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Mithangee: Herald To the End of Days (Updated 11/8/04!!)
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<blockquote data-quote="Journeyman" data-source="post: 1588547" data-attributes="member: 9958"><p><em>Thanks Ramza and Burne. Glad to entertain.</em></p><p></p><p><strong>Negotiations</strong></p><p></p><p> Bridles, saddles, and various pieces of equestrian gear swung to and fro in the winds racing through the Haven’s stables. Efficiently organized, perhaps even cataloged thought Kirian, the equipment hung like ornaments from the evenly spaced beams above. Two sparring parties stood facing each other below, neither flinching from the other’s gaze, making horses in surrounding stalls stamp their hooves nervously. Tonight’s duel was not one of magic, swords, or other mortally fatal instruments; rather its weapons were words and negotiation. The inn keeper was winning, yet the conversation’s track made the elf nervous. Ike’s gossip and tales were too sodden with the air of truth.</p><p></p><p> “The runt is barely able to focus on simplistic spell components let alone cast a capable incantation. What on earth would you want with him, Kirian?” Ike’s voice was particularly oily this night.</p><p></p><p> “The <em>halfling</em> shows tremendous dexterity in his movements, and a willingness to keep his magicks secret enough. I think, with the appropriate guidance, that he will be a willing and capable pupil. Despite his age, he has obviously been able to master simplistic magical incantations on his own, and I might add, all the while in your care. Your opposition is purely based on nothing more than bigotry mixed with ample egotism. Do you forget your duty, man?”</p><p></p><p> The elf raised an eyebrow ever so slowly while moving his lithe frame in front of the haphazard displays of lightning flickering outside the entrance of the musty, humid stable. The light seemed to reflect from his almond skin, the shadows nearly receding as Kirian became a natural glow in the half darkness. Ike seemed impressed yet remained undeterred.</p><p></p><p> “I grow weary of dogging about the countryside looking for capable students for your brainwashing, Kirian! If you so much as insist on taking this boy of a runt then I shall double the fee we have agreed on. Lest you forget who <em>I </em> work for?” The man tilted his head providing a half sneer on his rotund face. It made the pockmarks on his visage stretch in a strange way.</p><p></p><p> “Enough!” Kirian shouted, casting a spell without so much as moving a single digit, hand, or muttering a word. The sound of his voice boomed throughout the close confines of the stable enough to make the very wood walls tremble. The sonics reverberated drowning the thunder outside, and knocked the showman to his knees. Kirian took another step forward a wild look in his eyes. Ever so softly, and seemingly from far away, the sound of a flute played in an eerie, repeating pattern.</p><p></p><p> Ike knew the arcane madness when he saw it, and knew also the results if untamed. He felt his nose begin to bleed, and smeared his hand dispatching the red liquid.</p><p></p><p> “Calm yourself master Kirian! There now, hold yourself steady!” The man stated, almost pleadingly, with hands outstretched in an agonized posture of supplication. “I’m sorry, your right! Same fee and I’ll bring you more! I promise. Just don’t k-k-kill me!”</p><p></p><p> Kirian slowly stared at the man before him, and the sudden chaos in his visage came to a startling and abrupt end. Elven features returned to the calm, eternal rest so common for his kind. The anger; however, remained.</p><p></p><p> “No, no Ike,” Kirian’s voice was a whisper, “you will not bring me any more students. I want nothing to do with filth any longer. Go crawling back to Caltrin on your belly like the snake you are. I am quite done with your irritating attempts to stab me in the back and weasel coin from my purse. I’ll make my own way now.”</p><p></p><p> Ike looked on stupidly as Kirian tossed a leather pouch of coin at the ground before him. Dusty motes of mold leapt up from the disturbed hay as platinum lorians stumbled out from their captivity and scattered against the man’s shins.</p><p></p><p> “You cannot do this Kirian,” whined Ike, “he’ll never understand!” </p><p></p><p> “I’ll deal with it. Run home. Flee north before you irritate me further and I'll charm you to clean the barrack’s ditch yet again.”</p><p></p><p> Ike crawled away crablike after collecting his coins. Haphazardly standing, he jumped on his horse and reared in front of the impassive elf before him. The steed’s eyes rolled back as it came down on the ground waving its hoofs wildly. Ike glared down from the saddle.</p><p></p><p> “You’ll wish this night had not turned this way.”</p><p></p><p> “Don’t kill yourself in the squall, Ike;” Kirian stared impassively still drinking in the greasy visage before him, “storms the likes of this one are treacherous indeed.”</p><p></p><p> With that, the man spurred his horse in a circle riding with crazed determination into the flooding streets beyond. Kirian slowly chanted a small spell, and in his mind’s eye, watched the rune that was Ike move slowly away. The tracking coin began to work its charms, and when Ike camped, it would be his last rest. </p><p></p><p>If rest could be found on a night such as this, Kirian thought, walking slowly back to the inn.</p><p></p><p>**********************************************************</p><p></p><p> Back in the common room of the Haven’s Rest, Cade slowly nursed his drink and watched the strangers around him. There were the obvious farmers, tradesmen, and lonely townsfolk scattered throughout the establishment; however, true to form, there was not a halfling in sight. Cade knew he stuck out like a sore thumb, but what was there to do? He thought of what to accomplish next. He had obviously lost Ike’s pay, his stipend for this evening, and quite possibly greatly angered the elven inn keeper far more than that. It was rumored that elves never forgot a slight. What if he was cursed? </p><p></p><p> Cade blanched at the thought. </p><p></p><p> The nobae came into the Rest from the stables, and his conversation with Ike, immediately approaching the young boy who seemed to help him run the place. Speaking swiftly and quietly into the youth’s ear he pointed at the stage and at another individual Cade had not yet noticed. </p><p></p><p>The character under examination looked to be a young man no more than sixteen years of age. He was sitting alone and feasting his gaze on the rather voluptuous form of the bar girl serving another round to a group of dagger playing tradesmen. Interestingly enough he looked rather wealthy, and yet wore a coffee bean necklace about his neck, an obvious sign of a unique love for the exotic. The boy then moved over to sit with the solitary youth looking clearly irritated by the interruption. </p><p></p><p> Cade felt a hand grip his shoulder gently, and while looking up, barely kept a startled cry from exiting his lips upon seeing Kirian above him. The elf simply smiled and sat in the empty stool to his left. Framed over the innkeeper’s shoulder was a window behind the bar. The rain seemed to be driving its fury horizontally into the pane making an interesting explosive pattern on the rose colored glass.</p><p></p><p> “So, boy, Ike tells me your name is Cade Blackbarrel?” Kirian stated matter of fact.</p><p></p><p> “Yes, look I’m sorry about the…”</p><p></p><p> “Fire?” The inn keeper watched Cade nod affirmatively.</p><p></p><p> “You can make it up to me later. I have a proposition for you.”</p><p> </p><p> Cade sensed something was about to be said that would have a drastic outcome on his way of life. Bracing himself for the lashing to come; halfling eyes screwed shut. Kirian, startled by Cade’s response, hushed his voice and added a little more compassion.</p><p></p><p> “Did he hurt you, Cade?”</p><p></p><p> “No, of course not.” Cade whispered back.</p><p></p><p> “I’m not going to hurt you, boy. Rather I want to employ you.”</p><p></p><p> Cade opened his eyes. <em>What?</em></p><p></p><p> “You seemed surprised. I suppose you should be. You almost burnt my inn down casting an unthinking cantrip. You blatantly practiced arcane arts in my inn doing little to conceal it. You have been under the totalitarian control of that fool Ike for nearly a year and a half; so how could you escape that? Yes, yes you should be surprised.” Kirian went on to nod in self satisfaction.</p><p></p><p> “But, but why?” Cade’s voice felt weak.</p><p></p><p> “Why not? You have talent Cade. You can cast and that is rare in and of itself. Not to mention the fact that it does not come naturally to you like our cousin the sorcerer. That means you have intelligence and can translate magic, not an easy feat in and of itself. You have been traveling with Ike. Meaning you, no doubt, taught yourself to do all of the aforementioned on your own, and that makes me interested in you.”</p><p></p><p> The elf leaned dramatically toward Cade, eyes looking out from the topside of their almond shaped homes. A whisp of stray hair fell over the right one. </p><p></p><p> “I can make you better Cade. I could easily provide you training and get you back on your feet. The only thing I ask in return is your occasional help with the maintenance of the Rest and the promise you won’t cast indiscriminately. Surely you know a good deal when you see one?”</p><p></p><p> Cade stared in mute shock. <em>What…was…going…on?</em></p><p></p><p> “Here,” Kirian pushed a halfling pint of ale at Cade, “drink this and I’ll come and ask for your answer later. Just one more thing. Don’t expect Ike to come back for you. I’ve sent him scampering into the storm to make his own way. You don’t choose to stay with me and I’ll expect two copper for the room and you on your way tomorrow.”</p><p></p><p> Before Cade could utter a response the elf spun on his heels and entered the kitchen checking the rationing of the night’s mutton chops.</p><p></p><p>************************************************************************</p><p></p><p> Randall was not amused. He had recently caught Kelsa’s eye and even held a small conversation with her. She promised to come and break her evening meal with him, which could be but fifteen scant minutes away. He was carefully rehearsing his lines, which took concentration, when Tobin sat down in front of him. His view was broken from his love to be causing Randall to think seriously about using his power on the whelp.</p><p></p><p> “What in Imoriv’s Benefits has gotten into you Tobin? Can you not see me working?”</p><p></p><p> “On what, Randall?” Tobin asked rather innocently. “Kelsa’s behind?”</p><p></p><p> “You simply don’t understand. What do you want? Be quick.”</p><p></p><p> “It has nothing to do with what I want. We don’t have to talk more than we have to. Do you have to be so callous?”</p><p></p><p> Randall’s face softened. “No, no I suppose you’re right.”</p><p></p><p> The merchant boy turned to face his childhood acquaintance. Funny how Tobin was so boyish, yet commanded so much respect from his peers at seemingly odd times. How, Randall did not know, but it would be a good trick to learn. Why not start now while he waited on his fair Kelsa.</p><p></p><p> “Kirian wants your father and yourself to do a favor for him.”</p><p></p><p> “Oh yes?”</p><p></p><p> Tobin nodded. “The halfling he is currently talking too, and don’t look, is a young wizard in training.”</p><p></p><p> Randall barely managed not to stare. Tact was not his forte.</p><p></p><p> “Kirian would like the Scarboroughs to house the youth until such a time as he can arrange a place for him to stay here in town. Given your affinity towards the arcane he thought you the suitable choice. Knowing also your needs, he also has told me he’ll let Kelsa off for the night should you agree.”</p><p></p><p> “For how long?”</p><p></p><p> Tobin looked confused. “How long is Kelsa to be off, or how long is the halfling to stay with you?”</p><p></p><p> Randall sighed looking pointedly at Tobin and bringing up a hand. His next sentence came slowly and quite exaggerated, and all the while accompanied by simplistic sign language. Respect was forgotten it seemed.</p><p></p><p> “How long is the halfling to stay with us?” The hand lowered.</p><p></p><p> Tobin scowled.</p><p></p><p> “I don’t know. I do know he would like you and your father to comply as he buys quite a bit of food wares and ale from your cousin in the north.”</p><p></p><p> “Fine. Before I leave tomorrow I’ll talk to him and take the halfling home for babysitting.”</p><p></p><p> Tobin, not wanting to have to spend more time with Randall than absolutely possible got up to return to the kitchen. He would find Kirian there and tell him the news while checking on Tessa at the same time. The stable boy barely made it to an upright position before the front door of the Rest flew open with a great clap of sound. Admitted through it came the collapsing form of the strangest man Tobin had ever laid eyes on.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Journeyman, post: 1588547, member: 9958"] [I]Thanks Ramza and Burne. Glad to entertain.[/I] [B]Negotiations[/B] Bridles, saddles, and various pieces of equestrian gear swung to and fro in the winds racing through the Haven’s stables. Efficiently organized, perhaps even cataloged thought Kirian, the equipment hung like ornaments from the evenly spaced beams above. Two sparring parties stood facing each other below, neither flinching from the other’s gaze, making horses in surrounding stalls stamp their hooves nervously. Tonight’s duel was not one of magic, swords, or other mortally fatal instruments; rather its weapons were words and negotiation. The inn keeper was winning, yet the conversation’s track made the elf nervous. Ike’s gossip and tales were too sodden with the air of truth. “The runt is barely able to focus on simplistic spell components let alone cast a capable incantation. What on earth would you want with him, Kirian?” Ike’s voice was particularly oily this night. “The [I]halfling[/I] shows tremendous dexterity in his movements, and a willingness to keep his magicks secret enough. I think, with the appropriate guidance, that he will be a willing and capable pupil. Despite his age, he has obviously been able to master simplistic magical incantations on his own, and I might add, all the while in your care. Your opposition is purely based on nothing more than bigotry mixed with ample egotism. Do you forget your duty, man?” The elf raised an eyebrow ever so slowly while moving his lithe frame in front of the haphazard displays of lightning flickering outside the entrance of the musty, humid stable. The light seemed to reflect from his almond skin, the shadows nearly receding as Kirian became a natural glow in the half darkness. Ike seemed impressed yet remained undeterred. “I grow weary of dogging about the countryside looking for capable students for your brainwashing, Kirian! If you so much as insist on taking this boy of a runt then I shall double the fee we have agreed on. Lest you forget who [I]I [/I] work for?” The man tilted his head providing a half sneer on his rotund face. It made the pockmarks on his visage stretch in a strange way. “Enough!” Kirian shouted, casting a spell without so much as moving a single digit, hand, or muttering a word. The sound of his voice boomed throughout the close confines of the stable enough to make the very wood walls tremble. The sonics reverberated drowning the thunder outside, and knocked the showman to his knees. Kirian took another step forward a wild look in his eyes. Ever so softly, and seemingly from far away, the sound of a flute played in an eerie, repeating pattern. Ike knew the arcane madness when he saw it, and knew also the results if untamed. He felt his nose begin to bleed, and smeared his hand dispatching the red liquid. “Calm yourself master Kirian! There now, hold yourself steady!” The man stated, almost pleadingly, with hands outstretched in an agonized posture of supplication. “I’m sorry, your right! Same fee and I’ll bring you more! I promise. Just don’t k-k-kill me!” Kirian slowly stared at the man before him, and the sudden chaos in his visage came to a startling and abrupt end. Elven features returned to the calm, eternal rest so common for his kind. The anger; however, remained. “No, no Ike,” Kirian’s voice was a whisper, “you will not bring me any more students. I want nothing to do with filth any longer. Go crawling back to Caltrin on your belly like the snake you are. I am quite done with your irritating attempts to stab me in the back and weasel coin from my purse. I’ll make my own way now.” Ike looked on stupidly as Kirian tossed a leather pouch of coin at the ground before him. Dusty motes of mold leapt up from the disturbed hay as platinum lorians stumbled out from their captivity and scattered against the man’s shins. “You cannot do this Kirian,” whined Ike, “he’ll never understand!” “I’ll deal with it. Run home. Flee north before you irritate me further and I'll charm you to clean the barrack’s ditch yet again.” Ike crawled away crablike after collecting his coins. Haphazardly standing, he jumped on his horse and reared in front of the impassive elf before him. The steed’s eyes rolled back as it came down on the ground waving its hoofs wildly. Ike glared down from the saddle. “You’ll wish this night had not turned this way.” “Don’t kill yourself in the squall, Ike;” Kirian stared impassively still drinking in the greasy visage before him, “storms the likes of this one are treacherous indeed.” With that, the man spurred his horse in a circle riding with crazed determination into the flooding streets beyond. Kirian slowly chanted a small spell, and in his mind’s eye, watched the rune that was Ike move slowly away. The tracking coin began to work its charms, and when Ike camped, it would be his last rest. If rest could be found on a night such as this, Kirian thought, walking slowly back to the inn. ********************************************************** Back in the common room of the Haven’s Rest, Cade slowly nursed his drink and watched the strangers around him. There were the obvious farmers, tradesmen, and lonely townsfolk scattered throughout the establishment; however, true to form, there was not a halfling in sight. Cade knew he stuck out like a sore thumb, but what was there to do? He thought of what to accomplish next. He had obviously lost Ike’s pay, his stipend for this evening, and quite possibly greatly angered the elven inn keeper far more than that. It was rumored that elves never forgot a slight. What if he was cursed? Cade blanched at the thought. The nobae came into the Rest from the stables, and his conversation with Ike, immediately approaching the young boy who seemed to help him run the place. Speaking swiftly and quietly into the youth’s ear he pointed at the stage and at another individual Cade had not yet noticed. The character under examination looked to be a young man no more than sixteen years of age. He was sitting alone and feasting his gaze on the rather voluptuous form of the bar girl serving another round to a group of dagger playing tradesmen. Interestingly enough he looked rather wealthy, and yet wore a coffee bean necklace about his neck, an obvious sign of a unique love for the exotic. The boy then moved over to sit with the solitary youth looking clearly irritated by the interruption. Cade felt a hand grip his shoulder gently, and while looking up, barely kept a startled cry from exiting his lips upon seeing Kirian above him. The elf simply smiled and sat in the empty stool to his left. Framed over the innkeeper’s shoulder was a window behind the bar. The rain seemed to be driving its fury horizontally into the pane making an interesting explosive pattern on the rose colored glass. “So, boy, Ike tells me your name is Cade Blackbarrel?” Kirian stated matter of fact. “Yes, look I’m sorry about the…” “Fire?” The inn keeper watched Cade nod affirmatively. “You can make it up to me later. I have a proposition for you.” Cade sensed something was about to be said that would have a drastic outcome on his way of life. Bracing himself for the lashing to come; halfling eyes screwed shut. Kirian, startled by Cade’s response, hushed his voice and added a little more compassion. “Did he hurt you, Cade?” “No, of course not.” Cade whispered back. “I’m not going to hurt you, boy. Rather I want to employ you.” Cade opened his eyes. [I]What?[/I] “You seemed surprised. I suppose you should be. You almost burnt my inn down casting an unthinking cantrip. You blatantly practiced arcane arts in my inn doing little to conceal it. You have been under the totalitarian control of that fool Ike for nearly a year and a half; so how could you escape that? Yes, yes you should be surprised.” Kirian went on to nod in self satisfaction. “But, but why?” Cade’s voice felt weak. “Why not? You have talent Cade. You can cast and that is rare in and of itself. Not to mention the fact that it does not come naturally to you like our cousin the sorcerer. That means you have intelligence and can translate magic, not an easy feat in and of itself. You have been traveling with Ike. Meaning you, no doubt, taught yourself to do all of the aforementioned on your own, and that makes me interested in you.” The elf leaned dramatically toward Cade, eyes looking out from the topside of their almond shaped homes. A whisp of stray hair fell over the right one. “I can make you better Cade. I could easily provide you training and get you back on your feet. The only thing I ask in return is your occasional help with the maintenance of the Rest and the promise you won’t cast indiscriminately. Surely you know a good deal when you see one?” Cade stared in mute shock. [I]What…was…going…on?[/I] “Here,” Kirian pushed a halfling pint of ale at Cade, “drink this and I’ll come and ask for your answer later. Just one more thing. Don’t expect Ike to come back for you. I’ve sent him scampering into the storm to make his own way. You don’t choose to stay with me and I’ll expect two copper for the room and you on your way tomorrow.” Before Cade could utter a response the elf spun on his heels and entered the kitchen checking the rationing of the night’s mutton chops. ************************************************************************ Randall was not amused. He had recently caught Kelsa’s eye and even held a small conversation with her. She promised to come and break her evening meal with him, which could be but fifteen scant minutes away. He was carefully rehearsing his lines, which took concentration, when Tobin sat down in front of him. His view was broken from his love to be causing Randall to think seriously about using his power on the whelp. “What in Imoriv’s Benefits has gotten into you Tobin? Can you not see me working?” “On what, Randall?” Tobin asked rather innocently. “Kelsa’s behind?” “You simply don’t understand. What do you want? Be quick.” “It has nothing to do with what I want. We don’t have to talk more than we have to. Do you have to be so callous?” Randall’s face softened. “No, no I suppose you’re right.” The merchant boy turned to face his childhood acquaintance. Funny how Tobin was so boyish, yet commanded so much respect from his peers at seemingly odd times. How, Randall did not know, but it would be a good trick to learn. Why not start now while he waited on his fair Kelsa. “Kirian wants your father and yourself to do a favor for him.” “Oh yes?” Tobin nodded. “The halfling he is currently talking too, and don’t look, is a young wizard in training.” Randall barely managed not to stare. Tact was not his forte. “Kirian would like the Scarboroughs to house the youth until such a time as he can arrange a place for him to stay here in town. Given your affinity towards the arcane he thought you the suitable choice. Knowing also your needs, he also has told me he’ll let Kelsa off for the night should you agree.” “For how long?” Tobin looked confused. “How long is Kelsa to be off, or how long is the halfling to stay with you?” Randall sighed looking pointedly at Tobin and bringing up a hand. His next sentence came slowly and quite exaggerated, and all the while accompanied by simplistic sign language. Respect was forgotten it seemed. “How long is the halfling to stay with us?” The hand lowered. Tobin scowled. “I don’t know. I do know he would like you and your father to comply as he buys quite a bit of food wares and ale from your cousin in the north.” “Fine. Before I leave tomorrow I’ll talk to him and take the halfling home for babysitting.” Tobin, not wanting to have to spend more time with Randall than absolutely possible got up to return to the kitchen. He would find Kirian there and tell him the news while checking on Tessa at the same time. The stable boy barely made it to an upright position before the front door of the Rest flew open with a great clap of sound. Admitted through it came the collapsing form of the strangest man Tobin had ever laid eyes on. [/QUOTE]
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