The Vale journeyed on, and with the last boarder detected, some made plans to intercept it. Unfortunately, the combined efforts of several Wizards could not repel what turned out to be an unusually strong strain of Burning Leviathan, guarding a boarding vessel that had become a fortress.
After more than a day's attempts, the defender proved intractable - and Isabel looked to a more decisive method of removing it. Unfortunately, the brave Wizard Lady Morgana had fallen in the attempt, and out here in the chaos of the Maelstrom, death came with more perils than most - requiring decisive action to reverse it.- The Vale wobbles a bit from the continued presence of boarders, but soars on, occasionally making an adjustment in pitch that makes you feel uneasy in a way that a mere physical turn would not. (2025-07-30 22:06:25).
- You emote, " taptaps on the controls. You see her briefly become invisible and reappear." (2025-07-31 02:43:00).
- Gandledore said, "Friends, part of the Vale seems to be under fell influence. There is a Burning Leviathan outside [14, 4], which has been turned into an Infernal Latch Pod. I am not certain what that is, but it carries the ring of some sort of boarding device." (2025-07-31 05:34:36).
- Gandledore said, "Infusion is not within my realm of competencies. Can we reclaim the location before the end of all things? Can we deny the invaders a secure beachhead on our lands?" (2025-07-31 05:35:36).
- You say, "My sensors indicate that it is guarded. We are in the realm of meaning and consciousness now - if its guardian can be bested, I believe the fortress will fall." (2025-07-31 14:13:36).
- A crackle of arcane magic echoes across the Vale, suggesting that you ought to get to the shelter of the control room as the vessel weathers a particularly nasty set of chaos storms. (2025-07-31 17:43:09).
- You say, "Hold on." (2025-07-31 17:43:17).
- You emote, " observes several orbs in the air that float around her." (2025-07-31 17:51:33).
- You say, "That latch pod is proving intractable. Thank you for your valiant efforts, but it looks like it's held." (2025-07-31 17:52:23).
- You say, "I may have to go for a more...direct...approach." (2025-07-31 17:52:32).
- You emote, " finds one of the orbs flashing red, then green. "Ah. Unfortunate."" (2025-07-31 17:53:57).
- You say, "Back when we sealed the vale I wouldn't worry about one of ours dying. Now...the chaos out there is too great." (2025-07-31 17:54:29).
- You say, "So long as we're on board when the Breath ends, our souls should be intact. In that maelstrom? Who knows." (2025-07-31 17:54:55).
- You say, "Ah, Jorus. You wouldn't happen to have anything that belonged to our departed Morgana, would you?" (2025-07-31 17:55:21).
- Jorus said, "I do" (2025-07-31 17:56:08).
- Jorus pulls out a Stone Flower from his robes. "We collected these together in Elysium. Ages ago it seems like and would leave them as gifts for each other" (2025-07-31 17:57:06).
- Jorus hands it to Isabel (2025-07-31 17:57:24).
- Jorus gave you a(n) Stone Flower. (2025-07-31 17:57:27).
- You say, "Excellent. That will do." (2025-07-31 17:57:29).
- You say, "I am a Hasheen, of course. I cannot be certain of what...side effects...the ritual will have, but I should be able to call her back." (2025-07-31 17:58:44).
- Jorus nods gravely "I'm sure she will understand, should it work" (2025-07-31 18:00:29).
- You emote, " places the stone on the ground. "I'm going to have to link her life energy to mine, which means a certain amount of undead existence is a likelihood."" (2025-07-31 18:02:04).
- You emote, " draws a very simple set of runes around the stone, bypassing several steps you've come to think of as normal." (2025-07-31 18:02:23).
- You emote, " whispers the same line over and over again in Hasheen, varying only slightly." (2025-07-31 18:02:43).
- You emote, " finishes the incantation and a spectral, almost translucent Lady Morgana rises from the floorboards, vanishing several times in your peripheral vision before she finally appears solid. Her body appears to be made of the same stone as the flower was, though her clothes are the same." (2025-07-31 18:04:12).
- You emote, " steps back. Several lines of energy route from Isabel to Morgana." (2025-07-31 18:04:37).
- Jorus dashes forward and embraces Lady Morgana. "Thank you Isabel" (2025-07-31 18:06:06).
- You say, "Normally I wouldn't use that ritual on anyone I *liked*...it comes with some pretty nasty soul binding stuff. But we're about to be out of the breath anyway, and besides..." (2025-07-31 18:06:41).
- You emote, " doesn't finish that "besides" quite yet. She has an unfortunate suspicion about her own side of the connection." (2025-07-31 18:07:03).
- You say, "Suffice it to say the consequences are all long-term. And there's no "long term" left." (2025-07-31 18:07:45).
Unfortunately, no sooner had the Council gotten clear of one threat than - just as they were about to escape such debris altogether - another object hit the Vale. What is was was a mystery for the ages, for it brought with it no demons. But it altered their course at the worst time.- You emote, " swivels to a different set of orbs. "I don't like what I'll have to do *here* either. But I'm getting rid of that latch pod. Even if it means blowing more holes in our Vale. Hold on to something and/or someone."" (2025-07-31 18:08:54).
- Jorus said, "Indeed. Caution seems rather silly when existence itself is going to be ripped apart and stitched together anew" (2025-07-31 18:09:45).
- You emote, " puts both hands on the orbs and has a look of intense concentration." (2025-07-31 18:09:50).
- You emote, " grits her teeth. You see the surrounding caverns crumble and collapse." (2025-07-31 18:11:36).
- A tremendous boom shakes the vale, and a flash of eerie, bloody light flares over the area - even places that are quite dark before and after. (2025-07-31 18:12:22).
- You say, "That did it!" (2025-07-31 18:12:28).
- You say, "...the boarders are gone. At quite a price in our remaining matter. But hopefully we'll have more soon enough." (2025-07-31 18:12:59).
- You emote, " darts back over to the navigational controls, a whole string of lights and wires following her as she moves. "And we're back on course. Clear sailing...to the extent that can be said."" (2025-07-31 18:13:32).
- You say, "We're headed right for the source of Creation, with an evvver-so-slight off angle to skim it and run." (2025-07-31 18:21:51).
- Gandledore said, "Very well done, Isabel! Their boarding effects have been completely repelled! We did lose the land, but I believe it is a price fairly paid." (2025-07-31 18:57:00).
- Gandledore carries a far- starry look in his eyes. (2025-07-31 18:57:22).
- Gandledore said, "It will not be long now, before what is becomes was, and what will be becomes is." (2025-07-31 18:57:57).
"There is no power except through sacrifice" is something many in the history of magic have said, as Isabel noted before. Wizards are not demons, nor angels - and so they seek magical truths that stretch beyond this basic lesson. But here at the end of all things, it appeared that sacrifice would be needed once more to save the mission from utter failure.- The Vale is shaken again by a loud boom! (2025-07-31 23:18:13).
- You emote, " rushes to a different set of monitors. "No boarders. We're out of the...debris field...now, but of all the bad luck."" (2025-07-31 23:18:52).
- You emote, " taptaps at controls and cycles between orbs. She looks concerned about something." (2025-07-31 23:19:55).
- You feel invigorated. You regain an extra Action Point. (2025-08-01 00:15:07).
- You say, "We're off course now, and the route we've been knocked into is going to take days of careful maneuvering to get back on track." (2025-08-01 01:33:28).
- You emote, " sighs. This is your first sign that she is capable of breathing. "We don't have days."" (2025-08-01 01:33:45).
- You emote, " says something pretty lengthy in Hasheen to no one you can see in particular." (2025-08-01 01:34:43).
Each Wizard on the voyage had grown in their own way, learned in their own way, in ways that would shape them in the sagas of the world to come. For Isabel's part, she knew not what the new and limited existence she had consigned herself to might mean, but knew no better company with which to spend her final hours as a Nexal soul.
As the final crackling broadcasts from Cordillera reached the Vale, the Empiric Bastion shifted and warped itself to close in on its pilot, ushering the rest of the Wizards to the surface to watch the final end. The Vale of Seers was now on its last, navigated course to its destiny.- You say, "Okay." (2025-08-01 03:03:59).
- You say, "Sometime in the next...near future...the Breath cycle is going to end and everyone here is going to lose consciousness until the next cycle starts. Anywhere from thousands to billions of years, depending on who's shaping the world and how. Given that it's Tlacolotl it could be anywhere in that range." (2025-08-01 03:05:06).
- You say, "We'll need longer than that to steer the Vale on the right course. Otherwise it'll just trail off and - probably - be lost. But no Nexal soul is going to be conscious long enough to do that." (2025-08-01 03:09:29).
- You say, "So...the pilot has to not be a Nexal soul. I'm...going to stay behind to finish the mission." (2025-08-01 03:10:35).
- You say, "I owe our hopes a chance to succeed. And Hashaa, in all her infinite crypticness, seemed to approve when I asked." (2025-08-01 03:11:16).
- You say, "So I won't be joining you in the next Breath. If you ever see me again - and I hope you will - it will be as a part of *this* plane. Whatever it becomes. Whatever I can do to shape it, to our wishes." (2025-08-01 03:13:10).
- You say, "It has been an honor." (2025-08-01 03:13:39).
- Jorus said, "Isabel, I truly wish I'd known you better. You've been a better friend in the short time during these end days" (2025-08-01 03:22:48).
- Jorus said, "We've been at odds over possession of Seats in the past, but your dedication to elevating wizard-kind has been exemplary." (2025-08-01 03:24:23).
- Jorus said, "I say this with all due humility. I've learned a lot from you and am in your debt" (2025-08-01 03:25:28).
- You say, "I have been gladdened and enlightened to know you all." (2025-08-01 03:32:37).
- You emote, " sits down in her seat, which a veritable wave of tendrils, lights and wires is washing over. The controls, scattered throughout the room, slowly make their way closer to her." (2025-08-01 03:38:16).
- You say, "I hope you will walk the path of the Wizard again, Jorus, that we may meet again. Your curiosity and dedication has been an inspiration." (2025-08-01 03:41:26).
- Jorus opens his wizard sight and truly beholds Isabel and is in awe of her. "Your works are not over. Know that as the current holder of the Seat of Death Magic that I intend to follow your vision. Hashaa is powerful and worthy of reverence, but her vision needs temperence and mercy. Kindness, as you have shown. So I vow I will take up this duty. In honor of the kindness you have shown me and mine. (2025-08-01 03:45:59).
- You emote, " sinks into the chair, a greater awareness flooding her senses as her eyes close. "Kindness."" (2025-08-01 04:05:14).
- Frigidaris said, "Your sacrifice won't be forgotten. Farewell, Isabel." (2025-08-01 04:08:10).
- You say, "May you fly high and seek wisdom in the new world." (2025-08-01 04:11:19).
- Gandledore said, "Farewell indeed, Isabel. You have well and truly earned your rest. I will return as a Wizard, of this I feel fair certain. While the realm of death has never spoken to me as it has to you, perhaps your lessons will take a bit more carefully in my mind, and I will learn something new." (2025-08-01 07:00:17).
- There is a crackle of magic, and the faint but discernable sound of a message. You are somehow aware that it originates from Cordillera, but that some force tied to the magicks of this place has pulled it closer to listen in. (2025-08-01 12:26:59).
- “I’m not sure what’s changed down there, but the threat is too great to the rest of the Fleet." (2025-08-01 12:33:36).
- "I still can’t reach command, so we’ll have to deliver the message by hand." (2025-08-01 12:33:45).
- "You want your space station back so badly? Here - take it.” (2025-08-01 12:33:53).
- You emote, " smiles wryly at the broadcast." (2025-08-01 12:37:49).
- You say, "Farewell." (2025-08-01 12:43:49).
- You emote, " begins intoning something in Hasheen. You feel the room rumble and the walls contract. The remaining controls draw closer, bringing themselves within her reach. Walls and ceilings close in, leaving very little space. She gestures toward the exits, before her hand vanishes under the apparatus. "Until we meet again."" (2025-08-01 12:45:04).