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Holmes: As Isadora exits the Gate (successfully for once) on the temple steps, she notes Thrakelust atop the temple communing with the spirits. He still does this frequently even after 20 years.
Holmes: Immediately she recalls the task to which the Warlock King of Itanis had set her. To tell Thrakelust that the Itanians would not take the increase in price that they'd recently put on the flowers. He'd basically intimated that there would be war (their sort of war, ranging from amazon warrioresses and mental attacks from afar), should Green Lake not reduce their price.
Holmes: That said, Thrakelust's command had been that she not fail to make them see the neccessity of the new price.
Isadora heads in to make her report, outlining possible countermoves in her head.
Teodric: Teodric approaches from behind Isadora "Ahh Isadora back from Itanis I see. How did your mission go?"
Isadora shrugs. "Mediocre; the King says he won't stand for a price raise. It'll probably need some sort of intervention. How's the city been?"
Teodric: Teodric waves his hand dismissively "The city is as it always is. Loud... Noisy... It will be good to get back. Refused the price hike? Well that won't be good, we need to make up for the income we'll be losing."
Isadora: "Well, it can be handled. I have some friends in Kaitaine who'll profit if there's aggression in the area, or we can stop shipments entirely and see how they feel about prices after a few weeks."
Teodric: "Still if we try to juggle too many balls, we're likely to drop a few."
Isadora: "Certainly, but which balls to keep in the air isn't my trouble. What about you, though, Teodric? Something to report to our most eminent governor?"
Teodric: "yes well, it seems Prince Rylec has agreed to our contract."
Isadora: "That's good news, then. The extra money from that quarter will offset anything that Itanis temporarily costs us, won't it?"
Teodric: "Actually Itanis was supposed to offset the money we will lose with Sel-Kai. Temporarily of course."
Isadora: "I see," Isadora says. "Refresh my memory, what is Sel-Kai offering in the long run for this concession?"
Teodric: "Oh Sel-Kai is offering to pay more after the matter with their colony is resolved."
Isadora: "Their colony--that's the business with Artania, am I remembering? Damned jumped-up city-states." She grins at him. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you, of all people, how much to rely on the word of a Sel-Kai banker."
Teodric: "We don't yet have confirmation that the Lord of Ardania is involved. Lana is investigating that as we speak." Teodric smiles "My first encounter with Green Lake was through Sebastian. I am aware of your feelings on Sel-Kai bankers."
Isadora: "Oh, I liked Sebastian much more than any banker," Isadora says warmly. "I'm just glad you're looking out for our interests with them."
Teodric: "Well thank you. I'm happy that I'm able to provide a service to the people."
Isadora tilts her head at him inquiringly. "Tell me, Teodric, which do you think of as home--Green Lake or Sel-Kai?"
Teodric: "Green Lake is my home now."
Isadora: "I hope it's been as good to you as it has to me," Isadora says with a smile. "I think our beloved lord is busy, though, so it looks like I'll have some time to draft a proposal before giving him the bad news."
Holmes: Just then Thrakelust gives out a cry. As they look up at him, he collapses. To of his guards rush to his aid.
Isadora sprints up the steps toward Thrakelust. As she arrives, she asks the guards, "What happened?"
Teodric: Teodric follows and kneels down to the governor "Enthinaud? Are you alright?"
Holmes: One of the guards, a heavyset fellow says, "He murmured something to the spirits that sounded...defensive? And next thing we know, he's shouting and doubling over like this."
Teodric: Teodric snaps "Don't just stand there man! Get a stretcher and get him inside. Move!"
Holmes: The other guard runs off as commanded
Isadora crouches by the governer with a thoughtful look on her face, peering at something she can't quite see.
Teodric: "What is it Isadora?"
Holmes: After a moment, her ability to see into the spirit world focuses, and there is the scorpion of the temple in the sky above. It's waving it's stinger equipped tail menacingly, as if looking for somebody else to sting across the barrier between the worlds.
Isadora: "I think you'd better fetch a backup priest," Isadora says dryly, looking up to an apparently empty sky. "The scorpion looks angry."
Holmes: The large guard looks at her like she's crazy, "You know there's no backup, M'lady. But..."
Holmes: The guard wants to ask a question, but knows that perhaps it's not his place to do so.
Teodric: Teodric looks cross "Speak man! I don't have the patience to wait until you get a back bone"
Holmes: "Well, it's said in some quarters that Lady Isadora here knows the spirits," he says. "Didn't she lead the original quest? She had some hand in it, I understand? Couldn't she speak with the spirits?"
Holmes: The man looks around him, obviously paranoid about not being able to see the spirit in question that might be ready to sting again.
Teodric: Teodric looks annoyed "Do you think that she gets that far off look in every situation? I'm sure she's doing what she can about the spirit."
Isadora: "That was a long time ago," Isadora says, standing up and heading purposefully for the altar. "But let's see if I can't make things worse."
Holmes: "Well, I could call one of the shamans," says the guard, who seems to think that any plan that doesn't involve him watching his own hide right now is a bad one.
Teodric: "Perhaps you should wait right here. The lady may need assistance from us."
Isadora: Trusting Teodric to handle the guards, Isadora goes through a brief cleansing ritual and turns her face to the sky to address the scorpion. "Anger of the desert, why have you struck down our priest?"
Holmes: The spirit responds in it's way, and Isadora gets the idea that it has to do with the ongoing friction between the two traditions of spirits. They are supposed to all get along, but don't always. No doubt, Thrakelust pushed one of their buttons in trying to do some arrangement of the religion.
Isadora thanks the spirit for its explanation, then steps back from the altar to Teodric. "Trouble with one of the Rhiani spirits, I think. I hope the governor wakes up soon, because it's definitely outside of my scope."
Teodric: Teodric grimaces "Why does he also have to mess around with the spirits? As if we didn't have enough to deal with in this world. I hope that he awakens soon as well." he looks around "Where has that guard gotten to with that stretcher?"

Okhfels: Okhfels rides along between the trees from high upon Stormwind's back. As he goes, he offers words of encouragement, here and there, to the laborers toiling amongst them. At the end of the row, he breaks out of the trees and spots a familiar figure on the road leading to the house.
Okhfels: He kicks the majestic steed into a canter and rapidly covers the hundred yards or so that separate them.
Isadora: Isadora walks along the lane looking at the trees with the proprietary admiration of someone who seldom has to work on them.
Okhfels: Okhfels swings down with a shout and gathers his wife into his arms.
Isadora: Laughing, Isadora buries her face in the hollow of his neck and clings to him for a moment before relaxing her grip. "I never get tired of coming home," she says, stepping back to look at him.
Okhfels: Okhfels sets her down again, and walks with one hand on Isadora's waist and the other holding Stormwind's bridle. "Ah, I tell you, I'm glad you're home. This place is empty without you, Iz."
Isadora catches sight of a couple of the laborers shifting their ladders to be on the far side of the tree from Okhfels.
Isadora: "You know how it is," Isadora says. "Too long around Green Lake and I start to get restless." For a second, her head turns and her eyes flicker back to the high temple steps where Thrakelust prays. "You should come with me sometime."
Okhfels: Okhfels tenses a little. "Do you think the boys are ready for it? I mean, home alone?"
Isadora can tell that Okhfels isn't being entirely forthright.
Isadora: "If they're not, then the lesson will do them good," she answers promptly. "It sounds like that's not all of it, though."
Okhfels: Okhfels sighs, and shakes his head. "I should know better than to try to hold anything back." Okhfels looks back over his shoulder at the temple. "I still don't trust him."
Okhfels: He says it very quietly.
Isadora: "Of course not, but no sense dwelling unless you're planning something." Isadora pats his arm. "I think a vacation might be good for you--if nothing else, a visit to a real city will make you appreciate the air around here."
Okhfels: "A vacation? I thought I was already retired."
Isadora: "Ah, but travel without obligation or war is part of retirement. We could see the far corners of the world, visit my mother... the possibilities are endless, really."
Okhfels: Okhfels blanches. "Your mother?!"
Isadora grins. "Just checking that you were listening. A trip to Kaitaine might be in order, soon, but I'm sure I can arrange something else if there's a place you'd like to go."
Okhfels: Okhfels climbs up on the porch and opens the front door, standing back to admit Isadora courteously. The house is quiet, the boys must be elsewhere... probably making trouble. "I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be than by your side. I suppose I should see Kaitaine, while I'm still young enough to survive it."
Isadora: "It's messy, loud, and more graspingly commercial than ever, and those are its good points," Isadora says cheerfully. "But I admit I've always wanted to show it to you."
Okhfels: Okhfels pulls Isadora into a hug. "Then show it to me. How was the gate?"
Isadora: "Working, for a pleasant change." Isadora leans back to look at his face but keeps her arms wrapped around him. "You'll really come along?"
Okhfels: "Really. You know I wouldn't just say it. Not..." the intimate moment is interrupted as the back door bangs open admitting three running, shouting kids, covered head to toe in mud. They skid to a stop, confronted by a glaring father.
Isadora turns and laughs. "As far as I know, Green Lake only had one buried city in it--were you diving to look for another one?"
Okhfels: Okhfels suppresses a smile of his own. "Well?"
Okhfels: The three stand up straight and try to ignore the dripping mud. Malwen, the youngest, speaks first. "It's Ossie's fault. He dared me."
Okhfels: Chimrea, his sister, tries to elbow him in the ribs.
Okhfels: "He did!"
Okhfels: Okhfels cuts the whole discussion off with a horizontal slashing movement of his hand. "All three of you, outside to the well. Rinse off the mud, and when you're done you'll clean up the hall. I expect it as clean as the temple steps by suppertime."
Okhfels: The kids don't salute, but they snap to with military precision, and hurry out. Okhfels looks more irritated than amused.
Okhfels: "Still think they're ready to be left alone?"
Isadora shrugs. "What will they do? Get muddy, burn down the house, sneak out to roll in the hay with youngsters we don't approve of? They're old enough to start learning how to deal with it." Isadora has always been a cheerfully ruthless parent.
Okhfels: "Yes! Yes, they will... have you seen the way Osalder looks at Kalitiri?"
Isadora: "You mean Thrakelust's Kalitiri?" she asks sharply. "That's different."
Okhfels: Okhfels turns away and runs his fingers through his hair. "He's going to want to know why he's not allowed to court her."
Isadora: "I'll talk to him." Isadora's eyes are hard.
Okhfels: Okhfels draws himself straight and turns around. "No... we should do it together. Finally close the book on... on all that. Then we can go."
Isadora: "What--oh. You want to tell him?" Surprise breaks the grim expression on her face. "If you want to, but I wasn't going to bring it up."
Okhfels: "It's a loose end we never tied up."
Isadora looks a little reluctant, but nods. "If you think it's best, yes. After dinner?"
Okhfels: "No sense in waiting." Okhfels moves in closer, hands slightly apart. "They won't understand. But at least they'll know why."
Okhfels: Okhfels tentatively offers a hug.
Isadora wraps her arms around him fiercely for a long moment, then goes off to call Osalder.

Holmes: Rahkleth watches as the woman approaches atop the odd riding beast. A mountain lizard of some sort, no doubt; where would somebody get a tame one of those? His second in command taps him on the shoulder to remind him that they're supposed to shift ranks of warriors for the next set of sparring.
Holmes: That done, Rahkleth gets a better look at her now that she's almost at the barracks.
Rahkleth: "Garrett, take over for me here." Rahkleth smacks his shoulder. "There's something strange coming up the path." He starts to leave and smiles back at his second. "Watch out for Morat there.... he's got a wicked thrust from the right side."
Rahkleth: Rahkleth approaches the woman on the strange mount. He's obviously a military man in well-kept light armor and a sword hanging from his hip. He's middle-aged but in excellent condition with only a few scars marring his features. A short, trimmed beard frames an easy smile as he approaches. "Welcome, to The Oaks barracks, mistress. Might I ask your business here?"
Agnes: As the beast draws closer, it appears that the rider is very young, perhaps not yet twenty. Long plaited brown hair disappears into her shirt and pale skin peeks out in the few places that it is visible at all. Her voice comes with an odd accent and a smile, "My name is Agnes Hargreve and I have come to see how this place has grown."
Rahkleth: "Mostly brick by brick and with great effort, Mistress Hargreve." Rahkleth smiles. "Interesting horse you have there. I wasn't aware we raised these around here."
Agnes: She strokes the corner of the great beast's mouth. "They live in the mountains where things are still wild."
Rahkleth: "Yes. I've lived in the mountains and love it there." The warrior admits. "Is he likely to snap my hand off if I touch him? I think I would be significantly less intimidating to my troups with only one hand."
Agnes: "He won't bite you without my command."
Rahkleth: "In that case... are you likely to have him snap my hand off?"
Agnes: "And when he does, he won't settle for just a hand." Her eyes twinkle with the joke, but Rahkleth gets the idea that it's not just a joke.
Agnes: "No, please, feel free."
Agnes: "Stay clear of his claws though, they're a bit touchy about having their feet messed with."
Rahkleth: Rahkleth reaches out and pats the beast along the neck. "Nice fanged lizard of death... " He croons softly. "I taste nasty and will give you indigestion." After a second or three he looks back up. "I'm Rahkleth. Commander of The Oaks. How may I serve?"
Agnes: "Is this a free city? May I wander? I haven't any appointments and only a few old stories of this place to guide me."
Rahkleth: "Yes it is free... and you may wander." Rahkleth looks at the lizard dubiously. "However, I'm not sure I can allow this rather impressive beastie in. We have a rather large barn right over there..." He points to the far end of the barracks. "If you'd like to bed him down until I can get instructions from those in charge of such things. Is he likely to eat our horses?"
Agnes: She cocks her head and considers. "He is less likely if he stays with me, but it would probably be safe."
Rahkleth: "You can see to his needs and I'll place a guard to see that no one bothers him... more for the safety of the curious, I'm sure." He waves for her to follow him. "If the Powers That Be decide he's no danger then you can stable him wherever you like. We'll keep the other livestock away from him until then."
Holmes: The pair, while chatting, can't help but note the fantastically beautiful male approaching now, coming down the same path that Agnes had approached upon. Rahkleth knows this elf, the ambassador from Lys who has been in Green Lake for more than a year now.
Holmes: The elf's investigations of the region never seen to cease. He pushes his long blond hair back from his face to look up to see Rahkleth, and the new arrival.
Agnes: "Sounds good. I'll need to purchase livestock from time to time, I'm glad to see that the supplies are strong -- I feared a small heard of goats would be all I found."
Agnes looks at the man and can not help but stare.
Rahkleth: "We ate the goats a long time ago." Rahkleth smiles at her before looking with some curiosity at the new arrival. "Hold just a moment, mistress. It seems to be a day for unexpected visitors."
Holmes: Serrin looks at Rahkleth benignly, "So, are the citizens of Green Lake as well protected as when I left yesterday, oh one they call Rahkleth?"
Rahkleth: Rahkleth looks at the lizard again with a raised eyebrow. "Well, as long as these things don't become the favored mount in the next few minutes, I'd say we pretty much have it covered, Ambassador. Can I be of service, sir?"
Holmes: The elf smiles expansively. "Thank you for your graciousness, Rahkleth. Indeed, your help would be appreciated in a small matter. It would seem that in my investigations of the high hills to the north that I disturbed some sort of a creature. I'd call it a dragon, except it has no wings, you see. Not entirely dissimilar to this creature, but larger, and..."
Holmes: He searches for the precise word, "Far less polite."
Holmes: "My fault, of course, for waking it, I'll be glad to help you deal with the creature," he says.
Agnes: Agnes smiles, deciding to contribute. "Was it a mother? Unlike small lizards, these guard their hatchlings."
Rahkleth: Rahkleth tries... sorta successfully... to surpress a sigh. "While I appreciate the warning and the gesture, Ambassador, I'm afraid I can't endanger a person of your standing." His tone says that he'd really like to though. "I'll dispatch a scout or two and a company to assess the threat to the city. Perhaps the beast will settle back down. If not, we'll deal with it."
Holmes: The elf waves off the suggestion, "Your generosity is a great virtue. But, as you can see, I evaded the simple beast with no effort at all. I don't think it's a threat to me. I simply can't prevent it from going where it will all alone, and worry that it might catch some of your people if it does."
Rahkleth: "Well... very well. If you relieve me of responsibility for your safety, I can hardly stop you from coming." Rahkleth shrugs before turning to Agnes. "Do you know much about these creatures beyond using one for a mount?"
Rahkleth: Rahkleth whistles and waves Garrett over from his sparring practice.
Agnes: "There are merchants" (she says this word with some condescension) "who make their living capturing the eggs and babies for use as mounts. I wouldn't know the details."
Holmes: "Oh, I didn't mean that it was a lot like this being you have here," says Serrin. "Just that they're both large lizard creatures. I was just tying to give you the gist. It's actually much more...horribly scaled and twisted...than this find being here."
Agnes: "It must be quite old. I'd suggest avoiding it." Engaging the elf more directly, "Ambassador, as you can probably detect, I am a newly arrived vistor. Would I presume too much to hope that you could meet with me to discuss your...position here in a day or two?"
Rahkleth: "Ah... excellent... I'd hate for life to get too easy around here. I haven't fought a giant, inhuman creature that wants to eat me in far too long. I'm probably out of practice." When Garrett arrives, Rahkleth barks off some orders. "Round up two of the scouts and two squads. Make sure they are fully outfitted and make sure Davvid's squad is one of them. I haven't forgotten they're behavior a fortnight ago."
Holmes: The elf nods approval at the arrangements. He turns to Agnes and looks at her as if he can read her from end to end with just the one long glance. He smiles then, "Yes, I'm sure I can make time to speak with you at some point."
Agnes: "I'd like that" she has a bit of a dreamy look to her eyes.
Rahkleth: Rahkleth rolls his eyes a bit. How do you figure women? The elf couldn't even grow a decent beard.
Agnes sees to the housing of her beast before turning with hungry eyes to the city. Her nose leads her first to a cafe sporting baskets of fresh hard rolls. She wonders as she eats what all this city might hold.

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