Discoveries and Destinies

A06: Lower Alexandria Gardens District

It's Gilday, Daeshen 12 11:23:38 1020. The full moon is up. The tide is low and ebbing. Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west. The wind is gusty.

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Ga'Elian is sitting atop Erithamiel on a grassy corner where two streets intersect. Behind him the Verdant Earth perfumes the area with a heady mixture of scents. Off to his left a pair of wagons carry a pair of wounded adventurers to the Soldiers Defense Hospital. The ranger watches people coming and going.

Morgan looks to the wagons with a bit of sadness but aproaches Elian mostly to pet the griffon. "Do you know where they came from?"

Ga'Elian glances at Morgan, then takes a better look at the adventurers. "I don't, but they seem to be in good hands now. The Altheans are pretty impressive at fixing people up. Have you been out on any missions lately?"

Morgan shakes her head and then stops. "Well kind of, but it was for the mages guild. They asked me to look in to some magic items found at a Yulath." She talks about a town west from here. "A young man found a cave there and brought back some nice items that I wish I could have bought from them."

Ga'Elian hops down from off the griffon and says, "What sort of items? The sort that make wizarding easier, perchance?"

Morgan shakes her head. "No. One was a ring that heals people slowly, and the other one is a headband that allows you to understand all languages. But the sword was just enchanted to hit just a little harder and easier."

Ga'Elian nods, "Sounds like a fair collection in any case. I'm getting very near having enough gold now to put the crowning enchantment on my bow. Another few days and Astaren should be done with the enchantment he's currently weaving into it. Then I might have him do the final job on it as well."

Morgan nods and takes that in. "Well, I checked out the cave to make sure there was nothing else, and he was super lucky and hit the adventures jackpot... a cave with a long dead adventure with the gear left."

Ga'Elian nods. "Frankly, I'm surprised that one doesn't hear of such troves being found more often."

Morgan nods. "Well, I found ones like that before, but all I'd gotten was a few potions; nothing like I was talking about."

Ga'Elian says, "Speaking of finding things, you remember Sevanon's objective of restoring the museum with new exhibits? A friend of mine told me about this legend of a sculptor's workshop buried in a landslide centuries ago. I took him to tell Sev what he knew about it. There may not be any magic items, but if they can find the buried workshop, there might be some valuable sculptures to bring back."

Morgan hmmms, "And maybe lost lore of old. What work is needed to get to the said area?"

Ga'Elian shrugs, "Nothing extraordinary I don't suppose. Perhaps an airship ride."

Morgan hmms, "That can be expensive - even more so since you most likely won't see a profit from it. And everyone going would want to get paid for it."

Ga'Elian says, "I suppose. If they find anything sufficiently valuable, I'm sure some noble wouldn’t balk at covering the expenses."

Morgan nods, "Well, if you see Sev before I do, tell him I will help, but he'd better talk to the nobles for money as some of them here don't like me that much."

Ga'Elian raises his eyebrow. Asks, "And why would that be? Have you been going around antagonizing the nobility?"

Morgan shrugs. "Well being a half-elf does not help, but when one asked me my opinion on something, the truth was the wrong answer."

Ga'Elian looks puzzled, "Hmm. Those who would flee from the truth are not themselves to be trusted. Perhaps it would be better to seek funding elsewhere."

Morgan nods. "See, I agree with you. I could see if I was mean about it, but I was not."

Ga'Elian nods. "Of course you weren't."

Morgan shrugs, "Well, most of the human nobles here don't want to deal with me unless they have to, and even then most of them just send someone, but you know how that is."

Ga'Elian shrugs. "Frankly, I haven't ever had much direct dealing with human nobles. Nature doesn't really have a comparable group to deal with. And, although my Guild missions have caused me to cross paths with the nobility on rare occasion, I don't figure their aloofness toward me is much different than that of most cityfolk toward any tribesman."

Morgan nods. "Well, some of your missions were because of the nobles needing something done, even more so when its something like Monsters in farm land areas. If farmers can't farm then nobles can’t claim taxes."

Ga'Elian says, "I suppose so. There was that time, though, when we were hired to be royal security for Prince Gavril over in Myrddion. I was quite out of my element, but I gather we succeeded because the Prince not only survived the evening, but we were all given togas in addition to the pay." He reaches into his haversack and pulls out a neatly folded toga. There are designs embroidered on it, and just like his tattoo, the embroidery is magically animated.

Morgan hmms as she studies the design. "I might have liked a mission like that."

Ga'Elian nods. "It was one of the most unusual missions I've ever taken. We spent a part of it in the Plane of Fire, too, although I can't seem to remember what for."

Morgan hmmms, "Did you stay in the City of Brass?"

Ga'Elian shakes his head. "No. In fact, our whole stay was only a matter of hours. I remember riding in a boat along a river of magma. It seems like we had to see someone or find something there and bring it back before the function with the Prince was to take place. It might have been an ifrit, but I'm not certain. Anyway, as it turned out, the Prince's enemy turned out to be a rakshasa. Suffice it to say that that excursion was rife with first-time experiences for me."

Morgan has the look of someone taking that all in. "Well, one day I will explore the elemental planes without it being a mission."

Ga'Elian says, "For my part, I dream of visiting the Feywild, Quelynos, and seeing the original Ygdrassil Tree, or at least what is left of it."

Morgan says, "I think you changed my mind; when I can open gates I will go there and look more into what little I know of my heritage."

Ga'Elian smirks, "Sounds good, but don't let that dissuade you from any other explorations you yearn for."

Morgan nods, "Well, I would like to find what is my several great grandmother ask her some things. Then I would explore the legends of Tir na nOg."

Ga'Elian grins, "She's not a lich, like Sandy's, is she?"

Morgan shakes her head "No she is a Sidhe so could still be alive."

Ga'Elian puts his toga back into his bag. He says, "Yeah. I gather she might. Well, that sounds like the quest of a lifetime."

Morgan nods, "Just five more spell circles before I can open gates of my own. That is easier and safer then finding one here and finding a way to open it."

Ga'Elian nods. "It's certainly a more reliable way. But progressing to that degree of magical mastery is no small feat."

Morgan nods, "But hey, I am a magic-user; what else do I have to do with my days?"

Ga'Elian says, "No argument here."

Morgan smiles. "Well, I am progressing better than most cloistered Wizards."

Ga'Elian nods, "Yes. My own people tend to do much of their 'progressing' within their first decades of adulthood, then spend the remaining centuries pursuing less goal-oriented endeavors. That is, many of us return home once we have satisfied our eagerness to explore out world, then settle into family life and the creative joys that our lifespan affords us."

Morgan nods, "Well, I learned far much more here for the six months I been here than I did in my whole time in study. But hey, I have what 2 to 3 hundred years to live? So I will keep active for a long time before I settle down."

Ga'Elian says, "I do appreciate it when people seem to know where they're going. A goal such as yours gives direction to life."

Morgan nods. "I will always focus on magic and find ways of going past the ninth circle."

Ga'Elian raises his eyebrow, "Past it, you say? I thought such power was only available to the gods."

Morgan shrugs. "If it is, then I fail; if I don't then we will know."

Ga'Elian smiles, "Well, that's a good attitude at least. One never achieves what one never aims for. My aims aren't so lofty, personally. I want to continue to protect the life and beauty of nature, and by extension, the world, or at least to do my bit to help in the greater effort within my own limited sphere of ability. I just have to trust that my fellow nature lovers and the gods will take care of what lies beyond my power, and let them."

Morgan nods. "Well, your goals are independent ones; mine is what most mages want to do."

Ga'Elian laughs. "I suppose so."

- fin -