(Missing posts)

• Tez: "Why does this stuff always happen to me?" she mutters, putting her head in her hands. "I'm a good person, I swear."
• Lana: Lana looks to the young man, 'Tea?'
• Tez sighs, gets up, and closes the door firmly, so when he goes running screaming to the local militia, he at least has to stop to open it again.
• Lana: Lana sees what Tez is doing and gives her a wink.
• Tez smiles back feebly.
• Teodric: Teodric shakes his head and turns to follow the young man back to the room. He shoots Nula a feeble smile as he goes.
• Lana: As Lana offers the tea, she also subtly loosens her sword in its sheath.
• Tez asks lana in a quiet voice, "So what do they do to suspected murderers here?"
• Lana: Lana shrugs, 'Um... it's not come up while I've been here.'
• Holmes: The young man discovers his father, and at first looks like he's going to pick him up. In fact he touches the hand for a moment, and then recoils in horror. A moment later he leans out a window, retching.
• Tez: "I really didn't know he'd catch fire, you know? I mean, who would have thought of that?"
• Lana: 'I know I didn't!'
• Holmes: He finishes throwing up, and then comes at Tez, perhaps because he saw her first, "What happened!"
• Teodric: Teodric tries to intercept "He came in here hacking up a lung. We tried to help him, but he died. It's not our fault, I swear."
• Tez: "Well we were here, and then he just came in, like, holding his chest. And we tried to help him, but I didn't know how cause he's not a horse. We tried really hard though." she insists. And then we put him in the back room so that when it stopped raining we could you know, do whatever you're supposed to do with people who have bad hearts."
• Tez: "And then I noticed this weird bag that he had, and it had these things in it. And this one looked like him, and it was cracked right over his chest! So I thought it must be bad magic, so I tried to destroy it."
• Holmes: He tries to take this all in, but seems very bewildered.
• Tez: "How is your heart? Are you okay?"
• Holmes: This seems to confuse him even more, and his face becomes a mask of anger, "I told my father not to get involved. You are some witches from afar, aren't you? You've stolen his spirit or something!"
• Tez: "What? No it wasn't me! I've been trying to tell you that! Why would I still be here if I had done it?"
• Holmes: He doesn't seem to accept that argument, perhaps thinking that he caught them in the act.
• Teodric: Teodric lays a calming hand on the man's back "Listen I know you are upset right now, but we are not responsible for what happened here. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. We'll offer any help to you that we can."."
• Teodric: "We've all lost someone close to us at some time or another. I lost my grandmother a few years ago. Granted the circumstances were not quite as unusual, but I spent a lot of time hurt and confused. I lashed out at anyone that I could. Trust me getting worked up at us is not going to help bring your father back."
• Holmes: The man seems to take to Teodrics tone, perhaps seeking a father figure in his dispair. He sits down and breaks into tears.
• Holmes: Something his father had said as he was dying is on the tip of Lana's tongue.
• Lana: Lana blinks, 'I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but your father wanted me to tell you something about a raven...'
• Holmes: "What? What's that?" he says, blinking away the tears. "When did he say this? What was it precisely?"
• Holmes: He suddenly seems much, much clearer.
• Lana: 'I believe he said: "The Raven has taken flight".'
• Holmes: The young man looks as though stunned. "That..."
• Lana: 'Have a seat, you look like you could use some tea.'
• Holmes: "This explains everything," he says. "We're not safe here."
• Holmes: He rejects the tea.
• Holmes: "They must have found out about him," he relays quickly. "Which means that they're probably looking for us, too."
• Tez: "What? What do you mean?"
• Teodric: Teodric lets out a long sad sigh "I'm beginning to think we aren't safe anywhere. Can you explain?"
• Lana: Lana looks hurt, 'It's really good tea.'
• Tez: "Whats with this Raven stuff?"
• Holmes: "There is a force in Ardania, something or someone who hides in the palace quarter," he says, keeping his eyes now on the door, his instinct for survival obviously operating on over time. His hand goes unconsciously to the hilt of the sword.
• Holmes: "We've named it the Raven, as a code," he says.
• Holmes: "My father is saying that whatever it is, is no longer in Ardania, but abroad."
• Tez: "..Ardania." She fingers her lucky coin.
• Lana: 'So, why is this reason to worry?'
• Tez: "This Raven of yours. I think I bear my own grudge against them."
• Holmes: "This," he says, pointing at the figure Tez had shown him, "This is the work of the Raven. Whoever he is, has power enough to copy our magic...to make any magic he likes. It's said he can do anything."
• Holmes: He drops to one knee, "By the spirit of the Giant Tamarak, I swear that I will avenge my father, or die trying!"
• Tez: "This is your magic?"
• Holmes: "Well, not that one, now that the magic shielding it is gone," he says. "But like these others."
• Holmes: He produces a pouch full of several such little figures.
• Holmes: "These house the spirits of the village and our people, such as we can coax them into being with us."
• Holmes: "The one you have, however," he grimmaces, "was a false one. My father must have found it out in the Mud Place, where we find our spirits.'
• Tez: "That's kind of spooky."
• Holmes: "That the Raven can bind such a spirit in such a place, and one so powerful..." he shivers at the thought, sweat shaking off his thick frame.
• Holmes: He seems to perk up a bit.
• Holmes: "Probably dangerous, but we could check the Mud Place. To see if there is any more perversion there?"
• Lana: 'Um... is the Raven here, then?'
• Holmes: "He may be...or maybe just close by. Who can say for certain?" he pauses. "Again, we could ask the spirits what they know. We could see if the shaman will help us?"
• Tez: "So you'll be able to tell which ones are corrupted? Your father couldn't, though."
• Lana: Lana thinks about this, 'So, if we leave him alone will he just leave us alone?'
• Holmes: "I...I might be able to tell. My father wasn't looking for anything, I'd guess, or he'd have seen it," he replies. "That said, the shaman is better than I."
• Teodric: Teodric looks at Lana "You don't suppose the Raven could be the source of our troubles with this are do you?"
• Holmes: Turning to Lana, "No, I think there's no way he'll leave us alone."
• Lana: 'But... why would he bother with us?'
• Tez: "We're already involved... now they might know we know they're here."
• Holmes: Zirun's son stands, and looks at Lana, and puts a hand out toward Tez to emphasize what she's saying, "Why do you think that we have organized here in secret? And offered our house to you to stay? We fight a common foe. And the Raven must be it."
• Lana: 'Okay, well if we're going to do this, let's do this right.
• Tez: "You know, I'm starting to think that slavery thing wouldn't have been so bad."
• Lana: 'Oh, Tez, come on. It's not that bad... well, maybe not, anyway.'
• Tez looks dubiously at Lana. "Oh it never starts OUT that bad. But it will be."
• Lana: 'Well, I can't argue with that...'

• Holmes: The Mud Place is aptly named. Grey earth mixed with water bubbles up, small bursts of steam coming out of the holes that form on the surface creating small ripples that go nowhere. The pool seems vast, stretching out into the bamboo stands that make it impossible to see quite how far it goes.
• Holmes: The young man, Zirun's son, is named Zorun (an inheritance name), and he approaches the hot mud without fear.
• Lana: Lana does so as well.
• Teodric: Teodric hangs back "I've gotten dirty enough today, thank you very much. Everyone else can muck about if they want to."
• Tez approaches the mud to, but with fear. Not OBVIOUS fear. but it's there.
• Holmes: Zorun turns to see a man covered entirely in mud coming from another part of the cane break. "Secun. Thank you for coming."
• Holmes: The man simply nods, and then addresses the rest. "Who seeks the spirits of the mud?"
• Lana: 'Um... us, i guess...'
• Tez: "Him mostly." she points at Zorun
• Lana: Lana nods.
• Holmes: The man in the mud is stocky, and powerfully built. He looks Lana over cautiously, and then considers Tez almost with derision. "If you are not ready to pay obeisance to the spirits, then you should leave now!"
• Tez: "Hey I'm not the one with the corrupted mud, mister. Don't look at me like that!"
• Lana: 'What does that involve, exactly?'
• Holmes: "We must move the mud as the spirits demand," he says. He casts another nasty look at Tez.
• Tez crosses her arms and assumes her favorite haughty stance.
• Holmes: The shaman crosses his arms as well, "I'll not help these, Zorun," he says, as he walks away. "Too bad for you, because the spirits could tell where the one you seek is."
• Holmes: Zorun looks at the rest, "Are we united in this thing? Or should I go my own way?"

• Holmes: Agnes walks onto Thrakelust's property - she can't make him out on the temple that far off in the lake, but this is the time of day he's there. She can almost feel him there, however. Almost like he's watching her as she makes her way onto the patio.
• Agnes: Resisting the urge to look up toward the temple, Agnes keeps cool and walks right in, not even summoning the servants.
• Holmes: One of the women cleaning the grounds looks at Agnes for a moment. She looks like she's considering questioning Agnes being on the grounds.
• Agnes ignores the servant and attend to her errand, heading for the building where Thrakelust sleeps.
• Holmes: Entering the building, she hears voices behind her, speaking urgently. The light is dim here, as the light doesn't come in through the windows at this time of day, and candles are yet to be lit.
• Agnes: Agnes relies on her familiarity with maneuvering in dark places and the sleeping quarters of strange men to guide her. She's looking for the least-used wardrobe in the building.
• Holmes: As she finds it, two men come in. "She said she'd gone in here. We have to find her."
• Holmes: They begin searching the house.
• Holmes: When they find servants, they ask them if they've seen Agnes, but, of course, none have.
• Agnes: Quickly, Agnes stashes the giant crystal on the floor of the cabinet, behind some misfitted ceremonial robes of great value. She then stretches out with her mind to discover what these searchers know and want.
• Holmes: As she reaches out, she prys into one of their minds, and right on the surface the man is thinking that he needs to find Agnes in order to tell her that the elven ambassador is looking to find her most desperately.
• Agnes: It wouldn't do for them to find her here in any case. Agnes slips out a side door and through a break in the hedge, heading toward the elvish embassy.
• Holmes: Agnes walks out, past the same woman in the garden, who, once again seems about to protest, but then decides the better of it.

• Holmes: Agnes approaches the house that the elves had purchased not far from Thrakelust's place, in order to establish an embassy. One of the first buildings built here after the founding of the south city, it had belonged to a family of a former Ikaiti soldier who had since moved farther out to a place on the outskirts.
• Holmes: The sun is setting now, and the scattered light coming through the cyclopean trees across the way leaves a dappled pattern on the ground.
• Agnes stops to admire the front garden...a habit she got from her mother. After a minute, she climbs the short steps to the building's porch and enters.
• Holmes: An elf opens the door, but it is an elf quite unlike the others Agnes has seen. Instead of the long blonde hair, it looks like a very young man with short curly brown hair, and brown eyes. His complexion is quite ruddy, and he has a smile on his face. "Can I help you?"
• Holmes: He's also not nearly as tall as the other elves, being only about the height of a tallish Rhiani.
• Agnes: "Oh, hello!" Agnes matches his smile with ease. "Yes. Two things. First, explain why you look so different from the other elves, please. Then, I'm here to see Ambassador Serrin."
• Holmes: The elf grins at Agnes, "Ah, you must be Agnes." He leads her into the next room where, once again, Agnes finds the most beautiful person imaginable in the form of her lover's wife.
• Holmes: "I am Erlini," says the elf by way of explanation, "Not Linaeri, like the lady here."
• Holmes: "The ambassador, I'm afraid," he finishes. "Is out looking for you."
• Agnes: "My lady" Agnes bows her head in respect but can't stay that way for long -- she must see Islitarialind.
• Agnes: Trying not to stare at the princess, Agnes addresses her. "How have things been since the incident?"
• Islitarialind: "Well." Islitarialind smiles very slightly, as if measuring the amount of radiance she can pour into the room before it's full. "But what brings you here?"
• Agnes: "I was hoping to see you. And your husband, I mean. You said after I saved...after the incident, that There was some way that I would be able to spend time in your company. I do hope that you have taken precautions to stay safe."
• Islitarialind: "I am quite safe, but thank you for your concern," she says, her smile widening a bit. She waves her hand slightly at the Erlani servant, and he retires to the doorway of the room. "Tell me just a bit more about yourself."
• Holmes: The Erlin heads off to find some refreshments.
• Agnes: "Gosh, I don't know what might interest you. I like people. As you know, I'm something of an herbalist. I like poetry and good conversation. What else?"
• Islitarialind: "My husband is a busy man, and the... busy culture of Green Lake has worn on him somewhat." Her tone conveys that it's a perfectly wonderful mudhole shantytown they have here, if you like that sort of thing. "I think he could use a... translator of sorts."
• Agnes: "A translator?"
• Islitarialind: "Someone to deal with a few of the trifling businesses we must conduct here, things not necessarily worth his attention." She smiles. "We have the servants, of course, but you bring such a peculiar energy to everything you do."
• Agnes: "I see. Well, I'll help him out, of course."
• Islitarialind hesitates a moment, then continues in an almost confidential tone, "And most especially I would love for you to tell me what you see and hear, so I can see more of Green Lake without having to... tire myself by going out."
• Islitarialind: Surely she's not asking Agnes to spy on her Serrin for her. If she weren't an elf, though...
• Agnes beams. "I would like that. In truth, I've been observing the people of this place since I arrived and there are many stories to tell. Stories about everyone..."
• Agnes: "What kinds of specific things interest you, my lady?"
• Islitarialind: "Patterns," Islitarialind says, as if trying to find simple words to express a very complicated idea. "What are the common currents in the stories you see? What threads run through from the past to the future? So quickly, this city has sparked to life on these shores--will it escape the same forces that destroyed its predecessor?"
• Islitarialind: Her eyes have a faraway appreciative look in them as she discusses treating civilizations as data points.
• Agnes: Without even meaning to, Agnes reaches out, trying to understand more fully the mental state of the woman before her -- trying to know her mind.
• Agnes: As Agnes drifted away from the conversation, her mind doing its own thing, her eyes became entranced in the beauty of the woman before her. The difficulty of the distraction and the near hypnosis cause Agnes to try harder and harder to reach the alien mind.
• Agnes: Agnes is finally brought back to her situation when her eyes register the obvious fact that Islitarialind can feel her mind being assaulted.
• Agnes gasps as a crimson blush descends across her face. "Oh my! I...I'm so sorry..." And Agnes bolts, nearly knocking Erlini servant down as he returns with refreshments.
• Holmes: As she reaches the door, Serrin is coming into the house. "Agnes!" he says, seeing her coming. From this distance, she can clearly see that there's something wrong with Serrin, his eyes look sunken, and he looks older.
• Agnes: "Oh, no! I...I can't be trusted." Agnes bangs her left palm into her temple repeatedly. "My brain...I can't..."
• Agnes tries to push past Serrin, but only with enough force that she would be easy to stop.
• Holmes: Which Serrin does..."Where are you going?" he asks. "I have questions for you? What's wrong?"
• Agnes: "I hurt her, Serrin. I only wanted to keep her safe and I hurt your beautiful wife...I mean, I could have..." Seeing the look on Serrin's face, she's quick to assure him. "She's OK...I mean, didn't hurt her, but I almost tried to, without even meaning to."
• Agnes: "Don't you see?"
• Agnes: "What's wrong with you, anyway?"
• Holmes: "I..." he hesitates. "I don't know. That's why I was looking for you. How are you? Are you sick?"
• Holmes: His eyes look toward the other room inadvertently. "What happened here?"
• Agnes: "No! I never get sick..."
• Agnes: "Islitarialind...I don't know."
• Agnes: "Tell her I'm sorry. I really can't stay here right now. You can stop by my place a little late or I'll send some stuff over that might help you."
• Holmes: "I'll come by," he says, concerned. But he lets her go this time, his gaze straying again to the other room.