[center][@Zool][@Loksfjoer][@Crusader Lord][@Zapdos][/center]

Clarissa's hand glowed as she imbued the tool she was holding with a [i]Tinkering Infusion[/i].  The glow transferred from her hand to her tool, then she went at the cube again. Moments later, there was a tiny explosion and the tool flew out of her hand and hit the ceiling, then the wall.  Clarissa, half embarassed and half excited, looked back at Fenna.

"Ogres and skeletons, fighting, they dropped the cube," she recited back to the Ranger.  "I'm listening. Promise."  And then she was furrowed-browed and focused back on the cube again, while she awaited more information from the adventurers.  "Hmmm?" How to breach it  without damaging it?

Adam's answer managed to pull her attention on him for a moment.  She looked him in his red eyes while she half-thought about the mysterious object in her hand.  "Did your parents have red eyes?"

If it wasn't obvious already, Clarissa's social awareness and considerations were not nearly as up-to-par as her technical and magical skills.  Add this to the fact that she always got her own way, didn't get out much, and surrounded herself with a veritable entourage of academics who cared for nothing other than R&D and... well, you get the idea.

As soon as Lillianna started talking, Clarissa put the cube down on the desk, sliding it a little behind her as if to stop them from stealing it back.  Then she put her hands on her knee and listened.  Here was the smart one.  If it wasn't obvious by her wizard garb (The Source deeming her intelligence high enough for the Class) then it was clear by how she spoke.  A very wordy little woman, with a rather academic approach to her hypothesis.  It wasn't that she wasn't listening to the other two, but the Director of Research and Technology was naturally drawn to kindred spirits.

"Interesting," Clarissa remarked once Lillianna was finished.  It took a few long moments before she spoke again.  It was a wild theory.  If correct, the good news would be that The Empire might be able to use this against The Witch Queen.  The bad news:  The Witch Queen had technology that Mytheria had never seen before.  [i]A reciever designed for remote control over undead forces?[/i] she thought.  [i]By The Quinity![/i]  The scary part was that the clues Clarissa had divined from her initial appraisal fit the hypothesis.  Or at least; they didn't disprove it.

"Second Chance," she addressed them.  "You've kept your word in delivering this to us.  I'll be sure to keep everything you've told me, firmly in mind while we investigate this cube.  I'm sure you've got better places to be."  She uncrossed her legs and got up off the desk.  "And I'll be quite busy tonight, myself, now.  The Academy is open to you during daylight hours, but I'm afraid those hours have passed today, so if you don't mind taking your leave, that would be lovely."

"Oh," she suddenly remembered before they left the office.  "And thank you.  I don't want to jinx anything, but this might be big for The Free Peoples of The Empire."  Then that excited light appeared in her eyes again.  "And if nothing else, it will be a bit of fun for me."

[Center][@Teyao][/center]

Areleth turned to the inquiring voice and saw a young man in robes.  "It is, my son.  How may I help you?"  At his further words, Areleth bowed his head in leui of a nod.  "An adventurer, I see.  Newly appointed? Tell me, how does it feel to be blessed by The Source with The Gift?  A swell of pride and power perhaps?  The power to care and protect, to enlighten?"  He looked into James' eyes and saw a clue.  "The weight of responsibility?  Speak freely, my son.  There will be no judgement here, for we are brothers in The Light, Shadow and Glory of The Source."

He motioned for James to follow him as he listened to the newly appointed Cleric's response.  "Which of the dieties speaks to your heart, my son?"

He led James through the massive hall into one of the adjoining corridors behind the statues.  They walked for maybe a minute before coming to a ritual chamber.  In the centre of the room was a large font, a basin on it's crest.  There were a few odds and ends around the room - materials for the coming ritual - but what might've been the most striking was the hexagonally arranged pattern that filled the room floor, symbols of the six elements at each point equi-distant around the basin.