< Lobster Trouble! | Ex Pulplogs | Talking About Sun In Darkness >
ST Having received the terms of Meliya's aid in finding Sun, Corve's poor kidnapped daughter, from the Underworld, the Circle spent a considerable time bickering about who should pay Meliya's price.
ST Now, the time has come that they must return to Meliya and tell her their decision
Captain Oteki tried to run off and sacrifice himself for the good of Creation, but got waylaid and dragged back to the others. Looks sulky.
Xar`Rex is busy fighting with himself. The various expressions that cross his face are interesting if mostly unintelligible to those who are not dragon kings.
Captain Oteki picks bits of grit out from under his fingernails with a small knife, and mutters. "Ye know, I remain th'best candidate fer this. Ye lot have a big mission t'deal with, whereas I just invited meself along for th'ride."
Myrrh "Yes but then we wind up out in the middle of the ocean with no ship."
Xar`Rex "And you have nothing to gain from it."
Xar`Rex "Shut up."
Myrrh Xar needs his wings, Carmine needs her "light"
Myrrh "Maybe I can haggle her down to my arm..."
Captain Oteki frowns. "Unless o'course I drop ye off somewhere on me way back... there." he mentions. "An' o'course I have somethin' t'gain from all o'this, ye shiny-scaled sod. Ye lot are in the business o'protectin' yer lives an' those o' all Creation. An' answer me this; Without th'rest o'creation, who d'ye think I'm gonna steal from? Ghosts?"
Xar`Rex "She is giving us precious little for things that mean a great deal to us each."
Xar`Rex "I suggest you try this haggling, and see what comes of it."
Xar`Rex "If she were to turn the child over directly, it might be worth it."
Captain Oteki frowns. "An' that particular aspect be my department, by the looks o'the rest of ye."
Xar`Rex "Then can we all agree that none of the terms are as yet acceptable?" Xeth says, while Xar twitches.
Myrrh "We can all agree. I don't want an evil shadow twin running around ruining my credit!"
Captain Oteki brushes dust from the leather of his trousers, and clears his throat. "All right. I'll be goin' back in there, an' I'll see if I can haggle th'witch down to somethin' a little more reasonable. If not, though, I'll make me way home. I be sacrificin' the least, really."
Myrrh "We'll ALL talk Oteki."
Captain Oteki "However, if she turns me into a newt, I expect ye to catch me and drop me down the shirt o'the next fair maiden ye run across."
Myrrh "I don't think Carmine would appreciate that..."
Xar`Rex glances over at Carmine. "What if she does not wear a shirt?"
Carmine scowls at everyone.
Captain Oteki shrugs. "Then get creative. An' as for all of us talkin', trust me, a cacophony o'dissonant voices ain't a particularly good way to negotiate terms. How about ye come along, an' I do the speakin', and should I be needin' help, ye can advise."
Xar`Rex "We will all go. Oteki will talk. We will discuss the results before final agreement."
Xar`Rex "You must present a united front. This will make an excellent story."
Captain Oteki points. "See, th'dragon gets it. But let's be clear on this. The purpose be to get th'little girl safe an' sound. That be the important bit."
Captain Oteki makes a few final adjustments, trying to look a little more dignified, and marches back into the cave.
Xar`Rex smiles gleefully and sashays after Oteki
Meliya peers at the Exalted re-entering her home from beneath a curtain of blue-black hair as she sits upon her throne-like stone chair and brushes her hair. "I see you have returned."
Captain Oteki flashes a smile. "Aye, that we have, Mel." he agrees, before raising a finger. "However, we've hit a slight hitch, an' between me and me associates, 'ave come to th'conclusion that the terms need t'be renegotiated."
Meliya "I see." She carefully puts away her three hairbrushes and starts powdering her face with a bit of sea-sponge. "I'm afraid you are laboring under the assumption I am running some sort of bazaar..."
Captain Oteki smirks. "An' by th' same token, ye be operatin' under a spurious assumption as to th'value of what ye appear t'have offered." he explains. "See, as far as I can tell, ye don't actually hold th'safety o'the little girl in ye claws at this point, so what ye are actually offerin' us is th'possibility that ye might actually be able to help us find her. An what ye are askin' in return are all things that we will likely be needin'
Captain Oteki actually secure th'girl's safety."
Carmine ** to
Meliya "The girl's father feels to freely about his daughter's safety?" She turns to look at Corve, one eyebrow raised in question. "I notice he is not speaking very much. And as to the value of my assistance...have you any idea how much effort it would cost me to assist you? The number of favors I would need to call in, the amount of magic involved and the sacrifices I myself must make?"
Meliya "No. You do not."
Xar`Rex smirks, and crosses his arms over his broad, scaly chest.
Meliya "The best I may offer is that the payment will be deferred until after I have proven the girl is alive and in relative good health at the time I discover her location. Then you must render the payment and her safety passes to your hands."
Captain Oteki "I'll agree to that. But only if th'payment be deferred until I have aided these folks in the completion o'their quest, upon which I be under the impression the fate o'Creation could very well balance. Once we be done our duty, then ye can take yer pound o'flesh."
Meliya "So I would assume it is you who has been selected to pay the price?"
Captain Oteki "That detail has yet to be determined. It'd be bad form t'offer ye somethin' only t'find after the completion o'the quest it ain't in our possession no longer."
Captain Oteki "Creation be an odd place."
Meliya "Indeed. And if you were to be the one, I am afraid I would have to insist that you fulfill your duties when I request it. I can't say exactly when that would be, the signs are...vague at the moment."
Captain Oteki turns to the others. "Do any o'ye lot have a problem with that arrangement?"
Myrrh "What signs? Why would your visions need Oteki to...
Myrrh trails off for a moment, thinking about Oteki's words.
Xar`Rex wonders why exactly Meliya cares so much about Oteki's duties
Captain Oteki snaps his fingers a couple of times. "Any objections? Last chance."
Myrrh huddles with the others.
Carmine moves over between Myrrh and Xar`Rex
Xar`Rex turns to face the others
Meliya sighs and shakes her head, going back to powdering her face.
Myrrh "What's going to happen if you go back to your home?"
Captain Oteki brushes a few strands of hair out of his face, waiting on the verdict. "Ye haven't much changed th'decor in here since I last visited. I still say ye could use a few nice tapestries. Somethin' with some red."
Xar`Rex "So exactly how much work DOES it take, and how many favors DOES she have to call in for this?"
Captain Oteki turns. "That be none o'your concern, Myrrh. It ain't somethin' I can be talkin' about."
Xar`Rex addresses his question to Meliya, after thinking for a moment.
Meliya "That is between myself and the powers I must propitiate, though you may rest assured the answer is quite a lot in regards to both."
Xar`Rex "And what do you get out of the things you request as payment, aside from making our lives difficult?"
Meliya "Do you ask the carter what he buys with the coin you give him in return for transport? Or the smith what he does with the jade he collects in return for a sword?"
Captain Oteki pinches the bridge of his nose between two fingers. "It seems that me associates have some trouble understandin' th' concept o'one person doin' th'talkin'."
Xar`Rex "Only when the jade comes from my body."
Meliya "I fail to see why I fall under such suspicion. I ask for reasonable payment for my services and it is assumed I have some nefarious ends planned for them. I would think you would be glad to be rid of the Wyld's touch upon you. Surely that touch can not have made it easy to mingle with your own kind."
Captain Oteki "Y'know, at the rate ye lot make decisions, it might be faster if I just take th'Omen t'bloody Sijan an' hire somebody there to help me find out more about th'location o'th girl."
Xar`Rex shrugs. "Alright."
Meliya laughs lightly and picks up a thin brush of paint, which she begins to apply to her already ruby lips, turning them a darker, more intense shade.
Captain Oteki "So seriously, folks. It be a good deal. We find th'lass now, an' ye can finish yer quest t'figure out this whole thing with th'fallin island or whatever, an' save the world, an' then afterward, we cross the bridge o'this arbitrary payment system. What in th'hells be ye complainin' about?
Meliya lays down her paint and turns to Oteki "I am afraid you misunderstand. I will assure the girl is safe at the moment, and then you must offer the payment. I make no promises otherwise."
Captain Oteki "Oh come on, Mel. Now ye're just bein' nitpicky."
Xar`Rex asks the others, "How are we to know she is not working with the Vipers?"
Myrrh "Maybe we should trick her into eatting sticky rice...no wait that only shows if you're a dancing vampire..."
d- -b rubs his temples. "Ye know what? I be gettin' tired o'the lollygaggin'. Here be my offer. Ye find th'lass. Ye secure the safety o'the lass. We go get the lass. Then, so long as ye can reasonably assure me that there be a decent likelihood that I won't be havin' to do it before I be finished helpin' these folks save the world, then I'll turn around and take back what be mine from me father's idiot advisors. What say ye?"
Meliya laughs lightly at Oteki, one dark tentacle touching his face, a sort of tap-tap on his nose. "I'm afraid that wasn't the deal, Oteki. I find this brave man's daughter, I tell you where she is and prove that she is in good health. Then you, or one of your friends, pays my price. And our business is over."
Meliya "If the one to pay happens to be you...then you will sign a binding contract saying you will return home when the signs so decree."
Captain Oteki "How about I do ye one better, an' we forego the paper an' quill, an' I just bind th'contract meself? That is part o'me mandate from the big ol' eye in the sky."
Meliya shrugs her shoulders, "If you wish."
Captain Oteki nods. "Fine." he replies, and sticks out his hand. "Ye better love that daughter o'yours very much, there, lad."
Meliya "Wait a moment, Oteki. Your friends must agree to you being the one."
Meliya turns to the group. "You all agree, that in return for my aid finding his daughter" she gestures at Corve with one tentacle, "Oteki will be bound to return to his homeland at a time of my choosing."
Myrrh "We have more to offer than just Oteki's freedom..."
Xar`Rex looks over at Myrrh curiously
Meliya "Such as, my boy?"
Myrrh "Give us a moment to look around the hold. Maybe a trinket might be your fancy? There's always my arm I suppose."
Meliya "What would I do with an arm?" She looks genuinely confused.
Xar`Rex shrugs. "What would you do with a shadow?"
Corve "Or with wings?"
Myrrh "Xar does have a point. Come to think of it what would you do with mutant wings?"
Myrrh "Besides, I thought you were a sorceress! Imagine all of things you could do with a sorcerer's arm."
Meliya "And you plan to just cut off your arm, in return for...what?"
Xar`Rex "Aside from making our lives more difficult, and making it harder to complete our quest, I fail to see what you would need any of it for. So if you are doing so, we might as well have it out in the open."
Captain Oteki continues to rub the bridge of his nose between two fingers, but refrains from talking.
Myrrh "Oh it's already been cut off."
Myrrh "Our Carmine is quite the genius Doctor. She should study at Greatforks."
Meliya "I see. And you just, saved it? For your own amusement? And people say I am strange."
Myrrh "Well personaly I myself could think of MANY uses for it, not limited to artifact creation."
Meliya "I don't trouble myself with the making of magical toys. But I could, possibly, find a use for this...arm."
Myrrh "Besides, flesh is just as much as connection as a Shadow as i'm sure you know."
Meliya "My dear boy, if you think I want your shadow simply to have a token of yours, you are very poorly trained in the art of sorcery. I could use even a single hair from your head for such a thing."
Myrrh "Well I considered you were going to use it for some second circle spell. Although I fail to see what spying on me would gain you."
Meliya shakes her head saddly, "You poor ignorant boy."
Corve stands up. "Does it matter? Can you use the arm in a way that it would qualify as payment?" He looks haggard and weary.
Meliya "By itself, no. I am afraid not."
Corve "Is there something I can give?"
Myrrh "Fine then, I'll make you a deal. My arm, my shadow. In exchange, the girl and...hm." He glances around her cave.
Meliya looks at Corve and snorts. "No, there is nothing you have that would be suitable payment."
Myrrh "I don't know Xar, think she can teach us anything? I mean an arm AND a shadow seems like too good a deal for JUST a girl..."
Corve refrains from commenting, with a bit of effort.
Xar`Rex "She is, as I said, only mortal. She will die far before the rest of us, regardless."
Meliya "And far too little for training in the true arts of Sorcery, if that were your thinking."
Myrrh "Hm, I don't know. Who are you going to teach it too? The fish? Besides I don't think Oteki want's to go home."
Meliya "What he wants is not my concern."
Xar`Rex "If it were not, you would not ask for it."
Myrrh "Well it should be. After all if you're going to set him up as a king, any little thing could steer him away from his fate..."
Meliya "Is that what you think I am planning? Ha! I have no such desire. Him, a king? The world should tremble."
Corve "What are you planning?"
Meliya "A great many things. But I fear we are drifting far from the original topic. I have presented your options for payment...anything else is another matter all on its own."
Myrrh "I don't know, Oteki might want to want to hear why he's fated to return home..."
Corve "Well, why do you want these specific things? What makes them so special?"
Meliya "I would think that would be obvious, as they are all rare and hard-to-find things that their owners cling to. What good is a sacrifice if it is no effort to produce, of no pain to give away?"
Meliya shakes her head and sighs. "You all and your prying, suspicious, haggling minds are giving me a headache. To make you leave faster, I will offer you a new deal."
Meliya "In return for one of the things I've asked for already...or some suitable substitute, I will find the missing girl and give you a guide to her location. And, further, I will direct the Dragon-King and your arm-collecting companion to a man who would be happy to have new students to teach."
Myrrh "Done. Now how do you remove a shadow anyway..."
Xar`Rex "The payment will be given after we see her still?"
Meliya "Of course. Come back an hour after nightfall and I will have conjured her location."
Meliya slides off her chair and towards the dark pool she emerged from.
Myrrh "Well...that went well all things considered."
Corve simply sighs, slumping down against the wall.
Captain Oteki finally stops glaring. "Hey, Mel."
Meliya "Yes?"
Captain Oteki gives half a smile. "It be nice to see ye again."
Meliya "It has been interesting, Oteki. But don't worry, we will see each other after today. The signs are very sure."
Meliya sinks into the dark water and disappears.
Carmine moves next to Corve, wrapping her arms around him
Myrrh "Don't worry Corve, you can just tell her about the many creepy adventures we had getting her back! ...I wonder how i'm going to explain now having a shadow to the wife..."
Captain Oteki picks his way out of the cavern, hands shoved deep into pockets. Time for a little quiet introspection.
Myrrh "Hmmm...maybe I can make a replacement...how do you feel about a quick trip to the wyld?"
Myrrh "Well...after this whole business."
Xar`Rex shakes his head and puts his hand on the cool stone of the cavern wall. He feeds essence into the spirit of the cavern, encouraging it to awaken.
Cave Spirit "What do you want, lizard?" The spirit appears to Xar as a grouchy-looking old man made of gravel and mud.
Xar`Rex holds out a claw with additional Essence as a peace offering. "I am curious about the one who lives in this cave."
Cave Spirit munches on the Essence, looking around warily. "She's a mean one."
Xar`Rex "Have you heard her mention the Black Viper Cult, or... " he quietly lists off some names and locations that they've uncovered.
Cave Spirit "Sure. Talked about them with her friends when they came to gossip."
Xar`Rex "What did she say about them?"
Cave Spirit "Don't remember. Just stuff about them, talking about them for a while. Not very interesting."
Xar`Rex "Did she consider them allies, or enemies? Or was she indifferent?"
Cave Spirit "Don't know. Didn't seem to care much. But, doesn't care much about anything."
Xar`Rex "Hmm. Is there anything she does care about? Aside from demanding sacrifices of people."
Cave Spirit "mm. A few things."
Xar`Rex offers more Essence, "Please, elaborate."
Cave Spirit munchmunchmunch
Cave Spirit "mmm..well, she cares for octopuses."
Xar`Rex "mmhmmm.."
Cave Spirit offers up little bits of information about Meliya. She likes octopuses, she enjoys eating blowfish and she tends to dispose of impolite visitors in various fashions. Mortals who come to her island rarely leave unscathed...or at all. But what little the spirit knows doesn't seem to point to her being allied with the Black Vipers.
Cave Spirit finally gasps and ducks away when it senses Meliya's return.
Meliya slowly rises to the surface of her pool and makes her way back to her throne, seating herself and peering at a fingernail.
Xar`Rex watches her casually, "I don't suppose you have anything to eat?"
Myrrh "Well?"
Meliya "I have found the girl>'
Corve steps forward, eyes wide as Meliya speaks. "...is she all right?"
Meliya "She is being held onboard the Lost Soul, a famous pirate ship that plies the dark waves of the Sea of Storms. As far as I have been able to determine, she is well."
Corve raises a brow. "And the proof of that?"
Meliya gestures with a tentacle and a sphere of water rises from her pool, drifting towards her. She caresses it with hands and tentacles, chanting slowly over its rippling surface. As she works, the water clears from darkness to transparency, then to a glowing brightness. In the brightness of the water, Sun can be seen, sleeping.
Xar`Rex "I wonder if this is the ship of our 'friend' "
Meliya Bound with heavy iron manacles to the side of her cell, she sleeps fitfully, under the eyes of desperate-looking men who eye the young girl. The men are twisted and foul-looking, the tormented spirits of enslaved and imprisoned ghosts.
Meliya The ring of salt surrounding Sun keeps them back.
Corve tenses, teeth clenched and eyes wide. "... Sun... how do we get to the Sea of Storms?"
Carmine wraps a comforting arm around Corve. "We'll get her back."
Meliya "You must enter the Underworld and sail three days north of here, then turn west. Sail west until the storms are your only light and the water and sky become as one. There you will find the Lost Soul."
Xar`Rex "Who will our guide be?"
Meliya banishes the watery viewing sphere with a flick of her tentacles and pulls forth a black pearl from between her breasts. "This will be your guide. It will glow so long as you follow the proper course."
Xar`Rex "If we go off course, and back on it, it will glow again?"
Meliya "Yes."
Myrrh "Alright, and the one eager for students?"
Xar`Rex nods, "Thank you."
Meliya "You can find him in the South, in the city of Ahlat.
Xar`Rex "Does he have a name?"
Meliya "Shu."
Myrrh "Hm. Does he have a last name or is he just famous?"
Xar`Rex rolls his eyes, muttering vague things about Ahlat beneath his breath
Meliya "He is named Shu."
Myrrh "Well, alright. Let's get this over with I suppose."
Meliya "All you must do is go into the pool, and then come back out."
Myrrh "I'm not going to come back out all black and sticky am I?"
Meliya "No."
Myrrh "...well alright." Carefuly dips into the pool.
Meliya Myrrh disappears into the depths of the pool, pulled down by the black waters. He feels cold, very cold. The pressure of the water grips him, pushing in on him, trying to crush him. Then it releases him and he feels it pull something away from him. There is a sense of loss like there was when his arm was taken...but that's all. No pain, no agony.
Meliya The water allows him to return to the surface.
Myrrh pulls himself back up out of the water with as much grace as he can manage.
Meliya Everyone, of course, notices at once that Myrrh no longer casts a shadow.
Myrrh coughs and then looks back at the others. "Well we've got everything we needed."
Myrrh he looks down at the floor, looking for his shadow that is now gone. "Well...that's going to be a bit hard to explain away..."
Meliya disappears into her pond, looking back only long enough to tell the Solars to go away.
Carmine "We should go, and get Sun."
Xar`Rex heads out of the cavern, carrying the pearl perched between three of his claws.
Myrrh follows the others out, looking back at the pool and giving a little shudder before moving on.
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