[u][b]Oracheos, Salvid Hotel[/b][/u]

"Please move your chin up a little." Milfano raised her scaled face for the painter as did the rest of her crew. "Like so?" The kobold painter painter muttered his approval before going back to work to immortalize the scene, brave adventurers with their spoil, a massive 2 meter tall Riglir egg. It wasn't the only thing they brought back from this dreaded expedition from which the current team in the portrait was much smaller than the original, they brought dozens of them back to be delivered to a scientist from Veridel's lair interested in this species growth and characteristics but this was by far the most impressive subject.

"I must admit though, for the 'Great Kobold Host', there doesn't seem to be much of you reptiles."

In the elegant ballroom of the hotel they were, more than just the 20 or so members of the expedition and the painter could be seen. About a hundred curious, people residing in the hotel or from around the city, were regrouped to listen to Milfano's heroics. She had a bardic talent to it and knew how to make herself interesting. Plus, its not like most of these people had anything to do for these people were mostly there waiting for a summon at the Oracle of Oracheos. Maybe a couple of them would even get one! Indeed, they were pilgrims to a holy place and the oracle was reputed to summon only those with the greatest of destinies to reveal it to them should they be in the city. A hero of legend could expect a summon the moment he entered the city while an emperor was likely to get one within the week. People hoped to be a chosen one, nobles hoping for guidance and to be more important than their status inferred. Milfano had been there for two days now and didn't really believe she could ever be summoned, though she'd still stay for a single week. Her crew needed rest anyways so, this was as good a place as any.

"Well sir, we are practical people you see. I will freely admit that there aren't much role a kobold can take an elf or human couldn't do better as adventuring often requires strength. Though it may surprise you we, despite our small cranium, aren't mentally handicapped, for the most part, and that we can also move swiftly and silently in the small holes of a cave. Small size doesn't have to be a disadvantage and I know a few dwarves who'd probably like to have a word with you if you said so!"

It was all in good humor. Perhaps others would lose their tempers but Milfano knew that it served no purpose to alienate potential clients, it was better to laugh it off. The 7 other kobolds standing still for the portrait however clenched their teeth, resisting the urge to lash out and the Elf that had insulted them.

"Now, where was I. Ah yes, when we had finally entered the lair of the dreaded monsters. Our distraction had worked and it would turn out to be at a great price but our bounty laid before us, their eggs they went through so much trouble to protect. We had little time, it wasn't even that the stupid things would notice this was a distraction no, it was the fact that millions would surge from the underground to go after said distraction and no doubt some would come across us! We had strong guys of course but the challenge... oh the challenge was this big guy. But we were ingenious, Falgrim here had a plan and-"

Milfano stopped as whispers erupted in the room. Had a king come to listen to her story? Milfano couldn't tell from her small height who it was that the assembly they were in moved to allow through until 5 tall humanoid figures in sculpted jade armor arrived before her and her group. 'Chosen', 'Hero of prophecies', 'Yuwan's favored'... The oracle was bestowing and audience and the armored figure on front lowered his finger on her. "Milfano of Nadir, daughter of Clo the Younger. The Oracle will see you!"

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[u][b]Mastrixen, Her Garden[/b][/u]

Elsewhere, another very interesting person, namely Baltazos adopted son of the Basilisk and anti-curruption special agent of said Basilisk, was assisting to a much more public event, namely the celebration of the Basilisk's engagement to Mastrix, patron goddess of Drakma and servant of Yuwan. He had never exchanged more than a couple of words with his step mother, though it was also true that he didn't talk to his 'father' much more. In his youth, he had been much close to Erzat, the rumored but very true genuine abomination of a daughter from Mastrix and Nobilis. A sisterly figure despite her already being older than he'd probably ever live that became much, much more than just a friendly sibbling. They weren't really blood related after all! (And its not like they could have children... or at least it had never happened and it was best for everyone if it didn't happen considering what Erzat was.)

But as a shape shifting abomination, she was now playing her favorite game, 'find me'. There must be a thousand people here, not counting the servants. All the creme de la creme of kobold society and that included, surprisingly, very few kobolds. They were still the most numerous, but not even the majority, sharing the place with dwarves, elves and a couple of dragonborn as well as humans. Of course, there were two dragons, immobile at each side of Mastrix. The black Nobilis on her right and Moras, the minister of finance on her left. This had now officially become frustrating but Balta knew one way to smoke his lover out. She was watching, he knew, so if he just went to another woman and laid out the charm...

"Excuse me miss, but I couldn't help but notice your dress an-"

He approached an elegantly dressed woman from behind but realized his mistake the moment she turned around, the true form of one of Mastrix's companion laid bare for him since he had an artifact to see through some illusions (Useless to find Erzat who changed form rather than create an illusion). The fine elven skull gazed at him, an otherworldly voice not softened by magic coming to his ears. "Why thank you! The new rococco dwarven wave we've seen this year is quite splendid and I can see from the angular shapes of that suit you are quite the connoisseur! But, could you be Baltazos, the hand of Nobilis? It is an honor to get this compliment from you my lord!" Baltazos hated to admit that despite being in a relationship with Erzat, he had enough experience with other women to tell that this sack of bones wanted him. If he hadn't known what she was he'd probably be the same but now? He thought fast of a way to get out of this situation. Erzat must be laughing her ass off now, wherever she was!

Thankfully, he didn't have to come up with one as a kobold servant announced the gift had arrived and lifted his staff toward the moon. There was a shape, glowing in the moonlight. It was coming closer, a... ship?! The prime minister, the young and energetic Luno Kolzis, spoke from a pedestal in front of a large pool of water, visibly where the ship aimed to 'land'.

"The product of brave adventurers, crushing and bringing back the remains of 1492 abominis made of rare eternal ice, only found at the southern end of the world, crafted by expert artisan for decades. Your worship will remember the ice harp we offered her 32 years ago? Prime minister Kar promised back then that a socle fitting for this work of art would be made and we have finally completed it. Ladies and gentledragons, I present to you: Our Flag Ship! A gift that we of your glorious and magnificent realm hope you find worthy to carry your name and act as a symbol of your greatness."

There was a silence as people shifted gaze at the incredible piece of artwork that silently landed in the water, servants rushing to place a stair to climb aboard and the reaction of Mastrix, who was thankfully smiling. The divine got up and people fell on their knees as she walked to the ship.

"Haha, see how father hates it?"

 This familiar voice. "Erzat!" He exclaimed softly as he looked behind him at a beautiful lady he had spotted a few times earlier. He looked at the dragon to see what she meant, but he had the same expression of contained amazement as everyone else. He thought he was good to read people's characters but dragons always were an enigma to him. Though he guessed it was because it was 'another flying ship', something Balta knew Nobilis disliked privately. Mastrix climbed the stairs and as she touched the ship, the crystal white changed color to emit a light purple hue. Most people in the assembly let out a 'oooo' of surprise and amazement but some who had been there 32 years ago and saw how the crystal of the harp reacted to divine energy weren't so surprised , the light show was dazling, in the middle of the night and before long, Mastrix turned to face the people. 

"It is an impressive work of art. Who is the master of this work?"

There was a silence and slowly people made place for a kobold to step forward. He was well dressed but for the people here who followed the latest fashion? He was quite out of place with his traditional getup. 

"It was I my goddess, Jervet Zlata."

Mastrix nodded.

"I bestow upon you my favor, Jervet. A statue of me tonight shall be made and you shall get its weight in gold. Now, think of a wish for me to bestow upon you or your kin."

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