Token Evil IC

"Well, there has to be some way to get to the dragon." Brightheart says, peering at the mountain. "I doubt a dragon would be willing to live in captivity if not given generous tribute and compensation. They'll need to get supplies in somehow. Come, my friends - do you spot anything of use?"

Perception:

"..."

Seeing their condition, Iota reaches out and lifts up the twins and Broken as well, away from the baking hot stones under foot and allowing them to rest. "...Use vantage point to look."

Athletics:

Perception:

"Hey, hey! This is not a taxi!" Krix cries out to the new passengers, leaning towards Iota's head, seemingly oblivious to his hypocrisy...

(Perception Check: 11 (Roll) + 11 (Skill) + 1 (Grandeur) = 23)

Stoic as ever, Iota easily lifts up the remainder of the party members, keeping the jackals and Broken under each arm, while keeping the imp and Krix on its shoulders.

Together, Iota Brightheart and Krix spot what looks to be a winding path going past a few volcanic geysers. The end of the path is out of sight, but it looks like it'll at least take them closer to the base of the central volcano where it'll be easier to navigate to the peak.

---

Celestia stands up and follows after Imata, continuing to make pleasant conversation. "And if I weren't in place, how many more atrocities would you have committed? How many more crimes against Equestria? I may be an evil existence, but perhaps I am a necessary one."

Imata strolls down the winding corridors of her once-home, enjoying the fleeting nostalgia it brings her. Eventually she arrives at an observation deck, one that normally would afford her full view of all the necessary functions of the hive. Instead, it appears to now feature a hazy image of what's happening around her, filtering in information from her passive sensory arrays.

The Archmage is sipping on a coffee as he peers at Recon's opened up body, occasionally picking at it with a tool and switching parts around. You notice him loosen a magical battery which is charred and burnt, and replace it with a fresh one. The image also seems to be fast-forwarded, like it's being played at double speed.

"Time passes faster in a mental landscape," Celestia comments idly from behind Imata. "Already, about an hour has elapsed. You should be free from my company soon. Isn't that grand?"

AleneShazam wrote:Celestia stands up and follows after Imata, continuing to make pleasant conversation. "And if I weren't in place, how many more atrocities would you have committed? How many more crimes against Equestria? I may be an evil existence, but perhaps I am a necessary one."

"Well, the answer to both questions is 'none', so it's debatable. You must've been too busy setting this place on fire to notice it, but the tin shell we're in is a government black project. I learned very quickly after my escape that certain critical parts of me can only be manufactured in Canterlot, by Canterlot mages and engineers, with Celestia's blessing. That means I still have to play nice with her if I want to stay in working order, so no atrocities, no crimes against Equestria."

Imaga sits upon reaching the observation deck, and calmly watches the little Archmage work.

AleneShazam wrote:"Time passes faster in a mental landscape," Celestia comments idly from behind Imata. "Already, about an hour has elapsed. You should be free from my company soon. Isn't that grand?"

"Dandy. Though knowing my luck, I doubt that means I won't hear more of your pestering. Although..."

Imaga trails off for a moment to think.

"...as annoying as you are, you have been helpful in letting me know how 'good' is supposed to act, and I do need to keep up appearances as a good guy to ensure my own survival. I suppose I could use your guidance for that much."

Broken grumbled at being picked up and carried, but despite the sullen look on his face at his own failures he wasn't being loud enough to actually be heard by anyone; He might have been proud, but sometimes you just had to shut up and do things you didn't want to do. Instead he merely focused on keeping an eye out.

Dice Rolls:

"Let's go, let's go!" Krix fixates his eyes towards the spotted path. "The castle is still under siege from other villains, we need to hurry!"

"Yes, onwards to glory!" Brightheart exclaims, pulling his Sunlight blade out eagerly and trotting onward into the hazy heat.

"Lets just get there quick." The twins groan, being carried by the armor suit not terribly more comfortable than the hot ground. "Do you think this volcano has a water fountain?"

"...Only one way... to tell..." Iota grunts, steadfast in step as it follows behind Brightheart to their destination.

Despite being able to see what is happening, Imata isn't quite able to identify what the Archmage is doing. Whatever reparations are going on, they're quite beyond her understanding, and she can't tell how much longer it will be.

Celestia watches this idly, and after a while she asks, "So, how do you plan to rejoin your little gang of criminals? I imagine you'll want to continue keeping watch over them."

---

The party makes it past the steaming geysers and volcanic flows, stalking across the blistering volcanic sands. Brightheart and Iota are resilient against the oppressive heat, but to the other members, the temperature is sweltering. Efreets hover around the party, snapping at them curiously, trailing flames as they glide lazing in the hot updrafts.

The group eventually stops at the base of the central volcano, in front of a lava-fall cascading down into a pool of magma. A particularly large efreet is dipping itself into the lava pool like a bird bath. As the party approaches, it stops and turns to stare at them, burning eyes focused keenly on the group.

"...Fire bat." Iota notes, stopping short of the lava pool. It looks at Brightheart, then in turn at each of its passengers. "...Attack? Or... negotiate? This unit... does not specialize in diplomacy."

If negotiations are called for, Iota will let Brightheart take the floor. The armor is not the most eloquent person. If diplomacy breaks down, though, Iota will be the first to drive its sword into the beast's chest.

"Well, unless any of you good fellows are fluent in Fire-Bat..."

Brightheart steps forward, clearing his throat. "Hark, good creature! We simply seek passage to the dragon of this fiery mount - we wish no harm upon you. If you hold the key to this drake, please, tell us so we may go ahead."

Persuasion:

Broken groaned a little as he gazed at the firebat with squinted eyes, the heat and the brightness of the area making it difficult for him to keep eyes better suited for seeing in the dark and cool places of the world. Seeing a giant version of the bats of flame didn't exactly improve his mood in the slightest as he decided to keep his mouth shut and let the knight do the talking; He was saving the ability to talk to creatures for when they really needed it to talk to the dragon.

Recon isn't too certain of the security measures - there's the Archmage's maze trap, and potential guards, but she's not sure of the specifics. She does spot a hazy sheet of paper with 'Security Protocols' printed tacked up on the wall of the Archmage's office, but she can't spot the details from there. There also appears to be a floor plan of the Magus wing tacked up, but again, it's too blurry to be legible through her passive sensors.

"Could you not explain to the Archmage that you are on a secret mission and that you require entry to the Zoo? That would bypass all the trouble with security, and if the Zoo is behind lock and key you would still have access."

---

The flaming bat stares at the party for a moment before languidly opening its mouth wide, baring its two fangs and a maw dripping with lava-like spit. Its jaws open wide enough to fit a whole pony in, and it's honestly rather intimidating for a giant flaming bat to do it at the group.

You get the sense that it's waiting for something.

"That plan hasn't failed me yet, today."

Imaga exhales a sigh.

"Of course, I'll have to wait until he finishes repairs before I can explain anything to him. And I have you here instead of that one smartass drone that was always making wisecracks about pony clop."

Another sigh, and Imaga's demeanor softens a bit.

"Damn, I miss my swarm."

The Twins stare at the bat. "Is it hungry or something? Were we supposed to bring food?" "Can we not just keep moving? Why are we waiting for the bat?"

Iota nods slowly. "Am reminded... of hungry birdlings. Perhaps food."

Iota glances around. "Otherwise... no path left to walk. Could try scaling volcano, but danger... substantial."

"You say this, good armor, but what do we feed to it?"

Brightheart glances at his companions. "Surely not one of our own?"

Firebat diet:

"I don't see anybody else around..."

(Streetwise on knowing about Firebat: 7 (Roll) + 11 (Skill) + 1 (Grandeur) = 19)

(I think the twins should figure out an assist check to help either me or Brightheart...)

The twins help as best they can, searching for ideas possible food...

---

Arcana Assist:18+6=24 for +3 bonus
Streetwise Assist: 15+9=24 for +3 bonus

Broken sighed a little as he rolled his eyes. "If we're going to have to sacrifice something, I feel like the hidden horde of Kobolds that seem to be following us around seem like a good starting point. "

Krix leers at Broken. "Shut up, they'll hear you and it'll be a pain to get them to do it!"

"If your expectations are fulfilled, you'll be able to see your swarm again very soon, I presume."

Brand-Celestia smiles, before looking up. "Oh dear, it seems reparations are almost complete. I shall take my leave here, then. Until next time, my dear."

With that the entire mental landscape seems to crack and crumble, chunks of it falling away until the part Recon was standing on falls away as well, sending her into a plummet. After falling for an indeterminate amount of time, she awakens, this time back in her robotic body.

The archmage peers at her curiously. "How do you feel? I've patched up all the outdated parts, but the core system is too delicate for me to improve on too much. At least your circuits aren't burnt out anymore, and you should be able to speak Equestrian again."

---

Between what Krix has heard in passing, and Brightheart's knowledge in all manner of magical beasts from his service, the group comes to the conclusion that while anything flammable can sustain a fire elemental such as an efreet, the partially living component of it still prefers meat, especially raw flesh, as its internal heat cooks the meat as it is digested. Something bite-sized (for the efreet) would suffice - such as a leg or something.

The efreet seems to stamp its feet impatiently, its wings flaring out in agitation. Its patience is wearing thin, though for now it keeps its mouth open.

"Seems hangry," the imp observes.