Welcome to Gaia! ::

When we last saw Seist and Bazil...

Jenn, this is where we left off for another player. We're in Downswood, which is a larger town in the Borderlands. The fae forest is southeast of it, not too far off. You have to pass through dragon territory, but it's a pretty narrow stretch between the two. Bazil and Seist are on foot. Bazil is blind, but he has a hood so it's not obvious. Seist is in full "I am totally a rich noble" and is also wearing a pendant that marks him as a priest.

No, we're not waiting on anyone. Just for anyone who wanted to jump in at this point.

Let me give you a bit more backstory and I'll let you see if it'll work. Right now there's a war between the fae in the southern forest. The locals are aware that something is going on, but they're hazy on the details - only that it involves fae and as a result, the dragons in the area are moving outward into human territory and being more aggressive in taking Bounds. So there's some unhappiness towards the dragons and unhappiness towards the fae for screwing everything up.

The season is summer. War is a bit harder to wage in the autumn/winter months.

A spectrum is a sort of familiar. They're these little humanoid sprite things. This one will be hiding as it's very shy and only came out because they were at Bazil's house and he coaxed it out.

How about you do an intro post and I'll play the NPCs harassing her?

As they moved back she made to run but her cloak caught at her throat and she fell backwards onto the ground. She grasped the end of the bow tie and tugged to undo it. She missed the flash of metal as she attempted to put space between herself and her attackers with a roll.

“Help!” She screamed out uncertain if anyone would hear her cry or if it would avail her. With that cry she looked to gauge if she could get her feet under her or if it would be better to stay down for the time.

((Totally out of my depth with the fighting stuff so if you have any suggestions I'd love to use this as an opportunity to learn a bit.))

The man dove after her, catching up with her at the end of her roll. His hand slammed the stave to the ground, pinning it there, and his free hand revealed the weapon he held - a long knife, meant for fighting. He held it forwards, just to her side with the point angled in. Should she attempt to flee further, he would be able to drive it into at least a leg. The other man was hurrying to catch up, throwing the cloak aside onto the ground.

"Fae!" he cried, loud enough for the handful of bystanders to hear, "I knew it! You bring the troubles of your own kind to our cities now?"

And like that, no one made a move to help Autumn.

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Further up the street, Seist paused in his step, one hand plucking at Bazil's sleeve.

"Did you just hear a shout?" he said, "Down that way."


((a good rule with fighting is ignore every single movie except Lord of the Rings and bits of 300. Is there something more specific you want advice on? I'm not so good at general advice.))

As the man’s hand pinned her staff to the ground she wondered if the smart thing to do would be to let go of it and try to run but she could not bring herself to part with it.

As the man revealed his knife Autumn’s skin turned to bark as an automatic response to the threat. She could have theoretically fought it back, but she saw no reason to do so at this point. The change made her less vulnerable to his blade and her green hair was clearly visible seeing as how she had already shed her cloak.

‘I am not the one bringing trouble to you cities’ she wanted to spit at him, but the words would not form on her lips. Instead she settled for an attempt to elbow him in the face.

((Just if you have any suggestions for something that would have been a better move or if I do something that doesn't work or whatever.))

Bazil paused in his stiff fashion. "Yes. How about you take the direct route while I take another? If we should be parted, we can meet back up at your reservation in the dragon quarter." Hawkers' calls and brief bellowing was a daily thing here, but casual this was not. There were more voices. Possibly a mob. Guards were always slow to these things the closer they got to where the 'human' and 'dragon' portions of the city met.

Already pointed toward another alleyway farther down the street, Bazil held his quarterstaff close as he moved before disappearing around a corner.

Seist made careful note of where Bazil was heading off for. He wasn't quite sure what the man's intentions were, but he was not one to simply continue on his way and be done with it. Bazil's 'sight' was uncanny enough that the priest did not want to try and follow him directly. However, there were other ways around the city. Seist put his hand on his sword hilt to keep it from bouncing and tangling in his legs and broke into an easy lope. He ran parallel to where he had thought the cry had come from and where Bazil had headed for, than cut down another street that hopefully intersected with the commotion. He'd arrive late to whatever was happening, but that just might work. If Bazil needed backup, it was coming, and if things were already settled, he could breeze right in and smooth everything over with his priestly rank.

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Autumn's elbow connected with the man's nose and there was a sickening crunch of bone. He reeled and for a moment his grip loosened on the stave, but his dagger was unwavering. He had the look of someone that had his nose broken before but the pain was still enough to disorient him for a few seconds.

Behind the two, the second man had a sword drawn and was quickly approaching to Autumn's right, talking loudly to deter bystanders as he did.

"Fae spy!" he called out, "From the forest, no doubt. The Baroness will surely pay a handsome bounty for this catch."

((Okay, I wouldn't have rolled then. Fighting from the ground can be a benefit in some cases as it puts you in a stronger defensive position, but you lose so much mobility that it's not worth it. The only situations I've seen it work is either in a tight melee where there's not much room for anyone to maneuver and you have people on either side to protect your flanks, or in single combat where 'corkscrewing' is prohibited. Corkscrewing is what we call where the person circles and attacks you from behind. But if you've got protection from being flanked like that, the ground can be incredibly safe, especially for smaller women. I've been asked to take a knee on battles before just because I can guard low and protect our men from getting legged, as well as be a solid rock that won't be pushed back in a charge.

And a bit of DB backstory... the Baroness is Baroness Yvette, who is the most powerful person in the Borderlands. She sponsors dragon hunters and is gathering up... interesting people and dragons. A couple of eggs were her first targets and then Jayara's character died because of her. Not someone that would be friendly to the fae))

As her elbow connected with the man’s nose she prized free her staff and swung as hard as she could for his collarbone. She moved to regain her feet before the man’s companion could rejoin them.

“Baroness, pay, catch,” those words caught her attention. She had never involved herself in human politics but she did understand it was a title, and she knew, too, how motivated by greed men could be. Catch, not corpse… alive? “Nooo!” She screamed hoping to silence the growing panic. She could not be caged it would kill her. If she was dead either way she would prefer to go down fighting.

A second hand casually came to rest around the staff he seemed to lean on, head not moving, body unreacting to the vocalized threat.

"You are poor representatives to cause such a stir. Tactless. I think even the Lady might deny your claim if it holds any truth," he said speaking louder. It would not be the first time someone has made random claims in this city where dragons and humans met. It was a wonder how the peace held out for as long as it did (or didn't) sometimes between all the factions. "Guards? The merchants will have their say with coin if business is lost because travelers start thinking they might be randomly mugged or kidnapped, fae or not."

Bazil brushed over the worn wood with a thumb, muscles loose and relaxed.

"And the merchants would do well to not offend the Baroness," the man snapped in response, "If they ever wish to do trade with the northern half of the Borderlands."

The man turned away from Bazil, walking briskly towards his companion and Autumn. He kept his wounded hand tight to his stomach, but he was unlacing a bag of some sort with his good hand. It was small and looked like it was designed to burst upon impact with something.

The second fighter let his sword slide along the length of the stave, disengaging as it did and stepping back. He moved sideways, keeping Autumn at a good distance for his short sword, but still close enough so that she couldn't use the full force behind her stave. He was trying to circle her so that she would be forced to put her back to his companion.

Further up the street, Seist ducked out from the mouth of an intersecting street. He paused, staying in the shadows, and assessed the situation. It seemed... controlled... as much as a open fight in the streets could be. Mindful of the crowd, he moved closer, trying to spot Bazil. He couldn't see anything clearly due to distance and bystanders in the way, however.

With a grace unbecoming, Bazil matched pace and now moved to cut into and stand in the man's path, staff now with a slight horizontal and forward tilt taking up even more of the roadspace between them.

"Then the Baroness should send better men to speak for her. You both are an insult to the Lady. Go home and tend your wounds," he antagonized as he attempted to keep his placement between him and his partner. "Even the rogues here know better than yourself how to do business."

His thumb stroked the wood of the staff again as a ripple of magic was channeled within, notable by those sensitive enough to such practice.

"The damned fae have upset everything," the man snarled in response, "and yet you protect this one? The dragons are displaced and raid our homes and steal our kin away - because of the fae! Get out of my way, whelp, I'm sure no one will shed a tear over a sympathizer."

The crowd rumbled at this. There had been a lot of trouble with the dragons because of the fae conflict... and there had never been too much love for their kind. More a tolerance born of fear of their kind.

At the other end of the street, Seist hissed at the feel of magic. It was faint but he still caught it. The priest broke into a sprint, roughly elbowing his way through when his path was blocked.

"Make way!" he ordered and the people parted on instinct, "In the name of Dues, MOVE!"

The man caught the stave on the guard of his sword and shoved back, stepping closer to Autumn and trying to use his strength to knock her off-balance, or hopefully knock her down.

"Best you stop this now," he hissed at her, "No one is coming to help you, the guards can be bought, and the crowd is not friendly to fae. But you knew that, didn't you? You were hiding under that cloak. Stop fighting and just come with us."

When the sword was not let loose, Bazil lowered his hand. The fae woman had gone into some sort of shock - something he had not considered for a fae.

It was best to have the sword back in the hands of the one who it belonged to. The quicker the man had it, the more quickly he could be sent away without any reason for him to balk. With the fae encased around the sword, he debated uncertainly how best to proceed. If she had been human, there was a spell or two he might chance, but with a fae? Who knew what natural defenses would magically rebound on him, that is if any of the spells would work at all at such an intimate level. Bazil had been just about to turn for the priest when Seist gave him the order.

Well, that sword would have to wait then.

"You'd best get up," Bazil said as he knelt down and slid an arm beneath her shoulders, supporting her to an standing position that still did not seem right. The way her weight shifted was all wrong. Her legs were... entwined with the dirt and stone? Her feet would not move nor loosen no matter which way he leaned. "M'am? M'am, you need to let go of the ground," he repeated in a rushed manner, and gradually there came more or less the normal dead weight he had originally expected. He was still being held up longer than the 'hurry' Seist was calling for, however.

The man holding the bag hesitated a moment more and Seist took a step towards him, still holding out his hands and keeping his eyes trained on the man's face. His gaze was persistent, demanding, and otherwise emotionless. For just a second it seemed the man was going to comply. Then he changed his mind at the last minute and turned, making a bolt for the free space Seist had just cleared out in ordering the crowd to disperse. Seist gestured, a twist of his outstretched wrist, and the sharp tang of magic filled the air, like the static before a storm. The man stumbled and then went down. He scrambled for purchase again, but Seist was there before he could get up. The priest dropped to his one knee, hitting the cobblestones hard, and there was a knife in his hand that had not been there second prior. He put the point to the man's neck, at the artery, and the thug lay still.

The second man took the moment of distraction to make his own escape. He turned away from both Autumn and Bazil and started to run.

Now free, Bazil began to carry the fae woman, carefully making his way closer toward a stone wall to put at his back. It was as if a dragon was holding its fire breath. The tension in the air kept his concentration locked on the two men and Seist, waiting for it to sizzle down or suddenly belched.

The tingling wave of magic that rolled over Bazil's skin signaled the latter. With the priest now effectively pinning the first man and fleet of foot being the second, temptation crossed his mind to give chase. He stayed with the fae woman, on guard in case the second man returned. It was not his jurisdiction to apprehend the fellow lest the priest said otherwise. If the fae woman were left alone, there was no guarantee that bystanders would remain bystanders either, taking up where the others left off.

Though at this point he was sure that if Seist's presence didn't make for a persuasion point before, it did now to anyone else still watching.

Bazil traced the running second man as far as he dared, before looking around to gather who was left in the area, examining his surroundings a little more while he had a chance.

"Second one has fled down an alley," he passed along, keeping a good hold on the fae.

Seist let the man up, slowly, keeping him at knife-point. When the man was standing he circled around until he was standing before him. He raised one finger and traced a symbol in the air before the man's forehead. It cut a signet of light into the space just above his head, leaving a glowing rune hovering there in faint white relief.

"I mark thee in the name of the gods," he intoned, "So that all will see and know that you belong to the priests." Seist smiled thinly. "I hope your bribes were large enough to cover the temple of Lahmear as well. Hold your hands before you."

The man complied and Seist pulled some thin rope from his belt and wound these around the man's wrists.

"Can you get the fae to come with us?" Seist called over to Bazil, "I want to get off the street sooner rather than later."

The temple of Lahmear was busy all days, and so the doors stood open to the populace. It was a modest size, easily dwarfing the nearby manors, but for Seist it was woefully small. He was used to the temples in the major cities further inland, away from dragon territory, where the priests of Lahmear numbered in the hundreds for a single temple. Still, he couldn't complain too much. A temple was a temple and he knew the priests would help them - for one thing, they couldn't be bought. Lahmear was a god of justice and while it was cold and sometimes brutal, it was justice nonetheless. No exceptions - rich and poor, weak and powerful - all were subject to it.

The priests had apparently seen them coming, for one of the acolytes ran out to greet them, noting both the stunned woman and the bound and marked man that Seist guarded. She was younger, probably only fourteen, and wore an unadorned red robe and cap with white trim. Seist bowed to her and she bowed back, hastily, eager to look over the newcomers.

"This man attacked a fae woman in the streets," Seist said, "I believe he was attempting to kidnap her."

The girl only paid attention long enough to note Seist's priesthood medallion before turning to Bazil. Seist's accent marked him an outsider and she seemed more at ease with dealing with a local.

"Come inside," she said to the retainer, "Can you carry the woman? Leave the cart outside, no one will take it."

"As the light of Lahmear calls," Bazil said rather formally during his own bow before turning to retrieve the fae woman, whether he needed to carry her in his arms or simply see her to her own feet and make certain she stayed upright. Once that had been attended, Bazil turned back to the woman of the cloth who had greeted them. "All is ready. Lead the way."

((Left an opening there for Autumn if she is aware enough or not. I would say that the right is 5-10 minutes. Your call. Bazil will still insist on escorting if she does take to her own feet, however.))

Autumn had become more fully aware of her surrounding during their journey to the temple but had chosen to remain quietly observant as she was wont to do. She was not sure where they were going but she contented herself that, save for the cut on her thigh, she was well and whole.

The cart stopped rather sooner than she had expected and a woman’s voice greeted them. She let the man lift her out of the cart and graciously accepted his assistance; taking his arm in escort to steady herself while salvaging something of her dignity.

((So basically coming to not much before they get there. Jayara: You good with that for her and Bazil?))

The four were led inside by the acolyte. The main part of the temple was a vast arched hall with windows along every inch of available space to let in the light. The back sported a circle of glass, stained in various shades of yellow and red to resemble the sun and the acolyte paused in the pattern this cast on the floor and genuflected. Then she continued down the center to where the temple branched off in two directions at the other end. She took the right-hand passage and took them through a narrow hall and down some stairs until they reached a guarded door. The guard raised an eyebrow at their approach, clearly surprised to have someone actually brought in today.

"Sir," the acolyte said, turning to Seist, "Before we imprison this man to await the priesthood's decision, do you swear that this is the right thing to do?"

"Upon my gods, I swear it," Seist replied solemnly, "He carries fae poison and from what I saw, was one of the aggressors in this conflict. I am certain the fae girl will be able to tell us more, once this one is safely put away and we can speak with the high priest."

The colors of the spectrum glowing through stained glass were lost on Bazil and he very well knew it as he did every time he was within these and other halls of sun god since he was young. It was said that their windows were a few of the most dazzling, some even making a walk look as if one was walking through the sun's fire itself the way the golds and reds would flicker in the chambers. It was a beauty that even Lahmear had not been able to give back. Or any other god.

It was the subtle difference in the air which signaled when they had reached the main hall. Sound seemed to flow farther in the open room than the hallway. Directed light from above bounced off his bare hands warming his skin. A small, but testing comfort reminding him that the light was still there, regardless of color, resparking the memories of those who had tried to help him during those buried years. There had been many memories spent within halls such as these.

In the solitude beneath his cloak, Bazil remained quiet, contemplating. He shared nothing of his distanced thoughts regarding the temple while continuing to assist and escort the fae woman as they traversed. When Seist gave his truth to the acolyte, Bazil's thought's turned toward the two men they had crossed. Had Lady Yvette in fact been their benefactor, what would it mean if anything? Could their claim have been just a ruse to see if they would back down? More importantly the second one had run and was still in the streets. Would he leave town or return to try and finish the job?

((Going off it getting towards dark when Autumn left the flower shop + battle + travel time I’m picturing that it is dark and that the light is not actual sunlight coming through the windows.))

While Autumn was not devout to a solitary faith, neither was she faithless nor ignorant of the varying religions. She would offer prayer to Allm each season as she followed her wanderlust and began her travels. Esiar had her thanks each time she was able to protect. Her thoughts turned to The Sibling Gods when she was given opportunity to learn.

As the acolyte paused in the pattern of light and showed her respect to her god Autumn admired the pattern of light but wished for the warmth of the sun. Not it’s symbolic light. Still, she supposed this the more appropriate symbolism; Lahmear’s justice was not known to be warmed by mercy. Lighted by knowledge, but not warmed by mercy.

For a moment she wished not to be here in this temple, it was not her desire to serve her attacker cold hard justice. But neither is it wise to leave him free to attack another, she consoled herself. Though she did not walk the path of the blessed the longer she lived the less she believed life’s events were mere happenstance.

Autumn followed quietly where she was led and listened as the acolyte and priest talked. Autumn was glad that she was not the one the acolyte had addressed for she would have offered no such certainty as the priest had. At the priest’s reference to her Autumn wanted to draw solitude about her like a shroud, but knew that now was neither the time nor the place.

"I know poisons," Seist replied solemnly to Autumn, "While I've never had an occasion to use fae-poison - thanks be to the gods - I've certainly seen it before."

He pulled the pouch out and passed it over to Bazil, keeping a watchful eye on Autumn's pacing to ensure she wouldn't come too close to it when Bazil opened the pouch.

"It's certainly an odd thing for someone to be carrying if their intentions were good," the priest continued, "There's no use for it outside it's intended purpose. Give it a smell - resembles soot, doesn't it? The taste is pretty vile as well, like day-old mud. It's harmless to humans, if you were of a mind to see for yourself. Were I the one sitting in judgement on this incident, I would take it's presence alone as a sign that wrong-doing was intended. Unless this attack was provoked, of course... which unless there is absolute certainty that is not the case, may be how the high priest initially interprets it... with the current attitude towards fae being what it is."

His eyes rested steadily on Autumn, both thoughtful and stern. His voice had taken the sharp edge of a warning, insinuating that this might not be as straight-forwards has it had initially seemed, if the high priest were so biased against her race.

"I will speak with him first," Seist continued, "It is my right to demand such an audience. I can sway his opinion - so long as I know the entire story."

((if you want to skip the exposition and just say 'Autumn tells him what happened' I can go with it - we were all there, after all. Seist just wasn't))

She nodded accepting Seist’s word that he knew poisons and her look grew contemplative. Heeding Seist’s warning about the priest and keenly aware of his eyes on her Autumn asked with purpose, “What is it you see before you?” Though such direct attention as she had just invited made her uncomfortable she stood relaxed and held her hands out in both invitation and question. Would he know her as dryad or would he, too, see her only as fae. The timidity and seclusion of her race as a whole made it very unlikely that he would know her for what she was.

((I’d actually prefer to play this out, but thank you.))

"It wasn't so much as questioning the captive's intentions," Bazil explained, letting the pouch hop in his hand to test the weight, "but that of who takes claim over items such as these. Do they simply let the ranking official who brings in a suspected wrong-doer claim these maligned items or do the temple officials themselves take and house them?" Bazil asked of the priest's knowledge. He settled at the farthest point of the bench and carefully opened the pouch, confirming the descriptions Seist gave regarding taste and smell.

He kept quiet about the chance the high priest might be unfavorable toward fae. It was not impossible, such was humanity, but to travel that path of thinking left everything open to consider that this or any other such events were orchestrated from within. Fights picked were paid off with money - and security. Any such incident would almost never backfire on those hired. Those ranked priests of Lahmear would not worry about their mercenaries giving away their names. Even if they were caught, they would soon be released and no one would be the wiser. If the mercenaries talked, the priests would deny it, and who would then listen to the mercenaries? No one.

Bazil brushed the runaway thought aside. His imagination was getting carried away on mysteries again. They were dealing with priests of Lahmear after all. It was also a dangerous theory for one to have while within the confines of said temple. The man had claimed to been under the call of Lady Yvette, and he had no reason to believe the man had been lying then.

"What one sees is an awfully objective thing to inquire," Bazil commented upon Autumn's question to the priest, interrupting from the side while still feeling the dust between his fingertips. "Does it matter?"

Seist addressed Bazil's question first, that being the easier of the two to answer.

"It will be up to the priest's discretion," Seist said, "I do hope he'll let me keep it, however. As a priest of Dues and Frain I'll have more use of it than any Lahmear's followers would. I would like to better understand it's properties."

He then regarded Autumn, overt in his cool appraisal. It seemed every time he looked at her he had that look - not quite cold, but certainly not trusting either.

"You're fae," he said bluntly, "Your people rarely overtly lie but nor can they be trusted. I only know what I saw, which was Bazil standing to defend you and for that, you have some measure of my trust. But otherwise, I see fae, and I see all that brings with it. Fae are not to be trusted. If it weren't for the current hostility towards your kind, I would have trouble believing this attack was utterly unprovoked. If you know who had reason to target you like this, than I would appreciate the name at this point."

She addressed Bazil first, “I agree with your wisdom Bazil,” she replied warmly, “and if I am not mistaken you see things as others do not. Seist however,” she returned her attention to him, “has proven my point,” she tipped her head to him. “I ask you both when was the last time you found a fae?”

((If there is a problem with her knowing/guessing he's blind please let me know Jayara.))

"It is not my wisdom. Simply truth taken from the Goddess Fade." Bazil remained focused on the bag and dust, even as he spoke. "Truth and deception are a part of all things. Along that note, no, I do not see things as others do not. Not truly, m'am." He knew what she was insinuating, but it was not that he could 'see' more than anyone else as the question seemed to imply.

He tied up the bag and brushed off his dust tainted fingers on the inside of his sleeve. "And I see no point proven. You are fae unless you are denying such thing, just as I am human. I apologize but this seems more likely to end in an argument than anything," Bazil said passing the bag back to the priest, knowing there was not much else that he would get from picking at its contents any longer. What did it matter if he had met a fae before or not?

((Guesses I have no problem with. It's not like the hood is see through. How Bazil takes questioning is a different story. lol))

"I have no idea what Yvette would want in a fae," Seist admitted to Autumn, "I can only make wild guesses and I prefer to not do so."

He mused for a moment over Bazil's questions. His information was... quite lacking in this matter. He did not have the connections here in the Borderlands he had elsewhere. Furthermore, while he liked Bazil so far, he was reluctant to part with what information he did know. Even if the man was trustworthy, it would not be right to drag him into this business. This was best handled alone. When Seist answered, he picked his words carefully.

"I believe," he said slowly, "that we can count on the high priest to act in an impartial manner. The priests of Lahmear are dependent on their gods favor for their power and that is something that can and will be revoked should he allow himself to be swayed by mortal authority. That sort of power is a hard thing to lose, not to mention that a priest stripped of divine magic stands to lose his post within the priesthood. Unless Yvette is influential enough to convince him to take that risk - and she is not - we should be safe. Gods are involved now. Yvette would not have risen to the position she is in if she were the type to defy gods over the fate of a two somewhat incompetent thugs."

His voice had been rising in passion as he talked, but at the remark at the end he once again fell to an even cadence, tinged with wry humor.

Yes, the priests lost their powers if they strayed from their respected path. Sitting in the some of the backcorner taverns, how wide or narrow that path could be was a night or two of debate while under the mug. More rumors were cropping up about corruption, fewer than those that had been about the fae to the East, but there was no way to confirm any of it.

"Yes, the Lady would not have - not over just two thugs. For the sake of all in the city, I pray you are correct." He said nothing past that.

At the mention by the fae, he too wondered at what length that would be waiting until the High Priest would call upon who he would need to. When this was done, if things went well, Bazil wondered how long the priest from the south would continue to stay within the city and seek out the dragons, or if this might hurry things along.

The door to the study opened and the acolyte peeked her head back out again. She looked nervous and her eyes rested on Autumn for a moment. Then she quickly cast her gaze to the floor.

"The High Priest Therris will see you now," she said quietly.

Seist quickly moved to take lead. He beamed at the acolyte and brushed past her inside. The room was a modest size with a number of chairs arranged in a semi-circle facing the high priest himself. A scribe's desk sat in one corner, off to the side. Therris himself was unimpressive, a small man with hair that was half-way gray. Upon entering, Seist walked over to stand before the man and then bowed with practiced ease, not quite low enough to signal subservience, but low enough to convey that Seist considered him worthy of respect.

Autumn noted the acolyte’s nervousness and wondered what it had to do with her. Seeing no point in delaying things she rose to her feet composing herself as she crossed the gap to Bazil requesting, in gesture, his escort once more. He took his feet and offered her his arm. As they walked together she noted that his pace was slower than previous but gave it no more thought than that.

She let go of Bazil’s arm to follow Seist’s example. Aware of the line she must now walk she offered a respectful curtsey exemplary of the grace and beauty the fae were known to possess. She too withheld any gesture of subservience; the fae were known far and wide for their haughtiness and to signal subservience on her part was more indicative of an insult.

((Thanks Jayara. If I need to edit just let me know.))

Unlike the others, Bazil's head bowed down fully proper from the side of Autumn not flanked by Seist, still about a step or two farther back than the others. "May the rays of Lahmear always shine upon your path," he said before straightening, his staff still by his side, remembering to grab it before they entered. He also remembered to dissipate the spell he had stored within before coming through the doorway. It felt too much like walking into a room with a bow at full draw, regardless of the spell he had stored. It was simply not done. While in reality the gesture was pointless when the magic could be called forth without the staff, it was only proper not to - and safer. This was the High Priest after all, someone with power, both magical and non, far exceeding his.

Keeping steady besides the now steady ache in his head, Bazil waited for further instructions, waiting to see what would come of this, it if would end as simply as the fae would go and the man would be kept away, so be it. If it was something more complicated, he would soon find that out.