All right. What would this hypothetical conversation include? Other than 'stay close to me and don't speak out of turn while I'm in the middle of a diplomat meeting,' I mean?
Until you can reliably identify who is safe, you can't distinguish between the good people and the evil people. Especially for growing up with the literal god of monsters, Catharne will be really naive about the social dangers of people. Actually, for writing this out, Jana needs to give the stranger danger talk, as over seen by Garth and Yelena.
I'm sorry, why is it cool? It seems fairly standard to me: I've taken the magic that Mishrak has used before (enabling him to create new forms of aquatic life) and applied it to a new problem (curing Theophyllus's genetic illness by giving him a new body). I just don't feel like what I've written here is worthy of praise
Generally, trying to merge sci fi and magic turns the magic into science and often makes the protagonist or their allies into the special snowflake that saw the ability to apply common sense to reality. Such attempts often dampen the quality of magic in the story.
You did this well, from my perspective, because it's clearly like science but only in a way that Misrak, actual god, could do.
"See this part of each of your cells is wrong. I'll just brute force replace every cell in your body, one cell at a time, to fix the problem." - Misrak, abridged.
This wasn't some sort of pseudo-clever "just create a programming language" to run the healing spell, and instead felt far more like the rest of magic done in this story, except as done by a god.
Yeah. Replacing every cell in his body instead of having Mishrak just heal harder because he's a god was a better display of skill and understanding from the master of biomancy.
some time skips in less interesting times wouldnt be too amiss i dont think. say the votes span for a longer period of time in slower periods of elys's life. maybe theres a big list of thing we vote for her to do, but it all gets summed up in one post. because being able to do only one thing a turn makes sense while elys is busy with school, but would make less sense as a fully free agent. but going back to the old model would only work if we plan to leave elys's adventure after a year or two. the hedge quest would of totally worked with a couple of arcs as long as the initial quest, building up and up until a final confrontation with mystic path, or maybe just portal-man. right now i concieve of the aspiti war being one overarching arc.
I'm sorry, why is it cool? It seems fairly standard to me: I've taken the magic that Mishrak has used before (enabling him to create new forms of aquatic life) and applied it to a new problem (curing Theophyllus's genetic illness by giving him a new body). I just don't feel like what I've written here is worthy of praise.
Well, it is that, for sure, but if you flip that around, you used an established powerset in a way that seems both a natural use of said powerset and, as well, a pretty novel use of said powerset, and a demonstration of extreme power that fits the character. Replacing every cell in a human body is a monumental task, and seeing a god come up with that as a solution and then execute it leaves you a little in awe of his intelligence, power, and prudence.
Indeed! The part I am referencing is that, in that story, users of the main supernatural power find themselves drawn together by mere circumstance, in such a consistent fashion that it hardly seems to be coincidence, and characters in the story remark on it.
Yeah I was wondering about that. I was thinking maybe he managed to luck into something financially when we weren't looking for several months, but it seems not.
In this quest, I don't think the numbers going up will be particularly interesting, since they only increase Mishrak's or Elys's Rank and the new system is so abstracted that you won't get to vote on any new skills or abilities.
Half the point of Numbers Go Up is that the numbers are representative of something important and proceed in an upwards direction and then do not go downwards presumably. The rank does come into play, however, in Conflict, which I predict will be coming eventually.
that means I'll probably need at least 1200 updates to bring this gargantuan monster to a satisfactory conclusion. I absolutely refuse to give Elys any more instances or anything else that would need extra updates to resolve.
Somehow I always forget this, but it's super valid, and I entirely understand. Just pings off the moral compass to be leaving all these... problems, lying around, because we don't have the time to solve them yet. We'll just have to get to them gradually. 1,200 though, that is quite a lot.
Sorry, I haven't been able to write as much as I wanted to because I've spent most of this weekend writing a job application. In the next update (after this one), I'll finally get around to writing about Vashiira and the Kelwe clan, I swear.
You go off to find Theophyllus's family and bring them back, which doesn't take long. They have a joyful reunion which you feel quite uncomfortable watching, especially when Mishrak leaves the room with the stated intention of going to get a walking frame. When you see Theophyllus's wife weeping with happiness or listen to Dorian's startled murmuring that this is the first time he has ever heard his father breathing without difficulty, you feel like an intruder.
"Aww, isn't that sweet?" Jana says cheerfully.
"How did you get on while I was away?" you ask, turning to face her, deliberately angling your body so you can't see any of the Valens family. While they're out of sight, you can pretend that you're giving them some privacy.
"Oh, fine. They didn't give us any trouble. We mostly just talked."
"They were quite curious about me," says Catharne, in a small voice. "Especially when they found out about my shapeshifting powers."
You turn to look at her. She still looks like a young girl – a human girl – like she did when you last saw her.
"How did that happen?" you ask.
"Uh… I got some dust or something in my nose and it made me want to sneeze. And when I did, it gave them a glimpse of my true form."
You take a moment to consider the implications of this new information; what if something like that happens when Catharne is at school, in front of all the other pupils?
"We'll need to have a cover story ready in advance," you mutter.
"I'm sorry?" asks Catharne, who doesn't seem to have followed your train of thought.
"I'll explain later," you say. "For now, uh… I hope they weren't rude to you."
"Oh no. They were just surprised to find out that I'm Mishrak's daughter, that's all."
"Hmm." You don't think there's any real harm in Dorian and his family knowing that, unless they start spreading it around; you'd prefer it if Catharne's parentage didn't become common knowledge until she's older and better able to defend herself. It's not as if a dragonling whose natural form the size of a horse is completely defenceless, but there are plenty of much more powerful and unpleasant beings who might see her as easy prey if they knew that she existed.
"If I were you, I wouldn't go spreading that around," you warn her.
She blinks confusedly at you. "Why not?"
"There are some people who, if they find out that you're Mishrak's daughter, will see you as a weakness of his. They might try to hurt you in order to hurt him," you explain. "That is why… when we go to Vashiira, I want you to stay close to me. If we get separated for any reason, call your father and I'm sure he'll come to pick you up immediately. If you meet any curious strangers, remember that they might not have your best interests at heart. But don't be unfriendly!"
"Uh… I'll bear that in mind," she says, looking even more confused.
Fortunately, Mishrak returns before you can jam your foot any further into your mouth. He carries with him a wooden frame on wheels, which he claims to have borrowed from Gelfavar's Wranni; evidently, they've put some thought into how they can help their wounded soldiers to convalesce.
"Try this," he says, depositing the walking frame next to Theophyllus's bed. "Just a few steps, to begin with. Then we'll see about taking you back home."
"You still have my armchair," Theophyllus reminds him.
"Oh yes! I'll make sure you get that back as well," Mishrak assures him.
Dorian gently embraces his father, then releases him and turns to you. "Thank you… for everything," he croaks. "I mean it. You've done a lot for me."
"It's no problem," you say. "I was given the opportunity to help, so I did. What else are friends for?"
He gives you an odd, scrutinizing look, as if trying to work out if you're being honest about your motivations or just spouting meaningless platitudes.
"You can give her a hug, if you like," Jana suggests, putting on a mischievous smirk.
"Yeah… thanks for making things awkward, Jana," Dorian says, shaking his head.
After the Valens family have gone home, taking the walking frame and the armchair with them through the portal, you take Jana aside and hiss at her, "Why did you say that?"
"Um? I beg your pardon," she says, looking blankly at you.
"You told Dorian to hug me," you remind her.
"Yeah, I did." She nods. "Didn't you want him to hug you?"
"I like hugs. But not if they make things awkward. So why did you say that?"
"Well, I guess… I was curious as to how you'd react," she says slowly. "I mean, I'm pretty sure you don't like girls. Not the way I like girls, anyway. But you've never shown any signs of liking boys either. And Dorian is a half-elf, so... uh, aren't they supposed to be really handsome? He's got that silky hair, sculpted features, and so on. " She gives a little shrug. "I don't know; what do you think of him?"
"I… I don't really think of him like that."
"No. You don't think of anyone like that, do you?"
"I'm only twelve years old!" you cry. "I'm not old enough to be thinking about that!"
"Most girls your age or even younger are at least curious about kissing and falling in love and getting married and so on," she points out. "But you're not. I wonder why that is?"
"I'm too busy! I have too many other things to think about!"
"Maybe that's so." She nods. "Look, I'm sorry, all right? If it bothers you, I'll never do anything like that again." Then, under her breath, she mutters, "I just thought you'd make a cute couple, that's all."
Earlier in this thread, when I asked my readers to consider Elys's future romantic prospects, there was a lot of support for ace!Elys. I've decided that I actually quite like that.
Anyway, you can decide what Elys might say to Jana if you want. I'll try to update again in a few days' time.
From this interaction with Catharne, I am starting to suspect that no amount of "diplomacy training" will ever be sufficient to cure Elys's intermittent social awkwardness. Though from how she bounces back and forth between "own entire leg lodged in mouth" and "highly charismatic in a too-good-to-be-true sort of way" I suspect that in a few decades she will get along great with a certain hedge maze.
Jana, nice attempt at combining chaotic deviousness for your own amusement with good intentions for those you care about, perfect for someone who is so obviously a dnd rogue at heart, but... no more playing matchmaker. Actually, that's good advice for anyone and everyone: no playing matchmaker.
Real life comes first. Both for your own sake, and because if you fail at real life, that eventually results in even less time and ability to write stuff.
Unbeknownst to all, Mishrak ship of theseuses the armchair too, and reassembles the original parts, for his secret hobby room of miniature ship models made of the sunken remains of the ship they're modeling.
Earlier in this thread, when I asked my readers to consider Elys's future romantic prospects, there was quite a lot of support for ace!Elys. I've decided that I actually quite like that.
"Maybe that's so." She nods. "Look, I'm sorry, all right? If it bothers you, I'll never do anything like that again." Then, under her breath, she mutters, "I just thought you'd make a cute couple, that's all."
We gotta hug her at least, you know? Elys, I think, even if she was like... allosexual and liked people that way, she's still a very busy little girl who has had little chance to interact with others outside her family of her own age in a peer sort of relationship. She's sunk time (and idea conceptualizing, and role modeling) other children would spend doing things like socializing into literally deific pursuits. She's like a Gifted student in elementary school who finally is caught up to by the general populace, and now realize that they never developed the soft study and socializing skills their peers developed due to need.
Point is she's got some catching up to do before she can stand on an equal self-knowledge stage as Jana.
As for what we should say to Jana, maybe Elys can just expound on her answer earlier - even to Jana's observations, Elys's sexuality, or lack thereof, is unlikely to be cut and dry, and she's just plain not had time to analyze it or mine her own reactions for data yet.
Mishrak ship of theseuses the armchair too, and reassembles the original parts, for his secret hobby room of miniature ship models made of the sunken remains of the ship they're modeling.
She's like a Gifted student in elementary school who finally is caught up to by the general populace, and now realize that they never developed the soft study and socializing skills their peers developed due to need.
While Elys flubbed her exposition attempt, this just further convinces me that Catharne would follow the first person to offer her candy around some corner. What happens after would be a problem, whether it's Catharne demonstrating what a pony sized dragon-ling can do to an unprepared person, or the consequences of a prepared person getting a flask or several of semi-divine blood and doing some degree of harm to Catharne.
As for Elys's response to Jana, maybe something like:
"I don't know that I'm not interested, and I don't know that I am. I can say that romance isn't important to me right now, but diplomacy wasn't all important to me a few months ago. I don't want a label that makes me feel like I have to tell other people I've changed my mind just because I don't currently have a romantic interest."
While Elys flubbed her exposition attempt, this just further convinces me that Catharne would follow the first person to offer her candy around some corner.
"I don't know that I'm not interested, and I don't know that I am. I can say that romance isn't important to me right now, but diplomacy wasn't all important to me a few months ago. I don't want a label that makes me feel like I have to tell other people I've changed my mind just because I don't currently have a romantic interest."
"I don't know that I'm not interested, and I don't know that I am. I can say that romance isn't important to me right now, but diplomacy wasn't all important to me a few months ago. I don't want a label that makes me feel like I have to tell other people I've changed my mind just because I don't currently have a romantic interest."
Ehh, I'd say it's best to just, drop it for now. From the way Elys is talking, I'd say she simply has not thought about it much (and does not intend to unless someone specifically brings it up). Like, she's... yeah, she doesn't know she is not interested, but also doesn't even know that she doesn't know? I think the extent of her thoughts on the matter, at this point in time, really is literally just: "I'm only twelve years old! I'm not old enough to be thinking about that! I'm too busy! I have too many other things to think about!".
Also, the label thing just sounds really off in general... it sounds like the kind of thing that a twenty-something person in real life living in the united states would say, not a twelve year old living in a medieval fantasy world that has no known historical instances of homophobia or any adjacent -phobias and thus much less reason to consider that sort of thing something that would define a person's personality.
(so, this is a veto)
Ehh, I'd say it's best to just, drop it for now. From the way Elys is talking, I'd say she simply has not thought about it much (and does not intend to unless someone specifically brings it up). Like, she's... yeah, she doesn't know she is not interested, but also doesn't even know that she doesn't know? I think the extent of her thoughts on the matter, at this point in time, really is literally just: "I'm only twelve years old! I'm not old enough to be thinking about that! I'm too busy! I have too many other things to think about!".
Also, the label thing just sounds really off in general... it sounds like the kind of thing that a twenty-something person in real life living in the united states would say, not a twelve year old living in a medieval fantasy world that has no known historical instances of homophobia or any adjacent -phobias and thus much less reason to consider that sort of thing something that would define a person's personality.
(so, this is a veto)
Uh, are you voting against the phrasing of my suggested write-in, the general purpose of it, or...?
Elys doesn't bring up her sexuality at all. Other characters keep bringing it up, and now Jana has directly acted to get more information from Elys about this topic. What is Elys's response?
Silence seems inappropriate, given that Jana is Elys's best friend, psuedo-sister, and handmaiden.
From this interaction with Catharne, I am starting to suspect that no amount of "diplomacy training" will ever be sufficient to cure Elys's intermittent social awkwardness. Though from how she bounces back and forth between "own entire leg lodged in mouth" and "highly charismatic in a too-good-to-be-true sort of way" I suspect that in a few decades she will get along great with a certain hedge maze.
My writing style seems to default to 'comic fantasy', probably because Terry Pratchett is my favourite author. I can only hope that one day I will be nearly as good a writer as he was.
You're correct in saying that Elys will probably never be entirely free of her tendency to wedge her foot into her mouth (because I think it's hilarious), but this 'diplomacy training' should at least make sure that she won't make a fool of herself if she takes the time to prepare herself beforehand.
Unbeknownst to all, Mishrak ship of theseuses the armchair too, and reassembles the original parts, for his secret hobby room of miniature ship models made of the sunken remains of the ship they're modeling.
In many ways, this isn't really a medieval setting. The only reason why people are still running around with swords and bows is because the technology level was reset back to zero at the end of the Second Age when the mightiest human civilisations were reduced to ruins and the Demon Lords came close to destroying all of Creation.
not a twelve year old living in a medieval fantasy world that has no known historical instances of homophobia or any adjacent -phobias and thus much less reason to consider that sort of thing something that would define a person's personality.
In real life, I suspect that the real reason why homophobia ever became a thing was because various rulers decided that they needed more warm bodies to fight in their wars and tend their farms; the religious justifications came later.
Or maybe I'm wrong. I don't claim to know everything about history, theology, sociology and so on.
Anyway, in the Hedgyverse, the Riders of Famine and Pestilence actively work to prevent humanity from expanding too far and too fast. Therefore, people tend to have fewer children, but they can be almost certain that they will all survive to adulthood because of Lissa's and Nyssa's blessings that reduce the dangers of childbirth and childhood illness and so on. Basically, people don't need to have lots of children (and they're aware that they're much more likely to be affected by plague or famine if they do), so no one's putting any pressure on gay people to get together with a member of the opposite sex and procreate, which means that homophobia is much less of a thing than it's ever been in the real world.
nothing wrong with just saying you dont know. we could infer that shes thought on it a bit if only because jana keeps bringing it up, since jana knows she has it (attraction) and its a common thing to relate to people about, especially when its first settling in.
so elys could ask what the difference between attraction and appreciation is, since she knows she has it and she feels it strongly. then elys could confirm or deny that shes never really felt like that about anyone yet, not even a made up person. jana i feel is the one who pull at the threads here and start putting a conclusion together, since thats what she has been doing this whole time. elys would talk to her about it because she respects her.
so elys could ask what the difference between attraction and appreciation is, since she knows she has it and she feels it strongly. then elys could confirm or deny that shes never really felt like that about anyone yet, not even a made up person. jana i feel is the one who pull at the threads here and start putting a conclusion together, since thats what she has been doing this whole time. elys would talk to her about it because she respects her.
so elys could ask what the difference between attraction and appreciation is, since she knows she has it and she feels it strongly. then elys could confirm or deny that shes never really felt like that about anyone yet, not even a made up person. jana i feel is the one who pull at the threads here and start putting a conclusion together, since thats what she has been doing this whole time. elys would talk to her about it because she respects her.
Well, Elys's friendship with Jana seems to involve a lot of playful bickering and it usually isn't something that either of them feel the need to apologize for, but Jana may have touched a sore spot this time.
"No. You don't think of anyone like that, do you?"
"I'm only twelve years old!" you cry. "I'm not old enough to be thinking about that!"
"Most girls your age or even younger are at least curious about kissing and falling in love and getting married and so on," she points out. "But you're not. I wonder why that is?"
"I'm too busy! I have too many other things to think about!"
"Maybe that's so." She nods. "Look, I'm sorry, all right? If it bothers you, I'll never do anything like that again." Then, under her breath, she mutters, "I just thought you'd make a cute couple, that's all."
"Everyone seems to think that I should care about romance and pretty boys – or pretty girls – and so on, but I don't. I don't have time for any of that!" you protest, though you know you're exaggerating when you say 'everyone'. Your parents have never said anything like that, for which you are grateful. It's entirely possible that they would like to have grandchildren someday, but they've never mentioned it. Of course, Mishrak could create a whole batch of grandchildren for them at any time, so… well, if they've realised that, they may have decided that it'd be wiser not to say anything.
"I'm sorry," says Jana, glancing anxiously at you. "I was only joking. Please forgive me."
"You don't need to apologize. I'm not angry with you. It's just…" As your voice trails away, you struggle to think of what to say next. How can you explain how you feel and make sure that you will be understood? "Someday, maybe… when I'm older and have more time for myself, maybe I'll change my mind."
"Your life's been a fairy-tale so far, so maybe you'll want a fairy-tale romance, someday?"
You make a non-committal noise: "Hmm. I've never been attracted to anyone, so… if it ever happens, how will I know?"
"Trust me, you'll know," says Jana.
"Well, it hasn't happened yet. And maybe it never will." You give an apathetic shrug. "So long as I have my friends and family, I'm happy. I don't need anyone else."
"Well, whatever happens, I'll support you," Jana promises. "As your friend, as your sister, and as your handmaiden, I'll be by your side. Always."
"Thank you. May I hug you now, or would that be awkward?"
"Eh, I don't mind."
"Come here then," you say, holding your arms out.
Later that evening, while you are idly relaxing with a book that you've borrowed from Mishrak's treasure hoard – despite having fallen to the bottom of the ocean, it is mysteriously pristine and shows no signs of water damage – you give voice to a passing thought: "The Vashiiri are worshippers of Shaori of the Many Wings, the goddess of freedom, aren't they? It seems like they'd be natural enemies of the Aspiti Empire. So why don't we invite them to join our coalition?"
"Good idea," you uncle agrees, popping into existence next to you. "How do you propose that we go about that?"
"Why don't you talk to Shaori? She could tell her worshippers what to do, couldn't she?"
"Maybe not. She is a goddess of freedom, after all. Most of the time, her worshippers are free to do as they please so long as they're not hurting anyone." There is a pause. You can barely perceive a thoughtful expression stretched across his little lizard-like head. "On the other hand, if she told her worshippers it would please her if they joined the war against Aspitolm, I'm sure that many of them would."
"Isn't that what I said, just with a few extra steps?" you ask.
"Possibly." Another pause. "I'm not sure how I would get in touch with Shaori, though."
"Couldn't you use a magic ritual to send her a message?"
"I think that would be rude of me," says Mishrak. "Instead… when you go to Vashiira, could you visit one of her temples and deliver a letter for me?"
"Deliver a letter? Written on paper?" You look at him sceptically. "Don't you think that's a little too mundane?"
"When her worshippers want to send her a special plea, more than just a normal prayer, sometimes they write a letter, take it to her temple, rip it to shreds and then throw it into the wind."
"I could do that. Or I could speak to one of her priests and find out what they suggest."
"Yes, you could do that as well," Mishrak agrees. "I'll give you the letter before you go."
"Actually… there was one other thing," you say, remembering. "Gelfavar said that he'd have two of his warriors accompany me as bodyguards, but they'll be walking wounded. If it comes to a real fight, they won't be much use. It's more likely that I'll have to protect them rather than the other way around."
"What do you want me to do about that?"
You look at him helplessly. "I don't know. Maybe you could get me some real bodyguards… from somewhere?"
"Hmm. I may have an idea," he says. "How do you plan to you get to Vashiira, may I ask?"
"Vashiira is only a few hundred miles away. It shouldn't be hard to open a portal to there," you say, trying to sound bold and certain of yourself.
"I'm sure you could do it on your own, but it would make me feel better if you took Samaya with you. This is your opportunity to show her what you've learned about portal magic. Try to impress her!"
"I'll do my best," you mutter.
"And… maybe a few of her orcs could go with her? They could act as bodyguards."
"How are they 'her' orcs?" you ask.
"She's their leader. One of their leaders, at least. They seem to obey her without question."
"All right, that makes sense." You nod. "I'd be grateful if you'd speak to Samaya about that for me."
"I'll do it right away!" he declares, vanishing as suddenly as he appeared.
You go back to your book, reading with detached amusement the nonsensical tale of a penniless orphan street urchin who became a teenage genius wizard as well as a peerless musician and a king-slaying assassin, all before he'd reached the ripe old age of twenty-five. Then, you read the chapter where he slays a dragon and makes love to a beautiful elven princess. "Yeah… this is garbage," you say, disdainfully dropping it at your feet. "I need to find a better way to relax in the evenings."
After that, you get up and go to see what your friends are doing.
On the day you have arranged to go on your diplomatic mission to the Kelwe clan, just after breakfast, you go to the prearranged meeting point with Jana and Catharne in tow. In her human form, Catharne looks like a sweetly innocent young girl. You make a mental note to warn her again that strangers can be dangerous. Or get Jana to do it.
Gelfavar is there with his two convalescent warriors: Hafjon is a scrawny young man with sandy brown hair and a wretchedly scrubby beard, who winces whenever he has to use his right arm; Rekka is a tall woman of indeterminate age, tanned and weather-beaten, with an irrepressible grin. She looks like she's continually having to restrain herself from pinching your cheeks, tousling your hair, and cooing over how adorable you and your friends are. She doesn't appear to be injured in any way whatsoever, but – as you well know – appearances can be deceiving.
Samaya is there too, looking as nondescript as ever, with two huge and fearsome-looking orcs beside her. Their names are Bug and Grunt. Horribly scarred, with tufts of bristly hair growing in odd places, Bug has a fanged mouth and a skull-like face. Grunt is short and stout, like a barrel on legs, with long muscular arms that stretch past his knees. His face appears to have been dented and squashed and reshaped to look like a grotesque caricature. He grimaces at you – or perhaps he's trying to smile?
"Are you ready to go?" asks Mishrak, appearing next to you and dropping a folded piece of paper in front of you; guessing that it must be the letter he wants you to deliver, you hastily snatch it out of mid-air.
"Ready when you are," says Samaya, giving you a nod. "Show me what you can do."
I decided to roll some dice for it. Elys is Rank 3, so I rolled 3d6.
I rolled a 6, 3, and a 4, for a total of 13. Pretty good!
With an effort of will, you manage to open a portal to the city of Vashiira. Through it, you glimpse an odd mixture of architectural styles; many of the buildings would not look out of place in Truinon or any other Quellonian city, but a sizeable number of them are elegant structures on raised platforms, some of which have sweepingly curved roofs. They remind you of illustrations you've seen of the great cities of the Dragon Empire in the far west. Also, you notice several buildings that appear to have been deliberately designed to look like upturned boats, presumably meant as a reference to the Vashiiri people's origins as a group of refugees who fled across the Unbounded Ocean.
The streets below are teeming with people, with a multitude of different skin colours and clothing styles. You see people who remind you of your big sister, Bellona, with golden-brown skin and black hair. Others look like they might be kin to you or Jana, with olive-brown skin and dark hair; they may be Queli, but they could just as easily be Aspiti or Enishari or Sambian. There are bronzed Wranni, pale Mercadians, dark-skinned Avanni and Varzi, and many other hues that suggest links to places you've never even heard of: tawny, pale gold, reddish brown, midnight black. It just goes to show that Vashiira is rapidly becoming one of the world's great trade centres; ever since Sarn, the so-called 'jewel of cities' was ravaged by the Rhuzadi Khaganate, the world's merchants have had to find somewhere else to sell their wares. You don't know much about trade or economics – you just get random facts popping into your head occasionally – but, from what you can see, it seems as if Vashiira may one day be considered as a worthy successor to Sarn's lost greatness.
"Not bad," says Samaya, casting an unimpressed glance at your portal. "Aim a little lower next time. You don't want any of your friends to fall to their deaths, do you?"
"No, of course not," you say, shaking your head. "I'll try again."
How will Elys proceed from here?
Please discuss.
How would you like to approach the Kelwe clan compound. Your orc bodyguards are imposing and unusual enough that they will attract a lot of attention. So, do you want to parade through the streets putting on an impressive show? Or would you rather appear right next to the Kelwe clan's outer gates and try not to be noticed?
Also, is there anything you would like to ask or talk about with the various members of your entourage? (Jana, Catharne, Hafjon, Rekka, Samaya, Bug, Grunt)
Would you prefer to visit a temple to Shaori before you visit the Kelwe clan compound?
And when you reach the Kelwe clan compound, how do you want to introduce yourself? What do you want to say to them?
"Deliver a letter? Written on paper?" You look at him sceptically. "Don't you think that's a little too mundane?"
"When her worshippers want to send her a special plea, more than just a normal prayer, sometimes they write a letter, take it to her temple, rip it to shreds and then throw it into the wind."
I imagine a postman, delivering that letter:
"Shaori? I have a letter for a Shaori?"
"Yes, you have the right place. Letter, please." Priest tears up the letter
Postman: :^O
Is there a mail deity? Or is that too modern an idea.
She looks like she's continually having to restrain herself from pinching your cheeks, tousling your hair, and cooing over how adorable you and your friends are.
Oh!! Divine Insight!! Think in threes, Elys. Think in threes. Actually, I say we go to the temple first, and maybe Shaori will send a priest with us, so we can have a full group of 9.
I don't want people to gawp a lot, but a little gawping is natural with our group. Perhaps we don't take main streets?
I think a little bit of introductions all around is good, maybe Elys can initiate a little huddle where everyone gets to introduce themselves.
As far as the Kelwe clan goes, Princess Elys, Chosen of Mishrak seems to fit for me, but I could be convinced otherwise.
