Renzo watches the ragged priest Adath narrowly, his hand finding the hilt of the dagger in his belt. His legs tense expectantly.

During the whole interaction, Roland has very diplomatically stayed at the side, acting as some sort of human furniture. The conversation was too mystic for his taste, but maybe something interesting could come out of it.

Ida-Tyr looks up at the bluff, his breath catching in his throat. He shivers, a cool wind seeming to cover his body. Ida-Tyr's muscles constrict, his back arching, his lips curl back from his teeth into a hideous snarl, and his hands tighten into claws. Time stretches out slowly, Ida-Tyr looking like what might have been some sort of hideous statue, although the sweat appearing on his brow would spoil that upon close examination. Indeed, his eyes are a milky white, looking like marble covered lightly with water.

After the moment stretches out for what seems like an unreasonable length of time, Ida-Tyr's muscles relax, and his breath returns in shuddering gasps. He wipes quickly at his brow, trying to make sense of what his senses are telling him as well as the incessant whispering of the spirit that speaks in his mind. He hisses angrily, "Slow down. Be clear."

OOC: So spending spirit sight here- let me know if that description works and you need anything else from me here.

"Will no one rid me of this excitable priest?" Cassilda remarked boredly. "Kill him. We'll have his secrets after, by my arts."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:17, Sun 05 Mar 2023.

Renzo's eyes flicked to Cassilda and he drew the dagger from his belt, holding it down close to his leg.

He looked to Dante for the lordling's response.

Dante raised his hand in response to what Cassilda said. "No!" The Lord paced a bit whilst at the same time gesturing for Adath to rise. "He said he'll show us what he means. We will see if he is truthful, in due time."

Cassilda sneered, an ugly expression on so beautiful a face. "What this fool intends is to release the forces imprisoned here," she remarked, gesturing to Adath. "He is a fanatic and cares not what atrocities may occur." She pointedly asked Dante, "Can you return a djinn to its bottle, should it prove uncooperative?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:06, Wed 08 Mar 2023.

This much is clear: the spirit world is perturbed in this area of the desert. The burbling, mishmash of voices, all from ages passed, slows down to a chorus of voices speaking in turn...

"They came in a sandstorm, they came at night- while we slept. And by the time the alarm was raised it was too late."

"It pinned me down and... it drank from me. It took everything."

"They were deathly silent, they thirsted."

"The priest- he begged them to spare us, but they did not listen."

"When it was done, they took him with them in the sands."

The spirits of the merchants stand, ghostly about Ida. There is another spirit, dressed in ornate robes inlaid with the symbol of some kind of creature. This spirit says, "Begone from this place, more Dessicants are coming. A talented sorcerer you may be, but you are no match alone. I shall slow their approach. Follow the last member of my order to the Lost Oasis. Tell him that Anki's essence is no longer safe there. Can you do this?"





Shaking, Adath rises to his feet and says resolutely, "I am no djinn. Come, this way, it is buried but not so deep that men cannot reach it if they know where to look, yes, yes... come..." Unless stopped by Cassilda, Renzo, or another, he makes for the exit to the tent.

Cassilda reached out to sorcerously pluck one of the threads holding Adath together. "No, old man, you are not. Anyone with a blade or garotte can put you out of our misery. I speak of what you hope to unleash."

---

OOC: Sorcerous use of Intimidate.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:08, Thu 09 Mar 2023.

Roland, who had been quiet for most of the exchange as expected of someone that shouldn't have been here to begin with, decided to try and put a word in for the poor man.

"My lady, if I may be so bold as to speak, if the man was an omen of ruin for us, then quieting his warning would do nothing to prevent it, but only leave us unprepared. He came here of his own volition, and the key was already in his possession. If he wished to unleash that what is sealed, surely he wouldn't have announced himself? It is your family's right to do with him as you please, but would it not be wiser to hear him while he can speak?"

As Roland began to speak, Renzo shook his head, trying to catch the man’s eye and signal him to remain silent. To no avail, for the man proceeded to give advice to la Bella Donna, contradicting her expressed intent.

As Roland lapsed into silence, Renzo rolled his eyes and braced for the coming explosion.

This message was deleted by the player at 00:35, Thu 09 Mar 2023.

As Roland began to speak, Renzo shook his head, trying to catch the man’s eye and signal him to remain silent. To no avail, for the man proceeded to give advice to la Bella Donna, contradicting her expressed intent.

As Roland lapsed into silence, Renzo rolled his eyes and braced for the coming explosion.

Cassilda tugs just a tad harder on the thaumic strand she holds. "Oh, I assure you, Master Rock, he'll talk. Living or dead, he will talk. Dead is just... easier. Fewer outbursts. No speaking unless spoken to." She gestures casually with her other hand. "As for omens, well... who here possesses the requisite gifts to interpret signs and portents?" The shadows within the tent visibly deepen at her words.

Ida-Tyr tries to make out the animal on the last spirit's robe, and asks quickly hoping to get more information if he can, "Thank you for the help, I will seek out the last member of your order. How will I know him? Where do the Desiccants come from? How do we stop them? "

Lord Dante took a step closer to Cassilda. "Release him!" He raised his voice. "Adath will lead us forward, for now." Dante walked over to the table within his tent and placed his hands down on it, contemplating their next move."We will get to the bottom of this but until then, no casualities, okay?" He said, turning around to look at the others.

Cassilda narrowed her gaze at Dante but released the thaumic strand. "Who is the greater fool... the fool or the one who follows him? I'll remember you to your mother, in the event your folly proves your undoing."

It is no lizard, bug, beetle, bird, or beast of the land you have seen. The spirit is departing fast now, heading towards a distant wall of sand that has appeared on the horizon. "His name is Adath. He is with your people now..." The rest of his voice is drowned out by wind, as sand begins to fill the air.

Ida-Tyr quickly tightens the wrap around his head and covers his mouth and nose, looking for cover to avoid the incoming burst of sand. If it passes quickly and without incident, he will push on to the oasis.

This message was deleted by the player at 18:35, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

Adath appears visibly terrified as he seemingly appears to unravel before everyone's eyes, the Bella Donna's sorcery slowly affecting his body. He begs of Cassilda, "Please, let me live- I- this is all I have." When she relents, its clear that another attack like that would be his undoing, his mind would shatter long before his body. "Please, let me you show you," he repeats, beckoning out to the shoreline of the oasis. He stumbles his way out of the tent, if unopposed.




The sands seem to abate, as if held at bay by some otherworldly force. The way to the oasis seems clear, and Ida is able to make their way their unmolested.

Renzo follows the terrified man as he stumbles toward the door. The young man casts a questioning glance to Cassilda, querying whether to apprehend his quarry or let him proceed.

Ida-Tyr moves quickly and purposefully to the oasis. As he approaches , Ida-Tyr finds a rather disheveled figure stumbling out. Ida-Tyr lets the covering over his face hang loose as he draws himself up. Ida-Tyr asks in a rather amused tone, "In a hurry?"

Cassilda returns Renzo's glance, her eyes glowing a sickly green. "If you permit this fool to unleash what he mistakenly believes is his lost god, you shall all perish and take House Bellaqua with you. Do not expect me to mourn you. You may take comfort, however, in the fact that whatever remains of the strongest of you will continue to serve me after death."

Renzo pales at his eldritch kinswoman’s words, whether threat, prophecy or promise. He gulps and turns his gaze to Dante.