022.1 Seira and Shamal

[Corwin]

[21:47] <Soda_Vampire> Soon Seira is joined by Shamal, and the two together head to Countess Stronger's. The place is currently busy, a few pages from the garrison talking to her, taking away a few potions each and hurrying along. She looks tassled as she finishes, hair askew and only wearing a simple red robe, belted at the middle. Very basic, very loose, very easy. Even with a handy cowl, pushed back. "Come in-oh, you two," she smiles a moment, bags under h
[21:47] <Soda_Vampire> bags under her eyes. "I was wondering when you'd drop by."
[21:48] <Seira> "Elle," Seira greets her, nodding. "Who would have thought things would turn out that way."
[21:48] <Shamal> "It's been a very busy day," Shamal puts in, looking rather worn out herself.
[21:49] <Soda_Vampire> Waving the pages aside and going to sit on the floor, waving, "Bleh. Accursed dragons," she darkly intones. "Oh sure, credit this, credit that, emergency situation, they say."
[21:50] <Seira> "What made you think there were large shocker lizards in that area to begin with?" Seira asks the woman curiously. "Merely local legends, or something more specific?"
[21:52] <Soda_Vampire> Her face pales at that mentioning, "That was a large part of it. I knew the place was infested by various reports and tales. So where there's lot of small ones, there might be some bigger specimens. I hate being right in all the wrong ways."
[21:53] * Seira nods, and quickly details the results of her research to Shamal and Elle. "I believe we should try and locate this other dragon or, at the very least, inquire what happened to it," she concludes with.
[21:55] <Shamal> "Beyond the fairest star, though?" Shamal repeats, frowning faintly. "It's very vague... and what's to say this other dragon wouldn't be just as mad if we woke it?"
[21:56] <Soda_Vampire> "Beyond he fairest star?" Elle frowns as she runs a hand through her hair, rubbing her head. "What about it falling into green mists now?"
[21:58] <Seira> "I'm willing to check whether it can mean the sea," Seira says with a shrug. "If nothing else, should we stumble upon the elves living there, they might be able to tell us more."
[22:02] <Soda_Vampire> "The water is green," Countess Stronger agrees after a moment, "Good luck in there, then."
[22:03] * Seira shrugs, locks flying. "I think we're all in agreement that if we do find another dragon and it is asleep, we will let it do so."
[22:04] * Shamal looks faintly ill. "I don't think I'd come back to Balmuria if I was responsible for unleashing a second dragon on it."
[22:05] <Soda_Vampire> "No argument from me," she yawns, smothering it into a hand. "Maybe we'll be lucky and it's a metallic dragon that's willing to help? Speaking of, how are ou going to get down there?"
[22:05] <Seira> "If they don't happen to see eye to eye, though, we do know the location for Kondrux's lair. Maybe the other dragon would wish to pay it a visit."
[22:06] <Seira> "Hmm?" she asks, blinking. "I ate this gem which lets me breathe underwater."
[22:06] <Shamal> "Speaking of that, can you direct us to the seal you were investigating before we met?" Shamal asks. "Since that seems to be near where the Sea Elves live."
[22:08] <Soda_Vampire> Countess Stronger nods, "I can. If you want me to lead you, you'll have to wait until tomorrow, though. I need sleep and I don't have the right spells memorised."
[22:09] <Seira> "That is the plan, I doubt we'll find anyone this late," Seira agrees. "Speaking of spells, would you know the Tongues one?"
[22:10] <Soda_Vampire> "Uh huh. It's sold here, you know," Stronger smiles thinly, "Read the advertisement about what spell circles I peddle." That thin smile fades into another yawn, "I'll prepare a few shots of that one."
[22:11] <Seira> "I do, in fact!" Seira says happily. "It was a clever, subtle hint! I employ those. No one anticipates that!"
[22:12] <Soda_Vampire> "Shamal," Waving her hand as she leans back, nearly falling over, "Would you thwap her upside the head like a puppy that's just done something cute but oh so wrong?" Her voice is detached and light, easy even if tired.
[22:13] * Shamal promptly thwaps Seira. "Always here to help," she manages a sweet smile even through her own weariness.
[22:13] <Seira> "I dislike this tough love thing, so I'll just go home," Seira mutters, doing just that.
[22:14] <Soda_Vampire> "Goodnight," Stronger leans up and waves, "Good luck and rest up."
[22:14] <Shamal> "I shall retire as well," Shamal ducks her head briefly towards the redhead before departing.
[22:23] * Olorin (~Khazad-du@d11-28.rb.gh.centurytel.net) Quit (Death; an outmoded concept. We sleep, and we change.)
[22:26] * Olorin (~Khazad-du@d11-28.rb.gh.centurytel.net) has joined #dunes
[22:35] <Soda_Vampire> By request, the party gathers just outside of the western walls of town, near the seashore. Stronger wears a simple pair of red pants and connected tunic, very basic and light. "We'll walk a ways first," she begins, carrying no visible weapon with her. "The idea is to do as much of the travel overland as possible so as to save duration on the water breathing spells and the like."
[22:37] * Seira nods, herself dressed in a simple shirt and pants combination of a material sturdy enough not to break up in the water or hold her back too much.
[22:37] <Shamal> "My own aquatic travel spells only last an hour, so I'm for that," Shamal agrees, merely wearing a slightly long blue tunic belted around her waist... either that or a very short dress. Either way, she's showing more leg than normal! Her haversack remains securely strapped to her back, only a negligible weight as she carries no visible weapons.
[22:41] <Soda_Vampire> So you travel on. The shore paths are quiet and calm, needing bits of work, but the cliffs haven't started yet. So you travel close to the water for a good few hours, eventually coming to a stop. Here the water looks deep even right next to shore, a cliff a few feet above the waterline.  "Here," she nods, "It's a good a starting point as any. 'less you want to keep going and explore those ruins you guys are keeping a clamp on?"
[22:42] <Seira> "They could be indicated, too, but the distance is too great for a casual examination when we have a possible resource of information so close by."
[22:42] <Shamal> "Let's save that for when we become even more desperate?" Shamal replies, smiling weakly. "How far is it from here to the seal?"
[22:44] <Soda_Vampire> "About a half hour if you know the way." Kneeling to test the water, "Oooh, good, it's nice and warm. Ready, girls?"
[22:44] * Seira touches each on her shoulder. "This should be good for at least a couple of hours," she says, nodding.
[22:45] <Shamal> "Just a moment," Shamal demurs, proceeding to murmur something in Aquan before she touches Seira, the already streamlined half-elf shimmering and looking even sleeker, with faint webbing developing on her limbs. "Do you need any help swimming, Elle?" she then asks the redhead.
[22:50] <Soda_Vampire> "I can manage. I learned how before, when I was a child." Smiling as she casts her own spell and looks down, "Well then, follow me!" With that, she dives into the water, into the cool green depths!
[22:51] * Seira leaps after her, trusting in Shamal's spell to inspire confidence where none was before!
[22:51] <Shamal> Another spell is cast by Shamal, her skin turning light blue and her hair adopting a greenish cast, with pointed ears visibly poking through. Now in the form of a sea elf, she dives in after Seira, gliding through the water with ease!
[23:02] <Soda_Vampire> So the three plunge in! The water starts clean and clear, sunlight turning yellow-green as it pierces the water. At first it's quite fun, for the first fifteen minutes. You don't go far into the bay, but mostly down. It's almost a straight drop here, swimming under a few underhangs and generally keeping low. As the light slowly begins to dim, you come to an open expanse. Here, hugging a wall in a broad radius are several whirlpools. The
[23:03] <Soda_Vampire> They swirl, promising to drag you down to dark, inkier depths. Frantic, swift whirlpool, even faintly felt several hundred feet away.
[23:04] <Soda_Vampire> Around a mouthful of water, Countess Stronger points, "That's it," she says, words muffled. "It's a defensive perimeter to that gate if you want to go there. If the sea elves saw me there, then I'm sure there's some somewhere around here."
[23:04] <Seira> "How about we split up and look for them, now?" Seira suggests. "If you could cast Tonues, now, we could cover three times the ground."
[23:04] <Shamal> Keeping well away from the whirlpools, Shamal casts Message so that she and her companions can converse intelligibly even underwater, then mouths, "Presumably the Sea Elves are further out to sea... lets look around a bit further on?" she suggests, the words carried clearly by the spell.
[23:06] <Soda_Vampire> "Thanks," Stronger murmurs at the spell, "Right. Let's go a bit ahead and search, then? Just don't get close to the whirlpools - I found a way to get past them, but all there is there is the sealed gate anyway."
[23:06] <Soda_Vampire> In a moment she goes to Shamal and Seira, casting her magic. The magic of languages comes to them, enlighteing.
[23:07] <Seira> "Let's take a look, then, shall we?"
[23:08] <Shamal> "Yes, we have other concerns," Shamal agrees with Stronger, kicking off and propelling herself past the whirlpools and further out to sea, keeping an eye out for any animals she might be able to question.
[23:08] * Seira decides to stay closer to land, recalling Ootu's words that the sea elves were once well-known to land dwellers.
[23:09] <Soda_Vampire> OOC - Seira, make a search or spot check first. Shamal, spot check for animalnals.
[23:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+7 search
[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+7 search and gets 11."12 [1d20=4]
[23:10] <Shamal> roll 1d20+12 spot
[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+12 spot and gets 24."12 [1d20=12]
[23:11] <Soda_Vampire> Seira doesn't find anything with basic searching. Shamal does note a lot of fish going by, as well as a few bigger ones. There's a small octopus, curled up on the sea bed and half hiding in some kelp.
[23:12] <Shamal> Octopi are far better conversation than fish. Propelling herself downwards, Shamal casts Speak with Animals before cheerfully greeting the octopus, speaking Aquan since the words carry better through the water, not that it matters too much since it's the spell that provides understanding between them. "Hello, little octopus - can I talk to you for a moment?"
[23:14] <Soda_Vampire> The octopus looks up at Shamal, tiny little head and eyes curious. "Kwee? Master? Oh, you aren't Master...What do you want?"
[23:15] * NeremWorld (~Nerem@pool-71-170-122-3.dllstx.fios.verizon.net) has joined #dunes
[23:15] <Shamal> "No, I'm not your master," the blonde replies, drifting lazily in the water above the invertebrate. "I'm actually looking for other sea elves - does your master look like me?" the currently blue skinned and pointy eared female asks.
[23:17] <Soda_Vampire> "Mmm, they look more white and green, but with hair like your skin color," it says, "They're nice, they take care of us as long as we promise not to get any closer than this to the whirlpools."
[23:18] * Shamal peers at the octopus curiously for a long moment. "Is... is your name Tendril?" she asks, thinking back to Tynave and her clan pet.
[23:20] <Soda_Vampire> "You know Tendril?" The octopus squeals, "He's always with the elves. He's one of their pets, that's the word? I see him a lot, since he comes along a lot when they patrol the outer range here."
[23:21] <Shamal> "I met him and his master once," the not currently blonde nods. "Yes, they call them clan pets. Anyway, do you know where the elves live? I really want to see them again."
[23:22] <Soda_Vampire> "They live a little ways out - I've been there a few times, but it's a long trip for these," Wiggling it's tentacles, "The big predators don't come here at all, so it's safe and sound."
[23:23] <Shamal> "Which direction is it, and are there any landmarks that could help me find it?" Shamal asks, feet just barely scraping the sand on the sea bottom as she drifts in the gently eddies here.
[23:26] <Soda_Vampire> "North - it's near where the big sea spills into the tiny sea here. There's a few old caves they use, too." Burbling along contentidly, "IT's nice there, the water's so fresh."
[23:26] <Shamal> "Are they beneath in the caves or do they live on the seabed?" Shamal presses.
[23:28] <Soda_Vampire> "They live out and around them, so on the seabed," the octopus allows with it's won little giggle. "Do that again, the water feels good on my suctions." Waving it's many arms around again, wiggilng on the sea surface, "You're nice."
[23:30] <Shamal> "I like to think so," Shamal smiles, obligingly kicking her leg to push through the water towards the octopus. "You've been a great help - maybe we'll talk again if I ever come back this way?"
[23:34] <Soda_Vampire> "Okay!" It agrees happily.
[23:35] <Shamal> "Bye!" Shamal waves, before kicking off and swimming rapidly in the direction Seira and Stronger went, calling out their names every now and then to try and ping them with the Message spell even if she can't see them.
[23:35] <Soda_Vampire> This doesn't take long, soon the three united. Countess Stronger looks, and whispers, "Luck?"
[23:36] <Seira> "The waters are pretty," Seira deadpans.
[23:37] <Shamal> "I met a very helpful little octopus," Shamal confirms. "Apparently the Sea Elves use them to watch over the whirlpools - probably how they became aware of you," she nods briefly to Stronger. "They live to the North at the edge of the bay - apparently there's some caves around the same area, but they live on the seabed as well as below."
[23:38] <Seira> "We still have plenty of mileage on our spells," Seira muses out loud. "Let's go and pay them a visit?"
[23:38] <Shamal> "My thoughts exactly," Shamal nods, kicking her legs out and striking towards the North!
[23:41] <Soda_Vampire> "AGreed!" With that, the three continue on in the dark, deep water! OOC - How deep are you going to stay as you travel? Close to the surface and the light ore pressing it closer down? The sea floor's going to drop a little mroe, slow but steady.
[23:41] <Shamal> OOC: dropping down - Seira has low-light vision, and I can cast light if really needed
[23:42] * Seira has a sunrod ready, just in case.
[23:43] <Soda_Vampire> OOC: Okay.
[23:44] <Soda_Vampire> The travel soon uses a sunrod, lighting the way! Another hour of travel, swimming along and making time. As you do...OOC - spot checks, party.
[23:45] <Soda_Vampire> roll 1d20+2
[23:45] * Hatbot --> "Soda_Vampire rolls 1d20+2 and gets 19."12 [1d20=17]
[23:46] <Shamal> roll 1d20+12
[23:46] * Hatbot --> "Shamal rolls 1d20+12 and gets 19."12 [1d20=7]
[23:46] <Seira> roll 1d20+1
[23:46] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+1 and gets 13."12 [1d20=12]
[23:47] <Shamal> "Up ahead, do you see them?" Shamal burbles to her companions, pointing towards the vague humanoid shapes in the distance.
[23:48] * Seira looks at the shapes!
[23:48] <Soda_Vampire> Elle points a moment, in the right direction. "See them," she whispers back. With aid Seira can see them, vaguely humanoid shapes heading in roughly your direction. SEvearl hundred feet away still, however.
[23:49] * Shamal continues onwards to meet them, her pace steady and hopefully unthreatening.
[23:49] * Seira waves slowly in the direction of the shapes, following after Shamal.
[23:50] <Soda_Vampire> roll 1d20+3
[23:50] * Hatbot --> "Soda_Vampire rolls 1d20+3 and gets 4."12 [1d20=1]
[23:50] <Soda_Vampire> roll 1d20+3
[23:50] * Hatbot --> "Soda_Vampire rolls 1d20+3 and gets 16."12 [1d20=13]
[23:50] <Soda_Vampire> roll 1d20+3
[23:50] * Hatbot --> "Soda_Vampire rolls 1d20+3 and gets 9."12 [1d20=6]
[23:50] <Soda_Vampire> roll 1d20+3
[23:50] * Hatbot --> "Soda_Vampire rolls 1d20+3 and gets 23."12 [1d20=20]
[23:52] <Soda_Vampire> As you get closer, you cans ee they are four. Four with some time of polearm weapons, but they slow as you approach. Green humanoids with blue hair, wearing some sort of green clothes.
[23:53] <Shamal> "Greetings, we come in peace from the human city of Balmuria," Shamal greets them, spreading her empty hands. She speaks Aquan, for all that it matters, since Stronger's spell will ensure they understand no matter what she speaks.
[23:54] <Seira> "We are neighbors, after all, and it was way past time for a visit," Seira adds in Aquan, smiling.
[23:54] <Soda_Vampire> Countess Stronger slows, nodding. "About time, anyway," she waves.
[23:55] <Soda_Vampire> The elves slow even more, coming up close to you. They all look roughly the same, four males. One steps up, "What is you want under the waves?" he looks at Shamal very oddly. "Why are you from a human city?"
[23:55] <Soda_Vampire> Another looks at Seira, peering. He snorts in half surprise, "Land elf...?"
[23:56] <Seira> "We met this water elemental, Ootu, and he told us of how sea elves, elves and humans all used to be friends, way back," she responds, waving as he calls her an elf. "So consider it a belated visit to cousins we forgot we ever had."
[23:56] <Shamal> "I'm actually human, but I find that your form is far more agile when beneath the waves," Shamal briefly smiles down at her currently more lithe than normal figure.
Session Time: Sat Jun 09 00:00:00 2007
[00:02] <Soda_Vampire> "Oo-tu?" The sea elf looks on and shrugs, "Very well, if you wish, we'll take you to our ruling elders."
[00:03] <Seira> "We wish!" Seira chirps. "Please, take us to your leaders!"
[00:05] <Soda_Vampire> Countess Stronger grins, and whispers to Seira, "Aaaah, good, no hang ups so far. How much longer do you have on your spell?"
[00:06] <Seira> "We haven't even reached halftime, yet," she responds, smiling back.
[00:07] <Shamal> "Mine have a little under an hour left," Shamal murmurs, before cheerily swimming along with her fellow sea elves. Under the sea, do doo do do...
[00:10] <Seira> "How long would it take us to reach your habitat, if I might ask?" Seira asks as she swims along.
[00:11] <Soda_Vampire> "Four hours at a good pace?" One answers back, "We're the farthest hunting group out, and we were going to do...other duties while we were around."
[00:12] <Seira> "I think we have a little under four hours left on the spell that allows us to breathe underwater," Seira says, sounding troubled. "Would it be too much to hope for a supply of air at our destination?"
[00:13] <Soda_Vampire> One of the elves shrug, "The caves have air hollows," he answers, "That should suffice? The elders say that air comes from cracks in the stone above us."
[00:14] * Seira nods thoughtfully. "And how deep are the caves? If the spell runs out before we're there, could we merely finish the trip above the water level and then dive?"
[00:15] <Soda_Vampire> "Deep..." One ponders, as you continue to swim. Countess Stronger does speak up here, rustling in her clothes and taking out a blue liquid vial. "Emergency supply, if the worst happens," she clears her throat. "Though let'st ry not, I'm already in the hock a lot this week."
[00:16] * Seira nods, and tries to maintain top speed for as long as she can.
[00:17] * Shamal likewise swims at a rapid clip through the sea, getting the best use she can out of her currently well suited form before she's forced to swim the rest of the way as a human.
[00:19] <Soda_Vampire> So the party goes on! As they do, they note the wildlife becomes slightly less common, but lots of seaweed grows on the floor. Other groups of elves seen you as you approach, near the four hour mark. There are 'houses' crafted of shimmering seaweed and sand, seeming to fall apart yet never doing so. Perhaps ten dozen total, resting against a sea wall. This wall goes long, until it breaks, a great large gap before the wall continues. The
[00:19] <Soda_Vampire> The boundary of the bay at last. Elves are about, fields of kelp farmed. Little green skinned elves play, octopuses, dolphins and a single tiny whale also noted. You almost instantly begin to get attention tasks stopped. (More)
[00:21] <Soda_Vampire> You get gawkers, as the four elves lead you to the nearest cave. It's a shallow one, but it goes up a ways, to where you see the water stop, an airy roof noted.
[00:22] * Seira tries to smile and wave at the sea elves they pass, and once the cave in question is reached, tests the quality of breathable air.
[00:22] <Soda_Vampire> The walls are lichen covered, a few baskets resting on the sea floor. Baskets of woven seaweed, half filled with the stuff.  Once you go out, you find that the air in the hollows is a bit stale but quite breathable to normal human or elven lungs.
[00:22] <Soda_Vampire> Back behind you, out of the cave, the party can hear noises, conversation.
[00:22] <Shamal> "It might be best if we found a cave in an air pocket and rested there, before speaking with the elders tomorrow, unless they're willing to visit us in such a cave," Shamal suggests to her companions, also relaying the same idea in Aquan to their escorts.
[00:23] <Soda_Vampire> The head elf nods, "There," he points up in the cave you were taken to. "Just swim up to breathe."
[00:23] <Seira> "They might," Seira voices. "You never know. It should be up to them, as they are our hosts."
[00:24] <Soda_Vampire> Countess Stronger swims up, rubbing her shoulders as she tests the stale air. "Works," she says in a single word. "I'm sore all over, though."
[00:25] * Shamal nods as she bobs above the surface, looking to see if there's any actual dry land they can rest on, here. "I've never swum so far in my life."
[00:25] <Seira> "The things we do for king and country," Seira muses, stretching her own nimble limbs.
[00:26] <Soda_Vampire> There's a few alcoves carved into the wall, old ones. Enough to crawl into and lie down, even if it's just bare stone. "Whatever Gods are looking down had better remember this one day," she agrees.
[00:26] <Soda_Vampire> The escorting elf speaks up, "We will go talk with our elders now," he instructs, "Rest here. Food will be along."
[00:27] <Seira> "Waukeen keeps a very detailed ledger!" Seira returns, settling down comfortably.
[00:27] <Shamal> "12You are gracious hosts1," Shamal returns, climbing up and sitting in one of the alcoves. "They say they'll bring us food," she tells the other two as her muscles begin to relax after so much activity.
[00:28] <Soda_Vampire> Crawling into one of the spaces and wincing at the stone floor, "It's a shame, that sand beachfloor looks appealing." Elle rubs her neck, glancing over at Shamal as she speaks in the watery tongue.
[00:28] <Soda_Vampire> The elf nods solemnly and inclines his head, before swimming down and out.
[00:29] <Shamal> "I'll memorise more spells for underwater activity tomorrow - I didn't think we'd be down that long," the blonde adds, before muttering the prestidigitation cantrip and using it to dry herself off. "Anyone want me to dry them?" she offers.
[00:29] <Seira> "I'm quite attached to the soggy clothing," Seira says, raising an eyebrow. "Literally, it seems."
[00:30] <Soda_Vampire> As Elle lightly laughs, she instead murmurs her own spell. "I'm fine. Just waken me when the food comes."
[00:31] <Shamal> "Is that sarcasm? It's so hard to tell, nowadays," Shamal replies to Seira in a tone that might almost be considered apologetic, unless one had more advanced sarcasm detection skills than Shamal professes to have.
[00:32] <Seira> "It's not like I'll get sick, and I'm not all that modest, so I pretty much don't care either way," Seira responds with a shrug. "Though I do appreciate the offer."
[00:34] <Shamal> "Suit yourself," Shamal nods as she curls up in her little alcove. "Hope we don't make everyone worry too much about our absence..."
[00:34] <Soda_Vampire> As the girls talk and rest, food comes perhaps ten minutes later. It's a bowl of what looks to be seaweed and lichen salad, topped with fresh, raw tuna. There's some sort of bluish liquid served with it as well, smelling like clean water.
[00:35] * Seira eats it, not bothered by strange dishes after human food!
[00:35] * Shamal profusely thanks the elves for their hospitality on behalf of her friends, happily digging into the meal.
[00:38] <Soda_Vampire> STronger nods a few words of thanks, and so the party eats. It's like eating salty vegetables, save for the tuna and fluid. The fluid tastes good, chasing away the taste of salt from your mouths. It also has a slight alcoholic burn, but nothing serious at all. About another ten minutes after eating, another elf comes, this one without a spear. He carries a single barnacle, with the top twisted off to be a container. The entire thing is
[00:39] <Soda_Vampire> The entire thing is about as large as a fist, and he also carries three glasses. He half fills them with water, then drips several drops each from the barnacle into the cups, very carefully. 12"Our hospitality is not entirely comfortable for land dwellers, but this will allow you to join us again for a short time. The elders wish to speak with you."
[00:39] <Soda_Vampire> *fills them with sea water
[00:39] <Seira> "Shamal, I think I'll cast a translation spell, now," Seira informs the druid. "Let him know so he won't be alarmed?"
[00:40] <Shamal> "12You are considerate hosts,1" Shamal smiles in reply. "12My friend is going to cast a spell of translation so that she may contribute to the discussion, as she does not speak Aquan,1" she adds as a warning.
[00:41] <Soda_Vampire> The elf nods tersely. 12Very well."
[00:42] <Soda_Vampire> Elle gets up and rubs her neck again, "I'll do something like that in a few, too," she agrees.
[00:42] <Seira> Comprehend Languages is quickly cast, and Seira grasps Shamal's hand, nodding to herself. "Well, at least I should understand things for now. Mind if I rely on you for the translation in the other direction?"
[00:42] <Shamal> "That's fine," Shamal nods to Seira, drinking from the offered glass before she plunges back into the water.
[00:42] <Soda_Vampire> 12When you are ready, please drink the diluted potion, one eac-oh." Stopping and watching Shamal go, he instead dives down to follow her.
[00:43] * Seira shrugs and follows, drinking the potion before she meets the waters once more.
[00:44] <Soda_Vampire> Countess Stronger does so last, then casts a spell before diving back in! The party is lead outside, to a small circle in the souther part of town. Houses form a loop here, many elves gathered. In the center sit four, aged and showing countless years on their faces. One in particular is ancient, perhaps scraping ages that even the elves are rare to see.
[00:46] * Shamal swims after their guide, her movements less sure and agile than when she wore the form of a sea elf, but still showing herself as a reasonably competent swimmer. Reaching the elders, she bows respectfully (as best as able while in the water), and waits for an introduction.
[00:46] * Seira smiles at them in turn, keeping her hand firmly in Shamal's to keep track of the conversation.
[00:48] <Soda_Vampire> The elf leading you steps aside, "These are our elders. Please treat them with respect."
[00:49] <Shamal> "Of course," Shamal replies in Aquan, slowly approaching and sitting before the elders. "I thank you for your hospitality - my name is Shamal Velka. This is Seira, and this is Elle Stronger," she introduces herself and her companions, idly wondering just what Seira's family name is...
[00:50] <Soda_Vampire> One raises his hand, the people around sitting. "Welcome to our village. There is little here that interests land creatures."
[00:51] <Soda_Vampire> STronger sits, "Oh, I don't know..." she murmurs, "There's always interesting things if you know where to look and who to ask."
[00:51] <Seira> "It's really a shame we all drifted out of contact," Seira adds. "Here's to hoping we can rectify that."
[00:52] * Shamal dutifully translates Seira's statement.
[00:55] <Soda_Vampire> The oldest elder shakes his head, voice rough and ancient, muffled. "There is little point. Our worlds never interact beyond the rare, brave soul touched by  magic or a lack of a sense of safety comes poking out. Just as you did, Elle Stronger." He looks to her, harshly. But as he speaks, a familiar to Shamal and Seira voice can be heard, coming up to the circle from your sides. "Shamaaal?" Tynave's voice. "Seira?"
[00:56] * Seira glances sideways in the direction of the voice.
[00:57] <Shamal> "Hello, Tynave," Shamal gives the familiar sea elf a friendly wave. She'd been planning to avoid bringing her up, since she did say she'd get in trouble if anyone knew she'd visited the humans, but if she's going to greet them then she can't be ignored!
[00:57] <Shamal> "It's good to see you, again."
[00:57] <Soda_Vampire> Tynave is there, reaching the outer ring of the circle. She waves once, but catches the looks her elders are giving her - not nice ones. She blushes and sits slowly.
[00:57] <Seira> "Hello," she says, waving, in approximation of the aquan pronounciation of the word she had heard Shamal use before.
[00:58] <Soda_Vampire> Elle meets that unhappy gaze by the elder without hesitating, a shrug. "I can't leave things alone. That's the way adventurers and magic users often are. Besides, we can take care of ourselves."
[01:00] <Seira> "It was my understanding that this was not always the case," Seira says then, returning her gaze on the eldest of the elders. "I'm sure mistakes were made, but that is all in the past, now. We are here to start afresh, to try and become your friends."
[01:01] <Soda_Vampire> "This child is an energetic one," The elder's look changes to a smile, "Peace, Tynave." After that, he turns back towards the party, looking at them. "I ask of you, what is the purpose of your visit? Unless your lands of sun and air have a sudden need for sand and sea weed...?" His expression turns sour again at Seira's words. "We do not object, but...there is simply little here, and few means of your kind coming to our realm."
[01:06] <Seira> "Did you know," Seira says suddenly, "that land elves had become very isolated in the few millennia preceeding our time? That human contact with them had been all but lost? And yet, as we speak, an elven trading post is being constructed in the human city laying on the coast, supervised by highly-placed elven delegates in person. This is a time of great change! After having traveled so far to bring both land elves and humans together,
[01:06] <Seira> again, how could we ignore you, who are so much closer?"
[01:13] <Soda_Vampire> "Why?" The elder shakes his head, slowly standing. "We bear you no malice, surface dwellers, but our race lives in splendid solitude, barriers that cannot be overcome. You may as well ask a school of fish to come see the things you call forests."
[01:15] * Seira frowns. "Humans are curious creatures. Even if you are pleased with the way things are, they won't be for long. They will keep on coming, bearing you no malice yet filled to the brim with that spirit of curiosity."
[01:15] * Shamal smiles a little bit guiltily after translating Seira's words.
[01:17] <Soda_Vampire> "Curiosity is little match for drowning," the elder deadpans. "Further, the Forbidden Whirlpools are meant to be Forbidden." Another harsh look at Countess Stronger, "Not inspected by any 'filled to the brim' human who can manage the magic to breathe here."
[01:18] <Shamal> "Do you know why the whirlpools are forbidden?" Shamal asks abruptly.
[01:19] <Seira> "And this is a prime example why some degree of contact is to be encouraged!" Seira exclaims as Shamal speaks. "We had no idea they were forbidden, for how could we?"
[01:20] * Shamal doesn't translate that just yet, since she wants to go on with her point after they answer her.
[01:21] <Soda_Vampire> This causes some murmuring in the crowd, but not too much. "Such matters are simply common sense, amid other things. The depths thepools drag you to will crush you with the pressure of the water. To be sucked down is a death in the black bottom of the sea."
[01:25] <Shamal> "Not only that," Shamal takes a deep breath of water, "Below the whirlpools lies a seal. A seal that, we have been told by a Water Elemental named Oolu who once knew your people, you were involved in the creation of - tricked or deceived by the ones who made it." She pauses to see what sort of reaction that gets.
[01:28] <Soda_Vampire> Most of the people watch, af ew looking slightly confused. Even most of the elders share that state, but the lead one does not. Instead, his nostrils flare, hand shaking. "You are...entirely mistaken..." he rmubles, voice quivering. "Oolu is nothing but an old child's legend long forgotten, and the rest has no bearing on reality or history."
[01:28] <Soda_Vampire> You hear a little more murmuring at that, the people talking.
[01:28] <Seira> "He should be coming over soon to visit. Not bad for a legend," Seira comments.
[01:29] <Shamal> "We released him from his captivity by the ones who bound him," Shamal says after translating for Seira. "The same ones who he claims tricked your people, and who's influence is again starting to be felt in the world, today."
[01:30] <Soda_Vampire> "Elder, that sounds like the tale of the Great Water Spirit," one calls, more murmurings.
[01:33] <Soda_Vampire> "It's an old story..." The elder sighs, the sound of his teeth gritting audible. "Oolu was the name of it when I was a child."
[01:34] <Seira> "Shamal," Seira speaks, tilting her head. "Remember of the stories Oolu shared with us of his most favorite of friends, the sea elves? How excited he was of seeing them again, now that he is free to do so?"
[01:35] * Shamal nods to Seira, taking the hint and relaying a few of the anecdotes Oolu had so cheerfully regaled them with. "He was most happy to talk with us after being alone for so long, and said he would catch up with your people after he got caught up with events on his home plane," she concludes.
[01:43] <Soda_Vampire> There's some more murmurings after this, long discussions before the elder sighs, his anger fading as questions bloom. He bows his head for a long time, beforehe looks up and, "This gathering is over." With those curt words, he then turns to the others, "Land dwellers, we will meet in my home now."
[01:44] * Shamal rises to her feet, floating gently off the seabed. "Of course, elder," she nods respectfully, still holding Seira's hand in her own.
[01:44] * Seira is able to follow Shamal's movements without a problem, mirroring her bow if not her words.
[01:46] <Soda_Vampire> STronger follows as well, as people fall into clumps of chatting. But you are lead on to one of the caves, the biggest. It's entrace is two dozen feet wide, a long swath of water in here. A curtain of seaweed blocks off the back, but you're taken through that. Past it, the ceiling arches up, air bubbles near the top. Ahead are even more passages, looking like tunnels carefully extracted from the earth and not natural passages. The elder
[01:48] <Soda_Vampire> The elder heads for one, swimming down it. The only light here is from glowing lichen on the walls, providing a pale, ghostly green-white lumience.
[01:49] <Seira> It's plenty enough for her to get by, and she is ready to direct Shamal away from any hazards should they appear.
[01:49] * Shamal swims gently after the elder, keeping quiet until he deigns to address them once more.
[01:53] <Soda_Vampire> You swim further down, deeper in. A few minutes, until you come up to a little plateau, good space here. It's a plain looking room with an unusually smooth stone floor. Here he stops, a small passage behind him. "So...tell me. Is it true that Oolu was captured?" His back is to you at the moment as he drifts down to stand on the floor.
[01:54] <Seira> "Of course it's true," Seira says, blinking. "Though he's free now, of course."
[01:54] <Shamal> "Yes," Shamal nods, her toes barely touching the floor as she floats. "He was bound to a fountain that channelled his power along with several other powerful creatures to power a guardian the gnomes constructed to guard one of their Resorts."
[01:56] <Soda_Vampire> "That's how you know of our forgotten shame?" The elder's voice is emotionless, dead. "All of them, the tales have ceased to been told or been forgotten, or changed into denuded fairy tailes of great water spirits and legends. Just as well."
[01:58] <Shamal> "Even on the surface, gnomes are merely spoken of as mischevious pranksters," Shamal admits. "Few in the world are ready, I think, for the signs portent to their resurgence."
[01:59] <Seira> "We don't really want that to happen, not after what we've learned about them," Seira adds, agreeing.
[02:01] <Soda_Vampire> "The word...gnome..." he says it in common, carefully. "It doesn't really exist in our language anymore. We've tried very hard to forget what we did, only the very old ones remember any of the truth. Yes, I know about the seal, about that we betrayed the other races and the Gods, and..." THe elder just looks down, "The world's dull now. Long along, those potions you had a portion of were plentiful? Now? There is barely enough to give yo
[02:01] <Soda_Vampire> There is barely enough to give you a partial dose each. Brine Potions, one of our old prides, are now being forgotten aggressively. Priests? Magic? Gone in memory to most."
[02:02] <Seira> "And yet, what is there to stop you from learning?" Seira asks. "If it's knowledge, magic... we can share it, so that the new generation would have a chance of regaining past glories."
[02:05] <Soda_Vampire> "We're sufficient now. What good does it do to drag us into the surface world again? I remember the words of my old teacher. The overworld was a forgotten shell of itself, we lived only by the barest fiat of the Gods. What purpose do we have to do there?" He shrugs after, limpid. "All of them, they just know that the surface world is dangerous or best ignored."
[02:07] <Seira> "So the solution is clearly to give up in advance, because the alternative might be difficult or dangerous or scary?" Seira asks, frowning once more. "You said your past acts were your forgotten shame. Well, it certainly doesn't seem forgotten. A festering wound that never got to heal properly would be my analogy!"
[02:08] * Shamal looks slightly embarrassed as she dutifully translates, giving the elder an apologetic look for Seira's tone.
[02:09] <Soda_Vampire> Elle tsks once, "Look. The average humans knows about as much about the gnomes and sea elves as the sea elves know about your own past. As in, zero. I don't think we wanted to remember it very much from the sounds of it, either. The problem is...that some people still do, like bastards who can fly and cast teleport magic." There's a distant note of envy in her voice at that word, relishing.
[02:11] <Soda_Vampire> As the words are translated, the elder shakes his head. "There's no point in telling them the past, or encouraging them to go out. There's not much on the surface - it's not where we're comfortable and we need little from there. Just...is that why you came? To ask us about our forgotten past?"
[02:12] <Shamal> "We had hoped you would have insights that would help us deal with the threats of the present," Shamal admits, before looking to Seira. She's the one that got most info on that dragon...
[02:14] <Seira> "The militant, magic-graced gnomes are planning a comeback, as is their long-forgotten God-King. Dragons are awakening all around us. Gifts of magic to the uninitiated are springing up amongst the peasant population, as are people -- human and elven alike -- who are capable of forging them." Seira snorts. "The gods themselves are taking an interest in worldly affairs once more! And these are just the most urgent threats. Do you honestl
[02:14] <Seira> y believe this would all pass you by?"
[02:15] * Shamal smiles a bit as she translates this spiel. Seira has become noticably more charismatic, lately.
[02:18] <Soda_Vampire> "...that's why you were after the seal," he asks, looking at Elle. "My teacher said that the Gods only watched to see us fade away when they were distant." There's a tired lookin this, "Do you claim that they are returning? That magic is coming back to the world ?"
[02:19] * Seira nods solemnly, and speaks clearly so there are no misunderstandings. "Most certainly. We ourselves have been in direct contact with Helm regarding this matter."
[02:22] <Soda_Vampire> "...I don't know," he answers at last, sitting. "Can ou provei t? Which of you know magic?"
[02:22] * Shamal raises a hand.
[02:25] <Seira> "Pretty much all of us, really. We did swim underwater for hours."
[02:25] <Soda_Vampire> "Yep. It's why we came, we're the ones who can do this," Elle grins a moment. "Shamal can even manage druidic magic."
[02:27] <Shamal> "My skills are limited, but I am capable of second circle magic of both divine and arcane types," the blonde affirms.
[02:28] <Soda_Vampire> "This room is the old antechamber - long ago, it is where Oolu came to us from. Now? It's just an old stone floor." Waving his hand at the floor and then shrugging tiredly, "If you have magic and you freed him, do it. Can you?"
[02:30] * Seira blinks, before chanting a few words and supplementing her normal sight with her arcane one.
[02:30] <Shamal> "A simple spell, then," Shamal affirms, before holding her free hand aloft, "Playful swimmer of Thalasia, I summon you in Mielikki's name!" she incants, summoning a celestial porpoise to swim around the chamber with them.
[02:31] * Seira observes the chamber as the spell is being cast.

[Corwin]

<POSSIBLE MISSING LOGS>