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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 4003862" data-attributes="member: 2323">[PLAIN][Realms #422] Where Do We Stand?[/PLAIN]"A bit less than a day," Ixin told him and Huzair's expression grew surprised."Huh! It seemed a lot longer at the time, and I'm definitely bushed now." He stifled back a yawn. "Time works differently on the astral plane - like there is not any. I mean there is. Time passes but you do not feel it. It is very...""Weird?" the drakeling offered and Huzair nodded."That fits as well as any other word," he said with a grin."What did you learn?" Shamalin asked. She took a drink from her waterskin, doing her best to wash away the foul taste of Huzair's perverted thoughts, and failing. "Should we try to return to the astral plane with you now?" The wizard shook his head."I do not believe that it is time to go now, but we have a lead in the future," he told her and now it was Shamalin's turn to look surprised."But you said you knew something that can help us pursue Dridana's heart," she snapped."I believe I was in error," the mage admitted reluctantly. "Dridana's body may be on the astral plane. Dead gods float there. I sincerely misspoke about Dridana's heart being there, but are we not supposed to unite the heart with the body? We will have to go some time." Karak harrumphed."Well lads and lassie's, what do we do from 'ere? Do we need to rest and then head out towards the white one's famous pull?" the dwarf asked, hands resting easily on the handle of his axe. "If so I suggest the elf set up a perimeter with her bow and one o' us stand guard near the camp. Then Huzair switch with the elf in the perimeter since he has range spells and thief abilities. I will stand first guard." Huzair's face brightened at mention of the scout and he craned his neck around the cramped cave."I did not hear from my beauty, Anania. Where is she? Is she scouting? She must be hiding, knowing I was going to give her a big hug," saying that he looked at meaningfully at Shamalin. "By the look on your face you got more than a hug." He winked at her and the half-elf turned her head in disgust."I am here, Huzair," Anania spoke up from the cave entrance. She had been standing guard on the staircase while the others first argued amongst themselves who was best suited to pass through the portal, then over whether it was best for that person to be carrying many magic items or only one, and ultimately while they spoke with the returning wizard. She favored him now with a smile, saying,"I am glad that you are well. The mood toward me has soured since you left.""Oh?" Huzair remarked, looking around at the others for explanation and looking particularly hard at Karak. "What did the mean dwarf say to you, sweet flower?""It wasn't Karak," Shamalin said quickly turning a challenging eye on Huzair. Then she too looked around at the others. "And is anyone going to back me up in insisting that Anania no longer send her eyeball messages? I think they are too risky, regardless of whether the last one was intercepted or not. I say save them for a time when we might need a call for help. No more updates for Hofrilax." With this last sentence she turned and met the wood elves gaze. Anania did not look away; a slight tightening of her almond-shaped eyes was the only betrayal of emotion she exhibited."You raise a good point, lass, about those eyeballs," Karak said, unmindful of the staring contest going on to his left. "Maybe this not be the time to be sendin' 'em anymore. But I do nae think the elf's a'gonna like that.""I think Anania is smart enough to realize that - despite her allegiances to Hofrilax - she may be putting us in danger by sending the eye messages," Shamalin said evenly, her gaze never wavering from the scout's. Anania's eyes narrowed to slits."My being smart enough does not figure into this situation, Mercybringer," the elf maid said, her voice every bit as even and controlled as Shamalin's had been. "What does are Lord Hofralix's wishes. He gave you all much and asked little in return. But one thing he did demand is to be kept appraised of the situation as it develops. I will not disappoint him." Then she broke gaze with Shamalin and turned up the stairs. "As Karak has suggested, I will set up a perimeter."For a moment there was silence except for the breathing of the six members of the Order in the small cave. At last Shamalin turned and in a low voice said, "We'll have to deal with that.""What?!" Huzair scoffed. "I am gone for less than a day and the cleric grows a bigger pair than the dwarf? What has gotten into you?""Trust is in short supply," Morier informed him and Karak snorted his agreement."Aye, lass, e'en though you scried his mind, what if this just be an exact duplicate of the real Huzair who is still trapped on the astral plane?" Karak asked the cleric. "And how do we know he be nae ensorscelled or charmed to lure us inta a trap?!""The only thing I have done that should make you guys not trust me is that I did not tell you I could kick Whitey's ass. Your aggressive assertions that people are not trustworthy makes them not want to help you," the wizard explained. "I was always told to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Got that one from the thieves guild. Letting people know you do not trust them only makes them sneakier.""He's got a point there," Ixin chuckled and Morier scowled at the wizard, studying him carefully."Despite that fact, now that it has been said, I'll admit that I am also more than just a little skeptical about Huzair," the albino said. "I'd say it would be wise for us to keep a pretty constant eyeball on him for the immediate time being.""Look, I am not trying to lure you anywhere," Huzair said, holding up his hands defensively. "Let us keep following Whitey's pull. Seriously, I am being agreeable.""Yeah... and there's absolutely nothing suspicious about that," Morier countered.</blockquote>

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