All That Glitters

[Anastasia]

Home.

What a strange thought. It's been some time since you've had a real home. A fortress, a refuge, a home most of all. You stand in your central meeting room, near the top of your home's only tower. Here you have a view of the fortress and it's courtyard, where everything connects and the stables are. Beyond it's cliffside home, a view of the beaches and the endless waters of Lunia below.

Below Cresiel practices with his Afina-made warhammer, right now the only inhabitant of the courtyard. He works tirelessly, inevitably, as if every strike is a step towards a victory that will not be denied.

As you take all this in, simply letting it all wash over you and be felt, there is a knocking on the door. Hm? Is someone here? That can't be Cresiel.

I'm giving you room to describe your home base in more detail. There's a court yard and an inner tower, the rest of it is left to you to describe as you see fit. That includes this room, since you wanted a meeting room in particular.

[Nephrite]

Lifasa is still his home in a way, but this... feels right.

Moore flies over to the simple wooden door to open it -- there's not much need to ask who it is because it's whoever needs to be here.


The room itself (for the benefit of whomever will be there) is simple, with a large, central wooden table in the middle surrounded by comfortable chairs on all sides. There are six windows around the room to look out from with a large seventh one at the top of the room that lets plenty of light in over the table itself. Between each window is a tapestry -- simple colors with the numbers one through six written in several languages.

The rest of the room has several tables and chairs in the corners as well as small workspaces for anyone who needs it.

[Anastasia]

The figure is a lantern archon, bobbing in the air. "Hello there," the lantern archon dips low in a bow of sorts, "My name is Grias, and I'm here to serve you along with others as a household staff." His voice is mature, strong, deep. "You're the new Duke of Songs?"

[Nephrite]

"Hello!" Moore greets Grias with a wave. "I am, yes. But please just call me Moore. It's great to meet you, Grias."

He does tilt his head inwardly -- aren't lantern archons usually younger?

Take 10 on K:R (or K:P?) for 77 (wow, look at that number) on that subject, shouldn't someone like that have 'graduated' or something?

[Anastasia]

They are. This seems unusual for a lantern archon. Some advanced ones are closer to being teenagers than adults, but this is the exception to the rule. It's likely that you're dealing with a unique lantern archon of some unusual standing.

"As you like, Moore," Grias agrees, floating in and then the door closes behind him. How he does that is anyone's guess, but it closes. "I'm here to manage your household affairs and help organize things." The word organize is lingered over, then, "Isn't that a lovely thing, organization? Ooooh, I just love sorting things out and making things that are disordered make sense." Bobbing up and down in the air before swooping up and over to a seat, hovering in place as if sitting, "First of all, there's Rackon, he's a human who sort of became one of us living here instead of dying, he's going to oversee your pantry."

Grias bobs in the air again, "Not that I eat myself, but other people like it! He should have your pantry filled by now, he came bearing plenty of food. There's Annely, a nice hound archon who hates fighting, isn't that strange? She's more of a mother dog, anyway, she'll see to cleaning and upkeep. She's a sorceress, so most of the little things she'll take care of with magic. Then there's Stone and Rock, a pair of awakened stone golems. They really like guarding things, so they'll be your gate keepers and defenders. If you need more people as you grow, just tell me, Lord Erathaol himself talked to me!"

At that Grias puffs up, literally growing a bit larger and glowing brighter. "He told me to make sure you're taken care of, so we'll take care of you."

[Nephrite]

A human who 'sort of became' ...? How interesting. Wait, does he mean a lantern archon or something else?

"Thank you, Grias. I can tell you've been doing this for some time, so having someone experienced like you will be a great asset to us here. Is there anything I can do for you -- or any help you'd like to have? It sounds like you've got everything you need; let me know if there is anything I can do, though."

He considers for a few moments. "Do you think you're up to the task of keeping requests as they come in in order so I don't lose track of them?"

[Anastasia]

"I can do that," Grias puffs out, glowing bright. "I'm good at organizing things. I already have the first one ready for you too, Moore. Cresiel requested new weapons and armor, and I know just how to solve that for the two of you."

[Nephrite]

"Let me guess, we should take a trip up to Jovar?" Moore asks with a smile.

It may not be that, but he's pretty sure that's where they're going to end up anyway.

[Anastasia]

"Oh good, you already know." Grias vanishes and appears a moment later, a picnic basket before him, "I already made the two of you enough food for a few meals - well, Annely did, she's good at cooking." The picnic basket settles on the grand table, "There's also a change of socks in there if you walk and need them, as well as some bandages if you have an accident and hurt yourself. Oh! Speaking of that, I can do some healing magic if you're hurt. Nothing strong, but I'm good at the basics."

[Nephrite]

"We'll have to talk more about things and what you want to do, Grias." Moore affirms. Moore will take the basket with a smile.

"I'm not sure how long we'll be gone, so feel free to look around and make a note of any changes you'd make to things, okay?"

[Anastasia]

"I will. Say, do you have any pets? I think fairies like dogs, don't they?" Grias asks, "Or maybe a nice cat? Do you do falconry, I can get celestial falcons if you like that instead. Or how about trained mice?" Going on and on, Grias bobs in the air.

[Nephrite]

"You may not believe this, but I was promised that one day I'd be able to summon one of Lord Erathaol's animals." Moore says with a smile. "A few other types of animals would liven things up around here, so feel free to use your judgement on that matter."

Once he's got things settled with Grias, he'll go fly down to Cresiel.

[Anastasia]

Cresiel awaits you, warhammer at the ready.  He's at the gates, a pair of looming, well carved stone golems just outside of it. They're taller than Hanna, looming and keeping a guard outside.

"Moore," he greets, his eyes going to the basket. "You've met Grias, then?"

[Nephrite]

"I did. Hi Stone, Hi Rock." Moore greets them ... oh, did he just confuse them, though? Oh dear.

"This will be my first time past Venya, actually." Moore says. "Well, that I can remember, anyway."

[Anastasia]

The two merely nod, keeping any comments to themselves as they stand guard.

"You'll be fine," Cresiel says, "As you are a noble now, things will work slightly differently, as Celestia has already found you worthy."