The Secret Scion

[Ferrix]

The Apartment
"A blade gallery, oh, I don't know if that really is the place for a Lady, I might stay home with you Rayni." Shenystari was hoping for something more along a social gala, a weapon show was not her cup of tea after all.

[sblock=Isida]

When do you want to do this? With witnesses present (Mel or Rayni)? Or alone? Soon, or after you discover a bit more about the Illuminated Minds?

She'd like to do it with Bail and Rayni present, Bail for the physical support and Rayni for the educated and emotional support she offers Shenystari. She'll probably wait to see if Mel turns anything up within a few days, but won't wait longer than a week.

They might be worried about it, as it could be a way to increase the numbers of sleeper agents in the city. They might already know. They could think you're an agent. A simple letter or hint, something indirect, may work easiest. Perhaps an annoymous invitation to one of Arden's open meetings?

Does Arden ever give speeches or meetings in public settings? If he does, the invitation will be to one of these public events, as a private event could easily put an innocent kalashtar in greater danger. Regardless, Shenystari will compose an anonymous letter to the Kalashtar enclave regarding Arden Fair and the Illuminated Minds as if she were a student of his doing some extra research and noting the similarity between his methods and the esoterics of the kalashtar community. She'll take on a note of superiority in her writing, as if inviting the Kalashtar to one of his meetings is an great honor for them to attend (something she believes one of her affluent friends would be likely say). The invitation will be for a specific date, in about two weeks time when she hopes to attend with Bail, Rayni and Mel as well.[/sblock]

[sblock=Bail, Mel and Rayni/The Next Morning]The next day when you all wake up, Shenystari has already prepared a delightful looking breakfast. She'd woken up before the sun rose and headed off to a local market to purchase fresh produce, then returned and worked in the kitchen for sometime. The subtle smells waft through the apartment.

Laid out on the table is a spread of more common kalashtar cuisine, a series of fruit sauces, each with a delicate blend of spices, and shredded cheeses line the center of the table, while stacks of thin crepes are placed at either end of the table. Two pitchers one of an iced Adaran tea and the other a blend of juice reside on either side of the table.

"I thought that it would be nice to have breakfast together this morning. We have a few things that I'd like to talk about."[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=Bail's Angels]*Rayni is almost certainly already awake, as she only does four hours of trance. She would be delighted to help Sheny with the recipes and learn a few Kalashtar ingredients. Perhaps as a bit of a surprise, she asks after the names of the dishes in fluent Riedran/Quori (She has both but I don't know which one would be the language with the food in it). Either way, she is in the kitchen with everyone when the time comes for the discussion.*

"I'm all ears, Sheny. Did you do some thinking about the business from yesterday?"[/SBLOCK]

 

[Bront]

[sblock=Rayni]"But I am Melonie! I thought he'd be even happier about that." Mel sniffs and wipes an eye. "Bail's just... I don't know Raynie, but he's nice, and has a good heart, and I thought he cared about me. I just feal safer when he's near, and... it's just so hard to say Rayni. He's a silly and sweet boy at times, then at other times..."

She sighs and turns her head down. "Could you talk to him?" [/sblock]

"Sadly, I still believe it is not worth the risk that I would be spotted...all of you, or at least all of you who stepped up to defend me, would be in grave danger if I am spotted, and who better than a Thuranni elf to recognise an Aerenal elf posing as Khorvaire or Valenar, even if they didn't know me personally?"

"I think it's an event that few Aerenal elves would even be interested in, so Valenar would be an easy cover Rayni. You don't need to say much, just admire the blades and enjoy the atmosphere." Mel smiles, "I can help you too, you're doing great Rayni. When you try, I can't tell, and I even know you're not."

 

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=Mel]"Mel, when you saw the signs that he cares for you, you were right. He does care for you, and that makes it hard for him to sort out his emotions. He is thinking of all the possible reasons for every tiny little thing you did instead of acting decisively with his heart. Men do that sometimes...I think maybe if I explain that you are as lonely and scared as he is, if he will believe me, then that will help a lot, as it dispels all his worst fears, the ones that are obviously not true but he still fears, like that maybe you were using him."

"In any case, I will definitely talk to Bail as soon as I can get him alone."[/SBLOCK]

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Oh, you guys are incorrigible, you know that!" Rayni grins widely despite her words, "But you may be right. If I live in fear of my every move, I will die in obscurity and never live up to the standards of the Honoured Ancestors."

"Now there are a few details though--First, aren't my hair and eye colour unusual for Valenar? Second, could you get me a list of honest-to-goodness Valenar ancestors that I can use? If anyone would be able to detect that I'm making up random ancestors, it would be a true Valenar."

 

[Ferrix]

[sblock=Bail's Angels]Shenystari is wholly glad to have the company of Rayni and more than willing to share her knowledge of Kalashtar cuisine with the elf. When Rayni speaks in her own tongue Shenyastari's face lights up, she hadn't spoken Quor for quite some time.

The conversation flows for some time while they cook, she talks about kalashtar cuisine and domestic life, the contemplative nature of all the activities of their day, each activity served a purpose in the great Path of Light and sheshan talarash dasyannah (dancing with the shadows on the path to light). For once she wasn't afraid to tell someone about her people and her home. The story of her travel from Adar to Sharn with her caretaker, how he had gone mad from the nightmares the Dreaming Dark inflicted upon him, and how she had been expelled from her community, blamed for his madness.[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=Sheny]*Rayni listens intently and compassionately to Sheny's story, offering quiet words of support and squeezing her friend's hand at the emotional moments when Sheny needs comfort, but otherwise not interrupting her companion's train of thought. Afterwards, she speaks in Quor, since she has seen how Sheny's eyes light up to hear her language again:*

"Sheny...we two are sisters more than we knew, then. You see, I am much like you. I was perhaps the worst Wizard in all of Aerenal. Only the simplest Magic Missiles and Orbs or Beams of Energy were within my grasp, and even those would often be unleashed in uncontrolled power. I thought for just a little bit that I might actually be a Psion, as I had heard tales that they can fire Energy Rays and the like, and so I studied your people and their language, reading what few texts I could find, but I determined that I was not a Psion either, as heavy armour interrupted my magic like a true Wizard...But even so, my power is still not always in control...you saw that that night...People who get close to me are always in danger...One day, my friend...my dearest friend...my power lashed out and killed him! He was of a powerful house in Aerenal, with connections the Dragonmarked houses, and so I was banished from Aerenal forever, perhaps almost as much to protect me from my powerful enemies, I am beginning to think as I had to flee pursuers all the way to Sharn, as to remove a hated pariah from their midst."[/SBLOCK]

 

[stonegod]

Tondrek looks at both Strange Eyes and Silent Elves with sad puppy dog eyes. Okay, really, their sad, watery half-orc eyes, but that's what he has. "You no go? But fun magic and metal! Last party I went to had drinks, and warforged, and funny decorations, and..." Tondrek's voice drifts off, as if remembering something. In a softer voice, "...and bad stuff. But that won't happen here. Probably. Likely. I hope."

[OOC: I now have a list of everyone's Tondrek names (see the bottom). Will keep updated as things develop. Now you too can be as confused as Tondrek!]

 

[Bront]

[sblock=Rayni]"Thank you Rayni"

Mel gives Rayni a hug, and thoug still seemly upset, she seems much less so than when she arived. She heads out to get some sleep.[/sblock]

OOC: I'll get with Bail's angels soon, I promise

 

[D20Dazza]

[sblock=Bail's Angels]Bail arrives in the kitchen late, his hair is unkempt and his eyes are blood shot, dark marks circle his eyes, it looks as though he has not slept at all. Seeing the breakfast laid out before him he silently drops into a chair and scratches at the stubble on his chin while he sullenly watches the others eat.[/sblock]