Enceladus

Yeah still a lot of formating around quotes and spoilers for me

"Yes another bunch of fanatics…" Na'im repeats nervously, thinking of the odd voice In his head that had peprsisted sice he returned from Fenario Na'im nods "I couldnt have put it better myself…I get paid, become immortal or something like that and I have no ceremonial obligations. What's not to like?" "Nice meeting you…Jinnipher." he says, his voice trailing off as she walks away "Safe travels my friend." says Na'im warmly, inclining his head towards the ranger Na'im narrows his eyes "Bah, you my friend are insane. What do you know of the dark god anyway? One does not jest about that dark power! Have you even witnessed him? Seen what he does to people?" The cleric attempts to stare down the (much bigger) skirmisher, but eventually gives up and gulps down some more of his wine "He doesn’t want to talk about it." says Na'im firmly "And he certainly doesn't want advice from some self-proclaimed demonologist."

Naim smiles weakly "Ah…well, I suppose you have a point. Still how can a demon twist eating my fedora's into something negative?" Naim shifts uneasily "I do not know what that thing was, but I don’t think we shuld talk about it lightly…names can be things of great power you know."

Na'im raises an eyebrow "Well I have never heard anyone admit to banditry quite so openly, but it matters little to me-all in the past, yes? Still you, ah…might want to keep your voice down. Many of our quests seem to involve fighting bandits. That is when were not slaying feral beasts or fending off demonic hordes." "Don't you ever wonder where all this scrap came from in the middle of the desert? Seems curious enough to me." Na'im nods "Unintended, yes, but not unhelpful; it is what it is. We have oft tried to reverse its effects, but it appears there is nothing to be done about it." "You and me both friend-nobody really knows, least of all us Fenarians, what this artifact was to begin with-only that it was very powerful, and very dangerous in the wrong hands." Na'im sips his drink "I have only been on two quests so far he begins quietly …three if you count my recent excursion to the fields of glory. The first was to gather some ingredients for a mad alchemist’s experiment, which ended up killing him. The second, involved going back to my homeland, to help a wizard return a heirloom to the Star Elves, who chased us across half the continent. Make of it what you will, but neither of them made me feel particularly heroic afterwards." "Well then they must be happy to have you to, young master Bucks." affirms Na'im Na'im grins impishly twirling his broomstick between his palms "If you can understand every word of lady Miderun’s speech before Grogmas comes to pass, then I will sell every one of my Fedoras-and I have quite an extensive collection." He says dryly "I'm just glad your still with us Bobby-for some time in Fenario I thought you had passed the point of no return…"

Na’ims nostrils flare "Greed? I did not say it was greed." Naim sighs "Survival my friend-that power is the only thing that stops the Alpeith from marching on our underground home and finishing the job, so to speak." Na'im cracks a smile "Oh that hardly surprises me: there are few enough of us left as it is-and those of us who are still around rarely leave our underground cities-and we seem to make up very little of their population; all manner of outcasts and wanderers find their way to Fenario." Na'im nods "Ah, I know of the Abra desert…but I have only ever visited the coastal regions. You might as well tell me more…it seems we have little else to do but tell sob stories." "Well, here goes..." begins Naim adopting a trance similar to an old storyteller "A long time ago, an elven prince, Yanis, of the house of Fenari, left his homeland of Spelesia to see Olegia. Now, whilst he was travelling in the high kingdoms, he met a missionary of Ennoc, and was persuaded to join the paladins of Ennoc. He was a fine warrior, and he undertook many quests across Olegia, but, he was slain in combat near Salamanda. Legend has it that his guardian angel was so stricken with grief at his death, that it renounced its role as a servant of Ennoc, and pledged itself to the prince's line-that is to say the house of Fenari-to protect and guard them, like the Prince it had failed to save. "Now as I have said, then came the great schism between the houses of Fenari and Alpeith. Those were desperate times… Our people were taking heavy losses-entire houses were defecting to the Alpeith in hope of clemency but as oft happens in times of great need a rumour started to circulate that would later become legend to our people. A rumor of a winged and hooded figure in red who fought amongst us, and no blade or dart could slay him. They named him the red angel, for no one knew his identity." "The angel had attracted quite a following amongst the supporters of house Fenari-he became a symbol of hope for Fenario in its darkest days, and a cult was formed in his name: the brotherhood of the red angel, and it became the official religion of Fenario once it was established underground." Now, I had been too young to fight in the schism but my impressionable mind was entranced. Here was a way I could help my people, and honor the savior of Fenario! I quickly pledged my services to the brotherhood and in time I ascended to the rank of high cleric, where I was dismayed. It had been many years since the brotherhood’s foundation and once it might have been pure but time had eroded at the very values it stood for and it had become tainted with corruption. I never saw things that way really, so the other high clerics plotted to remove me from that position-and they succeeded. I was forced to flee for my life from Fenario." "And now, here I am in Heroica! One last adventure for an old cleric I think, before my quiet retirement..." He did not mention the strange voice that plagued his waking hours ever since he had returned from Fenario, telling him to embrace his path as the last of the brotherhood of the red angel-he did not understand himself what it meant "Was that long enough for you "One understands immediately." Na'im bows his head feeling worse than ever "You must feel...honored to have such friends."

Naim closes his eyes for a few moments before he addresses the brusque stranger "Well when I was young, all peoples would speak as thus…but that was a long time ago, when Uland was still a tranquil plateau and the the continent of Merucriton had not yet been sunk. Err…sorry to bring that up." he says apologetically to Jinnipher "But I love old Spelesian…it is a marvellous dialect and I feel it is every Spelesian's duty to keep it alive." "Me? I am Fenarian. We were once one with the star elves of Spelesia, but during the great schism between the house of Fenari and the house of Alpeith my house-that is house Thamir-sided with the Fenari. Alas in his eagerness to defeat the house of Alpeith and their allies, Lord Angmar Fenari unearthed an ancient artefact that corrupted our once fair features turning us into the creatures you see before you today. Such is the price we pay to hold out against the Star elf foe." Naim takes a long draught of his wine "Does that satisfy your question friend? Speaking of which I cannot say I am familiar with your kind either." Naim laughs "Hitting things harder works most of the time in my experience-after all, one cannot plan for every eventuality. It is often the simple approach that yields the best results." Na'im laughs "Of course of course…my bad." he coughs into his gloved palm "Well I suppose I should say ‘good job’." "We all plan for what we shall be when we grow old." he observes admiring his wine glass in the light "But age will always catch up on us regardless-do not be so sure of your future." "Don’t mention it." he adds with a wave of his hand "I recently endured a trip back to my homeland on a quest-the people there are just as foolish and petty as ever. It is refreshing to meet an elf who sees matters from a more modern perspective." he says bitterly Naim narrows his eyes "Well that would be a...a rather long tale to say the least…do you two have time to spare?" "Young master bucks!" Na'im cries are…are you well?" he hastily looks down at his toes he doubted he would ever be able to look upon the rouges face again without feeling guilty about the encounter in the lost paths

"Really?" Naim laughs partially to ease the tension, as the thought of Rubric being destroyed while he was away perturbed him greatly "Much seems to have passed while I was away in the fields…I dare say this lizard did not succeed?" Na'im raises his glass "It is good to see an elf who thinks that way at any rate-too many of our kindred have sunk into the old ways of honour and pride in response to an ever changing world...yet it pleases me to meet an elf who sees the city as an opportunity not a place to be shunned and razed." Na'im looks up interestedly "Copper fox must have been around a good while if you have memories of him. I dare say he is still in business-do you have a path in mind?" "Ah, but who can blame us? We have the blood of ancients in our veins. None of those human, dwarven or other whatever you may spellcasters can compare to a spellcaster of elvish decent, who has grasped the true extent of their inherent powers!" "But me? I am just a humble cleric…an ex cleric if I am honest, for I hold no position in my former order, but I still have some healing power left in my old bones it seems." sighed Naim

Naim nods "Ah, well that I can understand-when I first came upon the shores of Uland I heard tall tales of armed robbers lurking in every alley, and dastardly gangsters that kept the city in their wretched grip through the exercise of terror. Now, while that may be true, it is dangerous in a different way too, and one far worse at that, with the situation with the houses. Still it keeps Herocia in business does it not?" Naim chuckles into his drink "You have that right-I take it you are familiar with our insufferable neighbors then? I returned to Spelesia very recently on a quest, and alas, things had not changed one bit!" Na'im reads the new sign on the quest board "A simple quest sounds good to me-you will be signing up too I presume? he asks Jinnipher "Although this ages quest givers seem to getting poorer and poorer these days...100 gold!" Na'im shakes his head, exasperated "They will get away with offering us freshly baked cakes next!" Nonetheless, Na'im signs up for quest 154

"Ah, then you have little reason to worry, my friend." Na'im chuckles "Doubtless that is so, but too few seem to recognise the usefullness of a good healer these days, given that those who take our path are becoming fewer and fewer." Na'im nods at Miderun as she comes over to talk to Vindisval, but says nothing, content to sip his drink and listen to the old friends talk

Naim glances apologetically at the elf "I really do apologise my dear, but master Vindisval really does appear to have a better deal. Nothing personal at all. Maybe some other time." Naim claps his hand and laughs "Well there seems to be quite a tale to me! I have heard legends of the lost generation of heroes, but I never heard one re-joined Heroica after all these years. What called you back: adventure, glory, gold beyond measure?" Naim suggests Naim smiles wryly "Of a sort-our origins are now so shrouded in myth, superstition and petty religion that no one really knows how we came to be anymore, least of all ourselves." he sighs "We are more alike than you imagine my dear-you could be describing my people there. We too are a dying race, our population only sustained through opening our borders to refugees and outcasts. If we do not learn to cooperate with the star elves I fear we will both become little more than footnotes in history in time-lengthy footnotes, but footnotes all the same." Naim orders another drink "In truth he is probably safer in the wilds and far away from Eubric. By all accounts, we may be living in the last days of the ever changing city if the tension between the houses remains unresolved." Naim says gloomily Naim smiles "True master Vindisval, but I hardly see it that way: the fewer healers there are amongst our organisation, the more we are in demand, therefore the more often we are guaranteed spots on quests-its good business all round, and privately I hope it stays that way!"

"The lance for your severa slasher and a diamond?" Na'im holds out his hand and makes the exchange "As good a deal as any I have seen. I hope you find it a…worthy... implement, and can make better use of it than I could." he adds awkwardly "Oh indeed-many more than I would like!" he quips "Sometimes I wonder why the good farmer does not gather all the heroes he can muster and have them raze the fields to the ground!" "Your father must have been a good man indeed says Naim quietly after a while, with perhaps a hint of bitterness "I can think of many lesser men who would have abandoned their child In this situation, to save face. Men can be a curious people at times can they not? They seem to squabble with each other more than with races other than their own!" Na'im nods slightly indignant "Well, I certainly hope so master Vindisval!"

"Ah, you ask about the nimbus broomstick I presume? I obtained it from a feared star elf magician in Spelesia: major El-Aquiest, a devoted soldier to the end and quite a talented spellcaster at that. He tried to capture us in our quest to Spelesia not so long ago." "It is perhaps even more curious than your own-through some charm or other, applied by the good major, it sometimes hits harder than should be theoretically possible, and at other times not. Indeed, I still have no idea as to how it works, or how to replicate it-more the pity reall-it could be quite helpful." Na'im shaes his head indignantly "Pay them no heed my friend! You certainly seem civilised enough to me! I know of no monster that would be able to hold a conversation about a particularly treasured weapon of his!" "Your father was a half giant as well then?" asks Naim curiously "Or did your kin simply hate him for what he represented? And what of your mother?"

"To your health!" echoes Naim "Oh no, I wouldn’t say that about my path master Vindisval! Sometimes…sometimes I think I would prefer getting away from all this and enjoying the simple life, but then again I doubt I’ll ever tire of seeing new lands, meeting new people or experiencing new customs-that is what being a member of this organisation-a hero if you may, though I feel that sounds rather bigoted-is at heart to me." "Simply marvellous!" Says Na'im clapping his hands merrily after the demonstration "A mighty fine weapon indeed! I have no doubt it has served you well!" "A noble sentiment." agrees Na'im he looks the giant up and down "Many of your kind do not share your views then? I have heard of the great works the giants have built in Dupolvia but have never met one in the flesh." Na'im nods "I suppose it is a worthy path, though I have hardly given it much thought since I picked up this trinket…so much has happened since, I have not had much time to reflect on what it means for my future-though if a Shaman I am to be, I will need many more weapons to back my decision."

“Deals from thin air?” Na’im lets out a tinkling laugh “That is indeed something new! A supremely useful talent though, would you not agree?” Na’im stroked his chin "Well it does appear a powerful trinket, but I am not sure smiting things is especially my style-here, you keep it-you have a warrior’s air about you-I am sure you can put it to better use than I." Na’ims face brightens as he examines his fellow hero "Say you are a moon elf my dear? I have not seen one in many a year-what be your story miss…?" "Too long indeed master Vindisval. A cocktail it shall be!" he summons over Secherazade and murmurs a list of ingredients to her "In Fenario, we call this the ‘Crimson Spelesian dawn’ something of an inside joke really among us Fenarians really-" Secherazade returns with a glass and a small pile of ingredients which Na’im goes about arranging with a look of intense concentration on his features "-You see, all Fenarians have been accused of being vampires at some point or other in their lives-" Na’im carefully adds a small volume of rum and then a couple of drops of elvish wine "-And we have an age old rivalry with the star elves, so it is something of a joke that we should claim drink the blood of our most bitter rivals after a victory!” Na’im crushes the juice out of a large bulbous fruit and stirs the finished drink triumphantly "Feeling particularly vampiric master Vindisval?" says Na’im with a slightly maniacal gleam in his eye, as he offers Vindisval his glass Na’im pauses in reflection "Well, when I was in Fenario I felt drawn to this item." he holds out the Shamanic plate "Coincidence, no? Whatever the case, I feel I must become stronger and hit harder, much like our barbarian friends, to become a viable force-there are more heroes than ever in our organisation, and quest places are becoming more competitive than ever. Na’im chuckles "But they will always have need of healers like you and me, eh master Vindisval?" Na’im draws in a breath "My, oh my that broomstick of yours-simply marvellous-where on Olegia did you find it? (Verkenner (WP:10, Darkness elemental Broomstick,(X2 against Humanoid and Holy/Luminous)ranged)) Would you be willing to part with it? For the right price of course."

"You are quite right master Germ…nasty things they were…nasty indeed to send us fleeing back to the farmyard with lady Miderun unconscious..." his voice trails off Na’im quickly soothes out the creases in his outfit and smiles broadly "Indeed you have come to the right place-Vindisval is it not? I believe we may have met before at some point, in this very hall…well, it matters little at any rate, come, take a seat, make yourself at home my friend. Can I get you a drink? Mead, mulled wine, flaming gumball…what be your poison master Vindisval?" Na’im is very much in his element acting as the pawnbroker and lays the lance carefully on the table and rubs his hand together "Have you any scrolls or elemental weapons-they seem to be very hard to come by these days-for myself at least! I only have one weapon on me for that matter..." he adds gloomily "Ah, do not be disheartened my dear women-a bit of friendly bartering never hurt anyone! Come, sit with us you may find it to be worth your while." Says Na’im gesturing to a nearby bar stool