Journey abroad (Jaela)

[Anastasia]

"At what price comes victory?" Ellese murmurs, turning from her study of a little roadside spring. "To save a world and then be forced to stay apart from it?"

Mirima tosses her hair and declares, "Then we'll fix that when we save Lifasa, too. Our adventure will not end with us tearfully saying goodbye and leaving Lifasa in position for this to happen again."

[Corwin]

Jaela shrugs. "Saving it is the important thing. I'm not even sure I want to go back permanently. Even if the Triune restored everything back the way it was, it's not like I could watch the Tree again without recalling what happened to it. And Hell'd still be there, plotting to take over other worlds. Someone's got to deal with them."

[Anastasia]

"In it for the long battle?" Mirima smirks then, "Good. I don't see how you can go back to a boring life after all of this. Let others have it and let warriors wage war." She throws an arm around Jaela's shoulders.

Ellese shakes her head, "No. The most important thing we can do is exactly that. If we do that, then we let the devils steal our lives and innocence. This time, we won't have a chance to get them back."

[Corwin]

"I'm keeping an open mind for now! We'll see how everything works out once we win. And it's not like there's only one answer, is there?"

[Anastasia]

"We can find several," Ellese says, "I'm sure of it. Hell tries so hard to say there's only one order and one way things can go, but they fight so hard and just barely keep chaos in check. If that was true, they wouldn't need to fight the Blood War."

[Corwin]

Amused at that conclusion, Jaela leads the way towards the city.

[Anastasia]

Thus you approach Balmuria. The road leading to it is cobblestones smoothed over into solid stone, an entire surface well maintained and even.  It's an extremely wide road, wide enough for 20 people to walk hand. It's full of wagons, horse-riding travelers (and the occasional odder thing, such as a human riding what looks to be a wingless griffon) and those on foot. The city itself is surrounded by a wall, the sun shining brightly down. A great arch leads into the city, guards manning the gates and checking people as they go in.

From here you can see the size and sprawl of the city, considerable. The buildings look new and well kept, no sign of crumbling or the wear down cities normally cache like treasure.

[Corwin]

Jaela takes in the sights as any other traveler new to Balmuria, from the people to the buildings to the underlying magic and then back to the people, other travelers and locals alike.

[Anastasia]

As you approach -

Spellcraft.

[Corwin]

10 for 45.

[Anastasia]

Oh, there's magic here. Magic powerful and hidden, sublime and overwhelming. It's thick in the air, powerful spellcraft woven over the city. Ellese stops and gasps, a hand to her mouth, "A mythal?" she asks. "A human city has the magic to make a mythal?"

[Corwin]

Jaela simply imagines for a long moment the spells woven over the city, constantly in motion, always seeking to follow their purpose.

"Neat, isn't it?" she voices. "It's not Medi's handiwork, but it's beautiful in its own right."

[Anastasia]

Mirima whistles and crosses her arms, but stays out of the conversation.

"Neat is not the word," Ellese retorts, "Mythals are the work of the greatest wizards in history. They take centuries of study and effort to understand, let alone to create one. They are great art."

[Corwin]

Maybe to an elf, they do. ""Did you have a chance to see another elsewhere?" Jaela asks Ellese curiously.

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Ellese said, rubbing her eyes and looking anew.

"Who made it?" Mirima asks, lingering by.