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Post by delkar on Jan 18, 2006 12:22:21 GMT -5
"It seems you have an admirer there Jervis..." Arelian said with a smile seeing that the young girl had already forgotten about him. "Hannah...your mother also said you shouldn't be around us...I wouldn't want you to get in trouble. " his tone soothing and calm, but more worried about getting himself into trouble then anything.
Arelian shall take a sunrod out of his pack cracking it on his knee and giving it a vigorous shake while he stands up adding to the glow of the fire.
"I'm going to take a look around."
Arelian shall take a slow tour around the camp they have set up making sure its reasonably clear keeping his rapier ready, just in case.
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Post by DM Cyphus on Jan 18, 2006 12:41:02 GMT -5
Hannah is slightly startled by the sunrod as it ignites. She says nothing as Arelian comments on the girl's mother's potential anger, but rather looks at him sideways and waits for him to go about his searching. She waits and watches as Arelian moves to look about the camp.
Arelian is barely five feet away when the girl quickly moves to take his seat. Obviously Arelian's words have had no effect on her. "Well, Mr. Dench," she asks again in a desperate tone, "will you show me how to use magic, sir?"
***
Around the camp, things look quiet. Everyone is taking their meal and tending to their own personal matters. The horses are tied securely, grazing and eating a bit of grain provided for them by the drivers. A fire near the center of the camp has been built, and small torches on a post provide light near the coach and wagon's darker areas. Gathered near the fire are the Lord and Lady Preten as well as Sorel, discussing some theological matter, or so it sounds. All appears to be calm and well, though the temperature is quickly dropping to the mid-fifties.
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Post by delkar on Jan 18, 2006 12:47:35 GMT -5
"No news is good news" Muttered Arelian heading back to the camp waiting for night to fall.
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Post by jamondashwood on Jan 18, 2006 13:01:20 GMT -5
Jervis smiles at the young girl and says, "Magic is not something that can be taught in an afternoon, little one. If it were the world would be full of wizards. I myself have studdied at great length to do what some in my order consider trivial magic. If you wish to learn, I shall try and teach you some small things. But it will not be easy or fast." He knew the attention of a five year old would not last long once he began droning on about the arcane formulas that allowed mortals to begin adjusting the weave.
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Post by DM Cyphus on Jan 18, 2006 13:08:51 GMT -5
The girl listens for a bit and then looks confused. "Don't you know any easy magic tricks? You know...for kids?"
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Post by lawfather on Jan 18, 2006 13:12:37 GMT -5
Serol clears his throat, he had heard this complaint many times. "Why was my house burned down? Why did it not stop when I said a prayer to Kossuth?" The questions were all the same. Serol put a most patient tone upon his voice as he answered. "Why do people not ask the same when it rains? I for one would prefer to be dry than wet. Yet people accept the rain because they know it is needed for life." He nodded his head and indicated the fire they were cooking on, "Fire is the same. Without fire none will live. It cooks our meals, defends us from those who would make us our prey. Lights our way in the darkness and warms our bodies with it's existance. Some would look at a forest fire and claim it was wanten destruction. But one only has to look closer. Beneath the ash and char you will find new life. If there were no forest fires, larger, older trees would block the sun from the young sapplings. All forests everywhere would be nothing more than graveyards to the dead and dying trees. Fire purifys the forests. Fire purifys our hearts. Fire aids us in our own lives and wishes, but we must remember we are never its master. When people begin to think they are the master of flame, the flame has a way of showing us just how wrong we are." He pauses slightly and says, "There is nothing in this world that has the value of something one has fought for. When you have fought for something when you have struggled to keep it it makes it all the more valuable. If you look back upon the fires, the people came together they fought together and kept the flames at bay. I think if you search your feelings you value your home and family all the more when the flames were at your door and you came away in tact. Kossuth has a way of showing us what is truely important in our lives, what is worth fighting for and assigning value to those things beyond any we could normally do. The fires ruined many homes. But those homes were rebuilt, newer and better. It is a process of purification, not punishment." He smiled and said, "That is why they did not stop, the process was not finished."
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Post by DM Cyphus on Jan 18, 2006 13:32:47 GMT -5
The nobleman seems satisfied at this response and nods. "Indeed...valid and true points, all. Alright then," he says, with some degree of satisfaction, "Tell me more about your faith. I am a curious learner, at your direction."
((I assume you'll cover some more of the basics with him in a bit of detail, seeing as he's curious and willing to listen.))
The nobleman sat and listened, interrupting very rarely only to clarify, never to disagree. The Lady listened as well, though her attention was divided between a book she read and occasionally looking about curiously around the camp.
When it seemed the conversation had reached a decent place to pause, the nobleman bid Sorel a good night and invited to him to attend another meal with the family tomorrow evening.
"Jonathan," his wife told him as he finished inviting Sorel to the next evening's meal, "Would you please tell Shernof to find Hannah. I worry about her wandering too far from the camp."
"Of course, darling," he nods to his wife, "Come, Master Brazier, you may escort me to speak with Shernof. Perhaps we will encounter my daughter along the way."
***
Jervis' salvation from the inquisitive little mind of Hannah Preten comes in the form of her father. "There you are, Hannah my darling. You aren't disturbing these men are you?"
"No Father," she says looking around him as if she expected someone to be following the man on his heels, "Where's Mother?"
Jonathan Preten smiles at his daughter and throws her a wink. "Come on, darling." The girl runs to her father and jumps up into his arms, her beautiful flower in hand. He hugs her tightly and gives her a big kiss on the cheek. "Let's get you to bed. No need to tell your mother about this, I'd say. What do you think?"
The girl just shook her head from side to side vigorously.
"I didn't think so," he smiles, humored by this, "Say goodnight and we'll be on our way."
"Goodnight everyone," she says to those gathered, and then to Jervis adds, "Goodnight Mr. Dench. Thank you, sir, for the flower."
Jonathan Preten nods and waves his free arm in a friendly farewell. Daughter in arms, he heads back to the coach.
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Post by lawfather on Jan 18, 2006 14:10:53 GMT -5
Serol concluded his lesson pleased that things had gone so well. He loved the Lord of Flames. He had rescued him from a life he had no wish to live. He had granted him understanding and given him a place to belong. He followed the lord in search of the young lady, but as she bid her goodbyes to those she had been with he arched an eyebrow very currious as to what the gnome had been doing. He seemed a creepy fellow and could not immagine a child's seeming attachment to the gnome.
As the two nobles made their way back to the coach he was already removing the vestments he had placed over his armor and storing them once more in the saddle bags of his horse.
The evening had grown late as he had related many of Kossuth's teachings to the nobility in the rather appropriate light of the camp fire.
"We will be splitting up for watches." it was not an order nor a question. Just something assumed from having been an adventurer for some time. "Who will take first?"
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Post by silentblade on Jan 18, 2006 14:21:24 GMT -5
Kesson takes a seat next to Shernof as he has his evening meal, “How does a man like yourself go about working for people like this…” Kesson pauses realizing he is also working for them, “I mean you seem to be more of a permanent employee.”
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Post by DM Cyphus on Jan 18, 2006 14:55:56 GMT -5
Shernof pauses for a moment and contemplates his response. An uncomfortable silence fills the space between the question and the answer. "Jon Preten was my best friend growing up. He treated me well...like family. He looked out for me, kept me safe."
"I left home when I was 15. Ran away, really. Jon helped me, but I needed to go it alone for a while. Needed to prove myself. The Wood Elves in the Eastern forest took me in. I trained with them, learned about the forests, how to defend myself, how to track...how to hunt. One day, I wound up in Antezra...ready to go it alone and establish myself with a milk run. There he is...Jon Preten. My best friend. Married one of the Tristans of Antezra...she runs the silk trade. Sometimes, he tells me, she travels alone. So...he asked me to protect her. He didn't trust her with the brigands for hire there. He always wanted someone he could trust when she was travelling. That became me. Then he had his little girl. I vowed to keep them safe from harm...always."
He sits quietly and stares at the ground. "No reason for it, in truth...Just felt like the right thing to do."
With that he nods and goes about checking the camp...not waiting for a response to his story.
11 Hammer 1372
The night passed uneventfully for the group. Occasionally Shernof could be seen wandering about. It seemed that the man either did not sleep or awoke every so often to check around the camp. Each time he made a round, he would offer only a nod to the man on guard, though he did make friendly chatter with Kesson here and there in the Elven tongue.
When the sun began to rise, so did the Pretens. Young Hannah was awake before most folks, eager to run about before being confined to the carriage for such a long journey. She stretched and yawned in the crisp morning air. The temperature was rising slightly as it did in the mornings, but with the wind blowing in from the seas to the east it still felt cool.
Shernof approached the group shortly and spoke very briefly to Sorel for the first time, "We will eat in an hour. When the meal is through we will depart. The Lady Preten asks that you please see that your men are ready. We will break at midday for lunch."
Shernof then makes a subtle signal for Kesson to walk with him to the front. As they walk to the mounts, he says, "There's a bit of a storm coming in. High winds...little rain. The bulk of the storm will miss us...but not by much. It's going to make detecting our potential enemies slightly more difficult. I think we need to rearrange our position a bit. I'll have you take up the rear. Send your Gnomish friend up front with me and have the priest and the brigand protecting our flanks. I want men capable of fighting surrounding your cargo and my charges. I mean no offense to your little friend, but while I respect his mastery of the Art...I have not heard grand tales of his kinds fighting abilities. I do not know who is commanding your team, whether it be the priest or the brigand, but is this something that you can get them to agree to?"
When Kesson responds and goes about relaying the request to the others, Shernof adds in Elven, "Please keep our conversation last night confidential, my friend. It is no business of others. I merely owe your people a great debt."
***
As Jervis goes about his morning preparations, a tearful Hannah approaches. "Mr. Dench, sir," she begins, "I think I did something wrong to your flower. I tried to make it change colors with some magic words, but I think I killed it." The flower appears to be damaged and wilted, probably from the rough handling of a small child.
"Can you fix it, Mr. Dench? I swear I won't try magic without learning better. I swear it. And I'll take good care of it. I swear, sir."
***
The saddened child interacting with the kooky wizard is a rather humorous sight for Arelian. The child was clearly the inferior intellect, but was a touch taller than the little man she'd begun to look up to...metaphorically speaking.
As he contemplated the sight, Arelian saw Lord Preten approaching. "Jack, right?" the man began, "I just wanted to apologize for my wife. I've heard you stepped in...at the right moment, to put it delicately. I appreciate that. I value nothing more than her safety. Often she is in a situation where I am incapable of protecting her...Shernof and I were preoccupied when she decided to go about negotiations with the Jasper Blades on her lonesome."
"She's precious to me, but she can be a bit harsh when it comes to business and our daughter. You all do very well with her...with both of them. Try to tough it out, if you can. I'll see to it that you and yours are properly compensated for your troubles."
He turns slightly to amuse himself with the Gnome's handling of his troubled daughter.
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Post by silentblade on Jan 18, 2006 16:07:55 GMT -5
Kesson nods to Shernof with a look of respect, “Our conversations will be kept just that, ours. You need not worry about me speaking with the others of anything we discuss. I will try and convince the others of your suggested formation.” The elf speaks softly in his native tongue obviously more comfortable using it then the guttural common.
With that the elf slips back and speaks with the others, “Morning. A storm is brewing and it will make things a little difficult to spot in the haze. Shernof and I suggest that we split up and I take the flank while the gnome keeps point with Shernof.” He shrugs, “Any complaints?”
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Post by jamondashwood on Jan 18, 2006 16:16:42 GMT -5
Jervis takes the wounded flower and says, "Don't fret little one. The magic in the flower will only last a short time. It is not your fault at all. There are those," he says with some reverence, "that can create a great many wondrous things with magic. I will see what I can do with your flower, milady. But it will not last for very long. Consider it a special gift from me to you. Sometimes, even the most special gifts are those we have the shortest."
(OOC: He will then ask her for her favorite color.)
The gnome speaks a few more words and places the flower between his fingers. As he stretches them, the flower changes. It becomes a single strand of ribbon in the brightest color in the perfect shade of the young girl's whim. He hands the ribbon to her, as it smells of the bright Blum which it once came from.
He then takes his saddle already dreading another long day in the saddle. But a smile does touch his face as he sees the young girl with his ribbon. He really did feel some regret knowing that in an hour the ribbon would simply loose the magic he had put into it once more becoming a wilted flower. Hopefully he had prepared her for such a loss. All the more reason he needed to study!
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Post by lawfather on Jan 18, 2006 16:29:57 GMT -5
Serol greets the morning sun with enthusiasm. He had been up since before the sun began to turn the sky pink. He had made his way to the center of the road, slightly ahead of the camp as it afforded the most room.
Working his chain forms had become a morning ritual and he enjoyed the way the metal links danced and flowed like the tendrils of the fire he so loved. He began working the chain in slow stomping circles the ends smacking the ground hard enough to raise small clouds of dust after the metallic 'crack'.
The chain moves about in patterns becoming ever more complex. Going from simple circles and strikes to much more dramatic disarming techniques or techniques designed to rob a man of his footing. In one such attempt the priest maneuvers the chain to lash out at knee high level to an imaginary foe in front of him. With a twist of his balance the chain lurches from the ground pulling one end and swinging the other. Had there been a man there, he would have been on the ground when the second strike slammed into him.
For all its beauty in motion, there are moments of frustration as the chain becomes tangled or simply refuses to do as Serol wished it. But for all the frustration building in the Brazier, he did not stop until the sun crested the Eastern Sky.
He then walked calmly back to the camp sight coiling his chain as he walked. When he was once again on the side of the road, the large man turned south and dropped to his knees in prayer to the Lord of the Flames.
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Post by DM Cyphus on Jan 18, 2006 16:32:27 GMT -5
((She prefers purple...not sure that it matters...but what the hey!?))
The girl's face beams as Jervis hands her the special gift. She begins quickly looking about , probably for her mother, before running off. Barely fifteen feet away, she stops, spins around and says in a shouted whisper, "Thank you, Mr. Dench. You are the best mage I have ever seen." She flashes him a wide smile and then waves a goodbye before running back to the coach. She stares intently at the flower the whole time.
***
"You're friend handles her well. He's definitely a natural with children. Your priest is a fascinating man, and the Elf and Shernof seem to be hitting it off nicely. You have yourself a fascinating team of men here," Jonathan Preten told Arelian as he assessed the men out loud with a nod at the mention of each man, "perhaps when we arrive in Lethtar, there will be more work for you yet. How long have you been travelling together?"
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Post by DM Cyphus on Jan 18, 2006 16:38:49 GMT -5
The wind began to pick up a bit as Kesson addressed his request to the Gnome and the priest. Arelian, or Jack as most knew him, was speaking with Jonathan Preten further down the road between the coach and the wagon. As Kesson explained the new positions, Shernof approached once again.
"We must be moving soon," he told the three of them, "When Lord Preten is ready, we will move out. The weather is going to be getting worse than I'd thought. The wind appears to be guiding the storm towards us and picking up the pace. Tomorrow we will have some light rain. Our final day will be especially slow...I think we'll be getting into the thick of the storm then. Hopefully this will deter any brigands looking to snatch our cargo...the smart ones will take advantage of this, though. They'll be harder to see when the storm worsens."
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