Well...
I'm glad people are enjoying it. I like writing alot, its one of the things that keeps me sane when I get stressed out.
The next update is large as well... I like its format better with following everyone's emotions, so its likely what I'll be doing from now on.
So... without further ado... part one of seven from the session on 1-23-04 (The session went long again... four hours turned into about seven):
============================================
Shaun returned from the thieve’s guild to the room Elenya had appropriated for him, and settled in for a restful dinner followed by entertainment.
Tess, returned a little later, to find Elenya and Shaun preoccupied with each other, while Lucius and Siabrey were fast asleep in the room next door. Grumki had left to go to the Temple of Kord, and so she found herself alone... bored, and slightly miffed.
I’m the attractive one, part of her groaned,
and yet I’M the one sitting here alone.... hmph. She’d been a little jealous of Siabrey especially... while Lucius was fairly young, he was, in looks and personality, very attractive... far more than the loud Shaun, or their late friend Rogar.
As she sat there, not quite pouting but still miffed, a light knock came from the door. Paranoid after Rogar’s betrayal, she readied Fa’rallan, and snuck up to the door, cracking it open barely.
Outside stood an elf, tall (by elvish standards, he was nearly Tess’ hieght), with jet black hair and violet eyes. He was wearing a simple, brown and white tunic... on the side of which was a small sword upheld by an arm... the symbol of the Church of Hieroneous.
“Ah,” his voice said with a small, slightly shy smile, “it appears that my assigned quarters across the hall are... occupied,” he said, face reddening slightly, “... I was wondering if I may set my bedroll here.”
Tess responded with a confused look.
“Ah... yes... my manners. How uncouth of me. I am the paladin assigned by Harrapias to watch you and your friends,” he pointed to the small symbol of Hieroneous. “Now that you know I am friend, not foe, could it be possible for me to put my bedroll in your room?” He looked her in the face, and suddenly his countenance changed.
“Are you... Tess?” he said, his voice filled with a little wonder. Tess, still confused and holding the door only partially open, nodded.
“I have heard so much about you!” the man blurted out quickly and quietly, shoving hard against the door to get a better look at her. Tess didn’t struggle against it, and merely stood aside, as he blurbed onwards.
“You... is it true? Did you indeed kill the demon Ananias with a mere dagger? Charging him while you were near death?” The elf’s eyes were a little wide, as Tess nodded her head. “That is
amazing he says, “absolutely amazing. A feat worthy of record in song!”
Tess gets an evil grin on her face, asking, “Would you like to see the blade that ended the demon’s life?”
“Yes!” the paladin said excitedly.
Tess carefully pulled Fa’rallan out of its scabbard, and handed the blade to the paladin, handle first. The paladin took the blade, and for a second nothing happened... then....
”ZAP!”
Fa’rallan’s giggles merged with Tess’ laughter... the pries t had been a little to hero-worshipy, and pranking him had settled Tess down a little with his presence. To her surprise, he began chuckling as well.
“That was quite shocking,” he said with a wink, and Tess grinned as she gave a groan to the horrible joke.
“Oh!” the paladin said suddenly, with a look of shock on his face, “I completely forgot my manners. My name is Pellaron, Pellaron Bylthankis.”
It was Tess’s turn to go a little wide eyed. As a young girl, interested in music, one of the catchiest tunes that drew her to learning the trade of being a bard was of a paladin, with that exact name, who rode forth to battle a great white dragon...
Pellaron did draw his blade,
And rode he forth, to the dragon’s cave...
The tune rose in her mind, and she managed to sputter out the question, “are you the Dragonslayer?”
Pellaron’s face went deep red, and it was easy for Tess to guess he was embarassed about something. He cleared his throat, as she asked, “What is there to be ashamed of, in slaying an ancient wyrm?”
“Um... well... I’ve tried to avoid that music for
so long,” he groaned. “The bard who wrote that tune got a little carried away...”
“How so?”
“First... I did not slay an ancient massive wyrm with my blade. It wasn’t even a full adult dragon. Second, I didn’t slay it with my blade... we were escorting a detachment of siege pieces up north of Irulas, and the dragon assaulted our caravan... everyone else fled, and in a panick I loaded by lance into a ballista and fired from close range...”
Tess chuckled, and said, “Still, standing before the wyrm was a brave act, even if it was a small dragon and you did not slay it with your blade!”
“True,” Pellaron said after a minute, before changing the subject. “Now, if I can put my bedroll here, I can take watch... should you need some privacy for some reason, please let me know, and I can go out into the hallway to wait. I’m meant to be protection, not a burden.”
“I doubt there will be any burden indeed, sir paladin,” Tess said.
The two stayed up for quite a while, Tess recounting what had happened to the party, with Pellaron giving her the accurate, more modest account of his acclaimed adventure. It wasn’t until the deepest parts of the night when the two finally fell asleep.
Very early in the morning, Tess’s dreams are interrupted by a small creaking noise. Sitting up and reaching for Fa’rallan, she is relieved to only see Lucius’ face come through the crack in the door?
”What are you doing up so early?” she asks quietly, hearing Pellaron snoring on his bedroll.
”I’m headed to the Church of Hieroneous, among other places. There are some things I need to do, and some favors I need to call on, considering I am now Count of Holstean and all.” Tess’ face darkened.
“Young man,” she began, her voice as matronly and commanding as possible in its low tone, “you are NOT going anywhere alone again! Not after what happened last time, and not now that we are likely being hunted by people who hurt Hidalas! I shall come with you.” By this point, Pellaron too was stirring to awakedness.
“I have to be consecrated as Count, Tess... its something that unfortunately you can’t come to... and I must also pick up some stuff... who is that?” Lucius pointed, voice more curious than concerned.
“That is Pellaron,” Tess introduced, “he is a paladin of the Church of Hieroneous... the one sent to be our bodyguard.” Pellaron gave a semi-awake wave, and Lucius grinned a little. Tess’ dour face knocked the grin off of his face however.
“I know you mean well, Tess,” he started, “but...”
“No buts, young man.”
“Fine. What if I take the paladin then?” Pellaron sat up a little, and it was Tess’ turn to sigh.
Oh boy Tess’ mind jumped in alarm,
He’s planning something.
“I suppose... after you tell me what you are getting.”
“Nothing,” Lucius said, though the slight grin on his face betrayed the fact he was up to something. Tess pressed, and Lucius finally admitted he was going to get the group, “some surprises.”
Nothing... hmm... and let’s see.. Siabrey doesn’t like you, Shaun is chaste, and Grumki can speak any language ever written... yeah right.
Tess gave him a matronly tsking look, before saying, “you had better have left a note or something with Siabrey... she will kill you if you wander off again with her not knowing about it.”
Lord knows if she finds out I let you leave without leaving a note for her telling her where you’re going, I think she might kill me.
Lucius’ faint grin grew into a big one.
“Already taken care of... I snuck out a little earlier and found a fireflower (rose with yellow roots on the petals), which I left on her bed with a note, saying I’d be back. She shouldn’t worry too much.”
Smart boy, Tess’ mind mused,
He sneaks out with style at least... let him be off.
Tess nodded, and after Lucius and a still sleepy Pellaron had left, she dozed off...
It was some hours later (Lucius’ departure had occurred even before the sun had risen) that Shaun finally woke, to find a warm dent in the bed next to him, and some hot breakfast waiting. His stomach hungry, he eagerly began eating, munching away as he read Elenya’s note saying he should tell her when he’ll be back in the evening.
Elenya’s cooking is the best I’ve had in a while... his mind joined his stomach in musing. Shaun, in his travails, had seen many women prettier than Elenya... but she was kindhearted, friendly, and genuinely fond of him.
She’s great... she might be the one that gets you to stop moving around so much... part of his mind mused. His rebellious part immediately rebuked it, while his stomach merely inserted the comment that the food was excellent.
Siabrey meanwhile also woke to find herself alone. She almost immediately spotted the fireflower and the note under it...
My Siabrey,
I’ve gone out to get some needed business finished. I’ll be back by noon.
Luke
P.S. I’m coming back with a surprise!
Questions immediately flooded her mind... where did he go? When? Did he go alone? What was he bringing back?
The whole thing smelled of a trick... a plot of some kind...
Last time he left... he almost died! And less than a day ago, he was unconscious on the floor here! How can he run out and leave like that? Did he tell anyone where he was going? When I see him, I don’t know if I should kiss him, or wring his neck!
Her first action was to storm to the room neck door, where she awoke a still sleeping Tess.
“How could you have let him run off like that?”
“Run off like what?” a tired Tess replied. “He left a note, and he told me where he was going... the Church of Hieroneous.”
“What?!” Siabrey’s voice rumbled. “How could he tell you and not tell me?!”
“You were sleeping dear,” the ever-rational Tess said, “he didn’t want to disturb you... but he wanted to let someone know. He cares for you, so he let you sleep... he knew you’d be riding hard and running about the city with no rest for nearly two days straight... you needed the sleep!”
Silly girl, Tess’ mind wanted to shout.
“Lucius had some important nobility things to do at the temple... thing that likely you and me, being neither of the reigning nobility nor of the clergy, would have only disrupted.”
He’s the Count
now, Siabrey... he has some things that he has to do alone...
Siabrey, now knowing where he was at, had her concerned mollified some at least.
Tess’ right... if he let me sleep like that... he DOES like me! her mind grinned, an emotion her face absent-mindedly copied moments later. She then decided that she was going to go do something rather unusual for a warrior as herself.
She was going to go to the public baths, buy a large deal of rosewater, some oils and sweet smelling spices, and clean herself up... thoroughly. She told Tess where she was off to, and invited the bard to come with. Even the immensely beauty conscious Tess thought that was a little pretentious, especially considering the party was supposed to remain rather incognito, and not only refused by urged Siabrey to not go. Siabrey would have none of that logic. As she left, whistling a merry tune and Lucius’ flower in her hair, the bard could only shake her head and laugh...
That girl is in love...
Tess herself decides to just go downstairs, get some cheap rosewater, and clean up in her own room, so that when Shaun finally finishes breakfast and comes outside, he finds the room that once held Lucius and Siabrey locked, and the room that currently holds Tess locked. Miffed a bit at being presumably left behind, he heads downstairs.
Looking around, he finds Elenya working in the kitchen, turning some roasting boar.
“Hey hon,” he says, giving her a kiss on the cheek after making sure her uncle wasn’t in sight.
“Hi sweetie,” she turned, and immediately launched into the rant she had been holding up for some time. “I can’t believe that loud group in the corner! I swear, they’ll eat and drink all of uncle’s food in the day!” Shaun nodded... he too had noticed the large mass of men covering one half of the bar, all evidently from the same group.
“Listen, hon... my friends and I have some magic stuff we need to have looked at, and you said your dad owns a magic shop?”
“Oh, yeah,” she grins, “its down the street, you turn left on the first street and right on the next one... look for Qunnias’ Magic and Goods. If you tell him that you were at this inn and I gave you the hookup, he’ll probably give you a little discount,” she smiles.
“Thanks hon,” Shaun kisses her on the cheek again. “We’ve got some places to run today, but I should be back for dinner again.” Elenya gave a rather roguish grin at that point.
“I’ll be waiting for you,” she winks, “along with...” she reaches over and looks at a piece of paper, which Shaun reasons is the list of menu items for the day, “some green peas, corn, and likely bits of roasted boar.”
”Can’t wait,” Shaun says his goodbye, and then heads back upstairs.
God, she’s perfect, his mind said gleefully.
Siabrey herself had a luxurious time at the upscale public baths in the city. With the money they’d looted from Ananias, her normally money tight policies could be lifted. She got a private stall (to prevent others from seeing her wings) along with several different oils, scented perfumes, and hair perfumes and cleansers. She ended up spending several hours there, and came out smelling far better than any fireflower patch in the valley, and feeling far cleaner than she ever had. She was also a little more than excited, wanting to see Lucius’ reaction to her work for the day. After all, she didn’t do this for just
anyone.
As she closed in on the inn, she saw two riders out of the corner of her eye. One appeared to be Lucius, but something was different... his long, shoulder length hair was gone... cut short all along the sides, while long along the top. She didn’t recognize the man that rode alongside him in a simple outfit, though there were clanks and clunks of armor coming from the bags thrown across their animals.
”Lucius!” she trotted up, and she guessed from his eyes closing and deep sucking in of air, he smelled her change and approved, “where have you been today... and
what did you do with your hair?” He looked down at her and grinned.
“I cut it... easier disguise,” he smiled as she ran her hands through the shortened sides. He never mentioned his true reason for cutting it; a clear break from his ancestors. “As for the surprises, let’s go inside... I’ll show you there.”
After the four bags had been brought up, they rounded up Shaun and Tess, and brought them in to see. Lucius started with Shaun, reaching into the smallest bag.
”Well,” he said, pulling out what appeared at first to be a shiny buckler, “this is for Shaun. Many years ago the Church of Hieroneous here made a raid against a weapons cache owned by the local Thieves Guild, and this item is one of the finest things they confiscated. This magic buckler doubles as a toolkit.” He flipped the buckler over and continued, “by saying the command listed under the picture of the item, the buckler can be turned into a climber’s kit, a bag of caltrops, an adjustable wrench, a small shovel, or a set of boltcutters.” As the others were starting to shift and move the other bags around in eagerness, Lucius leaned close to Shaun.
“And... so the paladin doesn’t hear,” he whispered quietly, “if you look at the center of the buckler, there’s a small hole for a dart... it can shoot them up to ten feet, and the darts can be coated with poison... I called on some favors and brought you three. (
+1 buckler of tools, with three darts coated in
sassone leaf residue) Shaun eagerly grabbed the buckler, and with a dummy dart began testing it on the far wall... thankfully Pellaron was too busy rummaging through the armors to notice.
“Next, we have an item for Tess.” He reached into another bag, and with some effort pulled out a brilliantly colored blue, gold, and red dress. Tess frowned at his effort, wondering what was wrong with the item.
“This here was originally owned by another well renowned bard, whose wife was a follower of Hieroneous. After his death, she gave his magic chain shirt to the Church... which I now give to you (
+1 glammered chain shirt). It takes a smart eye or strong magic to tell that this is actually armor, and not just a pretty dress.”
Tess eagerly put the dress on, and danced around in it for a bit, realizing she could now be protected, as well as look good at all times.
“Finally,” Lucius grinned, “I had to pull some strings for this one. When my ancestor revolted, the one Imperial commander that resisted was General Heraclius, who held off Ananias’ hordes at Irulas. His courageous and doomed fight became legendary... so much so that the Church of Hieroneous repaired his armor and imbued it with magic abilities. So now, I present to you, Siabrey, the armor of General Heraclius, and let it inspire bravery in all around you (
+1 breastplate of command).” Siabrey grabbed the armor, and gave Lucius a hug.
“Whats in the fourth bag?” both she and Tess asked, and Lucius’ grins faded quickly.
“Nothing much,” was his quick, quiet reply.
Ok... something’s up, ran through both of the girl’s heads, and Siabrey pulled open part of the bag, revealing a helmet, with a massive eagle coming from the front, its wings covering the sides. Further searches showed that the same eagle, the Caladron family insignia, covered the shoulder pieces, the breasplate, greaves, and other parts of the armor.
“Is it the armor of the Count?” Tess asked, as Siabrey marvelled at the full plate armor inside. Lucius nodded rather unhappily.
“It was my father’s armor... I hardly knew him.” The room went silent for a bit, before Lucius forced a thin grin, saying, “I don’t intend on trapezing around town in it anytime soon.” The provoked a nervous laugh, and ended the otherwise tense atmosphere in the room. “Except to the banquet we’ll be attending tomorrow.”
“Banquet?” Tess asked rather annoyed.
We’re supposed to be low key here... not running around testing everyone’s silver spoons!
“I would rather not go, but Baron Valdonis has invited me to a personal dinner tomorrow... I’m his liege lord now, so he couldn’t command me, like he did you.” There are several groans, and Siabrey noticeably rolls her eyes as she realizes she has to wear a tight corset over her wings yet again.
“I’m going to be using this time to... urge my cousin to raise forces to help drive back the invasion... and I’d appreciate any other of your voices or intimidations that might... help me in that cause.”
He hasn’t said anything about his mother, Tess caught,
Is he over the fact she betrayed him so early? Or is he angry, and is merely thinking vengeance? Tess couldn’t tell...