[Ennui]

I listen to them in turn and ponder their words for a short time.  I believe the path I must choose is obvious and it is clearly the only one my mentor would have me choose.  Thank you both for your counsel.

I approach the two and nod to the naked woman then turn to Sian.  I will accept your guidance on this path less traveled[./color]  I say to her.

This is clearly the only choice.  Everything in me screams towards this path and your words have convinced me it is the correct one.  My mistress knows the desires of my heart nor would her servants use threats and bluster.  I desire power.  I desire knowledge.  I desire a challenge.  I languished in complacency for too long and it was my mistress who moved me to seek more.  The wide easy path is an illusion.  This is the only choice there is.  I step toward Sian and the dark path.

[Mercy Merchant]

Thursday 13 June 2075 1015 You have No Idea Where


The naked woman changes her expression.  "No!  This was supposed to be easy.  This path is no illusion and will take you further towards your goal.  No, plea.........."

The woman jerks and falls to the ground, writhing in some agony before disappearing.  A new form appears in her place, beautiful and seductive, an ebony skinned beauty with dark wings flaring out behind her.  Her lips are as crimson as her eyes.  Her naked form is tantalizing and its very presence beckons to a part of you that wants so lose yourself in her arms.  Her voice is silk as she speaks.  "I, too, am a servant of your Mistress.  You have chosen your path, but I am here to offer you an alternative."  She raises a beautiful hand and points it at Sian.  This demon will lead you astray.  She is not beauty and sensuality, not pleasure and enticement.  She embodies those things best left in the dark, in the farthest recesses of any realm.  She will lead you into the darkest corners of your mind and to places forbidden, to see things that should never be seen, things that will rob you of yourself, and perhaps even end your existence.  I strongly urge you to reconsider your choice.  Our Mistress strongly requests that you reconsider your choice."

Sian says nothing to the new woman, instead holding out a hand to you.  The look in her eyes is.......different.  Certainly you already know that she is not the fifteen year old girl her body portrays, but in this place and at this time, you can see that she is indeed different.  And something about that is alluring and sings to your soul.  But still, the choice is yours to make.

[Ennui]

Your words ring hollow and this entire scenario feels wrong.  I do not blindly follow a guide and I am the master of my fate.  What proof do you have that you are indeed sent by the Seductress?  Second guessing myself feels wrong.  It will require some convincing.

[Mercy Merchant]

Thursday 13 June 2075 1015 You have No Idea Where


Sian looks calm, but the succubus does not.  She draws herself up and you can feel her seductive pull even through her anger.  She opens her mouth to speak then closes it.  With an effort, she gathers herself and calms down, laughing.  "Your fate.  Your fate is to occupy a special place at the side of our Mistress when you can prove that you are ready.  Attraction leads to Seduction leads to Influence leads to Power over others.  There is no illusion and the path here is clear because you have earned that much.  There is no need to force yourself along a path of misery and woe.  Seduction is not a hard path but it does lead to great influence and power.  Come, you have the option of changing your choice so please do so."

Sian has not spoken again, nor has the presence behind you that neither of the others seems to have noticed yet.

[Ennui]

I think not not.  This is the path that has seduced me, I say pointing towards the tangled path.  I find it hard to believe you are a servant of my mistress.  I shall forge my own path.

I step onto the dark path nodding to Sian, though I do not take her hand.  I will walk this path under my own power, but I will heed your advice.  Shall we go?

[Mercy Merchant]

Thursday 13 June 2075 1015 You have No Idea Where


When you turn to Sian, you see that she has not moved.  Her voice is soft, softer than you can remember hearing her before.  "There are some rules even I must obey and one is that, as the succubus gave you an option to choose again, so must I.  The path before you is dark and twisted and full of dangers.  It is not a straight walk to the reward as the other path is.  I believe you to be ready or I would not have made this option available to you.  I must tell you that I am not a servant of your Mistress.  I am a servant of true power."

"This path will amaze and confuse you, sometimes all at the same time.  I am an adviser and a guide.  You will make your own choices and I will not tell you what to do.  Your decisions on this phase of your ultimate journey may have a true and real effect on you.  I expect that you will find pieces of you; who YOU are and that they may lead to an awakening of something great and beautiful.  The knowledge you find here might keep you in the hands of your mistress, but it may not.  And future journeys will force you to decide whether to stay with her or to take a different path, one that can lead you to true power.  The ability to influence men and women is great indeed, but is certainly transitory at best and wasted at the worst.  True power is what defines existence, creates it, and molds it.  It transcends anything you know right now and is impossible for me to describe.......you have to experience it to know it."

Sian pauses. "If you understand me, then you have this one last chance to change your option.  The succubus is just around the corner and you have not taken an irretrievable step yet.  It is your choice, dear Isla."

[Ennui]

I highly doubt I will ever abandon my mistress, but forbidden fruit is the sweetest and I believe she understands and probably even foretold my choice here.  My decision is made let us continue on.

[Mercy Merchant]

Thursday 13 June 2075 1015 You have No Idea Where


Sian smiles and nods, motioning for you to proceed.  The path varies in width from about five feet to a narrow two feet.  The trees seem to form a wall and although you could leave the path at times, these breaks in the path look dark and very close.  The ground beneath your feet is uneven, with many rocks, roots, and vines poking through the soil, making walking difficult.  Sometimes you are forced to step over or around or under obstructions.  The heat and humidity seems a bit oppressive, not at all like the quiet glen you had left behind.  The way is not straight, taking many turns and you are no longer sure which direction you are traveling, although what does it matter since you are on a path, right? 

Or is it?  As you round one corner, you are faced with an intersection where you can go in one of two new directions.  From the right, you think you hear some sort of noise, almost guttural in nature.  The path in that direction seems a bit narrower, but is still traversible.  There is no noise from the other way.

[Ennui]

So what is it we are looking for.  Does it matter which path we take?  I say glancing down each path.  I listen closely to the sounds trying to discern the language or animal.

[Mercy Merchant]

Thursday 13 June 2075 1015 You have No Idea Where


Sian nods.  "Of course it makes a difference.  Life is a series of potentials and choices.  At any decision point, you can choose from one or more options.  The one you select becomes part of who you are and the others become part of who you might have been.  Here you have two choices and must choose one of them.  It appears that there is something down this path but no noise from the other.  Are you curious or does it not matter?  Ultimately, the choice is yours to make.  If you have specific questions, ask them and I may be able to answer them.  Generic questions will get generic answers.  You can gain valuable insight from either sort of question, but that depends on how you interpret my answers."

As you listen to the noises from the right, you think you can make out a weak plea for help, perhaps a child?  The guttural sounds strike a chord in your memory of ghouls dining on flesh.

[Ennui]

I chuckle at the Sian thing.  Yes, I know that much,  I meant what are we looking for or what are we trying to accomplish here and how does this choice effect our goal.

When I hear the child cry and the ghouls I check for my spell and weapon focus, then turn to Sian.  Can I summon spirits here?  Does magic work normally?

summon force 5 spirit of fire: 10d6t5 2 5d6t5 1 10d6t5 1 okay so that's pathetic, 1 service and 4 drain or 1 drain.  I'm tired maybe Imladir will tell us.

I won't summon one at all if Sian is quick to say I can't do so.

[Mercy Merchant]

Thursday 13 June 2075 1015 You have No Idea Where


Sian nods at your question.  "One of the things I told you when you were considering your path options is that this one will let you find pieces of yourself so you can try to put them together.  If you believe that part of you has anything to do with ghouls eating people then you might learn something by going that way.  If not, then there is little to learn in that direction.  Magic should work, but remember that I have told you that some magic is different and what you think you know of magic may be false here.  And spirits walk this realm freely and might prove difficult to call or control."

[Ennui]

I move quickly down the path becoming more and more cautious as I near the sounds.  I peer ahead looking for an opening or glimpse of the scene ready to pounce  if need be.

[Mercy Merchant]

Thursday 13 June 2075 1015 You have No Idea Where


The sounds get louder as you approach what appears to be a corner.  Peering around carefully, you see two ghouls sitting in the middle of a pile of bones in a small wide spot in the path.  One is sucking the marrow from a broken leg bone in its hands and the other is gnawing bloody flesh from what looks like an arm.  There are several humans chained to trees on the side of the clearing, three of them children.  No one seems to notice you yet.

[Ennui]

OOC: so weapon focus, spell focus or spirit?  Do I have access to those things or did my summoning fail?

I watch for a moment and gather my wits checking to see what I have available to call upon.  If they move to kill another person I will strike but for now I will wait for an opportunity.