"I...doubt we have a lot of time, Lia," Kuzan said quietly, "Vedarrak has the others -- our friends -- and I don't want to risk making him wait. Gods only know what he's doing to them right now. If we show up with anything other than the genuine artifact, we might be killing our friends. And gods only know where Cavendish is right now."
The priest considered and pulled out a small packet from his magical pouch. He squeezed the ointment out of the packet and smeared it over his eyes while uttering a short prayer.
True seeing.
The Eye of Anubis: Book Eleven
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Kaitou Kage
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Rock of the Fraternity
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"How high do you estimate our chances of making it back to the Core alive once we've gotten the wretched thing outside, though?" Lia asks. "We know of the power locked in that damned thing. Do you imagine the Brotherhood wants us spreading tales of what happened on this trip around? Unless Vedarrak is prepared to take the time to magically dominate and geas each and every one of us, it's far easier for him to have his soldiers slit our throats.
And even if he doesn't ... If we carry the Eye out of this place, Cavendish will know about it. He'll try to get it. And if subtle doesn't work ... there's a great big boneyard near Muhar that he can use to raise himself an army of the undead. And you all know he won't stop coming."
And even if he doesn't ... If we carry the Eye out of this place, Cavendish will know about it. He'll try to get it. And if subtle doesn't work ... there's a great big boneyard near Muhar that he can use to raise himself an army of the undead. And you all know he won't stop coming."
Damn it all. Charles is lost. Guy's been lost the whole trip. Frustration and fury wage war in Eisenwald's heart, as he is again presented with option 'murder this room full of liars, thieves, and killers before they betray him again.'.
"BACK OFF!" Tomas shouts at a shadow that happened to get a little touchy, snaking up his leg like a wet strand of seaweed. Sweat inches down his brow, the icy feeling making Tomas realize how exhausted and overheated he is by simple, savage contrast. His eyes turn to Charles and Guy, "Look-look, I have to deal with this, or people will die. Give me a minute."
Sheathing Ivorsen, Tomas turns from the mes amis and starts walking towards the statue-and the eye. "None of you deserve to die over this. Kuzan, tell Vedarrak that we're all of us coming out, and if he has a problem with that he can take it up with me. Fasshad, is there some damn witch ritual I have to do, or can I just rip the thing out?"
"BACK OFF!" Tomas shouts at a shadow that happened to get a little touchy, snaking up his leg like a wet strand of seaweed. Sweat inches down his brow, the icy feeling making Tomas realize how exhausted and overheated he is by simple, savage contrast. His eyes turn to Charles and Guy, "Look-look, I have to deal with this, or people will die. Give me a minute."
Sheathing Ivorsen, Tomas turns from the mes amis and starts walking towards the statue-and the eye. "None of you deserve to die over this. Kuzan, tell Vedarrak that we're all of us coming out, and if he has a problem with that he can take it up with me. Fasshad, is there some damn witch ritual I have to do, or can I just rip the thing out?"
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Kaitou Kage
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"Lia, what bloody choice do we have?" Kuzan demanded, "If we don't take the Eye out with us, he'll kill us. If we take the Eye out but it's dried up or faked, he'll kill us. That thing blinded me when I looked at it. They'll know if it's not what we claim it is. So how is your option any better? We all die anyway, and we sentence those outside to death! And what, do you think us not being there is going to keep Cavendish at bay? That if we all die here, he'll just give up and go home? If he shows up, we have to deal with him, just like we always have."
He gestured around. "There are wards thicker than a galleon around this chamber. Not only that, but they're on the Ethereal Plane, too. Nothing can get in here. I don't see what choice we have."
The priest looked at Tomas. "Are you sure you're ready for this?" he asked.
He gestured around. "There are wards thicker than a galleon around this chamber. Not only that, but they're on the Ethereal Plane, too. Nothing can get in here. I don't see what choice we have."
The priest looked at Tomas. "Are you sure you're ready for this?" he asked.
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Rock of the Fraternity
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Kaitou Kage
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"No-one needs die here today" Sascha rumbles, his deep voice bouncing weirdly off the walls. "If circumstances dictate, then the eye must leave this place, but it will be with my last breath that I hand it to scum like Vederrak, and you will forgive me but I personally do not trust it to your keeping either, Signore Maleagant."Kaitou Kage wrote:We all die anyway, and we sentence those outside to death!
"If the eye leaves we carry it" he finshes before sheathing the black sword with screech and walking after Tomas. If the damn thing needed ripping out, well Sascha wasnt bad at that.
"I had a dream, which was not all a dream.
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
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Rock of the Fraternity
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"Stop shouting," Lia sighs when Kuzan snaps at her. "I am not shouting, I am not even trying to insult you, please do not act as if I am. I said I do not like the options open to us. Not that I would fight them unto grim death."
The wizard walks past the priest and the other members of the expedition, casting a very level look on the members of the conspiracy as she follows Tomas and Sascha. "It may not be safe to touch," she volunteers to Tomas. "If you have a bag or something ready, I can use Telekinesis to get it down from there, I think."
The wizard walks past the priest and the other members of the expedition, casting a very level look on the members of the conspiracy as she follows Tomas and Sascha. "It may not be safe to touch," she volunteers to Tomas. "If you have a bag or something ready, I can use Telekinesis to get it down from there, I think."
Last edited by Rock of the Fraternity on Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Kaitou Kage
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Sascha takes a deep breath as he listens to the commotion behind him. There's a part of the old warrior that would like nothing more than to cuff both Lia and Kuzan round the ear, however the presence of several heavily armed and dangerous people, and the fact they sat in a demons parlour stays his hand.
Gritting his teeth he moves towards the stairs, and the man on them."Fassahd, your grandfather asked me to look upon you with an open mind, you have done nothing to cause me to question you so I shall do as promised. Perhaps you could then enlighten us on how the eye may be taken from this place?"
Gritting his teeth he moves towards the stairs, and the man on them."Fassahd, your grandfather asked me to look upon you with an open mind, you have done nothing to cause me to question you so I shall do as promised. Perhaps you could then enlighten us on how the eye may be taken from this place?"
"I had a dream, which was not all a dream.
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
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NeoTiamat
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The Tomb of Menetnashte
August 30th, 761, 1:28 PM; Day 165 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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Fassahd turned to the brilliantly-glowing Eye of Anubis. It had become brighter since you had last paid attention to it, now glowing brightly enough to light up the entire room with its acidic green light. It burned like a tiny green sun, but though it lit the room like a searchlight, the shadows did not disappear. If anything, they seemed thicker now, contravening all rules of physics and reality, swirling with increasing speed around you.
"I do not like this, Effendi." Fassahd said softly, putting the knife to the edge of the gold setting. Inside the six-inch long emerald, the black flaw seemed to pulse as though a living thing. "And I think the Fiend is as fond of your plan as you are."
Certainly the Eye was more active than you had seen it before. It glowed and pulsed like an actual eye, like something belonging to a vast, venomous serpent, perhaps, or to something entirely not of this world. Then, for a moment, the brilliant green light flared.
If before the Eye of Anubis had seemed like a sun, now it was a true sun. In that heartbeat, the emerald rays burned away all shadows but your own, was so bright that you had to squint to not lose your sight completely. Then the flash of light was passed, though the Eye of Anubis still glowed brightly.
"This I do not like..." Fassahd said to himself, holding the knife in one hand. He looked down, alone possessing no shadow at all in this strange Tomb. Then the Akiri turned back to you, and you could see his eyes widen for a moment. "Defend yourselves!"
The shadow-imprints rose from the floor.
They had been your shadows, once, before the emerald light of Beherit awoke them. Now they rose up, their bodies as yours had been, shadows given substance and form. These were the dark things that Beherit had once raised for Menetnashte, and these were the dark things that he now raised for himself.
A few promptly winked out of existence once more, while others changed, one of the shades becoming more wolfish in form. All of them, though, drew weapons and readied spells, with nothing but malice in their empty hearts.
They came for you, their eyes glowing like emerald stars.
Combat Time!
Shadows Move up
Shadow Jervis casts Lesser Visage of the Deity
Shadow Charles and Lily cast Haste
Shadow Micheal inspires greatness on Shadow Samael.
Shadow Khalil hits Micheal for 9 damage.
Shadow Otto casts Bite of the Werewolf
Shadow Kuzan casts Recitation
Shadow Lia and Andre turn Invisible (Kuzan can still see them)
Shadow Sascha hits Harris for 18 damage.
Shadow Tomas hits Jervis for 20 damage.
Charles (NPCed) casts Haste on Aya, Khalil, Karsh, Jervis, Guy, Loup, Charles, and Sacha
The Treasure Room's Ceiling is 20 ft. tall.
The big piles of treasure (the more brightly-colored, the cartons of gems, etc) are impassable terrain, and too unstable to climb upon.
The smaller piles of treasure (the golden coins) are Difficult Terrain, thus you need to take 2 squares of movement to enter one.
The Statues are on 6-foot tall bases and are generally considered Impassable, unless you use a Climb or Jump check of some sort.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Conspiracy is, at the moment, treating you as allies, so unless you attack them you can flank with them, move through their squares, etc.
The Shadows have a discernible anatomy. They can be sneak-attacked, suffer critical hits, etc. Also, Shadow-Loup does not count as wolf.
The real Loup, on the other hand, does count, so you're not off the hook yet, Otto.
Lastly, House-Rule regarding Alignments: Shadows count as both Evil, and the alignment of the person they are shadowing for purposes of alignment effects. So Shadow-Otto can be struck with both a Smite Good and a Smite Evil. This should only be relevant for the Conspiracy, I believe, but informing you nevertheless.
PCs: Mass Conviction
Kuzan: 89/89, True Seeing, Greater Resistance, Darkvision, Ebon Eyes, Protection from Evil (+2 Deflection to AC), Death Ward, Blur (20% miss chance), Longstrider
Lia: 65/46, Greater Mage Armor (+6 AC), False Life (19 temp hp), Superior Resistance
Otto: 62/62
Tomas: 120/120
Andre: 39/39
Charles: 63/63, Haste
Sascha: 108/108, Haste
Harris: 97/115
Shadow PCs (Black): Mass Conviction, Haste (except Charles) Recitation (+2 AC, Attack rolls, Saving Throws)
Kuzan: True Seeing, Greater Resistance, Darkvision, Ebon Eyes, Protection from Evil (+2 Deflection to AC), Death Ward, Blur (20% miss chance), Longstrider, Recitation (+3)
Lia: Greater Mage Armor (+6 AC), False Life (19 temp hp), Superior Resistance, Greater Invisibility
Otto: Bite of the Werewolf (+2 Str, +4 Dex, +4(2) Con, +4 natural armor)
Sascha:
Tomas:
Charles:
Andre: Greater Invisibility
Harris:
Conspiracy
Jervis: -20, Ebon Eyes, Magic Circle Against Good, Heroism, Resist Energy (Fire), Haste
Aya: Haste
Sam: False Life, Ebon Eyes, Magic Circle Against Good, Heroism, Resist Energy (Fire), Protection from Energy (Sonic)
Lily: False Life
Guy: Heroism, Haste
Loup: Haste
Khalil: Heroism, Crown of Might, Haste
Karsh: Haste
Micheal: -9, Protection from Energy (Sonic), Resist Energy (Fire), Unseen Servant
Fassahd: Endure Elements, Deathwatch, Ebon Eyes, Conviction, Protection from Negative Energy, Magic Vestment, Magic Circle Against Evil, Protection from Energy (Fire, Cold, Electricity), Contingent Energy Resistance, Greater Resistance, Spell Immunity (Sound Lance, Magic Missile)
Shadow Conspiracy (White)
All: Recitation (except Lily, Aya, and Sam)
Jervis: Ebon Eyes, Magic Circle Against Good, Heroism, Resist Energy (Fire), Lesser Visage of the Deity, Haste
Aya:
Sam: False Life, Inspired Greatness (29 temp hp total), Ebon Eyes, Magic Circle Against Good, Heroism, Resist Energy (Fire), Protection from Energy (Sonic), Truestrike
Lily: False Life (18 temp hp)
Guy: Heroism, Haste
Loup: Haste
Khalil: Heroism, Crown of Might, Haste
Karsh: Haste
Micheal: Protection from Energy (Sonic), Resist Energy (Fire), Unseen Servant, Haste
August 30th, 761, 1:28 PM; Day 165 of the Menetnashte Expedition
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There is no ritual, Effendi." The wiry Akiri said simply. Upon Lia and Kuzan's words, he made no comment. From his belt, he withdrew a plain iron knife, more a tool than a weapon. "Only a simple gold setting."DocBeard wrote:"Fassahd, is there some damn witch ritual I have to do, or can I just rip the thing out?"
Fassahd turned to the brilliantly-glowing Eye of Anubis. It had become brighter since you had last paid attention to it, now glowing brightly enough to light up the entire room with its acidic green light. It burned like a tiny green sun, but though it lit the room like a searchlight, the shadows did not disappear. If anything, they seemed thicker now, contravening all rules of physics and reality, swirling with increasing speed around you.
"I do not like this, Effendi." Fassahd said softly, putting the knife to the edge of the gold setting. Inside the six-inch long emerald, the black flaw seemed to pulse as though a living thing. "And I think the Fiend is as fond of your plan as you are."
Certainly the Eye was more active than you had seen it before. It glowed and pulsed like an actual eye, like something belonging to a vast, venomous serpent, perhaps, or to something entirely not of this world. Then, for a moment, the brilliant green light flared.
If before the Eye of Anubis had seemed like a sun, now it was a true sun. In that heartbeat, the emerald rays burned away all shadows but your own, was so bright that you had to squint to not lose your sight completely. Then the flash of light was passed, though the Eye of Anubis still glowed brightly.
"This I do not like..." Fassahd said to himself, holding the knife in one hand. He looked down, alone possessing no shadow at all in this strange Tomb. Then the Akiri turned back to you, and you could see his eyes widen for a moment. "Defend yourselves!"
The shadow-imprints rose from the floor.
They had been your shadows, once, before the emerald light of Beherit awoke them. Now they rose up, their bodies as yours had been, shadows given substance and form. These were the dark things that Beherit had once raised for Menetnashte, and these were the dark things that he now raised for himself.
A few promptly winked out of existence once more, while others changed, one of the shades becoming more wolfish in form. All of them, though, drew weapons and readied spells, with nothing but malice in their empty hearts.
They came for you, their eyes glowing like emerald stars.
Combat Time!
Shadows Move up
Shadow Jervis casts Lesser Visage of the Deity
Shadow Charles and Lily cast Haste
Shadow Micheal inspires greatness on Shadow Samael.
Shadow Khalil hits Micheal for 9 damage.
Shadow Otto casts Bite of the Werewolf
Shadow Kuzan casts Recitation
Shadow Lia and Andre turn Invisible (Kuzan can still see them)
Shadow Sascha hits Harris for 18 damage.
Shadow Tomas hits Jervis for 20 damage.
Charles (NPCed) casts Haste on Aya, Khalil, Karsh, Jervis, Guy, Loup, Charles, and Sacha
The Treasure Room's Ceiling is 20 ft. tall.
The big piles of treasure (the more brightly-colored, the cartons of gems, etc) are impassable terrain, and too unstable to climb upon.
The smaller piles of treasure (the golden coins) are Difficult Terrain, thus you need to take 2 squares of movement to enter one.
The Statues are on 6-foot tall bases and are generally considered Impassable, unless you use a Climb or Jump check of some sort.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Conspiracy is, at the moment, treating you as allies, so unless you attack them you can flank with them, move through their squares, etc.
The Shadows have a discernible anatomy. They can be sneak-attacked, suffer critical hits, etc. Also, Shadow-Loup does not count as wolf.
The real Loup, on the other hand, does count, so you're not off the hook yet, Otto.
Lastly, House-Rule regarding Alignments: Shadows count as both Evil, and the alignment of the person they are shadowing for purposes of alignment effects. So Shadow-Otto can be struck with both a Smite Good and a Smite Evil. This should only be relevant for the Conspiracy, I believe, but informing you nevertheless.
PCs: Mass Conviction
Kuzan: 89/89, True Seeing, Greater Resistance, Darkvision, Ebon Eyes, Protection from Evil (+2 Deflection to AC), Death Ward, Blur (20% miss chance), Longstrider
Lia: 65/46, Greater Mage Armor (+6 AC), False Life (19 temp hp), Superior Resistance
Otto: 62/62
Tomas: 120/120
Andre: 39/39
Charles: 63/63, Haste
Sascha: 108/108, Haste
Harris: 97/115
Shadow PCs (Black): Mass Conviction, Haste (except Charles) Recitation (+2 AC, Attack rolls, Saving Throws)
Kuzan: True Seeing, Greater Resistance, Darkvision, Ebon Eyes, Protection from Evil (+2 Deflection to AC), Death Ward, Blur (20% miss chance), Longstrider, Recitation (+3)
Lia: Greater Mage Armor (+6 AC), False Life (19 temp hp), Superior Resistance, Greater Invisibility
Otto: Bite of the Werewolf (+2 Str, +4 Dex, +4(2) Con, +4 natural armor)
Sascha:
Tomas:
Charles:
Andre: Greater Invisibility
Harris:
Conspiracy
Jervis: -20, Ebon Eyes, Magic Circle Against Good, Heroism, Resist Energy (Fire), Haste
Aya: Haste
Sam: False Life, Ebon Eyes, Magic Circle Against Good, Heroism, Resist Energy (Fire), Protection from Energy (Sonic)
Lily: False Life
Guy: Heroism, Haste
Loup: Haste
Khalil: Heroism, Crown of Might, Haste
Karsh: Haste
Micheal: -9, Protection from Energy (Sonic), Resist Energy (Fire), Unseen Servant
Fassahd: Endure Elements, Deathwatch, Ebon Eyes, Conviction, Protection from Negative Energy, Magic Vestment, Magic Circle Against Evil, Protection from Energy (Fire, Cold, Electricity), Contingent Energy Resistance, Greater Resistance, Spell Immunity (Sound Lance, Magic Missile)
Shadow Conspiracy (White)
All: Recitation (except Lily, Aya, and Sam)
Jervis: Ebon Eyes, Magic Circle Against Good, Heroism, Resist Energy (Fire), Lesser Visage of the Deity, Haste
Aya:
Sam: False Life, Inspired Greatness (29 temp hp total), Ebon Eyes, Magic Circle Against Good, Heroism, Resist Energy (Fire), Protection from Energy (Sonic), Truestrike
Lily: False Life (18 temp hp)
Guy: Heroism, Haste
Loup: Haste
Khalil: Heroism, Crown of Might, Haste
Karsh: Haste
Micheal: Protection from Energy (Sonic), Resist Energy (Fire), Unseen Servant, Haste
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
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Rock of the Fraternity
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"They are shadow copies of us!" Lia shouts out loud. "They have all of our equipment, our individual strengths and abilities, our knowledge -- our spells! Scatter! Do not allow my counterpart to hit you with area spells!"
Hurriedly, the wizard chants a spell of her own: "E visu abscin-!" -- but the proximity of shadow-Harris distracts her at exactly the wrong moment. The spell fails and falters ... Lia spits a choice swearword and spreads her wings in an effort to get away from the closest danger.
(OOC: Attempted to defensively cast Greater Invisibility, but failed the Concentration DC. Flying to R2 and landing.)
Hurriedly, the wizard chants a spell of her own: "E visu abscin-!" -- but the proximity of shadow-Harris distracts her at exactly the wrong moment. The spell fails and falters ... Lia spits a choice swearword and spreads her wings in an effort to get away from the closest danger.
(OOC: Attempted to defensively cast Greater Invisibility, but failed the Concentration DC. Flying to R2 and landing.)
Last edited by Rock of the Fraternity on Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Oh hey of course the fiend has defenses, Tomas thinks, just before a miniature sun blinds him. Stumbling back, the swordsman turns around to see the horrific shadow-men rise from the ground, animated by the immortal hate of the archdevil. Lucky Fasshad doesn't seem to be affected, Tomas thinks to himself, eyes darting around to get some sense of the room. It looks like everyone's in some bit of trouble.
Tomas wishes he could keep the anticipatory smile off of his face, but a good, clean fight is exactly what he needed, after having to swallow this compromise of a plan.
"Come then, if you dare." Tomas pulls Ivorsen out of its sheath, running the sword along the floor, sending sparks flying...the electricity seeming to almost stick to the magic sword as it builds up, pulsing with the light fantastic. Finally, Tomas pulls the sword up, cracking it once against his shield, and points it directly at his unholy double. "...face Eisenwald!"
(OOC: Casting Divine Weapon on myself. I've wanted to say that line all chapter, too.)
Tomas wishes he could keep the anticipatory smile off of his face, but a good, clean fight is exactly what he needed, after having to swallow this compromise of a plan.
"Come then, if you dare." Tomas pulls Ivorsen out of its sheath, running the sword along the floor, sending sparks flying...the electricity seeming to almost stick to the magic sword as it builds up, pulsing with the light fantastic. Finally, Tomas pulls the sword up, cracking it once against his shield, and points it directly at his unholy double. "...face Eisenwald!"
(OOC: Casting Divine Weapon on myself. I've wanted to say that line all chapter, too.)
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Kaitou Kage
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Kuzan raised a hand and pointed, once at the shadow-Lia, once at the shadow-Andre. A very small part of him, he knew, would enjoy this. He uttered the word of power.
The smell of burnt ozone filled the air and lightning crackled between the two invisible spellcasters. With any luck, it would put a dent in them, if not bring them down completely.
Arc of Lightning defensively, Shadow Lia and Shadow Andre.
Stupid below-average rolls. 35 damage, Reflex 21 for half.
Tumbling to V5.
The priest swore. "Someone finish them off!" he shouted.
The smell of burnt ozone filled the air and lightning crackled between the two invisible spellcasters. With any luck, it would put a dent in them, if not bring them down completely.
Arc of Lightning defensively, Shadow Lia and Shadow Andre.
Stupid below-average rolls. 35 damage, Reflex 21 for half.
Tumbling to V5.
The priest swore. "Someone finish them off!" he shouted.
When Lia provoked moving away, Shadow Harris uses his Sidestep feat and five-foot steps into her square. He is currently in W7, threatening Andre and Otto now.
"No, but evil is still being — Is having reason — Being reasonable! Mousie understands? Is always being reason. Is punishing world for not being... Like in head. Is always reason. World should be different, is reason."