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[bhaalist]

[ not stable enough.

what would the power behind this place do about that, he wonders. ]

And she believed you, she stopped?

[ that's about the most reasonable thing he's ever heard of her doing. ]

I'm glad of it.

She and I have business that is unfinished, for all that I thought it was. I don't know what resolution we can find here. We'll see.

[corporeity]

She did. We had a lively discussion of the divergences between our gods. [ “lively discussion” = “talking while gale was bleeding” ] It’s not everyday one meets the Chosen of another. I suspect I intrigue her, to a degree.

[ and she intrigues him in turn. an admission he keeps to himself, when he’s well-aware where such curiosity landed him last. ]

I hope you can reach an accord, regardless. We know not what we face here, as yet.

[bhaalist]

[ he'd tell most other people who said something like that to him where they could stow it.

but this is gale. ]

That is so.

You would counsel caution, then, despite the worm she put inside me?

[corporeity]

Unequivocally, yes. One Professor Volkarin is investigating the affects of death and resurrection here. You may yet destabilise or empower Orin further, if you enact violence before we know of the consequences.

I’m told many returned at a party held mere weeks ago with strange abilities. We do not know what sort of magic we touch with bloodshed.

Take Bhaal himself, for instance. Killing is worship for his followers, yes, but it also strengthens their god. And there are all manner of necromantic traditions that require such sacrifices.

[ mansplaining bhaal to his chosen ✔️ ]

[bhaalist]

[ gale of waterdeep, at his absolute finest.

it's unreasonable that this should make him feel warm, but it does. gale of waterdeep indeed. ]

So I've heard.

[ lol ]

Admittedly, it's difficult to imagine the Lord of Murder's hand in a place like this. His temple in the city was so very different. And, I should imagine, it would be difficult for him to gain power from a death that doesn't stick.

It does concern me. I won't pretend otherwise. Have you given much thought to the boundaries of this place? Tried to leave?

[corporeity]

My efforts to leave have ended in failure, as I’m told all do.

This place has great and powerful magic, to be sure. I intend to plumb its libraries and learn all I can from those who arrived before me. Few problems can’t be solved by quality research.

[bhaalist]

Yes I've heard that, too. I wouldn't rob the vaults of Sorcerous Sundries for just anyone, you know.

How does the library here compare, have you found anything of use?

[ hopefully you were not expecting a sorcerer to have done any of the reading... ]

[corporeity]

[ another reference to their time together that gale has yet to — well, in his case, may never — experience. an uncomfortable twinge, at the thought. he wants to ask more (why would they rob a most esteemed establishment), but it’s best not to, in the end. it wasn’t gale that did it.

the reminder will only wound one who appears amenable to heeding his advice and learnings. ]

It’s well stocked, if nothing else. Young Koby has aided me in acquiring the essentials of this world’s history — a place thought to be without magic, it seems, though we know better.

[bhaalist]

[ ah, koby. he spoke to him, read his welcome package. it had been helpful, even if there was no explanation to anything within. ]

The dead rise as a matter of course, and they thought it without magic.

I spoke to a woman who wanted to try and open a portal out of here. Not that she had any idea of how to do so, or any indication of how to reach any of our worlds from here. If we found more direction, there might be merit to the idea.

[ if. it's a very big if. ]

[corporeity]

I agree. I intend to focus my efforts on studying the magic of this place, for the moment, before I go about toying with it as Agathe suggests. A hard-won lesson.

[ given his presently fatal affliction. ]

Have you read through Silco’s discussion of leadership? What do you make of the Balfours?

[bhaalist]

That they've given the impression they aren't in control of their home.

[ which is not to say he's taken that as read. ]

There was also some strong opposition to Agathe's idea of interrogating them. It's possible they're prisoners here as much as the rest of us, though that could be a ruse. Did you happen to encounter Auntie Ethel on your travels?

[ she'd played innocent, too. ]

[corporeity]

We did. Appearances deceive, indeed.

I believe interrogation is unlikely to be effective, regardless, if they’re prone to hysterics. More flies with honey, as they say.

[bhaalist]

I believe lashing out at them would be unwise, at least for now. I can't say I trust them, but it sometimes pays to be patient. I agree with you.

[ about this, anyway. orin is another story. ]

[corporeity]

Good. I’ll keep you informed of what I learn.

[ a beat. ]

Thank you for asking after me, Tilanus.

[ for caring. ]

[bhaalist]

[ he's wary of pushing too much, assuming too much. especially after talking to astarion. it's strange to be strangers again. ]

You're welcome.

Gale, if there is anything you need, you need only ask.

[corporeity]

An exceedingly kind offer. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, either.

As I said before, I would like to know one who knows so much of me. Or a version of me, at any rate.

[bhaalist]

I know.

It was no lie when I said I recall little of my past. When I woke on the Nautiloid I knew nothing but my name, and I met you not long after.

[ what he had discovered, he had discovered with gale, and the wizard had not turned from him then. would this version feel differently?

it is a strange thing to be concerned about. there are few people whose opinion would matter to him. ]

Would you take a drink with me? I would rather speak of this in person.

[corporeity]

[ already, questions bubble to the surface. because of the tadpole or another reason? ]

Of course. What luck that the manor has a tavern on the premises.

action?

[bhaalist]

I shall meet you there.

[ and he will. he's explored enough of the house to find it with relative ease. wine is his choice, and he'll be able to be found at a table large enough for two, with a bottle of red. he hasn't opened it yet, though there are two glasses waiting for gale's arrival. ]

🏃

[corporeity]

[ gale already has a fondness for the fox and hounds, when it has the same feeling as the dockside taverns in waterdeep. a tad more real than the shimmering finery of the manor itself. before joining tilanus, gale stops by the fire to give the pub’s wolfhound, harry, his requisite scritches — and a treat, magicked out of thin air. the only tell of his injury is how slowly he bends and rises, careful of the stitching. ]

Tilanus. [ a neutral greeting, as he takes his seat. both astarion and orin have shaded in his portrait of tilanus since they last spoke, but much of the details of his true person remain smudgy. gale adjusts the collar of his emerald, knit jumper, and wonders if tilanus prefers a red or if he simply knows that gale does. ]

Tip top shape, as you can see. [ in reference to himself. ] How are you keeping?

[bhaalist]

[ he straightens when gale enters, and smiles. his eyes flick quickly over him, despite already having been assured he was alright. if orin had truly wanted to do him harm, he wouldn't be walking. tilanus knows that. he also thinks there would've been a good deal more spectacle around it, if that was what she wanted.

he'll allow himself to be relieved.

he gestures to the seat across from him. ]

I'm glad to see it. Thank you, for meeting with me. I'm well, I suppose.

[ aside from being frustrated by this unintended break from his actual life. talking to gale makes it all feel a little more normal, even though this one is not truly the friend he'd gotten to know.

he puts his hand on the wine bottle. ]

I got this in the hope you'd feel like sharing, but I'll get you something else if you prefer. They appear to have everything.

[corporeity]

[ there it is, the instinctive ease one feels with the familiar, written in the set of tilanus’ shoulders and mouth. the kind gale shares with astarion alone now, all else foreign to him in this world.

it’s a cruel thing, gale thinks, for the gods to make them strangers. he nods, quick in his assent, and gestures for tilanus to pour. ]

It’s no Waterdhavian red, [ more light teasing than genuine criticism. ] but I’m sure it’ll do. They do like to keep us sated, in this place.

[ lulling them into complacency, he assumes. a wry smile. ]

Wherever do we begin, I wonder.

[bhaalist]

[ he opens the wine to pour for them both. ]

I've had worse, [ he says, thinking of the old bottles scattered around the shadow cursed lands, covered in dust and snatched up to feed the camp in a pinch.

he's still not really sure how this will go. it should be easier, he thinks. it's simpler talking to people who are strangers to him. ]

Well, if we are to start at the beginning, that was not long ago for me. I told you I woke on the Nautiloid remembering nothing but my name. Perhaps I should ask, what would you like to know? If I can tell you, I will.