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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lylandra" data-source="post: 8576498" data-attributes="member: 6816692">Never skipping leg day, eh? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />Truth           We continue on our ascent and manage to gain a bit of distance to our pursuers. Problem is that Borne is still advancing steadily and we're not really sure what the Colossus might do once he reaches the tower. But it doesn't take too much time for the next memory event to unravel at the next indoor platform.This time we see Nicodemus and Kasvarina and what must be one of the first, if not the first Jierre to rule Danor. We get the impression that this is a very early memory, but all of the attendants are in fairly distraught situations. Most stressed is Jierre who is very upset about the fact that he has to build his new nation of Danor in a place void of magic. He talks about a pocks epidemic that would be easily curable had they just access to divine, clerical magic, like before in the times of grand Crisillyir. This is why many of his new citizens try to flee to places like Drakr and what is still left of Crisillyir. Nicodemus thinks about the troubles of Jierre for a bit and then asks Kasvarina to send Balu to Drakr to kill the local healers and clerics so no one will be able to provide better health care than Danor, including the fleeing Danorans. Meanwhile, he will create more monsters in the Malice Lands so the Danorans won't be able to flee east as well. The only one who appears to have a heart in this messed up situation is actually Jierre, who curses Nicodemus for his utilitarianism as he'd rather be able to help his people than to imprison them.The vision ends and we are even more shocked by this ruthless behavior of Nicodemus, especially as this is a rather old memory which must have happened shortly after Miller's transformation. Seeing him exert oppression and terror over what might have been innocent and terrified people, Jierre's own people on top of that, all for the sake of keeping the population in one place is just the icing on an already cruel cake.“You were right, Gabriel.”, Auryn says, “Life doesn't matter to him. People don't matter to him. He would walk over all the bodies in this world if that was the only way to reach his aim.”“I... I remember now. He called it 'his burden' that he had to bear. He didn't enjoy seeing people suffer, but felt that this was the only way, the only choice”, Kasvarina explains.“Oh how grand and noble.”, Auryn responds sarcastically. “Thinking about the sheer audacity, the hypocrisy to call using your people, your allies and confidants as mere tools a 'burden'. All while being the only one who can act completely without any risk because you are a spirit who can just take any host you like. It makes me sick.”Gabriel agrees wholeheartedly. “And you should add in the fact that it might be likely Nicodemus who caused more war, death, destruction and suffering than any other person after the Malice. How many more have to die for the sake of a 'better world'? And would this world, could this world even be considered a 'better place' if it was bought at such a high price?”(And here I just realize that, at this point, the Obs leadership was sitting right in a return-of-investment trap...)We also add the point that while even a few centuries of deprivation and suffering might be a fair price to pay for a paradise to be formed if you are either long lived (Kasvarina) or immortal (Nicodemus), these centuries will translate to many lifetimes of regular mortals who will never live to see that paradise. Especially if they had no say in this plan. Gabriel mentions that this is why he  prefers the system of Risuri leadership, as the powers of a monarch are given by the Risuri people and not taken by force.While we continue walking upstairs, we turn to Kasvarina who appears to be confronted by seeing the logic behind her past deeds without wanting to embrace them again, especially as she is now fully aware of Nicodemus' true colors. We talk a bit about Kasvarina's own relationship with Nicodemus, and how he had manipulated even her, who had been his first ally from the start. We share our impression that Nicodemus, or more likely Miller, might have loved her in his own, strange way. But that he also was very susceptible to jealousy whenever he wasn't the focus of her actions. All in all he only showed affection to her when she submitted herself fully to the Obs', his, cause. Which would be a sign of him wanting total control over her will and aims, even going to extreme methods to bring her back in track.“I've never thought about it that way...” Kasvarina sighs with a certain sadness in her voice. “A part of me now still, or rather again, has fond memories of Miller. But now I see through his constructed reality, his puppet-play.”“Don't feel ashamed, Kas.” Auryn says while grabbing Kasvarina's hand to comfort her. “I know he can be charming and oh, so convincing.(Dare I say that we just diagnosed Nicodemus as a highly intelligent macchiavellist? He also got a few other Dark Triad checkpoints due to his “not having to fear consequences” <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />But yeah, for us, the last bit of Miller's true humanity died on that Pyre in Pala)In reaction to our view on Nicodemus, Kasvarina reflects on her own manipulations and now, in hindsight, regrets having used all her husbands after Pillai as mere tools as well. She talks about Asrabey who has only shown her total loyalty and whom she had treated coldly. She opens up a bit and shares that she released Asrabey from his oaths during their picnic in Flint. She had thanked him for his support, but didn't want to abuse him any further, especially as she didn't know where her path might lead her to. She also admired his loyalty and faithfulness and admitted having had feelings for him in the past.We return that we fully understand her decision and suggest to make up her own feelings once she is being whole again.(and now we know why Asrabey stayed behind after meeting Balu in Drakr. Seeing his predecessor was enough to give him the need to think about his own path.)After what feels like an eternity, we see that the tower does have an end. We reach the top shortly after, just when Borne has arrived at the foot of the tower. Another memory forms and Kasvarina enters a room decorated with an amethyst and a topaz. And we see another meeting of the Obscurati triad, but we see that this must have been the very first time these three came together in that fashion. Jierre is wary about his transformation, and Nicodamus and Kasvarina thank the Tiefling for his strong courage “last time”. Together they forge their covenant and vow to withstand the corrupting influence of the fanatical Clergy. They also swear to be always faithful and honest to each other. As proof for this vow, Nicodemus puts forth three rings made of stone. He explains that these can be used to locate each other and get a clear vision of what the other ring-bearers are doing right now. To use this power, one only needs to use “In Methia, in the Lance of Triegenes, we were forged in secrecy”. Then they swear to stand together against the oppressors and to forge a new nation in the place now known as Danor.“So much for Nicodemus' vows of honesty and loyalty...”, Gabriel remarks, but the vision is succeeded by another one before anyone can react.Kasvarina is now fully entranced and pulled toward the uppermost platform of the Spire while we see that Borne is on the verge of climbing the tower. The crown resonates heavily while being still placed on Kasvarina's head and it takes a while for the artifacts' magic to engulf the whole tower and then finally all of Methia.We follow Kasvarina quickly only to see her and Miller being chained to the platform by guards of the Clergy. We also see a holy warrior of the Clergy and several materials that would be needed to perform the Ritual of Apotheosis, so we get the impression that the plans of Kasvarina and Nicodemus seem to work just as planned: Hierarch Silvestri, who appears to be the leader of the Clergy at that time, seems to be fixated on summoning a god of war. But before he conducts the ritual, he turns to his two prisoners and congratulates both of them for being official traitors now while he will soon eradicate all of his enemies. He then orders his guards to torture Kasvarina and Miller and we stealthily heal up Kasvarina before her wounds turn too brutal.Then it appears as if he's actually starting with the ritual. But he doesn't involve the holy warrior at all. Instead, he turns to Kasvarina and tells her that he is fully aware that the two of them tried to trick him into performing the ritual. He orders to bring another prisoner, and we see that it is no one else but Dala. Kasvarina despairs the moment she sees her daughter who appears to have been tortured as well. She cries out to her, but the guards drag her to the ritual circle and prepare her for the Ritual of Apotheosis instead. One Clergy wizard dominates Dala while the other acolytes finish the final runes for the ritual. Then they take Kasvarina's blood and use it to transform Dala into Srasama and push her through the portal leading to Alais Primos. We can see her growing massive in size behind the portal while Silvestri forces Miller and Kasvarina to watch. The Hierarch casually reminds Kasvarina that all of his warriors know her name.Meanwhile, Miller tries to call out to the other Clergymen present and to our surprise, one of them takes a dagger and tries to stab Silvestri, who is warded by spells. He looks much like the human version of the first Jierre we saw. An open fight breaks out, while the Clergy is fighting Srasama at the other side of the portal. And in the moment Srasama dies and all the world is echoing with the screams of thousands of women screaming with her.This causes enough distraction so Kasvarina and Miller can get up and tackle Silvestri who nearly falls over the balcony, but manages to cling onto Kasvarina. Miller seizes the opportunity and jumps through the portal, but in that very same moment the magical backlash of Srasama's death comes clashing through the portal and erases all trace of Miller.The same moment, Nicodemus, still inhabiting Andrei's body, arrives at the scene and pulls Kasvarina back up onto the platform, casually lifting Silvestri along. Silvestri and all of the present humans are suddenly transforming into Tieflings due to Srasama's dying curse. Kasvarina uses this moment to decapitate Silvestri before she snaps out of the vision to turn to Nicodemus.(That guy was one massive sadist and got what he deserved. Good riddance. Rarely hated an NPC so much. Almost called the chapter "Death of the biggest jerk in ZG history")Kasvarina understands that this Nicodemus is current-day Nicodemus, so she feigns switching to his side again. But when she comes close enough, she grabs Nicodemus and signals Auryn and Gabriel to go get him.(Can we just admit that this move is very, very brave considering the fact that Kasvarina knows about Andrei's super strength?)Both of the duo unleash a barrage of blows against Nicodemus while confronting him with their own thoughts. Gabriel promises that he will take three things from Nicodemus: Firstly, the body of his dear friend Andrei, secondly, his centuries-old, people-trampling grand plan, and thirdly the divinity of Srasama that keeps his spirit alive.Auryn declares that she won't let Nicodemus harm either Kasvarina or another member of her family ever again.Despite Andrei's regeneration, we manage to knock Nicodemus out quite quickly. As soon as he's unconscious, we use only a bit of fire magic to prevent his body from regenerating. But by reoving the interference from the memory, Kasvarina also gets caught up in the Arc's magic again and jumps right through the portal where she ends in a circle of six blazing embers. The portal closes the same moment, and we see Nicodemus' spirit leaving Andrei's body.“Nicodemus... I know that once there was goodness in you. Don't you see that you have strayed too far from your path? That you became just like the Clergy you rightfully condemned? Do you really see those who cared for you as mere tools? Do you really not care for all the suffering you cause?”,  Auryn tries to plea with the weakened spirit.“You have seen and felt the atrocities of the Clergy firsthand. And still you chose to cause even more suffering, war and death over the last centuries than any of them. Is war really the right path to achieve peace? There must have been, and there surely still are, alternatives to your methods”, Carlyle adds.Nicodemus stays silent for a moment. As he starts burning, he finally makes a stubborn statement of his own: “Many adversaries have killed me countless times. But none were able to stop me. Believe me, there is only this way to open the eyes of the world to our bright future. I am the essence of this plan, this idea, and you cannot kill an idea.”“You are right. But one doesn't have to kill an idea, only to not follow it. This world doesn't need your plan, your path or your idea if this inevitably means forsaking the meaning and worth of peoples' lives in the process. I know what you originally wanted, and this is a noble aim. And I promise to not stray from this path, to not let go of the belief that we can forge a better future for all of us as this is what Vekesh taught us.”, she returns.“Foolish Eladrin! Your kind has been destined to die a long time ago and maybe it is about time you go extinct.”“I will never let that happen. Remember my promises, Nicodemus...” Gabriel adds with a firm voice while the last bit of Nicodemus' presence turns to insubstantial ash.(just adding another musical cover from a series that played that losing and regaining magical memories card really hard, which also (the music, not the series) covers the themes of our campaign quite well <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tkaLqGFmEQ" target="_blank">Hear our Prayer from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles</a>Yes, the series is even stranger than most manga/anime. CLAMP are masters of derailing themes and past stories on purpose)</blockquote>

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