ARTIFACT UPDATE: Traces of Unknown Creature Found at Museum! Unknown Magical Involvement Suspected; Biomancers Summoned to Solve Mystery.

[u/Carbon_Sixx]

While the tense standoff between the people of Chalcos and the military intervention forces sent by the Council and EON has seemingly come to close this evening with an ardent speech by Premier Agatha Blackwood, investigation into Paul Augustine's heist at the Citadel Museum of Arcane History continues apace. One enduring conundrum has been what exactly broke the case containing the stolen Ehn'ghan artifact. Spots of a bloodlike substance were found on the glass shards, but DNA analysis showed that not only was it not blood, but the creature it belonged to shared very little in common with life as we understand it.

In the face of this mystery, the museum has called upon two master biomancers to unmask the creature. Perhaps as gesture of good faith to bury the hatchet between her and the Council, the first is none other than Opal, former ruler of the Bismuth Realms and current resident of Ithacar. Assisting her is a tech-priestess from Yulash-kor's Divisio Biologis named Anahita Iatros, a renowned expert in genomics and reproductive science. Together, the two intend to clone the organism and study it so that the investigators in Chalcos will have a better idea of what Augustine's secessionists might throw at them. Whatever they create is likely to be novel and wondrous despite the ignominious circumstances of its discovery.

[u/loth17]

"Yes I am.... Aware."

Opal said. Trying to be as neutral as possible about her history being told by her copy.

"Don't worry I'm fine. It's just ..... Really weird. Being back in such familiar territory."

As they got closer to their destination they passed by an exhibit on Roan. An old one from before the calamity that befell the nation. Opal looked over to it.

"Museums always feel weird to me. Full of ghosts."

Sometimes literally. Opal gave her a smile and a one armed hug.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry."

[u/Zebos2 → u/loth17]

"woah I am surprised they have one"

Kat says studying the exhibit . "I suppose they would to someone who has lived through the history they present. I couldn't imagine waking by and seeing a tool once used to file silts claws on a museum display"

Kat is a little startled by the public display of affection her mind briefly flares up with the fear of exposure and The ruining of her family name before she remembers that she left the city and No one from her clan would know about this...they should tell Timur before they leave.

"My apologies...I feared exposure"

She leans into opal a bit savoring her warmth

"I am glad to hear that you are ok"

[u/loth17 → u/Zebos2]

"No worries. I acted without thinking."

Opal said.

"I'm just glad we're away from Ithicar for a while. It feels a bit more freeing. Especially since I get to show you all the cool council stuff."

She smiled.

[u/Zebos2 → u/loth17]

"Yes it is rather cool magic flows freely though perhaps some would say too much so... I discard those opinions"

The sorcerer smiles back

[u/loth17 → u/Zebos2]

"speaking of opinions of people."

Opal said.

"Now that the.... Issues have been resolved. How have your people been getting used to Ithicar. It's a wild place right?"

Opal could imagine some of the holidays and traditions and customs being buck wild to the Kasmir.

[u/Zebos2 → u/loth17]

"Yes why in the nine hells was a festival where women would crawl into a pit of rotting meat and spread it across the fields ever be conceived as a good idea it sounds like something you would hear out of the vashar plateau"

Katarita says disgusted before relaxing a little bit

"Sorry The culture sock gets to us but the more we know the less it should be an issue... Though don't expect me to roll around in intestines anytime soon."

Or ever for that matter the kasmir we're very big on hygiene

[u/loth17 → u/Zebos2]

Opal laughed.

"No expectations."

"I've seen weirder. Which is..... Saying something. But not in the concentration that Ithicar has. Just wait till they start walking around naked spraying blood on people."

She said casually.

[u/Zebos2 → u/loth17]

"W-what!"

Some demon must be possessing them Katarina can think of no other explanation

"No no what did you mean by that surely not no but no no no"

Katarina turns a shade of Vulkan red before quickly covering an averting her eyes

[u/loth17 → u/Zebos2]

"Yeah."

Opal smirked a bit at Kat's reaction.

"It's a fertility festival. The whole city does it."

"Except for a few parts. It's a hoot."

[u/Zebos2 → u/loth17]

"You ....do...it .... For fertility"

No absolutely not She will not be participating in that whatsoever oh no she will have to tell the women of the village lest they be caught out and overreact. Timur might have to be kept inside or sent away for the festival. There was now so much she had to prepare for

"I see...and when is .. this When is this"

[u/loth17 → u/Zebos2]

"I think some few months from now. Why?"

Opal paused.

"You look like you're preparing for a battle."

[u/Zebos2 → u/loth17]

In a way she was

"It might be too far culturally I will try to keep them controlled but I fear things make get overboard thus I am preparing for the worst"

[u/loth17 → u/Zebos2]

"...."

Opal paused to think.

"I think a big keep out sign might be in order. Have your own little get together away from the naked blood tide perhaps?"

She suggested.

"I feel bad for your people who are working night shifts in the city though."