Toxoglossa 2024/12/23(Mon)19:02 No. 1101553 ID: 86847c
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A gate opens in the bleak, unnamed landscape cursed by spite. For a brief moment, there’s an inrush of air, as the void beyond pulls greedily at the atmosphere.

Toxoglossa 2024/12/23(Mon)19:02 No. 1101554 ID: 86847c
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Something massive and grey comes hurtling through just as the gate closes: a perfectly cylindrical column of dust and rock, skating above the ground at impossible speed.

Toxoglossa 2024/12/23(Mon)19:02 No. 1101555 ID: 86847c
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Air fights to get out of its way, as the chunk of regolith starts to break apart, heating up as it's rapidly compressed

The combination of pressure and heat causes the whole thing to spontaneously catch fire: exploding into a cloud of glassy fragments that disperses its kinetic energy in a cone and further scarring the blighted terrain.

Toxoglossa 2024/12/23(Mon)19:02 No. 1101556 ID: 86847c
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Mr. Ochre removes his safety goggles and steps out from the impressive walls of the safety bunker before going to check that the photoplate array fired properly in sequence. Behind him, the three mice emerge and inspect the scene. The concrete wall built to measure velocity held up surprisingly well against the explosion: its black and white stripes streaked with silica and pitted by small impacts. Downrange from the testing site, a long, ragged streak is gouged out of the landscape, stretching nearly half a mile before fading.

Penetration testing~

What are we working on, rockets?

B+.
Could have made a bigger boom.

Things can get up to a fast speed in space, with the use of magic, can't they? You don't have to worry about the rocket equation with portals, do you?

Looks like you need to either figure out moving portals or try to figure out how to attach them to a different reference frame. I'd advise the latter, since you don't want to have to account for what's probably a lot of spinning and such.

hmm, that does seem to be a piece of the moon you caught, going the guess and check method? suppose that's a fair bit easier than huge quantities of math, or at least reduce the amount of math needed

The gang is channeling Mythbusters, I see~

>>1101556

Space is indeed going very fast. You can't just "tuck and roll" a moon-landing.

So we can safely conclude; the moon is fast.

Toxoglossa 2024/12/24(Tue)19:00 No. 1101593 ID: 86847c
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Back inside the bunker, Cecil pulls the glass photoplates out of a thin ink wash and spreads out the glass panes onto a table. He sighs and adjusts his glasses, examining the sequence with a scowl on his beak. “Well, my friends, this is what we’re up against.” He waves a hand at the photos, which show the cylinder of rock as in flight, allowing the precise velocity to be analyzed. “Its as you say: because gates are relatively static, it means having to account for the speed of other celestial bodies.”

Toxoglossa 2024/12/24(Tue)19:01 No. 1101594 ID: 86847c
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“So, how fast are we talking?” Gabe asks.

“If compared to a stationary point...” Cecil stares at the pictures and continues, “We’re talking about an impact of several thousand miles per hour.”

Kol whistles and scratches his chin, “I figured it was fast, but spite me…”

“Even if we could build a craft that would survive the forces involved, anyone inside would be, well, splattered against the inside on impact.” Cecil continues, “In theory, with the proper wards, a sealed suit and a supply of bottled air, a living being should be able to explore the surface. But getting them there safely in one piece is the problem."

there is also the issue that it must be two way, it is possible to more slowly accellerate into the entrance portal so you exit the other synched with the moon, but you would be stranded.
Maybe get Clio in with this project? her portals work different, moving them is kinda the whole point of hers, and the more common portals used are based on them, so having the original to base any changes on would help. IF this is the way to go

Well, Moot and Hekal managed it. Somehow. So we know it's possible, we just gotta figure out how they did it. Even taking into account Hekal's vampire status sparing him from the need to breath up there, he still had a physical body that wouldn't react well to being splattered. We need to look into what kind of magic could be used to cancel out inertia, or cushion impacts. Don't think about how stuff is MEANT to be used, but rather how it COULD be used. Maybe Flashing Feathers would have ideas?

I think maybe you have to wonder how portals lock to their relative point on the world's surface? Technically they move anyway - this is a problem that should already be solved if you make a long distance portal across the curve, or from a low altitude to a high one. Perhaps it's been baked in to the most fundamental calculations? Or something to do with the perceptions of the portal's creator?

>>1101594

The only way to accomplish it is from a point not too far above the lunar surface, and adjust the far gate's configuration to have an exit velocity equal to the moon's orbit ... but also in the same direction of travel, as otherwise those forces will compound tremendously.

Basically it's the equivalent of stepping off a platform and onto a moving cart passing underneath, compared to launching yourself so as to land upon it at an apparent standstill.

Gabe has got a LOT of math to do.

>>1101601
while portals DO move, assuming the planet itself does, they don't in respect to eachother I *think*. for all I know that's just a limit with the math used though

>>1101594
Question: can you orient the portal so that the velocity is "upwards", allowing gravity to slow you down, at which point you use portals to get back near the surface?

Your best bet would be to create supply drops. Use portal magic to send spherical capsules containing supplies, mana, and the components you need to construct another, stronger capsule for the ride back. Now that you don't have a timer, you could plan this expedition out over decades, sending materials to the moon until there's enough to build a lunar base three times over.

If there's no gate technique that lets it co-move with the moon or spit things out at orbital speeds, the only way this works is to match the moon's speed itself. The first idea that comes to mind is mitigating air drag with a giant lead dart, and then skydiving for much longer than normal as the world's gravity gradually gets you up to speed in a marathon-scale portal-fling. After using heat wards to mitigate any risk of burning up, and then figuring out a surefire way to bail anyways, the biggest problem is landing in the same gate over and over again: not only is this a nontrivial thing on its own, you're also fighting against crosswinds and the world turning under you, so either constant gate repositioning or a guided aircraft is necessary. It's better than hitching a ride on a giant ridiculous firework, though.

>>1101606

I think it's less that they move "with" the planet and more that they become a contiguous set of points within a single (larger) frame of reference.

It might be better to think of a gate, like a beacon, as being "relative to" a location, as opposed to an absolute coordinate -- at least the way I've come to understand them. That's what makes the ones we found on the map so weird; they're functionally static points because they're relative to the lunar orbit, rather than its surface.

And since a gate can't be opened somewhere you don't have tangential familiarity with, unless you can calculate it, that would explain why Augustine Moot was so desperate to make the correct time, since her calculations would be in terms of orbital mechanics and thus entirely dependent on the precession of the moon and our world in order to reach the correct real-space point again (and thus a known location on the lunar surface).

In short: gates exist relative to other things, so even with the beacons to guide us, we still have the problem that one point is at a relative standstill and have to compensate for it.

So... does this mean we have to build some sort of railgun? How well does everyone know their magnets?

>>1101621
That would be an extreme amount of lead, and you'd need to stick the dart on a gate just right. Cut a chamber underground a few stories tall and use a space gate to evacuate the air. Gate the top and bottom, and you've got a vacuum chamber that you can fall as long as you please in.

The kinematics are not in our favor here. It would be to our advantage to change the approach. Can we use an object as a reference point to set a gate to? If we can get some kind of anchor up there the first time, we may not have to go through the whole routine each time we want to cross over.

The Teacher is supposed to still be alive somewhere, right? Can we just find Tuavara-Malli and ask her how Moot did it?

Toxoglossa 2024/12/27(Fri)16:47 No. 1101659 ID: 86847c
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"Do you have any ideas?" Casey asks.

Cecil takes his glasses off and fiddles with them as he thinks, "I've been in contact with a research team out by the Razor Sea who are in the process of engineering a rather large telescope. They’ve been quite interested in the project and have offered several suggestions, however most of them are… decades, if not centuries from feasibility.”

“Most?” Gabe cocks his head, picking up on the hint of possibility.

“One idea is to develop a means of creating a moving gate: something that the no one has managed to do in the 500 years since the founding of the Sender Academy.”

“But we do have Clio, now!” Gabe points out, “She might be the key to figuring it out!”

“True, but again: that may take decades of experimentation to develop.” Cecil nods and continues, “And even then, there’s no telling if we could create a gate that would match the speeds required.”

“Another other option is to accelerate a vessel to match the orbital speed of the moon and launch it through the gate such that gravity pulls the lander back down to its surface. I believe the most feasible manner would be using a vacuum filled gate loop to build up enough momentum.” He sighs and shakes his head worryingly, “It’s currently the most viable plan: however it will still require a ludicrous amount of mana and precision to pull off.”

My vote is on the “move really fast through the gate” method, if there’s any sort of magic or old artifact that can reduce friction.

I don't suppose we could have Raithe "infuse" Gabe with another shot of mana in prep for the attempt?

Of course, there has to be some way to obtain a ludicrous amount of mana... oh waaaaait

granted we don't quite have the precision necessary to do all that, so what if Hekal just didn't use a gate to get to the moon? Surely, it'd be way easier to fling an undead body into the moon, so what if Hekal did a trip up and put a gate on the moon, intending for it to be used, only for any attempts to open the gate be met with the complications you all are facing?

What if Hekal isn't hiding on the moon, but is stuck on the moon, unable to return? I doubt that he would be so reckless, but it'd explain why his armies were abandoned like they were

I think we should look for more lostech. Some other wizard tyrant may have invented something they treated as a weapon, ignorant of the true potential.

As for the mana, there might be a way to harvest Spite in a manner that is used towards destructive purposes. I mean, you've got entire hills of the stuff, may as well test on it.

all this, AND on top of needing a way TO the moon, we need a way FROM the moon.
if only we knew where Hekel got to the moon FROM, we could scry on it. if only we knew the method.
Clio's Portal Blade can be moved, again that's the whole point of it... does that portal even go anywhere though?

Isn't every gate technically a moving gate? The planet rotates, the gates are just stationary in that rotating reference frame. The issue with a gate stationary in the moon's reference frame is that there aren't any waypoints or leylines to fix it to.

It SEEMED like Moot herself was just able to make a portal. She didn't seem to have to go to all this bother. But I guess we have to do things the way we do things.

Besides, we want to also get BACK from the moon. Hm. Well, using portals and gravity to build up to speed and then changing the portal to launch off in the right direction is simple enough in principle, it's just... mana, and aim. Though with spare mana the aim could be corrected. Maybe we need multiple people able to make portals, and multiple mana sources for them, to spread the load?

Toxoglossa 2024/12/28(Sat)16:55 No. 1101709 ID: 86847c
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Kol shrugs and points out, “We do still have a, uh, load of mana we could use.”

Cecil nods once more and idly taps his fingers on the table, “It may come to that, yes.”

“Man, with all this hassle, how did they manage to send Hekal up there in the first place?” Gabe ponders.

“You would know more about that than I, unfortunately.” Cecil shrugs and continues, “But if I had to speculate, I would guess Hekal left his body behind and it’s possible his spirit is trapped on the moon. I would also guess that Tuavara-Malli’s precognition played a part in properly timing their gates.”
“There is also the problem of ensuring a safe return trip. I have a lead on a solution, but… perhaps it may be better to talk about it back at my house. I’ve also taken the liberty of contacting a few of your acquaintances, who may prove essential to our plans.”

I was wondering who else we could ask for help... we have made a LOT of acquaintances, just, with variable ability to contact them

Do we have to go straight to the beacon in one shot? Or can we portal most of the way, match speeds in relative safety, and then portal the remaining distance? I'm not sure how we'd match speeds, but I'm hoping we can recruit Raithe as a rocket engine.

Did we check Moot's office yet?

>>1101724
it is probably not her office anymore, given how long its been, we never checked around for the papers and maths though

Could Flashing Feathers remove the air from a tunnel? If there's a capsule between a chamber of increasing pressure and a chamber of decreasing pressure, the capsule can be moved very quickly, and the acceleration can be controlled. It just depends on how long the tunnel is. Too bad we haven't met any giant tunneling earth elementals that could dig a long one for us.

Toxoglossa 2024/12/29(Sun)15:39 No. 1101731 ID: 86847c
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A short gate later and the assembled group steps out into Cecil’s living room. Clio looks up from her cup of tea and welcomes them with a wave.

“Hi guys! How’d the test go?”

She stands and gives Casey a hug.

“Clio? What are you doing here?”

“Cecil invited me! I don’t know what it's about, other than that moon… thing you guys mentioned.”

“You said there was someone else, right? Or is it just Clio?” Gabe asks, flopping down on a couch. His skinny body bumps into something, which makes him stand up with a start and turn around.

There’s a flicker of color as Nemo’s skin shifts tones. One of his unusual eyes rolls up to stare at the mouse and he apologizes, “Sorry. Force of habit in a place this fancy. Good to see you again.”

Ooooh is that a couple more inches on Clio's cape? lookin' dandy! And good to see Nemo too ofc, he's rockin the skin-tight stuff

Now what would Nemo be here for? Something to do with light manipulation perhaps?

Maybe Nemo is here because of something he discovered in the past?

Are things awkward because Gabe is officially mentoring Clio now, and they gotta cut out the hanky-panky?

Toxoglossa 2024/12/31(Tue)16:37 No. 1101787 ID: 86847c
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Kol cocks his head at the pair and wonders aloud, “I get why Clio is here, but why Nemo?”

“I called him here because of his experience with a certain individual.” Cecil perches himself in a comfy chair and pours himself a cup of tea. “Tell me, is anyone here familiar with the legend of the Divine Aegis?”

Toxoglossa 2024/12/31(Tue)16:37 No. 1101788 ID: 86847c
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Casey holds up a hand, recalling the stories her parents used to tell of myth and folklore. “Uh, it was a shield, made mostly of silver, supposedly wielded by a number of ancient heroes. Anyone holding it was said to be effectively invulnerable.” She sits next to Clio on the couch and takes a scone from the tray. “Although in myths about the Aegis, such power would always lead to overconfidence and the wielders usually perished due to trickery or hubris. For instance: Antonidas of Skrim, who drowned facing a river spirit, or King Malipar who was poisoned on the eve of battle. Supposedly, it changed hands a number of times, enough so that some considered it cursed.” 


“Well said, yes.” Mr Ochre nods and puts down his teacup. “How cursed it is, is rather a matter of debate. But its abilities are well documented and undeniable. Historians who have studied stories of the Aegis believe it to be something incredibly rare: a force ward. It’s quite possibly the only one to ever exist.”

Ah, so that would eliminate the speed problem. Just tank the impact, easy. It does limit us to sending only one person at a time though... can't even send the aegis back through the portal to ferry someone else over, I don't think...

I wonder if this artifact was created to solve exactly this problem? Anyone know how old it is?

So there's a lead on where it's located?

Are you saying it might be in the possession of the Court of the Pooling Deep?

So it must be somewhere highly secure and well protected if it's been studied and everyone knows abo-

Cecil I'm sure we could ask nicely, as guardians, for the Aegis. We should most definitely not do a heist with Nemo.

alright, interesting, that solves ONE problem for ONE person, Though Undeath (or being in a mechanical body) would solve the rest. I somehow doubt they have spacesuits, with their oxygen and radiation protection

>>1101788
Possibly a late thought, but I wonder if perhaps instead of worrying about multiple individual suits and a supply of air, perhaps we could recruit Flashing Feathers to grant air and ease of mobility.

Toxoglossa 2025/01/01(Wed)16:58 No. 1101839 ID: 86847c
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“Hold up, a force ward? What does that mean?” Gabe asks. “Like a fire ward, but for… ”

“But for physical force! It nullifies physical damage entirely! Someone wielding the Aegis could throw themselves at an army and emerge unscathed!”

Kol holds up a finger and asks, “Yeah, but that solves the velocity problem, but just for one person, right? What about the rest of us?”

“Actually…” Cecil takes a sip of tea and continues, “There’s an interesting account of it being used to protect the ship Rosewood as it sailed through the rocky straits of Gyre. This seems provide evidence that it can protect more than a single individual.” Cecil beams, clearly enjoying chatting about history. “Although there are contingencies if it doesn’t.”

“So, in theory, this thing would protect us from getting splattered by the moon? And safely gate back home?” Kol asks.

The bird waves a hand in reassurance, “We would do considerable testing before putting anyone at risk. But, if the legends are to be believed: you wouldn’t even feel a thump.”

Toxoglossa 2025/01/01(Wed)16:58 No. 1101840 ID: 86847c
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“Okayyyy, so, super rare, mythical shield…” Casey speaks up, putting the pieces together. She looks at Clio and Nemo and makes a realization “Oh, Fates. Are we… going to have to steal it?”

Cecil taps his fingertips together anxiously as he explains, “Regrettably, its current owner seems… unlikely to willingly part with it. He is a fae known as Argus, who is known for being a collector of rare artifacts, as well as a rather… eccentric personality, even among the fae.”

Eccentric how?

Was there something personal behind his acquisition of the artifact, or is he just THAT possessive in general? Not that an everything-proof shield wouldn't bolster an ego by an order of magnitude.

>>1101840
Would he be willing to loan it? Maybe exchange some other artifact as collateral?

most of the people these mice have met are eccentric, and so are they!
not willing to give the shield, even in exchange for something from the moon?

Does this eccentric collector have any moon rocks?

>>1101840

After our last brush of legally-dubious activities with the fae, are we SURE we want to get tangled up in that kind of mess again?

Sounds like we should pay Vivian a visit. She might have some ideas on how to deal with Argus.

Also, could the gang potentially use sex to get it from him in some way? Let's be honest, it's proven to be one of the more effective cards in their deck so far. And who knows, it might appeal to a fae with an eccentric personality

Toxoglossa 2025/01/03(Fri)17:32 No. 1101918 ID: 86847c
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“Woah, woah, woah! Hold up.” Nemo holds his hands out and lets his colors blend into the surroundings defensively. “Yeah, I know this guy. Back when I was starting out, I heard, ‘Hey, this guy is loaded, and what’s more, he loves thieves.’ Supposedly he’d invite you in and case the place like its a freaking museum. Yeah, nah: I was lucky to get out of there in one piece. Had me spotted as soon as I set foot inside. How- How did you even know about that?”

Cecil shrugs, “It’s my business to know things.”

Nemo shakes his head and jabs a finger as he makes another point: “Well, let’s not forget: I nearly got branded last time I dealt with the fae! Count me out!”

Toxoglossa 2025/01/03(Fri)17:32 No. 1101919 ID: 86847c
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“That is, unfortunately, the punishment for illegal thievery.” Mr. Ocher rings a bell and one of his butlers appears, carrying a leather-bound folio. “Which is why I have taken liberty of having drafted a formal declaration: of intent to burgle.” He opens up the folio and lays it out on the table.

Inside is a long and arcane arraignment of legal documents, establishing that Gabriel Wikk, Kol Bardo, Casey Leander, Clio (no surname on record) and the thief known as Nemo, assisted by Cecil Ochre, (hereafter referred to as party A) by means of craft, subterfuge, stealth, cleverness and possibly brute force, intend to steal one (1) Divine Aegis, from the residence of one Argus (hereafter referred to as party B).

Yeah that... sure is Fae all right, half wanna have Vivian look it over or suggest something, if nothing else she'll probably find this funny.

...How many of our fae friends gave this a look through? If they approve, this might actually work.

>>1101919

Oh, okay, that ... changes things?

>>1101919

I second this. Let's get Vivian to look it over. Maybe she knows this guy a bit (probably does, seeing as both are pretty famous amongst fae).

>>1101919
The fact this Argus invites thieves to case the place would seem to be either extreme confidence in himself or his collection's security.

It does suggest he'd probably enjoy this plan and be more willing to accept though.

Should definitely consult all our fae friends about the declaration and Argus.

>>1101919
Alright. What are our risks when we use a formal declaration like this?

Why must the rich always make a mockery of taxpaying?

Find multiple fae and get their understanding of the law.

If this is a game to him, should we expect guards with predictable patrol patterns?

But seriously, he should get the rest of the paperwork out. Blueprints, profiles, gear requisition forms, the works. Someone get the coffee too. Planning looks to be an all-nighter.

Sounds incredibly stupid to play the game a Fae wants to play. There have to be better options unless the DM wants to rail-road the story they already worked out...

Seconding assembling a council of your Fae and Fae-Associated friends to review this contract so it's as Cold-Ironclad as possible.

Get the Dullahan on the case. We may need their help.

Toxoglossa 2025/01/07(Tue)18:12 No. 1102084 ID: 995a6f
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Nemo’s eyes flicker over the paperwork before focusing on Cecil suspiciously, “Are you serious?”


The bower-bird nods and raises his palm in assurance. “If done through the proper channels, it is a perfectly, well… mostly safe and legal procedure. It is, in essence, a formal challenge of our ability to obtain the item, contested against his ability to protect it. If successful, in the eyes of fey law we would become valid owners.”

“And if we... fail?” Nemo needles.

Cecil turns to Casey as an expert in fey affairs. She swallows her mouthful of tea and explains, “You’re not allowed to brand a thief who’s challenged you. There would be some kind of agreed upon punishment: usually it's some amount of time spent working in the fey’s service.”

Toxoglossa 2025/01/07(Tue)18:12 No. 1102085 ID: 995a6f
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“Wouldn’t a trade or a loan be easier?” Gabe asks. “Like, what if we brought him back a nice moon rock?”

“Hmm, I'll propose it in the contract, but if rumors are to be believed, Mr. Argus seems to relish the challenge.” Cecil stands and goes over to the window, waving at Flashing Feathers as he zips by. “Supposedly, he is always looking for new ‘opponents’ to test his wits and strength against. It's something of a pastime that the fey elite tend to enjoy: it's like a performance or a game of chess. Offering a trade might only buy us some leniency... or it could insult him. It's hard to tell. ”

“And that’s the problem-“ Kol sighs, and leans forward. “You can't beat a fey if you play by their rules. We need someone with more experience with fey law to help us plan this.”

“True, I was hoping we could use some of your contacts to assist us.” Cecil puts down his cup and nods.

I assume that Elementals aren't as familiar with fey law, so a Fey would be best. Out of our options, Vivian seems like the best option, given that she was able to free Litany, who may also have a bit of insight. But maybe we could get another Binder involved to help with relations? Or ask the bartender in the coffee shop?

Vivian seems like the most knowledgeable about fey law, or at least would know who around here would be helpful. There's also Ometra, maybe check if they still hate your guts or if they've simmered down by now.

We know at least 3 fey, why not ask all of them if they can help? Vivian is the most likely candidate of them all of course.

Our best bet is either Vivian or Ometra. Or both, to be on the safe side. We got time, let's pay both of them a visit and get their respective opinions. I'm sure Ometra would jump at the chance to do something more productive than wash Sifr's dishes.

Toxoglossa 2025/01/08(Wed)18:29 No. 1102107 ID: 995a6f
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Gabe fishes out his scrying stone and holds it up. “Okay, who first?”

“How about Vivian?” Casey suggests.

Gabe concentrates and brings up the kitsune’s face in the clear crystal. After a brief explanation, Vivian barks a chuckle and shakes her head, “I’m touched you thought of me first, guys! As much as I’d love to help… I can’t get involved in a heist, I have to prepare for this season’s opera.” She shrugs and shakes her head, "But if you ever do a theatrical re-enactment, hit me up!"

“Well, could you at least look over this contract?” Gabe asks.

“I can take a look when I have time, but I think you know a few people more familiar with fey theft laws.” She smiles knowingly before fading from view.

"What did she mean by that?" Nemo asks, as a pit of anxiety opens up in his stomach.

Toxoglossa 2025/01/08(Wed)18:29 No. 1102108 ID: 995a6f
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"No."

Ometra sinks into the couch cushions, their voice echoing in everyone's heads like a neutronium church bell.

Nemo lurks at the other end of the couch, having turned completely transparent and eyeing the branded fey like a wary ghost.

"Absolutely not."

"Aw, come on! Why'd you take the gate then?" Gabe moans.

"...I needed to get out of the house..." The former thief-catcher admits. "But I see no reason to help you with this... madness."

All we really need is legal advice on the contract. He doesn't have to actually get involved in the madness that follows. And surely even that would be more interesting than housecleaning, right?

Consider this: You could claim that a team of thieves under your guidance stole one of the most coveted relics in the world. That's some real bragging rights. Could get you back into a good position.

Madness it may be, but it sounds like they're going stir crazy. So its a choice between which crazy seems more fun.

Man it's just contract help c'mon it's not like you're stealing something yourself don't be such a sourpuss.

Besides, you owe Nemo. Seriously, you used him and intentionally set him up to be screwed over. Even for a fey, you can't have 'my personal identity is following the letter and spirit of the law' AND ALSO 'I use thieves to do my dirty work and then arrest them', that's just hypocrisy. Why not take this opportunity to branch out into being a more wholesome and well-rounded individual? There's not really a better group to do that with than these guys.

>>1102108
We're not asking you to take part in the actual heisting, we just want your Legal Opinion on the Contract about it. Think of it like...a test! How many loopholes could you find in it, obscure Fey Laws that would make the whole thing backfire, that sort of thing!

Perhaps we can negotiate. Offer an incentive? More time outside the house, perhaps?

Toxoglossa 2025/01/09(Thu)17:48 No. 1102128 ID: 995a6f
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“We just want some help with this contract. We need to hammer out some terms so that we aren’t stuck playing by Argus’s rules.” Casey sighs. “Is there something we can offer that might help incentivize you?”

The former justicar broods for a long moment: their flames reducing to an eerie simmer as they think.

”Help me find my head.” they propose. ”My spirit cannot rest without it.”

“Uh, how?” Gabe asks, “Like, can we just scry for it?”

”unlikely, It is likely warded against most forms of scrying. Argus isn’t a member of the Court of the Pooling Deep, but he has contacts who know of it’s location.” Ometra reaches into the blazing furnace of their neck-hole and pulls out something. They open their fist to reveal a small, iron pin in the shape of a fey rune. ”This is a tracking sigil. Pin this to them without being noticed and the next time they come close to my head, I will be able to sense it.”

“How will we know who is an agent of the court?” Casey asks.

”That will be up to you. I don’t know who will be sent in my place.”

All the more reason to find a way to work sex into this caper. It would be a perfect opportunity to pin that sigil onto something.

hmm, can we glean anything from the fact that they "will be sent in [Ometra's] place"? what was Ometra's place, in full?

So the pin will help you find it. Is that all you need? The knowledge of it's location? Or do you want us to try and take that too?

>>1102128
Wait, hold up, maybe I missed something here, but why would your head be so important that it'd be protected against Scrying?

Toxoglossa 2025/01/10(Fri)18:09 No. 1102164 ID: c57c8d
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“Wait, what do you mean sent in your place?” Kol asks.

The undead fey gives a telepathic sigh and explains, ”Once a month, Argus opens his house to visitors for a masquerade honoring the full moon. Many in attendance will be representatives from fey courts. In the past it was usually my duty to represent the court of the Pooling Deep.” There’s a slight shift of the fey’s massive shoulders, as if plagued by an unreachable itch. The dullahan’s monotone voice doesn’t seem particularly excited or nostalgic about this aspect of their past.

“No offense, but how did you pull off a masquerade without a head?” Gabe asks, eyeing the undead.

”I would usually wear a carved pumpkin. Argus found it… amusing.”

“So, we just need to help you find your head? Or do we need to steal that too?” Gabe asks.

”Once I know where it is, I will reclaim it myself. Branded or not, no one will stand in my way.” There’s an edge to the undead’s tone: as if their voice was being sharpened against a gravestone.

Sounds like Ometra has already given us some good advice, whether he intended to or not. The masquerade ball will be a perfect time to get in for the heist, without having to worry about breaking in through tough security. And if we know anything about the schemes of fey courts, we won't be the only ones up to skullduggery during this ball.

Sounds doable. So what will identify the Pooling Deep fey? Some sort of theme perhaps?

You had us at sweet costumes.

Being known to the Pooling Deep as both dutiful whistle-blowers and keeper of no secrets they would care about, expect your invitation to come in right about....

Idea: Vivian may not be able to help us with the heist directly, buuuut... maybe her theater could help provide some fun masquerade ball costumes?

That provides a REALLY good time for the heist actually... and from a Fey perspective? why, there could be no better time, the intrigue alone!

On a note that is probably, but might not be, unrelated: Vivian referenced this seasons opera, where might it be? even if completely unrelated it would still be nice to show up when it happens

>>1102200

Nevermind that, as the host, Argus may be forced to maintain attendance and not directly interfere because of fey senses of propriety.

Toxoglossa 2025/01/12(Sun)19:14 No. 1102226 ID: c57c8d
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“A masquerade? That’s perfect! We’d be able mingle with the guests without any suspicion! Plus, you know there’ll be more fey plots unfolding to keep everyone distracted.” Casey grins and snaps her fingers.

”Security would be very high, but if you could obtain invitations, you would be provided a degree of protection.” Ometra explains, ” Under the rules of a masquerade, guests would have to be unmasked before in order to be detained, and unmasking a fellow party member without just cause is considered a breach of etiquette.”

“An invitation? You said its a full moon celebration? What if we were to offer some moon rocks in order to get invited? I’m sure a few pieces survived the latest test.” Cecil suggests as he takes notes.

Ometra folds their arms and scoffs telepathically, ”Any fey would be able to detect fake moon rocks just by talking to them.”

“Oh no, they’re quite real.” Cecil replies

”Oh…. What?”. The dullahan sits up a little straighter and twists in their seat, as if looking over the assembled plotters with disbelief and curiosity.

>>1102226
Let's just say they are going to be devalued quite soon.

QUICK cecil blow your husband


a kiss

maybe some nice moon dust, or ash

...Can Casey talk to rocks in her more elemental state?

Rule number one of the masquerade: Wear a second mask underneath your fancy one.
Rule number two of the masquerade: Wear a third mask underneath your backup mask.

So...are moon rocks like, really important and valuable to the fey? Might add an extra complication to the fact that we've just been casually using gates to get core samples out of the moon and have been dismissing the resultant piles of rubble as curiosities at best, scrap rock at worst

Ometra seems interested all of a sudden.

Given Ometra's sudden interest, should we go ahead and tell him that not only do we have a way to get real moon rocks from the source, and that the whole reason for this heist is so that we can actually travel there ourselves? Or should we keep that under wraps?

>>1102226
if you'll forgive the late dumb question: are airships a thing in this world? and if so, do you think some precursor group came up with one space-capable?