Porcelain Child/Anona And Epheri

13 years previously, RY 755 ...
<onine> Anona... This is one of the *few* classes that you enjoy. Chemistry. There is a slight hum of excitement as the instructor sets down a candle in front of each pair of students' workbench, along with a tray of various powders. Another assistant teacher follows closely behind with another candle, lighting each one that is set down.
<onine> "Now remember, keep the trays away from the candles until I instruct you otherwise, am I clear?"
<onine> The class of dynast children hums in acknowledgement as the rest of the candles and trays are set down, and the Instructor returns to the front of the room, scratching out writing on the blackboard.
<onine> This class is all about the colored flames that various powdered rock and other substances give out when burned, indeed most of the children love this class, as it allows them to set fire to things, indeed the pungent smell of burning paper is already wafting in from behind...
<onine> As fate would have it, Anona has been paired with her cousin Epheri.
* Anona 's attention is absorbed by the rare treat of being /allowed/ to set fire to things.
<onine> "Now then if you take a small pinch - I said a PINCH Markin - of the powdered Chukkah rock, and sprinkle it on the flame - SPRINKLE, NOT DUMP!"
<Anona> "Oooh, GREEN fire!"
<onine> "Anona's observations are evidently correct, you will have green flames, this is because of the sulfates *blah blah*" The instructor begins to jot notes on elements on the board...
* Anona makes a mental note to find out where Chukkah rock comes from.
<onine> The smell of burning paper grows stronger, as a pair of boys (hardly exalt material THATS for certain) burn notepaper...
<Epheri> "why are those boys always trying to burn everything is site?.. they should be concentrating"
<Anona> "Yes, and I already know what notepaper looks like when it burns."
<onine> As the pair of troublemakers continue to burn and dump handfuls of powder on the flame, snickering as they do so... one fails to notice a small lick of flame on his sleeve...
<onine> ...which he of course notices once the flames have taken hold! With wide eyes he waves his flaming sleeve around madly, at one stage smashing it through the container of powders, his arm erupting in an explosion of multicolored flames! "Woah woah WOH!"
<Epheri> "Hold still you stupid boy"
<Anona> "Pretty!"
<onine> The rest of the class roars out with laughter as the disaster takes hold, these boys are frequently reaching new heights of stupidity so it would seem.
* Epheri extinguishes the flames by emptying her water flask over the boy's arms
<onine> The instructor's aid is already in action, dashing over with an enormous bucket of water, which is unceremoniously dumped on the flaming boy and his friend AFTER Epheri's water flask.
<onine> There is a silence as the two boys stand like drowned rats... slowly everyone turns to the Instructor, who watches sternly from the front of the class.
<onine> "You two! Fetch dry clothes at once, then you will come back to mop up that mess, and you will see me after class." He turns to Epheri. "Admirable, but *we* shall do the fire-fighting in class from now on, understood?"
<Epheri> ".. Yes Sir"
<onine> As the two boys trudge sadly out of the classroom door, another man comes in, the headmaster's personal assistant. She whispers a few words to the Instructor who turns to you two.
<onine> "Tepet Anona. Front of the class immediately."
* Anona stands up and walks to the front, with no look of dismay.
<onine> "You are to fetch your bags at once and report to the headmaster's chamber. Quickly now."
<Anona> "Yes sir." Anona runs off immediately.
<onine> You fetch your bag, and are soon ushered into the headmaster's chamber, a large rounded room with many bookshelves stuffed with musty old volumes. The headmaster, a stern old man sits at a large paper strewn desk, a window behind him outlining his bald head.
<onine> "Tepet Anona?"
<Anona> "Yes, sir."
<onine> He stands, shuffling and reading what looks to be an official note, you can see the blue-wax seal still stuck to the top of the page, the same color that is used with most Tepet family letters of importance. "Please, sit down." He gestures to one of the chairs around a smaller table in the main section of the large room.
* Anona sits down, attentive like a good little student.
<onine> The Headmaster reads the note over again and sits down opposite you. "This letter is from your uncle, Tepet Krennell... It would seem that there is some bad news from home Anona. Your mother is dying I'm afraid."
* Anona seems to take the news well, but remains respectfully silent.
<onine> He watches your reaction... "As it would happen, she has requested to see you before she dies... normally I would not allow this, but both your uncle and mother are respected exalts, so I am obligated to allow this. We will have a rider take you within the hour."
<Anona> "Thank you, sir."
<onine> "Yes yes, very well, off you go then." He ushers you out and returns to his desk, carefully refolding the letter and putting it in a drawer
<Anona> "Good day, sir." Anona runs off to find the rider.
<onine> As expected, a rider with a small cart is waiting outside the school, and he takes you south towards Noble, where your family home is located. The streets of Noble are busy with merchants and soldiers preparing to leave for some foray in the Threshold, animals and people noisily move to and fro across the streets.
<Anona> "Are we there yet?"
<onine> Your family home is located near one end of town, but still within the city proper. Your late father had a thing for being near the merchant scene for one reason or another, and located himself accordingly. He also owned another estate in Arjuf - Both cities are a fair distance from the primary Tepet 'stronghold' of Lords Crossing
<onine> "Almost, a few more streets."
<onine> Since you left, shortly after Luen's death, the home has become quite dilapidated, tiles have fallen off the roof, the paint has faded on the gateway, and the gardens are overgrown and full of weeds. There was much talk in other circles that Luen squandered your family's riches in a vain search for something which drove him slowly insane.
<onine> Indeed the sickness that took him was one of madness and delusion.
<onine> The rider slows the cart to a stop. "Well, here we are miss."
* Anona looks around for a servant. Hopefully there's still a couple around the place.
<onine> There are no servants whatsoever nearby. However within the Atrium there are a few people talking in hushed reverent tones.
<Anona> Running to the atrium, Anona demands, "Where's Mother? Is she still alive?"
<onine> You sort-of recognize your uncle Krennell, the lanky dragonblood runs his hand through his graying hair and kneels down to match your height.
<onine> "Ah Anona, yes, she is still here, barely. She has done little else but ask for you in the past days... please, come with me."
* Anona does as she is told.
<onine> He leads you along with the small group of other people up a set of stairs to the upper floors of the house towards the east wing of the home. Many of the paper screens have moth-eaten holes in them, and the now warped and uneven floorboards creak under the group's footsteps.
<Anona>*creak*
<onine> Krennell leads you through one of the few intact screens to the master bedroom, where your mother lays, propped up with pillows. One of the servants tries to wipe her mouth, but Greiha swats at the servant and wails childishly, her eyes darting madly around before focusing on you...
<onine> "My child! My child! Come, let me see you!"
<Anona> "I'm here, mother." Anona approaches.
<onine> Her eyes are sunken and have dark pits under them, her lips are cracked and her skin sweaty and pallid. Saliva foams at the corners of her mouth as she speaks.
<onine> "Where are you my child?!"
* Anona take's Greiha's hand. "I'm here."
<onine> "Anona..." She smiles crookedly at you, one of her eyes loses focus and starts to droop. You never believed that you could see a dragonblood like this.
<onine> "Oh...oh my precious daughters... you are so special to me, and so special to the world, did you know that?"
<Anona> "You should rest, Mother..."
<onine> Most of the onlookers look a little confused. Krennell shifts uncomfortably and ushers the others outside to allow you at least some privacy, but he remains, along with the two servants.
<onine> "Rest? No rest, there is so much importance, we must find the rest, the rest yes!" Greiha tries to rise, but a Krennell and a servant restrain her sorry attempts to leave her bed.
<Anona> "Find what?"
<onine> She cackles, her eyes rolling around.
<onine> "My daughters must find their father, they must find him and the rest, they are special... *laughter*"
<onine> Krennell places his hand on your shoulder. "She's been delirious like this for weeks... Greiha, you have but one daughter, and your husband has been dead for years..."
<Anona> "Is there nothing that can be done?"
<onine> "Nooooo!" Greiha wails and starts sobbing. "Not true, not true! ANONA!!" She lunges and grabs you by the arm and brings her face close to yours, her other hand running shakily down your cheek.
<Anona> This wasn't like her mother at all. "Please, calm down, Mother!"
<onine> "You girls are so special...so special, from a destined stock you are... DESTINED!" She flops back on the pillow laughing
<onine> "The rest, the puzzle, it all must be found, must find your father."
<Anona> "Mother, I don't understand you at all!"
<onine> She starts to cough roughly and vomits a little blood which runs down the corner of her mouth. "They watch they wait they watch they wait, their queen heralds the feast of an age, we wont be saved, unless... un..less...." She stares glassy eyed at the ceiling, and you feel the hand gripping your arm start to slacken.
<onine> Her wheezed breaths start to slow... and soon they fade away.
* Anona stares, speechless.
<onine> One of the servants listens for her breathing and heartbeat a moment, then slowly shakes her head to you and your uncle. She then pulls the sheet up to cover Greiha's ashen face.
<onine> Krennell gently ushers you outside, closing the screen to the room behind you.
<onine> "I am... sorry that you had to experience that Anona... I had hoped that seeing her child would offer some stability to her madness... instead it seemed to topple her further into believing your father still lives and that she had two daughters..."
<Anona> "And she died shortly after..."
<onine> "I fear that this has sought to confuse your thoughts child... but now more than ever you must focus on things. Your studies, your friends."
<Anona> "What's going to happen now?"
<onine> "Well, by right of succession I will take over your family's holdings until you are old enough - and responsible enough to receive them."
<onine> "Since your father... made his choices on how to spend his wealth, there is very little left to assume control of."
<Anona> "Uncle... did you talk to father, before he died?"
<onine> "Indeed I did... he was suffering the same way that your poor mother was nary a minute ago. I was decidedly unable to make sense of his words, just as we were unable to with Greiha just now."
<Anona> "It's strange that they'd both have the same kind of madness."
<onine> "It is true, but not something that can be explained easily..."
<onine> Krennell scratches his chin and furrows his brow thinking on the subject.
<onine> "Either way..."
<Anona> "You'd think I'd know if I had a sister."
<onine> He nods. "Indeed you would, children are something that the dynasty certainly does not hide or conveniently forget about after all. No matter. In the meantime it is too late to send you back to school, you will stay in my home from now on, it is my responsibility as an uncle after all. You can return tomorrow."
<Anona> "Yes sir."
<onine> He leads you down the hall past the small group of people, his words soon turn to trivial matters such as school, how Epheri is doing there, whether you are enjoying the curriculum there and what not. He gently deflects any more talk of family, madness and death.
<Anona> (A good thing, too. Anona is a proper Dynast's child - no open weeping at the drop of the hat - but that might change if she thought about it too long.)
<onine> From then you were adopted into Krennell's home, and he took control of Luen's holdings in Noble and Arjuf, maintaining them as far as you know. You after all became a student of the Heptagram, the status of old homes was beneath you, at least for now...
<onine>

5 years previously, RY 763
<onine> Both of you were accepted and initiated into the Heptagram, you didn’t really see each other about all that much Epheri, and that suited you fine. Since her mother's demise Anona became quite the harsh abrasive scallywag, even moreso after you both exalted.
<onine> At the moment, both of you are dozing, but it is not a peaceful rest that much is certain. You feel in your dreams that your skin is on fire, the heat is oppressive, the kind that is almost tangible in how it envelopes you like molasses...strange, its not usually meant to be this hot at this time of year...
<onine> It is not usually this warm during the Calibration, it is hot yes, after all it is just after the Descending Fire, but *this* hot?
* Anona tosses and turns, not really asleep, not really awake.
<onine> There is a roaring noise that gets quickly louder, the kind that you get when you are submerged in the sea, the underwater sound of crashing waves - its deafening
<Anona> "um... er..." *continues with the tossing and the turning*
<onine> With a gasp, you come awake, the familiar sights of your chambers blur into focus through your sore eyes. A memory of the dream tugs at the corner of your mind.. the eyes... you cant remember whether it was a single pair or a thousand, they were horribly beautiful, twinkling opaline
<onine> A clashing kaleidoscope of all the colors of the rainbow... they seemed to want something, they seemed to desire or hunger for something, but the memory is fast fading now as your conscious mind takes over once again.
<onine> Your body is covered in a sheen of cold sweat, making the thin sheets stick uncomfortably to your body. You notice that you can hear a great deal of commotion about the halls outside, and the light that would normally stream in from the late morning sun is dimmer than usual.
<Anona> "Ugh. What a strange dream..."
* Anona dresses herself and prepares for the day.
<Epheri> "What a strange dream...... I wonder what it means"
<onine> Yes, the commotion outside is definitely not the Heptagram norm, that much is certain, there are people running to and fro, excited shouts, there is definitely *something* going on
* Epheri dresses herself
<Anona> As soon as she's presentable, Anona steps out to see what the fuss is about.
<onine> Yes there are a lot of people running around and talking excitedly in the halls, most are getting others to come out of their rooms - one of the Dragonblood student excitedly and without further explanation yells at you at close range "The sun, go look, its happening!"
<Anona> "What are you babbling about?"
<onine> "Just come on!"
<onine> Other students likewise yell similarly cryptic and confusing things at you Epheri.
* Epheri wanders out of her room and starts walking down the hall
* Anona heads to the nearest window to see what's happening to the sun.
<Epheri> Epheri asks no one in particular "What's going on?'
<onine> "Just look, I've never seen anything like it! Its amazing!"
* Epheri wanders around trying to find a window to look out of and runs into Anona
<Epheri> "What's going on Anona?"
<Anona> "I have absolutely no idea."
<onine> Anona, from where you are watching you can see the morning sun, and a small portion is slowly disappearing before your eyes! As you watch the shape that is 'eating up the sun' begins to cover it slowly until the two shapes reach unison, plunging the land into an unscheduled twilight, lit only by a circular corona in the heavens.
<Anona> "Okay, THAT is a cause for alarm."
<Epheri> "What on earth is that?!" Epheri points out the window as the shape converges over the sun
<onine> Indeed it is, in the courtyard below, a lot of the sorcery instructors (which you now know to be Sidereal Exalted, are observing as well, most seem to be discussing with worried expressions on their faces as more gather here and there to observe the event. Most look to be in concerned shock.
<Anona> "At a guess, it's something doing something to the sun."
* Anona runs off to see if the instructors know anything about this.
* Epheri follows closely behind Anona
<onine> Eventually you find one of the instructors, a Chosen of... Secrets you think, green was secrets...or was it endings? Oh well. He is standing on one of the balconies watching the display with his arms folded across his chest and a concerned look on his face.
<Anona> "Excuse me sir, but do you have any idea of what's going on?"
<onine> Soon the dark shape covering the sun behind to move away from it slowly, and the land is bathed in warm light once again, the hush of the school soon erupts into the roar of speech.
<onine> He seems to be musing about it, "Not good not good... should have known - oh, I'm sorry, yes, can I help you?" he asks distracted.
<Anona> "Sir... this, uh, phenomena... do you know what it is?"
<onine> "Well ah, its the moon moving across the face of the sun, its called a solar eclipse, and it is most concerning, most concerning indeed, excuse me, I must confer with the others -" He dodges quickly past you and strides quickly down the hall.
<Epheri> "Well that didn't really tell us much now did it..."
<Anona> "On the contrary. If there's a name for it, it at least means it's happened before."
<Epheri> "Well if there is a name for it maybe there's some record of this happening before.. perhaps we should check the archives?"
<onine> This deduction seems logical, but the term is fairly unfamiliar to you, if it HAS happened, it hasn’t been for a long time...
<Anona> "That could be a good idea. It doesn't seem to have had any immediate effect, but from the way he was acting maybe it's supposed to be a bad omen."
<onine> Indeed, as you know the Sidereal tend to think a great deal of omens and destiny, if they're worried, it has to be for a very good reason.
<onine> Or a good reason to them at least...
<Anona> "To the library!"
* Epheri quickly walks down the hall and the stairs to the entrance of the library
<onine> As you near the Heptagram's great library, you notice that out of the ordinary, the Library doors are barred shut today, normally they are wide open at all times to allow the students to study at will - In fact, it was encouraged. It looks like you are not the only ones with the idea to read into this matter further...
<Epheri> "Strange... maybe what ever it is they don't want us to find out more in fear of causing a great panic"
<onine> ...a lot of students are outside, the more vocal are complaining to a pair of red-clad Sidereal about the reasons of the closure. You know well enough that the ones in red are less common, but it is considerably unwise to mess with them - but this doesn’t stop the barrage of complaints directed at them.
<Anona> "Stranger and stranger, yes."
<onine> The reasons that the Sidereal are giving seem to be relating to an emergency meeting of instructors being held inside, odd, usually there is a special hall they use...
<Anona> To Epheri "It looks like we won't be getting anywhere in that direction. Well, they can't keep the place barred /forever/. Until they open it back up, let's see what else we can dig up."
<Epheri> "True... where do you propose we go to find out some more info?"
<Anona> "Hm. Good question." Anona briefly considers trying to break into the instructor's personal quarters, but discards the idea since many of them like to keep demons for guards.
<Anona> "I can't really think of much else we could do. Unless one of the other students knows something we don't."
<onine> Soon after the so-called eclipse, the Sidereal reopened the Library, but all the books pertaining to it have been either non-existent or removed beyond the purely scientific ones explaining the moon-sun event. Through sleuthing you do however find out that yes, there has not been one since at least the Realm was founded, and they are a symbol of the Deceivers.
<onine> Shortly after this, word comes that the Empress has left on a sabbatical to meditate on how best to govern the empire, but rumors especially around the Dynasty and Patricians persist that she has indeed disappeared without a trace.
<onine> With the Empress gone, Tepet Fokuf the dottering old man has been appointed regent in her place (a very small honor to the family to say the least) and the Tepet legions were thoroughly crushed by the Solar Anathema, Bull of the North.
<onine> More rumors and tales of Anathema begin to spring up all over the place, and then the Deathlord Mask of Winters takes the city of Thorns...which now brings us to the present day... <

Present day, RY 768. Noble.
<onine> The time has finally come for you two to leave the academy and return home to Noble, where your father (Epheri), Tepet Krennell now runs most of his section of the family having moved from the Imperial Manse.
<onine> After a decently long journey at sea, you arrive at the port of Noble, which to say the least, is far less prestigious than you remember...
<onine> Streets are abandoned, and there are fewer merchants and traders working their shops. Since the disbandment of many legions, the city has suffered greatly, no longer used as a launching and returning point for campaigns in the south.
<onine> The city is clean, but run down, the buildings could all use more paint, the roofs more tiles, the people more smiles
<Anona> "Damn, this place turned into a dump over the last few years..."
<onine> Indeed, it seems that things have gone the way of the Luen Estate when last you saw it Anona...
<Epheri> "Wow, there's hardly anyone here... last I saw this place the city was a buzz with people walking the streets and merchants shops all over the place"
<onine> Tepet Krennell owns the largest estate on the north of town. It is a large place, with many grounds and buildings. (Allow me to find a picture that suits...)
<Anona> "Yes. Things have been hard for some, these last few years."
<onine> There are fewer ships coming to port as well, most are dropping passengers off before heading the extra leg over to Arjuf, the true merchant port of the Blessed Isle
* Anona heads to Krennell's estate, passing by the old Luen house to see if it's finally fallen down yet.
<onine> Now that you are home, what you do is entirely up to you, but you know that Krennell is expecting you, and you've caught wind of some Tepet gathering of sorts this evening also...
* Epheri follows behind Anona looking around the old city she has missed for many years
<onine> You pass the Luen estate, and it appears much the same as you left it, some of the beams have fallen down here and there, and much of the streets and surrounds are now abandoned as well. Krennell has been putting a less than sterling effort to maintain it.
<Anona> "Such a shame. Still, the house will be mine soon enough. It shall have to be restored."
<onine> As if to answer you, it creaks and some shutters bang in the wind...
<Epheri> "Yes it will be.. looks.... and sounds like it's going to need a fair bit of work to make it safe"
<Epheri> "Can we go and find father now Anona?"
<Anona> "We might as well."
* Anona continues on towards Krennell's house.
<onine> Krennell's manse looms in the distance, a massive edifice of stone and tile, it eats up the skyline with its gilded edging and luscious lines. As the afternoon light dims, the golden glow of the windows becomes more apparent.
<onine> It has always been a little puzzling as to why Krennell insisted on having a moat around his home, if only to have a bridge over it and onto his house proper, to give anyone entering a humbling journey into decadence?
<onine>

<onine> When we left our two dragonblooded sorceresses, they were just approaching Tepet Krennell's manse in Noble.
<onine> As you reach the outskirts of the Krennell manse, twilight has just fallen, painting the sky in pinks and oranges, and framing the tall elaborate structure against the sky which is now beginning to twinkle with the night's first stars.
<onine> The outskirts of the property have many gardens (no walls, but it is clearly defined), and is dotted with small buildings, guest houses and ground-servants homes. The manse itself is located on the edge of a hill leading to cliffs. Krennell has dug a deep trench around the front end to allow an arched bridge into the structure.
<onine> There is a small guardhouse (but it isn’t obviously a guardhouse) located on the grounds-side of the Manse, which is staffed by mortal guards. They would not pose a threat for any sizeable force trying to enter, but they are there for show mainly, and to deter intruders.
<onine> Anyone attacking a Dynasty manse with full force (especially one of Krennell's power) would be downright foolish, or posses incredible strength (and reckless bravery to say the least)
<onine> Normally mortals would not even move to stop a Dragonblood, but these guards are given express permission (and responsibility) to question ALL visitor's identities and business before they are allowed to proceed.
<onine> The two are dressed in well maintained legion attire, and are armed with heavy bladed spears.
<Anona> As the guards move to question her "I'm Tepet Anona, and this is Tepet Epheri, Krennel's daughter. We're here to speak with her father."
<onine> The guard shuts his mouth as you second guess his rehearsed words, "Uh, why, uh yes, please go right in, Master Krennell has been expecting you!"
* Anona walks on past the guard, haughtily.
* Epheri follows a few steps behind
<Anona>*searching out Krennell*
<onine> A pair of robed female servants step forward and open the main doors of the manse for you, allowing passage into the positively enormous foyer of the Krennell manse (which you both know well). The interior is decorated with red and gold, with overhanging balconies, tapestries, and works of art displayed prominently - Krennell keeps his home appealing to the eye...
<Epheri> "It's good to see that something’s in this town have remained the same"
<onine> Enormous draping flags displaying banners of the Tepet, the Legions, the Realm and various loyal kingdoms line the hall, and warmth from the manse's furnace heats things nicely in the evening chill.
<Anona> Privately hiding her distrust of such a rich house at the probable expense of her own, Anona agrees. "Yes, you are right."
<onine> Dragonbloods and unexalted patricians dot the hall going about their business alone and in groups, indeed the home is in a bustle. It is one of the largest Tepet controlled manses on the Isle. Indeed, it is almost as busy as many of the Mnemon manses and the Imperial manse itself.
<onine> There are stairs down from you, and some going up to balconies either side of you, and most of the lower rooms are cordoned off by paper screens and elaborately painted doors.
* Anona asks a servant where she might be able to find Krennell.
<onine> Krennell himself is down on the main floor, which is a mosaic of exceptional intricacy, dragons and streams in faded colors so as not to crowd the eye. He seems to be talking to a younger dragonblood in blue, who looks to be an immaculate judging by his dress.
<onine> The servant bows and points to the Tepet patriarch.
<Anona> Anona approaches Krennell. "Greetings, Uncle," being slightly rude by interrupting his conversation.
<onine> "One moment please Tany..." Krennell asks, and the young man bows and steps back.
<Epheri> Epheri wanders over slowly looking around the room all the time remembering the days of when she was a young girl
<onine> "Anona, and Epheri! Welcome home at last, it is certainly good to have you two home once again."
<Epheri> "It is good to see you again father"
<onine> The elder smiles contently at you both.
<onine> "And it is good to see you too Daughter, well now, how have you been?"
<Epheri> "I've been fine Father"
<Epheri> "How have you been?”
<Anona> "What about yourself, Uncle? I see the city has had some changes since last I was here."
<onine> He seems pleased with your nondescript response. "I have been well, although with current events things are not as good as they should be..." he catches himself. But no matter! There shall be plenty of time for you both to regale me with your varied tales and me to regale you as well."
<onine> "You are later than I expected, but still just in time though..."
<Epheri> "In time for what Father?"
<onine> "In time for quite the get together, I'll spare you the details, but a shipment of threshold art pieces has recently been procured and will be auctioned by the Ledaals tonight. Needless to say, collectors from over the realm and the Isle will be here for it... as you can see."
<onine> He gestures at the business of the room at present.
<onine> "It would seem that the Ledaals, like all of the Houses at present, have some need of money, and when it comes to artwork, most dynasts are only too happy to assist in the 'dispersal' of it... so to speak."
<Anona> "And you are hosting this auction?"
<onine> "Not quite, niece, the Ledaals are preferring to hold the auction proper on more neutral ground, for reasons of trust. I hardly blame them."
<Anona> "That sounds interesting enough. Perhaps we could attend...?"
<onine> He glances at the monk.
<onine> "Why yes, of course you will attend!"
<onine> "Oh my, forgive my rudeness, this is Ledaal Tany, he has aided in the arrangements of the auction. Tany, this is my daughter Epheri, and my late brother's daughter, Anona."
<onine> Tany bows low with a gracious smile. "Ladies..." He is handsome, with pale skin like that of a cave fish, and his deep blue hair moves around as if he were submerged in water. He wears a simple yet smart outfit of blues and whites.
<onine> His manner suggests an immaculate, but the fact that he does not wear the characteristic robes, and has his hair tells otherwise.
<Epheri> "Good evening Ledaal Tany" Epheri says with a smile. Then bows slightly.
<Anona> "Sir." returning his bow.
<onine> "Tepet Epheri, so serene and peaceful... and Tepet Anona, flamboyant and fiery. Word of your...style, has spread amongst the Tepet circles."
<onine> Krennell clears his throat. "Yes well, Ledaal Tany is the nephew of lady Ledaal Ariadnei who is married to Tepet Juno. That is why we have been able to secure the honor of hosting this auction over some of the other Ledaal families. Ledaal Ariadnei is a resourceful woman..."
<Anona> "I see."
<onine> "That is quite correct," Tany responds. "Although for the duration and beyond, I am on loan to House Tepet, and Master Krennell."
<Anona> "Where is this "neutral location"?"
<onine> Krennell answers. "That would be the old military hall near the Noble docks, it is close to the ship, lessening the chance of damage to the artworks, and is also in excellent condition. As part of this town, I have done my part to maintain it. Not quite 'neutral' as it were, but certainly more neutral than this manse itself. Neutral enough to satisfy the Ledaals."
<Anona> "Ah, good. That should be an enjoyable way to spend the evening..."
<onine> "Indeed indeed, now then, I expect that you should like to get ready, the Auction and accompanying festivities start very soon, most are there already."
<Epheri> "Father, Ledall Tany, If you would excuse me I think I'll go and find Lady Zora"
<Anona> "Yes, I believe I shall refresh myself before the event."
<onine> "Then we shall see you there." Krennell answers with a smile
<onine> The auction is held at the old military compound back when the legions were frequently stationed in Noble before most were disbanded.
<onine> The assembly hall is where the main party is held has halls outside with many many finely polished wooden doors, and well maintained lighting. If only Krennell had maintained the same level of care with the Luen estate...
<onine> In the halls and the chamber inside are many dynasts, Dragonblood and patrician alike. Servants travel around with crystal goblets of fine fruit-juice and wines. Music is playing and the rumble of many voices echoes around the room. There is a domed skylight allowing an unspoiled view of the stars and moon tonight.
* Anona attempts to enjoy the atmosphere, despite her misgivings.
<onine> Various rich ladies wear the customary 'challenge' dresses. The ones where master dressmakers try to create a gown that reveals as much skin as possible without appearing tasteless - although that can be considered debatable. There are many 'string and beads' affairs this evening, which seems to be the latest craze with the dynasty dressmakers...
<onine> Most of the conversation is somewhat airheaded and juvenile, gossip and rumor. There ARE a few military types that seem out of place that tend towards the edges of the gathering.
<onine> You hear a few thing here and there over the course of the pre-auction gathering. One tidbit pertains to the loss of one of the two remaining Tepet skyships. Apparently the Winterclover crashed just north of Pangu proper, and was subsequently burnt by the subject of the SECOND interesting piece of gossip - Tepet Alphaeios...
<onine> This has spurred further rumors of anathema involvement in the loss of the Winterclover. Tepet Alphaeios is definitely a name you know...
* Anona 's ears perk up at any phrase containing "burnt"
<onine> The psychotic scion son of Tepet Juno and Ledaal Ariadnei, Alphaeios is a ruthless anathema hunter - he would be reigned in and disciplined for his heavy handed methods if he was not so effective at his chosen professions. Where he is involved, property damage and loss of personnel is enormous.
<onine> He is known for even greater destruction than you, Anona - and rumor has it that he is in the area...
<onine> You know that he is exceptional with the sword - and sorcery...
<Anona> To epheri "What an unfortunate circumstance. We were hardly making do with two skyships, so I've heard.... it's a wonder Alphaeios got away with it."
<Epheri> "Yes it's going to make things more difficult now with only one skyship, but maybe they are going to be replaced with something else"
<onine> It is simple - it was his father's. Tepet Juno owns both of the two skyships, the Winterclover and the Snapdragon, and there was no real proof that he was the ultimate cause of the destruction - none of his men are traitorous (or insane) enough to go against Alphaeios...
* Anona mentally places the man on her "possible candidate for smiting if can get away with it" list.
<onine> The method for building skyships is lost even to Lookshy, it is possible that the Deathlords are able to construct them, and likely the newly exalted Anathema.
<onine> Unfortunately, that is as much as you know about Alphaeios, other than the fact that he would be a gem to marry off, if he weren't so plain nuts.
<onine> You two would make a wonderful couple Anona...
* Anona continues mingling, while waiting for the main event.
<onine> After some time of mingling half-heartedly, Krennell stands on the podium and announces that the auction will begin for those interested in the next hall over. You suspect that most that are here, are there for the mingling as opposed to the art, but a good portion of the large group starts to make their way to the auction room...
* Anona follows the crowd to the auction.
<Epheri> While following Anona, Epheri mumbles to herself "This outta be /interesting/"
<onine> The Auction room is upstairs and has a large window to the sea, where you can see the glittering lights of moored ships. Other than the window, the room is quite similar to the ballroom below. Chairs have been laid out in rows, and the rows closer to the front are quickly being filled by Dragonbloods and patricians alike
<onine> An older patrician bangs his gavel on the lectern and begins the proceedings...
* Anona makes her way to a good seat, subtly pushing aside those in her way - the patricians, anyway.
<Epheri> "My god you can be rude at the best of times Anona"
* Epheri apologizes to all the people Anona has pushed out of the way
<onine> "Good evening friends, family, members of our great houses, (to Krennell and Zora) esteemed hosts... Welcome! Our collection tonight has been gathered freshly from the threshold and generously donated by House Ledaal."
<Anona> "It takes dedication and talent."
<onine> "Our first item tonight..."
<onine> The auction begins, and various tribal motifs are sold, painting sculptures, occasional carvings and other baubles and 'useless crap' at least to you, but one item is of great and unexpected interest...
* Anona bids on some of the uglier items so she may put them out of her misery at a later time.
<onine> "Item number seventeen this evening is this nondescript swordhilt. Found on the outskirts of the eastern forests, this hilt is finely crafted, with inlays of gold and mother-of-pearl. Jewel sockets line the pommel, and the grip is suited perfectly for a blade of three-point-five feet or longer."
<onine> The young female assistant brings the hilt out, it is impressive, easily for a Daiklave, and would fit a Grand Daiklave well. A few murmurs go up throughout the audience as it is displayed. It looks heavy, the assistant holds it tightly in a two-handed grip.
<Epheri> "Would you look at the rocks on that!"
<onine> "A perfect item for display, or even for the discerning warrior or swordsmith to reforge into a fine and unique weapon... We shall start the bidding at ,. Do I have ,..."
<onine> Anona, this swordhilt is *very* familiar to you, but you're having trouble placing it.
<Anona> "Epheri, have you ever seen something like that before?"
<Epheri> "Maybe in my dreams......"
<onine> "I have ,, wait, ..."
<Anona> "I *know* I've seen that before." *raises hand to make a bid*
<onine> "I have ,! to the lady in orange..."
<onine> ",." says a dragonblooded man at the front, a few whispers go up from the mob, this is by no means a high bid, but he has more than doubled the standing offer.
<Epheri>*raises hand* ","
<Anona> " thousand."
<onine> "I have ,!"
<onine> ", ladies and gentlemen!"
<onine> "!" A woman behind.
<Anona> "."
<onine> "eighty thousand, come now, do you really want this lovely item to escape you at a mere ,?"
<onine> "One hundred thousand." The man at the front again.
* Epheri whispers to Anona "This goes against my better judgement dear cousin, Perhaps you should go and have a /word/ with this chap at the front.. seeing as how you want this so badly"
<onine> "!" A new bidder announces.
<onine> "One-twenty-five, do I hear one-thirty?"
<onine> ",." Says the man at the front, followed by a from the woman behind.
<onine> ",." The man at the front has his heart set on the hilt.
<Anona> "Oh, no, I'll beat him fair and square. Three hundred thousand!"
<onine> There are a few gasps from the room.
<onine> "Mercy me! Three hundred thousand!"
<onine> "Four hundred!" The man tops you."
<Anona> Gritting her teeth, Anona ripostes with "Four fifty."
<onine> A soft feminine voice from the front left says. "Half a million."
<onine> "Half a million, I have half a million!"
<Epheri>*jaw drops*
<Anona>*Urge to smite rising* "five hundred fifty thousand."
<onine> "Six hundred." The woman behind.
<onine> "Seven hundred and fifty." The man in the front.
<onine> "..." The woman with the soft voice speaks up. Some of the people begin to murmur curiously.
<Anona>*under her breath* "Damn."
<Epheri> "I can LEND you some money if you'd like Anona.. that's if you want this soo badly"
<onine> The man looks over at her, and she smiles sweetly back.
<Anona> "It's just... if I don't get this now, I'll probably have to commit some crimes later on. I /need/ to know why that thing is so familiar!"
<onine> The dragonblood smiles back and raises his hand, not taking his eyes off the woman. "."
<Anona> "Still, if you're offering... *raises voice* One. Million. Bits."
<onine> Oh the gasping!
<onine> "One million, one hundred and fifty thousand!" The dragonblood counters.
* Epheri wonders what Anona will do when we run out of money for bidding......
* Anona 's skin visibly reddens, and not from embarrassment. ",,."
<Anona>*lower* "I'll make it up to you, Epheri."
<onine> "One million, two-hundred and fifty thousand! I have ,,!"
<Epheri> "...You had better"
<onine> ",, going once!?"
<onine> You can see that the dragonblood at the front is seething a little, and the soft-voiced woman seems disheartened as well.
<onine> ",, going twice?!?"
<onine> The auctioneer lets the silence drag on....
<Epheri> "Oh God" *Covers her eyes*
<onine> "Five Million." A dark voice from the very back of the hall.
* Anona looks back to the end of the hall, to put a face to the voice she's going to have to barbecue sooner or later.
<onine> There is quite a lot of neck craning, and a lot of faces go a little pale at the concept of that much money going for an art piece.
<onine> You can sort of see a robed figure, but people are standing up from their chairs to look.
<Epheri> "Eh......"
<onine> "Five million going once!"
<onine> "Five million going twice!"
<onine> "Five million going three times?!"
<onine> The auctioneer allows the silence to drag (at least as silent as it is over the murmurs...)
<onine> The Ledaal family members looks quite pleased for obvious reasons. million is the kind of money that patriarchs and family branch heads have access to, and even they don’t like to throw it away.
<onine> "SOLD! To the dark gentleman, standing in the isle...." The auctioneer allows a trace of sarcastic humor to enter his voice, and a lot of milling around and talking ensues...
<Epheri> "What kinda of person would want to spend million on a sword hilt?"
<Anona> "A rich wacko, perhaps. Or someone who knows something we don't."
<Epheri> "Perhaps we should seek out this /wacko/ and find out what he knows"
<Anona> "I was planning on doing that."
* Epheri wanders off to find this mysterious person
* Anona also looks for tall, dark, and loaded
<onine> Indeed a lot of people are sharing the views and curiosity of the mysterious bidder. The Dragonbloods you were bidding primarily against are now speaking with each other and walking arm in arm to the door (eh?)
<onine> Tall dark and loaded seems to have disappeared in the confusion.
<onine> Krennell walks up to you both
<onine> "I see you were most interested in that old hilt niece."
<Anona> "I've seen it before. I think."
<Anona> "Is there any way you could find out who bought that thing?"
<onine> "That seems hardly likely young Anona, its a relic from a barbarian nation, nothing more." he changes the subject annoyingly. "I see that you almost out-bid Juno and Ariadnei, very interesting. Had the hilt gone to you would have been the talk of the evening..."
<Epheri>*Thinks to herself*.... "Oh she'll be the talk to the evening before the nights out... I'm sure of it...."
<onine> "Hmmm, well, the post-auction party awaits..." He gestures to the door that most seem to be filing out of, deep in discussion.
<Anona> What little politeness Anona can muster is rapidly wearing thin, even with her uncle. "But the man who bought it? Do you know who he is?"
<onine> "No, I do not... it is of little concern anyway."
* Epheri has a shocked expression on her face at the tone of voice her father has just used
<Anona> "Ah well. I suppose my curiosity will have to remain unsatisfied." After the bare minimum of courtesies, Anona sets out to wherever the buyers would settle up with the auctioneers.
* Epheri quickly follows after Anona
<onine> "Epheri, a moment..."
<Epheri> Epheri pauses and reluctantly turns around "Yes Father?"
<onine> He speaks quietly as Anona stalks off. "You and I both know of her gravitation towards rash action... ensure she is controlled . I do not want a disaster this evening."
<Epheri> "Yes Father... is there anything else?"
<onine> "No...." he pauses a moment considering. "No nothing. Quickly now, keep an eye on her."
* Epheri runs off to catch up with Anona
<onine> Now then, Anona, you find that you are decidedly unable to locate any information, nor extract any from the auctioneers, confidentiality and all that. You are unable to 'muscle' the answers you seek either, as the one you are speaking to is a Dragonblood of considerably high station.
<onine> He is very abrupt and curt in turning you away.
<onine> The best bet looks to be laying in wait when the party dies down and the buyers go to collect their new acquisitions.
<onine> During the closing stages of the party, you see the Dragonblood Tepet Juno and his wife Ariadnei (whom you bid against) speaking in hushed tones to none other than young Ledaal Tany, who nods quickly and heads out the door. As you make your way to the auction room to await the buyer, the Ledaal that turned you away before glares back at you annoyed.
<onine> The party is dying down nicely, people are traveling home, some to stay the evening in Krennell's home enjoying his hospitality, some taking carriages or personal sailing vessels. The servants go about cleaning the hall. You see a few drunken exalts staggering out for nighttime liaisons and other tomfoolery...
<onine> Most of the buyers are collecting goods and discussing their new acquisitions amongst themselves, commenting on the auction and what-not. Your tall dark and loaded is nowhere in sight.
* Anona considers sticking her tongue out at the Ledaal, but the rare occurrence of wisdom overrides impulse.
<onine> And he doesn't seem to be showing either, patience is wearing thin...
<Anona>*to no one in particular* "Did he already pick it up? Or not show up at all?"
<Epheri> "I have no idea.. maybe he got someone to pick it up for him"
<onine> "Hmm, who?" Comments one of the ladies, who has put on one of her new pieces of jewelry and admires her reflection in the gem. "Oh the high-roller, hmm, not sure, I didn’t see the hilt with the other goods when I picked this up. Nice isn’t it?"
<Anona> "Yes, yes, very pretty. *muttering* surely he didn't just waltz in here invisibly to buy a simple sword-hilt..."
<onine> She ignores your dour mood and returns to her tittering giggly conversation with her friends.
<Anona> Finally, Anona braves the Ledaal auctioneer's wrath for a second time. "Excuse me, but that sword-hilt... I don't see the buyer anywhere around. Has he picked it up? Because, as I recall, if he doesn't show the winning bid would be /mine/..."
<onine> He grumbles as he processes a transaction for a silly painted rock. "He has, and you haven't, now move along, I am growing frustrated with your loitering."
* Epheri wonders how long it'll be before Anona cracks
<Anona> "Very well." After all, the Invincible Host of the Dragon-Blooded is only around ten thousand, surely she'll run into him eventually. With overwhelming and pre-emptive force, if possible.
* Anona toddles off.
<onine> Cute... (for expediency) You are exiting the hall with little else to do when you spot, rounding the corner down the street, a black robed person... hood, cloak, that LOOKS like him alright.
<Anona> The air around Anona begins to shimmer, as if from midsummer's heat.
<Anona> "Pardon me, sir...!?"
<onine> The man stops, then picks up his pace, quickly rounding the corner. He's not running yet, but he certainly isn't slowing down to talk.
* Anona starts to jog after the man.
* Epheri follows earnestly behind Anona.. as if knowing what is about to happen
<onine> (Alright)
<Anona> "Look, we can do this the civilized way and talk, or you can keep running and we do this the /interesting/ way!" If he keeps running, Anona will spend motes ( surcharge, for the actual charm) to fire a weak elemental bolt as a warning shot, aiming to miss.
<onine> As you run, you leave Epheri in her heavier white dress trailing behind
<onine> The firebolt slaps with a *fwoosh* against a house balcony railing, but he does not stop, his path trails to the side as he watches the bolt fly past, but his pace does not slow...
<onine> His path takes the both of you down streets and alleyways of the late night city towards the east. Leaping over crates and carts, knocking over vendors goods as they close up for the night. Chickens flap and squalk as you both pass... this direction is leading -
<onine> - to the Luen estate, you can see it up ahead on the right.
<onine> The shadowy figure ducks into the dilapidated front gate and inside. He is nowhere in sight by the time you reach your old home.
<Anona> "Ha! Wherever you are, I know this place like no one else!"
* Anona begins to stalk around the old estate, listening for the tiniest evidence that will give her quarry away.
<onine> The house looms up in front of you, draughts blowing through the destroyed windows makes a hollow whistling noise that is a little on the haunting side. The large ragged holes in the screens gape like silent screaming mouths. Shadows play darkly in the gardens, a lot darker than usual, and your ears feel as if stuffed with cotton.
<onine> The wooden front door is slightly ajar, the red paint mostly chipped off. The full moon does little to cast light on the situation. You swear you hear a rustle like a fabric flag in a stiff breeze above you, but see nothing...
<Anona> "Something isn't right here."
* Anona continues her investigations.
<onine> The main atrium is as you last saw it, except the stairs have long since collapsed, only the banisters remain. Light is actually better inside, the holes in the screens aid that, but cast jagged horrible shadows on everything.
<onine> You hear a sharp gasp of fright deeper in the left wing, the panting fades. There is occasional creaks and groans, but no other sound. The building is somewhat U shaped, with the entrance at the base of the U, and in the center is a small courtyard and shrine at the end. To the north (where the sound was...)
<onine> ...Is your father's old study. He spent many a day in there intent on one thing or another.
* Anona peers into the darkness.
<onine> The darkness peers back. You can almost imagine eyes looking back at you. The sound came from deeper down the halls, the old study was at the very end of the wing.
* Anona runs to the sound. (Just like a good horror movie protagonist!)
<onine> (wait, did I say study? I meant attic.)
<onine> The halls down the northern wing run either side of a large high-ceilinged martial arts training room, most of the screens are gone or fallen, and the straw mats are badly deteriorated. You can still see various old weapons, staves, swords etc, on their racks covered in dust. The halls meet up behind the room where...
<onine> The door to the study is located.
<onine> It also is wood, and ajar, light streams through into the hall as you open the door to the familiar old room. The bookshelves on the high ceilinged room have collapsed, and the books are now strewn around the floor. The room as far as people goes is completely empty, save for someone lying at the foot of the desk, the widening pool of red glinting in the moonlight.
<onine> You can see the sword hilt on the desk as if the man had just put it down.
* Anona goes to examine the body.
<onine> The man isn’t the one you saw before, he wears brown as opposed to the bidder in deep gray. He gasps and chokes a little as you turn him over, a needle thin throwing weapon imbedded deeply in the side of his neck.
<onine> He's alive. Barely.
* Anona does the noble thing and tries to remove the weapon and bandage the wound as best she can. And this was a /nice/ robe, too!
<onine> He struggles against you and tries to reach his hand to the desk where the hilt is. He looks at you and mouths out some words...
<onine> The word is easy enough even as blood pools out his mouth. The word run, repeated over an over.
<onine> You feel rather than hear the presence drop down to the desk above you, the black shadow of the person's body washes over you and the dead man in your arms.
* Anona whirls about to face... whomever.
<onine> You can see a face, but the light through her hair suggests light hair, and she wears simple clothing, almost peasant gear, with a brown kids jacket over it. She is crouched low on the desk on one knee, with another arm out to balance her. Her free hand rests on the grip of the swordhilt.
<onine> "You would be wise to go. I am not against killing you too dynast."
<Anona> "Ill-kept and abandoned it may be, this is MY house. And I wish to know what is so important about that sword-hilt."
<onine> She chuckles. "Why would you care? It doesn't belong to you."
<Anona> "I have seen it before. I do not know where, or when, but it is familiar to me."
<onine> "Your dirty thieving hands will never touch Irezua. But you will see it again... I guarantee it."
<Anona> "You accuse me of thievery? That is, perhaps, one of the things I have *never* done."
<onine> She spits. "Child! You know nothing but presume to know so much. You sicken me. Go sit in your palaces of jade, it will do you no good. You should be grateful, you at least know the name of your doom."
<Anona> Scowling, Anona spit out her reply. "I have no palace but what you see, an estate long-looted by my uncle. I stand in my own house, named a thief by one who is, by all appearances, one herself! In the Heptagram, I saw many strange things, but none stranger than this, by the Dragons!"
<Anona> Anona continues, building up steam. "Not just a thief, but a murderer, no less!"
<onine> "Bah! Coming from the ilk of those who have murdered and stolen so much!"
<onine> "I will make you all PAY for what you did to him! All of you!"
<Anona>*spends motes to ignite anima* "I know not what you're accusing me of, but I will not stand for such slander!" The room itself begins to catch fire.
<onine> Her hiss is like that of a cornered snake "Dragonblood...."
<onine> Her hand slowly releases the hilt, and menacingly takes a butterfly sword and dagger from her belt.
<Anona> "Leave, or I shall bring this house down around us."
<onine> "Little terrestrial who likes to play in a world much bigger than she... How..."
<onine> As your anima burns you see her green eyes flash predatory, and an empty golden circle appears brightly branded on her forehead.
<onine> "...amusing."
<Anona> "Leave, or I shall bring this house down around us."
<onine> "Little terrestrial who likes to play in a world much bigger than she... How..."
<onine> As your anima burns you see her green eyes flash predatory, and an empty golden circle appears brightly branded on her forhead.
<onine> "...amusing."

Epheri follows...<b>
<onine> In the mean time Epheri, it is not difficult to follow where Anona has been, many small spot fires dot the neighborhood here and there from 'indiscriminate elemental bolts'

<b>The Luen Study...
<Anona> Two voices begin to yammer in Anona's head. One, quite frightened yet rational, suggests that running would be a good idea. The other voice is loud and angered beyond belief. The angry voice always wins.
* Anona focuses her Essence through the elemental lens on her wrist that she is never without, unleashing a gout of fire at the Anathema.
<onine> The Anathema's eyes flash to your hands and with an inhuman level of quickness she rolls to the side and off the wooden desk, landing low on the floor next to it like a jungle cat... an immensely evil one.
<onine> The roaring flames surge over the desk, charring the dusty mahogany surface into a char black, the wooden window frames behind bear the full brunt of the blow, glass and flaming splinters raining into the gardens outside.
<Anona> "Damn!"
<onine> The anathema looks up at you, and a savage animalistic growl rumbles from her throat as her gloved hands claw at the floor. As if coming alive the shadows begin to move and elongate around you, the moon dims and even the very sound of your roaring anima become muffled and indistinct. The only thing that remains at its brightest is the Anathema's burning mark.
<onine> It beams out of the deepened gloom at you, almost taunting.
<onine> The Anathema surges forward, the wickedly curved dagger ripping a long furrow in the floor mats before rising in a savage upward slash to lay you open from right hip to left shoulder.
* Anona sidesteps the dagger's thrusts as if she did this every day.
<onine> The anathema quickly reverses her blow sideways, slashing high for Anona's throat, roaring out angrily with the blow.
* Anona ducks, again with no fear.
<onine> With your backward steps, you grow close to the toppled books and volumes. Already the frayed edges of the floor mats have caught aflame, and you can through the gloom see that the trees in the gardens are beginning to catch nicely from your impressive fireball.
<onine> The anathema darts forward, stabbing savagely with the dagger towards your face...
<onine> Trails of golden energy surge around the blade as it darts at you faster than your eyes can see, it seems more like a sudden bright flash of gold and silver.
<onine> The lightning fast blow sails past your ear and severs a few locks of hair, but when the anathema pulls her arm back, the sleeve of the jacket is on fire from your burning anima!
<Anona> "HA!"
<onine> Her circular mark glows with the intensity of the sun, and the shadows wash away as if they were mere ink to water. She staggers back patting down her arm frantically.

Epheri races on...
<onine> By now Epheri, you have tracked the prodigal fire aspect to the old Luen mansion on the east side of town, you can smell burning wood, and see above further within the complex, wisps of smoke and the slight orange glow of fire...
<Epheri> On entering the dilapidated mansion Epheri hears a tremendous crashing sound coming from up the stairs

The battle continues!
<onine> Inside, the Anathema snarls angrily at Anona. She lightly jumps up and places one foot firmly on the edge of the desk, and launches herself in a savage flykick towards the fire aspect.
* Anona tries to stand aside for this kick, as well, but she has given up too much ground and tries to walk into the wall. This is ineffective, and the kick knocks her through the fragile, rotten wood.
<onine> The kick lands square in the center of your chest, knocking the wind out of you and pushing you staggering backwards into the mountains of books, which in seconds are aflame.
<onine> You topple as books catch on your feet, sending you crashing through the splintering doorway and into the hall outside.
<onine> The anathema drops gracefully to the ground and drops into an obscure martial arts stance.
<onine> Leaping like a cat, and like no human can, the Anathema sails through the air and tries to use her momentum to strike as she lands over Anona
<Anona> Anona recovers, but not fast enough to evade the Anathema again - she lands a glancing blow to Anona's arm.
<onine> The blow catches Anona on the shoulder as she tries to dodge away and come to her feet, it unbalances her, but she manages to get away comparatively scott-free
<onine> In the mean-time, Epheri is well aware that there is combat going on...what to do....

Run, Epheri, run...
* Epheri presses her hands together, then slowly pulls them apart, white sparks of essence arcing between her fingertips.
<onine> Standing in the hall, you can hear more female voices, and more crashing in the distance.
* Epheri brings them apart, her palms glowing with energy, and quickly traces a coruscating circle around herself which slowly spreads and engulfs her body in a shiny bronze coating
<onine> The floorboards beneath you creak as the bronze magic covers your body and makes your body like that of a statue, both in resistance and in weight. You hear yet another crash deep in the house.

For Anona needs you!
<onine> The Anathema lunges at you and her gloved hands roughly grab a handful of your robes, and another seizes tightly around your throat, lifting you a little off the ground. The momentum of the attack presses you against the wall separating the hallway and the training room.
* Anona is too busy with coughing and choking to do much in the way of planned actions.
<onine> With a shrieking snarl, the Anathema slams you twice into the wall. Already weakened from the harsh flames of your anima, the second strike sends you crashing through it and tumbling onto the mats of the martial training room, the glowing monster steps in slowly through the newly made entrance
<Anona> "Aie!" - the wind is knocked clean out of Anona.
<onine> You regain your precious breath and your breathing is a little easier now that her hand no longer squeezes your throat.
<Anona> A further burst of fire knocks Anona back to her feet as soon as she hits the ground, though looking much the worse for wear.
<onine> The Anathema chuckles, annoyingly pleased with herself. "Now do you see, terrestrial? How small you really are?"
<Anona> "I see only one thing."
<onine> The anathema prowls around you eyeing you curiously with the catlike green eyes. "Oh?"
<Anona> "An opening." Anona cuts loose a bolt of fire into the Anathema, point-blank.
<Anona> The bolt is weak and ill aimed, but at such close range cannot help but hit, scorching the Anathema's skin and clothing further.
<onine> The Anathema seems to sense the attack coming, but reacts nowhere near as quickly as the first, lunging to the side, trails of golden fire begin to leap off her body as her powers begin to show, but it is not enough, the flame scorches her arm and she cries out with pain and rage, ending her dodge in a roll.
<onine> By now, the entire room is lit by the golden fire of the demon....
<onine> The remains of the flaming bold splatter against one of the supports for the ceiling, knocking the weakened wood to the side and setting fire to a section in the middle.

Epheri...
<onine> Epheri, you hear what sounds like... a jaguar snarling almost, and there is another loud crash further in the hall.
<Epheri> Meanwhile Epheri is making her way towards the source of the last crashing sound as silently as one can possibly be when they are covered in bronze
<onine> Epheri, you reach a door, and you can hear a female voice on the other side say "...an opening" Then the sounds of roaring flame and a woman's cry of pain comes.
<Epheri> Feeling the searing heat of the flames through the door Epheri takes a moment to let the heat die down before opening the door and facing what lies in wait behind it

DUN DUN DUUUUNNN!
<onine> You can see Anona standing on one side of the long hall, her flaming aura bringing like a bonfire around her, she looks haggard and worse for wear. On the other side, is a terrifying sight - an Anathema!
<Epheri> "Anona what are you doing?....." Epheri's voice trails off at the sight of the Anathema
<onine> She is dressed in simple peasants trousers, gloves and a worn brown child’s jacket that looks a little too small. She is quite pretty for a demon, with long blond hair and green eyes. She crouches low, her body surrounded by a golden bonfire of essence.
<onine> She turns her head suddenly at you, the empty cycle of the anathema's demon brand glows like the sun on her forehead.
<onine> Small spotfires are all around the room, and smoke is pooling in from a smashed section of wall (coming from the study, now quite ablaze...
<Epheri> As opposed to Anona's, shoot first ask question later method, Epheri asks the seemingly /glowing/ demon "What is going on in here.. and what has my cousin done to provoke being attacked by you?"
<onine> The anathema glares at you and seems to consider her situation. Two Dragonbloods, and her aura flaming like a solar flare.
<onine> "Another dynast, how quaint... and a sorcerer too, they let you dragon-ilk thieves have magic now?"
<Epheri> "Thieves... what are you talking about?"
<onine> "Yes, I know what you believe... arrogant worms."
<onine> "You'll pay for what you've done soon enough Dragonbloods, its only a matter...of time."
<Anona> "... I... asked her the same question... you see the response...
<Epheri> "Pay for what exactly?"
<Epheri> "You have all these wild allegations.. and yet you don't seem to back them up with any evidence when questioned about them"
<onine> "Soon..." she growls and claws at the ground. Her bonfire anima surges a little and her body takes upon a slight blur. "Soon."
<onine> She runs - faster than any normal human, out the door towards the flaming study -
* Anona attempts to stagger behind. She knows what the demon must be looking for...
<onine> You arrive just in time to see the anathema leap upon the desk surrounded by both natural and unnatural flames, her hand grasping the hilt of the blade. She turns as you enter.
<onine> "You steal our world and slay us, and pretend that you are righteous? You betray us, you murder my prince, and you call US demons!? Your time is coming terrestrial!"
<onine> With that she runs and leaps through the gaping hole you blasted in the study windows, great ivory feathered wings burst from her back trailing loose feathers. The wings flap loudly and take the Anathema up into the skies, within seconds she is gliding in the distant night sky, another speck amongst the stars
<Anona> Nodding to the charred corpse on the floor, Anona retorts with "As I see it, YOU are the only thief, the only murderer in this room. Take your damned toy and go, and know only I shall come to retrieve it, some day."
<onine> There is a crash behind you as the flaming beam in the martial room topples, bringing the roof down inside
<Epheri> "We better get outta here before this place comes down on top of us"
<Anona> To Epheri: "Yes, I think that would be a good idea." *hobble hobble limp*
<onine> The study is already a raging inferno, Anona may be immune to fire at least temporarily, and Epheri may be able to weather the flames for a while, but none of you are protected from having a roof land on you.
<Anona> Fitting action to word, I'm getting out of here as quickly as possible.
* Epheri hears the creaks and moans from various support beams as she runs through the blazing house

Outside the Ruined Estate...
<onine> You stagger through the mansion, Anona leaving flaming little footprints on the mats behind her. As you exit you can see that the townspeople have already gathered around the spectacle of 'the ol Luen place is a-burnin!'
<onine> Most get well clear when the two Exalts come past, and most steer clear of the other Dragonblood there, Ledaal Tany.
<onine> Some civilians are attempting to form a fire-fighting team, but the flames have already taken control of the north wing.
<onine> "Well." Tany remarks. "You certainly live up to the reputation."
<Anona> "It was for the best possible reason."
<onine> "You have burned down one of Krennell's holdings for 'best possible reasons?"
<Epheri> "Yes.. it appears that Anona was having /words/ with a solar.. who for some reason said that WE murdered her prince..."
<Anona> "I have burned down *MY
* holding, Tany. Krennell was merely holding it in trust until I reached adulthood. Which I have."
<onine> "An anathema? Really..."
<onine> "I wouldn’t know anything about your dealings with your uncle, but I do have to take you in. You can explain yourself it to your uncle."
<Anona> "As you will. I'm in no mood - nor *cough
* condition to argue with you."
<onine> "Good, good... I would be loathe to have to call the Dragon-handlers on such a pretty pair of ladies, or.." he pauses scratching the corner of his mouth to hide a smirk. "...stop you myself..."
* Epheri rolls her eyes
<onine> "Now then... shall we...?"
<onine> His voice trails off as you become aware of the sound of many galloping horses.
* Anona looks around for the riders.
<onine> From down the street a unit of about 10 cavalry approaches quickly. At the head of the unit are three Dragonbloods, one young female wood aspect with ebony black hair wearing green and white, a stocky built rugged man, probably an earth aspect, and leading them, one of the most beautiful men you have ever seen.
<onine> He has a boyish face and grey-white hair, but his amber eyes gleam coldly. Each member of the group wears a similar set of blackened armour, and one soldier bears a deep purple banner depicting black dragon encircling the sun.
<onine> The cavalry comes to a halt before you, and the young leader looks up at the flaming mansion.
<onine> Tany mutters under his breath. "Oh sh..."
<onine> "Another Tepet holding destroyed... frustrating." The warrior says with a light melodious voice. He seems almost bored, and the seriousness of an entire mansion destroyed doesn’t seem to register in his voice.
* Anona merely stares at the newcomers, quizzically.
<onine> "We are too late lord, it would seem" The earth aspect mutters grimly.
<onine> The young leader waves his hand dismissively as if it is a mere trifle. "Nonsense Tristi, I am certainly enjoying this one greatly, it is quite a quarry, I do rather wonder how she keeps slipping through our fingers... perhaps she has help..."
<Anona> "If you mean for the Anathema, you would be correct."
<onine> He glares at you two.
<onine> "Indeed. Who are you?" his voice is monotone.
<Anona> "Tepet Anona, daughter of Luen and Geiha, and owner of this estate. Or what remains of it."
<onine> "Hrmph... Odd, I had always been aware of this being a Krennell holding."
<onine> "Tristi, Oke, a search party if you will..."
<Anona> "The ownership devolved to him, in trust, as I was but a child when my parents died."
<onine> The other two Dragonbloods begin to order the mortal members of the cavalry to dismount and scout the grounds.
<onine> "Hmmm" he smiles sarcastically looking up at the flames. "You certainly have a light touch with your inheritance..."
<onine> Alphaeios is godsdammed attractive, but he has this intimidating manner, the way he looks at you, as if you are something he is deciding whether or not he can kill.
<Anona> "In the state Krennell left the place, it is naught but a blessing to burn it down. As it is, I managed to scorch your demon before she could escape."
<onine> "She! Aha... the missing body from the Winterclover, of course. And just how *did
* she escape from who is supposed to be a prodigy of the house, hmmm?"
<Epheri> "By jumping out the window and flying away"
<onine> "By flying." He glares disbelieving.
<Anona> "I did not expect a demon when I came to see exactly how bad the neglect of this estate was. She caught me by surprise, and yes, she did indeed fly, or something like it."
<Anona> "Does that strike you as unusual, somehow?"
<onine> "They don't normally fly this early..." he says quietly
* Anona shrugs; it is all the same to her. "Any graduate of the Heptagram could do as much, with a little preparation."
<onine> "I am well aware of what sorcery is capable of." he seems a little annoyed at you now.
<Epheri> "I'm not sure if this helps you or not.. but before she /flew away/ she mentioned something about us killing her prince"
<onine> He leans forward and smiles condescendingly. "Of course she does. We slaughter them every day. They are demons and animals and are treated as such. Perhaps they would prefer us to submit to their heinous rule again?"
<Anona> "She seemed to be accusing us personally. And I, at least, have killed no one. Not for lack of trying tonight, I grant."
<onine> "And failing. I suppose you can at least be thankful that you are alive, even though she was fresh and weak. Let you live did she?"
<Anona> "Not precisely. 'Attempted to kill me, found it was a tougher job than what she was used to, and ran - /flew/ - off when reinforcements came" is more like it."
<onine> "You at least have the brainpower for a halfway amusing response... bravado will only get you so far however..."
<onine> One of the soldiers rushes up. "My lord! These were located near the northern wing!"
<onine> The wood aspect follows quickly behind the mortal soldier. The leader leans down and takes a small handful of white feathers and examines them closely.
<onine> "Orichalcum..." he says quietly. "You said she flew away?"
<Anona> "I realize my speech may be harsher than usual, but I do not believe I stuttered. Yes. She FLEW."
<onine> "Reign in your temper girl, you are dealing with things far more powerful than you." He crushes the beautiful feathers in his hand and tosses them to the ground next to his mount.
<Anona> "Hah. It should have ended differently, had I been in knowing pursuit such as yourself, rather than surprised."
<onine> Most of the soldiers mount up again and the young man gestures lazily for them to march on.
<onine> He kicks his heels into the horse's sides. "If you enter things unprepared you have no right to complain about surprise. I am disappointed, I had expected a far more stimulating first meeting with the scion of Tepet... no matter..."
<onine> He rides off to the front of the column, the young woman takes up the flanks. None of the soldiers even look at you as they pass. Even the mortals are arrogant.
<onine> Tany exhales sharply. "I really hate that man..."
<Anona> "Some day, I hope to have an excuse to set a pack of luminita on him."
<onine> "If he doesn't set some on you first..."
<Anona> "Oh? Is he a sorcerer as well? I don't recall his name being thrown around at the Heptagram. And I find it hard to believe he'd be forgotten."
<onine> "He wasn't a Heptagram graduate, but you may recognize his mother's name, Ledaal Ariadnei?"
<Epheri> Epheri's ear prick up
<Anona> "I have heard of her. Private tutoring, eh?"
<onine> "Something like that yes, though his talents are more akin to maiming than reading..."
* Anona snorts. "I believe it."
<onine> "Though magics are not his strongest suits, as I said, maiming. He is an incredible swordsman. His experiences in fighting the Anathema have developed a very unique style in him."
<Anona> "Well, we won't get anything accomplished standing out here all night. Take me away, wherever you intend."
<Epheri> "What DO you intend to do with us?
<onine> "Oh, oh, yes!" Tany merely walks you towards Krennell's manse and inside. Through many lifts and lavish corridors he leads you, towards Tepet Krennell's study.

Krennell's Study...
<onine> Krennell is sitting behind his desk in the huge arched-ceilinged room, there is a thick blue carpet on the ground, and I mean *plush*
<onine> "Thank you Tany, that will be all..." his voice suggests that he well and truly already knows what has happened. Indeed you received a few forbidding glances from other people in the manse as you made your way to the study
<onine> He stands quietly and glares at the two of you.
* Anona glares back.
* Epheri looks to the ground
<onine> "Well now... what do you have to say for yourselves?" he says very very quietly.
<Epheri> "I didn't do it...."
<Anona> "I nearly killed a demon, the demon nearly killed me in return, all a full night's work."
<onine> "You two destroyed an _entire holding!!!_ All a full nights work?! What is wrong with you?!"
<Anona> "I fail to see how the destruction of the Luen holding concerns /you/, Uncle. It certainly didn't seem to have concerned you before tonight."
<onine> "It concerns me because it is still MY holding!"
<onine> "Or rather, it WAS"
<Anona> "Unless the Deliberative have passed laws regarding the inheritance of property I am not aware of,Porcelain_Child/I/ inherited the estate of my parents. You were merely holding it until I reached adulthood. I have. I disposed of my belongings as I saw fit."
<onine> "You were to receive the holdings when you proved yourself both OLD enough and RESPONSIBLE enough to receive them, and as such I have only seen one - barely! Did you know that various other sections of Noble are aflame as well, including the homes near the Luen Mansion, did you ever think of that?!"
<Anona> "Collateral damage is hardly unexpected when fighting for one's life against Anathema; I could hardly try to restrain myself in that task."
<onine> He turns to you Epheri, "And where were YOU in all this, did you forget our little talk?"
<Epheri> "I was following behind Anona until I ran out of breath and had to stop.. and before I could catch up with her half the house was on fire"
<onine> "And now half the city is on fire and *I
* have to deal with it! I have a good mind to slap you BOTH in jades and intern you for a few weeks!"
<Epheri> "She's lucky I turned up when I did....... otherwise she may not be standing here in front of you right now"
<onine> "I am halfway to wishing you hadn't saved her hide! Bah! What a mess you two have gotten me into, Heptagram graduates both, I am VERY disappointed in you."
<onine> "Is this what they teach you up there?"
* Anona briefly wonders if Krennell's appearance would be much-improved if he was on fire, then reconsiders. He *is
* family, and she *does
* owe him. For what, she's not sure, but something will come to mind eventually.
<Anona> "Not as such. My studies were more concentrated on binding the dread prisoners of Hell to my every whim and will, and I hardly had the time to go about THAT tonight."
<onine> "If I had my way you would not do it at all. As such my hands are tied in regards to punishment - luckily for you! Both of you are confined to your chambers until I can figure out what to do with you."
<Anona> "Still... I did not foresee exactly how flammable dry-rotted wood and paper could be. If there /is/ something I can do to help offset the consequences of my actions tonight... I am entirely yours."
<Epheri> Epheri thinks to herself "As if you'd be able to confine Anona to chambers.... if she really wanted to get out she could"
<onine> "Oh you will make it up, you will offset it somehow, that much I will tell you. Now get out of my sight, the pair of you."
* Epheri slinks off to her chambers
* Anona gets out of his sight. Hmm... next thing to research: invisibility or sight-blinding sorceries...

Next morning in the Tepet Manse...
<onine> In the morning, one of the servants summons both of you to Krennell's chambers... seems he was mighty quick to decide...
<onine> You are left to wait outside the large doors to his office...