Arlie_B Damon can tell Arlie's in a bit of a glum mood.

Arlie_B he doesn't brag or exaggerate during the whole report

Dionysus Damon's response is serious

Dionysus What do you do?

• Arlie_B figures that Damon will send for him when he is ready. He goes to talk with the mages first I think. leaves notice about where he's going.

Dionysus They investigate you and tell you more or less what the other mage did: the effect either wasn't magical, or the magic has worn off.

Arlie_B do they have reading materials on the Norns and their curses?

Dionysus They have information on Norns, and on curses, but not both at the same time

Arlie_B ok, then he spends some time telling them about latent cosmic energy on the moon everywhere, and asks cogswell or one of his friends if he can peak in those books and give a brief summary if they have time

Arlie_B not if they have time

Arlie_B as a starting point, he tells them the theory he heard from Bartleby? last session?

Dionysus Cogswell went wtih you up there, and he discussing enthusiastically with the other mages, too. He helps you find the right books

Dionysus Which theory?

Arlie_B curses work because the person thinks they deserve it on some level.

Arlie_B then, to get equipped, a halfling sword for now, just in case the inevitable crazy thing happens.

Dionysus Oh, that was Dionysus, not Bartleby. Right

Dionysus Nice. Yes, you can get a halfling sword.

Dionysus It's basically a big dagger, +4/+4

Arlie_B then to the music district, looking for a child's trumpet.

Arlie_B a trainer.

Dionysus A Torch accompanies you without comment, but when the sellers try to refuse to serve an unattended child, they step in and smooth things out for you. You can get one. It's -3 to your skill playing this, because it's not as good as a real trumpet, but you can play it.

Arlie_B -3 because of lungs and no special trumpet bonus.

Dionysus More like -3 for it being little better than a Toy, and no lung penalty because it's made for you.

Arlie_B That doesn't match my standard intuition, but ok.

Arlie_B "They probably won't give me a drink at the pub either, aye? What's your name son?"

Arlie_B when he answers, "Did Damon send you to watch over me while I'm out and about?"

Dionysus He says, "I'm at your service, your Grace. The Grand Duke sent me to make sure you did not encounter any... prejudicial problems."

Arlie_B "Is that so, well, I don't want to get you in trouble for not following orders." He grins. "Stay close, Dad, I've got to do some walking and thinking."

Dionysus He laughs and salutes, then keeps a respectful distance away as you walk.

Dionysus Where to/what do you do?

• Arlie_B hasn't had a moment alone to think in a long long while. He wanders for a bit while his player re-examines his motivations?

Arlie_B he probably stays somewhere near the market.

• Arlie_B does make sure to send notice at the dinner to arrange a booster seat.

---

Arlie_B "There are a couple of things I couldn't say around the others, so I should let you know more before you go to far with Sue."

Dionysus "Go on."

Arlie_B "We stand to benefit far more from dealing with Uur Sodzul than they do with us."

Arlie_B "They have technology there that makes the gnome's trains look like toys."

Arlie_B "You've just seen the beginning of what they can do, Sue's inventions are just the tip."

Arlie_B "It will revolutionize war as we know it."

Dionysus He nods, listening.

Arlie_B "Luckily, they know of war, but we're far better at it. We ran their bloody war for them."

Arlie_B "The point is that you need to be really careful. Were it not for Sue, most of them would soon as wipe this Empire off the face of Shem."

Dionysus Damon nods.

Arlie_B "If the Key passes hands, they could easily beat us with technology and nullify our magical defenses."

Dionysus He nods, listening

Arlie_B "I would trust Sue with this, but all of the athaks are not going to be so enlightened. I say we copy the technology and secure access to void ore, or abandon the project."

Dionysus He nod, "Thank you."

Arlie_B "No problem, I just needed to give you the other side of the story, and I'm no longer sure what Sue can and can't do."

Dionysus Damon nods, "Perhaps we can find out. Dionysus has acquired training programs for all of you."

Arlie_B "Has he now? Gods, Damon, my feet don't even hit the ground in this chair."

Dionysus He nods, "And we will look into rectifying that."

Arlie_B "I'm waiting for a bit more information before I ask Arsul, I'm not sure I completely trust his information against the curse."

Arlie_B "His prophecy concerning me failed after the Norns did their thing."

Dionysus He nods, "Tell me the details of the curse again?"

Arlie_B "What once flowed forward, now flows backward."

Dionysus He nods, "Is that all they said of it?"

Arlie_B "You will be a child again before a year has passed, unless you find a way to grow out of your impetuous tantrums & childish impulses."

Arlie_B "They said it will go faster, as well, Damon. I might not have a year."

Dionysus He nods, "So... you have to grow up while growing down?"

Arlie_B "I don't even know what standard I'm supposed to be meeting."

Dionysus He pauses, then smiles, "Does anyone, Arlie, when it comes to growing up?"

Arlie_B "Getting spanked was always one of my good clues."

• Arlie_B smiles. "You volunteering?"

Dionysus He snorts, "Perhaps you should try an older range."

Arlie_B "Older range? It's been 'spanking' the whole way up, in one form of another."

Dionysus He considers, "Perhaps that's part of the problem. Fear of punishment is a poor reason to do what's right. You know that."

Arlie_B "Who said I feared it. Pain is a consequence for a life well explored."

Arlie_B "Gods, what I would give for a drink that wouldn't knock me out right now."

Dionysus He shakes his head, "I think a drink of any strength might kill you. What I meant was, that you do what is right because of a belief, not because there are consequences you wish to avoid. You do what is right because of consequences you wish to cause. And you know this. You don't fear punishment, so using that as a barometer for what is 'grown up' isn't your issue."

Arlie_B "Right now I'm thinking that my issue is I pissed off something bigger than me again, the difference this time is that it got a chance to squash me."

Arlie_B "I'm open minded of course, I just can

Arlie_B 't figure out if they actually left me a back door or just want to torture me before the blade drops."

Dionysus He frowns, "Be reasonable, Arlie. They're creatures of fate. If they said they gave you a way out, they did."

Arlie_B "That doesn't mean the way out has to be achievable."

Arlie_B "And if this is the end, I had a pretty good run. I beat the odds for years. I wouldn't change my life so far."

Dionysus He scowls, "If I hear resignation in your voice again, Arlie, I'll end you myself. I would think that it must be achievable. They named your tantrums and your impulsiveness. What do you feel are the causes of those?"

Arlie_B "Bloody hell, Damon, this is a good thing for me. You know I've never thought about the possibility of dying until now? Not even after I had already died?"

Arlie_B "That's what's carried me through all this time, Damon,"

Dionysus He shakes his head, listening

Arlie_B "an inability to think things through. To 'do' without thinking."

Arlie_B "It's given me the half second-edge I needed countless times."

Dionysus "Which is useful sometimes, but not always. Is that what the Norns want you to... fix?"

Arlie_B "Hell if I know."

Arlie_B "Maybe they just want me to be more respectful towards women."

Dionysus He looks to you, "What do you mean?"

Arlie_B "I got in this mess for calling them a bad name."

Dionysus He sighs, rubs his eyes, "Why did you do that?"

Arlie_B "Because they took Arsul's hand."

Arlie_B "And he was destroyed, not being able to play music."

Dionysus He considers, "Why did they do that?"

Arlie_B "Oh, this was before Arsul and I had the talk where he said it was actually his fault."

Dionysus He pauses, "So... you insulted them for something they did that was actually something Arsul caused. Impulsiveness."

Dionysus "I'm not certain, of course, but that might be the place to start."

• Arlie_B thinks based on that. "No, you can lay impulsiveness at my feet for countless other things, but not for calling them names in that situation."

Dionysus "How not? You insulted them based on faulty information. You acted before you were fully informed."

Arlie_B "We always act on faulty information!"

Arlie_B "All the time! All of us!"

Dionysus "To a degree, obviously, but there is a certain amount we can gather before acting. And really, Arlie, what did you think insulting them would accomplish?"

Arlie_B "Honestly, blowing off steam and showing support to Arsul. I didn't know that you weren't allowed to talk about them!"

Dionysus "Well, you should have," he snaps.

Arlie_B "How was I supposed to know that? My mom never took me to a fate church."

Arlie_B "I said what I would have said about any people who took one of my best friend's organs and ruined his livelyhood."

Dionysus "Arlie, you're not an idiot. Quit acting like one. Arsul has a Gift that allows him to /do anything/. The Norns are daughters of the Father of Fate. You don't need to enter a fate church to know that insulting them might be a bad idea, especially after they've done something to one of your comrades."

Arlie_B "So are we being respectful to Morags now in the privacy of your office?"

Dionysus "We certainly don't invite them in here."

Arlie_B "I didn't invite them there either."

• Arlie_B hops out of his chair.

Dionysus He sighs, rubbing his eyes, "They are beings of fate, Arlie. /Think about it/. Consider the nature of your foe before acting."

Arlie_B "I understand why cursing fate should be any different than cursing beings of any other sphere. I recognize the difference now though, lesson learned, I promise."

Dionysus "What lesson is that?"

Arlie_B "I don't understand."

Dionysus "Because fate's nature is absolute and aware. Rigid. It's right there in the old saying, 'don't tempt fate.' What lesson do you think you've learned?"

Arlie_B "Don't badmouth powerful creatures that can hear you from anywhere."

Arlie_B "It's probably safer not to badmouth them at all."

Dionysus He shakes hiis head, "Well, since you're still a five year old, that might not be the one they want you to learn. Try again."

Arlie_B "I've been tempting fate since I joined the service, Damon, and a lot of good came from those actions. I don't regret any of them."

Arlie_B "That's a lie. Some I regret, but others I don't."

Dionysus "Be that as it may, you're dying if you don't figure out what lesson they want you to learn, or what they feel is you growing up. I could be wrong about their point of view, but don't you think beings of fate might object to that lifestyle?"

Arlie_B "I have no idea, I honestly haven't given the fate church any thought. Is that what they want? Do you think they want me to gain religion?"

Arlie_B "If they know everything that is to come, how exactly do my choices offend them?"

Arlie_B "I'm a part of fate."

Dionysus "I doubt they'd accept you, though perhaps respecting the point of view of others might be part of it. And I can't answer that, but I have a suspicion they are not omniscient."

Arlie_B "They sure as hell seem that way, if they listen everywhere for words said against them."

Arlie_B "And I've always listened to other points of view."

Dionysus "You listen to them, but can you think in them?"

Dionysus "And Arlie, where were you when you insulted them?"

Arlie_B "In an airship, flying between the moons."

Dionysus Damon sighs, "I have to sleep, Arlie. My thoughts are that they object to your impulsive nature, as they themselves suggested if your account is accurate."

Arlie_B do we need to retcon?

Arlie_B "I agree with your assessment. What in the hells do I do about it?"

Dionysus "Find a way to fix it."

Arlie_B "Damon, how is Albert speaking to the Gods?"

Dionysus "In person."

Arlie_B "I'll sit in time out and think about what I've done, but if the worst comes I'd like a backup plan."

Dionysus "He'll be here until the end of the week."

Arlie_B "Thanks."

Dionysus He nods.

• Arlie_B leaves.

---

• Arlie_B approaches Albert. "Governor, Damon tells me that you're headed back to the planes in a week."

Arlie_B "When you're there, will you be visiting the Father of Stories?"

Dionysus He nods, "To Namarc, then back to the planes. Probably, yes. I check in on them."

Arlie_B "How to put this, it's delicate."

Dionysus He looks curious.

Arlie_B "He offered me help the last time I died working for Him, and that time may come again soon. Tell him that I'm considering uttering His name before

I die, if He'll still have me. I know I can do more for him and Shem alive than I can do if I'm dead."

Dionysus He looks a ltitle worried, but nods, "I'll do it."

• Arlie_B smiles. "And tell Him I've got one hell of a story for Him."

Dionysus He laughs, "Yes, sir."