[The Keep] Walking to Skye
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Try as she might, Drysi was unable to get the dome to extend outward. The field remained a short distance in front of the girl. Instead she found that she could flatten the field from a dome into a plane. While experimenting with size she found that she could shrink it down into a small circle about a foot across, but when growing it the field naturally wanted to return to a spherical shape until it wrapped completely around her; unfortunately this larger field also required a significant expenditure of energy to the point where she felt winded and strained once it released. Her stomach growled in protest.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
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Drysi laid flat on her back, staring up at the ceiling. She didn't know what time it was, again, and was having a hard time summoning the energy to get herself off the floor. Her notebook lay open, nearby and full of fresh recordings of tests. The experimentation project had gone on for so long that she already felt hungry again, very hungry, in fact. Unlike earlier in the day, her stomach felt a bit more resilient.
Perhaps resilient enough for one of those meaty pies Mr. Flynn had managed.
It was enough to get her to sit up and look at her pile of dishes that she still had to take down to the kitchen. A mewl of discontent forced its way through her lips, seeing a chore ahead of her meal. Yet, it wasn't enough to keep her imagination from making a meat pie more enticing.
"Are you taking a break now?" dared Gideon, easing out from under the bed.
"Of course, I'll waste away if I don' eat, Gid," remarked Drysi as she steadily brought herself up. Right as she had herseld up, one of her knees gave out, but she managed to catch the chair, "Now to see if I can make it down the stairs."
"I could go signal Mr. Flynn for you."
"No, I'm a big girl, I'll handle myself."
Gideon watched Drysi sluggishly dress herself and throw her cloak over her shoulders. He eventually found himself draped over her shoulders and riding along as she took the tray to the door. She struggled with the tray, occupying both her hands, and the handle.
Bonk. Her head thudded against the door and she groaned her discontent.
They both stood like this for a moment longer before she managed to finagle the door open and slip out into the hall. Now, all she needed to do was not get lost.
Drysi laid flat on her back, staring up at the ceiling. She didn't know what time it was, again, and was having a hard time summoning the energy to get herself off the floor. Her notebook lay open, nearby and full of fresh recordings of tests. The experimentation project had gone on for so long that she already felt hungry again, very hungry, in fact. Unlike earlier in the day, her stomach felt a bit more resilient.
Perhaps resilient enough for one of those meaty pies Mr. Flynn had managed.
It was enough to get her to sit up and look at her pile of dishes that she still had to take down to the kitchen. A mewl of discontent forced its way through her lips, seeing a chore ahead of her meal. Yet, it wasn't enough to keep her imagination from making a meat pie more enticing.
"Are you taking a break now?" dared Gideon, easing out from under the bed.
"Of course, I'll waste away if I don' eat, Gid," remarked Drysi as she steadily brought herself up. Right as she had herseld up, one of her knees gave out, but she managed to catch the chair, "Now to see if I can make it down the stairs."
"I could go signal Mr. Flynn for you."
"No, I'm a big girl, I'll handle myself."
Gideon watched Drysi sluggishly dress herself and throw her cloak over her shoulders. He eventually found himself draped over her shoulders and riding along as she took the tray to the door. She struggled with the tray, occupying both her hands, and the handle.
Bonk. Her head thudded against the door and she groaned her discontent.
They both stood like this for a moment longer before she managed to finagle the door open and slip out into the hall. Now, all she needed to do was not get lost.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
The hallway outside of Drysi’s room was quiet, and left the feeling of needing to go elsewhere in the usual manner of such liminal spaces. To her left she could hear the muffled conversations of people sitting in the Common Room, and to her right was the silent continuation of the stone hall. Between Drysi and Gideon, they could recall Ruarc stating that he was staying a few doors down and across the hall. Once she found the designated door, a series of knocks would reveal that Ruarc was either not in, or had fallen asleep. Should she check her texts, she would see one of her master’s typical punctuated messages.
Drysi. Gone to library. Message when you are thinking dinner.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
With a hand precariously balancing the tray of dishes, Drysi went to check her phone and was pleasantly surprised her master hadn’t forgotten his own. He was normally very informative and punctual with his messages, but seemed to view the brick he used for a phone as an inconvenience.
“The library…” Drysi thought aloud, looking at her phone with a great sense of academic desire.
”Drysi… You still need to drop off the tray,” warned Gideon as his druid began to seriously consider cutting the phone out of the conversation.
“They wouldn’t mind me bring a tray in, would they? It’s a castle of druids they’re probably packin’ lunches in there all tha’ time!”
”That’s not the issue, the issue is that you need to pack a lunch.”
“That’s right… If Master Flynn’s in the library, then that means he’s probably–... pretty bored, actually,” Drysi stared at her phone, realizing that her master had no real reason to be here other than to chaperone her from place to place. The man had so many projects going on back at Safeholme, that perusing books was something he did when he couldn’t get his hands on anything. Chances were they weren’t going to let Mr. Flynn start ripping up the hedges to open up pathways on the grounds here.
“The library…” Drysi thought aloud, looking at her phone with a great sense of academic desire.
”Drysi… You still need to drop off the tray,” warned Gideon as his druid began to seriously consider cutting the phone out of the conversation.
“They wouldn’t mind me bring a tray in, would they? It’s a castle of druids they’re probably packin’ lunches in there all tha’ time!”
”That’s not the issue, the issue is that you need to pack a lunch.”
“That’s right… If Master Flynn’s in the library, then that means he’s probably–... pretty bored, actually,” Drysi stared at her phone, realizing that her master had no real reason to be here other than to chaperone her from place to place. The man had so many projects going on back at Safeholme, that perusing books was something he did when he couldn’t get his hands on anything. Chances were they weren’t going to let Mr. Flynn start ripping up the hedges to open up pathways on the grounds here.
Message sent, she cut back down where they had come from, and tried to retrace her steps.”Master, I just had a few breakthroughs with the chain, and thought about dinner. I’m trying to figure out where to drop this tray off. At the dining hall? I don’t really know where it is. Did we walk through it before? I remember smelling meat on the way in. Searching now.🤷🍗”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Dining down on second. There are signs. Want me to come up?
The messages popped up on Drysi’s phone as she made her way out into the Common and over to the stairs. Startlingly fast for him, all things considered. Sure enough, as Drysi made her way down the stairs she found herself in an incredibly homey space. The first floor had welcoming, but still somewhat imposing as it portrayed some of the might of the Keeper Circle. The fourth floor had been official and purely business. The third floor was tailored to the needs and wants of the Keep’s guests. The second floor was the first real indication Drysi got that there were people that called Carneath home. The wide chamber, approximately seventy-five feet by one-hundred long, looked like a lounge with an array of various couch clusters that had been shifted and turned a dozen times over, and dozens of druids from dozens of nationalities relaxed and chatted with their friends and colleagues. The scents of coffee, cocoa, and at least eight different teas wafted to her nose as she took in the sight. There were a number of adjoining rooms connected by vaulted doorways spread about, the one closest appeared to be a study with a handful of druids sat within reading from large tomes. On the walls to her left and right she could see hallways labeled Dormitory A & B respectively, and on the far wall sat a large hearth with a low burning fire to keep the room cozy. Flanking the hearth were two large oaken doors with signs Drysi could quite read at a distance, but she caught a glimpse of someone exiting the right side door with a tray similar to the one she held.And tray goes to dining.
Through the doors was a room similar in size to the first one, but instead of couches the room was filled with long varnished wooden tables and benches with several more druids spread about. Some sat in groups, some solo, but as the primary dinner hour had passed so too had the crowds. The smells filling this room were another matter entirely. The aromas of numerous spices, roasted meats, baked breads, and all manner of desserts both sweet and savory could make someone feel like they were drawn by a siren’s song to a large opening in the back wall. Carneath Keep’s kitchen. The kitchen that filled the bellies of the hundreds of druids that called this place home, and by the smells had mastered the cuisines of all represented nations. No matter where you came from, Carneath could feel like home.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Drysi confidently, if not hungrily trudged on, braving stairs and strangers in her search of food and a release from this burden they called a tray. Weirdly, despite only spending a short amount of time there, she had become accustomed to the size of the place, as well as all the people. As she went through the resident common areas, she realized that no one stared at her, or gave her odd looks. At Carneath, she was just another face in the crowd, just like a mundie in a city, except there was a sense of belonging. These people didn't pay her mind because she was one of them.I got this! 💪
Little did they know, they had greatness in their midst. Drysi was quite taken with the romance of it.
Who's that?
Oh, that's Drysi, the most up-and-coming apprentice the order's ever known!
Ha ha, hardly, I'm just working hard, you know.
And she's so humble!
So lost was this starlet apprentice, she nearly collided with a large, bearlike druid on his way out of the dining hall. She back-pedaled, shocked and appalled at her day-dreaming.
"I-- uh-- s-s-sorry--... Um..." Drysi bowed her head and darted off before the large man could excuse her. Her face burned red, as if she had said all of those things out loud. She pressed into the kitchen, and the aromas had finally permeated her senses. The musk of tea had gotten her mind roiling into fantasy, but now the actual smell of foods started to make her stomach protest intensely. With a covert sleeve, she wiped her mouth and searched for place to drop off her dishes. Considering now that it was so late, there might not be any of those meat pies left, but she had determined to eat something flakey and savory before the day was done.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“Не беспокойся, малыш,” the bear of a druid responded in what sounded like Russian as Drysi scurried past.
As she neared the far wall with the service window to the kitchen, Drysi could see a handful of individuals beyond the opening milling about. A mere handful by the looks of things, each of them wore what appeared to be a curious blend of a chef’s coat and druid cloak. Several of them had their sleeves rolled up and were hard at work cleaning various parts of the kitchen, while a few others looked to still be cooking. Off to the side, there was a cart set by the window that Drysi could see some other used tray, a place to set her burden down. Now next to the window the teen could clearly see inside. The border between the rooms was only about fifteen feet wide, and was made of a lovely polished copper colored wood that Drysi couldn't identify off-hand. The kitchen itself stretched a fair way to either side of the window and back away another forty feet, and it looked like a Medieval recreation of a modern kitchen. Various prep tables were spaced regularly with all manner of traditional utensils and modern appliances; one druid was meticulously cleaning an impressively sized stand mixer. While along the back wall was a cluster of massive wood burning ovens, some with vault grade steel doors, some open to the air, some at ground level with hooks for hanging pots and cauldrons, and all of them put out a heat that Drysi could almost feel from the window. Despite the hour, there was still food to be seen, so Drysi wouldn’t go hungry if nothing else.
As she neared the far wall with the service window to the kitchen, Drysi could see a handful of individuals beyond the opening milling about. A mere handful by the looks of things, each of them wore what appeared to be a curious blend of a chef’s coat and druid cloak. Several of them had their sleeves rolled up and were hard at work cleaning various parts of the kitchen, while a few others looked to still be cooking. Off to the side, there was a cart set by the window that Drysi could see some other used tray, a place to set her burden down. Now next to the window the teen could clearly see inside. The border between the rooms was only about fifteen feet wide, and was made of a lovely polished copper colored wood that Drysi couldn't identify off-hand. The kitchen itself stretched a fair way to either side of the window and back away another forty feet, and it looked like a Medieval recreation of a modern kitchen. Various prep tables were spaced regularly with all manner of traditional utensils and modern appliances; one druid was meticulously cleaning an impressively sized stand mixer. While along the back wall was a cluster of massive wood burning ovens, some with vault grade steel doors, some open to the air, some at ground level with hooks for hanging pots and cauldrons, and all of them put out a heat that Drysi could almost feel from the window. Despite the hour, there was still food to be seen, so Drysi wouldn’t go hungry if nothing else.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
”Do you think they make all this effort every day?” asked Gideon, poking his head out to take in all of the tasty scents. ”They probably don’t have food for familiars.”
”No, it’s lookin’ like naught.” answered Drysi, wide-eyed as she took in everything. There was a fullness to the experience that seemed to be thematic to the entirety of Carneath Keep. Every inch of the place was rich with a sense of fullness that was overwhelming if you weren’t careful. From the floors, to the walls, to the ceilings, every inch of this place seemed to be filled with someone’s passions.
Which inch would be Drysi’s, she thought; and then, she thought again, which inch was Mr. Flynn’s?
WORGGLH… Drysi’s first familiar, her stomach, began jeering loudly at the introspection.
Looking for a fresh tray to put her dishes on, she took a place near the window, and approached with a certain reverence for the window. Places like these, like the labs below, and the offices above, were sacred to a certain extent, in that silly, civil sort of way.
“Uhm…” Drysi hated this part, where she had to figure out what was the right way to carry out this process, “I–... A–... Are there any meat-pies left?”
”No, it’s lookin’ like naught.” answered Drysi, wide-eyed as she took in everything. There was a fullness to the experience that seemed to be thematic to the entirety of Carneath Keep. Every inch of the place was rich with a sense of fullness that was overwhelming if you weren’t careful. From the floors, to the walls, to the ceilings, every inch of this place seemed to be filled with someone’s passions.
Which inch would be Drysi’s, she thought; and then, she thought again, which inch was Mr. Flynn’s?
WORGGLH… Drysi’s first familiar, her stomach, began jeering loudly at the introspection.
Looking for a fresh tray to put her dishes on, she took a place near the window, and approached with a certain reverence for the window. Places like these, like the labs below, and the offices above, were sacred to a certain extent, in that silly, civil sort of way.
“Uhm…” Drysi hated this part, where she had to figure out what was the right way to carry out this process, “I–... A–... Are there any meat-pies left?”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
A heavy thunk sounded from off to the side of the window, the telltale sound of a large cleaver striking, followed by heavy footsteps. The visage that came into view was one the likes of which Drysi had likely never seen before outside of fairy tales and Willow’s Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual. Easily eight feet tall, the beast had broad shoulders and long arms of defined muscle. Thick hair that was a few degrees shy of being fur started just below its elbows, and apparently continued upward to where it joined with the creature’s beard and thick hair. Long lower canines protruded beyond its lips as it snarled. Or, rather, it wasn’t snarling, it was smiling rather warmly. Its thick head of brown hair was combed back and braided beneath a black cook’s beanie, while its beard looked conditioned and tidy with several streaks of grey hair beginning to show. Once the shock had abated, Drysi could see the creature to be a well-kept bugbear in a chef’s jacket.
“Greeting’s young initiate!” The bugbear spoke in a somewhat rough voice, his accent placing him from somewhere near the Balkans, but otherwise his English was impeccable. “Apologies if I startled you, thought you might have been a dormer that’d have been used to seeing me.”
“You scarin’ kids again, Chef?” called one of the cooks by the ovens.
“As is tradition,” he laughed in response before focusing entirely on Drysi. Leaning down a significant way for one as tall as he was, he rested his arms on the counter so he was closer to eye height with Drysi. “Name’s Rodney, welcome to Carneath Keep, and its kitchen. Tell ya what, as a special welcome to the Order, I’ll make ya anything ya could want; even if its just some leftover meat pie from supper. How’s that sound?”
“Greeting’s young initiate!” The bugbear spoke in a somewhat rough voice, his accent placing him from somewhere near the Balkans, but otherwise his English was impeccable. “Apologies if I startled you, thought you might have been a dormer that’d have been used to seeing me.”
“You scarin’ kids again, Chef?” called one of the cooks by the ovens.
“As is tradition,” he laughed in response before focusing entirely on Drysi. Leaning down a significant way for one as tall as he was, he rested his arms on the counter so he was closer to eye height with Drysi. “Name’s Rodney, welcome to Carneath Keep, and its kitchen. Tell ya what, as a special welcome to the Order, I’ll make ya anything ya could want; even if its just some leftover meat pie from supper. How’s that sound?”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Drysi stared up at Rodney for a lot longer than was probably comfortable. She was still processing all of her questions, but at the same time trying to come up with an answer for him. For a mage, to think something that one was seeing was just a fairy tale was like thinking public transport was a myth. Willow would never believe her, which was saying a lot for people who had fought evil cultists in the Hawaiian jungle.
"U-Uhm..." Drysi bowed stiffly as she had to everyone so far, and continued with a creaky voice, "Hello Mr. Roodney, I’m Drysi Llewella Maelgwyn of the 3rd Circle, ap-apprentice of Rurk Flynn. I’m here to pay my first visit to the Keep and make my appoi-- Ah, fohk--”
She slapped a hand over her mouth, before tugging her hood over her reddening face.
"I-... I'd like one... One a'them leftover pies... If it's not too much trouble. I sorta... Sorta had m'heart set on it..."
"U-Uhm..." Drysi bowed stiffly as she had to everyone so far, and continued with a creaky voice, "Hello Mr. Roodney, I’m Drysi Llewella Maelgwyn of the 3rd Circle, ap-apprentice of Rurk Flynn. I’m here to pay my first visit to the Keep and make my appoi-- Ah, fohk--”
She slapped a hand over her mouth, before tugging her hood over her reddening face.
"I-... I'd like one... One a'them leftover pies... If it's not too much trouble. I sorta... Sorta had m'heart set on it..."