View source for At the Hall of the Mountain Mage

<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;">
== Log Info ==
*Title: At the Hall of the Mountain Mage
*Emitter: Mikilos
*Characters: Mikilos, Cryosanthia, Nels, Ezil, Merek, Seldan, Kaelyn 
*Place: A15: Mithralla Merchandise
*Time: Thursday, February 20, 2020, 3:00 PM
*Summary: Nels, goblin turned human woman, arrives at Mikilos' shop in a desperate attempt to get some assistance with his, her transformation. On Nels' heels, Cryosanthia and Ezil arrive, also looking for help and to impart information. The vagarities of transformation and the causes around Alexandria are discussed, with Nels largely told to make the best of it as the magic plaque is preventing Mikilos from casting any spells. Merek arrives, and once Nels have left, the trio update Mikilos on various demonic goings on, information they have found out, and magical items they are working on. Seldan arrives briefly to assist Mikilos, but soon departs. Little can be done to help the mage currently. Kaelyn arrives, and Mikilos takes his visitors on a tour of his estate. Cryo and he discuss various things, stone construction, literature, and the difficulty in escaping laboratories. Upon seeing his ballroom, the white-scaled sith-makar takes off dancing and attempting acrobatic maneuvers. Merek joins her, and all goes well until he attempts to dip the sith woman and discovers she's quite heavy. Everyone thanks Mikilos' for his hospitality, and depart.</div>

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* 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. 

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

<pre>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  At a glance around A15: Mithralla Merchandise  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Mikilos      6'8"     180 Lb     Dawn Elf        Male     Tall male dawn elf, rosey blonde and handsome.
Cryosanthia  6'7"     245 Lb     Sith-Makar      Female   A dashingly tall, lithe white lizardgirl with tattoos.
Nels         5'7"     142 Lb     Human           Female   Young woman, long black hair, wiry and quick in platform boots.
Ezil         5'11"    175 Lb     Human           Male     An armored man with dark skin, and grey-blonde hair.
Merek        5'10"    215 Lb     Human           Male     A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.
Seldan       5'11"    187 Lb     Human           Male     Red-blonde Eldanar man wearing Eluna's colors and symbol.
Kaelyn       17'4"    890 Lb     Feather Dragon  Female   Tall-ish, extremely curvy 5'4" redhead Elf... (VERY ENERGETIC!)
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-</pre>

The door of the shop is closed against the weather, but the lights outside shine bright and welcoming. The inside of the shop is humid and warm, with a strong scent of herbs, mostly mint, as several pots of liquid simmer in the corners of the shop... including a very normal looking teapot. The overly tall Mikilos is seated behind the counter, muttering absently to himself as he fiddels with several large clay bowls filled with assorted powders.

Outside, sounding as if it originates from a good distance away comes a sing-song rendition of his name, "Miiiii-koooo-loooos!" It's repeated again, "Miiiii-koooo-loooos! Are you theer-rrrreh?"

Nels enters the shop and closes the door, shivering for a moment, then moving further inward, towards the warm. "Ah, you're here," she says. She heads toward the counter, stumbles a step, and catches herself on the counter. "Gah, you people are way too tall," she grumbles. Looking around, she asks, "Are you the famous wizard Mikilos, then?"

Nels is, it seems, not his normal goblin self at all right now.

A light knock comes on the door, slowly opening as Ezil comes in after Nels. "Come White-One, I am sure he's in. Shops open and...." laughing with a shake of his head. "I am sure he heard us coming." leaving the portal open for Cryosanthia to enter as her antics outside are the source of his wide smirk. It's Nels who gets his attention though, hearing the last words, and falling quiet. Seems like real business.

Mikilos blinks at the noise, frowning mildly, and rises, setting aside the bowls. As the door opens, the elf pauses, and nods, slightly less confused as Ezil enters. "What's all the yelling about?" Turning to the young lady, he nods. "I am. How may I be of service, miss?"

"I thought he's quarantined with magic disease, I don't want to get close to that." Cryosanthia calls loudly, hanging back. If the neighbours don't know, they likely do now. Wizards give her the willies and she doesn't want a sick willy, she doesn't have the ears for it. She is perhaps, inventing reasons to avoid him. "You're immune to disease, I'm not. Let me know if it's safe."

Nels turns around to see who Mikilos is talking to, and complains, "Hey, -I- was here first." The she realizes he's talking to her. "Oh, right. Well," she says, and sighs. She explains, "I got transformed into this, and ... I dunno how to untransform. Another person had kind of the same thing, and said that I was stuck, but I wanted to get, you know, a second opinion."

"Not immune to this disease." Ezil speaks calmly back through the door with a sigh. His smile fades a bit from his face, looking to the other two with an apologetic glance. "It's... not like that. You will be fine, Cryosanthia." his words trying to comfort, still letting the chill in a bit as he coaxes. "I would not lead you into danger." letting the feme-Nels go first, not trying to draw attention away from that strange case.

Mikilos laughs, and waves vaugely to Cryosanthia. "Obviously I'm not immune, but it's safe enough. Just don't cast any spells and should be fine. And if anything black and oozing tries to grab your face, just splash it with some soapy water or a blunt object." Looking to Nels, he blinks a few times. "...that is not your original form? What happened? What form are you supposed to be in?"

The white-scaled sith makar slips in reluctantly, with a sheepish expression and hunched up a little. She hangs back, close to the door, her tail tucked in around her legs. After a moment she remembers her manners, which must have been left in the Tormrawr, "Peace upon your Nest, Mikilos."

Nels grumbles to Mikilos, "I'm a -goblin-! A /male/ goblin. And now I'm cursed to look like this." She sounds pretty disgusted. "No warts, pale skin, too tall. I'm a wreck, it's enough to make a fellow give up." She listens to a bit of the other conversation, though, and wonders, "You've got that magic disease, then? So you can't do spells? You still know stuff, though, right? Or is that magical, too?"

Ezil closes the door, letting it latch as he is listening to this tale that Nels tells. His glance goes from Cryosanthia, to the sign on the counter as he waits and watches to see what comes of this. He does lean and whisper lightly to his companion. "As Mikilos spoke, just no magic and all will be fine." assuring the Sith-Makar a third time, a grateful nod cast to Mikilos despite his preoccupation.

Mikilos nods politely to Cryo in return. "Peace unto your nest." He frowns mildly as he turns his attention back to Nels. "Casting any spells is currently a problem, but I retain all my knowledge. Usually humanoid transformations are temporary. What happened, and how long ago?"

Merek makes a way into the place while he has on dark plate upon the leathers which he wears, that make noise as the man walks about. It looks more like it's made with an aesthetic in mind, a look offered to folk with a nod to Cryosanthia, and a wave to Ezil, and a nod to Nels and Mikilos.

"Okay," Cryosanthia says, looking around, a lot. She barely rests her gaze on a thing for a second before she's moved on. She focuses on the sales counter, the sign that says wait, then each of the tables and the frameworks between them. Like a hungry bird, her head is popping all over the place. She stands up a little taller when another appears. She attempts to keep her voice down, but it is still loud, "Hello Merek!"

Nels explains to Mikilos, "It was just yestreday. I live upstairs from an artificer, and it happens every few months, the apartment building exploded. I pulled myself out of the rubble, and I was like this." She looks down at herself. "Well, except without clothes, those had ripped off, cause goblin clothes are too small for me. Luckily, I found this," she gestures to her current outfit, "in a storage bin in the wreckage. Don't ask me why the artificer had it. I don't wanna know, I think. Anyhow," she goes on, "A sort of centaur dragon thing named Kaelyn was kinda vague about the thing, so I was wondering if you knew more? Or could figure something out?"

Ezil raises a hand to Merek in greeting, smiling as he lets the other matter go on, and steps away to eye a bit of the shop and take his peek around. Something seems to catch his nose, a glance shot to to whatever is boiling next to the tea.

Mikilos frowns, considering. "As I said, humanoid transformation normally doesn't last long. Hours, typically, maybe a few days, a week at the most. With artifice, however, the rules have a bad habit of getting bent. The artificer who created the device would be the most likely to tell you what happened, but I assume they aren't currently advailible. Kaelyn knows a fair amount, and there's been a sort of transformation rash going around, though it tends to cause beastal features, as I understand. My best guess would say a transformation sould wear off in the next 24 hours. However, I'm also pondering if it's not actaully a transformation, but a transfer. Your mind in someone elses body.... and maybe their mind running around somewhere in your body. The temple of Eluna may be able to tell you what sort of magical effects you're under, which would provide insight as to just what happened." The elf sighs. "Normally I'd be able to try and dispel the effects myself, but with the plague, that's not currently an option." 

The tea is just a perfectly normal mint tea. The pot next to it, however, is a salty mix of herbs, not unlike a fairly nasty cough syrup. Which is basically what it is.

The White sith-makar remains rooted by the door, watching Ezil and Merek as they move around. Mikilos' explanation draws her attention, and she nods. She is not about to add her ignorance on top of his wisdom. She has her hands clasped, hanging in front of her. She looks at Nels with some sympathy. "You're very brave. If I ended up looking like you now, or as a small male goblin, I think I would hide forever."

Nels explains, "The Temple of Eluna is actually the first place I went. But they couldn't do anything, either. That's why I came here." She nods to Cryosanthia, but says, "If I did that, then there'd be no shot at a cure. I've got to try anything, if I can. I'm desperate! This cursed form is awful!" That last bit is said in an anguished tone, almost a whimper.

"I'd make a terrible Gobbo." Ezil finds himself nodding to Cryosanthia and wondering over this case. "Though I suspect that if it is the same device, it was fewer of the needles that got you than the others. It's supposedly like a blowgun. I have a sketch of the device in my inn room, but don't carry it with me." the Tsuran offering a shrug as he turns to Nels. "It seems to be causing more and more trouble."

Merek nods a bit to Cryosanthia, "You doing alright?" he asks, offering a little smile while he moves that way, then nods to Ezil, "And you?" he asks, then he adds to Mik, and Nels, "That still isn't fixed?"

Mikilos tsks mildly, and swiftly fetches Nels a cup of tea. "I know it can be tough, and frightening, but it won't last. You'll be transformed back to normal soon enough, just a little longer than originally expected." Th wizard considers a few moments. "My next advice then would be the wizards college. There should be someone there at least able to tell you what sort of magic is in play, be it transformation or otherwise. Might even find someone to break the enchantment, if that's what it is." He lookds to Ezil, and shrugs. "I think this is something different. But I'm not sure."

"At least the top shelves will get more attention now?" Oh no no, don't joke Cryo! Goblins hate your jokes. She quickly attempts a recovery, "This one is sorry. I... would be in great distress if I became a male sith, even though most of you can hardly tell the difference with us, and a greater change would be even worse. Perhaps, you could with some makeup, disguise as an Arvec Nar? It might make you feel more comfortable to at least appear somewhat correct as you see yourself?"

She nods to Merek, still shielding the door, "This one is okay, are you fine Merek? It is still not fixed, and more chaos spreads."

She shakes her head at Mikilos, "If it's what I suspect, I have no idea how long it will take. The one you mentionned, Kaelyn, can fix it sometimes, if it is not severe. If it is some other artificer, duplicating her efforts, who knows what new complications have occurred."

Nels looks confused at Ezil's comment. "Device? Blowgun? What's all this, then?" To Merek, she explains, "This /just/ happened to me yesterday. No chance to fix it yet, though I'm trying." She takes the offered tea, sips it, and nods slowly to Mikilos. "Hopefully not too much longer," she agrees. "I'll check with them." Cryosantia gets a confused look. "The top shelves are here, though," and she holds her hand at her current waist level, though it'd be a high shelf for a goblin. The idea of disguising as an arvek draws a shrug. "If I used make up and disguises to change my appearance, it'd just make the reality worse."

Merek nods a bit to Cryosanthia, while he offers a polite smile, and gives her a little pat on the shoulder, "You look wonderful today, I can tell it's you no matter what." He then listens to Nels as well as Mikilos when he knows the thing looks to be still on-going.

"Hopefully that is the truth of it, and it will wane with time." Ezil notes, looking up from where his attention is drawn, and speaking to Mikilos. Merek gets his attention next, offering a small smile. "I'm good Merek. Thanks for asking. Just out an about today with the White-One. What of you?" he asks, something about this transformation not seeming to press of his mind.

Mikilos nods to Nels. "I have a few leads on my own situation, with luck will have it cleared up in a day or two. Then, if your situation hasn't imporved, we can take more direct actions to fix matters." Turning focus to Cryo and Ezil, he smiles. "So what brought you two out originally?"

The white-scale sith nods to Merek, doing her best to be open and warm. Standing in a wizard's place, with wizard things, is bringing up a lot of negative associations she's trying to ignore. She still has her hands clasped, and is fiddling. Mostly, rotating a gold ring around one finger a lot. A ring that certainly wasn't there the last time Mikilos saw her. "We... came to consult regarding a demon. It can read minds. I found out several things since we last spoke, which you may have found out from other sources already, but we wanted to update."

She looks at Merek, "Did you tell him? Find out with him? The summoners?"

<pre>GAME: Merek rolls spellcraft: (9)+20: 29</pre>

Merek looks to that ring in curiosity. Which he finds a bit fascinating, though perhaps she does not consider it 'wizard' magic. He does speak to Cryosanthia, "Ah, I haven't mostly, been working with my friends to discover a few things besides all that," he says, then he looks to Ezil, "Ah, I'm doing alright, a bit busy, been working with my belt to enchant it further."

Ezil gestures to Cryosanthia as she answers, nodding after her words. "That's about what brought us. We have a backup plan since... well..." motioning to Mikilos as he speaks in a lower tone. "Since you're a bit indisposed. Terrible news, Mikilos. If there is anything we can do. Let us know." he offers.

"Well that sounds productive. I might have some work for you soon, we'll see if it happens." The Tsuran answering Merek, and moving to take one of the many seats in the room. "I guess it's part business, and part social call, Mikilos." finally offering his answer.

Nels nods to Mikilos, and guesses that's as much as can be done for her, then. "Thanks for your help," she says. And now she's trying to pick up on the rest of what's going on. "This is about the disease thing?" she wonders. "Or some other crisis facing the city?"

Mikilos smiles to Ezil and waves vaugely. "I've been though this before. The cure works, it just takes time and effort. And I have a few leads on a better cure, perhaps, so I'm dealing with it." Turning focus to Cryo, he nods. "Reading surface thoughts isn't an uncommon abilitiy, though deep memories tend to remian hidden. Which demon would this be?"

"Perhaps all of them. We fought a different and powerful demon lord. I forget the name, do you remember Ezil? Did we hear its name? It was defeated and sent back but our intereference may have made it care about us. Mostly, this is about the one we are... trying to safely banish." Cryosanthia explains, spinning that ring even faster. "It may not be capable of reading deep, but Ezil has been around it a significant time, and we got concerned."

She looks over at Nels, "There are a few things else going on, a demon lord is... involved with the plague. Was summoned. The information regarding that is sensitive and can't be generally known. I have been told by a few others, that they have seen demons about Alexandria, disguised or perhaps not. Or, it may have been someone confusing a transformation effect, such as you suffer. This one knows a person that was turned into a scaley beast, quite demonic in appearance."

"I'm glad to hear a cure exists and is effective, and also that your research is going well, both of you, Mikilos, Merek."

Merek looks between the people while he nods a bit, then back to the sith-makar, "Well it seems like you all have been doing a lot. My attention has been to more powerful entities recently or I would assist." He does glance to Ezil thoughtfully, "If you ever need anything crafted feel free to ask!" A nod to Mik as well as Nels.

Nels nods to Cryosanthia about the transformed person. "I met her last night, actually," she explains. "I haven't seen any demons or anything, myself, but I think they don't spend much time in Goblintown." He hrms to Merek. "Do you enchant weapons? Or just regular stuff?"

"He was no lord, but he was powerful. I am under the impression that Eclavidran is not the only player in this game of demons, but the White-One speaks true." Ezil's words coming with a subtle shrug from where he sits. "He was large with leathery wings, and his sword was wicked like bent razors. He commanded fire as if it was his kin, and he bled like molten rock. He perished, but almost did we." his memories of that fight not too kind, and it causes him pause before he speaks again. "The Temple of Daeus seems to have eyes on it, and demons have been spotted in the temple square by some. It's all a mess, but something is brewing."

Mikilos nods thoughfully. "Eclavdran is the only major demon I know involved. Yukia is not without power, but she's a pawn, not a player."

Nels hrms as Ezil describes the demon. Maybe she does need something that can kill demons. "I should get a gun enchanted," she muses. "If I'm going to be stuck like this, though, I'd need a bigger gun. But later," she decides, and will head off to check out the Sages, as suggested.

The white-scale moves out of the way as the ... human-goblin moves past her. She tries not to stare, suppresses thoughts about being trapped in a body like that. Poor humans, best not to point out the inherent superiority of sith to them. Scales, to start with, and the list goes on.

Mildly more relaxed now that the stranger has left, still on edge because of the environment, she is more direct. "I forget if I told you, I met a Claw of the Death Singing Dragon, he told me that his weapon could end all, so that would be how you might kill an immortal. With a celestial reaper's weapon. The Shamans in Mictlan, assured me this was a very bad idea. Ezil and I, had hoped you were recovered enough you could banish his demon. We've been given a second option from the Iron Book, which is... technically in line with Ezil's agreement, but is somewhat distasteful. So his guest wouldn't read his mind, we've had to keep ours protected."

She absently is still spinning the ring on her finger, "We have these until the deed is done. They're on loan. I pretended it was a marriage proposal when I gave it to Ezil, but the joke has gone on too long and turned stale, despite what we tell everyone."

"You can send it back to its plane by killing it as well," Merek mentions, while he nods a bit, then he looks to Mikilos, and back to the sith-makar, "Do remember you have clerics that are willing to assist in things like that as well." He does add, to Ezil, "I see the Iron Book was useful after I spoke of them."

"I don't think they like it when we use their name." Ezil's mirth directed to Cryosanthia, winking as he stands. With Nels leaving, he raises a brow after the goblin and shrugs. "I asked the Sunguard that led us to this ambush if Eclavdran was the one who wanted the book they destroyed, but was told no. It was a different Duke of Hell. Lord, or some other title." waving a hand, and closing towards the counter with a few steps. 

"Mikilos knows of the scythe, though not all of the details." Ezil's admission coming as he nods to Merek. "Much help, actually. I just... can't let someone slay him. My oath was to protect him, even from friends. I can't willingly dispatch, or allow someone to dispatch him." eyes back on Mikilos when he finishes. "Oaths."

Mikilos nods. "The Reaper's weapons are forged from Death itself, but not something to be held in mortal hands. The Sluge of the Wild Hunt -are- weapons, with claws to rip apart immortal souls. I hope to speak with the Queen of Winter, or at least a representative. It's possible the Mistress is already hunted, and they just need pointed in the right direction. Or maybe she's done nothing wrong by their laws, I don't know. If the Queen is unable, or unwilling to help, the King of Lights and Illusion might be willing. And if all else fails, I can craft a weapon of raw power. Expensive, but with enough force even an Immortal will die. But I still hope to find something a little more practical." He nods to Ezil. "Frustrating. I could travel to the infernal planes in minutes if not for this infction. I'm half tempted to risk it, let the ooze infect the hells, but letting some demon potentially access the ooze as a weapon isn't something I care to risk. And teh ooze is gathering energy. I don't think I want to aid that."

"Taking it to hell... does not sound like a good idea. Well, if you need someone with a winter theme when you go see the Queen, I'm up for it." Cryo looks up at Mikilos, then blinks. 

She addresses all in a general way, sweeping her hand. "You've heard Ezil's promise. He can't let his demon guest come to harm. So what must be done is I have to sit on him while others do it, arrange for it to occur sometime when I've distracted him, and live with deliberately betraying his promise for him. Our hope was you were recovered enough you could do a banishment Mikilos. Or this is the sitting upon." Cryo says, sounding a little too confident and pleased with herself as she does. She shakes her head.

"Pretend that was a joke. All of mine are missing the mark lately."

"... I suppose I can speak with the demon if you let me as well," Merek mentions, while he shifts attention between all of the people, "I am familiar with diplomacy," he adds. There's a thoughtful little noise while he thinks about it, "You know I'd do anything for any of you." A nod to Mik, "Definitely not meant for hands of sentients."

Ezil scoffs playfully at Cryo's words, looking between the three. "This is why I have this ring." flashing the gold band with a shake of his head. "I have no intent to break my word, but I know those who would stop me. Sunblade Svarshan says it will guard my thoughts." pausing and looking then again to Cryosanthia. "That's what he told you, yes? Jerboba has a quick wit. I'd hate to be wrong." 

"Thank you Merek. You know I would do the same." Ezil notes with a grin.

Mikilos nods. "It's not a promise I'd make, but one I can understand tha making. It's not mine to honor, but I will do what I can to help you do so."

"Yes! Two rings for the daft things, to shield their leaky minds." Cryosanthia says, her voice full of perk, "Not his words exactly, but close enough. This one shall keep checking with your clutch-cousin Mikilos, to see if you recover soon. With the rings, we can wait longer, but I am so frustrated with problems that have no solution."

"It... might be unwise to speak to him, Merek, now that you've heard Plan B, and I was strongly warned they are adept at turning bargains around. This is how the whole mess started, a surrender turned into a blood pact." One penny finishes dropping through her mind, "Are you Celestial enough to weild one of those weapons Mikilos could make? Are you offering that?"

"I'm familiar with holy weapons, I'm well allied to the forces of that which is good, and also have the ability to possibly empower them further with my divine magic," Merek muses, with a nod to Cryosanthia, "I'm no master at weapons, but I know the way to use a longsword and a longspear." He does shift attention between all, "I mean, I am fairly well defensed, I can use this if they want to play in my mind." A lift of a necklace which has a medallion upon it, which is dual-inscribed with magic for a mind sentinel medallion and natural armor if anyone (especially Mikilos) looks at it.

<pre>GAME: Merek rolls will+2: (9)+17+2: 28</pre>

Ezil ponders for a moment, waving a hand at Mikilos. "I am not one to make another uphold my words. I will do that for myself. You do what you think is best." he notes, listening to the three. "I found out many things from the pact, and soon it will be resolved, one way or another."

Mikilos grins. "My creations are not so great they need celestial hands to weild them. Any one of us could do so, though certainly some better than others. I have my pride, but I make swords, I don't use them."

Cryosanthia flickers her tongue, "Perhaps one day they shall be Mikilos. I might even ask you for one, sometime... maybe... I'll think about it. Um..." Her tone drifts more nervous the more she does.

She changes the subject, "So, are you in need of supplies? That are not easily obtained in Alexandria? I know some hunters, could ask in Mictlan, if there was a tea you preferred. I have some coin, but not that much."

Merek offers a light chuckle to Cryosanthia, and stands with her, perhaps just so she has someone close in a place like this, otherwise not speaking.

A swirl of snow dances in through the door of the shop, the bells on the handle jingling to announce the presence of another - as if damp, cold air did not do just that. Seldan seems to be wearing a cloak mostly to keep the snow out of his hair, for it is loosely fastened, and he pulls the hood down at once on entering. He opens his mouth to speak, but the presence of voices in the shop change whatever it was he had intended to say, and he contents himself with a simple, "Her light fall on your path," to those present.

Mikilos blinks at Cryosanthia, and starts to shake, wrapping his arms around himself. With tightly closed eyes.... and a big grin? He's... laughing? The tall elf chuckles silently for several moments before getting himself under control with a small snort and a sigh. "I'm sorry, it's really not that funny. I do thank you for the offer, but I quite have everything I need." The wizard takes a long breath, and nods, waving vaugely. "Perhaps I could show you around a little?" He blinks, nodding to Seldan as he arrives. "Or perhaps in a bit. How may I be of service?"

The white-scaled sith smiles, relaxing a little. A joke landed, finally. Not one she knew she made, but she'll figure that out later and take the win. She nods, slipping back out of Seldan's way and stopping when her tail bumps into something, giving a quick greeting so Mikilos can attend, "Peace be upon your nest."

Merek looks then to Cryosanthia while he thinks a moment, "Would you like to come with me while I handle some business in a little?" he asks, shifting his gaze to the woman, then it's back to Mik at that laugh. A wave to his friend Seldan!

"I had in truth thought to see if I might be of service to you," Seldan answers, inclining his head politely to Cryosanthia and nodding more familiarly to Merek. "I will be setting out soon, and will be gone a few days, I think, but I had thought to see if you were in need ere I left."

Mikilos nods to Seldan. "Thank you for the offer, I'm quite alright. I was just offering to show Cryosanthia around the place, though of course others are perfectly welcome to come along."

"I am curious. I would prefer company..." Cryosanthia looks at the others, "if your task can wait a little Merek. And, no laboratory please. The offer is very generous and from what I can see here, there is a lot."

The doors open, and in wanders a very curious sight, a draconic looking hybrid, covered in fur, and feathers rahter than all scales carefully turns around and closes the door behind her.... She's moving on her back legs, much like some kind of theropod might, before she begins looking around and starts heading toward the back?

Merek looks between the people and nods, "Sure," he says, adjusting his armor while he meditates, changing that into a usual form of that attire. He follows along to look at the place in curiosity.

Seldan, who is standing not that far from the doors and with a light coating of snow on his hood that suggests that he has not been here long, nods politely to Kaelyn as she enters, accustomed by now to the unusual appearance. It's Cryosanthia that he regards with interest and some confusion, studying her closely with an air that may not be easy to read.

Ezil comes out of his stupor, having fallen into his thoughts and taken a seat in the corner of this room. "Seldan." calling a greeting to the other man, and shifting where he sits as Kaelyn enters the room. "Any blade you could make would be too rich for me." he muses about some topic that's been dropped, but he seems to have been thinking it over for a while. "Errands, Merek? If you need anything, let me know."

Mikilos perks, nodding to the dragon lady. Some day she's going to turn back to normal, and he won't know who she is... "Hello Kaelyn. We were just about to head on a brief tour of the place. You're welcome to come along."

Cryosanthia scoots out of the way as Kaelyn enters, slipping along the edge of the room, her tail very lightly bumping things to keep her from major collisions and nothing is knocked over. She nods to Ezil, then finds herself looking back at Seldan as he observes her. She has her hands together, still fiddling with her ring. "Yes, lets go on the tour."

"You can come with, if you like," Merek mentions to Ezil, "It can wait til' after the tour," he says, then he shifts his attention to people while he places both hands within his gloves, then to pockets while he looks about the place.

Kae's ears perk up and she blinks, noting Cryo nearby... "OOh sorry." She says and tries to give the Sith some more room. "better?" She asks then looks to Mikilos... "Oooh, tours are fun, you feeling better?" She asks curiously... 

Kae's ears flick around as she swivels her head around and takes in the area... Kae then peers at Cryo curiously, before adding "If it'd help someone could just hop up and sit on my back, I can walk on fours, might save room." She says and smiles cheerfully.

Still seeming undecided on something, Seldan inclines his head at length. "Your offer is kind, Master Mithralla, but I should be on my way. My thanks for the offer." To the others, he inclines his head politely, and says, "Her light guide you," before turning to go.

Ezil shakes his head Cryosanthia, smiling still. "Go on, enjoy yourself. I have a matter to attend. No need to worry about Mikilos." patting the Sith-Makar's shoulder and looking to Merek. "Go with her. I'm going to go talk some business with Seldan." seeing the man make to leave. "Seldan, hold a moment!" moving to catchup.

Mikilos nods, and heads out the doors to the left of the shop. "I'm feeling alright, but I'm not cured just yet. Anyway, past the second doors there is the workshop. it's mostly work beches and supply closets, open for rent to whatever craftsmen cares to use them. I get the occasional independant mage who needs something his won facilities don't have, and students up from the college looking to get away from the school labs for whatever reason." The hall is about six feet wide by ten feet tall. Quite large enough for the average person, but a little cramped for giantborn and feathery dragons. The hall is soild stone, carved directly from the mountain. "The other doors from the shop lead to the back storage room, which is mostly empty."

Merek looks back to Ezil, then nods a bit, "Alright, see you in a little while," he says. He moves up to stand with Cryosanthia, while he flicks a coin along his knuckles thoughtfully, and watches Mikilos. He looks to the place.

"Peace upon your nest," Cryosanthia dips her head to Seldan as he leaves, then moves deliberately towards Mikilos and follows along beside him. She looks in every direction he gestures, nodding at the explanations. "Is this carved directly from the mountain? The layout suggests so. The stone work is very fine, the seams incredible."

She seems very interested in the locations of all the windows.

Kae follows afer everyone, looking around curiously and like reaaaallly trying to make her self well, small, it's not easy.. 

She lifts her head and peeks at the stone curiously before looking toward MIki now to see how he answers Cryo.

Mikilos smiles to Cryo. "Magically shaped stone, molded like clay. When I first scouted the area, I used elementals to make sure the rock was solid, and didn't have some faultline lurking futher in that could throw off construction. I also used elementals to shape most of the rooms. The outter walls, and the decorations I did by hand." The hall takes a sharp turn, ending a few dozen feet past the turn, with a set of double doors to both the left and right. "Those lead to the back of the workshop, and this way is the library." he says, opening the right hand pair of doors. Carved into the mountain, there isn't much by way of windows, but bright crystals are set into regular alcoves, providing plenty of light, bright enough to banish shadows, without becomming harsh or blinding. Simple geometric patterns are set every few feet.

"Nice place, a lot of space for magical work," Merek mentions, while he nods a bit to Mikilos, then looks to Cryosanthia and offers a light comforting pat when she begins looking to the windows as well.

The white-scaled sith makar follows along, her scales and armour reflecting the light of the crystals as she passes them, giving the impression she's changing to the colour of the closest one. To the extent there is some off-white emanations. "That sounds efficient. We have many stone structures in Am'Shere, we don't live in huts. The stones are usually moved and shaped by craftsmen, but the shamans do assist. It's often necessary to sink quite a few into the swamp before a dry footing is possible. Earthquakes are not a concern for us, the earth oftentimes is a sludge moving through the trees if there is not outright water."

Her claws click the floor rather loudly when Merek mentions magic work. The patting, somewhat relaxes her. "So with no windows, how would one escape if the front was obstructed?"

Kae blinks and looks around curiously... "Ooooh... I wonder if I could make something that can help with hollowing out stuff like this." She mutters and taps her chin, then she sits on her haunche,s before she watches the Sith Makar and Miki curiously.

Mikilos grins to Cryo. "Well, magic is the most likely. And there's other exits, out the back of the storerooms, through the workshop, or over towards the ballroom. it can feel like we're deep under ground sometimes, but it's actually not too far to fresh air. Not until you get down into the research labs, where getting out is a little difficult, just in case. The worst I've ever had a problem with was trying to work the first time I was infected, kept coughing up ooze that tried to escape." The doors open up to a simple library, with rows and rows of open shelves stacked to the ceiling with assorted texts, scrolls, and papers. It's a bit tight between the shelves for anyhting larger than a human, but there's open space to the side where several chairs sit around an open table, witha couple more igh backed rading chairs sittign alone. There's also a large file cabinet filled with refrence cards. "I keep a range of texts, but specalize in personal journals and diaries from exotic locations. The day to day lives of people who lived and worked in places and times far from here. A ledged from a shop owner from Myrr two hundred years ago makes for dry reading, but it does offer insight as to what sort of dry goods they had on a daily basis, and what sort of value was placed upon them."

Merek smiles a bit to Cryosanthia, then he looks to Kae, then it's back to Mikilos while he keeps both hands to his pockets, seeming to content in listening while he nods a bit. "Ancient reading can be fun."

"The laboratories are usually difficult to escape, that's true. And Good! That the ooze, didn't." The white-scale says as neutrally as possible, carefully filing the directions away. The library seems quite intriguing to her, she resists an urge to squeeze between the shelves. "The books do sound kind of fun. I told Svarshan some of the things that happened to me recently, and they were recorded. I expect it's the case that the people with the least interesting lives have the most time and security to record them, whilst everyone else is hanging off the mountain with one hand. I've always enjoyed plays, and ballads. Songs and poetry. What is your first choice for amusements of litereature Mikilos, Merek and you also Kaelyn?"

Mikilos smiles. "The library is open to whomever cares to use it. So your welcome back whenever you'd care to browse." he falls quiet for a bit, pondering. "I like all sorts of books, but I'd say my favorite is riddles and puzzle books, and mysteries. Anything that tests my mind and tries to trick me." He slows, content to linger for a bit in the library, but ready to move on when the others are finished looking around.

"Maybe that goblin wo...man would be willing to help once sh... he's recovered. I'm going to need the assistance of someone small who can fit between the shelves." Cryo says awkwardly, looking at the edges of the shelves, leaning her head to gaze along the rows of books. She examines the chairs critically, mostly looking for one, or a bench which she would be able to use. Eventually she's slowly glided from one end to the other. "The ambience is nice. I shall try to return sometime. I am ready to move on. There is little dust too, which is amusing. One somewhat expects old tomes to be covered in the dust of ages."

Merek keeps following along with Cryosanthia, speaking to Mikilos, "I might need to commission a weapon eventually."

Mikilos makes a point to have benches and chairs of a range of sizes that anyone can make use of the library with minor difficulty. Which isn't to say there isn't a clear bias, but he tries to have seat suits for wings and tails and tiny little gnome legs. "I try to make it someplace I'd want to use if it wasn't already mine." Nodding to Merek, he leads out the back of the library, into a far more rounded tunnel. This has more the feel of a burrow thogh the stone than a carved hallway, tough it's still wide and well lit. "Between the infection and backorders, it with be a couple weeks, but I'm perfectly happy to offer what help I can when you're ready." 

The tunnel intersects with two others in a sort of Y intersection, a large picture hanging upon the wall. A life sized picture of Mikilos... peering out of the frame, leaning forward a little as the group approaches. The picture is clearly magical, animated to react to people passing by. "An animated guide and security. It designed to point people in the right direction. Linger too long and it calls for help. The back hall leads to the labs, storage, and spare bedrooms. This way heads towards the ballroom." The hall turns to carved stone again soon enough, and aftera side passage steps though a small preperation room, opens to a massive ballroom, able to easily hold a hundred people.

Cryosanthia stares at the picture as she goes past, rotating around to walk backwards away from it to allow her to watch it longer. "That is very unique, and just a little bit narcisstic. I love it!"

She stops dead, seeing the ballroom, "Oh... oh I have to!"

<pre>GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perform/dance: (13)+9: 22
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls acrobatics: (6)+7: 13
GAME: Merek rolls perform/dance: (4)+9: 13</pre>

The sith bounds off to do graceful lizard dancing things, lunging and spinning, and sashaying around the ballroom floor. It's rather beautiful. The acrobatics she attempts to incorporate, a flip for example, don't work out as well. She slips on the smooth floor and flops. She pretends she meant it, standing up, "Sure Merek, come here."

"Can I dance with you?" Merek asks Cryosanthia upon seeing the ballroom, being a fellow liker of the dance, while he offers a hand to the woman if she would take that. He seems a bit happier compared to usual!

The ballroom is extensively decotated, with solid stone pillars carved from the raw moutain like massive stone trees. An illusion of lights gives the impression of sky far above the stone branches. A large stage juts out from one wall, large enough for a small band, and the floor is carved smooth for dancing. perhapsa little too smooth for thsoe not used to it. 

Upon the far wall, a massive tree is etched into the rock. A family tree, set with plaque of broze names, dating back for a dozen generations, with room below in the 'roots' for future generations to be added. 

The end of the hall is wrapped in a mass of stone ivy, forming three distinct alcoves. A quick peek shows the center dedicated to Navos and the balance. The second alcove is decorated with the symbols of Eluna, goddess of light magic. The third alcove... is dusty and bare, a solid grate barring entry.

Merek looks to the sigils of Eluna, then he nods to Cryosanthia while he moves to dance along with the woman. He doesn't have as many moves, though he does know the basic manners of the dance. He smiles a bit, while he shifts about in a little circle, looking to the place.

Cryo takes Merek's hand resumes dancing, this time a couple's routine. She's leading, and unlike the last time he saw her, she seems to have more than natural agility. They work their way across the ballroom. She lingers beneath the family tree, staring up at the 'roots' for future generations. She remembers some of what Mikilos told her, about the name, the tree, and it slows her steps. That third alcolve also draws her attention, "What happened with this one?"

Perhaps that isn't a question that should be added.

Mikilos knows the theory of dance, but the act isn't his strength. He frowns mildly at the third alcove. "I acknowledge Taara is the Godess of Dark Magics, but that doesn't mean she's welcome under my roof."

"That occurred to me after I saw Navros in the middle, and the scales aspect... this one apologizes. It should not have been raised." Cryosanthia pauses in the spin. She tells Merek, "Now, you would dip me. Are you sure you can hold me up?"

Aaand somehow? Kae got lost, that or she was drooling over a really nice work bench... Eventually she catches up to everyone ands tares at folks curiously, blinking about mentionings of Goddesses and dark magics.. "Speaking of wierd stuffs... I've finally developed stuff, that if I give them to enough folks, I think I can find whoever's running around changing folks. "She says happily. 

She then blinks at the dancing "Oookaaay, well that's out of left field." She mutters and if she could she'd sooo sweat drop... She then taps her chin "Wonder if I can even sweat." She thinks and shrugs before sitting back on her haunches again

<pre>GAME: Merek rolls perform/dance: (16)+9: 25
GAME: Merek rolls strength: (5)+1: 6</pre>

Merek moves along with Cryosanthia leading, then when they come to that alcove and a story is offered. With a nod while he looks to it, he adds, "You have a nice point," he says, while he shifts that attention to the place. Then he nods to the woman, "I can," he says, then he begins to dip the sith-makar, before he gets a bit distracted and... Well, trying to keep the woman up, he instead falls with her, with a "AHHHH!"

Mikilos blinks and steps forward, far too late to actually do anything useful. "...are you okay?"

Cryo is light on her feet, but heavier than she looks. She's dropped on her back. Thump! She pulls Merek down with her. Wmff! "Ufff. That's... not how that move goes. Yeesh I'll remember to use my tail next time. I'm ok Mikilos. Thanks." 

She lifts Merek up, then stands herself and looks over at Kaelyn, "This one would not know, you would have to experiment. I cool off by lying in the snow. I don't produce a layer of ooze the way most humanoids do."

Kae tilts her head then laughs "You mean sweat.." She says and umms "It's sooo not ooze, it's just salty water..." She says and shrugs... "It's a lil less salty than sea water at that." She says again and taps her chin... 

Kae then looks around. "I bet I can demonstrait..." She then digs through her pouches, and she produces her cantine, she pours the water into a cup and adds salt, tastes it a little bit and when it's right she holds the cup to Cryo.. "Bout like this!"

Merek stands up with assistance, and nods a bit to Cryosanthia, "Yes well," he says, then he smiles. He does look to Kae and blinks at the change in conversation, then he nods a bit to Mikilos as well.

Cryosanthia stares. "This one... does not wish, to taste... human self-seasoning."

Mikilos laughs and grins. "If it helps, she a far step from human just now."

Kae blinks a few times "It's saaalt water, it soo isn't sweat, it's just me emulating it..." She says and shrugs slowly... "Aaanyhooos, he's got a point, I'm so far from humn, or evel elves it's kinda scary." She says.... "course could be worse, I could be like insectine or arachnid or something, that would be more so."

Merek nods a bit between the three, while he seems to think about it. He doesn't speak at the moment as well.

"I've had salt water," Cryo says, closing her eyes and dipping her nose. "The offer is appreciated but unnecessary. The changes are unsettling, and as Mikilos says, I will wonder how to recognize you when you are normal."

She dusts Merek off, then steps away, making a polite bow to Mikilos, "Your ballroom is delightful. Well decorated. I may call to practice in it sometime, or read in the library. Is there a danger my claws would scratch the floor? This one should have asked first before dancing."

Mikilos blinks, and frowns mildly. "I... don't think so? I suppose it's possible your claws are harder than the stone, but I rather doubt it. And if there are a few scratchs, can Mend them later."

Kae peeers curiously... "Well ummmm.. 5 foot 4 inch tall veeerrry curvy red head elf.." She says and shrugs.. "Same attitude, and maybe more flaily... This body doesn't flail well without me breaking stuff.." She adds and grins cheerfully... 

"Thouuugh, teeeechnically, if you look, this body is slightly humanoid, so with the right studying, there's no reason why in the future I won't be able to reassume this form on a temporary basis, once I get turned back." She adds cheerfully.

Merek nods a bit, he blinks at the cleaning, then he nods thankfully to Cryosanthia with a little smile as well.

"They might be hard enough to scratch it before breaking, if I put my weight wrong, or some other buckle on my armour. I shall be careful about the dipping." Cryo says. She listens as Kae discusses her original appearance and future research plans, nodding. "I would not be casually comfortable with changing forms. I will have to ask Iuitl about it. Is there more to see Mikilos? We have encroached greatly on your time, I wouldn't want to keep you from tea."

Mikilos waves vaugely. "This was fairly much the end of the tour. It was time for me to take a break anyway, and this is about as productive a break as I could hope for. As for changing forms... it was practice back in mage school. Sometimes as little as shifting the shade of your hair, sometimes being turned into a frog for a day. When you can bend the universe, it helps to get used to being bended yourself."

"It was a pleasure," Merek says, while he looks to Cryosanthia, and moves to follow with the woman while he waits for folk to finish.

The white-scale pulls her neck back, very straight. Her pupils widen, not enough to fill her eyes, but larger than normal then slowly dial back. "Perhaps the bending is easier if you control it. This one knows I have not enjoyed my teachers telling me my head can touch my tail over back if I let them force it to." She smiles a little toothily, nodding, "It has been very exhilarating. I'll try to come by again, sooner. Thank you for your hospitality."

Mikilos nods in agreement. "Trust and consent are imporant aspects."

Kae blinks at the mention of head touching tail... She tilt sher hea dand brings her tail up, and holds it kind of with the tip bent up and over slightly, and rests her chin on the poofy tip.. "Head touching the tail." She mutters and grins impishly toward Cryosanthia... She then looks to MIkilos... "ooh Ooh! The reason I came!" A bit of fidgiting and Kae gets the backpack that was attached between her wings loose.. A few minutes later she hands him a blueprint... "This might work for possibly removing that sludge stuff you told me about, while at the same time refilling lost magic... Maybe... Worst case, it can help treat the disease by replacing lost magic that's eaten by the sludge and maybe treat the symptom!"

Merek nods a bit between the three, then he maneuvers to follow Cryo!

Cryosanthia rubs at her arms a little, and nods. She curls her tail around and holds most of it over crossed arms, picking at scales as Kaelyn demonstrates her flexibility, and then provides blueprints. Something is on her mind as she nudges a scale up, looks under it, then levers another. When it would not seem like an interruption she says, "Svarshan said I could trust you. He does respect you. I will explain sometime why it is hard for me to do so. It's not a fond memory. I am grateful to see your home and for your understanding. I hope Kaelyn's device will be of assistance to you also."

A second later she laughs, spreads her arms wide and executes a flamboyant stage bow, her head horizontal as her hands flip around through the air in the movements, "Although it's trivially simple, I'm an open book!" She rises again, arms still wide.

The sith-makar bounces and saunters off. The dawn elf of the mansion leads the dawn elf as feather dragon, and the two other guests out to the door. As he is self-quarantined, they are shown out but he doesn't go further to see them off from the street. Promises to return are given, and they go their separate ways.

{{LineSkulls|300px}}
==Dramatis Personae==
'''Nels'''
<br>This person definitely does not look like a male goblin, aged 20. In fact /she/ looks like a young human woman, aged 20, with long black hair gathered into twintails past her waist. The twintails are tied with red ribbons, and she has a fancy cloth headdress, black with orange frills and lacing, atop her head. It doesn't really keep her hair out of her face, it's just there. Her figure is wiry, agile and quick, generally with sleek movements, which turn awkward occasionally. Her most notable feature, though, are her eyes. Heterochromatic, one is orange-red, like fire, and the other is burnished gold.
<br>She is currently wearing a floor-length dress, styled like a ball gown, of orange satin that matches her eye, trimmed with black stripes around the skirts and up the bodice, and black lace everywhere. An orange satin sash around her waist has more black frills edging it, and is tied in a bow. Her upper arms are bare, but her forearms are adorned with faux-sleeves with red-orange trim, and laces, tied in bows at her elbows. Her feet, when they can be seen under her skirts, are in dark leather platform boots.

'''Seldan'''
<br>There is something about him, if one is human.
<br>It is not easy to pin down exactly what, though. He is not the biggest man, despite a warrior's physique, just shy of six feet tall with a frame more closely resembling that of a gymnast than that of a brawler. Fair as a spring day, with hair equally balanced between ginger and blonde that is grown out of a military cut to fall in his eyes if not disciplined. Ice-blue eyes with blonde lashes hold wisdom and kindness, set into features that are even, straight, and strong. But - in certain lights, and at certain times, humans might almost see in this Eldanar man a glimpse of what a warrior of the Millennium Kingdom might once have looked like. 
<br>His attire is not at all that of a warrior, though. A loose shirt with tied cuffs and black-brown trousers form the base, but the open, short-sleeved robe over it, of midnight blue with moon-silvery edging and celestial symbols sewn into the robe, is cut in a way that a wizard is more likely to favor than a warrior, even if it does have a small stain on the lower right hem. It flows to the tops of practical, soft boots, and is left open to frame the silvery crescent-and-sphere of Eluna on a silver chain, a clear proclamation of the man's allegiance. Weapons hang from a leather belt, a longsword from a sheath on his left hip with an ornately-carved pommel and a guard designed in an ancient style, and a much newer-looking heavy mace on his right hip. A belt pouch completes the contents of the belt, and a sturdy cloak over all in midnight blue bears the crescent-and-sphere of Eluna picked out in a mosaic of thousands of tiny silver crystals on the back. Its clasp is again the crescent-and-sphere of Eluna, made of sturdy and heavy steel resting over his heart.

[[Category:Logs|At the Hall of the Mountain Mage]]