The boy snorted at her evasiveness. A personal project! Ewan never had much patience for secretive scholars; as if he'd want to steal anyone's ideas! Not to mention it was putting something into practice that posed the real challenge. "I'm Ewan ap Rhys." He had a reputation in some circles. For being brash and putting his foot in his mouth. Also for turning himself into a child. He drifted nearer the halfling to read over his shoulder, bouncing with excitement "Wow! That's a real good drawing! It looked like the peat bog variant you can see the spiny crests and-!"

Niamh herself had found another tome with Armand's name on it. The first author, however, was Wylam Tulathyl. He was a notorious warlock operating along the Adelan border, known for raiding dragon burial grounds to reanimate the remains. "I have another here. Recovered it myself, actually, in another life." She was standing behind them, having not made a single sound. The book was bound in dragonhide.

The assassin's gaze narrowed as she approached the pair. Bothering customers, and giving away free and dubious magical advice, were rather bad for business. "If you're done your chores for the day why don't you give our guest's mule a good brushing, if she'd prefer? I think she rather wants to make her purchase and get on the road..."

The boy flushed a little, looking toward the door with a sigh. "But-" He would much rather see what this was all about.

The child the voice belonged to did not quite have the look of an adventurer. He was about ten or so, with stubbly red hair, and clad in a faded tunic. "Well if you're going to cart around something so volatile as blasting powder I'd guess you were trying to blow  something up in Fel. Good mining, lots of pre-Serenian ruins, spellwork impossible.

"And I know he's an alchemist." Ewan huffed. He didn't like her tone very much at all! And who was this provincial to get officious with him? He was surely one of the best alchemists in Serendipity! And while he was no expert in pyrotechnics, it was child's play compared to biotransmutation. "What I'm asking is what ya need his books for? If you're looking for the safe and efficient transport and creation of flame I guess my solution is a little inelegant, but it works! His experiments are over a hundred years old! I might be able to help, is all."

--

Niamh meanwhile had drifted off among other shelves, in search of books where Armand was a second or third author. She did not like standing idle or making small talk. The halfling didn't seem he thieving sort, anyway, and the front door was locked. Off in the distance she heard her new shop assistant chattering away. Hopefully he was not troubling the poor halfling. The boy was too high-spirited for his own good, and vastly overestimated his own talents...

"Oh I remember that. Didn't you end up getting a dragon after that? Or try to?" I don't think your mother liked animals. Sage had to hold his tongue. He wondered if they wrote letters. He did not like Aunt Sianna very much. Even before all this she was cold and seemed to have little time for Sage, who was rather used to everyone loving him. If things were reversed there would be armies raised, he was quite sure.

"What did you even do there? Did you really take orders and cook and all that? I guess its like that time we the innkeeper caught us nipping ale, and we were too embarrassed to tell him who we were, and ended up mopping the whole floor. You really should have taken a lot more jewels when you left. The fortune is yours too. And-" And then were was a scream and Sarah went charging ahead. Cody's sword was already drawn, and Sage followed.

--

"Skraaahh!" The bird woman's fist slammed into Darkhun's bony chest, sending him reeling back with a screech. It was a solid blow but thick scales and a flexible body shielded his innards from the worst of it. The lizard was angry and scared and confused now. He spread his frill, throat turning red, smoke billowing from his nostrils. She would burn.

But as Darkhun moved to spew forth flame he was struck by a wave of Vertigo. There was no fire. He could not even draw breath. "Cannot... breathe..." Gasping, a smoking hole in his throat, the lizard slumped forward. Dead.

--

When Sage arrived he found Sara with the enormous Yoreiqi with an ugly dragon man at their feet. At their feet was an ugly dragon-man, gasping and sizzling. And to his surprise two grubby urchins, rather familiar at that, had rushed up to Sarah bouncing on their heels. "Thank-you-thank-you-thank you-you-saved-us!"

"That was amazing! Your aim was, like, perfect!" one nudged the lizard with a barefoot, exposing the open wound, clogged with ashy blood. "Ya think he's still flammable?"

Sage looked from the mysteriously dead reptilian, to his cousin, and back. "Your aim's a lot better. Been practicing?" He gave her a hopeful smile, trying his very best to look encouraging and positive. In truth As a teen she was able to burn holes in archery targets but little else. Improved accuracy aside, pinpoint destruction was a pittance of arcana. Not that he'd say anything...

"Snollygoster." Kana snorted with laughter. "And you really had servants clean for you? With all your sewing and such I thought you'd, um, like cooking and cleaning. We never had to learned any of that in my village, 'course.

"And what are you going to have eat us? I've never been shrunk and eaten! Ever! Is it fun?" The Duhjari hadn't any idea if it were a common occurrence in the world of highborn sorcerers. Ria spoke about it in such a cavalier manner, maybe it was some unpleasant and disgusting rite of passage?

"Stomach acid?!" Liam canted his head, looking a bit taken-a-back. This was getting a bit out of control. "I don't think a pet is a very good idea. I don't much fancy being eaten and, well, he might keep them elsewhere. Or worse. I think if we miniaturize ourselves and hide in something like a box, or an instrument, it will be simple enough.

"It says here relics from Fell, Thanatos, and of a Fey or Daemonic nature are subject to examination. You seem, well, crafty. Artistically speaking. Do you think you could manage something?"

Armand of Traust. The name was familiar. Niamh knew he was an alchemist and and exiled many decades ago, though she cared little for the specifics of his research. It was just enough to know who might want such things. "Old spellbooks are a specialty. Alchemical and Elemental scholars are this way. I've got them alphabetized by first author." They walked toward the back of the shop. It was packed with narrow rows of bookshelves, scarcely a foot between them. The former witch-hunter paused at the third shelf and gave a nod. It would be up to Tathfheithleann to look. Niamh had never been one for scraping and bowing over a customer. That and Zantaric did get robbers. It was just common sense not to leave herself open to attack by a stranger.

"Armand make blast powder, right?" A ragged boy who was clutching a broom stepped into view, bringing with him an uncharacteristic arrogance and swagger. "I'd suppose you'd mostly be wanting to use that up and around Fell? Places where bringing a proper pyromancer is too risky?

"I'd worked up an elixir that can induce partial transformation into a salamander chimaera. Let's you spit fire and everything! Gives you a crest and tail also, but that's only temporary. Depending on what you want to do its probably just as good. Or better!"

"Niamh Wayrest. And this is my shop." She gave a nod, not being one for fawning pleasantries. The halfling seemed overly cheery. Usually this was the mark of a good liar or someone who hasn't yet gotten burned, in her experience with the occult.

"You after something in particular?" She made a half-hearted sweeping gesture toward a pair of lions etched in Essrynni prayers - made to scare of jinn. "Of course, don't mind me if you want to browse."

@Imperfect_M

The Looking Glass was in the Old City, the original fortress upon which Zantaric was built and expanded. It benefited from cobbled streets and the presence of enough Grimgut mercenaries to deter the riffraff. Zantaric had more than enough riffraff. The curiosity shop was tucked away in a side-street, sporting a dirt yard where an ox and cart were stabled. Painted on the front door was a mirror and eye.

--

Niamh sauntered through the maze of shelves, pausing to straighten a chess set carved from Kadir ivory, and wipe a smudge from an onyx mirror found in the petrified city of Urx. In her line of work having a pretty shop did not bring in bring in much money. She could turn a profit with a simple warehouse and the right connections. Of course past a point what good was money if you couldn't surround yourself with comfort and nice things? It pained the former witch-hunter to admit it, but she rather enjoyed being a provincial shopkeeper, at least some of the time.

Through her dusty windows she caught sight of a mule meandering toward her stable. Hopefully someone looking to do business. Most of her clientele were merchants looking for the odd status symbol, or that boy from the flower-shop buying every single frog with a fishing pole he could manage. It made for a pittance. She made her coin from selling magical texts from people who knew how to use them.

"Liam actually kept that stupid primer they give us at the start of term. The one with all the rules everyone throws away.

"Its gotten us out of trouble too. Trouble you caused. And miniaturization does seem simplest..."

"Well the point is we got it upstairs. If you wanna look? Might give us some ideas!"

--

Kanaliam's bedroom was atop a drafty tower in the south of the keep. Tromping up there left the trio rather winded. "Here we are! Make yourself comfortable!" Kana nudged the door open cheerfully.

Their bedroom was shared with Taig and Arthur. It was tightly cramped with only a narrow space between two bunkbeds, terminating at a small desk under the shuttered window. A patchwork of old wool rugs and ragged pelts covered the floor - in addition to stacks of books and scattered smallclothes. The beds were unmade as one might expect.

"Sorry... Kana doesn't like making the bed." Liam reddened as they stepped inside.

"Girls do that. Or fancy guys like Ria. Not us." Kana had a rather rigid understanding of gender roles and domestic life. The stylish ways of young men of the upper classes were quite alien to him, but equally compelling.

The boy wandered over to a stack of books beside their bunk and rummaged through -- producing a thin ledger of yellowed paper. "Here we go. The Ways of Wyrdwood: Primer for First Year Students; under index three you will find Contraband and Prohibited Items for Underclassmen!" Liam laid it out on their table with a flourish.

"They sure are!" Kana nudged Liam, teeth forming a wicked smile. "And we've got this one as a back-up!

"And its great to meet you, Ria! You know that kid with the broom, right? Plutonius?" To Kana, making the acquaintance of this fashionable circle of pretty young men was well worth the loss of some trinket. They all lived in exciting castles, surely got to do wonderful things like ride atop giant ravens, and were just about the darlings of the entire academy. The boy was not ungrateful for the life he had now - being joined to Liam - but his eyes had just opened up to how amazing the world was outside his little village. "I suppose he's taken you flying and all that? And what were you meaning to sew, anyway?"

Liam forced a smile while rubbing his head, trying to sort his bangs back into place from Kana's rough-housing. "You know that is an interesting idea to trick him into confiscating something. Maybe we could smuggle ourselves in some how. I'd suppose we could turn into spiders and-? No, that's a bit dangerous. Maybe some sort of dimensional key? Oh but then its probably warded..." He pondered aloud.

"There is no need for hysterics, young master Riannhar. Good d-" And the door slammed. The gremlin frowned, ever so slightly, and flipped open a little black book. He made note of Rianharr's name and the date. After that, well, he returned to his duties completely unfazed.

--

Kana snickered loudly at the insult. Poopmonster. "Yeah. He took an old family thing of mine just because he didn't know what it was. Its like the sick little bastard enjoys making us miserable!" he shook his head in frustration. "And we ought to get back at him! He's that that ledger he's always writing in! We could enchant his ink to vanish. Or, like, hide meat in his office and fill it with maggots. It'd drive him crazy!"

"Or maybe we could..." Liam cast a cautious glance to Skrudge's office, motioning them down the hall hurriedly. How could you be so dumb as to talk about this sort of thing right in earshot of someone! "Maybe we could try and get our stuff back? Rather than wait seven years?"

"Well, it would be nice to get my horse back... but I don't see how." Kana smiled wistfully. The boy then turned, remembering they had company "Oh! Um, I'm Kana by the way. And this is Liam." He gave his other head a nudge, as if it wasn't already clear. "So, how'd he get his hands on your thing?"

"It has been a tremendous pleasure chatting, young master Riannhar, but I must return to my duties. If you are concerned about your property I am more than happy to provide a receipt." A clawed hand reached for a quill, idly turning it. They never did. Offering some insignificant concession or favor was simply a way to diffuse hostility during negotiations. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

--

"A sewing machine? What do suppose he wants with that?" Kana whispered. Being less than six inches apart they could whisper almost inaudibly to each-other. It was something of another linguage, picking up on the slightest sigh or nod. But a sewing machine? Sewing was for dresses and balls and other matters he did not concern himself with. Still, Kana had to admit Ria' looked rather nicer than himself all things considered...

"Fixing up his robe I suppose?" The pair were about to slink away, so as to avoid being caught eavesdropping, when Ria' emerged from the Steward's office.

"Oh, um, sorry! I mean hello!" Kana nudged his head toward the office, flashing the fashion-conscious youth a nervous smile smile. "How'd he got you? Liam here took my charm out when one of those imps was around..."

Skrudge's cheerful eyes narrowed. Pride was something he seldom experienced, but inside him welled a primal instinct to defend but the physical well-being and honor of his home. "Our resources are quite vast and superior to whatever you, ahem, deign to pay for. Nor does Wyrdwood accept the authority of third party 'experts' on arcana. I have calculated the chance of your device harboring some malevolent magic to be minimal.

"However, you do not need a sewing machine as clothes are provided, thus if you do not have it the risk goes from zero point zero zero one to simply zero." Of course other students at Wyrdwood were able to bring in all sorts of contraband. Evidently family connections did factor into whatever calculations Skrudge performed in his head. Ria' simply did not make the cut.

Liam darted back with a start. Or meant to but his other half held him steady. "No. We're done, you can go ahead if you like."

Kana had seen the pretty young man a few times. He ran in popular circles, always meticiulously groomed. The mindset behind the practice was both alien and fascinating to the grubby boy who cared only for braid. His gaze followed Rianharr as they left.

"Want to go take a nap?"

"Aren't we meeting Arthur to play cards?" Kana canted his head.

"I know what I said."

Kana stopped them as they rounded the bed, voice growing hush. "That kid is a big deal isnt he? Ria, I mean. I'm kind of..."

Curious what he did? Usually Liam was the one who liked evesdropping and gossip. They sidled up to the door to listen in...

***

Rianharr Thalence. Year Four. Highborn. No behavioral issues noted. One sewing machine in storage. Skrudge was designed to have a perfect memory. Such a thing might drive a human mad, though it served the imp well in his position.

"Good afternoon Master Thalence. Based upon my calculations you have come to retrieve your sewing machine." He gave a cheery smile, revealing rows of needle teeth. "Based upon concerns it may be an Animat of possible hostile disposition, and that Wyrdwood provides it's students uniforms, it is being held in storage until the time of your graduation."

@quaggan

The Office of the Steward was on the first level of Wyrdwood's Vault. It was meticulously tidy, bookshelves crammed with logs dating back centuries, furniture hopelessly out of date. To reach it you needed to navigatea confusing, musty hallway filled with packs of homunculi and students carryingout various janitorial punishments.

"The idol is clearly covered under Chapter Four section Three of the student handbook!" Steward Skrudge smiled, the gremlin's many skinfolds looking something like a melted candle. He was in charge of the imps who tended many of Wyrdwood's custodial tasks. "You will remember this refers to arcana of a primordial or shamanistic origin."

A boy with two heads stood across from the imp, arms crossed. On the left Liam gritted his teeth, trying not to let his anger show. It was a god-damn imp made from clay and feathers. How in the world did THIS get to make any decisions?! "Look. Its not harmful. The rule is for blood magic, trapped daemons, that sort of thing! And Kana's had it since he was a baby. Its all he has from home.."

"Really. All it does is let me get to horses. And they really don't got much to say..." Kana added. It was all that remained of his village. That life had not concerned him much, though he oft fiddled with the figurine. To lose it opened up old wounds.

The whole thing was Liam's fault and he felt terrible. Since they met Kana had owned a small wooden figurine depicting a horse. He encouraged his other half to bring it to their cryptozoology lecture to show off. Just a bit. Of course it got confiscated by an imp on the way back their room... and he had a few ideas about who tipped them off.

"I am sorry one thousand times over, young masters, but if exceptions were made the school would fall to pieces!" Skrudge bowed his head, though his tone was more cheerful than apologetic. Truly the imp did not feel beholden to the humans at all, but the charade of subservience was simply its nature. It was hard to hide his unbidden joy at so perfectly executing his orders and purpose. "I am afraid I have followed the rules to the letter. You will be able to retrieve your contraband on the day of your graduation and not two weeks after."

"This is ridiculous, I-" before Liam could finish their shared body had turned to go. "-hey stop!"

"Its fine, Liam, we'll get it back eventually. Really." Kana smiled sadly. As the second years turned to leave another figure appeared in the doorway of the musty office...

Xamuu's dark eyes fell on Sarah, unimpressed. "Yes." he tapped his head slowly, "It is good to understand."

"Well, we know he came through the City, right?" Sage looked to Cody for confirmation. The dog man was busy sniffing at passersby. Already a scales woman bored a hope in him with her eyes for getting too close. Not that Cody could help it. "So there has to be some clue. Speaking of, uh, Hildegarde? How did you meet her anyway. You don't have to talk about her if you don't want to. It's just a long way from home to here..."

To get to the northern district they had to pass through the Bleeder's Way. It was a winding section of the City once rules by a powerful blood mage, designed to be an enormous Ritual Circle. There were few main roads but hundreds of cramped alleys. To get corners Sarah lead them through one of the more desolate routes...

***

"No! Darkhun sees you! You and the-" Griselda's fist connected with Darkhun. The lizard was sent feeling back and into a jeep of garbage. It was a solid blow. The lizard narrowed his yellow eyes at the woman, frill expanding, fangs bared. And then he lunged with a gout of flame and ash!

"Geddown!" the smaller boy tugged Randal to the side with an ear-splitting shriek. It really wasn't all that much fire, but enough to be scary. It shouldn't be scary. Fire was nothing, his skin could become dragonscale. He could turn a vampire into a quivering mass of fat and flesh if he wanted! How could he be so dumb to get caught unprepared while playing street urchin? Randal could be dead and he was scared enough to piss himself, hiding and shivering behind some stupid mute thug.

Because of the new 'Le'raanian Characters' subforum, the most recent post in 'character registration and directory' always shows up as the art policy instead of the most recently made character (who would normally be relegated to one of the subforums).

Its not a huge deal, but needing to make one more click to see the most recently made character greatly reduces potential exposure new profiles might get. Its kind of nice when the first thing you see when you hit the forums is some shiny new character maybe waiting for a thread, especially for people who might be newer and a little approach-avoidant.

Kana's face grew hot. It was a joke! Now people were going to think he was terrible! "Um, sorry..."

Liam's expression darkened at Mavis' admonishment. It was a dumb joke, though Kana could be surprisingly sensitive. "Share our sense of humor? Mostly. Our roommate Arthor got a lisping hex in his food once. Couldn't say his R's for a week. You just got to check that sort of thing."

Mavis' barrier drew a few brief stares, more from the noise than anything, but soon everyone returned to business as usual. A pair of bespectacled wizards mozied across the green, some travelers from afar were unloading their goods from a pair of birds with rainbow plumage, and a gang of underclassmen stood around two girls exchanging bolts of purple fire.

"To answer your question Headmistress Nettlefield is in-charge. She is sort of a stickler for rules and things. Come on." They lead her across the path toward a crumbly old keep. Despite attempts to replace all the doors and windows the structure looked old, damp, and drafty. Lichen and moss covered its rough stone foundation.

Sage turned to appraise her, expression blank. Why didn't she say earlier? Maybe she didn't care, maybe she was involved, or maybe this was a wild goose chase? - an excuse to be together again or feel she did her part. "Well, come on then. Let's go!" He flashed a smile, looking genuinely happy for the first time in a long time.

Soon Xamuu and Cody were at his side, the big man drinking deep from a wineskin. Sirala bobbed merrily along in her bubble, fishbones visible in her translucent belly.

Dark eyes fell upon Sarah as they walked. "Xamuu wonders why your, 'Boss', seeks these men. There is trade in flesh from the lands of Serendipity to the jungles of Kishahn. And here. Here always."

***

The lizard's reflexes were well trained. It shrieked and spun away as the bird woman landed, slipping somewhat as a clawed foot landed in manure. It kept low to the ground, one might think it were bowing to grovel, but threads of smoke rose from his nostrils. "Ah! B-big bird! So good to see you, yes, yes, yes! Darkhun was just talking to nice boys. Good boys. Clean and sweep dung so nice."

A look of faint indignity crossed the Ewan's face. He did not need saving. Not from this stupid lizard and not by Griselda. He would swing the shovel and-! And he was shivering too, and squeezing Randal right back. The boy heaved a sigh of relief. "He was trying to scare us! Um, Randal I mean..."

"What's she doing?" Kana whispered, shooting Juniper an odd look. It made him uneasy. Arthur was too old to be fawned over the way a woman might a child, but surely too young for a woman to want him. The female sex had always confused him.

"What?"

"I don't know? Its weird." Kana squirmed.

"Thinks he's cute, I suppose." Liam canted his head. His other half could be so sensitive.

***

Elwin pursed his lips angrily. That did explain why Juniper had been so short with him, right? The poor girl was just worried and anxious. It was a chance for him to put everything right!
"Well she is a little mad." Elwin warned. This stupid, stuttering, imbecilic peasant girl had ruined his day and time with Juniper; he had every intention of letting her know it. "Its a good thing I've found you. Just what were you doing anyway?"

"Well, after that nasty business, I'm not sure she'd want to help." Sage cracked a weak smile. It wasn't the first time they'd gotten in a scuffle on their journey. A good fight was sort of fun besides. The jelly trilled in agreement. A geleatinous skeleton, all that remained of the fish she swallowed, slowly undulated beneath her membranous skin. "In any case we'll be here another day and set off tomorrow. Cody thinks he passed through here but has gone further south."

The youth's gaze lingered on Sara. "It was good to see you again."

***

The boy stumbled as Randal tugged him along. For a moment he was awash with indignity that being slightly taller made Randal the defacto leader. At least the lizard was cowardly enough not to ambush in broad daylight and the street was only a few paces away. Just a few steps.
Darkhun's small mind raced. Cornering the boy was not hard. Easy. Simple. But how to make him tell the truth? Darkhun did not think of that! With enormous speed the reptile darted into their path, hunched low, tongue flicking. "I taste your lies.

"I see you, you and the boy, in the tunnels. I know this. You. Will. Tell!"