Abnaki, you know your companion Phon Vos has nearly supernatural vision; you murmur a request to the warpriest, and she quickly points out three troublemakers - two ifrits and one very large oread.
Abnaki, you cast your web of fascination into the air-
-and you begins talking, voice loud and resonant, the three cac-stirrers become quiet, and the crowds calm as well.
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"Brothers and sisters of flame, do you fear the great tree, and it's presence in our city? Brothers and sisters of stone, do you fear the axes of my other family? My siblings, do you not see that we are all afraid? The moon hangs low in the sky, bringing madness, the darkness encroaches on us, the Golem protectors of Hearth have gone missing, and you are at each others throats? Fie on you, I had thought the peoples of Hearth more civilized than that!"
Abnaki pauses for breath, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "But do not think that your fears are unjustified! It is true I have come here, to seek the aid and wisdom of this tree, as many of my oread family have done. But I also come to understand the intentions of our visitors, and to entreat them for aid against the Dark! I hope I have convinced those present that I am not truly of one family, or another. I seek out answers, and will get to the bottom of the mystery of the new spirit in our lands. Will you not help me in my mission? If your noble, hot, blood prevents you from waiting idly by in your homes, than I ask of you to help in this fight in other ways! Search the city for the missing golems! There is so much that can be done without being at each other's throats. Disperse, and go from this place in peace!"
The ifrit--red-bearded, red-faced, red-nosed from drink--suddenly snaps out of his reverie and urges his companions to follow them. He speaks as the rabble-rouser he is, using words of fear. A surge of paranoia against silver golems and Moon quickly infects the ifrit side of the crowd, and they disperse within several minutes, all with different ideas of where to go.
Abnaki, there is a tap on your shoulder. A tall sylph ele with poofy hair stands before you, clad in armor of holy obsidian, a ruby embedded over the heart. A phoenix is perched nonchalantly upon her shoulder.
"Oh, hi! I'm Niamh. So, I get what you did there, and I think you did it for a good reason, but I also don't really like it. Your magic is pretty strong." An awkward pause. "Umm, are you a bad guy?" She looks at the tattooed warlock and the suspicious shadowy blur and repeats, "Are you all bad guys? Because we usually win against bad guys."
The phoenix sighs, and rolls its eyes.
Samen scoffs at the simplistic inquiry, expecting better. "Depends, I suppose. If you don't like dangerous mobs being broken up, then we might have a problem, yeah.
Although, I take it from your elemental friend here that you're the one who personally overthrew the inquisition, so perhaps you're due more respect than that. If you'd like to join us, as a representative of Hearth, we'd welcome your presence as we negotiate with the Fey. It may simplify things."
"Oh! Sorry, I'm not here for long. One of my friends just sent me...walking for a minute to make sure Hearth is still okay while we're away. I was worried when I felt all this anger and a lot of charming magic being sprayed all over it. Anyway, don't make the Fey mad. Kllik made a few bad guys laugh themselves to death once, and it wasn't actually very funny. I wouldn't want to see that happen to you too."
The shadowy blur actually responds, No. I fight the bad guys with their own tactics. Make them see the fearand pain they inflict on others. But i am not one of the bad guys, or at least i try not to be
"That was... easier than I expected. Disturbingly so. I hope this doesn't come back to bite me later." Turning towards the new figure, he addresses them respectfully, but also without apology. "I had no intention to frighten any higher powers, or incur violence against the sylphs instead. But we're in a bit of a hurry, and time is short. Perhaps pretty words alone would have dispersed the crowd, but also perhaps not.”He studies Emberheart carefully. It is an honor to meet you, but I am curious; can you tell us any more about the fey? And would there be a way for us to contact you again?"
The paladin nods, suddenly somber. You realize she is very young, less than twenty springs. "Yes, it was easy. I think Moon is starting to weaken the wills of elens across the land, even now." She looks into the far distance for a moment. "Ah, it's already time to go." You can all see her slowly fading from view.
"Oh! But before I do, the Fey like a good joke! Krz once told me one about dryad and the farmer's d-"
-and with a faint pop of magic, one of the Blessed of Hearth disappears, presumably back to Light to battle the minions of Moon.
Osna shakes his head. "No matter who's in charge, they always tell us what not to do, while they do whatever they want. Typical high-handed cac."
A tall, dark-skinned oread approaches, not one of the rabble-rousers, but perhaps a more composed leader. He smiles broadly, the look somehow savage on his blunt face. "Thank you for your assistance. So many ifrits packed into one city, like underbrush in an old wood! Something is bound to erupt, yes?" He greets both Abnaki and Samen warmly, with a 'shared roots' to each.
His also gives a nod of thanks to Phon Vos and Osna. His brow is puzzled when he sees Gabriel. "The rest of your kind has gone home. Fire has no place among the forest. Why do you remain here?"
i am more than flame. My friends are here, and so will i be. Society can think what it wants, race is ultimately irrelevant to my goals. Gabriel barely gives the elder oread a look as his mind seems to be wandering, Does it matter if I stay or go?
The oread shrugs, as if he does not care either way. "Very well." He scratches his ear. "Ah, I see. You are expected." He motions for you to follow, as he walks toward the Quiet Elder.
"Samen, who was that lady that just chewed me out?" Abnaki whispers as he follows the oread to the Quiet Elder.
Osna does not hear Abnaki's whispered query to Samen. "Yes, we are expected." He looks as though he wants to say more, something sarcastic, but he manages to think better of it. "Thank you," he says, tone admirably neutral.
Samen whispers back. "I've never met her, but I've only ever heard of one Sylph with a phoenix. She's immune to darkspawn, inspired the insurrection here in Hearth, and apparently is a self-righteous idiot. The worst kind of idiot."
The muscular oread scratches his ear once more. You turn a corner, and suddenly you are in a hallway of brilliant purple crystal; a few dim blue fairie lights are reflected a dozen times across the faceted walls.
You see now the muscular oread is wearing a gemmed earring, a curious stone swirling with purple and green. He smiles. "You heard from three Courts last you came, but there is a fourth Court. Will accept their invitation? I assure you, you will not be late for your appointment with the other Three this morning." He gestures back with his arm, inviting you to come down the amethyst corridor.
Abnaki gets the sudden sensation that this Oread is not all that he seems, and that they may be walking into a trap.
But unless he detects some lie, he has no particular objection to it, other than an uneasy feeling.
To Abnaki, "Do you suppose we're about to get an introduction to the adversary of the first three?"
"I certainly hope so. But I would like to meet the council again, considering I half killed myself last night to get them a story. If no one else has any objections, Abnaki will follow the oread.
A deep, cultured voice resonates behind you. Somehow, you are surrounded by purple walls now, with no door in sight. "Adversary is such a gauche term. Why not simply say...an alternate point of view?"
Before you is an elen with no face. Or, more accurately, a beautiful geode, bursting with colors at each small movement, has taken the place of this el's mouth, nose, and eyes. His dark hair is well groomed, parted down the middle.
"You may call me Julian Opal. I won't be so rude to ask for your names in this place. But may we at least agree to a reasonable truce while we hold conversation?"
Gabriel keeps quiet, although his shadowed hand stays on his sheathed blade, His demeanor non aggressive otherwise more cautious than anything else. It's clear he doesnt trust anyone here, so he's keeping his eyes out for suspicious actions or magic
With only the slightest hint of irony, Abnaki says, "I am but a humble story-teller, what could I possibly do to threaten one who can compete with the fey? I for one, accept your truce."
"Yes, I've heard much about your stories, sir. I don't have much use for such things myself, but they are highly prized among others. You will find yourself duly occupied if you continue your courtship of the Fey." There is a hint of a smile in the words. He adjusts his clothing, an assortment of lilac, vines, mint, silk, and a tasteful bowtie.
"Also agreed." Osna subtly eyes his companions and Julian, judging distances. He sees Gabriel doing much the same. Always good for a second set of eyes, that one, he muses. He tries to recall if Samen ever told a story about breaking gems...
But for now, he has nothing else to say to this creature.
Samen shrugs nonchalantly in the face of such smarm, yet tenses up internally. "I mean... they said they were at war, so the term seemed appropriate. I'm pretty sure the tribes in the North already declared war on you. Or was it the other way around? Nevertheless, only a fool scoffs at a chance to learn, so you may say your piece."
"I do not see a reason to have ways with someone we have only met if they appear smart enough to speak." She tried her best to stifle any concerns she may have with the speaker and instead focuses on its intentions.
"Perhaps someday, I will weave you a story of your own. Not a story about you, mind, or even a story involving you, but a story for you. And I must admit to a certain interest in other gem-based creatures. But... my companions and I have an appointment to keep. Say what you will."
Ignoring Abnaki and addressing Samen, he says, "Well, there was certainly a point of disagreement, so let us begin there." Julian Opal clasps his hands before him. "The greatest threat to all of us, elen and elemental alike, is the Dark. With that in mind, the Court of Gems has not ruled out an alliance with Moon in the name of defeating the Dark."
He waits, anticipating outbursts.
"Intriguing, but what's the difference between you, Moon, and Dark? All of you corrupt, all of you enslave, and all of you spread. Elenity has lived in homeostasis with the Dark, admittedly with much suffering, for eons. Why should we be thrilled about equally unpleasant actors taking its place?"
The fey raises his hands magnanimously, long sleeves drooping. "A small mistake, nothing more! There is no intent to enslave here - Moon's presence simply had a stronger effect on the closest-by sylphs than was anticipated. As for the difference, my dear warlock: Moon is a deity of light, and you need all the candles you can grasp when trapped in the Dark, wouldn't you say?"
Abnaki, you feel the gaze of Julian Opal upon you for a moment, but he shifts his gaze back to Samen.
The Dark isnt what's causing the issues. It was dragged into it by another, now it only defends itself. Something else threw the balance outGabriel states aloud
"I would be careful with such accusations my friend, it is certainly not a popular position to take." Abnaki makes a mental note of Julian Opal's interest, but chooses not to react to it at this time. "Still, if you are in an alliance with Moon, could you not help them to circumnavigate some of the more dangerous aspects of their... well aspect?"
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Samen nods in acknowledgement. For some reason Julian seems to have fixated on him. "Today's 'small mistakes' are tomorrow's legends. An unintentional, yet unrelinquished enslavement is enslavement nonetheless.
As for the Dark..." He gestures at Gabriel. "He is the second elen I've seen living reasonably independently while touched by the Dark. What you present is a false choice for Elenity. If we are plunged into Darkness, then we will do what we do. Adapt. None of us here may survive, but some fraction would. In thousands of years, tales would be told in a language we cannot know of how the righteous Dark heroes overthrew evil Volcano. Better to have no elemental masters at all, but what tales would be told among elens in a world dominated by Gem's conformity and Moon's madness?"
Samen strokes his chin in thought. "Philosophical differences aside, why tell us? What influence do we have over what Gem and Moon decide to do? If you wish to fight Dark, I cannot stop you. But being the enemy of our enemy does not necessarily make you our friend any more than it makes Dark our friend."
Julian claps his hands together, the sound a chime rather than a smack. "Ah! We've come to the heart of the matter, my friends. Indeed, I wish you all to join me in trying to find a solution to it! I would be most obliged if you lent your talents to researching the...'absence of free will' problem. If the other Three are interested in you, I certainly am as well, and I've heard many of you have...unorthodox talents that I could make use of."
He holds out his hands in forestallment. "Not to worry, I know you would never come even close to agreeing to employment or alliances in this place, but I wanted to make my position clear. I believe we can accomplish great things together." He gives off a grinning glow. "Just think it over, and I will have a more mundane messenger bring some sort of contract for you and your charming mercenary company to look over. Now, we shant have you late for your appointment- good day!."
For just a split second, you are inside a large wooden box, tall enough to stand in. You are surrounded by glittering bracelets and brooches. You realize what kind of a box this is - a jewelry box.
A deep tolling voice chimes, don't glitter so bright, unless you want someone to catch you
-and then you are back with your friends, at the main entrance again.
Osna looks pissed, and a bit sick from the sudden transition. Without thinking, he mutters, "Cac-eating..." but stops himself before he says anything foolish.
"I believe I was just threatened."
Abbygailiwy laughs in delight at Abnaki's story. "I think that Julian Opal-face person is in love with you!"
"By my understanding of things, your interpretation of love and my own is very different. Still, I appreciate the insight." Abnaki takes a minute to compose himself. "Shall we be off? We have less swarmy primal forces to meet with."
"Indeed, it's best to be off. From my experience, Gem is a cancer that grows from the root of a seemingly innocuous deal. Give it no harbor and keep a resolute heart and you should be able to overcome it. I'm curious what the other Fey will have to say about this interlude."
"I have to say I did not expect any of that, it has given me much to ruminate on."
She thinks and quickly speaks out loud, almost uncharacteristically, "Deals with such creatures make me wary, especially when I live on such a tightrope." Phon nods at Samen, "Innocuous deals are the most dangerous, you never know when they wish to claim whatever nasty thing they want..."
As with your last visit, the branches and the bark show you the way. Blooming red fungus points up a steep, smooth wooden tunnel; a cloud of wisperflies leads you through a stone chamber filled with a great lake clear water; and finally, a turtle with a shell of topaz escorts you the last few steps over rune-carven darkwood, and into the Court. Somehow, the wizened old turtle has the air of a porter expecting a tip.
Abnaki, there are still several wisperflies lighting upon your head. They are neither hot nor cold - they seem completely insubstantial save for their faint illumination and their tiny peeping cries for indaba!
As before, Abby retreats into the staff before you enter the Elder or any of its twisting tunnels.
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Abnaki grins mischievously. "Of course I will tell you stories, but you will have to wait to hear my newest tale." He chatters happily to the Wisperflies as they walk.
Not his finest work, but certainly serviceable.
The wisperflies murmur their thanks in piping fairy tones as they flit away from the throne room.
The throne room is darker today, subdued in color and tone. Only the Fey called Bozhe is present. "I smell the fading scent of gem magic about you." His voice sounds...concerned. "I am not rude enough to ask about your conversation, but do you feel well? The Klejnot, the Gems, are treacherous." He laughs, a sound full of cigars and cheap bloodwine. "I know that one Fey saying that about another is like crows and ravens, but..." He seems at a loss on how to finish the sentence, to bridge the gap of trust.
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Samen simply nods, acknowledging the awkwardness of the situation. "Yes, indeed. He proposed an alliance between us, Gem, and Moon against the Dark, with only a slight bit of purely unintentional enslavement." He holds his fingers a centimeter apart, for effect.
"Still, though, good to know where the players stand. So how about it, Bozhe, and the other two undoubtedly listening? Where do you stand?"