In-Security
Log Info
- Title:
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Zeke, Serene, Aya, Seldan
- Place: A10: Temple of Eluna
- Time: Friday, July 16, 2021, 8:11 PM
- Summary: Cryosanthia has requested Zeke and Seldan meet her at the Temple of Eluna, a place she has avoided since her experiences with Salina, so the two can share information she's unwilling or unable to provide. Seldan is not in appearance, and Zeke is late and reeking of sulfur, so the whitescale ends up asking for Serene. The Ultra-Paladin is also unable or unwilling to provide information, and goes to fetch Seldan. In the meantime, Aya appears and snatches Lily. Zeke reacts on a ready offensive, and Cryo attempts some peacemaking. She does let Aya watch her youngling, and Lily adores setting traps for her aunt-nemesis, Tia Ay-ays. Zeke is not assuaged, and Seldan arrives. Cryo obliquely explains what she wants him to do, and he agrees that a Magical Mansion might be best, but he will have to try his scroll. The whitescale defers, saying Mikilos casts that for her daily, the details are not super urgent, and they can re-convene in hers and save the scroll.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple of Eluna *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Eluna's temple stands near her brother's, and trees of the grove often wander their vines that way, only to be chased away by the priests--much as two children might battle in the back of a cart. Eluna's temple is composed of solemn, alabaster pillars and marble, as ancient as Her brother's though more austerely kept. Each pillar represents a phase of the moon, over which She has dominion. Their surface is scribed with the words of ancient dreams, those first recorded in the known world, when mankind was first awakening to their significance.
In the center of the temple lies a grand pool. Serene in its surface, it reflects the open sky overhead, though the temple is covered by an arched ceiling. At all times within the surface may the stars be seen. Surrounding this pool are a number of tasseled rugs, on which petitioners sit and meditate, or seek counsel for interpretation of their dreams.
Warriors of Daeus are often found here, providing guards where the wards of Eluna prefer introspection and contemplation. These fighters bear dual symbols, signifying the tie between divine father and divine daughter. They and the priests here speak in quiet voices, reminiscent of Eluna's place as the Dreaming Goddess.
To the north of the temple is a modest library, its function primarily in the way of records--recording of dreams, of meditation, of theories of the proper use of magic--teachings directly opposed by the Shadow Goddess, Taara. It is this last shift that has seen an increase in the number of guards among the temple, and the increased adoption of the Star of Tears among the belts of Seers.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Serene 6'2" 175 Lb Eldanar/Charn Female Glacier meets granite meets strawberries. Zeke 6'8" 239 Lb Sith-Makar Male A blue-scaled sith-makar in white Daeus vestments Aya 4'7" 105 Lb Shadow Elf Female Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing. Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NPCs of Note =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Little Fang 'Lily' Kobold Female A pinkscale youngling in a bathing suit, Cryo's daughter. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The Temple of Eluna.
Or, the Temple of the Dreaming Dragon, depending one's perspective. In the case of a certain whitescale, it is definitely the latter. The softskin versions of the pantheon she knows are uncomfortable to her. Though under any name, Eluna has some negative associations, and she doesn't come here often. Or even, at all, without reason.
Today, there is one, and she lingers at the edge, near the columns, keeping distant from the pool. She sent a note to the Temple of Daeus, another one she hasn't visited lately, requesting Zeke meet her and Silverguard Seldan at Eluna's temple.
Except her wait for him grew long, enough that she asked if Silverguard Serene was about. So she's been sent for too.
And so she waits, and at her feet, her carnation-scale youngling is examining a pillar.
The wait for Serene is a relatively short one, and when she appears she is her usually fully armed and ready for battle self.. aside from completing the job of hitching her scabbarded sword to her belt, suggesting that there may actually be times she, at least figuratively, lets her hair down. Cryosanthia is, of course, not difficult to pick out in this place and Serene wastes little time in approaching her.
Zeke comes quickly enough at his summon, and that haste means that to the sensitive snout of a sith he smells something out of sorts. Specifically he smells of... sulfur? It's an unpleasant thing of that one can be certain. He is freshly garbed however, his white Daeus robes clean of any mark that might explain the scent that surrounds him. He stops just shy of Cryosanthia, nodding politely to her and to her youngling, then to Serene. "Peassce on your nessstsss." As always he has a quarterstaff in his right claw, using it to help him move as much as it might be used for anything else.
Cryosanthia is figideting, her tail swishing back and forth as she expends energy waiting. Lily is attempting to climb a pillar and has managed to go up a few feet. The Silverguard and the Sunguard arrive at almost the same moment, making her spin in her greeting to both.
"Peace on your Nest. Silverguard Serene, and Zeke." She smiles awkwardly, looking between the two. "This one was hoping to have Zeke speak with his Kin. About... things... Have you seen Silverguard Seldan?"
Serene tilts her head to both Sith Makar, opens her mouth to respond... hesitates for a moment, then clicks her tongue quietly before saying, "And peace on your nests as well. I have not seen Seldan, no, but I have been sequestered for much of the day. Many have come and gone in that time."
Zeke glances between Cryosanthia and Serene, a tinge of uncertainty in his scent for a moment. "Thisss one admitsss that thisss one isss curioussss. What could you need with all of ussss Cryossanthia? Isss theree sssomething which thisss one needsss to know?"
"Yes!" Cryo says, a little too energetically. She stares at Serene as if willing her to read her mind. This is unlikely to happen without some obvious spells. She glances at Zeke, glances at Serene, back at Zeke.
Lily has managed to climb up to head height. Clinging to the pillar like ivy.
Finally the whitescale focuses on Zeke, and says carefully, "You had asked about the location of things. Griva, rather publicly stated where she intended to keep One. Seldan, or Serene, could answer questions ... with regards to that."
The whitescale looks at Serene, "not the Death Orb."
Lily's antics finally draw Serene's attention, though it is little more than a brief look. An assessment. A weighing of possibilities. Then her gaze falls upon the two draconian visitors. "Seldan would certainly be the one to question about this. I have... distanced myself from arrangements."
Zeke's eyes are on the youngling quite astutely now. He makes a warning hissing noise without even thinking of it and then realizing what he has done smells strongly of embarrassment which is emphasized by him ducking his head low in apology. "Thisss one apologizesss. Inssstinct." It is after all common in sith society for -every- sith to be a little responsible for the hatchlings and younglings nearby. He takes a breath and nods to Cryosanthia. "Thisss one underssstandsss your meaning however. Nothing more needsss ssaying where other earsss might hear."
Cryosanthia nods, her attention finally drawn to Little Fang when Serene and Zeke react to her. "Thank you, yes." She says, stepping over and peeling her youngling off the pillar. Lily is clingy, reluctant to let go, and explains, "Good spotss forr korrbowss."
A head height crossbow would be inconvenient to intruders, and impossible to install without some destruction.
Holding the pinkscale in her arms, Cryo returns to the two, she seems almost embarrassed, "The Silverguard. Silverguard Serene, she's... she's one of the few I trust completely, and explicitly. From how she fought the Demon Duke."
Now she looks at her, "This one... was encouraged to hear you were ... the security, and dismayed you're not involved any longer."
Serene says, "I will seek Silverguard Seldan and send him to you if I find him." With that said, she turns on her heel and heads back into the temple.
"Thisss one remembersss Sserene, and the aid ssshe gave to Ssseldan; to all of usss." Zeke nods politely in turn to this comment. "Perhapsss sssuch isss better not sspoken of however... in the open?" He gives a little uncomfortable flick of his tail.
"That would be best, yes." Cryosanthia says, continuing to glance around the temple. It should feel safe, secure. To her, it does not. Her youngling is getting squirmy and she attempts to put her down.
Instead, Lily climbs her and ends up on her back, and it taking things out of the haversack. Wires, a few pins, her small crossbow.
The whitescale turns her head enough to watch, "There isn't time for traps here."
"Tia Ay-aysss all placesss dangerousss." The Kobold youngling counters.
Lily is wise to prepare. Admittedly, she is most always making preparations of one sort or another. Alas, she may have summoned That Against Which She Prepares, as Aya appears beyond Cryosanthia in a puff of shadow. As Ayas tend to do. It requires a bit of a leap and a stretch, but the mul'niessa reaches up to pluck the pink kobold from her perch (and supplies!) mid-collection. "No time, indeed!"
It does not take a genius to tell the signs of instant hostility that rises from Zeke like heat from a street on a hot day. The sith-makar's eyes narrow, his grip on his staff becomes overly tight. He takes a step toward the Aya and her 'captive', even his teeth flashing slightly from within his maw. Aya and he have never been on the best of terms, and he seems in this moment only a few seconds from starting a fight with the mul'niessa woman.
Cryo spins around, dropping into a fighting crouch and her right hand halfway through a cast. Her sudden motion was unwise, and she flinches in pain, a loud crack from behind her, between her shoulderblades. This is followed by a groan that turns into a controlled growl, words spoken through clenched teeth. "Aya... pleasssse. Do not. The point is taken."
Lily however, seems thorougly amused by the snatch and grab and laughs from the Mul'niessa's grasp. She wasn't able to grab all her supplies but was holding her hand crossbow, which she lightly boops Aya on the nose with. "In brainsss Tia Ay-ayssss!"
Cryo extends a hand to cautiously block the bluescale, "Zeke, she is not a threat, this is... this is their game."
Aya gasps and her face contorts into an exaggerated expression of surprise as her prey proves (yet again?) to be, in fact, hunter. "I am vanquished, yet again..." Whether as a sign of surrender or familiarity, she hefts Lily over her head and rotates her to place her at her shoulders. If the pink one chooses to perch there, of course. It is likely more comfortable for perchee than perched, given that the mul lacks scales to balance sharp little claws.
Only then does her attention turn to the larger scaled. "Peace on your nests... though not so much to become complacent. Which you both are not, I see."
Only Cryosanthia's presence keeps Zeke from attacking. Reminds him that he is in the temple of Eluna and should any harm become the youngling... there would be swift recompense to be paid. No small measure he knew, by his own two claws. Even so his step carries him into Cryosanthia's outstretched claw and his own moves to hers. To move it away? But they touch, and he looks at her. Their eyes meet and his anger - his fear - fade like water from an upturned glass. He nods his head and returns his gaze quickly to the youngling in the mul'niessa woman's grasp.
His eyes narrow at Aya, her words specifically which clearly displease him. "No, we are not complasscent. We are wary of eggsssnatchersss asss we mussst be." There is much changed about Zeke, the way he draws himself to his full height where he rarely did so before. The long scar on his tail. But it seems that not everything has changed.
Lily happily perches on Aya's shoulders, with the Mul'niessa's height underneath hers, she's approaching eye level for Zeke and Cryo. Her little claws, are, mildly painful when she uses them to hold onto hair. She understands why the term 'softskin' came about, and after much practice with balloons is capable of touching humanoids with scratching them up like a kitten, even if her claws are comparably sharp.
Cryosanthia nods gently as her eyes meet Zeke's. Her scents are calm, relieved, although she is hunched more than she was moments ago. She presses her hands to her hips and straightens, then shakes her head
"Aya... has helped Zeke. This one does let her watch her youngling. She can escape better than this one, with her shadow-walking. Lily likes to build traps and has managed to make some complex enough to surprise her."
"Nemsssissss." The pinkscale adds.
"Yes. Her aunt and her nemesis." Cryosanthia nods.
"Indeed," Aya concurs with all of the comments, adding a dip of her head in confirmation. She expounds to Zeke, "Lily is a formidable opponent. Ever alert, always learning, and forever ingenious. She holds many advantages over her peers, and those far older." What better way to learn than from (against?) those who are 'the enemy?'
Nothing Aya says really sets Zeke at ease, and he flicks his tail once to show his displeasure which Cryosanthia can easily scent. "What bringsss you to the housse of the Sssleeping Dragon?" His question is a pointed one. "Thisss one wassss of a mind to ssshare wordsss with Cryosssanthia."
"Look at her, with her, Zeke. She is good for her." Cryosanthia says, radiating calm scents, standing tall. The youngling does seem happy on top of the Mul'niessa, currently seeing if she can attach the hand crossbow to the Aya's head with her hair. This, isn't going so well.
"This one does have words to share with Zeke," Cryo admits, "all the things since... last summer."
Aya nods to Cryosanthia, adding further difficulties to Lily's efforts in transforming her head into a mobile weapons platform. "To the victor go the spoils," her eyes lift towards her own forehead. "Perhaps sweet meats, or candied fruit?" Her eyes lower. "We could hunt spoils to remove interruptions?" Lastly, her attention returns to Zeke, one brow arching, "Who better to educate her of the vile plans and malicious machinations of the mul'niessa?"
Even those without a sith sense of smell might notice that Zeke smells a bit of sulfur. It fills the area.
Another figure emerges into the sanctuary from the back doors leading into the temple complex proper. Fair-haired and fairer-skinned, Seldan looks - rumpled. He has taken the time to don shirt, trousers, and boots, but the shirt is not laced, and shaggy hair is tousled and unkempt, falling in his eyes. Reunion is not at his hips, only a plain leather belt, and he blinks sleep from his eyes, rubbing at one corner of them. "Forgive me, peace upon your nest. I am sent for? How may I be of service?"
Zeke makes a soft snorting sound at the suggestion that Cryosanthia makes. He clearly disbelieves that statement. His eyes remain ever-vigilant on the woman with her precious burden. "Thisss one would never asssk an agent of Taara to teasch /anything/ to a youngling." He flashes his teeth again at the woman, but is distracted by a familiar scent. Seldan approaches.
The blue-scale relaxes somewhat as the man comes into view, though somewhat bed-tousled in a way that suggests that he was asleep recently. Zeke shakes his head at his kin. "Peassce on your nessst Sseldan. You did not need to roussse yourssself from your sslumber... Though, if you are awake now... perhapsss we might leave thisss one and ssshare wordsss?" He motions offhandedly to Aya, suggesting that they might wish to speak privately - without her.
"She does not anymore Zeke," Cryosanthia attempts another reassurance, then moves over to Aya and starts untangling the weapon emplacement. Lily frowns, her work undone, "Softskins value their hair, Lily, don't mess with it. See? Silverguard Seldan's is in disarray, so we know we have disturbed him."
Lily is reluctant to leave her perch, but is carefully pried off, as she was off the pillar, and moved to Cryo's shoulders. A much higher vantage point at least. The whitescale works a little further with the crossbow, managing to remove it without any tugs on Aya's hair.
She exhales, nods to Seldan, "This one... Zeke... there were things he needs to know... that..." She looks at Aya, "Privacy may be necessary. I..."
"If that is your concern, you need not worry," Aya assures Zeke. "We can le-" she begins, pausing as Cryosanthia reclaims Lily. If any hair is removed, she doesn't react to it, and assists in the hand off. "I can leave you to your discussions. My business here was only for that you," a dip towards the carnation kobold, "and to re-affirm my confidence in the security of the temple, given what dangerous items may or may not be secured within."
Aya she adds a nod to Seldan, offering a simple, "Silver Guard" in greeting. Or farewell. Perhaps both.
"I am at your service." Seldan's smile is quiet, polite, the sort of thing that is drilled into young children from an early age. "Good evening, mistress. I am unaware of any troubles," he tells Aya gently. "Dangerous items in a Temple is hardly unusual, but your concern is well-received, given all that we know, and all that we do not." A few more owlish blinks. "Do you require a place of privacy?"
Zeke ignores Aya as best he can. The youngling is securely away from her, and she seems to be leaving so... there is nothing more that needs said. Instead he nods to Seldan. "Thisss one thinksss that perhapss that might be bessst." He looks to Cryosanthia however, not entirely certain what she wants to discuss.
With Lily situated, Cryosanthia leans to give Aya a cool embrace. She's not that cold at the moment, suggesting she's stable, not anxious beyond her usual levels. "Thanks for visiting, and Peace on your Nest. This one will make sure she stays vigilant. We shall be at Mikilos' later."
It's a goodbye.
The whitescale nods to Seldan, "Someplace protected from scrying, if such exists here."
Aya returns the gesture after a moment of mild surprise, then gives Cryosanthia a nod after parting. She turns and walks to depart the temple in a much more mundane, if un-Aya fashion.
She is a proud mul, a contrast to others who tend to be victimized refugees or ordained clergy of the gods of light, and always immediately suspect. That allegations of her allegiances spread far and wide in rumor didn't help.
Yet, despite those accusations, Aya did NOT burst into flames upon entering Eluna's temple.
Seldan inclines his head to the departing Aya, then looks between the two of them, and hesitates. "Protected from scrying. This is not a light thing, but - what is it that troubles you, that such measures are needed?"
Zeke watches Aya go until the last second, then shakes himself all over like a bird settling its feathers. "Mocking the People!" The words are irate, but he shakes himself again and takes a breath to steel himself. 'Thisss one wassss sssummoned even asss you were Ssseldan, and hasss been dissstracted by that... woman. Thisss one isss mossst apologetic, but thisss one will never fully trusst her." <draconic>
"This one has told Zeke about Griva, and Akoniril." Cryosanthia answers Seldan, "and their quests for the Shards. He had questions, which this one could not answer in public and does not have the answers to all."
Directly implying that the Silverguard does.
The names appear to mean something to Seldan, for he seems to snap mentally to attention, the cloak of sleepiness falling away, and nods swiftly. Suddenly, he is straight and tall, all business, the usual cool, businesslike demeanor he takes on when there is a Situation(tm). "Very well. Our best bet is the mage's mansion. I yet keep a scroll of that, and truly, I ought to learn it." He pauses uncertainly. "My scroll cases are not here. I know not if such can be readily had, but it may be enough that we speak privately, without other ears."
"At your dissscresssion." Says Zeke smoothly and amicably. He looks toward the youngling. "Perhapsss sssomeone here at the temple might be willing to watch the youngling?"
Seldan looks as if someone dragged him out of bed. Possibly Serene.
The suggestion to hand off Little Fang to someone in the Temple of Eluna causes Cryo a little distress. She immediately asks, "Is Silverguard Serene available? It's not too far to the Chapterhouse, this one could take her to Faran."
"Miksssos." Lily says, pulling at the whitescale's horns, standing behind her head.
Cryosanthia exhales, centers herself, "Yes. That is the best idea actually. Seldan, there is no need to waste the spell. Mikilos casts that for this one. This one... does not have you on the door, but can ask him to add you both tomorrow when he casts it again. The questions can wait a day."
The whitescale looks at Zeke, "you could see him again. He has been very understanding."
