Dinner and More than Dessert

Dinner tonight is fish, freshly caught and prepared in an elvish style that makes it taste amazingly like melon and not at all like fish. This is paired with fresh green beans and carrots cut small. The vegetables have seen every bit as much care as the fish, and taste wonderfully of themselves and a hint of garlic. Add to that a nice mild but fruity white wine that makes the melon flavor of the fish stand out even more and the food is definitely telling the story that they have a guest for dinner.

Auranar even made some elvish seedcake for dessert, little personal sized ones that look as good as they likely taste though dessert hasn't been served yet. The elvish woman herself is dressed in plum this evening, the rich color making her skin shine, and she has her hair pulled back from her face because she's clearly been cooking since practically yesterday. None of the effort shows on her features however, instead she looks pleased as a housecat in cream. She's currently pouring the wine as everyone settles down around the table to enjoy the meal.

Unfortunately, schedules had collided, and Andelena had been unable to accompany Dolan for this invitation, so he's come on his on. As is his custom, he'd brought the greatsword, a thing that now rests in its massive sheath upright by the door. The armor he had passed on this evening, instead choosing a harvest gold-colored shirt and brown-dyed trousers to pair with his freshly-cleaned and repaired boots. The cool of a spring evening this high up into the mountains called for a leather jerkin atop it, and his is a tooled affair with impressions along the edges. A simple but classy look for him.

"This looks wonderful, and smells better. Thank you for the invitation."

Given the occassion (namely a personal, private affair unrelated to her duties), Verna wears neither her formal robes nor something as casual as a simple shift. Instead she wears a dress of violet. It does not quite match Auranar's choice, but is near enough to neither clash nor attempt to imitate. It may also be the only formal dress within her wardrobe.

"You have surpassed yourself, dearest. Yet again." Perhaps there is no upper limit? Perhaps Verna is heavily biased? At least one of these options is certain, but the fact remains that the fare is amazing. "It is the least we could offer you," she comments to Dolan. "You are most welcome."

Auranar finishes pouring the wine and smiles at both Dolan and Verna warmly. Though the later just a touch more so perhaps. "Yes, it's the least of what we can do to thank you Dolan. Our house is yours, and whatever assistance we can offer as well." She sets the bottle of wine off to the side and takes a small sip. She seems somewhat relieved at the moment. Relaxing now that everything is done and the meal can be tried. The elvish woman looks at Dolan, her eyes resolved. "And I don't mean that as a pleasantry. If you hadn't been so insistent... there's no knowing what would have happened."

"Don't ever want to find out," Dolan agrees, nodding his acceptance and picking up his wine. It's a good bit finer than what he's used to, that much is evident in his uncertain handling of the wine glass. "I'm just glad you two were willing to listen. That poor vendor in the market wasn't as lucky. Still, you're both safe and well, and I've got to thank you for helping Halani, too. She wasn't going to have it from me, or do what I suggested. She seems to have this thing against priests." This remark is accompanied by a shake of his head.

He, too, takes a small sip of the wine, eyeing it appreciatively. "Don't usually get stuff this good. Andie and I, we try to keep it simple. She grew up noble, but hates her family and everything about it. She likes living rougher."

Verna's countenance twitches at mention of the vendor, but she is prompt to steady it anew. "We learned enough of what could be to be all the more grateful... and diligent that such does not fully come to pass." She picks up her own glass to indulge in a sip. Perhaps two.

"There is nothing amiss with an occasional indulgence..." she glances to Auranar and a small, warm smile creeps up to counter the previous, "though I worry I have become utterly spoiled." She returns her focus to Dolan with a nod. "I hope she might visit in the future, if she would not be uncomfortable. Family matters can be ... complicated."

"I heard about the vendor." Auranar murmurs quietly, shaking her head and setting her glass down so that she can push her fish around with her fork. "Poor man. I am grateful that you and Verna were able to help him, if not in time to save his wife. He must be heartbroken."

She allows her free hand to rub Verna's shoulder briefly, wanting the contact, and to comfort the woman who she knows feels all too keenly about the subject. "I like to make nice things. I was myself raised in an orphanage here in Alexandria, so it's a chance to try new things." Auranar smiles softly. "But it would be nice to have a chance to get to know you and Andelena better."

Dolan had started in on the fish once Auranar picked up hers to begin the meal, and while Verna talks, takes a bit with evident enjoyment. "This is incredible," he remarks when he's had a chance to chew and swallow, gesturing with his fork to the fish. "I'm sure we can do that, our schedules don't mate up well right now, aside from morning prayers. My family runs a wheat and barley farm, northern of Alexandros. I'd been thinking of taking a week or two and going to visit, if I can. They haven't seen me since the accident happened."

At the contact, Verna gives Auranar a glance that conveys her gratitude at comfort received as concisely as the gesture granted it. She then takes a forkful of her own fish whilst letting the topic shift to Andelena and Dolan. A nod of her eager agreement concerning the meal precedes her being ready to speak again. "You should visit them as you have motive and opportunity to do so," she encourages Dolan. "Many have only one or the other.

Auranar tilts her head to the side, and naively questions the pertinent question caused by Dolan's comment. "What accident?" She isn't sure after all, what incident might have caused Dolan to cease visiting his parents, and the obvious conclusion does not immediately leap out at her. And some say that Verna is the one that is socially unaware. "I guess it's a lie to say it was an accident. More - I got into trouble." Unaccountably shy all of a sudden, Dolan takes another forkful of fish, his eyes on the table. "It's what happened to my eye. It - took me some time to deal with it, and I still don't know how they'll react," he admits. It's quite clear that this is something of a sensitive topic.

Verna was not certain to what he referred, but suspected. Not that she knows anything of specifics even after he speaks of it. "The change in appearance may require a small period of adjustment for them," Verna advises, "yet you remain yourself; hearty and hale. I would expect most parents to be wholly content with, if not delighted for, the company of their child." A morsel of pause before she qualifies the statement with, "An expectation. I cannot speak from personal experience."

The wild elf has the grace to look embarrassed that her comment caused her guest such discomfort and she hastens to reassure him. "You don't have to talk about it. I didn't know." She shifts in her seat and offers further. "I don't know much about parents in particular but family... They just want to know that you're okay."

She glances at Verna, and her mention of 'personal experience' unexpectedly causes Auranar's face to heat to such an extent that the color of her cheeks change to a slight degree.

It's still at least a little awkward for Dolan, but he musters something resembling a smile and takes a bite of the green bean and carrot medley. "I don't know if they'll even recognize me," he admits. "I guess you're right, though. I really ought to let them know I'm okay. Papa'll be fine with it. He doesn't care what you look like, if you've got two good arms and two good legs and you're willing to work, you're okay by him. Mama, I don't know."

"Indeed," Verna concurs with Auranar. "Knowledge that you are well would mean more to them than all else. That much I am most confident of, in matters of family." Personal experience of that aspect she does have. "Also," she adds, "Auranar is always right." She chases this truth with a sip of wine.

The wild elf laughs at Verna's assertion that she is always right and shakes her head. "No. I am not." She lifts her own glass though with a mirthful grin. "That being said, I think you should go for it. Let your family know that you're okay at least. Small steps are easier to take than large ones." She takes a sip of her wine and then sighs. "This business with the werewolves is terrible though. I can't even imagine how many people must be infected already. People who don't know and are spreading it to their loved ones." She shudders.

"Yeah. I really should. I'll take Andie with me." This is said hesitantly, but they're right, and he knows it. There's more than a little guilt there anyway, over not telling them where he is. He takes another forkful of his dinner and chews thoughtfully. "That's not the worst part, although it's bad enough. I found out what the black rose that that noble was wearing was all about."

Verna's expression makes several changes in a very short amount of time. First and foremost, it brightens at Aura's laugh, which lingers even through the rebuttal. Another nod of agreement to Dolan follows. Then there is the business with the lycanthropes.

The net effect of the reminder and shared concern is a frown, rather than worse... and yet this does not linger. At Dolan's mention, Verna shifts directly to curiosity. "Knowledge is a boon, not a detriment." Though the contents, admittedly, could be unpleasant. "The black rose is significant, is it not?"

Auranar lapses into considering silence as Dolan brings up the topic of the rose. She herself knows only a tiny bit about plants - enough to grow a garden but not enough to be self-sustaining in the wilderness for example. She knows somewhat more about them in reference to magical things, and perhaps a bit more beyond that, but nothing about why a nobleman might wear one. Save of course what Verna has told her about that particular mission.

"Yeah. It's a symbol of death among demons. Sometimes they'll cast spells on them to start a war between factions." Dolan continues to eat, explaining between pauses to chew and swallow. "Looks like there's more than one faction in play, and maybe they don't all get along."

Verna is mindful enough to set her fork upon her plate. She then exhales, lowers her head, and rubs at the bridge of her nose with a bare hand. "Demons, of course." Either this makes perfectly logical sense, it is an exasperated comment... or both? "I grow weary of fiendish machinations... though this could explain the woman's presence."

"Are we sure there are two factions? Or are you basing that off of the fact of the roses?" Auranar's dark eyes are suddenly sharp with intelligence. She has a lot of experience with demons after all. "I ask, because it could be a death threat against a different... source."

Dolan continues to eat with real appreciation for the meal at hand, but finally sets his fork down on his plate as well. "I'm not, it's just a supposition. The noble was wearing a black rose and was supposed to be immune to attack. No such luck. I keep seeing it intertwined with a blue rose, though."

GAME: Verna rolls knowledge/religion: (19)+24: 43

Verna considers the combination of the two, which she and Dolan had discussed, in part, prior. Now she also has the benefit of Auranar's wisdom. "I initially considered the entwining to possibly mean an allying of forces. That is not the only possibility." She lifts her head from hand to look to the others. "A blue rose is amark of Althea, and of protection. If the black roses indicate a mark of death, the conjunction could be, instead, a single target: one protected by Althea and also targeted by the fiends... and certainly by Caracoroth's forces."

"I can understand Althea trying to protect something from Caracoroth. The question though... is who, or what?" Auranar falls into silence as she eats some of her meal considering her own words and those offered both by Dolan and Verna. There's much to consider.

"Eluna herself, I bet." Dolan leans back and picks up his wine glass. It is, again, an awkward gesture by one not used to handling wine glasses and trying not to break the delicate thing. "They knocked a piece of the moon down to earth. It's taken mortal form."

"Two flowers mark her grave," he quotes by way of addition.

Verna only just retrieves her fork, and this time it returns to her plate with a clatter. Dolan's use of pronoun previously had her presume symbolism or context; a literal sense was not expected. "Do you mean to imply...? Have the Elunans not already mustered to...?" Her lips continue to move a few more times, though the words are caught up between brain and larynx.

Likewise, the comment causes Auranar to blink several times at Dolan, her mouth hanging open for a long moment. "Her grave?" She sounds horrified by the thought. "She... Can't be dead." She finds herself reaching up to touch her chest. Occasionally, but not often she wears a symbol of Eluna there. A reminder to herself that the goddess is prevalent over the magic she seeks to master. Not often enough perhaps.

Quickly, Dolan headshakes. "It's just a quote," he counters quickly, raising his free hand to wave it at both of them. "That's a prophecy quoted to me and Andie. That piece of the moon is like I told you, Verna. Which is why I need to go and find her, quick. I'll need your help to do that."

"You have my aid, Dolan," Verna assures him, "Whatever is required, whenever it is needed." That was offered before she fully grasped all the details, and it still remains true. "Whomever else you would gather, you should do so with haste."

"I will stay here. Someone needs to be in the know in case something happens to you while you deal with this." Auranar seems both determined and resigned at the same time. She looks at her meal, which has mostly been eaten. "Moreso, I want to do some research into Caracoroth. Religion is not my strong point, but research is and surely if he is involved we can gather something on him that's useful."

"Fine with me. Love to hear anything you might learn." Dolan leans forward and too-carefully sets down the wine glass on the table. "I wouldn't mind knowing more about these statues, too. Had something weird happen in the market." He draws that out a little more slowly, turning his full face towards Verna, then to Auranar, as if to judge their reaction. "This worked with the girl, so I thought I'd try throwing that silver holy symbol I got over the vendor's neck and giving stopping him from changing a try. It worked, but -" He stares off into the distance, then back between them, his head moving to each in turn. "I think I drained off that rage somehow. I felt it pass through me, elsewhere."

GAME: Auranar rolls knowledge/arcana: (4)+7: 11
GAME: Dolan rolls knowledge/arcana: (2)+6: 8
GAME: Verna rolls knowledge/arcana+4+2: (20)+36+4+2: 62

Verna was not aware of the fine details concerning Dolan's calming of the changing vendor at the time. His description of events does strike a thought within her now, however. "If it did not transfer to you, it had another destination..." Another point stands ahead, with a tentative path drawn between them in her mind. "The statue you speak of, is that the same totem you mentioned to me, before? I would very much wish to examine it, at your convenience and with your permission. There may be a connection, or more to glean, but I would need study it to be certain."

"I thought that might be it," Dolan frowns, one finger toying with the handle of his fork, his gaze going back and forth between the two women. "I felt it go somewhere else, and pass through me. I'm d-," and here he pauses, smiling sheepishly at Auranar, "I'm nearly certain that it went to the totem. and that means I've got a link to it. I'm also nearly certain that the totem is the source of my dreams. Whether that is good, or bad, I don't know. I keep it with me just in case, to keep it from being stolen."

"I would hazard to suppose that it is neither," Verna ventures in answer to Dolan's question, rhetorical or not. Though that may be her preferring neutral to pessimism, given that it is all but revealed that one of the (god-forged?!) totems binding the dark embodiment of nightmares and chaos... currently occupies her dining room. Combine that with the news that some or all of the Goddess of Magic, Herself, is mortal and in mortal danger, and there is only one conclusion.

Auranar hosts the most unique and memorable dinner parties.

Verna rises from her seat and gestures to the next room. "In the lounge, perhaps?" The dining table seems wholly improper, and not only because much of the wondrous meal remains.

Auranar rises to her feet. Feeling somewhat out of sorts. It's not just that the dinner has digressed into such topics, but because this sort of magic is so far beyond her. She knows that Verna is right however. Looking at this object might offer further insights into its nature. Particularly if Verna is the one looking at it. After all. Verna is a notable mind, and that is not solely Auranar's opinion. She makes her way to the lounge, but brings her wine with her, drinking a fair amount on the way.

Dolan turns and looks after Auranar, then stands with the others, looking more than a little sheepish and a bit like a puppy who knows he's done something wrong. He, too, picks up his wine glass and carries it. "I probably shouldn't have brought it here. I'm sorry. That was terrible of me."

"Dolan, you need not apologize," Verna firmly counters. "You are welcome in our home. You have every reason to keep it in your possession to protect it. If there was any threat in it, I expect that you would not have brought it within." That said, she still retrieves her glass of wine, takes a sip, and brings it with her.

Auranar stops in the lounge, taking a seat on the couch so that she can sit beside Verna and setting her glass on the low table that sits there. "No need to apologize, it is as Verna says." Her thoughts are far-away things at the moment, and troubled; she struggles to clear them so that she can be in the present.

Dolan still looks a little embarrassed, but the hangdog look evaporates, if gradually. "No," he agrees. "I'd love to learn more about its nature, though."

Verna settles in on the couch, takes a last sip for now, and sets her glass aside. Drinking and divining make a poor combination. "I will share any and all that I observe, discern, or deduce." She prepares herself for the process with a brief invocation and gesture, causing her eyes to glow briefly cerulean. "If you would, Dolan?"

Though Auranar expects to deduce very little from her efforts, she makes her own arcane gesture and utters a word. It's not so different from how Verna does it, but there are differences. "I doubt I can learn much about it, but a second pair of eyes doesn't hurt."

GAME: Verna casts Arcane Sight. Caster Level: 19 DC: 20
GAME: Auranar casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 3 DC: 13

Dolan trails the other two into the lounge, going immediately towards the pack left next to the blade by the door. It takes him aa moment to find it, but produces from the bag a statue that looks like a twisted form of many parts. He sets it down before Verna on the table between them and goes to a free chair. Settling down into the nearest chair and similarly setting aside his drink. He just waits, though, not having the appropriate means by which more may be learned.

"Intriguing..." is Verna's initial assessment, though that is a simple visual observation only. She then looks to Aurana and offers a brief smile and inclusive, "Shall we?" It is an activity that they can perform jointly, which is always a benefit and enjoyment. All regardless of differing aptitude. Auranar allows Verna to help her in the kitchen, afterall, and they enjoy that. She then turns her focus to the object at hand.

Auranar focuses intently on the item, but as it draws near she is forced to shield her eyes from the intensity of the magic coming off of it. "That's to say the least. I've not seen anything this magically potent before. I can barely look at it much less tell what spells were used to create it."

Verna's lips purse as she squints. "Aura does not exaggerate... and what I can discern substantiates your belief as to its purpose, Dolan. It is a focus tied to an extremely powerful binding, and it IS tied to Caracoroth. It is not OF him, however..."

Tightened lips twist into a frown, perhaps of effort. She may be more tolerant of the power, but bright is still bright. "It is more potent than anything I have witnessed, with perhaps one exception. I believe that it can drain certain magics or abilities, or empower others. It is most certainly causing horrid dreams while you possess it, and not only due to its ties to The Red Maw. I believe that it weakens the barrier between this realm and that of dreams, granting you vision to the latter... if perhaps twisted by its influence."

She then makes a thoughtful sound. "My blind supposition before may be correct in that it is neither good nor ill... and yet it can be influenced to one direction over the other. How one would attune themselves to it to do so, however, I do not know." This last causes a deep frown. "Should evil forces acquire this, or others like it, they could turn its power to their own ends. Perhaps even wrench him free." Which is not something that any sane group would want.

Dolan, who had set aside his wine glass and leaned forward, elbows on his knees, straightens at Verna's assessment, his frown a serious and not-quite-worried thing. "Is such an attuning dangerous, or just annoying? Far as I can tell, that's what I think I did, without even meaning to."

Auranar dismisses her spell with a wave of her fingers and relaxes. "Attuning a magical item is not something that one does incidentally or accidentally. So it is unlikely that you have attuned it. You may have used it though, without realizing you'd done so. Considering the nature of the item... It could require anything to attune it. I believe your best bet would be to Legend Lore it. That would tell you what abilities it has and how to use it." Certainly such a powerful item would be something capable of being Legend Lored.

Verna shifts her attention to Dolan, blinking and taking a moment for her vision to adjust to the change in effective illumination. "She is correct. It is highly unlikely that you attuned yourself unintentionally and furthermore unaware of said attunement." Not that the occurrence would be the most unusual thing she has heard tonight, all told. "I do not believe that such would have any adverse effect upon yourself. So long as you were not turning the totem to evil or intent upon releasing Caracoroth, of course."

Verna turns to Auranar and offers her a smile. She may not be able to determine the information, now, but she knows how to acquire it. That is just as important, if not moreso. "Indeed. Such a spell is appropriate for an item of this magnitude."

GAME: Dolan rolls knowledge/arcana: (5)+6: 11

"Ladies, I'm no mage." Dolan spreads his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "I've got no idea what you are talking about, but I trust the both of you. If you say whatever spell'll tell us more, I will help you. Just tell me what you need." The gaze that looks from Aurnar to Verna and back is open and honest.

Auranar has the grace to look slightly embarrassed. "Legend Lore is a spell which can tell you information about powerful people and artifacts. It can take some time to learn anything useful however unless the item or person in question is close at hand. That's why it'd be useful in this instance, since you have the statue." She motions to the ugly little thing and gives it a short look. "That's all I really know about it though."

Verna nods as Auranar explains the basis of the spell to Dolan; in an encouraging and approving manner rather than evaluating or judgmental... or so she hopes. She then answers Dolan's other question. "If you can spare a day for me to prepare and augment with what mundane information I can collect in that time, we can meet, with the item, and I can perform the spell at that time."

"Whatever you need, and I will be grateful for it." Dolan agrees to that at once, settling back into that listening position, elbows on knees. "I wish there were more people I could ask who'd know. It's enough to ask 'em to go with me back to Quelynos, but I damn near killed her once by accident. I don't want to find her and find out that that thing is dangerous to her."

"Best to learn what you can of it first then." Offers Auranar quietly, finishing off her wine and placing the glass on the table. "Yet the hour grows late and we can do nothing of it now. Soon enough for spells and plans, shall we have dessert?" The food would have grown cold by now, but there was still dessert to be had.

"There are others who could aid, certainly, but you are right to seek only those you trust. Gather them quickly... after dessert." Her head tilts to Auranar, who yet again speaks truth. More evidence that she is always right.

Verna rises, but gestures for both of them to remain. "I shall fetch the cake and wine, so we may enjoy a while longer." Tonight they can eat, drink, and be merry. Tomorrow they can worry about divine binding artifacts and rescuing a goddess.

-End