Naeatalle reaches out, carefully taking the ring from Taylen's hand. She turns it over repeatedly in her fingers, as she ponders the information given to her. "So this is how they survive. But if these rings keep the orcs alive, why don't the bandits use them? Maybe it's a mobility issue. No, humans have ways of getting around. Besides, bandits would still need a camp to work from. It must have to do with the red liquid."
She continues twirling the small ring, glancing at the small spikes inside it. "What would make orcs so important? Perhaps..." she trails off into silent thought.
"Sadly I have no theories on why orcs would be so importent other than." He pauses in thought for a moment. "That they seemed intent on capture rather that simple slaughter or loot. Thats behavior I am not used to seeing from orcs very often. I think between that and the rings that they were set there to capture people for a stronger leader. I thought prehaps for the lizardmen slavers we saw earlier in our journey or whomever they work for. Prehaps this dark one you spoke of." [ 06-05-2003: Message edited by: Taylen ]
She gets up, taking her book off her lap and slips it underarm, and takes a few steps forward, "However, those would be interesting study." Turning to the elf who spoke, "Umm, Taylen was it.. Out of curiousity were these orcs of which you speak possessing any.. finer goods than you would normally expect orcs to have?" she says, rather dryly. "If so.. well by the sound of it you gave them their fee." she grins.
She sits back down and pouts a little.
[ 06-05-2003: Message edited by: Ukkagorn ]
"Coming to this city was yourrr idea, not mine. You wanted to lead the otherrrs herrre, not me."
She lets out a soft growl.
Taylen thinks a moment, "Yes, Silven, prehaps you should show it to the Elder if you have one. She may be able to enlighten us further as to what it is."
[ 06-06-2003: Message edited by: Dr. Pvednes, PhD ]
ooc:[Saeessira, Relmido, Ithar]
Because Saeessira has fallen so far behind the group, and Falaanla hasn't been posting, I have decided to separate her. When she returns, she can act as normal.
Saeessira glances back and forth between Relmido and Ralora. "Stories are boring. I wanna explore! Don't worry, I'll be okay now. Coming Relmido?" She giggles, and heads for the exit. Let's go Ithar. Time to see what this place is really like.
"No way I'm gonna miss this!" Relmido laughs, flitting away after Saeessira. Ithar flutters off after them, leaving the fellin woman's hand behind. Together, Saeessira, Relmido, and Ithar disappear out the door. Hovering high above the second tier of the city, they look around for something that might prove entertaining.
In the back row of benches, Ralora sits with Tina on her lap. She stares down at you, hardly moving, if at all. You cannot tell at this distance. The two daysprites are nowhere in sight.
Reyolen
After going through most of your pack, sliding your hand past the axe and other various items you had stuffed into your pack, a memory lands on you like a mountain. You stuffed both stones into your pocket, along with the signet rings. Obviously Ara got one of the stones, but your pocket still had something in it.
Stuffing a hand into your pocket, you account for all three of the rings, and one of the stones. Considering probably could have taken more, this seems odd. Nothing strange happens as you pull the stone from your pocket, but when you open your palm, it behaves just as Ara's stone did.
Pvednes
As the elf rifles through his possessions, you notice a familiar mark on the sides of the two crates he carried. The bottles belonged to one of the merchants in the caravan you rode with on your way here.
Taylen, Aanile, Pvednes, Ukko, Reyolen
Silvan spends a moment fishing around through his pack. The small axe that stuck out of it drops to the floor. It seems quite full, and the seams of the backpack stretch as he moves his hand into and out of the assorted contents repeatedly.
After a moment, he stops fishing into his pack, and instead reaches into his pocket, pulling out a closed fist. When he opens his palm, a small object darts towards his ear, missing by a hair's breadth, and starts circling around his forehead.
"Looks like a spent ioun," Naeatalle says cheerfully, with a slight giggle. "With the right enchantments, it could be very powerful. But that one isn't finished. Or maybe it was finished. Either way, it's just decoration right now. Though I admit, it does become you, Silvan. Reminds me of your father."
"On the matter of this ring," she continues, "I believe I understand it now. Taylen, you said that your friends had samples of the different liquids produced from this ring. If I am correct, all these liquids should have been some shade of red. They may have appeared nearly white or nearly black, but the distillate of dragon blood always retains its color. Mixing it with different substances can create a variety of potions. However, without knowing what breed of dragon the distillate came from, the results are unpredictable."
Falaanla
The market near the spire seems to have closed down for the night. Only a few shops remain lit, inviting the new visitors to replenish their supplies after whatever long journeys they have made.
In every direction, you see what look like more elven homes, stretching all the way to the edge of your sight. Off one way, you see several open areas, each lively with activity and the faint distant sounds of children playing. You spot what looks like a series of hanging gardens in the opposite direction. Various people wander along the paths, some alone, others in groups, and very few in any sort of hurry.
Standing up, she thanks and curtsies to the elders, and excuses herself, tucking her spellbook under her arm and walking over, and down the aisle to Ralora.
She notices something the Elder mentioned...
What was it she said..? 'When I sensed the half-human, he was thinking about a contract. Five thousand gold pieces for each Elder he could kill.' She *sensed* the assassin?? Read his thoughts, and saw his curse? Now that is an interesting skill indeed. Very interesting. I wonder, ELDER, CAN YOU HEAR THIS?
She continues walking to Ralora, glancing over her shoulder at the Elder.
[ 06-07-2003: Message edited by: Dr. Pvednes, PhD ]
You have an uneventful walk back to Ralora, who smiles at your arrival. "Welcome back, dear. I am glad you enjoyed whatever histories the Elders told. Now, if I recall correctly, you wanted to visit the baths."
She turns to the large human, "Thank you for retrieving my charge. Come, walk with us, and tell me if there is anything an old woman can do for you. Oh, pardon me, little one."
"Oops, sorry!" Tina giggles, as she hops down from Ralora's lap. She darts under the bench, and runs towards the door, "Let's go!"
Ralora stands carefully, leaning on her cane. "If only for the strength of the young," she laughs, and makes her own way to the door.
Taylen, Aanile, Reyolen
Naeatalle nods, "If I had enough of the material to perform a few tests, I could make a determination. From what you have told me, I can already eliminate a few possibilities." She turns to Esmerelda and the chestnut-haired elf, "I must attend to the last errands of the day. Please see our friends to the Wandering Wood once they have concluded their discussion."
Without further comment, Naeatalle walks past you, on her way towards the building's exit.
Reyolen
Though it has been a while since you were last in Destindeterre, hearing the name of Sastak's inn, the Wandering Wood, reminds you of its warm hearth, and of your lessons beside it long ago.
...Which means you can't, that you're not listening, or that you're hiding listening. Oh well.
"Thank you! very interesting yes." Tania nods, "and yes, yes I would.. thank you."
She peers at Barry, then walks with Ralora, watching Tina run. "only six years ago I would act so similar.." She says, rather quietly to herself.
As you near the exit, you notice Tina standing motionless just outside the doorway. "Bear... b-bear... bear..." she stammers. Ralora approaches her, and places a hand on the girl's shoulder, "Do not worry, little one. He won't bite."
Outside the door, the large brown bear lies partly on its side, curled up with its head draped over a paw. Ralora circles around the the creature's back. Clasping her cane in her jaws, she hefts herself up onto the bear's back, tucking her legs beneath her. She then takes the cane out of her mouth, and tucks it under her arm.
"Boltat, tk-tk," she clicks her tongue. The large brown bear raises its head, then carefully stands, with Ralora on its back. "On to the baths, then," she smiles, and pats Boltat the bear on its shoulder. It turns, and starts walking away.
Tina tugs on the hem of Barry's pants. "Hey mister big man, can I ride again?"
Reyolen
As you walk up the aisle several paces behind Naeatalle, Freya follows close behind you. She drags the lizardman along with her. It seems she has grown rather attached to him.
Taylen
Following Naeatalle, your companions take their leave, walking up the aisle towards the exit. Aust has apparently long since departed, leaving you alone with Esmerelda, the chestnut-haired elf, and two strange lizardmen wielding halberts.
"Tell me," Esmerelda says quietly, "the silent fellow, do you know him?"
"Hrmm.. The elves disapproved of humanity's cities of stone and wood.. and yet they never pointed out the construction of living buildings..." She muses, still mostly to herself.
"Speaking of elves, I wonder if the guilty looking one.. Silvan.. picked up anything of mine from the orcs."
"Doubt I'll see him again, at least anytime soon.."
[ 06-11-2003: Message edited by: Dr. Pvednes, PhD ]
Riding on Boltat's back, Ralora leads you away from the large domed building, through the quiet marketplace, past the spire at the city's center, into an area of the city you haven't yet seen. The paths widen here, then dip down at their centers, forming soil-filled baskets as large as houses. Miniature forests of strange and exotic plants grow from the soil; you walk between tall branchless trees with huge leaves at their tops like hoods, past small fields of colorful flowers, through tangles of gnarled trees and jungle vines.
During the walk, Tina rides on Barry's shoulder. She doesn't show much interest in the marketplace. When you enter the gardens, however, she perks up. "Wow, it's so pretty," she squeals, reaching out to touch some of the taller plants as you pass them.
Finally emerging from the menagerie of plants several minutes later, you come to a place where the living paths beneath your feet have grown lush with their own leaves. The path divides, leading off towards many small domes shrouded in a light mist. "Here we are," Ralora says cheerfully, then clicks her tongue, "kt-ket". Boltat comes to a stop, and slowly lays down. Ralora climbs down from the bear's back, and takes a moment to find her footing.
Reyolen
You get only a passing glimse of the girl as you leave the building. She departed ahead of you, along with the human behemoth, and the old fellin woman you met earlier. They quickly disappear from view into the marketplace. Naeatalle, too, heads back towards the spire. You see her vanish down the spiral ramps, before turning southward yourself.
As a child, you could always find excitement at the Wispering Wood. In those days, the city gates stayed open through the day, and merchant caravans would leave their carts in the Spire Market, while the traders enjoyed Sastak's hospitality. With the gates closed, the inn would surely be quieter.
Or perhaps not. You can hear the unruly shouts of drunken travelers before even reaching the inn. Most of the windows are lit, and it looks like the inn has grown a bit taller since the last time you were here. Light from the glowflowers shines out through numerous windows.
Freya remains behind you for the duration of the trip, practically dragging the lizardman along behind her.
Aanile
After walking out of the large dome's only exit, Silvan turns away from the marketplace. Following him, you and the lizardman make your way through winding paths much like those on the lower level of the city. Gentle slopes immitate the hills of a mountainside landscape, though you can easily see all the buildings around you.
Fortunately, this is not your first time up in a tree. If it was, looking down over the edges of the walkways might get you dizzy.
Most of the buildings you pass resemble the larger homes from the lower level of the city. A few are even larger. Most of the people you pass are elven, and though many of them wave politely to you, they keep their distance. Mothers hold their children back. Comments like, "Look, mommy, a giant snake!" reach your ears from a distance.
Silvan's pace finally slows for a moment, as he comes to an unusually large building. More than anything else you have seen so far, this place reminds you that you're in a city. Light shines out from four rows of windows, one atop another. You can hear the unruly shouts of city dwellers as you approach.
While waiting for an answer, Taylen decides to ask a question of his own, "Earlier you said the dark one couldn't be hurt by the weapons of man. I was wondering, what can hurt him?"
"Aaahhh, yesss.."
"We do not know what finally killed the creature. The records do not say. Naeatalle and I both searched. Whatever or whoever defeated the Dark One those years ago may have perished in the battle." Esmerelda sighs, "We know enough not to presume that we know everything. That is why I asked of the lizardman. I sensed something in his thoughts I wished to ask about."
The two lizardmen glance at each other briefly, then look at Esmerelda.
"Why did you not speak of this sooner?" the chestnut-haired elf asks.
Esmerelda turns to him and responds, "Because speaking with him here could have frightened him. His mind struggles with what he has learned. Forcing him to discuss it before he is ready might cause more harm than good."
Pvednes, Ukko
"These are the baths," Ralora replies to the large man. "Take any one you like, so long as the door is open. I have noticed that men and elves often prefer to bathe in privacy." She walks over to the large human, leaning on her cane.
Leaning on her better leg, Ralora holds her hands up towards Tina. "Please come with me, little one." "Okay!" Tina answers cheerily, and slides down from the large man's shoulder into Ralora's arms. Ralora lowers the girl to the ground. Leaning on her cane once again, Ralora takes Tina's hand, and walks down one of the paths towards an open bath.
"If you wish to join us as well, Tania Milner, then please come along," Ralora adds after a few steps.
Reyolen
Walking through the inn's silvervine doors, it almost feels like being back in Vista. Two elven barmaids race fantically around the dining room, taking orders and serving drinks. A fellin girl carries a large tray across the room, weaving her way through a mixture of families, drunken traders, and other guests, before finally setting it down in front of a human family at one of the tables.
You spot Sastak's familiar face behind an overcrowded bar. He and the usual bartender, Teldrean, both appear busy pouring drinks for the two barmaids and the numerous guest waiting for service. Smells of fine food and rich liquors fill the air.
"I don't see why not."
She does give Barry another look up and down, though, starting after Ralora, with another look back at the large man.
ooc:"C'pas come si J'avait Q'chose a cacher ... M'enfin," Barry starts looking for a door that is open, then takes off his armor, leaving it outside. He goes in the bath fully dressed, and as he undresses in the water, he makes sure to clean everything.
Translation: "It's not like I have something to hide."
You have to duck under the doorway into the bath house; its designers probably had someone smaller than yourself in mind. Inside, the domed room stretches about twenty feet across, with a ceiling about ten feet high at the center. A pool of mist-covered water fills the center of the room.
Climbing into the pool, you find it more than large enough to accommodate you. There's a warm spot beneath your calves, and a small hole in the center of the ceiling. Flower bulbs of different colors grow from the wall on one side of the room, and several branches jut out from the other, forming convenient horizontal rails. You hang your clothes on these after washing them.
The bath water is very comfortable, easing the day's stress out of your muscles. You find yourself tempted to fall asleep.
Pvednes
Ralora leads you and Tina into a nearby dome. Even while leaning on her cane, she needs to duck slightly to fit through the door. You have no difficulty, and Tina darts recklessly into the room ahead of you both. By the time you get inside, more than half of Tina's clothing already lay scattered on the floor.
Inside, the domed room stretches about twenty feet across, with a ceiling about ten feet high at the center. A pool of mist-covered water fills the center of the room. Flower bulbs of different colors grow from the wall on one side of the room, and several branches jut out from the other, forming convenient horizontal rails.
Ralora walks over to a small purple bulb, and squeezes it gently with one hand, holding the other beneath its tip. A clear liquid oozes from it into her palm.
Taylen
"Questions may not be the best approach to the matter, though I would appreciate if you verify some of my suspicions." Esmerelda takes a moment to think. The chestnut-haired elf tries to strike up a conversation with you. "You said the orcs had a glass globe on a stand. Tell me more about this. How large was it? You said you had to press all the posts in. Did they go in any other directions? Did any other parts of the stand move?"
The two lizardmen stand quietly for a moment, then start walking up the aisle towards the exit.
