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It was inevitable

15 (42.9%)

Winners don't do drugs

6 (17.1%)

I'll be back

2 (5.7%)

Drink the Kool Aid

6 (17.1%)

Groovy

3 (8.6%)

Insane in the membrane

3 (8.6%)

Total Members Voted: 35

[Xantalos]

"Daisy chain!"

Make everyone link hands and/or tie our currently zoned-out people's hands to each other then start walking off in a random direction except the ones we came from.

[Lenglon]

"What? No, Alan, I'm not doing that."<What was Stellar's perspective on my deal with Charlie? She seemed thrown off by it, like she heard something far more risky from the deal than what I had agreed to.>

[Parisbre56]

"Daisy chain!"

Make everyone link hands and/or tie our currently zoned-out people's hands to each other then start walking off in a random direction except the ones we came from.

You make everyone link hands and sing Kumbaya, given that you currently lack either the physical or the mental capacity to force them to move.

You should tell camp-fire stories next.

<What was Stellar's perspective on my deal with Charlie? She seemed thrown off by it, like she heard something far more risky from the deal than what I had agreed to.>

<Well, wouldn't you find it worrying if someone betrayed your trust and approached a friend of yours in secret and made a deal concerning you and her behind your back? Wouldn't that look shady to you, even if they claimed they had good intentions despite doing this behind your back?

Not to mention the fact that you actually took a risk for her, when she considers herself responsible for you. She feels like she not only failed to protect you, she actually hurt you, however indirectly. And yes, you may try to go about this logically and give arguments about why that is not true, but sometimes feelings are hard to control, even when countered by reason.

Furthermore, I don't know if she has said this to you, but she does believe in following the rules she has agrees with, possibly more than anyone else in the games. So she dislikes even considering anything that could be considered even remotely shady. I know she feels so conflicted at times about this, about how hard it is to remain lawful, especially here at the games. And I know I'll never hear the end of it when she finds out what I did here.

Plus, this is Charlie we're talking about. Do you really think she overreacted? If you ask me, she took the matter too calmly. Much too calmly.>

[Lenglon]

I pause for a bit after that, calming myself.
"Okay, um, I guess nobody has a way to contact River, so we'll just have to trust him to find his way to us. Considering our history with the locals, we probably want to avoid the towns, how about we move at night, rest during the day? I've got the general's map and can make some flame to light our way whenever it's needed. sound like a plan?"
<D, I meant the question very specifically. What was the agreement I made with Charlie, as well as you and Stellar understand it?>

[Parisbre56]

<Oh, well, I don't know, I think it was something about being a bodyguard or something? I didn't get the specifics. What kind of wording did he use? The specific wording. That's usually important when you make a deal with the devil and other rules-lawyery and literal-genie-prone entities.>

[Lenglon]

Rather than answer him I show him the memory of what happened.

Spoiler: What happened (click to show/hide)

"I'm conscious... yes... what happens now? Why do I feel different?"
Attempt to move each part of my body, or at least make sure it's there. Attempt to open and close my hands, to move my tails, my feet, and so on. Attempt to shake off the numbness and regain awareness of my surroundings... or my personal illusion of surroundings? it's so hard to tell what is really real and what isn't around here.
"What happened to my hosts? both Zoe and... her... are they both ok now?" Are my responsibilities fulfilled?

Your can't hear your words being spoken, but he answers all the same.
"Oh, don't worry, it's for your safety during the operation. Won't take much time at all."
Your body is there... or at least you think it's there. You can hear your heartbeat and your breathing.
"Anyway, this is technically not entirely legal, so we don't have much time before I have to put you under again. You can learn about what happened to them later."
But it's all involuntary. As if you are under the effects of some sort of anaesthetic or sedative. You can't consciously move your body. Or if you can, then you can't feel it happening.
"I want to offer you a trade. A favour for a favour."
You can't open your eyes. There's only a grey blur with a pinkish hue visible.
"I believe you care about her. Or if you don't, then you care about what you have gained through her. There is going to be a trial soon. I can use some of my influence to protect her, but if I am to expend those favours on her, then I would like to gain one in return."
Still, there is that feeling of familiarity. So there is probably something here.
Unless it is just another trick to confuse you.

I can't agree to this blindly, but this sounds like something I want to go along with
"What is your wish? What favor of mine do you desire?"
might as well make sure he remembers who I really am with the why I phrase my answer.
((to save time, here's Irene's response to his answer, be it specific or vague:))
"As long as you don't ask me to betray my responsibilities, my friends, or myself, then you shall have your one favor. Use it well."

"A rather simple thing, really. In the future, I'm going to ask you to protect someone from something. I want you to protect that someone to the best of your ability. Deal?"
You speak your answer, but once again, you do not hear it.
"Excellent. As long as you keep your word, then you have nothing to fear from me. I'm nothing if not fair.
Oh, and try to not tell everyone about this? To not speak about this out of your Personal Section? Not really part of the deal, but it would complicate things.
So, unless there's something terribly important, I'm going to have to put you under again. They'll be here any second now."
You feel like your thoughts are getting slower (or maybe the world is getting faster?) There is another gust of wind and then nothing.

[Parisbre56]

<Oooh boy. That's it? That's vague as hell. Depending on who's there to back you up and who's there to back him up, this could go really bad.>

[Lenglon]

<Yeah, I can be a literal genie too. Not sure Charlie understood what he was agreeing to. Hopefully I'll be able to just do what he asks and call it good, but if he tries something shady I will have the ground to say no. Then the question will be if he will accept it.>

[Xantalos]

"Alrighty. Is it night or day?"

Be very oblivious

[Lenglon]

I send the next sequence of memories to D without preamble or explanation.

Spoiler: Next sequence of memories (click to show/hide)

You wake up.

You are back in your personal section of the staging area, the network of caverns and tunnels that resemble your home. You're currently in human form, lying with your back against the wall of a tunnel. The tunnel is connected to the chamber containing the magma pool, which in turn is connected to the chamber containing your portal.

You think you can hear someone talking somewhere further away, in the direction of the magma chamber.

You can feel something on your ear. Should you choose to investigate it, you will discover it is the flower with the fire-coloured petals given to you by Theri before the start of the previous mission.

carefully remove and set aside the flower, then change into hybrid form, then put it back in place before going towards where I'm hearing voices.
"Stellar? could you tell me if there is anything weird about this flower? or is it just a pretty flower?"
take advantage of the nature of this place to be hearing what is being said over there clearly, and to not have my voice travel to anyone but Stellar.

You remove the flower and then use the fire in the surrounding area to transform into your hybrid form. It is a bit better than you remembered it, but it still feels bad.
idspispopd
You change the properties of the wall in front of you, making it absorb light and sound from one side but not the other, and do the reverse to the wall on the other side. The result resembles what you get when you activate no clipping mode and go through a wall in a game. A large empty expanse beyond the walls that is invisible from the inside.

On the other side, standing in front of your fire portal, you can see the outline of a humanoid made out of distortions in the air and a fox with a fur that is a mix of shining red and orange. The fox looks at the form with its head lowered and its body tense, its tail low.
"-what you said. I made the choice that I thought was right."
The sound comes as if from far away, the gap you created distorting the acoustics of the room. He is talking quickly, yet with a low voice. You can barely hear what he is saying.
"You were supposed to be on my side. Support me no matter what." She speaks with a tone of voice that is normal yet carries no discernible emotion in it.
"But I did! I helped! As much as I could! But I couldn't betray my player. I had a responsibility to him! And to you! Don't you know in how much trouble you could be if-" He is speaking more loudly now.
"I revoke your permission to be in this area." She continues speaking in her previous tone.
"No, wait-"
The fox disintegrates into orange and yellow sparks.

She stays there for about half a minute before she starts walking towards the chamber you are in. You reverse the effect and ask your question.
"No... No, there's nothing wrong with it. At least, not from what I can see. Let me have a closer look at it." She sounds calm and a bit tired.
She approaches you and extends her blurry arm, palm open.

"If there's nothing wrong with it, then please be gentle with it. It was a gift from Theri."
I hand over the flower to Stellar
"Um, what... what happened to my previous host? The girl whos name I never even learned?"
((Insert Stellar's response/explanation here))
"And Zoe? Amelia? Awena? Boris?"
((Insert Stellar's response/explanation here))
I wait several moments, unsure what to say now.
"And what about us? What happens now that I twisted the game's ending... again? I... I... I REVOKE EVERYONE BUT STELLAR'S AND MY OWN PERMISSION TO THIS AREA!"
I dash forward and hug Stellar as I yell, and hold her tight for several seconds before asking my final question, my eyes tightly clenched shut and my ears folding down.
"W-why are you being put on trial Stellar?!?"

"I will be careful, then." she says as you hand her the flower.
She holds it in her hand and brings it close to her head.
"Um, what... what happened to my previous host? The girl whose name I never even learned?"
"She is... getting better. There were a few problems... Part of her soul had been destroyed and I couldn't get all the information I needed from the fabric of that world. Luckily, the Colony Ship had been gathering data about that world, so with its help, I was able to restore her to the best of my ability. There are people taking care of her. I believe she will be fine."
She twists her hand around, as if she is trying to look at it from all angles.
"And Zoe? Amelia? Awena? Boris?"
"Zoe and her companions are currently in hiding. But she's happy. So happy... Every time I look upon them... it makes me feel better. I'm certain they'll be able to start living their lives without fear soon.
As for Boris... I can't locate him. I believe there is a reason for that, but I can't talk about it without getting into trouble. Even so, I believe he won't cause any more trouble. I'm working with him, trying to ensure that all of his influence on this world can be removed easily and without complications."
Finally, she opens her palm with the flower still in it and lets her other palm hover a few inches over it.
A small layer of yellowish light appears under the upper palm. It starts deforming, slowly, as if there is a small ball over it that is slowly getting bigger and bigger, as if it is being pulled by the flower more and more.
When the tip of the bulge formed by the layer of light touches the flower, there is a small flash of light and the layer disappears. However, what is more interesting is that in the last few moments before it dissipated, a few tiny grey and black spots appeared on the flower.
She sighs and extends her arm towards you, giving you the flower back. There's nothing different on it.
"I can see very small traces of his energy there, but that is all there is to it. In all other aspects, it is normal. That just means it's an object he created, nothing more. You can keep it without fear."
You take it and wait several moments, unsure what to say now.
"And what about us? What happens now that I twisted the game's ending... again? I... I... I REVOKE EVERYONE BUT STELLAR'S AND MY OWN PERMISSION TO THIS AREA!"
You dash forward and hug Stellar as you yell, and hold her tight for several seconds before asking your final question, your eyes tightly clenched shut and your ears folding down. Stellar seems to be a bit surprised from your outburst. She doesn't say anything, but she puts her arms around you in a soft hug.
"W-why are you being put on trial Stellar?!?"
"What?"
She sounds shocked. Her entire body becomes tense and unmoving.
"Wh-who told you about that?"

"Charlie he. He said he could help in your upcoming trial, for a price. What trial Stellar? and why was he sneaky about how he asked me?"
((When/if she asks for more information instead of answering my question:))
"N-not until you tell me about this trial! what challenge will they have you do? why???" ((yes, Irine would assume trial as in trial by fire instead of court trial, a concept from a societal level her people never reached. The opinion of the populace still greatly affects what such a trial would be, and if it would even be possible, hence why she agreed to Charlie's deal.))

((In answer to the obvious question when she asks it and after she has answered what the trial is about:))
"He wants me to protect someone for him-im, he hasn't said who yet. I-I agreed, conditionally, to do it."

"Charlie he. He said he could help in your upcoming trial, for a price. What trial Stellar? and why was he sneaky about how he asked me?"
"He did WHAT?!" she says with a mix of surprise, anger and fear.
The centre of her body starts glowing with yellow light that is slowly expanding and becoming brighter.
She starts talking quickly, loudly, taking quick shallow breaths between sentences.
"How?! When?! Why?! What did he ask of you? Did you accept?! Did you make a deal with him?"
"N-not until you tell me about this trial! what challenge will they have you do? why???"

She stands there, taking deep breaths for a few seconds. Her breathing slows. The light inside her begins fading.

"I didn't want you to know. I didn't want you to worry about me."
She sounds calmer again. She speaks more quietly, although there is still stress audible in her voice and you can feel her trembling slightly
"They believe I may have talked to you about things I wasn't supposed to talk about.
That I illegally expanded the duration of your stay.
That I used isolation mode to act without supervision in illegal ways.
That I intervened in, influenced and entered a world when it was supposed to be isolated.
Those and perhaps other things."
Apparently understanding you have misunderstood the subject, she provides a brief explanation.
"When we gather to decide the next mission, the matter of my conduct will be put forward. I know because some have been quite vocal about that. Not that I wouldn't be expecting it regardless, many are quick to take such an opportunity.
We will decide about whether or not a trial is necessary, whether or not I am guilty of any of the crimes attributed to me and if so, an appropriate action will be decided, usually in the form of restitution to the ones who fell like their rights have been violated or in the form of punishment if they believe I need to be disciplined.
I am not afraid. I will defend myself with the truth and if they find me guilty, I will accept any action they deem necessary."

She stays quiet for a few more seconds.

"Please. You have to tell me. What did he ask of you? And did you accept? I need to know so that I can know how to protect you."
"He wants me to protect someone for him-im, he hasn't said who yet. I-I agreed, conditionally, to do it."
"You..."

More quiet.

"You didn't have to do this. I understand why you did it, but it just makes me feel..."
She doesn't complete her sentence.
"I'm the one responsible for you. I'm the one who should worry about you. I'm the one who's supposed to protect you. I didn't want you to put yourself in danger like that for me. Protecting me is not your responsibility and I will never ask you to do that."

"I'm not your pet Stellar, I'm your friend. "
My grip on her eases and I look up at her, but I'm still holding her if she doesn't pull away.
"Above all else, I am me. I am my own before I am yours or anyone else's. I deserve all the rights that I believe everyone else deserves. I'm not saying I'm better than others, but I'm not below anyone either. First and foremost, that includes the right to choose. And if I think that making my life a little harder to make yours a little easier is worth it, then that is my choice to make, not yours, not anyone else's. Remember that."
I hug her tightly again and pull my head against her, once again blocking my own view but letting me feel her presence against me.
"It's why I'm so afraid of having someone messing with my mind, my will, so much."
...
"I'll be ok Stellar. I agreed on the conditions of not betraying my responsibilities, my friends, or myself. I understand what those conditions really mean better than he possibly can. If he tries to exploit me, I'll have every right to say no."
((I've gotten all I'm after from this conversation by giving Stellar that info and finding out what the trial is about. I'm fine with opening/leaving the area and begining interactions with more than just Stellar after this... unless Charlie gets dragged in here of course. *Lenglon does read other player's turns*))

"I know. I understand. But I still feel bad."

You stay there for a few minutes, embracing each other.

"I need to leave. But I'll be listening. If you need anything, just say it to me and I'll hear you. Do you think you are going to be okay?"

"I'll be okay. Go."
I release Stellar, back away a step, and look up at her with a smile.
"Thank you."
after Stellar is gone, I shake myself off, re-settle myself and the flower Theri gave me, and then step out of my personal area and into the Staging Area.

She stands there for a few seconds. It's hard to read her expression, given that she her avatar lacks a face, but you're certain she's looking at you.
"I'm..."
She turns around and starts walking away.
"I will be back soon. Stay safe."
As she walks, her form dissolves, the distortions disappearing until there is nothing left.

You walk around the pool of magma, towards the chamber that contains your fiery portal and that small hot spring. When you feel ready, you step through the portal.

"It's dusk Alan, the end of the day, the beginning of the night."

[Xantalos]

"Alrighty then, let's go! You keep doing your fairy consultation thingy and just walk where me and Ike pull you."

[Harry Baldman]

Campaign, Ike!

"I think River's gonna make himself available when he feels like it, probably. Well, either that or he's gotten into a fistfight with the general or something. Let's get a bit further away and maybe camp out and wait for him a bit."

Go parallel to the road, of course. Should know what direction that's in, right? Onward to explore the Dragon's Hole!

[Parisbre56]

Campaign, Ike!

"I think River's gonna make himself available when he feels like it, probably. Well, either that or he's gotten into a fistfight with the general or something. Let's get a bit further away and maybe camp out and wait for him a bit."

Go parallel to the road, of course. Should know what direction that's in, right? Onward to explore the Dragon's Hole!

A quick reminder of what you know: http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=133001.msg6629465#msg6629465
Since you're east of Godstone hill now, close to Areloggez, you'd have to go south-south-east to reach Dragon's hole. We'll say you start walking that way, making sure to stay away from the road and give others a chance to disagree.

"Alrighty. Is it night or day?"

Be very oblivious

It's dusk hour. It will be dark in about an hour.

[5] You walk straight into a cliff wall.

<Yeah, I can be a literal genie too. Not sure Charlie understood what he was agreeing to. Hopefully I'll be able to just do what he asks and call it good, but if he tries something shady I will have the ground to say no. Then the question will be if he will accept it.>

<Yeah, but you see, in these sorts of situations, anything that could be interpreted as something different than "I'll do anything I want, which might include doing what you want" is dangerous. You're not an entity, you don't have the same capabilities or protections as we do. In the right circumstances he could use one of his lackeys to force you to do whatever he wants and claim that whatever he forces you to do was completely lawful. Or worse, he might find away to really not violate any of your conditions but still make matters worse for you. Trust me, if there's a way to use this against you, Charlie can find it. Hopefully he won't use this to hurt you, he has made this deal because he actually thinks you'll be useful in the future, but you can't really rely on that. Not with a person like him.>

I send the next sequence of memories to D without preamble or explanation.

Spoiler: Next sequence of memories (click to show/hide)

You wake up.

You are back in your personal section of the staging area, the network of caverns and tunnels that resemble your home. You're currently in human form, lying with your back against the wall of a tunnel. The tunnel is connected to the chamber containing the magma pool, which in turn is connected to the chamber containing your portal.

You think you can hear someone talking somewhere further away, in the direction of the magma chamber.

You can feel something on your ear. Should you choose to investigate it, you will discover it is the flower with the fire-coloured petals given to you by Theri before the start of the previous mission.

carefully remove and set aside the flower, then change into hybrid form, then put it back in place before going towards where I'm hearing voices.
"Stellar? could you tell me if there is anything weird about this flower? or is it just a pretty flower?"
take advantage of the nature of this place to be hearing what is being said over there clearly, and to not have my voice travel to anyone but Stellar.

You remove the flower and then use the fire in the surrounding area to transform into your hybrid form. It is a bit better than you remembered it, but it still feels bad.
idspispopd
You change the properties of the wall in front of you, making it absorb light and sound from one side but not the other, and do the reverse to the wall on the other side. The result resembles what you get when you activate no clipping mode and go through a wall in a game. A large empty expanse beyond the walls that is invisible from the inside.

On the other side, standing in front of your fire portal, you can see the outline of a humanoid made out of distortions in the air and a fox with a fur that is a mix of shining red and orange. The fox looks at the form with its head lowered and its body tense, its tail low.
"-what you said. I made the choice that I thought was right."
The sound comes as if from far away, the gap you created distorting the acoustics of the room. He is talking quickly, yet with a low voice. You can barely hear what he is saying.
"You were supposed to be on my side. Support me no matter what." She speaks with a tone of voice that is normal yet carries no discernible emotion in it.
"But I did! I helped! As much as I could! But I couldn't betray my player. I had a responsibility to him! And to you! Don't you know in how much trouble you could be if-" He is speaking more loudly now.
"I revoke your permission to be in this area." She continues speaking in her previous tone.
"No, wait-"
The fox disintegrates into orange and yellow sparks.

She stays there for about half a minute before she starts walking towards the chamber you are in. You reverse the effect and ask your question.
"No... No, there's nothing wrong with it. At least, not from what I can see. Let me have a closer look at it." She sounds calm and a bit tired.
She approaches you and extends her blurry arm, palm open.

"If there's nothing wrong with it, then please be gentle with it. It was a gift from Theri."
I hand over the flower to Stellar
"Um, what... what happened to my previous host? The girl whos name I never even learned?"
((Insert Stellar's response/explanation here))
"And Zoe? Amelia? Awena? Boris?"
((Insert Stellar's response/explanation here))
I wait several moments, unsure what to say now.
"And what about us? What happens now that I twisted the game's ending... again? I... I... I REVOKE EVERYONE BUT STELLAR'S AND MY OWN PERMISSION TO THIS AREA!"
I dash forward and hug Stellar as I yell, and hold her tight for several seconds before asking my final question, my eyes tightly clenched shut and my ears folding down.
"W-why are you being put on trial Stellar?!?"

"I will be careful, then." she says as you hand her the flower.
She holds it in her hand and brings it close to her head.
"Um, what... what happened to my previous host? The girl whose name I never even learned?"
"She is... getting better. There were a few problems... Part of her soul had been destroyed and I couldn't get all the information I needed from the fabric of that world. Luckily, the Colony Ship had been gathering data about that world, so with its help, I was able to restore her to the best of my ability. There are people taking care of her. I believe she will be fine."
She twists her hand around, as if she is trying to look at it from all angles.
"And Zoe? Amelia? Awena? Boris?"
"Zoe and her companions are currently in hiding. But she's happy. So happy... Every time I look upon them... it makes me feel better. I'm certain they'll be able to start living their lives without fear soon.
As for Boris... I can't locate him. I believe there is a reason for that, but I can't talk about it without getting into trouble. Even so, I believe he won't cause any more trouble. I'm working with him, trying to ensure that all of his influence on this world can be removed easily and without complications."
Finally, she opens her palm with the flower still in it and lets her other palm hover a few inches over it.
A small layer of yellowish light appears under the upper palm. It starts deforming, slowly, as if there is a small ball over it that is slowly getting bigger and bigger, as if it is being pulled by the flower more and more.
When the tip of the bulge formed by the layer of light touches the flower, there is a small flash of light and the layer disappears. However, what is more interesting is that in the last few moments before it dissipated, a few tiny grey and black spots appeared on the flower.
She sighs and extends her arm towards you, giving you the flower back. There's nothing different on it.
"I can see very small traces of his energy there, but that is all there is to it. In all other aspects, it is normal. That just means it's an object he created, nothing more. You can keep it without fear."
You take it and wait several moments, unsure what to say now.
"And what about us? What happens now that I twisted the game's ending... again? I... I... I REVOKE EVERYONE BUT STELLAR'S AND MY OWN PERMISSION TO THIS AREA!"
You dash forward and hug Stellar as you yell, and hold her tight for several seconds before asking your final question, your eyes tightly clenched shut and your ears folding down. Stellar seems to be a bit surprised from your outburst. She doesn't say anything, but she puts her arms around you in a soft hug.
"W-why are you being put on trial Stellar?!?"
"What?"
She sounds shocked. Her entire body becomes tense and unmoving.
"Wh-who told you about that?"

"Charlie he. He said he could help in your upcoming trial, for a price. What trial Stellar? and why was he sneaky about how he asked me?"
((When/if she asks for more information instead of answering my question:))
"N-not until you tell me about this trial! what challenge will they have you do? why???" ((yes, Irine would assume trial as in trial by fire instead of court trial, a concept from a societal level her people never reached. The opinion of the populace still greatly affects what such a trial would be, and if it would even be possible, hence why she agreed to Charlie's deal.))

((In answer to the obvious question when she asks it and after she has answered what the trial is about:))
"He wants me to protect someone for him-im, he hasn't said who yet. I-I agreed, conditionally, to do it."

"Charlie he. He said he could help in your upcoming trial, for a price. What trial Stellar? and why was he sneaky about how he asked me?"
"He did WHAT?!" she says with a mix of surprise, anger and fear.
The centre of her body starts glowing with yellow light that is slowly expanding and becoming brighter.
She starts talking quickly, loudly, taking quick shallow breaths between sentences.
"How?! When?! Why?! What did he ask of you? Did you accept?! Did you make a deal with him?"
"N-not until you tell me about this trial! what challenge will they have you do? why???"

She stands there, taking deep breaths for a few seconds. Her breathing slows. The light inside her begins fading.

"I didn't want you to know. I didn't want you to worry about me."
She sounds calmer again. She speaks more quietly, although there is still stress audible in her voice and you can feel her trembling slightly
"They believe I may have talked to you about things I wasn't supposed to talk about.
That I illegally expanded the duration of your stay.
That I used isolation mode to act without supervision in illegal ways.
That I intervened in, influenced and entered a world when it was supposed to be isolated.
Those and perhaps other things."
Apparently understanding you have misunderstood the subject, she provides a brief explanation.
"When we gather to decide the next mission, the matter of my conduct will be put forward. I know because some have been quite vocal about that. Not that I wouldn't be expecting it regardless, many are quick to take such an opportunity.
We will decide about whether or not a trial is necessary, whether or not I am guilty of any of the crimes attributed to me and if so, an appropriate action will be decided, usually in the form of restitution to the ones who fell like their rights have been violated or in the form of punishment if they believe I need to be disciplined.
I am not afraid. I will defend myself with the truth and if they find me guilty, I will accept any action they deem necessary."

She stays quiet for a few more seconds.

"Please. You have to tell me. What did he ask of you? And did you accept? I need to know so that I can know how to protect you."
"He wants me to protect someone for him-im, he hasn't said who yet. I-I agreed, conditionally, to do it."
"You..."

More quiet.

"You didn't have to do this. I understand why you did it, but it just makes me feel..."
She doesn't complete her sentence.
"I'm the one responsible for you. I'm the one who should worry about you. I'm the one who's supposed to protect you. I didn't want you to put yourself in danger like that for me. Protecting me is not your responsibility and I will never ask you to do that."

"I'm not your pet Stellar, I'm your friend. "
My grip on her eases and I look up at her, but I'm still holding her if she doesn't pull away.
"Above all else, I am me. I am my own before I am yours or anyone else's. I deserve all the rights that I believe everyone else deserves. I'm not saying I'm better than others, but I'm not below anyone either. First and foremost, that includes the right to choose. And if I think that making my life a little harder to make yours a little easier is worth it, then that is my choice to make, not yours, not anyone else's. Remember that."
I hug her tightly again and pull my head against her, once again blocking my own view but letting me feel her presence against me.
"It's why I'm so afraid of having someone messing with my mind, my will, so much."
...
"I'll be ok Stellar. I agreed on the conditions of not betraying my responsibilities, my friends, or myself. I understand what those conditions really mean better than he possibly can. If he tries to exploit me, I'll have every right to say no."
((I've gotten all I'm after from this conversation by giving Stellar that info and finding out what the trial is about. I'm fine with opening/leaving the area and begining interactions with more than just Stellar after this... unless Charlie gets dragged in here of course. *Lenglon does read other player's turns*))

"I know. I understand. But I still feel bad."

You stay there for a few minutes, embracing each other.

"I need to leave. But I'll be listening. If you need anything, just say it to me and I'll hear you. Do you think you are going to be okay?"

"I'll be okay. Go."
I release Stellar, back away a step, and look up at her with a smile.
"Thank you."
after Stellar is gone, I shake myself off, re-settle myself and the flower Theri gave me, and then step out of my personal area and into the Staging Area.

She stands there for a few seconds. It's hard to read her expression, given that she her avatar lacks a face, but you're certain she's looking at you.
"I'm..."
She turns around and starts walking away.
"I will be back soon. Stay safe."
As she walks, her form dissolves, the distortions disappearing until there is nothing left.

You walk around the pool of magma, towards the chamber that contains your fiery portal and that small hot spring. When you feel ready, you step through the portal.

"It's dusk Alan, the end of the day, the beginning of the night."

...
<Ellipses>

[Harry Baldman]

Campaign, Ike!

"Don't you know you never split the party, clerics in the back..." Ike begins to quietly sing to himself as he marches south-south east to the next leg of the journey.

FORWARD MARCH. Discreetly. Keep ears and eyes out for assholes, whether military, monstrous or River.

[Lenglon]

"Ike, hey, wrong way. Where are you trying to go?"
I thought our goal was at Nether Pass?