Beyond the Sky - Session 28

-11th of Autumn's Third-
After the party's respective actions around town, they decide to meet up at a popular pub next to The Morning Calm. Luckily, the excited people at the inn seem to pay little attention to the party, and it is unlikely their conversation will be overheard through the noise and chatter.
Valaire sighs to herself, carefully tracing on her wrist in-between her hand and arm tattoos with an inkless quill.
Sprite wanders idly upon the table, looking to see if she can actually reach into any of the tankards on the table.
Night Eyes watches Valaire's movements curiously.
Night Eyes: "Planning some new enchantment, Valaire?"
Arkune leans back, flipping through one of several recently obtained books.
Valaire: "Planning, yes. Still speculatory."
Adrian gazes over at one of the windows, keeping an eye on the inn.
Valaire: "There are a number of tricks I could try and bridging these runic pathways with a new enchantment would be quite advantageous for my accumulation of greater power."
"But what I'll fit here is another question..."
Valaire idly observes the sprite in the small fey's desperate pursuit for obtainable alcohol.
Arkune: "Do you think Azzanadra takes the front door? Or something sneakier?"
Night Eyes: "Why would he not? He is a VIP."
Adrian: "I see no reason for him not to use the front door."
Arkune: "Well, he is an important figure, right? Don't government officials tend to be a little paranoid?"
Adrian: "Quite often. But not the same kind of paranoid as thieves. Or spies."
Arkune: "So we are probably watching the right door then?"
Adrian: "I expect he takes precautions against assassination, for example, and that any important documents in his rooms will be well-guarded. But that he would not climb in through a window."
Valaire: "Indeed, him using a back door would be a sort of scandal in and of itself."
Night Eyes: "Yes. It says a lot about a settlement if its officials have to sneak about."
"People would lose faith in them."
Adrian: "Or already had. That would be a cause of it."
Valaire: "Either way, it appears not to be the case in the case of this Azzanadra."
Adrian sighs, pressing a hand to his forehead.
Adrian: "We, on the other hand, may need to do some more disreputable things ourselves."
Night Eyes nods grimly.
Arkune: "Like try to sneak in while he's gone?"
"He... he does seem to be up to something, right?"
Valaire tries pressing the quill into her wrist strongly enough to draw a minor amount of blood and, satisfied with her evident planning, reforms her illusory dress sleeve over the tattoos.
Valaire: "Is that not why you have us, my lord? Your loyal retainers, to get our hands dirty so yours remain pristine?"
Adrian: "I'm not sure he's up to what you would consider "something" - he seems to simply be here as a representative."
Arkune: "As long as what we're doing is for a good cause, I will aid you."
Valaire: "(I think 'good cause' sailed out the window ages ago, little mouse.)"
Adrian: "We may not have much excuse to remain in Kyaro for long. He may not be doing anything criminal or malicious himself, but he's our best chance of getting a read on Silske's plans for Ashdale. And I don't like the sound of that henchman of his."
Valaire: "Henchman?"
Adrian: "This Guile."
Night Eyes: "Yes."
Valaire: "Oh?"
Sprite starts trying to tip Arkune's tankard over, risking spilling it in her attempts to get a handful.
Arkune tries to catch the tankard, only a little spilling on the sprite's face.
Arkune: "(You should be more careful...)"
Sprite coughs, trying to shake off any remaining alcohol and using little bits of fey magic to dry up her clothes.
Valaire looks to the sprite, then back at her wrist, before raising her other clawed hand to her forehead.
Arkune: "(If you want some, we can get you your own cup later.)"
"Are we sure Guile is working for Azzanadra?"
Adrian: "If they're traveling together, it's worth looking into at least."
Night Eyes: "(She could use an empty vial.)"
"I strongly suspect Guile is an Eriban, also."
"I don't think this memory would be so frustrating and difficult otherwise."
Arkune: "Why assume such a disguise compared to his comrade though?"
"If they do know eachother and keep meeting up, wouldn't most people assume a connection?"
Adrian: "Many possible reasons. Look at our own group."
"Azzanadra is an emissary - an honest identity is a necessity. But his companion being similarly known may have no such purpose."
Valaire: "Either way, if dear Dhaltra is pained by the memory, it brings to mind an interesting thought as to who this Guile truly is."
Arkune: "Are you saying you think they may be something more sinister?"
Valaire: "Especially if it's the name of the alias itself that bothers her."
Adrian: "Those two things are exactly why I'm suspicious."
Arkune: "Do you mean you think he might have a direct connection to her?"
Valaire: "A man with an obviously fake name, causing unique but unspecific memories..."
Night Eyes: "I do wonder if they use a magical alias, like mine, also."
Valaire looks at Night Eyes, as if scrutinizing her mask.
Night Eyes: "...but I do not believe mine has such an effect."
Valaire: "I have tricks of going undetected when I need to, as well."
Adrian: "Hopefully it doesn't. Distinctive as your response to the name was, I doubt a similar effect would suit your purposes."
Night Eyes: "Indeed."
Night Eyes rubs her chin.
Valaire: "Still, it seems like the easiest way to figure out what these memories are is to learn more about our Guile individual."
Sprite climbs onto Arkune's arm, trying to see if she can use the heightened vantage point to get easier access to alcohol.
Night Eyes: "I want to see his face. Perhaps that would do my head ease."
Arkune picks up the sprite by her waist.
Arkune: "(Valaire, could you give your companion something to drink? I think she's thirsty.)"
Valaire: "Did your informant mention a hat, shadowed face, or mask?"
Adrian sighs, taking a small spoon from traveling gear in his belt pouch, and dips it in his wine, setting the spoon down on the table for the sprite.
Sprite looks at Arkune grumpily, using a quick fey spell to turn a streak of her hair bright blue.
Sprite: "Oh! Much obliged, Lord Adrian, sir!"
Sprite wiggles out of Arkune's grasp, fluttering over to help herself to Adrian's offering.
Arkune toys with the hair as the Sprite wanders off.
Arkune: "(What an interesting little creature... imagine a whole village of you...)"
Valaire: "(Trust me, it's not like I want her to have alcohol, but she doesn't exactly act as my familiar, now does she? It's not like I could tell her no.)"
Adrian: "You still haven't chosen a name for her, have you?"
Valaire: "She doesn't like my name recommendations, so I gave up and left the choice to her."
Sprite: "Yeah, I'd probably feel best with some human equivalent to my fey name, but the transliteration isn't something I can manage."
Night Eyes: "I suppose we should look into Sylvan when we have a chance, then."
Adrian: "I suppose so."
Sprite shrugs, returning to the proffered alcohol.
Sprite: "I guess 'Sprite' works fine until someone figures something out, but if we do figure out a name you guys can use, switching to that would be great."
Adrian: "And no, my informant didn't mention such a hat or mask, but it wouldn't surprise me, either. All he mentioned was a pipe and a trenchcoat."
Valaire: "As a smoking pipe? That would seem to preclude any mask or other facial obstruction, I would think..."
Arkune: "Spectacles, perhaps?"
Valaire: "That level of speculation leads us nowhere. I was merely curious if it was someone with a mask like hers, or another of one of those gods-forsaken Deepborn."
Arkune: "Do their masks have to look like masks though?"
Adrian: "Kincaid didn't openly wear one, so no."
Valaire grits her teeth at the man's mention, before recomposing herself.
Night Eyes: "They can just keep them on their person, if I recall."
Valaire: "And a trenchcoat provides a lot of space to hide things..."
"So we're not going to get any information on who he is unless we actively snoop on him, or ask around."
Arkune: "It would seem that way, yes."
"(I still remember the time I saw a gnome hiding stilts under a trenchcoat... strange strange man he was...)"
Valaire looks at Arkune, before shaking her head.
Valaire: "Perhaps I should offer another of my little tricks?"
Adrian: "What do you have in mind?"
Valaire: "Asking around, of course. In the most inconspicuous manner possible."
Adrian: "By all means, do so."
Valaire: "Then, if you will excuse me..."
Valaire closes her eyes, entering a trance. [Ears of the City]
Valaire opens her eyes, smirking.
Valaire: "That ride never gets old."
Arkune: "What did you do?"
Valaire: "I talked to everyone around the town. Did some eavesdropping. Learned quite a few things."
Adrian sips his wine, watching Valaire with a quirked eyebrow.
Adrian: "Anything relevant?"
Valaire: "A few things. I decided to snoop around about Azzanadra and those suspicious gnomes while I was busy reading the past."
Arkune: "(So fast...)"
Valaire: "The annoying thing about this Guile is that the information you got about him from the kid is all the information that exists about him. Nobody knows anything more about him other than 'that guy in a trenchcoat'."
"Even species is rather ambiguous."
Arkune: "So yes, assumed identity is seeming even more likely then."
Adrian: "That, in and of itself, is telling."
Night Eyes: "It sounds like he really is magically inconspicuous. As if his identity is made forgettable."
Adrian: "At the very least, he goes to some length to make it so."
Valaire: "But it makes the fact that his name hangs out in Dhaltra's mind all that more conspicuous."
"Why would she have such memories over somebody that is nobody?"
Valaire closes her eyes and rests her chin on the back of her palm, adopting a serious expression.
Night Eyes: "There more I dwell on it, the more it hurts. It's frustrating."
Arkune: "Maybe... he worked with Dhaltra at some point in the past?"
Valaire: "She would remember that."
Adrian: "...the kid is helpful. Knows the right things to listen to. It's going to be a shame to have to leave that behind."
Arkune: "What if he erased himself?"
Valaire: "Erasing himself... yes."
"Even an alias would have some memories and knowledge."
Adrian: "I hate it when your strange ideas make sense."
Valaire: "Dhaltra had to cast her old name away and adopt a new name. And from the way things are phrased, everybody still remembers who that old her is."
"They just don't know she's that person."
Night Eyes: "Indeed."
"I do think Arkune might be onto something."
Valaire: "This man... he has far too little known about him. And trying to think about him seems to cause our dear owl a headache."
"So it's as if memory of him was there... but now is not."
Night Eyes: "Honestly, it sounds like magic I would love to research."
Valaire: "Something he did, something about who he is or was... has been stricken from existence entirely."
Arkune: "Perhaps we should attempt to meet with him?"
Valaire: "It has been unmade, leaving a conspicuous gap in its wake."
Arkune: "Someone so confident in their ability to be undetected might not be prepared for someone to come face to face with them."
Adrian: "The trick is doing so excusably or innocuously."
Valaire: "And doing so with a little footprint is critical, because we are not discussing parlor trick magic here."
"Dhaltra had to tap into old, ancient sorcery to bring up her current disguise. And this magic is several levels beyond that."
Valaire: "If I had to venture a guess--and I must clarify that this is only a theory--it is that Lunasa is involved."
Arkune: "Why would they get involved with Sliske?"
"...then again, I suppose a better question is what would stop them from doing so..."
Adrian: "That seems like a stretch. Why do you guess that?"
Night Eyes leans in.
Valaire: "This is all theorizing, milord. I gave you the report of what was actually known at the beginning."
"I am just... speculating."
Arkune: "How subtle do we need to be in approaching him?"
Valaire: "Guile? Highly. We don't know what he's capable of."
Adrian: "Very, I think. Any disappearances during our short stay here would be noted. As would interest in a forgettable man."
Valaire: "He may be able to see the true form of things, as the hunter did. He may never need to sleep, making sneaking up on him impossible. He may even be aware of this conversation we are having of him right now."
Arkune: "What if we simply went in as a group and bought him a drink? Claimed we simply heard he was an associate of Azzanadra, whom we've wished to get to know better."
Valaire: "In the absence of knowing what his limitations are, we must be prepared for anything."
Arkune: "It's not technically a lie."
Adrian: "He'd be that much more cautious of us in the future."
Arkune: "If he is as powerful as we fear, it seems like he might just be cautious of everyone already."
"So it seems hard to worsen matters."
Adrian: "If a person approached me that way, I'd know to be wary of them in particular, and I would immediately look into what the root of their interest might be."
Arkune: "What if we are simply honest about our reasons?"
Adrian: "What would you tell him?"
Valaire: "Excuse me, we would like to overthrow your god-emperor, would you kindly inform us as to his whereabouts and greatest weakness?"
Adrian: "If nothing else, we should at least wait to see if sighting the man helps Night Eyes remember anything, before committing to any particulars."
Night Eyes: "Yes, that would help, at least. ...I am trying to think of how one would best get me to talk."
"But I do not think that saying an objective untruth would get this Guile to speak with us."
Valaire turns to her sprite, who seems to have passed out from the alcohol, and shakes her head before resuming.
Valaire: "We might be best off exploring this supposed connection to Azzanadra."
Arkune: "What if we simply base our questions off of the news floating around?"
Valaire: "You mentioned he was a possible henchman, after all, yet Azzanadra is known only for having one."
Arkune: "You said yourself him being connected to Azzanadra isn't obscure news."
"So asking about such a connection might not stand out."
Adrian: "I need to find more ways to work with memories... this would be so much easier if we could just knock him out in a dark alley and make him forget it all."
Valaire: "I do not recall saying so, no."
Arkune: "We could try that."
Valaire: "Nobody seems to have any idea of the two being connected, which makes that part of the theory conspicuous."
Arkune: "Though getting him out of sight might be difficult."
Arkune: "More practically, having heard he's traveling together with Azzanadra and us staying at the inn both seem a plenty 'innocent' enough motive to ask them if they work for him."
Valaire: "I am about to suggest something that may sound completely insane, and if it does, I will simply remind you all that you knew I was insane when you hired me."
Adrian: "Very well..."
Valaire: "We befriend Azzanadra."
Arkune: ""He does seem friendly."
Night Eyes: "I think it would work."
Valaire: "Honestly or falsely, I do not care. It can certainly start as the latter and turn into the former."
Arkune: ""I assumed that was on the schedule already?"
"He seems to bear little mali-"
Valaire: "He is reported as being friendly, sociable, knowledgeable, and well-read."
Arkune: "You... don't suppose Guile is here to take out Azzanadra?"
Adrian: "It's not a bad idea. I want to be careful after how he spoke to Night Eyes previously, but... that is the only impediment."
Valaire: "The negative aspects to his reputation seem entirely based upon his species."
Arkune: "Racism, in other words."
Valaire: "(To say nothing of the treatment his servant must receive...)"
Night Eyes: "Guile hunting Azzanadra? I'm not sure about that."
Arkune: "Perhaps he's meant to spy on him?"
Night Eyes: "Much more likely."
Arkune: "Keep him under control if he makes choices counter to Sliske's will."
Adrian: "That, I think is possible."
Night Eyes: "Yes, that would be much more in line with the Trickster's methods."
Valaire: "So the key is to get on his good side by ingratiating ourselves to him..."
Arkune: "Perhaps then... it is Azzanadra we should ask about Guile."
Night Eyes: "I think we would need earn his trust first."
Adrian: "Not directly, not yet."
"We have no reason to know the man exists."
Arkune: "Of course."
Valaire: "I know you have no subtle bones in your body, mouse, so maybe you can leave the talking to people who do?"
Arkune: "I'm just saying, eventually we should ask Azzanadra, if he is as social as he seems."
Valaire: "It would be a shame if you made a mockery of yourself by publicly defaming a royal of a nation in front of two of his most devoted servants."
"Again."
Arkune: "Again?"
Valaire narrows her eyes at Arkune momentarily, before turning back to the others, as if dismissing the girl from the conversation.
Valaire: "Azzanadra's servant has definite ties to Eribe, as well. A possible refugee."
Arkune: "A refugee to or of Eribe?"
Valaire: "If Dhaltra and Azzanadra did not get along, it could quite possibly be to him not realizing she is a runaway and not a spy."
Night Eyes: "I suppose I can stick to the image of a runaway."
Valaire: "And if nothing else, we will determine the reason for the animosity and, if it turns out to be irreconcilable, he seems the sort to 'agree to disagree' to me."
Adrian: "It does sound like our best plan may be to retire to the common room of the inn for the evening, and wait for a chance to speak with our friend."
Night Eyes nods.
Valaire: "I concur, milord."
Arkune: "Shall we head in then?"
Valaire: "Maybe I can try to sober the little sprite up on the way, she might be useful in the conversation up."
Arkune: "She might be cute while drunk."
Valaire: "(Thing can't even hold her liquor... I wonder if she drank too much and has alcohol poisoning.)"
Night Eyes: "(Can't be hard for someone that small.)"
Adrian: "Think of all the colors she might turn you while drunk, Arkune."
Valaire: "Your hair would be a veritable rainbow. And then she would likely vomit up something similar before passing out."
"Now, if you would like your hair to look like faerie vomit, I'm sure she would be glad to oblige while she's conscious."
Night Eyes: "I wonder what colour fey innards are?"
Valaire hesitates.
Arkune: "Maybe we should leave her at the inn if she's too drunk..."
Night Eyes: "I am not suggesting we should vivisect her, I am just curious."
Valaire looks at the sprite, still finding herself hesitating to respond.
Adrian: "She's small enough to stow someplace."
Valaire: "I'd rather carry her around if she's with me. The magical bonding weakens with distance."
"I can tuck her up my sleeve if I need to."
Adrian: "Exactly. So it shouldn't be much trouble."
Valaire: "Who knows what trouble she would get into if she was left unattended when she wakes up, anyways."
Night Eyes nods.
Night Eyes: "It seems like a bad idea to leave her alone in somewhere like this."
Arkune: "I suppose... we don't want the innkeeper getting annoyed if the room changes colour."
A small gust of wind blows over the pub, as the door opens and Mikolotov steps in, soaked from the rain.
Valaire tucks the familiar into a pouch on her waist, before pulling her illusory cloak back over it.
Arkune waves to Mikolotov.
Arkune: "Welcome back."
Valaire: "You're just in time, we were right about to leave."
Mikolotov: "Oh, you were?"
Valaire: "How tragic it would have been if you returned and we were not here?"
Mikolotov: "Thank gods I managed to arrive in time, then."
Arkune: "Learn anything new?"
Adrian: "Whatever were you up to?"
Mikolotov: "I've gained quite a lot of information, actually."
"I've been spending a lot of time reviewing Arkune's case, and seeing what we can do to help her when we get on the Island."
"And the legal system too, but that doesn't seem as complex..."
Adrian: "How diligent of you. Go on."
Mikolotov: "Well, to start with... I've noticed something seems up with a couple of the council who were closer to the member who was killed."
Mikolotov takes a seat with the party, taking off his wet cloak.
Arkune: "Yes? Does it help my case?"
Mikolotov: "For one, one of them seemed to be quite unaffected, Councillor Morvyn, and from what I read, seems to have some sort of tie to the person who set you up."
Night Eyes narrows her eyes.
Arkune: "Cold he have been who hired Orth and I?"
Mikolotov: "I've also read up that Orth is actually quite connected with the upper members of Lunar society, and after his brave efforts in bringing the "killer" to justice, was absolved of all his deeds by Morvyn."
"He now apparently lives in a house in the upper city, having sold out his other allies for a pardon."
Arkune: "That... that bastard..."
Night Eyes: "That makes things very difficult."
Valaire: "Politics as usual, it seems."
Mikolotov: "However, this means we know where he is, and we can likely talk to Morvyn himself."
Arkune clenches a fist taking deep breathes to try to calm herself.
Arkune: "I... suppose that is good, at least..."
Mikolotov: "See what we can uncover while your trial is active... I'm not sure what to expect. The trial may be laden with corruption."
Adrian: "How do the courts of Lunar Isle regard truthtelling magic?"
Mikolotov: "I hear Lunar customs are quite different compared to the mainland."
"Apparently they don't use it. Too unreliable to know when someone resists the spell."
"So... do you think that can be of help?"
Adrian: "A bother. If someone confesses, it should be plain enough that the magic worked. Thank you, Mikolotov."
Arkune: "Hopefully we can find some evidence to prove my innocence..."
Valaire: "If they still feign innocence, cast the spell some more, no?"
Arkune: "Maybe if we could talk to the councilman's spirit?"
"I suppose that would be rejected, wouldn't it?"
Adrian: "Precisely. It's not as if resisting the spell needs to prove their innocence, simply to necessitate more mundane work."
Valaire: "Ghosts are worryingly unreliable testimony, I would imagine."
Mikolotov: "I've been looking through the logs of some other things regarding the other council members... but It's not as pressing, just minor details, I can tell you on the crossing to the isle."
Arkune: "Any sign of corruption in favor of Eribe and Sliske's following?"
Mikolotov: "I've heard nothing on Eribe regarding the case."
Arkune: "Okay. Thank you... thank you so much... thank you for helping me, Skye."
Night Eyes: "He truly is selfless."
Valaire: "Even when it is on something entirely unrelated to the matter at hand."
Mikolotov flushes red slightly.
Mikolotov: "Well, um... I'm just doing my duty and making sure I can help however I can."
Adrian: "It is related to his own concerns. That more than suffices as an explanation."
Night Eyes: "Yes. And the life of another still rests on it."
Valaire: "Hm hm~"
Valaire pauses, putting a claw to her lips in mischievous thought.
Valaire: "Skye, darling, would you mind helping me with a small favor?"
Mikolotov: "Of course, Valaire."
Valaire: "You know that wonderful little migraine cure you used on me earlier?"
Mikolotov: "RIght, yes?"
Valaire fishes out the unconscious sprite from her belt pouch, showing her to Mikolotov.
Valaire: "She's had a bit too much to drink. Care to repeat your miracle?"
Mikolotov: "Ah, I can fix her."
Mikolotov rests his hands on the small figure, his hands radiating light.
Sprite: "Zzz.. guh... bwah? Did I fall asleep?"
Arkune: "You passed out, but Skye here healed you."
Valaire: "It was a dreadful sight. You were causing quite the drunken spectacle of yourself."
Adrian: "You're indoors, little one. You drank yourself into a stupor, is what you did."
Mikolotov: "It seems you passed out."
Night Eyes: "(She was worried about you, little one.)"
Sprite: "Oh! Well, thank you... Skye?"
"Did you and your sister trade names one day and forget to trade back?"
Mikolotov: "N-no."
"It's... just a name. You can call me Mikolotov if you want."
Sprite: "Oh, so that means... oh. I'm so sorry for your fate."
Arkune: "I think Skye is a nice name~"
Mikolotov: "(It's not a bad name...)"
Sprite: "No, no, it's a very pretty name!"
"I'm sure someone would love to call his wife by that name some day."
Sprite hops out of Valaire's hands, fluttering over to sit on Adrian's shoulder.
Adrian: "Have mercy on him, now. He did help you."
Sprite: "Right, right. Sooorry~!"
Night Eyes shrugs, smiling.
Arkune gently puts an arm around Mikolotov's waist.
Arkune: "(Don't let it bother you.)"
Mikolotov: "(Why couldn't my parents give me a normal name?)"
"(Like Chris, or Keith, or Gerald...)"
Valaire: "(One may argue that it certainly is a normal name, just not that appropriate of one.)"
"(But you remember what I said, you can certainly make it a boy's name by being renowned in story.)"
Mikolotov: "(Right, yeah.)"
Adrian: "Well. If that's all, Mikolotov, we were about to go try to find Azzanadra. And have a pleasant, innocuous conversation."
Mikolotov: "I think I've heard of him, yes. I... don't know him well, though."
Valaire: "He seems quite the nice person, if you put aside the fact that he's an unholy reject of a species that should have been put to the torch long ago."
Adrian: "That about sums it up."
The party exit the tavern and take out their cloaks and umbrellas, making the short walk to the inn.
The inn is cosy and warm, inviting smells from the fine food being served and pleasing sounds from a local bard on a violin. Azzanadra is seen at a table in the corner, talking with a tiefling in a black and white dress.
Night Eyes rubs her chin, looking pensive.
Arkune: "She look familiar?"
Valaire: "(Well, I hear it's an Eriban uniform, so I imagine it would stir thoughts.)"
Night Eyes: "(She doesn't look familiar, that's the thing.)"
Arkune: "(So nothing alarming then.)"
"(Probably just a messenger.)"
Night Eyes: "(No, I heard that she was a servant of his.)"
Valaire nods in acknowledgement.
Arkune: "(Even less to worry about then, probably.)"
Valaire: "(Still, nothing to do but speak to them.)"
Adrian quietly slips a wyvern scale back out of a pocket, holding it for a moment before replacing it. [Conceal Spell - Hermean Potential]
Adrian approaches the duo politely, waiting for a chance to speak with Azzanadra while trying to listen in on the conversation covertly. [Perception: 20]
Arkune follows Adrian, waiting for him to speak and listening. [Perception: 25]
[Valaire : Perception: 10]
[Night Eyes : Perception: 17]
Sprite leans forward to overhear the conversation, but as she finds herself almost about to fall off Adrian's shoulder, she quickly rights herself. [Sprite : Perception: 26]
Azzanadra turns to see the party, raising an eyebrow.
Azzanadra: "Hmm, I expected you to be here somewhat sooner."
Valaire bows politely, allowing Adrian the first words.
Adrian: "Greymage Azzanadra. Good to see you again. What, may I ask, was my presence expected for?"
Arkune bows as well, trying to seem friendly.
Azzanadra: "This is a high class hotel. I would've expected you to be staying here, but when I looked at the guest list, you weren't on there until this morning."
Adrian: "I only recently found out about it. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to find proper accommodations when we first arrived."
Valaire: "I do apologize for my lapse in securing appropriate accommodations, my lord."
Azzanadra: "That's a shame, this place has quite incredible service. Almost better than the Emperor's palace."
"So, are you here to simply say hello, or do any of you have a subject of discussion?"
Arkune: "Adrian wished to get to know you, as a fellow diplomat. Right?"
Adrian: "It is rather impressive. Yes, and I thought I would notify you, considering your previous question, that it seems the peace treaty will go well. As I doubt war is in either of our best interests."
Valaire: [Mockingbird, threateningly, softly next to Arkune's ear] "(This is one of those 'let the lords talk' moments, reckless mouse.)"
Arkune: "(Ah, sorry.)"
"(We're trying to be friendly though, no?)"
Azzanadra: "Hmm. That seems good. Though war is one of the few times people may push themselves to their limits and improve."
Azzanadra gestures to an empty table next to his.
Sprite seems blissfully unaware of the exchange between Valaire and Arkune, simply enjoying the conversation of nobility.
Azzanadra: "Please, take a seat, if you're going to be here for a while."
Adrian follows the gesture, sitting down nearby.
Azzanadra: "So, how does the Prince fare now? I would have assumed he would still seek revenge on Ashdale, from what I have heard of the dreadful situation."
Valaire helps herself to a nearby seat, watching the tiefling servant's reactions to the conversation idly.
Night Eyes moves over to join the others, sitting beside Adrian.
Adrian: "His Highness is well, I'm glad to say. And concerning himself with the improvement of his own nation, foremost."
Arkune sits down after Adrian, keeping an eye on the sprite.
Adrian: "Tragic as the late king's death was, vengeance is not worth throwing away prosperity for."
Sprite: "Vengeance doesn't lead to anything but more vengeance, so it seems really pointless."
"Why do people even bother?"
Arkune: "Some people get overwhelmed by it."
Adrian: "Honor, little one. It's a strange concept, but an important one."
Azzanadra: "It was rather tragic. I did not know the late King well, I only spoke with him once, when he was but a boy."
Sprite: "It really is strange."
Azzanadra looks up at the sprite, with curiosity.
Azzanadra: "A sprite, interesting. Is she new?"
Sprite: "Depends what context of new you mean."
Arkune: "New to our group, I believe he means."
Azzanadra: "I did not see you this morning, when you came to scare Zimberfrizz."
Sprite looks to Valaire for a moment, then back to Azzanadra.
Sprite: "I'm the sorceress's familiar. So I help tag along."
"You two didn't talk very much before, so that's why you didn't meet me."
Adrian: "'I was there to see the Grand Minister; scaring Zimberfrizz happened along the way."
Valaire appears to be looking pointedly at the sprite, silently subtly mouthing words.
Sprite: "And I saw that, too. It's not like he was scared intentionally."
"I mean, he's jumpy, right? It seems entirely plausible that he gets regularly terrified on accident."
Azzanadra: "I see. Zimberfrizz has always been quite nervous, though I imagine meeting with the very Lord he is terrified of would have made things worse."
Night Eyes: "It's quite a conundrum."
Sprite: "Well, I imagine a lot of people are scared of this guy! I mean, have you ever seen him smile? Because I haven't."
Arkune: "He was remarkably jumpy for a noble, that Zimberfrizz..."
Azzanadra: "I do not believe I have. But the chief interrogator has quite a reputation about him."
Adrian: "Oh, it's personal? I had assumed he was simply alarmed by Zeltrians in general; he was rambling on about King Beldyr. Interesting to note that my reputation has spread so far."
Sprite idly kicks her tiny legs in the air, watching Azzanadra.
Sprite: "Hey, if I'm the familiar of a retainer of a noble chief interrogator, does that mean I get paid?"
Azzanadra: "I imagine the Grand Minister working so much and talking about it in parliament would have alerted him to Kelton's presence."
Sprite looks back to Valaire for a moment, then returns her attention to the conversation.
Night Eyes: "I think it would be prudent to worry about anyone with the title of 'Chief Interrogator'."
Arkune: "It does bring dark images to mind."
Sprite: "It does sound intimidating. It's one thing to be the guy that puts people on racks and stuff, but to apparently be so good at the job that you get promoted is something else!"
Adrian: "I cannot argue with that, I suppose. Although it's more that I had enough skill to not need the racks."
Sprite: "Yeah, seems kinda pointless when you can just look at a gnome and he wets himself."
Azzanadra: "...he wet himself? I did not think he was that terrified."
Servant giggles at the thought.
Sprite: "Artistic leniency."
Azzanadra: "I imagine I would've noticed the puddles."
Adrian shrugs, smiling faintly.
Sprite: "And we have a smile! Treasure it while you can see it!"
Azzanadra: "I must say, I'm not intimidated."
Sprite: "You know, they say the same thing about you. Word around is you're kinda creepy, but I don't get that, like, at all."
Azzanadra sighs.
Azzanadra: "I imagine it is the way I look that deters people, and the company I keep."
Sprite: "Company?"
Arkune: "You are a lot friendlier than most seem to think you are, sir."
Sprite looks to the tiefling girl near the man, then shrugs.
Adrian: "It can't be worse than bizarre fey."
Sprite: "I've seen one already."
Azzanadra: "Tieflings, it turns out, are not regarded highly here."
Sprite: "Oh. Zeltria seems not to mind them."
Adrian: "Ah, I see. Yes, they're a common enough sight in Verseris. Curious."
Azzanadra: "Outsiders seem to be looked down upon or avoided. It's quite disappointing."
Arkune: "Hopefully in time the people of Ashdale will learn to be more accepting."
Sprite: "It kinda is a little curious. With where tieflings come from, don't they need a certain lineage?"
"Is that more likely to happen in Zeltria, or does everyone just go to Zeltria because people treat tieflings okay there?"
Arkune: "I am sort of like a tiefling, I think? But of celestial ancestry. My mother was, is, more overtly non-human than myself though, so I never got much harassment for my looks."
"Are the ones here more like me?"
Adrian: "I don't know the original cause, just that by now there's enough of a tiefling population that it's passed down with some frequency."
Night Eyes: "Oh, that is quite interesting."
Sprite: "So I guess it might end up just being a common ancestry thing?"
Night Eyes: "So I am more of an outsider than them."
Valaire shrugs.
Valaire: "My mother was human, so I figure whatever it was that made me a tiefling came from my father. Whoever that was."
Azzanadra: "I believe Runa here was the child of two tieflings, and... descended from daemons. Curious, did you not fight a daemon today?"
Valaire: "That was yesterday, Sir Azzanadra."
Azzanadra: "I heard talk of it when the Grand Minister produced the head of one in the parliament assembly."
Arkune: "A rather frenzied one, it seemed."
"It seemed more concerned with random damage than any true tactics or discussion."
Adrian: "It didn't even seem capable of those."
Valaire: "You just described 'typical daemon'."
Azzanadra: "It's a pity it wasn't a devil. I have been studying those recently."
Arkune: "Do they differ much?"
Sprite: "Study them?"
"Wait, like cut them open and see how they tick?"
Night Eyes: "That could be interesting."
Adrian: "Hm. Why devils in particular?"
Azzanadra: "They are remarkably interesting."
Adrian: "They do sound rather more fascinating, and perhaps worth learning from."
Valaire: "Certainly more interesting to be descended from than a daemon..."
Night Eyes: "I cannot disagree with that sentiment."
Azzanadra: "It turns out that traditional devils can be remarkably agreeable, so long as what they are doing advances their own agenda."
Adrian: "That hardly sounds unlike my experience with humans."
Azzanadra: "They are remarkably like many lords and politicians, in that sense, aside from, of course, their level of danger."
Arkune: "They sound better to encounter than a daemon, at least."
Night Eyes: "This is astonishingly poignant truth."
Adrian chuckles at Azzanadra's last comment, nodding.
Sprite: "Geez, so much bickering. It would be so much simpler if you were all fey."
Azzanadra: "Indeed it would be, sprite."
"But then the world would likely descend into chaotic disorder."
Valaire: "(Must be nice to be a fey... you get all the benefits of being in a familiar bond with a mage and you never have to do any actual work...)"
Sprite: "I don't see much of a problem in that, frankly."
"I mean, isn't that more fun?"
Adrian: "Perhaps for some. Many of us do not wish for it."
Night Eyes: "I suppose it works when you are as resilient as the fey."
Adrian: "I generally find chaotic disorder not to be conducive to self-betterment."
Sprite: "Can you at least leave a small portion of the world to descend into chaotic disorder?"
Arkune: "That tends to have bad effects on the world."
Night Eyes: "Hm, a designated portion. I see merit in that."
Sprite: "Yeah, but we need somewhere to hide if you guys are turning the rest of the world into a place where everybody has to walk stiffly because they have sticks in their bottoms."
Adrian: "I doubt we'll tame the wilderness fully that soon."
Night Eyes chuckles,
Sprite: "Don't tame ALL the wilderness, okay?"
Azzanadra: "I would prefer it if the world were in order."
Adrian: "If ever I end up with authority on the matter, I shall be sure to advocate a fey reserve."
Valaire: "(Someone do tell me what it was I was under to consider summoning this sprite was a good idea?)"
Azzanadra: "I've seen too much disorder and chaos in my years to know there is little merit in it, for those who are as selfish as people."
Sprite: "Yay, you're the best! My vote goes to Lord Adrian!"
"Do I get a vote?"
Adrian: "Do try to leave our stability and structure intact, in exchange."
Azzanadra: "...I do not believe they vote for their leader in Zeltria."
Sprite: "Well, look how many pranks I haven't pulled since I got here!"
Azzanadra: "It is a hereditary position."
Adrian: "I can't see the pranks you don't pull, but you have my gratitude."
Arkune: "It has been interesting to travel, and see how leadership varies between nations."
Sprite: "Yeah. And Eribe has that emperor guy."
Night Eyes: "Yes, it is, Arkune. I am not sure which I prefer."
Sprite: "How about Ashdale? Can I be Grand Great Amazing Ruler-Person of Ashdale?"
Adrian: "A fascinating subject, to be sure."
Azzanadra: "...I imagine with enough preservation and effort, you would be able to, perhaps."
"Or being able to marry into the royal family would give you the ability to be a ruler"
Sprite: "I don't think people marry fey."
"I mean, not even fey marry fey."
Adrian: "Don't fey have their own leaders?"
Arkune: "You are small too... and wouldn't being a familiar complicate things?"
Azzanadra: "I know it is not unheard of, little sprite. I know at least one instance."
Sprite: "Leaders is... kind of a very strong word for fey society."
Adrian: "I've never heard of such a thing myself."
Sprite: "There's 'fey that are old enough that they are stronger and can thusly boss around fey weaker than them'."
Night Eyes: "So fey only get stronger as they age?"
Sprite shrugs.
Sprite: "The Earth Mother likes her kids not to age."
Azzanadra: "Don't I know that..."
Sprite: "Yeah. You get me, right?"
Azzanadra sighs, shaking his head.
Adrian: "Is it something unpleasant?"
Sprite: "Though, I mean, I'm not that old."
Azzanadra: "I believe I do 'get you'. Though I am much older than any of your elders."
Sprite: "I'm actually pretty young. And pretty. And gorgeous."
"Really, who wouldn't want to marry me?"
Adrian: "Regardless, little one, it's largely a matter of seniority for us, too. Whose family has been established for long enough. Humans simply don't live long enough for it to work on an individual basis."
Sprite: "Yeah, I know the stories."
"Earth Mother made you, but then she stopped, and started making us instead. Something like that?"
Arkune: "You two are related, in a way?"
Azzanadra: "Yes, that is about how it goes. It did involve more of the mortal races hunting our kind in the early decades of creation."
Sprite: "Related... kinda! It's kinda hard to put into human words."
" 'Half-siblings' is the closest term you're going to get, but the human usage of it has biological implications."
Adrian pauses, watching Azzanadra with a distant expression. [Hypnotic Stare, Read Aura: Emotion - Sense Motive 25]
Azzanadra: "We are both born of the Earth Mother, much more directly linked than the other mortal races. We were actually created at around the same time. One law, one chaos, to preserve the balance."
Arkune: "About your kind... have your numbers increased over time?"
Sprite: "But they stopped making deepborn because... that hunting thing."
Night Eyes: "Hunting?"
Sprite: "Like he said. The mortals hated Deepborn."
Azzanadra: "We were very much hunted out of fear of our power."
Sprite: "At the time, the fey, who came after, mostly just kinda hid. We didn't do anything that riled mortals up."
Azzanadra: "Unfortunately, that is so."
Sprite: "So fey got to continue to be born and the Deepborn just... stopped."
Arkune: "That's... kinda sad."
Sprite: "It kinda is."
Azzanadra: "I was but a young man when the hunting of our kind began. Not even our capital managed to hold steady against the mortals."
Sprite: "And I wasn't even around yet."
Azzanadra: "It is why the few purebloods still alive hide themselves, for the most part."
Valaire: "(Which doesn't keep us from keeping on running into them...)"
Arkune: "Are they more common than most people think, and just hide really well?"
"Well, hide well now."
Night Eyes: "That seems like it is the case, Arkune."
"Though I am not so sure of purebloods."
Sprite: "Fey generally stuck to the wild outskirts away from a lot of people."
"So we didn't need to hide."
"But I guess it'll be tough for the Deepborn, who prefer civilization."
Azzanadra: "I have heard of The Hunter, and you of course, know of The Emperor. And of course myself, we are the exceptions."
"Only those who believe themselves to be able to ward off any threats tend to manifest their true form openly."
Sprite: "So you're one of those?"
Azzanadra: "Indeed."
Arkune: "We actually met The Hunter not long ago."
Azzanadra: "I have been aware."
Valaire: "(There was also the murderer...)"
Arkune: "(He did seem to feel sorry for his actions... I think.)"
Adrian nods absentmindedly, still lost in concentration.
Arkune: "So that's... three we know we've met? Maybe more who were disguised?"
Valaire: "(Like I'm going to believe his sob story for a minute.)"
Sprite: "Well, you're the first one I've met."
Sprite: "And, i mean, we're technically family, so we should get along more!"
Azzanadra: "I see no reason to not get along. But we are naturally created to oppose each other."
Sprite: "You never replied to the letters for the Earth Mother's Children celebration we were totally going to hold but then forgot about and forgot to send letters for."
Adrian: "I'm surprised neither of you hold more of a grudge against the mortal races, all things considered..."
Sprite: "Oppose doesn't mean conflict, right? I mean, like you said, it's supposed to be a balance, right?"
Azzanadra: "Indeed. There have been precious few fights between our kinds."
Sprite: "So your job is to keep the world from falling into discord, and ours is to keep it from falling into entropy. I think that's a fair reason to team up!"
Azzanadra: "I have found that my grudge for mortalkind burned away millennia ago. It did not help me."
Sprite: "Go team not-letting-the-world-be-destroyed?"
Night Eyes: "Ah, that makes a lot of sense..."
Azzanadra smiles faintly, and the servant looks up from the notebook she has been scribbling in and grins.
Night Eyes: "Wisdom of the ages."
Arkune: "Do you suppose the more mortal races would be more welcoming of both kinds in this new era?"
Azzanadra: "I imagine that is what our people would be considered."
Sprite: "But... huh."
Adrian: "It does make sense."
Azzanadra: "It was meant to be a system that would work. Unfortunately, no one accounted for the new gods."
Sprite: "If there are more and more fey and the Earth Mother keeps on making them, but there aren't any more Deepborn because the Earth Mother isn't making them anymore..."
Arkune: "Perhaps somehow she could be convinced to let more deepborn be born into the world again?"
Azzanadra: "The Earth Mother does not make anything, anymore, and has not done so for millennia."
Sprite: "Oh. But there are still new fey every now and then."
Azzanadra: "I believe fey can reproduce by themselves."
Night Eyes: "I suppose this world is overflowing with life."
Sprite: "I've never heard of fey reproducing, and I think I am one!"
Adrian: "Deepborn cannot?"
Azzanadra: "Deepborn cannot reproduce in the conventional methods, as other mortals do."
Sprite: "You said 'pure-bloods', That would imply those that aren't."
Azzanadra: "Two pureblooded deepborn, or one pureblood and a mortal, can enter a ritual which bypasses the curse placed upon us by our Mother."
Arkune: "Could the curse be lifted one day?"
Azzanadra: "If a pureblood forms a bond with a mortal, then a Halfblood will be created."
Sprite: "I dunno, I figure the Earth Mother had a reason..."
Azzanadra: "We were deemed, in her eyes, 'too dangerous', 'too perfect'."
"Though I personally disagree, she halted creating us, and placed a curse upon our people, that we may not be able to reproduce."
Adrian: "Loath as I am to resort to simply trusting the wisdom of the gods, the sprite has a point."
Sprite: "Seems odd that 'being too perfect' is cause to being cursed."
"That's like a parent deciding one of their two kids is too amazing and then doing mean stuff to that kid."
Azzanadra: "I believe it was due to the ambition of our people, that we were deemed too dangerous."
"Fey tend to not have many long term goals, or definite ambition, and are happy to live in the moment."
Night Eyes: "...but if a race as powerful as the deepborn banded together..."
Sprite: "Also, nobody has ever called the fey 'perfect' other than other fey, let alone our Mother, so you gotta know I'm still pretty envious of you right now."
"Also, you make it sound like I have a short attention span and get distracted! That's not the case at all!"
"I just haven't found anything interesting enough!"
Valaire: "(Certainly not a shocking defense...)"
Azzanadra: "Ambition as strong as the Deepborn's, however, was deemed too dangerous. Indeed, seeing those like The Emperor was in his youth may have shown her this."
Arkune: "It still sounds like an overreaction by her... I mean, elves are long lived too, right?"
Sprite: "But not immortal."
"I know, I lived with elves."
Azzanadra: "Elves can only live for at most, two centuries."
"I, however, have been alive since the dawn of creation."
Arkune: "Wow..."
Sprite: "Should I call you Grandpa Azzy?"
Azzanadra: "I would rather you did not, but I cannot stop you."
Night Eyes: "(That is frightening to even imagine...)"
"Do you not ever tire of this world?"
Sprite: "I think that's why he was complaining about it earlier."
Azzanadra: "What should I call you, little sprite?"
Sprite: "They haven't picked one yet. My partner is supposed to give me a common name but imagination is not her strong suit."
Adrian: "To have lived through all the events of history... I have to admit, it hardly sounds tiresome to me."
Azzanadra: "Shouldn't you already have a name from before your familiarization?"
Arkune: "It sounds kind of exciting."
Sprite: "Yeah, but you know mortals. They can't pronounce it!"
Azzanadra: "I do speak Sylvan, I imagine I will be able to understand."
Sprite: "Oh! I didn't know."
"Right! So..."
Sprite stands up, trying to balance upon Adrian's shoulder, and clears her throat.
Sprite begins to sing a short song that sounds like a poem set to a slightly haunting melody, before bowing and sitting back down.
Azzanadra recites the name himself, with perfect pronunciation.
Azzanadra: "...that was not that hard."
Adrian: "While I can't say I understood, little one, the sound alone is quite impressive."
Sprite: "Right? But mortals scrunch their face up when they try."
Arkune: "It's like a song~"
Azzanadra: "It is, rather. It rather fits you."
Sprite: "So I don't know how to translate it properly. Because I think in Sylvan, I can't think of it in any other way."
Azzanadra: "But beloved by *all*? That's quite a bold statement."
Adrian: "Names should be bold. Besides, she's proving it so far."
Sprite: "So I've been looking for someone who can think in Common to, you know, figure out how they can say it."
"Someone who doesn't have Sylvan as a first language, as it were."
Azzanadra: "Hmm..."
Night Eyes: "A name that evokes amorous or platonic love, I wonder?"
Sprite: "It does, it does!"
Adrian: "Both?"
Azzanadra: "I suppose the closest way to say it in common is... Kylisyl."
Sprite: "That sounds about right, yeah! (A little short though)."
Arkune: "Kyli is a cute name."
Sprite: "(And to think, she wanted to name me 'Harriet'. What kind of name is that for a sprite...?)"
Azzanadra: "Mortals tend to have shorter names, unfortunately."
Adrian: "(The name of someone she cared greatly about, little one.)"
Kylisae: "(Well, it's a human name, and I don't want a human name.)"
Adrian: "Kylisyl. I like the sound of it."
Night Eyes: "I suppose that works, yes."
Azzanadra: "Hmm..."
Azzanadra puts a stony hand to his chin.
Azzanadra: "What do you think of The Emperor?"
Kylisae: "Don't got one."
Arkune: "I'm unsure. A lot of people seem wary of him, but you at least seem plenty agreeable."
Adrian: "I'm afraid that what little news I have heard of him as a ruler has not been good. But I imagine those of your people who did think well of him would not emigrate to Zeltria. I admit a bias in my sources."
Night Eyes: "I acknowledge him as someone with ambition, and the talent to see it."
Adrian: "I'd be glad to hear your own perspective."
Valaire puts a claw to her chin in thought.
Azzanadra: "I believe him to be able to rule adequately, but I also believe his ambition is exceedingly dangerous."
"Not to mention, I disagree with some of the methods in which he governs."
Adrian nods solemnly.
Night Eyes: "It relieves me to know not all authorities in Eribe agree."
Kylisae: "I don't really know him well at all, but I'm a familiar and my partner is a retainer, so in the end it all kind of comes down to what this guy thinks, whether I agree or not."
Azzanadra: "...however, the situation we are in still holds itself to stability, and the last thing Eribe needs is for it to be further thrown into chaos."
Kylisae: "Besides, you know fae. I don't really believe in any form of authoritative right, god-granted or no."
Azzanadra: "I merely serve as his emissary and his adviser to ensure he does not cross lines he should not."
Adrian: "The one greatest hardship of the position of advisor, in my experience; having to stand by and show solidarity when our rulers disagree with that advice."
Valaire: "(It's a miracle the fey haven't driven themselves to extinction with their blatant frankness to those more powerful than them...)"
Arkune: "Hopefully he can be persuaded to keep peaceful relationships with his northern neighbors."
"I mean, if he wishes for stability, it does seem the best path."
Azzanadra looks concerned.
Azzanadra: "...the less we speak on that matter, the better."
Arkune: "(Should we ask him about 'that' man?)"
Night Eyes: "The difficulty with that is getting the neighbours to agree with the methods used in Eribe."
Adrian: "I will be honest with you, at this time I can only see the Emperor as a potential threat. Were that to change, I would be glad for an alliance with Eribe, as well."
Arkune: "Deepborn... can sense each others thoughts to an extent, right?"
"Are you worried he would know if you thought poorly of him?"
"Err... you do not need to answer."
Azzanadra: "...I would recommend you remain cautious around him, in any case."
Arkune: "Makes sense."
Azzanadra: "Deepborn are linked via kinship, but we have no special power to read thoughts."
Kylisae: "Oh! Fey have something like that."
"I can still kinda feel the spirit of my brothers and sisters back at Priffdanas, even out here."
Adrian: "Thank you for the warning, and your honesty."
Arkune: "So... sorry if this is a shift of topic, but we heard some weird rumors about a guy traveling with you. Would it be too invasive to ask your own opinion of him?"
Azzanadra: "... a guy traveling with me?"
Valaire: "So they say; a man in a trenchcoat."
Azzanadra: "I... hmm... do you have a name?"
Adrian: "Richard Guile, apparently. One of the townsfolk was talking about him."
Azzanadra: "I... hmm."
Azzanadra is lost in thought, looking visibly pained as he tries to recollect.
Azzanadra: "I... feel like I have heard that name before, but I can't remember anything specific about it."
Valaire looks to Night Eyes.
Adrian: "He didn't sound that strange to me, but no point not dispelling bad rumors. These things are often worse when not addressed, at least I'd certainly people say them to my face."
Night Eyes: "I guess I'm not the only one driven crazy."
Azzanadra: "It feels like it hurts to try and remember..."
Arkune: "That's interesting... that makes two people now he had a reaction like that?"
Kylisae: "Wait, I thought Deepborn, like, never forgot stuff!"
Night Eyes: "So they are from Eribe."
Adrian: "Very interesting. The fellow said he was a friend of yours."
Azzanadra: "Over several millennia, one tends to not remember everything."
"Was he from far in the past?"
Kylisae parses what the man says, then turns to Night Eyes.
Kylisae: "How old are you, again?"
Night Eyes: "...several magnitudes younger than Azzanadra."
Kylisae: "So less than one century?"
Night Eyes: "No, if the name pains me, too, he must be from recent affairs."
Azzanadra: "I believe I am, as of... Summer's Second, Six thousand, seven hundred, and fifty four years old."
Kylisae: "That sounds like a big number!"
Night Eyes: "And I am not even a quarter of a century old."
Valaire: "Thirty-one, so not even in the same ballpark."
Azzanadra: "I have been alive for as long as the mortal plane has existed."
Adrian: "I'm surprised it's only existed that long."
Kylisae: "Yeah, I am... not that old. At all."
Azzanadra: "I believe our mother told us that before this world, there followed many previous ones."
"All from those who had come before her."
Arkune: "What happened to them?"
Azzanadra: "I do not know."
Adrian: "Curious. What became of them, I wonder, and what will follow after this one."
Night Eyes: "I suppose that is knowledge that cannot survive a change of worlds."
Kylisae: "Yeah, if he wasn't born until after then."
"I mean, I don't remember anything before I was born, so Grampa Azzy probably knows way more than me."
Adrian: "(Manners, little one.)"
Arkune: "Hmm... wait, so this Guile man is not someone you know?"
Kylisae: "Sounds like he's someone they forgot."
Arkune: "Maybe we should work on meeting with him. Find out what is going on..."
Azzanadra: "I... don't think I've met anyone named that...?"
Kylisae: "And yet you kinda scrunched up your face like people do when they try to pronounce my name."
Azzanadra: "But it is seriously giving me a migraine to remember, so I'll stop."
Night Eyes nods to Azzanadra.
Servant looks up at Azzanadra with concern.
Kylisae: "I don't get a migraine. Is it something just for you two?"
Night Eyes: "I have come to the conclusion that they are someone who shrouds themselves from existence."
Adrian: "It seems it is only those who should remember him."
Night Eyes looks at Adrian, her eyes showing concern behind her mask.
Servant scrunches up her face in a bid to remember, but fails.
Valaire: "Which brings to mind the question of why it is you two--three remember-yet-don't-remember him."
"An Eriban thing, perhaps?"
Arkune: "Do you think the receptionist or barkeeper here might remember them?"
Night Eyes: "I just want to see them so I don't have to tolerate this pain."
Kylisae: "Well, we'll know pretty easily if they don't know him or if they 'don't know' him, right?"
Azzanadra: "If I did see him, I certainly do not remember his face now."
Night Eyes: "We suspect magic is involved, Azzanadra."
"The fact that it has this specific effect on us has me convinced."
Azzanadra: "Of course, what else could produce such a powerful effect."
"It is like anyone who has met this...person, or seen him can never remember him."
Adrian: "Allies do not hide their presence from each other this way. I would advise you to be cautious, yourself."
Kylisae: "Yeah, I'm pretty sure 'unrememberable' is not a trait mortals typically have."
Azzanadra: "In all my years, I haven't even heard of memory magic of this caliber."
"It is possible this magic came from the outer planes."
Kylisae: "Wait, in all YOUR years?"
Night Eyes: "That is reason to be very frightened, indeed."
Kylisae: "That's just... that's a lot of years."
Azzanadra: "It is a lot."
Arkune: "Maybe it's related to the daemons? Or..."
Azzanadra: "Then again, there's nothing to say that I could have seen this magic, or heard of it, but it could have had my own memory wiped."
Arkune: "There was some suspicion the eldritch beasts were related to the Archmage, right?"
Azzanadra: "Hmm. All I know of the young Archmage is that she has visited the Magic Plane once."
"Apparently, it is notoriously difficult to access via the material plane."
"All planes are linked to the abyss, but only at certain points is it possible to pass through."
Valaire: "Though the War Wound still seems to provide ready access, it would seem..."
Adrian: "Hard to say it's a reliable method."
Azzanadra: "The Warwound is an entrance?"
"Hmm... I would have never thought that Garadin actually escaped through there."
Night Eyes: "It appears that he is using the plane of magic as his own staging ground."
Adrian: "It appears to lead to the Plane of Magic, but I'm not one of those investigating it. My understanding is hazy at best."
Night Eyes: "As I understand it, Hallowvale is in chains."
Azzanadra: "Hmm, that is rather concerning, although..."
"It seems it is quite late at this point, and I believe you need to be ready for the treaty talks tomorrow."
"And I myself am getting rather tired."
Kylisae: "Aww. It was nice talking to you though!"
"And you helped me get my name into a way they can use, so I'm happy about that!"
Adrian: "Then I hope we can speak again sometime. Until then."
Azzanadra: "I am content I was able to help you. I will still be around here for two more days, before returning back to the sands."
Kylisae: "If you want to talk, well, I'm with her, and she's with him, and he's apparently famous, so..."
Azzanadra: "Indeed. I will speak with you another time."
Arkune: "Hopefully we will be able to speak more in the future."
The party make their way to their rooms, booked by Mikolotov, who has been waiting apprehensively for them to return, as they prepare to sleep in their new luxurious accommodation.