NationStates Jolt Archive

Urza was done here. He needed to seek out the other teachers. He had noticed several colors of robes, but the first person of an authority he could think of was the Healer from before. He simply faded from sight, walking the Planscape to arrive at the Healers courtyard, where he reappeared in much the same manner.

Urza was done here. He needed to seek out the other teachers. He had noticed several colors of robes, but the first person of an authority he could think of was the Healer from before. He simply faded from sight, walking the Planscape to arrive at the Healers courtyard, where he reappeared in much the same manner.
Quilae was tending her plants at that time...it would soon be time to call Chainer back, as the statuette he'd formed from clay was almost dry, and he needed to work on hands in stone. She'd start him on something soft, like limestone, before giving him some diorite. Diorite was hard...and hard to work with. If he mastered diorite, he could easily handle marble.

She sensed something enter her courtyard, previously unannounced, but she didn't turn to face it. Since the recent necromancer attack, she'd lost all fear, especially of death or attack.

"You know, it is only polite to enter someone's garden through the gate, especially if the gate is open. State your name and business."

OOC: Cat-like. Dogs don't twitch the tips of their tails, duh. And a scent is much more complicated than that. Theoretically, my sister and I should smell very similar to our cat, but he doesn't care for my sister and won't leave me alone, although we treat him similarly. A scent is the culmination of what you've done, where you've been, who you've fought with, who you've befriended, your personality, your social status, what you've recently eaten, your current health, your intents, and I could go on, but then it would be the hugest post this thread has ever seen in its entire life. The way scent is interpreted differs, as well. A dog can smell a pile of rotting fish and love it enough to roll in it, while a human smells the exact same thing and retches. So, old man and ozone is what a human might smell. What a Roharanhan smells is completely different. Granted, I'm going off of what I've seen so far, and what Kaymiril has seen in another thread, but likewise I can assume you wouldn't send a novice to run in whatever rat-race Pikeron's got about to start.

IC:
Elif's ears twitched, back and forth. He didn't know the man's purpose to being here...perhaps this man did not know, himself. A dream is not compelling enough to make its purpose known through scent, unless one was a DreamSeer, in which case most Roharanhan tended to stay well shy.

"I am Roran'Elif'Omaneras," he rumbled, keeping his tense stance, just on this side of attack.

"But what is your clan and family? If I told you I was Elif, it would tell you knowthing of who I am or where I came from. But with my full name, any that know anything of my race would know exactly who I am and what my place is. Who are you, what is your place? You bear neither spot nor stripe, nothing but the burden of age and the smell of the thunder."

He also added something else, in his gutteral native tongue.

OOC: All very true. But I didn't send in a bad guy. Raiden is technically the guardian, as appointed by the SeaQuestian Emperor, for the Princess Elyon. His personality is more that of a grandfatherly like figure than super-warrior.
As for the tail thing, ehh, I've seen it happen. Once, but it did happen (it was a dauschend).

IC: "And if I told you that I was the Elemental Avatar Of Electricity," replied Radien, "you would have no cultural experience to base it on.

"So, just call me Raiden. I won't bother you with rank and all that."

Quilae was tending her plants at that time...it would soon be time to call Chainer back, as the statuette he'd formed from clay was almost dry, and he needed to work on hands in stone. She'd start him on something soft, like limestone, before giving him some diorite. Diorite was hard...and hard to work with. If he mastered diorite, he could easily handle marble.

She sensed something enter her courtyard, previously unannounced, but she didn't turn to face it. Since the recent necromancer attack, she'd lost all fear, especially of death or attack.

"You know, it is only polite to enter someone's garden through the gate, especially if the gate is open. State your name and business."

"I am sorry. I am Urza, Galvenor sent me to seek out the instructors to get endorsementrs from them."

OOC: All very true. But I didn't send in a bad guy. Raiden is technically the guardian, as appointed by the SeaQuestian Emperor, for the Princess Elyon. His personality is more that of a grandfatherly like figure than super-warrior.
As for the tail thing, ehh, I've seen it happen. Once, but it did happen (it was a dauschend).

IC: "And if I told you that I was the Elemental Avatar Of Electricity," replied Radien, "you would have no cultural experience to base it on.

"So, just call me Raiden. I won't bother you with rank and all that."
Elif snarled, jumping down from his place and standing to his full height, which would tower over the human.

"Do not assume that just because when you look at me you see an animal, that we are not intelligent, and we know nothing of magick. Knew you anything of our closest ally, knew you anything of the bond we share with them, you would not speak down so to their representative. Your label little interests me. Your function might...but I see you've little respect for anything that doesn't look like you."

With a powerful spring, he leapt to the top of a nearby wall, and his eyes narrowed as he regarded this 'Raiden' one for the last time. Then he walked off, saying nothing further in his contempt.

"I am sorry. I am Urza, Galvenor sent me to seek out the instructors to get endorsements from them."
"And why should I give you my endorsement?"

"And why should I give you my endorsement?"

"Why should you not? You have never taken any offense from me that I am aware, and for any offense I may have given I apologize."

"Why should you not? You have never taken any offense from me that I am aware, and for any offense I may have given I apologize."
"Why should I not? I don't know who you are, what you profess to teach, how firm of a mastery you have on your magick, and what previous students think of you."

She turned to look at Urza. "In any profression, be it healer, teacher, assassin, farmer...these and similar questions are important when considering who you should and should not support in their attempt to gain what they want. Why you want to teach here is another question that should be answered before I decided to give the endorsement which you seek."

"Why should I not? I don't know who you are, what you profess to teach, how firm of a mastery you have on your magick, and what previous students think of you."

She turned to look at Urza. "In any profression, be it healer, teacher, assassin, farmer...these and similar questions are important when considering who you should and should not support in their attempt to gain what they want. Why you want to teach here is another question that should be answered before I decided to give the endorsement which you seek."

"I teach artifice. Most of my previous students are long dead by now. And I wish to teach here because my last school was destroyed. Nowhere else has had as much promise as this place."

"I teach artifice. Most of my previous students are long dead by now. And I wish to teach here because my last school was destroyed. Nowhere else has had as much promise as this place."
"And what of your living students?"

"And what of your living students?"

"All 3 of them? Teferi is a planeswalker, Johira has many students of her own, and we will not speak of Hanna. While we may not always agree, we are at least all on speaking terms."

As Urza was completing his statement, Chainer walked through the gate. He was very visibly displeased to see the Planeswalker talking to Quilae. "And what are you doing here Urza, come to ruin more lives?"

Quilae looked to Chainer, and then back at Urza.

"Tell me...how do you two know each other?"

Quilae looked to Chainer, and then back at Urza.

"Tell me...how do you two know each other?"

"I made him"

"He's an ass, meddling where he wasn't needed."

They spoke simultaneously, and looked rather aggravated by the fact.

"I made him"

"He's an ass, meddling where he wasn't needed."

They spoke simultaneously, and looked rather aggravated by the fact.
"I see...Chainer, please come back in ten minutes time. Until then, I believe there is a new arrival walking around the lower wall. He or she, if it should be what I think it is, might prove interesting to speak with."

"I see...Chainer, please come back in ten minutes time. Until then, I believe there is a new arrival walking around the lower wall. He or she, if it should be what I think it is, might prove interesting to speak with."

"If I must. I will return." Chainer turned and walked from the Courtyard, heading for the wall Quilae had indicated. Whatever he would find there, he assumed it would be interesting enough to warrant his time.

"If I must. I will return." Chainer turned and walked from the Courtyard, heading for the wall Quilae had indicated. Whatever he would find there, he assumed it would be interesting enough to warrant his time.
Quilae let Chainer get out of earshot before turning back to Urza.

"You 'made' him?"

Quilae let Chainer get out of earshot before turning back to Urza.

"You 'made' him?"

"I made him. He is not human, nor was he ever. He and all like him were the product of selective breeding for centuries. The culmination, designed to defeat an unstoppable foe. When Phyrexia invaded Dominaria, Chainer and those like him stopped their swarms of twisted beasts and machines cold. Were it not for he and those like him, the black tide of corruption would be swarming through space. His character is not as it should be, but that is a product of a theft, his age, and the events that shaped his life. The person he has become is no fault of mine."

"I made him. He is not human, nor was he ever. He and all like him were the product of selective breeding for centuries. The culmination, designed to defeat an unstoppable foe. When Phyrexia invaded Dominaria, Chainer and those like him stopped their swarms of twisted beasts and machines cold. Were it not for he and those like him, the black tide of corruption would be swarming through space. His character is not as it should be, but that is a product of a theft, his age, and the events that shaped his life. The person he has become is no fault of mine."
"Leave here. You create a life and then take no responsibility for the lives that are formed. Whatever you may believe, he is a man, and one in pain. I will not give my support to one such as you."

"Leave here. You create a life and then take no responsibility for the lives that are formed. Whatever you may believe, he is a man, and one in pain. I will not give my support to one such as you."

"I gave him a home, he was the responsibility of those that raised him, if you cannot see such a simple thing as that then I am wasting my time here." Urza turned and walked away from the Healer. Whatever she thought he was sorry that Chainer had ended as he had.

"I gave him a home, he was the responsibility of those that raised him, if you cannot see such a simple thing as that then I am wasting my time here." Urza turned and walked away from the Healer. Whatever she thought he was sorry that Chainer had ended as he had.
If you make a garden, you take care of it. If you make a kennel, you care for the dogs. How much more care must you take, then, of a man with a soul? Waste your time? You waste ours.

Chainer had reached the wall, and the rather large Cat-Person was hard to miss. A panther warrior perhaps? Or maybe even similar to the Rathi Cat-People...

"You must be the one Quilae told me to seek out. I am Chainer, simply Chainer, no sirname. May I enquire as to your name?"

Chainer had reached the wall, and the rather large Cat-Person was hard to miss. A panther warrior perhaps? Or maybe even similar to the Rathi Cat-People...

"You must be the one Quilae told me to seek out. I am Chainer, simply Chainer, no sirname. May I enquire as to your name?"
Elif looked down, seeing the human at the bottom of the wall. An easy hop and he was on the ground, as level with the other's height as he was ever going to be.

"I am Roran'Elif'Omaneras. Elif of the Family Roran of the Omaneras clan, as your people have a different name structure."

Elif looked down, seeing the human at the bottom of the wall. An easy hop and he was on the ground, as level with the other's height as he was ever going to be.

"I am Roran'Elif'Omaneras. Elif of the Family Roran of the Omaneras clan, as your people have a different name structure."

"I am pleased to meet you. My True-Name is Oberyn Martell of Dorne. Our name structures are certainly different, but yours is very similar to one I have heard before. Where are you from, and what has brought you here?"

"I am pleased to meet you. My True-Name is Oberyn Martell of Dorne. Our name structures are certainly different, but yours is very similar to one I have heard before. Where are you from, and what has brought you here?"
"I seek answers that the Kaymirilians could not give me."

Elif looked to just behind Chainer's left shoulder.

"Who is she, that you hold to so tightly?"

"I seek answers that the Kaymirilians could not give me."

Elif looked to just behind Chainer's left shoulder.

"Who is she, that you hold to so tightly?"

"What do you mean?" Chainer was automatically suspicious, could this being read his thoughts?

"What do you mean?" Chainer was automatically suspicious, could this being read his thoughts?
"I can see the lingering souls of the dead. Those one kills tend to linger around them, tormenting them through memory...but also they can do this when a person refuses to let them go. There are others around you, but you only bind her. She wants to be let go."

"I can see the lingering souls of the dead. Those one kills tend to linger around them, tormenting them through memory...but also they can do this when a person refuses to let them go. There are others around you, but you only bind her. She wants to be let go."

"I see. That is MOST unsettling I must confess. But I will also confess that I know the truth of what you are saying. Suffice it to say that the knowledge is being acted on. How did you come by this rather odd ability though? I know that I could not long remain sane were I to see the souls of the dead at all times."

"I see. That is MOST unsettling I must confess. But I will also confess that I know the truth of what you are saying. Suffice it to say that the knowledge is being acted on. How did you come by this rather odd ability though? I know that I could not long remain sane were I to see the souls of the dead at all times."
"I do not go insane because I was born with this ability. When to see the dead is not different than to see the living, it is then normal, and only sometimes frightening."

"I do not go insane because I was born with this ability. When to see the dead is not different than to see the living, it is then normal, and only sometimes frightening."

"I wish that the things I was born with were no longer a part of me... I will give you a word of advice. If you can find a way to rid yourself of that, do it. There are many things that mortals were not meant to see, and I have seen many of them. Trust me. My sanity is a frail thing these days. I would hate to see someone else end up as damaged as I.

"I wish that the things I was born with were no longer a part of me... I will give you a word of advice. If you can find a way to rid yourself of that, do it. There are many things that mortals were not meant to see, and I have seen many of them. Trust me. My sanity is a frail thing these days. I would hate to see someone else end up as damaged as I.
"I do not come to seek a way to lose this gift, I seek a way to control it. If there is anywhere I can find another who can see these things, I believe it to be here. They told me there was one here."

"I do not come to seek a way to lose this gift, I seek a way to control it. If there is anywhere I can find another who can see these things, I believe it to be here. They told me there was one here."

"It is not me. I see only the nightmares of those I have killed. Perhaps Quilae could tell you who to seek out. I am supposed to see her again in a few minutes. Would you walk with me?"

Elif considered it for a few moments before dipping his head in a graceful movement that could be construed as a nod.

"I will."

Elif considered it for a few moments before dipping his head in a graceful movement that could be construed as a nod.

"I will."

Chainer headed back towards Quilaes portion of the Tower, "So, I know your name, and I know why you are here, but where are you from? I have seen others similar to you before, the Panther-Warriors of Rath are the most obvious, but you are visibly NOT a panther, so, where do you hail from?"

Chainer headed back towards Quilaes portion of the Tower, "So, I know your name, and I know why you are here, but where are you from? I have seen others similar to you before, the Panther-Warriors of Rath are the most obvious, but you are visibly NOT a panther, so, where do you hail from?"
"I come from Ina. We border Kaymiril, as we have since our nations were founded."

"I come from Ina. We border Kaymiril, as we have since our nations were founded."

"I have never heard of Ina, but I know much of Kaymiril. They have been allies of the Dominion for some time. Quilae is assisting me with some issues. Her courtyard is just ahead, here."

"I have never heard of Ina, but I know much of Kaymiril. They have been allies of the Dominion for some time. Quilae is assisting me with some issues. Her courtyard is just ahead, here."
"She is a healer?"

At this, the Roharanhan's ears flickered. "Perhaps I should remain behind, then."

"She is a healer?"

At this, the Roharanhan's ears flickered. "Perhaps I should remain behind, then."

"Yes. Please, come along. If she hasn't hit me yet she won't likely do anything to you. And she IS the only person here I am certain will be able to assist you. I cannot think of anyone else more likely to help you, or at least point you in the proper direction.""

"Yes. Please, come along. If she hasn't hit me yet she won't likely do anything to you. And she IS the only person here I am certain will be able to assist you. I cannot think of anyone else more likely to help you, or at least point you in the proper direction."
"It is forbidden that one such as myself should visit a Kaymirilian Healer, especially when of the class to be stationed away from Kaymiril and in charge of others."

"It is forbidden that one such as myself should visit a Kaymirilian Healer, especially when of the class to be stationed away from Kaymiril and in charge of others."

"Why? I am afraid I do not understand the problem..."

"Why? I am afraid I do not understand the problem..."
"At the very best, I should be a warrior. That is the class from which I come. I am not important enough to even be in the presence of one of the Kaymirilian mage healers. It brings bad luck to the healer, or so say the legends. And I would not visit this problem of mine on her to risk that fate for her."

"At the very best, I should be a warrior. That is the class from which I come. I am not important enough to even be in the presence of one of the Kaymirilian mage healers. It brings bad luck to the healer, or so say the legends. And I would not visit this problem of mine on her to risk that fate for her."

"Then wait here, I will ask her for you. That way you will not bring bad luck on her, and you can still have an answer to your problem." Chainer started through the gate, not even waiting for a reply.

"Then wait here, I will ask her for you. That way you will not bring bad luck on her, and you can still have an answer to your problem." Chainer started through the gate, not even waiting for a reply.
"So, Urza seemed fairly unpleasant. Either that or you are not his favorite topic of conversation. Did you meet the Roharanhan?"

"So, Urza seemed fairly unpleasant. Either that or you are not his favorite topic of conversation. Did you meet the Roharanhan?"

"Elif you mean? Yes, I met him. He is looking for someone to help control his ability to see the dead. I thought you might know of someone that I could direct him to. And Urza IS fairly unpleasant."

"Elif you mean? Yes, I met him. He is looking for someone to help control his ability to see the dead. I thought you might know of someone that I could direct him to. And Urza IS fairly unpleasant."
"We have Eldrad on staff...he is a necrovoyant, which at the very least could help Elif. And with a name like that, surely he is striped...which means that he would not come in, even if invited. The striped have been relegated to the lower classes...where superstition has a great hold."

"We have Eldrad on staff...he is a necrovoyant, which at the very least could help Elif. And with a name like that, surely he is striped...which means that he would not come in, even if invited. The striped have been relegated to the lower classes...where superstition has a great hold."

"Then I will tell him, and return in a moment. Please excuse me."

Chainer turned and headed back towards the gate.

"Then I will tell him, and return in a moment. Please excuse me."

Chainer turned and headed back towards the gate.
Quilae nodded, letting him.

She was impressed...he'd really progressed remarkably...to the point of willingly prolonging polite conversation with another sentient being beyond the point of necessity.

"Elif, I have your answer. You will find Eldrad in the Tower, he is the most likely to be able to aid you she says. I do not know where he is, but he should not be difficult to locate."

"Elif, I have your answer. You will find Eldrad in the Tower, he is the most likely to be able to aid you she says. I do not know where he is, but he should not be difficult to locate."
"How will I know him from any other?"

"How will I know him from any other?"

"He is Eldar. He wears black armor, graven with runes, his eyes are dark, his skin is light. If his helmet is off his hair is long and golden. He is very difficult to mistake for anyone else."

"He is Eldar. He wears black armor, graven with runes, his eyes are dark, his skin is light. If his helmet is off his hair is long and golden. He is very difficult to mistake for anyone else."
"Then I will seek him out. Thank you."

He turned and left. His sense of smell could pick him out, had he known the one he was searching for. As it was...he had to keep looking, and asking those souls that would speak to him. All he could do was hope for the best.

"Then I will seek him out. Thank you."

He turned and left. His sense of smell could pick him out, had he known the one he was searching for. As it was...he had to keep looking, and asking those souls that would speak to him. All he could do was hope for the best.

"Good luck." Chainer turned and headed back into the courtyard. "Well, I have him going on his way. But, you asked to see me?"

"Then I will seek him out. Thank you."

He turned and left. His sense of smell could pick him out, had he known the one he was searching for. As it was...he had to keep looking, and asking those souls that would speak to him. All he could do was hope for the best.

Eldrad was some way up the Tower, but his scent was unmistakable. It was laced with something else that everyone else just seemed to lack. It was partly to do with his being the only member of his species at the Tower.

As for speaking to souls, they were always hovering around. Eldrad was the only one who spoke with them on any regular basis... this did have something to do with the fact that necrovoyancy was a rare gift, and frowned upon by many.

"Good luck." Chainer turned and headed back into the courtyard. "Well, I have him going on his way. But, you asked to see me?"
"Well, yes. In order for you to make a sculpture like you've planned, there are certain things you have to work on...like hands."

She set a block of limestone in front of him. "Hands are hard...perhaps the hardest part of the body to sculpt. What you want to do is trace out the basic shape, and chisel away at it for a bit, and then you get more detailed."

She handed him a graphite pencil.

Eldrad was some way up the Tower, but his scent was unmistakable. It was laced with something else that everyone else just seemed to lack. It was partly to do with his being the only member of his species at the Tower.

As for speaking to souls, they were always hovering around. Eldrad was the only one who spoke with them on any regular basis... this did have something to do with the fact that necrovoyancy was a rare gift, and frowned upon by many.
There were a lot of unfamiliar scents, though.

Eventually, Elif made his way up the Tower, and into the general area Eldrad occupied.

There were a lot of unfamiliar scents, though.

Eventually, Elif made his way up the Tower, and into the general area Eldrad occupied.

Eldrad looked down the corridor, and spotted Elif. He didn't recognise him, nor his species,"Can I help you?"

Eldrad looked down the corridor, and spotted Elif. He didn't recognise him, nor his species,"Can I help you?"
"You are Eldrad?"

"You are Eldrad?"
"I am. I must profess, I do not know your name, or your race."

"I am. I must profess, I do not know your name, or your race."
"Ah...forgive me. I am Roran'Elif'Omaneras of the Roharanhan. I came to seek your help. I was born with a gift I do not understand, and I was told that you may be able to guide me in the control of it."

"Ah...forgive me. I am Roran'Elif'Omaneras of the Roharanhan. I came to seek your help. I was born with a gift I do not understand, and I was told that you may be able to guide me in the control of it."

"Tell me, Roran'Elif'Omaneras, what is it that you speak of?"

"Tell me, Roran'Elif'Omaneras, what is it that you speak of?"
"I can see and speak with the dead that linger on. My earliest memory is my mother's mother warning me against doing something...and she died before my mother began having children."

"I can see and speak with the dead that linger on. My earliest memory is my mother's mother warning me against doing something...and she died before my mother began having children."

"Ah, a naturally-born necrovoyant. We are rare in any species, but I suspect especially rare among yours. In this matter, I can help you. Are these visions of random spirits, or of those of close family or friends."

"Ah, a naturally-born necrovoyant. We are rare in any species, but I suspect especially rare among yours. In this matter, I can help you. Are these visions of random spirits, or of those of close family or friends."
"Any, so long as they linger."

"Well, yes. In order for you to make a sculpture like you've planned, there are certain things you have to work on...like hands."

She set a block of limestone in front of him. "Hands are hard...perhaps the hardest part of the body to sculpt. What you want to do is trace out the basic shape, and chisel away at it for a bit, and then you get more detailed."

She handed him a graphite pencil.

"I see. I'll see what I can do." Chainer began the outlining of the hands on the stone in front of him. He wasn't sure how good it would be, but he would try.

"Any, so long as they linger."

"Interesting. I can help you to control this gift, but you must understand that it is something that is only gifted to a few... and it can be as much of a hinderance as a gift."

"I see. I'll see what I can do." Chainer began the outlining of the hands on the stone in front of him. He wasn't sure how good it would be, but he would try.
"No...you're making it too flat. The knuckles arch up in a woman's fist...it's only with a fighter that the hand is flat like that."

"Interesting. I can help you to control this gift, but you must understand that it is something that is only gifted to a few... and it can be as much of a hinderance as a gift."
"I am willing to learn, though, whatever the consequences."

"I am willing to learn, though, whatever the consequences."
He nodded,"Alright. The first thing to realise is that the spirits you see are still able to be seen for a reason. I cannot tell you that reason, because each is different. They are often very useful in providing information to us... but we need to be able to focus. If we cannot do that, then we will be overloaded by them. First, you must learn to focus."

He cast a spell that created what could be termed as spirits, including one in front of him. So many were moving around, it was difficult to tell them apart,"Now, I want you to concentrate on this spirit in front of me. Block the others out... you cannot talk to them all at once."

"No...you're making it too flat. The knuckles arch up in a woman's fist...it's only with a fighter that the hand is flat like that."

"Alright then.... More like this?" He changes the shape of the knuckles a bit, making them more prominent.

He nodded,"Alright. The first thing to realise is that the spirits you see are still able to be seen for a reason. I cannot tell you that reason, because each is different. They are often very useful in providing information to us... but we need to be able to focus. If we cannot do that, then we will be overloaded by them. First, you must learn to focus."

He cast a spell that created what could be termed as spirits, including one in front of him. So many were moving around, it was difficult to tell them apart,"Now, I want you to concentrate on this spirit in front of me. Block the others out... you cannot talk to them all at once."
The Roharanhan sat down, and his ears tilted back as he attempted to focus only on the one. The only sense he could use was sight...but it was hard to ignore all but the one. It moved the least, and so begged the least attention to the thousands of years that evolution had taught his kind about hunting.

"Alright then.... More like this?" He changes the shape of the knuckles a bit, making them more prominent.
"Somewhat. A fist is a square that takes some of the circle, and has little inverted triangles pointing out."

The Roharanhan sat down, and his ears tilted back as he attempted to focus only on the one. The only sense he could use was sight...but it was hard to ignore all but the one. It moved the least, and so begged the least attention to the thousands of years that evolution had taught his kind about hunting.
That was going to be one of the most difficult things for this Roharanhan to do, to learn to no longer trust his senses.

"Don't use your eyes as such. Look beyond what they can see, beyond what you percieve."

That was going to be one of the most difficult things for this Roharanhan to do, to learn to no longer trust his senses.

"Don't use your eyes as such. Look beyond what they can see, beyond what you percieve."
"How?"

"Somewhat. A fist is a square that takes some of the circle, and has little inverted triangles pointing out."

"Say what now? You mean a CYLINDER?" He changes the shape even more, filling the description she set out.

"How?"
"Close your eyes. Your mind is what is letting you see these figures, not your eyes. Don't trust them."

"Close your eyes. Your mind is what is letting you see these figures, not your eyes. Don't trust them."
OOC: Ben Kenobi? That is a name I've not heard in a long time...=<.<= =>.>=

IC:
Elif's tail curled around the front of his forelegs, showing some skepticism, but he closed his eyes.

"Now I should do what?"

"Say what now? You mean a CYLINDER?" He changes the shape even more, filling the description she set out.
"Not a cylinder. The back of your hand takes the shape of a square, only the lines are gentler. Fingers are cylindrical, but you only show some of that on this surface. The fingers stick to the shape of the back of the hand, only are more arched out. You have your circle at the top, and an oval at the wrist. The knuckles are inverted triangles from one angle, but are almost pyramidal when viewed from above. It's a complex thing to render."

OOC: Ben Kenobi? That is a name I've not heard in a long time...=<.<= =>.>=

IC:
Elif's tail curled around the front of his forelegs, showing some skepticism, but he closed his eyes.

"Now I should do what?"
OOC: Same basic principle.

IC: "Your mind is what lets you see these figures. Without your eyes, you are free to focus on what these figures are trying to do. Now, focus on the figure you saw before. Get the picture clear in your mind, and then open your eyes. If you have succeeded, you should see only the one figure."

OOC: Same basic principle.

IC: "Your mind is what lets you see these figures. Without your eyes, you are free to focus on what these figures are trying to do. Now, focus on the figure you saw before. Get the picture clear in your mind, and then open your eyes. If you have succeeded, you should see only the one figure."
Little muscles in his face twitched as he tried to get the image clear and free from interferance.

When he thought he had it, he reopened his eyes. "I still see all of them..."

Little muscles in his face twitched as he tried to get the image clear and free from interferance.

When he thought he had it, he reopened his eyes. "I still see all of them..."
"Do not worry. It would be someone of exceptional natural talent and skill to do so on their first attempt. It took me many attempts, and much frustration, to even do this with two people. I think you have the talent... I can sense it."

"Do not worry. It would be someone of exceptional natural talent and skill to do so on their first attempt. It took me many attempts, and much frustration, to even do this with two people. I think you have the talent... I can sense it."
"Then again I will attempt."

He closed his eyes, and exhaled a deep breath, trying again. Only this time, he didn't open his eyes so soon.

"I can see them all still."

"Then again I will attempt."

He closed his eyes, and exhaled a deep breath, trying again. Only this time, he didn't open his eyes so soon.

"I can see them all still."
"Do not become disheartened. I suspect I have pushed you too hard... I have reduced the number to two."

"Do not become disheartened. I suspect I have pushed you too hard... I have reduced the number to two."
OOC: Sorry...I didn't make it clear.

IC:
He shook his head. "No. I still saw them when my eyes were not open."

OOC: Sorry...I didn't make it clear.

IC:
He shook his head. "No. I still saw them when my eyes were not open."

Eldrad smiled,"It is the start. From here, you can build on that."

Eldrad smiled,"It is the start. From here, you can build on that."
"And I'm only trying to see that one..."

He closed his eyes again, concentrating, as he would out in the desert plains on Hunt.

His ears twitched back and forth...once, twice, and then he opened his eyes.

"I see it."

Elif snarled, jumping down from his place and standing to his full height, which would tower over the human.

"Do not assume that just because when you look at me you see an animal, that we are not intelligent, and we know nothing of magick. Knew you anything of our closest ally, knew you anything of the bond we share with them, you would not speak down so to their representative. Your label little interests me. Your function might...but I see you've little respect for anything that doesn't look like you."

With a powerful spring, he leapt to the top of a nearby wall, and his eyes narrowed as he regarded this 'Raiden' one for the last time. Then he walked off, saying nothing further in his contempt.

"Hmph," muttered Raiden to himself, "someone's a bit cranky. Never got the chance to tell him about my Furling friends who don't look that much different from him."

He shrugged. He watched Elif for a moment before moving to catch up with Lucifer.

"Not a cylinder. The back of your hand takes the shape of a square, only the lines are gentler. Fingers are cylindrical, but you only show some of that on this surface. The fingers stick to the shape of the back of the hand, only are more arched out. You have your circle at the top, and an oval at the wrist. The knuckles are inverted triangles from one angle, but are almost pyramidal when viewed from above. It's a complex thing to render."

"Oh, like this then?" He makes a few more changes to the outline.

"Oh, like this then?" He makes a few more changes to the outline.
"A bit better. But continue that way and you'll have too much of the fingers, and not enough hand to warrant it."

"A bit better. But continue that way and you'll have too much of the fingers, and not enough hand to warrant it."

"So I should do what then?" He stopped making changes for the moment.

"Make the back of the hand bigger. Leave the fingers be."

Uriel looked back as he noticed Raiden trying to catch up with him. "May I help you?"

"Make the back of the hand bigger. Leave the fingers be."

"Alright." He made the recommended changes, hoping it would be good enough.

"Alright." He made the recommended changes, hoping it would be good enough.
"And that's the basis for a decent first hand."

She handed him the chisel and hammer and showed him how to use it.

"So...what exactly is the history between you and Urza?"

"Maybe we should check his quarters..." Loki suggested as their search still had so far turned up nothing. "He might me working or resting in there," he commented as he began climbing the stairs slowly towards Eldard's quarters.


Teji followed loki up the stairs. When they go to Eldrads room it was empty. "I think there are only a few more levels to go want top look there before going back down"

"And that's the basis for a decent first hand."

She handed him the chisel and hammer and showed him how to use it.

"So...what exactly is the history between you and Urza?"

"It is a long and complicated story, and I am certain you already know the basics. Suffice it to say that he made me. He also made me what I am. Indirectly, but he is responsible."

"It is a long and complicated story, and I am certain you already know the basics. Suffice it to say that he made me. He also made me what I am. Indirectly, but he is responsible."
"I would care for the full story. The more I know, the more I can help you."

"I would care for the full story. The more I know, the more I can help you."

"When he made the Dementia Summoners he gave each of us to a different noble family. I was given to House Martell. They raised me well, but things did not end out as well as they began. The Phyrexuians invaded, and we fought them off. Dozens of us died. There are only 5 of us left now. 5 where once tyhere were hundreds, and all because of Urzas Folly."

"When he made the Dementia Summoners he gave each of us to a different noble family. I was given to House Martell. They raised me well, but things did not end out as well as they began. The Phyrexuians invaded, and we fought them off. Dozens of us died. There are only 5 of us left now. 5 where once tyhere were hundreds, and all because of Urzas Folly."
"And Urza's folly was?"

"And Urza's folly was?"

"It was he, and his brother Mishra, that had released the Phyrexians in the first place. If it was not for him I would not exist, and I would never have been needed. He is either directly or indirectly responsible for everything that has happened to me, including being alive."

"It was he, and his brother Mishra, that had released the Phyrexians in the first place. If it was not for him I would not exist, and I would never have been needed. He is either directly or indirectly responsible for everything that has happened to me, including being alive."
"So, you feel that in your life, your entire destiny has been to act out whatever this Urza's will has been?"

"So, you feel that in your life, your entire destiny has been to act out whatever this Urza's will has been?"

"It is, as he put it, a design flaw."

"It is, as he put it, a design flaw."
"Gods, like parents, hate being blamed, especially by those that they have created. But tell me...wasn't there one thing that you took for yourself...one thing, good or bad, that Urza had no part in?"

"Gods, like parents, hate being blamed, especially by those that they have created. But tell me...wasn't there one thing that you took for yourself...one thing, good or bad, that Urza had no part in?"

"Nothing. The Mirari, everything is a result of Urzas meddling."

"Nothing. The Mirari, everything is a result of Urzas meddling."
Quilae guestured to the stautette at the other end of the garden, enchased in glass and among the plants, as though it was supposed to be there.

"What of her?"

Uriel looked back as he noticed Raiden trying to catch up with him. "May I help you?"

OOC: Don't forget about Robin and Costh.

IC: Raiden replied, "You seem to know your way around. I was wondering if you could direct me to the place with the best view. If not, then the way to the roof will do."

'Cafeteria'

Robin asked Costh, again, "Then where do I get the coffee?"

Quilae guestured to the stautette at the other end of the garden, enchased in glass and among the plants, as though it was supposed to be there.

"What of her?"

"Urza put me where we could meet. Even that is at root his doing."

snip

"The roof would be that way." He points to a stairway.

Cafeteria

"From those machines." Costh replied, point out a couple coffee machines

ooc: He'd already told her(in the same post where Uriel said bye to Raiden

"The roof would be that way." He points to a stairway.

Cafeteria

"From those machines." Costh replied, point out a couple coffee machines

ooc: He'd already told her(in the same post where Uriel said bye to Raiden

OCC: Sorry, must have missed it. My bad.

IC: 'Cafeteria'

Robin raises an eyebrow.

"Not exactly what I was expecting," she says, "though, might not be that bad."

She turns to Costh and asks, "What kind of currency do the machines take?"

Meanwhile...

Raiden nods and says, "Thank-you. I'll be up there meditating if you ever want to resume our conversation."

He smiles, turns, and walks up the indicated staircase.

OOC: @Piekrom: I think I'll keep him meditating up there until your RP starts. Unless something big comes up in this thread.

"Urza put me where we could meet. Even that is at root his doing."
"You met at a public forum, right? So she was present, as were other people with which you could become friends or enemies, and among which you might find a lover if you were lucky. But did Urza pick her, or did YOU?"

"Alright." Uriel replied

Cafeteria

"You'll have to ask the cafeteria worker," He replied, "As I don't drink coffee myself."

"You met at a public forum, right? So she was present, as were other people with which you could become friends or enemies, and among which you might find a lover if you were lucky. But did Urza pick her, or did YOU?"

"I did."

"I did."
"And was your love at Urza's dictates, or at those of your own heart?"

"And was your love at Urza's dictates, or at those of your own heart?"

"My heart. But that does not change the fact that Urza put me where I could meet her."

"My heart. But that does not change the fact that Urza put me where I could meet her."
"You could have met her, you could have met a swindler that took you in for all you were worth. Instead, you found someone...on your own initiative...that you could care for. And if it was your decision to love, then you are not Urza's creature. You are only yourself, and must recognize your own liberties and accept your own limitations, instead of waiting for someone else to do so for you."

She paused briefly.

"It is very easy to blame, Oberyn. It is much more difficult to accept responsibility...but much more noble, as well."

Piekrom']Teji followed loki up the stairs. When they go to Eldrads room it was empty. "I think there are only a few more levels to go want top look there before going back down"

"Sure," Loki said, not sure how long it had been since they had begun their search for the elusive Eldrad.

((ooc: lol, enough of this. Time to find him.))

Finally, Loki thought as he saw the unmistakable figure of Eldrad. He began approaching when he noticed he had somehow missed the massive cat-like figure he had seen earlier in the courtyard. I guess I can wait... he thought as he leaned against the wall twenty feet from the pair and sat down ((OOC: Making him only slightly taller than a foot)).

"You could have met her, you could have met a swindler that took you in for all you were worth. Instead, you found someone...on your own initiative...that you could care for. And if it was your decision to love, then you are not Urza's creature. You are only yourself, and must recognize your own liberties and accept your own limitations, instead of waiting for someone else to do so for you."

She paused briefly.

"It is very easy to blame, Oberyn. It is much more difficult to accept responsibility...but much more noble, as well."

"I suppose you are correct. You seem to be so often. But if he had not meddled I would not be here, not like this."

"And I'm only trying to see that one..."

He closed his eyes again, concentrating, as he would out in the desert plains on Hunt.

His ears twitched back and forth...once, twice, and then he opened his eyes.

"I see it."

"Just the one? That is excellent... you have done much better than I expected in such a short time."

"Just the one? That is excellent... you have done much better than I expected in such a short time."
"One target. One spirit. We hunt in much the same manner. But I now see it...so what do you wish that I should do?"

"One target. One spirit. We hunt in much the same manner. But I now see it...so what do you wish that I should do?"

"The spirit you can see is created by me... it cannot do anything without my saying so. Instead, now that you have done this with only two spirits, I will expand the horizons again, up to, say, twenty such spirits, and we will repeat the exercise."

"The spirit you can see is created by me... it cannot do anything without my saying so. Instead, now that you have done this with only two spirits, I will expand the horizons again, up to, say, twenty such spirits, and we will repeat the exercise."
"All right."

Elif's tail twitched, he could smell someone else.

His head turned, and he regarded Loki, wondering what exactly it was.

Loki (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/DMG2005/Loki.jpg) sat against the stone wall watching Eldrad and the unfamiliar creature. He didn't want to disturb them until they were quite finished and so he kept his silence. He bobbed his head gently from side to side as he heard a soft tune in his head - his pointed and oversized hat flopped along with his movements.

"All right."

Elif's tail twitched, he could smell someone else.

His head turned, and he regarded Loki, wondering what exactly it was.
Eldrad looked as well,"Hello Loki."

Loki (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/DMG2005/Loki.jpg) sat against the stone wall watching Eldrad and the unfamiliar creature. He didn't want to disturb them until they were quite finished and so he kept his silence. He bobbed his head gently from side to side as he heard a soft tune in his head - his pointed and oversized hat flopped along with his movements.
Elif's tail twitched...the hat was begging to be knocked from Loki's head and batted about. But no...he must stay.

"Hello, sir," the young Loki responded as he heard Eldard say his name. "I can wait until you are finished," he remarked before going back to bobbing his head gently from side to side.

Elif's tail twitched...the hat was begging to be knocked from Loki's head and batted about. But no...he must stay.

Eldrad noticed this,"Loki, you might want to stop moving around."

Eldrad noticed this,"Loki, you might want to stop moving around."
"I intend no action."

Eldrad noticed this,"Loki, you might want to stop moving around."

"Hmm?" Loki questioned, taken a little off guard by what he thought was an odd comment. He had barely been moving, just moving his head side to side. "Sorry, I will try not to distract you," he eventually said before turning his head back to the wall across from him.

"Hmm?" Loki questioned, taken a little off guard by what he thought was an odd comment. He had barely been moving, just moving his head side to side. "Sorry, I will try not to distract you," he eventually said before turning his head back to the wall across from him.
"Not that.. but I don't want my students at risk. You can watch, if you like."

"Not that.. but I don't want my students at risk. You can watch, if you like."

"Oh, okay," Loki said, slightly confused at what he meant by 'students at risk.' He sat quitely and watched the two.

Eldrad turned back to Elif,"Alright, are you ready to begin again?"

Eldrad turned back to Elif,"Alright, are you ready to begin again?"
He shook slightly, to break the concentrative state of mind he'd put himself in, and nodded.

"I am."

He shook slightly, to break the concentrative state of mind he'd put himself in, and nodded.

"I am."
"There are now far more spirits. I want you to focus on one... it is moving around, and this time it will attempt to communicate with you, so you must tell me what it is saying."

"There are now far more spirits. I want you to focus on one... it is moving around, and this time it will attempt to communicate with you, so you must tell me what it is saying."
He looked at them, and sought out the one that moved most, and focused on that one, just like in the Hunt. He could see the others, but they didn't catch his attention.

He looked at them, and sought out the one that moved most, and focused on that one, just like in the Hunt. He could see the others, but they didn't catch his attention.
The spirit was talking to itself, muttering.

OOC: I'll let you make up what it's saying. Should prove interesting.

The spirit was talking to itself, muttering.

OOC: I'll let you make up what it's saying. Should prove interesting.
Elif's tail curled, and he stood to walk over. As it wasn't far, he just padded over on his four legs.

The spirit kept muttering and moving, forcing him to back up to keep face to face to it.

"She...she's looking for someone. A child."

"Her child? Or the child of someone else?"

"Her child? Or the child of someone else?"
"I don't know. It's just 'the child, the child' over and over. What child?"
he asked the spirit.

"The child. The child."

The same words, repeated over and over again.

Eldrad decided now was a good time for another lesson,"Sometimes, a spirit is so traumatised by the expierence close to or just before its death, it can only say certain things. Perhaps this spirit was attempting to save a child?"

"But how to find out for sure? What about the child?"

Eldrad thought for a moment, and then came up with an idea,"ASk the spirit who the child was, it might help it."

OOC: I know, it's not all that great at the moment. I'm kinda tired, so I apologise.

"Who was the child? Yes, I know child child, the child, the child who?"

OOC: It's okay. Much more complex and Elif would be flipping out.

"My child. My child."

"My child. My child."
"Her child. What about your child? Hang on...can you slow down a second and we can talk?"

"Her child. What about your child? Hang on...can you slow down a second and we can talk?"
The spirit slowed down, as in actually realising that Elif was talking to it for the first time,"You wish to talk to me, living?"

The spirit slowed down, as in actually realising that Elif was talking to it for the first time,"You wish to talk to me, living?"
"Well, if it's not going to inconvenience you too much."

He sat back down...actually keeping hismelf about at eye-level with the spirit.

"Well, if it's not going to inconvenience you too much."

He sat back down...actually keeping hismelf about at eye-level with the spirit.

"What do you wish to know?"

"What do you wish to know?"
"Well, for a beginning, what happened to your child?"

"I miss my child."

"I miss my child."
"Miss it? What happened to it?"

OOC: Shoot! I'm late, I gotta go half an hour ago.

"Miss it? What happened to it?"

OOC: Shoot! I'm late, I gotta go half an hour ago.
"My child... my child was killed. It was so young... so innocent."

OOC: See in you a few days, I've got to go away until Tuesday

"Alright." Uriel replied

Cafeteria

"You'll have to ask the cafeteria worker," He replied, "As I don't drink coffee myself."

OOC: I hate power failures. Got so much to catch up with due to last night's outage.

IC: "Or," replied Robin with a slight roll to her eyes, "I could just read what it says on the machines."

With that, she walks over to the closest one and studies what it says.

"I guess you could at that." He replied as he headed to get a cup of hot chocolate made.

The coffee machine is one of those restautant types that you make a couple gallons of coffee at a time. You just fill the cup through a spigot at the bottom of the holding tank. There are several insulated carafs for taking a "pot" of coffee back to your table. There is regular and unleaded (decaf) available. The thing is maintained by several Invisable Servants and they prevent accidents and messes from happening.

There is no charge for the coffee or other simple drinks like the Hot Chocolate or tea.

Teji came up behind loki and noticed Eldrad and the cat figuer standing together. He also felt the presence of a lot more then just the other three people in the room. Many feelings and emotions have been opened to him since he learned how to grasp his magick. he decided to stand there without moving untill Eldrad was done.

Galvenor was now passing through the primal connection all Ta'Nar shared, seeking for the cause of his diffaculties. He noticed Others there, watching him from the shadows. The Others were not Ta'Nar, but something that felt even older.

Galvenor approached them carefully.

And it looks like we have old and new faces with us for the Tower's second Easter.

Let's see it to its second Christmas too, eh?

And it looks like we have old and new faces with us for the Tower's second Easter.

Let's see it to its second Christmas too, eh?

Here, Here! *raises mug*

Before i go to work on Easter, Happy Easter. May all your RP's be a smashing success.

ooc: Happy Easter all

The coffee machine is one of those restautant types that you make a couple gallons of coffee at a time. You just fill the cup through a spigot at the bottom of the holding tank. There are several insulated carafs for taking a "pot" of coffee back to your table. There is regular and unleaded (decaf) available. The thing is maintained by several Invisable Servants and they prevent accidents and messes from happening.

There is no charge for the coffee or other simple drinks like the Hot Chocolate or tea.

OOC: Hmm, not what I was going to say, but I'll go with the flow.

IC: Robin made sure the cup she was going to use was clean. She then selected regular coffee.

After the cup was filled, she got some things to put in it.

OOC: Happy Easter, everyone.

Costh returned sipping his HC as he noticed Robin had her coffee. "Is it good?" He asked as he pulled out a chair and took a seat.

Costh returned sipping his HC as he noticed Robin had her coffee. "Is it good?" He asked as he pulled out a chair and took a seat.

"Don't know yet," Robin replied placing the now filled cup on a wafer to protect the table, "I don't take it black."

She poured in some creamer, sugar, and a little cinnamon for flavoring. After mixing it all together carefully, she took a tentative sip.

"Not what I'm used it," she said, "but its alright."

"That's good." He replied, "So what would you like to do now?"

*Fingal entered the cafeteria, and made himself a large hot chocolate with lots of sugar. He had come back from being at several funerals, and slumped down on an empty table looking depressed*

OOC: sorry I've been away so long, I haven't had access to a computer for ages

Eldrad nodded in approval of his students methods,"Well done, you are establishing a relationship with this particular spirit."

"My child... my child was killed. It was so young... so innocent."

OOC: See in you a few days, I've got to go away until Tuesday
"Where was it killed, and by who? Can you show us?"

His ear twitched toward Eldrad as the (umm?) Elf spoke, but his main point of attention was the spirit before him.

OOC:
Sorry about the lag...makeup work KILLS

"Where was it killed, and by who? Can you show us?"

His ear twitched toward Eldrad as the (umm?) Elf spoke, but his main point of attention was the spirit before him.

OOC:
Sorry about the lag...makeup work KILLS
OOC: No worries about it. I made the comment to make sure you knew it was there anyway.

IC: "At our home... I don't remember what it looked like though. It was a man... no, not a man... a demon."

OOC: No worries about it. I made the comment to make sure you knew it was there anyway.

IC: "At our home... I don't remember what it looked like though. It was a man... no, not a man... a demon."
"Was it close by here?"

"Was it close by here?"
"So close.. over here."

The spirit made as if to walk through the nearby wall.

Elif padded over to Eldrad and crouched down.

"Climb on...I can move faster than you can."

Eldrad frowned,"It walked through the wall..."

Eldrad frowned,"It walked through the wall..."
"And who knows how far it is to be going? Come on."

"And who knows how far it is to be going? Come on."
He continued to frown,"Through the solid wall of the Tower."

"Well, it's going to get lost if we don't follow it."

"Well, it's going to get lost if we don't follow it."
Eldrad, normally of a calm disposition, was by now struggling to maintain himself. Instead of repeating himself, he sighed, and climbed on the back of his student,"Then let's go."

Elif turned, padding away from the wall, before turning and gathering himself up.

He rushed at the wall, and as he was about to run into the wall head-first, the wall went intangible -- at least for them -- and the Roharanhan rushed through the air.

He paused, once, before discerning his direction and keeping up, heading towards the ground.

When they came to ground, he brougth them out of whatever state they'd been in, and he moved gracefully, swiftly...

Obstacles that would have delayed a humanoid ten minutes were a single bound for him, and when the ghost changed directions, the transition was immediate, but smooth enough to not upset the Elf's balance that was on his back.

OK, he can ghost through objects... a useful, if slightly odd, ability.

"Why didn't you say you could do that in the first place?"

"Can't you?"

"Can't you?"
"One thing you must learn is that not everyone can do everything. I myself can ghost under certain conditions... but I prefer not to, as I do not like the feeling."

"My mother was our Clan's shaaman. She said I had the ability to see and talk to them, so I should have the ability to mimic them. I thought that's how it went across species."

"Maybe that is how your species works... but there are many different species, all with different characteristics."

"Maybe that is how your species works... but there are many different species, all with different characteristics."
"I know only the characteristics of my race and the Drow. And the Drow don't see the dead, from what research I've done."

He switched direction again, bounding across objects on the surface of a stream to not have to face the water.

"We've gone an evra and a half already, I thought she said it was near!"

OOC:

Five ish miles? I know, my measurement system is odd. =-_-=

"Spirits are sometimes prone to mis-calculating distance. How far can you go?"

"Easily? Three. Seven is a hard day's travel."

In a clearing up ahead, the slight form of the spirit could be seen, just standing there, as if it was waiting for them,"You have arrived."

Loki turned his head and noticed that both Eldrad and the odd being had disappeared. They didn't walk past me... did they?

Maybe they teleported away... Loki thought as he stood up and began wandering down through the castle again.

Eventually he reached the bottom floor and walked out into the courtyard, all the time scanning the scene for any sign of the two.

He slowed at the entrace of the clearing, stopping as they reached the spirit.

He then crouched back down to let Eldrad off.

Eldrad looked around, and frowned,"I should stop running off like that... I feel sorry for Loki. We shall return to the Tower soon."

"As soon as you say."

Elif was already looking around. His run had forced him to relinquish his grasp on seeing just the one spirit, so if the child lingered, it should be easy enough to find.

The child did not linger, which was a shame. The mother spirit seemed to think the child was there though, and no longer noticed them. Eldrad took this oppurtunity to explain something,"When a person dies and the spirit leaves the body, it begins to loose touch with the world as we know it. Memories of people, places, all eventually disappear. All spirits eventually travel to the domain of Death... She watches over them after that."

"And this one cannot die yet? Do her thoughts of her child keep her so much from peace that she can't?"

"And this one cannot die yet? Do her thoughts of her child keep her so much from peace that she can't?"
"This spirit is already dead... but some can linger here longer than others. Why? No one truly knows... many believe that it is because they have buisness to complete."

"This spirit is already dead... but some can linger here longer than others. Why? No one truly knows... many believe that it is because they have buisness to complete."
Elif's tail curled and he stood back up and shook.

"I think we define death differently."

He walked over (bi-pedal) to her and reached out to touch her on the shoulder.

"Your child isn't here. And if you let this anger and sorrow continue to eat at your soul, you'll never be able to see it again."

Elif's tail curled and he stood back up and shook.

"I think we define death differently."

He walked over (bi-pedal) to her and reached out to touch her on the shoulder.

"Your child isn't here. And if you let this anger and sorrow continue to eat at your soul, you'll never be able to see it again."

The spirit looked at him,"But, what of my child? Where is it?"

The spirit looked at him,"But, what of my child? Where is it?"
"It went beyond. I cannot get beyond, but I am told that Death can take you there. She might even be able to help you find your child again."

"It went beyond. I cannot get beyond, but I am told that Death can take you there. She might even be able to help you find your child again."
The spirit nodded,"Maybe Death can help me... perhaps it is time. I thank you."

"Good luck, once you're there."

"Good luck, once you're there."
"Thank you."

The spirit faded from view rapidly, and seemed to sink into the ground. Eldrad raised an eyebrow, and nodded approvingly,"You are talented indeed. It is rare to find someone with your talent. Now, we must return. I have other students as well."

Galvenor sensed the Others, the ones that were watching from the shadows of the Ta’nar shared consciousness. He approached them to see what they were.

There were strange shapes lurking here, shapes that were all legs and spikes with a ravenous hunger. The Silent Hunters watched him with their many eyes, waiting for him to show a weakness they could pounce on. They were closing in on his, their numbers increasing by the moment. He could hear the rattle of chitin as they moved.

Galvenor summoned a bit of power and cast a light in the area, and stared back at himself…

"Thank you."

The spirit faded from view rapidly, and seemed to sink into the ground. Eldrad raised an eyebrow, and nodded approvingly,"You are talented indeed. It is rare to find someone with your talent. Now, we must return. I have other students as well."
"All right."

He returned to his teacher, crouching back down so that the elf could ride him back.

"All right."

He returned to his teacher, crouching back down so that the elf could ride him back.
Eldrad climbed back on, and let his student take him back to the Tower, which still loomed over them close by. It was truly an impressive structure.

"It looks big even from this distance. They say that even the gods don't reside in such a place as this."

Still, he stretched out his legs and started, taking a more direct route back than had been given going.

"Countless representatives from countless species... such is the Tower."

"They say the dens of the Rata clan rival this in size...but it is our largest and most powerful clan, and it remains together while the rest of us spread out."

"Tell me about your people."

Finding no sign of the two (Eldrad and Ina) anywhere, Loki decided to sit down on the stone fountain near the middle of the courtyard. It had become very familiar to him in the time that he had been at the White Tower as he spent much of his time there... it was always fun to play with the water or just relax to the soothing sounds. Now it was for waiting.

"Tell me about your people."
"What to tell?
First, and likely most important, is that we come from the desert. We have little water, and a fairly dense population. We're adapted for this in multiple ways...compared to you, I am very big and heavy, yet I can go for over a week without any water at all...almost a month if I'm on a successful Hunt, but blood and water are similar in quality.
Our population is mostly children...females can have three litters a year, normally in litters of four to six. Eighty percent of all children die within their first year of life, but after that chances of survival increase significantly. Kaymirilian intervention could have fixed this, but it was decided that they would not. This ensures that only the strongest of our infants survive to produce more children. We wage war on each other for water resources, and we hunt for food, since very little of our climate is suitable for agriculture. Aside from that, only one family -- who has a very strong hold on the oldest and largest known water source in the nation -- has successfully learned how to cultivate anything.

What else?
Or names denote first our family, then our given names, then our clan. My mother was from the Roran family, I am Elif, and I am a member of the Omaneras clan. We take our mother's family names because among the Striped, it is rare for us to know our fathers at all...often even our mothers do not know our fathers.

We are Striped and Spotted. Striped are normally bigger than Spotted, but the Spotted are stronger, weight unit per weight unit. That, and their bone armor grows thicker, meaning that when a Striped clan wars against a Spotted, the Spotted win. They are considered higher class...what administrative and other sorts of good jobs there are go to them, while we train to be, as your kinds term it, 'foot soldiers.'

You can tell how high or low an individual is ranked among our people by their appearance. The more Noble, the smaller and closer together their spots will be. Among the Rata clan, there is also a unique eye pattern...gold with another color striped through it.

The inverse is true in the Striped...the longer and broader the stripes, the better ranked. I'm roughly middle class, among my kind.

Anything specific you wanted to know?"

Teji watched them depart and then saw loki leave. he decided to just sit there and wait for their eventual return. he walked over to a window to watch what was going on out side and passed by the door that Eldrad had been gaurding. there were many strong feelings eminating from it so he decided against opening it.

"What to tell?
First, and likely most important, is that we come from the desert. We have little water, and a fairly dense population. We're adapted for this in multiple ways...compared to you, I am very big and heavy, yet I can go for over a week without any water at all...almost a month if I'm on a successful Hunt, but blood and water are similar in quality.
Our population is mostly children...females can have three litters a year, normally in litters of four to six. Eighty percent of all children die within their first year of life, but after that chances of survival increase significantly. Kaymirilian intervention could have fixed this, but it was decided that they would not. This ensures that only the strongest of our infants survive to produce more children. We wage war on each other for water resources, and we hunt for food, since very little of our climate is suitable for agriculture. Aside from that, only one family -- who has a very strong hold on the oldest and largest known water source in the nation -- has successfully learned how to cultivate anything.

What else?
Or names denote first our family, then our given names, then our clan. My mother was from the Roran family, I am Elif, and I am a member of the Omaneras clan. We take our mother's family names because among the Striped, it is rare for us to know our fathers at all...often even our mothers do not know our fathers.

We are Striped and Spotted. Striped are normally bigger than Spotted, but the Spotted are stronger, weight unit per weight unit. That, and their bone armor grows thicker, meaning that when a Striped clan wars against a Spotted, the Spotted win. They are considered higher class...what administrative and other sorts of good jobs there are go to them, while we train to be, as your kinds term it, 'foot soldiers.'

You can tell how high or low an individual is ranked among our people by their appearance. The more Noble, the smaller and closer together their spots will be. Among the Rata clan, there is also a unique eye pattern...gold with another color striped through it.

The inverse is true in the Striped...the longer and broader the stripes, the better ranked. I'm roughly middle class, among my kind.

Anything specific you wanted to know?"

Eldrad shook his head,"I have lived many hundreds upon hundreds of years, and I am surprised I have never encountered your race before. However, it sounds as if your existence is harsh and unforgiving... a high infant mortality rate means that your population cannot grow very much... do you not let the Kaymirilans help you at all?"

Eldrad shook his head,"I have lived many hundreds upon hundreds of years, and I am surprised I have never encountered your race before. However, it sounds as if your existence is harsh and unforgiving... a high infant mortality rate means that your population cannot grow very much... do you not let the Kaymirilans help you at all?"
"A little bit. But if what you know as quality of living went up drastically for us in only a short amount of time, our habits would not change, and the same blood would be spilt pointlessly. It is for the best."

"A little bit. But if what you know as quality of living went up drastically for us in only a short amount of time, our habits would not change, and the same blood would be spilt pointlessly. It is for the best."

"I suppose it is incorrect of me to judge by the standards which I am used to."

"I suppose it is incorrect of me to judge by the standards which I am used to."
"I don't think you can help it. I wondered, when I arrived here, if by some chance I had not made my way, mistaken, into a Paradise. A place where water is so plentiful it is wasted by throwing it into the air and displayed in open pools in the courtyards."

"I don't think you can help it. I wondered, when I arrived here, if by some chance I had not made my way, mistaken, into a Paradise. A place where water is so plentiful it is wasted by throwing it into the air and displayed in open pools in the courtyards."

"Things are... different here. But this is far from Paradise... no, war and pestilence still stalk us at every turn. Why, even now, Galvenor is attempting to figure out what is wrong with his people... and he is unsure. A powerful being he may be... but in the grander scheme of things, he is as clueless as the next person."

"Things are... different here. But this is far from Paradise... no, war and pestilence still stalk us at every turn. Why, even now, Galvenor is attempting to figure out what is wrong with his people... and he is unsure. A powerful being he may be... but in the grander scheme of things, he is as clueless as the next person."
"Galvenor? Whoa..."

The giant feline skidded to a halt at the river boundary, looking to see which way would lead to a shorter crossing over relatively solid objects.

"Galvenor? Whoa..."

The giant feline skidded to a halt at the river boundary, looking to see which way would lead to a shorter crossing over relatively solid objects.

There was a bridge someway down the river, paved with stones, which looked to be sturdy.

"Galvenor is the headmaster of the White Tower... he is the most qualified for the job."

There was a bridge someway down the river, paved with stones, which looked to be sturdy.

"Galvenor is the headmaster of the White Tower... he is the most qualified for the job."
"I see...or not, rather. Is he anything like the Kaymirilian head mages?"

He started up again, resuming his previous pace.

OOC:
I THINK he can get up to 25 mph at a sustained rate of travel.

"I see...or not, rather. Is he anything like the Kaymirilian head mages?"

He started up again, resuming his previous pace.

OOC:
I THINK he can get up to 25 mph at a sustained rate of travel.
OOC: ALright

"In wisdom, most definatley. He is ancient by any standard, his people being a race of nigh-immortality. I understand that many of the head mages regard him as an equal... though I do not know if all of them could be said to do the same for myself. It is of no matter... he is extremely powerful, but kindly. You will not 'see' him as such, for he is a non-corporal being."

OOC: ALright

"In wisdom, most definatley. He is ancient by any standard, his people being a race of nigh-immortality. I understand that many of the head mages regard him as an equal... though I do not know if all of them could be said to do the same for myself. It is of no matter... he is extremely powerful, but kindly. You will not 'see' him as such, for he is a non-corporal being."
"Even humans are long-lived next to us, so immortality of a non-ghost 'ghost'..." Here, he made a guesture with his ears and tail, seemingly a shrug. "The average life span is thirty-odd years, those that live to be old die in their late forties or early fifties...in only one case did someone live to be sixty."

"Even humans are long-lived next to us, so immortality of a non-ghost 'ghost'..." Here, he made a guesture with his ears and tail, seemingly a shrug. "The average life span is thirty-odd years, those that live to be old die in their late forties or early fifties...in only one case did someone live to be sixty."
"I am long-lived by the definations of my people... if it is not something you cannot answer, what is your age?"

"I am long-lived by the definations of my people... if it is not something you cannot answer, what is your age?"
"Sixteen years, by the standard reckoning."

"Are you considered to be an adult among your people?"

"Are you considered to be an adult among your people?"
"Yes. We're considered adults at five, even though we don't stop growing until twelve."

"An adult by age five? To me, that is incomprehensible. Still, given what you have already told me, I cannot honestly say I am not surprised."

"I wasn't surprised by your reaction. After all...you look like a pale-skinned Drow...and their children are just learning how to write at my age. We're different."

He ran up a boulder near the Tower's outer wall, jumped to the ledge of the wall, before droppping straight down...into a fountain. He shook, walking to the edge so Eldrad could get off.

"That...was unexpected."

Eldrad ran a gentle drying spell through himself, and laughed,"No matter. You have learned well today... now, I must attend to other buisness."

Elif nodded, exiting the fountain away from Eldrad to shake himself mostly dry.

"When should I seek you out again?"

"Come seek me when you feel as if you truly want to continue your studies. Spend the time inbetween practising what I have taught you, and socialising with the other students."

He lowered his head -- a guesture of acceptance, before moving off. To do something.

Eldrad watched him go, and nodded approvingly,"Promising... very promising indeed."

"That's good." He replied, "So what would you like to do now?"

OOC: Sorry about the delay. I hate finals season.

IC: "Well," Robin said after taking another sip of her coffee, "after this drink, I wouldn't mind a quick refresher of my Elemental abilities and then we can return to the scrying array," she took another sip, "got to keep in practice if I don't want to loose my edge."

*after watching the newcomers for a while, Fingal decided to see where Loki had got to*

Loki was busy amusing himself, as children often do, by walking continuous circles around the stone base of the fountain. Every so often he would bend down and splash a bit of water with his hands.

Teji was watching loki from the window looking over the courtyard waiting for Eldrad to return. He was still by the mysterious door. He was hoping that nothing came out anytime soon.

FYI

The door you are talking about is the door to Galvenor's office. It is located within the middle of the Great Library on the side of one of the many bookshelves. There is a little sign hanging upon a metal rod sticking out of the surface above the door clearly identifying the door as his office. There is also a little bell hanging just so it sounds when the door is opened.

OOC: well there are windows in the great library right.

IC: Teji decided to occupy himself with one of the books on the shelf opposite Galvenor's door. It was a book on theories of creature summoning. Something that Teji will probably not be able to do but still interesting. he took a seat close to a window but still having the door in visibility range.

Elif wandered through the buildings, careful to not disturb Drow students.

He didn't know what they would think of him, in any event.

Occasionally, a member of the Irtash family of the Rata clan would have enough talent to study in a Kaymirilian city for a few years...but it was every few generations...and increasingly long between them.
The Roharanhan were not magick users.

Eventually, he wound up in a place with pillars that obviously did not hold up the ceiling...as if the leather and parchements in them were capable of such.

He leaned back on his haunches in front of one of these long pillars, pulling out one of the leather-bound 'stones."

It opened easily, and the insides of it -- maybe it was a creature of some sort? -- were a slightly mottled light tan color, spreckled liberally with dark marks.

It's a book...these...are all...books...

His ears folded back in shame. It mattered not if the text were in his own language, or in Drow or Common.

He could not read, and therefore this place had no use for him.

He sighed, starting to make his way out.

If his teacher knew he could not read even a single word of any language, surely the Elf's respect for him would drop, if, indeed, he had any respect for him.

But there were few among his race who knew how to read at all. Ina was an unforgiving place to live. Survival, unfortunately, had to come before education.

Uriel had decided to head to the library, and had gotten distracted trying to remember a song he'd heard. Walking forward he bumped into Elif. "I'm sorry." He apologised, "Did you come to look something up as well?"

"No. Just exploring the grounds. There is little for me to gain here."

Elif wasn't phased in the slightest by the smaller creature's bumping into him, indeed, his tail had whipped out to catch the being if it had fallen.

"Really?" He asked surprised, "I've found reading to have taught me much."

"Only because the marks mean something to you."

Now Lucifer was doubly surprised, both that he couldn't read and that he was a mage. "Would you like to learn what they mean?" He asked

Now Lucifer was doubly surprised, both that he couldn't read and that he was a mage. "Would you like to learn what they mean?" He asked
Elif's ears twitched as he considered.

He did not know this creature.

He did not know where he came from.

But...that was true of everyone but the Drow he was being so careful not to disturb.

If he didn't try to trust, he would get no where...and if this being could teach him to read...he would be an instant scholar in his own land...above the rank his stripes conferred on him. That, and he would not have to live in shame here.

"Very well. If you can teach me, I will learn."

"Alright." He replied as he led Elif back into the library. "I'm going to have to teach you common, alright?"

"Alright." He replied as he led Elif back into the library. "I'm going to have to teach you common, alright?"
"I speak Common with less limitation than you speak Drow."

"Good, then that'll make it easier." He replied as they arrived at a desk and took a seat. "Alright, we shall begin with the alphabet, the building blocks of words."

"Good, then that'll make it easier." He replied as they arrived at a desk and took a seat. "Alright, we shall begin with the alphabet, the building blocks of words."
He switched abruptly to Common, to not have to think in two languages at once.

"If that is the beginning point, then begin there."

He sat on the floor, still easily head and shoulders above the table ledge. The chairs would be unable to accomadate him, anyway.

"Alright, this," A a He writes the letter in capital and lower cased, "Is pronounced like this." He pronounces the letter. "Do you follow?" He asked wondering if another track might be easier for Elif to grasp.

OOC:

Great idea you two. I approve.

There would be several language book available as well as some designed for the instruction of Common in the language section if you want some props to aide you.

"That's good." He replied, "So what would you like to do now?"

OOC: Sorry about the delay. I hate finals season.

IC: "Well," Robin said after taking another sip of her coffee, "after this drink, I wouldn't mind a quick refresher of my Elemental abilities and then we can return to the scrying array," she took another sip, "got to keep in practice if I don't want to loose my edge."
OOC: Bump for Theao's Costh character.

"What kind of elementalism do you practice, and if it's a combat style, I could set up some targets for you." He replied

ooc: Sorry, missed it.

"What kind of elementalism do you practice, and if it's a combat style, I could set up some targets for you." He replied

ooc: Sorry, missed it.

Finishing her coffee, Robing replied, "My Element is Fire," she set the now empty cup down, "as for its use, it can be used defensively or offensively in combination with martial arts or not.

"As for targets, why not."

OOC: Its alright. No harm done.