"Yes, the Systemarch species have natural psychic affinities, in direct line with the maturation of their fangs," he said. Roid grinned, showing a full set of teeth. "Only Councilmen are allowed to fully grow their teeth out, however."

Roid nodded.

"Good. You can ask Max here. However, I really must go - have you heard that the Valley of Mist has come under assault by Sura, minion of the Dreaded Lord. Inform Max that if he wishes to fight in that battle he is encouraged to do so, but finish your business with him first. I bid you good day."

With that, Roid wandered off, disappearing entirely.

Anik felt that a Divine spark still remained - Max. Very shortly, he saw Max walk into the glade where he was found.

The shield had slipped into hammerspace; taking it's place on her back was a lengthened, weighted version of her blade, one meant for a person of immense strength.

Max had changed dramatically; her hair was now a deep red, and she had matured into a woman. She wore a simple black cape, and a flattering white-and-blue outfit. She, was, in a word, beautiful.

She smiled at Anik across the glade, waving. "Anik! Nice to see you again!"
This message was last edited by the player at 07:22, Mon 15 Feb 2010.

"Ah my lady warrior. I thought your speech would be the end of you, but it seems that fate's protection, and certain councilmen's, shines greatly on you. Personally I don't believe in fate as objective as that, but I must quell my own bias and stick with only the empirical evidence presented." He motioned Max to follow him. "Ironically both your payment to me and my Low Lord Task happened to deal with the same issues. The first thing I will need is your blood, just a sample though. After that I can begin with tissue samples, next I will begin a full theomagnetic spectrogram followed by physical, mental, magical, divine, and combat tests. All of this will be followed by a psych exam and interview. In the end I will accomplish 4 goals. I will be able to explain both your abnormally effective intertwining with fate or luck or whatever it is. I will be able to duplicate, to a point, the effects. Your own abilities, with greater understanding and perhaps a bit of my assistance, will be heightened. And finally both your debt to me, and my task will be solved."

Anik wanted no misunderstandings, about this either, so he continued, not waiting for any response. "Of course I expect your full cooperation for the sake of your debt to me, the conclave orders, my own orders, any respect you have for science, and finally if all else fails self-gain. Upfront I will warn you that some of the tests will be painful, but not torture, everything will be healed and everything ethical. As for any samples taken to you, they will belong to myself, not you."

Anik smiled a warm friendly smile as they finally got back to the town, again, not waiting for a response he continued. "But before any of this begins, I want you to help me on a little errand, it seems there is a lost grand workshop of mine somewhere in the realm, the priest knows where, and he lost the key. He doesn't know I found it at this incarnations birth ironically. I shall pay you 200 conclave stones to act as my bodygaurd as we enter the place, just incase there are any (as I expect there will be) unknown defenses or residence. Besides, I want to see you, and my shield, in action."

He went to find the priest to ask him where the ancient workshop was, now if Max wanted to say something along he way, there was an opening for him to speak.

Maxilita shook her head, smiling slightly. "You won't be able to duplicate the effects.. but that's another matter. I've had the skin of legs ripped off and had bit taken out of my flesh by a mechanical monstrosity, so I think I'll be able to withstand the pain. I'll cooperate fully with whatever, as long you don't violate me in any way. As for the escort mission, 200 coins won't do me any good. I'll do it for the sake of a friend."

Anik visibly winced at the violation remark, but still spoke in a calm manner. "First of all you'll get the 200 Stones regardless, because I was there when the fine was issued." second of all. "And you don't have to worry about anything unethical I said. And while I do admit your most recent appearance, namely the maturity, does invoke a specific hormonal arousal from me, my mind has overpowered my body's urges long ago." he said with some scientific esteem, but still... he didn't seem to look towards Max's direction for a bit afterward.

Maxillita calmly drew her sword, tossing it into the air and catching it by it's handle with incredible skill, then sheathing it. "Oh, I know that. I was just warning you, because I'm Oathbound to show you every courtesy during this encounter. That includes adequate warnings. Now, what are we doing first? Hopefully the most painful parts. I'd like to get those out of the way."

To be honest, she was eager to do battle herself. The sword felt so solid in her hand, the weight of it the most comforting thing in the world.

"Like I said, before any of the expirments I need to see you in action. Some observational data is best when viewed in a natural environment. Now if I could just find that Priest." He continues looking for the priest to ask where his old workshop was.

((MD?))

The old priest is examining the dredged body. He looks up at Anik and his guest, smiling.

"The old workshop, sir? It lies to the north, past the mythical Gates of the River of Vaars. We have been forbidden to sail the river by the most of ancient decrees.. we are not allowed to even trek through the mountains which so beautifully cradle the city. It is for the best. Savage beasts inhabit those lands, and darker things besides. Still, the workshop was built their for a purpose, my old mentor told me.. you must cross the mountains, following the stream which, at one point, becomes our underground lake, while at another the River of Vaars.."

"Alright then. I shall be gone to my Workshop then. Oh and don't worry about losing the key, I found it before you even told me. I just decided to let your feel the pressure a bit, please try not to lose important things from now on." He said in a fatherly manner. He motioned max to follow and headed towards the north and the River Vaars.

Along the way he spoke to Max. "So then savage beasts, mountain trekking in a forbidden area, and finally an abandoned workshop. Enough of an adventure for you?"

She smiled. "Enough of one to entertain. Fighting a beast god, now THAT would be a challenge! I trust you're a capable healer, Anik?" She said. He was obviously a very capable magician.

"It's not my specialty to work on actual people, and I don't have ritual ingredients with me, so try to stay in one piece." He said continuing towards the mountains.

((waiting for Nat))

The mountains were high in the distance. The sun was up, and hot. The walk to the mountains would take three or four hours, at least. As Max and Anik wandered through the forest, peace and excitement came over them.

Anik paused for a second. "Hold up, just in case." Anik began to enchant the two of them with some magical protection, just something of a ward against magical effects. "Might help as a buffer any enchantments we face along the way before I can pull out anything larger. Subtle magic is the worst since it creeps up on you."

Anik felt the power leave him and surround the two of them, crackling. They would have a mild degree of protection.

Anik continued towards their destination... which was taking way to many posts to get to something of actual note. :P

( yea seriously.)

Maxillita began juggling kunai for the hell of it, pulling them from her hammerspace.

(Hey, I thought you guys wanted to travel ;))

They soon come to the mountains. It is cold and slippery, and the path is treacherous. Soon, twilight falls upon the place, and the two have an option; continue in the dead of night, or make camp.

"I say we continue, Anik. We could use fire magic or somesuch to light the way." Max said, settling on a nearby rock while they talked.

Anik could easily make a light with magic, but it would be better to see in the dark. Pulling out his swimming mask, he handed them over to Max. "Use these, with them you should be able to see in the dark with the black lens pulled down. As for myself I'll use my own magics to get through."

Anik used a combination of magic to give himself nightvision then proceeds cautiously with max.

(Yea, we proceed as stealthy a Merit Assassin.  So I'm wearing black goggles now?)

Anik felt the magic surge through him, and soon it was as if the sun was high above him. They could see clearly. The path was treacherous, but manageable, and after a few hours they came upon the other side of the mountains - to the River of Vaars itself. Its waters were fast moving and dark, and the two could see that it entered a series of caverns underneath the mountains.

Both were exhausted. The mountains, Anik suspected, had been designed so that no mortal could get past them.

"Alright, this looks like a good resting spot. The trip will be hard after this. There is a reason the Bosmer need not fear the outside world in my realm. Would you get some wood?" Anik got to work providing some alarm wards around the area they would rest. Sitting down resting, he chatted a bit. "I would leave my wetsuit and air tank behind. Atleast the goggles were small enough for my pack. I noticed you had some sort of void space that you kept pulling things out of. I will have to look into that."

(It's a full one divers mask, not just goggles, the type that covers your nose too oh and great total OOC reply..)

She turned so Anik couldn't see what she was dong, pulled a cordon of dry wood from her hammerspace, and turned back. She then used a little fire magic to get a small fire going. She took off the mask- her hair naturally went back into order of it's own accord.

"You could have asked me to carry your stuff you know. I don't want to talk about Elsewhere, though. It's a neat trick that stops working if you think about it too much."

"All that means is there is a natural block to it. Besides I'm not thinking about how it works, but instead how best to use it. The googles your wearing... their not magic, their divine. A friend of mine's blood went into the making of the lens, and thus some of his power, with my direction was imprinted on the object, allowing the user to see in the dark." He pondered while looking into the fire. "Tell me Max, how do you view the world? And don't worry about what my question might mean, just answer it."

She looked away wistfully. "It's a place that's supposed to be good but is corrupted by selfish desires. When you're good, you serve as a beacon of light, a flicker of light in the darkness, that people will flock to like moths. Anyone with a heart wants the world to be good. So if I offer myself up to Fate, it use me and guide me so that I can do the most good. That is how I see the world- I will be a martyr for the sins of all."