New Beginning 21: Awesomeness Revisited

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Quite a big crow is standing in this station. Hello, crow."

[Zaleramancer]

"Malphas. Why is everyone who hates me showing up today. What next, Andras? Of course, he hates everyone.." The Vizier groaned.

Malphas leaned forward and spoke in a hoarse voice, "Swiftly, If we flee together, we can escape our fo-"

A sudden roar from behind him, in the grey fog-door exit to the station. It sounded an awful lot like a really mad bovine.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"I guess that would be Andras." she said, sliding off the dragon and onto the station floor.

"This is our stop, isn't it? Nowhere to go but forward."

[Zaleramancer]

"Andras is a man with an owl head. That sounded almost like a.. bull.."

The Vizier leapt from the Dragon and landed next to her.

"Now, Malphas is a compulsive liar, so ignore anything he says. Feel free to stab him in the face or whatever feel appropriate."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Yeah, might do that. Crow! Let me through if you don't want to get such a hiding."

[Zaleramancer]

The crow puffed up, "I fear you not! My merest whispers level mountains and send angels fleeing in terror! Tens of thousands of demons live and die to serve me!"

"Malphas is good at building things and demolishing them. He can also fry mortal's brains, but I doubt that would work on you."

Malphas glared at Zestto, as a huge bull head pushed through the grey fog.

The floor of the sub-station promptly turned to gold.

"Haagenti! Now, Malphas, you truly are stuck between a rock and a hard place."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Nope. Don't have one." she says as the bull shoves his head through the door.

"Nice trick.' she says, looking down at the gold.

[Philote]

I lend her some of my energy.

"I suspect that this is not truly where Zale is" I say to the girl "Has that other being been known to lie?"

[Zaleramancer]

"Why thank you," The large bull head said in a deep and melodious voice."I can also turn wine into water. Or the inverse, if preferable."

"Hage, perhaps you could explain the situation to us?"

The large bull head gave the vizier a strange look.

"Perhaps whilst we flee?" Zestto continued, as the crow shrank between the two strange creatures. It started edging away.

[Zaleramancer]

She stands slowly and unsteadily.

"To many wards to park as right at Zale anyway... I have no idea where we even are."

She touched the nearby walls, "And the servant-system is down. I'll have to summon a guide."


With a groan, she began to scribble on the ground.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Yes, your head seems to be blocking up this door. Could you move?"

[Zaleramancer]

"Of course, of course, My apologies." His head receded into the fog.

Malphas was continuing to edge away along the wall.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Nope," she said, and the door opened. Out flew a chain, sparkling and whipping back and forth with the sound of bells. Like a snake, it wrapped itself around the demons legs and beak. Then from the door came a tiny six legged brown pony. The girl took the chains other end and wrapped it round the ponies neck before whistling.  It took off like a start, dragging the demon through the door.

"Now, what about your dragon?"

[Philote]

While she prepares to summon a guide, I speak to her "So what is the story with the creature we just talked to, and why did she want to keep you within the last room before?"

(What is her name again?)

[Zaleramancer]

(Haven't given it yet.)

She scribbled a circle filled with some sigils and signs.

"Well. The Gardener is.. was.. a dryad of a kind of alien tree resembling the Banyan trees of Earth Prime. The tree would grow and expand into a kind of small forest. Because of this, Dryads of these trees could live much longer than their earthly counterparts."

Pausing to wipe sweat from her brow, she pulls something small and metallic from her pocket.

"However, a fungal plague swept through the ecosystems the trees inhabited. We suspect some kind of angry fungus spirit was involved. Most of the trees died.. along with their Dryads. Gardener is one of the few left. She was offered refuge in a high-magic pocket world, in exchange for her services in preserving several rare and near extinct plants or plant creatures."

She finished carving the final sigil into the ground with the knife she had taken out. Now, a candle was placed in the center of the circle.

"As for me. Well, most people are rather afraid of me, all things considered."

She spoke a strange word, and the candle's flame grew and roared, a small wind began to form around it. A whirlwind was swirling around the candle.. feeding on it.

"I did defeat the god of death himself, after all."

[Zaleramancer]

"Here darling." The Vizier held out a hand as he called out to the dragon, who leapt like a small puppy towards him.  It vanished into his sleeve like a ghost into a vacuum.

"Problem solved. Let's move before they catch up."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

 "Oh, dear..." (This chick is tougher than she looks...)

[Zaleramancer]

The twisting wind melded around the fire, forming a translucent face illuminated by inner flames.

You have reached the Seer's Hall. Please state your name, rank and query. A registered Seer will respond within three business days.

"Taika. Chairwoman of the Sorcerer's League, Avatar-Queen of the Vurrlian Dream-People, Sitting Member of the Omniscient Council of Vagueness, Duly-Designated Representative of Tharxaian Covens, Elemental of Dream, Ambassador to the Nightmare Zone. "

"I need to see Ben. Promptly, if you please.

S-Sorry, Chairwoman Taika. Express processing your request.

[Philote]

"I defeated "Uncreation" once" I reply "Should I assume you had good reason to kill him?"

"It looks like we will be able to depart soon" I say as soon as her message has finished.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"I'm friends with numerous pantheons, the sponsors of various planets and a living incarnate harbinger of doom. I've also defeated numerous freaks from the depths of space and time. Does that count?"