<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=205751.msg11351839#msg11351839">Quote from: Skynet on 13-06-2015, 09:27:00</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">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.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>"Ooooh, neat..." he mused at the power of sheer will on a plane created from imagination.  As the others went off to prepare, though, he ran in to join in.<br/><br/>He clapped for Utari's bittersweet song, interested to note that some distant cultures could share the same stories and legends.  When Elmira chanted their fight song, Kleris laughed and returned the calls for crowd participation common in the song.  "Go Nammor!"  When Asma's ghostly voice echoed all around them, Kleris couldn't help but look around for it even as she sat there singing with them.  When Naila and Zull sang an elven duet, he was just as touched as the others for the harmony and counterplay, as well as the story behind it.  He could understand the lyrics, and knew a little of history, but the finer points of intra-elf politics and culture were illuminating.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Sensing the somber tone, Utari interjected.  "So, Kleris, do you know any songs of your own?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Kleris suddenly looked up at Utari, and the rest of them staring at him expectantly.  "Oh dear, I should have anticipated this.  Hmm, well, this one fold song comes to mind at the moment..."<br/><br/>He cleared his throat and started singing The Three Ravens (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyzJnaWaoJ0), and how they found a fallen knight, still defended by his faithful hounds and hawks, and buried by his misress.  After repeating the last chorus, everyone fell silent for a moment, the somber mood not dispelled at all by the song.  Remembering a more popular song with the bards playing for crowds, he suddenly started singing again.<br/><br/>"I've got the magic in me (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loV8E-BQ82M),<br/>Every time I touch that track it turns into gold.<br/>Everybody knows I've got the magic in me,<br/>When I hit the flow the girls come snapping at me,<br/>Now everybody wants some presto magic..."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><em>Kleris gains 500 experience points.  Kleris levels up!</em><br/><br/>Having finally cleaned up the messy loose ends of the party, at least those mundane ones not involving a deadly conspiracy, Kleris was relieved, and actually had the extra time back to buckle down and study.  With some hours each morning back, he was finally able to apply some theories and finish the transcription of some new spells to his spellbook: some solid practical spells that didn't rely on bewitching his targets, since he often saw he couldn't always charm his way through confrontations.  With no more worry for those innocents affected by the party, and better prepared for his future confrontation, he felt better equipped to deal with life in general as well.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Kleris was surprised, but bouyed by the fact that none of his friends took the rather prudent choice to step out of the plot, but rather reaffirmed their commitment.  When Carson dumped a load of scrolls out for them, his eyebrows raised, impressed.  "Wow, nice job, Carson.  These will definitely be useful..."<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I can't believe I'm saying this," Zullinat began, "but I could just hug you right now."<br/>For once, the bishonen mage had nothing to say to this.  In fact, Kleris noticed a blush form upon his face.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Kleris was glad that Carson could feel more personally involved with the group, and that it was paying off in friendship as well.  He gave him a wink in thanks and congradulations.  And with both a (former) prefect and a troublemaker, they would at least be able to get out of Redhurst undetected.  Of course they might wish the school knew where they were soon enough.<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/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Lillin skulked.  "I saw the hint of a forked tail upon him or her.  Maybe this is the fate of tiefling mages..."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>"No, this is definitely a cultural matter, making personal deals with outside forces.  Sure, they might be a tiefling, or they could have aquired that tail themselves as a mark of some pact.  Don't worry, you're going to be your own mage like they're teaching us at school."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"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!  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?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>"I suppose fanatical warriors are fine as long as you have a monster to point them at..." he conceded.  The bombastic priest seemed fine enough in the context of venting his bloodlust on abominations.  As they continued and Kleris stepped into a loose cobblestone, he pointed out the engraving to the rest of the group.  When a series of stones was leading only Kleris around, he figured it must be keyed for him somehow, which made him nervous about following them.  On the other hand, there was only one person he knew in the city, and this was probably their fastest way to him anyhow.  He quickly strode, pausing only a moment here and there to find the next arrow, ignoring Lillin's complaints, growing more certain and nervous about their destination.  Finally arriving at a tower, he hestitated a moment, stuck between bursting in and running away.  Knowing he couldn't back away now, and that he might not be allowed to, he instead calmly opened the door and entered, obviously expected already.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"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!  Come, we'll talk on the stairs.  There's a more comfortable series of rooms up top for you all to rest."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Kleris' brow furrowed slightly, he was not entirely expecting this.  He had hoped it wasn't simply a death trap, opening the door to magical annihilation, or even a mundane shanking, but the friendly primarch admitting he'd wanted to meet for a long time was also unsettling.  "Thank you, sir..." he nodded, joining him at the stairwell, gathering his thoughts.  The expanding doors to additional horizontal towers and the like were unusual, but not surprising for an archmage's tower, and Kleris was focused more on Arisad, like a friendly tiger that might turn around and devour him at any moment.<br/><br/>"So you apparently knew my father, but why have you been anticipating our meeting?  While I am his son, I have no had any business with him besides hearing a few tales of his adventurers before he disappeared.  What business do we have?  I would ask what you know about Breyton Merchiot; what do you want?"