Conversations with Speedy

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For convenience, here are collected conversations with Speedy:


Conversation with Shen-Ji just after he was reconstituted:

Shen-Ji:

Speedy!  Hello!  I hope you’re feeling better now!  Do you have any memories of your recent past?  I stayed in your shell recently while you were down in the World Below and figured you could use the help to reform.

Speedy:

Most gracious thanks for the spirit power. It would have take cycle upon cycle to return without the assistance. I am glad that my shell was of comfort to you, but there is no need to give more details than that, as it is distasteful to contemplate. I am at the service of you and your house, if there are some favors which I might perform. I do remember the events that led to my battle with the Black Lobster… and now that I come to contemplate them, I realize that while the Alchemist spoke truth when he told me the location of that most hated Lobster, he was not trustworthy in the aid that he promised me in my battle, for those protections faltered and died ere the battle’s end. It must have been his goal to have both of us strive unto the end against each other, equally balanced, rather than a victory for me. For that, I shall someday repay him. And the Lobster, who I bear equal enmity.

Shen-Ji:

Ah, excellent, in that case, as I understand it, after your battle with the Lobster, the Alchemist came down and took a fragment of the Lobster’s shell for himself.  I am not sure if this is what he has used to give himself immortality, aid in his control of demons, both, or something else entirely.  Can you shed light on what he is using it for and how we might counter it?  I assume the obvious actions like taking it away from him could work, but I am hoping for something to counter its power while he still has it.

If you have any other suggestions about effective ways to counter or act against the Alchemist, I please let me know.  As I understand it, the remnants of the Lobster are still in the World Below and have not reformed (I hope that a dozen years of shell smashing contributed), so I don’t see a ready way to act against the Lobster for now.

Speedy:

I do not know what the Alchemist is doing, precisely, as I am not observing him. But as the Lobster’s domain is stasis, it may well be that he is using a portion of the Lobster’s power to preserve him in an unaging [state?]. Then there is a very very very very very long pause before Speedy continues. [If/When?] the Lobster returns, he may be able to help them regain some of his power. Or he may fall prey to the Alchemist again, for the Alchemist is powerful. But the Lobster is my enemy and I oppose his [reformation?]

Conversation with Speedy just after Doomhunter:

I am most grateful for your assistance against the Doomhunter. The Alchemist’s Sanctum Sanctorum was both observed and defended, and while I counted upon my natural speed to evade any targeted defenses which were in place, or outpace any pursuit, I had not expected that the legends and fables of the Doomhunter, spoken only whispers (or significant looks and no words at all) among spirits, were so grounded in truth. I am most sorry for your coming loss, that your friend the Blademaster drew the attention of the Doomhunter to himself, for while his martial prowess is most fierce, his abilities to evade it may not be as great as my own. I have promised to some of you a description of the Sanctum Sanctorum, and I assume that those who are present who were not part of that original bargain are here to share in the briefing with the agreement of those who made the original bargain?

Shen-Ji (who was present for the original bargain) confirms that everyone present can hear the briefing.

The Alchemist’s Sanctum Sanctorum is underneath the Throne of the Dragon in the Obsidian District. I do not know its exact location for I did not travel to it through the streets and gates of the city, but through the World Above and its connections thereto. As I stated before, it contains both watchers and guards, spirits and demons, bound in bargain or durance by the Alchemist into serving him here. The place appears to be a well appointed workshop for for both sorcerous and ritual constructions and spiritual workings - when I say spiritual, I mean of spirits and demons, rather than the word as it is used by monks and those who seek perfection or enlightenment, or in the chi sense. The binding loci for a number of spirits and demons are there, as well as empty loci for those he carries with them, and binding accoutrements not currently in use. I believe that many of the spiritual workings he has done there involve the extraction of a portion of the nature of the spirit or demon; some of these may be used by him for his own purposes, but others may be infused into another spirit or demon, thus altering their power and nature. There are some portions of the shell of the Black Lobster there, which are no doubt intended for future similar workings. There are also a number of magical items kept there, including one which exuded a powerful grounding effect, dropping my effectiveness to that of my nature rather than that of my specialty. There are a number of books there, though I did not have time (nor the ability) to read them, a large desk, a comfortable chair, a decanter of light gold liquid, and a small table for making tea, with but one cup.

In response to Deng's request for aid against the Doomhunter

I took great care to never be hit by the Doomhunter for I do not believe that I would have survived. Though I must hasten to note that I have no direct experience with such a blow. The armor of my shell is greater than the material bodied defenses of the Wall Guardian, so I do not think that a human could withstand it. I would not expect the casual damage done by the Doomhunter without consideration or effort to those who have the accidental misfortunate abut his path to be comparable to the damage he inflicts with the full force of his nature and power upon those that he targets. Sir Blademaster, I am most sorry for your coming fate. Sir Blademaster, I have the ability to increase your speed, in the sense of the number of actions that you take compared to those around you, or to increase your speed, in the sense of your ability to a great distance in a short period of time, or to increase your speed in the sense of your ability to use your attack or defense a second time in the span of which a normal person could do but one thing. All these things must be part of a deal; no deals were made for such a boon before your fight with the Doomhunter, so while I am grateful for your assistance I cannot provide you separate aid as part of my gratitude. As I have a position of House Spirit to the House of Exuberant Interference, which has been bargained for, I have the ability to provide some small benison for members of the House, but you are not such a one, and so our relation must be one of strict bargain.

Deng: "Is there any way that you could speed me up for that encounter, either to avoid his attacks or to be fast enough to be able to use my regular attacks and defense at his speed? Could this be as a boon for helping you in the fight with him, or perhaps a deal I could make with you?"

I will attempt to speak more plainly, because I fear that either my offer or my nature has been misunderstood. I cannot make a bargain to grant you the power to fight the Doomhunter as if you were a Doomhunter, for it is not in my nature to be a Doomhunter. I cannot make a bargain to give you exactly what you will need in your fight, because I do not know what that will be. I cannot offer you the ability to lessen the Doomhunter so that it fights as a mortal, for this is not in my nature. I can offer you speed, and I have spoken to you of the kinds of speed that I can offer you. Things I would wish for include more spirit power, favors from larger spirits, favors from the Wu Xing, protection from the Alchemist, or other similar things of direct interest.