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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Jan 16, 2017 3:07:36 GMT
The gambit worked out as Pern walked with him just a bit longer to the place he was suppose to go to. He could have found his way there on his own easily. This was not the first time he had been to an unfamiliar city and was expected to find his way around after all. But he wanted to spend just a little bit longer with the orcess, even if they didn't talk along the way. It was pleasant, but they arrived sooner than he liked. Once there, they were met with a pair of guards. Lord Silverblood. That was his eldest brother, not him. M'Lord. He winced as he heard the word. He smiled with a bit of unease behind it to them as he said, "It is just Kaelen. I am no Lord." Kaelen then turned his attention to Pern. He smiled to her as he said, "I hate to part, but it seems we must." Kaelen unstrapped his sword. He wrapped the belt around the sheathe as he got one last look over the orcess. The company was sure to be about to get less pleasant, he just knew it. He drew part of the blade out of the sheathe to show off the metal as he said, "Be careful if you take it out of the sheathe for any reason. The enchantment is always in effect outside the sheathe. This blade is my life, so I will entrust it with you." The metal of the blade resembled silver that had been burnt or as if it was a steel with a silverish tint to it. Runes were etched into blade and glowed faintly the same color as the lightning running across the exposed surface. Kaelen pushed the blade back in after a moment and handed it over to Pern. He then pulled out his dagger and held the hilt of it out for her to take. Once she had everything, he would smile to her. "Until we meet again my lovely guide." Kaelen said before he turned his attention to the pair of guards. "I am disarmed now. I believe it is time I enter the meeting hall."
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Post by Pern on Jan 16, 2017 3:29:23 GMT
Pern took the weapons from Kaelen with the comfort of someone deeply familiar with their weight, their edge, and their value. She nodded, all hint of a smile gone away, before glancing down at the blade as he passed it over.
Golden eyes briefly reflected the glimmer of shock coursing along the surface of the sword. The Orc's eyebrows visibly raised before disappearing within her hairline.
"I - of coursh," Pern stammered, nodding as she pulled her gaze away from it to look the man in the eye, "they are shafe with me." She tucked the dagger into the empty tool sheath of her blacksmith's smock and tucked his sword scabbard under her right arm, watching him step into the hall and disappear from view.
~~~~
"There you are Fritsh."
Old Fritz met Pern in the place she always knew him to be, according to Ignatius. He had a favored spot beneath the boughs of a great juniper tree at the center of a garden alcove within the college campus. Fritz looked up from where he sat, shaggy hair falling over old and tired eyes.
Pern moved to sit upon the bench, placing the scabbard across her lap, and lifted a hand to place it upon Fritz's head. Fritz wagged his tail and moved to lean against her knee. The old wolfhound drooled on her boot over a bone in his mouth. Pern smiled.
"Ignashush wash shupposhed to be here today, but he wash shidetracked by a Mage from the Runic Shircle of Myshtmarsh. He shendsh hish love." With a careful scratch of clawed fingers at his drooping ears Pern gave a sigh and turned her attention to the covered sword in her lap.
It wasn't like her to pry and it certainly wasn't any of her business to be snooping about things that weren't hers. But... as an expert in swords and an extreme drinker of all things Runic and knowledge-based, Pern could not help herself.
Fritz rolled his eyes up from where his maw rested on her knee, eyeing the sword first and then the Orc. His tail stopped wagging. Drool pooled on her knee; Pern didn't care.
"Jusht a peek won't hurt," Pern said to the dog, "I am merely giving it a Profeshunal's asheshment."
Mmmmrrrr, replied Fritz.
Pern glanced around her to see that the coast was mostly clear before slowly drawing the sword just partly out of the sheath. Electricity sizzled and danced across the blade, ancient runes emblazoned by the otherwordly energy.
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Jan 16, 2017 4:21:56 GMT
Kaelen followed the guards into the meeting hall. This meeting was for trade deals and possible sharing of information across colleges. It was a sort of boring subject, but important one regardless. So he took in a few deep breathes as he walked while mentally preparing himself for what was to come. He didn't know what these people would be like, but he guessed much like every other merchant controlled city he had visited. It seemed that merchants were rising up left and right to claim control after the Empire had fallen. And now he was about to meet with yet another merchant guild that controlled a city. ================================ The meeting went as expected. The Guild members had tried to push for terms in their favor but he had kept it neutral and beneficial for the both of them. Why everyone always pushed for terms that put Mystmarch at a disadvantage was a mystery. The only thing that had gotten heated was the exchange between the colleges. There was an issue over permitting students from Mystmarch into the college without making them do a series of tests once they arrived in Elbion to determine if they could enter. This was specifically targeted towards the elven and beast folk students not making it in, but it was not directly stated as such. After too long of going back and forth, he had finally gotten the permission to allow them in if they past a test at Mystmarch before leaving. He had even gotten it more forgiving for the non-humans, but could not get them equality. Kaelen was free though of the shackles of duty and obligation. He could do as he liked with no fear. If they wanted to leave right away they could or if they wanted to stay and enjoy the pleasures of the city for a few days they could also do that. It was up to Kaelen what happened from here, and his plan was to find Pern so that he could continue the fun with her. But where was she at? He didn't find her outside the doors he had left her at before. Should he wander around and see if he could find her or just wait for her to return on her own? Both choices were tempting, and Kaelen just sat there thinking on what to do next.
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Post by Pern on Jan 16, 2017 5:32:23 GMT
This was a special sort of sword.
Pern had seen many swords, crafted many swords, repaired many swords, rebuilt and reforged swords-a-dozen, but she had never seen a sword like this before. Transfixed by its ethereal qualities, the Orc slowly wrapped a clawed hand around the pommel and drew it fully from the scabbard. Fritz pulled his head from her knee and walked off a few meandering paces, turned, sat, and watched. He held his bone protectively in his maw.
It was a heavy sword, to be sure it was not a sword for the faint of heart or the faint of hand. Pern managed it well enough with the skilled grip of a woman who recognized with intimate knowledge of the craft all the maker's marks that went into the making of this weapon. It warmed in her grasp, jolts of electricity coursing across the blade, runic engravings glowing.
"By the Godsh."
This was a special sort of sword.
Pern stood, not noticing that she had garnered the attention of several students and Mages passing through. No one moved to stop her but many had paused to peer at the curious blade. She gave it a turn, a controlled and gentle swing at the pivot of her wrist to test the balance. Perfect. It was perfect. It had a sheen to the metal she could not quite describe but it told her she was holding something she'd not yet worked with. Not steel - the gleam was far too pristine. Not quite silver. An alloy, perhaps?
She gave it another swing, turning it in the sunlight and watching as the jolts trailed through the air with a curious sizzle.
And the runes - familiar but not immediately recognizable. She would have to research them.
Swoosh, sizzle.
There was a book in Ignatius' shop that her mind went to at once -
Swish, skkkzzt.
If she could perhaps make a rubbing of the runes on the sword then she could spend the evening with her nose in that book. Translate the symbols, read up on their meanings, find other weapons of similar craft and-
Swik - KRAKOOM!
Sword met juniper tree trunk and stuck with a sparking jolt of lightning. It exploded in the sound of thunder so mighty that it rattled her bones. Several people jumped in surprise, a few even yelped. Pern stood stark still, hand holding the haft as the sword sizzled an inch into the trunk, and looked around with wide eyes.
Fritz gave a whine and loped off, tail tucked.
With a quick yank she pulled the blade free of the trunk and hastily returned it to its sheath. Shoulders hunched, the Orc walked away from the smoking juniper tree to return to the Guild Hall. Nothing to see here, nope.
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Jan 16, 2017 5:58:34 GMT
Kaelen had stood around for awhile thinking before finally making up his mind. He was just going to go find Pern and then continue their fun from before. He looked both ways as he tried to figure out where to go, left or right, then suddenly heard the sound of thunder erupt from not too far away. Thunder meant the orcess had drew Stormedge and struck something with it. Hopefully it was a wall that could be repaired and not something alive like a dog. He began heading towards the source of the sound with a smile growing on his face. It didn't take him long to spot the woman with his sword. He waved to her as he approached and said, "Greetings Pern! From the sounds of things, you decided to take a look at my sword. Did you hurt yourself anywhere?" Kaelen began to study the orcess over to see if he could spot any injuries that might be from his blade. She appeared to be fine, but he kept on looking because he enjoyed the sight of her in her smithing outfit. That was an odd thing to think about, but it was the truth. What was it about this orcess that just made him stay interested?
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Post by Pern on Jan 17, 2017 4:37:06 GMT
"It shlipped," Pern replied, throwing a wary glance back over her shoulder. She promptly held the scabbard out to the man for him to take the weapon back, "here you go, shword and dagger, we have to go now."
And before another word could be said the orc turned and headed off, back the same route they had arrived by, "Thingsh to do far away from here. Quickly now, Shir Shilverblood."
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Jan 17, 2017 21:23:29 GMT
Kaelen raised a brow with an impish grin forming on his mouth as he took his sword and dagger back from her. She began to move quickly back towards the section of the city they had started in. He had to get going to follow her before he had time to do anything. He trailed along behind her as he kept pace. It was not the first time he had to get his sword strapped back into place during a forced march. His hands expertly got the strapped back on while his eyes remained glued to the orcess in front of him. She certainly was in a hurry right now. Obviously she didn't hit a wall if she was in this much of a panic. He just hoped what she hit wasn't a person or animal. "So Ms. Pern . Care to join me someplace private? Perhaps a room at a nice inn where no one will find us if they going looking?" Kaelen asked as he finished securing his sword onto his back. "I for one would like to get out of this crowd of stares." Kaelen was taking advantage of the situation. He didn't feel bad about it though as it was likely his only chance to get the orcess into a private place without dragging her there. She might like it if he did for all he knew with her being an orc, but he couldn't do that in the city without guards interrupting their intimate moment. Hopefully she would pick up his hint, which would be helpful for her as well, and it didn't go right over her head. That certainly would be the most likely outcome though based on how their current interactions had gone to this point.
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Post by Pern on Jan 17, 2017 22:59:16 GMT
"I mean to return to the shoppe," Pern replied, her stride noticeably slowing as they cleared the gated entrance of the College district, re-entering the Merchant square out front. It wasn't a casual stride, however, but one with purpose. The orc peeled through the crowds, pausing only to wait for Kaelen Silverblood after crossing the traffic of the main square roadway. "May I inquire ash to that shword, Shir Shilverblood? I have never sheen anything like it before and I have sheen a lot of shwordsh."
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Jan 18, 2017 0:53:20 GMT
And it happened. Like a prophecy from on high, Kaelen's hopes of getting Pern into a private place was ruined. Oh well. He knew it was coming, but was worth a try. She did mention going to the shop though, and that would work for his interests as well. He knew Windpaw was chasing a foxy tail somewhere in the city, but he had no idea what his mage companion was doing after he left the man in a conversation with the old man, Ignatius. Hopefully the two were just speaking still and completely distracting one another. Less chance of racking up a large bill for books. Kaelen made sure to keep pace with Pern as they moved. Before he had made sure to keep a little distance so he could get a view of her rear, but he couldn't afford to do that right now. If he kept that distance the perfect view would disappear around a corner faster than he could keep up. So instead of watching her firm behind, he kept his eyes on the glimpses of her face he could catch. Her eyes were like jewels, even if it was an overdone metaphor in poetry back in Mystmarch. It might have been overdone, but in this orcess' case it was true. A pair of amber set into malachite. If she had silver in her blood as he did, then she would be a silversmith's dream back in Silverhearth. The mention of his sword came from the orcess. A brow was raised as he heard the question. His sword was special for a few reasons, but few noticed that one of them was the material it was made out of. She had a keen eye if she spotted it so easily. He smiled as he said, "My sword? It is made out of flesh and blood Ms. Orcess." Kaelen was being playful. He figured she wouldn't get that he was, but he was. He chuckled a bit before adding, "It is Burnt Silver."
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Post by Pern on Jan 18, 2017 1:36:02 GMT
The orc paused mid-stride at the first response, gaze narrowed questioningly at the man. If she'd caught the joke it didn't seem to register in her expression - the follow up of the true answer only setting her brow to furrow deeper in thought.
"Burnt Shilver..." Pern rubbed at her chin before continuing onwards again, steps a bit more hasty now that she was churning away through her library of smithing knowledge. She took a set of stone stairs two at a time, ponytail of brown curls bobbing along behind her.
"Burnt Shilver...burnt shilver...Myshtmarsh..." that was the extent of her memory on it. Mentions here and there in various books or by various Smiths, but nothing ever in depth and never comprehensive. It was a metal specific to Mystmarch as much as Solstal was specific to Nordengard. Rare and damn near impossible to work with unless you knew the trade secrets; of which no one in Elbion had or did.
If they did they weren't talking.
"The runesh," she said as she reached the bottom of the steps and hung a left, "are they alsho native to Myshtmarsh?"
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Jan 18, 2017 3:57:03 GMT
Brown curls were bouncing as Pern walked in front of him. Kaelen just watched her hair when he couldn't see her face as he followed right behind her. Most would have likely judged the woman based simply on her race. An orcess could not be attractive because they were savage beasts with tusks and a lust for blood. Yet what Kaelen saw as he looked at her was an orcess, but not one who was a savage beast that lusted for blood. What he saw was a woman with more feminine features to offer than one would think. She tried to hide them behind the clothes of a smith and disinterest in her looks, but she couldn't hide it from him. He could make out the potential before him, and it was sad to him that she didn't see it for herself. It was likely the fault of this city and the people who lived here. They saw a savage yet he saw a civil woman. Then she began to ask more about Kaelen's sword. She seemed to have been trying to wrap her mind around burnt silver, but was now upon the runes. She certainly had gotten a good look at it after he had left it with her for safe keeping. He still wondered what she had struck with the blade. She wouldn't tell him though. Her embarrassment and flight back to the shop was proof of that. "Yes, they are. They are an older form of March runes though and are not used anymore for writing." Kaelen said as memories of his college days began to float up to the surface. He rarely got the chance to delve into his scholarly side being a part of the vanguard, but these moments did arise for him every so often. "The Runic Circle mages don't even use these runes anymore for their craft. They use a generation or two closer to modern runes for their enchantments. Only a handful of people know how to read these runes anymore outside of the Runic Circle and College of Stormhold. Not that many within those groups can."
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Post by Pern on Jan 19, 2017 0:37:00 GMT
"They don't?"
This shouldn't have come as a surprise. In her research of ancient runes it was rather typical for old runes to become outdated, lost from knowledge, or replaced by newer languages as various Mage sects came into and fell out of power. Much like the old texts were to religion, Runes were the language of magic.
"Are you trained in Runic Magic, Shir Shilverblood?" It occurred to her that he might not be, judging by his station as a Knight and diplomat. It was more likely that the Mage in his entourage would be the one to speak to in order to learn more.
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Jan 19, 2017 0:56:03 GMT
"Just Kaelen Ms. Pern ." Kaelen replied with a smile at her interest. "I know storm magic and some divine magic. Rune magic requires specialized study that I did not go into because I chose to join our vanguard rather than the Runic Circle." The Runic Circle had come to him after he had learned of his talent with magic back in his college days. Kaelen knew there were others like him out there with the talent and some training yet not in the order back in Mystmarch. They were few and sparse, but they still existed. If not for his skill with a blade and his sense of duty towards his family, he likely would have gone on to the Runefull Vale. But he chose to fight as a Silverblood so that his brothers did not need to risk their lives for the cause. No, their lives were worth infinitely more than his own was. It was better to risk he expendable child than to risk the heir and the spare. So right after he had finished his education and gotten basic training with magic, he was loaded up onto the first of the warships and off to Marston they went. From there it was blood and heat and death rather than books and runes and magic for him. Kaelen's face reflected the shift in his mood. The cheerfulness he had made sure to keep up around the orcess had shifted to more conflicted and serious, a truer reflection of his inner self. His past, his choices, they could be called a blessing or a curse depending on the aspect looked at. But he shook it off. He had to shake it off. Dwelling would ruin his mood. More importantly, dwelling would ruin the mood of this little chat. "I do not know rune magic, but I can read most runes. I studied and try to keep in practice from at least the era of those on my sword to present." Kaelen replied after he had shaken off his thoughts. "It was my personal area of study while I was in college. Needless to say, few other students had an interest in runes."
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Post by Pern on Jan 23, 2017 3:56:03 GMT
"Ash you shay, Shir Shilverblood," Pern replied. How many times would he have to tell her to call him Kaelen? Just once more, as always, it seemed. She listened despite not watching the man who walked only a pace behind her. It was nearing later afternoon and the Merchant District was growing full of Elbion's residents returning from the trading port. Watching her step had become pertinent to keeping her pace, so the Orc did not immediately notice the man's change in expression as his mood dropped. As she came to a stop to wait for passing traffic, Pern looked back to her traveling companion and only then did she recognize the shadow filling his face. A faint frown met his gaze, though her's was more out of pensiveness than sullen-solidarity. "Rune magic ish not a common coursh of shtudy, according to Ignashiush. He ish a Maeshter of the Fifth Order, shpeshal-izing in Rune Mythology and Practish. I have learned from him, but only theory. Book shmartsh," she tapped a clawed finger at her temple, "it ish intereshting that your shword bearsh the runesh of a dead shcript. Would you mind showing Ignashiush? I know he would be mosht intrigued." Kaelen Silverblood
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Jan 25, 2017 3:37:42 GMT
The crowd within the city was beginning to swell up like the tide at the port. It was making it more and more difficult for Kaelen to continue to keep up with Pern but it was not anything he hadn't had to do before. He just determined to close the gap between them more before others tried to move through it. It was like a battle line. Any gap, any hole, would be exploited by the enemy and the entire formation destroyed. The crowd was the enemy here, and he didn't plan to let them win. The orcess began to speak about herself and her master Ignatius. It seemed the old man had done much the same for her as Kaelen's old teacher had for him with runes. It was right about how uncommon the art of runecraft was even amongst the scholastic. He had been surprised when he discovered that his interest in the craft was shared only by a few. It was refreshing for him to find others who shared it here as well, along with being able to get into more of a bookish debate. "I would be happy to show him, but he will need to be careful with it." Kaelen said to her as he continued to follow behind her. "My sword is called Stormedge. It is my family's blade and we have had it for generations. I do not believe we have any actual records of its creation though. I just remember reading some old records of it being added to our armory records and that is about it. I do know the blade is old. Very old." Kaelen in fact did not know just how old it was or even who had created it. All he knew was what the runes said, what the enchantment upon it did, and that it was made from burnt silver. It was a mystery in and of itself to his family, even though it acted as a practical heirloom for them. All commanders of the Silverhearth forces carried it if they were of the Silverblood line. His father had bestowed it to him when he joined the vanguard so that he could represent the family. It was one of the few moments in his memory where his father was actually proud to have a third son rather than just trying to push Kaelen into anything that would take him from home.
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