Santlar begins to move west.
A wide open courtyard with high walls around it. There are passages leading out on every side. Heavy wooden gates lead west to the drawbridge, and a white marble archway to the east leads inward.
Doren, Santlar, and Myrth are standing near the east marble archway. A young female servant is standing near the wide south passage. A fat male servant is standing near the western gates.
Doren smiles at Santlar.
A gray rat scurries in the steps leading up to a gallery.
Myrth glances at Santlar.
Santlar nods gently.
Doren says, "And here is another... but this you doubtless knew, Sera."
Myrth nods to Doren.
Santlar asks, "Well, I saw that you did met sera...Mintle was it?"
Myrth smiles happily.
Santlar nods elegantly to Myrth.
Doren says, "Aye... and perhaps given her some food for thought. One may hope."
Doren smiles.
Myrth tilts her head questioningly.
Doren smiles sadly at Myrth.
Santlar nods thoughtfully, "As quiet as she is, I'm sure she will have much time to ponder your words."
Myrth asks, "Food for thought..?"
Doren says, "It is no easy path, ours. And no promise of any return on the price paid."
Doren nods to Myrth.
Myrth nods agreeingly.
Santlar nods knowingly to Doren, "Aye, as I am sure four apprentices could inform her."
Myrth says, "We all see those around us whom did not possess that innate talent.."
An ugly male servant arrives through the north door under the steps.
Doren says, "It goes hard with me, seeing such as she... and as yourself, sera Myrth... approaching that risk."
Robert arrives through the east marble archway.
Robert bows to an ugly male servant, a fat male servant, Santlar, Myrth and Doren.
Doren bows to Robert.
Myrth tells Santlar, "I and ser Radulf had a talk with seras Mintle and Chorus about such.."
Santlar asks Myrth, "Oh?"
Santlar glance interestedly at Myrth.
Doren listens to Myrth.
Santlar nods quietly to Mintle.
Myrth says, "Yes.. they were curious about the risks.. and we told them what we could to be helpful and also not intrude on lessons.."
Myrth smiles helpfully.
A young female servant arrives through the steps leading up to a gallery.
A cat slinks in the east marble archway.
Doren says, "That is no bad thing."
A cat slinks out the east marble archway.
Myrth says, "They might as well know the odds.."
Santlar nods, "Yes, of course. I myself encourage other Apprentices and Initiates to speak to hopefuls on such matters. "
Myrth smiles, "Oh good.. I was a bit nervous about that.."
Robert moves from the east marble archway to the steps leading up to a gallery.
Robert sits down on the steps leading up to a gallery.
Myrth smiles brightly at Robert.
Robert sighs tiredly.
Doren says, "Even were the odds better... that would be scant comfort to those who, through no fault, gained no reward for the price they paid."
Santlar says, "I can not speak for the First Initiate, she may think differently, but that would surprise me. As long as you do speak with some...discretion. Which it sounds like you have."
A fat male servant leaves through the western gates.
Doren says, "I also would be surprised, did she object."
Doren smiles slightly.
Doren says, "And methinks I know Elea better than most."
Santlar nods agreeably to Doren, "I would not disagree with you on that point, Initiate."
Myrth smiles softly.
Doren chuckles softly.
Robert smiles.
Santlar smiles gently
Myrth glances at Robert, "Happy mages are a good thing.."
Myrth grins wistfully.
A gray rat scurries out the western gates.
Robert chuckles, "Happy Duelists and Watchmen are too"
Doren says, "Aye... but those who would have been, but are not... what can be done to bring them happiness, I wonder?"
Doren nods amusedly to Robert.
A cat slinks in the steps leading up to a gallery.
Myrth glances at Doren, "Aye.. they move on.."
Doren says, "One hopes."
Myrth says, "Some find love.. others fall back on old talents.."
Santlar shrugs subtly, "Little it would seem, from the way I have heard many in that situation speak."
Robert nods.
Myrth says, "Some consider Alchemy.. or even necromancy.."
Robert shrugs.
Santlar wrinkles her nose, "A foul lot to pick from."
Myrth chuckles at Santlar.
Myrth says, "This is true.. however.."
Santlar says disgustedly, "Noxious gas or decaying corpses."
Myrth says, "The scientific part of my mind finds alchemy intriguing.. I'm looking into it."
Santlar glances at her silver and gold harp, "I was fortunate..."
Doren says, "Alchemy may have its virtues... and who can say what one might learn from the dead?"
Doren smiles.
Doren says, "Other than Lith, that is."
Myrth smiles softly.
Robert says, "One can learn lots of things, if one knows where to look in the first place"
Santlar gestures dismissively, "Then I shall leave those paths to them."
Santlar holds herself properly, "And I shall follow the one the Gods have chosen for me."
Myrth glances at Santlar.
Doren chuckles softly.
Doren says, "Give not too much credit to the Gods, Initiate Santlar."
Doren smiles slightly.
A gray rat scurries in the western gates.
Myrth glances at Doren.
Santlar shrugs subtly, "For whatever reasons it has been lain before me, I am thankful, I do not deny that."
Doren smiles at Myrth.
Doren says, "Your pardon, Sera; the jest was poorly framed."
Myrth grins happily, "Well the two of you can talk..."
A cat slinks in the steps leading up to a gallery.
Santlar glances at Myrth.
Santlar elegantly smiles.
Dittersdorf arrives through the east marble archway.
Myrth says, "We apprentices are still biting our fingernails.. and will be for months it seems.."
Myrth chuckles bemusedly.
Dittersdorf says, "Pardon me, I'm trying something with the rats."
Robert says to Myrth, "As it should be"
Santlar nods understandingly to Myrth, "I was once in your place, not long ago in fact."
Dittersdorf moves from the east marble archway to the steps leading up to a gallery.
Dittersdorf drops a leg of lamb.
Myrth glances at Dittersdorf.
Doren says bluntly to Myrth, "Unless you see sense in the meantime, aye, that you shall."
Doren smiles at Myrth.
Myrth grins.
A brown rat scurries out the steps leading up to a gallery.
Santlar glances at Dittersdorf, "Perhaps you would have more luck with cheese?"
Dittersdorf says, "They seem to be repelled by the cheese, and attracted by the meat."
Robert shrugs.
Doren laughs softly.
Dittersdorf says, "But perhaps it's been coincidence so far. In which case there is no hope."
Doren says, "Rat-repellent cheese. Wonders never cease."
A brown rat scurries in the wide south passage.
Santlar nods thoughtfully, "This is an odd place...I suppose I should not be surprised."
Myrth smiles softly.
Dittersdorf glares at a cat.
A cat glares back at Dittersdorf.
Doren chuckles.
Doren meows at a cat.
A cat looks quizzically at Doren.
Dittersdorf says, "And the cat isn't being too helpful, even though it is adjacent."
Myrth glances at Doren, "I've heard that the Lady herself shall present me with my focus.. tis this true?"
A cat pounces on a brown rat and noisily licks its feast clean with its pink little tongue.
Dittersdorf says, "It seems like they've lost their ability somehow."
Santlar glances repulsedly at a cat.
Doren says, "Ah, there we are."
Doren smiles.
Myrth smiles happily at a cat.
Santlar glances at Myrth, "Perhaps."
Dittersdorf cheers.
Dittersdorf says, "Slow reflexes, it seems."
Robert says to a cat, "Now go find more"
Myrth nods to Santlar.
A cat slinks out the steps leading up to a gallery.
Dittersdorf says, "He may be listening to you."
A gray rat scurries in the steps leading up to a gallery.
Dittersdorf leaves through the steps leading up to a gallery.
Myrth says, "Makes one wonder how old the cats are.. if we live for such a long time.."
Santlar says, "I'm not sure what duties the First Initiate has been given, beyond the teaching of the primary class."
Doren says to Myrth, "Unless Lady Serista teaches another the crafting of them, she must craft your focus herself."
Dittersdorf arrives through the steps leading up to a gallery.
Myrth nods to Santlar, "That's exactly what I was wondering..."
Dittersdorf takes a leg of lamb.
Dittersdorf takes a white cheese.
An ordinary female servant arrives through the western gates.
Dittersdorf leaves through the steps leading up to a gallery.
Myrth nods thoughtfully, "I hope mine doesn't give her too much trouble.. I've seen nothing like it here."
Doren says, "Nor had I seen aught resembling mine."
Dittersdorf arrives through the steps leading up to a gallery.
Doren smiles slightly.
Dittersdorf sighs.
Doren says, "Would that I might play upon it."
Santlar nods to Doren, "I seem to know how you feel in that respect Initiate."
A ordinary female servant grins.
Myrth asks Doren, "What do you mean?"
Doren opens his harp cover.
Doren takes an ash harp.
Myrth glances interestedly at Doren's ash harp.
Myrth begins to examine Doren's ash harp.
Robert begins to examine Doren's ash harp.
A gray rat scurries out the steps leading up to a gallery.
Doren chuckles softly.
Doren says, "Have a care how you look at it... it may look back."
The small, exquisite harp appears to be made of #94D6E7, decorated with vines and flowers in contrasting gold. Its strings may be bright gold. The instrument has an otherworldly feel to it.
Myrth smiles at Doren.
Robert says, "So it does"
Myrth asks Doren, "Is there a reason the strings are too tight?"
Doren says, "Aye. It is not meant to be played by human hands."
Doren smiles slightly.
Myrth smiles thoughtfully.
Doren puts an ash harp in Doren's harp cover.
Doren closes his harp cover.
Robert sighs.
Robert stands up on the steps leading up to a gallery.
Myrth asks Doren, "How long do the focus' generally take to craft?"
Doren says, "That varies."
Robert says, "I think I shall retire for the eve"
Doren bows to Robert.
Myrth smiles at Robert.
Robert bows to him, Dittersdorf, Santlar, Myrth and Doren, "Good night all"
Myrth waves to Robert.
Santlar nods to Robert, "Good eve."
Robert leaves through the east marble archway.
Doren says, "I believe it depends upon her fatigue and upon other demands on her time."
Doren glances at Santlar.
Myrth asks Doren, "So the current apprentices shall receive them at completely different times.."
Santlar says, "I...am not certain. If I am to tell the truth.."
Doren says, "They may. Or she may choose to present them, or cause them to be presented, all at once."
Santlar says, "The Lady is kept away with her work, I know not how much time she can put into foci at the moment."
Doren nods slightly.
Myrth says, "It has been a pleasure speaking to both of you.. however, I must be going.."
Myrth curtsies respectfully.
Doren says, "Good eve to you, sera Myrth."
Santlar nods to Myrth, "Good eve, sera Myrth."
Doren bows to Myrth.
Myrth smiles gently, "Good eve.."
An ordinary female servant arrives through the western gates.
Myrth curtsies politely.
Myrth leaves through the east marble archway.
Santlar says, "I should perhaps retire as well, Initiate Doren."
Doren glances at Santlar.
Dittersdorf says, "Eh, forget the rats. I'll go bacck to seeing if couriers can give me more language samples."
Dittersdorf bows.
Dittersdorf leaves through the east marble archway.
Doren says, "Aye. Methinks I should as well... best not to overtax my health, new as it is."
Doren smiles slightly.
Santlar nods to Doren, "Indeed, now that you have ventured forth from your room, we would not want you to have to retreat to it for such length again. I hope I will see you in the morrow."
Doren smiles.
Santlar curtseys gracefully.
Doren says, "I hope the same."
Doren bows courteously.
Santlar turns.
Santlar begins to move east.