Taliciah says, "You can't be good at gathering intelligence if you don't practice gathering intelligence."
You exclaim, "Right!"
You nibble your lip thoughtfully.
You say, "Quests... cantrips... sects..."
You rub your head.
Taliciah nods.
Taliciah says, "It's a lot."
You say, "No one TOLD me."
You say, "All Kssarh does is mutter and scold."
Taliciah nods.
Taliciah says, "Kssarh is sort of useless."
You say, "Some people think he broke me..."
You frown.
Taliciah says, "Although I do find him a little entertaining."
Taliciah asks, "Do they? Did he?"
You say, "I don't know. Maybe."
You say, "He yelled a lot, during my first lessons. I don't think I was able to listen properly."
You say, "I'm missing SOMETHING."
Taliciah nods.
Taliciah says, "He thinks if you don't understand, he needs to just yell louder."
Taliciah says, "Not everybody learns that way."
You say, "Or I THINK I'm missing something, because the way I understand it doesn't make enough sense to try it... and if I try it and it doesn't work... no... I need to do it right the first time."
You ask, "But I don't think I understand it, so I don't know if I'm missing something or not?"
(Taliciah nods thoughtfully.)
You rub your head.
Taliciah says, "You need more skillful teachers."
Taliciah says, "A good teacher would notice if you were struggling and try something different."
You say, "I wish my sister would join the moon mage guild... she was always good at explaining things. She could tell me if I understand it right, but I don't think anyone else can explain it..."
You wave your hand distractedly.
Taliciah asks, "Is your sister around here?"
You say, "No..."
Taliciah asks, "Where does your family live?"
You ask, "Sunfall Hub. You wanted to go on the quest, though?"
Taliciah says, "Oh, not right immediately. Not the astral travel quest. I don't think I'm prepared."
Taliciah says, "Unless you'd like to learn general knowledge about cantrips."
You lean forward and rest your chin in your hand, a thoughtful expression on your face.
You slowly ask, "Yes?"
Taliciah asks, "That is closer and possibly less likely to die?"
Taliciah says, "Especially if we are together."
You give a slight nod.
You say, "I do not like chances of death."
You frown.
You say, "Though I see it... almost constantly."
You say, "For instance."
Taliciah asks, "Have you learned the Whole Displacement spell?"
You nod to Taliciah.
Taliciah says, "I think if we go before Katamba sets, we can be much safer."
You say, "In one possible future, I can sense that there is an owl flying over the city, and it is carrying a rock, which it drops right outside the door as I step outside."
Taliciah winces.
Taliciah says, "That seems true."
You say, "It is one of thousands of possibilities."
Taliciah says, "But it seems like it's a very unlikely future."
You say, "More than that."
Taliciah asks, "You see that all the time?"
You look at Taliciah and shrug.
You say, "If I try and focus."
You say, "I've been trying not to focus."
Taliciah nods.
Taliciah says, "I know that isn't a prediction since I know how you feel about predictions."
(Taliciah notices the oatcake in her hand.)
Taliciah nibbles on her oatcake, finishing it.
You say, "A prediction is knowing which future is the right one."
Taliciah cocks her head.
Taliciah says, "I'm not sure that's always true."
You ask, "Isn't it?"
Taliciah asks, "I think maybe it's a slightly more possible future?"
Taliciah shrugs.
Taliciah says, "I may not be the person to ask, but I don't think it is."
You frown.
You say, "Well."
Taliciah says, "There's simply not enough certainly for me around a prediction, most of the time."
You say, "Fate is not entirely fate."
Taliciah says, "Precisely."
You say, "Once you know the future, its no longer the future, because knowing it, you will react differently."
Taliciah says, "I do not believe that the stars control everything."
You say, "Someone did a prediction once, he saw something bad, and decided to stay home instead of hunting. The bad thing never happened. His prediction never came true."
You ask, "But it WAS going to, if he hadn't predicted?"
You nibble your lip thoughtfully.
Taliciah says, "It's certainly possible."
You groan.
You fall down on the cot!
Taliciah says, "But it's also possible he could have stayed home and had a bad thing happen."
Taliciah exclaims, "That's why I say what I say about predictions!"
You slowly say, "Right..."
You say, "He predicted one future, changed it, and made another happen, which he was unaware of."
You ask, "They seem useless, then, don't they?"
Taliciah exclaims, "That's what I think!"
You say, "Even if you work towards the future you predict, the very act of trying could cause it to not happen."
You whine and complain, probably annoying anyone within earshot.
Taliciah says, "I will practice predictions, but I can't put any real stock in them."
You ask, "But--at the same time, predicting... it empties your head from all this stellar influence?"
You say, "I just want to stop seeing things, now..."
Taliciah frowns.
You climb off the cot.
You say, "Not like Korya..."
Taliciah says, "Do you feel like..."
You exclaim, "I mean I want to drain my knowledge of celestial events!"
Taliciah asks, "Like you have too much stellar influence?"
You weakly ask, "Kind of?"
You say, "I feel like I know everything there is to know... and yet I can't DO anything with that knowledge."
You say, "I can't use it, I can't forget it."
You ask, "At first... it was just a little bit... it was like--Seer's Sense?"
Taliciah tilts her head inquisitively.
You say, "That's supposed to help you focus on the immediate possibilities. When you're fighting, you can narrow the actions of your foes down to a few simple moves, and react to them before they happen... is how its explained to me."
You ask, "A few, like one or two?"
You say, "When I use it... its more like... one or two hundred."
Taliciah nods.
Taliciah says, "I see."
You ask, "But if I focus on it while fighting, I can see impossible things happening. What am I supposed to do with the idea that while fighting a goblin, a giant worm breaks from the ground and swallows it up if I push it back right at this moment?"
You exclaim, "That's never happened, and yet there is a possibility it COULD happen, and so that is something I see, admist every other thing!"
You growl ferociously!
Taliciah says, "Hmm."
You exclaim, "A hundred deaths, every time I open my mind to it! You, me, the neighbours next door!"
Taliciah says, "I see the dilemma."
You exclaim, "A meteor strikes the city every bloody minute!"
Taliciah says, "I have no idea how to solve that."
(Cleyra presses her paws to her face and pulls her features down with a moan.)
You let out an exasperated, "Pbpbpb."
You breathe very slowly and deliberately, calming yourself.
Taliciah says, "But I understand what you are saying."
Taliciah asks, "I wonder how common that is?"
Taliciah asks, "To be overwhelmed by all of the different possible futures?"
Taliciah says, "Also, I'm going to only overwhelm you with one possible future right now. I got us an escort."
You blink at Taliciah.
You say, "Um."
Taliciah says, "You should, um, make sure you have some armor."
Taliciah nods.
You nod.
Taliciah says, "It's only pale grey death spirits."
You say, "Yes, I have armor under my coat."
Taliciah waves her hand distractedly.
Taliciah nods.
Taliciah says, "Good."
You grin weakly.
You ask, "Secret time over?"
Taliciah nods.
You snap your furry fingers.
You say, "After you, m'lady."
You unlock the door.
You open the door.
Taliciah says, "Not everything I've said is secret."
Taliciah says, "But some things are intended just for your ears."
You perk up your ears happily.
Taliciah says, "As a potention recruit."
You groom your ears carefully, then run your fingers over your mane.
Taliciah grins.
Taliciah walks through the door.
You walk through the door.
______
[Taliciah's Home]
Also here: Scholar Taliciah, Leshya Vesa Ikevindy who is sitting on the chaise.
Taliciah beams at Ikevindy!
You quirk both ears outward for a moment, blinking at Ikevindy in surprise.
You exclaim, "Hello!"
Taliciah pulls Ikevindy to her in a tight hug.
Ikevindy beams!
Ikevindy pulls Taliciah to him in a tight hug.
Taliciah says, "I understand that you've seen each other recently. Not from spying or anything like that."
You exclaim, "You're back from Ratha!"
Ikevindy laughs at Taliciah.
You nod to Taliciah.
Ikevindy quietly says, "I'm not quite sure how i made it back."
Ikevindy scratches his head.
The door suddenly slams shut!
Taliciah shakes her head.
Taliciah says, "Oh! Sorry."
Ikevindy quietly says, "A bit of a blur."
(Taliciah glares at the door)
Taliciah says, "I imagine you must have some stories."
Taliciah gnaws on her lip.
You angle your ears forward, gazing curiously at Taliciah.
You glance at a door.
You tap a door.
Taliciah says to you, "It's very slammy."
Ikevindy chuckles.
You say, "Oh. Right, Korya said you didn't have siblings either."
Taliciah says, "I don't, no."
Taliciah tilts her head inquisitively.
You pat Taliciah on the back.
Taliciah asks, "Is that something that changes when you have siblings?"
Ikevindy quietly exclaims to Taliciah, "Oh yes, my king protea blossom spoke to me!"
Ikevindy gets a king protea blossom from inside his grey apron.
Taliciah blinks.
Ikevindy shows Taliciah his protea blossom.
You twitch an ear at Ikevindy nervously.
(Taliciah stares at the blossom.)
Taliciah asks, "What, er... what did it have to say?"
You say, "It said 'yesss....'."
Ikevindy quietly says to Taliciah, "I think even Cleyra heard it."
Ikevindy nods at you, obviously agreeing with your views.
Ikevindy slowly says, "Most curious."
Taliciah asks, "What was it responding to?"
Taliciah says, "Indeed, most curious."
You say to Taliciah, "And yes. When you have brothers and sisters, you can sleep through the door being slammed a hundred times. If you're lucky enough to have a door. Most homes in Sunfall don't."
You snicker.
Ikevindy quietly says to Taliciah, "I think it was responding to Miskton's vision, or mayhaps from me smelling it."
Taliciah says, "Oh. Well. It is true that there was extremely little door slamming in my home."
Taliciah chuckles.
Taliciah asks, "One or the other of those?"
Taliciah says, "Remarkable."
Ikevindy chuckles at Taliciah.
You say, "I was a little too startled by it speaking--or the appearance of it speaking--to remember what the context was, myself."
Taliciah asks, "Were there bards nearby?"
Ikevindy laughs!
Taliciah says, "They can be quite the tricksters."
Ikevindy quietly says, "That's actually what i was wondering."
Ikevindy quietly says, "Navesi was there."
You say, "Mazrian tried to make my rat speak before, so it could have been someone being sneaky and using the atrium's interior to project their sounds to make it seem as though the flower spoke..."
Ikevindy nods to you.
Ikevindy quietly says, "That is more or less what i had assumed."
Ikevindy quietly says, "Something sneaky."
You say, "Korya wouldn't have been fooled by it."
You let out an exasperated, "Pbpbpb."
Ikevindy puts his blossom in his grey apron.
Taliciah says, "I'd like to ask this king protea blossom some follow up questions."
You snicker at Taliciah.
Ikevindy chuckles.
Taliciah asks, "Like, where were you on the night of the 3rd day of Lirisa the Archer?"
Taliciah squints.
Ikevindy chuckles.
Ikevindy adds to Taliciah's praises.
Taliciah says, "Silence. I see."
Ikevindy quietly exclaims to Taliciah, "Now if only you'd been there!"
You ask, "Which year?"
Taliciah says, "Highly suspicious."
Taliciah says, "437."
Taliciah says, "I don't expect a king protea blossom to remember anything further back then that."
You ponder.
Ikevindy chuckles.
Taliciah says, "Now."
You say, "Three months ago... third day... night... depending on the hour... that would have been..."
Taliciah asks Ikevindy, "Are you indeed willing to march into danger for another time this day?"
Taliciah gazes at you.
Ikevindy beams at Taliciah!
Ikevindy quietly exclaims, "Most assuredly!"
Taliciah beams at Ikevindy!
You say, "Midton Circle... or else Betany Street..."
Ikevindy scratches his head.
Ikevindy gets off the chaise on which he was sitting.
Taliciah says to you, "Impressive."
You say, "It helps to write it down."
Ikevindy quietly asks, "Are we do deal with these death spirits in some fashion?"
Taliciah says, "Well, mostly we want to run past them."
Taliciah says, "However."
You ask, "Steps of Vuan?"
Taliciah gets an icesteel cutlass with an azurite hilt from inside a swirling eddy of incandescent light bound by a gold-striated coralite frame.
Ikevindy ponders.
Taliciah says, "The last time I tried to do it on my own, I sort of died and you had to come and find me."
You observe Taliciah with fascination.
Taliciah nods to you.
You ask, "I believe you need blessed weapons?"
Taliciah says, "Steps of Vaun would not hurt."
Taliciah says, "Perhaps."
Taliciah says, "I was not intending to fight them, in any event."
Taliciah says, "Your quest is past them."
You say, "Death Spirits, not Death Corpses."
Taliciah laughs!
Taliciah nods to you.
Ikevindy chuckles.
Taliciah says, "Indeed."
Taliciah puts her cutlass in a swirling eddy of incandescent light bound by a gold-striated coralite frame.
You gently crack your knuckles while taking a deep breath, readying yourself.
Ikevindy quietly says, "Well, if we dont know any clerics nearby, we may need to attempt the running past."
You say, "I fight rock guardians. I think I'll be okay."
Taliciah asks, "Why am I still holding oatcakes?"
Taliciah drops an oatcake.
You ask, "In the hope of horses?"
Taliciah nods.
Taliciah says, "Right."
Ikevindy chuckles.
Taliciah says to Ikevindy, "We were feeding horses."
Taliciah says, "We got the idea after she told me about the visions."
You say, "She was feeding horses. I was spooking them."
Ikevindy beams!
You run the tip of your tongue over the point of one of your fangs.
Ikevindy quietly asks Taliciah, "Were you at a nearby stable?"
Taliciah says, "I wanted one of them to like me."
Taliciah nods to Ikevindy.
You say, "Royal Mews."
Ikevindy smiles.
Ikevindy quietly asks Taliciah, "Did that end up happening?"
Taliciah says, "Well."
Taliciah glances at you.
Ikevindy quietly asks Taliciah, "Did any of them like you?"
Taliciah says, "There were a little nervous to come close to us."
Taliciah says, "But maybe I'll try again another time. I think I rather like them."
You shift uneasily, gazing fixedly at your claws.
Ikevindy smiles.
Taliciah says, "In the meantime."
Ikevindy smiles at Taliciah.
You bounce up and down like a little kid.
Taliciah rubs her hands together.
Taliciah opens the door.
Taliciah exclaims, "Onwards!"
Ikevindy quietly asks, "Time to make sure that the death spirits dont take a liking to us?"
Taliciah exclaims, "To the observatory!"
______
[Observatory, Council Chamber]
Twelve chairs surround a high table in the center of this rounded chamber, and a shining gold plaque with an inscription repeated in half as many languages hangs on the far wall. Beyond that there is nothing here, save a near-tangible stillness and a low, powerful thrumming just barely at the edges of hearing. A section of the wall shows signs of recent repairs and construction centered about a heavily reinforced passageway.
You also see a warning sign.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: south.
Ikevindy moves over to guard Taliciah.
Taliciah points at a warning sign.
* WARNING *
Hazardous area -- the Guild of Moon Mages has left this area open to allow access to artifacts of worthy study in the sewers below. Dangerous undead are plentiful! This is NOT the way to the Crossing Guildleader Kssarh -- please travel in groups if you intend to study the artifacts below.
You nod.
Ikevindy squints at a warning sign.
Taliciah raises her head skyward, chanting.
You exclaim, "Artifacts!"
Taliciah says, "That's exactly what we're after."
______
By the ruby light of the crimson fungus you see...
[The Sewers, Dark Passage]
Quarry stones stacked along the sewer's wall and a narrow path leading southward indicates work performed after the sewer's creation. Broken scaffolding, shattered lanterns, and deep scores in the rock walls are all that remain of this work site. A small stream of water trickles from the conduit beyond through a jagged rip pooling over the stacked stones.
Also here: Scholar Taliciah and Leshya Vesa Ikevindy.
Obvious exits: south.
Taliciah slowly empties her lungs.
Ikevindy squints.
You lash at the air with your tail, a worried trill escaping your throat at Taliciah.
Taliciah says, "I think we're safe."
With a friendly smile, Taliciah holds Ikevindy's hand.
Taliciah reaches over and holds your hand.
Taliciah says, "For now."
______
Scholar Taliciah's group went through some shadowy pillars.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Buried Mansion, Grand Ballroom]
Marble pillars support an arched ceiling decorated with faded frescoes of the gods in traditional settings. In front of a set of double doors, a complex sigil of ruby is inlaid upon the center of a decaying obsidian floor. The squares of parquet rest warped and torn by the relentless ravages of moisture.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: east, west.
Taliciah gets a gaethzen larkspur blossom with a short covellite stem from inside her journey pack.
Taliciah holds a gaethzen larkspur blossom with a short covellite stem in her hand and closes her eyes in concentration.
You chortle softly at some secret joke.
You excitedly say into the darkness, "I'm Korya-ing it."
A mild flash of light engulfs you as Taliciah blinks east.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Buried Mansion, Hallway]
Chunks of plaster have fallen from the walls of this low-ceiled hallway, revealing the rotting wooden framework and support stones of the mansion. The floor is littered with not only the plaster's remains but with bits of wood and rock, perhaps knocked free by the steady thrumming that vibrates the entire place. From the east drifts a faint but peculiarly hateful odor.
Also here: Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: east, south, west.
Taliciah rubs a gaethzen larkspur blossom with a short covellite stem.
Taliciah holds a gaethzen larkspur blossom with a short covellite stem in her hand and closes her eyes in concentration.
A mild flash of light engulfs you as Taliciah blinks east.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Buried Mansion, Kitchen]
Warped shelving runs the length of one wall, covered with the vestigial remains of a working kitchen. A cracked kettle lies on its side beside an iron stove caked with rust. The subtle sour odor of rotting food remains despite the years of decay.
Also here: Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: north, west.
You ponder.
You sense your Whole Displacement spell fade from you.
Taliciah vanishes in a ripple of light and shadow.
You laugh!
You belt out, "Tally!"
Taliciah appears in a ripple of light and shadow.
You giggle.
Taliciah reaches over and holds your hand.
You say, "That's why you've been losing us."
Taliciah asks, "See where we are?"
You belt out, "IKE! This way!"
Taliciah vanishes in a ripple of light and shadow.
You scamper west.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Buried Mansion, Hallway]
Chunks of plaster have fallen from the walls of this low-ceiled hallway, revealing the rotting wooden framework and support stones of the mansion. The floor is littered with not only the plaster's remains but with bits of wood and rock, perhaps knocked free by the steady thrumming that vibrates the entire place. From the east drifts a faint but peculiarly hateful odor.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: east, south, west.
Ikevindy beams!
With a friendly smile, Taliciah holds Ikevindy's hand.
Taliciah reaches over and holds your hand.
Taliciah vanishes in a ripple of light and shadow.
You scamper east.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Buried Mansion, Kitchen]
Warped shelving runs the length of one wall, covered with the vestigial remains of a working kitchen. A cracked kettle lies on its side beside an iron stove caked with rust. The subtle sour odor of rotting food remains despite the years of decay.
Also here: Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: north, west.
Taliciah's feet are dripping water everywhere.
You exclaim to Taliciah, "Drop the Whole Displacement!"
Leshya Vesa Ikevindy just arrived.
Ikevindy gulps.
Taliciah exclaims, "How do I keep... oh!"
You snicker.
You say, "I was only able to keep up with you when I had it up."
Taliciah nods.
You grin like an idiot.
You join Taliciah's group.
Taliciah says, "I've removed it."
Ikevindy joins Taliciah's group.
You pat Ikevindy on the back.
Taliciah says, "I didn't realize it would repel friends as well as enemies."
Taliciah casually observes the area.
Ikevindy quietly asks, "What sort of artifact are we seeking?"
You say, "One step for you is still a dozen for those without."
Taliciah says, "Anyway, it's so neat down here, in the parts of Crossing that are long buried."
You say, "And smelly."
Taliciah says, "Oh."
Ikevindy chuckles.
Taliciah says, "Um."
Ikevindy nods at you, obviously agreeing with your views.
Taliciah says, "Guess what."
You say, "I know, sewers."
You ask, "We're under the middens?"
Taliciah says, "None. Because we're in the wrong place entirely."
Taliciah nods to you.
Ikevindy sniffs the air around him.
Taliciah says, "I'm afraid that may be true as well."
You ask, "Where are we supposed to be?"
Taliciah says, "Well."
Taliciah says, "This is the location of one of the quests."
Taliciah says, "But..."
Taliciah says, "Not the one you would see first."
Ikevindy ponders.
Taliciah says, "No, wait."
Taliciah says, "I'm still wrong."
Taliciah falls over.
Ikevindy gasps!
You strain to pull Taliciah to her feet, but cannot.
Ikevindy tries to pull Taliciah to her feet, but cannot.
Ikevindy flails his arms about.
Taliciah says, "Just put a blanket over me and pretend I've died."
Taliciah stands up.
Ikevindy shakes his head at Taliciah.
Ikevindy loudly exclaims to Taliciah, "Nizi!"
Ikevindy fidgets nervously.
Your tactile sense returns to normal, plunging you into numb darkness.
Ikevindy gazes at Taliciah.
Ikevindy rubs Taliciah gently, massaging her muscles.
Taliciah smiles at Ikevindy.
You gesture at Taliciah.
She suddenly looks rather passive.
Taliciah grins at you.
Taliciah inhales a great swallow of air.
You command Taliciah to stay firm!
Ikevindy gets a woven kor'athi blanket from inside his leather saddlebag.
Taliciah says, "Okay. So then."
Taliciah says, "We are looking for a big pile of debris."
You sarcastically say, "That's easy."
Ikevindy chuckles.
Taliciah exclaims, "But you need to be careful not to touch anything you don't need to!"
You ask, "Which one?"
Ikevindy points at some warped shelving.
Ikevindy quietly exclaims, "I wont touch at thing!"
Taliciah nods.
You follow Taliciah west.
The light from Taliciah's larkspur blossom allows you to see...
[Buried Mansion, Hallway]
Chunks of plaster have fallen from the walls of this low-ceiled hallway, revealing the rotting wooden framework and support stones of the mansion. The floor is littered with not only the plaster's remains but with bits of wood and rock, perhaps knocked free by the steady thrumming that vibrates the entire place. From the east drifts a faint but peculiarly hateful odor.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: east, south, west.
Ikevindy gets some green knit mittens patterned with evenly spaced white dots from inside his leather saddlebag.
Taliciah says, "I think we have to go in further."
Taliciah giggles at Ikevindy.
Taliciah says, "That's very wise."
You follow Taliciah south.
The light from Taliciah's larkspur blossom allows you to see...
[Buried Mansion, Hallway]
Stylized floral motifs envelop the cracking, flaking, and peeling walls, and under the soot and damp these frescos take on the appearance of haunting visages. Fluted glass wall sconces holding tzgaa orbs are precisely placed at regular intervals along the hall. A dense layer of grime and ash covering the marble floor has been disturbed as if something was dragged through the area.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: north, east, south, west.
You tap a pair of swordsman's gloves reinforced with hardened leather plates that you are wearing.
Ikevindy slings a serrated Imperial spear with a pure white spiritwood haft over his shoulder.
With a final flicker of power, Taliciah's larkspur blossom extinguishes.
Taliciah asks, "Can you imagine what this all looked like before?"
Ikevindy shakes his head at Taliciah.
From the darkness you hear a voice say, "It must have been grand here. Before it was under sewage."
You ask into the darkness, "Slightly more pink?"
You follow Taliciah east.
It's pitch dark and you can't see a thing!
From the darkness you hear a quiet voice say, "Its quite beyond recognition."
You raise your head skyward, chanting the equation of the Tenebrous Sense spell.
You gesture.
Your tactile sense stretches out and intertwines with the darkness around you. You feel mass and movement brush against the darkness like a tingling against your skin, allowing you to perceive your surroundings.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Buried Mansion, Stairwell]
Acceding to the demands of time, a stairwell's marble column has been crushed from the forces above and now lies in blocks and fine particles covering the stairwell floor. Odd footprints linger in the powdered stone. Filth muddies their forms, blurring anything distinctive that might indicate their origin.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: west, down.
Taliciah holds a gaethzen larkspur blossom with a short covellite stem in her hand and closes her eyes in concentration.
You follow Taliciah down.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Buried Mansion, Stairwell]
Circling around open air, this staircase of smoky stone must have taken dozens of workmen to build, given the obvious precision carving and number of steps. Years of neglect, and whatever event caused the collapse of this entire underground area, have taken their toll, however, and gaps between some steps indicate that they may not stand forever. From below, the constant thrumming noise grows louder.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: up, down.
You say, "Yuck."
You follow Taliciah down.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Buried Mansion, Cellar]
Blackened wreckage lies in ruin on the cellar floor, and the scattered bones included in the mess tell a tale of the violence which must have once swept through the area. A pile of shattered stones near a wall marks the effort someone went through to create an opening. Filled with darkness, where it leads is unclear, but the walls shake with the vibrations of a powerful noise.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: up.
You ask, "Who invented this spell?"
Taliciah says, "Deeper we go..."
Ikevindy quietly asks, "Was this someone's house?"
Taliciah says, "I'm not sure. It's so big to have just been a home."
You see Leshya Vesa Ikevindy of Elanthia, a Gnome.
Ikevindy has starry silver eyes. His brown hair is short and thick, and is worn loose. He has tanned skin.
He is middling for a Gnome.
A tiny pine cone rests on his forehead, just above his eyes.
He appears to be mature.
He has an elegantly trimmed mustache on his upper lip.
He has a tattoo of a golden hawk with its wings spread wide on his back.
He is in good shape.
He is holding some diamond-hide gloves riveted with green scales tapering to sharp curved claws in his right hand and some green knit mittens patterned with evenly spaced white dots in his left.
He is wearing a serrated Imperial spear with a pure white spiritwood haft, a golden silk turban pinned with a spray of parrot feathers, a gear-shaped spiritwood medallion, a blown-glass "T" pendant suspended from a black leather cord, a deep blue rose, a mottled leathern dragon medal, a tiny clockwork oddity, an ornate green gold pocket compass on a gold fob, a length of inflated eel skin twisted into the shape of a pair of spectacles, a blued-steel herb-shaped pin, a Gnome-sized greatsword with a pure white spiritwood hilt, an ice-veined leather saddlebag clasped with silversteel, an enameled green parrot, a collared black spidersilk shirt with abstract windsteel buttons, a short white rabbit wrapped in woven daisy chains that is stuck to the upper arm, a small snowy white finger puppet of a Gnome, a grey tinker's apron with many pockets, a black canvas shaving kit, a wickedly pointed drake fang with Nature's Canopy emerald inlay, a rosy-beige moabi card collector's case with a domed crystalline lid, an ice-veined leather kilt fastened with an icesteel pin, a sleek windsteel thigh case clasped with an obsidian arrowhead, some warding beads and some deep blue beaded-deerskin moccasins.
Ikevindy nods to Taliciah.
Ikevindy nods at Taliciah, obviously agreeing with her views.
You say, "Ike, your mustache is tickling my tail."
Taliciah says, "Through that opening."
Scholar Taliciah's group went through an opening.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Dark Tunnel, Narrow Passage]
The floor quivers with a constant vibration that shakes the rubble, and despite what must have been years of settling, some of the smaller bits occasionally slide down the floor's descending slope. Though haphazardly patched with blocks, an opening in one of the walls is still visible.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: down.
You follow Taliciah down.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Dark Tunnel, Narrow Passage]
The surface of an elongated puddle shimmers forebodingly with iridescent patterns as striated rainbows of oil catch the flickering light from a tzgaa orb torch. Bubbling up thickly, the acrid odors of sulfur and decay flee the muck, making this segment of the passage a most disagreeable place to be.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: south, up.
You giggle.
You follow Taliciah south.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Dark Tunnel, Narrow Passage]
Set in regular intervals along the walls are tzgaa orbs, their bases wrapped with darkened mold that cling tenaciously to the sides of the tunnel, and threaten to absorb as much of the wan light as possible. Each orb twitches with movement, sympathetically shaking with the deep vibrations that shudder throughout these passages.
You also see a debris-choked crevice.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: north.
Ikevindy quickly exclaims, "Oh!"
Ikevindy quietly says, "Pardon me."
Taliciah says, "Don't breath..."
Taliciah coughs.
You sneeze.
You say, "Its Tenebrous Sense, its not your fault."
Taliciah uses her blossom and starts to dig through the debris-choked crevice...
You use your bare hands and start to dig your way through the debris-choked crevice...
Taliciah vanishes into the debris-choked crevice as she digs.
Ikevindy gasps!
You dig to the surface, pushing through dirt and roots to freedom.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Vast Cavern, Sandstone Ledge]
Excavated back into the depths of the earth, a crude vault has been wrestled from the ancient sandstone. Craggy and discolored by the dampness of the ages, the stone cavity begins far below to embrace the dank above.
You also see some steps leading down from the sandstone ledge and a debris-choked crevice.
Also here: Scholar Taliciah who is lying down.
Obvious exits: none.
Roundtime: 8 seconds.
Taliciah stands up.
Taliciah says, "What a mess."
You exclaim, "Adventure!"
You roll around on the ground.
You leap to your feet!
Taliciah chuckles at you!
Taliciah yells, "Ike! Can you make it through the crevice!"
You think to Ikevindy, "Dig!"
Taliciah says, "Oh, dear."
Taliciah says, "Let me go check on him."
You nod.
Taliciah uses her blossom and starts to dig through the debris-choked crevice...
A debris-choked crevice erupts as a ragged Ikevindy digs through to the surface.
Ikevindy blushes a bright red color.
Taliciah vanishes into the debris-choked crevice as she digs.
You cackle!
Ikevindy rises to his feet fluidly, like a large, graceful cat.
Ikevindy uses his gloves and starts to dig through the debris-choked crevice...
You exclaim into the darkness, "She just... dug back down to find you! No!"
You exclaim into the darkness, "Stay!"
Ikevindy quietly exclaims, "Oops!"
Ikevindy vanishes into the debris-choked crevice as he digs.
A debris-choked crevice erupts as a ragged Taliciah digs through to the surface.
You cackle!
You fall over. Oof!
Taliciah laughs!
You roll around on the ground laughing hysterically!
Taliciah says, "Oh my goodness."
Taliciah sits up.
You say, "ONE OF YOU HAS TO STAY."
A debris-choked crevice erupts as a ragged Ikevindy digs through to the surface.
Ikevindy quietly exclaims, "Eureka!"
Taliciah exclaims, "I didn't think he'd follow me so quickly!"
You leap to your feet!
Taliciah giggles at Ikevindy.
Ikevindy rises to his feet fluidly, like a large, graceful cat.
You say, "He's a wormy ranger."
Ikevindy pants.
Taliciah stands up.
Ikevindy points his compass until its needle lines up with north. He appears pleased with himself!
Ikevindy nods to you.
Taliciah says, "Where were we. Oh yes, the steps."
Scholar Taliciah's group climbed down some steps leading down from the sandstone ledge.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Vast Cavern, Scarred Chamber]
Whether by design or simply from random creation, intricate patterns circle the dank ruins that litter the floor of the cavern. Hundreds of massive claw marks interweave with each other, tracking back and forth between the cavern walls, the ruins, and up along a sizable length of the ceiling.
You also see some steps leading up to a sandstone ledge.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: south.
Ikevindy casually observes the area.
Taliciah shivers.
You follow Taliciah south.
Your stare into the shadows and see...
[Vast Cavern, Central Collapse]
Upon the floor of this uneven and jumbled cavern are the cluttered remains of a collapse, the heavy stone and block shattered and cracked from the obvious force of their fall. Despite the mammoth rocks' weight, they quiver and shudder with the constant vibrations that echo throughout this vast underground. Humming audibly and partially buried, lies a slagged pile of translucent material.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: north, west.
Taliciah quietly says, "That's it."
You say, "What is THAT."
Ikevindy cowers in fear.
You ask, "Can I touch it?"
You reach out and touch a slagged pile of translucent material.
Ikevindy slips on some diamond-hide gloves riveted with green scales tapering to sharp curved claws. The diamond-hide gloves fits his Gnome body perfectly.
You say, "I touched it."
Taliciah says, "Well."
Taliciah asks, "Yes, I guess?"
You rub a slagged pile of translucent material.
Your tongue doesn't stretch that far!
Ikevindy chuckles.
Taliciah says, "You should focus on it and study it."
Taliciah says, "With your mage skills."
You say, "And not taste it."
You focus your magical senses on material.
You sense an unfamiliar type of celestial magic emanating from the material.
Taliciah says, "Um. No."
Taliciah says, "I wouldn't recommend tasting it."
Ikevindy quietly says, "It doesn't look like an artifact."
You say, "It's magical..."
You strain your eyes slightly to study a section of the fragmented inscriptions on the translucent material.
Ikevindy gasps!
Drawing upon your past studies, you make out a scrambled reference to the manipulation of cantrips.
Quickly, you focus on the information and memorize it before it slips away.
Taliciah says, "I don't really know what it is."
You say, "It seems... hm."
You say, "Its a spell pattern, but not like any I've seen before..."
Taliciah says, "Not exactly an artifact, no."
You say, "There's tiny little etchings on it."
Ikevindy quietly says, "Interesting."
You ask, "Its kind of broken up--pieces missing, but I think I know what is missing?"
Taliciah leans forward.
Taliciah nods to you.
You say, "It makes SENSE."
You nod.
Taliciah beams at you! What a warm feeling!
You ask, "I just... don't quite know what to do with it? Its like... a blank spell?"
You frown.
Taliciah nods.
You ask, "Its... a spell... paper?"
You cackle!
Taliciah says, "It's preparing your mind to learn cantrips."
You say, "Its just a basic pattern. Strip away all the math, all the process..."
Taliciah nods.
Taliciah says, "It's just a basic pattern."
You say, "Its symbols without numbers. Equals without anything to equal TO."
You exclaim, "A multiplication table with an empty table!"
You grab Taliciah by the shoulders and shake her!
You exclaim, "It's genius!"
Taliciah exclaims, "Oh!"
Taliciah wobbles, looking a bit faint.
Taliciah asks, "You're welcome?"
You beam!
Ikevindy giggles.
Ikevindy studies a section of the inscriptions thoughtfully.
Taliciah exclaims, "Now you're prepared to go on more quests and learn more things!"
Taliciah beams!
Ikevindy faces the material and closes his eyes in concentration.
Taliciah says, "Unfortunately, we also have to go back past those death spirits to get out of here."
Ikevindy studies a section of the inscriptions thoughtfully.
You ask, "Why?"
With a final flicker of power, Taliciah's larkspur blossom extinguishes.
Taliciah cocks her head.
You say, "Taliciah."
Taliciah says, "That's an excellent question."
You slowly ask into the darkness, "Did you not put a moonbeam down?"
Taliciah says, "It depends if Katamba is still up."
You say into the darkness, "I have an idea."
Taliciah says, "It does not appear to be."
Taliciah says, "Xibar and Yavash were not risen yet when we came down."
You ask into the darkness, "Do you WANT to go past the death spirits again, or would you like an easy way out that will take longer?"
Taliciah holds a gaethzen larkspur blossom with a short covellite stem in her hand and closes her eyes in concentration.
Ikevindy ponders.
Taliciah says, "I like the way you're thinking."
Taliciah holds a gaethzen larkspur blossom with a short covellite stem in her hand and closes her eyes in concentration.
You say into the darkness, "Or not as long, actually. Just depending how fast I can run."
Ikevindy quietly asks, "Will you be putting yourself in danger?"
You ask, "So, you two stay here, and I'll be back?"
You say, "Not in the slightest."
Ikevindy nods.
You beam!
You raise your head skyward, chanting the equation of the Teleport spell.
Ikevindy stands near Taliciah.
Taliciah asks, "Do you still have a beam up?"
You feel fully prepared to cast your spell.
You say, "No."
You laugh!
You gesture.
You use the seed of Enlightened Geometry crystallized within your psyche to calculate your destination.
There is no blackness nor light, merely a gut-wrenching sense of shifting gravity and flung movement. Your mind strains as the numbers dance around your head, calculating a safe path in the micro-second between spaces. Finally, after the long instant, you find yourself at...
______
[Vast Cavern, Central Collapse]
Upon the floor of this uneven and jumbled cavern are the cluttered remains of a collapse, the heavy stone and block shattered and cracked from the obvious force of their fall. Despite the mammoth rocks' weight, they quiver and shudder with the constant vibrations that echo throughout this vast underground. Humming audibly and partially buried, lies a slagged pile of translucent material.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious exits: north, west.
You gesture.
A fierce blue-white glare forces you to avert your eyes for a moment. When it subsides, a blue Moongate stands before you, rippling slightly.
You beam!
Ikevindy beams at you! What a warm feeling!
As you cross the Moongate's threshold you are drawn through to the other side...
[Middens, Crossbow Bend]
Before you stands the Observatory of the Southern Crossbow. It is a three-story edifice, its sixteen-sided walls capped with a crystal dome. The top floor is also the nerve center of the Moon Mages' Guild, a most powerful and revered arcane circle throughout Elanthia. All in all a rather quirky structure, it manages to inspire awe and curiosity at the same time. A carved ivory door leads inside.
You also see a blue Moongate, a blue moonbeam, an ivory urn, an ornate silver gateway and a dilapidated tea cart with a couple of things on it.
Obvious paths: west.
Scholar Taliciah's group came through a blue Moongate.
You exclaim, "FRESH AIR! WOO!"
Ikevindy looks at you and lets out a hearty cheer on your behalf!
Ikevindy inhales a great swallow of air.
You hug Taliciah who gives you a smile in return. A faint scent of wild roses clings to her skin.
You hug Ikevindy who gives you a smile in return. A faint scent of apples clings to his skin.
Taliciah says, "Sort of fresh air. Fresher air."
You ask, "Air?"
You nod.
Taliciah puts her blossom in her journey pack.
Taliciah exclaims to you, "Well done!"
You sweep a wide-brimmed crimson cavalier hat sporting a floofy white feather off your head and in front of you in a large arc, fluidly stepping backward and bowing at the same time.
Taliciah grins.
You say, "Welcome, m'lady."
You release your mental hold on the lunar energy that sustains your moongate.
A blue Moongate collapses in on itself.
Taliciah laughs!
Taliciah holds your hand, giving you a friendly smile.
Ikevindy giggles.
Ikevindy quietly exclaims to you, "Well done!"
______
[Temple Grounds, Garden]
A veritable forest of color explodes before you as the cobbled path comes to an end amidst this lush garden, blooms of every flower imaginable skirting the path. The vegetation here is oddly vibrant year round, as if bolstered by some subtle vein of life energy itself.
You also see Gardener Eaadrich and a large vela'tohr plant.
Also here: Leshya Vesa Ikevindy and Scholar Taliciah.
Obvious paths: southwest.
Ikevindy waves at Eaadrich.
Taliciah takes a seat.
You sit down near a large vela'tohr plant.
Taliciah lies down.
Ikevindy takes a seat near Taliciah.
(Taliciah stretches out on the grass, looking relieved.)
Ikevindy sniffs the air around him.
Taliciah sits up.
Ikevindy slowly empties his lungs.
You pat Taliciah on the back.
You pat Ikevindy on the back.
You exclaim, "Adventure!"
Taliciah exclaims, "Adventure!"
Taliciah asks you, "Was it everything you hoped?"
Ikevindy smiles.
You say, "For wallowing in Kssarh's bedpan pit? I suppose so."
Taliciah is giggling at you.
Ikevindy blanches.
You nod at Ikevindy, in complete agreement with his views.
Taliciah says, "All of my clothes will certainly need a good wash."
You say, "It wasn't... hm. It wasn't SO dangerous that it couldn't be done, but there was an element of danger."
Smelling yourself? Did you forget to bathe this morning?
You say, "Yes."
Taliciah beams!
Ikevindy nods at Taliciah, obviously agreeing with her views.
You say, "The prize was, at the same time, nothing, and the possibility of everything."
Taliciah says, "Especially for the parts where I forgot where I was going."
The tiny flower buds surrounding the glowing golden heart of the vela'tohr plant begin to rise upward, their tight covers beginning to push outward revealing fiery scarlet petals.
Ikevindy laughs at Taliciah.
You say, "Or you blipped away from us."
Taliciah says, "Ooh, yes."
Taliciah says, "Well, I did do that too."
Taliciah says, "It was a good lesson to learn."
You say, "Really putting yourself in danger more than we were."
You say, "Never lead when using Whole Displacement, but also, an exception--only lead others who are using it."
Taliciah says, "Very possibly true."
(And that's all for now!)
