The Psionicle, Part XI
- Thread starter GnomeWorks
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GnomeWorks
Adventurer
As you follow the woman in black, there is no ambush, no surprise. She does not even glance at you as you wind your way through the city, going through tight alleyways and narrow streets.
Eventually, she leads you down a stairwell underneath a building after passing through a particularly tight alley, and she opens a door, which she leaves open. Where you are in the city, you have no idea, though you think you may be able to hear the sounds of the sea.
Entering, you see before you a dimly-lit room with several chairs set before a small wooden table.
Sitting in a chair on the other side of the table is Jirlai. He smiles slightly as you enter, and gestures for each of you to take a chair. The woman in black stands by the door, making no move, watching each of you enter.
"Greetings, my associates." Jirlai says. "Seat yourselves, if you will. We have much to discuss."
Eventually, she leads you down a stairwell underneath a building after passing through a particularly tight alley, and she opens a door, which she leaves open. Where you are in the city, you have no idea, though you think you may be able to hear the sounds of the sea.
Entering, you see before you a dimly-lit room with several chairs set before a small wooden table.
Sitting in a chair on the other side of the table is Jirlai. He smiles slightly as you enter, and gestures for each of you to take a chair. The woman in black stands by the door, making no move, watching each of you enter.
"Greetings, my associates." Jirlai says. "Seat yourselves, if you will. We have much to discuss."
Creamsteak
Explorer
Animus doesn't sit, his first reaction is to scan the room thoroughly for anyone else, using his feet to move himself, his hands to move objects, and his eyes to see if anything is revealed. He does this thoroughly before he even considers sitting at a table with Jirlai.
GnomeWorks
Adventurer
Jirlai watches dispassionately as Animus scans the room.
"To live, to begin." Jirlai says blankly.
"You have a certain... dislike for Ratheqar, yes?" Jirlai asks, looking around at the group. "Since we don't have much time, I will tell you first why you are here, and then I'll answer your questions."
"After our encounter at the library, Ratheqar, Tori'shel, Luna," He gestures to the woman in black, "and myself were transported to an airship waiting outside the entrance. We flew here, to Cara'nor, where Luna and I were dropped of to dispose of you once you arrived."
"However, en route, I discovered something that disturbs me greatly. Ratheqar is working with someone, someone who is pulling his strings. I don't know who it is, but I know that he - or she, perhaps - is a powerful wielder of psionics. Ratheqar spoke of using the Psionicle to destroy the other forces, and use it to open some gateway to another world... why, or what gateway, I don't know: I didn't hear that part of the conversation. Eavesdropping in the first place was dangerous enough, and I have no desire to lose my life."
"I work for Ratheqar." Jirlai says, nodding to himself. "However, upon finding out his plans for the Psionicle... I can safely say that I no longer have a desire to do so. That's where you come in." He looks to each of you in turn. "Long ago, you told me that you wanted the forces to live in peace, to cooperate with one another rather than vie for power. I can't accept that idea, not yet... but I can accept the idea of live and let live. Luna and I were sent to kill you, and gather the pieces of the Psionicle you have, and give them to Ratheqar."
"I will not do that; nor will Luna." Jirlai says. "Instead, we are going to leave here, and tell Ratheqar that you eluded us. I will not outright abandon Ratheqar, as my word is my bond; however, from here on out, I will not hinder you in your quest while under his employ, if at all possible."
"As for the girl..." He looks to Animus. "Ratheqar still has her, and she is under his power, by my magic. They are heading for Koltir; they are undoubtedly there by now. I do not know what use she is to Ratheqar and whoever he is working for, but she would seem to be important to their plans, whatever they are."
"Do you trust me?" He asks, looking at the gathered faces. "My word is my bond; I will not interfere. However, that is useless if you do not believe me. Do you?"
"To live, to begin." Jirlai says blankly.
"You have a certain... dislike for Ratheqar, yes?" Jirlai asks, looking around at the group. "Since we don't have much time, I will tell you first why you are here, and then I'll answer your questions."
"After our encounter at the library, Ratheqar, Tori'shel, Luna," He gestures to the woman in black, "and myself were transported to an airship waiting outside the entrance. We flew here, to Cara'nor, where Luna and I were dropped of to dispose of you once you arrived."
"However, en route, I discovered something that disturbs me greatly. Ratheqar is working with someone, someone who is pulling his strings. I don't know who it is, but I know that he - or she, perhaps - is a powerful wielder of psionics. Ratheqar spoke of using the Psionicle to destroy the other forces, and use it to open some gateway to another world... why, or what gateway, I don't know: I didn't hear that part of the conversation. Eavesdropping in the first place was dangerous enough, and I have no desire to lose my life."
"I work for Ratheqar." Jirlai says, nodding to himself. "However, upon finding out his plans for the Psionicle... I can safely say that I no longer have a desire to do so. That's where you come in." He looks to each of you in turn. "Long ago, you told me that you wanted the forces to live in peace, to cooperate with one another rather than vie for power. I can't accept that idea, not yet... but I can accept the idea of live and let live. Luna and I were sent to kill you, and gather the pieces of the Psionicle you have, and give them to Ratheqar."
"I will not do that; nor will Luna." Jirlai says. "Instead, we are going to leave here, and tell Ratheqar that you eluded us. I will not outright abandon Ratheqar, as my word is my bond; however, from here on out, I will not hinder you in your quest while under his employ, if at all possible."
"As for the girl..." He looks to Animus. "Ratheqar still has her, and she is under his power, by my magic. They are heading for Koltir; they are undoubtedly there by now. I do not know what use she is to Ratheqar and whoever he is working for, but she would seem to be important to their plans, whatever they are."
"Do you trust me?" He asks, looking at the gathered faces. "My word is my bond; I will not interfere. However, that is useless if you do not believe me. Do you?"
Creamsteak
Explorer
Animus, who has no words or speach, thinks to himself that he will eventually find and murder Jirlai after this is all over... along with that strange woman... and a few others who have been so recently mentioned...
GnomeWorks
Adventurer
Jirlai nods.
"My thanks. As I said earlier, my word is my bond. I will not break it."
"My thanks. As I said earlier, my word is my bond. I will not break it."
GnomeWorks
Adventurer
"I don't know if we should trust you." Shardorn says suddenly, quietly. "You turned your back on me once - what will make this time different?"
"The fact that the fate of the world hangs in the balance, this time." Jirlai responds, leaving no pause between Shardorn's question and his reply. "I don't know what the gateway spoken of is, or where it leads... but it cannot be good. I'll be honest - I'm selfish, and I'm trying to stay alive, at this point. Destroying psionics and technology is something of a secondary goal right now to trying to figure out how to get out of this without Ratheqar hunting me down."
He sighs, and leans back in his chair.
"Luna and I will continue as planned. We'll tell Ratheqar that you eluded us. I don't know where you're going, and I don't want to know... chances are such that Ratheqar will have ways of getting it out of me, even if I'm not aware of it. As I said before, we won't try to stop you... but do know this: if you do build this thing, and there is any chance of Ratheqar getting his hands on it... I will destroy it at the earliest opportunity. That thing is something he needs, and I won't let him have it. So be careful."
He then looks to Animus.
"My question, however, is this: what do you plan to do, Animus? Will you continue with these people, or will you seek the girl? We could bring you with us, pretending that you are a captive, and then let you loose once we are in Koltir, saying that you broke your bonds and overpowered us... but I'll leave the decision to you. If possible, I will try to ensure that she is safe, but I do not know how possible that is. I cannot say where they will hold or, or why they need her... but if you do come with us, know that Ratheqar will undoubtedly seek you out, either through me or another - and though I would delay as long as possible, others may not."
"The fact that the fate of the world hangs in the balance, this time." Jirlai responds, leaving no pause between Shardorn's question and his reply. "I don't know what the gateway spoken of is, or where it leads... but it cannot be good. I'll be honest - I'm selfish, and I'm trying to stay alive, at this point. Destroying psionics and technology is something of a secondary goal right now to trying to figure out how to get out of this without Ratheqar hunting me down."
He sighs, and leans back in his chair.
"Luna and I will continue as planned. We'll tell Ratheqar that you eluded us. I don't know where you're going, and I don't want to know... chances are such that Ratheqar will have ways of getting it out of me, even if I'm not aware of it. As I said before, we won't try to stop you... but do know this: if you do build this thing, and there is any chance of Ratheqar getting his hands on it... I will destroy it at the earliest opportunity. That thing is something he needs, and I won't let him have it. So be careful."
He then looks to Animus.
"My question, however, is this: what do you plan to do, Animus? Will you continue with these people, or will you seek the girl? We could bring you with us, pretending that you are a captive, and then let you loose once we are in Koltir, saying that you broke your bonds and overpowered us... but I'll leave the decision to you. If possible, I will try to ensure that she is safe, but I do not know how possible that is. I cannot say where they will hold or, or why they need her... but if you do come with us, know that Ratheqar will undoubtedly seek you out, either through me or another - and though I would delay as long as possible, others may not."
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