"Thanks for the advice Oleg. Also -" Jemini looks around to make sure nobody is overhearing them then motions Oleg closer conspiratorially. "I think you're a good man Oleg. And as a merchant, you're also a good judge of character and have a good idea of who is who and what is happening in these parts." She hands him a small pouch, "There are coins to the value of 100gp in this pouch. I want you to administer this money - use it to help pay for goods when people in need come to buy from you. Maybe make it a bit cheaper and secretly pay the balance from this pouch. Or give them more than they can afford and say its OK; that kind of thing." She looks him right in the eyes, her gaze kind and steady, "Do you accept?"
Oleg looks at the pouch and raises an eyebrow. "Okay. Certainly are a lot of people who need the help in these parts. I'll match it. Like I said, you've certainly brought me enough business. More traffic in the long run, too."
Seeing that thers no replie coming from Gadrik Berrin shifts his feet and excuses himself. "Riight. Well, excuse me." Giving him a stiff smile he heads off toward another group of soldiers to see if he can get a game of dice, daggers or cards going.
Spending time in the companie of soldiers is strangely soothing to Berrin, he missed the cameradership acociated with it. Somthing about marching, sleeping, eating and fighting together made for faster friendship than Berrin had experienced. Thinking along those lines he invoulantarily looks for other members of his party to join the fun, catching himself he realises that the bond is forming with the group as well. They were his companie, his fellows. The revelation brings a feeling of comfort to Berrin and he suddenly falls quiet and just sits with the soldiers with a smile on his face.
As the party dies down Berrin goes in search of Oleg as well, thinking to put his hard-earned gold to some use. Finding him already with Jemini and Zander he walks in on their conversation. "Hey Oleg. I got an order for ya. Thers a dwarven armorer up in Restov by the name of Kuradan who make the finest armor I've seen. One of his designs is for a breastplate of interlocking plates that allows for easyer movement. I was hoping you'd take my mesurements and put in an order for an agile breastplate for me. I'd be willing to put in the extra gold to have it a little flashy too. If he could carve it up nice, that would be great! Maybee some lions and bears, maybee a bull too? I've got about 1500 gold to my name after our last expedition and I'm looking to spend it on some good gear. Maybee you could order me up a fine quality longswoard while your at it eh?." looking at the quiet faces as he quiets down he looks from Jemini to Oleg. "What? Was I interupting?"
Oleg reaches under the counter and pulls out a longsword, laying it in front of Berrin. "Something like this?" It is fantastic quality, exceptionally well-balanced and sharp. Its hilt is inlaid with intricate lines, giving it an exotic look. "Got a good deal the last passing merchant. 300 even. I'll put the order in with Kuradan. I know his work. He should have something in stock and be able to fit it for you and add your animal pictures on it. Probably will take a week. He always demands up-front payment, so I'll send it with the order."
With the orders fulfilled and the party winding down, the expedition settles down in the guest house and general area inside the walls. The trip obviously took a toll, and the rest is greatly appreciated. Svetlana runs a bath for Jemini, complete with a new privacy wall that blocks the curious glances from several guards. Things are looking positively luxurious compared to their recent accommodations in the wilderness.
The darkness of evening reaches over the trading post, finding the members of the expedition all exhausted and ready for a solid bit of rest. They are in various beds far earlier than normal, thankful for the comfort of a warm bed and a guard to keep watch over them.
A knock on the door of the guest house awakens the members of the expedition. Svetlana opens the door and sticks her head in. "Breakfast is in fifteen minutes, everyone! I'm so glad you all got some rest. Did I mention how pleased I am that you're home?" Her smile and enthusiasm are as unflagging as ever, and a welcome reminder of the civilization they are trying to bring to the wilds.
"Good morning Svetalana," Jemini's enthusiasm at returning to Oleg's is every bit as vibrant as Svetlana's joy at the party's return. That Jemini feels washed and cleaned and a little bit pampered does its part to make her beam with equal infectiousness. "Have you got plans for us today? After the feasting last night we should probably take things a bit slower - in preparation for tax fest." Jemini gets a thoughtful expression for a bit, then adds: "I want to sponsor one or two prices for the day - can you think of fun or good ideas for that?" The two girls stroll off, joined by Ilyana a bit later.
Seeing Kesten return from an inspection of his men, Jemini approaches him with a charm offensive, "Kesten! I was hoping to find you - Oleg explained to me that you are the best man to ask: I want to purchase a mithril shirt. Since I've seen the beautiful material on Zander I just have to have one for myself," she trails off a bit, in a slightly dreamy voice, "it's just such a splendid, beautiful beautiful material - so light, and figure hugging - please say that you can help me find one?"
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Tandlara rises from herr snoring slouch across the bed and walks outside in only a sleeping shift of white wool, its slightly short, only reaching her knees and baggy, clearly a donation from Svetlana. The elf is anything but the definition of grace a she wanders out of the bedroom on the balls of her feet, rubbing at her eyes with the half of her hair she had slept on knotted and fluffy, blond tendrils splayed haphazardly from her scalp.
'Dawn rises to meet us.' She looks around. 'Well it did... What's for breakfast, I must get ready for a day of activity with Verik. Its his first time, and I want to be at my best to guide him through. The first time is always much more difficult and awkward, it takes practice to know what your doing and how to handle your components.'
'Well it did... What's for breakfast, I must get ready for a day of activity with Verik. Its his first time, and I want to be at my best to guide him through. The first time is always much more difficult and awkward, it takes practice to know what your doing and how to handle your components.'
Taisper comes jogging back into the trading post after Exercises shirtless, winded, and quite sweaty. His breath is coming in great gulps and he winces with effort.
walk it off walk it off
Continuing his plan to steadily increase his physical capabilities is proving quite difficult, at least so far, but the disciplined young inquisitor is determined to see it through. Slowing to a trot and then a walk, he continues to circle the place for a while, his hands on his hips, until his breathing returns to normal and his heartbeat lowers. He catches bits of conversation here and there -- Jemini, he thinks, and Tandlara. Couple guards. Kesten's men. Svetlana.
Taking advantage of the brief quiet time and ready access to good water, he gets himself actually, fully clean for the first time in some while. Noting the significant difference in how he smells before and after, he is even more convinced that Kressle's filthy...advances on himself --
well, and anything male, for that matter
-- are all for show and just to get a rise out of people. He cleans up some of his clothes a bit, not wanting to take the time to get a full, actual load of laundry going, and sets them to dry while he changes into something already dry and more-or-less clean.
He gets a waterskin and sits at an outside table and takes out his battered and dog-eared copy of The Order of Numbers, meditating on the events of last night at the ersatz prison with Ilyana and Kressle, and keeping his head as quiet as he possibly can. In a break from reading to take a drink, Taisper smiles at the order forming around him, the structure and discipline, the imposition of civilization over the chaos of these lands.
It'll be a good day today.
After reading for a little bit to bide the time while his metabolism settles down, Taisper grabs his things and heads to the main house for an actual breakfast. "Good morning everybody! Blessings and order of the Master on you and your endeavors." He smiles as he enters. The formal Abadarian greetings always sounds a little strange coming from Taisper's mouth. Clearly he would have made a terrible priest.
Sitting down, the teen eyes breakfast with naked hunger. "Oh Svetlana, you angel of a woman. I'm pretty sure we all had rapturous dreams of your cooking while we were in the wilderness..."
Kesten smiles at Jemini, clearly not difficult to sway. "My family does have some dealings with what few dwarves remain in the mountains. I'm sure that a letter with the official seal might be able to get you the finest set of mithril armor in all of Brevoy, and likely at a significant discount. While my station isn't quite what it was before the scandal, the name itself still holds some weight. Let me write a letter." With a silly grin, he heads off to get some paper and wax.
Svetlana lays out a tasty-looking breakfast for everyone in the makeshift thorp, with eggs and ham making the main course. Everyone is in good spirits, though a few of the guards seem a little hung over from the homecoming celebration. Svetlana cheerily waits on everyone, making sure that no one is without food for more than a moment until everyone has had their fill. "So what are the heroes of Oleg's Trading Post planning for the day? Much-deserved rest, or more exploration?"
Zander wakes to Svetlana's knock and almost considers staying in bed, but quickly remembers that the only thing better about staying at Oleg's than the comfortable beds is the delicious cooking. Swinging his legs down to the ground he rubs the sleep from his eyes and glaces about the guest house at his allies. He notes that Taisper is already up, as usual already at his morning excerises and everyone else seems equally refreshed from the good night's sleep. Pulling on his trousers, shirt, and mask, Zander sleepily follows the others to the breakfast area and enthusiastically lays into his meal.
Jemini beams at Kesten's words, clearly very excited for the future, but adds: "I really appreciate the discount, but I wouldn't want to sell your dwarven smiths short - I'm happy to pay whatever is required."
Jemini grins at Taisper's ravenous appetite. "You're working hard, it's commendable. If you have nothing special planned; I do think I can keep you busy, if you're interested. It'll help you train up your muscles too, come to think of it." Jemini looks questioningly at Taisper, then explains: "I want to ask you to help train the Lebeda soldiers; they've only really been sparring each other - so are set in their rhythm. And I do not want to stir up rivalries by having them train with Kesten's men too much either - they are all good boys, but when it gets long and the liquor flows a bit, then silly things can happen. So! How do you feel about it? I'm sure they can learn quite a bit from you, you've always proven more than just competent in the fights we've been in."
Jemini chuckles as she overhears Tandlara, and without turning can see in her mind how Verik's color is rising. She adds, "It might be a bit soon for him, but I imagine you'll be able to open him to new ideas. Once he learns to follow your rhythm, he will surely begin to take to it and enjoy giving his essence."
Taisper looks at Jemini, considering. He wishes he could shake the feeling of condescension he gets when she talks to him. ...is that some of the 'noble' stuff that Zander talks about? I should ask him...and anyway why do I care? Since when did I care about that kind of thing? Still, she seems genuine in her request and it would definitely be fun and interesting to try to teach more traditional soldiers the combat techniques the Master Hunters taught him. Also, it'll at least be something I can talk with her about where I won't feel so dumb all the time, maybe. Now if I could only find something like that with Verik I'd be all set. He frowns. Poor Verik. He's all torn up. Especially after he got all tore up. I wish I could do something.
He shakes his head to clear it. Another good thing about maybe teaching some. Maybe it'll help me not think about poor Nicholas. Both Nicholases. And Ilyana. That poor family.
Taisper gives the paladin a cautious smile. "Jemini! Wow! Gosh thanks for the kind words. That's...that's honestly an honor. I'm right sure I could do that, and I'd like to do that! But there's just one thing; I'm a pretty conservative fighter, as I reckon you've noticed. Tactically, Inquisition Branch fighting techniques tend to be either long-prep, one-hit-one-kill or grinding and attritive. Strategically we're breadth-first opportunists. If you think your men would benefit from that, then gosh, I'm glad to pass on what I know! Maybe they'd be nice enough to share some of what they've been taught in return. Can't know too much in that regard, right?"
Berrin opnes his eyes at Svetlana's knock, stretching he groans contentedly at a good nights sleep but snoozes for a few minutes before getting up. Not bothering to clean himself up any before heading for the breaksfast table Berrin plods himself down and sets to the food with t vengeance. "Gods I've missed your cooking Svetlana." he sighs after eating his full. "We're taking at least a day off, but we need to head out again shortly. The stag Lord is still loose." he answers Svetlana's quastion. "Can I please take a bath? A proper one? A week on the road and no amount of cold water will clean you properly." he says pleading to Svetlana.
Getting her assent he drags the bale out back and helps Svetlana fill it up. Sitting down in the warm water with a bar of soap from Svetlana he soaks there for a whole houre, only getting out as the water gets cold. When he finally gets out he sees Svetlana has spirited his clothes away and left out a set of clean ones for Berrin. So, an hour and a half later Berrin emerges clean for the first time in a week, shaved and his hair braided back from his head wearing a smile on his face as he fetches his gear and sets to cleaning and oiling it, taking special care with his newly aquired longswoard.
"Ey! Look at the triumphant return of the hero," Jemini motions for Berrin to join them again. "You clean up nicely."
"Good, with both of you here," she says nodding to Taisper and Berrin, "there is something else that's been on my mind. Maybe you guys have some ideas too. You know that Verik is working on laying the foundation, figuratively, for a church here at Oleg's. I've been speaking with Oleg as well, and convinced him that now is a good time to start thinking of expanding a little. What I have in mind is a bit of a bunk house for the soldiers from Restov and Lebeda to sleep - rather than out in tents - the long-term plan being that the place can form the basis fo an inn here."
"I wanted to hear what your thoughts on this kind of thing are. Do you have some ideas yourself, maybe we can lay the cornerstone of a couple more places while we're at it."
"Eh. I don't know about a bunkhouse. I'd rather see this place turn into a full grown inn to recieve travelers. With housing for variously heavy purses for sure. As to the boys, I reckon a barraks would serve better. They need a place to store their equipment as well as stable the horses, train, eat and sleep in peace. If they stay too close to here someones likely to go sneaking into Oleg's ale and couse a rukus. And thats not counting the smell if the wind is unfavorable. I'd set them up a little ways westward maybee. Give them and the Leventon's some space."
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Verik is awake bright an early and seems especially excited, he vanishes before breakfast and grinning like a naughty school child casts eagles splendor on himself before strutting across the tradepost and into breakfast.
Flashing a brilliant smile at Jemini, Tandlara, Svetlana, and Ilyana he says, "Morning ladies, how are you doing today? Looking breath taking as usual. You know when you brought me back from the dead the other day Jemini it was really very confusing, try to look a bit less like an angel next time you heal someone I nearly had a heart attack - I'll forgive you this time."
Turning to Taisper he continues, "Hey couz, can I get you to help me and Tandlara for a bit today? Need a spell I think only you can cast from a scroll so we can finish off Zander's new magic item. And to protect my virtue from that elf." He grins and winks at Tandlara, not the faintest trait of a blush visible.
He grins and helps himself to some breakfast, "Ah, deliscious, thank you again Svetlana, I really can't stay here much longer, bad for my waist line!"
And two minutes! Shut up now Verik, quit while you are ahead!
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"We can't miss Taxfest Berrin, we can investigate somethings closer at hand, but we won't make it in time if we head off to face the Stag Lord will we? Besides it would not hurt to be a little better prepared, and I don't think a week will cause a lot of harm. I might even be able to make some more magical stuff for everyone if people can think of something they might like, I am sure I could replicate those items of Tandlara's for example...
An Inn would be great, I always think the most important thing is the name... But I guess that should be up to Svetlana and Oleg, they will make a fine landlord and lady I think."
Tandlara blinks once, her eyes closing slowly and then opening again. She looks at Verik for a moment before nodding.
'You do seem rearing to go. I have my various ingredients together. I have also prepares a magical ring of my own, and think that if you place your matrix in my ring, we can acheive a higher level of success. Glad to see you so confident, confidence is to key to success in this matter, and indeed to repeating the act in future.' Still with wild hair, the elf walks back inside the house and throws on a tunic and her pants, grabbing her bone belt and spell components, flattening her hair idly with one hand.
Jemini blinks, once. Twice. Then she leans close to Taisper and whispers, "Is there something different about him this morning?"
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Verik's eyes widen, "You can prepare Magical Rings? I thought about it, but the way I figured it that was high level magic, I thought you needed a greater magical force to bind magic into a ring matrix and enable it to effect the whole body... Is it an elven thing, like a magical elven ring? Or perhaps a different way of initializing the matrix which does not require so much magical umph...?"
Zander nods along with the discussion of their next move, "I agree that we probably shouldn't strike out at the Stag Lord just yet. What if we go back and explore that mountain and maybe some of the nearby area to the East. We could stick close to Olegs to be back in time for the festival while still getting some exploration done."
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Verik straps on his armor and takes up his morningstar and heads out to a clear space. Explaining to any curious onlookers that he is just going to do a little practicing by summoning a creature and taking it on, and that it cannot harm anyone else he chants and summons a giant ant!
The creature clacks its mandibles at him, and Verik carefully thinks of himself as his own enemy - which takes surprisingly little effort. Then he charges!
The fight is short and one sided with Verik smashing the beast three times and the creatures bites deflecting harmlessly from his armor and shield. His third blow finishes it and the pony sized insect vanishes as it hits the floor.
Verik scowls thoughtfully, that seemed so easy, so why can't I do that in real combat? Its not the same, but it should be shouldn't it? I don't think I am afraid, I would know wouldn't I? Maybe I am just the opposite of those people who thrive under pressure...
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Next he seeks out Kesten and discusses getting stone for the Church and beginning digging the foundations offering an initial payment of 300gp.
"I know that won't cover everything, but I am hoping it will be enough to start getting hold of some stone and get the digging of the foundations underway, if we start with a simple stone structure that can later become a wing... I am hoping to engage an architect eventually to do the main building justice, I want something aspirational, that this place can grow around and into..."
And then Oleg, "Excuse me Oleg, I was wondering if you might have anything in the way of a finer morningstar, or if you would be able to acquire one for me... This one has served me well enough, but well it was in pretty poor condition when I got it, and I've probably not been taking the best care of it... I was also hoping to send some letters to Absalom, and some of the nearer branches of my Church, would you be able to help me with that?"
'The latter I'm afraid. My days of imbuing magical items are behind me. But it is a matrices, a web really. I fid it should stablise the process somewhat. Little things, but they help over all, and take the pressure of the creation process.'
'We'll begin when your ready, it will take us a double handful of hours or so, so eat and ready yourself, the process can be intenese and harrowing. Especially when you are a veritable- When the process is unfamiliar to you.'
Oleg looks at his stock and shakes his head. "No morningstars here. Sorry. I can put an order in. They're not hard to come by."
Jhod is walking by as Oleg answers, and pops his head in. "Did you say you were looking for a morningstar? While you're waiting for your order to come in, you want to use mine? It's got some magic to it, though it hasn't seen action in some years. Don't mind you borrowing it, not one bit."
Jhod seems fairly eager to have it off his hands, and his claim that it hasn't been used in years seems less than entirely true.
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Verik wrinkles his brow as he regards Jhod, and speaks in a carefully unaccusatory tone, "Ah, forgive me Jhod, it is a very generous offer but you don't seem to be to convinced about how little recent use it has seen... perhaps you do need it? Is there something you aren't saying? Where did you say you had come from again?"
Berrin stares dumbfounded at Verik as he struts his stuff by breakfast, unable to utter a word he just watches him as he struts off again. "Well. um.. Ok, I'm takeing Bessie out for a ride if anyone feels like joining." he finallt manages. Getting up he dons his studded leather and straps on his new sword before heading for the stable and getting Bessie out, patting her on the flank and nose he leads her outside and strokes her down before saddling up and heading out.
Jhod seems taken aback by Verik. "Well, okay. Sorry for the offer. I came from Mivon, down south." He turns and exits, a bit of a saddened look on his face.
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Verik catches up with Jhod as he leaves, "Sorry I don't mean to be suspicious, but I must admit our gods don't exactly see eye to eye and despite myself I might be feeling a little childish rivalry. It was a very generous offer, and if you are sure it won't be inconveniencing you I would gladly take you up on it." He grins ruefully,
"Intellectually I can acknowledge that people ought to be given a choice of worship, but deep down I might be feeling an unwarranted sense of proprietorship for this little place - spiritually. but please don't let my foolishness put you off, it is great to have another cleric here, and your presence will make the lives of the locals - such as they are at the moment - better I am sure."
"Have a safe ride Berrin."
Jemini watches the interchange between Berrin and Jhod.
Something about how the spirits of future-, present- and past-Jhod interact doesn't make sense. The situation, if anything, get more muddled and unclear the more she looks. Eventually curiosity gets the better of her and she follows Jhod, he's not far ahead and catching up she calls out: "Hey! Wait-up. I'm sorry Verik first snubbed your generous offer so quickly; but he's - well, he's a bit elitist in his own way. When it comes to Abadar he gets tunnel-vision. But as you saw, he's quick to admit a mistake. Forgive him, if you can."
"Please, from my side, accept my thanks and gratitude for your offer to stay a while and help the development of Oleg's. I overheard your willingness to teach - and it really gladdened me to hear it. I have high hopes for the future of these Stolen Lands, and people like you will be the cornerstone on which a new nation can be built. That said... please don't hesitate to ask me if there is anything that you need help with. It sometimes looks like you're slightly ill at ease, and I'd rather you feel as welcome here in Svetlana's care as I do."
Tandlara decides to bow to the neccesary evil of appearance amidst the burgeoning civilisation of the outpost and asks Svetlana for a comb to brush her hair. The smooth-faced elf is dainty and eternally youthful despite her old eyes, however her lithe frame and delicate face are more strangely pretty than beautiful in truth. My people rarely live up to human stories about us, and few humans find us as beautiful as their stories paint us. They do not always realise how alien we are, intruders to Golarion, She thinks to herself.
She remembers with a melancholy smile making her last love admit that elven beauty was a cold sort, distant and like a peice of art, not the kind most men and women desired in their intimate moments.
She smooths her hands over her travelling tunic and fitted travelling pants, her feet bare and grass stained. Riddleskin regards his mistresses rare moment of reflection on her appearance with rodent disapproval.
'Svetlana, I was wondering if I could... If I could borrow the use of a comb. My hair is matted horribly. I'd rather not have to cut it all off again,' Tandlara tries an awkward smile, and the elf women seems genuinely uncomfortable and unsettled. No amount of centuries can truly expel the deep set insecurities. Its what makes us mortal.
Jhod looks from Verik to Jemini. "I guess it's understandable to not trust someone you don't know, especially if that someone's part of a different faith. But it's not like I'm a secret cleric of Zon-Kuthon. Erastil and Abadar are on the same side in the big picture, just disagree on the small stuff. If you want to borrow my old morningstar, I don't have any use for it anymore. Let me go grab it."
Over on.the other side of the post, Svetlana excitedly answers Tandlara. "I'll do you one better! You have such lovely hair, I'd love to wash it and brush it out for you! Maybe even braid it, put some flowers in it! How does that sound?" Without even waiting for an answer, she runs off to get a bath started and to retrieve a comb.
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Ruffling his own hair as he grins sheepishly Verik nods, "He, right you are, like I said my head knows - my brains smarter than me apparently. Say, um, Jhod I was wondering just, ah - this feels like asking a women her age - I mean what level of magic are you capable of... I am a relative novice so it would be helpful if your powers were beyond my own, not that it matters if they are not..."
The barefoot elf wriggles her grass-stained toes and aqcueisces silently. Not that she was given much chance to do otherwise. For the first time in as long as she can remember, more than the lifetime of any other living soul at the outpost she feels coy and vulnerable. She looks around, her green eyes, normally placid, are a wide storm of flowing green, the whites hidden and as she tries to make sure she is not being observed.
She moves off after Svetlana then, still stalking gracefully on the balls of her feet, her brow still furrowed in mild discomfort.
As Jhod goes off to retrieve his morningstar, Jemini grins at Verik. "Barely you make friends with somebody new, and already you're comparing the size of your magics? Men!" She laughs and makes her way back to see what Svetlana is up to. "Oh! And have fun with Tandlara!"
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Verik sighs, "I could have prepared silence, but now I only have locate object left at my highest tier of spells. Hold on Jemini I'm going to try to locate the funny in that joke... No wait something probably has to exist to be located right? Hmmm, wonder if I could find anything useful?"
Verik begins to drum his fingertips against his chin thoughtfully as he awaits Jhod's return.
Jhod comes back with his morningstar in hand. It is wrapped in string and tightly bound with string. He unties it and holds the weapon out before handing it to Verik. It is a good, solid weapon with a solid heft to it. The handle is bound with leather straps, giving it a backwoods appearance. "There you go. Got some magic to it, so it should swing good. Just don't rely too much on the magic and not your own muscles."
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Verik smiles and takes the morningstar hefting it and nodding in appreciation, "Excellent, my thanks. I'll make sure I take good care of it. And here, its not much and its certainly not magical, but take mine - just in case. Just let me know if I can do anything for you in turn. I'll practice with it tomorrow get a feel for it before we are in a life or death situation."
Making a few swipes with the weapons he grins, "Magical weapons, who would have thought it? Speaking of magic, I have some crafting to get done! Thanks again Jhod."
With that he heads off to find Tandlara and is surprised to see her bereft of her normal dragged through a morbid hedge look. "Hey Tandlara, are you, um, ready to get started? You, um, well, looks nice. We can fetch Taisper to use the scroll later, but I was hoping to get started..."
By the time Verik finds Tandlara, Svetlana has already washed and combed her hair. It took several tries to get the dirt of many months out, and longer still to untangle. Still, Svetlana remains indefatigable and upbeat through the process, telling the elf woman how good it will look when she finishes. As Verik strides up, she is partially finished braiding. "Just a few minutes more! Doesn't she look beautiful? I can do yours too if you want!" Though she is smiling and laughing, Verik can't help to feel that she is being the slightest bit serious.
A few minutes later, she finishes her job by putting a wreath of flowers atop Tandlara's head. The elf's surprisingly fine hair is braided into a intertwining braid that falls down her back like a waterfall. For the first time in the expedition's time together, she looks like an elf of legend. Svetlana holds up a mirror. "Look at you! You are a vision! You look like a bride on her happiest day! Verik, doesn't she?"
Coming back in Berrin meets up with Kesten. "Hei uh.. So I was thinking. Your, like, a pretty good horseman. So I eh, was wondering if you could give a fellow some tips. I mean, you look like youve been in tha saddle your whole life and I can just barely get this nag.." Bessie tosses her head and tries to nibble at Berrin at the last one. "..to go where I say." Berrin says with an effort to get Bessie to behave. "Now I don't propose you'll make me an expert in a day, just help me get the hang of this beast!"
Kesten looks at Berrin, as if sizing him up. "Let's see. You look like you've done some mercenary work, probably seen a good amount of combat on foot. I don't see you being trained to fight from the back of a horse, to use the animal itself as a weapon." He walks to the stable, putting a saddle onto his own steed as he speaks. "I can show you a bit of what I know. Come on." He leaps onto his horse's back like it is nothing, solidly fitting into the saddle as if it is made for him. His horse looks unconcerned.
Riding out of the gates of the trading post, Kesten waves to the guardsmen. "I'm going for a little ride, not beyond a mile or two. Don't let the place get razed while I'm gone."
As they ride, Kesten offers his tips and pointers. "Your first issue is that you are trying to bend your horse to your will, and you've got a willful horse. The answer isn't trying harder to make it do what you want, but to come to a system where you trust and understand each other. You don't expect your sword to defy physics to go where you want, so why should you expect your horse to overcome its own nature? You swing a longsword differently than a scimitar or thrust a lance, right? Just like you adapt to your weapon's natural weight and shape to give your attack heft, you adapt to best use your horse." His teaching style is indicative of his noble upbringing, something knightly and courtly about it.
"Don't dig into the stirrups so hard with your feet. Let them guide the horse, not constrain it. The reins are mostly for show. It's all in the legs." He drops the reins to give a demonstration, guiding his own horse entirely with his knees. Just to show off a little, he closes his eyes. "You see, you have to get a feel for each other and stop fighting for control. You give the horse the proper guidance and the horse will respond with being guided."
He turns the horse around so that it faces a small tree, with a trunk perhaps a foot in diameter. "You see that tree? A skilled axeman wouldn't be able to fell it in a single shot because he wouldn't be able to get enough force behind it, no matter how strong he is. But, using the horse's strength..." He charges ahead, hitting his feet against the steed's side to give it a boost in speed. With his sword, a fine Aldori dueling sword, he swings into the tree and cleaves it straight in two. Turning the horse in a wide wheel, he points to the tree, now cut in half. "You can do that. You wouldn't believe how much damage you can do with a lance from the back of a horse."
Tandlara beams at Svetlana, more taken in by her enthusiasm than anything else. 'Thank you Svetlana, its beautiful.' A wide smile crosses her face. The elf woman embraces Svetlana and then stalks off after Verik still smiling, Riddlskin padding along the ground after her with a wary eye for everyone except Svetlana and Jemini.
She strides into the guest house and clears a space on the floor. with smile to Verik she says, 'I'll create that binding circle, it doesn't draw any extra energies, but it stablises waht you have, protects you if you make a greivous mistake, which you won't I'm sure. I have utmost confidence in your performance.'
The elf draws ash from her pouch, it is strangely hued but she offes no explanation, first she sketches a circle, three feet in diameter, then a smaller circle with three inches between the two. She quickly begins to fill in runes, and Verik recognises them as smilar to the runes which appear around ones wrist when casting a spell, specifically of the school of abjuration.
Tandlara is muttering as she works and just as she finishes the circle, she sits down cross-legged and chants an incantation. The ash suddenly bursts into white flame and is replaced by a glowing immaterial circle similar to Tandlara's construction. However the runes shift and alter slightly every few seconds. At first it glows green, but Tandlara continues to chant until it is raises a half-foot from the ground and tilted slightly forward, glowing a risch golden colour and rotating langoriously.
'There. Don't be shy now, time to get hands-on.'
Jemini finds captain Walthon, re-introducing him to Taisper and explains: "Captain, good morning - I've asked Taisper here for a favor. I would like him, and your men, to train at arms together. He has received meticulous and thorough training himself - and his fighting style is unconventional by our standards, but also effective. I'm hoping that we can all learn from each other. I have full confidence in the men, of course, but exposure to other fighting forms will make them more formidable and experienced in the long run."
She makes a sweeping welcoming gesture with her arm, inviting Taisper, "Please."
Out of the corner of her eyes, Jemini spots Zander. Waving at him she shouts, "Hallo! Zander! Do you want to train too?"
Berrin follows Kesten still stiff in his saddle, watching his movements and taking in his advice. Easing up on the reins he tries to relax in the saddle but stiffens right up when Bessie tosses her head and neighs, making to take off.
When Kesten splits the tree in two with his sword Berrin nods in apreciation at the power in his blow. Trying again Berrin relaxes his reins and eases up on the stirrups, when Bessie feels the rein slaken she tenses herself but Berrin clamps his knees into the horses side and she stops in mid stride. Berrin coutiously raises his hands with a triumphant grin and gives a short laugh. "Heh, simple eh? He he, aaaiigh! Umph..!" his triumphant grin disapears as he flies through the air to land on his back when Bessie suddenly starts off at a trot.
Rising with a string of curses on his lips Berrin feels just about ready to slaughter and eat the beast. Kesten quickly sets off after Bessie and catches her reins easely with Berrin watching with a bit of envy in his eyes. Accepting the reins back from Kesten Berrin calmly pats Bessie, avoiding beeing nibbled, and mounts back up.
"You'll need practice. Alot of practice." Kesten says to Berrin.
"Sure." Berrin replies sulkingly. "And maybee a less willfull horse."
"Trust me. The horse is not the problem, your attitude toward it reeks of mistrust." Kesten replies with a sneer. "You'll never form a bond with the animal if you won't let it show it's worth. Remember my advice about guiding it's power. Stop trying to controll it, guide it." With that Kesten rides back to base leaving Berrin with Bessie.
Sitting on Bessies back Berrin ponders Kesten's advice and teachings. Gingerly he let's the reins slaken again, not letting them go, and tryes to nudge her on with his knees. To his surprise Bessie responds to his guiding and starts off at a walk toward Oleg's. Berrin takes his time and let's the horse controll the pace as they head back, only guiding her with his knees, practicing.
Captain Walthon holds his sword out. "We're always happy to get some new blood." As Taisper comes up, he moves into a dueling stance. "Okay, we are working on dodges and counterattacks. " He swings towards the young inquisitor, slow and steady to give him a chance to dodge out of the way.
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Verik armed with various tool - many taken from Orlivanch's - studies Tandlara's work thoughtfully for a time, and then nods firmly. Placing the headband Zander selected in the center of the circle he begins by cutting open the cloth and stitching into place a framework of tiny pieces of quartz crystal, before beginning to connect the matrix with a lattice of gold thread. This takes hours in itself, but with Tandlara's guidance Verik is able to move swiftly yet unhurriedly taking his time to ensure he gets the job done right.
After some hours of exhausting concentration he begins to chants, pricking a fingertip and letting his own blood serve as a conductor from his magic to the matrix. He lays out instruction after instruction, binding each with magic and forming the complex bindings which will allow a wearer to choose his appearance with a thought.
Sweat pouring down his brow he massages his temples and asks Tandlara to fetch Taisper laying the scroll of Disguise Self down upon the table ready - and absent mindedly adjusting it so it lines up perfectly square with the tables edge.
When Taisper arrives he pricks he wearily takes his cousions hand showing him a needle before pricking the tip of the Inquisitor's finger and placing it upon the slightly larger piece of quartz that forms the center of the matrix, "Now just cast the spell please Taisper. Then we are on the home straight, just binding in and integrating the spells magic and then some testing - it should be ready before dinner."
Taisper is thoroughly distracted when he hears Jemini call him over. He's coming back from reading a scroll for Verik and is still amazed at the change that has come over his cousin.
Since when did he ever call me 'cuz'? Well whatever it is it seems like a good thing. I don't think I've ever seen him quite this...forceful about things.
He's so wrapped up in his thoughts that he doesn't realize what's going on until Captain Walthon's sword is en route to his torso.
"Wha-?!" Taisper looks up to say hi only to realize combat has started, and like a fool he's been caught utterly unawares. Oh Master Hunter Corbett would hide me for that. After getting bashed by Walthon's well-placed sword blow, Taisper reaches for his morningstar but is off-balance and slides on the loose gravel, crashing to the ground in a most ungraceful heap. Gotta know your terrain. Master Hunter Wills. Ten lashes. Push ups. Dang!
Sitting up and shaking his head to clear dust off, the inquisitor looks up at Captain Walthon, a chagrined smile on his face. "Well Captain, uh, nice to meet you. As you can see, inquisitors are always super well-prepared for anything that might come our way!" He laughs at his own lapse of preparedness, even as the teachers in his head berate him thoroughly. "Also I'll just bet you didn't know that most of us like to fight on the ground. Lures the bad guys in, it does, gives 'em a false sense of confidence and then we crush 'em. Yeah. That's the ticket!" He rolls his eyes and chuckles at his own joke and stands.
After readying himself and taking a moment to focus, Taisper nods at the captain. "Okay. What say you try that again, sir. If you please? Reckon I've a lot to learn and more to prove."