TCotM: Ashna's Idylls

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Ah. Good. That is just what I thought, but I hadn't seen it referred to as 'The Duty' and had not read the intentions behind the act entirely accurately)

*The notes detail experimental results and variations performed, including the effects of intense magical rituals. All of them seem to be measuring energy from the Tower of Fire. Apparently this Ashna thinks that she is close to finding a way to tap into the Tower's energy to achieve ascension, similar to Tyndall's conjecture that she had labeled 'This could be important if true'. In experiments that probably skirt most people's lines of ethicality, she has managed to gain greater insight into the flow of the energy by imbuing fire elemental energy with sentience so that it can report the effects of certain perturbations before being torn apart by the primal forces of chaos. There are also, typical to Ashna's minor paranoia, detailed profiles on all of her servants, lest they turn against her. This includes both the usual mortal servants and the requisite fire elemental creatures that can survive the intense heat and act as messengers. Ashna is certain that not a single one could pose a credible threat, even if they ambushed her and got the drop on her.*

 

[Knight Otu]

(Yeah, I was pretty sure you had the right idea about the duty (the power that would come along with it isa nice bonus for her, of course ) when I read that bit, so I was a bit surprised you asked. Any hints about the layout or position of the structure? Anything about her elemental state that she did not find out on her own already? Can she identify the mephit thanks to her notes? What servant would be best equipped to send a message back to Rinaldo?)

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Well calling it 'The Duty' made me unsure )

*There is a map of Ashna's fortress, including sections with secret passages which are labeled based on who knows about them to help refresh her memory so that she won't reveal anything. Apparently her elemental state is the result of her experiments thus far. It is an incomplete version of the final apotheosis, but one that comes with enough benefit that she deemed it to be a worthwhile step. The fire mephit is probably Anzunda. A mephit would be a decent messenger due to their swift flying speed. The best choice for speed is Fuosala, a Flamedancer, which is apparently a fire elemental creature that can leap from flame to flame across vast distances. Of course, Fuosala's form would be a bit disconcerting to some compared to a relatively small and harmless-looking mephit.*

 

[Knight Otu]

(Is it safe to assume that the fortress is somewhere in the Lands of Fire, on the Material Plane? Would a mephit messenger make the 'deadline' Rinaldo asked for? Are there more mephits than Anzunda, and if so, what in particular makes it likely that the mephit Ashna met is him(her?)? Is there a mephit that is specifically used as a messenger? Are the 'only' benefits of the 'Fire Apotheosis' the malleability and fire immunity, and potentially a burning slam attack? Are there any elemental or nonelemental servants that know about the experiments and consider them distasteful, or those that would if they knew, and thus have been left in the dark? Are there any notes whether this Ashna has tried to approach other divine forces? Any notes on her 'old companions'?)

Ashna fetches some parchment and an envelope if available, and writes a response to Rinaldo, in which she writes that she regrets that circumstances currently do not allow her to leave for Orussus to learn of his vital information in person, and requests that information to be sent to her if it isn't too risky to be relayed this way. She suggests that Rinaldo gives the information to her messenger.

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Yes, that is safe to assume. A mephit would not meet the deadline without magical aid that she is incapable of providing with her current power level. There are a small number of mephits, and of the three female mephits, Anzunda's personality profile seems to match the mephit she saw. She could be wrong though. The 'Fire Apotheosis' gives her all of the immunities of the Elemental type as well (Immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, and stunning. Not subject to critical hits). Most of the servants do not understand the true nature of the experiments. The elemental servants have been told that the experiments into the primal power of fire will strengthen the power of flame and fire elemental creatures once completed, and that their own power will be increased even moreso as well. This is true, after a fashion, the latter part assuming that Ashna chooses to favour them once she becomes a god. The mortal servants consider it to be magical research taking place in an exotic location, as wizards are wont. As far as these notes are concerned, and they're hardly a diary, she has not tried to approach other divine forces. She has not left any reminiscences about her old companions either)

 

[Knight Otu]

(So by extension, no magical forms of transportation are available that are not dependant on her spells, such as permanent teleport circles and the like, correct? Does it seem like there are rites or other experiments that would need 'Future-Ashna's' full arcane prowess that would without fail reveal my weaker stature? Is the reply to Rinaldo written?)

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Ashna writes the reply to Rinaldo.*

(OOC: Okay, now it's written At least according to the notes, there are no permanent teleport circles or the like. The experiments and rites are not labeled as such with requisite arcane prowess levels, since Future-Ashna could perform all of them, except for tasks that were simple enough to be delegated to minions. So there is no certainty either way as to whether an attempt to perform them would reveal her weaker stature)

 

[Knight Otu]

(But there are such events that need her presence, apparently? From the context, it seems the sentient lava experiment may not need her presence except to give out new parameters - it seems that series of experiments is prone to collapse early, so it would make sense to stay and get the results immediately rather than retire to the private chambers. And that series of experiments seems to be a cornerstone in the ascension plan.)

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: It seems like she prepreps multiples the sentient lava, which requires her careful attention, and then after that it is simple enough for anyone to do it. Also, although she is fairly certain that none among her minions is clever enough to divine her intents, she is careful not to show her hand by paying too much attention to any one experiment. This also serves to cover her bases and prevent her from tying too much up in one basket)

 

[Knight Otu]

(Are there seemingly any experiments she needs to attend in the near future? How many "prepared" lava portions still exist? Is Fuosala able to safely handle a letter? Presumably, given the previous message from Rinaldo, the mephits can, and given Ashna's surroundings and new nature, a bit fireproofing of the parchments also makes sense.
Edit - Would Fuosala be able to "read" a person, or would a mephit be a better choice for that?)