#Maraja the Undine

[cleelczipsybane]

WLC 2.B: Trip Trap Trope

The party enters a massive sandy chamber, they stand atop a slope above the black desert. The fossilized remains of a massive spike-shelled creature lies atop a fortress, thirty stories tall, sculpted from the caverns themselves to fit the creature's silhouette.

"Hiding, shhe iss not," says Kalyani, "It lookss familiar, thhough."

"You'd think someone calling herself 'The Shadow Queen' would live somewhere more... subtle," says Maraja, "Any ideas, wizard?"

A magical pulse emits from Ling's location; as it moves forward, an invisible runic wall shimmers briefly ahead of the group. "I know that symbol," says Ling, "That's a 'false ward' alarm... ward."

L: I know it's a dumb name.

At Kalyani's insistence, Ling continues, "This ward does exactly one thing: alert its creator to any change. Unwelcome intruder? Alarm. Attempt to disable? Alarm. Warp past it? Alarm. Actually disable it? Ya guessed it: alarm. But," Ling raises her finger, "That's ALL it can do."

D: I don't get it. Why's it special? L: How do I put this? On top of alerting their creator, most wards try to do something to whoever trips them. J: Mindjack, teleport, incinerate. L: They're intended to go unnoticed until it's too late. J: They're meant to catch dumb thieves and animals. D: So, why use this one? J: Paranoia.

"Asssuming it'ss a perfect ssphere, whichh iss likely," says Kalyani, "Thhey will know we're coming, no matter what."

"Maraja," says Ling, stretching, "You stay here and, when you see your chance, get in that building. Save your mate."

"I'm not leaving you out here," says Maraja, "You have no idea who or what will come out of there."

"Hang back, dear," says Kalyani, "Make that call after they come forth."

Maraja nods her watery head and steps back into the tunnel; Ling and Kalyani race down the slope. Ling feels the hot sand between her toes and Kalyani carves a trail with her tail.

"A late realizzation," says Kalyani, "But iss thhat a tarrassque?"

"Trying not to think about that," says Ling.

"Do you thhink it died reccently?"

"Trying not to think about that."

"HALT!" calls out a raspy woman, when the duo are about a hundred meters from the tower.

"CEASE!" call out a gravelly man, immediately after.

Standing in a second floor, a pair of heavily armored bipeds. They're too far away for Ling to identify who or what they are.

"HOW'S YA GOING?" yells Ling, "WE'RE AS LOST AS A EUNUCH'S BALLS!"

"WHAT?" yells the woman wearing her shield on her right, "WE'RE NOT HOLDING ANY BALLS."

"WAIT," yells the man wearing his shield on his left. He then speaks to the woman beside him.

D: What did he say? L: I don't know; I wasn't going to cast spells where they could see me.

The two jump down, slowing down before landing. They then pose together. Ling can now clearly see the mace and scimitar the man and woman respectfully carry.

[namesetc]

can i havve fem names that are related to the ocean/sea and 6 letters in length? im a transfem eridan (hs) fictivve if that helps wwith anythin

athena

brooke

delmar

dorian

firtha

firthe

ilayda

irvina

itsaso

kendra

kelpie

kailea

laguna

maelyn

morgan

marina / marena

marine / mareen

marley

miriam

mariza

maryse

muriel

maraja

marrus

megara

merida

morwen

maurea

marnie

manami

mariah

marian

maribel

marica

mariel

nerida

oceana

oceane

ondine

pearla

pearly

pirate

porter

ridley

rianne

sailor

shelly

serena

sirena

sereia

selkie

tahnee

thetis

tonwen

undine / undyne

vanora

veruna

vaiana

[writing-all-wrongs]

Names

Magical, Fairy, Enchanting, And Mermaid Baby Names For Girls:

1. Aerwyna:

Don’t you think this melodic name would have sounded great on an elf in The Lord of the Rings? With roots in Old English, Aerwyna means ‘friend of the sea’.

2. Ailsa:

ADVERTISEMENT BY ADRECOVER

Ailsa is the name of the stunning islet in the Clyde, which is also nicknamed as ‘Island of Alfisgr’. And it translates to ‘elf victory’. Could it be any more apt for your wee one?

3. Aine:

Aine is an Irish name derived from the proto-Celtic word ‘aidna’ and means ‘radiance’. In Irish mythology, she’s the queen of fairies.

[ Read: Disney Inspired Names For Babies ]

4. Alfreda:

We had absolutely no idea that Alfreda means ‘elf power’. This makes us like it even more.

5. Alice:

Alice is the name of the imaginative and curious protagonist of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in the Wonderland and the Disney movie of the same name. This classic and feminine name means ‘of the nobility’.

6. Alvina:

Alvina is the female variant of Alvin and means ‘elf-friend’.

7. Ariel:

This one needs no introduction. Too bad it does not come along with the red hair. And did you know that Ariel is also the symbolic name for Jerusalem? This name means ‘lion of the God’.

8. Asherah:

A name with a royal ring, Asherah does have Hebrew origins, but it’s also the name of the goddess of fertility and motherhood. This moniker means ‘she who walks in the sea’.

9. Asia:

Asia isn’t just the name of a continent. In the Greek mythology, Asia was Oceanus’ daughter and Prometheus and Atlas’ mother. This name means ‘sunrise’. Sweet, substantial, and motherly!

10. Asteria:

This name from Greek mythology, meaning ‘like a star’ sounds magical to us. What do you think about it? You can also opt for the simple form Astra.

[ Read: Coolest Harry Potter Baby Names ]

11. Aubrey:

This upscale unisex name is shooting up the charts for girls. Its most familiar namesake is Aubrey Plaza, the star of Parks and Recreation. Aubrey means ‘elf ruler’.

12. Aurora:

The sight of magnificent green lights dancing in the sky is no less than a magical phenomenon. Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, takes place when the electrons collide with the upper atmosphere. This Latin name means ‘the dawn’.

13. Avery:

The last name first started as a male name, but is now used mostly for the girls, probably because of its similarity to Ivory and Ava. Avery means ‘ruler of elves’.

14. Calypso:

In the Greek mythology, Calypso was the beguiling sea nymph who falls in love with Odysseus. Calypso is also the name of West India music. It means ‘she that conceals’.

15. Celeste:

Stars, planets, and galaxies, for most of us, are full of magic and mystery. Celeste originates in Latin and means ‘heavenly’. What an elegant and regal name!

16. Coralia:

Coralia, meaning ‘like coral’, was the name of a mermaid in a ballet based on Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué’s Undine. We feel it’s a perfect option for parents looking for something rarer than Coral or Coraline.

17. Cyrena:

Cyrena was the water nymph who fought a lion that tried to harm the Sun god Apollo. Apollo, in return built for her a city named Cyrenaica. Cyrena means ‘Mother of Aristaeus’.

18. Daenerys:

This invented name, belonging to the dragon girl from Game of Thrones has gained traction in real life big time.

19. Dariyah:

This is an apt mermaid name for girls. Dariyah is the spelling variation of the Persian name Daria, meaning ‘sea’. It isn’t sweet or girly, but has a brave and bold feel to it.

20. Deema:

This name is inspired by the Nickelodeon series Bubble Guppies, which centers on a group of mermaid preschoolers and their adventures with their teacher, Mr. Grouper. Deema is an Arabic name meaning ‘rain’.

[ Read: Earth Related Baby Names ]

21. Delphine:

Yes, we know that Delphine sounds more like dolphins than mermaids. But aren’t these two creatures magnificent? This elegant and ladylike French name means ‘dolphin’.

22. Doris:

With the revival of Dorothea and Dorothy, Doris also has a chance of making back to the list. It’s the name of an ocean nymph in the Greek mythology and means ‘gift of the ocean’.

23. Elvina:

This moniker sounds something like elven in the truest sense. It means ‘elf-friend’.

24. Fairy:

This is a simple and straightforward option best used as a term of endearment. If you’re a Pokémon lover, you’ll know that Fairy type is one of the kinds of Pokémons.

25. Fay:

Fay is a short and sweet name, derived from the Old English word ‘faie’, which means fairy. Its alternate spelling is Faye.

26. Fiona:

This Scottish name is currently borne by the witch in American Horror Story: Coven. Though the name means ‘fair’, the character Fiona is anything but.

27. Giselle:

Giselle is a naïve and pure-hearted princess of Andalsia from the movie Enchanted. For the typical French feel, pronounce it as ‘Ghee-Zah-Elle’ not ‘Jiz-elle’. It means ‘pledge’.

28. Hermione:

The Harry Potter heroine has a name that stands out, just like the witty and intelligent wizard. In the Greek mythology, Hermione is Kind Menelaus and Helen’s daughter. Her name means ‘messenger’.

29. Isla:

The name Isla is derived from one of the most beautiful islands of Scotland, which is also referred to as The Queen of the Hebrides. A perfect name for a girl who’ll take on the world and will even win it. The correct pronunciation of Isla is ‘Eye-La’.

30. Kaia:

This name just rolls off the tongue. And it doesn’t just sound cute, but has lovely meanings as well. In Hawaiian, Kaia means ‘the sea’ and in Greek, it means ‘pure’. Could there be a better inspiration for a baby girl name?

[ Read: Baby Names Meaning Gift From God ]

31. Kelpie:

In Celtic mythology, Kelpie was the name of the water-horse who transformed herself into a beautiful woman to lure people into traps. This name means ‘heifer’.

32. Lorelei:

This name is taken from the German folktales, where Lorelei was the sensual mermaid of the Rhine River, whose haunting voice led to many shipwrecks. This sophisticated name means ‘alluring’.

33. Maraja:

If you want something rare and mystical for your little girl, Maraja is the one for you. This royal name originates from Esperanto language and means ‘made of the sea’.

34. Marceline:

This enchanting baby name meaning ‘defender of the sea’ also happens to be the name of the lead girl in the animated television show Adventure Time.

35. Marin:

Marin, with its roots in Gaelic and Irish, means ‘star of the sea’. Sounds a lot chicer than Marina.

36. Maurelle:

This French name, meaning ‘elfin’, is also associated with a blue-violet color dye in France.

37. Melia:

This rich and melodic short form of Amelia is also the name of a nymph in Greek mythology. Melia means ‘work’.

38. Melisande:

This mellifluous fairy tale name would make a lovely pick for a 21st-century girl. It means ‘strong in work’.

39. Melody:

Melody is the name of Ariel’s daughter in Disney’s Little Mermaid. After a long hiatus, this Greek name cracked in the top 200 list in the year 2015. Melody means ‘music’.

40. Melusine:

According to a medieval tale, Melusine was the name of one of the three sisters lost on the Isle of Avalon. Melusine, the eldest sister, was forced to spend one day a week as a mermaid. Melusine means ‘dark skinned’.

[ Read: Baby Names That Mean Sun ]

41. Meri:

If you wish for an alternative to the classic and somewhat common name Mary, Meri is the one for you. It’s a beautiful Finnish name, meaning ‘the sea’.

42. Miranda:

This name featured in a British comedy film, in which a lonely fisherman catches a mermaid named Miranda and together they go on a journey to London. Miranda means ‘marvelous’.

43. Molly:

Molly is another adorable character from Bubble Guppies. Molly originated as a nickname, but has been used as a standalone name since the Middle Ages. Molly means ‘bitter’.

44. Muirgen:

This is a perfect magical girl name. According to Irish folklore, Muirgen was a human who was transformed into a mermaid. She was caught from the sea after 300 years, baptized, and turned into a saint. Muirgen means ‘born of the sea’.

45. Naida:

Naida, meaning ‘water nymph’, would make an excellent option for girls born under any of the water signs – Pisces, Cancer, or Scorpio.

46. Navi:

Navi is the name of the fairy in the video game, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This Hebrew name is the nickname of Gamma Cassiopeia, bestowed on her by astronaut Gus Grissom. Navi means ‘to name’.

47. Nerissa:

Nerissa is an offbeat alternative to Marissa and Nerissa. It featured in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Nerissa means ‘from the sea’.

48. Nixie:

As per the German folklore, Nixie is the name of the mermaid-like sprite dwelling in the sea. You can consider it as an update for Nicki or a substitute to Pixie. Nixie means ‘water nymph’.

49. Ondine:

Ondine is the name of a German water sprite who gets married to a mortal, but leads a disturbed life. Meaning ‘little wave’, this name rose to fame via Audrey Hepburn’s character Ondine on Broadway.

50. Oona:

We quite like this name. It’s short, sweet, and belongs to one of the guppies in the series. The double ‘o’ adds oomph to this name. Oona means ‘lamb’.

[ Read: Baby Names Inspired By Fire ]

51. Parisa:

This Persian name, meaning ‘like a fairy’ sounds much more distinctive than Paris or Parisa. A perfect example how you can turn an ordinary name into extraordinary with just a change in the letter.

52. Pixie:

Pixie is basically a term used for supernatural beings that are portrayed as tiny, human like creatures with pointed hat and ears. This magical baby girl name is on the rise, thanks to the name with the letter ‘x’ in it. Pixie means ‘fairy’.

53. Radella:

Radella is one of the most unusual names we��ve come across. Definitely a fresher alternative to ella ending names. It means ‘elfin advisor’.

54. Sabrina:

Sabrina was the name of the water nymph in Comus by John Milton. Besides, it’s the name of a Celtic River goddess too. The meaning of Sabrina is ‘from Cyprus’.

55. Sen:

Short, sweet, and utterly adorable, in Japanese mythology, Sean is the name of a mythological forest elf. Since it isn’t used much in the Western part of the world, it would make a rare name for your daughter. Sen means ‘lotus flower’.

56. Sereia:

Sereia is Portuguese for mermaid. It’s probably derived from Siren, which is also a name for mermaids.

57. Siofra:

Siofra is soft, frilly, shimmering, and a wonderful alternative to Sophie or Sophia. It’s an Irish Gaelic name, meaning ‘elf’ or ‘sprite’. You need to pronounce this name as ‘Sheef-RA’.

58. Tabitha:

In the 60s series, Bewitched, Tabitha is the name of the half-witch daughter of Samantha. This quirky name reached its peak in the 70s. Tabitha means ‘gazelle’.

59. Tiana:

This moniker gained a huge fan following the release of Princess and the Frog. Tiana means ‘fairy queen’.

60. Titania:

Titania is the name of the Queen of Fairies in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This moniker has a lacy and delicate charm, just like its bearer. Titania means ‘great one’.

[ Read: Love Inspired Baby Names ]

Magical, Fairy, Enchanting And Mermaid Baby Names For Boys:

61. Aelfdene:

Aelfdene, meaning ‘from the Elfin valley’, would sound great in the middle spot. It’s mysterious, magical, and enigmatic.

62. Aladdin:

The Arabian lad from the movie of the same name was a revolution in itself. It was for the first time a thief was made the male protagonist in a Disney fairy tale based film. Aladdin means ‘height of religion’.

63. Alfred:

This name may be at the bottom of the Social Security Administration list, but in Wales and England, Alfred ranks #125. It means ‘elf counsel’.

64. Alvaro:

We love this name for it means ‘army of elf’. And the final ‘o’ increases the attractiveness of this name manifolds.

65. Alvin:

A magical name that’s now tied to the chipmunks, all thanks to the movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks. The name currently sits at the #602 spot. Alvin means ‘friend of elves’.

66. Arion:

In the Greek mythology, Arion is the immortal and super swift horse endowed with the power of speaking. In Hebrew, Arion means ‘melodious’.

67. Aslan:

This grand name is taken from C.S. Lewis magical book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The name means ‘lion’.

68. Basil:

Basil is the sprite from the American musical television show, Johnny and the Sprites. A name with upper-class vibes, Basil means ‘regal’.

69. Bayard:

Bayard was the magical and beautiful horse given to Rinaldo. This French name means ‘auburn haired’.

70. Blade:

This name brings to mind the vampire hunter and Marvel superhero from the movie Blade. Blade means ‘wealthy glory’.

[ Read: Unique Nature Baby Names ]

71. Borak:

Legends are full of magical horses. Al-Borak is the magical horse that took Prophet Muhammad from Earth to the 7th heaven. This name means ‘the lightning’.

72. Caspian:

This place name has been attracting a lot of attention from the cutting edge parents of late. It even inspired Mr. Lewis to pick it for his novel, Chronicles of Narnia Series.

73. Cedric:

Cedric Diggory was the character who competed against Harry Potter in the game of Quidditch. Despite the high appeal of the character, Cedric failed to attract parents. So it would be a good option if you want something uncommon for your son. Cedric means ‘bounty’.

74. Cleon:

Here we’re referring to the Fairy of the Night Cleon from the video game Bust-a-Move 4. It’s used for a female fairy here, but Cleon is essentially a baby boy name, meaning ‘glorious’.

75. Cosmo:

Cosmo is the name of Timmy Turner’s fairy godfather in animated television series, The Fairly Odd Parents. This expansive Greek name, meaning ‘order’ would make a creative pick for your son.

76. Cullen:

Cullen is the surname of the most beloved vampire family of all time, the Cullens from Twilight Saga. This moniker originates in the Irish and means ‘handsome’.

77. Draco:

This name gained a widespread popularity via the blonde-haired, menacing wizard Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series. Draco means ‘dragon’.

78. Dylan:

Dylan is the cute and energetic hippie from the BBC television show Magic Roundabout. This Welsh name means ‘son of the sea’.

79. Easton:

Easton originates from the Old English phrase that means ‘island of stones’, but it means ‘magical power’.

80. Edward:

The name has flown to the top of the popularity charts, thanks to the pale, brooding, and sparkling character in the Twilight series. This Norse name means ‘rich guard’.

[ Read: Baby Names That Mean Angel ]

81. Eric:

Eric is the charming prince from The Little Mermaid. This popular Scandinavian name has been rocking the charts in the United States. It means ‘eternal ruler’.

82. Finn:

Finn is the name of the central characters in The Snow Queen, folklore, which is the inspiration behind the movie Frozen. Finn means ‘white or fair’.

83. Flynn:

Flynn is the male lead from the fairy tale remake Tangled. This name means ‘son of the red-haired one’.

84. Gandalf:

Gandalf is an Old Norse name, meaning ‘wand elf’, Besides, it also refers to the Wizard from Tolkien’s masterpiece Lord of the Rings.

85. Gary:

Gary is the chubby overseer fairy in Tinkerbell. This name cracked into the top 10 list in the year 1950, largely because of Gary Cooper. Gary means ‘spearman’.

86. Gil:

Gil is the rambunctious merman of the Nickelodeon series Bubble Guppies. His infectious energy and curiosity inspire viewers to lead an adventurous life. This Hebrew name means ‘happiness’.

87. Hansel:

This name instantly brings to mind the lead of the fairytale, Hansel and Gretel. The plus point is that this name isn’t widely used in any part of the world. Hansel means ‘god is gracious’.

88. Harry:

Harry Potter redefined magic for us. This half-blood wizard played a crucial role in several battles, including destroying the Horcruxes of Voldemort. Harry means ‘estate ruler’.

89. Jack:

Jack, as in Jack in the Green, a colorful figure covered in flowers and greeneries appeared in the folklore, Robin Hood. Jack means ‘god is gracious’.

90. Jareth:

Jareth is the Goblin King from the fantasy movie Labyrinth. This moniker sounds like a combination of Jared and Gareth and means ‘bled of jar’.

[ Read: Baby Names That Mean Angel ]

91. Jiminy:

Parents who aren’t afraid of thinking out of the box can opt for Jiminy, the beloved cricket from the movie Pinocchio. Jiminy, is a variation of James and means ‘supplanter’.

92. Magus:

Magus has the roof of the word magic in it, and that’s what makes it magical. Coincidentally, this name means ‘sorcerer’.

93. Oberon:

Oberon is the English form of the French name Auberon and means ‘elf ruler’. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oberon was the king of fairies.

94. Peter:

This name references to the beloved Peter Pan, the mischievous young boy capable of flying. This pleasant Greek name means ‘rock’.

95. Phillip:

Phillip is the prince from the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. This spelling variation of Philip ranks 24 places behind the original. Phillips means ‘lover of horses’.

96. Regin:

In the Norse mythology, Regin was a blacksmith, well versed in dark magic. It means ‘a mythical blacksmith’.

97. Terence:

Terence is the Dust-talent Sparrowman from Tinkerbell. This name hails from the Irish neighborhoods of New York and Boston and means ‘smooth’.

[ Read: Moon Names For Babies ]

98. Triton:

Triton is perhaps one of the most famous mermen of all time. Disney lovers would instantly recognize him after Ariel’s father in The Little Mermaid. Triton means ‘son of Poseidon’.

99. Tyrion:

Tyrion is one of the literary names entering the dictionary via George R. R. Martin’s Game of the Thrones. It means ‘one who is from the Land of Eoghan’.

100. Zephyr:

This name is taken from the Greek mythology, where Zephyr is the Greek god of the west wind. This magical boy name was picked by Robby Benson and Sean Parker for their sons. Zephyr means ‘west wind’.

[cleelczipsybane]

WLC 2.A: What's in the Box?

L: The rest of that day was relatively uneventful. We eventually found a place to camp. Maraja went straight to sleep while Kalyani and I... communed... about Vanessa. J: We don't need to hear about that, Mum. D: Sure is a lot of boring adult stuff in this story. L: One day you'll want to know about "boring adult stuff." J: Still don't, Mum.

Maraja took the second watch. She made no fuss about her companions; she would simply pretend that she hadn't noticed. Between the two of them, the spells and wardings would likely be enough without an actual guard, but Maraja couldn't allow herself to become complacent; she will not always be traveling with such magicians. She kept her ears open to the faint distant echoes: things burrowing, skittering, even flapping. While the earlier worm shocked her with its size, the fauna she's met since is small and mostly harmless.

Maraja kept eyeing the passages forward and back. While she had lost track of how far the group have traveled, she trusts Vanessa's eyes to guide them. If they kept following her, they'd find Kirono. The wizard was convinced that the paladins were dating. 'Insanity,' thinks Maraja, 'We're just friends and I'm not about to abandon her.' Her thoughts drift to and fro. 'We are friends, right?' she worries, 'It's not like those Vrow.'

L: Anyway, when we woke, Maraja was really distracted: deep in thought. But we got our things together and continued on. That day, we found a suspicious box. So naturally the first thing we did was make sure they wasn't anyone hiding nearby before we carefully approached it.

The iron chest has a single hinge and a simple lock. It appears tightly clamped and relatively clean. It is clearly out of place here, all three women know that; no one just leaves a container like this in the middle of a tunnel in plain (dark)sight. The real question is: what kind of trap is it?

"Bomb?" asks Kalyani, "Perhapss, a cursse or poisson?"

"It looks koboldic," says Ling, "So poison is most likely, if anything."

"Should we just ignore it?" asks Maraja, "Just raise a little wall around it?"

Kalyani points her staff at the chest. "Jusst give thhe word."

"Hold," Ling raises her hand. "If you see anything appear over the box, sink it down." She points at it and thinks loudly. An image of a dog 🐶 appears over it.

As commanded, Kalyani shapes the stone beneath the box to lower it down and cage it with forcefully formed stalagmites. For a second, she thinks it may have twitched.

"What manner of spell was that?" asks Maraja, "A dog?"

"That's a mimic, no doubt," says Ling, she looks at her armored friend, "Say something, mate?"

"Thhe sspell, dear," says Kalyani, "What wass thhat?"

"Oh that," laughs Ling, "That's my own invention; I call it Detect Consent. I think of something and the idea enters the target's mind then I get a reaction for if they're in favor, against, or unable."

"So what is 'dog'?" asks Maraja, leaning closer.

"Dog is non-sapient," says Ling, waving a few illusions for dramatic effect, "There's also 🧠 brainwashed, 🍾intoxicated, 👻 possessed, ⭐ cursed, 💤 unconch, and 🐣 minor. If none of those trigger, then it'll give a ✅ yes or 🚫 no."

"What about imposssible?" asks Kalyani, "And can you teachh me thhiss?"

"Impossible actions default to no," says Ling, "And I'd love to teach ya."

"So if that were a normal chest," asks Maraja as the group approach the trapped mimic, "It wouldn't have given any response?"

"Nailed it," Ling slaps Maraja's shoulder, "I just realized it'd out these b****rs."

D: Why did you make that spell? L: To keep kids from places they don't belong. Almost every bartender in Inner Glow ended up learning to cast that cantrip. J: And then it spread amongst travelers and drove non-sapient mimics into extinction. L: Can't say anyone's mourning those. J: The propagation of smart mimics that led to was disastrous.

"But the question remains," says Maraja, poking the mimic with her sword, "Where did this come from? Mimics hide near people."

"Sso people," says Kalyani, keeping her staff ready as she leads the group forward, "Musst be hiding near it."

[cleelczipsybane]

WLC 2.9: Call 'Em Vrow

L: As we traveled onward, we almost ran into a pair of Vrow huntresses. D: What's a Vrow? L: Cute elves from the Underdank. They're not as bad nowadays, but they were real bu- nasty back then.

A pair of violet-skinned elves sit in a high alcove, both young, barely out of school. One is dressed in traditional Vrow huntress attire: a black, leather leotard, thigh high boots, shoulder-length gloves, and a quiver of arrows strapped to her back. Dark grey belts hold the outfit up. Her velvet hair is in short ponytail.

L: Not that a Vrow would know what a pony is. D: I don't know what a pony is. J: It's a small horse. I could get you one. D: HHHHHUUUUU? OOOOOO?

The second (a sorceress, clearly) is adorned with what can be very generously described as dark grey armor. The chestplate is more comparable to a metal brassiere and it's matching bottom is a glorified, oversized belt. She's also wearing raised heel pumps. Under her armor, she wears an extremely thin tight dark silk garment with a spider web motif over most of her body, from finger and toe to neck. Thin metal rings on both ring fingers and around her neck hold it in place. Her long braided hair loops around her headpiece, which is akin to a circlet which matches her elaborate staff (also spider-themed).

J: We get it, they love spiders; it's their thing.

"Shooty and spelly in a ridge," says Ling, pointing up.

The adventuring trio hide behind a corner, they've spotted the Vrow first. How fortunate for them that the Vrow are distracted.

J: How did they not hear watergirl's clanking armor? L: Well, ya said to skip to the important bits. Sorry, that included us casting don't-get-caught spells, like Quiet March, and don't-fall-in-holes spells, like Darksight.

"How do we want to handle this?" asks Maraja, "Sneak up and attack? My range options aren't great."

"Hold on," says Ling, "We don't know if they're hostile."

"Thhey're Vrow, dear," says Kalyani, "Thhey will mosst ccertainly attack uss on ssight."

"No, they won-" Ling looks at the religious iconography of her party. "Well, yous, maybe. But look at them; those ladies aren't set to ambush anyone. F'ell, that spelly isn't even dressed for the cave; she's bound to twist an ankle." Ling motions for her companions to stay quiet as she casts a spell upon her bones.

The elves in the alcove sit oblivious to their observers. There's an awkward tension between them; Ling can taste it.

"Are you ready to talk about it?" asks the sorceress, rubbing the walking end of her staff along the drop from the alcove, "I don't know what else I can do."

"It's fine," says the huntress, refusing to make eye contact, "It's my fault, you didn't have to stay with me."

"I'm the one who twisted my ankle," says the sorceress, "So you missed a few shots; everyone has a bad day once in a while, Seònaid."

Seònaid rubs her head. "I'm going to get in so much trouble if I don't kill something." She shuts her eyes. "You know they've doubled the quotas, right? We might have to sell my father."

"Let me help," says the sorceress, "My family's well-off en-"

"I don't want your money, Oighrig," says Seònaid dejectedly, "I have to do this myself. I have to- I have to do something."

D: Couldn't you give her the giant worm you cooked. L: No, we had traveled several hours since then. If another critter hadn't eaten it then, another would've before the Vrow found it. J: The worms are also poisonous.

Oighrig struggles to speak. Ling can sense a desperate desire refusing to come out and casts another spell. Unseen to the elves, a magical bubble overtakes them.

"I love you." Oighrig clamps her hand over her mouth.

"I love you too," Seònaid chuckles and turns toward her, "Thank you. You're my best friend." She calmly loops her arms around and hugs Oighrig. "You al- We've always have each others back," she smiles, "And we always will."

Oighrig hesitantly puts her arms around Seònaid. "Y-y-yeah," she strains against an unseen force, "B-best friends."

Around the bend, Ling whispers to Kalyani, "Ya have anything to push these two? Hormones, music, shove her face in her boobs, something."

"Why- What?"

"I don't know," says Ling, "The mammals love boobs for some reason."

Oighrig suddenly kisses Seònaid, then stares into her eyes in shock.

"Wow," says Seònaid, "I was really down, but I'm so glad you're such a friend." She smiles widely.

"I. Want. You." Oighrig's eye twitches.

Seònaid nods. "To?"

J: How? L: I know. J: Vrow!? L: I know!

"Crikey," almost shouts Ling, "She's denser than b****y osmium. It'd be a piece of p**s for me to root a vejjo bunyip before this dropkick's jocks are off."

"Was that even elven?" asks Maraja.

Kalyani shrugs in equal bafflement. "While thhey're disstracted, we shhould leave."

"Right," says Ling, "I'm 'bout to snap."

[cleelczipsybane]

WLC 2.8: Violence at Last

L: Several hours of ups and downs and all arounds (mostly downs) later and we'd arrived at Hairy Scary Rock: a twenty meter tall stalagmite which stands in a massive chamber.

"That is an ugly rock, says Maraja, "Its shape is... yonic?"

"Stop gawking and keep moving," says Ling, "We can't stop here."

"Why?" asks Maraja, condensing vapor for her to drink, "What's here?"

"Stop using that spell," Ling pulls a bottle out of her little magic pouch, "Use this."

J: Always with the bottles, Mum. L: Hydration👏 is 👏 important!

"What's the harm?" Maraja continues using her spell almost spitefully. "And what's here?" she asks again, irate.

The ground begins to shake. Ling seethes, "Creatures that are drawn to changes in the air and water." The rumbling nears.

"Iss thhat a giant worm?" Kalyani readies her staff as the tremors intensify.

"Giant worm," Ling nods.

D: Giant worm!? L: Giant worm.

On command, the giant worm bursts from the ground. It's thick dark grey hide etched with purple scars. It is about twenty-four meters long and three meters wide. It's open maw spews forth purple goo which the trio scatter to dodge.

"Strewth, a purple-stuffy!" shouts Ling, "Watch it, that goop is highly basic."

D: What does basic mean? L: Usually it means it's slippery and can burn you very badly.

Maraja draws her sword and readies herself, as the beast slides along the ground. She dodges its maw as it lunges and cleaves her blade through its side. A mix of blood and goop bleeds from the writhing mass. She resists the urge to blast the slime away with water.

Kalyani dodges the worm's venomous stinger tail and fires a bolt of electricity into it. This barely phases it. "Any idea what it'ss weak to?" she asks.

"No idea," says Ling, pulling a tuning fork from her pouch, "But I got this!"

As the creature lunges at the wizard, she slaps it in the side of its face with the fork while rolling past it. The worm's jaw spasms and it begins convulsing.

L: I call that spell "Nervous Veer"; it disrupts the target's nervous system, redirecting body commands all over the place. Try to bend your arm and twist your foot instead.

Maraja runs forth and brings her blade down upon the creature's slack-jawed face. The creature brain oozes out of it's open head. The body continues to squirm about.

D: EEEWWW!

"Shhield your eyess," shouts Kalyani, as she lights the entire area it occupies in holy flames. "BURN! DIE! BEGONE!" In a blink, it's roasted. A bitter aroma fills the air.

In the calm, the trio reunite a safe distance from the corpse.

"Anyone harmed?" asks the priestess, "Do you need aid, dearss?"

"Clean as I came in."

"I'm fine, but- Gross, it's so sticky," says Maraja, using a cloth to wipe her sword clean. "Why was that thing here?"

"These are their breeding grounds," says Ling, preparing to rant.

Maraja began marching suddenly. "Let's get the hell out of here."

"F*****g right" says Ling, suddenly calm again, "We can roast your a**e later."

[cleelczipsybane]

WLC 2.7: Here We Glow

In total darkness, Ling drops Kalyani's bag and skitters off. "Hold on," she says, "I know it's around here." There's a tapping and creak. A dull light enters the chamber. Ling now stands by a small open door filled with glowing stones. "Great to see ya, again."

Maraja rolls her eyes, then turns her attention elsewhere. The chamber opens into three tunnels, but the small stone structure Ling stands beside has several metal pods attached to its sides. "What is that?"

"Just my current experiment," says Ling, "These pods contain different crops and the paneling shifts over time like the sun." She skitters up onto the building to a valve. "By turning this once a week, it keeps going 'round."

"Are thhosse dangerouss?" asks Kalyani, slithering away and roots through her bag.

"Defo!" says Ling, "With too many, anyway. Like standing in the sun." As Kalyani pulls a torch from her bag and lights it, Ling shuts her door and joins the duo in the center of the chamber. "So, who knows the way to go?"

"Her loving eyes will guide us," say Maraja. She fall to her knees and prays, "Dearest Vanessa, please, show us, on what path did Kirono head?"

A flaming eye suddenly appears in a tunnel and vanishes further in.

J: The gods did something? Hah. L: Two of her followers asked on a quest she assigned one to. J: ... L: We can talk about Vanessa later, Jevoi.

Ling licks her eyes. "South, toward Vrow territory."

"Oh, great," Kalyani shakes her head and takes out a staff, "The worshhiperss of Lmaoth." She conjures a new floating disc.

"Don't jinx it, mate," says Ling, hoisting the bag back on to it.

J: Can you just skip to the castle? L: What? But the purple-stuffed worm- and the tuning fork. D: I want to hear about the worm! J: Fine, just the interesting parts of spelunk. L: I'll do.

"She will protect us," says Maraja, standing, "She will protect us. Let us go forth!" She marches into the tunnel.

[cleelczipsybane]

WLC 2.6: A Whole Lot of Hole

Down into the darkness the party did travel, climbing down by hand. One of Kalyani's staves carried a spell that allowed Maraja to imitate Ling's natural climbing.

"Do you really do thhiss every week?" asks Kalyani, carrying her entire weight on her hands alone, "Care to ssay why, dear?"

"Plant research," says Ling, climbing slow enough to keep pace while also carrying the priestess' bag, "I'm experimenting with biolumies in the Cave."

"Bio loomies?" asks Kalyani.

"Rocks and shrooms that glow down there," says Ling, "Trying to find a way to farm in the dark."

"For what purposse?" asks Kalyani, "The food crississ issn't from lack of light."

J: It is odd that you started there. L: Well, it's all I could afford at the time.

"If food can grow in the Caves," answers Ling, "That's a reason to get those b*****ds down there to stop raiding other parts of the Glow."

"Iss thhat why you moved here?" asks Kalyani, "And from where?"

"From Ozzel," says Ling, "Went to Lemonbum's Wiz School. Thought my accent would make it obvy. Where ya from, Sister? Ya don't sound local either."

"Her eyess led me here from thhe cloudss of Shheshhaparvata," says Kalyani, her voice more melodic, "Every few yearss, I-"

"CAN YOU STOP TALKING?" shouts Maraja, whose descent was far more cautious, "HOW ARE YOU SO CALM?"

"Breathhe, dear," says Kalyani, "Move one limb at a time."

The light from above suddenly ceases to be; Bobbobo had closed the dome.

"THE OPENING CLOSED," yells Maraja, her voice cracking, "I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!"

J: Why didn't you have any light with you? L: Ya think seeing how far down it was would help? Or seeing the light be swallowed by the abyss? The temptation of looking down would've killed her. J: Point taken.

"Mate, panicking is just making ya slower," says Ling, "Which means ya're up here longer. I'd be bottomside already if I weren't watching ya. Remember why ya're here."

"I'M TRYING!" screams Maraja, "WHAT IF WE FALL?"

"Then I'll jump after ya," says Ling, "I'm a wizard; I've a spell to save ya."

"WHY NOT USE IT NOW!?"

"If I use it too soon, it won't work."

"Remember, what shhe ssaid yessterday," says Kalyani, "Disstractsion. Tell uss more about thhiss lady we're following."

"Okay, okay," says Maraja, trying to calm her breath, "I can... do that."

[cleelczipsybane]

WLC 2.5: To the Underdank!

The two blessed women approach the house of Dr. Ling. The nagi priestess, Kalyani, wearing a leather jerkin and cloth shirt, and the undine champion, Maraja, clad in her armor, both carry the vertical eye icon of Vanessa; Kalyani's on a pendant and Maraja's on her shield.

"Are you sure this is the place?" asks Maraja at the sight of the windowless brick building, "And where is this hole?"

"Look at the ssign," says Kalyani as she points to the plaque by the door, "Food Wizzard; thhiss musst be herss."

Before they can knock, the door swings inward, "G'day, mates," says the gecko clad in dark leather armor and a new (equally ratty) wig, "Ready for the Hole?" She pats the small bag tied to the base of her tail. "Ya do have supplies, right?"

"Yess, dear," says Kalyani, who points to a large bag sitting on the floating disc behind her, "Tent, food, water, sspell sstavess, everythhing we'll need."

"Where's your's, wavey?" asks Ling, eyeing the champion.

"I'm so grateful that you are both taking this seriously," says Maraja, "But don't we have enough?"

L: Can you believe that? Sheila's on the quest unprepared, but the nun's ready in a day.

"Ya ever been to the Underdank?" asks Ling, "There's barely any water, the temperature alternates between extremes, and everything edible is poisonous, ravenous, and/or explosive."

"That-"

"And further on are the gravity waves and seismic shifts, so the whole thing can rearrange while you're down there."

"I unde-"

"And the b*****ds living there: orc barbarians, Vrow huntresses, dweorg slavers, kobold pranksters-"

"I GET IT!" shouts Maraja, "Everything is deadly and terrible, but I can make water." She raises her sword and says, "And I can handle monsters." She swings and points it. "If you can guide me through the caves."

L: I knew it was going to be a hard quest, this one.

"Sister," says Ling to Kalyani, "Anything to say?"

The priestess shakes her head and the two head toward a blue dome about fifty meters away. The champion races after them.

Stationed there stands a smallgoblin in blue leather. His gaze is unfocused as he chews on the end of a wooden stick, its tip alight. The sound of footsteps drags his attention back to reality. "'Ello, Ling," he says, dry.

J: Is that how Mr. Snarbly was back then? L: People tend to be happier not standing near a death pit for eight hours a day. J: I'm glad he quit then. You taking his job at least made someone's life better.

"G'day, Bob," says Ling, expectantly waiting for the guard to open the gate.

He grasps the twig between a pair of fingers. "Reason for leaving?" His voice remains unemotive.

"Right," says Ling, "Different today. On a rescue." She jerks her head toward Kalyani. "There with me."

"Morning, Bobbobo," says Kalyani, as Maraja catches up, "May we pass?"

"Time to return, Sister?" He returns the twig to his mouth.

"Dunno," says Ling, "Maybe days."

Bobbobo claps the fingers of his right hand against its palm, then slaps the dome. The magic barrier become translucent revealing a large hole in the ground with a twenty meter diameter. "Be careful down there."

D: Oh, that's the hole outside! L: Yeah, same one. D: What happened to the dome? L: No one's around to maintain it. J: No one's around to fall into it.

"That's the way in?" asks Maraja, "How far does that go?"

"Four hundred metres straight down," recites Bobbobo, "The Township of Rankedge 'olds no responsibility for your safety. It is advised not to enter the Underdank."

"How are we to go down that?" asks the woman in platemail.

Ling wiggles her exposed fingers and toes. "Well, I'm climbing," she says, "But you could ride that disc."

J: Please, tell me she tried that. L: Nah, smart enough to avoid it. J: Shame.

"I do have a few sspellss to sspare," says Kalyani, adjusting her gloves, "The shhrine had thesse sspider glovess in sstorage."

The smallgoblin blinks slowly. "When you return-"

"Ring the bell. I know," says Ling, "We do this every week, Bob."

[cleelczipsybane]

WLC 2.4: Ring of Fire

"I must say," says Vanessa, pulling eyes back into formation, "You are the third best I've-" Her flames reignite with a cough. "Mortal! The third best mortal I've-" Vanessa eyes focus on Ling, or rather, the burnt husk of her. The wizard's arms weakly gesturing spells, seemingly indifferent, or perhaps oblivious, to her missing leg. "You two," says Vanessa to Maraja and Kalyani, who still stand at the crossroads of shock and awe, "Aid her, for she now has my blessing to aid you. Priestess, you are to go as well. Assist them..." Vanessa's eyes dart about staring in different directions. "With... the quest they are on. ...I have to go." As the duo run over to Ling, Vanessa's avatar returns to the window.

As the pair begin healing Ling, she attempts to laugh only to cough up charred pieces of her tongue.

"You're a loon," says Maraja, channeling her energy into the roast gecko's chest, "Truly mad."

"Horrifying," says Kalyani, "Yet captivating." She holds the sides of Ling's head, forcing life through her.

"I'm number three," says Ling, weakly, "I am number three." Runes begin tearing open her burnt skin.

The champion runs her hand through her liquid hair and begins rubbing the nearest arm. "Why is that your focus?" She scraps and the skin peels away. "Do you have any idea how long a list that even is?"

"At least three," says Ling. Her voice returning, she yells a spell and a new leg erupts from the scorched stump. "Important rule for keeping patient's calm and out of pain: distraction. Think about anything else." Dr. Ling sits up with enough force to fling the rest of the dead skin off of her front.

"You're a doctor?" asks Kalyani, "I thhought you were jusst the town drunk."

Ling hops up and shakes the rest of her old self onto the floor. "Of biochemistry, but close enough," she says, naked as a hatchling, "Meet me at my place tomorrow morn." She begins running toward the door. "It's the brick house by the Hole."

L: Crazy that she vaporized my clothes. D: Why would she do that? L: Like I said, it was boring adult stuff. Don't mind it. D: But how does- J: Gods are weird, Dalini. They did things like that all the time.

"What's the hole?" asks Maraja.

"I believe shhe meant the entrancce to the Underdank," responds Kalyani, commanding a small wind with a gesture to blow the ashes out. "I can shhow you thhere. Do you need a placce to sstay for thhe night?"

[cleelczipsybane]

WLC 2.3: Must Love Gods

The chamber for Vanessa is as white as the rest of the shrine, but with a splash of color upon the pulpit coming through the stained glass window depicting the goddess' most common appearance: six winged eyes encircling a larger one, all wreathed in golden flame and squished as if concealed by unseen eyelids. A stack of prayer mats are tucked in the corner by the door. The altar stands less than a meter in front of the pulpit; it's supports resemble a bed frame decorated with engravings of the goddess' eyes with inset jewels for their pupils.

As Maraja approaches the altar, Ling slips up to the pulpit and stares into the window. Maraja and Kalyani begin praying and the eyes of glass give a brief twinkle.

L: Weren't really listening to what they were saying. It didn't look like it was working anyway, so, after ten minutes or so, I joined in as respectfully as I could.

"Oi, ya heavenly b*****d!" yells Ling, "Your girls need your help. Get down here!"

Kalyani gasps in shock.

"Hold your tongue," says Maraja, "You can't act like that here."

L: Though, my wizardly ways were less than appreciated.

Ling pounds on palms onto the pulpit persistently. "Ya dumb b***c," she yells again, "We came to see you."

L: And maybe the drink had its say too.

The blessed women grab Ling and attempt to pull her from the room. She clings on, yelling at the window.

"Thhiss behaviour iss unaccceptable," says Kalyani, "You are more likely to incur divine wrathh thhan aid."

L: But it worked.

A bright light fills the room as the goddess Vanessa emerges from the glass, her eyes and wings shimmering and a weaving of colors spirals behind her.

L: I'll never forget what we first said to each other. I told her, "Your radiance is blinding."

"Hey, ya glowing c**t," shouts Ling, desperately covering her unblinking eyes with her hands, "The room's white as snow, ya drongo!"

The goddess looks down on the three pained mortals and says, "Oh, I am so sorry! Let's turn that down to a soft glimmer." Her radiance dims down and the women regain their sight.

L: I doubt any mortal's said anything like that to her.

"Now, what was I doing? Ah, yes." The eyes surround Ling and glare at her. "You dare to enter holy ground and behave thusly? I am more than aware of your life and deeds, Kun Ling. Moving across the world may hide you from mortals, but you cannot escape my gaze."

J: You expect to believe she knew you already? L: Why wouldn't she? Of course, the Love Goddess'd heard of me. J: And you're proud of that? D: What are you talking about?

"Are ya going to help her or not?" asks Ling, her voice as flat as someone investigated by a blind elephant.

"Did you not hear me?" asks the goddess, the eyes spin around Ling, "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I heard ya," says the wizard, "Ya can deal with me after ya help your champion rescue her girlfriend." She licks her eyes and resumes staring into the largest of Vanessa's.

Maraja resists correcting this statement, too afraid to speak in the presence of an angry god.

L: Angry's overselling it; irate, maybe?

"Why are you so concerned about them?" Vanessa's eyes narrow, "What do you stand to gain?"

L: It's an odd question, right? Took me a second to get it. Why wouldn't she just strike me down without being there?

"Ah, I see," says Ling, "This is a trial, right? Gods love trials. Ya already said ya knew me."

"Yes, I did," says Vanessa, "And I shall test your worthiness of my aid."

L: So we did a trial and I passed. D: What was the trial? L: Oh, uh, it was just some questions to prove... that I understood- understood... the concept of love. J: ... L: Shut up, Jevoi. That trial took several hours. Several long, glo- I mean, long, tedious hours.

[cleelczipsybane]

WLC 2.2: Marble Labyrinth Zone

The town of Rankedge's only shrine serves most gods, but the town's main patron, the smallgoblin war (and fire) god Shooty-quickly, is one of the few to have a statue. His depiction as a spry warrior stands atop the marble pyramid facing toward the hole into the Underdank. His drawn arrow's flame endures in any weather and serves as a beacon from anywhere in town. The other gods are depicted on stained glass windows on every tier of the structure, all with their own altar rooms. The structure is seven stories tall with two sets of doors on each and the grand stairway up them is flanked by ramps.

Ling leads Maraja up and into the complex's third floor and around a corner and around another corner and then, just to be different around a third corner.

L: I hadn't really been to the shrine before, so...

"Do you even know where you're going?" asks the bitter paladin as they pass the door she suspects they originally entered.

"Do ya?" snipes back the wizard, her attention stuck on the window of another open room they pass.

"I don't live here!" whisper-shouts Maraja, glancing about for parishioners.

L: It took a bit.

After wandering blindly for half an hour, the two finally meet a priestess who is reaffirming the magic runes giving the marble corridors their soft lighting.

L: The nagi was stretching herself to the ceiling so far that her tunic weren't covering those golden scales on her tail end. Her elven-esque skin was the same seductive shade too and that long braid of hair... oh, it was shaped like a smaller snake.

D: Was she one of your sleep friends, too? L: That's no- J: Sleep friends? You really haven't changed. L: That's not what it sounds like. We can talk about that later. J: Dalini, do Nana Ling's sleep friends ever sound like they're in pain? L: TALK! 👏 'BOUT! 👏 LATER!

"Hey, would ya know where the love room is?" asks Ling.

"She means the altar of Vanessa," quickly corrects Maraja.

"You're on the wrong floor, dearss," says the priestess, "Let me shhow you to the sstairss."

J: Why are you talking like that? Racist. L: It's how she talked. It's not racist, it's a lisp. J: Then, why are mocking her lisp?

The priestess leads them down around a corner and slithers up a ramp next to the stairs in the stairwell in the center of the shrine. The duo follow her up as quietly as they can with Maraja's armor clanking every step.

"The goddesss Vanesssa'ss altar iss on the fifthh floor," says the priestess gently, "Nexx time, you shhould enter from thhere."

"I'll be sure to remember that," says Maraja, "Sister...?"

"Kalyani," answers the nagi, "Priesstesss of Vanesssa, in fact."

"Sounds like I should be converting," mutters Ling to herself from behind the faithful as Maraja introduces them.

[cleelczipsybane]

WLC 2.1: Licker Bar

Sitting in a tavern, a gecko in a ratty wig sits alone at a booth in the rear. Dressed in a red shawl and leggings, she swirls her drink while watching the crowd hounding the flame-haired bartender. He pours, shakes, and passes drinks in an effortless dance.

L: It was a few months after I moved here to Rankedge. I's at Libby's having a pint.

J: Of course, you were. You were always at Libby's. So glad that place burned down.

L: How can ya say that? Weren't you friends with Jr.?

J: Yes, and she hated working there. She didn't want to be saddled by her dead dad's dream.

Her wandering gaze is suddenly pulled by the sound of the door. A knight in shiny armor steps inside, looking about. The gecko slips out of her seat and sneaks across the tavern.

L: She looked like a scaly elf. A real beauty, too: skin blue like lapis and hair of water. Too soft in the face and too fancy a suit to have seen much action.

Ignored by most of the drinkers, the knight makes her way to the bounty board and attempts to pin her own parchment to it. "Come on," she says, "Get in there you... tack."

L: Naturally, I had to take a chance.

D: Were you always looking to help people, Nana Ling?

L: Y-yeah, I'd been helping everyone and their mum.

"Problem, mate?" asks the gecko, taking the page, "Going questabout, eh?" Her eyes dart back and forth from it and it's poster.

"Yes," says the knight, annoyed by the audacity, "But I have need of a guide into the Underdank." She looks the gecko over. "Doubt you'd be of any help."

L: The undine was in pursuit of her missing "roommate" from St. Chastity's. And ya know how the girls from there are.

J: St. Chastity's School for Lady Paladins?

L: The very same. Never been a straight lady in that building.

"Well, ya'd be wrong," says the gecko, "Name's Dr. Ling, local wizard and probo'solver." She hand the page back. "If your mate's up a gumtree, I can help. Ya got a name, lovely?"

"Maraja," says the knight, placing her fist over her heart, "Champion of Vanessa."

J: Vanessa? Really?

D: Who's that? Do you know her too?

L: I'm getting to that. Hold on.

"Champion? Then why ya looking for aid in a pub?" asks Ling, "We got a shrine up the way." She tilts her head at Marja's continued distrust. "At least let me show ya that far."

Maraja sighs, "Sure then." She shoves her paper into her bag. "Lead the way."