Brave New Planes

[Endur]

After purchasing a gift for Brystasia and getting some practice with his new sword, the Cimmerian returns to his contemplation of the practical.

He makes some inquiries amongst the mercenaries guild to see what the market is like for mercenaries, thinking of himself as either a buyer or a seller or both.

He also looks at horses that are for sale in this City of Splendors.

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

After purchasing a gift for Brystasia and getting some practice with his new sword, the Cimmerian returns to his contemplation of the practical.

He makes some inquiries amongst the mercenaries guild to see what the market is like for mercenaries, thinking of himself as either a buyer or a seller or both.

He also looks at horses that are for sale in this City of Splendors.

Mercenaries are in short supply; Luskan is hiring heavily, amidst growing tensions between them and Mirabar. It is very much a seller's market.

The horseflesh available is wide and varied, but the best horses aren't native at all, but imported from Zakhara to the south.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Brystasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Avenger/Favored Soul/Heartwarder)

Hestia is shocked to find the bed empty, and made for the most part, and is independently worried about Brystasia safety. Her concern is apparent in her voice as she cross the small chamber, “Milady? Are you here?”

The only sound is of splashing water and she quickly heads to the bathroom. The sight of Brystasia, her hair up and out of the water, soaking in a hot water brings relief to her face, “Milady you are up considerable early this morning.” With her normal curiosity she continues, “Is there anything that is pressing today?”

Brystasia keeps her eyes closed as if she’s meditating upon something, “Good morning, Hestia. No there is nothing pressing today. I woke up early and simply wanted to get my day started.”

Hestia looks confused and unbelieving but none of it carries in her voice, “Excellent milady! I shall lay out your clothing for today then.”

Brystasia opens her blue eyes and looks at her with a thankful smile on her face, “Hestia, you are truly a wonderful doll. Thank you, and in fact, I think I shall buy you a gift today,”

Hestia looks happily surprised but it’s apparent that this is a rather common occurrence, “Think you milady but you are far to generous to me. You clothes are laid out and if you have nothing you request of me I shall leave you to your pressing business.” She winks as she turns and leaves.

Dried and dressed Brystasia leaves her chamber and heads to the guest quarters where her other companions have been staying. She hesitates for a second but finds the nerve to knock softly on Sandorel’s door.

 

[Serpenteye]

Earlier.

Sandorel closes the book with a frown of disgust. He had spent most of the evening searching for useful information about trancendant magics, but found nothing but general speculation and obsolete theories. In a way he had found some of what he had been looking for. The studies had distracted him from more sentimental preoccupations, and some of it had probably led him in the right direction. He was more certain now that his formulas were correct. Now there was only one thing to do; Test them out in practice.

He opened a rift in reality and stepped trough into a sparesly furnished room. It had been too long since he last visited his home, but he was pleased to see that it had been kept impeccably clean in his absence. He sat down for a moment to organise his thoughts and assume the role and persona of leader and teacher once again. Then he walked out the door and onto the main street of the monastery of Hubris.
It was late in the day and the street was almost empty of people. Therefore it didn't take long for him to walk the short distance to the Abbot's quarters, exchanging greetings with the brothers and sisters along the way. The spirit of the siblings seemed high, and as he walked among them he felt his own sadness melt away under the warmth of their welcome. They were obviously pleased and relieved to see him again.
The monastery was a fairly informal organisation, built more on respect of merits than on a strict hierarchy. Steps would soon have to be taken to make it more efficient, though. Otherwise it could never expand the way Sandorels plans required. Even with its many shortcomings it was hard not to feel pride in what he had built.

The Abbot was a fit man for his sixty years, unbent by the difficult life he had led. They quickly exchanged their formal greetings and them went on to friendlier conversation. Sandorel filled him in on his interrupted campain in the Theocracy of Pale, the Seer's quest and death. And the Abbot reported of the state of the monastery. Finally Sandorel revealed the true reason for his return. He had at long last reached the power and ability to cast magic of the highest order. A new world of potential had opened for him and for the brotherhood. They would soon rise to far greater power and they would have to work together to achieve their glorious destiny.

"Gather all of our people together in the square tomorrow at noon, let them know before hand that they must not use any of their spells before that time. I need their full power. Let them know that we are at the beginning of a new age."

He pulls a heavy pouch of gold out of a pocket of his haversack and puts in on the table between them. (ooc: -1000 gp)

"I'm sure you can find some good use for this. Farewell my friend, I will see you tomorrow."

He returns to his room and rests for a few hours. Then he opens another Gate and steps back to his quarters in the temple of Sune just in time to hear Brystasia knock on his door.

He opens it, stands still for a moment just looking at her. Then he takes a step back and invites her in.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Brystasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Avenger/Favored Soul/Heartwarder)

Brystasia having heard movement was giving her classic smile when the door opened but the moment of silence made her wonder if he was still mad at her. Slipping gracefully into the room she lightly kisses his cheek silently relieved to find no physical signs of her slap

While still close she gives an apologetic look, “Sandorel, I’m sorry for yesterday… I had no right to do that to you.”

 

[Serpenteye]

He looks at her with a sad smile of his face, moved by her kiss but still firmly in control of himself.

"And I shouldn't have said some of the things I did. It was rash and ill considered, and even though I still feel that my words were true I could have handled the situation better. I'm sorry too, and I hope we can put this behind us."

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Brystasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Avenger/Favored Soul/Heartwarder)

Brystasia smiles at his sincere words, “Sandorel, we are both adults so I have no doubt we can positively move past yesterday.” She pauses as a slight frown forms on her elegant face, “I had no desire to make you test your faith and I will not place you in that type of situation again. Also I feel I should warn you that I’ve left more than a few hearts broken and shattered. It hurt me deeply and its something I never want to do again so maybe this is all for the better.”

She shakes her head slightly as she remembers her reason for being here this morning, “Shall we go back and get the rest of those items checked?”

 

[Endur]

Conan buys the best horse he can find in the City of Splendors.

The Cimmerian talks to the other adventurers who assisted him against the Seer and mentions the rumors he has heard regarding the monsters in Undermountain and the possibility of war between Luskan and Mirabar.

Conan prefers the idea of traveling to Luskan and/or Mirabar. A war may be far more profitable than a dank dungeon.

 

[Serpenteye]

He smiles back at her, burying the pain too deep to feel it.
"Yes, we should go."

He picks up his Haversack and walks out with her. Encountering Conan on the way out he asks him and Brystasia a few questions about Luskan, Mirabar and their conflict.

 

[Velenne]

Antillis spends the day floating high above the city in the coterminous realm of the Ethereal. The bracers of its upper pair of arms have sprouted some sort of extensions which completely cover the Xill's claws. It holds one item at a time with its lower pair of hands while the armor works.

Beams of a bluish light run along each item from the extensions, brief flashes running up the beam into the armor at fixed intervals. After a period of time, the object is worn away to a fine dust which is slowly carried off in the faint but constant Ethereal Wind that goes back to Limbo.

As this is going on under the Skin's supervision, a continual display shows up inside the Hunter's visor. The images sort through a history of Xill warfare but Antillis is less concerned with history and more concerned with one of its ancestors. While typically a Xill bears little allegiance to the fallen, one member of society in particular is still spoken of in reverent tones. Okraxiss was a General among Generals, a Chieftan of many clans and a warrior beyond comparison. It was believed to weild a combispear of immense power which it used to cow all who would oppose it.

The Combispear of Okraxiss.

The Hunter issues a wet clicking noise from behind its mask. It continues the trill for many moments as at last the image and specifications of the Combispear fill its view. It studies for nearly an hour as the armor finishes its own work on the relatively simple cannibalization of a set of magic gloves. The extensions retreat back into the bracers upon completion.

Holding Brysasia's cumbersome bag across its back with its upper-left claw, Antillis decends and tracks the woman down. To its chagrin, she is walking next to the enormous human and the now-smaller, olive-skinned spellcaster. Antillis holds back and observes them.

The Hunter's Skin is now constantly displaying messages inside its visor, having awoken a new seed of intelligence. A row along the top shows the phonetic interpretation of their words while a line just below translates this into Infernal, allowing the Xill a better understanding of their ridiculous language. The Hunter agrees greatly with this new feature of its armor and hopes it will allow for a clarified communication of its desires in the future.

Antillis watches patiently until a moment of privacy will allow it to appear before them.