AbyssalRoadTrip
patreon
Abyssal Road Trip - 294 - Untouched
🕑 Added 2023-05-31 12:19:38 +0000 UTCAmdirlain’s PoV - Outlands - Xaos
Upon her return to Xaos, Amdirlain found Cyrus meditating calmly in the entry hall while a group of soldiers recovered in the courtyard. At a glance, it was obvious their injuries were the outcome of sparring with Cyrus rather than daring the tower. Dejected expressions and injuries suggested a story of humbled egos.
“Helping them find enlightenment?” enquired Amdirlain lightly.
“No, I simply allowed them to trip over their misunderstandings,” replied Cyrus.
Amdirlain took in the state of the healing wounds and nodded. “Seems some of them needed quite the trip. I got Ki Blast working.”
Cyrus gave a pleased smile. “Good, though that took you a while. Or did you stay and experiment?”
“I thought I’d wait to see if you’d return, so I progressed it out of the early levels.”
“How much damage did you end up doing?” enquired Cyrus.
“Lots of flattened grass, a bit of fire that was easily controlled. The surrounding animals moved away or hid as my practice progressed.”
Rising, Cyrus motioned towards the inner courtyard where Amdirlain had placed a collection of bamboo trees. “Let us work on your Ki Flight then; show me your control.”
When they reached the grove, Cyrus pointed her to the closest tree. “Control your Ki Flight as if walking up the tree, but move as quickly as possible. Given how agile I’ve seen you using your other Flight Power, this should push Ki Flight more than it will progress your Agile Skill.”
The mismatch between Flight and Ki Flight caused some initial frustration. Amdirlain found herself hung up by branches she would have passed with Flight while she adjusted to the difference in their speed. Having seen the speed Cyrus had flown with Sword Light, Amdirlain regretted not having pushed Ki Flight previously.
[Ki Flight [Ad] (14->15)]
The first notification came after an hour of dodging through the bamboo. Cyrus added difficulty by first throwing rocks before progressing onto knives. When those throws started to grow predictable, he manifested ghostly hands with Ki Projection. The manifestations didn’t stay in one place, skipping about intercepting the knives mid-flight and redirecting them.
Before the usual lesson time, Amdirlain heard Captain Bedevere arrive unaccompanied by other soldiers. Having expected an official reaction to her creation, Amdirlain teleported to ground level to avoid the latest barrage. “Bedevere has arrived; I should speak with him.”
Nodding, Cyrus brought his knives in and started to examine their edges. “Think he's come to scold you?”
“I didn’t go prying; that makes it too easy for my Diplomacy to pick up cues,” admitted Amdirlain.
“I got told some tales about your relationship with that Skill,” noted Cyrus.
Amdirlain nodded. “It still concerns me, especially after my Skill evolution.”
Heading to the outer courtyard, Amdirlain spotted Bedevere waiting by the tower stairs, turning a steel vial in his hand. The pleased feedback Amdirlain had gotten from Galasser on her brief stop had foreshadowed no issues.
“Captain Bedevere, what can I help you with?”
“Elder Am,” replied Bedevere.
Amdirlain gave him a relaxed smile. “Please, Am will do. The only person who uses that title is Goxashru, and that’s because he is in my service.”
“Among some cultures, not attributing a title to an individual more powerful than you is considered a grievous insult,” explained Bedevere. “It wasn’t an issue when I believe your influence was temporary, but you've certainly settled into Xaos."
“You can use Elder or Sifu, but unless your customs find it offensive or overly familiar, Am is sufficient,” reassured Amdirlain.
“Elder is certainly the title that is most easily understood. The next item is an inquiry about these vials,” said Bedevere, and he bounced the vial he’d held on his palm. “Galasser had been purchasing the herbs, but he’s got ample potion vials in stock presently, and I heard some mention of selling them to the smiths as scrap metal.”
“That’s fine. The main purpose of the vials was to stop the herbs from being contaminated. I thought they might be useful to Galasser but hadn’t considered his existing arrangements,” admitted Amdirlain.
Bedevere put the vial away and cleared his throat. “The next matter is that the Commander appreciates your creation of a quarter for the mousekin further from the Portal; there have been past problems. Its creation makes them wonder if you’ve changed your mind about taking control of the town?”
“No, I’m not taking up that offer,” replied Amdirlain.
“In which case, could you please advise them before making further changes to the town? While the Commander is sure we cannot stop you, unauthorised changes occurring within the town involve more reports.”
“I’ll endeavour to keep that in mind,” replied Amdirlain, keeping her expression composed. “My apologies for the extra work required of them.”
“Are you expecting to embark on other such works soon?”
Amdirlain tapped her chin as if considering the matter before she shook her head. “No, I think I’m done for now, but I’ll let the Commander or yourself know when that changes.”
“Dimensional slipways is your name for the short-distance portals around town, correct? They—and the burrow itself—are all confined within the town’s wards?” inquired Bedevere.
“Yes. I remembered your concern about the Gate and didn’t want to cause any issues,” reassured Amdirlain.
“Good, I appreciate the confirmation. I won’t take up any more of your time then,” said Bedevere, and with a nod, he went to head off.
Amdirlain called after him. “Captain.”
Bedevere stopped and turned back. “Yes?”
“One thing I should mention is that additional magic teachers will arrive soon. I hope it won’t be an issue that they are Githzérai.”
Bedevere blinked. “How many are you expecting, and for how long?”
“They won’t be permanently staying in Xaos, and I doubt the arrangement will be long-term. They’ll be coming and going for the lessons each day, but I don’t know when they’ll start,” advised Amdirlain.
“What enticement did you give them to assist us?”
“The monastery they studied at is looking to repay a debt they feel they owe me,” explained Amdirlain.
“Why would a monastery feel it owes you?”
Amdirlain gave a lopsided smile. “It’s only a small monastery, but I taught a few thousand of them multiple affinities while studying there.”
Bedevere blanched. “A few thousand owe you debts?”
“They don’t owe me anything. It’s more a matter of pride for them, the way Nomein explained it,” admitted Amdirlain.
“I’ll go update the Commander,” coughed Bedevere before he hurried off.
Of her students, Goxashru arrived first, and Amdirlain could hear the theme of the new Class he’d selected. The entwining theme was overall stronger than his other classes and provided arcane energies and sturdiness. Focusing on the theme, Amdirlain triggered Analysis to confirm its details.
[Arcane Knight
Attribute Adjustments:
+14 Health per Level
+1 Endurance per Level
+1 Intelligence per Level
+4 Free Attribute Points every four levels above Level 22
+1 Melee Attack Power per Level
+1 Defence per Level
+1 Magic per Level
+6 Mana per Level
Increased frequency of minor insights into combat skills
Increased frequency of minor insights into the following:
- Athletic skills
- Fortitude
- Armour skills
- Mana Manipulation
Requirements:
- Accepted into service as a Talon.
- Fighter or better Combat Class over Level 20.
- Second Class of any type over Level 20.
- Wizard Class at any Level (This may be their second Class).
- Adept or better in two combat skills.
- Four or more affinities. ]
Not quite stacking a Wizard’s Class gains atop a Fighter, but still a noticeable step up from either. It will be interesting to see how it combines into a Prestige Class later. He barely snuck into the last two requirements. While it might have been an idea to hold off to see if he got something better, it was his choice.
“Good morning, Goxashru,” greeted Amdirlain.
Goxashru bowed. “Good Morning to you, Elder.”
“I’ll get you to focus on some Spell casting practice today to progress your Mana Manipulation,” informed Amdirlain. “I’ll adjust your amulet to let you record some Gate locations for future travel. After we get your Spell casting to a suitable level, there are a few other worlds I’ll need you to contact the dragons on.”
“Do they also have those intruders?” enquired Goxashru.
“Yes. I’ve been examining a variety of worlds, but there aren’t dragons on all the worlds I’m concerned about,” advised Amdirlain.
Bowing deeply, Goxashru slapped a hand against his sternum. “I shall work hard to prove my worth, Elder.”
“Just do your best, Goxashru, and let me know if you have questions,” reassured Amdirlain. “If you’d start going through basic sword drills, I’d like to learn more about your blade style. Likely, I’ll get someone focused on blades to come and help you improve on it.”
When Callen and Enrig arrived, Amdirlain beckoned them to join her where she’d been watching Goxashru’s drill. “How has your practice been going?”
Enrig flexed his fingers. “I can keep the Ki in my hands now. Though I run out of reserves quickly.”
“Initially, it’s very much a tactical decision when to use Ki Strike,” advised Amdirlain. “Today, we’ll split the lesson between unarmed techniques and casting practice. I'll be focusing these lessons on foundational techniques for the next week. I expect you to practise them under Master Cyrus' supervision while I'm away for a short period at that time”
“How long will you be gone, Sifu Am?” asked Callen curiously.
Having only closed off one world, Amdirlain gave a helpless shrug. “It will be at least three days, but the specifics could change. In the next week, I want to get you comfortable with some drills to practice under Master Cyrus’ supervision. Let’s start with blocks since we’ve been focused on your understanding of Ki Strike the last couple of days.”
Once the lesson was over, Amdirlain guided another fifteen soldiers through gaining the basic affinities.
* * * * *
The week Amdirlain wanted to give the orbital surveyors passed in a blur. A mix of teaching, training, experimenting, and cycling Ki within her patients filled her schedule. The Ki Cycling had been limited by the time each could endure her Ki stirring across their ashen essence. After making inroads with Cuiniel, Amdirlain had included Gondren in Ki cycling halfway through the week.
Though she’d been nervous about touching the former Astral Deva with her Ki, the process had gone well. She avoided detonating him with the energy stirring through his essence, though his tolerance was almost negligible. It had filled much of the initial session with close calls. His screams echoed within his confinement, leaving an unpleasant mark in Amdirlain’s memory. She could not induce torpor, as the cycling wasn’t causing only physical, but also emotional pain. The exercise also needed them to be fully awake, while the Ki cycling challenged their perceptions.
A similar host of accusations that Cuiniel had thrown at her came from Gondren—though his words had varied. The accusations increased Amdirlain’s nerves about starting with Torm. It was one thing to have the words thrown at her by a stranger, yet the allegations had some justification from him.
As the first touch of Amdirlain’s Ki started cycling across his desolated state, Torm ground his teeth.
“Not only a gaoler but a torturer,” snarled Torm after the initial rush of pain had stabilised. “Stirring lies through my mind and fire beneath my skin.”
“Trying to get you to question your existing conceptions isn’t a lie; the corruption twisted your recollections. I’m stirring your energy to aid self-reflection, not torture you. Unfortunately, the process digs into wounds that the Transformation Site caused,” replied Amdirlain.
[Spirit Passage [Ad] (24->25)]
The notification accompanied a slight easing of the difficulty in sending Ki through the oath link, and Amdirlain eased the pressure of her cycling.
The increased force was enough to stir the ashen surface of his essence and drew a gasp from Torm. “You expect me to believe this is something I want? This is all about what you desire.”
Amdirlain let the sound of the corruption she’d torn from him ring through the oath link, and Torm’s rant stopped cold. “What was that?”
“That was the corruption I removed from you,” explained Amdirlain. “I know how it sounds to me, but how does your mind perceive it?”
Torm looked around at the surrounding walls as the displays shifted again. “Greedy and contemptuous, like you.”
“Your memories and entire former state were its meal. Could you tell what lured it away?” asked Amdirlain, keeping the Ki cycling smoothly through the link.
“It was done with me,” snapped Torm. “How do I know that isn’t just your lie? Or that you won’t be done with me after you have fun torturing me?”
Amdirlain ignored the accusation and focused on facts. “I lured it away by letting it believe it was getting a meal; instead, I destroyed it. I destroyed it after it had let go of your memories so you could reexamine them without its influence. I could have taken another road to destroy it, but that would have left you without memories.”
As she spoke, the rage in Torm’s posture grew, and he unleashed a flurry of punches into the barrier. “You’ve already stolen memories from me! Why should I do anything you desire?”
“And I told you why and left you the memory of that,” repeated Amdirlain. “If I’d also taken that recollection, you wouldn’t have known.”
Torm drawled. “You’re so good with your self-justifications. That doesn’t make you any less of a thief and sadist.”
“Do you remember using Ki, Torm?”
“Yes, it’s such a weak power. I don’t know what possessed me to pick such a pathetic Class as Monk,” scuffed Torm.
“Weak? So you think you’re stronger than Ki can account for?”
“Life is a pathetic force,” declared Torm, flickering his fingers dismissively. “It’s so easily broken and shattered.”
“The pain you’re feeling is from my Ki circulating across your essence,” advised Amdirlain, and she watched his suddenly frozen expression.
“Lies,” breathed Torm.
[Seed Doubts [Ap] (8->9)]
Laughing bitterly at the familiar refrain from the other two having spilled from Torm’s lips, Amdirlain bit back her initial response.
“You and the other two are fond of that word, yet you can’t look at the lies you tell yourselves,” observed Amdirlain as she decided how to guide the conversation. “Do you remember Fenrir, Torm?”
The Goddess’ name, invoked through the Oath Link she held with Torm, didn’t draw the attention of the Goddess.
The mention of Fenrir’s name had Torm step back from the barrier. His gaze skipped frantically across the displayed scenes, almost like he expected her to appear at any moment. “Yes.”
“Among other things, she embodies Destruction. Why didn’t you worship her instead of the Concept itself?” asked Amdirlain. It wasn’t a sure fix, but Fenrir could send him to the trial.
“You’re asking why I didn’t follow my former Liege’s mate?” laughed Torm. “From one puppet to another?”
Amdirlain brushed the wall between them with her fingertips and sighed. “You don’t want to be a puppet? What makes you think Destruction isn’t influencing you?”
Torm froze again, and his gaze narrowed.
“I know two individuals that worship concepts, and they behaved differently the longer they strengthened the related Class,” recounted Amdirlain. “You picked classes whose power comes from Destruction, and you think you’re not a puppet?”
“It’s a bit late for that news, even if it is true,” snapped Torm.
“And if I had ways to get rid of classes and restore your levels in new ones unrelated to Destruction?” asked Amdirlain.
“More lies,” replied Torm, and he exaggerated the word scornfully.
“Care to bet?” retorted Amdirlain. “You’re so dismissive. What if you’re wrong about that and other things?”
“What would I get if it proved a lie?” demanded Torm. “Or is there any point even asking? You could steal the memory of your failure or even this entire conversation.”
Amdirlain smiled at the opening. “Why should you get anything?”
“You won’t back your words, torturer,” accused Torm.
“Fine, if I fail, I’ll put you back where you came from and never bother you again,” offered Amdirlain.
“You’re just seeking to weaken me,” accused Torm.
Amdirlain laughed, and the mocking tone echoed through the link. “Decide if I’m lying or not. If my goal was to weaken you, I don’t need your cooperation to make that happen. I could strip you of every memory and break you back into pure energy.”
Torm huffed and turned a circle along the cell’s barrier. “Yet more lies.”
“How about I prove some things you say are lies?” proposed Amdirlain, growing frustrated with his tired refrain.
“As if you could prove anything except your ability to deceive,” sneered Torm.
“Have you read the mind of one of the damned?”
Torm frown in confusion. “Why would I bother?”
“But you at least know they have thoughts and memories?” probed Amdirlain, hoping for an opening.
“I’ve heard their mental screams and begging,” admitted Torm.
Amdirlain pulled a damned from the storage area, still thick with corruption, and secured it in the fourth cell’s confinements. Wrapping an outer concealment around the pair of cells, she adjusted them to allow him to physically see and hear the Soul as well as perceive its thoughts.
“One of the damned, its Soul ripped free from the abyssal shell that confined it. I could leave it here as long as you want, but tell me, can you hear its thoughts?”
Torm nodded, but his gaze was busy scanning for flaws to exploit. With a quick, broadly targeted song, Amdirlain dissolved all its memories. When she was done, the corruption roiled across the muddy Soul looking for memories to cling to.
“Its memories are gone. Can you hear any thoughts?” asked Amdirlain.
“Yes, the pathetic thing is hurting and doesn’t understand why it’s in pain.” sneered Torm.
The contemptuous tone was so unlike the person Amdirlain remembered that she had to fight off the desire to cut the connection. “Now I’m removing the corruption.”
The blackness lifted, leaving the once humanoid Soul, a pale white, confused, ghostly figure, floating inside the circle. With the corruption removed, the figure appeared pitted with scars and gaping wounds.
“Most of its pain is gone now, isn’t it?” enquired Amdirlain. “The corruption aggravates everything. What did it do to you? What gaping wounds in your essence am I cleaning with Ki that you don’t even sense? Would Destruction help you heal injuries like that, or revel in them?”
[Seed Doubts [Ap] (9->15)]
Why didn't I show this to the others? An effort I didn't want to go to, or have I been avoiding thinking about how they're effectively wounded the same way? The ash and dust sensation is terrible enough.
Suddenly wary, Torm turned slowly and looked about the cell again as if he could determine Amdirlain’s location. When he spoke, the growling tone was begrudging. “Its thoughts are of four images, like the surrounding panels, but it doesn’t know what anything in the images means.”
“It’s in a cell beside yours, but it doesn’t know you’re here. Just as I can see you, you can see it. Watch,” ordered Amdirlain.
Under the ministration of her song, the Soul’s energy rolled and reshaped—like kneading bread. Flaws came to the surface, only to be eased and smoothed out with minimal energy injections. Despite the time it took to handle manually, Amdirlain kept at it until the Soul’s song was smooth and calm. Once the Soul was a blank slate, she sent it to join the others that drifted in a slumbering state, waiting for a slime’s core to inhabit.
“What deity are you, to turn souls into playthings?” spat Torm, his bluster hiding a hefty dose of fear.
“You can choose to cooperate and have me prove that I’m not lying about my ability to purge classes, stay here, or choose oblivion.”
“You offered me the option to return to the Abyss and never leave before,” stated Torm.
“That offer got upgraded to complete freedom as part of the bet. Or do you worry that I’m not lying?” enquired Amdirlain. “If I’m telling the truth about that, what other facts are you dismissing?”
“Why are you playing this game?”
“Forget my reasons. Let me ask you something. The Abyss mauled you the same way that Soul was mauled. Did that look healthy to you? Do you want the Abyss to win? Do you want the Demon Lord that forced you into that Transformation Site to win?” interrogated Amdirlain. “Your memories of me are gone, but lacking those memories makes your choice less influenced. I’m not adding memories to you. I’d prefer you to question everything: what you think you know now and what your self-reflection brings forth.”
When Torm shifted uneasily, Amdirlain spoke again. “You’ll get to keep Wizard and Assassin since, unlike the other classes you picked, they don’t draw strength from worshipping Destruction. Think it over.”
Though Amdirlain continued the Ki cycling, Torm made no further attempt to communicate with her. When she felt she was getting close to injury, Amdirlain stopped and returned to Xaos. There were still hours before her next lesson and, after crossing the ward’s barrier, Amdirlain teleported to the suite.
Cyrus moved back and forth along a garden path, practising a sword kata designed to defend a narrow approach. The Jian’s swift movements caught the sunlight and teased Amdirlain with thoughts about Cyrus’ demonstration of Sword Light. Though Cyrus had confirmed he’d be able to transport her without issue, he’d yet to offer her a trip anywhere. They’d both diplomatically avoided any discussion about Inventory. Amdirlain didn’t know his reasons, but she hadn’t wanted to insult his work to gain Soul Space by offering it unprompted.
Moving out to the end of the garden path, Amdirlain waited for the kata’s completion. The sheath appeared in Cyrus’ spare hand, and the blade blurred home within it.
When the blade disappeared away, Amdirlain bowed to Cyrus. “Good morning, Master Cyrus.”
“Morning peace, Am. I take it you’ve recovered from the last practice.”
“I have. The Resistance progress is slowing, but I’m still seeing gains,” advised Amdirlain.
Giving her a nod, Cyrus turned towards the garden’s central junction. “Tea?”
“Please.”
Moving to join him, Amdirlain knelt as he made the table appear perfectly positioned. Looking at the polished edge within easy reach, Amdirlain smiled.
“You domesticate quickly,” observed Cyrus.
“That goes for you too. It seems a wife won’t have much work to train you,” teased Amdirlain.
Cyrus didn’t rise to her bait. “Or she will have far more headaches than you expect.”
“Livia’s coming to visit soon,” commented Amdirlain, and she noted a minuscule overfilling of the pot compared to his usual precise measure.
Swirling the water around in the teapot to give it an unnecessary rinse, he tipped the lot onto a garden bed and began again. “Your Talon was called away to pick up a package for you.”
“Dragons and their formalities,” sighed Amdirlain, and she set aside curiosity about the summons’ source. “Is the lack of response from the White Tiger’s court a good thing or bad?”
“It is a thing of itself, and preempting it with wondering won’t change the outcome,” admonished Cyrus. Setting the water to heat, he measured the tea in precise scoops, and Amdirlain enjoyed the stately tones in his motions.
Amdirlain waited out the rest of his preparations until he set a cup on her side of the table. The difference in the aroma made her nose twitch. “Thank you, Master Cyrus. How many blends do you have access to?”
“I thought one slightly more acidic might suit your taste this morning,” noted Cyrus.
Keeping her smile restrained, Amdirlain bowed deeply before collecting the cup with both hands. Taking a sip, she savoured the taste before lowering the cup. “It is cleansing.”
“Not enough to ease the tension from your eyes,” observed Cyrus.
“I’d have to be swimming in tea before that happened,” admitted Amdirlain.
Cyrus nodded. “Why do you not use Harmony for meditation unless you are Ki cycling?”
“That question came out of the blue. Harmony makes me feel too much a part of the energy involved,” replied Amdirlain. “Besides Ki Cycling, I use it when helping someone attune to an Affinity, but it’s not something I want all the time.”
“Have you considered why you avoid oneness with the realm?” enquired Cyrus.
“Occasionally, and I think it comes down to wanting too much control,” admitted Amdirlain. “Harmony makes me drift too much for comfort when I don’t have specific goals.”
“Control is an illusion.”
Nodding, Amdirlain sipped from her tea again and briefly watched the leaves dancing in the water before she replied. “Control is an illusion, which is hard for a control freak like me to admit. While I can’t control their decisions, I think I scared the heck out of Torm today.”
“You progressed to him already?” questioned Cyrus.
“I don’t know if I pushed ahead because of fear or if fear had me holding off in the first place,” explained Amdirlain. “He’s the strongest of them, so the least likely to have exploded from the cycling while I was learning the tolerances.”
“Going to work up to treating all three at once?”
“Alternating days to give them time to recover,” replied Amdirlain. “I won’t have time for sparring over the next few days, I’ll be busy closing off Orcus’ playgrounds—at least those with no physical undead.”
“Will three days be enough?” asked Cyrus.
“I’m not sure, but I’ll snatch away his oldest worlds first and keep working until I get a reaction,” said Amdirlain. “If he sends casters capable of gates to any of the worlds, closing those off cleanly will be problematic.”
“I’ll check in with the Alchemist each morning. I’m looking forward to playing with the gadget you’ve given me for changing the drop rate of items.”
After enjoying the tea, Amdirlain headed inside, pulling the surveyors' filled crystals from the storage site before she even got in the door.
Comments
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter!
Peter Gerganov
I'm really loving how much Am underestimated her worth and potential status in Xaos. Am: Maybe I can get a gig tending the bar at a local food joint or something. (powerful recent graduate energy) Commander: You sure you don't want to be a mayor or Lord Governor or something more your speed?
Kemizle
TFTC
