Paskhal

Paskhal traveled for quite a while after leaving the Icewalker Clan, making it as far as to the Windswept Plateau before she finally decided to take a break at Singer's Brook. She looked forward to the calm streams, as well as having a refuge from the whipping winds found on most of the Windsinger's territory. Thinking she could relax and rest here, she was not at all prepared to face the big, ominously glowing eyes that were currently staring up at her.

"Uhm, hello?"

This Aether was getting all into her personal space, and the glowing eyes combined with the big toothy grin she had were quite unsettling.

"Hi!! I have something that looks just like you! Follow me!"

Paskhal was certainly not going to follow a strange dragon into an unknown location, so she waited at her rest spot and resumed her lazy observations of the streams. But the Aether soon returned with a small pillow in her claws, which she dropped in front of the Ridgeback.



"Here! A green pillow for your green scales!"

Paskhal examined the pillow, which was way too small to be of any use to her. But when she looked up to ask what she was supposed to do with this thing, the Aether was already gone.

Paskhal wandered for a long while, from Singer's brook all the way to the cooled magma spires near the Magma Sanctum. She had been planning to look at the Sanctum itself, but it is easy to lose your way among the tall lava rock formations, and instead, she was greeted by a chestnut-colored skydancer clad in loose orange wraps.

"Hello," he said in a calm manner. "You seem to be lost, from the direction you are going. Unless you are aiming to sightsee off the cliffs?"

"No, not really. I was hoping to visit the Magma Sanctum, actually," Paskhal replied, not wanting to explain any further.

"Ah, you're quite a ways too far north for that. Let be bring you by the Haven for some refreshments, and then we can get you a guide to the Sanctum."

"The Haven?" she asked archly. "I haven't heard of anywhere nearby with that name. I would rather not waste my time on some small den of no repute."

The Skydancer chuckled. "The Polychromic Haven. A place of productive chaos and beverages that will literally change your perspective on the world, and actually quite well known, in certain circles. Also, my home. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Sieffre, the perimeter scout for the Haven." He bowed gracefully.

"I'm Paskhal. Charmed, I'm sure." She returned the bow, but then failed to control her curiosity. "What do you mean by changing my perspective?"

Sieffre gestured for her to follow him, and explained as they traveled. "Our founder has... a way with tea. Somehow, she has managed to create drinks that shift your size, from your natural size of..." He eyed her, gauging her size. "...around fourteen meters, to the size you would be if you were another breed, such as the around four meters you'd be if you joined me as a Skydancer."

Paskhal was skeptical, but curious nonetheless. This wasn't the strangest magic she had heard of, but it was close.

Sieffre didn't seem surprised by the reaction. "You'll see when you get there. I suggest mint mix number 32. It tastes wonderful, and it lets you go down to the size of a fae dragon, which would let you explore the lair most thoroughly before you press on."

Paskhal didn't reply, but she did have to admit that the idea of flying around at the scale of a fae sounded interesting. She was lost in her own thoughts when Sieffre announced that they had reached their destination.

She looked at the cliff face before her, and saw a door that was obviously sized for the largest Imperials, but had a smaller door set in it, and a smaller door in that, and so on, each with their very own welcome sign, right at eye height for a dragon using the door. She smiled a bit and had the feeling she was not going to regret delaying her visit to the Magma Sanctum after all.