[When Zelgadis says that, Filbo's expression turns sympathetic...but in a strange way. Like there's understanding there too, instead of just a general sense of sympathy]
I'm...I'm sorry to hear that, Zelgadis. Have you been like this for long...?
That's so long... [Filbo stares at his own arms for a moment, blinking and shaking his head a little, and tries to focus on the present instead of thinking of the past. It feels like asking will be a little personal, but he does:] Do you know what caused it? I mean, I don't really know much about, uh...your situation, but do you at least know the cause?
[It's not out of the realm of possibility that one day Zelgadis woke up and he was a blue rocky person, he thinks! But if he knows what caused this, then maybe he's closer to solving it than it seems!]
[Sounds like you blame yourself a little. Well, it probably is true, it probably was a foolish decision that led to this. Can't say it wasn't, knowing no circumstances at all.
But...]
You'll find the way to reverse this. Dunno if I'll stumble upon a way randomly, but if somehow I do I'll tell you.
[Never be said Filbo is lacking in optimism. Well, he's not foolish, though, he knows the odds he will somehow encounter such thing are astronomically low. But hey, if somehow he does, he'll inform Zelgadis first and foremost, no doubt]
Any idea what can do it? A-An item, or just time, or...something?
[Pretty much asking if he has made any progress at all to get closer to the goal! He almost wonders if by the time Zelgadis reaches Satan's party he will stop looking like a rock!]
There's no known way to turn a chimera back to its original form. It's not something that can "heal" with time, either.
I assume it would require powerful magic, or a specific scientific or medical procedure... perhaps a combination of all of those things. Something that hasn't yet been developed in any of the places I've visited.
The most promising lead I've followed is something known as the Claire Bible... a collection of otherworldly knowledge, things normally known only to gods and demons. It's said that the information it contains is nigh-infinite. But it's extremely rare to find even a scrap of a manuscript... Such knowledge has the power to change the course of history, so the higher races strive to keep it out of the hands of mortals.
...we are out of the reach of mortals right now. I mean, what better place to hide such valuable knowledge than...a place only reached after death? [Filbo's face lightens up] A-And, hey, clearly there's proof that many kinds of people get here! I mean, look at me, look at Rynlan! Someone may have left something useful. Maybe you'll stumble upon something from that collection.
[Filbo talks like it's going to be stashed in the library or something, hah]
I'm a--a grumpus. Let me guess...you hadn't even heard of us, have you?
[Definitely resigned to that, but also completely unsurprised at this point. Thank goodness he left the existential angst behind in the intro post, he can take this all in stride now besides the general anxiety of not knowing how to talk to individuals of a whole different species]
Yeah, I figured. Looks like we only exist where I came from. Haha...wow, tough!
[Maybe in his world the ancestors of humans just never existed and allowed his own ancestors to flourish, something that didn't happen anywhere else except in his. Hooray, existential thoughts]
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[Filbo, you don't know the circumstances, maybe it really was Zelgradis' fault]
What's your goal, though? Anything that draws danger?
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A way to turn this wretched body back to normal.
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I'm...I'm sorry to hear that, Zelgadis. Have you been like this for long...?
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... About five years now.
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[It's not out of the realm of possibility that one day Zelgadis woke up and he was a blue rocky person, he thinks! But if he knows what caused this, then maybe he's closer to solving it than it seems!]
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I was transformed by a sorcerer. A man who knew I desired strength, and who decided to grant my wish in his own twisted way...
I was foolish to trust him.
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[Sounds like you blame yourself a little. Well, it probably is true, it probably was a foolish decision that led to this. Can't say it wasn't, knowing no circumstances at all.
But...]
You'll find the way to reverse this. Dunno if I'll stumble upon a way randomly, but if somehow I do I'll tell you.
[Never be said Filbo is lacking in optimism. Well, he's not foolish, though, he knows the odds he will somehow encounter such thing are astronomically low. But hey, if somehow he does, he'll inform Zelgadis first and foremost, no doubt]
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I won't rest until I do.
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[Pretty much asking if he has made any progress at all to get closer to the goal! He almost wonders if by the time Zelgadis reaches Satan's party he will stop looking like a rock!]
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I assume it would require powerful magic, or a specific scientific or medical procedure... perhaps a combination of all of those things. Something that hasn't yet been developed in any of the places I've visited.
The most promising lead I've followed is something known as the Claire Bible... a collection of otherworldly knowledge, things normally known only to gods and demons. It's said that the information it contains is nigh-infinite. But it's extremely rare to find even a scrap of a manuscript... Such knowledge has the power to change the course of history, so the higher races strive to keep it out of the hands of mortals.
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[Filbo talks like it's going to be stashed in the library or something, hah]
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[Anyway, Filbo says "look at me" and well... he is. He's kind of staring.]
What... are you, anyway?
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[Definitely resigned to that, but also completely unsurprised at this point. Thank goodness he left the existential angst behind in the intro post, he can take this all in stride now besides the general anxiety of not knowing how to talk to individuals of a whole different species]
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[Maybe in his world the ancestors of humans just never existed and allowed his own ancestors to flourish, something that didn't happen anywhere else except in his. Hooray, existential thoughts]