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Interesting. I see that the Inquisition has... altered you. That was in my briefing, but I didn't expect it to be so... obvious. Do you know of any interesting places to visit around here?

~

I had an excellent trip. I'm currently working on... a secret project. It's a device designed to alter the human nervous system. Heighten senses, increase emotional depth, increase sensitivity, and more. I'm quite excited for its completion. I have another thing on the workbench, but it's a real secret.

*Thoth grunts as the ball slams into his back*
Thoth: F-fine, let's try...
*Thoth casts another spell that encases Walter in a Iron Maiden which slams shut on him*
*Runic plates form around Thoth, sliding over him like a magical Ironman suit*


Iris: Nonsense. Wealth shouldn't be hoarded, and Horus has plenty.
*She smiles*
Iris: Think of this as my treat. A thank you for rescuing me treat.


*Twilly walks into the kitchen humming*

*I cock my head*
Emotions are for the weak anyway. And no I don't. I just got here myself.

*smiles and nods*
Alright. But I can't say I've ever done a quest for a coffee.
*smirks*
I'm kidding. I didn't do it for money, or any reward. But I appreciate the offer.

*Yaryap nods and eventually lets go of Verdai*
Y: Sounds fun! Can I help?

*Sayfyin cocks his head*
For the weak? I think not. It requires more strength to conquer your fear than to simply suppress it with technology. There's a very good reason that emotion-dampeners are banned technology in the Colonial Federation.

~

*Shakes head sadly*
I'm afraid not. The system is designed for humans. If I tried it with you, you would probably explode or something.

*Jake gets ever closer to Thoths room.*
---------------

*The iron Maiden buckles, and explodes off Walter. He stands there with a bored expression.*
Walter: Come on, Thoth give up already...
*Walter speaks in a strange tongue, causing hooked black chains to erupt around Thoth, and try to hook him into place.*
*Flagg bites down on Thoth with his black fangs.*
*The nightgaunts begin digging through Thoths things trying to find the rose.*

I'm unencumbered by the things that make others hesitate in battle. A warrior who hesitates is a dead man walking

*Thoth glares then looks startled as he's bound in chains*
Thoth: Break!
*The chains shake violently but don't shatter as Thoth looks startled*
Thoth: You'll never find it!

*Iris smiles and sits down at a large table, more comfortable for beings her size*
Iris: Well, sit down please. Tell be about yourself!

*Yaryap's shoulders slump slightly*
Y: Alright... Can I help you with anything else?

*Shakes head sadly*
How... sad. I'm sorry for your loss.

~

Yes, actually. Follow me. I have an idea.
*Leads Yaryap to a room with eggshell-white, slightly soft walls*

*Walter sighs again.*
Walter: Of course I will find it, and when I do.. I will be that much closer to the tower.
*He shrugs.*
Walter: Matter of time... Oh Flagg, deal with Jake.
*Right then Jake walks in to Thoths room, looking angry as feth.*
Flagg: With pleasure.
*Flagg stomps over to Jake, drooling in anticipation at the idea of eating Jake.*
*Jake starts shooting Flagg, a lot.*
*Walter begins chanting words, causing his eyes to turn a blinding white.*

*Thoth struggles against his chains and yells to Jake*
Thoth: Jake! Bookshelf! Red leather! Page 1482! First line! Read it aloud!
*Nods to the small bookshelf containing a dozen leather bound tomes*

*I shrug*
I barely remember having them to begin with. Its barely a loss for me.
*the edge of a scar is poking out from underneath my hair*

*takes a seat and nods*
Well, it's tricky to find a spot to start. I'm a Qunari, but you already know that. I was born and raised under the Qun Empire, working in the vanguard for a time, but I decided to leave the Empire and travel the world on my own. I spent most of that time hunting demons and practicing my magic.
*smiles*
One trip in the Fade lead me to the Room, and I met Maiev shortly after. We hit it off pretty quickly.


*Yaryap immediately perks up and follows after Verdai*
Y: I can help!

*Jake sighs, and holsters his magnums. He runs to the bookshelf digs around for a moment, finds the red book, and manages to get to page 1482!*
Jake: Ok, Klaatu Barada Nik-!
*Right then Flagg backhands Jake across the Thoths room, he hits the ground hard.*
Flagg: Stupid movie reference anyways..
*Walter keeps chanting.*

*Thoth yells and struggles against his chains again*
Thoth: Curse you!
*He looks at a vial and makes it splash onto Walter. The contents are a compound similar to that of Xenomorph blood, only stronger*


*Iris smiles*
Iris: That sounds interesting. What's the Empire like?

We could remove them, if you'd like. It's a simple procedure.

~

I just need you to do one thing. Jump. This will either be super fun, or create Flubber.

Remove what? My emotions? I already barely have them, apparently I was a bit too wild so I was contained.

Powerful. If it weren't for an alliance, all of Thedas would belong to them. And they are open to those wishing to join the Empire, but they look harshly on anyone that refuses to join, and especially someone that leaves. There's no place for me in the Empire anymore, but I am still loyal to them, in some ways.


*Yaryap nods excitedly and jumps*
Y: Like this, Veedee?

*Walter looks annoyed, as his face peels off to show blackened bone beneath. He stops chanting.*
Walter: Did you just throw acid at my face? Really?
*His eyes pop and at this point most of the skin on his face is gone, but he still seems to stare at Thoth, and stand upright.*
*Flagg stomps over to the limp frame of Jake, to everyone's surprise Jake manages to hold onto the book. He reads the first line over again, looking up to see what will happened.*

*Iris nods sympathetically*
Iris: It sounds like a... well a fairly cruel Empire. Join us or be attacked?
*She sighs and shakes her head*
Iris: That's part of why I left Danu Talis, I couldn't stand to see the mistreatment of the humani.


*As the words are spoken Thoth clicks his beak*
Thoth: I don't know why I didn't just start with that. Thank you Jake!
*A rift opens and a army of metallic humanoids start marching through it to attack Walter and Flagg*
Thoth: You've just summoned my automatra. I created these ages and ages ago. They're highly resistant to magicks and completely under my control. Now. Automarta, kill the man in black and the ugly one.
Protect the humani and free me.

*Winces at the shots, then growls*
You've just made a very bad mistake...

~

*Maiev is still waiting patiently in Kara's room for her to return*
*Sighs sadly, then curls up and goes to sleep*

Victory is in the Qun. A hard working and loyal citizen, no matter what race you are, has a chance of improving their lives.
*drinks from her coffee*
The Empire isn't a place for monsters. It gives people a new hope.

*Flagg howls with rage at Jake, and tries to boot him away. Luckily, Jake manages to Jump out of the way.*
*Jake fires his pistols, blowing bits out of Flagg, but not really hurting him.*
*Walter turns to the robots and throws a small mass of green tissue, with assortment of eyes, and tentacles. It rapidly grows larger and larger, before attacking the robots.*
Walter: See how they do verus a Shoggoth.

*Iris frowns*
Iris: Well... it still sounds like a rather forceful place...
*Sighs and finishes her tea*
Iris: I've got some practice to do, and I think Maiev would like to see you when she awakens.


*The Automatrons attack brutally, but many begin to fall under the attack as Thoth once more attempt to break free*

*shakes head*
If it weren't for some... disagreements I had with them, I would probably still be serving the Empire. Qun anaam esaam.
*smiles and nods*
Perhaps we can do it again sometime, with Maiev as well.
*gives Iris a farewell before going to her room and quietly shutting the door behind her*
Kadan?

*Iris nods*
Iris: Yeah. A double date might be fun too.
*Gets up and goes to the shooting range after picking up her massive bow*

*Walter looks at Thoth with his skeletal face.*
Walter: Well then.. finding the rose has been difficult.. But I am close.
*The shoggoth keeps growing, and forces its way into the robots dimension.*
*Flagg roars at Jake, and manages to grab onto his arm. He swing Jake around slamming him into the book shelf, which causes Jake to go limp.*
*The demonic Flagg then violently pulls the bookshelf down on top of Jake.*

*Maiev remains silent, and pretends to sleep*
M: ...

*Thoth clicks his beak, supremely confident despite his dire situation*
Thoth: You will never find it. It is hidden in a realm you have no access to.