Jalyk Mellir - p2 - Psychic Warrior

Mellir- I quickly change into attire more orientated to this plane. "So expect things beyond my imagining and try not to seem so surprised. More metal is more powerful, are they like cyborgs?

Yaoel- “This plane is the only place I have ever heard of that has a metal called Etherium. It seems to be a metal that is magic as a raw form.” She starts walking up the street, your bag is Blue now. “It took them a while to learn how to work it and once they did there strongest mages start to wear and eventually graft it onto themselves. It will enhance the magic they perform to a degree equal to how well they themselves can manipulate the material, so novices with 5lbs of the stuff cant match a master with only 5oz of it. Unless there using a spell to enhance their perception, their shouldn’t be any difference them normal. They really do like there artifice, master cogworkers, but they lack lightning in almost all its form, so they aren’t on your peoples level yet.” You seem to be in a slums neighborhood when you were summoned, the top looks to be built like a conical tower, each higher level nicer then the last. It really reminds you of those old Steampunk type shows, googles, leathers and mechanisms on display everywhere. Though they higher you guys went you start to see what looked like mechanical skeltons with still human or odd blue faces (she says those were Vedalkens, the sorta master race here underneath the sphinxes).

Mellir- "Interesting. Dont suppose we could look at getting some of the cybernetic enhancements for ourselves." I look at Yaoel, remembering her dislike for artifice, "Or perhaps just me."

Yaoel- “That is kinda what we are here to look at. I have amassed 20 kilograms of etherium working as a cleric, despite there wonderful artifice they seem to lack proper healing techniques for there flesh portions. With that much etherium enhancing me, I will be immune to his favored spell, but after meeting there filigree angels, I’m not sure if I’ll have much of a soul left after the procedure.” On the second to last ring you stop at a shop, the text outside had slid from common into some pictogram like languages as you ascended the city, this place inside looks like a workshop for clocks. “ulineun dangsin-i wil ui geonchugga leul bol su iss-eoyahabnida , i sigan-e dangsin-eul doul su issseubnida.” A Human with a replaced left arm and eye said at the main counter.

Mellir- "Lack of a soul i doubt would be a benefit either."

Yaoel- “West, Master of the Steel Wind wants to speak with me before I am allowed service here. He is Sharuums champion, Sharuum is the Empress of all of Esper so I guess we should go and see what he wants.” The trek leads up another level and halfway around the tower. On this level most people only had real hands or faces left, everything else was some kind of pulley, clockwork, or what seemed like a living statue for the rest of there body. And the looks they gave you two… beings of pure flesh. The ‘house’ was more of a raised platform with just a roof to cover many books that he kept in his library. He had no guards or servants, just sitting there awaiting Yaoel’s arrival like he had the greatest riddle for her. “e osin geos-eul hwan-yeong beongae cheonsa, and welcome Mr. Mellir. I do say, is he like you? Oh! He is! Not the same place but another world like mine.” He said taking only a small step forward, inside you felt your memories get pawed around like a great big ball of yarn, a little disconcerting but not painful. “I am sorry, were are my manners. I’ve just spoken to Sharuum, and she had a few secrets to tell.”

“They were not her’s to tell.”

“She’s getting old, and soon enough her successor will be named, I am being groomed and there are secrets I need to know to run my future kingdom.” He said nearly biting out each word near the end.

Mellir- I nod my greetings to him, but stay quiet letting Yaoel take the lead here.

Trying to take things back to topic “I just came looking into the filigree wings, my account-“

“Has been seized, you’re an asset to the kingdom now ‘Yaoel’, and the Architects of Will wish a closer audience with you.” He bounded forward lightning fast knocking over Yaoel, and a prism of light wrapped around you. You watch those last moments replay several times unable to move or react. The images fade soon after, and with it your consciousness aswell.

The next time you seem to have any thought is while you are being questioned, asking about all parts of San Diego, Earth’s now that you corrected them artifice how its made, and what your worlds like. You don’t keep aware very much after this and slip back into darkness.

This time you come to clear headed, your clothes are much the same but more ornamental, with the threads formed from thin lines of your guessing silver with gold embroidery. The last few days feel foggy at best but you find yourself kneeling before a different sphinx, this a lovely elderly lady in the face, with nearly closed eyes. None of her body is replaced, but there are spiderwebs of etherium crowning her and cover the rest of her body. “Jalyk Mellir, are you yourself again?”

Mellir- "I... I.... uh... I think so. what happened?"

Sharuum- "My champion was a bit overzelous, he only just learned of Planeswalkers and wanted to find the part that allowed them to 'walk between worlds and graft it onto himself."

Mellir- "Is yaoel ok?" I jump up intently.

Sharuum- "She is fine, my own clerics are seeing to her. While she is recovering i brought you away from the arguing mass that is supposed to express my will, and wanted to ask your forgiveness.Will you forgive me?"

Mellir- "Your forgiveness? I suppose that first requires knowledge of exactly what you are asking forgiveness for."

Sharuum- "Planeswalkers and there companions when coming here are supposed to be treated with the respect you would normally grant me. I had met with Yaoel when she first arrived, she asked for no special treatment, but I insisted of my subject to show her the respect she deserves. She worked to help my subjects with very little payment, and I wanted nothing to happen to her.” She takes a moment to change how she is laying, “My Champion tried to vivisect her memories aswell as yours, he sliced into her flesh trying to find a ‘spark’. I ended this experiment, and he will be punished for his crimes. My subject all act in my name, so I shall be the one to ask the forgiveness for the act committed in my name.”

Mellir- "Fair enough, has she or I been hurt permenantly?"

Sharuum- "No, she is near immortal already and being healed as we speak. The comforts of this tower are yours until she is ready to see you." You are seated at the base of a spire that has a sloping floor going around and up over a hundred feet. all along the walls are books. "I have further work to do i'm afraid and will have to leave you here Mr. Mellir." She slowly stands up.

Mellir- "Alright, can i see her?"

Sharuum- "I understand your concern, but for the moment this is the safest place for you." She lifts her right paw and makes a lazy circle with it, the ground beneath your feet shimmers and becomes a scrying window. it shows Yaoel underneath a linnen cloth hovering in midair, surrounded by 6 angels, each of them have had there wings replaced, but they wear robes the hide the rest of there bodies beside hands and face. "Good day Mr. Mellir." while you looked at the window the old sphinx had made her way out.

Mellir- "Farewell..." I say as i watch Yaoel. Hopeing she doesn't lose her soul.



Day passes slowly, food is delivered, looks like chickenpot pie, and wine from what you can tell. The servants push the food through the solid door without opening. some kind of phasing spell. the angels seem to have the endurance of a machine as they never tire as her wounds close up. Just keep watching?

Nothing else for me to do?

Doesnt seem like it, most just books(mostly in deep speech), open floor, and a scry window. a very plush prison cell.

Anything i could read i would read.

Alot of the books you fine are technical manuels on how to build diffrent kinds of machinery written like its holy script. You do find a book about the Seekers of Caramot. According to it, its one of the two ingredients that are put together to make etherium. doesnt say where to find any though. On the third day a Vedalken appears at the door, letting himself in.

Mellir- "Greetings."

DM- "Mr. Mellir! What a pleasure to meet our Empress champion. There seems to be a dispute between the Master of the West Winds, and the Hegemon. As a battle between them will not serve the peoples will, each of them a priceless addition to our kingdom, you are the selected proxy of the Hegemon. Now before you interrupt i am to inform you that i do not know what the dispute is over, but i am allowed to aid you in preparation for your coming conflict in 1 weeks time. The Hegemon has brought the battle to so a low state, neither side is allowed the use of champion that have Etherium body modifications. Also they must be intelligent. Trying to find a champion to fit those descriptions! I must say, this will truly be a delight!"

Mellir- "Pleasure. How do you plan to aid me?"

DM- “Well we can’t perform any body modification to you, that’s where I would normally start. The next thing I would suggestion is sharpening your attributes. A solid physical form, could greatly use some arm or leg extensions… when this is all over we really could add inches to your heighth with our body modification. But as I was saying before that perhaps your mind or weapons training will be the place to go, declaration of no weapons on your side if your any good with hand to hand can get it removed from your opponents arsenal if we wait until the very last minute and they happened to have choosen a weapons master, but that means we really need to see how far you have gotten on your psychic training and its implements in combat. How many practices have you had, and what level of focus have you attained in the past?” he said, making it sound like 1 long excited sentence.

Mellir- "I have no... psychic training. I have alot of training in hand to hand combat on my realm, but its a realm of no magic nor psychics."

DM- "Oh dear, i see this is going to be more difficult then i though! hopefuly your fightingin training is higher then your school training. Poor dear think this is another realm. Its really quiet fine though, ill have an instructor sent up straight away! We mustent dalay! we have only 7 days to prepare you!" He says as he turns and walks out with a wave.

Mellir- 7 days to prepare? man this place is so confusing. I turn and look back at Yaoel. I will do what i must...



His straightway is rather quick. It’s barely 10 minutes before another Vedalken appears from the door. He is only carrying a short stick, but its held on his waist like a weapon. Everything from his knees and elbows out have been replaced. His bald blue head which seems to be the norm for Vedalkens is lightly scarred. “Master Mellir, I am here to give you lessons on how to become a Psychic Warrior. Fees have already been covered by your sponsor, and because of your sponsor we have 4 additional days to work with to prepare you. Normal court battle only have 3 days to prepare. This gift we shall not squander. Are you ready to begin?”

Mellir- "Yes. Immediately. Please."

Your new trainer worked like a machine. Conversation was kept minimal, and focused towards the task at hand. He does help you delve into your mind and pull out untapped psychic potential. After only a day of training, Yaoel is fully healed, but she is kept asleep and under guard by the Filigree Angels until the hearing is over. The six following days are kept with a repetitive train, rest, train, rest. It was mostly migraines and headaches for the first few days, beyond just the physically training he drilled into muscle memory again, but on the 4 day you can finally get the power to work, and on the 6th the basics he drilled you on came naturally. You have 14 hours before the hearing, and you finally training just ended. Hot bath, food and whatever else in the tower to occupy your time is available.

Mellir- Understanding that rest from training is as neccessary a part of training as the physical repetition I force myself to relax and ponder over the powers and the ideas of psychics. If any one else is around to talk to i enquire about my opponet and who or what he might be.

You were left alone in the plush cell, haven't left it for nearly 10 days now in total including your training. Yaoel is still in the scry window, but it might aswell be a picture as she lies sleeping, and the artifact angels never move.

Mellir- Guess i just meditate then. Yaoel is an angel, and in my realm we can pray to angels, so long as they are not revered over gods... i guess.. so i pray to Yaoel and for Yaoel while meditating.

Then rest up and are prepared for your battle. The first Vedalken retrieves you, leading the way to an Arena. Mostly open, with a few pillars and surrounded by water. There are 3 main viewing platforms around the arena, the one behind you has Sharuum, the opposing you has West (Sphinx of the Steel Winds) and a group of 3 people, probably the Architec of Will. The center platform looking over this arena has there women, all blindfolded. “In the case between Sharuum the Hegemon vs West, Champion of the Hegemon psychic probing was proven inpossible on grounds that both are Sphinxes and have proven proof against such since birth. The information argued over maybe considered dangerous to the public and therefor will not be spoken until this trial is complete. As an overwhelming advantage is shown between the accuser and the defendant, a proxy battle has been decided upon. The Hegemon has choosen the battle to take place between combatants that have no Etherium enhancements. Proxy, please step forwards. Jalyk Mellir, Human,” They pause while you move forward onto the starting platform. “Deulu-ideu 186, Warforged guardian construct, made with no etherium parts as per ordinance.” You actually hear most the crowd actively Booing the Warforged as it steps up, apparently the ordiance didn’t actually say the combatant needed flesh, just intelligent and as no one spoke up, most likely this Warforged were intelligent ‘golems’. “Combantants, please take a pillar!”

Mellir- Move out to the platform, I open by useing my only psionic power i was able to master. Inertial Armor, my personal armor is invisable but effective. (+4ac puts me at 22 base, +4 more for Combat expertise this round. so 26 ac 56 hp) Not knowing exactly how this arena was going to play out, i prepare to defend myself against the walking statue.

Dm- The warforged fall onto all fours, as his body shifts around resembling a big cat. He takes a 5ft step onto the portal. After a moment the portal hes on and the center portal light up. There is no sound, but a warm glow of light as he is transferred to the center pillar.

Mellir- Move onto the portal circle and wait.

Dm- He waits out his turn aswell, when the portal activates you both find yourselfs on the pillar at 7;clock. You have init. His top left spot, ur bottom right,

As you appear next to your foe, you lash out with a stunning blow, it land you hear a large cracking sound come from the Warforged like something breaking inside(11 damage) You go for the second strike but his form reverts to a person, causing your hit to go astray. “Your skill level is higher then West understood, I was choosen because I do not have the internal organs you have been trained to damage, I cannot be sent reeling. But the transformation element it seems is still readily broken. I am honored to have a chance to face such an opponent.” He starts transforming again, but you lash out trying to catch him, the plates rearrange but you strike him hard enough that he notices (5damage) The reform makes it look like he has four legs put out in cardinal points, and each arms is thin and widened as it to play the part of a shield. Another way West cheated around the no weapons policy. The teleported activates again and now you guys are on the center pillar.

Mellir- Well if he is going heavy defence I plan on overwhelming him with offence. figured the stun wouldn't work, but to have him tell me that makes my job easier. This time I launch two hard punches, but at his legs rather than his face. +9/9 2d6+2 AC: 22 HP: 56

DM- Your first strike comes off faster then his new form was ready for, getting past those shield you cracked the plate armor that covers his form (12damage). He moves into the blow though, you second strike is caught halfway through the swing and his crushes it, and takes you full in the body. The force flips you backwards as an explosion of pain in your chest as you think maybe some of your ribs just got broken. (crit15damage) you tumble off the pillar (his strike pushes the target 2 squares if its lands, it happened to crit though, the push wasn’t cause of his crit). You keep to your training through the pain and you the wall to steady your fall as you go down. He’s out of sight now.

Mellir- attempting to catch my breath after the hit I take a second to listen for movement. Decideing this pillar was as good as any I make my way up it ready to fight once more. Going defensive for if there is a surprise waiting. +6 to hit AC: 26 HP:41

You make your way to the top and see he’s already waiting for you, stepping to the right side you prepare you defenses. He holds to the shield form and strikes out, same pattern as before. You are able to dodge it this time without either of you takeing damage. He steps onto the portal (5ft) and vanishes to the 9oclock pilliar.

Mellir- I follow him into the portal, still playing defensively. (god i hope he doesn't have regen) AC:26 HP: 41

Dm- As you come through the portal he's shifted out of the shield form and looks like a young Sphinx, wings included. You still have the Init.

Mellir- 5ft Step into him, and hard attacks. Punches to the throat and jaw. +9/+9 2d6+2 24 ac 41 hp

You duck in close quick, this form seems to be even more brittle then the cat form he had earlier, he doesn’t even have time to take to the air before you shatter one of his wings that he threw up in defense, and then snapped what you were guessing was a spinal column of some kind. The construct fell over like it had its strings cut. The lights in the eyes were still on, but you could already hear the ‘Judge’ speaking. “And this dispute is decided. Mellir has delivered crushing blows to the Warforged, rendering it unable to continue the battle. Hegemon Sharuum verdict will stand.”

“My decree is the information that was forcibly extracted is to dangerous, West will be stripped of rank and title and lobotomized of the information. The architects are to be replaced, and lobotomized aswell. That will be all Esper.” She slowly got up, and left her spot, everyone waited patiently for her to finish leaving before moveing about. You are teleported from the arena back to your pillow prison. The picture on the floor shows one of the Filigrees waking Yaoel up.

Yaoel gets up and talks to the Filigree for a few minutes before all but one of them leave the room. Sharuum comes in and talks with Yaoel for nearly an hour before leaving. Yaoel finally makes her way out of the room. The scrying window follows her all the way to your tower. She enters looking pristine and new. no extra metal parts. "Jalyk! i hear we have had quiet an adventure and i slept through it."

Mellir- "Nothing of major note. Beyond more training, this tmie of more a psychic variety. A warforged, i think they call it, had me worried, but i managed. But most importantly, how are you? I could see them watching you but I had no idea what was going on."

Yaoel- "Something i probably should have explained a bit better. Most everyone you will ever meet on any plane will not know about the rest of the multiverse, and explaining it makes you seem kind of crazy. So like when i first arrived on San Diego you try and keep your home and personal info vague so they wont suspect you as much. Some people though when they find out try and use this for advatage. This place is great for innovation, so they were trying to strip our minds on information about artifice and how to travel between planes. Sharuum already new about this and said i was under her protection, she didnt try and use me for any kind of leverage. West did."

Mellir- "And now west is being punished for such?"

Yaoel- "Went against her wishes, and until Crucius ever returns Sharuum is effectively god of all here. You dont get on her bad side."

Mellir- "Got it... and by defeating the warforged champion, we are not on her bad side, right?"

Yaoel- "Yeah, you were her champion and you made sure she won."

Mellir- "Oh... jesus i just thought i was standing in for you... why did she choose me?"

Yaoel- "Well normally she would have picked her champion, which is West. But he was the one being an asshole... You are from a different plane, so not everything you would do is expected is my guess. West did have a look into your mind though, and mine before Sharuum put a stop to it. He tried to choose a champion you couldnt face. didnt seem to work."

Mellir- "Guess i am glad they underestimated me... but jesus a walking statue that could take other forms? And I thought the Vampires were bad. Earth doesn't even have the capabilities for nightmares like that."

Yaoel- "Whats a nuclear bomb? Sharuum said that was West had already started trying to create with just a few hours of looking in your head."

Mellir- "Best of luck with that. Its the single most destructive force we have come up with in my plane. But while i understand the basics of it i dont know enough to create one."

Yaoel- "This plane cannot harness lightning. When i told Sharuum nearly all of your artifice relies on it, she choose not to pursue any of it. This is a strange plane for another reason, its in a cluster with 4 other planes very close to it. This one doesnt posses Red or Green mana at all. You can call on it if you already have the ties, but there no places to make bonds here. Red Mana is the source of lightning, so i dont think they could follow your style of artifice anyway."

Mellir- "Think of it like... You know the concussive power and heat from a lighting strike? Imagine that only make it Millions of lightning strikes all at once... and the fallout from it makes the area around the original explosion site completely toxic for any form of living being, and most inanimate things. And it stays that way for years, decades... Its the one thing in the entire world that was so bad that after useing it even the evilest most vile psychopaths refuse to actually use it again."

Yaoel- "And West wanted one. I wonder if that will increase the punisment on West if i told Sharuum?"

Mellir- "There is alot more to my plane than Electricity though. the splitting of the Atom isn't electrical... and the equipment we have built to do so might be able to cross planes as well. If Sharuum desires i would share all of my memories of the bomb with her, then she may make her decision informed."

Yaoel- "She is the only one left with knowledge of what is in our memories, i trust her well enough with it. But after this ordeal i think i'm going to try and find some otherway then etherium. I really am not found of turning to artifice, it has no moral center for its use."

Mellir- "I trust your decision. And will assist in any way i can. Are we to leave this plane then?"

Yaoel- "Yes, but I'm not sure where to go next. The Etherium was already a sorta promise to myself, i went after Eligor like this and figure if this didnt work i would go and get the etherium wings and try again, but if i'm not actually getting these wings what else can i turn to too agument my abilities?"

Mellir- "Well they have assisted me in opening my mind to Psionics here. Perhaps we just need a plane to assist you in finding another source. I dont know the planes out there nor what other powers there might be, but there must be something... How well does this Eligor know you?"

Yaoel- "He might remeber me just as the angel that got away. I fought him once more since then, and fled again. That is about all of our interaction."

Mellir- "Why exactly did you think this plane's wings would serve you better than your originals in the first fight?"

Yaoel- "Artifice, spells react diffrent sometimes against 'Construct' then flesh and blood creatures. I could dismantle that Warforged with just a touch cause i am adept at fighting creatures made from artifice, but if i used the same spell on you it would probably only destroy your clothes. Eligor strongest and favored spell deals massive damage to creature of flesh and blood. If i took in enough etherium the spell would read me as a construct instead, giving me time to kill him while he was unprepared. But i am not willing to become a construct."

Mellir- "Good and agreed, so what if we found something else that made his spell think you are not flesh and blood? Something rather to disrupt his spell than changing your being?"

Yaoel- "Blues illusion magic has ways, and i have some spells, Yaoel's are trained to be scholars aswell as warriors, but I have never really been all that good at them. I work better with Red's destructive capabilites and Whites protection magic."

Mellir- "Whites protection magic? There we go, lets focus on that. White has always had ties to goodness and Angels in my plane, where Demons were dark and shadowy things. Perhaps if we were to go looking for some other sources of white magic."

Yaoel- "I have visted a plane of strong white ties before. Theros. It was a land ruled buy Monsters and Heros, and they had a group of Gods, powerful celestial beings that.... well honestly gave them a hard time, but i might find something there. They had dozens of aura spells, even aura magic that was alive on its own. I'll go there then. See what we can find as i dig deeper into there magics."

Mellir- "If they have Gods, they might have demons, finding something to prepare against him might be as effective as finding something to protect yourself from his favored spell."

DM- Anyway, she sits down and starts to meditate. it doesnt take long until you are thrown back to Bretts office, thankfully with douffel bag in hand. Brett looks up a bit surprised. "Christ almight might have given me a heart attack. How was the trip? hop across gysers again?"

Mellir- "This you wouldn't believe if you hadn't been there. We gotta start recording these, make a hell of a book..." I go into detail, explaining everything that happened and shivering at the memory of the intrusion of a mind in mine.