Seph perches on Nari's shoulder and gives a Miao of encouragment
Nari is trembling with fear.
"Okay, but promise me you'll give Justin that note I wrote as soon as you see him again. I'm afraid it's going to be relevant sooner rather than later if we have to go back there."
"That is amazing. Not that I'm surprised, but it is still enjoyable to watch a master perform her craft." Justin says with his customary half-smile. He doesn't seem to have any problems speaking with the Lady as long as he's not looking directly at her.
"Tell me, is the scrying basin enhanced sympathetically by the water's contact with the majority of the valley as it travels through it, or is there a more,... Is Nari alright?" He asks suddenly, noticing the elvin girl's sudden panic attack.
... Is Nari alright?" He asks suddenly, noticing the elvin girl's sudden panic attack.
Lady Meralindiel frowns
"I am not sure. You are her travelling companion, perhaps you would like to speak with her? Just address her image, the words should be audible."
Justin raises an impressed eyebrow, but says nothing as he steps closer to the basin. He has used crystal balls before, but they seem to pale in comparison to Lady Meralindiel's enchanted Font.
He lightly touches the fingers of each hand to the edge of the font, careful not to touch the still water within. He leans lower, clears his throat with a nervous cough, focuses his Will on the image in the font, and speaks softly but clearly,...
'Nari? Merle? Can you hear me? Is everything alright?'
;P
Isaac lets the silence stretch a bit until finally venturing into small talk.
"So, Stheno... What's this Order of yours all about, in addition to fighting these Cobalt Shadows?"
Merle hearing Jutins voice in her head immediatly responds looking somewhat pissed off 'Alright? No everything is most certainly not alright' Merle seems prepared to launch herself into a some sort of tirade but one look over at Nari and Seph changes here mind seemingy calming down a fair bit 'Look could you guys meet us at the city gates I think it would be better for some of us if we don't set foot back in the city'
Justin actually leans back from the scrying bowl at the vehemence in Merle's tone. He glances at the Lady, then leans back over the font.
'Sure. No trouble. I'll grab one of the others and meet you myself.' Justin says, hoping the font relays his tone of calm as well as it relayed Merle's anger.
'Look. You should all get back double time. The others were attacked in public by a group of assassins. Apparently they use disguise magic and potent poison. So stay alert. The sooner we're all back together the better. I'll meet you at the gate. Heck, if I hurry, I'll meet you on the road, alright? Just hurry back.'
Nari nodded, though the truth was she was already going as fast as she could force herself to go. At least now she would not have to go back inside the dreaded city.
"Th-th-they are alright? The ones who were attacked?" she asks, hoping to relieve at least one worry.
Justin could not help but smile at the elf-girl's reaction. She looks like she;s having a nervous breakdown, but her first concern is for the others.
'They're fine Nari. A little bruised ego according to Karrin. But that doesn't mean these assassins aren't dangerous. Hurry back. I'll meet you at the gate.'
'Ok meet you there.' Merle responds turning to face Nari as they move "Well least we wont have to go back inside."
'Ok meet you there.' Merle responds turning to face Nari as they move "Well least we wont have to go back inside."
Nari nodded. "Thank you. For being here. For helping me so much. You're a good friend, Merle."
Nari nodded. "Thank you. For being here. For helping me so much. You're a good friend, Merle."
"No need to thank me" Merle responds "After all your the nicest person I know. Um I mean besides Seph of course."
"No need to thank me" Merle responds "After all your the nicest person I know. Um I mean besides Seph of course."Nari nodded. "Thank you. For being here. For helping me so much. You're a good friend, Merle."
"Well, Seph is pretty much a saint," she said with the faintest ghost of a smile.
"Well, Seph is pretty much a saint," she said with the faintest ghost of a smile.
Feline
Seph responds causing Merle to turn and stick her tongue out at him
Justin smiles at the sight of Merle sticking her tongue out at Seph. He turns from the image in the font towards the Lady Merindiel.
"Thank you my Lady. With your permission, I shall have one of my companions accompany me to meet them. Um, are there any laws regarding your visitors use of flying mounts in the city? I'd hate to be shot at because of a misunderstanding." He asks, holding up his tiny bronze griffon statuette in explanation.
'After all, we get shot at enough on purpose!' He adds to himself wryly.
Rhiannon walks along with thee others, somewhat pensive after what she considered a poor performance in battle.
"Well Stheno you certainly were impressive in battle. Have you had much experience with these opponents?"
"Thank you my Lady. With your permission, I shall have one of my companions accompany me to meet them. Um, are there any laws regarding your visitors use of flying mounts in the city? I'd hate to be shot at because of a misunderstanding." He asks, holding up his tiny bronze griffon statuette in explanation.
Lady Meralindiel smiles
"Is that a summoning figurine? How exquisite! I shall contact my granddaughter Imdril to say you will be flying out."
She turns back to the pool and gestures. The young elven griffon rider they had met on their way to Hanalindali swims into view.
Imdril is dressed in riding leathers with crystal-lensed goggles nestled in her tousled auburn hair. her background a stone stable, with an opening that looks out on the darkened city from high up. Her grifffon preens next to her as she tends its feathers.
Lady Meralindiel addresses her warmly and then guestures at Justin.
"Imdril, please let the Order of the Wind know that there will be a griffon rider not of their number aloft tonight. Our guest, Justin has a magical mount."
Imdril looks impressed and nods.
"As you say, Lady Grandmother. Ser Justin, do you require any assistance?"
"Um. No?" Justin blinks, leaning in to the font once again.
"I'm just going to ride out to meet Merle and Nari on their way back. We don't want to take any chances with these new 'friends' running around. I was going to ask Rhiannon to join me, she's got a summonable friend too. Actually, now you mention it, I wouldn't mind an escort. Or a guide? I, uh, missed the city tour." He smiles charmingly.
:)
:)
"Um. No?" Justin blinks, leaning in to the font once again.
"I'm just going to ride out to meet Merle and Nari on their way back. We don't want to take any chances with these new 'friends' running around. I was going to ask Rhiannon to join me, she's got a summonable friend too. Actually, now you mention it, I wouldn't mind an escort. Or a guide? I, uh, missed the city tour." He smiles charmingly.
The slightly-distorted image of Imdril nods
"I'll be happy to escort you to your friends. Meet me at the entrance of the temple. I should be there in ten minutes."
Lady Meralindiel chats for a bit, then waves over the basin and the image is lost in the ripples. She straightens up, looking Justin over with her large gleaming eyes.
"Ser Justin, I'll be happy to walk with you to the entrance. Would you like to bring Lady Rhiannon as well?"
Isaac lets the silence stretch a bit until finally venturing into small talk.
"So, Stheno... What's this Order of yours all about, in addition to fighting these Cobalt Shadows?"
Ekuur stays with Isaac and the rest, listening in silence. It seems a lot is weighing on his mind; his wuiet seems 'quieter' than normal.
Karrin on the other hand makes great use of her pack of never ending rations to fill the gnawing hunger a couple of hours without food generates.
"Boy I hope we get to eat soon," a crumb covered Karrin says to the group, "I'm getting peckish. I think we missed lunch or something. What do Medusa eat by the way? I know some snakes eat mice because we used to have a few snakes back at the monastery and I was gonna squash 'em, but then father said that they eat mice, which I don't mind except for the fact that they get into everything and can spoil food, so as cute as they are, we got to get rid of them, and father said that snakes ate mice. We also had cats which also ate mice but I've never heard of a creature that had cats for hairs! That would be funny! Could you imagine?
"Anyways what sort of things to do you eat Stheno? I hope it's not mice . . . or cats, nice normal food I'd imagine."
Justin let's the others know he is fetching Nari and Merle. At the same time, Maelrin arrives with a squad to search for them. The main part of the party set off with him on foot. Justin meets Imdril out front on her griffon, and together they patrol the skies above as the searchers leave the city. Eventually, they discover Nari and Merle walking back towards the gates
Nari seems quite a lot more skittish than usual and more afraid of Justin's elven companion than usual. It wasn't unusual for her to become suddenly shy and even reluctant to interact with other elves, but now it seemed she was back to the hiding and hoping not to be noticed stage as she tried to hide herself as best she could behind Merle.
Ekuur stays with Isaac and the rest, listening in silence. It seems a lot is weighing on his mind; his wuiet seems 'quieter' than normal.Isaac lets the silence stretch a bit until finally venturing into small talk.
"So, Stheno... What's this Order of yours all about, in addition to fighting these Cobalt Shadows?"
During the walk through the city, Isaac drops back a bit in the marching order to walk next to Ekuur.
"You all right, cutter? Ye seem distracted."
Justin grabs Rhiannon and explains that he was hoping she would join him to ride out and meet Merle and Nari at the gates, or earlier. He joins the aerial escort and revels in the joy of riding Goldenwing, as well as the silent attention his summoning statuette seems to generate from the guards. When they spot Merle, Nari and Seph he lands and makes sure their alright, walking along with them, his summoned mount alongside.
Justin explains in more detail about the attack, asking Rhiannon to fill in the details since he wasn't there. It is while she is relating what happened that Justin notices Nari's attempt to be invisible again.
Ruffling Goldenwing's feathery mane with one hand, Justin drops back slightly to be closer to Nari. He glances questioningly at Seph and softly (so as not to interrupt Rhiannon) asks Nari if everything is alright.
She shook her head. "I gave Merle a piece of paper to give to you," she whispered. "The explanation is there, but it may take a little time to decipher. I'm sorry," she added dejectedly. "I don't mean to be mysterious. Sharing a body is not easy. And this place, the city I mean, it's....bad for me," she finished, looking like she wanted to say something else, but couldn't quite.
Merle stays silent for the most part brow creased in thought. Eventually she gives in and falls into step with Justin "Nari asked me to give you this" She says whilst handing Justin a letter. Going quiet she seems to be having a mental conversation (or argument) with Seph before she speaks again "Long story short Nari is having trouble I have no idea what to do and your............Smarter than me." It seems to take some effort on Merle's part to say that final bit.
Seph practically falls off Nari's shoulder upon hearing Merle admit someone being smarter than her only catching himself at the last moment.
Ekuur stays with Isaac and the rest, listening in silence. It seems a lot is weighing on his mind; his wuiet seems 'quieter' than normal.Isaac lets the silence stretch a bit until finally venturing into small talk.
"So, Stheno... What's this Order of yours all about, in addition to fighting these Cobalt Shadows?"During the walk through the city, Isaac drops back a bit in the marching order to walk next to Ekuur.
"You all right, cutter? Ye seem distracted."
"Yes, thank you. I am simply ... overwhelmed. A world that has fallen into the grip of ice and cold ... it is beyond anything I could imagine. Excepting the Plane of Ice, which I have only heard of, this is the height of blasphemy. I only pray to the Sacred Flame that what we do is enough, and that Lauralie can help them turn the tide. I am sorry if my demeanor has caused you concern."
The note appears to be complete gibberish, but is actually a message written in code.
"Yes, thank you. I am simply ... overwhelmed. A world that has fallen into the grip of ice and cold ... it is beyond anything I could imagine. Excepting the Plane of Ice, which I have only heard of, this is the height of blasphemy. I only pray to the Sacred Flame that what we do is enough, and that Lauralie can help them turn the tide. I am sorry if my demeanor has caused you concern."Ekuur stays with Isaac and the rest, listening in silence. It seems a lot is weighing on his mind; his wuiet seems 'quieter' than normal.Isaac lets the silence stretch a bit until finally venturing into small talk.
"So, Stheno... What's this Order of yours all about, in addition to fighting these Cobalt Shadows?"During the walk through the city, Isaac drops back a bit in the marching order to walk next to Ekuur.
"You all right, cutter? Ye seem distracted."
"Oi, no worries, cutter. I'm fine if you're fine. If it cheers ye up, delivering the Seed, er, Lauralie, may be the turnin' point the elves have been looking for."
Isaac starts rolling up a cigarette from his tobacco pouch."Though, granted, I reckon we'll both have been penned in the deadbook a long time when it all comes together... Maybe Nari'll find out or I can see it in another incarnation or from a Power's eye view once I Ascend. If I even remember this incarnation once I get teh that point."
He shrugs, sealing the paper before putting the cigarette in his mouth.
"Who knows, eh? Every Plane's like a million stories bein' told at once, intersecting each other like some Greybeard don't realize he's rattlin' his bonebox until ye give 'im a good shake."
"Been dying fer a smoke. Maybe it's different for the Sacred Flame, but most faiths don't take it kindly if ye start blowin' smoke rings in their temples."
"You know cigarettes are bad for you right? Plus I'm sure it's says something about physiologically, "A crumb covered Karrin says, "I mean a smoke now and then is probably okay, but you should be careful if it becomes as obsession or something."
Karrin then tips her bag of never ending rations into her mouth and eats noisily.
"When do we eat by the way?" Karrin asks when she notices everyone staring at her.
"Long story short Nari is having trouble I have no idea what to do and your............Smarter than me." It seems to take some effort on Merle's part to say that final bit.
Justin does a double take, for once caught enough by surprise that he doesn't have a smart reply. Or maybe for once he's smart enough not too.
He looks at the folded paper seriously, then glances at Nari, and tucks it deep into a pocket, Taking Nari's hint and deciding to read and decipher it when the elf girl isn't there to see him.
"I'm not as smart as I think I am." He mutters, ruffling Goldenwing's feathers once more.
"Although I'm pretty darn close!" He adds with a sideways smirk at Merle.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of her. But Laraulie isn't due to be planted until tomorrow, and with these assassins hanging around it isn't exactly the best time to be camping out. Do you think Nari's going to have trouble with spending a night in the city?" He asks, glancing with concern back at Nari, following along with her head down.
"Maybe, let's ask our escort if there's a place in the city that isn't so,... elvin? Someplace that won't make her feel threatened?"
"Don't worry, we'll take care of her. But Laraulie isn't due to be planted until tomorrow, and with these assassins hanging around it isn't exactly the best time to be camping out. Do you think Nari's going to have trouble with spending a night in the city?" He asks, glancing with concern back at Nari, following along with her head down.
"All honesty I think she may have trouble spending 1 hour in the city never mind one night"
"Maybe, let's ask our escort if there's a place in the city that isn't so,... elvin? Someplace that won't make her feel threatened?"
"That might work" Merle's voice betrays that she is less than sure of that option "Although I was hoping for a more long term solution."
And like Pat, I hate to post from my iPhone (even my iPad is a real pain in the arse to get all of the BBCode right - a simple post can turn into 15 minutes or more).
Isaac lets the silence stretch a bit until finally venturing into small talk.
"So, Stheno... What's this Order of yours all about, in addition to fighting these Cobalt Shadows?"
Stheno sits cross legged on a nearby bench and explains the nature of her Order to her new companions. "The Order of the Crimson Vigilance are sworn to protect the Vale from the advances of the Winter Queen and her minions. We are... somewhat secretive in how we do this, but suffice to say that we make sure that we are available to use portions of the Winter Queens own tactics against her. Were the general populace of the Vale to know of the extent of what we are capable of, there would be a good many of them clamouring to have us disbanded. Therefore we operate in the shadows, with only a select group of highly placed individuals knowing the full extent of our capabilities. Of course the Lady Meralindiel is one such person, as well she should be. She does not always agree with our methods, but she cannot look past the results we bring, nor our loyalty to defending the Vale."
She stands to follow the others, making sure this time that all her weapons are close at hand.
Rhiannon walks along with thee others, somewhat pensive after what she considered a poor performance in battle.
"Well Stheno you certainly were impressive in battle. Have you had much experience with these opponents?"
She nods her head at the compliment. "The Cobalt Shadows are one of the main reasons that the Order of Crimson Vigilance exists. There are quite a number of us who are trained to use their own methods against them. While not as numerous as them, even though they themselves are only a small band themselves, our training and devotion to the Vale means that we are usually more adept than them in battle."
"Boy I hope we get to eat soon," a crumb covered Karrin says to the group, "I'm getting peckish. I think we missed lunch or something. What do Medusa eat by the way? I know some snakes eat mice because we used to have a few snakes back at the monastery and I was gonna squash 'em, but then father said that they eat mice, which I don't mind except for the fact that they get into everything and can spoil food, so as cute as they are, we got to get rid of them, and father said that snakes ate mice. We also had cats which also ate mice but I've never heard of a creature that had cats for hairs! That would be funny! Could you imagine?
"Anyways what sort of things to do you eat Stheno? I hope it's not mice . . . or cats, nice normal food I'd imagine."
A strange smile creases Stheno's lips at the apparent simpleness of the Tiefling. "I am afraid that my tastes are not much different than your own, although I do prefer my meat to be a little more undercooked than some would deem tasteful and I only eat sparingly of fruits and vegetables. You yourself seem to have quite a hearty appetite..." their conversation continues as they journey, Stheno getting to know a little about her new companions, while only giving out snippets of information about herself, just enough to be accepted as a comrade in arms.
"You know cigarettes are bad for you right? Plus I'm sure it's says something about physiologically, "A crumb covered Karrin says, "I mean a smoke now and then is probably okay, but you should be careful if it becomes as obsession or something."
Karrin then tips her bag of never ending rations into her mouth and eats noisily.
"When do we eat by the way?" Karrin asks when she notices everyone staring at her.
Isaac blows a stream of smoke from his nose.
"I'd say the berks trying to pen us in the deadbook on a daily basis are the more immediate threat to my health... Yer still hungry after all that?"
Isaac blows a stream of smoke from his nose.
"I'd say the berks trying to pen us in the deadbook on a daily basis are the more immediate threat to my health... Yer still hungry after all that?"
"You obviously haven't had elven food then Isaac," Karrin says sagely, "this stuff tides me over, but it doesn't have any flavor, and I'm gonna save my appetite for the main course! I bet they're going to have a big feast at some point and I want to save room for that. Also haven't you heard of the mercenary tradition of retirement? Saving your money up and buying a nice farm somewhere? I think I'd prefer an inn, that's the sort of thing I could look after, you know after looking after twenty some odd monks I think I could handle a few guests, and I think I could bounce some of the unruly types out of the bar. Now if you smoke how the heck are you gonna . . . plan for retirement?"
Karrin might have been just about to say something else at the end.
"That might work" Merle's voice betrays that she is less than sure of that option "Although I was hoping for a more long term solution."
Justin looks, concerned.
"Me too." He mutters, and continues just loud enough for the sharp-eared feline to hear. "I'll take a look at that paper when,... in a little bit. Maybe it'll give us a clue how to do that." He glances over his shoulder at the frail looking elvin lass. His face remains impassive, it's difficult to tell if he's worried for her, or OF her,...
"You know,... I'm thinking that it's a lovely night for a camp out, don't you?" he asks aloud of no one in particular.
Justin crumples the paper and shoves it back into his pocket as they near the city. "THAT explains a lot,..." He mutters.
He glances sideways at Merle and Seph.
"SO, Merle. I'm having an idea. How's your Ethereal Abjuration?" he grins,...
He glances sideways at Merle and Seph."SO, Merle. I'm having an idea. How's your Ethereal Abjuration?" he grins,...
"My what now?"
Seph pawpalms at Merle's responce
To Karrin, Isaac says:
"I'll have ye know I was raised on Elven food- at least, when my pop was around to cook it. As it happens, elven restaurants and chefs tend to have reliable vegetarian menus. I was just wondering how ye'll have space in your stomach fer any of it once you've eaten so much hardtack."
Isaac shrugs, taking one last puff.
"Not sure what smoking has to do with retirement... if I get sick, I can just get it taken care of with a spell or two. I know plenty o' sods that have smoked their whole life without much problem. Justin smokes a pipe, reckon they'd take away his wizard card if he didn't. I can't really imagine retiring. Suppose if I got too old and tired fer this line o' work I'd find something at the Foundry... Or aim for Factor with the Godsmen."
He drops the butt of his cigarette to the cobblestones and steps on it.
"Ya but wizards don't exactly have to be in peek physical condition now do that?" Karrin says with a smile, "they just need to point and recant. We're the ones stuck with the hard job of keeping the meanies from spilling over and eating him.
"What I was thinking was that I'm probably not going to do this sort of work forever, I mean I like the money and helping folks and stuff, but at some point the reflexes slow and you're not operating on the same level as everyone else. That might not happen to you for a long time, on account of your elven blood, but I knew a couple of half-orcs and humans who had this horrible hacking cough on account of years of smoking. I was just thinking that if they can ruin their lungs in human's lifetime, what's smoking going to do to you with that elven blood to extend your life? I mean people got to have vices, I think drinking and stuff is okay, but if you bought a farm somewhere, or maybe an inn like me, you wouldn't want to end up all out of breath every time you lifted something heavy or went up a flight of stairs or had a coughing fit every morning or something like that. Course the mercs I knew used to smoke like a chimney, but it was kind of sad you know, they were past their prime but they wanted to keep going cuz it was the only life they knew, and they were too old and sick and stuff for retirement. They wanted to die with a sword in their hands or something stupid like that. That's not good merc mentality, you don't fight to die, you fight to get paid. But I want to settle down at some point, I don't want to be doing this forever, and I'd want to have some years of normal every day folk life and stuff."
"You know,... I'm thinking that it's a lovely night for a camp out, don't you?" he asks aloud of no one in particular.
"Listen, I tumble to yer good intentions cutter, but I reckon we're askin' fer trouble if we pull that. This burg ain't safe and if we have a safer alternative for ourselves and our charge- with walls, guards and such- it's wiser to do that. Let's just eat and see if we can't find some compromise between security and Nari's comfort. Maybe there's a spot in the temple away from the rest o' the elves. Or..."
"Say, Stheno- does yer Order have a safe house we'd be allowed teh use or somethin' like that? Maybe in the goblin district?"
"Incidentally, how'd yer lesson with the Word go?"
Justin gives a wry smile.
"Merle's a natural, and Ekuur's got a feel for the flow of primal energy. I'm,... catching on."
Justin pulls Isaac aside, shows him the coded letter from Nari, and translates it for him.
"What we have here, is an Epic delayed blast fireball. And the hourglass is running." He whispers to Isaac, shoving the now well-crumpled letter back into his pocket.
"From My understanding, most mind-mages separate a portion of their personality and place it in a crystal. They do this to either concentrate and focus a part of their personality that they like, or to separate themselves from a portion that they don't. But Nari,... I can't speak for her soul, talk to Ekuur about that, but as far as her mind goes she IS actually two, completely, separate people. Two people stuck in one body. Completely separate personalities, likes, dislikes, you name it. Nari's crystal wasn't a portion of her personality, her angry side, like we thought. It was her other self. She trapped it in there to protect her, and everyone else, from this other person. This 'Anti-Nari'. From what Merle and Seph told me on the way back, it sounds like Nari's holding control, but only by the tips of her ears. Asking her to return to the city is like deliberately shaking the Jinn bottle, then releasing the Efriit inside and hoping it doesn't wish you into oblivion."
Justin looks Isaac in the eyes. There is no hint of the usual Justin, the one with a quick fire spell and a quicker smart aleck comment. This one is serious.
"You've seen what she can do. And that was when she WAS is control. More or less. Take a vote if you want, but I'd rather take my chances with assassins than with Anti-Nari. I LIKE my brain. I've spent my entire life trying to fill it up. I'd rather not have a psychotic mind-mage making scrambled eggs out of it. I'm sure that our hostess would enjoy the distraction we'd make playing target, keeping the attention away from Lauralie. It's only one night. And besides,..."
Justin's lips barely twitch, but the twinkle is back is his eyes.
"I've got a plan to put the genie back in the bottle."
"Been dying fer a smoke. Maybe it's different for the Sacred Flame, but most faiths don't take it kindly if ye start blowin' smoke rings in their temples."
"Yes, we have plenty of smoke, although it is more often from coal than tobacco. I've only tried it a few times, but I find the ... 'cigars', are they? ... are far more flavorful than the cigarettes."
As Isaac begins chatting with Karrin and Justin, he falls back a bit, again lost in thought. Even they're strange new companion, a creature he has never seen before (medusa?) only causes him to stare for a moment.
Justin gives a wry smile.
"Merle's a natural, and Ekuur's got a feel for the flow of primal energy. I'm,... catching on."
Justin pulls Isaac aside, shows him the coded letter from Nari, and translates it for him.
"What we have here, is an Epic delayed blast fireball. And the hourglass is running." He whispers to Isaac, shoving the now well-crumpled letter back into his pocket.
"From My understanding, most mind-mages separate a portion of their personality and place it in a crystal. They do this to either concentrate and focus a part of their personality that they like, or to separate themselves from a portion that they don't. But Nari,... I can't speak for her soul, talk to Ekuur about that, but as far as her mind goes she IS actually two, completely, separate people. Two people stuck in one body. Completely separate personalities, likes, dislikes, you name it. Nari's crystal wasn't a portion of her personality, her angry side, like we thought. It was her other self. She trapped it in there to protect her, and everyone else, from this other person. This 'Anti-Nari'. From what Merle and Seph told me on the way back, it sounds like Nari's holding control, but only by the tips of her ears. Asking her to return to the city is like deliberately shaking the Jinn bottle, then releasing the Efriit inside and hoping it doesn't wish you into oblivion."
Justin looks Isaac in the eyes. There is no hint of the usual Justin, the one with a quick fire spell and a quicker smart aleck comment. This one is serious.
"You've seen what she can do. And that was when she WAS is control. More or less. Take a vote if you want, but I'd rather take my chances with assassins than with Anti-Nari. I LIKE my brain. I've spent my entire life trying to fill it up. I'd rather not have a psychotic mind-mage making scrambled eggs out of it. I'm sure that our hostess would enjoy the distraction we'd make playing target, keeping the attention away...
Isaac pulls a scroll from his pack and thrusts it to Justin.... then immediately starts rolling another cigarette.
"First thing that's going to happen is this: you're going to take this scroll that I have so lovingly purchased with my own money. You are going to use it to shrink the Chrysagmir because I'm apparently the only berk here that's worried it could get stolen before we finish the business we came here to finish. I'm going to hide it somewhere until we get out of here- likely someplace that can't be found without a very thorough search of my person, preferably while I'm being told what a naughty boy I've been."He exhales a cloud of smoke, producing the circlet from where he had stowed it.
"But enough about me. Then we'll spurn the luxurious accommodations the high priestess was bound to have for us in order to help Nari with her identity crisis- which I will point out this once and only once- and only to you- that would have never happened if I had been listened to when I said "Hey, it's just one berk and we're not even being payed. Why risk it? What if it turns out that it's too sodding dangerous teh go into his brainbox and rattle around?" But I'll pike it. Bleakers love a lost cause, so we'll stay in the goblin district."
"Lann me the chant, in berk-speak so I can push it through my addled cove. What's yer plan to fix this mess?"