"An easy fellow to get along with isn't he?"
"An easy fellow to get along with isn't he?"
"Oh yes. Growing up with him was a real pleasure," she says with a false smile, and some less subtle sarcasm.
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Auruns rides back into the Oasis, his face a little sad, and with a satchel full of stars. He spends a while looking around, but finds even the octopus gone from its customary place.
He locates an empty coconut shell eventually, and after scraping off the husk with a knife, he touches a lucky amulet to protect his soul from being stolen with the writing and scratches on its shell, in rather wobbly letters: 'AURUNS MUST GO NOW. GUDBYE FRENDS.'
He leaves it somewhere he hopes that it will be found, then rides his giant gecko through the portal that obligingly opens up for him, to join the goblins waiting on the other side.
Then the portal winks out.
The shocker lizard yips forlornly.
"Yip, yip, yip."
Azuri'ith and Arielle arrive at the Oasis.
"That's odd," Azuri'ith says. "There's no one here."
"Shinies!" exclaims Arielle, picking stars out of the plants surrounding the pool. She jumps up and down trying to reach one that was caught in the top of a tree, before asking Azuri'ith to get it down for her. She also has him fetch one that had fallen into the pool. She continues to search the Oasis until she is certain she has found them all.
"That way!" she says pointing across the sands towards the Bazaar. "There are more shinies that way."
Azuri'ith and Arielle arrive at the Oasis.
"That's odd," Azuri'ith says. "There's no one here."
"Shinies!" exclaims Arielle, picking stars out of the plants surrounding the pool. She jumps up and down trying to reach one that was caught in the top of a tree, before asking Azuri'ith to get it down for her. She also has him fetch one that had fallen into the pool. She continues to search the Oasis until she is certain she has found them all.
"That way!" she says pointing across the sands towards the Bazaar. "There are more shinies that way."
Frogskin suddenly stops walking toward teh city and sighs.
"Damn it! I gotta go!"He vanishes. Sytt sighs and does the same.
A handsome and noble looking sea elf warrior wearing armor of pearl arrives at the villa riding upon a white seahorse. His shield is emblazoned with a red octopus upon a field of blue, and his long trident is made of the bone from a leviathan. As he stands his cloak flows with the water, making parts of him disappear altogether. He waits for the servants to acknowledge his presence at the gate, and announces himself.
"Is this the home of the High Priestess of Aventurnus? My name is Telestial. I seek audience with her daughter, Nimora. She is here, yes?"
The guards gave each other nervous looks. Nimora had barely been here a couple of hours and already there was someone asking after her?
"This is the home of the High Priestess of Aventurnus, yes. And who are you to be seeking to speak with Nimora," one of them said in what he hoped was a haughty and forbidding manner, forgetting for the moment that Nimora was currently in disfavor with the family. "I do not recognize your emblem, nor have you mentioned where you are from, or why you wish to speak with Nimora."
Lacking anything else to do after they had finished eating, Nimora was explaining the various detailed mosaics that lined the walls and floor of the courtyard, most of them detailing various pieces of holy text of Aventurnus.
The guards gave each other nervous looks. Nimora had barely been here a couple of hours and already there was someone asking after her?
"This is the home of the High Priestess of Aventurnus, yes. And who are you to be seeking to speak with Nimora," one of them said in what he hoped was a haughty and forbidding manner, forgetting for the moment that Nimora was currently in disfavor with the family. "I do not recognize your emblem, nor have you mentioned where you are from, or why you wish to speak with Nimora."
"I am from the the Pearl of the South, and my business is a private matter that should be of importance to the one I requested. As it is to my Order. If she is not here I can certainly check the temple."
"I am from the the Pearl of the South, and my business is a private matter that should be of importance to the one I requested. As it is to my Order. If she is not here I can certainly check the temple."The guards gave each other nervous looks. Nimora had barely been here a couple of hours and already there was someone asking after her?
"This is the home of the High Priestess of Aventurnus, yes. And who are you to be seeking to speak with Nimora," one of them said in what he hoped was a haughty and forbidding manner, forgetting for the moment that Nimora was currently in disfavor with the family. "I do not recognize your emblem, nor have you mentioned where you are from, or why you wish to speak with Nimora."
The guards glance at each other nervously again. One of them shrugs. At least it sounded important. They opened the gate.
"She is just inside, in the courtyard."Nimora turns as the gate opens, expecting it to be one of her family members returning home. She is surprised to see a stranger instead.
Telestial hands the reins of his sea horse to one of the guardsman. "Careful, he bites when treated roughly", he cautions. Striding into the courtyard he spots Nimora a little too quickly, he approaches and kneels on one knee.
"Lady Nimora. My name is Telestial, of the Order of the Pearl. I offer my services to you in your quest."
Telestial hands the reins of his sea horse to one of the guardsman. "Careful, he bites when treated roughly", he cautions. Striding into the courtyard he spots Nimora a little too quickly, he approaches and kneels on one knee.
"Lady Nimora. My name is Telestial, of the Order of the Pearl. I offer my services to you in your quest."
Nimora is a little taken aback. She's never had anyone kneel before her, and she's not really sure what to do about it.
"How did you find me here?" she asks, surprised. "I've only been here myself for a short time. And how do you know me? And my quest?"
Telestial hands the reins of his sea horse to one of the guardsman. "Careful, he bites when treated roughly", he cautions. Striding into the courtyard he spots Nimora a little too quickly, he approaches and kneels on one knee.
"Lady Nimora. My name is Telestial, of the Order of the Pearl. I offer my services to you in your quest."
Nimora is a little taken aback. She's never had anyone kneel before her, and she's not really sure what to do about it.
"How did you find me here?" she asks, surprised. "I've only been here myself for a short time. And how do you know me? And my quest?"
Telestial looks around, his eyes hesitating on anyone within earshot.
"My Order protects the city of the one you seek. Specifically certain personages tied to that place. Is there perhaps a more private place to discuss these things?"
His eyes move to the side, to Ethelbert, and he places his palm upon his breast and nods.
Telestial looks around, his eyes hesitating on anyone within earshot.
"My Order protects the city of the one you seek. Specifically certain personages tied to that place. Is there perhaps a more private place to discuss these things?"
His eyes move to the side, to Ethelbert, and he places his palm upon his breast and nods.
"None where Ethelbert would fit," she says, considering the problem. Finally coming to a conclusion she says, "Follow me. I may get in a great deal of trouble over this. I'm not really in my family's good graces right now. I'm supposed to stay in the courtyard until my mother returns from the temple." She moved to one of the doorways that lined the courtyard and swam through leading to a small anteroom lined with coral couches. "This is as private as I can manage right now. Ethelbert, please alert me if anyone approached the gate."
"And now, if you will please forgive my suspicion," she says, fingering the amulet she wore and concentrating. "The ones who stole that which I seek used illusion to cloak themselves."
"I'm going to have to get one of those..." Kaelar says as Nimora touches her amulet.
"I'm going to have to get one of those..." Kaelar says as Nimora touches her amulet.
Telestial looks around, his eyes hesitating on anyone within earshot.
"My Order protects the city of the one you seek. Specifically certain personages tied to that place. Is there perhaps a more private place to discuss these things?"
His eyes move to the side, to Ethelbert, and he places his palm upon his breast and nods.
"None where Ethelbert would fit," she says, considering the problem. Finally coming to a conclusion she says, "Follow me. I may get in a great deal of trouble over this. I'm not really in my family's good graces right now. I'm supposed to stay in the courtyard until my mother returns from the temple." She moved to one of the doorways that lined the courtyard and swam through leading to a small anteroom lined with coral couches. "This is as private as I can manage right now. Ethelbert, please alert me if anyone approached the gate."
"And now, if you will please forgive my suspicion," she says, fingering the amulet she wore and concentrating. "The ones who stole that which I seek used illusion to cloak themselves."
"Thank you, my Lady. I must apologize for my sudden appearance, and the obvious concerns it raises. My Order has served the city for generations, more specifically the ruling families of that city. We lost 3 of our eight knights in the recent battle. We fear losing more before our numbers can be restored. We fear failure in our task if we do not break protocol and assist you in finding the Prince. His younger brother is a fine lad but too young to serve."
"The Queen isn't aware of this is she?"
"The Queen isn't aware of this is she?"
"She may be, she may be not. Our Order operates both within and without the political machinations of the Court."
"We serve Order. With the king stricken, others may seek to cause... unrest. Our task is keep that from happening. If another family can prove more stable in this time we would support them. At this moment, that is not the case."
"Thank you, my Lady. I must apologize for my sudden appearance, and the obvious concerns it raises. My Order has served the city for generations, more specifically the ruling families of that city. We lost 3 of our eight knights in the recent battle. We fear losing more before our numbers can be restored. We fear failure in our task if we do not break protocol and assist you in finding the Prince. His younger brother is a fine lad but too young to serve."
Nimora relaxes as she sees that he is exactly what he appears.
"I appreciate any assistance in this matter. I don't have your same reasons of duty, but I swear to you I will not rest until I have found Mirathan and found a way to bring him back. That's why I'm here, prepared to eat some humble pie and beg my mother's assistance to try and find where he has been taken."
"She may be, she may be not.
"Well then, the only other thing I need to know then is if you have any leads as to Mirathn's location"
"The Queen isn't aware of this is she?""She may be, she may be not. Our Order operates both within and without the political machinations of the Court."
"We serve Order. With the king stricken, others may seek to cause... unrest. Our task is keep that from happening. If another family can prove more stable in this time we would support them. At this moment, that is not the case."
"Ah. So you are like the Knights of the Pearl that serve the royal family here as well. The ones my mother is still upset with me for not joining," she adds with a shrug and a wry smile.
Nimora relaxes as she sees that he is exactly what he appears.
"I appreciate any assistance in this matter. I don't have your same reasons of duty, but I swear to you I will not rest until I have found Mirathan and found a way to bring him back. That's why I'm here, prepared to eat some humble pie and beg my mother's assistance to try and find where he has been taken."
The knight mulls this over.
"I'm not sure that I can give her any reason to assist us, if I may consider my offer accepted?"
"Also, if you could recall what you know about the abduction it would help. I have learned to only trust part of second hand knowledge, and I'm not sure if you had a chance to fully plead your case before...
He looks at Kaelar ... your misunderstanding."
"Well then, the only other thing I need to know then is if you have any leads as to Mirathn's location""She may be, she may be not.
"Unfortunately know. Our auguries have met with 'resistance'. We could sense the chaos behind the blocks, though."
Nimora relaxes as she sees that he is exactly what he appears.
"I appreciate any assistance in this matter. I don't have your same reasons of duty, but I swear to you I will not rest until I have found Mirathan and found a way to bring him back. That's why I'm here, prepared to eat some humble pie and beg my mother's assistance to try and find where he has been taken."The knight mulls this over.
"I'm not sure that I can give her any reason to assist us, if I may consider my offer accepted?"
"Also, if you could recall what you know about the abduction it would help. I have learned to only trust part of second hand knowledge, and I'm not sure if you had a chance to fully plead your case before...
He looks at Kaelar ... your misunderstanding."
"Kaelar will have to tell you the details. I was rather busy being dead at the time," she says with a grimace.
"Ah. So you are like the Knights of the Pearl that serve the royal family here as well. The ones my mother is still upset with me for not joining," she adds with a shrug and a wry smile."The Queen isn't aware of this is she?""She may be, she may be not. Our Order operates both within and without the political machinations of the Court."
"We serve Order. With the king stricken, others may seek to cause... unrest. Our task is keep that from happening. If another family can prove more stable in this time we would support them. At this moment, that is not the case."
He smiles back. Winningly. This warrior has undeniable charm.
"Perhaps she doesn't realize that the Order serves Rule, but not necessarily the Rulers."
["Kaelar will have to tell you the details. I was rather busy being dead at the time," she says with a grimace.
"By the same hand that slew Mirathan? I wish that I was there to lay my life down for you both."
Once again, he places his palm upon his breast. His eyes speak his sincerity. This is no idle boast.
"Also, if you could recall what you know about the abduction it would help. I have learned to only trust part of second hand knowledge, and I'm not sure if you had a chance to fully plead your case before...
He looks at Kaelar ... your misunderstanding."
The Bard smiles a bit, then remembers the exact details of the abduction. "It is partially my fault, I didn't think the Black would be so bold to enter one of our stronghold so soon after we routed them at the RP." A whorl appears next to him, showing exactly what happened up to the point Kaelar walks into the portal.
"Ah. So you are like the Knights of the Pearl that serve the royal family here as well. The ones my mother is still upset with me for not joining," she adds with a shrug and a wry smile."The Queen isn't aware of this is she?""She may be, she may be not. Our Order operates both within and without the political machinations of the Court."
"We serve Order. With the king stricken, others may seek to cause... unrest. Our task is keep that from happening. If another family can prove more stable in this time we would support them. At this moment, that is not the case."
He smiles back. Winningly. This warrior has undeniable charm.
"Perhaps she doesn't realize that the Order serves Rule, but not necessarily the Rulers."
She looks a little uncomfortable at that. "I've never been so good with rules. Fighting yes, rules not so much. I can't bear to stand by and do nothing when evil is working to cause harm."
The Bard smiles a bit, then remembers the exact details of the abduction. "It is partially my fault, I didn't think the Black would be so bold to enter one of our stronghold so soon after we routed them at the RP." A whorl appears next to him, showing exactly what happened up to the point Kaelar walks into the portal."Also, if you could recall what you know about the abduction it would help. I have learned to only trust part of second hand knowledge, and I'm not sure if you had a chance to fully plead your case before...
He looks at Kaelar ... your misunderstanding."
"I can understand being deceived by them. They have much skill in these sorts of things. The costumes were very genuine. Why did you focus on the seabed outside of the portal?"
"I can understand being deceived by them. They have much skill in these sorts of things. The costumes were very genuine. Why did you focus on the seabed outside of the portal?"
"That is as far as this whorl could go. The portal is still just outside an anti-magic field[i]. Or are you talking about when I tried to scry for Mirathan?"
She looks a little uncomfortable at that. "I've never been so good with rules. Fighting yes, rules not so much. I can't bear to stand by and do nothing when evil is working to cause harm."
"Perhaps she doesn't realize that the Order serves Rule, but not necessarily the Rulers."
"You might make a fine Knight Errant yourself. Remembering that the rules you should serve come first from within. he shrugs We step on flippers a few times ourselves."
"That is as far as this whorl could go. The portal is still just outside an anti-magic field[i]. Or are you talking about when I tried to scry for Mirathan?"
"I can understand being deceived by them. They have much skill in these sorts of things. The costumes were very genuine. Why did you focus on the seabed outside of the portal?"
"When the body was taken. Why did you look past the two you spoke with, into the area beyond the portal?
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"When the body was taken. Why did you look past the two you spoke with, into the area beyond the portal?"That is as far as this whorl could go. The portal is still just outside an anti-magic field[i]. Or are you talking about when I tried to scry for Mirathan?"
"I can understand being deceived by them. They have much skill in these sorts of things. The costumes were very genuine. Why did you focus on the seabed outside of the portal?"
"When the body was taken. Why did you look past the two you spoke with, into the area beyond the portal?"That is as far as this whorl could go. The portal is still just outside an anti-magic field[i]. Or are you talking about when I tried to scry for Mirathan?"
"I can understand being deceived by them. They have much skill in these sorts of things. The costumes were very genuine. Why did you focus on the seabed outside of the portal?"
"When the body was taken. Why did you look past the two you spoke with, into the area beyond the portal?"That is as far as this whorl could go. The portal is still just outside an anti-magic field[i]. Or are you talking about when I tried to scry for Mirathan?"
"I can understand being deceived by them. They have much skill in these sorts of things. The costumes were very genuine. Why did you focus on the seabed outside of the portal?"
"I was was looking at the others on the other side of the portal, there were six more. Why?
"I was was looking at the others on the other side of the portal, there were six more. Why?
"I see only the two. The others must have been illusions. I can't see them. One of my talents, but it can be a problem sometimes."
"I was was looking at the others on the other side of the portal, there were six more. Why?"I see only the two."
"But there were others-" Kaelar turns back to the whorl, changing the veiw of the portal. The six 'sea elves' he saw before are not there. "What could this mean?"
Whoa dude, anybody got some shrooms?
"I was was looking at the others on the other side of the portal, there were six more. Why?"I see only the two.""But there were others-" Kaelar turns back to the whorl, changing the veiw of the portal. The six 'sea elves' he saw before are not there. "What could this mean?"
"It means that the ones who took him were using more magics than you realized at the time. Did they ever even actually go through the portal? Are we even looking in the right places?"
"It means that the ones who took him were using more magics than you realized at the time. Did they ever even actually go through the portal? Are we even looking in the right places?"
"I never even thought of that..." Working furiously, Kaelar draws power from the water that covers the earth. The ocean's vast store of power allows for an extremly strong scrying whorl, along with several equally strong protections.
"Strength of Water,
Both Shallow and Deep,
Show me where Mirathan's
abductors creep."
Wade in the water
Wade in the water children
Wade in the water
Don't you know that
God's gonna trouble the water
Don't you know that
God's gonna trouble the water
I stepped in water and the water is cold
Don't you know that
God's gonna trouble the water
Said it chilled my body but not my soul
Don't you know that
God's gonna trouble the water
Well I went to the water one day to pray
Don't you know that
God's gonna trouble the water
And my soul got happy and I stayed all day
Don't you know that
God's gonna trouble the water
"It means that the ones who took him were using more magics than you realized at the time. Did they ever even actually go through the portal? Are we even looking in the right places?""I never even thought of that..." Working furiously, Kaelar draws power from the water that covers the earth. The ocean's vast store of power allows for an extremly strong scrying whorl, along with several equally strong protections.
"Strength of Water,
Both Shallow and Deep,
Show me where Mirathan's
abductors creep."
The whorls of blue turn to black. A giant hand comes into view, covering your sight but not before a woman's face is partially glimpsed.
"Discord. The Daughters of Discord. I am not surprised. Their coven lives to cause strife."