[Planescape] Squaring the Circle Redux - IC

[Sephiroth no Miko]

The guardian bristles slightly at Flaust's scolding, not so dispassionate as not to evince some indignation at her reading of its situation. "I am not geased here as punishment," it growls stiffly. "I was summoned and bound here by Daru ib Shamiq to guard yonder portal to mine utmost ability. But it has been centuries since my master has bestirred himself and the empty years grow wearisome." It shrugs and its voice returns to its previous impassivity. "However, if thou truly seekest passage, then thou must either absolve my geas or release me into the embrace of death if thou art able. Either way, I wouldst be free of this tedious duty."

Its ruby gaze shifts to Vlad. "Shouldst thou manage the former, nothing would happen. I would depart peacefully and thou mayest explore the chambers beyond to thine heart's content. I have little interest in these mortal realms, and even less of its inhabitants. Shouldst thou choose the latter, then a great deal of mayhem will likely result." It seems neither elated nor dismayed by the possibility... merely resigned.

 

[Thanee]

Zoe Windwalker

Zoe recalls what she knows about a Geas spell.


OOC: Spellcraft +17.

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

Zoe:

Spoiler

[Zoe rolled Spellcraft 15+17=32] She's heard of geas before, though they usually don't last this long. However, it's possible that a the guardian was bound was some very high-level variant of the standard spell (see PHB)-- if Daru ib Shamiq was from the clan that sired the General of Gehenna, he must be quite powerful indeed. Regardless, geas may only be ended by fulfilling the conditions of the geas (which may be different from the 'day-to-day' instructions of guarding the portal-- that is, the creature may have a set of instructions for dealing with intruders, but have a different set of conditions for fulfillment of its geas). She's heard they might also be broken by a remove curse but that requires a caster more powerful than the one who laid the geas in the first place.

 

[Ashy]

In response to the ghost-demon's words, Burrow harumphs slightly, but otherwise says nothing....

 

[Thanee]

Zoe Windwalker

“There must be some condition to end this unusual spell. Normally it should have been gone long ago, but it must be a very powerful spell from a very powerful magician. I don't think we have the means to end it otherwise.”

Zoe then turns to the guardian once again.

“When will you have fulfilled your Geas, guardian, can you tell us, what your master has ordered you to do?”

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

The guardian shrugs. "If the geas were abated, then my actions would be mine own once more and not subject to the whims of my master... 'twould be irrelevant for him to give me orders and I would not follow them in any case." It looks vaguely hopeful. "Dost thou wish to wish to break the geas? None have been able to fathom its significance but perhaps thou mayest succeed where others hath failed. Certainly, few enough have bothered speaking to me at all."

Reciting, the monster repeats the words Daru ib Shamiq had said to it so many years ago on the day of its summoning:

"By the iron chains of oath I bind thee,
Until the ends of time should find thee.
But the strictest of duty may be tempered by charity,
Given freely and without the presumption of surety.
For if another should ever grant thee thy dearest gift,
Then by its light in the gloom unseen, thy onus will lift."

 

[Old Fezziwig]

"I think the keys for us here are in the last two couplets, lines three through five. But what sense of "surety" are we looking at here?" Content to ruminate on the riddle a little bit more, the dwarf keeps his initial suspicions to himself, silently saying a small prayer in case of the worst. If it should come to that, Lady, grant me hope of your eventual embrace.

 

[Thanee]

Zoe Windwalker

“I would be glad to lift this bonds off you, but, alas, it sounds like another person must take your place.”

 

[Thanee]

Zoe Windwalker

After a moment contemplating over a few words, Zoe whispers: “Don't forget me!”

Then she turns to the guardian again.

“I grant thee thy freedom, guardian. From this moment forth, thy bonds shalth be lifted!”

 

[deadestdai]

Flaust's eye's widen as Zoe's words reverberate in a sickening slow-motion effect in her head. NooOOOooooOOooooooo!!!! Her equally slowed and appropriately deepened yell comes out.
Little does Flaust know, that her actions are equally as "slow-motion'd" and so she acts out her "mad rush" to stop Zoe, though for everyone else, it just looks like she is acting slow and looks as silly as any mime one might see outside the Great Bazaar in Sigil.

(NB - Flaust by no means stops nor even reaches Zoe and so truly looks nothing but silly.)