Era had taken to the wing, flying from the mountains down south into more populated areas. She was sort of looking for a city, but not really. She knew she should visit one, but she wanted to find one with an open market. Shops were just not really a place she wanted to be… unless it was a really big shop. Oh, and helpers would be nice. The steel dragon was a wonderful companion, he had grown quite quickly and was now able to fly right along side her. But she felt perhaps she needed something more... She was also starting to understand its language some more, which was a big plus. This place had so many languages compared to the Outer Planes…

As the thought of the Planes crossed her mind Lady Era noticed something that caused her to pause. Mist was rising out of the ground, a soft rushing sound whispered on the wind. Intrigued, she turned that direction, her bright red and pink-tipped wings caring along the high elven body of Lady Mladen with ease. Her red hair and golden dress provided no sense of camouflage what so ever as she approached the area. She noticed a monument atop the waterfall as she passed it, pausing for a moment to wonder at such a figure before gliding easily over the city itself. Ignorant to the reaction of spectators, both she and the dragon lighted on the edge of a large fountain in the center of a square. Her brightly colored wings seemed to simply vanish on the breeze as the young steel dragon, who had yet to give her a name in which to call him, stepped down into the street before her. The crowed was hushed for a moment, may people had ducked away or run when they first appeared in the sky, but when there had been no attack by the pair, people had begun to wonder. Some didn’t seem to like what they saw, others wondered if it was a show perhaps. Era, for the most part, paid them no heed. They didn’t seem to have what she was looking for, the people milling about were not merchants. She stepped gracefully off the edge of the fountain, wondering if perhaps there was a gateway into the Elemental Plane of Water around here somewhere.

She stroked the dragon’s head almost absently and with a plan in mind she started up the nearest street in hopes of finding something useful. Armor for this mortal flesh, and food perhaps. Comrades were probably hard to find for one like her, but if she could prove herself useful and they in turn, it may just work. The dragon followed close behind her, just larger then a dog, but still smaller then a horse. He glared at anyone and everyone, letting them know that he was here and he could see them. Era herself was simply amused by this behavior. She was, however, very pleased by his loyalty and wondered how their relationship would grow.

Veronna had found out that she liked Cascadia and decided to visit the city again. She had brought some gold to buy a few things, though not sure what she would buy. She held Vaoulrah in her arms like always, but this time the child was awake and gazing about, taking in all sorts of sounds and sights. She was walking down a street with several stands set up with the merchandise they sold.

She was looking at some jewelry when she heard some people yelling and she looked over to a fountain a little ways down the street and saw a dragon and human, no elf, land on the fountain. Her right hand was placed on one of her scimitars, just in case. Even though she had been on the surface for several years, her instincts still told her elves could not be trusted, though she had complete control over herself.

She watched for bit, getting a little closer, though not to close to frighten Vaoulrah. She was interested in this person, mostly because she felt this person wasn't quite right, though she would not bother this person. She stood there for a few more minutes as everyone else walked away, going back to their buissness, though some still watched. Veronna slowly turned and began walking away, planning on going back to her shopping. Perhaps she would run into this person again this day, but Veronna did not want to intrude on this person. She would wait. Vaoulrah made a noise that didn't resemble any known language. She pulled her close and kissed her forehead smiling at her child.

Veronna saw a stand that had some finely crafted swords that caught her eye and walked over to investigate the blades. She knew that her daughter would need decent weapons when she got older, but that wouldn't be for several years, though she could always use some new swords. Her eyes still darting back to the elf which had landed a few moments ago, not sure if she liked this person.

As Era strode up the street the glint of steel caught her eye, for a moment she felt Lady Mladen’s mind flicker in panic, then relax as she recognized the place as a weapon’s shop. She still didn’t see any armor, but surely a merchant who sells such weapons would be able to give her directions to some place.

As she approached the shop another thing caught the attention of Lady Mladen’s mind. A dark-skinned elf? No, drow. Era smiled then to herself, a flicker of a smile appearing on Lady Mladen’s face. Apparently Lady Mladen hated the drow, so much so that she wished to rush forward and snatch the child from the mother’s arms and kill them both, something to do with being evil or such, but Era thought killing someone like that pure foolishness if not an evil act itself. Quite frankly Era didn’t care about Lady Mladen’s opinions, the high elf wasn’t even really conscious anyways, slipping from deep sleep into fitful nightmares of her own creation at random and poisoning Era’s own dreams with those nightmares. Part of her wished this mortal’s soul would move on to the next world, but then the body would have to be raised again as an undead. Era simply didn’t have the means to do that spell yet.

Era saw the female drow’s eyes flicker toward her, and not really in the mood for confrintation, she shifted her path to lead over to the other end of the shop. She raised two fingers togeather in a signal to the dragon who followed her and said in draconic,“Wait here.” The steel dragon stopped, sitting down and curling his tail about himself so the crowd wouldn’t harm it.

Era walked the rest of the way up to the shop and smiled at the owner. “Excuse me sir, do you know where I can find some leather armor?”

Veronna didn't even watch as the elf walked over, though she knew she was there. Veronna was looking at a rapier, a decent blade, though a little weak for her taste. She had started out with a long sword, and so her muscles were use to heavier weapons. She heard the stands owner reply to the elf: "I make some of the best armor around here, and I'm an expert at leather work." He said proudly as he turned around and grabbed a leather breast plate, which was simple but looked sturdy.

Veronna pulled her eyes away from the two and sat down the rapier and picked up a saber. It was overly decorated, one not truly made for battle, and all the battles Veronna was in, the blade wouldn't last half of them. One good thing about it was that it would look nice on a wall, but then she couldn't use it. She sighed and sat it back down, her eyes again drifting to the elf. She didn't know why this person irritated her so, she was just another elf, but something seemed wrong.

Vaoulrah made a loud cry and Veronna looked down at the child and stroked her cheek, the child opening her mouth in a smile. She met the smile with her own, their eyes meeting each other. Veronna looked up, hoping Vaoulrah's cry didn't upset anyone, though she wouldn't have cared if it did upset someone. She walked down the stand a little more, until she saw a fine looking scimitar. Veronna picked it up and began to examine it. It was balanced well, and looked nice but would hold up in a fight. It wasn't as dark as her own scimitars, but kind of bright. The blade shone with an elegance that was hard to achieve.

She sheathed it back into it's metal scabbard which was tinted with a light blue. She walked back to where the elf and shop keeper stood. She waited patiently for them to be done so she could purchase the blade.

Era was surprised to see armor there too, tucked further back in the shop. She took the breastplate he presented to her. It was then that she began to wonder if that would really work. It seemed rather bulky and would no doubt hinder her spellcasting. It was hard enough to cast spells with this possessed body as it was. She took in hand, turning it this way and that. After a moment or so of feigned expection, showing anyone who knew anything about armor that she really didn’t know much aout it herself. Frustrated, she sighed and looked back to the shopkeeper. “But how can I fly or cast spells with that?” She handed it back to him. “Look, I need simple, serviceable and light armor… preferably fire resistant, if not fireproof.”

She paused for a moment then, half listening to what he was saying. Her attention was drawn once more to the drow and babe. She seemed a warrior of some type, and there was something about her that Era decided she liked. Perhaps she should go ahead and approach the woman. If she was of no help there would be no loss, but if she did have some useful bit of information, or perhaps even a place she could take up a job to earn some coin… The possessed body blinked and she turned back to the shopkeeper as the drow had now turned to approach them, a weapon in hand. The shopkeeper was showing her another piece of armor. Era shook her head when she saw it, realizing that her meager resources were not lasting her long enough as is. She had never figured in the price of food and sleep was taking so much of her time. “Never mind, I probably can’t afford it anyways, not fireproof at least. I’ll keep your shop in mind though and will most likely return. Thank you for your assistance.”

She turned away from the man then, not taking any more notice of him, though her gaze did met with the drow female for a moment. Lady Mladen’ mind tried to bulk then, much to Lady Era’s surprise, and malice crossed the high elf’s features as her hand moved to her blade. Mladen really wanted nothing to do with a drow, her mere presence seemed to anger the elf. This would not do… Era’s expression quite suddenly turned blank and relaxed, as if she were asleep, her hands fell almost limply to her sides, as Era took back control of the body. Such a reaction was not at all acceptable to Era. She did not appreciate the interference and was once more tempted to seek out someone who could raise the dead so she could get rid of Lady Mladen’s troublesome soul once and for all. The nightmares were bad enough, but displays of hostility were not acceptable. She took a few steps further away and paused, waiting for the Lady to finish her transaction in order to apologies and give an acceptable reason for that reaction, most likely the truth would work best.

Veronna waited for the elf woman to be done talking with the shop owner, but when the elf turned, she had hatred on her face. Veronna's reflexes told her to draw her sword, but she waited to see if this person would attack. She didn't. Relaxation came over the elf and and her hand was no longer on her sword. Veronna watched her a couple moments, then turned and quickly paid for the scimitar, giving the man more then what the blade was originally priced at. As she turned to see if the elf was still there, she hooked the blade to her back, making it look much easier then how it was with one hand.

Veronna didn't know how to react to the elf woman, who was still standing, almost like she was waiting. But before the elf could talk Veronna spoke, "I don't know why you dislike me so much besides me being a drow, and you an elf. I do not wish for us to hold old grudges which our races made against each other ages ago. They mean nothing to me now, and I have nothing against elves." She hoped this elf would believe her. What she said was true, she didn't hate elves, it was just old reflexes when she saw an elf, and she could now control those reflexes.

Veronna waited for the elf's reaction, whether she would just walk away or actually respond. Vaoulrah was starting to wriggle around more, obviously getting bored by just staying put, and not walking or anything. Veronna rocked her arms back and forth, trying to calm Vaoulrah down, knowing she would start a fit soon if she didn't.

(Sorry that it's so short, having a hard time thinking of stuff.)

There was no immediate reaction, which made Era feel better about that reaction. The reaction still annoyed her though, but then Lady Mladen herself seemed very chaotic, much more then Lady Era herself. Era preferred to follow the laws of the plane she was in. This place though… the rules weren’t so easy to notice. Such a strange and complicated world was… a welcome challenge, though too complicated. She just really didn’t feel like making

She waited as the drow purchased some type of There was still a disconnected look to the high elf’s movement as she smiled slightly from this drow’s reaction. “I do apologies, I was not expecting that reaction myself from my host. I myself am not elven and was not aware of those hostilities between drow and elf until seeing you.” She closed her eyes for a moment before opening her eyes and addressing her again. “Hostility was and is not my intension dear lady, but I was wondering if I could ask for your assistance. You seem to be a very capable warrior and I have to admit I know little of arms or armor. Could you help me out any?”

Deep within Lady Mladen’s dreams a huge spider lunged at her, the image flashing through the mind and giving the possessed body goosebumps. Era focused once more on this with distaste for a moment before both Lady Mladen and her body relaxed once more into lethargic thoughts and actions. How odd….

((gah... mine is short too... :( ))

When Veronna got a reply she was slightly confused by when this woman said host. It made her wonder what she by meant host and where she was from. But she had a feeling those questions could be answered later, instead, this woman seem to be looking for some armor. Veronna let a smile cross her lips when the woman said she seemed to be a very capable warrior. A slight under statement, but she didn't mind, she liked it when people did not know who she was. Veronna nodded, "Of course I can help, and anything they do not have here, I have where I live. But it all depends on what your looking for...?" She let the question hang in the air for a few moments. And like an after though, she extended her hand to this person, "By the way, my name is Veronna, and this is Vaoulrah." She said gesturing to the bundle in her arms, who was making some sounds which sounded wet and Veronna looked down to see the child making bubbles in her own spit. She sighed and pulled her hand back and wiped the drool away from Vaoulrah's mouth with some extra cloth from the bundle, then looked back up at the woman again, "Sorry about that, she gets bored quite quickly." Another thing that made the child like her; no patience.

Veronna did not notice the merchant at the weapons and armor table until and knocked over something on his stand, his eyes wide with surprise and amazement, obviously recognizing her name. He bent down and picked up the things he had knocked over, but when he came back up, his eyes were still on her, a little less wide now, but still amazed at who stood before him. Veronna didn't bother with looking at him any longer, though she did start to wonder what it was like for mortals to see a being of higher existence, and power. Maybe she would talk to him later, she just hoped he wouldn't go around telling everyone who she was. She liked being able to go around without people gawking at her. Her eyes went back to the elf person in front of her, waiting for a reply.

Being new to this plane, the name didn’t ring a bell. She was a stranger here after all. There was a bit of confusion of the drow woman’s face, but she seemed friendly enough. She did note the shopkeeper’s reaction, looking at him for a moment as he returned things to their places. Quite odd. This entire thing was a very strange venture indeed. Part of her wished to return to the elemental planes, but that was not why she was here. She had a good start and a body to protect her from the chaos of the elements here. She just hadn’t expected this body to need armor of it’s own, if that was truly what Mladen’s body needed. Perhaps it was just she was fragile, being sick and all, but that wasn’t exactly it. Perhaps it was something else that was missing. It didn’t seem to matter too much if people did know what she was, so it couldn’t be an elemental based problem. Bleeding hurt and made the body weak. That put Era at risk and that would jeopardize the entire reason for her being here. Well, better get on with it.

Lady Era nodded politely to both woman and child. Children were another odd thing that she assumed was specialized for this plane of existence. She had been born fully grown between the planes of Air and Fire, materializing in the Plane of Air at her Calling. The one who had called her had been male, but they had not gotten along well. He was air and earth after all and Era had a fear of enclosed places. Era had left when she saw him performing another Calling. She instead found another group of travelers and joined them… but that was before she had come here, to this place…

“Thank you Veronna. I’m Era and I would tell you the name of my dragon here, but he is being too picky about choosing one.” Era grinned slightly at that before turning back to the things in question. “I’m looking for some type of armor or such that is lightweight and won’t hinder me. I know metal won’t work well at all, but I don’t have much else to go off of.” She paused for a moment before clarifying, “By hindering me, I mean with flying.”

Veronna listened to Era describe what she needed in armor and she began the think. She didn't know what it was like to fly, and the only armor she could think that might work was light leather armor, though that did not give much protection, unless she blessed it, but she didn't intend to do that for this person, not until she got to know her better. Then something clicked, Mythril was very light, maybe light enough for someone who flies. She had some mythril, but it was all the way at Taras in her temple. And it would need to be modified for wings.

"There is a type of armor that might work, it's called mythril, normally made in to chain mail. I have a shirt of it where I live, but it is quite far from here. Perhaps we could find someone who sells it around here." Veronna explained to her, gesturing around her with the last bit of what she said. Chances were though, that it would be expensive, very expensive, a few years ago she wouldn't even be able to afford it. But now she had plenty of gold, and would help out paying if Era did not have enough.

Vaoulrah made a snorting noise, and Veronna rocked her some more, then gestured forward to Era, as she started walking slowly, hoping Vaoulrah would be content with the movement. Veronna's eyes were scanning each and every booth that housed armor or weapons, looking for mythril. She had caught the attention of a couple of the merchants at their stands, though she did not keep eye contact with them, not wanting to draw more attention on to herself.

(Sorry I haven't replied for awhile, holidays were keeping me busy. Also, sorry for the short post.)

((Sorry I took so long! I didn't mean to forget...))

“Mythril?” Era said softly to herself. She followed Veronna and her child as they went down the street. She didn’t recognize the word. She started to shift back through the sleeping Lady Mladen’s mind in an attempt to find the word. Her memories didn’t seem very organized at all and it bothered Era. So much clutter along with those nightmares the girl was conjuring for herself. If Era could only bring some order to her mind, perhaps she would be able to dust off those cobwebs and banish those shadows. Then there would be nothing for the nightmares to be conjured out of. Mythril didn’t reveal itself from the now silenced mind. Mladen was angry at her, for talking so calmly and civil with someone she had so much hate for. Era let her be and turned her own gaze to the booths about them.

“What exactly does Mythril look like? Is it a particular color of chain, or just a lighter weight?” She asked, seeing a chain shirt that had been painted black.

At her side walked the steel dragon, his gaze ever watchful of the populous and his mind turning back to the insistence that Era had on him picking his own name for himself. He had been expecting to be named by his parents like his sibling had been, but they were no longer with him. He had chosen to go with her instead of being left on his own. He wanted her to name him, but she only teased him with foolish names.

Veronna was not at all sure about the dragon who followed beside them, she never really trusted dragons. But when Era asked a question about mithril her attention left the dragon and went on the elf. "Mithril is normally a brighter silver, though some do paint it sometimes. It is made by the elves, well originally it was, now others have started to craft it, though not nearly as good as the elves. It is much lighter then regular chain, which is why I like to use it." As she looked to her right she saw a stand with chainmail and walked towards it, hoping Era was following.

Veronna walked up to the stand and looked closely at some of the chainmail shirts. She reached out and touched one of the shirts, able to tell if it was good or not by just running her fingers over it. It was not mithril, unfortunately, which disappointed Veronna. She knew it would be hard to find any good mithril here. Normally you would have to go find an elf who crafted the armor and pay a ridiculous amount of gold.

She continued to look through the stand, her hand reaching out somtimes to feel one of the shirts. Her fingers slid across a very nice chainmail shirt, it's silver reflecting the sunlight. Veronna smiled when her fingers touched it, knowing this is what she was looking for. She lifted the shirt up and examined it, looking to see if it was elven made or not. After flipping it around a couple times she knew it was made by the elves. She looked over at Era, realizing it would have to be custom made to fit around her wings, which would cost even more. She frowned as she looked back down at the chainmail shirt.

(Blah...I can't seem to be able to post really good right now...)

((OOC side note: Era doesn’t appear to have wings at all right now…))

“Elven chain.” Era said, as if suddenly understanding what it was. The body she possessed had never been a fighter but she did know the difference between finely wrought elven chain compared to the heaver human made chain. Era simply tied the two names together then. Elven chain mail was Mithril chain mail.

She looked over and something caught her eye just further down the way. There was a tavern that had the air of a portal to the plane of water. She wondered if she had found one and almost went to go find out before she realized that it would be incredibly rude. Armor was important, but as it was expensive also, perhaps she should look into earning some coin instead of trying to shop without any money. That could easily lead to the shopkeepers mistrusting her and thinking of her as a thief. She was about to mention this to Veronna when she realized the woman had gone in a shop. She followed, motioning for the steel dragon to wait outside. She didn’t want him to knock anything over. If he broke it she wouldn’t be able to buy it.

Taking care of a possessed body was turning out to be harder then she thought. Perhaps she should return her to her family… but she had her own part of the bargain to keep. She needed to find a way to wake Lady Mladen from her nightmares first. Only then could she return the body. That was how she had received her body in the first place. It would be a breach of contract to abandon Lady Mladen somewhere. The elven girl still existed in this body with Lady Era.

Era approached Veronna. “I don’t wish to be rude, but I think it may be wiser for me to earn more coin first…” She spoke hesitantly, knowing that her pride was all that was keeping her from making some money. She knew enough magic to be a street performer, but that felt so lowly to her. She was a Traveler, an Elemental who didn’t need all that this possessed body did. Perhaps she should have attempted to possess a different being. She looked over to the steel dragon who was peering in after her. A dragon would have been a better choice perhaps.