Log cast: Rayek, Suntop, Songtouch, Shenshen, ColdFire, Log date: 1/13/99 Log intro: Suntop has come on another of his visits to the Palace, this time arriving in the midst of wintertime, bedraggled and tired. Concerned, Rayek offered his underground chambers as a place for the suncub to rest, and it was there that he revealed to the airwalker that he and Cutter had argued, and that he was now banished from Lostholt. Rayek's Chamber(#7481RAFJL) Smaller than many of the other chambers of the Palace of the High Ones, this quiet nook is the place Rayek has appropriated for what passes as his rest. Like the rest of the Palace, it is a room of oddly rippling walls and ceiling and floor, a room where a flicker out of the corner of your eye might be a shadow -- or perhaps a lingering spirit. Ekuar's deft and ancient touch is everywhere you look, in softly smoothed stone and gently curving walls. Shaped torch-holders bathe the chamber with a warm glow when the tapers are lit. The old rockshaper has crafted this place to be restful for the spirit, radiating the care he feels for his Brownskin. Obvious exits: Corridor Out in the corridor, Suntop wanders in from the main hall of the Palace. Out in the corridor, Suntop has arrived. You sense in a locksend, Suntop's send is barely a mind-touch, in case you are asleep. ** Rayek? ** You locksend ** (It's been some time since last he fell into a deep enough sleep to be disturbed from it.) Yes? ** to Suntop. Suntop locksends ** I don't want to disturb you...were you asleep? ** You locksend ** Not deeply. Is something wrong? ** to Suntop. Suntop locksends ** No...not really. Did you know others were aware of this chamber? <> ** You locksend to Suntop, Rayek sends flatly, ** 'Chamber?' ** Suntop locksends ** The one you let me use? The one Ekuar made... ** You locksend ** Ah. (There's a slight considering pause.) I wouldn't be surprised if there were, but I enjoyed knowing it was a private place. Who knows of it? ** to Suntop. Suntop locksends ** Some traveling elves. They didn't seem to realize it belonged to someone. ** You locksend ** ...... ** to Suntop. Suntop locksends ** Perhaps you should seal it somehow if you wish it to remain private? ** You locksend to Suntop, Rayek seems perturbed, rightly so. ** I'll talk to Ekuar about it. ** Suntop locksends ** I may not be staying much longer, so it will be empty if you wish to do so. ** You locksend to Suntop, Rayek blinks, brows furrowing. ** You are leaving? So soon? ** Out in the corridor, SongTouch wanders in from the main hall of the Palace. Out in the corridor, SongTouch has arrived. Out in the corridor, Suntop is leaning against one of the corridor walls, eyes half-closed in sending. Rayek's brows furrow slightly, as if disturbed with something. He slowly rises from his sleeping pit to dress himself, pulling on his jacket as he "listens" to Suntop. Out in the corridor, SongTouch wanders into the corridor, carrying a few scraps of meat. Her moth fabric dress has what the sensitibve nose would mark as ravvit blood. You sense in a locksend, Suntop is just outside in the corridor...Rayek could probably hear him with his ears if he listened carefully. ** I have been invited to another holt for a while. I may go along. ** Out in the corridor, SongTouch stops suddenly, noticing the corridor's other occupant for the first time. "Who're you?" Out in the corridor, Suntop lifts his head slightly at the very faint tang of the ravvit blood. Seeing the other, he offers a nod and a greeting, "Shade..." You locksend to Suntop, Rayek is no doubt aware of people outside his chambers, though who they are and what they're doing he, for privacy's sake, doesn't try to discern. ** Ah. ** He pauses briefly, then wonders aloud, ** Which? ** Suntop locksends ** Wolfhaven. Have you been there? ** Out in the corridor, SongTouch peers up at you curiously, nose twitching as she sorts out scents. "Are you from the woods?" Out in the corridor, Suntop's summer-blue eyes open and he smiles to the young cub. "I'm Suntop. What's your name? And yes, I suppose I am...recently of the woods, that is." Rayek's head dips slightly, aware of people outside his chambers, but not paying attention to them. Securing his jacket, he proceeds to pull on his breeches, casting a brief glance towards the doorway before letting his attention wander elsewhere again. You locksend to Suntop, Rayek answers mildly, ** No. But the name is familiar.. I've probably met elves /from/ there. ** You sense in a locksend, Suntop's send colors in a chuckle, ** Probably... ** Out in the corridor, "I'm SongTouch," she answers importantly. "I killed a ravvit with my knife, so that's why my dress is all bloody. Rainor made me clean up the rest of it." You locksend to Suntop, Rayek seems bemused. ** Have you? ** Suntop locksends ** Of course! How else do you think I was invited there? ** You locksend to Suntop, Rayek points out, ** Just because you were invited there doesn't mean you had been there previously. ** Out in the corridor, Suntop ahs and chuckles at some unrelated thing. "Really? That's very good." Suntop locksends ** That is very true. No, I haven't been there (OOC: I think?). Another reason to visit. ** ** You locksend to Suntop, Rayek answers briefly, ** Ah. ** as he secures his breeches, then steps out into the hallway. Out in the corridor, SongTouch blinks, looking up at you suspiciously. "You're sending, aren't you?" There's the distinct impression that she wants to be included. You step out into the corridor. Side Corridor(#6192RFL) This corridor isn't quite as large as many of the corridors though the Palace, and gives less of a feeling of airy, open space than the larger passageways do. The damage that the Palace suffered is no longer in evidence here; translucent walls and columns once again swoop smoothly and gracefully to a delicately arched ceiling. What magic can be spared from the Palace is used to keep this area comfortable against the climate. One of the smaller corridors branching from this one seems to be lit, dimly but reasonably well. Contents: SongTouch Suntop(#2935PBIJOUcm$g) Family Tent(#4039Je) Obvious exits: Smaller Corridor Rayek's Chamber Entry Hall Rayek steps out of his chambers, dressed save for his cloak and.. boots? The airwalker is curiously barefooted. The sound of voices draws him to a pause just outside the doorway, eyebrows quirking briefly in curiosity. Shenshen comes in from the Smaller Corridor. Shenshen has arrived. Suntop is leaning against the corridor wall talking to the cub, Songtouch. He nods, "I was..." and glances over as Rayek appears in the doorway to his chambers. "Shade, Rayek..." A smile quirks at the corners of his lips. SongTouch looks up at Rayek, absently snacking on her hard-won ravvit. "Could have told me," she mutters resentfully. Shenshen comes out of the corridor and grins, moving over to Songtouch to hug her tightly. "How's my little one?" She says, before smiling at Suntop. "Nephew." She turns and grins at Rayek. "Airwalker." Suntop turns to see his aunt and smiles to her as well, "Shade, Aunt..." "Suntop.. Shenshen.. ah, Child," Rayek adds after a long moment, blinking at SongTouch. Familiar, but the little one's name escapes him. Shenshen looks down at Songtouch. "Her name is SongTouch, Rayek." She tsks.. "You've got ravvit blood all over you..." She shakes her head. "You've got too much wolfrider blood in you." SongTouch quickly swallows her scrap and hugs Shenshen back, oblivious to the fact that dress and face are stained with ravvit blood. "I'm SongTouch," she tells Rayek. Suntop slides a glance to his mother's sister, his expression otherwise still placid, "How can one have -too- much wolfrider blood, Aunt?" Shenshen ruffles SongTouch's hair gently, and smiles at her nephew. "Just ask your father... he's almost as hotheaded as Rayek here." She snickers. Rayek seems almost amused at the double introduction, exchanging a slight nod in reply. At Suntop's question, his gaze shifts to Shenshen, arms folding over his chest as he leans against the wall in wait for the reply. "Nothing's wrong with a Wolfrider, Shenshen." SongTouch releases her grip on her adoptive mother and looks down at her dress. "You just get sort of bloody." Rayek automatically winces at her reply, shooting Suntop a quick, nervous glance. SongTouch looks over at Rayek, totally innocent of any significant exchanges. "Are you okay?" Suntop's calm exterior fades, "There is nothing wrong with my father, Aunt. I find it difficult after all these turns of living with wolfriders that you still have these prejudices." Shenshen shakes her head and chuckles. "I was teasing, Suntop." She sighs and shakes her head back and forth. "I love your father...and his family...as much as I do mine here." She sighs and stalks off... Shenshen goes back out to the Main Hallway. Shenshen has left. SongTouch frowns. **Shenshen?** she calls. Quickly she runs after her. SongTouch goes into the Smaller Corridor. SongTouch has left. Rayek's lips form a straight line as he studies Suntop, looking back to Shenshen in time to watch the firehaired maiden walk off in a huff. Silent, her question unanswered, he watches SongTouch run off as well, nose wrinkling slightly. ** ..... ** Shenshen locksends, to Suntop, Rayek, SongTouch: ** <> OWWW!!!! ** SongTouch comes in from the Smaller Corridor. SongTouch has arrived. Shenshen locksends, to Suntop, Rayek, SongTouch: ** <> ** You locksend, to Suntop, Shenshen, SongTouch: Rayek recoils, startled, at the surprisingly loud sending from the maiden. ** ..?! ** SongTouch looks around worriedly. "Huh?" Suntop crosses his arms at his chest, not taking the tease very well it seems. But then at the send he starts. "What...?" He then goes to find his Aunt. SongTouch locksends, to Suntop, Rayek, Shenshen: ** Wha..? Where are you? ** Suntop locksends, to Rayek, Shenshen, SongTouch: ** Aunt Shenshen? What happened? ** Rayek startles at the sending that barreled into them both. Wincing slightly, his eyes go to Suntop, then he moves to follow, frowning. Suntop goes back out to the Main Hallway. Suntop has left. SongTouch goes back out to the Main Hallway. SongTouch has left. Shenshen locksends, to Suntop, Rayek, SongTouch: ** <> Outside!!! My ankle!! <> ** [After a mad dash to the outside...] You move away from the huge stone structure, stepping around the rubble that litters its immediate vicinity. Wide Pass Through World's Spine Mountains(#356RJ) This wide pass is nearly an entire days' ride from one side to the other, from what you can tell. The sun is still hard and heavy here, but the looming presence of the mountains to either side seem to lessen the drain of the barren waste. The bright tangles of the Waterfall begin to come out as the dimming red light of sunset fills the hot summer skies. Contents: Suntop(#2935PBIJOUcm$g) Shenshen Palace(#500Jae) OOC SIGN: Palace visitors, please read me! Obvious exits: Mountains Northwest South Near the Palace, SongTouch has left. SongTouch moves away from the huge stone structure nearby. SongTouch has arrived. Rayek has taken to gliding, a soft aura of golden sparkles around him as he follows Suntop. SongTouch runs over, crying. "Shenshen! What happened?!" Suntop darts out of the Palace, ** Aunt Shenshen? ** He looks about and then rushes over. The normally gracefull maiden is lying a few feet down a part of the hill.... there is a sharp rocky outcropping that has some blood on it... and it's obvious where she's hurt..her ankle hangs almost limply at her side, not bleeding too bad, but it does look like it's broken... Shenshen, for her part, is crying hard SongTouch reaches her aunt with wolf-like nimbleness. She kneels at her side. "Shenshen...? I..." She trails off helplessly, glaring up at the others for lack of anything better. "/Do/ something!" "Zwoot scat," Rayek swears softly beneath his breath. Moments later, Shenshen feels the slightly disconcerting feel of magic around her, as the airwalker tentatively reaches out, perhaps to float her over to a more easily accessible place, where he's sure she won't tumble further down the hillside. Shenshen whimpers and grabs onto SongTouch, holding her close as she's floated closer... She's crying hard as her ankle continues to hurt... Suntop frowns and tries to mentally find Mender... "It's all right, Aunt..." he tries to soothe. SongTouch watches, biting her lip and holding Shenshen's hand. Then, suddenly, she drops it. "It's buzzing! My head's buzzing!" Shenshen blinks and looks at SongTouch. "Hold my hand hon... please.." She whimpers Rayek, brow beading with concentration, gently lowers the injured Sun Maiden to the ground. Misunderstanding Songtouch as he moves towards the pair, he explains gruffly, "It was me. It sets off the magic feeling.." Suntop sits beside his aunt and takes her other hand, "It's all right...I'll try to find Mender...or someone, all right?" Shenshen whimpers and closes her eyes tightly, nodding... her hand tight on SongTouch's smaller palm.. A magical tingle twangs at the senses, and its origin seems to be the frantic girl. "I can't, Shenshen," she says frantically. "It makes my head buzz and it feels strange!" Her hand is rigid as it is enfolded by Shenshen's palm. Suntop starts and abrubtly shifts his gaze to watch SongTouch. Suntop locksends ** <> Rayek...the cub...! ** Rayek kneels slightly behind Suntop, golden eyes flicking over the maiden's injuries. "Broken," he points out, gruff with distraction. "Might want to... eh?" As his own magic sense goes off, the airwalker looks sharply to the youngest member of the group, yellow eyes growing wide. Shenshen whimpers and looks at SongTouch, shaking her head... "Please...don't leave me!" SongTouch's eyes drop closed almost on their own. Slowly, magic fizzling and tingling about her, SongTouch reaches out and presses her other hand on the wound. The effort seems entirely unconcious on her part. Indeed, she hardly seems aware of her surroudings at all. Shenshen winces and bites her bottom lip. She closes her eyes tightly and grabs onto both SongTouch and Suntop's hands tightly Suntop holds onto his aunt's hand, but watches the cub, blue eyes wide. Rayek's golden eyes seem to glitter vaguely; the airwalker throws Suntop a sharp glance. Slowly, ever so slowly, the ankle heals. SongTouch's hands are clenched in fists and she trembles with exertion to repair even this small wound. Then, as though she has just woken from a dream, her green eyes snap open and she collapses. Shenshen blinks and looks down, before grabbing SongTouch, holding her close. "Song? Song??" Suntop smiles a bit and pats his aunt's hand. "She'll probably sleep for a while..." He then glances at Rayek. Rayek lets the oath slip out from between his lips like wind across a pond: "Great.. Sun.." As the child collapses, he moves forward, too late to catch her, but swift enough to make sure she doesn't hurt herself. Suntop locksends ** Days, probably...unless Shenshen shakes her awake. ** Near the Palace, ColdFire carefully pushes open the door from inside the Palace and joins you. Near the Palace, ColdFire has arrived. You locksend to Suntop, Rayek answers with the sense of a very wry smile. Near the Palace, ColdFire has left. ColdFire moves away from the huge stone structure nearby. ColdFire has arrived. Shenshen moves her ankle.. "It's fine.." she blinks a few times... "Song?" She asks, gently... holding her close. SongTouch shifts, murmering as she slowly returns to conciousness. "M...my head...it hurts..." She seems disorientated, totally unaware of what she's done. ColdFire emerges from the Palace, squinting in the brighter light of sunset. ** Shade and sweet water.. ** Rayek comments aloud to Suntop sidelong, dryly, "Guess it's 'shaking awake'." At the same time, his brown hand comes forth to rest over the girl's forehead, checking for sign of fever or exhaustion more thorough than normal for an awakening. Shenshen runs her hand through her adoptive daughter's hair and looks up at Rayek... "What happened? Is she like Leetah?" Rayek answers musingly, "It seems so. Although, Leetah never did this unless it was an extremely difficult healing..." He notes the newest arrival through the corners of his eyes, acknowledging him with a nod before returning his attention to the child. Shenshen nods and holds her close. "She's so young, Rayek." SongTouch hugs Shenshen, blinking in confusion at the hand on her forehead. "Ow...! Why does it feel like a zwoot just ran over my head...?" Suntop sighs and shrugs at a thought and then looks to Shenshen. "Yes...and now she needs rest." He also nods to ColdFire and looks back to the groggy cub. "From what I heard, mother was even younger." ColdFire looks more than a bit uncomfortable, maybe he'd rather blend into the sand dunes. Shenshen nods and holds SongTouch... testing her her foot with the ground. Rayek corrects with a slightly (only slightly) wistful smile: "Her powers shone before she was even born." SongTouch focuses her eyes on each of the faces with great difficulty. **What's going on?** she sends worriedly. SongTouch looks down in confusion at Shenshen. "Wha..." is her eloquent reply. Shenshen says "You're like my sister...like mender..." SongTouch smiles. Then she hugs Shenshen tighter and cries quietly. "I'm sorry I scared you." Shenshen hugs SongTouch so tightly and runs her hand through her hair, slowly... she sighs softly and turns to Suntop, smiling at him gently ColdFire takes a seat in the sand, rather gracelessly as he thumps down, using the short spear he's holding to trace shifting patterns. Suntop sits back on his heels, a pensive expression on his face. "You should tell Savah of this..." He looks at both Shenshen and Songtouch. "Mender too. I wonder how he'd like having a student?" Shenshen nods and chuckles. "We're going too.." She sighs softly and holds her little daughter close.. "I'm so proud." ColdFire takes a seat in the sand, rather gracelessly as he thumps down, using the short spear he's holding to trace shifting patterns SongTouch looks over at Suntop, then rather resentfully at the Palace as a thought occurs to her. "If I'd known I could do this, I could have saved all those Villagers..." She hugs Shenshen even tighter, if that's possible. Rayek slowly rises to his feet now that he's sure that the girl is relatively unharmed. He puts on a grim expression at her comment, but refrains from saying anything, merely shaking his head slightly to himself and backpedaling towards a place to sit. Suntop reaches out to ruffle Songtouch's hair lightly, "Oh, cub...perhaps...perhaps not. Being near the Palace helped...and the village isn't so close." SongTouch hiccups, the only indication that she's crying. Her voice is a whisper. "I cou'd have saved my sister." Shenshen holds SongTouch and shusshes... "Shhsh.." ColdFire sighs and rests his forehead on his knees, his own face darkening with memories and strong emotion. Suntop continues to stroke the cub's hair, "Have you spoken with your sister yet? In the Palace? She is with the High Ones now..." Shenshen looks at Suntop gently and sighs softly A pained look crosses SongTouch's face. "I thought Wolfriders watched their family all the time. That's what Father told me." Shenshen sighs softly. "They do dear..through the palace." "Actually, that's not true," Rayek interjects, arms folded over his chest. "Wolfrider spirits aren't bound to the Palace as we are -- they may wander at will." Shenshen ohs and nods. "So your family is with you always." SongTouch grins up at Rayek. "So my sister can go anywhere she wants?" For some reason this comforts her more than any mention of talking with spirits. "And my mother and father?" Suntop looks to Rayek and then nods, "Anywhere they wish." ColdFire locksends, to Suntop, Rayek: ** <> It seems that we three only meet in times of sorrow. ** ColdFire looks silently thoughtful from where he sits on the ground, still running the butt of his spear through the sand. Suntop looks over at a send to the seated figure not too far away. Rayek's lips quirk in a faint smile, then his gaze shifts elsewhere briefly, to ColdFire, before returning back to the condensed gathering. Suntop locksends, to Rayek, ColdFire: ** Coldfire, is it? I do not know if this is a sorrowful time for the little one...she has just discovered she is a healer. ** SongTouch switches topics again, a sign she's recovered some. "You said...something about Mender and Shenshen's sister?" She wiggles slightly, trying to get down onto the ground. "I couldn't hear you over the buzzing noise." Shenshen smiles and lets SongTouch down as she struggles to her feet... stepping light on her ankle. "You're a healer, dear." ColdFire locksends, to Suntop, Rayek: ** Perhaps you are right. ** SongTouch nods, stepping lightly to avoid Shenshen's ankle. "But what else did you say? I don't wanna heal again if it makes my head buzz and I don't wanna have to learn more about it." Shenshen says "It will lessen with time dear" SongTouch sighs, not looking very convinced. "You didn't tell me your sister was a healer, Shenshen." Shenshen sighs softly. "I thought I did.. .she's done it for many turns." Suntop corrects, "Time and training. You can't leave it untrained, Songtouch...then you'll never get better at it." Rayek allows his attention to linger elsewhere, folding one leg to his chest and resting his chin upon it. Now that the worry has died away, the tension bleeds from his shoulders, and the airwalker allows himself a brief, rare moment to relax against a rock. ColdFire shifts in his seat, perhaps finding it a bit warm in the sand. SongTouch looks over at Suntop, slightly alarmed. "But tit hurts! I don't want to heal if I'll get hurt too!" Shenshen shakes her head. "It doesn't hurt after you get used to it..that's what Leetah said." Rayek points out, distractedly, ** That must have been Mender, Shenshen. Leetah rarely had to deal with anything more serious than a stingtail bite or strained muscles. ** He pauses, then adds ruefully, ** Or the occasional broken bone when I wasn't looking where I was hunting.. ** Suntop arches a golden brow, tempted to tease the airwalker about that...but will do so later. Shenshen chuckles softly. SongTouch plops on a rocky ledge, swinging her legs. "It's stupid, though!" Evidently frustrated that she can't get her point across, she gestures with her fist. "It's not like sending. It feels so strange!" She grinds one fist against the rock. "It's like getting punched where the other person did, or getting a broken ankle like you did!" Shenshen sighs softly and holds SongTouch close... "Hush now.. of course..... It's hard." Suntop sighs and runs a hand through his hair, looking in the general direction of LostHolt. He does wonder how his mother is doing...after the subject has been discussed. ColdFire smiles faintly. ** Galasia is doing well. She seems not to mind the temperature. It's such a shame about her mother... ** Rayek's gaze shifts to ColdFire, brows arching slightly in curiosity, but the airwalker remains silent. SongTouch shakes her head, annoyed that she can't get her point across. "I just don't want to use it unless I have to. I've never been hurt or sick, and now I'll feel everything the person I'm healing does. It's not /fair/!" As usual, she entirely misses the fact that her own health is probably due to her powers more than any luck on her part. Shenshen sighs. Suntop blinks at ColdFire, "She is here then? Good...I am glad she is safe." He seems to have withdrawn some. SongTouch frowns curiously at ColdFire. "Who's that?" ColdFire nods absently, frowning as he concentrates on the sand picture he's drawing. SongTouch leans forward, trying again. "Who's the person you're talking about?" ColdFire looks up, pale blue ees focusing on the child. ** Galasia. ** The airwalker comments beneath his breath, "And suddenly it's all so clear.." Shenshen ohs and snuggles SongTouch. "You should rest hon." "Yes, but who's that?" SongTouch leans further forward, threatening to topple off her perch. SongTouch locksends ** That's not nice! He sorta answered my question. ** ColdFire shrugs. ** My lifemate's brother's daughter. Her mother was stolen in the Underworld Raid, before she was born. ** Shenshen holds onto SongTouch tightly. "ColdFire." You locksend ** (A soft wave of magic envelopes the area beneath you, acting as a pillow of air should you fall. A wry send follows quickly after.) Be careful. Don't fall. ** to SongTouch. Underworld. Underworld. Nope. Can't place it. SongTouch shifts back up onto her seat. "What's that?" SongTouch locksends ** I won't! Don't need to worry so much! ** Shenshen sends openly ** songtouch=You don't want to know ** ColdFire touches the burn marking his throat thoughtfully. "Nothing you should concern yourself over, child." SongTouch eyes the burn, then her hands, and quickly sits on them. Near the Palace, Sunbright carefully pushes open the door from inside the Palace and joins you. Near the Palace, Sunbright has arrived. Near the Palace, Sunbright has left. Sunbright moves away from the huge stone structure nearby. Sunbright has arrived. Rayek, never one for blanketing a child's curiosity, sends to SongTouch: ** A place beneath the ground where elves live. It is called the Underworld because it is 'under' the ground. ** SongTouch blinks, still sitting on her hands lest they do anything strange. "Why'd they want to live there? It'd be all dark with no ravvits to hunt or anything." She wrinkles her nose. The airwalker shrugs lightly, leaning against the rock and letting his eyes drift closed, dozing. ** To each their own, ** he answers simply. Suntop looks back to the child, his blue eyes still slightly veiled. "Just like the Wolfriders live in the forest and the Gliders live in Blue Mountain...and the SunFolk lived in the Village." SongTouch hisses, sitting upright and eyeing Shenshen. "That's awful! Why don't the - " she sounds her voice around the unfamiliar word " - slaves fight back?" Suntop closes his eyes, "Shenshen...she didn't need to be told that now." ColdFire turns his head sharply, eyeing ShenShen. Sunbright steps out of the palace and moves curiously over to the gathering. Shenshen sighs softly and shusshes. "She needs to be told..." Shenshen sighs softly. Rayek cracks open a golden eye, looking to Shenshen as well. He points out, annoyed, ** Not now. Some things should be saved until she's old enough to understand. ** Shenshen sighs. SongTouch growls. "Why can't they?" She speaks her side of the conversation, too flustered and outraged to send. "Don't they hacve a healer or something to help them?!" Shenshen sighs and touches SongTouch's shoulder. "Calm down..." ColdFire chuckles dryly. ** Has anyone tried to talk to Galasia about it? I'm sure she'd give you all kinds of stories about the whole business. I myself prefer not to dwell on what's past. And I don't think there are any slaves left, not since I heard news that Jaylorra'd been killed. ** Rayek abruptly rises to his feet, scowling. ** Excuse me. I have better places to be. ** A sore spot? It seems so. Turning, the airwalker heads back in the direction of the Palace. **They /kill/?** SongTouch stares wide-eyed. **Only humans kill elves!** Shenshen sighs and closes her eyes. [Rayek, curiously perturbed, storms back into the Palace.] You approach the huge battered stone structure. You step through the doorway into... Entry Hall(#8823RAF) [Desc deleted.] Contents: Sail(#4197PHJce$g) Marsinah's Tent Half n Half's Tent(#8861AJUeh) Sand cat Obvious exits: Corridor Winding Stairway Doorway You make your way up the long, winding stairwell. Second Level [Desc deleted.] Obvious exits: Scroll Chamber Winding Stairway You step through the tall doorway, and into the... Scroll Chamber This smallish chamber is sparsely furnished, bearing only a single empty chair which faces a platform; on this platform are the holders for the two halves of the Scroll of Colors. Around you, the pale walls seem to ripple in places, but perhaps that is a physical sensation, a trick of the light; what cannot be a light-trick is the sense of *presence* in the chamber, of welcome, and of magic. Contents: Tilia Scroll of Colors Obvious exits: Out [Rayek broods for a while inside the Scroll Chamber, thankful that Tilia seems to pay him no heed. Some time passes, and then...] You sense in a locksend, Suntop's send ripples with a sigh, ** I do not know her anymore it seems...** You locksend to Suntop, Rayek's sending ripples blackly, with irritation and bottled anger. ** Who? ** Suntop locksends ** Shenshen. ** But then he pauses, ** Did she send something to you? ** ** You locksend ** No. ** to Suntop. You sense in a locksend, Suntop sends the equivalent of a nod. You locksend ** ..... I saw many things there that I would rather forget. She was safe on the surface. That she would be so naive to tell a child, so... so.... (He trails off, not wanting to say it, but you can feel the disgust and frustration painting his sending black.) ** to Suntop. You sense in a locksend, Suntop carefully shields his mind from the sharpness of the send, but not the words. ** I know...I cannot even imagine what Treestump and Flashfire went through...** You locksend to Suntop, Rayek adds grimly, ** Or the Mother of Memory... Great Sun! You'd think that girl would have more tact.. * * Suntop locksends ** I know...but perhaps my mother got all the tact the way Ember got all the... <> ** You locksend to Suntop, Rayek sighs. ** In any case.. I'm going to look at the scrolls a while. Not turn them, just... look. Send if you need me. ** Suntop locksends ** I shall...you as well. ** You locksend to Suntop, Rayek acknowledges with a nod, then cuts his side of the connection. [end log]