In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 591):

Chubbs hops over to Lyriel's foot and gives it a reassuring pat with one webbed foot.

Maeve nearly catches him, but Chubbs quickly goes back to not caring about anyone before she turns around.

Keef takes a pause from his camel hunt and holds up Longshank.

I know sometimes I forget about you but, well I don't mean to.  Anyhow, is... is there anything YOU want?

"Murdered?" Maeve exclaims, mind whirring as she tries to take in Lyriel's revelation, Boreas' pledging away half of his life to the Fey realm and Keef urging the Everstaff to go ahead and make a wish.  The priestess seems the safest course of action, although Maeve stays several feet back from her, unsure what to make of the crackling energy surrounding Lyriel.

I suppose that's no more than what we suspected though.  It did seem that there was something. . . off about Eldric's death.  But to murder a man as he is about to enjoy his morning tea?  Heinous!

"Then we must find who did this to your brother.  Perhaps doing so will allow his spirit to find the rest it seeks."

Lyriel bends down, hands on her knees while she takes ragged breaths to steady herself. Her hair hangs over her face, a shimmering blonde veil.

As she breathes in and out, the crackling around her subsides, drawn inward. After the static haze subsides, she straightens herself deliberately, standing slowly. When she brushes her hair back from her face, the tears are gone, replaced by a grim determination. For a moment, a hint of the amethyst fire can be seen glimmering in her eyes before vanishing.

Yes, she replies in a distant voice. We will. It's time for us to return to Aeyris. There is much to be done.

Lyriel strides towards the edge of the water, entirely disregarding the mud on her trousers and gloves.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:34, Thu 09 Oct 2014.

Boreas watches Lyriel's outburst, unsure exactly what to say in this situation.

To lose your brother like that... and by someone he clearly trusted...

He decides to let Maeve handle this one; it's out of his wheelhouse.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 595):

[Private to Zuriel Silendril:
"If her intentions are pure, the Goddess will certainly accept her atonement in time," Wildheart says. "As for me... I ask nothing of you except that you think critically. The bounds of highborn society are imperfect and inhibiting. But you already know that."

He pauses for a moment.

"Do not underestimate Kazul's high priest. He is more than he seems. And do not overestimate Choso. He is an excellent administrator and a competent warrior, but... do not be blind to his character. The absence of evil is not the same as the presence of good. Remember that, and you should be fine. Good luck, my nephew. And give my sister and brother a hug for me... whether they want it or not."

He smiles sadly, clasps Zuriel on the shoulder, and dissipates into the ether.]

"What should I wish for?" the rumbling voice of the Everstaff intones. "To be freed of my gnawing, omnipresent hunger? To be immune to the shackles of the accursed Ironwood Band? To separate myself from the prison that is this wooden shaft?"

The voice grows more imperious as it goes, then softens as a thought occurs to it.

"I would have these and more, but even those limitations pale before the aggravation of the veil that clouds my waking and my sleeping. What I need... what I want... what I require is for the fog to disperse from my mind."

"Heed me, faerie: I wish to remember, and will pay the only way I can -- with the energy that sustains me."

A spark of red energy flickers from the staff to the pool, which causes the Basin's clear water to resemble spilled blood.

"So be it," the faerie says. With a flick of her wrist, she sends a glittering lance of energy swirling around the staff.

While the Everstaff is digesting his wish, the faerie turns to Boreas.

"The bargain is thus: whenever you leave Fey'driel, the faerie folk will work toward maintaining widespread peace and prosperity for a period of time equal to the duration of your last stay. Does this satisfy you?"

Yes, if there is a grace period initially, perhaps one year.  We still have a task to accomplish, and if we fail, there may not be a Fey'driel.

Zuriel snaps blinking back to reality.

He looks around in confusion, taking note of the blood-red pool, the green light around the Everstaff, and a still visibly-distraught Lyriel.

"...What?"

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 598):

The faerie nods, and glittering dust surrounds Boreas.

"So be it."

Lyriel continues to gaze out at the now blood-red pond. So that's it then? You've secured a home for the Sylvan, Boreas? And Zuriel, you've spoken with Wildheart? We can return now to Aeyris, correct?

In reply to DM (msg # 599):

"I have a wish," Cassie says, reviving from her haze and shaking her head slowly to clear it.

"I wish for atonement," she says, the corner of her mouth curling upward as the idea comes to her. "The kind with a capital 'A'."

The faerie turns toward her and arches an eyebrow.

"You'd wish to have your severed link to divine power restored against Nature's will? How would you pay for such a thing?"

"The same way it's always paid for," Cassie shrugs. "Through service."

The faerie ponders this a moment, then blasts Cassie with a stream of glittering energy.

"So be it. You will henceforth enjoy provisional access to your powers commensurate with your deeds. Your abilities will trend toward normal as your actions take you closer to a proper atonement, and they will dwindle as you stray from the course."

"That isn't what I -" Cassie begins, then she sighs and shrugs. "Well. Better than nothing, I guess."

She shoots a playful glare at Zuriel.

"Not a word, you."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:32, Thu 09 Oct 2014.

Zuriel opens his mouth to object, then closes it abruptly. He traces the grooves of his pendant idly, thinking.

"That's...actually a fair way to go about it, as far as shortcuts are concerned." He shoots a grin back at Cassie. "I'm sure it's not what you meant, but I think I like how it turned out. The best part is, if you want to be able to fry me with lightning for being smug about it, you'll have to stay on the straight and narrow."

He frowns into the air. "I wonder what the exchange rate is on trees hugs versus paladins zapped with lightning? I haven't seen you doing any tree-appreciation today, so I think I'm probably safe." He nods appreciatively at the fluttering Pixie, and not-at-all-surreptitiously mouths the words "well done!"

His smile fades, however, as he notices Lyriel's face. "What...else happened?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:41, Thu 09 Oct 2014.

I believe we've found a home for the Sylvans.  Hopefully we can maintain peace here.

Also, I'm not sure the 'straight and narrow' you're thinking of is the one Cassie needs to adhere to.  Druids strive for balance, after all.

"I use the term loosely, Boreas," Zuriel replies. "A balance beam is quite narrow, and typically straight. I was simply referring to the tenets of her creed as defined by Le'lothriel."

"Anyway, that's not the point. My point is, if she wants to zap me for gloating, she'll have to earn it," he says, eyes dancing with mirth.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:29, Thu 09 Oct 2014.

"We've received some rather bad news," Maeve says, quietly yet firmly putting an end to the druid morality debate.  "But it's not really my place to tell it."

Boreas nods, deferring to Lyriel to explain.

My brother was murdered. Lyriel says flatly. He didn't fall in battle. He fell after he got stabbed from behind, making breakfast and admiring the sunrise. And now his spirit is drifting somewhere, lost in limbo.

She narrows her eyes, and a hint of the energy from earlier crackles briefly before subsiding. So I'm going to find the people responsible, bring them to justice, and then take my brother's soul to somewhere he can be at peace.

The justice of cleansing fire.

She gives Zuriel an inscrutable look. So I would like to return to Aeyris. Now. If you'd prefer to remain here and chatter inanely with druids, then you're welcome to. But you'll have to find your own way home.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Thu 09 Oct 2014.

Zuriel's face looks like a bucket of ice water has been dumped on him.

"Eldric...murdered...and drifting?" he echoes dumbly. "And he...did you talk to him? Yes, of course, the wish...I..."

The paladin's jaw works, but nothing seems to come out. "Lyriel, I am so, so sorry. I...yes. You're right. We should go. If there's anything I can..." he finally manages.

His amber eyes flicker, dazed.

"Eldric was my only comrade in the Flame who actually saw me as a person," he whispers softly.

[Private to Lyriel Vesper: Zuriel looks at you helplessly with pain in his eyes, and then at the ground. You can tell he wants nothing more than to rush to you, but he seems uncertain.]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:09, Thu 09 Oct 2014.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 607):

The druidess is not so easily cowed.

"Watch who you're calling inane," Cassie says with surprising force, throwing back her shoulders and standing upright. Fluffums crouches near her, tensed and ready for anything. "You can take your anger out on me if you want, but don't for a moment believe it's justified."

She takes a step forward and jabs a finger toward the cleric.

"And don't you dare disparage the paladin about how he's spent his time in Fey'driel. We got that tower you're so worried about knocked down, and we negotiated with a mage so powerful that he seems to have created his own damn plane of existence. It wasn't all a walk on the beach."

Fluffums whirls around the druidess's legs, an action to seems to calm her slightly. Her tone softens, and her stance relaxes.

"Though now that you mention it, that happened, too. Point is, I thought we were saving the world here. I can understand wanting to avenge your brother's murder, but there's such a thing as priorities. It's not an easy thing to hear... or to say... but it's the truth. There are armies on the march, and we need to stay focused."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:14, Thu 09 Oct 2014.

Uh oh.

Maeve stands poised to spring if Lyriel shows any sign of shoving an explosive cookie down Cassie's throat.

[Readied action: trip the first lady to cast/otherwise try to cause physical harm to the other]

Lyriel whirls to face Cassie, narrowing her eyes. I'm not disparaging what you two have done here...just how he has spent the last minute or so of his time. There is an edge to Lyriel's voice that makes it clear that there is a line Cassie is coming dangerously close to crossing.

Don't think I don't see the looks you shoot him, the quips, the flirting...it wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't bantering right back.

Her voice softens somewhat. And I do appreciate you coming to help with this all. I really do. I'm happy that you've found your...redemption, such as it is. And of *course* I'm still focused on the greater problems facing us. I just can't help but think it is all related, and I mean to get to the bottom of it.

She pauses a moment before continuing. But even if that wasn't the case...even if I was focusing first on Eldric's soul... Lyriel levels a finger at Cassie. Until *your* brother is cut down in the prime of his life, betrayed by somebody he trusted...until the only think keeping *you* sane and safe in this world gone made is snatched from you because of some stupid political posturing...until then, you don't get to lecture me on priorities.

Lyriel turns on her heel, and marches back towards the gate. Now, unless there's something else...we ought to find where Baldwin is currently. He needs the last symbol to complete his research before its too late.


[Private to Zuriel Silendril: Lyriel marches by you, barely giving you a glance.]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:51, Thu 09 Oct 2014.

Maeve breathes a sigh of relief as the crisis is narrowly averted.  She shoots a grumpy look at Boreas who as usual is standing there stroking his beard, staring thoughtfully off into the distance in the opposite direction, and being of no help in calming hurt tempers.

"Yes, I agree.  Zuriel, you wrote to Baldwin asking his current location.  Did you ever receive a response?"

And after we get Baldwin his last symbol. . . . what then?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:55, Thu 09 Oct 2014.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 612):

Turns out he did, as the cloud ink is read aloud:

"Still en route to Lo'driel. The going is slow as the weather is lousy and the roads are well patrolled. Lots of tidings of war on the horizon, and a hard winter for everyone if the fighting reaches the villages."

"Lo'driel, good.  He took our advice.  I'll admit, I wasn't totally sure that Baldwin had enough sense to do so," Maeve says, reading the reply over Zuriel's shoulder.  "Well, I suppose you ought to let him know that we'll be joining him soon. Lyriel's right; it's time we returned home."

"Though, before we do, I would recommend either appointing or having the Sylvan choose from amongst themselves leaders," Maeve adds to Boreas.  "They are newly returned to the land, and will need guidance in the days to come as they feel out their place here, especially during the times when you are not here personally."


"And what about you, Cassie?  Are you returning to Aeryis with us?  Or will you stay here?"

[*Did* we ever actually get the Le'lothriel symbol?  We did the Thorn quest in order for the elves to give us one but I'm not sure if that happened or not.  Lyriel seems pretty keen on porting back home ASAP so we should probably figure that out.]

I agree, but I'm going to need their help first, Boreas says, If there's going to be a war on Aeriys prime, we'll need the Sylvan at our side.  Once that's done, I'll return with them and help them get settled in.  In the meantime, I'll leave a small group of Sylvan to foster peaceful relations with the others until their fellows return.

He turns to his Sylvan allies.  What do you say?  Which of you will come with us to defend all of our worlds from collapse?  And who is willing to stay and help establish your new place in Fey'driel?

Zuriel stares after Lyriel helplessly before busying himself with the cloud journal.

"Give her a little space," he says quietly. "I don't know what she saw exactly, but it was clearly awful to cause her to lash out like that. It's not like her."

Returning to business, he continues. "It might be prudent to meet up with Baldwin on the road and escort him in. At the very least, we will want time to let Choso know we're coming. I'm sure Mallory has wards against simply teleporting in. And besides, it's polite." He runs a hand through his hair, lost in thought. "I don't know how good his spies are, but we can use the Book of Answers to figure out where Saul plans to land his forces. That might help give us an edge."

[OOC: yes, we got the last symbol when we turned in the Thorn. We're good to go :)]

[Private to Cassie: As the PARTY sans Lyriel mulls over the journal, Zuriel pulls Cassie aside. "I'm sorry Cassie, that wasn't right of her to say what she did about you. I'll talk with her. It's not an excuse, but she's obviously hurting right now. She never truly recovered from her brother's death. Two and a half years later, and I think the wound had only barely begun to heal." Zuriel heaves a sigh. "And to find out that his soul is lost, and in pain..." he shakes his head, tears in his own eyes. "I'm surprised she's even handling it that well, to be honest." The paladin regards Cassie sadly. "Eldric was a good man. Perhaps the best I've ever met. And I mean that in terms of kindness and just...goodness. He cared so much about those around him. Particularly those most in need of help. To lose him like we did...the world is darker place without him."]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:41, Fri 10 Oct 2014.