell I hit upon real emotions there, and thus, as a being of the highest ideals of the multiverse, it would be remiss and wrong of me to not apologize, so, that is all what I am apologizing for.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;...May I have your forgiveness?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">....A very strange thing, a celestial asking a mortal for forgiveness.


 * Lyle Petersen is silent for a long moment, lighting a new cigarette. A smirk tugs at one corner of his mouth. Strange, indeed, but these are strange times. ... Or perhaps he's just relishing the momentary illusion of vague power over the celestial. &quot;... Provided you don't do it again, yes, you may,&quot; he eventually says.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Fair enough. That said...&quot; Those solid orb-eyes, looking so impassive, certainly get quite uncanny after awhile... &quot;I would also like to further elaborate on the reasons for my outburst in the first place.&quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(by the way, Lyle was looking over a scroll with the Tiefling, but when they split, who's carrying the scroll now? Lyle, or the tiefling?)


 * Lyle Petersen hasn't made direct eye contact with Serrierr during this whole conversation. He draws a drag off the cigarette, and returns the impassive look without looking the celestial in the eye.

Tiefling Archivist:<font color="#000000">The tiefling took it. She's right behind the door behind you.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">With no response provoked from Lyle, Serrierr continues. &quot;As I said before, turning The Enemy upon themselves is a noble thing, while creating any connection the to Lower Worlds is tainted, but ultimately, those two are less important in the long view of things, and have the effect of neutralizing each other. No, the precise reason We do not like those of your profession...is because you are taking a risk. Every single time you raise a fiend to this world, you are taking a chance. You are taking the chance they could see your deception and subvert you. You are taking the chance they can break from your control and turn on you. Most of all...you are taking the chance they will turn on the bystanders all around you, for fiends care not whom they harm.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;....Please look at me, Lyle.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;I am looking at you, Serrierr.&quot; He is, just not making eye contact. He seems to be looking at a point a little over Serrierr's shoulder instead of directly at his face.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Look into my eyes.&quot; Serrierr says, requesting this small concession, though his voice does carry some weight to it. (Nothing genuinely threatening though, you know how it is, you're talking to someone you don't really want to and avoid eye contact, and sometimes, they ask that small thing and one usually does it, even if only for a moment.)


 * Lyle Petersen exhales some smoke. &quot;... Once again, confirming that you speak in well-intentioned ignorance, great eladrin. A mortal should not make direct eye contact with an extraplanar being of greater power than themselves, particularly one with relatively unknown powers. Too many novices and would-be demonologists find their souls ensnared in enchantment magic that way. Respectfully, you have sworn not to touch me, yet no such oath was made regarding other forms of coercion.&quot; He pulls another drag, then releases it. &quot;I am neither an idiot nor a novice, Serrierr.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;I am well aware of the risks.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">(well that didn't go as expected, and this is where roleplaying via text kinds breaks down to real interactions, can't rely on the little psychological tricks and cues because the players have time to think it over. -3- ) Serrierr grins slightly...though it's more of a 'sad smile'. &quot;And yet you reveal your own ignorance in my kind. Subversion of will is the highest crime to us Eladrin. I was only asking for your trust. Nevertheless...you are playing dice with powers that, if given the chance, will burn you just as surely as they burn themselves. The stakes are high. You claim to be aware of this, and I think I believe you. You know what you stand to lose...but I think you greatly overestimate what you stand to win.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;There are other ways. You know of those of the profession who call themselves 'thaumaturgist', I presume.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Those who realize their powers of conjuration, but are not nearly so specific as yours. These people are capable of calling anything that shares their goals.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;As I am certain you know well, great eladrin... sometimes it is not about what you yourself stand to win.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;I don't suppose your service of the Brawler leaves you much time to study mortal texts, nor the inclination... or is this another thing about the eladrin that I am mistaken about?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">ah crap, forgot to add inflection. Serrierr was speaking in a sort of a sad, pitying tone rather than a threatening or forceful one.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Not me, specifically, but Firres do revere the works of mortals. Though, why the mention of texts?&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;You are doubtless unaware, then, of the state of lore typically available to hunters of the damned. One moment... I believe I have two examples here.&quot; The archivist begins to rummage in his pack.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr tilts his head quizzically.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(and I know what's coming, so...this is going to be the first bit of metaplot information I'm going to need to know for Serrierr here. What does Serrierr--as a being who actually has fought in armies of light against armies of darkness in the past--know about the overall conflict between Fiends and Celestials? )

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(can say it in irc privatechat if you don't want it in the log. :B )

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;Here we are. Exhibit A, 'The Dance of Wings,' written by an insane demonologist who was later torn apart by the very vrocks he favored summoning. Full of praise and extolling the beauty of the patterns of their fetid vines that grow from the spores, and wholly devoid of reason or objective study. Exhibit B, 'The Fiend-Hunter's Handbook, Fourth Edition,' full of wonderful ways in which a yuguloth can kill you and ways you can lop off the head of a baatezu, but sorely lacking in the psychological department.&quot; The archivist displays the books. &quot;The vast majority of texts on demonology available to demon-slayers falls into one of these two categories. Written by the insane and depraved, or overly concerned with the physical and magical aspects.&quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Oh, not the Vital Pact. :B

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;Few and far between are objective texts which truly delve into the hows and whys of fiendish behavior. Where they originated from, how the creatures think, their tactics and psychology, their favored non-combat tricks. What few exist are either on the insane side of the spectrum... or penned by malconvokers such as myself.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;Think of the possibilities, good Serrierr. As a disciple of the Brawler, I am sure you know how many battles are won and lost before they even start. Think of how much more effective a well-studied fiend-slayer would be as opposed to one that only goes in with blade swinging and magic blazing. Think of how many situations such as this...&quot; He gestures around at their surroundings. &quot;... would never have gotten out of hand if people recognized the warning signs and tactics of a fiendish invasion earlier.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;...And you think such knowledge can only be found by you mortals? You think that we from above, after being in conflict with the fiends since the dawn of creation, haven't built up the most vast and extensive library of information on our enemy in all the multiverse?&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;Riddle me this, Serrierr... how many mortal fiend-slayers are going to be able to pop into the great libraries of the heavens to do a bit of research? How much can be learned in scant seconds of summoning time, even from an inclined celestial? Calling is complex magic, and taxing.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;With all the time in existence to study them, we know more about them than any mortal could ever hope to learn in your lifetime. Again, this is where your ignorance of us weakens you by severing you from allies. If you were to conjure any Ursinal, the scholars of the Guardinals, they would be more than happy to barter and exchange knowledge for those who fight our enemies.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;We are more willing to help you than you believe.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">*with those who fight

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;An easily-read, comprehensive guide to demonology for the fiend-slayers, with first-hand accounts written by the sane for that express purpose. Accessable knowledge for those who are just looking to defend themselves... That is what stands to be 'won.'&quot; The archivist smiles. &quot;... of course, the academic recognition is an excellent perk.&quot; |3

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;You also seem to believe that malconvokers only summon fiends, good eladrin. Allow me to rectify that misconception. We do not. It is simply more... unethical to do so.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Then surely you must see how you could gain access to an even greater body of knowledge, more immediately, with no risk at all if you were to simply ask to barter for some tomes of our own. I grant you, they may not be as...clear to mortals such as yourself, but what else are scholars for?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;That said. From things you have said before...I take it you believe the fiends have, in the grand scheme, been slowly gaining ground in the cosmic balance?&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;And we have come back to the crux of the problem. The accessibility of the lore to the common man.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;Perhaps this is simply an irreconcilable difference of opinion, hm? Academic neutrality is a virtue to a Boccobite, not so much to a Kordite.&quot;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">I'm suprised Serrierr didn't question the fact that Lyle said it was unethical to summon celestials. :B *brick'd!*

Glitch:<font color="#000000">What the

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Crap. I thought he was admitting it was unethical to summon fiends.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Shit. Serrierr WOULD have been very quick to correct that one. Heck, he was about to say why anyway.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">He was saying &quot;it's more unethical to summon celestials than it is to summon fiends.&quot; That explains why Serrierr didn't react strongly. :B *brick'd*

Glitch:<font color="#000000">craaaaaap I really wanna go back but there's no easy way to do that. @_@

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Serrierr could ask for clarification on that point.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Ah, the Uncaring.&quot; (funny how that's his -actual- title.) &quot;Useful he is, but just try to get him to do anything...at any rate. You have corrected one of my misconceptions...and now that I think on what you have said, I realize now you yourself have a very grave misconception that should, in turn, be corrected.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Did you say you think that it is unethical to conjure the likes of me?&quot;


 * Lyle Petersen inhales a bit more smoke. &quot;Surely you know that casualties are to be expected in any war. The death of a fiend in combat on the Prime Material is a blessing. The death of a celestial is an unbearable tragedy.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr closes his eyes...and a moment later, a single tear of glistening silver falls from one of his eyes. &quot; Truly, here we see how one's path to the hells is constructed with good intentions... &quot; Serrierr opens his eyes. &quot;I repeat my earlier question. Do you believe the fiends have been gaining in the scales of the cosmic balance?&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;... not to mention, you celestials do tend to take umbrage at the tactics used by malconvokers to bolster their forces and bind them more securely to prevent their influence from being released wantonly.&quot; The summoner stows his books. &quot;If the adage 'as above, so below' holds any merit, it is an easy opinion to hold.&quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(Huh, I've never heard that adage. )

Liatai:<font color="#000000">I may have mixed it up. Lyle's going to clarify, but he means &quot;if the situation in the Outer Planes is anything like the situation here on the Prime Material, it's very easy to believe that evil has stronger forces.&quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Ah, I see.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(Anyway...taking a real quick OOC detour. When you were backlogging, did you see how Hatari was trying to encourage me to come up with more politics and history and placement for my organization on my own without waiting for your input on every word? Was he correct in trying to tell me that?)

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;An experiment to try someday... stand in any town square across the world with the four soul-scanning spells readied. Tally the number of dark souls you see compared to the light, the regimented to the wild. The wild and regimented remain in balance, unless you happen to be near a gathering place for like-minded souls... but the difference between the number of darkened souls and the enlightened, you may find, is rather staggering.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;My own data is stored in a secure location, else I would show it to you.&quot;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">He was indeed. Never be afraid to brainstorm and come up with ideas, as long as you're willing to accept tweaking and input from others. :3

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(Well, I'm about to invent some 'history' by having Serrierr present it. &gt;.&gt; I'm hoping it's palatable and reasonable, but when he's done telling it, fi you want, we can strike the whole thing, I suppose.)

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(as far as I can tell, I'm stitching it together from existing cosmological fluff anyway and put together into a cohesive whole, so that's why I'm hoping it will work)

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(I'm also hoping it will have suitable vaugeness withou referencing anything too specific.)

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(So, may I start on that?)

Liatai:<font color="#000000">I've been waiting for you to get started. =w=;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(oh. ^^; )

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Well...I shall tell you a secret.&quot; Serrierr leans forward. &quot;You are correct.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Do you want to know why?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Without waitng for an answer, Serrierr places a hand over his chest.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;It's because We aren't being conjured here enough.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;He asked the Boccobite archivist who recently extolled the virtues of academic neutrality.&quot; =3=

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr then holds up a hand to forestall any questions. &quot;Allow me to illuminate.&quot;


 * Lyle Petersen is brick'd.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(wait does that mean he does or doesn't? He does as in he loves the virtue of information, or doesn't because he thinks it won't be neutral or something?)

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(Ah, well, continuing anyway. :B )

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">You're dangling information in front of a Boccobite bookworm. Gimme! *w* *brick'd!!!*

Liatai:<font color="#000000">That's what he meant. :B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Pardon. I know Lyle may be kind of hard to follow sometimes. He defaults to evasiveness, vagueness, sarcasm, and a cool appearance under pressure.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr gestures around himself. &quot;This world...this Prime Materium...this is the nexus of all the Worlds. The Great Wheel, as I'm sure you know, revolves around this focal point. You, all mortals, you own this place. This world belongs to you. You are the lords and masters, you shape the destiny of this world, because the fate of this plane determines that of all the others. It is because you are mortal that you have been entrusted with this, and all us Immortals have our worlds circling yours.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;...And the fiends want nothing more than to take this world for their own. This world is the battleground of battlegrounds, in more ways than one.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;While We want nothing more than to stop that from happening, and ensuring that this world remains in its rightful hands.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;I just said how you are the lords and masters, and you shape this plane's destiny? It is not impossible, but it is very difficult for any Immortal to gain entry to this plane. The easiest way for us to get here...is if you bring us here.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;And in the current age, mortals have been bringing more 'fiends to this world, giving them an ever greater hold, and yet our'' numbers have not increased to combat this. And why, oh how could this be?&quot;'''

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Erk!

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;And in the current age, mortals have been bringing more fiends to this world, giving them an ever greater hold, and yet our numbers have not increased to combat this. And why, oh how could this be?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr points at Lyle. &quot;It is because it has become fasionable, nay, noble for you to believe that you are protecting us by not bringin us here!&quot; Serrierr cries.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Up above, we have been watching in unspeakable despair as our own virtues of altruism are turned against us, as more and more mortals believe that we are so above you, that we must not be risked. No! It is we who protect you! It is our purpose, our reason for existence!&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;We cannot help you if you do not ask for our help!&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr calms and quiets down.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(what do you think? &gt;.&gt; )

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(and yes, I'm sure this -does- clash quite strongly with what Lyle's read in the Vital Pact... ;) )

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">... where did that notebook come from?


 * Lyle Petersen gestures with his pen. &quot;... Three questions.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Speak.&quot; Serrierr says in his earlier calm voice. Is it any wonder beings of Chaos blow hot and cold?

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;This would be invaluable to include in the book. One, do you have any objections to this being included? Two, would you prefer to be credited, or be referred to only as an anonymous celestial? Three, if you would like to be credited, which name would you prefer I use to do so?&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">Academics.

</i><font color="#000000"> *brick'd*

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Congratulations, lyle! You succeeded, if only for a moment, making the eladrin look taken aback! But only for a moment, as Serrierr then throws his head back and laughs. It is a long, and loud laugh...and everyone on the level who can hear feels their spirits lifting slightly, as they feel the contagiousness of his mirth.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr finally stops laughing, and looks to Lyle with an intent expression, though vestiges of a smile still tug at him. &quot;I will answer all three of your questions if you but promise me one thing, Lyle Petersen.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">The laughter of a celestial is indeed contagious, and Serrierr manages to coax a raspy chuckle from the archivist before he needs to clear his throat.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Never again say it is unethical to conjure the likes of me.&quot; That slight grin is still there.

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;... hmm, that would require rewording some of the standard fiend-deception spiels...&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Ah. Oh dear.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Allow me to amend my requested promise.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Never again say it is unethical to conjure the likes of me when you are educating an ally.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr smirks. &quot;Is that agreeable?&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;We have an accord.&quot; The smirk is returned.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">I take it Lyle is looking Serrierr in the eye by now?

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">(not that he's actually going to do any magic, he doesn't even have any like that, I'

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">I'm just wondering. )

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">Just for that one brief phrase. (Once bitten by Charm Monster, twice shy. =3=)

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Then to answer your first question, please, by all means, write down what I have said, and do one better by reproducing it and distributing it as much as you can.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;I had already planned to include an appendix on celestials in the book, and to include reccomendations to texts concerning the Upper and Middle Planes. Should I or my notes manage to survive this little situation, I know a conjurer in Resca who would love the opportunity to pass on such a word to her students.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;And to your second and third questions, you may credit me, and you may credit me as Serrierr Valtion--&quot; Serrierr then switches to Celestial, which translates to &quot;Soldier of the Wings of Freedom, Shiradi of the Eladrin.&quot;


 * Lyle Petersen writes it down, then displays the Celestial runes he had written. &quot;Is this correct?&quot;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Sacred canine duty, be right back. x3

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr examines it, and nods. &quot;Indeed. Also, I will volunteer you some further information.&quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(gotcha)

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;When you have the time and resources, as I know you are capable of the proper beaconing spell, try to conjure Ablhariod, Scribe of the Sixth Celestial Library, Ursinal of Guardinals. Tell him I recommended him to you. He should be willing to exchange tomes from the Celestial Library to you in return for donations of your own, or perhaps a task to acquire some other information he is interested in, likely even at a discount or more than what he would normally exchange.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;He's a friend of mine, and though you might think it strange a Brawler like me would be friends with a scribe, even I know the value of information and prior knowledge, and my errands take me all across the Upper Planes.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;And I have had a very long time to make friends.&quot;


 * Lyle Petersen smirks and nods, writing this down.

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;Fiction, nonfiction, or does it not matter?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Nonfiction would be more valuable, though he would still accept fiction if he deemed it worth enough. Firres of Eladrin are more the lovers of all art, including fiction.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;I see. Thank you. And I do hope you're aware that you may be called on more often once your name is in print.&quot; |3

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr grins. &quot;I look forward to it.&quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(....I kinda wanna do something absurdly anachornistic and rather fourht-wall-breaking here. :B )

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Whisper it in chat first? :B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">By chat I mean IRC.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">If you can find a way to weave it in tastefully, as opposed to just breaking into random song, go ahead. :3

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Well, I thought it kinda -would- flow naturally to starting directly after saying &quot;I look forward to being brough here again&quot;. :B

Glitch:<font color="#000000">&quot;And on that day....&quot; And so forth. :B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Well, go ahead. :B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">I may lag a tad, since I'm trying to load it on Youtube.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Picking up, then...

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr grins. &quot;I look forward to it.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">He then closes his eyes again and leans his head back slightly.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;And on that day...&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Er! He also switches to speaking in Celestial...but somehow, -everyone- who can hear him can understand him anyway.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;(And on that day...&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;''And on that day When you need your brothers and sisters to care... &quot;''

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;''I'll be right here! &quot;''

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;''Citizen soldiers! Holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair! Standing on guard for the ones that we've sheltered We'll always be ready Because we Will always be there!&quot;''

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">His Celestial hymn echos throughout the lower levels of the temple, and even some people up above my hear it if they're being quiet.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">:02 lagcheck.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">:02 returncheck

Liatai:<font color="#000000">:05 returncheck&gt;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Uhoh. Looks like loading the youtube was a mistake. &gt;.&gt;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">:04 btw

Liatai:<font color="#000000">:04 at :05, I think I've rubberbanded back. :B

Glitch:<font color="#000000">05: at :05, checking back

Liatai:<font color="#000000">:05 at :05.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Wlecomeback. Carry on. :

Glitch:<font color="#000000">:U


 * Lyle Petersen closes his book quietly, and clears his throat, extinguishing what remains of the cigarette beneath his boot heel once the hymn completes.

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;... Well. This has been an edifying conversation, and a much more pleasant one than our last one, good Serrierr. Was there anything else?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr remains still for a moment, with head tilted slightly back and eyes closed. After a few moments of silence, he speaks. &quot;One thing, actually.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;I am going to make a guess.&quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Er, scratch that.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr remains still for a moment, with head tilted slightly back and eyes closed. After a few moments of silence, he speaks. &quot;Two things, actually.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;The first is what I told you at the end of our first conversation hasn't changed. Now that you are known, you will be watched. Do take care that as you continue to practice your profession that innocents are not brought to harm. If you gamble with those dice, and give you a losing number...&quot; Serrierr leaves the rest unsaid.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;However, I am much more confident in you as well than I was before.&quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">( :14 lagcheck)

Liatai:<font color="#000000">:14 at :14

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot; Yes, I supposed that would still be the case. &quot; =w=;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">kay

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">With eyes still closed, Serrierr continues. &quot;And the last thing. I'm going to guess at this.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Were you teaching the shadowchild in the room behind me to follow in your footsteps?&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;Hm? Oh, Leila? Not at all. She has an entirely different specialty.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Oh. Very well then.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr opens his eyes, and finally stands back up from his sitting position, drawing himself back up to full height.

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;... I do hope you're not going to throttle her as well.&quot; Was that a joke? |3

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Oh, goodness no. She has nothing to fear from me. I will not judge her for her heritage.&quot;

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">((Then I won't mention what her specialty is. =3= *BRICK'D*))

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Though I trust she couldn't help but eavesdrop every word we've said so far.&quot;

Glitch whispers: When Serrierr was looking at her the first time, did his perma-sights pick up -anything-? -3- )

Glitch:<font color="#000000">And I just remembered no use to whisper. :B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">No, unless he has Detect Undead sight that extends to general necromancy. :B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Leila's a dread necromancer. :B

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Ah. It does--wait. DO dread necromancers put off an undead aura? :B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Not until level 20.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Or, not without spells. :B

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Something tells me they might, like clerics do for their alignments...ah, oh well.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;That will be all, Lyle Petersen. Thank you for at least tolerating my presense and not sending away, even though you tried to avoid me at first.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">*sending me away

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;Well, it hasn't been hard to eavesdrop,&quot; a drow snarks around the corner. |3 Then, in Celestial... &quot;(Serrierr, was it?)&quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(ah, so you -do- still have steam left. ^^ )

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">&quot;I did say I was neither an idiot nor a novice,&quot; the archivist says with dry amusement. =3=

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(was gonna ask about that. ^^; )

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Do you? :3

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Oh, most definitely!

Glitch:<font color="#000000">As said, this is the only free time I've got. :B

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Whole rest of the day for me.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Much better to do it now than try and squeeze schoolwork around.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">The eladrin looks down to the drow at his side as he starts walking out of the corridor, and responds in kind. &quot;(Yes, it was.)&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Don't suppose you'll have enough time before your job's done here to entertain another private conversation with a mortal stranger?)&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;(And still is.)&quot; he adds with a snarky grin.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;(I am waiting for our next operation to begin, so I have time until then, certainly.)&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;(...though, for certain values of 'privacy', unless you mean to shroud us somehow.&quot;


 * Altonor snorts. &quot;(Do I really look like that much of a magus?)&quot; the scarred armored drow snarks. &quot;(First Steelsprocket, now an angel. I just meant away from... little pitchers with big ears.)&quot; He glances over toward Masabel, who is cleaning her scimitars in the corner. His expression is sober.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr follows Altonor's gaze, and sees who he's looking at, and nods. &quot;(Where would you like to speak, then?)&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(You know this temple better than I do. Your choice.)&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">I think it's safe to assume all future dialogue for this scene is in Celestial. :B No parentheses needed.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">gotcha

Glitch:<font color="#000000">erp, brb

Glitch:<font color="#000000">back

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Is the room around... -8, 2 anything special?

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Nope, just a quiet place to meditate or read.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;There's a room upstairs that might be empty.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr leads altonor to it!

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;Hold on.&quot; Altonor takes a moment to fish in his pack and pull out a voluminous black cloak and draw the hood over his head. &quot;All right, I'm coming.&quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">oop, sorry. :B Forgot that I can move the token myself through the area now. :B

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Once in the room, Serrierr turns and once again sits down on the floor cross-legged to be eye-level with Altonor.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Well, almost. Elves are still shorter on average. :B


 * Altonor lowers the hood of the cloak and sits on the bench. (And I'm only three inches shorter than the tallest drow at 5'2&quot;... still short compared to a human. :B)

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;So...well, first.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;What is your name?&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">Just as the DM was typing up &quot;I don't think we've been introduced properly.&quot; XD

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;Altonor. No house, unless you count the Sun Raiders as a Great House with four Patron Fathers instead of a Matron Mother.&quot; The drow draws a bottle of hard cider out of his pack. &quot;... I'll admit, I'm no summoner, so I have no idea if this is an appropriate offering or sacrifice or gift or what have you for answering a question, but I do know Kordites.&quot; He offers it to Serrierr with a grin.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr grins back. &quot;The conditions of my being here have already been paid for, but I could hardly pass up such a gift, now can I?&quot; He accepts the bottle and holds it for a moment. &quot;So. Altonor of the Sun Raiders. What is it you wish to speak with me of?&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;You're a celestial... that means you're from the places mortal souls go when their bodies die, right?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr is quiet for a moment, then uncorks the bottle of cider and takes a sip. &quot;That is correct, to a point...there are many different destinations.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">He then glances down at the bottle. &quot; Hmm. Interesting. Haven't had mortal drink in centuries.&quot;


 * Altonor folds his hands. &quot;... well. Like I said, I'm no summoner. I only know enough about the planes to be able to tell whether something's a demon or a devil. ... So I've got no idea if this question's not one mortals are supposed to know the answer to or not. If it's one of those cosmic mysteries not meant for us to know, you don't have to answer. Don't suppose you have to answer either way, but when am I going to get another chance to ask an angel?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr chuckle-huffs slighly. &quot;It's not such a great mystery, as there are ways to reach the Planes without dying. That said, we try not to tell too much to those who don't have the power to get there themselves, because they might decide to take 'the quick and easy' way.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Which doesn't work.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr looks up. &quot;I don't think you're prone to that, though, so go ahead and speak your questions.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;I will answer to the best of my ability--and judgement.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;... I don't care what happens to me. I've done some horrible things I'll never be able to set completely right. I know that. If I end up in Lolth's web, I'll fight my way to that eight-legged bitch and kill her myself, or find true death trying.&quot; The drow's red eyes are burning with determination. But then, he looks back and down, toward the basement. &quot;... But you can only hear it so many times from your own people and others before you start having doubts. ... I just want to know if there's hope for the kids. Are they all damned to the Demonweb Pits, from birth, no matter what they choose? Does Lolth have her webs wrapped around all of our souls from day one?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr puts the bottle down, and then his hands on his knees. He seems to be still at first, but closer inspection reveals that the eladrin is shaking slightly, as if trying to contain himself. Finally, though, he managed to form works. &quot;No. She does not&quot; Serrierr takes in a deep breath. &quot;Not from day one, no.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">*form words

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">He stops shaking, picks up the bottle, and takes another sip.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">His expression is very sad and downcast. &quot;...But still fairly early. Once a drow begins committing actions in her name...because they are told that is the only way...she has them. Unless...&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr looks up at Altonor square in the eye. &quot;Unless one is able to find another way, to turn from that path. Unless one stops and renounces her.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;If they seek forgiveness, and can forgive themselves...there is a chance. Much better than her propaganda has anyone believe. If one can choose another way, then things change, and it becomes called into question.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr offers a warm smile. &quot;It can also greatly improve your chances...if you ask for forgiveness from The Elflord himself. He is more willing to accept his lost children than you'd believe, as well. Though, seeking refuge in any of the High Gods would help, too.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;This I offer you as truth that I have experienced. I have not seen Corellon Laraethian myself with my own eyes, no. I am not of high enough station. But I have...been in his domain. I've felt his power. His compassion. His...regret.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;But the most important thing is that you choose.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;As you may have heard when I was talking to Lyle Petersen, that is what makes you mortals special.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;That is why this world is yours. You are capable of anything.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot; (If only he would pass that on to his priests,) &quot; the drow mutters at the talk of Corellon in Elven, but is obviously listening very closely.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr closes his eyes again, and takes another sip of the bottle. &quot;Unfortunately, old hatreds linger long in a long-lived race.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;And truly, only the greatest of priests could hope to gain words from Corellon directly. For the most part, it is only the shortest, simplest of communions, and flashes of insight.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;...Nowhere near enough to convey the nuances that there are a few drow who have renounced lolth...while the majority still choose her.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;...Though, as I understand, there's been a bit of a shakeup in this region of the world anyway.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;It was too recent, though. I don't know the details. Something about a usurper.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Not on a large enough scale to be worth notice anyway.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;...Wait a minute.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Does this have something to do with that odd disguised drow fellow who acted all strange when he showed me a picture of Celestia?&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;One who's taken a page from Hextor's book. Hardly any better. But you have enough politics to deal with without getting involved in the mess that we drow make of it.&quot; Altonor smirks wryly, but then looks confused. &quot;... I don't think Vi would be carrying around a picture of Celestia. Sszeyl? -- Wait, was this just recently, or some other encounter you've had?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Just recently, shortly after I arrived here. The one disguised as an aged human.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;He showed me a painting, and I told him it was probably of Celestia, though it was more like some slightly-inaccurate glimpse of it, and he just went...all strange.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;Yeah, that's Sszeyl all right. He was born after that insurrection. He's not a Raider, if that's what you're asking.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Hmm. Oh well.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;He's been having some trouble adjusting to the fact that his Hextor wannabe god's disciples have been purposefully misinforming him. In addition to adjusting to surface life, and dealing with his own mental scars. Poor kid. Don't envy him.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;I see.&quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(sidenote, meany would explode if he were to see the 'some usurper did a shakeup, but it was too recent and I don't know anything about it, and it wasn't that big of scale in the grand scheme of things anyway. ^^; Or Sszeyl explodes, either/or/both. :B )

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;... That reminds me. I've been meaning to have a talk with him after that punch to the face.&quot; Altonor stands.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Is that it, then?&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;... Listen. I know you didn't have to tell me that. You chose to, and that means a lot. Thank you.&quot;


 * Altonor closes a determined fist with a clank, and a grin. &quot;There's a chance. That's all I needed to know.&quot; &gt;:3

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr smiles. &quot;You are most welcome. Really, you didn't ask me what I was thinking, anyway.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;Hm?&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Usually a mortal would be 'Oh, tell me just how great paradise is! That great? Why, what am I doing here for? I'll go there right now!' But, as I said...&quot; Serrierr winks. &quot;I didn't think you were that type anyway.&quot;


 * Altonor scoffs. &quot;There's too much work to do here, anyway. Who has time to just goof off in paradise?&quot; |3

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;That's the spirit!&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Though, I might ask you more about this 'Hextor-emulating usurper' later, so I can take the information back home. Who knows, some grain of it might be important.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr stands up, bottle in hand.

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;You'd be better off talking to Sszeyl, if he'd let you. He's lived it. We've mainly been dealing with smuggling people out and trying to avoid his people trying to kill us.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Hmm. If he doesn't go all strange on me again. There's also the issue of that stubborn-ass dragon in his head.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;Makes it hard for me to be too near him, it seems.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;Aha. You know about that already.&quot; =3=;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;But I suppose it's worth a try if he'll let me.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;Could always ask him if he'd write it down. That way he doesn't have to be near you to give you the info.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;As I said the first time, dragons are known to be sitting lumps, but that one's just ridiculous.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;There's a thought.&quot;


 * Altonor chuckles. &quot;Hey. Thanks again. And enjoy the cider.&quot;

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">&quot;You're welcome, and thank you.&quot; He says with a wave.


 * Altonor pulls the cloak up around his head again and departs with a wave in return.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">Serrierr watches him go, waits a few moments, then looks down at the bottle in his hand.

Serrierr:<font color="#000000">He quickly downs the rest of it in one gulp, before muttering in Celestial, &quot;(Morwel's Tears, I needed that.)&quot;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">And... scene? :3

Glitch:<font color="#000000">I suppose so!

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Also minor note, it -is- Morwel, not Mowel. I got it wrong the first time. :B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Good mini. Very good mini. :3

Glitch:<font color="#000000">Indeed!

Glitch:<font color="#000000">That was very good. ^^

Glitch:<font color="#000000">So...savin' log? Not necessary to save campaign file?

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Yep! Server can go down at your leisure. :3 Do you want to pass the log to Meany, or shall I?

Glitch:<font color="#000000">I wait five minutes for autosave after bringing server down, so I guess you could handle it.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">:B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Sure sure. :3

Glitch:<font color="#000000">alright, server down and brb

<font color="#0000ff">Glitch is disconnected.

</i> You have disconnected.

</i>