“Books, yes. People, no,” Mastrogiacomo’s voice had a jaunty lilt as she quickly responded, before turning towards Ruarc. “Needless to say, your master cannot assist you. However you come to the answer works, as long as it is you coming to the answer.”
The Chief began to walk back towards her desk.
“Don’t break it, lose it, or sell it. Master Flynn can show you to the dining hall and guest quarters.”
She paused, and looked over her shoulder.
“Oh, and a pleasure meeting you Initiate.”
[The Keep] Walking to Skye
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
"Yes ma'am!" Drysi answered stolidly, trying to sound as official as she could. The head of the third circle was many things, if not enigmatic. Even the scholarly minds at Safeholme were strange and arcane in their own ways. This was what it meant to be a mage: the pursuit of knowledge. "Thank you for meeting with me!"
In all of this, Ruarc's apprentice refused to look at him. Even when Mastrogiacomo had, Drysi pointedly had been looking the other way. When they were left to their own in the lab, the initiate quickly broke off on her own path to the door. Whatever was the straightest, less obstructed path to the door, she took it with great speed.
Then, when and if Ruarc made out to the hall, she ambushed him.
"I'm so sorry," Drysi gasped, looking absolutely crushed, "I wasn' thinkin', Master Flynn. I never meant to embarass ya. I shoulda tol' you, but I've been studyin' yer work for a while now and I... I'm sorry. I feel right awful puttin' you out in the open like that."
In all of this, Ruarc's apprentice refused to look at him. Even when Mastrogiacomo had, Drysi pointedly had been looking the other way. When they were left to their own in the lab, the initiate quickly broke off on her own path to the door. Whatever was the straightest, less obstructed path to the door, she took it with great speed.
Then, when and if Ruarc made out to the hall, she ambushed him.
"I'm so sorry," Drysi gasped, looking absolutely crushed, "I wasn' thinkin', Master Flynn. I never meant to embarass ya. I shoulda tol' you, but I've been studyin' yer work for a while now and I... I'm sorry. I feel right awful puttin' you out in the open like that."
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“Nothing to apologize for, Drysi,” Ruarc responded, giving a slanted smile at the girl’s antics. “I… don’t talk about myself much, so I don’t really know how to react when other people talk about me. As for how it went over, you had no idea how the Chief would respond, but like any political organization, folk like me can be a little… divisive. But, don’t you worry about it, ‘kay? Let’s get you set up in the guest quarters, and an actual meal in front of you.”
With that, Ruarc returned to the stairs and began to climb. Perhaps to Drysi’s dismay, she had to climb almost all the way back up to where she’d met the Ard Rhys. On the third floor Ruarc exited the stairs into a comfortably designed common room. The room was twice as long as it was wide, extending into the mountain. Along the walls were a series of banners depicting Circle sigils, as well as the sigils of various noble houses of varying rapport. Each banner punctuating spaces between sturdy wood bookshelves adorned with an array of tomes and baubles. Spacious area rugs of soft warm fabric covered the stone brick floors, a number tables and chairs were spread about, and a handful of plush cushioned armchairs were arrayed around a low burning hearth. Among all of these there were a handful of individuals sitting, some conversing, some reading, and their ages were as varied as the colors of their cloaks.
Checking a piece of paper, Ruarc motioned for Drysi to follow as he led the way down an adjoining hallway. Once he reached a particular door, he opened it with a faint creak revealing a cozy little space containing a single bed, a dresser, and a writing desk with a lamp and simple wooden chair.
“Here’s your room, Drysi. I’m down near the end of the hall, but I’m just going to drop my bag off and go grab some food to bring back up. You’ll probably be more comfortable up here. Quieter. Let ya focus and relax.”
As he was about to turn he paused.
“Any preferences on food?”
With that, Ruarc returned to the stairs and began to climb. Perhaps to Drysi’s dismay, she had to climb almost all the way back up to where she’d met the Ard Rhys. On the third floor Ruarc exited the stairs into a comfortably designed common room. The room was twice as long as it was wide, extending into the mountain. Along the walls were a series of banners depicting Circle sigils, as well as the sigils of various noble houses of varying rapport. Each banner punctuating spaces between sturdy wood bookshelves adorned with an array of tomes and baubles. Spacious area rugs of soft warm fabric covered the stone brick floors, a number tables and chairs were spread about, and a handful of plush cushioned armchairs were arrayed around a low burning hearth. Among all of these there were a handful of individuals sitting, some conversing, some reading, and their ages were as varied as the colors of their cloaks.
Checking a piece of paper, Ruarc motioned for Drysi to follow as he led the way down an adjoining hallway. Once he reached a particular door, he opened it with a faint creak revealing a cozy little space containing a single bed, a dresser, and a writing desk with a lamp and simple wooden chair.
“Here’s your room, Drysi. I’m down near the end of the hall, but I’m just going to drop my bag off and go grab some food to bring back up. You’ll probably be more comfortable up here. Quieter. Let ya focus and relax.”
As he was about to turn he paused.
“Any preferences on food?”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
"Nothin fatty, please, m'stomach is feelin' pretty tender right now," Drysi answered gratefully as Ruarc offered to go back down. It was times like this that she was glad he was not just kind, but mindful. Her legs were getting tired from all the stairs and she was starting to feel anemic. Were they back home, she would have just skipped dinner altogether.
"And..."
There was something else she wanted to say, but she wasn't sure how to bring it up. Now that they were in a more private area, her energy level began to sink down. She just wanted to sit down in one of the chairs and close her eyes.
"Don't wait." Gideon's recommendation felt a bit more like a command, but it was appropriate. Ever since Hawaii, she felt more and more that passing up opportunity would be handing it to fate.
The apprentice bounced across the floor and threw her arms around her master. She buried her face into the chest of shirt and spoke loud enough to be heard despite it.
"Thank you. Thank you for takin' me in, even though I'm kinda shitty person. Thank you for teachin' me and lettin me read your books," the words became considerably more shaky as she went on, "Thank you for helpin' me meet my new boss and guidin' me around. Thank you for always bein' there and bein' kind."
With her piece said, she tore herself away, all three eyes overflowing with tears. She inhaled sharply, through clenched teeth and quickly pattered away and shoved her face into her bag.
"Mmmnngghjust remembered I nngneed my eraser," Drysi shoved her head deeper into her bag, "Nnnnneed to take nngggnnootes on this p-project Ch-chief gave mmme."
"And..."
There was something else she wanted to say, but she wasn't sure how to bring it up. Now that they were in a more private area, her energy level began to sink down. She just wanted to sit down in one of the chairs and close her eyes.
"Don't wait." Gideon's recommendation felt a bit more like a command, but it was appropriate. Ever since Hawaii, she felt more and more that passing up opportunity would be handing it to fate.
The apprentice bounced across the floor and threw her arms around her master. She buried her face into the chest of shirt and spoke loud enough to be heard despite it.
"Thank you. Thank you for takin' me in, even though I'm kinda shitty person. Thank you for teachin' me and lettin me read your books," the words became considerably more shaky as she went on, "Thank you for helpin' me meet my new boss and guidin' me around. Thank you for always bein' there and bein' kind."
With her piece said, she tore herself away, all three eyes overflowing with tears. She inhaled sharply, through clenched teeth and quickly pattered away and shoved her face into her bag.
"Mmmnngghjust remembered I nngneed my eraser," Drysi shoved her head deeper into her bag, "Nnnnneed to take nngggnnootes on this p-project Ch-chief gave mmme."
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Ruarc was properly caught off guard by the sudden hug. In part due to just not really being a hugging kind of person, but also because Drysi typically didn’t wear her heart on her sleeve like that. With a warm smile Ruarc gave Drysi a pat on the head before the hug parted. Turning to leave, the Irishman wiped at his eyes quickly as his apprentice buried her head in her bag.
Once he was back in the hall, Ruarc made his way to his own room. Apparently he met a qualifier as his room was a bit more warmly furnished. The wall with the writing desk bore a coat of arms showing a rowan tree flanked by two bears and a dove perched in the leaves, the desk itself was ornately crafted, and where Drysi’s bed had a simple white pillowy duvet Ruarc’s bore an accent blanket at the foot showing a heraldic rampant bear. Having never stayed in one of the guest rooms Ruarc discerned that the rooms were personalized to a degree, as the bear motif was a common one used for his grandfather; and the addition of a dove to the coat of arms personalized it to him a bit.
Paying it little mind beyond noting it existed, Ruarc dropped his bag off before shutting and locking the door. Making his way back into the common space he went to the stairs and descended; unaware of the various sets of eyes looking at him.
Once he was back in the hall, Ruarc made his way to his own room. Apparently he met a qualifier as his room was a bit more warmly furnished. The wall with the writing desk bore a coat of arms showing a rowan tree flanked by two bears and a dove perched in the leaves, the desk itself was ornately crafted, and where Drysi’s bed had a simple white pillowy duvet Ruarc’s bore an accent blanket at the foot showing a heraldic rampant bear. Having never stayed in one of the guest rooms Ruarc discerned that the rooms were personalized to a degree, as the bear motif was a common one used for his grandfather; and the addition of a dove to the coat of arms personalized it to him a bit.
Paying it little mind beyond noting it existed, Ruarc dropped his bag off before shutting and locking the door. Making his way back into the common space he went to the stairs and descended; unaware of the various sets of eyes looking at him.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“FOOK.”
The triclops ripped her head out of the bag, taking a deep breath, having felt terribly embarrassed about the whole exchange. She was still a little weepy after all of it, but, overall better. There was a comfort in expressing how she felt in the moment, even if it did leave her feeling a bit vulnerable. Ever since she had confessed to Willow, she found a certain level of importance in getting her emotions out before it was too late.
Mr. Flynn probably didn’t need to hear any of that, but he patted her head which was a tacit agreement to the sentiment, Drysi decided.
“I should get started.”
”You don’t want to rest for a bit? Today is going to be a bit longer than it started, so you might as well get some rest.”
“No, I have the attention of Chief, and I need to bring something to the table. Even if it’s the wrong answer, she needs to know I’m the real deal.”
”Perhaps the lesson is learning the limits of your knowledge and energy?”
“Chances are that’s exactly what it is, but someone who sits in a position like Mastrogiacomo is more concerned about the secondary results of an experiment. If you already know the result of a hypothesis, the only reason you’d test it is to see if something else comes as a result of your assessment.”
”You’re saying that she’s anticipated you anticipating that it’s too much?”
“No, I think she might spare my feelings if I come up dry, but I think she really wants to know if I can produce what I said I have. I did come from Keeper stock. She may not know how much of an academic Mr. Flynn actually is.”
”You think she underestimates him?”
“I think she wants to test her estimation.”
Drysi sat down at her little desk, pulling out a set of wired ear-buds. She set her phone to one side, and got a song started. Then, she started working at the chain of scales. Whatever it was, it was probably a sample of some larger work. The chain was a workable size to whatever it belonged to. If that were the case, then they’d probably not be testing the durability of the scales in tandem.
She tugged the connections, testing the connective strength between them. Perhaps the point of the sample was that the bindings between scales were strong.
This went on for some time, she opened up a small journal, getting to a fresh page and writing down notes as she flexed, moved and delivered small motes of magical power to the chain.
The triclops ripped her head out of the bag, taking a deep breath, having felt terribly embarrassed about the whole exchange. She was still a little weepy after all of it, but, overall better. There was a comfort in expressing how she felt in the moment, even if it did leave her feeling a bit vulnerable. Ever since she had confessed to Willow, she found a certain level of importance in getting her emotions out before it was too late.
Mr. Flynn probably didn’t need to hear any of that, but he patted her head which was a tacit agreement to the sentiment, Drysi decided.
“I should get started.”
”You don’t want to rest for a bit? Today is going to be a bit longer than it started, so you might as well get some rest.”
“No, I have the attention of Chief, and I need to bring something to the table. Even if it’s the wrong answer, she needs to know I’m the real deal.”
”Perhaps the lesson is learning the limits of your knowledge and energy?”
“Chances are that’s exactly what it is, but someone who sits in a position like Mastrogiacomo is more concerned about the secondary results of an experiment. If you already know the result of a hypothesis, the only reason you’d test it is to see if something else comes as a result of your assessment.”
”You’re saying that she’s anticipated you anticipating that it’s too much?”
“No, I think she might spare my feelings if I come up dry, but I think she really wants to know if I can produce what I said I have. I did come from Keeper stock. She may not know how much of an academic Mr. Flynn actually is.”
”You think she underestimates him?”
“I think she wants to test her estimation.”
Drysi sat down at her little desk, pulling out a set of wired ear-buds. She set her phone to one side, and got a song started. Then, she started working at the chain of scales. Whatever it was, it was probably a sample of some larger work. The chain was a workable size to whatever it belonged to. If that were the case, then they’d probably not be testing the durability of the scales in tandem.
She tugged the connections, testing the connective strength between them. Perhaps the point of the sample was that the bindings between scales were strong.
This went on for some time, she opened up a small journal, getting to a fresh page and writing down notes as she flexed, moved and delivered small motes of magical power to the chain.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
This felt right to Drysi. She was examining a magical artifact at an antique desk, in a stone brick room within a castle that was approaching a millennia old, all while her magic mentor was bringing food so she could focus on the task given by her magic boss. Focused on her task, Ruarc had to knock multiple times once he returned with a tray of food. The sturdy oak platter was painted with quaint floral imagery and the food arrayed on pleasant ceramic dishware. The food itself smelled fragrant and pleasant. A low wide bowl set the main attraction, and contained a yellow tinted rice dish that smelled of turmeric and coriander, contained a single soft boiled egg, peas, sections of smoked haddock, sliced scallions, plucked leaves of cilantro, and a wedge of lime; a a classic English adopted Indian dish Drysi might have recognized as kedgeree. Next to it in a smaller bowl was a simple salad with tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, thinly sliced red onion, and shaved carrot with what smelled like red wine vinegar in a small dish beside it. Another small bowl contained a pale broth soup that smelled of leek. A side plate had a slice of raspberry jam roly poly for dessert. To drink there was a glass of water, and a can of Vernor’s ginger ale. Ruarc’s own platter contained a single plate with a hearty portion of steak & kidney pie, with a couple bangers, and a Yorkshire pudding. Leaving Drysi to her business, the older man retired to his own room to eat before going about a bit of his own business.
Focused once more on the item, Drysi’s test provided to her the basis of her experiment. Each scale of the chain was three-quarters of an inch long by three-eighths of an inch at its widest point with a number of angles to give a vaguely heart shaped appearance. One end of the chain had a clasp, while the other had a ring for it to clip to. The metal itself was a polished steel per Drysi’s best metalurgic guess, and shifting it beneath the light revealed runes carved into scale the likes of which Drysi had never seen; although a couple of them vaguely resembled warding runes. When she channeled energy into them that energy spread out evenly among all of the run, but unlike a standard rune that then would activate a certain effect, these runes faded the instant Drysi stopped channeling; like blowing air into a straw versus into a balloon.
Focused once more on the item, Drysi’s test provided to her the basis of her experiment. Each scale of the chain was three-quarters of an inch long by three-eighths of an inch at its widest point with a number of angles to give a vaguely heart shaped appearance. One end of the chain had a clasp, while the other had a ring for it to clip to. The metal itself was a polished steel per Drysi’s best metalurgic guess, and shifting it beneath the light revealed runes carved into scale the likes of which Drysi had never seen; although a couple of them vaguely resembled warding runes. When she channeled energy into them that energy spread out evenly among all of the run, but unlike a standard rune that then would activate a certain effect, these runes faded the instant Drysi stopped channeling; like blowing air into a straw versus into a balloon.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Now Playing...
The aroma of food was good for reminding someone how hungry they were, and Drysi was no exception. She had stared longingly at Mr. Flynn's own feast, but she was quite pleased with her portions. All of it looked very pleasant, which is why she set it down on the table in good light. Then, she pulled out her phone and took a few steps back. She spent a few careful seconds, framing the display withel her camera.
Dissastisfied, she put the ginger ale away, and turned the platter around, and set the fork appropriately. With the scene better set, she stood back again and took a picture of her meal.
"Now that looks tasty," Drysi appraised her picture, and considered a retake from a different angle.
Gideon's head came poking out from under the bed.
"Drysi..." his voice whined with tension of someone whose patience wore thin with hunger.
"Oh! Shit! Sorry there, Gid," Drysi apologized and went over to her backpack. From it she pulled out a small vacuum bag that contained a brown toad. She teased him with a sing-song voice. "I've got your favorite!"
The snake perked up at this, tasting the air and watching Drysi expectantly. She carefully unsealed the bag and let Gideon slide in to get a good grip on the dead toad.
"Asiatic... And a fat one, too..." Gideons mouth reasserted itself a couple of times over the carcasse and then gently withdrew with it under the bed. Drysi was still getting used to having more creepy crawlies in her life, but Gideon dragging a toad corpse under her bed was getting cuter and cuter as time went on.
Going back to work, she went back to the link of chains, and took a few deep sips of the warm broth. It helped her shed the cold almost instantly and woke her up. More alert, she put down a few more notes on the object before exchanging her pencil for a fork.
Then, on a lark, she wrapped the chain around her wrist, and clasped it. As she ate, she appraised the look, feeling a little self satisfied at the rustic appearance of it. Between mouthfuls of rice and egg, she pushed a little more magical energy into the now bracelet.
The aroma of food was good for reminding someone how hungry they were, and Drysi was no exception. She had stared longingly at Mr. Flynn's own feast, but she was quite pleased with her portions. All of it looked very pleasant, which is why she set it down on the table in good light. Then, she pulled out her phone and took a few steps back. She spent a few careful seconds, framing the display withel her camera.
Dissastisfied, she put the ginger ale away, and turned the platter around, and set the fork appropriately. With the scene better set, she stood back again and took a picture of her meal.
"Now that looks tasty," Drysi appraised her picture, and considered a retake from a different angle.
Gideon's head came poking out from under the bed.
"Drysi..." his voice whined with tension of someone whose patience wore thin with hunger.
"Oh! Shit! Sorry there, Gid," Drysi apologized and went over to her backpack. From it she pulled out a small vacuum bag that contained a brown toad. She teased him with a sing-song voice. "I've got your favorite!"
The snake perked up at this, tasting the air and watching Drysi expectantly. She carefully unsealed the bag and let Gideon slide in to get a good grip on the dead toad.
"Asiatic... And a fat one, too..." Gideons mouth reasserted itself a couple of times over the carcasse and then gently withdrew with it under the bed. Drysi was still getting used to having more creepy crawlies in her life, but Gideon dragging a toad corpse under her bed was getting cuter and cuter as time went on.
Going back to work, she went back to the link of chains, and took a few deep sips of the warm broth. It helped her shed the cold almost instantly and woke her up. More alert, she put down a few more notes on the object before exchanging her pencil for a fork.
Then, on a lark, she wrapped the chain around her wrist, and clasped it. As she ate, she appraised the look, feeling a little self satisfied at the rustic appearance of it. Between mouthfuls of rice and egg, she pushed a little more magical energy into the now bracelet.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
The chain sat heavy on Drysi's wrist, and the fit was incredibly loose; intended likely for larger wrists if it truly was meant to be worn as such. As she tentatively began to add energy to to the artifact it once again felt as though her mana was passing into the bracelet before immediately dissipating into the air around her.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Now playing...
"Receives energy... disperses..." Drysi dictated her notes as she kept toying with the bracelet, she had a couple of theories forming in her mind about what it could be. Several time she swapped between a fork and her pencil to eat and then take notes, poking and prodding the material. Then, at a certain point, she was unable to deny her own hunger. She left the bracelet on her wrist, but set aside her notes and beginning downing her meal. It had already started to cool by the time she was able to get into in earnest, but she enjoyed it none-the-less. Whoever was doing the cooking knew what they were doing, even the salad was pretty good.
"Bein' a druid's not so bad," she thought aloud as she scooped up the last of her greens, eating around the cucumbers, "save for all the dangerous parts..."
She stacked her dishes up, set the fork on top and made a mental note to take the dishes back down herself. First, she would try and get some foothold as to what the chain did, and then she would take a break.
Her current obstacle was seeing just what exactly the purpose of the dispersal was. What Drysi knew already was that the material drank magic directed at it, took it in, and then put it away. When chained together with something large, that could make for some impressive anti-magic armor. It needed consistent power, or was that the dispersal effect? A test was in order, and she went back into her bag to pull out a Shock rune. A little discharge would go a long way trying to produce a result.
The chain was draped over the back of her chair and she gently applied a shock to the it. Then, after recording the results, she'd put the bracelet back on, pump a little more mana into the links and shock them again. If that didn't hurt, she'd try it again, but on her finger.
"Receives energy... disperses..." Drysi dictated her notes as she kept toying with the bracelet, she had a couple of theories forming in her mind about what it could be. Several time she swapped between a fork and her pencil to eat and then take notes, poking and prodding the material. Then, at a certain point, she was unable to deny her own hunger. She left the bracelet on her wrist, but set aside her notes and beginning downing her meal. It had already started to cool by the time she was able to get into in earnest, but she enjoyed it none-the-less. Whoever was doing the cooking knew what they were doing, even the salad was pretty good.
"Bein' a druid's not so bad," she thought aloud as she scooped up the last of her greens, eating around the cucumbers, "save for all the dangerous parts..."
She stacked her dishes up, set the fork on top and made a mental note to take the dishes back down herself. First, she would try and get some foothold as to what the chain did, and then she would take a break.
Her current obstacle was seeing just what exactly the purpose of the dispersal was. What Drysi knew already was that the material drank magic directed at it, took it in, and then put it away. When chained together with something large, that could make for some impressive anti-magic armor. It needed consistent power, or was that the dispersal effect? A test was in order, and she went back into her bag to pull out a Shock rune. A little discharge would go a long way trying to produce a result.
The chain was draped over the back of her chair and she gently applied a shock to the it. Then, after recording the results, she'd put the bracelet back on, pump a little more mana into the links and shock them again. If that didn't hurt, she'd try it again, but on her finger.