A cat, a crossbow, a sword and a Shard

Log Info

• Title: A cat, a crossbow, a sword and a Shard
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Mikilos, Braelnoir, Cryosanthia, Aya, Edinaz
• Place: A15: Mithralla Merchandise
• Time: Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 4:48 PM
• Summary: A cat steals Mikilos' lunch. This seemingly inconsequential event will have earth shattering implications later. Braelnoir arrives at Mithralla Merchandise, where Little Fang, 'Lily' has been setting a trap, but not for the Korrite. Cryo arrives soon after. Braelnoir demonstrates an unexpected ability of hers, where she can understand the history of a weapon. She reveals the past of Mikilos' blade, Quarlani, or Soul, forged after the Closing of the Gates that made elves mortal and before men, which Mikilos possesses as the last of the Mithril elves. Cryo urges him to spend more time with Valadhiel and do something about that. Aya appears, walking in, then shadow-stepping behind Lily when the Kobold makes herself known, landing right in Lily's trap. She is shot by a soft bolt from the hand crossbow, and Lily explains all the other things that would have happened to her. A playful funeral scene then hostage situation is played out before Aya leaves. Cryo updates Mikilos on the events out at the Death Orb, and they decide to try using the Message cantrip on her Animus Shard. Edinaz arrives just in time, and all head into the Mage's Magical Mansion where Cryo attempts contact. She chooses to be informal, and friendly, as they all have been carefully guarding the 'Animus Egg' through their Shell Game. She speaks for a while, but there is no response on her message cantrip. Mikilos re-assures her, perhaps it isn't time. The group agree, have something to eat and go swimming.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A15: Mithralla Merchandise *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Here, a large wooden structure has been built. Its somewhat eccentric yet elegant design suggests its owner may be of the arcane persuasion. To the side of the main structure is a small corral to for horses or wagons. Before the central building, a massive sword emerges from the earth. A sign upon it reads: "MITHRALA MERCHANDISE."

Inside is a small seating area with several comfortable chairs. To the back, an unobtrusive but businesslike sales counter, and two large signs. One asks patrons to please wait here and not disrupt those inside the lab. The other offers a lab rental at a very reasonable rate.

To the left and right are a large set of doors. The doors on the right lead to a large room which takes up most of the building. Several long tables are scattered about, many with small tool racks. A small forge sits off to the side. Unlike the average workshop, maps of celestial bodies and guides to the elemental planes line the walls. Large frameworks of brass, silver, and crystal occupy space between the tables. A large shelf dominates the far wall, the containers upon it sporting such labels as "wyvern bile," "sulfur," "tiger's tears," and other exotic items. A glass-covered hole in the roof, set with mirrors, offers direct sunlight, or moonlight, to shine upon various projects.

The doors to the left lead towards the direction of the mountains and what is reported to be a sildanyari-style ball room. Wizards.

During regular store hours, a young Llyranesi man, Belhan Mithralla, keeps an eye on the shop and the lab. When not cleaning or helping a customer, he can usually be found reading some book from the library.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Mikilos      6'8"     180 Lb     Dawn Elf          Male          Tall male dawn elf, rosey blonde and handsome.
Braelnoir    5'11"    146 Lb     Human             Female        A tall, pale Acanian woman, branded in silver.
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female        A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Aya          4'7"     105 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female        Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.
Edinaz       6'10"    296 Lb     Half-Orc          Male          Grey-skinned half-oruch, extensive black ink.  
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

"What?! THIEF!! FOUL TRAITOR! THIS IS HOW YOU DARE REPAY ME?!! YOU DARE STEAL FROM A MASTER OF THE MAGIC ARTS?!" Mikilos seldom raises his voice, but his words carry thunder when enraged. The magus bursts out the shop door, peering around, his eyes wide and hair askew. "...damn cat, you've got your own fish!" The elf peers around the yard a moment more before sighing, and turns to head back indoors, just in time to miss a snarling furball jump out the window, a fine cut of baked salmon in it's jaws.

Down the road a piece, a woman in a long, fur trimmed cloak makes her way up the path.

Brae, so enshrouded, moves with no real urgency in her stride, though her ultimate destination is very likely the elf's shop. The outburst at the door makes her straighten a little bit.
Head cocked.
Blink.
Blink again.
Shrug.

"Hey, everythin' alright, there, luv...?" she asks as her footfalls resume.

Mikilos whirls around, but relaxes, shifting mental gears, though he does shoot a glare at the little thief scampering off towards the horse stables. "Little bastard stole my lunch. Anyway, no, I'm fine, thank you for asking. was more shock and surprise than anything. Please, come inside. How may I be of assistance?"

Braelnoir drifts closer and nods with an, "Ah... I see." and lifts her chin a bit to reveal more of her features and she give him a little smile, "Thank you." and steps inside.

Once therein, her attire shifts back to her usual fare, save her absent scythe and she rolls her neck a touch, "Well, y'know, this'n that, luv." Her eyes sweep the wares and decore as they usually do, then swing back to Mikilos, "Got some jerked venison if yer still hungry." she offers, then, "Did have some... magic questions, though."

She scratches at her ear with an odd look on her face, then, "Somehow, things got woke up, an' I got a bit o'some kinda mojo goin'. An' I figgered out I can put magic inta weapons.... just weapons, but I can't get then ta do the spiffy shit I see some folks have, like burst inta flames, make thunder, comb their hair... y'know."

Off in a corner of the shop, beside the shelves that hold some of the more esoteric and less edible magic ingredients, a carnation-scaled Kobold plays. She's taken a small step-stool and is using it as a chair. Around it she has arranged an intricate web of fine lines. Spider webbing, to be exact, borrowed with or without permission from Tia Farans.

Her little hand-crossbow has been set up on a gymbal, and is an achoring end for most of those lines. Some on the front of the barrel, others on the trigger. The reddish metal gleams.

Little Fang herself, sits in front of the crossbow, like a scaley spider in her web. She waves and calls out, in tradespeech, "Peasss!" and "Sstaysss."

Mikilos nods, frowning mildy as he listens, leaning back against the counter. A small plate is set out, some scattered sautted carrots about, and an overturned glass of wine. "Thank you, no, I'll be fine. I've heard of such powers, but not dealt with them directly. Are a couple possibilities." The activity in the corner warrents a second look, and the elf arches a brow at the set up. "Peace unto your nest, Little Fang. What have you created?"

"Sssurrrprrisss." The pink Kobold hisses happily, then switches into draconic, "For Tia Ay-Ay! Sshe won't think I care if I don't try to kill her.."

A straightforward enough reason, if somewhat convoluted.

Little Fang carefully touches a strand, the crossbow pivots a tiny bit in that direction, "Ssshoots ssshadow ssneakingss!." <draconic>

Mikilos frowns mildly, switching languages easily enough, but struggeling a moment with the moniker. "'Tia Ay-Ay'? Ah. Okay. Well, do be careful. Can catch the wrong person, hurt someone on accident. Problem with traps, they don't always catch the way you want." <draconic>

"Yessss." Little Fang says, seemingly heeding the warning. She points at Mikilos and Braelnoir, "Ssso sstaay. Little Fan guardsss." <draconic>

There is the jingling of bells at the door as another customer enters, a tall dark Jotun with a long beard, carrying one of the non-descript backpacks, who turns into a whitescale Sith'Makar in about two heartbeats. Cryo smiles, "Peace on your Nests, Mikilos, Braelnoir."

Another two heartbeats, "Little Fang, what are you doing?"

"Ssstay."

Mikilos nods politely to the new arrival, brightening to a smile as her true identity comes clear. "Setting up a rather clever trap, it would seem. I'm not certain how well it will work, but the idea seems sound. I've yet to take a close look. 'Stay', after all. Anyway, how are you today?" <draconic>

"This one is well Mikilos, thank you. The night in the Magical Mansion was lovely." Cryosanthia says, gliding elegantly towards her friends, leaning to give Braelnoir a quick embrace, followed by a second hug for Mikilos. Her temperature is cool, but it's not like winter returning and is quick to add a little distance.

Also, to keep her swaying tail away from those web strands... which seem to be everything. "You have been busy Little Fang."

"Ssassaa, sstay!" Lily hisses happily, pointing and enjoying the rare pleasure of commanding adults. <draconic>

"I am rather curious what happens," Cryo adds in tradespeech, "but this one does not want to be shot."

Mikilos nods in agreement. "Usually the sort of thing best avoided. I've been in with a few bolts of that general size in my adventurers, generally unplesant." The wizard blinks frowning a moment at the leftover mess of a meal, and gestures, unseen hands cleaning up. "Did you see that orange tabby cat around yesterday? Came into the shop this morning, sniffing as I baked my meal. So gave it one of the other fish I was prepareing." He frowns mildly at the recent memory. "Turned my back for a second, and little fuzzball grabbed -my- fish."

Mikilos has phrases other than 'fuzzball' in mind, but is quite aware of the young mimic present.

"This one did see her!" Cryo says excitedly, all cats are female after all, even the male ones. She frowns a little, "Stealing fish is wrong. I wonder if it's because I still carry some for Tanith, that the cat is hanging around."

She leans against the counter, glances out the door, "They're much bigger in Am'shere. This one was terrorized by them as a youngling. Each you in one bite. It's so weird seeing a smaller, safer version, just hanging out.

She turns to look at the Dawn Elf, "This was your monthly meal, wasn't it? That's extra bad of her."

Braelnoir hmmm's softly and steps over to see what her niece is up to, "What do you have there, LIttle Fang?" taking a knee to examine the work, squinting a bit at some of the arrangements of silk, "A fine trap. You have good claws." she says with a bring of approval. <draconic>

Braelnoir straightens up as the Jotun comes in and smiles as Cryosanthia reveals herself, "'ey, luv! Just got here a bit ago, m'self. Everythin yoin alright?" she remarks, absently pulling a pouch from her bandolier to offer to Mikilos, "Just smoked the other day."

Mikilos sighs and waves vaugely. "I'm off schedule anyway. Salmon sounded good when I happened past the fish monger this morning." He considers a few moments. "Which kind of big cats did you have in your area? I've met a fair many, mostly as druid companions, but a few in the wild. There are big ones in the mountains, but they tend to stay far from the city. Get the occasional Guild job when one starts taking sheep in the villages." Considering another moment, the elf accepts a piece of smoked meat the chew upon. "Thank you."

"Thanksss." Little Fang hisses happily, holding out her hands and flexing her good little claws at Braelnoir. She wiggles on her seat, eagerly looking around, hoping for the sudden appearance of Aya.

"This one is good." The whitescale smiles at the merc, then addresses the Dawn Elf. She has a teasing sort of smile, "Well we called them 'Big Teeth'. They resembled Tigers but were much bigger, had a short tail. Most things in Am'shere are big, so they can deal with the terrible lizards."

"Sound like an ol' story I heard back'n Mama Kajsa's place, 'fore I joined the Stride." Brae comments with a shrug to Cryo, an gives a nodded, "Sure thing, luv." to Mikilos before, "Sure that's all ya want?" before looking to Lily, "H'bout you, squirt? Want a piece?"

Mikilos nods to Cryo, drawing two lines from the edges on his mouth down towards his chin. "'Saber Tooth Tiger' I believe is the Tradespeak term. I've seen sketches, but never a live one. The local mountain lions are quite a bit smaller than that. Quite cuddly if raised around people, but rather dangerous if not." The elf frowns mildly. "One aspect of conjuration that always irked me, the vast majority of spells are geared towards combat. Summon up a creature to fight for a few seconds, then send it back. Very few to keep around and get to know them a little." He smiles, shaking his head to Brae. "Thank you, no, I don't typically eat."

Cryosanthia nods, "This one has noticed that. It's hard to find a spell that lasts for any length of time. This one is amazed at the Magical Mansion. There's the one I can do now, Obscure Object, for hiding... um... things. It lasts eight hours, which is wonderful."

She looks about, her eyes settling on Little Fang, "So they are cuddly if you get them young enough. Well that could be said of almost anything. Not slimes though, I expect."

"Yesssss!" Little Fang holds out her hands for jerky. She also warns, "Watch websss." <draconic>

Cryo asks, "What spells do you have that are permanent?"

Braelnoir scratches at the back of her neck and looks about as the talk of permanent magic comes up, "No problem." she replies, then turns toward Lily at her acceptance. She takes the warning at face value and verrry carefully edges closer to offer the little kobold a strip of smoked venison, "Here ya go, luv!"

Mikilos considers. "Quite a few if want to put extra effort and materials into them. Only a couple that are desiged that way. Fabricate, Wall of Stone, Stone Shape, Plane Shift I suppose, Stone to Flesh, Flesh to Stone... Polymorph can last a very long time if done properly. Fireball is quite preminant in it's own way." The elf considers, and blinks, turning to Braelnoir. "Speaking of own way, do you have magics of your own? A mystic connection to Fire, or Water, or any such?"

The pink Kobold quite happily takes the jerk and bites it. She chews, looking around eagerly. She's been waiting a while now, hoping that if she builds it, her aunt will come and get stuck in it.

Cryosanthia nods, listening, then asks suddenly, "Fireballs are permanent? In the damage, you mean, you don't get an endlessly exploding fireball, do you?"

Braelnoir hmmm's softly, "Well..." she starts with a shrug, "I got... changed, fer a long time by some mojo-tech a friend'v ours was studyin' got stolen from'r." A little color brushes her cheeks, and, "Well... things got... involved, and me'n Ellandra finally broke it, but I come out different'n I was when I first got changed."

"All m'scars're gone, had ta repierce m'ears an... stuff. Hell, I come out bald." She glances to the silver patch of her shoulder, "That was a brand scar, an' my hair was black." Ahem, "I haven't.... really been able ta cast stuff, so far, but.. apparantly I can get claws when I get sufficiently pissed off."

Ahem, "There's... one thing I can do... gotta weapon? An old one, preferably?"

Mikilos smiles. "I meant the damage, but now that you mention it I've heard of unusual effects of magic on other planes, or where the planar walls run things and Wild Magic abounds." As his focus shifts to Brae, the elf listens attentively, nodding, and hesitates. "Old as in a valued heirloom, or old as in it's okay if it gets damaged?"

Lily and Cryo's heads perk up at the 'heirloom' mention. Ancient treasures! Cryo coughs, Lily keeps eating her jerky. The whitescale adds, "One of Kaelyn's things, and this one has seen the claws, yes."

"I... shouldn't hafta break anythin'." the merc says with a shrug, "I'm a Korite, breakin' a weapon, less I'm breakin it -in- someone just ain't right." she replies with a wink.

She nods to Cryo, then looks to Mikilos, "It can be old junk if yer worried, long as it's been around an' it's a weapon."

Mikilos hesitates a few seconds, then draws the longsword at his side. Sildanari runes are etched along the blade. 'It shall be then, when the forest shrinks, a sudden death shall mark the downfall of an empire.'

"That is a beautiful blade," Cryo says, looking over the runework, "Interesting sentiment."

She looks next at Braelnoir, her head tilted, "hold on, let me get my Detect Magic up, I want to see what happens."

A quick swirl of her hand, a flicker of light along her scales, and her eye-scales begin to glow, "Okay, this one is ready."

Braelnoir carefully accepts the sword with an intent, scrutinous look in her eye. She can't help but lightly shift the level of her hands beneath it, "This usually takes a little bit. Nice profile work.... balance is a little hiltward fer my taste..."

There is, as she trails off and her eyes seem to glaze over just a smidge, a scent of old rust and new blood about her.

Beneath the analytic invocation affecting Cryo's gaze, certain of the Korite's gear; her bag, spiked gauntlet, breastplate, sleeves and pendant, are aglow. As are the red scales composing the marks of her arm.

Brae's breath catches as her brows knit, "It's...!" she starts, breath faintly aquiver, "I... I thought Eskellios was old.... I never....!"

She swallows and her brow furrows in concentration as she continues to dive in, "... prophecy... before anyone'd heard of a human...." A little shake of the head, "She saw... the Elves end. Soul's.... been wet... but spent a long time.... waiting."

Mikilos watches intently, and nods. "It's name is Quarlani, or Soul, forged after the Closing of the Gates that made elves mortal, but before we broke into different races. Possibally older than the Mithralla clan, though not of the true Mithril Elves." He considers a moment. "It's shown up in many legends, but the full path of it's history is unknown."

Cryo stares, her eyes intently glowing. This effect and Braelnoir's tone, more than her words, have drawn and captured Lily's attention. Neither lizard is exactly sure what's going on, but they remain fascinated, observing.

"Wet... with blood?" Cryo asks quietly, then shuts up. Best not to interrupt. She attempts to follow the flow of magic, hisses urgently, "Mikilos, do you know what's going on, can you see this?"

She looks over, shocked, "Wait, that's what your name means? Mithril? Your family invented Mithril?" Her jaw drops.

Braelnoir closes her eyes and shakes her head, pulling back from the expanse of ages yawning before her, and the scent of her 'gift' is fades just a bit slower than instantaenously and she draws in a shuddering breath, "Whoa fu-! Ah... yeah....." She respectfully presents the weapon back to it's master, then, "I... never done that with a blade with so much... history, before... The Forests... meant everythin', far as... the sword's crafter was concerned."

She looks to Cryo, "Quarlani's a weapon.... be odd if she never been in a fight, especially after so long...." She teeters a little , "Whew... that's... that's new..."

Mikilos shakes his head. "I'm not sure. I've seen powers before, mystic connections to the elements, but this seems different. An aspect I've not encountered before. At a guess, something connected to the Spirit of Battle, or something of that general nature. As for wet, maybe blood, maybe got dropped into a lake and sat there for a few hundred years. A kinsmen found it, brought to me as Last Scion of the Mithralla." He frowns mildly, considering a moment. "Maybe? The legends of the First Age tell that when the Gods of Light fought the Darkness, elves clad in mithril fought beside them. Where or how they got that mithril, the legends don't say." He nods to Brae. "Raychell Reysatra, one of the first sylvanori. An ancestor of mine."

"Oh wow, oh Mikilos..." Cryo says in awe. You have to bequeath that to me if you die first, goes unsaid. A slightly better sentiment substitutes, "You have to romance Valadhiel and get heirs! She's amazing!"

The dawn elf, the sword, Braelnoir, Cryo has been reading rather too much Crimson Pen of late.

"Brae is pretty fighty. Ok, so, that was something rare, a kind of power. Neat."

Lily agrees, "Yesssss."

Braelnoir nods to Mikilos's words, "Yeah..." She pats the hilt of the longsword at her hip, itself a design dating to the fall of the Millenium Empire, the genesis of Alexandros though it seems almost freshly forged, devoid of enchantment, "Eskellios here's like ya said. Got lost in a river just after it's gifted t'its owner. Poor bastard got smoked before he could engage. Sat in the river fer a long damn time...... never got proper wet." She shrugs and lowers her hand to her side, "So... I had it restored... wantin' ta get it a taste before I try an enchant it."

She smoothes her hair back and, "So... yeah... I figoured out I could do that about the same time I sussed out how ta put some mojo into weapons. The rest... I don't get."

Mikilos chuckles, smiling at Cryo. "I'll let Val know you approve. But first, make certain there's a world to have heirs in." He considers a few moments, nodding to Brae. "It's a type of magic, certainly, but not of any sort of school I've studied. New magics after the Fall, ancient magics reawakened? Or maybe just really really rare. I can think of a few places that might know of such things, but you can likely guess at them as well as I can."

Cryo wobbles her head, some advice about work never being done half-coalescing then slipping away. Finally she sums up her thoughts with, "Be careful Miki, or another cat will take your fish again. Focus on what's most important."

The whitescale listens through the magic musings, nodding slowly, "it's still cool."

Braelnoir nods, "A'ight... I'll poke the longheads up at the Arcanist's, sometime." she decides, then, "That said... could someone else put magic inta a weapon I already did, ya figger?"

She looks to Cryo as she makes her advisories, then, "Thanks, luv." on the compliment. She scratches at the red scales dotting her arm, starts to say something, then seems to think better of it.

Mikilos smiles, and nods to both. "I won't know for certain until can examine the enchantment, but I think so. Most enchantments layer over each other fairly well, regardless of source. A blade first enchanted by priests isn't any harder or easier to work with than one made by wizards."

While some may not hold the greatest of faith in users of magic, their wares are generally far more predictable and reliable. Not to mention useful, and current events necessitate that useful items be acquired. Thus it is that Aya enters the shop, via the entrance, even. Lily immediately perks up! Then freezes! The one weak spot, the main door! She sits on her step-stool, all a quivver, watching.

"They get harder as they layer though, don't they? Morgan took forever with my dagger." Cryo says, "I think I confused a fictional enchantment with a real one, something just for swashbucklers. Probably it was in the Crimson Pen..."

She sighs, a wistful, dreamlike kind of noise, "... I've been reading so much Crimson Pen. Oh! Hi Aya."

Braelnoir nods, "That's fair." she notes, then turns toward the door as someone walks in, "Oh, hey, luv, how ya doin?" she greets. There's a look to Cryo as she elaborates on layering, "Yeah... got m'scythe as far as I could, but.. yeah, got harder as it went."

Mikilos nods. "Like stacking rocks. The higher you go, the harder it gets, but it doesn't really matter where the rocks came from."

Aya dips her chin to the proprietor, followed by Cryosanthia and Braelnoir. "Good eve." It seems she does not notice the carnation-scale immediately. Afterall, she isn't moving, and pink does blend in with anything. Of course.

Lily waves, attempting to coax the newest patron of Mithrallas Merchandize closer, her voice high pitched and very excited, "Ay-Ay!"

She also points, at a not-safe route, which is obvious to the observant.

Cryo stiffles a laugh, covering her snout with her hand, "Peace on your Nest. You are recovered... from our expedition?"

Braelnoir gives a nods to Mikilos and looks back to Aya, then Cryo, "More excitement?" she wonders, on the chance she missed something important. Then Lily greets the dark elf and she turns to look that way, wait, isn't that...?

"It takes more than a little magic to defeat me..." Aya notes in answer to Cryosanthia. Admittedly, the rather aptly-named DEATH ORB was more than a little. Much more. Not that Aya admits this openly.

Her eyes are only now drawn to the waving pink and claws. "Oh! There you are. You are quite the inconspicuous one..." Aya accepts the invitation (lure?), though she does not follow the indicated route. That would be too easy. Instead, she vanishes in a dissipating puff of shadow...

... and reappears in Lilly's midst. Also in the midst of numerous webs, as inconspicuous as they were, due to expert placement by the inconspicuous one.

The webs work as intended. Tension on the disturbed ones swivel the hand crossbow and pull the trigger.

>>thock<<

A bolt flies! Strikes Aya.

A soft headed bolt. Lily squeals, and cheers, and turns around and hugs the Mul'niessa, rapidly hissing in draconic, "And then poisson coverss you, and you expode, and you turn into a gnome! You're the deadessst Dead, Tia Ay-Ay!" Terrible fates, gnomification perhaps the worst one. <draconic>

Cryo laughs quietly, "Lily has missed you. She's been setting that up all day."

Mikilos chuckles at the antics, and applauds politely. "Well done. I wasn't certain if it would work as planned."

Aya gasps at the impact, though it's not until the explanation that she truly feels the terrible, unspeakable effects of the poison. Gnomification is, indeed, worse the the deadest deadly death. Aya crumples slowly to the ground under the sheer ignevitability.

"Ah-ah." Brae remarks, "Right." snapping her fingers, "Yeah, she's real proud o'that one." She shrugs and saunters closer now that the tripwires are already tripped, "So..." a look over the Mul'niessa, "Can I have yet stuff?"

Lily watches Aya die. She looks around the shop. She scrambles across to the counter and takes a rose out of a vase. Solemnly, she lays it on the shadow elf, and puts her hand to her chest.

Cryo laughs out loud now, "Yes, we'd better fight over her stuff. If we bury her with it, she'll wonder why we thought it wasn't good enough to loot. She'll develop some sort of complex."

Mikilos laughs again and nods. "Well I wasn't part of the kill, so will have to work it out between yourselves. Just make sure to dispose of the body properly, don't need a corpse around. Bad for business."

It seems that no one informed the unsuspecting Sith-makar that mul'niessa are, in fact, immortal. Undead. Vapiric. Soul-devoring. Allegations vary, but the end result is the same: they are forever. Aya uses his to her advantage as she abruptly returns to life to snatch up the unsuspecting carnation-scale before leaping up to her feet with her new captive in hand. "I will keep what is mine, including this one," she notes, one corner of her mouth lifted.

"Yeah, but do we wanna wait till it gets all Gnomified, too?" Brae wonders with a smirk as she watches Lily do honors to the worthy foe. She watches that for a second, then, "You teach'r that, Cry?"

And then, suddenly Aya is on top of the game, "Well... now there's a pickle..." she notes, tapping her cheek with a forefinger, a glance to her sister, then to Lily, then, to the dark elf, "Kiss ya for her."

Because Korite.

Wait... that's not...

"You could turn her into a fish, then the cat might take care of her for us." Cryo says, waggling her eye-ridges. She tilts her head to one side, "Am I over-working that joke too much?"

"Say... " The whitescale is sounding mischievious again, "can you put the scales and tail back on Braelnoir?"

Lily meanwhile, is crouched down with her nose right up against Aya's face, breathing on her and checking for breathing. Until the immortal, undead, vampiric, soul-devouring demoness springs back to life and scoops her up. She flails and squeals, and laughs.

Cryo snickers, "Sure! Kiss away."

"This one has no idea where she got the flower ritual from. Tae perhaps?"

Kissing Korites?Nnot the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of proponents of strength and combat.

Mikilos mmms. "Are a couple cultures that use flowers, show up in street plays pretty often, so might be from one of those."

Aya is not a nanny, much less an egg-watcher. She does succeed in not dropping Lily, however, and avoids the majority of flailing claws. One brow arches at Braelnoir's unexpected offer of ...ransom? After a moment, she dips her chin in acknowledgement, holdin the carnation-scale out towards her in presentation. "That is acceptable. I recommend you be mindful of tooth and claw."

Who says followers of the god of unfettered battle can't negotiate?

Brae didn't expect her to just agree, but this works, too.

She gives Cryo a quick look, a bit of color on her face, then, she palms it, and starts to move to reclaim her niece from the unGnomifiable soul-draining Mul'niessa. "Alrighty, then." she starts.

The things she does for fmaily, huh?

"Tia Braesss!" Lily hisses in her high pitched way, reaching out for Braelnoir. She's manageable, although the Mul'niessa will have to work to avoid her tail. It's whip-quick.

She is reclaimed for the promise of a kiss, and hugs the merc tightly now. Her head twisting so she can look over her shoulder at Aya with one eye. The Kobold has her eye on the Mul'niessa. This was not her last trap!

Cryo continues to laugh, and cover her snout with her hand. She shakes her head, "So, Mikilos, this one tried the Cantrip spell on the Death Orb, that we suspect is a shard of Animus. It worked, in the sense that it spoke to me in my ears as well as my head, but didn't communicate more than it was. Aya, explored close to it, and discovered that it is a Death Orb. Merek..."

She coughs, licks her lips, "Attempted a divination, got a backlash, exploded in a fountain of blood, caught the attention of the guards, started to argue with them, and was barely convinced by Griva to surrender and turned over to Serene, Seldan, and someone with Nethercite Manacles."

"Somehow we discovered in this, mostly Griva did, that the Rite of the Binding of the Conclave must be performed before that Animus Shard will trust us."

Mikilos blinks, sitting up at the info dump. "I'd heard something of what happened, but not the full report. The Binding of the Conclave? Hrm, I know what that is, but can't say as I know how it goes."

Braelnoir nuzzles the little one for a couple moments, "All safe an' sound!" she cheers in good humor, "Got all yer fingers'n toes, luv?" She shifts Lily to her hip and, for the benefit of the spectators and, probably, avid readers of the Crimson Pen, leans in to uphold her end of the deal while Miki and Cryo discuss the mess with the Orb.

Aya snerks. "Taara's tiny t... Why do I feear I've somehow made it into the next edition?"

Lily holds onto Braelnoir, riding easily on her hip, curling her tail halfway around the merc's waist.

Cryo nods to Mikilos, "sorry for the rush of info. I forgot you weren't there, and I don't want to miss passing on something critical. Cesran ... was familiar, a little, but it seems like there will be more to look into."

The whitescale's tail coils slowly back and forth. She hisses, "Lily, remember to pack up your threads and your crossbow. They're too expensive to leave lying around." <draconic>

"Yesss..."

Braelnoir says, "Because Cryo?"

If it is any consolation, Aya does not have many sharp teeth nor claws to worry over. Nor is she particular on the payment of ransom. Perhaps due to the mention of Merek and manacles, she does comment to Brae, after, "I was pleased that you chose not to challenge the guards over him. Rendering you unconscious, even for your own boon, would have left you in a poor mood, I imagine."

Mikilos nods, frowning thoughtfully. "As I recall, was a massive event, likely with a lot of complex details... of course, it might aslo be very simple, and Animus took care of all the heavy lifting. The Sildanyar didn't take part, having our own connection to magic."

Braelnoir, thus consoled, meets the arrangement to the point Aya is satisfied enough to pull away, and she straightens, shifting Lily to cradle in her arms. The upside is, she doesn't have especially sharp teeth to worry about this month. The claws? Well... that's... anyway, her hands are full and this is all friendly like.

She purses her lips a bit on the note of... gratitude(?) and she nods, "Yeah, well..." She looks somewhere else, for a moment, then, "Mighta been in a twist after that, yeah."

"Well... this one wanted you to know the Message cantrip seemed okay on even the hostie shard, so... perhaps we can try those other experiments, sometime... on another shard..." Cryo says, more watching Aya and Braelnoir than anything else. She groans a little again, arching and squeezing her shoulders as far back as she can, then forward, and pushes against the counter to lift herself.

Lily is cradled, stares up at Braelnoir with ruby red eyes. Her scales are smooth and soft.

"It'll be ok, Brae," Cryo reassures, "that much a least."

Mikilos frowns thoughfully, and shrugs. "We could test the Shards, I suppose, even see if they react to each other... though that could be too far. With each seeming to have it's own rules, tripping up on one seems twice as liekly if involve a second."

Braelnoir gives Lily a little squeeze and nods to Cryo's reassurance, "... yeah." A shrug, then, "So... we wanna try talkin ta Junior, then?" she wonders, looking to the more dedicated casters.

"Well..." Cryo slouches back against the counter, her voice going low. "I guess we need to decide if we will, or won't risk it. Talking, or putting them together might be the best thing to strengthen him."

Her thoughts drift to her very basic first aid skills, and all the bodies she saw in the Fae Queen's workshop. It seems an apt comparison, somehow. This is a damage way beyond her skills and understanding.

"Or the worst thing. I wish I knew more. I wonder if Zaya ever said anything. I don't know what to do." Cryo laments.

Mikilos shrugs mildly. "Same in any dangerous situation where don't have all the information. Proceed with caution, stay alert to what's happening, and try to maintain an exit plan. I'm inclined to have you try to Message the Egg. If it builds relationships, or is just aware, you're likly the best suited to communicate with it."

Aya sighs, "I must go." She vanishes into the shadows.

Lily squeals, waving at the empty space. At least she got her chance to murder her aunt.

"She was fried, Cryo..." Brae muses with a shrug, moving over to hold a wall up and cuddle her niece, "'member the whammy you got castin' to the Orb. Reckon it's so much worse havin' a death grip on it fer... who knows how many days?"

"I... hoped she got better Brae, that we managed to save her." Cryo says, straightening up and looking directly at her scale-sister, "I never followed up because... I don't know..."

The whitescale is silent for a moment, clicking the claws of her thumbs together, looking at the floor, looking up.

She turns towards Mikilos, "Then, lets try it someplace safe, where I feel safe. In the Mansion, the ice lair and the seaside, and maybe a chandlier and a balcony or two. And ... yes... let's?"

Mikilos hesitates for a moment. "We don't know if being on another plane affects them... but we don't know that it doesn't. We do know you'd be more comfortable, so yes, one moment while I remember the details to build in." The magus takes a few moments to lay out the interior mentally, before casting the spell, setting the unseen door against the wall in case someone comes into the shop while they're busy. Invisible doors can be handy, but also inconvient.

GAME: Mikilos casts Mage's Magnificent Mansion. Caster Level: 15 DC: 26

Lily squirms out of Braelnoir's grasp, picking up her hand crossbow from Kor's realm, and winding up all the spider-silk triggers. The whitescale alternates between watching her, and Mikilos' preparations. She's jealous he can cast the spell, also grateful that he does so often. "Thanks," She says softly, then "Let's go in."

One step through an invisible wall and the inside of the mansion is revealed. An 'Ice Lair' that is warmer than it should be, composed of glass both frosted and transparent, to mimic a cavern carved out of an iceberg without being chilly or sharp. One entrance up high, with vague colours beyond suggesting sky and tundra as long as one doesn't look too close. An open area, a building that would be a folly if it were real, having only two walls, a ceiling, and a chandlier. The ground slopes down to a seaside of small rocks and occasional waves. Deep enough to dive under and swim a little, but not so deep little younglings might drown. Water, that's also warmer than it looks, closer to a hot tub than an arctic pool.

Cryosanthia feels a level of tension wash away as she steps in, carrying Little Fang. She exhales happily, waiting for the others. "Let me have the Haversack Brae, I'll take the Egg out."

Braelnoir lets Lily loose as the squirming starts, as she's since figured out that's how she says 'I'd like to get down now, please', and pushes off the wall as Mikilos handles the prepwork. She unslings the pack from her shoulders and starts to walk into the pocket realm beyond. On Cryo's request, she nods with a quick, "Sure thing, luv." She takes the pack out of her backpack and drops the latter. She opens the Haversack and reaches in to withdraw her scythe before handed it over to her sister, "Here ya go."

Edinaz comes in, wrapped in thick cloaks and pushing back his thick hood with the thick gloves of a street-sweeper. He has a heavy bag on one hip, and he stutter-steps. People are walking through things they shouldn't!

Mikilos pauses a moment as someone new arrives, and nods a polite greeting, hesitating a few moments. "Ah, you've been helping Cryo guard the Egg, right? Come inside, we were just about to try something, can always use an extra set of eyes." So saying, the elf steps inside himself, disappearing thru the invisible door.

Edinaz opens his mouth in an instinctive denial, then closes his mouth, and nods. He puts his chin down and pushes through the door-wall after Mikilos.

Once inside, Lily immediately runs to the table full of food. She's going for the cured meats. Fish will be next. She has one picked up, and then a sense of the gravity of the situation lands on her. She puts the slice down, returns to her clutch-mother, stands just behind her with her hand on her tail.

Cryo takes the haversack, then cheerfully greets Edinaz as he enters. "Goods! You're here! This one is so glad!"

She picks a cleared spot at the end of a table, reaches inside her haversack and takes out a large egg that's made of woven lead. She carefully sets it down. She works the latches, opening it, revealing a second egg inside which is made of living wood, also woven. She unlocks and flips that up, revealing the interior. Silk pillows, filling both halves, in the colours of Animus, and on the lower part of the basket, the Animus shard. All colours, and none, shining like a hole in space.

Cryosanthia is bouncy, her weight shifting foot to foot, her tail... she's keeping that still so she doesn't send Lily flying. The whitescale is at a level of excitement and attempting to calm down. She rubs at her horns. "Okay, okay so. If... if thoughts might help, intentions, feelings... then... find the best ones."

Mikilos stays quiet and observes. The point is he's not the best to try this, so his recomedations wouldn't be best either. Let Cryosanthia do things her way, and trust it'll all work out. Or that at least minimize the damage.

Braelnoir looks over toward the entrance as, "Edi!" comes through it, and she shoots him a grin, "How ya been, luv?"

To Cryo's prep, she brings a hand up to rest the crook of her finger against her lips and hmmm's, "Safety, well wishes... a desire ta understand?" She shrugs a bit, then moves closer to the shard.

Edinaz turns his head and grins. "Brae! Good! It's been too l--" He trails off when the magic lights start shining. Business first. He doesn't go for the hilts of his swords, he doesn't. It's just reflex that makes him reach - before he starts doing a breathing exercise to take him to a happier place where he doesn't have to look at that shard too closely.

GAME: Cryosanthia casts Message. Caster Level: 10 DC: 14

It's one of her earliest spells. The message cantrip. She used it to communicate with other prisoners in the cells, in Charn, when they were taken down the hall. Cryo can cast it in her sleep, probably has, and her hand twirls easily through the arcane gestures, the light flickering through the scales down her arm.

"If you stand close to me, you can hear the whispered replies." If there are any, that is. Her fingers complete the gestures, making an 'O' with thumb and forefinger, that breaks so she can touch her finger to her lips, then point at the egg. Animus Egg.

The whitescale has a speech all ready to go, the same as the one with the 'Death Orb', all formal, official and clinical, where she introduces her role more than herself. A feeling wells up within her. That is not the right approach. Trust Mikilos, trust the instincts. If this will work at all, it needs to be personable. It needs to be her. Her formality drops. She's talking to her egg.

"Hi," Cryo's voice is soft, tentative, "It's me, Cryo. You're someplace safe, with friends, Braelnoir and Mikilos and Edinaz, and Lily. We got Zaya free. We've been protecting you as best we can. We're all worried, and we want to help, and we don't know what to do."

Mikilos maitains silence, waiting, hoping. If nothing else, it helsp him hear whatever reply may be comming.

Edinaz continues to breathe, in and out, in and out. Think of the good things, like sparring, and the meal after sparring. His smile slowly spreads.

"Yeah... it's gotta know you." Brae replies softly, setting a hand on her sister's shoulder.

Silence. No Response.

Cryo waits. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, perhaps this. Then a lesson from her Speaker training recalls to her awareness. Sometimes, they won't respond at first. Sometimes, it's necessary to keep talking to the silence and hope one hits on some common ground with the listener, something that will encourage them to open up. It can be difficult to negotiate.

But the whitescale is good at talking and talking. "I know you have hesitation trusting us, and I know you've been betrayed, and hurt badly, even if I don't know the details. I wish I had something to say that would be completely reassuring. I'm sorry. I'm ... well I'm a singer, and I dance, and I like playing the drums. I have a little bit of magic which I use for making my songs extra loud, or to have some lights. I could show you, but I want to tell you about my friends here. You should know Braelnoir, she's carried you as well. She's a great fighter, and very direct, and she's been through a lot of bad things, but her word is strong. She'll never break her word. Mikilos used to follow you, he still has the amulet. He's got a great place, full of books, and interesting stories. He's... he's just great."

"And Edinaz. Um... well I haven't known him for eighty years, so you'll have to trust me on this one, he's a good guy. He turned away from heaven to do the right thing, so, there's that." Cryosanthia looks to either side of her, at the Dawn Elf, the merc, the half-orc, then faces the egg again.

Braelnoir cants her head a littl as Cryo starts telling the shard who everyone is. What can she do as she's introduced so but give a wave and a little smile with a, "Hi." and she crouches down to gently stroke Lily's head, "Lily." she says softly, but not to the little one. Edinaz's lips press together into a thin line at that. That admission pulls him out of his sparring-fed happy-place. He got a little lost after he got back from that trip. He looks down, and grates out: "Hello."

Mikilos nods at the mention, but stays quiet.

"And yes, this is Lily. She's young but she's very brave, and she's very sharp." Cryo continues, incorporating her too, "she makes great toys and traps. So, that's all of us. There's Baz and the war-golem, MAC Bee One Gee, which have helped out. We all want to help..."

"I understand if you want to be quiet, but we'll be here, so you can listen. And if you don't want to talk, that's ok. There's a lot going on." Cryo struggles a bit more, then looks at everyone.

"I'm not sure there's much else I can say right now. Well, there is one last thing." She swallows, addresses the Animus-Egg again, "I've been casting 'Obscure Object', to help you hide yourself, on the carrier. So, that's what that spell is, so don't be worried if I get closer with it, on the pillows or something."

"Ain't no harm talkin fer a while." Brae says, then looks to the shard and rises to her feet again, "We'll be here." and she ventures back to the buffet to grab someting to eat.

Mikilos speaks softly. "Maybe it's not ready, maybe the time isn't right, maybe it's ready and willing, but not able. All we can do is try, and hope."

Edinaz turns away, and goes to get something to eat. "Maybe it doesn't see time like we do. I mean, if it's eternal, what's waiting a few days, years, centuries? Do you talk to the flies that buzz around your lunch? sometimes, right?"

"We can eat and swim now?" Little Fang asks, staring up at Cryo. <draconic>

"Yes Lily, go eat." Cryo nods, as her pinkscale bounds off towards the table, immediately grabbing a handfull of meat slices and a glass of juice. Instead of putting it in her mouth, she runs over and puts them in front of the egg carrier. Her mission accomplished, she returns to the buffet to get some for herself.

"This one hopes she rates as more than a fly, Edinaz, but I'm picking it up." Cryo says, nodding to the half-orc, then to Mikilos, "All those things could be true, just not the right time."

She heads over to the food, snorts quietly once, "sometimes this one talks to the rocks too. It depends." It all depends...