Daily Notes

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Poisons

From the Aeldian courts, in return for our consideration of turning the Dwonnics toward Envy's sphere onf influence.
"Some of the finest in the world. Gu poison from Unbuloo, green dragon poison, dipsa venom, extract of the green fungus, dragonsbane, Srisian black widow venom, and a vial from the Scorpion of the Core's venom."

---

Vision Quest

Lamaera looks to the man, "The silver seed of the Orange Tree Manifest?"
<Lamaera> The man nods. "The Orange Tree Manifest was planted by the Goddess with Two Faces, before she was Halved. She planted it during the dawn of the world, having been given it by the Silver Mother.
<Lamaera> "She took it to the warm climates of Palhur and found there the snake people known as the vesar, and there she gave them the fruit trees to nourish them while they hunted.
<Lamaera> "Unlike most other trees, the Orange Tree Manifest was aware of its own Name.
<Lamaera> "Because it was planted by the Mother of Names, it was acutely aware of all the Names of those around it.
<Lamaera> "And thus, many of the vesar wisemen came to speak to it for its wisdom.
<Lamaera> "One day, a very old vesar came to the Orange Tree Manifest. His tribe had lost a child in the wilderness, and he needed aid in finding her.
<Lamaera> "He asked the Tree for a Name that would make able to see far and wide, but the Tree told him that he did not need such a Name.
<Lamaera> "He then asked for a Name instead that would allow him to hear the thoughts of those around him, that he might hear the girl's thoughts.
<Lamaera> "The Tree refused, saying he did not need that either.
<Lamaera> "Instead, he asked for a Name to allow him to feel the child's distress from a distance. The Tree refused, telling him he did not need that either.
<Lamaera> "Finally, the wiseman asked which Name he would need, and the Tree whispered to him the one Name that would produce the child--her own.
<Lamaera> "For, according to the legends, the Name of a thing is the Whole of a thing.
<Lamaera> "By giving the Name of the child to the wiseman, the Tree gave the child to the wiseman."
<Lamaera> The man with the tome shrugs, "That is the legend of the Orange Tree Manifest that I know."

Lamaera looks to the man at the gates, "Sir, do you know of the silver seed from the Huldra?"
<Lamaera> The man says, "A friend of mine is a seer, and before I entered this vision, he told me to tell you that you should seek the eagles of the sea."* Nas 's eyes frown while his mouth smiles. "Is that ... a metaphor?"
<Lamaera> The man at the gates nods, "I'm afraid seers speak in symbols more than anything else."
<Stasi> "The eagles of the sea...hm..."
<Nas> "Perhaps it's the name of a ship."*
Lamaera says, "He means erns. The birds of the Viridian Archon."

* Lamaera looks to Stasi, "Well, talk to her."
* Nas approaches the hickory. "Hello."
* Stasi is momentarily thrown by the reference to the hickory as a her, but nods and goes to do so before Nas beats her to it.
<Lamaera> The hickory speaks with a deep, powerful voice, Hello, Child of the Stars._
<Nas> "Do you know how to get to Old Wath from Shem?"
<Lamaera> She shivers her leaves, then says, "There are many ways, but the most useful perhaps is the Seams."
* Nas is visibly intrigued; the happiest he's been since you met him. "Seams?"
<Lamaera> "The Seams, the ways between realities. Great mages and priests have been known to open the way there. Finding guidance through is another matter."
* Nas frowns slightly. "Can you tell us where the silver Wath Hickory seed is?"
<Lamaera> "I cannot, but I can tell you that it is imbued with the essence of Wath. One must perform a great feat to be able to use it."
<Nas> "Any particular kind of great feat?"* Stasi listens.<Lamaera> "It changes from person to person, Age to Age."
<Lamaera> ?
* Nas looks to Stasi.
<Stasi> "How might someone learn what feat would be required?"
<Lamaera> "By performing it."

<Lamaera> Her voice is a rasp, _Hello, Child of the Spear._
<Stasi> "Might we learn the location of the silver seed of the Ironwood and how it could be obtained?"
<Lamaera> "The seed from my branches was bound to a sword made from my children."
<Stasi> "What sword?"
<Lamaera> "A blacksmith that never was crafted the sword, as a simple test of his own skill. He was respectful of my children, but a mother never wants to see her children fall."

Lamaera nods, "Of course. Oh, Mother Nemeton, I humbly beseech you: we quest to restore our peoples. Can you aid us in finding the silver seed from your branches?"
<Lamaera> The tree shivers, then says, in a gentle, motherly voice, _Child of the Leaf, the seed still rests in my branches, but the druids that serve me will require much from those who wish to take it._
* Lamaera says, "Do you know what they will ask of us?"
<Lamaera> The tree says, "No, child, but I trust you will rise to the challenge."

* Stasi turns back to the tree. "Greetings to you. I have fond memories of walking amongst your children when I was younger."
<Lamaera> The Vilagfa Manifest rustles, _Impudence._
<Stasi> "I apologize; it was unintended."
<Lamaera> _What do you want?_
<Stasi> "Help, if you'll give it; the location of the silver seed from your branches, and what might be done to attain it."
<Lamaera> _Only the greatest of hunters may bear the silver seed from my branches. I dare you to try it._

* Nas approaches the Spirit Oak. "Greetings."
<Lamaera> _Greetings, Child of the Stars._
<Nas> "We seek the silver seeds to restore our nations. Can you give us any information on acquiring or using the Spirit Oak seed?"
<Lamaera> _The silver seed in my branches is attuned to the spirits. Its bearer will be able to interact with them, and that will affect the ceremonies._

* Nas 's lips tighten as he walks up to the Kyellezhian tree. "Greetings."
* Lamaera says, "They are all worth speaking to. These are the Manifests of some of the greatest trees in the world."
<Lamaera> The purple bole and pink leaves of the Kyellezhian tree ripple, _Greetings, Ennasrion._
* Nas smiles nervously. "Oh. Well ... so we're trying to restore our nations, the elves. And we're looking for the silver seeds. Can you give us any information about the Kyellezhian silver seed?"
* Nas has become a bit flustered for some reason.
<Lamaera> She shivers, then says, in a sad, sad voice, _The asterians stole it, during a raid, many, many Ages ago._
* Stasi watches Nas and the tree.* Nas is silent for a beat. "I'm sorry. We should not have permitted that."
<Lamaera> _It could not have been prevented, Ennasrion, but I am certain it still exists. It can be recovered._
* Nas is silent for two beats. "Do you know why they hate us?"
<Lamaera> _They did not always. I do not know what changed, but it happened during the time of the WAR GOD's Curse._
<Nas> "Where is the Kyellezhian home?"
<Lamaera> _The moon upon which I live, the forest in which I live, that is where they first claimed a home._
* Nas nods. "I know of it. Thank you. Perhaps we'll speak again."
<Lamaera> _I look forward to it, Ennasrion._

<Stasi> "we seek your aid, if you will give it. We seek the silver seeds in an attempt to save and restore our nations. Can you tell us how the Ancient Poplar seed might best be used?"
<Lamaera> There's a long, long pause, then _The time it is planted is most important. Not just the hour, the minute, the second, but the day, the month, the year, the decade. These details matter greatly._

<Lamaera> The Van's Oak Manifest booms in a voice that comes from all around, _From it springs not just oaks, but storms as well. Plant it wisely, if you can bear it._

Jievaras Manifest: <Lamaera> _In the cold of winter, it will tear your heart from you. In the renewal of spring, it will imbue you with vigor and life. In the smoke from the fires of Beltane, it will burn your skin. During the times of harvest, it will make you strong._
<Stasi> "Where may we find it?"
<Lamaera> _In my branches._

Lamaera takes a breath, then walks over to the great green tree that represents the Huldra's dreaming self. She bows on her knees and says, "Great Huldra, Forest of Forests, I come to you in my time of need. My people are afflicted with a great disease, and the Silver Mother has told us that the silver seeds she blessed your branches with might aid us. Is there anything you might tell us about the seed that you once bore."
<Lamaera> The Huldra rustles and rumbles, then it says, _The great birds of the sea carried strange druids into my bounds, and they acquired it._
* Nas murmurs, "Those erns again."
* Lamaera says, "Thank you, Great Huldra. If we were to acquire it, would you prefer we return it, or would we be free to use it?"
<Lamaera> The Huldra breathes, then says, _You may use it._
Lamaera responds, "Oh, thank you, Forest of Forests. If I may ask another question, can you tell us if there are characteristics of the seed that might help us if we acquire it?"
<Lamaera> The Huldra takes a moment, then says, "Yes, Child of the Leaf. The seed will reflect my own nature. It will amplify that which is many and one."

"Great Rubber Tree, Tree of Experiments, I come to you in my hour of need. My people die of plague, and we seek the silver seeds. Is there anything you might tell us about the seed you once bore?"
<Lamaera> _Who speaks here? she sounds confused.
<Nas> "I am Ennasrion Farolan, a Kyellezhian."
<Lamaera> How quaint. You said you're looking for the silver seeds?_
<Nas> "Yes. And how we might use them, if we may."
<Lamaera> _Oh! Well, experiment! Try many things! The seed is designed to be tested!_
* Nas looks up at the tree in naked confusion. "Forgive me, Tree of Experiments, but do you mean that the seed will ... survive our attempts to use it?"
<Lamaera> _It will reveal its consequences before it is used._
<Nas> "I understand. Tree of Experiments, do you yet bear the silver seed?"
<Lamaera> _Oh, yes.

---

Folk Heroes

<Lamaera> "Why... why have you not saved us? You are... If you still live, where have you been? You... Why?"
<Lamaera> The Arboreal ranger speaks, "Legends change over the Ages. We either conform to the tales that are told, or we separate from them and find new paths.
<Lamaera> "We have been doing what we can. We have fought, lead, and worked in our own ways. We have spent time serving in the Parliament of the Divine. In those halls, time is different. Ages pass in months.
<Lamaera> "But that is not to say that we have not failed our people.<Lamaera> "We bear that shame. We are in your blood. It may be spilled to summon us. Kyellezhian calls Kyellezhian, Arboreal calls Arboreal, and so on. You ahve our word on this, Last Elves."

---

Queen of the Faeries

"There are many races of Faerie long since lost or forgotten. The Avalonians are perhaps the most keenly missed, but there were others: the tuatha, the anjana, the kobold are very few now; the aos si are long gone. Each of these could be restored by you. The tuatha have Names that spell great histories. The anjana were Named for mercy and justice. The kobold are Named for metals, and the aos si had Names that were resonant of
<Lamaera> Names themselves."
<Lamaera> "For each of those you help restore, I will grant you a boon. If you make an oath to do so, I will lend you the full support of my Court."
<Lamaera> "And if you also make an oath not to bring any unseelie back, I shall lend you further support."
Tuatha – Elder Elves
Anjana – Bright Elves
Aos si – Vesaritan Elves
Kobold – Stonedelver?

Silver Seed of Ancient Poplar Manifest - The cat, rubbing against Da'sabash again, says in a half-growl, half-meow, "It was taken by the Jack of Wands Ages ago, and he sold it to the Littany people when he needed to regain a fortune. It is with their leader."

Oaths: "I swear, by my sister Sorosiphina, that I will seek the restoration of the tuatha to the best of my ability." "...that I will avoid the restoration of unseelie races if at all possible." "...that, should the Bright Elf Consequent or the Vesatarian Elf Consequent be agreeable and the necessary ingredients gathered, the corresponding faerie race will be restored."

Allies and agents of Dream/the Fae: You may share this with the others Chosen by the Silver Mother. I will be sending out word to all of them such that they will recognize you. They will identify themselves to you if they can by saying to you, 'Do you have a silver match?'? "You should respond with, 'On my oath, I do not have one.' If you have need of an agent and do not know of one in the area you are in, you can signal them by whispering into the red fox pin. The nearest one will try to get to you, if they can."
<Lamaera> "Be warned, the nearest one might still be too far away to be effective." "If you do anything to compromise their cover, they will abandon you. Their first mission is to The Queen."

---

Bughul noz

On the borders of the Heart Wood
<Lameara> "If you hear someone calling out that they are approaching, it will be a bugul noz."
<Nas> "Is this a kind of faerie?"
<Lamaera> "Yes. Their story is a sad one."
<Dasabash> "The what?"
<Dasabash> "Can you tell us?"
<Lamaera> "It's said that the first of them was a sidhe who was so beautiful, he rivaled the Sapphire Goddess.
<Dasabash> she asks as she joins the group again
<Lamaera> "He tried to bind her to himself, and she rejected him.
* Stasi takes notes.
<Lamaera> "So he tricked another into trying to poison her.
<Dasabash> sapphire is love, correct?
<Lamaera> "This other fell in love with her," yes, love, "And confessed all.
<Lamaera> "She cursed the sidhe by binding all the dreams of ugliness in the world together into a Name and reNaming him.
<Lamaera> "He spent many years hiding from the world and his own ugliness thereafter, but women would come to find him, remembering him of old.
<Lamaera> "A few were still able to love him and bore him children, and these were the bugul noz.
<Lamaera> "But the reNamed one eventually gave himself to the Wild Hunt in a fit of despair.
<Lamaera> "The bugul noz are still hideous to look upon, but they are very kind." She blushes, "And many claim they are great lovers."
* Stasi hides a smirk.
* Rindacsa eyes twinkle. "You've met them before?"
<Rindacsa> "Why do they announce themselves?"
<Lamaera> She nods, "A few. My homeland is on the other side of the Heart Wood."
<Lamaera> "Because to look upon them is very unpleasant. They want to warn people first."

---

Book of Names

the Vestaritan elves, who honored the Goddess of Truth, in those days called the Two-Faced Mother, now known as the Halved-Goddess. Names were important to them, and the Book of Names was their name for the universe itself.
Faerie stories speak of Names a lot, but only a few references to the Book thereof, and all of them speak of it as if it were an artifact that would contain all the Names of everything, thus allowing the faeries to preserve themselves forever.

---

Emissaries

Srisians: Firebird ash. Zaqqum seed. Spider blood. Thirteenth hour. Ceremony of Webs. The Gardens of Caer Dwonnum." And as she finishes that, Stasi, you suddenly know what that would result in: spider-like demon creatures. The Dwonnics would regress to demons. "I can tell you where the zaqqum seed is. I can give you spider blood, too, I suppose, but spiders are everywhere. The rest, I can promise the full support of Srisia in finding.(And lack of support for our enemies)" "Leave your answer at any temple of the Webweaver."

Red Cross: "We have been working against the sickness, and we are here to offer what we know, and to hear what you might know, or to ask that if you find out anything in your quest, you send us word." "We still do not know how it spreads, unfortunately, but we do have some techniques to soothe patients in the worst of it, and we believe we can delay the third stage for up to a whole year."
<@Lamaera> The third stage is the return of deformation and agonizing death.
"Not entirely, but... we have noticed some curious trends. Half-elves react differently depending on what their non-elven parent was. They still suffer, but they have different symptoms. The more attuned with the physical realm, the quicker and harsher the death."

Tara’hin: "I come bearing a request. Three weeks ago, word went out to the world of your visions, from the mouth of your King. It reached my Emperor's ears a week later, and now, two weeks after that, I am here to make a bold request. I must extend my apologies to the Fisherman Daenil, for this is not a polite request for him to hear.
<@Lamaera> "But we request that the path you choose in regards to the Dwonnics alter them from their patronage to one less inclined toward the Spider."
The Tara'hinian bows, "Again, I do apologize. But it cannot be denied that from the Dwonnic race has come much evil. I know not all are that way, but they did bring the Webweaver himself into the world. Yes, I can take that back to my emperor. And if you decide to commit to it, all of Tara'hin's might will be behind you. On a personal note, I have known many elves of all kinds, and the tragedy that has befallen you breaks my heart. Yes, I know of the firebirds, and it would be my honor to tell you what little I can."

Firebirds: Dasabash colors slightly at his title. "I need to know how such a thing can be. I was taught that a firebird is reborn from its' ashes. That they never die truly. How then can the ashes of some remain?"
<@Lamaera> "A curious question, and one I actually do not know the answer to. Perhaps only some of the ashes become the new bird? Perhaps it is what is around it that burns as well? Or perhaps it is reborn from the ashes but it does not consume them?" He frowns, "Or maybe you must take the ashes before they are reborn. Perhaps to save your kind, you must kill some firebirds. That would be sad, but the alternative..."
<Dasabash> "Ahh-- I hope that is not the case. Do you have any knowledge of where the birds or perhaps their ashes can be found?"
"There are nine species of firebird, and one Aeonian Phoenix.
<@Lamaera> "I have heard of a Tara'hinain named Huzred Darash who was called to follow the firebirds called the sun crows, which fly all the way from Dabusen.
<Dasabash> "Perhaps we can seek him out and ask him for his knowledge."
<@Lamaera> "I have heard of men called the Silverbirds who serve the Phoenix, and that they quest to find the prophsied Nine Children," you've no idea what that is.
<Dasabash> "What are the Nine Children ambassador?"
<@Lamaera> "I have heard of firebirds in Vesturia, for they are cherished there. It is illegal to take them out of the empire there.
<@Lamaera> "But mostly, I have heard that most kinds of firebird live on Dabusen.
<@Lamaera> "The Nine Children?" "They are an old prophecy." "Well, not so old, maybe. From after Starfall, I think."
* Dasabash tilts her head slightly, listening
"It is said that there are Nine Children on whom the fate of the world rests. I have never believed in it until I met your king."
Thannas frowns at him.
<@Lamaera> "That is as much as I know of firebirds and children."
<@Lamaera> He bows, "Oh, yes, I forgot, I do know some other things."
<Dasabash> "Ahh. Please." she gestures for him to continues
<Dasabash> continue
<@Lamaera> "I know where Huzred is from. It is a village in the mountains of the Empire called Ben Yeshua."

Faerie: Sron says, "She bid us remind you that elves were once part of Faerie. That elves were once part of her Courts, and that she would welcome you back. She reminds you also that the Unseelie have long been enemies to the elves, even the Dwonnics, and that letting any elven kind join their ranks would be a betrayal of who you are." "Many believe that the elves are descended from the kith," a kind of faerie patroned by the Matriarch, "but this is not so. The Ailaneans descended form the long lost Avalonians, to whom the kith were close cousins, hence their name. The Queen would have you know she would support the return of Avalon."
Suile looks to Sron, his disdain for all of you clear on his face. Sron ignores him, then says, "Then she will expect you in her Court in a week's time, and I can tell you this: the silver seed of the Faeriewood Manifest is now being held by the Unicorn and his Disciples, in their grove in Tir Na Og."

Theresan: "Do you know from where the Zodiac Minds come?"(Nas) "Do you know why the asterians hate your people?"(Nas) She turns to Da'sabash, "Where does a circle begin?" And she responds, "Why did the Stillborn Cult seek out your cousin?" (Lamaera) "The fish that is the Foundation. What lies at its heart and eats it?"(Nas) And she responds, "Where is the Arbiter?"(Kohae)

Plague: <Rindacsa> "Is it true that it mars the soul?"
<@Lamaera> Ursula frowns, "I do not know. We deal strictly with the body."
<Rindacsa> "In Valhonia, I had heard reports that it affected the soul as well. It was not a stain of sin, it was different."
<@Lamaera> Ramona says, "Not entirely, but... we have noticed some curious trends. Half-elves react differently depending on what their non-elven parent was. They still suffer, but they have different symptoms. The more attuned with the physical realm, the quicker and harsher the death."
<@Lamaera> Kohae'nuadhakiero says, "Our shamans say the same thing as the Valhonians."
* Stasi narrows her eyes slightly. "...I am reminded of some research I have done on a dark topic."
<Rindacsa> "How do their symptoms differ?"
<Rindacsa> "The half-elves, I mean."
<@Lamaera> Ursula says, "We have written reports on the subject, ma'am. I can give you some to read over."
<Stasi> "I would be obliged. I have a hypothesis that seems to be at least partially validated by this new trend."

---

Agikaani Camps

so here's what she knows: she can find records of the Agikaani
breeding camps on almost every race. She can find them for obscure
races that no longer exist, and for races she never dreamed could have
been put into breeding camps (/djinn/, for instance). She is an expert
on those camps, surely.
But there are none that she has yet found on the elven camps. She has
learned precisely three things:
1. The legendary swordsmith Obiefune Mastered a Ring of Shame off the
power in one of the ruins of one of the breeding camps, supposedly for
elder elves. No one has ever found it, and many who believe the story
say it was lost in time.
2. There is a surviving ruin of one for Qallurgians on Mati in
Qallurg, but no one is allowed near it on pain of death by the local
tribes.
3. Elves are not allowed in Agikaan.
General facts: the Agikaanis conquered the world, so their breeding
camps were located all over it. Some have ruins that still survive,
and rumors are that there are functioning ones in Agikaan. The ones
she knows about are one for halflings in Pell; one for Taggaran humans
in central Taggarus; one for goblins in Tzuk; one for nataxi in
Atanaxus; one for djinn in Azet; one for werespiders in Srisia; one
for Ranic humans in Aldergast (surrounded by undead, no one goes
there); one for greater dragons in Kren'atan; and one for lesser
athaks underground in Uodsopul. None of these are functioning, and
they haven't in thousands of years, or so records state.

Relevant information: http://madziar.net/wiki/Shem/OneTrueGod
http://madziar.net/wiki/Shem/Agikaan