[Game 21] Epilogue

[arsgoetia]

So, you get your Philly cheesesteak, and you head back on another train, returning to New York at fuck o'clock in the morning. Maybe you get a nap on the train, or maybe you're full of yawns and misery as you head back to Sariel's house at the crack of dawn. Paz went on her merry way with wonderful promises for the future, but Hale is with you, seeming remarkably energetic.

Madison is just barely held back by Kieran, it seems, from just sprinting out the door as soon as you get anywhere near the yard. As it stands, as soon as you all make your way past the gate, there's a redhead barreling down to greet you.

Comments

[beginningofwisdom]

Well, we've avoided that, at least.

[mostly by having Arthur's NP go off inside Gadreel's pocket realm, but you know]

[rollwillpowercheck]

Thankfully! We usually do all right, but actually taking down a demon of that level... that's incredible.

[beginningofwisdom]

Some of you seemed to recognize him, if I'm not mistaken?

[rollwillpowercheck]

That's right. There was a series of demonic murders spread out across New York in the shape of-- well, the guy we were trying to inconvenience's seal. I was part of the group that stayed at our base instead of going out to stop the seal from being completed, though, so I never actually saw any of the culprits.

[beginningofwisdom]

Their personal sigil...I would expect that to generate a Bounded Field, were it done in the world I came from. Gadreel was involved, then?

[rollwillpowercheck]

It was supposed to work as some kind of magical battery, I think...? Honestly, the whole thing was tacky. As far as I know, Gadreel was one of the murderers.

[beginningofwisdom]

Tacky...well, it's not honestly a description I can argue, or one that surprises me given today.

[rollwillpowercheck]

True, there wasn't much that was in good taste on that train, either!

[beginningofwisdom]

Indeed not. I must say I'm not very impressed, all in all.

[rollwillpowercheck]

Mm, for a demon who liked to play games with people... I've seen better, definitely.

[beginningofwisdom]

You seem to have quite a bit of experience with these matters.

[rollwillpowercheck]

[that actually seems to catch him off guard.]

Oh, um, no, it's just... I guess I do, since I've been summoned here a bunch of times? And in really specific terms, games and puzzles that are also deathtraps, um, used to be a thing that happened a lot back home, though not anymore. "Experience" makes it sound like I know what I'm doing, but I just know information. Usually it's not that practical.

[beginningofwisdom]

[nods]

I can understand the disconnect; the difference between practical application and theory. The latter has its place, but the former I've always found to be much more valuable.

In the spirit of practicality, then...may I ask you to show me what you've taught yourself of magic? We may not have time to make a comprehensive study, and the function of our worlds' magic may not be entirely compatible, but I expect I can at least provide some advice and direction.

[rollwillpowercheck]

That's... really nice of you, thanks! I mostly have experience in making physical objects that then serve as vessels for magic, I guess? Like putting part of myself into a miniature, or creating a diorama that was the base for an immersive illusory world. I've been used for more magic than I've consciously done on my own, so it's sometimes hard to know how much something was me and how much was--

Oh, I probably should have led off with that. I spent a long time with a dark magic artifact that turned out to house a vengeful spirit.

[beginningofwisdom]

[folds his hands, thoughtful]

I'm sorry to hear of that experience; I don't imagine it was pleasant. Still, some of that may well be of use -- enchantment is a quite viable field of endeavor, particularly if one has time to prepare in advance. I have a certain affinity for it myself, of course, but it allows for great flexibility if pursued to its limits.

Do you have such an object with you?

[rollwillpowercheck]

I had a charm with me, but I gave it to Kano.

[beginningofwisdom]

Then, if you're interested, we can begin on making another.