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Entry tags:
- abby,
- benedict quintus artemaeus,
- byerly rutyer,
- derrica,
- edgard,
- ellis,
- loki,
- loxley,
- marcus rowntree,
- petrana de cedoux,
- wysteria de foncé,
- { adrasteia },
- { allumin etsija },
- { emet-selch },
- { erik stevens },
- { gabranth },
- { james holden },
- { jone },
- { margaery tyrell },
- { sidony veranas },
- { tony stark }
OPEN | the grand tourney!
WHO: All Y'all.
WHAT: It's the Grand Tourney! Like a normal Tourney, but grand.
WHEN: August Now.
WHERE: Kirkwall.
NOTES: Sports... injuries?
WHAT: It's the Grand Tourney! Like a normal Tourney, but grand.
WHEN: August Now.
WHERE: Kirkwall.
NOTES: Sports... injuries?
Every thousand days, the Grand Tourney is organized in the Free Marches, and all the City States-- and even challengers from farther abroad-- come together to celebrate the freedom of the Marches. This year, the event was intended to take place in Tantervale.
When that, uh, fell apart, the tourney was hastily moved to the relative safety of Kirkwall.
Festivities begin early, with musicians and entertainers coming from all around to entertain lords and ladies as they set up tents. Food vendors complete the picnic atmosphere-- you may not be able to get a seat in the stands, but the hills around where the field where it all takes place makes the event easily viewed by all. Jesters, bards, troubadours, food vendors, all are happy to serve and make the event lively and lovely-- for a price.
The first event is the Joust. The announcer goes through everyone's names, their origins, the part they play, so the crowd knows who to root for and who to boo. Before the individual bouts begin, the jousters are expected to ride around the field collecting favors.
The second event is the Quintain. A similar setup to the Joust takes place, with announcements and cheering, gaining favors, etc. The major difference-- besides the content of the event itself-- is the hastily erected judge's stand, where they can view the skills of each comptetitor. Some scores are met with cheers, some with boos. Some competitors schmooze with the judges before their bout. It's all very classy.
In the intermission guests are invited to play a game of tug-of-war over two large piles of flowers and flower petals. As the loosers will discover, there's a pit of mud underneath the flowers. Hopefully you brought a second pair of clothes, or maybe you just don't care
If tug-of-war isn't your game, there's drunken archery. Darktown's very best (worst) booze has been generously donated (appropriated) for the event. One shot to begin, and more shots for every subsequent shot of your bow. Landing closer to bullseye garners more points, and prizes can be collected for high point scores. Nothing particularly valuable, it's more like carnival fare-- stuffed toys, shiny gems (they are colored glass), wood carved in various shapes (some lewd). The most expensive prize is a hangover cure potion (it does not work).
The final event is the ever-popular Melee, where several one-on-one matches take place simultaneously, until someone is either undefeated or the least defeated. As with previous events, each combatant is announced to the crowd and expected to walk around the stands, receiving favors. However, they're expected to do this between every match in the melee, as their popularity rises... or falls.
During all of this, the ever-noble Pas d'Armes event is taking place. If you wander away from the event at any time, Gabranth will be there, at a nearby bridge, judging and / or fighting anyone who wishes to pass. Of course, if you wish to pass without issue, he will accept a favor from you. At the end, he'll be crowned with a white wreath of flowers, in a 'peace offering', and that is the sign that the tourney is done.
Not counting the partying into the night. No medieval camping trip is complete without waking up half clothed in a field, right?
THE JOUST
1st Place: Tony Stark, The Iron Man (Erroneously called 'The Man of Iron' at least once by an announcer. Several people in the stands asked if he was made of iron, why he was called that, what is he doing, why.)
2nd Place: Weary Winona of Wycome (Never took off her helm, which was shaped like a woman's face and painted like she was crying.)
3rd Place: 'Sir Sullivan of Bonneville'(Who might just be Edgard in disguise, however legend has it he's actually an undead noble trying to reclaim his family's honor in the joust. This legend was started by Jone.)
Crowd Favorite: Ellis, The Bachelor (He was, at one point, mostly just a mass of favors, which may have been why he didn't rank. The crowd screamed his name repeatedly and at one point threw flowers at him while he was riding past.)
THE QUINTAIN
1st Place: Derrica, the Rivaini Raider (The chant 'carry me home' began during her bout, and continued whenever she walked near the field.)
2nd Place: Derek, Son of Derek, of the Ostwick Dereks (The 'carry me home' chant continued during his bout, as some confusion arose over whether Derrica was a distant relation of the Ostwick Dereks.)
3rd Place: Madame Noir of Hasmal (A ghostly pale woman wearing only a black gown during her match, there were rumors she'd bribed the judges with money or a low neckline.)
Crowd Favorite: Beth Greene, The Lady of the Green (Rumor has it that she was a wild woman who came from the forests just to compete. This rumor was also started by Jone.)
THE MELEE
1st Place: Pierre the Virtuous of Hambleton (On a particularly sunny day, some suspect he only won because the reflection from his bald head.)
2nd Place: 'The Dark Jaguar' (Who may be Erik Stevens in disguise. A nighttime assassin, he appears from nowhere during a fightusually with the aid of a conveniently placed piece of hanging black fabric but shhhh.)
3rd Place: Laura, Lady Nightshade (Rumor has it she threw her fight to get third place, but everybody who knows Laura knows she'd never do that... right?)
Crowd Favorite: 'The Acolyte' (A young man of roughly the same height and build as Benedict Artemaeus, the crowd really responded to how nervous, yet trying to be brave, he looked.)
Ser John 'the Anointed John' Pembroke of Tantervale
...who trained for this every day and is a professional Tourneyman, and whose win for Tantervale really lifted the spirit of the game to a high note, so how can we be bitter, really.
(Note to 1st placers in other events: this means he beat you in your event.)
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If we can find somewhere to perch while we drink, I'd be happy to guide you through its pages. [That may have come out sounding more flirtatious than he intended. He can't help being excited to share his transcription process and overall just discuss magic with someone.]
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The flirtatious tone? Doesn't hurt at all.
Alright. Perching, then. Loki looks around for a moment before he spots a low but well-supported rooftop to a vendor nearby. ] What about there? [ Pointing. ]
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[He looks to see where Loki has pointed out to sit and his eyebrows shoot up.]
Are we allowed to sit up there? [it's sort of a scandalized whisper that he uses to ask, but he's not opposed. The spot's out of the way and has a good vantage point, plus then he doesn't have to be concerned with anyone else being nosy about his book.]
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[ Loki takes a sip of his spiced wine, nods, and then starts off towards the booth before turning on his heel, walking back to Allumin, and looping his arm through his. ]
Come on. Mindflayers sound utterly horrid, also. Nothing with the word 'flayer' in its name has any business in your brain.
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Oh, I don't know - some people are into that. Tall imposing figures with a mass of tentacles for mouths. There's quite a lot of erotic fiction back home about it even.
/applies icon keywords directly to this cr, now I need to make a cr chart huh
[ Anyway. They've reached the stall pointed out and Loki lets go in favor of clambering up to the slightly slanted rooftop and then extending one rather lanky arm towards Allumin to help him up. A gentleman, or something.
This way they'll be able to see the competitions and also will be a bit sequestered from everyone else at the same time. Win-win! ]
Some people, [ Loki intones, ] are into just about anything. A blessing, really.
elmofire.gif
A partner who knows exactly what you want and how you want it without you having to say a word out loud is also a pretty exciting thought - the sensuality of being so perceived by something in ways you can't even perceive yourself. I think there's about a 50/50 split between which is the more appealing factor for the people who read it.
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He tilts his head in Allumin's direction once they're sitting. ]
It sounds like you've considered this before. [ Teasing but also curious about it. ] Tentacles and deep perception eh?
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Yes.Allumin avoids reciprocating being perceived.]Well, the books in question were by the most prolific author in the whole of Kezdet - there's a whole series just for Mindflayers, and perhaps I have read at least one of them.
[His face is turning quite red.]
Anyway, it's fine as literature goes but they aren't even my favorite ones by the author. [Ears too.]
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Fine as literature goes, [ he repeats, smirking a little. ] You'll have to tell me about your favorite, then.
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He has a very specific favorite, he doesn't even have to consider which in the vast catalog of books is the one.]
I - wh - it's, um - [oh no he's thinking about funnel cake again, breathe Allumin, breathe. He tries to gain control of himself, clearing his throat.]
It's, well, um, hm, there's - ahem - [it's fine, be cool] some very specific leather attire, [his voice cracks a bit] and safewords. [phew, he's at least said something about it. He likes it more for another reason, but that's not worth discussing. This is enough to share.]
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[ He takes another sip of his spiced wine and raises his eyebrows at his companion. The desire to fuss with Allumin is too great and so he tucks a strand of loose hair behind his ears. ]
Your ears are very red right now. Show me your spellbook, then.
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He's ready to move on from this topic of conversation, straightening out his clothes a bit as he situates the bag attached to his waist to fetch his spellbook... And then there's the light touch of fingers brushing against his ear and his brain fully shuts off for a moment.]
Ah--! [The sound escapes him, and it carries with it so much pent up need for how soft it is before he can clap his hand over his mouth in horror that it got free. He just sits there for a moment, hand hiding his face the best he can before a little glance of his eyes eventually makes its way up to Loki.
That smile of his is dangerous.]
Yes, right, my spellbook. [trying to play it cool as he slowly lowers his hand and pulls aforementioned object from his bag.]
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It's still very cute though, the blushing, the covering of his face. Loki exerts quite a lot of self-control in that moment to not pry that hand away from Allumin's mouth and replace it with his own.
He opens his hands to take Allumin's spellbook from him, fingers brushing the back of Allumin's hand briefly before Loki takes to carefully running thin fingers along the cover and spine of the book now in his possession. ]
Do your people craft their own spellbooks from scratch or are they provided with a blank one to begin with? [ He hasn't even opened it and he has questions. But with that one asked, he does open the cover to the first page inside. ]
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The book is bound in blue leather with metallic paint in the tooling that's worn out a bit over time. The patterns on it are just a bit fancy, with silver stars nestled in gold scrollwork. Inside the cover, the first page has little messages in a curved, swirling script in two differing styles of penmanship that one could guess they're words of love and encouragement from his parents.]
Some do bind their own books while others prefer to commission them from an arcanist. Mine was a gift from my parents when I decided that being a wizard is what I wanted to do with my life.
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Well. One whose parents were both proud of their child. He can only presume Allumin's parents were proud, based on the way he says that. ]
How old were you then?
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The timeline is still a bit fuzzy - the space between his arrival in Thedas and meeting his family again had really been only a little over a week and what a whirlwind it was. Coming here hadn't stopped the slow remembrance of the things he'd lost in his memory, at least. A bittersweet comfort that he might not ever see them again after having just reunited, but at least his past was less empty than it was before seeing them again.]
I think... around six or seven? My mother had previously started going down the same road before she decided to be a historian instead, so I inherited all of her books and such from that time - spellbook aside. You have to take the time to transcribe the spells yourself or they don't work.
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Is it mostly a matter of being self-taught or is there a formal education involved?
[ He turns the pages with care. ]
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There are multiple pages devoted to Prestidigitation alone, because of its various effects. One page has notes with little drawings of steaming teacups, glasses with little snowflakes next to them, another with little sparks like tiny fireworks, another has a crude rendering of a hand with a little unicorn in it and some shiny lines radiating from it. All of the drawings have little notes written next to them.
Following these pages are the pages to another spell that has a lot of drawings of hands with trailing auras grabbing books off of tall shelves, a tiny round-faced Allumin below unable to reach them, pulling levers, acting as an extra hand to carry things - the list goes on.]
You can do either, but the act of transcription is how you learn either way. In part it's mental, training the association of the intent into you as you develop an understanding of the glyphwork that defines the core essence of the spell. But channeling and making the intent real is a different process for everyone, so by doing this, you also learn how you, your body, needs to cast it. What symbols make sense as a conduit? What somatic movement of the hands are needed, or if the whole of your body language is required. Language is also so different and individual for so many people, that even if a person learned a spell up and down but otherwise didn't speak the language of the original incantation it wouldn't work because it's not natural to the wizard.
You tailor it to yourself. That's why you can't use someone else's book. You could certainly copy from one to learn a spell, but you still have to devote the time to make it your own.
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He nods along as the other talks. A type of learning magic that is bound by understanding and language and how one puts knowledge to use. ] Each spell is then unique to the caster, [ Loki murmurs, smiling at the images he assume go along with the mage's hand spell. ]
Magic here is different, by my understanding. Spirits can be bound to tomes but they are not the same as this. [ There is knowing a thing, in the body, and there is knowing in the mind, and he's not sure they are the same here in Thedas. He continues turning the pages, curious about the spells further in, and what the drawings in the margins might tell him of them. ]
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I haven't found anything really similar here in my own research.
[Another early spell in the book is covered with drawings of a long haired ferret that's a little round ball in one image and a loooooooong body in the next. There are hearts and little magic swirls drawn around the images of the animal. Find Familiar... Allumin doesn't think that one will work here.
The deeper in Loki goes, the more consistent and elegant the penmanship and drafting becomes, and the concepts illustrated also improve. Some also deviate from the more literal images to more esoteric or metaphorical ones. One spell has a page with different kinds of masks drawn all over it around the writing, and the opposite page has a drawing of a person partway through changing their appearance.
After a certain point, a different script begins to also appear alongside the previous one in his notes, though not with as much frequency. Around this point is also when the first spells for fighting also shows up, with streaks of fire that sometimes travel from one edge of a page all the way across to the opposite one, with writing arranged around it, and figures implied to be frozen in place.]
I haven't researched much into spirits being bound, but from what I have read that seems sort of ill-advised? [Even back home, most would consider that a bad idea. Enchanted items are one thing, but binding spirits can get complicated... messy. A memory of his own image but with empty black eyes and a black tome comes to mind, and he shudders.
He is glad that book did not come with him.]
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[ The combat spells are interesting too, and Loki takes his time with these as he did for the pages before. ] Nothing about it is safe or sane, honestly.
sorry loki, he forgot about these pages
[Trying to reconcile how judgemental he sounded just now, he is fine, he's a perfectly reasonable person with good manners.]
I mean, if the Fade is where the Maker is supposed to reside - if I'm remembering right - then it's at least a bit more respectable than the usual warlock pact. Oh, but it does also have a relation to their faith, so maybe they're more like clerics... [A finger taps at his chin as he things about that, narrowing his eyes.] There are clerics affiliated with darker gods...
[Further in, there is a spread with notes that feel not right compared to the pages before. The usual art is there - more detailed now, more refined - he drew it when he was 25 after all. On one side of the spread near a far upper corner is a little piece of paper with a portal open above it. A person is stepping through and half of their body is missing from the other side, and if Loki were to look to the opposite corner on the other page, there is another piece of paper with a portal and the rest of the person emerging through it.
There are notes in the swirling script, in the more harsh looking second one, but also a third kind of lettering appears on this page. The letters appear sort of between the two styles, but also not quite - there is no fluidity in the lines, they are harsh, perfectly straight, perfect angles, perfect parallels, with perfect circles here and there along its letters. It is too perfect. It is unnaturally so.
The bottom of the pages are splattered with black ink, and perhaps if one observed hard enough you could tell that one of the stains has indents and spacing in the paper that imply fingers, desperate to dig and pull closer something just almost out of reach.]
welp now he's very curious but he's also just gonna /whistles and keeps going
[ It's easier, he thinks, when magic is just magic and practitioners are not separated into types or abilities, but then again he comes from a very small monoculture. He believes a lot of things are easier when they're simplistic and done the same way by everyone involved.
He notices the impossibly straight lines of the text first. Then the little drawing of the person traveling... through a black hole, perhaps, or into a place of darkness, and then he notices the ink marks at the bottom of the page.
Staring at it for a moment he memorizes what he can of the way the page is laid out before he turns the page to find a different spell (and vibe) entirely. Something about setting an alarm should a person cross a space, if Loki is interpreting the drawings correctly. On the page after that, something about locks. Shiny, magical appearing locks of all shapes and sizes on any number of items. ]
How many of these are inacessible to you now?
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A wizard's source of magic is internal. For people who are born without magic though, a warlock pact is a small price to pay for power.
[Conveniently, Allumin is looking off into the distance, watching the games underway as he enjoys the spiced wine when Loki happens to pass the particularly unique spread in his spellbook. When he does happen to glance over, the pages have already moved on to more harmless spells.]
Without a staff, most of them - even with one, I'm still trying to get the hang of the more difficult ones here. There's one in there to summon my familiar - you've probably already seen it - and that one I haven't had any success with but I also didn't see them when I woke up so they might not have crossed the Fade with me. [In which case, yeah... probably won't work.] I have a long distance teleportation spell but it doesn't work at all, though the one that covers less ground still seems to work.
There's one that allows me to plant a simple suggestion in someone's mind and they're inclined to follow through with it, but I haven't... had the courage to, ah, ask anyone to test it out and see. [It would sound sketchy no matter how he asked.]
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