Lord Shield's Bar.... I've no idea what number.

[Tancred]

Originally posted by Legolas: OOC: I'm afraid I'll be gone a couple of weeks to brave the chilly, cold, freezing mountains of Norway. But, I'll be sure to post when I get back [img]graemlins/wavey.gif[/img]

OOC: Waaaa! Ah, well. Have a fine time, and bag us a few fjords!

Tancred

[Tancred]

With a resigned, thoughtful air, Tancred finds a seat at a table just outside the drinking pavilions and seizes a goblet of wine. He looks at it for a while, mind mulling over things.

[Skydracgrrl]

OOC- tosses laptop into the ocean then runs after it. "no, i love you, really.." *talking to stubborn laptop which refuses to load* ah, computers.. cant live with them, cant live without 'em... *sighs*

ic- After Joram politely excused himself, Skye and Lyulfe wandered over to where Tancred and Karnas were seated. Er, the former, at least. Skye plopped herself down next to the knight, who seemed to be mulling over something troublesome. "You alright?" she asked cheerily, as she sipped at some elven mead. "Be wary, I've lost count of how many drinks she's had," Lyulfe cautioned the knight. "Oh, and some lady knight said for me to say hello to you, and hopes your health is well. She must've been a good friend, she seemed very concerned about your well being. Lyulfe didn't take to her much though," Skye rambled, sipping at her drink again here and there. Lyulfe scowled, making the closest passerby edge slowly away. "That woman made my scales itch. I could feel the fake niceness dripping off her..." he shook himself violently. "Brr! Not a pleasant feeling. Who is she?" he asked Karnas, because Tancred seemed to be going into shock.

[Tancred]

If Karnas had eyes, he would be giving the stunned cavalier a sidelong look, gauging how much of this story to let on to the young bard. To his relief, he finds he doesn't have to take the initiative.
"I... wouldn't talk to her again, Skye," murmurs Tancred, shaking himself out of his shock. "She's a menace, a troublemaker and -"
"Right behind you," interjects Karnas.
Tancred gives a small 'meep' sound as a hand lays itself on his shoulder. It is slim, well-manicured; and white-knuckled as it grips the paladin's shoulderplate. He begins to turn in his seat, but finds he does not have to turn far; a face is waiting for him, bobbing just beside his own. A heart-shaped face; framed with a mass of straight chestnut hair. Ursula de Gossard is possessed of a straight, pearly smile, an aristocratic, slightly upturned nose - and a set of piercing, brilliant green eyes that stare back into Tancred's own narrowed blue pupils.
"It IS you," she breathes. "My my, to think you've returned after so long... we all feared the worst..."
Tancred shudders as he feels her other hand come to rest upon his other shoulder. "You... you remember me, then, Ursula?"
Her smile grows wider, showing more teeth. A high, giggling laugh escapes her throat. "Of COURSE I do... we all do. Tancred de Foesmyte come back out of the wilds, out of the mists, back into the fold? Oh, how we've all worried, Tancred... You have no idea how much of a stir you've caused, disappearing into thin air all those years ago, and now... appearing here again, unnoticed by the gate watch, as if by magic..."
Her gaze flicks from Tancred's face to Skye. Her brows raise, ever so slightly; She looks the young bard up and down.
"And who... is this? I bumped into you earlier, girl, but I had no idea you were one of this great knight's close companions...?"
Tancred's eyes also move to Skye. He gives the barest of head-shakes in her direction.
It is perhaps intriguing that Karnas is, oddly, silent.

[Skydracgrrl]

Lyulfe interrupted Skye before the slightly tipsy half-elf could say anything. He huffed, a bit of smoke blowing into Ursula's face, causing her to break into a spasm of coughing. "She's my companion, who in her drunken stupor likes to talk to many strangers, whether it is for her benefit we do not know," he said wryly. He stood up, glancing at Tancred. "It was nice speaking to a knight. It isn't often that I can talk to one without being speared first," the dragon said dryly, then pulled Skye to her feet. "Come along, we must find your room at St. George's Inn," he told her, leading her away into the crowd. Luckily Skye had caught on enough to keep her mouth shut, and obediently let herself be herded away. "Maybe I'll run into you again sometime, Sir Knight," she called cheerfully over her shoulder to Tancred. Lyulfe only hoped that either Tancred or Karnas would be able to explain more indepth later...

[Tancred]

ooc: Lesson 1: How to write yourself out of a corner - write something completely unconnected with the main plot and explain that you're 'developing the story'...

IC: "In all honesty, Ursula, I'm really very busy, got to get moving, jousts await, so if you'll excuse me -"
Tancred starts to push himself out of his chair, but a sudden shove forces him back down.
"You. Sit." Ursula's voice loses it's sweet, crooning edge, becoming low and venomous. She walks around the wary knight, taking Skye's vacated seat.
The pair of knights glare at each other for a moment.
Tancred breaks the silence. "Very well... what can I do for you, de Gossard?"

***

Karnas settles himself down, ready to watch and listen to the exchange between the knights. After all, it's really nothing to do with him. The fact that it was more or less his urgings that got Tancred involved with the conspiracy to humiliate his red-haired rival barely enters his mind.
Something disturbs him. A sound, on the cusp of hearing. Somehow different than the outside world; he can hear the conversation going on in front of him, and the sounds of the joust going on in the background... but there is something sharper and clearer about this sound.
He concentrates, straining to catch it again - and there it is; a woman's sob, faint but definite.
It had been a long time since the evil mage had stopped caring about the crying of women and children, but this somehow demands attention.
Karnas no longer truly has eyes or ears, but his senses are still very much alive. He struggles to pierce the misty barrier that seperates him from the world at large; the walls of his sword-shaped prison are thick and strong, but old - and Karnas knows them too well for them to stop him entirely. He searches the world for the source of the single sob.
Slowly, he becomes aware of it. A sentient mind, almost drowned in misery and despair, thoughts given a kind of voice, coming from -
If he had a mouth, it would have opened in surprise. Karnas directs every scrutiny towards it, but finds there can be no mistake.
Ursula's sword - silver, antique, glowing - is crying.
An instinct - curiosity, pity and perhaps a certain sense of sudden kinship - takes hold of the trapped mage. Gritting his theoretical teeth, Karnas throws everything he has; every shred of willpower, every gramme of determination, every iota of personality into forcing a small part of himself outward, fighting to cover the distance between him and the silver blade. The golden walls of the sword seem to constrict around him, making every inch stretch out and out, but Karnas has had 300 years of imprisonment to toughen his will. Gradually, achingly, he meets the sentience within Ursula's sword and tries to throw words at it as best he can.
"Hello? Can you hear me?"
The sobbing does not stop.
"Hello? Mother of - This isn't easy! Can you hear me?"
Still nothing. Karnas can feel the general shape of the mind now; closed in upon itself, almost deranged. He grimly nods to himself; he remembers his own despair, trapped without escape in a glowing cage, bound to serve.
It must, he thinks, have felt like this.
He musters his strength, and tries one last time.
"HELLO?!?"
The crying does not cease; but the mind stirs. It is aware of him, trying to find him, wary but surprised out of its' despair. A contact of sorts is made; Karnas gets the impression of a face, aquiline and noble, whitehaired and darkskinned; unmistakeably Elven, but tinged with the darkness of the underworld.
A drow...?
A bewildered voice, harsh and broken by tears.
"What... who?"
The young mage smiles, faintly. "Hello... um... are you alright?"
Her self-loss receded, but her wariness grew. "You are... you are some trick of my mind! You are not real! Go away!"
"No... No! Wait!"
The mind seems to try to push him away, to retreat back within its' walls, but the drow woman is relaitvely new to her prison; still weak and distraught. Karnas reaches out, taking a hold, refusing her retreat.
"Go away!"
"NO! Listen to me!"
"Leave me alone!"
Not quite mad, but not quite sane, he thinks. She begins to lash out in his grip, trying to fight him. Karnas keeps his hold for a moment, but her distress becomes too painful for him. He backs off, slowly. A fresh wave of misery wells forth, louder than before.
Stupid woman! Karnas thinks. Annoyance starts to rise in him, but he tries to ignore it, taking metaphorical deep breaths. He shakes the head he hasn't got. Diplomacy, he reflects, is not my strong suit.
"You're new to this prison, aren't you?"
The words seem to reach some despondent part of her mind.
"New? NEW? I have been trapped here for fifty-seven years!" she wails.
Karnas nods. "It's the first hundred years or so that are the worst, aye," comes his reply.
She looks at him suddenly; directly at him, as if seeing him properly for the first time. Karnas can feel her scrutiny as she opens her eyes to him. At the last, her eyes fall upon the distant feel of the golden sword, distant but bright, and comprehension dawns.
"You... you are..."
He nods. "Yes, yes I am."
Disbelief gives way to wonder. "How... how long?"
"Three hundred and thirty five years."
She gasps and falls silent. Karnas waits; struggling to hold back his impatience. This must be done slowly, or not at all, he thinks to himself.
Gradually, he can feel her prescence stretch out itself, coming closer again. She is downcast, shamefaced.
"Who are you?" he asks at length. A measure of pride seems to return to her spirit. She raises her gaze, recovering her composure. Damn Drow women, Karnas muses. Changeable as a Wand of Wonder... and just as dangerous.
"My given name is Malesa, priestess of Lloth, male," she replies haughtily.
"Karnas Thoth." the mage extends a 'hand' - a small tendril of will, a gesture of good faith. "Mage of Thay."
She stares at him. He can feel her sudden dilemma. Accept this one salutation, and compromise one's inbred pride? Or decline it, and remain alone but with pride intact?
The decision is suddenly made for both of them.
A sudden pressure begins to drag Karnas away. He looks back - and understands why. Tancred has got up, and is moving away, carrying the sword with him. Karnas thinks about telling him to stop, but it would mean having to return to the sword first to do it - and the big lug probably wouldn't want to spend any more time around Ursula than he would want to. Muttering, the mage turns his senses to Malesa.
"My bearer is moving away," he explains. "I... I can't keep this contact up... for much longer, ma'am. I will have to say my farewell -"
A quick, frantic movement on her part surprises the mage. She grabs hold of him, keeping him with her.
"Please! Don't go!" Panic begins to show itself in her voice and face.
Karnas shakes his head. Her will is strong, but still disorientated; she does not have the power to rip him from his sword. Gradually, Karnas is pulled back.
"You... cannot stop this," he groans. The forces pulling him apart become stronger. "We... will... meet again..." Tancred and Ursula crossing swords again? Likely, the mage thinks.
Gradualy, Malesa releases her grip, letting the mage drift back to his prison. Her parting thoughts follow him; resignation at his departure, a plaintinve wish for him to come back. In a flash, Karnas catches a glimpse of her heart - layers of despair and fear covering over a hard knot of loneliness.
A moment of realisation hits him.
She doesn't know how to talk to people outside...
Understanding dawns. Karnas imagines three hundred and thirty five years, trapped at his bearer's side, voiceless and alone.
He shivers.
He watches the faint glimmer of Ursula's sword fade.
I will go back, he thinks. No sentient being deserves a fate like that.

***

"Damn the woman," mutters Tancred, viciously. "That's just about all the veiled threats I an take for one day."
"Her sword was nice," adds Karnas.
Tancred gives his sword an odd look.
"Whatever. Where did Skye say she was lodging, again?"

[Skydracgrrl]

ooc- lesson #2- make sure to use it on a woman.. she's more likely to fall for it

ic- Lyulfe paced about, or at least as best a dragon could. "They should be here by now," he said in a huff. Skye groaned, holding her head a little. "Stop moving back and forth like that, you're going to make me sick," she whined, plopping her head down on the table in front of her. Her dragon companion looked over at her. "Well it's your own fault you drank so much in the first place. You shouldn't have accepted all those drinks from those knight fellows, they can't be trusted." Skye scowled at him from the one eye that could be seen through her bangs, not bothering to lift her head from the table. "Well I didn't see you stopping me! Besides, it's rude to refuse a drink offered to you... I only took one or two from each person," she said, wincing with her attempt at speech. Lyulfe rolled his eyes, which is quite an amusing sight to see from a dragon, and blew a small cloud of smoke in the hungover bladebard's direction. "Just be glad that you recooperate from alcohol so quickly, otherwise you'd have 'friendly' male knights crawling all over you," he commented sarcastically. Luckily, before any row could break out between the two, Tancred strode in angrily, and talking to Karnas about some girl sword the mage wasn't to associate with, although Karnas didn't seem to quite see eyelevel with the knight on the issue (ooc- no pun intended ). Skye clutched her head a bit at the noise, and Lyulfe chuckled a little bit. "Never knew swords came with genders now," he grinned toothily with humour. "Now what's all this about a sword and Lady Ursuh-whatsis?"

[ 01-02-2003, 10:56 PM: Message edited by: Skydracgrrl ]

[Tancred]

In the street, one man and his sword.

***

"There is absolutely no way I am going to try and be friends with that woman."
"Oh come on!" moans Karnas. "Live and let live, man!"
"Tell HER that, not me!"
"I daresay she'd see the light if you apologised properly."
"Rubbish. You heard what she's done!"
"There's no proof it was her."
"That's what's so WORRYING!" Tancred yells, oblivious to the strange looks he is getting from traders in the main street. "If she managed to get away with the last three, what hope have I got?"
"She didn't seem like such a bad girl earlier..."
"Did you have cotton wool stuffed in your hilt?!?"
Karnas thinks for a bit. "There's always the Secret Weapon..."
"You what?"
"Something no woman could possibly resist. The old Cavalier charm."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Seriously." Karnas fights to keep any edge of hilarity out of his voice... and fails. "No fair maiden could possibly fail to be swayed by your ragged - er - RUGGED good looks."
"Shut up."
"No, hear me out! Say, one of the banquets... during a brief lull... you just walk up to her... tap her on the shoulder, and when she turns round take her in your arms and -"
"Get a dagger in the ribs. For crying out loud, Karnas!"
"Have some self-respect, man! Just grab her and kiss her! Once her initial -struggles - are over... well, I daresay everything will be forgiven between the pair of you by morning."
"Karnas, this is 100% out of the question!"
"Just think of her... those ruby lips.. that flowing hair -"
"Have you gone MAD!?! SHUT UP!"
"Huh... well, fine, be like that. Virgin."

***

"I know what it is."
Tancred grits his teeth. Only 1000 yards or so the the inn. "I'm not listening, mage."
"I've got you all figured out, now. I see where you're coming from."
"Really."
"You're sweet on the blonde elf ditz girl, aren't you?"
"... no!"
"HAH! You hesitated!"
"Only because I'm not used to dealing with evil mages THIS insane, Karnas."
"I know you. You've always had this thing for delicate, vulnerable blondes!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, la la la..."
"And, oh, is it any coincidence we're going to an inn?"
"What? HUH?"
"Oh, I can see it coming now! It's the old 'someone wants me dead - can I stay with you tonight' routine, isn't it? You sly fox!"
"... I have absolutely no intention -"
"Liar!"
"SHUT UP!"
"Come on! You can admit it to me! I'm your friend, boy!"
"I need your advice like I need a crossbow bolt through the head."
"I remember it all now... you leaping to rescue her from drowning back during the Dragon Quests... You've had your eye on her from day one, haven't you?"
"I categorically state that there is no truth in that at all..."
"I wonder... and I wonder if she harbours any feelings for you...?"
Tancred is, at least for a moment, lost for words. Karnas smells blood and moves in.
"Longing for your strong, manly embrace to hold her through those cold nights spent sleeping by a fire in the night air... playing silly with other Paladins to try and get your attention - remember? Weeping for you in secret when you disapeared... hanging around and staying by you even when the rest of the Bar Folk go their own ways -"
"SHUT UP! No more, Karnas!"
"I'll bet good money she wants you, man!"
100 yards. Not far now. "Even so."
"EVEN SO? Are you just going to let her pine away for you? No real man could do such a thing, surely? A hot chick like that? Sure, she's a bit... blonde, but even a slap across the face might be worth the effort..."
"You're a good sword... but a lousy matchmaker."

***

Walking up the inn stairs, still deep in 'debate'...

"Anyway, I know what this is about."
"I'm just trying to help -"
"Don't try that 'innocent little sword' routine either. You're just trying to get around me so I'll feel indebted and then I'll help you with your problem. Well, it's not going to work."
Karnas sighs. "You don't have to go near her! You could STEAL her sword! You could get someone else to do it! Anything!"
Tancred counters testily. "Mmm, nice plan - except for one little problem?"
Karnas pauses. "Which is?"
"This little thing called the CODE OF CHIVALRY, you numbpommeled - er..." The irate paladin cools as he realises where he is.
"Um... sorry," he says to the bard and dragon watching him. "I... I'll come in again."

ooc: And they wonder why Tancred thinks of himself as being under a curse...

[Skydracgrrl]

ooc- [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] good thing Skye and Lyulfe didn't hear about the earlier topic of discussion.. Skye would've been embarrassed and it would have put evil ideas into Lyulfe's mind. You know how sidekicks are.. [img]graemlins/evillaughter2.gif[/img]

ic- Once Tancred and Karnas made their re-entry Skye stood up, still clutching her head, and moved towards the door. "And where do you think you're going?" Lyulfe asked, a scaly draconic eyebrow raised quizzically. "I'm going to get more alcohol," Skye muttered. "They don't have any good coffee around here, so the next best way to deal with a hangover is to make sure I don't get one. Lyulfe made a chuffling sound, which seemed to be choked back laughter. "And here I thought you wanted to talk to your knight friend... but if you'd rather hang out with those other inexperienced men waving swords about in a drunken stupor, don't let me stop you," the dragon said with a mocking smirk. Skye humphed, glancing at Tancred, then stalked out of the room. Lyulfe looked at the pair and shrugged, leaning back on his haunches. "So, what is this about rescuing a damsel of sorts?" he asked, eyeing Karnas with amusement.

ooc- Funny thing with dragons... can never tell if their talking in coincidence or if they really are mind readers...

ic-
Outside...
Skye wandered towards the outdoor bar set in the middle of a nearby field. She grinned and waved back wearily to a bunch of knights who had contributed to her amount of drinks earlier. She plopped herself down on a stool to herself, and called the barkeep over. "Oi, 'nother elven mead please," she asked with a wince. "Eh, they weren't joking about elves recovery time with alcohol were they? Alright, another coming up lass," the man said with a shake of his head in amusement and disbelief. After downing a couple, Skye's ear twitched, overhearing a conversation between a rather young knight and an inexperienced looking girl. 'An assassin,' she decided. 'New at the job too, I wouldn't wonder,'

"Now, joost make suhe too get too 'im all coseh liake. Then when yoo'eh bisseh distractin 'im, slip this inta 'is drink, then make suhe to get the nine 'ells outta thehe," the knight said to the wide eyed girl, who nodded dumbly. "B-but, how am I supposed to get him interested in me? I'm just... just..." the girl blushed. "Just a girl..." The knight laughed scornfully. " 'e's a kniat foh god's sake. A paladin, at that. They'eh olways rescuin' damsels in distress. 'ere, how's about I act liake I'm droonk and try ta mess with yoo when 'e 'appens to be walkin' by. That'll get 'is 'onoueh riled up, to be suhe." he winked devilishly at the girl, and the hairs on the back of Skye's neck rose up with a chill.

Downing the fifth drink, Skye made herself stumble over to the girl and knight, and clung to the knight's shoulders. She said to him breathily"I couldn't but help overhear your conversation. Surely I could be of better service than this.." she mustered up a scornful scowl at the girl, who shrunk back. "this girl. I have alot more experience, plus I prolly have more appeal," she added, primping her hair and giving her most charming smiles. The knight looked her over appreciatively. "Yoo'eh most liakely rot thehe, dearie." he waved his arm dismissively at the girl. "Coonsideh yoorse'f no loongeh buhdened. Now begone with ye!" The girl disappeared into the crowd, without so much as a second glance. The knight looked at Skye and gave her his most disarming smile. "Now, lets go set oop tha ploy, shall we?" She grimaced inwardly. 'I can feel the sugar oozing from his words, the faker.' Skye smiled at him stupidly. "Of course."

*~~~~~~~~later~~~~~~~~*

"So, who exactly are we looking for?" she asked the knight, scanning the crowd. He had taken them to an indescrete alley, where they wouldn't be seen until their 'plan' was to be executed when the person showed up. "Soome 'onourous, uptiat paladin called Tancred," he said offhandedly. Skye disguised her surprise and asked innocently, "What'd he do? Kill one of your relatives in a duel?" The knight laughed. "Fah froom it, dearie. Let's joost say I'm doin it foh a... female froind," he winked jovially. Skye's eyebrow raised slightly, and she went back to scanning the crowd. She bet that the knight had never even seen Tancred before, so she pointed excitedly at a random knight. "Ooh, ooh, there he is! Now what?" The words were barely out of her mouth when she was grabbed roughly from behind. Spinning her about quickly, the lecherous knight attempted to force her to kiss him. Frozen with shock and surprise, Skye recovered quickly. Squeezing her eyes shut tightly, she stuck her arms out in an attempt to push him away, and turning her head away she shouted "No! Get back you! I don't go for guys with strange accents!!" Peeking forward at him, she realised in her flurry of motion she had hit him squarely in the nose, and had knocked him out. Looking down at her shirt she grimaced, noticing she had some blood on it from his nose. Grabbing the pouch of powder that was to "deal with" Tancred, she left the knight in a collapsed heap.

She ran up the inn stairs two at a time and burst into the room she and Lyulfe were sharing. Tancred, Karnas, and Lyulfe all started with surprise, having been in what seemed an indepth conversation. Her dragon counterpart's eyes narrowed at the sight of the blood stains on her shirt but before he could say anything she broke in. "Tancred, someone's trying to get rid of you with..." reaching for the pouch, she collapsed to the floor, conked out. Lyulfe coughed. "It seems she had one too many drinks to handle all the excitement," he commented dryly, staring down at the unconscious half-elf.

ooc- lesson #3- use lots of different colours, its fun and it confuses others. also use strange accents on odd characters..

[ 01-02-2003, 10:58 PM: Message edited by: Skydracgrrl ]

[Legolas]

OOC: Lesson #4- bring a big bag to bag big fjords
IC:

Almost as soon as Tancred's girl left, Joram returned to his own pavillion. It was not difficult to find, as amidst all the bright colours vying for attention, only his stood out. It looked almost out of place with its plain grey and blue, the colours of undyed wool and frozen lakes, the colours of his house. They were taken directly from his banner, the same light blue snowcrystal on the same papellone grey background. A crescent had been embroidered to hoover just above the crystal, marking Joram as the second son of Lord Snowdale.

Joram glanced at the suit of armour at the far wall.
Originally he had planned to enter the contest himself to win honour, and a not unsignificant amount of coin. His wasn't exactly the wealthiest family around.
Tancred's arrival had made him change his plans.
Filling a goblet with wine, he walked back to the entrance to take in the sights.
This was not his first tourney, but every time he was awed by the sheer size of the event. Seeing his old friend again made him realise he didn't really stand a chance at winning anything. The joust here in H'Azelle was the biggest on the entire plane, and people came from all over to compete.
Foesmythe had a much better at winning than he did, and there were several avantages to serving as his squire.
For one thing, he didn't look forward to the bruising most knights would get, nor the busy schedule, the enmities forged, and the risk of severe injuries.
But for his father, who had seen real wars and thought his sons would need all the preparation they could get, he would have become a poet.

As Joram finished his wine and turned to walk to his sleeping pallet, he thought he could see a shadow moving through the tent. Closer inspection revealed nothing, which didn't help calm his nerves the slightest.

With the blanket over his head, it took a long time before sleep took him.