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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sagiro" data-source="post: 466009" data-attributes="member: 726">Sagiro’s Story Hour, Part 159 Hovering in the Ethereal, Aravis says a prayer of thanks to Ascending for the help it has provided (figuring it will pick up his thoughts at some point).   Then he utters a prayer to Pikon, thanking Him for the strength of purpose to carry on.  He rests there for an unknown time, collecting his strength.  Then he starts to broadcast thoughts out into the Maze, of the name Vhadish, along with a notion, an idea, of an unknown Keeper.  More time passes.  His mind grows weary.  But he does eventually pick up a slight return resonance that allows him to narrow down his search to a series of Keepers in western Kivia, within a 700-year window.   He glides through the space-time of the Maze to investigate them.  He finds Vhadish on his third attempt.The first Keeper he tries to visit has built himself (or herself) a sealed cube made from what looked like fused skulls. It's horrible, and, for better or worse, impenetrable.The second is worse -- the abode looks like a fairly normal mansion, but it is in the center of a raging storm of boiling acid.Fortunately for Aravis, the home of Keeper Vhadish, once King Vhadish XXIII of Tev, is more reasonably protected. He has built for himself a glade of carefully positioned trees, surrounded by a ring of steel-bodied golems. But Vhadish has been waiting for Aravis, having sensed his thought emanations from afar. He instructs his golems to allow his guest entry, and invites him to talk over a meal of crown beetles in wine (a Tevian delicacy from the time).Vhadish XXIII ruled Tev about 650 years ago (relative to Aravis’ own time). He is magnanimous, pompous, philosophical, generous, and unconsciously arrogant.  When asked, he shares his thoughts on why some Keepers have died."Time is meaningless in the Inner Maze," says Vhadish. "Were all Keepers of steady and sound mind, they would all be here in perpetuity, regardless of when their physical bodies met their end. Of course some Keepers did not control the Maze well enough or for long enough to build themselves any kind of lasting dwelling here. And of those that did -- well, some of them grow tired of the Maze, and wish to rejoin their souls that have moved on. Others are killed while traveling, or killed by invaders, or killed by themselves in fits of ruinous insanity."Aravis turns the conversation to his current task, explaining the nature of his difficulty and what he has learned thus far.  While there is a “main Gate” between Abernia and Volpos, all of the fabric of space-time in the vicinity is weak and starting to tear.  The chief problem facing the Archmagi is that they can only hold the Gate closed... but it's like putting extra locks on a door when the whole wall is in danger of crumbling apart.As far as using the Maze to affect space-time, Aravis has already got the basics figured out. He can redirect strands of elemental energy through the bodies of nearby living beings, and use the resulting focused energy to affect the universe. Vhadish listens intently as Aravis explains the problem and then smiles condescendingly, as might a schoolteacher asked a simple question by one of his students."Ah, yes, the problem of planar portals, and their effects on surrounding space-time. It took me a long time to puzzle that one out. I faced a similar problem in the 19th year of my reign, when some renegade Black Circle madmen tried to open a portal to the 8th layer of Hell. Their brute-force method made closing the portal exceptionally tricky, since trying to affect the doorway itself simply opened up a new tear nearby.  They still call that the Year of the Demon Plague -- though scholars chafe at the name, as it was Devils, not Demons, who found egress into Tev.“But the Maze was built for such things, in a time before you or me. I had to look deeper. In my infinite wisdom, I realized that the Maze could do more than simply force Gates open or seal them shut.  It can rebuild the very fabric of space-time, within a restricted region. In the end I fixed nothing.  No, what I did was burn away the weak strands of the cosmic weave, and build space-time anew where it was needed. Yes, a dozen more Devils moved through during that time when the hole gaped, but I was quick, and my genius allowed me to direct the energies of the Maze with great efficiency.  I created, Aravis.  I built my own piece of the multiverse, stronger than it had been.  I focused the energy through my most trusted servants, and it did not go so well for them, but their sacrifice was freely given and absolutely necessary. When I was done, there was no portal. There was no hole between Abernia and the Nine Hells. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"Aravis does his best to look impressed and grateful."I think I do your majesty.  However, please understand that next to your years of experience and wisdom, I am as but nothing. At the time of your troubles you had been a king for 19 years, and most certainly a scholar for longer. While that certainly seems the most permanent way of sealing rifts in the cosmic weave, it did allow some dem..er, excuse me, devils through.  The foe we face is terrible enough that all the Archmagi of our land are tied up in keeping him out. Further a very large area seems to be ripping apart. I don't know that I have the strength to rebuild that large an area, although I do have some thoughts on that.  So, I have to wonder if it might not be better to figure out a way of strengthening the fabric around the gate.  If that would hold even for only a short time, it might allow me to better prepare. What are your thoughts on that, your majesty?"King Vhadish is clearly pleased that Aravis has recognized his great power and knowledge. He smiles indulgently."No doubt you will not have anywhere near the facility with the Maze as I did. I don't know the extent of the problem area in your kingdom, but here is an encouraging fact: the fabric between two Primes should be easier to rebuild than that which I had to create. A portal between a Prime and one of the Outer Planes poses its own difficulties, that you are indeed fortunate not to face."And your own idea has merit as well, young Aravis. If you spend some time and energy strengthening the surrounding space-time, it will make it easier should you choose to build your own section. An apt analogy would be thus: if you intend to knock out a pane of glass from a window and install a new pane of your own making, it will be easier for you if you also make sure the window frame does not suffer from rot."I do not doubt that it will be a mighty task for one as young and inexperienced as you. You will need staunch allies through whom you will focus the energy of the Maze. Hold fast, maintain your concentration, and you can succeed. If you wish, I can even offer you a demonstration of some mental techniques that served me well.""I think I understand, your majesty,” answers Aravis.  “A demonstration would be wonderful.  I would be foolish not to accept such a gracious offer of your time.  Before I forget, I assume, but do not know for sure, that the focusing of energy needed in this must be freely allowed.  Is that correct to the best of your knowledge?"Vhadish replies.  "That is correct, young wizard. It is the great weakness of the Crosser's Maze, but also a necessary balance. Were it not for that inherent restriction a Keeper could destroy the universe, were that his aim. Understand that this limit is literally as you assert. The life energy must be freely given. If a being is coerced by threat of force against self or loved-ones, or dominated, charmed, or otherwise controlled, the energy will not be properly focused. It will wreck the mind of the Keeper should he, or she, try such a thing. If you wish to see first hand an example of such, visit the succubus Kel-Shai who now resides in the para-elemental plane of Electricity. She sought to extort life energy from beings in return for their stolen souls, and when she tried to use that energy, she... burned away all ambition, all motivation to act, from her mind. She has become an automaton, immortal and useless."Now, although I have many projects I wish not to delay, I will take some time to teach you proper focusing techniques, as well as certain mental tricks and procedures useful for directing Maze energy. And what do you offer in return for my services?"Aravis is silent for a moment, taken aback by the request.  Vhadish watches him with a curious expression, almost as an owner might watch a pet struggling with a new impediment to its food.  Eventually Aravis answers.“Your majesty, I could not begin to imagine what it is that I could offer you that you would consider of value. However, I can at least offer you my services for a task or tasks that we would mutually agree was of equal value to the information you have to give me.“Obviously I can not speak for my friends, but I am very sure that they would provide support and assistance to me in accomplishing that which you desire from me, assuming it is something that they can assist with.  I must make my offer conditional upon two things though. I cannot agree to anything that would obviously run counter to the interests of my king and country.  And I must first have time to accomplish my current goal for which I seek this information."Vhadish XXIII looks at Aravis intently, giving the unsettling impression that he's measuring the young wizard somehow, both for honesty and utility. After a few seconds of this he smiles expansively. "Agreed!" he says. "As for your friends, they are no matter to me, though if you feel they can assist you, then by all means enlist their aid.  That will mean drawing them into the Maze, which is risky. But I see you are no stranger to risk."There are many tasks for which some assistance would be useful; I will ponder which of these to set for you. When your current trials are over, and if you still live with your sanity intact, I will contact you and hold you to your promise. And now, since time is precious to us both, allow me to demonstrate the focusing technique I call "burning feather" which I invented in the year 523 is response to..."And King Vhadish begins to instruct.…to be continued…</blockquote>

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