Questing for Questions

The fire crackles merrily in the hearth, in the small stone bungalow that Seldan and Malik share in the streets off of Sage Orum's Plaza. It drives away the chill of the fall night wind that rustles the trees and sends what is left of the leaves skittering in every direction, their shadows visible here and there in the spilled light of the mana lamps on the cobblestones outside the windows.

Seldan is sitting, cross-legged, on one of the low cushions before the fire, a loose shirt and torn leather trousers his only attire, his feet bare. A small stone orb is cupped between his hands, and he sits in a relaxed but attentive pose, eyes closed, his attention wholly directed inwards, and at the thing between his hands.

Whilst Seldan is deep in meditation on the object he is holding, there is a gentle but firm knock on his door. It is Zeke, waiting patiently outside his home shifting from foot to foot as he looks down the street. His nervousness is obvious. A cold wind blows down the street, but it doesn't seem to bother Zeke any. He's used to far colder than this.

The response takes a few moments, but there is padding of bare feet, and a mutter from the other side of the door, "It will be well for the Seers, be this not another Seer seeking that which requires a part of something with sharp claws." A moment later, the door opens, and a quietly reserved Seldan with that stone orb in one hand, stands before him. The sight of his kin, though, melts away his reserve, and his features bloom into a warm smile. "Her light upon your path, come in. The night is chill. What brings you here?"

Zeke nods low to Seldan and he glances downward briefly. "Thissss one felt the need of company. Thisss one findss that thiss one iss ill-usssed to ssspending hoursss alone." He hefts a basket in his hand which holds a few items which one might find good to eat. Fruit mostly. A couple of warm buns. "Thisss one apologizesss if thisss one iss interrupting any-thing."

"It is well, for you do not send me in search of monster parts. Hold a moment, and I shall fetch tea." The curious little orb is still in one hand, glowing gently and steadily, not unlike a reading light, Seldan steps back from the door to let Zeke in, and turns away towards the kitchen. "Please, come sit by the fire."

From the look of the area near the hearth, Seldan has been sitting alone on a cushion near it, although doing what is unclear. He does not explain, instead turning to bring the tea service and a fire-blackened kettle. He sets the orb down on the tray so that he may carry it two-handed, and the orb promptly floats upward to orbit his head, still glowing gently. He trails Zeke back to the hearth with his burden.

Zeke does as he is bid, moving toward the fire and distracted enough for a moment that he almost but /not quite/ misses the fact that there's a new larger orb floating around Seldan's head merrily. It glows with faint light that does not fade or waver nor brighten in any way. Instead it floats around the other man's head like a little moon which definitely catches Zeke's curiosity immediately. "You have a new... ssstone? Ion sstone?" It takes him a moment to remember what the stone is called, but he settles into his seat with interest written across his features.

"I had been busying myself with puzzles and mysteries," Seldan answers, setting the tea service tray aside and setting the kettle of water over the fire in the hearth. He gestures at Zeke to take his choice of cushions and overstuffed chairs and sofas, and himself settles down on the cushion by the fire where he'd clearly been sitting. "I think it not an ioun stone," he says slowly, "although it shares certain behaviors. It was given me by Hearthguard Seyardu. They spoke of having seized it from a group of demons possibly among Eclavdran's servants, who had in turn stolen it from the servants of another fiend, their leader female. It was said to be - _for the chosen of Eluna_."

Zeke sits down carefully, nodding once again to Seldan before tilting his head at the little orb floating around Seldan's head. He seems almost enchanted by the item though his first instinct when dealing with magic is caution, and so he speaks that caution first. "That sssoundsss... ass if it might be difficult to determine. Any-one could be thisss 'chosssen of Eluna'." Having said that... "However... it doesss ssseem fond of you."

"It responds to me, that much is certain," Seldan says slowly. "It is in my mind," he goes on, sinking down to the cushion to wait for the water to heat, "that it is meant as a guide of sorts, for it glows more brightly at times, and at times it dims to nothingness, in response to thoughts I may have. I ... think it agrees or disagrees with me."

Zeke wrinkles his snout at this, a feeling sliding over his scales that makes him shudder lightly. "That it knowsss your thoughtsss isss no sssmall thing Ssseldan." There's that caution again. "If it agreesss and disssagreess with you, then it hasss a will. What isss it that thisss will desssiresss?"

"That, I know not, for I have but begin to study it. This much is clear - it does not respond to everyone, but it does respond to me, and it was said to be of use to the chosen of Eluna. I detect no evil in it." The question appears to catch Seldan by surprise, and yet send him into thought. "I had thought to attempt a legend lore, but I must seek materials as well as the scroll, for such a spell. I had hoped that merely by asking it questions, it might reveal more of itself to me."

"That it might." Zeke says, but offers again a cautionary note to Seldan's thoughts. "Even ssso do you reveal your-ssself to it with each thought. Perhpasss it isss wissse to ussse it lesss before you are able to determine what you can about it." He seems to think and then offers. "Thisss one isss capable of communing with the godssss. Perhapsss thisss one could asss the Dragonfather on your behalf... What thiss thing isss?"

"That thought had come to me, and yet did I think to hold it until - whatever is afoot among the temples has passed." Seldan's demeanor takes on just a touch of that reserve, this time concealing fleeting disappointment and frustration at the suggestion. All are a fleeting thing, though, as he firmly sets aside the first response with a firm, _it is well meant, and he is not wrong,_ to himself. He says nothing of any of that, instead remarking. "If you have the time and materials, I would be grateful."

The little moon's light fades out entirely, and the sudden loss of its faint illumination causes Zeke to look up at it curiously. "Did you sssay sssome-thing that made it dessscide that it would go dark? Or think sssome-thing?" It is a discomforted question, and he quickly checks his pouch and nods to himself. "Thisss one hasss the holy water, but requiresss inssensce if you have any? If not, we can cassst the ssspell at a later time."

Seldan starts at the dimming of it, but considers that thoughtfully. "I have not the sort of incense that opens the mind in that way," he begins, his gaze on the orb. "But, it is as I have said. The correct incense is similar to that required for legend lore, and that shall I acquire soon, in hopes of learning more. I shall procure enough for you as well."

He reaches up and catches the orbiting moon, pulling it into one hand, the better to contemplate it.

GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/religion: (17)+15: 32

Zeke nods and relents on the idea of studying the item further by communing with the cosmic forces of the universe. At least for now. Instead he focuses on the orb which is slowly beginning to regain its light, evening out into a faint but persistent glow. "Thissss one isss curiousss. What you sssaid. Can you sssay it again, with-out thinking any-thing thisss time?"

Puzzled, Seldan repeats, "That thought had come to me, and yet did I think to hold it until whatever is afoot among the temples has passed. If you have the time and materials, I would be grateful." He blinks a few times, clearly confused, but as he does so, crosses his ankles automatically on the cushion on which he sits, cupping it in his hands as before.

When the orb remains unchanging during Seldan's reiteration of his own words, Zeke nods seriously. "It /doesss/ resspond to your thoughtsss. What-ever you were thinking during that moment, the orb resssponded to it by growing darker." This thought has him ill at ease, but he says nothing further on that for now instead he postulates. "If thisss isss an object in ssservisce to your goddesssss, then thisss isss underssstandible. Perhapsss even desssireable. Thisss one asssumess that you have done ssome-thingsss to assure that thisss isss sso?"

"An invidious and unworthy thought, to be sure. It is quite correct." Seldan's small smile is rather sheepish, and his eyes lower. "I ... have not, and more the fool I for not doing so." His smile fades. "The commune might be the best means by which such might be assured. I suppose I ought to set it aside, until I am certain."

The orb dims and dims, and continues to dim until it has faded to nothing but the illumination that any ordnary rock might have. Zeke watches this with avid curiosity, reaching out and... he pulls his claw back without actually making contact with the orb but the desire to poke it remains. "Thisss one wondersss if itss darkness isss agreement, or dissagreement." An obvious question at least to the sith. He shakes his head and looks at Seldan. "Ssetting it asside iss not unwissse, but failing to think of a thing isss not foolissssh. Thisss isss why we ssshare wordsss."

"It is disagreement," Seldan answers at once, shifting only a little on the cushion, still staring at it a little morosely. "That much have I been able to learn. For certain. And yet do I not wish to view the whole world with such suspicion, for in truth will one find emptiness upon that road. Unless ..." He pauses a moment, and stares at it. "Would you have me share my mind, foolish as it is?"

"Thisss isss asss it ssshould be Sseldan. Thisss one doesss not think you foolisssh." Zeke blinks at the suggestion, quietly noting that the orb is slowly illuminating again. Though it is hard to tell if that is simply it returning to its 'natural' state or if it is slowly warming to Seldan's words of not wishing to think ill of the world around him.

"Perhaps. I have seen enough of late of demons in the city to think it perhaps so. I can but pray that good remains, for does it not, has not the Dark already won?" Something in Seldan seems to straighten at that. "No, you are wise to question it, and yet do I sense no evil from it. It is well to ensure that it is indeed of Her, and yet ... it is in my mind that it is."

At his words the orb gives a tiny little pulse as if to reaffirm his belief. Twice. As if to reassure him that good remains and that it is of the proper origins. Zeke chuffs at the orbs little pulses and he shakes his head. "If you ssenssse no evil in it, that is ssome-thing. Thisss one can commune with the godsss at any-time; provided the proper resssourcesss. Until then... ssso long ass it iss not leading you asstray it doesss not ssseem to do any harm?" He looks at Seldan his words a half question.

Some of Seldan's smile returns, at the pulse in his hand. He does not lift his eyes to Zeke, instead focusing on the thing. "It does not, I think, and yet am I also curious. I had thought to seek a legend lore to learn more of it, as I have said, and the incense used is similar."

"Thisss isss wisssdom." Zeke offers with a nod, and reaches over to begin pouring tea for them both. "Thisss one isss curiousss about it too." He offers the first cup to Seldan before pouring one for himself.

There's a childlike joy in the way that Seldan gazes at the thing, but when tea is offered him, he sets the orb aside and takes the cup carefully in both hands, leaving the thing to resume its orbit around his head. "Seyardu spoke of Master Mithralla having examined the thing, but naught of wisdom regarding it did he offer. He spoke of speaking to Cryosanthia." His cool, level tone speaks for him, and he takes a slow sip of tea.

"Come the morning, then, I shall seek your requirements, as well as mine. The reward from the city shall provide the means." He pauses a moment. "Had Cryosanthia spoken to you of the prophecy that the Queen of Winter offered?" Zeke picks up his own cup and looks down at it. The mention of the 'Queen of Winter' causes him to shudder visibly and he takes a breath of the tea to settle himself. "Thisss one never ssspoke to her of sssuch. The sssubject of sssuch iss one we never broached, and when sssshe came to visssit... it wasss sspoken of but onsce and never again. Thiss one believess that a prophecy wasss mentioned?" He shrugs and manages to settle himself enough to look at Seldan again. "Did it ssay sssome-thing of import?"

Seldan regards Zeke steadily, as if by gaze alone he can steady the sith-makar, knowing full well why the discomfiture. The orb itself is momentarily forgotten, left to whirl lazily around his head. "It did." He sets his tea on the floor beside him and rises smoothly. "If you will forgive me-" He pads away, returning shortly with a scroll outside of a case. "I hold this for the temple, when they are prepared to receive it, but for now, it is best that you know."

Zeke accepts the scroll, but only after setting aside his own tea, and then reads over the scroll. And then reads over the scroll a second time. He's actually on his third passage through the scroll when he looks up and tilts his head. "It'sss.... not terribly informative isss it? It'sss very vague and... Dire. Where doesss thiss prophescy come from?"

"Seyardu shared this with me. I am told that the Queen of Winter provided it, and regarded it as discharging a debt." While Zeke read the scroll, Seldan had re-seated himself, and resumed his tea, taking a few slow sips and watching the perusal of the scroll with that same steadiness.

"Ssso it comess from her? Did ssshe write it? Or merely wasss informed of it sssomehow?" Zeke looks at the words and then shakes his head. "There isss very little /actual/ information here in thisss oness opinion. What iss it that we are sssupposssed to learn from it?"

"That is so, and yet two things do I glean from it, my friend." Seldan takes another long sip of his tea, seeming to have steadied himself from the earlier conversation. "First, that division between us feeds only the Dark. This prophecy is said to have been gleaned from demons, and if that is so, then it serves us not to fight amongst ourselves. I know not how I shall bring all together, and yet must it be done."

"Second, that I would learn more of the beast's broken heart, and of the heart of the world. Where might that be, and what is the tale of which it speaks?"

"A prophecy of demonsss?" Zeke seems even less certain than before. "Can sssuch a thing be trussted?" He rolls the scroll back up and places it aside for a moment so that he can pick up his tea and drink some. "Thiss one thinksss perhapsss your lore of legendsss might be better ssspent in the ssseeking of thisss beasssts heart. Though perhapsss the commune could be usssed for ssuch ass well. It ssseemsss at thisss time, that we have many quesstionsss but few ansswersss."

"It would need multiple castings of the spell, to locate a thing so nebulous," Seldan points out. "With the orb before me, the casting shall take but a few minutes, and I shall learn more. I would first learn of this," his eyes go up towards the orb that floats around his head, "and learn what I may of it. I would perhaps seek to learn more of the beast and his heartbreak in your commune."

"Ahhh." Zeke says, nodding with acceptance. "Thisss one iss glad to be of assisstance then." He seems somewhat pleased that something he can do might help. Drinking his tea he is quiet a long moment. "We ssshould make a lissst of thingsss that we need known. Communing with the godsss issss a fickle thing and they do not like to wait."

"I would, at the least, learn if this," Seldan looks up at the orb, "be of Her origin, or of another. Of this beast, and his heartbreak - first, does the prophecy originate from demons? Is the beast Eclavdran, or another? Is the heart of the world of which this is spoken upon Ea?"

Zeke nods. "Thisss one thinksss thossse good quesstionsss. Perhapsss... It would be good to know if the sscroll thiss one possesssesss might be usssed againssst Eclavdran ass well?" He seems somewhat hesitant to offer this as a question. "Thisss one hasss learned that it hasss sssome kind of massster key to it. That it might allow whom-ever hasss ssuch to sscry upon itsss location or sssee what it ssseesss."

The scroll. Of course. Seldan straightens a bit more at the mention of it, all trace of smile gone. "Dangerous indeed. I am willing to attempt to disable that key, but such an endeavor is at considerable risk, and I would think long and hard, ere I try. Where is the scroll now?"

"Thisss one hass hidden it." Zeke says quietly, looking discomforted by the question. "At the Arcanistsss guild. No magic may enter the dungeonsss and it lookss very much like a sssimple sscroll when it isss there. Thisss one hass told no one of thisss one usssing thisss plasce ass a hiding sspot. Mossst assume that thisss one carriesss it at all timesss. Thiss isss for the besst thiss one thinksss?" He looks at Seldan hopefully.

"Without question." Seldan does not hesitate to reassure Zeke, with a small smile. "I need know no more, and none other should be told. Allow the assumption, for few will question it, so absorbed are they are in their thoughts. It is not impossible that it will be stolen from there, but it may be stolen from anywhere, does he learn where it is."

Zeke relaxes somewhat at this, and nods seriously. "Likewissse you ssshould take care with the object which hasss taken it's cue to follow you about sssso. If Eclavdran had it onsce... he may wissh to take it back onsce again ssshould the opprotunity arrissse." He motions with a claw toward the orb floating around Seldan's head.

"Indeed. I do not reveal its presence outside of safe halls, but your warning is well-taken." Seldan pushes that unruly lock of hair away from his eyes, looking up at the lazily orbiting orb one more time, then reaching up to catch it and study it in a hand. "Certainly it would not displease him to dispose of me, does the opportunity find him. All the more reason to learn what I may of this item."

-End