Off to War - Duet (Lora)

Lora approached wearily because of the guard. She felt threatened, as if she had not chopped down that hideous monster yesterday. "Good morning my lord." she sayd with forced humility and sittted herself at the table.

[sblock]I'm looking at general wizardly stuff.[/sblock]
 

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The older VAlorn watches as Lora comes over to take a seat at the table. "Hungry?" he asks and then gestures to the food about the table. "Please, please have some breakfast with me."

He starts to countinue to cut what is on his plate, "I owe you a great debt of thanks you know."
 

Lora was hungry. In fact, despite the eventful day and the fighting, she felt better then ever. The girl eyed the bodyguard and Lord Vir quietly and nodded. "Thank you for your hospitality, I am quite glad to recieve such treatment by my Lord. You owe me no debt I am sure Skazul would have been able to dispatch the beast with relative ease. He has arcane power in the plenty I think. It was simply convenient for me to be present at that precise moment, and to have prepared the necessary magic."

 

"Ah beautiful and modest," Lord Valorn says smiling. "I wonder which quality my brother finds the most appealing in you," his eyes saying he knows without need of an answer.

"Now you brought up Skazul. And that is one of the..." he pauses as a servant brings Lora a plate of freshly boiled eggs and a few pieces of bacon. After waiting for her to start eating he continues.

"Skazul, now he is a powerful wizard of that there is no doubt. But he is not getting yonger as the years go by, none of us are I'm afraid." He says then takes a bite of some thin porridge in his bowl.

"And I would like to know if you would be interested in becoming a retainer here at Harkon Manor? And eventually take over Skazul's role as well as his library."
 

Lora chewed her food slowly while she mulled the options trough her mind. She loved reading and researching magic - it was in her blood. She had dreamed of having her own library and alchemical laboratory, as well as a place to draw when she felt the urge.

Working here would be no different then as a court mage with any Lord, but Vance, who was undoubtedly going to inherit Harkon sooner or later, was favoring Lora, which meant she would be treated well. She had vowed never to be taken advantage of again and the girl would make ample contingency plans and preparations in case anyone would threaten her. And her position in this manor.

She would also earn enough gold pay to aid her parents and have them hire help for the farm - there was much work to be done and not enough strong backs and arms to do it. There were two problems though, and she felt the urge to voice them now. This situation required honesty.

"My Lord, I am the daughter of farmers, from a small town to the East, you may have heard of it - Strongglen. I was the apprentice of a wise woman who thought me much in the ways of magic and I would be glad to expand my knowledge with the resources available in Harkon. However the very reason I left still compels me to decline unless it has been resolved."

The girl paused as she munched on the delicious boiled eggs - her appetite was very healthy!

"My brother, by the name of Arthur Winmer, Is currently a blue coat in the service of Dellex, whom although in no possession of noble blood, calls himself Lord. I should like it if he were somehow bound to you instead, so that I may ensure his safety here, instead of his potential demise in the war. The other issue I see is that Harkon is in immediate danger from Treylor attack, and that perhaps no one will be safe here until the war is over. Although I may need to study some more before I could use magic to sway the tide of even a small battle, I still feel I should help the Five Kingdoms with whatever I can, should anyone listen to my advice or need my glaive."
 

"Well said my dear," the old lord says smiling. "But to the folk of Harkon you are more than a common farm girl. You are a heroin come from the dark Western Woods. A mighty wizardess whose power can slay monster with but a pointing of your finger. And your beauty and perhaps involvement with a certain young lord only adds to the stories they tell about you."

Lord Vir pushes away his breakfast and his nursemaid takes the bowl from in front of him. "Now you say you will do this if your brother... Arthur was it? If your brother can be taken from his service to Lord Dellex as a blue cloak? Well I don't know if it is possible but I will talk with him when he returns to the manor today and..." he looks at Lora with concern.

"What is it child?" he asks like a father would his daughter.

"You... you called him Lord Dellex but surely he isn't.." Lora starts to say wondering if she had somehow misinterputed something.

"Oh Lord Dellex is more than a simple lord, my girl. You have seen the gold sash he wears?" he asks raising an eyebrow. "That is to let everyone know that he speaks for King Haspen himself. Lord Dellex is the kings trusted advisor now, and more importantly the second most powerful man in all of Pesh."

"Are you sure you are all right you look...look troubled my dear," Lord Vir asks sincerely.
 

So it had come to this - like in the fairy tales who Lora liked so much when she was a little girl, the despicable and sly evil Wizard is also the King's adviser, whispering lies in his ear and grasping at the throne himself. The Witch, as Lora now decided to differentiate herself from Dellex and his poisonous river of rules and laws, hoped that at the very least, the King still had his wits about him and was not a senile fool or already a puppet with a mind controlled by magic.

This news made Lora push thoughts of the pleasant life in the manor far from her mind. And what the servants and villagers were talking of her and Vance - gossip, it seemed, spread faster then the pox. Well Lora could not prove her innocence as she was not, in fact, innocent. But that was a concern for another time. Right now Lord Dellex and his plans had taken precedence.

"My knowledge seems to be not the most current, although I have read some books and chronicles and have paid attention to what little news was available to us trough passing merchants or bards."

The girl tried to regain her composure and seem casual, rather than distressed. It was obvious that Lord Vir did not know of the riders sent after her group, who actually made them take the Spider's Path. As far as Lora was concerned, Dellex's motives were not pure and he fit in the archetypal villain position more and more. "That scroll of Antimagic field should be looked into with utmost haste!" the girl thought as she continued the conversation.

"So, how did Lord Dellex come upon this position of authority and power? I know the stories of his old adventuring days alongside Lord Bairan, Martoumum and Fallon."

[sblock]Pretty sure I made a Knowledge: Nobility and Royalty check a while back about Dellex (which in game time is like a few days ago). I can make another one though, modifier is +11 [/sblock]
 

[sblock=OOC] Nope you made a check and the information you got was correct. But you were right when you posted it is out of date. Dellex finally took the postion as advisor for the King of Pesh it is now just getting around. [/sblock]

"I'm not sure how it has truly come about. I'm sure Lord Dellex did some favor for the king that got him his current postion." the Lord of Harkon says seriously as he watches Lora.

"And speaking of postions, you will consider my offer. While I look into helping your brother leave Lord Dellex's service, agreed?"
_
 

Lora had decided - she was useless as she was right now. Her power had always come from her potent mind and from her meticulous studies and impeccable memory. Such things played little role when there were no books to be read, no new strategies or events to analyze, and worst of all - no new spells to research. For a time, she had to play the part of the court Wizard, and that could fit well in the grand scheme of things.

Of course provided that Arthur was close by and on a tight leash, or even better - sent off back to their home. Although the Witch knew her brother and he would sooner chew trough his own leg than abandon "little Lora" to the world of politics, intrigue and war.

"If it pleases you my Lord, I would accept, but you must tell me what my duties will be. How can I and my magic aid Harkon and it's inhabitants better? In such times of war perhaps it would be best If i looked towards bolstering our defenses? Or should I work towards other ends? Either way researching magic requires time, dedication and not a small amount of coin."


Asking Lord Vir for gold - there was a true test to his desire to have Lora work for him. Lords sure loved their coin, that much the girl knew.
 

"Excellent, excellent," Lord Vir says with a genuine smile. "I'm sure when the villagers hear we are adding your powers to the defense of Harkon they will rejoice."

He starts to rise with a little help from his nurse. "Now if you will excuse me I believe I should look into the acquiring of those coins you mentioned. And I think it best you coordinate the defense of Harkon with Lord Vance, that is his charge."

The old lord starts to turn and shuffle away, but after a few steps he looks back and adds. "I'm sure he will be very pleased to hear that you are staying." he says with a grin and twinkle in his eye.

Leaving Lora to sit at the table to finish the last bites of her meal and contemplate her decision alone.

[sblock=OOC] Ok now if you wish to go to the library or anything else you might think Lora would like to do. [/sblock]
 

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