"Hmmm.... This 'Solinthas' who's a Silver Flamer,
where exactly is he waiting for you, Iri?"
<sigh> I pick up some complimentary fruit and juggle them. Juggling check: 20
Ellirayne whimpers faintly as she wakes up and slowly composes herself before talking up. "Did the waitress say Flash was doing something with his luggage?" She asks her twin, speaking calmly and as though her unconsciousness and the sudden apparition of Solinthas had never happened. "Perhaps we should check on him whilst Irirangi visits her superior.."
"Hmmm.... This 'Solinthas' who's a Silver Flamer,
where exactly is he waiting for you, Iri?"
"As you know he didn't say. But I'd expect him to be at the main Temple. He is the head of the order. And Merreck, I never said I was an exorcist. That's not my calling. I'm a researcher first and foremost, and I can heal a little.
Another thing - this party for Sillas? I've got a horrible feeling that's where I'm supposed to be tonight. Mama did say something about that this morning. So I'll need to go and get changed some time today."
For some reason talking about the party is making Irirangi blush yet again.
"You got the last part right girlfriend. Your mama is going to explode if you're not back in time to get gussied up. Big night remember? Got to meet up with Mr Probably A Great Alliance Sorry About the Pustules remember?"
"I've been doing my very best to forget about that - thank you so much for reminding me."
Iri sounds extremely irritable.
"So - where next? Starlan says Isan's, Ellirayne wants to find her relation and I need to visit the temple."
"I'm sorry you've all been introduced to us this way. If it's any comfort, I'm no happier about it than you are."
Merreck slaps Starlan on the back; "Good show! Good show!" And hands him a silver piece. "I know a good place in town where you could do that for a while, and make a little more coin. You know, you just put your hat down, or whatever. People love that stuff! It wouldn't take long for you to afford some new clothes. Clean ones."
Turning now to Iri, and glancing over at Sillas; "Well, I'm all for visiting old Isan. He owes me a spot of coin, anyway. Sillas, you in? It shouldn't take too long."
--
"I'm curious to see if Isan can help us. Since he's on the doorstep it won't hurt to stop on the way. Then if anyone wants to come to the temple, they'd be welcome."
Irirangi seems a little calmer.
I stare blankly at Merrick's silver piece in my hand for a moment, not knowing how to react.
He meant well, I suppose...
Glancing at my clothes, they ARE a bit soiled from last night's outdoor adventure... If only I'd gotten back home before this whole situation intruded, I'd have caught some rest, and a bath and change of clothes. <sigh>
I wait as the group discusses things and everyone recovers from the fainting incident.
"Well, it'd still be nice if we could learn anything more about what all we're dealing with. It seems for everything we've learned so far, 2 more mysteries have appeared. Err... Merrick, not to pester, but it might be better if we can ask Isan what he thinks of this BEFORE you hit him up for what he owes you....?"
"Ah, consider it a trade, of sorts. Like bartering. You should be familiar with that sort of affair. I'll forget his debt, if he could help sort this all out. Trust me, Isan will go for it."
"...If you two go way back, I'll just trust in your judgement, then."
I politely stifle a yawn, thoughts of my comfortable bed taunting my weary mind.
"Come on folks. It's make your minds up time. Let's be moving. Places to go, people to see."
- sighs -
"Just for once, could you pretend you had some manners?"
"Merreck - did you say Sillas has a party tonight? Is he Sillas ir'Vraxeris?"
"Yes, I'm Sillas ir'Vraxeris. My mother is throwing a party tonight for my birthday." Sillas says, a little miffed at being spoken of as if he was still asleep.
Sillas, you in? It shouldn't take too long."
"'Course I'm in. I'd like to get this all sorted soon, preferrably before mother finds out about this thing." *points at his mark* and loses it."
"Ah, consider it a trade, of sorts. Like bartering. You should be familiar with that sort of affair. I'll forget his debt, if he could help sort this all out. Trust me, Isan will go for it."
"Starlan's right; let's see if he'll help us before you try to call in your debt. You know, just in case a more tactful approach works better. If he won't help us then you can try to bargain with him."
"...If you two go way back, I'll just trust in your judgement, then."
"Yes, we go way back. However, his judgement and tact are somewhat impaired at the moment."
"Shall we be on our way then? I don't think we'll have a problem getting in touch with each other."
"Alright, alright. I'll keep a lid on it. But it'll be the ace up our sleeve, eh?"
The Lyrandar twins head back home to check what's going on with Flash's luggage, while the rest of the party heads to Isan's shop.
"'Course I'm in. I'd like to get this all sorted soon, preferrably before mother finds out about this thing." *points at his mark* and loses it."
"Your mother as well? Mine will have me scrubbing my hands with sandpaper when she sees this. Especially as I'm supposed to be at your party looking pretty. Or as pretty as I can ever look. She finds me a bit useless as a daughter really." Irirangi concludes matter of factly.
Isan's Shop
Just around from The Hideaway the party travels to Isan’s shop. Before long, a large and boisterous sign reading ‘Isan’s Extrinsic Emporium' confirms that the group has found the right location. Entering the shop, they are greeted with the sights of Xen’drik. In the window are 1-inch tall replicas of Xen’drik’s pyramids and tiny pieces of colored glass supposedly touted as dragonshards. Exotic plants from the mysterious continent grow in pots throughout the shop, and in the back stands a statue of a giant wearing a light, flowing robe tied with a rope at the waist.
Large display cases made of glass appear to house all manner of items; one particularly full case is currently being tended to by an older man with a ring of wispy, white hairs that seem to fly in a hundred different directions at once surrounding his mostly bald head.
Isan's Shop
"Ah, welcome to Isan's Extrinsic Emporium! I'm Isan! The mysteries of Xen'drik are open--" He stops short, noticing Merreck "Merreck ir'Tharias. How can I help you, and your fine companions, today?"
House Lyrandar
"Your mother as well? Mine will have me scrubbing my hands with sandpaper when she sees this. Especially as I'm supposed to be at your party looking pretty. Or as pretty as I can ever look. She finds me a bit useless as a daughter really." Irirangi concludes matter of factly.
Sillas laughs. "Oh, Mother means well, she just fusses overly much. She can be a little too concerned sometimes, so if she finds out that a mysterious ring fell from the sky and marked me, it'll give her fits. I don't need that kind of interference or annoyance; I'm sure that together we can find the answer to this little puzzle."
He pauses for a moment and then continues with a smile "I don't think you're useless at all. Quite the contrary in fact. Now some of the people who'll be attending the party tonight, they're useless, but not you. A little odd perhaps, but then again, everyone I like is a little odd. I've been called odd, even eccentric, once or twice even insane, so who am I to judge?"
"Ah, welcome to Isan's Extrinsic Emporium! I'm Isan! The mysteries of Xen'drik are open--" He stops short, noticing Merreck "Merreck ir'Tharias. How can I help you, and your fine companions, today?"
Sillas watches the old man, trying to judge his attitude towards Merreck.
Sillas
"Ah, Isan. My friends here have a bit of a question. You know how these curious types are. I'm not sure I'm prepared to fully explain the situation, but their bright and eager. They were wondering if you could help in any way."
Merreck looks back at the others, "Well, go on. Give the man something to work with."
Sillas said
"I don't think you're useless at all. Quite the contrary in fact. Now some of the people who'll be attending the party tonight, they're useless, but not you. A little odd perhaps, but then again, everyone I like is a little odd. I've been called odd, even eccentric, once or twice even insane, so who am I to judge?"
Irirangi smiles in recognition.
"I've been called all those things too. Mama does her best, but she really needed a pretty child with a taste for networking and fashion. She got me. It's a pity for both of us." She pauses for second.
"You know, even though the rings and the extra voices are a shock, it is almost a relief to find you can all hear my friends as well. It's very hard having to live with a secret life.... oh, I didn't mean to imply that you did Sillas, just that I do and have done for a long, long time."
"Master Isan, it's an honour to meet you. Have you ever heard anything about disappearing jewellery? We all had unexpected rings fall on us this morning. When we put them on they were - well, absorbed is the best word I can think of. And they left these marks behind."
Iri extends her marked hand for Isan to inspect.
Isan takes Iri's hand in his, moving his glasses to inspect the mark.
"Disappearing jewellery? Unexpected rings? Hmm...This isn't some kind of scam is it?"
Isan pokes at Iri's mark a few times with his finger. "Does it hurt? Where did these rings come from? How do you even know that they were rings in the first place?"
"No it doesn't hurt. It does fire a magic missile though so you might want to be careful with the prodding.
It was ring shaped with an inset gem before I put it on my finger. I'm not prone to hallucinations Master Isan. It may not have been a ring, but that is certainly the form it took. And it fell out of a chest."
"No, no, no, my dear. I'm not insinuating that you are hallucinating anything. A chest eh? Where did the chest come from, then?"
Isan drops Iri's hand and looks around the room at the others. "What about the rest of you? Are you all shooting Missiles out of your behinds too?"
"Ah no. Not me. I'm afraid I avoided the magical ring falling from the sky bit. There are a couple others, but they are not here right now. From what I've gleaned, each mark seems to activate a different power. The two that are not present, for example, bestow powers generally attributed to healing and nature."
"See here," <flashing some shoulder>, "This is where mine appeared. They definitely were rings, strange through, with a gem on the INSIDE, where it touched your skin. I could FEEL it's energy course thru me when I put it on, and I guess they disappeared INTO the mark."
"Excuse me, I'm Starlan Benex, by the way." I add, remembering my manners.
"...Anyhow, besides all of the rings seeming to have some magic spell activate when we touch them, it made me run and jump really fast and far, and... well, they also put all of us here in... telepathic communication. We can talk to each other just by thinking. Which is how we all found each other. Well, Merrick isn't, we just ran into him at <insert bar name> since he was with Sillas."
"We believe they rolled out of the cargo of an airship docking here at Lyrandar. We all here found them when they just fell nearby us from the upper Tower here. Actually, there's two more of us with rings, who are headed up the tower now to find their relative, whom we think had brought the cargo with him, although the Twins don't think he even knew about the rings."
after a pause, I add "...I think it might be some sort of extra-planar magic or something behind the rings..."
"I know the spell, Starlan. It's useful for getting out of a jam, or into one, very quickly."
"Is it just the five of you that can hear each other? You three, and the twins? Twins...in House Lyrandar...The Lyrandar Heirs are marked too? Oh this is serious."
"I have heard of rings that allow their wearers to communicate with each other. Hell, I've made some! Usually six is the upper limit; anything more than that and it's too much strain for the magic. Although, I don't usually throw in a free magic ability with every purchase. And you can take my rings off."
"And boy, what do you know of the outer planes? The very sight of them would scar you to the bone!", Isan says, pointing a bony finger at Starlan.
I grin at his line about the Expeditious spell, the traces of it's energy still perceptible in my toes.
"err..." His outer-plane comment creepily reminds me of Dahl.
"Yeah, I don't know much of the outer planes, you're right...
But do you think this sort of thing with the rings could be related to them somehow?"
"And there WAS something more disturbing: Just before we came here, we were meeting in the <amnesia-inducing bar>, mostly talking normally and some telepathically, when all of a sudden... I don't know, it was like a black curtain came up and overwhelmed me... until I 'came to'. It seemed like most of us also passed out, although not all of us..."
"Iri, you didn't pass out, right? Could you tell him anything more, or anything that happened while we were passed out?"
After she adds anything she can, I'll also remember:
"If you want, I can pass on any questions of yours to the Twins, telepathically, and tell you their response."
Deerian & Dahn:
"This may take a little longer than we'd first imagined"
House Lyrandar
Frantically the twins rush about the manor, looking for signs of life. Some commotion is heard upstairs, the sounds of scurrying feet eerily remind the twins of their morning wake-up.
As they head toward the commotion, one of the servants comes rushing down the stairs. Her hair is wild and her face is streaked with tears. When she spots the twins, her eyes widen; "Oh my dears! You have to help! It's...it's horrible! The Lord...in the dock...he's...killing everyone!"
"I didn't see anything Wingy. I felt a great shadowy presence pass through me, almost as if it was looking for something. I've never encountered anything like it before. I'm absolutely certain I don't want to again.
Master Isan, if you need another ring that's a little difficult. They're very hard to find until they've been absorbed. The only thing I can think of is to contact the twins and ask them if they can see another on top of Lyrander tower."
"Where is the storm-tossed lady of my dreams, fair Ellirayne? I have a poem for her."
"You know what Cassio? This isn't a good time. Go and find your muse again will you. We're trying to make progress here. And don't sulk."
"Yes, yes, yes. What a good idea. If you could find me a ring, I could tell you almost anything you wanted to know about it. I am an Artificer of no small skill, and I have powerful tools at my disposal. I will continue to research this matter for you.
There is...of course...the matter of payment. For my research, I will have to charge a nominal fee of, say, 500gp per week."
"There was one more thing. I heard - and probably Deerian too, a voice screaming what might have been a name. Does "Ahsith" mean anything to you?"
Deerian & Dahn:
House Lyrandar
"The day off?!," the servant stammers, taking off down the hall "I'm out of here for good."
Leaving her, the twins head up the familiar wide stairs to get to the private docking bay. A crowd has formed right at the entrance, mirroring the events of this morning. This time, however, the crowd is not pleasantly curious; the look of panic and fear is worn on the face of every member of the household here.
Guards and house-workers crowd together, all of their eyes trained on one thing; Lord Byron is shouting and screaming insane words. He's taken all of the chests and furniture that Flash had gifted earlier, and piled them one on top of another.
Standing on top of what is basically a makeshift throne, he is waving his rapier wildly at the air around him. He is covered in blood.
Piled around his feet are the corpses of his elite guards.
Flash's airship is gone.
When the workers see the twins enter the bay, they all start pleading on top of each other; "Help! Stop him! You have to do something! He's crazed!"
House Lyrandar
"You! Get away from me! This is mine! It's all mine! I'll strike you down! Thieves! Filth! I should run my blade straight through you!" Lord Byron screams from the top of his lungs; he paces on the top of his perch. His eyes are wild, and he bares his teeth, like a rabid animal.
House Lyrandar
His heart going cold at the servants announcement Deerian is happy to take his sisters hand and with her the pair rush up to the dock. Struggling to keep his emotions and thoughts to himself. Family issues were for the family after all.
The scene that they come across when they arrive brings him up short. Going cold he lets go of his sister's hand and takes a defensive stance in front of her. Still he is yet to draw his sword. Taking a breath to try and calm his nerves Deerian looks upon his father with cold eyes. "Father! What have you done? You are better than this by far.. Put up your sword. Where is mother and your brother?"
Isan's Shop
"Ahsith eh? I have no idea off the top of my head. You think it's a name? Some are better with names, but I'm better with things, you see. I can make things, take them apart, and generally put them back together again," He laughs, causing him to start coughing violently, releasing something horrible in his throat, "but names I'm not so good with. Unless it's the name of a thing. I think you're starting to get it now...Either way, I'll ask around.
Now...about the pay..."
Isan's Shop
"Forget the pay. You help these friends of mine, and we can consider your debt to me, repaid. Fair? Good. I thought so."
Isan's Shop
"Fine, fine, fine. But I would like to get a real copy of the ring. I'd rather not try to dig it out of your back, little one."
House Lyrandar:
House Lyrandar
The words of the twins seems to hit Lord Byron like a punch in the face. When he spots them, he reels, almost falling off of his post.
"My dear, sweet children, I know you would never hurt me. I know. I know. We can talk. We can..." he begins sobbing, tears streaming from his face. "Your mother....is in here. My brother, too. They're all here." He points to an open chest near him.
"You...just...want to talk..." Lord Byron seems to be experiencing some kind of pain, his face twists and recoils as he tries to process the words of the twins.
"NO!" He wipes the tears from his face, re-hydrating the dried blood on his hands, his face is now smeared with blood and tears. "You want to take them away! Again! You want to steal them! Thieves!"
He picks up his rapier again, and thrusts wildly. "Get away!"
House Lyrandar
Walking forward slowly Deerian opens his arms slightly. "Father what do you mean they are in there? It's a very small box.. Please put down your sword.. or do you wish to treat me in the same way as the guards?" As he speaks the young half-elf's voice is gentle and filled with sadness. He hoped that he would not have to draw his sword on this man but his father was crazed and the young man needed to know his mother was safe.