Guardok loiters around for the main part when they get back to Dresar Hall.

He is interested in what Kira say about the trek to the grotto, especially in terms of making plans for what they will need.

While Mei sleeps, Malvyn asks Kira about the location of Disyn's Grotto while Guardok listens in. "Well, I know the route when we hike it, but let's see if I can find it on your map."  It takes a bit of work, but eventually you think you pinpoint the location.  There is not a developed road, but the path is fairly clear with only a moderate climb in elevation. It's about 30 miles, so will definitely take a day to get there.  Kira says they usually take a day to hike in, spend a day at the grotto, then another day to hike back out.  While not too steep, it is high enough that you need warm blankets for sleeping. And she says there's a very short climb for the last bit to reach the cave entrance to the grotto.  

By the time that has all been worked out, Malvyn is going to have to go to meet with Aurora.  

Mae does find Larine in her room and the green-haired girl invites her in. 

The purple-skinned tiefling thanks Kira for her aid and lets her return to her resting and recuperating. Not wanting to disturb Mae or Mei, Malvyn explains to Guardok that he will be off with Aurora for the evening but that they will likely be found at Bow's End should he be needed more tonight. He suggest asking the professor about equipment for the excursion which possibly is something the university can provide them with. Malvyn then goes his room to freshen up a bit and then he goes over to Aurora's dorms to pick her up for their dinner.


(Vaguely recalling an excursion with a tent in another Strixhaven game ;-)

The coffee table shakes with a loud thump from beneath. Mei shimmies out from under the table, rubbing at her forehead. 

"Dinner?" she inquires with a groggy blink at whoever's around. "I can grab food and bring it up here if you'd rather not sit in the dining hall. Could grab us coffees too?" 

She cocks her head at Kira, seeing her own weariness reflected in the other woman. "How long has it been since you've felt tired like this? Or, um, how long you've had Disyn's blessing?" 

Malvyn has departed to meet with Aurora by the time Mei painfully awakens. Kira nods, "I could join you for dinner when it's time. No need to go to all the effort."  She pauses a moment as she's asked further questions. "Tired? Well, it's really only just been today. Maybe a bit yesterday. But I've been traveling nearly two days straight to get here. I'm pushing the limits of even what Disyn can do for me.  As for how long... it's been over two years since I first encountered Disyn. There weren't as many of us then."

(OOC - I didn't specifically respond before, but Mei does not get much of a read on Kira through her Insight Check!) 

Guardok nods to Mal, although he is not totally sure Mei wants company when she heads back to see the professor.

Whilst Mei and Kira fall asleep, Mal heads off to meet Aurora and Mae heads upstairs, he decides to do some exercise and practice his sword forms.

He struggles to clear his mind to focus though. He hadn't expected such a long trek to the grotto, thinking that by using the teleportation circle they could be there and back over the weekend without missing classes. As long as their Professors knew they would be missing for a few days, that should be ok, and he would have to catch up with what they miss.

As his belly starts to rumble, he stops exercising and heads over to the dining hall, wondering if any of the others were already there.

Mei considers that. Perhaps the blessing is still upon Kira then? And her tiredness isn't for a lack of it.  

"Two years?" she echoes. "How did you first encounter her? If you don't mind my asking?"


Chatting with Kira for a while, Mei will eventually lead her down to the dining hall for dinner. Unless there's anything anyone else wants to discuss, she'll head to Professor Lang's office after. 

Kira goes down to eat with Mei. She just takes a bit of food and finds a place to sit. The pair have just sat down when Guardok arrives.  Soon though Kira is finished and is ready to go see Professor Lang.  

(Does Mei ask Guardok along or just the two of them go?) 

(OH! Yes, if Guardok wants to come, she'd certainly appreciate the comfort of him there! Especially given how the other meeting went!) 

Guardok will definitely tag along with Mei and Kira. Partly because he is curious, but partly because he wants to support Mei and give her a jolt of confidence before going in.

"You've got this Mei. The Professor wants you to go, she is curious about Disyn. And I don't believe she really wants you to fail that last test. I know you can convince her to give you another chance", he says quietly to her before she enters the professors office.

(OOC: Guardok grants Mei  another 1d6 bardic inspiration)

It's a bit of a walk back out to the Witherbloom campus, but eventually the trio arrives at Professor Lang's office. She is awaiting your arrival and greets you. "Very glad you came back Mei. And I presume this is Kira?" She turns to look at the woman. "I am Professor Verelda Lang."

Kira nods, "Yes. I'm Kira. Um, Kira Dassel" 

"Well please, come in." She motions them into her office, then glances at Guardok. "I suppose you are welcome to join us for this first discussion. Are you familiar with this goddess Disyn that Mei was talking about?" 

Guardok's words and their sentiment are a balm to her spirit, especially as intimidated by Professor Lang as she is. Thank you, she mouths at him as they enter. 

As she address Guardok first, Mei finds a seat to settle in, trying to shake the feeling that she's on trial. 

"I know what Mei has told me", Guardok replies to the Professor. "And I have seen the painting Mei mentioned before", he adds.

"But I am keen to know more of what I am heading towards".

He does not seem to notice, or perhaps doesn't care, that the Professor's phrasing is more tolerating his presence than pleased to see him.

Professor Lang nods to Guardok. "I see. Well, I hope you don't mind if I focus more of the questions to Mei and Kira."  She then turns to look at Mei. "I know we already spoke, but could you tell me briefly again about this Disyn? Who is this diety? Beliefs? How does her worship work?" 

Mei again surmises what she learned that night in Silkmeadow, most of her words parroted from Kira’s own explanations. She then looks to Kira to see if she has anything else to add.

Kira offers a little of additional information. "Professor, Mei has really only participated in our welcoming ritual. Much of our worship is done in community, celebrated typically at sunrise or sunset - time where the light and darkness mingle.  Though we do have mid-day and midnight rituals too.  In all of them we often feel a connection with Disyn from these.  It certainlyn deepens the gifts she gives us, of which Mei has only begun to feel."  

Professor Lang nod, clearly fascinated by the descriptions. "So, you have a connection?  Does this involve communication? Do you see Disyn? Also, do you have any idea of that nature of this... being?  Is she celestial or fey? Or has your group studied or consider such nature of your goddess?"  She then pauses for a response. 

It's Kira that respond. "No. I mean, I don't think we've pondered her nature much in the way you describe.  She is a goddess of clearly great power. We know she is both the darkness and the light - not just the mixture of the two, but either and both and both together."  These last words roll out as though they are a well-known phrase for her. Mei recalls reading that in one of the prayers in her pamphlet, 'darkness and light - either and both and both together'. "And we do have a connection. It's hard to describe, but she is always present in us, and we are always with her a bit.  As for communication, it is rare that she directly speaks to us.  There are a couple of our leaders that bring Disyn's word to us. My apologies Disyn, but sometimes in the past I thought maybe it was more of a feeling and our leaders interpreted it.  That was until Disyn spoke directly to me, to send me here."  

"And do you see Disyn?" the professor asks. 

"Not normally, other than the subtle shadow in darkness or bit of brightness in the day," Kira answers. "If you mean as a clear 'person' standing before us - no, I've not seen that." 

Professor Lang then turns back to Mei. "Do you have anything to add?"  

"Y-Yes, ma'am. During the welcome ritual, I saw a vision of her. I mentioned painting it for the gala earlier. I, um, I brought this to show you since the canvas is quite large." Mei leans forward to hand Professor Lang the smaller color study she did for it in one of her sketchbooks. "That was the first time I saw her. The next was in a Dream not long ago. She seemed to be trying to reach me but couldn't. It felt like she was distressed, ma'am." 

"I don't doubt her power either. As I mentioned, she blessed me with sight in the dark and less need for sleep. I'm not sure if you noticed I was much more attentive in class for some time, whereas I usually struggle to stay awake. N-Not for lack of trying! I just, um... it's the nature of my divining to leave me quite tired."

"By 'saw a vision' do you mean you physically saw Disyn?" Professor Lang asks. "Or is this more of your dream-like visions where you saw her?"  

Regardless of the answer, she then continues. "I think it is clear there is still much to learn about this goddess."  She turns to Kira. "There was a question earlier about commencing a study on the nature of Disyn. I can approve preliminary work at this point, if this is ok with you?"

Kira nods. "Umm, I suppose so."  

"Excellent! That means that I can approve the use of our teleportation circles for transporting an investigation team to Silkmeadow," the professor says.  With a smile on her face, she slides an official looking piece of paper across the desk towards Mei and Guardok. "You can show this to the attendant in the morning to prove you have permission. The same goes for returning, though you may have to wait a bit for them to be able to schedule it, depending on when you need to come back."  

"Now," Professor Lang continues. "Might I have a quick word with Miss Fujimori? Alone." 

Guardok listens in as the Professor asks her questions, but says nothing further, as he has nothing further to add.

When the questioning is over, and the Professor asks to speak to Mei alone, he smiles at her and gives a nod. He is quite pleased that they have use of the teleportation circle. That would save some time.

Before leaving, he turns back to the Professor, "Will you be able to inform our other Professor's that you have sanctioned this trip, and that we will need to miss some classes next week? We have to trek for two days just to reach Disyn, and then investigate, and then two days back. We might be gone the whole week", he asks, a little concerned that this trip will put them behind, or worse, get them in trouble with other Professors.

"Oh, and does the University have camping supplies we can borrow?", he asks, remembering Mal asked him to.

"Indeed, I have some camping supplies that we use for our field work in Sedgemoor at the end of the year," Professor Lang says. "I am not sure how to get that, being it's a Friday night," she mutters. 

"Ah, well, I'll see about arrangements," she says. "Perhaps Urzmaktok can assist. But you need to pick up supplies early enough to get to the teleportation circles. Say 5am? To be ready to teleport by 7am?"

"Now, Miss Fujimori..."