Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Jan 1, 2021 22:29:15 GMT
At some point Aethyl will take great interest in this map. All of this travel has lit a fire in him.
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Post by Storyteller on Jan 1, 2021 22:30:22 GMT
I go to Aethyl with the map, and I show it to him. "Now, Cousin, you might notice that it does not go as far Ravenwood itself. There are no maps that cover that area. It is forbidden, and useless."
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Post by Storyteller on Jan 3, 2021 2:51:31 GMT
After the escapade at the Dragon cult, Mairwyn takes Aethyl aside, as everyone is preparing for their departure the next "morning".
"Cousin," I say. "First, I want to explain. I do not want you to think that the reason that I did not take you into my confidence about the spell or even about the great need for the risk of broaching the cult means that I do not trust you. Rather, it means that I did not want you to be risked. If you were involved in the creation of this spell, your 'scent', so to speak, would be on it. If the diversion of using draconic power as the basis did not work, the Dragons would have been instantly aware of me. I did not want them to notice you, too." I pause, sigh, and twist my fingers together. "We have had a busy time, so I have not had the opportunity to talk to you as thoroughly as I should have. I will now try to explain more about the Dragons and their hunger for mages. You will have to forgive me, for I have spent so much of my childhood on learning this, that it is all part and parcel of the framework of my mind. I do not have to think about it because it is part of myself. The Dragons do not, as Ravenwood does, keep a divination net cast over the whole world, at least not one sensitive enough to catch nascent magic, which is the point of Ravenwood's. No, the draconic divination is set that only the three highest circles of magic will automatically catch their eye. Any of the first six circles could, if a Dragon happened to be paying attention at that moment, but with the final three circles, the Dragons definitely notice. For the rest, they depend on rumor and talk. That is one of the main points of the Dragon cults, to keep their ears and eyes open for signs of magical activity. The more flamboyant the activity, the easier to be noticed. So, for example, if one cast a fireball and burned down the city granary, there would be talk. The Dragons would soon know of it, and the invoker who cast the spell would soon be devoured. If one charmed a person into committing arson on the granary, it would be much more difficult to notice the magical touch on it. This also means that the more witnesses there are to an event, the more likely the Dragons are to learn of it." I furrow my brow. "Is this making any sense, Cousin? Does this help to understand when and how one could use magic? For I understand, truly, the feeling of not using magic enough. It is a feeling of being always on edge, always taut as a bowstring..."
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Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Jan 3, 2021 4:03:49 GMT
Aethyl looks steadily at Mairwyn, searching her face and saying nothing for a time. Finally, he shakes his head with a trace of humor.
"As always, Cousin, I am in your debt. And naturally, I am not in the least surprised to know that the situation was more dire than you initially led me to believe. Indeed," he says, with a flicker of a smile, "I suspect you still are being both modest and understated. And to your consideration of the use of magic, have you been reading my thoughts? When you first told me of this matter it occurred to me that I would be well-advised to do all I could to disguise my use of these arts. In a way, this is an ideal arrangement. In any good performance, whether of music, or of dance, or of song, or indeed of any skill, the real art lies not in drawing attention to a thing, but rather, in making the true craft effortless, invisible. So my intention all along has been to attempt to refine these new skills not merely in the casting, but in the disguising. We certainly know how frequently townsfolk can get out of hand amidst a rousing or moving song or performance. Your burned granary example is nearly prescient. I won't actually come out and say that something of that sort had already occurred to me. But neither will I deny it."
He looks at Mairwyn with gravity, drawing himself up as if to some lofty purpose, and then winks impishly at her.
"Come on. All this adventure has given me a thirst, and an appetite. We have another big day tomorrow, I'll wager. Let's get acquainted with the Prince's larder and wine cellars!"
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Post by Storyteller on Jan 3, 2021 4:07:28 GMT
"And perhaps, sometime, we could go fishing, too." I follow Aethyl out into the palace, smoothing down my lovely new dress.
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Post by Storyteller on Jan 3, 2021 6:04:57 GMT
I want to find Jevunlok before we leave because I want to introduce him to the two young Princes. I think there might be potential there...
Then I have one final errand in the palace before I leave: I want to make an offering at the palace shrine to Galadrin, on behalf of Iritari.
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Post by Diocles on Jan 3, 2021 9:09:47 GMT
The scene at the shrine of Galadrin in the palace is a somber one, for the priests--these beautiful black Zenji men with long braids--mourn the loss of their brethren. When they see a supplicant--you--coming, they try to put on a brave face of cheer. "Welcome, honored daughter, to Galadrin's bosom. How may you serve him?"
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Post by Storyteller on Jan 3, 2021 14:17:25 GMT
"I wish to make an offering to Galadrin, on behalf of a sweet Sacrifice. What would please Galadrin and give balm to the sorrows of his heart at this dreadful hour?"
Their sad faces touch my own heart, and tears spring to my eyes.
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Post by Diocles on Jan 3, 2021 22:42:22 GMT
"Alas," the priest attending you says with a frown, "all our purified animals prepared for sacrifice suddenly all died just hours ago. We have nothing for you to purchase for sacrifice."
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Post by Storyteller on Jan 4, 2021 0:25:27 GMT
"I will return, sorrowing ones," I say. "And I will, I hope, bring a calf."
Two things are in my mind at once. One, which I push aside to consider later, for its import is dire, is the question of why the offerings have been struck dead. What power would do such a thing? What power could?
The other thought in my mind is a solution to this problem. Magic is, I believe, nearly always the answer, and though my own powers do not go so far yet, I know the Princess' do. So I bow to the priests, whose sorrow still touches my heart, and make my through the palace to the Princess' apartments. Along the way, I try to pick up a cat. There are many in the palace, and if one will not come willingly to me, I will cast sleep on one.
Then, with a cat safely in my arms, I approach the Princess' apartments and knock. "Your Highness?" I ask. "May I enter?"
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Post by Diocles on Jan 4, 2021 0:37:58 GMT
The palace is full of cats, and you find a pretty black one with yellow eyes that purrs and rubs itself against your leg. You pick it up and go to the Princess' chambers. She is now the Queen! You are granted admittance, and you find the Queen lying in her bed, exhausted. "Yes, Mairwyn darling, what can I do for you?"
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Post by Storyteller on Jan 4, 2021 1:21:51 GMT
"Your Grace," I say, curtsying as well as I can with the cat. "I wished to make an offering to Galadrin before we left tomorrow, and all the prepared sacrificial animals were struck dead when the riots began." My heart pounds with horror, just remembering that dreadful sounding of the horn--that my own cousin blew! "I could not bear the thought of taking a herd animal from one of the people in the city, even if I had time to purchase one, which I do not. But I saw in your spellbooks that you know how to transmute creatures from one type to another. I am not yet so skilled, and I do not know the spell, anyway. But ... would you please use your powers to transform this cat to a calf?"
I do not have to mention, of course, that this would be safe to do, for she knows. No mage would report such a thing of another, and the priests will not know where I obtained the beast.
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Post by Diocles on Jan 4, 2021 2:41:44 GMT
Queen Ante rises from her bed and smiles. "Of course, dear, I can do that." And she does, instructing you to put the cat on the floor. Then she reaches out her hand and snaps her fingers at the animal, and it transforms into a beautiful black calf with sleek coat.
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Post by Storyteller on Jan 4, 2021 2:44:10 GMT
"Thank you, Your Grace." I curtsy again, and take the calf, leading it back out of her chambers. The Queen is so gracious and kind. At least, in all the horror, the city of Arinport has gained a noble King and Queen.
I tug on the calf's ear when necessary, leading the beast back to the palace shrine.
(Rolled a 6 on Etiquette. What title should I use with these priests?)
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Post by Diocles on Jan 4, 2021 2:49:09 GMT
They are the priests of the path of Trade, so they would be called Master Merchants.
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