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Post by laserbolt on Feb 18, 2014 20:33:10 GMT
"I just know that once, I was a human, and it was a PAIN!" Laserbolt sighed, theatrically. "I had to make myself a horn out of wood and rocks. It barely even worked!"
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Post by wanderingmagus on Feb 19, 2014 22:16:29 GMT
The Wanderer smiled, her form shimmering into that of an androgynous human as a staff appeared in her hand. "One such as this?" she asked.
It was about six feet tall, roughly an inch thick and carved of a mixture of woods that seemed to meld into each other without need for binder. The top was in the shape of a horse's head, and its eyes were inset with sapphires, while runes and engravings and inlays of gold and silver ran down the sides to the tip, which was capped with brass.
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Post by laserbolt on Feb 20, 2014 1:46:29 GMT
Laserbolt nodded. "Yup, 'cept your's is waaaay more advanced, and a lot bigger. Didn't want to draw attention, ya know. It's a real piece of work, that thing you got."
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Post by wanderingmagus on Feb 20, 2014 22:06:42 GMT
The Wanderer smiled. "Thank you. It took some effort to make and imbue with sufficient energy. And it is a useful tool for many purposes, not least of which as a method of storage."
Alfonso grinned as he looked closely at it with his fay eyes. "'Twould make the Queen of Faerie turn green as the grass, it would!" he exclaimed before knocking on the wooden counter and spitting politely into a napkin to avoid bad luck. "I expected nothing less of the Magus."
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Post by laserbolt on Feb 21, 2014 0:25:31 GMT
"Yeah, I guess it would. So, Alfonso! What's your story?"
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Post by wanderingmagus on Feb 21, 2014 19:17:32 GMT
The lad tapped his chin with a green thumb in thought, then smiled mischievously. "Ah, a tale ye asks? I might, and as all tales, 'tis true indeed. For a fae speaketh not falsehoods, and neither does he tell tall tales. 'Tis the curse and blessing of our kind, it is. Now gather round me, lasses, an' I'll tell a tale to rouse thine hearts!"
He giggled as he flipped off the stool and did a handstand on the floor before spinning about and sitting comfortably poised on a flower that seemed to have sprung from nowhere, and it seemed he was made of air, for though he must have weighed near as much as any strong lad, the flower was not bent, nor indeed was it even affected as he sat upon it.
"Where shall I begin? Once upon a time it was, in that which mortals call the Enchanted Woods. A place of wild magic, fae and strange, a place that lived and breathed and thought! By no hand of man was it tamed, for the Woods would have no master, but permitted the Forest Gentry which dwelt there to call it home. A fair lass there was, fae as fae can be, fair as the moonlight on midsummer's eve, fair as the harvest in the falling of the leaves, fair as the ocean and the snow and the spring! None know her name now, not even I, for cunning she was, and knew she that Names have Power. Yea, very cunning! She knew what path a man would take to die afore his grandfather was born! And she knew which bear would eat the fruits of the tree which springs from a single seed. Aye, as cunning as cunning can be, wise as a wolf, witty as a fox, and strong-willed as a lioness in the summer of her might. Yet one weakness had she, which set her apart from many another- she longed for love, to love and be loved."
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Post by laserbolt on Feb 21, 2014 20:24:45 GMT
Laserbolt turned his full attention to Alfonso, taken by his voice and mannerisms.
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Post by wanderingmagus on Feb 24, 2014 20:38:40 GMT
Alfonso sighed, remembering the story and the look on the face of the storyteller. "Aye, love she desired, True Love, which cannot be bought or commanded, but comes from the heart and soul. Such as it was, in those days long ago Mortal and Fay were not so estranged. A man indeed there was, strong and brave, yet wise and shrewd, kind and loving in a manner thought beyond that of Mortals. On Midsummer's Eve, in the Enchanted Woods on the borders of Faerie, the Wood Between the Worlds, they met, Fay and Mortal. They met and they loved under the shining moon, in the tall grass of the fields of Elysium. Thence did come a child, a girl, neither Fay nor Mortal, with the timeless beauty of Elfhame, and the compassion of Midgard both flowing in her veins. Yet for that reason she was taunted ceaselessly, and disowned was that man which gave his love to her mother. For fear there grew of the fall of Man, of the power of Faerie in the Summer of its strength. But loved he that Fay and his daughter so dearly that the man did cross the borders of the Hedge, fearing not for his life, though all the pixies of Cnuic Na Sidhe come down upon him in storm to devour his flesh and bone. Thus was that Fay ever more amazed and enchanted by the love that man gave freely unto her, withholding naught from her, but going even unto death for love. Such love had ne'er been seen afore that day by her, nor since. Yet thou knowest how such a story must end."
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Post by laserbolt on Feb 24, 2014 20:51:04 GMT
Laserbolt raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing stopping!?" He sounded like a child, which was quite befitting the situation.
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Post by wanderingmagus on Feb 27, 2014 20:12:59 GMT
Alfonso grinned at the pony's impatience. "Dost thou desire to know what passed henceforth? Very well. 'Twas a match made in the Summerlands, of the sort legends and songs speak of. But like most songs, 'tis a sad ending for which the twain were fated. For alas, the affliction of mortals is an unfortunate constant beyond the borders of Faerie, and though it seemed to them that their love would last forever, it was not so. The man never ceased in his love, but his body did wither and wane with the passing of the ages, as do the bodies of all mortals, and in time he went to the long rest of his fathers and forefathers. And at his passing, the mortals of Midgard did begin to bring forth destruction in earnest upon fey and all those associated with them, especially half-bloods such as the daughter of that bond. So the fey lass grew bitter as mortal lives came and went, being bent with sorrow and hatred for the cruel ruffians who glared and spat at her daughter, and called her 'witch', 'fey', 'crone of the woods'. And she said in her heart, 'Amen, then! If desireth these fools to see a witch and a crone, then merrily shall I oblige!' No more was the fair lass of surpassing beauty, the fay maiden whose gaze pierced the hearts of mortal men. No more did she use the fair names given unto her by her lover. Rather, she devoted herself to inspiring awe and terror in those who would do harm unto her own, and to vengeance against those mortals who spat upon her and called her wicked. And indeed, the mortals came no more to insult and deride, cowering rather in fear of the one they came to call Baba Yaga, the Grandmother, the Crone, the Witch of the Woods."
He paused, sipping a bit from his mug.
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Post by laserbolt on Feb 27, 2014 20:54:16 GMT
"Baba Yaga! I know her! I never heard this part of the story, usually just the ones that came after." Laserbolt took out a small round device. "Bertram, you got all that, right?" The device made a noise in the affirmative. "Awesome, I'll have to write it down, for reference later." Laserbolt turned back to Alphonse. "You don't mind, right? I remember there was some rule that fey had with words."
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Post by wanderingmagus on Mar 5, 2014 0:29:26 GMT
The fey lad shrugged. "Thou knowest not the True Names of any here. I dinnae mind."
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Post by laserbolt on Mar 5, 2014 2:09:06 GMT
"Good. Didn't want to make anybody I can't normally see mad. That's usually a bad plan." Laserbolt finished his notes, and sat back in his chair. After a bit of silence, Laserbolt asked an odd question. "Hey, Alphonse. You ever sail as a pirate?"
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Post by wanderingmagus on Mar 12, 2014 17:49:44 GMT
Alfonso grinned. "Nay, but I have heard many a tale of the high seas, and the brigands which sail it anon. No thief am I, nor would I be, save in utmost need, and then I would not sail in water: for my place is in the Forest, in the Enchanted Woods, the Hedge of Faerie."
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Post by laserbolt on Mar 12, 2014 20:54:21 GMT
Laserbolt nodded. "Gotcha. Just thought I'd ask." At that moment, a tall figure walked in. He was humanoid, with a black cloak on. As he stepped forward, the group could see he had talons that stuck out under the robe. He wore an old plague mask, stylized after a bird, with the eyes fogged over with tinted glass. And he smelled of disease. He stopped for a moment, noticing the fairy speaking with Laserbolt. "What is this, now?" he said. His voice sounded hoarse, and low. He stepped forward, and leaned over the two. "This horse seems to think it's a person. How quaint. Did you train him, fey?"
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