RP:An Insane Imbolc

Summary: Lanara is in dire need of glowing mushrooms, which happen to only be found in the Underdark, and so she desperately searches her home in Cenril, and all the surrounding areas in hopes of having her fiance join her on this quest. It's Imbolc, a high holiday for witches, which announces the beginning of Spring, and Lana hopes to perform a ritual amongst her fellow believers of the craft. Unable to locate Elioyahazer, she tries the last place where she expects him to be, and finds herself at the Mage's Guild Library, in Xalious. Naturally, Eli is nowhere to be found, and so the witch decides to make this a solo adventure. Dyraxdiin is overseeing things at the library and rather than provide Lana with merely a map, he offers to be her tour guide of the trecherous Underdark, and to help her locate the hallucinogens.

Dyraxdiin is busying himself with one thing or another - directing students this way, answering questions about schools of magic, helping others fill out papers and filing. Lot's of filing. Why is Dyraxdiin doing receptionist work? Who knows! Probably because he's grown bored from reading and re-reading everything in his personal library, or maybe he's just looking for a bit of human interaction. Whatever the case, the great wyrm disguised as a simple human in gray robes and mithril halfplate, cuts quite the odd figure among the rest of the robe-clad, bookish types scurrying this way and that. He's never liked that look, armorless and naked to a hidden blade. Come to think of it, perhaps he finds security in the armor as a substitute for scales. Ah, yes, that must be it - Dyraxdiin's inner-monologue continues in this fashion for several span as he shakes his head to another student, "No, I will not give you access to the restricted section in the library. Yes, there are dangerous books in there, no I will not tell you about them." Etc. These mindless questions, while slightly annoying, are the questions that reveal a student's true potential. Ever curious, the best of them are, searching, reading, questioning. It brings a smile to the old mage's lips, as he turns from this last student and places his hands upon the table before him, to continue his duty of first point-of-contact to those that enter the guild this evening.

Lanara had spent most of the day going over preparations for the ritual she designed for the celebration of Imbolc. The high holiday was one that the witch held close to her heart, and she had tended to every minute detail, so the ceremony would go off without a hitch. Sadly, Thalra had left the lands, and with that, closed up her shop, so the final ingredient for the hallucinogenic concoction she needed was unattainable. Where would she get glowing mushrooms, at the last minute?! Lana had pulled her late mother’s grimoire out of the chest and thoroughly scanned over the ritual, poring over every mention of the mushrooms, and it’s then that a familiar place is mentioned. The Underdark. “Go beyond the gates…Hm.” Never one to fear venturing into the unknown, the adventurous woman readies a backpack with the bare necessities for the trip, and chooses attire that would be suitable. Donning thick leggings, knee-high boots, and a mithril-woven tunic, she feels as though she’s ready to take on anything that may be lurking in that treacherous territory. The journey to the Mage’s Guild library is uneventful, though she’s surprised to see so many students gathered, as it was nearing late afternoon. A curt nod is given to Dyraxdiin, though she doesn’t pause to converse with the wyrm, as she’s on a mission of great importance. The rows of books are briefly eyed, as she scans the area for a sign of Elioyahazer, her fiancé. He’s nowhere in sight, and so she circles the area again, hoping to see Daath, as the drow would certainly know his way around the Underdark. “Dammit. Just when I need someone, they are nowhere to be found!” Meandering through the students and bookshelves, she returns to Diin and gives him a feigned smile, “Do you know where I can find a map of the Underdark? I plan on heading there this evening, so I will need it as soon as possible, if you please.”

Dyraxdiin pauses for a time when Lanara approaches him, asking for a map of the Underdark. Instead of replying immediately, he eyes her up and down, brows furrowing in confusion. "Did you just say you're going to the Underdark this evening?" His eyes flick to her ears, and he shakes his head, "I'd sooner give you a map to the nearest graveyard, because that's where you would end up." His stern expression slowly melts away into a grin. The best students always want the things that no sane person would be after. "Then again, I'm finished here today, and I know the Underdark well enough. What do you say, mind if I join you under the pretense of being your guide?" The great wyrm steps out from behind the table and draws up his cloth hood, clearly indicating that he's going with her regardless of her wishes.

Lanara catches the hesitation in Diin’s expression, followed by the fact that his gaze trails to her slightly tapered ears. Her cheeks flush, as she was often self-conscious of her pointed ears, and she fidgets with the end of her braid, gaze dropping to the desk. “Yes. I am going to the Underdark this evening. I don’t really think the time of day matters all that much, since it’s –always- dark there, is it not?” She’s bluffing, as if she knows anything that relates to the Underdark, or the creatures that lurk, waiting to snack on the clueless Kelvarian elf. Lana knew enough about those that inhabited the lands, the drow, and she had a great distaste for their kind, though Daath was an exception, of course. It comes as a surprise to her, when Diin offers to play the role of a tour guide, and she feels the edges of her mouth twitching, as she fights to stifle a smirk. “Are you sure? The last time you accompanied me… We were heading to Twister Island, and we had to battle storms and water elementals. Who knows what we’ll encounter in the Underdark!” She’s testing him, as though there’s underlying suspicion in her words. Dyraxdiin, the most powerful mage in the realm, wished to spend the evening with her, searching for mushrooms? Adjusting the straps on her backpack, she now lifts her gaze to his form, only to see that he’s drawn his hood and is preparing to leave with or without her permission. “I’m Lana, by the way… In case you forgot my name.”

Dyraxdiin is already leading the woodland witch by an arm towards the exit, nodding his head as they go, "You're right, it is always dark there, but the twilight hours below are the same as above - dangerous in the wrong places." Everywhere in the Underdark is dangerous at -any- hour, but he doesn't make mention of that. A wave of his hand opens the grand doors that lead to the Xalious Village. "I wouldn't offer to accompany you if I wasn't sure that I wanted to." He smiles to her, blue-eyed gaze to meet her own, "I know who you are. I've been aware of you since before we added your name to the Mage's Guild roster and even before we met on that ship. Word of your deeds have travelled far, Lanara." The great wyrm will continue to lead as they make their way through Xalious Village and down the pass that leads to the forests, where one can find the entrance to the Underdark.

Lanara matches Diin’s pace, her chocolate hues widening at his comment, “I see you’ve done your research on the Underdark. I didn’t know about the twilight hours… I should have thought of that to be honest. But in my haste, well, I’m in a bit of a rush to retrieve these glowing mushrooms. Witches celebrate Imbolc, which represents the coming of spring, and it’s one of our high holidays…” She doesn’t think to explain the holiday in depth, as the mage probably didn’t hold much of an interest in the partaking in such a celebration. Even now, as Lana meets his cerulean gaze, she can hardly imagine him traipsing through the woods, as naked as the day he was hatched, calling to the moon and dancing around a fire. It had been ages since she engaged in a skyclad ritual, and thankfully all of those she had invited were women, otherwise her fiancé may have an opinion on her beliefs! Carrying on, she babbles through the length of the forest, “To finely focus, its best if once is in a trance… And in order for that to be possible, I have to crush the stems of the mushrooms, and make this paste that we all ingest moments before we begin the ritual. I normally would have them shipped to Thalra’s shop in Cenril, but the business closed, and she had to leave the lands.” Giving the male a warm smile as he mentions that she’s the newest addition to the guild, she nods, remembering that day, fondly. “Thank you for accepting me, and my sister. It’s been a long while since my kind was accepted anywhere… Especially after all the horrors of Larket!” His next words have her pausing before the entrance to the Underdark, and again, those high cheekbones seems to darken a shade of crimson. “Oh, my deeds?” Was Diin referring to her colorful past of an exotic dancer? The animal sanctuary? The Guild of adventurer’s she led? Her tutoring others in dance and magic? The witchcraft? Lana hopes he heard of the more favorable mentions over the years, though one couldn’t be too sure. Still, he hadn’t let her face the Underdark alone, he allowed her to join the Mage’s Guild, and he was wise beyond his many years… Diin was wise enough to discern fact from fiction, and see that she was a good witch.

Dyraxdiin isn't one to comment on the practices of other people, be it simple tradition, religion, or some form of spiritual enlightenment. As long as such practices don't hinder the continual balance of all things, that is. Glowing mushrooms, on the other hand, are a familiar ingredient to the great wyrm, and as a matter of fact, he has some back in his offices at the Mage's Tower - but why sully a perfectly good opportunity to test the mettle of a new recruit, or a chance to delve into the greater unknown of the Underdark? Diin licks his lips, looking thoughtful for a moment, "After what Macon and Josleen did to Valrae..." He shakes his head, "Witches will be under the protection of the Guild going forward, as well as myself personally. If ever you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." A woman's scorn hath no fury like a Dragon's wrath. He brushes off the rising animal urge to level Larket and instead begins the long descent into the Underdark. Being the wise dragon that he is, Dyraxdiin refrains from mentioning the extent of which he has heard about Lanara. His saurian eyes adjust to the lessening exposure of light - and due to this, he doesn't think about Lanara possibly needing a light source to see where they are going. Instead, he just continues to lead, happy to let the Witch carry the conversation.

Lanara shifts her gaze from the path to the mage, considering his words. He would protect witches, at all costs? Her jaw had clenched as Valrae was mentioned, and Lana wished she were there to prevent such a tragedy from occurring in the first place. However, she had been one of the chosen six, which had been called upon by a crystal skull, and together, they were used during the resurrection of Miss Baines. Like the dragon, this particular witch was all too happy to protect those she felt a kinship towards, and she’d risk another trip to the shadow plane, if it meant Valrae could remain with them in the flesh. “Thank you, Dyraxdiin. You are a good man, and if you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask.” She’s being sincere, and she gives an almost imperceptible nod, before they begin their descent into the Underdark. The walls feel as though they are about to cave in, and though she’s not claustrophobic, Lana can swear she feels the pulsing of the earth that surrounds them. Her eyes aren’t able to adjust to the pitch blackness that envelopes their forms, and several times she bumps into Diin, muttering a thousand apologies beneath her breath. The use of magic would come in handy at this moment, yet, it would also alert others to their location, and the last thing she wanted was to deal with a herd of angry drow, or creatures that her mind couldn’t register. The air seems heavy down here, and she struggles to take shallow breaths, while inching nearer to Diin’s form. A hand extends to lightly grasp his bicep, as he didn’t seem to have an issue seeing, and his footfalls were nearly silent. It’s when her fingertips make contact with something cool and silken, that she knows it’s not the upper arm of her companion. Was it a snake? A branch? Frozen in fear, thinking it’s a serpent, she sharply inhales, a shriek emanating from her lips. Lana takes several steps back, though misjudging the ascent, she lands firmly on her rear, and rather than pitifully crawl away, she covers her face with her palms, as though willing the possible serpent to vanish in thin air. This was –not- happening, was it?! She needed those mushrooms!

Dyraxdiin grimaces at the mention of 'good man'. A dragon responsible for the death of countless people, the destruction of the Dwarven Halls, and the degeneration of saurian kind couldn't possibly be considered anything but wicked. His only hope is that one day he might be able to redeem himself of all the sins he committed in that previous life. "I appreciate it, Lanara." Is all he offers in reply to her words. They continue on in this manner for a time, until no more light can penetrate to the depth at which they've delved. The ever present 'drip' of water can be heard off in the distance, along with an occasional scraping noise of dragging feet, or skittering legs. The Underdark is teeming with life of all sorts, so it comes as no surprise when his companion blurts out a shriek and begins panicking at contact with the first thing she's found. In response, Dyraxdiin issues a command in High Saurian, "Light." Mana flows forth, cultivated and reshaped by the utterance of the command, it creates an artificial light that purges the darkness and would surely blind any non-surface dwellers with its brilliance. Once having had completed this, Dyraxdiin looks to Lanara to see to whatever it is that's got her panicked so.

Lanara lies on the ground, whimpering, and helplessly clawing at the ground and trying to regain her footing. It was a snake, she was sure of it, although she couldn’t see with the surrounding blackness. The dripping of water, the eerie atmosphere, the insanity of this adventure… Of –course- there would be serpents involved! How could the witch have suspected anything to go her way? The piercing light has Lana squinting through her splayed fingertips, as the forked tongue exits the slit of a mouth of the python. It can sense a reptilian being, and studies Diin for a calculating moment, before it decides to uncoil from the root and slither further into the safety of darkness. Meanwhile, Lana is freaking out on the ground, scrambling in the dirt and roots, before she shakily rises to her feet, and shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Dyraxdiin. I cannot go any further! This Imbolc will have to commence –without- the use of hallucinogens!” The mushrooms would go untouched, the Underdark wouldn’t be explored on this eve, and the Goddess would hopefully understand why her moon daughter was incapable of helping the ritual reach fruition. “Thanks for your assistance, but I have to run!” And run she does! The elf turns on her heel and literally sprints in the opposite direction, leaving the dragon with a bewildered expression on his handsome face.