Kyren departs for bed. He is ready to start a new day tomorrow.
Waiting for Ferranel
A tall gaunt berobed elf with bronzed skin and weathered features enters the restaurant and bows politely to one of the party members. "Good morning. Might I inquire as to where I might find a Mr. Tosscobble here?"
Vaughn looks the newcomer up and down, and nods in response to the bow. You might, sir, you might. And might he know who's asking?
The next morning, Kyren Tosscobble sits at the the table eating a large bowl of oatmeal. Between bites, he is in the middle of a conversation with Vaughn Eliot about the benefits of eggs when the bronze skinned elf enters the room.
" . . . well at the very least, eggs give protein and have more flavor than oats. You can at least dip bread in them to fry it up and make a delightful treat. Dipping bread in oatmeal only seems to cause more lumps."
"Good morning. Might I inquire as to where I might find a Mr. Tosscobble here?"
Kyren slinks down in his chair and pulls a book up over his face. Hiding behind the book, he whispers to Vaughn Eliot. "Find out what he wants, Daggers. If he is after money, tell him I left the city weeks ago."
"Ah, where are my manners." The elf says giving the young human a warm fatherly smile. "My name is Ferranel Branchfire, formerly of Nex, at your service. I'm a researcher studying the nature of magic and my studies have led me to the observation and investigation of sorcerers and am in no way intending to seek him out on any outstanding gambling debts." The elf says the last line with a touch of amusement.
""My name is Ferranel Branchfire, formerly of Nex, at your service. I'm a researcher studying the nature of magic and my studies have led me to the observation and investigation of sorcerers and am in no way intending to seek him out on any outstanding gambling debts."
Kyren slowly puts down the book and rises to his feet.
"Excuse me for asking, Mr. Branchfire, but how did you come to hear of the name, Kyren Tosscobble? You appear to know a great deal about him, especially if you know of his gambling debts! And what is the nature of this research you are doing? Are you planning to write a book on great sorcerers?"
Alcheringa looks at the stranger suspiciously and picks up a jar of salt curiously, he then notes the stranger is an Elf, and picks up the sugar instead as though an afterthought.
Alcheringa looks at the stranger suspiciously and picks up a jar of salt curiously, he then notes the stranger is an Elf, and picks up the sugar instead as though an afterthought.
Vaughn is watching everything farily closely, but it seems the stranger is no immediate threat. Seeing Al picking up seasonings, he whispers don't you think elves are sweet enough already?? *wink*
After a time Bobo pokes his head out of the kitchen and without giving too much thought he points at Kyren
He's Kyren...he's my cousin - aaaaand he's a great sorcerer too, aren't you Kyren?
then he disappears into the kitchen again...
"Oh I knew nothing of your debts until you pointed them out Mr. Tosscobble! Merely that it is not the reason I seek you out. Nor do I wish to write a book about great sorcerers. Far too many books about them and far too few actual great sorcerers such is the enormity of ego amongst spell casters I'm afraid. My actual reasons, are shall we say, much more convoluted. May I have a seat?" Ferrannel asks.
"Bobo, not now!" Kyren says as his gives Bobo a glare that he hopes tells his cousin to stop talking. Alas, he sighs and then turns back to the elf. "Very well, Mr. Branchfire. Forgive my own manners, but I can never be too cautious in this city. I am Kyren Tosscobble at your service." He says with a graceful bow and a sweep of his hand. Gesturing to the seat across the table from him he adds, "Please have a seat and tell me what I can do for you. May I offer you a drink?"
"Ah, thank you, I'll take a weak ale if you would please. Too early for anything more than a clean drink" Taking a seat Ferrane gets right to business pulling out a thick tome bristling with bookmarks, strings and various marking bits. "Tell me Mr. Tosscobble how much do you know about the the nature of magic? Not merely the practice, but the actual force behind it?"
"Tell me Mr. Tosscobble how much do you know about the the nature of magic? Not merely the practice, but the actual force behind it?"
"The nature of magic? Well that's a funny question. Let me see if I can explain it the way I see it and in a way that makes sense to you. You see magic is my friend. She is always there for me! Think of it as a great universal force that follows me around allowing me to fulfill a great destiny. I understand that magic likes it when I shape its power and use it to express my will upon the world. I mean, I am not trying to control the world or anything like that. I just find that it flows through my veins naturally and somehow it is related to my destiny. So each day I try to put it to use accomplishing some small deed. I figure that in time all of my little small deeds will add up to one great deed! Does this answer your question, Mr. Branch fire?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"An admirable way to find your destiny." Cracking open the tome to a blank page (which does indeed make a "crack" noise when opened) Ferranel finds an ink well and pen and scribbles a few notes in elvish before continuing. "Allow me to share with you what I know of magic, then why in fact I've sought you out over any dozen sorcerers within the city walls."
Looking around the table Ferranel finds a napkin and unfolds it on the table. "Magic, as we know it. Is a field of energy that empowers all living things. Without this foundational field all things would collapse, the material plane would implode with the force of the outer planes pushing upon it, we would discorporate into total oblivion and the worst part about it is I would never get my drink."
Gesturing with both hands at the napkin Farrenel continues giving his lecture. "This field of course is not quite as flat as this as frankly it's difficult to model a 12 dimensional concept. It folds, it bends, in some places it's torn and in some place on Golarion the napkin is so thin that it all but doesn't exist. Now, we know this field can be manipulated by phenomenon in the same way the ocean is affected by the tides, there are ripples, waves, whirlpools, cataclysmic storms, and what not. Also like the ocean we can manipulate this field to some small degree to serve our purposes."
Snatching up the salt shaker and a jar of bobo's "special" sauce he continues. "Now the actual function of this manipulation happens ina myriad of ways. On one far end of the spectrum." He places the salt shaker on one corner of the napkin. "You have the mundanes, those whose internal fields only encompass the necessary energy for existence. This is where we find most humans, most elves and halflings, with exceptions here and there. This is also where we typically find wizards as well. These people cannot simply invoke power with their force of personality alone fire does not dance on their fingertips purely because they say so. They must first build up the necessary mental discipline to pull energy directly from the field itself at the cost of some mental energy. For all the accomplishments of wizards they are loathe to admit that there powers are the result of mere hard work and not of any high born inclinations."
Farrenel places the "sauce" jar on the opposite corner of the napkin. "Here is , as you say, where the natural mages are. This is where we find sorcerers, dragons, beings of such mythical potency that just being inside a dead magic zone can be potentially lethal. Now sorcerers, as you may already know, are not precisely natural. Or rather it is perhaps not your what mother may have intended. Sorcerers inherit there ability to use magic from an ancestor, sometimes a dragon, other times a powerful outsider, occasionally through some past unholy union between the living and the undead. Thus in addition to their magical powers they often exhibit traits from this ancestor, claws, toughened hide, power over the elements. These traits allow us to identify the nature of that ancestor. Now of course there are outliers, certain sorcerers only exhibited traits after being exposed to certain energies for long periods of time or being subject to magical phenomenon. But, that's a digression."
Ferranel then twirls his finger around the space between the two condiments. "Between these two you find the other disciplines, your bards, your witches, your various cultural takes on the manipulation of internal and external magical fields. However there is one mystery that stands above all the rest. And that, Mr. Tosscobble is where you come in. "
Reaching once more into his bag Ferranel pulls out a large piece of canvas which he unrolls on the table making things quite crowded for everyone by now trying to eat their breakfast in peace. On it is a complex diagram of names and places with lines leading to one another in various ways. One name in particular is circled; Kyren's.
"You see based on current understandings of sorcerers you, my little friend, should not exist. You have literally no one in your family line who has exhibited more than a passing capability in manipulating magical fields. More than that, you have not been exposed to any phenomenon that would suggest an awakening of such power. You are an outsider among outsiders, you are a sorcerer with no background beyond what he feels. Tell me, Mr. Tosscobble. What do you think of that?"
Having refresh both his soul and body at the Ossuary, Tal'Zeneb made his farewells to his brothers and made the trek across Kaer Maga at dawn.
He took his time, for the city was beautiful at that time of day, many just waking for the day's labours, other returning from the nights debaucheries; all washed with the first strains of daylight, red,then orange then finally the fine yellow fullness of daylight.
Uncharacteristically, Tal was humming a Riddleport river shanty as he entered the Revive to hear the last half of Ferranel's lecture.
its never dull around the Wee Bluets....thank you Blessed Pharasma
Tal nods to Vaughn and the others and takes a place at the table, intent upon the conversation before them.
Kenta just raises an eyebrow, before muttering to Buta in the lilting language of the wayang.
"AHA! Finally a man who understands what I have been saying all along! Magical weapons, Dragons, and the building of the Ardocs golems is not a perversion of nature, but rather the very essence of life and nature itself! It is the Mothers gift to weave her energies!" Alcheringa looks thrilled to have finally met another rational and sensible person.
"You see based on current understandings of sorcerers you, my little friend, should not exist. You have literally no one in your family line who has exhibited more than a passing capability in manipulating magical fields. More than that, you have not been exposed to any phenomenon that would suggest an awakening of such power. You are an outsider among outsiders, you are a sorcerer with no background beyond what he feels. Tell me, Mr. Tosscobble. What do you think of that?"
Kyren sits up straighter in his chair and begins to blush slightly as the elf comes to the part about one mystery that stands above the rest. "You are a very eloquent scholar, Mr. Firebranch. You have used such delightful words to describe a mystery that I have explored since I was just a wee Tosscobble. I guess I would just have to add that the only thing that I ever considered to have given me the magic I possess is that I was born at the moment of a solar eclipse. For indeed my birth name is Kyreneth Shadowsun Tosscobble. The shadowsun naturally coming from a most rare and unique moment upon when many great things in the universe were aligned. I just assumed that somehow my destiny was infused in me at that moment."
Vaughn listens with reasonable intensity, at least pretending he's following the conversation.
"Erm, yes." Ferranel says about the enthusiastic elf trying not to be taken off stride. "Yes, but many people are born during an eclise as they are everyday. This alone does not make them special, or grant them power over others it's merely a cosmic event that would happen regardless of your or my existence. What you represent Mr. Tosscobble is an opportunity to further the study of greater magical theory . Understanding and discovering the actual source of your abilities can lead to many great discoveries. You could represent the missing link between divine patronage magic and arcane magic. You may represent the basest form of sorcery making all others merely derivatives. Who knows? The ultimate point in all this is that I wish to learn and discover precisely where your power comes from, if it is tied to your destiny, who or what decided upon that destiny and granted you this power. A natural force? A divine entity? A subtle but significant bunching up of the magical field? That is ultimately what I am here to do Mr. Tosscobble, to observe and study you and perhaps together we can discover why you're a sorcerer."
"This is a very interesting proposition, Mr. Branchfire. Your work seems all very theoretical and as you will soon discover, my approach to life is very . . . well . . . practical, but if you don't mind putting up with myself and the Wee Bluets, then I suppose you could tag along for a while. But tell me, Mr. Branchfire, how much privacy will I retain? I mean, will I be under your magnifying lens at all times?"
"Alignment of the stars does it, born at a fortuitous moment in the cosmic dance." Alcheringa offers, slightly vacantly as he stares heavenwards again "She exhaled as he breathed in"
FErranle laughs a not unpleasant and hearty sound. "If you mean following you to the privy and recording any and all of your romantic endeavors no. My interest is in seeing how your destiny manifests and by what force you have been granted it. Given your most recent escapades I doubt your destiny will manifest itself in your gambling habits or love affairs."
There are eggs to be...uh gathered!
Bobo pipes in, waving a meaty hand.
"There are eggs to be...uh gathered!"
"Yes, yes, Cousin! I know there are eggs to be gathered! We are getting to that! But first, I need to make arrangements with one of the many scholars that is interested in studying my life and work."
"I'm sorry for the interruption. My cousin is very narrowly focussed on a most pressing problem he has. He needs us to go and acquire the egg from a Naga. I suppose they don't sell that at the local market, so he is sending us on a wild egg hunt first."
"Well, anyway, Mr. Branchfire, I am glad to hear that you are not here to delve into all of the closets of my life, for most certainly I do have a few skeletons lingering there. But if you don't mind a little risk and danger in your life, then you are more than welcome to accompany myself and the other Wee Bluets on our little egg hunt if you wish. Mind you, I cannot guarantee that you will get to taste any of Bobo's recipe when he is done. Will you be content eating just chicken eggs on our journey?"
He can guarantee that! I will prepare a feast you will never forget..once I got my eggs...heh.
Bobo rubs his hands in glee and has already constructed a pile of other ingredients that are needed for the recipe.
"Well, Mr. Branchfire, my cousin is becoming a great cook, and we are trying to do something rather nice for him. He doesn't come with us while we are on adventure, but he does keep us well fed when we come back home. So, my friend, do you have any dietary restrictions that the chef should know about?"
"I have a minor allergy to shellfish." Ferranel states. "But other than that nothing more than you might expect."
No problem...shellfish is quite hard to get here...so far away from any ocean...
Bobo shouts from the kitchen. A moment later he enters the taproom, wiping his hands clean on his apron
And yes, my cousin was talking about eggs...EGGS if you understand me...hard to get eggs, heh.
"I have a minor allergy to shellfish." Ferranel states. "But other than that nothing more than you might expect."
Vaughn smirks. Keep your eyes open, Ferranel. There can be some rather...exciting dishes floating around this place. "nothing more than you might expect" can mean a lot of different things depending on the company!
"Ok, my friends, are we ready to go on our little egg hunt? Where do you suppose we should start? Bobo, did you say you knew where we needed to go?"
Kyren turns to Vaughn Eliot and says, "I cannot believe that my destiny is somehow tied up with finding eggs."
Bobo puts his hands on his hips and sighs
I did...twice...Kyren, what the hell has happened to your fabled quicksilver-like mind?! I told you to go talk to your Duskwarden friends again - they know all the entrances and higher tunnels.
the halfling shakes his head but smiles all the while
Kyren...Kyren... he says and walks back into the kitchen...
"Well, if you'll allow me to finish my ale we can go presently."
Works for me... Vaughn drains his.
"Back into the tunnels" Alcheringa smiles as he pulls out his trusty treatise on things in the underground, "I'll need to take more apples, almost ran out last time"
"I did...twice...Kyren, what the hell has happened to your fabled quicksilver-like mind?! I told you to go talk to your Duskwarden friends again - they know all the entrances and higher tunnels."
"Right, right. Naturally I remembered where to go. I was just testing you to make sure that you knew where we are going. But I see know that your memory is perfect. Now, keep up the fine work and keep the business running while we are out. Have a splendid day, cousin!"
Turning to the rest of the company, Kyren asks, "So boys, are we ready to go?"
When everybody is ready, Kyren leads his companions to the Duskwardens'.
Buta huffs noisily and snuffles at Kenta's elbow for snippets from the table, as Kenta raises his voice to respond "Kenta not come... no reason to give kuso about egg. Egg not pay Kenta, buy sake for Buta. Not see why all people need run around for fat halfling too lazy go out find own imaimashī egg."
Tal'Zeneb had been fascinated by the metaphysical discussion that had taken place and now found himself looking forward to the next adventure.
"Strange the effect these Wee Bluets have had on me. I now relish the strange and outlandish events they seem to attract. Blessed Pharasma, was wonders await!
Glancing at the obstinate Wayang, Tal says "Kenta, this endeavour is sure to fail without our porcine saviour, Buta!"
At the sound of his name, the boar lifts his head... huffing at Tal'Zeneb for a few moments before letting rip with a grunting burp that carries the odour of sour wine upon it.
Kenta nods before translating "Buta says Buta not work for free either."
"Aha, Money-mojo. Duskwardens always give bags of money-mojo coins out for people exploring the caves. Use the magic to get what you want"
Buta huffs noisily and snuffles at Kenta's elbow for snippets from the table, as Kenta raises his voice to respond "Kenta not come... no reason to give kuso about egg. Egg not pay Kenta, buy sake for Buta. Not see why all people need run around for fat halfling too lazy go out find own imaimashī egg."
Vaughn takes in Kenta's comment, and stares pensively at him for a few minutes. Then he leans forward toward him.
Kenta, here's the thing. Bobo is no adventurer. He's got a good heart, and one thing is sure, he's NOT lazy--he's been working his tail off maintaining this place. If he wasn't here, we wouldn't have such a comfy, safe place to rest up between our little jaunts. that, to me, is worth a heluva lot; Bobo is providing me with a *home*. And, he and Kyren are blood. Kyren has proved himself many times over, and he'll help Bobo, if for no other reason than their blood ties.
.
Kyren is my friend, and he's helping Bobo, who is also my friend, so that's why I'm in.
.
Now, you and I haven't known each other too long, but fighting the good fight shoulder to shoulder with another counts for something where I'm from. So, if not for Bobo, and if we're not getting paid...
Vaughn extends his hand to Kenta, anticipating a writs grab/shake
...come with your brother in arms because he's asking for your help.
Kenta scoffs "If Kenta your brother... not sure who mother sleeping around with." and Vaughn's endorsing has zero impact upon the Ronin's desire. It's only Alcheringa's mention of coin that piques interest.
"Fine, Kenta come... see if Duskwarden people pay Kenta to go in hole."
And into the gloomy streets of Ankar-Te...once again.
Crowded, noise, full of smells one wouldn't have been sad to miss...goblins juggling with hedgehogs, knives, bombs...well it gets better once you leave the district of undead and necromancers and enter the central district of the city.
One of the few places where daylight falls unhindered into the belly of the metropolis.
The squat fortress of the Duskwardens, greyish-brown looks as impressive as always, throning over a small square.
Kyren nudges Feranel as he leads the others into the fortress. "Don't worry," he declares. "They know me in here and I am very close the head Duskwarden. We are like this." Kyren holds up two fingers side by side. He then strolls inside the Duskwarden's Fortress and begins looking around for Amberline. After a moment, he inquires with some of the guards. "Excuse me, good sir. I am Kyren Tosscobble of the Wee Bluets and we were looking for the lovely Dusklady Aamberline Terrafiere. Could you kindly direct us in her direction? Thank you, my good man."
"Worry?" Ferranel inquires. "Is there a reason I should worry Mr. Tosscobble?"
Not getting an immediate answer Ferranel shrugs and follows along.
The guard arches an eyebrow and is about to dismiss you when he seems to remember something...
Commander Amberline? Right, follow me...
You don't really remember if this is the same way you took last time, all these stony corridors look alike but after you have passed numerous doors, the guard stops
Her room...umm, she's not here, but will come soon...I would recommend to wait here.
The guard nods and tromps off...
"These Duskwardens are such nice folks. They sure know how to serve and protect. I'm sure Amberline will be right along in just a moment!"
Alcherinaga and the now massively oversized Blaze sit lazily on the floor and wait as they chew on various flowers.