Waiting for Zeke

Log Info

• Title: Waiting for Zeke
• Emitter: Faranmidahn
• Characters: Faranmidahn, Cryosanthia, Rocky, Aya, Garrett, Acedia
• Place: A10: Temple District
• Time: Sunday, May 24, 2020, 3:53 PM
• Summary: Cryosanthia is waiting at the fountain in the Temple District with Rocky, her clutch-kin from Am'shere, for Zeke to return from the hunting party with Seldan and Malik. Faranmidahn is out riding Torrent and stops by. They talk about Alexandria, and how each of them have been handling the aftermath of the battle with Salina. They talk about familiars, clothing, war golems and Cryo shows off a few tricks she's been practicing with her clothing including having an embroidered lizard animate and crawl around. Aya appears, and then Garrett, and some aggressive flirting happens. Acedia tells Cryo that Salina wasn't really defeated, and at best this time is a respite. New battles are coming soon. She also advises that everyone from the prisoner rescue devise their own sort of weekend getaway. Cryo indicates she'll do this, next time she's available.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The air of solemn, heavy divinity in the area is often broken by laughter. The dual presence of the deities Althea and Daeus, man and wife, stand towards the center, with their children and their children's temples positioned around them. The presence of the divine is felt not only by their temples, but also by the actions of their worshipers. The great plaza is as a social center, paved in brilliant, white flagstones and covered in benches and sitting areas. Priests, acolytes, and servicefolk of all stripes roam the plaza, going from one task to the other.

At the front of the temples of Daeus and Althea, at the Plaza's centermost point, rests a great fountain, the cheerful waters reflecting the Sun during the day, and the Moon and Stars at night. The fountain is strategically centered, and is oft a place for wisdom and lesson-giving. It is not uncommon for a priest of some stripe or the other to stand there, surrounded by the curious and faithful, delivering messages of hope or contemplation. At other times, it and the plaza become a landscape of celebration of the holy holidays.

Few vendors are seen in the plaza--the nearby temples provide most food or services. Towards the west, the great Bridge stretches across the river, and towards the east, the Redridge mountains. The plaza rests in the midst of it all, the temples massive and grand on the Alexandrian scale.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Faranmidahn  3'3"     35 Lb      Halfling          Female    Albino Lucht woman in black leather armor with a BIG spider 
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Rocky        6'8"     460 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      A grey Sith in armor, bit like a statue.
Aya          4'7"     105 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.
Garrett      5'8"     160 Lb     Half-Elf          Male      A human in black leather, constantly wearing a hood
Acedia       3'4"     39 Lb      Goblin            Female    An ebon-skinned Goblin in leather armor.
=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

The afternoon finds the crowd making a bubble of space around a large, black spider. Astride it, clad in Knightly work attire is Faran. The arachnid is steered toward the Temple of Daeus, and continues on approach to the steps.

There are various couples around the fountain throwing in coins for wishes. Families as well are in the square, taking in the sights or visiting the vendors near the various temples. It's sunny, a few small clouds, and there is a breeze which keeps the flagstones cool.

A single white-scale sith-makar is sitting on the rim of the fountain's basin, legs stretched out. Beside her is a bundle which appears to be a lunch purchased nearby. She's scanning the distance, waiting and looking for people she recognizes. Spotting a spider she calls out, "Faran!" and waves. This is followed by a quick gestures, a trickle of light, and a message cantrip which lets the lucht hear her much more clearly. "Faran, I'm over by the fountain."

Rocky could be mistaken for a decoration, some sort of gargoyle type thing maybe, as he lounges on the fountain edge not far from Cryo. But the grey scales eyes are open an alert, watching the city people with passive curiousity, even if teh rest of him holds still.

The spider knight straighens some in the saddle at the hail, first from the distance, then in her ear and she turns as directed. Her little fluffy feet tap-tap and nudge the arachnid in a code fully understood only by the pair in question and she turns to ride over to the pair of Sith. A hand lifts with a fond, if slightly subdued, "Hello, Cryo, Hello, Rocky, how are you today?"

Cryosanthia looks better than she was a week ago, calmer, rested. It isn't freezing around her. Her scales have a nice gleam to them. She's wearing a minimal amount of things, gloves, boots, and a mithril chain shirt that hangs low in her front and has hole for her tail. She's got her AnyGarment sleeves on, but apparently hasn't activated them.

"This one is well. Seldan has taken Zeke on another hunting trip. The last one benefitted him greatly. This one is between things now. Sitting with Rocky, watching the temples. They have not moved."

Rocky sighs slowly, and sits up a little, disturbing a pigeon. "Peacce unto your nesst. Thisss one is... content. Much new to sssee and learn. The Sssity of Misst isss much different than expected, but good."

Faranmidahn draws rein nearby and knock-knocks Torrent with the 'belly down' signal, so she can unbuckle and dismount. Once on her feet again, the Lucht steps closer to hug Cryosanthia firmly, "I'm glad to hear it... you're looking a lot better." With Rocky's reanimation, she turns a smile, still burdened, if friendly, "The city has many wonders." and terrors, but they've no doubt gone over that, by now, "But not enough spiders." Speaking of... The albino's hood shifts slightly, and the little coconut spider crawls up over her shoulder from under her hair and makes a soft, voiceless rumble, and she turns her face toward the tiny arachnid and gently kisses her shell, then looks up to the Sith, "Rocky, these are my friends, Zephyr..." with a glance to her shoulder, then, "And Torrent." as she sets a hand on the large spider's leg.

Cryo watches the pigeon fly away, then she opens up her bundle of food, it is primarily dried meat and some pastries made with apples. She holds some out towards Rocky, then Faran, "It isss interesssting. You ssshould sssee the training groundsss and Colossssseum, if you have not. Lotsss of warriorsss training there. Did you make it out to Mictlan?"

The whitescale smiles at Faran, "I put all the ones I find outside for you Faran. Haven't killed one in ages. Hi there Zephyr, Torrent. Zeke has been eating a little, carefully thisss week. Ssso I'm lessss worried. Your mother Serrendine, ssshe isss improving? I'm sssorry, for lassst time. I'm not sssure if ssshe'sss angry with me."

Rocky accepts the offered food with a nod, sitting up more. "Zephyr, and Torrent, sssa." To the white scale he nods. "Thisss One hasss wandered much of the ssity, but hasss not left the wallsss."

Faranmidahn accepts the pastry between her palms with a, "Thank you!" and spends a moment just enjoying the fragrance as Cryo explains the mercies shown to her friends. Her resulting smile, however, does dim a bit on reference to her mother and she looses a tiny silent sigh through her nose, "Not that she's intimated with me, Cryo. She mourns, but... " But. There is a little shake of her head, then, "Just enjoying the fountain, then?"

"I'll... I'll take you there, the next time Zeke is going to be away for a few days." Cryo says, adjusting her feet and crossing them. She smiles and sighs, "It's still a bit much for me there, but I'm getting used to smells and stuff again. Have you been to the Fernwood Pub? You ssshould asssk for the human ssserver. The People make her nervousss, it's funny."

The whitescale nods to the lucht. She's got her tail carefully curled to one side so it doesn't dip in the water. "I'm sorry to hear Faran. Let her know if she'd like to talk to me, I can find the time. Trying to enjoy the fountain. It's been a week and I haven't been attacked by it yet, so, that's a win." She grins widely.

Rocky nods. "Thisss One ssstill one meet Little Sssister'sss chiuua. But when time isss right." Chewing peacefully, he shakes his head. "Have ssseen that pub, but not ben insside." He blinks, falling still for a moment before turning to eye the fountain. "'Attacked by it yet'?"

Faranmidahn sighs, "Our woes with the fae our sister mentioned involved the fountain water getting... too lively for anyone's good. It seems to have been resolved, though it was a calamitous time." She shrugs and sits down on the edge of the faountain to take a bite out of her pastry. She chews on that for a moment or two, then, "I'll tell her. She... may react better to you."

Cryo looks around at the other people, families mostly, then leans in close to Rocky and speaks quietly in Draconic, "Twice, oozes came out, both times as big as a temple. Twice, a vampire. Killed the vampire in the fountain. Twice, a Demon, a Duke of Hell." She grits her teeth as she says the last.

'It's a beautiful fountain but a lot of things have happened around it. Kol, the others, you remember Faran. I don't want to upset...' the whitescale gestures as the regular people wandering around. 'I figure if the pigeons are using it again, it's safe to sit beside. If I can help Faran, with her coming to terms... has she talked about the Everstorm at all?' <draconic>

Rocky falls still, listening, and nods, glancing to the waters again. "Thisss One did not realize was thisss fountain. Sssoft ssskins rebuild ssso quickly." He blinks again, looking to the maybe perfectly normal Lutch. "Everssstorm'?"

Faranmidahn nods slightly, "Oh, I remember, alright." she says softly, rubbing her neck slightly, then, "It may, Cryo... Our relationship is... complicated." Ahem, just as she looks a little less certain of herself, Rocky's question provides a welcome distraction, "Ah, yes! There is a massive magical manifestation in the middle of the Desolation that's been raging since ancient Kulthus was struck down by the Gods."

"I understand, I'll help how I can when I can." Cryosanthia says, taking up a meat strip and biting a piece of it off. She works on it a little, swallows, then shreds another piece off. "The storm isss quite beautiful, thisss one watched it for agesss. It isss sssomething to sssee from an airssship."

"It was rebuilt quick, the whole square here was broken into the passssagesss under the city. Alssso not a sssafe place to be. Do not go hunting ratsss there. There are a lot more than ratsss still." Cryo grins, waving her stick of meat, "The rats also, not good to eat."

Rocky nods again. "Thisss One hass heard talesss of Otyugh. Thought them liesss until ssssaw one in the market."

Faranmidahn nods to Cryo's explainations, then turns her head to look at her familiar, "Hear that, little lady? Don't follow the rats underground, it's dangerous, sweetie." The little spider pivots slightly on her shoulder to regard her in turn, but her little rumble doesn't stop, "Good girl..!" Back to Rocky, she turns her attention, "Mother's been studying the Everstorm since before I was born. She probably knows more about it than any mortal still breathing." She blinks as he mentions the otyugh and, more specifically, "It was in the market??"

Cryo makes an 'eyuggh' face, her lips pulled back in a grimace, "I can't imagine why there would. The smell. I'm told some artificers use them for something. One of them fed Svarshan a drink with otyugh bile in it, made him sick. Apparently the bile is really hard to get."

She wiggles her fingers at Zephyr, then tilts her head, "Can you actually talk with her, or is it like talking to a lizard?" A moment passes and she clarifies, "A pet lizard?"

Rocky blinks, and shrugs. "Are many ssstrange thingsss in the market. Like war golemsss." He doesn't find an otyugh particularly high on the list.

Faranmidahn blinks and looks to Cryo, the concept of her story bringing a short heave to her throat, as a hand comes up to her face. Bleaaaaaaugh! She shakes her head, trying to discard the visual from her head, then, "OH! Ah, well, kind of." Sorceress and familiar regard each other a moment, then, "She understands my words, though she doesn't always understand the more complex concepts. She can't speak to me in turn, though, not yet. I feel her emotions, though, as she feels mine." She blinks to Rocky, "Oh, War Golems are neat!" her sails lose a bit of the wind for a moment, "It's a shame -why- they were built, but the ones I've met have seemed like decent people."

Cryo nods, listening to Faran's explanation and looking between her and Rocky. She's in a weird way, as the other sith-makar clearly helps evoke actions from her youth, while overall her behaviour, her gestures, her build at much more mature. So at times for both the lucht and the sith-makar, she acts as they remember while being her new, older self. "I know two, Munch and Toha, they're both quite interesting. I didn't get into deep discussions with them. Toha took herself apart a little bit, that was unusual. They act like people so I react like they are... it gets... well rather not think of them like things..."

She stares at the ground, things seem a little cooler around her, "Yeah, that's not a good place to go."

Faranmidahn looks to Cryo as she speaks, brightened some by some of Cryo's former mannerisms return, more comfortable than the others she's later imprinted. The lucht cants her head a little, "Munch? Does... I didn't think they could eat?" A blink, "What would they eat?" Another, and, "Why would she do that?" As the palescale stares groundward, though, she steps forward and reaches out to touch her, "What's wrong, Cryo...?" Rocky's remark gets a solemn nod.

"Oh, Munch eats everything, that's why he's called Munch. I think he used to be a smelting furnace or something. I'm told one doesn't dare him to eat anything, he will, even if it explodes. And it was when we were getting her cured of the plague, the ooze wasn't coming out so she took off some of her panels so the spells would get at it better. It's just..."

Cryo sighs, "The Mistress, treated people like things. Mixed and matched parts. Made constructs. She fixed my scars, you remember? Those deep cuts through my hide. I was afraid I'd wake up one day and bleed light blue. All her constructs did that, and then exploded when they died..."

Cryo exhales, resting her elbows on her knees, then her chin on her clasped hands. She tilts her head to gaze at Rocky for a while. "You never saw the scar tattoos I had. It makes sense you don't have yours anymore, but it's still weird. I remember when we Neca found that rusted sword and you said it wouldn't hurt because it would break so he hit you on the head with it and gave you that forehead scar, and you're laughing at him because the sword did break but you had all this blood coming down your face and snout. You always had a kind of shocked expression when it healed up."

Rocky rumbles in amusement at the memory. "First sssword to break on my hide. Not the lasst. Isss sstrange to lack sscars. Thisss One doesss not misss them, but isss aware they are not there."

Faranmidahn looks between the two as they speak in turn, frowning a bit. As things get to comparing scar stories, she fidgets a little bit and idly strokes Torrent's leg.

"I'd beg the Shaman-Caste to make mine go away. People sniff the wind if you're Speaker Caste with too many scars." Cryosanthia says, relaxing and sitting up again. Her tail goes casual and slides off the seat to splash in the fountain behind her. The whitescale looks over at Faran, "Uh... sorry. We can change topics. I was trying to come up with some new clothing ideas? If you had any thoughts?"

Rocky grunts dismissively. "Clothing. Armor isss good. Covering to ssstay warm isss good. Elsse isss vanity."

Faranmidahn blinks up at Cryo at the sudden chance in conversation to her direction, "Huh? What? No, no... I just... it's nothing. It's just..." All her scars are inside, "Well, what kind of new clothing?" She looks to Rocky at his words, blushing a little bit, "Well... there are other reasons most of us wear clothing, even with magical means of preotection." Ahem, "Unless I'm using magic to protect myself... or heavy clothing, well... the Dragonfather's eye doesn't look kindly on me, though his warmth will still heal me."

Cryo's tail splashes vigorously in the fountain. She rocks back, balancing on the edge, putting a hand over her chest. "Oh no! You've scarred me."

Grinning, she stands and moves to where she can show off to both. Her tail drags some water after her and there's a frosted circle where she was sitting. Her mail shirt, which seems to be made from very silvery-white rings, hangs to the tops of her thighs. She's got on her whitescale boots and gloves and waves a hand, "This is fine for armour but a Speaker's battlefield is impressions and negotiation. If I was meeting a king or a general they'd look at this and dismiss me as a regular footsoldier."

The whitescale concentrates, clothing appears, looking much more like Blar equestrian military gear, with loops of braided gold rope, a bunch of faux medals across the chest, tight riding pants, large epaulettes, a tall hat with a peacock feather, black gloves, a burgandy cape, "If I wore this, they'd laugh behind my back but they'd think I was representing someone. They'd notice."

Rocky looks to Faran curiously, but is distracted by Cryo's antics. "Ssssa. Markings of caste are different." Somehow. He doesn't elaborate.

Faranmidahn hmmm's softly, "Father..." ahem, "He used to tell me that armour like that could be worn under regular clothing. If I could get my hands on some, and had the right tailor, I wear it under regular clothing, though something like a formal gown would take a little more.. specific forging." She cants her head a little, then, "Well, part of the question should be... what are you dressing -for-? A spring festival, a negotiation, a wedding...?"

"Well, how I want to present myself to the world. Your father is right, I could hide this under regular clothes effectively. Here's something I've been working on." Cryosanthia concentrates, and the equestrian militar gear vanishes and she's wearing a simple long shirt with short sleeves and a pocket. It covers her mail, and not much else. She grins, stands there, and taps the pocket. After a moment an emroidered lizard in a stylized climbing pose appears half out of the pocket. A few seconds later, the emroidery has reversed left-to right, and moved an inch. As the sith stands there staring off in blank concentration, the lizard 'crawls' across her chest by reversing pose and shifting over until it reaches her sleeve, at which point it orients downwards and in two flicks vanishes at the cuff. "What do you think?"

Rocky grunts. "This One has ssseen tricksss for hatchlingsss... but isss well done. Issss...." he takes a moment to find the right word. "Art."

Faranmidahn watches the transformation with curiosity. She doesn' deny the wow factor of Cryo's magic sleeves, but she's not sure she would buy them, herself. She's spent too much time making her own clothes. Still, she seems vaguely amused by the little lizard moving up along the shirt and she claps with a little giggle, "Inspired! Does it do that on it's own, or do you have to focus on it?"

Cryo shakes her head, "I have to think about it, a shirt with it positioned slightly differently each time. I'm trying to get one that does it on its own, like two designs that just keep switching. Like this cold-fire one."

There's another shift in the sith's clothing. Now she's wearing the layered wizarding robes she usually dresses in, with an exception. Along the bottom hem are stylized flames in shades of pale blue, they flicker back and forth between two states. She's clearly still concentrating to make it happen but it's a lot simpler than the progressive thing she did earlier.

"I might get it to where it's a background thought, like a song in your head, but the danger is something will happen if I'm surprised."

"Quite the amusing trick," Aya comments from not-quite opposite Cryosanthia across the fountain. How long she's been present or how much of the display she witnessed is anyone's guess.

Rocky watches with mild intrest, nodding his approval at teh display when Aya speaks up. Looking over, the grey scale touches his hands together formally. "Peacce unto your nessst."

Faranmidahn's black spider remains reasonably sedate as the lucht continues idly stroking his chitin, though the fluffy white one on her shoulder pivots where she stands, and Faran looks over to the dark elf from the other night. She bows her head a touch with a, "Hello, madame." Cryo's musings prompt the start of a grin as she observes, "Having the startled words of your inner voice splayed all over your clothes would get awkward pretty quickly, I think."

"AH!" or perhaps, "AYA!" or maybe "AIEEE!" It's difficult to say what Cryo says as several things happen at once when the mul'niessa appears. First the sith-makar raises a hand defensively and a giant sleeve snakes out in Aya's direction the same time as Cryo jumps backwards and the rest of her clothes blompf into a giant, layered, snowball balloon which rolls when she lands and then deflates around her like an airshipman parachute. A muffled, "Just a..."

"...sec." Is heard, and all the cloth vanishes. Cryo is standing and walking back to her previous position. She makes a clicking noise with her mouth, "As I said, it doesn't hold up if I'm startled... Peace on your Nest, Aya. This is a clutch-mate of mine, Rocky... Do you want an apple cupcake?"

Then the whitescale stares at Faran, "Don't let anyone overhear that idea, you won't be able to go down a street without reading shirts left and right a week later."

Aya's brows lift as Cryosanthia momentarily becomes a ...snowball with tendrils? Interestingly enough, she doesn't seem especially startled by the change. Not that the details of it were expected. "That was even more amusing."

She dips her head in a nod of acknowledgement and greeting to all present. "Peace on yours, and no, thank you. I must admit that that was not the worst reaction that I've received."

Rocky blinks innocently at Cryo. "Thisss One musst remember to ssstartle you later. It isss very entertaining."

Faranmidahn blinks owlishly at Cryo with her... particularly vigorous response. Headcant. Blink. She clears her throat then ahem, "I should proably check on Mother." she says softly, reaching out to gently touch Cryo's arm, eyes concerned. She looks to Rocky and Aya, then smiles, "It was good seeing you well. Gods keep you." and, with that, she turns to mount Torrent once again.

Cryo is incapable of blushing but she does get fidgity of tail. She taps her forefingers together, "This is not the best place for surprises. It's open enough I expect to see things coming. This one is trying to minimize her upsetting things per week."

She nods to Faran as she is touched, smiles a little, "I'm ok, I'll be ok, thanks. Gods keep you too."

Her attention turns back towards Rocky and Aya, "So, that's most of my clothing tricks."

"It was not my intent to surprise or frighten," Aya admits, "though it oftem occurs." She nods to Faranmidahn and her farewell before she turns back towards the sith. "The reactions of many here, towards myself, seem to follow that trend."

Rocky nods. "Ssssa. People of the sssity are jumpy. But, have been many things worthy of fear, yessss?"

Garrett walks over to the group, face covered by a black cloth. He lowers it to show his face, hood hiding his hair if he has any. "This is why I remain in my clocktower." He says as he watches the group. A glance is given to Cryosanthia and he studies her.

"Well, you could put bells on, then everyone would hear the jingle before you appeared." Cryo suggests. She thinks about it a little more, all the times when hearing a jingle might not be helpful: in a shower; in a dark place; at night in the kitchen, "Or... not."

The whitescale blinks and looks at Garrett, her eye ridges crease, "Are you actually Garrett or someone pretending to be Garrett? I don't think you've come up on me without a disguise before."

She also snorts amusedly in Rocky's direction, "Give the sssity some time."

"I have come to confess my undying love to you, Cryosanthia." Garrett says as he looks to Rocky and he crosses his arms. He then looks to the others. "So whats going on? Anything worth stealing?" He asks curiously.

"Perhaps he should be the one wearing bells," Aya opines to Cryosanthia as she nods to Garrett. She then turns to the latter to add, "I can't fault you for remaining secured or isolated elsewhere. I only now venture back into the city,

Rocky blinks, looking from Garret to Cryo and back. "....Little Ssssister has chiuua. Thisss One isss told he issss very nice." Cryo nods along with Rocky's words, "I do have one. He is wonderful, So, this one does not know how to respond to your declaration. I'm afraid it will have to be unrequieted." She seems fully sincere.

"I also don't know of things to steal. We're having a picnic of sorts, would you like an apple cupcake?" The sith glances at Aya, "Were you someplace interesting you want to talk about?"

"A shame." He says as she says it must be unrequieted. He then nods and accepts the cupcake. Garrett turns his gaze to Aya and smiles. "So whats your name?" He asks curiously as he studies her.

"Not so much interesting as dusty, dirty, and occassionally noisy," Aya offers to Cryosanthia with a roll of one shoulder. "I simply stayed outside the walls for a time. I wasn't aware that you had family here." A brief glance is made to the other sith before she looks to Garrett. "You may call me Aya."

Rocky nods to Aya. "Thisss One was waiting by the Stream of the Time. Priests of DragonFather were kind enough to call Thisss One back."

"Yes!" Cryo bobs her head. She seems exceptionally happy as she provides some details. "He's my big-brother, same clutch, lots of growing up and early adventuring together. And, yes. This one helped ... somewhat in a small way, destroy the Queen of Endless Winter, and the Temple rewarded us all for it."

Garrett takes off his hood to reveal his shaved head and pointed ears. "A Shadow elf. Rumor is you lot are obsessed with beating your men and worshipping taara." He says as he studies the woman. "So what brings you lot from the underground?"

From the Temple of Eluna comes a wee suit of plate armor. It awkwardly climbs down the stairs, making quite a bit of noise. The tabard it wears is a deep, Elunian blue, with a likeness of Her symbol embroidered on the front. Reaching the bottom, the smol suit pauses, and looks back up the stairs. Some small accomplishment. Turning, it begins to lumber towards the fountain that dominates the center of the disctrict.

One corner of Aya's mouth lifts, forming a partial smile at Garrett. "Oh, nothing so unusual. Merely my typical mul'niessan duties. Consorting with demons, collecting souls, placing daggers in others' internal organs in alphabetical order, and selling my mother to slavers for a few silver. All after devouring a hatchling or two for hearty breakfast, of course."

She dips to Cryosanthia and Rocky. "I imagine that you did, though I hear tell that neither she nor the fiend, were destroyed, unfortunately." To Rocky, she adds, "Welcome to Alexandria."

Garrett smirks at her. "I think I like you." He says as he watches the shadow elf. HE then puts his hood back up to hide his ears, as if his heritage is something he doesnt like being exposed. "I was raised in Silvermoon. My family has such good descriptors for your people." He says as he watches her and looks to her brooch, though it may look like he is staring at her chest.

Cryo does a small flourish with her arm, and a band of light flashes along it in a coil from her shoulder to fingertips. She finishes by touching her mouth and pointing across the distance towards the Temple of Eluna. It seems she's keeping an eye on Temple entrances. Activating a message cantrip, her voice appears beside Acedia, "Acedia, is that you? I'm over by the fountain."

Long distance hellos over, she turns back to the conversation, although Acedia is still getting her one-sided version of it, "So... is that flirting Garrett? You rebound so fast."

Then the sith absorbs what Aya said, and it seems like she's a deflating piece of clothing now. "What? No, no, she has to be. She's... not? You're not, not lying to me? Are you where did you hear? How?" Immediately she pulls off her left glove, casts with that hand. As her arm, then the scales around her eyes light up, she stares at the snowflake on the back of it. Rocky falls still and quiet, not knowing enough on the assorted topics to offer his own opinion at this point.

The suit of armour pauses a minute, glancing around curiously, turning around in place before shrugging and moving towards the fountain. It comes to a stop beside the icy-scale Sith, and looks up. Way up.

"Was that a spell, Cryosanthia, or have you developed some sort of mind power?", says a scratchy, female voice. "And yes, it is I, Acedia." The head turns, the eyeslits lining up on Aya a moment, and a gauntleted hand is waved to the Mul, and then the living statue is stared at, before it looks back to Cryosanthia.

"I am afraid what Aya said is true. What was slain in the tower was a copy, or a simulacra.. or even a Golem, made to look like Salina. She lives still, location unknown. Eclavdran is still... not in Hell, but he will be dealt with. Rest assured the deed will be done."

Aya arches a brow at Garrett in return to his gaze. "You do seem to still be appraising..." She turns from him fully, towards the miniature mound of metal that is Acedia as she joins Cryosanthia. "I heard such from the Silver Guard Seldan. There are alleged plans to move against her. I would prefer Eclavdran be dealt with, first, but he seems to be a lesser concern to some."

"I will be honest with you, Cryosanthia, I would like to bed you. However that is impossible so I move on. I still feel for you, but now know it will never be. I guess I will have to move on." He says as he turns his gaze back to Aya. "That is an interesting brooch." Garrett says as he watches her.

"I've been concentrating on Zeke, and resting, and trying to... perhaps it's for the best no one told me, I..." Cryo says, answering Aya and Acedia, before Garrett's words interrupt her. She blinks and looks at him, flatly stating, "it's a cold bed, you wouldn't enjoy it. You must move on."

Snorting an exhale, she looks down at Acedia, clad in her heavy suit of armour. "You look very sharp Acedia. I'd end up shorter if I ran into you. It's a Message cantrip. And, well, Mistress made enough constructs, things... out of people, and we knew there were two of her somehow, so I shouldn't be surprised."

"Eclavdran has been more personally dangerous to me and my friends. He's shown up at this fountain twice, killed Auranar and this goblin I know... her name's slipped my mind..." Cryo's tail coils and flicks around Acedia, curling in a loop without touching her, "... taken Merek and Kira. Done things to Malik. I would think him the greater immediate threat. I'm not even sure it's safe for me to be here and you around me anymore. A LOT has happened at this fountain. I should go inside..."

There's a lot more nervousness in her voice, the whitescale is looking around for threats, carefully examining distant figures. Rocky chuffs softly. "If there issss a threat, The People will face it together. Here, or elsssewhere."

"A strong reason that I avoided the city," Aya nods to Cryosanthia, though clarifies, "Due to him, not you. Yet now..." her own eyes drift over the passersby, "I am torn. I'd rather he appeared sooner rather than later, if just to allow me to keep my eyes straight ahead for a few moments, not to mention balance this debt." Aya turns back to Garrett, for a better view of the brooch, of course. "It was a gift from an ally and suitor, also signifying my intitiation into the mysteries of The Forge."

The helm turns to look at Garrett, and an armoured hand reaches up to pull the faceplate up. A wee, round face peers at the man. "Erm, you're awfully blunt, aren't you?", she says, before looking to the living statue again. Her eyes flick to Cryosanthia. "Is that a Sith? It looks carved right out of rock." She blinks as Rocky speaks. "Oh."

Acedia squeaks as the tail curls around her without touching, and she nods. "Yes. I died to the demon. But... he is still assisting us. As best he can, given how twisted he has had to be in order to do so without breaking his oaths. As much as he is evil, and deserves to be smited back to Hell.. I have on multiple occasions found empathy and even respect for the creature. He is as trapped as we are in all of this, even more so, I would say.

The Gobbo huffs. "This is why Salina needs to go down first. When she does, it is likely that Eclavdran will leave our world. If we have a choice, better it be one fight instead of two, yes? At worst, we'd have to fight him afterwards." She looks to Cryosanthia. "Cryosanthia. I would have words with you. Later, in private. I think they will help you."

"Rocky, if you see the Demon, only engage with a large group, otherwise run. I've seen him overwhelm very capable fighters." The whitescale cautions the granitescale.

Speaking to him, or about him, seems to help her a little bit. "My apologies, I should have introduced him properly, Acedia, Aya, Garrett, this is Rocky. Warrior-Caste of the sith-makar, clutch-mate to this one. Big Brother. He knows all the embarassing youngling things I got up to. Rocky, these are friends and I've fought with them. Uh, the good fighting with them. They know all the embarassing things I've been up to lately."

Cryo makes a sort of sideways glance and grin at Aya, before nodding to Acedia. She closes her eyes, still bobbing her head, "this one would have those words then, yes. When you are able. Helpful words would be nice."

Opening her eyes again she sighs, "I have no thoughts on strategy, on who to go after first. I've had no difficulty attracting the Demon by scrying. I'd think the same could be done for my Mistress. On the bright side, perhaps this one will get to use the dagger made for her. If she is free of the Tower, couldn't she be summoned using the traditional methods of contacting the Queen of Endless Winter? She would be bound to appear, would she not? I don't know what is required. Someone wintery? Perhaps Yukia?"

Rocky nods to Acedia. "Peace unto your nessst, Acedia." He nods to Cryo. "Thissss One knows many stories. But Thisss One alsso knowsss the Sssspeaker knowsss even more sstoriesss of embarrasssing youngling daysss, ssso will ssstay quiet."

The Gobbo peers up at Rocky, and grins toothily. "Hello Rocky! Peace on your nest." She clanks a little closer towards the living-statue, and offers up a tiny, gauntleted hand for shaking. "Nice to meet you. So you are Cryo's broodmate? What do you think of Alexandria so far?"

Acedia looks to Cryosanthia then, and offers a slight nod. "I don't know if she can be dragged to us, it could be that she is still somewhere that offers protection. I think I know where she might be, at least, it is a suspicion."

"I spent all my life learning ettiquette and how to be proper. Promised myself I wouldnt do it again." He says as he watches the woman. He then turns to Aya. "Got any suitors now?" He asks as he studies the woman.

Aya considers that agenda and nods, albeit reluctantly. "I suppose it is prudent to stop her, first... but I'm not convinced the fiend will depart, or that his own agenda is much less unpleasant. In any case, I've offered my assistance, whenever it comes to pass."

She looks to Acedia, then, and adds, "Despite tales, I've no means to summon either of them..." Another turn back to Garrett and her brow arches again, pulling her lipcorner up as if connected. "Not presently. Should I presume that you have jewelry to dispense and a desire to be bruised?"

Rocky accepts the gauntled handshake with a firm grip of his own. "Very ssstrange. Thisss One heard tales of the Ssssity of Misssts, but knew only the villagesss of home. Beyond anything imagined. Massssive ssstone buildingsss, many many people, very few treesss. Very ssstrange, but good."

Cryo watches Acedia clank around, "Did you decide to become a knight like Faran or a holy warrior like Sir Seldan? I could never manage armour like that, it would be too much for me."

"Well, King Knickerssnatcher or the Queen of the Slugs might have information." The sith looks between Garrett and Aya, "He blames Sildanyari for the fading of the fae. I imagine you'd enjoy being blamed and lectured by him as much as I would being told off by a dragon. Summoning him used to be as easy as singing a tune and walking down a sunset lit street while being a maiden."

Finally the sith crouches down so she's more on Acedia's level instead of towering and gazing down on the top of her head, "Please keep me involved, Acedia. I honestly don't know if I can strike against her but I would want to know." She's also watching her left hand a lot. "There's a really nice garden area Rocky, and the river is amazing for swimming. I'll try to get time to show you."

The Gobbo shakes a few times, and nods to Rocky. "Yes, it stinks and it is ugly in places, but the Gardens are very nice. And it is not too far away from the wilderness that you can't get there in a short time. If you want trees, they are not too far away."

To Garrett, she blinks, and cants her head slightly. "You are selling yourself so cheaply." She looks to Aya and grins. "Ah, the age old game of playing hard to get."

Acedia blinks as Cryo is suddenly there at face level. Her gauntleted hands reach up to gently touch Cryo's cheeks. "It is not up to me whether you are involved or not, it is up to you. For the moment, Seldan is looking into things. They have also taken Zeke out again, to recover. I am suggesting to you that you take Faran, and Kira, and Halani, and go and find a retreat of your own. Recover. Heal. Put your mind at ease, find your center again."

Aya turns to roll her shoulders to Acedia and Cryosanthia. "I'd rather not be further blamed for events that have no involvement in. I'll leave any summoning to those who have more experience." Perhaps catching some of the recommendations of the gobber, she adds, "If this is only a lull, it may not last long. You may wish to take every advantage of it, with friends, family, and so forth."

Rocky nods. "Thisss One hasss much yet to sssee, and hasss yet to leave the wallssss. But there isss no rush. The sssity hasss ssstood for thisss long."

The whitescale leans her head into Acedia's gauntlets. She's got heavy horns from the weight and way she rests to the touch, and perhaps a weight more on the horns as she explains, "Seldan picked him up at the beginning of the weekend. We only spoke about Zeke. I've been sleeping. Faran was here earlier. This one has no idea how she and Kira are, and Faran's mother may be angry at all of us. I haven't seen Halani since... since... yes the fountain. She is ... handling things. I should have checked. I've been concentrating on being there for Zeke. Next time when he is away and I can get away I will. I should bother Mikilos, if he can put a pool in his magic mansion, I want to swim so badly."

Cryo stares at Aya for a little bit, "It was a joke, but yes, lulls do not last. You are right. I'll do what I can."

The whitescale stands, making a little bow towards Rocky, "This one will find some time Rocky, as they advised. I should go back to the room, there are things I left that need cleaning and I would like to lie down before Zeke and Seldan return. Nice to see you again Aya, Acedia... Garrett. You know where to find me." She waves in the general direction of the Temple of Daeus.

The Gobbo eyes Cryo as she speaks, and she nods when the icy-scale stands. "Be well, Cryosanthia. I know Faran is alright, Kira is managing. I haven't seen Halani for some time. I hope she is alright." Acedia reaches up a hand and pulls down her face plate. "It was nice to meet you Rocky. And it was good to see you again, Aya and Garrett. I, too, must go."

She turns and begins to clank away down one of the little side streets.

Aya dips her head, and upper body, to the departing Sith and gobber. "Until the next time," she offers as a simple, practical farewell.

Rocky simple settles back down in place, content to observe and be mistaken for a statue.

Cryo slips Rocky a small bag of coins, "this should last a week if I don't see you again sooner." Turning away she watches the little clanking gobbo get smaller, then gives Aya another wave. Garrett appears to have vanished again. The whitescale finally turns and heads over to the Temple of Daeus, heading inside.