AvB - Marqhu

[Rizban]

Most of the people here appear to be absorbed in their own research or busy helping someone else. There aren't really any lackwits hanging out at the library. That said, there are a few novice scribes looking to be of use for more than just copying texts. There's also a small, blue winged girl who seems to be eager to explore the library fluttering about near the librarian at the front desk.

[planswalker]

Still in my human merchant guise, I walk over to the girl and patiently wait for her to conclude her business. As she steps away, I will say, "Excuse me, miss, but I was wondering if you could help me with something."

[Rizban]

I can try, but I have something of my own that I am trying to find help with.

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[planswalker]

"Well, it is possible that we can help each other out. You see, I have wealth and connections, but I'm not really a scholar at all. I can possibly aid you in your quest for knowledge by providing the means to access it if you can help me research a problem of my own. I have a meeting with a knowledgeable archivist to attend, but my lack of expertise in the area of personal research may disincline her from helping me. If you will act as a spokesperson for me, I shall use my resources to help you discover what you want to know."

[Rizban]

I guess that can work. What did you want me to ask for you?

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[planswalker]

"I have recently come across a reference to an ancient cult of dark deities known as J-E-L-L-O. I have reason to believe that someone is trying to revive this cult. I want to know all about this cult, what it would take for them to achieve their goals, and how they can be stopped. Will you help me in this?"

[Rizban]

Vile gods, worshiped by vile people. I see no reason to have anything to do with forgotten deities and dark rites. Simply show them the better path, encourage them towards changing from their darkness. The Sovereign Host encompasses all creation, and surely they should be able to see this. If a dark cult has been forgotten, then its "gods" were likely nothing of the sort, else they would not have fallen out of memory.

It may be completely out of the ordinary for me to say so, but perhaps the simplest path would be to... eliminate the most fanatical among them. If they are trying to create a false religion, then they can do naught but harm to those around them. Convert those who will and remove those who won't. That is the answer on how to stop them.

another copy/paste

[planswalker]

"So you are so judgmental as to assume that any god who is not currently worshiped in the city must be powerless and that murdering misguided fanatics is better than learning if they do indeed pose a real threat and trying to stop them without killing them first? Well, you definitely are so judgmental and sanctimonious to be unsuitable to actually helping people do something worthwhile. Never mind then. I do wonder though why it is you abuse the name of the Sovereign Host by your words. Surely they would be willing to try to save them. If I wanted a judgmental priest who assumed that they knew everything about how the world works, I would have gone to the temple to Pelor."

[Rizban]

She looks genuinely confused for a moment.

I'm not sure I understand your anger...

I suggested showing them compassion and trying to turn them from evil. I only suggested dealing harshly with any that might be so obsessed with a dead religion or false gods that they cannot change and then also pose a danger to society. I apologize if I misspoke and led to a misunderstanding.

She bows her head to you in reverence.

Please accept my apology and grant me forgiveness for offending you. That was never my intention.

Once more, with feeling.

Remove Once More with Feeling from the game as well as all cards in play and in all graveyards. Each player shuffles his or her hand into her or his library, then draws seven cards. Each player’s life total is set to 10.

[planswalker]

he smiles, "Please, forgive me for jumping to anger. however, do be warned: just because a religion is dead does not mean that its gods are powerless. It is possible to stop the worship of a deity either by killing it or by killing its worshipers. If that happens, the god does not stop existing, it merely stops being active in the mortal populace. If it should regain followers, that could change and the pent up power of untold years of waiting could be released all at once. Right now, I do not know if these cultists are misguided madmen worshiping a divine corpse or madmen guided by a dark presence ready to resurface upon the world once more. I need your help in determining which it is."

[Rizban]

Flutter seems ever so slightly impatient.

I had not considered that, but I would still prefer to not become involved with dark cults. Still, I will ask about it for you, okay? Now, who did you want to be question? All the people around here seem a bit busy.

Are you even reading what I put down here?

[planswalker]

"There is a top-level researcher named Tameral whom I hope to petition for her to help me with this research, but the word is that she will only help with research that interests her. As you can tell, I am not the best at winning friends and influencing people. Would you mind helping me by talking with her on my behalf? I just know that once she is introduced to the subject in the proper manner that she would be willing to work with me on this even if you find trying to stop a potentially dangerous threat to 'icky' for your pretty little wings."

After realizing that he just insulted you yet again, he pauses, regains his composure again, and says, "Look, I am sorry. I just always say the first thing that comes to my mind and do not think of the consequences. I believe this research to be one of the most important things I have ever undertaken. If you will help me in this, I would be grateful. If you don't really want to get involved, I cannot force you to, but I need help. I know that if I petition her on my own that my uncouth manners will turn her off and she will reject me out of hand. Please help me convince her to undertake this project."

[planswalker]

of course I am. they are chuckle-worthy.

[Rizban]

Okay, than I will go to see this Tameral.

Last one? Maybe so...

[planswalker]

Spoiler

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If you'd like, make a teamup thread so you can stop dancing back and forth. I was actually hoping she would say the exact wrong words and set him off. He would then excuse himself and revert to his normal form, then he would come and give her a tentacle hug. she managed to avert that, though.

"Thanks. Let me take you to her now."

he leads her up the stairs that had been pointed out to him, getting to Tameral's office. If the door is closed, he knocks on it.

[Rizban]

She flies up the stairs just behind you.

When you reach the top of the stairs, you see a wide open library several times larger than the tower, larger even than the library below. In the middle of the many shelves of books is a smaller tower. On second glance, you realize it is not a tower but a very ornate perch with attached desk. Reclining on the perch is huge white dragon, it's glistening metallic scales reflecting many hues in shimmering patterns as it breathes. A mane of fine, white hair frames its wise face and cascades down its neck to its shoulders, gathering into a finely plaited braid of great complexity. Its unusually long tail ends in a wide fin, not unlike some great fish, upon which several large tomes are balanced, waiting to be read.

As you enter the dragon looks up from the tome it is reading and motions for you to enter freely but returns to reading without a word.

[planswalker]

"Would you be the renowned archivist and historian named Tameral?" your companion asks, bumping you on the shoulder to break you out of your reverie.

[Rizban]

The dragon raises a single finger to her mouth.
"Shhh... This is a library."

[planswalker]

"sorry" your companion whispers.

I peer at the titles to the book while waiting for the blue-winged girl to introduce us.

[Rizban]

Being several hundred feet away, the titles are understandably difficult to read.

[planswalker]

the rich merchant walks up closer to the dragon and begins to examine the titles of the books.

[Rizban]

They appear to be the medieval equivalent of science fiction novels. Several of them appear to be in the Star Quest series, starring Captain Kurt from planet Holy Wild.

[Rizban]

Flutter quietly approaches the dragon and stands before her a moment. Realizing she is likely to small to be noticed, she flies straight up until just even with Tameral's reading desk and attempts to read a few lines to see what it is the dragon is studying. If the dragon does not respond, Flutter will quietly clear her throat.

Upon clearing your throat, Tameral looks up at you, pushes up her spectacles, and says, "Is there something I can help you with, little dragonblood, or...?"

I am sorry to bother you, but I was told you could tell me what this is. I didn't want to ask just anyone, out of fear of drawing dangerous attention or that the object itself might be dangerous.

She produces the egg and holds it out gingerly in her palms for Tameral to see.

A light puff of smoke rises from Tameral's nose in slight irritation at such a simple question.

"It's a phoera egg."

She then waves a claw at you in dismissal and returns to reading.

FOUR QUOTE POST!!! RRAAGGH!

[planswalker]

"Have you ever heard about 'J-E-L-L-O'?" the merchant asks the dragon.

[Rizban]

*Just before you before you ask that*

Flutter hesitates a moment... the hurridly spits out the next sentence in one quick burst.

Um... the merchant there asked me to ask you if you could tell him about an ancient evil cult that may be coming back so he could stop it.

When she finishes, she grits her teeth, flinches away slightly, and awaits the dragon's ire at the further interruption.

"Have you ever heard about 'J-E-L-L-O'?" the merchant asks the dragon.

The dragon looks to Flutter slightly annoyed, then quickly turns to you, her interest piqued.

"Perhaps I have. Where did you hear this name, and what do you want with the information?

A moment..."

Turning to Flutter, "Little dragonblood, this is not something with which you should be involved. I have enjoyed meeting you, but this is something which would be better for you to not hear. Perhaps we can speak again in the future." Her tone of voice and the look in her eye make it absolutely clear that Flutter is to leave immediately but that no malice is held towards her.

[planswalker]

"I have heard of it from several sources. As to what I plan to do with it, I have no real plans in mind. I do have reason to believe, though, that there might be a charismatic leader who seeks to revive this cult. I want to know what he would have to do to revive this cult if it is possible to do so, and how he could be stopped should he prove able to do so."

[Rizban]

Tameral gravely considers your words for a few moments.

Finally she leans near you and whispers, "Their worship isn't dead, merely changed. Any fool who tries to follow the old ways will quickly find the those evil gods are still alive and active, or at least that is how the legend goes. I will say no more on it, and ask that you do NOT repeat that name here ever again. It holds the possibility of drawing their attention, and I would rather not have that, which is why I dismissed the other one. You are to leave her out of this, as I would be quite upset should she come to harm.

Now, if you don't mind, please leave. You smell like an illithid." She practically spits that last word.

[planswalker]

their worship isn't dead? then what I really need to do is to find out who worships them.

realizing that his disguise is availing him nothing against such a wise creature, he drops the disguise. "It is true, I am the son of a neolithid and a human woman. Does that mean that you refuse to help me learn more about these deities? As for the girl, I do not think she was really interested in this matter. I convinced her to come along because I thought she could help me talk with you and that you could help her identify the egg. I had no intention to place her in harm's way."

"You say that these deities are still being worshiped? by whom? The text in the library below indicates that they are no longer worshiped."

Marqhu seems to not be taking the hint that the dragon hates him.

[Rizban]

Her head recoils as the disguise drops, and she hisses vehemently. Apparently she just thought you smelled like Illithid, most likely through item trade and/or adventuring, and not that you were actually related to them.

"Abomination! Remove yourself from my library immediately! I care naught for your kind and will tell you nothing more, especially considering that you have ignored my polite request to leave. Indeed, given this new evidence, I have come to the conclusion that you are likely one to be interested in reviving said cult. As such I am even further disinclined to aid you. Rather..."

Her eyes light up in sudden realization that she is rambling and that there is a far simpler, if more primal and unsophisticated, solution. Her tail drops the books, lashes out at you, and connects with full force, sending you rolling backwards across the library towards the door.

Spoiler

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Attack - (1d20+34)[49]

Make a reflex save to grab the door frame and prevent yourself from tumbling down the stairs.

[planswalker]

assuming he survives:

"If you will judge others by who their parents are and not by what they have done, then assault them, I will leave."

Marqhu turns and leaves. "I will have you note that all I have done so far is help that dragonblooded girl find out about the egg and seek your help in learning how to stop a potentially dangerous cult." he says as he unhurriedly walks out.