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Still maintaining the same demeanor, she calmly replies "I do not have any area of expertise nor do I know much about the elemental lords. As a librarian I just guide people to where they want to find certain books. Text about restoring balance? Have you heard of the Cloisters of the Hidden Breeze? Many prefer to study at the Azure Hall, but with most of it closed to the public until the grand re-opening you might want to look into other options. The Cloisters are dedicated to Pulura and while it isn’t the most prestigious of the temples in the Godsward, it boasts an impressive collection of historical documents about the planes. I'm not sure if that is what you're looking for, but I'm sure it may help.”
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"Well... after we finish at this party, maybe we'll head down there. " she pauses then lowers her voice asking. "You couldn't get us into the Azure Hall as well could you? So many books to read...Perhaps I might learn more about Pulura there. I've heard of Desna, obviously, but not the mistress of the Aurora. Think I might know someone who would like to know more about her though."
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Nemis is too, but ater leaving hear, and before arriving at the next one, he whispers tof his fellow Pathfinders, "If I focus my mind I can read the thoughts of others. Once is fine, but to do so more than once requires I dip into my mental reserves. IF we come across a tough nut to crack, I'll use it for help."
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"Hello there!" smiles Belinda as she approaches the archivist.
"I'm Belinda. I can't help noticing that you don't seem to be having a great time at the gala. Sometimes these big gatherings of people get to me too. I like a bit of space. But I also love meeting new people."
She pauses, opens her eyes and says "Oh my goodness. You're Ghassan El-Amin! You know you are semi-famous for keeping grubby humans fingers off precious artifacts. You would not believe some of the things I've seen humans get up to."
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Felicitas moves forward and smiles at the archivist and the raven.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. Am I correct that this is your companion and familiar. What a fine choice! My name is Felicitas and I am a collecter of stories and wonders and unraveler of mysteries long forgotten to the shame of the world. My comrades and I feel so honored to be allowed to attend such a gala.
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After some light hearted talk, his guard lowers, and he maintains a friendly demeanour to the group. "Yes, you've read me well it seems. I appreciate the compliments. I am only here because of professional obligation. The only thing keeping me sane here is my raven. It is very nice to meet you all. Now, why is it that ones like yourselves feel honour to attend the Gala? I cannot imagine any reason to be here."
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Gladly continuing the conversation, he replies to Belinda's question. "The main galleries are closed from public for renovations, just regular maintenance and likely and extension of the gallery. I'm afraid i'm a simple archivist, I have not the power to be able to sneak you through such a gallery. You will need someone with a considerable amount of influence to get you paperwork to continue through past the lobby."
"What magical stone do you seek? I've come across many magical stones during my study, much too many."
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Belinda wracks her head for a moment. " It was an opal I think. The unobtainable Opal maybe? It had a very impressive sounding name. I'd love to hear about some of the other magical gems that you have run across in your studies. Who are some of the people who may have the influence to get us the paper work we might need to get past the lobby? "
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Ghassan looks around momentarily before lowering his voice in reply. "You must mean the Untouchable, that information is closely guarded. But I will tell you what I do know. The Untouchable Opal is the prison of Ranginori, the Duke of Thunder and the benevolent counterpart of Hshurha, the Duchess of All Winds. Millennia ago, the evil lord of water, Kelizandri, conspired with the other nefarious lords to trap their good counterparts into four gems. The artifacts were scattered across the multiverse and no one knows where they are now. There are, however, many academic arguments about how to unlock them should they be found. But such discussions are treasonous to Hshurha, so any documentation about the subject would surely be carefully guarded and discreetly marked. Look for documents marked with a storm cloud inside an intricate wreath of lightning bolts, that is one of Ranginori’s sacred sigils.”
"Regarding other similar gems, Lysianassa, the lord of water, is trapped in the Garnet Brand. Atreia the lord of fire, is trapped in the Gasping Pearl. Finally, Sairazul, the lord of earth, is trapped in the Moaning Diamond." He also goes on to tell you about the legend of an intelligent book that possible details how to free the Lords from the gem, but he clearly knows not of the whereabouts, as he himself doesn't believe it to exist. He then points out a few individuals in the room whom he thinks may be able to get you into the hall. He points out to Mithradatha, Wan Feng, and Zhalla bint Rathmozen.
Up next, is Lineji, a middle-aged gnome with frizzy, orange hair and bulging, mismatched eyes. She doesn't look too friendly as you approach her way. But most of the time she stares with a lost look out the window at a tree.
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Belinda smiles at the little gnome, glad to be in the company of another woman as well as someone she didn't have to get a crook in her neck looking up to.
"Hello there!" she greets the curator.
"I'm Belinda. My, that is a magnificent looking tree out the window. I guess you don't get many of them here on the plane of air.."
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She looked apprehensive at first, however your words started to make her open up. "Well then, hello there. It is not that weird to be far from home when one as knowledgeable as myself require to be. There's lots to be known about museums. Trade secrets I tell you, but you must prove yourselves worthy if you must know them."
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Fung has largely been following along at the back, awed to silence by the magnificence of the gala and intimidated by the unearthly creatures the party has been encountering. Finally though, he finds himself with his group speaking with a gnome who, despite her strange hair (and which gnome doesn't have that), is at least of a race Fung has come across often in Absalom. Relieved, he starts to gush. "Yes, when I first came to Absalom from goka with my master as a child, I thought that was the most magnificient city. But here, like Belinda said, this city is even grander! Oh, I know I sound like an ignorant tourist. Do you work at the newly renovated Azure Hall?"
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"Oh no, like most of you, I'm a traveller, here to the Gala at my museum's expense to do a bit of promoting. I actually operate from Orisian. Well it seems you are much more experienced than I had assume. Travelling to the plane of Law would constitute worthiness enough." She calls you to lean closer, as she starts divulging "trade secrets", mostly compromising of how to get into museums for cheaper. Like pretending you're a student, celebrity, or are under the age of 12 human years (equivalent age race applies).
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"Ohh..." says a very impressed Belinda.
"Do you know how to get into the Azure Hall ? I'd heard it was closed, but has some fantastic arefacts. "
The little halfling then goes to to talk a bit about Orisian, and what she knows of it. "Of course they had the jeweled sages to help guide them. I hear there are some powerful elemental gems. A Gasping Pearl and an unobtainable Opal. But maybe they are just stories to lure young treasure seekers into early graves.."
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"You operate from Osirion? How fortunate! Perhaps this chance meeting is meant to be a fateful one. I'd love to see if we can come to an arrangement as far as trading secrets is concerned. You see, I among others represent the interests of loreseekers known as the Scarab Sages. I assume you have heard of us?" Khalib whispers back.
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"Oh no, you must be as disappointed as I am when I found out that the gallery was closed for public viewing. Although I have heard about another place, Cloisters of the Hidden Breeze. Have you heard of it? I have just visited it yesterday. A magnificent collection of books. I highly.. highly.. highly recommend it to aspiring scholars like yourselves. The selection on documents on the plane is simply remarkable. Although I have not heard of a Gasping Pearl or an Unobtainable Opal, surely things regarding the elementals could be found there!"
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Felicitas is unable to find any key characters in the gala that is business focused, they are mostly that for scholastic or diplomatic reasons.
After an eventful Gala, you head back to your flying carpet's which you've parked nearby. The walk takes you to a well lit alley where there are a lot of pedestrians. Among the pedestrians, many from the elemental planes, oreads, slyphs, djinnis, mephits, and other random creatures.
Two lizards suddenly block your path, and start talking to you. They don't look at anyone in particular."Devi essere il percorso, devi lasciare immediatamente da Armun Kelisk. Le tue attività non sono qui accolte."
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The lizard is known as a elementally infused shocker lizard, one that is native to the planes of air and fire. Special attacks include being able to deal an electric shock or let forth a burst of superheated steam. Immune to electricity and fire, and are weak of the mind.
Both the lizards look at each other, a little bit confused. And in turn try to reply to Nemis. "Non ti vogliamo. Qualunque cosa tu stia facendo, il capo non le piace. Vattene ora."
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Since they're not immediately hostile, Nemis concentrates and tries to read their minds, seeking other minds in the area that might be hiding.