In reply to Aeletheros (msg #149):

((OOC: Dare I suggest Mirna go after the Kang and catch up with you later ? ;) ))

Mirna gazes at the horizon, deep in thoughts for a few moments. She shakes her head and looks around at the crew, stopping with a kindly look for J'landria. Softly, she says, "The cub it is then. Hopefully we can find him quickly and come back to the Kang before they cause too much damage."

Aalistair looks up, his eyes taking a moment to focus.
"I... I slept. I was touched. A v-vision. From Aa the All-mighty. The All-Seeing Eye appeared before me in my dream, commanding me to seek it out." He dips his hands into the bowl, letting them fill with water. He lifts them, shaking, and covers his head with moisture. "I need to clean myself. Prepare. Perhaps this journey to find the child is the same path. I trust that it is so."

In reply to Mirna (msg #150):

"Methinks you're toying with seeking out the Kang on your own, Mirna."  A feline smile twitches across Wraith's face.  "While there is no question that you are more than capable, I would hate for you to end up enslaved - or worse - because the odds were insurmountably against you."  The airman tucks his gauntlets into his belt.

In reply to Wraith Zephyr (msg #152):

Mirna smiles. "The thought did cross my mind, but there is far less glory in foolhardiness than one would imagine."

In reply to Aalistair (msg #151):

Rioniv tilts his head slightly, regarding Aalistair.  "Not that I would question your faith, dear friend, but you are certain it was Aa?  Did the Eye show you where to seek it?  Perhaps it is a sign to us, though such visions can be difficult to interpret."

In reply to Mirna (msg #153):

Athellin's lips curl into a grim smile at Mirna's response.  "Foolhardy is in the eye of the beholder, though, eh?  Though we did march into the Beastmen's lair, and walk out again."  A brief sadness chases across his features like a fast moving storm cloud, "most of us, anyway."

"I believe it was Aa," he says, sitting up straighter and looking around. "I intend to pray. To meditate upon this vision, but first I must make myself presentable to my god. I must shave and clean myself... well, as best as my given our location. Then I shall go up on deck with my prayerbook and seek guidance."

In reply to Athellin (msg #155):

Mirna gets a faraway look in her eyes, "Aye, most of us." After a moment she grins at Athellin, "So, are you trying to talk me out of going to the Kang camp? Or talk me into it?"

He raises his hands, palms out, his smile returning, "Far be it from me to encourage you one way or the other.  With this pack we are following with the youngling, I expect you will get plenty of adventure in any case."  He looks around at the group present, "though, if you would wish, I will cast my cards and see what the fates have to say?"

In reply to Athellin (msg #158):

"A quick look at the deck may resolve some of our ambivalence," says Wraith, his smile returning.  "No matter what we decide to do, I am happy to say that the repairs are finished.  If you'll excuse a bit of conceit, I don't think she's ever looked as splendid as she does now."  Wraith raises his glass to Aeletheros.  "I would gladly take credit for this overhaul, but our Phantasian sailor deserves the majority of it.  It was he who oversaw most of the repairs."

Aeletheros smiles and even blushes a bit at Wraith's compliments; "Thank you for the vote of confidence but you did plenty as well. Repairs are never a one man job on a windship. I am just glad to have it back up to snuff for our next journey. Let's hope it stays that way for a while."

In reply to Athellin (msg #158):

Mirna chuckles, "Sure, let's see what the fates say."

J'landria moves so she can see Aeletheros and his cards a bit more clearly, her expression obviously curious, but she keeps her distance.

The cartomancer shuffles his zodar, fingers deftly shifting and interleaving the cards.  He then draws two, and places them face up on the table.

The crimson moon, Jhang, and the wizard.  He contemplates for a time before speaking.

"It would suggest we have a battle in store for us, perhaps a magical one.  Though the wizard here may represent another fate before us, related or not."

He appears puzzled, or introspective.

In reply to Athellin (msg #163):

"I'm sure it's nothing we won't be able to handle!" Mirna gets up to walk around the deck and ensure there's nothing unusual about.

Athellin nods slowly, quietly gathers up his cards, and also climbs up to the upper deck to help prepare for the departure.

J'landria follows Athellin and points to the cards.

"Can anyone do that," she asks confused.  "Are the cards somehow magical?"

Aeletheros looks over at J'landria as he also makes his way to the deck; "The cards are probably not magical, his ability to read them most likely is. That is one of the strong points of Cartomancy; divination. I don't pretend to understand it or even believe it 100% but it never hurts to be cautious."

The cartomancer regards J'landria, thoughtful.  "I've never put that much thought into it.  Anyone can do it, I suppose.  There is some art and concentration in drawing the cards, and further effort in interpreting the result.  The cards have their own magic, though I believe the true magic is in what the represent."

Her ears are perked forward, but her expression reads of confusion and disquiet.

"May I touch a card," she asks.

"Of course," he smiles back, his hands again showing the surprising deftness despite their weathered look as he shuffles and fans the cards in the blink of an eye.  "Choose one, if you would," he holds them out to J'landria.

She hesitates, as if she's afraid she's going to be shocked or something, but then reaches out and pulls a card from the deck.  She turns it over and looks at the image, rubbing it between her fingers, and even lifting it up to smell it.  She seems almost baffled, but she turns it around and around, looking at it from all sides.  It's almost as she seems like she's trying to solve some kind of puzzle.

Athellin looks at her choice, a small smile on his face.

The card depicts a white haired and bearded man, holding a great book and a staff, and an enigmatic look on his face.

"The wizard," Athellin explains as J'landria investigates the card.  "Represents magic, sorcery, and, likely more appropriate in this instance, uncertainty or possibly confusion.  Hopefully we are addressing some of that?" he smiles.

She nods to Athellin, still trying to understand what she holds.  Trying to figure out how it tells the future and how it makes magic.  She pulls from a pouch some of the herbs she uses and looks at them in her other hand then back to the card.

"This is just a focus," she says finally.  "Like the herbs and berries."  A rumbling purring sound rolls through her throat for a moment.  "Does the magic come from your God or Gods?"

"Yes," he nods, "Just a focus, perhaps."  He shakes his head and shrugs, both slightly.  "We Rahastrans truly have no gods, unless you consider Fate to be one.  Where the magic comes from, I know not.  It may be that my brother would know, he was always more in tune with the deeper mysteries than I."