The dragon laughs - a terrifying sound although it is difficult to be certain if she is amused or angry.
Why? Are you seeking to build yourself a golem and animate it to crush your enemies? Do you intend to use them to make artifacts of unsurpassed power? Do you seek them because you are insecure and need to clutch at them like a blanket when you go to sleep? Do you intend to flaunt them, to bait enemies into the open where you can slay them?
Why do you seek the elements that were scattered of the manifested form, when the spirit is still bound in the world-ash, and with the turning of the centuries it may move on from there, in one way or another?
The dragon laughs - a terrifying sound although it is difficult to be certain if she is amused or angry.
Why? Are you seeking to build yourself a golem and animate it to crush your enemies? Do you intend to use them to make artifacts of unsurpassed power? Do you seek them because you are insecure and need to clutch at them like a blanket when you go to sleep? Do you intend to flaunt them, to bait enemies into the open where you can slay them?
Why do you seek the elements that were scattered of the manifested form, when the spirit is still bound in the world-ash, and with the turning of the centuries it may move on from there, in one way or another?
"I want her back. Alive. If I bring all the pieces to the World Ash, then she'll come back alive. And I won't have to take her place as the goddess. I don't want to be a goddess."
Sister of the air: things happen, often, which we do not want, and I predict that the road ahead for you will be bumpy to say the least, and take you into some very dark and terrible places. If I had an ounce of regular mercy, I would this instant invalidate your errand.
However I can see that the journey and trials may do you good, even if the end may not be to your liking.
She traces the tip of one talon in the air, in a mystic sign, and catches the sack which drops out of the air in one claw. The singing of stars increases slightly. The dragon hefts the sack a moment, then flicks it up, at some speed, in the direction of Arielle.
My guess is that Smagnavast was collecting these for some reason to do with your mother, and her daughter by the stone lord may as well have them, for asking so boldly.
Arielle catches the sack, but Djuhah has to move very quickly to catch her from falling over the edge.
"Thank you," She calls out to the dragon, clutching the bundle of stars tightly.
The others I have I keep - for I am Eiboria, Reaper of Stars, and I have enemies to bait and hunt. You will need a more convincing arguement than 'I don't want to be a goddess' to convince me to even step within your designs.
With a nimble flick of her wings, the dragon takes to the air, and storms skyward, the singing of at least one star diminishing and withdrawing from Arielle with the dragon's departure.
Devlyn looks over at Azuri'ith as he helps Djuhah pull Arielle and the bag back from the edge.
"Sooo...do you get a lot of dragons here, or is it just the occasional happenstance?"
Devlyn looks over at Azuri'ith as he helps Djuhah pull Arielle and the bag back from the edge.
"Sooo...do you get a lot of dragons here, or is it just the occasional happenstance?"
"Lately it seems to be becoming a bit of a habit," Djuhah says. He turns to Arielle. "You cannot be so careless with your safety, young miss. I shudder to think what your mother would do if anything happened to you while we were supposed to be taking care of you. Do not scare us like that again," he added sternly.
Arielle nods vaguely, but it's pretty clear she's not listening to a word he says. She sits on the ground and opens the sack, carefullly taking out each star, holding it close for a moment and then putting it inside her pouch.
"Lately it seems to be becoming a bit of a habit," Djuhah says. He turns to Arielle. "You cannot be so careless with your safety, young miss. I shudder to think what your mother would do if anything happened to you while we were supposed to be taking care of you. Do not scare us like that again," he added sternly.
"You might want to invest in a few protective spells and items for her, just to be safe."
He peeks over the edge.
"Something in feather fall white would be my first humble suggestion," he says with a faint smile.
Arielle nods vaguely, but it's pretty clear she's not listening to a word he says. She sits on the ground and opens the sack, carefullly taking out each star, holding it close for a moment and then putting it inside her pouch.
Devlyn crouches down near Arielle, watching her as she handles the stars for a moment. He then speaks to the others.
"Do we have any idea about who else may have these that won't return them out of the kindness of their hearts?"
Arielle nods vaguely, but it's pretty clear she's not listening to a word he says. She sits on the ground and opens the sack, carefullly taking out each star, holding it close for a moment and then putting it inside her pouch.Devlyn crouches down near Arielle, watching her as she handles the stars for a moment. He then speaks to the others.
"Do we have any idea about who else may have these that won't return them out of the kindness of their hearts?"
Arielle looks up briefly. "There are currently six pieces left out there somewhere in the material world. I don't know how many pieces are in the Realm of Dream. The dragon kept at least one piece for herself." Arielle goes back to her task.
"Based on that it seems likely that any who currently possess stars are unlikely to want to give them up. This task is about to become much more difficult."
Arielle looks up briefly. "There are currently six pieces left out there somewhere in the material world. I don't know how many pieces are in the Realm of Dream. The dragon kept at least one piece for herself." Arielle goes back to her task.
"Based on that it seems likely that any who currently possess stars are unlikely to want to give them up. This task is about to become much more difficult."
"So that dragon has one, and there are five more unaccounted for. Which means we need to find out everything we can about who or what is in possession of them (unless we get lucky and they haven't been found by anyone yet.)"
"Now - is this 'Realm of Dream' place a literal plane of dreaming? Is that why Arielle can't sense how many stars are there?"
"Yes it is a seperate plane. Arielle's mother ventured there once, to bring back the Fire Flower's soul which had gotten lost there. I cannot enter the Realm of Dream, so Arielle will need other guardians when she ventures there."
"Yes it is a seperate plane. Arielle's mother ventured there once, to bring back the Fire Flower's soul which had gotten lost there. I cannot enter the Realm of Dream, so Arielle will need other guardians when she ventures there."
"I'm sure it's changed a lot since last time," he mutters to himself.
"We should probably try to get the last ones that are here first - or at least find out where they are if they have been claimed and have them watched - before trying to go to this place. Unless we want to hit both planes simultaneously once we find the other five that are here..."
"I'm sure it's changed a lot since last time," he mutters to himself.
We should probably try to get the last ones that are here first - or at least find out where they are if they have been claimed and have them watched - before trying to go to this place. Unless we want to hit both planes simultaneously once we find the other five that are here..."
Yes, I think that we should find all of the pieces that are on this plane first. It will be hard to find the pieces in the dreamlands, and the more pieces the child has the easier it seems to be for her to find the rest.
Yes, I think that we should find all of the pieces that are on this plane first. It will be hard to find the pieces in the dreamlands, and the more pieces the child has the easier it seems to be for her to find the rest.
"Alright. Do you think there is any merit in Arielle giving us the general locations for the other five stars, then sending scouts or using divining magics to recon the areas around those locations?"
"Alright. Do you think there is any merit in Arielle giving us the general locations for the other five stars, then sending scouts or using divining magics to recon the areas around those locations?"
"It is not something I had given much thought to. Up until she got this last group of stars, Arielle was not able to pinpoint locations with much accuracy, but now...Yes, I think that could be a very good idea."
"It is not something I had given much thought to. Up until she got this last group of stars, Arielle was not able to pinpoint locations with much accuracy, but now...Yes, I think that could be a very good idea."
"Then if there is a place here that especially favors divining abilities, we should go there (after Arielle rests) to map out where the other stars are. It will also allow Arielle to hone and hopefully refine her 'starsense' in a safe environment before we have to go to the Realm of Dreams."
"It is not something I had given much thought to. Up until she got this last group of stars, Arielle was not able to pinpoint locations with much accuracy, but now...Yes, I think that could be a very good idea.""Then if there is a place here that especially favors divining abilities, we should go there (after Arielle rests) to map out where the other stars are. It will also allow Arielle to hone and hopefully refine her 'starsense' in a safe environment before we have to go to the Realm of Dreams."
The Place of the Winds is not far from here. It is the only site that favors divining abilities. But I wonder if Arielle wouldn't have an easier time finding them from here. Or perhaps from the Grove.
"And we also need to get everyone we can involved in this. The sooner we get moving, the better our chances of succeeding without any more violence."
Devlyn activates his communication crystal.
"Nimora, Mirathan, Kaelar...can you folks hear me? It's Devlyn. Are you all okay?"
The Place of the Winds is not far from here. It is the only site that favors divining abilities. But I wonder if Arielle wouldn't have an easier time finding them from here. Or perhaps from the Grove.
Devlyn deactivates his crystal.
"She seemed closely bound to the Grove, yes. Though this place seems made for her. Whichever one you think would work best."
"Grandpa," she says, tugging on his hand. "I think some shinies might be coming through a portal from somewhere else. I can't quite find exactly where yet."
"Oh no! They're at the bazaar. The shinies are going in all different directions. We have to get them back!"
"We have to go. We have to go now. I don't care about bedtimes or any of that. We have to go now."
Azuri'ith turns to the others. "You may accompany us if you wish. I do not understand why she feels so urgently about this, but I will not argue the point. Not when my granddaughter's life depends on it. We are going back to the Bazaar now."
Azuri'ith turns to the others. "You may accompany us if you wish. I do not understand why she feels so urgently about this, but I will not argue the point. Not when my granddaughter's life depends on it. We are going back to the Bazaar now."
"Alright, let's get to the Bazaar now and see what's going on."
The group goes to the omniportal and travels to the Bazaar of the Bizarre.
The omniportal flashes and JH steps thru. He heads to Lyn's rooms.
The omniportal flashes and JH steps thru. He heads to Lyn's rooms.
The omniportal flashes and JH steps thru. He heads to Lyn's rooms.
Arielle hesitates as they are about to step into the portal. "Wait. There's someone coming. They have shinies."
As JH is just looking around, intending to head to LJ's room..
Arielle runs over to JH and hugs him tightly.
Arielle hesitates as they are about to step into the portal. "Wait. There's someone coming. They have shinies."
As JH is just looking around, intending to head to LJ's room..
Arielle runs over to JH and hugs him tightly.
JH kneels, his breathing heavy, and his hands shaking. She has Lyn's smile. His voice quivers with emotion. The strongest he has felt since he awakened. He hugs her gently, tears streaming down his face.
"Hello, Arielle."
Arielle hesitates as they are about to step into the portal. "Wait. There's someone coming. They have shinies."
As JH is just looking around, intending to head to LJ's room..
Arielle runs over to JH and hugs him tightly.
As Arielle barrels into her father, Devlyn doesn't even bother to stifle the smile on his face.
"Good to see you again, man."
Turning to Azuri'ith and whispers, "I wish we could leave them here for a while, but I don't think we have the luxury right now..."
Arielle hesitates as they are about to step into the portal. "Wait. There's someone coming. They have shinies."
As JH is just looking around, intending to head to LJ's room..
Arielle runs over to JH and hugs him tightly.
As Arielle barrels into her father, Devlyn doesn't even bother to stifle the smile on his face.
"Good to see you again, man."
"And you. All of you."
"And you. All of you."
"I don't know how much you know about what's going on right now, but your daughter can track down the 'stars' that make up LJ's corporeal form. A bunch of them just appeared at the Bazaar, and are moving now. We're going there to get them before they fall into the wrong hands. Are you up for the trip?"
"I'm so glad you're here, Daddy," she says, looking up at him trustingly with her big green eyes. "We really do need to hurry right now though. We need to get all the pieces of mommy put back together, and so many of them are starting to move off in different directions right now."
"Shinies?" He reaches up his right hand and tugs Arielle's ear slightly. He holds out a 'shiny' in his hand.
"Like this one?"
He repeats the trick on the other side.
"Or this one?" He reveals a second.
"Doesn't anyone check to make sure she cleans her ears properly?"
His eyes don't stray from Arielle's as he performs this 'magic'.
Arielle giggles and claps her hands, delighted at this new trick. "How did you do that, Daddy?"
Arielle giggles and claps her hands, delighted at this new trick. "How did you do that, Daddy?"
JH smiles.
"Your mommy said she'd leave them somewhere safe. I saw the sparkle in your eyes and figured I'd check your ears. Here you hold onto them.""Your mommy also wants you to hold onto these for her." He clasps the bracers onto her tiny arms, the magic sizing them down just right.
"She said she loves you and can't wait to give you hugs herself."
Arielle giggles and claps her hands, delighted at this new trick. "How did you do that, Daddy?"JH smiles.
"Your mommy said she'd leave them somewhere safe. I saw the sparkle in your eyes and figured I'd check your ears. Here you hold onto them.""Your mommy also wants you to hold onto these for her." He clasps the bracers onto her tiny arms, the magic sizing them down just right.
"She said she loves you and can't wait to give you hugs herself."
Arielle hugs the stars tight, humming along with them for a moment before dropping them into her bag with the others.
She looks at the bracers. "They're pretty. One's an eagle, and what is the other one? I don't know the right word."
"You talked to my mommy? I want to meet her so much. I can hardly wait. We need to hurry and go get the rest of the stars now, Daddy."
"She's right. We need to get over there now and get those other stars."
"The other is a lioness. A creature of power and beauty."
"Let's go see what we can find at the Bazaar."
Holding her hand, they head to the Bazaar.
Lk is awed by the Eyrie, and loves the food offered, even the veggies. His eyes change slightly and he growls softly at the dragon as it entered and for a while after it was gone. He calmed down when JH arrived and tried to keep out of Sky's sight, not knowing Azuri'ith had already sent a messenger to his father. He follows Arielle and JH to the Bazaar.
After trying another flute lesson, and feeding the hatchlings another meal, Blodwen is about at her limit of how much sound she can take.
:I think I need to go out for a bit. Scout the area and all that. Perhaps when I get back Keehaar would like a flying lesson?: