<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=205751.msg11132009#msg11132009">Quote from: Chloe Milev on 05-04-2015, 02:28:57</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><br/>"Well I--I'm a freshman!  I'm clearly not aware or capable of anything like what happened in any--alleged--unsanctioned parties!"  After genuinely denying that he could or would have anything to do with the orgy, Elgazia's orgy, he had to stop and think of what could actually be useful to the school.<br/><br/>"Okay, who knows why I know, but the source of that enchantment was a demon.  It, and apparently a few succubi, were manipulating the students.  I don't know how it got in, or who let it in, but it was dismissed back to its plane.  Or some plane at least.  So I'm pretty sure that direct threat is gone, but I don't know what was behind it.  I really don't know more than that, but I don't want anything bad to happen to the students and I'll help find out what or who brought a demon in."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>"Aha, so you do know!  And you were at the party in the<em>magnificent mansion</em>a week ago, too!  Where an enchantment-fueled orgy between Redhurst and Allainian students broke out!  Are you trying to sabotage the school?!"<br/><br/>At this point she realizes that Kleris is innocent of the latter accusation.  She sighs and calms down.  "Eh, sorry, I've just been extra-cautious lately.  I...we like sex, it's natural, but it can take a dark turn when used improperly.  Kleris, this isn't the sole problematic incident I've noticed during my stay."<br/><br/>The tiefling leans in close to whisper.  "This room's not scry-proof just for privacy reasons; there's a saboteur operating within the school grounds.  I don't know if it's a student, a teacher, or even some outsider who's managed to remain unseen, but the last option's unlikely due to the fact that he or she seems to have a knack for exploiting Redhurst's facilities.  It's not an Allainian, the incidents go back to last year even!"<br/><br/>She's visibly shaking.  "One of the magic circles in Aegis School didn't work, letting loose some fiendish animals.  Later inspection revealed sabotage.  Nammor School used to have a water elemental responsible for beautiful displays in the pool, and I found traces of a<em>banishment</em>spell cast in the waters a few days after the incident.  One time in the Left Dorm, I caught someone trying to break into one of the rooms.  They were<em>invisible,</em>too, and with a<em>magic aura</em>to conceal the illusion.  I only heard the person when I accidentally bumped into them by the door, and they went running away.  Now this...I...other than the Headmaster, I haven't told anyone else my suspicions, not even my fellow prefects!  It could be potentially anyone!  I'm in over my head Kleris, do you have any words of advice?"<br/><br/><em>Filomena might formulate different plans and ideas based on what Kleris tells her.</em><br/><br/>After diligently listening, Filomena nods her head.  "Well, Kleris, Andarlin, myself, and I are the only souls who can know this.  You're studying at the best magic school in the Known Realms, and we must defend it.  Be on the lookout for any suspicious activity and report back to me."<br/><br/>The tiefling gets up out of her chair and walks to the door.  Briefly turning back, she regards Kleris with a thoughtful glance.  "If you're free, maybe we can arrange a meeting with the Headmaster.  The end of the month, once we<em>plane shift</em>to Eberron, should be an opportune time."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;">Day 49, Date with Rensha</span></span></div><br/>Eventually the impromptu interrogation-turned-alliance ended, and Kleris was now free for the rest of the day.  Rensha was waiting by the Right Dorm.<br/><br/>"Hey there, Kleris," she waved.  "Do you have anything in mind for today?  If it's alright with you, I was thinking of participating in something different than normal for a change.  Lillin and pals are participating in a card tournament over at the Auditorium; it could be fun.  Maybe we can also get something to eat at the Dragon's Flagon, too, unless you've already had dinner."<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/toNJBrt.png?1)</div>The card game in question was a popular game known as Three Dragon Ante.  It was a combination of luck and skill where a monetary amount known as a gambit (students bet with sweet treats instead) was added to the central pile.  Although it had similarities to poker were one's hand (or 'flight' in this game) determined the winner by numerical value, each card had its own special powers which could alter the results.<br/><br/>"Glad you could make it!" Andrei called out to Kleris and Rensha.  "Have a seat with Artaxes and I, we're in need of more players!"<br/><br/>Thanks to his studious mind, Kleris quickly noticed a few exploits: for one, stealing from the gambit with cards such as the Thief was much more important than a strong flight in games with few players.  Also, the Druid card allows one with the weakest flight to win the gambit, and being a good bluffer the game was pretty much his should he happen to draw said card.<br/><br/>"Wow Kleris, have you played this game before?" Andrei exclaimed.  "That's the third time you won!"<br/><br/>"I hope you're not going to hoard your ill-gotten wealth to yourself now," Rensha teased, taking a chocolate coin from Kleris' pile and eating it.<br/><br/><em>Kleris now has 25 pieces of assorted candies, and a Three-Dragon Ante deck.</em><br/><br/><hr/><br/>Taking him out to the Nammor School of Enchantment, Rensha sat down on one of the stone steps, gazing into the pool.<br/><br/>"Kleris, there's something I need to tell you."<br/><br/>Unslinging the sword from her back, she undid the peacebond and unsheathed it.  "Look at the sword, Kleris, and tell me what you see."<br/><br/><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spellcraft DC 15</div><div class="spoiler_body">This is clearly a magic weapon.  A +1 longsword of sorts.  The material seems made of forged iron, but feels...stronger, somehow</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spellcraft DC 20</div><div class="spoiler_body">The magic doesn't just enhance its striking power.  It has other properties to it beyond what Kleris can detect.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spellcraft DC 25</div><div class="spoiler_body">The blade...Kleris can feel a bit of sentience in it.  He's heard tales of intelligence magic swords, often gifted to those for some epic quest.  Those are what the tales tell; the reality might be different.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Knowledge Arcana DC 20</div><div class="spoiler_body">This is a black blade, an exceedingly rare type of weapon wielded only by a few known magi.  They form a bond with their wielders, and the wielder and wielded supplement their power and knowledge.  Certain sages have speculated that an invisible hand or arcane purpose moves these weapons, and not all magi who wield them are necessarily aware of their purpose.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">If Kleris realizes it's intelligent</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Heh, so you know the legends as well.  The truth is that such things fall short of the real experience.  Yes, the blade can communicate and sense its surroundings, but I'm afraid it only speaks to its wielder."<br/><br/><em>Kleris gains 200 experience points.</em></div></div><br/>"This is one of the fabled black blades," Rensha says with a solemness in her voice.  "It is a treasured artifact, worth more than a kingdom's worth of gold pieces...in terms of sentiment, anyway.  The orcs of the True Ice Peaks found such three such weapons in an abandoned mountain forge upon settling in their home thousands of years ago.  Never once had they dulled nor corroded, not even by magical maladies.<em>No warrior fights alone,</em>the clan elders said, and they mean it literally."<br/><br/>Rensha holds it up to the night sky, the luminescence of Midgard's moon gleaming down its length.  "As an exemplar in both sword and spell, the blade called out to me the next time the clan gathered for it to pick its next wielder.  This may sound crazy, but the blade speaks to me, advising me not just in the art of war, but in judgment for everyday situations and matters that can't be settled with violence."<br/><br/>She blushes a bit, self-conscious of how she might sound.  "I don't tell this to anyone; the world is full of folk who'd mock me or take the sword for themselves.  But the black blade is a friend of many years, and it was he who set me on the path to coming to terms with myself."<br/><br/>Her head turns, her green eyes staring into Kleris' own blue.  "My mother told me to listen to the blade when in doubt, that it will guide me to truth.  This is the same mother who also expects me to bear the seed of an honorable orc warrior, and a man at that.  But a swords-woman who lies to herself becomes her own greatest enemy."<br/><br/>The orc stares down at Kleris, as though ready to do the most important thing in her life.  "Kleris...you're the nicest woman I've ever met.  There are many things I worry about, but right now I want to focus on us, while we're still fledgling mages at Redhurst.  I've heard the rumors around school, of you being others such as Lillin and Artaxes, and sometimes I'm sad...wondering when you'll focus your attentions on me, but cursing myself for never coming forward!"<br/><br/>Her eyes are watering.<br/><br/>"Well no more!  Whether as a friend or more than a friend, Kleris, I will stand beside you!  Even if you love another, the hope that you may love me as well will be enough!"<br/><br/>Tears are now streaming down her face.<br/><br/>"Kleris, I love you!"<br/><br/>And with that, she comes forward and locks lips with Kleris, embracing him under Nammor's Arch as her black blade clatters to the ground...<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Relationship and Experience</div><div class="spoiler_body"><em>Gain Relationship Level 5 out of 10 with Rensha.  Gain 300 experience points.  Kleris can now intercept an incoming hostile action while adjacent to Rensha, and vice versa.</em></div></div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;">Day 50</span></span></div><br/><em>Roll another Will Save vs. Elgazia's dreams.  Roll another Gather Information (Diplomacy) check to find and shut down more sexy-pic selling operations.</em><br/><br/>Kleris wakes up to find a pink and blue sealed envelope on his study desk.<br/><br/><em>Dear Ms. Merchiot,<br/><br/>You are cordially invited to an all-girls' slumber party held in a space in the Moon Tower at 7 PM  at the 20th day of Last Leaf.  I secured permission for an extradimensional set of rooms, so we don't need to worry about space constraints.  I've prepared several party games in mind, and would be enthusiastic hearing if you have any of your own to contribute.<br/><br/>This is a privilege I reserve for but a few of my best students, and should you have the time to come you'll find it very exciting!  If the 20th of Last Leaf does not work for you, I'll try to compromise with the other girls to find a date best for us all.<br/><br/>Sincerely,<br/><br/>Ellen Yarminda</em><br/><br/>"Hmm, the 20th..." Zull begins counting on her fingers.  "Isn't that like...today, on the Midgardian calendar?"<br/><br/>The sound of heavy footsteps were followed by apologetic cries.  "I'm sorry, sorry, sorry!" a freshman exclaimed as she hurriedly threw letters at students in the girl's common room.  "I don't know what happened with the mail, some planar mishap, got caught between dimensions and all!"<br/><br/>Kleris' drow friend couldn't help but giggle at this.  "Heehee, it's a good thing my parents' letters are monthly.  By the way Kleris, have you written to your mother lately?"