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Story Hour
"Second Son of a Second Son" - An Aquerra Story Hour (*finally* Updated 04/19)
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<blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 4531303" data-attributes="member: 11"><p><strong>Session #27 – “Loose Ends, New Threads” (part 2 of 3)</strong></p><p></p><p>“Make sure you give Peter a silver when we arrive,” Markos said to Bleys as they walked to the gondola after receiving the message that Peter was there to bring them to the duel. “Who is paying for this stuff anyway? Is it coming from our group fund?”</p><p></p><p>“Euleria has the group fund in the vault in Sluetelot,” Bleys replied. “We must pay for all this from our own pockets… at least for now. If you want to tip the man, do it yourself.”</p><p></p><p>“Ugh! This is little trip is going to get expensive,” the mage looked at a handful of coppers in his hand. “Do you think it would be insulting to Telémahkos if I do not attend his duel?”</p><p></p><p>“No,” Bleys replied. “But if Telémahkos were to die, would you not be sorry you missed it?”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, I guess I would,” Markos smirked. In the end he paid Peter an extra five pieces of copper when they arrived at the Duelist Market Square. At this time of day, the area was clogged with boats, and it took some time for Peter to get close enough to allow them to disembark. Once they had, he left to pick up Telémahkos at the Temp’s Rising Inn. Closing in on midday, the place was bustling with people. Also, while most cities and towns in Thricia were mostly populated by humans, as Lilly City was, there were also a number of lizardfolk plying wares and smoked fish.</p><p></p><p>Bleys and Markos arrived in time to catch the end of introduction of two duelists in the small arena. It was two local boys in their late teens, Rodger and Froederick fighting with long swords and shields. Their swordplay appeared to need some improvements.</p><p></p><p>“Keep your guard up, Froederick!” They heard Timotheus cheering a combatant at random.</p><p></p><p>Markos walked over to Tim, but Bleys mingled in the crowd asking about wagers. Soon, he was directed towards Jiminy Grick, the universally accepted odds-maker for duels in Lilly City. He was a little stocky man that might have been mistaken for a dwarf if not for a few inches and a lack of a beard. A large man with a gut as wide as his ample shoulders, stood to one side and slightly behind the diminutive bookie.</p><p></p><p>“Hello there sir! Care to place a wager would you?” Jiminy asked.</p><p></p><p>“Not on this duel, but on the next Telémahkos Briareus versus Danser Von Huet Blued,” Bleys replied. The odds were four to one against Telémahkos winning. Bleys bet a single silver.</p><p></p><p>“Name?” Jiminy asked, as he took long piece of chalk from behind his ear and made a note on a piece of slate he kept tied to his belt with a sling.</p><p></p><p>“Bleys Winter.”</p><p></p><p>Jiminy looked up with surprise. “You’re Bleys the Aubergine! You and your friends killed all those people in <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Kraken%27s+Cove" target="_blank">Kraken’s Cove</a>, and defeated Kilgante and took his sword!”</p><p></p><p>“They were already dead when we arrived, and the sword was plucked from the sand,” Bleys explained.</p><p></p><p>“So this Briareus never fought Kilgante?” Jiminy asked.</p><p></p><p>“No.”</p><p></p><p>“Hmmm… that might change the odds…” Jiminy rubbed his chin. “Hey! But you’re his companion! You’re not trying to hustle me are you?”</p><p></p><p>“Hustle?” Bleys cocked an eyebrow.</p><p></p><p>“The fix had better not be in,” Jiminy replied suspiciously. Bleys went wandering back through the crowd, trying to make smaller side bets with observers noting his intimacy with Telémahkos’ prowess and intimating its insufficiency to beat Danser.</p><p></p><p>Victoria and Laarus arrived a few minutes after Telémahkos did. Azavia Heartsong, a freckle-faced young bard with long curly brown hair and a kind face that did all the announcing approached Telémahkos, asking him who his second would be and reminding him that neither he nor his opponent could use magical weapons during the duel, nor could they benefit from spells or other items during it either. She would be using a <em>detect magic</em> spell to check them both immediately before the duel. Finally, she asked to hold <em>the Steel Whip</em> in order to hold it up to the crowd when the announcement was made. Telémahkos told Timotheus (who was holding it for his cousin) to hand it over when the time came.</p><p></p><p>Just when it looked like Danser Von Huet Blued would be late, his voice was heard calling to the crowd. He was leaping from gondola to gondola to reach the Duelist Market Square, as no more boats could reach the mooring. The crowd cheered with each great jump and then parted for him as he came tumbling into the arena with a cocky smile.</p><p></p><p>A moment later oohs and ahs flittered across the crowd and people began to look up and point, and a round of applause spontaneously broke out. A man was coming down out of the sky. He wore a toga trimmed in light blue, with a sash of the same color and a blue-feathered cap. He had silver ankh around his neck, with a single white feather tied to it, and on his feet were sandals tied up to his knees that had tiny magical wings that were flapping like mad as he descended; his long brown hair fluttered in the wind.</p><p></p><p>“Greetings people of Lilly City and the Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland!” His name was Hobbes the Wing-footed, and he was a renowned <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Windservants+of+Shu" target="_blank">Windservant of Shu</a> who served in the local watch-mage’s council. “I have come to see one of these young nobles of growing fame fight an honorable duel!” For a few moments the flamboyant man stole the spotlight.</p><p></p><p>Soon, it was time for the duelists to be introduced. “Ladies and Gentlemen of Lilly City and esteemed visitors from other parts of Thricia and beyond. We are here to witness the trial by combat of Telémahkos of House Briareus and Danser Von Huet Blued, student of the famed swordsman, Kilgante Valeros in order to determine rightful ownership of the sword of Valeros, <em>the Steel Whip</em>!” Her voice was projected by means of the <em>announce</em> spell, and she introduced Timotheus Smith as Telémahkos’ second, and Danser’s second was a hulking man with a great sword referred to as ‘Mulenbeck the Crusher’.</p><p></p><p>“It is not too late to yield to justice and just give up the sword,” Danser offered.</p><p></p><p>“I was about to ask you the same thing, to give up your claim,” Telémahkos replied. Danser just turned his back and went to one corner of the dueling square and took off his vest. As was the custom in Thrician sword duels, neither participant wore armor of any kind.</p><p></p><p>The two swordsmen met at the middle of the square facing each other and gave each other a short bow and touched blades, before each taking a few steps back.</p><p></p><p>“En garde!” Danser cried and the fight was on.</p><p></p><p>“Take him down, Killer! Take him down!” Timotheus yelled as the blades met and the crowd soon echoed with cheers and boos of its own. Telémahkos was aggressive from the beginning, allowing himself a smile when his first good thrust skated off of Danser’s blade and nicked the outside of the man’s wrist. But his smile did not last long, Danser met aggression with aggression, and Telémahkos reeled a bit when the pommel of his opponent’s blade struck him square on the chest.</p><p></p><p>“That was the last hit you shall score,” Danser said, flicking the pain from his wrist along with a few drops of blood.</p><p></p><p>They came towards each other again, this time more cautiously, their rapiers ringing against each other as neither could get the advantage on the other. Telémahkos fought on the defensive, waiting for his opening, but his arm was growing tired. Pushed back, he was barely able to parry a blow aimed for his heart, and time seemed to slow as he saw the point of the blade checked less than half an inch from his chest. He flicked back hard, and the swordsmen separated again.</p><p></p><p>The next time their blades met, Telémahkos took an aggressive tact again, and in return, Danser tried a wild riposte that left him momentarily open.</p><p></p><p>“Run him through!” Timotheus bellowed, barely audible over the roar of the crowd as Telémahkos felt his blade bite his opponent’s ribs. Blood blossomed on Danser’s shirt. He tried another weak riposte, but could barely get his arm up. Telémahkos sensed victory. He stepped in to apply the finishing blow, and his eyes widened as he felt something slip beneath his boot. Instinctively, he looked down. It was blood and as suddenly it was all he could do keep on his feet, struggling to keep his balance, and lowering his guard. [sup]1[/sup]</p><p></p><p>Telémahkos did not feel the pain of the blow. He just saw the world blur and spin and he turned and collapsed, blood flowing out around him.</p><p></p><p>“As his second it is up to you to say if he yields…” Felix of Fallon said to Timotheus from his place observing the duel nearby. </p><p></p><p>“Uh… He yields…” Tim replied. “He totally yields…” Felix walked over and applied a <em>cure minor wounds</em> on Telémahkos to make sure he did not bleed out.</p><p></p><p>Azavia Heartsong walked over and handed <em>the Steel Whip</em> to Danser Von Huet Blued. He held it up in triumph.</p><p></p><p>“Finally!” Danser said, waving the sword around and smiling wider with each whipping hum of its enchanted blade. “The sword is in its rightful place and in hands that honor my teacher!”</p><p></p><p>“Do you mean to imply that my companion somehow dishonored that blade?” Markos asked, walking over. His voice carried as the crowd was already thinning, but those who were there heard it clearly.</p><p></p><p>“By his own admission he did not defeat Kilgante and thus did the sword no honor,” Danser replied, his lip curling with disgust.</p><p></p><p>“You had best watch how you speak of my companion,” Markos growled.</p><p></p><p>“By all means, sir… Pick up a blade and we shall pursue a conversation with steel and not with a wagging tongue that cannot accept that his friend was in error, and his defeat proves as much…”</p><p></p><p>“Feh.” Markos spun around and took a few steps away. “You would do well to learn how to speak…”</p><p></p><p>“Enough! Sir, you shall meet me here tomorrow at dawn and your impugning me in the moment of my triumph shall be seen to!” Danser challenged.</p><p></p><p>“No. I will not,” Markos replied calmly, turning back around. The crowd was getting rowdy. A few onlookers cried “coward!” in the anonymity of the crowd.</p><p></p><p>“Yes… Then you are a coward and by extension all you travel with are cowards if they will not stand to fight in your stead if you are too pathetic to fight for yourself,” Danser said, his voice rising in volume to assure that the crowd heard him.</p><p></p><p>The rest of the Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland glowered at Markos, Telémahkos’ head lolling as he was carried in Tim’s beefy arms. The brawny Briareus turned to carry his cousin to the healing house of Fallon.</p><p></p><p>Danser Von Huet Blued left the Duelist Market Square, calling out to remind Markos of their appointment the next day, as the murmurs in the crowded market turned to speculation as to whether Markos would even show up. “He has to show up,” they heard one passerby say. “He’s one of them nobles… It will reflect poorly on his House if he doesn’t.”</p><p></p><p>“Laarus?” Victoria asked the young priest as they walked behind Timotheus towards the temple. “Are you going to allow this?”</p><p></p><p>“My cousin’s mouth got him into this. I will help him, if he learns the humility to ask for help,” Laarus replied. “But I shall allow no one to disparage <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/House+Raymer" target="_blank">House Raymer</a>.”</p><p></p><p>Telémahkos groaned in a bed in the temple awakening from his stupor thanks to a spell from Phaedra of Fallon.</p><p></p><p>“You did very well… He was hard-pressed. You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Bleys said. Timotheus nodded.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, you should take consolation in that you did not embarrass yourself,” Victoria was the queen of cold comfort.</p><p></p><p>“Leave me alone!” Telémahkos complained.</p><p></p><p>Soon after Peter brought the young nobles back to the Golden Arch Bridge & Inn, save for Laarus who went back to the High Temple of Ra. On the way, Victoria continued to push the subject of Markos’ duel.</p><p></p><p>“I get to choose the weapon, right?” Markos shrugged. “I’ll just choose magic and win…”</p><p></p><p>“It doesn’t work that way,” Victoria replied. Meanwhile, Timotheus repeatedly asked that Victoria use the power of <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Anhur" target="_blank">Anhur</a> to heal Telémahkos some more so that he would suffer from no wounds or fatigue.</p><p></p><p>“All he needs is some rest,” Victoria finally replied as they climbed the steps up into the inn proper.</p><p></p><p>“Assassins may still be after him,” Timotheus replied. Telémahkos limped into the suite he shared with Tim and Tymon. He was sullen, and now feeling the majority of his bad feelings towards the militant.</p><p></p><p>“We are far from where he was attacked, and we are all here…” Victoria left to go to the common room and find some food.</p><p></p><p>After a nap, Telémahkos awoke to find Timotheus sitting out in the common room cleaning and oiling his weapons and armor.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, you’re awake! I thought we could go celebrate some at the Temp’s Rise Inn,” He said. “Some of the others are coming…”</p><p></p><p>“Victoria?” Telémahkos asked. Timotheus nodded. “Disinvite her,” Telie replied with rancor.</p><p></p><p>Timotheus, Telémahkos and Markos made their way to the Temp’s Rise Inn. Markos was hoping to talk over the prospects of his duel with Telémahkos. They took a set of chairs near the hearth for the day had become damp and the wind off the Captured Sea was biting, and proceeded to call over a lyrist and ordered big pitchers of ale and drank down the best whiskey in the house. Soon, they attracted buxom women with an eye for silver. One playfully ruffled Markos’ hair and nibbled at his ear. He sputtered when she slapped her ample bosom in his face. When she and her friends went over to the bar to fetch more ale, Markos looked to Telémahkos and Timotheus with wide eyes.</p><p></p><p>“I think she likes me!”</p><p></p><p>“She’s a whore,” Telémahkos rolled his eyes.</p><p></p><p>“Really?” Markos face grew almost childlike in its visible disappointment.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, but go ahead! Have fun!” Timotheus replied.</p><p></p><p>“I wouldn’t know how to bring up the issue of payment,” Markos’ tanned face grew red.</p><p></p><p>“She’s a businesswoman. Just be straightforward,” Timotheus said.</p><p></p><p>“Oh… I don’t know…”</p><p></p><p>“Do you want to know about duels or not?” Telémahkos snapped.</p><p></p><p>“Well…” Markos began.</p><p></p><p>“Forget it, while we have a moment, listen…” Telémahkos leaned over to Markos. “I’ll be your second. You feign sickness and I’ll get my second chance against that blowhard… Or…” He noticed Mercado the Magnificent enter the room, actually everyone did, for he never seemed to enter a room without leaping, vaulting, spinning and announcing his own name in an exaggerated trill. “Or, you can ask Mercado to be your second, if you really want to beat Danser’s ass!”</p><p></p><p>“He’ll charge too much,” Timotheus reasoned.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, and I prefer your special brand of viciousness,” Markos nodded in agreement.</p><p></p><p>After some more drinking, flirting, and groping, the three nobles went their separate ways. Markos headed back to Golden Arch Bridge & Inn. Telémahkos and Timotheus found Peter and had the gondolier dropped the former off at the Duelist Market Square, before taking Tim to the Wayhouse of Ptah.[sup]2[/sup] Telémahkos went back to the temple of Fallon and sought out Felix in order to get some more healing, after registering Markos’ duel with Danser the next day, with himself as second. He then went over to the weaponsmithy, run by a dark-haired tall and persnickety man named Dextrobe. There he left a deposit of three hundred pieces of silver in order to secure the use of a masterwork rapier for the next day’s duel, and a promise that he would be purchasing a quality weapon in the future.</p><p></p><p>Back at the inn, Markos ran into Laarus in the dining room and they discussed access to the tomes in the Library of Thoth located within the High Temple of Ra. [sup]3[/sup] Laarus had run into Telémahkos’ brother <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Nikephorus+of+Thoth" target="_blank">Nikephorus</a> at the temple, and had discussed having some acolytes do some cursory research for them on one or two topics as Markos had asked his cousin to look into the day before.</p><p></p><p>“It will cost fifty pieces of silver,” Laarus said.</p><p></p><p>“Fifty!” Markos complained. “Why so much? I just want to look through some books. They don’t need to have other people do it for me… Can’t I get access…?”</p><p></p><p>“They are sacred books, scribed by <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Librarians+of+Thoth" target="_blank">Librarians of Thoth</a> over many generations. Not just anyone is allowed access, and regardless, direct access would require a donation six or seven times what they are asking,” Laarus explained.</p><p></p><p>Markos grudgingly agreed. He wanted information regarding the southwestern shore of the Captured Sea with special attention paid to anything regarding <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/House+Amber" target="_blank">House Amber</a> or references to ‘gold’.</p><p></p><p>“Now, regarding your duel…” Laarus said.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t want to discuss it,” Markos replied.</p><p></p><p>“I know the man’s attitude might have been wanting, but it was breach of etiquette to goad him in his moment of just victory,” Laarus said.</p><p></p><p>“Thank you for helping me get this information, good cousin,” Markos said as he stood and then bowed with a flourish and a forced smile and left the dining room.</p><p></p><p>Evening crept in from the east, and several hours later, Telémahkos was in the suite common room talking with Tymon, while Timotheus was in one of the bedrooms, washing his face and changing his clothes for bed. There was a knock on the door.</p><p></p><p>There was a message at the front desk for Telémahkos. It was from <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Floris+Tenbrook" target="_blank">Floris Tenbrook</a>. Telémahkos told Tymon to tell Timotheus where he was going and closed the door behind him. The page sent to fetch him had already turned the corner past the narrow set of steps that led to their suite. When Telémahkos turned the corner at the hall that ran perpendicular to the wide stairway, he looked up startled. The door out to the steps that led to the front lobby was closing, but right in front of him was a tall man in a long woven coat. He had long dark hair hanging loose and moist around his acne-scarred face. There was something familiar about him, and Telémahkos knew what it was when the man pulled a long wicked dagger from his sleeve, even as he pulled back his coat to reveal short sword being slid out of its sheath.</p><p></p><p>Telémahkos cried out, but no sound emerged. He spun around. There was a lithe brown-haired woman with a pale and placid face standing some fifteen feet back down the hall closing in on him. He spun back around as he sensed the assassin’s blade thrusting at him. Telémahkos slammed his back to the wall and felt the wounds he had suffered earlier in the day ache him. He moved to flee, but the woman let loose with a dagger and it struck him pommel first in the face blackening his eye. He felt something crack in his mouth. The blade was so sharp that he felt it nick him on the leg as it slid down his body to the floor. He staggered. Overwhelmed by the sudden assault, the silence and the fatigue of his day. [sup]4[/sup]</p><p></p><p><em>…to be continued…</em></p><p></p><p>---------------------------------------</p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p></p><p>(1) Telémahkos suffered a fumble result that opened him up to an attack of opportunity.</p><p></p><p>(2) <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/story-hour/189277-second-son-second-son-aquerra-story-hour-updated-11-08-a-13.html#post4549923" target="_blank">See InterSession #27.1</a> to read about Tim's experiences at the wayhouse, as they were played out online after the session was over.</p><p></p><p>(3) There is a shrine of Thoth and full library dedicated to the apis-headed god within the grounds of the High Temple of Ra. Access to their lore is expensive.</p><p></p><p>(4) He was also not at maximum hit points.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el-remmen, post: 4531303, member: 11"] [b]Session #27 – “Loose Ends, New Threads” (part 2 of 3)[/b] “Make sure you give Peter a silver when we arrive,” Markos said to Bleys as they walked to the gondola after receiving the message that Peter was there to bring them to the duel. “Who is paying for this stuff anyway? Is it coming from our group fund?” “Euleria has the group fund in the vault in Sluetelot,” Bleys replied. “We must pay for all this from our own pockets… at least for now. If you want to tip the man, do it yourself.” “Ugh! This is little trip is going to get expensive,” the mage looked at a handful of coppers in his hand. “Do you think it would be insulting to Telémahkos if I do not attend his duel?” “No,” Bleys replied. “But if Telémahkos were to die, would you not be sorry you missed it?” “Yeah, I guess I would,” Markos smirked. In the end he paid Peter an extra five pieces of copper when they arrived at the Duelist Market Square. At this time of day, the area was clogged with boats, and it took some time for Peter to get close enough to allow them to disembark. Once they had, he left to pick up Telémahkos at the Temp’s Rising Inn. Closing in on midday, the place was bustling with people. Also, while most cities and towns in Thricia were mostly populated by humans, as Lilly City was, there were also a number of lizardfolk plying wares and smoked fish. Bleys and Markos arrived in time to catch the end of introduction of two duelists in the small arena. It was two local boys in their late teens, Rodger and Froederick fighting with long swords and shields. Their swordplay appeared to need some improvements. “Keep your guard up, Froederick!” They heard Timotheus cheering a combatant at random. Markos walked over to Tim, but Bleys mingled in the crowd asking about wagers. Soon, he was directed towards Jiminy Grick, the universally accepted odds-maker for duels in Lilly City. He was a little stocky man that might have been mistaken for a dwarf if not for a few inches and a lack of a beard. A large man with a gut as wide as his ample shoulders, stood to one side and slightly behind the diminutive bookie. “Hello there sir! Care to place a wager would you?” Jiminy asked. “Not on this duel, but on the next Telémahkos Briareus versus Danser Von Huet Blued,” Bleys replied. The odds were four to one against Telémahkos winning. Bleys bet a single silver. “Name?” Jiminy asked, as he took long piece of chalk from behind his ear and made a note on a piece of slate he kept tied to his belt with a sling. “Bleys Winter.” Jiminy looked up with surprise. “You’re Bleys the Aubergine! You and your friends killed all those people in [url=http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Kraken%27s+Cove]Kraken’s Cove[/url], and defeated Kilgante and took his sword!” “They were already dead when we arrived, and the sword was plucked from the sand,” Bleys explained. “So this Briareus never fought Kilgante?” Jiminy asked. “No.” “Hmmm… that might change the odds…” Jiminy rubbed his chin. “Hey! But you’re his companion! You’re not trying to hustle me are you?” “Hustle?” Bleys cocked an eyebrow. “The fix had better not be in,” Jiminy replied suspiciously. Bleys went wandering back through the crowd, trying to make smaller side bets with observers noting his intimacy with Telémahkos’ prowess and intimating its insufficiency to beat Danser. Victoria and Laarus arrived a few minutes after Telémahkos did. Azavia Heartsong, a freckle-faced young bard with long curly brown hair and a kind face that did all the announcing approached Telémahkos, asking him who his second would be and reminding him that neither he nor his opponent could use magical weapons during the duel, nor could they benefit from spells or other items during it either. She would be using a [I]detect magic[/I] spell to check them both immediately before the duel. Finally, she asked to hold [I]the Steel Whip[/I] in order to hold it up to the crowd when the announcement was made. Telémahkos told Timotheus (who was holding it for his cousin) to hand it over when the time came. Just when it looked like Danser Von Huet Blued would be late, his voice was heard calling to the crowd. He was leaping from gondola to gondola to reach the Duelist Market Square, as no more boats could reach the mooring. The crowd cheered with each great jump and then parted for him as he came tumbling into the arena with a cocky smile. A moment later oohs and ahs flittered across the crowd and people began to look up and point, and a round of applause spontaneously broke out. A man was coming down out of the sky. He wore a toga trimmed in light blue, with a sash of the same color and a blue-feathered cap. He had silver ankh around his neck, with a single white feather tied to it, and on his feet were sandals tied up to his knees that had tiny magical wings that were flapping like mad as he descended; his long brown hair fluttered in the wind. “Greetings people of Lilly City and the Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland!” His name was Hobbes the Wing-footed, and he was a renowned [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Windservants+of+Shu]Windservant of Shu[/url] who served in the local watch-mage’s council. “I have come to see one of these young nobles of growing fame fight an honorable duel!” For a few moments the flamboyant man stole the spotlight. Soon, it was time for the duelists to be introduced. “Ladies and Gentlemen of Lilly City and esteemed visitors from other parts of Thricia and beyond. We are here to witness the trial by combat of Telémahkos of House Briareus and Danser Von Huet Blued, student of the famed swordsman, Kilgante Valeros in order to determine rightful ownership of the sword of Valeros, [I]the Steel Whip[/I]!” Her voice was projected by means of the [I]announce[/I] spell, and she introduced Timotheus Smith as Telémahkos’ second, and Danser’s second was a hulking man with a great sword referred to as ‘Mulenbeck the Crusher’. “It is not too late to yield to justice and just give up the sword,” Danser offered. “I was about to ask you the same thing, to give up your claim,” Telémahkos replied. Danser just turned his back and went to one corner of the dueling square and took off his vest. As was the custom in Thrician sword duels, neither participant wore armor of any kind. The two swordsmen met at the middle of the square facing each other and gave each other a short bow and touched blades, before each taking a few steps back. “En garde!” Danser cried and the fight was on. “Take him down, Killer! Take him down!” Timotheus yelled as the blades met and the crowd soon echoed with cheers and boos of its own. Telémahkos was aggressive from the beginning, allowing himself a smile when his first good thrust skated off of Danser’s blade and nicked the outside of the man’s wrist. But his smile did not last long, Danser met aggression with aggression, and Telémahkos reeled a bit when the pommel of his opponent’s blade struck him square on the chest. “That was the last hit you shall score,” Danser said, flicking the pain from his wrist along with a few drops of blood. They came towards each other again, this time more cautiously, their rapiers ringing against each other as neither could get the advantage on the other. Telémahkos fought on the defensive, waiting for his opening, but his arm was growing tired. Pushed back, he was barely able to parry a blow aimed for his heart, and time seemed to slow as he saw the point of the blade checked less than half an inch from his chest. He flicked back hard, and the swordsmen separated again. The next time their blades met, Telémahkos took an aggressive tact again, and in return, Danser tried a wild riposte that left him momentarily open. “Run him through!” Timotheus bellowed, barely audible over the roar of the crowd as Telémahkos felt his blade bite his opponent’s ribs. Blood blossomed on Danser’s shirt. He tried another weak riposte, but could barely get his arm up. Telémahkos sensed victory. He stepped in to apply the finishing blow, and his eyes widened as he felt something slip beneath his boot. Instinctively, he looked down. It was blood and as suddenly it was all he could do keep on his feet, struggling to keep his balance, and lowering his guard. [sup]1[/sup] Telémahkos did not feel the pain of the blow. He just saw the world blur and spin and he turned and collapsed, blood flowing out around him. “As his second it is up to you to say if he yields…” Felix of Fallon said to Timotheus from his place observing the duel nearby. “Uh… He yields…” Tim replied. “He totally yields…” Felix walked over and applied a [I]cure minor wounds[/I] on Telémahkos to make sure he did not bleed out. Azavia Heartsong walked over and handed [I]the Steel Whip[/I] to Danser Von Huet Blued. He held it up in triumph. “Finally!” Danser said, waving the sword around and smiling wider with each whipping hum of its enchanted blade. “The sword is in its rightful place and in hands that honor my teacher!” “Do you mean to imply that my companion somehow dishonored that blade?” Markos asked, walking over. His voice carried as the crowd was already thinning, but those who were there heard it clearly. “By his own admission he did not defeat Kilgante and thus did the sword no honor,” Danser replied, his lip curling with disgust. “You had best watch how you speak of my companion,” Markos growled. “By all means, sir… Pick up a blade and we shall pursue a conversation with steel and not with a wagging tongue that cannot accept that his friend was in error, and his defeat proves as much…” “Feh.” Markos spun around and took a few steps away. “You would do well to learn how to speak…” “Enough! Sir, you shall meet me here tomorrow at dawn and your impugning me in the moment of my triumph shall be seen to!” Danser challenged. “No. I will not,” Markos replied calmly, turning back around. The crowd was getting rowdy. A few onlookers cried “coward!” in the anonymity of the crowd. “Yes… Then you are a coward and by extension all you travel with are cowards if they will not stand to fight in your stead if you are too pathetic to fight for yourself,” Danser said, his voice rising in volume to assure that the crowd heard him. The rest of the Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland glowered at Markos, Telémahkos’ head lolling as he was carried in Tim’s beefy arms. The brawny Briareus turned to carry his cousin to the healing house of Fallon. Danser Von Huet Blued left the Duelist Market Square, calling out to remind Markos of their appointment the next day, as the murmurs in the crowded market turned to speculation as to whether Markos would even show up. “He has to show up,” they heard one passerby say. “He’s one of them nobles… It will reflect poorly on his House if he doesn’t.” “Laarus?” Victoria asked the young priest as they walked behind Timotheus towards the temple. “Are you going to allow this?” “My cousin’s mouth got him into this. I will help him, if he learns the humility to ask for help,” Laarus replied. “But I shall allow no one to disparage [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/House+Raymer]House Raymer[/url].” Telémahkos groaned in a bed in the temple awakening from his stupor thanks to a spell from Phaedra of Fallon. “You did very well… He was hard-pressed. You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Bleys said. Timotheus nodded. “Yes, you should take consolation in that you did not embarrass yourself,” Victoria was the queen of cold comfort. “Leave me alone!” Telémahkos complained. Soon after Peter brought the young nobles back to the Golden Arch Bridge & Inn, save for Laarus who went back to the High Temple of Ra. On the way, Victoria continued to push the subject of Markos’ duel. “I get to choose the weapon, right?” Markos shrugged. “I’ll just choose magic and win…” “It doesn’t work that way,” Victoria replied. Meanwhile, Timotheus repeatedly asked that Victoria use the power of [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Anhur]Anhur[/url] to heal Telémahkos some more so that he would suffer from no wounds or fatigue. “All he needs is some rest,” Victoria finally replied as they climbed the steps up into the inn proper. “Assassins may still be after him,” Timotheus replied. Telémahkos limped into the suite he shared with Tim and Tymon. He was sullen, and now feeling the majority of his bad feelings towards the militant. “We are far from where he was attacked, and we are all here…” Victoria left to go to the common room and find some food. After a nap, Telémahkos awoke to find Timotheus sitting out in the common room cleaning and oiling his weapons and armor. “Oh, you’re awake! I thought we could go celebrate some at the Temp’s Rise Inn,” He said. “Some of the others are coming…” “Victoria?” Telémahkos asked. Timotheus nodded. “Disinvite her,” Telie replied with rancor. Timotheus, Telémahkos and Markos made their way to the Temp’s Rise Inn. Markos was hoping to talk over the prospects of his duel with Telémahkos. They took a set of chairs near the hearth for the day had become damp and the wind off the Captured Sea was biting, and proceeded to call over a lyrist and ordered big pitchers of ale and drank down the best whiskey in the house. Soon, they attracted buxom women with an eye for silver. One playfully ruffled Markos’ hair and nibbled at his ear. He sputtered when she slapped her ample bosom in his face. When she and her friends went over to the bar to fetch more ale, Markos looked to Telémahkos and Timotheus with wide eyes. “I think she likes me!” “She’s a whore,” Telémahkos rolled his eyes. “Really?” Markos face grew almost childlike in its visible disappointment. “Yeah, but go ahead! Have fun!” Timotheus replied. “I wouldn’t know how to bring up the issue of payment,” Markos’ tanned face grew red. “She’s a businesswoman. Just be straightforward,” Timotheus said. “Oh… I don’t know…” “Do you want to know about duels or not?” Telémahkos snapped. “Well…” Markos began. “Forget it, while we have a moment, listen…” Telémahkos leaned over to Markos. “I’ll be your second. You feign sickness and I’ll get my second chance against that blowhard… Or…” He noticed Mercado the Magnificent enter the room, actually everyone did, for he never seemed to enter a room without leaping, vaulting, spinning and announcing his own name in an exaggerated trill. “Or, you can ask Mercado to be your second, if you really want to beat Danser’s ass!” “He’ll charge too much,” Timotheus reasoned. “Yes, and I prefer your special brand of viciousness,” Markos nodded in agreement. After some more drinking, flirting, and groping, the three nobles went their separate ways. Markos headed back to Golden Arch Bridge & Inn. Telémahkos and Timotheus found Peter and had the gondolier dropped the former off at the Duelist Market Square, before taking Tim to the Wayhouse of Ptah.[sup]2[/sup] Telémahkos went back to the temple of Fallon and sought out Felix in order to get some more healing, after registering Markos’ duel with Danser the next day, with himself as second. He then went over to the weaponsmithy, run by a dark-haired tall and persnickety man named Dextrobe. There he left a deposit of three hundred pieces of silver in order to secure the use of a masterwork rapier for the next day’s duel, and a promise that he would be purchasing a quality weapon in the future. Back at the inn, Markos ran into Laarus in the dining room and they discussed access to the tomes in the Library of Thoth located within the High Temple of Ra. [sup]3[/sup] Laarus had run into Telémahkos’ brother [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Nikephorus+of+Thoth]Nikephorus[/url] at the temple, and had discussed having some acolytes do some cursory research for them on one or two topics as Markos had asked his cousin to look into the day before. “It will cost fifty pieces of silver,” Laarus said. “Fifty!” Markos complained. “Why so much? I just want to look through some books. They don’t need to have other people do it for me… Can’t I get access…?” “They are sacred books, scribed by [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Librarians+of+Thoth]Librarians of Thoth[/url] over many generations. Not just anyone is allowed access, and regardless, direct access would require a donation six or seven times what they are asking,” Laarus explained. Markos grudgingly agreed. He wanted information regarding the southwestern shore of the Captured Sea with special attention paid to anything regarding [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/House+Amber]House Amber[/url] or references to ‘gold’. “Now, regarding your duel…” Laarus said. “I don’t want to discuss it,” Markos replied. “I know the man’s attitude might have been wanting, but it was breach of etiquette to goad him in his moment of just victory,” Laarus said. “Thank you for helping me get this information, good cousin,” Markos said as he stood and then bowed with a flourish and a forced smile and left the dining room. Evening crept in from the east, and several hours later, Telémahkos was in the suite common room talking with Tymon, while Timotheus was in one of the bedrooms, washing his face and changing his clothes for bed. There was a knock on the door. There was a message at the front desk for Telémahkos. It was from [url= http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Floris+Tenbrook]Floris Tenbrook[/url]. Telémahkos told Tymon to tell Timotheus where he was going and closed the door behind him. The page sent to fetch him had already turned the corner past the narrow set of steps that led to their suite. When Telémahkos turned the corner at the hall that ran perpendicular to the wide stairway, he looked up startled. The door out to the steps that led to the front lobby was closing, but right in front of him was a tall man in a long woven coat. He had long dark hair hanging loose and moist around his acne-scarred face. There was something familiar about him, and Telémahkos knew what it was when the man pulled a long wicked dagger from his sleeve, even as he pulled back his coat to reveal short sword being slid out of its sheath. Telémahkos cried out, but no sound emerged. He spun around. There was a lithe brown-haired woman with a pale and placid face standing some fifteen feet back down the hall closing in on him. He spun back around as he sensed the assassin’s blade thrusting at him. Telémahkos slammed his back to the wall and felt the wounds he had suffered earlier in the day ache him. He moved to flee, but the woman let loose with a dagger and it struck him pommel first in the face blackening his eye. He felt something crack in his mouth. The blade was so sharp that he felt it nick him on the leg as it slid down his body to the floor. He staggered. Overwhelmed by the sudden assault, the silence and the fatigue of his day. [sup]4[/sup] [I]…to be continued…[/I] --------------------------------------- [b]Notes:[/b] (1) Telémahkos suffered a fumble result that opened him up to an attack of opportunity. (2) [url=http://www.enworld.org/forum/story-hour/189277-second-son-second-son-aquerra-story-hour-updated-11-08-a-13.html#post4549923]See InterSession #27.1[/url] to read about Tim's experiences at the wayhouse, as they were played out online after the session was over. (3) There is a shrine of Thoth and full library dedicated to the apis-headed god within the grounds of the High Temple of Ra. Access to their lore is expensive. (4) He was also not at maximum hit points. [/QUOTE]
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"Second Son of a Second Son" - An Aquerra Story Hour (*finally* Updated 04/19)
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