Konung looked towards the sacred stone bathed in light, a grimace on his face. Suddenly, he swam forward, beckoning Anik to follow.

Anik followed though slightly at a distence, he wasn't sure what was up.

Konung soon led Anik to the remains of a ship wrought of rusted iron.

"Use this," he said.

Anik went over to the ship and before taking out a piece, used lore just to find out what it had been used for. He then took out a piece just thin enough for him to hold, like a piece of steel paper. The rust suddenly dissipated, but the iron suddenly turned glossy, as he reacted a small bit around it to "rust proof" the small  strip of metal.

*I am here on business from the conclave to investigate your Kraken, and your claims of its abilities.*
*Before we proceed I will tell you now that if you do indeed have it weaponized like you stated,*
*I must know just how much control over the Kraken you have, for all our safety, that way I know what to expect.*

Instead of having holes, the letters would appear as red rust on the dark gray surface.

Anik knew that there had once been a civilization - land - in the place known now as the Seas of Jormungandr. The civilization had been mighty, but vain - their ultimate goal, as a people, was to master their control over the weather, using scientific and sorcerous means. Their kingdom was a desert, the few fertile areas filled with the farms needed to support such a nation, and their science-sorcerers desired rain, and with that, bounty.

The rain came, but never stopped.

This ship was one of the last bastions of the civilization, built using their own uncanny methods, until it was sunk from a horror beneath the waves. The ship had, in its service, an elemental of fire - trapped with magic and bound in steel, it fueled the ship.

"I command the thing known as the Kraken," said Konung, "But I do not exert full control. Nay, it is a dangerous and fickle thing, a beast that loves destruction and death.. but it listens to me. I am its master, and it knows. It will not attack me or my guests unless it is berserk."

*How much do you know about the Kraken? And what can you tell me about it's use.*

Konung looked at Anik suspiciously.

"You are from the Conclave, yes?"

*As I said, yes I am, both the seal I showed you and Callisti with me should be enough proof of that.*
He lifts the seal again so he may see it more clearly, and points at the Callisti (unless somehow its not with me then scratch the Callisti part, both speach and action)

*I am here to inspect the Kraken before the conclave is willing to make any deals with you.*

*But I guess before we continued then, I should ask, what exactly would be the extent of service you would offer the conclave.*

He makes sure that Konung is able to read the whole text before shifting it to new parts. Not being able to add tone and voice to his conversation, it was much harder to be diplomatic, so Anik would have to closely choose his words and question to replace tone.

"I see," said Konung. "I would be willing to offer them the strategic services of my Kraken, for a sizable fee, for the beast is as close to my essence as anything else.. and, with my focus in place, I have superb control over the thing - but I do not keep it in chains. No.. there are some things it will not do, such as enter the darkest Ravine in Jormungandr.."

*Do you mind if I examine you for traces of madness or previous plots against the Conclave, nothing fancy I just need to touch you.*

Should he agree, Anik will touch Konung's skin with his own hand and use Legend on him to view his past... as far back as he can, searching for what he said of course, but also any information on the Kraken as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:25, Sat 02 Jan 2010.

"Go ahead," grunted Konung, still - obviously - a little unsure.

Anik saw that the God was not Mad; he saw several powerful rites performed on the white stone; he saw a fight, of fire and steam, within the very ship he was scribing upon; he saw the Kraken, a great beast fully under the control of Konung; and he saw the Ravine, deep and dark..

He could not see any further. He knew the theoelectromagnetic field was in the way.

This was a success, more than just the fact that he not only COULD see some of his history (something he wasn't sure would work) but this also confirmed many things. He nodded then continued to write.
*Thank you, now I can support telling the conclave that we can trust your sincerity.*
*You must understand that with so many enemies out there, we must be careful of offers like yours.*
*Now then do you have any known history of the great beast before we examine it, assuming that's possible.*

"He was there when I came, worshipped himself as a deity by my own people.. I know little else," said Konung. "We could see him."

He looks to the Callisti to make sure he wasn't lying before heading to the Kraken with the sea-god.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:53, Fri 15 Jan 2010.

The Callisti affirmed that he was not lying.

The swim was short and efficient. They passed the alter made of light and stone, and soon came to a long, flat expanse of sand, a series of huge black rocks forming a maze within the center of the place.

"The Kraken lives there," said Konung. "Would you care for a look?"

Anik flipped the dark-sight lens on to get a better look at the rocks. "Like before I can assess things with a touch. Also If the Kraken is able to speak intelligently I would like to speak with it." To get a look at the Kraken, he focused a bit on the surrounding water and tried to use legend. Just to try and see how large the Kraken was (just looking for some size reference), he doubted the flowing liquid would give much information, but it would prove many time easier than air since it wasn't constantly being blown and dispersed.

"The Kraken cannot speak, I am afraid," said Konung.

Anik felt his power rush through the water, and an aswer soon came to him.. the Kraken was just a little larger than the Hall of the Sun; frighteningly huge.

"Alright then I would still like to examine the Kraken, would you call him, or should we go in?" This made Anik somewhat cautious. He knew he was completely at the mercy of this god here.

"I do not wish to call him at this time," said Konung. "He is caught in a deep slumber. If this makes you nervous, you are free to leave, but if not, I invite you to come observe the creature."

Anik nodded. "I shall examine the beast in his slumber then." He goes with or without the god to examine the beast.

Camouflaged by the large rocky outcrop was a large cave system. It was pitch black within, and freezing cold, but Anik's foresight allowed him comfort and sight within the cavern. Konung followed him.

The thing was huge. Too many eyes dotted its face, and its mouth was a gaping abyss filled with a billion slashing teeth. A hundred tentacles supported its immense body. Most of the Kraken's mass, including the tentacles, are covered in a strange black bone, making them - Anik surmised - effectively harder than most metals.. obsidian sledgehammers to destroy even the most determined foe. He knew that the Kraken would be very difficult to kill under normal means.

Anik went up to one of the lesser tentacles and gently places his hand on the creature and used his ability to view its life, intentions, and pretty much everything he can about the creature. He would spend several minutes abosrbing knowledge if allowed.

The creature was vague, its history and nature obscured as if by some sort of static.. the harder Anik pressed, the more the obscuration seemed to grow, the sound of rushing water enveloping him as he tried to make sense of the pattern about the thing. Knowledge was gleaned, but -

With a shock, Anik realized that the Kraken was being protected - by Konung's own theoelectromagnetic field. Anik has studied the sciences, read the texts.. he knew that this could only mean a single thing: that the Kraken was bound, utterly and irrevocably, to the divinity-pattern of Konung.

Still, information was found, even through the white noise.. he knew that it had known existence as something small within the Ravine, but with the summons of Konung it grew to immense size and began its black metamorphosis... he saw that it was not bloodthirsty naturally, and was rather peaceful most of the time, but that it had experienced stages of extreme bloodlust - the triggers were either the will of Konung or the fear of the Ravine.. he saw that it was a creature that brought the sea with it, literally emptying its massive pores of billions of liters of salt water if on dry land.. he saw that its strength and endurance were immense, and that it saw things with its strange eyes..

"Enough," said Konung, suddenly, breaking Anik's several minutes of concentration. "I trust you've learnt what you've come to learn."

He nodded. *Yes. Quite amazing creature, and I indeed do feel the link between you two.* Anik turns back to Konung.

He paused for a moment before writing to the Callisti. *You may go back now, thank you for recording, I shall send you a copy of the report*

Once the Callisti leaves he turns to Kongung.
*You can be sure I will send a glowing report to the Conclave*
*Trust. That is a big factor here, they want to know if they can trust you.*
*I have tested both your patience and your willingness to gain this trust*
*You have passed with flying colors, and gained my trust as well.*
*The Kraken is a fascinating creature. I do hope I get to study it some other time.*
*I thank you for this opportunity.*

After final farewells he leaves back to his realm... he had a lot to do.

"You are welcome back at any time, master craftsmen," said Konung, a friendly smile on his face.

There was a bet - a bounty - a forest filled with caves - a strange howling -

And Anik was in Bounty.