FOR THE HOARD! (Surraruthru)

[Anastasia]

Back at the hoard. Surraruthru's new pride and joy, full of the treasures he has so far. But more. More. MORE. As he ponders this, Kascha sits nearby, reading a book of lore. "Mmm?" she breaks the silence and stretches, "So you wanted to go treasure hunting?"

[Iron Dragoon]

Surraruthru thumps his tail against his pile of coins irritably.

"Yes. I need more treasures. There's an item I desire. A ring. To increase my magic. It will be expensive. And, for a time, the crowning piece of my hoard. But I need to gather more wealth before I can.... pay...." Surraruthru speaks this word with significant distaste, "Afina to make it. I will also need monies to improve my lair. It is a good starting point, but I have plans for it."

He says the last with a hungry and gleeful glint in his eyes.

[Anastasia]

"You do need to get going on that," Kascha says, checking one of her pouches, "Oh, that reminds me. Would you like a tiny bit of tribute?"

[Iron Dragoon]

Surraruthru eyes Kascha.

"... While tribute is always welcome, I get the impression you are behaving more like a mortal woman presenting her child with a treat to amuse them.... On the other hand, you worship a dragon, so I know you understand the seriousness of my desire."

Surraruthru raises his head and heaves a great sigh, a few wisps of euphoric gas escaping his mouth.

"Which brings me to my next point. Kashca. You worship Seira, the Dragon Goddess. You study Dragon magic. You have been in Aurora for a much longer time than I."

Surraruthru pauses and locks eyes with her and then continues with a voice sounding of a disappointed parent.

"What is the status of your hoard? I've yet to see you express much interest in the prizes of our battles."

[Anastasia]

This gets Kascha to smile, "I don't have one. I'm a celestial, we aren't supposed to do things like that. The money I have goes to better causes, my magic or my equipment. If I have excess money, it's better to be used for a good cause than to sit around. I get no benefit from leaving it to fallow like a field."

[Iron Dragoon]

Surraruthru squints at this and still looks disgruntled.

"Hmph. I suppose I can accept your magic and equipment as being your hoard. Most of mine is the same. Vlaakith was the same. Still, if nothing else, you must find a way to demonstrate your splendor. And do not even try to tell me celestials don't do that, either. I've seen them show up. All beams of light and trumpets and clouds and descending."

Surraruthru snorts at that. "As for it being fallow, bah. It is a demonstration of power and prestige. Still, you are correct. I do need to begin building my hoard. Since I've arrived all I've done is go from one battle campaign to the next with no time for important business. That bastard Baleruk got an entire building." He slams his tail into his hoard angrily and sends coins skittering about the room.

"I've yet to visit Water before. I'll need to do some research on what treasures it may hold. The library should serve as a sufficient starting point."

[Anastasia]

"Then let's go," Kascha gets up, "Baleruk's like a cat who caught a mouse right now, playing with that building." Kascha then shakes her head, "I don't need grand splendor.  I-"

> roll 1d20+8 Kascha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 16 > [d20=8]

Kascha steps on a stray few coins, but easily keeps her balance for one and doesn't miss a beat. "-I'm just Kascha," she smiles.

[Iron Dragoon]

Surraruthru rises into the air and lands on Kascha's shoulder. After she's regained her balance.

"And there in lies your flaw. 'Just Kascha.' Kascha should be something others aspire to. Someone to inspire awe in those around them. Someone who's so overwhelming none would dare to cross, and who's will is so absolute that it will bend the forces of the universe. But I suppose that's only if Dragon magic interests you, I suppose."

He ends with an airy and snarky tone of voice, and with absolute certainty in what he's saying.

[Anastasia]

This gets Kascha to smile. It's a warm smile, "I'm not something special, Surraruthru. I...everyone's unique, but at the same time, being part of something greater...I mean..." She trails off, voice becoming quieter as she speaks until it's a whisper. "Did Seira tell you about my past?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"No, she did not."

[Anastasia]

"I lived my mortal life and died young," Kascha says, "A mage learning the craft when our entire nation and culture were shattered by the Destroyer." Kascha says, "It's not important, except to know that I died, but that I left enchanted records of my last times. Thousands of years later, Seira was exploring the ruins and chanced on them. My fate never sat right with her, and once she obtained the Cauldron and her proper place, she chose to resurrect me."

Kascha stops inside the room, going to rest against the door and turn to face Surraruthru. "But I'd passed on peacefully to Arborea and become one with the plane. I was complete, finished. Everything was right. Some look at that fate as a nightmare, but it's the most wonderful thing you can imagine. It is as if all life was striving to something and that was it. I was part of Arborea and Arborea was I. I can't explain how perfect it was, Celestial barely even has words that can approach it. The Words of Creation might be able to."

"But Seira called and I answered her call. I remember everything - my mortal life and what happened after. I don't need to be fancy or be someone notable. I only need to be myself. I already have everything I could ever have dreamed of, Surraruthru. A pile of gold and gems is nothing compared to that." Kascha smiles, a warm and sunny look that seems to brighten the room. "I don't need to be famous or to inspire awe."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Hmph. It sounds... Pleasant enough, I'll agree. I doubt a place like Arborea would be for me, however. I'd want something that would raise my draconic glory, not detract from it. Much like Bahamut. Seira has done well at it. Perhaps I should find something similar..."

Surraruthru considers ways to raise himself closer to Seira...

[Anastasia]

"Like great heaps of treasure," Kascha says, "So let's get going and get you some, right?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"Indeed. Let us find the fortunes of Water. And make them ours."

Surraruthru grins a toothy grin at the thought.

[Anastasia]

To the library. Make an K:P check with the library bonus (+15) added in. Kascha will make one as well after you. We'll see what you turn up.

Also specify what kind of wealth you're going for.