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Amethyst	It's a lovely day outside, the sun is shining, people are going here and there to collect things, barter, purchase and sell. It's an incredible day in this city, but not all is great. It seems a bit of a crowd has gathered around one particular vendor and exchange "I've worked with you time and time again, playing along with your prices, getting the reagents through you so that it would benefit both of us. I've not ever given you trouble and yet here you are demanding twenty times the price?!" Amethyst's voice can just barely be heard over the crowd. "Now now don't you know anything about supply and demand? You buy a lot and it costs you more. Simple as that. And if you ask for things that I only have one of, that fetches a really pretty price." And the shopkeeper just chuckles, clearly in control of the situation. "Tell you what, instead of just a dirham, why not an entire talent?" The younger dragon practically snorts and everyone can feel the manifestation of her sorcerous power pressing down on the essence in the area for a good few moments before she manages to get a grip on herself. This situation is not looking great for Amethyst's reputation or her composure.
Black Pearl	Black Pearl hears the voice, and comes closer, and looks at the argument, and then gives a warm smile. "This is very true," the other water exalt says. "But there is not just supply and demand. Surely there are laws, rules, and regulations as well," she says. "Now, I am sure you don't want to be audited and otherwise run afowl of the laws, yes?"
Fudou the Mountain	The arrival of The Mountain is unsubtle, as usual. But for once, he is not the certain of attention when it comes to spectacle. After all, people enjoy rubber necking a good arguement though the pressure that falls over the area from the rising temperature of the so called 'Silver Dragon' is enough to cause some of the crowd to wisely give abit more of a berth less spells begin flying. Fudou, on the other hand, continues his approach. His vast physique steps forward through the market streets with a faint rumble vibrating through the ground from each steps and the bulge, pull and slidng movements of his sinew a monstrous thing to watch in action should his approach draw eyes his way. His shadow, however, does begin to fall over those present but he comes to a stop near the outer edge of the gathered crowd. A few look on nervously and begin to move in anticipation of the giant starting forward again but for now he just watches some amusement.
Amethyst	The merchant hmphs, "And who just are you? Hmm?" She sniffs in Black Pearl's direction. "Just know I ain't afraid of you and... you... dragons." She pauses as she looks up at the really big mountain of a man who's come to visit, but as he stops she shakes her head. "Do you even know what she's asking me to give her?" Amethyst for her part is all at once mullified and seemingly embarrassed. She speaks to Pearl quietly in high realm, "You know, you didn't need to come save me like this... I had this under control!" And then Amethyst straightens up and speaks to the merchant, "I just thought you'd catch me a break considering how much business I do with you."
Black Pearl	"I do not know. But I do know she is my friend. And surely you would rather have the /friendship/ of the Princes of Creation, than not? After all, if we are your friends, you gain access to more, yes?" Amethyst then gets a smile. "It's my pleasure to make sure you are treated with proper respect," she says with a smile, and then looks at the merchant, "Perhaps if you tell me what things are, I might sweeten the deal on my own behalf...if you're amenable to dealing with the Chateau of Resplendant Delights."
Fudou the Mountain	"Well well..this is interesting if a little mundane considering your normal dealings." Fudou's deep voice is sardonic but yet amused as he steps forward again, hands clasped behind his back and massive figure looming forward like a boulder deciding to trundle in and interject into the conversation. His comment is directed to Amethyst but his attention moves to the merchant now as well, "It's obvious you're in over your head.. Just give the ladies what they want as there are other ways to obtain what you're peddling..." He grins slowly before looking away towards Amethyst and Black Pearl both, "Greetings.. Hmm.." His attention drifts to Pearl now, "We meet out here. Away from your pleasusre house on business?"
Amethyst	With no less than two princes of the earth and that mountain of a man on her back, the merchant relents, "Fine, here, take them for what you asked me. But you're paying double next time you're here!" And the merchant produces a basket full of... things. Some stones, various herbs, and that's when the merchant produces what surely started this entire mess: A glowing ball of rainbows and silk. Amethyst gladly accepts the basket and bows, "Pleasure doing business with you." And then she looks at her friends grinning like she just won the lottery. "Shall we head back to my shop? I think I'm done shopping for the day."
Black Pearl	Pearl looks curiously at everything, and then nods to Amethyst, and then back to the giant Fudou as well. "And good day to you as well. Thank you for your assistance." SHe gives a smile, an then grins to Amethyst, "I think I will look into seeing just how much the merchant wishes to have our goodwill through audits and fines and red tape. And...I admit to curiosity...what is that?"
Fudou the Mountain	"So...it's you? I thought it was mentioned there was talk about a wyld expedition.." Fudou's eyes hood as he studies the orb and then he nods his head and gestures for Amethyst to lead on, "We should talk..yes.. Lead on."
Amethyst	Amethyst grins towards Pearl, but doesn't speak a word until she gets back to her shop. She sets the basket down and puts the glowing sphere on the desk and idly plays with it. "By the dragons it's been too long since I've held Gossamer in my hands like this. I may synthesize false strands for my sorcery, but nothing compares to the beauty of the true thing." "This is a strand of gossamer, stuff of the wyld and valued by the Raksha. It is not something that you find every day, and when I heard that one of my suppliers of some of my stranger reagents held one, I had to have it. But she wanted a forth of this season's profits for it!"
Black Pearl	Once things are in private, Salara's eyes widen, and she nods. "I have never seen it, or touched it...and I have heard that it...can be dangerous? But also immensely valuable." The Dynast nods, "I suppose it is truly that valuable, but how difficult is it to obtain?"
Fudou the Mountain	"What are your intentions?" Fudou cuts to the chase. He's cramped in here but curious. His massive frame looms over the sphere, looking on curiously before he looks back to Amethyst "Do you mean to treat with the Raksha? To what end?" He shaeks his head roughly, "Foolish intentions if not carefully plotted out and thought through.."
Amethyst	"You must either brave the wyld, or convince the fair folk to part with theirs. As for dangerous?" Amethyst grabs a silver capsule from her bag in a motion that shows she must have practiced it tens of thousands of times, and just simply tosses it in the air. She focuses it, and it /explodes/ in mid air, like a little fire cracker. "Maybe a little." And Amethyst grins at Fudou, "You do know my mother lives among them, yeah? I just wanna go talk to her and ask her why she also bares the surname Yim." Yim Amethyst explains simply. "But I have greater thoughts for this particular strand. And it's pretty convinient that you and Salara here happened by. Have you two met before?" Amethyst has that crazy look in her eyes, the sort she gets whenever she comes up with crazy plans.
Black Pearl	"I remember you visiting my establishment before, from time to time. Only ever had food and drink and enjoyed the musicians and performers," Black Pearl says to Fudou, and then nods to Amethyst, "So aquaintences, but not more." And Pearl tilts her head, "I thoght your Father was Yim, so she took his name?" she asks politely.
Fudou the Mountain	Fudou knows that look well. He is quite familiar with it for he himself has it from time to time. This more measured version of him is merely play in order for him to partake in the indulgences of Great Forks and observe the Solars but a touch of mischief lingers as he smirks lightly. But he shrugs and then he reminds Black Pearl, "For your establishment use I offered my occasional services which you agreed to ..but perhaps business has kept us seperated such that we have not done much business together..." He lifts one of his tree trunk sized arms and flexes, the muscles bulging titanically and pressing out, making the moonsilver tattoos on his flesh more obvious, "I suppose i never told you what these were.." he says to Black Pearl, "But if you know Amethyst well you surely know the company she keeps?" He looks back to Amethyst at that, "Mother or no, I am a Sword of Luna. Raksha are something I take very seriously... Your business is your own but I must warn you that the wyld's kindness is mercurial.."
Amethyst	"I also want to know if I truly do have a twin out there and to learn more about my family and where on earth my father might have gone." Amethyst explains. "And considering the wyld trying to impose its will upon me was what caused me to draw my second breath, I do know well of the perils of the wyld. But I will not be going along. Bright Journey, Silk Moon Lotus, Raullaur, Rishi, and Hoarfrost will be coming along with me. And with these tattoos, I am warded against its twisting power. It makes me as the Raksha as far as the wyld's concerned, and thus too it'll let me shape it to my own will." "And yes, Black Pearl knows well that I consort with 'anathema', and even knows that I myself am not so far removed." And Amethyst focuses and sends a ripple across her tattoos that make them appear as moonsilver. "So no need to worry about her."
Black Pearl	"We will have to revisit our arrangement, Fudou," Black Pearl says. "ANd make sure it is of use to us both. I look forward to discussing things and learning more," she says with a smile. Amethyst gets a nod. "I have met Bright Journey, but have not met any of the others she has mentioned." Or rather she has, but never got Rishi or Hoarfrost's names. "I am planning to journey with Ametis if, or when, she chooses to visit the Realm as well. For there I can surely fit in. In the Wyld?" She shakes her head. "I would be a hindrance rather than a help, probably."
Fudou the Mountain	"The Solars will be of little use.." remarks Fudou bluntly, dismissing their presence and aid off handedly. "...at least compared to the aid Rishi and Hoarfrst will bring. You should just go with them. The rest will be too busy trying to protect themselves and slow you down.." He seems somewhat put off by this and he shakes his head as he looks at Amethyst, "A dangerous game this is, Amethyst. You are removed enough to not be one but you consort with them enough to be at risk. But..I suppose, as you implied, without these risks we don't grow stronger.." He just gives Black Pearl a quick look, studying her and then frowns even more, "The -Realm-??"
Amethyst	"Each of them will be bringing their own protections against the wyld, and Bright in particular has the ability to ensure the Raksha do not attack us. And I am well aware the risks of consorting with the Raksha but do remember that I survived their gauntlet and earned my sorceress power before I exalted." And then Amethyst looks like a deer in headlights as the realm gets mentioned. Oh boy. "Um, well, yeah, the realm. The inheritors to the shogunate and thus ancient enemies of the lunars." She nods. And it's clear she's trying to think of something or someway to say something, perhaps trying to find a way to tell a Lunar who isn't lovestruck for her that she wants to be accepted by the Realm to some extent or another. And she looks over to Black Pearl for help.
Black Pearl	"It's her family. Her origins. And there are things she needs to know. Even if only once to be cut off and have it be dead to her," Black Pearl says. "As she is my oathsister, it is my place to help her with both of these--either just in preparation, or to go with--to make sure she succeeds." Her voice is matter of fact, and she shrugs slightly.
Fudou the Mountain	THe giant lunar sighs a little and rubs his nose before finally stating. "The desire to reconnect with family is understandable but when decisions are made and circumstances rise that move us away from family we must be prepared to deal with those consequences. The Realm and those who support it would kill Amethyst for what she's become and who she consorts with and I do not mean the Raksha. They have names for us, you know? Names and assumptions on what we do to unsuspecting 'lost egg's and dynasts like yourself who get to close and to comfortable with us. Sorcery that can see through illusions and find lies putting herself and others at risk.." Fudou shakes his head again and shrugs, "Why be so desperate to know that which will do you no good but only bring you pain? You've built a new life here, in the Scavenger Lands. What are you missing that drives you to the Wyld and to The Realm?"
Amethyst	Amethyst looks away, and turns to the very building she had erected not so long ago. Her tattoos ripple back into their typical rainbow patterns, her mutations unfurling as she looks down at the desk she's done so much alchemy at. "I've done everything but figure out what I actually want." She admits, "I've built myself from the ground up without anyone's help, I've chased down the secrets to the Sapphire Circle and made myself like the lunars to find a sense of belonging, only to realize too late that this was more than a little foolish." "My life was stolen from me the moment I was born. A lunar assassin killed most of my family and tricked my father into thinking that we were not only exiled but no longer Dynasts at all. And I've lived my entire life believing that my birth was the reason that my father suffered so greatly. And now he's gone, he vanished while I was training with my mother. And my mother promised that she would soon find me here in Great Forks and it's been nearly a year. And now I learn that I have a brother who survived and that I could go back to the Dynasty and claim my place among it like I always dreamed."
Fudou the Mountain	"Hmm.." Fudou considers Amethyst and remains silent, thoughtful and then.. "Perhaps your..association with us anathema has not been entirely healthy in all ways. You were filling a void and seeking an answer to questions that are not easily obtained. Perhaps pursuing something as out of reach as being more like..something you are not is..unwise but your accomplishments are something to be proud of. But I can understand wanting to have lingering doubt removed and questions answered but.." Fudou pauses and then says simply, "Surely you know that simply going back to being a dynast is impossible. Your eyes have been opened to the truths of Creation and with that truth hanging over your head, simply trying to slip into a status quo built on a lie will only be a burden to you..."
Amethyst	"I might be the youngest dragon to /ever/ achieve a Sapphire Circle working." Amethyst says. "And yes, the unanswered question I have is, say they accept me, then what? What will I do then? I have no real connections, no real influence, the only thing I have is my blood and that's been thoroughly tainted by the wyld so prospects such as marriage are off the table. And I'm a sorceress, from a household that's been all but destroyed, and the realm is surely getting closer and closer to civil war. There's nothing there for me except perhaps some unanswerable thing that my soul yearns for." "And I know I can't go back. I knew that the moment I had the entirety of my body tattooed. Through it I've thrown my lot in with the lunars. But then I considered something, an answer to all of my questions." "For the wyld, I just want contact with my mother and to make sure she's alright. But for the realm, I want to be a force that will change them. For a thousand years lies about Lunars and Solars have been spread far and wide, lies that many dragons even believe. And lies that I know the Immaculate Order itself knows are false. They understand that the Solars and Lunars are exalted just like them, that there's nothing inherently wicked about them, anathema is just a convinent word they have for those who pose an existential threat to their society." "And so I want to see that society broken and remade. In the midst of the civil war they won't be able to fight against the Lunars, and if the people are already changed, then who's to sake the entire Dynasty could not be toppled?" "The real reason I wanted gossamer is because the only way to rework my tattoos is with this stuff. Not that I intend on removing them, I just want their default appearance to look as though I'm honoring the immaculate dragons." And Amethyst picks up the stone she bought, and neatly sculpts some of it away as her hand flashesd with a bit of her anima. "If I have my way, I'll be the masked silver dragon when I am among the anathema, desiring to see the world accept them just as the Dragons are accepted, and without the mask I'll be Peleps Yim Ametis, a young dynast who uses her wealth to help her House in exchange for them giving her freedom and the supply chain she needs to reach all of Creation."
Fudou the Mountain	There is silence from the giant man. He rubs his jaw in thought and then folds his arms and nods his head. "It's a noble goal and...one worth pursuing.. -if- you're strong enough to cut the necessary ties and forge new ones. I have to say that..it will take more then just yourself to initiate such a change but ..small bites will eventually consume the whole and there will be those that will seek you out and others like you to spearhead change." Fudou nods his head in some approval, "War is coming but..you should know that the lnnars are not unified and are as varied..if not more so..then you should already see clearly just by considering myself, RIshi and Hoarfrost.. ANd the Solars raise many questions now. Bright Journey and others like her may seem well for now but don't be dismissive or ignorant to the past. There are many who have reasons to distrust what the return of the Solars may bring..so.. be ambitious but know your limits and what's within your means. Be careful out there so that as you try and change The Realm you're not devoured by it..."
Amethyst	"The only way I've survived is by my sheer pragmatism. I'd do well in Lookshy if I had any interest in their society." Amethyst says, "I just hope I don't need to kill my own kin to make this happen. Of course, I have no idea what my father will think /if/ I ever get to see him again. I have a lot of strength but I don't know if I could raise my hand against my own father if it came to that." "And in truth, there is one thing that every text I've read on the 'truth' behind the anathema warns:" "Though they may not be inherently evil, though they may have noble goals and intentions, though they may seem to even be more righteous than the immaculate dragons themselves, remember that madness inevitably claims their minds and hearts, and they are doomed to destroy what they wrought. It is for this reason, that we hunt them and call them anathema: not due to their wickness, but due to their madness."
Fudou the Mountain	"To do what you desire, Amethyst, blood must be spilled. You cannot simply undo a millennia of..of...mind washing and cultural construct by being pragamtic and determined. It must be brought to the ground and changed and there will be those who resist that change because of the position it puts themselves in and they will fight." remarks Fudou with a shrug of his shoulders as he turns for the exit. "I'm glad that you know these texts and these truths but consider that you learned these things as an exile already malleable and changed in form and spirit. Imagine the scope of The REalm and all who hold true to what it teaches and those in power who look for the cracks someone like you are attempting to create. It's a worhty task but..daunting. Focus on what lies infront of you right now. The Wyld. I would offer my help but you seem well protected with the company that has stated they will be with you..."
Amethyst	"As ever, I'm just a foolish young dragon." Amethyst says, rubbing her head, "Honestly it's probably a lot more likely that I'll die somewhere in the crossfire before I get to see any of it through. And it's even more likely that my ideals will fall on deaf ears as a millenia of rage erupts against the realm and a millenia of hate pushes back against it, while the newly returned solars slowly gather their own power now mostly unchecked by the wyld hunt. I am but a single Dragon in exile, and outcaste in all but name and one that maybe should find goals that are not so lofty..." The young dragon sinks to the floor with her strand of gossamer in hand, gazing and contemplating what exactly it is that she's doing.
Fudou the Mountain	"One bite at a time." repeats Fudou, offering a grin now, "ONe bite at a time." And then...he's gone!