Lillene

Enjoy!

Serenity,

I was able to find only limited material on phoenixes in the Grand Library itself. There are records of a number of phoenix sightings on Asihanya, but other than one rather doubtful account where a man bragged of killing one then complained that it rose from its ashes several days later, I could find no mention of the phenomenon. The only reason I included that little bit is that there is a post-script that states that the braggart was found dead a month later, burned with his entire campsite reduced to ash.

My questions to the Broken Mirror were more productive; it was able to produce a good bit of information on phoenix reproduction. 

The more common method according to the Broken Mirror is reminiscent of other birds: they mate and produce an egg. The difference is that the egg is left in a volcano “or other place of Fire” to develop with little attention from its parents until several years have passed. Once it’s ready, which apparently takes at least three years but can be as long as eight, at least one parent retrieves it and then proceeds to burst into flames around the egg. When the flame is gone, so is the eggshell, leaving the parent and a phoenix hatchling that it carries to a nest in the area. It is apparently rare but possible for the hatching to be done within the nest itself.

The records say that the flames are so intense that no researcher has been able to gain any information on what happens inside. All the phoenixes are willing to say is that the fire burns away everything that is not phoenix, including the solidified rock that forms around the eggshell, so naturally the phoenixes remain.

The Broken Mirror also mentioned an additional research note:

Report based on observations of phoenix hatchings on Tranquility, Vulcanis, and Forge. Phoenix hatchings on Tribulation and Fulminat were left in their eggs for longer time periods; exact time periods are unknown but believed to be seventeen to twenty-three years. Only two phoenix hatchings observed on Oceanus, possibly due to the majority of the seismic activity occurring underwater; both were in the Zenith Volcano and both were observed to have been left for greater than fifty years before hatching. 

The Broken Mirror was able to confirm that there was research performed on phoenix bloodline adaptation - its words, not mine. Unfortunately, most of the research seems to have concentrated on how to artificially induce a phoenix-like bloodline in order to speed regeneration or boost Fire Affinity. Most of the methods are noted as temporary, often with significant negative effects.

I’ve gathered together what I can about permanent phoenix bloodlines; it seems that while the phoenixes did not mind the research into temporary alterations, they had significant objections to anyone other than a phoenix granting a permanent bloodline and they were unwilling to allow researchers any information on how to awaken those bloodlines. There are several papers, some of which mention researchers that were badly injured or killed in pursuit of the information. I’ve pulled it together and will be sending it through the Messengers’ Guild to you on Berinath, but I warn you: don’t expect much. It doesn’t seem very detailed to me.

Honoria

Serenity knocked on the door to Rakyn’s cottage, then waited. The man was probably out; if Serenity remembered correctly, he was pretty much always working.

Surprisingly, the door opened quickly and revealed Rakyn’s face. “Serenity! I wasn’t expecting you. Here to see Desinka?”

Serenity nodded, then realized he needed to add a qualifier. “And you. I have an offer for the two of you.”

Rakyn ushered Serenity inside, then grabbed a mug, poured some tea into it, and handed it to Serenity without even asking if he wanted some. “Desinka should be back soon. She went to spar with some of the other delvers. It’ll probably turn into a competitive drinking contest soon, so she’ll be back. She doesn’t like to be around when other people are drinking, since she can’t.”

Serenity took a sip of the tea and looked around the small room. The tea was clearly a better blend, which said that Rakyn had more money than before, but the room was still just as old and worn as he remembered and there were still only two chairs. The fact that there was only one place setting on the table bothered Serenity, because he knew it meant that Desinka’s was put away. For that matter, he was probably drinking from Desinka’s mug.

Serenity closed his eyes for a moment before he looked back up at Rakyn. He should have thought of Desinka earlier. “I might be able to arrange to fix that now. I … know some people who have the ability to reverse becoming undead. I’d have to separate her from the dungeon, but that should be possible, like a dungeon break. It’s only a few hours away once my ship is back.”

Rakyn took a sharp breath, then let it out slowly. “That’s up to Desinka. I have to admit that it’s been good to know she won’t die permanently, but I know she misses being able to eat and drink with her friends. I’m sure she’d have left Tzintkra if she could.”

Serenity shook his head slowly. “I haven’t figured out how to stretch her connection that far; I might be able to get her across most of the planet, but that’s the limit for distance. I might be able to replace it with one on another planet, though, if she wants.” Serenity bit his lip. He really ought to be discussing this with Desinka as well as her father; it would affect both of them, and Desinka would be more affected. 

Rakyn waved for Serenity to take a seat before he sat down himself. “I wouldn’t mind moving, not at this point. There are too many reminders of the past here.”

In the pause after Rakyn’s statement, Serenity couldn’t help but recall what the receptionist at the Mercenaries’ Guild had said. “Marti asked me to tell you to get back to practicing for delving.”

Rakyn nodded. He seemed sad, or at least distracted by memories. “Marti’s one of the reminders. She was a good friend, once, but she never agreed with my retirement. I don’t think I’ll ever delve again, unless I have to.”

Serenity nodded as he thought. That might pose a problem if Desinka decided she wanted to move to Earth and Rakyn followed her; there was no Messengers’ Guild on Earth and even if there were, things would be moved around by truck, not on foot. Serenity was certain there were jobs Rakyn could get, assuming he managed to get the appropriate documentation, but that sort of job didn’t pay nearly as well as delving. 

On the other hand, there was a job that paid better than delving that Rakyn ought to be well qualified for as a former delver. “How would you feel about teaching delving?”

Before Rakyn could answer, the door to the cottage opened and revealed Desinka. She made it two steps into the room before she realized Serenity was there and stopped short. 

“You’re here? I wasn’t - I mean-” Desinka flushed and bowed.

Serenity sighed. He was really tired of people doing things like that. “You really don’t have to bow. In fact, I’d rather you didn’t.”

“But - “ Desinka stopped short. “Yes, Lord.”

Serenity sighed again. He really didn’t want another Ita, but it kind of looked like he had one. He’d just have to keep trying. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine.” Desinka gave the answer Serenity expected. What he didn’t expect was that she went on to elaborate. “On the down side, I have to look for another team again. There aren’t enough locals delving for us to really make our own teams, plus it’s easier to conceal my oddities with people who didn’t know me as a child.” 

Desinka shugged. She didn’t seem as upset as Serenity had expected from her father’s comments. In fact, there was a small smile on her face. “On the other hand, I got a new Path recently, one that helps me in dungeons. It removes all of my disabilities while I’m in a dungeon; I can even eat again. It also boosts everything a bit, more if the dungeon aligns better with what I am. It’s limited to dungeons under your aegis, but I haven’t found a dungeon on Tzintkra that isn’t, so it’s everything I can get at.”

Serenity blinked. Dungeons under his aegis? Serenity had the sinking feeling that Desinka’s experience meant he wouldn’t be able to do a good delve on Tzintkra, no matter how deep in the Necropolis’s lower layers he went.

He should have expected it. He was both the Planetary Sovereign and the Lord of Dungeons, after all.

Desinka didn’t say anything more, but she looked at Serenity with a gaze that he could only call hopeful. He just couldn’t quite tell what she was hoping for.

Serenity gave her another moment, but the silence just stretched longer. He took another sip of tea from Desinka’s mug, then started. “I have a couple options for you. Well, three. First, you can stay here. You’re totally welcome to do that.”

Desinka nodded silently.

“Second, I know some people who can return you to being human. It’s not an easy ritual, especially not for a vampire, and may leave some permanent effects. It would move you back among the living, however, and remove your dependence on blood or dungeon support.” Serenity winced a little as he thought back. “Once we know what side effects there are, if any, we can try to fix them too. I should warn you that the ritual is extremely uncomfortable. It’s not exactly painful, but it’s unpleasant.”

Desinka’s expression shifted. Serenity thought that part of it was a frown, but there was something else there. He wasn’t sure what. It was clear she was thinking, at least.

“The third option is that I can move you to another world. The move probably won’t be fun at all, but at least it will be a place that has a more permanent population?” Serenity wasn’t sure that was really what she was looking for, but it was the best he could offer if she wanted to stay effectively immortal. 

He had several dungeons he could bind her to on Earth, and now that he thought about it, he could probably bind her to any dungeon on any of his worlds. The best option was probably still A’Atla’s dungeon because it was the one that he was closest to since it actually had a version of himself as the boss, but any of them should work. 

If he did bind her to A’Atla, they’d have to see just how far she could travel. Serenity suspected she’d be able to go anywhere on Earth, but there was no way to know without trying. As far as he knew, she hadn’t tried to go all that far from the Shining Caverns, because there weren’t that many places to visit on Tzintkra.

“Another world?” Desink sounds shocked. “Without returning to being human, just bound to a different dungeon? I don’t - I mean, what world? What is it like? If I take that option, can I be turned back into a human later if I decide I don’t like it? And what about Dad? Can you bind him to the dungeon, too? He’s getting older and I worry about him.”

Serenity turned to Rakyn, only to find that the man’s hands were clenched, clearly suppressing a strong emotion. It didn’t seem to be anger by the way his voice shook when he spoke. Fear, perhaps? 

“I don’t want to be a vampire.” Rakyn ‘s voice wavered as he admitted his feelings. “I love my daughter, but I don’t think I could stand to be a vampire myself. I hunted them; it was always a possibility, and one I long ago accepted, but not a life I want. Becoming a dungeon creature, however, I might be able to accept. As long as I’m not a vampire.”

Lillene

Rakyn’s reasons for not wanting to be a vampire are different from Serenity’s, but his feelings are not any weaker. In fact, they’re probably stronger.