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 Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:45 pm
WHO: Halwyn Deverill, family, a tainted oak tree (Cynnybun) & Sir Sloane, accompanied by an Anican Seer (ex o ex Snoof)
WHERE: The Deverill homestead near Knotwood, Mishkan
WHEN: Mid-morning, roughly 8:30
WEATHER: A light mist pulled in from the shore some miles out. Otherwise clear Spring weather, slightly overcast with little breeze.
---------- Teleportation was always tricky business, no matter who you were. It took a great deal of practice to get right, required various calculations of trajectory, location, and in some cases necessitated the presence of certain mediums. Once everything was settled, all someone had to do who couldn't teleport themselves was be in direct physical contact with the person who could. Of course, sometimes an instantaneous trip wasn't the smoothest. This was the case for the Grand Magus' personal Plague Knight who was still getting used to the idea, let alone the practice. It wasn't his first time teleporting but he hadn't quite managed to acclimate himself to it. When Sir Sloane and the Seer accompanying him touched down in a clearing near Knotwood, the large Plague stumbled away from his companion and bent over with his hands on his knees. If vomiting were even possible for a Plague, he most certainly would -- every time -- but instead he fought off the dizziness and superficial nausea swirling within.
This was how their morning began and it was barely after dawn. For some time Sir Sloane and Seer Fendrel navigated Knotwood, asking for directions both to a home of mages known as the Deverills as well as a reliable carriage service. In the span of an hour, both had been located. The trip hadn't been overly long but thanks to the mist creeping through the wooded landscape, the carriage moved slower than originally anticipated. In that time, the knight and seer spoke little. They held no previous acquaintanceship; this morning was the first time they had ever seen one another, which wasn't entirely surprising in Anica's expansive walls. Sloane would never cease to be amazed at how many people managed to fit inside the massive castle and yet at times it still felt agonizingly empty.
"It should be along this road," the seer stated, accent thick and mixed as he read off from a scrap of parchment. They had just passed the last noted landmark.
Sloane shifted in his seat, one hand resting upon the carriage's ceiling to keep his head from bumping against it. As best he could, the infitialis peeked out of the window but the scenery had changed little since their journey began. "Will we need the carriage for our return trip?"
Carac Fendrel folded the paper with careful precision, then tucked it into the breast pocket hidden inside his robe. "No. This was so I could rest. We will go directly to Anica when we've finished." That suited Sloane fine. The faster they could get back once it was all said and done, the better.
As the directions said, though the road was long, it was a direct route to the Deverill home. The outside didn't particularly strike Sloane as belonging to a mage but that was to be expected when one grew up around the Fellowship's castles and opulence. The carriage stopped several yards from the door. Seer Fendrel was the first to exit and he instructed the driver that they would not be requiring his services to get back before paying him a few shillings. On the opposite side, an armored and cloaked figure stepped down. Even from the window, one could see the carriage shift when released from his bulk. Once all that was left of the carriage were the fading hoofbeats of its two horses, Carac approached the plague knight but kept a safe distance. From within the Deverill home, they would see two figures, one pale and one dark, one donning silver and red while the other was shrouded in midnight blues and thick dark hair.
The two looked about the immediate area, gazing at the surrounding trees. "I see nothing blackened."
Sloane breathed, closing his eyes and turning his nose to the air. He sighed as one might when smelling a flower or a cup of tea. "One tree is tainted, as they said." A smile curled upon his lips which caused the Seer beside him to recoil slightly before making his approach toward the front door.
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 9:10 pm
A few clattering noises came from the Deverill household, along with some shouts of various things that needed to be done. "Halwyn, go get dressed! You're still wearing your filty work clothes!" That was Rosemary, who was currently bustling around the kitchen, wiping down the table and counter and anything else she deemed dirty. A heavy sigh came from the other side of the room; Halwyn was currently stowing away the family's working clothes and boots in a chest near the door and sweeping out any remaining dirt on the floor. He stood up and trotted to the bedroom he shared with Daphne to find his finest dark blue tunic and slip it on over a pair of black leggings. He redid the loose ponytail at the base of his neck as Daphne herself was making sure she looked as good as possible, putting a few early-blooming flowers behind her ear. He tweaked her ear as he walked by, prompting a squawk and a swat. "Hey--! Oh, Halwyn, look!"
She pointed out the small window in their bedroom with a gasp, and Halwyn could see a carriage drawing near on the road a few yards from their home. He grinned widely and hurried back out into the main room, clapping his large hands on his mother's shoulders. Morris was at work and Jadis was too old to do a lot of manual labor anymore, so the three of them had done most of the cleaning. He could tell that Rosemary was frazzled, but he didn't pay much attention; it was only to be expected in this situation and there wasn't much that could be done about it. "Mother, they're here. Stay calm, I'm sure they're nice people." Rosemary balked and ran her hands over her hair and dress, hurriedly whipping off her apron and tossing it somewhere it couldn't be seen. "Oh, oh my goodness, okay. Jadis, please come, I'm sure they would love to meet--" "I'm coming! I'm old you know, I can't move as quickly as you can." Rosemary and Halwyn shared a collective sigh and Daphne wasn't far behind her grandmother, wafting out into the main room and smiling brightly. She leaned to the side to peek out the window again, and gasped.
"Oh, look, a plague! My goodness, he's..." She just tapered off, sort of awkwardly gaping at him. The plague was enormous, tall and burly much like Halwyn but at a more extreme level. The armor he wore only added to the intimidation, but Halwyn could tell that his sister was intrigued. The only real thing that advertised that the man wasn't human was the unearthly glow in his mismatched eyes that could be seen from the house; he was an anhelo. They had never seen an anhelo before, after all; their only experience with living plagues had been restricted to the small excitos that sometimes appeared around the household. "Daphne, don't stare! Be polite," Rosemary scolded, fussing with her daughter's hair before ushering Halwyn toward the front door. "Go, go! Greet them properly, Halwyn." The young man groaned and swatted his mother's hands away, before stepping out into the foggy morning air with a bright smile.
"Good morning! I hope your trip was comfortable; I know it is quite a long way from Anica. Thank you very much for coming," he said cheerfully, offering his hand to the nearest of the two men. He didn't recognize the human that was with the plague either, but assumed he must be an official of some sort. "My name is Halwyn Deverill."
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Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 11:03 am
As the two approached the door, a smiling figure stepped out. This gave the two men pause but the taller, wider of the two returned the smile with one of his own. A cloak was wrapped about his shoulders with a hood in place that shaded some of his features but it did little to hide the faint glow of his eyes, especially the red swirl set upon darkness which stood out with stark clarity in the morning haze. The Seer beside him was dark skinned, the Fellowship's eye tattooed in black ink around his left eye. Black hair was pulled back neatly out of his face, but from there it was wild and branched out at strange angles, falling over his shoulders at the front. He was the nearest one, and so he took the young man's hand in greeting; the shake itself was stiff, not casual in the least.
"Thank you, Mr. Deverill, the journey was not one of hardship." Beside him, the Plague scoffed lightly but the Seer didn't react, either not hearing it or choosing to ignore. "If what you told us is truth, this journey is well worth it. I am Carac Fendrel, Seer in the Fellowship. My companion--" the Plague stood nearer, closing the gap between he and Halwyn with a single stride, "--will be able to confirm the nature of your tree."
A large clawed gauntlet was held out in turn, waiting for a shake. The smile that had been present strengthened, this time flashing a bit of teeth. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Halwyn Deverill. Sir Sloane, the Grand Magus Estratus' Sword, at your family's service." Glancing away, the Infitialis breathed deep the foggy air and the musk of trees. The scent of infection was faint but present. "It's quite an impressive forest you have here."
Seer Fendrel clasped his hands together and bowed his head politely, giving silent interruption to their brief exchange. "Would you care to show us to the tainted oak?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:16 am
The stiffness of the Seer's handshake sobered Halwyn a bit, but only slightly. He tried to avoid completely ignoring the human in favor of Sir Sloane, but it was a bit difficult; the anhelo was impressive, considerably taller than himself, and those mismatched eyes and a flash of sharpened teeth were more than enough to draw the mage's attention. Inside the house, Daphne had no doubt begun to spy again, and if one looked closely she could be seen peeking around the frame of a window. Halwyn wasn't quite as skilled at hiding his enthusiasm and curiosity, however; he stared openly for a moment before realizing himself and clearing his throat, returning both handshakes.
"Oh, thank you. But I'm afraid we can't necessarily take credit for it; it was here long before my family moved here. We simply take care of it." Halwyn chuckled, glancing back toward the trees. But then Seer Fendrel was asking to see the tree, and Halwyn's excitement flooded back. Oh, of course! Right this way," he beckoned, beginning to walk back toward the grove. "Watch your step; the ground is a bit wet in some areas. I've slipped more than once." He laughed again, both genuinely finding it funny and trying to lighten the stiff mood a little. As they passed the house, Rosemary and Daphne, the latter much more shy than her mother, waved and greeted the two travelers.
After a few dozen yards' walk, they entered the small, slightly-separated grove that housed the infected oak, and it wasn't long before it came into sight. It was massive, towering over the others and shading everything nearby; it was a wonder the other trees had managed to get any sunlight to grow. This close, Halwyn was forced to cover his mouth and nose against the putrid odor, and pulled a few handkerchiefs out of a pocket to offer to Sir Sloane and Seer Fendrel. "Well, this is it. It's a shame, really; it was quite impressive before it became tainted." He said, his voice muffled only slightly by the handkerchief. He glanced up at the tree and looked at the way its bark almost rippled with the black disease, its leaves shriveling and blackened but refusing to fall. He looked back at Sir Sloane and Seer Fendrel almost expectantly, but there was a light of excitement in his blue eyes. What would they say? This was the largest plagued item that Halwyn had heard of; surely it was enough to impress the Fellowship!
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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 12:44 pm
Neither men noticed the presence of the young girl in the window, the Seer far too interested in matters and hand and the Plague's keen gaze was kept on the young man before them. Sloane's smile faltered slightly at the staring but it didn't disappear; he was used to those sorts of looks but Halwyn's was unusual in that it distinctly wasn't filled with disgust or fear. The Mishkanite was quick to right himself and get back to task, which both were grateful for.
Seer Fendrel bowed his head in thanks and followed after Halwyn, Sloane taking up the rear. As they passed the side of the house and their host made his comment, the Seer did not laugh but allowed a humble smile to cross his face. Sloane partook of the humor and let out a low chuckle. At the sight of the two women, Fendrel bowed his head once more and gave a muted smile. With Sir Sloane's hood still raised, it was more difficult to see his Infitialis features through the fog but his eyes still shimmered, he smiled, and offered a quick wave of his own. They rounded the side of the building in a line, no obvious slipping to be had in the damp earth (though the metal of Sloane's boots was certainly carrying less of a sheen by then) and were presented with a magnificent sight. The two visitors split themselves from the line, standing side by side with Halwyn, though the Anhelo took a few steps forward more.
"Thank you," Fendrel took the handkerchief gratefully, holding it up to his nose and mouth just the same as Halwyn.
Before them, Sloane stood in awe, drinking in the sight and smell. It took him a moment to react to the offered cloth, raising a hand to politely decline. "No, thank you," his eyes closed, the smile of reverence clear in his voice as he released a pleasant sigh, "This scent is sweeter than honey."
The two listened carefully to Halwyn's brief aside. Seer Fendrel nodded in agreement; it was natural for anything to lose its luster and this massive tree had certainly done just that. In contrast, Sloane gave a short chuckle. He was used to that sort of outlook, as well, for it was the most common belief of humans, even those who took healthy interest in plagueology.
"Oh, believe me, Mr. Deverill, this tree is more impressive yet." Sloane took a few tentative steps toward the hulking oak, one hand reached out, but before he made it halfway he turned and glanced back to Halwyn. His brows were raised curiously and, despite the teeth, his smile seemed innocent. "May I?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:00 pm
Daphne and Rosemary had shied away just slightly, Daphne more so than her mother, but she had smiled nonetheless at Sloane's returned greeting.
MeanwhileThe young Mage couldn't help the continued swell of excited that hummed through him as Sir Sloane approached the tree. Halwyn watched him closely, curiously, as he stared up at the tree and inhaled deeply. Wait, he thought the tree smelled good? That struck him as very strange; it smelled absolutely horrible to him, and no doubt to Seer Fendrel as well, after all. But the more he thought about it, the more it mostly made sense. Sir Sloane was of the same birth as the tree, a plague, so perhaps it was almost a nostalgic scent to him instead of a repellent one? Halwyn likened it to the scent of his mother's homemade bread from when he was younger; the smell always brought back good memories and he could pick it out of a cloud of various other scents.
The soft chuckle snapped him out of his thoughts and he glanced from Seer Fendrel to Sir Sloane in confusion, suddenly feeling a tad foolish for thinking of the tree so negatively. He was right; now that it was plagued, it would become something so much more than a tree. However, due to the Deverills' views of the grove and the tree, it was considered a great loss as well. The tree was a spiritual icon in a way, sacred and treasured. Now that it was dying, they had essentially lost a part of their heritage. Then again, it might never be lost. If it was truly to become an Excito, and then an Anhelo, the tree would live on!
Halwyn grinned pleasantly at Sloane's request for permission to touch the tree, and nodded. "Please," he chimed. "You are the expert, after all." He chuckled lightly and looked to Seer Fendrel, who still remained stone-faced as ever. This dampened his amusement just slightly, and he quieted down quickly.
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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:39 pm
Halwyn's permission brought a smile back to Sloane's face and he resumed his approach of the towering oak. He stood beside it, looking the trunk up and down, then gazing into the darkened canopy. Each step was careful, purposeful, as he made his way around its circumference. As he stepped out from behind it, his right hand rested flatly against the bark. Sloane turned to face the tree fully, his other hand meeting the wood, and he lightly traced his gauntlets across it. Nothing could be felt through the metal and he was quick to remedy this. Without making a single move, the armor encasing both of his hands peeled back, clanking softly as it folded in on itself. Every crease and bend in the armor lessened until the Infitialis' hands were free, bare from finger tip to wrist. If Halwyn were familiar with the chaotic alignment, the fact Sir Sloane's hands were decidedly human would have struck him by surprise.
Now uncovered, Sloane's hands traveled once more. He felt every ridge and bump in the bark trace against his palms. Here and there the delicate, wet touch of taint would be acknowledged. Once more he made his rounds, soaking in all there was to be had from this tree. Sloane pressed close, shutting his eyes and resting his forehead against a particularly clear area of bark as he breathed deep the decayed scent.
"Would you say the smell is more pungent at night or day, Mr. Deverill?" he called over, pulling back from the trunk to look through the extravagant foliage above once more. The size of this putesco was truly remarkable and he felt honored to be in its presence, to lay his hands upon it in this state.
Beside Halwyn, Seer Fendrel kept the handkerchief he had been given firmly in place over his mouth and nose. He watched the Plague Knight's movements, brows furrowing occasionally at behavior he deemed odd. Indeed, his eyes widened at the sight of Sloane's armor displacing itself but he was aware that Plagues had strange tricks. Only when the Infitialis' face was pressed against the tree did he cringe in disgust, turning away entirely.
"It smells plenty ripe now," he muttered under his breath, turning his attention from the odd display to the house behind them while Halwyn answered. Once that matter was settled, he turned back and leaned forward slightly, one arm tucked neatly behind his back while the other kept the kerchief in place. "Mr. Deverill, who in your family will be claiming the tree?" Seer Fendrel glanced back to the oak in time to see Sloane smiling up at its branches. "Have you discussed who will be taking Grimmship?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:49 pm
Well, that was certainly a bit strange. Halwyn watched almost in wonder as Sir Sloane approached the tree, circling around it. The Anhelo appeared almost in awe of the oak, as if he were paying his respects to it. But it wasn't just that aspect of Sloane's behavior that surprised him; the way he stood near the tree without coughing or gagging was impressive. Anyone who had gotten near it before now had been unable to stay there for long, let alone touch it.
But then the clink of armor drew Halwyn's attention down to Sloane's hand, and he almost gasped audibly. He'd never seen something like that! The metal plates moved of their own accord, folding back easily and disappearing as they had a mind of their own. However, Halwyn's face was not twisted in a grimace like Seer Fendrels. No, it was smooth with awe and wonder as he watched Sloane round the tree again. The way Sloane almost seemed to comfort the tree with his touches intrigued him; could the mighty oak feel his sentiments?
It was only when the knight asked a question that he blinked and seemed to come back to himself, smiling. "Oh, ah, it... It seems much more intense during the night," he replied, trying to think back. Yes, that seemed about right. At times it would wake him from his sleep, wafting in through the window if he'd left it open. "Does that mean something in particular?" He asked, glancing at Fendrel and back to Sloane. But he didn't get an answer; Seer Fendrel had begun to ask him what he could only deem as very important questions. This would certainly be the time to appear confident.
"Ah, yes, we have talked about it," he said, unconsciously standing up a bit straighter and fighting a grin. His mouth did twitch a bit, however. "I will be taking responsibility for the oak. My grandmother is much too old now, my mother and father are busy with the family business, and... Daphne, I do not think she wants to nor should be responsible for something such as this." He gestured vaguely, meaning the entire lifestyle that would come with becoming a Grimm. Not only would it entail caring for another living thing, but also being accountable to the Fellowship. Daphne was barely sixteen, and should be enjoying her youth like any other girl.
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Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:05 pm
Once more, after Halwyn gave his answer, the Infitialis was gripped by a wide smile. He didn't need to look back at the mage for confirmation, he could tell by the tree's scent that he was being truthful and accurate. One hand ran over the bark affectionately before giving it a few pats. A small, appreciative laugh worked its way out of him during the exchange a few yards from him. The accompanying question went unanswered, though it was difficult to tell if this was intentional and Sir Sloane was too wrapped in his own thoughts to hear it.
Seer Fendrel nodded to the Deverill boy's explanation, though it was more exposition than he felt warranted. "Very well," he accepted this information just as the knight peeled himself from the oak and began his return, still beaming and positively brimming with energy.
"Are there many women in your family?" Sloane asked amiably as he came back. The question caused a look of scrutiny to cross the seer's face beneath the cloth. Thankfully, Sloane was quick to elaborate, "Because you'll be having another."
"The oak is female?" Carac sputtered, locking his gaze to the tree once more.
He shrugged. "Its taint is. Plagueologists have determined that a putesco's level of activity in the presence of the sun or moon has an effect on its resulting forms," Sloane explained this proudly, grin still in place as he rested both hands on his side and looked back to the oak fondly, "I can personally confirm this with the ones I've encountered thus far, and myself of course." Under his breath came a single word, 'fascinating', before he turned back to Halwyn and looked him in the eye with his gleaming swirls. "So, you're to care for the oak yourself?"
The seer nodded confirmation alongside Halwyn's response, though his eyes were still honed in on the tainted tree. Sloane nodded as well. That was perhaps for the best, though he hadn't managed to overhear the reasons given to Seer Fendrel. "Be careful, then. Grimmship is a burden of attachment. A Plague and Grimm may bond quickly, as if chosen, or there might seem to be indecision. If you are to be the Grimm then you must stay as close to the tree as you're able without endangering yourself." Catching Halwyn's attention with a claw, he gestured toward the tree and indicated toward several blackened spots upon its bark. "Until you've got a little one on your hands, what you have instead is this putesco. It is literally concentrated disease. You understand? You must keep a safe distance but the tree must come to know you. Then you will be its Grimm."
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Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 9:49 pm
Sloane's strange question gave Halwyn pause, and his dark brows pulled together slightly over his icy blue eyes. Why would he be interested in his family-- Oh. The...the tree was a girl? He glanced past the plague toward the towering Putesco, a grin slowly working its way onto his face. It sort of made sense, the oak being female. It was a nurturing, comforting symbol for his family, powerful and resilient much like the Deverill matriarch. It made sense for the tree to be a mother, the mother of all they believed in. He laughed a little, looking back at Sloane. The sudden eye contact sort of unnerved him, but he stood up tall and nodded along with Fendrel. He would do it; he would be the oak's Grimm.
But suddenly Sloane was so serious, preaching to him all about the responsibilities that came with being a Grimm. He nodded occasionally as the Anhelo spoke, standing up straight and firm despite the mild panic attack happening inside. Would he be able to handle it? Would he ruin the oak? He swallowed thickly and glanced back up at the rotting tree, fiddling with the rope belt around his waist. He would hate to be the reason behind the plague's downfall or corruption. But no, he would make it great. He would have the best plague anyone had seen to date! "I understand. I intend to do my best," he said, squaring his jaw and nodding again.
After a few quiet moments, he perked up slightly and clapped his hands together. "So! If you're finished here, would you like to go back and have something to eat? I'm sure your travels left you with quite the appetite?" He asked, chuckling as he looked at Seer Fendrel and back to Sloane. He gestured back toward the house, as if to say "after you." "Unless there is anything else you would like to know about the oak?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 12:29 pm
Halwyn's attentiveness was greatly appreciated by the Infitialis. With each nod the young mage gave, a smile tugged wider at his lips. Seer Fendrel, though distant, seemed content with the information Sloane had given and Mr. Deverill's response to it. Both exchanged a glance, Seer Fendrel's flinch from the gaze of swirled eyes hardly visible, and Sloane nodded to Halwyn appreciatively when he stated his intention.
"I've little doubt of that."
Yes, if Halwyn Deverill truly intended to do his best then surely the Fellowship would assist him in his endeavor, especially when the Plague in question was such an extraordinary sort. Why else would they have sent someone out to confirm and investigate it if the Putesco wasn't one of importance?
The invitation was a surprise to both men. They exchanged another glance, Sloane's smile fading for a moment before it returned with full force and he shrugged to Seer Fendrel. The Seer opened his mouth briefly, closed it again, then bowed his head. He was about to respond when Halwyn perked back up and instead he glanced back at the oak, brows furrowed.
"I believe we've asked all we need to in the oak's presence." Sloane offered a reassuring smile to Halwyn, then glanced back fondly to the oak as well.
Seer Fendrel cleared his throat, nodding and bowing once again. "Thank you for your hospitality."
He walked past Halwyn as the boy had gestured, heading back toward the front of the house the same way they had walked back. Sloane followed after a short moment, pausing once they were at the front door to allow Carac and Halwyn entry before himself. One armored hand was kept on the outer frame of the door and he ducked his head beneath the paneling to enter. It was a very different interior to any mage headquarters he had seen, much more humble, cozy, down to earth. For a moment Sloane was lost in observing the decor and various fixtures, toothless smile still lingering pleasantly. It felt nice here, like a home, and so he felt even more certain that Halwyn and the Deverill family would take good care of the tainted oak.
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Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 3:22 pm
Halwyn had been anxious that, perhaps, Sir Sloane or Seer Fendrel would deem him unacceptable, unfit to be the oak's Grimm. However, his worries were squashed flat when Sloane appeared to accept his intentions, and he couldn't fight the bright grin that had stretched its way across his face. It was happening, he was going to be a Grimm! Perhaps this would be what was needed for him to focus; what would he do? Surely the oak could provide some insight into the Black Plague, and he could be a hero for curing it! It may have been a lofty thought, but Halwyn had never been terribly realistic.
The two mages' reactions to his invitation were amusing, as if they had never been invited to simply relax, eat, and meet a family before. After they finally accepted his offer, he happily escorted them back to the farmhouse and inside where a fire was roiling in the hearth, warming the slightly chilly morning air. Rosemary was busy stirring something over the flames, no doubt a soup of some sort, and Daphne wasn't far from her side, laying out a few plates on the table along with their finest set of wine goblets (that were admittedly not very impressive, a slightly tarnished silver that hinted at age). Jadis, on the other hand, was not helping; she sat in one of the few pieces of furniture in the main room, arthritic fingers fumbling their way through the embroidery of a handkerchief. Morris was still yet to be seen.
"Welcome to or home," Halwyn said cheerfully, as if perfectly trained. In truth, his mother had been hammering manners into him for the past few hours, and he didn't want her to scold him yet again if he forgot. "Sir Sloane, Seer Fendrel, this is my Mother, Rosemary. There is my sister, Daphne, and our grandmother, Jadis, is there in the chair." Rosemary had apparently not noticed the three men entering the house until Halwyn spoke, and she nearly dropped the spoon into the pot when she realized her mistake. She wiped her hands hastily on the apron she'd put on again and approached bashfully, perhaps staring a bit too intently while she greeted the two strangers. "Good morning, Sir Sloane, Seer Fendrel. It's a pleasure to meet you! Please, make yourselves at home," she babbled, placing a hand over her heart. "Goodness, you'll have to forgive me. It's been quite some time since we've had such high-ranking Fellowship members in our midst."
Meanwhile, Jadis was carefully getting up out of her chair to join the fray, though merely nodded her greeting to the two men. Her gaze, perhaps a bit too cold to be entirely friendly, lingered on Sloane's form as she took him in, but she disguised it with a gently rub to her eyes as she seated herself at the table. Daphne, on the other hand, had put the table between herself and the two guests, particularly Sloane. Her gaze was not fearful, merely curious as she looked at him. "G-Good morning, gentlemen," she murmured, finishing the process of setting the table with a basket of fresh rolls. She was clearly the most demure of the Deverill family by far, though was by default more pleasant than Jadis.
Halwyn chuckled at his family, before gesturing to the table and grinning brightly at Sloane and Seer Fendrel. "Please, have a seat. We have bread and wine, and I believe my mother has made a stew?" He looked to Rosemary for confirmation, who nodded fervently with a grin of her own. "Yes, of course. We also have fruit if you'd prefer!" She swooped down upon the table and pulled out the chairs, allowing them to choose where they wanted to sit. It was clear she was rather frantic and unsure, but she was doing her best.
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Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am
The scent of food was strong and appetizing when they walked in, particularly to the Seer who had a meager breakfast that morning. Sloane also had eaten little but Plague hunger was different than that of humans. At each introduction given both men nodded though only Sloane smiled, closed lipped to avoid any flashing of teeth. The distance Daphne had put between herself and them had not gone unnoticed but neither appeared put off, neither even for Jadis' mere acknowledging of their presence though it was easy for Sloane to feel her lingering gaze. To be polite, both acted as though they hadn't seen Rosemary's fumble with the spoon but the action just made her and the rest of the family appear more endearing to the knight.
Seer Fendrel clasped both hands lightly before himself and tipped his head gently in greeting. "Good morning, Mrs. Deverill. Thank you for having us."
"You have a lovely home," Sloane smiled, gazing up at the ceiling and the surrounding walls, taking in the sight of any knick knacks or accessories the house had to further understand the personality of the family as a whole. The age and tarnish of the goblets was well noted but quite appreciated by the Infitialis.
At Daphne's timid greeting, both of their attentions turned to her. The Seer merely dipped his head and returned his attention to Rosemary and Halwyn but Sloane smiled, keeping his swirled eyes on hers until Halwyn's voice called him away. He perked up again at the mention of stew, a food he was definitely used to from his time in the Northern Bases. The mention of wine was also delightful and a bit of a surprise; they must have been keeping a small store for very special occasions and the thought of confirming Grimmship being a special occasion to this family made Sloane swell visibly with pride.
"Thank you, that sounds wonderful." he beamed, taking the seat offered by Rosemary with a soft thanks.
Seer Fendrel was not short by any means, nor was Halwyn by comparison, but Sloane was still the tallest at the table even while sitting. Carac thanked Rosemary and the rest of the family as well, requesting both the fruit offered and water instead of wine if they had it. The Infitialis happily accepted the offered wine and bread though he was eager for the stew, as usually that meant some type of meat.
Both men sat politely until the present family was seated and prepared as they desired. One of Sloane's hands rested atop the table edge, fingers stretching while his claws retracted of what seemed to be their own accord. The rest of the gauntlet, up to his wrist, clinked as it folded in on itself around his fingers, peeling away to reveal perfectly human fingers and skin. It wouldn't due to try and eat with armored gloves, after all, nor was it terribly polite.
Without giving any acknowledgment to it, nor any looks he may have been given, he smiled eagerly, eyes drifting between the Deverill family. "This is an exciting time. It's good to see anyone handling this event as you are but most especially members of the Fellowship."
The Seer cleared his throat beside Sloane, eyes closed and head slightly bowed with a calm expression save for his eyebrows slightly knit against his dark skin. "Perhaps we should not discuss business over a meal." The matter of plagues being discussed while eating, especially the foul taint of Putescos, churned his stomach -- sitting next to one did little else for him.
Sloane recoiled subtly, his own brows twisting with confusion as he glanced to his companion. His smile was still present though certainly dampened, and a quiet scoff left the knight as he searched for a response. "It isn't business, Seer. It's a life." Sloane tried to keep his tone light so as not to spoil the mood for anyone, though he could already feel the air changing.
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Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 1:32 pm
Rosemary fluttered slightly at the compliment about their home, immediately deciding that she liked this Sir Sloane despite his rather unsettling appearance. "Thank you, Sir Sloane, that's very nice of you to say." He seemed perfectly civilized and polite, like all good men, and it was interesting the way his personality appeared to contradict his appearance so starkly. She hurried to ladle up the proper number of bowls of stew and pieces of bread, doing her best to serve from the left as was proper at a dinner party. She then seated herself with a smile, gesturing to the food. "Please, help yourselves!" Daphne had frozen still when Sloane smiled, fascinated and afraid at the same time, but seated herself next to her mother nonetheless. She did her best not to stare, but she had never to this day seen an Anhelo, let alone one that looked as Sloane did.
Jadis, however, was not so enamored. She sat as far away from the duo as she could, but watched them carefully, particularly Sloane. Her elderly face was almost permanently turned down into a frown, but now it seemed to have purpose behind it and in her gray eyes as well. A Plague, a physical manifestation of disease and decay, an unnatural being, was sitting at her dinner table. Not only was it a complete affront to nature and the laws of the world, but it went against everything she knew. But even she knew that she needed to be polite; he was a guest after all, and also in a relative position of power in the Fellowship, being in the Grimmship of the Grand Magus. So she held her tongue, even if it was difficult. It also did nothing to help his case, given her negative view of Sage Estratus.
The meal itself was small and went relatively smoothly. The subject of Grimmship eventually shifted to the Deverills' business and family, orchestrated by Rosemary when she noticed the pleasant air of the meeting beginning to turn. Halwyn was more than eager to talk for as long as he could with Sloane about Grimmship, and appeared crestfallen when the subject was changed, but said nothing. The conversation and food lasted around half an hour, at which point Rosemary bustled about to gather the dishes. She clasped her hands together and smiled brightly at Fendrel and Sloane, letting out a sigh. "Sir Sloane, Seer Fendrel, thank you so much for coming. It was lovely to have you. Surely you have important business to attend to back in Anica?" She asked, glancing between them. Halwyn rose and grinned as well. "I shall escort you to the main road," he said, straightening his tunic. "Do you have a carriage waiting?" He asked, wondering how they had managed to get here.
As they walked, Halwyn let out a soft sigh. He turned to Sloane with a frown, looking a bit apologetic. "You will have to excuse my grandmother. She's a bit...old fashioned." He glanced back toward the house where Jadis was no doubt complaining about entertaining a Plague in their home, letting out another sigh. She truly was insufferable at times, and though she had successfully controlled herself, even he had felt the tension emanating from her shrunken form. He did not want that to leave a negative impression on the guests, especially Sloane.
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Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 3:17 pm
To Sloane, the difference in atmosphere the Deverill homestead had when compared to the Fellowship castles in Shyregoed was drastic and welcoming. The Seer beside him would disagree, coming from humble beginnings and working his way into the grand castles and among those with clout, but he was not ungrateful by any stretch of the imagination. Both men were polite in their meal, observing proper social etiquette, and neither made a mess of their food. More over, neither fought back when conversation turned to less preferred or unpleasant directions, instead working subtly to shift the tone back to contended subjects even if their ideas of such differed greatly.
Daphne's intimidation was duly noted and Sloane was careful to reel back his smile for her sake, especially if their eyes met briefly. While he was aware of their grandmother's judgmental stare he made no hints to show it, though occasionally Seer Fendrel would catch Jadis' glance and a silent understanding passed between them. When the meal wrapped up, both the Seer and Plague assisted in the clean up by handing their dishes over, offering their thanks and bowing their heads.
"Aye," Seer Fendrel confirmed Rosemary's question after he and Sloane thanked the family for their hospitality once more, "The Fellowship's work is never done."
A quiet but amused scoff left Sloane. He grinned slightly, glancing away from the Seer, then to Halwyn as he spoke. "Thanks, much," Sloane said pleasantly, giving another careful smile to the rest of the family before following Halwyn towards the door. "Not quite." the matter of their departure was left vague for now and Seer Fendrel unintentionally assisted it being so.
The two followed Halwyn, Sloane's swirls meeting his eyes when he looked back and sighed. His smile was muted but his brows upturned in sympathetic understanding and the corners of his mouth tightened at the sentiment. "I understand." He could have left it that that, gaze following Halwyn's back to the house for a brief moment, but once they stopped near the main road, Sloane spoke again. "Thank you for accepting this responsibility so readily and graciously. Even for the Fellowship, this means a great deal. Speaking as a Plague... I am grateful."
As he spoke, Seer Fendrel continued his steps until he stood beside the Infitialis facing Halwyn. He remained silent on the matter but nodded at the mention of the Fellowship's opinion. Once finished, he glanced warily to Sloane and cleared his throat. The knight bowed his head to Halwyn, a respectful smile lingering on his face, and he reached a clawed hand out to rest upon the Seer's shoulder. Carac grimaced slightly at the touch, though he was careful not to let the disgust show too obviously. With their goodbyes settled, Seer Fendrel closed his eyes in concentration and Sloane clenched his eyes shut, visibly bracing himself. Before Halwyn's eyes the two seemed to nearly glow and in a blink they were gone, the only remnants of their presence a pale smoke that mingled and dissipated against the surrounding fog.END
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