<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=205751.msg12844545#msg12844545">Quote from: Chloe Milev on 16-12-2016, 17:11:05</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Day 83</span></div><br/>Thinking loudly, Kleris gave Rachel a significant eyebrow.  <em>Listen, we'll bang, okay?  Just try not to be a bitch to my friends and have fun as a decent girl...</em>  She wasn't sure if that would placate the little fiend, but maybe it would mollify and distract her a bit.  Kleris was prepared to make that sacrifice to protect his friends; and perhaps less altruistically he was remembering and missing those intense erotic nightmares and secretly longing for more.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Kleris learned that the conversation was indeed two-way, for the offer seemed to trigger a flash of recognition even as the succubus was headlocked by the orcish magus.<br/><br/><em>Hmm, you're right, I suppose that approach is rather dull.</em><br/><br/>By the time Rensha released her grapple, Rachel was straightening out her hair. "Kay, I'm sorry," she said. "I guess I have a lot to learn about people skills here. Tell her I'm sorry, alright Kleris?"<br/><br/><em>I guess being in the Abyss has made me...one-dimensional, to put it lightly. Why don't you come to my bedroom tonight then? While there, we can also talk about other ways of having fun...</em><br/><br/>Rensha sighed. "I suppose we can give you a second chance. But be considerate, especially when it comes to race. That subject can uh, be a very sensitive issue depending on where you're from."<br/><br/>Rachel smiled in response. "Thanks for the second chance. We're all friends with Kleris, let's not make things any harder for her, right?"<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">A Not-So-Old Flame</span></span></div><br/>"Ummm Kleris, does the name 'Retario' ring a bell?"<br/><br/>Professor Yarminda asked this as soon as Kleris turned in his assignment on the different shades of divination auras.<br/><br/>"There's a gentleman by that name in the Ram's Head Inn. Is he a friend of yours, or should I send him on his way?"<br/><br/>It was a week ago since they last met, and although Retario did not give a date, it was only a matter of time before he appeared again.<br/><br/>After hearing Kleris' answer (likely confirmed that he's not a stalker or troublemaker), she offered to send him a message that he'll be on his way to meet soon.<br/><br/><br/>Retario was different than the last time they met. He had a more subdued look on his face, and at first gave a wordless wave at Kleris' arrival.<br/><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/g4DxMcR.jpg?1)<br/><br/>"Hey there," he said softly. "Ummm, I can't really come in further, being neither staff nor student, so I figured I'd send a message at the very least."<br/><br/>He took a sip of coffee from his cup, averting his eyes. Last week at the brothel he was confident, sociable, but today there was an awkwardness about him.<br/><br/>"Apologies if I seem...well, I don't know where to start. Kleris, are you familiar with psionics? Well, it's like magic...and it's not. It's a power focused through one's mind, a wholly internal energy present within any being which thinks. It is not external, like wizardry or most divine magic, nor is it inherited like sorcery. Even so, it is a rare art in many lands. And its unknown nature, can be a boon."<br/><br/>He gestured to Kleris' ring. "Aside from Chaos, magic follows established rules and interactions. Even illusions have ways of being sought out, overcome, discovered. It would not be enough to send you to live in a magic-less place, for most folks who live there tend to be lacking in knowledge themselves. Fortunately, I am one myself, having come from a land far to the east where such an art is not just known, but respected. Riedra."<br/><br/>A halfling waiter, one Kleris recognized on his date with Artaxes 2 months ago, came to take orders from the pair.<br/><br/>"A slice of pumpkin pie with cream whip would be nice," Retario answered for himself.<br/><br/><br/>As their meals came, Retario talked about many things. How he first came to Sharn...<br/><br/><em>"I had little to my name, and many towns and villages were less trusting after the horrors of the Last War. Sharn seemed like the only place on Khorvaire to go..."</em><br/><br/>His time in the city...<br/><br/><em>"It really does feel like the center of the world. I'm sure that may sound odd, given your stay in a planes-traveling academy, but even so this tiny little city in the great cosmos feels like the beating heart of Eberron..."</em><br/><br/>And Kleris' father...<br/><br/><em>"A strong, good man. Not once did I ever see him cave in to despair, nor be overcome by anger. I suppose nobody besides angels can truly call themselves Good, but Breyton was the closest there was to it."</em><br/><br/>Retario shed a tear. "Sorry, I suppose you heard enough about that. Maybe the smaller things would be better? Well, he always loved a copious amount of salt and seasoning on all his meals. He often burned the midnight oil playing Three-Dragon Ante with himself; normally he had no share of players, but most of us were asleep by then. He also had a nice little tune he always sung when on the road. It went something like this..."<br/><br/>The changeling started to hum...<br/><br/><em>Fare thee well, my home of old<br/>With friendships treasured more than any gold<br/>To lands far past the wind's breath<br/>Upon the ship's beth, the waves were crashing<br/>upon the boat of fallen trees<br/>An arboreal death afloat a sea<br/>Its confines rocked from unseen hands ahold<br/>So shall this tomb carry<br/>Someday back, to my home of old<br/></em><br/><br/>There were no other voices heard as Retario sung. It seemed as though the entire inn stopped to hear the ballad. As he sung the last line and closed his eyes, he opened them up again with purpose, intensity.<br/><br/>"I believe you are ready, Kleris. You, I, and Horishkad can unlock the latent memories of Breyton's next clue within your dreams, but it will take great trials and tribulations. I will need a psionic focus, and a proper attunement crystal, both of which I can get at the Riedran Embassy. It will not be easy, and we might venture into territory you may wish forgotten, but such is the price. Are you ready?"