Placing her clothes in a neat little pile, she steps towards the pool. Automatically covering herself over, she gingerly tests the water with her heel.

Testing the water proves fruitless. As soon as you set your heel into the pool, Tina splashes in, throwing a wave up to your knees, and sending swirls of mist around the room. Your clothes just barely catches the edge of the wave, before the splash drains into the floor. The water is comfortably warm.

Ralora removes her few garments, and hangs them over one of the loops. She sits down at the edge of the pool, setting her cane aside, and dangles her calves into the water. A few seconds later, Tina's head pops up, giggling. "Are you having fun, little one?"

"Yeah!" Tina replies, then hesitates, "Well, no. I mean, the water's great, but..." "But your tangles catch the water, don't they?" "Uh huh." "Come here, child, let's see what we can do about that." "Okay," Tina smiles, swimming over to Ralora. The fellin begins massaging the bulb's liquid into Tina's hair.

"As for the layout of the structure itself. The structure was about seven feet high, with the top foot being the orb. The rods were set in a ring of metal about four feet up the structure and the ring of metal seemed to be of the same material as the ring, which also had 4 spikes, though admittedly I know little enough of metals I could be wrong. Finally, the oblesk was about a half a foot wide at the top just under the orb and about two feet across at the bottom."

[ 06-19-2003: Message edited by: Taylen ]

"I think it'll suit you better out free Tina."

The soapfruits, as you call them, hang from the wall behind Ralora, somewhat out of reach from the water. You have to climb most of the way back out to reach them. As you do so, the light mist from over the water seems to follow you. It makes your skin tingle a bit, and the air doesn't feel too cold.

When you pull on one of the bulbs, it refuses to come off the wall. "Just squeeze it, dear," Ralora tells you. Both her hands are occupied with Tina's hair, massaging the clear liquid into its tangled strands. "Tell me, little one, how did this happen?"

"Well, I used to have my hair in a pony tail. Daddy's a brier farmer, and loose hair gets caught in the thorns and nettles. Sometimes shirts get caught too. And dresses. And my favorite hair ribbon." Tina sniffles a bit, then manages an embarrassed laugh, "They sting, too. I got stuck kinda bad a few days ago. This big man pulled me out. He said he could help me not get tangled, if I did him a favor. It, um, seemed like a good idea at the time."

Ralora nods, "I think I see where this is going. He asked you to come here for him. Is there anything else he wanted?"

"Just some leaves," Tina shrugs, "some, uh, ban-ee-an leaves, I think."

Taylen

"Seven feet? So that's a six foot pedestal and a one foot orb. An orb with liquid inside. And no trap door on the orb, I'm assuming, since you said nothing else moved. So the only opening would have to be inside the pedestal. Four spikes and four posts, and pushing the latter made the former eject red liquid from the orb. How far was their camp from the spot they attacked you?"

"May I continue, Regalor?" Esmerelda asks. "Certainly, Esmerelda," the chestnut-haired elf responds, "I didn't mean to interrupt." "That's alright, I needed a moment," Esmerelda answers him, then looks at you again. "Your friend, is he a man of nature?"

Ukko

You awaken to darkness. Cool water laps at your chest in small waves. A very faint light shines to your left, not far away. Murmurs and whispers of soft voices echo away in the night. You can see and hear nothing else.

"Yes he appears to be a man of nature. Though his ideals about it seem different from that of most elven druids and rangers. They also seem to be fairly stiff."

Esmerelda nods, "Good, that will help. He seems to come from someplace far away. It would help to know why he left, or how he came here. Can you tell me either of these?" Following your reply, Regalor appears to mull something over in his mind. He keeps making small movements with his hands, and mumbling, staring alternately at the floor and the ceiling.

ooc:
Reyolen has been having some ISP difficulties. With several players already missing, I have decided to open a slot to someone new. His introduction will appear shortly, once I confirm his continued interest.

You give a squeeze to a small yellow bulb, which offers up a thick, pink, and slightly sticky liquid. Massaging it into your hair, you feel a foamy lather between your fingers, and flowery smells waft past your nose.

Tina's hair doesn't have a lather in it. Instead, it appears shiny and smooth, like lace. Ralora takes a braid between her fingers, and starts rubbing it gently. You can't tell at first, but eventually the braid begins to unravel.

ooc: I have a temporary way to get on the internet now, so everything's okay now. I can post again.

ooc:
Welcome back, Reyolen.

Sounds of trickling water break through the whispers as you stand. Whispering voices change to soft giggling sounds, then fade from your hearing. You stumble blindly for a few steps towards the light. Just as you call out, you reach the light... and smack into it.

More giggles reach your ears, from somewhere behind you.

Reyolen

Sastak and Teldrean both appear quite busy behind the bar. It takes you a moment to get Sastak's attention, and his opening greeting consists of, "I'll be with you in a moment," after which he promptly disappears into the back room. He emerges a moment later carting a keg of honey mead behind him.

After serving a few more drinks to the customers, Sastak finally turns to you. "So, what can I get... Silvan, is that you? Well now, this is a pleasant surprise. Come 'round the back, I'll have Lithreyenne set a private table. We can use one of those," he laughs, pointing at the crates under your arm.

ooc:
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...

The night dragged on. As your mentor rested, you returned home. Yet something ate at the back of your mind, keeping you from rest. Where had those creatures come from? You needed to know. But more than that, you needed to know why they have come. Something about the whole situation bothered you. Before the dawn, you rose from your bed, and went to the temple seeking answers.

Instead, you found more questions. Apparently orcs aren't the only problem of late. Goblins and kobolds swarm the southern trade routes, forcing caravans through the forest. Many of those caravans disappeared without a trace. Bandits had raided several small towns along the forest border. With all the recent disturbances, Destindeterre's military resources came under heavy stress, and had started experiencing losses of their own.

With the temple's leave, you visited the city's military offices, and enquired about any need they may have for your services. They jumped on the opportunity. In an attempt to reopen the southern caravan routes, the Terranada militia hired several mercenaries, and arranged for a tracker to lead an assault. You joined their ranks, along with a paladin of Kord.

When you reached the site after three days of travel, the tracker told the group to halt. Kord's paladin, however, had other ideas. Shouting out an oath of the Brawler, he charged the creatures' encampment. Though you thought his actions foolish, you could not let him go alone, so you too charged into battle. Things did not go well. The creatures overwhelmed you and your comrades.

You awoke to a pair of pointed ears and thin slanted eyes staring back at you. "He's coming around," the smooth male voice echoed in your head. "Are you alright? Tell me your name."

You told him.

"We should get him to the city," a young woman spoke from somewhere nearby. "Our resources are already strained, and we are ill-equipped to deal with this sort of injury." It didn't take long for you to figure out what sort of injury they meant. Moving your arms sent pain coursing through them. Your legs weren't much better off. The elves had to carry you on a crudely crafted stretcher.

You arrived at the elven city two days ago. This truly is a place of magical wonders... though you have yet to see much of it. An old elven woman with silver streaks through her blonde hair tended to your wounds, and left you in the care of a fellin family.

"I'm impressed, young man," the father's voice speaks wistfully, as you awaken from your evening meditation. "You heal faster than most humans I've met... or most of anyone for that matter. Maybe there's a bit of the dwarves in your roots. No reason for you to stay cooped up here any longer. Take it slow, you don't want to hurt yourself first time out of bed."

"Ahhh" he says as he moves his shoulders and arms about, being quite stiff after not being used for such a time.

"Thank you so much for all you have done (he says the fellin's name if he knows it.. if not at this point he asks for it)"

"I do not know how I can repay you and the Elves for their kindness."

With that he slowly tries to stand, still getting used to being able to move freely again.

[ 06-27-2003: Message edited by: Kilrath ]

"Mmmmmmm..."

Over the past day, names have rarely come up. The family tending you have used mostly pet names for each other, though you've heard the father call his four children by name once or twice. You find yourself stumbling over the father's name as you thank him.

He chuckles slightly, "Remus, son of Arahana. And you needn't worry about that. You'll find a way, most of us do."

"We only moved here a month ago," his wife added to the conversation, as she walked in from outside, carrying her youngest son, Merril, over her shoulder. She sets him carefully on the edge of your bed. His hands are clasped over his left knee. "There, there, you'll be alright," she tells him, stroking his forehead gently.

Reyolen

Following Sastak into the back room would require hopping over the counter, and possibly the people sitting at it. Though you could quite possibly accomplish such a feat, it strikes you as a bad idea. Instead, you take Sastak's advice, walking around to a door leading you to a hallway lined with small rooms. These, you recall from youth, are the private tables.

Lithreyenne shows up a few moments later, looking fatigued, and muttering as she walks. "... should just get their own drinks. Stupid tourists, don't even live long enough to appreciate a little piece and..." you manage to catch as she slips by you, and into one of the rooms.

She steps out a moment later, walks up to you, and pauses just long enough to say, "Room's ready for you, kid." As she disappears from the hallway, you head into the room. A round table with four chairs awaits you there, with two place settings prepared. Sastak arrives a moment later.

"Well, it's been pretty lively, I'll give you that," he says in response to your question. "As for good, that depends who you ask. Some of the clientelle could benefit from a little tutelage in public relations." He walks idly over to the table, and sits down at one of the place settings, motioning for you to join him.

Pvednes

You find the water pleasantly soothing, and for a while, are perfectly content simply to sit in the bath up to your neck. If you hadn't slept all afternoon, you could easily do so now. Ralora starts humming, and every so often, you hear Tina squeal happily.

"You said I healed fast, faster then most then you've meet... have you had to tend to many others while you have been here?"

(He waits for a reply at this point, and time permitting he asks, if he doesn't remember or doesn't know at this point...)

"Who were the elves that saved me, I distinctly remember a certain male elf waking me up... and later a older elven woman, with silver streaks in her hair. I would like to be able to meet them and thank them as well, if that would be alright?"

(After he finishes with his question he begins to think and remember what brought him to this predicament in the first place... there were a lot of questions that needed answering. Perhaps the Elves might know.)

[ 06-27-2003: Message edited by: Kilrath ]

ooc:
Aani has asked for a short leave. Since Freya and Drakkenclaw are both out of the way already (along with Simfor), this shouldn't pose any real problems.

"You're the second since our arrival," Remus tells you, matter-of-factly. "My wife has a talent with herbs, and around here we've had little shortage of them." The corners of the woman's mouth curl into a smile, "Oh, darling, not in front of the children. You're making me blush." If she's blushing, you can't tell in the slightest.

Though you're a little stiff, you feel better than you have in days. You can move without pain, and don't get dizzy. Much of your trip to Destindeterre was spent in a haze as you fought off the searing pain in your joints. Now it almost seems like a dream; you could hardly even guess that you'd been hurt at all.

"Let's have a look at that knee," the woman says to her son in a cheerful tone, once he calms down. He tentatively lifts his hands off his knee, sniffling. Blood trickles slowly down his calf. "There, there, it's not so bad. Just a little scrape." She walks over to a curtain on the wall, and brushes it aside, revealing several shelves. Reaching up to the top shelf, she takes down a small clay jar.

Returning to the boy's side, his mother kneels down, and dabs two fingers into the jar, withdrawing them casually after a few seconds. A white resin covers her fingertips, which she rubs on the boy's wound. "Better?" He nods, smiling meekly, then hugs her, and runs back outside.

"I can't claim to know who brought you here," Remus shrugs, "but you might want to go see the Elders. We met them briefly when we first arrived here. They know most everyone who comes to the city, and could likely answer your questions."

Reyolen

Sastak lets out a warm chuckle, "If it's just been a couple days, then you're not as bad off as you think. The city's gotten quite crowded lately with refugees from the forests. Some of my patrons have been waiting weeks just for an escort to the human cities outside the forest. Even a few gnomes have shown up, and they can usually handle themselves."

Sastak pauses a moment, then asks, holding up the empty wine glass at his place setting, "So, shall we spring one of those bottles of yours? As much as I'd rather bring one from the storeroom, our storeroom has found itself unpleasantly understocked of the finer imports these days."

(ps: This post was posted by a Bear called Ukko, To stupid to remeber that he is on his wife computer, he posted, But do not worry, he will go back on his old accont.)

[ 06-30-2003: Message edited by: Jewel ]

(He waits for a reply and if he gets enough information to know where to go, assuming it's appropriate for him to do so he says...)

"Well Remus, I appreciate everything you and your loving family have done for me. If I may, I'll be off to see the Elders now before it gets much later, hopefully I can get some answers to the many questions I have"

ooc:
A certain amount of metagaming is okay. But there are times when you should wait for the results of your actions before moving on.

The light feels quite solid, just like the wall. Your question draws more giggles, but no real answer. Suddenly the light disappears, and appears again several feet to your right. It looks very slightly different from before, resembling a dim glow at the end of a short, narrow passageway.

Kilrath

Remus thinks for a moment. "If the hour were earlier, I would suggest finding your way to the meeting hall where the Elders hold the initiation ceremony. However, that's over by now, likely as not. You could try the Felesancienna, but they rarely let anyone in unescorted. I'd say," he pauses again, "your best chance is to find one of the wayguards near the gates."

You bid them farewell, and exit the room where you spent the last day or more. Passing through a second, similarly shaped room, you leave their home. The children, busy wrestling and chasing each other around the wide walkways, do not even notice as you leave. Remus and his wife stand in the doorway, waving as you go.

Only after you have walked for several minutes does it occur to you that you have no idea where you are, what a Felesancienna is, or how to recognize a wayguard. All the domed homes around you appear very much alike, with mossy curtains for doors, and no windows of any significance.

Reyolen

Sastak smiles widely at the mention of his wife. "Yes, yes, we're both doing quite well," he sounds almost as if gloating. When you put the bottle on the table, he picks it up, gives it a brief review, then uncorks it, pouring a glass for each of you.

Taking a moment to waft the glass under his nose, he takes a sip, "Where were we. Ah, yes, your parents. What has become of them? Even if they did decide to take you traveling with them, I thought they would have written before now."

[ 07-01-2003: Message edited by: Kilrath ]

Mist settles over your cheeks and forehead, and around the edges of your face, tingling pleasantly. Warm water laps gently at your neck, and every so often you hear a gentle bubbling sound. Subtle changes in Tina's vocalizations tell you she's getting bored, but Ralora keeps humming soothing tunes.

After a long while, Ralora stops humming. "Alright, little one. You should rinse it off, then we'll need to comb out the last knots." "Okay," Tina answers, cheering up again, and you hear a series of small, erratic splashes. Something brushes past your toes. Light footsteps and the tapping of a cane tell you that Ralora has removed her legs from the bath.

Kilrath

Though it appears that most people have retreated into their homes for the evening, a few fellis and a half-elf or two remain outside. A half-elven couple sit on a pair of giant mushrooms, on opposite sides of a little round table, absorbed in conversation. A fellin woman in an emerald-green dress ushers her child inside, while cradling a baby in her arm. A young fellin man and woman run past you, hand in hand. "Hurry, lelleni, or we'll be late!" you hear the man say to his companion before they disappear over a crest in the walkway. In the distance, a gnome sits alone on a mushroom, smoking a pipe. If not for his beard, you might have mistaken him for a child.

Looking around reminds you of just how strange a place this city is. If you'd told anyone back home that you saw people sitting on giant mushrooms, they would think you ate one.

Reyolen

"I'm... sorry to hear that. Kivanen and Kerlea, they were good people." Sastak lets out a quiet sigh, and takes another sip of wine. "Your parents' home? I haven't been there since you left; don't think anyone else has gone there either. You planning to settle back in, now that you're grown?"

Arthur sighs to himself, "Maybe it would be better to wait untill the morning... oh well here goes."

Arthur begins walking towards the gnome, trying not to draw TOO much attention to himself, and to see if he can tell possibly what type of mood the gnome is in as he approaches.

[ 07-03-2003: Message edited by: Kilrath ]

Taylen thinks more carefully of that last statement, "Then again, maybe the memories of his leaving just hurt and thats why he sounded that way."

Most people don't seem inclined to pay much attention to you anyway, so not drawing their eyes onto yourself isn't that difficult. The gnome looks... relaxed. He has his eyes closed, and blows a few smoke rings as you approach. Following four circular tufts of smoke, he finishes with a pair of rings linked together into a horizontal 8.

Until you get within a few steps, he does not seem to notice you. Then his eyes open, and he glances at you from the corner of his eye. "Jingle, jangle, in the jungle. What brings a clunker such as yourself to wander about on this fine evening?" he says with a hint of a chuckle, before returning his pipe to his lips.

Reyolen

"Most of the refugees come from forest settlements," Sastak says with a frown. "Some came from towns on the forest's edge. I remember back when the ranger hunts could handle matters in the forest, and human patrols kept peace on the flatlands. Nowadays bandits have run of the land, and our hunts can't even handle the orcs anymore. Everything's just gone to drought." After emptying his glass, he refills it from the bottle."

"Slavers, you say?" he looks up. "Slavery was outlawed almost eighty years ago. I remember hearing about it from one of the traders; said it cost him a small fortune to hire replacements for all the fellis he lost. What would slavers be doing now... and how'd you end up on the wrong end of slavers to begin with?"

Taylen

Following your statement, Esmerelda thinks for a moment. "I see. The Sand Reed, you say? Your friend has come a fair distance indeed. I must ask one more question, but I think someone else will need to answer it." She looks up towards the benches, where a man in brightly colored clothing kneels over the fallen assassin. "Regalor, please escort our friend here wherever he wishes to go, then meet me in the library," she tells the chestnut-haired elf, then walks away up the aisle.

"Hmm, what? Oh, yes," he says, looking over at you again. "Naeatalle said to take you to the Wandering Wood. You still headed that way?"

ooc:
Taylen, I'll wait for you to say whether you follow before posting the remainder of the trip to the Whispering Wood. You're also free to converse during the trip, or otherwise describe your actions, if you wish to do so.

"I'll be back shortly," Ralora says from somewhere nearby. "You will need a few items I didn't bring along, and I just remembered a little while ago." For a while afterwards, you hear only the light splashing sounds of Tina playing... then a single quiet thud.

"Ow!" Tina whines, "Miss Ralora, how do I get this stuff off my face? It makes everything look all foggy. Miss Ralora? Are yeee!" A loud splash follows, and a wave washes over your face, sending water up your nose.

Taylen

"Alright then, follow me," Regalor states briskly. He turns towards the exit, and walks up the aisle out of the meeting hall. Though he carries a long walking stick like the other Elders, he lets it hang at his side as he walks, rather than leaning on it.

Reyolen

"Leaving so soon?" Sastak asks, his eyes on you as you stand. "After your trip, I thought you might stay for a meal. Speaking of which," he adds, as the fellin woman from the dining room appears in the doorway, carrying a small tray on one arm. You quickly catch the smell of freshly cooked poultry, and sweet fruits like you used to eat as a child. "Pleasant evening, gentlemen," she says in a perky tone, then hesitates for a second, "is this a bad time?"

When your hand reaches the light, it hits the same wall of thin, tangled wood. You can make out two distinct voices laughing. Both sound like children.

A moment later, the giggling becomes quiet, then fades away. The small room grows lighter, once again resembling the bath house you entered earlier. Your clothes lay on the floor where you left them. Soft light shines through the open door on the far side of the dome, brightening the floor around it.

"Well as you can probably tell I'm not from around here, and quite frankly... I'm a little lost." He says with a disaproving smirk. "You see I was hoping to find the Elders, I realize it's late, but I was told I might be able to find them at the Felesancienna, except for... well I have no idea where that is. I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction? Or to perhaps somewhere or to someone who knows?"

"Oh, you don't want to go there," the small man says, then takes another puff from his pipe. "Even the locals don't visit the crown tier unless they have important business with the Elders. Heavily protected, that place." He blows a smoke ring, then a smoke rectangle. "If you really want to get there, just head for the spire at the city's core," he gestures towards something dark in the distance, "and up."

He takes another puff from his pipe. Blowing smoke lips with a smoke tongue sticking out from them, he continues, "I suggest you spend the night somewhere comfortable, then ask around in the morning. Are you staying at one of the inns?"

Reyolen

"No, no, Linra, your timing is perfect," Sastak smiles. The fellin woman approaches, taking bouncing steps on her toes, and stops beside the table. She sets down three plates, each with a small roasted bird in the center, surrounded by slices of red, orange, and purple fruits. "Pheasant tonight, in honor of the occasion. Missus insisted," she grins.

"Does this mean Neloreas is joining us?" asks Sastak. The fellin nods enthusiastically, "Soon as missus readies herself for company. Now if I may?" "Certainly," Sastak nods, and the fellin quickly bounds out of the room, the empty tray tucked under her arm.