diaglo
Adventurer
A blurring of storylines: Timmay, Bernedette, and Eliar
"Elliard!! " Bernedette blurted, "I was extremely worried when we found out the keep was under siege. I have both good and bad news. The good news is now the priest of Chauntea is dead, it frees some stuff up for us to do. Bad news is, something bad is going to happen in two tendays. I dont think the group will want to go search for the temple, im afraid. Unless, i can find it before that time period is up."
She looked at him with eyes that were sad. "I want to help you and discover the secrets of Corellion myself. I've been praying to him and i feel he has been by my side. I brought Timmay with me because he had some things he wanted to ask you. By the way, how has the Summoning spell worked?"
"Corellon be praised! It is good to see you again, child." Eliar responded. "And well met to your companion, whom I suspect is a mage of no small water! We observed a great battle among the orc catapults from the battlements. I feared that perhaps you had been lost. Luckily, the orcs, animals that they are, never found a way into our keep. I spent most of my time putting out the fires that their catapults lobbed over the walls, and dodging arrows on the battlements."
He motioned for the two adventurers to have a seat in his study, which is rather messier than the last time Bernadette visited. The suit of fine chain that hangs against one wall is smoke-blackened and has obviously seen recent use.
"I never put the summoning to use, I'm afraid, as I was saving that in case the beasts broke in. Merbieren asked that I put my arcane skills to work helping the people of the Helm, and that I did."
He paused briefly in reflection, then continued.
"I am glad to hear you believe Corellon is with you. There are many that would take offense at a human worshiping the Protector, but we have for so long fought the long retreat, and I think it is time that his teachings received a wider audience. Though you must realize I am no priest, and that, having lived much of my life with the humans of the Dale, many of my fellows feel I'm corrupted by your, *ahem* "short-sighted" worldview. Fear not about the shrine. It has been lost for a mere 200 years, but half my lifetime. A few weeks or months or even years are of little note. There is time yet."
He began to putter about, tidying up.
"But is there some reason you come to visit, so soon after the battle? We have much to do here to put things right, and I am weary after a tenday of siege."
"I wont have time to truly make what i would like," Bernedette added, "and as much as id like to scibe into my own spellbook, i think i will just keep reading this and see if i can try to read his notes and prepare them from his notes for a while. After all, we dont have much time in this matter."
She looked at Timmay and Elliar. "He's right about the time issue. You have been around hundreds of years. I, only 16. As soon as this is done, we will seek the temple out. Corellion has more for me to learn before i go there i imagine."
She turned to Timmay. "We need to also head back to Ashabenford with the body of the priest. As proof to the Master Harvester and to the Table of the Bountiful Harvest. She said we would be rewarded. Maybe we could get some more healing potions."
Ellier also turned to Timmay. "Ah, fellow seeker of knowledge! I am sad to say that the recent calamity has deprived me of much of the ingredients I use for my own magical research, and I await another delivery of supplies. Let me take stock." He pauses to examine what is left of the special papers, quills, and inks on his workbench. "Ah, I have but little supply, but it shall suffice, I think. You would be prepared to share what you have found in the tome with me? May I examine it?"
The elven mage cast a minor incantation, then lowered his head to examine the profferred spellbook. "The great disc spell of the archmage Tenser! Would that I had had this a tenday ago, so I had not strained my back so hauling buckets of water! Hmmm. Others of these I have equivalents for, or no use. Though the ability to create a magical ward here will be of use to the Castellan, no doubt."
"I also appreciate your concern for my people. Wise as your people are in the ways of the arcane, they have seldom offered to help the elves out of mere friendship. Very well. You have done a great service to the Helm, and I owe a service in return. For the spells of which I spoke, should you allow me to copy them from this tome, I shall give each of you a gift of quills, inks, and parchment sufficient to scribe one equivalent magick. Timmay, for your offer of help, and a share in the fruits of your research, I shall offer you the materials to complete your research, for the sum of, say, 500 gold talents, or the equivalent in gems or goods? I would do more, but that sorely depletes my stock of magical implements. I would part with more, but it is dear to me -- I would ask that you share 200 talents per spellbook page of materials, and I have but eight pages worth to spare. What say you?"
"Elliard!! " Bernedette blurted, "I was extremely worried when we found out the keep was under siege. I have both good and bad news. The good news is now the priest of Chauntea is dead, it frees some stuff up for us to do. Bad news is, something bad is going to happen in two tendays. I dont think the group will want to go search for the temple, im afraid. Unless, i can find it before that time period is up."
She looked at him with eyes that were sad. "I want to help you and discover the secrets of Corellion myself. I've been praying to him and i feel he has been by my side. I brought Timmay with me because he had some things he wanted to ask you. By the way, how has the Summoning spell worked?"
"Corellon be praised! It is good to see you again, child." Eliar responded. "And well met to your companion, whom I suspect is a mage of no small water! We observed a great battle among the orc catapults from the battlements. I feared that perhaps you had been lost. Luckily, the orcs, animals that they are, never found a way into our keep. I spent most of my time putting out the fires that their catapults lobbed over the walls, and dodging arrows on the battlements."
He motioned for the two adventurers to have a seat in his study, which is rather messier than the last time Bernadette visited. The suit of fine chain that hangs against one wall is smoke-blackened and has obviously seen recent use.
"I never put the summoning to use, I'm afraid, as I was saving that in case the beasts broke in. Merbieren asked that I put my arcane skills to work helping the people of the Helm, and that I did."
He paused briefly in reflection, then continued.
"I am glad to hear you believe Corellon is with you. There are many that would take offense at a human worshiping the Protector, but we have for so long fought the long retreat, and I think it is time that his teachings received a wider audience. Though you must realize I am no priest, and that, having lived much of my life with the humans of the Dale, many of my fellows feel I'm corrupted by your, *ahem* "short-sighted" worldview. Fear not about the shrine. It has been lost for a mere 200 years, but half my lifetime. A few weeks or months or even years are of little note. There is time yet."
He began to putter about, tidying up.
"But is there some reason you come to visit, so soon after the battle? We have much to do here to put things right, and I am weary after a tenday of siege."
"I wont have time to truly make what i would like," Bernedette added, "and as much as id like to scibe into my own spellbook, i think i will just keep reading this and see if i can try to read his notes and prepare them from his notes for a while. After all, we dont have much time in this matter."
She looked at Timmay and Elliar. "He's right about the time issue. You have been around hundreds of years. I, only 16. As soon as this is done, we will seek the temple out. Corellion has more for me to learn before i go there i imagine."
She turned to Timmay. "We need to also head back to Ashabenford with the body of the priest. As proof to the Master Harvester and to the Table of the Bountiful Harvest. She said we would be rewarded. Maybe we could get some more healing potions."
Ellier also turned to Timmay. "Ah, fellow seeker of knowledge! I am sad to say that the recent calamity has deprived me of much of the ingredients I use for my own magical research, and I await another delivery of supplies. Let me take stock." He pauses to examine what is left of the special papers, quills, and inks on his workbench. "Ah, I have but little supply, but it shall suffice, I think. You would be prepared to share what you have found in the tome with me? May I examine it?"
The elven mage cast a minor incantation, then lowered his head to examine the profferred spellbook. "The great disc spell of the archmage Tenser! Would that I had had this a tenday ago, so I had not strained my back so hauling buckets of water! Hmmm. Others of these I have equivalents for, or no use. Though the ability to create a magical ward here will be of use to the Castellan, no doubt."
"I also appreciate your concern for my people. Wise as your people are in the ways of the arcane, they have seldom offered to help the elves out of mere friendship. Very well. You have done a great service to the Helm, and I owe a service in return. For the spells of which I spoke, should you allow me to copy them from this tome, I shall give each of you a gift of quills, inks, and parchment sufficient to scribe one equivalent magick. Timmay, for your offer of help, and a share in the fruits of your research, I shall offer you the materials to complete your research, for the sum of, say, 500 gold talents, or the equivalent in gems or goods? I would do more, but that sorely depletes my stock of magical implements. I would part with more, but it is dear to me -- I would ask that you share 200 talents per spellbook page of materials, and I have but eight pages worth to spare. What say you?"
