Log Date: Sept. 14, 1995
Log Summary: Skywise comes to visit Rayek and Ekuar as they work on
             repairing the Palace. Rayek remains mostly transfixed by
             his communion with the Scroll of Colors, while Ekuar has
             a word with the young stargazer.
Note: Ekuar in this log was spoofed by Rayek's player.

----------
Scroll Chamber(#5061RF)
This chamber shows signs of having been, in the immediate past, a 
  rubble-strewn wreck. Its walls retain a lingering eldritch glimmer, but one, 
  if inspected closely, sports a thin ripple which might once have been a crack 
  running down into the floor. On the far side of the room from the massive 
  golden doorway is a stand of ornate stone - whole, but misshapen in places - 
  and an empty chair taller than an elf. As in other chambers of this place, 
  there is a sense of *presence* here, though a dazed and only somewhat 
  recurrent one.
Contents:
Ekuar(#9731)
Scroll of Colors(#5003)
Obvious exits:
Out

Skywise arrives from the corridor outside.
Skywise has arrived.
Skywise enters slowly, eyes watching the tableau appraisingly.
Skywise says "Hello, Ekuar ... Rayek."

Ekuar looks over first, and smiles benignly, turning to hobble towards 
  Skywise. "Young stargazer," he says by way of greeting.

Skywise smiles, genuinely glad to see Ekuar in a good mood.

Rayek stands near the Scroll, lifting it, turning it, his attention completely 
  focused. Only for an instant does he slide a glance in Skywise's direction, 
  before he returns to seeking whatever image he wishes to find in the Scroll's 
  colorful array of symbols.

Skywise gazes up at the scroll, colors playing off his face. His expression is 
  thoughtful.

The Scroll Chamber has changed... it looks more now as it should, and it 
  tingles with residual, recent magic. Ekuar beams, patting the wall in a 
  paternal sort of fashion, and then regards Skywise with his large benevolent 
  eyes. "I seem to recall that little Preserver, yes, Petalwing, saying you 
  were here... I'm so glad elves are coming to see the Palace again...!"

Skywise smiles. "Had to see for myself what had happened. And what was being 
  done."
Skywise's eyes settle on Rayek as he speaks.

Ekuar gestures with his single hand around the room. "Brownskin seeks images in 
  the Scroll of how the Palace should be... and I am shaping them." There's a 
  fond note to the ancient elf's voice, though he does not miss Skywise's 
  direct gaze at the Sun Villager so occupied.

Skywise nods to Ekuar, crossing his arms and gazing around the room.
Skywise says quietly, "It is not so bad as I had thought... it feels much the 
  same. Just wounded."
Skywise blinks as he attributes elfin qualities to the palace.

Ekuar murmurs lowly, "Of course, he has not rested much at all... but that is 
  brownskin's way." He sighs, kindly, but sadly, and leans on his staff. In 
  response, to Skywise's comment, he gives a quiet nod.

Skywise grins, a playful note creeping in. "I guess that makes you two a healer 
  for it."
Skywise's eyes dart sideways at Rayek. "Never thought I'd consider -him- a 
  healer."

Ekuar's seamed features crinkle into a smile. "In a way, stargazer, in a way, 
  we are healing it indeed. The spirits here seem to know... and help, in their 
  own way." Alertly, he follows Skywise's glance again. "My young friend is 
  rather of the same mind."

Skywise uncrosses his arms, and lays a gentle hand on the wall, looking up 
  respectfully toward the ceiling.
Skywise grins. "He never thought he'd be a healer?"
Skywise caresses the wall supportingly.
Skywise mutters, "A healer works for all elfin kind."

Ekuar doesn't quite smile. "No; he believes he must heal the place. And since 
  he cannot shape rock... he does what he can." He gestures at the lean figure 
  not far away; Rayek scowls to himself, turning the Scroll slightly as he 
  discards an image for another beyond it...

Skywise gazes at the wall as though the answers were all written there.

Ekuar studies Skywise gravely. "He believes he does," he says quietly.

Skywise turns and looks at Ekuar. "You know," he says after consideration. "I 
  think he does."
Skywise adds hastily. "Think he does, I mean."
Skywise grins.
Skywise scratches his head.

The ancient rockshaper's feathery eyebrows crinkle a bit, and he chuckles. 
  "Brownskin is ever proud. But this is his element, this place... " He 
  indicates Rayek with a single finger: Rayek, standing straight and seemingly 
  tireless, his gaze alive and intent, commanding the Scroll of Colors with 
  little more gesture than the rockshaper makes himself.

Skywise gives up on semantics and seems to listen to the soft whispers in the 
  room.
Skywise nods to Ekuar, considering.
Skywise leans against the wall, not lazily, appreciatively.
Skywise gazes at Rayek again, a long, appraising look.

Ekuar winks. "If you should know another young rockshaper, though, stargazer, 
  you could help by sending him or her here. It makes me feel young again to be 
  here, but my old bones can do only so much."

Skywise chuckles softly.
Skywise says "If I knew any, Ekuar, I'd bring them here myself."
Skywise pats the wall softly. "I'd help if I could." He grins.
Skywise says, eyes serious. "I think it's in good hands."

Ekuar lets out a wistful sigh. "Young Ahdri... ah, but she would not leave the 
  Mother of Memory." He smiles. "You help in a way, by giving me a new face to 
  see! Do you have news of your tribesmates?"
Ekuar inclines his head happily.

Skywise gives a small smile. "I've taken a lovemate. Goldfire. We've had poor 
  hunting of late, because of all the visiting tribes."
Skywise says "Traders and Warren came by, only left a while back."
Skywise shrugs. "Not much else, really. You know the most, Ember coming here, 
  Leetah coming and going."

Ekuar nods kindly, absorbing every word. "So many, many young elves... " He 
  smiles.

Skywise's voice holds a hint of coldness at that last.

Ekuar, at the mention of Leetah, seems to sadden a bit. "Yes... pretty leeetah. 
  It is a shame."

Skywise shrugs. He seems not to want to discuss it, really.
Skywise says "Cutter is well."
Skywise smirks, glancing at Rayek.

Ekuar studies Skywise again, and asks affably, "Shall I show you the work I 
  have done in other chambers?"

Skywise nods and prepares to follow Ekuar.

Ekuar hobbles out on his staff, quietly, step-thump-step.

Skywise doesn't quite send. Or doesn't send directly, but there is a sense of 
  hard-won approval in him as he turns to go.

Ekuar has left.

Skywise has left.

Ekuar> Ekuar smiles a bit, as he guides you out and into the corridors. "I'm 
  afraid I have only worked outside the Scroll Chamber on clearing rubble, for 
  the most part... "

Ekuar> Second Level(#10248RF)
Ekuar> This wide corridor is strewn with small bits of stone rubble. Its walls 
  sport recurring ripples which not too long ago might have been wide cracks; 
  to the touch, these ripples can be felt as noticeable waves in the walls. 
  There is a lingering odd sensation in the air, a periodic kind of dazed 
  sadness, mitigated by the tingle of recent magic.
Ekuar> At one end of the corridor you can see the stairs that wind back down 
  into the lower level of this place; at the opposite end, a tall doorway that 
  glimmers golden in the faint light.
Ekuar> Contents:
Ekuar> Skywise(#2945PBJXce)
Ekuar> Obvious exits:
Ekuar> Scroll Chamber  Winding Stairway  

Ekuar> Skywise nods, smiling slightly.
Ekuar> Skywise considers. "What do you need most here?"

Ekuar> Ekuar considers, leaning on the sturdy staff. "For all of me... I am in 
  no hurry, and could happily spend the rest of my days here... but I have only 
  so much strength in me. I must, now, spend some of it making certain that 
  Brownskin consents to eat!" He sighs, again, wistfully.

Ekuar> Skywise arches a brow. "That bad?"
Ekuar> Skywise considers.

Ekuar> Ekuar says frankly, sadly, "He wishes to help, so much... if he is not 
  studying the Scroll, he is lifting boulders for me into their proper places 
  so that I might mend them. With all this he does, sometimes he doesn't feel 
  it necessary to take care of himself, or so it would seem...!"

Ekuar> Skywise looks properly skeptical.

Ekuar> Ekuar laughs, almost a cackle, merrily. "You forget, stargazer... he has 
  been here for a very long time. It has increased his magic." He hobbles over 
  to sit on a convenient step. "I am doing what I can to remind him of 
  compassion... but, ah, it's been a trying task indeed! I fear the Palace's 
  wounding wounded _him_, too... "

Ekuar> Skywise hrms, rubbing his jaw with thought.
Ekuar> Skywise nods slowly. "I guess his pride makes him good for the job. This 
  time.

Ekuar> Ekuar asks searchingly, "'This time'?"

Ekuar> Skywise smirks and isn't sure how much he wants to say at this point.
Ekuar> Skywise jabs a finger toward the scroll room. "Usually someone ends up 
  getting hurt from that one's pride. And too often it's been Cutter."
Ekuar> Skywise does not seem pleased.

Ekuar> Ekuar points out mildly, "I haven't been told if Brownskin has done 
  anything to wound Cutter, lately."

Ekuar> Skywise frowns. "Well, not him precisely... More like Leetah, because of 
  him, but still."
Ekuar> Skywise sighs. "I wanted to see for myself what was going on."

Ekuar> Skywise shrugs. "That was one of my main reasons for coming here."
Ekuar> Skywise smiles slightly, "But he doesn't -seem- to be trying to get 
  Leetah to come here. Who knows what's in her head."

Ekuar> Ekuar sighs softly. "Brownskin... did not ask Leetah to come here. Nor 
  did she offer to. They did not part well."

Ekuar> Skywise looks gee-golly confused.
Ekuar> Skywise says "Huh," he says intelligently. "Really."

Ekuar> "In fact," continues Ekuar succintly, "I nearly had to sit on Brownskin 
  to make him consent to allow Leetah to heal him."

Ekuar> Skywise's eyes widen, and he seems to be trying to hold back a smile. 
  "Oh?"
Ekuar> Skywise chuckles and takes a seat, resting his chin on his hand. "Do 
  tell."

Ekuar> Ekuar does not seem amused, not now; the sad look returns to his large, 
  wrinkle-framed eyes. "Leetah was very angry that Rayek chose to return here," 
  he observes.

Ekuar> Skywise's face turns grim.
Ekuar> Skywise says "I see."
Ekuar> Skywise sighs a little.
Ekuar> Skywise says "Sorry, Ekuar. Seems I misjudged a number of things around 
  here."
Ekuar> Skywise looks displeased, "And something else, too."

Ekuar> Ekuar squints at you. "I am not sure you do see," he says gently. 
  "Brownskin was... alone, here, in the Palace, for all of ten years." He 
  pauses, then adds, "I know what solitude can do to an elf. The only way I 
  would allow Rayek to come here myself is with me."

Ekuar> Skywise rises and paces around.
Ekuar> Skywise says, "I see that Leetah is more concerned with Rayek's welfare 
  than Cutter's. "
Ekuar> Skywiseeyes you appraisingly.
Ekuar> Skywise says "I think you care about him as much as I do Cutter."

Ekuar> Ekuar gives a small shrug. "Leetah is home now with her mate, rather 
  than here with Rayek, is she not?"

Ekuar> Skywise makes this observation after a long moment of thought.
Ekuar> Skywise frowns, "She is, and she isn't."

Ekuar> Ekuar smiles a bit, though.

Ekuar> Skywise gestures, "She's there in body, but her mind, her heart is 
  elsewhere. I thought it was here."
Ekuar> Skywise considers this, face set.

Ekuar> Ekuar says solemnly, "She did not honor me with her confidence."

Ekuar> Skywise nods. "Nor I, of course."
Ekuar> Skywise shrugs. "Who can guess what she's about. If I weren't so worried 
  about Cutter, I'd just ignore her whims."

Ekuar> You say "Has Cutter not confided in you, either, then?"

Ekuar> Skywise says "Of course he has, but -she- has not confided in -him-.""

Ekuar> Ekuar ahs sagely, and ponders. "She and Brownskin walked around one 
  another as if each were made of fire, while he was healing... they barely 
  exchanged words, for all that she allowed him to sleep in her hut."

Ekuar> Skywise frowns, rubbing his chin again. "That's rather like she and 
  Cutter have been. Together, but not."

Ekuar> Ekuar tilts his head. "I would say Leetah has been reclusive ever since 
  she healed Winnowill, to be frank," he murmurs.

[Log cuts off here, as the scene had to be prematurely terminated.]