Family Reunion

[Anastasia]

You wander down another path. Here the roses relent, until you to a wall. A door is here, leading into the palace proper. The sound of music can be faintly heard from within.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa goes forth and opens the door!

[Anastasia]

The door opens. Ahead is a ball room where beautiful eladrin lords and ladies dance. Chandaliers of crystal and light hang and illuminate everything, vast windows showing the night sky full of stars. The music is lively and pretty, ladies in beautiful gowns and lords in elegant formal wear.

"A dance," Emily says, "We can go join in if you want to dance, Alyssa." She smiles, "They're fun, but you can lose track of time."

[Iron Dragoon]

"I... Never learned. At least it's in the palace. Can we go through without causing problems?"

[Anastasia]

A laugh. A warm laugh, a beautiful eladrin coming forth. He is tall and well muscled, hair like all the flames of the world. He wears tunic, cape and pants, all colored black and decorated with silver. He takes your hand and kisses it, "My lady Songsteel," he greets you, "May I have the honor of teaching you how to dance?"

Emily smiles openly, shaking her head in open amusement.

Jarem nudges you, "I think you're supposed to accept, Queen."

Ianvasah merely watches this, watching the eladrin, gaze not going from him.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Would a rain check be rude, sir...?"

[Anastasia]

"It would wound me," The eladrin smiles, "But I would understand. You have the face of someone who wears a heavy burden."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Hmm... How about after I conclude my business?"

[Anastasia]

"I would be honored," The eladrin says, "Until we meet again." He steps back and before your eyes the doorway vanishes, stone replacing it - and a path to your left, leading deeper into the rose bushes.

"Where one path vanishes, another appears. The eladrin say it is a mimicry of every day life." Emily begins to walk that way, "What do you think?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"Very philosophical, but that doesn't make it less... Time consuming."

Alyssa heads left.

[Anastasia]

"Oh Alyssa, we aren't in that great a rush. Live a little!" Emily declares, hands on her hips as she turns to you. "The Court is lovely, but not if you ignore all of its charms because you're in a hurry!"

"Alyssa's right," Jarem says, "Accomplish first and celebrate second." He takes a breath out, "I doubt Shar sits idle."

[Iron Dragoon]

"I also have an entire council of Regents to convince to let me build a nation. I also need to establish a magic item workshop, and I also need to find a way to fund low-level magic to make our citizen's lives easier, and not strip the islands of their resources or destroy nature. I've also got to investigate Hades, the plane of Vacuum, meet the new Archomental in Ash, deal with Malcanthet, raise and raise islands. I also still want a ship like the Gith's. If anyone wants to take over anything so I have more free time to frolick, please do."

[Anastasia]

Emily wilts at each thing you list off and by the end murmurs, "You sound like Mom so much right now."

Jarem nods, "We can celebrate here later. Eyes on the prize."

Ianvasah chuckles, but adds, "Courting is natural, Alyssa. Don't neglect it forever."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa chuckles. "I don't plan to, and Emily, I might take it as a compliment if you tell me I sound like a Goddess."

Alyssa continues down the path.

[Anastasia]

d100.