Vale of Mysteries: A Wizard Exhale Quest

[Kandarin]

At the newly built Magos Tower in Stygia

Having built a base of operations, the Wizards now pondered what to do next, considering several possibilities: the power in the area, the pieces of the Throne, the demons themselves. Isabel had an inkling of a plan from the notes, but struggled to express it - even to herself.

- You emote, " flips open her copies of the Book of the Dead and starts poring through her notes." (2025-06-28 03:46:07).
- You say, "There can be no power except through sacrifice." (2025-06-28 03:46:32).
- You say, "That is one of the truths of magic. When something is given, something is taken. The demons start with that, and finish with that. My sovereign understands it from another perspective. But you aspire to more." (2025-06-28 03:47:57).
- You say, "Before you came here, before we wrote over them, I studied the runes on the walls here. One of the stories they told spoke of a Corruptor who gained the power to spend the entirety of a locus of magical power to summon something. Crude but innovative, for them." (2025-06-28 03:49:37).
- You say, "I can't help but notice that this sits atop such a locus. If we could empower it enough - spend it all at once - perhaps that too could power something greater." (2025-06-28 03:50:23).
- Jorus walks through the halls of the freshly converted towers, enjoying the new aesthetics much more than previously (2025-06-28 14:28:31).
- Jorus said, "Ah, Isabel. Frigidaris. Good to see you both again. Seems like I wasn't the only one returning to a more....how to put it? Subtle existence down here." (2025-06-28 14:30:46).
- Jorus said, "During our acquisition of this tower and it's...renovation let's say....I came across this" (2025-06-28 14:31:56).
- Jorus puts his hand into a pocket of his robe and pulls out a rather large and intricately decorated armrest. It seems far too large to have fit there so easily (2025-06-28 14:33:49).
- Jorus holds out the armrest for closer inspection. It is quite clearly decorated with demonic runes, dark and evil pictographs, and caked in places with what looks to be dried blood (2025-06-28 14:38:13).
- Jorus said, "I've examined it quite closely. It still seems to me as if there is some latent magic still embedded in it" (2025-06-28 14:43:08).
- Jorus said, "And if I'm not mistaken, I sense a sort of attraction eminating from it" (2025-06-28 14:44:08).
- Jorus said, "By chance have either of you found something similar?" (2025-06-28 14:45:48).
- Frigidaris said, "Hello again! I can't say that I have, but then again I just got here. I came to help converting this place, but it looks like you have it under control." (2025-06-28 15:28:20).
- Frigidaris said, "Meanwhile, I've been searching for a way to magically transcribe the information within Katerina's copy of the Book of the Dead, since it's far too lengthy to transcribe by normal means. Seeing how you have this show under control, maybe I'll make my way back to Purgatorio and keep digging for artifacts with her." (2025-06-28 15:37:38).

At this point the fact that the Wizards had just rung the dinner bell to the entire plane started becoming evident - and unbeknownst to them, brought the solution to their challenges knocking on their door in the form of Eldritch, Prince of Penumbra.

- You say, "That seems wise. I'd be very interested in that missing information." (2025-06-28 18:45:12).
- You emote, " peers through a doorway at the sleeping...dragon?...and quietly closes the door to that room." (2025-06-28 18:46:11).
- You say, "I, too, found one of these pieces in my bag. Which is curious, as I didn't put it there and I didn't see anyone else touch it." (2025-06-28 18:48:24).
- You give your Seat of the Stygian Throne to Lady Morgana. (2025-06-28 18:48:30).
- You emote, " passes what looks like a metal seat padded with demon skin to Lady Morgana, the only other Wizard present who she can see." (2025-06-28 18:48:57).
- You say, "They look like organs of the same body. Pieces of the same item. Split apart." (2025-06-28 18:49:45).
- You say, "Perhaps they should be brought together." (2025-06-28 18:49:54).
- Frigidaris packs his bags and checks a map. (2025-06-28 18:56:10).
- Frigidaris said, "Well, I'm off to the Ancient Lighthouse again while you work on this. Call me if you discover something." (2025-06-28 18:57:41).
- Lady Morgana disappeared from view. (2025-06-28 18:59:01).

- Eldritch said, "Hmm, this is my land, and yet you meddle" (2025-06-29 13:04:59).
- Eldritch attacked you with an Agony Curse attack. She was successful and you are now suffering from the Agony Curse! You will take additional damage from the unholy pains wracking your body each time you are hurt while under the effects of this curse! This attack was laced with virulent, burning poison! (2025-06-29 13:05:33).
- Eldritch said, "Explain your purpose here, wizard. This tower is unusual, I have not seen it here before" (2025-06-29 13:06:02).
- Eldritch looks at the IB in the corner. "You, I have seen. You are not necessary. (2025-06-29 13:06:23).
- Eldritch attacked Charizard with a Corrosive Horns, killing him! (2025-06-29 13:07:12).
- Eldritch said, "I will hide here while you explain yourself. You could not have done this alone, but perhaps a sacrifice could be pledged and I could be convinced to overlook this transgression. If not, I'm sure I could stir the forces of chaos up to defend the place." (2025-06-29 13:08:07).
- Eldritch said, "Choose wisely." (2025-06-29 13:08:13).
- Iona said, "Oh dear" (2025-06-29 13:18:58).
- Lady Morgana gave you a(n) Blood Ice. (2025-06-29 13:32:42).
- Lady Morgana said, "Well since you were kind enough to provide the corpse" (2025-06-29 13:40:23).
- Lady Morgana wipes the blood off her hands and pledges (2025-06-29 13:40:43).
- Jorus said, "This is Council business Eldritch. I can assure you we have no intention of expanding further into your territory." (2025-06-29 13:43:01).
- Jorus said, "And I hope that The Coven's friendly relationship with you and yours can remain as such" (2025-06-29 13:43:30).

- The form of Zecrain seemed to warp and flicker for a moment before appearing to melt into the shadows. (2025-06-29 14:09:08).
- Zecrain attacked you with a Blood Claws and hit for 10 points of unholy damage. They focus their malice on choking your life away. You feel their dark magic tightening around your lungs, choking you for an additional 1 points of death damage! (2025-06-29 14:09:21).
- Zecrain said, "oh, im interrupting, i will leave" (2025-06-29 14:09:41).
- Lady Morgana healed you for 15 points of damage. (2025-06-29 14:19:02).
- You feel that the poison afflicting you has been cured. (2025-06-29 14:19:02).
- Lady Morgana said, "oh dear" (2025-06-29 14:19:46).
- Lady Morgana rummages in her satchel for something to patch up Isabel (2025-06-29 14:20:16).
- Jorus whispered to you, saying "I have the four pieces we've found. Lady Morgana tried reassembling them and found no means to do so, so she has passed them to me." (2025-06-29 14:29:35).
- Eldritch said, "The pledge is sufficient. See that you do not expand." (2025-06-29 14:57:56).

Other demons, however, could not be appeased with treatises or pledges. Isabel retained a vague sense that the solution was right there - which in turn turned out to be correct - but the attacks continued.

- Iona does a curtsy to Eldritch and promises that the Covens presence will be brief and non-disruptive (2025-06-29 18:25:54).
- Narco-Monkey attacked you with a Dark Heart attack, attempting to steal magic points from you. He was successful and has stolen 10 points from you! This attack was laced with virulent, burning poison! (2025-06-29 19:24:36).
- Wrackwyrm, belonging to Narco-Monkey attacked you and hit for 10 points of unholy damage. This was enough to kill you! (2025-06-29 19:26:01).

- You step inside The Sundered Tower. (2025-06-30 03:10:58).
- You cast the spell, and feel the shadows warp and bend around you. You are now hidden. (2025-06-30 03:11:02).
- You have sent 1 credits to Jorus along with the message: Isabel's voice flickers through the voidnet. "Have returned - still a way to deal - tower is a decoy." (2025-06-30 03:12:53).
- You have sent 1 credits to Jorus along with the message: Her voice has the same off tone that you are used to, until recently. (2025-06-30 03:13:10).
- You have sent 1 credits to Jorus along with the message: "Must rest, can clear our enemies given time. Throne will seat itself, in time." (2025-06-30 03:13:42).
- Trisimodo, a Necrophage, belonging to Liemannen attacked you and hit for 13 points of slashing damage. This was enough to kill you! (2025-06-30 11:33:32).

- You step inside Heart's Blood. (2025-06-30 14:10:29).
- You search and find nothing. (2025-06-30 14:10:43).
- You say, "Quite the bloodbath. Are you still here? Because I think I see a way to deal." (2025-06-30 14:11:04).
- You say, "The fog remains, always. But the seat will sit." (2025-06-30 14:11:22).
- You feel invigorated. You regain an extra Action Point. (2025-06-30 14:30:06).
- The Fabulous Mr. Fancy Frog said, "jolly good day, init?" (2025-06-30 14:30:32).
- The Fabulous Mr. Fancy Frog said, "/ne pips aloud to himselfm" (2025-06-30 14:30:51).
- The Fabulous Mr. Fancy Frog said, "pip pip pip!" (2025-06-30 14:31:05).

Only after a second slumber in the Void did a flash of inspiration appear as to what might be done.

- You say, "I believe I see now how to assemble the chair." (2025-06-30 16:11:04).
- Jorus said, "Ah, excellent. I've been pondering over it myself, but recent demonic activity has increased and I find myself running from place to place with little time to ponder between" (2025-06-30 16:31:31).
- Jorus gave you a(n) Potion of Healing. (2025-06-30 16:31:49).
- Jorus said, "Wake me when you're ready to talk. I'll be hidden in the shadows nearby" (2025-06-30 16:32:54).

[Kandarin]

In Purgatorio - a lesson in Balance

Hasheen places - even one as glaringly obvious as the Lighthouse citadel, out of place amidst humbler ruins - often have a subtler magic about them than the flashy efforts of self-made mages or the clever workings of Marquai's pupils. They follow their own logic, but can appear to just be old, dusty and crumbling - in the state they collapsed into, instead of with any intent. An elder Hasheen knows that those things are not necessarily contradictions - but that didn't make the challenge of navigating the lighthouse any more frustrating.

- Frigidaris said, "Okay, I'm back. Sorry, I had to go check on my fellows' little project. Did you find what we were looking for?" (2025-06-28 19:00:07).
- You emote, " looks up from an Arcane Book she is poring over when you walk in. "Ah, hello."" (2025-06-29 02:23:53).
- You say, "They say that even a failed experiment means you discovered a method that doesn't work." (2025-06-29 02:24:13).
- You say, "And what I learned is there definitely isn't a way up to that lantern at the top of the lighthouse." (2025-06-29 02:25:01).
- You say, "The magics here do their best to scramble one's sense of...not direction so much as memory. You're supposed to wander through, forget your way several times, get lost, and wind up back where you started, certain that you spent more time there than you did. It's an old, familiar trick." (2025-06-29 02:26:50).
- You say, "But I'm a *Hasheen*, so I know how those magics work. And more importantly, I've been to this citadel before. The real, larger one. And the route up to the lantern chamber just isn't there." (2025-06-29 02:29:06).
- You say, "But it *exists*. And that means there's a way." (2025-06-29 02:29:27).
- You say, "You said you were going to have a look around this place, the plane. Tell me, did anything...else...stand out as a locus of Hasheen magic? Anything that left a mark strong enough for you to pick up?" (2025-06-29 02:31:42).
- Frigidaris checks a map. (2025-06-29 07:39:48).
- Frigidaris said, "There were two locations that caught my eye. The first is a crater outside this building, oozing with deathly energy. The other is in 19,13, a small chunk of grassland southwest of here." (2025-06-29 07:44:44).
- Frigidaris said, "Most of the grass was dead, but there was also a patch of living green grass. And in the middle of the living grass, a small circle of beautiful white flowers. Plus, the whole area was shining with a wholesome light." (2025-06-29 07:50:11).
- Frigidaris said, "The question is, can you use either of those to somehow get to the top of the lighthouse? Because unless you have a hot air balloon hidden somewhere, I can't see how." (2025-06-29 07:52:51).

The visitors did not, in fact, have a hot air balloon. Had they physically climbed the lighthouse or flown to its apex, which they did not, they would have found that every possible contrivance stood in the way of getting into the lantern. Nevertheless, Katerina went for a flight - for the latter site, a wholesome light with white flowers, sounded familiar.

- You say, "I do not, in fact, have a hot air balloon." (2025-06-30 02:59:55).
- You say, "Nor would I trust myself to steer it if I did." (2025-06-30 03:00:11).
- You emote, " whispers something loudly in Hasheen, and you feel spirits emerge from the void in great numbers. They swirl, invisibly, around her and she floats into the air." (2025-06-30 03:02:13).
- You emote, " steadies herself a little before appearing to fly naturally. You've seen Liches do this plenty of times before." (2025-06-30 03:03:11).
- You say, "Ah. I've got no wings, so this is how I go about flying. I'm going to investigate both sites." (2025-06-30 03:03:44).
- You emote, " swoops out the great stone doors of the entryway." (2025-06-30 03:03:58).
- You step outside of Ancient Lighthouse. (2025-06-30 03:03:59).

As it happened, Katerina herself had had something to do with the Fountain of Life on a remote rock of faded grasses in Purgatorio. It had been built as a regular Death Font by another Hasheen, a prolific font-builder. Katerina had undertaken a pilgrimage years ago, a part of her long, friendly-yet-adversarial dance with her patron, her bid to make Hashaa see the goodness and beauty of the universe, to pull her toward the light. Katerina's efforts in this direction were humble and slow, and she expected the dance to continue for eons, but this fountain was evidence that it was possible - that there was a Good side of Hashaa to cultivate.

And it was as she remembered - a gently bubbling fountain glowing with a wholesome light, planted with white flowers - the first hint that Hashaa is capable of gratitude and of recognizing that some things are, in fact, made to last. The flowers had once bloomed in Laurentia, in a place called the Altrean Mountains, and now bloomed only here in all the universe. It was not a hot air balloon, it was not a blasting weapon that could unlock a door in the citadel. But it was a thread that could be pulled.

- You step inside Ancient Lighthouse. (2025-06-30 03:31:08).
- You say, "Witness the mercy of Hashaa, and rejoice." (2025-06-30 03:31:19).
- You emote, " floats back into view, some hours later. She lands on her feet, readjusts to walking, and lets the sprites back out of her bags. The whisper of the spirits vanishes." (2025-06-30 03:31:56).
- You say, "...is something someone wrote out there." (2025-06-30 03:32:06).
- You say, "You are right. Both locations are powerful sites of Hasheen magic. But they could not be more different." (2025-06-30 03:33:25).
- You say, "Tell me, seal-keeper, do you follow an Elder Power yourself?" (2025-06-30 03:35:00).
- You say, "...regardless of if you do, you have dealt with their machinations enough to be where you are." (2025-06-30 03:36:21).
- You say, "They have identity, personality - but are not all unified in purpose and traits." (2025-06-30 03:36:38).
- You say, "Baraas is cooperation, but also machinery." (2025-06-30 03:36:49).
- You say, "Tlacolotl is hatred, and violence, and the relentless, pyramidal flow of power. As we may all, unfortunately, find out soon enough." (2025-06-30 03:37:40).
- You say, "Hashaa is death, and entropy. The notion that you can't get something for nothing. Decay. And yet also mercy, and peace." (2025-06-30 03:38:31).
- You heal Frigidaris for 10 points of damage. You gain 10 experience points. They are now fully healed. (2025-06-30 03:39:59).
- You say, "It is those last traits that I focus on. It is those traits that that pool on the island are devoted to." (2025-06-30 03:40:22).
- You say, "And it is the more negative traits - the wounding, decay, loss and grief - that power the pool outside our door." (2025-06-30 03:44:04).
- You say, "One of those sites is stronger than the other, and closer. If we could strengthen the better of those fonts, and weaken the worse, perhaps the magical ecosystem here would be friendlier to our goal." (2025-06-30 03:45:08).

The contrast to the Fountain could be found right outside the Citadel's door - the Mouldering Pillar, a Font of rot and decay. That two such opposites existed so close to each other was a testimony to the fact that both reflected aspects of the same Power. This too was a thread.

- Frigidaris said, "An interesting theory. How weakened do you think the worse one should be? I wouldn't want to break anything irreversibly." (2025-06-30 06:39:55).
- You say, "The Breath is winding down. At this point, I wouldn't worry about chronically breaking *anything*." (2025-06-30 15:02:34).
- You say, "Besides, this citadel is a reflection. The real thing is still out there." (2025-06-30 15:02:52).
- You say, "And in any case, we'd be adding at least as much Hasheen magic as we take away. Just on a different wavelength." (2025-06-30 15:03:15).
- Frigidaris said, "Yes, that's true. In any case, the negative font outside is now empty and the positive over yonder is at 85 maximum depth. You think that's enough merciful energy for what you intend to do?" (2025-06-30 16:05:07).
- You say, "I will expend my own stores. Hopefully that should boost the Fountain of Life a bit more." (2025-06-30 17:05:12).

Katerina lifted off once again, bourne by spirits, to continue what Frigidaris had started. She drained the Pillar dry and offered every Potion she had to the Fountain.

- You say, "The Pillar had ninety-one units of potential in it, and the Fountain eighty-five." (2025-06-30 17:07:57).
- You say, "That count now stands at ninety and ninety-five." (2025-06-30 17:08:12).
- You say, "The changes this might work are remarkable small and subtle. A wall standing instead of falling, or the right wall fallen instead of standing. A clear path instead of a befuddling one." (2025-06-30 17:13:29).
- You emote, " whispers something in Hasheen to the sprites and they once again amble off. She picks up a lantern and walks into the labyrinthine halls once more. "It is worth searching again."" (2025-06-30 17:14:07).
- You say, "Let me know if you find anything...amiss." (2025-06-30 17:14:28).

And somewhere in the lighthouse Citadel, something shifted, however small or subtle, to open a path that had before been closed. A staircase down into an as-yet unseen catacomb of the Purgatorio Underground made itself evident.

- Frigidaris whispered to you, saying "Psst, over here! There's a stairway down, looks like your plan worked." (2025-06-30 17:51:13).
- You climb down the stairs into a deep, suffocating darkness filled with the dust of old bones. (2025-06-30 18:23:49).

[Kandarin]

In Stygia - A Heist in plain not-daylight

The epiphany Isabel had realized was that Eldritch, rather than an obstacle, was the key to the whole affair. They hoped to walk off with an Overlordship with which to fool Tlacolotl. That meant revealing a whole lot of fundamental demonic magic that normally lies deeply hidden, that it may be manipulated. This, in turn, meant running toward a potent wielder of that magic, rather than away from them.

The Wizards had, by now, been driven from their tower by a well-armed coalition of toad demons and others. Scurrying from hiding place to hiding place, Isabel and Jorus at least had hidden in the Nest - a tumbledown, festering Stone Hut to the tower's south.

- You emote, " downs the potion with a grateful expression, to the extent that she has any expression at all." (2025-06-30 16:57:25).
- You say, "The thing we're looking for - the lordship - isn't actually here." (2025-06-30 16:58:46).
- You say, "And if it was, I doubt we can take an Overlord." (2025-06-30 16:59:52).
- You say, "If we work with him - make a show of giving him the chair - it should power up those magicks enough that we can actually get at them. Like convincing a very proud and rich magnate to show off his wealth when you're after something normally kept in a vault." (2025-06-30 17:01:45).
- You say, "Some elements of Stygian magic that don't normally show their face have churned up in our hands. If we plug them into the rest, we can get at the rest." (2025-06-30 17:02:39).
- You say, "We have a bargaining chip in the form of the tower. He has an incentive to want to look strong again." (2025-06-30 17:16:54).

- Trisimodo, a Necrophage, belonging to Liemannen attacked Atharv Griffith, killing them! (2025-06-30 22:02:22).
- The shadows here seem to distort and bend at eerie angles as a chill and eerily soft breeze passes through the area. (2025-06-30 22:09:03).
- You say, "Ah. The Chaos lich. We meet again." (2025-06-30 22:29:30).
- You say, "The Council is conducting experimentation, that should not bother you." (2025-06-30 22:29:44).
- Liemannen said, "Sigh, I lost yet another Necro" (2025-06-30 22:33:45).
- Liemannen said, "All due to my carelessness. How many gone, all lost" (2025-06-30 22:34:12).
- (3 times) Liemannen summoned a Ghoul. (2025-06-30 22:35:26).
- Liemannen summoned a Necrophage. (2025-06-30 22:35:35).
- Jorus said, "There seems to be a problem with a certain type of amphibians next door. I dealt with the one that was there, but they're turning up more often of late" (2025-06-30 22:36:03).
- Jorus nods in greeting to the lich (2025-06-30 22:36:34).
- Jorus pets the friendly cat (2025-06-30 22:36:49).
- Liemannen said, "CCC has their own research and studies, but I am not allowed to take part. I can cast spells too, but my shoes are not pointy, liches need not apply" (2025-06-30 22:36:55).
- Liemannen said, "It is an unjust world" (2025-06-30 22:37:05).
- Liemannen said, "But life is unjust, death and unlife even more so" (2025-06-30 22:37:28).
- Liemannen said, "Toads are bothersome around, most of them" (2025-06-30 22:38:08).
- The shadows here seem to distort and bend at eerie angles as a chill and eerily soft breeze passes through the area. (2025-06-30 22:39:04).
- Jorus attacked Jovanni Bravo with a Pallid Bolt spell, killing him! (2025-06-30 22:39:44).
- Jorus said, "Well said" (2025-06-30 22:40:32).
- Jorus said, "Another corpse for your collection should you wish" (2025-06-30 22:40:49).
- Jorus said, "I've sent a missive to Eldritch. He sends back that he shall seek to join us here at his convenience" (2025-06-30 22:46:37).
- Liemannen said, "Thank you Jorus" (2025-06-30 23:27:41).
- Liemannen summoned a Skeleton. (2025-06-30 23:28:07).
- You say, "Ah, good. If I calculate right, the location should not matter. Until it does." (2025-06-30 23:29:43).

At last, the ruler of Penumbra strode into the room, her infernal glamour standing in sharp contrast to the wreckage around her. Jorus had promised a meeting of some import - but the Eldritch one was not to be toyed with.

- Eldritch said, "You have summoned me" (2025-06-30 23:36:48).
- Eldritch said, "More of you will need to submit to my whims, if you wish to have an accord" (2025-06-30 23:37:02).
- Eldritch said, "Jack, this is chaos lands. Behave and i will tolerate you, for the purposes of this pantomime only" (2025-06-30 23:37:26).
- Jorus said, "Ah, Lord Eldritch. Thank you for responding to my message" (2025-06-30 23:37:33).
- Eldritch said, "I will not tolerate the spare meat" (2025-06-30 23:37:48).
- Eldritch said, ""You will need to truly call me lord, if you wish me to assemble this so called throne. My throne is anywhere I will it, the forces of chaos are mine to command" (2025-06-30 23:38:31).
- Eldritch said, "Well, mostly. They are... quite chaotic" (2025-06-30 23:38:38).
- Jorus said, "In our experiments in your domain, which you have so graciously allowed, we have uncovered relics of a throne. Perhaps one of your predecessors sat there. Perhaps one far older" (2025-06-30 23:38:46).
- Annabella Barrett has exploded in a violent flash of hatred and hellfire, spraying heat and gore everywhere. You take 3 points of fire damage. 8 characters and/or pets were affected by this attack. (2025-06-30 23:39:23).
- Annabella Barrett was looking terribly sick and has keeled over, clutching her chest, dead from defiler poison! (2025-06-30 23:39:24).
- Eldritch said, "Annabella, you are embarassing yourself by fighting" (2025-06-30 23:39:27).
- Eldritch said, "Do you have the pieces to hand, Jorus? I cannot hide in the open like this." (2025-06-30 23:40:00).
- Jorus said, "Quite right. You have asserted your mastery of this domain. None on the Council wish to deny that fact. Nor do we seek to usurp your authority" (2025-06-30 23:40:05).
- Eldritch said, "Oh, I don't care about that. My power is purely mechanical, I asset dominance and that dominance makes me strong" (2025-06-30 23:40:30).
- Jorus said, "I do. Here they are, Your Lordship." (2025-06-30 23:40:42).
- Eldritch said, "Submit to me as your oppressor, and I will assemble your throne, if it is possible" (2025-06-30 23:40:48).
- Eldritch said, "Pass them over, let me consider them" (2025-06-30 23:41:02).
- Jorus makes a great display of drawing the large, ornate pieces of the shattered throne out of a pocket much too small to hold even a single one, let alone them all at once (2025-06-30 23:41:39).
- Eldritch flexes her wings, bored (2025-06-30 23:41:59).
- Jorus levitates them through the air to hover in front of Eldritch, his to grasp as he wishes (2025-06-30 23:42:15).
- You emote, " watches the spectacle with great interest." (2025-06-30 23:42:32).
- Eldritch said, "Hmm, I will see if the four pieces are enough" (2025-06-30 23:42:54).
- Eldritch said, "But you have to fulfill your end of the deal. Pledge to me" (2025-06-30 23:43:03).

Jorus did, indeed, hand over the pieces of the Stygian Throne. And no sooner did they touch Eldritch's hands than they began to knit themselves together - great Stygian magic assembling at the touch of a great Stygian ruler. But just as the broken throne assembled, the safety of the situation began to deteriorate.

- You emote, " watches as the pieces enter the grip of a true ruler of Stygia - a feat she never managed in her infiltration. Metal fuses to metal and snake-like tendrils coil from the disconnected pieces." (2025-06-30 23:43:53).
- Jorus has a look flash across his face, there and gone in a flash (2025-06-30 23:44:15).

Isabel watched in rapt attention, stepping quietly closer and closer to the magical phenomenon as it happened. Before their eyes, the surroundings changed and the ramshackle hut began to expand. Its walls spread, its floor evened, and its material became the dark, flat stone of the single chamber of a great Black Prison.

- You emote, " steps back. A dais forms amidst the tattered, ruined flooring and the walls reshape themselves around the observers." (2025-06-30 23:45:14).
- Eldritch said, "Hmm. This smells like deception." (2025-06-30 23:46:01).
- Eldritch said, "It would be smart for you to pledge fealty at this stage" (2025-06-30 23:46:46).
- Jorus said, "If you would be stop a moment and listen" (2025-06-30 23:47:05).
- Jorus anger courses underneath his tight restraint (2025-06-30 23:47:19).

Isabel ascended the steps as they formed, as the Throne knit itself to place at its apex. The dark, cavernous room echoed with feuding voices. The prize was in sight - if only a distraction could be had to allow her to do the necessary work. Jorus - at the cost of his life - provided the needed distraction.

- You emote, " watches as the steps rise, one, two, three, above the oily pit from before, now made of a dark and featureless stone." (2025-06-30 23:47:34).
- Jorus said, "Attack me again and you'll rue the day you first took breath" (2025-06-30 23:47:41).
- Eldritch said, "Sorry, but you do not threaten a ruler of hell" (2025-06-30 23:48:01).
- Eldritch attacked Jorus with a Corrosive Horns, killing him! (2025-06-30 23:48:10).
- Eldritch said, "His manners caused him some real issues, there." (2025-06-30 23:48:26).
- You emote, " walks up to the stone and inspects it. "Quite a tribute to your rule, is it not?"" (2025-06-30 23:48:37).
- You emote, " watches as the throne fuses itself to the dais." (2025-06-30 23:49:05).

Isabel worked quickly. She had minutes - no, seconds - to lay down a set of runes she'd only seen in old notes. In the guise of curiosity - and trying not to be distracted by the lethal violence going on around her - she laid down the roots of a new Hidden Pathway - to a destination only guessed, a destination whose only guiding link was the great magicks of Overlordship that were briefly on display. And when Eldritch dramatically wrenched the Throne away, the Overlord unintentionally removed the last obstacle. Isabel hadn't had a plan for how she was going to remove that thing.

- You emote, " has a catlike flash of understanding. "I see now."" (2025-06-30 23:50:13).
- Eldritch said, "Sorry, the giant throne you created is now... my puppt?" (2025-06-30 23:50:15).
- You say, "So it appears." (2025-06-30 23:51:44).
- Eldritch said, "Jorus will presumably recover from his wounds" (2025-06-30 23:52:15).
- Eldritch said, "I am certain you wizards are playing an angle, but I have not yet seen the angle" (2025-06-30 23:52:32).
- You say, "Its power is now yours, for the time that it lingers." (2025-06-30 23:52:55).

A new Hidden Pathway is not a small feat of magic, nor one that a Councilor could easily lay down. Isabel had not been entirely sure it would work at all, though the Weave of Magic was in their favor. And it had come at a price - for next door, the new Magos Tower the Wizards had worked so hard to build was gone, returned to an Ebony Tower and radiating Evil as strongly as ever. A band of foundational Stygian magic had been stretched just long enough for the Councilors to touch the prize they sought - and it had snapped back.

Mindful of Jorus' death, Isabel took some time on necessary flattery to draw their host's attention away. And when all attention was drawn away from her, she stepped into the new portal and disappeared.

- You emote, " sees the angle. She darts a look to Morgana to see if she sees it too. Alas, the Wizard is gone." (2025-06-30 23:54:53).
- You say, "Whatever power was in the chair has improved this place...and" (2025-06-30 23:55:49).
- Eldritch said, "Murder a wizard and they all vanish into the woodwork" (2025-06-30 23:55:56).
- Eldritch said, "The Lady doesn't have to wrory while she keeps a civil tongue in her head" (2025-06-30 23:56:11).
- You say, "...and I think you'll find that it has restored your tower, too. Quite a potent bit of magic, there." (2025-06-30 23:56:15).
- Eldritch said, "Where is my tower?" (2025-06-30 23:56:31).
- You emote, " sees the angle at last, but like the corpse she inhabits, she keeps a perfectly straight face." (2025-06-30 23:56:39).
- You say, "Why, your tower next door. The one we converted for our experiment. A fine success, I'd say." (2025-06-30 23:57:03).
- Eldritch said, "Excellent. My realm is restored. Please vacate Penumbra at your earliest convenience" (2025-06-30 23:57:47).
- You say, "The Council is always curious about areas of magic we have not yet touched." (2025-06-30 23:57:57).
- Eldritch said, "You have my respect, so I will allow you to leave of your own volition" (2025-06-30 23:58:05).
- You have sent 1 credits to Jorus along with the message: Isabel's voice echoes. "Excellent. It is unfortunate that you had to be the distraction, but a part well played!" (2025-06-30 23:59:12).
- You have sent 1 credits to Jorus along with the message: The experiment has succeeded beyond my hopes. And our host knows nothing. (2025-06-30 23:59:34).
- You emote, " nods sagely and fades into the shadows." (2025-06-30 23:59:56).
- You cast the spell, and feel the shadows warp and bend around you. You are now hidden. (2025-07-01 00:00:10).

- You emote, " slips out of the shadows and disappears. Curiously enough, you didn't see her go out the door." (2025-07-01 13:18:47).
- You stand in the center of the ring of runes and find yourself elsewhere. (2025-07-01 13:18:49).

[Lychwood]

Nirvanyos--distractable as ever--attempts to catch up to the goings-on. Ultimately, he finds out that the mystery has come to the last place he's likely to be found: his home.

- Nirvanyos the Arcane wanders into the tower after many long months' absence, his stout boots thumping on bare stone. The wizard hums a forgotten folk tune, its rhythm and meter strange--but not unpleasant. What *is* unpleasant, however, is the high pitched sound of his obsidian staff striking against the floor. He looks around and nods, doffing his cap to Prof. Saccharine. (2025-07-04 12:20:54).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane says "Ay. Long time no see. Good t' know this place is as musty and confusin' as ever." The wizard chuckles, pausing to wave his staff. A brief burst of power summons a small army of animated brick-a-brack to his service. Cauldrons, brooms, silverware; even a small ottoman bounds out on stubby wooden legs. They set to work tidying the place...or attempting to. Their efforts only seem to move the mess around, rather than clearing it away. The wizard shrugs and hangs his travelers' cloak upon a coat rack which has politely spidered up alongside him. Having achieved its purpose, the rack bows slightly and retreats to a corner of the room. "Hrm. 'Rine, was that staircase always here? It....kinda reeks o' Hashaa."" (2025-07-04 12:31:42).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane smiles, the expression somewhat akin to an up-turned grimace. Without giving his colleague time to reply, he hares off down the steps to see what lies below. (2025-07-04 12:35:41).
- You climb down the stairs into a deep, suffocating darkness filled with the dust of old bones. (2025-07-04 12:38:43).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane says "Heya, Kat. Fridgy. I was plannin' to head off to Elysium to find ya, only to hear from an associate that you'd shown up on my doorstep." He winks, blue eye sparkling with amusement from beneath a bristling brow. "So...this renovation your work? It er... well. It suits the place, certainly."" (2025-07-04 12:43:12).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane lights his pipe with a snap of his fingers, the embers glowing dully in the gloom. "Had a couple other councilors interested in meetin' up. I'll let 'em know I found ya." The wizard closes his eyes for a moment as two small bursts of magical power emanate out into the dusty air. (2025-07-04 12:46:13).
- You have sent credits to Gandledore along with the message: Right. Found Kat. Head to the Mages Council tower in Purgatorio and make for the basement. (2025-07-04 12:48:23).
- You have sent credits to Atrele Kasha along with the message: Ay. S'me. Found Kat, if you're still interested in our little mystery. Head to the Mages Council tower in Purgatorio and make for the basement. No cover charge; tea service at ten and three. (2025-07-04 12:51:23).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane says "Done." (2025-07-04 12:52:31).