Gossiping (Afina)

[Anastasia]

So enhanced, the trip is much faster. Soon the group reaches the city. Here streets of green copper and lawns of kelp separate buildings made of the coral itself. It grows up and weaves together into a solid stone, a cascade of colors making every building here. "This city is simply known as part of the Citadel," Drena explains as you travel, passing marids by the dozens. It looks like a busy city, everyone doing something or hurrying to another place. "The Padisha's Market is ahead, then we pass through the Merchant's Crown, where prosperous merchants live. Of course, any noble is forbidden from living in the city and must take residence in the Citadel when they are here."

[Ebiris]

Afina listens attentively to Drena's commentary as they go, glad she thought to invite him along. She assumes that housing rule is to keep the nobles nearby on the 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer' stratagem so they can't plot against the Padisha so easily.

[Anastasia]

"Of course," Drena goes on, a windy gust stirring the waters around you, "The marid are notoriously disorganized. Many nobles stay in their own villas away from the Citadel and travel for business. There is quite a glut of marid who learn the magic to teleport purely to enable this, or who retain wizards to serve as that."

[Ebiris]

"Just like we have our Gate wizards at Aurora," Afina notes with a smile. "I put off learning travel magic for so long because I was so spoiled for options, but my magic had enough of a resurgence when I became prismatic that I could finally devote some focus towards managing Gate for myself."

[Anastasia]

"One thing to take away from that is that many of the marid nobility are wizards or venerate the Water Lord's ever moving currents," Drena remarks, "As such, the Padisha's throne room is blanketed in an antimagic field. The reason why is obvious."

[Ebiris]

"A sensible precaution, though I presume the Padisha herself is excluded from the effect?" It might make sense on the surface to exclude loyal guards as well, but loyalty can be bought. It seems easy enough to accomplish with a variant on the magic used by a Hallow or similar spell. "It does present a problem with Moore's breathing though..."

[Anastasia]

Drena quietly says, "The Padisha is divinity and not subject to it. Great Grandmother has used the same tactic before and it works. Anti magic simply does not work on them."

[Ebiris]

Ah of course, she should have remembered that little factoid. Well hopefully she has the means to entertain air breathers since she left Afame back at Aurora.

[Anastasia]

From there you continue on. Through streets of green copper and growingly fancy buildings. Rich villas are about as you progress closer to the Padisha's seat of power, estates of the wealthy glimpsed. Soon you pass manors that must cost hundreds of thousands of gold coins if not more, decorations and size of boggling scope. Any you pass hurry out of the way of the honor guard, though all take in the party. Some nods, a few ignore you and others yet smile or frown.

But in due time you come to the gates of the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls. It is a large gate inlaid with mother of pearl and shining brightly. It is big enough for a dozen marid to swim by in a line and still easily pass. The gates open - and as they do, suddenly Afina and Moore fly in air instead of swimming. Yet the marid honor guard continues to swim despite the air being empty.

[Ebiris]

"The courtesy is kind but unnecessary," Afina says to their honour guard as she uses her wings for shifting air instead of water now. "At least in my case, my companions might well prefer the air," she adds with a glance at Drena and Moore.

[Nephrite]

Moore isn't quite as stunned by the estates since he just recently came and went from Mineral, but he does nod appreciatively at the architecture and design that went into them.

"Oh, what a nice gesture for guests." Moore says idly. He'll take advantage nonetheless, as his swimming probably needs a bit of practice.

[Anastasia]

"Thank you," Drena says, as only Afina finds water returns to her. For Afina, all is now wet once more. For Moore, it's dry as a bone and open. The floor ahead is dominated by the mural of a tide and trident, with strange writing beneath it.

Afina can see it is High Maridi. It reads, "As the waves."

[Ebiris]

Afina admires the artistry of the mural and the emblem beneath it, probably the motto of the current Padisha or something, but she doesn't linger to gawk or anything and just keeps going wherever their guard indicates.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=18 ]{18}
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=36 ]{36}
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=41 ]{41}

You are lead through wealth. That is the only way to describe it - a building of copper, coral and pearl. Through stately halls and chambers, where the riches of Water accumulate like rain after a storm. You pass through gardens of breathtaking beauty and alien plants, all as you progress on and on and on. You go for well over and hour and then another, through archway after archway.

Make Spot checks, both of you.

[Ebiris]

[17:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37
[17:02] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+37 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{46}

I have blindsense 30