The flickering of several candles play across the Aelfin girl as she lays quietly on her bed. Her staff has been put aside for now, and her bag lays beside her. With hands folded behind her head she studies the ceiling in deep thought, talking quietly to herself. "I wonder if what I have done so far has been the best possible outcome. Have I been too reckless, or was I just excited?" The girl rolls over on her side, propping her head up on a hand. She uses her free hand to reach into her bag to fish out the black Khatta doll. "I wonder if he is still mad at me."

There is a soft rapping at the door.

The girl stirs from where she is laying and sits up. Taking a moment to straighten her robes to look presentable and placing her hands neatly in her lap, folded,she finally is ready to meet her visitor. "Yes? Come in?"

The door slowly opens, revealing a robed cheetah with a light cloth hood over his face. He looks fairly odd … perhaps even silly, really. After all, it's quite obvious that it's a cheetah in that get-up. He's even wearing a slave collar. Oh! It's Born-in-Shame. He doesn't look quite the same without his armor.

"Oh! Hello, Born-in-Shame. I hope you had no trouble with the guards upon entering. I am sorry I did not meet you outside as well. I had … a touch of a problem earlier, and I needed to lay down for a while." She smiles at him a bit, and reaches over to pat the edge of a bed that looks about twice the size she would actually ever need. "Please have a seat. And you need not wear such trappings here; you are my friend, and my friends should not hide their faces."

The cheetah gently shuts the door, then sits down on the floor, pulling out a writing tablet and a charcoal pencil. "Greetings," he writes on the pad, showing it to the Aelfin.

Scarlet scoots over to the edge of the bed and looks straight forward, which puts her gaze roughly at the cheetah's head. "I am glad to see you. I wanted to ask you some questions. But first I was wondering where all your armoring went, and did you always wear a slave collar? I did not see one on you earlier, and you said you may be from 'elsewhere'."

The cheetah takes some time to scribble on the pad. "Armor kept safe. Would invite questions if worn by slave. No, did not wear slave collar at home. Only wear because Silent-Ones are slaves here."

A frown crosses Scarlet's face as she reads of the slavery Born-in-Shame now needs deal with. She shakes her head a bit before putting the doll down by her side and propping her head on her arm again. "Slavery was never a concept I could understand. I am neither born from a noble family, or a slave-using people. Perhaps mine are merely the thoughts of an outsider that does not comprehend something that is greater than what it seems, but I still consider slavery questionable. Having met you, I am finding myself going so far as to even consider it cruel. Obviously you, and many of those like you, are as competent as the slave-owning species. I have to say I am glad to see the Naga Empire is having trouble with some slaves. Do you not agree?"

The cheetah spends some time writing again, then shows the pad. "Do not approve of slavery of my people, but not here to start war. Wish to learn of Sinai, earn new name, then return to own world to serve Star. Came to ask about quest. Not going to Bosch anymore?"

Scarlet shakes her head a little. "No, thankfully. I found that the these walls can indeed seal away a powerful item such as that sword, thanks in part to a possessed Exile. Having studied a bit on Bosch since I arrived, I have determined we would likely not survive. Magic is my life, and so much magic would be as dangerous to my mind as to my body. I suspect you would fare better, however," Scarlet answers, followed by a quiet sigh.

The cheetah spends some time thinking, before writing his own reply. "Not sure. Was taken to priests to hear of Bosch. Very deadly to all. Best not to go there."

"I agree, certainly. However I do believe it is only a matter of time before I enter one of the Forbidden Zones. I have decided I am to seek the origin of magic in hopes I can learn where it comes from and how best to practice it. So, eventually I will need go where magic is at its most rampant, and that is the Forbidden Zones. For now, however, I have another task. I may, if the Temple approves, be sent to the planet Ashtoreth," Scarlet replies with a nod of her head followed by a rather lengthy description of her plans.

The cheetah scribbles some more. "That is an impressive journey. May the Star shine on you, and guide your way home."

"Home," the girl repeats as if considering the word for a moment. "Home … is far away now. It matters little where I am physically, for I refuse to return home until I have become what I vowed I would be." She smiles a bit more and tilts her head to the side. "What of you? Do you plan to go back and see Lord Kurai? And if you do not mind me asking, how ever did you get here in the first place? Here as in, this planet."

This takes some more time for the cheetah to scribble a response, and he does it on a new scrap of paper. "Came here with Redeemer of Shadows, through gate between worlds in crystal tower. May see Kurai, if Redeemer deems it wise."

The girl tilts her head to the side again and considers this for a moment. "Redeemer of Shadows? It sounds vaguely familiar, a title I once heard mentioned by some teachers when they were speaking with visitors from the Temple. What does it mean?" A ear wiggles a few times and the girl reaches up to itch it before continuing. "This crystal tower sounds interesting. It must be a great work of magic or maybe machinery. Either way, it is worth the study. Where is it located, if I might ask?"

The cheetah writes some more. "Redeemer of Shadows is another title of the Peacemaker. It is a title given to him by a ruler of the Silent-Ones on this world, so I use it in respect. The Peacemaker stopped a war on Abaddon, and brought me here to Sinai. The tower is guarded by Abaddonian warriors who settled here, in the heart of a great desert of shifting sand. We rode from there on a noisy ship owned by loud barbarians with great hammers."

The cheetah flips to another sheet.

"Oh, those large Jupani. I tell you they frighten me. I would not last very long around a group like that," Scarlet mentions with a slight giggle. Her head tilts to the other direction and she continues. "This Peacemaker sounds like quite an amazing person. Someday I hope we meet. I just bet it would be fascinating. And as for those guards, I doubt I will need deal with them. Obviously the Temple knows a way to the planets or has some sort of deal set up."

The cheetah nods. He writes, "Shall you need my services any longer? Or shall I return to Kurai?"

"Unless you would like to stay with me and perhaps earn a name for visiting two entire planets, I see no need to keep you any further. But I would think such an offer might tickle your fancy. World-Walker, or some such name, is impressive to my ears." Scarlet grins a little and reaches over to pick up the doll again. She wiggles its arms and legs and does a very bad impression of Jynx. "So much water, oh, I will get all wet!" A giggle, and she hugs the doll before tilting her head again. "It could be a great adventure?"

Born-in-Shame nods, then writes, "Will consider that."

Scarlet nods a little before folding her hands back in her lap and leaning forward. "Why do you wear that silly hood, anyway? I cannot see your eyes or hear your words. I feel as if I am conversing with one of those unpleasant Necromantic teachers. They always dress so gloomy and are silent. I never saw half their faces either."

Born-in-Shame writes, "In Silent-Ones culture, is not right for face to be seen by opposite gender." Maybe that explains why the cheetah never, ever makes eye contact with the Aelfin.

"Is that so? Pardon my curiosity, but just how did that custom come to be? Some customs have truly fascinating histories," the girl asks.

Born-in-Shame starts to make some hand-signs … but then remembers that the Aelfin can't understand a finger-wiggle of it. So, he goes back to writing. This takes a while, and he starts a new sheet. "Silent-Ones do not have variations like most species. All males look alike. All females look alike. Identity distinguished by patterns on masks. Maybe that is why taboo developed. Without mask, face is naked, no identity. But Silent-Ones here are different. Do not all look the same. Do not know why."

"Perhaps it is because surface dwelling creatures have a high rate of mutation. It could be the Silent-Ones here were originally like the Silent-Ones on your planet, but over time they mutated and became different. That is my theory anyway." A rub of her wrist in between paragraphs manages to divert restless energy to a better task before the Aelfin goes on. "You know, the armor you wear is very unusual. I have never seen a suit of metal before. Metal is very rare here, as you have seen. I can only hope that my world's powers do not get their paws upon such resources."

"It is not metal," writes the cheetah. "The pieces are of antiquity, and the art of making such materials has been lost."

"It is not of metal? Then is it of animal hide such as the armor we have on this planet?" asks Scarlet in a tone more interested than her usual. "I wonder if it is a First One relic. Do you have many relics upon your planet?"

The cheetah nods, and writes, "Many relics. We fight over them when there is no treaty. Is not of animal hide."

Scarlet shakes her head and folds her arms. "I really should have examined it closer. At the time I did not think much of it; I believed it a piece created by Lord Kurai for show. No matter; can you describe some other relics on your planet?"

Born-in-Shame scribbles some sketchy diagrams that look like bulky suits of armor … or perhaps some sort of golems … and strange weapons. He writes, "Many weapons of ages past. Many unknown purpose, but useful for spare parts."

Scarlet gasps slightly as she sees the drawings and learns of their fate. "Spare parts?! They are great treasures! They could be invaluable to research the world over."

The cheetah only shrugs at this.

"I … I am sorry for that outburst. I suppose I am a magic fanatic sometimes. I rarely see such impressive and rare items such as those here on Sinai. In fact, I have never seen them before. The closest I have ever come is the Temple and a few artifacts I saw on display within these walls and the museums." She smiles again and reaches into her bag to pull out what looks to be a fragment of metal in a small glass jar, with a cork sealing it. "This is about as much of rare metals I have seen. If you ever go home, could you take me with you?"

Born-in-Shame writes, "I cannot promise anything. Ownership of the gateway may be in question, and I cannot promise you would be able to return here."

Scarlet frowns slightly upon hearing she may never return. After all, she knew she would be away from home for many years, but she does want to go home sometime. "I … I would have to weigh the options if and when such a time comes that I might see your planet. Sinai and its governments, people, and rules change as fast as the fickle wind that the planet represents. Still, the idea of seeing such wonders is hard to resist. Perhaps my journey to Ashtoreth would help if I ever go to your home. And speaking of homes, what do you think of Sinai?"

Born-in-Shame writes, "If Sinai is air, and Ashtoreth is water, then Abaddon is fire. I have not seen so many plants and so much life before. This is a beautiful place. You do not have to fight over trees and grass. There is enough to share. But it is strange that machines do not work here. We depend on them so much."

Scarlet perks all four of her ears slightly. "Machines do not malfunction on your world? That is … very strange. Here machines function only very high in the sky, like where we are now. Also, magic is weaker where machines work strongest. Is that also the same on your world? Does magic even function there?"

Born-in-Shame shakes his head. He scribbles on another sheet of paper, now drawing what looks like some sort of a crude map of a vaguely circular area. Oddly, it looks somewhat reminiscent of a map of the Red Cliffs plateau in Himar … except that this appears to describe a pit of some sort instead of a plateau. On the edge of the pit are some marks that seem to represent some sorts of buildings. Or symbols? Then, he labels the feature, "Pit of Himar", and helpfully scribbles in an arrow that points "North".

Born-in-Shame tears off this map, handing it to Scarlet, then continues writing on a fresh sheet. "No magic on Abaddon except in Pit of Himar, which appeared many moon-cycles ago. Machines failed in Pit, but Mage Windcaller, serving Peacemaker, summoned storm in Pit, draining magic from pit, and stopping war, while Peacemaker forced treaty. No magic now, though."

Scarlet peers at the map for a moment before she takes it in her paws and scoots off the bed. The doll is gathered up and taken to a stack of books, where it is placed on top afew books labeled with various romantic themes. It seems the Aelfin does more that just study history and magic here, but she leaves those books alone and instead gathers up another book – an Atlas of some sort. She brings this to the cheetah and opens it up before putting it on the floor. The drawn map is then placed beside a map of the Himar region. "This is the site of a strange disaster on my world. A large section of red rock suddenly appeared some time ago. I do not think it is a coincidence that you have a Himar pit and we have a large mountain of red rock here."

Born-in-Shame shakes his head. He writes, "Peacemaker visited Red Cliffs, too. Found our people on it. Magic does not work well there, and machines work better, Peacemaker says. Large wolves with hammers think it is promised land. Piece of land from Sinai and Abaddon swapped by 'boomer' weapon."

"Yes, the 'boomer' weapon. I have indeed heard of that. It was the subject of quite a debate at the College. Do you know what it is or how it works? Certainly it is not a magic I know of, nor a technology I have ever encountered. I wonder if your people may know more about such odd items?" Scarlet asks as she flips a few pages and then turns back to where the map is shown.

Born-in-Shame just shakes his head and shrugs.

"Oh well, it was certainly worth a look. Is there anything else you would like to tell me about anything at all? I know I have so many answers I would like but I lack the questions in which to get them. Oh, and feel free to ask me whatever you wish," Scarlet asks with another smile.

Born-in-Shame shakes his head, then writes, "I should be going. It is late." He slowly stands, tucking his charcoal pencil and tablet away.

Scarlet reaches over and folds the book with the map still inside it. She picks this up and tucks it under her arm carefully before curtseying with one hand. "It was a pleasure seeing you again. I hope no matter what path you take, you will always be strong and brave. Do visit me whenever you like."

Born-in-Shame bows … then heads out the door, closing it again behind him, and leaving the Water Mage alone once more.

Scarlet walks over to the door and fastens the lock, which is little more than a piece of wood that folds over to block the door from being opened. Once that is set, she goes back to her bed and sits down, then lifts her left foot to remove her shoe. "Aliens, Exiles, and strange Khatta. Well, I can at least be glad this has not been dull."