For The Love Of

Log Info

• Title: For The Love Of
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Auranar, Elleandra, Faranmidahn, Lanier
• Place: A10: Temple of Daeus
• Time: Monday, April 13, 2020, 4:54 PM
• Summary: Cryosanthia has worked out some of her feelings regarding the encounter with Queen Niceven by turning it into a Crimson Pen romance featuring Mikilos and some ersatz versions of her friends. She discusses the most distubing aspect, to her, which was the offer of a First Born. A lot of her anguish from losing her foundling at the hands of her mate, as well as over her lost memories, being older and feeling like she made a huge mistake, seep into the work. Auranar wakes up, having fallen asleep during the research while Cryo was diverted, and Elleandra, Kamaria, Faranmidahn arrive. Cryo passes her story around, they all start commenting on the folly of men just in time for Lanier to arrive and unwillingly answer for all of it. Faran takes it especially hard when she hears that it was Merek who made the offer, and the women wonder and doubt if he can even be considered human any more. Lanier explains that noble born and commoners all crap the same in the woods, and that some are pretty lax parents. Faran is eventually consoled by cold hugs and strong alcoho and everyone departs. Elly, with a promise that she'll have a surprise announcement next time. Once alone with Faran, Cryo wonders what that might be and then tells the lucht she and Zeke will be having a cihuaa choosing ceremony and she wants Faran there most of all.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple of Daeus *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The temple of the Sun Lord glitters golden beneath the same. Rather than walls, the majority of the temple is composed of what appears at first blush to be a raised round platform made of one of the largest slabs of marble likely in existence. Columns rise into the air as if to hold some massive ceiling, though instead of a normal ceiling, one finds the deep blue sky, studded by a disconcertingly close canopy of bright stars. One should not worry, however, as the rain never falls, and the wind never blows on this particular temple, but for a gentle breeze, whatever the weather outside may be.

Despite the austerity of the columns, warmth suffuses the grounds. A grand, marble statue of the Shining Knight stands a the center, a hand outstretched in benediction. Beside Him, the statue of Althea, their hands clasped in love. The central position of the temple to the others gives view to all of their children, and the two look upon one another with the solemnity of love that has been the center of so many tales and legends.

Masterfully designed mana lamps provide further soft, golden lightning where needed, their pedestals carved in the form of the Dragons of Light, over which Daeus is said to have dominion in His form of Draco Solis. Majesty, justice, and welcome suffuse the temple grounds. Around the central temple are a series of smaller buildings, each with a simple function and form. One houses the sacred book depicting some of the earliest known translations of the Laws of Light, which pilgrims from near and far come to visit. Another houses the well-appointed quarters of the Sunguards, and among all the ground bristle the Sunblades.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Auranar      4'8"     123 Lb     Wild Elf          Female    A wild elf with dark skin and a red dress 
Elleandra    5'4"     108 Lb     Wild Elf          Female    Blue-haired, green-eyes, Sylvanori
Faranmidahn  3'3"     35 Lb      Halfling          Female    Albino Lucht woman in black leather armor with a BIG spider
Lanier       6'0"     245 Lb     Human             Male      Young, lean and strong Acanian wearing hide clothing.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Cryosanthia is in the records room of the Temple of Daeus, surrounded by books and scrolls once more. She is working on a document. This time however it is unrelated to the plague. She sits back and reviews her work. It's written in Mynsandraal, although the language is not strictly suited to steamy romances and some liberties had to be taken. Future historians may suspect it to be a potent love curse instead of a bodice ripper inspired piece of work. The sith-makar sets about translating it into Tradespeak, editing as she goes.

The story on the surface is simple enough. An elf, the last of his line, proclaims his love for a woman and with the assistance of his two compatriots attempts to convince her of his worthiness. The characters are directly inspired by real people, although only the real name of one is used, his full name: Mikilostravia Abrioudelanarchie Mithralla, Lord of Estranillia, Archmage of the Seventh Circle. He is described as a Dawn Elf in exceptional terms, and long readers of Crimson Pen works will know of him, although this is a different treatment than he usually appears in. His two companions are a Shadow Elf, and a Wild Elf. The Shadow Elf is inspired by Zapolklnex, described as often brooding and shrouded in dark clothing. The Wild Elf is a pastiche character, nominally based on a human friend of Cryo's, but described as a combination of Elleandra and Auranar, and male. In words, the Wild Elf uses Elly's phrasing, though in looks he resembles Auranar. Finally, Mikilos' love is clearly a Fae that is his equal in size and has the characteristics of both Salina and Queen Niceven. She speaks as the Queen, but her aspects and actions are Salina's.

In the story, Mikilos repeatedly offers his love to her, laments his lack of children, and declares he will do anything for his Queen. She however is stoney, resisting every advance with dismissive disdain, demanding more and more of him. Mikilos' two companions act as external consciences to discuss the morality of her requests. When the Queen demands he accept that he will never see any children she bears for him, that they will be spirited away to the Underhill, the Wild Elf speaks of the cruelty of giving up a child, while the Shadow Elf focuses on the slavery Mikilos is agreeing to for it. The Queen is shown to have no compassion, becoming eager and interested only as Mikilos' suffering increases. He takes to meeting her in secret, away from his friends who struggle to save him from agreeing to heinous pacts. There, amongst green and red roses, he agrees to all her terms, letting her carve his acceptance into his flesh. This ritual scarification is rendered in sensual terms, but there is an underlying aspect which suggests the author has had direct experience with this sort of involuntary marking.

Pain, comes through quite clearly. Although on the surface it is farcical and similar to the usual works of the Crimson Pens, this story has an unusual depth. It comes through in every phrase, every description. Cryosanthia is unable to keep her anguish out of it, over the loss of her foundling, her actions, her cihuaa's actions, her confusion from missing memories and the weight of age which she feels deeply, but which jars with remaining memories of a time almost a hundred years prior for her. There is something in the work which will speak to a lot of the readers who have lost and suffered. In the way characters are described looking at each other, their small actions, and the hidden heartache they hide, it is relatable and gives the work weight.

It has a melancholy end, suggestive of a cliff-hanger and possible sequels, but finite in itself. In his desperation and deep love for a woman who doesn't care for him, Mikilos is willing to sacrifice everything. His friends raise arguments but are unable to prevent him entering the agreements. His Queen, whom he pledges himself to is clearly undeserving of his attention, despicable, with no redeeming qualities and a villain any reader could despise. It's easy to imagine how much better it would be if Mikilos was paired with someone who actually cared for him. Nearly anyone can find a way they're superior to his chosen. The Dawn Elf comes across as very noble, very loving and dedicated, seeking someone who will reciprocate and be worthy of love. It makes him out to be quite the eligible bachelor while also diving deep into the romantic tension present in the other works he is featured in, and exploring the emotional suffering some women know only too well.

Cryosanthia finishes re-writing it in tradespeak.

Auranar has fallen asleep at the table where she works with Cryosanthia. Abruptly she awakens, yawning delciately and stretching. As she raises her head from the piles of paperwork a piece of it comes up stuck to the side of her face and she winces. Carefully she extracts the piece of paper from the side of her face and glances at it to make sure that it is alright. The paper is not harmed in any way, but there is a mark on her face where the ink hadn't dried yet and now she has ink on her face. Auranar blinks at Cryosanthia. "Still at it?" Her voice is slightly rough from sleep and her dark eyes quickly take in the sith-makar hard at work. "Will you share what you're working on now? Or is it a secret?"

With considerable stealth... okay, not really much stealth.. two figures find their way to the Temple of Daeus. They come from way out past Wilderness Pointe, and they hide as much as they can under hoods until they enter the Temple. Some questions later, and they are directed to where Cryosanthia is busy doing her... work. As one, they cast back their hoods, and Elleandra and Kamaria are there, giving Cryosanthia perhaps two seconds to ready herself before Kamaria casts herself at the Sith-Makar in a hug. "Hi there, stranger! How have you been?"

"I'm done! I'm ready to share. Do you want to read the original in Mynsandraal or the finished Tradespeak?" The palescale seems quite pleased and accomplished with the copies in front of her. One of course, is quite marked up by edits. She is offering each to Auranar when she is surprised. Auranar ends up with both copies.

"Elleandra! Kamaria! I didn't expect you here!" She's on her feet, moving around the table to hug them. She has ink on her sleeves, is wearing wizarding robes, and manages to look something like a scholar. She embraces them one at a time, "This one is... improving. I'm very glad to see you."

Abruptly handed both copies of the papers that Cryosanthia was working on, Auranar holds them a bit dumbfoundedly for a moment before looking down. One copy is in a language that she can't read, but the other is thankfully in Tradespeak. She sets the former aside and begins to scan over the words of the later. Politely she waves to the unfamiliar pair of elves that have wandered in that are clearly friends of the sith-makar, then returns to her reading of the plot. Quite quickly she becomes engaged in the story, forgetting for the moment that they have guests.

"Elly finally decided to let me come visit," says Kamaria. "Which took some doing, but I have ways to ensure she will give me anything I request." The half-sil laughs softly, finally letting Cryosanthia go. "You look good, though. Somehow.. more comfortable in your skin, perhaps. I don't know what exactly has happened, but it's not really my business. I am happy that you seem to be well."

Elleandra watches with a small smile, directing her attention to Auranar. She offers a curtsey, but doesn't want to interrupt the reading with a full greeting just yet. Instead, she turns her attention back to Cryosanthia, "We are here only for a short time, and then we will retreat again. The road is not dangerous to us, even in the night. Honestly, I feel better traveling under Eluna than the day star, these days."

The white-scale sith smiles at both, making a sweeping gesture at herself. "Thank you Kami. Oh, this has been the least of my worries, but I appreciate the compliment. Elly, I hope you will stay at least long enough to read something I've written. I was inpired! It's for the Crimson Pen. As soon as Auranar is finished with it."

"Oh, this one should have introduced, this is Auranar, a new friend that has helped me in many ways. Auranar, this is Elleandra and her love, Kamaria. I helped save her from Vampires!"

Cryosanthia moves, indicating seats, she looks at the sideboard, "The tea may have become cold, we have been here some time. Is cold tea fine? I can summon some more."

The sound of her name draws the pink and black haired elf from the story that she's reading long enough to wave again. "Greetings. It's a pleasure to meet you." In spite of the fact that she's an elf, she has an Alexandrian accent, and not much of an elvish one at all. She has the bearing of a scholor more than an adventurer, and she is well into the pages that Crysoanthia handed her already. It seems that she's a quick reader. "Vampires? That sounds like a nasty bit of work. I'm sorry to hear about it. I can't imagine that being captured by vampires is very pleasant."

Kamaria dips into a curtsey at the introduction, her head bowing. There's an elegance in the motion that Elleandra simply cannot match, and a shade of the half-Sil's dark hair spills in front of her face, forming an elegant crescent curtain that obscures half her features. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Auranar," she offers in a warm voice. Her every word gives one the impression that she is on the very brink of laughing for sheer joy. "It was not pleasant, but I was not long in their hands. Cryosanthia and a few other friends arrived just in time to get me to safety. Well, at least what passes for safety." Her laugh is gentle, when it comes, and her eyes nearly glow. Whatever the plague may bring, it seems it cannot damper her spirits.

Elleandra, however, has worry in her eyes, and fear held in check, but not by much. "I am honored to make your acquaintance, Auranar," she says seriously. "I begin to wish we had only mundane vampires to contend with these days. It would feel more like an honest fight. But I do have time to read. And of course, cold tea is welcome and appreciated."

Cryosanthia nods to both, getting teacups and setting them in place, then pouring the tea. The pot is empty now, so she steps into the hall to ask someone passing to get her a new one. Supplies for tea aren't kept in the records room. Slipping back in, she takes her seat. Her mannerisms would stand out the most to Elleandra, who knew her well before her time away. She moves like her old self, but more refined, a lot more dignity and careful gestures. She's also a little taller, has striking horns, and never was one for wizard robes before.

"She's been helping me go over records. It's been... well I find it relaxing in ways I never did before. It's been a struggle since I got back, a lot feels natural and I have no idea how I came by it."

Auranar scratches her cheek with a free hand and smiles at the other two women, now that she's fully withdrawn from the book she takes them both in with her black eyes with interest. "Alexandria is a dangerous place, but some of us call it home anyways." She smiles softly at the words and nods to Ellendra. "You're very right. This whole situation is a lot to handle."

She waves to the mountain of paperwork that lays before her and shuffles the bit of paper in front of her with an obvious desire to return to the story. Cryosanthia's words make her look a bit embarassed and Auranar shakes her head. "I'm not doing much really. Just a lot of note-taking. Trying to do my part though you know?"

"So what do you have for me to read?" asks Elleandra. "I could use a break, but if it's about the ooze, we might as well get it out on the table and over with." There's a resignation in her voice, but also an obvious desire to cut right to the point. She settles herself and for a moment closes her eyes, brushing her fingertips across them in an attempt to clear her head.

Kamaria sighs, but keeps smiling. She doesn't sit, mouthing an apology to Cryosanthia for refusing the seat. Instead, she stands behind Elleandra and sets to massaging her love's shoulders. "I have a feeling Cryosanthia has something happier to read than that," she says, scolding Elleandra in a calm voice. "Surely you can all take a break from such things from time to time, right?"

The half-sil looks to Auranar and smiles pleasantly, "My apologies, my love is a bit gruff as of late. And note taking is valuable! I have a habit of doing the same, whenever I get the chance to. It comes in handy when people don't expect it to, don't you agree?"

Faranmidahn enters the archives with a light step, her hair, both fetlock and tress, neatly trimmed, though her fluffiness is, by and large, unabated. She sees the crowd around her friend and she calls out a chipper, "Hello!" She considers the half-sil with miss Elly a moment, though she seems a little unsure about something, and starts to approach the table, regardless.

Cryosanthia smiles at Auranar, one with a dipped nose so her teeth don't quite show so much, "The organizing and finding the point amongst it all helps immensely. Observing Mikilos yesterday, I felt so unprepared. I became too caught up in the moment."

She takes the papers, handing them over to Elly and Kami, "No, no, the rest of this is about the ooze, and the Shard Tower, and demons and Kol. This is something I wrote for the Crimson Pen. I had to get it out of my system. Based on real events. Sort of. You're in it! It's... happier. Happy-ish?"

"Faran!"

Auranar blinks at Elleandra's vehemance but nods to Kamaria. "I have yet to find it as handy as I would like, but then, one can't expect to take down a whole plague with some note-taking can one?" She sounds rather merry as she says this, even laughing at herself. "Here you seem to need to read this perhaps more than I do. The pairing isn't really to my tastes, but maybe it'll take your mind off of everything."

With that Auranar passes Cryosanthia's work off to Elleandra, turning her attention toward Faranmidahn who has just joined them. "Hello again, your bread the other day was lovely, thank you for bringing it."

Elleandra perks up at the mention of Kol, "You actually have something about Kol? Do we know who he was when he was still alive?" She is rather focused, but at the mention of the Crimson Pen, she laughs out loud. "Well, that is better, I suppose." Kamaria's massage draws out an appreciative sigh from the druid, and she lids her eyes, relaxing for just the space of one breath. When she opens them, she notices Faran and smiles, "Hi there! How have you been?"

Kamaria diverts her attention to Auranar, for her part, though nothing of Elly's words or reaction is likely to be missed. At the mention of Kol, she makes a point of pressing a bit harder than is necessary to make a point of some kind. It is not lost on her love. "One can never be sure what will be needed in these situations," Kamaria declares. "Where strong arms and spells fail, perhaps wisdom itself is the only thing that can succeed."

Faranmidahn pads toward Cryo with more haste, giving the couple a little bit of a berth to hug the sith. gives a warm smile to the elf on her greeting, "You're welcome! I'm glad you liked it!" The question from Miss Elly draws her attention and she falters for a moment, then, "Oh, I'm, alright, and you?" Her eyes lift to the lady massaging her shoulders, then find something interesting over yonder, somewhere.

"It's... here. Well, they're gathering the records for me. I was going to get to them after this." Cryosanthia admits. She waves for Faran to come closer, leaning over and hugging her tight, releasing her as the massage starts up.

She looks at Auranar, the other elves, "Is it interesting, is it good? It's based on events."

Kamaria sighs at Elleandra's inability to introduce her, and so she takes the matter into her own hands. She dips herself into a curtsey with her usual grace, "I don't believe we've met, and it seems Elleandra is too focused on other matters to manage these things. I am Kamaria." She laughs softly, going on, "I tend to stay out of these more dangerous things. I've had enough adventures in my life as it is."

Elleandra is already lost in Cryosanthia's writing. Compared to the current events, the writing has a lighter feeling, and though the story is hardly a happy one, there's an almost comedic feeling to it. At least from the Druid's perspective. "Love is a strange, powerful thing, and love of a Fae! Madness." She wonders aloud, "It makes me question the bit of fae blood left in my own veins. I wonder what price some far flung mother or father paid for this strange blessing. No doubt there was a lot of lamenting when it came time for the bill."

"It's very good writing, very soulful. It's got a lot of depth to it." Auranar says of the book that Cryosanthia wrote. She looks over at Elleandra. "Doy you two have a particular interest in Kol, or just in vampires in general?"

Faranmidahn returns the hug with vigor and delight, glad her friend is coming back to something like herself again, basking in it. She smiles up the masseuse and returns the cutsey, "Hello, Miss Kamaria, I'm Faranmidahn, it's a pleasure to meet you." The remark about fae blood dims the Lucht's expression a moment, but she almost throws her attention toward Miss Auranar as she wonders about the vampire, Kol, "The inside of his head must be a rat king, I bet being leeched did it to him!"

"Thanks. I started writing, and it came." Cryosanthia says, head swiveling between Auranar and Elleandra. Clearly interested in the final thoughts, as well as any reactions while someone is reading. "I'm sure it cost dearly. The Queen yesterday asked for much."

"From everything I've seen, it's more like cheese, eaten full of holes."

Elleandra looks up to Aurana, "Oh, no real interest, other than wishing he was well and truly dead. Vampires are an abomination, abhorred by all that is natural. I am generally very tolerant and open to welcoming things into my view of the natural order, but I cannot leave room on the scales for the vampires." She turns her attention back to the writing of Cryosanthia, commenting as she goes, "I find it interesting, and a good warning for all of us. These creatures are primal, attractive, but to be drawn to them is to be the moth circling the flame. This kind of beauty intoxicates and consumes those who pursue it." She trails off into silence, her eyes fixing on some point far away. "Perhaps we can never know the mind of the Fae, but the more I think of it, the more I think that this is a conflict we must understand our way through, rather than hope to win by force."

"The minds of vampires are a contorted mess," agrees Kamaria. She has more direct experience than she'd care to speak about. "But I think it's my turn to read what Cryosanthia has written." She playfully flicks a finger at the back of Elly's neck, "And it's my turn now." The raven-haired half-Sil settles into her seat and lifts Cryosanthia's work for her own review.

Auranar shudders at the thought of the vampire, moving closer to the table and falling silent as Kamaria settles into reading the story that Cyrosanthia wrote. "I think it's a consequence of the disease they carry. Or perhaps it's a factor of living so long? Though I've heard of younger vampires that are as insane as the older." She shudders again and scraches a note onto the paper in front of her. "We should look into his family. That might be an interesting source of information."

Faranmidahn shrugs, "Even if he was the right size, he'd be too revolting." the little one remarks, then reaches out for a stack of papers that has Cryoscribble all over it. Hmm. She arches an eyebrow toward Auranar, "Miss Auranar? How extensive are these archives, would they have anything on my people's legends, or would that be more exclusive to another group's handling? It's not.. vital, just as a matter of personal curiosity, to take up on brighter days."

"Well, I did my best to understand the mind of one Fae, and I'm not sure the results were great." Cryosanthia sighs, eagerly watching as the papers move over to Kamaria. Her eyes glitter. She faces Auranar, "Hmm, we'd have to find out his real name. Demontry seems adopted. I wonder if it's literal, She was trying to make a demon and ended up making a vampire instead. I think Eluna has a bunch of things, I know Mikilos was researching in there. Actually, Mikilos has a very extensive library, and there's the city library too."

Cryo sounds like the proper bookwyrm.

Elleandra rises, giving Kamaria her turn. Which is to say, massaging the half-sil's shoulders. The action has a profound impact on the druid's facial expression. She seems more relaxed, the fear that darkens her eyes fades, almost leaving entirely. She has little to say. The moment is everything, and it's clear that to her, the world has shrunk to the work of her hands, which is enough to bring some serenity.

Kamaria arches her back, catlike, and even makes a little purring sound. "This is the way I should be treated, yes," she says playfully. The writing of Cryosanthia has her attention now, though, and she reads, and reads very quickly. More than just a note taker, she is something of speed reader, and she laughs, "My goodness, this is fun. I mean, certainly tragic, but what good is a tragic love story if there's no counterpoint, no balance. It's the ambivalence I like." She takes the critique seriously, "I can tell you've let Elleandra slip into this story, even had you not mentioned it would be clear."

Elleandra looks up then and asks, "Wait, what? I thought that was just a joke. I'm not mentioned in the story at all." The comment draws a giggle from Kamaria, "You better stick to the Druid thing, because you really are off your story game lately, dear."

The pink and blakc haired elf blanches at the thought of really anyone /with/ Kol. "It's bad enough that the crimson pen writes such things about Mikilos, I would hate to think of anyone that /actually/ tried to pair with that thing." She lets out a breath and looks at Faranmidahn. "The archives are fairly extensive actually, quite a lot down there, and if you can't find it there you can usually find it in one of the other temple archives. Each of the temples keeps its own records of things. Some of what you see here is borrowed from other places."

"Oh no, you're in there, as the Wild Elf, you both are. Like I said, it's a little true." Cryosanthia says, her head tilted to the side as she watches the sil and half-sil. "Mikilos did enter pacts with Queen Niceven. Merek offered his first born and we had to talk him out of it, Zap did talk about slavers but much more insultingly and it made the negotiations difficult. The Queen was bloodthirsty and dismissive, she wasn't hard to write at all."

The other things in the story, aren't immediate obvious where they came from, and Cryo isn't enlightening on the subject. "Mikilos is anxious about his bloodline, but not in the way Seldan is, and him being driven was more to save Alexandria than pursue a love, but it's all there in a foundational way. I do kind of hope it raises interest in him. I said I would help him out."

The white-scale sith nods along with Auranar's words, "Yes, we have a lot on loan, to try and simplify things."

Faranmidahn smiles to Auranar and nods, "I see, thank you!", but turns as Cryo's words begin and sets a gentle hand against her friend, an ember of concern in her expression, though the revelation about Merek's offer warrants a shrieked, "He did -WHAT-!!??"

Admittedly Faran is not the only one who is shocked and appaled at Cryosathia's words. "He offered his first-born /child/? What is he totally mad? To a bunch of fairy creatures? Ye gods." She shakes her head and glares at the paper on the table in front of her. "I'm glad you guys talked him out of it, I swear only a man would consider something like that."

"The Fae Queen wanted Sephielia. Mikilos suggested she take her and her grandfather, who did not want to go but wouldn't let his granddaughter go alone. Queen Niceven said she wasn't that interested in the old Lost One. Merek offered her himself, anything, so she asked for his first born. He agreed without hesitation." Cryosanthia explains, shaking her head, inhaling slowly, "I couldn't believe it. I was useless after that. He has always seemed like he was half in another plane, this made me wonder if he's human at all. I don't know, he seems unresponsive often. I have asked if something is wrong and he says no. This one does not dig if there is a reassurance. We told him not to, Lysos, I, the grandfather. He relented. It's... just impossible to understand. I agree Auranar. I feel a little bad writing it so Mikilos seemed to be of that mind, but I needed the story to work, and I needed to write it to get my thoughts down, I guess."

Faranmidahn backs up into the edge of another table, arms crossing about her with the sudden chill running through her, abject betrayal casting it's shadow over her features, the papers in her hands scattering like autumn leaves from numb fingers.

Auranar frowns at Faranmidahn. "Don't blame the paperwork for some guy being an idiot." It's a gentle scolding as she moves to collect the paperwork from where it's fallen and quickly rearrange it. She sighs softly and lays a hand on the shorter woman's shoulder. "I don't blame you. I can't imagine giving up /my/ firstborn and I don't even plan to have offspring." She shakes her head. "Some people just don't think things through, and others just don't care who they hurt I guess."

Faranmidahn, with abject betrayal shadowing her features, backs up into the edge of another table, stunned but this news about her friend. The lucht's arms cross to grip each other with the sudden chill running through her to abandon the papers she'd held to scattering like autumn leaves from numb fingers.

Lanier steps into the library of the temple of the Sun Lord, graciously offered access by one of the Sunguards in residence for the small price of a few of the spoils of his last hunt. Specifically, a bushel of barries that are in season but not often farmed. A token that, while unneccesary between the clerics of Daeus and the Green Wardens of Gilead, is welcome none-the-less. He finds a spot not too far from the gathering, beginning to divest himself of his backpack and setting it down on the ground. He looks at each of those gathered, and then down to his pack to ensure it's in a safe space.

The palescale sith hunches a little at the table, her hands in her lap, head bowed. Her voice is even, no wild emotions, but a weariness and fragility runs through it. "It's hard to see the younglings at Mictlan. This one would have hatchlings but it's hard to see them and not think..."

That's when her voice cuts off. She breathes carefully, shaking her head, "he cannot imagine the pain of others he so casually offered, how the mother would suffer, what the child would suffer enslaved by Fae. Even how he might hurt."

She looks over at the ranger as he enters, "Is that normal Lanier, for human males, to care so little for their offspring?"

Faranmidahn doesn't notice the ranger's arrival, head downcast, with the visor still down it's hard to see most of her face. Beneath the leather veneer, under Aurunar's touch is a bundle of steel under tension and the Lucht flinches under the contact, "I... excuse me..."

Not one to force an issue, Auranar removes her hand from Faran's shoulder, but looks down at the other woman with more care in her dark eyes. "Are you... Are you okay?" She glances toward Cryosanthia, but the sith-makar isn't taking the idea very well either, so she focuses on the person at hand in the hopes of offering some comfort. "I'm sorry, if I said something I shouldn't have."

Lanier's eyebrows knit together, his lips pursing for a moment before he replies initially, "I thought you might still be bothered by that." He crouches down next to his pack, dirty and calloused hands working the straps to access a side pocket and then remove a journal and writing implements from within. He stands, settling them on the table as he replies, "I thought it was when I was younger, given my own upbringing, but not really. Humanity comes along with a frankly annoying amount of variation, including parenting styles. On the occassion it does happen, it usually neglect and not as a component of a retail transaction." The last is said with no small amount of vitriol. The Green Warden glances towards Auranar for a moment, then back to Cryosanthia, "Are you okay?"

While for a time, Elleandra keeps Kamaria completely distracted from the conversation-as does Cryosanthia's story, which she reads through a second time-she eventually comes back to the conversation, which replies in her head quickly. She sits up and slams her hand on the table. Fortunately she's not strong enough to disturb any inkwells that might be laying about. "No one could give away a child and still be considering human!" she says. It's as if someone threatened to take her own child, she's so upset by this.

Elleandra sighs as Kamaria's shoulders are suddenly hard as a rock with tension. "I was hoping you might miss that part," she admits. She explains to the others, "We are in the midst of finding a way to have a child, so.. for us, this is... extremely offensive. One who thinks a child is so easily come by that he would give it away is..." She struggles to find the words, but Kamaria cuts in, "Little better than a vampire. What madness could lead someone to say this?"

"...any...one..." the little sorceress murmurs on barely more than a breath, "could be... that one..." The hand leaves her shoulder, it's as though her strength went with it. On the upside, for the albino, the transition to a sitting sprawl doesn't encompass a significant distance. As her knees draw up to her chest, the other half of Faran's epiphany rears it's ugly conceptual head... 'That one'... can also be a monster.

Cryosanthia has had more time to deal with the concept, and has worked a lot of her thoughts out through her writing. The stillness in the room becomes obvious to her, then broken as Kamaria slams the table. She starles, notices the demeanor that has fallen on Faranmidahn. She unwinds from her seat, crosses around and drops down to her level, she is crawling. She carefully noses the visor, her voice soft, "Faran... you are safe. We are here, I am here for you. Tell me, hold me. Do not be alone."

She exhales carefully, a cold breath blowing across the lucht, her head shaking, "this one is not OK, Lanier. Faran is not either. My damage has splashed on her and she has been hurt also. This one is recovering. I've had... a lot, in a few days. It will be a while longer. The grief comes when it will, like an avalanche."

She bumps Faran's helmet again. "I love you. Please. Be here."

"This one... had to write it away. It was stuck in my mind. I put it down so I could examine the folly of it. That's there's a truth behind it, that it almost happened... I am still unable to fully accept what I saw. I'm sorry that sharing it has injured."

Utterly surprised by Faran's fall, the pink and black haired elf goes to her knees at the little lucht's side, worriedly touching her shoulder again. "It's okay. It's okay." She looks around. "Could someone bring her a drink? Something cold maybe?" She murmurs soft things to the other woman, comforting words that really mean nothing, but try to draw her out of her shell. She makes room though, for Cryosanthia whom knows the little woman better. Who can hopefully draw her out of her own mind and whatever is bothering Faranmidahn therein.

Lanier nods his head slowly, "It was ill-advised and heartless, what Merek did." He considers it for a moment as he arranges his inkwell and writing implements on the table, "As it turns out, there are people who do evil things in this world. Sometimes they purport themselves to be on your side. I'm sorry all of you had to meet one." He then looks around for a moment, offering a quick, "Excuse me," before he disappears into the stacks.

Kamaria needs some time to settle herself. Elleandra reminds her, "A way has been found. We shall have our chance." Somehow, those words are enough. Kamaria lets out her displeasure with a deep sigh, draws in a cleansing breath, and blows that out, as well. "You are right, dear, I shouldn't let this bring so much offense. Soon enough our dream will come. Which reminds me, I'd like to think of names."

Kamaria's sudden shift from fury to dreamy mother-to-be is a relief to Elly. But Faran's reaction is very concerning. "I think we are all among friends here. I know I haven't seen fit to keep any secrets. If there are words that might heal, we would all listen." She makes a point to acknowledge Lanier with a small bow of her head, rather more than just a nod. "I fear we are all very emotional right now," she offers to him.

It's cold... why.. why is it so cold..? The little one almost curls tighter into herself, the creak of her armour belies the attempt thwarted by her defensive shell, though the elf's touch doesn't seem to be either trigger or relief. The bumping by Cryo misaligns Faran's visor in time for a crystal bead to pass between the slats, "... How could... how... I..." she chokes on her words, "He was... so noble....!" perhaps an answer to Elleandra.. or a passing compliment to the ranger? But.. probably something else.

Cryosanthia pulls Faranmidahn closer, picks her up and pulls her into her lap. The sith sits curled, with her knees up and back resting on the wall. Her robes have a lot of cloth to them which surrounds the lucht as she wraps around her. Knees, arms, head resting over Faran's helmet she is surrounded. A low, vibrating noise starts up in her throat, a comforting sound and one Faran has heard before. Cryosanthia attempts to soothe her, listening. Carefully listening. The tear was not lost on her either. No words for now, just comforting sounds and an embrace which... could be warmer, all told.

Auranar pulls away as Cryosanthia pulls Faran in closer, allowing the two to comfort one another. "I'll go get the drink." She murmurs the words softly with a glance toward the other elves and a nod to the man she doesn't recognize before she quickly absconds from the room to get the promised drink for the little lucht.

Lanier returns with a book in hand, setting it on the table next to his journal. He looks up for a moment, then looks away quickly, sitting down in the chair and opening the book. He begins flipping through the pages, reading over the words quickly before his head tilts, "Who was noble?"

Elleandra isn't entirely certain what's happening, but is sure there's more behind what is happening than anything Merek has done or said. She meets Kamaria's eyes, than walks over, kneeling down silently by Cryosanthia and Faran. Her voice is gentle, barely more than a whisper, "There are many sides to people. Some good, some not so pleasing. As angry as I am, Merek saved my beloved and brought her to me. I will give him forgiveness, and a chance to explain his choices. I owe him that much. If we are to have hope in people, we must refrain from judging them. Had Merek a child in his hands, I do not think he would have spoken this way."

Kamaria opens her mouth to speak, but closes it. Should one study her face, there is somewhat less understanding there. She need not say that she's not fully in agreement with Elleandra, it's easy enough to tell at a glance.

The black clad albino is drawn easily enough into the folds of Cryo's robe, though it takes some time for the sensation of tiny fingers clutching at her robes to make themselves known. The words spoken don't yet elicit a true response, nor the comforting song, though... if nothing else, they may be stifling the yawn of the abyss beneath her proverbial feet. The fact she's clutching at something could mean it hasn't swallowed her, yet.

"Hold on Faran, this one is here. It was averted. Blame the Fae Queen, as heartless as She with her requests and the foolishness of men that make them act grand without thinking their acts through." The sith-makar rocks, continuing to generate soothing sounds and hold the little lucht. "Listen to my voice and follow it back. We have a drink for you coming, breathe deep. It will be Ok. It will be ok."

Having gone unanswered, Lanier shrugs his shoulders lightly and then calls out, "Nobility is a farce. It's nothing more than a nice word for rich people with lucky ancestors to get poor people with unlucky ancestors to keep them right and fight their wars. Out in the woods, everyone form King to Commonor digs a whole to take a--" He suddenly finds the passage in the book he was reading, lifting a quill and dipping it into his inkwell, before going to work on writing in his journal.

Kamaria asides to Lanier, "She means a friend of ours, and it wasn't so much that he was supposedly high-born, but that he acted bravely and justly. He helped me escape vampires not so long ago." She turns topics easy enough, though. "What are you reading?"

Elleandra will wait, patient and silent. At least for now. She hopes that Cryosanthia's words help. If not, perhaps that drink that is coming will be powerful enough to address the issue at hand.

Movement. A tiny grinding against the sith's robes as Faran weakly shakes her head, "...the one...." she whispers in a tight voice, "Cryo...!"

The sith keeps rocking, uncurling a little, "I'm not squishing you, am I? There's a drink coming. It's ok Faran, it's ok. There were the prettiest rose bushes there. Green and Red, could only be transplanted. Until her army... ah never mind."

Best not to say the Fae ate the roses. Cryosanthia struggles to think of a topic to change to. She has so many options crowding her mind. She latches on to one. "Lanier, why would you give up future happiness? She might have taken all possibility of a companion away. I think if one offered to give up seeing Blue, or an emotion, it would be gone. Are you not worried you've cursed yourself?"

A much better thing to talk about. Definitely.

Lanier looks up from the journal to Kamaria, nodding his head with a grunt, "Yeah, I know. One being noble is a reference to them emulating the qualities of nobility, such as they are, which circles back around to what I was saying about digging a hole in the woods when it's time to uhh..." Lanier trails off, seeming to wrack his brain for a moment before he settles on something, "...return the bounties of your hunt to the Earth." He clears his throat, looking back down to the book, "This is the journal of a Sunguard who lived 250 years ago. There's an account of a run in with a particularly nasty imp in the Mythwood that I wanted to add to my journal." He looks up from the book with a grin, "Being a ranger isn't completely about walking through the woods, you see." Auranrar returns eventually, bearing a small cup and looking somewhat furitive, she brings it to Faran right away and sits down in front of her. "Here drink this." She pushes the glass toward the lucht, helpfully offering to hold it if necessary. She's not sure how much will Faran has to take the drink and so she'll do what she needs to to get the drink into her.

Elleandra moves aside, to give extra room to Auranar. She's still waiting for something that will help her have a clear idea of what is happening. Fortunately, she learns patience from trees and stones. She might even talk to them, but ostensibly that is normal for a druid.

Kamaria tilts her head at Lanier's explanation. "Are you referring to.. ohhh, right. This is gentle company." She doesn't include herself in that. "I suppose there is more to being a ranger. But I have no idea what that would be. Hmm.. but don't you usually have a companion? Like a wolf or bear or something like that?" Her education didn't include rangers, obviously.

The Lucht Siuil Death Grip relents on Cryo's poor robes after a little while longer, though it doesn't release completely and the little sorceress just sort of deflates a little in a long, weary sigh. Her hands settle gainst the sith's chest, one pats up until her little fingers emerge from within her shroud of comfort to curl over the palescale's shoulder. "...I... I'll be..."

Lanier looks towards Cryosanthia, raising an eyebrow, "Oh? Well, that ring was the ring I won rescuing Braelnoir from that pool in the Colliseum. The fact of the matter is that it also represented a bargain that she would never willingly make, so it's better off for all concerned sitting on another plane with the queen of the fae staring at it all starry eyed. Plus, I'm a Gilead ranger. I value the hunt. Any woman who endeavors to make an honest man of me is going to find breaking any curse put on me by that bug will be the least of her concerns." He then quickly shakes his head, "I would never offer my ability to see color. I couldn't identify poisonous fruits and berries anymore." That seems shocking to the ranger for some reason.

He looks back towards Kamaria and grins, "Yes, gentle company is a fair phrase for it. Rangers are taught to study their foes and learn their ways so they may understand their quary. In my case, extraplanar beings and others."

Seeing Faranmidahn release Cryosanthia a little, Auranar pressed her advantage to urge the cup of drink onto the little woman. "Here, drink this." Maybe if she insisted enough then she would be listened to.

"Drink Faran, it'll... do something good." Cryosanthia leans back, moving an arm and exposing the little lucht, waving for Auranar to swoop in with it. She keeps her other arm supporting the knight's back, rubs her chin on her helmet, which likely isn't helping the drink get in her.

"Ah! So you won her. Her transformation is... something else, to figure out. Still not sure what happened..."

She tilts her head up at Elleandra, "Why were you at the shore when we showed up to go swimming, and were wet already? Is that related to the ooze somehow? The earlier logs we read, from two years ago, had some man acting on behalf of She, putting things into pools and wells. Then there were these zombies that ran in straight lines and exploded. Then, it stopped. I'm not sure what the point was, to dump the creations of Zehier. We haven't read ahead enough to see if it was followed up on. No idea if the man was identified, if it was mmrrmm."

She chokes on a word, shakes once. Exhales and eyes the drink being offered to Faran. If the lucht doesn't drink it down, she might.

Faranmidahn swallows and, as she turns to look toward the proferred drink, a hand lifts to tilt the visor up from the moist trails weaving around her facial adornments and she gives a weak, "Thank you..." and brings the cup to her lips.

Elleandra finds that question amusing, in this moment. "Actually I had been out towards the Felwood that day and the weather was horrible. I thought the winds would peel my skin off, and the rain wasn't falling down, it was going sideways." She shakes her head, "But your guess is not wrong. I went out there because I was curious about our little water problem. I didn't get exactly the answers I wanted, but at least I made a friend." She thinks. I mean, Friend Spider didn't eat her, and Cuddles the Strangler plant didn't kill her. That's gotta be a sign, right?

Kamaria shakes her head, "If this isn't fixed soon, you'll end up getting yourself killed, Elly." She frowns in displeasure long enough to earn an apologetic look from her love. Satisfied for now, she turns her attention back to Lanier, "So do you often come across creatures from outside the borders of this world?"

Lanier looks back towards Cryosanthia, shaking his head quickly, "No! I didn't win her. She should have never been offered up as some prize!" He pauses for a moment, looking away as he takes a moment to return to his neutrality. He looks back towards Cryosanthia and shakes his head, "I don't know anything about her transformation or how she ended up in the Colliseum, but if I ever find out, heads will roll." He has the sword to back up that threat.

He nods his head then to Kamaria, "I made my home in the Felwood for a very long time, and extraplanar creatures cross over to terrorize this plane all of the time, according to their motivations or the whims of summoners. People need to be ready to combat events such as that."

Faranmidahn barely gets the cup to her face before she's hitting it like the first handful of water after staggering to an oasis. She lowers it again and coughs a couple of times before her hand can get between it and her face. She looks around at who's left and squirms a little in Cryo's lap but, "... Miss... Miss Kaelyn said dispels affect the transformation... Is the river tainted, too?" she asks trying to force her mind elsewhere.

"We got her to the Fernwood. Something must have gone wrong after that. I had to go to Mictlan. She transformed while we were swimming, no visible cause." Cryosanthia explains, leaning back and lowering her knees so Faran has an easier time escaping her reptilian clutches. She also looks over at Elleandra.

"I'm reviewing the records about oozes, I'll try to note anything useful for you, and there are several things I still wanted to talk with you about. At another time. Is the river corrupted?"

"We do not believe so," replies Elleandra. "Not yet, anyway. If the city should decide to empty its cisterns there, however, that would risk everything." She rises and looks to Kamaria, "We must go soon, but I will return. I need to get Kamaria in bed at Wilderness Pointe as soon as possible."

The particular choice of words gets the half-sil giggling, "Randy mood tonight, Elly?" she teases. Sure, she's trying to lighten the mood, but it clearly needs lightening. "Not worry, if we go now you will have plenty of time to get me in bed." Kamaria is incorrigible. Still, she looks to Faran and asks, "Will you be alright now, hon? The world can get overwhelming sometimes. I try to keep my mind focused on a few things. It makes it all manageable."

Lanier nods his head slowly, and he seems bothered by this, "There's a lot of strange magic going on right now. Even more than before." He shakes his head quickly, then closes the book, "I've got what I needed today." He looks up and around, "I think I'm going to go find a decent inn with food that's just as decent then get out of the city."

Faranmidahn looks up toward the couple and, despite her recent.. funk, the commentary brings a certain brilliant rosiness to her face, though that could just be the drink... that she quickly goes back to. As Kamaria's sage words come forth, her eyes close and she lowers the cup, nodding, "I expected too much from the wrong one." Any one. She looks to the ranger, then and, "She is lucky to have such a good friend." she says with a thoughtful smile, and lifts her glass toward him, "May your hunts be favored."

"I don't work at the Fernwood anymore, I have no particular recomendations," Cryosanthia says, giving Faran a little squeeze. "Peace on your nest and good hunting. Peace on your nests as well."

She raises an eye ridge at Kami and Elly, then works herself into a standing position and taking Faran up into the air as she does. She sits on the bench, so she can face the door for everyone exiting and gives the book laden table a glance, "I suppose it's only fair I put everything away. Auranar has been the last several times."

Kamaria and Elly both hug Cryosanthia gently, "You take care of yourself until I come back," insists Kamaria. "Because the next time will be special." She sings the last word and giggles. "Hmmm.. I wonder if we might use part of your name for our child.."

Elleandra bows her head to Lanier and Faran, "I hope you are both safe. These are dangerous times, and though some ideas are coming together to make it better, we are up against something that cannot be defeated by swords and spells."

She would go on, but Kamaria has grabbed her by the hand, "We need to be on our way. Wilderness Pointe is a long ways away still, and I'd rather not get scolded by the inn keeper for coming home late!"

Lanier blows on the page of his journal to help the ink dry, then closes the book, placing it and his writing implements back into his back. He stands up with a groan that he seems too young for, and then slings his pack over his shoulders. He looks across them all. nodding his head, "Good hunting." With that, he turns and begins heading for the door, disappearing a moment later.

"Something special, I wonder what she means." Cryosanthia says, watching the pair go out, then Lanier. She rubs at Faran's back, brushing at her shoulders, exhaling and watching the empty doorway. She randomly observes, "The scents at Mictlan are very strong. I was not expecting that. I guess I haven't smelt that many sith together in decades. It was overwhelming."

She keeps brushing, silent and contemplative, "I found Zeke. I didn't attack him. Seldan was there. They... neither still would... Zeke asked Seldan to be his brother, to witness being my cihuaa. So There will be a ceremony soon, for that. I'd like you to be there."

Faranmidahn watches everyone leave, a certain... oddly resentful look in her eye, but she doesn't say anything at first. She wanted to do that.... when she... if she... No. Later for that. She sags some into the brushing and a smal upward quirks regains her lips. She's still here. My friend is... my friend is back home. As she feels the hands coming up to her shoulders once more, she crosses her arms to set her fingers lightly atop them and lolls her head back to look up to her friend, and as Cryo makes her discoveries, and her intentions known, they rise to alight on the sides of the sith's face, her smile warm and bright, "It would be my greatest honor, Cryo!"

The cool lizard woman hugs the little lucht against her side, a nice squeeze, and smiles down at her. Her tail curls around in a hug. "I didn't know we could adopt softskins as family. I'd want so many, especially you. Thanks for holding me together Faran, I wouldn't have made it without you."

She gives her a squeeze again, then sighs, "C'mon, let's put the books away, find something to eat."