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Post by Satorius on Nov 13, 2004 11:15:00 GMT -5
*He nods, still looking at the stars as he speaks.*
Yes, they are. Tiny lanterns that light the skies, raging infernos that hold power beyond ours, and something far older than even the trees.
*He smiles and turns.*
They are truly beautiful in a way that only a star can be beautiful. Yet...
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Post by Entarion on Nov 13, 2004 11:23:33 GMT -5
"Yet..?"
The voice belongs to an elderly man of around six foot. He has short white hair and a short white beard. He is wearing a long black cloak over expensive-looking deep red clothes. There is something ancient about his eyes. There is a vague smile on his lips, and there do not seem to be any thoughts to read. His mind is a blank to Satorius. He leans on a thin stick that looks very much like wood, but on closer inspection appears to be of some sort of metal. On his head is a broad-rimmed black hat.
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Post by Satorius on Nov 13, 2004 11:33:46 GMT -5
...yet, there was a time when the stars shone more brightly on every world, when they were beacons of light in the nightsky. They were all so very beautiful, a glory that has since faded and left these as their shadows. Still, even the shadows are beautiful, a thing that can not be measured really.
*Satorius smiles and nods his head in a slight bow, one that, with his gestures, is very much a sign of respect.*
Hello, sir. Would you be the mage of this camp, or a sage?
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Post by Entarion on Nov 13, 2004 11:48:37 GMT -5
The man smiles and looks up.
"That was long ago."
He bows with some trouble, stiff as old men are.
"That I am, and a few other things. Welcome to Lurendin, Mr- Trevain. I am Kalak'dan Demead."
There is a very, very slight pause between mister and Trevain, but it is accompanied by a sharp, if not unfriendly, look.
"I presume she didn't show you a lot in the way of courtesy. Please accept my apologies on her behalf. Would you care for dinner?"
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Post by Satorius on Nov 13, 2004 12:03:03 GMT -5
*He smiles. He certainly knew more than he let on, didn't he? He had a feeling someone recognized him for who he was. That can be taken care of in privacy, though.*
She was kind enough, really. She was not blatantly rude to me. Yes, I would enjoy that. Thank you, Kalak'dan.
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Post by Entarion on Nov 13, 2004 12:16:33 GMT -5
"She wasn't? You must have caught her on a good day. Ah, good. Come with me, then."
He smiles and leads Satorius to a tent rather a bit out of the way from the others. It doesn't seem to be part of the camp at all, and there are no guards. It's a small brown tent, a bit muddy and old, but once they step inside there is a room that shouldn't fit in there. It's still a tent, but larger. There are several rugs and pillows on the floor, and a few high candlesticks to light the place. The floor itself has a rug with a complicated mazy-like pattern on it, so there is no trace of earth. In between the pillows is a low table with all kinds of foods- fruits like oranges and figs and pieces of melon and grapes, plates with meat and vegetables, bowls of rice and noodles and couscous. There are two crystal glasses with red wine standing ready. The man takes his hat and cloak off, and sets his staff in a corner. He smiles and motions Satorius to sit down as he does the same. There is a small- something flying around here. A glowing group of a number of small sparks- yellow, red, blue, purple, pink, green that fly together as if they were one. They happily dance around Satorius and Kalak'dan Demead, fly over the low desk in the corner (several heavy books on it) and the big chest and comfortable-looking field bed next to it, before they come back again and take to twirling around Satorius' left hand. Close-by they give off some warmth, but they are incorporeal.
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Post by Satorius on Nov 13, 2004 12:26:12 GMT -5
*Satorius watches the lights and chuckles as he takes a seat. Other than that and the glance that takes in his surroundings, he doesn't seem to really mind the size difference or anything else about the place. He seems just at home in this tent as he was outside, staring at the stars.*
Nice little friends you have here.
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Post by Entarion on Nov 13, 2004 12:29:56 GMT -5
The man smiles.
"They are company."
The lights fly up to Satorius' face, hover before his eyes a while, then suddenly dash off and hide behind the old man. There is the distinct impression that if they could, they'd be giggling. The man laughs a quiet, old but still happy laugh, and hands Satorius the wine.
"If you'd prefer White Merlot, just tell the glass. But this goes better with the meat."
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Post by Satorius on Nov 13, 2004 12:53:57 GMT -5
*He watches them with a smile on his face, chuckling.*
Well, they are happy company. I can see why you would enjoy their presence.
*He accepts the wine glass without any surprise on his face.*
Thank you. No, I shall take your word on it.
*He sips the wine, tasting it before setting it down.*
You seem to know me rather well. I take it your studies have drawn you to history, and some interesting places of study?
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Post by Entarion on Nov 13, 2004 13:01:57 GMT -5
The man smiles.
"I've been around, here and there."
He sips his own wine.
"Do eat something."
The sparkles settle on his shoulder for now.
"If you have any questions, please ask. I already know why you are here."
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Post by Satorius on Nov 13, 2004 13:12:30 GMT -5
I see.
*Satorius nods and tastes the meat. He smiles and takes a sip of the wine again.*
You were correct. It goes very well with the meat. Yes, actually, I do have some question: is there anything I should know to help with these negotiations?
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Post by Entarion on Nov 13, 2004 13:18:08 GMT -5
"In negotiating with the captain of this camp, her superiors, the masters of this country? How much of the political situation do you know?"
The sparks fly down and start bathing in the wizard's wine.
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Post by Satorius on Nov 13, 2004 13:26:38 GMT -5
*Satorius nods.*
Yes. Especially with the masters, as this would have to make it to them anyways.
I only know that the Eastern and Western Empires have been fighting for ages, and that the White Woods have become very xenophobic, keeping all away. I also know they have had their own problems with the Drow.
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Post by Entarion on Nov 13, 2004 16:54:11 GMT -5
He nods.
"We've all had problems with the Drow, but the Faentaurians had it worse. The Drow are always trying to kill the lot of them. They are sort of in between the two empires, and there woods have been used for Human warfare more than once- spies like to use them as a hide-out, armies take their supplies in food and wood from them. When they fought back, both armies sent a small host there to "teach them a lesson" at different times. The Elves beat back, and it's been an armed peace ever since, with both empires setting prizes on the heads of any Elf, dead or alive. Hence the mercenaries going into the woods.
As for the two empires, no one now remembers why they started fighting. It is said two brothers ruled the two kingdoms once, and wanted the same artifact, which was hidden away, but they each believed the other had it and wouldn't share. Just a legend really, and it hardly matters now. Not even the Elves remember, and the empires don't care how it started anymore. They just hate each other with a passion, and hate feeds hate. The captain of this camp used to live in a bordertown not far from here. When an army from the other side came here, they torched the village, killed off her family, and left her a little orphan with a completely burned face. It's a miracle at least one of her eyes survived. And now, twenty years later, she's doing basically the same thing. It's sad how those things go.
Then to complicate things even further, there are the Dwarves of Manlikbar, in the mountains to our west. They have been playing the empires for gold and power for ages, behind everybody's backs. They forge some of the best weapons for gold- a lot of gold- and a lot of power. They keep asserting Lurendin they are on our side, but I'm sure they tell the Nadalisians exactly the same thing. While they didn't start it, I'm sure of that, it is very much in their interest to keep the war going. There is one other Dwarven city, all the way to the west, the Golden City Bamnad, probably the only truly neutral, non-onvolved party on this side of the continent.
Lately, the past hundred years or so, the situation has gradually gotten worse. The attacks from each side have been getting fiercer, and the hatred is strong as ever, if not worse. It may have something to do with the loss of land- the wetlands, the swamps to the south, have been creeping northwards slowly but surely, and parts of Lurendin have been flooded. As the lands get scarcer- not to dangerous levels yet, but still notably- either side both blames the other and craves their lands and natural riches. I have also heard the attacks from the Drow on Faentaure have been getting worse, and I know for a fact the Dwarves of Manlikbar have claimed (whether truthfully or not) that their recources are getting scarce, which makes paying for their services even more expensive.
Add to that attacks from pirates from overseas (some say they are supported by the Elves) and savages and monsters from the Tramari and the mountains, and there you go. It's a complicated situation. The greatest problem is that neither side really wants peace."
He sips his wine thoughtfully.
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Post by Aman Kaliant on Nov 13, 2004 17:05:30 GMT -5
He sees his father, lying in the streets, eyes gazing at the sky, not seeing. Aman whimpers in his sleep, then turns over and goes silent.
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