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 Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:12 pm
Lysander lounged by the side of the body of water near the Goblin King's castle. It couldn't properly be called a pond, being too large, but it was most definitely too small to be a lake. It put him in mind of an Oriental water garden he had seen in one of the books in the Goblin King's extensive library. There were a number of tastefully designed gazebos jutting from the shore, each shielded from the other by well-placed foliage so as to afford its occupants privacy and an unmarred view of the pond-thing. There were also several docks with elegant, ornately carved boats shaped like water creatures. In the center of the lake was a very low, flat platform which could be adapted to play host to audiences between the Goblin King and any aquatic-sorts he might have to meet with.
Where Lysander lounged, however, there was none of that sundry elegance. It was attractive and well-kept, but the foliage was of a plainer sort, and the water was clear to the bottom, except for the reflection of the clouds above, which were exact, like looking into a mirror. Which was the general idea. He was hoping that the still water would serve adequately for scrying, as the two-dimensional mirror he'd attempted this magic with had splintered when he made his attempt.
He was a fae, and not a magician, but he had promised an elf undera that he would attempt to contact him again, and he was hoping to establish a more stable means of connection than causing his mind to bridge the distance between worlds. It was incredibly exhausting to communicate thus, and he'd prefer to have an alternative method. This one should also allow him to see Fiero as they spoke. As a bonus, the sound-conveying property of water ought to make it so that they could actually hear each other. A mirror would only allow for sight.
He finished his perusal of the spellbook which he had been studying more or less for the last two weeks or so to make sure he had prepared everything. Then he leaned over the still water and spoke the first word of summoning.
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 4:19 am
Ah but the white reflections in the pond were not all reflections. One that had been still for a moment suddenly began to move. It glided it's way through the water blending almost perfectly with the fluffy white clouds that decorated the water's surface. The shape was Gabriel, the Court Mage of Atlantis. He had been sent here by his Emperor to act as a diplomat for the Atlantians and the Goblin Kingdom, or any other kingdoms he might be asked to visit.
Gabriel was the epitome of the youthful male of the Atlantians. His body was slender yet muscular, his face showed intelligence and serenity, and his demenor was one of respect and maturity. He had a love of learning which allowed him to master many forms of magic, another reason he had agreed to be a diplomat. He wanted to learn what kind of magic the surface dwellers used and the Goblin King himself seemed to possess a good degree of it.
So far he had be satisfied with the Goblin King's hospitality. Greeted with respect and a minor ball thrown to welcome him, the pale merman had a positive few of this kingdom. He had been given this small lake to live in until his return to the sea and it was a quite lovely place. He had solitude when he needed it and plenty of space to stretch his fins. Most people who came didn't take any notice of him for he could hide easily if he did not wish to be seen.
But he did not notice the fae who was attempting a spell near the dock he enjoyed sitting at. He had never seen someone use the surface of water to scry, normally he made a bubble. So consequently the handsome merman surfaced just as Lysander spoke his first word. His black eyes blinked up at the colorful man.
"Oh, my apologies. I did not realize this dock was occupied."
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:02 pm
Lysander stopped in the middle of his casting when a merman surfaced, shutting his mouth with an audible click as his upper and lower incisors connected. Quickly he smudged the chalk outlines he'd made so that the spell would cancel itself and the magic he'd been attempting would disperse before any damage was done. Lore and Malecoda both had been adamant that magic-users clean up after themselves.
"My apologies, as well," Lysander said, recovering quickly from his surprise. Since coming to court he had become much more adaptable, and had found it much easier to mask his true feelings, whether they be good or ill. "I had no idea this pond was occupied. Had I known, I would have attempted my casting elsewhere. I certainly had no intentions of disturbing the inhabitants."
Contrition, either genuine or simulated, was generally the best response when one has disturbed another at the Goblin King's court, where no one was really agreeable enough to wear name tags proclaiming not only their name but their rank, position at court, and any awkward topics of conversation one ought to avoid. When he had mentioned this in his last letter to Lore, Lore had laughed and said that court would not be so exciting if people wore such tags. Lore no longer lived at court, and had not particularly cared for it when he did, and so he viewed Lysander's tenancy with amusement much of the time, forgetting that his mistress, the sorceress Malecoda, had essentially banished Lysander to court.
Lysander had managed well enough at court by mostly staying out of the way of high profile courtiers and keeping to himself. He enjoyed the library immensely, as it had volumes from many worlds, like Malecoda's library. A person could lose himself there quite happily for aeons. He attended major court functions, but as a peripheral character. Most who had attended had no idea that he had been in attendance, and that suited him. He enjoyed court, but it still managed to bewilder him, and he did not feel prepared to enter fully into the intricate society which court life entailed.
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:06 pm
"Quite alright. Not to many people know I occupy this water source at the moment. King Jareth said I would be comfortable in here." He looked around to see if he had disturbed some group enjoying the water but it appeared the man was alone. Strange man he was as well, a horn sticking out the side of his head. Gabriel reguarded him for a moment before speaking agian.
"My name is Gabriel, Court Mage and Diplomat from the Kingdom of Atlantis. Might I have your name sir?" He liked to know who he was speaking to and how best to address them. He remembered that he was the representation of Atlantis and he wanted to make a good impression on all he met. He had the air of a man well versed in the ways of court but none of the stuffiness that usually accompanied it. He was an intellectual and petty things such as concietedness were beyond him.
"Also, what were just casting? I have not seen other magic users as of late. Only the Goblin King if I am correct." Ah, his own personal reason for being here. Despite his Emperor's want to expand their contacts, Gabriel was highly interested in the magic of the surface world. Underwater it was limited, after all it is difficult to cast fire spells, which he failed miserably at even on shore.
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:48 pm
Lysander shifted so that he was kneeling more comfortably to converse with Gabriel, the court mage and diplomat from the Kingdom of Atlantis. What a wonderful way to introduce oneself. Clearly, and without beating around the bush, or making a person play guessing games. It was refreshing.
"My name is Lysander. I'm one of the orb-born."
He didn't have a real position in court, and he had no title. All he had to his name was the knowledge that he had come from an orb. He'd learned that he'd had a life before he came to Malecoda's castle and Lore, but he'd learned nothing of that life. He couldn't remember it. Some of the orb-born could, he'd been told, but he, himself, could not. He wasn't particularly interested in the life he'd lived before. The life which interested him was the one he was living presently.
"I was attempting to cast a spell to allow me to scry into another world, and communicate with a particular person. I assumed water would make a better medium than a mirror, since sound travels through water as well as light, which would allow us to communicate verbally." He assumed that Gabriel, as a mage, would actually know what he was talking about. He might even have some suggestions.
"I'm not really a magic-user," he said honestly. "I dabble. I was raised in a sorceress' household."
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:26 am
"A pleasure to meet you Lysander. An orb born you say? How facinating. I have heard of King Jareth's abilities to create those such as you but I have not seen one in person. Other than Emperor Manakel's friend Hemlocke." The pure white merman pulled himself up onto the dock, his long white tail swishing back and for a moment before transforming into legs. A velvet-looking wrap seemed for form out of no where to cover his manparts. He settled himself a slight bit away from Lysander, so as not to get him wet.
"So, you are attempting a Looking Pool. At least that's what we call it. A very useful spell. Well you do have the right idea using water, but perhaps I can offer some advice." Gabriel was use to this, he tutored his own Emperor and cousin in the ways of magic so why not offer this creature some advice. He was a very experienced mage in many types of spells and a Looking Pool was hardly advanced magic.
"A Looking Pool's size will define how much magic you need to use. This large pool is far too big for someone who only dabbles in the arts. Here, try using it on this." The man held his white webbed hand out to the water and it glowed softly. The water below swirled and churned a bit until a chuck of water jumped out and came to rest a few inche above Gabriel's hand. He moved his fingers ever so slightly and the water flattened out until a small circle that hovered between the two men.
"Water is amazing for magic use. Even the thinnest amount of water can ripple so it can still conduct magic. Using a smaller pool of water will allow you to concentrate all your magic in one spot, there by allowing a stronger spell with less magic." To prove his point, Gabriel tapped the water with his other hand and a scene appeared. It showed a vast city with glowing plants for lights, buildings made of coral and rock, and a giant castle that dominated the skyline. Obviously, this was his home, Atlantis.
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:56 am
"A looking pool," he murmured, repeating it to himself. "I did come across that term in one of the tomes."
Lysander listened intently and watched closely as Gabriel demonstrated his suggestions. He tried not to be too amazed by the image of Atlantis. He had not much experience with courtly cities, or cities of any sort. The Goblin King's court was the closest thing he had experienced, and it was not the same thing at all.
"That's fascinating," he said. "And more practical. I didn't mean to use the entire lake for my casting, only the small portion you saw me with. I didn't realize it would include the whole body of water, simply because it was connected."
He added, aware that many magic-users disapproved of dabbling, "It's not my usual practice to attempt things for which I have no natural ability. I made a promise, though, to someone - another orb-born still living on with humans - that I would try to stay in contact with him. He's having some...personal crises. I take as many precautions as I am able to."
At last, thinking of Fiero, he recalled the other part of what Gabriel had said to him, about him being an orb-born. "I've seen Hemlocke. An unseelie fae. We are not naturally inclined to gravitate toward each other."
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:52 pm
"Oh thats alright. Most people forget you can't seperate water if it is still close to more water. You have to make a completely seperate container, otherwise water will find a way to be with itself again. It is very much alive desptie what people thing." He smiled gently, a man of true wisdom. He was hardly stuck up about speaking of magic, he merely spoke as if he were talking to a child who had no knowledge. Put downs and insults rarely lead to learning.
"And you should practice more. Even those not destined for the life of mage can greatly inhance their lives and the lives of those around them with simple spells and incantations." He smiled a bit as the man spoke of the other orb-born he was trying to help. "And that is a wonderful example. Obviously he is young and you, the elder, are trying to help him through the strange world that is adolesence."
"Ah, you know of the fae? Emperor Manakel took him down to Atlantis for a visit along with a few other dignitaries from other kingdoms. It was quite an interesting time for them. He was very poliete, abit a bit shy to speak to. Why is it unnatural for you to hold friendship with Hemlocke?" Gabriel was aware there were some speicies that didn't get along. Even the ocean has it's enemies both to the merkind and other fish.
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:09 pm
"Thank you for your advice. I will take that into consideration in the future." He wondered exactly how alive water was, but decided it would be better not to know, since he quite enjoyed drinking the stuff. If it was more alive than a plant, it would make things very awkward, since he refused to consume animals.
The thought of himself as a guide or anybody's elder amused Lysander. He had never considered himself particularly wise. Taciturn, certainly, and sober, but he did not associate those traits with the makings of a good guide for another. He, himself, had been fortunate to be raised by someone who was relatively self-assured already, despite his own misgivings about himself, and with Malecoda to go to at need. He had also been raised in the Underground. He couldn't imagine what it would be like for someone raised elsewhere.
"I know of him, yes, but very little. I have nothing against him, personally, but the unseelie are the antithesis of what I am, as a seelie fae, and I feel uneasy in his presence. I'm sure he's a perfectly fine person, but I'm too unmotivated to overcome my discomfort to make his acquaintance. The historic animosity between our races makes a convenient excuse."
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:17 pm
Gabriel chuckled softly as Lysander spoke of the historical animosity between the species. It sounded like a familiar story. "You know, such feelings between two fae remind me of the story of how Atlantis became what it is today.
The white merman pushed aside a bleached lock and touched the water he still held. In the pool was a grand looking kingdom above the water. The main castle was very similar to the one from the current kingdom. "Atlantis was once the center of magic and knowledge. We were very creative and competely peaceful. But our powerful neighbors disliked our kingdom, fearful we would use our magic to take over them. So they struck first."
He waved his hand over the pool agian. This time it changed to a scene of war. "So they attacked us mercilessly. Killing thousands from soliders to women and children. So our elders, in a sacrifice, sank our kingdom and gave us all the ability to breath underwater."
One more wave of his hand to show the Atlantis of today. "So we hid for many years, attacking any ship that came into our territory. We learned one thing from our neighbors. Hatred. But now, with the wisdom of our young Emperor and the foundation left by his father, we are going to conquer such hatred and work once again with surface neighbors."
The merman ended the image and returned the disc of water to the pond below. "It may not be much of a story for you. But I hope you understand how I see this 'historic animosity' you speak of."
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:29 pm
"As I said," Lysander said reasonably, refusing to take even an implied offense at what might have been veiled criticism, "I do not know Hemlocke personally, largely due to my own lack of motivation to make acquaintances at court. I find the feud between our peoples, about which I know only what I have read in the histories, to be a convenient excuse. You'll likely find that I have a myriad of similar excuses for not meeting people. I'm practically a ghost at this court."
He spoke without rancor, because it was his design to be a nobody. Those who were well-known in court seemed to suffer great personal tragedies and to be held in the sway of strong passions and feelings. Lysander wondered frequently if he possessed strong passions and feelings, and certainly was not interested in being their victim. It was much easier and safer not to be so vulnerable to emotion and sentiment. He was a contentedly detached observer.
Uncomfortable being even nominally the subject of conversation, Lysander changed the subject.
"It is admirable of your king to seek to mend the rift between your kingdom and we surface-dwellers. I imagine he takes a great deal of criticism for it from conservative parties in Atlantis, and must be under a great deal of pressure to recind his overtures. It demonstrates a remarkable strength of character to bear up under such circumstances."
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:38 pm
Gabriel just nodded to Lysander's explination, he knew many people who did not wish to be a part of court but were somewhat forced to at least attend. He also smiled at the man's praise of their endeavor. It was more stress than anyone could imagine.
"Yes, many elders were quite upset at the Emperor's refusal to give up his father's plans of reconnecting. You see Emperor Mana is just a child, no more than a teenager in surface world years I suppose. A boy king thrust onto the throne after the tragic death of his father." He paused for a moment, maybe not out of respect for his beloved uncle but to keep himself composed.
"But he is not alone in his quest. I am at his side at all times to give him advice or over see things he is not knowledgable about. My father is the Captain of the Defenders so he keeps order when anyone attempts to make a disorderly protest against our plans. While we encourage discussion of the subject we do not allow for emotionally heated fights."
The man smiled softly once again, thinking of his dear cousin having to lead such an endeavor. "But he is determinded to carry on his father's wishes. And it is this that makes me believe he will be a legendary Emperor."
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:51 pm
A ghosting smile touched Lysander's lips. Gabriel's loyalty to his emperor reminded him of his own devotion to Lore and even to Malecoda. Of course there was a great deal of difference. He owed them no alliegence, but he, too, would be there in an instant should either one require or merely desire it.
"I believe his overtures to King Jareth's court, in and of themselves, will make him legendary among surface-dwellers," he said dryly.
"I'm not sure, however, that stubborn adherence to what may become a failed endeavor is any indication of good publicity. Indeed, failure and catastrophe can occur on legendary scales, too. Not - " he hastened to add " - that I predict your emperor's doings will be unsuccessful. They seem to have been very successful thus far, and I've seen no indication that they should do aught else. It's just I harbor personal reservations about placing blind faith in one who does a thing simply because it was what his predecessor did."
He paused, considering. "Of course, usually when one does so, they're acting in accordance with the general will, rather than against it. And young rulers, from all that I've read, are generally unsuccessful in establishing independent rules. I haven't observed that Emperor Mana has any difficulty in holding his throne."
It occurred to him that he was putting his foot in it, and that it might behoove him to close his mouth. It seemed that an explicit introduction detailing one's exact status and position did not make a person any more self-aware in his dealings with that person. And worse, Lysander thought, he knew next to nothing about the matter, not having followed it particularly closely when the larger delegation was present, preferring to seclude himself in the library.
"I'm sorry. You've been estraordinarily patient with me, and I have strained the customs of manner. Forgive me."
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:00 pm
Gabriel listend quietly until Lysander had said his fill. He was use to this and prefered it. When someone was allowed to say all they could you had a chance of cutting them short. If you interupted, they would just repeat themselves. Then he blinked as the man apologized for. He let out a laugh, one of mirth and amuzement.
"Believe me, Lysander. You are just repeating what some of the elders have been saying and still say. Everything his age to his wishes to continue his father's plans." He considered how best to express his views to Lysander, knowing the man had no knowledge of all the details.
"As a young ruler, he took the throne to prevent a regent from taking it and never giving it back. While we are still peaceful, power can still corrupt those not raised in it's shadow. From his birth my cousin was raised to be the next leader." He paused for a moment.
"So as a young leader with little experience he starts with what he knows. Which was the most recent policy his father had been working on. He has also started a few things his father did not do. Such as making regular visits to all the outlying farms and herders." He spoke without anger or frustration, he merely informed the other of his views about his Emperor and his actions.
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:13 pm
He was staring at his hands. He rather liked his hands. They were dextrous and clever, with long, slender fingers best-suited to dwarfing writing implements. Even as an undera, his hands had been graceful. Lore had been envious that Lysander had been so composed and moved with such ease, when he had not yet grown into his hands and height. What he liked best about his hands at the moment was that they were nowhere near Gabriel's face.
"Such are the actions of those destined to be popular rulers with those they govern," Lysander agreed.
He opted not to make mention of the Gabriel's reference to the emperor as his cousin. He wasn't sure if Gabriel had mentioned it before, and he had just noticed it now, or if the mage had not before said he was related to the emperor. That changed matters somewhat, and made his criticism, even though it was not meant as such, per se, even more foolish. He thought it might be convenient to be able to sink into the ground and vanish, still, even though Gabriel was being far more forgiving than Lysander felt he deserved. Such a faux pas!
"I truly meant no criticism. I really do admire what your emperor is doing. Matters would be better all around if the various nations of the Underground could bring themselves to be at least civil to each other."
Another thought occurred to him, dragging him out of his self-chastisement.
"You say Hemlocke went to Atlantis? However did he manage to breath there?"
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