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Knightfall's World of Kulan: Tales of the Companions Story Hour (Final Update: Sep 20, 2014)
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<blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 2813568" data-attributes="member: 2012"><p><em><strong>Alliance Epilogue (Part Two):</strong></em></p><p>Bactra was out of his element, but loving every minute of it. Bactra was the son of a poor elven tailor and hadn’t been trained in courtly manners during his youth. Yet, he was a quick study and found high society fascinating. Many of the women were lovely, and everyone tiptoed from conversation to conversation. Those without the ability to think on their feet were lost in high society. Bactra knew he had a better than average intellect and that he could outthink most of the lesser toadies in the Onan Court. There weren’t very many scholarly types in the city and arcanists were even more rare.</p><p></p><p>Bactra’s mind had wandered a bit, and when Claris poked him gently in the ribs as a reminder to pay attention, he simply beamed at her, as if to say don’t worry about it. In truth, Bactra could hear and process what Lady Verga Solemnstone was saying and keep his own thoughts, without any difficulty. Thus, when she asked him his opinion on what she had been talking about, for over ten minutes, he already had formulated his reply. The question was usually about arcane magic, since Bactra was one the few friendly arcanists most Onans had ever met.</p><p></p><p>“It is true that some wizards, sorcerers, and the like create pacts with evil beings, but to generalize and say that all arcanists are demon worshippers is quite misleading. You’re human friend sounds like he’s the sort who hides under his bed sheets when a tree branch rattles against the shutters of his chamber.”</p><p></p><p>“But you admit that some do,” Lady Solemnstone seemed unappeased by his comments. “Doesn’t that concern you?”</p><p></p><p>“Of course, lady dwarf, it would concern anyone with a good heart. However, I don’t believe in the power of evil over good any more than I believe in the power of chaos over law or the wind over the stone. Our world is built on a balance of forces. Magic is simply one of the most powerful forces that requires the need for balance, whether or not you are talking about arcane magic or divine magic.”</p><p></p><p>“So you believe in the Tenets, then?” She was persistent; Bactra would give the dwarven noblewoman credit for that, at least.</p><p></p><p>“I certainly wouldn’t disagree with the driving force of our world. The All Mother created this world and her will keeps it in motion. To oppose Mirella is to oppose the world. In my opinion, anyone that would do so is either crazy or doesn’t understand how the world works. Good exists to balance against evil, and the opposite is true as well. Many find the view distasteful because good people prefer good over evil.” Bactra paused to sip his wine, for effect. “As do I.”</p><p></p><p>Lady Solemnstone scratched the beard on her face inquisitively thinking of how best to respond. She was one of the more thoughtful Onan nobles that Bactra had met, and he enjoyed their verbal jousting immensely.</p><p></p><p>“I see you are matching wits with my nephew again, Lady Solemnstone. “Garth Tigerstorm appeared out of the crowd. “Careful, he’s very secure in his world and political views. Not even I have been able to change his mind, and I have learned to stop trying.”</p><p></p><p>“Uncle,” Bactra hadn’t been as angry about Garth’s decision to oppose their lawless behavior, as he understood his uncle’s position better than Dabuk. “I see you’ve tired of dealing with Lady Carolette and her entourage.”</p><p></p><p>“That woman is insufferable,” Lady Solemnstone shook her head disgust.</p><p></p><p>“I’m sure my uncle is glad you said it so he didn’t have to.” Bactra laughed.</p><p></p><p>The elven wizard quickly scanned the room for Dabuk to see if he was nearby. Garth and his cousin were definitely at odds, at the moment. They would need time to forgive each other. Bactra wondered if either could forgive the other, ever, and for so many things. Bactra caught the scowl on Garth’s face and followed it past the dwarven noblewoman towards one of the serving tables. His eyes found Dabuk staring back at the Justiciar, dispassionately. Dabuk turned away before he noticed that Bactra had seen him, disappearing into the crowd.</p><p></p><p>“Did I miss something?” Lady Solemnstone stared at where both men were looking, but failed to see Dabuk.</p><p></p><p>“Nothing worth getting into, lady dwarf.” Garth’s scowl turned to a beaming smile as he bowed to the dwarven noblewoman. “And my nephew is correct, I found Lady Carolette’s company, unsatisfying, as she prefers to debate the coming and goings at court and little else. After a while I found I had nothing else to bring to the conversation.”</p><p></p><p>“How diplomatic of you to say so,” Lady Solemnstone returned the bow. Dwarven noblewomen dis not curtsy under any circumstance.</p><p></p><p>“Quite so,” Claris remarked.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, I left her in the company of our friend Thessa and Lord & Lady Kassadine. I believe she was attempting to discern the location of my son, this evening.”</p><p></p><p>“And what did you tell her?” Bactra couldn’t help but worry that Garth had betrayed Dabuk once again. Garth knew how much his son despised Lady Maria Carolette.</p><p></p><p>“I told her the truth. That I hadn’t seen him all night.” Garth’s stare was unyielding in what he would do if he had the chance.</p><p></p><p>“It’s too bad that you had to leave our friends in such puffed up company, though. Poor Connor and Julia.” Lady Solemnstone sighed. “And how could you leave poor Thessa to fend off Maria and her brood.”</p><p></p><p>Bactra couldn’t help but laugh and even Garth cracked a smile. The brood was the nickname that Mesik and Dabuk had given to Lady Carolette and her constant companions. Bactra had no idea that it had caught on with the Onan nobility too.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t get it,” Claris looked at them confused.</p><p></p><p>“I’ll explain it to you later, darling.” Bactra whispered into her ear.</p><p></p><p>Claris melted into his arm, content. Bactra had admired her since the first moment he had met her, but not in a romantic way. Then he saw her on Festive Night and he knew he had to have her. She was a vision that night and he had started wooing her the next day. Her initial resistance only encouraged him. Her semi-distaste at the though of being with an elf only aroused him more.</p><p></p><p>And after he went underground, he continued to romance her from afar. He had risked the wrath of her fellow guards, and escaped several close calls. Claris had been annoyed, at first, but soon she began helping Bactra, Dabuk, and Mesik avoid guard patrols. For her loyal to him and his friends, he had taken her into his confidence and his bed. It was a great relationship, for both of them. Bactra had begun teaching her the basics of arcane magic.</p><p></p><p>Bactra shared a quick smile with his lover before moving the conversation to a variety of topics. He would miss Claris after leaving Onaway. He would hate having to explain it to her why he couldn’t stay in the city-state, which she had been hinting she wanted him to do. He adored her, it was true, but his life was in the Knotwood and the Eastern Shores. He’d make her understand, he was sure of that, but he worried that she’d want to come with him. That wouldn’t sit well with his family.</p><p></p><p>“Excuse me, dear friends, I must find my husband before he drinks all of Lord LaMarche’s wine.” Lady Solemnstone bowed before she disappeared into the crowd.</p><p></p><p>Bactra then noticed Thessa wandering towards where Dabuk had disappeared. Lord Connor Kassadine and his wife were leading the way for the gnome priestess, but there thankfully wasn’t any sign of Lady Carolette.</p><p></p><p>Garth noticed them too, a catlike grin on his face.</p><p></p><p>“Don’t do it.” Bactra shook his head, knowingly.</p><p></p><p>“It would serve him right,” Garth looked at Bactra, disapprovingly. “I know I can’t change you, but I’ll be damned if my son becomes a lawless thief and brigand.”</p><p></p><p>“If that is what you think of him then you really don’t know him at all. He is who he is and if you try to force him to change then he’ll never speak to you ever again.”</p><p></p><p>The human Justiciar harrumphed is disdain.</p><p></p><p>“And you’d risk such a break with me, as well.” Bactra’s tone left no doubt how he felt.</p><p></p><p>Garth stared at him blankly, unsure of what to say. They had known each other longer than Dabuk had been alive. They didn’t always agree, but they always managed to remain friendly, if not actual friends. He nodded but walked away.</p><p></p><p>“Well, that’s not what I expected,” Bactra watched his uncle disappear into the crowd, headed for the marble stairs leading out of the Lord’s Hall. “Looks like my uncle is retiring for the night. Shall we do the same, darling?”</p><p></p><p>“Not until after you twirl me across the dance floor for a while, my dear.” Claris pulled him onto the dance floor with insistence. He gladly joined her for a twirl.</p><p></p><p>* * *</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Knightfall, post: 2813568, member: 2012"] [I][B]Alliance Epilogue (Part Two):[/B][/I] Bactra was out of his element, but loving every minute of it. Bactra was the son of a poor elven tailor and hadn’t been trained in courtly manners during his youth. Yet, he was a quick study and found high society fascinating. Many of the women were lovely, and everyone tiptoed from conversation to conversation. Those without the ability to think on their feet were lost in high society. Bactra knew he had a better than average intellect and that he could outthink most of the lesser toadies in the Onan Court. There weren’t very many scholarly types in the city and arcanists were even more rare. Bactra’s mind had wandered a bit, and when Claris poked him gently in the ribs as a reminder to pay attention, he simply beamed at her, as if to say don’t worry about it. In truth, Bactra could hear and process what Lady Verga Solemnstone was saying and keep his own thoughts, without any difficulty. Thus, when she asked him his opinion on what she had been talking about, for over ten minutes, he already had formulated his reply. The question was usually about arcane magic, since Bactra was one the few friendly arcanists most Onans had ever met. “It is true that some wizards, sorcerers, and the like create pacts with evil beings, but to generalize and say that all arcanists are demon worshippers is quite misleading. You’re human friend sounds like he’s the sort who hides under his bed sheets when a tree branch rattles against the shutters of his chamber.” “But you admit that some do,” Lady Solemnstone seemed unappeased by his comments. “Doesn’t that concern you?” “Of course, lady dwarf, it would concern anyone with a good heart. However, I don’t believe in the power of evil over good any more than I believe in the power of chaos over law or the wind over the stone. Our world is built on a balance of forces. Magic is simply one of the most powerful forces that requires the need for balance, whether or not you are talking about arcane magic or divine magic.” “So you believe in the Tenets, then?” She was persistent; Bactra would give the dwarven noblewoman credit for that, at least. “I certainly wouldn’t disagree with the driving force of our world. The All Mother created this world and her will keeps it in motion. To oppose Mirella is to oppose the world. In my opinion, anyone that would do so is either crazy or doesn’t understand how the world works. Good exists to balance against evil, and the opposite is true as well. Many find the view distasteful because good people prefer good over evil.” Bactra paused to sip his wine, for effect. “As do I.” Lady Solemnstone scratched the beard on her face inquisitively thinking of how best to respond. She was one of the more thoughtful Onan nobles that Bactra had met, and he enjoyed their verbal jousting immensely. “I see you are matching wits with my nephew again, Lady Solemnstone. “Garth Tigerstorm appeared out of the crowd. “Careful, he’s very secure in his world and political views. Not even I have been able to change his mind, and I have learned to stop trying.” “Uncle,” Bactra hadn’t been as angry about Garth’s decision to oppose their lawless behavior, as he understood his uncle’s position better than Dabuk. “I see you’ve tired of dealing with Lady Carolette and her entourage.” “That woman is insufferable,” Lady Solemnstone shook her head disgust. “I’m sure my uncle is glad you said it so he didn’t have to.” Bactra laughed. The elven wizard quickly scanned the room for Dabuk to see if he was nearby. Garth and his cousin were definitely at odds, at the moment. They would need time to forgive each other. Bactra wondered if either could forgive the other, ever, and for so many things. Bactra caught the scowl on Garth’s face and followed it past the dwarven noblewoman towards one of the serving tables. His eyes found Dabuk staring back at the Justiciar, dispassionately. Dabuk turned away before he noticed that Bactra had seen him, disappearing into the crowd. “Did I miss something?” Lady Solemnstone stared at where both men were looking, but failed to see Dabuk. “Nothing worth getting into, lady dwarf.” Garth’s scowl turned to a beaming smile as he bowed to the dwarven noblewoman. “And my nephew is correct, I found Lady Carolette’s company, unsatisfying, as she prefers to debate the coming and goings at court and little else. After a while I found I had nothing else to bring to the conversation.” “How diplomatic of you to say so,” Lady Solemnstone returned the bow. Dwarven noblewomen dis not curtsy under any circumstance. “Quite so,” Claris remarked. “Yes, I left her in the company of our friend Thessa and Lord & Lady Kassadine. I believe she was attempting to discern the location of my son, this evening.” “And what did you tell her?” Bactra couldn’t help but worry that Garth had betrayed Dabuk once again. Garth knew how much his son despised Lady Maria Carolette. “I told her the truth. That I hadn’t seen him all night.” Garth’s stare was unyielding in what he would do if he had the chance. “It’s too bad that you had to leave our friends in such puffed up company, though. Poor Connor and Julia.” Lady Solemnstone sighed. “And how could you leave poor Thessa to fend off Maria and her brood.” Bactra couldn’t help but laugh and even Garth cracked a smile. The brood was the nickname that Mesik and Dabuk had given to Lady Carolette and her constant companions. Bactra had no idea that it had caught on with the Onan nobility too. “I don’t get it,” Claris looked at them confused. “I’ll explain it to you later, darling.” Bactra whispered into her ear. Claris melted into his arm, content. Bactra had admired her since the first moment he had met her, but not in a romantic way. Then he saw her on Festive Night and he knew he had to have her. She was a vision that night and he had started wooing her the next day. Her initial resistance only encouraged him. Her semi-distaste at the though of being with an elf only aroused him more. And after he went underground, he continued to romance her from afar. He had risked the wrath of her fellow guards, and escaped several close calls. Claris had been annoyed, at first, but soon she began helping Bactra, Dabuk, and Mesik avoid guard patrols. For her loyal to him and his friends, he had taken her into his confidence and his bed. It was a great relationship, for both of them. Bactra had begun teaching her the basics of arcane magic. Bactra shared a quick smile with his lover before moving the conversation to a variety of topics. He would miss Claris after leaving Onaway. He would hate having to explain it to her why he couldn’t stay in the city-state, which she had been hinting she wanted him to do. He adored her, it was true, but his life was in the Knotwood and the Eastern Shores. He’d make her understand, he was sure of that, but he worried that she’d want to come with him. That wouldn’t sit well with his family. “Excuse me, dear friends, I must find my husband before he drinks all of Lord LaMarche’s wine.” Lady Solemnstone bowed before she disappeared into the crowd. Bactra then noticed Thessa wandering towards where Dabuk had disappeared. Lord Connor Kassadine and his wife were leading the way for the gnome priestess, but there thankfully wasn’t any sign of Lady Carolette. Garth noticed them too, a catlike grin on his face. “Don’t do it.” Bactra shook his head, knowingly. “It would serve him right,” Garth looked at Bactra, disapprovingly. “I know I can’t change you, but I’ll be damned if my son becomes a lawless thief and brigand.” “If that is what you think of him then you really don’t know him at all. He is who he is and if you try to force him to change then he’ll never speak to you ever again.” The human Justiciar harrumphed is disdain. “And you’d risk such a break with me, as well.” Bactra’s tone left no doubt how he felt. Garth stared at him blankly, unsure of what to say. They had known each other longer than Dabuk had been alive. They didn’t always agree, but they always managed to remain friendly, if not actual friends. He nodded but walked away. “Well, that’s not what I expected,” Bactra watched his uncle disappear into the crowd, headed for the marble stairs leading out of the Lord’s Hall. “Looks like my uncle is retiring for the night. Shall we do the same, darling?” “Not until after you twirl me across the dance floor for a while, my dear.” Claris pulled him onto the dance floor with insistence. He gladly joined her for a twirl. * * * [/QUOTE]
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Knightfall's World of Kulan: Tales of the Companions Story Hour (Final Update: Sep 20, 2014)
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