Perhaps we should lead with our encounter with the Riddling Knight and her warning, actually, before moving on to asking questions about the Gonne. It'd be a good entry point, and it would make more sense to lead him into the idea that we want to help (which we do) than Immediately Revealing Our True Glory and Offering Gold as we usually do. Especially because we are kind of casually incognito around here.
Well, I guess we should tell him about the demonic cult that wants to stop him from freeing the goddess of dreams, plus our encounter with the Riddling knight.
I remember when I googled the word 'moe' because I'd seen a lot of anime fans use that word and I had no idea what it meant. After quite a lot of diligent reading, I was none the wiser. I still don't know what it means.
'Gap moe' apparently means 'someone who isn't what they at first appear to be, for whatever reason', which seems incredibly vague and so wide-ranging that it could apply to almost any character I can think of.
There's something else you want to know: "Tell me about the moon. What's it like up there?"
"Ravaged and lifeless," she says grimly. "For millennia, it has been a battleground littered with the wreckage of Zora Alishanda's battle against Kull and Nymandor. But only during the day, or wherever the sunlight shines on its surface. At night, in the darkness, you may see phantom shapes appear as if formed out of the dust: nightmarish creatures, fantastical landscapes, cities with impossible geometries and built out of wondrous materials, people with the eyes or heads or limbs of animals, and many more incredible things. Are they real? Or just illusions?" She shakes her head, as if in wonderment. "Who can say?"
Instead, you focus on one of the other details of her story that puzzles you: "Does that mean that it's possible to travel to the moon via the Dreaming World? In that case, why haven't the goblins already done that? Why bother with the space gonne?"
"The problem is that they can't take their bodies with them," she explains. "Which makes it extremely difficult for them to do anything after they've projected their dream-selves all the way there. Kind of a wasted trip, really."
"Not necessarily," you realise. "They could have used it to scout out the terrain, find out exactly where they'd need to go – where they'd need to aim the space gonne – and so on."
Hmm. I'm pretty sure that the goblins would have scouted out the moon in this manner. Otherwise, how would they know exactly where to aim?
However, the fact that this came up in your conversation with the Riddling Knight suggests it might be worth mentioning it again to Jaqari Pruyte. Just in case he and his friends have missed something.
It might be worth asking about the physics of how the space gonne is intended to work. Also, what exactly is in outer space? Is it hard vacuum, like in real life? Or somehow different?
It'd be a good entry point, and it would make more sense to lead him into the idea that we want to help (which we do) than Immediately Revealing Our True Glory and Offering Gold as we usually do.
The space gonne project is likely to be very expensive, require a vast quantity of raw materials, and need a lot more workers than it currently has. I'm sure they'd appreciate a large donation from Mishrak's bottomless cash resources.
Well, I guess we should tell him about the demonic cult that wants to stop him from freeing the goddess of dreams, plus our encounter with the Riddling knight.
He already knows. The 'guards' he mentioned are members of the Night Blades, the mercenaries Elys hired to protect the goblins of Tyrepheum from Melphior's cultists. Of course, she doesn't know that, so I'm sure she would want to tell him.
So yeah, is that everything? Or is there anything else you'd like to talk to him about?
I remember when I googled the word 'moe' because I'd seen a lot of anime fans use that word and I had no idea what it meant. After quite a lot of diligent reading, I was none the wiser. I still don't know what it means.
Moe more or less just means 'appeal', especially said of a young and innocent girl, since anime culture is always male-dominant outside specific niches. The type of appeal that invokes the desire to protect said girl, traditionally. But gap moe is an appeal derived from inconsistency or irony. A pair of examples some people might find moe-eligible might be a big tough character having a moment of vulnerability, or a softspoken character throwing a tantrum.
A truly radical application of gap moe would be your writing style. I will not elaborate. : P
I remember when I googled the word 'moe' because I'd seen a lot of anime fans use that word and I had no idea what it meant. After quite a lot of diligent reading, I was none the wiser. I still don't know what it means.
'Gap moe' apparently means 'someone who isn't what they at first appear to be, for whatever reason', which seems incredibly vague and so wide-ranging that it could apply to almost any character I can think of.
Moe more or less just means 'appeal', especially said of a young and innocent girl, since anime culture is always male-dominant outside specific niches.
Basically that, yeah. Like if you see a serious starchy businessperson pull out a very colorful, handmade wallet and that act invites you to imagine the space between the shell and the observed inner self. That kind of appeal. Raef is thousands of years old and very wise and powerful but sometimes she just forgets the local skin palette or says she can speak a very dead language, and those acts allow us to contrast those two aspects.
However, the fact that this came up in your conversation with the Riddling Knight suggests it might be worth mentioning it again to Jaqari Pruyte. Just in case he and his friends have missed something.
I don't doubt the Riddling Knight knows that her children know what the moon's surface is like, so a personal warning might cause them to recheck and find something more recent or something previously overlooked.
The space gonne project is likely to be very expensive, require a vast quantity of raw materials, and need a lot more workers than it currently has. I'm sure they'd appreciate a large donation from Mishrak's bottomless cash resources.
I am sure we will get there, but I think it may be best to lay our cards out fully but slowly and build some rapport with a sort of peer before we go full on Out and Out with being who we are and it becomes about Problems and Solutions and Gold and Power. You know, casually incognito. Though, I wonder if the guards recognized her straight off?
Someone seems to notice you. A tall, rangy young man, well-muscled and with unmistakeable signs of goblin ancestry in the shape of his eyes, nose and ears, his limbs that look almost too long and out of proportion with his body, and the fact that his skin has a faint greenish hue even in the flickering orange light from the furnaces.
"The guards let you in," he says. "I presume there was a reason for that."
"Um. What guards?" you ask.
He smirks and shakes his head. "Never mind. What can I do for you?"
"You are Jaqari Pruyte, I presume," you say, peering at him through the smoky gloom.
"That's me," he says with a nod.
You look at him with interest. The bespectacled girl you met earlier told you that he is 'very handsome', which has made you curious enough to want to verify her assertion. His face is well-made, with a straight nose and fine bone structure. His eyes blaze with passionate intensity, fever-bright. His dark hair appears greasy and dishevelled, suggesting that he has been too busy to take much care of his personal appearance, but maybe he would 'scrub up well'. Some women like that sort of thing. And, of course, he is tall – taller than any goblin you've met before – which is possibly because, according to Venta, all the goblins of Tyrepheum have at least a few droplets of Sambian blood flowing in their veins.
So, in conclusion, he is tall, dark and handsome. Isn't that what young maidens are supposed to want? However, when you look at him, you don't feel anything. Neither attraction or repulsion. He is a work of art you are content to appreciate from a distance.
"Are you just here to gawk?" he asks, frowning.
You shake you head. "I… I had a dream of the Riddling Knight. When I mentioned the space gonne to her, she hinted that you should travel to the moon through the Dreaming World. Even if you couldn't take your physical bodies with you, you could still scout ahead, find out exactly where you'd need to aim the space gonne and check for any hazards along the way."
"That is what we've done, yes. Anything else?"
"Um, the way she said it suggested to me that you might want to look again, just in case there's anything you've missed."
"I'll take that under advisement," he says, somewhat stiffly.
"And… uh, I am the Chosen of Mishrak the dragon god, whose portfolio includes all the wealth that has fallen to the bottom of the sea since the beginning of the world. I have come to ask you: how can I help you to complete the space gonne? What resources do you need?"
"You're the one who hired the Night Blades," he mutters, rubbing his chin. "Thank you for that. They've been invaluable so far. Of course, the cultists don't want to kill us all – if they did, our goddess would fall into a deeper sleep, in which she would be safe from their demonic master's attempts to ensnare her – but there are plenty of things they can do to delay us. And they have done. They'd have done worse if the Night Blades hadn't stopped them."
"I'm pleased that my efforts on your behalf have been appreciated," you say, smiling at him. "Now, what else do you need?"
"Plenty of things," he says, with a heavy sigh. "Fuel for the forges. Large amounts of high-quality steel. Rarer metals that can only be extracted from their ore by magic. More artificers, crafters, wizards who don't mind getting their hands dirty." He gives a helpless shrug. "You name it, we don't have enough of it."
"And if I told you that Mishrak is willing to subsidize your efforts – to pay for anything you might need – what would you say to that?"
"I'd be very grateful, of course," he says, bowing his head. "Of course, I'm not sure where we could buy everything we need. Or if there are enough artificers in the entire world."
"Leave that to me," says Raef, a determined look on her face. "Give me a list of what you need and I'll make sure you get it. Even if I have to travel across the Unbounded Ocean and back." Then, giving you a sidelong glance, she adds, "With your approval, I hope, Elys?"
Jaqari raises a sceptical eyebrow at her, shakes his head and says, "Whatever you say. If you can manage it, I'll be tremendously impressed."
After that, your audience with him seems to be at an end. You say your farewells and head outside, taking grateful gulps of fresh air.
"I think it's only fair to warn you: when the space gonne gets closer to completion, it's likely that the cultists will be spurred into rash action," Raef warns you. "A last desperate throw of the dice, if you will."
You spend a few moments in quiet contemplation, wondering what to do.
Which course of action will Elys decide to take?
[] Use Mishrak's wealth to buy everything that Jaqari Pruyte and his team need to finish building the space gonne. This will mean that it can be completed much more quickly. However, doing this will cause Melphior's cultists to do something rash and dangerous, thereby shortening the 'doom counter' to only 3 months.
[] Refrain from doing anything that might lead the cultists to take precipitous action until you've had more time to prepare.
Delving deep inside the Tyrepheum Academy, in the dusty, dingy and disused areas that few of the pupils ever dare to explore, you hunt for Archironaeus the owl spirit. Fortunately, you don't encounter any bullies planning to ambush you and drain your blood. And, before long, you come across a brass candelabra upon which a somewhat grubby and motheaten snowy owl is perched.
"Hoo hoo. Good to see you," he says. "What do you want from me?"
"I know there are demon cultists – worshippers of Melphior the Usurper – lurking in Tyrepheum, murdering the local goblins and doing everything they can to delay the completion of the space gonne," you say. "Have you seen any of them?"
"Since the day when three of them chased your friend, Venta, intending to carry her off and use her blood in a dark ritual, I have done my best to dissuade them from doing anything like that again," he says. "Hoo hoo."
"So… you haven't seen any of them recently?"
"No. They know better than to trespass in my domain. Or so I would hope."
"Well, that could be useful," you murmur. "The Night Blades could use these abandoned parts of the Tyrepheum Academy as a forward base. Um, if you don't mind?"
"No, I don't mind," he says.
"I'll pass the message on to them," you promise. "Now… what do you know about Green Flame's attempts to learn portal magic?"
"She seems to be getting better at it. Slowly," he says, cautiously. "Recently, for the first time, she tried stepping through one of her portals."
You take a sharp inward breath. "And was she successful?"
"It didn't kill her. Hoo hoo."
"So, she was injured?" you ask, anxiously.
"Not badly. She was too agile for that," he says. "Still, the portal snapped shut faster than she expected."
You can't help but wince at that. Raef trained you very carefully to make sure that could never happen to you; but, of course, Green Flame is mostly self-taught. She didn't have a teacher to help her. Frankly, it's a wonder she has survived until now. "Did anyone notice she was injured?"
"Her pupils scolded her when they found out what she'd done."
"Yes, I should hope so! Anyone else?"
"Not as far as I know."
"One last question," you say. "What do you know about Green Flame's slave brand?"
"It binds her to the master of this academy," Archironaeus says tentatively. "She cannot disobey him. If anyone tried to free her, she would have no choice but to fight them."
"So, if someone used illusions or shapeshifting to pretend to be Opernus Prentigold, if they tried to give her an order, she would know they were fake," you suppose, thinking aloud.
The owl bobs its snowy white head. "Precisely."
"The master of this academy," says Raef, sounding contemplative. "I doubt anyone would have taken the time to officially revoke my status as headmaster…"
You give a start: you had almost forgotten Raef was with you until she spoke just then. "Uh… so, if you appeared to her as Galadan the Mystic, she would know you were the real headmaster and be compelled to follow your instructions?"
"I'm not sure," she admits.
Is there anything else you want Elys to talk to Archironaeus about?
(Also, is there anything else you want to do while you're here? Maybe talk to one of the Night Blades?)
Which course of action will Elys decide to take?
[] Use Mishrak's wealth to buy everything that Jaqari Pruyte and his team need to finish building the space gonne. This will mean that it can be completed much more quickly. However, doing this will cause Melphior's cultists to do something rash and dangerous, thereby shortening the 'doom counter' to only 3 months.
[] Refrain from doing anything that might lead the cultists to take precipitous action until you've had more time to prepare.
"The master of this academy," says Raef, sounding contemplative. "I doubt anyone would have taken the time to officially revoke my status as headmaster…"
You give a start: you had almost forgotten Raef was with you until she spoke just then. "Uh… so, if you appeared to her as Galadan the Mystic, she would know you were the real headmaster and be compelled to follow your instructions?"
So, maybe we can just have Galadan the Mystic order her to follow and then order her to let Mishrak inspect/work on the slave brand without questioning.
And boom she won't resist being freed.
Or it doesn't work.
Or it doesn't work and she has explicit orders to report any sightings of Galadan the Mystic.
Or our cult friends hear of it and do something rushed.
[X] Use Mishrak's wealth to buy everything that Jaqari Pruyte and his team need to finish building the space gonne. This will mean that it can be completed much more quickly. However, doing this will cause Melphior's cultists to do something rash and dangerous, thereby shortening the 'doom counter' to only 3 months.
I think that it would be counterproductive to offer help and then not follow through, especially because Mishrak wants to establish a scholarship that offers help to disadvantaged students. Plus, panicked and rushed action from the cultists is preferable to them getting the time to set up something nastier to usurp the Domain of Dreams.
Talking to the Night Blades is important, since we'd get an idea of how to further hurt the cultists, and it might be worth it to talk to Simony. Not only is he from a rival cult, but we can try convincing him to get examined by Bellona so that she can break his curse and work out how to help Phil and the rest of his family.
The other sources we have for information on the cult are members who are connected to the aristocracy, so they make poor targets of interrogation.
Huh that went quite well and was a nice update on things abroad!
[X] Speak with the Night Blades and get their perspective on what is best to be done.
- [X] Use Mishrak's wealth to buy everything that Jaqari Pruyte and his team need to finish building the space gonne. This will mean that it can be completed much more quickly. However, doing this will cause Melphior's cultists to do something rash and dangerous, thereby shortening the 'doom counter' to only 3 months.
Archironaeus's little 'hoo hoo' habit is adorable, I know he is not that kind of stuffed animal, but I feel a marketable plushie made in his image would be great to hug. Also, sorry Green Flame >_<
We're working on a plan!
"The master of this academy," says Raef, sounding contemplative. "I doubt anyone would have taken the time to officially revoke my status as headmaster…"
I think this has a good chance of working, personally. Or, rather, that's something we might be able to get someone to look up. If there's Sambian archives, maybe we could ask someone to look into whether such a notice was ever posted?
I agree, preparation is key, and while a cornered rat is to be feared, a hasty planner often neglects contingencies.
[x] Use Mishrak's wealth to buy everything that Jaqari Pruyte and his team need to finish building the space gonne. This will mean that it can be completed much more quickly. However, doing this will cause Melphior's cultists to do something rash and dangerous, thereby shortening the 'doom counter' to only 3 months.
I agree also that a quick little visit to Simony and then the Night Blades would be warranted - Simony, we can ask for a little information and we can prime him to, when we pull the trigger on helping Phil, he can be called in for extra reference on the curse. I figure we can convince him that his master, Achamat, wouldn't want one of the old Demon Lords gaining power lest they subsume his new wave and new ways into another war to destroy Creation, so it'd be in his best interests to abandon confidence with the Melphior cultists.
[X] Speak with the Night Blades and get their perspective on what is best to be done.
- [X] Use Mishrak's wealth to buy everything that Jaqari Pruyte and his team need to finish building the space gonne. This will mean that it can be completed much more quickly. However, doing this will cause Melphior's cultists to do something rash and dangerous, thereby shortening the 'doom counter' to only 3 months.
[X] Use Mishrak's wealth to buy everything that Jaqari Pruyte and his team need to finish building the space gonne. This will mean that it can be completed much more quickly. However, doing this will cause Melphior's cultists to do something rash and dangerous, thereby shortening the 'doom counter' to only 3 months.
As will be explained in this latest update, where the space gonne is being constructed is nowhere near the Astronomy Club's workshop (even though the parts are being made there)
Archironaeus's little 'hoo hoo' habit is adorable, I know he is not that kind of stuffed animal, but I feel a marketable plushie made in his image would be great to hug.
"So, if someone used illusions or shapeshifting to pretend to be Opernus Prentigold, if they tried to give her an order, she would know they were fake," you suppose, thinking aloud.
"Thank you, Archironaeus," you say, resisting the urge to hug him – you're not sure how the little god would react to that – it's a tremendous effort, but you just about manage it. "I appreciate everything you've done for us."
"Think nothing of it. I've enjoyed taking part in your escapades," he replies. "It's more fun than anything else I've done over the past few decades. Hoo hoo."
After you've said goodbye to him, you head outside to the building where you met Jaqari Pruyte. This time, instead of going inside, you pause next to the main door, muttering under your breath, "I'd like to speak to one of the Night Blades, please."
Before this can go on for any longer than a few moments, you notice a shadowy, indistinct figure lurking in the alleyway between two of the school's outbuildings, beckoning for you to approach him. Under normal circumstances, you wouldn't follow a strange man into a dark alleyway, but presumably this is one of the Night Blades granting your request to speak with them. Besides, Raef is with you.
Even when you draw closer to him, you can barely see anything of the man you presume is one of the Night Blades. He is wreathed in shadows, his outline is blurry and indistinct, and his face might as well be a blank mask.
"We'd all appreciate it if you didn't mention us out in the open, where anyone might be listening, even if you don't think there's anyone listening. Walls have ears, you know," he says. "Still, it's nice to meet you."
"You're one of the Night Blades, I presume? What's the name of your commander?" you ask, sharply. It's probably not the best way to make sure that he really is a member of the Night Blades, but it's as good a way of verifying his identity as you can think of on the spur of the moment.
"I assume you're referring to Orrentil Stirook. He's in charge of the whole operation."
"What's your name?" you want to know.
"Dakendar Lugat. Among the Night Blades, I am an 'eldhesart'."
"The equivalent of a sergeant," Raef explains. She is standing behind you, keeping a careful watch over the mouth of the alleyway, looking for anyone who might intrude on your conversation.
There is a slight pause. "And who are you?" asks Dakendar.
"I'm the one who hired you and your colleagues," you reply.
"You're Mishrak the sea dragon god?" he asks, a tone of mockery in his voice. You can only imagine him raising an eyebrow and feigning surprise. "I don't know why you'd want to look like a teenage girl, but no doubt you have your reasons."
"I'm not Mishrak," you tell him, with as much patience as you can muster. "I'm Elys Allardyne, his Chosen."
"Ah." He nods. "Yes, I've heard of you."
"I assume you're keeping yourselves hidden because, just like me, you're not supposed to be here," you say, indicating his shadowy form. "What kind of magic is that?"
"Shadow magic. It's useful for staying out of sight. As you say, we're not supposed to be here, but we still need to protect Mr. Pruyte and his friends from the cultists who might try to smash up their workshop."
"But… there are hundreds of mages here at the Academy," you point out. "Can't they use their magic to sense you?"
"Why would they bother? They know people around here are casting spells all the time, so they don't check who's doing it unless they're given a special reason to. Therefore, as long as we don't do anything to attract attention, we're able to go unnoticed." He pauses, considering. "There've been a few times when we've had reason to suspect that the headmaster might have noticed us, maybe. If so, he's chosen to ignore us.
"Opernus Prentigold is strange man. I wish I understood what he wants and whose side he is really on."
Dakendar nods. "Indeed."
Having satisfied your curiosity, you change the subject: "You've been fighting Melphior's cultists, haven't you? What can you tell me about that?"
"Street fighting. Nasty business. We've taken heavy casualties over the last few days and nights. The worst times are when we're taking the latest cartload of parts from the workshop to where the space gonne is being constructed; we know we'll be ambushed along the way, so… Ah, I'll spare you the gory details, but it's been costly." He sighs heavily. "Still, on the other hand, we've broken up a few of their meetings, forcing them to go undercover even more than they already were. And we've identified one of the local lordlings, Yuler Sagittarus, as a high-ranking cultist. We're hoping he'll lead us to the others."
"Hmm. Sagittarus. I've heard that name before," you mutter.
"Probably the richest man in Tyrepheum," Dakendar informs you. "I'd guess that's why you've heard of him."
"I'm surprised a man like that would want to join a cult," you muse. "He already has wealth and power beyond what most people can dream of, so what else does he hope to gain?"
"He's only a primex – that's his title among the Sambian nobility – so I've no doubt he wants to be much more than that. Anyway, for some people, no matter how much wealth and power they have, it's never enough."
"You surprise me. A philosopher as well as a soldier," Raef says sardonically.
"I'm also a poet, but I just don't know it."
You groan at that. "Anyway… I've spoken to the little god of the abandoned places here in the Tyrepheum Academy. He says you and the other Night Blades are welcome to shelter in his domain – or use it as a forward base – and so on."
"Could be useful," says Dakendar. "Thank you."
"If I need to speak with you or one of your colleagues again, how can I get in touch?" Of course, you could use telepathy to link your mind to theirs, but you suspect that might cause them to panic; people don't tend to appreciate it when they suddenly start hearing voices in their heads.
"Come to Tyrepheum's goblin town, or the space gonne building site on the hill overlooking the town, or mention it to Mr. Pruyte. We always keep an eye on him, just in case."
"Good to know." You give him a respectful nod. "Thank you for speaking with me. Good luck be with you."
"Yes, same to you," he says, vanishing into the gloom.
"Well, he was in a hurry," says Raef, raising an eyebrow. "Are we done here?"
"Nearly," you say. "There's just one more person I want to speak to."
"As long as we don't outstay our welcome," she replies, glancing warily around again.
Wandering around the academy grounds, you approach a podgy young woman who is sitting on a bench and eating her lunch.
"Excuse me," you say. "Do you know where I can find Simony Bulhac?"
She takes a bite from an apple, chews it slowly and then says, "You mean Simony Balasteros? I saw him upstairs in the library not long ago."
"How long ago?" you ask.
"Only a few minutes. I'd be surprised if he wasn't still there." Looking up from her food, the young woman glances at you and Raef. An uneasy expression passes over her face. "He's not what I would call a good person. In fact, he's a smarmy creep. Be wary of anything he offers you."
"Nevertheless, I must speak with him," you say. "Where is the library?"
"You're not supposed to be here, are you?" Her uneasy expression deepens into a frown.
"I'm a foreign exchange student," you tell her.
"I don't think we have those," she says doubtfully.
"Does that mean you won't help me?" you ask, giving her a beseeching look.
Blushing scarlet, she stares at the floor. Then, after a moment's awkward pause, she says, "Well… I suppose it's none of my business why you're here. Not really." Gesturing in the direction of the main school building, she continues, "Over there. Second floor. You can't miss it."
"Thank you very much," you say, smiling brightly at her.
"Don't thank me," she mutters. "You haven't spoken to him yet."
A few minutes later, having followed her vague directions, you come to the Tyrepheum Academy's extensive library. Peering inside, you see Simony Bulhac (whose surname seems to have been changed to 'Balasteros'), working at a desk, quill in hand, with a large pile of leatherbound books in front of him.
Marching over to him, you say, "Simony, I need to speak to you."
"Ah. To what do I owe this rare pleasure?" he asks, in an amused tone. Then, looking at Raef, he does an exaggerated double take. "And where did you find this exotic cutie?"
"Don't be disgusting," says Raef, sneering at him.
"Argh! I am mortally wounded!" cries Simony, slumping in his chair and then falling sideways as if in a dead faint. "So beautiful and yet so cruel!"
Folding your arms, you look crossly at where he is lying in a heap on the floor. "Are you quite finished?"
"Yeah, I guess so," he says, getting to his feet, dusting himself off and sitting back down on his chair. "What can I do for you?"
Telepathically, you pour these words into his mind: 'I need you to tell me everything you know about Melphior's cultists in this city.'
He pauses, grimaces and says, "And why would I do that for you?"
'Aren't they your enemies? Wouldn't it benefit you to curb their power and influence?'
"Rivals, maybe. We're not enemies. At least, not necessarily. Deliberately antagonizing them would be much more trouble than it's worth. Really, I have nothing to gain from doing so." He shrugs his shoulders. "Unless, hmm… What do you have to offer me in exchange?"
What will Elys say to Simony?
Simony is an unpleasant fellow in many ways, but I enjoy writing him.
We know that he's following his Demon Lord to protect himself from his father, especially his soul magic. Why not hedge his bets and get any soul bindings removed by an expert, which would strengthen his bargaining his position with his patron and mean that he can spend his influence with the patron on non-soul things?
All it would cost him is the low low cost of selling out cultists from another cult, which he can probably spin to his Demon Lord as taking out a competitor and get credit for it.
"Thank you, Archironaeus," you say, resisting the urge to hug him – you're not sure how the little god would react to that – it's a tremendous effort, but you just about manage it.
"I'm the one who hired you and your colleagues," you reply.
"You're Mishrak the sea dragon god?" he asks, a tone of mockery in his voice. You can only imagine him raising an eyebrow and feigning surprise. "I don't know why you'd want to look like a teenage girl, but no doubt you have your reasons."
We know that he's following his Demon Lord to protect himself from his father, especially his soul magic. Why not hedge his bets and get any soul bindings removed by an expert, which would strengthen his bargaining his position with his patron and mean that he can spend his influence with the patron on non-soul things?
All it would cost him is the low low cost of selling out cultists from another cult, which he can probably spin to his Demon Lord as taking out a competitor and get credit for it.
I like this idea! We can just say that if he is friendly and generally helpful, we'll cut him in on whatever cure Bellona comes up with for Phil. Though, it might be worth bringing up that by taking bribes, he is playing into his namesake, and into the dadcurse.
@Chandagnac
Do we have enough time left this turn to "borrow" Green Flame? (free her)
If we make him the offer, tell him to think about it, and pull freeing Green Flame off we could return next turn to go "So, wanna try your luck with the ones that freed an elf from very competent slaverymagic?".
@Chandagnac
Do we have enough time left this turn to "borrow" Green Flame? (free her)
If we make him the offer, tell him to think about it, and pull freeing Green Flame off we could return next turn to go "So, wanna try your luck with the ones that freed an elf from very competent slaverymagic?".
@Chandagnac
Do we have enough time left this turn to "borrow" Green Flame? (free her)
If we make him the offer, tell him to think about it, and pull freeing Green Flame off we could return next turn to go "So, wanna try your luck with the ones that freed an elf from very competent slaverymagic?".
My Position:
I want to free her, reasons to delay:
Fear of failure or making it worse
Needing the time for other live-or-death issues.
With the "Raef may still be head of Academy" thing we have something we can try without having to fear turning Green Flame into an enemy until she is freed. (due to slavemagic forcing her to protect her slave status)
With the doomtimer reducing to 3, Tyrepheum counts for (2).
Still, if the doomtimer goes down to 3 after this turn and the setup for Simony works, I'd suggest a rough turn outline like this:
(this turn) give Simony all the reasons why He should help us, leave him to think about it
dt: 3
Free Green Flame, last action: try to impress Simony with having freed her. (Make a connection between dadcurse and slavemagic -> Hope he sees that as proof that there is an actual chance we can help him with dadcurse)
dt: 2
Use the Info from (2) to fuck the cultists shit up. Green Flame may agree to help. Raef might agree to help. Jana and Catharne will probably help. Parents might help (but we may also run into "they don't belong into Tyrepheum and may get caught" issues).
We know that he's following his Demon Lord to protect himself from his father, especially his soul magic. Why not hedge his bets and get any soul bindings removed by an expert, which would strengthen his bargaining his position with his patron and mean that he can spend his influence with the patron on non-soul things?
All it would cost him is the low low cost of selling out cultists from another cult, which he can probably spin to his Demon Lord as taking out a competitor and get credit for it.
Help with his soul magic issues as the core: Agreed
Would like some side arguments (additional stuff to strengthen our position):
It isn't antagonizing them if he doesn't get caught. "Costing only the time to talk" is very cheap.
Those competitors goal is destruction of creation. Without creation, whatever he gets would be kinda worthless, wouldn't it?
But if we don't get enough support for that i'm happy with just Indivibles plan, too.
Free Green Flame, last action: try to impress Simony with having freed her. (Make a connection between dadcurse and slavemagic -> Hope he sees that as proof that there is an actual chance we can help him with dadcurse)
Only problem that I can see with this is that bragging that we freed Green Flame to anyone is likely to get a proverbial load of bricks poised above our head. While I don't want to leave him to his fate, he's not exactly trustworthy, y'know?
Honestly, I was thinking we were going to help him out anyways if we could crack Phil's issue, so offering to do something for him that we were already going to do seems... efficient.
Only problem that I can see with this is that bragging that we freed Green Flame to anyone is likely to get a proverbial load of bricks poised above our head. While I don't want to leave him to his fate, he's not exactly trustworthy, y'know?
