Lor Angur, 14.Bras 72
"To the provinces of all places!" she hissed quietly after she had left Cartaphilus' room and closed the door. It was that time again, he had informed her that another change of location was imminent and, as always, asked her to travel ahead to prepare for his arrival.
As she walked through the city, numerous mage towers rising above its rooftops, each more majestic than the last, Asphyxine sighed. She had enjoyed her time in Lor Angur. Unlike previous places she had lived with Cartaphilus, this city was large and well kept. Fortified streets wherever you went, lofty buildings, squares, parks and numerous libraries that gave you an insight into the accumulated knowledge of the arcane and related sciences. Asphyxine learned early on that knowledge meant not only power but also wealth. No other place could express this better than Lor Angur. And now Cartaphilus wanted to leave. Asphyxine knew he had his reasons, and if he didn't tell her, she wouldn't ask him. After all the years they had spent traveling the lands, they had adapted well to each other. Cartaphilus the scholar could certainly be described as a genius when it came to knowledge in his field, but he was often so engrossed in science that he had little interest in his surroundings. With her skills, Asphyxine acted as a bridge, so to speak, between his science and the world around him. In short, she took care of him.
She went to the inn, packed up her few things, paid the landlord generously and set off.
Runewick, 16th Eldas 72
After a long journey, partly on foot, on carriages and on boats, she finally reached the provincial town called Runewick. The first thing she did was to find suitable accommodation for Cartaphilus.
The shared accommodation above the tavern which, according to the landlady in Runewick, was used as a guest room, was completely unsuitable and also not appropriate for Cartaphilus.
Fortunately, she was able to make the acquaintance of Master Caswir, who claimed to be the head of the Mages' Guild and the leader of the town. A very pleasant acquaintance because Caswir was kind enough to offer his arriving colleague temporary accommodation in his large house.
She was shocked to see that there were cows running wild around the house, even one inside. Oh those provincials, how much she missed Lor Angur already.
Later she explored the town, a human named Malchus took care of her and explained the places to her. On this occasion, she evaluated some buildings that would be suitable for Master Cartaphilus and her. On the same day, she sent a pigeon with a message to Lor Angur.
The journey goes on
Moderator: Gamemasters
Re: The journey goes on
It has now been over 6 weeks since she sent the master a message via pigeon that she had arrived at the agreed location. Since then she had hardly met anyone in Runewick who cared about the values Runewick obviously stood for. There were people claiming to run the town, but they seemed weak and listless.
“All the better,” she thought to herself at the thought and looked forward to the arrival of Cartaphilus, which would not be long in coming.
She also found a deserted place near one of the other towns that seemed quite suitable for her purposes. She was already looking forward to showing the master this place. Smiling contentedly, she took a sip of wine, leaned back in her chair and looked out over the bridge from the balcony of the tavern and waited.
“All the better,” she thought to herself at the thought and looked forward to the arrival of Cartaphilus, which would not be long in coming.
She also found a deserted place near one of the other towns that seemed quite suitable for her purposes. She was already looking forward to showing the master this place. Smiling contentedly, she took a sip of wine, leaned back in her chair and looked out over the bridge from the balcony of the tavern and waited.
Re: The journey goes on
With a smile on her lips, she packs away the small parchment, which had been sent to her by a carrier pigeon shortly before.
"At this rate of travel, he'll be here in about 14 days," she thinks to herself. When he was still young, he often couldn't move fast enough, but now that he has reached old human age, with all the experience a human can gain in a lifetime, he still makes the most of the time so that nothing escapes his senses. He still won’t stop to learn.
In the meantime, Asphyxine had explored Runewick, the surrounding lands and parts of the other towns. Runewick was undoubtedly the best place for the seemingly disparate couple's ventures. But she had also made interesting discoveries in the other towns. She knew that Cartaphilus would be delighted. This country offered them a lot of potential.
The cities themselves, not excluding Runewick, were still somewhat strange and suspicious to her. As soon as Cartaphilus arrived, it would be time to clarify things.
"At this rate of travel, he'll be here in about 14 days," she thinks to herself. When he was still young, he often couldn't move fast enough, but now that he has reached old human age, with all the experience a human can gain in a lifetime, he still makes the most of the time so that nothing escapes his senses. He still won’t stop to learn.
In the meantime, Asphyxine had explored Runewick, the surrounding lands and parts of the other towns. Runewick was undoubtedly the best place for the seemingly disparate couple's ventures. But she had also made interesting discoveries in the other towns. She knew that Cartaphilus would be delighted. This country offered them a lot of potential.
The cities themselves, not excluding Runewick, were still somewhat strange and suspicious to her. As soon as Cartaphilus arrived, it would be time to clarify things.
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Cartaphilus
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon May 13, 2024 5:45 pm
Re: The journey goes on
A knock on the door announced the captain's visit before he hesitantly opened the door. He entered, and with him rays of sunlight which cast a rare glimmer of light into the otherwise dark cabin. Cartaphilus, the old man who occupied it, had ensconced himself on his bunk with a book, having spent most of the voyage immersed in its study. He was an odd passenger, on this all the crew was in agreement. A sorcerer from Lor-Angur, or so they surmised, who intended to disembark in Runewick and until then wished to not be disturbed. The cabin served this purpose well, offering him refuge from the merciless sun and noisy mariners on deck. It was pleasantly quiet, so much so that the captain could hear his rocking ship creak and moan with every wave. In the dim, flickering light of the cabin's oil lamp he caught a glimpse of the old man's tome: It looked even more ancient than its owner and was written in a script illegible to the captain.
"I have compensated you handsomely for this cabin and the promise of privacy. This also includes you, captain," Cartaphilus reminded sternly as he closed the leather-bound tome on his lap as if to ward off the captain's curiosity.
"I trust you made sure that your crew won't pry into my possessions a second time," he added and put the tome aside.
It was an embarrassing and strange incident for the captain: His passenger's stipulation for strict privacy had made his crew all the more curious, of course. Boredom and grog got one night the better off them, and a sailor was dared by the others to sneak in and look into the book which the old man was so secretive about. But opening it had revealed nothing but eerily glowing, indecipherable runes to the sailor, waking the book's owner and frightening the trespasser away. By morning, the snooping sailor was found gravely ill, fevered and shivering in his hammock. Fortunately, his strange malady proved non-contagious, but refused to wane, and suspicion arose among his fellow crewmates that the sorcerer's book had struck him with a curse. Of course, they had no way to prove it, and the captain preferred to altogether avoid the topic of his failing to uphold his bargain.
"Yes, I know. Worry not, those fools who disturbed you had their grog rations cut and are scrubbing the deck since. Well, all except for the sick one who is still quarantined in the brig. Nobody will dare to repeat their offence," the captain assured and glanced over to the tome, knowing well that it wasn't his punishment, but fearful superstition of the sorcerer's alleged curse which caused his crew to give Cartaphilus's cabin a wide berth.
"Not that they'd have any opportunity to; winds have been favourable and we should land in Runewick this evening," the captain added and offered his passenger a weary smile, quietly glad to be rid of him soon. "The letter which you sent before we left the harbour should've arrived long since."
As if to confirm the captain's tidings, yells of "Land, ho!" echoed down from above deck.
"Excellent. As for your sickened crewman, I hope he will recuperate soon. Sufficient bed rest should see a stout man like him through it, I reckon."
Cartaphilus's tone remained cold, but his hopes for the sailor's recovery sounded like an assurance to the captain, who sighed with relief. Cartaphilus rose from his bunk and put the ominous book into a wooden chest, which he carefully locked.
"My baggage must be hauled ashore and to the local inn, where I shall be lodged for the night. When you are there, inquire of the innkeeper about an elfess named Asphyxine, with whom I wish to rendezvous there," the sorcerer ordered and placed a jingling purse atop the closed chest. "This coin should adequately compensate you and your men for arranging it."
The ship had anchored as foretold by its captain in the evening, men and cargo were leaving the vessel down its gangway in a single file. With his head held high and a scrutinizing look, Cartaphilus stood on the deck and surveyed the town which he was soon to call home, pulling his hat's wide brim down to shield his eyes against the setting sun. A gaggle of curious halflings had gathered at the port below, accompanied by some few cows who lazily chewed the grass off the ground.
"I have heard that Runewick is provincial, still I imagined the realm of the famed Elvaine Morgan to be more developed than this," Cartaphilus remarked and motioned with his staff to the lighthouse, the largest and only building made of stone in his sight. "This must be the academy of magic, then?"
"Oh no, no, this is just Yewdale. Runewick proper and the academy lie beyond Lunord Bridge, right there," the captain corrected and pointed eastward. "Speaking of which, I met the innkeeper, who confirmed that your Asphyxine lodges at her inn. Your belongings already wait for you there."
The sorcerer gave the captain an approving nod and a rare smile. Having bid him farewell, Cartaphilus descended the gangway and made his way to Lunord Bridge, passing by the halfings without so much as looking at them.
"I have compensated you handsomely for this cabin and the promise of privacy. This also includes you, captain," Cartaphilus reminded sternly as he closed the leather-bound tome on his lap as if to ward off the captain's curiosity.
"I trust you made sure that your crew won't pry into my possessions a second time," he added and put the tome aside.
It was an embarrassing and strange incident for the captain: His passenger's stipulation for strict privacy had made his crew all the more curious, of course. Boredom and grog got one night the better off them, and a sailor was dared by the others to sneak in and look into the book which the old man was so secretive about. But opening it had revealed nothing but eerily glowing, indecipherable runes to the sailor, waking the book's owner and frightening the trespasser away. By morning, the snooping sailor was found gravely ill, fevered and shivering in his hammock. Fortunately, his strange malady proved non-contagious, but refused to wane, and suspicion arose among his fellow crewmates that the sorcerer's book had struck him with a curse. Of course, they had no way to prove it, and the captain preferred to altogether avoid the topic of his failing to uphold his bargain.
"Yes, I know. Worry not, those fools who disturbed you had their grog rations cut and are scrubbing the deck since. Well, all except for the sick one who is still quarantined in the brig. Nobody will dare to repeat their offence," the captain assured and glanced over to the tome, knowing well that it wasn't his punishment, but fearful superstition of the sorcerer's alleged curse which caused his crew to give Cartaphilus's cabin a wide berth.
"Not that they'd have any opportunity to; winds have been favourable and we should land in Runewick this evening," the captain added and offered his passenger a weary smile, quietly glad to be rid of him soon. "The letter which you sent before we left the harbour should've arrived long since."
As if to confirm the captain's tidings, yells of "Land, ho!" echoed down from above deck.
"Excellent. As for your sickened crewman, I hope he will recuperate soon. Sufficient bed rest should see a stout man like him through it, I reckon."
Cartaphilus's tone remained cold, but his hopes for the sailor's recovery sounded like an assurance to the captain, who sighed with relief. Cartaphilus rose from his bunk and put the ominous book into a wooden chest, which he carefully locked.
"My baggage must be hauled ashore and to the local inn, where I shall be lodged for the night. When you are there, inquire of the innkeeper about an elfess named Asphyxine, with whom I wish to rendezvous there," the sorcerer ordered and placed a jingling purse atop the closed chest. "This coin should adequately compensate you and your men for arranging it."
The ship had anchored as foretold by its captain in the evening, men and cargo were leaving the vessel down its gangway in a single file. With his head held high and a scrutinizing look, Cartaphilus stood on the deck and surveyed the town which he was soon to call home, pulling his hat's wide brim down to shield his eyes against the setting sun. A gaggle of curious halflings had gathered at the port below, accompanied by some few cows who lazily chewed the grass off the ground.
"I have heard that Runewick is provincial, still I imagined the realm of the famed Elvaine Morgan to be more developed than this," Cartaphilus remarked and motioned with his staff to the lighthouse, the largest and only building made of stone in his sight. "This must be the academy of magic, then?"
"Oh no, no, this is just Yewdale. Runewick proper and the academy lie beyond Lunord Bridge, right there," the captain corrected and pointed eastward. "Speaking of which, I met the innkeeper, who confirmed that your Asphyxine lodges at her inn. Your belongings already wait for you there."
The sorcerer gave the captain an approving nod and a rare smile. Having bid him farewell, Cartaphilus descended the gangway and made his way to Lunord Bridge, passing by the halfings without so much as looking at them.
Re: The journey goes on
Rose placed a newly filled glass of wine next to Asphyxine. The elfess looked up and smiled gratefully at her. By now she had taken the halfling lady to her heart, and it seemed to be the other way around as well, because Rose seemed sad when Asphyxine told her that she was moving out of the guest room because she had moved into an apartment with Cartaphilus.
Rose often sat with her and told her a lot about Runewick and its people, she had already experienced a lot in the tavern she ran.
Asphyxine realized a lot about the encounters in the other towns as well as in Runewick.
She was very disappointed by the council member Caswir, who had once conceded that Cartaphilus could live in his large house for the time being, and that he ran a mages' guild that she could become a member of. Since then, Caswir has not been in touch and his house is locked.
She found the other council member, Aswe, who made a public appeal to mages, even stranger. For Cartaphilus and Asphyxine, as new citizens, this was a welcome opportunity to get to know and work with local mages.
But even the response to them was strange, as the date and meeting place were vague, and so Asphyxine was not too surprised that they did not meet this Aswe.
Instead, Cartaphilus and she found Aswe together with a roommate in her apartment. Aswe pretended to have been at the meeting place, but the rather homely appearance of the two and the stuffy air showed that no window, let alone a door, had been opened in this apartment for some time.
Eventually Aswe took them to a place where she had buried Elrick's staff. Cartaphilus and Asphyxine were subsequently very disturbed, not only by the state of the staff, but also by the dilentant behavior of the people in this city of science. Also Aswe's response to their request for an apartment was not clear but evasive.
Cartaphilus and Asphyxine then contacted the archmage because of these events. The conversation was friendly but superficial. It was clear to Asphyxine that the archmage was protective of his council members towards newcomers, but he did not tolerate a mage like Cartaphilus living in the mage's hut with Galmair and Asphyxine in the guest house with Rose. So he quickly assigned them a suitable apartment.
Asphyxine wondered how to proceed with the investigation of the Erlick's rod. They had suggested to Aswe that they conduct an investigation ritual first, preferably with other local mages. However, a request for cooperation was declined, and also Aswe had not been heard from since. "I guess we'll have to take matters into our own hands," she thought to herself.
While she was making notes of the last conversation with Cartaphilus, she had already emptied the glass of wine again, and Rose came running up with a broad smile and a new glass of wine. "It's going to be another night in the guest room tonight," Asphyxine called out to her and laughed.
Rose often sat with her and told her a lot about Runewick and its people, she had already experienced a lot in the tavern she ran.
Asphyxine realized a lot about the encounters in the other towns as well as in Runewick.
She was very disappointed by the council member Caswir, who had once conceded that Cartaphilus could live in his large house for the time being, and that he ran a mages' guild that she could become a member of. Since then, Caswir has not been in touch and his house is locked.
She found the other council member, Aswe, who made a public appeal to mages, even stranger. For Cartaphilus and Asphyxine, as new citizens, this was a welcome opportunity to get to know and work with local mages.
But even the response to them was strange, as the date and meeting place were vague, and so Asphyxine was not too surprised that they did not meet this Aswe.
Instead, Cartaphilus and she found Aswe together with a roommate in her apartment. Aswe pretended to have been at the meeting place, but the rather homely appearance of the two and the stuffy air showed that no window, let alone a door, had been opened in this apartment for some time.
Eventually Aswe took them to a place where she had buried Elrick's staff. Cartaphilus and Asphyxine were subsequently very disturbed, not only by the state of the staff, but also by the dilentant behavior of the people in this city of science. Also Aswe's response to their request for an apartment was not clear but evasive.
Cartaphilus and Asphyxine then contacted the archmage because of these events. The conversation was friendly but superficial. It was clear to Asphyxine that the archmage was protective of his council members towards newcomers, but he did not tolerate a mage like Cartaphilus living in the mage's hut with Galmair and Asphyxine in the guest house with Rose. So he quickly assigned them a suitable apartment.
Asphyxine wondered how to proceed with the investigation of the Erlick's rod. They had suggested to Aswe that they conduct an investigation ritual first, preferably with other local mages. However, a request for cooperation was declined, and also Aswe had not been heard from since. "I guess we'll have to take matters into our own hands," she thought to herself.
While she was making notes of the last conversation with Cartaphilus, she had already emptied the glass of wine again, and Rose came running up with a broad smile and a new glass of wine. "It's going to be another night in the guest room tonight," Asphyxine called out to her and laughed.