[He's a little dubious, what did any of this have to do with lines?]
Excellent. I'd been wondering how you've been faring with the trouble going on, but you seem so far quite alive. While I admit most of this nonsense is beyond my interest in dealing with, you are my only route to off-season strawberries. It would be quite troublesome if you were to be stolen away.
[Although it's said with what sounds like utter sobriety, it really can't be just that. And isn't, in truth; he enjoyed their conversation in as much as he could enjoy anything to do with any mortal. Having yet to be preached at about morality was absolutely a point in Myr's favor, among other things.]
[One thing Myr has learned about preaching morality is it rarely works on people with strong moral senses (even if they're wrong) that haven't gotten them into active trouble. Much better to find common ground and gently ease them toward a better way.
How one did that with ancient demigods who generally put forth they wrote the rules of morality...remained to be seen.
But it wouldn't stop a Faun from trying! If Lahabrea's people were more free-willed than demons, or Connor's sort of artificial intelligence, they could always change.]
Ah--and I'm glad for the concern, messere; it hasn't been an easy few weeks but I've avoided being kidnapped at the very least. And the strawberries are due for another crop if you'd like a basket, [with a gentle amusement.]
And yourself? You've remained untroubled, I take it?
You're quite quick with those. Does faun magic include speeding the growth of plant life as well? Should I ever find my way off this miserable rock, one of my ... companions would be keen to be introduced to you, I think.
[And then Myr is going nowhere for the rest of his natural life while Halmarut puts him to work. There were worse fates.]
My unwillingness to mingle with the commonfolk in the dead of winter continues to serve me well. Any such trouble would have to get into my home and then find me within it and then escape intact. I should I suppose, offer my aid to that impetuous person on the pocket-watch trying to arrange for escorts, but ... even back in brighter days such was not my inclination.
[He'll quite happily stay home, kthx.]
...There was one who was, however. I wonder if any have asked her aid yet.
It does that; I'd ordinarily not force them quite so much but they proved unexpectedly popular. [Winter strawberries were a force for happiness in a gloomy, threatening environment; how could he not grow a few extra crops, knowing that?] ...If the circumstances align, messere, I think I'd be pleased to meet him. Though whether or not I'd still be a faun, I'm not sure.
[Which is worlds better than "whether or not I'd still exist if you tried to remove me from Geardagas"; he's going to lean into the Ascian's faith there rather than slipping off into existential angst.
He flicks an ear over on his side of the call at the professed lack of civic spirit, smiling a little ruefully to himself.] If the mad impulse should seize you anyhow at a later time, we'd take you up on it. But it's a miserable time to be traveling anyhow.
[Has he avoided kidnapping attempts by refusing to go out in the snow himself unless absolutely necessary? ...Probably.]
--Oh? If she'd not heard Caster's request and she'd volunteer, it might be worth contacting her. [A pause, and then a little more gloomily:] This will likely get worse before it gets better, at the rate we're progressing with the Circle.
[There is briefly, a touch of amusement to his tone.]
She, as of her last vessel. A botanist of .. oh, some ... thirty thousand years' experience I believe. If you wished to be a faun even on my star, it is a simple matter to see to it that you are.
[Apparently, Lahabrea isn't the only one who might qualify for demigod status. It might be a bitter topic ordinarily, but he's certain he'd see that spark in Halmarut that had died eons before, if handed something new and connected to her once-Mastery.]
I know not if the one I am thinking of has heard of the request, I don't recall reading her writing or hearing her voice on his messages. We don't ... precisely get on very well, much like petroleum and flame under most circumstances, but she has contended with both corruptive influences and such groups as these in the past.
[And future, in theory. Although he outright admits he doesn't get along with her, nothing in his tone or words suggests just how full of animosity that relationship truly is.]
Irhya, if you've a mind to see if she'd be interested; an Adventurer through, she'll be disinclined to refuse an earnest request. She.. might, if you've a stag's enhanced senses, smell rather of cat and undeath.
[...There's a pause that's slightly longer than normal there as Myr really thinks about that. Would he want to be a faun instead of an elven mage if he were on another place than Thedas entirely?]
I-- [He's so used to be a faun by now. He finally gives a helpless laugh.] I don't know whether I would or not by now--want to be a faun, if I'd a chance to leave Geardagas for somewhere else. Ask me that one again when I've had time to think on it.
[He still wants to go home to Thedas, he realizes, but the longing's changed over the year and a half he's been here--not a fierce immediate homesickness but something like the desire to return to the Maker's side after death. There's so much he's got to do before he can leave...]
Ah! So she'd be experienced help with this. Thank you--I'll be sure to let her know not to interfere.
Whatever you choose, you aren't trapped with it forever. Flesh is malleable, after all.
[At least, when he had his full power. If Myr wanted to spend the rest of his days as a sapient crouton, it could be arranged, however ridiculous the request might be.
But there is a silence after Myr's thanks and the statement that follows, save the tap tap tap of claws on what might be tabletop. It's a slow sound, punctuating the quiet with little else. After a long, long two or so minutes:]
I must apologize, clearly I heard wrong, are you not seeking aid?
[His tone is as pleasant as he can ever make it, not neutral or suspicious.]
[...Let them retread that idea of flesh being malleable later; Myr's definitely bookmarking it as an item of interest.
If it weren't for the tapping of Lahabrea's claws, Myr would think the Ascian had simply gotten distracted from replying. With it--he does wonder, a little, what he might've said wrong, though running over it in his mind he doesn't see anything at all objectionable.]
Yes, messere, [he replies, immediately.] And I'll be glad indeed if she'd render it. The best help right now is not interfering.
[He finds absolutely nothing contradictory about this, his tone says.]
I'm afraid she's likely to interfere as soon as she catches wind of trouble. It's a fatal flaw of most adventurers, you see.
[Tap. Tap. Tap.]
T'would be best, I think, if her inevitable efforts were directed somewhere more useful than merely hoping she'll stand by, for idle hands do Hydaelyn's work. And rumors abound in the city, it's only a matter of time.
[There's a long pause from Myr's end. A very long pause, long enough for the faun to get up and start pacing with a quiet click-click of hooves.
There's a problem here only he perceives, one that feels like it should be easy to think through but he hasn't his usual alacrity or clarity of thought on the matter.
This Irhya would find out about the Circle's activities and want to interfere. He wants her to interfere, like they all should be interfering, but they can't right now for the sake of other plans. He ought to discourage anyone who'd act too early from doing anything, but it sounds very much as if she'd take matters into her own hands if not given something to do.
Idle hands do Hydaelyn's work sounds enough like home for Myr to recognize the danger. What to do?
[And for all he's learned about skepticism of others' motives in the past couple of years, Myr is still a very trusting creature.]
Oh, yes--it's something I'm working at myself, [poorly,] along with a number of other Mirrorbound--getting to positions within the Circle where we can make a difference when it's time.
If I recommend her to them and she comes looking, she'll already have an in. [That last bit sounds like he's musing aloud, testing out the idea. Sure, she could get kid--
(he's not supposed to be worrying about that)
He's got enough trust with the Circle, at least, that even with a late start she could get quite far.]
[As he should be! As of yet, Lahabrea has no thoughts at all on betraying Myr himself, only using him to get rid of a dangerous, corruptive creature that some like to claim causes the extinction of his species.
He's completely justified!]
I see. That's what you're up to. I'd wondered, given your statements to the mage's query, but didn't much want to pry.
[And surprising none at all, he's not volunteering. Lahabrea's minimal kindness doesn't extend that far, and he's likely to actually keep true to staying out of the way unless provoked.]
It sounds as if this might work out well after all. You gain someone of wide skills and helpful inclination, and I ... don't have to leave home at all. Though, I may remind..
[More importantly, what sounds like concerned distraction, as if Irhya wasn't the entire point.]
Do be careful. There's more and more cwyld-touched people showing up in the city. Be certain to ask the Coven to look you over very carefully, as you cannot do it yourself.
That's what we're up to, [he affirms,] at the Coven's behest.
[None of Myr's own reasoning about getting Irhya into the Circle's good graces should make any sense to him--not a bit of it. But right now, it's so seamlessly coherent he hasn't any reason to question it.]
I do think it will, messere; thank you for the recommendation. Though--if it isn't too much trouble, should you happen to speak to her again soon--if you'd let her know she has an opening?
[like lahabrea's gonna do that
He then makes a troubled little laugh at the Ascian's warning.] Trust me that I do--getting infected once was enough of a lesson I never miss a check. Maker forfend I have to go through that again.
[From the half-conscious noise of dismay Myr makes at the question--not a rejection, just a reaction--he experienced nothing good.
(Also, Lahabrea's question awakens an echo of having answered this same one for Viren not so long ago--and how disturbing that was.
For whatever reason he can't hold on to that memory long, nor share it.)]
I was bitten by an infected Merrow a year and a half ago--on our way to Dorchacht. It hurt a damn sight more than any wound that small should've, even after they cauterized it; the sailors didn't have a dedicated healer on board and their, ah, sawbones said he couldn't get all the infection out.
If I'd had my druthers I'd've waited to get back to Aefenglom to have it seen to. I don't know if you know much of Dorchacht's history, messere, but this was while they still treated Monsters as dangerous slaves, and I didn't want their Coven touching me. But the pain worsened so rapidly I was afraid to lose the arm--no matter how small the wound--and so I let them treat it.
[That, also, was not pleasant but the way he stops there suggests he's not going to discuss said treatment further without being asked.]
Thinking back on it, it's the fear of the infection that was worse than the pain. We've got a plague back on Thedas that's very like the Cwyld in ways, [too many,] and anyone who'd been bitten as bad as I was would die of it. Or worse.
Information on Dorchacht is rather hard to come by. If everyone knows about it why keep records, that sort of annoyance.
[He's heard very, very little about it. Who talks about a neighboring city as if it's something strange and unusual when everyone already knows about it and what happens there?
Likely if monsters were seen as little better than slaves, any such procedure would have been unpleasant to downright excruciating.. but apparently it worked.]
No matter their methods, which I imagine were crude at best, it seems it worked for you are not a shade. .. I am told my sort of beast is especially susceptible to it, and must endure frequent examinations for it. This infection hurt, clearly, but was there more than that to tell you it was a terrible thing? The smell of infection, or blood poison?
[These are personal things and he knows it, and there were little skips and hesitations that make him wonder, but surely this one can't be anything of undue outside influence..]
Do forgive me if I seem to be prying a bit. This vessel is depressingly subject to the frailties of mortal existence, disease among them. Knowing what to watch for beyond the dry 'dark spots' offered by the Coven is not.. particularly helpful.
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faithlikeaseed) wrote2019-08-01 12:00 am
no subject
[He's a little dubious, what did any of this have to do with lines?]
Excellent. I'd been wondering how you've been faring with the trouble going on, but you seem so far quite alive. While I admit most of this nonsense is beyond my interest in dealing with, you are my only route to off-season strawberries. It would be quite troublesome if you were to be stolen away.
[Although it's said with what sounds like utter sobriety, it really can't be just that. And isn't, in truth; he enjoyed their conversation in as much as he could enjoy anything to do with any mortal. Having yet to be preached at about morality was absolutely a point in Myr's favor, among other things.]
no subject
How one did that with ancient demigods who generally put forth they wrote the rules of morality...remained to be seen.
But it wouldn't stop a Faun from trying! If Lahabrea's people were more free-willed than demons, or Connor's sort of artificial intelligence, they could always change.]
Ah--and I'm glad for the concern, messere; it hasn't been an easy few weeks but I've avoided being kidnapped at the very least. And the strawberries are due for another crop if you'd like a basket, [with a gentle amusement.]
And yourself? You've remained untroubled, I take it?
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[And then Myr is going nowhere for the rest of his natural life while Halmarut puts him to work. There were worse fates.]
My unwillingness to mingle with the commonfolk in the dead of winter continues to serve me well. Any such trouble would have to get into my home and then find me within it and then escape intact. I should I suppose, offer my aid to that impetuous person on the pocket-watch trying to arrange for escorts, but ... even back in brighter days such was not my inclination.
[He'll quite happily stay home, kthx.]
...There was one who was, however. I wonder if any have asked her aid yet.
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[Which is worlds better than "whether or not I'd still exist if you tried to remove me from Geardagas"; he's going to lean into the Ascian's faith there rather than slipping off into existential angst.
He flicks an ear over on his side of the call at the professed lack of civic spirit, smiling a little ruefully to himself.] If the mad impulse should seize you anyhow at a later time, we'd take you up on it. But it's a miserable time to be traveling anyhow.
[Has he avoided kidnapping attempts by refusing to go out in the snow himself unless absolutely necessary? ...Probably.]
--Oh? If she'd not heard Caster's request and she'd volunteer, it might be worth contacting her. [A pause, and then a little more gloomily:] This will likely get worse before it gets better, at the rate we're progressing with the Circle.
no subject
She, as of her last vessel. A botanist of .. oh, some ... thirty thousand years' experience I believe. If you wished to be a faun even on my star, it is a simple matter to see to it that you are.
[Apparently, Lahabrea isn't the only one who might qualify for demigod status. It might be a bitter topic ordinarily, but he's certain he'd see that spark in Halmarut that had died eons before, if handed something new and connected to her once-Mastery.]
I know not if the one I am thinking of has heard of the request, I don't recall reading her writing or hearing her voice on his messages. We don't ... precisely get on very well, much like petroleum and flame under most circumstances, but she has contended with both corruptive influences and such groups as these in the past.
[And future, in theory. Although he outright admits he doesn't get along with her, nothing in his tone or words suggests just how full of animosity that relationship truly is.]
Irhya, if you've a mind to see if she'd be interested; an Adventurer through, she'll be disinclined to refuse an earnest request. She.. might, if you've a stag's enhanced senses, smell rather of cat and undeath.
no subject
I-- [He's so used to be a faun by now. He finally gives a helpless laugh.] I don't know whether I would or not by now--want to be a faun, if I'd a chance to leave Geardagas for somewhere else. Ask me that one again when I've had time to think on it.
[He still wants to go home to Thedas, he realizes, but the longing's changed over the year and a half he's been here--not a fierce immediate homesickness but something like the desire to return to the Maker's side after death. There's so much he's got to do before he can leave...]
Ah! So she'd be experienced help with this. Thank you--I'll be sure to let her know not to interfere.
[........ Wait, what?]
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[At least, when he had his full power. If Myr wanted to spend the rest of his days as a sapient crouton, it could be arranged, however ridiculous the request might be.
But there is a silence after Myr's thanks and the statement that follows, save the tap tap tap of claws on what might be tabletop. It's a slow sound, punctuating the quiet with little else. After a long, long two or so minutes:]
I must apologize, clearly I heard wrong, are you not seeking aid?
[His tone is as pleasant as he can ever make it, not neutral or suspicious.]
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If it weren't for the tapping of Lahabrea's claws, Myr would think the Ascian had simply gotten distracted from replying. With it--he does wonder, a little, what he might've said wrong, though running over it in his mind he doesn't see anything at all objectionable.]
Yes, messere, [he replies, immediately.] And I'll be glad indeed if she'd render it. The best help right now is not interfering.
[He finds absolutely nothing contradictory about this, his tone says.]
no subject
[Tap. Tap. Tap.]
T'would be best, I think, if her inevitable efforts were directed somewhere more useful than merely hoping she'll stand by, for idle hands do Hydaelyn's work. And rumors abound in the city, it's only a matter of time.
no subject
There's a problem here only he perceives, one that feels like it should be easy to think through but he hasn't his usual alacrity or clarity of thought on the matter.
This Irhya would find out about the Circle's activities and want to interfere. He wants her to interfere, like they all should be interfering, but they can't right now for the sake of other plans. He ought to discourage anyone who'd act too early from doing anything, but it sounds very much as if she'd take matters into her own hands if not given something to do.
Idle hands do Hydaelyn's work sounds enough like home for Myr to recognize the danger. What to do?
Tentatively,]
Is she suited to infiltrating them, d'you think?
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I might think so. Her skill set is rather broad.
[It's a lie, and he knows it, but he's also good at sounding like he speaks the truth. It isn't to hurt Myr.
It's to hurt Irhya.]
Are you seeking infiltrators?
no subject
Oh, yes--it's something I'm working at myself, [poorly,] along with a number of other Mirrorbound--getting to positions within the Circle where we can make a difference when it's time.
If I recommend her to them and she comes looking, she'll already have an in. [That last bit sounds like he's musing aloud, testing out the idea. Sure, she could get kid--
(he's not supposed to be worrying about that)
He's got enough trust with the Circle, at least, that even with a late start she could get quite far.]
no subject
He's completely justified!]
I see. That's what you're up to. I'd wondered, given your statements to the mage's query, but didn't much want to pry.
[And surprising none at all, he's not volunteering. Lahabrea's minimal kindness doesn't extend that far, and he's likely to actually keep true to staying out of the way unless provoked.]
It sounds as if this might work out well after all. You gain someone of wide skills and helpful inclination, and I ... don't have to leave home at all. Though, I may remind..
[More importantly, what sounds like concerned distraction, as if Irhya wasn't the entire point.]
Do be careful. There's more and more cwyld-touched people showing up in the city. Be certain to ask the Coven to look you over very carefully, as you cannot do it yourself.
no subject
[None of Myr's own reasoning about getting Irhya into the Circle's good graces should make any sense to him--not a bit of it. But right now, it's so seamlessly coherent he hasn't any reason to question it.]
I do think it will, messere; thank you for the recommendation. Though--if it isn't too much trouble, should you happen to speak to her again soon--if you'd let her know she has an opening?
[
like lahabrea's gonna do thatHe then makes a troubled little laugh at the Ascian's warning.] Trust me that I do--getting infected once was enough of a lesson I never miss a check. Maker forfend I have to go through that again.
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{Which is to say they won't; he doesn't go looking for her company at all but it isn't entirely a lie, there was a possibility of it!
Just a very, very small one. One he'll allow for, because it's reasonable to do in this situation.}
...Ah, you've done that before then? What did you experience?
no subject
(Also, Lahabrea's question awakens an echo of having answered this same one for Viren not so long ago--and how disturbing that was.
For whatever reason he can't hold on to that memory long, nor share it.)]
I was bitten by an infected Merrow a year and a half ago--on our way to Dorchacht. It hurt a damn sight more than any wound that small should've, even after they cauterized it; the sailors didn't have a dedicated healer on board and their, ah, sawbones said he couldn't get all the infection out.
If I'd had my druthers I'd've waited to get back to Aefenglom to have it seen to. I don't know if you know much of Dorchacht's history, messere, but this was while they still treated Monsters as dangerous slaves, and I didn't want their Coven touching me. But the pain worsened so rapidly I was afraid to lose the arm--no matter how small the wound--and so I let them treat it.
[That, also, was not pleasant but the way he stops there suggests he's not going to discuss said treatment further without being asked.]
Thinking back on it, it's the fear of the infection that was worse than the pain. We've got a plague back on Thedas that's very like the Cwyld in ways, [too many,] and anyone who'd been bitten as bad as I was would die of it. Or worse.
no subject
[He's heard very, very little about it. Who talks about a neighboring city as if it's something strange and unusual when everyone already knows about it and what happens there?
Likely if monsters were seen as little better than slaves, any such procedure would have been unpleasant to downright excruciating.. but apparently it worked.]
No matter their methods, which I imagine were crude at best, it seems it worked for you are not a shade. .. I am told my sort of beast is especially susceptible to it, and must endure frequent examinations for it. This infection hurt, clearly, but was there more than that to tell you it was a terrible thing? The smell of infection, or blood poison?
[These are personal things and he knows it, and there were little skips and hesitations that make him wonder, but surely this one can't be anything of undue outside influence..]
Do forgive me if I seem to be prying a bit. This vessel is depressingly subject to the frailties of mortal existence, disease among them. Knowing what to watch for beyond the dry 'dark spots' offered by the Coven is not.. particularly helpful.