• Holmes: Okhfels and Isadora, out for a run together in the morning, see Dhazari headed their way.
• Okhfels: Okhfels is inclined to keep running and let Dhazari say what he needs to say running alongside.
• Isadora was up all night attending to various business, but Lucian's decision to stay gave her a fresh burst of energy at sunrise, so she calls to Dhazari cheerfully, "What is it?"
• Holmes: Dhazari, seeing that Okhfels isn't going to stop, decides not to ask them to stop, but, rather, he trots back to his horse, gets on it, and trots alongside. Rhiani rarely run.
• Holmes: "Isadora, the warriors are raising trouble. In part because our bretheren from the Blue Bear tribe are back," says Dhazari as they go along.
• Isadora: "Are they agitating for anything specific, or just warming up?"
• Holmes: "Very specific. They're saying that they feel that you may be married to Okhfels, and that this means you can't be a member of the tribe," he relates straightforwardly. "Because he is not a member."
• Isadora arches a brow. "I had no idea those charming young men were so invested in my bedroom activities. Remind me to send a courtesy note."
• Okhfels: Okhfels barks a short laugh.
• Isadora: "Back home," Isadora continues, somewhat slowly as she jogs, "when the warriors start getting fussy, the traditional way of soothing them involves some form of ritual violence. Have I misjudged your people greatly, Dhazari, or is it the same in this case?"
• Holmes: Dhazari apparently doesn't find the situation humorous. He shrugs and says, "Isadora needs to straighten this out, or the plans for the upcoming ritual may be abandoned."
• Okhfels: Okhfels shrugs. "I'll stay with my men for a few days. It's simply enough handled."
• Holmes: Dhazari frowns, not seeing what Okhfels is saying, "How will that help?"
• Isadora: "I want to start by sundown tomorrow, Dhazari. Tell me straight--what are my options here? Feel free to include the ridiculous ones."
• Okhfels: Okhfels comes to a stop. "People who are married live together. If we're not living together, we're not married. "
• Holmes: "Well, you can simply tell them that Okhfels isn't your husband, then Isadora, and that you don't intend to marry him," Dhazari says matter of factly. "That should clear it up."
• Isadora: "Prosaic, but reasonable," Isadora says agreeably to both of them. To Dhazari, she adds, "There must be a more interesting way to resolve it."
• Holmes: "Okhfels could join," says Dhazari doing his best to think outside the box. He looks at Okhfels and raises his eyebrows in a questioning glance.
• Okhfels: Okhfels says, "That's interesting, yes. I don't think the Riani *really* want me to join the tribe, though."
• Isadora: Isadora, stretching out her legs while Dhazari thinks, starts to smile as an idea occurs to her. Aloud, she asks, "Does this sort of thing happen often?"
• Holmes: "What sort of thing? People bringing up rules like this?" Dhazari asks rhetorically. "No, it's obviously a political last ditch maneuver."
• Okhfels: "Last ditch," says Okhfels, cocking an eyebrow.
• Isadora: "I actually meant out-of-tribe marriage, but what you said is much better," Isadora says to Dhazari. "The warriors are trying to regain lost ground?"
• Okhfels: "There's a third thing we could do."
• Holmes: "Exactly," he responds to Isadora. "They don't have any other avenue right now. The tribe has become fairly used to the idea of the upcoming ritual. All they have now are the laws of Cay to find something to stop you."
• Holmes: He turns to listen to Okhfels.
• Okhfels: "Make them learn that their old laws have to change. That being in the Green Lake Colony can't be about who's Riani and who isn't."
• Holmes: Dhazari looks skeptically at Okhfels, and then at Isadora. But he doesn't say anything against the idea.
• Isadora looks thoughtful. She asks Dhazari, "How rushed is this business--will a few hours change anything one way or the other?"
• Holmes: "Probably not," responds Dhazari. "But it will have to be done before the ritual. Or there might be complications last second."
• Isadora: "Thank you for bringing the matter to my attention," says Isadora with a nod.
• Okhfels: After Dhazari leaves, Okhfels turns to Isadora, and puts his hand on her shoulder, and says, "You know how I feel about all this. I want to marry you. I also don't want to be a Riani... so whatever you decide, I get what I want."
• Isadora laughs and kisses him. "Your gift for combining accommodation with stubbornness is awe-inspiring," she says as she resumes the run.
• Okhfels: Okhfels chuckles and follows along behind her at a comfortable lope.

• Holmes: Egani, just recenly up from sleep, enters his workshop to find his grotesque apprentice tinkering with Aaron.
• Egani looks on in silence, trying to ascertain what Arblak is up to before making his presence known.
• Holmes: After a few moments, Arblak steps back, and seems to wait. As he does, one of the birds in Aaron's ribcage starts to glow brightly, and move about the central cage in a frenetic way. At first Arblak seems pleased, but after a moment of this,a frown crosses his face, and he seems uncertain.
• Holmes: Looking deeply into the signs apparent from the change in the process, it appears that Arblak was trying to supercharge Aaron, to make him more powerful. Much more powerful. In fact, the method is ingenious, something completely new. It also happens to be quite unstable.
• Egani: "Arblak, that's very good. But do you see how the essence knot is restricting the natural flow? It could cause an inverse chain-reaction and ruin Aaron's core functions. Here..." And with that, Egani drains the excess power out of the poor bird and restores Aaron's balance.
• Egani: "Arblak, remember that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Also, this is what you need to do to join us in the Brotherhood of Knowledge..." Egani continues teaching and recruiting.
• Holmes: Something seems to dawn in Arblak's otherwise somewhat dim eyes. Soon he's closely following something like Egani's technique, and willing to learn more.
• Holmes: As they work and the excess essence spins off harmlessly, Egani notes it collecting in a band heading high in the sky. He's seen something like that once before...when he first left Sel-kai to come accidentally to Green Lake. It's an essence focus. Shouldn't be forming here, however. Somebody is doing this.
• Holmes: "Ah, thank you, I've been waiting for such an opening," says the beautiful blonde navigator who appears with another woman next to her.
• Egani: "Uh...hi. You're most welcome. Um...you're back."
• Lana: Lana stands back and takes a long look around the room.
• Lana: It's on Sebastian's character sheet.
• Egani: "And who's your friend?"
• Lana: Lana offers an elegant bow, "I am Lana."
• Holmes: "That's her business," says Vella. "But you and I have some business as well."
• Lana: Lana looks at Vella then nods slightly. "I shall await you outside." She gracefully walks out the open door and stands relaxed on the lawn.
• Egani: "No, that's not necessary. I seek no compensation for my life-saving talents." Egani gives just the briefest of glances toward Arblak before fully attending once again to the elf before him.
• Holmes: Vella is not amused by Egani, she focuses on him quite intently, "You slew one of my charges. Do you have any idea what that could do to my business?"
• Egani: "Maybe you should be more careful about your business partners."
• Egani: "As I recall, your 'charge' invaded my home with the intent of burglary."
• Egani: "AND I saved your life!"
• Egani: Egani is getting heated up just thinking about it.
• Egani: "How would it be for your business if you were dead? Huh?"
• Egani: "And while were on the subject, how is it for my business? To have thieves skulking in through all manor of travel? You think about that?"
• Egani jerks to a halt, noticing that he was getting carried away, and daubs the spittle from his lips with his sleeve. He still glares at the navigator in righteous rage.
• Holmes: Vella, listening for a bit, suddenly lurches one of her slim arms out at Egani, and a wall of light rushes at him.
• Holmes: Before he can even really respond, Egani is pinned up against the wall. The ability of Navigators is legendary, but to see her mastery up close really is daunting. She walks over slowly, "Now stop talking, and listen a bit."
• Egani remains quiet while waiting for an opportunity...or a friend.
• Holmes: "All your babble aside, you owe me," she says. "The simplest thing would be for me to just get rid of you. But I'm a nice navigator, so I'd rather we work out some arrangement. I assume that you agree?"
• Holmes: She looks at him as if to say that it's OK to respond.
• Egani raises his eyebrows, allowing her to continue her proposition.
• Holmes: "Good boy," she continues in her patronizing fashion. "The only problem is that I'm not sure what you have to offer."
• Holmes: She looks around at his place skeptically.
• Holmes: "Well?"
• Egani looks around, mostly for Arblak, "I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of material wealth. I'm a simple healer and usually those upon whom I practice my trade are more grateful."
• Holmes: Arblak peers from around the corner of the next room, far too afraid to enter. But also worried about Egani, apparently.
• Holmes: "Healer, eh?" she says, examining the contents of the lab. She picks up a small bottle to look at it closely, and then puts it down again.
• Egani: Raising his voice considerably, Egani calls out. "Marcia! We're being robbed. Please take a moment to seek safety."
• Okhfels: Okhfels enters the lab through the door to the outside.
• Lana: Lana follows him stiffly.
• Holmes: Vella turns her head, intrigued, not realizing that there are others here than the hiding Arblak.
• Egani: "Okhfels! Can you please see to it that Marcia is cared for after this vagabond has murdered me?"
• Okhfels: "Of course, Egani." Okhfels considers Vella coolly. "What's all this then?"
• Egani: "She's the navigator that I revived during that last unpleasantness...she seems to be quite mad."
• Holmes: "Angry, yes," she says towards the massive Okhfels who dwarfs her. "But this one owes me."
• Okhfels: "What does he owe you?"
• Egani: "Explain my debt and perhaps we can agree on a payment. Free me and we can discuss this civilly, as we were before you snapped!"
• Holmes: She considers for a moment.
• Holmes: Egani suddenly realizes that this is all a tough guy act, and that she's very uncomfortable with it. She really doesn't want to have to put Egani through this, but it's required of her somehow. After a moment, she says, "OK, fine, let's be civil then. But I warn you, I'll brook no tricks this time."
• Egani scratches his head in wonder.
• Egani: "Um, I'd offer you tea, but my wife fled when you snapped."
• Okhfels: Okhfels crosses his arms in front of his chest.
• Holmes: Vella waves her hand, and Egani finds himself suddenly free. She takes a chair, with her back to the wall.
• Egani: "So...what's the deal?"
• Lana: Lana moves slowly across the room to stand next to Vella.
• Holmes: Marcia, hearing her name, and apparenly seeing Vella sitting, pokes her head into the room with the butcher knife in her hand.
• Egani: "Oh, Honey, I'm sorry. Apparently she isn't going to kill me after all." Egani gestures apologetically to his wife with his eyes and hands.
• Okhfels: Okhfels stays near the door, not committing by his movement to Egani's support.
• Holmes: Vella looks around as if looking for something, ignoring Egani, until her eyes fall eventually on Aaron. "How about him?" She asks. "He might do as payment."
• Egani: "He's not a slave."
• Egani: "I mean, he's not available."
• Egani: "But you still haven't explained this...debt."
• Holmes: "Don't toy with me!" says Vella, playing at being the fearsome sorceress yet again. "You know why you owe me! You'll not be rid of me with word games, little healer!"
• Egani: "Okhfels doesn't know why I owe you. Why don't you explain it to him?
• Egani: "Or Arblak or Marcia."
• Holmes: Vella feigns great consternation, sighing impatiently, "Alright, if you all must know, this one slew a charge of mine. Taking advantage of a moment where I was very off guard. A navigator's reputation is all about their ability to protect those they transport."
• Holmes: "Do you have any idea how much I charge?"
• Okhfels: "She has a point, Egani."
• Egani: "He was robbing me!"
• Egani: Egani's face begins to flush again.
• Okhfels: "Oh, calm down, Egani. "
• Egani: "He deserved what he got. She was injured in the backlash, which she did not deserve. I healed her! After she brought a thief to my home!"
• Okhfels: Okhfels glares at Egani. "Egani... shut up."
• Egani stops pacing, but trembles all over as he waits for soemthing to which he can react.
• Holmes: Vella waits patiently for this to play out.
• Okhfels: Okhfels turns to this new woman. "This man is under my protection. Perhaps I can offer you something to buy the debt?"
• Holmes: Vella turns her head slowly to Okhfels, an interested expression on her face, "Like what, praytell?"
• Okhfels: "I don't know. I don't know your business and I don't know what you might want."
• Egani: unclenching his teeth, Egani comes up with a suggestion. "She could have artanis' sword once I get Sebastian out of it."
• Egani: "I suspect it is an elvish artefact of some value."
• Lana: Lana's eyes snap to Egani, "Sebastian?"
• Egani looks at Lana.
• Egani: "Hey...are you? No way!"
• Lana: She blinks again, "Artanis?"
• Egani: "I know you!"
• Egani: "I mean, I know who you are. Artanis was looking for you. He needed an introduction to Laura because he thought she looked like you...wow, she really does."
• Lana: Lana's voice is numb, "Why would Sebastian be in Artanis' sword?"
• Egani: "Oh, he killed him and sucked his soul."
• Egani: "
• Egani: "Well, sort of...it's kind of complicated."
• Holmes: Vella, exasperation played out on her face, waits patiently for her charge's business to be completed.
• Egani: "Apparently..." Egani suddenly looks back to Okhfels and shuts up.
• Lana: Lana's eyes harden, "Who can explain this situation to me?"
• Okhfels: "I'm afraid Egani is as close as you're going to get."
• Egani pinches his lips together and gestures toward Vella and Okhfels.
• Lana: Lana shifts her weight, "Well? Speak on."
• Okhfels: Okhfels surveys the room with pursed lips. He seems to make some kind of decision to himself, then turns to go.
• Egani looks around.
• Holmes: Vella looks back at him pointedly.
• Egani: "Vella, I think you should negotiate with him..."
• Egani: "Your chance is getting away."
• Egani walks over to a workbench where two swords are held in close proximity by bench vises. "Lana, here's what's left of Sebastian."
• Lana: Lana nods to Vella, "Go on, I shall be here when you work things out."
• Lana: Lana turns back to Egani, "What happened here?"
• Egani: "I'm the only doctor in these parts. When I reached Sebastian, he had just about bled completely out. But much of his immortal essence was still hanging around and I was able to call back that which had departed."
• Lana: Lana's eyes shine with unshead tears. "Why, exactly, was he bleeding out?"
• Egani: "Something went wrong -- his body was too badly damaged. At the last minute I mounted Sebastian into this sword."
• Egani: "But then Artanis burst into Sebastian's tent, where I was attending with Laura's assistance, wielding this other sword over his head and disrupting my ritual. His sword literally sucked much of what I'd collected of Sebastian and trapped it within -- with the demons that live in there normally. I do wonder how many he has captured in there."
• Egani: "Oh, he was stabbed. I'm not sure of the details. I think Isadora might feel bad about it though."
• Lana: Lana frowns and mutters to herself, "She will, she will." Then, to Egani, "Where might I find this Isadora?"
• Egani: "I'm not sure -- she's always quite busy. I may still be able to rescue Sebastian, though...if your employee doesn't harm me, anyway. How did you know him?"
• Lana: Lana looks down sadly, "He saved my life." She stands up stiffly and checks the small bundle across her back. "Perhaps I will see you later."
• Egani: "Yeah, hopefully I'll make it. Good luck with Isadora -- and don't go too hard on her, I'm sure it was a misunderstanding."

• Okhfels: Okhfels strides across the grasslands, now scarred from fire and many trampling feet, along the trail that has formed, leading to Egani's house.
• Okhfels: Okhfels notices someone he doesn't recognize. "Hello, who are you?"
• Okhfels: His tone is half friendly, half inquisitorial.
• Okhfels: Okhfels strides across the grasslands, now scarred from fire and many trampling feet, along the trail that has formed, leading to Egani's house.
• Okhfels: Okhfels notices someone he doesn't recognize. "Hello, who are you?"
• Okhfels: His tone is half friendly, half inquisitorial.
• Lana: Lana turns and gives Okhfels an appraising look. "I am Lana, who are you?" Somehow she manages to look only slightly out of place in an embroidered silk dress in the middle of the grasslands.
• Okhfels: Okhfels is entirely unperturbed by her finery. Weirder things than this happen on a regular basis. "My name's Okhfels. I'm the boss's right hand man around here. New arrival?"
• Lana: Lana smiles brightly, "Quite new, yes. I came looking for someone, so perhaps you can help me?"
• Okhfels: "Could be." Okhfels glances at Egani's house and sees flashes of light coming from inside. "Looks like I have a few minutes. Tell me what you need.""
• Holmes: From inside Egani's house there is a loud sound of a heavy impact...but not on the floor. On a wall.
• Lana: She nods smoothly, "I seek a man from Sel-kai. His name is Sebastian. Do you know him?"
• Okhfels: "Yes. He's dead."
• Lana: Lana's face freezes and her words come out slowly and over-pronounced. "How did he die?"
• Okhfels: Okhfels gets the idea that perhaps this woman cares about Sebastian.
• Okhfels: "I don't know the details, but the short story, is that he got on my boss's bad side, and ended up with her sword stuck through him."
• Lana: Lana spends a long moment simply staring into nothing. "Could you, perhaps, tell me where I might find your boss?"
• Okhfels: "Sure. After I'm done with my business with Egani, I'll bring you to her."
• Okhfels: Okhfels looks over to the house and sees that things seem to have calmed down a bit.
• Okhfels: "This won't take long."

[Characters exit into previous scene.]

• Holmes: As Isadora attends to some matters of administration at the colony, Jilliams looks up into the sky. She sees that it's a huge bird looking thing, but that it only hovers there, quite unnaturally.
• Isadora squints up at it for a second and asks mildly, "Jilliams, we're not being invaded again, are we?"
• Holmes: Jilliams thinks about it for a moment, "You know, I think that's something that I was told about. Belonged to Archlaus, if I'm not mistaken."
• Isadora: "That doesn't really render the situation into crystal clarity."
• Holmes: A sword drops from the bird, formerly hidden by it's dark underside, and lands point in the dirt, not far from Isadora. Two Rhiani nearby curse and watch for more falling blades.
• Isadora strolls over to it and gives first the sword, then the bird, a hard look.
• Holmes: Isadora notes that it's the same sword that Egani received from the colony's smith.
• Holmes: hack Egani above to Okhfels
• Isadora: Curious, Isadora reaches out to pull the sword from the ground.
• Holmes: As she does so, she feels the demon inside the sword attempting to flow into her.
• Holmes: Isadora sees it coming, last second, Fahd's training apparently helping, and she struggles with the thing, her will finally casting it out of her. The demon becomes a smoky humanoid figure, with curling horns on it's head and red skin, that hovers there for a moment.
• Isadora: Isadora's hand claps down on an empty scabbard, and she swears in a calm tone before beckoning to Jilliams without looking back.
• Isadora: "You weren't invited," she says to the demon.
• Holmes: The demon floats before her. It is malformed, and ugly in the extreme. After a moment it seems to find it's center, however, and speaks, "My master says that if I cannot take you, that I will bargain with you. You are mighty, and so worthy of a pact."
• Isadora: "Your master neglected to send his calling card in advance. Who do you represent for this pact?"
• Holmes: "The sorcerer of the White Wood," says the demon in deep tones. "He offers you dominion of a queendom, all the lands around this lake and far beyond. And forces to protect it from invaders from abroad."
• Isadora: "That's a gentlemanly offer, indeed. What would he expect in return?"
• Holmes: "You have but to swear fealty to the lord of the wood," responds the demon, very formally.
• Isadora: "Government customs in this part of the world differ from my own, so forgive my quibbling," says Isadora, "but that seems to be more of a duchy than a kingdom. Additionally, past relations between our two territories have not been entirely amicable."
• Holmes: "The past trespasses will be forgotten by my lord," says the demon. "And you bargain well. My lord will offer all lands up to the highlands, and down to Sherezak. A mighty queendom!"
• Isadora: "Truly, your lord's generous offer reveals his nobility of spirit. However, my humble historical knowledge suggests that this area has been occupied for some time--why choose this time and this modest representative of Kaitaine to broach the subject?"
• Holmes: "My lord sees that you are a lady of great drive and desire, and that the present state of this country is fractious. You could put together a queendom, if anyone can," the demon relates. "But woe be thou, should you decide to stand in the way of my lord. His might is nigh unlimited. Gods obey his commands!"
• Isadora: "Indeed, his might is legendary," Isadora agrees. "How soon does he require an answer?"
• Holmes: "Soon, m'lady. The hour grows late, and his hunger for power after the centuries of imprisonment is boundless," it says to her. "Wait long at great peril!"
• Isadora: "Yes, great peril does seem to be the order of the day," Isadora muses. After several long seconds of thought, her eyes refocus on the demon and she gives it a dignified nod. "I regret that, in light of our previous troubled relations and the apparent incompatibility of our future plans, I must decline your lord's offer. Please convey to him my regretful respects."
• Holmes: The demon, impossibly, gets an even uglier look on it's face, "Know then that thou hast sealed thine doom. All about the lake shall perish. A rain of yellow fire shall consume all. Flee before your souls are eaten by the thing beyond the wall of night!"
• Holmes: The voice of the demon is so loud that it reverberates across the lake.
• Holmes: Then it dissolves back into the sword.
• Isadora sighs a little wistfully. "I'd have never been able to coordinate my throne room, anyway." She turns around to Jilliams, or whoever's nearest. "No one should touch this sword until we get it sorted out with the magic folk."
• Holmes: Jilliams nods as if to say, "Not a bad idea."
• Isadora: Stepping briskly away from the sword, Isadora says, "Time for breakfast, a good strong drink, and a visit to the Rhiani. If that bird returns, see if we can't shoot it down."