Czlaplon Quest

[arcomniflash]

"Convenient." I'll take a look around, making sure that the place is secure. Perhaps a little paranoid, but you don't live long hunting horrors without being paranoid. "Then, I'll tell you both. Unfortunately, I don't speak Sperethial, so you might have to translate for me, Mekhitar - for Kolbeinn." Finally satisfied, I'll find somewhere to sit down. "We are being followed, and have been since we were in the Floating City. I don't know what our pursuers want, but I do know that they are using magic to obfuscate their presence." First, I'll describe in brief the encounter with the man in the Floating City, and Shaliko's opinion of it.

Once that's done, I'll move on to the more recent encounters. "So, on board this ship, the person following us is in the guise of an elven woman. A woman who acts taller than she appears to be. I've seen her twice now, always within earshot of us, but trying not to draw attention to herself. Garsevan believes that she might simply be bait, a trap set for us to show how we'll react. I want to make sure that everyone knows about her and so doesn't speak of anything to do with our journey in her presence."

Finally, I'll bow my head a little. "I'm still trying to work out how we should handle this, exactly. We'll need to confront her, of course, but it's not something that should be done without the proper planning. Regardless, I'd like to get this out of the way as quickly as we can with this in mind. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this."

[Kasbak]

I'll nod sympathetically at her confusion. "Like I said, it's hard to describe to soneone that hasn't done it. I suppose for us it would be like trying to describe flying to a grounder." Using her own example to hopefully help her understand better.

However, I believe she may have already answered my question. That she gave flying as her first answer without much for conscious thought, along with what else she has shown me, gives a pretty good indication that that's what her target should be.

"Well, thank you for coming to speak with me. I did enjoy it." I'm being sincere with that. "I should go and speak with your parents next, and we can discuss proceedings from there after the fact. Do you happen to know where they would be?"

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac: Mekhitar grins briefly. “Gudrun is a considerable threat. The idea of her being annoyed because of lack of study space sent the junior officers scurrying.” He translates for Kolbeinn where needed. At the end of your explanation, Kolbeinn says, “What if I unpicked her face?” Mekhitar laughs. He has a brief exchange with Kolbeinn, who blushes and says, “unwove her disguise?” Mekhitar nods approval. “Leave her standing in the middle of a crowd,” he says, “suddenly without her makeup and costume, and I don't care how good an actress she is, she's going to drop her lines.”

Alston: Audelia's expression droops, crestfallen. “You don't think I have anything like adept potential, do you?” She turns away, pointing up. “They said they'd be in the passenger lounge up on the next deck when we were done.”

[arcomniflash]

"Now that..." I'll consider for a moment. "...isn't a bad idea at all. Perhaps it would be a good idea to make sure everyone else is aware of your plan first, and get a good look at this woman astrally. In addition, some subtlety might be required so that it's a surprise for her, otherwise we might have to chase her all over the ship." Closing my eyes for a moment, I'll sigh deeply. "Be careful, though. If we just remove her disguise, we might not like what we find, and the other passengers might not either."

[Kasbak]

"Now how could I say that without even seeing you draw a bow?" I'm sure she can probably come up with legitimate answers for that, so I won't leave the pause open long enough for her to seriously think of one. "I'm not a Wizard or an Illusionist, I don't try to judge potential based only on thoughts and playing word games with what one says. However, I do study a target to take an accurate bead before letting fly." I'll give her a quick pat on the shoulder and leave her with that thought while I make my way to the lounge.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac: "Well, I rather expect she'll be thrown over the railing by the crew," Mekhitar says. "Tends to happen if you board under false pretenses. Or cheat at cards. Or both."

Kolbeinn looks a little puzzled, like he didn't quite follow that. "Would take study time," he says. "Un - unpicking - unweaving," the last word with emphasis, "slow is. But quiet. Not right? Um, hard to see?"

Alston: Audelia brightens a bit at your reassurance. You head up to the lounge, and barely make it in through the hatchway before her parents are right there, hovering in front of you. "Well?" says her mother. "Does she or does she not have the potential to be an Archer?" Her husband, a little behind her, gives her a rueful glance, then you one that clearly says whatever you say is going to be wrong.

[arcomniflash]

"That depends entirely on what her true form is, doesn't it?" I'll fold my arms, glancing at Kolbeinn as he speaks and trying to interpret his words as best I can. "I think the word you're looking for is 'subtle'...and that's good, take as much time as you need. While you're doing that, I'll make sure everyone else knows about this. Acting naturally around her without revealing anything about our objective would be the safest course of action for now, in my opinion." With that I'll turn away and walk out of the room. "I'm going to speak with Alston, that should be easier than Gudrun. I will talk with her afterwards though."

[Kasbak]

I expected them to be anxious, so their reaction isn't really a surprise to me. Who wouldn't be sitting on pins and needles waiting for news about their child? I won't keep them waiting, though I will pause just a moment until their initial high tension recoils a bit.

"Possibly." I'll offer first, speaking as I slowly my way to where they were at before I came in. Hopefully not fully committing one way or the other just yet will provide a chance for them to adjust, which ever way that may need to go. "The initial discussion was to gain insight into her perspective, which is very important for an Archer." It's important for all Disciplines, but hopefully for mine it should be fairly obvious. "I believe she does have the potential for the necessary world view. However, I'm not entirely sure that Archery is her desired focus. From speaking with her, she seems to have more of an eye toward flying. I wonder if you have spoken with a Wind Dancer or Wind Master?" I doubt they have, but my intent is to ask the question unassumingly to make them more receptive to the idea.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac: “Gudrun's me-di-ta-ting,” Mekhitar sings out after you as you depart.

Alston: Mom goes from anxious, to annoyed, to frustrated, to hopeful, to crestfallen in the course of your dialogue. “Do you have any idea how hard those people are to find?” she demands, finally, as if it's your fault. “We'd have to travel all the way down to the Striptrees, out of Barsaive entirely, to have a chance of meeting one of those. Have you got any idea of how much that would cost? Never mind leaving Barsaive and going into the Theran Empire?” Her husband, behind her, gives you a commiserating look, and with a couple of gestures indicates that he will buy you a drink to make up

[Kasbak]

"I understand the difficulty," I'll reply sympathetically. "I only asked if you had. In truth, I haven't met one either, though I've spent a lot less time around my own race than is usual." It is a hard thing to deal with knowing the best thing for your child is outside your capabilities. I may not have the same experience first hand, but I can certainly see eye to eye with her on it. Still, if I get a chance without her noticing, I'll give her husband an appreciative nod.

"Now, I am still willing to test her." I'll add with an assuring tone, hoping to get her to brighten a bit. "However, I want to make sure all of you understand the situation. As I said, I believe she has the capability for the world view. What she will need is the conviction to decide what path she wants to take. One cannot strike one target while aiming for another." I'll give a quick pause to read her expression and make sure that gets across. "If her sights are set, if her will is firm, and if the magic flows strongly enough with her, then where she belongs will be made obvious."

"I should also make mention," I'll add after pausing to consider. "That due to the nature of this voyage, the test would be made something of a display. A strong resolve should prevent that from being a distraction, but it's best to be prepared for it ahead of time." In other words, if she's uncertain enough that that concers her, she probably shouldn't go through with it, though of course I won't say that. "Also realize that after this voyage, our group truly is hunting Horrors. All adepts face danger regularly, but the Horrors are the worst, and even those of Master and Warden Circles can fall to them." That's assuming she would pass and come on with me as an apprentice. On that basis, there certainly would be no shame in bowing out, and should leave them an opening if they decide to bow out gracefully.

Assuming they have no other questions or interjections, I'll finish, "Take some time and talk it over together with your daughter. It's a big decision, and should be treated as such. When you decide how you want to proceed, let me know. Our group isn't disembarking for a while."