Author: Mezereon, Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:42 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

Liselotte gave a little sigh as she agreed with Lily. "It's not unheard of for those in noble rank to be a bit…removed from the rest of the world. I've seen a small share of such things." The woman refused to give any information, even in making small talk. Yet she could hardly contain her own emotions, so it was likely she was not used to interacting with outsiders. She followed after Lily only to find that everyone had stopped. About to ask what was the matter, her own question was asked by Lily herself. A strange man in his twilight years was present, and he seemed to know the snow woman well. Not wanting to be redundant she waited for the man to introduce himself. However she was already looking for any clues that would reveal his identity even before then.

The garb and air of this man was that of a learned scholar, a sorcerer as well. His age was unnecessary, as it likely was trivial in this case. To her surprise, that blockage Lily had detected was no longer there. Had the man removed it in a blink of an eye? The air felt heavy with the aura of magic, even stronger and headier than that of her professor. Professor Myouga's aura was like a blinding light at high noon, strong and clear while radiating wherever it could reach. This man's aura was like a dense fog, or a cloud of smoke. It hung in the air and lingered, condensing itself with time. Turning to the elf woman whom she learned to be called 'Miri' from Lily's offhand comment, Liselotte inquired. "This is an acquaintance of yours, perhaps? I hope he won't mind traipsing along with us three young ladies." A coy smile formed at the edges of her lips as she leaned on her bo staff. The ground was somehow slick here, so this was a good time as any to have it out. Like Lily she was curious as to the nature of that barrier from earlier, and when they all were ready to go she would move along.

Author: lilithrie, Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 4:15 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

She gave a smile and little laugh as Liselotte guessed right. "Only a bit, I don't practice on people so unless you are purposely thinking very loud and projecting it I won't hear it. Creatures and plants on the other hand, I hear them well." She explained as to give comfort that she wasn't just going to read her every thought.  The ice queen seemed to have all but ignored her and went down the blocked passage. Lily sighed and said quietly to Liselotte, "She doesn't seem very good at communicating with people." She made to follow the ice queen but bedore she could start forward another aura appeared. Immediately Lily hummed with magic small sparks skittering across her skin. The ice queen was then back near them with ice skidding her back to a wall. A stranger had appeared, she narrowed her eyes at him. Her childlike innocence was replaced by seriousness with the appearance of this person. After a few moments she relaxed slightly, letting go of her magic and looking between the ice queen and the old man. "Miri? I take it that's your name then. Hehe, I was just calling you ice queen in my head." She said in a slightly teasing manner as she slid her way over to Miri and assessed her condition as she asked, "Not hurt are you? If so let me know and I'll make it all better." 

A bright childish smile returned as she looked at the old man. "I'm Lily since you seem curious. Do you have a name I should call you or should I just call you grandpa?" Her eyes looked him over as if assessing him before they slid behind him to look at the blockage. "Oh, it's open. If no one is in any need of assistance I believe we should start forward and see what's down there, it could be something fun. It feels like something fun." She said with a devious looking smile by the end. She had kept it to herself but with the blockage opened she could feel the aura she had before a bit clearer, there was still something blocking it but it may not have been a physical object.  That made her curious, very curious. She slid her way to the edge of the ice and peeked through the opening in the blockage that miri had created. "Hmm, seems like a long tunnel, I wonder what awaits at the end."

Author: Miri Luna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 10:44 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

Miri had already explored down to the blockage, she was actually the cause of it. The passage was overran by spiders but they won't be able to go the other way due to all the angry spiders and demented spirits. She closed her eyes and began focusing on her hand which was pressed in a crack on the blockage. She had walked ahead as the other two were talking and trying to decide.

   She began pushing ice into the crack, breaking and splitting the stone. Her hands slowly coated in thick ice and it began up her arms as she worked. Every second she spent using Mana was another degree the tunnel cooled down. By the time she made a decent walkway to squeeze through into the next room, a blinding light filled the room. She wasn't use to the light but knew the scent of the old friend and wizard, Cijor. Out of either childishness or pure surprise, she leaped back, freezing half his beard and the floor as she landed between the other two. Her armor echoing as the three inch thick ice slammed against the floor and slid her straight into a wall before she was able to stop. The floor however, was too slippery to stand securely on. She heard a question but was too dazed to understand it.

Author: Cijor, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 6:58 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

Cijor was in his tower, he needed to go, Miri was probably waiting. But the old wizard needed to take his potion, he hated the thing, it tasted like ogre saliva… because it was ogre saliva. He drank a huge cup of it and wiped his mouth with his sleeve, shivering, feeling his features slowly turn less wrinkled and his body becoming more fit. 
Then in a flash of dark smoke, the tower was empty.

 Suddenly out of nowhere, the girls saw a flash of blinding light from in front of Miri. An old man, looking now to be in his late fifties, his eyes much wiser. He was dressed in a blue and gold robe with his white hair running down his back and a gray beard falling all the way to his stomach. He held a staff that had a slight glow to it as if his recent teleport still had its lasting effects.
"Miri, I'm back, have you fou-… who are these two?"

Author: Mezereon, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 6:08 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

It seemed this ice queen of sorts wasn't as cold as she intended herself to be. Marcasite behaved well, and retreated into the bag to rest. When the elven woman took out the tomes from her bags, it was very clear that they were hexed. Carrying a cursed object on one's person for too long would have serious long-term effects on the owner's mind, but no one had asked her for her advice. Lily the stated that the only voices she heard were those in her head, which Liselotte acknowledged with a smile. "Telepathy I presume? Standard fare for mages." The fork in the road presented a choice, and a challenge. Which was safer for them? Which wasn't? This was quite the conundrum.

"I suppose I would choose the left passage. That blockage sounds like something I'd like to investigate, if that is the only difference between the two. Either way the inhabitants aren't very hospitable to guests, so the less distance we go in the faster we can pull back to retreat." The final vote would fall to the other silver-haired elf. Whatever she chose would be the tiebreaker.

Author: lilithrie, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 5:00 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

Lily paused the moment ice formed around her on the ground she giggled and started sliding around on it in circles having fun. She nodded in acknowledgement about the little wyvren and slided to the edge of the ice before stepping off of it and taking a peak inside the bag. "Oh, so cute. I was worried someone was hurt somewhere but she's safe that's good." Both of the women had something that spoke so half jokingly but sounding serious Lily said with a smile, "The only voices I hear are the ones inside my head." It technically was the truth but not in the way she made it seem. She could hear and communicate with creatures through her mind and would sometimes even pick up projected or loud thoughts of those around her. She let out a little laugh and headed down the tunnel once again. 

A little ways down she paused. They were at a fork in the road. "Hmm, there are several living things down the right path, their auras are a bit… sinister, down the left path there is only one that I can pick up at the moment but it feels like it's blocked off partially so we may have a collapse in the tunnel. It's hard to tell it's state of being with the block but it's probably safe to assume it's similar to the others. Which way would you like to go?" She asked turning to the other two ladies.

Author: Miri Luna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 3:14 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

Miri rolled her eyes at the necromancer jokes and froze the ground in front of the walking Tesla coil of a girl. She smirked and heard a faint rustle, turning to see the lizard. She walked up to Liselotte and pulled a glove off, gently petting the wyvern before quickly putting her glove back on and freezing it. "She's cute! Good thing she's not a fire Drake…. They loose themselves fairly quickly." 

 Miri pulled her bag up, the locket on it made of a fancy elvish silver with ivory trim. The bag a frosted white leather like her suit, only one front and two side pockets which smelt like lavender and mint leaves. "This is all I have that may talk." Miri opened her bag and held the bag out of the others reaches as three large books emitted dark fogs and altered the color of the objects around them. Heavy amounts of whispering rose from the books in an unknown language and thousands of curses protected each book.

 She closed and froze the bag after locking it, sealing it from others and leaving the curses her burden. She used galvanized weave to block any attempts to pick up on her mental activities by creating 'dummy' pulses to hide her real thoughts and movement plans. She then pulled the glove off again and began petting the wyvern again. "You're just a little protecting cutie aren't you… Yes you are.. heh."

Author: Mezereon, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 10:51 AM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

The ice-frosted woman was being quite defensive to her simple question of curiosity. However Liselotte was not one to be caught up on petty disagreements. "Ah yes, that is understandable. I won't pry into your personal business if you don't wish to tell." She had seen her fill of those either haughty or guarded, so this was nothing new. What was strange was the woman's response to Lily. It was painfully clear that she was trying to mask concern with anger, quite poorly she might add. She had lost her composure and seemed intent on maintaining a certain image. Making a good-natured jest at the woman's outburst she quipped. "Oh come now, why go through the trouble of hiring a necromancer if you want to take your your anger on someone else? Wouldn't it be easier to do so on a corpse than a living, breathing being? It would be far easier to beat a dead horse than to revive it only to send it back to its death again." 

Liselotte had been wondering why everyone seemed to fall quiet for a moment. Taking off her bag from her shoulders she opened it and a small wyvern's face poked out. 'It's cold, here. I want to go somewhere warm.' Marcasite's inner voice echoed in the alchemist's mind. The little creature could not speak the common tongue but it could project its thoughts through telepathy. "I know, I know. It's the same for me." She whispered to her pet. "By the way, did you try reaching out with your voice just now?" The olive-green reptile blinked and gave her a look. "I see. Well I'll have to explain to the others while I let them know you are here. Please bear with the open bag for a little longer."

Turning to Lily and the winter woman, she took her bag and held it before her. "Oh one more thing. I'd like to introduce a little friend of mine. This is Marcasite, my wyvern. She'll be accompanying us along the trip into the depths. She can't speak, but she might try sending her thoughts to you. If you hear her, please do not be alarmed." The little wyvern shivered as Liselotte held the bag for the two to see. She then closed it, and the travel bag squirmed as Marcasite made herself comfortable again.

Lily was already making the first move to investigate the mine shaft, so the alchemist turned to the winter lady and motioned graciously. "After you, milady. Those of lower station must always follow behind their betters."

Author: lilithrie, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 7:52 AM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

Her smile brightened when the women called Lislotte introduced herself and it only grew as she said she didn't believe this meeting was coincidence. She nodded and responded, "Ah, yes but the gods are more than those their powers are given to by the tree. The powers inhabit the people making them the embodiment of the gods, but I believe there is more too it than than, a force guiding this world that eminated from the same place as they do. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying they aren't really gods, I'm just saying I believe there is more to the powers they ha e than when they consciously use them." 

The was a voice, a quiwt one echoing through her mind as if calling out. Maybe this was the reason the gids had gathered them here, to find the voice? The ice had started to melt and was quickly gone, Lily watched with interest as the event unfolded before her. The ice queen, as Lily now called her in her mind due to a lack of a name, was muttering to a bag if hers and it seemed interesting. She spoke to the Lislotte and had basically all but ignored her, was she coming on a bit too strong for this woman's comfort? The voice did tone her down a notch or two as she gazed down the tunnel, wondering if the voice came from there.

The ice queen had finally spoken to her, but what ahe said only brought a slight smirk to her face as she tried to contain her laughter. The ice queens emotions were clear to see as she yelled at Lily but as she got to the end of her little speech the smirk had faded and it was a kind smile in its place. "There there my dear, the only way I'd die here is if one of you were about to, then I'd steal it from you. So as long as you don't die, I won't." A joking tone then took over as she continied, "But if you do need a good necromancer for such a task I know a few for you to call upon."

Her attention once again was drawn down the tunnel. There was definitely something, or well many things down there, she could sense the auras of them faintly, something was creating a bit of interference but she could at least tell for certain it was not completely void of life up ahead. She glanced back to the other two and said, "I'm going to go take a look down there, feel free to join me if you like my lady Lislotte, ah… other lady. Who knows it could be fun yes?" She gave them each a little curtsey and headed off down the tunnel path, her steps seemed light and carefree but her mind was anything but. That voice, maybe whatever it was needed healing, it sounded in pain. Whatever the cost, it was her duty to find those in need friend or foe and make them live to see another day….whether they wanted to or not.

Author: Miri Luna, Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 11:46 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

Miri stopped moving and glanced down, a single tear leaving her mask as it caught gravity's pull. The ground's chilled yet earthy embrace took the tear as it shattered and glistened with the gems around her. Not only did she hear the voice in her head, but also deep in her heart. She felt suffering, but she also felt fear. Her icy cover on her leather armor shattered as she fell to the ground, her bag pulsing black and her icy mantle of frost fading to a black for a fer seconds. Her memories surged violently through her and her eyes gleamed brighter as she sat there, not only remembering her fallen home and shattered past with full force, but now recognizing the pain of the voice. The ice steps with the carvings shattered in a way that the castle appeared to steam before vanishing under the rest of the ice and frost. 

"If you're doing this now then I'll burn you!!" She whispered to her bag before clambering up, dazed and soaked in water. Looking at the alchemist she spoke quietly and quickly. "I must not be in the heat of most places… Such a thing would force me to become ill. I'm not going to tell you where I'm from North are you going to tell me where you're from. Such information is earned, not traded." 

She turned to the girl who looked like a ball of lightning in an ocean of shadows. "If you… So much as dare die while near me….. I will hire a necromancer to resurrect your corpse just so I can kill it again! I will not be responsible for someone so…. So… So much like I was…. When younger." This time she spoke loudly and sounded anger, her voice carried with a chill to it but she got quieter and her voice began shaking with sorry as she finished.

Author: Mezereon, Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 11:19 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

It was then she observed that the woman in white was at the epicenter, if not the source of that abnormal cold. The temperature brought back memories of months ago, traipsing around in a place very much like this with her former teacher. Speaking to the woman of winter, she said: "I am Liselotte Ellebore. And yes, I suppose you could say that my profession focuses on when things don't work like they are supposed to and how to remedy those situations. You must come from a glacial climate if this is standard fare for you. Most of us aren't as blessed with such resilience." 

The other here was cheerful, like a lamp or a blaze with quick-burning tinder tossed in droves and set alight with oil. It was strong and overpowering, but somehow off. It wasn't mere innocent exuberance. Almost manic, even. These two couldn't be anything less than polar opposites, and she was the equator. Addressing the smiling woman she gave a polite curtsy. "A pleasure to meet you Miss Lily. Though I doubt the gods would be so idle as to meddle in such mundane affairs as ours, I do believe this is no coincidence." When Lily asked about the tunnel before them, Liselotte shook her head. "I've never been down this path before, not to this extent anyhow. But if you're eager to try, I don't see any reason not to." Her travel bag began to squirm as she was in close proximity of the frigid woman, and she tried to calm down the agitated wyvern hiding from the cold in there. "Shh, shh. Easy now. I haven't forgotten, Marcasite. When we get the chance to rest I'll brew you something warm, hmm?" 

To Miri, there was a faint voice that echoed in her mind. One unfamiliar but close. 'Cold…it's so cold… I want to go somewhere warm.'

Author: lilithrie, Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 10:57 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

The person had spoke in a way that made her feel a bit on edge, but she didn't let that stop her from giving her a 100 watt smile and replying, "Me? Oh well I'm.." she paused suddenly distracted as she finally noticed the crystal the strange woman was sitting on. She gasped and got extremely close to it, admiring the designs upon it. "Oh, so pretty!" She said with excitement. With the mention of fun, her attention was once again caught by the armor clad lady. "Hm? So are you fun then? What do you mean reconsider my approach? Did I offend You? I'm sorry." She asked hoping she hadn't done anything this person considered rude, she really hated to think that she had. 

Next to appear was another woman and Lily gave her a smile and a wave. "Hello. Yes I did happen to notice the change in temperature, it's what drew me here in the first place. I was just exploring a bit, Baltil is so fascinating I want to see every part of it and today I was drawn down this tunnel. The gods must have meant for us to all meet, how pleasant is that. I always like making new friends. I'm Lily by the way." The auras around the two people were strange to her, she didn't believe she had met anyone like them before. Though she had to admit the newest member of their little tunnel party had an aura that seemed slightly more familiar than the ice queen next to her. She glanced at the frosty lady and couldn't help it when a small smirk appeared for a moment. Even her aura was frosty. Even if they decided they didn't want to become friends with her, she bet it would be an entertaining day at least. She put on another bright smile and asked, "So what are your names my newest friends? Or should I think of something to call you instead?" She looked down the tunnel and pointed, "Also, do you know what's down there? It feels like it might be something fun waiting there."

Author: Miri Luna, Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 10:31 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

 "Who am I…. What am I… What do I need, know, see, hear and feel? It doesn't matter, what matters is who are you, why are you approaching me and why is it that you woke my meditations? She looked up, ice and frost chipping off the leather and ice sickles appearing as if fangs on the mask, the inner lines of the suit were covered by a solid ice that snapped instead of shattering. The crystals behind and under her had a thick coat of swirled ice and carefully etched steps showing off a fancy design and carvings of a castle with a large moon above it. Miri had been sitting there for a few days and had not been as still as she was in those moments since the fall of her kingdom. 

She stood and stretched, then stepped down in front of the girl. "Do you want to have fun? If so you've either came to the right person or you need to reconsider your approach."

Miri then turned to the alchemist and took a step back, icy footprints formed underfoot and her suit still creaked with frost and the heavy scent of white herbs and leather polish. Her appearance made her out as a rouge or a lightly armored knight even though her magic was easily sensed yet foreign and ancient. "Who are you? A slight air about you gives me the hint that you know magic and anomalies…. I can't say I've ever felt a pleasanter temperature in all my years…"

Author: Mezereon, Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 10:05 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

Today had been business as usual for Liselotte. After the deal for the shipment of quicksilver and other minerals for tinctures had been approved and signed she was free to roam as she pleased. Baltil was a common place for her to frequent as it was where one could obtain raw material for a wholesaler's price. She took one of the less traveled paths in the cavern network and found the temperature had dropped sharply. The little green wyvern clinging from her back  huddled under her hair, shivering. Even the alchemist was feeling the chill soon enough. "This is unusual, it's normally not so cold down here. I thought it would be warmer instead of cooler. Marcasite, come here." The little olive-green draconid peeked out from beneath her owner's golden tresses and climbed into her arms. Opening her travel bag, the little reptile crawled in.

 "I'm sorry dear, I'll bring you somewhere warmer soon. I promise." The bag shifted, as the little creature settled down. Venturing deeper, she didn't remember the path being this frigid, or for ice having even formed here before. The walls were lined with gems embedded in the earth, waiting to be freed by the miner's pick. These treasures were none of her concern as she went to investigate the source of this strange phenomenon. She saw two people up ahead, before the entrance of a mine shaft. What were they doing here, she wondered. Neither looked like the type to come here on a whim, nor were they dressed the part. She approached carefully, with a pleasant smile on her face. A disarming smile could do wonders that no sword nor shield could. "Pardon me, but have you noticed the change in the temperature and pressure? It's quite peculiar if I say so myself. If you don't mind me asking, why are you both standing before this tunnel?"

Author: lilithrie, Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 8:48 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

Coming to the city of Baltil had been something she had been longing to do ever since she first heard about it while visiting Nisshoki. There had been a few traveling dwarves that had stopped by the noodle shop she frequented while visiting and they had been plenty happy to tell her of their home. In fact, they were so excited about going home themselves they drunkenly invited her to travel with them. She had immediately taken them up on the offer to their surprise. So now, here she was prancing through the dwarves streets of Baltil admiring everyone and everything. Everything seemed so amazing and new being done without much or any magic. Everything worked so well, fit so perfectly together, it was like a dream. It seemed like a place she wouldn't mind settling down in, she was sure she would be able to find something new and exciting every day. 

It was with this excitement that she entered a certain corridor leading into a quiet part of the city. She was about to turn back when she noticed something interesting. Her breath was visible before her. "Oh, is there something down here?" She asked herself excitedly straightening out the skirt of her grey with silver trim dress. Maybe she would find some more dwarves to talk to, they seemed quite font of telling stories about each and every part of the city, maybe there was an interesting tale that went along with this part too? She continued down the corridor, walking instead of prancing now, and only grew more curious as it grew colder the farther in she went. 

Not long after starting her walk she was someone standing up ahead. They didn't look like a dwarf but maybe they could share with her the story of whatever was in this part of the city? She approached with a carefree innocent smile and said, "Hello, beautiful day isn't It? Oh, well we are underground so I guess it's hard to actually tell but, never mind that." She started almost prancing again to close the last few feet between them. She looked around curiously before asking, "Are you waiting for someone? Is something fun going to happen?"

Author: Miri Luna, Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 8:20 PM, Post Subject: Diamondclaw cave {Open}

"This will be a simple challenge, nothing dangerous or hard… I assure you." Miri read the bounty over and over again as she waited for the others who was sure to also follow the trail of the diamond cave… she marveled at the beauty of the large complex and perplexing spires of gems that spouted throughout the mine, each one slightly different in color and hue. it was peaceful enough at the moment to hear the gentle flow of an underwater lake in the deeper shafts of the cave. Chatter of dwarfs and local drunks filled the room every few hours as the inn died down and they left for their shifts. Miri was certain to draw attention if she was in town, her appearance had caused quiet a stir the first time through town, shattered ice and frosty dwarvern guards still lined the streets and back alleys, no body hurt, just mass confusion and a few missing pints of ale. Now she waits, focused on the low laying mine entrance with mild impatience and half the mind to continue without the others. she has sat there for hours, frost covered the diamond spire she sits on, her presence has dropped the cave temperature low enough to freeze small amounts of water without effort.