Homoventures Chapter 2, Part 4

DiablotinNarrator] All right, you have left the city with Ranighar, headed to the Serpent compound at Hlintarn where he apparently dwells.

[DiablotinNarrator] The journey will take about a cycle, according to the priest.

[Tazenir] (how long *is* a cycle, basically? >.>)

[DiablotinNarrator] (around a week)

[Xandhil] (okay, that's what I thought)

[DiablotinNarrator] (I think I worked out time-terms for them somewhere, but I forget ;)

[DiablotinNarrator] (I think tides were for 'days' and cycle was for weeks and.. I forget what was months.)

[Xandhil] (cool then)

[DiablotinNarrator] (anywho... the trip will be long enough that you will stop and rest several times on the way ;)

[Xandhil] (I am trying to figure out if we should reveal our 'true selves' to this guy or not, possibly that is something to talk over with the bros and Justen)

[DiablotinNarrator] ok

[DiablotinNarrator] You can manage to get a few moments to talk to them when he's sleeping or up ahead or something, then.

• Xandhil will poke Justen for his attention first

[Justen] Hm?

[Xandhil] I was just thinking, now that we're committed to this travel...

[Xandhil] whether we need to or should keep pretending to be Shadar kai?

[Xandhil] I mean, he knows your foreign, which is a big hint...

• Justen nods.

[Justen] I know it was necessary at first for safety, but I don't really feel comfortably lying to him for no real reason.

[Xandhil] I know, that's why I was thinking about it

[Xandhil] and we did say already it was complicated.

[Justen] Yeah.

[Xandhil] But - how much do you think we should tell him?

[Justen] (are you close enough that Rhyl and Taz would hear this conversation too?)

[Xandhil] I mean, I don't' even know what they know about the serpent, or think, or expect...

[Xandhil] (potentially)

[Justen] (k)

• Justen shrugs
• Tazenir eyes the pair, trying to decide if it is likely they are talking about something important or something private

[Justen] I don't think it's a great idea to tell him about... the family stuff. At least not until we know more about them and what they believe and stuff...

[Xandhil] yeah, okay

[Xandhil] But, I mean...

[Xandhil] well nevermind, I guess we can sort that out as we go

[Justen] But we could tell him we're not really shadar-kai, and that we're ... well, you, are a scholar.

• Xandhil nods

[Xandhil] a scholar of the planes ^_^

[Justen] show him ... something like the real thing.

• Justen nods to where your wings would be, if he could see them.

[Xandhil] yeah, I wasn't planning on that

• Rhyl clears his throat

[Tazenir] what are you two on about over there?

[Xandhil] Trying to figure out what all to tell Rhanigar

[Rhyl] Um.. we should keep in mind it's possible he - or if not him, maybe someone else at this place - might have True Seeing...

[Xandhil] He already know's Justen is some kind of foreign

[Tazenir] great.

[Justen] He seems like a decent guy... I don't think he'd turn on us or anything.

[Xandhil] the worst that would happen at this point is that we'd not get to go to the city with him

[Justen] It would be better to get his reaction before we get there, I think. If he freaks out, then we'll know not to expect a warm welcome there.

[Xandhil] but at least we kind of know where it is now, we could probably find it on our own if we really wanted

[Tazenir] yeah, I'd rather deal with one pissed off priest than a whole city-full :p

[Rhyl] That makes sense...

[Xandhil] or town, or whatever

[Xandhil] we can talk more about it when we make camp, I guess

• Tazenir shrugs

[Rhyl] It's up to you guys, I think - you're the ones taking the greater risk.

• Tazenir gives Rhyl a Look

[Tazenir] yeah if they're at risk we're all dealing with it.

[Rhyl] Well.. yeah, that's true.

• Tazenir taps his chain for emphasis
• Xandhil rolls his eyes

[Xandhil] it isn't going to go that bad

[Xandhil] if it does I'll just charm him :p

• Justen chuckles a bit at that.

[Xandhil] :p

[Xandhil] anyway, when we make camp, okay?

[Justen] Sure.

[DiablotinNarrator] Later, when you make camp...

[Xandhil] So, Rhanigar...

[Ranighar] Yes?

[Ranighar] (assuming all this is in SK, for the sake of simplicty :)

• Xandhil will start once we have got more or less settled and are eating or whatever

[Xandhil] (yeah)

[Xandhil] So, we said this was complicated right?

[Xandhil] Maybe this would be a good time to get in to some of that

[Ranighar] Very well...

• Ranighar listens.

[Tazenir] well

[Xandhil] Well, first of all - we really are interested in Vrag, and how his worship survived here

[Xandhil] I'm sure you've guessed that Justen isn't really from around here

[Xandhil] ?

[Ranighar] Yes, I had that impression.

• Xandhil nods

[Ranighar] Where are you actually from?

[Xandhil] We're from the Colour Plane, from Diablotin.

[Ranighar] Ah...

[Xandhil] but my brothers live here - their mother is Shadar Kai

• Ranighar eyes you up and down.
• Xandhil indicates Rhyl and Taz
• Ranighar glances to them, and nods.
• Tazenir shrugs, keeping quiet and more paying attention to the stone of the conversation than its content

[Xandhil] So, Justen and I used magic to change what we looked like to make it easier here, but we don't have to do that

• Ranighar nods

[Ranighar] To avoid attention?

[Xandhil] yeah :)

[Xandhil] I'm a scholar, and I'm interested in lots of things

[Xandhil] I don't know how much you know about the colour plane, but the worship of Vrag was lost there for a long time too

[Ranighar] Not much, I admit.

• Tazenir nods
• Xandhil also nods >.>

[Xandhil] Well we can share some information, anyway

[Ranighar] So, you come to us for... information?

[Xandhil] knowledge :)

• Ranighar nods.

[Xandhil] ...

• Xandhil eyes Justen

[Xandhil] and maybe help?

[Ranighar] If I can help you, of course I will - you aided me.

[Xandhil] We were attacked on our way here by something called a visilight

[Xandhil] well, I was >.>

[Xandhil] it tried to steal my face @_@

[Ranighar] o_O

[Ranighar] That sounds... unpleasant.

[Xandhil] yeah, it was.

[Xandhil] But they sort of.... feed on charm, in a way that only priest magic can really fix.

[Ranighar] Oh...

[Ranighar] You need Restoration, then?

[Xandhil] Yes

[Xandhil] ...

• Xandhil eyes Taz

[Tazenir] ]:/

[Xandhil] what would that take?

[Ranighar] Well, if the drain was... not so serious, I could likely fix it. But if it is a permanent affliction, I think it would take a more powerful priest than me.

[Ranighar] And if that is the case, there is some cost to the casting as well.

[Xandhil] right

[Xandhil] I think this is not so serious...

[Ranighar] Well, I am glad to try, of course.

[Xandhil] but what kind of cost would there be if it is?

[Xandhil] thank you :)

[Ranighar] The casting requires the dust of diamonds - it can be costly.

[Xandhil] ugh :/

[Xandhil] right

• Xandhil looks discouraged

[Rhyl] Well, we'll figure out a way to get the money if we have to.

• Tazenir stays quiet >.>

[Ranighar] Would you like me to try the lesser spell now?

[Ranighar] Even if it doesn't work, there is no harm in trying it.

[Xandhil] sure

• Ranighar comes over to you.

[Ranighar] I must touch you in order to attempt the spell - is that acceptable?

• Tazenir nods
• Xandhil rolls his eyes at taz

[Xandhil] yes, of course :)

• Ranighar places his hand lightly on your chest and speaks a few brief words of prayer, invoking Vrag to remove your afflictions.

[DiablotinNarrator] As the spell's power washes over you, you feel a lot less tired, but you're not sure you feel anything else different.

[Xandhil] ...

[Xandhil] well i'm not *tired* anymore, but I don't know other than that

[Xandhil] but hey - I can take first watch?

[Ranighar] It does remove fatigue also, yes.

• Xandhil looks to Rhyl

[Xandhil] thanks

• Xandhil says to Ranighar

[Ranighar] It was no hardship. I only wish i could do more.

[Xandhil] so...

• Rhyl looks back?

[Xandhil] what *do* you believe about Vrag, anyway?

• Xandhil shrugs at his brother

[Ranighar] We believe that Vrag is the force that binds together the worlds, the source from which all life springs, the beginning and the end of all things.

• Xandhil nods, as that sounds familiar

[Xandhil] what do you think he wants from us?

• Ranighar considers that for a moment.

[Ranighar] Vrag is so much greater than we can ever comprehend. To think that it wants something from us seems ... arrogant? It would continue even if we ceased to exist. But I think we can serve it, in our way, and venerate it, and celebrate it, and I believe it knows this, and blesses us in return.

• Xandhil nods
• Xandhil thinks for a moment

[Xandhil] do you venerate it to get the blessing? or just because it exists?

[Ranighar] I venerate Vrag because, on learning that such a force exists, I could not see any other course before me.

[Ranighar] To be blessed with the smallest fraction of its power is an honour, but I would still follow even without them. There are many who are not priests, after all, it is a calling only some receive.

[Tazenir] yeah

[Tazenir] I don't know about that >.>

[Xandhil] Shut up, taz :p

[Xandhil] but I mean - you don't have to be a priest to venerate it .... was that something you chose, or did it choose you?

[Ranighar] .. to be more mundane for a moment, the followers of Vrag took me in - saved my life, I have no doubt. I felt I owed them a debt, but they told me it was only what their god instructed them to do. To learn that there was something... some force... bigger than us, that was a turning point for me.

• Xandhil nods

[Xandhil] On the Colour plane, people had lost Vrag, but some had other different kinds of gods. I guess that idea is a little... well, it's something everyone gets taught, I guess.

[Xandhil] So, they don't understand that Vrag is something different

• Ranighar nods, listening.

[Xandhil] The other gods have priests too - I think that the Irrdin'errin keeps *them* from coming and preaching in the cities here, too.

• Tazenir makes a face at that

[Ranighar] Well, they don't want things that might threaten their power.

[Xandhil] right

[Xandhil] but they have a harder time sneaking in :)

[Ranighar] Heh.

[Xandhil] anyway - thank you for taking us with you

[Ranighar] You're welcome.

[Ranighar] I admit I'm not the greatest expert on the history of our religion - I came to it later, I didn't grow up there, so others may be able to tell you more.

[Tazenir] so, what did they save you from, then?

[Ranighar] My family were traders, travelling in a caravan between Llorfir and Qiluness. We were attacked by these.. creatures, they inhabit the wastes in that area - we just called them crawlers. I was the only one who survived, I hid in a chest until they had gone.

[Tazenir] (any idea what they are?)

[DiablotinNarrator] It could have been something like carrion crawlers, or giant insects of some kind maybe?

[Tazenir] yeah, lotsa nasty shit out there

[Xandhil] no kiding :p

[Xandhil] Sorry about your family, though :/

[Ranighar] I wandered until I was delirious from thirst and hunger, until I saw the settlement. They took me in.

• Ranighar nods his thanks at your sympathy.

[Tazenir] you got lucky, that's for sure.

[Ranighar] I thought so.

• Tazenir is checking over the spikes on his chain and checking for loose links
• Ranighar agrees.

[Xandhil] well it sounds like they're good people, then, at least

[Xandhil] ...do you think it will be better for Justen and I to go in looking like this, or like we really do, with no magic?

[Ranighar] Well...

[Ranighar] They will be surprised to see you in colour, I expect. But I think if they understand you are scholars, and you want to learn, they would be understanding.

[Tazenir] okay

[Ranighar] It would be better to be truthful with them.

• Xandhil nods

[Xandhil] that's what we thought

[Xandhil] then I gues we may as well do it now?

• Xandhil looks over at Justen
• Justen looks back

[Justen] [a] Now?

• Xandhil nods
• Xandhil hesitates a moment'
• Justen changes into his usual form, then.

[Xandhil] [a] wings?

• Xandhil asks generally

[Justen] [a]um... up to you?

[Xandhil] [a] should I warn him first? I just said we were from the colour plane >.>

• Justen sort of grimace-shrugs.

[Justen] [a] I'll back you up, whatever you want to do.

• Xandhil glances over at Rhyl

[Tazenir] [a] just show him and get it over with

[Rhyl] [a] He's bound to ask questions if you show him. but it's up to you, ultimately. it might be better to just get it out of the way, in case someone finds out later.

• Xandhil looks back to Ranighar

[Xandhil] Sorry

[Ranighar] It's all right.

• Xandhil drops to his colour-self sans wings
• Ranighar has been distracted looking at Justen, anyway.

[Xandhil] it's just... this is how I usually look to people back home.

[Xandhil] but it's not what I really look like

• Ranighar looks puzzled at that.

[Xandhil] because it's sort of strange even for people there

• Xandhil will show off his wings though

[Xandhil] there

[Ranighar] @_@

• Xandhil stretches them

[Ranighar] ... you have wings.

[Xandhil] yeah.

• Ranighar says unnecessarily.

[Xandhil] :)

[Ranighar] You... are not a human, are you.

[Xandhil] ...partly?

[Ranighar] What is the other part? @_@

[Xandhil] it's kind of a weird mix all in all >.>

• Xandhil says evasively
• Ranighar nods slowly.

[Xandhil] is...that okay?

[Ranighar] It's... unexpected. But It's okay with me, at least.

• Ranighar at least probably has no idea that Justen's red eyes aren't a normal human colour ;)

[Xandhil] (hee, yeah)

[Xandhil] okay

[Xandhil] It can be pretty useful for travelling here, anyway

[Ranighar] I imagine it would be!

[Xandhil] although I usually hide the colour - it just stands out too much

• Ranighar nods.

[Xandhil] anyway

[Xandhil] I guess we go on after we rest - I'm excited to see the city :)

[Ranighar] It's really not much of a city... a town, at best :)

[Ranighar] There are probably some things I should tell you about, about Hlintarn.

[Xandhil] oh! please :)

[Tazenir] I'm listening

• Xandhil translates for poor Justen ;p

[Ranighar] The high priestess, the leader there, is Ghilana atar'Quil. She's the sixth generation of her line to be priestess there... her daughter Eletyl will be the seventh.

[Ranighar] It is a close community - they are not unfriendly to strangers, but they just don't see very many, although that's starting to change now with the missions.

[Ranighar] But my missions, and those of others, are sort of a sore spot with some :/

[Tazenir] they don't want newcomers?

• Tazenir asks suspiciously

[Ranighar] Partly that... partly, they worry about attracting the attention of worldly authorities who might want to see us wiped out. It's been attempted before, I gather, and they don't forget that sort of thing easily.

• Xandhil nods

[Xandhil] My father is a scholar too - I know that back before I was born, he tried tracking down information about worshippers of Vrag here, but he never heard anything other than that they existed

[Xandhil] . o O (And that people thought you were crazy, but enh...)

[Ranighar] They have tried to keep a low profile.

[Ranighar] But when the stars came back, people seemed to become more interested in them all of a sudden.

[Xandhil] so... you said that Ghilana ata'Quil is a priestess.... but I thought this plane was cut off from Vrag's power before the stars came back?

[Ranighar] Yes...

• Ranighar looks a bit uncertain at this point.

[Ranighar] I wasn't there then... but I gather she still had some sort of power. I don't know if it was the same as now.

• Xandhil nods

[Xandhil] I know Vrag still has some limited influence in our plane too, when it was trapped, but things were different here.

[Tazenir] ...do you only honour Vrag here?

• Xandhil blinks in surprised that his brother would ask, but whatever
• Tazenir glances at Justen, and shrugs

[Tazenir] just curious

[Ranighar] Yes. The teachings say that the ... creatures you call gods, the ... seven? are usurpers.

• Xandhil nods

[Xandhil] but Vrag had...messengers, I guess, in the colour plane

[Xandhil] The elves call it the Celestial Court

[Ranighar] I have read of this, I think, in the older scriptures, but it is long gone.

• Xandhil nods slowly and glances at Justen.

[Xandhil] Well... maybe not?

[Xandhil] anyway.

[Xandhil] I'm really curious how things kept going here for so long

[Ranighar] I don't know what the answer is, other than faith.

• Xandhil nods

[Xandhil] go figure ;p

[Rhyl] *How* do you worship Vrag?

• Rhyl pipes up.
• Tazenir smirks at Rhyl

[Ranighar] There are ceremonies, as I suppose you would expect, but we try to venerate it in our daily lives as well.

[Ranighar] To live simply, and to work to maintain balance in all things.

[Tazenir] what kind of ceremonies?

• Tazenir presses with an amused look at his bro

[Ranighar] Rites to draw in the power of Vrag, accentuate it, and then release it back to the universe. This can be accomplished in ... various ways.

[Xandhil] un huh

[Tazenir] fucking?

• Tazenir smirks again

[Ranighar] Among other ways.

• Ranighar says calmly.

[Xandhil] what other ways?

• Xandhil asks curiously, ignoring his older but *clearly* less mature brother *and* the look on Justen's face

[Ranighar] Meditation, chants, depriving the senses in order to focus on the internal...

[Xandhil] cool

[Xandhil] that sounds a lot like Elf-stuff, at least for the Cozovode.... but they don't follow any gods

• Ranighar nods, listening with interest.

[Xandhil] they attribute the formation of the world, and everything else, to the stars themselves

[Xandhil] I guess they sort of see them the way you see Vrag, though

[Ranighar] Interesting...

[Xandhil] their power is in everything, they don't care about us at all

[Xandhil] but the power is to be respected, and it can be tapped

• Ranighar nods.

[Ranighar] I believe Vrag cares about us, but only in the way that it cares about all its creations.

[Xandhil] but they think gods just.... want to steal the star power that we all carry in ourselves, for their own aggrandizement

• Ranighar nods again.

[Xandhil] but, I don't know what they think about Vrag - they probably can't be bothered to learn about it, to be honest

[Ranighar] If any of them ever did wish to come here, it would be fascinating to speak with them.

[Tazenir] the elves?

[Ranighar] Yes.

[Tazenir] good fucking luck with that.

[Xandhil] Most of them really aren't very interested in the outside world at all

[Ranighar] Ah..

[Ranighar] We probably ought to rest. The road ahead is still long.

• Ranighar says, a bit reluctantly.

[Xandhil] yeah :/

• Xandhil will go on with getting bed ready, with Justen snuggling :3

[Justen] :)

[DiablotinNarrator] You sleep for a while, then continue on with your journey. As Ranighar promised, the road is not too difficult, and you are not threatened by more than minor inconveniences on the way.

[DiablotinNarrator] After you have walked and rested six times, you crest a hill and see a valley filled with dense trees. There are a few signs of habitation, however - smoke is the first, but as you go nearer, also signs of woodcutting activity.

[Ranighar] Nearly there.

• Xandhil nods

[Tazenir] yeah.

[Tazenir] is it in the forest, or hidden?

• Rhyl bounces excitedly.

[Ranighar] Both.

[Tazenir] right

[DiablotinNarrator] The village - it doesn't seem to be more than a handful of houses - is surrounded with a high wooden fence.

• Ranighar speaks to the guards at the gate and, after a few suspicious glances at you two colourful types, they permit you to enter.
• Xandhil looks about all curious as we approach... and also with detect magic >.>

[DiablotinNarrator] The guards have magic weapons, but most average people don't seem to be wearing magic.

[Ranighar] this is... well, this is the visible part of the compound.

• Ranighar gestures to the simple wooden huts, nothing fancy.

[Tazenir] and the rest?

[Tazenir] Underground?

• Ranighar nods.

[Tazenir] right

• Ranighar leads you to one of the huts, which looks just like the others, but has a trapdoor in the floor, which he opens.

[Xandhil] hmm

• Ranighar descends the rope ladder.

[Xandhil] (how big/how far down/how narrow?)

[DiablotinNarrator] it is narrow enough that only one person can go through the trapdoor at a time. It seems to go down relatively far... maybe 20-30 feet or so.

• Tazenir will go down second then

[Tazenir] you're last

• Tazenir tells Justen
• Justen nods.
• Rhyl follows, unable to contain his excitement.
• Xandhil rolls his eyes
• Xandhil follows after rhyl, careful with his wings
• Justen goes last, closing the trapdoor after himself.
• Ranighar waits for you at the bottom, which is faintly illuminated with glowing moss.

[Ranighar] I should take you to Ghilana first of all - she will want to know of any guests.

• Xandhil is relieved, as the only one without darkvision ;p

[Xandhil] okay

[Tazenir] She's not the type to be against newcomers, I hope?

[Ranighar] She is .. protective of her people. but she isn't against those who want to come and learn.

[Xandhil] okay

[Xandhil] that should be alright

[Ranighar] I think it will be.

• Ranighar tries to be reassuring.
• Ranighar leads you through the narrow tunnel, into a wider cavern that opens up and has various pathways branching off of it. There are quite a few people

here, and of course all of them turn to stare at you >.>

• Xandhil smiles
• Ranighar ushers you through the winding corridors - you can see it would be very confusing to try to find your way through them alone.
• Tazenir tries to pay attention to where we are going
• Xandhil does also, but expects we can get in any out if we really need to by other means ^-^
• Ranighar comes at last to a large door with more guards.

[Ranighar] Wait for just a few moments, please - I will inform her you're here.

[Tazenir] sure

• Xandhil nods
• Ranighar goes through the doors, leaving you there, apart from the curious guards who keep an eye on you.
• Ranighar returns a short while later and beckons for you to enter the room.
• Xandhil follows in, exchanging excited grins with Rhyl

[DiablotinNarrator] The chamber has the feeling of a throne room, although it is not at all ornate - rather austere, in fact. But it is large and spacious, especially for an underground room, and elegant in its simplicity. A woman wearing a circlet shaped like a serpent sits on a simple chair, raised only slightly. Others in simple robes also line the room.

• Tazenir goes in last and sticks near the door
• Xandhil eyes Ranighar , unsure if we should be making our own introductions or what

[DiablotinNarrator] Xan, although you are of course trying to take in everything, your attention is immediately drawn by a peculiar figure lingering near the back of the room, a doorway that leads to .. somewhere else.

[DiablotinNarrator] A young woman, you guess, but her face is veiled, even her hands covered with gloves.

[Xandhil] (peculiar how?)

• Xandhil will use his detect thoughts

[DiablotinNarrator] It's not just her unusual clothing - people here seem to dress simply, but not totally covered like that - but you feel a strange sensation when you look at her.

[DiablotinNarrator] It's hard to describe. A sort of tension in the air, a pull, a tingling.

• Xandhil glances at Justen
• Xandhil wonders if he feels it too
• Justen glances back at you, shrugs slightly.
• Xandhil glances at the woman in the back and then back at him

[Ghilana] So, our missionary returns with new students. And ones from far afield, it seems.

• Ghilana speaks calmly, but with authority.

[Ghilana] Tell me what brings you here.

• Ghilana says, with particular focus on you, and to some extent Justen.

[Xandhil] We're scholars.

[Xandhil] well, some of us.

• Xandhil nods to Rhyl
• Rhyl nods.

[Xandhil] From the Colour Plane

[Xandhil] We want to learn about your worship of Vrag, as knowledge of Vrag was lost for a long time in our world.

[Ghilana] The lost ones returning at last.

[Xandhil] the lost ones?

[Ghilana] As you say.

[Xandhil] I don't understand what you mean...

[Ghilana] Your plane - cut off. Occupied by the usurpers.

• Xandhil nods slowly, but isn't sure he understands

[Xandhil] but yes - we want to learn about your ways.

[Ghilana] Good.

• Xandhil uses deferential tones

[Xandhil] (at least polite/respectful ones ^-^)

[Ghilana] Then we will endeavour to teach you, if you are willing to learn.

[Tazenir] thank you

[Xandhil] Thank you

[Rhyl] Yes, thank you.

• Justen says Thank you in SK too, although he isn't quite sure why he's doing it, apart from all you guys are ;)
• Ghilana gestures to one of the other priests (?) and asks him to show you to rooms.
• Ghilana keeps Ranighar back, presumably to ask him more questions >.>
• Xandhil hopes we can find him alter :3
• Xandhil steals a last look back at the mystery woman though

[DiablotinNarrator] She slips away through the far doors as you watch.

[Xandhil] :|

[Xandhil] [a] Did anyone else notice anything odd about her, or was it just me?

[Justen] [a] Definitely something odd.

• Rhyl shrugs.

[Tazenir] [a] dressed weird... nothing other than that.

• Xandhil looks to Justen then - like, a weird... pull, almost?

[Rhyl] [a] yeah, I didn't notice anything other than maybe she doesn't like light.

• Justen nods.

[Xandhil] [a] huh - good call, Rhyl

• Tazenir shrugs

[DiablotinNarrator] The other priest escorts you to a pair of small chambers, across from one another. They are sparely decorated, basically just sleeping quarters, basic facilities for washing, not much more than that.

• Xandhil smiles apologetically at the escorts for being rude

[Tazenir] yeah I can see how this is going to break up :p

[Tazenir] come on, Rhyl

• Rhyl shrugs and goes with Taz.

[Xandhil] ^-^

[Xandhil] Thank you

• Xandhil says to the priests

[Xandhil] Should we just stay here for now or can we wander?

[DiablotinNarrator] The priest indicates that you should rest, that food will be served in a little while, and that you are likely not going to be called on until after that at least. You can wander in open areas, at your own risk of getting lost ;)

[Xandhil] thank you ^-^

• Justen goes into the room with you.

[Justen] Ok, so... that was weird, right? Not just me?

• Justen says once the door is closed.

[Xandhil] no, not just you

[Justen] What does it mean?

[Xandhil] what do you think..

[Xandhil] heh

[Xandhil] I don't know

[Xandhil] maybe she is some kind of special servant or something?

[Xandhil] I mean of Vrag

[Xandhil] not just like... servant :p

[Justen] Maybe. Like a seer or something?

[Xandhil] yeah

[DiablotinNarrator] After a little while, trays of food are brought to your door.

[Xandhil] i wonder if they have something other than mushrooms...

• Xandhil investigates

[DiablotinNarrator] It is quite tasty, especially after travelling fare - a savoury broth with pieces of noticeable meat in it, some starchy roots that have been roasted crisp, and several fruits that might be apples if they weren't silvery-grey.

• Justen digs in enthusiastically.

[Xandhil] wow, they have way better food

[Xandhil] I bet they could bring in worshippers if they advertised *that* :V

[Justen] Maybe living out here, they can grow more things, and I guess they must hunt...

[Xandhil] yeah

• Xandhil munches a greyple

[DiablotinNarrator] You finish up your meals and set aside the dirty dishes, considering whether someone is likely to come back and get them later, or if you're supposed to take them somewhere, or what.

[Xandhil] we could wander...

[Xandhil] or we could stay in ^-^

[Xandhil] what do you wanna do?

[Justen] Heheh.

[Justen] Well, as curious as I am about this place, I think staying in for a little might be nice ;)

• Justen moves to kiss you.
• Xandhil will kiss back

[Xandhil] whhhhy am I not surprised ^-^

[DiablotinNarrator] You are just about to embrace when, with a slight whoosh, someone appears in the small room with you.

[Xandhil] :o

[Xandhil] okay now I'm surprised :o

• Justen jumps, startled.
• Eletyl is the veiled woman you saw earlier.

[Xandhil] [sk] hello :o

[Eletyl] You...

• Eletyl steps closer to you. This near, the tingling, pulling sensation is very strong.

[Xandhil] ...

[Xandhil] [sk] yes? @_@

• Justen steps between you and her, protective, just in case.
• Xandhil actively resists coming closer

[Eletyl] You're... one of them...

[Xandhil] who are you?

[Eletyl] You're like me.

[Eletyl] Eletyl.

• Eletyl says by way of answering your question, although it's far from an explanation >.>

[Xandhil] what do you mean, I'm like you?

• Xandhil holds justen's arm, but steps closer
• Eletyl pushes her veil back far enough for you to see her face.
• Eletyl is pale, but faintly violet where she blushes, her eyes are red and you can see a hint of red hair beneath the cloth as well.

[Justen] o_O

[Xandhil] (Is she talking generally to both of us? I'm getting lost in singular versus plural you)

[DiablotinNarrator] (moreso to you, you think, but she's not excluding Justen? it's a bit unclear to Xan probably too, though.)

[Xandhil] (okay)

• Xandhil raises a hand, but resists the urge to actually just touch her

[Xandhil] Were you born here?

• Eletyl brings her hand up too, close to yours but not quite touching.
• Eletyl nods.
• Xandhil glances at Justen first....
• Justen looks surprised and wary.
• Xandhil will complete the touching @_@#
• Eletyl 's hand, even through the glove she's wearing, burns against yours a little bit the way Justen can... the buzzing, tingling feeling is stronger.

[Xandhil] that's so weird...

[Eletyl] [w] I thought I was the only one.

[Xandhil] only one what, though?

• Eletyl touches her own face, tugs at her bright-coloured hair.

[Eletyl] With this. Like this.

[Eletyl] Hidden, always.

[Eletyl] you... pull me in.

[Xandhil] but it's not just the colour...

• Xandhil nods

[Eletyl] Dangerous.

• Xandhil grips Justen's arma little tighter, because he doesn't like the feeling but also finds it hard tio ignore

[Xandhil] Sorry?

• Eletyl looks anxious, worried, and takes a step back.

[Xandhil] ...who are your parents?

[Eletyl] my mother...

[DiablotinNarrator] The sound of someone coming to your door, perhaps to take away the trays again, interrupts her, and she drops the veil over her face again, startled and disappears in a heartbeat.

[Xandhil] damn!

[Justen] What the hell was that about?

• Xandhil says as he starts

[Xandhil] She said I'm... we're... like her

• Justen composes himself enough to return the trays politely, but then turns back to you.

[Xandhil] you don't feel that *pull* though, do you?

[Justen] Like her how? Because of her eyes, her hair?

[Justen] It feels weird - not bad, just ... weird.

[Xandhil] and she burns, even with the gloves

[Justen] ...

[Justen] and she can teleport, apparently.

[Xandhil] she was going to tell me about her mother

[Xandhil] yeah

[Xandhil] I don't know if she can change her appearance though

[Xandhil] or she wouldn't' need the veil

[Justen] Maybe not... if she could, she wouldn't have to .. yeah.

[Xandhil] unless no one has just taught her?

[Justen] could be.

[Xandhil] maybe she'll come back...

[Justen] ... so if her mother is the high priestess lady - who the hell was her father?

• Xandhil doesn't sound too hopeful though

[Xandhil] is her mother the high priestess lady?

[Justen] Isn't her name Eletyl? Or did I misunderstand that?

[Xandhil] oh, right

[Justen] I think that's what Ranighar said was the daughter's name.

[Xandhil] yeah

[Xandhil] ugh, I swear that thing ate part of my brain, too :p

[Justen] ... I'm guessing her father wasn't from around here.

[Xandhil] yeah, no

[Xandhil] I don't know how old she is...

[Xandhil] you can't tell by looking, really

• Justen nods.

[Xandhil] and I mean...

[Xandhil] I find you attractive and all ^-^

[Xandhil] but not like that

[Justen] heh.

[Justen] hey, if you want to fuck her, by all means ;)

[Xandhil] so... I don't know

[Xandhil] no :p

[Xandhil] @_@

[Xandhil] it's not like that

[Xandhil] and if she's that burny *with* the gloves...

[Xandhil] but I can never tell what that means :/

[Justen] ... maybe I can teach her to turn that down.

[Xandhil] it's not the *heat* burning

[Xandhil] it's the other kind

[Justen] oh.

[Justen] >.>

[Xandhil] (yes?)

[Justen] the... demon kind?

[Justen] (yes)

[Xandhil] I guess?

[Xandhil] it's just a lot *stronger*

[Xandhil] which I don't get it

[Xandhil] but I mean

[Xandhil] if it was a thing with demons, or with your father... wouldn't there be more with you?

• Justen looks unsure.

[Justen] I'm not a theology expert. But my father... he wasn't exactly just... a demon, you know? He was something else too.

[Xandhil] yeah

[Xandhil] but neither is mine

[Xandhil] well

[Xandhil] my dad :p

[Xandhil] mom

• Justen nods.

[Xandhil] whatever, you know -_-

[Justen] What if hers was?

[Xandhil] its possible

[Xandhil] we should be careful, anyway

• Justen nods.
• Justen hugs you close.
• Xandhil snuggles back