Session 37 - Put Your Arm On

The Iron Arrow cruises into the landing platform, coming to a halt with a hiss and a release of steam. Aiaoue and Cadence note that there is an air of tension hanging in the air, the MWDs are louder, and there are fewer "Void acolyte" sightings. Ironborn, with one of his constructs, arrives and looks over his Iron Arrow. What's with the tension? Ironborn notes that it may be due to Diamont doing double time to keep certain information under wraps. Ironborn notes that Arkyn should consider being less liberal with his Sendings, but doesn't elaborate. Arkyn pauses for a moment as some unexpected thoughts snake their way into his mind:

Cashing in on a FAVOR you owe me; Keep this a secret, won't you? I think this will be fun. You have 3 options, choose your favorite. You have until sundown.   (1) Destroy Tipsy Smiles or Mer-Butt   (2) Steal an item of notable import from Ironborn's office   (3) Find out what Diamont is running from

Arkyn immediately puts up Telepathic Bond and begins acting incredibly suspicious. What if you have a secret that you can't tell, but want to tell? Are there loopholes? Either way, Arkyn really need to go talk to Diamont. Although initially planning to split, the group decides to head to the Church. Yenush makes a quick pit stop outside the Tavern, where Eight is giving Vendetta many well-deserved scritches. Her demeanor immediately changes upon Yenush's arrival. After collecting Yenush's blood, she makes one thing clear: if Yelkin agrees to go back with Yenush, she will be sending him with the equivalent of an army. She will not stand to allow any member of the Dremoran pantheon to abuse their power again. Otherwise, she'll need a few days to make the requested rings.

The Church feels different, though the statue of the Void Maiden remains in the center hall. Cadence quickly pays her respects. As the group enters Diamont's office, the tiefling man seems more composed than the rest of his Church. Have you sorted out that prophecy? Diamont notes that his focus has been on ensuring the future of this Church, in some way, shape, or form. Diamont provides clarity on Ironborn's sending comment: he would have preferred to have the power of sharing information on the Void Maiden's passing. Regardless, he's managing with keeping everything under control, though he notes Ademar is clearly cooking up something (though when is he not). Can we just call the Void Maiden back? Unfortunately, it isn't so simple. The Void Maiden is no longer on this world. Perhaps brighter minds on Dremora have sorted out how to reach individuals who have gone beyond the reach of conventional magic.

Arkyn continues to behave strangely in Diamont's office so the group stops to have a completely telepathic conversation in the middle of Diamont's office. Aiaoue eventually shoves a totem into Arkyn's chest and identifies a strange mote of influence that has taken root in his mind. After shattering it, the group is immediately made aware that Ademar was attempting to do something... perhaps collect on the blank slate favor that Arkyn owes Ademar. OOF, Sayah didn't know that did she? Yenush is particularly not thrilled with this development; just give him a reason, any reason. Before leaving, Cadence updates Diamont on Aria. While Diamont would prefer to have her here, it is clear that she is on a different path.

Teagan turns to Arkyn and, with reluctance, Arkyn hands him the Book of the Dead. Teagan isn't about to risk being controlled by Ademar of all people.

Cadence heads to Mistress Eight who agrees to continue to teach her jewelrymaking. Meanwhile, Sayah stares down Arkyn. Ademar? Really? Arkyn thought a blank slate favor meant he was going to have to do chores. Sayah is a firm believer that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover... but that book? What part of Ademar doesn't scream conniving or scheming? Sayah seems satisfied with Arkyn agreeing not to gamble without supervision.

Aiaoue and Yenush surprise Viren who is, as always, very frazzled. Aiaoue presents him with the Bloom-Apples (Ass-in-blooms, boots with the fur) and a small little succulent that she can make SENTIENT. Viren, at first, is a bit alarmed. He's taken care of plants before but never a sentient one. Well, it's sentient so it can just tell you what it needs! Viren then gives Aiaoue a hug before - clearly embarassed - also hugging Yenush. Viren doesn't fully seem to remember what he sent to Yenush last, which causes suspicion. You haven't made any deals with Ademar, have you Viren? He has not, but Omarosa has. Viren notes that it was odd for Ademar to engage in hypotheticals. When asked, Viren explains that he was curious about rune alignment in transmutation magic. Yenush mentally connects with Aiaoue. You do magic, what does THAT mean. Aiaoue isn't the SMART one with magic though. Y-you are having a telepathic conversation w-without me.

Meanwhile, Teagan finds that Kovac's Square has a different vibe and has been slightly rearranged. And Syrio isn't hiding anything as Teagan walks in to find that the smith has reconstructed a variant of the forge found in the Abyssal Temple. And he's not even being discrete about it as the smith pulls a shackle from the forge. Teagan wastes absolutely no time in popping of. I TOLD YOU NOT TO WORK WITH THE GOD BABY METAL AND THIS IS WHAT YOU DO? In a rare moment of clarity, Syrio speaks. He's had a deal with Ademar since he's been here. For what? Luxury. You consider this luxury? The best Legacy can afford. Syrio notes that Ademar is purposefully taunting and that, in particular, he wants to fight Yenush. Teagan notes that when that happens, Syrio doesn't have to be there. Syrio shrugs. It's nice to have this civility before the gloves are inevitably thrown. Teagan follows as Syrio hand delivers his work to Ademar. After a brief moment of eye contact with Ademar, Teagan pivots and wrecks havoc on Syrio's new forge. When Syrio returns, he seems unphased. He can just rebuild it when they galavant off on the Iron Arrow again.

Aiaoue heads over to the Tavern where Eight is pleased to see her. As she begins to tell the tale of everything they've been up to, Briella arrives and is DELIGHTED to see the weird spices that Aiaoue brought back. Jin, meanwhile, is asleep - once again - at his own bar. He had it good for too long. After using divination to talk to Oshozi about the Ademar situation, Arkyn arrives at the tavern to request another curse suppression ring from Eight who agrees to construct another.

Now alone in the Clinic, Viren shows Yenush what he meant by drawings. While not perfect, they are surprisingly good sketches of Yenush's prosthetic arm, especially considering Viren was drawing from memory. It seems Viren spent time trying to rig up designs to either enhance the arm or perhaps directly deliver healing potions. The schematics are clearly at the stage of "I have an idea, but not quite sure how to implement it" and Viren is clearly more magically oriented than mechanically oriented. As Viren is talking, Yenush pops off his arm and slaps it on the table for a better reference. A moment later, Teagan kicks in the door. Put your arm on, Ademar wants to fight you. He's made a bone metal shackle and Syrio is in on it. Yenush slaps his arm on. That sounds like a reason.

Viren is very confused. Yenush pulls out his own bone metal shackle. Before they can stop him, Viren touches it and goes pale. Oh. Although Teagan is down to go knock some sense into Ademar, Yenush notes that perhaps this isn't entirely ademar. It could be Faust. Viren pipes up: Ademar is cursed? As Yenush and Teagan discuss what to do, Viren attempts to leave, but is stopped. He'll go talk to Ademar! NO, you shouldn't do that! Why not? Viren is quite confident that Ademar can't harm him. Omarosa wouldn't make a deal without stipulating that; she's far too overprotective. That is true. With Viren in tow, Teagan and Yenush head to the Tavern.

What do to About Ademar

  The group reconvenes in the tavern. Let's talk about Ademar. After getting the rest of the group (and Eight and Briella) up to speed on the situation, Teagan supports knocking some sense into Ademar (his actions are enough to justify a kidnapping, right?) and Aiaoue is very confident she'd have Omen's support just murdering Ademar and being done with it. Yenush slows everyone down for a moment. This might not even be him, this could be Faust. Anger boils and rolls in Yenush's gut, but he stifles tha feeling. Huh. That was weird. The name "Faust" is mentioend by other people and Yenush doubles over for a moment, overtaken by a primal need to hunt, eviscerate, kill, rip and tear with claws he doesn't have.
  Cadence notes that perhaps they'll need to go and kill this god, though there aren't enough Void Shards to do exactly what the group has been doing for Ademar. Arkyn doesn't want to do anything that could potentially hurt Madame Blythe. Mistress Eight notes that any harm to her nephew will inevitably bring the old woman pain. Teagan mentions that he could try and suppress Ademar's curse so they can talk to him without his curse-bound passenger. Aiaoue nods. She has been talked down; she thinks Alcide would have also gotten her there, so congrats Teagan.
  After further discussion, the group resolves to address the matter promptly. Eight, although lacking in militant might, can provide a safe place for people should a true altercation break out. Zix and Vendetta can assist with that. Yenush takes off Diamond's charm and asks if Eight could put this somewhere. Is it of particular import? No? Eight opens a window and hurls the charm into Vendetta's open mouth. Yenush is reluctantly to let Viren go speak to Omarosa, but ultimately acquieses. The group then warns Diamont and Ironborn, both of whom offer to mobilize their "forces" to ensure no one else enters Sinner's Choice.
  Entering Sinner's Choice, the group finds Syrio near the bar, Omarosa and Viren engaged in a heated conversation, and Ademar seated with Marcia... the first test of Ademar's new bone metal. Ademar is unperturbed by the group's arrival, inviting them to sit and "negotiate". Why is Marcia in shackles? She dared to challenge Ademar's authority and he's sending a message. Does it bother you? As Yenush bites back at Ademar, he grins and notes "cat has claws". And your a snake. We're both snakes. Well you're clearly more of the snake in the grass in this situation. There is an air of deju vu that hangs over Yenush. This altercation is oddly familiar.  Do you know how much Viren cried after you left? Yenush would like someone else to take over talking. Teagan sidles up to Ademar, whose attention is on Yenush, and hits him with a good old curse suppression. Five second pass before Ademar reacts... a look of confusion and surprise. The only other person to react to the change... is Syrio.
  Ademar slowly turns to Teagan. What... did you do? Are you you? Ademar notes that his mind is empty and his thoughts clear. Now, here is the test. Give us the key and let Marcia out. And give away any assurance that you don't immediately kill him. No thank you. Teagan chooses not to inform Ademar that his current options are die or be dragged out unconscious if he doesn't cooperate. Ademar proposes an alternative: inform me exactly what you did and what your plan is... and he'll release Marcia. Arkyn gives an explanation of what the group has been up to with the Void Shards. Of course, Ademar would have to go with them and work with Yenush. How charming. However, Ademar seems convinced. One final condition: you find a means to fix Omarosa and Viren. Oh, they were both already on the list. With a snap of his fingers, the shackles fall from Marcia.
  So about that blank slate favor on Arkyn... can you be rid of that? Ademar rolls his eyes and asks Arkyn to get him a drink. There, provided the task is completed, blank slate favor finished. As Arkyn walks to the bar, he notes that Syrio is... crying yellow and blue tears? Hey man, are you okay?

 

The Fool's Dance

Syrios form cracks and breaks, as another form manifests. The new form bows and gestures broadly as three theatrical masks shift around the space. What droll conversation; let's make this a bit more entertaining, shall we! And suddenly Viren doubles over, seemingly fighting back something. Teagan is struck by the need to dance as Aiaoue goes bird and moves into the fray. Yenush realizes that he was lying when he said he was going to shoot the clown. Instead, he dodges and moves to flank. Teagan hurls the trident at the figure, though ends up shattering a portion of the bar instead.

Cadence moves to help Viren, but realizes she was lying when she said she was going to use the Void Shard to suppress him. Instead, she uses Dispel Magic to find a mote of influence within Viren. Although able to find it, there's more to be done. Ademar vaults over the table and moves towards Viren, drawing cards and throwing one at Cadence who feels her magic reinforced. (Aw, he does care. Omarosa would kill him). Arkyn casts Slow, catching the Aspect and helping Viren, who draws a shaky breath... right before Omarosa begins to struggle.

The Aspect attempts to swipe at Yenush but critically misses... which causes Arkyn to begin to laugh uncontrollably. Teagan, still stuck dancing, decides to start destroying Ademar's furniture by hurling chairs (The MAHOGANY). Cadence, Ademar, and Viren are able to stabilize Omarosa as the Aspect decides to deliver a few strikes to the downed Arkyn. Aiaoue deciedes to bring the fight to Teagan, dragging the Aspect directly in front of him. Aiaoue, Teagan, Yenush, and Ademar pursue the Aspect as he misty steps around the casino. Teagan continues to damage the furniture as Arkyn continues to laugh behind the bar. Cadence manages to heal Arkyn and Yenush brings Viren over to help as well. Omarosa hits Teagan with a whip and he's feeling motivated.

Arkyn, finally no longer laughing, gets off a Psychic Lance and Aiaoue then shred the Aspect to pieces. As it disolves into radiant light, only a broken fragment of one of its masks remains.