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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 9, 2020 4:33:44 GMT
“I’ll leave that to you. Leuwinmorgh will do what he finds best regardless of what we say. He listens to you more than anyone. And any Reclaiming captain who thinks they will overrule the Grey Raider...well, I look forward to that day.” He idly watched Justine a second before looking belack to Demetrius. “There’s more to life than the Mist smallbrother,” he said. “Don’t let your father’s single-mindedness infect you. He has much more time than you do. A decade wasted for him is as a long nap compared to your kind.” "Juliette is right. They had many different skills too. And perhaps, we need more than steel and sorcery. "And I understand your point about needing more but... to me, the Mist is... I can't explain it. I feel... diminished without it. I can't explain it, but away from it, I just don't feel like a whole being. Father thought it was because I didn't see the sun until I was already a man but when we encountered the Mist on our voyage, it felt like... like I was coming home." Herneiros shrugged to his teacher. "I don't understand it." |
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Sept 9, 2020 11:33:32 GMT
“It’s Justine,” she corrected, without any more explanation. “And the way you speak of the Mist reminds me of someone else we know. Anyway, I’m sure any number of our erstwhile companions could be made interested. I’m sure they’re also fairly easily found in the city.”
Finally dressed again, she bent to wring her hair without getting her clothes too wet, then shook it down her back to dry in the cool evening air. As she went back to rejoin Demetrius and Leuwinmorgh, she called back over her shoulder, “I’ll see both of you during the party...but you have to promise not to step on my toes!”
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 9, 2020 16:18:29 GMT
“I’ll leave that to you. Leuwinmorgh will do what he finds best regardless of what we say. He listens to you more than anyone. And any Reclaiming captain who thinks they will overrule the Grey Raider...well, I look forward to that day.” He idly watched Justine a second before looking belack to Demetrius. “There’s more to life than the Mist smallbrother,” he said. “Don’t let your father’s single-mindedness infect you. He has much more time than you do. A decade wasted for him is as a long nap compared to your kind.” "Juliette is right. They had many different skills too. And perhaps, we need more than steel and sorcery. "And I understand your point about needing more but... to me, the Mist is... I can't explain it. I feel... diminished without it. I can't explain it, but away from it, I just don't feel like a whole being. Father thought it was because I didn't see the sun until I was already a man but when we encountered the Mist on our voyage, it felt like... like I was coming home." Herneiros shrugged to his teacher. "I don't understand it." “All you had to do was tell me you’re criminally insane and that’s have explained it all,” Gwynphear said. They saw the musicians going to prep their instruments. “They’re about to play our song,” he concluded, rising to get his clothes back on. “Don’t sing a dirge about your star-crossed love for the Most tonight.” |
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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 9, 2020 16:40:41 GMT
"That's not what I mean at all. I hate it as much as Father but... oh, nevermind!"
Herneiros trotted after Juliette. "So I take it you dance?"
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Sept 9, 2020 17:15:31 GMT
Justine barely caught the words “criminally insane” as she walked away and her cheeks began to burn hot. It wasn’t about her, for once, but she picked up her pace nonetheless.
She was genuinely surprised to see Herneiros appear beside her as she was so wrapped up in her thoughts. “I guess, some. Nothing fancy, it’s all learned in dirt-floor taverns that water down their beer. Do you?”
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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 10, 2020 0:31:03 GMT
"Kind of. I have never danced with anyone my height though..." He grinned as they came closer to Demetrius and his father.
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Sept 10, 2020 0:36:32 GMT
“Neither have I, and neither will you unless you dance with Demetri,” she replied, laughing. “My head isn’t even to your shoulder!”
“Well, did you find out anything interesting?” She asked her old friend, glancing up at Leuwinmorgh again. He wasn’t any less intimidating the second time she stood in front of him.”
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Post by Demetrius on Sept 10, 2020 0:50:01 GMT
"I was just about to mention some of our troubles today," he remarked, greeting Juliette and Herneiros. "But the party looked too good to interrupt... especially with my dancing."
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Sept 10, 2020 0:55:36 GMT
"I was just about to mention some of our troubles today," he remarked, greeting Juliette and Herneiros. "But the party looked too good to interrupt... especially with my dancing." “Don’t be silly, it hasn’t even begun yet!” She grabbed his hand impulsively and twirled herself under it. “It can’t rain all the time,” she added with a wink. |
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Post by Demetrius on Sept 10, 2020 7:15:03 GMT
Demetrius smiled at Justine as she twirled, but didn't take a chance at dancing himself. "I'm happiest when it's raining," he said mockingly.
"Herneiros," he added, turning to the man. "I was about to explain to your father what happened today, but I think it's probably better if you tell the story."
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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 10, 2020 8:37:36 GMT
"Hmmmm? Oh. We should probably sit down for this story. And perhaps imbibe a great deal of alcohol...."
***
Herneiros told the tale primarily in Imperial, but at a few times had to switch to Elven when his eloquence was failing him. Some of the highlight were...
"The scale shimmered under our fingers, revealing secret truths I couldn't comprehend until Lady Searshe revealed it was a gift from the Nedrassian Serpent, designer to reveal where to find the Mist Lords..."
"...were three sorcerers, we believe. At least one of them could manipulate the Mist, somewhat like myself. Though instead of pushing it away or channeling it, he had somehow to create tiny stone vessels for the Mist. I thought perhaps he was a Mist Lord, but I couldn't feel him in my bones like I would the Kraken. He is just a corrupt wizard using mortal magic to do the unthinkable. He and a taller sorceress survived, but the third fell in battle."
"...I don't entirely understand the circumstances but my companions found this music box on the enemy vessel. One of those sorcerers must have been a chronomancer, because the ship soon vanished to elsewhen."
"I took a mysterious stone from a mysterious tomb that mysteriously caused a series of mysterious earthquakes. Oops."
"...and that's when the dragon elf lady arrived to destroy the ancient Mist facility and collect her sibling eggs. I have met her twice now and I don't think she has firm grasp of Elven anatomy. Still, she has been excellent source of much information."
"...fortunately, my friend Thalia has excellent grasp of dead languages and has been helping me interpret the ancient texts we found. She is also our contact with the Academy people studying the magical snow globes. Incidentally, I was furious at one of their member's disrespect for our fallen comrades..."
"...I don't know how I feel about the things Lady Searshe told me. Perhaps I am hopeful that we can overcome the Mist in a more direct way than we could, and correct the horrors of my human ancestors. Perhaps we can save the world. I don't know. The nearest facility is a thousand miles away, so it will be a long and harsh trial. But as Mother said, where there is wisdom, there is hope."
"...and that's when I simply banished the irritating bastard back to whatever pocket dimension he was from. We weren't far from the retreat and I was on my way regardless, so I brought my friends along."
"...in summary, the Mist is man-made, dragons exist, there is a sinister cabal of sinister wizards out there, I met a nice girl, and Nigel Thornheart is a narcissistic maniac."
Herneiros swigged some elven liquor while everyone digested his words. "I have missed the good stuff!"
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Sept 10, 2020 13:40:21 GMT
Justine was draped over a comfortable elven chair on her stomach. It was nearly big enough to be a bed for her. She seemed a little put out by not being able to join the dancing even though she could hear the music and gaiety outside, and more put out by Herneiros’ unnecessarily long Summary of their voyages and everything that had led up to this point. She wondered if he knew his time with the Skylark had likely been a fling. Too much time for thought, so she threw back a shot of the strong elven liquor.
She pulled the music box from her satchel and held it up to Leuwinmorgh. “This is the thing. With the demon in it. Be careful with it; it’s worth a lot of money.“
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 10, 2020 17:57:39 GMT
The giant elf took it in one hand. He peered intently at it. “Lord Brimstone,” he grumbled under his breath. “You’d have to dislike someone quite a lot to curse them with this,” he said. He had listened to Herneiros’s talk with attentiveness. “We’ll discuss those new conclusions later,” he said. “This is the final night before the scouting parties go back into the Mists to begin gathering intelligence on our next move. I intend on it being a big one.”
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Sept 10, 2020 18:18:23 GMT
"Is it a curse?" Justine asked, sitting up attentively at last. She spoke with conviction. "He offered anything our hearts desired. How high could the price be for the power to do needful things? Even if it cost one's life. Some things are worth it."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 10, 2020 18:28:51 GMT
Leuwinmorgh seemed a bit surprised at her sudden shift in attitude. “What do you got worth dying for?” He asked. “I wouldn’t call it cursed. That implies it don’t do what it’s supposed to. This box here, I do believe it did exactly what it was supposed to. It’s a planar prison. Traps in folk that don’t exist here, exactly. But I can smell the devil in here,” he added. “He must’ve marinated in there a long time. I can’t say I have heard of many folk who have ended up better off than they started after dealing with him.”
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