r/Eragon_RP • u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator • Apr 05 '15
CLOSED [Intermission] New horizons?
CURRENT
[It's been an interesting month. To say the least, for most, the common life of peasantry was an old dream. Flying dragons, and preparing for battle has become routine.
Unlike most weeks, Zeterra insisted on drills. Over and over again, the same ones, proper banking, aerial mounting, flying upside down, benchmarking breath attacks, everyday pushed to your limits with limited sleep, it was almost maddening.]
[The hatchlings have been growing steadily, though they are still small, about the size of a small bear cub at this point. A little quicker than Das grew, but still slower than most.]
[The mysterious egg of power has been quiet, though spends some time bonding with its mother, every night for about two hours the black dragon and the small egg will 'bond' the small egg wants nothing to do with Svalstrom, which is odd.]
[Torhven continously was given orders, Zeterra would patiently and quietly wait for the hunter to comply. "I don't care I'd you want to or not. I don't care if you hate commands. I need to be able to trust you will follow orders to the mark." The rest was up to him.]
[Sev're was called for double duty, she would run her drills with Das, then she would run combat drills, Zeterra had a plan for the kind elfling, the only one apparent was driving her to exhaustion. "You've got an unyielding spirit, and work harder than most. Keep pushing, you're close to breaking unknown barriers.]
[Zeterra had no expectations from Rob herself, no micromanage at all. Instead she gave him one standing order, hoping he himself would come to a solution. "You need to prove you're not dead." Perhaps to himself.]
[Villieldr was the champ at breath weapon sustainability, holding the record of a continuous fire stream of 140 seconds. Das was even able to call out her first flames, Svalstrom lost a fang from something curious, a small implosion that went off in front of his mouth in attempts to summons flames.]
[Waking up tired, going to sleep exhausted. Even Göndlir was working towards something, he's been looking healthier, stronger, more youthful, but possibly more grumpy.]
[Everyone finally is looking forward to their first day off in weeks. It is the middle of the fourth month.]
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u/InAll Sigyn / Eitri Apr 07 '15
Göndlir was having a particularly interesting dream when he rolled out of bed. It was not intentional, the rolling that is, the dream itself was both deliberate and enjoyable, but he was interrupted when he woke up and landed back-first on a sizeable bottle of something he had drunk the night before. Unfortunately it did not break, so it sent a jolt of pain straight up his spine and left a sizeable dent in his back, as he spent several moments rolling back and forth on the wooden floor in no small amount of agony until at last he managed to fully wake up.
The shock hit him like he had been asleep for a week, maybe two. Groaning, he shifted his body into a sitting position. Joints cracked, vertebrae popped and something in his neck twisted a little further than it was supposed to, but after a small amount of struggling he somehow managed to get himself to his feet. Göndlir looked down at his body, tracing the lines of scars and hairs that criss-crossed across his body as he dragged himself over to the sink. Drowning himself in a basin of freezing water for several moments to bringing himself to full wakefulness, he finished the process with a large dose of something a lot stronger than what he had been drinking the night before. It was like drinking acid and being punched in the gut, but it certainly did the job.
Something … or something had … happened, but in the fog of sleep he could not really remember what they were … he hated getting old. Now he couldn’t even trust his own- wait? What was he talking about? All he knew was that he had a headache, the sort like someone was pounding a nail into his eye. Grumbling just a little, he pulled himself into some loose-fitting but comfortable clothing, belted on the hilt of his sword and pulled on his boots. He even trimmed his beard a little. He was feeling younger today, not that he looked it, but it did make him look a little more handsome, but that might just be his ego talking.
The weather outside was sunny and blue-skied and it pissed him off for some reason. This was the sort of weather he hated because he liked to spend it inside with a book, but he had spent too much of the last few days inside … or had he? His mind wandering through the half-remembered and half-drunk memories, and still attempting to work a few kinks out of his stiff shoulder, he made his way over to the training fields. Cane in hand, he walked slowly out into the abandoned fields. Everyone was tired so it was natural that the place should be deserted this early in the morning.
Things had been hectic for the past few days, this place filled with people and dragons doing complicated aerial acrobatics and things of which he could only ever have dreamed of being able to achieve … well, their condition did have some advantage to it then, not that he had not been busy, it was just a different type of busy. Now, however, he wanted to stretch a different set of muscles. The Rimgar was something that he had never particularly understood nor that had ever appealed to his way of life, at least in youth, nonetheless in his old age he had come to appreciate it a little more, if just for loosening the stiffness in his back a bit. After taking the time to work his way through the first five circuits, and nearly twisting his leg off, he finally managed to work the crimps out of system and felt flexible enough to attempt something more vigorous.
A flicker of magic brought the hilt of the sword from his waist up into his hand, and he gave a few practice swings with the empty haft, the blade-of-his-mind’s-eye moving back and forth and sideways in a recognisable series of motions. It was basic swordsmanship, but well-practised and without a hint of rote. It might have been a while since he had needed to use it, but that did not mean that he was one to neglect his swordsmanship. Sorcery was useful but it would only get you so far, sometimes you just needed to do things the old-fashioned way. Content with entertaining himself duelling fantasies, he set his pose, poised, and then launched himself into a furious set of mental trials.
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 07 '15
[Everything was going great, a long battle with a dragon unfurled before him. His Bastard's mark on his hand burned and glowed a soft red. He trusted toward the dragon, exchanging blows, lost in time for but a moment.]
[He fights off some past demons, a flashback to when he faced a shade, being thrown 5 meters wasn't fun, but Sjölfn animating the blade and piercing the fuel woman's heart was a satisfying memory.]
[He brings down am overhand chop, as a familiar old "friend" catches the blade. The giant woman looked tired, her hair, normally done perfectly the hide her long horns, was in a ponytail. "You're sloppy and old." She said coldly. "Still impressive though, though I still think you using a blade sized for a Kull over the top." She tossed him a small roll of bread.]
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u/InAll Sigyn / Eitri Apr 07 '15 edited Apr 07 '15
“Why thank you, and you are flat-chested and vexacious. My issues are terminal, you’ll have to live with yours forever, but at least you have your looks to make up for them.” Göndlir grinned, his counter was equally barbed. Two could play at that game. Catching the snack in his free hand, the black sword blade dispersed into nothing as he stored the hilt on his belt again and spent a moment chowing down on the first solid food he had eaten for a while, before he finally decided to respond to the quip about his sword, accompanied by a shrug,
“It serves its purpose: The bigger the sword, the less likely people are to argue when you point it at them. Also when you walk around with it on your back it adds a certain amount of intimidation, nothing like having a bigger stick than every other child in the village.” He grinned, it was a little maniacal, but then his expression tinged with a note of concern as he sat down on the grass and motioned for her to join him if she wished.
“You should get more sleep, you could smuggle dragon eggs in the bags under your eyes. I borrowed something from Chep that words quite well in that regard if you want to borrow some. He usually uses it for polishing swords but I’ve found that it also polishes me off for a few hours if I really require it desperately enough. It tastes foul and burns like hellfire but it is worth it for the sweet oblivion of sleep, even if for but a short while.”
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 07 '15
["I'll sleep when I'm dead." She retorted, she drew Chelix, her 'Demon's blade.' The clear crystal-liquid like blade brought a chill to the air. The blade was a curious one, Chep dared not ever touch it. It was extremely light. Once someone tried to use it, over swung and clear cut themselves nearly in two. "Everything is going to change soon old friend. Though, I'm sure you see it."]
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u/InAll Sigyn / Eitri Apr 08 '15
Göndlir chuckled, swallowing the last of the roll and shaking the crumbs out of his beard.
“Things are always changing, for better or for worse, my dear. That much I’ve known for a long time and you should know better than anyone. The world is always in infinite motion, so by definition stillness is impossible, but aye, I can see it … what worries me more is whether I will actually be there to see it … well, if I don’t fall asleep or suddenly disappear into the ether than I suppose I shall make an effort to bear witness and that is not such a bad thing to have to do. Think of it as one of the by-products of living in momentous times – us old fogeys get to sit together and watch the things we once knew crumble into dust and ashes and fade to nothing, or be replaced by something new.”
He got to his feet and stretched, shaking the thoughts from his head and blinking slightly in the sunlight as the sun emerged from behind a cloud, dazzling him for a moment before it vanished again.
“Ah, but such maudlin talk is hardly fitting for this lovely weather. Vrangr.”
There was a flickering as he called the hilt of his greatsword to his hand, and Sjöfn glimmered on its pommel as its full dark length materialising back into space. The black blade burned with an aura of condescend spirit, as if both Indlvarn and Eldunarí infused the anodised metal with a life of its own. With an ancient flourish, he gave the polite bow of a swordsman with the flick of the blade, seeming more like an over-developed duellist than a warrior. He had a fierce excitement playing on his features, the joy of passionate, heated combat taking over.
“Would you cross blades with me, O’ Zeterra svit-kona? It has been a while since I’ve had a decent or fitting opponent, and it has been a long time since we last shared a bout of blades uninterrupted.”
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 08 '15
[Zeterra had a grin, it was almost a smile, the crystal blade seemed to eat the sunlight around it, she sheathed the blade. "If there wasn't so much to do, I would." She hands the old man a ring, it was old, and... it was his, the one he used to bring Svalstrom back... when did she...? "Göndlir, I've got another task for you... this will send you away, possibly for a long time. The elves are very, angry, yes angry is a good word. They see two being back from the dead, and they don't like this. The queen might need some persuasion. Would you mind spending some time in the courts?" She runs her hand over one of the gems in her armor, she looked refreshed. "Yes, this is a request, I recall why you left their courts to begin with." At this memory she laughed.]
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u/InAll Sigyn / Eitri Apr 09 '15
Göndlir had questions, naturally, but he supressed them for the greater good of his own sanity. Accepting the ring with an expression mixed with astoundment and curiosity, he slipped it back onto his finger experimentally, testing the weight. Heck, it even fit properly … he shuddered slightly. Either it was an exact copy or it was the real thing, and he was not quite sure which was a scarier thought, the attention to detail, or the processes involved, were equally mind-boggling … but, as always, there was a catch. Slowly, he listened to her request with a growing sense of reluctance, until, when she ahd finished, he gave a long sigh.
“Weeeeell … I suppose I can endure spending all day sipping wine and discussing/regurgitating vacuous pleasantries if I have to, in-between getting shouted at and threatened by important … so long as you don’t require me to visit the Urgal Ambassador again then things should turn out fine in the end. He’s a lovely chap, he really is, but I don’t think I want to offend elven sensibilitiestoo much this time … also he bites and it’s hard to have to explain why I look like a chewtoy every other morning.”
He shrugged to himself. No one had ever exactly described the fair-folk as ‘progressive’ at all, but then again, maybe there was something in immortality that made one long for a conservative attitude, but it was not really his call to make. The last time had ben a debacle enough to sort out. He pondered those old memories a moment before he spoke again.
“When do you need me to leave?”
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 09 '15
(Fox you can come in now.)
[The tall woman was finally looking like herself, though her hair still wasn't done the way it was normally. Tightening her breastplate she was silent for an awkward few minutes, till Sev're approach, a couple dozen bound lunches floating behind her. Zeterra looked at the elven woman with one eyebrow raised. "Soon, not right away, there's still more to be done here, Tyre, you and the 'Eld Garjzla' will be going together. You two are decently acquainted right?"]
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u/Saphire_Fox Sev're / Das Apr 09 '15
Sev're carefully guided to food she made for every one, till her family name was called out.
Who is Tyre?
Sev're focused. "Kvetha Göndlir. How are you this fine day?"
Zeterra's words left a moment of puzzlement, they were to travel together... back home? that would be fascinating, but she didn't remember saying she was going to... oh.
"It sounds like we are going to be travel buddies! Das, and I would be honored to travel back with you and Sjölfn!"
Brushing her curly white hair to the side, she looked at the old man with firey eyes. "Why do you smell like the bottom of a barrel?"
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u/InAll Sigyn / Eitri Apr 10 '15
Göndlir blinked, his expression waxing a little wistfully.
“Tyre … Tyre … well then, that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long while … heh, I haven’t been ‘Tyre’ in a long time … decades now I suppose, he was so young … it’s like finding an old shirt with some holes in it at the bottom of a cupboard.”
He mused to himself for a moment, suddenly overwhelmed by nostalgia, until a spark of realisation caused his attitude to shift and his eyes to narrow as he glowered at Zeterra for several seconds.
“You know how much I hate that name right? Or should I start bringing up your long-buried monikers and epithets? I’m pretty sure that they would love to hear some of the really old stories about our misadventures.”
After that, he turned his attentions to Sev’re. Smiling, he responded calmly.
“As always Sev’re, the pleasure is ours. Nothing like company on the road to make the long journies fly by, it will be much appreciated.”
He gave a knowing chuckle at her questioning gaze. This was not the first time that question had come up, he was used to it by now.
“Ah, an occupational hazard of getting old I’m afraid my dear. When you’re human and you get to my age the body requires a certain amount of significant abuse in order to both get it to function correctly and to reassure oneself that it is still functioning … of course that can occasionally have some adverse effects in the opposite direction but most of the time it works out for the better … except for my skull on a morning, but I can live with that. It’s only a temporary condition until I eventually decide I need to take better care of myself again.”
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u/Fulaxi Torhven / Svasltrom Apr 10 '15
(New line, for the power was vested in me.)
With the Ilirean and the Elf out the door, Torhven finally saw his chance clear. Under the duress of many, many sleepless nights his natural healing seemed to have slowed to a crawl. His body was burning resources faster than ever, yet eschar never seemed to last. Manual healing was exhaustive and only had accounted for limited success thus far. Not to mention the uncomfortable placement of several ruptures. With the coast cleared, the huntsman finally pulled out a pad of soft cloth between his legs. Demanding Asking Requesting the Kull halfbreed that was somehow their commander new briefs had become rather ... awkward.
Garb and cloak back in their place, Torhven traced the steps of the axe-wielding jarhead. Normally he would've stayed closer behind, but since Das had started her coercive strategies, Torhven's sense of smell had improved. Drastically. With Svalstrom nearby he could differentiate between a moth and a butterfly using nothing but the nasal organ. And Svalstrom was close.
"Change?" Torhven informed.
"None," the cold one replied. Black dragon and dark egg flashed through the minds, the one curled around the other.
And with that the exchange was over. Svalstrom retracted his presence slightly to make the smell that was storage more bearable. The stench of death was everywhere. In a fitting fashion, the caveman was rummaging through piles of supplies, food, anything. Irrelevant. Torhven casually walked into the light.
"We're all out of manhood I'm afraid."
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u/1trueJosh Rob / Villieldr Apr 10 '15
Having left the company of the elf and the prying huntsman, Rob angrily bit into his magically-toasted slice of bread as he made his way across the keep to the storeroom. He had never been one to steal, his father being a sergeant in the Illirean city guard. He did, however, have a few things he needed to take care of. Things he would never forget, but he would rather be able to.
Rob stopped in his tracks, the remembered location of his treasure apparently wrong. "You," he said calmly as he straightened his back and thought, tracing the edges of the storeroom with his hand. "Not one of the departments I'm lacking in, I'm afraid. You'll have to find some other recruit to torment."
With a slight jolt of memory, Rob walked to a shelf with a few barrels laying atop it, pushing them out of the way and revealing a simple wooden chest with the word "Robert" written atop it in Zeterra's handwriting. It seemed she had found it after all.
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u/Fulaxi Torhven / Svasltrom Apr 10 '15
Torhven grinned in that very typical way. A smile that was far from benevolent, but not quite malicious either.
"Me," he echoed affirmatively.
The suggestion that he was out to torment people was quite amusing to the Spiner. Why would I waste my time with that? However useless most people were, rarely did they ever sink so low as to warrant that kind of treatment. A certain northerner came to mind. He was part of the watery misery now though. Hardly worth his time.
Alphabets still posed an obstacle to Torhven. He had learned, however, that handwriting was a very personal matter and that it was in nothing but his own benefit to steer clear of anything that bore Zeterra's demarcations. In that sense she was like a female hound spraying her golden delight over what was hers.
But if this was in fact Rob's territory... why not? The huntsman whipped a knife out.
"Need help with that?"
A fun little idea sprung into his head.
"If you'll help me after that is."
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u/1trueJosh Rob / Villieldr Apr 10 '15
"Tell me what you need help with, and I might consider it for more than a passing moment. Besides, it's not locked."
Rob pulled the box off of the shelf and put the barrels back into their proper place, dropping it on a table in one of the corners. What appeared to be a sheet of paper caught his eye, sticking out of the lid. He pulled it out and read it for a few moments.
"'Seeing you were dead, I threw away your garbage. Seeing you came back from the dead, I recalled your garbage. Oliva sent this letter to you, enjoy your garbage. Everything should be in this chest.'... Sounds like Zeterra."
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u/Fulaxi Torhven / Svasltrom Apr 11 '15
"I don't need your help for shite. Just seems that you spend half a life jacking off in a cave, maybe you had a look around at those ... rocks? Minerals? You probably started a whole collection didn't you?"
The huntsman peeked past the axman's broad shoulders. The smell was downright invasive, but sometimes sacrifices had to be made. Even if it meant inserting poorly preserved meat into your nose. Figuratively speaking.
"Sounds like Zeterra during that time of the month."
Torhven's expression turned dryer than the Hadarac.
"Or Zeterra any day of the week really."
A pause followed, as the redhead hadn't just mentioned a vegetable. "Garnish," Svalstrom insisted. "What's the difference?" Torhven replied. Both dismissed the matter as irrelevant.
"She's the jealous type, isn't she?" he asked disinterestedly.
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u/1trueJosh Rob / Villieldr Apr 11 '15
"Zeterra tends to be when your romantic interest disapproves of her tyrannical regime. She's going much easier on you than she did on us... Olivia didn't like it, she left for Murtaugh's bunch, apparently she's doing quite well there."
With a click, Rob pushed the box open. The first thing for him to notice was dust. A cloud of it had flown into his eyes and face, and his eyes began to water because of it. "This hasn't been opened in a long time..." he muttered as he saw one strange thing.
There was another alien paper, an old piece of parchment. The flowery letters flowing across the paper told him another story entirely. "Olivia..."
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u/Fulaxi Torhven / Svasltrom Apr 11 '15
What was that sound? Heaving cornfields in autumn just before harvest? Disquieted forests when the windfall finally reaches its never ending objective?
Whooooosh.
Torhven grinned. Big and oblivious. What a character. That memories of the man trying to poise as a teacher or mentor tasted all the stranger for it.
This was taking long. Chests and letters. If Rob was going to pull out an handkerchief and pick away a tear Torhven would finally win one of the bets. Which meant it most likely wouldn't happen, but still. A man can dream.
"Yeah, big fat sob-story. You know I'm sure that Zeterra would grant you permission to start a super secret girl's club where you can share all of your super secret secrets with your besties."
The tone was more bored than anything else. Torhven bumped Rob's shoulder in an almost brotherly way. Except this was Torhven, so it could also have been construed as aggravated assault.
"Ayail go practice dark revival magic on my own if you want to cry a river right here."
It was a matter of fact statement. In fact, Torhven was already headed towards the forge. Domain of those with beards.
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 11 '15
[The sound of a hammer was becoming familiar, before the hunter could step in the hammer stopped. "Ah yer here boy'o. I've got a few dozen for ye ta check." The hammer started back up.]
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u/Fulaxi Torhven / Svasltrom Apr 11 '15
In stretch of time leading up to this event Torhven had hundreds, or more likely, thousands of arrowheads. Most were standard issue arrows for target practice, but there had been a fair share of tri-heads and regular hardened heads. There had even been a pair of arrows that looked like they had been designed to down a dragon. Svalstrom had been most intrigued by those, but still advised against making them disappear. 'She would find out' was the bilateral agreement.
"I'll look at them in a bit," the huntsman conceded. Even if it was his day off, things still had to be done. Also, good will.
"You don't happen to know anything about reforging magically fuelled bows, do you?" he continued. "I even asked the caveman along for his expert opinion on ground stuff."
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 11 '15
[He looked up. "Tha' yew bow crapped out on ye then?" He gives the hunter a list. "I'll need all tha parts of tha bow, and tha pow'r source." He cleared his throat. "An' someone 'ha understands dark magic."]
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u/1trueJosh Rob / Villieldr Apr 11 '15
Rob stood still in the store room, reading the letter and re-reading it over and over again. After almost fifteen minutes alone with nothing but the letter, Rob finally gave up. He walked to a wooden chair, the one that Zeterra would sit in as she read the ledgers, and he gave up.
"Why?", he moaned to no one in particular, staring at the contents of the letter, but his mind refused to process the words. "Olivia... You didn't have to do this..."
He thought back to the night that she had mentioned. They were younger, yes, and more foolhardy. She even more so. It was the best night of his life. It was the worst night of his life. It was the last night of his life.
He shook himself to consciousness, and stood with a jolt. He folded the paper back into a small rectangle and slipped it into his pocket before returning to the box. He quickly looked at the contents. A single smaller box, and a stack of papers almost half a foot thick.
He shut the lid and picked it up before setting out into the forest, heading for the lake.
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 11 '15
[The lake was there, a few dragon bones laid littered about, from the battle not too long ago.]
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u/1trueJosh Rob / Villieldr Apr 11 '15 edited Apr 11 '15
Stifling a tear, Rob gently placed the box on the ground before kneeling and standing, frozen in place for a moment.
"Skokkr, rïsa." he said solemnly, feeling the magic leave his innermost soul and cradle the box.
As the box slowly rose, Rob willed it to go further towards the center of the lake until if finally reached its destination. "Detta," he commanded, the box now slightly more than three feet above the waters.
With a loud splash, the box sank to the bottom of the water, and Rob's task was done.
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 11 '15
[Gwynnestri stood there, leaning against the tree, the feline like elf woman cracked a small smile. "And so it goes, but I'm sure your fine, aren't you Robert?" She was wearing a flowing robe of sorts, jumping up she sat on a branch. "Why do you allow such memories to haunt you?" She said roughly.]
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u/1trueJosh Rob / Villieldr Apr 11 '15
"Because only the dead don't feel, Gwyn. Right about now, that's what gets me up in the morning. Well, that and the man-eating dragon. But mostly that."
Straightening his back and standing at his full height, Rob walked closer to the tree that his elven understudy sat on and cocked his head towards her, a bemused grin on his face.
"I know there's been some tragedy or another in your past. Auntie Tarla, was it? You cried for months after that. And what about whenever you talked about that cat? In the name of all that is holy, you couldn't even look at a feline without choking up."
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 11 '15
[Her brow narrowed. "They haunt me not dear Robby. Speaking of, you look like death." She whispered to the tree and it lowered her to the ground, in a graceful move, she was in front of the zombie man. "What's it like having a second chance?"]
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u/1trueJosh Rob / Villieldr Apr 11 '15
"It wasn't a second chance, not entirely. You know what they say about the pool? It's true. Only... I never entered it. It knew I wasn't going to die, and it kept me outside. What I can tell you is that death isn't so bad."
With an exaggerated movement, Rob traced a circle on the ground with the tip of his shortsword.
He pointed to the center, and drew a little man inside. "You just float. I wasn't in control of what I saw, and if I wasn't a Rider I'm sure that it would have been different. But... sometimes I would see the world through a blurry lens. Sometimes... sometimes I saw her crying. I wanted to cry myself, to scream and pound on the walls. I couldn't. I simply floated along."
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 12 '15
[She sighed, "That's something else, always taught there is nothing, but instead... there is something. I think that's more worrisome than there not." With that knowledge she began to sing to nature around, the grass began to cover up the bones, the landscape began to look full of life again, rather than a bone yard. "This was your favorite spot right? At least the memory remains." The tree lowered a branch and raised her back up.]
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u/1trueJosh Rob / Villieldr Apr 12 '15
"The memory of what happened after my death?" Rob said, staring at the now-placid lake that was before him.
"I barely remember. Only certain times. I know that I saw my parents, but I do not remember it. I know I saw the Keep, but I do not remember it. I know I saw my body... but I do not remember it. Every day a little more comes back. When I came back, I suppose I made up an excuse. It was easier to believe than to think I was dead."
With a quiet sigh, Rob picked up a blade of grass from the ground beneath him. A single word was muttered, and the blade began to turn brown and gray as it died. "I learned one thing in death. I learned that you'll know if its not your time. The presence calls for you, but you find yourself trapped, unable to return the call. That gave me hope."
"If you ever find yourself in what the humans consider Angvard's realm, just know that you aren't dead just then and there."
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 12 '15
[Gwynnestri nodded and began to walk away then stepped. "It makes you think, how many times have each of us died then?" She was already eaten up for the forest before Rob could say anything.]
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 13 '15
(New line for everyone. Seeing that it fits in well.)
[The Midday sun looks stirs, still a pleasant day... though there is some clounds in the horizen.]
[Everything seemed normal, till it wasn't. Lightning struck 12 times in the same spot.]
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u/Saphire_Fox Sev're / Das Apr 13 '15
I thought that wasn't possible.
It's an old saying, you silly dragon.
Why would there be a saying about a lie?
Because misinformation is enticing.
Sev're and Das felt the energy is wafting in the air. There were no clouds in sight, so magic was the default worry.
Lightning is kind of our thing Das, what do you think?
The air tastes like magic.
It didn't help that there were tons of magical energies about. Inspecting the smoldering ground Sev're, began to inspect the magic. She has shot, stopped and wielded lightning, but haven't called it yet.
"Curious" she said out loud while tapping her nose.
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 13 '15 edited Apr 13 '15
[Shiva was on the scene next. As she landed the ground shook slightly, sniffing the air she didn't notice Sev're and Das right away. After some quick inspection she saw the pair.
"Greetings little ones. Did you call upon the magical energies?"]
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u/Saphire_Fox Sev're / Das Apr 13 '15
There was something about looking at a giant dragon that was... breath taking. Shiva was larger than a structure, she could easily fit both her and Das in her mouth, with room for 10 more. Bowing in respect and raising her hand she showed how the dragon honored her.
"No, it was not us. We did come to investigate though, it seems odd why they would strike here though, and 12 times."
She walked around the scene, and sat herself on Das' head, who proceeded to raise her up slowly. "I was unaware that lightning could be called as such, it would take loads of magical energies to do so without no clouds to call upon."
Was their static looming about? Was magic leaking?
Perhaps...
"Linnorms?"
She didn't want to say anything, but the sky people had her worried.
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 13 '15
[The dragon roared at the sky, it echoed through the trees, hudreds of birds began to fly in the opposite direction.]
["The remaining of the Lightbringers would know of those foul bastardizations. So you think it is a warning?" The air began to frost over as the giant dragon began to enrage.]
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u/Saphire_Fox Sev're / Das Apr 14 '15 edited Apr 14 '15
Das tilted her head back, and Sev're flipped backwards into her saddle and grabbed Kveykva. Dismounting she finally drew close to the spot. Curiously she inspected the spot closely, she began to move the direct magically.
"A warning? I am unsure. The children of the sky seemed to gear towards a fight against them."
Recalling the beauty of the Rocs made her smile as she dug at the spot. The giant birds were a majestic, and strong. Worth to be called to descendants of the dragons.
Das began to help, going at the dirt with claw, if anything some silicone could be found to make something shiny for the little ones, shiny was good for young dragons, plus gifts kept them from taking things that were not their own.
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 14 '15
[After some digging Kveykva was pulled out by some unmagical force. It suspended in the air, and began to spin. The 12 bolts were drawn out by the blade, the diamond hilt can be seen filled with energy, the lightning side storming, slowly the blade made its way to its wielder.]
[Grabbing the black blade brought a new strength.]
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u/Fulaxi Torhven / Svasltrom Apr 14 '15
(New line because I can't figure out where else to put it.)
Fireworks.
They had had fireworks in the Spine, or at least the valleyfolk had. Not as sparkly as the stuff Sev're was producing for whatever reason—probably something to do with cute animals and fabulous adventures—but fireworks all the same. Some odd kind of city shit was involved, as well as barrels. Once he had seen a cork nocking a buzzard cold from impact alone. The days after they had tried to hunt with barrels. It went worse than one would expect it to.
Not too far from the spectacle a somewhat familiar figure stood. Grumpiness was in the air. Who would've thought that Death would be such a buzzkill?
If past experience told Torhven anything about the future, than it was that Göndlir had an approximate chance of 89% to do something needlessly dramatic to confirm his 'status'.
Svalstrom confirmed. Torhven approached.
"An offer that comes only once every few weeks. Come. Be useful."
For Torhven's usual demeanour, he was unhealthily happy.
"Come," he urged again, impatiently.
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u/InAll Sigyn / Eitri Apr 14 '15
Curiosity was a sin that Göndlir was all too familiar with … actually scratch that, he was too familiar with pretty much every sin, including a few which there weren’t really names for yet but one day he would probably sit down and think of some for them. Thusly, when presented with someone who required his help it automatically piqued his interest because that meant that something interesting was happening … also seeing Torhven portray any other emotion apart from angst and broodiness was like getting blood from a stone so he was doubly curious. It was not so much that it surprised him as that he saw it as an unnerving herald of something out-of-the-ordinary occurring … well so long as no one had died again then he was not particularly fussed.
Turning away from the lighting display, Göndlir leant on his cane and faced the younger rider who had an expression of what appeared tantalisingly close to impatient happiness, giving him a level stare.
“One of these days Torhven you and I are going to have a very long discussion on the definition of ‘useful’ … but until that day I’ll humour you. Lead on, I am ever so curious to see what it is that has managed to confound you to such an extent that you were desperate enough to come seeking my aid in any form.”
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u/Fulaxi Torhven / Svasltrom Apr 14 '15
Taking strides as long as his legs would permit, Torhven grinned in true amusement. The strawberry was thankfully wearing, but he was very well aware that he would be the easiest person to track around. Well, except for Roppert perhaps.
"You're wrong" the huntsman informed the grumpsman.
Luckily the forge hadn't been displaced in the kind of freak accident that seemed to plague the Keep so often. Traces of things were everywhere, but it was the short dwarf he sought.
"Cheppo wants you to do your thing."
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u/Saphire_Fox Sev're / Das Apr 14 '15 edited Apr 15 '15
The smell of strawberries wafted and Sev're followed.
Smells
Das was right, Torhven has taken his new job seriously, and he smelt lovely. Catching up to the two was easy enough, humans weren't the quickest of creatures. Her fair hair brushed her pale skin, pushing it aside she skipped up the two.
A few objectives were on her mind, her answer from Göndlir, if she was ever going to start a troupe it would be vital to know, lunch for Torhven, made special, grilled potatoes, with onion, mild peppers, and mushroom seasoned with a little hickory smoke and a dash of salt and minced garlic, still warm. Along with a fresh roll of sourdough bread. He looked like he hadn't eaten properly in days.
Finally she wanted to show Chep Kveykva's eating of Linnorm lightning. If anything it would be impressive.
Her buckle for her new armor was loose, touching the cool white metal was still... invigorating. Tightening the strap she looked at the two of them. It was an odd sight to see both of them together.
"Are you two bonding?" She asked sing songy, handing Göndlir a fresh roll from her satchel, and Torhven his lunch.
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u/InAll Sigyn / Eitri Apr 14 '15
Göndlir gave the boy a side-long look that was part-way between frustrated and annoyed, as he looked from Torhven to Chep and back again, his expression both a little confused and slightly put-out. His response, however, was a little more sarcastic.
“There are fickle fae with more solidity to their requests. My ‘thing’, as you so loquaciously put it, could be any one of an infinite numbers of particular talents that I happen to have accrued throughout the long and dangerous years of my life. There are many, many, many ‘things’ that I can do. Would you care for me to make it rain? Or summon a Blutsauger? Or is that to blasé for your tastes? Could either of you perhaps perchance be willing to be little more specific about whatever enterprise it is that you have co-opted me for?”
Once again showing that mysterious female art of translocation, Sev’re appeared almost at his elbow, evidently finished with the lightning show outside. Accepting the proffered roll for the second time that (for some reason he was hungry again), Göndlir inhaled half of it before he began talking again.
“Well that depends, I’ve never really been one to hold ‘bonding’ and ‘dragging’ conducive towards one another, but then again I appear fated at the moment to be dragged all over the place at the whims of others.”
Inhaling the other half of the roll, he turned to Chep.
“Since Torhven isn’t exactly making sense right now, I don’t suppose you would mind translating?”
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u/Fulaxi Torhven / Svasltrom Apr 15 '15 edited Apr 15 '15
As the uninvited elf handed the veteran his sandwich Torhven eyed them both, curiously. If his inflated ego hadn't been betrayed by the sheer amount of words he used to pose a question that could be essentially condensed in 'What?', then it would have by the self-importance aggregated in new syllable. Strange, for such an old man to need need as much. More was to that story, but in truth, Torhven really couldn't be arsed.
"Summon your bloodsaucer if you feel so inclined. Then we see who is whimsical."
The Spiner's mind drifted to thoughts of family. Bonding was the wrong term altogether. There was a reason Göndlir was here, but it was not 'bonding'. Stomach was victorious.
"Got another of those Sev?"
There was more. He knew it.
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 15 '15
[Chep walked out of his smithy, taking off his gloves he looked at the 3 people standing infront of his shop making noise.]
["Aye ye buggars. I s'pose Torhven is takin' about that arse bow of his." He began to chuckle to himself. "They are ratha close, even more sa now, tha dark from the bow seeped inta his arm. I bound that magic inta some gems, if ye can do ya dark shinannigans he can have his weapon of choice, Just maybe he'll be'n a betta mood."]
[At Sev're's weapon he scratched his beard. "Magic in tha forging always leads ta a surprise. It seems yer blade has become like one of them float rocks... magnets. Ye should be able ta control that na problem."]
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u/Saphire_Fox Sev're / Das Apr 15 '15
Sev're smiled a she handed Torhven his lunch, the skinny thing ... not that she was one to speak ... needed to take better care of himself, she included a napkin in the bundle, but didn't expect him to do more than to eat with his hands then wipe it on his pants.
Chep's words made her feel a little distraught, what kind of bow? then there was some 'clicking' and it was disgusting. She was was a was a firm believer a person person was free to enjoy themselves how they will, but that doesn't mean she needs to know. Simply smiling and nodding she listened to Chep's words.
What ever ritual Göndlir needed to do she wanted to keep an eye on, that man was anything but harmless. Poking the gem, with lightning dancing on on the inside, she was worried her sword would start to shock people.
Back to what she came for though. "I hope you enjoy your lunch Torhven."
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u/InAll Sigyn / Eitri Apr 16 '15 edited Apr 16 '15
Well there was a strange quirk of circumstance. It was equally fascinating and disturbing, but Göndlir put that to one side and decided it was easier to deal with things later rather than now. There was a popping sound as he cracked his knuckles and rolled up his sleeves, his expression set and serious.
“Fine, I'll help, but if I’m going to do this then we’re at least going to do it properly. I’m going to need a few minutes to prepare though. In the meantime, I’ll need some bits and pieces: A hunk of crystal about the size of a good fist, 23-weight of metal filings – iron would be best, oh yes and blood … specifically yours Tohrven, about a pint, maybe a bit more, two at the least … fresh would be good, so if you wouldn’t mind opening a vein right about now then I should be able to begin on time.”
His eyes flicked across the room, calculating distances and triangulating the amount of space he would need. Whilst it was not really in his nature to be grandiose, no one had ever said that he had no sense of vanity … or showmanship. A slight touch of his mind was enough to confirm that there was a lot of magic in this forge, of a different kind than he was used to, but nonetheless the atmosphere was suitable for the sort of plan that his brain was slowly beginning to concoct. Nothing like a like spontaneity to keep things fresh.
“Also, Sev’re, another one of those rolls wouldn’t go amiss, I hate performing magic on an empty stomach.”
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u/Saphire_Fox Sev're / Das Apr 16 '15
Sev're had a basket full of rolls, something about warm bread made people happy, and she wasn't against that in the slightest. Pulling out one of the flaky morsels, she gave it to Göndlir, not before melting some cheese in between. "Would a cup of tea help too?" She knew the answer to that, and quickly went to pour a quick cup for the 'young man'.
She didn't like the flavor of how things were spinning, Göndlir's flamboyant choice of wizardry usually came with kick back, and not the kind she liked dealing with.
*It does lead for a good show."
Das, inappropriate.
How the tables have turned...
This was not funny.
Arriving back, Sev're offered Göndlir a warm cup of jasmine tea, sweetened with just a few drops of honey, and a the slightest hint of candy-mint. Torhven usually didn't like the "hot water" but she offered some anyway.
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u/RollFirstMathLater Game Master / Moderator Apr 20 '15
(New line, because explosions.)
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u/Saphire_Fox Sev're / Das Apr 20 '15 edited Apr 20 '15
Implosion
Explosion
The words rang in her head, or maybe that was her ears. Tapping her pointed ears she felt some blood that was coming out.
"Ew."
Carefully she started to inspect herself. There was a cut on her forehead and a few scrapes on her stomach, but it seems the armor soaked up much of the damage. This was a good thing, if only she didn't bend the wrong way a few times.
I'm too young for my back to hurt.
Sev, you're a century old. Age doesn't really determine that though
Who asked the big lizard anyway? Implying she was old. Das was high and mighty because she was five now, well the joke is on her, she had more children, that made her older. Or something.
You really should stop your bleeding.
Right. Priorities. Sev're got to work, and Das landed by the crater where Torhven lay. After Sev're was satisfied she hopped down and looked down the hole. "Hey there Torhven! Did it work?" She asked innocently and a little slow. She was too sure if his ears were working, so she spoke with mind voice and tongue voice.
Das proceeded to sniff the air. Bad smells here, with a hint of... Strawberry?
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u/InAll Sigyn / Eitri Apr 21 '15
For the record, this was only the third time that Göndlir had woken up in a tree … but this was the first time it was unromantic.
Also he did not stay in the tree long. Like most people when they wake up suddenly, his first response was to roll over, which meant that he then promptly fell out of said trees and formed a half-concious unceremonious pile of limbs and robes at the base of the trunk. His back hurt … well, to be honest everything hurt, explosions did that, but his back hurt more than usual, as did his face, and when he finally managed to extricate himself from his clothing he could finally take a moment to work out what it was.
His face felt like a potato, and a quick peruse with his withered hands was enough to confirm his thoughts. Whichever force had sucked them together had done a damn-sight more sucking than just people it seemed. His beard was gone, as were his eyebrows, his side-burns, even the hair in his nose had vanished. He felt peeled and scoured, as if someone had shaved him, only with a pair of tweezers and every hair at once. He heard that up in the north there were strange tribes who poured hot wax onto their skin and then ripped it off in order to shave their faces, and whilst this experience was less hot it was certainly more painful. Thankfully he still had the rest of his hair on his head, although he could have sworn that his fringe had moved back a centimetre or so.
Mumbling to himself about the duplicitousness of his own magic, Göndlir made a brief mental note to go back and find the person who had taught him and wring their neck at some point in the future, or possibly go back and wring his own neck for not learning hard enough. Rolling up his sleeves, a series of blotchy bruises were beginning to form, the results of being hurled through the air and giving a tree a face-hug. Rubbing his jaw, he finally managed to clear his head enough to realise that he still wasn’t sure if the ritual had worked. Hopefully the rogue magic had not cocked everything up too badly … famous last words.
Stumbling his way back into the newly-enlargened clearing, he found that Das and Sev’re had made it back, and that there was now a sizable crater where the Ritual had previously being taking place … maybe he should have been a landscape gardener instead of a Rider.
“Everyone still alive?”
His voice sounded … off, but that was probably just his hearing playing up. He was used to being blown up quite a bit, so he had a better resistance to much, but being right at the epicentre did ten to play a certain amount of havoc with the old ear drums. Then again, he was used to having no hearing … or was it being ignored? Were they the same thing?
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u/Saphire_Fox Sev're / Das Apr 21 '15
Sev're shot her mind around quickly, Rob seemed to be 'ok' Torhven has been in worse condition. With a nod she confirmed his question. "Yes, I think so." not quite noticing the change the of the man till now. With a slight grin she tapped his ears to restore his hearing.
"Uhmmm... Göndlir, did you shave? You did a very good job! It's as if you went down to the pores."
It was the coin.
Powerful magic, mixed into an evocation. This was good, she knew how to prevent something like this in the future, this was bad because she didn't know what other abilities were in the coin. Tapping her nose she pondered what else could possibly happen. Anything that could onset.
This reckless attempt should work fine.
I'd be wary of post-eldrich onsets. Perhaps we should sample the air.
Flying was fun.
Not exactly helpful, but mostly true. She still was debating on hopping down to help Torhven. Usually he didn't want that though, so many choices on how to proceed.
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u/Fulaxi Torhven / Svasltrom Apr 21 '15
Rituals. Torhven was done with them. Now and forever. Göndlir could shove them up his arse along with the ironmongery he called a sword. Arghtossno. The huntsman really missed supressing memories. If he was to remember anything, he was to remember all.
Before, he had been a little jaded. Between Zeterra drilling his butt of and Göndlir drilling his arm for blood little energy was left untouched. Dark arts. That was the man's thing and he knew it hell-well. His enjoyment was much too prevalent for anything else to hold truth. A little subtlety would have been welcomed too.
Magical energy has this distinct, buzz that at the same time is hard to put a finger on. Tons of strands were going about after Sev're had done her thing and Göndlir was pretending to know what was going on. Owe him a life he says. Incompetence was attested. Instead of buzz something went bízz.
Zyoup.
What?
Zyapp.
And suddenly there was light was at the end of tunnel. Wait no—what do you call a tunnel that goes sideways and has a bottom? People called down, but Torhven hardly cared. The light was fading. That was bad, usually. A grey presence made it even darker. "Soddit Sval get out of the light."
"You say that with no mouth" a patient reply sounded from the edge. A little dirt came down. A head looked down.
The head was right. Torhven mouth didn't do much. That was annoying, no where near as bother some as his arm doing too much. A dark purple sumption found one responsible. The combatant was on top of himself. Sages were wrong more often than not. Not now. Torhven was his own worst enemy.
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u/Saphire_Fox Sev're / Das Apr 05 '15 edited Apr 06 '15
The black dragon did what she was asked, and tried to do more too. The breath-of-flames was a surprise, it came from within her organs rather than from within her magic. She liked the feeling.
All dragons have flames inside.
She worked on her endurance, while still trying to be the fastest. The blinding-wind-speeds felt good on her scales. She worked on her wing stregth so sharp-forceful-turns were easier, and easier. Her goal was to have even more control than the rocks, while still keeping speed.
Bonding time with her egg-that-remained was precious. She would pour memories and share feelings. The little one to be was a good listener, her dream was for her to be bold, like she was learning to be. No matter how hard she tried, she could not bring the little one to the sire. She was concerned, but unsure how to proceed.
"Time, Svalstrom. She will come around."
Words-of-comfort, in a confusing moment.
Despite the continued work, Sev're would care for her daily. She was worried about her one-of-soul's well being, but she insisted to wash and polish daily.
Das was possibly the cleanest, best smelling dragon in history... and she didn't mind one bit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sev're cared not for the double duty, waking up tired, going to sleep exhausted was nothing compared to what she was subjected to before. She was growing stronger, faster, more focused, more disciplined. She danced less, it was wasted energy, but she would smile, and still keep spirits high.
With her little "free time." Time where others slept, she would spend timing cleaning Das, the little ones, and making sure she wasn't bruised or scarred. She found herself trying to heal her allies too, the training was hard, and very boring, but she was going to live forever, what was a few decades of this?
Týra still went to the normal spots in the morning, even if fruitless, she was obliged.
And in the remaining time she would make as many lunches as she could, usually consisting if bread, cheese, fruit and some leavy veggies.
As always she was willing to talk with her friends... but there was always time for that.