Catching Kami
Log Info
- Title:
- Emitter: Elleandra
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Merek, Seldan
- Place: Veyshan: Taashran
- Time: Wednesday, March 25, 2020, 3:15 PM
- Summary: On the airship journey back from Veyshan, Cryosanthia has many questions for Seldan, and Merek. She wants to know about their wings, and why they don't use them more. Seldan is on the verge of revealing some close secrets when Kamaria enters and the conversation changes. Cryo accidentally casts her Arcane Mark, is chastized by Seldan, and closes up as well. The remainder of the journey is distant, and when they arrive at Alexandria the group escorts Kamaria to Elly's camp near Merkabah. The Wild Elf is off, bathing nude in a nearby pond. Merek is overwhelmed by the sight, Seldan restrained, but both men behave honourably, although Merek does throw Kamaria at her girlfriend. Cryosanthia narrates the reuinion as she apparently takes notes for a Crimson Pen submission. Elleandra expresses her gratitude and joy, overwhelmed by this surprise. The party cautions her that the vampires weren't defeated, and no where may be safe. The two elves go to Elly's camp, while Cryo goes back to Alexandria, guarded by Merek and Seldan.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* Veyshan: Taashran *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Even from the air, Taashran is...huge. And the architecture is completely different from Alexandria, even though both are port cities. Flags of various strange colors fly from poles, and on the hill overlooking the city is a huge palace. Smaller palaces cluster around that...and from there the city spirals outward in a giant half-circle, looking as if it gets seedier and shoddier the further from the main palace it gets. The airstation is, unsurprisingly, near the inner circle of the city.
Disembarking is no easy feat. Even with perfectly legitimate purposes and identification, money still has to change hands. Along the twisting streets, one might spot the occasional well-to-do, ensconced inpalanquins carried by large men... slaves, judging by the chains around their legs that don't let them actually run, just walk. It's also difficult because the streets are -packed- with people, animals, janni, and more. There's even a few sith-makar, traveled from Am'shere. And they all seem to be on the streets, and they all seem to be wanting to sell things.
And the noise. The people are one thing, but the sheer -noise- and bustle could make the most citified Alexandrian want to go sit in a field or a forest. Worse, this is the portion of the city with a high concentration of guards; one can only imagine what it's like in the seedier portions of town.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'7" 245 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, lithe white lizardgirl with tattoos. 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. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
"I will have a few questions..." Cryosanthia said, and on the airship ride back she corners Seldan. "Peace on your scabbard, Seldan, I had a few things to ask. And your sword, hi Seldan's sword. Seldan, have you given it a name. Fallia, did you know Seldan has wings? Like an Angel? Is that NORMAL for your family? And they're not white wings either. They're speckled, like they are dirty. Merek is a regular angel, but you're some sort of dirty angel?" >thock< "Ow these ceilings are low. So, what I want to know is, WINGS? HOW?"
When on the airship, Merek takes the time to change into what looks like equipment for work on the place, then he finds Cryosanthia and Seldan, nodding a bit to the two. He has with him what looks like it is chicken on a stick, with a mug of what looks like strawberry wine. It's the kind which is offered to traveling nobles, also known as, anyone willing to put in coin for it.
Seldan is sitting below decks in one of the common areas when Cryosanthia finds him, swordbelt across his knees with one hand on the hilt, eyes closed as if in a meditating posture. He does not have his cloak - that was given to Kamaria to wear until they returned to Alexandria, and its absence has not troubled him in the least. When Cryosanthia's voice rattles off a list of questions, he opens his eyes and looks up. "You had not seen those? Forgive me, I seldom find reason to use them within the city."
Fallia speaks up. "Cryosanthia, greetings. It is usually better to ask one question at a time, if you want a coherent answer."
"Nonsense," Kanian, the crotchety old man pipes up, "you may as well spit them all out at once."
"Then how are you to make sense of all the questions?" A new voice, a young man's, pipes up.
While the sword is arguing, Seldan simply sighs. "Those of us whose magic comes from our blood, from who we are - there is always something in our past that infuses that bloodline with magic, is there not?"
"Oh? Who is the new voice? Peace on your Scabbard, I'm Cryosanthia!" The white-scale sith-makar says, easily distracted yet still doing her best to snatch answers as they fly by. Like a frog with flies would be a good metaphor, although she would object to the amphibian allusion, she is a proud reptile! "I like to fire them all so the confusing ones have a longer incubation time."
Cryo is being very careful with the ceilings, even going so far as to put her hand on the rafter beams to avoid bumping her head. Her hat is off, although her crest scrapes the ceiling without it. "Well, as I understand it, yes. Something in the past, hopefully that is the case."
Merek looks between the two, and nods a bit, while he sips from the wine at the talk of the angels thoughtfully.
Seldan looks down at the blue-and-silver open-fronted robe that he wears, with its embroidered depictions of celestial symbols and beings. "That is so. Although I have not been able in my studies to identify which ancestor it was, there are - ties," he pauses before the word, "with celestial servants within my ancestry. I had once wondered the same as you - was my magic of dangerous or evil source? I undertook to learn more, and that much was I able to learn."
"Well, as everyone keeps telling me, the colour doesn't necessarily mean anything." Cryo finds a bench to fold herself down on, wriggling her legs under the table. Her tail thumps a few times as she gets settled. "Was this place designed for goblins? Everything is so tight."
She idly scratches at the tabletop, "Couldn't you construct a really good family tree, especially with all the people in the sword? Or are they keeping some secrets?" Cryo leans and conspiracy-whispers at Seldan's scabbard, "It's ok, you can tell me if you're keeping secrets! I won't tell Seldan."
"The bloodline will give you a disposition towards alignment," Merek mentions to Cryosanthia, with a nod to the woman, "You can surpass that though," he adds. Then he looks to Seldan, and also the weapon. He does peek at it, then he thinks. He begins weaving a chant in Celestial while his eyes begin to glow golden, his sclera black while he looks to it with True Seeing.
GAME: Merek casts True Seeing. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19 Merek says, "I peer into Seldan's sword. It's a magical weapon of moderate strength. Nothing illusionary or transmuted about it.
"There are things we don't know, Cryosanthia, but she's right. Maybe we can help you find it, Seldan, if you really want to know, but I think you have better things to do with your time." Fallia sounds mildly disapproving.
Tisa chimes in this time, instead of the young man's voice. Her voice is both deeper and younger than Fallia's, and a lot less nasal. "I wouldn't be surprised to find angels in the family tree, honestly, but Fallia's right, we've got things to do. You know where your magic comes from, that ought to be enough."
Golain, a gruff male voice with a distinct khazadi sound, chimes in. "If my grandmother was flirting with an angel, I'd sure like to know."
"Your grandmother was probably a boulder, Golain," Tisa snaps back, but Kanian and about two different others chime in. "In bed with an angel? I'd never!" "I would." "Sounds good to me!" Kanian chimes in cheerfully.
Meanwhile, Seldan's entire bearing is the epitome of a sigh as he listens to the burst of chatter. "Yes, Cryosanthia," he says wearily, "they are angel wings, much like Merek's, although I need no spell to call upon them, and yes, I do know how to use them."
"I am so jealous. I have dreams about flying, lots of times. That's why I like swimming, it's the closest thing. Gliding around, feeling the water currents flow over me." Cryo rests her head on her folded hands, gazing wistfully at Seldan's shoulders. The robe and the rest of him get some attention, but it's those shoulders, where they might be wings, that hold her.
"Why aren't you using them now? Why aren't the both of you on ropes, kiting behind the airship? I mean, I guess you should be making better use of your time, but we're in transit, what is there to do besides read and stare out the window?" The sith-makar adjusts, bumping the wall behind her, "If you didn't bring a book, you're kind of out of luck."
Cryosanthia, did not bring a book.
"So are there other Angel things you can do? Is there a particular kind of celestial with speckled wings? Do you think perhaps they change, lighter or darker, depending on your alignment and the condition of your soul? Does the wind and sun feel nice on them?"
GAME: Merek casts Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19
"Wings are colored by the kind of angel one is, though darker tones tend towards the angels that work as warriors," Merek mentions, looking to Seldan in thought, then it's to Cryosanthia. He then places both hands together and looks up, eyes back to normal, still golden though. Then his wings begin to extend, black with silver detailing in the feathers, while they shift about him. Their size isn't too crazy at the moment, though they're about him. One of them extends to the Sith-Makar. Wing poke. "Wind feels nice," he says, he will let Seldan answer though as well.
As Merek's wings extend out into the tiny room, inadvertently giving him a poke as well, Seldan looks up from where he'd fallen into sudden silence at Cryosanthia's question, and curiously, the ongoing argument among the family in the blade falls abruptly silent as well. It is Fallia, the nasal older woman's voice, who speaks, more gently. "Seldan. You don't have to explain."
"No, Fallia. It is-" He pauses, and looks steadily at Cryosanthia. "The answer is not so simple, although wind and sun on the things is indeed a thing of glory and grace." At that, he smiles, and pushes one of Merek's wings away from his face. "But -" he hesitates. "Is it true that you share with the People all that you know?"
For her part, Kamaria has spent the trip in quiet contemplation. Which is something one does after being dominated by vampires and slaying multiple people. There comes a point, though, where she is ready to be more open, and craves conversation. She doesn't know much about where she is going, but with the air growing more chill with every passing mile, she decides it is time to learn more about her rescuers. After some searching, she finds them. With wings back on? She starts to duck away again, imagining this might not be the best time.
"You are not of this plane Merek, and I have felt the dragon in my blood." Cryo says, staring with awe and envy at his wings. She lets the wingtip brush against her. Shivers. She spots a shadow on the door, "Kamari, Peace on your nest, wiggle your way in here."
Cryosanthia is bumped into a bout of stillness with Seldan's question. She looks at him, generally motionless in all ways except for her chest which swells and falls as she breathes. Her eyes are expressionless and hard to read, beautiful, like sapphires with lines painted on them. At best they twitch in her sockets, when she wants to look at something she faces it directly as she is doing so now with Seldan. Semi-automatically, the fingers of one hand rub over each other, a tattoo flares green, and she draws her Arcane Mark on the table. This spell seems to break her bespellment. "Ooops... oh scales."
"That makes me sound horrible. I tell people lots of things if I think it's important or I need help understanding. Or I think they need help but won't ask for it. Or... it's on my mind and I forget my filters. I don't think I'm telling everyone everything, am I? I thought I was good with secrets." The sith exhales and dips her nose. She stares at the little dragon-eye on the table, which stares back at her.
GAME: Merek rolls reflex: (4)+10: 14
"You can eventually learn to make your own wings, if you keep on accessing your bloodline as a dragon," Merek mentions, then he blinks a bit at the talk of Planes. Then he notices Kamari and waves, which then extends a wing which almost swings right into people's faces. Fortunately, it doesn't. Well, unless they maneuver right into it. Then he peeks to Cyosanthia after, "Secrets." Then to Seldan, he nods knowingly a bit, "Hey sword," a shift of the wings to fold about him. There's something in that tone of voice that's noticable.
Seldan looks up at the new arrival, and smiles, immediately setting the swordbelt aside. "Please, join us." His accent is distinct, a cultured lilt, his words formal in form and friendly in tone. "Later," he tells Cryosanthia quietly, then peers down at the arcane mark on the table with a grin. "I do not think you intended such. Would you have me remove it?" Merek, he shoots a curious look at, holding it for a moment, as if trying to piece the man's message together.
Kamaria enters cautiously, "My apologies," she begins, her eyes lowered. "I was curious when we might arrive." Among many other things, honestly. She holds herself with confidence, and yet her eyes are never raised. Old habits die hard, it seems. "I also wondered if there was anything I might do for you while we wait. I am not used to having so much time to myself."
"Aaahhhhh... sure..." Cryo says, with great hesitation, although she puts her hand over the symbol to prevent its immediate removal. "It wasn't intentional, no."
Changing the subject back to wings, the palescale says, "I'll have to figure out how that is done." Her tail thumps the wall behind her.
"Sshsss. There's some space over here Kamari, a little space, if you crawl in past them. There's not a lot to do but ride, that's why we were talking about things."
Merek looks between the three, with a nod. "We should be coming upon the city in a few," he says, not mentioning what kind of few. He does take the time to offer his wing for Cryosanthia's general inspection, "Yours will probably be dragon-like if you go that way. It will take a while. Might be some kinda gear I can make to give you wings. I actually know a piece or so that would." A little smile as well, nodding to Seldan and Kamari, while he offers a comforting pat to the woman. "Ah, just letting your sword know people are you know, conversationing," he adds.
"We should be traveling for some hours yet," Seldan tells Kamaria more clearly, withdrawing as Cryosanthia goes to cover the symbol. "I am certain that you have many questions. But Cryosanthia, all magic should be intentional and planned. Magic unplanned can do untold damage and hurt many, many people. The plague is one such magic," he warns. "Take care."
"We should be traveling for some hours yet," Seldan tells Kamaria more clearly, withdrawing as Cryosanthia goes to cover the symbol. "I am certain that you have many questions. But Cryosanthia, all magic should be intentional and planned. Magic unplanned can do untold damage and hurt many, many people. The plague is one such magic," he warns. "Take care. Merek, you need not worry," he adds, "They can hear you."
Kamaria moves where Cryosanthia indicates, settling on her knees and looking ready to move at a moment's notice. For a time, she just listens, looking from person to person out of the corner of her eye. Whatever her questions might be, she holds them in for now.
Merek also adds to Kam, "It'll be alright, we're traveling to see Elle."
Kamaria offers an uncertain smile at Merek when he pats her shoulder. She and touch have a confusing relationship lately. Mention of Elleandra brings some relief and her smile grows more confident. "I am eager to see her again," comes her quiet response. That being admitted, she moves where Cryosanthia indicates, settling on her knees and looking ready to move at a moment's notice. Whatever her questions might be, she holds them in for now.
"You don't understand what it means to me. Or why I cast." Cryosanthia says quietly, keeping her hand over the mark, her finger tips digging into the table. "Just like I don't understand how."
The sith-makar tucks her elbows in, and her knees, trying to be smaller for Kamaria's sake. This movement results in a few more thumps and bumps as she struggles with the dimensions. "Elly will be very happy to see you, she spoke well of you."
GAME: Merek casts Prestidigitation. Caster Level: 8 DC: 15 GAME: Merek casts Summon Monster IV. Caster Level: 9 DC: 18 GAME: Merek rolls craft/sculpture: (11)+4: 15
Merek looks between the three, and nods while he begins to shift the wings back to him, which is within. Then he takes a ritual knife from the belt which he wears, a special design it looks curious, with sigils upon it. He then simply lifts that up with a Celestial True Name as well as slashing. The dimension begins to shift away, and from it a little mephit comes, winged being, to shimmer and wiggle its way to Kamari.
The man begins to work on what looks like a prestidigitation likeness of Elleandra, and gives that to the woman as well. "Will keep you company while we travel, the mephit will keep with you for a minute." He then spins that weapon and places the knife onto the hip holster which he wears as well. He then looks to Seldan, "I know, I was just making a little point to the Ancestors." Then a smile as well to Cryosanthia. The mephit pokes at everyone before it manages to find a way to Kamari.
"I see," Seldan answers, very, very quietly, his entire bearing suddenly impassive. His gaze goes to Merek, and he watches the man as he casts. He seems to take something from it, but seeing Kamaria settled on her knees on the floor, promptly rises, gesturing that she should take the chair, and pushes Merek's wing gently aside to sit cross-legged on the floor some feet away, carrying his swordbelt by the scabbard with him. He says nothing further.
"I see," Seldan answers, very, very quietly, his entire bearing suddenly impassive. His gaze goes to Merek, and he watches the man as he casts. He seems to take something from it, but seeing Kamaria settled on her knees on the floor, promptly rises, gesturing that she should take the chair, and takes himself to sit cross-legged on the floor some feet away, carrying his swordbelt by the scabbard with him. He says nothing further.
Kamaria watches the mephit warily. It has a rather mischievous look in its eyes. With the small likeness of Elly in one hand she uses the other to poke the mephit, which makes it a strange sound that might be laughing. Perhaps its ticklish? She's not sure what to make of the creature, but it immediately starts to move in a strange, silly fashion and acts as if it were trying to dance with the small figure.
Kamaria looks up as Seldan moves, but she doesn't seem to understand that the chair is meant for her. "Can you.. tell me about her?" she asks. "I mean Elleandra. I haven't seen her in a very long time. I am curious how she has changed since then."
GAME: Merek rolls sense motive: (10)+4: 14
"Well, that graven image of her is close." Cryosanthia says after a silence, "She's still a Wild Elf, very outgoing and enthusiastic. Doesn't like the city much. Kind, caring. She's been helping out an acquaintance who was injured, another adventurer. She's an adventurer, not sure if she was that when she knew you. Was very interested in raising the funds ... she was told she needed."
The sith-makar gestures at the chair, "You can sit there. Kneeling is not necessary."
"She's a nice person," Merek mentions, while he nods a bit. He then settles about while the mephit begins to shift away after a bit. He is leaning next to the wall while he finishes that wine, and waits about, a little nod as well to Seldan. There's a look to Cryosanthia, and Kam. He gives a knowing look to the Sith-Makar. Those vampires will be back eventually.
Seldan is not watching Merek, so he does not catch the nod. In fact, despite the plate armor he wears that he covered with a nomad's robes in the desert, he seems to be assuming something that is as close to a meditative posture as one can get, sitting on the floor in armor, his swordbelt laid across his lap, his eyes on it.
Cryosanthia blinks, not knowing what she's supposed to know from that knowing look. She squirms in her seat again, bumping an elbow against the wall. "Mmff. Maybe I should get a kite and see if the airship will tow me. I imagined these to be a lot more. I should have realized it's a ship with less."
Her head turns briefly towards Seldan. He's in meditation, so there's no sense disturbing that activity. So she faces Kamaria and smiles carefully, keeping her mouth closed as much as possible. No need to provoke someone who might have some unsettled feelings about teeth, "There was some wine, if you wanted. Merek found it somewhere. Or made it. Or has a tap attached to the Plane of Wine, many things could be possible. I wish I had more to say about Elleandra, in person she is charming, at least once on an adventure she cooked and the food was enjoyable. A good and easy to make friend, some adventurer's aren't so. She was quite intent on you, spoke of your magic spell, many amusing things."
Kamaria looks to the chair as if it were an uncomfortable thing. "I.. I think I can try that." She rises smoothly and settles herself on it gingerly, as if unsure of herself. "Sorry, I don't use these. Ever. Men sit in our city."
When the others describe Elleandra, it seems to bring her some relief. "It is good to hear something is the same. Does she still play with her braid all the time?" Kamaria blushes for some reason, and then forces her back straight suddenly.
GAME: Merek casts Dimension Door. Caster Level: 8 DC: 19
"I think she does," Merek mentions, while he nods a bit between the three, looking thoughtful while he peeks to the wine. "I ordered it, with coin, service." A nod while he thinks about that. He then nods to Kam, "Well, I'll make sure you get the best place available for napping. We'll be back to business." He then looks to Cryosanthia, "I am going to teleport to," he motions to the open door with a lot of places within sight. Then he's shifting away.
Seldan looks up at Kamaria's explanation. Apparently his meditation was not so deep as all that, despite his quiet, reserved demeanor. "It is not so among my people, nor among the people of Alexandria. Do not trouble yourself, my lady. I tire of hitting my head as much has Cryosanthia hers."
"Thank you for the warning Merek, I appreciate it." Cryo says, dipping her nose.
The docks of Alexandria are as busy as ever, but amidst the hustle and bustle, the secretary of Kain Silverhands still stands out. He looks.. miffed to be there, but nonetheless there he is. Waiting. When the party comes into view he springs from his perch on an upended bucket and moves towards them.
"I trust your venture was successful." At the sight of Kamaria, he arches an eyebrow. "Well, certainly it looks it at least." He gives no time for a proper response, directing his attention at roughly the middle of the party, "She's not here. I mean Elly. We cooked-up a story to keep her out of harm's way and she decided to go off to her usual haunts in the forests outside the city. She has no idea what your real purpose was. You can tell her when you see her, obviously." He taps his foot, "I think I'm done, then. I'm no messenger." Without even so much as a pause, he turns on his heel to go.
Merek nods a bit to the khazad, while he smiles, "Thank you," he says, then he looks to people, "Anyone want to lead our way?" He stands along with Kamaria while they travel in any case, putting his black leather with chainmail on as well, then following!
"As you will," Seldan, who has been quiet and reserved for much of the return trip, nods to the khazad. He straps his swordbelt back on, and resumes backpack and bow. "Before we go," he pauses, looking at Kamaria thoughtfully. He's allowed her to borrow his cloak, but now frowns. "Are you chilled? If we venture to the forest, it is chillier still, and the season is early yet. I can shield you from the chill, or we can get you clothing more appropriate to Alexandria's climes."
Kamaria looks at herself and laughs softly, "I'm sorry, I am not used to such cold. Perhaps for now the shielding will do? I want her to see me." She tries to find the right words for the moment. She eventually settles on, "Wearing the kind of thing she would remember me wearing."
Cryosanthia looks suspiciously at Kamaria, he tail flicking slowly back and forth. "Well... this one has magic bracers which turn into any kind of clothing you might need, should you need them."
The remainder of the trip here she had not been particularly talkative, seemed to focus more on practicing her drumming and accompanying it with some ghostly string instruments. To anyone keeping track, she never returned to the common area, perhaps to avoid seeing whether her mark was erased or the practical desire to stay on deck where there were fewer things to bump into.
"It shall be nice to see you meet Elleandra, I shall have to take notes for the Crimson Pen." Cryo observes enigmatically.
Merek would offer things but notices that people are, so he follows!
"Very well." Despite the armor, the spell Seldan casts is quick, and the ring on the second finger of his right hand begins to glow, then flashes once and fades entirely as the spell completes. When the casting his complete, he touches her shoulder, and a golden-silver light sinks into Kamaria's skin and vanishes, leaving no trace, save for her no longer being cold. When he is done, he steps back, and nods to the others to precede him. "You know Elleandra better than I," he tells the other two. "I shall follow. I mistrust those who held her in Nishabad."
"I shall be very cross if the vampires beat us here without an uncomfortable airship ride and pop out during daytime." Cryosanthia opines, rocking from side to side now that she's on the ground, "Ok, let's go."
Elleandra's usual spot is a fair march from the city, leaving the hustle and bustle long behind. For all that, it's only a few hundred yards off the road where her camp can be seen. All the stuff for a fire is already gathered, a few rabbits hand ready for cooking, and the scent of her usual spices (and as always, a few new ones) are in the air. Her tent stands empty, though.
She of course would need water for her meal, so the group is able to track her to a nearby pond. Everything is very straight forward except for the fact that she's in the pond and her clothes are hanging over a tree branch nearby. She is relaxing near the edge, her back on some cold rocks and her lower half decently under the water.
The men try to resist GAME: Merek rolls will: (1)+17: 18 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Seldan rolls will: (10)+22: 32 Push Kam into the pond GAME: Merek rolls strength: (15)+2: 17
Merek is coming upon the place in question, while he looks to Kamaria. Then he looks to the pond. A blink while he thinks about it, then he says, "That's... Elleandra, and as you can see, she apparently is you know, in the water." His cheeks tint, while he looks away and takes a moment to look at a quill pen with him, "I am going to make her some bracers like I made you Cryosanthia." He then places his face to a nice looking tree. Then he shifts about, then takes a hand to gently push Kam forward a bit, towards the pond, as well as the woman's girlfrind.
Cryosanthia follows along, sometimes leading, although she hasn't been out to Elleandra's spot, only gotten directions, so most of the time it's following or searching. It becomes searching once the camp is found, and the tracks lead to a nearby pond. She sees Elleandra right as she comes upon her clothes, so she's quite close to the bathing elf.
Of course, she asks the first thing that comes to mind, the most important thing. "Is that water cold? It looks like it's really cold." Remember the mission! "Elleandra! We have a surprise for you!"
<OOC> Merek says, "The surprise is a flying woman." <OOC> ElleandraOld says, "Cryo shows up, and suddenly Kamaria is THROWN at me. SURPRISE!" GAME: ElleandraOld rolls dex: (17)+dex: 17
Seldan brings up the rear, but immediately upon realizing the state in which they had found the sildanyari woman, he politely turns his back and assumes a guard position at the highest and most advantageous point that he can manage with his back turned to the campsite. He says -nothing-, and if he does not make himself invisible, he makes himself scarce. Quickly.
It's an interesting meeting, that's for sure. Elleandra perks up when she hears Cryosanthia. "I rather like the cold," she begins. Oh, is that Merek behind Cryosanthia, but he's rushing away? And then wow! A stumbling, tripping woman is coming her way! In the course of the motion the cloak slips off Kamaria's shoulders, and then she is in Elleandra's arms, who catches her just in time to avoid a cold, painful landing on the rocks.
It takes a moment to realize what is happening, and another to realize who she is holding. "Ka.. Kamaria?" Elleandra whispers faintly. She holds the woman close, drawing her closer, until she can see nothing but her face. "You're here! You're safe!"
Kamaria clings to Elleandra with a warm smile. The doubts and second guessing leave the half-sil and she simply melts into the embrace. "It is me.. I'm here." There's a bit of a blush on her cheeks giving the very exposed feeling of the moment, but she's not trying to get on her own two feet. She's not sure she could if she wanted to.
Merek looks back to the two, when he notices that he's put the woman in Elleandra's arms. There's a nod with that, a success! Then he speaks, "Message was delivered. Well, we had to save a city, and you know, find your friend. We had to bring her for you. I hope you don't mind." With a nod as well, "... Would you like to wear something?" he asks. Then he throws that cloak of his to the Sylvannei.
Cryo has a notebook in hand. It looks like the order pad from the Fernwood, but it's serving spicey romance purposes now instead of spicey dinner orders. Scribble, scribble, "... a big splash, the two embraced, free as wild spirits, flushing with fall colours... and then they kissed..."
The sith-makar looks up, intent and unblinking, cajolling louder, "... and then they kissed..."
Throwing a cloak GAME: Merek rolls dexterity: (5)+4: 9
Seldan is a little further up the bank, his back studiously to the womenfolk. Elleandra might realize that it is Seldan's cloak that Kamaria wears over that harem outfit, given the symbol of Eluna worked on the back of the blue material, but he's watching for trouble. Yep.
Elleandra and Kamaria do kiss, and if there's any concern about being seen, neither shows it.. But it's clear that they don't just live longer, but kiss a lot longer. While Merek and Seldan aren't aware of it, Cryosanthia will get a long study in how these folk express their feelings. Fortunately (for the men) it goes not further than that. Eventually their is a break for air. But then they just kiss again and it starts over.
After several such attempts to make up for lost time, the half-sil and Sildanyari are satisfied that the reunion is properly begun. Elleandra is flushed, her skin glowing, her cheeks pink. "Thank you so much, everyone," she says warmly. "How was this possible?" she asks suddenly, looking to the others.
Merek noted when the kissing began, then he decides to look to a place away from that, which means that the cloak meant for Elleandra went to Cryosanthia. Which means she might have a nice face full of a whole kind of different view. He then speaks, "Well, I'm not sure, there were vampires, crazy mobs, you know. The normal."
Out of nowhere a cloak lands on Cryosanthia's head. Sniff? "MEREK!"
She wriggles it off, tucking it under an elbow as she keeps writing. Fortunately, she didn't miss much. She has quite a lot of time to write down various details, dictating them to herself as she does, "...and they kissed, their passions blossoming like a desert flower after the rains, the long drought of absence, the long nights of anticipation with their only connection being the light of the stars... yes, work Elune in, that's good... the two sustained each other, their kiss extending for a long time, heating the waters until they boiled..."
The sith-makar glances up at the pond, which most definitely is not boiling, although it is experiencing some splashes and ripples. She shrugs and returns to writing, "... with the intensity of their love, which you dear reader will appreciate because of the understandable effects of cold water on softskins... no wait.." -scratchy- "..they'll figure it out, sylvans..."
Cryo looks up from her writing, "It was a joint effort Elly, delivering the letter took some punch."
Elleandra blushes at the description and laughs nervously. Then her mind remembers something she heard. "Wait.. vampires?" She has to ask, "What do vampires have to do with this?"
With the kissing concluded-for the moment-Kamaria and Elly move properly out of the water to stand near Cryosanthia.
"They saved me from vampires and drove the monsters from the city," the half-sil explains casually. For the safety of Merek, Kamaria keeps herself neatly pressed into Elleandra's embrace, covering her as well as she can.
Merek looks back to the two when it's safe enough, then he nods a bit. "Yes, there was quite a bit of craziness," he says, then his cheeks are tinted again while Cryosanthia speaks, his eyes looking to the sith-makar in thought. He does give her tail a squeeze, the kind which is askance of her to keep her musing to the pen and paper! He does look to Seldan, then all about, "There were more in the group, we dealt with the vampires, though they are still about. I will need to look into it."
"Here's a robe Elly," Cryosanthia said, producing Merek's from under her arm and holding it out. She stands a good foot taller than the silvanyis, so it's easy for her to look over the pair. The water does seem to be keeping her attention. There was a lot of sand, and heat, it would be nice to feel chill trickles between her scales.
She startles at the tail squeeze, and curls it away from Merek. "The tail is not for squeezing. It's sensitive." Relatively.
Cryo looks down at her notes, writing a couple more things. "Don't worry I'll change the names." She reassures. This is followed by a long, contemplative look over her shoulder at Merek and Seldan, "... and maybe the genders. Yes..."
Her final notes before she puts the book away: Include wings.
Elleaandra looks at the robe for a moment, not comprehending. She's not cold! Then it occurs to her that some of her friends are having some difficulty with the situation. With that in mind, Elleandra starts to get herself properly dressed. At least with her tunic on it shouldn't be too terribly distracting to be around her. As she does, Kamaria helpfully borrows the offered robe and uses it to provide cover and prevent Merek from blowing a gasket. "Forgive her, she wasn't even raised in a barn." Like she's one to talk with what she's wearing.
"So there were vampires in Nishabad," Elleandra says at last. She calls out more clearly, spotting Seldan, "I'm decent now! Sorry about that!" But not too decent to tug Kamaria back to her side. Ever so softly she whispers to the half-sil, "I missed you." Without missing a beat, Kamaria replies, "You won't have to. Never again."
Elleandra sighs quietly, but gets more serious. "I owe you everything, my friends. You have given me my heart back."
Merek looks away in any case, he then nods a bit to Kamaria, "Well, I can see that. Well, actually I can't see that, that's the point, I'm trying not to see that," he says. Then when they are nice and proper, he smiles a bit, though the conversation which is about vampires makes the man look a little thoughtful. "The city, it will take a while to recover from it all." He nods a bit to Cryosanthia, wiggling that nose of his, while he sighs, "We will need to eventually find where they went."
Seldan raises a hand in acknowledgement, and after a few moments modifies his guard stance so that he can see and speak with the others, but without losing his vantage point or his watchfulness. "There is nothing to forgive," he calls back. "She may yet be pursued, and I would not have us caught unawares." He nods to Merek. "They fled, but were not destroyed, and they will not forget."
"I was very happy to go Elleandra, foreign places, strange cities and strange royalty. Battle, though greatly unpleasant, some parts of it. A daring escape, the vampires mostly, they were soundly beaten, a romantic re-union. All the things a great story has. This one is glad to have done her part." Cryosanthia says.
"The warnings are valid. Kamaria can tell you her captor's strengths, but they kiled many and will come for us because they were thwarted. Be wary at all times."
The palescale pulls her tail up and holds it, one arm cradling the length, the other picking at the scales where it was grabbed.
"It's hard to believe that vampires are interested in my Kamaria," admits Elleandra. She looks to the half-sil and smiles, "You always were good at attracting the wrong sort of crowd, weren't you?"
With familiar ease Kamaria raises her left hand, brushing the back of her fingers over Elleandra's right cheek, "I got you, didn't I?"
"That's kind of my point," Elly teases back. "All the wrong sorts." Kamaria laughs at this. Clearly she's untroubled by vampires at the moment. "Your friends were fearless, and they drove off the enemy. I imagine they will want some manner of revenge. Vampires can't be that different than people to just let failure go. But first they will continue their plan, to claim their own kingdom and build power on the backs of men."
Merek looks to the ones there with a nod, "We could probably get soap."
"They will not," Seldan agrees, finally turning and coming closer. Now that Elleandra can see him clearly, he is lacking his usual cloak, but is otherwise armored and fully dressed as if for war. "I have crossed swords with one such before, one that shows up in Alexandria from time to time by the name of Kol Demontry. They are not to be trifled with, and may control the minds of men with a look. They are evil, and thus correctly laid, calling upon Eluna's protection may shield mind and body alike from such as they."
"They are evil and dead, I can't imagine their mind works in any comprehensible way." Cryosanthia shakes her head, adjusting her cape. She steps back so Seldan and Merek can approach, or not. She still seems to be observing the pair of sils, in a passionless, lizard like way, unblinking without a lot of reaction.
"Try not to be too isolated. I should take this advice as well, I think. I'll try to remember those strategies." She tucks her tail under her other arm, hugging it with both arms now.
"The undead are an afront to nature," Elleandra replies to Seldan. "But as I understand it, Vampires are hard to get rid of without the aid of sunlight, and powerful and intelligent enough to avoid it." She takes it seriously, even if Kamaria does not. "But a city is no less dangerous than the wilds, and I'm easier to find there. Vampires find nothing but enmity in the wild. And they must be hunted." As she speaks, she sounds angrier, imagining these creatures might threaten her love.
Kamaria stays silent, letting this conversation go by. She's not going to let three mass-murdering monsters ruin this reunion. Besides, with Elly distracted, she can just lean into the sildanyari and rest her cheek on Elly's shoulder.
Merek nods a bit, "I will do all I can to keep people safe," he says, smiling to all of them, while be tiredly looks about.
Seldan says, "There are those who resist even sunlight," Seldan points out, but subsides. "As will I." He does not make any attempt to approach the others, closer than is needful to join the conversation."
Cryosanthia finally blinks, faintly blue eyelids covering her much bluer eyes. Once open, they're staring again, her breathing is slow and regular. "I'm worried about you being out here Elleandra, Kamari. Make sure others have a camp close. Merkabah is nearby, and it is still possible an awakened threat could emerge from there as well. I know the wilds are your home, but you are hunted."
The white-scale sith huffs a little, "I am beholden on these two to graciously get me back to Alexandria. Thinking I must investigate a horse or swiftclaw for travel to Mictlan. We have drawn the attention of dangerous things, could easily vanish to them."
Elleandra sighs softly, "Well, I guess I could stay at the base camp for a while. There are lots of people there, and generally some pretty strong adventures are either coming or going." She looks down at Kamaria, "We need a real place to stay. Someplace safe, with a lot of friendly people near at hand."
"With a warm bed," points-out Kamaria. "And a bright fire. Maybe one of those big, soft carpets I have heard they have in the north." She has shut her eyes now, and is quite content to not move. But once that spell wears off she's going to be freezing.
"Such places exist, both inside and outside the city. It may be that you will be more difficult to find, in a smaller place that looks more like other places." Seldan suggests, drawing in a breath and not mention a trip to Mictlan.
"The Fernwood Pub might be one of those places, perhaps something better defended. We should go." Cryosanthia suggests, looking at the pair of humans and the pair of elves, "This is the point in the play when the curtain would close to imply the long estranged lovers complete their re-union. I have no stake in that, but perhaps you would wish some privacy to catch up. I do wish to be someplace familiar, perhaps with a bath."
The sith turns, spreading her arms, her tail dropping to sway behind her as she makes a somewhat stage-like curtsey to Seldan and Merek, "Perhaps my two Angels would fly this lady dragon back to Alexandria? Leave the love sils to silly love?"
As it turns out, a near 7' tall lizard woman is _really_ heavy. They have to walk.
Pose not used
Cryo produces a notepad from her chest armour. She might be bookless, but the order sheets for the Fernwood pub are with her always. Flipping to a clear page, she grins with lots of teeth at Seldan, "We could work out your family tree now. Let's see, there was Grandmother Boulder for Golain and some spots for mum and dad. Golain sounds Khazadi, but you're not, so that's interesting... wait! So, wait! Why the assumption the angel was female? Fallia, Tisa, are you hiding something? What do you know? Was it a suave, sexy flyboy that swept you off your feat? Is that why Seldan should investigate other things?" Accusations, made with a teasing tone, but accusations still.