Build a Seldan
Log Info
- Title: Build a Seldan
- Emitter: Aftershock
- Characters: Seldan, Morgan, Kira, Cryosanthia
- Place: A10 Temple District
- Time: Friday, June 19, 2020, 6:12 PM
- Summary: Seldan is talking with his sword, Reunion, out in the Temple District. Morgan and Kira join him, and then there is a third, surprising visitor. Tanithariairisixchel, or Tanith, the tiny gold dragon, appears, happy yet agitated. She alights on Seldan and seems taken with his earing, attempting to remove it. Cryosanthia arrives, interrupting her mission to pray at Temples to fawn over Tanith, as she has priority. Tanith makes mention of Fake People, and the sith latches onto this, drawing out a further explanation and finally convincing the dragon to show the group. Suddenly they are all whisked away to the Arcanist's Guild, except for Morgan, in time to witness a second Seldan heading inside. Immediately the group tries to follow, but the oft-abused and fooled guards are on alert, and one of them remembers Cryo as a particular problem. Tanith teleports inside, pulls the Not-Seldan out, whereup Cryo and Kira grab him while Seldan starts questionning him, and asking a guard to get a mage. Not-Seldan teleports and has to be retrieved by Tanith a second time. The guard returns with a mage, revealing that Guard Jorge has been found dead. A struggle ensues with Not-Seldan being captured by Seldan's resiliant sphere. He refuses to answer questions, stabbing himself with an already bloodied dagger, and turns to snow and melts. Everyone is shocked, and Seldan immediately heads inside to check on his mother, Tanith in tow, while Cryo and Kira wait outside for some very good reasons.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The air of solemn, heavy divinity in the area is often broken by laughter. The dual presence of the deities Althea and Daeus, man and wife, stand towards the center, with their children and their children's temples positioned around them. The presence of the divine is felt not only by their temples, but also by the actions of their worshipers. The great plaza is as a social center, paved in brilliant, white flagstones and covered in benches and sitting areas. Priests, acolytes, and servicefolk of all stripes roam the plaza, going from one task to the other.
At the front of the temples of Daeus and Althea, at the Plaza's centermost point, rests a great fountain, the cheerful waters reflecting the Sun during the day, and the Moon and Stars at night. The fountain is strategically centered, and is oft a place for wisdom and lesson-giving. It is not uncommon for a priest of some stripe or the other to stand there, surrounded by the curious and faithful, delivering messages of hope or contemplation. At other times, it and the plaza become a landscape of celebration of the holy holidays.
Few vendors are seen in the plaza--the nearby temples provide most food or services. Towards the west, the great Bridge stretches across the river, and towards the east, the Redridge mountains. The plaza rests in the midst of it all, the temples massive and grand on the Alexandrian scale.
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. Morgan 4'10" 79 Lb Half-Elf Female Short pixy like half elf with fair skin Kira 5'0" 120 Lb Human Female Blonde woman in simple robes with an eye patch. Cryosanthia 6'9" 267 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Aftershock =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
If it has to be humid and nasty outside, can it at least be sunny? Apparently not, at least not today. Seldan has again decided to dress down, out of acknowledgement of an Alexandrian summer, opting for sleeveless shirt belted into trousers instead of armor and low boots instead of shoes. He's skipped the thin silver headband, today, but a tiny likeness of a dragon in some silvery metal is perched over and around and clinging to his right ear instead. He's sitting cross-legged on one of the benches by the fountain, Reunion unsheathed across his lap, examining its edge critically.
"I -told- you we were looking shabby, but did you listen? NOOOOOOOOO." The irascible old man's voice is speaking now.
"In truth have I drawn you seldom of late, and used you more seldom still," Seldan answers. "I ... had not looked."
"And why is that, hmmmmm?"
"The enemies I face want other weapons, and you would not like that black slime on you. It is acid."
"That's what a good cleaning and polishing is for."
Morgan comes walking from behind the temples but she was making a short cut to get to the fountain in the center. She is wearing her full adventuring outfit but does look like the weather is not bothering her at all. Taking a seat at the fountain she runs a now gloveless hand in the water.
Kira enters the temple plaza from the southern bridge. Her basket is once again present, though its contents are minimal due to the return trip. As she heads in the direction of the fountain towards The Healer's temple, she spies (and hears) both Seldan and Reunion.
"Hello," she greets them all, "how are you all, today?"
The day, hot, humid, and unpleasant as it is, is broken by the sound of a high-pitched and unhappy sound. Into the temple district comes a flash of golden color. It's impossible to make out what it is a blinking sometimes-there sometimes-not blur of gold that is quite suddenly attached to Seldan's shoulder.
A light weight that make's itself known with the sound of ragged running-breathing that puffs warmly against the side of Seldan's neck. The tiny golden - dragon - yes it seems that it's a - dragon - though one the size of a house cat is curled on his shoulder warily looking about as if trying to see everything at once. She lets out a low humming noise and... is she purring? It seems like it. "Foundgoodpeoples. Hellogoodpeoples." Her speech is very quick, and certainly female in its lightness. It's a voice that fits her little body.
Morgan smiles as she notices the little dragon "Hello my friend you know you have a paladin growing out of you." said in Draconic and then switches to Tradespeak "Hello Seldan." is all she says after hand waving her hands to dry them before she puts on her gloves.
Seldan starts visibly, and palpably, at the sudden weight on his shoulder, but not angrily so. "Ai, what-" he starts, craning his neck to get a good look at what just took up residence. "Her light upon your path, Loremaster, what - who - is that?"
Kira startles at the arrival of the little dragon. A familiar little dragon, even... as opposed to a little dragon familiar. "Oh! Hello!" she offers with a smile. Hopefully Kira doesn't mangle the rest as she attempts to add the dragon's name, and in Draconic. One she can't easily pronounce in Trade and the other she's still learning. "Tanitharia...irisi..chel?"
"Tanithariairisixchel." Offers the tiny dragon in response, and perhaps with just a touch of reproach. Which is not perhaps surprising if someone were to mangle /your/ name so badly. She sniffs and tilts her head. Which puts her looking rather at Seldan's ear and hums in approval before playfully booping his earring with her nose. "Goodpeoples. Goodpeoplesnotgrowfromme. Goodpeoplesisbeingsaton." She peers at Morgan pointedly.
Morgan nods with a smirk "Its a joke one says to a child that being carried on a adults shoulders." she is amused with the little one "But I do hope the day is good for you both."
The ornament perched on Seldan's ear dislodges just a little at the playful boop, and is now sitting precariously, crooked, balanced atop the right ear. To observers, it doesn't -look- crooked, but she can feel that it is, a definite dissonance. "Sentinel Kira," Seldan greets, although he doesn't seem to have noticed, either, as curious as he is about what just sat on him. "I ... your name is Tanitharia ... forgive my slowness. May I have your name again?"
Kira winces some at the correction and nods. "I'm sorry, Tanithariairisixchel, " she takes more care this time, and obviously speaks it (and maybe everything else) far slower than the owner. Possibly for Seldan's benefit as well. "I meant no offense. It's been too long since we met, and it's good to see you! How are you? What brings you here? Did you find enough fish?"
To Seldan, after, she explains, "She is a friend, Seldan. A very energetic and helpful one.
Cryosanthia exits the Temple of Althea on a mission for gods. She has a particular temple in mind, the Temple of Daeus, but she's not in a hurry and takes the time to look around. She spots Seldan, Kira and Morgan, although the Silver Guard is hard to recognize when he's dressed down. Not that he's unfamiliar, but his armour does catch the eye the way a sleeveless shirt doesn't. Or at least, catches the eye in a different way.
Both of which are out-done by a glittering, gold reflection on his ear. Is it? Yes! The whitescale sith immediately changes course and heads their way. "Tanithariairisixchel! Seldan, Kira! ... Morgan. Hello!"
Morgan reaches in her haversack and gets a small pouch "Would you like some candy blueberrys Tanithariairisixchel others of your kind love when I bring them to the guild." she offers the small cat size dragon.
"Tanithariairisixchel." The little dragon says again, this time moderately more slowly, though not as slowly as Kira who speaks just before she does. "Iwasrunningfromfakepeople. Notnicefakepeople. Saidmeanthings!" She sounds relitively grumpy about it, but also... slightly distracted? She eyes Seldan's earring. Finally, unable to help herself, she paws at the piece of jewelery until it comes entirely loose and then catches it in her little paws and proceeds to sniff it curiously and with obvious pleasure.
Then she perks up at Kira, eyeing the woman with wide gold eyes. "Fish? Wherefish? Fakepeoplesaidnofishever. Notnice!" Her eyes shift over to Cryosanthia and she gives a little wiggle on Seldan's shoulders, but stays. Cradels the little earring she's managed to catch in her tiny paws. "Hellonicepeople!"
The offer of blueberries has her sniffing toward Morgan and then grinning with all her wide sharp teeth. "Yestreats! Ihavebeenverygood." She wiggles again, this time more purposefully to show off her brilliant golden scales.
The earring tumbles off entirely for Tanithariairisixchel, and Seldan blinks, starts, then smiles sheepishly as the earring itself seems to remain on his ear. He looks around, then quietly removes something else, a something that turns out to be a red velvet hat with arcane stitching around the brim. At once, the earring image disappears, and a gem-encrusted, complex-looking headband appears, but that is the extent of the change, other than the hat in his hand. "She is quite right," he answers, looking down at the unsheathed blade in his lap. "I have no need of this, on this day."
The blade in his lap speaks, a kindly if slightly nasal old woman. "Seldan, I understand why you do, but you really oughtn't to concern yourself so much with what people think. Oh! How delightful," the voice adds. "But the little dragon has your jewelry."
"I know, Fallia. It is no trouble, for now." He curiously leaves the other matter alone.
"We had the most wonderful day a couple months ago, I shellac'd her claws, polished some scales, we went shopping for Fish and Hot sauce. She showed me her home..." Cryo says eagerly, bouncing on her feet. "I've been keeping the room Mikilos makes for me full of fish in case you showed up Tanithariairisixchel."
The white sith tilts her head, "What's this about fake people? How are they fake? Are they fake like the last one you sent back for me? Seeanyroundrightnow? wecanchaseoffforyou." She grins as treats are offered, mentally kicking herself for not picking up any. Morgan loves Psudodragons and made friends with all of them at the guild and knows what they like. She walks close and offers the small pouch "you can have them all Tanithariairisixchel, and come by the guild some day I have some cooked crikets."
At a few words from the sword the tiny dragon can not help but peek curiously over the arch of Seldan's shoulder to look at it. "Swordtalk?" She sounds somewhat offended and yet amused by the concept before shaking her head and wraping her tail around Seldan for better balance. It also helps show off her lovely tail. "Fish? Fishwhere?"
She is it seems, very easily distracted by fish talk, but she allows herself to be led to the topic of her own words which is that there is a 'fakepeople' somewhere. She looks around a little bit as if to be sure that they are quite alone and tucks the earring she captured under her belly. "FakepeopleoverbywhereIhavebeenstaying. Waswalkingtowardplace. Isaid 'hellofakepeoples' andhegotmad."
With Morgan offering up the treat the reason that she'd stuffed the earring under her belly is made clear - so that she can stuff her face into the bag and eat the blueberries. There's the sound of chomping and bitting and eatting. Possibly even the sound of licking to get to the more stubborn blueberries that do not want to get eatten.
"Cryo!" Kira calls out and waves happilly, further delighted and excited by the reunion. Of sith and dragon, that is. Not the sword. No offense. Watching Tanith hungrily eat the treats, she suddenly wishes she had brought some. She doubts bread qualifies.
Bemused by the whole thing, Seldan blinks several more time as Tanithariairisixchel wraps tail around his neck for balance, and presses his lips together, but does not complain. "Yes, they talk," he answers absently, but the sword has much more to say. "Your new friend is simply delightful, Seldan. Where did you come from, oh beautiful one?" the kindly old woman's voice says.
Meanwhile, Seldan tucks the hat in his hands beneath the blade on his lap, letting the conversation swirl around him. "Ah, is this the one of whom you spoke, Cryosanthia?"
Cryo embraces Kira in a strong, cold hug, holding tightly then slipping free, leaving one hand resting on her forearm. She can't help but grin, widely and with many teeth, as Tanithariairisixchel digs into the blueberries. Her eyes focus on Seldan, nodding slowly and solemnly, then also at Morgan, Kira again, "Yes, this is she. We should really look into what she's found."
Then the sith switches to speaking to the tiny gold dragon, matching her speed of phrase, pitch, and rushed wording. "Cryowantshelp! WhereTanithariairisixchelstaying? Fakepeopleschaseorhurtorjustmadwords?"
Morgan smiles and lets the little Gecko keep it all as she looks up to another flying psuodragon "damn they need me now." she sighs and says to the ones around her "Enjoy the day every one." said before she flys off to the other dragon that leads her way.
Raising her head from the now-empty bag of blueberries the tiny dragon peers down once again at the sword. Clearly she's a bit bemused herself with the fact that it is talking to her. "Fromveryfaraway. Butalsoverycloseifyouknowhowtogo. Iamverygoodattraveling." She seems proud of this fact, preening a little bit as she arches her neck to best advanatge. Dragon on full display.
"Iamstayingat... people-place." She makes a motion with her paw as if to indicate a tall building. Her discription isn't very... descriptive. "Icantake!" Her tail releases Seldan's neck, and she looks ready to go if that's what the 'peoples' want.
Kira returns the embrace, then resumes her interest in Tanith. She doesn't try to match speed, though, and shares an ample amount of her smile with Seldan, nodding even as Cryo answers his question. "She is delightful, isn't she?" The reminder of fake people (it's hard to keep up with Tanith sometimes!) catches her attention, though that was asked of, too.
Thus, when she steps towards Seldan, she tentatively extends a hand towards the little golden one. Not rushed, and not making contact, though... who wouldn't want to pet an adorable dragon? And Kira's already a hugger. It stops with a blink at the words. "Fake people? Here?" That's worrisome. "Maybe you should show us?"
"As you will," Seldan says amicably enough, rubbing at his neck where the little dragon had hugged it. "If you think that I may be of aid ..." He repositions the sheath at his left hip, and resheathes Reunion, then balls up the velvet hat and stuffs it firmly into his belt pouch. "I must speak with you later, Sentinel, but it will keep for a little while."
"Yesletsgo! Takeme. Taketake!" Cryosanthia says, with a lot more enthusiasm than sense. She is of course, completely smitten by the tiny gold dragon's presence, eager to be noticed and helpful. It's a borderline religious experience for her. Her head bobs vigorously, as she answeres both Kira and Tanith's questions."Delightfulyes!"
"Wego?", is directed towards Seldan and Kira, the sith being caught up in her mirroring mindset. She reaches out to stay in contact with Kira, close enough for the tiny gold dragon to touch her while staying on Seldan, in case that's necessary for whatever she's about to do, "Takeus yesyes. Wego Youshow!"
Kira nods to Seldan. "Gladly, Silver Guard, and we could use your help." Then she's nodding to Cryo and Tanith. More than once and perhaps now almost as quickly. "Wego." It's contagious, alright? It's also a joy to see her sith sister so excited.
GAME: Kira rolls perception: (17)+23: 40 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perception: (7)+5: 12 GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (16)+6: 22
Tanith wiggles again. Clearly prepairing herself to go. "Touchingtouching! Everypeoplestouching! Makegofaster! Veryfast. Blinkfast." She waits not even a heartbeat before wiggling one last time and then... You're right next to the Arcanist's Guild. It makes a sort of odd sense that this is where the dragon has been staying. Immediately most of you realize something (everyone but a very distracted Cryosanthia actually).
Seldan is talking to the guards in front of the Arcanist's Guild.
Seldan blinks at the transition, but it is a place he knows, and is about to take a step, but remembers the dragon perched on his shoulder, and contents himself with looking around instead. "The Arcanist's ...." He trails off, staring at who's talking to the guards in front of the familiar Guild. "Tanithariairisixchel," he manages the pronunciation with a little difficulty, "I work magic. Steady yourself." A swift word and a sigil drawn, and a golden-silver sheen appears before his eyes. He studies his own duplicate, brows furrowed in a way that suggest uneasiness.
GAME: Seldan casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 15 DC: 17 GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (3)+24: 27
Kira blinks at the sudden relocation and takes a moment to regain her bearings, even though they didn't move that far and the location is recognizable. She blinks again as she looks to the Arcanist Guild and notices a familiar face there. Her eye noves from there, to the Tanith'ed Seldan and back to the one at with the guards before lowering her voice. "Is that one of the fake people?"
Cryo is completely smitten by Tanithariairisixchel, touching her when commanded to, staring at her beautiful gold scales, watching how the sunlight reflects off them. She blinks. She barely notices the group has relocated to the Arcanist's Guild. It's among her least favourite places in Alexandria, if not top of the list, so she keeps her attention on the tiny gold dragon. It's only the need to fulfill her promise that makes her look around, "Whofakeperson?" She overlooks the other Seldan, focusing instead on the real one casting his spell.
Tanith nods her head firmly at Kira's words, gripping tightly to Seldan's shoulder at his weaving of magic. Her tiny claws prickle against his skin, but don't hurt. She's just making sure she doesn't fall. She growls lightly under her breath and points one claw toward the illusion of Seldan. Which makes it a bit obvious to Cryosanthia what she's been missing.
Immediately, Seldan winces and staggers at what he sees. "Agh!" He looks pointedly -away- from Tanith, and forces himself to stare at the fake Seldan for the space of several seconds, gritting his teeth as he does so. When he finishes, though, he dismisses the spell with an arcane gesture, looking positively alarmed. "Tanithariairisixchel, you have my gratitude for showing me this. Come, we stop him." He hesitates for a moment, though, blinking in the way of one who is having difficulty seeing. "The guards know me here, but one impersonating me may seek my mother."
Cryo is smart enough to look at what a claw points at, instead of just the claw. Although it is a wonderfully delicate little claw, with fine scales and large knuckles, lovely sinews. Powerful and Tiny. Oh! It's pointing at Seldan...
...And she's with Seldan. "Thisis... what? Is that a simalcrum Seldan? A demon in your shape? Was that a Detect Magic, what did you see?"
She reaches into her haversack, pulling out a silvery buckler with a cold iron icicle dagger strapped to it. "This one will help, direct me. Should I cast a Protection from Evil?"
"Your mother is here?" Kira hasn't heard much of her since her disappearance, save for some word later of her found and being safe." She still feels she has a bit of a debt owed, considering what happened when Kira first met her. In any case, she'd wouldn't hesitate to see her, or anyone else, safe, anyhow.
She starts moving before Seldan invites them to move, but does keep herself to a worried jog rather than a sprint. "What should we do? Where would she be? Maybe if we could get to her first?"
The dragon doesn't say anything, but she is /clearly/ pleased with herself. The human guards stand up straighter as they notice you incoming. They don't look happy. In fact they look a bit angry? One of them moves forward a little bit and eyes Seldan up and down. "Whoever you are, we don't have time for pranks." The guard eyes Cryosanthia next as if this might be /her/ fault. "You again?" Okay apparently he remembers her from the last time she was here... or maybe the time before.
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (6)+19+5: 34
"The prank on you just went inside," Seldan tells the guards crisply, but politely, striding up to the guards. "It is a strange thing, to watch yourself. We do not venture inside, as I am aware of the incident," he adds politely. "I would have you call him back, and we shall see who is real. You should summon a mage."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (9)+9: 18
"GoodTanithariairisixchel! Good!" Cryo congratulates the little dragon, then she's standing beside Seldan, staring at the guard staring at her. "Yes, me again. You should recall my arrival always involves a failure on your part. So do the smart thing and call him back. The real Silver Guard would be concerned with any threat to his Nest-Mother and come out to see his accusers. It would be foolish to trust one visiting an important patient unsupervised, you will recall I warned you about him once before. And a mage would be advised, I agree."
The whitescale slips on her buckler and puts her dagger into the belt of her clothing, as that makes a little more sense than holding the small shield like a serving platter.
GAME: Kira rolls diplomacy: (5)+25: 30
"Please," Kira implores the guards as they stop at the door, "recall him. Something is wrong. You have my word as a Sentinel that -he-" she gestures to Seldan "is the true Silver Guard." She considers a moment before adding, "Would you allow me inside to bring him out if you don't wish to?"
The guard seems /really/ uncertain. Seldan's words are met with a fair amount of suspicion - they don't seem to believe that he is himself, and Cryosanthia's words with even less belief. "One of us went down with him - /at his insistance/. So really we have no reason to suspect him. Especially since we have every reasons to suspect /you/." The man looks at Kira and then he sighs a bit out of frustration. "Okay. We'll send another guy down, but you all are staying here until we work this out - agreed?"
Contrary to the man's words, the little dragon on Seldan's shoulder wiggles and she wispers to him. "Igo? Goveryquick. Comeback?" She seems eager enough to prove that she can be VERY helpful.
"Agreed, of course." The dragon on Seldan's shoulder gets a look, and a nod. "I would not deny you, Tanitharia ... irisixchel." He pauses in the middle of that name, as if making sure he has the pronunciation right, and he seems to be practicing. "Whoever that is may no longer be me." He turns back to the guard, clearly releasing the dragon to do as she wishes. "The consequences for error on this are the deaths of many."
"As you wish, this one will wait," Cryosanthia tells the guard, sighing, her tail dropping on the ground as she leans back. She reaches out to stroke the tiny gold dragon's back, commenting to no one in particular, "We have no control over her, she's powerful and dangerous and does what she wants."
"YesyougoTanithariairisixchel! Getguy! Igiveyouallthefish!" The sith quickspeaks at her, then pulls her hand back, and crosses her arms. "Bringbackhere! Cryostaywaits!"
Kira nods to the guard. "I understand. We will wait here, but please be cautious." That concern remains as she looks to the eager dragon. "Tanithariairisischel, I'm sure that you could, and would be very quick... but I worry for your safety, too." She doesn't doubt Tanith's power, and has seen it, but that doesn't make her without concern. Besides, sending another in her place isn't her way.
Golden eyes go hugely wide. "ALLTHEFISH? YES! Igo!!!". One of the guards makes way toward the innards of the guild while the tiny dragon simply... disappears. Vanishes without a trace. She's only gone a few remarkably short seconds, that nonetheless feel like far longer than they should be.
Then suddenly the not-Seldan is there standing in front of you grasping Tanith by her middle while she makes indigniant noises. She is /not/ happy. The not-Seldan is covered in blood, and he's bleeding more from the scratches that he's earning himself by holding the tiny dragon so inappropriately. "LETGOLETGOLETGO!" She's growing more furious by the quarter-second.
At once, Seldan tenses. "Can you free her?" he asks Kira and Cryosanthia, swiftly, and begins a spell that both of the others will recognize instantly, having seen him cast it on numerous occasions. There's no mistaking his _dispel magic_, not when one has seen him cast it multiple times. He frowns in concentration as deep as when he uses it to cure plague, the sigils flashing into violet fire before him.
GAME: Seldan casts Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 15 DC: 20 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+15: (7)+15: 22
"Lethergo! TanithWriggle!" Cryo commands, moving fast and trying to get her hands in there to break the Mock-Seldan's grip on the tiny dragon. She's hoping Tanith will be able to free herself with some distraction, expecting that her sole efforts would be futile. She slaps with her tail at his legs, to add to the distraction as she attempts to wriggle her fingers in and pop the hold.
"We need mages!" She calls loudly, also, "If you are a true-Seldan stop and we'll work this out." Although she's not expecting much from someone Tanith identified as a fake-peoples.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls cmb: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)
Cryo moves in to free Tanith and grapple.
GAME: Kira rolls cmb: (17)+20+7: 44
Even if it isn't Seldan, the blood concerns her reflexively. More importantly, though, is the flailing dragon. "Tanith! Release her!" Kira then darts in after Cryo try and pull NotSeldan's hands from the dragon to help with the 'Lethergo!'. Not the sort of dragon pets she intended, but maybe those will be later.
The illusion of Seldan looks at the real deal and points with his free hand. "Stop him! He's trying to kill me!" The guards startle at his words and look furiously at the casting paladin.
"Sir! I have to ask you not to do that. I can't let you /harm/ him!" The guard has a hand on his sword, not really threatening, but ready to draw if he needs to.
Meanwhile Tanith is FUMING. Screeching rolls from her mouth as she viciously attacks the not-Seldan's arm to get herself free of him. Thankfully, she has some help. Not so much from Cryosanthia who unfortunately gets twisted onto her back by not-Seldan's free hand. From Kira. The woman deftly grabs not-Seldan's hand and twists it in just that /way/ that makes him free the little dragon who tearfully flies away from the imposter toward Seldan himself as if he can offer her respite. Rather than landing on his shoulder though, she carreens along the ground to pick up his earring which has innactiously fallen to the ground amdist his spellcasting and /then/ lands on his shoulder.
"The Seeress would permit me no such spell, guardsman, and well you should know it, if you know aught of Her servants at all," Seldan answers at once to the guardsman, crisply and coolly, his tones even but polite. he hadn't noticed the earring fall, but now looks over at her as she settles back on his shoulder. "Are you injured?" He doesn't wait for the answer, though, instead turning to the mock-Seldan. "Who first cured you of the plague?" he asks the man, his bearing taking on that cool impassivity.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (4): 4 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls escape artist+4: (2)+9+4: 15 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (16)+9: 25
Cryo squeaks as she is suddenly twisted and lands on her back, amazed and stunned at how well that went. However, she's wriggled out of Seldan's grasp before! Perhaps, it proves that this is definitely a mock-Seldan, as she's unable to escape the hold and remains pinned to the ground.
The sith doesn't miss the opportunity, "He's attacking me! The Silver Guard wouldn't do this unless he had a really good reason and I was only trying to stop him choking the little dragon."
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+5: (12)+20+7+5: 44 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+18: (4)+18: 22
"Please, be calm," Kira asks of NotSeldan and possibly the guards as well. "I am a servant of The Healer. I won't harm him," she assures the guards, and even Not Seldan, though she doesn't make any move to release his hand yet. There is no harm in being prudent. She nearly asks who he is, which feels almost as odd to ask as others might think it would be to hear, when Seldan makes an inquiry, first. Kira decides to leave the questions and answers to him for now, then. Er... them? "You can all see that something is wrong. We only want to learn the truth of it."
The not-Seldan releases Cryosanthia with a shaken head. "I was only trying to prevent you from attacking me." His blue eyes turn to Kira and he frowns at her. "Unhand me at once."
On the real Seldan's shoulder the little dragon is huffing unhappily, sniffling as though she might cry. "Hegrabbedme! Thereisbloodonmyscales! Mylovelyscales!" She's totally affronted, clinging to Seldan's shoulder like it's the last bastion of safety. She seems slightly warmer as she eyes the man. "Shouldsetfiretohisfeet! Toasthistoesandseehowhefeels!"
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (6)+19+5: 30
"She really shouldn't, not until you answer the question asked." Seldan looks over at the guardsman. "If you will not permit me spells, then I would have you summon one of the guild's wizards, for magic shall sort this matter swiftly enough. Please?" The question is polite, but the tone hints at a firm reminder. He looks back at the not-Seldan. "Answer this question, for she held down a vampire. I think it highly unlikely you will wrest yourself free. Who first cured you of the plague?"
He cranes his neck to look at Tanith. "I shall clean your scales, when this is settled. Is this acceptable?"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy+5: (9)+9+5: 23
Released, Cryosanthia wriggles and twists the way only a lizard can, and then she's standing behind Seldan where she can dote on the tiny dragon, "Isok! Isok! CryoCleaning! Scalessopretty! Nocooktoes! Tanithpretty! Tanithpretty! BestestDragon." She dabs with her white gloves, taking the blood onto her hands, turning them red as she carefully brushes at the golden scales. She makes a quiet trilling noise in her throat, something calming for sith, which hopefully will be well recieved by her as well. She's gentle, examining her for deep wounds, carefully avoiding those, right now focusing on making her look pristine.
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+5: (17)+20+7+5: 49 GAME: Kira rolls diplomacy: (14)+25: 39
"I'm sorry," Kira genuinely apologizes to NotSeldan, "but I can't release you just yet." Her grip on his wrist remains firm, but neither harsh nor painful. "There is too much at stake to risk. Obviously we can't trust appearances. If you are truly anything like whom you resemble, you would understand. Please, answer what you know so that we can resolve this."
Immediately the dragon perks up. "Yes! Youcancleanscales! Verynicepeoples!" She purrs at Seldan and calms down considerably, which effectively primes her for the fact that Cryosanthia shows up to calm her. The little dragon relaxes into a puddle on his shoulder, humming more at the woman's words. "Ihelped! Gotfakepeople! Allthefish!" She is a bit tender around the middle, but she doesn't seem otherwise wounded, only voicing a little discomfort when certain scales are touched too firmly for her tastes.
The guard finally nods, turning and rushing off himself to get a mage. There's no other choice, he's the last guard left. "Just promise you won't hurt him in the meantime yea?" He says as he goes off to get the mage.
The not-Seldan shakes his head. "I will not submit to being questioned." With those words he moves his hands subtly, and then... is gone. Vanished without a trace.
GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (1)+17: 18 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Kira rolls spellcraft: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls spellcraft: (4)+4: 8
Seldan starts as the spell begins, then drops his hand in futility, far too late as the impostor vanishes. "Be on your guard yet. He may not have gone far. We yet await the return of the guard, and I would watch in his place."He straightens, careful not to dislodge the small dragon on his shoulder, but is having difficulty getting a good look at her. "Are you hurt at all, Tanithariairisixchel?"
"No, Seldan, you should check on your Nest-Mother! Other-you will have teleported as close as possible. If it is you, to protect, if not, for other purposes. Ask his Reunion to speak if he will not answer, your sword answers you always." Cryo says, still brushing carefully at the little dragon, ready to take her if necessary. She is determined, and worried, "Lay hands on her, then leave Tanithariairisixchel with me, I will await the mage, and someone who knows where your Nest-Mother is. Kira should go with you should more restraining be necessary. Time may be critical!"
Kira's face falls as he... or whatever it is maquerading as he? vanishes. She really dislikes relocation magic in these situations, as they still have many questions and no real answers. Though maybe they can answer one... "Can you... do that, whatever that was, Seldan?"
She then nods to Seldan's wisdom and remains wary, looking about. Tanith is a concern, but since Seldan asked of her, she looks to her sith sister, whose words now make her worry more, too. "She could be right, Seldan..." Now she looks to the guard. "May we pass, now, please?"
Except, the guard has already left.
There is the sound of a soft querry from Seldan's shoulders. "Iget? Getfakepeoples? Youholdbetter!" She offers and complains at the same time. "Icanhelp!"
Meanwhile, the guard is only just returning with what is clearly the first mage that he could find and grab. His companion is returning at the same time. "Jorge is dead!" The second guard looks pale and ill, and the first looks shocked at the words, and turns toward the group of you.
"What happened to him? The guy I told you not to hurt?" The guard looks around, but for obvious reasons, doesn't see him.
"He teleported away," Seldan answers the guard at once. "Had I been false, I would have done the same, but the real Seldan has not yet mastered that spell." He adds that with a small smile for Kira. "There may yet be danger. Tanithariairisixchel, hold for but a moment, and then would I have you fetch him." He reaches up and lays both hands gently on her scales, murmuring a prayer. It takes but a few seconds, and then he releases her once the silver light that formed beneath his hands faded. "You have my gratitude, do you fetch him." He nods to Cryosanthia. "Do I leave now, I appear false, and she moves more swiftly than I."
The whitescale sith nods, that all seems reasonable so she goes with the new plan, and her little golden hero volunteered so she's quite willing to cheerlead and encourage her, "Yesyes Tanithariairisixchel, youcanhelp! Youget, weholdbetter. Tighttight! Kiranotletgo."
Tanithariairisixchel flashes all her teeth and then with a flicker of gold is gone. It's again, only a few seconds, but when she returns she returns with a claw-full or four of not-Seldan's hair screeching victoriously as she wings away. She plants the not-Seldan squarely before the real one this time, and immediately wings away. "BURNHISTOES!" She suggests, laughing and wheeling cheerfully at the thought. "Ihelp!" Very pleased with herself.
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7: (8)+20+7: 35
To her credit, Kira's startle at Tanith reappearing is minimal. It may also be lost in the fact that, this time, she doesn't hesitate. Tanith promptly ascended free and with NotSeldan in front of the Original (Silver) Guard, Kira immediately reaches for the impostor's wrists. She apologized before and can do so later, but she's had enough 'nearly' and 'almost' turn out badly... to include Seldan's mother, whom may be the target now.
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy+5: (17)+19+5: 41 GAME: Seldan casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 15 DC: 21 GAME: Seldan rolls ranged+1: (16)+17+1: 34
When the not-Seldan reappears, Seldan stares at him, his bearing coolly impassive. "Let us try this again," he tells the not-Seldan coolly. "I do not desire for Tanithariairisixchel to have to fetch you again. May I use a _dimensional anchor_, that I need not ask that of her?" He only just waits for the nod before casting the spell, a kelly green ray bursting from his fingertip when he touches the sigil before him, to slam into the not-Seldan, surrounding him in that kelly-green fire. "Now," he says evenly. "Master Arcanist, who is this man that would pretend to be me, and yet fears to answer a question put to him?"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls cmb: (17)+9: 26
"YesTanithariairisixchel! Helpssomuch! Bestest! Noburningtoes twistingarms! Allthefish. Yesyes!" Cryo does her best to be encouraging to the tiny gold dragon as it flies around. She watches as Seldan works his spell thine fires off a ray. She trusts his casting, but can also see that Kira is having trouble. She moves in to assist with the regular holding, grabby in all sorts of ways that might help the hug-paladin. She also calls out, "Reunion! Speak for this one. All know you are the Silver Guard's blade."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls melee: (14)+9: 23 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3+2: (1)+2: 3 (Non-Lethal) GAME: Kira rolls weapon0: (6)+17: 23 GAME: Kira rolls 1d8+2: (5)+2: 7 (Non-Lethal) <OOC> Kira says, "Fort DC 22" <OOC> Aftershock says, "Not subject to such."
The mage, so prompted by Seldan casts a quick spell to discern what the spell on the image that looks like Seldan is. Meanwhile the not-Seldan takes this opprotnity to rush the mage and knock him to the ground - possibly messing up the spell and certainly proving that he is /not/ Seldan. He draws attacks from both Cryosanthia and Kira for his efforts. The light hits hardly seem to do anything to him at all. The guard draws his sword and levies it at the not-Seldan who (having been in the prison) is not armed. "Hold or I /will/ attack!"
Above you all the little dragon crows, diving down like she means to attack, and the mage screams out in pain. "MY EYES!" He's now holding his hands over his eyes and rolling on the ground in agony. The dragon doesn't seem to notice this, but lands neatly at the not-Seldan's feet and seems to be... priming herself. Probably to toast his toes.
Kira's attack is, admittedly, careful. Not half-hearted, but intent on, at most, leaving a fading blemish in attempt to distract the NotSeldan. That it doesn't have much effect isn't a surprise.
GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (7)+17: 24 GAME: Seldan casts Resilient Sphere. Caster Level: 15 DC: 21
Reunion's voices answer Cryosanthia at once, several of them at once in a confused cacophony that seems to be in violent agreement with itself. "We are with Seldan, I can feel it!" "Who's the other one?" "Impostor!"
Seldan spares the mage a sympathetic look, rubbing at his own eyes. He knows -exactly- what the mage just saw, if the gesture is any guide, but he quickly snaps to as the man moves. "I have had my fill of you, liar. Whose are you? Salina's?" As he speaks, he traces more sigils in the air, these blue-white, and at the final word, a sphere of force encloses around the man and the little dragon. "Tanithariairisixchel," he's starting to get the feel for the difficult pronunciation the more he says it, "burning him is unkind, and I am certain the guards will be -most- interested in what this one has to say."
"Tanithariairisixchel! Noburntoes. Notnice, evenfornotpeoples. Comeoutsphere! Cryostroke?" Her attack was ineffective, and the whitescale resisted stepping her natural weapons up a lethal step. She steps back as the sphere forms, sympathetic as she hears the mage scream. The tiny dragon is probably quite the sight, magically. Looking at her wiped her mind, after all.
"He could be anything Seldan, a construct of you, the Demon Duke. Your mother! Using your form to come and go for who knows what, or the Miss Taker, getting to her. Not-Seldan person, you are needing to explain yourself."
The guard's hand shakes as he points his weapon at the downed man who is more certainly by the second /not/ Seldan. He helps the mage to his feet, the mage who is blinking away his blindness and looking at Tanith like she's spawned a giant, ugly head. Tanith wiggles one last time, but huffs and rises up to go hang out on Seldan's shoulder once more. She just pops right through his spell like it's not even there.
"You are under arrest for the murder of Jorge." Says the guard, his companion-guard drawing their weapon and pointing it at the imposter. The imposter looks at Seldan, holds his eyes and then shakes his head.
"I will be answering no questions." Says the copy, his eyes as steady and rock-solid as he himself is. He pulls a dagger from his belt - one that he clearly secreted inside. The weapon is covered in blood, and he plunges it into his own chest. Blood spreads from around the weapon, but the man's form is quickly melting. Fading. Disapating into snow. After a few moments the only thing left are a few clothes and a blood-stained dagger.
Kira blinks as she ... did not expect that. However, when the man... melts and dissipates into snow, her thoughts can only go in one direction. That the knife was already bloody only reminds her of the harm known, to Jorge. Was there any unknown?
She looks to the returned guard. "Where is Jorge? Where was he attacked?" She looks to Tanith. "Where was that one when you fetched him the first time?"
Seldan's eyes widen when he sees the dagger - already with blood on it - and goes ashen, staring at the melting puddle. "You- -Salina!-" It takes him a minute to have the wits to dismiss the sphere, but he finally does, and turns wide ice-blue eyes on the guard and the mage. "I know not what she is," he tells the mage, "but she doubtless just saved my mother's life, if indeed she yet lives. Come, we must be sure. Where is your comrade? And where is she?"
"Ahhh? Ahhh!" Cryosanthia says, leaping back. Her voice completely frantic and panicked. "What just happened? Would freezing him have helped? Is that an efect of the dagger? He was... a snowman? She can send snowmen? A snowman! How does that even work, is it a golem made of snow?"
The white sith stares at the puddle, finally adding, "Seldan, you must check on your Nest-Mother."
The guard's companion is just behind him, sword drawn, but quickly sheathed now that the threat is gone. The second guard holds his hands up a little toward the real Seldan. "I went all the way down. That's what took me so long. Jorge is dead, but everyone else in the prison is fine. Your mother says she saw you coming downstairs and was surprised when you were stopped by something. Something that apparently broke through our antimagic field because it took you out in a flash of gold."
The man looks at Tanith who for a change tries to look innactious. She ducks her head and idly pretends that she can't hear the guard and instead answers Kira by pointin toward the Arcanist's Guild and slightly down. "Down." Meekly spoken. Quiet.
The first guard sheathes his weapon as well and looks at the group of you. "We'll have to put a mage on duty out here to check for active enchantments on those that go through. Never thought that this would happen." He sighs and motions to your weapons and gear. "You'll have to go through the usual process, but if you want you can go check on her yourselves. I know I'd want to after all this."
Did a tiny dragon break through a antimagic area that has housed countless mages through the years? Inconceivable! Not even worth thinking about.
Kira exhales a breath she didn't know she was holding and turns to the suddenly quiet and bashful dragon. A step brings her to Seldan's Tanith'd side and she offers a hand to the little one. The smile that grows to beam might actually do so enough to reflect off the golden scales.
"You were wonderful. Very helpful. More helpful than I can ever thank you for... but we can try, with fish."
"This one... will wait here. The dungeon holds memories this one does not want to revisit. Also, my mark remains, and this one does not want to risk surprises." Cryosanthia says, her tail curling in about her legs, "Also everything I have is magical, it would be divesting a lot."
She raises her head hopefully, "this one has the fish in her room. When you return."
Seldan nods mutely, several times in quick succession. "Yes, I should like to see her at once, and my thanks." He nods his understanding at Cryosanthia, but turns his attention to Tanith, still ashen. "I owe you more than I can ever repay," he says quietly. "Come, would you meet the woman whose life you just saved? I do not mind divesting, and I would see her."
Clearly interested Tanith pats Kira's hand with her paw twice. Pat-pat. She grins toothily at the woman. "Yesfish! Verymuchfish!" She's clearly excited, and when Cryosanthia promises fish in the aftermath of seeing Seldan's mother? The dragonling excitedly wiggles her tail and gently smacks his back with it. "Yesgo! Meetpeoples! Nicepeoples! Getfish!" She seems content to rid Seldan off to where he's going.
"Go see to her, Seldan," Kira pans her smile to him, then on to Cryosanthia. "I can stay with you, Cryo." She wouldn't want to intrude on a family meeting uninvited. Besides, judging from Tanith's reaction and exuberance, Seldan may be lucky to get a word in as it is. Not that that thought, or the dragon's energy, doesn't make her laugh a little.
Cryo nods, smiling as she watches Tanith's antics. It helps her with this place, which isn't one she enjoys. She grins widely, watching her interact with Kira. She practices wiggling her tail the way the little dragon is, best copy the body language of the greats. "Either is fine Kira, this one can wait quietly over there until the visit is done. If you will wait with, that will be enjoyable."
Seldan turns to Kira and Cryosanthia, still wide-eyed and ashen-faced. "I am grateful to both of you as well, more than I can say. When I return, we shall hunt fish." He turns to follow the guard inside, making sure Tanith has her balance before moving.
Kira is loathe to leave Cryo alone after all that. As the Fae Queen likely knows exactly where she is already.
The guards shift, making sure that Seldan has nothing magical before allowing him entry into the tower. After a few long, tense moments, the pair disappears into the Arcanist's guild, Tanith's scales twinkling in the sun until the very last moment.
The other two await their return.
