"Hey!" he said popping back into existence right behind Nasima who had been enjoying a novel curled up in bed back at the mansion.
"Good book? Anyways, you can stop playing sick now if you want. We found this really cool spot that's pretty isolated. Hot springs and everything. No creatures there but monkeys, so no fighting. How about it? Care to join us?" he said with an irrepressible grin.
Fei starts evaluating the nearest springs to see if any are cool enough for the other students to safely use, and to make note of ones that might be of medicinal value.It seems that most of the springs are cool enough to use, but only a couple of them are useful for easing sore muscles.
Fei will pass the word along about the springs' viability so that the others can make use of the ones they need to. He will also check for any more serious tears or dislocations amongst the students so that either he or Ephebe can take care of them before they get worse.
"Astir erudak!*" Vakkler's scaly claw flies to the crossbow at his belt. If he was angry before, something about Aleister's comment has made it a lot worse.
Aleister makes no moves threatening or otherwise.
::It would seem you upset the scaly one.::
"Astir erudak!*" Vakkler's scaly claw flies to the crossbow at his belt. If he was angry before, something about Aleister's comment has made it a lot worse.
** spoiler omitted **
"That is quite enough, Vakkler Relkav." The Headmaster says as he walks through a door that wasn't there before. "I put up with what was possible a mid-life crisis, but I'm drawing the line at bloodshed."
"That's just messed up. Well, I guess I'm glad you got better. No wonder your emotions run away with you sometimes now. I guess you'll develop more control of them as you get more used to them. I just hate to think you'd be more hot-tempered than me forever." ;P
"I don't think I'll ever be in control of them completely, but I think I'll get to the point where I am no longer creating creatures. Which I admit wouldn't be so bad if I had more control over them."
I'm pretty sure this goes something along the lines of if the bubble's rocking... ;P[/ooc]
"That's just messed up. Well, I guess I'm glad you got better. No wonder your emotions run away with you sometimes now. I guess you'll develop more control of them as you get more used to them. I just hate to think you'd be more hot-tempered than me forever." ;P"I don't think I'll ever be in control of them completely, but I think I'll get to the point where I am no longer creating creatures. Which I admit wouldn't be so bad if I had more control over them."
"It does have the potential to be a pretty cool ability if you can stop them from rampaging through the school trying to kill people indiscriminately," she agreed. "And nobody is ever completely in control of their emotions. Some people are just better at acting like they are."
"Great," she thought to herself, "Jiminy disappeared, Asch and Amada are literally in a bubble and I'm alone here in a secluded romantic spot with the guy my best friend has a crush on while the guy I like is back at school. Wonderful. Just perfect."
Since there wasn't much chance of anyone else showing up, Ephebe transformed into her dragon form and sank into the largest hot spring to giver her scales a good soaking.
She closed her eyes for a moment, just enjoying the water, and then opened them again.
::You know, it occurs to me, Fei, that I've never even asked you where you're from. I'm guessing not Agartha or at least a very remote part of it since you don't seem very freaked out by dragons.::
"WOW!!! Your big...I mean I knew you'd be bigger than me but I didn't know you'd be that much bigger." Quicksilver says as he climbs up on a rock to sunbath.
"Astir erudak!*" Vakkler's scaly claw flies to the crossbow at his belt. If he was angry before, something about Aleister's comment has made it a lot worse.
Aleister makes no moves threatening or otherwise.
::It would seem you upset the scaly one.::
"That is quite enough, Vakkler Relkav." The Headmaster says as he walks through a door that wasn't there before. "I put up with what was possible a mid-life crisis, but I'm drawing the line at bloodshed."
Vakkler glances at Headmaster Ryo. His hand leaves his belt. "I wasn't going to hurt him."
The kobold gets up from his chair. "I fought the drow, as I'm sure you're aware. They have a great fondness for the arts that that meathead thinks I'd excel at."He turns back to Aleister. "I don't torture, but I understand your error. Not many surfacers fought in the war, and you were probably too busy fooling around in the Abyss to do any good here."
He looks to Ryo again. "I don't have midlife crises, but I apologize for my poor mood." He takes a sip from the flask. "There are multiple reasons for it. The recent draconian incident, of course. I've also been having a dispute with a friend from the war. Nothing of your business."
He glares at the healer. "And one word: Bandages."
She closed her eyes for a moment, just enjoying the water, and then opened them again.
::You know, it occurs to me, Fei, that I've never even asked you where you're from. I'm guessing not Agartha or at least a very remote part of it since you don't seem very freaked out by dragons.::
Fei (who was sitting on a rock with his back to the springs doing something with a flowering plant at his eye level) jerks his head up and looks back toward the springs with a surprised expression. He tilts his head to the side again as he sees what he presumes is Ephebe utilizing her shape-changing magic again for some reason.
"I...come from a world called Toril. From a monastery near a city of learning called Silverymoon. It is in a frontier region, where dragons are a...relatively speaking...regular occurrence."
He stands up. She notices that he is holding a pad in one hand, and a pencil in the other - he was apparently drawing the plant he was looking at.
"If you are...concerned about your modesty, I assure you I had no intention of observing you as you bathed. You do not need to change your form - I will leave and let you have your privacy. I am sorry if I disturbed you," he says with a bow as he starts to back away.
"WOW!!! Your big...I mean I knew you'd be bigger than me but I didn't know you'd be that much bigger." Quicksilver says as he climbs up on a rock to sunbath.
She chuckled.
::Well, even a juvenile dragon is somewhat large.::
She closed her eyes for a moment, just enjoying the water, and then opened them again.
::You know, it occurs to me, Fei, that I've never even asked you where you're from. I'm guessing not Agartha or at least a very remote part of it since you don't seem very freaked out by dragons.::
Fei (who was sitting on a rock with his back to the springs doing something with a flowering plant at his eye level) jerks his head up and looks back toward the springs with a surprised expression. He tilts his head to the side again as he sees what he presumes is Ephebe utilizing her shape-changing magic again for some reason.
"I...come from a world called Toril. From a monastery near a city of learning called Silverymoon. It is in a frontier region, where dragons are a...relatively speaking...regular occurrence."
He stands up. She notices that he is holding a pad in one hand, and a pencil in the other - he was apparently drawing the plant he was looking at.
"If you are...concerned about your modesty, I assure you I had no intention of observing you as you bathed. You do not need to change your form - I will leave and let you have your privacy. I am sorry if I disturbed you," he says with a bow as he starts to back away.
::Wha-? No, you don't have to leave! I changed because I so rarely get a chance to stretch out as it were. Please, sit back down. Clearly I've got some explaining to do. I would be obliged if you would allow me to explain. There are some major differences between this Toril you come from and Agartha. And I think you need to know or you could get us into a lot of trouble.::
1d20+18
::Wha-? No, you don't have to leave! I changed because I so rarely get a chance to stretch out as it were. Please, sit back down. Clearly I've got some explaining to do. I would be obliged if you would allow me to explain. There are some major differences between this Toril you come from and Agartha. And I think you need to know or you could get us into a lot of trouble.::
He stops, then sits back down quietly.
::Thank you. Now, where to start? Well, for starters, dragons are not common in Agartha. It's..aargh. Okay, I need to start farther back than that. A long time ago when the dragon empire was just beginning there was a disagreement among the dragons on how to treat the other sentient races. Also about who should be in charge of what. The gem dragons disagreed with the policies of the metallics and chromatics. They were slaughtered for their audacity. The chromatics all but annihilated the gem dragons home world. So they fled. They found an isolated planet at the edge of the empire and worked to create a refuge, a secret world on the inside of the planet, a refuge from the empire. They took their allies with them, but the metallics hired assassins who hid among those allies. That was several centuries ago. The assassins, Hunters, they spread lies about the dragons and over the centuries those lies took hold. Especially as the dragons became more and more isolated from others as they tried desperately to protect their younglings from the attacks of the Hunters. Now there are only five dragons left and we live in secret. My grandmother, my mother, my brothers and myself. We're different than we used to be, human as much as dragon now. That's what it took to blend in, to survive. And while we're slowly letting people find out about us, if too many found out too soon it would be disastrous, especially with the Hunters so close on our trail right now. So I would appreciate it if you kept the information about what I am to yourself if you wouldn't mind. Some people know, but try to be discreet. Please.::
She tilted her head inquisitively.
::You have secrets of your own it would seem. There is something...quarantined?...inside your mind.... I apologize. I am being rude. I assure you, I was not trying to invade beyond the most basic surface thoughts necessary for communication. Your mind is...very well organized. So much so that it is difficult to communicate with you. I stumbled upon that accidentally. I will leave it be if you wish.::
He looks to Ryo again. "I don't have midlife crises, but I apologize for my poor mood." He takes a sip from the flask. "There are multiple reasons for it. The recent draconian incident, of course. I've also been having a dispute with a friend from the war. Nothing of your business."
He glares at the healer. "And one word: Bandages."
"Do stop bothering the healers, Professor Relkav. You may need them one day in the future and they are less likely to be gentle if they're holding a grudge."
::And stop talking about draconians in front of people who still hold to the legends.:: Ryo says in Vakkler's mind. ::You know full well you can get people hurt talking openly like that.::
Ryo nods to Aleister, opens his door and walkes through. When the door closes it vanishes.
"It does have the potential to be a pretty cool ability if you can stop them from rampaging through the school trying to kill people indiscriminately," she agreed. "And nobody is ever completely in control of their emotions. Some people are just better at acting like they are.""That's just messed up. Well, I guess I'm glad you got better. No wonder your emotions run away with you sometimes now. I guess you'll develop more control of them as you get more used to them. I just hate to think you'd be more hot-tempered than me forever." ;P"I don't think I'll ever be in control of them completely, but I think I'll get to the point where I am no longer creating creatures. Which I admit wouldn't be so bad if I had more control over them."
"Hey, enough serious conversation! Got any suggestions for how to teach an ooze rock and roll?" ^.^
Aleister nods back as Ryo goes through the door.
"Hey, enough serious conversation! Got any suggestions for how to teach an ooze rock and roll?" ^.^
"Freeze in the shape of a ball and put it in a rocking chair?"
"Hey, enough serious conversation! Got any suggestions for how to teach an ooze rock and roll?" ^.^"Freeze in the shape of a ball and put it in a rocking chair?"
She laughed. "Somehow I thought that you weren't going to be super helpful there. I think I'm gonna have to take over giving lessons for a bit. Spin is just too scattered. He's a great drummer, but having him teach EJ...I'm not sure he even remembered to show up."
"You said no more serious conversation!" Taron says with feigned shock on his face. He smiles after a moment. "You'll probably be a good teacher."
::Thank you. Now, where to start? Well, for starters, dragons are not common in Agartha. It's..aargh. Okay, I need to start farther back than that. A long time ago when the dragon empire was just beginning there was a disagreement among the dragons on how to treat the other sentient races. Also about who should be in charge of what. The gem dragons disagreed with the policies of the metallics and chromatics. They were slaughtered for their audacity. The chromatics all but annihilated the gem dragons home world. So they fled. They found an isolated planet at the edge of the empire and worked to create a refuge, a secret world on the inside of the planet, a refuge from the empire. They took their allies with them, but the metallics hired assassins who hid among those allies. That was several centuries ago. The assassins, Hunters, they spread lies about the dragons and over the centuries those lies took hold. Especially as the dragons became more and more isolated from others as they tried desperately to protect their younglings from the attacks of the Hunters. Now there are only five dragons left and we live in secret. My grandmother, my mother, my brothers and myself. We're different than we used to be, human as much as dragon now. That's what it took to blend in, to survive. And while we're slowly letting people find out about us, if too many found out too soon it would be disastrous, especially with the Hunters so close on our trail right now. So I would appreciate it if you kept the information about what I am to yourself if you wouldn't mind. Some people know, but try to be discreet. Please.::
She tilted her head inquisitively.
::You have secrets of your own it would seem. There is something...quarantined?...inside your mind.... I apologize. I am being rude. I assure you, I was not trying to invade beyond the most basic surface thoughts necessary for communication. Your mind is...very well organized. So much so that it is difficult to...
Fei listens to Ephebe's story. Apparently, the mental exercise of him concentrating on her particular thoughts makes it easier for her to communicate with him, as she feels the difficulty lessen.
"It...could be construed that you ask to have your secrets kept so by discovering the secrets of others to level the playing field," he finally says with a sigh at her mention of her discovery. "It is an effective, if somewhat heavy-handed, method to do so. You would seem to have just cause, though..."
"You said no more serious conversation!" Taron says with feigned shock on his face. He smiles after a moment. "You'll probably be a good teacher."
"Thanks. Just don't ever tell my mother that. It would give her hope," she said with a smirk.
"Now if I can just get Pan and Spike speaking to each other again. I'm not even sure what they're arguing about. Something stupid about a girl probably. It's always something stupid about a girl. I mean, seriously, how exactly do a nature spirit and a centaur always end up arguing over the same girls? Especially the centaur...."
Fei listens to Ephebe's story. Apparently, the mental exercise of him concentrating on her particular thoughts makes it easier for her to communicate with him, as she feels the difficulty lessen."It...could be construed that you ask to have your secrets kept so by discovering the secrets of others to level the playing field," he finally says with a sigh at her mention of her discovery. "It is an effective, if somewhat heavy-handed, method to do so. You would seem to have just cause, though..."
::No, no, that's not what I meant! I don't even know what your secret is! Just that there is one. Look, I really didn't mean to trespass in your mind. It was an accident. I was just asking for your discretion. No implied threat at all. Please believe me.::
"I could make so many jokes right now it's barely funny.." Taron says with a shake of his head. "I'm pretty sure my Aunt might still be listening though."
"I could make so many jokes right now it's barely funny.." Taron says with a shake of his head. "I'm pretty sure my Aunt might still be listening though."
She laughed. "Don't want her to hear the off-color jokes? Don't worry I've already heard them all. Pan and Spike's perennial rivalry is a favorite subject for your brother's comic musings...and an occasional source of amusement in the girls' locker room as well," she added, eyes twinkling with amusement.
::No, no, that's not what I meant! I don't even know what your secret is! Just that there is one. Look, I really didn't mean to trespass in your mind. It was an accident. I was just asking for your discretion. No implied threat at all. Please believe me.::
Fei looks introspective for a moment, then continues.
"I...suffered some form of severe injury several years ago. It caused me to lose much of my prior memory, and also seemed to affect a latent ability I have to store and redirect the physical energy of strikes and blows. My master called the ability 'kinetic absorption.' "
"Unfortunately, due to my injury, I am no longer able to control it as I was once able to. The energy builds inside of me and if I do not redirect it to another physical object fast enough, the next physical object (or person) I come in contact with becomes the target of it. I....found this out when I...killed one of the masters in my order while sparring."
"I felt pain inside my body, as if a thousand fists were all trying to pummel their way out of me. I fell to the ground, and when he came over to help me up...."
He stops talking. His normally placid face looks...haunted, for lack of a better term. He blinks, then regains his composure.
She stepped out of the hot spring, shifted back to human form, and put a hand on his arm.
"Hey, it's okay. Well, I know it's not okay. You're not the only one at Avalon with that kind of history. Ask 'Sima sometime. That's why she's so adamant about non-violence."
"I've...got a different kind of history. But I know all about guilt and self-doubt that keeps you up at night. If you'd been stronger then maybe...it's a constant refrain, isn't it? At least in your case it was genuinely an accident, because of an injury even. You aren't to blame for that."
"If you're worried about keeping it under control, you should probably talk to my mom. She's a monk too, and like all gem dragons, uses the powers of the mind. Plus, you could probably safely spar with her. She uses earth bending. That's how she runs the advanced PE class. We're constantly dodging flying boulders and such. It might be a good way to practice with your ability until you can get it under control again, without having to worry about hurting anyone."
She laughed. "Don't want her to hear the off-color jokes? Don't worry I've already heard them all. Pan and Spike's perennial rivalry is a favorite subject for your brother's comic musings...and an occasional source of amusement in the girls' locker room as well," she added, eyes twinkling with amusement.
"I wasn't worried about how you would react. It's the fact that the jokes could get back to my mother, the person who throws boulders at people for fun.Jokes like that are almost expected of Jiminy, but I'm the good one, you know?"
"It is fun though. I'm just using it as an example since there are few people who think the same way." Taron mutters under his breath. Almost like he's talking to the plants around him...
"It is fun though. I'm just using it as an example since there are few people who think the same way." Taron mutters under his breath. Almost like he's talking to the plants around him...
"Uh, Taron, you having another conversation here? Possibly with those plants?"
"Uh, Taron, you having another conversation here? Possibly with those plants?"
"It is fun though. I'm just using it as an example since there are few people who think the same way." Taron mutters under his breath. Almost like he's talking to the plants around him...
"Sorry, just making sure Addy doesn't get the wrong idea if she is listening. The break out is pretty much expected at this point, so she can hear about that all she wants. It's not like anyone could stop me. Except Kam. Maybe."
She stepped out of the hot spring, shifted back to human form, and put a hand on his arm.
"Hey, it's okay. Well, I know it's not okay. You're not the only one at Avalon with that kind of history. Ask 'Sima sometime. That's why she's so adamant about non-violence."
"I've...got a different kind of history. But I know all about guilt and self-doubt that keeps you up at night. If you'd been stronger then maybe...it's a constant refrain, isn't it? At least in your case it was genuinely an accident, because of an injury even. You aren't to blame for that."
"If you're worried about keeping it under control, you should probably talk to my mom. She's a monk too, and like all gem dragons, uses the powers of the mind. Plus, you could probably safely spar with her. She uses earth bending. That's how she runs the advanced PE class. We're constantly dodging flying boulders and such. It might be a good way to practice with your ability until you can get it under control again, without having to worry about hurting anyone."
"Some say it takes strength to lift a weapon and engage a foe. My master said that it takes a far greater strength to put that weapon down again. Nasima has that strength, and it is a most admirable trait in her," Fei says with a nod.
"I was sent here to both investigate the possibility of healing the wound in my mind, and for the...safety of the other members of my order. It was decided I was too great a danger to my brothers and sisters. Physical altercations raise the risk of the magic placed on my mind failing, which is why I did not feel I could have helped you at the snipe hunt - I may have become a danger to you. I am...sorry if it seemed that I did not want to help."
"If you think it is wise, I will speak with your mother after we return."
"Sorry, just making sure Addy doesn't get the wrong idea if she is listening. The break out is pretty much expected at this point, so she can hear about that all she wants. It's not like anyone could stop me. Except Kam. Maybe.""Uh, Taron, you having another conversation here? Possibly with those plants?"
"It is fun though. I'm just using it as an example since there are few people who think the same way." Taron mutters under his breath. Almost like he's talking to the plants around him...
"Ah. Right. Just so you know, nosy or not, you have a pretty awesome family. I'm honestly really jealous. And no, I didn't say that for your Aunt's benefit."
"Somehow I don't see Kam trying to stop you on the whole breakout idea. He's not really the goody-two-shoes type. That's Phebe. Or it was."
"Some say it takes strength to lift a weapon and engage a foe. My master said that it takes a far greater strength to put that weapon down again. Nasima has that strength, and it is a most admirable trait in her," Fei says with a nod.
"I was sent here to both investigate the possibility of healing the wound in my mind, and for the...safety of the other members of my order. It was decided I was too great a danger to my brothers and sisters. Physical altercations raise the risk of the magic placed on my mind failing, which is why I did not feel I could have helped you at the snipe hunt - I may have become a danger to you. I am...sorry if it seemed that I did not want to help."
"If you think it is wise, I will speak with your mother after we return."
"I think it's wise, and probably necessary. I'd offer to help you myself, but...I'm not really stable at the moment. I'd probably make things worse. No hard feelings at all about the snipe hunt. There weren't before and less so now."
"I'm glad that you admire "Sima. She has a very high opinion of you too," she added trying to suppress a smile.
"I think it's wise, and probably necessary. I'd offer to help you myself, but...I'm not really stable at the moment. I'd probably make things worse. No hard feelings at all about the snipe hunt. There weren't before and less so now."
"I'm glad that you admire "Sima. She has a very high opinion of you too," she added trying to suppress a smile.
He looks a bit puzzled at Ephebe's last comment, but nods just the same. (^.^)
"What else do you wish to know of me before you return to your rest?"
"I think it's wise, and probably necessary. I'd offer to help you myself, but...I'm not really stable at the moment. I'd probably make things worse. No hard feelings at all about the snipe hunt. There weren't before and less so now."
"I'm glad that you admire "Sima. She has a very high opinion of you too," she added trying to suppress a smile.
He looks a bit puzzled at Ephebe's last comment, but nods just the same. (^.^)
"What else do you wish to know of me before you return to your rest?"
"Oh, gosh, no wonder people were frustrated with me if that's how I sounded," she said with a giggle.
"Relax, you don't need to be so formal all the time. It's okay to just enjoy yourself, you know."
"Hey, can I see what you were drawing? And no is an acceptable answer if you don't feel like showing me."
"Oh, gosh, no wonder people were frustrated with me if that's how I sounded," she said with a giggle.
"Relax, you don't need to be so formal all the time. It's okay to just enjoy yourself, you know."
"Hey, can I see what you were drawing? And no is an acceptable answer if you don't feel like showing me."
He looks like he is about to respond, but looks down to his pad and turns it around so she can see it.
"I am afraid it is not complete..."
It is indeed a drawing of the flowering vine that Fei was sitting in front of before they started talking. While it is not complete, what he has done so far is...exceptional. It has all of the detail and precision of a naturalist's drawing , but has a softness to it that makes it look like it is ready to burst from the page (despite not having any color to it).
"Ah. Right. Just so you know, nosy or not, you have a pretty awesome family. I'm honestly really jealous. And no, I didn't say that for your Aunt's benefit."
"Somehow I don't see Kam trying to stop you on the whole breakout idea. He's not really the goody-two-shoes type. That's Phebe. Or it was."
"For her benefit or not, you can probably walk through the garden and fear not the thorns of the flowers. Until you set a fire or something. Accidently of course."
"I wasn't saying he would, just that he was the only who could. Big difference."
He looks like he is about to respond, but looks down to his pad and turns it around so she can see it."I am afraid it is not complete..."
It is indeed a drawing of the flowering vine that Fei was sitting in front of before they started talking. While it is not complete, what he has done so far is...exceptional. It has all of the detail and precision of a naturalist's drawing , but has a softness to it that makes it look like it is ready to burst from the page (despite not having any color to it).
"Wow. Fei...that's amazing. You have a real gift for drawing. It looks so real," she said, reaching out to touch it and then stopping herself in time.
"Almost like it could come right off the page," she said, smiling.
"Ah. Right. Just so you know, nosy or not, you have a pretty awesome family. I'm honestly really jealous. And no, I didn't say that for your Aunt's benefit."
"Somehow I don't see Kam trying to stop you on the whole breakout idea. He's not really the goody-two-shoes type. That's Phebe. Or it was."
"For her benefit or not, you can probably walk through the garden and fear not the thorns of the flowers. Until you set a fire or something. Accidently of course."
"I wasn't saying he would, just that he was the only who could. Big difference."
"Ah. Silly me. I should have seen that before."
"And I can't help it about the fires. I am a fire creature after all. I try to be careful. Especially in the gardens."
Slips out of the detention room, well after his time is up, and goes in search of a familiar face, other than his roomate's...
"And I can't help it about the fires. I am a fire creature after all. I try to be careful. Especially in the gardens."
"She's working on a volcanic region vegetation section which will be a great place for you. She's just trying to figure out how to keep the plants from making volcanoes..."