Family Reunion

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa raises an eyebrow. "Well, we can find some mountain range that's ruled by a frost giant or the like, if you want. Maybe the Cold Plane? I'm sure there's interesting things there."

[Anastasia]

"Oh, not just a frost giant. It needs to be something more impressive," Emily says quickly, breath misting around her. "It needs to be amazing - oh, I never thought I'd get to visit the Primes this long, get to see things like this. It's different than the planes beyond and at the same time it's so familiar," She holds her hand out, palm up for snowflakes to land on. She smiles and blows the melting flakes away.

Then she laughs, a light and pretty sound. "Oh, uncle Donald would be saying something terrible right now about me wanting bigger ranges than my Moms. Then Mom Amaryl would get upset and they'd argue while aunt Elle and Mom Seira look exasperated and fed up. Xera would laugh at it and then we'd be laughing at it while they argued and Mom Amaryl got more and more annoyed."

[Iron Dragoon]

"You should work on getting back to that. How's the research for that artifact going?"

[Anastasia]

"Oh...er...which one?" Emily deflates, shoulders slumping. "Well, that is..."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Not to ruin your mood, but you need to put some real effort into it. You need to get a handle on it. Seira's biggest issue with you right now seems to be responsibility. That's what she expects to see from you, and that's how you show it to her."

[Anastasia]

"It's harder to find that sort of artifact than I'd like," Emily admits with a sigh. "They're really rare and treasured. Um, you can't make them any more so the few that are left are usually in the hands of powerful creatures." Kicking a bit of snow about as she blows out another breath, "All the means that are left are temporary and can't be made permanent. So it's trying to find something all the powers of the planes would want if they heard of it or take one from someone deadly powerful."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Well, first step first. Compile a list, and we'll give each one consideration and discussion. I doubt Waukeen would have given this to you if she already knew it was impossible. There's an option out that that'll have close to equivalent cost, I think. You just have to find it."

[Anastasia]

"At least I'm not on a hard time limit, but it really isn't fair," Emily admits, "It was an act from above!"

[Iron Dragoon]

"You're telling me. I'm dealing with it too. The fairness of it won't change, though, so you might as well just get it over with."

[Anastasia]

"Yeah..." Amaryl trails off, a final sigh. "So how's your family?"

Perception.

[Iron Dragoon]

> roll 1d20+43 Perception
<Kobot> Iddy rolled 1d20+43 Perception --> [ 1d20=16 ]{59}

"Overwhelmed for the most part. They remember me when I left, and I've become far more than they thought possible. Had a minor conflict with Alihana, but it was solved fairly easily."

[Anastasia]

You notice a slight stirring in the pond, the waters moving.

"They're mortal," Emily admits, "I had heard about mortals, met some, but I still find it hard to grasp seeing them struggle with such simple things. They seem so much less than us sometimes, Alyssa. But then I feel guilty because mortals are supposed to be guided and taught, not pitied and looked down on."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa watches the ripples, focusing her attention on them and nudging Emily a bit so she sees them.

"Well, I'm still a mortal, so that's kind of a biting remark, but I suppose I understand what you mean. I think us mortals are simply potential incarnate. Gods and outsiders can grow in power, but rarely do they change. They're not very transmutable. But mortals can become nearly anything. Look at Seira, for example. Half-elf mortal. Dragon. God."

[Anastasia]

Emily nods slightly as her eyes focus on the ripples.

"Poor little mortals, you mean," A woman's voice drawls. She emerges from the pond, water parting from her and not a drop on her. She's bone dry, emerging up to her upper chest. A strangely featureless woman, utterly generic, an appearance almost like clay.

[Iron Dragoon]

"I don't consider myself that way. Or most of the people I know. Our lives might be short, but they're very full, usually. Would you happen to be the druid I spoke to?"