Alex Muszynski
30 KiB
Part 5
Episode 49: The Great Babu
Summary: The party went back in time minus Camilla, they need to figure out what to do next... The party goes to Taterthorn the Timeless.
As the party travels to Taterthorn, Noxx and Bit begin carving the insignia of the Traveler in the trees.
We encounter an old man on the travel. We end up in a weird situation where we seem to be in a space paradox. The man has odd tattoos on his hands and is squeezing his eyes shut beneath his hood.
The man is chanting something. I hear 'order', and identify the language as old valerian. It sounds like a prayer. Likely for Imperious, a minor god of order. Locke recalls that the tattoos in the olden times were normally on those who were the most devoted to a diety.
We continue traveling and we notice something in the distance. A clearing from the woods. We push our way through and we see a rather beaten down trail, oddly it seems to only be maintained for someone of Neil's height. Following the path we eventually make it to a visible light. We see a minurature wizard tower in an area that is semi maintained. There is a lot of clutter, with many of the items visible being potato related. However, nothing like we had seen at the warehouse. Someone irrily similar to Nern comes out of hiding. A skinny harry potter looking human man, holding a bundle of sticks. He is rather startled when we see him. His name is Keth. We are required to climb up the tower for some reason. As we enter there is a hatch that we go through. As we enter the hatch we are transported somwhere. The room we teleport to is the equivalent to the Roman Coloseium. An ever expansive library. Taterthorn gives us quite an excuisite entrance. There was another scenario like ours. 'Tillia' apparently this happened to. Because he revealed this information Taterthorn tells him to 'explode'. He is rather interested when we mention the book 'When Death Marches'. A book from his personal chambers. Tillia references an angel. A few days ago Tillia came to Taterthorn's doorstep claiming to have lost her brother; Orso. She was traveling along the lines of what we know as the thunder coast. They stopped to setup camp and nearby there was a crack of sorts and her brother was missing. Right now we are in year 12,389, our world is 7,999 After Eternity. Locke recalls that around this time it is speculated to be the beginning of the Throne of Eternity conflict. So we are around 9,000 years in the past. The ball park is around 1,000 years of conflict. Taterthorn is currently 4,586 give or take a few centuries. He recommends not reading the book. Babu/Taterthorn's grandfathers name is Shmebulock. Wendig the Glutton, is a fae creature that he knows. The angel's name is Remis of the goddess of time. We tell him about the Imperious cultist, and he says we probably encountered a liberator. They have divine magic outside the realm of his understanding. Noxx asks him about the Espata, and he seems well aware of them. The Espata are valeria's finest. They are genetically alterd for war.
Theory, Duskar was a dead Espata
The text was given to him by his father, it was his lifes work to destroy every copy of it. It teaches a very dark path of magics. Its a lot like litchdom. When death marches isn't talking about an event, its talking about a person, the death march. Even he doesn't want to read the text. He doesn't know if the death march is something to come, he isn't sure what it is. He can say that the information shouldn't fall into any hands. Babu/Tater was unaware of the book being blank. Empress Nymn, the god touched. Gave the thunder coast its name. We are going to go to the coast, and find the angel Remis with Tillia. Remis is an angel of the time goddess so we might get more information if we find him. Also we need to find Tilla's brother Orso.
As we fall asleep, Neil wakes up to a bright light on some dirt path. From behind something is behind him... He turns to see, a foot behind him, a hunched over figure. He is on a path he was on before. The eyes are cross stiched shut, and as he looks up his teeth are gray and rotted. Face is artifically old looking like the life was sucked out of a younger man. The chant stops... A smile grows, 'hello boy, tell me, may I have your name' Neil demands his name.. 'I am your liberator' Neil casts guiding bolt. As the creature gets hit, Neil sees a familiar yellow glow come from the crevices of the stitched eyes.
Episode 50: Pasts Presents
Imperious went from god of order to god of tyranny. Because his order was too, enforced.
Neil awoke on the same path he was on before, he only remembers passing out in Babu's living room for the night. He saw the figure of the liberator with dark gray robes, holy symbols etched in the robes. Gaunt, unkept fingers as he approaches leaning on a staff. 'May I have your name?'
As the guiding bolt hits, Neil sees a yellow light glowing from his eyes as they crack for a moment then reseal as the light vanishes. He then reaches his hand forward and asks again "May I have your name..." his fingers reach Neil's face and the tips of them slide into his skull by magical means.
Neil fails to fight the man out of his brain, he feels something snatched from his head as pain shoots through his body. The man asks once more "May I have ... may I have ..." Neil attempts another guiding bolt, which has no impact on the creature now. He screams "What are you!" It feels as if something is being pulled out of Neil's head. A flash of light appears behind his shoulder and as the pulling reaches a breaking point Neil thinks this guy is going to rip my skull out a flash of light happens and then the figure's grip fades and his head turns.
Over his shoulder where the light originated a familiar creature with wings known as a eonwing flys in from a distance immediately making its way over to the libarator. A woman with a helmet of wings rides the creature as she flyes down with extreme speed toward the creature it puts it's hand up to block the blow as a large flash appears and a warmth flows over Neil. His vision still hazy from the flash of light, he sees the outline of the woman as she asks "Are you alright, child?". Words escape Neil as she lifts her helmet off her head to reveal ... nothing as Neil lurches awake seeing Tillia holding neil. Tillia asks "Are you ok?"
Tillia is a very young elf, 8-10. About the same height as Neil, 4 inches taller.
Neil says "I don't know I thought I was okay the whole time", at this time Neil tries to recall who the figure in the dream was. He cannot remember who the figure in the dream was, however he feels like the eonwing is so familiar.
Babu and Tillia come into the room after Keth comes in with a platter of pastries and refreshments. Babu says "I hope the nighttime treated you well".
Babu created the mail system, he thinks it's funny that people can steal other's mail.
We ready to leave for what is known as the Thundercoast in our time with the assistance of Babu's timed potato horses. On the way out Neil pockets the worlds first sweet potato. Three steeds and a smaller pony for Neil, Tillia mounts with Noxx.
The horses are going about the speed of a high speed train.
Noxx talks with Tillia, and asks about if Neil was floating with purple light. Tillia says that is not the case and Neil was glowing yellow not purple. Tillia asks Noxx "Can you hear too?" Noxx confused questions "Hear what?" Tillia "Well how did you know? I was having a dream and someone told me he needed help." Noxx "Who was this person?" Tillia "She doesn't really talk, I just knew."
Noxx transfers Tillia to Bit's horse since he has no clue about voices in heads.
We make it to our desination and the horses are sent off for their explosion, which creates a small mushroom cloud. In the middle of the woods we take camp since we pressed on through the night. Bit takes first watch, with Noxx taking second, and Locke taking third.
Bit's watch is not abnormal, Noxx's watch however he hears something in the distance - some sort of beast shouting in the distant north. He feels an unnerving presence as the noise washes over him and continues on during his watch and relays the information to Locke. Locke's watch is also normal, nothing out of the norm happens the whole time.
We have Tillia direct us where she thinks she remembers coming from. Key directs us to the water, after heading in the wrong direction for 30 minutes.
Neil talks about his pocket watch and says that there is a compass that completes the set, that directs the user to a present time anomaly if there is one but it doesn't work without the stopwatch. Tillia looks confused as she asks "How do you know about that." in a very serious tone. Tillia's brother is around 20 years old, full blooded elf just like Tillia.
Tillia says "I don't want my brother to get mad at me for telling someone." "Orso had it for a while, before he was gone. There have been other people looking for it which is why we have been moving around so much."
Locke "Was he using the compass when he was sucked into that thing?" Tillia "He was keeping it from the bad people."
The more and more she talks about serious things, there is something shifting in her demeanor. Bit has a gut feeling, the same as when I get in the presence of immense arcane power.
Tillia's last name is Cypher, like Ulquiorra, the advisor to the king/queen of Valeria from our timeline. Orso has light brown hair, soldiers build, armor and a large sword.
From my time in the spellbinder society, Cypher was spoken once by Eldric; it was mentioned in coversation.
Eventually the treeline breaks, and we see the coast. Way off in the distance we see a sort of settlement. We travel towards the settlement on the main path. On the way I (Bit) hear a rattling noise. I can barely see a tiny little snake. Locke sends his Shemb to deal with the snake, who turns out to be a Chimera. So we go to fight it. We one shot the thing. Locke is aware that the fangs and the tail of the Chimera is valuable in our time.
I attempt to find Ky'mytha when we set up camp. As I go in, I find another presence -- a voice "It's becoming easier to track you down". "The lord of the hells grows tired in waiting, sends a party to collect what is his." Ky'Mytha has no clue of what happened around this time, he is around 8,000 years of age. No knowledge of Tillia or Babu.
Tillia is from the main land, came to the colonies to get away from everyone. Brother was a soldier, and for a long time lived with family, brother was special directly served under the king. Why would he want to leave: one day he came and when he was suppoed to leave for a few months, came to her in the night and it wasn't safe, talking about how our parents were going to meet us somewhere and were already gone. Where were they supposed to meet: just a little further is all she ever heard. Parent's names: Argus Cypher, and Gwendalyn Cypher.
Still need to ask Tillia if she feels any connection to magic.
We arrive at old day Crackle Cove, receiving looks from the commoners due to our appearance. The town is quite humble, with basic stores and forges. We see a tavern known as the Jolly Jester. Tillia recalls that they were here previously at the Jolly Jester, and they left in a hurry because Orso said people had caught up to us. Neil wrapps her in a cloak to keep herself hidden as possible. When they left they went west. Neil in the moment casts sending to Remis since we have no clear direction. His message is received by the angel, however no message is returned.
"Where did you see this angel?" Locke asks Tillia, who responds "I saw him, Orso didn't believe me. It was just as we were leaving here, I thought he looked at us. I felt.. protected."
Neil talks to the angel once more telling him where we are going and who is in our possession. Neil hears a gurgling in response and feels a similar tug that he felt before and writhes in agony at it. A voice comes back "Silence child, they will hear you" Wasting no time, we travel west. Tillia recalls the way from here, "we should only be a few hours away" she claims. We will arrive sometime around nightfall. We are not taking a paved path, and we are traveling through the woods. This area is more of a wetland that we travel in for a few hours. Locke walks into a trap as we hear a rope snap, as he gets carried upward by the ankle. Neil lifts the rock with his rope, as Noxx cuts the rope that Locke was dangling by. We see a humanoid figure as the approaching noises stop, wearing fine Valerian armor with a sword drawn and a shield.
Bit asks if the man's name is Orso, and with that his eyes narrow and his posture becomes almost hostile. We reveal Tillia, and he throws something at Bit immediately as we don't surrender. Combat ensues as Noxx charges forward, and Locke takes his first shot at the soldier. As the soldier action surges his eyes flicker with a similar glow that Lockes do when he does the same.
We kick his ass and tie him upsidedown on the tree, Shemb pisses oil to wake him up. Noxx asks what is up with his eye flicker. He seems utterly confused that we don't understand it. He keeps talking about Locke denying his own heritage. He was not an Espata. His surname is Phipps.
Bit begins to read his mind as he casts detect thoughts on the soldier. His surface level thoughts: What is their game, who do these guys work for. Who would be helping Orso. Why am I not dead. Digging deeper; The eyes, I see a vision of him as a young man going through rigourous training in a camp like setting. These are Valerian Arancars(?) he is part of a higher branch. Another flash to those with the blood of the Espata even a drop always shine brighter than their fellow pupils, you lot are something else entirely. More training, transitions into him being assigned to work under an Espata serving them, the closest you will get to having their abilities. His Espata is a man with brown hair, sword at the side, named Orso. Last flash is him and the others appalled at something Orso did.
Noxx and Neil take Tillia onward while Locke and Bit interrogate the soldier.
Tillia sees something and runs towards the direction of the light. As Noxx picks her up and throws her on his shoulder. This rift is massive compared to what has been seen before. It's not quite what happened in Dravenhold, but its quite larger than the one we came through. It still gives off the constant hum, as the party sits to stare at it.
Back to Bit & Locke, we are unable to persuade him to open up. Locke continues to question him about the eyes which we now know belong to the Aroncar. Which apparently Locke and Ferrick are desecendants of.
Orso exiled for acting against the empress. The Espada are instructed to collect Tillia for an unknown reason. He gestures in the direction of Noxx and Neil "The trail runs cold here."
Noxx & Neil group hears something in a language they don't understand (celestial). An aura around Tillia intensifies as she begins to float a bit. Her eyes glow blue as she continues the grip Neil's holy symbol: the stopwatch. She cries out in pain as the aura around here continues to grow stronger as the crack shifts and expands farther out. Another large crack appears from her body as a shimmer appears. In the formation of one of the cracks, Noxx sees that there is a yellow hand that attempting to pull back one of the cracks as it grows deeper.
Neil sends word to Bit that they are in danger. Locke and Bit rush off to them.
The hands continue to pull back the crack, and Tillia lets out a louder shout, as they see a humaniod figure that walks from within the crack. We watch as an angelic figure pushes out from the rift, it is very odd to look at. Dressed in perfectly ornate robes, giving off a divine hue, nothing the group has ever seen before. As Locke and Bit rush over seeing the combating glows of blue and yellow the blue glow suddenly ceases to exist.
Noxx asks "Are you the angel Remis?" Remis "Yes". Noxx "Do you know where Tillia's brother is?" Remis looks at him, there are no eyes, just white dots beneath the hooded robe. "Tillia's brother? That's what this is about?" He looks at Neil with curiosity in his posture. "Was it you who contacted me before? We live in periled times, you must never reach out for your own safety" Neil "We need your help" Remis floats over to Neil as Bit and Locke approach.
"Where are you from" Remis asks, as we explain to him how we originated in this time.
"Such rifts are dangerous things, they have only been opened recently, an army moves against us but the divine will not sit idley."Remis proclaims.
Neil asks "which army moves against you?", the forces of imperious wages war on our realm, on all realms Remis answers.
Rifts allow for angels to pass through, the material plane is one of the planes the war is happening. So the rifts are a part of the throne of eternity conflict.
Remis "I can smell her presence on you boy, our goddess." "I must be seeing double, before me sits another child of fate. Your time has not yet come little one. Her's however, it is time for her to serve her purpose." "What would that be" Neil asks. "Whatever Theos' will is" Remis answers. "This girl has been touched by divinity, thus making her the rare final divinity touched." "Many who seek to tamper with these rifts are lost to them, scatted somewhere across the timelines." "To return to your timeline it is quite impossible"
Neil suggests him to talk with his diety to help us return to our timeline. "I am here with one task alone, you have brought me this child you have played your part." He floats forward. Neil hears, a familiar noise wings. The large eonwing. (The lady from Neil's dreams) A woman with long black hair and a spear screams "GET AWAY FROM HIM, HES AN ANGEL NO LONGER!".
We barely defeat the angel, Bit lands the final blow after everyone goes down. Bit asks the woman "Who are you?" she answers "Styra, we should get to safety" Neil asks if she is a Kyrie, due to her eonwing. She seems concerned that he has one at all. Neil tells her of his times leader named Frayana, the kyrie do not travel through time. The angel we fought once served Theos, but we are in troubling times now.
Styra asks what we are doing here, specifically with this girl Tillia. Neil gives her the run down of how we ended up here. She tells us it is not uncommon for people to end up in our situation. They are fractures of an event at the time of creation of time and space. She looks down at Tillia, and mentioned that Theos has been looking for her for some time. Neil asks if the fractures could become more unstable if space and time are not working together. Neil tells Styra of how Bren leaves for the seven kingdoms, and dies in the future.
The girl is known as a God Touched. Once every eon or so something is born of the universe. Something unnatural, and that is what Tillia is, regular in every other mean, but a child of fate with such a divine power and connection her light outshines even that of angels.
If we truely want to speak to the goddess of time, this is someone she would have an audience with, a child of fate.
We could walk through the fracture with the girl, and try and get an audience with Theos.
We plan to take Phipps wherever we go, and walk him into the future. Neil steals his 66 gold.
We all jump into the rift, holding hands. Styra -> Tillia -> Bit -> .... A light is pouring out of Tillia, an area around her is regular floor like a hyperbolic time chamber. We see strings of time, events from all times future and past. Everyone looks like a visage of themselves, except Tillia who looks mostly normal.
Neil begins to feel the same holy connection when he makes a prayer to Theos. Like she is watching you. Tillia has tears beigin flowing down the side of her face as she screams "Guys? Neil? Snake Man?" "We are here" Styra says as Tillia dissapears at the touch. A voice begins in Neil's head "So far you have come child of fate." Neil says "Theos is that you?" Theos begins again in his mind "I have watched you with great interest my boy. It is no mistake that you and your friends come here." Neil "I'm looking for my mother but most importantly we want to stop the king from destroying peace where we are from how do I help all of them." "Even if at times it may not feel like you can achieve it all what you act towards is neccesary." "Much like poor Tillia" who looks alone traversing this madness, for whatever reason cannot see it. "Mortals cannot enter my realm, not without dire consequences. You have already avoided them once, being shoved into the past. But this was no mistake, we are guided by our fate." Neil "You say I'm on the right path, then answer the most burning question I ahve right now, none of what we have done seems to be connected to this question but I think this will show me the right way. What is your relationship with Destin?" A light chuckle, "The god of fate and I worked very closely for a very long time, now I no longer need his aid."
Noxx "Do you think this is right, having one of your followers wander endlessly, what kind of god does that."
"If you have believed anything believe that bringing this girl to this fate is no pleasure of mine. All of you have done very well to do your part in this role, and because of this we will live on to have a future. Tillia is a powerful weapon for the upcoming conflict, one that we could not win without. We need her bound here to ensure our victory. Only one thing would convince her of coming here" As we see another light appear, and her brother Orso is visible.
Styra speaks up "Goddess is this truly you?" Theos "Yes, my child." "Unfortunately your mother is in a trickier place to get to." Some string and mirrors begin to shift, showing ... "I know you were recently shown that the fractures exist on the material plane, they are a mistake made when time and fate were being woven together. This rift originates from a specific thread of infinite possibilites, The Everchanging." "Child, Neil, you are also a child of fate, and just as Tillia you have your role as well, your mother is somewhere dangerous, and with effort she is somewhere I can reach. But I need your focus on what truely matters -- for a long time you have tried to deny the task in front of you and now that day comes and is nearing your doorstep. You know of what I speak Neil." Tillia is pounding on the side of the crystal that keeps her brother hostage in this realm. As Tillia gives it one last attack threads begin to bind her arms and legs as she screams not wanting to be contained. "You have to give him back, you promised!!" yells Tillia as the crystal begins to crack. As it shatters his body falls with a similar ephemeral nature as ours. As he looks up dazed, he sees Tillia being wrapped up, looking fried mentally. Tillia's light is pulled deeper and deeper into the threads and mirrors of this realm as we feel our bodies return to a conscious state. We can communicate in eachothers minds. "Do not lose sight of what is important child and upon your victory, we shall find and free your mother together." says Theos.
Neil convinces Phipps to explain the Aroncar eyes. "The eyes are a symbol of the Espada, there aren't many of them but full blooded Espada they can pretty much do that whenever they want and permanently maintain the warrior state. Ascended Aroncar such as ourselves we have just a fraction of their blood in our bloodline somewhere. For someone untrained like you its a miracle you can even use them at all."
Episode 51: Convergence
A bright flash appears, Camilla stands before a ritual circle and Elana is shaking her head back and forth. "I don't know how fun this is going to be..." Elana says. Ozen from behind "The pain is only temporary, someone like you should be able to handle it, remember" she hands Camilla a bit for the pain. Rachel approaches and gives a deep breath in preparation. Takes a look back at the group in the chamber: Ozen, herself, her eonwing, and Elana. "Alright, lets hope this works" -- she closes her eyes and begins a rythmic chant in the Valerian language. As Camilla begins to feel an energy manifest around her, then within as silver flashes around as it builds. The chants climax and then she feels it, as if her very soul is being torn out from her chest her lungs and skull undergoing indescribable pain. A loud noise as the dial above the ritual begins to wind faster and faster until she ceases to feel it. A bright flash and her body falls onto the ground. The dust begins to clear and in the receiving node four figures emerge from the darkness -- the four from back in time.
We awake from a deep sleep as our joints regain control and we see a familiar sighting. Elana's tower.
Ozen speaks up "I knew they weren't dead".
As we notice Camilla her arm (which contained the ring) is severed from the shoulder down. There is someone we need to meet, a half frog with a human top half and bottom half frog/centaur legs. Named Peter. Camilla looks notably older, around 10 years older. 140 years to go 14000 years back in time.
Rachel Renethal is a Kyrie, just like Styra Renethal. Passed through her generations this event was known to happen. The Traveler, a minor deity in these times (it worked).
The figurine that Noxx had made of Babu, transformed into Taterthorn the Timeless from current year.
Recap on the war effort from Ozen's PoV. The primary fronts of battle are focused between Dravenguard and Stonemarsh, then the city of Tidecrest so they can gain control of the sea. Everyone in the south is allied with the resistance except Amberglade who is staying neutral. While Galescar has allied with the North, it hasn't offered much benefit beside oracalcum, something that is abundent everywhere in Daein. Ferrick and the farlanders are expected back here in two days time, to meet outside of the shadow isles on neutral grounds, in roughly 5-6 days with Queen Olyncia, Ozen, and King Vezimir.
Camilla notes that Noxx's wife arrived safe. Ozen walks over to Noxx and takes a folded piece of paper and hands it to him. It has a room number at the Immovable mug where his wife resides.
Makuvia, a dwarf, who Camilla met when she returned to stonemarsh told Ozen we were dead then they discussed the situation. Emperor Vyros The God Touched, is the current emperor of Valeria.
Ozen & Ulq meeting, Ozen asked for help, but ulq wants something in the north (artifact) in exchange. Camilla did a solid for Ozen and Ozen exchanged the favor. They went on a fun trip and bonded a lot with Makuvia, Ulq, and Caseus. Sol, gods rest his soul died. They went to the Frostburn Depths - where the artifact was. They found it and Mannimarco -- who had a lot more tricks up his sleeve -- found them and messed Camilla up pretty bad. They found an artifact-creature, which is both an artifact and a creature, was killed by Ulq. Theory is that killing it deactivates the creature in a way. While fighting Mannimarco was sending copies of himself that would fight and explode after destroyed. After she got hit she was frozen. Similar to the one that attacked us in Noxx's bar that one time. Mannimarco, knifed her when frozen and stole her arm. Why didn't she die? He had to have had some knowledge about how to separate the ring from him. Sol died because they were in a mine of oracalcum and he got blown up.
Ask Ky'Mytha about the specifics of the contract, and whether or not it counts that Mannimarco has the ring which is still technically on Camilla's finger.
Camilla wakes up in some ruins after Sol saves her. Unsure how much time has passed. The artifact creature was dead in front of her and Ulq got his artifact and swore allegiance to Ozen's cause. Afterwards Camilla just kinda partied and hung out with her new crew.
Date: 16th of Heimdalas
Something big is going to happen in 1.5 months.
Elana Indigo is holding the sphere (slipgate) that group gave her before they left. She made a contraption to auto-unlock the sphere. Elana explains that they can cause explosions at the site of the teleportation.
The artifact-creature was an Emissary, and the dude we met Emissary was one too.
This one looked like a Lizard though and our guy looked like Ornn. We approach the Marble Chalice.
We enter the high end bar club place, and Camilla introduces us to Ulq.
We enter the penthouse floor and we see a dwarf bathing. "You aren't too relaxed for some drinking are you?" Camilla says.
Makuvia looks at Locke and says "You're the one like us". "Bit thin for an Aroncar don'tya think?"
Ulq can read minds. Same fasion as Eldric Moonbrooke.
Makuvia suggests drinks, and mentioned that Cassius may come at some point tonight. There is a private bar, there are a few Aroncar that are stationed at this penthouse.
Blake Blackfoot, Stillbane was working under Lockes father, stillborn had allegiances elsewhere to a Valerian Aroncar, he went missing the day that his fathers eyes got slashed.
Noxx and Neil go to meet up with Noxx's wife, known as My Wife. Everyone is very happy to see each other. Noxx wrote letters to her for every day they were gone. Noxx asks the big questions and asks about Doug. She is unaware if Doug is alive. She heads to the library with them as Noxx catches his wife up. They make it to the 24 hour library and Neil explains he needs to research two things: an accounting of someone who escaped or changed their fate, and an understanding of how and when Bren made the veil, and was that fated or not.
My Wife is spelt Mi Wif.
Back to the group in the penthouse. We are conversing with Makuvia. Camilla and Makuvia are drunk at this point. And Camilla goes to grab Ulq and Cassius. As she goes to do that Makuvia, gets a bit concerned and warns Camilla about barging into his office. Cassius and Ulq were in a heated argument about something before Camilla walked down to get the two.
Ulq complains to Camilla about Cassius being arrogant, and unwise being human afterall. She tries to invite Ulq to drink with us and he is against it. Ulq asks about the ritual.
Cassius walks out and is a hulking 6ft 8in man shreadded with muscle. He looks pissed as he begins to yell at Makuvia until he notices the guests.
Locke and Cassius joust for fun.
Ulq, reads Bits mind and sees that I am Eldric's protege, sees everything. Ulq and ELdric are aquantences. Bit brings up his heritage and Ulq seems like he doesn't want to talk about the past then sends everyone that isn't myself and Locke out. As they leave Ulq shuts all the doors in the room at once with his magic.
"Now that we are alone, unmasked" Ulq's visage begins to change and reveal a man in his early 30s as he begins to reverse the aging process. "Ask your questions, for I have mine".