You, Kaliel, and Mala'khairos end up in the dining hall, completely empty save for Lil'bubbles, who had been making tea and serving refreshments since it had arrived.
"So, these are what you will need." Mala was saying, scratching notes out on paper, as her wings twitch. "You will need more transmutation skill, in order to use this charm. You will need a thaumaturgist, in order to cast it properly, and a sampling of the target's blood. You'll need a ritualist to carve this circle, based on these dimensions, and then you'll need a truly massive amount of power. to focus through the thaumaturgy"
"Excuse me, but why can't you do it?" Kaliel asked.
"Because of how much power it took." Mala said. "It will take a short while for me to regain my strength, but... my timescale is a lot different than that of most beings."

"Do you think we have enough power here?"

>>21297639
"And how much time would that be for us?"

"And how much time would that be for us?"
"Years." She said. "With age, your power regrows more slowly as centuries pass by. It's very likely that you could regain in weeks what would take me decades."
"Do you think we have enough power here?" You ask.
"Your own power is quite massive, but.. I don't believe you can contain enough power on your own." Mala said. "I believe that it might be possible if you took a great many wizards and created a circle... or non-wizards, if you use blood magic."
"Blood magic isn't an option." Kaliel said.
"If you say so." Mala said. "In truth, blood magic isn't wrong in and of itself, it's simply when you overuse it does it become a problem."

>>21297718
"What if I were to transfer the power to you daily as my own regrew? Would that work?"

>>21297718
"If you just unaged yourself shouldn't your power regrow quicker now?"

>>21297718
"It's true that using a light amount of it is harmless, but it's too easy to use too much and risk people's souls."

>>21297718
"Well, we could always ask the Elves if we could borrow some power from the weave, though it would be difficult I imagine."

>>21297718
"Kal, have you still got that core? It can store a lot of power."

"If you just unaged yourself, shouldn't your power regrow quicker now?"
"Oh, no." She said. "For the very same reason my divination retains it's power- My memories and my experiences are still within me."
"What if I were to transfer the power to you daily as my own regrew? Would that work?"
"Ah, it would." She said, and nodded. "But in that case, you may as well create a dozen enchanted crystals and set those in the circle itself, to contain the power."
"Kal, have you still got the core? It can store a lot of power."
"Er, I did, it's up in the bedroom, with the books." She said. "But during the skirmish at the elven tower, I used all the magic it had."
"Well, we could always ask the elves if we could borrow some power from the weave, though it would be difficult, I imagine."
"Yeah, it'd be almost impossible." Kaliel said. "But we could talk with the ambassador about that."

>>21297796
"It'd probably be easier to just set up a circle using crystals. The elves would no doubt want some massive amount of money or favor in exchange for using the weave."

>>21297796
"I certainly don't need to be younger at the moment, we have time. We can just slowly fill up the core."

"I certainly don't need to be younger at the moment, we have time. We can just slowly fill up the core." You say.
"Okay, I'll go get it." Kaliel said, and got to her feet, before making her way out of the hall.
"Your tea, sir or madam." Lil'bubbles said, giving Mala her tea. She absentmindedly sipped at it.
"It doesn't seem like she has been practicing her fleshcrafting lately." Mala said, conversationally. Her draconic eyes darted to you, almost accusingly.

>>21297859
"She was overworking herself just a few days ago."

>>21297859
"And?"

>>21297859
"What? She's been really overworking herself figuring out immortality while you sat in your cave doing nothing but rotting."

>>21297888
No need to be rude.
Drop the "while you sat in your cave doing nothing but rotting." and it's good.

>>21297859
"Yet in the short time she has, she's managed to figure out immortality and not just an expanded healing spell."

"What? She's been really overworking herself figuring out immortality."
"Yes, but she did it backwards." She said. "She started with divination primers, moved to the few rituals that involved age, went to transmutation... Did it backwards. Impressive that she can make things older without alchemy, but she hadn't been using her passion at all. I didn't quite expect that."

>>21297936
"She hasn't really had an opportunity to use it lately. Usually she'll only allow it to surface in desperate situations, which just haven't come up."

>>21297936
"She did use her Passion."

"But she was using it. That's part of how she discovered this mote theory of hers.
But now that things have calmed down a bit and she's not going to be too worried about me, I'm going to ask her to start making new sorts of plants and animals for the city. That is, if she's up for it."

>>21297936
"When Kali was explaining this spell to me, she said she was empassioned but not blindly. She had saw connections that she hadn't before."

"But she was using it. That's part of how she discovered this mote theory of hers." You say, and Mala's eyebrows rose.
"... Really." She said, trying to act like she hadn't been surprised. "Nevermind, then."
"But now that things have calmed down a bit, and she's not going to be too worried about me, I'm going to ask her to start making new sorts of plants and animals for the city. That is, if she's up for it."
"She is rather skilled." Mala said, setting the tea down. "Much faster at making creatures than I was, back when I was young. But that might be because Anu didn't accept my discipline as 'proper' and discouraged me."

>>21297936
"Fleshcrafting is already a weird mishmash of stuff. Why do you think that isn't part of it?"

>>21298012
"How long will you be staying?"

>>21298012
"Are you related to Anu?"

>>21298012
"He sounds like a bigot. I'm glad Solu stopped him from wiping the ogres out."

>>21298012
"That's a shame. Hopefully, the two of you can discover more about your magic and how far it can truly go. Do you have plans on staying here? Or will you be returning to your solitude?

"Are you related to Anu?"
"He was my father." She said. "But that was lifetimes ago, back when the weapon he'd had us all make was done, and Solu fled like a coward, leaving dragonkind leaderless."
"How long will you be staying?" You ask. "Do you have plans on staying here? Or will you be returning to your solitude?"
"I have every reason to believe that Kaliel will soon be capable of giving beings agelessness." She said. "And so I will stay here."

>>21298103
"We're very distantly related then, since Solu was the first sorcerer-king of old Arcturus."

>>21298103
"Oh. You're my distant relative then, my sorcerous talent directly descends from his bloodline. My ancestor, removed something like a dozen generations, was Solu'nox, who renamed himself King David of Arcturus."

>>21298103
"Does that mean your talent is sorcery too?"

"We're very distantly related then, since Solu was the first sorcerer-king of old Arcturus."
"Oh, I know." She said. "I knew since I saw you in that cave."
"Does that mean your talent is sorcery too?"
"No." She said. "It skips females. Always has. Except for *you*."
She shrugged, and went back to the tea, as Kaliel returned, the red golem core on a chain.
"It was with all of my books, so I had to rummage around to find it." She said, taking a seat and handing the core to you.

>>21298150
Nope, it's been established that the sorcerous talent only descends to the child who is chosen to rule.

>>21298165
"Thanks, Kal. Turns out, I'm distantly related to Mala."

>>21298166
No, it's been established that it doesn't activate unless you rule. You can still have the talent dormant like Belethor did.

>>21298191
It goes to the chosen heir, which is why Ishelda had it when she was still princess.
But it's changed now anyways, so the requirements are going to be different. It could just go to firstborn or all of Ishelda's theoretical children. We don't actually know yet.

>>21298165
Jokingly, "So should I call you aunty Mala, then?"

>>21298213
>The prequisite for sorcery's activation is... get this, the crown! Only being direct royalty will allow the talent to blossom, and the few daughters your kingdom had before you were married off to other people, and the talent didn't quite like that, no. Your father decided to make you the next ruler, and so your talent awoke. However, your talent has evolved quite a bit since you've owned it, so I can't say what your descendants will be like.
All the children had it, but it only activated for the heir. If the first heir died and another one was chosen, that one would become a sorcerer. Probably dragon females didn't even get it because it was impossible for them to be heir under those succession rules?

"Thanks, Kal." You say. "So, should I call you aunty Mala, then?"
"It hardly matters what I'm called." She said.
"Wait, what?" Kaliel asked.
"Turns out, I'm distantly related to Mala." You say.
"Really? That's a coincidence." Kaliel said, giggling.
"The first sorcerer-king of Arcturus was my brother." Mala said. "He was a fool and a coward. I can tell you stories, if you wish."

>>21298278
"It's always interesting to hear about what ancient heroes were really like."

>>21298278
"Maybe another time."
Fuck you Mala, you're a fool and a coward.

"It's always interesting to hear about what ancient heroes were really like." You say. "But maybe another time."
"Very well." She said, and turned to Kaliel, slipping the papers to her. "It is all written in the language of the Gift, so you should be able to understand."
"Er, right. Thank you, Mala'khairos."
"It took nothing from me." She responded, and got to her feet. "I will be found on the mountain to the north, if you require me. I carry the enchanted ring, so you just need to call."

>>21298278
"Another day, Mala. This time isn't for my, well our, family lineage but of the success of Kalis research and spell."

>>21298399
>>21298401
Still got it.

>>21298399
"Now that the sacrifice is gone, do you think it would be possible to bring the dragons back? Create more of them?"

>>21298424
Why? They're all dead, and we can't exactly make a Cage for all of them, and making entirely new ones is pointless.

>>21298399
"Alright then. Let us know if you need anything."

>>21298442
Why is making new dragons pointless? Why wouldn't you want to save an important and impressive species from extinction if you could?

>>21298399
"I take it you would not want the grand tour of the city then? Ah well, maybe next time. Until next time, Mala."

>>21298452
It's the same reason why we don't make more humans or elves out of whole cloth.
Also they are very large, and if we make them to spec (And it's even MORE pointless if we don't), generally arrogant.

"Now that the sacrifice is gone, do you think it would be possible to bring the dragons back? Create more of them?"
"With my blood, most likely." Mala said. "Create artificial dragon wombs, impregnate them by shapeshifting myself male, slightly modify their blood for diversity and to prevent inbreeding... I've figured it out already. There's no reason to bring them back, though. I'm the last, and I care not for my kin."
"... Alright then." You say. "Let us know if you need anything."
"I will." She said, and left the hall.
"... She's gotten rude." Kaliel said, frowning.

>>21298470
>It's the same reason why we don't make more humans or elves out of whole cloth.
We don't need more humans or elves. They're not in danger of dying out.
>Also they are very large
What does that have to do with anything?
>and generally arrogant
Cool prejudice bro. I'm sure we could raise them to not be dicks.

>>21298473
Well, live by yourself for ages and ages and see what it does to your manners with no-one around to call you on it.

>>21298473
"I suppose she's not very used to interacting with people after all that time hiding in the cave."

>>21298473
"I always thought she was but simply blamed it on her lack of interaction with people for countless centuries.

Now then, should we celebrate now or later?"

>>21298501
Being very large generally means that they need a great deal of food. And if you say they could spend all of their time in other forms, then why do we need dragons?

>>21298535
I don't see how eating a lot is a problem. They managed before.

"I always thought she was, but simply blamed it on her lack of interaction with people for countless centuries." You say.
"Yeah..." She said, and frowned. "Well, we'll be able to help with that, in time."
"Now then, should we celebrate now or later?"
"Later." She said. "It feels wrong to celebrate before we accomplish anything. I need to start working more on transmutation before we can do that."

>>21298550
It's a problem because we don't have that kind of agriculture. And I don't think any other country would appreciate that kind of drain on their agriculture either.

>>21298566
Or they could set up their own agriculture or however they survived when they were their own country. We have plenty of empty land for them, and Marigold can make it fertile really easily now.

>>21298452
For all intended purposes, they are extinct.

There's no real upside in changing that. They had there chance and got killed off.

Also, just because we might have the power to do so doesn't mean we should.

>>21298556
"Fair enough. Still, well done." Kiss/hug etc.

"I should probably have a room prepared for that meeting. So much to tell."

>>21298592
Mentally and personality wise, they are no different than any other race. Physically however they take up a great deal of space and food. If they are no different mentally, then there's no reason to get dragons rather than more humans, elves, or lizardmen. If they are different, then
> Cool prejudice bro.

"Fair enough. Still, well done." You say, and give her a kiss and a hug.
"I know." She said, grinning. "I've never had a passion like that before. Well, it wasn't really a passion, but something... different."
"I should probably have a room prepared for that meeting. So much to tell."
"Yeah, probably." She said, and returned your hug. "When are you planning on having it?"

>>21298609
>For all intended purposes
intents and purposes
>There's no real upside in changing that. They had there chance and got killed off.
They're our people. We're an emotional teenage girl not a heartless logical robot.

>>21298640
Lol let's wipe out everyone rats are far more efficient at living.

>>21298660
Hello logical fallacy.
There's a big difference between not dragging them from their graves and genocide.
Maybe you should learn that difference.

>>21298659
"I'm not sure. Soon."

>>21298670
I'm just saying diversity is a good thing.

>>21298687
Humans
Elves
Lizardfolk
Orcs
Ogres
Kobolds
Kalak
A dragon
>I think we need more diversity hurr durr.

>>21298659
"Probably in a few hours or so."

>>21298706
>hurr durr to you too. That's a really nice argument you have there, I think I'll just use the same one.
Once you have one argument what's the point of having more, am I right? Clearly we've reached the big flashing 'enough diversity now' threshold.

"I'm not sure." You say. "Probably in a few hours or so."
"Good to hear." Kaliel said. "I have a feeling that I missed a few things, so this meeting will bring everybody back up to speed."
She sidled up next to you to give you another kiss, and then you see a very sleepy Lea walk in, rubbing at her eyes, Grayson padding along at her heels. Silently, she took a seat and mumbled something about tea to the golem.
"Morning, Lea. Sleep well?" Kaliel asked.
Lea mumbled incomprehensibly, and Kaliel giggled.

>>21298660
And we're also a queen. One that has to look at the larger issue at hand.

There's already not a whole lot of living space on this world. Humans, Orcs, Elves, Orges, Lizardflok, Snakewomen, Dwarfs. I'm sure I'm missing some.

There was already threat of a war between the Elves and lizardflok at one time and to bring in another race to this world. It be pushing resource limits to there max.

We may have open new areas to live in but that might just cause a massive population boom form all these counties. More land to live on -> More food you can grow -> more Food, higher populations.

>>21298735
There is no reason to make more dragons. At all. The same reasoning you're touting could be used to justify bringing back fucking dinosaurs and saber toothed sgragrol.
It would be a better use of our time (But still really pointless) to use necromancy to make all the dragons spectres.

>>21298749
"Looks like you had a good nap."

>>21298780
>counties
>countries

>>21298749
"Welcome back to land of the living, Lea.

You just missed meeting Mala."

File: 1351280694578.jpg-(50 KB, 679x516, arguing.jpg)

Try to keep your arguments at tier 5 or above please, otherwise you just look like an ass.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Lea." You say. "Looks like you had a good nap."
"I did." She said, yawning. "I've got to stop losing control without taking things back in. It makes me tired."
"You just missed meeting Mala."
"Mala? Who's that?" She asked.
"Uh, Ishy's greataunt. The last living dragon."
"... Wait, there's a dragon still alive?" She asked, eyes wide. "I... I didn't know that."

>>21298780
Indeed. And that problem's going to get infinitely worse if Kal makes everyone immortal. If Mala doesn't want them back then we probably can't justify it.

>>21298789
I've already given the reasons to bring them back. At least read before you spout your retarded arguments.

>>21298848
"Well, she'd been... melting under a lizardman temple for centuries, and she was declared Not Dragon by the council before the sacrifice. She's Solu'nox's sister."

>>21298856
Your reason to bring them back is "because they died."
Why don't we bring back everyone else who died? A lot of people have died over the centuries, and only a small amount of them were dragons. Why don't you want to bring those people back?

>>21298848
"You didn't? Didn't you notice the sacrifice break?"

>>21298879
>Your reason to bring them back is "because they died."
No, it isn't. Unless you come up with some actual points like the other guy instead of going >hurr durr you said stuff I disagree with I'm not going to bother responding to you any more.

"You didn't? Didn't you notice the sacrifice break?"
"... I can't feel things like that anymore." She said, after a moment. "Can't feel magic, either. Not naturally. That arakoatoan part of myself... died, back then. I didn't get it back." She frowned for a moment. "But anyway, who is Mala?"
"Well, she'd been... melting under a lizardman temple for centuries, and she was declared 'Not Dragon' by the Circle before the sacrifice. She's Solu'nox's sister."
"Is she? Really?" Lea said, and grinned. "I want to hear some stories about him."

>>21298926
"Be careful when you ask though, she doesn't seem to be a fan oh him."

>>21298925
"They're in danger of going extinct" does not mean we should make more. They've been close to extinct for millennia, and the only surviving example doesn't give a shit. There's no reason to make more dragons.

>>21298926
"Even if you can't feel it, you still should have noticed the giant demon portal in the sky when we fought the archdemon.
Mala doesn't seem to think much of Solu'nox, and she's rather rude. But she has a ring if you want to talk to her. She said she'd be staying in the mountain."

>>21298856
I hope Kal doesn't make the entire world immortal. The Afterlife might have something to say about that if she does try to. They might not care about a handful of immortal beings but a world they may take issue with.

Truthfully, that's mostly guess work because we really don't have much info on the how the afterlife works.

>Mala doesn't want them back then we probably can't justify it.

Which makes this entire discussion pointless really.

"Even if you can't feel it, you still should have noticed the giant demon portal in the sky when we fought the archdemon."
"Er... right." She said.
"Mala doesn't seem to think much of Solu'nox, and she's rather rude. But she has a ring if you want to talk to her, and she said she'd be staying on the northern mountain."
"Right." She said. "I'll just wait for now, then." She said. "I've... heard enough stories, for now. I've made enough, too."

Yeah, about immortality. Clearly, we can't do this on a wide scale, both because of the absurd amount of energy and time required (The weave might not even be enough) and because, unless we make sterilization mandatory, the population will grow exponentially, which is a Bad Thing.

>>21299014
Immortality is really going to be a problem. People being born and not dying not only uses up earthly resources, but ties up all the magic that their souls are made of which will no longer return to the void. It'll be the Gearworks all over again. And it seems very un-Ishelda-ish to have immortality which we could grant to anyone and only keep it to an elite few.

>Which makes this entire discussion pointless really.
Yes, me admitting you are right does in fact end the argument. Well noticed.

>>21299030
"There's plenty of time to talk to her. We're going to have that meeting in a few hours. Are you going to be okay in the same room as father and everyone else?"

>>21299030
"You probably slept through me announcing the meeting. I'm going to tell everyone about what happened on the eastern continent with the gearworks and stuff. Want to come?"

>>21299042
I think we should just live for a thousand years or so to keep Kaliel company and then pass on together. Death is kind of a necessary part of life.

>>21299131
I'd be worried about Mala in that situation. She's expecting to actually have immortal friends, and if we up and off ourselves, she might do something drastic.

"There's plenty of time to talk to her." You say. "We're going to have that meeting in a few hours. Are you going to be okay in the same room as father and everyone else?"
In response, she pulled up her hood.
"I'll be fine if I ... keep to myself." She said, her eyes and expression hidden. "I don't stand out if I don't want to, and if nobody notices then nobody will try to talk to me."
In response, Kaliel pulled her into a hug.
"Lea, you seem really sad today." She said, clinging tightly to her.
"Just a bit melancholy." Lea said, and gave Kali a smile.

>>21299154
She should really man up too. I mean come on, clinging to life in a dingy cave for centuries because you're too scared to die, doing absolutely nothing because you're too scared of loss to gain anything?

>>21299162
Group hug!
"How much are you happy with me telling them? Most of them know that you sent us over there, but I can leave out restoring your emotions and the rest if you want."

>>21299162
"More tea, Lil Bubbles."

You pull the two of them into a group hug.
"More tea, lil' bubbles." You say.
"Of course, madam." It responded, and got to work.
"How much are you happy with me telling them?" You ask. "Most of them know that you sent us over there, but I can leave out restoring your emotions and the rest if you want."
"Don't tell them... who I was." She said. "Or my past. Just... say I came from nowhere. The endless abyss of Outside, maybe. I'm fine with everything else, though. Tell them everything."

>>21299269
"Alright. But I don't want to lie about your origins, so I'll just tell them that it's irrelevant."

>>21299269
"Some of them already know and I wouldn't be surprised if others work it out. There isn't exactly a surplus of magical sorcery using girls around our age. I won't tell anyone but if, for example, Ell actually takes a look at our magic he could work it out."

>>21299269
"Ok, I'll just skip over that bit."

"Okay, I'll just skip over that bit." You say. "But some of them already know, and I wouldn't be surprised if others work it out. There isn't actually a surplus of magical sorcery using girls around our age. I won't tell anyone but if, for example, Ell actually takes a look at our magic, he could work it out."
"No he couldn't." She said. "Only when I use it, and I don't intend to use it... unless I get extremely drunk again. But anyway, it should be fine. My talent may or may not be sorcery, as far as everyone else is concerned. As long as it isn't confirmed."

>>21299391
"That's fine then."
Unless someone else has anything to do, I advocate small talk until the meeting.

>>21299391
Let's upgrade lil' bubbles with two mechadendrites for increased tea capacity.

>>21299391
"I'll avoid confirming anything.

Immortality huh, that does sound rather nice. I'm not sure I would choose to live forever, but the option could be nice."

>>21299391
"I think only Kal and Marigold know for certain. They know not to tell anyone."

"I'll avoid confirming anything." You say.
"Thank you." Lea responded.
"Immortality, huh, that does sound rather nice." You say. "I'm not sure I would choose to live forever, but the option could be nice."
"It's not forever." Kaliel said. "It just means you don't age. If you get... I don't know, crushed, or stabbed, or killed, you'll still die." She frowned. "But I don't like to imagine that..."
Lea suddenly looked up to you. "Do you know if there are any artifacts that... train one's control?"

>>21299480
and Grayson

>>21299492
"Train one's control of what?"

>>21299492
"Hmm... I know Marigold had to train her control when she had the Ankh, but that was before it was purified... I'd guess that if such a thing exists, the venerable King and Queen would know about it, since self control is such a big part of Orcish culture."

>>21299492
"What do you mean by control? From what I've found out the only artifacts in this world are Rikar, my armor, the Ankh, the World Key, Azariel's Throne, his Knife, Bubbles and Sunder. We could go looking on other worlds, or we could try making something together."

>>21299492
"Control? I'm not sure. Aeriel or Gehenna might know. They had be hunting artifacts long before I came here."

>>21299548
>be
>been

"Train one's control of what?"
"Magic." She said. "It was really easy, when I first got it, but then when my emotions came back... it's impossible not to use it when I get angry, or frustrated."
"From what I've found out, the only artifacts in this world are Rikar, my armor, the Ankh, the World Key, Azariel's throne, his Knife, Bubbles, and Sunder. We could go looking on other worlds, or we could try making something together."
"No, it's fine." She said. "I was just curious. I can probably try to seal it away, but it's nature doesn't like that."
"What 'it' are you talking about?" Kaliel said.
"I can't explain it, not with words." She said. "It's... active emptiness. Alive, and hungry."

Rolled 98

>>21299595
"I've noticed that a bit. Maybe if we make an item that makes it harder to cast unless you really focus on it, you'll be able to control it more."
Try making a bracelet that does that.

>>21299595
"You'll just have to practice then. Like the kalak deal with their passions."

>>21299595
"I don't really know how to help you. Aside from some more practice and more time getting used to having emotions again I don't have any clever ideas."

The arakoatoa are all dead and there's a nice collection of super-artifacts just lying around on their homeworld. We should go get them.

I've noticed that a bit." You say. "Maybe if we make an item that makes it harder to cast unless you really focus on it, you'll be able to control it more."
"That... won't work." She said, and frowned. "I considered it, but it'd probably eat the enchantment eventually."
"You'll just have to practice, then." You say. "Like the kalak deal with their passions."
"There is another option." Grayson said, suddenly. "We can... go home, most likely. To the arakoatoan world. They have many Great Works there, and there should be little to no danger."

>>21299709
"There might be something there we could use, but would any of them help with magic discipline?"

>>21299709
"Do you think we could go right now and scout it out a bit?"

>>21299709
"I do want to go home, but I promised Kaliel we'd go to the Kalak homeworld, so that has to happen first. And I don't feel safe allowing Lea to go without you Grayson."

"You should talk to Azariel about this. He seems quite fond of you."

>>21299709
"That seems like a good idea anyway, but do any of them actually do what she wants?"

>>21299709
"That could work. It'd be nice to see why ancestral world and there is quite a lot we can learn from them. Let's wait until after the meeting before we do that, and I was planning on visiting the Kalak world as well."

>>21299709
"That's an option. I wouldn't mind seeing the world where mother had came from.

Would you know where to search for those items, if we were to go, Grayson?"

"That seems like a good idea anyway, but do any of them actually do what she wants?"
"We can find out." Grayson said. "Somewhere on that world lies the library, an intelligent spell which knows of every great work on the planet. We can simply ask it, and it will give us the answer."
"Do you think we could go right now and scout it out a bit?"
"Yes, I do." he said. "We'll require Aeriel's help to get there, but we can take the Tower on the way back."
"I do want to go home, but I promised Kaliel we'd go to the Kalak homeworld, so that has to happen first." You say.
"No, we can go to, uh, Arakoatoa first." Kaliel said. "It sounds safer, and I do need more practice, so I can do that as we explore."

>>21299803
"Okay. Given how long this is going to take we should probably hold the meeting first and let everyone know what's going on. I bet some of them would even like to come along."

>>21299803
"We could go as soon as the meeting is over. I'm sure things will be fine here for a few days without us."

>>21299833
This, then skip to the meeting?

>>21299803
"Well then. Let's go wander around glowy crystal land this afternoon, after the meeting."

>>21299803
"But I wanted to see all the towers... And grayson told me all these stories about it."

>>21299803
"Well that's another item to add for the meeting. This list just keeps getting longer and longer."

>>21299826
>Lea will want to see her mother's homeland and look for artifacts
>Dad will want to see his wife's homeland
>Just them and 3 other people in the entire world
Shenanigans!

>>21299854
That's a proper days-long expedition holiday thing. This is just popping in and having a look around for an afternoon. It's not like we were going to leave for the kalak world today anyway, so it really doesn't interfere.

We might want to consider taking Raz along too, since she has that anthropology mirror.

>>21299882
If dad's coming, Raz has to as well. Also as a historian she'd be interested.

"Okay." You say. "Given how long this is going to take, we should probably hold the meeting first and let everyone know what's going on. I'm sure things will be fine here for a few days without us."
"It needn't even be a day." Grayson said. "Though the land doesn't have day and night anymore, I can keep track of the time it is here when we're gone."
"Well then." You say. "Let's go wander around glowy crystal land this afternoon, after the meeting."
"Alright." Kaliel said.

An hour later, everyone was assembled. Your father, his knights, Marigold, Kristoph, Leon, Fellwind and Jeanne, the kalak, even including Sardriel in his fluffy birdform, and even Redglare and Nahzit showed up. Romulus knocked on the doorframe.
"I expect this is some sort of 'national secrets' meeting, and I'm technically affiliated with Sirius province, so I'll make my way down to the city." He said, and nodded to you. "Seeya, Leon."
"Seeya." Leon responded.
You hardly notice Lea sitting quietly in the corner of the dining hall, her hood pulled up. Nobody else seemed to either- except for Kaliel, who kept sending her glances now and then.
"Well, it seems like everyone's here." Raziel said.
>Wat say?

>>21299951
Everyone except the tea! Where is lil'bubbles?

>>21299951
"Well I've noticed that life around here can change rather fast and it's hard to keep everyone up to date on continuously altered and learned information. So I decided to hold this meeting to bring everyone up to speed."

Then tell them things. Kal working out immortality, Lea being the Void Queen but better now, leaving out the bits she wanted left out, everything about the demons, gearworks, dragons, our heritage, the planned trips to other worlds, letting people know about any newcomers to the city.

>>21299951
"Welcome everybody. This is the bit where I tell you what happened on our trip. Only I know all of it, and that's not how it should be. If you have any questions just ask, it will probably be a bit confusing."
Then just go through it chronologically from why we left through to fixing Lea.

>>21300005
>Lea being the Void Queen but better now
>leaving out the bits she wanted left out
>Lea being the Void Queen

Wouldn't that be the part she wants left out?

>>21300061
No, she wanted the fact she's alternate-us left out. She is not denying the VQ stuff.

>>21300061
The bit she wants left out is that she's Ishelda.

>>21300061
She doesn't want it to be known how she got here or that she's us. Her being the VQ is out of the bag at this point to half the people here.

>>21300061
She doesn't care if we say "Lea was the void queen, but I fixed her."
She does care if we say "Lea is an alternate version of myself who was the void queen, but I fixed her."

>>21300077
We should still probably leave it out. She doesn't really want any undue attention drawn to herself

"Welcome, everybody." You say, as Lil' bubbles, now upgraded with two new tea-making limbs, was churning out snacks and tea as quickly as physically possible. "I've noticed that life around here can change rather fast, and it's hard to keep everyone up to date on continuously altered and learned information. so I decided to hold this meeting to bring everyone up to speed."
"Well, I finally get to learn what I missed out on." Leon said.
"The gearworks was created a thousand years ago." You start...

"...And so, for the time being, Dras'lea will be staying with us, as a guest, and a friend." You continue, ending your explanation. Everyone looked over to the suddenly noticeable Lea, who turned red and covered her eyes further.

"So, wait." Your father said. "That meant that, uh, I spent two years fighting my father in law?"

>>21300094
She already said it's okay to tell everyone at the meeting while she's there.

>>21300100
"Oddly appropriate, isn't it?"

>>21300100
"Yep."

>>21300100
"I suppose you could technically call him that, it is a little bit funny.

But given that Mother refused his kinship and I dis the same I wouldn't call him that.

But he's dead now so it's a moot point."

>>21300100
"Yes. He was a real jerk."

"I suppose you could call him that, it is a little bit funny... But given that mother refused his kinship, and I did the same, I wouldn't call him that. But he's dead now, so it's a moot point."
"Yes, that is a good point." Abel said, a sober expression on his face.
"Er, Your majesty." Sir Jaeden said. "You said that with the archdemon's death, Arcturus was once again free of demonkind. Does that mean that we could... well, go back?"

>>21300219
"You probably could, Sir Jaeden. In fact, if we could make the waygates work between worlds, it would be easy."

>>21300219
"If you wanted. It's unlikely to be pretty after the demons took over for a few years, but yes you could."

>>21300219
"Yes, I suppose so. There probably isn't much to go back to. I have talked with Aeriel about setting up a permanent portal between the two worlds, but it might take a while."

>>21300219
You could, but I had hoped that you would stay here.

Why do you want to return?

>>21300219
"If that's what you desired, yes. Though I should warn you...there isn't much left. You would effectively be starting from scratch."

"You probably could, Sir Jaeden. In fact, if we could make the waygates work between worlds, it would be easy." You say. "It's unlikely to be pretty after the demons took over for a few years, but yes you could."
"There were still beautiful places in Arcturus, even after the demons arrived." Jaeden said.
"I'm still working on it." Aeriel said, leaning back in his chair. He was in human form still, surprisingly. "The border between worlds is thick, and a permanent portal is almost impossible, and it's not my focus of study."
"Why do you want to return?" You ask.
"I don't want to, I was simply asking if it were possible." Jaeden said.

>>21300308
Well in general, yes, we can get there the same way we got there last time. It would be quite an even though, not a simple jaunt at the end of a week.

>>21300308
"It could be done. Maybe even with time and work it could be restored to its former beauty.

On a related note I was planning a trip to the Arakatoan/Demon homeworld. I ought to be able to learn quite a bit there and there are ancient artifacts that I'm interested in discovering. Does anyone want to come along?"

>>21300308
"Well, if there are no more questions, Grayson suggested that I visit my mother's homeworld this afternoon. It should be fairly uneventful as nobody lives there any more but if you're interested in coming for a look around then you're welcome to."

>>21300380
Yeah, we should inform everyone of our plans to scarper for a while, both to our homeworld and Kaliel's

"It could be done." You say. "Maybe even with time and work, it could be restored to it's former beauty. On a related note, I was planning a trip to the Arakoatoan homeworld. I ought to be able to learn quite a bit there, and there are ancient artifacts that I'm interested in discovering. It should be fairly uneventful, as nobody lives there anymore. Does anyone want to come along?"
"Ooh, can I?" Marigold asked, grinning.
"If Marigold's coming, I will too, if it's not much issue." Kristoph said. Leon just shrugged, and nodded. The group instantly started talking amongst one another for a bit, but from the general consensus, nobody else seemed to be interested.

>>21300308
"I think the idea of establishing colonies and reclaiming our home world would be a nice idea.

Something to plan into our future expansion."

>>21300453
Ask pappy if he wants to check out mom's homeworld.

>>21300453
"Are you going to come, father? It was mothers homeworld after all..."

>>21300453
"Does anyone have any questions or anything they want clarified before I run off to another world?

Father, do you want to see where mom came from?"

>>21300453
Really, Dad's not interested?
"Okay then. Meeting adjourned. Aeriel, I'll need you for the portal obviously."

"Unrelated to our current topic. I was thinking we should help with the Elf war, since we played such a large part in starting it.

Even if we don't go ourselves, a few regiments of Kalis' war-beasts sent over could really save a lot of lives.

Kali, do you think you could grow some tomorrow?"

>>21300500
>do you want to see where mom came from?
When a mommy arakoatoa and a daddy arakoatoa love each other very much...
Actually I don't have a clue how that works, they're glowy balls of magic.

>>21300526
Save lives? They have the biggest golem army on the continent and they're fighting other golem armies. The only people who will die are the blood mages.

>>21300534
We must find out. For SCIENCE!

>>21300534
I'd guess that they combine their magic to make a half and half clone with no memories and call it a child. Or something like that.

>>21300551
It's a war, people will die.

"Are you going to come, father? It was mother's homeworld after all..."
"I'm tempted..." He said. "But no, I've done my adventuring. And you need someone here to keep watch over things as regent, just in case."
"Okay then. Meeting adjourned." You say, and people finish off their tea, chatting. "Aeriel, I'll need you for the portal, obviously."
"Obviously." He said, and pulled out his spellbook, flipping it open."I have the spell here, but I don't know where you'll end up. The location indicator is blank."
"One moment." Grayson said, and dipped his claw in ink, before drawing a few marks. "This will take us directly to the Tower. It is the easiest location to arrive at."
"... You surprise me, Grayson." Aeriel said, and chuckled. "Okay, let's all meet up on Jormungandr. I'll need the dragon skull."

Up on the Jormungandr, you, Kristoph, Marigold, Leon, Kaliel, Grayson, and Lea arrive, Aeriel's hand on the skull.
"So, are you all ready?"
"No, we have to wait." Marigold said. As she spoke, you see Kell climb up onto the airship, just as large as he always was. "There, now we're ready."

>>21300596
Not if people don't fight.
Some of the slaves will die, defending their masters or used in blood rituals.
Maybe some of the western elves will be killed, by the subterfuge easterns are so fond of.
But sending more dumb troops over there won't help with any of that.

>>21300632
"Hello Kell. Have you been keeping an eye on Marigold for me?"

Prepare to travel between worlds.

>>21300632
"Okay, let's go!"

>>21300632
Well this is sudden.

"We should be able to find out own way back, Ragnarock, so you shouldn't have to wait around for us."

Make sure there's a kettle on for us when we get back.

>>21300643
>People won't die in the war.
>Some of the slaves will die, defending their masters or used in blood rituals.
>Maybe some of the western elves will be killed
>But people won't die.

Yes, sending additional disposable troops won't help at all.

Every time those flying golems swarm an airship Elves die defending it. Let the war-beasts defend them.

It costs us nothing and /will/ save lives.

"Hello, Kell." You say, putting on your armor and blade. "Have you been keeping an eye on Marigold for us?"
In response, Kell covered the tiny nub between his shoulders that served as his head- he was pretending to cover his eyes. Marigold giggled.
"He's saying that it's really hard to watch someone without eyes." She said.

"We should be able to find our own way back, Aeriel, so you shouldn't have to wait around for us."
"Right you are." He said, and spread his arms. A shimmering portal appeared in front of him. "Hurry up... this is kind of exhausting."
First to step through was Lea, her cloak flowing out behind her, as the rest of you climbed through the portal.
Where you finally ended up... was the top of an enormous, crystalline tower, with a sphere of some kind of liquid floating above you. The sky was a bright, bright blue, but there was no sun or clouds in sight, and despite the light, it was rather... cold.
"This is the land of the Arakoatoa." Grayson said.

You look out over the edge of the tower, and far, far below, you see... miles, and miles of the crystalline city, perfectly uniform and stretching as far as the eye can see.
"It's... kind of pretty, I guess." Kristoph said.
Kaliel paled, and frowned.
"Everything looks the same. Like it's just the same thing over and over again." She said.

>>21300785
"It seems very empty."

>>21300785
"Grayson, is it similar to how you remember it, just emptier?"

Investigate that sphere of liquid further, see what magic is coming off of it, that sort of thing. Don't touch it yet.

>>21300785
"It does. Beautiful but boring. Where's this library then, Grayson?"

>>21300785
"Grayson, you're the only one that knows this place.

Where do we go?"

>>21300785
"Seems like they were big into consistency and symmetry."

"Lead the way to the library then, Grayson"

"It does." You say. "Beautiful, but boring. Grayson, you're the only one that knows this place. Where do we go?"
"I'm not exactly certain." He said. "The library could be destroyed, remember that. If we wander a bit, it should jog my memories."
You look up to the sphere of liquid, and examine it, and you feel... multitudes of worlds, bound together by Translocation magic.
"Well, what's this, then?" Kristoph said, and raised a hand toward it.
"I'd not do that." Grayson said. "Unless you want to a random world. This is the Tower. You simply speak the world you want to go to, and enter it."
"...Right." Kristoph said, and pulled his hand away. "So how do we get down?"
"Oh, right." Grayson said, and led you to a strange circle engraved on the ground. "Everyone stand on here."
Everyone did. Gently, Grayson touched his head against it, and you feel the spark inside Grayson flare to life, and the circle started moving downward, floating, unsuspended as it descended to the bottom of the tower.
"There." He said, pulling his head back up. "I don't quite remember where the library is, but we could explore the streets, or the underpaths, or we could even visit the place I and Intuition stayed. There might still be some belongings there."

>>21300877
Let's go to mother's home. Do you remember the way?

Does the tower link to every world there is?

>>21300877
"Let's go see mother's house."

>>21300877
"Let's start there."

>>21300877
"Yes, that's a good starting point."

>>21300877
"What are the underpaths?"

"Let's go to mother's home." You say. "Do you remember the way?"
"I do." Grayson said, and padded out of the doorway to the tower. Immediately, you were on the streets, the ground covered in thin, crunching flakes of glass. As you walk, you see them crack underneath your weight, but a moment later, they repair themselves. The buildings to either side were much, much larger than you'd first thought from above, each almost a tower in their own right.
"This way." He said, walking, and took a turn.
"Does the tower link to every world there is?"
"It's finding more and more worlds as time passes." He said. "Your mother theorized that it could even open up to Outside, if it were told to."
"What are the underpaths?" You ask.
"Long, underground tunnels." He said. "This world may seem like it's entirely made of city, and it almost is, but it's divided into sectors. This is Psi sector, and the underpaths carry large hovering trolleys that carry people from one sector to another." He said, as he trotted up to a certain building. The door was a bit wider than you were used to, and the center of it had a large hole. Gently, Grayson put his paw in the hole and pulled it to the side- it slid into the wall neatly.
You walk in, and instantly you smell dust. You see random bits and objects strewn about the room, on desks and tables, and a single, very large pillow, an indentation still in it.
"She enjoyed taking items from the various worlds back here." Grayson explained, as you eye a pinecone.

>>21300986
Examine bits and pieces! see if we can find any kalak feathers.

>>21300986
Look around. See if there's anything interesting.

>>21300986
Have a look around, slowly touch stuff and look all sad, you know the drill.

>Your mother theorized that it could even open up to Outside, if it were told to.
Azuuuure

>>21301037
And whatever other horrible tentacled things that are out there.
It's worth considering, simply because we know the Lost One is still there, but we shouldn't do it until we're fucking sure it's safe or we can deal with whatever is out there besides her.

You have a short look around, looking from pinecones, to a rock that had split open and had crystals inside, and you see a strange, long flower, drinking up the unnatural light. Even now, it still lived, dark purple petals and a pale blue stalk.

"I've never seen a thing like this before." Marigold said, examining the flower. "How is it still alive, after all this time?"
"The gem, below the pot it's inside of." Grayson said. "It takes ambient magic, and turns it into healing magic."
You continue looking, and eventually you find a long, slim feather, pure red, fluff still covering the base. A kalak feather.
"This was on our visit to the kalak world, soon before the demons showed up there." Grayson said. "Six hundred years ago. Too long ago. She'd made a friend. A rather strange one- a very young, still fluffy kalak who lived on his own. I don't quite remember her name, but... she knew that your mother wasn't kalak."

>>21301086
She's alone. The tentacle things are from a different universe, she's trapped in the space between universes. There shouldn't be any danger.

>>21301098
Was this feather hers? Maybe she will still be alive.

>>21301098
Sit in the cushion, see if we fit.

>>21301128
The gearworks said that there were a great deal of unknowable things Outside. That generally should be taken to mean dangerous.

>>21301098
"If she was very young 600 years ago she could still be alive. Do you think you could find her when we go there?"

>lived on his own
>I don't quite remember her name

>>21301098
"600 years isn't that long for a Kalak. She may still live.

We'll have to ask about when we visit."

>>21301181
>Whoops- it's a chick.

"Was this feather hers? 600 years isn't that long for a Kalak. Maybe she will still be alive."
"Maybe." Grayson said, as you sit down in the cushion. It was rather comfortable, and seemed to contain nothing but small beads, as it crunched around you, and you sink in. "And I think i do remember her name, now. Samakliariel. Sam, your mother called her."
Kaliel... gently picked up the feather, immeasurably careful. She closed her eyes, and you feel her heart beat a staccato rhythm... and she gently set it down again.
"She's dead." Kaliel said, and then spun on her heel and left the building.

>>21301159
>I can't rightly say what's there, for the most part, because that's not my purview!
That's not "there's lots of scary things" that's "I don't know what's there". Azure he does know about and the bit she's in is empty. He didn't feel that she was in any danger, and was happy to wait for her to be rescued no matter how long it took.

>>21301274
"Oh. Are you sure that works across worlds?"

>>21301274
"Kal, are you okay?"

Go after her. Hugs may be needed.

>>21301274
Follow her out.
"Kal, wait! Was... was Sam your mother?"

>>21301274
Did we just find a beanbag? Awesome. That's got to come back with us.

What's wrong with Kaliel this time? might as well chase her.

"I'll catch up with you in a moment."

>>21301274
"Oh."
That's disappointing. But we can take the feather to Raz and speak to her anyway. Let's go see what's up with Kal.

>>21301345
If she was Kal's mother, then her soul was destroyed with blood magic. There's nothing left to contact.

You chase after Kaliel, and find her at the foot of the stairs leading down into the street, shoulders hunched. Without thinking, you pull her into a hug.
"Kal, are you okay?" You ask. She takes a deep breath, and then shakes her head. "Was... was Sam your mother?"
"When I heard the name, I thought Grayson might have been mistaken." She said, eyes closed. "But... she's where I got my ruby blood from. I checked."

>>21301378
smile

so its her i shuld thank for your beauty

>>21301378
"That's...an amazing coincidence. Both of our mothers from entirely different worlds met completely independently of you and I meeting on a third world. It makes me feel like I'm even closer to you now."

>>21301378
Don't let go of the hug
"That's quite the coincidence that our mothers were friends."

>>21301378
"Don't you think it's nice, that our mothers were good friends too?"

>>21301378
"And you now have something to remember her by. Now we know that our mothers once met and were good friends and that is more than what we had before we learned this.

Just know this, I don't even have to research this at all, she loved you very much and would be proud of you."

"That's... an amazing coincidence." You say. "Both of our mothers from entirely different worlds met completely independently of you and I meeting on a third world. It makes me feel like I'm even closer to you now."
"Maybe." Kaliel said, immediately. You tighten your hug.
She met your eyes. "Ishy, what do you think about... fate? And coincidences, and such."

>>21301471
I make my own fate.

>>21301471
"I didn't really have much of an opinion on it before, but considering... all of this really, there must be something to it."

>>21301471
"Well we already know that magic has a personality of sorts and a flair for the dramatic. But I don't think anyone's fate or destiny is locked. Maybe our mothers meeting was fate, maybe us meeting was due to fate, but I chose to fall in love with you, I chose that path and I wouldn't have let any prophecies, fate, or anything like that stop me from doing that."

>>21301471
O scholar we are Sisters !

>>21301471
"I don't know. Magic has a personality so I suppose it could do stuff like that. But I'd rather make my own choices."

>>21301514
While that is slightly possible, do you think Ishelda, being royalty, gives a shit about a little incest?

>>21301514
No we're not. Kaliel could tell. And everything we've heard indicates Abel as the first time Elizabeth fell in love and settled down.

>>21301545
Genetically speaking, Elizabeth's kalak form shouldn't be at all related to her human form, and magically speaking, it wouldn't be detectable as the same, since they'd be two separate bodies that she made with magic, rather than one body shapeshifted into different forms.
But yeah, it's not very likely.

"We already know that magic has a personality of sorts, and a flair for the dramatic, but I don't think anyone's fate or destiny is locked." You say. "Maybe our mothers meeting was fate, maybe us meeting was fate, but I chose to fall in love with you." You say. "I chose that path, and I wouldn't let any prophecies, fate, or anything like that stop me from doing that. I make my own fate."
Kaliel giggled, and pulled you into a long kiss.
You hear Marigold, back in the building, squee, and then you hear Kris shush her.
"That sounds exactly like what I thought you'd say." She said, and kissed you again. She looked up to the sky.
"This place is so... so alien." She said. "So strange, and... and unnatural. I'd almost call it... nightmarish. Too... too Perfect."

>>21301574
But we did inherit stuff from mother that is completely unrelated to her form. Like the massive magic reserves, and the talent altering. Those things would be detectable.

>>21301607
"It is very strange, that's for sure."

>>21301607
That sounds like exactly what you'd think. You prefer things living, breathing and squiggly. This is the opposite, all ordered, eternal and square.

I'll have to take a trip in your nightmares, if they're actually this mundane it would be a nice change of pace.

>>21301607
"Hmm, it doesn't feel like that for me. It's creepy because it's so empty and abandoned, but that's it."

>>21301607
"It feels empty. If it was full of vibrant life it would probably be much nicer. But now it's stagnant, stagnant perfection."

"That sounds exactly what you'd think." You say. "You prefer things living, breathing, and squiggly. This is the opposite. All ordered, eternal, and square."
"Yeah..." She said. "But it seems too... stagnant. Like a knife's edge."
She shook her head.
"I'm starting to think... I was always like this. With the things hiding in the shadows. Ever since I hatched."

>>21301679
"You think it's your fate to bring them into the light?"

>>21301679
"When we get back home, I can try and bring up the memory of that dream you had when you were a chick. That might be able to confirm whether or not you've always been like that."

>>21301679
"Probably. It's one of the things that I like about you though, it makes you...slightly mysterious and relatable, at the same time. If that makes sense."

>>21301679
"How can you have a passion without knowing any wizardry?"

Rolled 40

>>21301703
We should do it now, with sorcery.

>>21301715
No not now. We're in middle of a trip, it can wait.

"How can you have a passion without knowing any wizardry?" You ask, and she met your eyes again- this time, they were bright red.
"... Is it really a passion?" She asked. "It's not necromancy, it's not enchantment, or transmutation, or healing, or evocation. It's not any of the normal, logical disciplines, but with something I thought I made up from nothing. But when I was 'making it up'... It felt more like I was... remembering it."

>>21301733
"Maybe you were. We could find out later, though. It comes to you in your dreams, and I'm sure sorcery could bring up some of your earliest dreams."

>>21301733
"You're eyes go all pretty whenever you get impassioned, and Azariel said that's happened on and off your whole life. Maybe you're right. Maybe you are partly from the Outside."

What's the bet her mother had a thing for squiggly monstrosities?

>>21301733
"The Gearworks said your magic comes from Outside. It might be a normal, logical discipline there, where the laws of magic are different."

>>21301733
"So you're special and different.

I've always been a dragon, a sorceress and descended from beings of magic on the other side of my family. I didn't know most of that for the longest time.

Even if you don't always know it you are what you are, and you're special."

"Maybe you were." You say, and give her a hug. "Your eyes go all pretty whenever you're impassioned, and Azariel said that's happened on and off your whole life. Maybe you're right. Maybe you are partly from the Outside."
"Maybe." She said, and gave you another kiss. "But... I can't leave this place like this."
She cupped her hands, and you feel her heart beat... and start beating wildly, crazily, so fast you can hardly keep up with it. Her shoulders wrack with passion, and her lungs seize up... and then she relaxes, and opens her palms. Inside, you see a small rat, with three eyes on one side, and four strange, mutant-length tentacles on the other.
Gently, she set it down on the street. It squeaked up at her.

>>21301878
"That's a rather strange rat. What's it do?"

>>21301878
Um.. is that really safe? What will it eat here?

>>21301878
"Um, don't you need more than one?"

>>21301878
THE SEED HAS BEEN PLANTED! CTHULHU WILL RULE THIS LAND!

File: 1351295663237.png-(8 KB, 613x162, notspam.png)

>This isn't spam, but 4chan thinks it is.

>>21301984
"Right then. Lead on."
To the subway!

>>21301984
"Then let's go there."
Grab that beanbag and some of the bits and pieces first though. Take the feather if Kali doesn't.

>>21301984
Kaliel, I'm a little bit worried about what you just did. What if it gets to the top of the tower? It could end up on any number of worlds and cause all sorts of damage.

>>21302005
The crystal rock sounds neat, is it purple? Definitely take it if it is.

>>21302006
Just leave it be. Shenanigans will follow eventually.

>>21302018
Let's just stuff everything except the pinecone into our inventory.

>>21302043
What do you have against pinecones?

>>21302043
What's wrong with the pine cone? You have something against pine cones, son?

>>21302043
Why wouldn't we take the pinecone? We can have Marigold turn it into a full grown tree in our garden when we get home.

"Kaliel, I'm a bit worried about what you just did. What if it gets to the top of the tower? It could end up on any number of worlds, and cause all sorts of damage."
"Don't worry." Kaliel said, the red light in her eyes slowly turning amber. "I didn't make it pregnant with it's own kind. I made it pregnant with... seeds, and plants, and animals of all shapes and sizes. I think."
She closed her eyes, and then stood up, as Lea, Leon, Marigold, and Kristoph came down.
"Then let's go there." You say to Grayson. "One moment first."
You get to your feet, and you quickly take a little bit of everything. The feather, the strange, strange bed, the rock, and other bits and pieces that your mother had collected, putting it all in your inventory. You make your way back down to the street, and Grayson was looking up at you.
"Right then." You say. "Lead on."

Slowly and carefully, Grayson made his way through the streets, eventually finding a small set of stairs down to a hole in the ground. As you went down, it got darker and darker, until it was impossible to see.
>Field too long!

"I'm not sure I like this darkness..." Kristoph said.
"It's rather soothing." Lea responded.
"One moment." Grayson said, and you felt his spark flare. Suddenly, everything flashed, and lights on the ceiling lit up, showing you that you were inside an enormous tube, tunnels far into the distance, and you see an enormous floating oval, sitting in front of you, complete with a slant so you could climb up, and strange, blue crystals sitting in the center.
"Climb up, and we can be on our way." Grayson said.

Leon took the first step. "It seems to be supporting my weight..." He said. "What are these blue things?"
"They're beds." Grayson said.
"Erm..."
"For those without shells. The... citizens, you could say. The ones that cannot afford the magic power to generate one." He continued.

>>21302098
"It must have been an interesting society."

>>21302098
"Were there many who couldn't afford a shell?"

Rolled 7

>>21302098
Let's see how comfy those beds are.

>>21302135
We'd have to separate ourself from our body first. Which we probably don't want to do.

>>21302148
Whyever not?

"It must have been an interesting society." You say. "Were there many who couldn't afford a shell?"
"Further underneath this is the webway." He said. "Where trillions upon trillions of the citizens lived, able to slowly travel from place to plac, or stay where they were. They had almost no magic power, not even enough to come up. There were simply too many people. Yes, there were many. A great many. There may have been millions with shells... but far, far more without."
"That sounds... sad." Marigold said.
"Not at all." He responded. "At the very heart of this world, in a place with heat and strength and impossible pressure, is a Great Work. One that... creates a great many fake worlds, and fake stories, that the citizens can entertain themselves within. All of them. I'm certain it still exists, for the only way to destroy it is to destroy the world." Grayson said. "Is everybody ready?"

>>21302188
Because we just found a way to make our fleshsack live forever and going full incorporeal didn't end well for the arakoatoa.

>>21302204
"I'm ready."

>>21302204
Yes. Let's go find the video games.

>>21302213
You're no fun.

"I'm ready." You say.
Grayson looked to everyone else, and they all proclaimed their readiness.
"Then... to the library." Grayson said, and pressed his head up against one of the crystals. The entire oval hummed... and then shot through the tunnel.

Everything, save for the other people with you, became a blur... and then you tore through portal after portal after portal, shooting across the entire world in a matter of seconds.
And then... you arrived.

>End of thread!
>I'll stick around a bit to answer questions and such.
>My twitter is @futureexabyte, and I fuck around on the IRC pretty much all the time. (#Exabyte on Rizon)

>>21302348
Can we go to the world of amazonian catgirls and take over there?

>>21302974
Do you know that worlds name, anon?

If you did I'm sure we could.

>>21303004
I could make a few educated guesses. And we could probably ask Library, or get Bubbles to link up with the Tower and figure it out.

>>21302974
If you, sigh, put the work into it, I suppose.
>>21303019
Bubbles trying to scan over every world detected would mean insanity or death to him. Too much information, even for the Mind.

>>21303250
We should have just asked the gearworks for the portal spell to the world of amazonian catgirls. That would have been a lot easier.

>>21303004
This presents a problem. We said we could get home ourselves but Exabyte still hasn't named the main world so it's impossible to travel there with the tower.

>>21303626
It's called Serpensal.
Old Arcturus's technical name is Bottestra, in case you're curious