When Sathras returns, Aaban puts his hand on the Sauran's rough, scaly shoulder, leans towards him, and says quietly, "That was very brave, Sathras, to stand and protect your companions when you did not even understand what the danger might be.  It was well done," he praises the Sauran.

He awkwardly wedges the lightning quantifier underneath his arm and against the flank of his equs, in order to take the proffered goblet. He drinks deeply.

"Ah...well met, indeed, milady. Many thanks for the wine."

He dismounts carefully. Then drops the quantifier, sending arcane sparks across the floor. He picks it up gingerly, then slides it into tooled slot on his saddle. And then he suddenly realizes that he's talking to a woman. He appraises her with his eyes, obviously, but approvingly.

"Many thanks..."

He takes him a little long--too long, perhaps--to acknowledge that he was addressed by a monarch. The Danuvian, after all, is a sight to behold...

To the King: "Ah your Imminence, a whole tribe of scribes would be needed to chronicle my experiments. Perhaps if I could send word back to the head of my Order first, then we could discuss the...ah...sharing of information between us. As for the prohibitive risk...such a concept does not exist amongst us. I am a Storm Chaser. The Storm is all.

"A proposition, you say? I'm always interested. We are fairly left to our own devices--" he gestures toward his mount, whereupon lay his actual own devices--"and willingly take up the cause wherever we can."

"Sathras old master say that Sathras un-in-tell-i-hent," he sounds the word out carefully. "Sometimes when there is loud noise all at once, Sathras jump before Sathras see. Sathras hit before Sathras know." The big Sauran looks at his empty hands for a moment, then slowly reaches to fill them with something, anything, from the table. "Sathras work at knowing. Sathras always works hard."

King A'Semna smiles knowingly at Novo's reluctance to give out too much information; "Of course, of course, I understand fully. Trade secrets and all that, we Dracartans have our share as well. I do not begrudge you that. As to the proposition it doesn't relate to the weather, although you may get to experience a sandstorm or two before all is said and done. To summarize, our citadel at Anasa was destroyed by the strange meteor you no doubt noticed about 2 weeks or so ago. Shortly afterwards our southern caravans on the trade road near Anasa began being attacked by the walking dead. They seem to be coming from the ruins of Anasa and if that isn't bad enough the Rajan have taken a direct interest in the goings on there. This group before you has taken on the task of travelling to Anasa to see what exactly transpires and doing what they can to stop it. There is a reward of course, 500 gold lumens in Dracartan pyramids now and 1000 more when the mission is done. There is more as well but I have already gone on long enough. If you take on this task your companions can fill you in on the rest. What say you?"

She watches the newcomer, her eyes dancing trying to keep up with his words.  She breaks away from the silent and lonely spot she held.  She walks over to Sathras, standing beside Aaban and also places her hand on his large arm.  She doesn't say anything but she maintains the contact for a bit.  She looks over at Aaban and nods, then removes her hand and walks over to the newcomer.  Silent, she walks in a circle around him, taking him in completely.

"I do believe that you're finally making some progress," she tells Novoptolomeo with a nod.  "Last time I saw you, well... That story is for a different place and time.  It is good to meet you again."
She bows ever so slightly to Novoptolomeo and turns to A'Semna and bows again.
"Pardon my interruption."
With that she turns and walks to the table, looking for a wooden cup so she can get herself some water.

No hesitation.

"I accept your proprosal, Your Honor. The whole of the Continent relates to the weather. It is, of course, everywhere.

"The walking dead? No wonder the Rajans are interested. Death-worshippers, as I understand them. Fascinating...

"Eh, yes. Perhaps the meteor, passing through the thermopause--which as you know, is where some deep arcane energies collect in the upper atmosphere--attracted some of these energies, and upon its impact, dispersed them throughout the surrounding tropospheric air mass. A super-charged, aberrant ghost wind could've been created then.

"Fascinating...

As the Ariane circles him, Novo's eyes drink her in. (To be fair, his eyes drink in most everything.)

"Last time you saw me? I...I would've remembered...most assuredly."

He watches her walk away, admiring her sinewy grace. He looks back to the King, as if to say, Have you seen THIS?

"Fascinating..."

Not immediately finding a wooden cup she sighs and turns back around, catching the last of his appraising gaze.  Her eyes show amusement while the rest of her face remains passive.

"Likely you don't remember our meeting," she tells him.  "It was a few lifetimes ago."

In reply to Shadow Seeking the Light (msg #223):

"Yes, fascinating indeed." Dii says slyly and knowingly. "Tell me Sir Novo, How do you handle situations of a combat nature?"

"All things are within the realms of possibility. I would certainly love to hear more about our past meetings. Perhaps over another goblet of this wonderful vintage?"

Ah, and now the Danuvian. I am immensely popular now...



"Combat is not entirely outside the purview of the Cabal. We do not train for it, per se. But given as our Storm Chasers--myself included--are expected to survive for months at a time on our investigatory expeditions, we are given the rudiments of basic self-defense. I prefer to swing a big stick, if forced to, but my principal skills are in weather prediction, detection, and manipulation."

He leans in very closely, sharing the same personal space with Dii. He has the look of some one divulging a secret.

"I can call the Storm, if need be. I can rob the very air of its ability to transmit sound. I can prevent breath, if pushed far enough. I can fall through the open sky as easily as an avir's feather floats to the ground. And many more besides. Some more fun than others..."

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #225):

"Fascinating, indeed. You may in fact want to have that sharing of the minds with his highness' Thaumaturgists. They are acclaimed as the finest in the land. Imagine the harnessing, catalyzing, and bending of natural physics you could jointly reap." She again forces a light clanking with Novos goblet accompanied by an approving nod, then heads back to the table and Califax to relay/share opinions of this newcomer.

King A'Semna nods in approval of Novo's quick acceptance of the proposal and gestures to his scribe to write his name down with the group as well; "Very well now that the major distraction is done and the contract accepted let us get back to the feasting and revels!"

With that the soldiers take up their positions around the huge chamber and the Dracartans fall back to conversation and dining. King A'Semna meets with his council and the vibe the group can pick up is of approval for how things have unfolded.

OOC: Now that you are all together anew you can feel free to continue any conversations and such. I will assume that eventually everyone returns to the inn to sleep. I will be opening a thread for the next stage of the game sometime in the next couple days (recuperating from a bit of a bug myself)

Califax listens to the explination and long winded story of the weather mage.

Academics.

He mutters under his breath.  Righting his chair and taking the seat again to go back to the refreshments he frowns slightly and the over exuberant display from the other Cymrilian.  As Dii comes back Califax nods.

He will be useful on this mission, though we may have to gag him occationally to get some sleep.  They can talk for hours you know, field academics, like the ones that sit in librarys but a little more fun.  Though still wearing on the senses.

His comments are spoken in a low voice with an edge of ammusement to it.

In reply to Califax (msg #228):

"True. I've been exposed to the type before. Something tells me that Novo has a fearlessness which may stem from putting all his brainpower into a more academic lobe instead. Well, even if not supremely useful to a common goal, I bet it's an amusing show to watch."

She holds her goblet toward Califax with a rarely seen innocent smile. Well whaddya know, it's empty again...

Novo takes a moment to watch Dii head back to Califax. He shrugs and starts re-assembling his gear on Scamandros' back.

His goblet is empty. And so is his stomach. The weight of his recent experience seems to hang over him now.

You need to get your bearings, Novo.

True. I do.

He steps over toward the Danuvian. "I'm sorry...eh...I didn't catch your name. I didn't catch any of your names, I don't think. Anyway, are you guests of the King? I assume I'm in Carantheum. Is there an inn nearby? I certainly--"

And he catches the eye of the other Cymrilian. Novo smiles wide.

He code-switches to Archaen, thrilled to see a familiar face (not known, of course, but at least familiar, culturally speaking.)

(In Archaen) "A compatriotic face if ever I saw one! How fares thy heart here?"


OOC: I bend like a reed to my GM's command.....................(who promptly sticks his tongue out at you and returns your message to its original state)
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:04, Wed 16 Mar 2011.

Lifting a pitcher to carry to the exuberant newcomer she hears him speak in Archaen and she replies in kind.
"Interesting that you choose this language to speak to a warrior," she says with a small shrug as she pours the pitcher, refilling his goblet.  Then she turns and fills Dii's as well.  She moves to replace the pitcher, but stops and fills Sathras' cup before setting it down and she steps back away from the table, her eyes raking the table, seeking out something for herself to eat.  She purses her lips for a moment and picks up some dry bread and some cheese.  She finally spies the wooden cup she was seeking and she balances her food in one hand and reaches for the cup with the now empty hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:01, Sat 12 Mar 2011.

Califax smiles in relpy to Novoptolomeo.  opening his arms wide as if to encompase the entire room and those in it.  His reply came in Talislan.

My heart swells with joy and fulfilment here due to the kindness of our glorious host, A brief indication to the king, And found friends that, the delightful Shadow says, we have missed from past lives and now renew aquaintance.  The morrow will bring work to be done but the cause is good and the rewards generous.

Glancing at Dii he gave her a little wink.

In reply to Califax (msg #232):

Looking back to Novo after absorbing Califax' poetic diatribe, "I am Dii Ahnah, Message Runner, Cartographer, and Executive Emissary for Danuvia. And this poetically waxing gentlemen here, is Califax." After forcing his introduction, Dii winks back at Califax.

"Sathras is Sathras," says the Sauran.

The warrior of Harak looks up from a plate heaped with roasted erd and says gruffly..."Burikan." He then digs into his meal once again. It is clear that mealtime is somewhat sacred to him.

Aaban looks up, from the king to the reckless newcomer, and visibly sighs.  "I am Aaban, of Aaman," he introduces himself simply.  "It is apparently Aa's will that I be further tested with your companionship."

Giving Novo a flurishing salute with the wide brimmed hat before placing it back on his head Califax grinned at Dii.

Thank you for the introduction.

She watches everyone speak their names but says nothing in regards to her own.

"A genuine pleasure to meet all of you. I assume this then is the expedition? Excellent!"

He drags a dusty sleeve across his forehead. This attempt at cleanliness is an utter failure.

"I should inquire about lodgings tonight. And about the details of this...contract. Also...a good look at the sky would do me wonders.

"How's the weather here?"

"In all likelihood, you will be staying at the same inn that we are," she tells Novoptolomeo as she reaches into a pouch and draws out a small handkerchief and hands it to him.  "As for the weather, warm and fair is my current experience."  She bows to him and moves to a chair surrounded by other empty chairs where she sits with her meager handful of bread, cheese, and wooden cup filled with water.

OOC: Again, feel free to continue chatting here IC if you choose. Everyone can also move forward to the next thread. I will close this one once everyone decides they are done here...