Fantasy Farewell to Kings: Elide’s Tale

[Jodyguru]

Leona looked at Elide and nodded. “I promise I won’t forget you... either of you.” She smiled and ran off to find her retainer.
“That’s not a good thing if she turns us over. Do you trust her?” Bart asked. It wouldn’t be hard for someone to be two-faced in the situation they were in. They had no power in this city. They were totally at this woman’s mercy now.

 

[A Play On Words]

"I don't know... I'm hoping that I can." She sighed, leaning against Bart. Elide looked up at him and smiled. "We'll figure it out,"

 

[Jodyguru]

From there, they decided to stay at an inn on the last of Bart’s money. He started looking through the inn’s guests and roamed the taverns to find out what jobs were open. He took up carpentry during the day and went out with the boys at night, keeping them safe while they drank. They paid in beer and money.

-A month passes-

After word spread of a good bodyguard, Bart started getting work protecting wealthy clients. One of which paid for a small dwelling near their house. Bart was the human shield for Fon Graham, a wealthy Elven banker.

((from here I would ask you to describe at length what Elide sought out during the month. I.e. research crystals, find work, seek training, whatever))

 

[A Play On Words]

Elide had spent her time trying to maintain her secrecy within the city. Elide tried to pitch in where she could, taking jobs here and there. She found the most success in dancing. She primarily did it for the entertainment of the others, earning quite a lot in the process. Elide researched what she could when she had the opportunity, but often found nothing. Elide tried talking to the other women of the chapel, but they just thought she was crazy. Elide had slowly grown accustomed to her life there. She saw her father occasionally stare off his balcony and look down at the people he claimed he loved, only filling her with a deep and continuous hatred for the man.

 

[Jodyguru]

It was late summer. Elide was home, and Bart was out with Fon, walking him to work as he did every morning. There was a hasty knocking at the door.
It was Leona, holding a thick book in her arm and carrying a leather satchel. Her hair was tied back and greasy and she wore a pair of spectacles.
“Oh good! I finally found you.” She smiled. “Remember me from the southern church? It’s Leona. You’re the nice young lady with the eye. I kept my promise. May I come in?”
Elide had never given her a name. The healing maiden had to watch the locals and ask around in order to track down the gypsie girl’s dwelling.

 

[A Play On Words]

Elide jumped at the unexpected knock but rushed to open it. She smiled at the sight of Leona and allowed her inside. She carefully closed the door before turning back t her. "Good morning! Can I get you anything?" She asked with a smile as she walked towards the kitchen.

 

[Jodyguru]

Leona entered and said no, she was fine. She set the big book down on a table and let out a long sigh.
“I’ve been very busy this past month. I consulted a friend, who showed me what she knows about crystal therapy. I’m currently in the works of fashioning an orb myself. During my research I learned a few things that... left me concerned. I hope I can have your full cooperation in this venture, if you still wish to have your brand contained.”

 

[A Play On Words]

A wide smile spread across her face as she sat down. "Please, do tell"

 

[Jodyguru]

Leona smiled back, but seemed a little forced. “Well, for starters I don’t know who you are, nor the gruff man who woke me from my depression. On top of that, I felt something unsettling on our last encounter. You have a unique magical presence that I’ve never felt before. It made me do research on wild magics. What I found is considered profane in the eyes of my faith’s leader. I would be right in his eyes to turn you in, but a month has since passed, and I give my word on the holy texts that I have kept everything a secret. Now I visit you as a guest, not as a maiden of Mitra. I want to know who you really are.”

 

[A Play On Words]

Elide let out a quiet sigh before answering. "My name is Elide Taurin. I'm a gypsy who was born and raised far from here in a township called Aeravine. My mother fell in love with the man who killed her. The high king, Marcelo Sylvain... So I guess my real name is Elide Sylvain." She said quietly, it was the name she never used, the name she despised, the name that gave her power.

 

[Jodyguru]

Leona nearly choked. She gasped hard and started coughing. “Water... water” she coughed. She waited and after having a drink she sighed and composed herself. Her hand started glowing while she murmured a prayer. She looked at Elide with gold swirls in her eyes. After a moment they returned to normal brown.
“I simply can’t believe it. My zone of truth spell is working...” she was surprised to have found her pool of casting at this moment.
“Mitra has answered my prayer, that means I’m not being lied to, and I’m doing what she has planned for me. Still, I cannot believe my lord, the high king, would be capable of such... “ she seemed to fade away into a memory. Long ago, there was shouting and the maidens were shooed into the laundry room. She saw a glimpse of the high king with a wicked smirk as a vagabond had been brought before him by the guards.

“The high king murdered your mother.” She repeated it like a fact. “I will pray for her today. All souls deserve her loving embrace if they live good, humble lives. Elide... I want to help you, but I’m afraid. There is great darkness surrounding you. I feel it. Despite that, you are a good person. I am baffled, honestly.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"It's the aether... Well what the gypsies call magic... It's the life force of the universe, and we aren't supposed to ever be exposed to it completely. It's heavenly and it's a gift but it is also a curse and is a monster... My father sent a sword through my eye as a child, assuming that would kill me... But my mother performed one last incantation before she died, splitting the bonds between the aether and me... So I am the aether... I am not good but nor am I evil." Elide explained, staring down at her hands.

 

[Jodyguru]

Leona reached out to Elide and held her hand. The maiden had very warm, gentle hands.

“You are good. I see the good at your core, surrounded by darkness. The good in you sought to comfort a total stranger when others who call themselves good would look away. I can tell your compassion for others runs deep. This aether you described is very intriguing. If only I were better studied in arcane fields. I have done much to prepare for containment. Behold.”
She reached into her leather bag and produced a small velvet pouch. Inside, she pulled out a crystal orb. Aside from looking like clear glass, there was a ring within the orb similar to an iris.
“I’ve been working on this in my spare time. Be careful, it isn’t complete yet. Hardstone carving on this scale is delicate work.”
She handed the orb to Elide. It was light and a little rough. The light that hit the orb refracted into many tiny rainbows.

 

[A Play On Words]

She stared down at it, a brightened smile on her face. She gently ran her finger over the rough surface. "It's beautiful..."

 

[Jodyguru]

Leona smiled. “It’ll look better when it’s finished. I still don’t know how I’m going to contain the brand. The only one I can think to ask is Lady Marta, but she’s very close to the high king. If I mention it to her, it’s very likely he’ll catch wind of it. I need to find someone who knows surgery and ritual magic. That’s what I found through study.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"Seek out other gypsies... Normally every caravan has someone who's a perfectionist in ritual type magic... I haven't found any here, mainly because it would be too big of a risk for me... But that's all I know regarding those kinds of magic." Elide smiled, trying to help Leona in the best way she could.

 

[Jodyguru]

Leona shook her head. “I’d have to leave the city to do that, and I’d lose even more status than I have with the Sisterhood if I left Dominion. They don’t like Gypsies, I’m afraid. I’m sure someone in the city exists with those skills. We need to find them.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"I'll do what I can... I'll write to a few of my caravan sisters back home, and see if they can help us," Elide placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, offering her an encouraging smile.

 

[Jodyguru]

Leona smiled and let out another big sigh. She was hanging onto a lot of anxiety. She was allying herself with someone her home has deemed an outsider who must be stopped. She had to help in the name of goodness and piety. Keeping this a secret from those she was supposed to trust was going to be hard.

“I need to ask a question. What will you use this crystal orb to accomplish?”

 

[A Play On Words]

"I think it will be able to help me control my powers... At least that's what my sword told me." She stopped before laughing, "Don't ask,"

 

[Jodyguru]

Leona didn’t laugh. She nodded. “That doesn’t really answer my question. The orb will give you control, but what means do you intend to use this power for?” She wanted to know what goal she was helping to accomplish by helping Elide.

 

[A Play On Words]

"Well I can show you." Elide sighed and pushed herself to her feet. "Stay back." She said quickly, letting the beast take control. Elide's body fell limp to the ground, the beast rising from it, the true form of her aether magic. "This is why" It hissed before melting back into Elide.
She shivered before standing up

 

[Jodyguru]

Leona was taken aback. This is what Elide meant by being one with the aether. She looked quite shocked.
“Sweet mother of the sun... this is what my destiny holds? To bring more of this into creation? You’ve got murderous ideas, don’t you? The power I give you will be used to destroy, kill and maim. Is that it?”

 

[A Play On Words]

"No... I need it, so I can keep that from killing the people I love... Every time I use my magic I either pass out or it takes over... I live in constant fear that at any moment it will take full control and I won't be able to return or control its wish for bloodshed." Elide sighed, rubbing the back of her neck with one hand as she paced the kitchen.

 

[Jodyguru]

Leona’s expression softened. She felt bad for accusing her of bad intentions. “I’m sorry, Elide. I don’t understand what it’s like to have those feelings. I’ve been weak my entire life, forced to rely on others to do difficult things for me. All I have is faith in God and faith in my people. Faith alone will not help you, and I’m trying like heck to help anyway. I’ll help you in any way I can. I promise you that.”