Prayers Answered

Log Info

• Title: Prayers Answered
• Emitter: Linwen
• Characters: Linwen, Morgan, Kira, Seldan, Cryosanthia, Sabina, Lanier
• Place: A10 Temple District
• Time: Monday, June 22, 2020, 1:41 PM
• Summary: The muggy heat of Alexandria in summer has made the fountain a cool hotspot for the locals, and kids are playing in it. Linwen is acting as life-guard. Morgan, Kira and Seldan arrive, accompanying him is his mother, Carissa. The Padaryns are discussion Seldan's faith. Linwen and Morgan discuss the nature of children and their experiences growing up amongst humans. The conversation moves to Salina and using words as weapons, and then Cryosanthia arrives, with news. Cryo's mark is gone, removed during a dream, and she is excstatic. Linwen and Carissa chase the children out of the fountain so Kira throws Cryo in it. Sabina arrives, and is dragged in, splashing ensues. Lanier arrives from the temple of Gilead, with Spud, and there is some enigmatic discussion. Finally, everyone gets out of the fountain, dries off and heads their various ways with Cryo going to give thanks for her own personal miracle and freedom.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Linwen       5'10"    140 Lb     Half-Elf          Female    Fire haired super fit blue eyed half-sil woman.
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.
Seldan       5'11"    187 Lb     Human             Male      Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol.
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Sabina       5'4"     130 Lb     Human             Female    Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes
Lanier       6'0"     245 Lb     Human             Male      Young, lean and strong Acanian wearing hide clothing.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Alexandria in high summer is a pit, there's no doubt about it. Today, though, it is especially sticky, with gray clouds promising rain. The leaves of the new trees are even flipped over, barely moving in the stillness, but the air clings like a thick, wet blanket. Here in the Temple District, priestly robes and armor do not lend themselves to dressing down to escape the heat, and so a good many people are moving just a little more slowly, taking time to dip hands in the fountain, and there are a gaggle of children playing in it, absolutely drenched, their shrieks of laughter counterpoint to the solemn notes of services drifting from Temples.

Linwen is standing guard over the fountain with a smile on her face as she watches the children play. She is part lifeguard, part guardian, part adult in charge when the kids may get a little out of hand. The joy of the laughter and the happy memories of home it brings is ALMOST enough to make the half-elf red head forget how miserable she is in her full armor set. "No pushing!" she calls out to two boys that are play fighting in the fountain.

Morgan coming in from the west with a big bag lumped over she shoulder, but smiles as she sees Linwen. A impish smile comes over her face as she sees the kids playing in the water. With a flick of her wrist a spray of water playfully starts getting the kids and one spray gets Linwen and that makes her chuckle.

The heat and humidity outside aren't terrible... or some simply don't complain about it so much. Kira would be one of those, and not only because she's not one to complain. She exits Althea's Temple wearing a light dusting of flour ... or more a batter, really, considering the heat of the hearth-ovens within. Her smile is not only polite, but genuinely relieved... as it is actually cooler outside, and certainly by the mists of the fountain that she heads towards.

Linwen is smacked in the face with magic manipulated water and is taken back by it. Anger might have been the response but that felt way too good as the water finds its way down her skin and into the armor where it can. There is only one who would dare smack her in the face with water! The red-heads looks around for Morgan and see's her chuckling nearby. Linwen points at her then drags a finger across her neck with a grin on her face and a wink then goes back to monitoring kiddies.

Morgan walks closer "you in that armor must be hot, want me to help you with that." she says in a tone that may or may not be sexual. "I cast a spell to endure the heat and the sun for 24 hours." she gives Kira a hello smile and wave.

Seeing Seldan in armor at this time of day, even in high summer, is not all that unusual, really, and while ginger-blonde hair is wet with sweat and has been slicked back from his face, he does not seem -overly- affected by the heat. Today, though, he has a companion, a woman that looks enough like him to be a close relative, wearing the attire of a mid-to-upper class woman and fanning herself vigorously with a hand fan. The two are taking their time, and talk as they walk. Seldan appears to be doing the majority of the talking.

Linwen gives Morgan a smile and a feint blush. "Ummm.. have to stay in the armor all day I'm afraid but if you can do something to keep me cool that doesn't involve me getting arrested for public indecency then have at it Loremaster of the Mage's Guild. And also... what do you have in the bundle there?"

"Hello," Kira greets Morgan and Linwen at the fountain as she arrives, though doesn't otherwise intrude on their conversation. Part is out of respect, and part is due to her taking a moment, and a handful of water, to cool her hands and take a bit of the flour from them (though not washed back into the fountain).

Upon looking back up, she notes Seldan and... she excuses herself from them to walk towards the Silver Guard and his companion with a widened smile. "Hello," she greets them both. "It is good to see you again!" Only after a heartbeat does she realize, and offer, "I'm sorry, I hope I'm not intruding?"

"...the Temples remain here," Seldan is saying as he comes closer, pointing to each of the temples in turn as he names them. "Telmentar ... Draco Solis ... the Seeress and the Hunter," he smiles at those. "The Bard King. The Soldier, and Angoron the Iron Mountain. The Grey Lady's Temple lies further up the hill." As he speaks, the two approach the fountain at the square's center, her hand on his arm.

"Have you sought Draco Solis at all? Even stepped within His walls?" the woman asks, looking up at him.

"Sought, no, and yet have I crossed paths with His faithful ... have I not spoken of that at all?" Seldan sounds surprised, but before he can say more, Kira approaches them. "Sentinel Kira, Her light fall upon your path." His smile is easy and pleasant, and there is something relaxed about it that has not been so before, as a burden lifted.

The woman beside him curtsies politely. "No, no, of course not ... Sentinel? You are then faithful of Telmentar, are you not? A pleasure indeed. You are then one of Seldan's friends."

Linwen sighs a bit of relief as the spell wraps around her and takes effect making her feel like it's a nice spring day instead of humid summer. "Thank you my love for the relief. As always, you save my life," she smiles fondly at the other half-elf. She then switches back to the common tongue... <sildanyari>

Linwen says, "A big bad of feathers? Pillow hmmm? Going to be a magic pillow then? Does it massage your head while you sleep?" she chuckles."

Morgan says in elven "anything for you my love." a kiss is blown and she then says in common "no I just want to make a big pillow for my enchanting room. I do not know how it will work but thats experimenting for."

Kira dips low in a curtsey in return, to both Seldan and his mother. "I am all of those," she answers the woman as she rises, "and delighted to see you well." That she is out walking with Seldan, or even just the change in Seldan's demeanor, is enough for her to not need to ask of her condition.

"It is an honor to meet you ... under much better circumstances." It isn't the first time they've met, though the first was in the gardens, what seems like a lifetime ago, and it wasn't the most pleasant environment at the time.

"Yes ... I remember now, although it all happened so quickly." The woman looks up at Seldan. "Someday, my son, you shall remember introductions," she chides him, although fondly.

Seldan immediately blushes, his eyes lowering. "Of course, Mother. This is Sentinel Kira. Sentinel, my mother Carissa Padaryn." At least he has the grace to look embarrassed? "In truth do I remember little enough of your arrival that I know not who you have met, and who you have not."

"Of course, of course. You were quite ill when I arrived. I will never understand what happened, and I am uncertain that I wish to."

Linwen nods with a smile as her eyes keep watch over the children at play. "Well here is hoping you find the comfort you need in your enchanting chamber," she says softly. There is a moment of silence. "They remind me of the children I played with, minus the pulling on my ears. Human children can be... mean."

Morgan nods "Well all races can be when they are the high numbers. I grew up with mostly humans, sure at first they were always courous about my ears wanting to touch them and such. But when we got older they used that as a reason to be mean to them. But to be honest my mouth did not make it any easier."

"Yes. What a terrible, terrible thing." Carissa shakes her head slowly, with a small shudder. "But ... it is over."

Seldan smiles. "I must yet find the one responsible, so it is not yet done, but you are freed, at the least, and for that will I be forever grateful to Tanith." He turns, then, at the conversation between Linwen and Morgan. "Would that Mal understood that," he puts in, quietly. "His intentions are good, and yet ...." A sharp breath escapes him.

Linwen smiles to Seldan. "Children will be children sir. They can be forgiven for it is often the parents before them that teach them that pulling elf ears is bad. It is only after you bloodied a few noses do they understand this is not something condusive to their well being, especially as adulthood settles in."

Kira looks over to Linwen and Morgan ..and, admittedly, the children playing. It's a heartening sight, after ... everything that's happened. She turns back to Seldan, assuring, "As long as his intentions are good, he can improve the rest."

Her smile dims some at the other note that things are not yet quite over. "Have you any news? I haven't found anything helpful in the records... I'm sorry that I'm not much of a clerk."

Morgan nods "And I find answering the little ones questions and being friendly and not a smart mouth like I was helpfull... good thing rangers have magical healing." the later said softly. "Oh are you hungry I can go get you something?" said to Linwen.

Seldan studies Linwen curiously for a brief moment. "At times is that what one must do," he agrees. "I spoke of the Loremaster's observation that her mouth got her into trouble. It is as Mother told me," and here he smiles down at the woman with him. "Sweet words open doors, where bitter ones may close them." The woman with him smiles back up at him in return. "You have learned well indeed, although bitter thoughts are oft veiled by sweet words as well."

"Even so." He turns to Kira. "I had intended to find you, but things have moved swiftly. The forest knew where the village of Siavonere is, and told the druids, who told myself and others in turn. We make ready to seek it. Will you journey with us?"

Linwen looks at Morgan. "You do have a bit of a smart mouth on you mage," she chuckles.

Morgan shrugs "why mince words when you can say whats on your mind, it saves a lot of time."

Kira's smile blooms anew with lessons of words, but blinks at Seldan's news before she can comment. "So that is... where she might be?" She is hopeful, though, for once, doesn't presume to be -too- optimistic. Seldan receives a nod or two, even before the words are formed that follow. "Of course I will. I want to see this through as much as anyone."

"I am nearly certain that that is where she is, for that is where first I met her. The angel said that she has not moved from where she has rested all these years, and that can be but one place." Seldan nods his certainty at Kira's words, but Carissa has turned her attention to the two elven women chatting near where the children play. She, too, spares them a fond smile, but turns a stern look on Morgan. "That is well, if you wish only to speak your mind. Would you be heeded, would you change the minds of others? Would you turn those words to advantage? Then you will learn to control them as carefully as any blade, my dear. Make no mistake. Words are weapons, and in places are they wielded as daggers. A bit more time taken to hone those words, that they influence the thoughts of others rather than merely being spouted into the air as an arrow fired into the sky, will serve you well."

Linwen listens to the critique of Morgan's style. "Not good for diplomacy at any rate," she just kind of adds.

Morgan nods "Oh I know I do hold back what I want to say. But I better get back to the lab I have somethings to do." she fluters up and kisses Lins chin as the kids behind her gives a ewww like sound or teasing ones before the water splashes them with magic.

Linwen blushes as the kids ewwwwwww and the little half-sil mage runs off. "She's going to be my death one day..." she sighs as she watches her leave. "What a way to go!"

Kira nods to Seldan, attention drifting to his mother at her words. "You are very wise, Lady Padaryn. From what I know of Seldan, this isn't surprising at all." Of course it is a compliment, though there may be a bit of light bemusement in her smile as well.

Belatedy, she looks back to the Silver Guard with some surprise. "You met her there, before? I never realized... I thought you'd only met her here, or maybe in the tower..."

Almost the moment she asks, however, Kira regrets it. "I'm sorry, now I think I -am- interrupting the both of you. I don't want to darken your day."

The heat is oppressive and muggy, and then Winter arrives. A version of it, in any case. Cryosanthia, the tall white lizard in a flamboyant set of swashbuckling gear that involves a short skirt and cape. All white, with glacial blue decorations, trim, and small woven dragon eyes and snowflakes as patterns on some of it. The inside of her cape shimmers with a pale blue satin. She is like a spire of ice, in the shape of a sith-makar.

It's also noticeably cooler in her immediate vincinity, like being in the shade with a breeze. Her breath is frequently visible, condensing in two streams from her nostrils when she exhales. She comes up on the group, nods and smiles, "Peace on your Nests. Oh, is the conversation over?"

Seldan's eyes lower, but it is Carissa who speaks first, nodding to Linwen. "Even so. Those who do not control their words are as dangerous as those who control not their weapons." She shakes her head at Kira, pleasantly. "You trouble nothing, Sentinel. If you do not speak of such things, Seldan is unlikely to ever tell me what he has been up to, and I know that he does not tell me all." The woman accompanying Seldan fans herself with the fan in her hand, turning politely towards the newcomer, although her brows furrow. "And on yours," she responds politely. "Not at all, we but spoke of the value of kind words."

"Mother, this is Cryosanthia. Cryosanthia, my mother, Carissa Padaryn. Cryosanthia is of the sith-makar, and she is not alone here in Alexandria."

Linwen nods to Carissa's words as she watches Morgan fade out of sight. "I don't think she likes anyone putting her in her place...." she says to no one in particular then looks back to see one boy holding another boy's head under the water in the fountain. "HEY!" the red-head shouts and marches up quickly to the fountain. "We don't drown our friends in the fountain!" Her stern gaze makes the other child let go who then defends his actions with, "We we're just playing!"

Kira turns at Cryosanthia's greeting, bringing her smile to bear on the white-scale. "Cryo! How are you? Did you want to visit other tem..." She aborts her question as Seldan provides proper introductions, which she doesn't want to interrupt. Her own questions can wait, though she's pleased to see her out and about, even if it tends to make Cryosanthia nervous.

"It's good practice for vampires," Cryo comments idly, then perhaps misundertanding Seldan's introduction she adds, "Yes, I have lots of friends in Alexandria. Words are my weapon too, when it isn't a dagger or rapier."

She's got a look, something is up. She's brimming with energy and a certain bounciness that's rare, was rare even as her younger self. Her tailtip is flick, flick, flickering behind her and her eyes sparkle. They are like sapphire gems most of the time, but rarely glitter as they do now. Each way she turns her head they seem to catch the sunlight which refracts into a thousand bright points within their depths. "This one does, yes Kira, for new reasons, and we met once before Matriarch Padaryn, though the circumstances were bad and this one hopes they are forgotten."

"I ... do not recall, I would ask your forgiveness, Cryosanthia." Carissa's smile fades, but she nods. "But it is well that we meet now." She seems confused by the vampire comment, but Seldan chuckles at the remark, his grin easy. "Let us pray that we need never do so again, Cryosanthia. Mother, I shall tell you that tale this even." He watches Cryosanthia, but Carissa's attention seems to have been caught by the playing children. "Play stops being play when you hurt someone," she tells the children sternly. "Would you like it if he held -your- head under?"

Linwen pats both kids on the head gently. "No more rough housing or you lose your fountain privledges! That goes for all you little brats!" she says sternly but then splashes water at the kids and laughs as they splash back. "No fair! There are like 10 of you and one of me!" Linwen stands up, flinging water of her hands. One of the girls playing chimes in, "Yeah! But you are taller than us and have big muscles!"

Kira doesn't immediately recognize the vampire comment, either, though her blink a moment later signals that it finally hits home. Cryosanthia had mentioned seeking Tarien's favor next... maybe she is working on it already?

She could add her words to the ... correcting of the child, but doubts she could ever do so better than Linwen who's already there handling it, or the mother present. Besides, Cryo's semblance (and tail) won't let her eye go. She's not quite concerned, yet: as this is the most brightly energized she's seen her in some time. She mentioned other reasons, but nothing about her seems ominous. Kira is still very much curious. "Cryo, what is it? What's happened?"

Water goes flying from the fountain. A splash fight inevitably involves those closest to it when it breaks out, and both Seldan and Carissa find themselves in the line of fire! Carissa yelps as they both get pelted with water, The fan in her hand dropped to the cobblestones. Seldan immediately steps between her and the fountain, already drawing sigils in the air. A blue-white field of shimmering force springs into being between him and the fountain, water splashing harmlessly against it to pool on the cobblestones.

"Agh. Mother, they did not get you too damp, did they?" They did seem to have gotten both of them, before the force wall went up, Carissa has a good splash of water down her front. "In truth, it is nice to cool down, but I would not see this gown ruined." Seldan spares Cryosanthia a glance as well, but most of his attention is on Carissa.

"Of course Matriarch Padaryn, forgiven and forgotten." Cryosanthia says, bouncing her weight from foot to foot. She's watching the children and the fountain, and seems like she might leap in. The sentinel's question draws her attention over.

Cryo is full of grins, a big wide smile with lots and lots (and lots!) of teeth. She flicks her right hand through a quick gesture, a cascade of light flashes along the scales on her arm and then the group is surrounded by a ghostly and energetic beating of drums. A litteral drum-roll. She pulls off her left, white-scale glove and holds her hand extended displaying the back of it, as if to be kissed.

"It's gone! It's gone! It's GONE!" She explodes with glee. "I had a dream and Zeke came to me, and he took my hand with his real hand, and then the Dragonfather was there and it BURNED! Like it was in the Sun and said wonderful things and I couldn't wake up and then I did and I felt better and I thought that was nice and then I looked and it's GONE! It's real! It happened! I'm free! I'm FREE! She's not watching me!"

Kira can't help be echo Cryosanthia's smile as it widens... albeit with far, far less teeth. The sudden sound of drums shouldn't be -too- surprising, though it does startle her a bit... though that could also be the ungloving. Call it muscle memory, but every time her hand is referenced like that it isn't pleasant.

Save this one, it seems. Kira's jaw drops open and she blinks twice (to make a proper blink) before staring a moment at the sith's hand. Not that she would want to deny the announcement, but she can't help but verify it with her own eye.

"Oh my! That's..." is there even a proper word? She has to settle for "wonderful!" Perhaps unsurprisingly, there is also action incoming to accompany. Namely a hug. A big one. The... Nest-Mother of all hugs?

In any case, it's low and energetic enough that Kira hoists Cryo off her feet. Barely. Kira neither large nor strong, and had to spare some energy for her laugh. She starts stumbling backwards slowly with the shift in centor of gravity. Possibly towards the fountain that Cryo was eyeing anyhow. Not that Kira seems to mind in the slightest at the moment.

Seldan has been setting Carissa to rights, while this is ongoing, but now with both of them dried off, the two turn their attention to the expression of joy that is Kira trying to bear-hug Cryosanthia into the fountain. He murmurs something to her, and the both of them take a step or two backwards. With a quiet arcane gesture, Seldan dismisses the wall of force that he had conjured, and Carissa gives him a -look-, although it is more appraising than anything. "Seldan, when did you learn magic like that?"

"But recently did I master that one, Mother," he answers, watching the expression of joy. "What are they...." "Wah? This one is not portable!" Cryo says, as she is hugged off her feet. She is a tall sith, and while somewhat lithe, she is heavy and not accustomed to being picked up, by anything. She struggles and her tail gets involved, tangling in Kira's legs. "Lookout the Fountain!"

>>>SPLASH<<<<

Well that showed the kids how it's done. Water goes everywhere.

There is a sudden tumble of a few gallons of water from mid-air. Appearing out of no where to fall down over the emerging Kira and Cryo. Splooosh!

Sabina steps up chuckling with her holy symbol in hand, watching those playing in the fountian with a pleased look apon her face. "Sorry! You were splashing so much water out of the fountian I thought it wise to add a bit back in."

There are shrieks and screams and kids scrambling for cover as the cannonball of cold nearly empties the fountain in a tidal wave that covers the cobblestones. Seldan stands in front of Carissa, just in case, but the water landed shot of them (though not by much), and he turns to her, chuckling. "Cryosanthia is in an excellent mood indeed, although I know not why." He must have missed the announcement in the cleanup process. Both of them chuckle, but seem content to watch from a safe distance, the woman fanning herself again. He, too, is in a much better mood than he has been for some time.

Linwen managed to steer clear of the cannonball and watches the fountain drain of the children she was watching over. "And my work here is done..."

Kira is NOT showing the children how to hold anyone under the water, of course. Not that Cryo couldn't choose to stay under for nearly as long as she liked, of course. Also, the fountain isn't quite people-deep.

Kira release Cryo and sits up in the fountain, her sputtering only dampening her laughter a little and not quenching it. She is drenched, but the cold water isn't terribly uncomfortable in the heat of the day... and it helpfully removed most of her flour/breading covering. "I'm sorry!" she manages to get out between laughs. "Are you alright?" Her concern is there, though can't be too terribly distressing given her continued (sodden) grin.

It's adult swim time. A clawed hand covered in white scales reaches out and catches Sabina's cloak, then pulls her in. Physics wins as a wet Cryosanthia is not easily coming out of the fountain and she drags the Tarien cleric into its shallow depths. She rolls on her back, head sticking out of the water like a sea-serpent, her horns dripping, and laughs. "This one is, yes! Swimming is today."

She catches the edge with both hands, resting her chin there, and letting herself float with her tail washing from side to side. "Fine and Free!"

Bina has just a half a moment to realize what's happening. Even as she's half falling and half pulled into the water she manages to say, "Well poop." Before she lands beside Cryo with a soft splash. Lord Emp is quick to spread wings and fly to the other side of the fountian, squawking repeatedly in his haughty style.

The Tarien priestess comes up from the water with a small gasp and then blows raspberries at Cryo. "Well someone is in a good mood!"

Seldan watches the whole thing from a safe distance as the children that were in the fountain scatter, staring in -awe- as several of the adults take over their play space! They're to a man drenched, dripping wet, though, and not a one of them seems to mind. "A good mood indeed," he says quietly to the woman next to him. "There has been little enough joy here, of late. Come, you wished to see Draco Solis' Temple?"

He and the woman start moving off, talking quietly and making a wide skirt around the play in the fountain.

Linwen stands well out of the reach of clawed hands and laughs as Sabina goes in. "The woman of mystery is brought low and yet her bird survives. Good birdy!" she calls to Lord Emp.

A rare but no unexpected sight in the Temple District, Lanier Vaylan stalks his way out of the Temple of Gilead, a grey wolf trotting not far from him and tracking his path unerringly, the mighty wolf Spud. The Green Warden makes his way into the square, a sidelong look and a small grin spared for the antics happening near the fountain. He unhooks his pack from around his back, placing it next to the edge of the fountain. The heat seems to be affecting even him, as he fishes a wooden bowl from within the pack. He dips it into the fountain, filling it to the brim, and then turns it over his head. As rivulets of water wash down the ranger, he's already dipping the bowl back in the water. Instead of taking another bowl of water for himself, he sets it down in front of Spud, who seizes upon it immediately. Lanier stands back up, looking around as he gathers up the hair in his face and brushes it back between his fingers.

"Sabina! Welcome!" Kira waves -after- Sabina joins them, her own laughter subsiding some into intermittent giggles. She then looks over to Lord Emp and greets him with a "Hello."

Seldan may have stepped off, but Kira thinks he definitely has the right of it, and joy is long overdue. Sadly, she can't sit in there forever, since it would keep others from enjoying the fountain, in whatever means. So she stands her sodden self and steps over the circular to sit upon it and let some of her robe-borrowed water drain back in.

"I need my other glove," Cryo says to no one in particular, as her right hand makes a quick graceful gesture and the white glove she wears on it glows. She points at its pair, the left lying dropped on the flagstones, making a grabbing motion. It lifts up and floats over towards her, whereupon she grabs it and pulls it over her left. This is followed by two quick casts which involve scooping underwater. A Ray of Frost, and the water in her cupped hands is frozen into ice, a Prestidigitation as she crushes it, and the ice crumbles into snow. Or rather, a loosely packed slush-ball, which she throws at no one in particular. Just to have, to throw, a snowball in summer. "Hello Lord Emperor Energetic, hi Spud, Spud's guy."

Bina leans over to give Cryo a quick hug and a laugh before getting to her feet and dripping water all over. She too steps back over the side and sits there drenched. A quick look at the water level she sighs. "It does feed back in from below so.. It'll fill back up soon enough. I think." She says more to the group around her. Lanier and Spud get a nod of greeting. "Hello! Would you care for more water? I can douse you if you'd like?" She asks with a brow wraggle while lifting her holy symbol up. Lastly she cups a hand full of water and splashes it towards Linwen. Not that it goes anywhere near her.

Lanier looks towards Kira for a moment then to Cryosanthia. He nods to the Sith briefly, replying with an almost sedate, "Hello Cryosanthia. Good to see you again." He looks down towards the wolf, and the bowl of water that's quickly being lapped up. To Sabina, he adds, "He wouldn't like getting soaked, but he'll be polite about more water in his bowl. You can if you'd like." Lanier for his part takes a seat on the edge of the fountain, his words slipping into a lyrical Sildanyari. Lanier says "Spud, be nice." <sildanyari>

Linwen grins as the water misses her by a wide margin. "Sorry, Sabina. THe children already did the deed! Now all you adults get out of there and let the kids over their spot back!"

"Spud, roll on your back and wave your paws in the air." Cryo whistles sweetly. <sildanyari>

"Yes Mistress... ah, ack." Cryosanthia says. She surges out of the fountain like a leviathan rising from the depths. A whole lot of water clings to her clothes and comes with her, splashing a wide arc as she sits on the fountain rim. It streams off her scales, most back into the fountain, but her clothes remain heavy with it. The edges of the pools around her get a slight sheen to them.

Bina reaches over and POKES! Cryo in a rough manor. But she still does it with a grin. "Tsk tsk! I heard it." And that's all she says on the matter. She then focus's in on the wolf's water bowl and prays softly to Tarien for the gift of water, filling up the bowl to overflowing. "Well.. I was hot. Now I am dripping wet from the fountian. I think I'm better off?" She laughs.

Kira is wringing out her robes, out of the fountain, itself, but still claiming some of the play space. "I'm sorry," she apologized to Linwen, even if the directive seems less direct because of the grinning. She has squeezed out enough for now, she thinks, and stands up... just in time to miss some of the splashing from the Cryozilla emerging from The Depths. A wince follows at the sith's choice of word, but she gives only a sympathetic look, no pokes. "You did very well, Cryo..." To Sabina, she grins. "It's definitely cooler, now."

Lanier turns his hear, looking towards Cryosanthia with a raised eyebrow. He then gives a small shake of his head, "It doesn't work like that. He doesn't understand the words as much as he understands what I'd like him to do when I say the words. He doesn't think abstractly like we do. At least not outside of his purpose." He tilts his head, looking down at the bowl of water that is now filled. As Spud gets to it, he lifts his head aain, nodding to Sabina, "Thank you, Luckbringer." He looks towards Linwen now, as all is said and done, waiting to see what's next, it seems, "Does she want you to get out of the fountain or me to get off the fountain? I'm not sure."

Linwen is about to answer when a page boy runs up calling Linwen's name. "I am here boy. What do you have for me?" she asks walking up to him. He fishes a letter of some kind out of his little satchel and hands it to her. She gives him a couple of coppers and smiles. "Thanks lady!" and then he is off on his next mission. She opens the letter with with a wax seal on it, reading in silence and as she is done she has a rather annoyed look on her face. She just stuffs the laetter in a belt pouch then without a word marches off North.

Cryo bats at Sabina's hand, protesting, "It was a different Miss...Take!" She nods, adding, "Yes you are."

The sith doesn't bother wringing her clothes, for the moment she lets them drain wherever, enjoying the coolness of the water on the muggy day. She nods at Lanier's explanation, "This one understands."

Exhaling, she looks about, finally back at Kira, "So, this one should go to the Temples and thank the Dragonfather, and perhaps some of the others two, just because."

Bina chuckles and patpats the sith fondly. "Then I am sorry." She shrugs then at Lanier, blinking as Linwen walks off at speed. "I think more us then yourself." She says to the ranger as chidren step back to the fountian's edge and begin to play. "It's good to show them we still can play. But I suppose we should leave that work to them."

Lanier nods towards Cryosanthia, "Good luck with that." He then nods to Sabina, "I think you're right." There's a pause for a few moments and then he adds, "They certainly seem eager to get back to it." He then narrows his eyes, "I better refill my waterskin now before the bladders start shrinking further." He reaches down to his pack again, rummaging through and then withdrawing the aforementioned waterskin.

Kira sighs pleasantly after the bit of joyously exuberant excess. Smiling to Cryo, she nods. "I should offer my thanks, too. Maybe to all of them. I'm so relieved and delighted for you."

"I think so!" The white sith nods, holding a wet arm in front of Sabina, she turns over to show the back of her left hand, "See! It's gone! Her mark is gone. The Dragonfather came in a dream and took it."

Cryo is full of grins, she pulls one of the pattern panels of her clothing around to show it off. "These are not her snowflakes! They are mine. She does not get to own snowflakes either. They are not her symbols. I love Winter and I will wear what I want."

Bina listens back and forth politely as the conversation goes about. She had been confused as to the need to go to the temples to give thanks but when Cryo show her altered hand Sabina lights up and claps! "Outstanding! YAAAAYYY!" She shouts at the top of her lungs, outdoing any noise coming from the kids. She then gives Cryo a large hug and a laugh. "Congratulations." She adds on in a more subdued voice.

Lanier watches the proceedings as he wordlessly fills his waterskin, filling it nearly to the brim and then capping it off. He narrows his eyes for a moment and then mentions, "Congratulations on your victory." He seems uncomfortable for a moment, but then settles himself into the task of removing items from the pack, settling his waterskin in, and then returning the items back. Effectively resorting his pack as Spud watches.

Cryo hugs Sabina, a strong and soaking embrace, joining in her cheer, "YESSS!" Her voice is low as she adds, "Your friendship and support helped greatly, this one thought of you often, and your naughty bird."

She glances at Lanier, narrowing her own eyes in an almost exagerated way, then tilts her head, "Something discomforts you?"

Bina seems surprised by Cryo's statement but she looks over at the bird fending off children and chuckles. "I'm glad we could help." And then she joins Cryo with reguarding Lanier. "Does he need more water? Or perhaps yourself? I'd be happy to summon forth more of Tarien's blessings."

Lanier frowns, turning sad (though they always seem to be so) eyes towards Cryosanthia before he simply shakes his head, "It's just pragmatism that has no business in this conversation. That's all." He then smiles, looking down at Spud, "I think we're both good. Thank you. Any more water for me and I'll be weighed down. Anymore water for him and we'll be stopping every five minutes to sniff things." He then looks back up to Sabina, lifting a shoulder in a half shrug, "For how big he's getting, he's still a pup."

The priestess peers over at the pup and blinks. "He's going to be massive then when he's full grown? He seems pretty big to me now. Not that I'm a good judge of things natural. What are you feeding him? Dire animals?" Bina grins at her own play on words and then nods. "Pragmatism? What do you mean?"

"Yes, this one also wonders what is pragmatic in a conversation about a miracle." Cryo adds, looking over. Water continues to spread away from her feet as it drains off her and out of her clothes.

Lanier's lips thin, and he reaches down to grab his pack by the strap, throwing his over his shoulder with little care to how it settles across his shoulders, "Cryosanthia, I'm happy for you. Let's leave it at that. There is zero reason to press any further than that." He takes a deep breath, his breath exiting in a slow exhale. At the very end of the breath, he adds, "If I had something to say, I would say it."

Bina blinks... and then blinks a few more times behind her mask before bursting out into laughter. "But you did say it. Thus why we asked." She laughs a bit more and then shrugs. "As you say.. or don't say. I too will leave it be." Whaaaaat?! A tarienite leaving something be? End of the world!

"Well, ok." Cryo says, brushing at her clothes which are starting to freeze and stiffen in a few places. "This one should still head in and give thanks, then think about not worrying. Perhaps Zeke and I can be together again. The memories are not so raw now either, they have the weight of time on them, not the feeling of yesterday. That was not helpful."

Lanier takes a moment to glare a dagger at Sabina before he says, "No, I didn't say it. I said why I wouldn't say it. What I had to say was pragmatic and didn't have anything to do with the revelry that was going on here. I don't owe anyone an explanation about my thoughts on a matter." He then looks back to Cryosanthia, "Congratulations, again, on breaking your curse. Sincerely." He looks down towards Spud, who has found himself a seat by the fountain. Slipping back into that easy Sildanyari, "Come on, Spud." He begins walking towards one of the myriad exits of the Temple Square, running his arms through the straps of his pack as he walks, distributing its weight across both shoulders as the wolf keeps pace with him.

Bina watches the man go and then stiffles snickers behind a hand, leaning into Cryo for a moment and then bursting out into laughter. "Oh goodness me. I love the diversity of people here int he city. I do I do. Do you think there's a place on the world that has more diversity then here in this city? If so I want to go. But yes.. You should go and be thankful."

Cryosanthia grins, "This one cannot imagine a place. Here."

She stands, tall and elegant, gracefully moving her hands through patterns, finishing with her white gloves glowing. She makes wiping motions in the air towards Sabina, and a magic wave washes over her removing the water. She follows up with similar gestures towards herself, although she works it into a little dance, head to toes, then back to hips to tailtip, it has a certain belly-dancing aspect to it. She is dry also.

The frozen patches on the ground, only the ones in her immediate vicinity remain and they won't last long once she's departed and the muggy city heat hits.

"This one should give thanks to the Dragonfather, and perhaps see the others as that was my plan. This one wouldn't want to be ungrateful now that my prayers were answered. It is... astounding really. To look at my hand, see things changed, to have a sign with me always. This is something special."

Bina gets up and with a wide and happy smile steps up and gives Cryo another hug. "I am happy for you, Cryosanthia. Truely happy. Remember and hold on to this feeling for as long as you live. These are the first days of your true freedom.Remember this and no one will be able to steal it from you again."

Cryo is happy with hugs, returning a strong, cool one, "I will. Thank you, thank Lord Emp too, he has helped. This one is free! I am free! We shall celebrate properly, but go well on your day." The sith breaks loose and heads off towards the temples with a bouncing step and her tail going everywhere.

Cryo's Dream

---

Aftershock added on Mon Jun 22 21:05:43 2020: Mail sent to Cryosanthia and Kira:

The night after praying to Daeus, Cryosanthia has a dream. The dream is as follows:

You are sitting on the floor in the forest, and as you look up you see Zeke in his new white vestments coming toward you, the platnium dragon of Daeus brightly lit on his chest. He smiles, and holds his flesh and blood claw out to you. Immediately you reach out, and the platninum dragon shifts, rolling up Zeke's arm to grasp your hand and his.

The dragon blooms to life, the sun in dragon form and it is so hard to look at that you can not. But you are dreaming so neither can you close your eyes. "This one can take the mark from your body, and the scars from your mind, this one can heal you. You were never forgotten in the dark, but remember that it was a place that the sun shone not. This one had no power there. Here... Here there is power enough to make you whole once more. Don't loose your faith daughter, don't let her take this piece of you as well."

Searing, agonizing, /horrible/ pain awakens you and you find that the mark on your hand is gone entirely, and the memories of the tower are... not gone, but no longer the raw things they once were. They hold the age that they should rather than the freshness that the fruit made them be.