The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[GamesMaster]

"He's an enigma. To even get to him you have to have way more favor than our family has left."

[Jassinth]

What kind of ruler isolates himself so from his people? Then again... perhaps I'm am spoiled by having a truly divine leader? "Well, that's a false trail then. What kind of spices, herbs and such are made or popular here? If land is so limited, then high value plants such as we have might be a better treasure than we thought."

[GamesMaster]

"Come to the kitchen and see what we have," suggests Tsuki. 

[Jassinth]

"A fine idea," Jass says with a bright smile. Holding out his arm, he adds, "if you might be my guide?"

[GamesMaster]

The spices are high quality, but not particularly rare; still, for that quality they will sell probably very well. Not exactly "restore the family honor" money, but definitely "keep them alive until they can find some other source of revenue" money. 

Which takes them to the next day: their trip across the pond to their rival island, the Wolf Island. Literally across the pond; their islands aren't near each other right now, so they have to navigate around several other islands to pay a visit, which they do in a sort of gondola they hire for the trip. 

[Jassinth]

Jass spends the first half of the trip staring at the water and muttering to himself almost darkly in some language that neither sibling can identify, though both of them find it to decidedly strange. It's clearly not a normal tongue, in the same way that Ignan or Diabolic care clearly not normal, but, somehow, in the opposite direction. Which makes total sense, what with languages have orientations and such. He'd spent the hours just after dawn-- even for a sister, it's not done to go visiting so early after all-- happily potting and planting a tenth or so of their spice and herb stock so they'd have a sustainable income.

He'd been much more begrudging about agreeing to do the same for the mushrooms and other fungi later today.

Still, whatever his thoughts and pouting, Shiori isn't the sort to let him waste the entirety of his first real boat trip across Weiha's lake. There are steams, ponds, rivers and even a lake or two near the Oak, sure, but none of them are even half the size of this one, nor are they a divine Demesnes. Finally looking around, Jassinth lets out a mostly silent whistle. "Alright, this is..." He laughs softly, shaking his head. "Is there an explanation for how the water is clear and yet blue-green and also fathomless dark or is it just 'because Weiha says so?'"

[Shisou]

"Should deep water be otherwise?" asks Shiori, tilting her head. "I have yet to make close observation of the sea, so this is the deepest water I know."

[Jassinth]

The merikos drow opens his mouth, then pauses to hum. "Good question. I have seen the ocean, once, but only from the shore."

[Shisou]

Shiori nods. "So perhaps it is divine intervention, or perhaps simply how water works. Perhaps someday we can visit the elemental plane of water to find out."

[Jassinth]

"Sounds like fun," Jass agrees with a delighted grin, one that reminds Shiori that for all of Jass's careful professionalism and dutifulness, he's not much if at all older than Shiori herself. "How much farther do we have left to go? I am just noticing that I cannot see the shore at this point. Islands, yes, but not the shore..."

[Shisou]

"Oh, you get used to that. Most of the more favored islands cannot see the shore. The emperor is in the center, you see."

[Jassinth]

"Will we be passing within sight of that worthy island?" Jass asks with interest, casting his gaze about. "I must confess I am unsure if I could identify it on my own, being unsure what would make an island more or less imperial."

[GamesMaster]

"Oh, it's easy to identify," says Tsuki, moving a little closer as she re-arranges her many-layered visiting kimono. "It's the only stationary one. Made of, you know, ground. Well. There's ground at the center of it; it's been built out since then, but the center is the shine to the lake spirit."

[Jassinth]

"Ah," Jass says, his attention snagging sharply on that last factoid. "The original shrine? For the city, I mean."

[GamesMaster]

"Oh yes. That's why the Emperor owns it."