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RESPEN'S GAMBIT
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<blockquote data-quote="Aust Thale" data-source="post: 7282926" data-attributes="member: 6804768"><p><strong>Respen Pushes His Luck</strong></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">~</span> <span style="color: #FF0000">Perhaps I should get to the point </span><span style="color: #ff0000">~</span></strong></p><p></p><p>[ooc] Respen initiates conversation, through which he asks questions. The conversation can flow less as a series of monologues and more evenly; however, here it will be monologue-ish. [/ooc]</p><p></p><p><strong>Respen leans in uncomfortably close to Dame Clare during the conversation, attempting to match her confidence, challenging himself to look directly into her eyes (what do vampires smell like?) for any hint of…something other than shrewd and deadly calculation,</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">my curiosity has always been both my delight and undoing. I know that I will fumble this, so I will simply be straightforward. Your Grace, what are you doing here? If you long for love and exploration, why all of this…?</span>” <strong>Respen pauses, motioning his arms wide to take in the room. Respen is legitimately confused, even vexed.</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">Thank you for sharing your desires to me, but who or what damaged you? Who or what makes your blood boil so much that you, unshackled from terrestrial concerns, are still motivated to coerce your family to be protected while you prepare for war?</span>" <strong>He leans in, genuinely interested in her responses and trying to not be swept up by his being this close to her.</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">Might I ask, who were you, your Grace? Before all of this.</span>”</p><p></p><p><strong>Continuing, Respen comments during the conversation. </strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">You don’t strike me as a mercenary; that appears too pedestrian, yet you clearly have concerns about currency. Only adventures, kingdoms, and wars require this much currency. Golems are indeed not cheap. Neither are teleporters. It seems rather odd that you would work for someone else, but who is paying for your war?</span>”</p><p></p><p><strong>Respen caresses her cheek in spite of himself, a clumsy attempt at intimacy. He pulls away quickly from her space, realizing that she might not welcome the overture.</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">Forgive me, your Grace.</span>” <strong>He walks over to her library shelves. He is not entirely sure of himself, and thus is winging it, contemplating his own internal mental monologue and forgetting to shut his mouth.</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">Forgive my questions also; I am drinking from a waterfall at the moment. My head is fogged from Ky’s siren voice, and Nel’s perfect embraces, and you…quite frankly…nearly everything about you. Strange, I should loathe you for maiming me. Yet I do not. It would be nice to be clearheaded for a moment.</span>” <strong>Respen presses himself to lucidity, and thumbs along one of the bookshelves.</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">Oh but to have a library such as this. How many years did this take to create?</span>”</p><p></p><p><strong>Quickly changing the subject, slightly embarrasses by his behavior.</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">By the way, how many golems do you have? I understand from lore that drow internal politics is, shall we say, animated? Are these your hobby, or do you plan a coup d’état?" </span><span style="color: #000000"><strong>(Respen laughs nervously, his remark meant to be both laced with humor and probing) </strong></span><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>"...</strong></span><span style="color: #0000FF">Given you have written extensively on the subject, I’d say hobby, perhaps even a full-fledged professorial pursuit. However, given that other than Ky and Nel, the only people you interact with consistently are for sustenance. You keep company more with these golems. It seems that conversation with them appears one-sided." </span><strong><span style="color: #000000">(more nervous humor)</span></strong><span style="color: #0000FF">. "Tough crowd. You should get out more." </span><span style="color: #000000"><strong>(he looks for even the faintest hint of a sense of humor.)</strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong>Respen walks over to her crystal ball.</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">You have one of those nifty magic orbs. An alchemist’s telescope into the heavens…</span>” <strong>Respen laughs nervously.</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">I’ll share a little of myself since I’m asking you so many questions. Long story short, I chose to leave a good life as a hunter a very long way from here. My late uncle Auror gave me an opportunity to explore arcane magic. When he passed Oerth, I left. A really long boat ride, and a really long walk later, I am here. My goal was to be mentored by Arcanus, a wizard that my uncle Auror held in high regard. Obviously, I got a little sidetracked. At the rate I am moving, my curiosity, it seems, might be only that which I shall be remembered.</span>” <span style="color: #000000"><strong>Respen is visibly uncomfortable being so forthcoming; he masks it by looking carefully at several shelves in her library for other books who titles or pages he might recognize. </strong></span> </p><p></p><p>“<span style="color: #0000FF">Now, I hunt more broadly; wanderlust, curiosity, magic, immortality, purpose…” </span><span style="color: #000000"><strong>He looks wistful.</strong></span><span style="color: #0000FF"> “And as it now appears forced upon me, love and legacy.” </span><span style="color: #000000"><strong>He looks back at Dame Clare.</strong></span><span style="color: #0000FF"> “Right. Every bite at the apple? The sweet and the sour.</span>”</p><p></p><p><strong>Respen walks back over toward the ball.</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">Yes indeed. Nifty orb. Does it come in other colors?” Before she can answer, he moves on, “Don’t misunderstand me. Nel is beautiful. And interesting. And certainly above my station. So perhaps I should be grateful. But you forced it nonetheless. Why would you do that?” </span><span style="color: #000000"><strong>Again, before she answers, he continues,</strong></span><span style="color: #0000FF"> “you know, she’s as lonely as she is lovely. Ki’s lonely. Hell, you’re lonely.</span>" </p><p></p><p><strong>His countenance changes as Respen focuses and contemplates that his main priority until now was getting out of harm’s way. Now, he realizes what his duty is, and he juxtaposes that with what he can control. It’s time to take a risk and speak truth to power. Respen continues, </strong>“<span style="color: #0000FF">You don’t need, nor do you probably care about my judgment, so I will simply say it. I know you think you are protecting her, but if you continue on this track, you will lose your sister to loneliness and then despair. My presence won’t fix that; she’ll eventually hate me because she’ll realize it was forced. It won’t matter that it was you that did it, and it won’t matter that I didn’t fight you very much. Children won’t fix it either, despite maternal instincts. And you ought to know by now that Ky can’t fix that for you indefinitely, even with her abilities. You are obviously wise and intelligent enough to understand that. Whatever you are doing, if you doing it for her…for them…you might inquire as to whether they want it, and if they don’t, you should remove them from harm’s way. They aren’t safe. You don’t need additional evidence of that. Fact: I didn’t practically deliver myself to you; I did deliver myself to you. Let’s be clear. You are extremely powerful; I was warned not to trifle with you. However, Ky and Nel are not. And I came in the front door. Succubus? Dusted. Orcs? Green goo. Undead? Pile of charred bones. The clay golem of yours? Eighteen seconds. Your iron golems? Amazing construction. Truly. And one Rust spell or gauntlet from being reduced to a dwarven smith’s anvil. I’m absolutely the least of your worries, but you have me intimately close to the two people you value the most after less than a fortnight. Ironically, they are the purpose and the reason that I am here, alive, and in front of you, willingly and not. And I’m just an impetuous elf.</span>” </p><p></p><p><strong>Respen’s expression deepens, </strong>“<span style="color: #0000FF">Here is my point. If you have or acquire enemies in your endeavors, Ki, and especially Nel and perhaps a child, they are all at risk, no? Again, I came through the front door. What about the True Ones? You say that they kill regular vampires on sight; that makes conversation kind of tricky. Imagine what they might do to them.</span>” </p><p></p><p><strong>Respen walks to Dame Clare, strokes away her hair, and cups her face in his hands, and then kneels on one knee, taking her hands in his, knowing full well that he may risk her wrath.</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">I am going to take a risk, and I am hopeful that you receive it well. I do not think you are vile nor disgusting. I'd be fortunate to survive a night with you, however, if your sister is any indication.</span>" <strong>Respen tries to make an awkward joke.</strong> "<span style="color: #0000FF">Still, it would be an noteworthy experience.</span>" </p><p></p><p>"<span style="color: #0000FF">From speaking to Nel, I believe that you have it within you to be Eilistraee embodied. I see the look on your face; you have no idea who this is. It’s a legend told among my people that Corellon and Lolth (before she was Lolth) had a daughter, a young goddess who was melancholy and kind, and full of mercy and assistance for all Drow and hopeful for all Elvenkind. She was the mercy to the Mother’s vengeance, and true hope to the Mother’s contempt. You referred to yourself as Aunt Clare, jokingly perhaps. I choose to view this as providential. As long as I am able, I will protect Nel and the child, and I will protect Ky so that you may pursue your efforts among your people. If you do not coerce me. I will listen to your wishes, and I will offer counsel, and I will assist you where I am able. However, I will also speak truth to power. I believe you to be the hope of Eilistraee to your people. Anything is possible.</span>”</p><p></p><p><strong>Respen rises, and he begins to take his leave.</strong> “<span style="color: #0000FF">Your Grace, I told you that I would not lie to you; and you may count on that honesty, if for nothing else than sparing my life. If you compel or coerce me, I will attempt to escape at the earliest chance I have, and I will go back to my previous life without qualm, care, or mention. Understand that you indeed hold the power. You must choose, at least with me, whether you wish fidelity and trust, or control and manipulation. Hint, if you haven't figured it out, I do the former much better than the latter. I’ll leave you to your thoughts, now. I’m sure you have enough of me for a day.</span>”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Aust Thale, post: 7282926, member: 6804768"] [b]Respen Pushes His Luck[/b] [B][COLOR=#ff0000]~[/COLOR] [COLOR=#FF0000]Perhaps I should get to the point [/COLOR][COLOR=#ff0000]~[/COLOR][/B] [ooc] Respen initiates conversation, through which he asks questions. The conversation can flow less as a series of monologues and more evenly; however, here it will be monologue-ish. [/ooc] [B]Respen leans in uncomfortably close to Dame Clare during the conversation, attempting to match her confidence, challenging himself to look directly into her eyes (what do vampires smell like?) for any hint of…something other than shrewd and deadly calculation,[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]my curiosity has always been both my delight and undoing. I know that I will fumble this, so I will simply be straightforward. Your Grace, what are you doing here? If you long for love and exploration, why all of this…?[/COLOR]” [B]Respen pauses, motioning his arms wide to take in the room. Respen is legitimately confused, even vexed.[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]Thank you for sharing your desires to me, but who or what damaged you? Who or what makes your blood boil so much that you, unshackled from terrestrial concerns, are still motivated to coerce your family to be protected while you prepare for war?[/COLOR]" [B]He leans in, genuinely interested in her responses and trying to not be swept up by his being this close to her.[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]Might I ask, who were you, your Grace? Before all of this.[/COLOR]” [B]Continuing, Respen comments during the conversation. [/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]You don’t strike me as a mercenary; that appears too pedestrian, yet you clearly have concerns about currency. Only adventures, kingdoms, and wars require this much currency. Golems are indeed not cheap. Neither are teleporters. It seems rather odd that you would work for someone else, but who is paying for your war?[/COLOR]” [B]Respen caresses her cheek in spite of himself, a clumsy attempt at intimacy. He pulls away quickly from her space, realizing that she might not welcome the overture.[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]Forgive me, your Grace.[/COLOR]” [B]He walks over to her library shelves. He is not entirely sure of himself, and thus is winging it, contemplating his own internal mental monologue and forgetting to shut his mouth.[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]Forgive my questions also; I am drinking from a waterfall at the moment. My head is fogged from Ky’s siren voice, and Nel’s perfect embraces, and you…quite frankly…nearly everything about you. Strange, I should loathe you for maiming me. Yet I do not. It would be nice to be clearheaded for a moment.[/COLOR]” [B]Respen presses himself to lucidity, and thumbs along one of the bookshelves.[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]Oh but to have a library such as this. How many years did this take to create?[/COLOR]” [B]Quickly changing the subject, slightly embarrasses by his behavior.[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]By the way, how many golems do you have? I understand from lore that drow internal politics is, shall we say, animated? Are these your hobby, or do you plan a coup d’état?" [/COLOR][COLOR=#000000][B](Respen laughs nervously, his remark meant to be both laced with humor and probing) [/B][/COLOR][COLOR=#0000ff][B]"...[/B][/COLOR][COLOR=#000000][/COLOR][COLOR=#0000FF]Given you have written extensively on the subject, I’d say hobby, perhaps even a full-fledged professorial pursuit. However, given that other than Ky and Nel, the only people you interact with consistently are for sustenance. You keep company more with these golems. It seems that conversation with them appears one-sided." [/COLOR][B][COLOR=#000000](more nervous humor)[/COLOR][/B][COLOR=#0000FF]. "Tough crowd. You should get out more." [/COLOR][COLOR=#000000][B](he looks for even the faintest hint of a sense of humor.)[/B][/COLOR] [B]Respen walks over to her crystal ball.[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]You have one of those nifty magic orbs. An alchemist’s telescope into the heavens…[/COLOR]” [B]Respen laughs nervously.[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]I’ll share a little of myself since I’m asking you so many questions. Long story short, I chose to leave a good life as a hunter a very long way from here. My late uncle Auror gave me an opportunity to explore arcane magic. When he passed Oerth, I left. A really long boat ride, and a really long walk later, I am here. My goal was to be mentored by Arcanus, a wizard that my uncle Auror held in high regard. Obviously, I got a little sidetracked. At the rate I am moving, my curiosity, it seems, might be only that which I shall be remembered.[/COLOR]” [COLOR=#000000][B]Respen is visibly uncomfortable being so forthcoming; he masks it by looking carefully at several shelves in her library for other books who titles or pages he might recognize. [/B][/COLOR] “[COLOR=#0000FF]Now, I hunt more broadly; wanderlust, curiosity, magic, immortality, purpose…” [/COLOR][COLOR=#000000][B]He looks wistful.[/B][/COLOR][COLOR=#0000FF] “And as it now appears forced upon me, love and legacy.” [/COLOR][COLOR=#000000][B]He looks back at Dame Clare.[/B][/COLOR][COLOR=#0000FF] “Right. Every bite at the apple? The sweet and the sour.[/COLOR]” [B]Respen walks back over toward the ball.[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]Yes indeed. Nifty orb. Does it come in other colors?” Before she can answer, he moves on, “Don’t misunderstand me. Nel is beautiful. And interesting. And certainly above my station. So perhaps I should be grateful. But you forced it nonetheless. Why would you do that?” [/COLOR][COLOR=#000000][B]Again, before she answers, he continues,[/B][/COLOR][COLOR=#0000FF] “you know, she’s as lonely as she is lovely. Ki’s lonely. Hell, you’re lonely.[/COLOR]" [B]His countenance changes as Respen focuses and contemplates that his main priority until now was getting out of harm’s way. Now, he realizes what his duty is, and he juxtaposes that with what he can control. It’s time to take a risk and speak truth to power. Respen continues, [/B]“[COLOR=#0000FF]You don’t need, nor do you probably care about my judgment, so I will simply say it. I know you think you are protecting her, but if you continue on this track, you will lose your sister to loneliness and then despair. My presence won’t fix that; she’ll eventually hate me because she’ll realize it was forced. It won’t matter that it was you that did it, and it won’t matter that I didn’t fight you very much. Children won’t fix it either, despite maternal instincts. And you ought to know by now that Ky can’t fix that for you indefinitely, even with her abilities. You are obviously wise and intelligent enough to understand that. Whatever you are doing, if you doing it for her…for them…you might inquire as to whether they want it, and if they don’t, you should remove them from harm’s way. They aren’t safe. You don’t need additional evidence of that. Fact: I didn’t practically deliver myself to you; I did deliver myself to you. Let’s be clear. You are extremely powerful; I was warned not to trifle with you. However, Ky and Nel are not. And I came in the front door. Succubus? Dusted. Orcs? Green goo. Undead? Pile of charred bones. The clay golem of yours? Eighteen seconds. Your iron golems? Amazing construction. Truly. And one Rust spell or gauntlet from being reduced to a dwarven smith’s anvil. I’m absolutely the least of your worries, but you have me intimately close to the two people you value the most after less than a fortnight. Ironically, they are the purpose and the reason that I am here, alive, and in front of you, willingly and not. And I’m just an impetuous elf.[/COLOR]” [B]Respen’s expression deepens, [/B]“[COLOR=#0000FF]Here is my point. If you have or acquire enemies in your endeavors, Ki, and especially Nel and perhaps a child, they are all at risk, no? Again, I came through the front door. What about the True Ones? You say that they kill regular vampires on sight; that makes conversation kind of tricky. Imagine what they might do to them.[/COLOR]” [B]Respen walks to Dame Clare, strokes away her hair, and cups her face in his hands, and then kneels on one knee, taking her hands in his, knowing full well that he may risk her wrath.[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]I am going to take a risk, and I am hopeful that you receive it well. I do not think you are vile nor disgusting. I'd be fortunate to survive a night with you, however, if your sister is any indication.[/COLOR]" [B]Respen tries to make an awkward joke.[/B] "[COLOR=#0000FF]Still, it would be an noteworthy experience.[/COLOR]" "[COLOR=#0000FF]From speaking to Nel, I believe that you have it within you to be Eilistraee embodied. I see the look on your face; you have no idea who this is. It’s a legend told among my people that Corellon and Lolth (before she was Lolth) had a daughter, a young goddess who was melancholy and kind, and full of mercy and assistance for all Drow and hopeful for all Elvenkind. She was the mercy to the Mother’s vengeance, and true hope to the Mother’s contempt. You referred to yourself as Aunt Clare, jokingly perhaps. I choose to view this as providential. As long as I am able, I will protect Nel and the child, and I will protect Ky so that you may pursue your efforts among your people. If you do not coerce me. I will listen to your wishes, and I will offer counsel, and I will assist you where I am able. However, I will also speak truth to power. I believe you to be the hope of Eilistraee to your people. Anything is possible.[/COLOR]” [B]Respen rises, and he begins to take his leave.[/B] “[COLOR=#0000FF]Your Grace, I told you that I would not lie to you; and you may count on that honesty, if for nothing else than sparing my life. If you compel or coerce me, I will attempt to escape at the earliest chance I have, and I will go back to my previous life without qualm, care, or mention. Understand that you indeed hold the power. You must choose, at least with me, whether you wish fidelity and trust, or control and manipulation. Hint, if you haven't figured it out, I do the former much better than the latter. I’ll leave you to your thoughts, now. I’m sure you have enough of me for a day.[/COLOR]” [/QUOTE]
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