[Epic] Scions of the Endless Falls

[Kelleris]

Kangaxx - I wasn't bluffing, so I don't think that's really necessary. Erm, assuming you meant my stuff, too - the quoted text isn't mine, but I don't think the celestial was making with the telepathy.

And now I'm going to roll an insane Perform (oratory) check. Shakespeare couldn't manage a 126, so I'm just going to summarize it in my next post. We'll just pretend that it's a really, really good speech, eh?

 

[Kelleris]

Arion listens to the conversation going on below, and ponders his next course of action.

We think it is time that we came in. That message to Pilmer was ill-advised, but the damage can be repaired if we make our case strongly. As strongly as possible.

I hate it when I have to do this, but this is likely the most important performance I'll ever give...

*With a mental sigh, Arion casts alter self, taking the form of a sirine. He attempts to make the female-only race's features as similar to his own as he can. He then renews his improvisation spell, wanting to be able to think quickly on his feat in the minutes ahead.*

OOC: (A Disguise check? Or what?) Since his features are already not terribly masculine, pulling off a good-looking androgynous visage shouldn't be too hard. As long as it won't be too much of a shift later, when I drop the spell. Talk about putting your game face on, huh?

After further depleting his magical resources, Arion drops sliently down to the forest floor, and strides toward the group, no longer bothering to hide himself. In a mellifluous voice, begins to speak, trusting that the force of his words will cut through any pre-existing conversations:

(OOC: Am I going to try to compose a speech that hits that kind of DC? Heck no. I will give you bullet points, and you can fill in the awesomeness. I don't want to force anyone's hand, but do try to give this little presentation the weight indicated by its persuasiveness. The speech is fairly long - several minutes - so improvisation either expires or I will use it to enhance any skill checks I need to make to add weight to my argument. I know that skill checks never determine PC behavior, but this should be an indication of how convincing I am (beat the Unfriendly to Fanatic DC by 6 points). I suspect Fairweather might be pulling for me, though...)

1. The gods are puppets of abstract ideals, and have no free will of their own. They are thus extremely predictable. I cite as many evidences for this stance as a +46 bardic knowledge entitles me to, of both the mythic and the academic variety.
2. If they banded together to destroy our world, we must not strike back at them directly, but seek the unifying ideal or circumstance that determined their actions. A puppet follows its strings.
3. We were hardly decreasing the gods' power as it was, Pilmer's narcissism notwithstanding. The only ones to ask are the gods themselves, as they mediate between their masters and mortal understanding.
4. To get this information, we must approach a god inclined to side against the others, one that cannot turn down the power we represent. Name some names, using another bardic knowledge check.
5. Once we know who the gods serve, they must serve our whims. It is their nature. With the right understanding of the divine nature, convincing them to restore our world will be as simple as phrasing the demand in the right way.

EDIT: Arion will stress throughout that this is something we are well capable of. In fact, I'll throw in an inspire courage +4 for 90 rounds for anyone not mind blanked (and therefore immune to mind-affecting abilities).

 

[perivas]

OOC: Have you ever noticed that no matter how convincing the argument, it could still fall on deaf ears when the audience already knows a different truth?

The dryad cheered, shed tears, clapped and blushed as appropriate throughout the course of the speech, until it got to the end. As the platinum-tongued bard concluded his arguments, she spontaneously laughed and clapped in great appreciation. “Well said bard! Bravo! Bravo! Words most fitting for the greatest of theologians’ treatises…for those faiths so inclined to document their thoughts on the celestial. To work in such praise of us is truly a remarkable work. Words of praise are insufficient.”

“It is sad though that you would hold such beliefs to be true. And I only assume this based on the conviction and effort that you put forth. To think that gods are bound by abstract values is an argument offered by many theologians, although it is ultimately a futile point. The gods themselves shape their own governing rules in a manner beyond mortal understanding and these abstract values would be beyond mortal comprehension in such ways that they are without boundaries as we know them to be. Hence, there would be no apparent limitations from a mortal perspective.”

After a brief pause for dramatic effect, she continues. “Besides, I know that the gods are not the puppets with strings, as you put it.”

She turns to Rahveon at this point. “Perhaps, my choice of words is not exact enough. Do you mean to undo the destruction or to rebuild the world? These are very different tasks without very different repercussions.”

 

[Wrahn]

*Rahveon looks at the woman (?) approaching until she (?) gets closer, then he sees immediately through the magical disguise.*

The assassin, Arion. Should have known he was a cross dresser. This is not the proper time for him to pay for his crimes.

Or... perhaps it is.

*Rahveon is lost in thought momentarily, then almost against his will he is drawn into Arion's story. Finally, when Arion is done Rahveon looks off into the distance. The Druids words snap him out of it.*

Though his faceplate is down, the wrinkling around his eyes would indicate he was smiling, "A world is made up of those who inhabit it, as well as the land itself. I have little interest in a barren rock that has the same geography as our world."

"I talk of restoration, not recreation."

 

[Ferrix]

The entire back and forth of those so bound by their own ideas that they perform great sophistries to illustrate their points amuses him endlessly. Perhaps it is age or something else, but the light-heartedness of his approach shakes those with a steeled resolve or opinion.

An appreciative smile crosses his face when Rahveon speaks, "indeed, a barren rock does not entertain very much interest on any of our parts I could surmise. Restoration is perhaps directly out of our hands for now, but seeking some sort of deific entity that acts as a weaver of fates may be an idea. Regardless of whether we know if the gods are puppets pulled by the cosmic strings or beings beyond our very comprehension or just beings another rung up on the ladder from us, it matters little if we banter endlessly in this bubble. Getting out of here and asking questions beyond that which was found within our world is my suggestion for now."

He seems to tread his words lightly, as if granting them only temporary weight.

 

[Wrahn]

*Rahveon nods at Sigrun's words.*

"Is there a place you have in mind?"

"And welcome to our little cabal, Arion."

 

[TheOneAboveAll]

Solarion listened. Parts of what he heard enraged him. Other parts encouraged him. When all was said and done he felt invigorated, his hope swelling. This one one understand the true nature of things. He thought. Most of it he agreed with anyway.

"I agree we need to know the truth of things before we act. Still we must act. We must begin somewhere. Still I call it folley to act against the gods. There are those that must have been opposed to such destruction. We should seek out possible allies in whatever endeavor we decide."

 

[Ferrix]

Sigrún (753/760pp)

Sigrún focuses his mind on determining a suitable starting point in the form of a question, where may I find one who, beyond these before me, can give us direction in restoring the Endless Falls?

OOC: Divination, 7pp

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*A spectral voice echos in The Architect's head.*

If you build it, they will come

*A vision flashes briefly in his mind of the tiny land he stands on expanding in all directions, making room for... something.*

 

[Kelleris]

*Rahveon looks at the woman (?) approaching until she (?) gets closer, then he sees immediately through the magical disguise.*

OOC: You probably wouldn't, though. With nothing better to do with the improvisation bonus, I probably just dumped it in Disguise. Aside from that, I'm trying to take something as close to my normal form as possible anyway, so I'm not sure that true seeingreally applies. You would presumably see an image hovering over an almost identical face, but not much more than a blur, really. And my clothes don't change at all. In any case...

*sigh*

Powerful people are so stubborn. We will wait for them to be disillusioned. If anything other than a nice, sobering beating could convince them, that would have done it. Would probably have talked the gods themselves into it. The important thing is going to the gods for answers about the gods.

Arion dismisses the alter self spell with a wave of his hand, though not much changes as far as above-the-clothing characteristics go. He sits down on a nearby rock to observe the situation, certain that they are going to come around to an acceptable variant of his proposal sooner or later, even if their theology is a bit off.