One night before the slaying of the Gaint Ethelred finds a moment to talk with Ezrin.
“Ezrin, you come to us with some knowledge from the Collegium. What do they say of Alexis? I am curious how I will be received when we return. And knowing more about how Alexis is viewed might be helpful.”
One of the many days working on the ballista Ethelred ask Alexis a question that has been on reds mind for a while now.
“Much have we spoken on what to do, or not to do, with regards to Telosh. When I do come before the Collegium, what will I say about my journey to magic. Not only is it directly tied to the story of Telosh, but it also has elements of a chaos birth, of feeling my way. And while I a more… Disciplined that Telosh I am still not… Legitimate. Ezrin has .ade it very clear that I am not… Right.. proper.. and that it will take some serious treasure to make things right.. or at least make them passable.”
Shortly after Ezrin joins the group, Alexis finds himself alone with Gustav and Ethelred.
“Just so we’re clear, we’re not saying anything about Telosh and his penchant for magic meddling. If you have any questions, say nothing and send them to me.”
Alexis makes it clear with body language that he’s talking about not talking to any member of the Collegium about Telosh’s use of magic.
Alexis looks between the two of them and then settles his eyes on Ethelred. “Is that clear?”
In camp, well after leaving the area of the chaos magic storms, and after his conversations with Gus and Alexis, Telosh approaches Ethelred while the others are busy elsewhere.
“The ballista is coming along well eh, Red? Looks wicked!”
He looks truly excited about the project, his Westlander accent is showing..
“Do ya think it’ll take the giant out in one shot or should we prepper some follow up measures? More traps maybe?”
“I’ve been tryna figure out how to.. embiggen the deadfall traps that the Gus uses to catch small animals like squirrels, maybe have it set up for a tree or two to fall on the giant?”
“Digging a deep pit might be tough, but a shallow pit with spikes in it could trip the giant up pretty bad… Based on it’s behavior before, I bet it will want to charge at the ballista if it survives the hit…”
“Oh, I should let you talk… I’m getting excited about taking on the giant!”
After leaving the mine Ethelred can’t stop thinking about all the materials they found in the old Copper Hills mine. He is still confused as to why some materials were allowed to be taken, gems, copper, pix ax heads, broken handles. But other materials were off limits, rope, hooks, shovels, pix axes.
Ethelred brings up his confusion to the group.
“If we need more rope to capture the Giant, where should we go to get it?”
For a while now Ethelred has been convinced that there are paths to ‘magical’ powers that does not lead through a God. Watching Telosh it was clear that chaos can come from materials. But chaos is not a viable path for Ethelred. Even before that the cleaning that Karnoha taught Alexis uses materials to power the cleansing.
Creating the wooden door and then using it as the last piece to close the pit finally revealed a clear path. Materials themselves, no just words and wishes, can do work beyond what Ethelred understands.
The lesson to be learned for Red is how to take what is available and balance it with what is possible. He has seen how Telosh can offer items, and break items to powerful effects. He has seen how Alexis gives all the reverence to the Gods. Ethelred’s path must be to walk between these. Order, understanding and materials must be combined intelligibility to gain the desired effect.
As the days pass on and Alexis works to help Ethelred learn ‘magic’. Red is keeping his eye on how best to use materials, the power within them, to the effects he needs. His first task is to learn how to reverse the open effect to close the trigger on the ballista he and Gus are building.
Does he build a tiny pair of doors and use one to trigger the other? Does he make a stick from the same wood as the door, and break the stick to cause the door to close? Does he bind the door open with some string and cut his own piece to have the door snap shut?
Many options. Many possible paths….
Gus and Ethelred spend evenings, before the sun sets, working on making a miniature ballista. The old cross bow from Telosh is where they start. Studying how it work, how wood bolts are best made. Once some form of mastery of the machine is in hand they take it apart. Study each piece, how it is formed, shaped and what it’s purpose is. Then they put it back together. This is repeated again.
Then they take it apart one more time. This time they work to replicate the parts, but twice the size. Fashioning the part from wood, rope and sinew.
After a week Ethelred feels like it will be possible, but still difficult to make a much larger ballista.
Telosh helps Gustav forage, trap and hunt, and spends a bit of time talking with him about trap craft. He aids Ethelred with the ballista, tumbles and spars with all of his companions. He is clumsy with his off hand, and while is eyes are little empty, his feints are not less convincing.
He feeds the crow whenever it comes around camp, but doesn’t talk to it in front of Gus, or at least when he knows Gus is nearby.
One afternoon, when Telosh thinks he is alone with the crow, he tosses it a morsel, closer than when they are near the others. As it eats, Telosh speaks slowly,
“You only ever tried to help and protect me.
“Gus says your feathers were protected by an agent of M- the Corrupter of Animals, and he thinks you are an agent of Theirs…
“I’ve never understood why he didn’t like you…
“If you are in the beast lords thrall, I hope I can free you, crow friend.”
Two wyverns were seen flying over the Copper Hills fort very recently.
Shortly after the group has left the Copper Hills fort Alexis addresses Ethelred, “what was that back there? It was like you wanted them to show you to a cell and an inquisitioner. For my part, I’d like to avoid that path for the time being.”
Alexis looks at Ethelred expectantly as they continue away from the fort.
In a moment in the tent, Telosh approaches Ethelred.
Hey ’Red, can I talk to you for a minute? The other day you said something about how I’ve been lying about following TyLin. I know I’m deceitful, but I’ve never lied about that.”
Telosh is clearly upset, but trying to hold it back.
“Yes, I turned away from TyLin and didn’t say anything about it, I let that be part of Inkam, not Lucius, but I have never falsely revered Her.
Bitterness and anger are apparent on the Westlander’s face.
“I would have sensibly cowered with you and the others when we faced Yogg if I had not received the stone beforehand. I would still have Thraan’s rapier, and the bow I took from The Made.”
He takes a long look at the Aegrian, and shakes his head ever so slightly.
“I may use trickery and guile when needed, but I don’t lie to my companions.”