Lureene waves hello to the elderly gentleman, and think, I wonder if my father would look like that when he gets older. She sits down in the proffered seat, and accepts the tea with a smile.
”I do appreciate this, Sertieren. I wanted to talk magic with you, if you have a few moments, as I have just started down the wizardly path myself. Don’t mind Alis here, she just came along to give me moral support.” She gives Alis a gentle squeeze of her hand, to show she is thankful for this help.
"Ah magic is it then?" An invisible servant pulls up chairs for the two ladies before pouring them some hot tea from a silver service set. A moment later it returns with some fleecy throws against the spring breeze coming off of the river.
"Oh and I never mind company Miss Alis and... Lureene is it? Mind, I don't think there would be any gentlemen in our town who would mind a visit from such enchanting ladies. Now then, let's see what you have for old Sertieren today..."
With that, the wizard and Lureene get to talking about how she got started on her spellcasting path and the lesson plans Alexis prepared to help connect-the-dots between the various smatterings of arcane prowess that Lureene picked up over the years. All the while, Alis just listens while playing with Sertieren's pets.
"Well, it looks like your friend has you on the right track young magess. From what you've described to me, it looks like you are seeing magic for the force and entity it is. You are beginning to see beyond just the rote memorization and starting to see the bigger picture. Did you happen to have some instruction as a young girl?"
Seeing a bit of uneasiness at the mention of when she was young, he waves his hand and continues, "Now let's have a look at this spellbook you brought with you. You have already figured out all these lower level spells, go ahead and see what you can make of these other three..."
Lureene casts read magic and gives it another try while he looks over her shoulder pointing to some key identifiers to look for in the text.
Lureene's Spellcraft Checks (DC 17)
Lureene manages to get the first spell on her own and copies Web into her spellbook. However, she starts to get flustered because it is taking her a while. Sertieren pats her on the shoulder and says, it's ok. Now you already know that this fellow cast invisibility at some point, right? Well chances are that one of these two is invisibility. Go ahead and give it one more try...
Taking a deep breath, Lureene gives it another try at last exclaiming, "Oh, now I get it!"
After a few hours of study, Elsemar's rings are afire in golds and reds from the setting sun with Brightpool now nearing its zenith. "The day is getting on ladies and it's nearly dinner time. Did you and your friend want to stay for supper, or was there anything else I can do for you right now?"
Lureene gives the elderly mage a beatific smile, although her eyes are tinged with fatigue. This is much harder than I thought it would be. I know Rath-hun would be so proud of me now, I think. I miss him so much!
She gets up and stretches her wings out, and turns to Alis, who has been waiting patiently for the entirety of the study session. Hey, ‘Lis, maybe we can give Sertieren something to reward him for the time he spent helping me. I think a song would be in order don’t you?” Once Alis has started her singing, she starts to dance for him, toning down the overt sensuality of the dance, respecting his advanced age.
Alis looks up from where she was strumming her lute by the river with the cat trying to tackle the hunting dog's head repeatedly.
"A song? Hmm, I think I know a fitting tune actually. It's about the sort of magic that interests me."
With that she gets up and begins to sing and play, dancing along with Lureene to the beat...
TUNE: Locked Within the Crystal Ball
Alis' Perform Checks:
By the time the two have finished performing, a veritable crowd of onlookers has gathered on the grassy field in front of Sertieren's manor house mouths agape at the performance by the two blonde goddesses. The old wizard even set off some effects with dancing lights as they played, clapping in time to the tune. They cheer loudly and happily after you've finished and more than a few come up to greet you.
"What a wonderful afternoon this has been," the middle-aged mage remarks. "Certainly a nice break from the your average Rosday, that much is certain."
"Young lady," he says to Lureene, "I never married, always too busy exploring some lost treasure trove or going on some quest or another. If I had though, you'd be about the right age to be a daughter. I've got a little something for helping to brighten this old man's day."
He snaps his fingers and a scrollcase appears in his hands, "Here's a few spells that I found handy back in my day. You may have to work a bit to learn them all, but these always brought me good fortune and helped me to escape a jam or three..."
With that, he levitates it on over to Lureene and says, "Now if you'll excuse me ladies, after all that excitement, this old man needs to go lay down for a nap. Let me know how your studies go the next time you pass thru town!"
Lureene stands back, an expression of gratitude on her face, as she pockets the scroll. Her eyes are also tinged with sadness, thinking of her father. "You are too kind Sertieren, and I cannot thank you enough! When we return here, we will give you an encore presentation!"
She turns to go, and gives the fatherly mage a hug before he retires for the evening.
Once they have departed and are walking back to the Old Bridge Inn, Lureene is quiet, thinking about her father, wondering whether he was kind-hearted like Sertieren, or whether he was cruel and heartless.
Alis nods to a young man who opens the door to the inn for them at their approach. As they find a booth to take their supper, she says, [b]"You and that mage were talking business for quite a while. I haven't seen anyone get so into talking about arcane theory since Alexis and I were at the Academy. Did you learn anything interesting?"
"Well, 'Lis, to be honest, the arcane theory was kinda hard to follow at certain points. 'Lexis makes it sound so easy, when she was talking to me, but Sertieren really was patient with me." She giggles, "As you were patient with me too. Thanks for keeping me company, 'Lis."
Once the blonde couple has been served drinks, Lureene continues, "He basically got me to tap into my sorcerous bloodlines and merge them together, in order to learn some additional spells I did not have access to before. he was really excited by my progress!"
"Well you're doing better than I am then," Alis replies, running her finger around the edge of her glass. "I tried to do the spellbook thing before and it just didn't make much sense to me. For me stuff either happens or it doesn't. Not a whole lot of middle ground. I will say though, I have been making some progress. Even though my spells haven't really gotten any more powerful, I find that I'm able to cast them more freely and more frequently which is helpful. It's odd. Alexis studies her tail off and can do some really amazing things. For me though? Stuff just kind of happens."
She laughs at herself, "Guess I had enough magic users in my family that I just inherited it or something, huh? Oh well... whatever works, right?"
Lureene laughs along with Alis, "So true, whatever works for you! That is such a great philosophy to follow! I know elves have magic flowing in their veins, so your situation is not unusual."
She turns to look at Alis, something in her tone caught her attention. "'Lis, nothing is wrong with you following your own path. We all have our own paths to follow, I guess. If I wanted to, I could be quite the temptress, but I don't want to take that easy path." She sighs, and fingers the wooden ring on her finger. "Just before Rath-hun left, he told me, following the true path laid out for you would not be easy, and he was right! I am following this path to prove to myself I can be more than what my heritage forces me to be."
I guess the trip has been pretty enough, thinks Mal as they make their final turn towards the little town. Though, thinking back, it's been a bit like seeing a caged animal… close enough to touch the majesty and beauty of the beast but unable to interact with it. All that forest to see and no opportunity to actualy experience it. Ah well.. another day.
His mind comes back to the moment as his eyes fall on the small town they're approaching. Even one of this small size brings that bitterness to his mind. A person by himself is usually not all that bad, in Mal's experience, it's when more than a couple congregate in one place that they become loud, obnoxious, and petty. Oh well… we won't be here all that long. He sighs as he resigns himself to the slow ride across the pulled ferry. But before he can set foot on the wooden contraption, a rudimentary circle of stones catches his eye to the south, and his spirit is drawn in. Without looking away from the stones, he calls back over to the group, "Alis, Darkmane, Lureene. I'll catch you up in town." Then he dismounts, collecting his kit while calling for Talvyra to join him, and moves off to the stones and the wild call of these mysterious stones.
Alis just smiles and nods as Mal takes off into the treeline to the south of the road. A few hundred yards into the woods, he finds himself beholding a circle of seven ancient grey stones each standing 12 feet. They look to be far older than the town itself and the type of rock does not appear to be native to this region.
"We call them the Old Ones, my order does." The clear voice of an elf comes from the woods on the west side of the circle as a man standing approximately 6'4" with long blonde hair worn down steps into view. A large eagle with golden brown feathers alights atop the stone closest to him and regards Talvyra intelligently for a moment before shifting its gaze to the tall hunter accompanying her.
The elf is clad in a moss green tunic worn under leathers aged to a dark brown. He leans lightly against one of the stones, bids his cat to stay seated and closes half the distance between you before crouching and offering his palm for Talvyra to take his scent if she wishes. At his hip he wears a boar-hunting sword hilted with antler. "Avarthel of the Dimwood, friend. The dust of the road is upon you. Have you come here for reflection or is there something else that you seek?"
Mal's eyes stray from the stones to the speaker, "And a long road it's been so far. Malandraenas is my name, from Yandral Sharaes, though its' been years since I've called it home." A clawed hand rests on Talvyra's shoulder, "Little Sister's name is Talvyra. We're just passing through the area, but the stones drew me." His curious green eyes drift back to the ring of titanic stones, and Mal slips into the tongue of earth, sun and moon.
"If your time is not your own then please enjoy this grove while you may. Should you need any supplies for your journey, or bring news from other wilds, there is a garden I am tending in a clearing to the west of here."
He waits for a moment to see if there is anything further Mal would like to discuss.
Mal relaxes at the simple, straightforward nature of a like-spirited man. His words of Yandral bring a moment of sorrowful nostalgia to Mal's face.
Mal takes in a deep breath, enjoying the crisp smell of nature.
Avarthel seems to lose himself in that thought for a moment but his green eyes regain their focus when Mal begins to mention some bits of information that a fellow druid might find interesting. "I can tell you that word of these raiders from Trull is news to us here, as is your trouble at Skull's Gap. Miss d'Calla is right to be concerned that someone would risk disturbing that traitor lurking out in the wasteland. At least this so-called 'leader' reaped his karma, but you and these men still suffered as a result."
"Your mention of an expedition across The Boundless, however... While I have called Dimwood home for many years and know all the bends of the River Elsmyr, I envy your princess getting to visit an unknown land. Hopefully this Gregor you met will prove to be a good shepherd and guide for her."
"As for this trouble in the jungle that brings you thru here, please be careful Malandraenas. I once had occasion to meet a sister-friend who hailed from the Zuktol. The spirits of that place are fierce and can easily turn on one such as us who seeks to befriend or at least abide with them. Your charges likely have no idea how deadly that place can be. The war of men your princess hopes to avert would likely be but a single scream in the night in that land. Even so," he seems to drift into another reverie perhaps remembering the woman he met from there, "if nothing else, the wilds there are grand, undaunted, and unafraid. Truly the great redoubt of Jámo's passion incarnate! Should you pass thru here again, I would hear your tales from that land."
"As for this place? The Old Ones have stood here since before the rise of men in Estoria. From here I keep apace of changes in the land, help the farmers to plan out when to seed their fields, and even to commune with our brothers and sisters in other circles. The woman who trained me said that they were raised to keep watch also over the spread of the 'Shade and to forestall it should it ever grow. Thankfully, that purpose has not come to pass..."
Mal smiles when the man speaks of the stones' purpose, and steps up, placing a hand on one.
His eye cuts sideways, and he speaks more generally,
"I am very excited about my mission indeed, but it is not for the diplomatic angle so much - as you stated - as an overwhelming eagerness to test myself against the power of such an ancient and inspiring expanse of wild. Should I prevail in my test, I'll look forward to telling the tale to you, brother. And thank you for the advice. I'll remember it."
A few more moments pass as he walks around the stones, breathing in the atmosphere. Then a thought occurs to Mal, and he touches his new leather vest with one claw...
Mal waits for the answer, his insecurity over only having gold for the exchange is plain on his features.
Avarthel is able to hook Mal up with several totems as well as some dyes he has prepared on the low, flat stone in the center of the menhir circle.
After an afternoon of working with the experienced druid, Mal is nearly giddy with the progress made on his vest (an interesting sight, to be sure). He turns to the elf, respect and thanks evident.
Mal finally crosses the bridge - hours after the rest of the caravan - his nose guiding him to where the girls and Felmore are staying.
With that, he quickly runs thru the woods, hopping easily over stones and thru brambles until he reaches a simple cabin overlooking the river. When Mal catches up a few moments later, he's already emerged with a wineskin and a pair of old, cured drinking horns. He sits on a large tree trunk that's been delimbed and moved into position to serve as a bench overlooking the river.
With almost youthful anticipation, he pours some into each of the horns and offers Mal his pick. "In summer, I like to sit out here and watch the fireflies flitting about the town. A reminder that in spite of how they struggle against it, that nature still finds a way to beautiful the world of men. Of course, there is also beauty to be found even among those who prefer to live in towns."
He points up to some missletoe hanging from the boughs of an oak tree that's just now starting to bud. "Nature provides," he says with a wink and a grin.
Mal sits down, taking the offered drink, "I may be a bit biased, but few things in the sprawl of civilization interest me. And surprisingly enough it has very little to do with our shared interest in the power of nature. But that's a story for a darker day." He smiles appreciatively, hoists his drink, and takes a long, refreshing pull.
Avarthel nods in understanding, raises his drink and smiles when his eagle dives to snatch a sizable trout from the river.
With that, Avarthel rises to head back to his cabin. "Be well, brother. May earth be your bed and shelter, and stars shine to light your way."
Mal lifts the gifted mead, dips his head in thanks, and responds.
He then goes to rejoin the others, his spirit renewed.
Mal returns to town and easily finds his way to the Old Bridge Inn. Inside, many of the Golden Drakes are relaxing and taking turns at singing song and dancing jigs while others in their company play on. Priyya, Lureene, and Felmor are seated at a large semi-circular booth in the corner that provides a commanding view of the entire room. Priyya the ever-vigilant is the first to see him and tips her head towards the opposite corner of the room where Alis is busy chatting away with Yvonne while alternately strumming something out on her lute and eagerly taking notes in a journal bound in red leather.
The cleric holds up a well-crafted baton that looks like it has been crafted from ivory and says, "I had an interesting discussion with the local clergyman who keeps the Shrine to Alíta on the eastern edge of town. Apparently there is a grand cathedral to the Shield Bearer* in Valehaven. I understand that Alis has agreed to spend an extra day there to allow Yvonne to attend to council matters relevant to our... exertions at that toll bridge. While we are there I should pay worship there and speak with the bishopess."
Suddenly remembering the baton she's been waving about, she comments, "You'll be happy to know I was able to procure a healing wand while there. It's slightly used, but at least that means it works. I was thinking our agile friend in the far corner might be a good torch-bearer in case you and I become incapacitated on the front-line again." She chuckles and looks at Felmor, patting his hand and giving him a faint smile, "Maybe needing to look out for us will keep her closer at hand, hmm?"
Before you can continue your conversation, the room gives a loud whoop of jubilation as serving girls emerge from the kitchen carrying platters of roast pheasant, baked sweet potatoes, fresh rolls, and pitchers of ale. "Good timing, Mal! You've got quite the nose for feeding time, eh?"
The warrior-priestess gives him a fierce grin before saying a mealtime blessing and digging in.
He shrugs, "It's a gift." He gestures to the wand, "Good thinking with the wand. That'll definitely come in handy."
Alis cheerfully skips up and carefully rests her lute on a flat section of the booth behind the seat backs before squeezing in next to Lureene. She smiles and hums as she hugs her journal to herself, leaning up against the edge of the table. "Did somebody say something about a gift?"
Lureene gives the hulking nature warrior a smile, and chimes in as the food satrts causing her mouth to water, "Yes, Mal, all ladies I know of love receiving gifts! You should remeber that for the future!" You can tell Lureene is much more relaxed and contented with recent events. Indeed she seems to have a glow about her.
"Yep" Mal says around a mouthful of pheasant, and he gestures to the baton with one butter-covered claw… eyes never really settling from their circuit around the room. "And it's for you. Forgive the lack of giftwrapping… apparently that cost extra."
Then he barks out a laugh as he and the wing'd woman's words tumble over each other.
Alis gives Mal a sidelong glance and then picks up the wand. She waits until both Mal and Felmor's mouths are good and full. She winks at Lureene then comments, "Well it's good and long, Mal, but don't you think it's a bit too thin?"
With that, she whistles innocently while tapping it on her lips, a sly look in her indigo eyes. "Wouldn't you say that getting the wrapping off is half the fun, El?"
Felmor had been enjoying a piece of pheasant wing, which had quite a few bones on it. On hearing Alis's response, he inhaled one of the bones, and only the quick thinking of his Desert Rose, along with lots of back thumping, prevented another casualty en route.
"Oh yes, 'Lis, that is the fun part, but I do like shaking the package as well, just to determine what is inside! Hopefully it is not too fragile!"
Mal chuckles, "Somehow the conversation always takes this turn." He settles back, wiping his mouth and smiling. "When the guys in the unit couldnt' get their minds out of the gutter, we'd just make a stop at the local whore house… i'm not sure whether to think that tactic will work with you lot or not."
Alis gasps and covers her mouth with her left hand feigning surprise. She then gives him a scolding look and shakes the wand at him pretending to pout, "Now, now, Mal, you shouldn't use such language in front of Priyya, she's just a pure, innocent priestess, isn't that right, Fel?"
Felmor responds to Alis,"Aye, she be a princess all right, jes like ye, methinks." while trying to keep the memories of him and his Desert Roses nocturnal activities off of his face. It is quite difficult, as he contemplates some of the things she has experimented with him.
Sense Motive Checks:
Priyya begins to jab Felmor in the side every few moments, a slight smile creeping across her lips. Alis gives her a wink and says, "A pleasure to meet you, your highness-ness!"
Turning the wand over in her hands she finally gives a sigh and looks up at Mal and says, "Alright I give. It's magic and it's very pretty, but what does it do and and how do I make it do whatever it is that it does?"
Priyya pipes up and cuts to the chase, "It's a healing wand, you should be able to use it as if you were casting a curative spell. Mal and I thought it best that you carry it in case we become incapacitated."
"Ooooh." Alis nods in understanding before tying it to her belt with a slip-knot for easy access. "Well hopefully it won't need to come in handy, but knowing us I'm sure it will come in quite handy..."
"Say El, did you have a chance to look over those scrolls that Sertieren gave you?"
Spellcraft Checks:
"Why, no 'Lis, is that a hint? My eyes have been staring at spidery script all day, and if I had tried to look at the scroll earlier, I think my eyes would have popped out of my head!" Lureene laughs, while rubbing her eyes in a mock gesture. "Would you like to have a look at it?"
Once Alis has looked at her like she grew a third head, and informed her she cannot read it, Lureene nods and scans the scroll, pleased with herself she was able to understand all but one of the spells scribed thereon. "Yes, I can see where those will be useful. But I seem to have missed one..."
Between monstrous bites of potatoes, Mal points at the remaining scroll, "If ya want me to, I can change my available spells and try to give you a hand with that identify in the morning."
"Well, Mal, that is certainly a sweet gesture! Most women would be satisfied with a gift of flowers or perfume, but you always know just what I need" Lureene gives Mal a throaty chuckle, and winks, "It's a deal."
Alis puts a hand to her forehead and laughs shaking her head. "I'm sorry, El. I've been thinking on tunes and writing down musical notation all afternoon long. I got a bit ahead of myself and was thinking you were offering to show me what you've been writing in your book all day!"
Laughing at herself again, she scoots closer to Lureene, says a couple words of magic and then looks over the scrolls...
"OK, it looks like the last one is... Shrink Item! Hmm, that would be handy for transporting treasure now wouldn't it?"
She then takes a look at the last 2nd level spell Lureene had yet to decipher from Gilban's spellbook. "Rope trick? Isn't that one of those gimmick spells?"
As the girls go back and forth about their spells, Mal remembers the gifted mead. Turning to Felmore he pulls the stopper, "Almost forget about this. A gift from a new friend out side of town. It's pretty good." He offers it to Felmore and Priyya first, but will give a drink to anyone who wants some.
Felmor takes the proffered flask of mead, and pours some for Priyya, before filling his own glass with a small amount, respecting the limited quantities of the fine beverage.
"Aye, Mal, this be a fine gift indeed!" Once the ladies have received their samples, he raises his glass and proposes a toast.
”To a quick ‘n safe journey, ‘n ta success fer th’ Cap’n wit’ her mission!”