Of Bright Beginnings
Twenty Fourth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC
"How long has
that been there?" There is not much doubt as to what Tytos Blackwood refers to. The Dawn Age tree looms over not just Sorcerer's Deep, but the whole of the island. As you watch Felzath lands lazily among the crimson crown, displacing a veritable cloud of raucous bright-plumaged birds that had come to make the tree their home.
"Depends on how you are minded to count it. The tree itself was there since the Dawn Age, but it was dead for so long the wood had turned to stone, not unlike how the Raventree was. Likely as not it died with the Hammer of the Waters," you reply, careful not to seem too boastful. There is hardly any need when the plain truth makes for so grand a tale. "Three moonturns past I bled such a great sacrifice upon the roots that the Old Gods gave it life again and its power could stretch over the island."
"So the tales of greybeards spry like in their twentieth year are true then?" At your nod the Lord of Raventree laughs, a sound of honest mirth, almost seeming to surprise himself. "Looks like I should have listened to Brynden and let him sail to the tourney instead of letting the damn Freys get ahead of him."
You remain diplomatically silent. It poorly suites a king to take any side in the likes and dislikes his bannermen have towards each other.
"Down there is the Legion Headquarters and besides it the Planar Terminal..." The two of you walk the streets at a amble pace, pointing out important landmarks and discussing what they represent not just to the city but the realm you are building. Who your freinds are as much as your enemies. "Yes, those are some traders from the Endless Sky, djinn-blooded, no they are not all proper mages, though they do have some power from their heritage..."
"The Shadow Tower where the Scholarum mages study is not visible from here, its wrapped in its own shadow, think of it as its own tiny bubble of existence that makes it far safer from any who would attack or steal from there, and the guardian constructs make it safer still." You motion to the ancient Saloshi guardians with their bows of iron and sorcery standing still as statues yet unwavering in vigilance.
"What ages does it teach?" Lord Tytos asks, the timber of the question subtly different from those he had posed before, sharper and more focused.
"Well, the youngest student is seven and the oldest is three score and seven," you reply remembering Teana's last report. The latter number was likely to get a lot higher if any of the Singers who had been asking questions about 'human magic' recently decided to try their hand at it, but that you do not add. It had been enough of a shock for Lord Blackwood to see one of the Children of the Forest haggling over the price of a spell-sung bow with potential buyers in the bazaar. No need to bring up the posibility that some of them might take up wizardry.
However surprised the Lord of Raventree might be at the sights and sounds of Sorcerer's Deep his eye is still sharp and his mind sharper. You pass through the Godswood where Leshies walk among twined branches and sun wolves leap among the pools of light, he knows the former at once as kin to the wolves of the Night's Watch and the former as some of the spirits sighted in the Riverlands aiding the Lads. "Having the eye of the gods themselves on that lot likely helps..." he mutters under his breath. Clear enough that he does not approve of raids and ambushes, but he does not disapprove enough to bring it up to you in so many words.
There is far too much to see to linger overlong upon the thought, and it seems that he finds all of it heartening for the fate of the Seven Kingdoms.
As the visit nears its end in the red light of twilight, for a lord cannot afford to remain missing by sorcery from his keep for long without arousing suspicion, you consider what to fill the night with.
What do you do next?
[] Witness the First of the Mind Dragons emerge from the Flesh Forge (will include Varys' hatchlings)
[] Return to the Riverlands to speak to the Ghost of the High Heart
[] Speak with the Red Priests of Volantis and commune with the Red God himself to ask for aid against Tiamat
[] Set up a meeting with either a powerful enough servant or manifestation of Weeping Lady of Lys' power to ask for aid against Tiamat
[] Have a personal meeting with the Chosen of Smith
[] Receive reports on the Genie War, including the performance of the wyverns
[] Write in
OOC: Don't worry about missing the Mind Dragons if you do not pick them this vote. They will be woken with Viserys there. 
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