James
Astal nodded slightly as she watched Varis approach. She reached an arm out between the bottles and jars in front of her and parted them. Allowing Varis a spot to sit on her rug. She scooted back slightly, giving the mer some more room. She smiled behind her veil. Astal reached to her side and grabbed a small bowl made from shalk chitin. Turning her pipe over she emptied the contents into it, killing off the embers and snuffing them in ash and dried mushroom. It would be rude to force such an eager customer to partake in her vices. She began to speak again, waving her hand slightly. 

"Information is always helpful Serjo. I like to know who I am reading for. Azura is gracious, her knowledge is a blessing. But people are easier to talk to." Her voice is laden with a dry humor. She extends her palm, pale white fingers waiting for Varis to present his own. 

"I am known as Astal, and you, young wizard? "

If Varis were to look closer at the talismans around her neck, peeking out underneath the fringe of the veil. Between the hammered copper amulets, etched with the sigils of the good daedra, sat several depicting the house of troubles.
Luella
The Telvanni watched Astal carefully, delighted to find someone from their respective homeland. As she spoke in Dunmeris, a look of serenity came over his features as he straightened his back and focused. Then, his eyes shifted toward the talismans around her neck. The Good Daedra, *And* The House of Troubles. His eyebrows furrowed a tad, before he looked back up to her eyes and he answered, 

"Hm. Fair enough. Varis Xai'Shen, Spellwright of House Telvanni." His eyes shifted back toward the talismans. "To know oneself, one must know thine enemies." He looked back up toward her. "You know your enemies well, I suppose?" Referring to the imagery of the House of Troubles.
James
"Spellwright eh? Impressive. It has been long since I last had the honor of speaking with one of your illustrious rank." Astal pleasantly muttered. Many of the Telvanni she had met were of a lower rank. But the few that climbed higher, she had found were more enjoyable to interact with. A low rumbling chuckle emanated from behind the veil, and she bowed her head towards him. "I am Astal."

Astal caught the movement of his eye and raised a hand to the string of copper amulets. Her thumb brushed over them, settling on the central and most burnished one. The brighter copper was etched with a tribal depiction of Sheogorath. She rubbed along the metal as if it was ritual. 

"Hmmmm, enemies, perhaps. And yet we still placate them. We still worship them. Faith is curious indeed. " Astal moved her hand away from the chain of talismans. Leaning forward. "You speak the name of Our Goddess of twilight with such reverence. Faith amongst Telvanni waxes and wanes like the tide. But you must be particularly devote. Either that, or you have been imparted an experience with our divine shepherds." 

Astal leans back and plucks the bones from the rug. The small chunks clink and scrape, as she rolls them in her palm.
Luella
The man raised his eyebrows. In foreign lands, few Dunmer were so eager to remain polite with a Telvanni. Even in Morrowind, if a Telvanni stepped out of their own territory, it would often be followed by mockery and disgust, only for them to be slack jawed at a true Wizard's knowledge and skill. 

Though, as she spoke, he tilted his head slightly as he observed. A look of amusement played across his features, aloof nobility, as he said, "My devotion is greater than most of my colleagues, this much is true. As much as I would enjoy the full worship of all three Good Daedra, I am most partial to Lady Mephala. Her teachings speak to me the most. Even the False God, Vivec, spoke well of her nature. A nature I most appreciate."

Varis looked toward the copper talisman to Sheogorath, pondering it. Was it the oldest, or the one most dearly kept? Such constant, ritual touching would imply they would all show their age in order of devotion. Though, the manner of devotion, was the question. Did that level of polish mean she warded herself most against his influence, or delighted in his worship the most?

The Sorcerer suspected it might reveal itself over the course of their conversation, as he asked, "You speak as though you know of the Telvanni well. Do you come from Eastern Vvardenfell's Ash Wastes, or, a knowledgeable observer?"
James
Astal swirled the bones in her palm as he spoke. Mephala, a good choice. Her people were partial to the Lady of Dusk and Dawn. But to those particularly ambitious, Mephala would light their path and dash the bones of their enemies at their feet. It felt fitting, for a Telvanni to favor her. 

"Hmmm, alas no. I hail from the prairies of Deshaan. Between the jungles of Blackmarsh, and the spires of Mournhold. When I left my tribe, I made pilgrimage across the breadth of Morrowind. And there was a time, about a decade ago, where I traveled to the ruins dotting the inner coast of the east. I had the privilege of meeting many of your housemates. Good people, strong. I had the delight of spending a week within the company of a magister, as a... Cultural advisor. " She stopped moving the bones. Haphazardly tossing them into a small bronze dish. Watching carefully as they bounced and settled in the metal. 

"It is a shame, the lack of faith within your community. Wisdom does not correlate with intelligence it seems. One cannot view the princes, good or bad, as simple patrons to transact with."

Her tone soured slightly. It was the one quality of the Telvanni that she disagreed with. The ever present skepticism.
Luella
The Easterner's eyebrows rose as she mentioned where she hailed from. *Deshaan*. He had read about those lands, but had never been. Morrowind was large, and Varis would have to visit when he returned to complete his ascendency to the rank of Wizard. 

She spoke of her pilgrimage, and his eyebrows rose as she expressed her time among the Telvanni. *Housemates*. A term he had heard before, uttered by Ashlander siblings and extended family. Not exactly said with praise, back then. Though, he made no issue of it, as she continued. 

*It is a shame, the lack of faith within your community. Wisdom does not correlate with intelligence it seems.*

He made no overt change of expression, but he seemed to lean in a tad, intrigued by those words. As faithful as he was, his mother was an advocate for self-established moralities and virtues, building off the basis of the Daedra, but not worshipping them. Varis' father had always cautioned Varis away from such a path, as it could lead to disaster in one's mortal life, as experiences were limited, while emotions of resentment were eternal. 

"I agree with your last part. To an extent. The Good Daedra are the ones worth worshipping. Namira, Hircine, Molag Bal, and all the rest, are but enemies. Enemies to the State of Mortal Existence. Any deal with them, as foolish as it may seem, must be in the mortal's favor, and rend the Prince of honor and decency. It is all such feeble spheres of influence deserve."

He rolled his shoulders back and raised his eyebrows. "I wonder, do you invite the House of Troubles into your life for more than transaction?"