Perception roll for XP: 14

[[Last posted move]]

[[When they get to stables]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Perception roll for XP: 14

[[Brand has proficiency with Perception so that means two things: 1) the above roll should have had a +4 bonus; and, 2) Brand gains 15 experience points (which I have already added to his character sheet).]]

[[Last posted move]]

[[Thanks.]]

[[When they get to stables]]

[[The town residence would have its own stables. Let me know if you don't want to go there in your next move.]]

Alaric glances at Mikkel, noting his stiff gait after a few hours in the saddle. "It's none of my business, but have you ever considered asking at the Temples about that leg of yours? There was a priestess of Asura in Ilbarsis who worked wonders -- I don't doubt Constantine must have such people."

[[Was she based in Ilbarsis, or Constantine? Are there other healers? At the School? Asura is 'knowledge', but is that also healing? What was Brnad's accident, and who healed him before heading to NN for R&R?]]

[[Briefly, as it is after midnight.

1. Priestess of Asura: I can't remember, but likely Constantine.
2. Asura is knowledge, which would cover Medicine, Herbalism and the like.
3. Healing isn't common as I don't run the official Cleric class. The priests in the temple are just that priests, not clerics.
4. Some cleric spells are available to arcane casters as re-skinned magic-user spells.
5. Herbalism and similar skills are taught at the school.
6. There can be permanent scars in this world.
7. I can't remember where the idea of an 'accident' for Brand came from.

]]

"The army's magi already did their magic on me, Master Alaric," Mikkel says in answer to Brand's observation. "I would have lost my leg without them."

[[The town residence would have its own stables. Let me know if you don't want to go there in your next move.]]

Residence stables are good.

1. Priestess of Asura: I can't remember, but likely Constantine.
   OK. That sort of accords; I had a feeling she was visiting Ilbarsis.
   
2. Asura is knowledge, which would cover Medicine, Herbalism and the like.
   Good to know.
   
3. Healing isn't common as I don't run the official Cleric class. The priests in the temple are just that priests, not clerics.
   I *think* she was a Psychic healer, not a cleric. She *may* have helped Wamzut (?) with Dworkins arm
   
4. Some cleric spells are available to arcane casters as re-skinned magic-user spells.
   That's interesting to know. Would I know what sort? I was wondering about divination ones.
   
5. Herbalism and similar skills are taught at the school.
   That's actually familiar; I remember a femal herbalist, I think.
   
6. There can be permanent scars in this world.
   OK.
   
7. I can't remember where the idea of an 'accident' for Brand came from.
   Me. The problem was that I saw no way that Brand would leave Constantine without first making contact with Melitta or Dworkin (wild horses etc). You (for story reasons I think) wanted that not to happen. My solution was Brand used his new found Astral Travel powers to seek Dworkin; he tried repeatedly and failed. After his last attempt, he woke up several days later in a bed with a healer tending him; he had no recollection of what happened; he also had a blinding headache and was very weak. He also had a feeling that leaving Constantine might be safest for him. To me this seemed to satisfy both our requirements: wild horses were needed, and found, he remains in the dark with regards to Melitta and Dworkin.
   

Alaric glances at Mikkel, noting his stiff gait after a few hours in the saddle. "It's none of my business, but have you ever considered asking at the Temples about that leg of yours? There was a priestess of Asura in Ilbarsis who worked wonders -- I don't doubt Constantine must have such people."

"The army's magi already did their magic on me, Master Alaric," Mikkel says in answer to Brand's observation. "I would have lost my leg without them."

Alaric nods, and leads Actress to the tackle room. "I'll deal with Actress, she can be skittish" he says as he removes her saddle and starts to rub her down, watching as Mikkel takes the saddle from his own mount. A stable hand offers to take over from Alaric, but he shakes his head, and says "Help Mikkel. I will tend to her myself." He absent mindedly rubs her neck, and the muscles along her side shivver, steam coming off her body.

Looking again at Mikkel, he says "I'm sorry I dragged you all the way out here, but I enjoyed the conversation...and the ride. Perhaps you could get things ready in the residence, and I will follow presently."

When he's finished tending Actress, he covers her with a blanket and leads her to the water trough, where she drinks greedily. As she is finishing, he hands her reins to a stable hand who leads her back to the stalls. He watches her for any sings of discomfort, but she seems to be in fine condition.

Turning toward the house, Alaric heads inside to his room to change out of his chainmail and into the more comfortable leather he prefers, then asks the matre d' if his father is home, and if not, when he is expected.

[[If no other events intervene, then his next plan is to head to the SooS]]

[[What time of day is it? Mid-day-ish?]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

1. Priestess of Asura: I can't remember, but likely Constantine.
   OK. That sort of accords; I had a feeling she was visiting Ilbarsis.
   
2. Asura is knowledge, which would cover Medicine, Herbalism and the like.
   Good to know.
   
3. Healing isn't common as I don't run the official Cleric class. The priests in the temple are just that priests, not clerics.
   I *think* she was a Psychic healer, not a cleric. She *may* have helped Wamzut (?) with Dworkins arm
   [[Didn't Dworkin lose his arm after he became a Lion of Engle, in which case Brand hasn't met this woman and Dworkin didn't lose his arm in this version of the world. In any case, I'm going to have to retcon it so that the Dworkin of this timeline didn't lose an arm.]]
4. Some cleric spells are available to arcane casters as re-skinned magic-user spells.
   That's interesting to know. Would I know what sort? I was wondering about divination ones.
   [[Not really. It's sort of on a case-by-case basis based on need, not a systematic thing. But it does open up access to Cleric spells to other casters.]]
5. Herbalism and similar skills are taught at the school.
   That's actually familiar; I remember a femal herbalist, I think.
   
6. There can be permanent scars in this world.
   OK.
   
7. I can't remember where the idea of an 'accident' for Brand came from.
   Me. The problem was that I saw no way that Brand would leave Constantine without first making contact with Melitta or Dworkin (wild horses etc). You (for story reasons I think) wanted that not to happen. My solution was Brand used his new found Astral Travel powers to seek Dworkin; he tried repeatedly and failed. After his last attempt, he woke up several days later in a bed with a healer tending him; he had no recollection of what happened; he also had a blinding headache and was very weak. He also had a feeling that leaving Constantine might be safest for him. To me this seemed to satisfy both our requirements: wild horses were needed, and found, he remains in the dark with regards to Melitta and Dworkin.
   [[Sounds good. And to add to the story. His disturbing nightmares have only started since leaving New Nineveh to come home. He still astral travels occasionally during sleep, but his nightmares are becoming more frequent.]]

Alaric glances at Mikkel, noting his stiff gait after a few hours in the saddle. "It's none of my business, but have you ever considered asking at the Temples about that leg of yours? There was a priestess of Asura in Ilbarsis who worked wonders -- I don't doubt Constantine must have such people."

"The army's magi already did their magic on me, Master Alaric," Mikkel says in answer to Brand's observation. "I would have lost my leg without them."

Alaric nods, and leads Actress to the tackle room. "I'll deal with Actress, she can be skittish" he says as he removes her saddle and starts to rub her down, watching as Mikkel takes the saddle from his own mount. A stable hand offers to take over from Alaric, but he shakes his head, and says "Help Mikkel. I will tend to her myself." He absent mindedly rubs her neck, and the muscles along her side shivver, steam coming off her body.

[[She wouldn't have gotten so hot while walking through the city proper and the city is large, so she would have had plenty of time to cool down.]]

 

Looking again at Mikkel, he says "I'm sorry I dragged you all the way out here, but I enjoyed the conversation...and the ride. Perhaps you could get things ready in the residence, and I will follow presently."

When he's finished tending Actress, he covers her with a blanket and leads her to the water trough, where she drinks greedily. As she is finishing, he hands her reins to a stable hand who leads her back to the stalls. He watches her for any sings of discomfort, but she seems to be in fine condition.

Turning toward the house, Alaric heads inside to his room to change out of his chainmail and into the more comfortable leather he prefers, then asks the matre d' if his father is home, and if not, when he is expected.

[[If no other events intervene, then his next plan is to head to the SooS]]

[[What time of day is it? Mid-day-ish?]]

[[Late lunchish; about a candle (i.e., an hour after midday).]]

On his way out of the stables, Alaric sees the housemaster, Abrams, in conversation with Mikkel. 

As he walks towards them, Mikkel breaks away and heads into the house carrying his belongings while Abrams heads towards Brand.

"Master Alaric," says Abrams sounding a little put out. "Nobody told me you were coming."

[[References, in case you want to have horse stuff in book. I've clearly got things mixed up a bit, and it depends critically on current weather...

Fyi just checked a horse care site and he shouldn't remove saddle before watering, apparently. I was going on old vague memories. According to same article there's some simple rules re heating:

"Overheating is possible any time the temperature (farenheit) and humidity combined are more than 150"

Not sure what is like in Constantine, but those numbers would be unpleasant.

Site link: https://www.equisearch.com/articles/cooling-out-hot-horse-17252

Steam may be a different thing tho: I only ever saw stream on cold days -- sweat and high body temp.

And re steam, it seems to depend on season etc: https://www.weatherbeeta.com/blog/post/cool-out-your-hot horse-safely-this-winter/

]]

"Master Alaric," says Abrams sounding a little put out. "Nobody told me you were coming."

Brand furrows his brow, pauses in his walk and turns to face the house master, "Apologies, Abrams. You in fact have several hours to prepare: I will leave shortly, and be back by this evening. All I require now is to change clothes and go about some business in town. I believe Mikkel is dealing with the former, and will also be out of the house this afternoon."

[[If Mikkel is junior to Abrams and likely to be roped in to work, then I would add]] "I will be asking Mikkel to run some errands around town, but we should both be back by this evening."

When Brand next sees Mikkel, ask him to keep an eye out around town. "The mood has changed considerably since I was last here, and you may gain insights that es cape me."

[[ About the dreams: all I have is "The terror of fleeing through a dark world of unforgiving stone and cold is fading, but for the moment, he can still remember the glowing red eyes that chased him through the darkness."

If he's having them regularly, he should take notes (I think I even recall that advice from Nathaniel about lucid dreaming).

1. Can you list common threads?
2. Common images?
3. Are they (eyes/setting) at all familiar?
4. Can he control the dreams?
5. Is anyone else present?
6. Are they associated with Astral Travelling? Precede? After? With? After long break?
7. Does he have a sense of what the eyes look like? Glowind red...surrounded by human eye sockets, or something else?
   
8. Just confirming: he feels that the eyes are definitely hunting him?

Re: Astral Travel:

• I'd suggest it only restarted in the last month or so, otherwise you are going to face me asking for details of 3 months Astral Travelling
• Perhaps with the restart, Brand also started planning his return...is that when the dreams started, or was it more immediate when he started returning?
• He would be cautious at first, finally heeding Nathaniels warnings -- perhaps just exploring New Nineveh a little.The caution won't last tho, now he's back in Constantine.
• How often does he travel, and is he much closer to control? He's been meditating for a while, and reading Nathaniels book...

]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[References, in case you want to have horse stuff in book. I've clearly got things mixed up a bit, and it depends critically on current weather...

Fyi just checked a horse care site and he shouldn't remove saddle before watering, apparently. I was going on old vague memories. According to same article there's some simple rules re heating:

"Overheating is possible any time the temperature (farenheit) and humidity combined are more than 150"

Not sure what is like in Constantine, but those numbers would be unpleasant.

Site link: https://www.equisearch.com/articles/cooling-out-hot-horse-17252

Steam may be a different thing tho: I only ever saw stream on cold days -- sweat and high body temp.

And re steam, it seems to depend on season etc: https://www.weatherbeeta.com/blog/post/cool-out-your-hot horse-safely-this-winter/

]]

[[Wow! Good detail, but let's just say the horse wasn't in anyway distressed from the ride.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

"Master Alaric," says Abrams sounding a little put out. "Nobody told me you were coming."

Brand furrows his brow, pauses in his walk and turns to face the house master, "Apologies, Abrams. You in fact have several hours to prepare: I will leave shortly, and be back by this evening. All I require now is to change clothes and go about some business in town. I believe Mikkel is dealing with the former, and will also be out of the house this afternoon."

Abrams begins to look a little easier after Brand's words. "Thank you, Master Alaric," he says. "That will give us time to... ah, prepare a room. We have quite a few... ah, visitors at the moment."

[[If Mikkel is junior to Abrams and likely to be roped in to work, then I would add]] "I will be asking Mikkel to run some errands around town, but we should both be back by this evening."

[[Abrams is senior to Mikkel, but Mikkel is Brand's personal servant, so he can probably use Brand's name to pull rank.]]

When Brand next sees Mikkel, ask him to keep an eye out around town. "The mood has changed considerably since I was last here, and you may gain insights that es cape me."

[[The above is put on hold for when this happens.]]

[[I *may* get less prolific: my next assignment is about to be released and will have a short timeframe and is worth 50%...]]

Brand nods to Abram, and resumes his walk toward the house...then pauses and turns back to him.

"Visitors?"

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[I *may* get less prolific: my next assignment is about to be released and will have a short timeframe and is worth 50%...]]

That's okay, I'm doing this in between trying to do lots of paid work, so slowing down might be good.

"Visitors?" asks Brand of Abrams.

"Yes, Master Alaric," says Abrams, once again looking concerned. "Ah... Currently all the bedrooms are in use. I'm sure I can clear one of them for you by this evening, but for the moment..."

"Don't trouble yourself too much; I could spend the night in town, there are worse fates. But, who are our visitors?"

"People your father has brought in," says Abrams, looking both relieved and a little nervous. "You know the sort I mean..."

Then he adds hastily, "But they've never stayed overnight before."

"Thank you, Abrams. Now, I must get changed."

Alaric heads into the house in search of his room and Mikel.

[[Broad plan: change into studded leather getup, no sword. Say his piece to Mikkel, try to catch a glimpse of the visitors...it's lunch, perhaps he could bring some wine or food to the likely meeting room, or go to the kitchen and offer to carry (in an insistent sort of way)? Then head to school. I'm sure you will throw in some roadblocks.]]

Carrying what gear Mikkel didn't take with him, Brand makes his way into the house with Abrams on his heels being thoroughly apologetic about everything.

As he passes the entrance to the kitchen he sees that the staff are cleaning up from lunch. It seems they have catered for quite a few people. Abrams apparently sees something that is not right and peels off at this point to start reprimanding someone in the kitchen.

Brand continues on heading for the room he normally uses when he is in the residence. While on the way he sees a number of people; some he knows from the past and some that are new to him. They all look at him as he passes, but the looks are either curious or welcoming, depending on whether he knows the person or not. Those he knows are all part of his father's network of spies and informants.

Mikkel is at the entrance to his normal room talking to someone inside. Brand approaches and finds his manservant talking with a young Sorian woman, who it seems is the one who has taken his room.

Brand bows, "I do not believe we have met. Alaric Brand at your service, Madam". He turns briefly to Mikkel, "I think I should perhaps find alternative accommodation, don't you Mikkel? No point in disturbing our guest unnecessarily." He then turns back to the woman expectantly.

"Thank you, kind sir," says the woman with a little nod of the head. "Your kindness is very welcome at this time, and I hope I will only inconvenience you for one night more."

The woman has an air of culture about her, but she isn't forthcoming with a name.

[[Make a Perception roll to try to learn more about her.]]

Perception: 11

"Its not an inconvenience; anyone who works with my father is deserving of our hospitality and respect.", he bows his head slightly again, and turns to Mikkel, "Tell Abrams not to boot anyone else out of their bed. If necessary I will sleep on a camp bed in the library."

Then, almost as an afterthought, he turns back to the woman and asks "Have the meetings finished for the day, or are there more planned?"

 [[Is this persuasion or intuition or both: he's trying to find out if she's included in the meeting and if there are more planned]]