In the Wake of the Celebration

Log Info

• Title: In the Wake of the Celebration

• Emitter: Ravenstongue

• Characters: Harkashan, Ravenstongue, Rune

• Place: Lower Alexandrian Garden District

Another warm and lovely Hattanani day means that the people of Alexandria are moving about outdoors. The people who live and work in the city are enjoying the sunshine and the cool breeze, and there's no better place to do that than in one of the garden districts of Alexandria.

Pothy is a-sailing in the air, and he dips down for small bites of bread every now and then that are thrown his way from Cor'lana Lúpecyll-Atlon, who sits in the shade underneath a large tree with a small burlap bag filled with bread. It smells warm, fresh, and inviting, clearly purchased from a bakery nearby and fresh out of the oven in the fantastic way that only artisanal bread can smell.

"I'm glad you're having fun, Pothy," Cor'lana says with a small smile as Pothy lands back down on the ground, preening his feathers. Her eyes regard him for a moment.

There's something different about them. A certain sheen that wasn't there before. No, in the shade of the tree, it almost looks like they're glowing very, very softly, a sort of aura that wasn't there before.

GAME: Rune rolls bluff: (3)+10: 13

It has been a difficult few days for Rune, emotionally. Multiple revelations now sit heavily on her shoulders. Meaning that, try as she might, she is not quite herself. Despite clear efforts to put on a smile and attempt to act as if everything is normal in front of the vast majority of people, it is a painfully thin veneer that is easy to see through with even a modest attempt.

That is likely why she skirts the edge of the Garden district, possibly looking for any additional items to add at the last minute to her recent 'project'. Flower or other enrichment seem like the perfect sort of things for a bird's perch.

That, of course, is when a flash of white flaps overhead, swooping towards the dark-haired figure sitting beneath the tree.

Rather than approach outright, Rune looks over her shoulder and gives a small whistle, likely telling Harkashan that she'd found something. Found, in this case, being a friend in the Garden.

Harkashan missed Ravenstongue and Telamon at the church of Eluna, leading to a longer walk to try and find one of them for a talk. Between the shared dream, the mess at the Althean little 'festival', and the looming Werewolf and Summoning Circle's threat - there's a lot to talk about.

He's been walking with Rune this entire time. Remaining close, what with her mind going a thousand miles a minute. When that whistle comes, he looks up - spotting the white flash of the Raven before he spots the dark one beneath the tree.

A nod, and his heavy pace proceeds onwards. Harkashan notably adjusts his approach, so that the sun is no longer at his back. He doesn't want to break away the sun's touch on Ravenstongue; the same way a Sith-makar doesn't want to have the radiance of the sun interupted when laying on their favorite heating stone.

"Miss Ravenstongue." Harkashan rumbles, his reds and oranges and yellows swirling as usual amongst his scales as the sun touches him. Notably, there is a patch where there is an interuption. A pale scale-less patch on his arm. "I hope we're not interupting."

Cor'lana looks up at Harkashan as he approaches, and the closer he gets, it's all the more apparent what has changed in her eyes. There is a very subtle glow to them that's apparent as they move to regard Harkashan. "You are not," she says with a light smile to Harkashan and Rune. "I hope all is well."

Then those eyes of hers move down to the scaleless patch on Harkashan's arm. The smile turns to a frown. "Although it appears, as always is the case with the nature of our world, that things have happened in the days that have turned since our last exchange of words."

Approaching a step behind Harkashan, Rune seems almost a bit quieter than her usual self. It is as if something has thrown her thoughts inward. Even so, she does offer a smile, even if it doesn't reach her eyes. "Good day, Cor'lana."

Flicking her eyes skyward, she calls out, "And to you too, Pothy. Would you like to come pick out some things that you like from what I've gathered?" She asks to the sky.

Then, to the other half-elf, she chuckles softly, "I'm almost done creating a new perch for him. I've got everything done but the toys, so I was gathering some things I thought he might like." Beneath one arm is a basket with flowers, pine cones, nuts still in the shell, and a variety of other small things like a tiny bit of mirror and a few metal bells.

"You seem... different." She offers out, but leaves Harkashan to explain the strange wound on his arm.

There's a headtilt from the Sith-makar as Cor'lana looks up at him. Noticing a strange look, perhaps. He follows her gaze down to his arm, and lifts it for a moment to look at the patch. "Hrrrm..." He rumbles, seemingly agreeing with her that things have happened.

"I imagine Telamon has told you some of it already." He notes. "But the Sky-singing Dragon invited us to the realm of Dreams." He slowly shifts, in order to sit down next to her. One leg arched up so he can lay his arm onto the raised knee. His other leg stretched out.

"Things went awry after she urged us to wake. Caracoroth decided to interfere. I... got a Dream Wound. Luckily, Shaman Zeke managed to heal me."

Pothy makes an excited merp, and he flies over to land on Rune's shoulder, as all shoulders are simply just possible-Pothy-perches. His head then moves to look at the basket that Rune has in one arm, and he leans down to look at the baubles inside, making a few noises that sound for everything like one happy bird. The metal bell is his first pick, and he jingles it softly.

"Telamon told me of the meeting in dreams, yes," Cor'lana responds with a small smile as she looks at Pothy. "I was not there on account of staying up too late writing poetry--a nasty habit of mine. He did not mention Caracoroth going after the two of you--I presumed that happened after he awakened."

Her lips purse together in thought. Then she says, "If you are being hunted by the Hound in your dreams, then I need to teach you, the both of you, how to survive in dreams. I can reach out to you both as you sleep to make that happen."

Then she looks to Rune. "Given that Marsward can turn invisible, I decided to invest into fixing a spell to myself permanently. I can now see the invisible and the ethereal. It is not the only spell I have fixed to myself, although such a thing requires an exorbitant amount of diamond dust."

This isn't the first time that a familiar has landed on Rune's shoulder, even in recent weeks. Thankfully, the extra layers of leather across her shoulders make for an ideal perch for sharp claws. "I'm going to have some of these dangling from the branches for your new perch." She explains to the raven, a soft smile showing as he jingles one of the bells.

Then, her blue eyes look over towards Cor'lana, "All of the others who were there, managed to wake themselves on the Sky-singer's bidding. It... wasn't so easy for me." A pensive look is cast towards Harkashan, "He stayed behind to make sure I would get out."

The prospect of Cor'lana entering into her dreams is met with a widening of her eyes and a subtle shake of the head, "I think, whomever it was that tried to trap us there... they knew to play on my dreams in particular." Rune had already warned multiple individuals with totems to stay well clear of her dreams. "I wouldn't want anyone else getting hurt because they decide to traverse there."

Then, head tilted, she seems to give a look of wonder at the idea of a permanent magic spell. "That's possible? I mean... I know you and your husband have a magical connection, so it's like that, I imagine?"

Harkashan shares a look with Rune for a moment as Cor'lana offers teaching them how to survive in dreams, before looking back. "That... would be quite useful actually." He admits. "But you may have some trouble." What with Rune's constant habit of nightmares. "So do be careful."

When the topic shifts to Marsward, Harkashan raises a finger. "I don't really have much in the way of diamond dust. But I wanted to check... The Blue Moon Ale company, is it in Alexandria? Or... where exactly is that? I realized recently that I've just been assuming it's in Alexandria - or at least some of its resale."

Leave it to Harkashan to stay 'on mission'.

Cor'lana looks over to Rune. Even with the change in her eyes, it's easy to read that look of understanding, that look of knowing, that's like the one she gave Rune when the half-sil entered the Temple of Eluna with Harkashan. "I understand," she says. "My own dreams are often that of nightmares concerning my past. My life has not always been kind, and I know that the agents of the Hound have used it to pursue me."

She rises up to her feet, and despite the fact she is so small in stature, it's like she's taller with the way she conducts herself, the iron will and weight hanging with her words. "I can teach you, Rune, to turn that which they think is a weakness into a weapon. That which haunts you into armor. For I do it every day of my life in the waking world and in the dream, and it is there in the dream that I have shattered my chains and given myself wings to fly. I did all of that without a totem. It is possible. It just requires the will and the conviction--and the possibility of vulnerability, which is the most frightening of all, but that vulnerability is my greatest strength."

Finally, Cor'lana smiles, just a little. "That aside. Yes, it is possible to affix a spell permanently to oneself. Only some spells, and the magic is complicated if you try to affix it to another. There are only a few that can be managed. But the bond that Telamon and I have is the other spell that I have affixed."

She looks to Harkashan. "I am not fully sure of its location, to be honest. For all of Zalgiman's power in pursuing me--he never took me to the brewery. I think, given everything, it is likely outside of Alexandria in the greater Alexandros area."

GAME: Harkashan rolls Bluff: (2)+3: 5

In many ways, Rune and Cor'lana are remarkably similar in both build and height. However, there is a startling difference in demeanor that makes the later seem taller and more imposing in most instances. It is even more evident in that moment when Cor'lana begins to speak about facing her dreams and forging that weakness into a weapon.

"Whatever is happening with me, doesn't seem to be related to my past." She explains with a soft shake of her head, "But with what happened to me in Am'shere and how difficult it was to bring me back." Taking a slow breath, Rune tries to explain, "I don't remember much about being dead, much in the same way I don't usually remember much about my dreams. I just know it feels... similar. Like whatever spell the Charneth used to kill me left something... broken."

Her brows furrow, "That doesn't mean I'm not willing to try. I just... figure it's best you know everything that goes into it all."

Then, since the matter of the Blue Moon Ale company is important to Harkashan, Rune adds, "We were thinking that we might be able to start moving against them, by maybe starting some sort of negative rumor about the drink. Getting some of the pubs and inns to stop carrying it." A quick glance to the Makari, "Not really my wheelhouse, but maybe someone with a silver tongue could lend assistance?"

Harkashan quiets when Rune and Ravenstongue speak on nightmares and dreams. The situation still has him a bit shaken. He thinks he's fine, but there's the occasional fidgeting of his fingers. He doesn't get up, remaining down for the moment.

"Hmm. So... I guess that's a place to investigate first then, before anything else." Harkashan remarks. "It shouldn't be too hard to trace back the sale of a common alcohol back to its brewery and resale locations." He nods as Rune talks about negative rumors.

"The idea is that Marsward is very proactive and not afraid to show himself. It could be a way to get a chance at finding his Scarab." He offers up.

"We were also talking to Zeke and Dolan about using a totem Dream to create... well... another Totem - to draw out Dace." He adds, to give Ravenstongue more of an idea of what they talked about. "But that can wait."

He wants the topic to turn back to Rune and the matter of... well... helping her.

"I can understand," Cor'lana says to Rune, the small smile still on her face. "It's not an easy thing to disclose. The things that I have dealt with in the past and in my dreams--you may well come to see them, too. And so I apologize in advance for them, but I will do my best to shield you."

Pothy's jingling his bell again. The gesture causes Cor'lana to smile more brightly. "That's not a bad idea," she says. "If Marsward's being forced to handle the brewery himself--which he is if Micha's gone--then he has to be out in the open. Which means the scarab has to go with him. I quite like that. I suggest... Perhaps you could pair up with Telamon on that venture? I know he tends to attract attention wherever he goes, but maybe he can give some pointers on that sort of thing."

The notion makes Pothy drop his bell. He mimics a swooning girl's voice. "He's so dreamy~"

"They can admire the art, but they can't touch it," Cor'lana adds with a small grin. "I do not blame them for it." Then she turns to Harkashan. "Creating another totem..."

She looks thoughtful. Very thoughtful. "I suppose that's possible," she says. "I'd like to discuss that with Dolan and Telamon. If we could create more totems--and align them to the gods who did not make them originally--then there will be more of us with powerful connections, like the kind that Dolan and Telamon have with their totems."

Despite the rest of her mood, the swooning female voice that comes from Pothy is enough to have Rune laughing full outright, "Well, you're not wrong about that." She lifts a hand to lightly cover her mouth, perhaps feeling a bit lighter with that distraction. "Don't worry, I can appreciate your fine taste in men without any need for more than that." Rune has enough trouble in that department, anyways.

Then, she seems to consider that next step, "Given Telamon's investment in working against the werewolves... He probably would be a good person to make the 'face' of such efforts. If he's willing to put himself out there like that." She certainly can't speak for anyone else, but Telamon had seemed quite 'enthusiastic' about trying to act against Marsward.

Chiming in about the Totems, she adds, "I think the original intention was to make fakes, that we could use to lure people out of hiding with. Like... take one of the current Totem-holders that may be seen as a weaker target, make it seem like they're isolated, and have them have a fake totem. Then spring the trap on whomever comes to try to capitalize on it."

A thoughtful expression passes, "You think it's possible to create real Totems, though?"

Harkashan glances up as Ravenstongue talks about pairing up with Telamon, and nods his head. "That was the idea." He notes, before slowly rising up. "It's likely Marsward would like another chance to get into his head - since it failed with Micha." He offers as well.

He then looks at Pothy as he drops the bell. He rumbles a sound.

"We were talking about a real-enough Totem at least. So it would pass a Detect Magic spell." He bids - Rune puts it a bit more eloquently. "But if you think we can make the real deal and spread it across the 'good guys'... I mean, these were created by the Gods. I'd be worried of the power it takes."

Cor'lana makes another thoughtful noise. "You're right," she says to Harkashan. "I don't know if it's possible. The gods themselves made them. We could likely only hope to create facsimiles. Make the werewolves think they're stealing totems when they aren't..."

She looks at Rune and Harkashan both and smiles. "I like that. I like that idea a lot. As far as I'm aware of, only those attuned to a totem that was made by the god that they worship can manifest things from the dream. I, myself, haven't tried it, as Vaire did not make a totem, and the totem I have is... made by someone who I am certainly not going to become an enthusiastic worshipper of anytime soon."

Cor'lana presses her lips together for a moment. "I know Telamon and Dolan have managed it. They have that special relationship. Although... I was able to give blood to Telamon's totem, so that implies something new and worthwhile to look into."

"I'm having trouble remembering but... do we know of any of the Gods who created totems that aren't represented yet?" Rune's head tilts, "I understand it's important to keep them out of enemy hands, but... maybe if they are more powerful in the hands of someone who aligns with certain Gods, tracking down that sort of person would be to our benefit?" She throws the question out there, perhaps ignorant if such a thing had already been tried.

In the matter of connections to Gods, Rune reaches her free hand over and fidgets with her necklace again. It's becoming more and more common-place these days, especially with so many strange things relating to her mother and the necklace's meaning. "The Sky-singer seemed to acknowledge some connection between she and I during that dream-meeting. Or perhaps between her and my mother. The necklace glowed in her presence."

And, of course, that seems to bring her to an entirely unrelated topic to Totems and Werewolves. "You... wouldn't happen to know anything about a place with 'golden sands' would you?" The question seems to come out of nowhere.

Harkashan nods his head. "Sounds like there's some complications there." In regards to the Totems and the requirements of creating facsimiles. "I think Dolan was offering to try and create one. But I'll bring that one up to Telamon as well. I'm sure those two working together will have miracles happen." He remarks as he repositions himself a bit and looks to Rune.

After all, the topic has turned to the sky-singer herself, as well as the Golden sands.

"Before I forget. I don't remember if you are a friend of Zeke's. But... he could use a friend. He asked a question to his mom during that... as expected, it did not go well."

"The gods of twilight, the neutral gods, did not create these totems," Cor'lana explains. "That means Vaire, Navos, Vardama, Dana, Rada, Reos, and Kor are unrepresented. They did not take a side, given their position as the gods of twilight. Although Navos was once counted among the gods of Light, and He fell into Twilight when he lost Compassion to put order to magic."

There's something bitter and dark in her eyes as she recounts Navos, and she lifts her hand up to her chest, touching the complicated mark that's there. She shakes her head. "Golden sands... No, I don't recall anything like that. Not that I can remember. How did this come up?"

She looks to Harkashan. "I know Zeke a little. Not as well as I'd like, to be quite honest. Perhaps that should be fixed."

Matters of religion often escape Rune. Her education was largely shaped by her father. As a long-lived Sildanyari, he had not really concerned himself with the gods, only with documenting the histories left behind. So, with some obvious puzzlement, Rune looks over to Harkashan, as if hoping he understood the difference between these various gods and their part to play in all this.

It is a look that doesn't linger long, though, as Cor'lana asks her about her unusual question, "The... other day we attended the Telmentarian Celebration just outside the city." Rune's thumb digs against the side of her necklace. "They had some sort of Celestial being that could communicate with the dead, so I tried to reach my mother."

Her brows furrow, "The priestess said they couldn't reach her, but then... she seemed to become possessed by some other entity. One that said that 'We' would be waiting for me among the golden sands." It's all very troubling.

She sighs then, "Zeke asked why his mother would have harmed him as a child. Apparently she said she bore no child, only a monster." Rune huffs, "Even with my own problems, I still want to punch that woman in the maw."

"Hrrrm. Guess we'll have to continue searching for that one. Golden Sands suggests a desert." He remarks to Rune. "But I do not know the lands outside of Am'shere very well. And Am'shere is largely jungles." He points out.

He lets the topic of Navos slip for now. Harkashan's bond with the Death-singing Dragon is very different from the bond Softskins tend to have with their patrons.

"But... there is someone we could ask." He then remarks to Rune. "Your father has been alive for a very long time. From what you've said, he didn't know much about your mother' other life. But... he does know a lot about the world." He bids.

Cor'lana looks thoughtful again, although clearly pained with the relaying of what happened to Zeke. "I know I offered to bring you two to Grandfather," she says, "but I think we need to make that happen sooner rather than later. I do not know of what that message could mean. But... the fae connection, the sands... He might know. He could know."

She looks at Rune for a moment. "Somehow I doubt something that possessed a priestess would be on this plane," she says. "That's my only gut instinct regarding this. I feel it's something dwelling within Quelynos."

Cor'lana looks at Pothy and she clicks her tongue. The bird takes flight and lands on her shoulder again. "In which case, I think we'd all prepare," she says. "Bring anything that might be helpful for you both regarding nausea. Shifting between planes is uncomfortable for most."

"I'm not asking my father for anything." Rune replies, perhaps with a little too much steel in her voice. Then, seeming to realize that her gut reaction may not make sense to others, she takes a deep breath and explains, "My father expected mom to give up everything to be with him, and she did." Her hand closes over the necklace, "He wouldn't give me the truth if he had it, because he wouldn't want me following on her path. You know that." This last part is said to Harkashan.

The prospect of moving up their visit to Quelynos is met with a small, brief nod. "Right now, I think I've got more questions than I've ever had answers. It's something definitely strange going on."

With a sigh, she adjusts the basket under her arm, "Just let us know when. I'll bring along Pothy's new perch, as well. I hope it's something that he'll enjoy."

Harkashan looks at Rune as she gives that gut reaction, giving her a bit of a look for a moment. Her relationship with her father is a complicated one. "Sorry." He answers, tilting his head down for a moment. He's just trying to help look for answers. Luckily, Ravenstongue comes with a better suggestion.

"Hrrm." Is what Harkashan manages. A thoughtful sound, punctuated with; "I do not have the usual problems softskins have with nausea." In other words, he's never experienced that problem before. "So I should be fine to go whenever."

Cor'lana smiles brightly at Rune. "There will, in due time, become more in the way of answers. Would that I had the power to give all of them to you myself, I would, but I only have the power to bring you to people who may."

She reaches up and scratches Pothy a little. The bird makes a happy noise, almost like the purring of a cat, followed by small whistles. Cor'lana looks at him and she says, "He loves the idea of a perch, especially since his book nest is likely destroyed. The poor boy is in dire need of comfort as of late."

The sorceress then looks back to Harkashan and Rune, and she says, "I will summon for you tomorrow. I will have finished my preparations then, and I believe that gives you both time for such, as well. Now, if you'll excuse me... I need to go pamper Pothy some more."

The question of how that's to be done is answered as Cor'lana walks into the direction of a nearby restaurant. Suddenly, one hopes that the chef was prepared for Pothy--if such a thing exists.