Home Stories - In Character 2
Miranda Paige talks to Branwyn during a lunch break while training. "I really appreciate all you have done. I know I have not always been the most reliable DragonSlayer. I just want to let you know, I am committed to following and supporting you and the group as you direct. While you were on the last adventure with Hoffman, I kept the library clean and made myself familiar with it's contents as part of my responsibility. I am starting to understand how much it costs to have a proper library and learn all the spells, so I want to pick how I proceed with more caution than I may have before. I can only imagine what you must want to do, given the time and money. Especially with you training me and giving me access to your library, you will save me so much. The least I can do is whatever it takes to make sure you get what you want and need for the group. To be clear, I am at your service.
“Oh Miranda, I have no doubts about your loyalty or commitment and I deeply regret that you ever had doubts about mine. I am happy that you got a chance to spend time in the library, but it is not your job to clean it. I do not want you to be ‘at my service.’ I want my friend, Miranda, back.”
“As far as your spells are concerned, I want you to choose spells for the type of mage you wish to become. On this score, I do not want you to act with caution. Whatever you want to do, we can make it work somehow,” Branwyn smiled and added, “So I hope that is clear.”
“By the way, what are you going to call that dog of yours?”
1/2 "Naming is part of the training, which I want to wait until the human training is finished. But thank you. I am not quite where I want to be, but together we can both be the best we can be. I never doubted you, I just want you to be fully prepared for what ever comes next. I have been thinking while their are some spells I may want to learn that you may or may not want to, we should coordinate and budget how much we spend. For my first couple 3rd level spells, I was thinking water breather and fly and utility spells but i was not sure if you know what whip of pain does in combat; I think fireball is a fine stand by but there is little reason for us both to have it available."
1/2 “For the time being, I am going to concentrate on more advanced level spells and I have a few in mind that if I can learn them should be fun. I’m not sure I want to jinx them by talking about them until I have done my training in Rivers Bend. I might try once again to learn how to dispel magic if you do not wish to learn it. It has to work the fourth time I try, shouldn’t it? So any spells you want to learn should be helpful to us.”
“Whip of pain is a wonderful spell and not only causes pain, but can hurt the person or creature’s ability to fight back. But of course there is a catch. You have to be able to hit your opponent with it. It does make me sad sometimes when I cast it but then am not able to actually hit who I am trying to fight. It’s too bad I can’t hand it to Indigo!”
9/7/14
Branwyn sat back in her chair with a look of contentment as she watched Orchard House filled again with activity. It had been a long month, but everyone was home and no one seemed the worse for wear. Now that all of the obligatory meetings and dinners were over, they could relax. The last days had been spent with everyone telling stories of their different adventures and the mysteries that remained.
Branwyn wished they could have discovered who had written Ilero’s name on that coffin, if Red Cloak had really left that note in the office or if maybe … just maybe everything strange that happened at Skull Church was the work of Jennevive, Red Cloak’s estranged wife. She quickly brushed the thoughts aside. It was too beautiful a day and she was too happy for conspiracy theories and negative thinking.
Indigo was busy running back and forth trying not to forget all the things he felt he had to do. After giving Artiark some breakfast, he came in with a large robe and handed it to Leatherus. “From the temple. Imari has the other one and Shur and I are going to keep the shield badges, but I wanted you to have this. Imari said that she gets wiser when she wears it. Tristan might know more about those kinds of things.”
Next Indigo gave Branwyn her ink and the book he took from the temple library. “Sorry it isn’t a very exciting book. I couldn’t tell until Miranda read it to me. But now that we’re all home, you have to come to Primsen.”
“Primsen?” Why in the world would I travel all the way to Primsen?” she asked incredulously, pulling Indigo into the chair beside her so he would stop moving. Indigo proceeded to tell Branwyn all about Miss Rondelle at the Inn and the riches she promised.
“So we are to travel all the way south to Primsen to speak with a lady dwarf with a wooden leg to accept a mission that she will tell no one about but me?” Branwyn said skeptically. “It is not that I do not believe you, Indigo, but how do you know that she is genuine in her proposal? No,” she said shaking her head. “I promised Marisu that we would go to Loosend to pay a visit to the Greek temple there. That must come first. And then we’ll see about the other.”
“Okay… I just hope you aren’t too late. She knew things, that Miss Rondelle. I believe what she said,” Indigo squirmed a little in his chair debating if he should bring up the other piece of news he had. Thinking maybe a piece of pie might make the news go down easier, he hopped off his seat and scurried off to the kitchen to see if Widow Washburn could fix a couple plates.
A little while later, Indigo emerged from the kitchen triumphant, with two plates in his hands. When he reached Branwyn, he looked down at the two plates and handed her the one with the smaller slice of pie. “Thought you could use one too.”
“Oh Indigo, we just ate a little while ago,” she said. “So what is this other news that makes dessert in the morning necessary?”
Indigo took a moment to finish swallowing and then blurted out, “We saw Pilist outside of Primsen.”
Branwyn’s hand slipped down hitting the edge of the plate and sending the fork flying a few feet before it clattered to the floor. The room got a bit quieter and a faint flush crept to her cheeks. “Sorry, just a bit clumsy this morning.” she called out and then lowered her voice and said, “So, what happened? How is he?”
Indigo rolled his eyes and said, “He’s fine. He’s travelling with a bunch of other gypsies. We stayed the night at their camp and he singlehandedly tackled an ogre and saved Shurkural from being carried off.”
Branwyn beamed, “That sounds like him!”
“Yeah, I guess. I told him you were back at home and he told me to tell you he would look for you. So I’m telling you. I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean since he either hasn’t started looking for you in all this time or he has but he isn’t very good at finding people.”
The smile that had lit up her face just seconds before faded. “Of course. You’re right. It’s silly. I’m glad he was there to help Shur. I better take this plate back to the kitchen.” Branwyn fetched her fork off the floor and hurried out to the kitchen to return the pie.
Early the next morning, Shurkural blearily makes her way to the estate's blacksmith. "Sugar, you done such a wonderful job remaking my sword that I'd like if you can do another pass on it for me. I'd like to get the blade silvered this time. I'm gonna get it enchanted, so I think that'll take care of the silver rubbing off or getting blunted. Oh, and if you'd leave a spot unsilvered down near the hilt in shape of the Queen's symbol. That way whoever gets ahold of it in the future knows when and where it was made." She carefully hands over the sword and scabbard. "I don't know how much silver you're going to need. Just let me know and I'll get it for you."
Turning, she walks tiredly back up the hill to the house. She grumbles and rubs her forehead, trying to ease her hangover. "Gah... I need a drink or something. It's way too early in the morning. Stupid chirping birds. If I could see straight I'd have shot 'em both for sure."
{conversations moved to The Enemy of my Enemy - Epilogue}
Marisu comes to Branwyn's tower one afternoon, dressed in a nice, but fairly practical outfit. "Branwyn, I'm sorry to drop in unannounced like this, but if can borrow a moment of your time, I'd like to ask for your help with something. At home I knew where I could go to look at or borrow some books to continue my studies into magic. I'm still just a raw novice at it, and I haven't collected anything I can call my own yet. I was wondering if you or anyone you knew might be willing to let me browse through their library sometimes, so I can try to continue to learn and grow magically. I have very few spells of my own at the moment, but what I do have I'd be happy to share in payment."
Branwyn puts down her book and smiles. “You are most welcome here any time, Marisu. I have been meaning to come see you in any event. So, you have been on a short journey with most of us and have now had some time to meet the others in our group and see how it is to live in Jistelle. I can only assume by your request that you wish to stay? I was worried that you might return home. You said you came here to become a DragonSlayer, and attached yourself to Prince Ilero. But now that you have gotten to know him more, you can surely see that he has his hands quite … full at the moment. So I was worried that you would feel he could not give you the attention you deserve. But that is between you and him. If you do wish to remain with us, I would like that very much. I enjoy your company and think you bring needed calming assets to our little group.”
Branwyn stood and walked over to Marisu. “And staying with us as a DragonSlayer means that you have access to my tower and the books within it. Let me show you. And later if you want, we can go up to the roof and I can show you the catapult!”
Marisu leans forward and smiles broadly. "Oh, thank you, Branwyn! I'm sure you must have some very interesting books in your library." Leaning back in her chair again, she continues, "Of course I wish to stay, if you'll have me. I'm afraid I wasn't a huge help on this trip. Since I didn't know any of the people or history, I mostly just tried to stay out of the way and do what I could here and there around the edges. I'm sure that as I learn more I'll be of more use to you."
Continuing, she says, "Prince Ilero seemed like a reasonable candidate mostly due to his rank, and that I knew a little bit about him. I think it worked out fairly well, actually. There are many ways he could be worse, and I would seek to transfer to someone else if possible. He doesn't seem to be the type to try and take any liberties, and as a foreigner, he doesn't seem to have any local political aspirations that could get me or my family entangled in something disadvantageous, if you know what I mean."
Marisu stands up and joins Branwyn in walking to the library. "A catapult? Interesting. How does it work? I'm sure I've seen one at a distance at some point, but I've never been given a chance to see one up close."
Branwyn grinned a bit sheepishly. “I’m not really good at using it. At least the aiming and hitting a target part of it. But I can make it work and it’s really kind of fun. You can use the spyglass to make sure no one is travelling nearby and then we can give it a go. I got in a bit of trouble a while back with a group of farmers that was passing by during a practice session, so we have to check before we send anything flying.”
She paused for a moment and then said in a more serious tone, “Don’t underestimate your contributions to Tristan’s mission. In my opinion, for whatever that’s worth, I think you handled that Greek priest very well. You were able to get him to help us and saved his life. It was a true shame that he repaid your kindness by stealing your horse, but if he did return to Loosend, I think we have a good chance at getting Zepher back.”
Marisu colored slightly. "Thank you, Branwyn. I was surprised, although I'm not sure I can completely blame him. After all, he'd just watched the rest of his order get killed. I managed to calm him down a bit and help us, but he was undoubtedly still afraid, and just took the best chance he had at getting away. I'd like to get Zephyr back, of course, but I understand that may not be possible. But, anyways, we can always pretend that the priest is standing in the field we're aiming the catapult at, right?"
“Or this bag of apples we’re about to toss off the tower could be poor Properis’ head, if you prefer. There is no certainty that we’ll be able to retrieve the horses, but I do think this is our best chance. Since priests treat other orders’ spells like the plague, we do have a couple of scrolls that we can bring that may be persuasive in getting them to work with us. And of course, if Tristan decides to come with us, we’ll have to lose him in the marketplace before we enter the temple,” Branwyn said with a wink.
She paused for a minute, getting a bit more serious. “Marisu, you don’t know me very well yet and I don’t want you to get the wrong impression, as many others seem to. I do not ‘hate’ priests or wish them harm unless they want to harm me. It’s just that I believe them to be …. misguided. And in their delusions comes a desperate need to share those delusions with others, wanting everyone to believe the same way they do. It all seems silly really and they don’t take proper credit for all the work they do.” Branwyn starts to get a bit more excited in her tone, finally putting to words all that she has been thinking for so many years.
“You must know what I mean. You can cast spells. What exactly is the difference between Tristan casting a spell and you or I? Nothing! What is magic anyway? It’s the harnessing of magical energy in the air, concentrating it and bending it to our will as we have learned how to do. I credit my ability with the gifts I was born with and hard work and practice. To the priests? It comes from some god and has nothing to do with the individual much at all. Does anyone really think there is Hades mystical energy floating around, next to that of Cahus, next to mage energy and on and on? And so when we cast we are reaching through all that haze to pull out the specific energy with our name on it? Oh, rubbish! It’s all the same. And it seems an enormous waste of time to fight over whose god is best when everyone is casting from the same pot of magic floating around up there. What matters is what you do with that magic, not where it comes from or that one is better than the other. And that’s why the priests are so entirely frustrating!” Branwyn finished with a small stomp of her foot.
“Oh, never mind. I didn’t mean to get off track. All clear?” Branwyn asked, trying to sound cheerful again, instead of exasperated.
Waiting for Marisu’s nod, she then proceeded to launch the catapult, sending a small sack of rotting apples flying out into the neighboring countryside. After watching for a moment, she took a deep breath, a feeling of peacefulness coming over her. Branwyn looked over to see Marisu’s expression. “Spectacular, isn’t it?”
Marisu jumps when the catapult lurches and throws the sack of apples into the air. She watches it fly and then splatter satisfyingly across the ground. "Yes, it's amazing, Branwyn! I'd hate to be on the other end of one of these. That can't be much fun."
She thinks for a few moments before replying, "Well, I've had to do some religious studying with my tutors, and they say there's a difference. But I can't tell that myself, of course. And I suppose it's kind of comforting to think that they're up there, or out there, somewhere, watching over us. And if one of them doesn't have what you need at the moment, one of the others just might. I'm not sure how much I buy into the 'my god is better than your god' idea, but if you think about it, it doesn't sound that far off from 'my country is better than your country'. After all, what's so special about where you were born that you should be willing to fight and die for it?" She pats the catapult on the wheel. "Maybe people just pick things to compete over? I don't know for sure. I don't know that anybody knows. Except the gods, maybe." She giggles lightly. "It'd sure make it easier to answer if they'd just come visit every once in a while." She waves, "Hi, Lord Cahus! Care to come join us for dinner tomorrow?"
Branwyn laughed. “That would be an interesting dinner. As long as the gods don’t all come at once. One god per dinner party please, since from what I can tell, they really don’t like each other very much. And I heartily agree that politics is no better than religion at times. But I would fight to keep and protect my homeland. It is not better than others, but it is ours and no one should be able to try and take it or destroy it. I do believe that is a cause worth fighting and dying for.’
‘But politics and religion are tedious topics for a nice Spring day and I am sorry that I burdened you with my peculiar philosophy of magic in our world. This is why I do not try and teach others or attract followers. I fear that I am only a bad influence and more academic mages would be far better than I to guide anyone. But in any case, the library is yours to work in however long you wish, and if you do not find things to your liking, then we can always visit the Mage Guild in Loosend while we are there.
"Oh, that sounds like it might be fun to do anyways. Maybe you'll even find something you'd like while you're there." Marisu steps forward and gives Branwyn a brief spontaneous hug. "Thank you, Branwyn! And don't feel bad, I enjoyed the discussion, even if I'm not up to your level on it yet. I hope I'll get there eventually though!" Marisu cheerily waves goodbye and almost skips to the exit, remembering right before she leaves to turn back and say, "Oh! And thanks again for showing me your catapult! That was fun!"
Journey to Loosend
OOC TMO: Who all will be going? Branwyn, Marisu, and ... ? Ilero will probably be occupied with training and the church RP. Eric, do you want to send Leatherus along? Or would he rather be with Tristan working on the church? We'll probably keep Shurkural with Ilero for now, unless Branwyn feels she'd rather have her along. OOC Eric: Leatherus would go as long as he felt he could complete his armor. He may be modifying it to fit him as Tristan no longer will be wearing the armor since Indigo has given him a great gift of the robes. Not sure how far that sets him back. He didn't get too far last time... If this is still early in the "down time" then he would go since Tristan is still in the design and waiting to get a reply to his message and really has no use for him yet.
On a fine late spring day Branwyn, Marisu, Indigo, Korrin, Jilly and Leatherus venture out of the Jistille Estates and head north on the road to Loosend. {Tristan, Ilero, Shur stayed home, Imari is on her way back, other characters can be there on this trip as they wish} The horses trot along happily.
After the first night spent at Old Man Millers the road headed north skirts around the western edges of the Craniate Wastes. Leatherus surveys the area that Tristan will be allowed to take over. It seems to be a much more dryer land than the surrounding areas. The countryside seems eerily quiet for such a busy time of year. Korrin mentions to Leatherus that Tristan will need to recruit some farmers to feed his priests. "A happy priest is a full priest" she says. Indigo nods in full agreement. "You really do need to make sure there are lots of farmers Leatherus. Maybe Widow Washburn can help you find someone who wants to move here, that way you can have all sorts of good food. Apples and..." he pauses and looks up at Leatherus, "Don't think about stealing Widow Washburn from us. We need her! She makes the best pies. Well at least as good as Koorin does." Jilly laughs out loud, "that is silly Indigo, how could someone take Widow Washburn's trees from her? They stay there all the time. Ancien might be able to move them but not Leatherus."
Spending the afternoon traveling northward Indigo picks a place to make camp for the night. In the morning shortly after starting on the road again Aunt Jennivive appears at the head of a small group of Suomi priests heading south. Branwyn eyes the priests and gives Jennivive a shake of her head. Jennivive smiles at Branwyn and does not introduce her to the priests. "We are going south for a meeting with Ilero about security of the church" she says.
Continuing north on the second day the group breaks out of The Mist for the first time in many many months {the end of the She Said Yes!!! story arc}.
Leatherus shakes his head and waits until he is out of earshot of Aunt Jennevive and the other priests. Looking to Indigo he says "I do not like her. She is as fake as they come. Like a viper with camouflage that one is.... I don't understand why Tristan would allow her to enter his church. But I suppose he has his reasons right? I mean, why else do you invite a viper into your bed?"
"You were with her Branwyn. What are your feelings about her. You are after all a powerful mage. By the way, I'm glad I got to join you. I've never seen this city. I do enjoy a large city. They always have the prettiest serving ladies"
He nods and winks at Indigo then laughs out loud as if he just had the funniest thought...
Marisu smiles. "I wasn't sure at first, but by the end of the trip I found myself kind of liking her. She didn't give me any reason to mistrust her, but I'm also not a ranking member of an enemy church." She rides in silence for a moment, then says, "Thank you for both coming with us on this trip, by the way. I didn't get to meet either of you before, so I'm looking forward to doing so on this trip." (PS- I'm assuming introductions already happened a while ago)
It takes a day or three to get used to the bright sunlight again. The stars are bright diamonds in the sky that are not visible from home.
As the group rides north on the roadway the smell of fresh flowing water grows stronger. A small village appears and several other groups are traveling in the same direction. As the road winds through the village the group comes up to a set of docks, with several groups of people waiting to board a ferry.
Indigo shades his eyes and looks up ahead. “We’re almost there!” he smiled and then a memory comes back and his eyes got wide. “Oh … I better hide my coins. You have to be careful. There are a lot of bad people here. If you do bad things, you can just run into one of the churches and yell ‘Sanctuary’ and be safe so bad people seem to like it here,” Indigo stuffs his coins in an inside pocket and looks over at Leatherus. “Better watch that big sword here too, Leatherus. City people aren’t like normal people. They get scared when people walk around with weapons.”
Marisu raises her eyebrows. "Oh! Thank you for the warning, Indigo. I'll hide my coins as well. If the town is that dangerous, we should probably stick together for protection. I've never been here before that I can remember. Maybe when I was a child. Do we know where the church of Hades or the mages' tower is?"
“We’ll be fine. Don’t go scaring everyone, Indigo,” Branwyn chided him gently. “We just need to keep our eyes open. I can get us to the Mage Guild, but we will probably have to ask about the Church of Hades. I’m sure for a few coppers someone can direct us.”
