"A plague has infected it," Eruditis elucidated with a weary sigh. "A stronghold, they say, and our spies have confirmed it. It is a stronghold unlike any other. No, not a stronghold. A tomb. For all its puissance, I have entered this plague in spirit, and I have found it desolate with the clutches of death."

A scribe carried a rolled sheet of vellum to the table. The Lord of the Zheariv rolled it out, revealing it to be a map of Zhivar. He pointed at a bleak region labeled 'Desert of Abyth' that stretched beyond the northern reaches of the human kingdom Kitarna and skirted the dwarven Baelri.

Knowing the imminent news yet intrigued nonetheless, Yrudit leaned in to peruse the map.

"The desert," Eruditis said gravely. "They say a rift has opened within the confines of an eldritch valley on the borders of Baelri. From this rift spews the same evil that plagues Faradhi now."

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Kiarryn's face took on a curiously rigid expression as the Desert was mentioned. She continued to look on unwaveringly as Eruditis spoke, but had anyone spoken to her they would have found the girl withdrawn, locked behind closed doors that none had ever seen opened.

Silvryn looked on in detached interest. Most of this she had heard of or heard rumors of, as was the privilege of royalty, but Eruditis had acquired a few tidbits of knowledge that were a surprise even to the Princess.

Aedha glanced up as Varna spoke, and regarded him for a moment. Something about the young man nagged at her - but the aloof, withdrawn girl was not likely to make very much of it.

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Rylin's expression, though perfectly calm, took on a slight rigidity at even the mention of a 'plague'. He knew all too well what the plague entailed, and, unless there were spies for the Order and others, no one knew the true source and cause of the danger.

Raina, much like her brother, had a slightly rigid expression, though she hid it carefully after a moment's contemplation. Whenever the truth came out, everything would be revealed in due course, and nothing could be done to halt that, a fact which she took comfort in, oddly enough.

Varna was, as of yet oblivious to Aedha's scrutiny, but as he noticed it, the young man met her gaze..only to look away as some sort of connection was realized therein. This, undoubtedly, confused him..and he didn't know what to make of this.

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Landen's brow furrowed as plague was mentioned. He had had a close call with plaegue. His grandfather had sent him away from his home for that very reason. Putting a hand to his chin, he looked over the map with quiet interest.

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Kjiro looked over at the map quietly, almost unnoticably. He had heard all this. Infact, he was one of the tag-along spies who had aquired the information. He - being raised in the desert - was completely accostomed to its terrain, as well as the procausions one must take when entering its borders. The whole matter did not surprise nor bother him.

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

Aedha hastily removed her gaze, looking down at her hands in her lap but conscious of Varna's eyes on her until he too looked away. None of the men she'd ever known had been noble. Her father, a drunkard who could not keep the little money he earned long enough to even consider spending it on other than ale, had never earned her admiration or trust. Her betrothed had professed a need to go off to war, and later she'd found out he'd left for another, prettier than her. So the girl remained aloof and distant, scornful of men in general.

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Sorry for my absence--I was gone over the weekend and had a ton of homework to do last night and this morning. And I probably won't be on much tomorrow or Wednesday, either, because I've got exams in all but one of my classes on said school day.

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Tal sat upright. "There is a plague in Abyth?" he asked, his gaze hard. If there was a plague in his homeland, he needed to return as soon as possible. He, being a healer, might be of some assistance. Especially if the plague wasn't an ordinary one, which, from the sounds of the rift, it wasn't.

"Not much of Duzakha's fate has been told to me," he continued, "so if you know more, it may aid me when I return to my people."

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Eruditis shook his head. "I know very little. Something stymies our divination attempts. The only method to learn more is an actual journey to Abyth - a journey which others have attempted but none have survived."

Yrudit slowly nodded his scaled head. He'd been contemplating that very option for a long while, and had long ago made up his mind. He stood. "The instigator of this plague - Duzakha - is my homeland," he said quietly. "I will go."

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Kjiro stood, slightly aprehensive.

"I will go as well. I know the desert terrain. I can help navigate, though I doubt it will be needed. Long have I known these people, and they have helped my many a time. I think its time I return the favor."

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

"I will go also I have been there a many times"Eryn said trying to saying calm.

"I'll go too, though all I have are my sword and my powers..." Darnel volenteered...

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Silvryn, silent while Eruditis had been speaking, stood herself. "This plague concerns the elves of Irvanhri no less than the rest of you. For lack of any other representative, I will go."

Aedha stared down at her hands in her lap. This meant she too would go to the Desert, whether she would or not.

Kiarryn remained very still, looking at Eruditis but not really seeing him. Scenes she'd tried so hard to forget flashed through her head, and she was powerless to stop them. Return to the desert meant return to the very place Kiarryn had vowed to herself never to set foot in again. But this could mean the destruction of everything she had now - everything she'd fought to gain as a penniless orphan. They need you not - they have their Exalted, you do not tip the balance between defeat and victory. But she could not force herself to decline, to prove that she did not have the courage to return.

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Penfire leaned back. Of course he was going if Silvryn was going. As her second-in-comand, and her counterpart, it was his job, you could say, to protect her and stay by her side. He nodded, meaning he was going...

~~~~~

Alistina bit her bottom lip, thinking if she should go or not. She wasn't a fan of the desert, the hot sun always gave burnt her, making her hurtt for weaks. Shivering, she decided she'd have to go.
"I shall go... I guess," squeeked Alistina...

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Eryn couldn't help feeling that she had known Darnel for years she kept staring in his direction bt making sure that he didn't see her even though she thinks he did

"We shall go, as well." offered Rylin in an unwavering voice, after a moment's silent contemplation, and a few pointed glances shared between himself and his sister.

"As will I." stated Varna, in the same tone of forced calm Rylin had used. This was definitely not his idea of a trip, but as he knew he was bound..he couldn't escape going.

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Landen, seeing as so many were already going, comtemplated how wise this decision was.

Go with them. You don't have anything here. Better helping someone else than sitting around here and doing nothing but becoming a target for scorn. looking around half-conciously, Landen rose to his feet once more.

"I will go as well." His statement was simple, to the point, and clearly hesitant.

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

Sensing the hesitance in Landen's voice, Raina glanced across the table at him, against her better judgement. For some reason, she was actually glad to hear that he would be accompanying the rest of them..but before she could even attempt to try and reason out that feeling, she dismissed the thought from her mind quickly. It was not like her to feel something like that, a sign that she was changing slowly but surely.

(Forgive the randomness post..I had to post something.)

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