Mind search (Calleigh and Tryll)

[Anastasia]

"Yes, yes, I see why you were mistaken for an aboleth," The Red Mind remarks, "That must be dreadfully annoying."

[Yuthirin]

'Yes! People seem to react much more positively to Calleigh's appearance, and the vast majority who can see me tend not to immediately smite with a courre in the way. Yes. Hello! I am Tryll! You are Hamogan the Red Mind! Delightful to meet you. I seem to be conversing directly with my peers quite often of late. Terribly distressing. The price one pays for having powerful friends, I suppose.'

[Anastasia]

"Is it so surprising? A courre couldn't produce the clarity and power of mind you have. I had deduced your existence on that, Calleigh's mind only confirmed it." The old man says, starting not to look so old. He has teeth now, beard shortening and becoming neater. "The weak and foolish may assume, but those with power are as likely to not."

[Yuthirin]

'Well, yes. My existence is not necessarily a secret. Merely that my appearance is...upsetting to humanoids. Also, Calleigh is amused by the thought of our enemies believing that she can use my abilities.'

[Anastasia]

"Yes. To the point at hand, do you know of Sylvie? When I used my most intensive analysis of her while rerouting the teleport, I found a mind like none other. Dreadfully quick, an aberration but one that is not unknown. The presence with her is not known and is awe inspiring and starkly terrifying." The old man's hair stars turning gray, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out.

[Yuthirin]

'Ah, yes. She's rather very bright, isn't she? Smart girl, really. I've had regrettably few conversations with the woman, so I don't know much of her. I imagine she'd likely be amenable to speak with you, given time. Whatever power she has isn't something I've been informed of, so your best course of action is likely to engage her. It's not caught my fancy.'

[Anastasia]

"Well then, enough of the preliminaries then." The old man is not old at all anymore, clad in simple if well made clothes and a middle aged man with black hair. "You want me to join Aurora?"

[Yuthirin]

'That was the general idea, yes.'

Calleigh is beginning to look around.

[Anastasia]

It's a nice room but nothing too fancy. Just a sitting room. "Do what you will," Hamogan says, "This room is disposable, so long as you don't disrupt us." Then back to Tryll he says, "It seems a noble cause."

[Yuthirin]

'You are aware of their plight?'

[Anastasia]

Ever so slowly, the Red Mind says, "I read Calleigh's mind."

[Yuthirin]

'There's more to it than what she knows. I don't burden her with it. Simply put: it gets worse. A large portion of the occupants of the renamed Aurora are from Lifasa, and some of their stories are harrowing. For expediency's sake, I'll not go over them here. If you wish to know, you may learn from their sources. Many stories are not mine to tell. I digress. I will not conceal the dangers of our mission. What began with the actions of a Duke of Hell has expanded into a concerted effort from more than one of the Nine. With Lixer's involvement, I'd wager that Asmodeus has a stake in the game as well as Bel. I can say that we are as close to direct divine support as we are likely to get. More than one god has intervened as directly as they can in recent times. Our path is long and shrouded in uncertainty, but we are mighty. I cannot promise safety, but I can assure fulfillment. We are here because you are highly recommended by Debonah, a solar. A being whose judgement is nigh-infallible. Will you aid us, and add your strength to our own?' No gesticulating from Tryll as he speaks, no expression changes. Simple placid floating and calm voice.

Meanwhile, Calleigh is examining everything.

[Anastasia]

Calleigh finds the room's nice enough. Nothing too breakable or valuable, though. It's almost like a guest room than anything else.

"Not for power, not to give up what I have, not for any of that. It is because it is the right thing to do?" The Red Mind asks, drumming his fingers. "You sound like Debonah now. He'll move the world to make something right. He has before." This draws a sigh out of the middle aged man, "I'd hoped to finish a planestone this century, but there's always next century."

[Yuthirin]

'You'd be surprised. I'd wager you'll find someone able to help you craft it faster.'

[Anastasia]

"Then the only question is where is Aurora?" The Red Mind asks.