At some point in their travels together, around a camp fire Alexis addresses Gustav “Who is the good Mr Eggertson? What’s he like? Good father?”
Forester Lineage
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Category Archives: Conversation
Each One Teach One
Ezrin approaches Alexis one morning g after breaking the fast.
“Alexis Laelius, I believe learning the Recollection Perfextion incantations from you would help me teach Ethelred. I would better be able remember the lectures and be able share them more accurately. Would you be willing to teach me?”
Where Fools Dare Tread
Around the fire, the subject of the Dark and Hand and Bandesing rises in discussion. Telosh, Clyte, the Axe Man, Shai-yeeni, Varisimuss, Mavon, Skelor, Leer, what and whom – have you.
“Beware the Light Foot, for death follows where the Singing Bandit steps…” Ezrin seems to reciting a proverb from the streets of Sutheron.
“Most I know would avoid them, but I suppose it is too late…
“And it seems you’ve already received a lesson, or your late companion did at least.”
The Sutheroni mage looks at his new companions with a mixture of fear, concern, and compassion, and perhaps a bit of awe and excitement.
“Supposedly the Foot, sorry, the Dark Hand – even young nuns wear old habits – is engaged in the traditional business of the Black Hills, but no one know who they sell their…”
It is obvious that Ezrin is used to using a particular type of slang when discussing these types of topics.
“Slaves to. And they do not do business with the traditional Hill-guilds. There have been a few conflicts, not with good results for the Hill folk…”
“Everyone knows they took the Kings’ betrothed, but beyond that..” the mage shrugs.
“Their goals and motivations are the subject of much speculation. Their power and danger are clear though, and you have placed yourself squarely in the sights of their crossbows, chasing treasures they desire…”
Ezrin is quiet and thoughtful for a moment, then he shakes his head a little, and smiles ruefully.
“So be it, Crimson Calling, if you’ll have me, I’ll cleave to you now and join in your work to undermine the… Dark Hand.
“What have you learned about them so far?”
Ezrin is clearly nervous about this choice, but also very serious about it.
Hazards of the Trade
Shortly after Alexis gives Ezrin the two priceless potions from sometime around the second age, Alexis sits down with Ezrin.
“You’re new here, and I worry you have an orientation towards treasure hunting that is not shared with the Crimson Calling. The speed with which you wanted to bundle up all the artifacts in your supplies. The clear frustration around being robbed of treasure. These things worry me, and I will share where my fears come from. You have come to us recently, but the Crimson Calling has been around for years and dealt with many treasure-obstacles, and I consider myself very, very, fortunate to have made it this far.”
“While I have always led the Crimson Calling, I have claimed virtually none of the artifacts from our adventures, even though it is my right as the leader. In our first major find, only Gus and Red walked away with priceless items of power.” Alexis gives a shrug clearly showing that this doesn’t bother him.
“Significantly later, on a quest from a powerful patron, two of us were perverted by a powerful magic item and had to be subdued to finish our quest. It is for the best we did not keep that item.”
“One of our previous companions suffered from artifact-avarice such that he stole from us in the night and wandered off with a significant fortune. He has since spent, drank, or gambled all of it and is in a very lonely place.” Alexis looks clearly sad about this last part.
“Another time, one of us succumbed to an item of power beyond comprehension and enslaved most of the rest of us. Thankfully our close bonds allowed us to overcome this item.”
“One of us stumbled upon madness, possibly in the presence of several powerful forces/items/powers, and unleashed a threat to this whole area. The two wyverns that were spotted were part of that madness, and we were fortunate that we were able to prevent many, many, more dark creatures from flocking to this area.”
“Related to the madness I just mentioned, one of us carelessly touched the creation (mentioned earlier) without thinking about the consequences and unleashed a minion of a dark power. A being of corruption and lies. There are still times I wake up in a sweat seeing that corrupted being.” Alexis shivers at the thought.
“More recently, we had someone with us who had learned secrets to use our magics against us. Gus was most affected by this using-our-magics against us, possibly given how magical he is” Alexis looks towards the holy grove for a moment.
“These are the cautionary tales we three live with every day. This is why we don’t see all treasure as equal. Why all power isn’t to be sought with the same ferver.”
“But you know we don’t eschew treasure. You know of the Mithril Lord, who was created because the Crimson Calling pooled our treasure to make sure he would be rewarded for his time with us.”
“And even those that try hard, but fail, we still attempt to reward if we can. Before you, we have traveled with many others. At one point we had the son of a rich man join us for the ‘glory’ of it. And even though he nearly got us killed by the giant, we still rewarded him with a trophy head for his future tales of glory with us.”
“We have refused to work with powerful forces that do not align in treating magics with the sort of care we know is important. They are not our enemies, but we have to go our separate ways. And you have the same question in front of you now Ezrin. Will you embrace the Crimson Calling, even if it means you may never see any magical treasure of your own, or will you strike out on your own for treasure that you may study from, learn from, and grow rich off of?” Alexis looks relaxed but expectant for an answer.
The Unfortunate Stoners
While the group is sorting through the treasures, Alexis talks to the group in general.
“We should pull those bodies out of the sulfur pit. While stone, the bodies might not be dead. It’s possible Clite, Telosh or… the axe guy are still alive in there. And Possibly even the bodies that are less complete. Perhaps if we pull out the old bodies the broken stone will become full bodies.”
“I wonder who the other two bodies are. Perhaps goblins from when Barra was here? An orc fellow of Yog’s? More kids who have come to the calling of the Sword Chaotic?” Alexis shakes his head in disappointment at that.
“What supplies do we have to pull them out?”
So Many Questions…
Upon arriving at The Tree Fortress, Ezrin is rather wide-eyed, but takes it in stride and unrolls his bedroll in a spot on the second floor.
After things settle down and a bit and the Aegirian ranger and… apprentice are busy, Ezrin approaches Alexis.
“I have so many questions Colleague… perhaps though, I should start here… what is this place?”
The Sutheroni mage gestures expansively at the massive trees around them.
Owl Speculation
During one of the meals after the group has retreated from the “chaos river of rage and eternal hunger”. The group is discussing the significance of the white owl, while it is not around. This discussion is some time after Alexis has studied the owl with Avv’s sight.
“There is a strong possibility the owl is tied to Hood. And given the weird alliance between Hood and Ty-Lin, if your near-death dreams can be believed Telosh,” Alexis says with obvious good-natured humor in his voice “then perhaps this owl is also connected to Ty-Lin, although hard to imagine how.”
“The dreams I had seemed to have little to do with what scholars and priests call ‘Hood’ and ‘Ty-Lin’.”
Sleepy Goddess Blues
“Alexis, what do you know about sleeping gods? I overheard mention at the Five Winds that TyLin is sleeping? The Hungry Voice said She had abandoned me… She’s certainly more distant than… Others, but…”
Before We Leave This Tent…
As the group is still recovering from Leer’s poison and talking about possible courses of action.
“We will leave Raff and Earika to their fight. The Sword Chaotic has a sort of gravity that I wish to move away from. Perhaps in a few years things will be different and I will have the opportunity to study it at the Collegium, but for now we will focus on other things.”
Alexis then moves to the tent flap and looks around, presumably to make sure nobody is obviously eaves-dropping. He then moves back into the tent and addresses Telosh in an even tone “You lied and deceived me when you cast that spell when I wasn’t looking. You waited for my attention to be elsewhere, and you purposely used my magic against my will. In hindsight I now realize you had been waiting for such an opportunity, possible for some time now. For an opportunity when I would have a working you could try to mimic and when I would be distracted. Pure deceit. Premeditated, and an utter betrayal of my trust in showing you anything of magic.”
Alexis seems slightly sad as he starts his next sentence “And now I can’t use magic around you, because I know you are always watching. Biding your time playing the role of a loyal companion, but actually deceiving me. Duping me into showing you magic but without the rigor, the skill, or the control.”
Hunger Unites Them
More than just a few steps after the walking conversation about Ath, Telosh slides up next to Alexis again.
“Hunger. When I connected with the Dark Third, I felt a deep, bottomless hunger. That could be Undeath, it could be Crows, and it could be the ArruNoroth. The undead hunger for the living. Crows are always hungry for food. Dragons are always hungry for gold and power.”
Telosh pauses.
“What is Ath hungry for? I am hungry for recognition, praise… trust.”
Telosh grows very quite, even his steps are softer.