The Catacombs of Wild Energy

[Exachix]

Exachix watches and hmms.

[Fenric]

The bone is the femur of the previous God of the Dead to Myrkul. It seems he dabbled in seid/weaving, because it is scribed with many runes of negative energy and fate.

anti-Aesa releases her runes... silently and invisibly (bah). Nothing appears to happen.

(( A storm of cryofire enhanced crystals swarms out to Aesa, bounces off, and is absorbed by anti-Aesa. ))

[AmberVael]

Aesa hums softly, strengthening her wards as she scribes a few runes in the air.
Energy forms, and she scribes a few void-like runes in the air, which suddenly absorb energy, then a galdr blazes with power, falling into the bone.

[Fenric]

Anti-Aesa furiously prepares a shield, only to gape in surprise as the energy goes right by her.

The fates of the dead, as much fate as any other, are easily and immediately affected by the power.

The chaotic energies notice, and react. Aesa and Anti-Aesa trade voices, not that you'd ever notice.

Dancing lights in a myriad of colors cavort around the room, and a Wall of Fire encircles Anti-Aesa.

But most shockingly, Aesa is transformed into a bearded devil!

Anti-Aesa stands in shock, blinking and unsure of what exactly happened. She dismisses her shield, attracting a response from chaos herself: her feet enlarge to double their original size.

[AmberVael]

Aesa scratches her head and beard.
How very peculiar.
She goes over to the bone and picks it up.

[Fenric]

The bone is more a souvenier now than anything else. There are some runes that Aesa is likely not familiar with, as the Norns did not care much about the fates of the dead.

Anti-Aesa flaps her huge feet

You... released me?

The dracolich as well is fascinated

NEVER WOULD I HAVE GUESSED SUCH A THING AS THIS.

Krystal nods, having a better feel for Aesa than the newcomers

It's in keeping with how she works, though. The goddess of changing fate doesn't like to see anyone chained like that.

[AmberVael]

Aesa shrugs.
She likes souveniers. As for the runes... she dabbles in a lot of things the Norns do not. And she has had a lot of time to learn.

[Fenric]

Anti-Aesa frowns at the wall of fire, and looks around at a loss

Now what do I do?

Krystal starts picking through the treasure, right in front of the dracolich.

YOU COULD AT LEAST PRETEND TO BE AFRAID

Why bother? You want to get out of this hole, you let us scavenge. Try to resist, and we'll just leave you here with the chaos to keep you company.

[AmberVael]

Whatever you want to do.
It is what I do, anyhow.
Aesa also begins looking through the treasures.

[Fenric]

Anti-Aesa can't help but be intrigued by the pile of treasure. Seeing everyone else not get devoured messily, Kantur and Exachix also come to help themselves.

(( Treasure type "whatever" - it's the ancient hoard of an evil temple guarded by a dracolich. I'm not even going to bother...))

[AmberVael]

Aesa looks for the single most intriguing item (to her) in the treasure horde, which her player will decide in a moment.

[Fenric]

After a while, Krystal seems satisfied and starts looking around, addressing the dracolich.

You've been so patient: now we have to figure out a way to get you out of here without turning into potted plants.

Anti-Aesa shrugs

The wild energies were gathered here to release Myrkul. With that no longer possible, they can be dismissed.

[AmberVael]

Aesa raises an eyebrow, then suddenly grins.
I have something else in mind...

[Fenric]

Anti-Aesa turns to Aesa, and simultaneously queries with Krystal

What's that?
What?

[AmberVael]

Why dismiss the energy when we can harvest it?
Aesa grins very widely.
It is always better to try and find use for something, is it not?

[Fenric]

Anti-Aesa looks at Aesa

Do you have the focus, or did you have something else in mind?

Krystal tilts her head

Focus?

Anti-Aesa nods

A statuette of black obsidian, in the form of Myrkul on his throne.

[AmberVael]

We could use that, I suppose. It would be easiest, would it not?

[Fenric]

Anti-Aesa nods

It is what it was designed for. Activate it, and it will draw in the energy that has been collected so far. So long as the focus is not on the conduit to the abyss, the energy will remain inside.

[AmberVael]

Aesa nods and closes her eyes, the summons the black statue, hoping that it won't cause fireworks to go off or something.

[Fenric]

The summoning of the statue causes the Wall of Fire to go out. (( All magical and nonmagical fires within 60' are extinguished ))

Anti-Aesa grins at Aesa

It's cute, really.

She draws the rune for hunger, channeling a tiny bit of that energy into the statue. The wild surge fizzels before it fully manifests, but the world goes insane as the energies in the catacomb are sucked into the statue.

Dazed and disoriented for a little while, no save.

[AmberVael]

Aesa blinks and looks down at the statue in her hands.

[Fenric]

After finally recovering enough to speak, Anti-aesa explains

Using the last of their rapidly fading power, the priesthood changed the shape of the catacombs into the rune of chaos inscribed within the runee of hunger. The statue, a focus for chaotic energy, was placed on a permanent energy portal to the abyss, linked to Myrkul's body.

For a long time, they activated the statue: not really knowing what they did. But as the priesthood died out, their attentiveness failed: energy built up.

Unless the catcombs are broken, they will slowly gather the energy again.

Krystal tilts her head

As far as I know, you are about an hour and a half old... how can you possibly know this?

Anti-aesa chuckles

I was the god from whom that bone was taken. My fate was bound there as well, and formed the anchor to which the others were attached. Now, I am free!

She stretches her black-feathered wings and admires them

[AmberVael]

Aesa smirks and runs a hand along the statue.
I could use this...

[Fenric]

Anti-Aesa scratches the dracolich behind where it's ear should have been

My pet: you watched faithfully for countless years. Will you serve me still?

AS I SWORE AT THE DAWN OF THE WORLD, SO DO I STILL: I AM YOUR SERVANT.

Krystal arches her eyebrows and looks around

As the fast way is now safe, who would like to make the portal home?

[AmberVael]

Aesa forms a portal to Inari's, then looks to Anti-Aesa.
And where will you go?

[Fenric]

Anti-Aesa looks thoughtful

I don't know... it has been so very long: it is unlikely anywhere that I knew in the past remains.

Krystal, Kantur, and fox-Exachix all head through the portal.

[AmberVael]

And that is change.
Change must occur to avoid stagnation.

[Fenric]

Anti-Aesa nods

True.

Then she grins

As the energies chose your form, I will ask you: where would you go, if you were in my place?

[AmberVael]

Aesa considers.
Well, honestly, Town is a very interesting place.

[Fenric]

She nods, and her voice changes slightly

My name was Lirian, and I think I shall use it once again.

She draws in the air, and Anarkazilingaludargar shrings to the size of a small cat. It flies over and perches on her shoulder.

Anar will accompany me, of course.

She nods politely to Aesa, and heads through the portal.