AEHU/Plot/Chapter 16

Event Geography

Wittel awakens in a cell with Slash in Guardia's freshly-constructed prison. They have a chance to mull over Raqh's warning that any attempt at heroism would be completely nullified in a harsh, meaningless world. Both seem on the verge of admitting the validity of Raqh's worldview.

Queen Leene arrives accompanied by prison guards. She recognizes Slash as one of the Magus' generals and there's some tense dialogue regarding the complex history of Guardia's relationship with Medina. Slash guesses that Leene didn't venture into Guardia's prison tower solely to banter about things that can't be changed, at which point she begins grilling him on the meaning of Mystic prophesy according to which the Magus had merely occulted himself in 600AG and will return at some point. Slash professes that the Magus has vanished for good. However, now that he considers it, he can think of no other curative for Medina's condition than the Magus himself, because no living person is capable of uniting the various small factions vying for power there. Wittel pipes up, observing that if you seek occult knowledge of any sort, Raqh has become the authority to approach -- his spirit channelling allows him to predict events in far-flung lands as illustrated earlier in San Dorino and on the docks of Truce.

Leene asks Slash how serious his desire to find the Magus would be should he still exist. After conferring with Wittel about Raqh's demonstrated omniscience, the Mystic general admits the prospect is extremely attractive. Wittel adds that he knows Raqh's probable location -- a large island off the coast of Choras, which Raqh had spoken of visiting after the planned stop in Medina. Leene frees Wittel and Slash and leads them to a hideaway in Truce where Frog languishes in fever. She explains that he's plague-stricken but seems to only carry the amphibian strain of the plague; he has not passed the disease on to her in the weeks she has acted as his caretaker. Leene asks Wittel and Slash an extreme favor -- in exchange for their freedom, they must find the Magus' whereabouts and take Frog to him. While Leene detests the Magus with every fiber of her being, he is the only one who can undo Frog's curse, at which point he would theoretically be free of the amphibian plague.

Frog roused from delerium long enough to recognize Slash, the former adversaries observe the irony in their postwar encounter. Leene also gets her first clear look at Wittel in the hideaway's torchlight and takes accute interest in him suddenly, taking him aside and asking his name for the first time. Wittel is so nervous in the presence of Guardian royalty that he can barely stutter a response, but says that he will take up the challenge of bearing Frog because saving a stranger's life seems an heroic effort.

Slash notes that lugging Frog around while fighting is going to be hazardous, at which point they learn that Leene intends to accompany them and watch over Frog herself.

Wittel and Slash probe the foothills of Giant's Claw in vain. Slash recounts legends of strange ruins supposedly lying within the mountain, causing Wittel to wonder if Raqh ventured inside as part of his quest for knowledge. Wittel recalls that Toma had successfully penetrated the entrance a few years back.

Once again Toma doesn't budge. He was already beaten to the Rainbow Shell by a certain spiky-headed adventurer, and already snagged any other treasure that might lie in the ruined Tyrano Lair, so he sees no profit in the venture. Wittel explains that they're on a mission directly serving the queen of Guardia, and Toma thinks it's a ruse. Our heroes go outside the tavern to explain to Leene and she's about to declare her presence to Toma, but Slash worries about such a compromise of her secrecy. Instead, Slash observes that Toma seems to have a weakness for women...and he happens to know a real charmer.

Wittel and Slash return to Medina and go through whatever adventures they have to in search of Flea. The enigmatic void mage wouldn't mind getting out and having some fun, so he joins.

Back in Choras, Flea successfully lures Toma to the foothills of Giant's Claw with the thinly veiled promise of a no-strings-attached tryst. Flea arranges to meet Toma at midnight.

When Toma arrives at the agreed-upon place, Slash appears behind him and advises that it would be in Toma's best interest to show them the way inside. Furthermore, Slash adds that Toma's been duped by "a man," at which point Flea demonstrates a few shapeshifts. Toma surprisingly finds the situation hilarious and agrees to help them in exchange for the good laugh he got out of it. Wittel's utterly confused but glad everything worked out.

Toma parts ways with the party after showing them inside Giant's Claw. Deep within the bowels of the Tyrano Lair's ruins they discover Raqh, who is meticulously inspecting the environs. He finally announces that he's discovered an Angelus Errare, explaining how alternate dimensions arose at this very point aeons ago; reptite spirits still pervading the chamber help him illustrate. He explains that if manipulated properly, the Angelus Errare will open a path straight to the annihilative Power he and his cult are seeking.

Finished with his long-winded discourse, Raqh turns to Wittel and asks if he has seen the light in his nihilistic worldview. Leene explains the party's goal of rescuing Frog and Wittel makes a wager with Raqh -- if he can save this obscure sick Frog, it will be proof that there is meaning in the world; if not, he will admit that Raqh is correct. As a precondition of this wager Wittel requests that Raqh consult the "spiritual winds" for signs of the Magus, who is the only person able to reverse Frog's curse and, by association, cure him. Amused, Raqh agrees and is surprised to find not only is the Magus still alive...he is on the floor right above them.

Magus enters on cue to everyone's utter shock, arriving in style by crushing some cultists who dare hinder his path. Raqh tenses for battle but Magus assures him that he means him no harm -- in fact, he would also like to reach the Power Raqh seeks, so they're really on the same side. Magus plays the part of a grim wanderer looking for self-annihilation, and a brief recount of his life history fits the profile of a potential cultist rather well. Magus ignores pleas for his attention from Wittel & co. while Raqh brings him up to speed on the fact that the Angelus Errare here will have to be manipulated in a certain way to open the requisite pathway. Magus attempts to manipulate the Angelus Errare by producing a Time Gate - an experiment Belthasar had encouraged him to try - and the attempt fails. Raqh explains that they're missing some crucial ingredient. Magus suggests that they continue their discussion elsewhere -- the other people in the room are awfully noisy. Magus whips up a spatial gate to teleport the two of them away.

Wittel, Slash, and Flea rush back out of Giant's Claw in hopes of finding the Magus outside, and sure enough that's where Magus and Raqh landed. Magus grows irritable when they continue pleading with him to a.) restore Frog and b.) return to Medina; he snaps that what he's trying to accomplish far outweighs the party's petty concerns. He whips up yet another spacial distortion so they can continue their theoretical exploration in peace. Before Raqh steps in after him, he turns to Wittel and observes the probability that Wittel will fail in his mission given the Magus' attitude.

Now null; events will be transferred into the next chapter.