Retorio's eyes widened. "Kleris? Wow, it's been so long."<br/><br/>The gigolo turned quiet. "Yes, I knew him well...he was a good friend."<br/><br/>Rolling over, his eyes stared up at the ceiling. "Before now, I used to be an adventurer. Me and a band of like-minded, well-trained folk traversed the length of Khorvaire and beyond. With Breyton at our side, we sailed the planar seas, gazing in awe at the floating cities of Syrania, to the beautiful yet haunted woods of Lammania."<br/><br/>He sighed. "The last time we met was in this city, Sharn. While doing an errand for Morgrave University I noticed that Breyton Merchiot was late. Investigating I found that he was trapped in the Cogworks by a cult of Khyber. Demented folks who worshiped the Underdark as though it were a sapient megadragon. By the time I made my way down, he already had an escape plan, blazing past me on a fiery steed doubtlessly summoned from another world! I was glad he was free, but a part of me wanted to be his savior for once."<br/><br/>Then Retorio's once-wistful and happy tone turned dark. "Later that night, he told me that things were bad, the cultists found out too much. For the first time I sensed true, genuine fear from him. As he sobbed I heard everything. How they found out his true identity, his home plane, and even worse his family."<br/><br/><em>"'Breyton,'</em>I said.<em>'You shown me a side of you, placed your trust in me. So I shall do the same for you.'"</em><br/><br/>Retorio stood up and out of the bed, his back facing Kleris. Suddenly a point of grayness formed on the small of his back, growing larger, until it covered his entire body. His hair turned white, and when his face turned back his irises were a milky white.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Knowledge Local DC 15</div><div class="spoiler_body">In his studies Kleris recalls hearing about a race of beings known as changeling, like doppelgangers except that they could breed true with other races.</div></div><br/><em>"Even I kept some secrets from you, Breyton, even after you saved me many times. For respect I shall grant you a gift, so that your family may remain safe."</em><br/><br/>Retorio looked down at Kleris' hand. "The ring, you still have it?"<br/><br/>And with that Horishkad leaped out.<br/><br/><em>So we meet again, Retorio.</em><br/><br/>"And what triggered you?"<br/><br/><em>An archmage by the name of Arisad held a grudge against the boy's father and sought to take revenge. </em><br/><br/>"I do not know of that name," Retorio mused. "I knew he had many enemies, but didn't expect that to be the one..."<br/><br/>A ringing chime filled the room.<br/><br/>"Oh no, our time's nearly up," Retorio said. "Kleris, we can speak further and more freely at a later date. Where would you want us to meet? I know of a few discreet locations myself."<br/><br/>Putting on their clothes, the changeling assumed his human guise again. Before Kleris could walk past the door's threshold, he felt a hand grab his from behind.<br/><br/>"Kleris...I'm happy that we could meet. We'll find him, don't you worry."<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Elmira and Asma were in the waiting room, having finished up their sessions sometime before Kleris. They waved as their third friend came back.<br/><br/>"Well that was fun!" Asma said. "I wish we could stay in Eberron for longer, otherwise I'd visit this place<em>all the time."</em><br/><br/>"Yeah, and you'll be broke in no time," Elmira giggled. "By the way, didn't either of you get a pamphlet?"<br/><br/>Elmira presented a red and white folded paper with pictures of beautiful angels, male and female, clad in revealing flowing robes.<br/><br/>"Join the Hands of Syrania, and you too could know of heaven on Eberron!"<br/><br/>Asma made a puckered face. "Err, no. What's that about?"<br/><br/>Flashbacks of the angelic men pleasing her brought a blush onto her face.<br/><br/>"Uh, I think he wanted to convert me or something..."<br/><br/>"Again?!" a passing gigolo said with exasperation. "Madame Silvia's gonna have a word or two with him now!"<br/><br/>Asma started laughing.<br/><br/>"T-that's not funny!" Elmira stammered.<br/><br/>"Oh my, a gigolo preacher! What a story!"<br/><br/>"A story we'll certainly<em>keep to ourselves, right?"</em><br/><br/>She had Asma in a headlock now.<br/><br/>"Alright alright, let me go now!"<br/><br/><hr/><br/><em>Roll 2 more Crafting checks for Merrix's project for Days 77 and 78.</em><br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Day 79, Change Starts at Home</span></span></div><br/>It was the final day. Students lined up outside class bearing all manner of created devices. Andrei held a strange-looking jug made of some purplish fuzzy material. Rensha's twirled around a pair of black scissors around her index finger. Lillin held a large square object with a white blanket over it. The remaining inventions ranged the gamut from odd to practical; Kleris could spot an ivory flute held by a halfling girl, a knee-high dog statue on wheels the dwarf student tried desperately to keep out of the hands of others, and a gnoll girl proudly admired a clear glass tube rounded on one end with red liquid.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Engineering DC 17</div><div class="spoiler_body">Kleris recognizes the tube as a thermostat.</div></div><br/>"Hey Kleris!" Andrei exclaimed. "Where's your invention? Mine is...a deep-sea waterproof jug...I think." The vampire didn't sound confident in his work.<br/><br/>"Adamantine scissors," Rensha said. "Good for cutting up metal sheets."<br/><br/>"Mine's a surprise," Lillin said. "No peeking!"