audience: gale

[mygod]

Comments

[alldoomnogloom]

[ tara could be in here and see their full face ........ but she would never tell. gale just takes this treatment and waits, putting a hand on his chin and accepting his fate. ]

Now there's quite the debate about this dish, it's quite popular around the Waterdhavian coast, but different regions all have their own spin on it. It can descend into violence quite often, honestly. Now I do use oil, but I would rather bring some shame upon certain devotees by not having a higher quality of bread to serve with it ...

[mygod]

Bread is bread, isn't it?

[ what's so fancy about bread. also if gale isn't in a rush to remove the mask then we're just gonna sit here while famine eats

that said, by the sound of silverware it does seem like they're eating up rather happily ]

... Hm. It's not bad.

[alldoomnogloom]

[ yes, they'll get plenty of peace to eat in because gale was almost outright killed by the statement "bread is bread." a fucking hate crime. ]

You're as terrible as Karlach ...

[mygod]

[ now there's open laughter ]

Really? And after all the effort I go to in order to be far worse.

[alldoomnogloom]

With you, I know to adjust your compliments up the scale rather than down at least.

[ just? upgrading it.

but i guess while gale is stuck behind this mask. get fucking mem'd. ]

[mygod]

[ ah. there it is.

famine stops eating, interrupted by thoughts. both their own, and gale's. so this is what mystra would consider forgiveness. the arrogance of a goddess and offering to the one that she had chosen. to consider the "greater picture", even if it means sacrificing someone who she once granted her favor to.

so it's with a similar arrogance, offering nothing in return, that famine reaches over to pluck their mask off gale's face. when he can see again, the person that sits across from gale is none other than another who'd consider himself a god.

and for better or worse, his attention is now captured by gale. curious only to see his expression. to get a glimpse of what's going through his mind ]

[alldoomnogloom]

[ i have to know does the existence of someone like elminster who is as far from 23 as possible just blow scien's mind

as for gale, he looks like a kicked dog because that is exactly the expression he was making during that conversation as it unfolded too. at least it isn't jaw-dropped shocked this time. he just lets the mask be taken without any resistance and is a bit lost in his own thoughts to really absorb what is happening (A FACE?), looking down at the soup bowl instead. ]

Can you imagine how angry she'd be now? While I entertain the amusements of a cult trying to summon a god for the trade of getting my life back?

[egodist]

[ normally he would but due to (static noises) scien doesn't seem as shocked as he could be

scien doesn't seem to mind, settling the mask on the table as he sits back and listens. but what he says is again, terribly sacrilegious because leave it to god to disparage another god ]

Let her be angry. Why should you be the only one inconvenienced in this whole ordeal? It is short-sighted of her to believe that you only exist to answer her every beck and call.

Might as well do something for yourself, if she won't lift a finger for it.

[alldoomnogloom]

I would argue the world is mildly inconvenienced by the presence of the Absolute - An Elder Brain, by the way - but I understand your point.

[ also inconvenienced is such a funny way to put it. he fucking died. ]

That is the decision I am attempting to rectify here.

[egodist]

[ for scien who has died more times than he can count, it's just an inconvenience. just a little delay ]

If all the world is in trouble, then why are you the sole person to solve it?

[ again a hilarious question from scien but that's neither here nor there ]

[alldoomnogloom]

[ wait. ]

You took your mask off.

[egodist]

[ tilts head, eerily bright blue pupils staring right back at gale

the silent question is: 'and?' ]

[alldoomnogloom]

[ somehow this was easier with masks. ]

Giving up on anonymity and unbiased opinion then?

[egodist]

There is no such thing as an unbiased opinion, wizard.

But I generally don't do well with hiding.

[alldoomnogloom]

I happen to agree on your first point, but some of your colleagues argue otherwise.

[ he's not fooling himself on any world where his biases don't come into play. then again, he's not trying to do the same sort of research some of the others here are fond of. ]

It won't put you in danger, will it?

[egodist]

Well, we're all a rather pedantic group of assholes.

[ though there's no venom in the statement. hilariously, he likes his coworkers ]

I don't intend on showing my face to the larger group unprompted, but private arrangements like this should be fine.

[alldoomnogloom]

From a personal standpoint, I have to say I rather appreciate a face instead of an emotionless mask. It's a bit easier for me.

[ he wont argue that they are all pedantic assholes, but he also likes them all quite a bit too? so he's got no judgment on that part. ]

Then it's good to make your acquaintance. For true, this time.

[egodist]

[ have they truly made acquaintance? scien has not given his name and actually won't think to do that ]

You didn't answer my question. [ help ]

If the Absolute threatens the whole world, why must you be the one to solve it? Why must you be the martyr?

[alldoomnogloom]

[ ^ too stupid to ask ]

It's a bit more complicated than a simple "someone must be the hero" type of calling, though I will argue there is a certain responsibility in each of us to fight apocalyptic destruction when it threatens our home, yes?

As I explained, I am currently infected with a Mindflayer tadpole [ DID he explain this to famine? i dont remember.] that allows me and my companions certain powers that make it possible for us to challenge this Cult of the Absolute. It is I, and a small group of people, and amongst them I am the one containing a bomb powerful enough to wipe it out in one go.

[egodist]

[ hilariously no, gale did not explain this to famine but a different bg3 got it so he's not shocked. ]

I do not deny the plan for its efficiency. One life to save the world is nothing but math. If it were a stranger, I probably wouldn't care.

[ because famine is a person who relies on reason and logic the vast majority of the time. in another timeline, he knows that he would sacrifice one or two people for just one country. the problem is that he's not proud of that version of himself. ]

But since it is you, and I have deemed your life more worthwhile than your death, I find the whole plan to be rather nonsense.

[alldoomnogloom]

[ scien you are the funniest person in the goddamn world. gale honestly goes flustered at the very basic statement of "between life and death, i don't think you should immediately fucking die." please, gale, your standards. ]

I, um. Thank you ... ?

[egodist]

[ he's not a good guy!!!! he's really not!!!! i worry everyday about gale's standards i feel like we need to even vaguely raise them to ground level

famine is similarly amused. a little surprised, based on how he raises a brow questioningly but he is clearly holding back a laugh ]

Is the appraisal that your life has worth something to be thanked for?

I am beginning to see how your goddess captivated you so.

[ maybe it wasn't that hard ]

[alldoomnogloom]

[ typical gale banter interaction: ]

I would hardly be the first young wizard to become enamored with her, and I very much doubt I will be the last.

For myself, I would consider that captivation to be deeply over.

[egodist]

[ hELP ME NOT THE THIRD SON SLAUGHTER ]

As the one on the other side of the equation [ the god in the power dynamic ] I find it difficult to comprehend, but I also don't care that much.

And you seek no revenge against her? For making you demote from Chosen to Puppet?

[alldoomnogloom]

That is as likely to end with myself unable to cast magic as it is to assuage any feelings I have about the situation. And that would be yet another, far worse, punishment than the one I have now.

Why? Would you?