AChapter 4

The inside of the temple is a testamount to the ancient grandeur of the pre-folly era, the ceilings are huge, the windows are stained glass, beautifully restored with images of imps of different elemental alignments. The great hall is a riot of colour and the myriad chamber and halls leading off it all seem to be being used for different purposes. There seem to be thirteen chambers dedicated to the shrines of the order and elements of the universe and then everything else has been put to whatever purpoe the imps fancied. Bathrooms, bedrooms, meeting rooms, lounges, studies, library... an endless variety of different purposes all next door to each other, upstairs and downstairs with no real plan beyond the 13 shrines scattered throughout the main temple building. Kal has led you all inside and over to the rooms the ice imps are using as a meeting room and dinning hall were a large meal ha been spread out for you all. "Well everyone welcome to the temple, you did good getting thorugh that maze in just under one day."

"It was a most interesting maze we were put through. That is two of those paths i have walked, ever the raise in difficulty." Marduke offers with a chuckle and a smile as he moves to find himself a seat. "It has been a long since since I was here, still as interesting as ever." One word to put for it. His staff put to the side, and the summoner clearly intent on enjoying some food and relaxation.

Ainsley is soaked to the bone by their adventure, but that doesn't stop her from enjoying the sights. Her eyes are wide in wonder, observing all of the windows, naming off the elemental alignments to herself as she goes. She sticks near Lee as they walk, reaching to grab his hand. Her tail droops, and almost drags along, showing how tired she is. She looks over to Kal with a couple of blinks. "Uhh...? We did well?" she says, finally coming out of her daze, seeming greatly surprised. She laughs lightly, and shrugs her shoulders, then shyly seeks out a seat for herself, so that she can sit with Lee.

"Up until the very last bit, I'd have to agree," Silmeria says, bobbing her head and smiling in greeting to those imps they pass by. "You all did quite well... Um. But is that... question and answer... puzzle... a new thing?" she asks of Kal, tilting her head. "Because I can certainly see us needing a day or so to cover all that ground on foot, if it is..."

Lee unwraps the cloth from about his head, that he wrapped around his head before stepping into the beam of light, and re-situates his hat atop his head during the walk to the dining hall, taking in what sights he can after that, able to appreciate the aesthetics of it, if nothing else, "All's well that ends well, if y'ask me. Still, your lot must've done some fair bit o'homework fer some o'them questions. That one I answered, the martial arts one, last person I know of who wore that symbol's dead some decades past now, fer example." He follows Ainsley with a smile, his hand taken, and takes a seat beside her, getting comfortable.

Kal just grins at Lee and waves his tail at Silmeria, "Those are secrets," he grins, "But we did our research and there is a whole city under their Silmeria. You whren't going in a straight line I can promise you. The curves on some of those tunnels are how do we put it... deceptive. You can't really see them curving around but they do so you end up going in circlkes." He beams at Ainsley and Marduke, "You did better then some a lot of people get to that last chamber and spend hours arguing over what to do next, no one wants to step into the light. Tghat's the final challenge! Now eat up and then you can go clean up and rest and then you can tell me where you want to go next."

Marduke just shakes his head and offers a smile to Silmeria and Lee, 'What Kal means to say is that of the rooms we probably visted a couple of times because we got spun around. There were what six tunnels at the end and we were given one. Each is probably a different difficulty and such. A whole city, built as puzzles and challenges." Grinning a moment, "Its beautiful in that way." Turning to the food and chuckling softly, 'Glad I did something right at least, as for where we are going next. Canals wasn't it?" starting to eat up.

Ainsley decides to dig into her food, sparing no more effort toward conversation. She is extra hungry, and gets as much as she can shovel into her mouth on a plate in front of her, with a cup of something tasty and sweet to drink. While she eats, she thinks about where they should go next, and resigns herself only to listening to the others, glancing at Marduke first, and then Lee and Silmeria. "Hmm."

"The canals, yes," Silmeria says, looking askance at Marduke briefly, before filling up a plate for herself and beginning to tuck in. "Though thank you *very* much, Kal, for the food and the rest. While our trip hasn't been so hard as all that so far... I doubt it'll stay that way, considering."

Kal just smiles at Marduke, "Not quite, you never went down the same tunnel twice but we have miles of them!" he grins, "Anyway I am glad yer all made it! Once you are refreshed you can tell me where you want to go tomorrow. Over to the fort or the canals."

Lee seems to mirror Silmeria's look at Marduke, without realizing it, while picking a selection of foods for his own plate, "Sounds like an agreement, then: Th' Canals." selecting a drink, looks to be wine, he takes a sip, then continues, "What's th'objective fer tha canals? I remember what I saw on th'map well enough, but can't quite recall what we need t'do there."

Kal just smiles at Marduke, "Not quite, you never went down the same tunnel twice but we have miles of them!" he grins, "Anyway I am glad yer all made it! Once you are refreshed and have slept," he licks his lips and grins, stretching out in mid air and smiling, "I'll take you over to the canals! Tonight you should enjoy the temple, explore a bit, look around, pay yer respects to the shrines all that sort of thing!"

Marduke gets himself some tea for his drink and sits down to start eating going quiet. He offers a hmmm glancing to the others as he nods to Lee, "Find the bedchamber, to the compas rose. Finding it will be the hard part." Turning back to his food, seems he will not be long in eating himself, "I will be visiting the shrines for a bit if anybody needs me."

Ainsley is still mostly silent, except for eating up. She'll probably be one of the last ones to leave the dining table, unless Lee can stop her from eating as much sweet food as she can. One of those problems of hers. She reeeaches across the table for something colorful and delicious. Of course, once she is retrieved from this state of gluttony or she just simply reaches her limits, she will probably just find a place to curl up, and pass the hell out for a little bit, not sparing much interest to the shrines or in exploring. She's tired, tired people don't have time for nosy stuff! Unless she's diverted at some point by an Imp or something, that's about as much as she accomplishes at this point.

"Marduke's right, there. We're looking for the bedchamber of Queen Ashe, and the Compass Rose that's supposed to rest therein. And that sounds like a wonderful idea," Silmeria says to Kal, bobbing her head in agreement. Once her food is done, she rises, pausing to rest a hand on Ainsley's shoulder, before the Esper makes her way toward the Shrine of the Sphere of Death, curious to see how the Imps revere the concept in general. That she can pay her respects to and check in with her patron, certainly a bonus.

Lee nods, "Right, th'bedchamber, th' compass rose. No time fer pessimism; That'll be easy!" He grins, cheeky optimism at work. He waves a hand to Marduke as the summoner gets up to explore, "Right, see ya back 'round later." He eats at a more restrained, and leisurely, pace than Ainsley, though he does seem to keep tabs on her intake to a certain extent: he only starts trying to reign her in when the amount of sweet things begins to become excessive, "I'm sure there'll be plenty more in th'mornin', luv, no need t'stuff yerself completely silly just now. Although, I'd wager we'll need to reprovision ourselves afore we leave. No doubt some of our rations didn't fare well with th'water treatment we all got." Being still damp, himself, he can sympathize, it seems. And when Ainsley seeks rest, he offers his cloak, wrung out of as much remaining dampness as he can manage, raising a hand to Silmeria as well as she departs, "Might do some o'that m'self, but later on, not jus' yet." For now, he stays with Ainsley.

Kal smiles and shows Lee and Ainsley to a nearby room that is mostly a giant pile of cushions and blanket with a small window and balcony looking out into an inner courtyard. It is a quiet, peaceful and calm room away from the hustle and butle of the imp filled palace and beyond the courtyard can be seen a small ampitheatre were lights are playing back and forth across the stonework.

The shrine to the Sphere of Death i located down in the Palace cellars, the chamber clad in ebony blocks of stone sombre and hush, quiet and peaceful no sound seems to echo off those dark stone walls and in the centre of the chamber is a raised stone ledge and inside a pool of grey water. It is still and undisturbed and the cloudy mixture seems to invert and draw the eye ever deeper. There are only two imps down here, their fur dappled shades of grey and they turn to face the eper a she enters and they bow to her, "Herald of the Lord of the Afterplaces, be welcome here."

The shrine of Power is in the tallest tower, the whole thing has been hollowed out, the floors removed and the dome at the top removed. There is a large blue crystal floating atop a pillar of light that ascend the entire inside length of the tower. It i accompanied by a flock of smaller crystals that crackle with energy and the imps that dart down to greet Marduke are grey and white in colour, spiky fur and sleek scaled forms flowing around the summoner and welcoming him, baring him upwards along that pillar of blue light until he is suspended above the city just below the crystals. "Be welcome summoner who has journyed high, cousin Znk'erta has told us much about you."

Marduke doesn't take long to explore the place and find his way to the tower where the shrine of power is held. Making his way up he glances over the crystals and smiles to himself nodding looking at them from the distance below and tilting his head. A smile offered to the imps as they come down, "Hello theeeeeeere." A meep escaping him as he grabs his staff and holds on for dear life, "AYEEE." Working to keep his wits, "I eerr yea I hear a lot of people talk about me, though I don't know what is being said. I umm." Glancing down a moment, glad he isn't afraid of heights and then back to the crystals, "Have come to pay my respects."

Ainsley, in the calm and quiet of the room, takes some time to get her clothing all dried out, using her fire magic to do so. She even helps out with Lee's clothing, and then she picks a cozy spot and curls up on her side, using his offered cloak as another blanket. She's not a very durable creature, the trip through those tunnels had tuckered her out very much, even if they hadn't been down there as long as some people would've been. She makes sure she's partially buried in the cushions, taking advantage of the number of them to give herself that extra comfort. Before she dozes off, she spares a sweet smile at Lee, and reaches out to touch at his hand, but beyond that she's out like a light. "Go stock up, then," she says, "Gotta be prepared..."

Silmeria answers the bow with a deep curtsy, dipping her head in respect to the imps that tend the shrine within the city. "And I am made very welcome," she whispers in reply, a gentle smile on her tanned features, "for which I am thankful. It's a beautiful Shrine you tend, and I simply had to see it with my own eyes... How fare your cousins who attend my father, if you know?"

Lee smiles gratefully at Ainsley, happy to be dried, and gives her a kiss on the cheek as she beds down, nodding, "Aye, luv; I'll be back along later. Sleep well." With that, he's back out in the more trafficked areas. Reprovisioning is on his list of things to do, by morning if not immediately, but the shrines draw his curiosity, and he spends a while wandering... Coming to the Shrine of Power, he stops just outside it's entrance, looking in and up, seeming reluctant to pass the threshold for some reason...

One of the storm imps grins at Marduke and gestures up at the crystal, "Then pay them Summoner, Power is here.. speak to its energy and let it answer you if it so desires." They grin and bob and coast through the air around Marduke, electricity crackling and sparkling along their fur as the crystals rotate around the central one above Mardukes's head. Downbelow as Lee stands on the Threshold an imp bobs down, he has shaggy grey and white fur like his brethren and grins at Lee. "Hello pilgrim," he tilts his head, "Come inside and say hello, power flows through all of us you should offer it your respect." Downstairs the imps smile at Silmeria and sit on the edge of the pool, "They fair well.... as do those of us scent here to serve on Terra. Come sit and gaze into the Mercurial Pool, you may see something of use it passes through the Shale Path to the Ashwood lands of the departed."

Marduke closes his eyes as he considers a moment and nods. Holding onto his staff he opens his eyes and chuckles softly, "As it is then." he offers and starts to chant, as he wraps the mystical energies around his body gathering them up and points a hand to the crytals he smlies, "For the alter of power, I offer it power." No formed spell, just raw energy directed at it, his tribute. HOping it will work at least.

Marduke's magical energy lances up into the crystal, it crackles and glows and a beam of blue/white light lances until the evening cloud cover above the city and then fades. The imps laugh and clap and swoop around Marduke, "I think it liked that," One of them says with a grin as Marduke starts to lower back down, "I think power will be watching you for a bit!" they wave as the summoner descends slowly to the ground below....

Ainsley isn't really doing much. She's passed the eff out. Probably dreaming about various things that she's read about. She has pretty vivid and creative dreams. She also mumbles in her sleep, when she overeats. She mumbles mathematical stuff, botany trivia, and literary terms, and strange and theatrical things.

Silmeria bobs her head, taking a seat next to the Imps at the rim of the pool. "Thank you," she murmurs, eyes drawn ever deeper into the shifting silver pool. Drawing in a deep breath, Silmeria arranges her thoughts, preparing to update Hades on the progress of the quest should the communion allow for it.

As Silmeria stares into the pool of liquid mercury the shimmering, fog like silvery fluid seems to part for the esper. There is a sensation of moving.. and yet not, she is rushing deeper down into the pool and yet still sat next to it the imps watching her and guarding her body. Inside her mind, her sight beyond all sight is now in a dusky clearing, a throne of bone before her and sat upon it looking toward her the black haired figure of an middle aged gentleman. He inclines his head to the girl, "Welcome home Daughter,"

Lee shifts his focus to the imp greeting him, giving a wan smile, "Greetings, though no pilgrim am I, I'm afraid... More like a wayward son. An' I do respect Power; Power is a hallmark of Father, so how can I not? But... I don't think I should enter 'ere. I'm," he trails off, searching for a word, and finally arriving at one, the slender man of crimson eyes looking just a bit forlorn, "I've become unpure, I think is th'best way t'describe it."

The imp before Lee grins at him, "Then come inside, let Power scourge the impurities away and leave just what y ou should be. It will.. if you welcome it back and let it... if not know it is always here!" He grins and glances behind him as Marduke lands, "Summoner Marduke here has accepted Powers blessing though I suspect it won't manifest as he expects." Ainsley is left alone to sleep and dream, no one has any reason to interupt her and Kal is off doing whatever it is ice imps do.

Marduke smiles as he comes back to his feet and gets his balance. He offers a smile to the imps and then glances to Lee and the imp, offering a hmms. "I expect nothing, was only offering my homage to the shrine. I ask for nothing in return. If something does manifest, that would be most unexpected for anything at all." Glancing to Lee, "When did we want to leave, soon or in the morning?"

A snort, and Ainsley wakes up, and rubs her face. She looks around the empty room, and then gets up to a sit. She frowns lightly, and gets up to find an Imp of Knowledge to socialize with. Surely there's got to be one or two of them around to talk to, while she's waiting to get into a proper sleep mindset, right? Kind of hard for her to sleep in a strange place, alone, nowadays. "Father," Silmeria murmurs, lowering herself into a deep curtsy, bowing her head. "It is good to be in your presence once more." A pale greeting for one's father, perhaps, but the Abyss is a realm of flat, muted, eternal peace, vastly different from the dizzying highs and abysmal lows found on Terra. "We've arrived in Old Rabanastre, Father, and our pursuer has a name: Savourn. Tomorrow we search in earnest for the Compass Rose, and it is likely that our way will be barred yet again... though I doubt he'll be as... courteous... a third time. The Whisperer *wants* Ainsley, this much is clear; enough to send agents to act openly."

Lee nods to the imp, "Per'aps another time, then... I'll at least endeavor to enter 'ere before leaving th'city." He looks up towards the higher reaches of the shrine, "But I don't think I'm ready yet, an' there's other things I need t'see taken care of." In an uncharacteristic display, for him, he sweeps his hat off and bows to the imp, "Fare thee well, until you see me again." Straightening, and placing his hat back atop his head, he gives Marduke a tip of the brim, "If y'expect nothin', then good sir Imp's words'll still ring true, won't they? An' mornin', I think, would be best. Much as I fancy th'night, I don't wager bein' out there in th'dark'll be much of a pleasant experience, an' Ainsley needs 'er rest besides; no doubt we could all do with some, in fact, and best have it while th'chance for it is on offer rather than do without. Like m'mother used t'say, take it when y'can get it, for y'never know when th'next chance'll come. Anyway, got another stop t'make, m'self, so I'll see you back at the hall, eh?" He turns, and heads off towards another shrine, the shrine of Time & Space. And this one, he enters without hesitation, hat coming off in respect to the shrine.

Marduke is left alone in the entry vestibule to the shrine of power, the sun has set full now and the only light is from the crystal above and across the courtyard the lights playing around inside the ampitheatre. Hades on his throne listens to Silmeria and when he speaks his voice is soft and quiet. "I am pleased by your progress daughter, guard Ainsley well, the whisperer must not be allowed her, send her to me before allowing this.. creature to take her. I know his name.. Savourn... he has never walked this way, the whisperer owns him. Beware the corruption that is inherant in his words, his presence... if he attacks in the city.... call on me... I will send what aid I can."

Ainsley meanwhile has found the shrine to Knowledge, it's set up in the old royal library wing. A massive oblong shaped room whose walls are laden with books lovingy preserved behing locked glass doors. In the middle of the room is a small, modest altar, a bronze statue of an open book and the only imp in the room is a orange furred creature who is reading a book, idly playing with a horn, he doesn't even look up as Ainsley walks in engrossed in his reading.

The Shrine of Space and Time is in what might have once been the old ball-room, it is set in the north side of the palace and the floor is slick marble tiles and one whole wall is a curved extravagance of glass windows that let those insight look out at the clouded sky beyond, the odd star visible. There is no altar, no focal point just the odd silvery furred imp hanging in mid air talking to each other and the starlight shining weakly through the glass to illuminate the floor as above the main entrance a mighty clock ticks away the silent moments of the night.

The Temple of Imp in Old Rabanastre, it is night outside, the stars are out but no moon, the windows are a mixture of clear and stained glass letting in the glittering light of the stars. Ainsley has just found her-way into what was once the old Royal Library, the glass locked cabinets on all sides promising so many new books to read and the lone orange furred imp sat in a chair reading away hasn't noticed her yet. Lee has just found his way into the Shrine of Space and Time, the old ball room a shrine of glistening star light flowing through the ancient glass and Marduke has just stepped out of the Shrine of Power after his prayer to the greatest powers. Silmeria is tucked away in the Shrine of Death communing with the beyond still.

Marduke pauses a moment as he asks a nearby imp directions, and turns to start making his way towards the Shrine of ice, intent on offering up proper respect to the spirits he is contracted to. A easy going humming escaping from him as he makes his way along.

Lee walks deeper into the ballroom, hat in hand, looking up at the stars through the ballroom's glass walls and ceiling, listening to his footsteps echoing around the vast space. Once he gets to the room's center, or near enough, he stops, crimson eyes tracing constellations that he has come to know fairly well after years and years of night-flying.

Ainsley slips through the library, and walks up to the orange-furred imp. She pauses, briefly, looking around to see if she can spot another one. It's an odd thing, just seeing the one imp in here. She turns a smile toward the imp, and says, in a hushed tone, "Hello. I'm sorry for interrupting your reading, but I couldn't sleep... Are you a Knowledge Imp...?"

The Shrine of Ice is easy to find, it is next door to the room set aside for them all to sleep in, Kal is in there with a couple of other sleek white/blue ice imps sat around atop a huge block of ice that is steaming and releasing a torrent of cool mist. Lee is left alone in the quiet solemn ball-room, the imps over head are watching him however not approaching yet just... watching. Meanwhile the orange imp looks up over his book and frowns at the lizard girl, he then nods and turns his eyes back to his book.

Marduke can only offer a soft sigh under his breath seeing Kal. Then peers up and offers the friendliest of smiles as he offers a wave, "Just here to offer my respects is all." Coughing and glancing around as he looks around and makes his way around the room.

Lee's gaze shifts from the constellations to the imps watching him from above, picking them out one by one, as many as he can find at any rate. After a few moments of silence, soaking up the quiet and solemn atmosphere, he speaks, no louder than he would in normal conversation, while offering a simple bow to the imps above, "I wish t'give my thanks t'tha Night." Straightening again, he is quiet a moment longer before continuing, "It's been e'er a long time since I've been unable t'fly in daylight... An' all th'while, the stars've been constant an' ever-watchful companions, an for their company, I'm grateful."

Ainsley clasps her hands behind her back, and frowns right back at the imp, but remains otherwise quiet. She leans over to try and get a peek at the title of the book he's reading, quirking one of her brows. It's only a vague, brief interest, before she turns and starts walking to browse what's available to read, and perhaps find a specific shrine to Ramuh on the way. Books on philosophy and emotions are of particular interest to her, these days, but as always, stuff about the Lucavi is a priority. Gotta keep focused on current concerns.

Kal grins down at Marduke as he comes in and slides off the block of ice and bobs down, "Hey Mar, this is Tel and Voa my cousins" he introduces the female and male imps. "Glad to see you coming along to the best shrine ever! So here to pay your respects? Well put your hands on the block of ice and do so!" In the Shrine of Time and Space one of the imps bobs down and lands, it is a fire imp, then an earth imp walks over followed by a water imp and then an air imp flits down. "Well welcome good Master... I am sure the Night welcomes you. Sadly... there are none of our kind here for this domain... there are none of us any more sadly." The only shrine in the library is the bronze statue and altar behind the reading imp, it isn't to anyone spirit, just an open book the symbol of knowledge. The books in the cases are a myriad lot, royal journals, maps of the world, diaries, ancient lores, philosophy a bit on the spirits nothing on the Lucavi however annoyingly all the cases are locked. After completing one circuit of the room the imp sets his book down and glances at the girl. "Sorry about that wanted to finish the chapter I was on. So what brings you in here Ainsley?" ) [Spoofed By: Silvante]

The book the imp was reading is a cook book on how to prepare Solsas Pepper plants. Marduke comes to a stop as he glances up and hmms a moment with a smile, "Well met Tel,and Voa. A pleasure to meet some cousins of Kal." Offering a nod and then glances to Kal, then blinks over to the block of ice. "Your not going to freeze my hands to it are you?" Clearly a bit weary of tricks from the imps. Reaching over slowly to put his hands on the block of ice. "So exactly how do I do this? Don't think I have seen a shrine quiet like this one before." Lee looks at each imp as they descend, nodding to each in greeting, then cocking his head a little at the news one of them delivers, wearing a bemused frown, "No imps o'this domain? That's curious... You'll forgive my askin' I pray, as I'm not savvy t'tha workin's o'such things, but why is that? What 'appened t'all tha imps fer this domain?"

It doesn't really bother her that the cases are locked. This place is full of imps! Gotta protect the important literature somehow. Ainsley does feel mildly impeded by that at any rate, and smiles at the knowledge imp when she's addressed. "Like I said before," she begins, "An inability to sleep. It doesn't seem like there's much here of note to my current objectives, at any rate, but the royal journals seem like they might hold relevant hints, or at least insight into history I was not previously aware of. It's too bad they're all locked up. Are they guarded artifacts?" She looks off in the direction of the specific cases. She's got a sharp memory, she probably recalls exactly where they are. Maybe.

Kal grins at Marduke, "Nope, no frezing hands," Voe the female ice imp places her paws on Marduke's back and kicks, causing him to plunge through the ice as if it was water. "We will kick you inside however!" She chuckles and floats there, "Man he fell for it!" She wraps the ice, Marduke now inside a tight Marduke shaped cavity in the block of ice, "Make yuor prayers to the Cold and it'll let you out!" In the ball-room the fire-imp scrapes his large claws on the marble floor, "The Stellazio are lost... the Starscape is in chaos and the paths through the void are closed. Those on Terra are lost... and those within are not seen. There were never many of them and now... none of them grace us with their presence" There are about six hundred years of Royal Journals in a large set of cases, it's hard to forget where they are as they are all bound in the same royal blue leather with gold embossing. "Oh I keep them locked to make sure none of the pranks damages any of them. What particular piece of history are you looking for? I hear from Cousin Kal you are here to look into the history of the palace and the Last Queen?" )

Marduke knew it, just knew it. There had to be some trick they were going to play or some prank. He crosses his arms and glares at the imps for a moment, and then brakes out into laughter, "I saw something coming to." Sighing as he closes his eyes and hmmms a moment thinking. Quietly glad he has some tolerance to the cold from previous experiances. Words offered under his breath as he starts to chant what appears to possibly be a spell.

Lee nods, running the fingers of his free hand through his unkempt hair, "Sounds a right mess, that does... Seems over my 'ead, though, as I've not much connection to matters o'tha Spirits an' other planes. Still, were there aught I could do, I'd gladly do it, as I owe th'night much, not th'least o'which bein' my continued survival."

Ainsley nods at the imp's explanation, "That was my first thought," she admits, "It would make sense to keep them in cases in a palace full of imps that might get funny ideas." She keeps staring off in the direction of the journals. "I'm looking into ... ah, the Compass Rose, if I recall correctly, to locate the Mirror of Obsidian and the next piece of a star map. The specific place I may need to look at may be hinted at in the journals. It's worth taking a look, at the very least, if you would allow me to."

Marduke's magic seems to flow out and reverberate with the ice, causing it to vibrate and chime and sing and then with a very VERY cold WHOOSH of magic Marduke is ejected into the arms of the larger male imp. His body is dry but he is coated in ice crystals. "Not a bad prayer... we thank you on behalf of the cold." In the ballroom the Fire imp sighs sadly and flicks his ears, "Indeed.. it is a mess... but we have some hope that things are moving, that there may be a resolution to the mess in time. I believe one of your companions knows more about it. The Lady Silmeria, she is involved somehow. But we welcome you, each of us takes turns to maintain this shrine until one of our cousins come back so please... offer you prayer to the night." In the library the orange imp floats over and nods, "Sure, sure, I'm Chaos by the way! Knowledge imp extraordinaire!" he zoooms around Ainsley's head "I don't know of any compass rose but or mirrors of obsidian but we can sure look into the journals. Where did you want to start? What time period?"

Marduke yelps as he gets ejected out of the ice and blinks looking around. Then glances down to himself as he finds himself covered in ice crystals and raises his eyebrows a moment. Moving to stand back up and regain his composure he chuckles softly, "Thank you, it was a rather nice chime and song there." Offering a smile to the imps, turning to leave only stopping half way. Slowly making his way out keeping a eye on the imps in case they try one last trick. Once he is out of the room musing to himself, "Hmm where to next."

Lee nods to the fire imp, "I'll speak wi'er when th'opportunity presents itself, then..." He looks up at the stars above, quiet for a moment, before shuffling a foot in uncertainty, and turning a somewhat sheepish gaze to the imps, "Fergive me, but... I'm not usually one fer prayer, dun quite know 'ow t'start, or what t'do... Might I ask of you all some advice on th' matter? What'd be appropriate fer a place like this?"

"Around the childhood years of Queen Ashe," Ainsley replies to Chaos, which prompts a furrow of her brow, the introduction getting a stare out of her that's mildly belated. "... What an unfortunate name," she remarks, as if thinking aloud. She turns to walk over to the journals again.

The imps don't prank Marduke on his way out... but once he is in the corridor a trifecta of snowballs pound the poor boy into a snowy deluge and then the door swings shut as they chuckle and laugh inside clearly having fun! The fire imp grins, "Anything goes, belch some flames, sing a song, dance even," he gestures at the ball room, "Just dedicate it to the night it is watching." Chaos meanwhile in the library perches on Ainsley's head, "Nonsense it's a brilliant name for an Imp! I get up to soooo much fun being chaos! NOw then lets see.. lets see mmhmmmm ah here we go," He plucks out a book as the case clicks open and the glass swings out of his way and he flicks thorugh it "Mmmhmm here we go the official royal journal of Queen Ashe's father... though hmm bit stoic and stodgy."

Marduke just had to let down his guard didn't he. He just stands there for the longest moment, his eyes closed as he works to keep himself calm. It is a few good moments later he opens his eyes and offers a soft sigh, "Bah, twice they got me. Just you wait Kal'Tano, I will get a prank on you yet someday!" Turning he just starts to wonder to see where his feet take him. Ainsley bats at the imp when he perches on her head, complaining with a soft 'h-hey' at him. She reaches up with her hand at the journal when Chaos pulls it out of the case, "I'd like to get a look at it," she says, seeming mildly bashful about it. Or perhaps frustrated.

Lee hmms and nods, thinking, then nods again, "Well... Guess you get to see a secret, then... But, it's what feels most right." That said, he takes ten long steps backwards, away from the imps, and tosses his hat aside, followed by his cloak. And, with a look back at the entrance to the ballroom, in a brief spat of paranoia, the takes a deep, calming breath before breathing a puff of black fire into his gloved hands. Holding the fire before him for a moment, he closes his eyes, then hurls the fire at his feet, where it explodes in near-silence, expanding with an air-eating *WHOOSH!*, dissipating soon after, leaving behind not a man, but a midnight-black dragon with crimson eyes. The dragon lifts it's head to the stars beyond the ballroom's glass ceiling, and lets forth a howling roar, rather reminiscent of a wolf's howl to the moon, the sound echoing and reverberating for a good long while before the vocalization fades to silence...

The serenity of the Palace is shattered as that mighty ROAR blasts thorughout the whole place! Marduke certainly hears it out in the corridor on the far side of the Palace to the Ball room and in the library wing Chaos turns his head and looks out the window toward the brightly i lluminated ballroom and bobs up off of Ainsley's head as he puts the journal back and stares out at it. "You don't want that journal, I think you want Queen Ashe's personal childhood diary and erm... there is a dragon in the Shrine of Time and Space... that... is not normal."

Marduke pauses a moment in his random wonderings and smiles a bit to himself, "Oh my my. That would be..." Tapping his chin and lets out a laugh, "Not very good at secrets you are my friend." A knowing smile offered as he continues to walk along and offering a yawn. His direction changing as he heads towards where he heard the roar, but clearly in no hurry. The cacophonous roar makes Ainsley's feathers all stick up. She looks off toward Chaos, where he's distracted with staring off toward the ballroom. "He's no harm to you," she replies, naturally, "If it's who I think it is." She is very confident of this. She reaches to try and find Ashe's personal childhood diary among the journals, though she might not find it. "If he's not attacking someone, then everything's fine," she adds. She pauses, looking over toward Chaos. "He isn't fighting anyone, is he?" she asks, just to be sure.

Lee, silent once more, takes another slow breath, and then, in another wash of black flame, the man stands in place of the dragon once more. Eyes closed, a third slow breath follows, the youth almost in a zen-like state for a moment, revelling in the silence that follows any loud noise, before his eyes open again. Without a word, he walks over to where he tossed hat and cloak, collecting both, and returning to the center of the room. He bows to the four imps, giving them a simple "Thank you." before putting hat and cloak on and turning for the ballroom entrance, walking slowly across the open floor.

The four imps are just staring and watching as Lee leaves and one of them shrugs and they clap their paws and WHOOP after Lee as he meets Marduke at the door as he finishes crossing the Ballroom. Chaos shakes his head meanwhile "No.... he's gone now... weirdo dragons do the oddest things. Anyway stop that," he slaps her paw with his tail and shuts the case, "Princess Ashe's child-hood diaries are not stored with the official royal journals of the kingdom. We want hmmm ah here we go." he floats over to a chest and opens it. It is full of things, clothes and stuffed animals and he roots thorugh it and takes out a small blue book and holds it out to Ainsley, "Here we go."

Marduke just peers and glances into the ball room, "The Shrine of the Stars." Eyes landing on Lee for the longest moment, assessing him then offers a touch of a smile, "You are a man of many secrets it seems." is all he offers and looks past Lee and blinks a moment, "No star imps?" Tilting his head and offering a frown.

Lee stops as Marduke eyes him, frowning and grousing, "What?" At Marduke's comment, he hmph's, "tugging his hat lower on his head, "Yeah, you've no idea, son..." And he starts walking, replying back over his shoulder, "Yeah, no star imps. Th'others say there aren't any left, they're all gone'r sumfin', Starscape in chaos, paths through th'Void closed... They said Silmeria knows summat about it, think I'll be askin' 'er, 'cause that all dun seem a'tall right, savvy?"

Ainsley winces when her hand is slapped, making a displeased face at Chaos, mouth hanging slightly agape in shock. She follows along, pushing past the startle once he starts moving. She grabs the diary, and opens it up, smiling wanly at him, and flipping through it. She's quiet now, aside from a gentle musical humming she's doing.

The four imps currently tending the Shrine of Space and Time return back to whatever they were doing before Lee showed up whilst the summoner and dragon cross paths in the corridor. In the library Ainsley is able to read the diary though it is written in a weird idiom. After all it was written by a child, the pertinent point is an entry when the Princess as 8, "Daddy and Mommy moved me into my new Bedroom today! It is really cool, it is on its own little island amongst the canals and has this cool picture in the floor. It is a wheel with spiky bits, Mommy called it a "Rose" I really like it and can't wait to finish moving all of my stuff in."

Marduke considers for a moment and nods slowly, "I have heard of something like that actually, just don't know much of the details. I know Raziel has been busy working on things dealing with the stars, something about the Stelazzio's, but that is about it. May have to ask him more, didn't know things ran that deep." Frowning as he looks over the shrine, "My grandfather is a summoner of Andromeda, I wonder..." Shaking his head slowly and offers a sigh, "Interesting. Well im off to bed. Its been a interesting... last hour. Sleep well Lee." Turning he starts off.

Lee nods to Marduke, "Yeah, they mentioned somethin' bout th'Stellazios or whatever, too. But, altogether over my 'ead, really." He nods, tipping his hat's brim to Marduke, "Right, see ya inna mornin'." That said, he heads for the sleeping room where he left Ainsley, and not finding her there,goes off in search of the scholar; knowing her as he does, he aims for whatever room he can find that holds the most books, asking directions to the library.

Ainsley smiles when she finds the right entry. She casually flips through it for a little while longer to see if there's anything more of relevance, but if she doesn't find anything she just hands it off to Chaos and says, "Thank you for the help. This has been insightful."

Chaos grins at Ainsley and takes the book back and reads the passage she was on and nod shis head "Your welcome! So looks like you are off into the Canals... well good luck! We don't go there its a death trap of Mist and we don't have much need for it still..." he grins at Ainsley, "I am sure you love an adventure and she doesn't say which island it is on but hey least you know where to look! And ah here is your Dragon friend so you two behave now!" he waves a paw and puts the diary away and floats off to his book, "Good luck!"

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