"You may try."

Auditorium of the Grand Hallifaxian Opera House.
Banks of clouds roil about here. The sheer opulence of this grand auditorium is stupefying, gold and crystal alternating and mingling together in carefully designed harmony to create an image of architecture and engineering unrivalled anywhere else in the world. A large stage fills one entire wall of the grand hall, in clear sight of any of the countless seats that fill the floor and four ornate layers of balconies. Sparsely placed arching pillars support the balconies as they climb toward the top, transforming into delicate statues of female trill whose widespread wings give off the illusion of supporting the ceiling above. The central dome of the ceiling is covered in detailed paintings of soaring trill and billowing cloud formations, the rounded shape providing a sensation of depth as well as completing the acoustic superiority of the auditorium. All of this is basked in the warm, soft light spread by countless strategically placed crystal orbs which add to the harmonic atmosphere and complete the pleasure that is experienced by many who witness the productions in this auditorium. Plush velvet cushions offer comfortable seating upon an elaborately engraved marble opera bench here. Soaring to a majestic height, a harmonious stage of crystal and gold stands here. Calioliahali Skydrifter looms here, lingering with an unsettling aura of strict severity. She wields a severe steel arming sword in her left hand and a severe steel shortsword in her right hand.
You see a single exit leading northeast.

You give a bottle to Calioliahali Skydrifter. [my gin from Teyitha's toast and sacrifice]

A look of understanding crossing her features, Calioliahali nods her head slowly.

A series of chiming notes, distinctly crystalline, ring out in the distance in a slow, descending scale.

You ponder Calioliahali thoughtfully, looking her up and down.

Calioliahali glances askance at you.

[look calioliahali]
She is a feathered storm trill demigoddess, a statuesque and imposing woman that stands well over six and a half feet tall. Her face is full of strong, rough edges, evoking imagery from a battlefield: her skin's hue is reminiscent of dusty, sun-bleached bones, long since stripped of their flesh and vitality; her lips are the tone of blackened earth, and her eyes the tint of a cloudless morning sky polluted by plumes of smoke. The feathers that adorn her head, the expansive wings upon her back, and much of the rest of her body are the color of a stream into which bodies were carelessly thrown, their blood staining the water. At the end of each of her well-muscled arms are hands hardened by callouses, and the nails that tip each of her fingers are curved and appear to have been sharpened, giving them a talon-like quality.

She is wearing:
an austere suit of full plate
a pair of disciplined roseate wings, protruding dutifully from her back through slots in her armor
a serviceable grey cloak with a dodecahedron clasp
a tactical leather baldric, clasped across her chest and back securely
a crystalline cloudberry brooch, pinned to the right side of her cloak
the Quintessential Mandala of Resplendent Harmony, partially obscured by her cloak
a utilitarian pouch, secured to the left side of her waist.

You tilt your head curiously.

Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "I do not drink."

You whisper, "You do not have to drink it."

A look of understanding crossing her features, Calioliahali nods her head slowly.

Calioliahali Skydrifter says, "Understood."

The Quintessential Mandala of Resplendent Harmony suddenly begins to glow from its place over Calioliahali's chest until its many gemstones shine with a near-blinding incandescence before dimming to its normal brilliance, ripples of harmonic energy emanating for several moments after.

Calioliahali's smoky blue gaze settles more fully upon you, then. "Ah, forgive me. Is there something with which I can assist you? Not that your presence is unwelcome."

You shake your head.

You tilt your head curiously.

You whisper, "Which guild of Hallifax do you align with, if any?"

Simply, Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "None of them."

You hum thoughtfully.

You whisper, "How do you view them, then? I understand... the cities view their guilds differently than we of the forests might."

Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "They each serve a function in their own right, but I have never felt as though the three within Hallifax would add anything meaningful to my ability to serve the Collective. I believe it also more easily allows for the ability to be impartial, should any tension arise between the various sects."

You hum thoughtfully.

You whisper, "Do you believe they would act disharmoniously from each other?"

Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "It is unlikely, at present, but it is prudent to account for all possibilities."

Tilting their head, you whisper, "I see..."

An eyebrow lifting, Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "Ah, is there a specific reason for your inquiry?"

You whisper, "No."

Calioliahali nods once, still regarding you quietly.

You whisper, "Is there something wrong?"

The sound of quiet, muffled conversation drifts through the air.

Calioliahali Skydrifter says to you, "I do not believe so."

You have emoted: Esei tilts their head the other way, stepping closer to Calioliahali, footfalls eerily silent. "You look at me strangely," they whisper after a long moment. "Why?"

Calioliahali maintains her gaze upon you, the corners of her lips twitching. "Ah, forgive me, I..." Her cheeks flush then, and she clears her throat, then falls silent for a moment. When her voice returns, it is more level. "You are Gurashi's family. You are important to them, remain important to them, despite everything that has occurred. You are therefore a matter of interest to me, because, ah..." And then her composure and voice breaks, rubescent hues descending upon the rest of her face. "G-Gurashi's happiness is everything to me," is all she is finally able to muster, gaze finally flitting away from your own to fall to the ground.

You have emoted: The only change in Esei's expression is a raised brow, and even that is fleeting. "I see," they murmur, clasping their hands behind their back as they take one, two, three steps closer.

Calioliahali's eyes lift upward from the ground, her gaze resettling upon you as you approach. The corners of her lips twitch again, but she remains unmoved.

You whisper, "What do you think of my dearest cousin, then, if you care for them so much?"

Calioliahali's lips again twitch at your question, and she inhales deeply through her nose. Her black lips then part, intoning softly, "Gurashi, ah... They are a constant source of inspiration, of strength, of determination. Their... compassion, their unwavering loyalty, their indescribable talent for so many things. Their incredible intelligence, which continues to surprise me each day. Their," her cheeks flush at this part, "unfathomable beauty." She inhales again, quickly. "Each time I look upon them, I know, even when the Basin is descending into chaos around us, that it will all... it will all be okay. As long as they and I are together, I believe, sincerely, that there is nothing which we cannot overcome." Finally, her voice leaves her, and she takes a few shallow inward breaths, her eyes remaining fixed upon you.

You have emoted: Esei remains silent, considering Calioliahali and her words, black eyes utterly blank. For a long moment, it seems as though they will say nothing at all, before they whisper, "Compassion..." And even at this, they shake their head, as if to dislodge some thought.

Solemn, staid voices can be heard from somewhere outdoors, rising and falling in emotionless, precise monotone.

Cold, clean breezes eddy through the air, driven indoors by the constant winds that buffet the city.

Caressing your ear, the voice of Gael whispers, "I am [redacted], once I locate them, Auspice."
You tell Umbral Evoker Gael, Wyrden Idolator, "Well done. Let me know when you are ready."

You shake your head.

Calioliahali releases a slow, unsteady breath. "I am uncertain if I will ever be able to properly express, ah, how much... How much I love them. Gurashi." She pauses, inhales. "But I am willing to spend the rest of my existence attempting to ensure that they are happy, that they are appreciated, that they *feel* loved, for the act of it is not enough. I will..." A flicker of something crosses her face. "I will never dismiss them, nor ignore them, nor make them to feel small. I will always remain available to them, and I will support them in all of their endeavors, as I am able." Meaningfully, she adds, "And I will endeavor to assist them in regaining their ties with their family, for familial bonds are crucial."

Caressing your ear, the voice of Gael whispers, "Ready, Auspice."

A series of chiming notes, distinctly crystalline, ring out in the distance in a slow, descending scale.

You have emoted: Esei's expression remains statuesque, their body language unflinching. "You may try," they whisper coolly. "I have other matters to attend to, however. Be well."