Amdirlain’s PoV - Outlands
Amdirlain didn’t hear any Message, but when Týr moved to sit with his back propped against a nearby tree, she closed the Gate.
“What did you want to talk about?” asked Amdirlain before she perched on a branch jutting out at waist height.
“My neighbour seems fascinated with you; any idea why?”
“If you are talking about the Platinum Dragon who offered you a real estate deal, he and Orhêthurin certainly have a lot of history between them,” admitted Amdirlain. “She was involved in organising some worlds later inhabited by various draconic species. Did you have any particular reason you didn’t say his name?”
“Only in case you wanted to keep the discussion from him,” admitted Týr.
“I like Bahamut from what I’ve remembered of him. He was always friendly to Orhêthurin and on occasion had helped her,” advised Amdirlain, and she waved playfully at the sensation of being watched. “They shared a mutual respect, even if they didn’t always agree. While I’m not Orhêthurin, I’ve liked the memories of Bahamut I’ve recalled.”
“You seem very relaxed to have some of his attention your way; even some beings from the heavenly planes would be concerned,” remarked Týr.
“The memories I recover contain emotions at times; Orhêthurin frequently visited Bahamut, and those meetings left happy impressions,” advised Amdirlain. “Would you answer a question?”
“It depends on the question.”
“Why did Fen let Odinn injure her?” asked Amdirlain. “She would have been able to see him approaching and didn’t need Runa to warn her. She played it up instead, even holding back instead of instantly obliterating Raivo.”
“She was playing with him but still somewhat underestimated his spear’s strength. Fen was amused by Runa's panicked reaction to the scratch she took. I believe she might have grown a soft spot for your little Celestial. But how did you know?”
“Fen confessed to being a Primordial being, and the Norse gods were terrified by Fen’s strength; thus, they continually tried to chain her. Her strength didn’t fade in your old realm, did it?” asked Amdirlain.
“It did not,” admits Týr
“The Titan doesn’t care about Primordial beings entering as long as they follow his rules, so she still has her old strength. The Gods’ War rules deactivated mantles; it can’t strip powers from true gods or primordials,” Amdirlain said, and she raised an eyebrow. “Why didn't she tear the rest apart?”
“I picked a den,” Týr replied, and he emphasised the last word.
“Wolf instincts, she came to the den and stayed to protect it and her mate instead of hunting when there wasn’t need?” asked Amdirlain thoughtfully.
“Fen is very much a creature of her instincts and temper,” admitted Týr.
“The mantles she gained, what did she end up doing with them?”
Týr gave a relaxed shrug. “In the end, she gave all of them away to individuals she felt helped keep Eyrarháls safe, a far better outcome than it might have been.”
“You were worried about what would happen if she ended up with a host of mantles?”
“It would have changed her for the worse. The mantles come with certain perceptions and can influence the natures of individuals,” cautioned Týr. “I sometimes wonder how different Ebusuku will be when you reclaim your Mantle.”
“She’s told me about some of her capabilities, but given your explanation of how you perceive around yourself, I wonder what she’s skipped over, assuming I already knew it,” mused Amdirlain.
Týr sat up with a puzzled smile. “They have acknowledged your request to speak to them. They’ll be on the edge of their Liege’s Domain shortly. I hadn’t expected their Liege to respond so quickly, or wish to be included in the discussion.”
“I’m going to reopen that prison Gate and make the stone cells transparent from our side so they can see what they let happen to their allies,” declared Amdirlain.
“It's one way to be on the front foot,” agreed Týr.
Moving out to a nearby clearing, Amdirlain reopened the Gate and altered the stone cells so they could observe the prisoners. The corruption steam still wafted from both prisoners, the same as when she had last seen them.
When Amdirlain opened the Gate to the Seven Heavens, she’d kept it well away from herself but ensured it had a clear line of sight through the other Gate. Despite her planning, the strength of the orderly Celestial energies still prompted her to step back as Pain Eater catalogued the burn a brief exposure had caused. As it washed across her, it forced her True Form to emerge, but she reverted to Wood Elf form once clear of its influence.
Through the Gate was the unconcealed figure of Caltzan, a tiny version of the fallen eldest’s original shape.
They had the same multi-limbed form that matched Orhêthurin’s recovered memory of the fallen solars in the Titan’s forge room. Overall, they seemed like a strange mutated lizard holding the front of its green-scaled body arched up from the ground. Their eyeless head connected directly to their shoulders, with a handful of finger-length tendrils nested in the middle, tasting the surrounding energies.
Of the six pairs of limbs, the first set were pincers that began at shoulder height and projected upwards at a slight angle. Level with the middle of their ribs, and in line with a trio of mouths, was a pair of boneless cables of muscle the length of her forearm that ended in a blunt stump ringed with eight thin fingers. Only a hand span beneath their ribs, their body ran parallel to the ground, and four sets of clawed reptilian legs were spaced along its lower body before a blunted tail. A pair of translucent white membrane wings extended from its back, a delicate material that looked utterly out of place with the rest of its form.
Beyond the Celestial lay a grassy plain, and a dozen kilometres away was the leading edge of a giant artificial mountain covered in thousands of openings. Even without its song, the regularity of its shape and the path encircling it proclaimed its constructed nature.
Amdirlain started to speak when beside Caltzan appeared their Liege; the Deity was similar in form but with watery blue scales. Resonance traced the lines of energy that spun off from them in the trillions across the planes, and Amdirlain felt them woven into bridges connecting to thousands of worlds. The vibrance of Týr’s harmonics was meek compared to their racket, and Amdirlain had to hold back the other Deity’s music—its force earned her a notification.
[Resonance [S] (76->77)]
With the pressure continuing against Resonance, Amdirlain focused Analysis on Caltzan to see his details.
[Name: Rhithri
Species: Astral Deva
Class: Planar Scout / Nest Guardian / Vanguard / Shrine Shield
Level: 65 / 65 / 65 / 65 / 65
Health: 342,400
Defence: 2,128
Magic: 1,260
Mana: 900,900
Melee Attack Power: 1,625
Combat Skills: Claws [GM] (223), Short Blades [GM] (210) - Assorted Spell lists and blessings
Details: A relatively new servant of the Formithian Deity, Aogruco, of nests, growth, and purity, formed when they lived upon the Formithian’s original home world. Rhithri has undertaken many dangerous duties to further Aogruco’s goals. Their highest priority is always Aogruco's teachings and principles, regardless of other considerations.
Note: Ain’t they such a good little drone?]
The link between Rhithri and the Divine being beside them made it clear they were in Aogruco’s presence.
The notation in Analysis caused Amdirlain’s gaze to narrow, but she motioned to the prisoners. “I thought you might like to see what came from your paranoia.”
“They fell to corruption. Why should I wish to view them? They knew the risks of venturing into the Abyss before the mission began,” replied Rhithri. “The one you knew as Oitrix getting entangled in the Balor’s whip distracted the other two to its aid; they should have charged the Balor as I did. Better death than corruption.”
“If I’d been along, I would have been able to tell you it was a trap. None of them would have fallen, and you wouldn’t be subject to a Planar Lock right now.”
“You were a bad omen-”
The words lit a molten rage inside Amdirlain, and she interrupted. “What, you can’t listen to your liege? Do you need omens to tell you your duty?”
“You are ignorant of the purpose of omens. They do not give us instructions; they tell us if our course will achieve the best result for our Liege’s mission, not what my Liege needs to be handled,” retorted Rhithri. “Your presence with my team sat under a bad omen; lesser results would come from your continued involvement in our missions.”
“How can you say that when this is the result?” asked Amdirlain, and she pointed at the two prisoners, still oblivious to being under observation. “I could have stopped this from happening, along with Torm’s loss and Nárendil’s suffering.”
“Would you have set up the crystal detectors to find the mortals without being motivated by Torm's loss? I doubt it; you are too self-interested, and even now, you frame your concerns about what you could have done rather than speak of what a group can achieve together,” mocked Rhithri, and they waved their shorter arms dismissively in Amdirlain’s direction.
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“Twist this however you want, but you didn’t talk about doing anything together—you told me to stay away. Since I mistakenly respected your efforts and viewpoint, I followed your request. If you think I couldn’t have snuck around and helped regardless, you’re mistaken.”
“That cuts to the heart of it, doesn’t it? You feel guilt, so you lash out at me. It is not enough for good beings to be good; we need to turn the actions of evil beings, such as yourself, to serve a higher purpose. The sacrifice of Torm brought about far more good than it could accomplish alone,” declared Rhithri haughtily.
“You don’t know me, and he was not yours to sacrifice,” snapped Amdirlain.
“It agreed to abide by my decisions while working in my group,” countered Rhithri.
“He, not it,” insisted Týr, even though he rested a hand warningly on Amdirlain’s shoulder. “I also agree that your initial protest about Amdirlain’s involvement was deceptive. You put your personal goals ahead of your command’s safety.”
Rhithri’s pincers clinked and flicked outwards. “Your fascination with the dual genders of the mortals you imitate is unimportant. Torm submitted to my command; my decisions are all that mattered.”
“So your purpose was to manipulate me into aggressive actions that killed thousands?”
Rhithri’s snort was a sharp exhalation from his central mouth alone. “I did no such thing; any deaths you caused were from your unseemly anger. The crystal network you designed following Torm’s loss has caused no deaths and contributed to removing many mortals from the Abyss. A significant achievement to have turned evil beings such as yourself and the Lómë to that end.”
Mention of the Lómë had Amdirlain suppress a curse, aware that their Deity had access to potentially billions of years of interaction with the Anar and Lómë. “The Lómë and I aren’t evil, and your species wouldn’t even exist without us,”
Aogruco hummed and stepped closer to the Gate, and Rhithri scuttled to get out from underfoot. “There is the Anar arrogance I remember; we do not exist because of you. We existed on worlds the Songbird created alone, when you and your kind were still unknown. When the first of us ascended to the heavenly planes, we found the Titan’s servants and Bahamut alone waiting to greet us. We came before you, Anar, and we will be here long after you fall again through your arrogance.”
The mention of Bahamut brought the force of his awareness sweeping across their meeting, and while at first distant, his focus quickly sharpened.
“Those original planets have long ago been consumed by their stars. Whatever worlds you are on now likely exist only because of Anar and Lómë, which makes me wonder what species you stole them from,” snapped Amdirlain.
“Wrong again. Only some of those worlds were created by your kind; another—the highest of our divine—created prime worlds for us. Those worlds that you lesser children of the Songbird created are riddled with monstrous things that frequently threaten nests.”
“The Titan’s rules reward those challenged,” countered Amdirlain. “Can’t you handle a little challenge? Are you so sure you know everything right and good?”
“We know what is good for our species and how they can obtain the heavens. Fallen that you are, you are not in a position to tell us we are wrong,” insisted Aogruco. “You wear the form of evil, and I’m aware of the Anar called Orhêthurin.”
“Your minion took the opportunity for informed choice from Torm, lying by implication that a bad outcome, not lesser results would come from my involvement,” snapped Amdirlain, reassured by Aogruco's apparent ignorance of Orhêthurin.
“The individual is not important, only the continuance and strength of the nests. But who are you to speak of individuals suffering? I know you, Orhêthurin, and the evils you’ve brought into existence. The monsters you created roam many of the lesser worlds and have caused much suffering. When you combine your creations with your kin’s work, the communities destroyed by your creations are without number,” retorted Aogruco. “No wonder the Titan’s Songbird left this realm after she created your kind; no doubt that choice was in sorrow at the prideful beings she created.”
“The first Deity that left the heavens was from your species, and they took a heavenly host with them—millions of celestials dragged into the Abyss by their Deity’s lust for war and enjoyment of carnage. So I’m sure you know a lot about the price of pride,” retorted Amdirlain, aware of Týr’s grip pressing on her shoulder.
“Blasphemous wretch,” snapped Rhithri, but they cut off when Aogruco waved a pincer their way. Bahamut’s focused awareness had sharpened further the moment Rhithri spoke in anger.
Amdirlain ignored Rhithri and kept her attention on Aogruco. “You’re such a hypocrite; I wonder how many of those monsters were species fighting back against the invaders of their world. Or species that might have grown into a greater state, except you took their world in your growth. Yet you take shots at us for making worlds challenging?”
“We are not hypocrites,” snorted Aogruco. “I tolerate your insolence only because of the purification work you managed against the forces of the Abyss and your crystals. Be warned, my tolerance for you is not endless, and we can fight the war against the Abyss with other tools.”
“Yeah, I’m just a tool to you. Did any of those monsters live in communities?” probed Amdirlain.
“That is unimportant; they did not possess nests, and they threatened ours,” rebuffed Aogruco. “There are other species we have grown cooperatively with; those that threaten our nests are to be wiped out for the good of our communities.”
“You yourself said that your faithful spread to those worlds. Does that make the monsters the native species that didn’t match your standards?”
Aogruco deliberately turned their attention away from Amdirlain. “Is flaunting these corrupted and this one’s pointless taunts really what you wanted to speak of, Týr?”
“Your minion decided matters outside the mission’s purview and kept facts from my servant. Such deception led to an incorrect judgement being made; there will be a weregild for this,” advised Týr; having taken his hand from Amdirlain’s shoulder, he stood beside her with it clenched tight.
“We care nothing for your need for weregild or your yapping. You made your request in ignorance. Consider my words carefully, and you and this sinner might yet gain some enlightenment,” declared Aogruco, and a push of their power shattered the Gate.
Clenching her teeth, Amdiralin restored the prisoners’ cells and closed the Gate to the holding area.
“So no, they weren’t in denial; they don’t care,” hissed Amdirlain.
“Their perspective of what is good is different to ours; their perspective has no place for the individual, and she doesn’t care for justice,” observed Týr, his hand slowly relaxing from a fist. “Yet, would you apply your standards to every species? What does their song tell you about them?”
“They look like strange reptiles, but they and the petitioners I could hear are more ant-like in mindset than reptilian. The nest matters, not the individuals; as long as they helped the nest get stronger, they’re likely happy and believe the ideal good has been fulfilled,” replied Amdirlain, though her tone remained heated.
“Would lashing out at Caltzan change anything besides making things worse for yourself in the short term?”
Amdirlain almost spat an angry reply but exhaled sharply and let the balanced music of the Outlands sweep through her. “I’ll try to avoid tantrums. Caltzan’s real name is Rhithri, and I’ll deal with them later.”
“That’s good,” replied Týr, and he patted her shoulder reassuringly. “I’ll admit, with their attitude, I wanted to rip their claws off and see if they cook up as good as crab.”
“That’s vaguely disturbing,” noted Amdirlain. “I mean, eating an intelligent creature's body part.”
“Cows are intelligent, and I remember you and Torm talking about cuts of steak you preferred,” countered Týr.
“Eavesdropper,” huffed Amdirlain. “It’s all a matter of perspective, isn’t it.”
Týr nodded. “Yes, but it’s just as well I didn’t ask Fen to come along with that yapping remark. She would have wanted to give Aogruco a new perspective on pain.”
“Every species has its perspective on what’s good; the appearance of the Formithian is just more alien than the humanoids I’ve dealt with so far,” offered Amdirlain. “Though I want to smack her for the crack about the Songbird leaving in sorrow.”
Clicking his tongue, Týr looked tempted to ask but shook his head. “To change the subject: What was your comment about a God leaving the heavens?”
“The first fallen that petitioned for the path’s creation were a trio of solars in the service of a war Deity of the Formithian,” advised Amdirlain. “The trio proclaimed they were doing their duty to their Liege. Their Liege had started to enjoy war for the killing, and they also took too much enjoyment in the bloodshed and tipped over the edge with their Deity.
“Many of Hell's first devils came from them before the Hierarchy of Sin existed. Redemption’s Path was set in the Abyss because it was salt in the wound of the trio that requested it—they were orderly in mindset. Orhêthurin could be a bitch at times when it came to making people pay for misdeeds.”
“Orhêthurin was involved in the path’s creation?”
“Yeah, she designed Redemption’s Path for the Titan. I’m very much reaping what she sowed.”
“I don’t think that’s the case, but certainly it can’t sit comfortably. I believe I’ll withdraw from all alliances that include that Deity. Though it had seemed otherwise, they have no true respect for another’s concerns. No matter how long they’ve been a good Deity, they focus merely on their species’ perspective.”
“Nests, growth, and purity are their provinces. Purity can have some ugly connotations if you’re deemed one of the unworthy,” noted Amdirlain.
“You’re not unworthy, Amdirlain, and neither is Torm. Have patience. Completing Mimir’s request won’t take me much longer. I had asked Ebusuku not to tell you, as I hadn’t wanted to get your hopes up. There was also the distinct possibility you’d devise a way to track him down first,” explained Týr.
Rubbing a hand across her face, Amdirlain licked her lips while she considered her choice of words. “She mentioned you were seeking oracles, but not who. How did Mimir survive the Gods’ War; isn’t he just a head?
“Yes; at times, Odinn used to hang him from his belt. But he wasn’t a true member of the Norse Pantheon, more a remnant of a Primordial, so he didn’t appear on Vehtë. Indeed, in this realm I believe he’s become a minor aspect of the Concept of Knowledge,” asserted Týr. “Though he’s not confirmed or denied my belief.”
Amdirlain shook off the mental image of a decapitated head and a spinning gem conversing. Clearing her throat, she waved towards the spire, many of Gideon’s vague comments coming to mind. “Even if he gives you information, that doesn’t mean it's going to be useful for finding Torm. Cryptic responses understandable only in hindsight aren’t unknown from oracles.”
Her warning drew a smile from Týr. “Have a bit more trust in me, Amdirlain. The deal I struck was payment provided after Mimir’s information led to Torm’s capture. Once I have their payment ready, I get the information. Unlike some of our kin, he knows I’ll keep my word and pay him.”
“Gideon took some digs at me about Torm, in it was indications of trips down memory lane and various innuendos. Most of my memories in this life are in the Abyss, so if you need backup in the Abyss, let me know,” offered Amdirlain.
“Most, not all. Whatever this corrupted version of him is up to, I’m not sure you should have to see it,” Týr countered; with that, he gave her another friendly pat on the shoulder and vanished.
In case Gideon had been literal and not merely playing on words about hot rivers, Amdirlain shifted to the Para-Elemental Plane of Magma. Teleport positioned her in the first tunnel she and Torm had travelled together. As she became accustomed to the music, Amdirlain started along slowly, listening for songs that didn’t blend in with the magma theme.
Once used to the plane’s tempo, she picked up the pace; Ki Movement and Quickness blurred her along the near-molten tunnels. Once moving at speed, Amdirlain quickly reached the massive cavern with the lava pools, passing the first so rapidly and silently the elementals didn’t even react to her presence. A half kilometre along the cavern, she added in line of sight teleports and, within an hour, she’d reached the far end of the cavern without hearing anything besides elementals. The sight of the molten river at its end reminded her of the weeks they spent fighting when they first arrived here.
Leaning into Planar Shift again, Amdirlain arrived in the pitch darkness of Pandemonium, the howling wind that was enough to drive mortals insane, cackling and screaming about her. The oppressive darkness of the place weighed down True Sight and blocked her vision beyond thirty metres.
The sound and unfettered Chaos of the place made her grimace, and Teleport placed her in another tunnel. It was similar to the first with its wind-swept debris and abrasive-sanded stone. Keeping part of her attention on the predatory music within the inky blackness around her, Amdirlain confirmed the presence of the collapsed chamber beneath her. The remnants of the first bolt hole she’d ever made brought back memories of time spent talking to Torm about Sarah and Rachel. Remembering her enactment of Rachel’s little ceremony of burning issues to let them go, she snorted, and admitted how badly she’d done.
She didn’t smother the pain that arose with the reminders of Torm, but acknowledged it as she considered her options. An element of her past plans reminded her of a current need, and Planar Attunement rang through her. She set it as a secondary Plane, and the notification prompted her to tweak her Profile’s format to track all her home planes.
“The last one, for now, will be?” murmured Amdirlain, and she shifted planes again
[Planar Shift (Self) [Ap] (2->3)]
The Power deposited her mid-air, but Amdirlain only plunged a handful of metres through the canopy before she landed on a broad branch. Around her, a riot of noise greeted the sound of her landing, with a cacophony that echoed within Resonance.
[Planar Attunement Success
Primary Home Plane: Culerzic
Secondary Home Plane(s): Carceri, Pandemonium
Attunement Target: Ûbuthan
Override Primary Home Plane, or accept the target as a secondary Home Plane?]
Given how long the Mortal jungle giants had survived this Plane, it seemed like it had the potential for her to safely hide at need. Standing on the branch, Amdilrlain felt a great cat’s attention fixed on her, and she flared predatory menace through Charisma, and the jungle around her went instantly silent.
With her guests waiting, and her immediate needs taken care of, Amdirlain returned to the Outlands and Xaos. As she walked towards the town’s wards, Amdirlain pushed aside Aogruco’s accusations and replayed the memory of the Deity’s song. Picking through it, she tried to identify the worlds to which their bridges were the weakest.
Amdirlain almost discarded the possibility, but the need for information dug at her. The idea Erwarth’s quick progress had set aside returned, and Amdirlain started considering how to place a crystal spire in orbit around a planet. With only the vaguest idea of anything approaching orbital mechanics, she knew she’d need a lot of experimentation over a barren world.
I spy with my little eye; maybe I’ll put satellites in your skies.
As she continued, the problem had untouched elements from True Song Architecture rouse themselves for her consideration. A memory of accelerating megatons of mass into a stable Earth-like orbit around a sun ironically bombarded her with an overwhelming number of songs. The memory continued through the process of shaping raw mass into worlds, and Amdirlain had to pull free from the memory and focus on the issue at hand.
The tendency for any species to expand and push into every niche it could use fitted too closely with Aogruco’s attitude. While she could understand her perspective, it wasn’t an approach she wanted to encourage or agree with in practice. Aogruco’s comment about leaving those that hadn’t threatened the nests alone left Amdirlain with even more questions.
Her words hadn’t been the malicious xenophobic attitude of the gold elves that Orhêthurin had put down. They were a survival perspective focused on their community that disregarded the cost to the individual or other species.
Still, the cost they could inflict on other species had Amdirlain wondering if there were hard-pressed locals in need of rescue. Her purposeful focus on her way back to the Blazing Portal added a zest that stirred Xaos’ locals to speed through their labours.