[Intro, closed] I think, therefore I kill

[Javen Vyta]

Javen drew himself up and nodded politely as the Archwizard finished. While many thoughts filled his head then, he fought silently to quiet them - was this a time for bargaining?

"I thank you, Archwizard, for this opportunity. I must say, I am astounded at the accuracy of your work, as you are no doubt aware. However, seeing this I now understand the gravity of what we are to do - as it is certainly a work of the finest art. I wonder - are we to discuss terms of payment now? I mean no disrespect in the request, only to clarify the terms of the - contract. I do not wish to have any ambiguity in the service.

Saying this, Javen wheezed heavily and relaxed a bit, looking to his impromptu comrades - suddenly very certain that their own wariness of himself and each other would no doubt endanger this seemingly simple task.

The Myriam - Ethaefal? - who spoke coarsely at the best of times so far - could make wrong any otherwise diplomatic engagement. The Isur - a wildcard of a woman - was perhaps the most unknown. The Half-people, well they were caught up in a personal drama too thick, perhaps, to fully understand the gravity of the work given - he hoped the wizard of the two would fare well as a leader, and believed it best he not voice whatever doubts he may have.

Suredly they won't make a scene this time. They've all created so many...

Inwardly he cringed, waiting for them to speak.

[Ialari Pythone]

Ialari directed her focus to Mashaen as the wizard stepped into the discussion. Where Qiao had little to no charisma to speak of, the Archwizard displayed something quite different. Although not charismatic in the sense that one may view the living, to Ialari, Mashaen carried himself with nonchalance toward his power. She pondered for the briefest of moments his comment about the outside world not being as united as it used to be. Indeed she had been told of times long since passed where humans and Isur had more open dialog and productive interactions. This of course was before the Valterrian. The Isur as a race, generally believed that the humans were the direct cause of the destruction due to their interference with the will of the Gods. It was this misplaced sense of superiority and entitlement that the Isur felt tainted humans and thus corrupted everything they touched. Yes, the time of the peoples of Mizahar acting as a single entity were long gone.

The Archwizards voice broke Ialari's mental meandering and she listened as he explained more of why it was he had brought them all there. She perked up a bit as he explained a vague few bits of the golem's existence and creation. Familiar with the general theory behind the basic magical disciplines, she was intrigued by the idea of such a creature being able to be "programmed" by another.

Ialari eyed the scroll tube that floated from Mashaen's hand and noted the name of the man who had purchased the golem, Horios Alkastir. Learning that he was also a wizard was both of interest and concern to her. She had experience with wizards and knew enough to realize that getting involved in business between two of them held a good number of risks. While she was technically a full apprentice of the Silver Tower in Sultros, she was not one who consorted much with the full wizards of the Tower unless they had something she wanted. Fortunately, the entire citadel where she now stood held more than she would have ever wanted.

Her interest was tickled as the Archwizard spoke of his golems as art. She herself saw her own crafting of various poisons and toxins as an art of sort and she was just as passionate about it. Although this "man" was little more than a shell filled with long dead yolk, it appeared that passion may be something that never truly died.

She was near to making a comment when Mashaen mentioned the man sending a portrait of his dead daughter. Then the sheet fell away and there stood what would leave even a few Isur sculptors envious; a statue that held the appearance of potential life. While the appearance was still that of false life, it looked as though it would its mouth and speak at any moment.

Unable to help herself, Ialari tried to hide the wonderment from her voice, Master Mashaen, is...you said she was sculpted from tissue? Once living tissue? How durable is...she? I mean..." Ialari was beside herself. She took pride in being a student of the more forbidden, taboo arts. Poisons were viewed as criminal outside the Pitrius Citadel back in Sultros and in the outside world people were imprisoned and often put to death for meddling with them. Yet that art paled in comparison to the molding and shaping of living or once living flesh if indeed that is what was done here. Ialari wanted to reach out and touch the "girl" just to see if it felt like real skin. She caught herself however and cleared her throat while gathering herself. "My apologies. I am a student of the more..." She glanced around and said, ...misunderstood arts and am intrigued by your work. You say she will stick uselessly around us until she is delivered. Does she at least speak? Can we communicate with her? Her previous anger had been pushed to the back of her mind for the time being as her more inquisitive side came to the front.

[Akuaysun]

Akuaysun had spoken his mind at this point; he had little more to add. Qiao had already instructed that if he wished for more knowledge then he should ask when the delivery was complete. Mashaen had further reinforced this with his statement of payment. Dranquay was to be their leader if he accepted and from there things would proceed. At this point in the expedition things were getting interesting and it was hard to tell if they would even survive trouble if it arrived. From the statements made about the golem, if this Horios Alkastir had enemies, then they could almost certainly expect trouble. Men with power often stepped on others as they rose, and those someone’s would often stop at nothing to exact revenge. Pride was such a sad downfall.

Akuaysun knew himself; he was a warrior and had a few tricks up his sleeve. From what he had gathered of the group he was the only in their little party, and if push came to shove he and Dranquay and a slim chance of the Isur, would be the only ones with skills enough for battle. Battle was nearly a certainty with trouble, people often tried to use force to push their wants and ways onto others, a sign of strength.

It was interesting to collect knowledge about the others. Many of them proved to have their own unique attributes. So far Akuaysun found the Isur, both this particular one that stood near him and the others he had met thus far to be overly prideful, they considered themselves to be superior to all. The Akvatari were more studious and ponderous, slow to action and curious of the world. They also seemed to see themselves above the other races, though simultaneously below them for lack of gods. It kept them grounded a good trait to have. Humans, well they were human, always were and likely always would be. Then there were the Nuit, now that was a beautiful collection of who knew what, but they had power, lots of power, at least in Sahova. If anything, at this point in the world they WERE above the rest through their displays of strength.

Then there was Aku, he was an Ethaefal. It was likely that the others knew very little factual information of him and his kind. After all they had only been around since after the Valterrain, and in very slim numbers. Numbers so slim in fact, that only one in every seven hundred and ninety eight persons was actually of his race, and if you took into consideration that they were only Ethaefal half of the time it was only one in every one thousand five hundred and ninety six. Add on the fact that he and he imagined his brothers and sisters were very reclusive of this form, and had no urge to be around one another, plus the shear size of the continent and you had one Ethaefal for every twelve thousand three hundred and fifty one square miles. Of coarse Aku didn’t know this but the numbers were still facts and they strongly supported his assumption that the others SHOULD know very little of he and his kind. If anything his people were the things of myth, and while myths did often hold some small fragment of truth they were often very wrong and distorted from story teller to story teller.

Next came the questions, Javen with his sniveling want, and need, give give give. Typical of your run of the mill human, so obsessed with the material they were. Then came the Isur trying to wring out more details. What did it matter if the golem could talk; it was an object to be delivered, not to be conversed with. All they needed to do was take it to its owner, and be done with the matter. If she wanted the details of his design she should ask for that as her payment.

All in all his patience was growing very thin, time was wasting now. It was best for them to return to the ship and be on their way. Of coarse all of the early assumptions were being confirmed, everyone was out for themselves, and seemingly blinded by their own greed. At least Dranquay was smart enough to understand how things seemed to be working. It was why Aku had put him up for leadership in the first place.

[Dranquay]

The Akvatari’s spine tingled. Power…where it led humans, where it led mortals, the pursuit of it, the curiosity of it, the silent… warning, implicit in what the Nuit were telling them. We have this power and others shall find it interesting, Qiao didn’t want it spread, yet the Archwizard did not care. That was far more important that was, the fact this being, this soul which occupied a vessel, did not care; he had lost reason to care.

What else had he lost when this old Empire had fallen? What did that leave him when he stopped searching The danger, Dranquay judged, was not in the fact that he had ceased to care but when he found something else to care about again. He had sought something curious and found it, but what if that something became something deadly… this thing, when he saw it, it was innocent enough as far as such things could be innocent when it dealt with powers so strong, but what if it had not been?

That was however, not Dranquay’s concern…although it concerned him, it was not something he had a responsibility for and was at one and the same time fascinating and terrifying, that such things could be curiosities. It made him realise something else about himself; he was curious and the power he held was deadly… somehow he’d looked into a mirror and there was darkness in his eyes as he lifted a hand, fingertips extended.

Forefinger, middle finger and thumb closed around the cylinder, receiving it and with it the responsibility of taking this thing where it needed to go, to taking this thing that so many others might wish to study out of curiosity to make something much worse to someone who only wanted it as a tool, really? Probably…the story was wild enough; but Dranquay could not help but wonder if the Nuit would have done it anyway if he’d known his creation would be disassembled…probably not.

Still so many worries, so many concerns, the least of which being getting this creation of flesh and skin back to the mainland; these Nuit the more he learnt about them, the more lost they seemed to be…so many stories there about what they had lost, what they had given up and then not used… if his theory was right anyhow.

Not his concern though. He looked to Chael, eyes haunted, not his, not now as he unfolded the material in the cylinder and found a table to study it on. The last thing he wanted was to find he couldn’t read the Nuit’s handwriting and didn’t know where he was going so, as questions flew around him he made 100% sure he could find where he needed to go with this golem before he left the only man capable of correcting any misconception he had, looking up every so often at the cargo they would be conveying.

Again it made him wonder at the sense of the soul, at its essence, and this was a separate quandary from the insecurities of a bunch of highly knowledgeable pre-Velterrian mages stuck on an island driving each other mildly insane.

Those questions though? His thoughts were rapidly beginning to mirror Akuaysun’s, they’d been told that the Nuit had no desire to explain themselves and that rewards were going to be delivered later…and Dranquay was right now more concerned with getting this done and had not come for the reward…therefore why the Isur and the very unwell human were asking questions he had no idea under the skies and above the sea.

So having been silent as the others spoke he looked up before the Nuit replied and asked a polite question, pointing at a symbol near to what he judged to be the location of the destination, intentionally interrupting… the question might actually be legitimate, the map might not be using Post-Velterrian names, or it might be made up – but either way he intentionally interrupted with a hope of giving the Nuit a reason to answer one or both of the others and therefore prevent a vexatious argument about what they’d been asked to do and the stupidity of mainlanders.

“Excuse me Archwizard but what is the name of this town?” He inquired quietly, looking up at the Nuit and waiting for him to explain. If there was any legitimate question about the map or its locations relative to Post-Velterrian ones then he would continue to talk quite levelly with the man until he was absolutely sure he knew where he was going, or at least a village where by they could ask for details.

But fortunately he’d travelled around enough that it should not be a large problem even if he were dealing with Pre-Velterrian location names… and he did have a legitimate concern in making sure they could find where they were going, it touched his mind that upsetting the Nuit by not being able to deliver their cargo would likely not please them at all.

[Chaelnomyl]

Oh sure, her “loyalty” was to be discredited even by her own brother simply because she was his sister. Need Chael remind Dranquay that up until twenty or so days prior, he hadn’t spoken to her in about twenty years. The loyalty implied by familial ties was one that Dranquay perhaps overestimated, a likely influence given his time among the bipedals with whom there was great respect and deep ties for those that shared blood. Indeed, the humans of Zeltiva that he had studied under had greatly influenced his culture in a manner that Chaelnomyl could not quite say she approved of. Perhaps she would have to inform him of her distaste for his assumptions at a later date. After all, Dranquay still had a horrible disposition to treat his sister as she was when she was twelve - aloof, blissfully unaware of most things, and completely consumed by the arts. This was not so much the case twenty years later. He would do well to learn that!

However, none of that went forward past the Akvatari’s idle thoughts – the irony in the fellow Akvatari’s statement was that “sister” implied the two knew infinitely more of each other than they knew of those around them. This was, as life would have it, probably not the case. Their knowledge was foreign and outdated, belonging to a different time and different place when Lentma was still around and governing their lives as mothers often did. She kept quiet though, slightly perturbed and returning to admire the Archwizard’s work around the room as Dranquay comforted the Isur, and even as the Archwizard apologized with a curiously alive tone in his voice. He also admitted something that mirrored humility of the other lesser races. It was… interesting, to say the least.

Then he moved. Chaelnomyl’s eyes drifted back to him abruptly, questioningly, a tenseness rising in her that only manifested as a minor flinch outwardly and the jerk of her attention. However, the powerful Nuit continued only by addressing her brother and half smiling. Odd. Zarik’s mannerisms were further expressive than the Akvatari’s own, by which Qiao was closer in comparison. Then he got down to business – their mission was to deliver an advanced golem to the mainland. That seemed simple enough. Partially awakened, taking orders from the Leader… Again, that seemed straight forward. The explanation of how to awaken the golem’s true potential was also interesting, but posed a curious dilemma to Chael – what if the new master they were delivering it to spoke the word and then turned the golem on them out of some crazed inability to let them walk freely with their knowledge of his prized possession?

At length, a map was presented to Dranquay and the man to whom they would deliver the item – Horios Alkastir – was introduced. Chaelnomyl listened intently but did not watch Mashaen any longer. Not because she feared him at all at this point, but more because she had such a high propensity to let herself wander… and wander her eyes did, around the walls, around the unfinished golems with flaws she could not hope to spot, taking it all in. Her memory of the place would likely warp that scene with time, but it was worth watching anyway. Perhaps the imprint would provide her with something to work with in the future. Even now, she could envision the way the lines would be drawn. The background of the golems on the wall, the glyphs on the floor… the stark contrast of the unlikely group of delivery-men and women, the Archwizard himself… It would come together with time and with artistic touches. A timid, miniature smile flicked at the corners of her lips.

Apparently, Chaelnomyl noted as she listened more, the Archwizard prided himself in the creation… and it happened to be in the image of Horios’ deceased progeny. That comment caused the Akvatari to look up again, mildly surprised. Who would want a golem that looked like their daughter, constructed of flesh itself around the house? Was he trying to replace her? The more she learned, the more it unsettled her, but still Chael neglected to comment.

And the golem appeared to be a doll. All too quickly Javen jumped at the opportunity to snivel and kiss the Archwizard’s feet, and inquire about payment despite the Nuit’s statement that it would be acquired in whatever form they wished it to be, after the golem was delivered. That implied that discussion was up to the members, within reason, and that it didn’t matter right now as the important task was getting the freak construct of flesh to the mainland and its rightful owner. It was clear that was all he cared about. Ialari was somewhat better, inquiring about how durable the golem was – useful information depending on where they would have to take it – and asked important questions about communication. Dranquay’s own inquiry was of vital importance to their mission, and the strange Myrian-masquerading-creature had gone back into silence.

Chaelnomyl joined him in that silence. There was nothing to add. Perhaps if the Nuit hadn’t been so hard to handle as Qiao had been, the Akvatari would have jumped to learn of Mashaen’s extensive knowledge of the one piece of magic she had come to learn. His extensive hold on most anything would have been a joy to pick through for the odd creature. Unfortunately this was not the time nor the place.

And so the female winged-half human with a tail waited patiently for her brother to maintain an understanding of where they were to go, for Ialari’s questions to be answered, and for Javen to be shot down. All in silence, occasionally looking between Mashaen, Dranquay , Akuaysun and even Ialari quietly, though her tendency to wander nevertheless kicking in and overtaking her attentions at random intervals between the glances.

[Tarot]

Mashaen's head turned towards each speaker, though not in the unnatural way Qiao's had. His answers were clear, but he was always looking through his audience, past them and at his beloved golems lined up against the wall. "You will not be disappointed by our payment, I assure you," he told Javen, "be it money, information, or more, it will certainly exceed the amounts you are used to dealing with in your everyday life. Should you see an advantage in our state, I would even attend to your transformation into a Nuit, personally. These resources are the least of my problems, and it is in my own interest to keep you motivated to accomplish this task."

Ialari's comment was the first thing that had made a Nuit grin ever since they had stepped on Sahova. That was Mashaen's reaction at the Isur's barely concealed wonder. "I think you understand why some in this citadel do not wish to see this golem delivered. I perfected the technique myself, and you could say it was how I made it all the way to Court Mage. The skeleton is a metal alloy; the flesh is compacted human tissue. The flesh even retains the original bodies' muscle memory, you see; that makes its motions extremely natural, and I suspect it can even be restored by a healer. She will not speak, though. It is not a good idea to unlock a golem's personality twice..." He was about to go on, and maybe mention the story of the golem called Caliman while he was at it, but Dranquay interrupted him.

"It is a semi-permanent settlement called Tharsis, Master Dranquay," the Archwizard answered, not bothered by the interruption in the least. "From preliminary information gathering we carried out in Zeltiva, it turned out this place actually exists West of Zeltiva itself. It is only semi-permanent because shepherds from the mountains around Zeltiva descend with their sheep late in the fall, seeking pastures and a milder climate, and make the return trip in the spring. If you visit at this time of year, you will likely encounter a ghost town with just a few old souls surviving like hermits. Apparently, our man is one of them." If Dranquay checked the map, he would find more or less the same information in terms of a circle West of Zeltiva and the name 'Tharsis' on it.

Akuaysun and Chaelnomyl chose not to speak, but the Archwizard nodded politely at both of them. He had mellowed over the centuries, just like Qiao had progressively embittered. It was not so strange that Mashaen had chosen his polar opposite as a right hand man, after all.

"Well then, I am going to activate the golem and bind it to Master Dranquay," Mashaen announced.

"... Father?" Drainira interrupted him, using the form of addressing that she reserved for him alone. "Something is not right."

"Hmm?" The Nuit hesitated, but the scarf around his neck seemed to have picked up something strange, as well, and it coiled restlessly, disregarding the fact that others may be watching.

"Masters Rylek, Aznavius and Shelker are coming this way, and they will not listen to me. They... how to put it... do not seem normal."

"Qiao?"

"They are on the watchlist, all three of them," the bald undead said dryly, though neither he nor Mashaen lost their composure. "For deviant behavior and overgiving symptoms. They are probably attempting a dumb coup. It certainly has been a while since last time."

"There is only a 68% probability of that being the case, Master Qiao," Drainira said. Suddenly, the door was struck by a bolt of fire and thunder that tore it open and nearly unhinged it. Smoke enveloped the entrance, and it was difficult to see beyond the threshold. "It is 99% now," the Supervisor conceded.

[Akuaysun]

It was no surprise to Akuaysun that the Arch-wizard was well confident in his ability to make payment in any form. This man was extremely powerful in his day and had no doubt gained more such power in the centuries that followed. Here was a school that dealt with perhaps the most powerful magi in the known world, not to mention were an eternal collection of various knowledge. It only added to his irritation that Javen had needed this clarified when proof of it surrounded them in every corner and inch. For the sake of the gods they stood in a sentient building. No matter, he was mortal, had much to learn, perhaps his soul would find redemption in the next life.

Ialari and Dranquay kept the conversation moving however and now they had their task and coordinates. It was time to go and Mashaen seemed to agree, he had moved beyond conversation to activation and bonding. From this point forward Dranquay’s survival would be imperative. He was now the warrior’s first concern next was his sister who would likely slow the expedition if hurt or killed. The other two were tied for last, each had their own talents the Isur strong enough to be capable and the human claimed to hold skills in healing. Had one of the two held both prospects they would have likely rose above the female Akvatari.

Eyes glanced from the Arch-mage, to Qiao, then to the golem and back again. As if on cue Drainira chimed in with their first obstacle. Three ‘masters’ were on their way and from the quick interchange it seemed were not happy about the state of events. Taking a slow breath Aku focused, not on his surroundings or on the incoming force but instead on himself, on his inner currents and Djed. Aku wasn’t what one could consider a proficient user of The Flux, in another life most certainly, but in these days he was just beginning to grow accustomed to it once more. Funneling the power from his chest slowly into his legs he used the techniques to slow his heart and the rush of adrenaline while in theory simultaneously increasing the speed, strength and reaction time of his footing.

Instinctively he turned as the explosion rocked the room and the door shattered, his eyes watched the portal as he began to maneuver himself between Dranquay and the entrance. His hands retch to the weapon at his back, his right loosening the loop of his strap about the wooden handle of his hoe while the left drew it out from its resting place. This was an internal matter between the mages in his mind, but it was his duty to protect the Golem and their leader. Each movement was focused on, not only his own but all those in his peripheral and lines vision. Aku crouched low, as a runner would, tucking his right leg under him and using his left for balance before his body. In his right hand he held the hoe firmly, just behind the metal bracing handle and loosely in his left about half down.

Aku knew better then to rush in on an unknown enemy, and if the two leaders of Sahova wanted them struck down in the doorway they could undoubtedly do so themselves. If push came to shove however and his priorities were put into danger he would use the flux as an ace to gain momentum and speed when lashing out.

[Chaelnomyl]

Much fluttered through the winged woman’s mind very quickly. Mashaen’s comment about the settlement they were to travel to was of little consequence to Chaelnomyl; she merely would be along for the ride and for the closeness of her brother. It was, after all, his fault that she was here. The information that the Archwizard provided about it was interesting – they would find it deserted, and their contact was a hermit. Shepherds visited with their sheep in late fall and in spring. There was a nod in her direction, that the Akvatari woman caught briefly and returned with a small twitch of her lips into a smile. Perhaps the Nuit would be able to relate slightly – she was not expressive and to her, it seemed that part of the dead souls of the Citadel had lost their ability to be overly expressive as well. At least, that had been the case with Lector Qiao. Whether Mashaen shared this aliment, she was not sure – he had, after all, smiled at Ialari.

Wings buzzed a bit faster as he commented that he would bind the golem to Dranquay, Chaelnomyl watching with slight interest hidden in the depths of her clouded eyes. But before he could get any further, the Supervisor interrupted the room’s comings and goings, announcing three Masters who were refusing her instructions and did not seem quite right. Qiao further stated that they were on some sort of list and had symptoms. Sickness among the dead? Well, it seemed that sickness in terms of dissent, rather than physical ailments. Their bodies were sure riddled with enough aliments as it were.

There is a 68% probability of that being the case, Drainira had said, shortly before the door was almost thrown off its hinges and smoke began to spill through the room. She concluded by stating the obvious… Almost perfect certainty that they were attempting a coup. Akuaysun moved to put himself between the trio who were impossible to see through the current smoke filled doorway and the Archwizard as well. The Hoe, his weapon, was unhinged and Chaelnomyl would have admired in less straining circumstances the fierceness of a Myrian who was ready to crack some skulls … with a farm tool, no less.

Butterfly wings sprung to action and forced the female Akvatari back to her brother’s side, a single hand resting on his shoulder and her tail flippers curled towards him ever so slightly, as if somehow they would protect him. Protect them both. However, considering the immense strength in Djed that the Archwizard possessed, and the three that would be attempting the coup were likely very skilled as well, Chaelnomyl’s mind quickly reserved itself into the realization that they were in a very unhappy situation. Not that this wasn’t common for her mind, but rarely was her life threatened by such depressing circumstances. Her mind filtered through possible actions, despite that the Akvatari were not one for violence – if it came to it, fins morphed into something consistent with, say, bone would certainly hurt when dragged across the face. However, it wouldn’t come to that. It couldn’t.

They were all intelligent beings – surely they could reason through it. That would be the first approach. Logic and reason. Oh, Chaelnomyl hoped that the strange glowing-morphing-celestial being would not strike first and ask questions later. With a question of what was to be done in her mind, the Akvatari’s eyes scanned between Mashaen and Qiao, expecting a reaction. It was not her place to reason with the three, not yet. They couldn’t even see them. Didn’t know their intentions, their complaints. Normally when violence was thought of an option, it was merely because those in question did not understand how to work through their differences civilly. She could guide them in that aspect, as could Dranquay – of that, the Akvatari was confident.

But for now? Her hand tightened on Dranquay's bare shoulder ever so slightly and her fins curled back up towards her body with a hidden amount of tension. It was difficult in such strenuous situations not to show some bit of apprehension, for as Abura had been quite non-violent with no reason to become violent – ever – it was one thing to advocate civil discourse and another thing to suggest it in the face of a half dozen or more men and women that very well could kill you with their very thoughts.

[Ialari Pythone]

With Drainira's warning and the explosion of stone, Ialari reacted more on instinct than prepared thought. If she would have thought about it, she would have stepped back and allowed others to take the initial onslaught of whatever was to come in order to prepare her own response based on what then took place. Trial and error, experiment and observe was her normal way of handling things. This situation however did not allow time for study thus she acted as any Isur would, be strong, patient and defend that which is important to you. Her interest and focus was on the golem and that is what she jumped to protect. While the undead could handle themselves; evident by their nonchalance, Ialari had noted what was said about others within the citadel not taking well to what the Archwizard had been doing as of late.

To Ialari, the golem must have been their target thus she hurried to it so that she stood between it and the now blasted entrance to the laboratory. Though not at all capable of standing against one much less three masters of magic, she trusted in Izurdin to see things went as they were destined. Holding out her metallic arm toward the intruders as if to ward them off, she used her body to shield the golem. This was a conflict between the undead and she would leave that to them. She would not however allow harm to come to such a work of art like the golem-girl.

In the ever so brief moments between the exploding entrance and whatever came next, Ialari wondered what the others would attempt. Would they try and fight off the unnatural intruders or would they allow the political struggle between the undead to be handled by those most capable. There was little time to ponder beyond that as she doubted either side was in the mood for observation and thought ahead of response. In her own mind, if she were the Archmage, she would have annihilated the potential threats before they had gotten to this point.

[Dranquay]

A fingertip traced map symbols and the Akvatari nodded, he had located the settlement easily enough when given the correct information and identified it; and learnt that at the very least the Nuit were aware of modern geography if nothing else before the room had exploded.

Dranquay had succeeded in rolling up the map after making sure he understood it and replaced it in the cylinder when things happened, his eyes flickering to the Nuit after Drainira’s words, the tone in them….fascinating as much for its care as much as for its urgency.

Gods. The warning might not have been enough emotion to make it urgent but there was a certain…unease that seemed to permeate through the fact it was being spoken by a sentient building, permeating still further through into the explosion as the world became light and Dranquay held up his hand against flying shards of debris.

But Akuaysun was already moving between himself, Chael and the door for some reason the Akvatari was unstable to understand as he took a deeper breath and fluttered several steps backward, wrapping his arms protectively about himself and his satchel as Chael clenched his shoulder and curled her fins uncertainly. The Power!

The Akvatari cringed in knowledge of it, in awareness as the only other figure than the Archwizard mage-trained in the room he of course could figure well enough why the mysterious Myrian had chosen to put himself between Dranquay and the newcomers, but it didn’t mean he had to particularly find it a wise move given that they were mages in possession of enough power to probably level a goodly portion of the keep if they so decided to Overgive.

Yet to Dranquay this was not his discussion and he was but a spectator; and a poorly dressed one at that. His knowledge of the Void was not an offensive weapon as far as he saw it, a fascination and a curiousity that he had very very rarely used in his own defense… so perhaps in that respect he was almost grateful to the Myrian for his movement.

However self-interested.

But none of these realisations could hide his sorrow as his wings drooped and flapped just enough to keep him in the air and his shoulder slumped under Chael’s hand.

Bipedals. Certainly if the Akvatari needed a curse word he was beginning to suspect Bipedal would probably suffice. It stood for everything emotional and lusty and angsty and virulent that existed in the world and for better or worse; probably for worse, every figure in this room exhibited it in one way or another.

Therefore perhaps there were advantages to being Akvatari? Certainly an odd thought given their circumstances…but Dranquay could not help but feel some of his philosophy vindicated given the present mess they found himself in as he waited behind Akuaysun.

And said nothing.

This was not his dispute; it was for the Archwizard to resolve and he would not step in unless it was clear that some other kind of influence might be of assistance. The Isur clearly thought the same as she stood back and he was in no mood to intervene in something he was by and large uninvolved with except by accident.

None the less his mind did think of the Void, preparing, searching for the inner calm and depths he found so fascinating about it just in case he needed to call upon it; he had practiced before catching things with it as an exercise in mental ability and an exploration; however poor his ability it was better than nothing.