Spring Break
First of all, thanks to Parlan for being my first commenter. Always nice to have someone break the ice.
This installment was one of our first roleplay only sessions, mostly a 'getting to know you' scenario.
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Kyle yawned loudly as he walked down the hall toward class. Despite his enthusiasm yesterday for getting to know his new classmates, the effort was short-lived, as they’d all discovered that they were too exhausted from their ordeal to socialize. They’d gone their separate ways, promising each other they rendezvous another day. For Kyle, the rest had been short-lived; that evening he learned of a last-minute opening in the student alchemy lab, and decided to take advantage. Kyle had always found it difficult to schedule time in the lab, though he’d heard no similar complaints from his fellow students of wizardry.
Kyle pushed open the door to the classroom, and was slightly surprised to see the chamber was occupied. Sitting nearly dead center in the class was a large man with light brown hair, as broad as Kyle in the shoulder if not quite as tall. He wore a simple brown and gray tunic underneath a polished steel breastplate, and a marble disk carved with the likeness of a bear hung from his neck. The man regarded Kyle with bright blue eyes.
“Hello,” said the man. “My name is Tolly Nightsleaving.”
“Howdy, Tolly,” replied Kyle, shaking the hand that was offered. “Kyle Goodson. You must be the new guy we heard would be joining us.”
“Yes, I received the news yesterday afternoon that I was going to be advanced into Interdisciplinary Tactics a few months ahead of schedule. I must admit I’m not sure what to expect.”
“Aw, I’m sure you’ll fit in fine,” said Kyle. “Besides, the rest of us have only been together a day, so you don’t have much catching up to do.”
“A day?” Tolly frowned. “I was told I would be joining an advanced group.”
“Well,” Kyle shrugged, “I guess that’s technically true. It was quite a first day!”
“I see.” Tolly studied Kyle for a moment before speaking again. “So, you are a wizard, then?”
“Yup, sure am, believe it or not. I like it, though I wish they made clothes in my size.” Kyle strained his arms against the tight fabric of his yellow robes.
“Perhaps you should take up sewing,” commented Tolly.
“Well, how about you? I’d wager that you’re a priest of Ardara*.” Kyle gestured at the bear symbol around Tolly’s neck.
“Yes, in fact I was raised by the Church.”
“Huh. Well, we’ve already got an Eritan priest in our group, so you two should get along fine.”
“I look forward to meeting them. Do you have other skills besides wizardry?”
“Well, I’d been working as a carpenter and general handyman for the Tower for a while before I enrolled.”
Tolly nodded approvingly. “Carpentry is a worthwhile trade. I’m also a blacksmith by trade.”
“A smith, eh? That’s great. I’ve pounded the anvil a few times myself.” Kyle’s speech slowed as he uttered this last statement, as he became aware of the unintended double meaning. If Tolly recognized it, he showed no outward sign, and Kyle decided it was best to just press on rather than backtrack.
The potential awkwardness was broken when the door opened and Xu walked in, quietly taking a seat. Soon others followed; Kavan was next, and then Autumn and Arrie appeared just as the chimes rang to indicate the start of classes. Lanara had slipped in just behind the two sisters. As the chimes finished ringing, they realized that Osborn was there as well, having come in unobserved. Tolly introduced himself as he got the chance.
They waited quietly for the next minute, expecting their instructor Shilsen to appear. When he did not arrive, the students began to look at each other nervously. Then they heard a strange noise coming from the large wooden desk in the center of the room. Xu stood up to investigate, and she heard noise coming from one of the desk’s deep lower drawers. Cautiously, she used the end of her long pole to open the drawer.
Shilsen was inside, contorted into what seemed an impossibly small space. “Thank you,” he said to Xu, as he began to extricate himself from the tiny space.
“Showoff,” muttered Lanara to herself.
“Welcome, class,” Shilsen said as he finally stood up and slid the drawer closed. “I see that some of you have had a chance to meet Tolly Nightsleaving, your new classmate. The rest of you will have that opportunity later. For now, however…”
And thus began a grueling course of book study. They covered every conceivable subject, from history to religious theory to etiquette. Between this and their normal courses of study in their individual area of focus, the group barely had time to breathe, let alone spend any time together. Each of them looked forward to the upcoming Earthturning Festival**, when they would be given a break from class work.
Their patience paid off. After two weeks, Shilsen announced that all students enrolled in Interdisciplinary Tactics were to be given a full tenday off in addition to the two days of the Festival. Thus on the morning of the 25th of Lupan, the group found themselves standing outside the Tower for the first time in nearly two years, blinking in the bright sunlight. All around them they say the hustle and bustle of Trageon, the tri-leveled city that surrounded the Tower and served as the capital of the kingdom of Targeth. Only two of them were missing; Autumn had decided to spend her time off in prayer and meditation, while Osborn had excused himself, saying he had some “personal matters” to attend to. They’d also had to send Tolly back into the Tower to change clothes, convincing him that walking about in full armor would give off the wrong impression.
“Well, now what?” asked Kavan.
“Obviously, we explore the city,” said Arrie. “I have a few things I’d like to look into, and that’s where all the fun is going to be anyway.”
They all agreed on this plan, as each of them had things to buy or investigate.
“So,” asked Kyle, “do we split up, or stick together?”
“I say stick together,” said Arrie. Suddenly her face brightened. “Ooh! We should have dinner together!”
“Excellent,” said Lanara. “I’m looking forward to getting Tolly here drunk.”
Tolly looked confused. “Are we not going to spend the Holy Days sequestered in prayer and observance? I thought that was what one did during Earthturning.”
Lanara rolled her eyes. “Oh, honey, have we got a lot to teach you.”
“I know that I’d like to see the Upper City,” commented Kavan. They all cast their eyes upward to the floating upper level of Trageon, where the wealthiest citizens lived and did business. They saw the morning light reflecting off the inverted crystalline prism upon which the Upper City sat. At mid-day, the light from the sun would filter down through the city and into the prism, sending rainbows of light down to the surface so that the main city would not be obscured in their shadow. Only the Undercity, far under their feet, remained in perpetual gloom.
“I dunno,” said Kyle, scratching his head, “I’m just in the market for some good tools. The Upper City looks… pricey.”
“Hey, we can do our shopping down here another day,” said Arrie. “After all, we have twelve days. We’re just going up to look around.”
Eventually they agreed on a plan, and a few minutes later were on a transport platform headed for Upper Trageon. They spent a few hours browsing the high-priced shops; Kyle looked wistfully at a business specializing in magical goods, while Lanara studied high-quality instruments. As the sun came close to dipping below the edge of the Upper City, they decided it was time to get their meal. After asking around a bit, they were referred to a ‘restaurant’ – an odd type of business that was like an inn, but without rooms to rent, only food. The group gathered in front of the cozy, elegant building – a sign out front read “Gio’s”.
Everyone had brought along their best clothes for the occasion, and had changed into them before arriving. They sat in the lobby of Gio’s for about fifteen minutes or so before being escorted to a large, oval-shaped table. Glittering silver candelabras decorated the center of the table, surrounded by fresh flowers. Somewhere in the background, an unseen harpist could be heard playing soft, comforting music. Each person at the table was handed something called a ‘menu’ – a very thin book listing the dozens of dishes and spirits served by the restaurant. It was a bit unsettling for those who were used to more common inns and taverns, where the selection for a given evening could usually be counted easily on the fingers of one hand.
“You know,” commented Kyle, looking down the listings, “I know that this is written in Common, but it still doesn’t make sense.”
A well-dressed servant came by and took drink orders. Kavan ordered a bottle of Fire Wine, while Arrie opted for a more refined elven wine. Lanara’s only criteria for a beverage was that it be ‘something blue’; however, after receiving a sapphire blue concoction that had the taste and aroma of spring water, her next request was for something with ‘a bit more character’. The servant also had them place their food orders. Tolly, wanting to try something different, ordered elven cuisine; Kaven in contrast, wanted something bold and spicy, and ended up with an orcish dish. Xu ordered a vegetarian dish to go with her tea, while Kyle ended up pointing at the menu at an essentially random selection. Lanara ordered seafood, and Arrie chose a dish inspired by the four elements.
“So anyway,” said Kyle, as they sat around enjoying their drinks, “I had a question for you, Arrie.” He continued when Arrie’s gaze met his. “A few weeks ago, during our first exam, I remember making a comment to you that you seemed to be some sort of nobility, because of the etching that was done on your armor. Now, it seems to me that you weren’t too comfortable with that comment. Did I get it wrong?”
“Well, no,” she said. “It’s true that my family does have land and titles. But I came to the Tower of my own free will, and I don’t want anyone to think that I’m here because Daddy sent me to get a piece of paper telling everyone I’m smart.”
Each of them nodded in understanding. The Tower did not cater exclusively to adventurers; wealthy families sending their heirs off to get training in etiquette, heraldry, diplomacy, and other ‘noble’ pursuits generated most of its business. Each of them had had multiple run-ins with young, arrogant men and women in silk blouses who acted as if they personally owned the Tower and everything in it.
“Yeah, I can understand that.” Kyle grinned at her. “Well, if it means anything, I sure think you’ve proven you have what it takes.”
Arrie nodded at the compliment. “So, what about you, Kyle? You spend so much time asking everyone else about themselves, I don’t know much about you.”
“Ah, well, that comes from my Pa. He always told me the best way to start a conversation is to ask people to talk about themselves, ‘cause it’s the one topic most folks are best at.”
“Was your father a wizard too, or a carpenter?” asked Tolly.
“Farmer, actually. My folks raised two things well; barley and kids. I have four siblings, two on each side of me age-wise. Well, things were good until about the time I turned eleven. That was when Ma caught the fever and passed on. That same year was the big drought, and Pa lost the crop. He couldn’t manage the farm with five mouths to feed, so he sold the land and became a sharecropper. He sent all us kids off – the young’uns he sent to live with old relatives, and me and my older brother and sister were apprenticed. I went to work for a carpenter, and that’s where I learned my trade. After a few years, I left Master Silas and came here to Trageon. I got myself hired as a laborer in the Tower, but then a couple of years later I discovered I had what the instructors here called ‘magical aptitude’. So I took out a loan for tuition, and here I am.”
“Any idea where your father is, or your siblings?” asked Kavan.
Kyle shook his head. “It’s been years since I’ve seen them. Pa did what he had to do to make sure we all survived.”
“I hope you find your family again someday, Kyle,” said Tolly.
“Speaking of family,” Kyle replied, “I thought you mentioned that you were raised by the church of Ardara? What’s your story?”
“There is little to tell,” Tolly said quietly. “I was found on the doorstep of the church as a young child. I was fostered by the Church, and raised in their tradition. Becoming a priest was a natural progression for me. I have spent little time outside the Church, and have known few people besides Ardara’s priests and her dwarven patrons. Thus it was felt that I would benefit from an education at the Tower, in order to give me… experience.”
“Probably a good thing,” commented Lanara. “I can’t imagine a life locked up in a temple worshipping rocks.”
Tolly’s response was interrupted by the arrival of their meals. Distracted by the delicious smells, they ate quietly for several minutes. Kyle wasn’t sure what he’d received, but noticed that Lanara had the same thing, so assumed it was seafood of some sort. Whatever it was, he decided, it was delicious.
“So, Kavan,” said Kyle between bites, “you have a story to tell? What made you end up here?”
Kavan was silent for a minute before answering. “I don’t think I’m ready to discuss my past with all of you yet,” he said. “Suffice it to say I have done things I regret, and I am trying to live a better life in service to Erito. Coming here to the Tower is a part of that.” Kavan smiled slightly. “Don’t worry, friends. I know that secrets and half-truths are no way to win trust. When I am ready, I will share my story with you.”
“Fair enough,” answered Kyle.
“Thank you,” Kaven looked across the table at Xu, who was quietly eating crispy vegetables in sauce. “Though maybe it’s unfair to keep my own past shrouded in mystery and then ask another to reveal theirs, I find myself curious to know about Xu.”
Xu gently put her utensils aside before speaking. “My tale is a simple one,” she began. “My parents are merchants from a land far from here, and like many merchants they wished to rise to a better station in life. Thus I was betrothed to a nobleman. Upon meeting him for the first time, I knew I could not marry him; his wealth was the only quality he possessed of any merit. I wished to marry for love, not status. So I ran from my family and this noble, and was taken in by an order of monks. They taught me their ways, their philosophies. Upon leaving the monastery, I came to this city to educate myself in the local ways, and in the hope that my family and my intended fiancé would never find me.”
Everyone at the table nodded in sympathy. “It’s a terrible thing to be forced to into such a position when there is no love,” Kavan said, his eyes strangely distant.
Almost in unison, everyone turned to look at Lanara, who was the only one who hadn’t spoken yet. She looked back at them, a few loose tentacles dangling from her lips. She slurped them up and grinned.
“Oh, my story’s not that interesting,” she said, still chewing. “You’ll hear it soon enough, I’m sure.” Suddenly she pointed at the doorway. “Ooh, look! Dessert!”
Lanara’s tale was forgotten as the dessert cart came around. Several minutes later, over plates of pastries and custards, the conversation turned to plans for the following days. At one point a glittering ring on Arrie’s finger caught Kavan’s eye, and he commented on it.
“Thank you,” she replied, without offering further explanation.
Kavan was about to press the issue, when he felt a strange touch on his back just below the neckline. He looked up to see someone behind him.
“Good evening, Kavan,” said the stranger. The others looked up to see a dark, slickly attractive stranger standing behind their elven friend. Looks of puzzlement and curiosity crossed the faces of much of the party as they looked upon the stunning and androgynous being standing before them. Kavan held this look as well, although it was not the first time this being had crossed his sight. The stranger, dressed in elegant green robes that shimmered like scales moving across the water, wore a symbol of a serpent about the neck. A few of the party recognized the pendant as a symbol of Qin-Chu, remembering the symbol from their first exam a few weeks ago.
The stranger’s eyes had not moved from Kavan. “It is quite a pleasure to see you again,” the stranger said, still holding the stare.
Kavan, his face turning instantly red, replied coldly – but unconvincingly – “Perhaps a pleasure for you.”
“My! What manners! Don’t they teach you etiquette?” The stranger finally broke the stare, looking around the table at Kavan’s companions. “Then again, it looks like they’ll let just about anyone in there, won’t they?” he said, flashing them a sweet smile that didn’t quite reach the eyes. “Well, have fun, then!” The stranger looked back down at Kavan, who was now slightly shaking, “and I’ll see you later.”
“Not if grace finds itself my way,” muttered Kavan, as he watched the dark being walk away. The being looked back a couple of times, catching Kavan as he quickly tried to look away and go unnoticed.
Kyle’s eyes followed the stranger’s progress as well. “Is… that… a ‘friend’ of yours?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t say a friend, dear Kyle,” replied Kavan, as he firmly patted Kyle’s shoulder, attempting to avert Kyle’s gaze without showing any jealousy or desire for the stranger.
While the tension of the situation was alleviated by the arrival of the bill, Kavan would remain transfixed, thoughts about the stranger swarming. He would need to seek counsel about this entity, as it was pulling him back to old patterns of thought, dangerous patterns of thought. Kavan was not sure that he was strong enough yet to resist such a delicious temptation.
So delicious.
Arrie scooped up the parchment that listed their bill and looked it over. “Not bad,” she said. “Only two hundred thirty gold. Well, since this was my idea, I’ll cover half.” She brought out a small pouch and began counting out coins.
The rest of the table nodded approvingly and began doing the same. Unseen by the others, Kyle was growing pale. Two hundred and thirty gold coins on one meal? He’d had no idea it would be that expensive; the menu had not listed prices. That was a year’s income on his parent’s farm. Kyle looked sheepishly at his coin purse. He’d received a share of the treasure from the first exam like everyone else, but he’d very carefully set aside the majority of it to buy a few good sets of tools. He didn’t have nearly enough left to cover his share of dinner, let alone have any money left for the rest of the vacation. He started to consider what purchases he could do without.
Kavan caught him looking into his coin purse. “What’s the matter, Kyle? Someone swipe your money before you left?”
“Um, err… no…”
Kavan smiled at him. “You didn’t bring enough, did you?”
“Well, um…”
Kavan waved at him dismissively. “I’ll cover you, Kyle. I’ve had times myself where I didn’t bring as much coin as I should have.”
Kyle’s face reddened. “Um, thanks, Kavan.” He was too embarrassed to point out the flaw in Kavan’s assumption.
With the bill taken care of, the party went out into the streets. However, they found that Upper Trageon after dark was… dull. Almost all the businesses were closed, and the residents had retreated to their manses for private celebrations of the upcoming festival. Thus they decided to drop back down to the main city, and made their way to the Temple District. Lanara had suggested it, saying that Tolly needed to see how other religions besides Ardara observed Earthturning. Not surprisingly, the cansin led them to the temple of Feesha, goddess of chaos***, and Ladta, goddess of good fortune, where the celebrations were decidedly more… liberal.
The next afternoon, the party gathered to begin their shopping. Many of them had bought a room in the city, although Tolly had stayed at the Temple of Ardara and Kyle had insisted on sleeping back in his room at the Tower. After meeting for a quick breakfast, the party spent their day going back and forth among the shops of Trageon, either as a large group or in smaller clusters. Kavan inquired into the possibility of enchanting his longsword to create flame, but soon learned that such an enchantment was well beyond his means. Others looked into more reasonable items; Kyle acquired his tools with the help of Tolly, Arrie did some investigation into makers of exotic weaponry, and Lanara priced new instruments.
Late in the day, Kyle sought out Kavan. “I have something for you,” he said, presenting a small package to the elf.
Kavan unwrapped the brown paper to reveal a beaten copper vial. “What is it?”
“Bladefire,” Kyle said. “An alchemical liquid similar to alchemist’s fire. You can coat a weapon with it and it will burn. It only lasts a short time, and it’s not quite as potent as a magical flaming sword, but it’ll do the trick until you can get the real thing.”
Kavan turned the vial over in his hand. “Thank you.”
Kyle smiled. “Thanks for dinner.”
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* Ardara is the goddess of Earth, Law, and the patron deity of the dwarves. She is one of a quartet of primary deities known as The Four, which are the world's primary deities under Erito.
** Earthturning is one of five mahor festivals in Aelfenn, dedicated to Ardara (somewhat appropriate, since we had just acquired an Ardaran priest). As it falls in the spring, Earthturning is primarily a planting/fertility celebration.
*** As a side note, Feesha is one of The Four as well, and in addition to being the patron of Chaos, she is the goddess of Air and the patron of the Hin.