<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=205751.msg11278024#msg11278024">Quote from: Chloe Milev on 23-05-2015, 17:11:30</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Kleris had heard of such magic, which let one create a whole private world from nothing, filling it with substance and even their own physics and metaphysics, almost anything imaginable could be created or changed.  He wasn't sure if such magic was required to affect it after its creation, but looking out the window, he focused on a patch of lawn, willing a little cocoa plant to spontaneously sprout, just to see how morphable this world might be.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Thanks to his own magical talents, new life sprung up from the ground, a small one but still brimming with colorful red leaves and seeds ready for harvest.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><strong><em>They all chatted about their day...</em></strong><br/>"Well, we wouldn't want her enchanting us with her wicked powers, heh.  We'll wait for the performance proper for that.  Though we could sing something else together, or take turns."  Everyone probably had their own national or folk songs, being from wildly different nations, cultures, or even planes.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Evgenia smiled at Kleris' suggestion.  "It may seem odd for a harpy to not want to sing, but there are times when you need the right moment.  I wouldn't mind doing other songs."<br/><br/>Evgenia opted to go last, and Utari began.  She began with a song in an odd human tongue Kleris had heard some southern nations of his home plane sing, but could not put a finger on it.  It had a lyrical flowing quality to its tunes, carrying an aura of sadness and yet hope.<br/><br/>"That was beautiful," Elmira said at its end.  "What was it?"<br/><br/>Asma smiled.  "The Burying of Elfora," she answered.  "A celebrated hero of Orsan Purl who willed himself to remain alive on last day to reunite with his beloved."<br/><br/>"Are you and Utari from the same country?" Zull asked.<br/><br/>Utari shook her head.  "No, I am from the Jeweled Islands, although our people share a common tongue.  Elfora's legacy is known among us as well."<br/><br/>When it came Elmira's turn, she gave one in Common, "Pep Up Mages Fight!"  It was a cheerleader rally adopted by various magic schools for Spellflag games.  Everyone already heard it.<br/><br/>"Heh, sorry, I'm not much of a singer," Elmira said, scratching the back of her head.<br/><br/>Before Asma sung, she first she cast<em>ventriloquism</em>on herself to throw her voice so that her melody veered from being right there to a distant echo.  It was powerful and lively, also sung in the Orsani tongue.<br/><br/>"That was the Glorious Retreat," she said, finished.  "Utilizing illusion magic the Golden Army fooled the Earth Giants into thinking that the human forces were in disarray.  The truth was, the mage-warriors were under the benefit of a mass<em>blur</em>spell so the entire army seemed to be 300 yards west!  Their flanks were exposed as they rushed to victory."<br/><br/>Naila sung in Elven, along with Zull in the same tongue.  It was strangely sad and heartwarming at once, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoEMaWrQBQM) managing to bring the other girls to tears.<br/><br/>"What was that," Utari asked.  "It was so sad, but lovely..."<br/><br/>Zull's face was solemn at this point.  "The Descent," she answered.  "When the War came and the drow and surface elf clans were severed, there was a great loss.  Is centuries worth of feelings of sorrow of those lost, of the expulsion to an alien subterranean world from the old forests, and the hope that one day we might return."<br/><br/>"The one who wrote the song left it half-finished, one half to the high elves, the other to the dark elves.  When the day came for the two to reunite, only then will the whole song be known..."<br/><br/>"The Lolthite clergy has done its best to ban the melody," Zull said, "but when my clan broke off they kept it in runestone writings."<br/><br/>"Wow, I don't think any of us can top that," Evgenia said.<br/><br/>"But doesn't it say something, then, when you two managed to turn it into a whole?" Professor Yarminda intervened as she came back with a plateful of snacks.  "It's easy for people to focus on the blood and death wrought between the two people, yet nothing is forever.  Just as humans were once primitives and unknown to the other races, so two were the elven people unified.  That day may come again, even if we see it not as mortals but as spirits."<br/><br/>"Maybe," Zull said.  "Not all are as open-minded as we."<br/><br/>Sensing the somber tone, Utari interjected.  "So, Kleris, do you know any songs of your own?"<br/><br/><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><em><strong>...and boys.</strong></em><br/>Kleris kept his mouth shut about Artaxes, he had a little too intimate knowledge already.  He couldn't help but remember what it was like to kiss him after his big horsecock had cum all over his face and mouth.  The memory joined the smile at Utari's notably specific confession.  "Good for you Utari.  He's a pretty good guy."  When Asma asked his opinion, he stopped and blushed a little, thinking over his options.  "I'd have to say yes.  There are a few people actually," not settling on boys alone, and not quite ready to admit he wanted to try dating Zull right here, "I don't think I'm ready to go steady quite yet, this is the first time I've really been able to date, and I kind of want to have fun..." he admitted, trying not to sound like a player or slut.  Though he probably was the latter...  "That's not bad, is it, as long as everyone knows?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>"Course not!" Asma replied.  "Where I come from, it's not uncommon for the rich to have many wives and husbands.  Or for women to take birth control herbs when they come of age on their 16th birthday to go out and have some fun.  Although more than a few doting fathers worry about that, so it ended up becoming an unwritten tradition for us girls."<br/><br/>Utari seemed surprised, although not in a condescending way.  "Woah, that explains<em>so much</em>when I visited Orsan Purl one time..."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Elgazia's dreams hadn't bothered Kleris for days, but he still felt a nightly struggle and wondered how long this would plague him, or if it was inevitable he'd eventually succumb.  He put it aside for now, dressing and investigating the last names he'd found yesterday.  There were just the last few copies that had been distributed, not even from the ringleaders making duplicates, and it was simple to enough to convince them to relinquish the images.  Now with all of them accounted for (even collecting all the special edition trading cards), he put them in a trashcan and set a spark to them, destroying them as thoroughly as he could manage.  There was a small part sad to see them go, but knew it had to be done.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>And now, Kleris finally put this scandal behind him.  Although this was a lonely task with no reward, some small part felt relieved on a moral level.<br/><br/><em>Kleris gains 500 experience points.  Kleris levels up!</em><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">The lesson was very informative and interesting, a whole tunnel of magic to tap would have huge potential utility, but the silent request/command put a damper on it afterwards.  Learning what Arisad knew was the first important thing in his life, but it also seemed an obvious lure from the creepy leader.  It seemed time to call a meeting of, what was it?  The Conspiracy to Unearth Mordant's Secrets:  Zullinat, Rensha, Lillin, Aurturon, and Carson.  Though it seemed that CUMS was going to expand into Bemmea.<br/><br/>"I got a message from First Primarch Arisad.  He said before we leave the plane, he wants me to go to Bemmea to meet him, and he'd tell me about my father.  I know this is just a personal quest of mine, and you've already helped me before.  If anyone wants out, that is entirely reasonable.  It's probably a bad idea if you do help me.  I also probably shouldn't go into this alone, though.  If anyone is willing to help or back me up, well, that would put me at ease.  Though meeting an archmage in his own magical sigil-city is probably like meeting a dragon, only you can't see what's going to kill you..."  He paused, wondering if he was trying to be honest or talk himself out of this plan.  "Anyway, I want to see what he has to say, but having some sort of fail-safe seems prudent.  Just you all knowing is a good start, I don't think we have access to any other magical contingencies, unless we could steal a scroll of teleporting or telepathy or something...<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Nobody backed down.<br/><br/>"We'll help you, Kleris," Zull said.<br/><br/>"No man or woman should have secrets about their lost father kept from them," Carson added.<br/><br/>"Why would we refuse, after all you've done for us?" Rensha asked, tightly clutching her blade.<br/><br/>"I will be honest, I worry about setting foot in my hometown, but with you all here and Edgar looking out for me I feel good about this."<br/><br/>"Arisad wants something, that's for sure," Lillin said.  "There's a reason he's not saying it right here, right now.  Or maybe your Dad's in trouble and he doesn't want to be overheard.  Either way, we have to go."<br/><br/>Edgar huffed.  "A<em>teleportation</em>spell is going to be hard to acquire, given Redhurst's security.  We don't have enough time to formulate a plan to break into the school's arcane storehouse and slip away undetected all in the same night.  Too many risk factors."<br/><br/>"That's fine, I asked Assistant Dean Hentru for some scrolls," Carson said as he dumped the contents of his backpack onto Lillin's bed.  The tiefling gave the magus a dirty look as she picked them up and handed them out among the group.<br/><br/><em>Communal Protection from Evil, Dimension Door, Embrace Destiny, (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/e/embrace-destiny) Obscure Object, Rope Trick,</em>and even one of<em>Greater Stunning Barrier</em>(http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/stunning-barrier) among them!<br/><br/>Arturon gasped.  "Carson, many of these spells are rather..."<br/><br/>"Suspect," Rensha finished.  "How did you convince him to give you all these?"<br/><br/>Carson ran a hand through his hair, pushing his bangs out of his face.  "Told him I needed to coordinate some teamwork-based exercises, which is technically true.  Since it wasn't all just for me, he accepted."<br/><br/>"I can't believe I'm saying this," Zullinat began, "but I could just hug you right now."<br/><br/>For once, the bishonen magic had nothing to say to this.  In fact, Kleris noticed a blush form upon his face.<br/><br/>"Ah, anyway, we should be now asking how we're going to Bemmea!"<br/><br/>"Simple!" Edgar squawked.  "Arturon knows the prefect and guard patrols, even if he's not among them anymore.  Getting past them should be simple."<br/><br/>Lillin twirled her tail in her hands.  "I Know, I've been around them plenty of times before," she said with a fiendish smile.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;"><strong>The Streets of Bemmea</strong></span></span></div><br/>The trek to the Allainian capital was short, although the teens had no way of knowing.  Between the city and Redhurst was a dark no-man's land of chilling, sandy wasteland with a rubber-like road with runes carved into it.  There were others on the road, but they all wore hoods and Kleris could see the odd tail or tentacle protruding from them along with the scent of ozone, sulphur, or other odd scents.  Sometimes when they crossed paths the strangers would just stop and stare in their directions before continuing, although one of them suddenly backed away with several skips, making spell gestures of warding as though some impending magic of great harm was approaching.  Rensha nearly drew her blade, but by the time her hand came to the hilt the figure leapt hundreds of feet into the air backwards, far away from the group and the road.<br/><br/>"What in Lolth's name was that about?" Zull asked, shivering from both the cold and the fright.<br/><br/>"Many Allainian mages are saddled with extraplanar bargains and power sources," Arturon began.  "Sometimes they must obey the taboos of other worlds, or see things beyond our earthly visions.  The mages who understand what they see...well, they too are the ones who made the same bargains."<br/><br/>Lillin skulked.  "I saw the hint of a forked tail upon him or her.  Maybe this is the fate of tiefling mages..."<br/><br/><em>Kleris can try cheering her up, no check necessary.</em><br/><br/><hr/><br/>The strip of underwater land rose out of the depths, allowing them passage to the city.  There were others already waiting at the shore by the time Kleris and company arrived.  Like them they were fellow mages, although Kleris could sense the constant hum of active abjurations and divinations upon their persons as they all crossed.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spells</div><div class="spoiler_body">Owl's Wisdom, Protection from Arrows, Protection from Evil, Telepathic Bond, Zone of Truth, among many others</div></div><br/>Inevitably conversation broke out with the group of travelers.<br/><br/>"Did you kids come all the here in such a state?" on of them asked, a rather tall goblin man who reached Kleris' chest height.<br/><br/>"Yeah, why?" Carson asked.<br/><br/>"Man, either you're the luckiest travelers ever or you have some powerful entity watching over you!  The spawn of the Old Ones have been very active lately.  A days' travel south we had to shoot one of them down with six<em>fireballs,</em>and it was still alive after that!"<br/><br/>A blue-robed human woman gave a look of disgust.  "It would've been better had it never fought us, now its bile further taints the land with its seepage..."<br/><br/>An armored horned warrior was the only one among them in high spirits.  "Bwahaha, Mavros would have it no other way!  No matter how alien their minds, even those monsters recognize strength as a universal virtue!  As I heard it squelch in pain it knew at that moment the all-too-common sensation of regret!"<br/><br/>The goblin sighed as he walked by Kleris.  "They may be sadistic, but the Mavrites are the only clerics I know of who<em>willingly</em>travel into the wastelands to kill abominations.  Better the devil you know than the devil you don't on the Wasted West's roads, right?"<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Mavrites?</div><div class="spoiler_body">"You know, Mavros the God of War, the Living Storm, or whatever mask he manifests in your culture.  His faithful make pilgrimages to this land to test their mettle when they're not busy killing each other out east."<br/><br/>Lillin sighed.  "Times must be desperate here to be traveling with their lot, huh?"</div></div><br/>And then they were in Bemmea, and the group they were with departed after waving goodbye.<br/><br/>"Maybe we'll meet again in safer times!" the robed woman said.<br/><br/>"And the same to you!" Edgar exclaimed.<br/><br/>It was just as active as when they last visited during the field trip, although now the city was aglow with<em>continual flames</em>unblocked by opened shutters built into structures and street posts.  One of the cobblestones beneath Kleris' feet sank a bit, enough for him to wobble and notice but not fall.  Lifting his foot, the cobblestone had an engraved arrow.<br/><br/>"You okay, Kleris?" Zull asked as she helped him back up.  "What are you looking at?"<br/><br/>It became apparent that only Kleris could see the arrow.<br/><br/>"Weird," Carson said.  "Selective illusion, perhaps?"<br/><br/>Soon enough other such stones revealed themselves, leading Kleris through the crooked narrow alleys, the public front grounds of the many magic academies, and past shops full of bubbling potions and pickled monster body parts.<br/><br/>"Ugh, how much longer?" Lillin complained.  "Kleris, you sure you're not being led on a wild goose chase?"<br/><br/>This question did not linger long, for the next stone they came across was certainly the last, for it pointed to none other than the high-spires at the very northern end of the city, their window-like doors connected by a series of bridges so that travelers up there never had to set foot in the ground.<br/><br/>First Primarch Arisad was inside the first door.  The room was a healthy golden glow thanks to its many candles, and the spiral stairs leading up the dizzying heights above had a distinct serpent motif.<br/><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/N6qrfvT.jpg?1)<br/><br/>"Ah, Kleris, I'm happy that you came!  And you brought friends, too!  I didn't expect that, but oh well, that's not a problem for me!  I'm sure you have many questions after this long trip, but take your time and catch up, I've waited for this opportunity for years, I can take a few moments for you to formulate a response!"<br/><br/>"Why did you bring us-"<br/><br/>Rensha raised a hand to Carson, indicating him to be silent.  This was Kleris' journey, and any questions his and his alone.<br/><br/>The archmage waved his hand.  "Come, we'll talk on the stairs.  There's a more comfortable series of rooms up top for you all to rest."<br/><br/>As they climbed and he and Kleris talked, Arisad came to open doorways who at first seemed to lead into much smaller rooms sized for pixies, only for them to grow tremendously in size as he walked past the precipice.  Some rooms' stairs twisted around in patterns, the walkers glued to the steps and the staircase seeming to twist back right-side up in spite of being literally upside-down away down the path.  It was a strange disconcerting experience, the clear result of extensive magical tinkering upon these thin spires to make movement fast and efficient, if not necessarily comfortable for newcomers.