The huge bug wanders around and chitters dispiritedly.
0
gnrc
10
It expels gas in your direction.
0
gnrc
8
"Or Rentar-Dumbo will turn you to slugs! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
0
erra@watc
8
"I run errands! And you better watch it!"
It looks up at you and laughs, an irritating, high-pitched barking noise.
There is a small, demonic creature scuttling underfoot. It smells of sulphur and bad cheese.
0
stnd
8
"He had to go to the east to reawaken more Vahnatai. Difficult, but rewarding work."
0
abra@find
7
"One called Abra said he would give you one, but he had to leave. Maybe you should find him."
"There is a big difference. Crystal souls are the physical manifestation of our spirits, they are what was stolen. Soul crystals are what we store energy (and other things) in. To ever perform any of our special magicks, you will need one."
0
soul@magi
7
"I am a crystal-smith. I create soul crystals and crystal souls, the core of Vahnatai magic."
0
crys@smit
7
He smiles. "Some call them coffins, as a joke, but they are as much the opposite as they can be!"
He looks at the sheet with pride. "This will one day be part of a cabinet in which aging or ill Vahnatai are frozen. Similar cabinets now hold most of our tribe, but not for long."
0
blue@glas
7
"I am a crystal-smith, and this is my work." He holds up the blue glass.
"I am Lith. Welcome."
This Vahnatai's robes are covered with quartz dust and bunched in about his waist by a tool belt. He is currently buffing down a sheet of blue glass.
0
stnd
7
"You are wasting my time, humans. Go."
0
gnrc
6
""
107
assa@atta
6
""
106
quick
6
"I am a mage, humans, and I have little else to say to you."
"A mage, yes. My modest skills enabled me to create the barriers in your land. My minor knowledge is helping me find ways to bring tons of rock down on the homes and cities, husbands, wives and children of those who dared to steal our crystal souls."
0
mage
6
Her mouth crooks in a half-smile. "I am a mage. Nothing more, nothing less."
Both her eyes and her crystals glitter as she sweeps her eyes over you. "I am called Rentar-Ihrno, human."
This Vahnatai lady has robes of incredible delicacy and richness, and a mien of utter confidence. Many tiny crystals are set into her jewelry.
0
stnd
6
He shakes his head. "Rentar is the greatest of the Ihrnos awake. She created the barriers in your land, and she has no love of humans at this point. She has agreed not to harm you, but I don't think she will give you much aid."
0
rent
5
"Seno has agreed to teach you a small amount of our magic, both out of a desire to share and so you can grasp some of our power. Be sure to speak with Lith. He can tell you of the importance of crystals to us."
0
know@magi
5
"However, I cannot guarantee Rentar-Ihrno will help you, I am afraid."
"Bon-Ihrno thinks you are beings of honor, and though I am filled with anger at your kind, I am filled more with respect for Bon's judgement. We can offer you knowledge of our magical ways, and help with understanding us."
0
help@info
5
"An Ihrno is a leader of mages, a Vahnatai skilled in the magical arts who speaks for the others of our kind. I am in charge of this place of learning."
0
ihrn@spea
5
"I am the Ihrno here, the ... the speaker of Egli. Bon-Ihrno has spoken to me, saying we are to offer you help and information."
He looks up at you very slowly, his hands still moving automatically over the crystal. "I am Oth-Ihrno. I welcome you to Egli."
An aged Vahnatai sits here, polishing an intricately carved piece of smoky quartz. He wears a silver headband. His skin is very dull and dark gray, with many flecks of black.
0
stnd
5
8
29
He rummages through the scrolls. "Yes, we do have Borgia toadstools, not too fresh, but still usable. They're in the northeast storeroom, second shelf, in the back."
(You take note of this.)
2
borg@toad
4
"I keep track of what is where and how fresh. It is both time-consuming and worthless. Looking for anything?"
He emits a Vahnatai sigh, a long, painful hiss of air from between clenched teeth. "In the storerooms here, we have samples of every herb, lichen, mold, moss, mushroom, and other plant ever found in these caves, powerful or not, rare or not."
0
herb@cata
4
"We Vahnatai perform most of our magic through crystals, which we store power in and draw power from. The more powerful we are, the more crystals we gain, and vice versa."
0
crys
4
"I am only an apprentice, not a crystal to my name. For now, I spend my time on these herb catalogs." He looks at the scrolls with distaste.
0
appr@scro
4
"I am still only an apprentice here." He indicates the scrolls.
He nods. "Welcome, humans! I heard of your arrival. I am Clodeca."
This Vahnatai's skin is very smooth, and has a shiny, almost waxy sheen. Possible, that means he is younger. He wears the typical glowing robe and scant clothing underneath, and carries a double armload of scrolls.
0
stnd
4
You start to speak to her but note her concentration and stop. Interrupting magical rituals is a dangerous business.
0
gnrc
3
Motes of light float from her into the crystal. Other, smaller motes float back. She ignores you.
She continues to focus on the large crystal. It's as if she's in communion with it.
There is a Vahnatai woman sitting cross-legged on her bed, staring deeply into a large, glowing crystal. Things are unusually warm around her.
0
stnd
3
"Many of us are still in the Resting, sleeping in their crystals. Waking them all and rebuilding our cities are enormous jobs. The most important of the people get woken first. But some not so important ones need be woken too, eh'?"
0
wake@help
2
He holds up the broth proudly. "But if this doesn't get them to wake help for me, nothing will!"
He proffers the bowl. "Here. Taste some of this broth." You do. It's nasty. He notes your reaction. "Trust me, it tastes no better to us than you. The mages woke many warriors and the like, but very few people to simply keep things moving."
0
cook@cust
2
"I am the cook and custodian for Egli at the moment. I also spend my time trying to get the mages to wake someone to help me."
He bows. A little of the fluid in the bowl spills over onto floor. He pushes his robe into the fluid with his foot to mop it up.
"I'm Crean," he finally says.
This Vahnatai is carrying a large bowl of pungent gray liquid. Its bright robes are speckled with tiny bits of food.
0
stnd
2
"Right now, those who stole our ancestors are our enemies, and when they are found, vengeance will be unavoidable."
0
defe@enem
1
"We mages of Egli work hard to rebuild our lands after the Resting, and to defend us from our enemies."
0
fell@mage
1
23
18
Oratem the alchemist
12
purc@poti
1
She indicates shelves of vials and pouches behind her. "I create potions and other magical substances for my fellow mages. If you have any valuables, you can purchase them as well."
"I am called Oratem, humans. Welcome to my shop."
There is a Vahnatai sitting at the table, grinding up some lichen.
0
stnd
1
"Go speak with Lith. He is Egli's crystal-smith."
0
soul@crys
0
"We Vahnatai haven't the physical strength of your people, but our magical skills are greatly advanced."
0
magi@arts
0
7
6
Vahnatai Magic
14
purc
0
"By the way, to use the spells I can teach you, you will need a soul crystal."
"I instruct visitors in the powerful Vahnatai magical arts. In return, we of Egli request a donation to continue our researches. Let me know if you wish to purchase skills."
0
inst@visi
0
"I am an instructor here. I teach the magical arts to visitors."
He looks up at you. "Welcome, humans. I am Seno."
You meet a somewhat short Vahnatai male. He is reading a scroll while walking around. Even though he doesn't seem aware of his surroundings, he deftly steps around chairs and away from walls.
0
stnd
0
"I don't have anything more to say on that."
50
8
There is a quartz plaque set into the wall here. It reads:
Crystal Workroom
There is a plaque on the wall, reading:
Oth-Ihrno
Carved into the wall:
Halls of Rentar-Ihrno
Elaborate formulae have been painted onto the wall here, using some thick, glowing, fluorescent powder. Must be a Vahnatai chalkboard.
Elaborate formulae have been painted onto the wall here, using some thick, glowing, fluorescent powder. Must be a Vahnatai chalkboard.
