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* Jaret waits until the sun has dipped low to the horizon, and the day has begun to cool before setting out from his house outside Marsember's walls to Lisl's. He navigates the streets absent-mindedly, but practically bouncing with energy. He quickly raps on the door. "Lisl? Are you home? It's Jaret." <Lisl> ::her voice, somewhat muffled, floats from within:: Come in, it's open! <Jaret> ::murmurs, half expecting her to hear:: Is it ever otherwise? ::he lets himself in, and looks around:: * Lisl is doing something shockingly unexpected: she's cleaning. Specifically, she's scrubbing the floor, and from other such marks and wet spots, it looks like she's been at it on different parts of floor for some time. She has a kerchief tied around her hair, and her sleeves rolled up, and looks up as he enters. "Not when I'm near to home, no. Only when I go off someplace." * Jaret looks at the floor, trying to find a place to stand where he's not dirtying up something that's been freshly scrubbed for the first time in... let's just say 'a while', shall we? "Have I come at a bad time? I'd like to talk about the chance for you to lock your door for a while." <Lisl> Not at all, if you don't mind talking while I finish this last spot... ::grumbling a bit:: She could've *warned* me... at least I was able to warn Mother.... <Jaret> Oh, I suppose not.... *who* could've warned you? About whom, if not your mother? <Lisl> ::sits back on her heels, surveying her handywork:: Your sorceress friend could've warned me that pseudodragons aren't housebroken from the shell. ::grimaces:: Not that I shouldn't have *known* that, I suppose.... <Jaret> Ah. Well. ::he looks around where he's standing again:: Unfortunate. <Lisl> ::shrugs:: No harm, no foul. Well... it *was* pretty foul until I figured out what got the nasty stuff *up* again, but... all clean. ::looks around, satisfied, and chucks her scrub-brush unerringly into the nearby pail.:: So, what was it you wanted to see me about? Can I offer you anything? Meade? Wine? Juice? ::glances at the pail:: Guano-water? <Jaret> ::he coughs:: Sorry to hear about the incidents. Oh, wine would be fine, thank you. A delightful host. <Lisl> Sure. ::smiles and recovers from knees to feet in one smooth movement, picking up her bucket and carefully upending the contents out the back door before going to wash off in the sink and pour out a couple glasses of a red wine from a very dusty bottle:: * Jaret has side-stepped to a definitely clean-but-dry part of floor, and gratefully accepts the glass from Lisl when she offers it to him. "Thank you very much." He has a sip. "Oh, how nice." He has another. "An unexpected pleasure." He knows better than to wait for Lisl to sit, and remains standing. "Now. You know your practice sessions with me have gone quite well." * Lisl indicates a pair of chairs away from the patchily wet floor with an amused nod, and sits. "One of the family bottles." She grins and takes a sip, herself. "Aye... you're looking to take on more students again?" * Jaret takes his time walking across the room to the chairs to ensure Lisl seats herself before he does. "Oh, no. I thought you might be interested in field testing some of what we've been working on." <Lisl> ::raising an eyebrow:: Field... testing? ::considers, and half-smiles:: Has a cabbage farmer so deeply offended your honor that you seek to hire an assassin for his crop? * Jaret half-smiles. "Send a wolf to do a rabbit's work? Wouldn't dream of it. No, Candra's found a... candidate. She's got a map that identifies the lair of a fire-breathing white dragon." He grins broadly and has a drink of his wine. "What do you think?" <Lisl> ::raises her eyebrows:: An albino red? And... a *map*? How much? <Jaret> How much did it cost her? I think she said she got it gratis, for cleaning a gargoyle out of someone's attic. <Lisl> ::coughs to cover a bark of laughter:: A free map, with an albino red dragon on it... this gets better and better. Well, it should make an interesting vacation, at any rate. Where to? <Jaret> Well... it's sort of a multi-part vacation. First, we're thinking of a trip to Candlekeep, where Candra thinks she'll be able to obtain more precise details to allow for a successful teleport. And the second part... do you know where Sossal is? <Lisl> Sossal... ::frowns:: That sounds familiar. That's... ::furrows her brow, thinking:: Waaaay north, isn't it? In the Wastes? North of the Great Glacier, I think. I've been hunting... well, not *that* far north, but near there. Sort of. <Jaret> Precisely. So, we'll be getting a break from this miserable summer heat! <Jaret> Also, Candra dated the map as at least five hundred years old, so it's quite possible the dragon in question has passed on, and it'll just be a matter of collecting what we need and coming back. <Lisl> ::blinks:: You're joking. *You* want to go up *there*? <Jaret> Well... naturally, I'd prefer it if I could just nip down the street and pick one up, but albino dragon skulls with the capacity of a bushel basket are in short shrift, I've found. Still, I'm sure it could be worse. It could be winter. <Lisl> ::coughs on a swallow of wine:: Five-- !? Dead, or we'll be facing down an elder at the least-- who else did you plan on taking? Does Zoya know about this? <Jaret> Well, Candra, of course. I haven't spoken to Zoya yet, but I mean to soon. Also, I meant to head out to Ellesmere and see if any of the ladies out there would be interested in a holiday. <Lisl> Gods... ::sets down her wine glass and leans her head on one hand:: Zoya's going to kill me... <Jaret> Zoya? Whatever for? <Lisl> ::looking embarrassed:: Well... she never quite forgave me for my... little indiscretion with the mama black... <Jaret> This is different, though! We're planning this! There's more than just you going. <Lisl> ::perking up a bit:: Well, that's true. You said Candlekeep-- why Candlekeep? <Lisl> Hoping to find more information on the thing? <Jaret> Well, Candra's teleportation coordinates out there are a little... imprecise. She was hoping to get better information at Candlekeep. Although if they know more about the dragon, that would be helpful, too. <Lisl> Hm. ::picks up her glass again:: Could ask Mother again. I've been... well, near enough there to have some sort of starting point. And she could always scry it... assuming there's no *living* 500-plus-year-old dragon loitering about up there. <Lisl> ::frowns a little:: What would it *eat*? Maybe it's been asleep... there's game up there, but... not what I'd call plentiful. <Jaret> I've heard stories of dragons eating... typically nonviable food products. I heard the neatest story about a dragon from the East that ate a pearl a year. I don't know if it was true or not, but... I can't question it, either. <Lisl> ::shakes her head:: Dragons.... Well, it could be fun, and if not, you're right, it'll get me out of this damned heat. ::makes a face:: My winter coat's just coming in, too. Perfect timing. <Jaret> Ah-HA! 'It could be fun'! I knew you'd be up for it. Thank you, Lisl. ::he grins:: I'll let you know when we have more specific plans, like a departure date, and roster. Oh! Is there any chance we might be able to get an introduction out of your mother, to someone in Candlekeep? The monks there have a reputation for... laconic stylings. <Lisl> ::snorts laughter:: Laconic... heh. It's possible. Assuming Candra promises to behave... ::considers:: Yes, I believe Mother's done work there a few times. She can probably swing an introduction. <Jaret> Thank you again, Lisl. You're wonderful, you know? ::he stands:: And now, I think I will return home, and fortify myself for my trip to Erdian's Tower tomorrow. Thank you for the wine. Your family bottles do them credit, as I'm sure you are well aware. * Lisl smiles, bemused. "Any time, Jaret. How long do I have to pack, by the way?" <Jaret> Oh, a few days at the soonest. These preparations always drag on and on, until you're ready to just get on the road and get things started, I know! I'll try not to make it too stultifying. <Lisl> ::her lips quirk upward:: I'm sure no one could ever accuse you of being stultifying, Jaret. <Jaret> ::he grins, ducking into Lisl's kitchen for only a moment to put his glass with any other dirties:: Another kindness you do me. I can show myself out, don't get up. Good night, Lisl! Hopefully we'll be on our way soon! * Lisl shakes her head, bemused, and waves him out from her chair, still enjoying her glass of wine. A few days later... * Tyl spreads the star-charts out over her desk, dislocating a stack of papers, which float to the floor in dignified silence. Tyl sighs. "Freshman papers. You can't imagine..." She grins at Zoya, then at the chart. "So, where to, first?" * Zoya leans over the charts and points. "Well, that's where we are now. Just for reference - that's Gaena, there. That's a couple of weeks' journey. This isn't a very big ship, so we'll have to take on air about once a week..." <Tyl> ::peers at the tiny markings:: I can extend that, some. I've been practicing the conversion. ::she indicates a small, red-marked star system:: What's this mean? * Jaret walks towards the school, his plumed hat shading his eyes from the bright midday sun. "And... there's the school. I haven't been here in a while. I think that's new construction, over there." <Zoya> That means we probably shouldn't go there unless we're about to run out of air, or we're *really* in the mood for a fight. ::she grins:: Illithid-controlled. <Tyl> ::thoughtfully:: I bet they have some really advanced psionic devices... ::for a moment, her eyes gleam with avarice, then she shakes her head:: Bad idea, probably. But they've been studying it so much longer than we have... nope. Bad idea. ::it's uncertain who she's really trying to convince:: * Lisl nods, rubbing the back of her neck. "I don't make a habit of visiting. I know her kids are well-behaved, but I don't need... accidents. Sanriel was enough of a surprise." <Zoya> ::laughs:: Tell you what - if we encounter any small-to-moderate sized mindbender ships, I'll let you sack them. ::she points to a small blue-marked star:: That's a good spot for vacations. It's further away than it looks on this map, though. ::she indicates the z-coordinate written underneath:: <Jaret> Ah, and I forgot my torc at home... ::he looks back up the street the way they've came:: Oh, well. Hopefully everyone will be on their best behavior. * Tyl nods, then closes her eyes. In front of her, the map seems to bend and flex, then the two women are surrounded by stars, the map made three-dimensional around them. "This is easier to look at. And I should practice it anyway." <Lisl> ::grins:: I hear they make a point of putting the fear of Bluestar in them pretty early. Besides... summer session, right? Most of them are probably be on vacation. * Jaret laughs. "So, only the delinquents will be around? And those wanting extra homework, I suppose." <Lisl> ::grins wider, showing a bit of tooth, and flexes her fingers:: So if they get in trouble, maybe Bluestar won't mind if I maimed them a little? <Zoya> Oh, you *have* been practicing. Very nice. ::she looks around a bit to get her bearings, then points:: Right. So we're... here. ::she considers the nearest systems, then shrugs:: What do you want to *do*, first? <Jaret> ::doubtfully, as they enter the school:: I don't know. I've heard he's not a very nice person. Excuse me, miss? ::he hails a girl crossing the courtyard:: Is the headmistress in today? * Tyl looks over at a system not far away with a smattering of planets. "What about here?" <Lisl> ::cocks an eyebrow at Jaret:: You've never met him? He's been to the Hall a few times. ::grins:: Crotchety, yes, but I like him. <Zoya> That's not a bad place to start. I spent some time there when I was trying to get back here, actually. <Jaret> ::the girl wordlessly points at the building housing the teacher's offices and hurries on her way:: I think that's a yes... ::he heads into the building:: I hope they still use nameplates by the office doors. <Zoya> ::considering:: They don't have much in the way of psionics, though, so you'd have to be a bit careful in your presentation. <Tyl> ::snorts:: That's nothing new and different. <Jaret> I don't think we've ever actually met, although I know of him, of course. And here we are... ::he stops outside Tyl's office and knocks politely on the door:: <Zoya> Well, moreso than usual. But the people are friendly enough- ::looks around at the door:: * Tyl nearly jumps out of her skin, the stars swirling around like they're going down a giant drain. "Come." The stars continue to rotate. * Jaret opens the door. "Tyl'gainia, such a plea--" Jaret stops, one foot poised over the floor, looking at the swirling cosmos around the room. "--sure.... I hope we haven't come at a bad time." * Lisl braces a hand against the doorjamb behind Jaret, closing her eyes and swallowing hard. <Zoya> Jaret! ::she grins at Lisl:: And Lisl, too. How momentous. Tyl and I were just discussing a little trip. Nothing that can't be put off until later. <Lisl> ::faintly:: You can stop the stars from spinning then, in the meantime? <Tyl> Oh, Jaret. Lisl. Come in. ::she frowns at the spinning stars and picks a ringed planet out of her hair:: Sorry, Zoya and I were making a bit of an agenda. ::she folds up the flat map on her desk, the universe dissolving back onto the paper:: * Lisl cracks an eye open and peeks. "Whew." * Tyl solemnly presents Lisl with a fat gas giant planet, somewhat larger than an olive. "Here." * Lisl accepts the planet dubiously and peers at it. "Planning your conquest of the spheres?" * Jaret completes his step into the office, bowing happily at Zoya and Tyl, now that firm footing has been established. "Planning and agendas. How delightful. I saw you have a new building going up here, things must be doing well." <Tyl> ::laughs:: It's my compromise with Jelarthna... rather than complaining about him constantly getting into trouble while I'm here alone, we'll go get in trouble *together*. <Lisl> ::chuckles:: Well, that's how a marriage is supposed to work, isn't it? The couple that preys together, stays together? * Zoya laughs, then stands. "Well, if you're here for business with Tyl, I'll just excuse myself..." <Lisl> ::grins:: Sit down. If nothing else, you have to write me a permission note. ::winks:: <Jaret> Oh, no, Zoya, please stay. It's most fortuitous, you being here, as it means we don't have to make a trip out to the Tower to propose the extravaganza to you. Not that I mind visiting the Tower, of course. It's quite lovely. <Lisl> ::eyes Jaret sidelong:: It's an "extravaganza" now? <Zoya> ::raises her eyebrow at Lisl as she drops back into her chair, then raises the other to look at Jaret:: An extravaganza? This should be interesting. * Tyl mutters something about forgetting to practice. "What is it?" <Jaret> You said 'perilous adventure' sounded off-putting, but honest. Extravaganza sounds somewhat inviting, and exciting. <Lisl> ::dryly:: And more than a little misleading. <Zoya> ::to Tyl:: Do you think they know we can still hear them? <Tyl> ::sighs:: I told Jalavier that I was going to practice saying "no". And when I got good at it, I was going to add "go to hell" on the end of it. And yet, I feel ill-prepared. <Jaret> It is... well. Somewhat involved. The short version is, I'm looking for a somewhat largish albino dragon skull, and Candra thinks she might have found one, on this five hundred year old gnomish map, detailing the lair of a fire-breathing white dragon. Now, five hundred year old map, the creature's possibly already deceased! <Tyl> ::blinks:: What in the world do you want with a dead albino dragon skull? <Lisl> ::grins at Tyl:: Been there, thanks. I'm much more looking forward to the weather on this little vacation. <Jaret> All we need to do is kip up to the lair, have a look 'round, naturally pocket any valuables that are lying around going to waste, retrieve the skull, and return to Marsember. However, just in case there is some excitement, I thought it might be prudent to gather a bunch of my closest friends together, so we could all have a go at it! <Zoya> ::tsks and shakes her head:: If you ask a question like that, Tyl, you're taking the bait... ::she looks back at Jaret:: 'Some excitement' of course being that your dragon is actually *not* dead, and instead ancient and powerful? <Jaret> Well, you see, Candra's agreed to concoct me a batch of her... well, it was an immortality potion, but now it requires aid once every ten years, so it's not really 'immortality', is it? Sort of a longer-lifed potion. And, the mixing container she needs is an albino dragon skull. Hence, here we are. <Jaret> Well... it could be ancient and decrepit? <Lisl> I *had* to go when he asked, Zoya. I know I promised not to go taking on ridiculously powerful dragons anymore, but *someone* has to go along to expect the worst, since Jaret's obviously not up to the task. <Zoya> ::looks immediately intrigued:: Do you think she'd let me look at her notes? <Tyl> ::dryly:: And we all know you're an expert at expecting the worst, Lisl. * Lisl grins at Tyl. "I'm in one of those 'I sort of like living' phases." <Zoya> ::to Jaret:: How many ancient and decrepit dragons have you ever heard of? <Jaret> I confess, I haven't done much research in the area. Still, there has to be some, don't there? <Zoya> ::snorts:: Statistically speaking, there has to be a kid out there who's better than you with a sword, Jaret, but I'm not betting on it being the next kid we meet in the street. <Zoya> ::considers:: Still, I can think of uses for... All you really need is the skull? * Tyl mutters some more. "No squids, I hope?" <Jaret> All I want is the skull, yes. I'm not much of a skeleton collector. I maintain other hobbies. <Lisl> ::ticks off points on her fingers:: albino red dragon, 500-year-old map, probably not dead... ah! ::looks at Jaret:: You neglected to tell them where. ::grins a trifle wickedly:: <Jaret> I can almost certainly guarantee you absolutely no squids. Quite positively. We'll be somewhat far away from any large bodies of water. Well... liquid water, at least. <Zoya> ::to Tyl:: Dragon-hide would do wonderful things for- ::looks back at Lisl and Jaret:: Oh, go on. Where? <Jaret> ->Tyl: After promising no squids, now I'm tempted to make the psionicist bad guy a mind flayer. <Jaret> Do you, by any chance, know where the quaint hamlet of Sossal is? <Tyl> ::narrows her eyes:: No. Educate me. <Zoya> Sossal? ::blinks:: Never heard of it. ::looks at Tyl:: <Lisl> ::mutters:: I think "barren icy plain" is a better description... <Lisl> You remember the snowbeast pelt I gifted the mayor with a few years back? Sossal is *north* of there. <Jaret> It's... quite far north. Around the Great Glacier or so. It definitely won't be this uncomfortably warm there! And we'd be going in the summer! In the winter it would be much worse! <Tyl> ::coughs into her hand:: Your enthusiasm is really quite impressive, Jaret. What on earth have you been drinking? <Zoya> ::snorts and folds her arms:: How long is it going to take us to get there? <Jaret> Nothing so far today, it's been early. Why, do you have something you'd like to open? <Tyl> ::quietly, aside:: Jelarthna will probably be gone, what... two months? <Jaret> Candra has teleportation co-ordinates, but they're not as accurate as she'd like, so we're going to make a preliminary stop in Candlekeep to try to wrest some information from the librarian-monk-zealots who staff the place, and then it's off to... well, north of Sossal. <Zoya> ::to Tyl:: Only two months? You sent him to the store for bread? <Lisl> ::dryly:: You haven't seen him taking on a mission of certain death before, have you? That's all he needs, really. Worse than 'kick. <Tyl> ::snickers:: No. *You* sent him, remember? For those crystals? "Nice, safe little trip, nothing dangerous." Those were your exact words. <Zoya> Oh, that. Right. ::counts on her fingers:: He's not back yet? ::sighs:: <Tyl> ::dry:: I figured in S.J.D. in that estimate. Standard Jelarthna Deviation. <Lisl> ::coughs into her hand to cover an involuntary snicker:: <Zoya> Well... Two months or so, then. <Lisl> ::faint grin:: Serve him right to find a note when he gets back? <Jaret> If you do leave a note, put a brick or something on top of it. If it blows off the table, and he can't find it, all sorts of misunderstandings can spring up. <Tyl> ::takes a deep breath:: He'll be fine. He always is. <Tyl> ::under her breath:: Possessed by demons, sometimes. Bitten by vampires. Months in prison, lost his memory... but fine. Always. Yep. <Jaret> Well, this should take much less than two months. I can't think of why it wouldn't. * Tyl raises her eyebrow. "I don't suppose it's worth the effort to try and talk you out of going." <Lisl> ::mutters under her breath:: None of us are princesses... there's always fiery death, though. That's a big delayer.... <Jaret> Who, me? Why wouldn't I go? This is the first sign we've had of an albino dragon; it's too good to pass up. <Lisl> I was ready to take a trip out of town, anyway. ::grimaces:: My winter coat's coming in. <Zoya> ::considers:: Two months... The kid would be two months closer to being an actual person... Sure, why not? When do we leave? <Tyl> ::shakes her finger in Jaret's face:: No squids. None. Any squids and... and I'm laying claim to your hat. <Lisl> ::raises an eyebrow at Zoya:: You're less afraid of an elder red than you are of a baby? <Zoya> I'm not *afraid* of the baby, for Erdian's sake. I just don't *like* babies. <Jaret> This hat? Of course, Tyl'gainia. In the middle of an ice field, it seems safe enough. <Lisl> ::dryly:: I'll remind you of that when I'm parlaying with starving arctic wolves for you. <Tyl> Starving wolves I can deal with. Zero cephalopods. <Lisl> We could always ask at Candlekeep... is there any sort of... why do they generally show up in a given place, Tyl? <Lisl> I mean... they're nasty, but they don't strike me as very *hardy*... or the sort to go winter camping. <Tyl> ::holds up one hand:: See these fingers? Third batch of them. NO SQUIDS. <Zoya> It *does* seem unlikely that we'll encounter any living marine life on a frozen plain, Tyl. <Jaret> ::reassuringly:: It's a glacier. No squids. <Tyl> ::huffs:: Just want to be perfectly clear on my feelings about this. On the other hand, it'll give me a wonderful field test for my new toy. <Zoya> For that matter, you're more likely to find a squid here in Marsem- ::blinks:: What new toy? <Tyl> ::grins and pulls a very tiny house out of her pocket:: I won't show you in here, there's not enough room. But at least we should be comfortable, at night. <Lisl> ::to Zoya:: You never know. There are some pretty strange ancient things trapped in the ice up there. But that's just it-- they're trapped. Frozen. <Zoya> ::to Lisl, with a faint grin:: I did specify "living," didn't I? ::looks at Tyl's tiny house:: Oh, that looks quite cozy. <Lisl> ::grins:: "Snug" was the word that came to my mind. <Jaret> How clever. Where'd you find that? Or shouldn't I ask? <Tyl> ::snorts:: I don't steal. Anymore. Much. ::she grins:: Don't ask. <Zoya> ::chuckles:: * Tyl picks up the tiny house and dances it easily over the back of her hand, absently doing various prestidigitation tricks. "So. Just us, or are you dragging anyone else along?" <Jaret> Well, Candra, of course, since she has the map. I meant to stop by Ellesmere and see if anyone from there wanted to come along, but that's about all. <Jaret> Did you have anyone in mind? * Tyl makes a show of looking tragically resigned, then the tiniest smile plays on her mouth. "Oh why not? It'll give me a lovely excuse to dump these admittance papers off on Jalavier." <Jaret> Delightful! I'll visit Ellesmere to see who wants to join in the fun, and then we'll be on our way within a week, I'd hope! * Lisl chuckles and shakes her head. "I can't believe it. I'm watching it, but I still can't believe it." <Zoya> A week? I'd best pack, then... <Lisl> ::sternly:: The contents of *one* lab, Zoya. *One.* A *little* one. <Zoya> ::waves a hand blithely:: Pff. <Lisl> ::mutters:: I knew she was going to do that. <Tyl> ::grins, shaking her head:: If I haven't mentioned it recently, Jaret... you. are. insane. <Jaret> Tyl'gainia, you say the most charming things. <Tyl> You don't pay me enough to get charming... |
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