Volcano's Land - Mercury Morn

Game Master Miner Cotren

Gabriel, you hear the Sunlord's voice begin to fade from your mind; he sounds tired after reaching out from his teakettle protection.

Of course, little shadow. We trust you will see the proof of Our cause with your own eyes, and come to your own conclusions. Goodnight.

another archaic phrase, as this world mostly uses "good dim" and "good bright"

Samen winks at the mage. "That's the thing about a world shrouded in darkness, my friend. We lose track of the Sights there are to see with.

There are more kinds of magic than all our collective knowledge, save perhaps Uluru, can account for. Find me in a quieter moment, and I shall elaborate."

The other assorted wizards and witches from the sylph table seem ready to leave. The black-bearded sylph gives you an awkward bow, and tells you he shall call on you tomorrow morning (before the Tribe-wide discussions regarding Uluru)

It is fifteenth candle.

Feel free to end the feast scene however you would like, talk to other NPCs, or side projects for the evening. Next scene will be the overall discussion of Uluru, etc, which will occur tomorrow (in game).

Kessh-Amon does little for the remainder of the day. Gorges on meat, inquires about sleeping arrangments, and praises/flatters Samen for his powerful magic.

Kessh-Amon and Ssuh-Luhss curl up for the night near the entrance to your sleeping quarters. They set about making a campfire, and surrounding it with rocks so it does not spread. Ssuh-Luhss whispers strange hissing syllables as they do so, prayers or spells, perhaps. Without a word of good dim or sleep well, the salamders twine about themselves in a strange defensive knot, with the fire at their center. They seem far too close to the flames for comfort, but a salamander's comfort is not an elen's.

They sigh loudly as they lay down, and fall into a limp sleep almost instantly. Their reptilian snores fill the night air. Despite their apparent relaxation, however, Kessh-Amon and Ssuh-Luhss each have one eye on one head open, staring, keeping watch as the rest of themselves sleep.

Kallik the phantom doesn't need to sleep. Once Qizzlvutz is asleep, huddled in a corner on the various packs and cloaks of the group, the warrior-ghost shows herself briefly to the others. She nods, to let it known she will be watching throughout the night. She goes invisible again.

Learningto eventually comes in from the long discussions provoked by Samen's new and frightening magic. Not magic. She shrugs her shoulders, shifting her arms to exaggerate the gesture. Hroof Hroofa (the head of the myco warriors that came from Heap) can think of nothing but shooting sunbeams at distant enemies.

She takes some time falling asleep, head full of questions. What happens if you take the elements away from a myco? To take away shifting is to take away speech. What would happen to a salamander? Would it lose one of its heads, it personalities? Many things to shift around in her mind this night. Her dreams are vivid, but she recalls none of them.

Samen retires gingerly to a tent as the gathering disperses. Apparently human bones ache at the end of a hard day too. Well, Opræterius, I think that went well, all things considered. They seem intrigued by humanity and awed by Sun. Crowds are nothing if not fickle, but it's a good first step.

With that, he flops onto a bed and sleeps soundly.

Priest, you dream of laying in warm green grass, basking under a yellow Sun and a living Sky. Dream well.

As the gathering dies down, Gabriel asks Samen to dismiss the spell. Though the trauma from the change has faded, the new body is still uncomfortable... for now. He fades away from everyone to contemplate this latest experiment and the offer the sun lord has given him among the trees in the oread forest.

Samen dismisses the spell upon request. "Thank you for being willing to be experimented upon. I know that has trauma attached to it for you, and you didn't need to do this. Your friendship and trust is not taken for granted."

It is Emberday, Rainrites the 5th.
Today is the holiday Welcomeleaf, orean celebration of the first hard rain of spring

It is seventh candle.

You all awaken around bright (dawn), more or less. Behind the Horned Mountains, hundreds of miles away from Volcano, each bright is decidedly dim. The morning greets you with a torrential downpour that seems to put all the local oreads in an oddly good mood.

The salamanders devour the remains of their campfire, rubbing their midsections and enjoying the final warmth of the embers within. They hiss and spit at the rain.

A runner comes to remind you the Tribe discussions are taking place at tenth candle.

A magical missive coming sailing in, similarly to a paper airplane made of gauzy light. In brief writing that soon disappears, the wizard from last night invites you to their nearby lodgings to discuss more of Sun and mind magicks.

It promises root tea and sugar cookies at ninth candle! as a conclusion.

Anyone who wishes to attend - Samen, Gabriel, etc

Slightly after seventh candle, with no warning, from out of Samen's pack bellows,

"It is proper to give Us praise for the retreat of the night! When dawn truly arrives on this wretched plane, when this Darkness is banished forever, tears of joy shall flood the very plains!"

Your pack briefly smolders. Then the teapot appears to be quiescent once again.

Gabriel, your shadow is as quiet and thoughtful as you are after you are back in your original forms. That was transforming thing was interesting, but it could have gone better.

Pulling away from the feeling of being extended under the ground for miles in calm silence and pulling themselves back to the narrow focus the elen here live in. Face splitting into a too wide smile at the smell and sound of the rain. Rolling outside and sprawling across the ground. Twisting in the wet grass and mud much like a cat in catnip.

If Qizz seeing the others going they will go with. The rain might wash away most of the mud

Following the rolling child outside. Not realizing she has become more solid in a subconscious want for the feeling of rain on her skin. Red ichor pools at her feet and a smile forces its way onto her green lips. No longer aware of the blood like ichor that streams from her nose, mouth, and ears. Choosing not to look down and simply enjoy the brief feeling of not remembering she isn't actually alive.

Samen jumps nearly out of his pink skin when the sunlord starts shouting, more accustomed to quieter elementals. "Gahh!"

He glares at the silent pot. "You're going to do that every day, aren't you?"

After a few deep breaths to settle himself, he goes to meet the inquisitive mage.

Gabriel is among the others at bright. Whether everyone was worn out from the festivities and didn't notice or it was his natural stealthiness, no one noticed his return from his contemplations in the dark. Agreed, my shadow, that could have gone better... and I think it will next time.

Despite his reformed outlook, he winces at the sunlord's outburst. "Totally unnecessary..."

Preparing himself and his belongings, "Let us be off to see what this wizard has to say... if nothing else, they are promising snacks."

Nearly every oread you see on your walk this morning is singing. You have not heard any repeats yet - there seems to be a different song for every kind of tree, welcoming every single brother and sister to wake up for spring. You see oread children enjoying cinnamon sticks (anyone who grew up with orean culture would recognize the holiday treat) It is strange to see the contrast of vibrant life up here on the hilltops against the rows and rows of graves further down toward the grim Quiet Elder in the distance.

**
Given your own quarters and what you've seen of the healer's, you are expecting the sylphs to be set up in a cave or a hillside.

Instead, on the outskirts of the tribal common areas, you see a bizarre arcane confection that stands out like a winterfox in spring: an alabaster complex, obviously artificial and magicked into existence. The architecture is all whorls and arches, designed by someone with mathematical cleverness and a desire to flaunt it.

detect magic would be painful to use. this is really an arcane fortress with a lot of defenses on it. at least one wizard in this group is very interested in home security.

A door opens where no door was previously, and out steps the raven-bearded sylph. He closes the door firmly behind him, which goes back to being a seamless wall. He smiles sheepishly as he approaches you.

"One of my colleagues, the one who constructed our wandering home, has a strange appetite for riddles and mazes. I thought I would spare you all that silliness and have our conversation here."

At the look some of you give at the idea of standing in the pouring rain, he laughs and waves his hand. He gives fluid, wizardly gesture to your right, and a conjured table appears, complete with refreshments and comfortable chairs, all arched over by a fine pavilion to protect you from the weather. "This isn't nearly as grand as his mansion, but I think it will keep us comfortable." There is a small hearth floating in midair to warm yourselves. There are also sugar cookies and hot tea.

"I forgot to introduce myself yesterday. Jordet Blank. Come sit at my table and tell me about yourselves!"

this is a very nice magical set up that screens the wind and rain, provides warmth, and seems to be equipped several unseen servants

Samen sits down at the table and politely nibbles on a cookie. "Good bright, master Blank. I'm sure you have many questions, as if you just discovered a heretofore unseen color. I will answer any questions I can, but I must be quick; There is a council in one candle we must attend. Unfortunately, tales of our doings would run much longer than we have time for.

To jump right to the quick of it, the elemental gifts I spoke of yesterday cloud the mind from the raw potential it can wield. I would be willing to revoke your gift, albeit temporarily, much as I did with Gabriel. This may do more to answer your questions than a whole day's conversation."

Gabriel would likely notice this first, with his excellent Perception

You see a translucent eye hanging from the ceiling, out of place with the elegant set up. Jordet follows your gaze, rolls his eyes, and sighs. "My companions are...shy. Do you mind if they watch and listen to any conversation we might share today?" He looks embarrassed, though he tries to cover it by quickly grabbing plates for everyone.

When he returns with the plates, he busies his hands with passing out napkins and saucers and cups. "Well, I may be interested in such a thing, master Samen, but I have one question: why does a "Sun", a radiant being of heat and light, give 'nothing'? Would we not expect such a thing from an element of absence, like "Void" or even "Dark"? He seems genuinely curious.

Jordet is distracted by the myco and her phantom; he sees a bloody apparition calmly enjoying the rain beside a dancing child-like heap of mushroom pieces. He sips absently at his sweet sarsaparilla tea.

Eat a sugar cookie- I want one. The shadows of cookies taste good, too.

Learningto Ellen makes sure the child is safely (for some shifting use of the word) with their companions. Though Learningto yearns to go with them and see these wizards of magic, she realizes the snakes are staying behind. She decides to figure out some way to put them to gentle use. Everything can have a good use when all is fair and all is considered.

The foolish mushroom servant practically gives away plentiful sips of healing! We dominate a herd of nasty obsidian elementals too close to these lands, and send them traveling to forest lands with no elens instead. Mushroom says the weak oreads cannot eat these sharp things. Ha!

Mushroom servant gives us sips and sips of white magic healing, knowing nothing of negotiations or cunning. Ha!

"Truth be told, I don't know for sure. I've never met him, so I cannot speak fully to his motives. Generally speaking, however, in my experience elementals tend to act on hunger. There is something they want and cannot be dissuaded from. Whether it be death, heat, white obsidian, or healing magic, they always crave intensely and insatiably.

Void and Dark on the other hand..." He glances briefly at Gabriel. "Elen touched by either of those tend to show more substantial modification."

Jordet turns to look at Gabriel. "Indeed? So those waves of illusion and evocation stranded together, it's all shadow-stuff? And here the priesthood insisted all such magic would lead to death, and outlawed the arcane study of it for decades. To think..." He seems about to go off on some diatribe against the inquisition, and the temple, but thinks better of it.

"But that was before the world fell apart, I suppose." In a more subdued tone, he goes back to academic interests. "So we have a "sun human", a shadow-touched ifrit, and...?" His eyebrows raise, and his eyes point to Qizzlvutz. Given the myco's child-like nature, Jordet looks to Gabriel and Samen for an explanation, as if you are their parents.

"Qizzlvutz. Myco." The young myco shifts in some incomprehensible manner. They go back to enjoying small crumbs off a sugar cookie, one little taste at a time.

"Sadly, I have no idea of the origin of the Mycos. Their physiology is unique, and their history is literally buried. When we live in a time where war is not threatening to consume us, it would be good to learn more."

Gabe takes a cookie at his shadow's prodding. He just shrugs at the inquiry about their small companion. "They are a steadfast companion. Faces down the gems along side us, even striking the blow to free the being in the containter." Pondering for a moment, he speaks to the discussion of God's, "I can't speak to the desires of this new power. It hasn't asked anything from us other than to spread the word. The demands of others leave their marks on all of us, some more visible than others." He states this last part gesturing to his scars.

Jordet spares another annoyed glance at the scrying eye above you, then fiddles with the rings on his fingers. "Well, I thank you for your time, and I know you have to be going soon." A pause. "But if you do have time, I'd like to try this 'human' transformation. I will keep a journal of my impressions, and share my insights with you."

"Very well."

I do the thing.

Samen, you cast your spell, invoking the blessing of Self upon the sylph, giving nothing but skin and bones with no god-energies in between. Fortunately, the process is faster this time, with only a second or two of 'wax-faced horror' showing.

Jordet looks up and smiles. His beard has lost some of its luster, and no longer resembles bird feathers. He is pink-skinned in the way of all humans, but retains his basic facial features - he is still clearly Jordet. "Very interesting! I - "

He bends over and vomits on the ground, his human face turning a most unpleasant shade of beet-red. He stands back up, and oddly, is still grinning. "Sorry about that! Delicate constitution and all! I get dreadful wagon sickness, too." He looks back and points at the scrying eye. "I said I'm fine! Don't send anything nasty out out here or I'll dispel it myself, understand me?"

He turns back to you. "Well, the process was extremely nauseating, but I seem to be alright now." He looks down at his sullied robes, all shades of ivory and eggshell and pearl trim ruined. "No time like the present to try some magic, eh?"

Jordet raises his hand, then stops mid-motion, looking like he is about to sneeze. "Uh. Hmm. I can't speak sylph now. And...that's the language I used to cast spells. Ah."

Keeping his hand raised, but looking puzzled, he continues, "In Common now...how would I cast prestidigitation-" and from the wizard's pink hands emerges a little dust cloud of winking atoms, or mites. The little bundles of magical light zip around Jordet, cleaning off his robes.

Laughing out loud, he exclaims, "You just say the name of the spell? Why are humans so strange?"

He'll keep a journal of what he experiences. I'm happy to end the scene there, but RP a closure however you'd like. I'll update to the council meeting tomorrow

While everyone else is distracted by the human transformation, Abnaki Exhausted, Abnaki Feels-Ten-Thousand-Years-Old, Abnaki Dreams-Don't-Get-to-Sleep, kneels down in front of Qizzlvutz. Only the mind of a child can understand the logic of his nonsense.

"Child, take this book and let it guide you to the unwritten. The unknown libraries are fading." He hands Qizzlvutz a children's book with a crude crayon drawing of a tree on the cover.

Abnaki was never there, and he continues to be absent. The book remains.

Gabe watches this transformation with interest, getting to see it from the outside for the first time since Samen himself transformed. That felt way more traumatic than it looks now. It will be interesting to see how he perceives the change.

Gabe thanks the wizard for his hospitality and gives a wary glance to the eye above before turning away to head to the next meeting.

It is tenth candle.

Kallik has disappeared again, after you come in from the rainfall

"Be welcome here, brother. Welcome, Sunlord. Gabriel and shadow, be welcome. Qizzlvutz Myco, welcome here." Wamblee acknowledges all of you in this formal setting. He wears beads and the finest stone-shaped armor, as befits his station. Chapawee is at his side, amber eyes alert. Honorguard surround on all sides.

He makes introductions to his warchief, Hakka, and his magechief, Umik. The senior-most of the ifrit paladins are here, but none of the sylphan wizards. He introduces the chieftains of Tall Oaks, Bittercress, Nettle, Boarslayer, and Wormroot.

Wamblee then motions to Umik, who steps forward.

Samen waits for the wizard to get his bearings. "On the contrary, Jordet, it is elenity that is the aberration, not humanity." He looks directly at the seeing eye. "I assume you will all have much to discuss. Come find me while I remain if you have any further questions."

Back to Jordet, "I wish I could stay and chat more, but I am needed elsewhere. It should wear off in about a day or so on its own. If you wish it gone early, I can dismiss it, or you seem competent enough to be able to dispel it yourself."

With that, Samen stands up to leave to attend Wamblee's meeting.

**

Old Umik motions to a few other magicians, encouraging them with a smile. The various male and female voices, high and low, blend into deep, wordless harmony; a song of stone.

At the middle table, the granite surface shifts, quivers, then rises to become a detailed map of Great Forest. Umik nods his thanks to his comrades, then blows dust away from the newly stoneshaped map.

"The allies of Moon, known as the Gems, have been driven away, thanks to the efforts of many seated here today." His gaze takes in Gabriel, Qizzlvutz, and Samen, but all of the chieftains' murmurs are for Wamblee, their hero-chief.

Umik hums his own quavering tenor note, ending with a stomp, casting a minor spell to highlight various points on the map to match his speech. "Amatshe is no longer a roaming monster in the center of Forest. The ifrit farms to the far south are free to feed the cities once again." The paladins make various signs of gratitude, obviously pleased by this news.

"Now that Feyhome of (heaven) has been cleansed of the Gems, the forces of Moon have lost their only known ally. If we can destroy their centers of power outside of Light, we will weaken Moon's power more."

He pauses, grim now despite the good reports thus far.

"Which brings us to Uluru. The most extensive and complete library known to elenkind, under the control of Moon."

"We can only hope that the caretakers and tenders of Uluru have kept the deepest levels of knowledge sealed away. If not, I think all our actions moot, but I shall be more optimistics than that. Let us plan what we can do, rather than fearing those things that lie outside our grasp."

"Now here is my first question: does anyone here have access to the deeper levels of Uluru?"

the answer for all of you is "no", although Samen was offered membership in exchange for his servitude, a LONG time ago

LINK!

The Wyrmwood magician cackles from behind his grim Wyrmwood chieftain. Looking like a ragged prophet from the wilderness, the old, wiry oread steps forward and replies, "If any of us had such a privilege," he distorts the word with sarcasm and laughter, "would we be free to be walkin' around right now? All those green-inked folk are already holed up in the library." His eyebrows are raised as he glances around the room, searching for disagreement.

Samen, you would recognize Jikijolo, the Wyrmwood magician from a LONG time ago. Not going to find a link right now. You helped rid the old chieftain's son of a gem-infection when the Gems were first starting to invade the forests. You also met him at a gathering of magicians furing the orean Winter Meet. You are on good terms.

Qizzlvutz holds up the scribbled book they have in their possession. "Big-mountain-tree-library?" They open a page of the book, and the drawing, though crude, looks remarkably like Uluru.

Smiling at Abnaki, crumbles tumble out of their mouth. Quickly tucking the book into their bag. Looking around in confusion but Samen is doing his human magic. Bubble of blues and browns stream upwards with a giggling sound as the transformation is completed.

Stanching another cookie and then following the pink skinned Samen. Tugging on his pants to get his attention. Smiling in a much to wide fashion with crumbs clinging to their face. Pointing at him then at themselves, Qizz bird?" and they flap their arms vigorously.

Samen wrinkles his forehead at Qizzlvutz's request. "I think you may misunderstand the nature of my magic. I don't change a form, per se, but rather revert one to what their nature would be without elemental interference. Honestly, I'm rather afraid to apply it to you, since mycos are so very different from Elen, I have no idea what would happen to you. It could kill you, so I'd rather not attempt it. I'm sure Learningto would have my head if I tried."

In the council, in response to the question, Samen nods in agreement with Jikijolo. "I was offered it once, but I refused in order to maintain my freedom. I got a sense of subtle power from them, as if the only thing keeping them from forcibly ending my abominable experiments was fear of the full extent of their powers being made known. While they may lose the siege in the end, I expect their last act would be mutually destructive to anyone in the vicinity."

After Umik is done explaining that Moon's forces are also constructing huge lenses on top of Uluru--a feat of elen engineering never even conceived in Light--Wamblee steps in once more. "We do not know their true purpose; we can only imagine this might be used to focus the light of Moon in some way. Suffice it to say, if Moon wishes it done, we should like to prevent it."

He pauses for a moment to let all the previous discussion soak in. Despite being a cloistered monk for the first twenty years of his life, he is growing into the role of leader and speaker surprisingly well. "There is a need for both of these things to be dealt with - the lenses, and the taking of Uluru's libraries."

"Speaking with my warchiefs, we have agreed on a two pronged attack: a frontal assault on the lenses and the forces arrayed at the base of Uluru, and a more subtle strike on the inside of Uluru."

"If they accept, then one such strike team will include Samen the human, Gabriel the shadow-touched, and the entire myco contingent, including Qizzlvutz and Learningto. The sylphan wizards will make another such team."

**

He pauses one last time. "The Tribe of Peace does not command those outside our tribe, so you must do this of your own will. Do you agree to help us against the forces of Moon again?"

Quite out of character, Gabe is the first to speak up. "I'm sure the gems will not be the end of the... allies Moon rallies to his cause if they aren't stopped. You can count me in."

Better to have the loud sun-thing on our side than as an enemy, I suppose.

Yet another time where the situation makes me think of Douglas Adams. The doors on the starship Heart of Gold were programed with emotions making them sigh with pleasure to be used. This door into the temple depths is the opposite...