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"Raincheck then." Hm, well that bit of information was tucked away...and she was perhaps as disappointed as him. But she couldn't help but be a little jumpy...she thought it would take her mind off of it but it hadn't. But a light sigh as he walked away and she picked up her flute and sword before walking the opposite direction and took to pulling up the anchor. At least she knew there were still fish in the pond...she'd just have to catch the one she wanted another day. Stupid Depths.

"Is that so. she still won't let her past go, will she. Damnable woman, I swear."

Crossing his arms lightly, though yes he noticed. he knew every strand of coloring in her hair and how precisely it was done.

"Point being, you were, or still are, bleeding this time. Once more incident, and I mean it, and we're using slaves to break them in. and in light of this, you need to be resting but keeping awake. a concussion is not good for you."

Then a smirk.

"I'll deal with Zahara. the old fashioned way this time."

The druid's ears twitched. It did not take Malik long to threaten the Peninsula.But off on his merry way he went, and found himself a nice little nitch he did. First things first. He placed his hands on the stonewall, and literally asked it questions, which were replied to honestly. Stone has a funny way of not lying.

It took the better part of half an hour, but the druid became aquianted with the names and faces of the inhabitants.

The second thing, was gathering some of the dead pollen that hung about the air. It was interesting to smell something so sweet from such a far away place. This pollen gathering eventually lead him too close to sensitive places, so the druid stopped. He had a nice little globe of... jelly... when he returned to the nitch. He placed it on the ground, not considering the hewn stone (another thing he would never think about) and grew the plants of Andel. Panzies of all sorts of varieties, some of which he had never seen or heard of here in the dark. He gazed at the little garden long enough to know that he probably would cause a commotion if he kept it there long enough, but was not sure with that last little threat that he cared. The druid PC like the forest. It was a friendly forest full of friendly conversation, unlike the potatoes. Those potatoes were certainly sour. Nothing like the onions. Those onions definately had a sweet side. Why was he thinking about those things now? He kind of missed home. He had not been around the peninsula a lot since he left the Grove on his duties. It must be fifteen years since he spoke to the Potatoes and Onions.

That aside, the druid stretched out his arms and yawned. Not because he was tired, simply he felt like he had too much space to himself. He would have to change that in the near future. Maybe some more greenery would solve the abundance of empty space. A hand went on a nearby wooden object, and he felt the age and hewn of the solid wood. After a few moment of pontification, the Druid decided to go about and talk to the servents and slaves.

It did not take very long to figure out nice little facts from them. They worked very diligently, like the whips of their master loomed ever so close to their backs, and scars seemed to cling tightly to those that seemed to work too slow. Malik was an odd fellow, his wife even moreso.

From the timbits of information gathered so quickly, and rather steathfully (who would suspect the animals of being traitorous spies, with the right encouragement), it appears that Malik has a split personality. One side, everything he does is for the good of his son. But, his old habbits and personality make his attempts at harmony appear to be meglomania. Piper, has a sour side that is always undermined by her insecurity. Both have what the Druidic council would call 'Self Image' problems. Their 'Self Image' causes problems. The Druid began to see things from a less shadowy perspective, one because he was no longer wondering about as a rodent, and two because he was learning a great deal about the personalities of the Lord and Lady.

Then... All the rumors were proven all at once. One hallway wreaked of perticularly foul smelling auras, and the pain of elves certainly did not wane after melleniums. So they were capable of Great Evil, and willing to commit it. But, there was little evidance of any actual plots agianst the Purains. Word of mouth seemed to be the largest source of consipiracy than any actual actions.

The Druid kept note of the stones, the types, the manufacturing of the walls, the density of the rock, and the gap and morter of the floor tiles. About half way down one hallway did the druid realize that the floor in his room was hewn, and he may have disrupted the floor pattern. He didn't really care. If he wanted to, he could reshape the floor... He hoped. Earth Magic was not fond of this druid.

The arena did not surprise him, nor did the smell of elvish blood. It never cleared from enclosed areas. Never. He looked at the ground and guess that more of the blood was spilled volentarily than not, or at least in recent times. The aged smell could not be guessed with any accracy, save someone have the right bias. What troubled the druid was the continual pulses of extraplanar creatures and items. It was rather unnerving. Like, being in Pergatory (since this place was not hell, but nothing as the druid would picture heaven). It kind of amazed the druid that no entities of massive planar interest bothered with the fortress, but he suddenly recalled he felt none of these pulses outside. Come to think about it, the place was heavily enchanted. It was strange. Concealing this much magic must take alot of energy. He looked about. The Purians would be slaughtered if they tried to sack this place. Slaughtered like orcs (pigs).

The armory was questionable for visiting. He decided just to watch the commings and goings of people into and out of the place, and noted the little activity. Who would honestly be stupid enough to attack this place. The image of Pirate Drow captain came to mind, because that one would love to destroy something this well kept and managed. Why ever did the Purains through their interests in with that one. Stupid Stoneshaper (idiot brother).

The front gate had some interesting things to say about the military movements agianst this place, over five years back. They were sad about the lack of interest anyone showed in attacking this place, because they were proud doors. Orcs managed to get by once, because the doors were opened, or so they claim.

The library had many interesting things to say, but the book shelves would not cease their adheriet rambling about a perticalar brand of wizardry which simply annoyed the druid. Naturally, the spellcaster saw wizardry as inferior (as most spellcasters feel their way of casting is superior to all other ways of casting spells). Common inhabitants usually was limited to the magically inclined and the drow.

Drow lived here. The druid knew this. He was curious as to what drow were like, as his only two influences did not match in personality at all. One was a very self absorbed egotistical madman who enjoyed killing and making reasons to kill than any other pleasure in life, the other had some of those qualities but also something called 'common' sense. Malik was sometimes called a Drow, but he did not look like one. So... He's just Malik.

The dinning table bragged so loadly that the druid had to ask the neighbourning tower's chair to speak louder. The table boasted about how nice the food he held was, and how frequently he was used by all the important people. Dead wood often had dead personalities, but they could sometimes develop some sense of self. Or, simply enjoy being used as they were. It was like being alive simply stopped mattering to the things. The druid once had a nice conversation with a longbow about the ethics behind slaughtering orcs... But that was a long time ago. Arrows usually have something important to say, but never do so until you launch them. Its like their holding back their opnions so you can't retort to them after they say their piece. Inconsiderate arrows.

The druid made it back to his room, and he sat in a chair which started to sprout green growths from the fringes. He noticed a mirror across the way fro mhimself, and felt taken aback by the expensive and rare thing. He'd only seen his reflection a few times before, when his father was alive (and the druid was a slave). His eyes were like his mother, and his hair similar in colour to his father. He looked much like his full elfish cousin. He could see where the few human benefits overided his dominate elvish genetics. He was heavier, and more muscular than his elfish counterpart, and his face looked much more imposing. The roundness gained from the human exemplified his elfish features, making him appear to be more regal than either. He laughed at himself for drawing those conclusions. All elves were beautiful. That is because they are demigods. Half-elves were imperfection. A rather sad lot, but nonetheless, the druid felt himself rather pleasent looking. Maybe the townsfolk were not simply being nice to him as he passed, maybe they meant what they said. Then again, he may be seeing what he wanted to see in the mirror. His self confidance waned slightly, but he smirked it back into place. His green jewel-like eyes seemed to draw his attention. Moments passed and the elf pulled himself from his own mind. The image of himself in the mirror forgotten and put aside, he began to ponder the more important things.

The Raven told him not to forget his place. His place was that of the Druid of Justice. So, he must be Just.

Turning the chair away from the mirror, the half elf sunk back into it and did not lose himself from his chain of thought.

He carefully pontificated the various things he learned, scrutinizing the details. He was the druid of Justice, he needed to see beyond the surface of things. Aschellaeon needed to see the essence of things. His green eyes would lead him to that end.

Arthur sighted lightly to himself as he turned the wheel so they can head on home...oh he was just so close and he knew it! Now he was all ready to go and yet he couldn't do anything at all so he was a little on edge right now. I bet this doesn't happen to anyone else... he thought and shook his head the continued watching the water as they turned back the other way. But then he heard it, a soft melody and he knew right off the bat where it was coming from, so the elf grinned lightly at the sound of Isle's music, it may not give him any images to see but it was good to listen too as they were going back to the fortress.

After on the water for another twenty minutes or so the elves had finally made it back to land, and of course Arthur marooned his boat before throwing his anchor back over the railing, didn't want his ship to leave him now didn't he? So after checking that everything was put down and secure the elf jumped over the railing and landed on the soft beach with a light grunt, turning he waited for Isle to join him so they could start walking back to Twilight.

Arthur smiled lightly when Isle walked towards him, the indigo in her capes actually looked better than the golden yellow, but that's his opinion only Isle would decide which colors she really wanted. So there they were walking back thought the sand and towards the fortress, but he noticed how close Isle is to him, and yet she stayed away a good distance, maybe because of what happened on the boat? Well he didn’t know but it didn't phase him that much. "I don't know I might head home, but I wanted to take Brahnel back and feed him and what not before putting him away and I left him at the fortress to roam when I came over today, so I might stay there for a little long before leaving why?" He looked at the elf with a puzzled look, why did she want to know all that?

Piper sighed and shook her head. "Funny...I'm giving up and you're not. Though I doubt that will go as planned. She can't see past certain things, she stuck on them. And regardless of what happens she's not going to budge. Just because she suddenly wants to be around Sevilin for biology's sake doesn't mean a thing. At least not to her. Doesn't matter how miserable she makes everyone else either." But she was done. Could only take so much and she had taken three full years worth. "And I never claimed it was easy to take things over, but I can manage and you're not taking back over. I enjoy you mellow and all stressfree. You don't need to worry, I'm fine. If I blacked out I would let you worry...but I didn't. Just whacked myself on some rocks." That that she'd tell him it wasn't just her head that was sore from that but no need to make him go all restricted on her.

She shrugged lightly. "Just making conseration I guess." Isle was probably trying to assess what to do with the rest of her day. After all, ZAhara was no fun to be around and Piper was busy with work. Maybe she'd go play with the kids. Though she gave him a smile and a nudge with her elbow. "You've been spoiled by all that lack in training Piper's given you. Better be prepared when Malik takes charge again. "Another sigh from her. Hm, maybe she'd work on some clothes...she liked to sew after all and well there was always a piece of her clothing that needed some mending. "But you have things to do so I shouldn't hog you all to myself, I just content myself with sewing or watching the children." Then a giggle at that. "Rinc Kier, I'd look like I had grown up."

Zykariel giggled with his friend and then turned his attention to his father. "Really? You actually will go riding with me?" He clapped his hands happily and ate another cookie. That was delightful news indeed.

Zahara turned and glanced at Sevilin and then Zykariel and shook her head. Riding? Sevilin hated horses and if you asked her he didn't have a clue what to do with them. He definitely shouldn't be going out there alone. But she bit her tongue on the issue and nodded to the food. "Eat."

He glanced back and forth between his parents and an idea began forming in his head. "When Daddy? And should we take Miss Piper too? Since we're not real good with horses?"

"Good!" She grinned back at him and skipped out of his workshop to the upper floor where she began making preparations for her tea party. Oh this was going to be such fun.