Hilda Hyne
Wanderer
"Only from the skies can you actually see the world."
Posts: 15
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Post by Hilda Hyne on Feb 26, 2015 19:47:42 GMT
Mrs. Hilda Hyne'sinterrogation lasted for hours, well into the night and just past sunrise; of course once she thought it was finally over, Ghant the Kolyarut was hauling her off to the High Wizards. This proved far more difficult as the male wizard harangued her for a good hour about their shipment, discretion and the struggle of trust. Bored about halfway through, the woman was glad when the Inevitable dragged her off yet again, this time to a room on the ground floor consisting of nothing more than a circle carved in the floor.
Given her new task, she stepped onto the circle with the Kolyarut and had been whisked off to where Ghant said she was needed: the Rainbow Tower, in Avalendor--the capital of the Eveliegh Empire. First she began to sweat, aware the benefactor to their delivery mission was in fact a Grand Mage; she then began cursing herself under her breath, hoping the man would be far too busy to dismember her. or do something even more unpleasant.
Thankfully she met no Mages, no Royals. Instead she was led into the grand tower and positioned in a chair--Really, they're going to question me now?--and asked to please wait for context. It was a full hour until a woman came in with instructions given by the Abjurer himself, explaining the situation to Ghant at length, and informing the perplexed woman her aid was desperately sought after. She figured they couldn't do much worse than make her ears bleed, and so she consented, and folded her arms while she waited.
The room was bright, in contrast to the dim sunlight not yet risen over the mountains; her mind thought of magical orbs of light dancing about the room, but she saw nothing. Nothing at all to indicate a source for the room's brightness. She shrugged, taking in the white marble floors and amber walls; her fingers twitched when she spotted an item here and there she might be able to sell, but didn't budge for fear of the Kolyarut. She grew bored.
"How much longer, now? I've been here for what feels like a month now."
"They are preparing," Ghant said with bland certainty, poking its head outside to spot anyone heading their way. "It won't be much longer, Mrs. Hyne."
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Post by Atticus Daegal on Feb 26, 2015 22:58:54 GMT
No sooner had the metallic creature said this than a strange figure would be walking down the hall in their general direction. The robed man strode with purpose, though seemed in a hurry. Honestly, he had overslept slightly after a long night of research and magical study and was frankly feeling a smidge embarrassed as he tried to rush down the hall with several papers in his arms in a disorganized state. The hood over his features obscured his face, but two glowing eyes betrayed his displeasure with himself at such a simple and unprofessional mistake.
"I'm here!" he announced as he approached the door. The second those glowing eyes laid upon the Kolyarut, however, he could visibly be seen to jump slightly in startled reaction. "OH! I didn't know you'd be bringing Miss Hyne personally..." the wizard admitted as he knelt down to retrieve a single sheet of paper that had fallen from his arms. He cleared his throat and nodded, trying to glance beyond the guard and into the room. "I am the one here to interview Miss Hyne on behalf of the Grand Mages..." he said before making any attempt to slip past.
He actually entered the room with a side-step that had his back to the Sky Pirate. For a moment he seemed confused by this, as though he had expected to be facing the correct direction and couldn't immediately recognize the folly. He turned quickly and offered what COULD be considered a smile, except for one minor detail...
The man had no face! Where one might expect a smile there was nothing but a deep black hole with two curved lines of yellow light hovering seemingly in mid-air. Even his voice, upon reflection, sounded echoey and distant. His cloak was black, inlaid with markings to indicate that there was some sorcery going on with it but this was not the strangest thing about this odd Wizard who had come to ask questions of the pirate.
What was odd was his next statement.
"Coffee?" he asked as though there was absolutely nothing bizarre going on about him. He walked over to the other side of the table, setting his various papers and folders down in one pile and producing a container with the seal of the Rainbow Tower engraved on the side, possibly pilfered from the campus cafeteria on his way to this meeting. From seemingly nowhere, he produced two small cups and set them aside. One he slid closer to her while making sure the container was within reach.
Before matters could become any more awkward, the man cleared his non-existent throat and spoke again. "My apologies for the long wait..." he said. "Circumstances have been... interesting these couple of days to be certain. My name is Atticus Daegal. Welcome to the Rainbow Tow- are you tired?" he blinked, only just now getting a good look at the woman's face. She HAD been up all night and into the morning, so the signs were beginning to become apparent.
The man looked over to the Kolyarut, wondering why exactly the miss hadn't been given the opportunity to rest before the interview but did not know how to approach something like that with a being that looked more than capable of ripping him to tiny little shreds of dead fabric and distant memories. He instead looked back to the lady in the room, his eyes contoured into a shape meant to indicate an apology.
With a sigh, Atticus pulled up the seat on his side of the table and sat down. He crisscrossed his fingers and rested his hands on the table in front of him, trying to seem as non-threatening as possible so as not to frighten the poor woman across the way. "I'm sure you have many questions. Let me see if I can answer some before I offer my own?"
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Hilda Hyne
Wanderer
"Only from the skies can you actually see the world."
Posts: 15
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Post by Hilda Hyne on Feb 27, 2015 15:43:36 GMT
Ghant simply watched the boy stride forward, its liquid metal eyes locked on his movements, unblinking and cold. When addressed the Kolyarut just moved exactly one inch from the door to allow better entry, and remained steadfast in guarding the entry when finally Atticus moved in.
Hilda, on the other hand, was no longer alone and finally color returned to her face. The presence of another, she hadn't longed for such a thing in ages, having been surrounded by a loyal crew for years, wanting for nothing. Now the prospect of living company made her giddy in her seat, and eagerly she turned up face the inquisitor.
And then she wasn't so sure anymore. The wizard approached her, with two bright yellow beacons staring back at her from the shade of a dark leather hood. For a moment Atticus just stared, and her first instinct was to scream; not in horror, but for fear she'd been stuck with another automaton, a golem made from Magic. Why were the living so averted to her presence?
But then he asked if she might enjoy some coffee...she just stared, until the wizard produced a set of cups, where she assumed there would only be one. That meant he was alive, that he could imbibe a morning beverage. She nearly squealed, and smiled pleasantly as the container was offered, and poured herself a drink.
"Thank you, very much. Yes, the Namorans kept me awake all night," she said, her eyes trailing over to where the Inevitable blocked the doorway, wrinkling her nose at the creature. "But again, thank you. Coffee will do, really. I've gone days without sleep--today's no different. Your name was Attikins? That's an odd one. Your voice sounds so young, but then again the way you're filtering it makes you sound farther away than you actually are...so I could just dismiss it for sorcery. This is a magician spire, isn't it?"
Of course she'd make herself look dim using up her first question so...
"Never mind. What exactly do you need to know? I'm really in a hurry and no one seems to care. You see, my husband...he's been taken, by Wizards, or so the statue tells me. They could be long gone by now, and instead of looking for him I've been juggled between robots and wizards for nearly twenty-four hours. I'd like to know where Vincente is. Do you know? If not, what do you want from me?"
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Post by Atticus Daegal on Feb 27, 2015 19:46:50 GMT
Atticus saw that look, the first one. For a moment, he was worried that his appearance had once again created a wall that would be impassible and immovable. This was the entire reason he had brought the coffee with him. He had hoped by offering a show of comfort, he might prove he wasn't some evil creature under the hood concealed in darkness. Amazingly, the strategy seemed to have worked! The sky pirate immediately went from a face that was the sure precursor to a scream (Atticus had quite an extensive amount of experience with this) to a calm and almost happy smile. She poured her drink and he knew that she was comfortable enough for them to begin.
As she spoke, Atticus collected the container and poured himself a cup as well. He also twisted the bottom half off and set the top aside. In the bottom half was a smaller container with milk and a small drawer with sugar cubes. He mixed his beverage to be sweet and creamy, a small indulgence but when one understands he had grown up nearly his entire life here where it was available, he didn't really think twice about it. He set the cream-and-sugar half closer to Hilda should she desire to doctor hers in a similar fashion. He stirred his beverage absently by twirling a finger above, using magic to adjust the liquid.
He listened to her carefully and nodded in kind. He considered which questions and concerns to address first and how to approach his next step. "It's AttiCUS, actually..." he said with a slight chuckle before continuing. "I would explain the mystery of my voice but it is a long story and there are bigger concerns right now. Perhaps in the future, if all goes well today, but you are quite right that this is a place of study for the magical arts, and actually the heart of all the various colleges in Avalendor," he informed her with a hint of pride in his voice. He loved his home and was always happy to talk about it, but he had to move on.
"The matter of your husband's disappearance is important to us as well. You say he was taken by Wizards, but I must clarify that we have evidence to suggest he was taken specifically by IMPERIAL Wizards..." Atticus revealed, then reached over to his papers to produce a sheet with a written record of what she had told those in Namorn about what happened. "Let me see if I have this correct. You say your ship was attacked by a waterspout, accompanied by wyverns, Miss Hyne?" he asked, continuing almost immediately before she could actually answer. "And your husband's name would be Vincente Hyne, the famous pirate? I can see from the record you haven't mentioned whether or not you had any cargo the Imperial Wizardry might be interested in, and I do not want to simply assume the worst. For safety's sake, Miss Hyne, please tell me if there was a cargo? You do not have to say exactly what it was or whose it was or even where it was going. All I really want to know is whether or not it would be dangerous in the hands of individuals who might seek some manner of insurgence. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that if the culprit is in fact the Wizardry, then it could only mean bad things."
Atticus consciously took a breath here. He was aware that he was beginning to ramble and it was one of his downfalls. He needed to give the woman space to talk but also needed to stress the importance of what they needed to know. He added a little more to hopefully spur the woman to cooperate.
"The more we know, the better the chances of us getting your husband back."
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Hilda Hyne
Wanderer
"Only from the skies can you actually see the world."
Posts: 15
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Post by Hilda Hyne on Feb 28, 2015 14:17:09 GMT
'Attikins', 'Atticus', whatever, Hilda thought with a slight cheerful roll of the eyes, simply glad to be in the presence of a living, breathing individual, one who wasn't easy-to-bother royalty, terrifyingly powerful in terms of life-shattering magic...she smiled and nodded apologetically, listening to the young wizard build up the Rainbow Tower in his perceived image without contention.
When finally her husband's disappearance was acknowledged, her full attention came full circle to the conversation, and she neglected either cream or sugar, instead electing to drink her coffee black and bitter. What the boy said came as a shock, and his questions were met with shrugs here, nods there. She wasn't daft--she understood the weight of the label "Imperial Wizard", and this sort of put her at a loss for words. Eventually her husband's directives about discretion, and by extension the High Wizards' demands, flew out the window in a clutter of weighted garbage she was more than happy to be rid of. If her husband could be retrieved, she would face any punishment that came of it.
"Yes," she chimed at once, peering over to where the Kolyarut stood guarding the door, and then back into the golden lights that were Atticus' eyes. "I can safely say we were carrying a varying supply of items these 'Imperial Wizards' would like to get their hands on--in fact, any Arcane Order would like to...
"Vincente and I were shipping magical supplies--relics and items, like staves and for some reason rings and tiaras...it looked like loot, to me...we were bringing them to the buyer when out of nowhere came this massive Waterspout. We hit some turbulence, and afterwards two Wyverns came roaring from the storm and attacked the Spoony Bard mercilessly...they only boarded when the ship was disabled. That's when they took him.
"Look, I don't even know who our seller was, or who the buyers are. All I know is we were hired because of our reputation--I am Mrs. Hilda Hyne, 'She-Pirate of the Open Night'; we've never been captured. We're also the only Dread Pirates who refuse to take the lives of our marks. We were chosen because we're the best. How this Wizardry became to know of our shipment...I don't know. But yeah, it would be terribly dangerous in their hands...if of course their history isn't just legend."
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Post by Atticus Daegal on Mar 1, 2015 5:49:34 GMT
Atticus set his cup down after a sip or two. He listened closely to what Hilda hand to say, and even leaned forward on both elbows to cradle what could be presumed to be his chin in the space between his forefingers and thumbs. His eyes reflected a great deal of concern as the news the woman had to share was not good tidings. Why on earth they were transporting such... sensitive material was beyond him, but he had said he didn't care whose shipment it was or even where it was going. Honestly, she didn't even have to tell him what it was. However, when she revealed the nature of the cargo, he was instantly aware just how bad it could be.
"It's a bold move on their part. They've never been so overt before, which is why they've always been thought of as legend. I, myself, had no reason to believe the rumors and stories until just now. Such significant evidence should not be ignored, and I am lead to believe by their presentation and the nature of the items they stole from you that even if we are NOT dealing with the true Imperial Wizardry of myth and legend, we are at the very least looking at a very well organized force capable of tremendous feats of magic. Not everyone can tame a wyvern, after all. Let alone two."
Atticus lowered his hands, leaning on the table somewhat as he looked to the sky pirate across the table. "And now they have your husband and dangerous artifacts as well. Why they want them and how they came to know of their presence on your ship are mysteries I would like to look into, however..." Atticus began, but tilted his head somewhat to make sure the woman understood his point when he spoke. "We can't go leaping into action just yet. Not to put too blunt a point on the matter: they would kill us. Probably torture us and force us to betray everything we ever loved, then kill us in a very painful and very personal manner. This does no one any good."
Atticus leaned back and flipped through his papers again, glancing through a few sheets as he spoke. "As to your reputation, I read a little on that too. I am ashamed to admit... when I heard the term 'sky pirate' I expected something a little more villainous. That works in our favor since there isn't much there to wipe away if we're to help one another."
Atticus looked up and placed the papers in front of her. The record was basically spotless, due to a HUGE favor he had to cash in with a student who worked in the records department whom he had... "covertly assisted" in the past. "Miss Hyne... I want to help you find your husband and get him back, but in order to do so, I require your assistance with another matter... which happily goes hand-in-hand with your dilemma. I've been tasked with seeking out individuals on behalf of the Rainbow Tower with skills and experience for the purpose of preventing a very hazardous series of events foretold by Madame Damara, the Grand Diviner. I've been asked to look the world over for these people, and in order to do so I need transport. As far as I know, you happen to be in possession of the fastest mode of travel known to man and you just so happen to be in need of a new crew..."
Atticus paused a moment to allow the She-Pirate of the Open Night to string two and two together before laying it out for her.
"Help me with this matter and we WILL be in a better position to handle yours. I trust you see the obvious advantage in this?" Atticus asked, then sat back into a good posture with his fingers crisscrossed in front of him. "Regardless your answer, consider that... amendment to your past a gift for simply seeing me today. Surely, it will make moving between certain checkpoints throughout the various nations simpler if they don't have any proof of former guilt, aye?"
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Hilda Hyne
Wanderer
"Only from the skies can you actually see the world."
Posts: 15
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Post by Hilda Hyne on Mar 2, 2015 3:05:20 GMT
Suddenly there was talk of storming the enemy, and she was relieved the boy agreed to not be so rash in bee-lining straight to them; in fact she was ecstatic, having never come so close to the healing powers of a priest, let alone eldritch spells of destruction by a lowly magewright. Just being here put the woman on edge, and her leg began an uncontrollable shake, clattering violently against the table above, making her very uncomfortable.
The hard part was making it stop.
"So what," she said rather loudly, trying to avoid having to explain the nervous tick. "You're pulling together something akin to the Heroes of Twilight? As in the Maedelsi fairy tale?" She drummed her fingers against the side of her cup for a moment, quizzically eyeballing the ripples in her drink.
"And what exactly qualifies me for a position--or am I simplybthe chauffeur. This is all very interesting, Mister Beagle, but I'm afraid I don't fully understand how you won't slow me down in my search. I wouldn't know how to begin this search myself...rounding up others is hardly on my surface thoughts.
And then she remembered where she was, and what Ghant had said to her sometime during the night.
"I'm 'needed'...that's your answer, isn't it. How? Id like to know how. I'll even spice it up a bit more for you. I wasn't fully honest about the ship's cargo. We had something else. A whole thirty of them.
"They..." She trailed her neck around again to inspect the doorway. "They were like him, but not like the Judgemasters at the same time. They didn't move and had insignias on them. A silver Gorgon's head and an anvil on a field of multiple colors...Vincente didn't want me to see them--our Master-at-Arms said I 'shouldn't be down there'."
She shrugged.
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Post by Atticus Daegal on Mar 3, 2015 4:37:28 GMT
Beagle?
Atticus couldn't quite understand why this woman insisted on mispronouncing his name. Perhaps it was simply her way of handling the stress? He'd decline to correct her this time, seeing how quickly he was brushed off the last. What was more on his mind at this moment, however, was the little information she had offered regarding the "other" items in their cargo. The way she described them... they were suspicious in their own right, but combined with the fact that she mentioned a crest with a gorgon head... He did not like where that was going.
He had seen that symbol before. In fact, the first one to point it out to him was EXTREMELY proud of it and constantly elaborated on its origin, the different meanings it held, and why someone of his position was deserving of such a crest for his personal insignia. The Brass Duke had always been egotistical in that regard.
But if these "items", all thirty of them, were what Atticus was thinking... then why would he be using pirates to move them? Weren't they considered illegal contraband? Shouldn't they be regulated, controlled, and carefully tracked before their dismantling? The Duke was a man of many faces, and one of them was rumored to be an arms dealer but Atticus had never suspected products of this caliber being within his wheelhouse. It was alarming. Even more than the fact that this was being kept a secret, obviously, was the fact that these constructs were now in the hands of clearly dangerous individuals. Atticus was not about to make it his mission to cover up for the Duke, but that sort of information was distressing to say the least.
The Fallen had to visually refocus his attention. It was obvious the woman was resisting the offer he had made and needed better reasons to go along with what he needed. She clearly felt that she could assemble a crew on her own and go about her goals much swifter without him, and that was something Atticus had not considered. He decided to use what she gave him as his anchor.
"If this cargo is as dangerous as I believe it is, Mrs. Hyne... then a lot of people could be in very real trouble. Innocent people caught in the cross hairs of a conflict they had nothing to do with, cut down by equipment YOU lost. Aside from the implications there, people blaming you and your crew for their misery, there's also the matter of your reputation to consider. You told me that no member of the Spoony Bard has ever been captured. That is a lie, Mrs. Hyne... and if you go out on your own looking to rebuild and remedy the situation, word WILL inevitably spread that the She-Pirate of the Open Night is losing her edge."
Atticus hoped he hadn't put so much emphasis on those words that she did not see reason but a threat. He continued quickly so that she wouldn't have time to burn off whatever anger he stirred in the wrong furnace. "You ARE needed, yes, but not just to get us from place to place. You have skills I lack, such as knowledge of how to run a crew and select the best people to work with. You have real-world experience that is completely necessary for the success of my objectives... and if you chose to work WITH me, you spare yourself the worry of word getting around about this incident. We keep things isolated, looking for specific individuals rather than recruit en masse. I'm not suggesting we find new Heroes of Twilight, by any means, but we stand to benefit a lot more working in tandem than by ourselves."
Atticus paused, shaking his head slightly. "No matter what you choose, I'm going to have no choice but to look into recovering what was stolen from you. I would have a great deal more success with your guidance but it does not change that sooner or later along our two paths, our goals converge. We WILL run into one another eventually, and the question becomes will we be a hindrance to one another or an asset?"
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Hilda Hyne
Wanderer
"Only from the skies can you actually see the world."
Posts: 15
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Post by Hilda Hyne on Mar 3, 2015 14:14:39 GMT
Of all the wickedness she'd seen in her travels, manipulative men with charisma put her on edge the worst; Atticus seemed to be capable of many terrifying feats, none of which frightened her more than his ability to utilize guilt as a means to get what he wanted, and she suddenly felt the only way out of this was to buckle under the will of the Rainbow Tower.
He was right, after all. At least she justified it that way. Her husband orchestrated all business affairs with their mysterious benefactors; as the Executive Officer, she was stand-in captain and maintained the crew, as the true captain never took leave and put her in charge. The boy's threats--his promises, or however he wanted to force this on her--were terrifying, and there was no way out. The woman dropped her head and lay it on the cold surface of the table for a moment, listening to the wizard's final thoughts.
"I just...I wasn't prepared for all of this, Mister Daegal..." she lifted her chin and gazed deeply into his "eyes". "Am I really what you're looking for in a companion? I'm a pirate. Can you even trust me not to strand you somewhere? I just want to find my husband. If we manage that, I will be indebted to you. He is my first priority, and I just want you to remember that. Any leads and we're going for them. If I help you our record is wiped..."
It was mostly her dreams, of being free to fly on the winds with Vincente holding her close, no longer pursued by the Inevitables, wanted posters burned...she knew their record was bathed in crime, and it wouldn't be some trip around the world clearing their names. "I help you and we're free...that is my condition. You're right, we'll just get in each other's way if we go on separately...this way I can make sure recovering my husband is an achievable goal. You have my daggers, but I will warn you not to interfere with my investigation."
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Post by Atticus Daegal on Mar 6, 2015 4:28:38 GMT
Atticus nodded, though felt a heaviness in his heart when the woman laid down her head in such a defeated manner. He was never the bully. He never wanted to be the bully. Now, he felt like the lowest form of thug strong arming a woman into submission. The sensation made him sick to his stomach. When she said her piece, he nodded firmly, determined to let her see that he was not that type of man.
"The matter of record is handled. I had to use up all the favors I had available to me from my time here, but it is done and no matter what that's my gift to you for just being patient and enduring. As to whether or not I can trust you... I find that you must GIVE a little trust in order to RECEIVE trust, and I can tell from the look on your face that... well... let's just say I've seen that look a lot in my time..." Atticus said sadly, sitting back a little as he shook off those memories. Now wasn't the time to reminisce. Now was the time to get a plan of action going and act on it. They had a lot of work to do.
"So, I put my faith in you, your experience, and your instincts. The best I could come up with is a need for a healer and perhaps someone skilled in swordplay, but I have no idea what makes a good crew. You do, so I trust you to help me build a good one. I don't know exactly what tasks the Rainbow Tower will ask of us, only that I've been requested to undergo THIS mission. Rest assured, however... we WILL recover your lost love if its the only good thing I manage to do in my lifetime."
Atticus nodded lightly to the pirate as he spoke, hoping that she saw he was sincere. Just because he had a different priority did not mean that was his exclusive concern, after all. While the thought of tackling the fabled Imperial Wizardry gave him pause (as much as saying they were to challenge a dragon would give one pause, for example), he did mean every word of it. In a way, he considered it balancing the scales. She would help him, so he would help her. Hell, even if she hadn't agreed he might've done so. Just like how he helped a punk who hung him by the flagpole when he could have just let the kid suffer a life as a boar. It was just Atticus' nature to have an open heart.
Speaking of, Atticus stood now, crossing over to lay a hand gently on the woman's shoulder and kneel slightly to be on eye-level with her. "You must be tired, Mrs. Hyne. Your ship, as I recall reading, is still being repaired and should be here tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime, it would be my very great honor to acquire comfortable lodgings for you while you await its arrival..." he offered, those glowing orbs seeking hers sympathetically.
"Not to boast, but the Rainbow Tower does have quite luxurious accommodations for special guests, or so I've been told."
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Hilda Hyne
Wanderer
"Only from the skies can you actually see the world."
Posts: 15
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Post by Hilda Hyne on Mar 6, 2015 14:58:29 GMT
Hilda sat up and rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand, and began drumming her knuckles on the table for several seconds as she thought this all over one last time. Signing away her sole mission to progress with at least some additional support--she had to admit, this was a good idea and might bring her husband back sooner than expected. She smiled weakly before yawning.
"Thank you...I think a rest would do me well, but Mister Daegal, allow me one more question?"
She bit her lower lip and stood, and walked over to gaze out the window, her eyes searching the cloudless blue skies with the intent of spotting a revelation.
"What is this Vision--or Prophecy, anyway? Why all of a sudden is the fairy tale Wizardry so important, and exactly who are you? Are you one of the Master Specialists--or wait, they call you Grand Mages here, don't they? What's your role in all of this, and how did I come to be a part of it, exactly? You'll forgive my naïveté, but I'm no witch, and neither was my husband. So I gather the Wizardry wanted our shipment. But why did they take him?"
Okay, so a few more questions than just one, but the boy did say he'd do his best to answer her.
"As for your crew...you think we'll need a healer? This must be some mission..."
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Post by Atticus Daegal on Mar 11, 2015 18:11:49 GMT
Atticus couldn't help but chuckle lightly the moment the woman assaulted him with questions. It was only fair, considering the amount he has asked, that he answer some in kind. He stood from his kneeling position and brushed his robes off before tackling the inquiries one by one.
"The prophecy was not given to me specifically, so I cannot repeat the actual verbiage of it. The information I was given leads me to believe that there is some looming danger on the horizon that threatens not just my homeland, but all of them. I've been told... and forgive me if I seem boastful because I am FAR from it... that I'm to play a role in saving the world from this danger. To be more precise, I was told that my CHOICES would dictate the outcome. I don't know exactly how or why my opinion on matters should be worth anything, but this is where I find myself..." he explained in an almost mournful voice. He had been trying to put on a good show this whole time but just now he wavered. It was obvious that he was worried, frightened even, of his part in it all but was trying to shoulder the responsibility and carry on.
"As to the Wizardry of myth... I have to admit I'm with you in that I'm still not 100% convinced they even are real. I honestly believe that this is just some strong magic users who have gathered and taken on the identity in order to instill fear. It happens quite often, actually. The Rainbow Tower is responsible for looking into any abuse of magical power and I couldn't tell you how many misguided individuals have misused their talents for this exact purpose, all pretending to be something they are not. However, that does not diminish or remove the fact that you and yours have been attacked. Your husband was taken and that warrants investigation and at least some kind of attempt at a rescue."
Atticus paused here to move around to her side of the table once more, though keeping his distance since she did get up and walk away the first time he had drawn close. "I can only speculate as to WHY they took him, but I suspect if they stole your goods they may be trying to secure an exclusive contract through which they could become even better armed. Your husband is a man of particular skills, after all."
That said, the dark-robed wizard shook his head and changed subject. "As to the question of my identity, my name is Atticus Daegal, as I said earlier. Until only last night, I was but a student and... shall we say "guest" of the Rainbow Tower. I am no Grand Mage by any stretch of the imagination, merely elevated - and I pray temporarily - to the level of an official so I can fulfill my part in the events to come. But I suspect the question of who I am is really a mask to the real question you wish to ask but are proving far too polite to do so..."
He waved his open palm over his face to indicate the emptiness of his visage. The curve of those glowing orbs betrayed a sense of sadness as he spoke. "You want to know WHAT I am, I'd wager. If we are to work together, full disclosure is the best policy and the simple answer is that I am merely a man who is suffering the consequences for his overzealous curiosity. You see, Mrs. Hyne, not long ago there was an accident at the former Transmutation Tower. An eager student ignored the wise council of his betters and attempted to learn something completely forbidden in the vaults of the school. The result was the subsequent destruction of the tower, the deaths of all inside, and the student permanently made a conduit through which creatures of the darkness could travel. Unable to be executed in the traditional sense, the only way to contain this dangerous power was to envelope him within a pocket dimension, a place where he would no longer pose a danger but could still act upon the material plane..."
Atticus tugged at his hood lightly, indicating what the method was that he described. "Since then, he's been - as I've stated - a 'guest' here. Comfortably so, mind you. There's always things to read and learn, social interaction, and the freedom to do as I please except leave the Tower which I've had no real reason to do until this responsibility was thrown upon me. Given a choice, I would return to my books but that is not the hand fate has dealt me, I suppose."
The wizard watched the pirate's expression for a moment before looking away. "And just like that I've probably just destroyed any sense of trust you had in me. I'll go ahead and leave now and see that someone prepares a room for you..." he said, quickly gathering the materials he walked in with.
"There was one other question. Why I think we need a healer..." he said, his hands pausing over the papers. He stared down at his fingers as his head shook lightly. "It's not because I suspect a great deal of danger from the mission. It's because I suspect a great deal of danger from myself..." he admitted. It was the plain truth and if there was to be full disclosure, that fact had to be apparent. He was a threat, if not intentionally, but it was his responsibility to see it out.
"Good night, Mrs. Hyne..." he said as he pulled the books to his chest and began to walk toward the door. His mind was distracted by the tasks ahead of him, so he'd be delayed slightly by the kolyarut standing there...
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Hilda Hyne
Wanderer
"Only from the skies can you actually see the world."
Posts: 15
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Post by Hilda Hyne on Mar 12, 2015 20:09:27 GMT
The story alone was enough to bring back childhood memories, waking up in cold sweats screaming for her mother and father, terrified the mysterious beasts beneath the waves were somewhere underneath her bed. Of course she grew up believing in ghost stories, and after witnessing a fair deal of sea attacks in which ships battled terrifying monsters below, she felt she may be living some long, drawn out nightmare. It had grown with her, the fear, the horror, and eventually, the courage to stare it back and know her fate had been decided by Creation.
By no means was the woman religious, however she did offer gratitude for giving her a wonderful daughter and son, and that was enough proof to tell her the Goddess was real, and oh was She good. Hilda felt sorry for the boy's affliction, that he should be in the constant company of some Elder secret, some ancient monstrosity that wracked his body on a daily basis, and all because he was a curious one.
"Mister Daegal," she said going after him, ignoring the Kolyarut as she nearly tripped over the thing's metal foot, and caught herself on the boy's cloak with a slight crash.
"Please don't judge me that way; I've given you the courtesy of hearing you out, not jumping to conclusions and even consenting to make this world-saving mission a priority higher than finding my husband. Please don't assume anything from here on out, or it'll get you into trouble. You may be slow to the outsiders, but you're smart. Stick to that, but lose your nerve and begin making presumptions and opportunities will pass you by. how you got this gig is a mystery in itself, but think of it like a gift, alright? Don't assume you're cursed--lemme ask you something. Do you exist on this plane in that thing? I can't even feel your body. You're kind of invincible in there. And also, can't the monsters you have help you? If I could have prevented my ship's defeat with such a power...look, I know it came about in an inglorious fashion, but come on. You live with the best wizards on the continent. I'm sure they can fix you up if you asked. But you might need it for now.
"Now what's your assumption?" She said with a smirk, patting him on the shoulder before sauntering off down the hall, leading the way wherever, at least until the boy recovered enough to show her that room.
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Post by Atticus Daegal on Mar 13, 2015 7:20:59 GMT
Atticus had heard his name, and this time not mispronounced! He was about to turn to face the woman when suddenly he felt a great tug from behind. He began to topple backward, his eyes shooting into perfect circles in shape from surprise. His lack of substance made even this little trip enough to tip him over and throw him off balance. Thank the gods he was carrying a heavy stack of books or he might have been dragged to the ground by the unexpected grapple.
He was able to regain his footing as the woman spoke, at the expense of dropping a few papers in the process. He bent down to collect them quickly as she explained his error. He looked up from under his hood with a question in his eyes, as though he didn't quite understand her meaning. She was the second person to call his affliction a gift in as many days. It was a curious thing, that so many people felt this way when they did not have to experience it themselves. Frankly, if he had the option he would HAPPILY return this boon to whomever decided it was his fate to be constantly ripped and torn at, his skin stretched painfully over and over by over-eager creatures looking to use him as a flesh-and-blood doorway onto the material plane. He did a good job of disguising it, but the truth was it was quite literally PAINFUL to be him at all times.
Still, he supposed she had a point at least in regard to his presumptions that the world could not accept him. He had been accustomed to being treated poorly by those around him, looked at as an object of terror and handled like a living time bomb. He had never had to deal with those who would not fear him and might even seek to use him for this dark power. That was something to keep an eye on... The last thing he wanted was ANYTHING from beyond the scope of their reality to rip its way free and harm people. Honestly, he was a gentle soul and wouldn't wish harm on his worst enemy. In fact, had he not protected an oppressor from disaster only a day prior?
He was off topic. Shaking his head slightly, he stood to his feet with his papers in hand. The woman was walking by with a final question, her hand at his shoulder encouragingly. When she stepped into the hallway, Atticus cleared his throat.
"My assumption, Mrs. Hyne..." he began, pointing in the opposite direction as he spoke. "...Is that you do not know the layout of the tower. Guest Accommodations are this way..." he said, then began to lead her in the way he had indicated.
As they walked along, he contemplated her words and tried to answer as many questions as he could.
"You were quite right that I do not have an actual physical presence on this plane. The cloak I wear separates me from the world, but I can manipulate the space inside so I can still act upon it. However, your assumption that I am invincible is... misinformed. I am but a mortal man and while I am not technically HERE, if the coat is too badly damaged I could be trapped forever in a sealed dimension, unable to be retrieved. It's like death, I suppose. Or, if the coat is turned off... well, I had best find a way to protect those around me from myself as the repercussions could be quite severe. And let me make this clear, Mrs. Hyne... as astounding as it would be to be at the command of the monstrosities that hide in the dark places of the multiverse... their loyalties are as singular as they themselves are. They would not think twice about torturing everything within sight - not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually as well..."
They turned a corner and began to ascend some steps. To their left, stained glass windows depicting former mages of note decorated the walls overlooking the gardens below. "These creatures... their very existence can produce madness or eat away at your soul. They do not even need to DO anything more than break the surface of the veil and suddenly people are driven to suicide. There is no directing such power, it affects everyone... good, bad, or impartial. I know this because I am forced to be in their presence every day... That I can even THINK sometimes is a miracle..."
Three flights of stairs and they came upon a landing with several large oaken doors carved into various arrangements of natural flora. Each one depicted a beautifully colored flower ranging from daffodils to roses to azaleas to nightshade. Atticus gestured to these, bowing his head slightly. "You may have your pick of rooms, since we do not currently have other visitors. You'll find that each room is decorated to match the sigil on the door. If you want for anything, there should be a silver bell on your nightstand which will summon someone to serve your needs. I've never seen the insides of the rooms myself, but I am told the belladonna room is especially exquisite if you're looking for a restful night's sleep..."
Atticus paused, thinking a moment, before looking to Hilda once more. "Might I ask you something? I hope this is not rude but why wouldn't your husband share with you everything he knew about the shipment? I was under the impression that honesty was important in a marriage?"
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Hilda Hyne
Wanderer
"Only from the skies can you actually see the world."
Posts: 15
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Post by Hilda Hyne on Mar 16, 2015 14:24:02 GMT
"..."
Hilda spun on her heel and skulked back to Atticus's side with her head down, cheeks flushed in embarrassment. This of course was short-lived, as the boy's fast-talking rant resurrected right before her eyes, taking away the attention of her directional mistake. His words stuck with her, and suddenly the fascination in his wrappings faded, and in her mind it became more of a prison, one in which the Wizard was always under attack. The monsters of her dreams were the young man's greatest bullies, and there was nothing he could do about it.
The proverb, "curiosity killed the cat" became silly to her, and as they walked she set a gentle hand on the Wizard's shoulder as a sign of respect. "Look at it this way...if you help me find Vincente, I'll help you cook those seabeasts."
She smiled and nearly smacked herself, as once again she'd embarrassed herself. The boy didn't respond until they reached a grand hallway with several doors crafted by masterful hands. Each decorative mark distracted the woman so, and she couldn't decide which room would be claimed as her own. Of course, the Belladonna room suggested did seem enticing, and she almost didn't hear Atticus's final question. She tilted her head in his direction, and raised a curious eyebrow.
"Hm? Oh..."
Just the day before, between the incessant interrogations, the sleepless night and uncomfortable travel here, she had wondered the exact same thing, and although Vincente never thought it was important to reveal everything about their missions, she did trust him.
"He's always been honest with me..." she said, almost as if asking herself rather than it being a statement. "I don't think he thought about it, really...and I guess it's my fault I never thought to ask. I've learned over the years it's best not to know everything, mostly because it could get you into trouble.
"And I was only the first mate, he was our captain. I couldn't very well prod him. Wife or no, he is my superior. I don't know why he'd hide things from me."
And then,
"What are you thinking, Mister Daegal..?"
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