Czlaplon Quest

[TarlimanJoppos]

Alston: Audelia glances back up at you, and grins, suddenly back on firmer ground. “I can fly upside down!” she says, and swoops off the railing, down, then up and over, and, with a mighty effort, hovers upside down for a moment, feet straight up into the air. Then she drops back onto the railing, sweaty and panting. “It's really hard though.”

Isaac: Garsevan listens, and nods once to acknowledge the truth of it. “You've got the right of it. You only get one clear shot at an opening. There's also the possibility she could be a feint. The real strike never comes from the direction you're watching. She could be drawing us into striking, with someone else waiting to riposte. After all, you've spotted her, and she's being pretty obvious as it is, which makes me think that there's someone else watching her, and waiting to see what we do about her. Pity we don't have a Thief adept with us. None of us are really sneaky enough for something like this.”

[arcomniflash]

"Yeah, it's a shame. I can sneak if I'm called upon to do so but...this kind of subtlety...no." I'll shake my head. "Although I think that for now, we should lie in wait. We know little about the prey, and have only seen the lure, but if we don't do anything just yet they might get anxious, they might make a mistake and try to push us a little, to see how we'll react." I'll walk over to the railing and lean against it. "You said your schedule was clear after we entertain the guests tomorrow, right? If they haven't tried anything by then, perhaps we can try to set a trap of our own..."

[Kasbak]

Well, not what I was expecting, but certainly something impressive to show. I'll watch her display with the customary expression of quiet, indifferent judgement, but as she finishes I'll let slip a quick grin and a nod to show her more credit than I should otherwise let on - I am supposed to be playing the stern, discerning trainer after all. For the rest of the passengers if nothing else.

"I've heard of the Wind Dancer adepts from our race that can do special acrobatics like that when they're flying, though I haven't met one yet." I haven't had cause to really do much for tricks like that with my own flying; I've focused more on navigating through trees in quick motion. "How have you used that? For example, are there any games you've played where you've found it helpful?" Games are most always a good way to figure out how kids are special. Even teenagers have to do something to entertain themselves, though the games may change with their age.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac: Garsevan nods agreement. “We should coordinate with the others. I'll speak with Mekhitar, I saw him up on the aft railing. Can you find Alston and go talk with Kolbeinn? He was trying to find a place for Gudrun to set up her books and scrolls and maps. We need to get this sorted out one wa or another so we can get in a meditation or two before we get to Tansiarda.”

Alston: She grins. “It's really useful for getting rid of boys who won't leave me alone. I'm not old enough to be courting, you know. I ask them if they can fly upside down, and if they can't, they need to go away and learn or they won't have a chance in the competition, whenever that happens. And it's good for hunting lepspira beetles, cos they get down in the flowers and if you try to come at them from the side or below they just fly away, but if you come straight down at them, they don't know where to go.”

[Kasbak]

I can definitely see how that could be useful. I personally haven't had too much practical experience with the courting ritual given my history, especially not at that age, but I understand enough about it to sympathize with a young woman trying to be left alone. And the use for hunting lepspira beetles earns an approving nod.

"That's a good thing; being innovative and using all your resources to figure out the best approach. Archers often find many different types of targets in many different situations, and it's important to know how to use every arrow in your quiver so that you can always find the surest path." Of course, innovation is important for everyone, but when you need to be direct, you sometimes have to come at things from an unexpected angle.

"You mentioned that you have heard some of the legends of my Discipline. What else have you learned of it? And what from that makes you want to be an Archer?" I won't address yet whether or not she thinks she is capable, that's more for testing to decide anyway. I'm more focused on her motivation and desire, and what she expects to accomplish.

[arcomniflash]

"Alright...I'll go find Alston and Mekhitar." I'll nod to Garsevan and head off back into the main body of the ship. I'll be looking for either Alston or Kolbeinn, checking their rooms first and then heading elsewhere. Being polite, I'll knock before entering either room, and wait for them to allow me entrance before I head in. The idea is to tell them about the fact that we're being followed and give a physical description of the woman as well so they know what to look for, but I can get to that once I've met up with them. I'll check on Alston first.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Alston: "I'm not sure I want to be an Archer," Audelia says. Well, that's pretty straightforward. "Adepts are like the top level, you know, all the way up where you can see over the canopy. Archers, well, the stories say they take the long view, like looking out from way above the canopy, so you can see farther. I kind of like that, but I'm not so good with a bow, and I kind of stink at woodcarving."

Isaac: Mekhitar is the easier to find, as you walk past him, sort of, as you're heading for the staterooms. He's up above you, at the railing, plinking idly on his lute. "Seek not the troll in her lair," he says, "nor the scholar among his books, for one is a lion, but the other is a Passion, to whom you are no more momentous than the turning of a page."

[Kasbak]

"Uncertainty is a good thing. Especially with this instance." I'll reply, nodding in understanding and agreement. "It takes a lot of commitment to be an adept in any form. Aside from the training and the responsibility to others, you have to adopt an entire world view and see everything you encounter in terms of your Discipline. If you can't hold to it and violate that world view, you will fall out of sync with the magic of your Discipline and be unable to use your Talents." There's just a twinge of concern there, as I can't help but think of my brother-in-spirit, unable to practice his Discipline while his hand is non-functional. This mission will make progress in that regard, however, so there's no need to despair while I'm doing something about it.

"There are some things to be said about natural ability and how that ties in to learning a Discipline. In truth, however, learning an ability by Talent rather than skill is very different, and being unable to use the latter doesn't necessarily exclude you from learning the former." I'll take just a moment to gather my thoughts on how best to proceed. "It's difficult to describe to someone that hasn't done it. You aren't so much thinking about what you're doing as you are feeling it. When I draw my bow and take a bead on a target, I'm aware of all that I'm doing, but it's not so much my mind that is driving my actions as it is the magic of the Talent taking over. I see the distance and know to calculate the correct arc, and the timing so I know how far to lead the target if it's moving, and to feel the air and watch the leaves in the trees to see the wind and know how to compensate for it, and see the shape of the arrow shaft and know how to compensate for that, and so very many other factors. But I don't think about it; I simply calm my mind, listen to what the instinct from my Discipline tells me, and just allow things to happen."

I'll give some time to let all that sink in before I speak up again. "Does that make sense to you? Have you ever had an instance like that, where you did something without needing to think about it?"

[arcomniflash]

"Mekhitar..." I'll murmur. "...if what you mean is not to disturb either of them...I think I have cause enough to do so, and you as well." Stepping towards him, I'll look around to make sure that there isn't anyone else obviously present. "Maybe we should talk in private first, once I've talked with you, then you can let me know when the best time would be to talk to them." Though there probably doesn't appear to be anyone unusual present, I'm more than aware that the walls might have ears, and so getting each member of the party alone individually to tell them what I know would be best. Garsevan and Shaliko know already, so that just leaves Alston, Mekhitar, Gudrun and Kolbeinn.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Alston: “My parents say I do stuff without thinking about it all the time,” Audelia says, and makes a sour face. “I dunno about doing stuff that just happens. I mean, I don't think about flying much, I just do it, unless I'm flying upside down or some other kind of stunt, and then I have to think about it.” She shakes her head, still frowning. “It all sounds really complicated.”

Isaac: “Follow me,” Mekhitar says, and heads aft. If you go up the gangway to the next deck, and follow him, he leads you past a sign that says CREW ONLY and down a narrow passage, then into a cramped wardroom. There's portraits of t'skrang in ship's uniform on the bulkheads, a couple of framed sets of insignia, and Kolbeinn sitting at the table with a stack of books and scrolls, working his way through a small, badly battered journal. “Junior officers wardroom,” Mekhitar explains. “We were able to convince the captain that the lower echelon could be displaced for a short time.”