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Okhfels: At Beliria's direction, the Tethites, using wood supplied by Okhfels' men, build a large fire out in a carefully cleared area away from the camp. It isn't long before there's a deep bed of coals.
Okhfels: Among the Tethites, whose relationship with fire is always important, firewalking is not uncommon.
Okhfels: What is uncommon, is for a man to stop walking in the middle of the firepit.
Okhfels: This, Okhfels does.
Okhfels: Dressed only in his armor, he stands facing his countrymen.
Okhfels: "Green Lake will be a new homeland for our people."
Okhfels: "You have been chosen to help make ready."
Okhfels: "I, and some of the friends that I have made since I came here, are going to the otherworld to lay the corner stone for that land."
Okhfels: "For this, I need your help."
Okhfels: Okhfels raises his hands, and flames leap up out of the coals, burning their fuel and casting a dramatic red light onto Okhfels body.
Holmes: Belira stands ready behind Okfhels, available at his whim to speak. Okhfels remembers their encounter just a bit ago before coming to speak to these men. Something he'd said, had gone straight to the core of her heart, it was clear. Since that discussion, she'd been..different somehow.
Okhfels: "We may not succeed. But we must try. Beliria can explain it all to you... but I ask you now.. each one of you... to make a vow, in your hearts, to see this through. With your support, we will have the best chance to make it happen."
Okhfels: Okhfels strides out of the fire.
Okhfels: He walks up to each of the Tethites, greets them, and talks to them about how important this is to them.
Holmes: Beliria follows up Okhfels words with subtler ones, but with essentially the same message.
Holmes: As time passes Okhfels can tell that the men are persuaded. Oh, they still have doubts - far from home, and without much to stand on, how could they not? But this is also part of why they are committed. Time to take a stand.
Okhfels: As the community comes together, as things start to really solidify behind him, Okhfels comes to Beliria. "Thank you for your support, milady." That's another of Isadora's words. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Holmes: Beliria looks down at her feet coyly,"I feel that we've not been the friends to each other that we should be, Okhfels. Let's try to fix that, yes?"
Okhfels: Okhfels puts his hand on Beliria's shoulder, and gently lifts her chin with the other. "Friends. Yes." He bends down and ...
Okhfels: ... gives her a chaste, friendly peck on the forehead.
Holmes: Belira does her best to look like she's blushing (something she lost the actual capacity for a long time ago). "Thank you, Okhfels. I can see that Teth will arise once more from the depths."
Holmes: "Oh, one more thing," she says, digging for something.
Okhfels: Okhfels takes a small step back to give her room to find whateveritis
Holmes: She produces a blade made of tethium, and hands it to Okhfels. "You need this." she says. "Do you realize what day it is?"
Okhfels: Okhfels takes it. "I... no. I'm sorry. I've... lost track of the days."
Okhfels: He's visibly stunned at this development.
Holmes: "It's wedding day today. There won't be another chance at an appropriate Tethian wedding for another six months," she beams at him. "You should go to her now. Assuming we can find somebody to preside."
Okhfels: Okhfels breaks into a huge grin. Without another word, he runs from the fireside, whooping at the top of his lungs.
Holmes: Beliria smiles as she watches him lope off, and then goes back to congratulating everyone on the decision to help the quest.

Holmes: As Okhfels moves along, he thinks of Sebastian, and Sebastian appears to him a moment later. But this Sebastian floats a few inches above the ground in the dimming light.
Okhfels: Okhfels looks up in surprise. "Seb... Sebastian?"
Sebastian: Sebastian looks around, confused. "Where am I? I remember being stabbed..."
Okhfels: "Ah, you're... you're dead. Or something."
Sebastian: Sebastian looks at Okhfels, seeing him for the first time, "Odd. I really do not believe I would have chosen you as one of the people I would appear to after my death."
Okhfels: "Ahm, well... I think I know why that happened. But that's not important. Listen, I want to ask you something."
Sebastian: Sebastian gives Okhfels an appraising look, "Ask away. It is, well 'was' might be more accurate, my job to answer such things."
Okhfels: "I'm going to ask Isadora to marry me. She's worried that I'm too common for her, though."
Sebastian: Sebastian nods, "Yes, that will likely prove to be a problem."
Okhfels: "So... what can I do, to show her that I want to be the kind of husband she wants?"
Sebastian: Sebastian gives Okhfels an appraising look, "_Are_ you the kind of husband that she wants? That would be a good first step."
Okhfels: Okhfels blinks, and considers.
Okhfels: "N... no.... not yet." Okhfels looks down at the Tethium blade that sits cradled in his huge hand. "I've changed a lot, since coming here."
Sebastian: Sebastian gives Okhfels a long look, "And how much are you willing to change to become the husband she wants? How far will you go? What will you give up?"
Okhfels: "Anything." Okhfels looks up. The tension drains from his face, as he comes to a realization. " Everything. Thank you, Sebastian. You told me what I needed to know. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Sebastian: Sebastian's eyes flash, "Do not hurt her Okhfels. She is still my friend, despite my less-than-alive state. Also: consider your answer carefully. Would you give up everything? Would you give up your position of leadership? Would you join the Rhiani? Would you change _who you are_?"
Okhfels: "Yes. There's one thing I learned as a trooper, Sebastian."
Okhfels: "You do what it takes."
Sebastian: Sebastian's ghost surges forward suddenly, "Then you will fail her!"
Okhfels: "What?"
Okhfels: "What do you mean?"
Sebastian: Sebastian shakes his head angrily, "You are a fool, Okhfels. It is one of the reasons I opposed your interest in Isadora, but she over-ruled me." He sighs, "Okhfels, Isadora will grow to hate you if you are not yourself. To give up everything for her? It is the last thing she wants."
Okhfels: Okhfels' brow creases as he considers Sebastian's words.
Sebastian: Sebastian sags, "Think hard, Okhfels. You must be what Isadora _needs_, not just what she wants..."
Okhfels: Okhfels nods.
Sebastian: Sebastian looks up again, "Okhfels, a favor if you would?"
Okhfels: "Ask."
Sebastian: Sebastian takes a deep breath, or does something approximating one, "Tell Laura... tell her that she was right, and that I am sorry."
Okhfels: "I will."
Sebastian: Sebastian fades away, his final words are barely audible, "Thank you, and remember: what she needs, not what she wants..."
Okhfels: Okhfels sits heavily on the ground, holding the knife before him.

Holmes: Egani has been called before the Rhiani elders. Apparently they have an answer for him.
Egani appears.
Holmes: Dhazari watches Egani from the side. Egani has noted that Dhazari is always somewhat pensive when he watches Egani.
Holmes: Like there's something he's considering about him.
Egani nods and smiles to Dhazari.
Holmes: Tamul, on the other hand, watches Dhazari, until he sees Egani note him. Then Tamul comes over to speak with Egani, before the elders come out of their council tent.
Holmes: Aaron sits passively behind his master as Tamul speaks.
Holmes: "I...um...overheard something recently," he says. "I thought I should tell you...assuming that Aaron hasn't already shared it with you."
Egani: "What is it, my friend?"
Holmes: "Well, I heard that Beliria saying to one of her Tethite cohorts that she knows more about something she was discussing with you than she let on to you," Tamul relates.
Egani thinks..."It must have been about the translation we were working on."
Egani: "I wonder what she saw that made her not want to share it."
Holmes: "Yeah," Tamul agrees, "That would fit what she said. Something about critical symbols,"
Egani: "That's odd...actually, this news, combined with our current situation, raises a problem in my mind."
Egani: "Some of these people are comfortable lying. That's not going to make for a positive impression on the Rhiani."
Holmes: Tamul looks up and to the right, not trying to make contact with Egani's eyes, following this comment.
Egani tries to follow Tamul's look.
Holmes: Tamul looks back at Egani, "Well, it's not like I've always been truthful with the Rhiani...entirely...every time. Who but the Rhiani are always truthful?"
Egani: "You might consider trying it. It keeps things clean between you and others."
Egani: "And out here, it's safer."
Holmes: "That's true enough," says Tamul. Moorak and the other elders emerge from the tent.
Egani pays respect.
Holmes: The elders acknowledge Egani's obesiance, as they settle into their familiar seated semi-circle which they always adopt to address people formally.
Holmes: "Egani, we have come to a decision regarding your proposal," he relates
Egani waits, looking at each of the elders.
Holmes: "It occurs to us that joining with your man," he indicates Aaron, "has it's advantages."
Holmes: "But this must be a case of your rituals joining into ours." he says.
Egani cocks his head to the side, listening carefully.
Holmes: "If we were to simply join, and not do something for our own spirits, would they not be insulted?" he continues. "That doesn't mean that we cannot join, however."
Egani: "How can we moderate this, then?"
Holmes: "If you were to show deference to the spirits, and join with one of our spirits, then all would be right," he says. "Our most important spirits, now as we live here at Green Lake, are the Two Tree spirits. Would you deign to join with them?"
Holmes: "So that we, then, can join with you in honor?"
Egani looks openly pleased. "Of course! I am honored that you would accept me so fully into the people." Egani wipes at the beginning of a tear from the corner of one eye.
Holmes: Moorak's always level lips, seem to adjust very slightly - perhaps what passes for a smile for the elder. "You know Fahd, I understand? He can help you to get to know the two trees."
Egani: "Yes, yes. Shall I do this now? Who of you would join with Aaron and we in the Brotherhood, and when?"
Holmes: A few intrepid Rhiani step forward. Egani notes that some of them are the same joiners who are in Okhfels band.
Holmes: *
Holmes: *
Holmes: A bit later, followed by Fahd, Aaron and some new followers, Egani arrives at the Two Tree Shrine. On his right is the massive live tree, and on his left, the smaller, but still more massive seeming petrified tree. In the center is the small pile of rocks that serves as the focus for activities here.
Egani: "Greetings Fahd! You are going to introduce me to the spirits, yes?"
Holmes: Fahd has a very serious look on his face. "This is a solemn event, Egani. Do you intend to take it seriously?"
Egani: "Of course!" Egani is still riding the high though and won't be smacked down so easily.
Egani: "I know little about spirits, but I'm here to learn."
Holmes: Fahd frowns. "These spirits, tied to this spot though they are, are potent, newcomer. Have deference, lest you be brought low by these."
Holmes: Fahd goes to the center of the shrine indicating that Egani should wait at the edge.
Egani nods. "Yes, quite. What forms must I observe to show the respect that's in my heart?"
Holmes: Fahd waves a finger at Egani trying to silence him as he starts to perform a chant at the stone pile. After a bit, he stands back up, looking deeply at the tree to one side, and then at the other, similarly. Then he looks to Egani.
Holmes: "Come."
Egani: Thinking better of asking a question, Egani steps forward, walking to Fahd, trying to see what's in the tree -- instinctively examining the essence.
Holmes: The tree, unsurprisingly, is quite opaque to Egani's trained vision. As he gets to Fahd, the shaman says, "Repeat these words..." and proceeds to teach Egani a series of seemingly meaningless words.
Egani is well versed in several languages of incantation, and not knowing the meaning doesn't hinder his ability to replicate the sounds.
Holmes: It occurs to Egani that the trees must be full of essence in some way, for them to seem so...dense. As he repeats the words, he notes that they don't have the symbolic resonances that they should to trigger any movement of the essence in that tree.
Holmes: "No, no," says Fahd, "Not precisely with passion, but with effort!"
Holmes: They continue working on it, Fahd trying his best to lead Egani.
Egani raises an eyebrow toward the shaman, inviting further explanation.
Holmes: *
Holmes: Hours later, Fahd looks at Egani at last, exhausted, but nodding approval. Egani feels that he somewhat understands what has happened, that some alien beings from these trees have accepted him in some way that will allow them to connect with his spirit somehow.
Egani: "It's easier to work with the spirits of dead people. Why?"
Holmes: Fahd smiles, extremely uncharacteristically, "Because we will die."
Holmes: Suddenly the smile is gone from his face, however.
Holmes: He looks up into the air about the trees. Egani feels them speaking to Fahd.
Egani: "Thank you for helping me with that. I had no idea it would be so hard. I hope it is easier for you to join with Aaron and I.
Egani: "
Holmes: They tell him that the walls of the spirit world are being assaulted, and, being thin, the spirits of the recently dead or those held nearby are roaming free in the world. This is not as things should be.
Egani: "So...how can we help?"
Holmes: Egani can see Fahd's mind swirling to find just that answer. Then his eyes light up. There's a ritual we can do to discover where the source of the disruption is.
Holmes: He looks around at who he has available to help.
Egani: "I don't know if this is the time, but I too, have a method of finding lost spirits."
Holmes: Fahd tilts his head at Egani wondering what this means.
Egani: "Should I show you?"
Holmes: Fahd shrugs aquiescence.
Egani opens a small but fat book and allows himself to slip into that other state as he seeks the free spirits in the environment.
Holmes: Fahd looks very skeptically, and looks almost as if he's going to start to fidget.
Holmes: Egani works through his spell, and from the book a purplish band of light slithers out towards the south. Egani can feel the loose spirits in that direction.
Egani: "This way, come. And be ready." Egani heads south.
Holmes: Fahd continues to look skeptically, but follows Egani.
Holmes: *
Holmes: *
Holmes: Egani arrives at Isadora's tent just as Okhfels is also arriving, having followed the blue light here.
Egani glances at Okhfels and Fahd and then looks into the tent, cautiously.
Okhfels: Okhfels regards Egani and Fahd suspiciously.
Holmes: Fahd looks at Okhfels and Egani wondering what's up between these two.
Holmes: Looking into the tent, apparently Isadora is not in.
Egani follows the lead from his spell into Isadora's tent and looks around.
Okhfels: "Hey!"
Okhfels: "What do you think you're doing?"
Okhfels: Okhfels follows Egani in.
Holmes: Fahd's spell seems to follow a spirit trail out the back of the tent again.
Egani turns to the big man and puts his finger on his lips. "Shh."
Holmes: hack Fahd to Egani
Egani: "Not here...anymore. Okhfels, where's Isadora?"
Okhfels: "Not here," Okhfels says. His head is wearing the "isn't it obvious?" face.
Egani: Exiting the tent and walking around to the rear, Egani begins following the colored spirit trail anew.
Okhfels: Okhfels shakes his head. "Wizards." He leaves Egani to his mysterious mission, and goes off to find Isadora.

Holmes: Isadora stands in disbelief at the visage of Lana standing before her in her tent. She can see her bunk clearly through Lana's legs, Lana seeming only very thinly present.
Lana: Lana looks on quietly, and odd look in her eyes.
Isadora squints at the apparition, looking at the wineglass in her hand incredulously and then back to Lana. "Ah, are you actually here?"
Lana: Lana smiles a bit ironically, "In a manner of speaking. We have some things to discuss.
Isadora: Isadora's gaze sharpens as the initial shock wears off. "You're not dead, right? Your spirit is caught out there, somewhere. What's our business, then?"
Lana: "That very thing. Your doctor did something to trap my spirit in the spiritworld. I was wondering if you might be willing to come find me?"
Isadora: "As it happens, I'm headed there shortly, and I'll certainly look for you in the neighborhood." Isadora briefly fights and wins a battle against her petty side; leaning back, she merely asks, "What happened with Egani from your end?"
Lana: Lana frowns, "Well, it's not really my field, but I think he made a mistake of some sort. Then when Vella stepped in to help, he did something to her, I don't think she survived.
Isadora: "Yes, I believe he plunged a sword through her chest." Isadora considers a moment, then adds, "Clean stroke, too. I wouldn't think those spindly scholar arms had it in them."
Lana: "Well, she wasn't precisely fighting back, but really, enough about me. There's something you should know about your man. Something that I've become convinced you don't know, and that as an honorable woman, something that you would want to know.
Isadora: Isadora's eyebrows lift a notch. "You've come back from near the grave to counsel me on love? I'm touched."
Lana: "Oh, no. Or rather, not if you're not interested. I don't want to spoil things for you..."
Lana: Lana gives Isadora a look, clearly reluctant to speak without Isadora's permission.
Isadora takes a drink from her glass, eyebrows raising a hair further at Lana's coyness. "Where are you in the spirit world, again? I'm a novice at such matters, and it'd be a shame to lose you. I'm sure they'll find a use for your body if I fail, though."
Lana: Lana sighs, then looks directly at Isadora. "Very well, you deserve to know: your man interfered in our duel."
Isadora: "I was there, too, you'll recall. My memory places him rather firmly on the sidelines."
Lana: Lana tilts her head, "Well, he does have mind magic."
Isadora blinks. "You're new, I realize, but Okhfels is a pretty physical sort. The last brush with mind magic around here didn't go too well."
Isadora: She's slow to connect Lana's words with Okhfels' previous experience with the dome, perhaps because she doesn't want to think about it.
Lana: Lana shakes her head, "You might be right, but I don't think anyone else would have projected... what he did into my mind."
Isadora frowns. "What makes you so sure?"
Lana: Lana looks away uncomfortably, "I... well... it's... rather... intimate..."
Isadora smirks briefly, but looks away, herself. After a moment, she says, "And because this happened in your mind, I suppose you have only your word?"
Lana: Lana looks hard at Isadora, "I suppose that I imagined it, but does he... this is awkward. Does he run his finger across the back of your shoulder blade as he... well... does he?"
Isadora looks at Lana for several seconds without expression, then shrugs. "I'll speak to him," she says flatly.
Lana: Lana closes her eyes briefly, "I am sorry to have hurt you, I would like to think that we might be friends..."
Isadora: "Your protestations are in excellent form, meeting all standards of courtesy. The bit about wanting to be friends adds just the right touch." Isadora's eyes are cold and distant.
Lana: Lana nods, "I see I've done enough harm tonight. I realize it may be pretentious and unwelcome of me, but it might help you sort things through if you were to speak with Laura." Lana smiles in nostalgia, "She always was good at that sort of thing."
Isadora: "I'll do that. She'll be glad to know that you're well, if indisposed."
Lana: Lana nods and fades out of sight.
Isadora waits for several more minutes, staring at the papers on her desk. When she's sure Lana is gone, her head sags down on folded arms.

Holmes: Lana suddenly awakes, and looks about her surroundings. Maybe this is hell. Skulls hang from ropes, and there's a strangely charnel smell in this dark place. She senses something there, but can't see it.
Lana: Lana sits up slowly, reaching for her swords and muttering, "Well, this is an unpleasant change of scenery."
Holmes: Her hand passes through her swords...still not back yet.
Holmes: The something in the tent wants to speak to her.
Lana: Lana pears into the darkness, "Hello?"
Holmes: A dark shape appears, having the form of a Raven. "You wish to return? That can be made to happen, as you should not be here."
Lana: Lana frowns, "Where am I, anyway?"
Holmes: "You're seeing into the realm of the living, from the realm of the spirits like myself," it replies.
Holmes: "Do you want to return?" it asks again.
Lana: Lana nods, "Yes, I have unfinished business..."
Holmes: Well, I can return you, but there is a price that must be paid. A small part of you must remain on this side.
Lana: Lana looks at the Raven closely, "What do you mean?
Holmes: Well, how about this, says the Raven, and before she knows what it's doing, she sees it pulling something out of her that looks like her memories of Sebastian. "These would make reasonable payments," it says.

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