Eternal questions (Ithea)

[Anastasia]

Tepen and Ellese both demur, Sylvie getting up and going with Ithea. Once outside of earshot of them, "I'm not even stiff from sitting for hours," she remarks. "It's like my body doesn't get tired any more. Everything works, no matter the stress on it. I'd read about the differences between mortal and spiritual bodies, but I never appreciated it like this." She slooooowly stretches and smiles, "You're right, I do feel better now."

[Merc]

"Shouldn't you be writing all this down for your book?" Ithea jokes.

[Anastasia]

"I'll remember it. I'm sure of it," Sylvie just laughs, "It really is night and day. I just feel good. I'm free from all the little aches and pains in life and it makes me feel so good."

As you chat, you go through a portal and another. Just before the entrance to the baths, you find 27 waiting in front of the door to the women's baths. He's staring right at Ithea.

[Merc]

Ithea stares right back at the little slaad. "You're not going in with us."

[Anastasia]

27 stares at Ithea for before saying, "There is more behind the stone. You have to resist more, even when the chains grow tighter. Something horrible is happening."

[Merc]

"...Of course. Sometimes I forget you do that with everything else you do," Ithea comments with a sigh as she muses on his words. "Sylvie, I don't suppose your super duper new spiritual senses know how to interpret that? Cause my own mortal take on it is that we should be heading back to the library and keep at the research...though the bit with the stone I'm not even sure what that'd mean."

[Anastasia]

"Hah. If I understood slaad, I'd be asking you to put me out of my misery," Sylvie matches that sigh with one of her own. Waving her hand at 27, "Shouldn't you be clinging to Hanna's bedroom roof or something?"

27 just keeps staring at Ithea. "The last puzzle won't open. Someone's coming to visit and you won't be ready. A dragon follows another dragon on the right path."

[Merc]

"Okay, and now I'm officially worried. Did that sound like an attack on Aurora is imminent to you? It did to me. Coupled with the previous statement, Taelfagn might be in the middle of setting up his own attack?"

Ithea starts furiously scratching her head and stomps her foot on the ground. "Argh, and I still don't get the puzzle and dragon things, unless we're going to get another prismatic dragon."

Sighing, Ithea looks back towards Sylvie. "I think the hot springs will have to wait. We should probably get with some of the others to figure out 27's latest."

[Anastasia]

Another sigh from Sylvie, "You do know you're trying to puzzle out a slaad's ramblings, right? I think that's enough to get you declared insane in Mount Celestia or Arcadia. Soon you'll be around the bend and Sharess will have you drag you to Rapture by the nape of the neck."

Meanwhile 27 starts mimicking Ithea - scratching at his head and stomping his foot. He then blinks and looks around, "Hanna," he mutters, starting to wander off.

[Merc]

"Maybe, but there's those rare useful nuggets in his sayings, and watching him go after Hanna is entertaining. Don't tell her I said that, by the way."

She also thought it was cute how he mimicked her, but she wasn't saying that part outloud!

[Anastasia]

"Sure, sure." Sylvie leans against the wall, "Anyway, we have a week minus today. What's Aurora's plans, General?" The last gets a little mocking tilt of her voice.

[Merc]

"Show more respect, or I'll have you tossed in the dungeons for an hour, and you get to listen to Yian bemoan his fate," Ithea says with a sniff before looking pensive as she considers the question.

"There may be a few enhancements to Aurora to make, though I'm not sure what can get fit in during that time. At least the Glade for obvious reasons. We're doing our research on the chains, which from the sound of things might be a higher priority. Improving defenses in case we're attacked before we're ready to launch our own attacks too. Other than that, have some people wiser than me consider 27's words and figuring out what's just 27 being rambly, and what's an actual prophecy. I prefer Balyss though, at least with her I know I can trust her words fully."

ooc: Who'd be best to pass info on 27 to? Not really sure who to talk to here.

[Anastasia]

It tends to get dumped on Tepen or other sages. Vul'lath is also a valid target. I'd say any general, but as you're one, you can't pass the buck that way.

The look on Sylvie's face is anything but amused, but she waves a hand, "Yes, I suppose we're right back to Tepen."

[Merc]

Ithea nods and heads back to the library! Hopefully they don't find Tepen nose deep in the research they all agreed to take a break from!

[Anastasia]

It's worse. Tepen isn't there. However, a bowing acolyte mage quickly says, "General, Tepen was called away to a book. To quote him, it's the book of 'The Father'. I understand it's showing unusual behavior?"