Got everyone we could...

A round chamber.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. Leading from the living room to the east, the archway opens up into a round chamber that reaches up nearly thirty feet into the air. The floor is again made of the same golden, crystal-flecked and violet-whorled bamboo with its protective coating, but in this room there are also a series of depressions in the floor. The first is in the center of the room, and covered with a layer of bright orange padding with red poppies randomly distributed along the fabric. Directly next to that first depression is one that is significantly larger, with more padding, deep black and durable. A few more depressions with their own padding are interspersed throughout the space, though they have the same pattern to them- just pure white. In addition to being a different shape to the rest of the rooms of the house, the walls of this chamber are completely different from all the other rooms, as well- rather than wood leading up to decorative paper, or simply wood leading all the way up to the ceiling, the walls are covered in what look to be thousands and thousands of pieces of bright green jade, melded together and forming a tight weave resembling a wall of vines in an unbroken pattern, save for the archway that leads back to the living room. The jade vines themselves are not unadorned, either, with silvery script and symbols embedded directly into the material. Meditative mantras, defensive glyphs, symbols of concealment and reinforcement can all be found upon the lengths of interwoven jade vines. The ceiling in turn is also different from the rest of the house's theme. Instead of the blue stone tiles, the ceiling has taken on the luminous pigments of the sky of the Great Starry Sea, complete with deep, subtle, tidally slow pulses of aquamantic power washing down from above. A beryl vial glitters on the ground.
You see a single exit leading east.

Great waves crash over one another as they pour in from the east, finally swirling together before solidifying into Tridemon.

Tridemon flops down onto the floor, looking exhausted and smelling of singed cat hair.

Bizirik, the leothin lifts its head as you enter, tail slapping the ground once. It's currently wrapped around Gurashi like a bad scarf, chittering and chattering excitedly. You aren't immediately sure if he's even awake, but after a minute his head lifts as well, and he stares at you tiredly, tilting his head.

Bizirik, the leothin sniffs Tridemon, trying to decipher just what that smell emanating from him is.

Bizirik, the leothin sniffs Tridemon, trying to decipher just what that smell emanating from him is.

Bizirik, the leothin snorts.

Bizirik's head begins to droop. It opens its great maw and curls back its lips to allow its forked tongue to unfurl as it yawns before snapping its mouth shut.

Tridemon definitely smells of smoke and burnt hair. Not his, of course, but apparently he went through some sort of fire not too long ago.

Bizirik, the leothin sniffs at Tridemon a few more times, then sits more upright, forcing Gurashi to sit up as well. He says nothing, but looks you over with an expression of tired concern, reaching out to touch your arm.

Bizirik, the leothin sniffs Tridemon, trying to decipher just what that smell emanating from him is.

You think to yourself: ** the hive sound seems very, very quiet today - a relief **.

Tridemon reaches out to pat the leothin, eyes slightly unfocused. It's fairly obvious from the lackluster patting that he is very tired. Perhaps more tired now than after the marathon session of gathering up squid for prophesy.

You stare at Tridemon, eyes wide.

Tridemon sits in silence for a while yet, before looking at you, his eyes slightly unfocused. "I don't suppose you know how to get a dragon out of a lighthouse?" From the tone of his voice, it sounds like he's trying to make a joke. And failing.

Bizirik, the leothin lets out a little chatter, then snorts, head bobbing as it is pet. Gurashi's attention drifts, watching your hand pat the leothin, then studying you closely at the question, frowning. He frowns, not looking like he has much of an answer to give. But he leans forward and does what he can: suddenly pulling you into a very low energy but well-meaning hug.

You think to yourself: ** confusion, but it is as if it's felt through a veil **.

Tridemon hugs you back... still smelling fairly strongly of smoke and burned cat hair. "... I think we got everyone we could."

You have emoted: Gurashi squeezes a little tighter, as much as he can though his muscles tremble with the effort. After a minute he pulls back, hands rested on Tridemon's arms, staring up at you, still looking confused as to what it is you're talking about.

Bizirik, the leothin sniffs Tridemon, trying to decipher just what that smell emanating from him is.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... We think Hamos got one of them. It certainly looked like it. ... Went out fighting."

You have emoted: You feel Gurashi lightly squeeze your arm, head tilting the other way in bewilderment now, his expression growing more concerned. He begins to look you over, lifting your arm, examining for injury even though he still isn't sure what's happened.

You look at Tridemon, expression filled with concern as you frown.

Tridemon is uninjured- just tired right down to the bone and probably more than a little incoherent. "Praetorian Hamos, I think was his title. Kepheran. Servant to Elohora. I think. ... hard to remember..."

You think to yourself: ** continued confusion ... but a desire to help overwhelms the indecision **.

You have emoted: Gurashi listens, no more aware of what's going on than he was a moment before. He glances at Bizirik, who is already standing up and slinking over to Tridemon, suddenly flopping onto the ground beside either man. Gurashi lightly tugs Tridemon's sleeve again, then gestures to Bizirik, who grins smugly, and somehow looks very warm and inviting. The leothin snorts.

Tridemon finally focuses his eyes on you... and moves to rest his head on the leothin. "Dragon attack. Evacuated everyone in the city into the Aegis Keep. ... Hamos is probably dead- and presumably took one of the dragons out with him. Jarana Farain is trapped but probably safe in the Cathedral."

You have emoted: Gurashi continues to keep his eyes on Tridemon, noting the smell. Fire? Death? Dragons ... He opens his mouth as if to ask, but no sound comes out. He folds one hand over his heart, the other resting on your arm as he listens to Tridemon. Bizirik thrums, turning its head to look at you, snuffling at your robes, looking for the burned cat. Its tail slaps the ground a few more times before it leaves you alone and starts gnawing one of its feet instead.

You think to yourself: ** the names are unfamiliar, but you can sense him picturing the various highlights of the city, and its many familiar denizens - Meleris? **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Meleris is fine. Refused to leave the Pool. ... Also as far as I know, none of the cats were actually burned, they just got extra sheddy when I picked them up to move them and went back out."

You think to yourself: ** a brief, endearing flash of you, two cats tucked behind either arm and several more clinging to your shoulders and head as you flee the fire **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Heh. No, just the one cat. The silvery one..."

You have emoted: Gurashi's tired gaze looks Tridemon over again, then settles on your face as he frowns. He looks very, very concerned, but says nothing.

Bizirik, the leothin thrums a little louder, the creature's chest rumbling pleasantly against your head.

Tridemon pats Bizirik, the leothin in a friendly manner.

Tridemon loses focus in his eyes again, starting to push himself up... but giving up almost immediately.

Bizirik, the leothin gives Tridemon one more good sniff before laying its head down on its paws, snuffling.

You shake your head at Tridemon.

You think to yourself: ** for a moment, you remember ... everything, from the month before - and then to go straight into an encounter with dragons? A sense of bewilderment and concern. Too much for one person **.

You have emoted: Gurashi holds up a finger to you before he silently leans away, finding his backpack which he had discarded earlier, and digging through it with some effort.

You take an emerald fish blanket from a Rope Belt of Advantage.

You have emoted: Gurashi scoots back over, turning the blanket over so it's fun fishy decorations are prominent, then drapes it over you best he can, tucking it around your shoulders and arms. The bottoms of your boots somehow still manage to stick out. He puffs his cheeks a bit, trying to figure out how to do geometry.

You give an emerald fish blanket to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters.

You think to yourself: ** square ... **.

You think to yourself: ** a square ...? it turns. but it's a square so it looks the. wait **.

You think to yourself: ** a colorless sense of confusion **.

Tridemon has fallen completely silent at this point, eyes closed.

You look at Tridemon, expression filled with concern as you frown.

You glance askance.

You have emoted: Gurashi settles in beside Tridemon, leaning against Bizirik's haunches and making sure the blanket stays tucked around the lucidian as he does so. He tucks his hands into his lap and looks both concerned and relieved.

You think to yourself: ** ... too much? ... *.

You think to yourself: ** a veiled sense of hopelessness, followed by an equally subdued desire to help **.

Bizirik, the leothin stretches languidly.

You look at Tridemon, expression filled with concern as you frown.