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Lillica Foster, Gavaya Querii, ludrix, Barran the Bold, Mender Duncan

Lillica decides to bring in a specialist to look at ludrix. Continuation of this RP.

Warnings: Emotional abuse? Jail time and crying.

Lillica Lillica was in her office staring at a sheet of paper. She'd used a typewriter this time. Perhaps the neat, blocky font would convey a little more authority and urgency. That's what she needed in this second letter to Querii, who still hadn't arrived at the lab despite the first letter Lillica wrote to her nearly two weeks ago. "Blah blah blah, important assignment, relevancy to sylvari, chaos infused sprout," she mumbled, reading it back to herself. It was nearly identical to the first letter, just a notice that Querii was to report as soon as possible to the Lab in Garenhoff, an assist with testing and analysis of Iudrix, who still showed no signs of chaotic energy dissipation. If anything, the levels in his body had started to rise again for the first time since the incident. It was what forced Lillica to admit she needed an expert's opinion on his condition. How every good Lillica was with tools, gadgets, and now chaos, the realm of advanced biology was still beyond her.

Yavril Querii had received the letter, of course. But even joining the Consortium couldn't alter her ways, and she was not one to leave anything unfinished, even if it was only a series of simple tests. No matter how intrigued she was by the chaos radiation's effects on a sylvari. She had vaguely sworn to herself when she'd received the letter - she'd never have condoned these kind of experiments on a sylvari. But it was far too late now, and she had prepared to leave just as soon as she had finished.

Brom In the sprout's eyes, he was doing good. Nothing hurt, he was alive- life was still an adventure and each day was doing something new anyways. Hiccups were normal and he really hadn't destroyed anything too big yet. So what if he had to step outside sometimes so he didn't mess up whatever experiment was going on, he didn't understand it at all anyways. He was actually outside right now, sitting by the door, his back against the frame. Playing that flute again. He only ever played one song, and it was clearly unfinished whatever it was. But at least he was getting there. The ever-present pink sword lay across the top of his feet.

Lillica Lillica gazed out the window at Iudrix, peaceful as usual. She considered breaking out her old lute, joining him for a song. It had been a year since she last played in Divinity's Reach, and ever since being kicked from the city, music didn't feel as rewarding. "Iudrix!" She hollered out the window, "Do you think you could mail this for me?" The letter was finished, tucked neatly inside a sealed envelope which she waved for him to see. "I'll give you a few silver if you do~!"

Brom "Another one?" Iudrix stood up, the sword cracking out of existance and reappearing at his side. "Alright." he tucked the flute away and walked over to the window, standing on his toes to reach up and get the letter. "I won't be gone long. Probably." The sapling grinned at her, waving the envelope in a half-salute before turning to leave down the path. Mailing something was a thing he COULD do.

Yavril Querii got the second letter just as she was finishing up and preparing to leave. Reading over it quietly, she sighed. It was typed, this time - perhaps the situation was more urgent than she'd thought. She tucked it into a pocket and pushed away the last of her tools in the now cluttered room she'd been given. The journey to Kessex would take a few days; she was going to have to cross Caledon and Kessex to get to where Lillica spoke of.

Lillica "Thank you Iudrix," Lillica gave a small now of her head, sending him on his way. Even now she could tell things were off. He seemed more pink than usual. Lillica scrounged for another piece of paper, jotting down a note to herself and pinning it to the wall above her desk. The note read: Modify Inventor's Goggles. Change Grade B to Grade C, with added chaos sighting functionality. Reduce distance viewing to accommodate. From the look of things, Querii might not come by, at least not soon. If that happened Lillica would have to use what she could to keep Moniter Iudrix's condition, and the most sure fire way was constant surveillance.

Yavril The trek across the vast Caledon and still slightly corrupted Kessex was not forgiving, but it did come to an end and Querii found herself in the small port town of Garrenhoff. It was rather quaint, and the asura felt almost uncomfortable in such a place after getting used to the Sylvari environment. She had to pull out the letter again to recall where Lillica had asked her to be. She ignored peculiar looks from the townspeople as she followed the letter's directions.

"Hello?" She called as she arrived, hoping she'd found the right place.

Brom "...Hello?" Iudrix was outside yet again, the tall thin sylvari popping up from where he was sitting to greet whoever it was. He was a sight, all long limbs with those bold purple faux wings jutting out from his back and shirt. And, of course the ghostly illusion sword in his left hand, solid though it looked like it wasn't, the point in the dirt yet again. "I haven't seen you before. Are you looking for someone?" He tilted his head, looking down at her. While he'd seen asura from a distance he really hadn't TALKED to one.

Yavril Querii wondered if this was who Lillica had mentioned. "Yes. My name is Gavaya Querii, Lillica sent for me. Is she present?"

Brom "I think so. She's inside. Hold on." he held up a finger then went to the door, opening it and just yelling inside. "Lillica! There's a--- Gavaya Querii looking for you!" He almost just said asura, but that was rude. Probably.

Lillica "Ah, finally an Asura. My old scratch would hate me for saying this, but it finally feels like a lab here," she hollered down the stairs, swiftly traveling from the third to first floor, meeting them in the doorway. "Querii, you're late by more than a few weeks. Whatever, just put your stuff down and step inside, yes, we have much to discuss." Lillica motioned for Iudrix to help with the bags while she led Querii to her office. It wasn't time for lab work just yet, they had to establish why Querii was here first. "I know I didn't explain much in the letter but you'll have to forgive me, there's just too much to explain. The sprout out there is Iudrix, he's the one in question. I'm sure you saw his sword. The poor thing isn't even six months old and already... He's progressing along strange lines at a strange pace. I was hoping you could help explain why."

Yavril Querii frowned, following Lillica with a certain air or dissatisfaction. Lillica was an interesting specimen of a Sylvari, but she could certainly be an overpowering source sometimes, and that didn't sit quite right with Querii most of the time. She listened quietly as Lillica explained, until- "Wait, less than six months?" She was glaring at Lillica now, although really more calculatingly than angrily. "Exactly how old is he? There could be serious repercussions if he wasn't old enough. That might explain some of the symptoms you mentioned." She spoke quickly, not a moment to loose. "I will need you to describe the experiments in full. I do not pretend to understand chaos energy, you may need to fill me in. I'll also need him to give consent to minor examination, unless you've already done as such."

Brom While they talked Iudrix shuffled the bags around downstairs, taking his own sweet time to find an empty corner of a room he could stash them in. It wasn't as easy a task as it sounded. Finally he finished, slinking up the edge of the stairs to hover as close as he thought he could get away with- curious about the asura and whatever they were talking about. Not that he could really make out the fast words.

Lillica "I'm not sure he was even a month when first exposed to the chaotic energy," she began, "And it know enough about chaos to make up for your gaps in knowledge. Initially I wanted to figure out how chaotic leakage influenced verdant biomatter, since we only have baselines for the fleshier races. I can show you my data. I interpreted it using my limited knowledge, but as a biologist you may read into it more than I can. Iudrix, could you get the charts? The ones on you, they should be in the lab. Also grab a consent form to fill out!" She hoped he'd heard her.

Yavril Querii groaned; less than a month was far, far too early to be exposed to such radiation. "Testing on sylvari will be far different than testing on a... 'fleshy' race. Especially considering your candidate is so young. Unlike other races, they do not change shape, but I have been hypothesizing recently that their connection to the dream may change as they age, almost similar to a human's developmental stage. At first, a sylvari requires a deeper connection to the dream to make up for a lack of experience, et cetera. Because these are cerebral, mental changes, I have no idea what effect chaos energy could have on him. Even if my hypothesis is false, the connection to the dream could be effected by the chaos energy anyway. I'll need to know how old he was when the tests first occurred - precisely - and how old he is now." She pulled out her notepad that she had previously kept hidden in a pocket and began to flip through her notes wildly, waiting for ludrix to return.

Brom It didn't take long to find the charts, especially since he kept having to add on to them. He also grabbed the form and a pen, pausing over it before heading back up the stairs. Something about another consent form and an asura was making him feel nervous, although exactly WHY Iudrix could not quite place, and by the time he was back up to the office those ephemeral butterflies were popping in and out again, flickering near his shoulders at a noticeable but random pace. They matched the sword he still had tucked into his belt, pink and glassy. "Got them." He didn't say anything else, just sort of stayed in the doorway.

Lillica "Come inside Iudrix, Querii has some things she'd like to know," Lillica had already forgotten Iudrix's exact age. She wasn't good with remembering things like that, the ones that don't matter too much. Despite Querii's warning, she still didn't think it mattered that he was young. She'd kept a careful monitor on him throughout the testing, and they stopped before anything dangerous occurred. Not before anything permanent, but the permanent things were alright so far, so long as Querii could help devise a way to keep the chaos from spiking again. While Lillica pointed out the places for him to sign in consent, she remained quiet. Iudrix could answer most of the basic questions more accurately than she could. To pass the time, Lillica found herself recalling a day many moons ago, when she'd first met Zezzifer and started down this line of inquiry, into the subject of chaos. Zezzifer was always bursting with energy, always turning things into something else, blinking from here to there, stirring up trouble whether she intended to or not. Iudrix hadn't undergone the Zezzifer recreation trials, but he was exposed to energy from a leaking battery, which was the product of her Zezzifer tests. Could it be that he would be starting down the same path anyways? We're the butterflies that jumped in and out of existence just the beginning? Just like Zezzifer, if Iudrix's chaotic signature continued to rise, would he be forced to shape the area around him with magic just to keep it from bursting out in less controlled, more damaging ways? These were the things Lillica had begun to consider. Her thoughts usually zipped from point to point like this, making connections before she recognize they were there, and by the time she could catch up it was too late. Maybe Iudrix was the same, a brilliant, unwitting success at the cost of terrifying means to reach it, which Lillica, as usual, didn't recognize until after the fact.

Yavril Querii nodded, even smiled as ludrix entered the room. This was something reserved for Sylvari alone, sometimes genuine, and other times simply a method of disarming. There was no doubt she felt more comfortable around Sylvari than her own kind. "Allow me to reintroduce myself," she began. "My name is Gavaya Querii. I am a... researcher, for the consortium." As she spoke, she looked up and down the green/purple sprout with new eyes, trying to pinpoint any possible physical damages from whatever chaos tests Lillica had preformed. "Lillica has called me in to help with this case because I am a biological expert on Sylvari. I tell you this so you are aware you are entirely safe in my hands." As Lillica went over the forms, Querii scrambled through a few more of her notes before settling on a blank page. She didn't find any signs of external damage, and she doubted he could hide it from her. She took it as a good sign. "I do have some questions. Firstly, your age when you began these experiments, and your current age."

Brom In this light the only difference was his eyes, once a bright green they'd slowly picked up more a pinkish tint. His glow as well, though the indigo it started as still deafened the slight bit of pink it had started to gain. Not that that could even be examined with the sun overhead. Her smile definitely helped as he stood awkwardly in front of her with papers signed, the speed of the butterflies calming with his nerves. "I'm really fine," Iudrix mumbled, "It only hurt when it happened." He took a deep breath. "I, um, don't really keep track of days too well. Maybe- 6, 7? Weeks ago? Two months? When I got here it'd been, um... Fivedays." The last sentence was sad rather quickly, remembering how upset Ren had been.

Yavril "Five days? Really? How did you even get far enough from the Grove?" She looked between ludrix and Lillica wildly. Had Lillica known that he was so young? Even without knowledge of Sylvari biology, it seemed like common sense not to perform experiments on one so young. She just shook her head in amazement, though, and jotted down what ludrix had told her. "Lillica, can you recall how long he's been here? And my next question is if the experiments have been repeated since the initial tests."

Lillica "I'm not sure exactly. A few months maybe," Lillica said as she picked at her rose-buns, "I'm not sure. I did not repeat the same experiment, though I did try something else, more for information gathering than anything. Looks here," Lillica whispered, poking the corner of page seven, "You'll see in the initial findings. Iudrix had claimed that I was pink, along with other red things. He also claimed to have a ghostly sword in his hand. Of course we didn't see any sword, and I am as red now as ever. Page seven details about two weeks after the initial test, once the new imagining equipment arrived. By looking through it we could see the highlights of chaotic energy shaping a sword in his left hand, along with strong signatures behind his eyes, and remaining ones throughout his body, as if crossing all veins." Lillica pointed at the sword by Iudrix's side, "The sword in the image was missing it's tip. Somehow we managed to complete it with infused chaotic energy from phantasmal butterflies. Doing so made it tangible, and he seems more comfortable with it now. Iudrix has been steadily growing an affinity for atypical phantasms since then. The exact details are inside."

Brom "Ren brought me. I wanted to get out, but I kept getting stopped. So I convinced him to take me." Iudrix went quiet while they talked, listening. It was all stuff he knew already of course. "She still looks pink to me. But I'm okay. I don't need that color." He fidgeted a little, uncomfortable with all the focus. "I- It doesn't hurt or anything. Honest."

Lillica "Ren is another like you who joined the program," Lillica said to Querii, "He's been helping me out with some of my research, but for the most part looks after Iudrix when he isn't trying to solve the problems in his own work on rail gun technology. I'm... Not sure where he is right now, but you can't miss him if you see him. Big, blue, fuzzy, and easily flustered. You should probably get to know him, since you two are the program's most prominent stars."

raumlet Ren chose just that moment to poke his head into the room, having heard his name as he came down the stairs - he'd been shifting things in the attic in an attempt to make more room. For... reasons. His bark was noticeably less minty green than usual, what with the dust. "What?" His eyes dropped to Querri, well below the height he was used to looking. "Oh. Um. Hello."

Yavril Querii looked over Lillica's data inch by inch. Much of the results regarding chaos energy totally lost her, but others shone like stars in the night. She wasn't sure she believed ludrix's insistence he was in no further pain - being affected by the chaos energy in a way that was still lingering in his brain, eyes, and body could - and to be frank, should - be screwing with his nervous system. She listened to Lillica and Ren speak as she worked through the pages, until she heard someone new enter. The Sylvari seemed friendly enough, and Querii nodded to him. She couldn't help but remark that it was yet another Sylvari. She wondered what about the Consortium drew their interest. That was a question for another time, however. "Hello. My name is Gavaya Querii, I'm a Sylvari biologist, and I am assisting Lillica with the project. I assume you are Ren? Is there any chance you'd be able to assist with a few questions I have before I begin?"

Brom Iudrix startled when Ren spoke, a burst of butterflies flickering around him before completely vanishing. The rest of his nervousness seemed to fade completely when he realized who it was, the young sylvari letting out a sigh. "I don't really need taken care of. Really," he continued, turning back around to face the two with the notes.

raumlet "Ah -" Ren's eyes darted briefly to Drix as the sparkles burst into nothingness, but he stepped fully into the room. "I'm, um - that's me. What sort of questions did you have? What... uh, what exactly were you planning to do... ?"

Lillica "I just called her in to help assess Iudrix," Lillica answered, "She is a biologist, and like you she is with the program."

Yavril Querii sighed, "At the moment," she glanced at Lillica, "I'm just trying to tell if Lillica's caused any long term damage to ludrix while she was testing previously. Now, to start, I'm wondering how long exactly ludrix has been here."

raumlet The look Ren gave Lil could be classified as suspicious, but he folded his arms and furrowed his brow as he thought back. "Ah... Since.... 295 Colossus? Roughly two months," he said, addressing Querii. "The initial testing was the same day. Lil forced him to manifest the sword two weeks later, 309 Colossus."

Yavril Querii nodded as she jotted down notes in a script no one but her would ever be able to read. "That's still too young," she remarked, with a pointed look towards Lillica. "Thank you, Ren. ludrix," she shifted her gaze, "did you notice any... problems with your connection to the dream while the tests were occurring? Or either of you? Do you, ludrix, notice any lack of connection to the dream now?"

Brom "I- I--- I'm not sure. It was all so fast and things are different now- but-" he shrugged lamely, wings drooping. "Looking back at it, it's all like a bright flash, sharp and then- everything breaks." Iudrix drew his sword, just letting it rest in his hand. "It was a gun before it was a sword. I think it might be because I remember blades, not bullets."

Yavril Querii couldn't help but feel a tinge of concern for the Sylvari. Her forehead drew together in a frown and she noted something to check on later. "Interesting." She looked back and forth between Lillica's data and her own notes. "What about now? Is your connection to the dream altered in any way? It may feel different than two months ago, I believe this is a natural part of the Sylvari aging process, but I'm looking for... background chaos energy or the like. Something that seems innately off."

Lillica Lillica listened intently to what they were saying for all of three minutes, then her mind was off wandering again. Connection to the dream, huh? She'd never had one as strong as the others seemed to. A number of Mesmers in her old chronomancer teams were sylvari, and as each of them left, they always left with a pointed remark, "How can you stand the feeling?" They'd say something like that. "What feeling?" Was her stock answer. If they were referring to guilt, Lillica had built her experiments to avoid any major predictable blunders, she didn't allow sylvari for the Zezzifer timeslip trials, and everyone was given detailed paperwork before getting involved. But if they meant a collective anxiety in the room, Lillica was never able to take part in it. To her, the dream didn't share such feelings so obviously.

Brom "I don't know. I don't really know much of anything. I- I don't remember what it felt like before if it was different. It was... so much." Iudrix hung his head, a little ashamed at his lack of explanations. "I can still feel when people are... upset and things." He didn't look at Ren. "I just feel normal, it's everyone else who's saying I'm not."

Yavril Querii didn't comment as she jotted down more details. There was no way she liked the way that ludrix seemed to be feeling, but it was a part of the questions she had to ask. "The fact that you're seeing pink instead of red," she said, "is enough to prove there has been some affect on you." Never over good at comfort, Querii distracted herself with her notes before looking up to Ren and Lillica. "Alright, a few questions. One, do either of you recall if you felt unconnected to the dream while the tests were under way? Did ludrix seem disconnected? Did ludrix, during the tests, give off a strange emotional reading over your Sylvari senses during the test? Does he now?" There were more questions on rapid-fire than she had had initially, but her mind carried her far away, and suddenly there were hundreds.

Lillica "I don't know," Lillica sighed, "I've never been very well connected to the dream. I'm sure he felt something, but whatever it was never reached me. Ren's a much bigger softie than I am, so maybe he did?" she elbowed Ren playfully, despite knowing fully that he had become quite annoyed with her since Iudrix came. It was all over his face. She didn't need the dream's empathy to tell her. "Oh but there is one thing. Iudrix claimed that during their tests time seemed... Different. He heard an saw things that we didn't, and I'm guessing the sword we managed to make tangible is only a fraction of what flashed before his eyes. I had initially written it off as typical chaotic nature, perhaps a consequence of resonance with the battery, which is a product of refined chronomancy. Are you suggesting that there may be another, more biologically related reason to the experiences?"

raumlet "Nothing seemed off for me during the tests, but I wasn't paying attention," Ren said with a shrug. He swayed with Lil's nudge, but otherwise, he didn't react - a great, fuzzy wall. "He's anxious a lot, but that's... understandable. Whether anything is truly different... I'm sorry." With another helpless shrug, Ren spread his hands. "I'd only just met him. I... I didn't think before I brought him here, and... he... I-if something has changed, I wouldn't be able to recognize it."

Yavril Querii sighed, jotting down something short in her book before putting it away entirely. "Alright, fair enough." She crossed her arms. "And yes, Lillica, I think it's possible. Sylvari brains are wired in a completely different way than any other race. Your brain is designed to pick up on signals mine can't even comprehend. It's very possible the chaos radiation affected these parts of ludrix's brain and caused these bizarre experiences. I have no idea yet which parts were hallucinations and which parts were a reality none of us but ludrix can see, but it's clear at least some of it was real, given his sword."

Lillica Lillica grinned, "That's exactly why I wrote for you to come in. I was in the same boat as you, but from the opposite perspective. Maybe together we'll be able to figure what's going on, and what should be done about it if anything. Do you think it would help at all to see the blueprints of my batteries that were being tested, or is that beyond your area of expertise?"

Brom "I don't see it at all now, though! It's gone. It only happened when- when it hurt. After that, there was only the sword and now that I HAVE it there's not even that anymore it's- I don't see any of it now." Something slowly seemed to dawn on him, and he hugged said sword to his chest, a few sharp-edged butterflies flickering. "Nothing needs to be done. I know you don't like it- but I'm fine. Please don't take away the sword. The one I gave to Sikora- I- She- It was bad." The idea was plainly distressing, from the tangible pieces of accidental magic to the pitch of his voice.

Lillica Lillica smiled at Iudrix, the poor sprout. She still couldn't get over the fact that he hadn't left yet. Everyone else did since he began the new line of research, and even Ren looked uneasy. But Iudrix? Well, Lillica felt like giving him a wintersday bonus present just for being so unfazed, for even growing attached to the changes that had come about. "I won't let her do anything you don't want her to do, including removal of your swords. Querii was called her on my order, as a consultant. She is consortium as well, and not the management type. So you can be more at ease. I'll do my best to explain any options that arise with her expertise available to help analyze you."

Yavril Querii frowned as she watched the two. Sikora? Clearly she was missing some context. "I will not take away your sword without good reason, ludrix. I promise." She meant her words - he was clearly emotionally attached, and perhaps even physically attached, somehow. There was a moment's pause as Querii considered Lillica's offer. The closest thing to a battery she had studied lately was the Pale Tree and how it was living. She shrugged, finally, "A battery is rather far out of my experience range. It depends on how well you believe you can explain the technology."

Lillica Lillica paused. Could she explain it? Yes, given time, she might have a way. Does that promise Querii would really understand it? Absolutely not. This was an entirely new technology, a prototype battery that refined chronomancy through specialized spell casting across three levels. It funneled two or more mesmer's power to lock another Mesmer in time, hopefully making that One into something of a chaotic generator or charger when they came out, though all attempts thus far resulted in unstable individuals. Then that Mesmer, titled a Zezzifer, would direct enormous amounts of its chaotic power into the batteries Lillica created to store it. Lillica sighed and did her best to explain it all. "... And then the batteries can be recharged by a Zezzifer. I- I lost all of the previous Zezzifer's, along with the chronomancer teams to create them. Iudrix, he volunteered to help me test the effects of chaotic leakage on sylvari, since there's no existing empirical data on it. We used the only battery I had managed to fill in an Elixer rifle, and he stood outside after powering it up. That was all. The only other thing I can mention about my process is the crystals I used in my batteries were from the same mine as the thaumanova reactor's, which means it's likely they have an abnormal tendency towards resonance with the source cluster. It might also be why Iudrix became so intwined with them." Lillica leaned back in her chair to take a breath and stretch, "I've explained about as much as I can, without getting technical. That's what's happened from a chaos and tech perspective, but how it affects or has been affected by the intricacies of sylvari anatomy... You're going to have to figure that part out. Do you think you can do it? And if so, is there anything you'll need, equipment or funding?"

Yavril Querii's mind had to race to follow Lillica's long explanation. She certainly had been right to go into biology. "I can try, but..." she looked at ludrix with a hint of regret in her eye, "I'm unsure how far I will be able to take the research without seeing the experiment first hand, or repeating it. It would also require full cooperation from ludrix to experiments he may or may not be comfortable with." She inhaled. "Assuming he is, I would need other Sylvari of a similar age - within a month of him - willing to allow me to perform some tests. At least one, though two would be helpful. Also, full access to any and all research on chaos energy the consortium has ever performed, a few basic tools for reading Sylvari from my lab..." She paused, trying to come up with the rest of what she'd need. "I can have a full list by the end of the day, but those are the essentials." She looked ludrix up and down; this was quite the project she was taking on. The implications could be extraordinary, if she could understand them. Already she had thought of three different tests she wanted to run on him and whatever other Sylvari subjects she would get.(edited)

Brom "If it helps I guess I could do it," Iudrix slowly stated, still holding that sword. The battery explanation had once again gone over his head as it always did, but at least the promises had assuaged his fears about them tearing the sword away like Sikora had. "But I broke the gun last time and- and I wasn't really that helpful." He looked over to Ren to see what he thought of the whole thing, although honestly the sapling figured he already knew the answer to that question.

Lillica Lillica stopped them, "No, this won't work. The battery, as Iudrix said, is gone. It and the gone more or less turned into his sword. After hearing the process to make batteries, it goes without saying that constructing another filled one is out of the question, it simply cannot be done. We have neither a willing subject nor a chronomancy team. I can help with anything else, but recreating the tests is impossible."

raumlet "I... I wouldn't recommend repeating the initial test again anyway," Ren said quietly, his arms folded across his broad chest. Although he caught Iudrix's eye, he looked away after only a few seconds, guilt tweaking at him. "I wouldn't consider what happened to be, uh.... Ethical. At all. None of it. If y-you think your experiments might - that is -" He seemed to shrivel as he spoke, his arms tightning across himself until he fell quiet. "I - I'll, um, offer what assistance I can, but... My strength lies in mechanical engineering, as Lil said, so there isn't much I can do."

Yavril Querii didn't seem upset at the revelation there would be no way to repeat the experiment. It surely meant that her job would be harder - perhaps even impossible - but if there was a way to avoid harming more Sylvari, she would take it. "That's fine, Lillica. I still need young Sylvari to compare ludrix to. If you happen to know any young Sylvari that you're familiar with, it would help with their trust." Querii smirked at Ren, almost amused. He seemed to be a nice guy, but the stuttering and shyness was out of hand. "Thank you for the support, Ren. I understand your concern."

Lillica "I haven't been back to the grove in some time," Lillica admitted, "Any sylvari I knew who were young have since grown. Perhaps Ren or Iudrix would be better to ask? Otherwise, it's time to see about posting help wanted flyers."

Brom "I left so quick I really don't know anyone. I barely remember their faces, much less names." Iudrix looked at the ground again, letting the sword just burst into a field of swifly vanishing butterflies. "There's really only two other than Lil and Ren I know that are even somewhat close by, and they think I'm some sort of monster." Plus they were definitely too old but what did that matter if there was no way they'd agree anyways.(edited)

raumlet "I only visit the Grove occasionally, and never for long," Ren said. "I am under a year, but barely. The only other Sylvari I know is my age... Who thinks you're a monster?" He asked, brow creased.

Yavril Querii sighed, "Well... you and your friend might work as a last resort, assuming you could convince them, but younger would be ideal. I can return to the Grove to look for candidates if it requires that. From what I can tell, ludrix isn't in any immediate danger. So we have time."

Brom "Dandy and Roisenrot. They live..." Iudrix gestured vaguely in the direction, "Over that way. She's nice enough but he-" He sort of gave up midway, just letting the explanation trail off. "I really am fine, things happen sometimes but it's never nothing bad. Even when I ended up somewhere else I could still walk back." He brought the sword back, just at his side this time where it belonged.

Lillica Lillica nodded, "It sounds like returning to the grove to search is our best option. Do you think you could do that? Would anyone like to go with Querii, as an ambassador?"

raumlet Ren glanced over at Drix, then down at Querii. "I... I could go? If you wanted me to," he said to the Asura. "I, uh, have a reputation with the Wardens, though..."

Yavril Querii shrugged. "I don't expect the Wardens to be much trouble. A few of them even know me by now. Having a younger Sylvari with me will likely encorage the saplings. Many of them are wary around my kind." She didn't mention that that infuriated her - she wished they could tell they were safe with her like they could with other Sylvari. She shook away the thought, "Although, if it's the kind of reputation that will have us arrested on sight, maybe not."

raumlet "Oh, no, nothing that serious," Ren said - finally, he released himself to hold his hands with the palms facing out defensively. "I - as a sapling in the Grove, anything I built tended to be, uh... Unstable. The Wardens knew that. They're still wary."

Lillica Lillica cut in, "You should have studied beyond the grove, like me! My Scratch was incredibly enlightening. I'd recommend it to any young sylvari."

Brom Iudrix bit his lower lip, quiet while they discussed. "I don't know what will happen if I go back. I didn't, um, really leave like I was supposed to. I was specifically told not to. A lot."

Lillica Lillica grinned at him, "Well it ended fine, didn't it? There are some things that just need to be done despite what people say. Like one time, in Divinity's Reach, I saw this massive silver..." She stopped herself, "...Bad example. Nevermind. I'm happy you're here though."

Yavril Querii nodded to Ren. "Alright, so you'll come, unless you've got a big problem. And ludrix... it's up to you, honestly. I assume Lillica won't be coming?"

Brom "I'm almost more scared of going back than holding another gun like that," the sapling slowly admitted, a soft smile touching the corners of his mouth. "B-but I guess if this mess is mine I probably should." He looked back up at everyone. "Just as long as no one makes me stay."

raumlet "You're older now - they shouldn't be able to hold you," Ren said quietly. His arms went back over his chest, less defensively this time. "Querii, if you'd like me to, I'll accompany you."

Yavril Querii looked up at ludrix. She wished desperately for a high place so she could be on eye level with him. "I won't stop anyone from coming if they wish to."

Lillica "I'll stay here and continue my work. Iudrix, it's fine if you stay. I can order some jiggle-ooze-jelly for us."

Brom Iudrix shook his head. "No, I'll go. At the very least someone should know I'm not dead. I'll probably have to go back some day, might as well be sooner than later. Besides. It's my mess."

Brom The trip was thankfully uneventful. With those waypoint devices along the journey the Grove was honestly not that far. Iudrix spent most of the trip in a nervous quiet as he followed the other two, only blinking ahead by accident once when he was trying to make something in the distance out. And it wasn't that far. As they reached the bright giant leaves that framed the curling entrance he was mostly hiding directly behind Ren's bulk, just tall enough to peek over one fuzzy shoulder. There were butterflies everywhere, the closer they got to the door the more nervous he got.

raumlet Ren would have been hard-pressed to miss the anxiety rolling off of Iudrix; even without that handy empathy Sylvari shared, the butterflies were a bit of a giveaway, flickering madly around them in an eyecatching display. "Iudrix," he said softly, looking over his shoulder at the sapling, "You aren't a week old anymore and they can't make you stay... But you don't have to come with us if you don't like."

Yavril Querii led the group, unafraid of the Wardens. Unlike her companions seemed to be. If he was this frightened outside the Grove, how was he going to be inside? She'd have to give him a moment, she figured, and paused while Ren talked. Besides, she'd been itching to draw a flashy red Sylvari practicing with a bow and arrow. She'd never finish, but she pulled out her notepad anyway.

Brom Iudrix looked down and to the side, wrinkling his nose. "As long as you're sure I guess it will be okay. You'll stop them if you're wrong, right?" A couple of the butterflies cracked as he tried to get control of them, fragmenting away with the sounds of breaking glass. He took a step back away from the other Sylvari. Not far enough to be anything more than a token attempt, mind you.

raumlet "Honestly, I don't think they could contain you," Ren said, a little grin tugging at his lips. "You'd blink out of the cell on accident - but if I can stop them, I will. Okay?" He waited for Iudrix to nod before looking to Querii. "Oh, were you - um. We're ready, if you're not busy."

Yavril "No." Querii stuffed her notepad away - she'd only finished a rough, vague, head outline. She didn't mind, she do more later. She didn't make a motion to explain herself to them, didn't bother.

Brom Iudrix frowned at that idea. "I don't know if that's possible, there's bars wouldn't I hit th-- I'm not sure how it works. Maybe." Otherwise how could you keep anyone who actually knew what they were doing inside. He forced a grin anyways. "I'll follow you two. "

raumlet "I'm sure you'd manage," Ren said as he headed up the final stretch into the Grove proper. "Querii, I assume you know where to go?"

Yavril Querii led the group in through the front gates of the Grove. "Well," she called back, "My first attempt would be the classes they hold for saplings. They should be our age range. If either of you have another idea, we can split up."

"Oh, and Ren," she glanced over her shoulder to look at him, and saw the whole of Caledon as a backdrop, "If that friend of yours is here, you may want to warn them that we may need their help. As a last resort, of course."

Brom "I would rather not split up!" Iudrix cut in hastily with a flurry of butterflies. "Let's not." Now that they were actually inside and not immediately being apprehended he looked around with a calmer heart. It was so colorful and warm and inviting and for a moment the sapling felt a deep pange of regret. Why had he felt so eager to leave? But he had, and that was all the past, now.

raumlet "It's very unlikely that Gene would be here," Ren said, dropping his gaze to his feet for a moment. The buzz of the Grove rose up around him, familiar and comforting, the soft tide of emotions underlying the warmth of their Mother above them - the Omphalos Chamber drew his eyes. "The House of each of the Luminaries might be good to visit - most of the Sylvari my age I knew as a sapling stayed there. We can head down to the Houses - together - after we visit the classes?"

Lillica There was a man near the pod up to the Omphalos Chamber. White, bright orange glow, thorns for hair and twigs whiskers. A crowd had gathered around him, and it made his height all the more apparent. He was ranting about... Something. "Winter!" Was the only word Iudrix's party could catch without getting closer. As they did, the crowd's faces came into view. Some angry, some ecstatic.

"You there!" The man called out to Iudrix, "I can sense it. There is youth in you, yet being here... Unease? At least a hint of it. Tell me brother, are you truly satisfied with life her in the grove, living in the shadow of our dear enigma, mother tree?"

Yavril Querii didn't mind that this "Gene" wouldn't be here - she didn't expect needing to contact them anyway. She'd be damned if she left without at least one candidate. As they entered the center of the Grove's top floor, her attention was suddenly drawn towards a loud rambling man standing near one of the transportation pods. She frowned, torn between curiosity and a wish to complete her mission. She ignored several surprised looks she was getting from younger Sylvari, to whom an Asura was an odd sight. When he called out to ludrix, she twirled, looking back at him in surprise.(edited)

Brom "Yes?! No?! I- Hello?" Though he was catching quite a few looks of his own with his fear and sword and magic Iudrix still startled when he was directly called out to. Amazingly he managed to not hide completely behind Ren, instead just freezing up like a deer, the wings that jutted from his back making the pose that much more comical. "I don't live here anymore! I'm visiting!" He really didn't know what to say., shouting back the first thing that came to mind.

Lillica The man turned back to his audience, giving a big wave at the grove in general, "You see!? Even this one, certainly less than a year of age, has made his escape from the layered oppressions of our society, our world, our dream run by the pale mother. Be angry, sprouts. Be furious, even you who have put down roots. Know that however much the dream and our mother seems a set reality of the sylvari race, there are people who believe it doesn't have to be so. People who believe there is another way, a solution beyond the Soundless, Nightmare, and Mordrem. Hear me now, brothers and sisters, for I hail from the Winter Court-the court that will forge a new dream."

Yavril Querii only smirked at the man. The Sylvari were growing as a species, certainly, to find this grey area between the Nightmare and the Tablet. The 'Winter Court' might not succed, but the idea of another path was forming. "Come on, ludrix," she said, moving past the crowds, "we have work to do."

raumlet Once the strange Sylvari had turned away, Ren moved to push Iudrix ahead of him without waiting to hear what he was saying - the Wardens would take care of this, if they needed to. Iudrix's discomfort was putting him on edge. "That's interesting," was all he said, but without much actual interest - the Pale Tree had never occupied his thoughts, for better or worse; she was an assumed presence, but a distant one. "Are you alright?"

Brom "That's not what I- I'm pretty okay with-" the air in front of Iudrix shimmered as he tried to come up with a flustered answer, almost like looking through a mirage. That, however, was quickly broken when Ren pushed him, the sapling quite happy to escape the attention and whatever was going on. "Who was that?"

Yavril "A new kind of Sylvari." Querii replied, "But new is not always better. Not for everyone. Don't worry about it over-long. It was only chance he called on you. Focus on the job ahead." She attempted to distract from the commotion - sure it would only distract them - and led them ahead, down the long pathways of the Grove. Wary, though not over so, she avoided large groups that had formed, full of live chatter.

raumlet "We can go back later if you like," Ren said. Iudrix was now ahead of him, behind Querii; he glanced back over his shoulder at the crowd. "If he's still there. He may not be. Querii, why don't we go to the Houses first instead? That gathering may be disrupting things."

Yavril Querii threw a glance behind her. "Yes, that makes sense. You can lead the way, then," she stopped entirely, turning back to Ren. "I do not know the way. I never had a reason to go." She gestured for him to step ahead of her.

raumlet "Alright," Ren said, speeding up to overtake Iudrix and Querii and leading the way towards the ramp that lead down to the bottom floor of the Grove. He gave Iudrix a grin as he passed. "Would you like to visit your House first? What Cycle are you? I'm Dusk."

Brom "I'd rather not, I- I don't know if I much like him. Probably." Iudrix cast a quick glance back over his shoulder around Ren and back at the crowd. He shivered a little, the tips of his faux wings vibrating. "I am too. Dusk, that is. I- I know the way but you probably know it better."

Lillica Iudrix saw that since they'd passed, Wardens were beginning to gather around the crowd. Yet gathering around the Wardens was another group, maybe two or three that would seem inconspicuous on any given day. Their weapons though, those matched the staff on the White speaker's back. Faded blue and white things with snow globes built into them.

raumlet "Maybe not," Ren said. Now that they were in the Grove, he was surprisingly cheerful; even Iudrix's nervousness didn't throw him off. "It's been a while since I really visited the Grove, and I haven't seen my Luminary for... Ah. Months?"

Yavril Querii followed quietly, just happy to be in the Grove again.

Brom So Iudrix found himself in the lead, keeping silent about the strange false wardens. There... was probably some reason for them, one he just didn't know. "I was just focused on the ways out but... this way." He trailed off to a mumble, leading the other two down the path. Only to stop to one side of the intricate 'building', hesitating up near the wall. "I didn't really listen, maybe it's best if I just stay out here." A few butterflies fluttered. "Maybe he won't remember me but maybe not and- and maybe it's best not to be seen all messed up."

raumlet "It can't be much worse than how they remember me. You never blew anything up, at least," Ren said from his post at Iudrix's shoulder. "Go on - you don't look messed up, either. It'll be fine."

Brom "I guess I came this far." Iudrix half-smiled, taking his sword in hand as some sort of confidence boost. His expression was as wavered as the illusions that followed him, but he did lead them around and up the ramp that felt more familiar than it should have. Standing in the middle of the wide doorway the sapling gave an awkward hello to the others sitting inside- before stepping to the left to let Querii be seen.

Yavril Querii smiled, she hoped reassuringly, as ludrix moved aside, trying to hold an air of trustoworthiness. For many of them, this was the first time they'll meet an Asura, she knew. She took the lead without question, and wondered if it would be better to speak to them individually or as a group. She settled on as a group - she'd have to repeat herself less. The little room wasn't over crowded, but enough to begin. She walked through the small groups to a relaxing Mentor. They exchanged a few muttered words before the woman called together the group. "Excuse me, everyone! This Asura would like to speak to you!"

"Thank you, Mentor." Querii bowed respectfully before adressing the group, "I am a representative of a group called the Consortium. These are my associates, ludrix and Ren. The Consortium studies a great many things. My role with the Consortium is to research and understand Sylvari like ludrix, who is rather special. Because of this, we require Sylvari around his age to compare him to. Hopefully somewhere from one to three months, but a little older or younger would also suffice. Any Sylvari who volunteers will be given food, shelter, and an adequate amount of compensation. We would be leaving within a day or so to Kessex." She paused, stopping herself from rambling, and looked back at Ren and ludrix, hoping they'd help her case.

raumlet Faced with the small crowd of unfamiliar face turned their way, Ren froze - he didn't recognize anyone in the group. After months away, that made sense; the Houses were temporary, a landing place for newly Awoken while they got on their feet, and Ren's group was well past that. Unfortunately, Querii was too small and Iudrix too thin for Ren to hide his bulk behind, so he settled for trying to shrink back in the doorway and make himself as small as possible. Very few of the saplings seemed interested - several were looking Querii over with curiosity in their eyes, but only one or two bent their heads to whisper to a fellow. After a few increasingly awkward moments where Ren started to wring his hands, one of them stood and started over to Querii.

Yavril The Sylvari was male and short, a dark sea blue with vibrant white eyes. Careful, and wary, but not un-trusting. He looked down at Querii, then between ludrix and Ren. "I have seen you in my dream," he admitted, "But that does not mean we should trust you." He was clearly more interested in ludrix and Ren than Querii at the moment, and his gaze wandered between them lazily. "What does she wish us to do, brothers?"

Brom "Me? Uh..." Iudrix looked helplessly over to Ren, not quite sure how to react to that. He certainly didn't recognize the blue sylvari in front of them. "She wants to look at you, I guess. See what differences there are." He looked back down at the other, shrugging his skinny shoulders. "I'm really not that special."

raumlet "Just - uh. She needs to know what, um, unaltered Sylvari of Iudrix's age are - are like," Ren said. Miraculously, he kept his voice relatively steady. "Iudrix, uh - l-left the Grove very early and participated in an... experiment." His eyes shot nervously to Iudrix. "With side effects."

Yavril The Sylvari paused, shifting his agonizingly slow gaze between them. "It's entirely safe? No one will be harmed?"It was clear this man was some form of... leader, for a lack of a better word. Someone the others trusted, at the very least. "No one will be harmed," Querii interrupted, drawing the Sylvari's gaze. "You can trust me."

Brom Iudrix' faux wings drooped, not sure if he could make promises, uncomfortable with the attention. He'd step back but Ren's bulk was in the way. "I think so." He hesitated. "There shouldn't be any reason for anyone getting hurt." He looked away from the sylvari, looking to Querii instead.

raumlet "You - you won't have to participate in anything you don't feel comfortable with," Ren said, glancing down at Querii in both confirmation and warning. One sapling had been damaged due to him; he wouldn't lead more back to be injured, not if he could help it. "And... Um. W-We'll explain. What exactly will be done, I mean, so you'll be able to decide if you're comfortable."

Yavril Querii caught the glance, but she didn't pay it much heed. She wasn't worried about harming the saplings - no tests like what was performed on ludrix would be performed on the new saplings. Even if Lillica eventually suggested it, she wouldn't allow it. Duncan nodded slowly. "I will join you, then. It should be interesting. My name is Duncan." He turned round to look at the rest of the saplings questioningly.

raumlet Another Sylvari got to her feet as Duncan looked around, padding over on bare feet to stand at his side. She folded her hands in front of her and stared down at Querii openly. "I'll come as well, then," she said softly. "My name is Barran."

Brom A few butterflies flickered around Iudrix. He understood why Ren got upset about the whole thing so often a little better, it was rather uncomfortable. "It won't be long, I think. I- thanks." He looked at Duncan again, biting his lower lip in thought.

Yavril Duncan looked over his shoulder at ludrix with quiet consideration."You are welcome, brother," he responded. "I believe that will be all of us. When will we leave?" "Soon," Querii told him, nodding at the woman who had joined Duncan in thanks. "Collect anything you need to bring. You two should be enough, but if we can find more..." She trailed off. She'd rather not pull more Sylvari from their lives, but she wouldn't push away more help. Two was enough, though, to allow her to do what she needed to.

raumlet "How were we leaving? Duncan and I could meet you by the asura gate, or near the watchgate," Barran said, "If there was other business you needed to see to in the Grove. We - I don't have much to gather," she said, raising her brows at Duncan in an unspoken question. "I could be ready within a few minutes." Ren, for his part, had lapsed into silence, a hulking presence behind the two of them despite his attempts to look small - these were just saplings, but he'd be glad to be gone. Everyone in the room was looking at them, and not every turned-up face was unclouded. A few of the older Sylvari in a corner of the room had been whispering together; one had slipped out the door without a word, leaving the others in their huddle.

Yavril "Nor I," Duncan confirmed. Querii sighed. It was probably best to leave sooner, rather than later. To get them home quicker. "As long as you are sure. I am not sure how long we will need you for. Meet us at the gates of the Grove; I need to get a few tools from my place here."

Brom Iudrix sighed, relaxing his shoulders. While he was getting used to collecting attention he didn't like it. "So we aren't going anywhere else? Just here is enough?" His tone had a hopeful sound to it, though part of him still wanted to stay in the grove he was still afraid of possible consequence. The skinny sapling turned to try to brush past Ren and go back down the ramp, careful to not whack him with a wing.

Yavril Querii nodded, "Yes, two should be enough." She didn't stop him as he exited, instead looked at Ren, "ludrix can go with the saplings. You should follow me - I may need help with my equipment." She followed ludrix out without waiting for a reply. "Halt!" Wardens had appeared at the bottom of the ramp, covered in full armour. Their gazes were intense. "We are under orders to take in Esrenniel of the Cycle of Dusk. Please step aside." The man who led them had dark red hair and skin, and his voice boomed across the Grove. A few passer-byers even looked on in curiosity. "...Esrenniel?" Querri asked, confused. Her brain made the connection to Ren quickly, and she looked back at him. I thought you said you wouldn't be arrested, she thought as she glared back and forth between the Wardens and him. Duncan stood back in silence, not willing to get on the Warden's bad side. He couldn't see them, but he heard their voices outside.

raumlet Ren froze at the top of the ramp, sudden fear gripping him and rooting him to the spot - he stared down at the Wardens over Querii and Iudrix's heads, his eyes round and startled. Briefly, he caught Querii's eye, but his expression betrayed nothing but utter confusion. "I - b-bring me - what do - I, is this about the... the engine that e-exploded? That - that was months ago -" "You were seen to abduct a sapling of less than two weeks from the Grove. We are to escort you to your cell, where you will await sentencing," the leader went on, speaking over Ren's stammering as he started up the ramp, fellow Wardens in tow. He fixed Iudrix and Querii with a glare. "Now step aside." "Wh- no, y-y-you don't understand! I-Iudrix -" Ren's voice trailed off in a choked little noise as the Wardens approached their small group. "Well then," Barran said, just behind Duncan.

Brom Iudrix looked back at Ren, his eyes wide as well. From the moment the wardens started speaking fear practically radiated off of him, the wispy illusions that followed his emotions more and more jagged. If Ren didn't watch out, he might get cut. "NO. I asked to go!" The sword was in his hand unbidden and the sapling braced himself. It was almost funny, he was so thin and his wings bristled out all angles. "I didn't want to stay! You can't!"

Yavril Querii had stepped out of the way after a moment's hesitation, sure they could deal with this later if they just got everyone else under control, and - more importantly - away. "ludrix!" She forced herself to take control of the situation - she doubted the saplings would intervene. "It'll be fine. Calm down, for now." She tried to tell him, through careful tone and gaze, that they could get him back later. They had work to do, now. She only narrowly avoided his long sword as she stepped in closer.

raumlet "Iudrix, d-don't - pl-please -" Ren caught Iudrix's arm, heedless of the sharp-edged apparitions that nicked his arms as he brought his shaking hand down on the sapling's shoulder. Gently, he forced Iudrix's arm to his side and moved him to the side of the path with the same strength that let him lift and carry for Lil, even though he was trembling from head to toe. "Th...that - won't help." "Less than a week old, and you think the decisions you make will be reasonable?" The Warden was clearly impatient now, but he gestured sharply to Ren rather than face the flickering cloud of butterflies surrounding Iudrix. "We have our orders." Although he was shaking, Ren edged past Iudrix on the path, only letting go of his arm when he was past him. "L-let Lil know? Please?" He asked, looking back at them. The Warden grabbed him, spinning him around and lashing his hands together behind his back - Ren yelped, surprised and frightened, but he didn't fight. He didn't even trust himself to talk, at this point.

Brom Iudrix struggled but lacked any sort of strength to stop Ren from pushing him aside, his feet slipping on the ramp floor despite his best efforts. As soon as he was let go he immediately went to dash forward, only to be stopped by another shorter-but-no-less-strong sylvari, one of the wardens that had caught on quick enough. "No! Stop! It's my fault! REN." The sapling continued to try to wrench free, his voice like shattered glass.

Yavril "ludrix!" Querii cried out, too short to hold him in any way, but tall enough to put a hand on his arm. "We'll get him later," she hissed, not loud enough for the Wardens to hear. Unable to do more without physically freezing him to the floor, she hoped he would take her word for it. She flashed Ren an apologetic expression, trying to make sure he caught it.

raumlet "I-it's okay, I'm - I'm okay," Ren managed, trying to keep his shoulders back even though his fear was nearly palpable as they spun him and steered him down the ramp. He couldn't bear adding to the Iudrix's panic. "Let - let Lil know! Please!"(edited)

Brom The sapling finally stopped struggling, panting as he helplessly watched them drag his friend away. "I asked him! It wasn't his- let me go!" He gave one more pull and vanished, only to pop back on the other edge of the wide ramp, nearly teetering off it. Iudrix was still emitting butterflies like a sprinkler, eyes wide and positively pink as he stared back at Querii as if begging her to do something. The warden went to follow, only to turn and join the others when it was obvious there wouldn't be any true chasing.

Yavril Though it pained her to do so, Querii didn't follow the Wardens and Ren as they trotted out of sight. ludrix's wild expression was begging for an explanation, and she sighed. "ludrix, if we had stopped them? they would have taken us all in to the jail, or we'd be fending off all of the Grove's Wardens. I have a reputation to keep, and we have a job to do." She glanced back at the saplings, vaguely worried they would be frightened off. They remained, however. Duncan was watching them with sharp eyes, but he didn't flinch away. "Take the saplings to the tavern on the second floor. I'll go to my apartment, gather my things, and meet you there. Then we can find a way to deal with Esrenniel. We will not leave without him."

Brom Iudrix was beyond upset, height and magic not the only reason he drew eyes like magnets now. "We have to save him. I- I-" The sentence went unfinished. With a quick jerking motion and a flurry of ephemeral wings he turned to the two that had agreed to go. "Come on." He began to head to the tavern just a little too fast, forcing himself from breaking into a full run.

Yavril Duncan threw back a look at Barran, eyebrow raised. Depending on the next hour, he might advise against going with this bunch after all. For now, though, he'd see where it was going. He followed ludrix as close as he could, checking Barran was still behind every so often. Querii let out a sigh of relief - she had only been half sure ludrix wouldn't defy her and run off to save Ren this instant. She watched they were far enough away before waving a goodbye to the rest of the group and descending the ramp herself. Her apartment was nearby, in a group of them. She walked through the Grove quietly, trying not to draw attention to herself until she reached the complex of homes. They all knew her, there. When she did, she threw a smile to a Warden who lived next door, and reached her cluttered room in no time. Intricate artwork and diagrams of both Sylvari and machines hung on every available wall space, some coloured, some erased and redone, others with recent notes added on with pen or another page. The table held a device that was reading the dream in the air, and other assorted bits and bobs of reading technology. A curved dresser she had brought from Rata Sum stood on the far end, half open from when she had been packing to leave the first time. Out of it she pulled an old, worn bag. It was nothing special - even had wholes in a few places - but it would do the job. She took only a moment to pause and look about before beginning her work, shoving gear and readers into the bag as fast as she could.

raumlet With her long legs, Barran had no difficulty keeping up. She hummed to herself as they followed after the strange Sylvari. It would have been hard to lose him - the lightshow he was still producing turned heads as they headed up the ramp to the second floor. When they came to a halt outside the arched door, she stretched, letting her arms fold behind her head and eyeballing Iudrix over Duncan's head. "That was certainly unusual. Did he really kidnap you?"

Brom Iudrix just gave her a baleful look, shaking his head just a few times too many in reply. "I asked him to help me out. I didn't want to stay I was told no and- I don't want to be trapped. Now he's the one trapped and I- this wasn't supposed to happen!" There was another flash of butterflies as the sapling moved inside, finding a spot on the wall to sink against. He covered his face with his hands. "Maybe you shouldn't be dragged into this."

Yavril "I find it strange that your friend would be put in jail for taking you outside the Grove. Mentors take saplings out all the time, do they not?" Duncan didn't really know how to console this older Sylvari, despite it being in his nature to do so, and where others might have flailed Duncan reduced to a stoic version of himself. He glanced between Barran and ludrix a few times as he waited for the answer.

raumlet "The Warden did say it was before he was even two weeks," Barran said as she squatted down beside Iudrix, back to the wall, and folded her arms over her knees. Again with the scrutiny - Iudrix's butterflies, Iudrix himself, the sword at his side. "We didn't go much further than the farms before then. I think you're lucky. Where did he take you?"

Brom "He's not a mentor! Just- a friend. I wanted to explore from the beginning but with the--- it upset people, okay, I got dragged back a couple times before Ren agreed. I just... never came back." Iudrix mumbled into his palms, eyes shut. "I shouldn't have, ever. Kessex. I went to Kessex. There's cliffs and a little town and the ocean. And a house with stairs and- I can't believe I got him locked away what am I going to do?"

Yavril Duncan paused before responding, sitting in front of the other two, arms crossed in meditation fashion. "Didn't the Asura say she would help get him back?"

Brom Iudrix peeked at him from between his fingers. "I don't know what she plans to do. What is there to do? Maybe- Maybe I'll make a portal. I'm sure I can. It's just- tearing a hole through point A and B isn't it?" One of the butterflies got too close, running a line of gold up the back of his right hand. They were still sharp, he nowhere near had a handle on those things.(edited)

raumlet Seeing the thin cut appear at the light brush of wings, Barran judiciously scooted away from the small cloud of butterflies. As pretty as they were, she'd already discovered pain wasn't very fun. "I believe breaking someone out of jail is illegal?"

Yavril "Perhaps they wouldn't have to?" Duncan rolled his shoulders, "Perhaps they could pay a bail?" He was rather unfamiliar with the Wardens' jailing rules, but he didn't mind. He lost interest in whatever answer they would give, however, when he noticed the butterflies flitting around the man seemed to be tangible. His eyes followed as they flitted around ludrix's wings and head.(edited)

Brom "I don't have any money. Unless his bail is...." He stopped hiding his face long enough to dig into a pocket, pulling out a handful of oil stained change. "9 silver and 3 copper. So I'm gonna have to. Illegal or not." Iudrix took a deep breath, just dumping the coins in a pile on the ground between him and Barran. "I don't think Querii is gonna be able to do anything."

raumlet "What about that 'Lil' he was telling you to speak to?" Barran asked. She picked up a coin and inspected the greasy sheen on it, turning it this way and that, then dropped it back on the pile with a clink. Her eyes went right back to Iudrix. "Seems like he thought she could help."

Yavril

Querii finished pushing anything that might be remotely useful into the bag and slung it over her shoulder. She scurried outside, not bothering to say hello to any of her neighbours anymore - she needed to get back to ludrix. The longer she was gone the more she worried he'd do something drastic to free Ren. Of course, something drastic might be exactly what they needed - but she'd be damned if he did it alone.

Brom "He can tell her what happened himself, when we all get back." Iudrix forced a smile, it was a joke. Haha, funny. The blow of emotions and burst of butterflies said otherwise. "I'm sure she'd- she'd be glad if I did something like make a portal." Something about the topic was like a rolling wave of despair.

raumlet Barran caught Duncan's eye, lips pursed. "I don't think the Wardens would like that," she said. Her hand half-lifted from her arm again but stalled on its way to Iudrix - those butterflies were darting uncomfortably fast. "We may not be able to go with you if they're upset."

Yavril Duncan nodded, sensing the tension even without fully understanding the butterflies. "You should wait for that Asuran friend of yours. And upsetting the Wardens is never a good idea." Just at that moment, Querii burst through the arches of the tavern, taking deep breaths from her jogging/speed walking through the Grove. Part of it was the anxiety of ludrix doing something stupid. Her shoulders visibly relaxed when she noticed ludrix and the saplings. "Good, you're here. Are you ready?"

Brom Iudrix stood up when Querii arrived, rubbing at his eyes. The cut on the back of his hand left a streak of sap on the leaves that made up his cheek. "Maybe you shouldn't," he said softly to Barran, before completely facing the asura. As much as he could, being so tall he'd have to crouch to get a proper face-to-face. "To rescue Ren?"

Yavril "Yes. I'd rather avoid conflict, if we can, but it may be necessary." She shifted the bag over her shoulder to be more comfortable, "Do you happen to know how the Wardens' jails work?" She shifted her gaze on Duncan and Barran too, "Any of you?" Duncan shook his head quietly.

raumlet Barran shook her head as well, still squatting on the floor and so closer to eye level with the Asura. "No. I've seen their cells once, but only briefly. It was very unpleasant."

Brom "No." It was only one word, but it caught in Iudrix' throat a bit. He really didn't have any idea. The sapling shook his head. "I'm sure we can figure it out when we get there. We have to get him out. Have to."

Yavril Querii raised a hand. "We will, ludrix. We should head over there, if you're ready."

The Warden holding onto Ren pushed him into a vine cage with little mercy. The cage was near the entrance to the jail, with a semi-clear view of the front. It was unforgiving and unfriendly, and a woman sat, knees pulled up against her body, in the farthest corner. She didn't even look up when Ren fell into the cage. A female Warden frowned almost apologetically at her associate's harsh treatment, but she moved along with him when he left.

raumlet The moment they entered the jail, the misery of the place washed over Ren - his knees, already watery, began to tremble so badly that the Wardens were half-dragging him by the time they reached his cell. The hard shove put him off balance, and he fell, landing on his hands and knees. This was worse, so much worse, than the Rata Sum jail cell; that had been quiet and well-lit. Here, the murky light barely reached the edges of the room. Soft noises surrounded him, almost worse than the roiling emotions from the other inmates; almost, because at least the sounds could be blocked out. Slowly, he pulled himself into the corner farthest from his new cellmate and tucked his face into his knees, his hands covering the soft buds of his ears.

Brom "Of course I'm ready." Whether the other two were or not it didn't seem to matter, Iudrix was out the door before they had a chance to answer, the stained coins left on the floor and forgotten. Not that he got too far, the location of the jail was actually rather foggy.

Yavril Querii gave Duncan and Barran a look as she rushed out after ludrix. She held in an amused smirk as ludrix paused, unsure where to go. "This way," she directed, towards one of the ramps to the lower level. Duncan followed quietly, throwing Barran a bermused expression.

Brom Iudrix reluctantly allowed Querii the lead, practically bouncing in place as he waited for her way too short steps. The closer they got the more impatient he got and when they could see the entrance that CLEARLY led to somewhere horrible it was all he could do to hold himself back. "That's it isn't it? It has to be it." The butterflies were brighter down in the dim light and his sword was practically a beacon. It was almost surprising he wasn't wearing himself completely down with the constant magic- he hadn't been this upset for this long before.

Yavril Querii nodded, "Yes, that's it." The place gave even her a shiver. There was a strange sense of foreboding about it, with the Wardens swarming like flies. She approached one of the guards warily. "Excuse me, my friends and I are here for Esrenniel."

raumlet "Warden Fealla handles visitation. She'll assist you," the Warden said, pointing to an armored Warden behind the desk just inside the Garden before he turned away, clearly uninterested, and leaving them to approach the woman he'd indicated. As soon as they mentioned Esrenniel, she called another guard over and thumbed at Querii and her small group of saplings. "This lot wants to see the one we just brought in - aren't you the one he took from the Grove?" She added, giving Iudrix a once-over - it was difficult to miss his obvious distress, the fragmented butterflies around him. Her voice took on a reproachful edge. "Look at you. We do what we do to keep you newly awoken safe, not to torture you." She waved at them in dismissal, and the guard led them on into the Garden proper. Ren hadn't moved from his corner of the cell except to put his arms over his head; he knew he'd only been there for perhaps an hour at the most, but already, it felt like much longer. He was almost grateful he'd been left alone so far.

Brom "I asked to go! I wasn't- I'm fine!" Iudrix answered as he had too many times before. He, thankfully, didn't dare argue with Fealla other than that one squawk of protest instead following the guard assigned to them . For a deepest fear the ambience seemed to match pretty well and the sapling found himself just staring around wide eyed instead of paying attention to anything useful- like exits. He almost missed Ren, despite his size. Almost. "Are you okay?!" He left the group, running up to the cage to grab the bars.

Yavril Querii watched ludrix run towards Ren, but did not follow. This was clearly a moment of some kind. Instead, she turned to the Warden who'd spoken. "Esrenniel is of the utmost importance to our job, and a valued member of the Consortium," she'd apologize for pulling Consortium strings later, "And we need him released." It had occurred to her they might bar ludrix from leaving as some form of penalty, even though he was above the age restriction, but she hoped for the best. "We can pay any form of bail required."

raumlet Even in the dim light, the tear tracks were evident on Ren's face when he lifted his head; hastily, he scrubbed his cheeks clear before he tottered to his feet. "W-what are you doing here? Go home," was the first thing out of his mouth as he joined Iudrix at the bars, his arms wrapped around himself. "Let Lil know. I'm - I'm fine. I've, uh... I've been in jail before." His voice whithered away as he spoke until Iudrix could barely hear him. "With all due respect, ma'am, the Consortium's power does not extend to the Grove," the Warden replied. "He'll be staying with us at least until the Warden Captain has had time to speak with him and decide on a suitable sentence."

Yavril Querii frowned and brushed a loose bit of hair out of her face. "Who is the Warden Captain? Why is he not here? Let me speak to him, I'm sure we could come up with an arrangement." Duncan sighed and took a seat just outside the jails entrance. This might take a while.

Brom "I'm gonna get you out of there," Iudrix half-whispered, pressing his face up against the bars. His eyes were most definitely pink now. "I don't know how but we will. Okay? Lil can find out later." He pulled back to look over his shoulder at the guard, still talking to Querii.

raumlet "Please don't do that," Ren said weakly. "Please. That's a bad idea." "The Warden Captain is out his rounds, attending to his other duties. When he returns, then you can speak with him about an 'arrangement,'" the Warden said. He didn't make air quotes, but they were implied. "Before that, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for you. No harm will come to him here."

Yavril Querii had to think fast. She considered claiming Ren had some sort of illness and forcing them to release him, but the guard didn't look dumb enough to buy it, and even if he did believe her he might instead just put Ren into some form of solitary cage where they'd never be able to release him. She groaned, was it worth it to wait for the Captain? "Excuse me one moment," she finally said, and approached Ren's cell beside ludrix. "This might take a little while, Ren, but we will not leave without you." She didn't notice the tear stains until she got a better look at him, when she frowned. "Are you alright?" Ren's cellmate groaned loudly, but didn't shift.

Brom "I don't care, it will work out. We'll get you out. We'll do it." Iudrix let go completely when Querii approached, looking down at her. "What did he say?" He jerked his attention back up to the guard, who was most definitely watching them. That was not the face of someone who was going to open up a cage or negotiate at all. The sapling's brow furrowed, another spike of fear but not for himself.

Yavril Querii took her eyes off of Ren to look up unhappily at ludrix. "He said only the Warden Captain can release Esrenniel, and he's out on his rounds at the moment." She was still trying to figure out how to release Ren without waiting for the Captain, and didn't continue, instead trailing off into her own thoughts.

raumlet Ren glanced nervously at his cellmate when she groaned, scooting closer to the bars as if they could protect him through the vines. "I'm - I'll be fine," he said, but his arms were still wrapped around himself. "The Warden Captain won't be gone all day. I think. I can wait."

Yavril Querii frowned. "I am not convinced on either of those counts. What's upsetting you so much? Is it her," she asked, jutting her chin towards the other Sylvari in the cell, "because I can have you moved or... something. You're no use to us in this state."

Brom Iudrix just shook his head in complete disagreement. "I'll make a portal." he said suddenly and ALMOST too loudly, a fluttering of butterflies matching his sudden intensity. "I can do it. Probably." He looked at the guard again.

raumlet "Querii, I'm in jail," Ren said, his voice strained. "For something I - I didn't know wasn't acceptable anymore. Iudrix, don't, please! There - there has to be something we can do. Talk to the Warden Captain. I'm f-fine, it's alright."

Yavril Querii shrugged. She supposed he must simply be more delicate about jail time than others - she herself had been in jail once (if only for attacking someone who insulted her work) and she'd seen others there. None of them were crying. But that was besides the point. "It... might not be a terrible plan. If you're this upset, I'd rather you not stay in here very long. And if he thinks he can do it..." She snuck another glance back at the guards.

Brom "I- I need to be able to do it. You can't stay in here. You're not fine, you're locked away I have to." The pitch of his voice rose a bit as Iudrix tried to convince himself. It was just tearing a hole, right? The premise anyways. Without giving Ren another chance to complain the sapling shut his eyes, gritting his teeth and grabbing the bars with one hand and shoving the other between them.There was a moment of trembling anxious silence- and then a tear. It was not a circle at all, more of a jagged edged oval, like a broken mirror bright and pink in the dark. Thankfully, or maybe not so much, he'd managed to put the two sides close enough together and after a stunned moment he pushed right through.With no idea how long it would hold there was no time for apologies Iudrix wrapped his skinny arms around Ren and tried to pull him back with him.

Yavril The Wardens, not being blind, of course noticed ludrix's sudden actions. "Hey!" One called out, gesticulating to try and get ludrix's attention. "What do you think you're doing?!" Querii bounced backwards, a little worried about her reputation, but there was no going back now. She couldn't freeze. She pulled out an expandable pole from her pack and held it like a staff - she wasn't going to hurt the Wardens, but she figured she might need to freeze a few in place.

raumlet "Iudrix, don't!" was all Ren managed before those thin arms went around him and yanked - he resisted for a moment, pulling away from the quivering portal and the approaching guards, but he was already unsteady on his feet, and Iudrix's terror gave him greater strength than Ren expected. He was through the portal and out in a flash, nearly knocking Iudrix off his feet. Stunned, he swayed on his feet, clutching at Iudrix's arms.

Brom As soon as they were through he stumbled, somehow managing to not fall over despite the two of them. Even going that short a distance hadn't been pleasant, it was still disorientating and travel of any of that sort still made his stomach roll. But they were through and alive and free and that- There was a horrible sharp sound as the dubious portal behind them popped and shattered in a spray of pink and purple without his continued focus. The suddeness of it was like a wrench back to reality and Iudrix immediately released Ren, looking to the warden that called out was now moving towards them far too fast for comfort. "C-can you run?" the question to Ren was more begging than requesting as the skinny sapling looked frantically around for Querii. Her legs were probably too short for real running. One of many, many things he had not considered.

Yavril Run. Querii swore - there was no way she'd be able to keep up with these two while running. She supposed she could use her very basic elemental knowledge, but she'd never used it to traverse an area as large as the Grove before - and that's assuming it would work. She gripped tighter to her makeshift staff. Duncan heard the commotion and jumped up. "Wha-" he entered just quickly enough to see ludrix pull Ren through his vine-cage. Duncan stood flabergasped, with an open mouth. He had not signed up for jailbreaking.

raumlet "I - I don't want to!" Ren stammered, still hanging onto Iudrix's arms; he shrank back against the cell as the guards drew closer until his shoulders bumped into the bars - Iudrix may have let him go, but Ren's grip on him dragged him back along with him. A quick glance at Querii told him that she wasn't likely to be any help, what with that stick she was brandishing at the guards. "J-just let them put me back in the cell, please, and - and g-get Lil, please, Iudrix?" Barran had taken a seat by Duncan, balanced on the balls of her feet like before, and taken to bouncing the flat branches that served for her hair. When Duncan jumped up, she leaned forward until she could peer into the jail proper, then pursed her lips as she took in the scene. "...Maybe we aren't going to Kessex after all."

Yavril "Oh no you don't," Querii muttered. She took a breath with closed eyes, felt the cool of water magic flood her system. With a swing of her staff towards the Wardens, she sent ice wrapping around their feet and shins, filling the air with cold. "It's too late, Esrenniel. Now - get moving," she gestured with her staff towards the exit in a wide, sweeping moment, "Before the rest of the Grove figures out what's going on! I'll take the saplings." One of the Wardens began to say something; "You'll-" Querii, though short, pressed her staff against his chest, "You want me to freeze your head?" She looked back at Ren and ludrix, "Come on, now!"

Duncan watched Querii, amazed. Water magic, but not the healing kind he'd always practiced with He was too distracted to be insulted at being called a sapling again. When Barran spoke, he looked back at her, "I have no clue, at this point."

Brom

Iudrix found himself dragged back against the bars and Ren, the world's worst shield. He didn't really have the strength left to truly fight it after that display, wings crunched up against the bigger sylvari as he twisted his head just enough to try to see Ren's face. "They can't put you back in there. I won't let them. It'll be worse if you don't run. Please!" Querii's magic would only buy them so much time, maybe not enough. At this point he wasn't even thinking about the two they'd dragged with them, it took him a moment when the asura mentioned them.

raumlet Unfortunately, Ren was stuck fast just as effectively as the Wardens Querii had frozen to the floor, except fear kept him standing where he was, not magical ice. It wasn't until Iudrix whispered, "Ren!" in that fearful tone that Ren broke free - with a strangled noise, he lifted Iudrix and dashed towards the exit to the Grove as fast as his legs would take him. Barran's gaze tracked them as they passed, her brow cocked; she glanced over at Duncan, grinned broadly, and then sprang to her feet and was off after them.

Yavril Duncan groaned - this was just like Barran - only hesitating a moment before chasing after her, considerably slower. "Wait up!"

Querii grinned as Ren and ludrix chased off into the Grove, and as Duncan and Barran followed close behind. She ran off with them, daring not to look back at the Wardens. They had a considerable head start on her, but she'd be damned if she was even a minute late. As she ran, a crazy idea came into her head. No, it was too crazy. But... No. No... Yes. Querii grinned - this would be interesting if it worked. She jutted her staff foreward, and a few feet ahead of her an oval of ice appeared, thick enough to hold her. She leapt on top of the cold piece, and with some admittedly annoying patience and focus, she managed to make the thing levitate. "Yes!" she cheered, and sped off into the distance and towards the Grove's entrance.

Brom Iudrix didn't even complain when he was picked up, just relieved they were moving. He didn't complain when he was dropped a few strides later, either. Not even taking time to brush off his knees he quickly scrambled to his feet and kept going, fear forcing his legs moving even though he could already feel the burn. Not sure of what he'd see he didn't look back, trusting that Querii's cheer was a sign of a good thing. Somehow it was enough. Despite it all the whole lot of them managed to keep ahead and after a long stretch burst free into Caledon, leaving the arched entrance of home safe and unharmed. At least for now.

raumlet Ren hunched over the moment they stopped, his arms wrapped protectively over his head. "I - I am going to throw up," he said weakly, his voice a bare, wobbly whisper. "I can never go to the G-Grove again." Barran, however, was grinning ear to ear as she jogged up to them, Duncan thrown over her shoulders like a sack of flour. Kneeling, she dropped him off her shoulders and stretched.

Yavril Querii slowed to a stop beside Barran and leaped off her ice-board. She took a few deep breaths to recover from the adrenaline high before glancing at Ren. The poor Sylvari was certainly... intense. "Of course you will," she told him, "The Wardens will forget this soon enough, and it isn't like your crime was all that bad."

Duncan groaned as Barran plopped him onto the ground with a thump. Her picking him up was unexpected to say the least - he hadn't even been that far behind! But he supposed he didn't give off a running vibe, and Barran had always seemed impulsive and bold. He was chuckling, though. Despite being carried over Barran's shoulder, the running from the Wardens had almost been fun. He decided to give Barran a hard time about it, though, and looked up at her angrily, albeit with an amused glint, "Thanks for that."

Brom Iudrix dropped down next to Ren, breathing hard. "You're not locked up. That's what matters." He reached out, very carefully and slowly, to touch the other sylvari's arm with his fingertips. "I- I'm sorry. I couldn't leave you. I'm sure if- I'm sure there will be a point I can go explain to them."

raumlet "Not that bad!" Ren stared over at her, incredulous. Fresh tears rolled down the fuzz on his face, and his chest heaved with a sob. "Maybe, maybe to start with, b-but - I - I broke out of jail! You attacked the Wardens!" Covering his face again with his trembling hands, he hunched over himself; he didn't pull away from Iudrix's hand, but he didn't lean into it, either. "You're very welcome," Barran said, her grin still in place. She thumped Duncan's arm playfully, nearly putting the smaller Sylvari off balance, before calling out to the others. "If we stay here much longer, won't the Wardens catch up?"

Yavril Querii frowned. He was taking this harder than she had thought he would, but she wasn't over sensitive. Maybe the previous jail time she'd overheard about was causing some bad memories? Whatever the reason, Barran was right. "Yes. We need to move." She shot a glace at Duncan, an amused smirk on her face. "You coming, or is she going to carry you again?" Duncan had to hold himself very firm for Barran not to push him over. He pulled himself to his knees, then his feet, and looked down at Querii with attitude. "I'll be fine, thank you."

Brom Iudrix stopped being delicate and just hugged him, pressing the half of his face that wasn't covered in thorny vines against Ren's side. "We'll go back to Kessex it will be okay. You're free." He gave an involuntary shudder himself, remembering the misery of that dark jail. "They're right, though, we have to keep going." The sapling was nowhere near stable himself, but at least he was putting on a decent show of it, even the flickering phantasms slowing down. Though that was more out of pure exhaustion than anything. "You're free now. You're free."

raumlet The hug was much more effective than the simple touch - Ren leaned into him, although he made no effort to get up until Iudrix let him go. Still shaking, he pushed himself heavily to his feet and wiped his face on his sleeve. At this rate, he'd rub all the fuzz right off. "Iudrix," he said, "The cell wasn't - I - I didn't -" Helplessly, he shrugged, his hands loose at his side. He couldn't think how to explain that being confined didn't bother him, not to the sapling who was so scared of just that. "Let's... just go home."

Yavril Querii had begun to move forward, gesturing for the rest to follow, until she heard Ren. Home. Few Sylvari called any place but the Grove really home. She wasn't sure what it meant about Ren, she didn't know enough about him yet, but it was enough to give her pause. "Come on," she repeated, but softer this time, beginning to realize she may need to be more careful around him than she was used to.

Brom It took Iudrix a bit longer to get up after letting Ren go but he finally struggled to his feet. He took a deep breath and looked to Querii and the two they'd dragged along with them. "You'll like it, it's nice. The cliffs are- Just don't touch any of the elementals. Don't look at them, if you can help it." He hung his head a moment and took another breath before straightening up entirely. "Let's go." The sapling turned down the familiar path and started running again. Much slower than before.

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