Chat Rune

Tenebrae - Thursday, July 24, 2014, 7:58 PM

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-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A07: Local Alexandria Market District *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-

Just west of the Northern Highbridge and east of the arena, commerce blooms. Noisy and bustling, most anything may be purchased here for a price. Vendors from all cultures sell their wares from exotically colored carts, and the smells of different nations and far-off city-states mix with local ones from Alexandria and its riverbanks.

For all its commerce, visitors are advised to keep hold of their purses. Even the merchants possess a certain, cunning look. Most are positioned at carts or stalls as opposed to a formal storefront, with trade here being mobile, and visiting from all parts of the world.

Though the quality of goods suffers here compared to Upper Alexandria, the options are more diverse. Too, the oversight of the Watch is slightly less, and during times events are held at the Arena, chaos abounds. After dark, the square becomes a hangout for bards and other entrepreneurs whose business is best conducted by night; the shadows at the edges of the square often contain furtive figures engaging in their own brand of business.

Weird sights are common in the markets of Alexandros. But even here, some things stand out. Like the small tornado of bright cloth. Which is to say, several bolts of partly unrolled cloth, hovering in the air around a certain tall wizard. It might not be so bad if any of the colors went together, but they really really don't.

Valadhiel walks along the path, then blinks, "Ah, Mikilos... is that you underneath that travesty to fashion and sanity?" She shakes her head, a bemused smile on her lips as she makes her way towards Mikilos.

Mikilos mmmms, glancing around for the source of the question with a smile. "Might be. There were some gnomes around earlier with... questionable taste. Here, which do you think is more eye catching? The pink, or the yellow?" Both indicated cloths would better be described as 'eye searing' than 'eye catching'...

Valadhiel hmms, "Dear, if you are going to be slipping into colors like these, I think I shall need to be around more often to keep you into clothing that will not cause blindness or seizures." She smiles a bit and shakes her head, "Though the pink, if I had to choose." With that, she steps in next to Mikilos and plants a light kiss on his cheek, unless he does something rather odd like flinch away or something, that is.

Mikilos starts slightly, but doesn't flinch. Does smile, however, and gesture, sending most of the bolts to neatly wind themselves again, leaving a trio out. The searing pink, a very bright yellow, and a simple plain white, all of thin silk. "No no, I've all the clothing I need. For a while at least. No, this is a little project to help with the war effort."

Valadhiel grins impishly, "To blind the Dran?" She winks and tilts her head at Mikilos, "It hasn't been /that/ long, you know." Well, considering that they're both elves... maybe by human standards, though, it's been a little while.

Mikilos grins. "Something like that. Though blinding isn't exactly the point. No, need something they'll look at, even if they don't really mean to." He spends a few moments haggeling with the merchant. Given the color, the bolts aren't expensive, but Mikilos mentioned he actually wants them... but also to aid the war effort. The price balence takes a moment, but in the end, is a fair deal.

Valadhiel nods, "Admittedly, given that Rune is my home... I'm rather concerned. There hasn't been quite an assault like this before." She frowns a little, worry etching her features.

Mikilos ponders a few moments and shake his head. "No, not quite like this. I remain confidant, with all it's allies, Rune will prevail. But at what cost, I don't know. And I don't just mean the cost to Rune, but to the rest of the world with Heth running unchecked."

Valadhiel sighs, "I know, that worries me a lot as well. However, stopping Heth is going to be difficult, to say the least." She hmms, "At this point, I think we should just focus on saving Rune."

Mikilos nods. "Rune is the priority. Without them, the battle in Dragonier would be even harder. At best, Dran will realize their mistake and shift focus. Sadly, the longer this goes on, the less likely that is to happen. However, to just ignore Heth for now I think is also a bad idea. There are resources that cannot, or will not, get involved in Rune, but are willing and able to hinder Heth."

Valadhiel nods, "Hopefully the blood spilled will not be too deep, since this isn't even the real fight that we need to have." She looks over at Mikilos, "I really need to return there soon to help in the fight."

Mikilos nods. "You're aware of the Guild's route? I've been a couple times now, helping with some enchatments. the outter raeches are less than plesant, but the internal streets remain fairly unchanged."

Valadhiel nods, "I'm familiar with the route, yes... I admit, I've been a bit worried to go and see how things have changed." She stands next to Mikilos, talking with the other elf as she has a bit of a worried air about her.

Mikilos nods, slipping off his pack and stowing some rather eye searing bolts of cloth inside. Each bolt is longer than the pack is tall, but three slip in without trouble. Wizards. "I wasn't too familiar before the outbreak, so I can't really say what all has or hasn't changed. I'd visited, of course, but not enough to know my way around."

Valadhiel hmms, "Well, then I'll have to show you around. Though it has been a while since I've been home." She smiles over at Mikilos, "My parents actually still live in Rune, for that matter."

Mikilos blinks, and perks up a little. "Well, you'll have to introduce me some time. I've come to know some of the more common landmarks, but am still pretty fuzzy on the details of where everything is."

Cesran comes from over the bridge on his way to the Fernwood Pub. He has his staff with him and he spots Mikilos and Valadhiel. He moves over towards them and he gives a nod, "Greetings."

Valadhiel grins, "After meeting your entire family, it's the least I can do..." She glances over towards Cesran and gives him a friendly nod, "Good evening."

Mikilos chuckles. "Oh, I assure you, taht wasn't the entire family. Was a good chunk, however." Turning, the tall elf smiles, and raises a hand in greeting to Cesran. "Salutations, you two."

Cesran smiles and goes to open his mouth, but before he can his staff speaks up, it's a crystal dragon head and it moves. "At least someone remembers me." Cesran sighs, "I was just going to introduce you Ral-sara."

Valadhiel laughs softly, "Well, you can introduce him to me, as I don't believe I've had the pleasure yet." She tilts her head, looking curiously at the talking staff.

Mikilos grins, and supresses a laugh. "I still think 'Staffy' is a better name. But as it's not mine, suppose I'll go with Ral-Sara. Anyway, is nice to see you both. How have you been?"

Cesran nods, "Yes see. This is Ral-sara and she and I have been well, been to Rune to help out." He says as the staff definitely has a sassy female voice. "It is nice to meet you. Don't make me toast you Mikilos." The staff replies to Mikilos' jab about the name Staffy.

Valadhiel looks wryly at the staff, "I would really rather you didn't. Besides, I can chastize him better than you, I'm sure." She grins impishly, giving Mikilos a wink, then glances back to Cesran, "As a native of Rune myself, I thank you for that. I've been needing to get there myself."

Mikilos eyes Ral-sara and starts to reply, but cuts off as Valadhiel gives her bit. "...she really can. I'll be good." He grins, then frowns a bit. "I can't help but think there should be some easy solution. Just grab the Dran and shake them into not being so stupid. It seems obvious Heth is the real fore, but somehow they just don't see it."

Cesran smiles, "See you can focus your efforts on me." He says to his staff and the staff hmphs softly, "Yah the problem is getting to the Dran leader, but I have heard he's unreasonable, one of our diplomats was killed the last time they went to make peace."

Valadhiel nods, "Well, we have some diplomats that would probably be capable enough..." She considers, then gives Mikilos a peck on the cheek, "I will see you later. I have to do a few things while it's still early in the evening." With that, she smiles and waves towards Cesran and his staff, "Good night to you both."

Mikilos waves farewell to Val, and nods to Cesran. "Is only a leader so long as people follow him. And they seem frustratingly willing to do so."

Valadhiel has disconnected.

Cesran nods, 'Unfortunately so, if there was a way that we could discredit him, but I don't think that will be very easy to do. We might have to kill him, but that might make a martyr out of him." He waves to the other elf and the staff hmms, "She never said her name."

Mikilos nods. "Valadhiel. And yes, efforts to discredit him have a fair chance of reflecting poorly upon us. I do sort of wonder how it might play out if Rune suddenly just gave up. Complete surrender. No fight. No glory. Nothing to intrest the average Dran warrior."

Cesran frowns, "The worst I would imagine, rape, slaughter, pilaging, thousands of years of magical knowledge lost."

Mikilos nods. "Perhaps. Enough of a reason not to do it. But I don't think the worst would happen. There would be some pillage, certainly. Magical storehouses looted. And unleashed. Mishaps glaore as the untrained try to use thigns beyond their knowledge. And maybe, just maybe, they'd come to understand the wizards who locked such things away did know what they were doing. Yes, many would die. But more than would with this continued fighting? I don't know. And, don't care to risk it. It's an idea, but not one I care to use."

Cesran hmms, "And what if they don't stop with Rune, they could easily turn their attention to Alexandros next and then their shamans will have the magic of Rune behind them as well. Firing off the spell cannon can't defeat an army."

Mikilos nods. "If only could goad Heth into making a major attack upon Dran. Sadly, the moldy lizard isn't so stupid."

Cesran hmms, "I doubt it, I think Heth will let us fight each other to exhaustion and then strike when we are at our weakest."

Mikilos nods. "Or wait until is sure we're fully occupied, then attack somewhere else."

Cesran nods, "Indeed, he has a plenty of options and we are not improving the situation. We have to try to find a way to end this fight with Dran and quickly."

Mikilos nods, and ponders a moment. "Have you heard from Selerik recently? He had an idea with which I've been assisting."

Cesran shakes his head, "I have not, but I will keep my ears open if I heard about him or see him I'll let him know you are looking for him."

Mikilos grins and shakes his head. "No no, I'm already helping him. I'm sure you're at least passingly familiar with the security spell that places fake pages in a book? Typically known as Illusionary Script?"

Cesran nods a little bit, "Yes I have heard of that spell, what does he wish to use it for? Is he going to try to hide a deadly spell inside of it?"

Mikilos shakes his head. "No, the secondary effect. Any who aren't ment to read it receive a mental suggestion. 'Close the book and go away', or some such, typically. But, it need not be cast on a book. Cast the spell upon a banner, flown over the battle field. Any Dran who look upon the banner receive a mental nudge. 'This is a trap, we should retreat.' If only a fraction of the warriors fall victim to the spell, the chaos within the ranks could turn the tide of a battle."

Cesran nods, "True, but even if they did they do have magic users who could dispel the magical effect on the spell, still without magic users there it could turn some Dran back and maybe save some lives on both sides."

Mikilos nods. "It's not a sure thing. Make it too obvious, and the Dran will learn not to look at our banners. At best, many will be unaffected. And as you say, while the ratio is far less, they do have casters of their own. But I do think it's a good idea, and worth the effort to try. My own plans have been hitting dead ends."

Cesran nods, 'It certainly might be, I will pass the idea along to the irregular leaders perhaps they will want to see if we can expand on the idea. It couldn't hurt."

Mikilos nods. "I believe Selerik has already contacted the Guild. He was speaking of some furniture makers? I don't know them, but apparently are skilled crafters for magical funiture."

Cesran nods, "Good hopefully they can come up with something. I'm sure they'll think of something. Well if you'll excuse me Mikilos I am in need of some food. It was good speaking with you."

Mikilos nods. "I should get back to the shop myself. Good seeing you."