Aust Thale
Adventurer
Respen's Ten Months...
~ Time passed more slowly…and the seasons more quickly…~
Respen opened the door to the tailor’s shop, a small bell’s tinkle announcing his presence.
The tailor, a dour older gnome by the name of Felwin Umziver, stepped down from a stepstool and into the anteroom to greet him.
“Mr. Coraellus, well-met. I appreciate your mentioning me to your acquaintances Misters Stonegallows and Moresby. They were both by to see me last week. Mr. Moresby had particular tastes, but I shall endeavor to satisfy him properly.”
“Very well, Mr. Umziver”, Respen replied. “Thank you. Yes, he is a Lord and aspiring royalty, and as such his tastes are particular. I am pleased that you were able to assist them.”
“I presume you are here picking up?” Felwin asked politely.
“Indeed,” replied Respen.
Felwin reaches below a counter and removes a very well-made all-weather vest with a houndstooth-quilted-cushion liner and toughened seams and piping around the edges.
The inseams held hidden pockets. “The patterns are unique. A challenge to sew, but a welcome one. I think you will find these hold up very well to travelling while providing the best comfort to wear.”
Respen hands the gnome 10 platinum pieces, “A gratuity for your efforts, payment having been provided at request.”
The gnome smiles, “And no questions asked.” Respen smiles and nods, “And no questions asked.”
Collin had introduced Felwin to Respen. The three had enjoyed an occasional breakfast or spot of tea with each other over the months. They enjoyed each other’s stories, although Respen carefully left out the adventures since Dyvers. He had approached Felwin before the twins were born to make blankets and children’s clothes for the twins as infants. Felwin had magically enhanced a set of jumpers that would grow as they did. Fortunately, they were magically resistant to the stains and smells that normally accompanied young children. In turn, Respen had referred his adventuring friends to Felwin. Collin was amused. The gnome was actually a wizard with a penchant for prestidigitation, and he fashioned himself a purveyor of secrets. Of course, some secrets eluded him, despite being right under his gnomish nose.
Respen walked back toward the tower, taking a different path from the previous week. He moved about the city carefully, in a random pattern. He would even teleport out of and back into the tower to and from locations about the city. He had reached a breakthrough early in his studies, adapting a more minor dimension door spell to full-length teleportation. Today, he would walk to a tavern near the upper-caste area of the city; an alley existed behind it with a blind spot. From there, he would teleport back to the tower.
It had been nearly ten months since the encounter at the steading, the whirlwind travels to Skorane, his imprisonment and apprenticeship with Dame Clare, and meeting Nel, the mother of his children. This had been the longest period that he had stayed in one place since travelling from his home in the Enllaves. Hochoch was a good enough city. Abigail was splendid beyond words. Each of the party members had found tutelage under her. She was ancient, and insomuch had generations of experience and knowledge to impart. Respen didn’t take up much of her time. He would ask for directions once a week, he would present his research and work to her at the end of the same week to show progress, and occasionally, if he became stumped, he would call on her to edge him along. His uncle Auror’s focus on research had developed Respen into being very self-sufficient; Abigail appreciated it. And her library...her library was massive...dwarfing Laramon’s and Dame Clare’s by many orders of magnitude. Indeed, Auror’s library held but a few books on more esoteric subjects, but Abigail’s held no less than a room of intrepid volumes devoted to planes, planets, and powers. Respen spent weeks upon weeks in the library, sixteen hour days, identifying scripts, studying spells, making magic items, and practicing that which he learned. Abigail's many unseen servants carried on with the mundane tasks in the tower. His task was but to learn deeply.
Nel was nearly as dogged as he was in the library, and they would laugh and tease each other about which of them could discover more tantalizing magical secrets than the other. Occasionally, before the wee ones came, Nel and Respen would walk together in the evenings in the city. They both loved starry nights, particularly the winter ones, the chill in the air making the skies clear and refreshing. It was in those moments of laughter and looking forward to the future that they both found themselves and each other, without the help of bards or vampires. Nel had finally let some of her guard down. Abigail had befriended her as well as mentored her, and the two of them found fellowship with each other often. The dragons were good mentors, and they all had become quite fond of them.
That fondness worried him. Something other than the summer heat seemed to weight the air. The giant and orc attacks had abruptly halted, at least until recently. A brief fleeting moment of tranquility had followed them into the deep autumn and winter months, breaking way into spring and summer. He had been so focused on his studies, Nel, and then his new children, he had failed to notice. Today in the city, the summer heat seemed touched by something weightier...something darker. Perhaps it was the giants again; Abigail had kept a magical eye on them. Perhaps it was his link to his vampire. Perhaps it was something else. Something elusive.
He decided to contact Laramon. He had become accustomed to Laramon’s sendings, and he had taken the time to learn to do it himself very early in his stay with Abigail and Collin. Intent on keeping the dragons’ secret in totality, he would only conduct such conversations outside of the tower, usually on his way to see Felwin. Collin’s presence as an elf was normal…an additional adventurer on our travels. Laramon had sent congratulations on the twins, and he was particularly interested in Nel’s well-being. If Respen hadn’t known better, he might have surmised that Laramon was taken with Nel. Nevertheless, their relationship, albeit distanced, improved measureably since their last encounter. He even shared that he had mentioned Respen's existence and predicament to Master Delbin. Perhaps Respen's distance from Dame Clare and the Orb made him feel better.
~Laramon, it is Respen. I sense something building. Something dark. Thoughts?~
Upon receiving an answer, he turned the corner of the tavern, made sure no one followed him, and cast the spell quietly to take him back to the tower.
[sblock=Respen's Actions During the Ten Months, Magic Items Taken From Loot, & Family Matters]
Outset: PurchaseRing of Counterspell (4,000 gp); Potion of Storm Giant Strength (600); Tome of Clear Thought (+2) from Abigail(55,000 gp)
Month 1: Research into Planes, Planets, and Powers, Magical Tomes, Draconic Tomes, and StrangePotions and
Wands; Craft (w/ Vale) Blessed Book, Hat of Anonymity & Infinite Scrollcase.
Month 2: Decipher & Copy Spells from Scrolls in Spellbook; Craft (w/Vale) for Scrying Shard, Amulet of Natural Armor +3 & Vest of Resistance +1 w/ pockets for wands and various magical and mundane items.
Month 3: Copy Existing Spells into Boccob's Blessed Book; Craft Wand of Knock (3rd), Wand of Grease, & Wand of Nerveskitter, & Wand of Prestidigitation.
Month 4: Craft Respen’s Boots of Magical Mobility; Copy Existing Spells into Blessed Spellbook
Month 5: Copy Existing Spells into Boccob's Blessed Book
Month 6: Craft for/with others: Nel, Sylvar, Dewydd,Lathir, Vale, Thallok, Kleborn, Tam, Duncan & Ebony & bros.
Month 7: Copy Existing Spells into Boccob's Blessed Book
Month 8: Magical Children's outfits; Craft for others(Potions, Scrolls, Wands);
Month 9: Birth of Children: (Quillion & Aeverie Coraellus-Delzeen)
Month 10: Cast Spells &Permanent on Self: See Invisibility; Read Magic;
Darkvision; Special Respen’s Arcane Sight
[/sblock]
In Respen's exchanges w/ Abigail, he does his best to speak draconic to her out of respect, and when not speaking draconic, he speaks elvish.
He asks only what he can do for her as thanks for taking him and a with-children Nelvandra into her home. He expresses high interest in Tomes and spellbooks, as well as the Planes, Planets, and Powers in her library. He shares the abilities of his staff, as well as his origins and original rationale for travelling east to find Delbin Archaenus. After awhile, he explains his oath to the Orb, expressing his mixed feelings about it, yet grudgingly recognizing and accepting it because it provided for his relationship with Nelvandra and the children. As chafing as he finds rules and confinement, having a family grows on him, and he shares this with Abigail as appropriate and as she allows. He also mentions his experience with the Djinn Prince, hoping again to make his acquaintance without any forced quid pro quo.
He goes to great pains to be a good guest, and when the children are born, he again expresses gratitude for their lodging and care. His only request is to allow him to send to Laramon while outside in the city, painstakingly avoiding her existence to Laramon.
~ Time passed more slowly…and the seasons more quickly…~
Respen opened the door to the tailor’s shop, a small bell’s tinkle announcing his presence.
The tailor, a dour older gnome by the name of Felwin Umziver, stepped down from a stepstool and into the anteroom to greet him.
“Mr. Coraellus, well-met. I appreciate your mentioning me to your acquaintances Misters Stonegallows and Moresby. They were both by to see me last week. Mr. Moresby had particular tastes, but I shall endeavor to satisfy him properly.”
“Very well, Mr. Umziver”, Respen replied. “Thank you. Yes, he is a Lord and aspiring royalty, and as such his tastes are particular. I am pleased that you were able to assist them.”
“I presume you are here picking up?” Felwin asked politely.
“Indeed,” replied Respen.
Felwin reaches below a counter and removes a very well-made all-weather vest with a houndstooth-quilted-cushion liner and toughened seams and piping around the edges.
The inseams held hidden pockets. “The patterns are unique. A challenge to sew, but a welcome one. I think you will find these hold up very well to travelling while providing the best comfort to wear.”
Respen hands the gnome 10 platinum pieces, “A gratuity for your efforts, payment having been provided at request.”
The gnome smiles, “And no questions asked.” Respen smiles and nods, “And no questions asked.”
Collin had introduced Felwin to Respen. The three had enjoyed an occasional breakfast or spot of tea with each other over the months. They enjoyed each other’s stories, although Respen carefully left out the adventures since Dyvers. He had approached Felwin before the twins were born to make blankets and children’s clothes for the twins as infants. Felwin had magically enhanced a set of jumpers that would grow as they did. Fortunately, they were magically resistant to the stains and smells that normally accompanied young children. In turn, Respen had referred his adventuring friends to Felwin. Collin was amused. The gnome was actually a wizard with a penchant for prestidigitation, and he fashioned himself a purveyor of secrets. Of course, some secrets eluded him, despite being right under his gnomish nose.
Respen walked back toward the tower, taking a different path from the previous week. He moved about the city carefully, in a random pattern. He would even teleport out of and back into the tower to and from locations about the city. He had reached a breakthrough early in his studies, adapting a more minor dimension door spell to full-length teleportation. Today, he would walk to a tavern near the upper-caste area of the city; an alley existed behind it with a blind spot. From there, he would teleport back to the tower.
It had been nearly ten months since the encounter at the steading, the whirlwind travels to Skorane, his imprisonment and apprenticeship with Dame Clare, and meeting Nel, the mother of his children. This had been the longest period that he had stayed in one place since travelling from his home in the Enllaves. Hochoch was a good enough city. Abigail was splendid beyond words. Each of the party members had found tutelage under her. She was ancient, and insomuch had generations of experience and knowledge to impart. Respen didn’t take up much of her time. He would ask for directions once a week, he would present his research and work to her at the end of the same week to show progress, and occasionally, if he became stumped, he would call on her to edge him along. His uncle Auror’s focus on research had developed Respen into being very self-sufficient; Abigail appreciated it. And her library...her library was massive...dwarfing Laramon’s and Dame Clare’s by many orders of magnitude. Indeed, Auror’s library held but a few books on more esoteric subjects, but Abigail’s held no less than a room of intrepid volumes devoted to planes, planets, and powers. Respen spent weeks upon weeks in the library, sixteen hour days, identifying scripts, studying spells, making magic items, and practicing that which he learned. Abigail's many unseen servants carried on with the mundane tasks in the tower. His task was but to learn deeply.
Nel was nearly as dogged as he was in the library, and they would laugh and tease each other about which of them could discover more tantalizing magical secrets than the other. Occasionally, before the wee ones came, Nel and Respen would walk together in the evenings in the city. They both loved starry nights, particularly the winter ones, the chill in the air making the skies clear and refreshing. It was in those moments of laughter and looking forward to the future that they both found themselves and each other, without the help of bards or vampires. Nel had finally let some of her guard down. Abigail had befriended her as well as mentored her, and the two of them found fellowship with each other often. The dragons were good mentors, and they all had become quite fond of them.
That fondness worried him. Something other than the summer heat seemed to weight the air. The giant and orc attacks had abruptly halted, at least until recently. A brief fleeting moment of tranquility had followed them into the deep autumn and winter months, breaking way into spring and summer. He had been so focused on his studies, Nel, and then his new children, he had failed to notice. Today in the city, the summer heat seemed touched by something weightier...something darker. Perhaps it was the giants again; Abigail had kept a magical eye on them. Perhaps it was his link to his vampire. Perhaps it was something else. Something elusive.
He decided to contact Laramon. He had become accustomed to Laramon’s sendings, and he had taken the time to learn to do it himself very early in his stay with Abigail and Collin. Intent on keeping the dragons’ secret in totality, he would only conduct such conversations outside of the tower, usually on his way to see Felwin. Collin’s presence as an elf was normal…an additional adventurer on our travels. Laramon had sent congratulations on the twins, and he was particularly interested in Nel’s well-being. If Respen hadn’t known better, he might have surmised that Laramon was taken with Nel. Nevertheless, their relationship, albeit distanced, improved measureably since their last encounter. He even shared that he had mentioned Respen's existence and predicament to Master Delbin. Perhaps Respen's distance from Dame Clare and the Orb made him feel better.
~Laramon, it is Respen. I sense something building. Something dark. Thoughts?~
Upon receiving an answer, he turned the corner of the tavern, made sure no one followed him, and cast the spell quietly to take him back to the tower.
[sblock=Respen's Actions During the Ten Months, Magic Items Taken From Loot, & Family Matters]
Outset: PurchaseRing of Counterspell (4,000 gp); Potion of Storm Giant Strength (600); Tome of Clear Thought (+2) from Abigail(55,000 gp)
Month 1: Research into Planes, Planets, and Powers, Magical Tomes, Draconic Tomes, and StrangePotions and
Wands; Craft (w/ Vale) Blessed Book, Hat of Anonymity & Infinite Scrollcase.
Month 2: Decipher & Copy Spells from Scrolls in Spellbook; Craft (w/Vale) for Scrying Shard, Amulet of Natural Armor +3 & Vest of Resistance +1 w/ pockets for wands and various magical and mundane items.
Month 3: Copy Existing Spells into Boccob's Blessed Book; Craft Wand of Knock (3rd), Wand of Grease, & Wand of Nerveskitter, & Wand of Prestidigitation.
Month 4: Craft Respen’s Boots of Magical Mobility; Copy Existing Spells into Blessed Spellbook
Month 5: Copy Existing Spells into Boccob's Blessed Book
Month 6: Craft for/with others: Nel, Sylvar, Dewydd,Lathir, Vale, Thallok, Kleborn, Tam, Duncan & Ebony & bros.
Month 7: Copy Existing Spells into Boccob's Blessed Book
Month 8: Magical Children's outfits; Craft for others(Potions, Scrolls, Wands);
Month 9: Birth of Children: (Quillion & Aeverie Coraellus-Delzeen)
Month 10: Cast Spells &Permanent on Self: See Invisibility; Read Magic;
Darkvision; Special Respen’s Arcane Sight
[/sblock]
In Respen's exchanges w/ Abigail, he does his best to speak draconic to her out of respect, and when not speaking draconic, he speaks elvish.
He asks only what he can do for her as thanks for taking him and a with-children Nelvandra into her home. He expresses high interest in Tomes and spellbooks, as well as the Planes, Planets, and Powers in her library. He shares the abilities of his staff, as well as his origins and original rationale for travelling east to find Delbin Archaenus. After awhile, he explains his oath to the Orb, expressing his mixed feelings about it, yet grudgingly recognizing and accepting it because it provided for his relationship with Nelvandra and the children. As chafing as he finds rules and confinement, having a family grows on him, and he shares this with Abigail as appropriate and as she allows. He also mentions his experience with the Djinn Prince, hoping again to make his acquaintance without any forced quid pro quo.
He goes to great pains to be a good guest, and when the children are born, he again expresses gratitude for their lodging and care. His only request is to allow him to send to Laramon while outside in the city, painstakingly avoiding her existence to Laramon.
Last edited: