033.3 "For Selune's sake, even Silver misses you!"

[Corwin]

[20:05] <Kotono> Jaela and company return to Aurora! Adrian and Misalea head back to Elrisa's tower, but Sylvie lingers by the gates a moment. She frowns, seeming to stare off a moment. "Jaela?" she asks aloud.
[20:06] <Jaela> "Yeah?"
[20:07] <Kotono> "..." No immediate reply, "I just feel...nothing. Like I had a premonition, you know the type where your skin crawls? You didn't feel anything, did you?"
[20:08] <Jaela> "Pain. But nothing new." Jaela shrugs. "I'm sure it'll fade in a few days."
[20:10] <Kotono> "Mm." Sylvie murmurs. She hesitates a few moments, "I think I'm going to go rest in the library for a little while." Hesitating again, "Want to come?"
[20:11] <Jaela> "Eh." Jaela shrugs again. "Only if I don't have to read something. Did you get a chance to study Elena?"
[20:13] <Kotono> "Not really," Admitting as much as she starts to walk, "I've been losing track of days working on those books from 21's guardian. Reading them is like trying to..." she hesitates a few moments, "It's like fire trying to understand ice."
[20:14] <Jaela> "Why not just clear your mind and recite them? Without trying to understand how they're supposed to work?" Jaela asks, keeping pace with her. "Maybe they'll take care of the rest, if they're magical."
[20:18] <Kotono> "You have to understand them, it's part of the design." Heading through the portal the duo reaches the library. Sylvie goes to sit, half closing her eyes. "What I know of the Far Realm suggests that it's something beyond Creation. Circumstancial evidence like this suggests that it follows its own truth and laws of reality, ones that aren't bound to ours at all. That is what makes it so difficult."
[20:20] <Jaela> "Do we really need to understand them?" Jaela asks bluntly, taking a seat on the table itself next to Sylvie. "We've got other things to try for now, and if it fucks up your mind to read it, who's to say you'll be alright once you're done? What if you start thinking in fucked up Far Realm terms if you do figure out the books, and can't go back?"
[20:24] <Kotono> Here Sylvie pauses, resting her head on her folded arms. "The knowledge is worth it. I have a unique chance with 21 to understand the truth. If I can understand some of the truth of the Far Realm, it could be knowledge new to even Oghma. That's why. Despite the fighting, the magic and everything else, I'm a student and a scholar at heart." Admitting as much without really looking at Jaela, eyes
[20:24] <Kotono> resting, "Besides, I don't think the Guardian would give whomever holds 21 something to drive them mad. I can't prove that, but that's my instinct."
[20:25] <Jaela> "Didn't he give it to the kitten?" Jaela asks, but doesn't really argue over the point. "Whatever makes you happy, I guess."
[20:25] <Kotono> "The kitten?" Turning to Jaela with a half cocked smile, "The kitten, really?"
[20:26] * Jaela grins. "When the shoe fits...."
[20:29] <Kotono> "She'd hit you with that glaive of hers if she heard that. Heck, or maybe claw you," Smiling just a little bit at that, "Running, running, running." she murmurs, "Endless fantasies, each one grander. Lose your own identity."
[20:31] <Jaela> "Claw me?" Jaela snorts. "I guess that makes both of us. You know, who'd get hit if she ever heard."
[20:34] <Kotono> "Naturally." Sylvie replies, twirling a bit of her hair. "The only cat-like person I've met was totally different too, and embraced it. I get the impression she thinks more like a human with fur than a feline, sometimes."
[20:36] <Jaela> "I think it's nurture, not nature," Jaela says, before deciding to elaborate. She gestures at herself. "I mean, look at me. If anything, I'm closer to an elf than an angel. It's because I've been raised with them while I was a tiny brat. Then I picked more stuff traveling, and Mom might rage about it but that's what decided things, not whatever I've got in my blood. It's probably the same for the kitten?"
[20:39] <Kotono> "Scholars argue over that one a lot," Sylvie's reply is a thoughtful one, "It depends. Anything with the connection to an element or belief is going to be nature, other things vary. Then again, I can think of exceptions to that without even trying. Maybe her feline blood just isn't thick in her head?" Shrugging, "Yeah, I gathered that about you." Stopping here, as if struggling to say something or not, Sylvie finally goes quiet.

[Corwin]

[20:07] <Kotono> The main portal network awaits, people coming and going as always. Muirfinn approaches, one particular portal unused. One he has seen Annalise or Sylvie study at various times, undisturbed by the long eons.
[20:08] * Muirfinn sets in for some strong study, examining the portal carefully to see if there is perhaps some trick to open it, or if a certain condition must be met before it can be passed.
[20:09] <Kotono> OOC: Make a spellcraft check?
[20:12] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+29 please hatbot don't hurt me baby
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+29 please hatbot don't hurt me baby and gets 48." [1d20=19]
[20:16] <Kotono> The work is beautiful. Muirfinn loses himself in study - the runes are arrayed with absolute perfection. At the same time they break the rules, layered together in combinations that are not possible. Wards that he scarcely can comprehend, anchored to the absolute magical core of the entire thing. These combinations and patterns simply shouldn't be possible using the Weave - but here they
[20:16] <Kotono> are. Trying to understand more leaves you butting your head against those impossibilities, stymied by what isn't possible. You're sure of one thing - this ward is beyond traditional magic craft of all types. To understand it, you'd need more knowledge and more power to appreciate what's going on.
[20:24] * Muirfinn nods to himself, having expected as much from the fabled Medi he has heard so much about. Having a thought, Muirfinn turns and heads into a common portal, aiming for the library.
[20:25] <Kotono> The trip through the portal is without incident. Besides a few scholars and mages, the only people around are Sylvie and Jaela. They're off at a table talking about something or another.
[20:29] * Muirfinn nods to them, heading over to one of the desks and grabbing a writing utensil. Hopefully writing down the things he has seen in the portals will someday soon help him to discern the way through!

[Corwin]

[20:41] * Muirfinn takes that pause as an opportunity to quietly join the conversation. "Jaela, Sylvie. Two people I was hoping to find today. Might I have a brief moment of you time?"
[20:42] * Jaela grins. "Then again, maybe I'm just honest. Why, just earlier today Mom was cussing up a storm--" She pauses midway and glances at Muirfinn. "Oh. Sorry man, didn't see you there. What's up?"
[20:43] <Kotono> "Mm?" Looking over at Muirfinn and sitting up, "What is it?"
[20:46] <Muirfinn> "I was examining the portal to Medi's quarters earlier, and I have heard that Sylvie has looked at the portal as well. I was hoping that you might share any insight you could with me. Also, I understand that Annalise was fascinated with it as well, and was curious as to whether she had shared with you what she had learned, Jaela. Perhaps you two could help me understand just..." Muirfinn lightly
[20:46] <Muirfinn> slaps his notes with the back of one hand. "...just what he was doing when he did this? It defies common sense."
[20:47] <Jaela> Her grin slips, before Jaela whistles. "Wow, you like to live dangerously."
[20:47] <Kotono> "That." With a single word loaded with annoyance, "Let me see what you're written?" Sylvie straightens up now. "I'd talked to Annalise once about it," eyeing Jaela out of the corner of her eye, "It was the only time I talked to her where she didn't lie."
[20:47] <Muirfinn> "All hazards of the job, I assure you." Muirfinn says, handing over his notes.
[20:48] <Jaela> "Well, at least someone got to tell her lies from the truth," Jaela grits out with distinct annoyance.
[20:50] <Kotono> "There's an upside to everything." Sylvie says, and after a moment of chewing on her lip, "You know, I managed to get her to say that she loved you in that conversation, and she wasn't lying. If that makes you feel any better." Meanwhile she reads the notes, "About what I came up with. I know enough to know when I'm out of my depth."
[20:51] <Jaela> "I hate you both." Jaela peers at Sylvie. "Am I lying, blondie?" Nevertheless, she peers over her shoulder to glance at the notes herself.
[20:52] <Kotono> Sylvie just lets that go, as Jaela reads the notes. It looks like a study of Medi's portal. It covers the runes and forms, and about how it defies known laws of magic.
[20:52] <Jaela> "At a rough estimate, is figuring this shit out as hard as the Far Realm thesis, or considerably harder?"
[20:54] <Kotono> "Apples and oranges," Sylvie's answer comes without much inflection, "This here," Tapping the notes with one finger, "Is a knowledge and understanding gap. We don't have the knowledge and understanding of magic Medi has. The Far Realm books? That's a difficulty of comprehension. They're both challenging. The Far Realm material is also written in a form that we -can- understand, and I suspect
[20:54] <Kotono> we're being babyed through it."
[20:55] <Jaela> "Makes sense. Manual versus reverse engineering the portal defenses?" She frowns. "Why don't we all go down to the main portal and take a glance again together?"
[20:55] <Muirfinn> "It couldn't hurt." Muirfinn agrees.
[20:58] <Kotono> "You two can go if you like," Sylvie says, "Honestly - not like I have a choice - I don't think you'll solve it."
[21:00] <Kotono> After a moment Sylvie blinks. "Wait a moment," she says, humming.
[21:00] <Jaela> "I didn't actually glance at it before," Jaela says with a shrug. "Maybe I'll have a bout of beginner's luck. Then having you around would be easy to check on things. Can't spare half an hour tops?"
[21:00] <Muirfinn> "Without hope, what chance do we have?" Muirfinn counters.
[21:00] <Kotono> "Is there any way we can make the portal enchantment evil?" she says, suddenly sitting up all the way.
[21:01] <Muirfinn> "...that's a hell of an idea." Muirfinn inintentionally puns.
[21:01] <Jaela> "What if it's tied to other stuff and spreads? Don't forget Elena and Galariel are tied into the Aurora," Jaela cautions.
[21:02] <Muirfinn> "Elena!" Muirfinn calls!
[21:02] <Kotono> "That's true. We'd need precision," Sylvie murmurs, going and taking some ink and parchment, scribbling quickly. "This is all theoretical, but I just realized. I have a tool to understand evil - and destroy it into nothingness when needed. I'm pretty sure Overgods out power mortal sorcerers, no matter how skilled."
[21:03] <Kotono> Elena immediately appears. She wears a bikini that looks to be made of soapy bubbles, keeping her decent and clean at once. Her hair is wrapped up in a towel, "Yes?"
[21:03] * Jaela gapes at her. "You seriously show up like that for people?"
[21:04] <Kotono> "Well, I trust you," Elena crosses her arms and blushes, "Besides, I'm still so so so sorry!" Blurting that out, "So what do you need? I'll be here, no matter what!"
[21:04] <Muirfinn> Cleanly ignoring the look, Muirfinn proceeds, "Is the portal to Medi's quarters linked to the other portals and the Aurora itself? If we fundamentally alter the shape or alignment of that portal, would if affect thethe area around it?"
[21:05] * Jaela coughs, focusing on Muirfinn's words. "Yeah, please tell them it's a horrible, dangerous idea. We're not that desperate yet."
[21:07] <Kotono> Eyes bugging out, "Thta is a terrible idea! Don't mess with the portals!  No no no!" Waving her arms about, "Bad! Bad idea! BAD! BAD! Do you know what would happen if something could destroy those level of links and cause a chain reaction throughout Aurora? You'd have a walking magical burst that would be the gigantic, and most likely a dead magic zone in the remnants!"
[21:08] <Muirfinn> "Right," Muirfinn nods, unphased. "that idea is out then."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Creative thinking 0, Reality 1," Sylvie sighs, "Dammit. I thought that was clever."
[21:08] <Jaela> "Good girl." Jaela pats Elena's towel-clad head.
[21:09] * Jaela snorts, then. "You want clever and out of the box ideas? We take the Aurora to 210 and ask the Guardian to break in for us."
[21:09] <Muirfinn> "It was." Muirfinn says. "Merely not a direction we can take."
[21:09] <Muirfinn> "...the Guardian?"
[21:09] <Jaela> "Sure why not."
[21:09] <Kotono> "I mean seriously, no! No! You know how big gigantic is? Roughly the size of a continent! That sort of explosion could throw a Prime world off the axis with Selune and Lathander, and cause it crash into them! The end! Bad end! BAD! BAD!" Now sputtering and going behind Jaela, "So don't. Don't."
[21:10] <Jaela> "We won't, don't worry," Jaela reassures the bluette. "But seriously, let's take another look at the portal together."
[21:11] <Kotono> "Alright," Sylvie says. OOC: Going to head back to the portal?
[21:12] <Jaela> OOC: Yep. I'll pick up the spellcraft and K:A boosters first, so let's say I did and move on
[21:12] <Kotono> Thus the trio return to the portal to Medi's Quarters...OOC: Go ahead.
[21:14] <Jaela> "Sooo..." Jaela draws, casting a spell to sharpen her senses and then calling upon Detect Magic. "What are diversions that I should avoid, and which threads should I try to focus on the most?"
[21:17] * Muirfinn peers at his notes. "...the portals tend to...overlap. Try not to get too hung up on that, I suppose? I'm not exactly quite sure what I was looking at. I've never seen its like before."
[21:17] <Jaela> "One at a time, then." Jaela nods, and then glances at Sylvie next.
[21:32] <Kotono> "There's a lot to understand," Sylvie says, "Try and focus on something. I doubt we'll solve it in one go. I tmay take a lot of little victories and hard work."
[21:32] <Jaela> "Will do," Jaela affirms, and then directs her attention to the portal.

[Corwin]

[20:21] <Kotono> With this, the party returns to Aurora. Muirfinn goes to work on something, as do the two old men. This leaves Stille, Afina and Balyss. Stille looks about, "My my, my lady! Now this is a fortress!" he calls.
[20:25] <Afina> "Welcome to Aurora," Afina tells the pair with a bit of pride. Considering the work put in she can be rightly proud of the effort, she thinks. "Originally built by Medi to wage war on the lower planes, it was lost aeons ago and only recently rediscovered and rebuilt by ourselves. From here we plan our own campaigns to ultimately retake Lifasa." Fluttering in through the gates she gestures
[20:25] <Afina> across the courtyard at the various inhabitants training or relaxing or playing games. "The entire courtyard is blocked by a sphere of force and dimensionally locked to prohibit intrusion, and if taken by an enemy can turn into various inhospitable environments to drive them back."
[20:27] <Kotono> "That's impressive magic," Balyss whistles low, "So it's totally secure?"
[20:30] <Afina> "No defence is unbeatable. The sphere can be cracked with a disintegrate spell, and of course there's the gate, although it has its own defences. But it's as good as, and even before we had the dimensional lock in place we fended off an assault by hell on the plane of air within moments," Afina replies, heading inside. "Come this way, I'll show you how to use the portals and where they
[20:30] <Afina> all go - in a place this big walking or even flying just isn't feasible, so almost every interior location can be accessed by portal from anywhere else."
[20:32] <Kotono> Thus the trio head to the main portalway. Nothing much is happening here, though Balyss pauses to study the Medicant golems. "Mmm," she murmurs, peering at them. "Sister dear," Stille calls with a jaunty air, "Do these statues intrigue you?"
[20:34] <Afina> "These golems were made by Medi and follow the commands of our two guardian spirits, Elena and Galariel," Afina provides. "I'm working on adding to their ranks but it's hard to learn."
[20:36] <Kotono> "Oh, they're golems!" An eyebrow goes up at that, "That-oh." Shaking her head, "In the Prime..." a moment, "My prime, golems are rarer and more special. Something to do with old history and the gnomes." Tapping her knuckles against the chest of the golem near her, "That's startling to hear."
[20:36] <Kotono> "Balyss, you sound like a Prime Material tourist," Stille banters, "Gushingly comparing everything to her own singular world."
[20:37] <Afina> "They're a useful supplement to our defences but no substitute for thinking beings," Afina allows. "But intelligent golems are a possibility as well - I'm working on it." Nonetheless she does smile gently at Stille's comment. "I wasn't much different. I barely registered the existence of other planes before Hell came to Lifasa."
[20:41] <Kotono> "Oh yes, yes. Father gave me several lessons about Primes vs the rest of Creation. Local conditions prevail on the Primes, but once off them all those conditions fade to the greater reality. Riveting stuff." Nodding along to Afina, "Balyss, it is what it is. It's best to accept when you come across, or you'll show yourself to be an ignorant mark to anyone who cares to use you for amusement
[20:41] <Kotono> or advatnage."
[20:42] <Kotono> "I know that," With just a hint of peevishness in her voice, "But knowing and seeing are different." Turning away from the golem, "It goes both ways. The Goddesses Seira and Alicia came from our world, and they're felt all across Creation now. I was borna nd raised in the city they served in."
[20:46] <Kotono> "Really!" Stille exclaims, "I admit, for a Prime world, that one seems to be important," So admitting that with an easy smile, "Not that it's more important than Lifasa."
[20:47] <Afina> "Really?" Afina asks in surprise, echoing Stille. "Surprising. We have support from both those deities, and I think a few people from that world as well. It must be an important place..." her expression sours a bit at Stille's well-intentioned comment. "As far as Hell's explained we're only good for 'breeding stock'," she grimaces.
[20:48] <Kotono> "Well then, General Afina Petalwisp?" Stille merely smiles, "We're just going to have to re-educate them. Violently, I suspect."
[20:48] <Kotono> "Beating in the skulls of fiends? I'm good for it," Balyss adds, looking ahead. "Are those all portals?"
[20:51] <Afina> Perking up at that, Afina nods, "Yes, they can take you anywhere you like within Aurora. I'll show you both around, and if you need any extra help you can always call on Elena and she'll appear to help. First we'll go to the mess hall," she goes to a nearby portal and announces said destination, gesturing for the two aasimar to take the lead.
[20:53] <Kotono> Woosh! Into the mess hall you go. Here people are eating, but not too many. Of note you do see the Jarl, raising a big, foamy mug of ale up with his fellows. "To a perfect game!" he calls, a chorus of cheers following.
[20:53] <Afina> "Take a seat and think of what you'd like to eat," Afina tells the pair, gesturing to an empty table after she follows them through.
[20:56] <Kotono> Balyss sits down and after a moment, a small shot glass appears. Her eyes widen as she takes it and has a sip, "Applejack," she murmurs, "Tastes just like the real thing. No, it is the real thing!" Meanwhile Stille does the same, a glass of water appearing. He sips it twice, "Water sweetened with cane sugar. A marvelous likeness, but if I don't miss my guess, it's being created from whole cloth?"
[21:01] * Afina nods, taking a seat next to Balyss and lifting up the small glass of berry squash that appears afterwards. "You're lucky, we only recently fixed this up. Before it could make anything you wanted and it was just as nutritious, but the taste was like cardboard. We do have some farming capacity, but most food comes through this," she finishes off her glass readily and waits on Balyss and Stille to do the same. "I'll show you to the officer quarters next - you'll both start off as majors in deference to your skills. If you have any talent at leading others we might put you at colonels and give you more responsibilities. The quarters are the same, either way."
[21:05] <Kotono> Drinks are drunk, "Ah, the joys of advancement," Stille smiles, "Very well then."
[21:06] <Kotono> Balyss wipes her lips clean with her tongue, "Right. I heard you have some Selunites?"
[21:09] <Afina> "Yes, they all reside in the barracks but when not sleeping they could be anywhere," Afina nods. "Do you want to go find them now? I'm sure anyone could show you around as well as I can," she allows in case they'd rather a more down to earth showing of Aurora.
[21:12] <Kotono> "I'd rather, yes." Balyss says, "Do they practice out in that front yard around Aurora, or do they use somewhere else?"
[21:14] <Afina> "We have training halls, I'll take you there," Afina nods, going to the portal and announcing said destination before gesturing the pair through and following.
[21:33] <Kotono> Thus you go! The training halls are busy - right now the earth elementals and the Sylican regulars are going at it in a full blown training exercise.
[21:34] <Afina> "Hmm..." Afina spends a second peering over the humanoids before shaking her head, "No, aside from the earth elementals these are all Sylican forces," she mutters, "Come on, there's several halls so we can try the others."
[21:35] <Kotono> Checking the halls, there's no such sign of the lycanthropes about the training halls at all.
[21:38] <Afina> "No. I wonder if they're all playing galuh?" Afina wonders to herself, not inclined to bother Elena when she's still serving the purpose of showing Stille and Balyss around while searching. "Lets go look in the courtyard. There's a hundred of them nearly enough so we're bound to find at least one if not in the mess hall or here," she reassures her companions, leading them back to a portal outside.

[Corwin]

[21:33] <Kotono> OOC: Spellcraft check.
[21:33] <Jaela> roll 1d20+24+4+15+15 (GH+booster+DI)
[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+24+4+15+15 (GH+booster+DI) and gets 61." [1d20=3]
[21:33] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+29 aiding
[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+29 aiding and gets 40." [1d20=11]
[21:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20 Sylvie aiding
[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Sylvie aiding and gets 15." [1d20=15]

[21:42] <Kotono> Jaela studies the portal! Like Muirfinn she loses her way in it for a time. It's gorgeous magic, an artistry to it that belies the absolute skill employed. She works and works, trying to understnad. Meanwhile as she does, the portals produce three others. Afina's known, but the other two aren't. Both have the features of aasimar, passing by. Save for the woman, who glances at the three as they work - and stops hold. "HEY!" she calls abruptly, piercing into Jaela's insights and ruining her concentration.
[21:42] <Afina> "What is it?" Afina turns to Balyss in surprise at that outburst.
[21:42] <Jaela> "WHAT?!" Jaela snaps, tearing her eye away from the portal.
[21:42] * Muirfinn palms his face in frustration.
[21:47] <Kotono> Sylvie turns as well, but abruptly the color drains from her face. She just stares at the woman for a few moments, and the two lock eyes. Balyss strides forward to her, and SMACK! Sylvie's head whips to the side under the force of a meaty smack, red palmprint rising across her cheek. Balyss rubs her hand aftewards, gaze cool. "Sylvie," she says, "It's been years."
[21:48] <Afina> "Ohhh..." Afina lets out a soft noise of understanding as she watches from beside Stille.
[21:48] <Jaela> "Hey, she knows you!"
[21:49] * Muirfinn adds the other hand to his face. "Why am I not surprisd?"
[21:49] <Kotono> Rubbing her cheek with a blush growing, hiding her mark s she looks away, "Well yes," she mutters lamely, glaring at Jaela. Taking a long breath, "How's Calley?"
[21:49] <Kotono> "How's Calley?!" Balyss throws her arms up, "How's Calley!? Why don't you tell me, you're his mother!" Balyss growls, "Even though he's called me or Ves or Aaeru or any of them mom more than he's ever called you that!"
[21:51] * Jaela rises to her feet, dusting her armor off and glancing at Afina curiously.
[21:52] * Afina flutters over towards Jaela, keeping a wide berth of the two women. "Balyss, one of our new recruits. That's her brother, Stille," she gestures at said brother, whispering. "Small worlds."
[21:52] <Kotono> Stille coughs and steps back, "Small worlds indeed."
[21:52] <Jaela> "Literally," Jaela mutters, her eye now on the pair of Balyss and Sylvie.
[21:54] <Kotono> Exhaling, "Nice to see you again," Sylvie says, delicately. She puts a weak smile on her face, but it fades away instantly, like mist against the wind. "It worked out for your dad," Sylvie retorts, "Don't see him winning any attentive father awards, right?"
[21:55] * Jaela is surprised anew at how shitty Sylvie's true personality is whenever she's not talking about books, but knows better than get in the way of those two.
[21:56] * Afina finds herself appreciating the Unseelie fascination with watching something terrible unfold before her eyes.
[21:56] <Kotono> "Oh shut up," Balyss scowls, a flickering look of anger and indignation warring on her face. Anger seems to win out, since her decibel level goes up, up, up as she replies! "For Selune's sake, even Silver misses you! Hell, you never met Veserya, even! You know what Anna does every time she sees me? She asks if I've heard anything from you!"
[21:59] <Kotono> Rubbing her cheek and looking away, "And?" she drawls out quietly, "Here I am. That says it all, doesn't it?" Her voice is soft and low, "I'll go home when I'm good and ready. They'll live without me. It'll hurt, but they'll keep going. That's how it works, I know."
[22:00] <Kotono> WIth a look of pure, stunned disgust, "Selune's sake, Sylvie," Balyss mutters, "It really did break you, didn't it?"
[22:01] <Kotono> "I'd be insane if it wasn't for cosmic caprice," Sylvie doesn't really look at anyone, studying the floor now. "Our world's important. Really important. It has a heavy destiny, and that got me tangled in something that snapped me out of it."
[22:03] <Kotono> "Good for it," Balyss drawls that out, dripping sarcasm with every word. Crossing her arms, "How the hell does that relate to you being a horrible excuse for a mother and friend?"
[22:03] * Jaela can't quite avoid glaring at that.
[22:03] <Afina> It seems catharsis is being reached, but nonetheless, Afina backs off towards the door to steer away anyone that might wander in before Balyss and Sylvie are done with their emotional reunion. She can resist being a slack-jawed gawker!
[22:06] <Kotono> Fortunately, not too many people are nearby right now.  "I don't even like Calley," Sylvie looks up, ticking off fingers, "I know I resent him and what he reminds me of. So yes, I'm a horrible mother and Calley was a mistake that never should have happened." A raw anger fills Sylvie's voice, "As far as I'm concerned, Mom and the rest of you can have him.  As for the rest?" Sylvie sighs a moment,
[22:06] <Kotono> anger gone and deflated. "Alright, I'm a bad friend too."
[22:08] <Jaela> "I'm leaving before I slap you too," Jaela says, heading out through the portal.
[22:11] * Muirfinn shakes his head. So much fighting.
[22:12] <Kotono> Balyss stares long at Sylvie, her face flashing from shock to disgust to incomprehension to utter confusion, 'round and 'round. "You know..." she begins, "There's a few old worshipers of Selune I visited occasionally. Widowers, the sort that are just waiting to die. Sometimes you wonder why they didn't die with thier spouse. You should've died with Janson," Balyss finally says, "It would have been a mercy to you." Shaking her head and turning from Sylvie, "Let's go," she says to Afina.
[22:15] <Afina> Deciding to focus on the newcomers since Sylvie probably would want some time alone after all of that, Afina nods and gestures for Balyss and Stille to head out the door. She looks at Sylvie with some curiousity at how she's taking everything, but unless she looks immediately suicidal or homicidal she'll go on out herself as well.
[22:16] <Kotono> Sylvie looks down at the floor, face hidden by her hanging bangs.

[Corwin]

[20:03] <Kotono> Ah, looking over Aurora. With it safe and sound in Ysgard, there's on need to drive it. Nonetheless, checking up on it isn't a bad idea and one Ithea deals with right now. That is, until Tannin comes in, whistling despite his hood shadowing his face. "Ithea, been in here awhile?"
[20:04] <Ithea> "A few minutes now," Ithea answers as she briefly turns to look over to Tannin then back  over everything in the room. "What's up?"
[20:10] <Kotono> "Not much," Tannin says, going to lean against a nearby wall. "Everyone's back. Jaela came back successfully, while Afina brought back a couple of Selunites." Scratching his chin a moment, "Mirima's been heading out into Ysgard hunting for something or another, Arrel went with her. Ebony and Cresea are bonding over baking, while Gisfal's taking a detachment off for intensive Ysgard training.
[20:10] <Kotono> Sylvie and one of the Selunites had a vicious fight - Balyss I think her name is. That freaky slaad of yours is howling in front of Annalise's room, while I'm pretty sure that the Master and Baleruk are trying to redefine the terms aerial combat."
[20:14] <Ithea> "Lovely. Didn't know 27 liked Annalise that much," Ithea says with a shake of her head. "What's this about Sylvie and the Selunites? Sylvie say some uncomfortable truth or something because of 21?"
[20:15] <Kotono> "For all I know it's some sort of mating call," Tannin lightly goes on, "Not quite. Apparently Balyss knew Sylvie and took her to task. Something about looking over Sylvie's child. It wasn't a fond reunion."
[20:20] * Ithea blinks at that. "Wait...did you say Sylvie had a child? She, uh, never struck me as the mother type," she starts to say, frowning. "Though I guess that's what you're saying this Balyss got into a fight with her about, after all. Jeez...what happened after the fight?"
[20:21] <Kotono> "They went their seperate ways, I assume," Tannin says, "Yeah, she's not the mother type. Bit of a guess here, but I'm reading into it that she got knocked up and left the kid with friends to raise."
[20:29] * Ithea grimaces, not all too happy to hear that about a friend. "The question, I guess, is what they're both going to do about it then..." she mutters, shaking her head. "As long as they're not trying to kill each other though, I guess it might wait. Well, assuming there was anything else you wanted to pass on that's higher priority for us?"
[20:32] <Kotono> "Not really. Adrian's working on something," Tannin adds, "Something about the Graceful Blow and the past. I think he got quietly interrupted by going out." Shaking his head, "Don't think it's close to coming to a head, at least quite yet. I know they had a terrible and private row as the two groups reintegrated. A whole lot of apologies ended up and they all helped mend the mess."
[20:35] <Ithea> "Ah," she says. "I'll ask him about that later, I guess. If there's no high priority things to deal with, I might as well check up on Sylvie and get her side of the story of this.  And meet those Selunites too, though probably not together until I'm sure they get into a second fight."
[20:36] <Kotono> "Adrian has it in hand, mostly," Tannin nods, "Not sure where Sylvie is. You'll have to dig her up yourself or ask Elena."
[20:39] <Ithea> "I doubt she'd be hard to find. Either her room or the library. The library if I know her well enough, she'll want to not think about the issue and focus on those tomes she was researching," Ithea says drily. "I'll ask Elena if I don't find her in either place though," she adds with a nod as she moves to get out of the room. "Thanks for the heads up, Tannin."
[20:46] <Kotono> OOC: Going to go check those two out?
[20:46] <Ithea> ooc: yes. library first, then her room, then Elena if nothing comes up with the first two
[20:48] <Kotono> Checking both the library and Sylvie's room nets no fruit. On calling her name Elena appears, wearing a ghostly suit of armor and open face helmet. "Ithea?" she asks as she appears.
[20:49] <Ithea> "Elena, do you have any idea where Sylvie is? I can't find her at either of her two usual haunts," Ithea asks. "I heard about the big blow up with that Balyss person," she adds as way of explanations.
[20:51] <Kotono> "Oh, okay," Elena says, "She's tucked away on the roof in a corner, really well hidden. You'd have to go up there knowing where to look," Elena explains.
[20:52] * Ithea frowns at hearing that. "Can you show me where, please? I'd like to chat with her. Sounds like she could use someone to chat with too if she's hiding away like that," she asks of the ghostly girl.
[20:55] <Kotono> With that and a bit of work, Elena takes Ithea to the roof. You stand amid the rising peaks of Aurora, pointing at one such place, "Go around it - it's all boxed, she's in there."
[20:55] <Ithea> "Thanks, Elena. Uh, nice armor, also, I guess. What is it for?" Ithea asks before Elena has a chance to vanish away.
[20:56] <Kotono> "Long story," Elena says, "I'll tell you later!" With that she blinks and vanishes away.
[20:57] <Ithea> "...That's going to be bugging me until I drag the story out of her now, dammit," Ithea mutters, shaking her head as she goes up to meet Sylvie, moving silently up the path Elena pointed out.
[20:59] <Kotono> Going 'round, you come to where Sylvie is nestled. It's a crook hidden away, Sylvie's back against the wall. She sits, eyes closed. Her posture is slack and unguarded, face calm.
[21:05] * Ithea considers interrupting, but seeing her calm, she simply quietly slides up closer, using her magically enhanced stealth to do so without disturbing the other woman, until she's leaning against the wall as well, just observing Sylvie besides her, waiting for her eyes to open. Or for boredom to settle in, whichever came first, really.
[21:08] <Kotono> After a few minutes Sylvie sighs, "Dammit," she mutters quietly, opening her eyes and rubbing them, "Can't sleep." She shifts a little bit, "Ithea?"
[21:09] <Ithea> "Heyo," Ithea says, giving a short wave. "Heard you had a fight. Elena told me where you hiding. You looked pretty calm so didn't want to interrupt."
[21:09] * Ithea gives a small smile following her summary. "So! How're you holding up?"
[21:12] <Kotono> "Badly," Sylvie admits as such, "You know, you never appreciate how much little white lies grease social interactions until you don't have them any more. Being able to say the things people want to hear, rather than what you really think, you know? Like, saying that of course I cared about him or force out some apology that would applease her."
[21:18] * Ithea raises an eyebrow. "You -don't- care?" she asks. "Sounds like you left your kid with some good friends. I won't say I approve... but you at least got him a good home from the sounds of things?"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Yeah. My Mom and my friends look after him. He's probably forgotten my face by now," Sylvie murmurs, "I got romanced by a cad who put me in a family way and left me hanging, young, pregnant and lovestruck. Every time I look at Calley, it's an unpleasant reminder. Even when I was there, Mom raised him more than I did. Did a better job than I'd want to do, too."
[21:22] <Ithea> "But you stuck around, at least for a while," Ithea points out. "So what changed?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "Got a job at Whimsical Sweets. A candy shop ran by a fat elf wizard who dubbed himself a candymancer. Josa Confector, if you can believe that name. Anyway, eventually we all got tangled up in some things with some other people, and the upshot of the affair was that in addition to being a candy store, Whimsical Sweets became a problem solving company. Have problem, will solve - except for
[21:25] <Kotono> relationship problems." A ghost of a smile passes over her face, "One of the employees there was named Janson. We liked each other and one thing lead to another and another and another. I loved him." Sylvie sighs at this, "Eventually, we ran afoul of a horribly corrupted nymph named Senaril, who worshiped Shar. She was plotting up a scheme to blow up the entire city, as I recall, and we went to
[21:25] <Kotono> stop her. We did, but we lost several members. I nearly died and Janson was wounded, but we made it." (More)
[21:28] <Kotono> "We reformed, got more members and pressed on. That was when Senaril made herself known again. She'd come back from the dead. Raised or resurrected or cloned, I forget which offhand. She wanted revenge and had co-opted an entire Sharran cult. We went to stop them..." Here Sylvie slows, "Janson died during it. A lonely, meaningless death, exactly the sort of thing that black bitch loved. Another
[21:28] <Kotono> of my friends who died the first time, Andrea? She was killed and cannibalized." Voice tightening, "Senaril had the same absolute black streak of evil in her as a devil does. But...digression. Janson died. We sought to bring him back. I prepared the scroll to do it...and...he didn't answer my call." Here Sylvie hangs her head, "I soon left to find some answers, and eventually ended up here with 21."
[21:30] <Ithea> "And this Selunite, Balyss, she was one of those members?" Ithea asks for confirmation. "That's how she knew you?"
[21:31] <Kotono> "She wasn't an official part of it, but she and the Lunatics were close friends of ours." Pausing with a wistful smile, "So yes."
[21:35] <Ithea> "So you left and never went back. Too much reminder and all that, right?" Ithea asks again.
[21:39] <Kotono> "I did mean to go back one day." Sylvie admits, "At some point. At first I went to try and get Janson back. It...well, it doesn't work like that." She sighs, "I focused a lot of my pain and anger at Chauntea for that. Funny thing. As much as I poured energy into hating her, there was still more. I hated everyone. Shar, Chauntea, Baator. Everyone who cost me people I cared about." A pause here,
[21:39] <Kotono> "I suppose the 'right' thing to do would have been to accept it and go home. Never could make myself do that. I kept going and spiraling down deeper. 21 saved me from insanity or at least from being utterly consumed by my hate, anger and despair. Now...I don't go back because I want them to hurt. I want to do something. In all truth...a child I don't care about means nothing compared to that.
[21:39] <Kotono> Let those who can give him what I struggle to nurture him. As for my friends?" Here Sylvie sighs, "Yeah, I fucked that up. Randomly meeting Balyss really ruined that reunion. What are the odds in all of Creation that we'd meet here?"
[21:40] <Kotono> After a beat, "The worst part, the part that genuinely offends me? The odds are good, because my native world is important in a cosmic sense. A heavy destiny and all of that."
[21:42] <Kotono> A finger is waved in the air, circling around. "A heavy destiny helped me get 21. It also just possibly ruined a friendship." Making a pfft sound, "You know, fuck destiny. It always seems to make trouble, doesn't it?"
[21:46] * Ithea sighs. "Oh, Sylvie..." Ithea says with a shake of her head. "You do know, if it wasn't for the fact that you really seem like you could use a friend right now, I'd slap you, right? Yeah, fuck destiny and all that, and no kidding that you've had a shitty turn at life, but do you really think your friendship with this Balyss is all that unsalvageable? C'mon, you know our story. We haven't given up on our world, don't you go giving up on yours."
[21:49] <Kotono> "Please don't," Sylvie's reply is a sigh, "That was how Balyss greeted me, and one slap is enough for today. I didn't say it did, just that it possibly did. I'm going to give her a few days to calm down and talk to her then. She said it would have been better if I died, so maybe she's made her mind up already."
[21:52] <Ithea> "Well, I still like you even if I want to slap you silly," Ithea says. "So she said that, big deal. It was probably heat of the moment thing.  Everyone says that sort of thing to friends, or hell, even family, when they're pissed badly enough. Friendships still get mended. Families still endure. That's the reason one cherishes 'em."
[21:54] <Kotono> That draws a real smile out of Sylvie, "Thanks. Yeah, I know. I know. Hopefully once she calms down we can talk."
[21:58] <Ithea> "How long do you think that'll take?"
[21:59] <Kotono> "The talk or waiting?" Sylvie shrugs, "A few days for the waiting, say 2 or 3. For the talk...depends on how it goes."
[22:03] <Ithea> "Going to visit your world? Take this as a sign to go say hi and stuff?" Ithea asks.
[22:05] <Kotono> Sylvie pauses a good long time at this, "I haven't made up my mind. I'm not thinking that far ahead until I talk to Balyss, one way or another."
[22:09] * Ithea nods. "Well...probably not the best time to try recruiting, but hey if your other friends ever feel like fighting devils and decide you want to give a try at seeing the kid a bit more often..." Ithea says with a grin, as she claps Sylvie in the shoulder. "We can give a hand with your own world stuff too!"
[22:13] <Kotono> "Mmm." Sylvie smiles a tiny little bit, "...thanks. I think I just want to lay down right now and think about all this. Thanks, Ithea."
[22:16] <Ithea> "Yeah, yeah. What are friends for and all that, right? So hey, what can you tell me about these Selunites? I figure I'd go say hi and stuff," Ithea says with a dismissive wave at the thanks, as she pushes off from the wall, starting to move back out of Sylvie's little hiding hole.
[22:19] <Kotono> "I don't know the man, but Balyss is fairly easy going, devoted to Selune and enjoys a good drink. The Lunatics are Selunites focused on visions Selune sends them, acting according to them. Plus they throw amazing parties."
[22:20] <Ithea> "Huh, really? Good to know. Should see about getting her to organize a party for Adrian and Misalea then," Ithea muses.
[22:20] <Kotono> "You could do worse," Sylvie replies.
[22:22] <Ithea> "Alrighty, off to say hi to the new recruits then. If you want someone to talk to, my door's always open. Unless I'm sleeping, then I'm hitting you with a pillow and shutting the door on your face," Ithea says cheerfully as she departs.
[22:22] <Kotono> Sylvie chuckles, "No having 27 defend your virtue?" she calls back as Ithea goes.
[22:23] <Ithea> "He's busy crying his heart out over Annalise, from what I hear," Ithea calls back, before vanishing around a corner.
[22:23] <Kotono> OOC: Going off to visit Balyss and Stille, then?
[22:26] <Ithea> ooc: Yup
[22:28] <Kotono> OOC: Via Elena or just looking around?
[22:29] <Ithea> ooc: looking around first. Go visit the lycanthropes I guess.
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 87." [1d100=87]
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 81." [1d100=81]
[22:32] <Kotono> Finding Stille and Balyss is easy enough. Part of the courtyard has been converted to a wild dance, the lycanthropes leading but many other participants involved. Balyss and Stille stand out with their golden skin and silvery hair. Balyss leads them, singing praise to the Moonmaiden. Stille is a little away, arms crossed and watching with a curious smile..
[22:36] <Ithea> Since Stille doesn't seem to be dancing at the moment, she goes to greet him first. "Hello," she says as she stretches a hand out in greeting. "Heard you and your sister were our newest recruits. Your name was Stille, I think, right?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "That's correct," Stile replies with the hints of a smile, "Who do I have the honor of meeting?"
[22:41] <Ithea> "Ithea of the Aurora," Ithea says with a smile of her own. "Figured I'd come meet up with you two, after some of what I've heard already."
[22:41] <Ithea> "Hrm... feels a bit silly to introduce myself as being of the Aurora when we're on it," Ithea comments after her introduction, shaking her head.
[22:43] <Kotono> "Ah yes, I suppose we've already made an impact," He smiles more at that, "Truth all be told, I've wanted to hear all about Aurora's history and heroics. Sister's busy with her duties," Tsking lightly, "But perhaps the two of us can sneak away to talk?"
[22:48] * Ithea smiles a bit more widely at that. "You're a heartbreaker, aren't you? Barely even meet a girl, and already asking her to sneak away?" she asks, laughing a bit. "Though sure, why not. I've only heard mean things about your dad, that your sister has a vicious slap, and that she throws great parties. Not heard quite as much about you, Stille, so we can both entertain the other with stories."
[22:51] <Kotono> Matching that laugh, "You're a very attractive woman. It's only natural." Smiling at this, "Shall we? I've seen the cafeteria and I'm getting hungry."
[22:51] <Ithea> "Sure, follow me, you flatterer," Ithea says, leading the way.
[22:57] <Kotono> Grinning as the two of you sneak away, "I'd like to apologize for my sister," Stille begins, "The Lunatics can be emotionally tempestous as the progress of Selune and the tides affect them."
[23:00] <Ithea> "Eh, don't be. Sylvie's a friend, but from what I've heard of the story, she deserved that slap. As long as they make up sooner or later, and I'm sure they will, it'll be fine," Ithea says with a shrug. "Here's hoping your sister's temper gets aimed more towards devils from now on though."
[23:02] <Kotono> "Strangely enough, Father didn't mention a temper. Apparently whatever happened greatly offended her," Stille observes as you reach the portals. A few steps take you to the cafeteria and a table. As he sits, "I'll see about pointing her fury to more productive ends."
[23:03] <Ithea> "That'll be appreciated. So, what would you like to eat?"
[23:08] <Kotono> Concentrating a few moments, a bed of green seaweed with what looks to be slices of raw fish over it appear. "This. I've grown fond of it during my times in Water."
[23:09] * Ithea raises an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it? Besides, uh, raw fish on seaweed?" Ithea asks, figuring there's more to it than appearances.
[23:13] <Kotono> "Sliced orasam fish over dried lifevine kelp." Taking a fork, he wraps a slice of fish around a strand of seaweed. "You eat it as a wrap. The orasam has a naturally smoky flavor, which combines well with the pure taste of the lifevine kelp. The kelp's gathered from near the hazy border between Water and Steam. Try one."
[23:17] <Ithea> "Sure, why not?" Ithea says with a shrug and does just that.  At the same time, a drink pops up in front of Ithea, which she drinks alongside her sample of Stille's fish wrap.
[23:18] <Kotono> The taste of that is smoked fish combined with a light, salty vegetable. Stille takes a wrap at the same time and nibbles on it, "Really, most planar travelers use magic or are so caught up in carrying rations that they miss the native food. It's a shame."
[23:20] * Ithea laughs at that, and another drink pops up in front of her, as she pushes the second glass, looking like it has the same drink the catfolk is having, towards Stille. "I suppose so. Here, try this drink, and tell me what you think, as long as we're sharing fine planar dining," Ithea says.
[23:23] <Kotono> The glass is taken and drunk down! "...aaaah!" A little noise of approval at it, "Refreshing with a sharp note at the end." Placing it down, as his ears tint red, "Yes, I do like it."
[23:25] <Ithea> "It's a liquor made from fermented milk. Comes from Brighteleth Monument," is all Ithea says on the subject, figuring she'd at least spare the Selunite the details. "First encountered a short while back on Radiance."
[23:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+40 (+15 divine insight since he's curious now)
[23:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+40 (+15 divine insight since he's curious now) and gets 57." [1d20=17]
[23:28] <Kotono> An eyebrow goes up, "That's the third time I've had that particular type of milk," he observes before chuckling, "You...do understand what type of milk it is, yes?"
[23:30] <Ithea> "I'd heard," Ithea admits. "Not something I'd drink knowing first hand....but after tasting it, eh, it was decent enough. And third time, huh?"
[23:35] <Kotono> "Mmm, yes." Sitting back after another bit of fish, "I was wandering in Water and came across what could be described best as a mad wizardess. She had an entire domed abode transported to Water and was conducting various disturbed researches there. She was searching for a way to make the Water of Life. She claimed that as it was imbued with life, it had to be a bodily fluid. She had bound and
[23:35] <Kotono> captured creatures of many types, feeding them strange and exacting diets and drinks, then harvesting various fluids to test. As a side result of her research, she had developed dozens of unusual concoctions. She absolutely made my skin crawl," Going on from that with an open shudder, "She rather stridently passed several drinks onto me, and I felt obligated so that she would not take offense.
[23:35] <Kotono> A powerful wizardess shouldn't b elightly crossed. In any event, one of them was succubus milk of grass and almonds."
[23:38] <Ithea> "And the second time?"
[23:39] <Kotono> Coughing into his hand, "A drunken bar bet." Going on from that, a third glass appears. Chilly mist drifts out from the glass, "Try this one."
[23:43] * Ithea shrugs and gives it a shot too.
[23:47] <Kotono> Cold! Ithea's entire body goes flash-frozen numb! Then she feels the drink slide down her throat. It's warm, going down and down! As it does her body fades back into warmth, like lying in a sunbeam. Then the taste hits her last, just as her body is felt again - the taste of alcohol and oranges mixed together, a strong citrusy punch.
[23:49] * Ithea coughs a bit after drinking it. "A bit too cold initially for my taste," she finally says.
[23:50] <Kotono> "You barely notice after three or so," Stille smiles as he watches, "There's parts of Water that are freezing cold, but the water does not freeze. The local style is to mix that water with another drink for a one-two punch. You freeze, then as you warm back up you get the second taste combined with the heat returning to your body."
[23:51] <Ithea> "Not my style, personally," Ithea admits.
[23:52] <Kotono> "The fun is finding out what your style is," Stille retors with a good natured smile, as another glass appears. "Try this one. It's very mellow."
[23:56] <Ithea> "Last one for me, wouldn't want you to get a reputation of trying to get girls drunk, after all, mister Stille," she says as she raises the glass as she picks it up, before moving it towards her lips and trying the third drink.
[00:00] <Kotono> It tastes like silk-smooth...silver. It tastes like silver. Ithea is certain that it tastes like silver. Stille watches with an expectant smile, and after a beat, "It's called liquid moonlight. A particular sect devised some way to capture a bit of Selune's radiance in water and use it to make a drink."
[00:04] * Ithea muses over that. "Sort of like the Lunar Tear, isn't it?" Ithea comments.
[00:26] <Kotono> "Sort of," Stille's reply is casual as he sits back now, "Marvelous worlds we live in, where we can see an infinite expanse of new experiences and adventures."
[00:29] <Ithea> "That is one of the marvels that one can experience in the planes," Ithea agrees. "So is that what you do? Explore a lot? Experience everything you can?"
[00:29] <Ithea> "Or just a perk of the real job?"
[00:34] <Kotono> "All of that with a side of liberation and freedom," Stille says, "I serve Selune's will, as does all our family. For instance, I came back later with the proper tools and abilities to free all those that mad wizardess had imprisoned. The fiends were banished back to whence they came, and all others were liberated."
[00:36] * Ithea nods. "I already expected that much from what you'd said of the story initially," Ithea comments with a smile. "But since you bring it up again...what of the wizardess herself?"
[00:38] <Kotono> "Dead!" A single word full of tragic emotion, "She wouldn't accept it, and was able to shatter the binds we put on her. Unfortunately, the first one to act was a fellow wizard, and cast a lightning bolt that exploded her eyes and charred her flesh black. Whatever deity will have her deals with her now."
[00:43] <Ithea> "I can't say I disagree with your companion's action. As a fellow wizard, he would have recognized the danger of a mad and powerful caster, and she'd already shown she wasn't willing to come quietly. You did what you could taking her captive once," Ithea says. "Once she escaped..."
[00:43] * Ithea just shrugs.
[00:44] <Kotono> "Esssentially," Stille also shrugs, but that vanishes in a smile. "So tell me one of your stories about Aurora. I've heard they're breath-taking."
[00:46] <Ithea> "Well...there's plenty to talk about, makes it hard to choose one. We can talk about our quest to find it, the battle of earthfall, the rise of a prismatic dragon, and so many more...what kind of story themes do you like? I'll try and pick something with that in mind?"
[00:48] <Kotono> "Something rousing, and something where you're the heroine of the hour. Don't be modest," Stille encourages, "Surely you've saved the day countless times."
[00:52] * Ithea laughs. "No, not quite. Usually the killing strike falls to our reckless Jaela. She always manages to kill them before they can kill her first, and they certainly try at that. I'm more...I dunno, support-oriented?" Ithea says, figuring that's a nicer way of saying 'I take cheap shots at them and soften them up more'.
[00:53] <Kotono> "That's a load of nonsense," Stille waves it off, "Support is essential, or the so called hero of the spotlight would be another casuality instead. You just have to appreciate how they impact the battle."
[00:57] <Ithea> "Oh, I'm not saying I'm not essential or anything of thta sort! Don't get me wrong, I fully feel I do my share of the work, but I'm also not the heavy hitter here," Ithea says as she raises a hand. "I'm just pointing out that I don't often get the last shot in."
[01:05] <Kotono> "The last shot is overrated anyway," Stille says lightly, "I have the same problem. I'll throw a Moon Bolt to weaken my enemies while allies take with impunity after. Everyone remembers the blow that bisected the rampaging giant. But who remembers the spell that enabled it, or the bardsong that strengthened that blow, or the steady, fearless flanker who distracted the giant's guard for that strike?"
[01:07] <Ithea> "Well, the people you fight with will if they're good allies," Ithea answers with a grin. "That's good enough, really. I'm pretty happy with having enemies considering Jaela the more dangerous target anyway. Let me tell you, NOT fun being the main target of a rampaging colossal dragon."
[01:09] <Kotono> That comes with a laugh, "Oh, now there's another story, I'm sure."
[01:14] <Ithea> "Yeah, well, Tiamat's a bitch..." Ithea answers. "We were searching for this green dragon to kill, we found him. The beast was colossal! And the bastard was splitting himself into mirror images just to be more annoying. Jaela got the finishing strike on him, but we hear Tiamat actually -laughing- as the beast rises again. And seeing things weren't working out for it trying to beat up Jaela..."
[01:14] * Ithea points at herself. "Yeah, I suddenly became prime targetting material for an undead dragon."
[01:14] <Kotono> "The dragon got back up?" Stille stares a moment, "Gods, dragons are terrible enough with one life!"
[01:15] <Ithea> "I got the last laugh though, Selune had extended some protection over to me with that Lunar Tear I mentioned earlier. Shaved off just enough of the pain for me to put it back to sleep for good. I did promise to murder it again after all."
[01:18] <Kotono> "Well done," Raising his glass up to Ithea, "Selune watches over us both. I'm told she approves of this crusade very much. The visions were quite clear, especially for Sister."
[01:19] * Ithea laughs. "And like I said, I am pretty damn well grateful for her approval after that fight. Like I said, that gift really saved my life. It's one of the reasons I wanted to meet you and your sister, really. I suppose I should also give some offering as thanks too. What would you say would be appropriate?" she asks, figuring the Selunite is certainly more than appropriate to ask on the subject.
[01:22] <Kotono> Stroking his chin a moment, "You know, this would be the perfect time to suggest a date as payment? Tempting, but even I know that's likely sacreligious. Balyss knows far more about the clergy rituals than I do. I'm more of a free agent. Besides taking on her service and worship, I can only recommend an offering to her church of money. It's not the most refined gift, but money makes much of Creation go around."
[01:26] <Ithea> "You certainly don't do much to dismiss the whole heartbreaker image, do you?" Ithea asks in amusement. "I'll talk to your sister about that, I guess. Just one more thing to talk to her about."
[01:27] <Kotono> "Heh," Smiling at that, another glass appearing before him as he drinks, "I've actually tried that one. Got the taste smacked out of my mouth, and an hour long lecture from my teacher afterwards."
[01:29] <Ithea> "Ah, but talking about doing such a thing is perfectly acceptable, eh?" Ithea says with a small laugh.
[01:29] <Ithea> "Or I suppose, not doing such a thing actually."
[01:32] <Kotono> "She's not here, is she? I'm sure the Moonmaiden appreciates the distinction." Breaking into a grin again with that laugh, "Of course, now that we know that I'm not offering that, would you like to go out to dinner tomorrow night?" Not missing a beat, "It's not to repay any religious obligation, of course."
[01:37] * Ithea laughs again. "Sure, why not? You're certainly pleasant company, I'll give you that."
[01:38] <Kotono> To that his smile grows radiant, "Cheers to that," he raises his glass and drains it, "I'll be looking forward to it."
[01:40] * Ithea nods to that, raising her own glass.