|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:07 pm
Tal seemed to think over what Shri had said, if he had picked up on the innuendo he showed no signs of it. "You 'were'? I take it you are no longer as familiar with each other as you used to be? Hence the reason you have to send them a 'message'?"
When Shri tried to argue the point on how hard bribery could be to trace, Tal just managed to suppress a blush at the example she gave, taking a long sip from his glass to help hide his face till he regained his composer. As he put the glass down, Tal shook his head, arguing the point. "Not true, while it might be difficult to track me down as the perpetrator of the arson, once the offended person had, it wouldn't take much to convince me to reveal my motivations for the fire. After all I hold no loyalty to you and by revealing your part in the scheme, I might earn myself leniency, or perhaps even a reward for betraying you? On the other hand were a mage to cast an illusion that convinced me the wardrobe contained my most hated rival, hence provoking me to destroy it. It would be very hard indeed to prove a connection, since even I wouldn't fully understand my motives for the attack."
"A secret is only a secret when it is known by one... Once more than one person knows of it, it no longer remains a secret, each person becomes a weak point in a chain, where any one link breaking spells the end of it. You never know when one of the others might reveal privileged information, either for their own gain or while under duress..." Pausing to finish his drink Tal smirked from under his eyebrows as he at last met Shri's eyes. "You're example would only hold, if A; you continued to share your bed with me, ensuring my on going loyalty, or B; killed me the first opportunity you had after I had completed my end of the bargain..."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:20 pm
Shri was enjoying this game. Taliesin was more more fun to play with than she'd anticipated. She decided, however, to ignore his further query about her friend. She should have just said she was sending a message to her brother, but then he'd want to know why she didn't know where he was. He did seem to think the worst of her motives. She didn't blame him, of course, but for once she was not plotting. Not seriously, anyway.
"I like my example, so let's continue with it. Perhaps I would secure my anonymity better if I were to make it a part of our deal that you would tell no one my name? That way if you did, it would be a breach of contract, and I might expect some sort of recompense from you. After all, a night with me isn't exactly a fair exchange for something as simple as burning a wardrobe. I'm worth a great deal more than that." She didn't seem to be bragging, as much as stating a fact of which she was aware and somewhat proud. "It would be a neat little addendum. Or, of course, I could simply offer you my continuing patronage for any little magics I might need done. Was that more the sort of on-going relationship you were looking for?"
She did like the idea of setting fire to Tri-no's wardrobe, which was mostly full of tasteless, gaudy clothing anyway. She knew Tri-no was training as a mage, and would suspect one of her fellow mages-in-training long before it ever occurred to her to think of Shrisin as the perpetrator. It would never occur to her to try to track the mage who actually cast the spell. She wasn't that clever. She couldn't see beyond the end of her nose most of the time. However, she wasn't sure she was ready to trade her body for magical favors just yet. She had money, after all, and wasn't particularly concerned about her activities being traced back to her, anyway. If Tri-no tried anything, she'd be more than happy to have her killed.
"I would hate to waste a talent like yours by killing you. Besides, I could just get in over my head, since I'd probably pay your killer the same way I paid you, and then I could find myself in the same situation." She feigned wide-eyed bemusement. "It's all so confusing!"
She smirked across the table at Tal and motioned for a server to bring more of something to drink or eat. "If someone convinced you the wardrobe was your most hated enemy, that someone would be someone I'd like to meet. Such a sense of humor."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:32 am
Taliesin shook his head, his lips twisted in a slight smile as he let out a small laugh. "Contract?! Faced with a painful death or a rich reward what Drow would hold to a contract? Unless you had them swear an unholy oath to Lolth or had a powerful enchantment upon the contract they signed, you'd have no guarantee they'd hold to it. But... In the case of an ongoing relationship, where you kept the mage in question on as a retainer of some sort, you'd have some security, so long as it was to the mages advantage that you lived, you'd have their loyalty."
"Well I suppose you could always kill me yourself? Get me into your bed and simply take advantage of me when I'm vulnerable and at your mercy's? After all once the deed was done, you'd be the only one aware of any connection between me and the lost wardrobe, there'd be nothing to connect you to the arson. And so long as you were discrete about getting rid of my remains no one would connect you to my death either. Still if you were to go to that much bother why not get the mage to kill your foe outright?"
As more drinks arrived Taliesin refilled his cup and took another sip before speaking again. "There are a number of approaches to illusion. You might create an illusion, so the wardrobe looked like the mages enemy. Or give the mage recurring nightmares of their enemies hiding in a wardrobe ready to pounce, until the mage finally encounters the same wardrobe in real life and it triggers a subliminal response? Or you could do something like this..." Tal picked up an empty bowl and after showing it to Shri to demonstrate it was empty, placed it upside down on the table. He then concentrated on the bowl for a moment until the faint sound of something scratching at the bowl could be heard, followed by a slight squeak like a rat. Tal then picked up the bowl again, once more showing it was empty inside.
"A beginner level spell commonly known as 'Ghost Sound'. It creates figment sounds and noises, I lack much skill in that particular field of magic, but I've seen some who can accurately reproduce peoples voices with it. My point is that even a relatively low level mage could trick you into believing your enemies are in a wardrobe plotting against you using such a spell. By the time you've trashed the wardrobe, checked for any bodies and realised your mistake the illusionist will have made good his escape."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:02 am
Shri couldn't quite see what was so amusing about the idea of a contract. They worked for most people in most situations, providing, of course, that nothing better came along. Everyone understood that it was rude to ask a person to accept a loss simply because their name was affixed to a piece of paper. That was not a principle of a healthy economy. Nevertheless, it was contracts and understandings of a similar nature which made almost everything in Llurth Dreir run, she had learned, and many of the day-to-day dealings in Gallidurth were also based on fulfilling contractual obligations. She supposed, however, that she could consider torture or bribery a better offer, but she would still be irritated if she was thus betrayed, she decided. Maybe that was why people were so negligent of the lives of those they had dealings with, a practice she had always found wasteful and self-defeating.
"For all that I'm adept at mixing weaponry and bedplay, I simply despise when my partners lie there like corpses." She grinned playfully, but there was steel behind it as she continued, "And I don't plan to let anyone else have the pleasure of killing this person except me. However, I would take great delight in orchestrating a series of untraceable misfortunes to befall her."
What her grin said was a warning not to be fooled by her deviation from standard behavior in allowing him to sit with her and converse with her in a familiar manner. She was lenient to a point with people, and then a line was irreversibly crossed. Not that Tal was anywhere near this line, but she felt it fair to warn him, before he came to the incorrect conclusion that she was soft. The only things which were truly soft about her were her skin and her hair. And certain parts of her skin were not as soft as she would like, she thought, remembering her work-abused hands.
Her grin became a real grin, though, when Tal demonstrated Ghost Sound. Even if he was as unskilled as he claimed in that area, she was positively delighted with the spell, her mind already imagining many potential uses for such an ability. She wished she had some magical ability which would allow her to cast such a spell, though she was no less pleased with the idea of the spell for being unable to cast it. That was just how things were.
"That is an excellent spell," she exclaimed with barely concealed glee. "Clearly I have not been imaginative enough in my expectations of a mage's abilities. The possibilities are dazzling."
The look she turned on Tal then was speculative, as she considered whether it would be worth it to make an effort to bring the young mage under her sway, or whether she should just be glad of his acquaintance and take advantage of his training and knowledge solely for informational purposes. After all, she could commission a spell of any street mage, once she knew what to request.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:14 am
Taliesin seemed about to say something but closed his mouth when he realised the company he was with, momentarily forgetting himself as he got to involved in lecturing on the intricacies of arcane magic. He had just been about to say that the main failing of Divine Spell casters was their lack of imagination, but realised that saying so right to a female priestesses face was asking for trouble.
It was often said by Mages, the male ones at least, when there wasn't anyone from the clergy about; that the Priestesses were far too caught up on rituals and traditions, that they lacked originality. Arcane magic in comparison was all about ingenuity and originality, thinking up new uses for ancient spells or new answers to age old problems, usually how to remove that next obstacle between you and power. It wasn't enough just to learn all the spells, any mage could do that, to get that extra edge in the struggle for dominance, Drow mages had to be creative. In a duel it was often the Mage that caught his opponent off guard that won, whether this was with a new use of an old spell or perhaps something new that the opponent didn't have time to counter.
Instead of saying anything critical of Divine Spell casters to a priestess in training, Tail choose his next words carefully. "Imagination... Imagination is one of the best tools a Drow mage can have at his disposal, at least any Mage that wants to get ahead. I take pride in being able to think of some rather interesting uses for more orthodox spells, like that. It's one of the reasons I wished to concentrate my studies on Illusionary magic, that's a field I can see a lot of potential in."
Tal let out an annoyed sigh though as he took another drink form his mug, it was a point of great irritation to him that he lacked any aptitude for illusionary magics, but was ahead of his class when it came to Elemental spells, which Tal saw as being crude and common, even if they were more practical. "Still I do the best I can with what Lolth has gifted me, there is a certain... sense of... 'contentment' perhaps? In being able to fry ones opponents in a glorious ball of fire. Not as satisfying or enjoyable as slowly sending them into madness, but a victory is a victory."
At this stage Tal noticed the speculative look on Shri's face and tensed slightly, though he hid it well. He wondered for a moment if perhaps she was giving serious thought to the hypothetical wardrobe scenario. "I-Is there something wrong Mistress Srhi?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:33 am
If she had any notion of the thoughts going through Tal's head, Shri gave no sign of it. She hadn't really, because she was still a little distracted, thinking of how convenient it would be to have someone with Tal's ingenuity working with her. But he admitted for himself that his area of skill really lay in elemental magic, and while that was useful for certan things, she now longed to put into action some of the suggestions he had already made which involved illusory magic. That didn't mean he was useless - if she could come up with any excuse to continue an acquaintance that would allow her to pick his brains, she would make it. There was clearly some genius in the young mage, and she would love to be able to turn that genius to her advantage.
At his annoyed sigh she turned the whole of her attention back to Tal. It dawned on her that she had never gotten around to asking his name, and he had the advantage of her. The realization amused her enough to keep her smiling throughout his brief disclosure on the value of imagination. Yes. She could definitely see that he had a talent for thinking of unorthodox uses for more common spells.
"A victory is a victory," she agreed. "But we live in a society that places value on the use of clever and subtle means to victory, and so I would assume it's natural that you find less satisfaction in the ability to roast an opponent than you would in less direct means of annihilation."
She was still thinking about how she could bring the mage to her side, as it were. Ideally, he would be brought to her side and bound there by his own inclination, but that might or might not happen. He had made his disdain for contractual obligation quite clear, so she would not waste paper and ink, nor risk the discovery of the actual document, by drawing up a contract. And though he had been quite frank in saying that he would betray her - in a hypothetical situation - given the proper incentive, she wasn't terribly concerned about people finding out that she was the reason her sodding cousin was having a long streak of bad luck.
"Nothing is wrong. As I've said, I don't know a great deal about magic, so I'm unqualified to form an opinion on which fields have or do not have potential. What I am rapidly coming to realize, though, is that you are a being of great potential who really should be afforded every opportunity for advancement." She grinned with a flash of straight, even white teeth. "Any ideas on whether I can help facilitate that?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:52 am
Tal narrowed his eyes slightly, it was unusual for one Drow to compliment another unless they were after something, now it was just a question of what Shri wanted from him. though as Tal considered what her motives were it occurred to him an alliance of some sort might be mutually beneficial. Priestesses had more roads to power and influence than any male even one gifted in magic and more than a few Drow had risen in influence by riding on the coattails of others. There wasn't anything that came immediately to mind, but who knows how advantageous it might be years down the road to have a high ranking Priestess who may be inclined to lean in your favour.
Placing down his cup Tal leaned his elbows on the table and steeled his fingers, leaning forward into a thoughtful pose as he considered his answer. "Perhaps... The question is what might you expect in return for 'facilitating' my advancement?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:47 am
Shrisin's eyes lit up when she saw comprehension dawn in Tal's eyes. Yes, she wanted something from him. Of course she did, though that had not originally been her cause for inviting him to sit with her. But now that she had spoken with him, she wanted to ensure that his mind would be at her disposal. It wasn't as if there weren't advantages to be derived on his end. She would be the matron of House Baen'duis when her aunt died, and although Baen'duis was not currently a terribly powerful house, they were known, and she knew she was capable of gaining power to go with their somewhat unusual prestige.
As Tal leaned forward, steepling his fingers, Shri kept her expression pleasant, hiding the excitement she felt but for the brightness of her eyes, which she could not do anything about. She had missed many things during the last ten years, among them was the brief rush she felt when she was making plans for things she knew would turn out in her favor. She was almost invariably accurate when it came to that, and she had a very good feeling about Tal. And since all she wanted from him was access to his fertile, original mind, the exchanges would not be unreasonable, she guessed.
"I was hoping we might come to an arrangement based on sharing, in which you would share any ideas you think I might like with regards to making a person's life miserable in small ways. I will find someone else to enact your ideas, if I like them, to ensure that you are exposed to the bare minimum of risk of being included in any eventual retaliation that may occur. Knowing that, what do you think would constitute suitable recompense? I do trade in more than sexual favors, in case you were wondering." The smile which accompanied her last statement was the sort which tended to make people wonder why she would trade in anything but sexual favors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:22 pm
Tal seemed pleased that Shri was thinking along the same lines as himself, he seemed particularly interested in the thought of getting someone else to actually do the dirty work, limiting any risk to himself. "Yes that sounds a reasonable proposal, by having different people carry out plots you could have several mages cast apparently petty or trivial spells that together culminate in very unpleasant ways. No one individual mage fully aware of the repercussions of the spells they cast, hence reducing the risk of betrayal and making it harder to track the source of the magic. As for recompense..."
Tal looked over the female before him critically, taking in her dress and mannerism, trying to judge her character as he thought about the short and long term possibilities. "I suspect you are as ambitious as the next Priestess, but you seem more determined than most, there is potential there..." Already a new plot was hatching in his mind, one he had never dared dream before, but was now a slim possibility with this woman's help. "A question first... Do you seek to be the Matriarch of your House? And just how close to that goal do you see yourself?" It was a rather direct and blunt question, but Tal's next move hinged on the answer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:44 pm
"I had thought of doing that," Shri said. "Using multiple mages, that is. Honestly, it's not going to be much of a mystery who's behind all this. Everyone knows I hate this person. The only reason they would even have a moment's doubt about my involvement is the distance between myself and my target. Nevertheless, multiple layers of intrigue add a great deal to any venture, and it will also keep my costs down for a variety of reasons."
The grin Shrisin directed at Tal when he asked about her ambitions was winsome, backed by the full confidence of someone who knows she's untouchable. She could draw this out, repeat his question, pretend to think about it, but that wasn't how she wanted to do this. She wanted to make sure that there was no doubt in Tal's mind that she was in the position she was about to claim. She settled her expression into a more serious one, so he wouldn't think she was in any way joking.
"I will be the next matriarch of my house. The current matron has already said as much. Nothing short of my death will change that. My aunt just has to die, but I'd rather she hold off on doing so until I complete my training as a priestess for reasons of convenience. My house will support me regardless, but they'd prefer to be led by a fully-trained priestess. It would solidify my position."
The other thing which would solidify her position would be marriage to her matron's son, but she'd rather garner support in other ways. She didn't care for her closest male cousin. He was unpleasant in many ways.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:31 pm
Tal nodded slightly a small smile on his lips as he looked thoughtful for a moment, obviously that had been the answer he had been hoping to hear. Giving Shri another appraising look over his steeled finger, Tal then leaned back and crossed his arms as he presented his offer. "Very well here is my offer, I will act as your advisor on uses and appliactions of Arcane magics, though as far as anyone is concerned whenever we meet it's solely to discus teh merits ofLolth. My price is two fold, firstly is simple remuneration, to compensate me for my time and effort, we'll discuss how much later as we see what kinds of magic and ideas are of most use to you. The second is the more important condition; that upon obtaining the position of Matriarch, you adopt me into your family and house and appoint me your House Mage, effectively making my role as your magical advisor official."
Tal knew he was asking for quite a commitment from Shri and he was banking on her successfully ascending to the role of Matriarch, but the rewards were worth it. "As I said before the only way to guarantee anyone's loyalty is to ensure your survival is beneficial to them. I think this arrangement will suite us both. It's in my interest to remain loyal to you and do all I can to see you succeed in teh long run so that I might raise my own position, and it's in your interest because having an inventive mage by your side is a very effective way of solidifying your position. So, are the terms agreeable?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:11 am
Shrisin was torn between a desire to laugh aloud and burst into tears of relief. Tal asked nothing she couldn't give. She would, in fact, be overjoyed to agree to his terms. The money was nothing. She had spent nothing for ten years, though she had actually received an allowance the whole time, and would have no difficulty paying Tal any reasonable price he named. That wasn't what thrilled her so much though. It was the second condition he had proposed which brought her so much amusement and outright glee. Making him the House Mage for Baen'duis would be the perfect finale to her plans for her cousin. Her cousin, the mage.
"I find your terms agreeable," she said, realizing that she had not managed to keep her expression from turning into a foolish, happy grin. "You cannot know how much you've pleased me. I believe we may be perfectly suited to each other."
She considered the matter. It was unfair of her to allow him to enter into this agreement without telling him exactly what she would be doing, and what he would be getting into by becoming a part of her House. He didn't need to know about her relationship with the younger of her brothers. He'd discover that in time, and that be springing too much on him, too suddenly. But he deserved to know some of the other situations which had recently arisen in her family as a result of her actions.
"There is one thing you should know before you agree to this. I have a cousin - the same person, in fact, that I plan to use your strategies against - and she has an asinine idea that she's going to be House Mage, just because she's the first mage my house has produced in over a century. I'd pick you over her, any day, but she might object to your appointment, if she's still sane. We shall have to work on that."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:05 pm
After presenting his terms, Taliesin had tensed in anticipation, his mind rapidly putting together additional arguments to support his case and convince Shri to accept should she initially rejected his proposal. It was such a shock that she immediately accepted that Tal almost didn't believe his ears at first. Taking in her expression, Tal was genuinely surprised to see how enthusiastic she was at teh idea, his own face going blank save for his wide eyed look of surprise. As it sunk in that she had readily agreed to his condition, he regained his composure but a smile still graced his lips. "I am glad you find my terms so agreeable, I had feared it would take more effort to convince you of my offers merits."
Thinks became much clearer though as Shri explained the details and Tal said a short prayer of thanks to lolth, for surely she must have smiled on him to have provided such an excellent opportunity at random. Obviously Shri had a vendetta against her cousin, Tal wouldn't ask what, that was her business alone and besides, what Drow didn't have grudges against some if not all of their family? Certainly Tal had his share, all of which would be dealt with in their own time, thanks in part to this new opportunity.
"I see, so you initially just wanted my aid to get back at this cousin of yours, but now you have an opportunity to deal her a sever blow, by denying her the position she most covets? It seems our objectives couldn't be any more in sync. It will be my pleasure to devise the most morbid and cruel tortures for your dear cousin, by the time you are set to become matriarch, your cousin will be in no position to trouble you."
Tal fell in to thought as his mind got to work, the fact that the target was a mage herself, would complicate things slightly. With her training she would be better able to discern what was happening and see through some of the tricks and plots that a less knowledgeable Drow would succumb to. Still Tal was confident of his own ingenuity and it wasn't like he was confronting her in a head on duel, the lackeys Shri hired later would be the only ones vulnerable to reprisal. Already Tal was deciding the best ways to communicate and disseminate tasks so as to avoid be traced or discovered.
Without being aware of it, a large grin had grown across Tals face as his mind worked away, this new endeavour bringing a sense of excitement that Tal hadn't felt in a long time. He came out of his thoughts for a moment and smiled to Shri, bowing his head low. "Then it is decided Mistress Shri, I believe we shall both gain greatly from this new alliance of ours."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 6:33 pm
"Yes," Shri said, letting out the word on the breath she had been holding while waiting for Tal to decide it was more trouble to be involved, than not. But, to her indescribable relief, he had not found her revelation particularly daunting. In fact, he seemed to be pleased with this development. "There is much to be gained. There is potential in my House, currently unrealized."
She was making a sincere effort to contain her glee and enthusiasm, and thus betray her age and youth. She was barely sixty years old, somewhat young to be planning a bid for power, an a little strange in planning how to secure a position already granted to her if she could but be patient. She could be patient.
"I look forward to the fruits of this alliance. I only wish I could witness the results of your designs, but I can content myself in the knowledge that you hold more intelligence and creativity in the tip of your littlest finger than she has in her entire being."
Shri kept feeling frissions of excitement and anticipation down her spine. They were utterly different from the sort she felt during her devotions, though those also came from anticipation. Perhaps it was the excitement which made the difference, and the knowledge that this would be followed only by pleasure, and not the mixed pleasure and pain to which she was accustomed. And it would be more than a pleasure to know that Tri-no would suffer. Physical torment, Shri could devise and administer on her own, in person - and would at a later date - but for her current purposes she needed someone like Tal.
And now she had him! What a stroke of fortune that Goddess had sent her way. She would be sure to thank Her during her next devotion. Which reminded her...
"I have to return to the temple. My mentor will begin to wonder where I've gotten to," she said, her eyes wide as she rose in a fluid motion. "How can I contact you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:26 am
"Yes I suppose I had better get back to teh university soon myself." Tal rose with Shri, stooping to pick up his staff. When Shri asked how she'd contact him, he smirked, he'd already though out that little problem. Reaching into his robes he pulled out a small ring from a leather purse and handed it to Shri. The ring looked like a simple brass ring with a small amber coloured stone in it. Tal took Shri's hand and muttered a few words under his breath as he placed teh ring into her hand, the moment his fingers touched her palm there was a slight tingle of energy as a bond formed between them.
"There... I can track that ring anywhere in the city, so long as you keep it with you I should be able to track you I also placed an enchantment upon you, creating a bond of sorts that should allow you to sense my presence and distance. With this I can find you and you can find me. We'll meet again in a few days times, I have means of contacting you discretely to let you know when and where. I'll have a few ideas as well as a list of spells and items you might be interested in."
Tal paused and starred off into teh distance for a moment as he thought. "One other thing, I take it that your cousin is still in her training, knowing how advanced she is and what school of magic she prefers would help me decide what spells would be most effective against her. No point wasting spells against her that she could easily turn aside."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
