Amdirlain’s PoV - Outlands - Xaos
When Amdirlain returned, Livia was already in the suite, sitting cross-legged on a couch, quietly meditating. “Having an extended training session isn’t a very subtle way to avoid speaking about Uncle Torm.”
“We were trying to make up for three missed days,” countered Amdirlain.
“Yet you also missed three days Ki cycling with them,” observed Livia. “Why don’t you start by telling me how bad things are?”
Amdirlain sighed and sat on the couch across from Livia, only to fiddle with an ornate figurine on the low table between them. Pushing the distraction aside, she relaxed back in the seat and caught Livia’s tight smile. “I reapplied his name, but he’s nothing like Torm. Cyrus’ assessment is that only ash and dust remain within him—within them.”
“Does the Ki Cycling do anything?” asked Livia, her voice tight with concern.
“It stirs up the ash and dust within their essence and obscures the Ki I’m cycling through,” explained Amdirlain. “While it gave me some insights into my Phoenix sigil, it doesn’t seem to do much except torment them.”
Livia started to speak, only to shake her head and start again. “What’s the next step?”
“Continue with the Ki Cycling and see if it provokes any detectable change.”
“How long does a session last?”
“It depends, at least two hours, but I don’t go above three,” advised Amdirlain.
Livia winced. “Oh, Móeir. Are there other options?”
“Cyrus’s suggestion was to bind them like an Eastern Demon and then let them redeem themselves via deeds of service,” Amdirlain explained glumly. “I’m not sure that’s an option for them; they will probably need the Redemption’s Path. But even if I get them wanting to redeem themselves, it’s not a simple outcome.”
“What would it even hold them responsible for?” enquired Livia cautiously. “They didn’t perform acts of evil to fall.”
“Gideon gave me a note that showed the plinth would hold Torm responsible for thousands of deaths,” answered Amdirlain. “Making amends isn’t a one-for-one process, and it also doesn’t help that it judges your motivations for the ‘good’ deeds that count towards the amends.”
“An apology that you don’t mean isn’t a genuine apology, and a weregild must balance the loss you’ve caused another,” acknowledged Livia.
“It’s more like repaying the loss sevenfold,” stated Amdirlain. Leaning forward, she collected a polished wooden figure of an elven archer from the table; despite the lacquer, her sensitive touch let her feel the grains under the smoothness of the finish.
Livia smiled slightly at the fidgeting, but her gaze dulled. “You don’t normally fidget, Móeir.”
“Yeah, I know. I don’t enjoy talking about what I’m doing to them. I wasn’t expecting the process to be easy, but I didn’t expect it to be so tortuous. Oddly, I can endure my pain fine, spend hours plunging a hand into acid and walk it off. Nice and easy, right?” quipped Amdirlain.
Livia moved around to sit beside Amdirlain and hold her free hand. “You’re trying to undo a trip through the Abyss’ corruption. I can understand that it is causing them pain. Can I help you with the Ki cycling?”
“I won’t put you at risk. The Oath link could feed their malice to you like a summoner’s Demonic Pact,” explained Amdirlain.
“What about you, though?” enquired Livia softly. “How are you coping? I know putting them through such pain can’t be easy.”
“It’s part of the reason for restricting to a single session per day: trying to find a balance between their treatment and creation,” admitted Amdirlain.
“Oh? So is that the real reason the town’s mousekin acquired such a massive new burrow?” asked Livia, trying for a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Sorry, but I can’t build you a temple complex,” Amdirlain replied. “At least not here, though if you want to draw up a fancy one, I can create a gadget to construct it for you.”
Livia snorted in amusement. “I’ll let the craftsmen get their experience.”
“You don’t want to set up something to inspire their future creations?” enquired Amdirlain innocently.
“Inspire or frustrate them trying to match?” poked Livia knowingly.
Amdirlain winked. “Maybe a bit of both. However, I have one more serious request. Would you help with my summoning experiment?”
“Of course,” agreed Livia. “Is there any location in Veht? I should set it up?”
“No. Where I need to get to isn’t on Veht?,” advised Amdirlain. “For one of my projects, I need to get to a world I’ve never visited.”
“To do what?” asked Livia with a confused frown.
“To prepare for a species relocation, a group currently living on a world their pantheon didn’t create. If it was an exception I wouldn''t worry, but Analysis has shown me details of dozens of worlds this species has taken over from others, wiping out their rivals in the process. Since they’re stealing worlds from others, I’m going to shift them to planets their gods created,” advised Amdirlain.
Livia blinked. “You don’t get involved in minor projects.”
Especially not with their gods involved in the theft.
“If that one worries you, I won’t tell you about the others I just spent three days on, then,” teased Amdirlain.
“Yes, you will! Cyrus said you were off helping Sage. What did you get up to?” demanded Livia drily.
“I don’t know, if a small species relocation surprised you-”
“Móeir, don’t be a tease,” grumbled Livia.
Giving her a cheeky smile, Amdirlain shrugged expansively. “I isolated seventy-one worlds, so Orcus’ forces couldn’t regain access for at least a hundred years. Then they need to find them again.”
“I know Sage’s list has over a hundred. Why only seventy-one?” asked Livia, her tone matter-of-fact.
Amdirlain sighed dramatically. “That’s the only reaction I get? You didn’t even ask me how.”
“It’s the only reaction you deserve when I know you’re teasing,” Livia retorted glibly. “It will be with True Song, so the ‘how’ isn’t likely to be something I’ll ever duplicate.”
“Woe is me. My daughter has no interest in her poor Móeir,” moaned Amdirlain, and she slumped dramatically.
“Goof,” said Livia, and she patted Amdirlain atop the head. “Does being silly help your nerves that much?”
“It’s nice to be with people I can lower my guard around,” replied Amdirlain.
“You’re not lowering your guard Móeir; you’re playing up being a goof because you’re worried. I’d like to see Torm’s condition before starting this project,” requested Livia.
The request drew a deep sigh from Amdirlain before she flowed upright and drew Livia to her feet. “No time like the present.”
“Not planning to argue the point?” asked Liva in surprise.
“You’re a grown woman; you can make your own decisions,” responded Amdirlain, and she opened a Gate to a location near the spire. “Plus, I need to prepare both the beacon and a mass of the relocators before there is any point going to the planet.”
Livia eyed the Gate that appeared inside the sitting room’s entrance suspiciously. “You’re pretty free with opening gates out of Xaos. Are you allowed to use them inside the wards? Some places get sensitive about those inside the township.”
“No,” snickered Amdirlain. Ignoring Livia’s slight frown of disapproval, Amdirlain stepped through the Gate with her in tow.
Once Livia was clear of the Gate, Amdirlain closed it. After double-checking that nothing sentient was nearby, she opened another Gate to the prison to renew the stale air inside the chamber. Ushering Livia inside, Amdirlain set a song to keep the air safe, never having intended any Mortal to be within the place.
“I think you should behave yourself with gates in Xaos,” stated Livia. “Towns have rules for a reason, Móeir.”
“Then isn’t it good that you’re not the local judge?” quipped Amdirlain.
“Móeir, are your being deliberately rebellious to let off steam?”
Amdirlain stepped into the prison’s outer corridor and turned Torm’s cell wall into a two-way mirror. The wounds from his capture had long since healed, but his clothing remained torn, showing rough, charcoaled skin. The lips of his wolf-like muzzle curled upwards in contempt as he scanned the image about him. A flicker of animals moving in a distant location of the Outlands drew his attention, and he fixated on them with rabid intensity.
The sight of him cut off Livia’s enquiry. “Oh!”
Livia sniffed and cleared her throat several times before managing a strangled question. “His aura is all shattered and spikey. Is his song the same way?”
Her lips twisting with distaste, Amdirlain nodded. “Angry dissonance and sharp notes play a major part in their themes now. I’m not sure what I’m doing is even helping. They sound better while I’m Ki cycling, but if they''ve progressed during sessions, they’ve returned to their former state when it''s time for the next session. They all have a variation of the Hunter Class, so I’m trying to get them to relinquish it.”
“He used to have such a solid, comforting aura. Oh, Móeir, he’s an empty shell now of who he used to be,” cried Livia, and she pressed her hands against the cell’s barrier. Amdirlain wrapped an arm around her in support, and Livia leaned into her. “Can I watch his aura while you conduct the Ki cycling?”
“Yes, I’ve set up the air here so it will refresh. I’ll key you into the wards so you can teleport out if it gets unpleasant,” advised Amdirlain.
Livia nodded, and Amdirlain adjusted the wards before she sent a thread of Ki through the Oath link. Harmony let her extend her perception through the Ki, and she brushed his essence with a feathery touch. Torm snarled in pain at the first touch and launched himself bodily against the cell’s barrier.
Ashen dust storms raged across the battered landscape of his essence. She sought a seed of something more among the bitter hatred and contempt. The Ki swept across barbed callousness and ground against jagged spite, but the edges she flaked off gave birth to renewed sharpness.
Every good deed she tried to stir for consideration got slapped down by a hundred that recalled the flaws of the humans he wasted time helping. Bitterness countered moments of enjoyment at the disasters created by others'' flaws. The ash she shifted through gave no foundation for a positive attitude to flourish. Instead, she fought against a hurricane and a surging tide; their forces united to destroy all the viewpoints that she raised.
When his essence reached a point of dissolution, Amdirlain stopped and took in the steam rising from his flesh. Livia’s crystal gaze wasn’t watching Torm and had at some point affixed to Amdirlain. Her tears had long since dried as concern competed with grief.
“Shall we go back to your suite or the school?” Livia asked, her voice choked and ragged. “It’s a while before the next lesson time.”
Amdirlain shifted them to Xaos in a double hop to avoid a direct track to the prison. Where they appeared was a distance from the field workers closest to the town.
Wrapping an arm around Livia, Amdirlain gave her a careful hug. “When are you holding your teaching sessions?”
Livia wiped her face and gave a tired smile. “I thought I’d conduct my training sessions around the same time as yours. I wanted to leave the most time available to talk with you.”
“I do need to pick your brain about a few things,” admitted Amdirlain, strolling towards town.
“Like setting up proper lessons instead of throwing students in the deep end and making them swim?” enquired Livia lightly. “I heard you sent Enrig and Callen in without weapons.”
“They’ve got enough Class levels to know how to handle themselves in combat; I just put them under a bit of pressure with restrictions,” laughed Amdirlain before she grew more serious. “They both have issues with each other, but Callen has a better poker face. I might not get them to like each other, but fighting side by side might teach them respect.”
“It’s possible,” allowed Livia. “If you knew they had issues, why did you pick them as your students?”
“They spark off each other in a competitive fashion. I want to see if I can keep that competitiveness so they strive to progress faster but settle their conflicts,” explained Amdirlain.
“Yeah, I’ve spoken to them both; best of luck,” drawled Livia.
“Hopefully, it will work,” grinned Amdirlain.
Livia groaned.
* * * * *
Amdirlain spent the afternoon catching up with Livia and Cyrus. Picking their brains about training approaches was the most time Amdirlain had allowed herself to relax in years. While she’d trained at the monastery, neither of her students had much in common with the Githzérai attitude nor their self-discipline. Also, Amdirlain’s progression through the fires of combat was far different from what mortals could survive.
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When the pair retired for the evening, Amdirlain considered the songs of Orcus’ planetary strongholds. The strangeness of him wanting to maintain a hold over a limited planet compared to territory within an infinite Plane of the Abyss niggled at her.
Figuring it wouldn’t hurt to enquire, Amdirlain took a moment to send a Message. “Roher, why would demons want to keep a planet as a stronghold?”
Her work had progressed only a few minutes before she received Roher’s response. “In the past, they’ve used such strongholds to gain access to planets without civilisations. They cast demons immune to the pressures of space through the void between stars as scouts.”
“Thanks. I’ll try monitoring to see if I can detect any such occurrences.”
Retrieving the stronghold planet’s orbital surveyors, Amdirlain made adjustments before she returned them. Taking an hour, she added more in orbits far from its sun.
After exchanging more messages with Gail and Goxashru, she returned to her studies. Delving into the planet’s overall theme, she looked for a way to remove the demons or destroy the planet and seal the breach. The first sound of stirring from the bedrooms cut her studies short; her Time Sense showed only three hours had passed since Cyrus and Livia had retired.
“Your rest is as short as an elven reverie,” commented Amdirlain.
Cyrus shrugged. “I’m told the meditations of an Immortal have some similarity to the elven meditations.”
“Not an Immortal yet, just picked up some bad habits,” joked Livia.
“Or possibly another influence of your Móeir’s Ki,” suggested Cyrus. “Has Goxashru returned yet?”
“I heard from him while you were sleeping. There are some ceremonies required due to his new status. He hadn’t expected them to apply since I’m not the usual Elder,” advised Amdirlain. “Goxashru should be back in a few days; meanwhile, his town patron is taking advantage of the time to make additional preparations.”
“Hearing that from a Dragon, I hope it’s nothing dangerous,” said Livia.
Amdirlain snorted. “She is a priestess of Bahamut, so I doubt it.”
“Will you have time for sparring after the training today?” enquired Cyrus.
“If you want to beat me up, I’ll make time for that before the Ki cycling,” replied Amdirlain, and she gave them both a casual wave. “I’ll head down early.”
“Maybe some time spent pushing your skills instead of your resistances today. I’ll also head to Nolmar shortly, but I’ll check with Galasser if the tower’s drops need changing,” advised Cyrus.
“I might play in the tower before my students arrive,” said Livia, and she gave Amdirlain a smile.
Returning the smile, Amdirlain teleported straight to the courtyard. After considering options, she dedicated time to practising strikes Cyrus had used against her.
* * * * *
When Enrig and Callen approached the courtyard, they paused well back from the edge of the sunlit flagstones. Catching a pulse of fear, Amdirlain didn’t immediately acknowledge their presence, but she slowed her pace. The blur of strikes and blocks that cracked the air changed into recognisable motions.
When she stopped, the pair offered a recognisably Chinese bow instead of their more casual greeting. “Sifu.”
Amdirlain returned their bows and raised an eyebrow. “Very formal.”
“Master Cyrus was insistent we follow the etiquette when we’re here for lessons,” explained Enrig.
“Most insistent,” echoed Callen. “He gave us a reminder after you left.”
“I’ll try not to encourage bad habits then,” said Amdirlain, inviting them to join her. “Today, we’ll work on basic techniques. Don’t try for speed; I want you to focus and direct your Ki to run beneath your skin.”
Enrig stopped the question on his lips and moved out to stand before her.
“You can ask a question, Enrig,” prompted Amdirlain.
“What did you expect us to learn in the tower?” enquired Enrig.
Callen shifted quietly but didn’t protest.
Amdirlain waved a reproving finger. “If I tell you, I’ll be doing you a disservice. I don’t want you focused on my expectations rather than more suitable insights.”
Enrig tilted his head in confusion. “You want us to find out what works best for us? Were you watching us fighting?”
“I need to assess your progress,” advised Amdirlain. “How would I know if I needed to adjust my lessons if I hadn’t? You might easily miss a problem or vulnerability I spotted.”
Callen cleared his throat. “Might I ask your assessment?”
“You made use of your new training in different ways. Enrig sought to force openings where you used the openings offered. However, both of you applied force differently instead of using your opponent’s force against them,” stated Amdirlain. “Now start with claw hand strikes at half speed.”
The moves she focused on throughout the lesson were the attacks they’d used in battle. Working through the techniques, Amdirlain spent additional time on the throws she’d taught them.
* * * *
When they headed off, Cyrus and Livia came to join her.
“Your students seem chastened,” observed Cyrus. “Did they find your review humbling?”
“I didn’t mention specifics of their performance,” objected Amdirlain. “We merely went over the correct approach to their techniques. Also, I tried to get them to progress to Ki Armour.”
“But you ensured they knew where they’d missed seizing opportunities?” interrogated Cyrus.
“I pointed out the disadvantages to their use of techniques,” admitted Amdirlain.
Cyrus smiled. “At least you did it without breaking bones.”
Wrinkling her nose, Amdirlain grinned. “They can’t heal like me, so your approach in our sessions isn’t useable.”
Ignoring the town’s preference, she opened a Gate to Foundry and waved them through.
After Amdirlain repaired the battered platform, she and Livia took turns sparring with Cyrus. During Amdirlain''s turn, he focused more on pressuring her techniques than blasting past her defences. Amdirlain gained a notification part way through the session. Amdirlain opened a Gate to let them through to the Outlands when they wrapped up.
“Who are you going to Ki cycle with?” enquired Livia carefully.
Amdirlain sighed. “Cuiniel. I’ll reset the rotation after the days I missed.”
“Can I check on Torm?” asked Livia softly.
“Of course, but I wouldn’t expect any change from yesterday,” cautioned Amdirlain, and she opened a new Gate and led the way.
Shrugging off her hesitation Livia followed Amdirlain through. When the Gate closed, Livia gently touched Amdirlain’s arm. “Can I have a moment before you start?”
“Of course,” Amdirlain replied, and she held off turning Torm’s cell into a two-way mirror for Livia.
Livia licked her lips and blew out a calming breath. “I didn’t want to ask in front of Cyrus. Given his recommendation to try binding, I didn’t want to put extra pressure on you with Torm involved. But I need to ask, what if this doesn’t work?”
The question was an unexpected blow to her grief, and as tears blurred her vision, Amdirlain looked back at where the Gate had been. “I don’t know. I thought I’d accepted he might be gone for good, but seeing him this way-”
“He’s not the only one wounded by this; his state wounds you, and what you’re undertaking aggravates that pain. Isn’t there someone else that could help?” asked Livia.
“Tyr hoped this would help restore him. Given Torm’s condition, he didn’t have immediate options to help,” advised Amdirlain. “The Eldest suggested finding something like a neutral war Deity to send him through the trial, but I’m sure Torm isn’t presently open to serving anyone.”
Livia nodded. “Yet you’ve told me there are older and more powerful beings. The Titan purified Gail’s Soul, more than purified it, given she was Human. Isn’t there some way you can appeal to him to help with Torm?”
Amdirlain’s early consideration about returning the celestials to a Mortal state seemed particularly apt given her True Name.
“I’d considered restoring him to a Soul instead of the scarred essence he is now. Though if I do, he might never remember us. I’ve got fragmented memories of my former life; how much do you recall about your former lives?” questioned Amdirlain.
“How much emotional damage are you doing to yourself pursuing this course?” questioned Livia. “I’m not saying abandon him. You have a plan, and it may well work. Without knowing if it will, please keep the cost to yourself in mind. Does Pain Eater distance your emotional pain the same way it does physical and mental pain?”
“No, it doesn’t,” admitted Amdirlain.
Livia nodded. “Then who will you be if you start to feel numb to that pain?”
“I have to try,” breathed Amdirlain, a spike of grief added a raggedness to her tone.
“I know, and I’ll be praying it works, but there are limits to what we can do. Maybe you’ll be strong enough in the future, but how long will you need to hold them? Is it going to be aeons? Might they not have regained their status after being reborn a Mortal?” questioned Livia. “Can we get more information from a higher power rather than only Gideon’s hints? You’ve spoken to the Titan’s servants before; can you try to do so again or speak to someone else? Look into what others can do.”
“They still show up at Judgement when I take souls there,” informed Amdirlain. “Give me a few months. If I’m making no sustainable progress, I’ll see if I can get them to answer questions. I’ll admit I feel like I’ve been jumping about handling them, but the final plan I used for the Cliffs of Lust wasn’t even close to my initial idea.”
“It’s not jumping about when learning more changes your perspective,” consoled Livia. “You worked with Roher to come up with the songs there. Look at how complete a result you achieve between you.”
Amdirlain gave a tight smile. “I’ll try to stay open-minded then.”
Blowing out a breath, she teleported them both away from the prison.
Livia laughed and shook her head. “We just got there, lack of warning much.”
“I needed to get out of there,” whispered Amdirlain. “So much for my resolve to help them.”
A quip died on Livia’s lips, and she rested a hand on Amdirlain’s back.
“This is not how I’d imagined things turning out the day Torm met up with me in the Abyss,” sighed Amdirlain, her voice tight. “I’m not in a calm state to Ki Cycle at present, so I’ll use the time to make some of my gadgets. After I get them ready, I’ll see if Moradin’s celestials have completed their survey of the planet I found.”
Amdirlain had felt a fleeting focus from Tyr earlier, but upon mentioning Moradin’s name, she knew they had the Deity’s attention.
Releasing dozens of crystal rods to hover in the air around her, Amdirlain quickly applied a variation of the Mortal detection and tagging. Customised purely for the formithians, the tag would stay in place—despite being on the Material Plane—until she removed it. While enchanting the rods, she created another crystal obelisk under concealment to avoid explaining it to Livia. Livia knew enough from conversing with Gail and Amdirlain that creating any True Song Crystal by herself would raise questions.
“How many of those did you stockpile while working with the Lóm??” Livia asked
“I’ve got access to more crystal than I’ll need anytime soon,” advised Amdirlain. Guilt prickled at her momentarily, but she didn’t want Tyr to know her entire history yet.
Ebusuku says she’s at least subconsciously aware of what her senior priests learn, even if they don’t pray for guidance.
The last object she enchanted was a crystal pendant that floated over to Livia.
“What’s this?” asked Livia, and she caught the pendant as it fell.
“A pendant for adaptation, but it also prevents you from leaving trace material on a world,” explained Amdirlain. “Diseases that are nothing to you might wipe out species without protection. Those not advanced enough to travel to other planes might not have advanced enough magic to handle foreign diseases.”
Livia removed a plain silver necklace from beneath her Persian-styled shirt. Unlatching it, she added the pendant to the chain, slipped it back around her neck and tucked both out of sight again.
“Whenever you’re ready, Moradin,” announced Amdirlain and Livia’s brows lifted at her Móeir’s casual tone.
The grizzled Dwarf Primordial appeared standing in the grass nearby, an amused gleam in his gaze. “It is good to meet you at last, Livia.”
After bowing respectfully to the Deity, Livia straightened and looked sternly at Amdirlain.
“Are you trying to give your daughter a conniption, Amdirlain?” enquired Moradin before Livia could chastise her.
“Móeir, you mentioned Moradin’s celestials, not Moradin himself.”
“Well, I don’t have the authority to ask them to undertake a survey,” observed Amdirlain innocently before she grinned at Moradin. “I’m not the only one looking to give her a conniption or you would have sent a messenger.”
Below Livia’s petite height, Moradin had to reach up to lightly scruff her hair. At the Deity’s touch, Livia’s gaze widened.
“Your boss is a good fellow; otherwise I’d need to poach you, even if you’re not a Dwarf,” joked Moradin.
Livia’s brow furrowed in confusion. “I’m proud to be Tyr’s Priest, but might I ask why?”
“Your Móeir helped me with a few things in her former life. Anyone she cares for, I’ll help where I can, and it’s easiest for deities to provide such aid to those who follow us,” explained Moradin.
“Can’t you help Móeir directly?”
Moradin gave a broad grin and looked at Amdirlain. “Care to swear an Oath of service to me?”
I can’t take the trial’s path, so there isn’t a point.
“Not even to you, Moradin,” rebuffed Amdirlain gently.
Giving a forlorn sigh, Moradin turned back to Livia. “You see how things are?”
“Are you being stubborn, Móeir?” huffed Livia.
“Aside from the plinth, it would mean taking the trial, and my Anar life is simply too long for the trial’s path. Even trying to enter it was an unpleasant experience,” admitted Amdirlain.
There is only one way I can get rid of my Fallen status, and I don’t know what will happen to my Soul when I do. At the moment, I’m stuck in this shell of a Fallen. What happens when the plinth removes it?
“Now you know where things stand, young lady,” stated Moradin. “As for the survey of Votari...”
Amdirlain heard Moradin’s will manifesting, and a sphere of dirt and rock larger than his torso appeared in the air. It spun at his shoulder height, compressed further, and took on the contours of a world with a single continent and various isles. Here and there, speckles of different gemstones formed and spread lightly across tracts of land. Most were merely motes of colour across the stone. Only two showed any concentration: one stretch of the great ocean, and a plain on the continent’s northwest close to the isles. That second cluster was formed from a single emerald nearly two carats in size, matching the formithians’ green scales.
Amdirlain memorised the spread of motes across the land mass before tapping the emerald. “I take it that one is the formithians? “
Moradin nodded. “All set up in one nest. The scouts have learned that many eggs are in the lower chambers. The scouts also located the Portal to the Outlands nearby, but from its energies, there hasn’t been anyone using it in at least a year.
“So, a planet is located, a colony is sent out, and then it’s sink or swim?”
“Perhaps. What are you thinking of doing?” enquired Moradin.
“I plan to tag them and then relocate the nest to one of their pantheon’s worlds,” replied Amdirlain. “Are they all inside at night?”
Moradin frowned before giving a noncommittal shrug. “That’s what the scouts have observed so far, but they’ve only had a few days.”
“Then I’ll need to find out more information. Which gives me time useful for my preparations,” advised Amdirlain.
“How are you going to find a world with space?”
Amdirlain grinned smugly. “A certain deity’s song let me find a few planets with a low populace, and Analysis confirmed which had native formithians. If I handle this right, as far as they’ll know, they’ll settle down for the night and wake up in a new location.”
“I’ll open a Gate for you in these hills to the south, well outside even an elder Nest Mother’s detection range,” advised Moradin.
Amdirlain gave a smile of appreciation. “I’ll put the detectors in place, and we can experiment with the summoning crystals afterwards.”
“Alright, Móeir,” replied Livia. “Should I meet you back at your suite or check on your abandoned students?”
“Hardly abandoned. I set them their study assignment, and they have issues they need to sort out between themselves,” objected Amdirlain.
“The suite it is then, unless you don’t return before my teaching session,” stated Livia, and after giving Moradin another respectful bow, she vanished.
The Gate opened to display a night sky with only one of the moons present.
“I’ll leave you to your reconnaissance,” said Moradin.
“There are some dwarves present here. Would you like me to mention you to some of them?” enquired Amdirlain. “Or are your celestials already at work?”
Moradin gave an absent shrug. “They’ve not made contact with them. I was leaving them to the Titan’s plans.”
“After I get the invaders dealt with, I might check on them. They’re one of the two species in the more mountainous regions?” enquired Amdirlain.
“They were the ones marked with blue diamonds,” clarified Moradin, though his tone revealed nothing about his preference.
“The situation with Torm; can you help him?”
“I wondered if you’d ask. Know he’s not one of mine, Amdirlain. If he had been, there are options I might choose to guide him towards recovery. However, he isn’t from my Domain, and his former Liege lacks the strength and a knack for souls or healing to repair his essence,” advised Moradin.
“Cyrus showed me how to circulate my Ki through him to stir his own,” responded Amdirlain.
Moradin shook his head. “Unfortunately, I know nothing about the spiritual ways you follow now. Is that the energy you had stored in your crystals?”
Amdirlain gave a sharp nod.
Humming, Moradin tugged thoughtfully at his beard. “I’m not sure such would help a Fallen. You might scour away the damaged areas, but you aren’t necessarily bringing back what was there before.”
Sighing, Amdirlain nodded again and stepped across the Gate’s threshold. Moradin’s worried gaze followed her north until she was high in the air—only then did he close the Gate.
* * * * *
When Amdirlain started to pick up the formithians, she landed and created a more sensitive version of the scanning crystal used by Goxashru. While it was off surveying the nest, she began orbital units for later emplacement above the least populated Formithian planets. Though the design had proven they wouldn’t crash in the short term, she still configured them to Plane Shift to a Foundry storage area after their sweep of the planet was complete.
The work didn’t take her long enough for the scanner to return, so Amdirlain knelt in place to avoid pacing. Livia’s point about seeking help resonated with her previous plans. While she’d sought help from the Elder, she had to acknowledge there was much she’d still shouldered alone.
The crystal rod at last swept in and twirled on its axis before her. Activating its map, Amdirlain took in the reverse tree delving deep into the bedrock beneath the plains. She zoomed in and saw the fungus farms tended by younger formithians. From their harvest, cavernous chambers deeper underground were continually topped up.
I’ll need to recreate the whole nest, shift their supplies and farms, or exchange millions of tonnes of material between worlds.
Rather than teleport away, Amdirlain used a different transport Power she’d avoided since the near miss of her arrival on Cemna. Focusing on it, she tried to get it to set her by the river she’d first seen weeks ago.
[World Step (6->7)]
Space twisted around her, but at the end of the blurred motion, Amdirlain found herself standing on a wooded hillside without a river nearby.
“I wonder how inaccurate it is,” murmured Amdirlain checking over the nearby trees. They were the same type that the giant ants had felled to cross the swollen river. Whether that put her in the nearby foothills or thousands of kilometres away, she didn’t know. Wanting to understand the Power better, she used Greater Teleport to set herself where she’d originally intended.
The swollen river had subsided, and a loose stack of felled trees bridged the river where she’d seen the ants working. The scarred bark showed signs that sixty or more giant ants had used it to cross over.
[Planar Beacon (7-> 8)]
Let’s see if this works.
Teleporting to the cliff’s on the west edge of the lakeside, Amdirlain focused on the beacon’s sensation at the back of her mind. As the energy of it settled in her mental grasp, she tried to have World Step position her beside it.
[World Step (7->8)]
Though the Power progressed, and Amdirlain was again on a wooded hillside, the beacon still felt hundreds of kilometres away. Setting protections in place, Amdirlain took a steadying breath and focused on the memory of a barren canyon cliff top.
Cemna.
The Power struck like a hammer blow, Amdirlain felt a hard floor under her feet, and an afterimage of stars rushed through her. The passage across the galaxies played through her mind, overlaying the desolate scenery around her. A replay of the race through the stars saturated her senses, making it hard to take in her surroundings, but Amdirlain forced herself to review both in detail. Fortunately, the sensation faded after about ten minutes, and the pain didn’t knock her out.
[World Step (8->14)
Note: Dive off the high tower instead of wading in the pool for toddlers. Stretch your brain before the Power is ready to buffer you—way more fun! ]
When Pain Eater signalled the pressure had ebbed entirely, a notification appeared.
[Pain Eater [S] (1->2)
Note: At least you see some pretty lights instead of smelling acid-charred flesh.]
With a grin, Amdirlain focused on the Planar Beacon she’d set on Votari and triggered the jump in reverse. This time, though the stars still flood her perception in a beautiful overlay, she could move more easily. It was an acceptable result that her targeting the Planar Beacon had put her close enough to hear the water and the trees making up the ant’s bridge.
[Planar Beacon (8->9)
World Step (14)-> [B] (1)
Note: Are you going to do this all day?]
“I could,” crowed Amdirlain.