You bow slightly and, in a fluid motion, gently take Melodie's hand and brush your lips over it.

Melodie's mouth turns up as her face breaks into a smile.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Greetings."

You say in a deep voice, "Salutations, Lady Melodie."

You gag a bit as you inhale your own stink.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "And how are you, Tanaar? Well, I hope?"

You look about yourself, rubbing your chin thoughtfully.

You say to Melodie in a deep voice, "Indeed, though apparently I need to bathe."

Melodie wrinkles her nose ever so slightly, but maintains her polite smile.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Happens to the best of us. Afraid some beasts decline baths before we dispatch of them."

You frown at yourself.

You say in a deep voice, "Indeed. Returning the Abbot of the the Shala'jen to his rest carries a price, it seems."

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Well, perhaps I should leave you to taking care of that, and if you so wish it, continue our conversation in a bit. I don't wish you to feel uncomfortable."

Tanaar taps his teeth with his fingernails, pondering a course of action.

Tanaar inclines his head.

You say in a deep voice, "A moment. I'll head to the lake."

<Ran to Muurn and scrubbed stink off>

Melodie inclines her head slightly at your arrival.

Tanaar brushes out his sopping beard with a comb, tut-tutting over a piece of algae tangled in his mustache.

You say in a deep voice, "Marginally better."

Melodie hides a smile behind her gloved hand.

Melodie smiles and says with a flowing, cultured accent, "The lake, at least, is a bit warmer this time of year. You would be in worse spirits were it Mayan."

Tanaar smiles ruefully.

You say in a deep voice, "Indeed, though I find a brisk swim in icy water to be bracing."

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "I think I'll stick to the warm waters of our bathhouse, myself."

Tanaar chuckles, turning his head to shake out his still-damp hair.

Melodie asks with a flowing, cultured accent, "Well, then, what brings you to the Heart of the Vashnars? Business of some sort?"

A small silvery blue dragon emerges from the ground and contentedly curls up against the shrine of Phaestus.

You say in a deep voice, "Shopping, mostly."

Melodie smiles softly at a small, silvery blue dragon.

Three feet from snout to tip, this dragon has an elongated torso and four vestigial limbs. Shaped like an arrow, his head gives way to a streamlined body and ends with a flattened tail. Silvery blue scales run along the top and sides of the wyrm, tapering off at his soft underbelly. The short limbs fall against the dragon's sides, each ending in four fingers tipped with sharp, hooked talons. With each breath the dragon's scales flex in and out, and when distended, a ruddy illumination fills the crevices between them. The smell of deep earth, rusted iron, and burnt coal linger around this beast, and smoke drifts from his nostrils and maw, the latter filled with serrated teeth and a fleshy tongue. Vermillion ringed pupils gaze out from the dragon's eyes, twin orbs gleaming with unquestionable intellect.
A small, silvery blue dragon seems to be unafraid.
He weighs about 96 pounds.
He is loyal to Phaestus.
You see nothing in it.

You tilt your head curiously at a small, silvery blue dragon.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Ah, he belongs to Lord Phaestus. It's not unusual to see him slipping about from place to place."

You say in a deep voice, "Ah, I understand."

You say in a deep voice, "It was with deep regret that I petitioned Lady Ariettie to change my status to that of True Landwalker. After long deliberation, I have chosen to pursue the Righteous Fire's Order."

Melodie tilts her head slightly as she considers.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Considering the way of the world presently, it is a change I can understand. It is difficult to remain disappointed when one spends time amoung the refugees and understands their hardships."

You say in a deep voice, "While it is a poor analogy compared to one's faith, consider vocational pursuits versus the avocational. I genuinely love the Sea, and would gladly lose myself in its embrace. My responsibility to the Bloodsworn Gods, however, is an irresistible duty."

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Duty to one's country over duty to oneself can be exquisitely complex. Determining which should come first, even more so."

Tanaar finishes toweling off and brushing his mane of hair, tucking the cloth and comb into his pack.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Perhaps in the same situation, I may have made the same decision. One will never know, though. My heart and will belong to the Sea and its Lord."

Melodie carefully tucks a loose curl back into place.

You say in a deep voice, "In my case, I am called from personal desires and pursuits by an abiding sense of responsibility. I am sure there will be times in the decades and centuries to come when I look out at the Seas and wonder how things might be different, but they are as they are, and will be as they will be."

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Spoken much as a Knight would."

Melodie purses her lips.

Tanaar smiles slightly.

You say in a deep voice, "I have sometimes wondered if I missed that calling in favor of a monastic life."

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Humourous. I often wonder the same."

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Alas, some things about life you simply cannot change and just have to ponder the what-may-have-beens."

Melodie looks thoughtful and says with a flowing, cultured accent, "I have a feeling, though, that despite your change of status, it will not be the last you hear of the Sea."

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "It is ever-present in our lives, even if we have not dedicated our soul to it."

Tanaar nods slowly, glancing into the distance and surreptitiously touching the Ring of Harmony that yet adorns his hand.

You say in a deep voice, "Aye. Though my first duty will be to the Fire and the Light, I hold the Sea in high esteem, and will pay your Lord due homage."

Melodie clasps her hands before her as she considers you.

Melodie asks with a flowing, cultured accent, "Were you ever taught the ways of performing a libation?"

You shake your head.

You say in a deep voice, "I was not."

Melodie chews her bottom lip thoughtfully.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "There are a few different versions. I think perhaps, if you would like, I could teach you the simpliest, one that requires no other items other than a vial of seawater."

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Would that interest you?"

Melodie tilts her head curiously.

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

You say in a deep voice, "Very much so!"

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Come, then. I will show you."

Melodie makes a beckoning motion.

You begin to follow Melodie.

Melodie nods her head emphatically.

You follow Lady Melodie Le'Murzen, Arcthyos north to An ornate shrine.

You watch as Trilliana rolls a pair of ivory dice. They come to rest with one showing a 2 and the other a 2. LITTLE JOE.

"Woot!" Trilliana shouts excitedly.

Eyes suddenly shifty, Trilliana furtively looks away and examines the floor.

Melodie chuckles long and heartily.

Trilliana says in a calming, harmonic voice, "Don't mind me, new toy."

Trilliana pokes at a pair of ivory dice urgently.

Melodie smiles and says to you with a flowing, cultured accent, "This is Senator Trilliana."

Trilliana inclines her head politely at you.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "The libation is a prayer offering, a personal way to worship and communicate with the Lord of the Sea."

Tanaar inclines his head and listens carefully.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "It takes many forms. One of the most common ones you'll see among the Nerai is the use of the objects upon a similar altar as this."

Melodie nods her head at a white marble altar.

This altar is flat and smooth, standing just below the waist of a man. The surface has been polished to a brilliant sheen, and it has been inlaid with golden letters in the flowing tritonic script. The sides of the altar are carved into figures of Cyrenians at work, at play, and at war. Atop the altar lies a sacrificial knife made from the tooth of a mountain drake, and a crystal bowl whose rim is studded with opals.
It weighs 0 ounce(s).

You say in a deep voice, "What does the tritonic script say?"

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Even the landwalker Nerai aren't as familar with tritonic as we would like."

Melodie tilts her head to squint at the script carefully.

You say in a deep voice, "Ah, I understand. Please, continue."

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "I don't recongize the words, but from the way it is formed and flows together, I would say it's likely a prayer of protection in the giving of sacrifice to the Lord."

Melodie lifts her head up, nodding as she continues.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "It's quite simple. The only thing you will need is a small vial of seawater."

Melodie takes a coralline seahorse vial from a frosted azure pouch.

Melodie lifts a coralline seahorse vial from her pouch, and unstoppers it, pausing a moment in reflection as she closes her eyes and murmurs a soft prayer.

Melodie opens her eyes, tilting the vial over to pour out the contents onto the sand, dampening it.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "This wine we consign to the Sea, that our Lord will be appeased and satisfied."

You tilt your head curiously.

Melodie smiles as a small, shimmering blue cloud emerges from the dampened earth, lifting into the air briefly before dispersing into the mountain breeze.

You say in a deep voice, "Why name it wine?"

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Traditionally, when making the libation, it is water mixed with wine in a bowl. However, even with the simple offering of just seawater, it still works. You are aware of the title "Lord of the Wine-Dark Sea", yes?"

<Agrias logged on in our location>

Melodie nods her head at Agrias.

Agrias says to Melodie in a hallowed voice, "I certainly hope I am."

Agrias takes a long pull from a bottle of rum, coughing and blinking his eyes rapidly as the drink burns his throat.

Tanaar smiles as his eyes light up in comprehension.

Melodie smiles and says to Agrias with a flowing, cultured accent, "Oh not you, silly Agrias."

You say in a deep voice, "Aye, that does make sense."

Melodie says to you with a flowing, cultured accent, "That is the most simplistic of the libations. We perform something somewhat similar when we are about to head out to Sea and have no time for a proper departure rite."

Melodie says to you with a flowing, cultured accent, "You can perform them for any number of reasons - in thanks, in times of trouble. The ritual phrase I used you don't have to use exactly - I simply do out of practice. You may change your prayer up somewhat." <Melodie typoes here, which I fixed in log but leads to the next bit>

You nod your head at Melodie.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "Bother. Agrias has me all stuttering, now."

Agrias smirks.

Agrias says in a hallowed voice, "I have a tendency to make women all a dither."

You say in a deep voice, "Aye, he does that."

Melodie stifles a snort.

You say in a deep voice, "Some of the men, too."

Agrias flashes Melodie a quick thumbs up.

Agrias beams broadly at you.

You wink conspiratorially at Agrias.

Trilliana chuckles long and heartily.

Melodie says to you with a flowing, cultured accent, "For a Nerai, a libation goes a little more like this."

Melodie runs her finger along the rim of the bowl, and water begins to pour out of the rim, filling the bowl halfway.

Melodie turns the bowl in a full circle, and dark, red wine fills the bowl, mixing with the water. A sweet aroma begins to emanate from the crystal bowl.

Melodie reverently touches a Pendant of Oceans that hangs about her neck.

Melodie says with a flowing, cultured accent, "This wine we consign to the Sea, that our Lord will be appeased and satisfied."

As Melodie speaks the ritual phrase, she lifts the bowl up over her head, and pours the mixture on the ground with a grand gesture. The wine turns to a blue, shimmering cloud, and rises to the heavens.

<Some Agrias-Trilliana interaction snipped, in which he makes a joke about what Melodie and I are doing>

Tanaar bows his head reverently, honouring the Lord of the Sea.

Melodie smiles and says to you with a flowing, cultured accent, "Any questions?"

Agrias says to Melodie in a hallowed voice, "Yes, say you'll forgive me for making a joke halfway through your libation."

Melodie puts a coralline seahorse vial into a frosted azure pouch.

You say to Melodie in a deep voice, "I have the basics, I believe."

Melodie smiles impishly and says to Agrias with a flowing, cultured accent, "Maybe if you swim a few laps of the Muurn, I'll forgive you."

Melodie nods her head at you.

Agrias says in a hallowed voice, "Swim? With all this fullplate?"

Agrias scoffs arrogantly.

You say to Melodie in a deep voice, "Thank you for taking the time to instruct me."

Melodie says non-chalantly with a flowing, cultured accent, "Well, if Aerek can do it and you can't, I suppose I can understand."

Melodie smiles and says to you with a flowing, cultured accent, "It's my pleasure, although we're disappointed to lose a good prospective Nereian."

Agrias says to Melodie in a hallowed voice, "That's just how the chips fall sometimes."

Melodie says to Agrias with a flowing, cultured accent, "Oh sure, bring in gambling jokes, now." <Argh, derailing. Damn you Agrias>

You say to Melodie in a deep voice, "Well, just as you said that I'd likely not heard my last from the Sea, I think the Sea has not heard its last from me."

Melodie's eyes sparkle with amusement at you.

Agrias says in a hallowed voice, "Well. I am an authority in the realm of gambling."

Trilliana says in a calming, harmonic voice, "He is, I've seen him in action."

Agrias says in a hallowed voice, "I mean, c'mon, I make a joke about your libation and live to tell the tale. If that's not Luck, I don't know what is."

Trilliana grins mischievously at Agrias.

With a nervous look on his face, Agrias manoeuvres a gambling chip marred with char marks over his knuckles and back into his palm.

Melodie says to you with a flowing, cultured accent, "It is currently the year of Okeanos in the sacred calandar of the Sea. Keep an ear attuned to the Eye of Pisces. You may find an invitation to join us for a ritual or two."

You beam broadly at Melodie.

You say to Melodie in a deep voice, "I would very much like that."

Melodie says to Agrias with a flowing, cultured accent, "You're lucky it was me and not the Hand."

Melodie flashes you a joyous smile.

Agrias says in a hallowed voice, "I wouldn't have dared it if Verrucht was doing it."

Melodie says to Agrias with a flowing, cultured accent, "Good thinking."

Agrias says in a hallowed voice, "Because Luck favours the prepared."

Agrias waggles his eyebrows comically.

Wyverex has entered the area.

Melodie says to you with a flowing, cultured accent, "Is there anything more I can do for you, Tanaar?"

You say to Melodie in a deep voice, "Nay, indeed I was about to beg your pardon. I need to seek out Sir Wyverex about a Caefir matter."

Melodie says to you with a flowing, cultured accent, "Then do take care. Hopefully this won't be the last I see of you."

You bow slightly and, in a fluid motion, gently take Melodie's hand and brush your lips over it.

You incline your head politely.