Rising higher

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "Interesting times we live in. My current campaign has me focusing on Shar. We've performed some operations against Efreet holdings just for the sake of making some statements and stirring up hornet nests." He explains.

"I apparently have drawn the ire of the Grand Sultan." A shrug. "I can't stand the idea of slavery."

[Anastasia]

"Good. Let the slavers crumble," Queen Ilsenine agrees, a soft sight as she rests on you. "Be careful."

[Nephrite]

A smile and a reassuring hug. "I'd say not to worry, but we both know that won't happen. But don't hesitate to let me know if there's anything you need help with. I might be working with Celestia, but that doesn't mean I'm going to turn into a solar just yet."

[Anastasia]

"I think I'd like a song and some poetry," Queen Ilsenine says, "Would you serenade me, Moore?"

[Nephrite]

"Who am I to refuse a Queen?" Moore says with a grin.

He'll skip all the magical augmentation since she's well aware of what he can do with it and stick with just his natural skills and his equipment, which is... Take 10 + 34 + 13 + 13 + 4 + 15 + 10 = 99 anyway, jeez! That's Perform (Oratory).

I'm no good with love songs, so just... pretend it's really good and extremely sappy.

[Anastasia]

Like this the two of you spend time together and...

Anything else you want to do here?

[Nephrite]

Nah, it was mostly just a news-swap if there was anything pressing and a good-will 'hey I really shouldn't ignore my royal girlfriend forever'.

We can return whenever.

[Anastasia]

Fantastical. Next move?

[Nephrite]

There's nothing really else on the agenda. He's probably just going to go back home to puzzle out his riddle and maybe do some wandering if he gets some inspiration for it.

He does have a few other things he wants to approach RE: getting stronger but those can wait for a little bit.

[Anastasia]

Okay, for the moment, how are you planning ot work on the riddle? Just work on it yourself, OOC or going to do anything IC about it?

[Nephrite]

Purely from an IC perspective -- it's just something that he has to sit and spend some time focusing on and jotting ideas down until he thinks of a piece that fits.

It's okay for him to do it on and off as other things happen, though, so you're not held up with exciting IC bits of "and so he works on the riddle some more!!!"

[Anastasia]

Sure. OOC, do you need to work on it, Neph, or have you solved it/not working on it?

[Nephrite]

I don't think I can solve it on my own, I admit wholeheartedly. I can work on it but am pretty much even if I stare at it for a while I'll still get stuck.

[Anastasia]

Alrighty then.

On your return to the fortress, you find Grias bouncing about wildly. He's stuck in a small metal birdcage, bouncing around and trying to squeeze out in vain. The cage is hung on a wooden pole in the ground. "Moore, Moore!" he cries on your entrance, "This harridan of a woman is here!"

[Nephrite]

"...Grias, how are you even stuck in there?" Moore asks. "I didn't think lantern archons even worked like that..." He flies over to open the door to the cage.

"Who's here?" He asks. "Oh, I think I know."