Atomos: The Beginning Part 5

Edward picks up the lute that is handed to him by the three imps. He looks it over and strings a few bars on it. The music is clear and the instrument tunned perfectly. He offers a soft kupo, a bitter sweet sound from the moogle. Floating over he finds himself a elevated seat and closes his eyes. His fingers moving over the instrument like one might caress a lover. Then he starts to play, the melody soft and sweet, with a amused tone behind it all. The moogles voice comes out in a tone and clarity nobody here has heard him use before. - Its noon day on a Saturday The Regular crowd shuffles in There's a old viera sitting on the hill Watching everybody come and go - They say, "Viera can you hunt with us today, we have families to feed." Bits its sad and its sweet, and they know the answer complete and the answer is no. - La la la di dee da La la di dee da da dum

Rydia has gone quiet at this point, leaning back in her vine covered seat and closing her eyes to quietly listen. Alfir stays curled up in Alba's lap listening to the music and pretending to be asleep.

Baby spiderling on her lap, surrounded by hostile vegetation, a pet Malboro, in the tree of a Dryad whom Alba suspects is as mad, or more so, than herself... But the moment the 'famous bard' begins to play, none of that matters. Her masked face tilts to one side, then she settles back, ears locked so hard on the Moogle her eartips quiver faintly.

Talen has drawn his knees up, resting his chin upon them, and listens without complaint as the music starts up. An eyebrow raises up at the quality of the moogle's voice, a puzzled looked there upon the male Viera's face. A sideways glance is cast Alba's way, and a smile slowly creeps upon his face.

Zhgir, in the interim, is busy rummaging through his slightly different keyring, one hand idly rubbing at his chin. But when the music starts that fades away, and turning towards Talen he grins widely, sharp teeth shining in the darkness for a moment. Yes, his dark features seemed to say, nodding along the music. Amazing song. His head turns back towards the moogle playing, hands idly rummaging through his things.

Alba is currently 11 minutes idle and may not get back to you soon. You page, "Oh I am about to really single Talen out >.<" to Alba. In a page-pose to you, Alba snickers.

Ainsley is not as interested in the music as everyone else is, so she's just writing down on a notepad while the song plays. She is surprised that he's as good as his reputation may have suggested, but she simply does not seem to enjoy music very much. Perhaps a side-effect of some... poor experiences with music during adventures in general. Tristania snaps her head around when the music begins, pointing her mask's wooden beak straight at the musician. She sits up, breaking her attention only once to glance at her sister, who is still not wearing a mask of her own. Nevertheless, the tune is good, and a smile graces her lips. "I approve of this viera," she murmurs.

Edward continue to play, the music played in a way only a true master could. His voice having that bardic quality that can sooth even the most savage of fiends. The imps start to play along with Edward now. The musical compliment taking on a magical property as the room fades away. Talen will find himself being approached by the people in the music asking for his help before fading away for the next one. Alba will find no changes about her, perhaps so the sleeping spider kin does not get woken up. Zhgir will find his keys illusioned into a hammer, and Ainsley's notebook into some dirty laundry. Tristania will find herself suddenly dressed as a merchant, with some random pottery goods before her on a merchant stall.

Work us a task you the lazy viera work us a task tonight Well we're all in the need of some help But you've yet to help us alright

Now Paul at the hill is a friend of ours and He watches the walls for us And he's quick with a fire or to-light up a fiend But there's someplace that he's rather be

He says "Viera I believe this is killing me" As a fiend runs away from his place "Well I'm sure that I could be with my family If I could get out of this place."

Now Jerry is a house builder Who never had time for a wife And he's working with Berry, Who's still in the guard And probably will be for life

And the women are working laundry As the merchants slowly go broke Yes they are having their troubles but there is someplace they would rather be

Work us a task you're the lazy viera work us a task tonight Well we're all in the need of some help But you've yet to help us alright

Not only is the music first-quality, but the lunacy surrounding her doesn't even seem to touch her. Life, to Alba at the moment, is good. *Very* good.

Talen does not appear to be too enthralled by the music, watching instead the others and how it affects them. Alba takes much of his attention, seeing first hand just what a decent bard can do. A look that starts off happy, but becomes rather sad as the song goes on.

Zhgir gasps as his rings are suddenly a hammer - but then he peers peculiarly at the former keys, now hammers. "Zhgir believes this is just alright." He responds to no one in particular, as he gives a testing smack at the table with the hammer - and in no time at all, he is drumming along with the song, or at least, a song. At some point, he turns towards Talen and whispers agitatedly, "Zhgir always knew keys held secrets!"

Tristania starts as she finds herself... considerably overdressed, by her standards. Her hands shoot up to her face, confirming that her mask is still in place. A soft sigh of relief, and she slowly relaxes. Afterall, clothes can be changed easily enough, if they don't return to normal after the song. While other people might be joining into the song, the Dryad chooses to have nothing to do with such activity. Instead, she crosses her arms, adopting a rigid stance as she simply continues to listen.

The illusions continue to follow after the music. A crowd now approaching Talen, each one of them sneering and looking unfriendly. As the song accuses him of being lazy they start to throw rotten fruit and vegetables at Talen. Several of them getting in the way to block his sight of Alba, and to block Abla's view of what is happening to Talen. One of the imp grins over to Zhgir as he plays with the keys now illusioned as hammers. "Keys hold many secrets indeed! Music is a key itself, do you hold that key?" Winking over to the spider kin before floating back to the ensemble. Everybody will find the illusions fading and focusing around Talen. Hammers return to keys, laundry back to notebook, and Tristania is no longer a merchant.

It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday and the travelers give him a smile All of them coming with their problems to see, help they could get To learn about peace for a while

And to the viera they suddenly walk up, to ask an to sneer lazy are you viera And they stand at the hill and throw rotten fruits to his side And they say "Man what are you doing here?"

Oh la la la di dee da La da di dee da da dum

Work us a task you're the lazy viera work us a task tonight Well we're all in the need of some help But you've yet to help us alright

The villagers blocking her view of Talen does give Alba pause, and one hand rises to poke at the nearest villager, to check the solidity of the illusion. However, between the music and the sleeping spiderling, the masked Viera doesn't seem willing to rise, just yet.

Talen hmmphs as the world around him is blocked from his sight, and he stands up, looking at the crowd. "Fine.", he's heard to say, to no one in particular. "I will help you, though the tasks are many. I can hunt and work for you. Just... one at a time alright?"

The imps all offer chuckles at Talen's response and Edward has a pause in the music as he himself cannot hold back a chuckle. Then he picks up the music again to finish off the song.

And the viera stands up before the crowd And says, "Problems you must face," And solve them I will not. Lazy are you who ask another.

Only one problem I have, solve it I will, gone I become Who then will you call lazy, who then will you lay your problems before

Work us a task you're the lazy viera work us a task tonight Well we're all in the need of some help But you've yet to help us alright

The illusions fade and everything in the room returns to normal. Edward looks down at instrument to see that it has turned completely black. "Even my curse effects this?" Breeze flys over and takes it, "Yes, break this curse we hope you do. For now we must be on our way. Farewell Bard." The imps turn towards the rest, "We hope you enjoyed the music! Good luck in your quest." The imps then fade from sight and are gone. Edward floats over to a seat and goes quiet, clearly happy and sad that he could play again. Rydia jumps up and giggles, "Business time right? To each of you I can answer but one question, and I will answer as best I can. Though a price must be paid for the question. So think carefully both on the price, and the question." The dryads eyes taking on a faint glow as she looks to each person in turn, "Edward your question has already been given, another I cannot give you." Edward just offers a mute nod.

Talen looks vaguely annoyed or irritated, and falls to thoughtful silence, looking curiously at Alba, and the others. When Rydia offers to answer one question each, he looks at the others to see what they might ask.

"Well played," Alba murmurs, peering at Talen as the illusions fade; as if to check him for wounds or damage. But, finding him merely annoyed, she nods once... Then her eyes slide to the window over his shoulder, ears standing straight up, then back. Her mask remains pointed in the direction of the window, but her ears turn to face Rydia. "The Mist," she says, drawing out the last word in a sibilant, displeased hiss. "It *watches* us. Why does it watch us?"

Zhgir's smiling ear to ear when his keys are reaffirmed of their importance. He slides them back into his pocket, about to ask a question of his own straight away from Rydia - but he falls silent when Alba asks, the arachnid quickly disappearing from sight.

Rydia glances to Alba, "What will you pay for a answer to that question?" Her voice is very serious on this, and her glowing green eyes never leaving Alba.

Tristania tilts her head to one side. She looks back and forth between Rydia and Alba, waiting to see what price will be offered, and wether or not it will be accepted. Ainsley stopped being invested in writing in a notebook when they decided to mess with her notebook with illusion bullshit. That's exactly how she sees it, by the look on her face. She isn't happy. She's actually quite unhappy. She looks over at Rydia with some interest, and back over to Alba.

Rydia continues to watch after Alba, seeing if she has a price to pay for her question. "You can pay in many forms, from abilities, items, to even knowledge in return. Services can be rendered in the future, if you are ok with owning a dept." Anybody who looks tot he window Alba is is watching, will notice a collection of Mist, but it is fading away and is soon just a normal mid-afternoon clear sky.

"The coin of silence," Alba shoots back; and now Rydia has her full attention. "The Mist is a thing no sane Viera may trust; those who are mad, know well why this is truth. That this is a matter of the Spirits annoys me no end, but it is the path my Shaman walks, and I walk beside him. Thus, I pay in silence. Hear your words I shall, and accept them. If a greater price must be paid, then ask it."

Rydia suddenly flares up with a geeen and white aura about her. "Then the price shall be paid! Of silence you will be, speak again you cannot while in the presence of any who walk with the spirits! A price that shall be paid for two seasons time. Answer now you shall have." The little green girl flaoting in the air, "That which appears to be as Mist is not always Mist, it it Exodus himself who watches with eyes unseen. Judging and evaluating you." A finger lifing up to point at the Viera, "Who would seek him, for in turn each viera must earn their place. He watched as you were tested, to be at peace with a creature of the wilds, and through the test of your patience, both of which you passed. A new test you shall be given, a hint you will receive, should you dare taste the deepest of the Mist." With that the girl falls back down to the ground and glances to Alba and Talen with a sad smile, "A difficult path, but if your feet walk true, one you will tred."

Talen looks rather shocked at the offer Alba makes, but doesn't interfere. His anger is reserved for the cost Rydia sets. Two seasons. Of not hearing his Hunter's voice? FUME. "Two seasons? And not being able to speak in my presence? This is two costs, Rydia, two!" He takes a deep breath and huffs. "I do dare test the deeper mists. However, I do not know what question I would ask. Some will come with a greater price than I can imagine." He looks to Tristania, Zhgir and Ainsley. "Have you your own questions to ask, that I might have more time to ponder mine?"

Alba's ears slam back as her offered price is misheard, and she opens her mouth to protest... but not even a squeak comes out. Hunching her shoulders, she curls her fingers into claws for a moment, then one hand moves in a brief flicker of signals, as she scoots closer to Talen. Oh the Viera is very, very, very much irritated... but she did say she would accept this, and so it seems she does.

Zhgir slowly lowers him from around the ceiling, carefully peeking his head through. "Zhgir will ask after queen's. It is only appropriate." The arachnid replies, carefully. Mostly because there is apparently plenty of angry queens in the room now, and a queen with a power over queens. Too many queens for the Zhgir.

The lizard girl frowns more when she is prompted, putting her on the spot. Ainsley shrugs at Talen and makes a 'i dunno???' kind of face, with wide eyes and a creased brow, the shrug exaggerated quite a lot. She looks over at Rydia again, though. "I will be honest: I do not trust these kinds of situations, and I am not quick to ask questions anymore unless I have a particularly good one. Which I don't."

Rydia smiles over to Ainsley, "A prudent answer, and one that shows experiance as well. Yet you seek knowledge to stop a ancient weapon from being found. You could ask where to look, a easy answer with a low price. You can also ask no question at all, or a personal one."

A low chckle comes from where Tristania is sitting. The Dryad's mirth picks up in volume, until she reaches full blown laughter. "Look at the heroes," she crows, "Proud and strong, fit to face the Archadian Army and Spirits know what other horrors? Are you really? Lobo dung!" she snaps. "Each of you terrified of a little girl and a simple price. But know this." Her tone turns serious, and she glares at Talen in particular for a moment. "Lift one finger against this sister of mine, and your skull," she draws her knobkerrie and slams the business end of it down on the table, "Shall know this bone of Unicorn, once wielded by our Mother." She twists the weapon, grinding it this way and that. Slowly, she turns to face her sister once again. "I have my question," she states, "And will ask it of you in private, after my comrades have departed."

Rydia glances and watches Tristania with a frown, then shakes her head slowly. "Know this sister of mine, I can also ask for a price, and the price I shall ask of you shall be your ability to wear a mask. Be certain you wish to ask me what you will ask me." Her voice serious on this, then she glances to the others and then focuses her eyes on Talen, "A double price you say, but it is still one price, that affects many. Yet, you also got a answer of that as it was directed at you as well. So the price was paid, and you still have a question. Think carefully before you act, or ask." Her smile returning, "And no violence, Snuggles gets upset when there is violence." Rydia then turns towards Ainsley, "You have a question yet?"

Ainsley looks at Tristania incredulously. "I have braved more than you can know, and done things vastly unwise to end up in that predicament. Please do not presume to know the extent of my bravery based on what little you have experienced of my behavior," she tells Tristania, cooly. "It is vastly offensive, and makes you look like a child." She looks over at Rydia with some surprise, afterwards. "Oh." She pauses. Her arms cross. "Simply the location of what we seek, or a piece of it at the very least. In exchange... the color of my eyes. Not my sight, none of that riddlemaster crap, I would prefer not to be colorblind, or just plain blind. If you can think of a better price, though, we can negotiate." She frowns. Yeah she is VERY stubborn about the Spirit Deal stuff.

Rydia smiles thoughtfully over to Ainsley as she considers the offer, then shakes her head, "The color of your eyes is a interesting price, but one that cannot be paid as no color is a color still black or white." The little girl leaning forward, "I also want you to draw a picture of me." Glancing to the notebook Ainsley has. "Please, pretty please." Then leans back and closes her eyes, "The color of your eyes is to high a price to pay for the information you request, as what I can give is limited. Draw me a picture while the rest ask their questions, and I will answer yours with that payment."

Talen's eyes are on Alba's hands as they signal, a grin forming. "Indeed, my Hunter, indeed." His ears wobble slightly, and he looks over at Tristania. "I've faced opponents that would humble the Archadians, and indeed, I have rained fire down upon them from the heavens. I have smashed their ships. I've been through the belly of the beast, and crawled my way out, and trapped him in a bauble. A companion uses that bauble still." He looks to Rydia and then back to her sister. "I'm sorry, but she's not just a little girl. And if you cannot tell that now, you have the worst kind of blindness: willful. Her price is daunting." The male Viera's ears flatten to the sides. "Also, your threats are ridiculous, your sister is in no danger from anyone here." Talen looks again to Rydia. "I would know the number and nature of the others who aim to have the Artefact of Atmos for themselves. To know who we are dealing with, without them knowing we know, is powerful knowledge. I would give you, for a time, my memories of all who are /not/ currently present. Family, friends, enemies, everything."

Alba's ears slam back down, her mask turning to lock onto Talen in stunned, seething silence, one hand shooting out to grab hold of Talen's arm and squeeze. Even if it can't be voiced aloud, her feelings on Talen's price are clear enough to speak for themselves; 'ARE YOU MENTAL?!'

Rydia stares at Talen, just simply stares trying to make sure he is serious about all of this. She starts to float into the air the aura around her growing even stronger then it was with Alba's question. "Your memories you will sacrifice, your memories you offer. A powerful price you pay! Of that price I shall take, only to regain your memories when you hear the voice of your current mate again! I take from you your memories of your friends, both alive and gone. I take from you your memories of your family, both alive and gone, I take from you your memories of enemies, both alive and gone, I take from you your memories of the spirits, only the two that are present of Andromeda and Ifrit. In turn, I give you memories of new friends, new allies, and new enemies. To be recalled like they always existed. Your best friend Locke, your cruel mother Terra, your swooning over Cecilia, brawls with Edgar and Sabin, of the three lonely sibling Monks and what each of them holds. Know this these memories become your own, they will be a part of you, this has been answered!" With that Rydia reaches out and points a finger at Talen's head, the green energies around here focusing on her finger, and then shooting into Talen's head.

Talen does indeed look quite serious about the offer, though as Rydia's litany of memories taken and replaced is said, he begins to have doubts. It is obvious in his eyes. He's about to say something when the finger comes up, his eyes straying to Alba, his ears quirking in a particular manner before the green light flashes into his head. Which causes the male Viera to promptly fall to the ground.

Zhgir crawls out from under the table, eyeing Talen and Alba with his wide orblike eyes. Tapping his hands together, he seemed to be contemplating approaching, but the arachnid instead turns his head towards Rydia. "Zhgir were going to ask a question of the queen," He begins, then pauses as he tilts his head. "Yes, Zhgir desires." He crawls out from under the table and crouches on the edge of it. "Where can Zhgir find a meal for the queen? Zhgir has coins, he has plenty of coins don't take his brain away! Or Zhgir's looks! Zhgir has really nice eyes don't touch them please!" He frantically speaks, flailing his coinpurse defensively with enough force to spill those coins over the table.

Rdyia reaches over and pats Zhgir on the head, "We will meet again crawly one, you can save your question for later. For food, there is already food fit for a queen here. Worry not." Chuckling. Alfir is suddenly up and over collecting the coins and stuffing them into a bag of his own. The young spider kin also has a key around his neck, the necklace spun out of spider silk.

The lizard scholar had only given a gentle, "Okay," and begun to scribble down on a large piece of paper that she pulled from a spot in her robes. The pen had scribbled carefully, drawing a sketch of Rydia as presented to the group as a whole, in this scenario. It takes a bit, and she has to erase a mistake or two, but she manages it fairly easily by all considerations. She holds the sketch out to Rydia, and smiles. "Fairly accurate, I think," she says, modestly smiling.

Rydia takes the drawing and squeals with delight. She bounces along her feet as she runs over to a wall and hangs it up. "Oh it’s beautiful! You got my face perfectly, thank you thank you thank you!" The girl running back over to Ainsley and throwing her arms around the lizard for a quick hug. "As for your question. You must find the wondering library. An old kingdom whose name was lost to time, whose magic was high and technology great. The artifact was won and used, destroying their greatest city and along with it their proudest library. This was the last time the artifact was used. To save their civilization they cast their library to another part of the world, but the magic was incomplete and instead the library was thrown into the void. A single door is all that is left in this world. The three monks who obtained the artifact after left the last of their knowledge and the only clues where to look in that door. Yet the door itself did not stay in place for long, it wonders the world. Changing locations every hour, sometimes it appears next to where it was, others all the way across the world. To find this door, I foresee you must travel to Rossaria, to the place Edward found it before. He knows the way."

Tristania glares at Talen for a moment longer, and slowly puts her knobkerrie away. "You speak like an only child," she states, tilting her head to glare at Ainsley. "One who has never had a younger sibling for whom they care deeply, and for whom they worry. Powerful beyond words my sister might be, but she is still my sister, and I will still bash the brains from anyone who menaces her, regardless of wether she needs me to or not." She stands, and crosses her arms beneath her breasts. "And if laughing at the rest of you and cajoling you has led to the asking of questions, then useful it was, was it not?" She eyes Talen where he has passed out, and hhhnhs. "I would answer him, but he has passed out. Small wonder, with what he asked for." She turns to face Rydia once more, and perks an eyebrow behind her mask. "I will ask, but if you insist on taking my mask from me, I must have my privacy another way. When the others have left, I will linger, and ask."

Rydia sits down looking exhausted at the moment, "Such powerful questions and answers. I did not expect to be so tired so quickly. At least I got a pretty picture!" The girl beaming over to the drawing of her on the wall. "Tristania my dear sister, you may have your question, when the time is right. For now though the day grows past noon, and you must be on your way. Time is of the essence, and if you do not leave now, your door way will not be found. Edward." The moogle blinking up from his own eternal thoughts, "The bracelet will glow when the door way is near. For the rest of you, we will meet again in time, be it you seeking me out or me seeking you out. Be sure to give Snuggles a hug on your way out!" The dryad jumping up and offering a smile, "Now hurry hurry, you have not much time!"

Finding her lap free of spiderling, Alba sighs behind her mask, and sets about gathering Talen up for travel; not a terribly simple task, when of the two of them *he* is the brawnier one. Now and again, as Tristania speaks, a poisonous glare is shot her way through the polished bone mask, and one gets the idea that could she speak, she would be doing so in language fit to curl a Malboro's vines. As it is, she simply secures Talen's arms to her shoulders, his legs to her hips, and struggles to stand with the Summoner on her back.

Talen rouses himself shortly afterwards, finding himself being lifted up. After a few tries, he manages to get his feet under him, leaning against Alba lightly. "Thank you, my Hunter. I... how did I get down ... oh. Oh I see. Erm. I guess we should be off then, yes?" One of his hands raises up, and he flashes Alba a few hand signals. "See you again soon then, Rydia?"

Zhgir looks about to combust when Rydia pats his head - enough for him to not see Alfir just go up and pickup his coins. When Rydia shifts away, Zhgir silently attempts to pick up Alfir with his hands, sliding down the table, chastised. "Zhgir can carry the silly long ears?" He offers to Alba silently, giving a similar pat to Talen as he just received. Ainsley frowns momentarily at Tristania. "You are unpleasant," she remarks to the Dryad woman, briefly, and then she turns to leave as normal, nodding and smiling at Rydia once. She doesn't really help Alba with her problem because, surprise, scholar lizards are not known for their upper body strength. It's a moot point when Talen wakes up anyways, and Zhgir's offering to help.

"Which books?" Tristania declares, apparently unsatisfied with waiting until later and willing to ask her question while others are present, rather than risk missing her opportunity entirely. "Which books, my beloved sister. I wish to know the names and locations of the tomes that will give me the knowledge that I must have. The knowledge that I require to become what I wish to become." Her eyebrow perks behind her mask. Ainsley's remark and Alba's dagger-filled gaze are, for the moment, ignored. "That is my question. We go to the greatest library the world has ever known; what do I read there, in order to become a mage the likes of which the world does not trifle."

Rydia glances to Tristania, eyes considering her carefully. Then she recoils away from her sister and winces at something, "The answer to your question, I am obligated to give it to you. Though I care not for what will come of it. You will find no books of what you seek in this library, I will answer that. Yet to answer your question, a price must be paid. A dear one, as that is the sacrifice you wish to make. When we meet again, be parpared." Rydia's eyes harden over as she continues to watch Tristania, "Now begone from my house, I have no desire for you to be here any longer." The group will find the climb down the rope ladder friendly enough. The Malboro is sleeping next to the tree trunk and seems rather content with life. The forest beckons to them. Rydia calls down one last time, "Oh the tree's will let you walk upon them now Viera. Safe passage be with you, when you are a hours walk away signal your ship, it can find you then."