"The carnival! Yes, I know where this is! Kaelar, can you take us back to the Oasis quickly with your whorls? We have no time to lose. Ethelbert, I am sorry, I wish that you could help us fight them. I really wish it. You would be invaluable at it. But the carnival is on dry land." She turns to Telestial. "Are you able to fight on land? I know that I was quite hopeless at it before Kaelar gave me this magical tattoo. It makes the webbing recede so I don't trip over my own feet. If you can't come with us, then I will call on Devlyn and Allura for help, as I told them I would if I had need of them. I will not fail at this, I promise you. I will bring Mirathan back, no matter the cost."
Melusine comes swimming out from the citadel after an hour has elapsed.
My divinations have determined that the soul of your friend Mirathan is trapped in some sort of orb, and is being held in a place known as the Carnival of Shadows. The Priestesses of Discord have made their home there for the moment.
She looks to Nimora.
I am assuming you have to finish your quest. I expect you will fufill our bargain after its completion. I will advance the plans and expect you back here within three tides . Agreed?
"The carnival! Yes, I know where this is! Kaelar, can you take us back to the Oasis quickly with your whorls? We have no time to lose. Ethelbert, I am sorry, I wish that you could help us fight them. I really wish it. You would be invaluable at it. But the carnival is on dry land." She turns to Telestial. "Are you able to fight on land? I know that I was quite hopeless at it before Kaelar gave me this magical tattoo. It makes the webbing recede so I don't trip over my own feet. If you can't come with us, then I will call on Devlyn and Allura for help, as I told them I would if I had need of them. I will not fail at this, I promise you. I will bring Mirathan back, no matter the cost."
Her excitement ebbs as she says this last, and her mother's words sink in. "Yes, Mother, I understand," she says, regretfully. "As I said, no matter the cost. My happiness is no more important to me than my life, and I have already given that once to try and protect him. I will return as I agreed."
"Yes, I can fight on dry land if need be. What is this Carnival? Will we face large numbers?
..."As I said, no matter the cost. My happiness is no more important to me than my life, and I have already given that once to try and protect him. I will return as I agreed."Joren smirks
I'm sure you'll love Blurghoot. He may be a bit surly and he doesn't like reading or music, but his devotion to his hippocampus shows he can love some things I suppose ...
Telestial notes the name, and says nothing. He's quite good at political math.
"Kaelar, can you take us back to the Oasis quickly with your whorls?"
"With ease."
*Almost as soon as he stops speaking, a whorl with the Oasis showing in its depths appears behind him.*
Telestial turns and bows his head, before departing.
"Thank you my Lady, my Lord, for your assistance. Please keep us in your prayers whilst we attempt to rescue the Prince."
With that, he turns and swims towards his seahorse, retrieving some items from the saddlebags and his shield. He whispers into its ear and lets it swim off. At the flick of a button, his trident changes into a spear. Finally ready, he heads into the whorl.
"Yes, I can fight on dry land if need be. What is this Carnival? Will we face large numbers?
"It is a group of crazed evil people putting on macabre 'shows' as near as I can tell. I don't know about numbers. They lost quite a few of their people in the battle. But there is supposed to be an Erinyes there. And probably still a few others."
"Kaelar, can you take us back to the Oasis quickly with your whorls?""With ease."
*Almost as soon as he stops speaking, a whorl with the Oasis showing in its depths appears behind him.*
"Thank you, Kaelar."
She turns to her mother and brother. "Thank you for your assistance. I will return after I have rescued Mirathan."And with that she swims through the whorl back to the Oasis.
Aidan greets Nimora with the welcome of a good friend.
Aidan greets Nimora with the welcome of a good friend.
"Aidan, my friend, I am very glad to see that you survived the battle. I am sorry that I cannot stay, but some very bad people have stolen Mirathan and I need to go and rescue him. They have taken him to the carnival. I understand if you don't want to think about that awful place, but anything you can tell me would be appreciated. I'd like to be well prepared when we arrive."
As Telestial steps out of the pool his form changes. He becomes a land elf in appearance. His cloak no longer looks like water, but rather empty air, that makes sections of his body disappear altogether. The change of scenery doesn't seem to faze him at all.
Aidan greets Nimora with the welcome of a good friend."Aidan, my friend, I am very glad to see that you survived the battle. I am sorry that I cannot stay, but some very bad people have stolen Mirathan and I need to go and rescue him. They have taken him to the carnival. I understand if you don't want to think about that awful place, but anything you can tell me would be appreciated. I'd like to be well prepared when we arrive."
"Um... I don't know anything about it really, but I know someone who might, wait here." He runs to another part of the Oasis, and returns followed by Oroth.
"I am told you want to know about the Carnival. What exactly do you need to know? I'll even fight with you. I'll take any chance I can to get back at those carnies for what they did to... I'll fight, that's all that matters to me."
"What can you tell me about the Carnival? The ones who took Mirathan are there and I need to know everything about the place I can so we can go and save him. I won't turn away your help if you want to come with us."
"I am told you want to know about the Carnival. What exactly do you need to know? I'll even fight with you. I'll take any chance I can to get back at those carnies for what they did to... I'll fight, that's all that matters to me."
"Numbers, defenses, wards, spellcasters or fighters? Surgical strike or overwhelming force?"
"The Daughters of Discord may escape if we allow them the opportunity to bolt."
"I am told you want to know about the Carnival. What exactly do you need to know? I'll even fight with you. I'll take any chance I can to get back at those carnies for what they did to... I'll fight, that's all that matters to me.""Numbers, defenses, wards, spellcasters or fighters? Surgical strike or overwhelming force?"
"The Daughters of Discord may escape if we allow them the opportunity to bolt."
"Anything you can tell us will help," she agreed. "I don't know how much their numbers may have been diminished in the recent battle, but I'd rather not let the Daughters of Discord get away from us while we're occupied trying to fight through their servants."
"What can you tell me about the Carnival? The ones who took Mirathan are there and I need to know everything about the place I can so we can go and save him. I won't turn away your help if you want to come with us."
"Oh, I do. Nothing but a bunch of freaks reside in that place. Last I was there, I saw a fallen angel, a priestess, an evil clown or two, a child that I rescued, and those sick enough to attend the Carnival for entertainmennt."
"I am told you want to know about the Carnival. What exactly do you need to know? I'll even fight with you. I'll take any chance I can to get back at those carnies for what they did to... I'll fight, that's all that matters to me.""Numbers, defenses, wards, spellcasters or fighters? Surgical strike or overwhelming force?"
"The Daughters of Discord may escape if we allow them the opportunity to bolt."
"A distraction might work best. The preistess should be a caster, while I think the fallen one is into mellee. I'm not sure not sure about the others. I'll serve as your distraction while your group finds Mirathan's body."
"Thank you Oroth." She looks around at the others. "Everyone ready to go?"
"The Daughters are shapeshifters, so if they have a moment they can be anyone or anything. True Seeing is only efective part of the time. They also specialize in Chaos magic, both arcane and divine. They're usually not good at hand to hand, but they also use poisons."
"Do you have anything that can Anchor them, to stop them teleporting? Or something that can limit their changing form? Silence should help as well."
"At the very least try to break the orbs. Freeing Mirathan is more important than capturing those eels. Perhaps a stealthy surprise attack on the orbs if they're out in the open?"
"The Daughters are shapeshifters, so if they have a moment they can be anyone or anything. True Seeing is only efective part of the time. They also specialize in Chaos magic, both arcane and divine. They're usually not good at hand to hand, but they also use poisons."
"Do you have anything that can Anchor them, to stop them teleporting? Or something that can limit their changing form? Silence should help as well."
"At the very least try to break the orbs. Freeing Mirathan is more important than capturing those eels. Perhaps a stealthy surprise attack on the orbs if they're out in the open?"
"I don't have any magics. All I have is my trident and my force web. And an amulet of true seeing. Nothing to anchor them. I'm sorry I'm not more help. I'm a fighter not a caster."
"Do you have anything that can Anchor them, to stop them teleporting? Or something that can limit their changing form? Silence should help as well."
"I do not, my powers are.. different. I'll try to distract them as long as you need, but I didn't exactly leave there on the best of terms last time."
"I'm ready Nimora." Kaelar has exchanged his rapier for his quarterstaff.
Nimora heads towards the omniportal and dials it for the carnival.
"Let's go."
Kaelar and Oroth walk into the portal, ready for battle.
Telestial follows along, shifting 3 white pearls in his weaponhand.
Just as the group heads for the omniportal it flashes. A dark-haired girl appears, looking ill at ease
"Umm, hello."
Just as the group heads for the omniportal it flashes. A dark-haired girl appears, looking ill at ease
"Umm, hello."
Looking at her coldly, The Bard appears calm. "Hello Serafina."
Just as the group heads for the omniportal it flashes. A dark-haired girl appears, looking ill at ease
"Umm, hello."
"Hello. I is not being know who you is, but I is not having time to chat now. Please to be making yourself at home. We is being go to evil carnival if anyone is being ask."
With that she dashes through the portal with the others.
Despite the urgentness of the situation, Kaelar secretly remains behind.
Serafina sighs, and looks at the disappearing party
I want to help ...
She heads back to the omniportal and flashes out
Serafina sighs, and looks at the disappearing party
I want to help ...
She heads back to the omniportal and flashes out
"We will see..." The Bard heads for the Carnival.
"We will see..." The Bard heads for the Carnival.Serafina sighs, and looks at the disappearing party
I want to help ...
She heads back to the omniportal and flashes out
Esmerelda sighs, appearing.
"Not a happy tale...this is awful. Things are not getting any better."
The battle over, Kaelar returns to the Oasis, laying in the shallows on the nearest pool, robes and all. He sighs contently, and watches the clouds moving through the sky.
A couple days after the battle, Kaelar receives a message from Nimora through the communication crystal that she is in the Pearl of the South, that Mirathan is recovering, though she hasn't seen him in person yet and wants to give him as much space as he needs considering, and that Kaelar is invited to Mirathan's coronation if he wishes to attend.
Kaelar and Nimora hear their communication crystals come to life (not sure if Mirathan still has his on him or not). Devlyn's voice is heard:
"Guys - I need someone to come to the Carnival of Shadows right now and help Oroth. He's been badly hurt by some kind of shadow creature who can either look like a big black cat, or a dark imitation of me (his eyes are very different from mine). I'm trying to keep this thing occupied and I need someone to get Oroth out of here and healed."
Kaelar and Nimora hear their communication crystals come to life (not sure if Mirathan still has his on him or not). Devlyn's voice is heard:
"Guys - I need someone to come to the Carnival of Shadows right now and help Oroth. He's been badly hurt by some kind of shadow creature who can either look like a big black cat, or a dark imitation of me (his eyes are very different from mine). I'm trying to keep this thing occupied and I need someone to get Oroth out of here and healed."
"I got this," Allura says, via her own comm crystal. "I was on my way back to the Sanctum, so I'll be there in a few seconds."
Devlyn and Allura reappear at the heart of the Oasis. Devlyn quickly takes off his Haversack and opens it, pulling Oroth out of the main compartment and laying him gently on the ground.
Devlyn and Allura take Oroth to Sirone to make sure he needs no other healing, and to watch over him until he awakens.
"Thanks for the help, sirrah," Devlyn says quietly in Oroth's ear as they finish moving him. They return to the main pool so they may talk without disturbing them.
"So how's our terrified politician doing at the Sanctum - a little more at ease, I hope?"
Devlyn and Allura take Oroth to Sirone to make sure he needs no other healing, and to watch over him until he awakens.
"Thanks for the help, sirrah," Devlyn says quietly in Oroth's ear as they finish moving him. They return to the main pool so they may talk without disturbing them.
"So how's our terrified politician doing at the Sanctum - a little more at ease, I hope?"
"Yes, but I think that he may be more difficult to help than we had anticipated. I met the strangest woman at the slave markets. Some sort of demon lord. Who likes to wear pink. And serve tea and crumpets. It was a...memorable, for lack of a better term, meeting. She suggested that the devils he sold his soul to would not let go of him easily, and that if they had a vial of his blood that they could use it to scry on his immediate surroundings. Now I don't think she was aware that those surroundings are protected by a god, but she did seem to be quite aware of Arielle and her quest, so this is obviously not good."
"Yes, but I think that he may be more difficult to help than we had anticipated. I met the strangest woman at the slave markets. Some sort of demon lord. Who likes to wear pink. And serve tea and crumpets. It was a...memorable, for lack of a better term, meeting. She suggested that the devils he sold his soul to would not let go of him easily, and that if they had a vial of his blood that they could use it to scry on his immediate surroundings. Now I don't think she was aware that those surroundings are protected by a god, but she did seem to be quite aware of Arielle and her quest, so this is obviously not good."
"Weeellll - this is just turning into a peach of a day, isn't it?" he says with a dry chuckle.
"Have you had a chance to tell Sunny G or Alaina about this yet?"
"Weeellll - this is just turning into a peach of a day, isn't it?" he says with a dry chuckle.
"Have you had a chance to tell Sunny G or Alaina about this yet?"
She shook her head. "I was on my way back to the Sanctum when I got your distress call."
She shook her head. "I was on my way back to the Sanctum when I got your distress call."
"Weeellll - this is just turning into a peach of a day, isn't it?" he says with a dry chuckle.
"Have you had a chance to tell Sunny G or Alaina about this yet?"
Aaaahhh, right. Sorry about that, love, but I was quite distressed by that little encounter. He had really bad breath," he says with a grin as he gives her a quick kiss, then starts heading for the omniportal.
"Shall we pop over quickly to tell them, or just use the crystal to tell Alaina?"
Aaaahhh, right. Sorry about that, love, but I was a bit distressed by that little encounter. He really had bad breath," he says as he gives her a quick kiss and starts heading for the omniportal.
"Shall we pop over quickly to tell them, or just use the crystal to tell Alaina?"
"This should probably be told in person. I think Oroth will be as all right as he's going to be here in Sirone's care. Let's go," she says, reaching for his hand and giving it a quick squeeze as she climbs up on the omniportal with him.
"This should probably be told in person. I think Oroth will be as all right as he's going to be here in Sirone's care. Let's go," she says, reaching for his hand and giving it a quick squeeze as she climbs up on the omniportal with him.
Aaaahhh, right. Sorry about that, love, but I was a bit distressed by that little encounter. He really had bad breath," he says as he gives her a quick kiss and starts heading for the omniportal.
"Shall we pop over quickly to tell them, or just use the crystal to tell Alaina?"
He squeezes her hand back, and they step through to the Sanctum of the Sun.
A couple days after the battle, Kaelar receives a message from Nimora through the communication crystal that she is in the Pearl of the South, that Mirathan is recovering, though she hasn't seen him in person yet and wants to give him as much space as he needs considering, and that Kaelar is invited to Mirathan's coronation if he wishes to attend.
"I'm allowed back am I? Well, I shall gladly attend."
*He collects some more formal robes, and steps into the portal, starting his way to the Pearl.*