Tirost/Logs/Jessa-and-Tir

[General] Your mind hears Huebald thinking, "Hengwild says there's enemies attacking the Northeast Gate."
[General] You hear your mental voice echo, "Moving to engage."
[General] Your mind hears Jessalyne thinking, "They're friendly."
You drift northeast.
[Northern Trade Road, Farmlands]
Open grassland mingles with small farmsteads as the wide road passes through a cut where a low hill rises.  The road is edged with tall hedges, apparently to keep cattle from wandering into the orchards and vegetable plots you see beyond the heavy, guarding branches.  Some distance to the south, you see the smoke and haze of a city of some size.  Northwards, low hills rise against the sky.  You also see a slender tip arrow, an ogre pelter, an ogre berserker, a veteran ogre youngling, an ogre shooter and some junk.
Obvious paths: northeast, southwest.
The veteran youngling begins to advance on you!
The veteran youngling is still a distance away from you and is closing steadily.
Shifting to form a grand alignment with the ring of fire at the apex, the interlocking rings upon your armband suddenly empower you with a charge of deep, primordial energy.
>target fb 34
You trace a geometric sigil in the air, shaping the pattern of the Fire Ball spell.
You begin to weave mana lines into a target pattern around a veteran ogre youngling.
>slap youngling
With a sharp overhand motion, you send a focused blast of air directly at a veteran ogre youngling!
The fierce blast of wind lands a glancing strike to a veteran ogre youngling's abdomen!
>wield my black book in my sling bag
You draw out your black book from the sling bag, gripping it firmly in your right hand.
The veteran youngling closes to pole weapon range on you!
The veteran youngling stops you from advancing any farther!
You're fairly certain this area is lawless and unsafe.
The ogre berserker begins to advance on you!
The ogre berserker is still a distance away from you and is closing steadily.
The veteran youngling closes to melee range on you!
>harn 33
You tap into the mana from thirty-three of the surrounding streams and attempt to keep it channeling in a stream around you.
Roundtime: 2 sec.
Your formation of a targeting pattern around a veteran ogre youngling has completed.
>harn 33
You tap into the mana from thirty-three of the surrounding streams and add it to the huge amount already streaming around you.
Roundtime: 2 sec.
An ogre shooter turns to face you.
* In a weak and directionless display of aggression, an ogre shooter fires a slender tip arrow at you.  You dodge.  
The slender tip arrow lands nearby!
[You're winded, mighty, incredibly balanced and overwhelming your opponent.]
>pathway focus damage
You focus on manipulating an aethereal pathway to enhance the damage of your targeted spells.
>cast
You gesture at a veteran ogre youngling.
You contribute your harnessed streams to increase the pattern's potential.
A massive ball of flame flies at a veteran ogre youngling!
The fireball contracts and gains speed as it nears a veteran ogre youngling!
The fireball explodes close to it, singeing its neck.
You feel fully rested.
The ogre berserker closes to pole weapon range on you!
You notice Jessalyne attempting to conceal her spell preparations despite her invisibility.
You hear a soft humming from nearby.
>justice
Nvalia just arrived.
You're fairly certain this area is lawless and unsafe.
>target cl 34
You trace a geometric sigil in the air, shaping the pattern of the Chain Lightning spell.
You begin to weave mana lines into a targeting pattern centered around yourself, seeking out anything obviously hostile around you.
An icy blade circling you lands a hard hit to a veteran ogre youngling's back!
>put my book in my sling bag
You put your book in your sling bag.
>wield my greatsword
* In a weak and directionless display of aggression, a veteran ogre youngling jabs wide at you.  You block solidly with a small diamond-hide shield.  
[You're winded, mighty, incredibly balanced and overwhelming your opponent.]
Nvalia picks up a slender tip arrow.
Nvalia puts her arrow in her sailcloth quiver.
You draw out your greatsword from the leather pack, gripping it firmly in your right hand and balancing with your left.
>maneuver cleave
Sahhrik just arrived.
The ogre berserker closes to melee range on you!
You lower your shoulders and steady your weapon.
Swiftly, you attempt to cleave through a veteran ogre youngling with your greatsword!
Your greatsword lands a heavy strike to a veteran ogre youngling's back!
A veteran ogre youngling howls in pain, then pitches forward onto its face and goes still.
[You're incredibly balanced]
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Sahhrik runs northeast.
Nvalia goes northeast.
* Ineptly, an ogre pelter fires a slender tip arrow at you.  You block solidly with a small diamond-hide shield.  
The slender tip arrow lands nearby!
[You're winded, mighty, incredibly balanced and overwhelming your opponent.]
* With pathetic timing, an ogre berserker slices wide at you.  You block with a small diamond-hide shield.  
[You're winded, mighty, incredibly balanced and overwhelming your opponent.]
You feel fully rested.
>sheath my greatsword in my pack
You sheathe the greatsword in your leather pack.
>wield my lance
You draw out your lance from the leather pack, gripping it firmly in your right hand and balancing with your left.
>maneuver impale
You take a step back and angle your lance behind you.
You turn to face an ogre berserker.
Swiftly, you launch an assault with wide swipes of your lance!
Your lance lands an awesome strike to an ogre berserker's abdomen!
An ogre berserker howls in pain, then pitches forward onto its face and goes still.
[You're incredibly balanced]
Roundtime: 3 sec.
A huge dirt construct stomps in.
An ogre youngling lumbers into sight, glancing around.
>sheath my lance in my pack
You sheathe the lance in your leather pack.
>harn 33
You tap into the mana from thirty-three of the surrounding streams and attempt to keep it channeling in a stream around you.
Roundtime: 2 sec.
The frosty vapor surrounding you coalesces into an icy blade that joins the six deadly weapons already twirling about you.
The dirt construct begins to advance on an ogre pelter.
>harn 33
You tap into the mana from thirty-three of the surrounding streams and add it to the huge amount already streaming around you.
Roundtime: 2 sec.
Your ka'hurst hauberk begins to grow cooler.
* In a weak and directionless display of aggression, an ogre shooter fires a slender tip arrow at you.  You block solidly with a small diamond-hide shield.  
The slender tip arrow lands nearby!
[You're winded, mighty, incredibly balanced and overwhelming your opponent.]
>cast
You thrust your left arm before you, fingers splayed.
You contribute your harnessed streams to increase the pattern's potential.
A storm of blinding white lightning arcs from your fingertips!
An ogre youngling stares in shock at the remains of its left leg as it is blown completely off its body by a lightning bolt.
The ogre youngling is severely stunned!
The ogre youngling howls and falls over, grabbing its wounded leg.
A lightning bolt tears into an ogre pelter's back like a blast from Firulf's staff.
An ogre pelter howls in pain, then pitches forward onto its face and goes still.
A lightning bolt tears into an ogre shooter's back like a blast from Firulf's staff.
An ogre shooter howls in pain, then pitches forward onto its face and goes still.
The complementary nature of the spell empowers you.
>look
[Northern Trade Road, Farmlands]
Open grassland mingles with small farmsteads as the wide road passes through a cut where a low hill rises.  The road is edged with tall hedges, apparently to keep cattle from wandering into the orchards and vegetable plots you see beyond the heavy, guarding branches.  Some distance to the south, you see the smoke and haze of a city of some size.  Northwards, low hills rise against the sky.  You also see an ogre youngling that appears stunned, a huge dirt construct, a slender tip arrow, a slender tip arrow, an ogre pelter which appears dead, an ogre berserker which appears dead, a veteran ogre youngling which appears dead, an ogre shooter which appears dead and some junk.
Also here: Philosopher Jessalyne who is almost invisible.
Obvious paths: northeast, southwest.
The dirt construct begins to advance on an ogre youngling.
>slap youngling
With a sharp overhand motion, you send a focused blast of air directly at an ogre youngling!
The fierce blast of wind lands an earth-shaking strike to an ogre youngling's chest!
An ogre youngling howls in pain until its eyes glaze over and it stops.
>smile
You smile.
The dirt construct stops advancing since an ogre youngling is dead.
You say, "They're not friendly."
>search
You search around for a moment.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
You notice the vague silhouette of Jessalyne.
You hear the voice of Jessalyne say, "For ogres."
>chuckle
You chuckle.
You hear the voice of Jessalyne say, "This is downright hospitable."
You ask, "You lead the discussion recently at the monastery, no?"
You hear the voice of Jessalyne say, "I did."
You say, "If you would ever be willing to share some of what was said, I'd appreciate it."
Jessalyne says, "Aye, I can do that."
>smile
You smile.
Jessalyne scans the area briefly.
You say, "Let me know when you're free."
Jessalyne says, "After this perhaps."
The surface of a huge dirt construct's head shudders, its mottled surface briefly revealing a scarlet glow.
>nod
You nod.
>northeast
You notice Jessalyne attempting to conceal her spell preparations.
Jessalyne lazily waves her hand about as she quietly hums a catchy tune.
You drift northeast.
...
>send Jessalyne Looks mostly clear. If you get free, and wish to speak, perhaps we can meet at the Darkstone Inn in Dirge.
You hear your mental voice echo to Jessalyne, "Looks mostly clear. If you get free, and wish to speak, perhaps we can meet at the Darkstone Inn in Dirge."
You project your thoughts to Jessalyne.
[Knife Clan, Triage]
Low groans rising from the injured fill the cramped alcove as wounded hunters and warriors receive aid.  Mattresses line the walls, about half occupied by recovering patients.  The floor is almost entirely covered by a dark red stain, paying testament to the enthusiasm of the field surgeons.  An ominous bone saw leans against the wall, obviously a favorite method of treatment.  You also see an ethereal vela'tohr thicket and the surgeon Dokt.
Also here: Chiwah who is lying down and Ravanax who is lying down.
Obvious exits: east.
You notice as a storm-grey cat with gold-flecked crystal blue eyes prances into the room.
Your spell's cycle fails due to the peaceful nature of the area.
The chilling vapor surrounding you dissipates slowly.
The seven frost-covered blades circling around you shatter into a fine icy mist.
The shifting winds blowing from behind you die down.
>touch  thick
You reach out to touch the thicket and an ethereal vela'tohr thicket from within extends a green branch, soft leaves curling against your flesh with a cool tingle. You feel an empathic connection forming between you and the vela'tohr thicket.
[Personal] Your mind hears Jessalyne thinking, "<to you>"  "Aye, works for me. I'll meet you there."
Your wounds tingle in cool relief and a swaying plant dancing to a melody only heard by the vela'tohr in the thicket rustles in apparent pain.
The external scars on your left hand appear completely healed.
>heal
Hsuta just touched Ravanax.
Your body feels at full strength.
Your spirit feels full of life.
You have no significant injuries. 
Hsuta just touched Chiwah.
Hsuta touches you.
You feel a warmth radiate from Hsuta's touch.
You have a brief sensation that leaves your wounds tingling.
>nod hsuta
You nod to Hsuta.
Ravanax puts his textbook in his leather backpack.
Hsuta shakes your hand.
>send Jessalyne On my way.
You hear your mental voice echo to Jessalyne, "On my way."
You project your thoughts to Jessalyne.
...
>go inn
[Dirge, Darkstone Inn]
The main room of the Inn, once well decorated and painted but now decayed and faded, still serves as a gathering place for those who dwell here or for the rare traveller.  A long wooden bar, now splintered and broken in many places, still stands at the far end of the room, while a scattering of tables gives the few patrons someplace to sit.  You also see the main exit, a faded menu written on a large sheet of crudely tanned parchment, a bartender, a dark corner, the back bar and Philosopher Velzor.
Also here: Philosopher Jessalyne.
Obvious exits: none.
>smile
You smile.
You say, "Thanks for coming."
>look jessa
You see Philosopher Jessalyne Anlorma, Heir to the Font, a Human.
Jessalyne has an expressive oval face with high cheekbones and arched brows, faint crow's feet at the corners of striking viridian eyes, a strong, wide nose and full upturned lips framed by tiny dimples.  Her lustrous, lightly peppered smoke-black hair is waist-length and loosely curled, and is worn swept up by a set of etched glitvire wood combs and allowed to tumble freely down the back.  She has smooth dark brown skin and a plump but shapely and well-proportioned figure.
She is statuesque for a Human.
Skillfully applied cosmetics accent her natural beauty, giving her lips a night-black tint.
She appears to be in her prime.
Her forearm has a tattoo of a curved knife shaded in the brilliant hues of a sunrise.
She is in good shape.
She is wearing a pair of forged iron earrings shaped in a slightly twisted spiral, an enveloping incarnadine camlet cape coat with dark smokewood buttons, a tight black high-necked sweater, a slender arm knife affixed with a sungold-inlaid hilt, a polished iron ring with an eye-shaped setting holding a dawnbreak diamond, a Musparan silk belt sash with a black leather whip and a sleek diacan shotel hanging from it, some tight-fitting black shadesatin leggings and some knee-high polished black leather boots with low heels.
Jessalyne nods.
>get my tank
You get a burnished silversteel tankard crowned with laurel leaves from inside your sling bag.
The bartender places a mug of Greenherb tea on the bar.
Jessalyne gets a mug of Greenherb tea from atop a long wooden bar.
You say, "I'm curious about the meeting at the monastery - a discussion of ethics, I believe."
Jessalyne nods.
Jessalyne asks, "How familiar with the Philosophy of the Knife are you?"
You say, "Reasonably familiar for an outsider."
You notice a storm-grey cat with gold-flecked crystal blue eyes rub against Jessalyne for a moment.
Jessalyne nods.
>open my tank
You flip open the lid on your silversteel tankard.
You ask, "How advanced are you in the study of the Great Work?"
Leaning against a wall, Philosopher Velzor crosses his arms and adopts a bored expression.
Jessalyne slowly says, "I think I may be closer than most."
Jessalyne says, "That is part of why I am here."
You nod.
You ask, "Did many attend the meeting?"
Jessalyne says, "About a dozen. More than I expected. Mostly gawkers."
>chuckle
You chuckle.
Jessalyne says, "Without getting too far into intra-organizational politics, there is something of a crisis happening within my organization. A quiet one."
Jessalyne says, "I should like to see people get back on track so to speak."
You ask, "May I ask what the faultlines are between the factions?"
>drink my tank
Raising the tankard, you drink deeply from the Dwarven ale inside.  Thick and rich!
Jessalyne furrows her brow.
Jessalyne slowly says, "Kigot's original vision included everyone."
You ask, "Everyone? For transendence?"
Jessalyne nods.
Jessalyne says, "Liberation for all."
You ask, "Book teaches a more individual practice than Kigot?"
Jessalyne says, "The Necromancer is just the first step. There is a moral imperative written into the Work that has fallen by the wayside."
Jessalyne carefully says, "Book is a true believer. But Book is one man, in a difficult position, and students have never been enamored by his behavior."
>nod
You nod.
Jessalyne says, "I've been a Necromancer for over thirty years, and I have never met the man that damned me in the flesh."
You say, "Indeed. I've heard many complaints that he is too tight lipped."
Jessalyne nods.
You gaze thoughtfully at Jessalyne.
Jessalyne says, "It's because the function the third generation was meant to serve isn't really aided by his direct instruction."
Jessalyne says, "Which-- I can respect pragmatism, but that ain't good enough."
>drink my tank
Raising the tankard, you drink deeply from the Dwarven ale inside.  Thick and rich!
Jessalyne says, "I won't see the Philosophy degrade into another bloody, vain cult."
Jessalyne says, "Especially not when we are so close."
>glance jessa
You glance at Jessalyne, a female Human.
You say, "You seem confident in a way I've never heard before."
Jessalyne takes a sip of her tea.
You say, "What is your name, if I may ask? I am called Tirost."
Jessalyne softly says, "I know things my contemporaries do not know, or will not accept."
Jessalyne smiles, revealing the dimples in her cheeks.
Jessalyne says, "Jessalyne Anlorma. Don't mistake me though, I ain't a mighty necrolord or anything."
You nod to Jessalyne.
You say, "I can't say I've met many humble necromancers. It's a pleasure."
You ask, "With respect, many necromancers feel they have some unique insight. Their perceptions are not always reliable. What makes you confident you are closer than others?"
Jessalyne says, "Reasonable observation. I can lay out my evidence if you wish."
Jessalyne takes a sip of her tea.
You say, "I would like that very much."
Jessalyne nods.
Jessalyne says, "Let's see. Where to begin, eh... you know the thanatological link is a transference link, perhaps. We are using Empathy, albeit in a different way."
>scratch storm cat
You scratch your cat, which purrs in contentment.
Philosopher Velzor takes a knife out of his robe and runs a stone against its edge, sharpening it.
You say, "That's interesting. I've never heard it put that way."
You ask, "The thanatological link would be to what then? The Hunger?"
Jessalyne shakes her head.
You notice as a storm-grey cat with gold-flecked crystal blue eyes meows loudly.
Jessalyne says, "It really is a transference link, albeit a corrupted one."
Jessalyne says, "Empaths can't do what we do, obviously, and it harms them terribly to try. But."
>drink my tank
Raising the tankard, you drink deeply from the Dwarven ale inside.
Jessalyne says, "They have tried. And done it. In living memory, even. It's what K'Eksharo did to Lyras."
Jessalyne says, "Broke her Empathy, or what it had been twisted into, and shattered her ability to... mmph. Do many of the things she did."
You ask, "Was that the Empath who was present just before Malzard cast his spell which wrought her destruction? Or something that occured earlier?"
Jessalyne says, "Asrea was the conduit. Her Empathy was ravaged by it too, I understand, though not as bad as him."
>nod jessa
You nod to Jessalyne.
Jessalyne says, "Empathy is frighteningly powerful. But it's got obvious limits."
Jessalyne says, "Transcendence is, after a fashion, what it says on the tin. Sufficiently powerful Empaths will Ascend. We will Transcend."
Jessalyne says, "Necromancy is the high sorcery of Being. That is the refinement."
Jessalyne says, "It is what the Alchemy of Flesh was intimating-- the way necromantic refinement can lead to actual eternal life, absolute command over your being."
Jessalyne furrows her brow.
You ask, "Will you tell me of the difference between the sort of mastery gained through necromancy and transcendence compared to empathy and acension?"
Jessalyne nods.
You notice as a storm-grey cat with gold-flecked crystal blue eyes licks at one of its paws.
Jessalyne says, "Empathy is fettered, inherently. Even ignoring what their own guild does to them, as their power grows, so do the drawbacks."
Jessalyne says, "You might've heard of some of the First Empaths. Trylaine and such. Can't even maintain their own bodies. There's no boundary. You have all this power but using it in any fashion harms you."
Jessalyne says, "I have reason to believe, though not enough solid proof, that Empathy actually predates the Immortals on this plane."
>raise eyebrow jessa
You raise an eyebrow in Jessalyne's direction.
Jessalyne says, "It exists independently of them and it seems to me like they can't actually control it directly very well."
You ask, "Empathy specifically? Or life magic generally?"
Jessalyne says, "Empathy specifically."
Jessalyne says, "Now, from whence did Empathy spring? Donno. Seems to be a natural feature of the plane, but it was also altered dramatically in the past too."
Jessalyne ponders.
Jessalyne says, "Anyhow, Transcendence is access to the state of being that Ascension stories imply, but without the myriad drawbacks of being able to feel everyone's pain all the time."
>nod
You nod.
You say, "More control."
Jessalyne nods.
You say, "Yet many Philosophers have supected those who teach the arts that lead to transcendence also limit their students."
Jessalyne ponders.
Jessalyne slowly says, "Necromancers have some culture problems."
You laugh softly, trying to hide your amusement.
Jessalyne grins sheepishly.
Jessalyne says, "Being hunted all the time makes you a certain kind of way."
>nod
You nod.
Jessalyne says, "Nevermind the damage our attunement does, which is different for everyone."
[General] Your mind hears Jaelia thinking, "Happy Anlas of Phelim's Vigil. As it is the best time of our day and night, how is the rest of the world and community?"
Jessalyne says, "Everything becomes about power, because thinking about power is how you survive."
You say, "It's a strategy, certainly."
Jessalyne says, "It's like any other gang of criminals in a lot of ways."
Jessalyne says, "So aye, there's them that observe that we are not being told everything, which is true."
Philosopher Velzor exchanges a few words with a nearby passerby, who quickly moves on afterward.
You ask, "But you've learned something you believe brings the world closer to universal transcendence?"
Jessalyne nods.
Jessalyne says, "Or at least the next step to it."
You ask, "What would that involve?"
Jessalyne says, "There's at least one Transcendi, maybe two? And a half, but he's weird."
>chuckle
You chuckle.
You ask, "The old man outside of Shard?"
Jessalyne nods.
Jessalyne says, "Jonathan Kigot in the flesh. Whole reason I am here and not holed up in the desert still. Can't stand the bastard."
You ask, "That's a theory, but you state it as a fact. How are you certain?"
Jessalyne says, "I asked him who he was to his face and for all the grand arrayed powers of divinity at his beck and call now he has a really, really bad poker face."
>smile
You smile.
Jessalyne says, "But also the timing and the actions all fit."
Jessalyne says, "What he is doing now is filtering for candidates."
Jessalyne says, "Shuffling the quitters off back to the Immortals-- I imagine he does feel genuinely bad for them-- and seeing who else is worth a damn."
You ask, "And the immortals would allow that to happen?"
Jessalyne says, "I genuinely believe there is nothing they can do to him now but isolate him, and that honestly seems to be hurting him enough."
Philosopher Velzor takes a knife out of his robe and runs a stone against its edge, sharpening it.
Jessalyne quietly says, "I don't think he believes what he wrote anymore, exactly, but I think he believes something like it, and... I think he is also very, very lonely."
You say, "He would not be the first necromancer to feel that way."
>act touches his gweth.
(Tirost touches his gweth.)
You frown.
Jessalyne says, "No kidding, eh. Loneliness kills Philosophers. Turns them into Necromancers."
You say, "Forgive me. I am being called away."
Jessalyne nods.
You say, "This has been facinating to say the least."
Jessalyne says, "Was nice chattin' a bit."
You say, "Thank you for meeting with me."
Jessalyne takes a sip of her tea.
>close my tank
You flip the lid on your silversteel tankard closed.
>stow right
You put your tankard in your sling bag.
You say, "Perhaps we can meet again another time."
Jessalyne says, "Do let me know if you got other questions."
Jessalyne nods.
>smile
You smile.
>bow jessa
You bow to Jessalyne.
You say, "Count on it."
You say, "Farewell till then, Jessalyne."
Jessalyne nods amiably.
Jessalyne says, "Take care."