Adventures: Aiding a Blacksmith x 1 Aiding an Alchemist x 1 Aiding and Enchanter x 1 Herb hunting x 1
The Prompt:
A small shop in a busy part of the marketplace belongs to an enchanter. Word has it that he knows how to incorporate spells into armor, tomes, weapons, items... anything! Why you are here is up to you, but as you enter, you can practically smell the magic in the small but clean room. Over to one side you see what must be the enchanter himself. She is wearing long flowing robes with shimmering symbols embroidered along the edges. Her hair is long and straight, reaching down almost to the ground. As you enter she turns her beautiful face towards you and smiles. "Ah, perhaps you can help me." She asks in a musical voice. "As you can see, one of my shelves has broken and I need it fixed. Preferably without magic so that it does not contaminate the items I will place upon it. But I do not have time to find a carpenter as I must finish enchanting some armor. The owner is paying for it to be done by noon! I have only a few hours and it will take all my time. Would you be willing to fix or find someone to fix it for me? For your troubles I will be willing to teach you how to enchant an item."
(you help cause why else are you doing this adventure?) Figure out how to fix it without magic. Build the shelf yourself or go find a carpenter to do it for you. If you hire someone else, the enchantress will pay them for you and you still get your payment
Reward: Shadow Armor Shadow Weapon
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:56 pm
Being in a relationship with Cearlan – for that was what it was – had its downsides. First, Cearlan was a pushy tease, if somehow those words could go together. He would kiss Rae and stroke his hair and Raemos knew that Cearlan wanted more from him, but right when the barriers of his self restraint came down and he thought that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to just give in and let Cearlan have his way, Cearlan would stop, leaving Raemos somewhere between frustrated, desperate, and ashamed. Cearlan toyed with Raemos's body and heart like a feline played with its prey. Raemos knew it and hated it, but, in a twisted way, he also needed it. He wished he didn't.
Cearlan was also difficult to work with. He'd been difficult before; when Raemos had been a private, he had been a prankster, and Raemos had been the butt of his pranks. He had also made sure anybody working below him had to do some pretty humiliating tasks, and had only gotten away with it because he was so damn charming and beautiful. But now that the Orderite was perilously or, perhaps, precariously close to his privates, he was even worse. To Raemos, life was divided into two sets of dualistic categories; Private and Public, and On Duty and Off Duty. Something public and On Duty for example would be the regular execution of his duties as a Probationary Corporal of the Guardians. Something Private and On duty would be settling down to enchant Lieutenant Miri's weapons and armor – a personal order, done for a superior officer. Public but off duty would be along the lines of spending time with friends, or helping out around the town in an unofficial capacity. Private and off duty, of course, was personal matters; letters to vona, sleeping, daydreams, et cetera.
Raemos felt that his relationship with Cearlan fell squarely in the latter category, something to partake in when they were both alone and had no other official duties to perform, and when these conditions were met, Raemos did not mind kissing and hugging and, even, touching. He didn't mind it at all. Cearlan did not see it that way, though. No matter how Raemos protested, he persisted in taking their relationship into a more public sphere. On duty, off duty, public or private, it didn't matter to Cearlan. The Orderite had squeezed his a** once on a joint op, had stolen a kiss in a dark corner just after being briefed by the lieutenant herself, and had even expressly told their friend Selza Sterben 'juicy details' about their relationship that Raemos had not wanted to be told. And Raemos was not happy at all about any of this. It was unprofessional, upsetting, and, most of all, horribly rude.
Ironically, it made him appreciate the distasteful Oblivionite he worked for more – Talon did nothing inappropriate and, Raemos had to admit, was consistently professional and rational.
The relationship did have it's upsides, however. Cearlan was beautiful and experienced and, when Raemos wasn't annoyed at him, he was swooning over him. When Cearlan did things right, Raemos's world crumbled around him and ceased to matter, and Raemos desired those moments and devoured them whenever they presented themselves.
He also knew people. Cearlan's contacts spanned throughout Tukyere, and he knew people in Taliuma and Ashen City as well. Thanks to him, Vona had a huge uptick in her commissions and her name was really becoming well known in the city.
Included among those contacts was Cearlan's half-sister, Celieda Verhaan, a renowned Tukyere enchanter, a stunning woman in her own right but quite taken. Very much taken. By a khehorian who was very scary when jealous. Raemos kept it strictly look-don't-touch when he visited, and enjoyed helping out when needed.
That was what he was doing today, since he couldn't do anything more strenuous than construction with his healing wounds.
“I cannot imagine” Celieda said in her silken voice, “Why these shelves keep breaking...”
“It may be the magic.” Raemos said, finishing his repairs on the shelving unit in her storefront and home, “The items on the shelf may be eroding the connections between it and the wall with their magical auras...”
“Hmm... I doubt it...” she said, then sighed. “I am simply glad none of them are fragile...”
Raemos was glad as well. “Well, Celi...” he said. Using her name so familiarly made it easier to not fall for her beauty. It made her more mortal, less sylph-like, and less seductively mysterious. “... It's done for now.”
“Ah, good... Come and help me with this piece, would you, Raemos?” she said, gesturing to a set of gauntlets, “It is a fire enchantment... Isitar taught it to you, yes? Just... etch it for me...” she sat down. “Whew...”
Raemos gave her a worried look as he began to etch the runes into the metal, to receive ink and magic later. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“Mmm... yes. I've just been tired as of late.” she watched him work, her eyes intent. “You practice the art of enchanting, correct? My brother mentioned something about it.”
“I dabble, yes.” said Raemos.
“Hmm” she frowned, thoughtfully, “Have you ever thought about doing more than... dabbling?”
He tapped at one of the runes. “How do you mean” he asked, “Ah, shall I start to magic it?”
“Yes, please.” she hesitated, “I was wondering if you would be interested in working for me as an apprentice? You are a nice, smart young man, and you have been helpful. I get many commissions, you see, and could use the skilled assistance...” she smiled, “Part time, of course. My brother also tells me that the guild is your life, and I wouldn't want to take you too far from it.”
Raemos began to set the ink, feeling the heat of it as it flowed into the grooves in the metal. “That is... an interesting proposition...”
“I will pay, of course. You, personally, with knowledge and more material goods both - and the guild with services as well, for using your time.”
“Hmm...” Raemos charged the runes with magical power, watching them begin to activate into a deep, firey light. “Very well...”
Rested, she stood and helped him finish the armor. “Thank you.” she said, as it began to take on a burnished tone “I appreciate the help.” she set the armor aside, Raemos assisting when she seemed to have trouble with the heavy metal. “Then we start today. I will teach you enchantments that use dark magic, and then you will take dinner with us?” she said, inviting, “I want to tell Cearlan the news, as well. Consider it a reward for your help so far.”
“Very well.” said Raemos, stowing his feelings about dark magic aside, “I am happy to learn, ma'am.”
“Mmm. It's still Celi.” she said.
“Very well...” he hesitated, “Celi.” Her smile was enough to make him melt.
