You finally find a road.

It was cold last night, and you climbed a thick tree and huddled in the branches.  Below, you swear you could hear all kinds of wolves prowling around, licking their chops and wanting to take a bite out of you.  If they were there, they are gone by the morning.

You sucked some dew off leaves, enough that your throat stopped feeling dry.  Picking up the Mallory shoes, you moved on.

The bag wasn't in the same place you had entered it from.  It was in the middle of a clearing in a forest.  You were able to figure out which was east from where the sun rose, and stumbled in that direction.  Your gut starts making noises.  It feels like your stomach is sticking against your rib cage you're so hungry.

Then, about an hour ago, you walked out of a tree line and found a road.

It's not much of a road.  There are no fresh tracks on it.  And as you step on it, something about it feels...weird.  Like you're stepping on a dog's tail or something.

Make me both a Magic Sensitivity roll and a Sense Holy/Unholy roll please.  Both modified by your Perception.

Thanks

09:50, Today: Tristan rolled 1 using 1d10-3.  sense holy/unholy.

09:49, Today: Tristan rolled 4 using 1d10-3.  magic sensitivity.

OCC: I think I did that right.  Love the name of the new adventure, btw.  lol

In reply to Tristan (msg # 2):

Thanks.  And the rolls look good.  Not informative mind you. But done correctly

Down the road running to the left, you can feel...something.  It's a warmish kind of tug, though a faint one.

Going left or right? Or you can not follow the road and try moving across it and into the woods on the other side.

Tristan feels like a hero after leading the children to freedom (even if most of them turned to dust in the end).  As a result, he feels hubristic.

As though expecting a reward for his services, he heads left, boldly going where no foolish child has gone before tonight.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 4):

As you head off the left hand path, the day progresses.  The sun rises to it's zenith and starts to fall.  You get more thirsty and more tired with each step.

That tug you felt is starting to feel closer.  Not "around the next bend" closer.  But you can feel like it's coming your way.  Maybe you'll meet it soon.

As you think about that, the road rises a small hill.  As you crest the ridge, you can see that the hill runs down into a small valley cut by a stream.  The road crosses the stream on an old wooden bridge.

Sitting in front of the entrance to the bridge are three men.  They look like soldiers, each in armor.  Each man carrying a long spear, with a hatchet on their belt.  They're crouched down on the ground, grouped around a small square of cloth they've laid on the ground.  You hear them laughing and arguing with each other.  As you watch, you realize they are rolling dice.  Father sometimes does that.  It always makes Mother angry.

Tristan stares with longing at the stream, desperate to quench his thirst.  He also briefly considers trying to run past the guards.

Instead, he tries to find a place where he won't be seen, crouches down and observes them.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 6):

There's a small hollow space under a tree.  Scunching down into it, you can keep an eye on the soldiers without being too obvious...

But just in case, why not make me a Stealth/Pres check please.  And it's a stress test

The soldiers continue to play dice and talk about women they've known.  Finally one stands up and stretches his arms.

"You think Chauncey is ever gonna show up?"

One of his fellows laughs.  "That bastard's probably got his head up his ass an' his cock up some bum."

The third one roars out a laugh like it's the funniest thing he's ever heard.  "Damnation! He is one ta do somethin' stupid, ain't he?"

"I don't care if he's stupid.  I care that he's late. They were supposed ta relieve us an hour ago."

"You got somewhere else ta be?"

"Just tired of smelling you, ya rank bastard."

The other two hoot and snort.

The first one starts marching up the hill.

"Where you off ta?"

"Gotta take a piss..."

He's heading your way...

09:23, Today: Tristan rolled 3 using 1d10-5 with rolls of 8.  ste/pre.

Are there any stones within reach?  If there are, Tristan will try to grab one without being seen.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 8):

He is not paying you much attention, as it seems he's heading for a tree below the one you're crouched under.

You can see a few pebbles by your feet.  Easy enough to pick up any of them.

Are any of them large enough to be useful as a weapon?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 10):

The largest could be used as a slingshot bullet.  But I wouldn't count on being able to take down an adult with a rock unless it was a boulder.

The guard comes up to the tree and starts to do his business.  He hasn't noticed you...yet.

Tristan hurls the largest stone directly at the man's testicles, then runs deeper into the woods.

21:42, Today: Tristan rolled 7 using 1d10-3.  Dex/Athl.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:42, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 12):

Was the roll for the to hit on the stone or for running away?

This also would have been a stress test.  So if you rolled a 0, that's actually a potential botch.  I'll need you to roll another test to see if you get another 0

It was my roll to hit.  Rolling again…

23:37, Today: Tristan rolled 8 using 1d10.  Botch?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Mon 14 Nov 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 14):

Nope.  You only botch if you get another 0 on any of the dice you reroll.

I only had you reroll 1 die this time.  Certain situations call for you to roll multiple botch die.

You fling the stone and it bounces off the tree.

The man looks up and the two of you lock eyes for the briefest of moments before you take off into the woods.

Behind you, you can hear shouts as the guards start to give chase.

I keep running.  Do I see anywhere I could try to hide?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 16):

You crash through the undergrowth, looking around desperately for some place to hole up.

There seem to be three choices, or rather directions.

You can rush back the way you came down the road.  There were plenty of woods and it's just a matter of staying ahead of the guards.

You could try to go up instead of running.  Climb a tree.  There are several large ones around, many with enough foliage to cover you if you got into their upper branches.

And you could head down hill instead.  The stream isn't too far away.  Maybe you could hide under the water or along the bank.

I'll try rushing down the road.  No need to risk going downhill, and climbing a tree sounds suicidal.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 18):

You run down the road.  Behind you, you can hear at least two of the guards chasing you.

If you want to stay on or near the road, make me an Athletics/Qik check please.  If you're ducking into the woods to ide, Stealth/Qik check please.

Thanks

Woods.

23:12, Today: Tristan rolled 6 using 1d10-3 with rolls of 9.  Stealth/qik.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 20):

Wow.  For a child character, that is an awesome roll.

You spy a small alcove under one tree.  A little hollow under the roots.  Scurrying like a rabbit, you manage to tuck yourself into it and still yourself.

Soon, you can hear the tromp tromp of grown up boots.

"Didja see where he went?"

"Nah.  Better question.  Why do we care? He's just a brat."

"He lobbed a rock at my gob the little shit."

A rough laugh.  "What?  How could he hit something that small?"

"That's not what your Margaret said when I was done with her las' night."

"She probably said nothin' cos she fell asleep since you're such a bad hump.  Now c'mon.  Let's get back to the bridge.  The relief will be here soon.  An' I want to get back to Margaret.  Show her what a real man is like."

"Bastard."

After a moment, you hear the sounds of men walking away.

Inside you, you feel that little tug.  That thing you were feeling come towards you...it's close.  It seems to be back the way you came from.  Maybe back towards the bridge.

Tristan listens with confusion to their banter about Margaret.  What had that man done to her?  And what was that about the other guy not being a real man?  Was he a monster in human form, or something?

When he’s confident about coming out without being seen, he leaves the safety of his hidey-hole and creeps back toward the bridge, following the tracks of the… whatevers.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 22):

You creep along the road, waiting to dive back into the woods should those soldiers show back up.

As you get near the point where the road rises up over the small hillock, you can hear sounds from the other side.  Where the bridge is.

There's the sound like something metal is striking something metal.  And you hear some odd words being shouted out.  They...seem really weird.  They almost make you feel drowsy.

But the voice is too familiar to fall asleep.  Uncle?  It sounds like Uncle.

The whatever you've been feeling?  It's just on the other side of the hillock.

Can't recall what name we decided to give the Uncle.  Not that it matters.

But for now, I'm just referring to him as "Uncle"

Tristan moves to the side of the road, or even just off it, if this is practical.  He tries to keep his head clear as he presses forward toward the sounds, taking great care to not be seen.

You peek over the hillock.

The men who had been guarding the bridge are all laying on the ground.  There's three more men standing there now.

Two of them look like soldiers too. But they don't have uniforms.  One is a big man, bigger than any guy you've ever seen.  The other one is tall and lanky.  For some reason, he reminds you of a weasel

In between them, arms crossed, looking over the guys on the ground, is your Uncle.  He looks up, scanning the trees.

"I think he's around here somewhere."

Tristan slowly, carefully, and preferably silently retreats into the woods.  He absolutely does not like the looks of this.

08:22, Today: Tristan rolled 2 using 1d10-3.  stealth/qik.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:22, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 26):

You start to slither back into the woods.  But you feel that odd sensation again.  This time it's heavier.  Like something crawling over your skin.

Uncle seems to be waving his hands and muttering.  He then looks right towards you.

"Tristan!  Come here!  It's me.  You're safe now."

Tristan is confused.  He wants to believe that his uncle is here to help him.  In a moment of childish weakness, he takes a hesitant step forward.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 28):

As you come out, Uncle's grin broadens.

"It's alright Tristan. You're safe now."

He seems the boots a moment, and then looks back at you.

"You seem to have had quite a time.  You hungry?  Let's have some fish.  And you can tell me about what happened.  Your parents...weren't helpful."

Tristan suddenly worries he's made a mistake.  But he also realizes it's too late.  He has to trust his uncle.  It's the only way now.

He can't quite get a smile to form on his face, but he walks toward his uncle and starts to babble about voices in the barn and giants' feet and enslaved children and everything else that has happened to him recently.  He also says that yes, he would love to have fish.  In fact, he would love that very much.

My parents weren't helpful... what does he mean?  Tristan tries not to think too much about that.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Fri 02 Dec 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 30):

Uncle listens for a bit.  The two men with him drag the guards off behind a tree.

Uncle waits a bit longer, nodding and making expressions as you tell him the tale.

"The fae already reached out for you, eh?  Well.  I'm not surprised."

When the two men rejoin you both, Uncle nods at them.  "This is Collin."

The big man nods at you.

"And this is Ferko."  The tall, lanky one nods.

Uncle turns, heading towards the bridge.  "Anyway. Come with me.  We'll set up a camp.  Ferko.  See about those fish."

Collin bends down and suddenly scoops you up.  He smiles at you.  "You look tired.  Why don'tcha let me carry ya a bit young master?"

Uncle leads the two of you up a hill on the opposite side of the stream.  On the other side of it, a small camp has been established.  A woodpile is gathered in the center.  Uncle waves a hand in an odd way and mutters something odd.  You get that feeling again.

Then the wood pile suddenly roars into a fire.

Uncle sits on a log set up as a seat near the fire.  He gestures for you to sit on the other end of the log.

"Come sit while we wait for fish.  You must have some questions, right?"

He tries to think of a question he can ask without angering his uncle.  Also, he tries not to let his worry show on his face.  But it’s hard.  “What did you mean about the… Fae?”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 32):

Ferko returns with a line full of fish.  He's indeed fast.  It would take you all day to catch so many.

As Ferko sets about cleaning them, Uncle grins.  "Come now Tristan.  You know about the Fae.  The faeries.  There's a whole world beyond what most can see Tristan.  And lucky you..."  He reaches over, sticking out a long, boney pointer finger, and poking you gently right between the eyes.  "You can see that world.  And you're going to see it."

He sits back.  "There's things I should tell you.  But we'll get to all that as we go.  First things first though.  You're coming with me.  We're going back to my home.  I have a rather big house.  And you'll live in it with me.  I'm going to teach you things Tristan.

"But there are some rules.  And these are rules that can't be broken.  The first rule is...until I say otherwise...you can only go where I tell you you can go.  Do you understand?"

Tristan swallows an icy lump of fear.  "What about my parents, sir?  My chores?  They'll be mad at me..."

But then suddenly, all the child in him disappears and his face hardens.  He scowls, and something else seems to speak in his voice.

"I'll follow your rules... until I don't."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:09, Sat 03 Dec 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 34):

Uncle stares at you, then laughs.  It's a pretty robust laugh.

"You don't need to worry about your folks any more.  I mean...be honest.  Are you really going to miss them?

"As far as obeying...well.  We'll see what happens at the point you don't.  For now...fish."

Freko serves out some sticks with roasted fish on them.

"Ask me any questions you have before we go to sleep.  I'll indulge you in them tonight."

Tristan greedily eats the fish, getting oil and juices all over his small hands and chin.  He has already forgotten the defiant words he’d spoken to his uncle, which he’d felt certain would earn him a beating, at least.

When he finishes, he asks his uncle how he started the fire.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 36):

Uncle grins.  "Oh.  So you did notice that, did you?"

He waves a hand and mumbles something.  And you slowly start to rise.  Your body comes off hte ground, away from the fish bones and floats upwards.  You can't feel anything lifting you up. There's no pressure or weight under you, pushing you upwards.  No arm is dangling down from above, pulling you skyward.

You start to float above the height of a grown man.  And then a bit further.  And you start there.

Uncle is looking up at you, smirking. "It's simple Tristan.  I used magic to start the fire.  It's because I have what's called "The Gift".

"As do you Tristan.  As do you."

A strange feeling came over Tristan… not fear, exactly, but helplessness; a remarkably mature, detached appreciation of how utterly powerless he was to influence his own destiny.  Being suspended in the air by a power he couldn’t understand made it all clear to him.

At first he could think of nothing to say to his uncle.  But finally, he asked the only question there was enough room in his head for.  “What if I don’t want it?  Can Santa Claus take it back?”
This message was last edited by the player at 13:34, Wed 07 Dec 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 38):

Funny, but I will warn you:  some of the players of AM can be really uptight about historical accuracy.  Santa would have just been called Saint Nicholas in England at this time.  And I don't think he was a gift giver at this point in history.

Yeah.  I know.  But I've seen Ars Magica games fall apart because of an argument about whether forks were in use in 12th century Sweden.  No lie.

Uncle smirks.  "I'll grant you it's got it's downsides.  For one thing...you know how your family hates you?  It's because you feel different to them.  And that's because of your Gift.  It's not you that makes them uncomfortable.  It's your Gift.  It's why you've been treated like you have been. Surprised?"

You start to descend.  Slowly.

"But everything has a price.  And the greater it's value, the higher the price.  The Gift carries a hefty price.  But that's because it's worth so much."

You stop just above the ground.  Even if you stretch your toes, you can't quite touch the earth.

"There's nothing you can do about it.  You either have the Gift or you don't.  You are who you are Tristan.  If you do nothing about it...well.  That's not a good life.  People will always be cruel to you.  Sooner or later you'll suffer at their hands.  Or at your own.

"But fortunate, fortunate you.  I found you Tristan.  And now you'll get the chance to find out the value of your Gift.  I'm going to teach you Tristan.  I'm going to show you how to use it.

"Have you ever heard of magicians Tristan?  Or the Order of Hermes?"

I will leave it to you if you've heard the name.  Whatever you do know, it would be what you think medieval villagers would say about magi

“I never heard of the Order of… Hams?  Whatever you called it?  Sorry.  But I heard of magicians… guys who tell you to pick a card, then tell your future; you see ‘em at a carnival, or something like that.  Or they tell you to pick which cup the ball is hiding under.  Don’t know much about ‘em.”

I was a bit concerned that Santa would be an anachronism… I’ll keep what you said in mind in the future.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 40):

Uncle cocks an eyebrow.  "Order of...Hams?"

He suddenly starts laughing  A real, belly ache kind of laugh.  The two soldiers grin wickedly and glance at you.

Uncle wipes a tear from his eye.  "Oh my.  I gotta tell Surdi that one."

He looks back at you, smiling.  "I'm not talking about tricksters boy.  I'm talking about power."

You start to rise into the air again.  This time, you rise above the tree line.  You hover there a moment...and then you fall.

The ground comes rushing up at you.  There's barely time to scream if you chose to do that.  But just inches away from landing, you stop, freezing in mid air, upside down.

Your body spins, until you're facing Uncle again.

"You want to be happy Tristan?  I mean it.  Do you want to feel like you're alive?  To live to where no once can pick on you?  That takes power Tristan."

This is too much for his immature nerves to handle.  He trembles, watching his uncle with dread, waiting to be put down.  Power. He knew the word.  It was a grown-up word; a serious word.  It made him think of generals and kings, judges and high priests.  It wasn’t a word he associated with something else his uncle had mentioned: happiness.  Of course, his uncle was right: he didn’t want to be picked on; he would love to put himself above all of that for the rest of his life.  But he wasn’t stupid.  He knew he was being manipulated, and his uncle’s motives couldn’t possibly be pure.  The man wanted something… and whatever it was, it had nothing to do with Tristan’s interests.

Gradually, his fear fades, and as it does, he keeps his silence.  Realizing he needs to think very carefully about what happens next.

Finally, the boy speaks.  "Power... I don't think I know what that means yet.  This is going to be hard, isn't it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:58, Sat 10 Dec 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 43):

Uncle's smile seems to soften a little bit.  You gently touch the ground.

"Everything in life is hard Tristan.  It just depends on how fast it's going when it hits you."

He gestures at the spot you were sitting, indicating for you to sit back down.

"The lessons will be hard, yes.  You'll need to learn them quickly as well.  We have a lot of ground to cover.  You'll be taught to read and write.  I'll start teaching you about magic.  And..."

He considers a moment and then shakes his head.  "I'll tell you the rest of it later.  That's enough for you to absorb at the moment.  But first things first.

"My proper name is Erat Alba.  I am a magi of House Merinta, the Order of Hermes.  You will address me as "master" going forward.

"We are returning to my home.  It is to the north.  In the highlands.  It's called Creag Dhubh.  Questions?"

Tristan shakes his head no.  He wonders if he’ll be able to sleep at all tonight.

Erat Alba… He repeats that to himself.  It seems important that he remember that, at least.  But he realizes there is no way he’ll remember everything.

He tries telling himself that he’s been beaten before, he’s been worked hard before, he’s been badly treated before.  All of those things would surely happen again, only… different.  But maybe not worse.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Mon 12 Dec 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 45):

They don't beat you the next morning.  But they do make you walk.

Before the sun has risen, you're shaken awake and given some tough bread to eat.  The four of you then begin following the road to the north.

Uncle...Erat Alba...Master...You'll need to pick a name for him, doesn't say much that first day.  He simply walks behind the big man named Collin.  The tall, lanky one named Ferko follows along behind you.  He seems to trail you, not straying far from your back no matter how fast or slow you go.

You stop for a quick lunch at noon.  Some dried berries and a handful of that stale bread.  Then it's back to walking.

Just before the sun starts to dip, Uncle/Master/Erat Alba holds up a hand.  The two men start to set up camp.  Uncle/Master/Erat walks over to stand in front of you.

"Tired?"  He smiles.  Or smirks.  There's too many shadows falling across his face to tell for sure.  "You'll need to get used to this level of work.  I know you're not a lazy fellow.  So you should be okay, right?"

Tristan smirks.  "I live on a farm, master.  I know what work is.  This is nothing."

Still wouldn't turn down a magic carpet, he adds silently.

But some perverse thing inside him prompts him to add, "I can work even as hard as you.  Master."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:03, Wed 14 Dec 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 47):

Master gives you a long, blank look.  Then begins to smile.  Not in a friendly way either.

"Oh really?  Well let's see how hard you're willing to work."

He goes to a pack and pulls out a small hand shovel.  Small to him.  To you, it's the length of your arm.

"Dig me a hole.  As wide as the tip of one of your shoulders to the other shoulder.  As deep as you are tall.

"Hurry now."

This is not what I had in mind, he thinks.  But he says nothing.

Instead, he falls to his knees and starts digging as though his life depends on it.

And just maybe it does...
This message was last edited by the player at 03:45, Fri 16 Dec 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 49):

Uncle...well maybe now Master...chuckles and leaves you to it.  Ferko also seems to scoff.

Collin hands you a cup of water at one point and smiles reassuringly.  But he doesn't help you dig.

You attack it like the champ you are...

Make me a Athletics/Str check please.

23:37, Today: Tristan rolled 0 using 1d10-4.  athletics/strength

Tristan motivates himself by imagining he's digging Uncle Master's burial plot.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:39, Sat 17 Dec 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 51):

Nice touch

You manage to dig far enough down so you can stand calf deep in the hole.

Uncle comes by and watches you, then you feel those unseen hands pull you upwards again.  This time though you aren't taken up into the sky.  Simply pulled out of the hole and set on your feet.

"Watch."  Uncle mumbles something and makes a few gestures.  A large chunk of earth uproots itself from the bottom of your hole and deposits itself nearby.  Uncle nods.

"Now that is a hole you can stand in.  I did with magic what you would take all day to do.  So why did I have you do it?

"What did it feel like?  When you were digging?  How did it feel when you pushed into the ground and scooped up the earth?  Try to describe the sensation as well as you can."

“It was hard,” He said, not at all sure what Uncle Master was getting at.  “My knees hurt from the ground.  My heart beat faster.  I sweated.  I could smell the dirt.” He tried to think of something else.  “It just seems… normal.” He shrugged.  “It felt like home.  Like the farm.  I did chores all the time.”
This message was last edited by the player at 05:10, Sun 18 Dec 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 53):

Uncle scratches his chin.  "Okay.  That's a start.  Now...try to forget all that about doing chores.  Think only about the sensation of digging.  The resistance of the earth as you pushed the shovel into it.  The taste of it when it got in your mouth.  Rub your finger and feel the dirt that's on them now.

"There's another word for earth.  It's terram.  It's a word from the old tongue called Latin.  It's what the priests speak.

"What I did was to use my power...my Gift...to manipulate terram.  You will be able to do that too one day.  But for now, you need to get used to the feel of terram.  It's not earth when you manipulate it.  It's not dirt when you use your Gift on it.  It's terram.

"Grab two big handfuls of dirt and squish it between your hands.  And think about what it feels like.  Start telling yourself you aren't squishing up earth.  You're squishing up terram."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:00, Thu 29 Dec 2022.

Tristan promptly obeys.  He rubs the dirt in his hands and repeats that fancy word, terram, over and over again.

Although he likes the sound of that word... especially when his master speaks it... ultimately, he feels like a imbecile who is wasting his time playing with dirt like an infant. Smelling his fingers like his uncle commanded him do does little to enhance the experience.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:18, Mon 19 Dec 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 55):

Okay.  Giving you a choice here.

You can make a Magic Sensitivity/Per test.  Simple test so no chance of a botch.  A 0 counts as a 10.

Just a Perception Test.  Simple test on this as well.

Or you can push things.  Really try to feel something.  If you do that, it's a stress test.  Magic Sensitivity/Per.

Thanks

Let's really push things.

23:05, Today: Tristan rolled 3 using 1d10-3.  magic sensitivity/perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:06, Thu 29 Dec 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 57):

Okie doke.  For your current state, that's a good roll.

You try squishing the moist earth between your fingers.  It feels gooshy and...well.  You're not sure you are doing this right.  You bring your fingers to your nose.

As you concentrate, you suddenly notice something.  The earth smells...fertile?  Like when your father turns over the earth in the fallow fields.  The dark, moist dirt rising to the surface has a kind of smell like...a newborn baby.  It suddenly occurs to you that there's a scent like your little brother's smell.  Not the poppy smell.  But the smell he has when he's just been washed.  All clean and new.

The feeling on your fingers changes too.  It's no longer just gloopy.  It's tacky and sticky.  Like honey from a hive or sap from a newly cut tree.  There's a pleasant kind of texture to it.

Uncle is studying your face.  "You feel something don't you?  What do you feel?"

"It feels... gooshy."  He struggles to find the right words.  "It feels sticky on my fingers, like honey.  And it smells like... a field after it's been broke up.  And kind of like my little brother... after a bath.  I can't explain it."

He looks back up at his master, worried he has said something wrong.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 59):

Uncle slowly smirks.  "So...would it be fair to say it feels alive?"

Tristan nods vigorously.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 61):

Uncle nods, seeming to be satisfied.  "You feel that because of your Gift.

"Magic runs through everything.  You can feel it in earth.  Fire.  Water.  Air.  You can feel it in your body.  Your mind.  In what you can see.  The animals around us.  The trees.  Even in and of itself.  Though we'll discuss that more later.

"All of magic comes in finding the magic in a thing and doing something with it.  Creating something.  Destroying something.  Controlling it.  Or changing it.  Also in understanding something. What you did was to understand the magic in the earth just then.  Does that make sense?

"We call these the Arts.  They are the ten Forms and the five Techniques.  You have learned a little something about one of the Forms, Terram.  And also a little something about one of the Techniques.  Intellego. Intellego is the Latin word that means "I understand"."

He waves a hand.  "So what would you like to learn a little something of next?  Animals?  Fire?  The things that can be seen?  Tell me what sounds interesting."

“Fire sounds interesting,” He says.  Then immediately regrets it as he wonders if Uncle Master will demonstrate by roasting him alive…

He quickly adds, "Unless you think I should focus on tarrum first.  Don't wanna get distractored."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:18, Mon 02 Jan 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 63):

Uncle shakes his head at your last couple of lines.

"I'm not really teaching you magic here.  Just...opening you up to it.  That is how it works.  I need to open you up to each of the Forms and Techniques.

"And we can do fire.  Call it Ignem.  Lots of fools think fire is about power.  It's not.  I can show you fire...but do you really want to see it?"

Tristan hesitates for a second before responding.  No, he doesn't really want to see it... but he also doesn't want to show weakness before Uncle Master.  The last thing he needed was to be considered a coward.

"Yes, master," he says quietly.  "Please show me Ignem."

In reply to Tristan (msg # 65):

Uncle Master smirks.  "The quickest way to show you is..."

He snaps his fingers.

You are suddenly surrounded by flames.  They burn in the air, not an inch away from your nose.  You can feel heat behind you, warning you not to back up.

"Try doing what you did before.  With the earth.  But this time don't touch.  Just feel the heat.  Watch the flames.  Tell me if you can feel it."

Let's do another Magic Sensitivity/PER roll please.  And yes, it is a Stress Test

Thanks

Tristan struggles to control his panic and obey his master’s instructions.  He tries to open himself up and feel the true essence of the flames before they can consume him….

23:06, Today: Tristan rolled 2 using 1d10-3.  Magic sensitivity/perception.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 67):

You aren't doing too badly at all for these senstivity rolls.  Considering you're playing a child PC

The fire has a much different feel than the soil did.  Hungry.  That's what it feels like. On those days when Mother would get extra angry at you and refuse to give you bread.  But maybe even worse.  You can feel how the fire wants to rush in and eat you.

Fire is hunger.

But it's also the feeling of consuming.  Like when you were given bread at the end of the day.  It's that pleasurable feeling of falling on the loaf and just stuffing your face with it.

Oddly though, there's no feeling of being made full.  It's just the hunger and the joy of sating the hunger.  And then it repeats again.

Over and over again.

“It never ends,” Tristan says distantly, almost sadly, as though speaking of an old friend he pitied deeply.  “Always hungry.”
This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Fri 06 Jan 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 69):

Uncle laughs.  "And that is fire.  That's enough for one night.  We have quite a few steps to take before we reach home.  Get some sleep Tristan.  Sleep whenever you can."

And we are coming to the end of this storyline.

First, XP.  I'll give you 4 XP for your first Fae adventure.  And 2 XP for your first meeting with Uncle.  Good roleplay.

Your arts are going to be opened.  So that means you get a score of 0 in each one of them.

We aren't going to roleplay the journey back to the covenant.  But we will be moving to your arrival with the next story thread.

After that, we're going to time skip some.  Talk more about that later.

For now, check back with me Monday please.  I need to rejigger some stuff.  And we will arrive at Cliff Heart.

Questions/Comments thus far?

Nope.  Cool game, btw.  I'm digging it.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:24, Mon 09 Jan 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 71):

Thanks.