Tag Archives: Gustav

Spilled desires in the veiled world

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After Telosh’s Possession, Gustav furrows his brow and asks:

“What happened there. Why did you force a connection between me and the bird against my will? I didn’t want that troublemaking bird to follow me or rely on me for anything. You already knew my feelings of the crow, were you possessed by a demon who cast spells against your will?”

Gustav tries to calm down and his shoulders crumple a bit.

“It seems like it might not have been your choice, but you wanted a connection between me and the bird before the possession. Maybe the demon stole your desires and spilled them all over the veiled world.”

Gustav looks at the crow which is cawing nearby and hisses at it.

Trap Hows

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In a moment with Gustav:

“If you had to take down a really big animal, like an elk or a bear, say to feed a big hungry group right as fast as possible, and your bow was broken, and you didn’t have any bow-making tools, how would you do it Gus? What kind of traps would you use?”

The Black (Feather) Speech

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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.”

The Future Didn’t Wait

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The crew is walking back to camp together enjoying the sun that has come out after the successful pit fight. A weight seems to have been lifted off of the wildlife as they are out and frolicking. Even Ethelred noticed some late season blackberry growth. Gustav notices all of that, but doesn’t look very relieved or happy. Gustav uncharacteristically starts a conversation with Alexis and Telosh.

“I am sorry you both have lost so much to battle evil and the enemies of humanity. Telosh, your arm and body were weakened. And you both have aged and lost time that might never come back. We all knew that we risked injuries and death. But since we are finding so much strange magic I suppose we should have known these unnatural injuries would be inevitable.

How does it feel? Is it harder to walk? Do you feel weather more? I know the attitude of the aged often change. Sometimes they are more mean and nasty after feeling cheated away from the life they hoped for. Sometimes they relax and become calm and loving to their children and spouses. Has your mind changed as well as your body?

Is there anything I can do to make things easier? Should I try to make your sleep more comfortable with fluffy pine needle bed sites? Should I help you stretch in the morning? Or should we be fighting it and try to find a wizard who can reverse it?”

Gustav gives a confused look. A thought rolls over his face and then converts to a guilty and sad look.

If The Sword Falls

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After the previous conversation.

“And if the three of you are the only ones to survive, take it to the Westlands. Having touched it, I have come to realize, and I still don’t really understand why, that it belongs there.”

“If it comes to this, Red, you’re my first choice to hold the blade. You have a fate surrounding a blade and you’re reluctant.”

“If not Red, then you Gus, since you’re just reluctant.”

“What should be done with the blade?” Alexis shrugs his shoulders.
“Unite the tribes, or at least attempt to?” Alexis shrugs his shoulders again.
“Become a servant to one of the leaders of the West?” More shrugging.
“Depose one of the leaders yourself? Actually that sounds like a bad idea.”

“Can I get your agreement on this? Alexis looks for the agreement of each in this group.”

You can take the boy out of the country…

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Sometime along the way to Yog’s fortress…

“Oi, Coz,” Telosh calls to Gustav.

Gustav looks confused, Telosh’s accent is extra think at the moment, and a little odd, different somehow from his usual Westlander, or his reasonable good Sutheroni, and his attempt at Aegerian.

“What was it like where you grew up? You’re different from Red and the other Aegerian’s I’ve met. More like my cousins, maybe.”

Telosh’s accent seems to have shifted back quickly.

“Aye, you remind me of Gorf, and Sven a bit too…”

Telosh looks away for a moment, blinks a few times and looks back.

This Looks Like Your Kind of Wood

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As the group is walking back to their tent to witness the failure of Ethelred’s ballistae attempt Alexis moves close to Gustav, takes off his two wooden rings, and hands them to Gustav.

“Hey Gus, I need you to tell me everything you can about these rings, yeah? I figure if you have any question you can ask Telosh since he’s working on mastering the Arts.”

Alexis waits for Gustav to acknowledge the request.

Adventures Belong Close to the Adventure

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The group is hanging out in their tent in the Copper Hills Fort. Ethelred is working on his model ballistae. As the test fails and the model collapses, Alexis exclaims “that’s it.” He gives a quick visual scan of his companions and continues, signaling everyone to come in close; a conspiratorial whisper.

“We don’t belong here. Yeah, we need to find..” Alexis looks at the various walls of tent and then finishes “…it. But we should be out there.” He gestures to the forests to the north and east.

“I didn’t realize what was wrong until I was looking at how uncomfortable Gus was while we’ve been in the tent. The longer we’re here the worst he looks. And then it hit me. We don’t need to be here right now. We should be out there. And then everything clicked:
We set up a base on the goblin/warg hill.
We offer the refugees from Thater a place with us in the woods.
We conduct our experiments and scouting from there.
We check in with the fort regularly.”

“One, or two, of you will have questions, so let’s hear ’em” Alexis looks between his three companions huddled close.

A Tale of The Land

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About a week after Barra has defeated Utiog, Alexis is waiting for Gus as he returns from his morning shit.

“And what a fine day this has started out to be. Before I go back to my studies, I was hoping you might tell me a little something about your new ‘magics’. We have been talking about the gods a lot recently, and I would be curious to know where your ‘magics’ come from.”

“Before you try and bullshit me, play dumb, and stonewall me, I have a reason for my question: if Earyka targets your ‘god’, I want to know it; it’s important.”

Alexis stands in front of Gus awaiting his answer.