audio; un: Sabriel.Abhorsen

[bindsthedead]

Right, that was enough excitement for one mission. Does anyone know why Viveca didn't teleport us out as soon as someone took the orb, like what happened last time? Or was it that Cheri- or Ruvia or whoever she really was- needed to give up ownership, and stealing it wasn't enough?

[If that's the case, they'll need to be ready to bargain and persuade on future missions, rather than hope that whoever they steal it from simply gives up hope of regaining the Orb.]

If anyone's injured- I know how to heal. You might need a few days of rest to make sure you don't disrupt the spells, but you'll mend more quickly than you would have otherwise. And if you're one of my students, feel free to come to the infirmary to help.

And- Apparently the Commander is real, and on the station. But what he said about the Orb growing vicious... are they shaped by the bargains they make, and the people that use them?

[It looked different from the Gyeonje Orb too, red instead of golden.]

Comments

video;

[bindsthedead]

I'd appreciate it if you could. Things didn't end peacefully this time- and well, if we end up with more crew, a lot of them arrived injured last time.

[scarcastically]

No problem.

Guess I'll get to work on some of my weapon prototypes.

[bindsthedead]

Really? I'd like to see those- if it's all right.

[scarcastically]

[ he blinks. ]

Sure. They ain't finalized though, but I think I'm close to a breakthrough.

[bindsthedead]

Really? Well, if you're using magic in them- I might be able to help?

[scarcastically]

Sure, I'm down for you checkin' my work.

[bindsthedead]

All right. I'll take a look once I'm sure no one urgently needs healing.

[Which might... take a day or two.]

[scarcastically]

You sure you can handle all this?

Seems like you'll burn out quick.

[bindsthedead]

We get stronger by testing our limits. And I'm in much better shape than I was after the last mission.]

[Admittedly, she'd tried to heal people after that too, until Yzak screamed at her to rest.]

And- I wouldn't turn down help, if you'd like to volunteer at the infirmary.

[scarcastically]

[ that seems a bit more realistic. ]

Sure. Like I said, I'll pop over. Give me a call if it gets too much.

[bindsthedead]

I will. It's nothing serious so far, at least.

[Small mercies, considering how far south things ended up going.]

[scarcastically]

No, though it sounds like we tiptoed the lines.

[bindsthedead]

But we didn't go over it. Although I'm not sure what would have happened if she didn't give up her claim to the orb.

[scarcastically]

It's still luck.

Not sure how I feel about getting by with the skin of our teeth.

[bindsthedead]

Eventually, luck runs out. And Viveca really should have told us that we might need to persuade whoever has the orb to hand it over- that was the largest flaw in the whole plan.

[If not for that, they'd have been back on the station much faster, with fewer people injured.]

[scarcastically]

Yeah, not sure I'm digging the gaps in information here. Feels pretty deliberate.

[bindsthedead]

In an attempt to keep us from learning more than Viveca or her master deems necessary, perhaps?

[Because Viveca clearly does want them to gather the orbs. But wanting that doesn't mean being completely forthcoming about their nature, apparently.]

Because the orb we retrieved admitted that it seeks chaos and wants to become whole- which matches what Viveca's said earlier. Still- it's entirely possible she lied, or is withholding some important detail. And I'd like to know who this 'Commander' is, and what he wants- or if he's sincere in his desire to contain the orbs, why he wants that.

[Of course, even if he really does want to contain the orbs and nothing more, for entirely upstanding reasons... that doesn't mean he won't see the Ximilia's crew as acceptable sacrifices for reaching that goal.]

[scarcastically]

I guess since they're working us on a "need to know" basis, we'll know more as we go along.

[ or maybe figure out a way to learn more without their overlords watching. but there's only so much they can manage. ]