O hey, neat effect.
Galene! You have requested an audience! I am here. GALENE!
As a welcome, it is a poor one. Show yourself!
I cannot leave my grove, remember? You saw to that. But I have your pet mage. He is in good condition. Mostly!
Is that little Mandana? My, how you've GROWN. You were just a sapling when I saw you last.
I grew up.
That you have. You keep interesting company, Kalash. Come to my grove, we have MUCH to discuss.
Sheathe that sword. She is baiting you. We are here to NEGOTIATE.
Low energy bait.
With all due respect, father. Words will NOT work with her. And you know it.
how do you know that
WTF?
Seems no bait is too low energy for Bandana.
*Sigh* I blame her mother for this. Let us follow her.
Taking a look around.
Did these woods always glow like that? Or is it because you're void-touched?
Kalash glares holes in you, urging you to move forward.
Well then, onwards!
hello
Eli! Wake up, we are here! He is... not responding.
The vines. They are drugging him, keeping him asleep.
No matter. I'll make short work of them.
good idea, what's the worst that can happen
certainly not this
rip
A whole lot of magicool symbols all over this grove, but nothing to interact with. Except the two idiots.
rumble rumble rumble
It will take mere seconds for my pets to crush them to death. Can you free them in time?
Galene! Show yourself!
hi
Kalash. You've gotten old.
I have evolved. You are just as petulant as ever.
You expect me to be overjoyed to see you? Grateful? You took my FOREST. And I want it BACK.
Free Eli and Mandana, then we'll talk.
You are in no position to bargain.
What do you want, Galene?
What does anyone want from a jinn? I want a wish.
She isn't serious, isn't she?
Yes. Yes, she is serious. That much I know.
My forest once covered this entire island. It shall be so again. THAT is my wish.
Out of the question.
Would you let your precious minions die instead?
You can turn New York into a forest, but you can't just KILL HER?
I... cannot. A jinn's power does not work like that. You want a wish, Galene? Then you must FIGHT for it.
Some fucking negotiation.
Ancient chinese secret.
neat, floating crystal that grants wishes
I have your daughter and pet mage at my mercy. Why should I bargain with you?
Kill them and your wish will never be granted. You will remain trapped here, forever. What say you?
You sure you can take her?
My daughter and mage Beckett are in danger. I have little choice in that matter. I cannot let them perish. Not while it is in my power to save them.
The traditional rules of engagement apply?
They do.
Then I accept. Let this woman be the witness.
It is done.
Then let us begin. I am ready, Kalash. Whenever you are.
Codexia regains control.
Kalash peers at Galene through calculating eyes.
Wonder if there's anything we can do here.
I have the patience of the forest. I can wait centuries if need be.
She's baiting you, Kalash, remember your own advice.
Mandana's sword lies discarded on the ground.
Let us join the fray then. Grab that sword.
You will NOT disturb the battle ground! The rules of engagement must be obeyed!
wut
Let's ask Kalash about that.
Do not distract him! I want his full attention.
ffs
maybe pwgra can give us the manual on engagement?!
Stay out of this, child. The adults are talking.
Goddammit.
Screw you, I'm freeing my bros.
Do not DARE touch them. The rules of engagement must be obeyed.
Silly me for assuming there's something to do here.
Other than giving Kalash the green light to attack.
I wonder what this ancient badass jinn can do.
seriously?
Wasn't quick enough to get a pic. But basically, Kalash swings and Galene turns to dust. Roll credits.
Nice folding battleaxe.
Hmph. Like a toothless hound. All bark, no bite.
Really? A tree pun?
Indeed. I've still got it, regardless of what my daughter says. Now, to the business at hand. Freeing our friends.
uh-oh
DAEMONS WILL APPEAR FROM THE WARP WHEN YOUR BACK IS TURNED
@_@
You really thought I could be so easily defeated? HERE. In my own grove? I draw my LIFE from this place. As long as IT lives, so do I.
So tired so soon? Get up. Give me your best shot.
Since Kalash is not a learning animal, all we can do is repeat the circus.
Swing
And slash.
Here's a protip, Kalash, maybe you should consider NOT hiding your axe and NOT turning your back to the obvious danger?!
Can't you call this off?
Absolutely not. The rules of engagement, they cannot be broken. They must be obeyed to the letter.
The rules of engagement?
You... you don't know the rules? No, of course you don't.
mystical scroll
RTFM, Codexia.
Well, that's informative. Also, 2nd clause lacks a full stop.
i am much surprised about her coming back
What... are you doing to me?
Conium maculatum. Have you heard of it?
Hemlock...
RIP
Yes. My own personal strain. Concentrated so densely, it can even weaken the mighty jinn.
Now get up, old man. I've been waiting centuries for this.
GEE
SO IT WAS A TRAP
WHODATHUNKIT KALASH YOU OLD CRETIN
and since we still can't do anything...
This looks so cheap and lazy. Even Joey duking it out with the Countess in Convergence had more energy to it than this.
There was a plan?
Whatever, I'm picking up Bandana's sword.
aaaaand that's it for now.
But you have to kill me first. Now get up and fight.
Maybe Codexia can cut shit up now.
Do not DARE touch them!
I've had enough of your shit, Galene.
Sigh.
Repeated threats can piss her off. Until...
That's IT! You were warned. You have broken the rules of engagement!
oshit
*Sigh* Very well.
*snap*
Rewind.
You know what happens next.
Slam!
Surely we can cut them down now?
Stop! The rules of engagement. They cannot be broken.
FFS!
You totally deserve what's coming to you.
Funny. I haven't thought of you at all.
And now you'll think of nothing else. Until you die. Now get up.
As long as she's present, Codexia can't do shit, so let's try that again.
Are you all right?
I feel... odd. That is certain.
Odd? She shot VINES through you.
Did she? I... hadn't... noticed.
This is crazy, let's get out of here!
I have never backed down before, and I will not now.
Maybe he'll have better chances if he dual-wields bandana's sword.
uhm
Ah. The terms of engagement. You've found the loophole.
EXCUSE ME???
"Whoever deals the deathblow is the winner."
Yes. It is not specified WHO deals the deathblow. Only... that it is dealt. Clever. Worthy of any jinn worth the name.
Are you serious? What kind of nonsense is this?
I cannot defeat her. This is the truth. So do it. Be declared the winner. You will be granted one wish, use it wisely. Through the neck. It is... quickest. Hurry! Before she reforms!
Also, that's it for "I defeated her once, she used to be so much moar powerful and I'm the chief of this ninja commando which is why I'm going there to negotiate to get myself killed".
I can't do it.
Then you doom us all!
Mandana will never forgive me.
She is my daughter. She will see the truth of it.
So I just wish you alive again when I'm done, right?
NO! The wish will be powered by my death. Negate that, and the paradox could tear a hole in the universe! You will be given a great power. PLEASE don't waste it.
With great power comes great responsibility.
The chosen one must choose.
...
...
...
Haha, you thought it was a choice? Putting the sword down does nothing in the long run. There's only one way to go forward.
And that's through stabbing with daemonic strength.
Bella ciao.
The crystal breaks and spills its load all over Codexia.
The chumps are free.
You CHEAT! That wish was MINE!
It's mine now.
You have no right! *I* was meant to kill Kalash, not you!
What? She... speaks true. Father is gone.
And good riddance! Trapping me here. Did he think I'd stay QUIET?
I would highly recommend it.
Fine. LEAVE. You have your precious wish. Do with it what you will.
But.
But...
why do I have to spend the wish HERE? She'll just remain contained in her stupid grove now that Kalash is dead.
And more importantly, if Codexia can WISH FOR HER TO DIE...
*time warp*
You can turn New York into a forest, but you can't just KILL HER?
I... cannot. A jinn's power does not work like that.
*/time warp*
the chosen one must choose