the Jester
Legend
Propositions and Simulacra
Alcar demands, “What is it you want, devil?”
“As I said,” Glaisig answers smoothly, “I wish to assist you. Your interests and those of my master coincide.”
“I doubt that,” Horbin the MFKG Holy snaps.
“Oh? How about the defeat of Asmodeus?”
Horbin bites back a reply.
“Surely by now you realize that, if you wish to live long lives, you must deal with the problem. He will not go away. He will not stop seeking your destruction, nor will it prove possible to negotiate with him. As an enemy, he is implacable.”
“True, he is a problem for us,” Lillamere retorts, “but you are a devil- is he not your overlord?”
Glaisig laughs. “No. I serve his predecessor. With the hatching of the phoenix, Lucifer is free to return. You see now? This is how our interests coincide: we have a very powerful mutual enemy. He seeks your destruction and my master’s complete overthrow.”
“And what do you suggest we do about this problem?” Lillamere asks.
“We can provide you with... an opportunity. You must merely take it.”
“An opportunity to strike Asmodeus?” exclaims Inoke.
The devil nods. “We can set up a distraction. This distraction should allow you to get close to Asmodeus relatively undetected.”
“Are you insane?” barks Horbin. “We can’t just attack Asmodeus!”
“Why not?” Lillamere asks. “He’s attacking us, and how else are we going to stop him? Even if we can’t kill him, maybe we can persuade him that going after us is not in his best interests.”
Glaisig shrugs. “Think it over. Our best opportunity is in about a week.” He hands a pocket watch to Lillamere. “When you are ready to discuss things further, break the glass.”
After Glaisig departs our heroes discuss possible plans. “We can’t fight Asmodeus, he’ll slaughter us!” exclaims Horbin.
”Maybe there’s a better way,” Orbius states. “I have a plan.”
Quickly he outlines his idea. “We’ll need a lot of rubies... enough for one of my unique spells, Orbius’ gem fusion, to turn into a fascimile of Asmodeus’ ruby rod. Then we use it for a trap the soul spell and all we have to do is trick him into picking it up!”
The party exits the tavern and their Rary’s Telepathic Bond hums with activity. There is much discussion as to who is manipulating them, just how trustworthy their new contact is, and persons or entities that may seek to aid them, reward them, or destroy them for their strike against Asmodeus.
[Inoeke]: Maybe we should find out who Asmodeus’ enemies are and offer our services to them. I bet they will reward us for accomplishing such a lofty task.
[Orbius]: The fewer people we tell about this, the better. Anyone who knows about our attack has the opportunity to betray us. And don’t make bargains with fiends, and certainly don’t ask them for favors. It’s bad enough when they offer them to you.
[Gerontius]: Why do we want to do this, again? I don’t want another evil bad guy after us. If we attempt this assassination he will want to assassinate us back!
[Lester]: Well, don’t feel too bad about pissing him off. He already wants our heads and it’s either do this or get Scry Striked everyday for the rest of our lives. Oh, and/or assassinated.
[Lillamere]: We have a week to think about it. Let’s go get our gems and find someplace safe to stay.
[Horbin]: This whole episode so makes me question why the Great War is an ethical situation? Whatever happened to just Good and Evil? You know, there was time when Dexter had a similar moral quandary and I think we should ask ourselves, “What would Dexter Do?”
A quick Superior Teleport later, our heroes are transported into a large, bustling marketplace. Merchants of all shapes, sizes, races and alignments offer their wares under colorful tents. The smells, sights, and sounds are overwhelming to them as a multiverse of races collide in an explosion of excited commerce.
Orbius intones a single archaic word and the crystal lens in his hand disappears. The waves of humanoids become discernable to him as distinct individuals with their every move open to his awareness. A grumpy looking dwarf stands above several glass showcases resplendent in fine jewelry and gems. A grayish-skinned half-fiend nearby is selling rats on a stick, and eyes them cautiously with his piercing red eyes. A spectacled gnome is rummaging thru a box of scrolls, displaying a scroll, and taking money from a humanoid customer. Strangely, the scroll stays with the merchant. Lillamere moves over to a merchant selling exotic fabric from several planes.
“This cloth here is unlike anything I’ve every seen,” remarks Lillamere. “Where did you get this wonderfully light fabric?”
“Skyweavers. They are worms native to the elemental plane of Air. Probably won’t find this anywhere but here, berk,” says the well-kept gnome. He eyes Lillamere and his posture indicates he is open to an offer. They begin to barter.
The rest of the party approaches the jeweler and find that he has about 15,000 gold pieces worth of rubies. They range across a variety of sizes and qualities, from small, uncut shards to several finely polished gems of generous size.
“Can we put a down payment on these and come back later?,” asks Inoeke.
“Hmmph, of course you can, berk,” prostrates the Merchant-Dwarf. “Just be back by the time I close and you’ll get the gems, with full payment, or your monies back. Either way, be back before I’m done for the day or the money is mine.”
“This is bull*&^%,” decries Gerontius. “What kind of trading system do you have here? I feel so abused by the whole situation!”
Their efforts to convince the dwarf to adopt a more favorable trade code go completely unrecognized and Orbius hands him the down payment. Lillamere returns once his transaction is completed and begins using his smooth tongue to find the whereabouts of more rubies. Though it takes a couple of hours, he manages to guide them to several small stashes of rubies that complete their needs. Hurriedly, they return to the original merchant to complete their bargain. The dwarf in question is beginning to close down his tent, but happily accepts one more sale for the day.
As Orbius turns his head after saying thank-you, he sees her.
She is tall and elfin, with long silver hair in a single thick braid that falls all the way to the floor. Her skin is a perfect pale shade of marble white. Her large eyes are a deep, calming purple that Orbius feels he could almost fall into. Silver, white and sky blue adorn her. Her jewels tend to silver (or platinum), some set with sapphires. She stands with a sort of unearthly poise that is almost startling. She bears herself with an air at once intelligent, alert, observant and relentless. She is, in every way, breathtaking..
Orbius’ feels his mouth slowly fall open and his eyes bulges as he tries to take in more of her beauty. A single word escapes in an audible sigh.
“Estelias.”
[Gerontius]: Dudes! She is beautiful. If you know her, we should see if she will come and have another drink with us!
[Lester]: Oh, yeah! It would be rude to see such a nice friend and not say hello.
[Lillamere]: Sure. We definitely have time to talk with her. Maybe she will want to join us for dinner, too.
[Orbius]: Uh, . . . well it’s definitely rude to descend upon her like a pack of rats. Come with me Lillamere. Perhaps we can learn more about the Wizards Conference, and maybe see if she has time to take a pleasant walk through the gardens with us.
Lillamere checks his appearance and adjusts his garments for a proper introduction. I am a Baron of House Drelvin after all, he thinks. Every cell in his elven body quivers with anticipation as they approach the loveliest example of the elven race he has ever seen.
Estelias smoothly pivots her gaze over her shoulder and turns with incredible grace to meet them. She eyes the two spell casters up and down with a look of calm interest.
“Uh, . . . (cough) . . . greetings, Estelias,” spurts Orbius. “Such a pleasure to see you here. What an unexpected surprise. We were just looking around at a few gems and thought we’d say ‘hi’. Um, . . oh, I see you don’t recognize my friend. Estelias, this is . . .”
“Baron Lillamere, of House Drelvin,” interrupts Lillamere. His eyes lock onto Estelias’ and he bows in a smooth, airy movement. “I am honored to meet the most powerful caster of our race.”
“Thank you so much,” she says with a neutral smile. “House Drelvin, did you say? How interesting.”
An uncomfortable silence ensues and Estelias adopts a look of impatience.
“Well, . . .” stumbles Orbius, “it’s just so nice to see you here. Perhaps you could join us for a cocktail and some polite conversation.”
“I’m afraid not, friend,” she replies with sincere regret. “I must be on my way after I purchase this scroll.”
“Oh, you’ll not get it,” retorts the gnome shopkeeper, busily adjusting his glasses. “I told you that I already took a down payment for it earlier and I’ll not break the deal. That is bad for business.”
“Oh, I’m sure I can make it worth your loss of future business if we reach an arrangement today,” intones Estelias sharply. One look on the shopkeepers face is enough to make Orbius realize that she will soon get what she wants. She is irresistible.
“Well, good day, friend,” remarks Estelias and she turns back to the shopkeeper.
“I’m sorry,” inquires Orbius. “What did you call me? You do know my name, right?”
Elegantly, with a twirl of warm sincerity, Estelias looks over her shoulder at Orbius. Her purple eyes pierce Orbius to his very soul. “Yes, I assure you I do, friend. Now leave me to my business, please.”
Their eyes lock for a mere second more, but it is long enough for Orbius’ keen sense to notice something terrifying. Every detail he sees is identical to his deepest memories of her, from her beautiful flowing hair, to her perfectly smooth skin, to every loving mannerism and comment.
Yet Orbius knows, with the complete certainty, that the real Estelias has eyes that are deep amber.
He quickly takes the cue to leave and escorts Lillamere back to the party before Estelias can read his face. One fearful word echoes in the party’s collective mind.
[Orbius]: Simulacrum!!!
Long Pause . . .
[Lillamere]: Really? Are you so sure?
[Orbius]: Undoubtedly! We must strike her quickly before she leaves!
[Gerontius]: Nah, man. That is such a waste! Look at her! I mean, what can I say, you know?
[Horbin]: I don’t care what you think she is because whatever we are looking at over there has a right to live its own life. I don’t care if you are a wayward mortal or powerful, freelance simulacrum, because everyone has got the right to . . .
[Inoeke]: Horbin is right. Besides, there are laws here and I don’t want to be caught on the wrong side again. We can’t just make war on the streets like thugs!
[Orbius]: We cannot leave here without stopping it. Leaving such a powerful rogue caster alive is a danger to everyone.
[Lester]: Mount up. Let’s roll.
[Horbin]: No, no, no! Inoeke and I will have no part of this. Have fun in your jail cell because I hear that the Lady of Pain is a very interesting conversationalist, as well skilled in some other areas, too.
Before the mental clamor of their panicked, chaotic thought overwhelms him, Orbius issues a Sending to true Estelias, where ever she may be.
Orbius: Your simulacrum is in Sigil. She is bargaining with a scroll merchant in the Bazaar.
Estelias: Beware. She is very powerful and very evil.
The companions regroup a few feet away and begin to commiserate. They are evenly split between 3 courses of action. Orbius favors an immediate attack and Lester is all too eager. Lillamere and Gerontius seem more neutral as neither of them are familiar with the ever-growing Simulacrum Conflict. Inoeke and Horbin are dead set against it for various philosophical reasons and refuse to participate.
[Horbin]: I don’t care if she is evil or a rouge simulacrum. She has the right to exist just like anyone else and I am not going to do this!
[Inoeke]: We can’t attack someone in the streets, unprovoked and unarmed. Haven’t you guys got into trouble in enough places by now?
[Orbius]: Don’t worry about the laws here as they are quite flexible. I read up on them in the Library of Bocob and we should be fine so long as innocent civilians aren’t targeted.
[Horbin]: We are in a street full of people!
[Lester]: We can contain the damage on our end. We just need to make sure that she can’t cast any spells and can’t get away.
[Lillamere]: Are we sure we want to do this? What’s wrong with being a simulacrum these days?
[Gerontius]: Especially being that she is so good looking. Maybe I should talk with her and see if she will reconsider our offer, no?
[Orbius]: These rogue simulacra represent a huge unchecked threat to all spell casters in Cydra. They hate their masters for creating them and want to destroy anything that stands in their way. I will not allow this monstrosity to walk away from here when we can neutralize it now!
[Horbin]: You can’t be serious. I’m leaving right now and I am having no part in this.
[Lester]: Well, how about sticking around to heal any potential casualties? Think of the innocents.
[Horbin]: That is f*&^%$# up thinking! You are putting these innocent people in danger for you own sense of . . .
[Lillamere]: Hey, Gerontius just moved up to her and can probably distract her for a moment. Let’s fall back and follow her to a better location.
Gerontius runs up and stops next to Estelias, on her left. The debate between her and the gnome shopkeeper is rising to an uncomfortable tone.
“She is a hard working elf, you know?,” states Gerontius. “Why don’t you just give the scroll to her and be done with it?
Estelias looks at the halfling beside her and then back to the shopkeeper. Only Horbin and Orbius notice her let the most subtle of enchantment roll from her body. It manifests itself only as a completely innocuous gesture that flows perfectly into their conversation.
“Please, friend, let me buy the scroll. My need is great.”
“Fine!!!,” screams the exasperated shopkeeper. His fist slams down on his table and several scrolls bounce up and roll off. “Give me twice his price and you can have it!”
[Orbius]: No, we will not chase her through the streets. She will teleport away and we will never see her again. We must strike now as we will not get this chance again. I have a powerful invocation memorized that was furnished by Marius the Chronomancer for just this reason.
[Inoeke]: OK, this is not a good idea. We need to get out of here before we get other people hurt.
[Horbin]: Yeah, Inoeke’s right. The moral implications of this attack on an innocent person, whether simulacrum or some type of humanoid, are very evil and the inherent rights that we all have as self-aware being are such that . . .
[Orbius]: Ten seconds to attack! Do not strike until I give the word.
[Horbin]: No, you can’t be serious!
The willing companions spread themselves out in a rough semi-circle around Estelias and prepare for their showdown in the streets of Sigil. The tension beats palpably and Orbius hands sweat as he stretches them in preparation of his spell. He takes position 25 feet behind Estelias, slightly to her right.
Gerontius, standing to her immediate left, silently slips his favored dagger from its hidden sheath and readies to strike a fatal blow. Lester flanks out to her right, takes cover as he stores an Imprisonment valence on his right hand, the moves forward with his hand behind his shield.
Baron Lillamere keeps the same distance as Orbius, only he is slightly to her left. He fears that this will go horribly wrong and shame will be brought on House Drelvin. Inoeke and Horbin, standing several feet behind Lillamere, can only watch in shock as their friends attempt to destroy one of Cydra’s most deadly arcanists in a bazaar teaming with strange and powerful creatures.
Estelias pushes a sack of coins across the counter to her merchant and picks up the scroll as her eyes begin to widen. A trap has been sprung.
[Orbius]: NOW!
She seems them coming for her, even the sneaky Halfling right next to her. She spins around, hands coming to the front with components in hand, lips pursed to utter a transvalent incantation that will surely destroy them all.
Poised to strike at this very moment, Orbius unleashes a Quickened Dimensional Anchor that successful locks onto her.
“Prepare to meet your maker!”, he cries and a brilliant blue beam shoots forth from his right hand.
It impacts her squarely in the chest and her eyes meet his with a look shock and disbelief. Her face contorts into a visage of beautiful fatality and she explodes into a thousand icy shards that pepper the crowd around them.
Screams of surprise erupt around them and the shopkeeper appears to be a statue, stuck in a moment of utter terror. It melts away into anger and he grabs the wet scroll in front of him.
“I knew I shouldn’t have done business with her,” he extorts loudly. “You just can’t trust them elves!”
“Well, I hope you feel good about what you’ve done,” proselytizes Horbin, “because this was an evil act and that makes you no better than the assassins that are all over us. Lester, don’t even ask that shopkeeper for that scroll! We are lucky he doesn’t have us arrested right here. And for another matter, . . . “
As the party bickers over their successful hit on Estelias’ Sim, Baron Lillamere cannot bring himself to speak yet. He is frozen in moment of scared awe while remembering everything from the position of her hands, to the curvature of her lips, to the lodestone and pinch of dust readied as her components. He knows what was coming next had she survived.
“Chain Disintegrate,” he breathes, too silently for the others to here.
Next Time: What was the scroll that ‘Estelias’ wanted? And we finally get to meet the person who keeps speaking in Gerontius’ head!
Alcar demands, “What is it you want, devil?”
“As I said,” Glaisig answers smoothly, “I wish to assist you. Your interests and those of my master coincide.”
“I doubt that,” Horbin the MFKG Holy snaps.
“Oh? How about the defeat of Asmodeus?”
Horbin bites back a reply.
“Surely by now you realize that, if you wish to live long lives, you must deal with the problem. He will not go away. He will not stop seeking your destruction, nor will it prove possible to negotiate with him. As an enemy, he is implacable.”
“True, he is a problem for us,” Lillamere retorts, “but you are a devil- is he not your overlord?”
Glaisig laughs. “No. I serve his predecessor. With the hatching of the phoenix, Lucifer is free to return. You see now? This is how our interests coincide: we have a very powerful mutual enemy. He seeks your destruction and my master’s complete overthrow.”
“And what do you suggest we do about this problem?” Lillamere asks.
“We can provide you with... an opportunity. You must merely take it.”
“An opportunity to strike Asmodeus?” exclaims Inoke.
The devil nods. “We can set up a distraction. This distraction should allow you to get close to Asmodeus relatively undetected.”
“Are you insane?” barks Horbin. “We can’t just attack Asmodeus!”
“Why not?” Lillamere asks. “He’s attacking us, and how else are we going to stop him? Even if we can’t kill him, maybe we can persuade him that going after us is not in his best interests.”
Glaisig shrugs. “Think it over. Our best opportunity is in about a week.” He hands a pocket watch to Lillamere. “When you are ready to discuss things further, break the glass.”
After Glaisig departs our heroes discuss possible plans. “We can’t fight Asmodeus, he’ll slaughter us!” exclaims Horbin.
”Maybe there’s a better way,” Orbius states. “I have a plan.”
Quickly he outlines his idea. “We’ll need a lot of rubies... enough for one of my unique spells, Orbius’ gem fusion, to turn into a fascimile of Asmodeus’ ruby rod. Then we use it for a trap the soul spell and all we have to do is trick him into picking it up!”
The party exits the tavern and their Rary’s Telepathic Bond hums with activity. There is much discussion as to who is manipulating them, just how trustworthy their new contact is, and persons or entities that may seek to aid them, reward them, or destroy them for their strike against Asmodeus.
[Inoeke]: Maybe we should find out who Asmodeus’ enemies are and offer our services to them. I bet they will reward us for accomplishing such a lofty task.
[Orbius]: The fewer people we tell about this, the better. Anyone who knows about our attack has the opportunity to betray us. And don’t make bargains with fiends, and certainly don’t ask them for favors. It’s bad enough when they offer them to you.
[Gerontius]: Why do we want to do this, again? I don’t want another evil bad guy after us. If we attempt this assassination he will want to assassinate us back!
[Lester]: Well, don’t feel too bad about pissing him off. He already wants our heads and it’s either do this or get Scry Striked everyday for the rest of our lives. Oh, and/or assassinated.
[Lillamere]: We have a week to think about it. Let’s go get our gems and find someplace safe to stay.
[Horbin]: This whole episode so makes me question why the Great War is an ethical situation? Whatever happened to just Good and Evil? You know, there was time when Dexter had a similar moral quandary and I think we should ask ourselves, “What would Dexter Do?”
A quick Superior Teleport later, our heroes are transported into a large, bustling marketplace. Merchants of all shapes, sizes, races and alignments offer their wares under colorful tents. The smells, sights, and sounds are overwhelming to them as a multiverse of races collide in an explosion of excited commerce.
Orbius intones a single archaic word and the crystal lens in his hand disappears. The waves of humanoids become discernable to him as distinct individuals with their every move open to his awareness. A grumpy looking dwarf stands above several glass showcases resplendent in fine jewelry and gems. A grayish-skinned half-fiend nearby is selling rats on a stick, and eyes them cautiously with his piercing red eyes. A spectacled gnome is rummaging thru a box of scrolls, displaying a scroll, and taking money from a humanoid customer. Strangely, the scroll stays with the merchant. Lillamere moves over to a merchant selling exotic fabric from several planes.
“This cloth here is unlike anything I’ve every seen,” remarks Lillamere. “Where did you get this wonderfully light fabric?”
“Skyweavers. They are worms native to the elemental plane of Air. Probably won’t find this anywhere but here, berk,” says the well-kept gnome. He eyes Lillamere and his posture indicates he is open to an offer. They begin to barter.
The rest of the party approaches the jeweler and find that he has about 15,000 gold pieces worth of rubies. They range across a variety of sizes and qualities, from small, uncut shards to several finely polished gems of generous size.
“Can we put a down payment on these and come back later?,” asks Inoeke.
“Hmmph, of course you can, berk,” prostrates the Merchant-Dwarf. “Just be back by the time I close and you’ll get the gems, with full payment, or your monies back. Either way, be back before I’m done for the day or the money is mine.”
“This is bull*&^%,” decries Gerontius. “What kind of trading system do you have here? I feel so abused by the whole situation!”
Their efforts to convince the dwarf to adopt a more favorable trade code go completely unrecognized and Orbius hands him the down payment. Lillamere returns once his transaction is completed and begins using his smooth tongue to find the whereabouts of more rubies. Though it takes a couple of hours, he manages to guide them to several small stashes of rubies that complete their needs. Hurriedly, they return to the original merchant to complete their bargain. The dwarf in question is beginning to close down his tent, but happily accepts one more sale for the day.
As Orbius turns his head after saying thank-you, he sees her.
She is tall and elfin, with long silver hair in a single thick braid that falls all the way to the floor. Her skin is a perfect pale shade of marble white. Her large eyes are a deep, calming purple that Orbius feels he could almost fall into. Silver, white and sky blue adorn her. Her jewels tend to silver (or platinum), some set with sapphires. She stands with a sort of unearthly poise that is almost startling. She bears herself with an air at once intelligent, alert, observant and relentless. She is, in every way, breathtaking..
Orbius’ feels his mouth slowly fall open and his eyes bulges as he tries to take in more of her beauty. A single word escapes in an audible sigh.
“Estelias.”
[Gerontius]: Dudes! She is beautiful. If you know her, we should see if she will come and have another drink with us!
[Lester]: Oh, yeah! It would be rude to see such a nice friend and not say hello.
[Lillamere]: Sure. We definitely have time to talk with her. Maybe she will want to join us for dinner, too.
[Orbius]: Uh, . . . well it’s definitely rude to descend upon her like a pack of rats. Come with me Lillamere. Perhaps we can learn more about the Wizards Conference, and maybe see if she has time to take a pleasant walk through the gardens with us.
Lillamere checks his appearance and adjusts his garments for a proper introduction. I am a Baron of House Drelvin after all, he thinks. Every cell in his elven body quivers with anticipation as they approach the loveliest example of the elven race he has ever seen.
Estelias smoothly pivots her gaze over her shoulder and turns with incredible grace to meet them. She eyes the two spell casters up and down with a look of calm interest.
“Uh, . . . (cough) . . . greetings, Estelias,” spurts Orbius. “Such a pleasure to see you here. What an unexpected surprise. We were just looking around at a few gems and thought we’d say ‘hi’. Um, . . oh, I see you don’t recognize my friend. Estelias, this is . . .”
“Baron Lillamere, of House Drelvin,” interrupts Lillamere. His eyes lock onto Estelias’ and he bows in a smooth, airy movement. “I am honored to meet the most powerful caster of our race.”
“Thank you so much,” she says with a neutral smile. “House Drelvin, did you say? How interesting.”
An uncomfortable silence ensues and Estelias adopts a look of impatience.
“Well, . . .” stumbles Orbius, “it’s just so nice to see you here. Perhaps you could join us for a cocktail and some polite conversation.”
“I’m afraid not, friend,” she replies with sincere regret. “I must be on my way after I purchase this scroll.”
“Oh, you’ll not get it,” retorts the gnome shopkeeper, busily adjusting his glasses. “I told you that I already took a down payment for it earlier and I’ll not break the deal. That is bad for business.”
“Oh, I’m sure I can make it worth your loss of future business if we reach an arrangement today,” intones Estelias sharply. One look on the shopkeepers face is enough to make Orbius realize that she will soon get what she wants. She is irresistible.
“Well, good day, friend,” remarks Estelias and she turns back to the shopkeeper.
“I’m sorry,” inquires Orbius. “What did you call me? You do know my name, right?”
Elegantly, with a twirl of warm sincerity, Estelias looks over her shoulder at Orbius. Her purple eyes pierce Orbius to his very soul. “Yes, I assure you I do, friend. Now leave me to my business, please.”
Their eyes lock for a mere second more, but it is long enough for Orbius’ keen sense to notice something terrifying. Every detail he sees is identical to his deepest memories of her, from her beautiful flowing hair, to her perfectly smooth skin, to every loving mannerism and comment.
Yet Orbius knows, with the complete certainty, that the real Estelias has eyes that are deep amber.
He quickly takes the cue to leave and escorts Lillamere back to the party before Estelias can read his face. One fearful word echoes in the party’s collective mind.
[Orbius]: Simulacrum!!!
Long Pause . . .
[Lillamere]: Really? Are you so sure?
[Orbius]: Undoubtedly! We must strike her quickly before she leaves!
[Gerontius]: Nah, man. That is such a waste! Look at her! I mean, what can I say, you know?
[Horbin]: I don’t care what you think she is because whatever we are looking at over there has a right to live its own life. I don’t care if you are a wayward mortal or powerful, freelance simulacrum, because everyone has got the right to . . .
[Inoeke]: Horbin is right. Besides, there are laws here and I don’t want to be caught on the wrong side again. We can’t just make war on the streets like thugs!
[Orbius]: We cannot leave here without stopping it. Leaving such a powerful rogue caster alive is a danger to everyone.
[Lester]: Mount up. Let’s roll.
[Horbin]: No, no, no! Inoeke and I will have no part of this. Have fun in your jail cell because I hear that the Lady of Pain is a very interesting conversationalist, as well skilled in some other areas, too.
Before the mental clamor of their panicked, chaotic thought overwhelms him, Orbius issues a Sending to true Estelias, where ever she may be.
Orbius: Your simulacrum is in Sigil. She is bargaining with a scroll merchant in the Bazaar.
Estelias: Beware. She is very powerful and very evil.
The companions regroup a few feet away and begin to commiserate. They are evenly split between 3 courses of action. Orbius favors an immediate attack and Lester is all too eager. Lillamere and Gerontius seem more neutral as neither of them are familiar with the ever-growing Simulacrum Conflict. Inoeke and Horbin are dead set against it for various philosophical reasons and refuse to participate.
[Horbin]: I don’t care if she is evil or a rouge simulacrum. She has the right to exist just like anyone else and I am not going to do this!
[Inoeke]: We can’t attack someone in the streets, unprovoked and unarmed. Haven’t you guys got into trouble in enough places by now?
[Orbius]: Don’t worry about the laws here as they are quite flexible. I read up on them in the Library of Bocob and we should be fine so long as innocent civilians aren’t targeted.
[Horbin]: We are in a street full of people!
[Lester]: We can contain the damage on our end. We just need to make sure that she can’t cast any spells and can’t get away.
[Lillamere]: Are we sure we want to do this? What’s wrong with being a simulacrum these days?
[Gerontius]: Especially being that she is so good looking. Maybe I should talk with her and see if she will reconsider our offer, no?
[Orbius]: These rogue simulacra represent a huge unchecked threat to all spell casters in Cydra. They hate their masters for creating them and want to destroy anything that stands in their way. I will not allow this monstrosity to walk away from here when we can neutralize it now!
[Horbin]: You can’t be serious. I’m leaving right now and I am having no part in this.
[Lester]: Well, how about sticking around to heal any potential casualties? Think of the innocents.
[Horbin]: That is f*&^%$# up thinking! You are putting these innocent people in danger for you own sense of . . .
[Lillamere]: Hey, Gerontius just moved up to her and can probably distract her for a moment. Let’s fall back and follow her to a better location.
Gerontius runs up and stops next to Estelias, on her left. The debate between her and the gnome shopkeeper is rising to an uncomfortable tone.
“She is a hard working elf, you know?,” states Gerontius. “Why don’t you just give the scroll to her and be done with it?
Estelias looks at the halfling beside her and then back to the shopkeeper. Only Horbin and Orbius notice her let the most subtle of enchantment roll from her body. It manifests itself only as a completely innocuous gesture that flows perfectly into their conversation.
“Please, friend, let me buy the scroll. My need is great.”
“Fine!!!,” screams the exasperated shopkeeper. His fist slams down on his table and several scrolls bounce up and roll off. “Give me twice his price and you can have it!”
[Orbius]: No, we will not chase her through the streets. She will teleport away and we will never see her again. We must strike now as we will not get this chance again. I have a powerful invocation memorized that was furnished by Marius the Chronomancer for just this reason.
[Inoeke]: OK, this is not a good idea. We need to get out of here before we get other people hurt.
[Horbin]: Yeah, Inoeke’s right. The moral implications of this attack on an innocent person, whether simulacrum or some type of humanoid, are very evil and the inherent rights that we all have as self-aware being are such that . . .
[Orbius]: Ten seconds to attack! Do not strike until I give the word.
[Horbin]: No, you can’t be serious!
The willing companions spread themselves out in a rough semi-circle around Estelias and prepare for their showdown in the streets of Sigil. The tension beats palpably and Orbius hands sweat as he stretches them in preparation of his spell. He takes position 25 feet behind Estelias, slightly to her right.
Gerontius, standing to her immediate left, silently slips his favored dagger from its hidden sheath and readies to strike a fatal blow. Lester flanks out to her right, takes cover as he stores an Imprisonment valence on his right hand, the moves forward with his hand behind his shield.
Baron Lillamere keeps the same distance as Orbius, only he is slightly to her left. He fears that this will go horribly wrong and shame will be brought on House Drelvin. Inoeke and Horbin, standing several feet behind Lillamere, can only watch in shock as their friends attempt to destroy one of Cydra’s most deadly arcanists in a bazaar teaming with strange and powerful creatures.
Estelias pushes a sack of coins across the counter to her merchant and picks up the scroll as her eyes begin to widen. A trap has been sprung.
[Orbius]: NOW!
She seems them coming for her, even the sneaky Halfling right next to her. She spins around, hands coming to the front with components in hand, lips pursed to utter a transvalent incantation that will surely destroy them all.
Poised to strike at this very moment, Orbius unleashes a Quickened Dimensional Anchor that successful locks onto her.
“Prepare to meet your maker!”, he cries and a brilliant blue beam shoots forth from his right hand.
It impacts her squarely in the chest and her eyes meet his with a look shock and disbelief. Her face contorts into a visage of beautiful fatality and she explodes into a thousand icy shards that pepper the crowd around them.
Screams of surprise erupt around them and the shopkeeper appears to be a statue, stuck in a moment of utter terror. It melts away into anger and he grabs the wet scroll in front of him.
“I knew I shouldn’t have done business with her,” he extorts loudly. “You just can’t trust them elves!”
“Well, I hope you feel good about what you’ve done,” proselytizes Horbin, “because this was an evil act and that makes you no better than the assassins that are all over us. Lester, don’t even ask that shopkeeper for that scroll! We are lucky he doesn’t have us arrested right here. And for another matter, . . . “
As the party bickers over their successful hit on Estelias’ Sim, Baron Lillamere cannot bring himself to speak yet. He is frozen in moment of scared awe while remembering everything from the position of her hands, to the curvature of her lips, to the lodestone and pinch of dust readied as her components. He knows what was coming next had she survived.
“Chain Disintegrate,” he breathes, too silently for the others to here.
Next Time: What was the scroll that ‘Estelias’ wanted? And we finally get to meet the person who keeps speaking in Gerontius’ head!
