In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 363):
I have one duty to attend to before we go. I will be about 20 minutes if you don't want to wait I will meet you on the road back.
Titus moves quickly through town flitting behind houses finally arriving at the young apprentice's house and knocking as they had arranged previously. The young man opens the door and Titus looks furtively side to side and ducks into the house. He closes all the windows
is anyone else here?
The young apprentice shakes his head dumbfounded.
I promised to show you a trick... and believe me its a doozy. This is for you and you alone. If you say anything to anyone I will call you a god damned liar.
Remember how I told you of Fastbender last night? He's not just a story. He's every bit as real as you and I. Not only is he real but he is also more powerful than my stories credit him for.
The last was said as he flicks closed the last shutters in the house. He turns up the wick on the lamp in the house and as he does Titus begins to radiate a soft pulsing orange light so subtle he's not sure hes sees it.
What I offer are tricks of the light. Do not be afraid of anything you see from me. It can't harm you.
The orange light grows from Titus until it passes through his hand.
The old lady who said that she had heard the Fastbender story attributed to Hyrium is right. It did happen to both of them. The two are similar because there is no lord more directly descended from the union of Hyrium and Galeena than Fastbender, and their power incarnate is awakened in him again.
Titus at this point has perched on the back of a chair demonstrating his preternatural balance as the chair teeters and he stays steady as a rock.
He bounces off of the chair.
We are poised to see the return of the first men.
The boys mouth drops and Titus presses it shut with a light finger.
I am the pebble that heralds the avalanche, the seeping water before the dam breaks.
He comfortably sits down like he owns the place. As he speaks his orange aura gets stronger and stronger until the house is filled with orange light. Soon the orange light gives way to shapes that mirror his words.
quote:
Fastbender is a young lordling who was just coming into his gifts. As the lady at my show pointed out he was already calling comparisons to Hyrium as many of the same adventures befell both of them. He was being groomed for greatness and was a fast learner... and a trickster from a young age.
The boy gasps at the illusions having never seen anything like this. Titus shoots him a dangerous look that says 'shut up'.
quote:
Eventually his family hold became a victim of the ware in the north. His holdings burnt his family slaughtered he sewed his own fields with salt and left them to go fallow. At this point he swore an oath that he would bring righteousness and balance back to the world.
The illusions was shown solemnly taking an oath and was struck with a blinding gold light that settled into an orange/gold aura around him.
quote:
Something changed in him with that oath. Something deep awakened inside of him. He told me that he heard a man in a pleasant baritone say to him 'my child, you are destined for greatness not seen in this world since I ruled with Galeena. Go forth and use my powers for good.'
The boy opens his mouth when Titus says Fastbender spoke to him and he smiles and winks broadly as if to say 'Yes. I meant to say it exactly like that.'
quote:
As young Fastbender arose he found that his words echoed like thunder and could melt the coldest heart. He was more intelligent and cunning than before. People would swear their swords to him... people would die for him.
Soon he learned that his blessing would imbue his retainers with great strength, intellect, cunning or agility. Beyond making them paragons of physical prowess he also imbued them with talents that men could only dream of.
With this the illusions turn into an MC Escher style picture of a man telling a story to young boy listening raptly to a man telling a story and so on.
And lo he wanders the countryside building his strength and preparing for his triumphant return.
He smiles mischeviously.
This war is going to take a right turn soon. You mark my words. You seem a good sort. If we call on you would you answer? We could always use a blacksmith.
He waits for the boys answer, regardless of what it is he nods inscrutibly and ducks out the door cape fluttering behind him.
I expect you'll see me before too long. Pray for our success!
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Thu 16 June 2016.