SPECTRE and SHADOW Conference (storyline)/2025-10-11 - Lecture 8 - Abominations (log)

The final lecture of the 2025 SPECTRE and SHADOW Conference was led by Thalita Trevil and focused on the nature of what is an abomination - and how they are caused by a spillover effect of different sorts of life traversing the valences and adapting - or not - to their new surroundings.

Log has been heavily edited to remove ambient messages from 5000 pets.

A crisp, clear voice calls out, the sound echoing through the halls and across the grounds, "The conference continues in the library with more lectures."

[Evermore Hotel, Library]
Towering bookshelves are crammed with grimoires, tomes, and scrolls adorned with mystical symbols shimmering in the dim light of softly glowing orbs.  Tables scattered throughout the library are covered with open books, their pages fluttering as if stirred by an unseen breeze laden with the musty scent of aged parchment.  An enormous tapestry hangs above a grand stone fireplace carved to resemble the gaping maw of a colossal dragon frozen in a perpetual roar.  You also see a coy forest spirit that is flying around, a white-flurried wintry blue raidanlu boasting silver-frosted wings, a faded red phantom puppy bleeding whorls of sanguine mist, a white-muzzled grey arctic fox with silver-tufted ears, a minuscule glacial blue qakoni teadragon with membranous moonlight silver wings, a sleek polychromic teadragon with lacy opalescent wings, a long-haired tortoiseshell cat with an ebon face mask, the Serene disk, a slender brown fox, a yellow-eyed silvery lor mandrake sprouting lavender-grey ghostbells, a glowing red-gold fire puppy with a luminous white face and belly, a stygian ruby-barred millipede, an innocuous house spider, a giant ovate leathery winged cockroach, a two-toned cerulean weevil, an innocuous house spider, an innocuous house spider, a black-lacquered witchwood bar framed by mist-enshrouded iron cauldrons with some stuff on it, a branch-like ghostwood basket perched on a base of raven-carved marble, a polar bear skin rug and an overstuffed dark leather couch.
Also here: Nilandia, Small Game Huntress Kialeigh, Lady Meliyara who is sitting, Land Pirate Maylan who is sitting, Master Giedrius who is sitting, Oogey who is sitting, Lady Erienne, Sister-in-Arms Delindra who is sitting, Aurelyn, Rivienne, Aifric, Brave Soul Alek who is sitting, Serene, Aihan, Magister Raelee, Vulpine Chaser Perigourd, Bathcwyn Missoni who is sitting, Omrii who is sitting, Fleurs who is sitting, Thalita, Ermias who is sitting, Vexlia
Obvious exits: out

Ermias softly says, "Ah good, right on time, then."

Ermias takes a bite of his grilled squid rings.

Thalita stretches.

Ermias waves to Thalita.

Thalita says, "Ermias."

Speaking softly to Thalita, Ermias exclaims, "Looking forward to your chat!"

Ermias takes a bite of his grilled squid rings.

Thalita rolls some greenish-black flames through her fingers like flipping a coin.

Giedrius wanders in.

Ermias helps himself to a skewer of chili and cumin-roasted scorpions.

Thalita says, "I will start in about two minutes or so."

You see Thalita Trevil the Necromancer.
She appears to be a Dark Elf.
She is more imposing than tall and has a strikingly beautiful form.  She appears to be in the prime of life.  She has kohl-rimmed piercing violet eyes and smooth dark skin.  She has long, jet-black hair flowing around a dark crown of black diamonds, which seems to emerge from her skull.  She has highly polished and sharp dark urglaes talons in place of her nails.
She is in good shape.
She is wearing a twisted bleakstone necklace, a lambent viridian soulstone burning with mawfire, a sickly deep black blossom, a vathorboned onyx jacquard corset pulled taut by silver veniom lacing, a pitch-black voided velvet evening gown silhouetted with dark jewels, an archaic urglaes reliquary, a twisted black ora waistchain hung with a flaming dreadsteed skull, a sleek black leather vasculum, and a pair of thigh-high black vruul leather boots on high curved points.
The ground beneath Thalita writhes in swells of shadow, the demonic visages rising across her form before disappearing in a silent scream of dark mist.

You nod once.

Missoni surreptitiously glances at Giedrius.
Missoni nods appreciatively at Thalita.

(Delindra curls up into one corner of the couch, setting her shoes on the ground before her and tucking her feet in.)
Delindra yawns.

Giedrius says, "It is nice to not be covered in fur."

Giedrius just went over and threw himself down on the couch.

Omrii slowly empties his lungs.

Speaking softly to Giedrius, Ermias says, "I too like abandoning pretense."

Ermias takes a bite of his cumin-roasted scorpions.

An obese drunken chinchilla bares sharp yellow teeth as it darts around a shaggy gray biofluorescent springhare, nipping savagely at ears and hindquarters.  The biofluorescent springhare backs away quickly, but not fast enough!  Liberally decorated with new wounds, the springhare scampers out of reach.

Maylan says, "RODENT FIGHT."

Perigourd puffs rapidly on his dark maoral pipe, some dark wisps of fragrant chocolate-scented smoke dancing about him.

Speaking to Ermias, Giedrius says, "They are not pretense."

An obese drunken chinchilla bares sharp yellow teeth as it darts around a shaggy gray biofluorescent springhare, nipping savagely at ears and hindquarters.  The biofluorescent springhare backs away quickly, but not fast enough!  Liberally decorated with new wounds, the springhare scampers out of reach.

A shaggy gray biofluorescent springhare squeaks with alarm and retreats, painfully climbing up Kialeigh and disappearing into a silver scale-patterned arctic blue suede jacket.

Speaking to Ermias, Delindra suggests, "So does Little Ermias."

Fleurs sighs.

A tuft-eared rusty red fox squirrel hisses and approaches an obese drunken chinchilla carefully from the side, searching for an opening to strike at.  

Speaking to Maylan, Meliyara asks, "Who will you be fighting?"

Speaking honestly to Ermias, Giedrius says, "I do like the hamsters."

An obese drunken chinchilla bristles and postures before taking a few quick swipes at a tuft-eared rusty red fox squirrel with its claws.  With uncanny speed, the rusty red fox squirrel jumps and rolls quickly out and away from the danger.

A tuft-eared rusty red fox squirrel snarls menacingly and charges an obese drunken chinchilla, darting in and striking at its unprotected flank!  The drunken chinchilla stumbles trying to back away, taking the full brunt of the attack!

Speaking to Meliyara, Maylan says, "I'm a lover, not the fighter type."

Speaking softly to Giedrius, Ermias says, "I am actually quite affirmed to hear that.  Some little fuzballs could do you good."

An obese drunken chinchilla hisses and approaches a tuft-eared rusty red fox squirrel carefully from the side, searching for an opening to strike at.  

A tuft-eared rusty red fox squirrel hisses and approaches an obese drunken chinchilla carefully from the side, searching for an opening to strike at.  

Meliyara glances skeptically at Maylan.

Speaking to an obese drunken chinchilla, Maylan exclaims, "Uh oh!"

Oogey suddenly flinches.

An obese drunken chinchilla bristles and postures before taking a few quick swipes at a tuft-eared rusty red fox squirrel with its claws.  With uncanny speed, the rusty red fox squirrel jumps and rolls quickly out and away from the danger.

Kialeigh says, "The rodents do love to fight."

A tuft-eared rusty red fox squirrel bristles and postures before taking a few quick swipes at an obese drunken chinchilla with its claws.  With a burst of speed, the drunken chinchilla manages to scamper away, but new smudges of blood in its fur indicate only partial success.

Speaking amusedly to Giedrius, Omrii says, "You should name more of them.  Perhaps Paul2, Paul3."

Kialeigh warily picks up the rusty red fox squirrel by the scruff of its neck, the creature squirming angrily.
Kialeigh carefully places a tuft-eared rusty red fox squirrel on her shoulder.

Maylan winces.

Giedrius nods slightly at Omrii.

Speaking to Giedrius, you say, "Animals can be engaging.  But I am glad that they are not the focal point of this evening."

Alek snaps his fingers.

Giedrius helps himself to a handful of herb-dusted garlic almonds.

Giedrius takes a bite of his herb-dusted almonds.

Maylan pats the drunken chinchilla on the head, the rodent submitting to the condescending gesture with an irritated hiss.

Delindra disappointedly asks, "They're not?"
Delindra folds her arms over her chest.
Delindra looks downright miserable.

Ermias nods sympathetically at Delindra.

Thalita says, "They may yet, after a fashion."

Ermias offers Delindra a skewer of chili and cumin-roasted scorpions.

Speaking to you, Giedrius says, "I doubt Thalita will even mention hamsters in passing."

Speaking to Delindra, you say, "They can be for you."

Speaking to an obese drunken chinchilla, Maylan says, "Let's heal you up. Bet that lady didn't know I can do such fer ya."
Maylan warily picks up the drunken chinchilla by the scruff of its neck, the creature squirming angrily.

Delindra accepts Ermias's cumin-roasted scorpions.

Ermias smiles at Delindra.

Giedrius takes a bite of his herb-dusted almonds.

Delindra squints at a skewer of chili and cumin-roasted scorpions.

Thalita asks, "Are we ready?"

You see Thalita Trevil the Necromancer.
She appears to be a Dark Elf.
She is more imposing than tall and has a strikingly beautiful form.  She appears to be in the prime of life.  She has kohl-rimmed piercing violet eyes and smooth dark skin.  She has long, jet-black hair flowing around a dark crown of black diamonds, which seems to emerge from her skull.  She has highly polished and sharp dark urglaes talons in place of her nails.
She is in good shape.
She is wearing a twisted bleakstone necklace, a lambent viridian soulstone burning with mawfire, a sickly deep black blossom, a vathorboned onyx jacquard corset pulled taut by silver veniom lacing, a pitch-black voided velvet evening gown silhouetted with dark jewels, an archaic urglaes reliquary, a twisted black ora waistchain hung with a flaming dreadsteed skull, a sleek black leather vasculum, and a pair of thigh-high black vruul leather boots on high curved points.
The ground beneath Thalita writhes in swells of shadow, the demonic visages rising across her form before disappearing in a silent scream of dark mist.

Speaking to Thalita, Raelee says, "Always."

You gaze with interest at Thalita.

Serene grins at Thalita.

Ermias turns an inquisitive ear toward Thalita.

Speaking hesitantly to Ermias, Delindra says, "Th..ank... you..."

Missoni turns an inquisitive ear toward Thalita.

Aifric shifts her weight, restlessly leaning back and forth.

Thalita says, "The hotel manager was terribly concerned about not burning down the building."

Thalita says, "I make no promises."

(Delindra holds the skewer of scorpions delicately between thumb and forefinger, extending them slightly away from herself.)

Thalita flicks her wrist and blazes a column of infernal heat, swirling the balefire into a monstrous shape, holding the twisted form of a humanoid with a sunken hole for a face and bone scythes for arms.

Meliyara gazes in amusement at Thalita.

Delindra lets out a yelp!

Speaking raspily to Delindra, Alek whispers aloud, "Wrong direction."

Oogey says, "Oooooo."

Thalita asks, "Where do monsters come from?"

Perigourd scratches at his beard.

Raelee settles her gaze on Thalita, watching her intently.

You think to yourself, "Almost looks like Xavean."
You smile.

Ermias leans back.

Aifric says, "Nightmares."

Missoni shifts her weight.

Giedrius mutters, "Apparently from me."

Serene blinks at Thalita.

Giedrius takes a bite of his herb-dusted almonds.

Thalita nods at Aifric.

Thalita says, "Sometimes."

Ermias flashes Giedrius a toothy grin.

Thalita says, "The presumption is that they originate in dark gods, or malevolent demons, or thaumaturges who would make the worse the better cause."

Perigourd says, "Sources may be numerous."

(Delindra nearly drops her skewer into the flaming apparition.)

The tortoiseshell cat pounces playfully near the luck spirit, a small mew escaping him.

Thalita says, "There is undoubtedly much truth in this, but it begs the question of how it happens."

Thalita says, "Often we speak as though naming a culprit is an explanation in itself."

You gaze with interest at Thalita.

Delindra furrows her brow.

Aihan leans against a towering bookshelf.

Thalita says, "'Undead!'  Ah, well!  It is that Luukos, up to his Luukosian tricks again.  How clever we are to know that saying 'Luukos' answers all matters necromancy."

Meliyara gazes in amusement at Thalita.

You chortle.

Giedrius smirks at Thalita.

Thalita says, "But this brings us absolutely nowhere toward understanding how to make monsters ourselves."

Delindra surreptitiously glances at Giedrius.

Thalita asks, "What does religion have to say on the matter of life?"

Thalita says, "Imaera is credited with the re-creation of life, of shaping the various humanoid races, weaving flesh and plant and bone to her needs."

Perigourd leans against a towering bookshelf.

You grin wryly.

Thalita says, "Dim reflection or counterfeit, I would not presume to say."

Giedrius turns an inquisitive ear toward Thalita.

Thalita says, "But, of course, we say 're-creation', not creation.  The religious conceit is that the Drakes, life and world, precede the Arkati entirely."

Madam Felisaithne just arrived.

Felisaithne smiles.

Felisaithne nods in agreement.

Felisaithne just went over and threw herself down on the couch.

Ermias waves to Felisaithne.

Thalita says, "Beyond that one appeals to mythical vagueries of 'One' and 'Many', or else it is 'Drakes all the way down', as they say in seminary."

The tortoiseshell cat turns away from Delindra and saunters away.

Her hand lowered, Felisaithne gives Ermias a subtle wave.

Meliyara laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement.

Thalita says, "Even the gods are not given the benefit of assumed originality."

Giedrius nods in agreement.

Thalita says, "Much was destroyed in the Ur-Daemon War.  Imaera and her servants, such as Kuon, worked to heal the green and growing things."

Aifric blinks in puzzlement at Thalita.

Thalita says, "This was an essentially conservative ideology.  Preservationists and restorationism."

Thalita says, "Reactionary, even.  Bringing things back to a time that had never existed."

A spider drops from the ceiling, ensnares the millipede, then ascends on its silken thread back up into the shadows overhead.

Thalita says, "Some us prefer... innovation."

Meliyara smirks as a haughty expression flits across her face.

Maylan blinks.

Thalita says, "Imaera is opposed to the twisting and deformation of life forms practiced by dark gods, but has herself fashioned the various races, such as trying to improve tree elves with feathers and wings."

Speaking to Missoni, Aifric whispers aloud, "The arashan linger."

Thalita asks, "Is the distinction between good and evil, then, merely a matter of the aesthetics of the taste makers?"

Aihan nods at Thalita.

Missoni nods knowingly at Aifric.

Raelee looks thoughtfully at Thalita.

Thalita sweeps her hand and swirls the balefire into the shape of a grotesque insectoid with bulging lidless eyes, a distended two-lobed head, vicious-looking mandibles and stunted wings from its cylindrical body.

Perigourd chuckles.

You ponder the meaning of Thalita's existence.

Delindra leans back.

Thalita says, "What was done to the Aelotoi was 'monstrous', but most do not think them monsters."

Thalita winks at Maylan.

Maylan gawks at Thalita.

Yukito nods slowly.
Slipping its loop from his belt, Yukito lightly holds his rice paper fan in his waiting hand.

Meliyara casually glances at Maylan.

Thalita asks, "Nor is it a matter of consent.  Who among us consented so to Imaera?"

Thalita says, "This makes one wonder and have to ask."

Missoni glances at Perigourd and quirks an eyebrow in his direction.

Maylan glances around the room.

Thalita asks, "Which mixing of kinds are unnatural abominations and which are not?"

Aihan raises an eyebrow.

Giedrius nods at Thalita.

Thalita asks, "Is the centaur so much more noble than the manticore?"

Delindra frowns.

Thalita asks, "Is the manticore less vile than the shrickhen?"

Thalita says, "What we are dancing around is the matter of corruption.  Debasement, defilement.  The tainted and accursed.  The unnatural as affront to nature itself."

Aihan agrees with Thalita.

Thalita says, "There is a kind of harmony to the world, and disharmony which is the tune of other worlds."

Meliyara amusedly offers, "Patchwork monstrosities."

Thalita says, "Without recognizing this we should have to concede that Imaera, and Lorminstra, are goddesses of necromancy and violators of the sanctity of life and death."

Thalita says, "There must be a sense to this that explains, rather than begs, why what Imaera did is 'good' and what the Shadows did is 'bad'."

Delindra frowns.

Thalita says, "Let us descend to earth, then, and return to this point later."

Missoni furtively glances at Perigourd and quirks an eyebrow in his direction.

Giedrius nods slightly.

Perigourd folds his arms over his chest.

You nod at Thalita.

Thalita asks, "In the more lowly world of mortal affairs, what of the shaping of life by our ancestors?"

Missoni takes a drink from her orange blossom champagne.
Missoni gulps.

The tortoiseshell cat turns away from Erienne and saunters away.

Thalita says, "There is the selective breeding of animal husbandry, the artifice in crossing plants, the taming of wolves into docile little dogs."

Ermias ponders.

Thalita asks, "Is this where we find the heart of evil, the absolution of good, or must we go on to thaumaturgical interventions?"

Maylan breaks out in a sweat.

Speaking to Perigourd, Meliyara whispers aloud, "I told you Imaera is a necromancer."

Raelee surreptitiously glances at Perigourd.

Thalita says, "The ancient Faendryl as it is well known manipulated the living into more spectacular beasts for the blood sports of their colosseums."

You chortle.

Nilandia casually glances at Meliyara.

Perigourd surreptitiously glances at Meliyara.
Speaking to Meliyara, Perigourd says, "I still disagree."

Yukito furrows his brow.

Kialeigh raises an eyebrow.

Thalita says, "War griffins were bred from griffins, gremlocks from gremlins, which both survive to the present day."

Thalita says, "These might be called augments.  Much as plants made to yield greater fruits."

You nod in agreement.

Thalita says, "Then there was the Undead War.  Those thaumaturges were pressed with the need to understand, and counter, the blights and necromantic diseases of Despana."

Maylan bites her lip.

Missoni nods firmly.

Thalita says, "Thus, we also see, among those surviving remnants, festering and twisted beings.  Humanoids experimented upon by sorcerers."

Thalita says, "But these travesties of life are not unliving.  They are merely monsters."

Maylan winces.

Giedrius ponders.

Thalita says, "Nevertheless their miserable, wretched state is inherited."

Thalita asks, "What might we call this sort of thing?"

Thalita says, "'Teratology' would be putting a fine point on it.  It is distinct from necromancy, or merely overlaps it."

Maylan whispers aloud, "Abomination."

Thalita says, "Or else it would be so only if very broadly defined."

Meliyara casually glances at Maylan.

Ermias cocks his head at Maylan.

You nod slightly.

Thalita says, "So we should get into the blood and guts of it."

Giedrius nods in agreement at Thalita.

Ermias cocks his head and examines the desiccated hand.

Thalita waves her hand in a swirling motion, raising a vortex of shadows and greenish-black flames, which shape into the form of a six foot bat-thing with tapered glossy black claws.

You smile.

Missoni gazes with interest at Thalita.

Thalita says, "Thurfel is responsible for the grahnk and luminous spiders.  Thraks have been suspected at times of wizardly meddling, at other times mutation by magical energies."

Serene's jaw drops.

Thalita says, "Augustin Vespertinae welded elves with bats.  Effectively becoming anti-magical, made for slipping through the veil."

Thalita says, "They absorb mana from their surroundings, and their eyes see into other worlds."

You nod.

Yukito mouths, "Terato..."

Aifric says, "That sounds... horrifying."

Thalita says, "We might graft tentacles and fangs and stings to animals at whim, breed them to our heart's desire, chancing upon making their venom glands hereditary."

Yukito nods.

Perigourd nods in agreement at Aifric.

Thalita says, "This is a kind of dark perversion of empathic magic, which brings to mind the 'blood magic' of certain demonic patrons."

Maylan fully extends her wings and stands perfectly still, eyeing Thalita cautiously.

Delindra hugs her knees and sways side to side.

Speaking to Aifric, Missoni whispers aloud, "Come visit us in Solhaven. You may meet hem."

You chortle.

Maylan stands up.

Thalita says, "Then what are we to say of the 'blood golems' of Grishom Stone?  The 'chimeras' of Elithain Cross?"

(Maylan spits on the floor.)
Land Pirate Maylan just swept out.

Missoni glances out.

Ermias shakes his head.

Thalita asks, "What of the 'simulacra' of Thaiagol and the mixing of extraplanar matter?"

(Nilandia levels her gaze at Thalita, but says nothing.)

Meliyara furrows her brow.

Yukito shifts his weight.

Thalita says, "These are monsters of commission.  They are designed by an artist."

Missoni surreptitiously glances at Thalita.

Perigourd glances at Thalita.

Giedrius glances out.

Giedrius shakes his head.

A pained expression crosses Missoni's face.

Serene bites her lip.

Perigourd grunts.

Missoni rests a gentle hand on Perigourd's arm.

Thalita says, "But we may also make note out of all the varied and aberrant things which are mutated by magical energies without any apparent designer."

Rhythmic and evenly timed, Aifric stomps her foot into the ground, producing a resonating beat that enhances the steady drone of her fluttering wings.

Thalita says, "This has the virtue of having been witnessed in historical contexts rather than prehistorical legends."

(Yukito keeps his lower face covered by his fan, staring hard at Thalita.)

Giedrius nods at Thalita.

Thalita says, "Insects are ideal mutants for breeding fast or prodigiously."

Fleurs shudders.

Giedrius gives a sidelong glance at Yukito.

Aifric flutters her wings and scowls.

Thalita says, "Innocuous enough are those mutated by spiritual or elemental influences.  Elstreth has luminous leafhoppers caused by the divine magicks used against the Horned Cabal."

Thalita says, "They also have the spectral mourning bugs, which are highly sensitive to necrotic energy and swarm toward the undead."

Thalita says, "Consider then as a matter of induction the influence of Ghezresh over the animals of Caligos Isle."

Thalita says, "Nor is that erstwhile fire spirit alone in this fashion."

Thalita says, "Heatless flames ripple constantly from the cinerous mantid of Teras Isle.  Home of the Great Fire Elemental Avregol."

You nod once.

Thalita says, "It is speculated that elemental creatures in general originate in corruption by the elements."

Giedrius nods thoughtfully.

Thalita says, "This lends itself to more unnatural energies."

Yukito agrees with Thalita.

Giedrius leans back against the couch, watching Thalita with interest.

Thalita says, "Jantalarians mutated the so-called 'mandis phasmida', resembling household Aldoran divining rods, with Mandis crystal to make it leech mana out of its surroundings."

Thalita exclaims, "What could be less natural than Mandis crystal?  Luukosian tricks, indeed!"

Perigourd raises an eyebrow.

Giedrius chuckles.

You quietly whisper to Raelee, "I regret not bringing one of those specimens now."

Thalita says, "Vesperti, mandis phasmida, sha'rom.  Absorbing magic is a recurring motif."

(Yukito tasks quietly.)

Giedrius removes a worn suede journal from in his robe.

Giedrius removes a blue-black raven quill from in his robe.

Thalita says, "The magical onslaught of the Battle of Maelshyve caused the Maelshyvean stickman, which glows with tiny runes, and the luminous Maelshyvean ghostwing which trails green or violet light."

Giedrius briefly scribbles something in his journal.

Thalita says, "This is tame compared to the demonic corruption of livestock and plants, twisted into hostility, that the exiled Faendryl struggled with in Rhoska-Tor."

Missoni nods knowingly.

Meliyara looks thoughtfully at Thalita.

Thalita says, "The lampric leechlings of the Bleaklands hover without wings, and will burrow to the marrow without intervention of fire and ice."

Thalita says, "The flesh eating scarlet hellgrammite of Toullaire is thought to be a demonic hybrid spilled over into the Wizardwaste."

Thalita flicks her wrist and her inferno of balefire reforms into the shape of a hawk, with stunted featherless wings flapping on the back of its head, its beak unhinged with a thin proboscis extending out of it into the skull of a boar.

Giedrius squints at Thalita.

You gaze with interest at Thalita.

Ermias applauds with enthusiasm, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings.

Thalita says, "Thus, while we may speak of mutants such as the brain eating 'wasp-hawk' of the Wizardwaste, or the tentacle-clawed scorpion 'qahzumar' of Bir Mahallah, we are brought back once again to unnatural cross-breeding."

Thalita says, "The hellgrammite is remarkable in this sense for being both aberration and abomination."

Thalita says, "Its provenance is in the 'chaos' or 'wild magic' corruption of the Wizardwaste, and the unnatural demon-spawn offspring which 'Scourge' the Demonwall."

Raelee whispers, "Perhaps an opportunity to discuss those specimens with her later..."

You nod in agreement at Raelee.

Giedrius nods.

Thalita says, "More and more we circle this point, with unnatural catastrophes, terrible mutations versus unnatural fusions."

Thalita asks, "What is 'natural' if not inherently defined by the properties of a given world?"

Thalita asks, "What is mutation if not transforming a thing according to another world?"

Fleurs rubs her chin thoughtfully.

Thalita says, "Here in Naidem those who were once races of Elanith manifest in other forms, according to a world where dogfish bark and catfish meow."

Serene looks at Thalita with concern.

Thalita says, "A world that follows its own tune, which defines its own discordant harmonies."

You chortle.

Thalita removes a ripped-out bloody vesperti eye with a dangling ocular nerve from in her leather vasculum.

The tortoiseshell cat turns away from Nilandia and saunters away.

Missoni glances appraisingly at Thalita.

Thalita says, "What is a violation in one world is 'natural' to some other."

Ermias softly says, "Woah."

Giedrius murmurs, "That's what I've been saying."

Thalita says, "It must be that what is unlike this world is 'monstrous', that breaking the natural order of this world induces 'monstrosities', and that 'monsters' make other things monstrous through the unnatural fusion of worlds."

You nod in agreement.

Thalita says, "There is a demonic quality that essentially underlies it all."

Thalita says, "Cosmic unity and beauty, buried below the horror."

You smile.

Erienne cocks her head.

Thalita forms a ball of greenish-black flames in her hand, and flicks it out, where it grows and morphs into a brain-like mass of writhing barbed tentacles and eye-stalks.  It latches its primary tentacles on what looks like a humanoid head, which cracks open with the brain splortching out with half a dozen tentacles sprouting under it.

Hissing loudly, the tortoiseshell cat arches up and saunters sideways toward the left.  The cat quickly retreats behind Aifric's legs before looking up at her.

Giedrius cringes.

Delindra's jaw drops.
Delindra leans back.

Thalita says, "Vathors make necleriines with necromancy on corpses of our own world.  Glistening cerebralites make more of themselves out of the brains of those who enter the Rift."

Ermias blinks.

Yukito cocks his head.

Thalita asks, "Is this so much more grotesque than the violence which our own parochial nature inflicts upon itself bloody in tooth and claw?"

Perigourd rubs at the joints of his rough fingers for several moments.

Thalita says, "We might reflect then on the shien being, apparently, imps of Grik'tyr who have been mutated by Shien'tyr."

Erienne nods at Thalita.

Thalita says, "That some demons of Lorae'tyr are speculated to be artificial.  Perhaps foreign, perhaps even victims."

Thalita says, "These valence creatures often resemble the morphology of animals of our world.  Birds, snakes, wolves, centipedes, and spiders."

Aifric scratches her head.

Thalita says, "Which is, indeed, surely the bias of searching those worlds, which are not so unlike our own."

You ponder the meaning of Thalita's existence.

Thalita gestures toward the floor and forms a halfling-sized spider shape out of black flames and writhing shadows, its eyeless head sporting a mouth circled by three tentacles, and eight three-segmented legs sprouting from its thorax.

Missoni adopts an agreeable expression.

Thalita asks, "If a spider of Lorae'tyr may have tentacles for a maw, according to its nature, why not a scorpion in the Sea of Fire having tentacles for claws?"

Raelee settles her gaze on Thalita, watching her intently.

Kialeigh shudders.

Thalita exclaims, "What we must do is bring what is foreign to what is native and fuse them together!"

Giedrius ponders.

Giedrius nods at Thalita.

Thalita says, "We might breed the lightless arashan with a luminous spider, then irradiate its egg sacs with shadows in the Bleaklands, and finally hollow out their spinnerettes to hold elemental lightning."

Erienne gets a blank look on her face.

Missoni glances at Aifric.

Aifric wrinkles her nose.

Thalita says, "It might well be that this is not a 'natural' habitat for gestation, and so there may need to be a parasitic host for the birthing."

You nod thoughtfully.

Thalita says, "Much as a wasp may lay eggs in a tarantula, which devour their way out, our demon-spider mutant may need to graft its eggs."

Thalita says, "Consider the majestic thew bark tree, which a sylvan named Goblyn has adapted, with elemental and chaos magic."

Thalita says, "It is an extraplanar epiphyte, like a strangler fig, that parasites on fauna rather than flora."

Speaking to Missoni, Aifric mentions, "I know why the chinchilla owner ran off now."

Aihan glances between Thalita and Giedrius.

Missoni nods slightly at Aifric.

Thalita says, "It is not able to grow in Elanthian soil on its own.  One grafts it into a warm-blooded animal, taking care to prune away the living flesh, freeing up the root growth."

Perigourd shakes his head.

Giedrius furtively glances at Aihan.

Delindra peers quizzically at Aifric.

Fleurs frowns.

Thalita says, "Though it is more convenient to kill the living host and simply plant it into the rotting carcass."

Zethes wanders in.

Zethes just went over and threw herself down on the couch.

Giedrius nods in agreement at Thalita.

Ermias waves to Zethes.

You nod understandingly.

Thalita says, "There are any number of animals in this very hotel which would make perfect hosts."

Zethes smiles at Ermias.

Aifric leans down and calls to the tortoiseshell cat, who saunters eagerly up to her.  Aifric deftly scoops him up and cradles him against her side.

Thalita says, "The point is it may be necessary to mutilate and magically mutate a living host, so as to bridge the gap, allowing our demonic hybrid to spawn its eggs which feed on their animate matter."

Thalita says, "Witchcraft is the 'natural' way of herding spiders.  The Tehir tasig-heqi 'weaver witches', for example, or the Elven saetarang 'spider witches'."

Speaking to her tortoiseshell cat, Aifric whispers aloud, "I won't let anyone make you a host beastie, Princess Dougnut.  I promise."

Thalita says, "Fortunately, the Bleaklands was made through witchcraft, and demonic blood magic."

Zethes quietly mouths, "Is Thalita being gross again?"

Erienne nods at Zethes.

Giedrius nods at Zethes.

Ermias nods sympathetically at Zethes.

You look at Zethes and shake your head.

Missoni looks thoughtfully at Thalita.

Thalita says, "Which is why having a certain sorcerous understanding, a deeper knowledge of things, is essential even in such black arts which depend so much on happy accidents."

Aifric nods in agreement at Zethes.

(Oogey hides his lizard.)

Ermias holds up his hand and tilts it side to side in a so-so gesture.

Thalita says, "It is why great things may be accomplished through innovation, such as reiver spider shamans making eight-eyed humans with Everblood."

Speaking to Aifric, Giedrius whispers aloud, "Cats have many desirable qualities."

A pained expression crosses Missoni's face.

Thalita asks, "What undiscovered countries lay, then, in the transformation from life to death?"

Raising his closed rice paper fan over his head, Yukito slowly lowers it to his side while twisting it back and forth to trace spirals in the air.  He taps upon it to mimic the pitter-patter of a heavy rain.

Serene says, "Thank you for not having is lesson right before lunch, or right after."

Missoni murmurs, "Those were not great."

The tortoiseshell cat licks at Aifric's arm with his tongue.

Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd says, "Not at all, no."

Thalita asks, "For if a saetipha 'goblin-spider' may turn into a tree elf, or a Goblyn tree elf who sells spiders may grow demon trees in the dead, and the metal feathered verlok demon may be an ancient artifice of sorcerers, who is to say a goddess making a dead tree elf into a feathered god is more natural than the demonic?"

Fleurs says, "We still have to eat tonight..."

The angry hiss of a kitten suddenly erupts from near Serene.
Serene shudders.
Serene glances at Fleurs and slowly exhales.

Thalita asks, "What forms may be freed by bringing such monsters to Naidem?  A place where catfish meow as literally as a chokecherry tree is bred to cause choking?"

Speaking to Giedrius, Aifric agrees, "Indeed! Princess Doughnut likes to make sure I'm okay all the time."

Speaking to Fleurs, Giedrius murmurs, "Not for 30 minutes or so."

Erienne's face turns slightly pale.

You ponder the meaning of life, the universe, and everything.

Ermias helps himself to a broiled oyster topped in a mix of onions and peppers.

Thalita says, "So go the fables of this place, of Taikiti-oro and Amazkoub and Yamatatha, enormous spider hybrids of the unliving women of Naidem."

Speaking dryly to Giedrius, Fleurs says, "Oh, sure, we'll be all recovered, then."

Thalita concludes, "The Weavers of Arachne are a testament to this truth.  Teratology has limitless potential."

Aurelyn nods in agreement at Delindra.

The tortoiseshell cat in Aifric's arms squirms.

Speaking to Thalita, Nilandia corrects, "Sylvisterai. We are not 'tree elves' as you call us."

Giedrius nods at Thalita.

Missoni blinks at Thalita.

Thalita bows.

Giedrius applauds Thalita.

Ermias applauds Thalita.

Speaking to Thalita, Giedrius says, "Excellent, as ever."

Fleurs applauds.

You applaud Thalita.
Speaking to Giedrius, you muse, "You were correct."
You incline your head.

Serene says, "Yes, that was something."
Serene applauds.

Thalita put a ripped-out bloody vesperti eye with a dangling ocular nerve in her leather vasculum.

Speaking softly to Thalita, Ermias says, "Very detailed.  With appreciation.  Also really like the pretty fireworks."

Missoni's eyes grow wide and her features fall slack as she slips into a deep trance.
Missoni rubs her viridian eyes.

Perigourd glances at Missoni.

Ermias smiles at Thalita.

Speaking curiously to Thalita, Meliyara asks, "You posit that the sha'rom are manufactured 'monsters'? Designed like mandis phasmida or vesperti?"

Giedrius says, "Though, I do wonder why everyone yells at me for posing a similar idea, albeit spiritually rather than physically, but you do not get yelled at."

Ermias takes a bite of his pepper-topped oyster.

Zethes says, "Oh, a see-er."

Zethes smiles at Missoni.

Land Pirate Maylan just swept in.

Missoni blinks several times as she slowly comes out of her trance.

Zethes asks, "What did you see?"

Raelee takes a moment to observe Thalita.

Maylan glances around the room.

Giedrius put a blue-black raven quill in his robe.

Giedrius put a worn suede journal in his robe.

Thalita says, "I think the Sha'rom are mutated by environmental magical radiation."

The tortoiseshell cat in Aifric's arms squirms anxiously.
The tortoiseshell cat in Aifric's arms squirms.

You wryly say, "A pity I did not bring my mandis phasmida specimens with me."

Speaking to you, Giedrius asks, "Do you have some?"

Speaking to Zethes, Missoni muses, "Flowers, and a pixie..."

Speaking to Giedrius, Perigourd says, "One only has so much breath in them."

Meliyara nods understandingly at Thalita.

You nod at Giedrius.
Speaking to Giedrius, you say, "I do.  I can retrieve some later."
You add, "If you'd care to see one."

Speaking to her tortoiseshell cat, Aifric whispers aloud, "You're safer in my arms, trust me."

Zethes applauds.

Zethes says, "Delightful."

Speaking to you, Giedrius says, "I should like to see one."

You nod at Giedrius.
Speaking to Giedrius, you say, "Later, then."
You nod once.

Ermias flashes Zethes a toothy grin.

Missoni skeptically says, "She said I need sun and rain, and gave me a pinecone."

Ermias takes a bite of his pepper-topped oyster.

Ermias stands up.

Ermias dusts himself off.

Speaking to Maylan, Zethes says, "Love, could you move over just a scoach?  Clarence is... being germaine."

Missoni mutters, "There are odd things in the ley lines, sometimes."

Maylan says, "Oh."
Maylan scoots over next to Meliyara.

The tortoiseshell cat licks at Aifric's arm with his tongue.
The tortoiseshell cat in Aifric's arms squirms.

Speaking gently to Maylan, Aifric whispers aloud, "Welcome back."

Meliyara casually glances at Maylan.

Maylan glances at Aifric.

Speaking softly to Zethes, Ermias says, "I'll give you some space either way.  I was going to depart momentarily to dress for tonight's event."

Ermias smiles at Zethes.

Speaking to Thalita, Giedrius says, "I should wonder how the synthesis of our ideas would work, in practice."

Giedrius ponders.

You gaze with interest at Thalita.
You say, "A question, if you would."
You incline your head.

Thalita says, "There is a certain consonance.  I admit."

Aihan stares at Giedrius.

Delindra glances between Giedrius and Thalita.
Delindra fidgets.

Giedrius nods at Thalita.

Thalita nods to you.

The tortoiseshell cat pushes off of Aifric and jumps to the floor from her grasp.

Speaking to Thalita, you ask, "From what you have seen, does the originating valence or the target valence play a greater role in the final outcome when entities from the two merge completely?  Moreover, what if such a merge is consented by both entities?"

Felisaithne reaches out and pats the tortoiseshell cat on the head.

Yukito attaches his rice paper fan to his belt by the loop on the end of its handle.
Yukito raises his hand.
Yukito removes a palmstone carved of woodland green jade from in his flecked wool sweater.

Ermias takes a bite of his pepper-topped oyster.

Meliyara's eyes take on a glassy look as she appears to fall into a vivid daydream.

Giedrius gives a sidelong glance at Yukito.

Yukito squints at Giedrius.

Giedrius appears to be trying hard not to grin.

(Yukito huffs very softly.)

Zethes stands up.

Zethes says, "Yes, I suppose I should go, too."

Zethes says, "As some people are treating me like the help."

Ermias nods at Zethes.

Zethes wanders off.

Thalita says, "It is hard to quantify how much of a given realm is responsible for the native constituency.  But where one realm's properties may dominate another, the thing is interacting with the laws of the realm in which it exists as well."

You ponder.
You nod slowly at Thalita.

Ermias softly says, "I shall see you all in short order.  Please do not feel obligated to disperse."

Ermias smiles.

Ermias wanders off.

Thalita says, "Magical light from a creature in Elanthia we should expect to get snuffed out in Shien'tyr."

Thalita says, "Verlok feathers, for instance."

You nod at Thalita.
You reach inside one of the small pouches hanging from your vaalin-buckled vest and collect a burnt orange verlok feather.
You tap a burnt orange verlok feather, which is in your right hand.

Thalita says, "One wonders what the verlok might become after enough time in Shien'tyr."

Missoni looks lost in thought.

You muse, "That would be an intriguing prospect."
You incline your head.

Aifric quietly whispers aloud, "Were you chasing capybaras?"

Raelee looks thoughtfully at Thalita.
Raelee raises her hand.

Giedrius looks thoughtfully at Thalita.

Aifric says, "Oh, she left..."

Thalita nods at Raelee.

Speaking to Thalita, Raelee says, "Speaking in an elemental context..."

Aifric suddenly looks like she wishes she were somewhere else.

Perigourd glances appraisingly at Raelee.

Speaking to Thalita, Raelee says, "Given that some planes and valences might be monoelemental - a plane of water or a plane of fire, for example..."

Speaking to Aifric, Fleurs says, "This has been quite a turn of events tonight."
Speaking to Erienne, Fleurs says, "Not at all what I expected."
Fleurs rubs her chin thoughtfully.

Speaking to Fleurs, Aifric agrees, "There are a lot of events turning, yes."

Speaking to Thalita, Raelee asks, "Do you find that hybridizations drawing from those planes struggle to adapt to a multi-elemental environment?  Or is it often advantageous in creating a stronger presence of said element?"

Yukito raises his hand.

Giedrius says, "It has been a rather chaotic day overall."

Fleurs agrees with Giedrius.
Fleurs says, "I certainly did not have these events on my conference agenda."
Fleurs chuckles to herself.

Perigourd nods in agreement at Fleurs.

Thalita says, "There are certainly composite elementals, such as mud and lightning, and they seem to thrive in their corresponding multi-element environs."

Speaking to Thalita, Raelee says, "But perhaps... a purely fire creature fused with something flesh and blood."

Thalita nods slowly.

Maylan's face turns slightly pale.
Maylan shakes her head.
Maylan stands up.
Land Pirate Maylan just swept out.

You ponder the meaning of Raelee's existence.

Thalita says, "Yes.  I see what you mean.  They seem to prefer environs that dominate in the mono-element."

Missoni leans forward and rests her chin in her hand, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Speaking to Thalita, Raelee says, "I thought that might be the case, yes."

Thalita says, "They may well struggle, much as ordinary fauna displaced from their ecology."

Raelee nods at Thalita.

You say, "Not all experiments are successful."

Perigourd says, "Or needed."

Thalita says, "Magical radiation has the advantage of mutating and adapting things fast."

You give a sidelong glance at Perigourd.

Perigourd folds his arms over his chest.

Raelee nods at Thalita.

Aifric begins to twitch her wings.

Perigourd raises his hand.

Delindra fidgets.

Thalita nods at Perigourd.

Giedrius nods at Thalita.

Speaking to Thalita, Perigourd says, "How fast and what types of mutations are seen to those affected by magical radiation. Asking for a friend of course."
Perigourd raises an eyebrow.

Missoni squints at Perigourd.

Perigourd surreptitiously glances at Missoni.

Yukito raises his hand.

Missoni wryly repeats, "A friend."

Delindra glances between Missoni and Perigourd.
Delindra furrows her brow.

Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd says, "One is a friend to themself when they can be."
Perigourd leans softly against Missoni.

Missoni looks at Perigourd blankly, at a loss to express herself.

Thalita says, "They can happen very quickly.  The Bleaklands made monstrosities almost immediately.  The Scourge before the Demonwall was shortly after the Third Elven War."

Lissaya glances between Perigourd and Missoni.

Thalita nods at Yukito.

Speaking amusedly to Perigourd, Giedrius says, "Someone has to be my friend. Might as well be me."

Thalita says, "Sorry.  I missed your hand."

Yukito nods politely.
Yukito rubs a palmstone carved of woodland green jade.
Nothing happens.
Yukito scowls.
Yukito shakes his head.

You cock your head at Yukito.

Missoni looks at Yukito with concern.

Yukito smiles apologetically.
Yukito plops a palmstone carved of woodland green jade into a large compartment inside the amaranth kit.

[Yukito thinks to Thalita privately.]

Yukito nods.
Yukito folds his hands.

Thalita nods.

Perigourd carefully looks himself over.
Perigourd nods at Missoni.

Thalita says, "There is certainly some difference in intensity of radiation, though we usually infer that from the effects."

Thalita says, "It might be visually measured in ways.  Such as how quickly samples of alabaster turn to despanal."

Delindra frowns.

Missoni agrees with Delindra.

You quietly whisper to Raelee, "Or perhaps the formation of bleakstone."

Raelee whispers, "Quite so.  I would appreciate an opportunity to watch it form, as opposed to merely studying it fully formed."

You nod slightly at Raelee.

Missoni raises her hand.

Thalita nods at Missoni.

Speaking to Thalita, Missoni asks, "You mentioned the weavers, and they came up in some reasearch we were conducting earlier. Could you elaborate? How were these women turned to spiders?"

The tortoiseshell cat purrs loudly as he saunters toward Aifric.  He bumps into her legs several times before walking away.

Delindra blinks.

Thalita says, "That is a good question.  One for which I do not know the answer.  But one I wish to learn, for its enticing potential."

You nod slowly.

Missoni furrows her brow.

Raelee looks thoughtfully at Thalita.

Speaking to Thalita, Fleurs asks, "How do you feel about burning of spiderwebs?"
Fleurs removes a flask of webscourge oil from in her silk components pack.
Fleurs glances at a flask of webscourge oil in her hand.

You murmur, "And that witchcraft is the 'natural' way of herding spiders."

Missoni nods thoughtfully to you.

Meliyara grins wickedly at Delindra.

The tortoiseshell cat pounces playfully near the luck spirit, a small mew escaping him.

Delindra fidgets.

Thalita says, "Spider webs make interesting flame patterns.  They can be considered an improvement, if the spider does not object too much."

You wryly say, "I imagine most do."

Missoni furrows her brow.
Missoni leans forward and rests her chin in her hand, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Fleurs furrows her brow.
Fleurs incredulously says, "Isn't the whole point... to get rid of the spiders."
Fleurs stares off into space.

Thalita says, "Spiders are adorable."

Erienne asks, "Remember the thing I said earlier about the potions potentially backfiring?"

A long-haired tortoiseshell cat with an ebon face mask tilts his head at a petite rose gold dasher bedecked in rainbow-hued wings, a curious look on his face.

Speaking flatly to Thalita, Fleurs says, "They really are not."

Felisaithne mutters something about skitterers..

Erienne gazes in wonder at her surroundings.
Erienne looks thoughtful for a moment, then shrugs.

Yukito signals, "Only the ones that put water drops on their heads."

Missoni surreptitiously glances at Felisaithne.

Speaking to Thalita, Perigourd asks, "Have you ever tried to mutate yourself?"
Perigourd cocks his head at Thalita.

Yukito cocks his head.
Yukito gazes at Perigourd.
Yukito grins wryly.

Missoni squints at Perigourd.

You say, "It's a viable option to consider."
You incline your head.

Thalita says, "This crown is not something I am wearing.  It is my own fabulous self, now."

You gaze in amusement at Thalita.

You see Thalita Trevil the Necromancer.
She appears to be a Dark Elf.
She is more imposing than tall and has a strikingly beautiful form.  She appears to be in the prime of life.  She has kohl-rimmed piercing violet eyes and smooth dark skin.  She has long, jet-black hair flowing around a dark crown of black diamonds, which seems to emerge from her skull.  She has highly polished and sharp dark urglaes talons in place of her nails.
She is in good shape.
She is wearing a twisted bleakstone necklace, a lambent viridian soulstone burning with mawfire, a sickly deep black blossom, a vathorboned onyx jacquard corset pulled taut by silver veniom lacing, a pitch-black voided velvet evening gown silhouetted with dark jewels, an archaic urglaes reliquary, a twisted black ora waistchain hung with a flaming dreadsteed skull, a sleek black leather vasculum, and a pair of thigh-high black vruul leather boots on high curved points.
The ground beneath Thalita writhes in swells of shadow, the demonic visages rising across her form before disappearing in a silent scream of dark mist.

Perigourd looks thoughtfully at Thalita.

The tortoiseshell cat turns away from Erienne and saunters away.

Yukito appears to be trying hard not to grin.

Raelee narrows her eyes slightly, studying Thalita with a cool, analytical gaze.

Speaking to Thalita, Raelee remarks, "To add a final comment - I do appreciate how you spoke on what is 'natural' and what is not is often ill-defined.  It does well illustrate how whatever research is acceptable or not is often gated behind semantics rather than actual categorization."

You nod in agreement.

Giedrius nods at Raelee.

Missoni traces a finger over her swirled vaelfyren.  A small spark follows the path of her finger across the vaelfyren.
Missoni agrees with Raelee.
Missoni sighs.

Meliyara agrees with Raelee.

Speaking to Raelee, Giedrius says, "I agree."

Raelee nods slightly at Giedrius.

(Yukito plucks at his arm for a moment, squinting curiously as he tugs lightly at his skin.)
Yukito ponders.
Yukito nods slowly at Raelee.

Thalita says, "Innovation through transgressing the boundaries of disciplines."

You smile.

Raelee nods at Thalita.
Raelee says, "Precisely."

Speaking to Raelee, Giedrius says, "Or it's gated behind someone else's moral code."

Thalita says, "I suppose I should go get ready for that ballroom."

Giedrius says, "I am hungry. I hope there is food."

Giedrius stands up.

Speaking to Giedrius, Raelee says, "It so often is."

Felisaithne rubs her chin thoughtfully.

Yukito nods politely at Thalita.

You say, "I suppose that is happening soon, isn't it."
You ponder.

Perigourd chuckles to himself.

Felisaithne says, "Oh, right."

Felisaithne stands up.

Felisaithne nods in agreement.

Missoni says, "Goodness, that is approaching."

Madam Felisaithne just went out.

Giedrius nods.

Giedrius says, "I am already dressed."

Giedrius attends to his robe, making the robe as presentable as possible.

You say, "Though I think there's enough time for me to take a brief walk."

Speaking to Giedrius, Meliyara says, "It would have been awkward if you had been wearing nothing all this time."

Raelee nods slightly to you.

You incline your head.