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Reality Fault

Realms: Oloth Logs

New Title

    The Courtyard of Dammerung
    You see a huge, curving, organic shape before you, in swirling shades of dusky ebony and soft dove gray, gleaming with cobalt blue accents. Dark, dusty, bottle green shrubbery clusters below the low, round windows and about the slender path twisting to the doorway. The upper reaches of the building itself stretch slowly skywards in elegant, reaching branches and lofty minarets. More cobalt-bordered round windows peer down at the visitor, occasionally framed with an azure-walled balcony or a temporarily exposed stairway twisting around from one branch to another. The word "Dammerung" glows in vivid, scrolling script over the large, round doorway, and the building itself seems to sigh softly in the breeze, as if alive.

Xarlen's cane taps across the stones of the ground, copper tip sending up the sound about empty streets. Though the elf settles before reaching the courtyard, regarding it with curiosity.

    The figure whose features have been caught by a glance appears to be that of an elf. The high cheekbones beneath sun-kissed flesh, the pointed ears which push up through the golden mane of hair that washes in locks down to shoulders, and the slender physique of most elvenkind suggests nothing but. Angled yet handsome features lead the male's face. Whispy bangs drift over a pair of glasses over the elf's face, though the lenses are of a black tint, seeming to be crafted of pure obsidian, so much that one cannot see through the other side. This might suggest that the figure's eyes are not for viewing, either from an onlooker's perception or for seeing all together. The visage most commonly seen on the elf is a slight stoic, blank expression, though a smile is not uncommon to touch his lips.

    From the soles of his feet to the top of his head, the elf stands five foot three inches, with his face framed by a hood of a sable-shaded wool cloak, thick for the wintry weather, with whisps of blonde hair beneath the shade of the hood. Held tight around his neck by a tied cord, the cloak flows down to cover his form. One arm is usually held out, clutching a cane of well-crafted wood, and the elf's movements cause the cloak's flap to open, revealing the body beneath. A tunic of earthen brown stretches across the slender but healthy torso. The tunic ends at upper thighs, overlapping breeches of dense cloth colored a slate charcoal. His cloak ends where it brushes along the tops of dark brown leather boots.

Dakini steps out of Dammerung's front door, stretching and yawning. She folds her arms, leaning against the wall next to the door, watching the gold elf's approach with curiosity. When he pauses at the courtyard gate she calls courteously, "Good even, Harlequin."

    Dakini grins lazily at you from behind the reflective blue-green shades which hide her eyes. Her hair is long and tousled, a bright, red-gold mane that occasionally hides her small pointed ears. She's a tall, slender, strong woman, with small but callused hands, and well-muscled forearms. She wears a soft, comfortably loose, ivory silk shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Over that is a sturdy, quilted, sleeveless tunic of dark indigo blue embroidered with intertwined silvery stars and ivory-gold unicorns. It is belted off snugly with a wide, well-worn leather belt. On her right hip, tied down about the right thigh, rides a holstered flechette pistol. On her left hangs a decorated and runically embossed scabbard with the plain, worn-leather-and-wire wrapped pommel of a short sword protruding from it. Sturdy, worn dueling gloves are tucked into the back of the belt, mostly hiding a cross-holstered dagger.

Xarlen pauses, his head turning toward Dakini. "Oh, good evening, Dakini," he calls toward her voice, turning to begin heading within the courtyard. "And how does the... what time is it? Evening? Morning? So difficult to tell without the sun on my back or the chirp of cricket."

The smile is audible in Dakini's voice as she replies, "It's always evening here, good mage... but we do well enough. And yourself?"

Xarlen's brows lift behind his glasses. "Mage, you say?" he inquires curiously. "Such a title you think fits my humble self? Oh, well, I would say better, now that I've found you this eve."

Dakini chuckles softly, "Ah, you are too kind, good sir. In regards to your ah... office, I assumed, of course."

Xarlen's lips curve into a well-acted smile. "Ah, but you know what they say of assumption, my dear lady Stardancer."

Dakini chuckles again, "They don't say it much around here... you're more likely to hear ssinssrigg lueth belaern or jal khaless zhah waela. So... would you like to see a room here? You mentioned having specific needs, ja?" The drow slides easily from her lips, as if she's well practiced in it.

Xarlen seems to understand, especially since a laugh almost escapes him before he catches himself. "Well, it's said that to assume makes an ass of you and me. And yes, I would gladly like to, ssin'urn jalil, if you wouldn't mind?"

Dakini straightens with a laugh, "Ah, so you are the flatterer!" She grins mischievously, making a sweeping gesture towards the round front door, "Enter, of your own free will," then steps inside.

    Dammerung's Lobby
    Dammerung's round and dimly lit lobby is obviously organic in nature, with smoothly curving walls and a gently yielding floor. Little glowing pods descend from the supportive ribs that arc up overhead to a spined vault. The few windows and doorways are all round or smoothly elliptical, revealing the peaceful outer courtyard, and a twisting hallway within. Elegant, spidery, cobalt blue script above the slate gray doorway to the hall spells out "Dusk."

Xarlen slips inside easily, gracefully, even moving around the door without having his cane near it. "So, tell me about this place... what kind of entity is it? What sort of being lets others live inside of it? As well as allow plumbing?"

Dakini smiles, looking around with pride but still showing a hint of embarrassment, "Er... well..." she looks at the gold elf with amused sheepishness, "Um... I don't know, to be honest, precisely what Dammerung is. But it seems friendly, it's been in the family for generations, and it seems to like me." She smiles, shrugging slightly, forgetting that her gesture can't be seen.

Xarlen nods his head. "I see," he offers with teasing tones. "You have a building that likes you. Did it happen to follow a family member home one day?" A grin, "But seriously... what can it do, or more appropriately when it comes to a room which I take up, what can I do with it?"

Dakini laughs at the first comment! "Well... in a manner of speaking, yes, I suppose!" She smiles, "Well... Dammerung can't change fast for you, but given some time and patience it's quite flexible. You won't have electricity and plumbing in the umm... usual sense, but you will have light and power in the room." She tilts her head curiously, regarding the gold elf with interest now that they're inside, away from prying ears, "And if I may ask, malla Tel'Quessir what is one of the golden aelfar doing speaking the tongue of the dark ones they hate so?"

Xarlen mmhms. "I can supply that, I assure," he offers, but tilts his head to one side. "What sort of... power? And, power to what, would that be? I assume generation of heat and coolness..." Fingers brushing over the crystal handle at the top of his cane. His expression is quickly masked from the quick reaction of nervousness to smooth casualness. "You could ask the same thing of what am I doing in a city of drow."

Dakini smiles, leaning against a wall that gives slightly in comfortable support, "All right. What are you doing in a city of drow?" She grins. Far be it from her to miss an opportunity to ask more questions!

Xarlen snickers softly. "No need to offer me such a title; I barely fit it." He pauses, idly tapping the tip of the now straight cane, "Personal reasons, my dear." A brow quirked, "You have enemies, I'm sure?"

Dakini snorts in faint amusement, "We're in Oloth... everyone has enemies here. Personally I think people here would be hurt if they ever discovered they had no enemies." She adds pragmatically, "Well, honored is a courtesy term, and you're not drow..." She tilts her head thoughtfully, studying the gold elf, then smiles and adds, "Well... not visibly, at least." She's silent a moment, thinking, then smiles, "Shall we head upstairs?" She's obviously cut off a train of thought there.

Xarlen grins. "Egos in the balance, eh? Well, I had to leave because of enemies, which were pursuing to the point that I had to leave Faerun in general." True, it is one of his best acting performances not to blanch or drop his jaw in shock at the comment upon his race. Yet he has had steady training in the art of disguise and acting. "Yes, please."

Dakini nods, then murmurs politely, "This way, please..." as she heads for the curving stairs, continuing up them with Harlequin, her steps almost silent on the peculiarly winding stairs. About three floors later she stops and waves a hand, "Here we are... this is the floor with rooms still remaining. Just run your fingers across the directory there."

    Twilight
    A round, soft gray doorway leads to a smoothly round, cream hallway twisting slowly upwards within the building. The little glowbulbs hanging from the ceiling spine give only dim light, and seem to shift or flex slightly with the hallway itself. Periodically along this cream-colored artery smaller loops of stairs branch off, leading to individual suites. While the twisting stairs afford both distance and privacy, each of them end at round, slate gray doors with cobalt scrollwork framing. At each end of the hallway dove gray stairs twist away through another round doorway. Elegant, spidery, cobalt blue script spells out "Nightfall" above the doorway to the stairs weaving up, and "Dusk" for the stairs coiling downwards.

Xarlen nods his head. "Well, specifically I'm looking for something in particular." Dakini nods inquiringly, listening. Xarlen ahems. "I'd like a room with another one attached, where the door is not obvious." He ahems. "Er... is such available?

Dakini nods, "Certes. That's easy. Anything else? Anything hard?"

Xarlen shakes his head. "So it has a second room with a hidden door?"

Dakini says, "Well, it doesn't yet, but it will if that's what you want."

Xarlen chuckles. "Say, is there such a place where one could order servants like this?"

Dakini laughs, then shakes her head, "I don't know. Dammerung is sometimes a mystery to me... and Hati I bought from the Bazaar. I guess... I guess it's having an instinct, or an ability to tell who's trustworthy?" She smiles ruefully, "And that's not exactly wise in Oloth anyway. Trusting carelessly, I mean."

Xarlen nods his head, "Indeed... this Bazaar? You bought a slave in a bazaar?" He considers this, then seems more curious. "Where would one find this Bazaar?"

Dakini says, "Indeed. Ah... well, let's see." She smiles a tad ruefully, "The Bazaar... the Velkyn Bazaar, I think, is more prone to find you, than you it, if that makes sense." She shrugs apologetically, "They're... secretive, you know. Protective of what is theirs." She hms, looking at the directory, "So... which rune should we give you? Nauthiz? Constraint, necessity, pain? Maybe Raido, signifying a journey's communication and reunion? Or... you asked about power... maybe Laguz, the symbol for water, for that which flows and conducts?" She looks almost mischievous for a second, "Or... perhaps Gebo, for a gift or a partnership?" She grins, waving a hand at the directory, "Chose as you will, of course."

Xarlen seems to sense that mischief. "Ah, sadly, I've yet to find a partner..." He offers a wolfish grin, "Yet. But I'm sure that there is a woman suitable, findable... obtainable. Perhaps I should choose one that stands for allure... but then again, I'm being a little self-conceited." He snickers, turning toward the inventory. "What of mystery? Intrigue? Darkness?"

Dakini hms, regarding the runes thoughtfully, "Well... let's see..."

Xarlen says, "Or, mayhap, hidden?"

Dakini says slowly, "Thurisaz signifies the giants; like a thorn it is painful if carelessly grasped... Nauthiz is 'need-fire,' as in an inner, hidden motivating force that seeks equilibrium. Isa is cold dark ice -- a challenge, frustration... but they all signify mysteries of one sort or another. They embody wisdom that can be learned, but only through suffering."

Xarlen's brows tuft up. "Isa sounds very interesting... a draw between Nauthiz and Isa." He chuckles faintly. "You have me at a stand still, my dear. Wicked, wicked you."

Dakini smiles ruefully at the gold elf, "I suspect there was darkness and mystery enough in their lives, that they'd wish to learn to avoid it if possible... and not have a rune dedicated solely to that." She smiles, sweeping a slight bow, then adds with a faint smile, "I'd guess Nauthiz, for you."

Xarlen turns curiously. "Oh? Might I ask why that is?"

Dakini's body goes very still for a moment... then, in a slow chant as of one reciting a magical spell, almost, she intones, "Nauthiz -- the need-fire within, relating to a primal need within a person; possibly even unconscious. This need is a motivating force, and seeks equilibrium. Something may be out of balance. What purpose, on any level, does the need serve? Work within Nauthiz, and it will help you bring such answers to the fore, where the need can be addressed, satisfied, or dismissed... for needs and wants are not necessarily the same." Dakini pauses when done, then takes a deep, slow breath, relaxing slightly, and adds in her more normal, less formal speaking tone, "Nauthiz." Then she smiles slowly, her eyes hidden, "For the elf with secrets."

Xarlen smiles to himself and nods with satisfaction. "That will do quite well," he answers evenly, hand lifting to search over the directory, but almost instantly finding Nauthiz, with little groping. In an observational tone he adds, "I get the feeling you're rooted with these runes, yes?" He leans lightly against the wall.

Dakini nods quietly, "It is the force of necessity as opposed to want, the thing we must do whether we like it or not." She waits until the door down the hallway opens at Xarlen's touch on the directory rune, then gestures to it, "Your room awaits. May I enter also?" At his last comment she hms, "Rooted... much the same way one becomes rooted in the alphabet of one's native tongue, ja." She smiles.

Xarlen nods his head. "Of course," he murmurs, then makes a 'go on' gesture. "Ladies first, of course." The comment is obvious, but then again, in Oloth and other shady places, a double meaning forms itself -- it is always better to be the one without your back exposed to another.

Dakini grins at the gold elf, but doesn't comment... just paces quietly to the open-doored room, and within. Xarlen heads through the round, dove gray door leading into one of the Twilight suites. Dakini waves an arm around, "And we're here." She glances thoughtfully at Harlequin, then closes the door quietly behind him. "Would you like me to make the room soundproof for the nonce?"

Xarlen runs his hand over the smooth walls, nodding his head. "This will do. Nice size." Nice view, too, but he shan't mention that. "So, I assume I supply my own furniture. Yes, please do, and how do I shape it to my likes, as well as add that second room which shan't be found?"

Dakini nods, turning to lean her hands against a wall, her palms flat against it, silent for a moment or two... there's an odd new feeling in the room for a moment, as if the lightest of breezes brushed faintly across one's skin... then she nods, straightening. "There we go... you're now soundproof..." She smiles, folding her arms, "-and so no one can hear my questions. So... why is a gold elf living in the land of the drow? In fact... are you a gold elf in reality? Wouldn't be the first time I'd seen someone use that 'look' as a disguise, if so." She sits, with the ease of long practice and assumption, not even looking as a bulge forms in the wall behind her, shaping itself into a low, padded couch.

Xarlen has to pause at that. True that no one can hear, but the fact is that she will hear. Trust is, as she mentioned, not such a wise thing in Oloth. Observing the woman in return, "And what were those often using a disguise beneath?"

Dakini leans back on her hands, "Well, actually it was the other way around, as I heard it. It was a gold elf who got disguised, against his will, as a drow." She shakes her head in faint awe, "That he survived at all astonishes me. He must've been good."

Xarlen's lips curved into a knowing smirk. "And if it were the other way around, the drow would have to be especially good to survive on the surface world, hm?"

Dakini grins, "I think you're actually drow. You're far too humble to be a gold aelfar... you're both polite and flattering to me, despite my being a half-breed... and you're here, in the city of the drow, as you noted yourself. Gold elves don't like here, and don't tend to travel alone among the 'lesser races'." She grins to remove any sting from her words. She sits up, counting on her fingers, "And you know drow, and you're not really blind -- or you're able to sense wind currents or something when I move or make gestures -- and you've not exploded yet at my commentary!" She grins again.

Xarlen, despite his ability to lie quite effectively to pull himself out of a near dangerous situation with improvised acting, can still tell when he is hung out to dry. In fact, he did respond to the gestures the woman had put forth... but the elf had seen them. In an almost commanding tone, "Dim the lights." Dakini smiles, looking upwards... and the room's lights go out. Xarlen laughs softly. "You'll need to see, dear lady."

Dakini smiles again, "I'm in my home, Harlequin, and you've not yet changed it to make it your own. I can see everything in Dammerung that is not yet claimed by another."

Xarlen says, "And I take possession of it, how?"

Dakini says, "When I leave, spend some time visualizing how you'd like the room to be, while touching Dammerung with bare skin. One of your hands will do... and in about a day, it will be as you've designed it, as long as what you want is not aggressively harmful to another. Defense is fine."

Xarlen nods and walks to the wall, touching it gently. After a few moments of concentration, of working with the building and using the training he's had, the room's lighting becomes dim, as if hundreds of candles had been lit. "So any sort of furniture I desire can be created? Delicious; a suite with so many compartments in hiding..." He moves back, regarding Dakini. "All right, you have me," he replies, removing the glasses and gazing back at Dakini's eyes with his own sharp orange orbs.

Dakini smiles, politely removing her own blue-green, obviously-not-from-Oloth shades as well. In this dim light her eyes glow a lambent green, like a cat's, and the pupils are very large. "Well now... 'have'? Such a strong word... we've not exchanged any oaths, nor have I bought you." She smiles again, then falls silent so he can answer if he wishes.

Xarlen chuckles faintly. The smooth, musical voice which had once been his is much more accented with the speech of the drow's tongue. "You've found me out, then?" A wave of the hand and the elf's guise melts into its underlying appearance. Still propped against his cane, which crackles with faint electricity, the drow regards Dakini.

    The darkness seems to have taken on a form, first appearing to be a silhouette, a moving shadow. As a closer examination is taken, it is obvious what the form is; ebon skin as dark as midnight covers the man's body as if it had been dipped in ink. Standing at three inches and five feet, the figure has a slender, lithe build. A shower of silvery hair spills down past the figure's neck to touch just below the shoulder blades. Pointed ears poke upward through the cascading mane, combining with high cheekbones to give the ethereal features of a dark elf. Intensely smoldering orange eyes gaze out from underneath his pale brows, taking in his surroundings with a stalking, observing expression.

    His attire would suggest that he isn't much of a blade-brandishing warrior, though an observer could guess it is more than likely the garb for a mage. A robe the color of onyx flows down his body, the hem dropping low enough to conceal even his feet beneath, though it doesn't hinder walking at all. The material shines when it catches the light, the edge of the fold glittering with the reflection. The patterns upon the robe are woven into the fabric in emerald greens and indigo blues. Stripes of red and arcane symbols are scattered across the surface. A crimson silk trim cover the hem and cuffs, while the long sleeves are just long enough to allow him to hide his nimble-fingered hands. A few bulges can be seen underneath the line of the robe -- pockets and containers, no doubt, concealing a considerable amount.

Dakini leans forward, studying the drow with open curiosity... finally she inquires, "What are you running from?" She grins, "Harlequin -- the multi-colored tatterdemalion... cute. So what's your real name?"

Xarlen places the blackout glasses, which viewed from the insides are actually light-filters that take the most harsh brightness from sunlight and less, allowing his sensitive eyes to see, into a pocket within his robe, which does not bulge; his glasses disappearing into a magically deepened pocket. "Frankly? A past... not to mention a loss of a... position in a thieves' guild, who were removing me in a... hostile takeover. As well, I was tired of the surface. I wanted to go where the harsh sun didn't keep me hiding behind my lenses."

Dakini tilts her head curiously, "So... this was a surface thieves' guild? Hm... are you expecting to thieve here? If so I'd strongly recommend you join the guild here first... they're just as jealous of their prerogatives here as elsewhere. Er... actually, I think the thieves' guild and the Velkyn are squabbling... or are one and the same... hard to tell sometimes." She grins ruefully, "Go with the Velkyn, I think."

Xarlen says, "Yes, it was a guild on the surface." He snorts. "Human guilds oddly enough were excited and fearful of taking a drow wizard into their ranks. I was ejected, often in bloody turmoil, from one to the next. No, I highly doubt they followed me; a thieves' guild is without the funds to put assassins on a spelljammer to eliminate a simple ex-member." He pauses, sighing, a hand moving through the silver hair, "But a Noble House isn't below it."

Dakini looks curious again, thinking... "Hm. So you'd be either a high ranking member of that taken-over guild... or the actual guildmaster, ja?" She smiles, "Oh, I don't think they followed you. I think it's simply the nature of the secretive guilds to assume the worst, and squabble constantly with each other." She nods interestedly, "Ah... so you're also worried about your house? What'd you do there that got you thrown out? It must have been quite something, since you've obviously been trained in how to survive the surface. I can't imagine they'd just waste that level of effort put into your training." For an apparently half-gold elf, she seems to know her drow cultural traits fairly well.

Xarlen shakes his head. "No guild master. I would never wish that; you're fighting wolves in your own den, as well as those of others. I was in one a right hand wizard; in another, a lower ranking; in several others very high..." He moves, sliding smoothly into the couch, albeit slightly hesitant on the seat itself, which came from the room. "These guilds were in cities, nothing major like the Zhents, who I wouldn't put it past sending someone after me." He doesn't doubt that, living in a city of drow for gods-only-knows-how-long, the woman surely has her Drow etiquette down. "It's not my house, my dear," he replies with a sigh, "-but another..."

Dakini nods interestedly, and adds pragmatically, "Sounds like you've got guilds down well enough. Well, that you're here instead of serving in your House says they're either not powerful enough to put up with a potential troublemaker -- especially a mere male -- or that they aren't pleased with you either."

Xarlen laughs softly. "I'm not in my house because I would be dead!" He regards Dakini evenly, patting the spot beside him on the couch. "You know your drow culture. But do you know of a city called Ched Nasad?"

Dakini thinks a moment, then shakes her head doubtfully, "I... don't think so?" She looks interested again, "Why would you be dead? I'm afraid I don't know what drow childhood is like."

Xarlen nods his head. "Ched Nasad was formed from a group of Menzoberanzan offshoot houses... A cavern was found, and Lolth herself burned the very stone, forming a crystallized web throughout the entire great chamber. So the city was built upon this lacing of stone spiderwebs; houses made of stalagmites, crystallized web cocoons... anyway," he goes on, "-the wizards of our fair city," the word spit out like venom on his tongue, "-are required to have their minds probed by Lolth's children, to insure allegiance to the Spider Queen."

Dakini nods quietly in sudden understanding.

Xarlen says, "Well, of course, you can understand my, ah...unfortunate situation, for I hold no love for the Bitch Queen. However a wizardess (and aspiring priestess) of an upper house had contacts with those who do the mind searches. She had taken a... fancy to me." He grins darkly, harshly. "So while I shared her sheets I never met with the mental rapings of the priestesses."

Dakini wrinkles her nose in faint disgust, "I am sorry to hear that, Harlequin... or whatever your name actually is. I do not care for abuse of power over someone weaker, or that one is responsible for." She sighs softly, "It does seem to be somewhat... prevalent in drow culture though. Almost... an art form, of a dark sort."

Xarlen holds up his hand. "There is more, my dear..." He sighs, almost wistfully, more sorrowful. "She was very beautiful...do not get me wrong, very... dominant, but she was sadistic." This word held with heavy emphasis. "She enjoyed controlling men in her whims; pain and discomfort, humiliation... she craved it. After she had crafted a special... 'ring', which..." He gazes up at Dakini, then chuckles, glancing away. "I shouldn't go into the graphic details of my curse, lady; as risqué as you are, I highly find it necessary." Absently he brushes over his inner thigh, almost protectively.

Dakini looks faintly amused, "My... native culture would not classify me as a lady... ladies are for bearing children and being honorably protected... not the protectors, as I was raised to be. But I understand the implied compliment... and quite understand that there are points where one can have..." her voice gets very dry, "-too much information. I may tease friends, but I do try not to impose an assumption of friendship too early... nor would I wish it imposed on myself." She adds more pragmatically, "So, how'd you escape?"

Xarlen sits in a slight slump over his lap, or at least a faint crossing of legs. "Well, to repay her for her kindness I delivered a very gruesome, painstakingly horrid, and sacrilegious death. There were oaths scorning the spider queen written in her blood, her personal alter desecrated..." He grins almost proudly. "You can understand why her family wishes me dead -- me, a lowly male, doing away with one of the high women on the house's totem pole, one who was closing on high priestess status in a few years -- evading them and insulting Lolth with one of her own vessels..." He shakes his head. "I ran from the city that night, gathering what items I could of hers and of my own, and fled. First to the Underdark, then to a city ruled by male drow wizards... where I was comfortable... for a year, until the house assassins closed their grip. To the surface I ran," his face hardening, "-and I had hoped this cursed bauble would be destroyed by sunlight." Flaming orange gaze turned to those green orbs, "It did not, however."

Dakini looks surprised, "Great stars, you're still wearing it?" She thinks a bit, then smiles, "Ah... so you already know how to live in a city run by male drow. You'll do fine here."

Xarlen nods his head. "And it's greatly frustrating, Dakini," he says with utter scorn for the very thing. "There only be one way I know how to remove it... and I'm not taking that measure."

Dakini's brow wrinkles, "That... would probably be a tad extreme, ja." She thinks a bit, then adds curiously, "Haven't you tried investigating it magically, to try to see how it works, to try to discern how to remove it?" She politely doesn't comment at all on the expression of his displeasure with his situation in the drow below-world... her opinions wouldn't be helpful, really.

Xarlen chuckles. "Surprisingly, it's a curse and a blessing in some lights...but the worst fact is, it cannot be removed..." Thus the crossing of his legs, or whatever be, to hide such obvious discomfort. "I have went to a sage or two, a wizard of high reputation, and I was told the same thing: it would take the creator to do it." His lips curve wryly. "Now, I couldn't just go back and get her..."

Dakini thinks a bit... then smiles and shrugs, "Well, I can't think how to put it discreetly, and there's no one else around... so... what's the curse and the blessing, if I may ask?"

Xarlen's brows tuft up, and he gazes at Dakini curiously. "And here I thought we weren't to be presumptuous? My dear, I am not a chivalrous man... but if you were anything but my lover I highly doubt you would find the information... good. I wouldn't want to give too much information."

Dakini nods calmly, "That's fine. I asked mostly because I was curious as to whether other types of magic not from this dimension might work on it... but I won't push." She politely changes the subject, "So... I take it you taught yourself how to survive on the surface then? You must be a fast learner?"

Xarlen appreciates the change of subject; he's not about to go into explicit detail unless heavy interest would be in such a thing... "After living in the city of the drow, looking over a shoulder with one eye for a stab in the back, and an assault in the front with the other, living in a human city is less nerve wracking..."

Dakini laughs softly, "Yes, I imagine it would be... except for the constant suspicion due to your being a drow. Was the gold elf disguise conjured up then?"

Xarlen nods. "As soon as I hit the surface. I needed something that would help me from being a target of fearful humans before I got my foot into the dark door."

Dakini hms... "And mages could see through it?" She nods slowly, "That would explain the suspicion in the various guilds. That, or eventually figuring out that you weren't what you appeared to be."

Xarlen ehhs... "The illusion gives off an aura of magic; viewed through the 'third eye' of a magic user, I would have a glow about me..." He nods. "The guild heads knew what I was. One I had to specifically put down, in fear of him exposing me or outwardly attacking me."

Dakini nods again at the comment about the aura, "Which, of course, I wouldn't notice. That makes sense." She studies the drow again, then asks curiously, "So... what is your name? And why bother being a gold elf here?"

Xarlen smiles lightly, reaching out to tap the top of Dakini's hand. "My name is Xarlen." Grinning like only a drow can, "The blind guise makes me seem... harmless. Most will underestimate, hm? They're not as wary. Alois' brother seemed to rather enjoy the company of the 'blind elf'."

Dakini chuckles quietly, "He... 'enjoys' everyone's company. He's the governor of this city."

Xarlen smirks at that. "True..." The drow shrugs his shoulders, and laughs to himself. "It has been a long time since I have spilled my story to someone." Eyes narrow. "I hope I haven't made a mistake."

Dakini smiles relaxedly, "You haven't... but you won't believe me until you see for yourself, of course."

Xarlen nods his head. "Yes, you have me there... but there is a small need within me for...insurance." Dakini raises a mildly curious eyebrow in inquiry. Xarlen opens up his hands, "Some sort of information in return... something of your past? Or one of those 'secrets' that all in Oloth seem to have."

Dakini laughs softly, "Like what? That I was born while we traveled in the vast, cold in-between of space, in another dimension entirely? That Hati is my slave and no attempt to force me to free him will work -- since I know it is his choice to be so? That I find the drow insistence on torture utterly perplexing? How will you know that I've not simply made it up?"

Xarlen shrugs his shoulder, grinning slightly. "Trust is fickle. I was referring to something deeper but..." He opens his empty hands, palms up. "Why so curious on my past, dear Dakini?"

Dakini smiles thoughtfully, "Xarlen..." she rolls the word on her tongue, slowly, as if testing and savoring it, then adds, "A pleasant-sounding name. Do you ever miss the Underdark, or knowing your place in the order of things? Or were you hurt so much that it is inextricably intertwined in your head with abuse of power?" Then she sighs faintly, "I'm sorry... I'm afraid I'm quite curious, and you were an obvious contradiction, right there in front of me. Hati says it's a failing of mine, and will get us into trouble someday." She muses for a bit, then shakes her head slowly, "I... fear I don't have much to offer, in regards to 'deeper'..." She frowns, thinking, "Let me see... there are times I fear I will not be a good alpha... or that my fathers will not approve of me..." She's silent for a bit, then says with a bit of frustration, "Maybe if you asked questions about what you were curious about... that might help me return the favor?"

Xarlen considers it. "Abuse of power to drow is like taking over everything around them to further their lives is to humans," he offers with a little cynical grin. "I miss the Underdark sometimes, the closeness of the cavern sky, the beauty of Ched Nasad, the feel of a fellow drow... I never was sure of such a place in any order; chaos reigns, my dear." After a moment, a smile finds him. "Nauthiz was correct." Shaking his head, "Not many questions come to mind, but what 'alpha' is this you speak of?"

Dakini listens with quiet interest, then nods slowly, "I... am not sure I understand, but I'll think on it and try to." She pauses, pondering, then nods, "Alpha. Are you familiar with wolves and their packs?"

Xarlen mms... "Barely... but you don't look like a wolf... unless you're hiding a tail?"

Dakini laughs! "Well, there is shapeshifter blood in my family, but no, not currently." She grins, "Well... not that I know of. Anyway. The leader of a wolf pack is its alpha. That's what I meant."

Xarlen ahs...then inclines his head, tapping his chin. "And you are the leader of...?"

Dakini says, "I was taught that the warriors and nobility protect the working classes, who support them with their labor. It is a two way responsibility... and it's easy to make a mistake, and forget that power comes from below... from the people. It is not owed to you, as a right... it is a sign of respect, half of a contract."

Xarlen says, "That is something that so many nobles miss. It is good that you realize this; so many have made lives miserable."

Dakini adds quietly, "That's what I meant by alpha. Currently I lead only my small family group of Hati, Dammerung, and myself... protecting settled folk would have entailed responsibilities I could not, in good conscience, fulfill, as I was traveling extensively." She sighs ruefully, softly, "Although I suppose we'll be settled here for a good long time... but I don't expect anyone here trusts enough to extend that sort of mutual support to anyone else, let alone willingly allow them any perceived or real power over themselves, so that won't be a problem." She adds with quiet, stern pride to Xarlen, "Not all nobility have forgotten their place, Xarlen, I assure you. Please don't tar all with the errancy and arrogance of a rotten few."

Xarlen nods. "Well, being the head of your small unit doesn't seem that difficult; Hati can handle himself, I am sure, and Dammerung..." He chuckles, patting the couch. "You're doing a fine job. And I'm familiar with the fact that not all have forgotten; not all drow are like those that live under the ground and lust for power."

Dakini tilts her head thoughtfully at Xarlen... then smiles quietly, "Just knowing one is doing a fine job, as you put it, is not always assurance enough that one always will do so."

Xarlen says, "True... but how much guidance does Dammerung require?"

Dakini smiles and shrugs slightly, "Still... it's not really relevant to here and now." She pauses, listening to Xarlen's question, then chuckles softly, "It's more taking care of its needs, really... just as it takes care of mine. We depend on each other... Dammerung, Hati, and I." Her smile gets wry, "We trust each other. Yes, I know that's a dirty word here, but... well, I think folk are the less if they have none. Deny it or no, we're all interconnected somehow." She waves a hand dismissively, "But I'm practically ranting here... and pointlessly so, I fear. So... I will wish you good luck with your hiding, and I will slip out so you may make this suite your own, ja?"

Xarlen smiles then. "Indeed, my dear. Off to do your needing things, hm?"

Dakini rises smoothly, "No. Off to sleep." She slips out the door, her smile sardonically amused as she waves over her shoulder, "Aluv$eacute;, solitary one."

Xarlen comes to the door, peering his head out. "Oh, Dakini?"

Dakini glances over her shoulder, already pacing down the hallway, "Mm?" Xarlen's hand makes a 'come back' gesture. Dakini pauses, her head tilting thoughtfully... then she smiles faintly, turns, and paces silently back.

Xarlen steps up and chuckles. "I seem to have not given a... proper departure. It is time for myself to do some presumptions, but..." The drow lifts a hand, and presses his lips to the end of two of his fingers, giving a brief kiss. He reaches out, tapping the digit-tips upon Dakini's lips, and offers a grin. "Sleep well, Dakini dear."

Dakini watches silently and alertly from behind her replaced shades... she raises an eyebrow at a hand coming right at her face -- with one of her own hands resting on her weapons belt -- but accepts the gesture politely when no malicious intent seems forthcoming.

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