As the group is walking back from getting the third key of Nodden-Torr, Alexis brings up a question.
“I’ve been thinking about the ring.” He keeps looking straight ahead. “If I go deeper with it, it could help us understand what’s between us and Bandesingh, and what’s waiting for us when we get there. Same way Gus was the only one who could use Dauntless, I’m the only one who can use this. Red could get there someday, but he’d have to make some choices he hasn’t made. That’s not where he is.”
He’s quiet for a few steps.
“If it didn’t cost anything I wouldn’t be bringing it up. There would be moments where I’m looking at too many possibilities at once and I’d need someone to help narrow it down to a decision. Someone with a clear head and strong convictions who can cut straight to what matters.” He glances at Ca’armine. “That kind of thinking would be useful.”
He keeps walking, lets that settle.
“There’s no danger of the ring taking me over. Same as there was never any danger of Dauntless possessing Gus. This ring was forged for one purpose: knowledge in the service of keeping humanity alive. Red wants knowledge, full stop. The rest of you want to protect humanity, to varying degrees. I’m the only one who combines both enough that the ring and I are truly aligned.” He says it plainly, but something in his face tightens. “I wish that wasn’t true.”
He keeps his eyes on the tunnel ahead.
“This is one of the great artifacts humanity has ever made. We’re going after the Tear because it improves our chances against Bandesingh. Should we let me lean further into the ring for the same reason?”
He glances sideways at the group, still walking, clearly waiting.
Rask glances at Ca’armine briefly, then interjects:
“What’s the cost?” The warrior asks Alexis.
“What I already said. Too many possibilities at once, and I’ll need Carm to help make the call in those moments.”
Rask nods, not really understanding, but trying,
“You could get lost in all the possibilities so you need Carm’s guidance?”
“‘Lost’ suggests I won’t be there. I’ll be there.”
He glances at the group. “When it was just Gus, Red, and me, Red and I needed Gus to keep us alive in the forest. Gus and I needed Red to handle the pits. Red and Gus needed me to choose a direction. None of us were lost. We just knew where each other was strong.”
He looks back at Rask. “This is the same thing. More information about Bandesingh, and I lean on Carm more.”
“From what you have told us of the ring it is able to reveal the possible futures. You say there is not way for the ring to take you over, but are there other ways it can cause problems?
I say this because you know what it can do, but you hesitate to use it for what you want. So there must be something holding you back from gaining the insights you desire. Maybe it is more complex?
I know little about these magics. But we do now have three powerful artifacts we can study. Learning more about them and how they operate, how they could be used together even?
Maybe when I am taking time to study my scrolls you should be trying to gain insight into the ring.”
Alexis nods slowly.
“Studying it won’t get me any further. I’ve learned what studying can teach me.” He glances down at the ring briefly. “What comes next has to be experienced, not studied. And I shouldn’t push my luck with forcing it any more.”
He looks at Ethelred. “As far as problems go, the only time it pushed back was when I tried to force it. Early on.” A beat. “The Spider used this to great effect in the second age, so the ring itself isn’t the danger.” He pauses. “What’s beyond where I’ve been, I can’t tell you. I have a vague sense of the shape of it. But the specifics?” He shakes his head. “I won’t know until I’m there.”
He glances at the group.
“I could go deeper on my own. But that didn’t feel like the right call without bringing it to you first.”
Ca’armine has been pensive listening to this exchange. “I have not examined the ring, as you have– but I gather, divine magic channels through it? If that is the case, we can try a spell of protection, like when Rask and I removed his connection with the black blade.”
Rubbing his beard he continues. “I am willing. What I do not immediately see, is how I will be able to join in your exploration. Creating a boundary against evil interference, that is well within my power. Joining you in using a magical artifact, is less clear. But we can start exploring– as soon as we know we are safe from attack. It would be devastating to the group if you and I were engaged in a magical quest while the rest of the party was fighting for their lives.”
Alexis shakes his head gently.
“The ring is arcane, Carm. Not divine.” He says it without any edge. “And I don’t need protection. This isn’t something being done to me, it’s a choice I’m making.” He pauses. “You’ve detected evil near me before. In the curtain room, at least. The ring didn’t show up as evil then. It won’t now.”
He looks at Ca’armine directly.
“There’s no exploration left to do. I know what studying the ring can teach me and I’ve learned it. The question on the table is whether I take the next step toward what the ring was made for. That’s it.” A beat. “And I won’t be gone when I do. I’ve said that twice now and I mean it both times.”
Alexis’ voice remains easy.
“If you want to examine the ring before we decide anything, I’m happy to let you. But protection spells and joint exploration aren’t what this is.”
Ethelred speaks while Carmine thinks.
“What I would advise here is the same I did for the scrying orb.
Start simple.
Pick a choice we have to make with low stakes that is immediate. Use the ring to explore that choice.
This will help you explore the ring, see what is limits are, what it’s view of events are.
It may be some choice are too small for the ring to be able to help you with.
Increase the stakes and distance to the choice as you learn more.”
Alexis smiles at Ethelred, then looks at the group.
“That’s the third time someone has suggested I experiment with the ring further.” Still easy, no edge. “I want to be clear, because I don’t think I’ve been clear enough: there is nothing left to learn from experimenting. I’ve done it. The ring has shown me everything it’s willing to show someone standing at the threshold.” He looks back at Ethelred. “What we’re talking about is stepping through. That’s not an experiment. That’s a decision. And that’s why I brought it to all of you.”
Ca’armine shakes his head. “Please do be more clear, Alexis! ‘Stepping through…’ into what? What specifically are you afraid will happen if you use the ring? I’ve offered to put up a spell of protection while you use it, akin to when we cleared Zithrak from the black blade. Is that what you want, or do you want a different kind of support? I can’t investigate the magic of the blade, that’s not how my spells work, I have to rely on you.”
Alexis stops and faces Ca’armine directly, his right hand idly spinning the Collegium ring on his other hand.
“I’m not afraid of anything. That’s not what’s happening here.” Still easy, still patient. “The ring and I are pointed in the same direction. There’s nothing to clear, nothing to protect against. What I’m talking about is a commitment, not a ritual. It’s a choice to move toward what the ring was made for. That’s what ‘stepping through’ means.”
He looks at the group.
“I didn’t bring this to you because I needed protection or a safety net. I brought it to you because you deserve a say in how your leader operates.” He pauses. “But let’s be clear about what saying no means. We’re walking toward Bandesingh. We don’t know what’s between us and him. We don’t know what’s waiting when we get there. This ring was made to illuminate exactly that kind of problem. Saying no means leaving that on the table.”
He looks back at Ca’armine.
“So. Should I do this?”
“Ah, well then that is different. If you are done experimenting then all we need is the space and time for you to do it.
Now seems like a bad time. We could leave this area, head back out into the world, make camp and prepare.
I would advise being ready before taking this next step.
I am very excited for you to experience this next level of the ring.”
Alexis nods at Ethelred.
“What preparation are you thinking? I don’t believe I said anything that suggested we needed to get ready first.”
He keeps walking, curious.
“Perfect recall could be helpful for focus and attention. Anything that grants you aid in using the device. Anything that bolsters you will. Anything that aid your mind. Anything that keeps you grounded here. Anything that keeps your connection to your current God.”
Alexis shakes his head gently.
“None of that is needed, Red. Perfect recall, bolstered will, grounding.” He glances over. “You’re describing preparation for a struggle. This isn’t a struggle. There’s nothing pushing back, nothing to overcome, nothing that could take something from me.” He pauses. “I’m just making a choice.”
“Then why the hesitation? Make the choice. I am not clear what you are asking then.. permission? Lead us into the future, with the guidance of the spider ring.
What could go wrong?”
Alexis nods, taking it that Ethelred supports whatever his choice is. Alexis looks between Rask, Gustav, and Ca’armine for anything additional.
Gus looks confused.
“Magical items don’t have to be evil to introduce complications that can end up being a problem depending on how they are used. I hope you understand why some of us have asked for more information or experimentation for the item. I understand why you are frustrated with us asking similar questions multiple times, but that is because we aren’t experiencing what you are, or see what you are with the ring on. You encourage us to gain knowledge of items, but I don’t feel like the rest of us know a lot about the item.
You usually don’t ask us for permission to use a magical item. What is different about this item that warrants our permission?”
“Sounds like a power that would help us against Bandsing, so I think we should do it.”
“I’ve got you back lets do it.”