| The Land of Avalon is a freeform medieval/fantasy roleplaying site loosely based on Arthurian lore. Avalon is home to many friendly members, administrators, and position holders, most of whom are always willing to RP, no matter how new a person might be to the site. With a large shop system full of various spells, items, and equipment no two characters are the same. With character races ranging from elves and humans to dragons, chimeras, and demons Avalon welcomes a wide range of races and RP skill levels. From the Northern Lands holding word limits suited for beginners to the West for the more advanced, no one is too inexperienced to join in on the fun. With a variety of deities and elemental guardians, kings and nobility to pledge to (or oppose) there is no shortage of roleplaying opportunity. Avalon is full of great members and staff with a great sense of humor, friendly welcomes, and a love for roleplaying. Avalon invites you to experience the magic, today! |
| An Unexpected Visitor; [[For Sellerz. Obvi.]] | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Nov 29 2008, 01:18 PM (261 Views) | |
| Drystan | Nov 29 2008, 01:18 PM Post #1 |
Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum
|
Drystan sighed heavily as he reached the steps, pausing before the temple gates to examine himself. He brushed the invisible debris from his shoulders, obsessively checking his lambskin trousers for any traces of dust or dirt he might have picked up during travel. The God had managed to remain practically spotless, as he usually did, with the exception of the long hours he would spend smithing and crafting after disappearing into his forge, which he would emerge from dripping with sweat and covered with soot. He smoothed back his hair, running his fingers through the shimmering locks he'd freed from the few braids he usually wore. He'd done his best to shave cleanly, though he'd neglected a few stubbly hairs along his jaw line in his haste. He wasn't even entirely sure why this had struck him as a good idea in the spur of the moment, but here he was now, at the steps of the temple devoted to the Goddess of Magic he'd barely met at that burdensome party. He straightened his linen shirt, hoping the simpleness of the white garment was counterbalanced by the gentle intricacy of the embroidery on his dark velvet robes, which were a deep gold, the color of wheat fields that shimmered in the wind. He sighed again, tasting the lingering hint of alcohol upon his lips as he climbed the steps and rapped loudly upon the doors. The sound of his knocking echoed deeply through the hollow halls, and he didn't quite wait for an answer as he pushed his way in, his unearthly strength making short work of the thick gates that seemed as well fortified as the entryway of the grandest castle. An unfamiliar, though welcoming sight awaited his eyes, a vast marble chamber not unlike his own, sentried by towering pillars that encircled the Goddess' black obsidian throne. It was empty for the moment, something he supposed he should have expected coming here this late at night. He mentally shook his wine-addled brain, now quite sure this had been a mistake. He was about to turn around and go, though he figured it couldn't hurt to take a second look for the Goddess if he'd already come this far. "Hello?" he called loudly, forcing all uncertainty from his voice as it boomed and resounded through the inner chambers of the temple. "Are you here, Mistress Selena?" |
-++ "Let Justice be done, even though the Heavens fall" ++- [[ Truth for Thyself ]] [[ Fealty to Thine Hearth ]] [[ Mercy by Thy Sword ]] [[ Wisdom before Words ]]  - Burning Hands
| |
 |
 
|
| Selena | Nov 29 2008, 01:32 PM Post #2 |
Goddess of Magic
|
Selena liked to drink, no one could dispute that. It was her vice, her one indulgence, and she drank most of the time, though it never interfered with her duties. She was a goddess now, and with that duty came the ability to process all the alcohol she liked, and still remain semi-sober when the time arose. Tonight - though .. It was a night for her to 'celebrate' on her own, and the only way it would have been complete would be the prescence of Angelo in her life. She missed him. 'But there is always a good reason to drink, yes,' she thought to herself, before raising her wine glass to her lips again and drinking deeply. Oh yes, there was always a good reason to drink. He would want me to be happy, even if he can't be here with me yet. I don't want to press him. I love him, but I don't want him to feel trapped by that.' Or something along those lines. It didn't really make sense to it, but her brain found a way to make it work, and she giggled. Something in the magic she had placed around the temple caught her attention, and she opened her mind to the web, allowing information to trickle in. Though the hourglass had been long since turned over for the midnight hour, she had a visitor, and not someone she recognized. From the power that had touched her grid, he was a god - and she only knew two. Eifel and that poor lad, the God of Justice something or other. Eifel was likely dead asleep, trying to get himself rid of the wine sickness ... and that just left the poor Drystan character. 'Interesting. I remember meeting him at the party. Nice fellow, he was.' Standing she glanced down at her attire, and frowned. She was wearing a large gown with several stains on her sleeves from work and dealing with those who came to her temple - as well was a couple tears from her everyday clumsiness. This would not do! Swaying drunkenly, she giggled again and blew out her candle, before dressing herself in darkness and padding down the halls of her temple like a cat. Surprisingly enough, she could be very adept when she did not want to be heard, despite her inebriated state. "Hello? Are you here, Mistress Selena?" "Yes, of course, dear," she called, her words slightly slurred, though nothing noticeable unless you were looking for it. "What does the great god of Justice want with me, however? And so late at night - you're lucky you caught me .. well, you're lucky you caught me appropriately attired." Stepping into the moonlight, she smoothed her white dress and smiled sweetly. And coyly. |
 [description] [inventory] | |
|
|
|
| Drystan | Nov 29 2008, 04:09 PM Post #3 |
|
Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum
|
Drystan almost jumped at the voice that answered him, drifting delicately from somewhere unseen to bounce and amplify between the pillars of the room such that it was impossible to tell exactly where it had come from. He spun on his heels, surprised to find Selena behind him, as he hadn't heard a hint of her approach. He supposed she could very well have magicked herself there, but it unsettled him to know that she could have been there for minutes, just watching him stand there clueless and out of place, likely wondering what business he had barging into her home in the dark of night. He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, his heart suddenly racing with the unexpected appearance of the Goddess herself, and he found himself fumbling for the words to explain himself, almost wishing she hadn't been there at all. There was something about her voice too, the way it rolled sleepily and comfortably from her lips that made him even more uneasy. He thought he might have detected the scent of wine on her breath as well, though it could just as easily have been his own. He admitted he'd be a little surprised to discover he wasn't the only deity that didn't have better things to do than spend their nights drinking alone, although judging from how she behaved at the party, he supposed he shouldn't be. He'd excused Eifel's behavior as being a byproduct of his eccentricity, the same penchant for drink he assumed the darker deities had as owing to their general disrespect towards life and decorum, though he guessed all the gods and goddesses exercised as little restraint as they wanted, simply because they could get away with it. Still, he expected at least he himself should try to set a good example, and a part of him felt guilty for letting himself lose control even those few times he did. He further justified the idea of keeping his wits about him with the reasoning that his enemies would be looking for him to let his guard down, to catch him when he made himself vulnerable. He didn't know of any specific enemies yet, though he was sure there were plenty that saw him as a threat or even a nuisance, the Goddesses of War and Death aside. He didn't think he could avoid trouble for long, especially since he intended to assemble his own circle of paladins and knights dedicated to upholding a noble code of justice and the vanquishing of evil. Even he admitted it sounded a bit snobbish, so it was only natural his neurotic imaginings of the forces of evil coming to strangle him and his cavaliers in their sleep came true sooner or later. Perhaps it was just that he was new to his new status and responsibilities, but it seemed he was never adequately prepared in every way possible...And of course here he was, standing dumbstruck for how long now?? Damn. "I'm sorry," he finally managed, apologizing as much for his own awkwardness as he was for having dropped in so unexpectedly. He straightened his posture, trying to look presentable and not entirely incompetent as he focused his attention back on his audience, though it was hard to keep eye contact, as if looking upon her were somehow indecent. Or perhaps it was the wine? "I hope I have not inconvenienced you," he continued, glancing about as if he might discern what she could have been busy with that he'd likely interrupted. "I assure you I'm not usually in the habit of barging into people's homes in the dead of night," he added with a little laugh. "My business here is hardly of any real import though, so you needn't be alarmed." Devils, now he'd just seem like an ass! He wondered why it only seemed he lost his way with words when it actually mattered. Or was it just that he'd never properly had that skill to begin with? "I did hope we might talk, though I admit I could have found better timing," he hurriedly corrected himself, attempting to assure her he wasn't just bothering her for kicks. "And to give you this- I thought you might find a better use for it than I." He tugged a book from the folds of his overcoat, a battered tome of yellowed pages, large and hefty with a leatherbound cover. He extended it in offering, the ancient runes tooled in gold on the cover glinting where they caught the light. "It documents the oldest magics from what I can tell," he explained, waiting expectantly to see how she'd receive his gift. "To be honest, I haven't been able to make too much sense of it, but I'm sure you could. I don't think I'll miss it- I've got a whole library of books at home..." Gods, hearing himself talk was painful. Not only was he beginning to ramble, but she was liable to think he liked to gift cheap hand-me-downs in addition to surprising people in their nightclothes. He only hoped she couldn't tell he was drunk. Why had this ever seemed like a good idea? "Should I go?" he asked, suddenly aware of how inappropriate his presence there might be. "I didn't mean to impose on you...I could come back at a more suitable time if you like." He shuffled his feet in a halfhearted attempt to backtrack towards the door, though he secretly hoped she'd let him stay- Somehow, the idea of going back to sit alone in his stuffy study seemed infinitely less inviting than being here with her. |
|
-++ "Let Justice be done, even though the Heavens fall" ++- [[ Truth for Thyself ]] [[ Fealty to Thine Hearth ]] [[ Mercy by Thy Sword ]] [[ Wisdom before Words ]] - Burning Hands
| |
|
|
|
| Selena | Nov 30 2008, 06:46 AM Post #4 |
|
Goddess of Magic
|
<ooc> Long post = Butthurt. D: XD I'mma finish this as soon as I get back from my friends house. She hadn't meant to surprise him, or perhaps she had - at this time, she had the least control over her magic. That wasn't devastating, or even surprising, but had she been like other deities and acted as the essence of her realm, then the result would have been catastrophic. One of the reasons why she preferred to serve as a sentry, and a sort of babysitter, to the magic in Avalon. Selena could not live with the fact that perhaps she would lose her control and murder everything (and everyone) she loved in one sweep. Not many could and it would drive her, and them, mad over time. 'Mmm, he looks so scared, and surprised, and nervous,' she realized, thinking to herself how handsome he was and how much like Angelo. He could be exactly like the ex-god, except for the way he carried himself and differences in appearance. Her eyes had long since adjusted to the light, and they glimmered in the darkness, lightblue and beautiufl. 'Maybe he regrets coming here. I shouldn't have snuck up on him like that, or acted so informally.' She was sure that this meeting alone broke all sorts of etiquette, but who was going to scold them? It didn't get much higher than the gods, and it was to be assumed that the World Spirit didn't have time to chastise and teach her manners. The long silence lengthened, and she shifted, unsure if it was something she had said or if she should bother saying anything and not wanting to make his predicament worse. He just stood there ... staring ... 'Does he often do this? I can see why people would avoid the Temple of Justice, if so.' Smoothing and brushing off an imaginary piece of dust from her skirt, she waited for him to say something. 'Poor lad probably feels like an idiot by now, but I can't imagine why he wouldn't just speak freely. Am I that intimidating? Surely, I am not that beautiful. There have been few who have been awestruck simply by the sight of me, and it happened more often when I was not a goddess. Beauty is expected of me now, always.' Finally, he spoke, and she heaved a silent sigh of relief. "You didn't inconvenience me at all, I am often up late at night because of the nature of my followers. They don't seem time as an inconvenience, and neither do I. Magic works at all hours. Besides, I was just awake and having a drink," she said, adding a silent 'or seven' at the end of her sentence. She managed to get her input in before he started stuttering and fumbling with his words, no doubt regretting what he said before. 'Why is he putting so much thought into this? He seemed relaxed at the party .. what is different now?' She puzzled it out, but could not find a reason. Her eyes fastened on the book when he pulled it out and she shivered. "Yes, it's very old," she murmured, almost as though she was possessed. When he offered it, she took it carefully, stroking the cover with one long, slender finger and studying it, nodding approval when the runes lit up with purple fire at her touch. "Thank you. This is indeed a beautiful and very appropriate gift, and I'll take good care of it. I can't imagine where you came across a tome such as this; some people have been searching for it for years and years. Myself included. I think I could have tolerated being woken up if I had known that this was what you intended to give me." Her voice was serious, but her eyes were thankful. Snapping her fingers, the book disappeared* and when he spoke again, she looked up in shock. "Oh no, please. You don't have to go. I have some tea, if you like it, or stronger sorts, if that's your poison. Why don't we sit and talk awhile?" "Unless you have somewhere to go?" <ooc> Done! *Teleport Edited by Selena, Dec 1 2008, 05:43 AM.
|
|
[description] [inventory] | |
|
|
|
| Drystan | Dec 4 2008, 08:09 AM Post #5 |
|
Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum
|
He smiled faintly as she studied the book, relieved to see she had accepted it as it vanished between her fingers, undoubtedly intended to reappear somewhere on her bookshelves. He wouldn't miss it from his own extensive library, though he had hoped it would be a keepsake worthy of the Goddess' possession. "No," he replied as quickly as she had. "I have nowhere else to be, really. All that awaits me at home are some more musty books...I'm not even sure I have tea there," he joked a little, smiling warmly as he took a few steps further into the hall. He pursed his lips nervously as he waited to follow her, noting how terribly pathetic he must seem for a God. Conveniently, it seemed he only behaved like this around her. He mentally shook himself again, figuring it'd probably be best to skip any drink of a stronger sort. He'd had quite enough of that already. "Tea sounds just fine," he said again, already taking a few more steps towards her inner chambers. He lingered in his tracks, not wanting to disrespect her by simply making himself at home without being invited to. He took in his surroundings again, fighting to keep his thoughts in order as his eyes strayed lazily from the architecture back to Selena herself. She was a compelling sight to be sure, as all the deities were in their own right- it seemed to have that effect among others. Not that he himself had been unsightly in his mortal past, but it was rather the general aura of his divinity that had augmented his appearance, given him that angelic glow she possessed now. Even in the dim light, her hair seemed to catch every moonbeam until it shone like silver, her sapphire eyes glittering like precious gems in the flicker of firelight. She looked very much like him in many ways, and he supposed that was part of the reason he had been drawn to her. To Drystan, she'd seemed different from the other deities that had at least bothered to show their faces at the Nature God's gathering, certainly very different from the two that had not. The others had seemed distant, each involved in their own worlds that he knew he'd be a stranger to. Not that he was any expert in the realm of magic, but something about her told him he'd understand her better, that she might get closer to him. "Beautiful place," he remarked simply, ignoring the fact that every temple was likely just as breathtaking. "How long have you made it your home?" he inquired further, wondering how long Selena had been a Goddess. For all his endless books and knowledge he'd been bestowed, he'd found many things shrouded in mystery, she being one of those. |
|
-++ "Let Justice be done, even though the Heavens fall" ++- [[ Truth for Thyself ]] [[ Fealty to Thine Hearth ]] [[ Mercy by Thy Sword ]] [[ Wisdom before Words ]] - Burning Hands
| |
|
|
|
| Selena | Dec 6 2008, 12:07 PM Post #6 |
|
Goddess of Magic
|
Indeed, the book had appeared on the shelves of her library, in her special sanctum. Selena hadn't want to be hampered by it during their meeting, and so she had made it disappear; sometimes her smaller acts of magic were little more than just a passing thought and she wasn't always paying attention to how they would effect other people around her. 'I should pay more attention to that, but right now it's more of a part of my nature than anything else, at this point.' "I have nowhere else to be, really. All that awaits me at home are some more musty books...I'm not even sure I have tea there." Selena felt badly for the new god, she really did. Even though her life was just as lonely, she had at least a century of experience of being a goddess before her, and it wasn't as though she had been thrown into this life totally unawares. The first months were always the hardest, and it was during that time that she remembered being the most lonely. Beautiful Selena, chaste and pure, had been lonesome to the point of sickness, and it was the memory of that feeling that kept her from being just as ill again - she surrounded herself by beauty and followers, people who she could trust and those that she loved. From the sounds of it, Drystan didn't have that yet. 'Poor kid. He's very sweet for this life.' "Well then, tea we shall have!" She announced cheerfully, slurring slightly. "You'll find that I brew my own and happen to dabble in the makings of tea myself, so I'll serve something up that I guarantee you won't ever find anywhere else - even here, sometimes." Selena found it surprisingly easy to be cheerful around him, grabbing his hand and leading him into the temple, flicking her finger at the torches as she went, lighting them the deeper she went into her refuge. As they walked, she was able to listen to him talk - multitasking, even when horrendously drunk, had always been her strong suit in her lessons. In her old land, to be a goddess meant the moment anyone invoked your name in prayer, you had to listen to them. In that way, she had to be sure that she was listening and paying attention to the task at hand, as well as trying to manage many smaller, deeper conversations in her mind. Some gods never got used to that and could be seen as reclusive because they were wandering around their temples, talking to themselves and their followers. Some were so good at it that you could never tell who's attention really was where. "Beautiful place." ... "How long have you made it your home?" Selena smiled at the question, and then threw open a door with her finger, and flicked her hand at the fireplace, engulfing the wood there in crackling flames. "That's a good question, and a long story. I've been a goddess for ... much longer than I can remember, but I didn't not ascend here until very recently. This temple is an exact model of my old home, in a land far from Avalon - perhaps in a parallel dimension." A tray, laden with a teapot and two delicate teacups, as well as an assortment of cakes hovered through the halls and into the room, gliding delicately on a low table with cushions positioned for whatever guest Selena had to sit. "Please, take a seat. I'm a terrible hostess, I'm sorry," she said, taking a seat herself. "How long have you been a god, if you don't mind me asking?" |
|
[description] [inventory] | |
|
|
|
| Drystan | Dec 8 2008, 12:19 PM Post #7 |
|
Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum
|
Drystan relaxed as Selena showed him in, feeling more confident and welcome in this new place between the warmth of her hand around his and the fire that magically roared into flame with a snap of her fingers. He listened to her reply, wondering where exactly she'd come from as he knew definite little of the lands outside this one; few came here across the vast waters beyond, and even few had been brave enough to chart their borders. The stories these outsiders brought with them were just as uncertain as the accounts of fearsome sea monsters and the unimaginable dangers that faced any who dared investigate the worlds past this one. And just how long was longer than she could remember? The goddess could be referring to countless thousands of years just as easily as a decade was reckoned by mortal counts...And he hadn't even the slightest idea of what to make of the "parallel dimensions" she spoke of. He sighed gratefully as he took a seat on one of the low couches she had summoned, already feeling the strain of his questions beginning to give him a headache. He let them go and turned his focus back to her, figuring he would find out nothing more from her unless she saw fit to explain them. He wasn't even sure he could grasp the full extent of anything she'd say in his state, and she had a right to privacy besides. They all did- Their secrets were part of what kept them above mortals. He waved her off her self-deprecating comment as she sat down beside him, quite pleased enough with the tea and cakes she'd brought. He would have said something more had she not instantly launched into questions of her own, and he suddenly felt a little nervous again at being put on the spot, her bright eyes staring expectantly at him. "A matter of months, really," he replied tentatively, a little embarrassed about how little experience at this he had. It was nothing that was his fault of course, and he'd been working as hard as he could to master his new powers in the past half of a year or so. He'd tried to make up for his ineptitude, gathering all he could from books and volumes in the deepest vaults of every library and university, visiting as many places in Avalon as he could, and maintaining the ancient ruins that had been enchanted and augmented to serve as his temple. Still, he always felt less adequate than the rest of the pantheon- Even Eifel and Halli seemed to have adjusted quite well already. "I've been reading a lot," he explained defensively, pouring himself some tea to distract himself from those eyes of hers...They seemed to have the troubling ability to turn him into a stuttering idiot if he looked into them for too long. "Though I always feel a step behind...well, a thousand behind you." He smiled wryly, lifting the cup to his lips and taking a sip of the warm, flavorful liquid. He couldn't quite identify its ingredients, but it seemed to ensnare the senses. He wondered absently if Selena had added some magic of her own to it. "That leads me to what I wanted to talk to you about, actually," he continued, setting his cup down on the hovering table and sinking back into the lavishly embroidered silk cushions to make himself more comfortable. "I suppose confidence with all of this only comes with time, but I can't help feeling like a child in a world that's too big for me..." He laughed at himself as he trailed off, unsure of why exactly he was sharing this with her or if she'd even care. He took another sip of his tea, meeting her eyes as he adopted a more serious tone again. "In any event, I'm sure I'll have enemies in every corner of this world soon enough...To doubt that would be like waving a torch in a storm and asking the wind not to blow it out...if you get what I mean." He smiled again at her, torn between hoping she didn't think him irresponsible enough to visit her drunk and hoping she had figured it out so that it might excuse his awkwardness. "I wouldn't have considered visiting any of the other gods I've met to ask this of them, but I somehow figured you'd be willing to help me out; I'm not asking for your unwavering allegiance- I know our duties are first and foremost before anything else, but...I'd like to know I can count on you...I'd be pleased to call you a friend." He grinned wider at her before finishing his tea, unable to even recall if he'd phrased his question coherently enough as he waited for her to speak. ((I should think of some tortured, significant past for him...a reason why he was chosen to be the God of Justice...I'll..get back to you on that.)) |
|
-++ "Let Justice be done, even though the Heavens fall" ++- [[ Truth for Thyself ]] [[ Fealty to Thine Hearth ]] [[ Mercy by Thy Sword ]] [[ Wisdom before Words ]] - Burning Hands
| |
|
|
|
| Selena | Dec 10 2008, 01:17 PM Post #8 |
|
Goddess of Magic
|
It was easy to relax with him, now that he was more relaxed and less … jumpy. No less drunk, it seemed, but she felt the same way. There would be no stopping her now, not for a few hours until the alcohol had left her system, and she had to be on her guard- Selena did not wish to do anything that she would regret later, and she was in the bad habit of losing herself and her inhibitions when she had the drink upon her, as they would say. ‘It’s even worse now that I’m a goddess. I don’t want to be known as the useless drunkard of the pantheon, now do I?’ Selena thought to herself. She had a reputation to uphold and besmirching it with drunk antics wouldn’t be a smart idea. She was surprised that he’d made it that far in her questions without saying something totally out of line, not that she’d react if she did. ‘Poor dear needs to loosen up a bit, it can’t be easy being the new god of Justice. There are so many wrongdoers, and I bet he feels as though his duty includes personally tending to them all,’ she pitied him a bit, partly because he was trapped in his situation – just as they all were. With power came responsibility and stress, and that was the way of the world. You cannot receive anything without giving something, whether a part of yourself, or just some coin, in return. The law of Nature and the World Spirit did not work that way. “A matter of months, really.” She almost sighed. So young! So innocent! Despite his appearance, she had a feeling that he was more of boy than a man, though that was likely untrue. All men are cowed by women, for the most part. Especially women they respect or have taken a liking too (and even more so for women that they love). A king might rule on his throne, but it is the queen who controls the king in matters of delicate nature. “Ah, well. ‘tis a hard life, but you get used to it. I’m sure you feel as though everyone else knows better than you and has more followers or seems to have it all together –but I do have a secret. None of us really know what we’re doing the first couple months, and it’s all a façade to try and intimidate the others. The only people who have it together right now are Kioku and Kaliyah, because they have the benefit of experience,” she snorted and took a sip of tea. “The people will come to you eventually, they’re wary of gods because of what that terrible goddess Kioku did to this world. They’re afraid that you might be too righteous, as if such a thing exists.” Selena laughed at the compliment, and smiled good-naturedly. “I’ve had time, dear, much longer than you have. You can’t expect it all to come naturally, and some of it can’t be learned out of a book. Some lessons you learn from experience, and you will make mistakes. It’s always good to have friends though, whether inside the pantheon or beyond it. They’ll be the ones to slap you upside the head and tell you to keep moving through it.” She punctuated that sentence with a giggle and wink, though she sobered when he did. Apparently there were other reasons to this meeting, despite them both being rather drunk. Did he plan it this way? "I suppose confidence with all of this only comes with time, but I can't help feeling like a child in a world that's too big for me..." At any rate, Drystan had the right of it. He was supposed to feel that way, and he would feel that way – though she was sure that there were things that he could do to ease his passage. The world changes when your view does; the prisoner closest to the ground will always see dirt and the prisoner up higher will always see sky. Imagine you have all the power in your hands, with limitations, and it’s all of a sudden been given to you, out of the blue. You have a divine purpose … and you have no idea where to go from there. Fear was a big part of becoming a deity. It was a stressful job. Selena sometimes thought they were given immortality just to survive the first few months without dying of stress or starvation. “A friend, you say.” His entire proposal eerily reminded her of the first time she’d met Angelo, though the roles had been reversed there. Her lover had been the god and she had been a mortal, trying to get his support to claw her way back to the pantheon. Oh, how she had changed. Tapping her lips with one finger, she sat back on her couch, and mulled over it, trying to process everything, though her drunken mind was in the way a lot. “I’d be honored. I’m not good with commitment or alliances; I can’t promise that, but I would love to be your friend. You need one in a place like this. Some enemies you won’t even be able to see. Will you be mine, in return?” Edited by Selena, Dec 15 2008, 12:57 PM.
|
|
[description] [inventory] | |
|
|
|
| Drystan | Dec 11 2008, 01:46 PM Post #9 |
|
Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum
|
He pursed his lips as she snorted, feeling a little encouraged by her confession, but not much. The idea that the very guardians and masters of the elements of chaos and evil in the world were the only truly fit members of the pantheon did little to quell his fears about the coming challenges he'd face. By nature of moral alignment alone, Kaliyah was his enemy, and he expected he'd surely find himself at odds with Kioku, who governed the very thing he was fated to combat and control. Selena's words made him wonder how righteous he truly was in practice - rather, how long he could adhere to his own moral code. He tried his best to follow his ideals at every turn, but somehow trying didn’t seem like it was enough in the long run. He let the thought go, tuning back into what she was saying to feel a little more comforted. He could hardly expect himself to know everything from the get-go or be perfect at this job just yet, but he still wished he could be. He returned her wink with a smirk, unable to keep from flashing a bit of tooth in wake of her infectious giggle. It touched him, her laughter, light and bubbly like a child’s, though the way it lit up her eyes thrilled him in a manner that was decidedly less chaste. “Well if you insist,” he joked with a sly grin, delighted she’d accepted his admittedly direct proposal of friendship. “I’d love to.” He smiled again over the rim of his cup, downing what remained of the fragrant tea before setting his cup back down to readjust himself on the couch. He propped his head up on his elbow to make himself more comfortable, silently studying the tray of cakes beside the kettle before he finally decided on a circular shortbread garnished with a bit of berry jam. He munched it quietly, feeling inexplicably contented and relaxed now. He cleared his throat, considering another cup of tea to wash the cake down as he brushed the crumbs from his chest. “I’d make a toast if I’d anything left in my cup,” he said, turning his attention to the goddess again. “Though I think this calls for something a bit stronger…That is, if you'd like to share it,” he corrected himself, realizing he'd just asked for something without being offered it- Not that she hadn’t offered him something alcoholic before but still, it seemed impolite. The tea had left him with a soothing warmth, one to replaced the faded buzz of the wine he’d had earlier; but the effects of the tea were fading now too, and he didn’t want this carefree mood to end. [[Why yes, I did just riposte a shitty post back onto your plate. HAH. But don’t forget to do your homework.]] |
|
-++ "Let Justice be done, even though the Heavens fall" ++- [[ Truth for Thyself ]] [[ Fealty to Thine Hearth ]] [[ Mercy by Thy Sword ]] [[ Wisdom before Words ]] - Burning Hands
| |
|
|
|
| Selena | Dec 16 2008, 11:36 AM Post #10 |
|
Goddess of Magic
|
They were all too different, it seemed- the 'good' and the 'bad'. Nothing really was supposed to be black and white, but as the God of Justice, Drystan would not likely be able to see that. Justice never did well when dealing with 'gray' areas. There was the law, and there were people who broke the law. Justice saw that they were punished, no matter the circumstances. Supposedly always impartial, Justice would dole out punishment to anyone and everyone. She had no doubt that if she wronged Avalon in some way, it would be Drystan knocking on her door to take her down. He would not be flexible, and trees that do not bend in the wind break. It would hurt him. But in the end, he would learn. Or he would perish. Selena had seen it happen before. She hardly wanted that to happen to him, however, and was far too tipsy to really worry about it or care. Her tea helped, specially brewed for hangovers, and did a lot to dilute the alcohol - but not enough. They were still reasonably drunk, and with the pot nearly empty, there was no hope for a saving grace from that end. 'Well, it's not like anyone is forcing me to do anything, and it's my fault for getting drunk on a work night - every night is a work night now,' she pondered to herself, giggling at that, before realizing that no one had said anything particularly funny. He asked for liquor and she was all too happy to oblige. With a wave of her hand, the teapot and all it's settings disappeared, and in it's place appeared a bottle of something extremely strong smelling, and two delicate glasses, one for each. "After you, sir." She said, giggling again and gesturing that he should go first, before snapping her fingers and picking up her own glass, which was already full. She sipped it delicately, liking the kick it gave her. For a moment, it was foul tasting, then the smooth taste of the aged wine sunk in, and she put her head back and blinked, absorbing it easily. "My best vintage, for you." <ooc> Sorry. Exam week is kicking mah booty. |
|
[description] [inventory] | |
|
|
|
| Drystan | Dec 19 2008, 01:40 PM Post #11 |
|
Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum
|
He almost snorted as he suppressed another laugh, amused at the goddess' shameless giggling. Not that either of them had said anything to elicit such a response. He finally realized she must have had a fair bit more than a drink or two even before his arrival, and he felt guilty for a moment for requesting more liquor- He wouldn't want her to think he was trying to entertain himself at her expense. Still, she seemed just as up for another unneeded drink as he, instantly producing a bottle of rich, dark wine seemingly from thin air as she had before with the tea. He carefully poured himself a glass, catching the strong scent of the alcohol before he’d even lifted his glass to his lips. He sipped his drink dutifully before her, ignoring the proverbial “ladies first” rule as she’d requested in this case. The wine tasted almost overwhelmingly strong at first, before mellowing out, revealing the rich, tangy flavor of a well-crafted vintage. He smiled gently at her words and took another sip, already having forgotten he’d intended to toast to friendship or something to that end with it. “So you don't often do this, I take it?” he inquired rhetorically, cocking his head a little as he settled back again. “Entertain guests you hardly know that seek to bore you with trite conversation and bother you at odd hours of the night?” He flashed her a teasing smirk, not really expecting her to answer. “I'm honored.” “So what do you do then,” he continued, lazily swirling the wine in his glass before taking another drink. “When you’re not having company? Brew up some magic moonshine in a cauldron or something?” He chuckled a bit at his own joke, realizing too late it probably wasn’t as funny as it had sounded in his head.He really was trying too hard, but she couldn’t blame him for trying to keep up conversation. |
|
-++ "Let Justice be done, even though the Heavens fall" ++- [[ Truth for Thyself ]] [[ Fealty to Thine Hearth ]] [[ Mercy by Thy Sword ]] [[ Wisdom before Words ]] - Burning Hands
| |
|
|
|
| Selena | Dec 20 2008, 07:27 AM Post #12 |
|
Goddess of Magic
|
His eyes were bright with liquor, and Selena was always ready to observe and enjoy beauty of all sorts - Drystan was no exception. They were gods - beauty was expected of them, and as such, they were all the most unearthly beings you could behold. Some were beautiful in the classical sense of the word (Selena included), but others were so ...pure, that it was impossible to think them otherwise. She had a feeling that he belonged to the latter category. "I have been in this place once before, only he was the beautiful one, and I ... was a mortal." She thought to herself, once again struck by the similarities of this meeting and her first meeting with Angelo. Swirling the silt that was customary in the bottom of the glass, an ironic smile curved her lips. He did look cunningly like her lover, but he possessed little of the same personality. Because of her blood and the way she was raised, Selena is given to love freely - but there was no luster when she looked at Drystan. Her heart stayed rooted in her chest, it did not jump into her throat or the pit of her stomach as it did with Angelo. There was no 'love' in her gaze - just alcohol induced lust. “So you don't often do this, I take it?” Selena shrugged. "It really does depend on what you consider 'often'. I don't have company a lot, this is true, but I do drink ... quite more than you would think. I suppose you could consider it a mortal affliction of mine," she chose her words carefully, politely admitting that she was a little bit of a drunkard. It did more help than harm to say it aloud - all the gods had their vices, and she was not one to think herself weaker because of it. She knew when she had to be sober. And when it was permissible for her to be piss drunk. "Oh, and you hardly bore me. Once you get to know me better, you'll find I'm fascinated with all sorts of things." Her voice was velvet, and she crossed her legs daintily before taking a hearty sip from her delicate flute. He was teasing her. No one ever teased her, but she couldn't say she disliked the feeling. Her acolytes did not have the boldness, and those who came to visit her needed a boon of some sort - they figured that she would turn them away if they dared to address her in such a colloquial way. "When you’re not having company? Brew up some magic moonshine in a cauldron or something?” Her smile widened and she threw her head back and laughed. Moonshine, moonshine. Oh, she could remember the days of moonshine. "Hardly! I have my duties, just as you have yours. I think you mean when I'm not doing my duty by the World Spirit, or by the Avalonians and Fincayrans. Then, I can be found reading. Sometimes I knit. You never know what you'll find me doing - I have a habit of trying everything that I come across." "It's good to take up a hobby." Sighing, she finished the rest of her glass, and set it on the table, though she didn't reach for more just yet - she wanted to let that bit of liquor seep into her system slowly. "Now, I suppose it's my turn for the questions. And I only should turn them back on you. Why did you come here? Really. I'm not so foolish that I can believe that all you wanted was to deliver me a dusty (albeit useful) tome. And what do you do in your time off?" |
|
[description] [inventory] | |
|
|
|
| Drystan | Dec 22 2008, 07:56 PM Post #13 |
|
Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum
|
Drystan raised an eyebrow as he drained his glass, expressing more his interest in her confessions than his surprise at this point. He could agree that yes, everyone did have at least one vice or another, and even immortals were not flawless. Still, he somehow hadn’t expected this from the goddess- even at the party, Selena had seemed too grounded, too reliable to be the wild drunkard she made herself out to be. He swallowed back the wine and set down his cup, cracking another smirk when she said he didn’t bore her. He felt himself flush, stirred suddenly not by her words, but by the way she’d said them. The goddess’ voice flowed like honey from her lips, seductive and rich, enchanting enough to make him forget to breath for a moment. He couldn’t be sure whether she’d intended it or not, but now he could not tear his gaze from her, as transfixed by those lips of hers as he was by her eyes. He blinked as if awakened from a daze at her own questions, finding himself again the tongue-tied fool he had been when he’d first seen her. He recovered quicker this time though, chewing the inside of his cheek thoughtfully as he struggled to form a response. His lips twisted nervously again, though his eyes did not break from hers, boldly matching her prying stare with an unflinching one of his own. She’d finally done it, called him on the unspoken pretense he hardly knew the truth of himself. This was a game now, he could sense it, and there was no way he could cheat at it. “In plain honesty then,” he began, speaking with an intensity not unlike hers he hadn’t shown before, “I doubt I would have come without the encouragement of more than my fair share of wine.” He fell silent again, floundering to voice what he’d really expected to find here. He would have laughed when he realized it, had it not been so painfully true. “I came for want of company, a desire I suppose becomes all too clear when all else is muddled by drink. I tired of my own books, tragically discovered I had no skill for knitting, and so I thought of you.” He smiled wryly, hoping his joke might detract from any impoliteness he might have implied. “I read often, like you,” he continued in answer to her second question, eager to regain comfortable footing again. “In hopes I might make up for the years you and the others have over mine. “Still, that is not where my passion lies, but in metalworking. I have my own forge, tucked away in my halls- I’m sure I spend more time there than anywhere else. I find a comfort in it, as if the fiery smithy were my mother’s womb…Strange, as it likely seems a hell to most, but when I’m there, I am master of everything- No secrets are kept from me there, and the steel never lies; even the most impure metals can be tempered, and with a bit of work, it always bends to my will.” His eyes fell from hers at last, twinkling as he gently regarded something distant behind her. “Truth be told, that is the only place I truly feel like a god. It’s there I create weapons, armor, rings, trinkets, anything that strikes my fancy, and just as easily destroy them. I wish I had been made God of the Forge and not God of Justice- at least then, every step would be clear, and I’d never by nature be fated to find someone against me at every turn.” Drystan sighed softly, returning to meet those stunning eyes of hers again, enraptured once more by something other than thoughts of his trade. “But of course you think me mad now, don’t you?” he asked with a devilish grin, teasing her like he had before. It was somehow so easy to play with her like this, open himself to the same humorous judgment he exercised on her, without fearing she’d hold anything against him. “I have told you of my craft,” he declared as he fixed her with a penetrating stare, curious to know more about the ways of her magic. “What else can you do with yours?” |
|
-++ "Let Justice be done, even though the Heavens fall" ++- [[ Truth for Thyself ]] [[ Fealty to Thine Hearth ]] [[ Mercy by Thy Sword ]] [[ Wisdom before Words ]] - Burning Hands
| |
|
|
|
| Selena | Feb 9 2009, 06:34 AM Post #14 |
|
Goddess of Magic
|
It was odd how the little things could be skipped over by the worshipping eye - the drunkenness, the tendency to perhaps indulge a lot, and other such vices that followers did not see because they did not wish to see it. No god (or goddess, for that matter) had ever gone down in history for simply enjoying his ale too much. And Selena doubted they ever would. The basis of faith was the belief that underneath all the mess that happened to be humanity, there were beings who were above such things and could (perhaps) influence fate. People need things to believe in, because without it, the world seems too ugly and harsh for their eyes. Without something bigger than themselves, the fact that they aren't quite so small becomes a reality - and there is no one else to take the blame for mistakes that lay solely on your shoulders. That was not to say -- however -- that it was easy being that someone. When things went badly, despite all efforts on the hand of the pantheon, it was always said to be their fault. A war gone bad? The losers say that the gods did not favor them. A war gone well (if possible)? The winners say that it is only by the gods grace that they win. Everything suddenly becomes your domain, and a lot of hate and strife is passed around on your behalf. Peace is hard to attain and even harder to keep. The world had to be taken in relativity. Compared to how life in Avalon could be, this time of hardship was nothing and would pass easily. Drystan was shifting before her, the little nuances of his body language telling her that he was uncomfortable and nervous to be talking to her. It almost seemed like he was chewing on his tongue, a muscle in his jaw working as he obviously ruminated over something. For a moment, she thought about tapping him on the back of the head, wondering that if she hit him hard enough, an answer would come out of his finely shaped mouth. “I doubt I would have come without the encouragement of more than my fair share of wine.” Her mouth formed a delicate "o", though not in surprise, but more of confusion as to why he was being so honest. Despite the liberal amount of liquor they'd both consumed, it was nothing compared to what their bodies could take, and yet he was being rather forward. Selena knew little of this dance, the one without a fan to hide her face behind. "So, you were lonely," she summarized, before chuckling. No one could blame him; a temple was always a lonely place, and the words "no one understands me" take on new meaning once you realize that there are few people on earth who are in the same position you are in. "Please, dear, do not be so afraid to be blunt with me. I understand. Once, I was a young goddess too. I was lonely much of the time but my situation was a bit more ... ah, unique. I could not go to others with my feelings, and so I suffered in my alabaster shrine. You are always welcome here." It was easy to sit and listen to him talk about his forge, and his art. When someone truly loves to do something, you can always tell in the way that their eyes stop focusing on you and start gazing off, as though remembering a far off and beautiful place. "Obviously I think he would have been happy as a simple forge worker, a simple blacksmith. Fate dealt him a different hand, and he's dealing with it the best way that he knows how," she thought, impressed with him. It took a different & valuable type of person to adapt so quickly to what your "destiny" truly is. Shaking her head, she chuckled again. "How can I think you mad! You obviously have so much passion towards making things, I envy you. There is not a lot I am truly skilled at, though life has gifted me with certain natural abilities. I was raised for this job, and this job alone. When I was younger, I never had a chance to experiment for myself and find out where my true arts lay." She confessed, before shrugging one shoulder and relaxing it again, reclined and easily comfortable on her couch. "With magic ... it is less of an actual tangible being, but more of a part of me. Whenever a stain enters the lifeforce, I know. I feel it. It harms me as it would anyone else connected to the stream of arcane abilities all around us. I am more of a guardian, a caretaker." "If you mean my hobbies, I do confess that the only thing that I can really knit are shabby looking socks." |
|
[description] [inventory] | |
|
|
|
| Drystan | Jul 28 2009, 06:03 AM Post #15 |
|
Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum
|
Drystan stayed silent for a moment before bursting out into hearty laughter, sure it was mostly the drink and not merely the sheer comedy of her last comment that had struck him as inexplicably amusing. He put his hand habitually to his mouth, his thumb crossing his lips as if to help him quiet down. "I'm sorry," he explained with a chuckle, "It's only that...well I suppose it's rather pleasantly ironic in a way, how an immortal like yourself, the singlemost keeper of all the spells, wielder of the most arcane and powerful of magics in all of Avalon, can't even craft herself a decent pair of socks." He laughed through closed lips again, cocking his head ever so slightly as he fixed her pensively. "Perhaps we're all a bit more human then we'd like to admit, no?" he ventured with a smile, oddly comforted by the goddess' even humorous admission of that one small weakness. And yet, he still felt like he possessed infinitely more failings speak of. "Still," he continued, his tone instantly playful again. "I'm sure they're far less shabby than any socks I'd try to knit. With my luck, I'd probably end up with a couple of gloves. The strongest, lightest, most fluid mail shirt every warrior can only dream to own, though? Now that I can weave." "I wonder what Kaliyah and Kioku do for fun", he mused aloud after a short pause, biting his lip dramatically as his eyes regarded something fascinating on the ceiling. "You don't suppose they knit too, do you?" he asked, turning back to her with an impish grin. "That'd be a sight for sure...someone really should find out about that. Or at the very least, leak such a rumor to the local pamphlets. Of course they more likely entertain themselves with exciting mass executions or hold their own pool-of-blood bashes- Maybe a masquerade now and again, though of course all attendees must come dressed in the skin of their latest victim. "They didn't show to that little party as I'm sure you noticed," he continued, stretching out a little more on his side of the couch. "Can't really say I was disappointed, but it probably would have at least been a bit more exciting had they come. By nature of course, I suppose we're fated to be enemies, even if they haven't even given me a proper chance to get to know them. I expect before long, they'll have my likeness pasted to a dart board or something." Drystan sighed heavily, the lighter tone fading from his voice again as his eyes fell to his empty wineglass. He offered the bottle to his host before pouring himself a refill, already speaking in earnest again before he'd set the wine down and turned back to Selena. "I would be curious to know more about this League of Darkness, if you've anything of import to tell me about that. Books and spies can only offer so much...It's hard enough being left in the dark, feeling suddenly as if half the world is up against you when I've hardly even got one foot in the door, so to speak. "And I'm not quite sure I understand how you inherited this position either," he pressed from behind a fresh sip of his drink, quite oblivious to the meandering context of his own words. "I myself sort of, stumbled into all of this, while the rest of you seem to have been shaped and destined for this as easily as a sculptor's piece of marble. How much of your...abilities have you learned, or have you always possessed them? It is strange how I once never concerned myself much with the gods of this place, doubted their existence even, and here I find myself keeping throne among them," he trailed off, blinking after a moment as if he'd just awakened from a daydream. "I apologize if I've been too invasive," he countered quickly with a surrendering raise of his hand. "I realize I may be pressing for more information than I am welcome to, but I can't help feeling like a foreigner to all of this," he added with a gentle smile before growing momentarily quiet again. "I can't tell you how much of a rare comfort to me your counsel is, Selena. As you said, I've been lonely," he admitted, taking a longer sip this time in defeat. He stared blankly at her for a few moments, laughing rather awkwardly to himself a couple times before he'd managed to muster his words again. "And here my thoughts have abandoned me, again. I could have sworn I had a point," he said sheepishly, drowning any further imminent laughter with the remaining third of his glass. |
|
-++ "Let Justice be done, even though the Heavens fall" ++- [[ Truth for Thyself ]] [[ Fealty to Thine Hearth ]] [[ Mercy by Thy Sword ]] [[ Wisdom before Words ]] - Burning Hands
| |
|
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Temple of Magic · Next Topic » |
2:01 PM Mar 20
