The Burning Itch

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

"I don't know why you are all guessing as to who is at least amongs the imminent 'draconic arrival'. Graytch is one my readings reveal. But Ande's warning does not preclude more than one draconic arrival, so there is that."

Looking at almost all her companions making haste to get out of here, Quila looks bemused. "It feels wrong to leave our new friends to both the kreen imperial air brigade and to Oronis knows what sort of worse fate than the Strange inflicted upon them. I will activate my danger sense so that we do have a fair warning but will then first talk to Akos and ask for advice."

Quila concentrates and activates her psionic powers of Danger Sense first as to get a chance of a strong warning early on, even though there are multiple Sacred Guardians active (from her on Ande, and from Ande on her, from Ande on Erfurth, and from Quila on the Seed itself -- just putting it out there as a reminder for those who read Quila's thoughts )

(OOC: Danger Sense 10 on 20, Power Manipulated for powerscore effect with 6 on 14. I learn how far away the danger is, and we get a full round of warning in which we can take action.)

Having steeled her nerves a bit, she then tries to get in touch with Akos in Kurn to inform him about all that has happened since the last contact a day hence, and to ask for advice

<"Are you there, Akos?">

Quila will speak about the sudden mushroom growth from the spores, about the extra returned-from-the-dead halflings, about the kreen putting the Seed in a harness for transport, about the dead elf, fiery Liandrin, and Graytch. Especially that they are underway and apparently are a dragon. She proceeds to ask for advice what to do now and will inquire about possible news regarding Oronis' research on the Strange.

(OOC: Contact with penalties is power score 16, I roll 8. -13 psp is 109/122 PsP. Mindlink is power score effect 18 on 18. The free probing question is quite innocent: does Akos worry? -8 psp is 101/122 PsP.)

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"If you like, I can stay and poke the dragon with my sharpened stick," says Coden dryly.

[DM Bob]

Akos always worries. That's his secret.

<"A dragon you say? Graytch? Let me talk to Oronis about that. As far as the Strange? Oronis had one of his devout revive it, then he personally questioned it, and then killed it again.">

Pause. 15 count.

<"...our leader tells me that those spores are precursor for an invasion of sorts. They fungal-y bloom into food for an approaching force of Mi-go (as they call themselves). Otherwise, they *should* be relatively harmless. The spores that is. The Strange, not so much as they raid new planets for their resources and enslave the brains of their most brilliant. Yes?... sorry.">

Pause. 5 count.

<"Oronis wants to know if you have seen evidence of the other heads of the City-States about, other than possibly Draj or Urik as this dead elven assassin you said was allied with. While the tohr-kreen are present, at least they are working in the open. Have you felt observed most recently?">

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"Hmm. Anyone? I haven't seen anything else recognizable... but it also makes some sense that the other monarchs might all be waiting for someone else to make the first move," says Coden. "Otherwise, risks upsetting the status quo and becoming a target."

[Attilius]

"That's my Coden, so damn smart!" Hurkling says to himself

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- "Could it be another flying creature you called Mi-Go instead of a dragon what us coming this way?" - looking at Coden

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Oct 6, 2023 1:16:43 GMT DM Bob said:

Akos always worries. That's his secret.

<"A dragon you say? Graytch? Let me talk to Oronis about that. As far as the Strange? Oronis had one of his devout revive it, then he personally questioned it, and then killed it again.">

Pause. 15 count.

<"...our leader tells me that those spores are precursor for an invasion of sorts. They fungal-y bloom into food for an approaching force of Mi-go (as they call themselves). Otherwise, they *should* be relatively harmless. The spores that is. The Strange, not so much as they raid new planets for their resources and enslave the brains of their most brilliant. Yes?... sorry.">

Pause. 5 count.

<"Oronis wants to know if you have seen evidence of the other heads of the City-States about, other than possibly Draj or Urik as this dead elven assassin you said was allied with. While the tohr-kreen are present, at least they are working in the open. Have you felt observed most recently?">

<"Oh. That is smart to question it. Are we to take action against the mushrooms and/or instruct our tohr friends to do so? Or is Oronis working on something of a solution to that that is more, erm.... impactful for lack of a better word.">

Waiting....

<"I have not felt observed recently. That has been at least over a day ago. We have not seen any evidence of other City-States heads, but Coden noted that they are probably just all waiting for one of them to loose their cool first. Taking action first would indeed upset a very delicate balance in the Tablelands. Does Oronis feel we are not to take action against any kreen attempts to move the Seed? Were it not for an imminent arrival from some mighty necromancer defiler-psion-dragon called Graytch I would continue to stay on board of the Seed and just recon all we can about the kreen lands and the empire, relatively safely onboard the Seed. We could always port out.">

[DM Bob]

A long pause.

<"Oronis is simply distilling priorities. The fungus seems like it might have difficulty thriving in our environ and if it weren't for the Strange's interest in the Messenger's hidden knowledge, there may be little for the alien race to gather from our planet other than slaves. We are not, how do you say, as rich as other worlds they've raided... or at least that's what he managed to get the creature to reveal before destroying it.">

<"He wishes you to get the other passengers raised from the Grey. Once that is accomplished, retreat to Nirik and continue your efforts to befriend the Tohr. There is a good chance you'll be called in for support at some time if things go as anticipated.">

<Oronis girds for battle and is calling Syndic and the Black Lances to muster. However... if you get wind of other Monarchs spying or about? Contact me immediately.">

[AthasianLaborer]

Ande turns to face Chat'cho as she answers the question <Thri-Kreen> "He is a comrade of Quila and mine, he is a skilled combatant and fierce exponent of Oronis.  I don't know that you've met him formally, but I am sure you've seen him"

[DM Bob]

[Closing thread.]

[DM Bob]

Addendum: Coden successfully cryokinesises the tethers holding the ship from within after observing them with clairvoyance. Soon after the tohr begin to pull...

See the Seed group thread for details.

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Addendum: Quila thanks Akos and closes the link.