When Muir suggests that Sam ask Morris directly about his concerns Sam glances in his direction. Morris is already staring at Sam as if waiting for it. Sam shrugs. If he is indeed an aspect of death or a god or something he supposes it only makes sense that he has pretty good hearing.
"Alright then, what's it all about then?" Sam calls out to him. "You seem to be trying to be mighty helpful for a god, or whatever. It's not all that common for your sort to be meddling in the affairs of my sort. At least not actively in a face to face kind of manner, anyway. So, what's up with that? What's going on? Why us? And mostly... What's it going to cost us in the end?"
"I won't lie... With your lifestyles, if you keep going on this path you will all achieve a great many things, effecting lives across realms for the better. At sone point your luck or your skill might fail you and at that point your adventuring will cost you your lives. My help here is attempting to make your inevitable deaths not one of failing talent.
The truth is there are dark times ahead. Things held back from traversing realms for so long that the realms have forgotten that this is the natural state they should be in. The world's need someone fighting for the peace and the people. There are fights to be had and the stories and memories you will leave behind after your deaths will. Be. Glorious.
But you also ask why you?." He smiles and looks over to the door Gewyn left through, "amusing that he just asked exactly the same question, so I'll give you the same answer I gave him... He has royal blood from Fae monarchy. You Sam, you have some kind of lineage connecting you to the original giantkin who shaped the realms, Elthana is the clone of the most powerful undead the realms have ever seen, likely aside from Nectyran himself. Vin I'm not entirely sure about, and Muir has passengers that I can't even hazard a guess on.
It feels like a force has brought you all together and it was not by mortal hand. As well as making sure you succeed in whatever you think is right, I'm keeping an eye on you. With the wrong guidance you could become a deadly force of wanton destruction."
Vin's jaw drops as Morris describes the constituent parts of the band he is a part of. When it is put so succinctly as that, it really does seem like there is some greater purpose that brought them all together.
"I think just a part of you likes bending the rules a little too, Morris. And who doesn't love an underdog", he says with a grin to the collector of memories, feeling quite a bond with him after the experience he had.
He then looks to Muir a tad confused, "Passengers?".
"oh I don't know what punishments await me for breaking the rules preventing me from dabbling in mortal lives.
But I know it won't be judgement from the memories, they speak to me, they are quite chatty. Only memories and experiences but they retain their basis for decision making and such, something you experienced first hand vin."
"you have the glow of a mortal blessed by a celestial, I know not which but there are markers that mortals would not observe" he clicks his fingers in front of his head as he squints as if trying to lock in an idea or a clue. "It's not an evil blessing but it's not good, like a neutral state, I'd hardly have cause for concern though. After all, myself and my sibling are also a neutral god... Usually with these kinds of blessings the mortals morals play heavily into what can be achieved with such blessings"
Elthana looks up to Morris as he apologizes, she can see that he really means it and honestly she feels a little bad about barking at him. There was just so much raw emotion, shit she wasn't accustomed to dealing with.
Hearing Nivara's description she winces a bit. She took it more of what she had to face than a compliment to herself. How were they going to defeat this woman? They sure weren't ready now. "Morris also said Nivara probably has a trap waiting for us." She says to no one in particular, completely out of the conversation going on around her.
She looks at Vin, worries about the kid, but doesn't push when he says now isn't the right time. Finally after a few sips of what Sam had brought her she nudges him and says, "Go on, find out what he wants to give you. You can tell me all about it afterwards."
"The natural state?" Sam asks, repeating Morris' statement. "Which is things traversing from one realm to another? Are you sure that is a good thing? Floods, famine, disease... There are times we need to protect ourselves against nature. I'm not so sure these portals aren't one of them."
"Just how many voices are in your head, Muir?" Sam asks when the idea of him having passengers is first brought up.
"What kind of trap?" Sam asks, turning to Elthana. "Did Morris have any idea? The fact that she is aware and preparing for us is... a bit off putting. But also kind of a compliment, I guess? If she's so bad ass and worried about us?"
After she nudges him and urges him to go with Morris, Sam scowls back a bit. "I don't think I have been invited," he points out in a whisper, now aware of Morris' acute hearing. "Maybe it's the undead thing?"
((Unless I missed Sam being invited to the back room?))
"She's waiting for me. Something along the lines of needing the piece of soul that I am to complete her evil plan or something. So yeah, in a way she is preparing for us." She smiles at Sam's scowl, "Of course you are invited, he is just waiting for you to be ready."
Muir suggests to Elthana “Perhaps we should tell Sergor about this and he could assist. It is mostly his doing so he should provide support no?”
Muir matter of factly “It’s not so much as in my head. As I’ve said before and I believe I told you all…I am visited by a god who provides advice from time to time…..”
The thought of Nivara needing Elthana and her soul didn't sit well with Sam. It made him anxious to meet the woman and introduce her to his maul. But he also couldn't help but wonder... How badly does she need Elthana? Bad enough to be lured into a trap instead of doing the luring? It seems Lumithor and Morris and Serafina and all are very much anti-Nivara. Sam didn't figure they would be joining the group and traipsing after Nivara but they are all right here... Could there be a way to lure her to them?
"If she wants you so bad maybe we should set a trap for her?" Sam suggests loud enough for Muir and the others to hear. They're the brainy types who may be able to put together such a scheme. "Don't like idea of you being bait but I'm afraid you're the focus no matter what we do," Sam adds with a frown.
Other than planting that particular seed, Sam relaxes and gets comfortable. He's not going to go up and invite himself to a chat with Morris but, as Elthana suggested, he tries to look relaxed and ready...
When Muir mentions Sergor Sam's eyes shift to him immediately in a glare... but Sam keeps his mouth shut.
"So you have two gods that have taken an interest in you, Muir", Vin comments. "Both neutrally aligned too. Does that mean you yourself are not taking sides, but trying to maintain balance? What happens if those on the side of good start to tip the scales the other way? And I am curious, how did the other one show themself to you?".
He listens to the further talk of Sergor and of traps.
"I agree with Sam, if Nivara is waiting for us, laying a trap, then we should be anywhere but here. Certainly away from her home turf".
"you are indeed invited Sam. Now that we know your curse isn't directly bestowed by Nectyran, you can be in the library without dire consequence.
I'm not sure of the particulars of Nivara's plan, nor if she has a trap laid in wait, but you are a loose end for her Elthana, your being could mean her plans at large are put on hold, as even undead have need pf souls, either as power or payment."
The door that Muir walked out of pops open at morris' gesture and Morris looks to Sam motioning over when Sam is indeed ready.
Muir still seated on the couch looks over at Vin expressionless and answers "Yes 2 Gods it seems. I maintain balance in nature and protect those that need it similarly to Sam although our reasoning is different. When nature wipes out a crop and tips the scales possibly killing a whole town or worse, I aid the people. Just as I participated in stopping Musk and Gates incorporated from destroying whole ecosystems for profit and gain with no regard to nature, its inhabitants, and the people who rely on its bounty....the balance should not be tipped one way or the other. If that makes sense. For me that is what balance is. Morality is different. As for the the other God, they froze time and appeared. It has happened since I have been with you all"
"Interesting', Vin responds to Muir. "But if the portals being open is the natural state of things, should we not except that balance is currently being restored? Or do you believe that something unnatural is happening with the portals", he asks, finding the discussion intriguing.
"And that is cool by the way, freezing time. Were we all just stood around, and suddenly there was a god, and only you could see them and talk to them? That is actually a bit freaky thinking about it".
"hey now, I froze time for you guys last time you were in my tavern, well it was frozen outside the tavern from your perspective anyway...
Balance can be destructive too that is true, but think about the portals as a scale maybe, after being stuck closed for some time now that they are open the scales have tipped in the opposite direction, maybe over tipping slightly, before they will then come to a balance. I'm not sure what that will look like but I guess you're going to have fun finding out"
"Sorry Morris, I didn't mean to imply you weren't also capable of freezing time. I just thought Ratosk was the one who created the tavern and the extra dimensional spaces, and so probably put it outside time", Vin says to Morris. "Although, I guess if that were true Sam and Elthana wouldn't have walked back in, they would just have frozen as soon as they left from our point of view", he says trying to make sense of it.
"And anyway, we know you are only a third of a god, I bet you could really let loose if you got together with your brother and sister".
Muir looks at Morris and answers "Agreed Morris...It seems portals were normal eons ago but I have not been able to find out why they closed. I am afraid that certain factions from other realms are going to cause trouble. Look at what Sergor did behind the backs of everyone else....Look at how his manipulations and secrets have caused damage....imagine others from different realms doing the same....Why Sergor's wife is trying to open the gates of Nectyran's realm...what if that realm conquers this and invades ours? Balance is needed and they seem to be tipping in the wrong direction. We fought off one incursion and left the fae realm in a weekend state. We cannot count on them for aid in this, which is why I research and ask about other realms, but it is difficult to get answers from libraries that are restricted and others who do not share information" Muir looks at no one in particular but continues to look at Morris. However he clearly is not speaking about Morris......
Vin knows exactly who Muir is referring to, but doesn't bite this time.
"Ok, this is making more sense. So exactly how many portals are there in total, and how many have opened recently?", he asks, not sure if he never knew, or if he just forgot due to his memories being messed up.
"I mean, the portal to Hell is still shut for example, right?"
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Morris turns to Sam expectantly, wondering if the half orc will address the questions to him directly or not.
When Muir suggests that Sam ask Morris directly about his concerns Sam glances in his direction. Morris is already staring at Sam as if waiting for it. Sam shrugs. If he is indeed an aspect of death or a god or something he supposes it only makes sense that he has pretty good hearing.
"Alright then, what's it all about then?" Sam calls out to him. "You seem to be trying to be mighty helpful for a god, or whatever. It's not all that common for your sort to be meddling in the affairs of my sort. At least not actively in a face to face kind of manner, anyway. So, what's up with that? What's going on? Why us? And mostly... What's it going to cost us in the end?"
"I won't lie... With your lifestyles, if you keep going on this path you will all achieve a great many things, effecting lives across realms for the better. At sone point your luck or your skill might fail you and at that point your adventuring will cost you your lives. My help here is attempting to make your inevitable deaths not one of failing talent.
The truth is there are dark times ahead. Things held back from traversing realms for so long that the realms have forgotten that this is the natural state they should be in. The world's need someone fighting for the peace and the people. There are fights to be had and the stories and memories you will leave behind after your deaths will. Be. Glorious.
But you also ask why you?." He smiles and looks over to the door Gewyn left through, "amusing that he just asked exactly the same question, so I'll give you the same answer I gave him... He has royal blood from Fae monarchy. You Sam, you have some kind of lineage connecting you to the original giantkin who shaped the realms, Elthana is the clone of the most powerful undead the realms have ever seen, likely aside from Nectyran himself. Vin I'm not entirely sure about, and Muir has passengers that I can't even hazard a guess on.
It feels like a force has brought you all together and it was not by mortal hand. As well as making sure you succeed in whatever you think is right, I'm keeping an eye on you. With the wrong guidance you could become a deadly force of wanton destruction."
Vin's jaw drops as Morris describes the constituent parts of the band he is a part of. When it is put so succinctly as that, it really does seem like there is some greater purpose that brought them all together.
"I think just a part of you likes bending the rules a little too, Morris. And who doesn't love an underdog", he says with a grin to the collector of memories, feeling quite a bond with him after the experience he had.
He then looks to Muir a tad confused, "Passengers?".
"oh I don't know what punishments await me for breaking the rules preventing me from dabbling in mortal lives.
But I know it won't be judgement from the memories, they speak to me, they are quite chatty. Only memories and experiences but they retain their basis for decision making and such, something you experienced first hand vin."
Muir shrugs “I don’t know what Morris means by passengers, perhaps Morris could elaborate?”
"you have the glow of a mortal blessed by a celestial, I know not which but there are markers that mortals would not observe" he clicks his fingers in front of his head as he squints as if trying to lock in an idea or a clue. "It's not an evil blessing but it's not good, like a neutral state, I'd hardly have cause for concern though. After all, myself and my sibling are also a neutral god... Usually with these kinds of blessings the mortals morals play heavily into what can be achieved with such blessings"
Elthana looks up to Morris as he apologizes, she can see that he really means it and honestly she feels a little bad about barking at him. There was just so much raw emotion, shit she wasn't accustomed to dealing with.
Hearing Nivara's description she winces a bit. She took it more of what she had to face than a compliment to herself. How were they going to defeat this woman? They sure weren't ready now. "Morris also said Nivara probably has a trap waiting for us." She says to no one in particular, completely out of the conversation going on around her.
She looks at Vin, worries about the kid, but doesn't push when he says now isn't the right time. Finally after a few sips of what Sam had brought her she nudges him and says, "Go on, find out what he wants to give you. You can tell me all about it afterwards."
"The natural state?" Sam asks, repeating Morris' statement. "Which is things traversing from one realm to another? Are you sure that is a good thing? Floods, famine, disease... There are times we need to protect ourselves against nature. I'm not so sure these portals aren't one of them."
"Just how many voices are in your head, Muir?" Sam asks when the idea of him having passengers is first brought up.
"What kind of trap?" Sam asks, turning to Elthana. "Did Morris have any idea? The fact that she is aware and preparing for us is... a bit off putting. But also kind of a compliment, I guess? If she's so bad ass and worried about us?"
After she nudges him and urges him to go with Morris, Sam scowls back a bit. "I don't think I have been invited," he points out in a whisper, now aware of Morris' acute hearing. "Maybe it's the undead thing?"
((Unless I missed Sam being invited to the back room?))
"She's waiting for me. Something along the lines of needing the piece of soul that I am to complete her evil plan or something. So yeah, in a way she is preparing for us." She smiles at Sam's scowl, "Of course you are invited, he is just waiting for you to be ready."
Muir suggests to Elthana “Perhaps we should tell Sergor about this and he could assist. It is mostly his doing so he should provide support no?”
Muir matter of factly “It’s not so much as in my head. As I’ve said before and I believe I told you all…I am visited by a god who provides advice from time to time…..”
The thought of Nivara needing Elthana and her soul didn't sit well with Sam. It made him anxious to meet the woman and introduce her to his maul. But he also couldn't help but wonder... How badly does she need Elthana? Bad enough to be lured into a trap instead of doing the luring? It seems Lumithor and Morris and Serafina and all are very much anti-Nivara. Sam didn't figure they would be joining the group and traipsing after Nivara but they are all right here... Could there be a way to lure her to them?
"If she wants you so bad maybe we should set a trap for her?" Sam suggests loud enough for Muir and the others to hear. They're the brainy types who may be able to put together such a scheme. "Don't like idea of you being bait but I'm afraid you're the focus no matter what we do," Sam adds with a frown.
Other than planting that particular seed, Sam relaxes and gets comfortable. He's not going to go up and invite himself to a chat with Morris but, as Elthana suggested, he tries to look relaxed and ready...
When Muir mentions Sergor Sam's eyes shift to him immediately in a glare... but Sam keeps his mouth shut.
"So you have two gods that have taken an interest in you, Muir", Vin comments. "Both neutrally aligned too. Does that mean you yourself are not taking sides, but trying to maintain balance? What happens if those on the side of good start to tip the scales the other way? And I am curious, how did the other one show themself to you?".
He listens to the further talk of Sergor and of traps.
"I agree with Sam, if Nivara is waiting for us, laying a trap, then we should be anywhere but here. Certainly away from her home turf".
"you are indeed invited Sam. Now that we know your curse isn't directly bestowed by Nectyran, you can be in the library without dire consequence.
I'm not sure of the particulars of Nivara's plan, nor if she has a trap laid in wait, but you are a loose end for her Elthana, your being could mean her plans at large are put on hold, as even undead have need pf souls, either as power or payment."
The door that Muir walked out of pops open at morris' gesture and Morris looks to Sam motioning over when Sam is indeed ready.
Muir still seated on the couch looks over at Vin expressionless and answers "Yes 2 Gods it seems. I maintain balance in nature and protect those that need it similarly to Sam although our reasoning is different. When nature wipes out a crop and tips the scales possibly killing a whole town or worse, I aid the people. Just as I participated in stopping Musk and Gates incorporated from destroying whole ecosystems for profit and gain with no regard to nature, its inhabitants, and the people who rely on its bounty....the balance should not be tipped one way or the other. If that makes sense. For me that is what balance is. Morality is different. As for the the other God, they froze time and appeared. It has happened since I have been with you all"
"Interesting', Vin responds to Muir. "But if the portals being open is the natural state of things, should we not except that balance is currently being restored? Or do you believe that something unnatural is happening with the portals", he asks, finding the discussion intriguing.
"And that is cool by the way, freezing time. Were we all just stood around, and suddenly there was a god, and only you could see them and talk to them? That is actually a bit freaky thinking about it".
"hey now, I froze time for you guys last time you were in my tavern, well it was frozen outside the tavern from your perspective anyway...
Balance can be destructive too that is true, but think about the portals as a scale maybe, after being stuck closed for some time now that they are open the scales have tipped in the opposite direction, maybe over tipping slightly, before they will then come to a balance. I'm not sure what that will look like but I guess you're going to have fun finding out"
"Sorry Morris, I didn't mean to imply you weren't also capable of freezing time. I just thought Ratosk was the one who created the tavern and the extra dimensional spaces, and so probably put it outside time", Vin says to Morris. "Although, I guess if that were true Sam and Elthana wouldn't have walked back in, they would just have frozen as soon as they left from our point of view", he says trying to make sense of it.
"And anyway, we know you are only a third of a god, I bet you could really let loose if you got together with your brother and sister".
Muir looks at Morris and answers "Agreed Morris...It seems portals were normal eons ago but I have not been able to find out why they closed. I am afraid that certain factions from other realms are going to cause trouble. Look at what Sergor did behind the backs of everyone else....Look at how his manipulations and secrets have caused damage....imagine others from different realms doing the same....Why Sergor's wife is trying to open the gates of Nectyran's realm...what if that realm conquers this and invades ours? Balance is needed and they seem to be tipping in the wrong direction. We fought off one incursion and left the fae realm in a weekend state. We cannot count on them for aid in this, which is why I research and ask about other realms, but it is difficult to get answers from libraries that are restricted and others who do not share information" Muir looks at no one in particular but continues to look at Morris. However he clearly is not speaking about Morris......
Vin knows exactly who Muir is referring to, but doesn't bite this time.
"Ok, this is making more sense. So exactly how many portals are there in total, and how many have opened recently?", he asks, not sure if he never knew, or if he just forgot due to his memories being messed up.
"I mean, the portal to Hell is still shut for example, right?"