Kariel promptly let go of Arean's hand - though if it had hurt even with such a gentle touch, it must have been sensitive indeed. "I'm sorry. That was thoughtless of me." Kariel said.
"You aren't used to us.", Arean forgave.
To Kariel and Ikvvy, Arean said, "We may be past the empire's demands, but not beyond its eyes.", and then added more clearly, "Thank you. I get all of my gloves from the same maker.", as though lightly receiving a complement.
Rowan continues to scribble furiously, not even trying to hide it any more, muttering to himself.
He doesn't notice the oddity
Ikvvy watches the woman walk away and then some more, hearing the conversation even without wanting to, turning back to the balcony later. "Does she mean those wings are real? I mean, could that be possible?"
To Ikvvy, Arean says with a smile, "If I'd have wanted to draw every eye, I'd not have worn the robe. That one, is lost. Her voice echoes from an ivory tower. She speaks of gifts unopened, as though to teach us. We should ask her why they were wrapped."
The blond woman sounds innocent when she answers Arean: "Well, there's a lesson in every action, so I guess we have learned from that. I can't say I know much, but seeing this is really impressive. Anyway, don't worry, we've seen it and it's no big deal, no wizard hunters have crossed that door, so it is alright. I don't think any hunter would come here, but if any does, we are ready." She pulls her robe aside, revealing a leather armor under it.
The blond woman sounds innocent when she answers Arean: "Well, there's a lesson in every action, so I guess we have learned from that. I can't say I know much, but seeing this is really impressive. Anyway, don't worry, we've seen it and it's no big deal, no wizard hunters have crossed that door, so it is alright. I don't think any hunter would come here, but if any does, we are ready." She pulls her robe aside, revealing a leather armor under it.
"I thank you for the comfort. But forgive, please, and let me say this clearly. If you are a wizard hunter, or, if your friend there taking notes is, know that the flames in my hands can be as painful for others, and my hounds will come to a whistle. Please, forgive, if you aren't. But if you are-", Arean fixes her with her white-orbed gaze, "-take the day off."
Ikvvy seems shaken for a while since the demoralize action is clearly broken, her eyes wide with surprise, and she spends several moments with an open mouth before recovering her speech. "No no no, I'm not a wizard hunter. You're far from Herzg now, I don't believe you will run into wizard hunters around here, but I could help you if it came to that. I don't like the way they seems, if there are really such things as wizard hunters..." She looks around the bar. "Well, I've guess I've seen enough to start believing now. Anyway, you seem to be kinda upset by that. I'll leave you in peace. Was nice to meet you."
She gets up and goes to bed returns to her table, where a Longbow has been laid on the table along with a backpack.
Eldrian had been quite tense while the discussion continued, constantly watching all parties equally for the slightest chance of a threat to Ikvvy. His hand never left the inside of his cloak.
"Made enough new friends for one day?" he says quietly to her when she returned to the table. He takes a sip of the drink that had been brought to him and grimaces, "Weak."
Tassira looks up at Kariel as she returns.
"May I ask what that was all about?" She arches an eyebrow with a confused look in her eye.
A young man enters the inn and strolls up to where the innkeeper waits. He has a military bearing but doesn't have any arms or armor on him at the moment but does have a sizable sack slung over his shoulder..
A room if you have any available, innkeeper. He puts down some coins on the counter.
"Yes, actually. The woman over there is clearly what you've described as an oracle, the one with the milky eyes. She also has burned hands, black as coal but somehow still burning. The other one told me that's not a costume she is wearing, the one with the wings. Quite a crowd. But it seems we're safe, for now. There are other dishes served, so it should not be a problem."
She waits the crazy cook finishes his invite and calls the elf. "Do you want to join them?"
Tassira gives Kariel an understanding nod.
Fear. The word resonated with her... fear of failure. Fear of losing control.
Fear of being known.
The smell of a really good bowl of soup soon chased such fears away. She gathers up her bowl and helps herself to a portion of Vigar's Onion Surprise.
After a quick taste, she's pleased to learn that the 'surprise' in 'Onion Surprise' is a pleasant one. This time around, she begins eating her soup at a much more moderate pace.
Tassira pauses in her soup-eating. "Like what?" She asks Kariel.
Probably like ridding yourself of your magic. Get rid of that which makes you a target.
Rowan looks up from his notebook and realized he has suddenly moved to a new table. He puts the open book down on the table, then scoops a small amount of soup.
Oh yes, I would love to try some.
He takes a bite of his soup. Mmmm. I wonder if he'd consider staying here as cook
Rowan moves to scoop more soup into his bowl while he speaks. Thanks Vigar. You know, if you or Kariel need help finding your answers, I'd be happy to help you find what you require in the Library. And the larger church is there, Kariel. Irori I believe
Tassira pauses in her soup-eating.
"Pardon? Is something wrong?"
She followed Kariel's rambling... it had some promising nuggets of truth. Convincing the government of Alesion of the importance of treating mages well sounded like a good idea...
Except for the 'Sunk Cost Fallacy'. They've been collecting mages for use as blunt instruments for centuries... they've been doing this for too long for change to come without a damn good reason.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
..."I need to get to a church." she said abruptly.
Nearby, drawing closer to the serving table, Arean recites, "A temple resides, 'neath every closed eye, an altar in each opened heart."
"I would like some soup, thank you.", she says to the man with the ladle.
"And kindness unplanned, in each opened hand. What is given, and taken, a start."
Furnok gets a room and then acquires an ale and some stew before settling down at a table. he wanted to get an idea about the people in the room before making any other choices.
Tassira finishes her soup while listening to Kariel. She sets her bowl aside.
"I've been to the church of Irori here a couple of times. If that's the church you're looking for, I'll be happy to guide you there."
She takes note of the other woman Kariel was speaking with as she approaches.
"Oh, hello! I don't believe we've been introduced; I'm Tassira. Who might you be?" She asks, giving the new lady a warm smile.
She takes note of the other woman Kariel was speaking with as she approaches.
"Oh, hello! I don't believe we've been introduced; I'm Tassira. Who might you be?" She asks, giving the new lady a warm smile.
"I might be anyone.", Arean says, returning the smile. "I am Arean. Any last name ceased to matter, long ago. I did not expect so many people here. What draws so many, to a tavern rightly empty? What draws you?"
Tassira stretches her arms a bit, then settles back into her chair.
"What draws me here? Well..." She gestures to the books around her. "Knowledge, mostly. That and good food." She adds with a grin.
Rowan adds Tassira and I are, or rather were, students of the Great Library.
"Yes, you're the one taking the notes. For yourself, then?"
"Mostly. Knowledge is meant for everyone. But for now, the notes are for me. Though I have no magic myself, the main focus of my research is its workings. Any opportunity to see magic in action is an opportunity to further those studies. And seeing two oracles interact in the same room is a rare opportunity indeed."
"Give me those notes, and I will burn them. You can observe that, in action, and forget all the who, of the what, you saw. Forget me, and the winged one. And if you agree to all this, tonight you will fete in the mirrored halls of the Queen of Veils, where all truths are hidden, and all secrets revealed."
Tassira is rather taken aback by Arean's impassioned words.
"...what?" She asks. Her confusion could not possibly be more evident on her face.
When did anti-intellectualism become fashionable?
"If he'll agree, to remove descriptions of wings, eyes, hands... then I'll... show him more."
"I wish you no harm. I am a scholar, not a hunter. I will not share your secrets with anyone, neither share your identity, as I know none that perceptive passerby would not glean. But I will not hand over my notes."
He says this fiercely, as if you suggested to kill an innocent.
"I wish you no harm. I am a scholar, not a hunter. I will not share your secrets with anyone, neither share your identity, as I know none that perceptive passerby would glean. But I will not hand over my notes."
He says this fiercely, as if you suggested to kill an innocent.
"Let your pen, then, scribe its fill. Of what you see. But be shown less, than the promise of restraint would have earned."
He mulls this over for a moment.
I can recreate these from memory later. Not as precise, but servicable. The opportunity cannot be passed up
Fine. Here are my notes. Do with them as you will. But show me what power you have
He tears out 5 five pages, still held in his hand, filled with diagrams and words written in a script you (probably) don't recognize. Tassira would recognize it as Thassalonian.
He mulls this over for a moment.
I can recreate these from memory later. Not as precise, but servicable. The opportunity cannot be passed up
Fine. Here are my notes. Do with them as you will. But show me what power you haveHe tears out 5 five pages, still held in his hand, filled with diagrams and words written in a script you (probably) don't recognize. Tassira would recognize it as Thassalonian.
"You needn't have torn your pages. Now, look into my eyes until you see your own again. And when you become convinced that I have done my part, do yours. I will trust that. Or to see more, bring them to me." Arean stands, and lays her sleeve-gloved hands on Rowan's shoulders, meeting his eyes with her own, a long moment. Then she returns to her soup.
A bit confused, Rowan looks into her eyes. He feels the small rush of magic being put onto him, but feels no effect.
Dream feast. Curious. I guess I will have to wait to see the effects of the magic until I sleep.
I am satisfied, Arean. You can have the pages. And I preemptively thank you for the dreams.
He hands the pages to her with a small smile on his face.
Arean has taken Rowan's pages, reluctantly, and has them wrapped in a sleeve, her hand still hidden. Vigar's prophetic pronouncement draws her oracular attentions, and eventual agreement.
"That is Truth. Or veiled beyond my reading. Which may be, the same as being True. So then, Rowan, here are your pages, torn loose in proof they ought have remained bound, now returned to you. And if storm would gather... ", she whistles, "We should, also." The three hounds rush in, to her side, staring, wary, or snuffling, each in turn. "I am Arean. These are my hounds. Your storm will find us ready, I think."
As the youngest of the hounds rushes to the scent of a knife stuck in the wall, Arean gives a half-smile, and adds, "I hope."
Tassira has no idea what spell Arean just cast on Rowan, but she's still impressed.
"You actually convinced Rowan to give up some of his notes? Wow. I'd have thought he'd sooner give up his left eye."
Finishing her soup, Tassira sets her bowl aside and starts gathering her books together.
She puts Mathematics, Magic and the Ancients away in her backpack, putting the rest of her books in a stack. She picks the stack up with some effort.
"Kariel, I need to return these books to the Library before I can take you to the church of Irori. Is that alright with you?"
"All this talk of storms and calm and whatnot. Look around you, this place would be empty but for something or someone's influence. And that influence seems to want scholars, magic users, priests, and warriors. The real question is who is pulling this amount of force tof ether, and for what end?"
Marcos turns his back to the bar, resting his elbows on the wood and fixing the others with his gaze.
"Any guesses?"
Tassira winces every time the word 'storm' is said.
Oh, if you all only knew... this sort of thing is in my blood. Literally.
Tassira is rather pleasantly surprised by Kariel & Vigar picking up her books for her.
"Oh, thank you! The Library is this way." She says, walking out a side door in the bar. It leads to a hallway of well-maintained oak wood, decorated with portraits of exceptional scholars, teachers and researchers. She leads Kariel & Vigar a couple of doors down the hall to a set of double doors and passes through.
The Library itself is expansive, with shelf upon shelf of books stretching off for many feet around. Pockets of students buried in books are scattered at tables throughout the Library. The librarian's desk is, conveniently, next to the double doors.