At tea...
-----
"Oh, well... that is interesting." He states not sure what else to say.
"A new experience everyday! As Sulvanii states. Green tea... hmmmm." He takes the offered cup and realizes it is really hot sitting down and letting the cup rest on the table a bit. "So Gao how many teas do you have?"
I edited the Sulvanii one of the last page. I'll edit this post when I see that one on your first post here.
Once they got to Gao's he had already made the tea. "I hope you don't mind but I went with green tea today." He told them.
"Hey! Tea is tea to me!" Cleonora said as she took a seat and got her cup from him. Without changing it at all she began to sip the hot drink.
---------------
"Well I have a few teas from home." Gao said. "Green tea, Oolong tea, black tea, white tea. But I also have some from this area too. I believe it is also know as a black tea. It is the easiest to get my hands on as it is more local. But my children sent me tea regularly." Gao explained.
"You quoted Sulvanii?" Cleonora asked intriged. "Do you talk to him much?"
**Edited**
"So I hear you are looking into outfits for our guards and Reves. I could pull out one of my reserves to pay for it and it would give a huge boost to our economy for the those making them. Also a consistent work. As we plan to continue to grow."
Quince smiles, "First we are going to revisit your answer about Elizabeth." He chuckled friendily.
"Well Saren, Tristan & Kevros are some of the finest warriors I know. Their work with the men they have rallied and trained is worth noting. Such men and women are stout and while the measure of a warrior is how their strength and skill meet their foes. I would see our forces well outfitted. I would also want the heraldry of our people celebrated. And the duties and jurisdictions of our various leaders set in order. Saren as Warden of the Host (General), Kevros as Warden of Sword (Marshall) and Tristan as Warden of Shield (Warden). More funding if we can find it would be a great thing. Knowing these men the will likely and rightly so push money toward, training and equipment before the colors. But a young city and nation like ours would do well to show clearly its sense of law and order."
He looks at Sulvanii, "Tell me councilor. How would you advise me on any pursuit of Elizabeth. I am Baron of the Greenwatch is she a good fit. She is of the family of an ally. One whom our Kingdom owes a debt to. I am not sure I could do better. Nor do I look forward to politics imposing on my marriage prospects. Choosing someone before the gods is a big enough decision. Is there reason to caution against it? Or those who would detract from the idea. Credibly. Truth be told I loved Angeus and she would not or could not accept the idea of marriage or the responsibility of the crown."
"Yes... I had been working with him a lot before coming here. About three months I think. Working with him means a lot of talking. Recently not so much, I go and try to see him and Bearik at least twice a week." He points out not seeing the importance of it.
He slowly put his arms around you, holding you close to him as your lips met. He slowly held and kissed you taking his time to be intimate. If you pushed back he would let you go without any resistance. Then he realized that some rules would need to be put in place for them, "I will be as gentle as you want me to be. Though I will slowly begin to test boundaries, it is in my nature. If you ever want me to stop or slow down the word no or stop will not affect me. I am so used to safe words. In fact using those words will make me get more riled up. So the word I usually use is Sun. But anything will work. What safe word would you like to use? We are both very controlling individuals and down the road in our relationship we will have to talk about our roles of being dominant and submissive. I know this might be too much but I am trying to explain. So when we do have that talk you already have had some time to work it through." He was about to say more but stops himself, obviously mentally telling himself to slow down and wait.
"I do not know sire. I have not observed her with you in any capacity. So saying she if fit, I cannot answer. From my few meetings with her she seems to know her way around a court. Also the stories that Bearik tells of the time with her, they were treated like royalty. I wouldn't go as far to say the kingdom owes Bearik a debt. He has taken as much as he as given. Always for the betterment of the kingdom but no not a debt. I know you loved Angeus. Only time will tell and I hope you bring her around for social gatherings. I will be making many of them in one capacity or another. Cleonora will be joining them as well, she will be civil. I hope more soon. But yes time will tell. Give it a month at least before you go any further into a relationship. She is forming after all. Court her, take her on dates, take a chaperone that will be a good fit, Katrina or I could suggest others, but really the guards should be fine. Just don't dismiss them."
From what I have seen... very little... I would say Hogwarts! Cleo is the expert on this but it really is up to the group.
Help me understand the Academy.
I was envisioning University age students or is this more a Hogwarts situation?
I was writing a response and I realized that some of the language reads like a boarding or finishing school rather than College or Grad School.
As of today I am no longer working from home. Our school "reopened" so now I will teach remotely from school with 3 or 4 students actually in the classroom with me as well. So I won't have as much freedom to respond as often as I have over the last few months.
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It is closer to a Hogwarts type deal. Their students range from 14-16 in age, live on the grounds almost year round, eat in a large dinning hall, etc. The academy is the stepping stone to a university.
[b]"What do you talk about when you go to see them?" Cleonora asked curious about what they would have to talk about.
"I... Think I understand." Cleonora said with a nod. He was an Efreeti after all, dominance came naturally to his kind. "I... Am not sure what to pick, it just is a word right? If yours is sun... How about make is simple and mine be moon?" Cleonora asked, trying to take this one point at a time.
That was a wall of text. . . Sorry.
Seeing Cleo interested in his conversations, he thinks on the best way to answer it and then offers, "They are interested in my conditions. First that I am from a parallel world, second becoming an empowered mortal, and third history. Comparing the history I know of Taldor and what they know. They find it amazing how our worlds can be so the same and yet so different."
Don't be sorry! I've done it too!
Cleonora smiled slight as she sipped more of her tea. "Many things hinge on just one thing." Cleonora said. "Take this whole business with the creature. Had she of begged for my help I would have given it. Not even fully explained just begged. However she chose not to. Now we reap what has been sowed." She sighed.
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*sigh* I was really hoping she was gonna be an innocent bystander that just got caught up in her father's s@+~...
He carries you into his bedroom as the door opens on its own. He takes you to the bed and sits you down. He goes behind a changing screen and comes out moments later in simple linens. He comes over and sits beside you with a golden brush in one of his hands. You can go change into anything you want to get more comfortable, or you can lay down."[/b]
At the mention of creature, his face scrunched up and he put the cup of tea on the table again.
*hits the pause button and walks into discussion* Okay few things to talk about before I can respond to that. This:
"I hate the way you skew things but I agree, it is how it is." He agrees.
"She was a spoiled royal brat who slept with a slew of partiers, she was frivolous with gold and possessions, ill intent well more like no intent she did what she wanted not caring who it affected, at least that is how I remember it. You could ask her. She would throw carnal balls and let all sorts of miscreants into our houses. She would open our stores and let vermin take that which is ours. Such a waste as the soldiers slew them on my command." He seems to wake from his memory and looks aghast, sobbing he stands up and runs from the room.
This statement seems to oppose the things he has already explained. As his words before made it clear she was active in their, I'm gonna use flaunting, of their own way against the gods. Even if it was a more minor role. But let's say this is what he meant all along. Then it is even worse. As her bring on of her own families troubles was entirely her fault. She was a spoiled brat who decided that she could do whatever she pleased, even if it stood in contrast to her own father. She did not take into consideration her responsibilities she had as royalty or how the tensions were rising among the gods even though she was very much aware of it. The statement of "She did what she wanted not caring who it affected" pretty much sealed in the view that Cleo already had of her. As now her own father has even admitted this is how she often acted.
This may not be what you intended with his whole statement, but that is how it is coming off. Which, really just tells Cleo in Liz's own father's worded, what Cleo believed of her all along...
Cleonora paused as she looked around the room while he changed. The pit of her stomach was twisting again. Try as she might some of who she once was still lingered beneath. When he returned and sat beside her she said "I... Didn't bring anything to change into..." The notice the brush in his hand. "What is the brush for?" She asked. "Wait that sounded stupid, what are you going to brush?"
Cleonora sipped her tea before she looked at Jorne. "You do no agree that one action changes everything?" She asked.
Yeah I kinda figured. Cleo would latch on to that. Though I doubt Cleo sees partying and promiscuity as one sided crimes with a clear victim either.
Not but they are something one has to choose to take part in. Other wise it them becomes a crime. Her actions aren't one sided, but they are the ones she chose knowing that it could come back to bite her. It is the knowing and actively still going through with it that deems it of her own making. Not the fact she's a promiscuous party girl. While that would normally just be the type of person Cleo would avoid, mixing it with the responsibility of royalty that she completely flew in the fact of and her blatant disregard for the rising tensions her own family was in... Yeah no pity. She knew, and chose to do it anyways.
Sure 400 years sounds like a slap on the wrist
As a very well written show once said, "What is time to an immortal?" (I'm quoting Gargoyles by the way, the second season.)
400 years means something to us, we're mortals who live and die in less than 100 years. But those who are immortal far less does it hold. Even more so when ones responsibility is so great as to be an immortal royal.
I wish one of you had see the old anime called The Twelve Kingdoms that actually has a plot almost identical to what is going on here in one of the seasons. I feel like it would make explaining easier.
Yeah it was 400 years and then freed. And then freedom stripped the immortality. Cleo's capacity to judge harshly is almost as strong as her powerlessness to forgive.
So she now gets to live as a mortal. That doesn't change what she did before, or that it got her sent away. Or the fact that, from what I can tell, she still views herself above others. She was in the prison because of the choices she made, as such no forgiveness is warranted. Had it been because of her father's action forgiveness would have been given.
When you stand above all others you have a duty to them. She squandered her duty, cared not for how her actions effected others, and brought about the doom of her family. By her own choice. If Quince started living the same way Liz had, and no sense could be talked into him, Cleo would see fit and justified in taking him down. Because rulers like that do far more harm to their people than they do good. They easily give way to corruption and festering of those Cleo has already killed. She's seen it time and time again, and she refuses to forgive someone who did it to themselves when they knew the consequences that could be brought against them. That is a core belief of Cleo's and she holds even to herself.
Well we can deal with possibly when possibly happens.
The philosophy aside in discussion what is your response to Sulvanii and to what Quince is proposing.
To Quince, he seems to think she's the one who needs to be appeased. Which she doesn't fully get, as he can't do that for her right now. When Cleo is here for the parents, to satisfy them so that she can keep her students. She would have been more willing to go to bat for Liz if it hadn't been her fault, as she is at fault, she's still on the side of appeasing the parents and keeping all of her students, Liz's fate be damned. Because nobles talks, and merchants even more so. If they pull their students it could take years for the academy to find solid standing again. The first few years are sink or swim for them. Knowing that it was of her own making, mean that Cleo has no support to give Liz. She would tell them exactly what happened, down to what she has learned about Liz's past so that they have the whole picture to make this choice from, this includes Cleo's notice of her lack of care for those Liz deems below her. She also would not refer to her as a celestial but as an outsider. She would also put in whatever Quince himself wanted to write and send to them with her letter to them. If they still declare that she has to leave or else they will pull their children from the academy, Cleo as the Head Mistress would bring their demands to Quince and let him decided, knowing what is a stake for his barony. Knowing that he would likely still choose Liz, and cripple her academy. Because in the end, it is his call because he is the baron. She would judge him by the choice he makes, not what he might make or what she believes he will make. He knows that Cleo will put the academy above everything. That means even the life of the criminal they harbor, not to kill her but what her quality of life would be, banishment I'm talking about banishment. It is their choice to make as the parents and given that she feels Liz is completely at fault she would support and be vocal for their choice. As of right now assuming what the GM said is correct, as with the question I asked.
To Sulvanii, that Liz deemed her own entertainment and pleasure above all other's safety even that of her own family. Which in the end caused them to be locked away. It was her own fault. She knew what was going on, knew they gods could strike at them, and acted that way anyways. She has none to blame but herself.
I feel like hashing out the philosophy of this is making a decision harder.
Quince isn't asking her to forgive though he thinks she should. He is suggesting an explanation that he feels is most in keeping with the facts that should satisfy fears and keep everyone moving forward.
If she needs to maintain Liz is a monster. Which isn't factual then she doesn't want his help. Its the truth it spares both Liz and Cleo from blame because of understandable circumstances.
And her personal judgment about ultimate culpability is not the question. The incident is.
That is kinda that nature of Philosophy. It doesn't simplify it compounds.
Honestly, as a player who has GMed before, I wouldn't have even allowed it to get this far. The moment any NPC I introduce causes player conflict I remove them. But that is me, I cannot speak for GM Wolf.
The best way I can put this think of Cleo mentally as Judge Dread! As they both share the fact that the law is the law. Liz is an admitted criminal, now twice over after learning everything that happened, and Quince still wants to keep her around because she is Bearkin's daughter and he wants her!
If it wasn't for that fact, we would lose nothing what so ever if she had to be banished for what she did!
The battle here is now Cleonora go along with the law, and the protection of her students, against Quince who wants this person as his wife and to appease her father who is a powerful being. Which is the worst pick given her attitude towards others and her style of living!
That is what this is feeling like at this point, I think I'm just going to finally call it and say there is no way in character or out of getting around this. The GM needs to make a call on what we're going to do. I will defer to his judgment as he is the GM of the game and we will work from there. Because Quince will not see any other choice but to keep Liz and Cleo will see no other but to get rid of her. Neither of us are willing to move on that point. So lets make sure it is out of our hands and given to the one we have chosen to play with and pass judgment.
First I am sorry. If anything I did or said did harm that isn't what I wanted. I have love this game. Liked the group and wanted to see it move forward and wanted to welcome a new player.
I thought a lot of the back and fourth was aimed at understanding the other perspective and learning the other person's character.
Many stories have characters that work together with differing views. I thought that could be us and I thought our story would be greater for it.
I was not attempting to inflexible. I was attempting to see the issue settled. Allow both character their personal view of things but allow the issue to go away. So that new events would arise.
Settlement offered at the incident. Compensation and punishment.
Not enough.
Begrudging agreement and everyone moving forward at the meeting. NPC that was thought an evil monster takes the agreement seriously and works to make it right. Not enough.
Rather than let things move forward a player driven scenario was invented that "rumors" were going to negatively effect the city and the academy. Okay. Maybe addressing the rumors would allow a way forward.
Quince offers a solution to resolve the issue. Explains that in the time since study of the magic and working with the people involved there was clearly mitigating mind effecting magic involved. Offers to personally help calling in favors he is reluctant to call.
I saw each of these options as ways to lift up both characters both Quince and Cleo and move forward.
The alternative. Kill Cleo? Run her out of town when she wanted to kill the family member of a powerful ally and wouldn't except a snap ruling. That would have been out of line for us as a group out of line for Quince.
The other alternative accept a rigid unforgiving view of law without any mercy or hope for redemption mete out a harsh punishment. Out of line with the Kingdom we have run so far. Out of line with Quince so far. Out of line with the possibility that in a world where magic might be a variable.
I have been upfront with Cleo's player and the GM that many of the decisions Quince were expressions of out of character desire to on board a new player. Clearly I didn't meet that goal. But that was my motive.
I am not upset, I enjoyed the conversations we had back and for!
I also agree that characters who are differing in their views can make for interesting story and development of the characters within.
Issues settled do not always mean they go away. Some issues have lingering effects, and are often some of the most interesting ones to explore because they often force characters to make hard choices which relieve more of the character underneath.
As to the rumor scenario, at the time I spoke about that to the GM I was still under the impression that Liz would be leaving. As such tried to offer an easy reason in which to depart her swiftly so that we could move on.
Quince explained what he had found, which did open the door to Cleo being able to ask what she would consider the most important question. The mind effect of the magic of the prison would have been taken into better consideration if Liz hadn't been the one who put herself in there. It would have easily been forgotten if that hadn't been the case. But that isn't how the story went, so I stuck to Cleo's character. The favors would be a nice thing if they go to the root of what Cleo believed the problem to be, but it doesn't.
I also rejected many of the alternatives. Which was mostly along the lines of killing Liz and as such solving the problem. But I decided greatly against that because of Katrina and Quince. It would be in character for the start of Cleo, but with the addition of a friend she has changed enough that, this course of action would be the last one she took.
There was also just up and accepting someone which Cleo still believes is a great threat to their budding kingdom, which would also be out of line with Cleo as a whole. I will also point out that just because magic exists in this world doesn't mean the large part of the population can afford such things. So while they may be a variable, it wouldn't be a variable the majority of laws would take into account.
I also feel that this would have been much different if Cleo had been given more time to know the group as a whole and if the laws had been properly laid out before and not after. As just one of these two pieces would have changed the situation to a major degree. A base line of trust with the other PCs would have gone a long way but that connection was not there. Especially so soon after the Selena incident.
My main reason for just letting the GM make his choice on what he wants to do is because I cannot see an efficient way forward from this that would not leave at least one of the characters completely unsatisfied or acting completely out of character. So I'm leaving it to him to choose if he wants to flash reset this, or have him simply make this vanish however he see fit. If that is popping into next month or this disappears like it never happened and we never talk about it again.
14 very long posts and after a visit from my folks... here we go!
Bearik made a blanket statement, then used a parable, finally he looked back at instances. You take from it what you will.
I think I have seen twelve kingdoms!
I think it is very short sighted to continue to use one's words against another without letting them defend their own actions. But Cleo is very determined to put it politely.
"Don't worry I have scads of clothing back there, the closest ones are the comfy ones. Just go back and envision what you want, or what you would wear on your days off you just stay in. Shall I come with you?" He states and suggests, not worrying about the brush yet.
If he goes with you or not, you see a long walk in closet behind the dressing shade. He would pick out a few things and offer, "Pick one of these or something else. Whatever you want."
Laying on his belly in a comfy position. Looking at the brush as you emerge he smiles at you. Happily he states, "I am going to comb, no brush your hair. Sure I have other forms that I could do it too but I thought you would like it."
** So this begs a question for Quince separate from is going on in the council. Has Liz shown any humility or remorse. I think her being upset about honoring the deal shows she was trying very hard to fix the problem. Is that accurate?**
Uh yeah, she wants to turn from her old self. She wants to do what she can to do right by the deal. She... yup that is about all she has done.
I can take care of this, or we can do this the easy way... which really is the easy and quick way to get it done.
I tried to warn you! T_T
That... sadly does not help me at all...
Really?! OH man I'd be so stoked if you did! It's great and I think you'd like it. Do you remember the character Shoukei?
Do you mean Cleo is a b+@#+? Because saying she's determined is more like a complement.
Cleonora shrugged and let him lead her into the area with all of the outfits. She just allows Sulvanii to pick something out and when he leaves so she can change she does so.
She came back out to see him comfortable upon the bed. "My... hair?" Cleonora asked, she seem a little stunned. She reached up and touched a small chunk of her short hair. "It use to be longer... but I cut it the day I left..." She told him as she returned to sit on the bed to he could brush her hair.
"How about we talk about something nicer?" Gao offered to calm the mood. "Jorne tell me what you think of the academy grounds?"
I can take care of this, or we can do this the easy way... which really is the easy and quick way to get it done.
I am not sure what this means.
Are we proceeding from where things are?
My instinct was wait and see.
I believe he is talking about wish.
That could fix things.
Yeah, I actually suggested that to him in PM not too long ago when I was really starting to feel like we where going in circles...
Circles
Downward spirals
Tomato
Tamauto
You're assuming they can't be both. I mean spirals are a form of circles!
I got to sleep.
I don't thing whatever is going to change is going to happen right this second.
I agree, nothing is likely to change over night. Sleep well man, talk to you later.
FYI I am waiting for Kevros and Tristan to make any kind of comment before any NPCs speak up. Unless a PC directly asks something.
I haven't posted in game yet mainly because I was going to wait and see if we had a plan to move forward.
Shoukei, the pure pricess turn orphan and learning how the real world works...
I think... nope not going there!
"So tell me that story, why did you cut your hair? How long would you want your hair to be? Maybe a different color for fun?" He says as he begins to brush.
Once she is done he says, "Little things like this are good to work on our relationship. We can talk and work on our images. I would like to have a shape that you would prefer. I know you might think that is silly but I want a form I can walk along with you in town, a mortal form. Trust me the look a demon! Gets old real quick."
Yes we could use a wish to set things better, that is the quick and easy thing.
Or we continue. Honestly I think it would be better to just do the wish. Not much goo has come from Liz attacking Cleo. It would have been better for her to beg. Let me know if I should bring it up with Sulvanii or Cleo can put it out there.
Oh man you did see it! It's so rare to find someone else who watched it! I'm so totally stoked! XD
That's fine. I just saw a lot of parallels in their story is all.
"I cut it after I left my home... I guess... I didn't feel like I should have something so nice any more... It use to be almost to my knees if you can believe that..." She said with a half hearted chuckle. "Want it to be? I don't know... I liked what I had, but when it is short like this is doesn't get in the way when I have to fight." Cleonora said, giving a shrug. "What you don't think black hair looks good on me?" She joked.
"You don't look like a demon to me." Cleonora said trying to be supportive. "But... I know what you are so... Yeah I could see how that would be hard to deal with in town." She relented. "Why don't you just, well take the shape of a human? I mean we're so common few would notice even if your eyes where off." She pointes out. "What are the limits to your shifting abilities?" She asked curiously.
"Looking to the future is always good, it gives one goals to get through the now." Gao said as he offered an understanding nod.
"Are you feeling more at home here Jorne?" Cleonora asked. "With everything that is going on I mean."
I'd vote for the wish. I'll have her suggest it. Though I'm going to wait till tomorrow in case another player just out right disagrees so strongly that it would make them want to walk away... Because that is the last thing that I want.
Yup.
As a tray floats from a nearby shelf you see some finger sandwiches on it. "I can alter my shape to any small or medium humanoid, or giant, as per the alter person spell. The sky is the limit really. So what race do you want me to assume? I can also braid your hair. Oh did you want to try a different color?"
When the sandwiches made there way over, she took one and started munching on it. "Well... I like you the way you are Sulvanii, but if you want to take a form when we're out, well human would be the easiest to get away with and blend in. But if you still want some form of attention you could make yourself look like an aasimar. You'd get a lot of positive attention from that. And no more 'Ah a demon!', the opposite in fact." Cleonora told him. "I... wouldn't mind if you braided it... but I really like the color..."
Gao simply watched in silence for the moment, watching Jorne's face.
I just spent... The last two hours typing up a reply for the game... And lost it all... So I'mma go cry and get ready for work... Then maybe try again from my phone if I can the chance tonight...
I hate when that happens I move to onenote with longer posts now.
I almost launched my laptop across the living room...
*sigh* I was really hoping she was gonna be an innocent bystander that just got caught up in her father's s~~*...
I totally missed this post.
You do not its possible to view things on a spectrum right.
Like Dad had some awful crap going and made lots of enemies. Party girl fooled around, unwise and irresponsible got way more punishment than she deserved. Is on one end about at the 25% mark to ruthless skank arranged for the debasing and humiliation of her father's enemies for sport . . . leaving several dead. Would be on the other end.
Yes I'm fully and welly aware things can be viewed on a spectrum.
But that isn't how Bearkin made it sound which was half of the reason I did the game pause thing for myself to ask the GM for clarification. Allow me to break down in percentage what lead to Cleo still sticking with the, Nope her fault mind set.
Disregard of one's personal duties: 15%
Active knowledge of her family's troubles: 20%
Her continue action that doomed her entire family: 30%
Coming to a total of 65% her fault, for winding up in the sky prison. Anything above 50% would withhold Cleo's change of mind.
That was equal parts hilarious and cruelly litigious.
Yeah, that's kinda how she is.... When assigning fault like this she looks at it in this way. The difference here is you want to fail! XD
To be fair 99% of the criminals she deals with don't make it to this level. As she tends to kill them in the act... You know the 'Oh you're about to murder someone? I'mma just gonna murder you first.' kind. So they don't tend to survive to this level of divining fault.
