Gearing up (Moore, Ithea)

[Anastasia]

Rest is unremarkable. It's when you meet Crystal again that something happens. She looks entirely peeved and is colored like arainbow. Half dried pant drips from her wings, a cavalcade of colors.

"...it seems you were not in error," Crystal finally says, "Events have conspired so that Baleruk has made us an offer that will greatly enrich ourselves and our pockets." She slowly wipes blue, purple and orange globs of paint off her face. "I say, do you have the proper magic to clean this mess off?"

[Nephrite]

Moore looks at Crystal in slight surprise and does his best to cover an amused look. He casts Prestidigitation to clean up the paint off of her.

"Goodness, are you certain you're all right? Did... well, why don't you tell me about this offer?" Moore finally says, deciding it best to not ask Crystal to explain what precisely happened.

[Anastasia]

"The timing was...fortuitous." Crystal finally says, ever so slowly. "Baleruk has obtained news of a treasure cache that will enrich his own hoard. If we get it for him, we get half. He has heard that the githyanki recently managed a successful raid on one of Mineral's great treasure caverns. They loaded a ship to the gills with treasure, only to be interdicted at the last moment. The natives damaged the ship and broke the portal, so that the ship was tossed to location unknown, the crew and treasure presumed lost."

A moment for that, "But Baleruk believes he has obtained knowledge of where the ship is."

[Nephrite]

"Do the denizens of Mineral want the items returned in any capacity?" Moore asks. "Ultimately, we should recover whatever we can. If there's specifics they want returned I can probably handle the diplomatic side of things, but otherwise, I'll absolutely help in any way I can. Where does Baleruk believe that the ship found itself?"

[Anastasia]

"Perhaps, they rarely tolerate theft. However, I have heard no request of a formal reclamation. The question is a salient and important one - we could return it in exchange for a finder's fee and improved diplomatic relations," Crystal remarks, "Though Baleurk would get less for his hoard that way and would require pacification of his noble spirit."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "I don't want to make the decision for anyone or cause problems. Maybe we should ask Baleruk first since this seems to be his idea? I wouldn't wish to offend him."

[Anastasia]

"You have not yet met Baleruk, have you?" Crystal remarks with a little smile. "Not many would so blithely say so if they had."

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles. "I haven't met him, I've heard some people talk about him though. I'm sure some in Celestia would be aghast that I'd even want to have a good relationship with a situation like that!" Moore says with a bit of a laugh. "It wouldn't do me any good to judge someone or make presumptions before I've even met them, though. How do you think we should approach it?"

[Anastasia]

"With wisdom and great forethought, for such a situation is not clearly a matter of good and evil," Crystal smiles more, "Such a situation requires deft hands and courtly wisdom. First and foremost we must reach the ship and assess the situation, as well as the viability of any recovery efforts."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods to Crystal. "I agree completely. I presume Baleruk will accompany us?"

[Anastasia]

"No. Baleruk offered me this opportunity. Unfortunately, it's too good for me to pass up," Crystal admits, "No matter how vexing Baleruk can be. First we need to find an ally who can manage our transport."

[Nephrite]

"I think it was Lady Hanna who took Sir Adrian and I to where we went, so perhaps her?" Moore suggests.

[Anastasia]

"Hmmmm." Crystal hums aloud, "Ah, of course. Elena, is Hanna free?"

Elena so appears, today dressed in an airy sundress. "Hi. No, she's off with Dana and another new recruit. Kascha's off with Afina and Jaela, while Tepen and  Vul'lath are both occupied with research."

This gets Crystal to frown, "That is troubling and greatly inhibits our options for transport. Who else is available?"

[Nephrite]

"Oh! Miss Canderella could probably do it." Moore offers. "If she isn't busy, anyway."

[Anastasia]

"She is busy," Elena says, rather thoughtfully. "Hmmm, I know Ithea has that bracelet of hers. That might be the best shot right now. Let me go ask her," Elena says, before blinking away.

"Now wait a mom-" Crystal reaches out for Elena, but she's already gone. She closes her eyes and sighs softly, "Truly, I fear our path has been suddenly taken from us by another."