The ocean.

You've heard stories about it.  A lake so big you can't see the other shore.  And supposedly the water isn't fit to drink.

Well.  Not that any water is all that fit to drink if it doesn't come out of a well or spring.

Uncle thumps you on the back.  "See that town there?  That's where we'll go and catch a boat.  It will take us across the channel and around Hibernia.  My covenant is on an isle off the coast.

"We won't dawdle.  When Issac joins us, we'll head down quickly.  Keep your hood pulled up.  Don't leave my side.  And don't talk to anyone.  Understand?"

"Issac" is apparently another servant who stayed in this town and made arrangements for your trip.

“Yes, master,” He says simply and then pulls his hood up.  “It’s huge.”  He breathes deeply, enjoying the smell of the air.  Not like back home on the farm.

But then again, the farm really wasn’t ‘home’ any more.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:11, Tue 10 Jan 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 2):

A couple of hours later, a short man with a large nose and curly hair comes up the hill.  He grins at your group...or at least Collin and Ferko.  He bows to Uncle, though it seems to be a nervous one.  He gives you a lopsided grin as well.

"This is Tristan.  My new apprentice.  Say hello to Isaac Tristan."

Isaac speaks a bit too loudly.  "Greetings Young Master.  Please to meet you.  I'm Isaac."  He then turns to Uncle.

"We should head down.  The Captain agreed to wait for us until midday.  So we won't have much time."

Uncle sighs.  "That will be fine.  Let's go. Collin.  Carry Tristan."

And before you know what's what, Collin has hefted you up like a sack of wheat and put you on his shoulders.  "Hang on young'un," he booms at you.  And then the adults are running.

They move quickly, Uncle perhaps faster than the others.  Isaac seems winded by the time you reach the outskirts of town.

Uncle hisses at you, "Keep your hood pulled close."

This would be the first time you've seen a port town before.  And it's bigger than the village...

Going to steal some glances around as you guys run for the harbor?

Tristan looks around, but is careful both to hang on to his human steed and to prevent his hood from coming down.  He has the feeling Uncle Master isn’t in the mood to be trifled with.

All of this is incredibly exciting.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:23, Thu 12 Jan 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 4):

The race through town feels just like that...a race.  You can't help seeing some things.  Uncle never told you to keep your eyes closed.  Just your hood kept up.

Collin is running so fast you have to keep one hand up to keep your hood on.  The town is larger than you thought.  It seems to be built on a set of cliffs that run in steps down to the water.

Collin bounds through the narrow streets and down steps.  Each time his feet land, you fly up a little bit off his shoulders.  If it weren't for his strong grip on your ankles, you'd probably fly off and backwards.

Amazingly, Uncle is outpacing Collin.  You can see Uncle rushing in the lead, only Ferko outstripping him.  And you get the sense that is only because Uncle is letting him take the lead.

"W....wwww....waaait Master Cam!  I'm too old for this running!"

Uncle laughs and turns his head, continuing his breakneck pace.  "You should run more Isaac!  Even an old Jew like you needs exercise!"

The townspeople are aghast at the display.  But they seem to lose interest as you pass.  It's...odd.

The docks come into view.  Old wooden piers.  Large boats are docked to one side, much larger than the little fishing boats some of the villagers will take out onto the river back home.

There's a group of men by one of the docks.  Ferko slows down, moving to a jog.  Uncle stops, holding up a hand.  Collin comes to a stop and soon Isaac is beside you, bent over with his hands on his knees.

"This one, right?"

Isaac just nods, too busy gulping air to say an answer out loud.

Ferko approaches the men at the end of the dock.  Uncle turns to you.

"Now then.  We'll be getting on a boat.  Keep your mouth shut and stay tucked into your robe.  It'll be a long trip and there's nothing for it.  Am I understood?"

Without waiting for a reply, he turns away. <aqu>"Do what Collin tells you.  Isaac.  Come along."</aqua>

Isaac gives  you a sideways look and then struggles after Uncle.

Collin doesn't take you off his shoulders.  He gives your left foot a gentle squeeze.  "What about young master?  Still with us?"

Tristan grunts in the affirmative.

And when he is sure Uncle Master’s back is turned to him, he quickly opens and then closes his mouth.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 6):

Collin hefts you off his shoulders and sets you on the pier.  "You ever ridden in a boat before?  I grew up near the water.  When I was a boy, I'd spend more time on a boat than on land!"

He grins at you and points out at the ocean.  "We're goin' across the Celtic Sea to Hibernia.  You know about Hibernia?  It's a wonderful land.  Men slay giants.  And the women are the most beautiful in the world."

He glances at Uncle's back, and then leans over, cupping his mouth and whispering conspiratorially, "Don't tell 'is lordship I told ya this.  But he was pretty excited about the comin' ta get ya."

"Never," Tristan says in response to the boat question.  "I was on a hay wagon once."

He files away the information about Uncle Master for later use.  Tristan is starting to suspect he's more important than he'd always assumed...

Giants... beautiful women... Hyper what?  This is all a lot to process....
This message was last edited by the player at 15:36, Mon 16 Jan 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 8):

Collin chuckles.  "This is gonna be a bit different than a hay wagon.

"Some people feel sick when they get on a boat for the first time.  It's cos of the motion of the waves.  If you start to feel green...like you're gonna toss up what you had for breakfast...throw up over the side of the boat.  And don't feel bad about it.  Also...stick close ta me, 'kay?"

Let's see if you get sea sick.  Roll a Stam check please.  You need to make at least a 3 or you get nausea.  This is a stress test, so remember to reroll 1s and 0s.

Thanks

23:50, Today: Tristan rolled -1 using 1d10-3.  Sta check.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 10):

Uncle waves at the two of you and Collin gently pushes you along into the boat.

The wooden floor of the boat sways ominously under your feet.  It's a long, open craft.  Oars are set along the sides.

Collin points to the front of the boat.  "We'll hunker down there.  C'mon."

After a bit, the sailors on the boat begin to get busy.  Soon the ship starts to pull away from the dock.

You watch the land get farther away.  Other boats pass your ship by, heading towards the land instead of away from it.  The sailors and fisherman on those boats call out to your ship, making loud, raunchy jokes and hooting at the crew.

Everyone seems to be in a good mood.  Though you notice that a lot of the sailors are shooting looks your way.  Uncle walks up and lays down beside you.

"Best to get some sleep if you can Tristan."

And with that, he closes his eyes and seems to drift off.

You don't get that lucky.  After a while, the motion of the water beneath the boat sort of works it's way up into your stomach.  You start to feel ill.

Collin chuckles.  "You gonna hurl?  Hang over the side of the boat now."

You are sea sick.  YOu can try to power through it by making another Stam check (it would be a stress test).  Or you can just put your head over the side and chuck away.

Your call

Tristan aims his face over the side and lets his complaining stomach have free reign.  He's been sick before, and every time he has thrown up in the past, he's felt better when he was done.  But even as he vomits, he takes care to keep his face concealed.  Uncle Master seemed to think that was highly important and he was sure there was a good reason for it.

When he finishes, he wipes his mouth off and then settles down, trying to rest for a while.  But he knows full well he's far too excited to sleep.  And not just because of the motion of this little wooden dagger passing through the water.

How many people ever got to live this way?  Very, very few.  Even if he failed miserably, it was an incredible chance.

He tried to hide his excitement, not wanting his uncle to see too readily into him.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 12):

The boat's rocking doesn't get any better.  Excitement struggles with nausea.  Fortunately, you have nothing left in your stomach.  Collin laughs and tells you stories about his fights.  You can only listen with half an ear.

Uncle stays asleep.

The sun descends and the stars begin to wink into view.  The night sky on the ocean is a whole different sky than when watching it from the fields back on the farm.

"Up there..."  Uncle's voice probably surprises you.  He's seated next to, watching the sky with you, waving his hand to indicate it all.

"That is not just the sky.  Or the stars.  It is the lunar sphere.  That is how it is referred to in the Order.  Magic is incredibly powerful. But it has it's limits.  The sky is one of those limits.  No magi has ever been able to rise high enough to touch the sky.  Nor can our magic affect those stars or the moon or the sun."

He goes quiet, continuing to look up at the sky.  "Wouldn't it be nice to touch the sky?"

"I don't know," Tristan replies, looking up.  "Nobody ever touched it before.  It might not be nice at all."

And he isn't sure he'd even want to.  Why dream about the stars when there were so many things to do with magic down here?  Or so he tended to assume.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:12, Mon 23 Jan 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 14):

Uncle shrugs.  "That's not a good argument.  It might not be nice at all.  But it could be wonderful.

"If not above, what about below?"  He gestures towards the sea.  "Have you wondered what might live below the waves?  Or who might live below them?"

“No… because I’ve never seen it before.” He gazes out across the vast waters.  “What does live under there, master?”

Now that he thinks about it, he does find his curiosity and imagination sparked.  What lurks in those cold, bottomless depths?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:56, Thu 26 Jan 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 16):

Uncle smiles.  It's friendly but at the same time...it's not.

"Would you like to see?"

The boy’s heart swells with fear, and he can practically taste the beating organ as it seems to jump up his throat into his mouth.  But he doesn’t dare let Uncle Master see his terror.  “Sure.”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 18):

Uncle chuckles.  He points at the water.  "Lean over the rail here.  So you can see the bottom as best you can."

Tristan hesitates for a second, and then complies.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 20):

The water looks black as the night sky as you lean over the rail.  You feel Uncle's hand grip your shoulder.

There's a sharp pain in the back of your head.  His other hand clamps down on the back of your neck, keeping you from turning around.

"Don't look back. Keep looking at the water."

Uncle mutters something.  Funny words.  You can't tell what he's doing but the hand on his shoulder lets go.

Then you are being pushed over the railing and into the water.

"Ha ha!  Swim around Tristan!  Take a look at what there is to see!"

You feel weird.  Your hands are gone.  And...you aren't you any longer...

You have been turned into a dolphin.  I'll let you narrate the sensations if you wish.  Or whatever you wish to narrate.

Terrified, Tristan breaks the surface of the water.  He sees Uncle Master grinning at him, in that not-so-nice way of his.  Feeling a strange urge, he blasts stale air out of a hole in his back.  What is this?  He feels... different.  Slick.  In a way, powerful.  He dives under the water.

So dark under here... at first.  Then his senses adjust.  He goes deeper.  He sees fish, and water... so much water.  It's kind of funny, how much water is down here.  The thought is so stupid he laughs... but his voice has changed.  He shoots back to the surface, performing a flip as he exhales.

He wonders if he could just swim away and forget about the rest of this magic business.  No chores to do, down here.  No beatings to take.  He dives deep again, seeking the bottom of this watery kingdom.  When he doesn't find it he surfaces again, and cries out.  The sound of his own voice reminds him of a bird of prey.

Uncle Master looks so far away now... should he head back?  He is tempted to swim further out.  What a glorious life this would be: one of perfect freedom.  Nothing to do but hunt and swim and live.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:16, Mon 30 Jan 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 22):

As you get down, you notice something weird.  Really weird.

It looks like a brownish blob floating in the water, as long as you are...were.  When you were a boy that is.

From the blob's top sprouts what looks like an oblong mushroom top.  From below, six...no, seven...wait a moment...no, eight!..long tails trail out from it's bottom.  The brownish blobby thing seems to be alive.  It's moving in such a way that you would think it's alive.

It floats not far away.  One of it's tails raises and seems to wave back and forth, like a finger, inviting you to come closer.

Tristan ignores its invitation and heads back to shore, not wanting to take needless chances.  He tries to find Uncle Master again.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 24):

As you turn to follow the wake of the boat above, the brown blob sort of propels itself forward, trailing after you.

...wait!..shape you wear...boy?..human child?..

It seems the blob is pursuing you.  It's quite fast.

You pull alongside the boat.

Tristan looks around desperately for Uncle Master, trying to call out to him with his mind.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 26):

If Uncle can hear you with his mind, he's not saying anything.

You can see the boat.  You have a rough idea where Uncle is.  You just need to surface near him.

Something slaps you lightly on the side.  You can feel something sticking to the skin of your...tail?

...human child...wait...come and play...something glittery you like?..

Tristan struggles to escape whatever it is that's after him and surfaces near where he thinks uncle is, letting out a desperate shriek once he's in the air to alert him that something has gone terribly wrong.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 28):

You break the surface, seeming to leap in the air.

You can see the boat.  The sailors who aren't asleep are staring at you like you're some kind of festival event.

Uncle is laughing.  He's got his head back and is roaring in laughter.

"Ha ha!  Look at you!  Oh they like you!  Try talking to them why don't you?  Who knows?  Maybe you'll like it there."

Tristan glares at Uncle Master prior to landing back in the water.  But he takes his advice and tries to communicate with his pursuer.  Hello, he tries to say.  I am Tristan.  What is your name?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 30):

The strange blob radiates joy.

Polp.  Polp is name...

come come little human in a dolphin's skin...

have wine...come down...much you may enjoy...

play game with Polp...know wonderful games...

One of the wavy arms points towards a spot of light at the bottom of the ocean.  It almost looks like a little hut.

Tristan performs the dolphin equivalent of a sigh.  Now what was he supposed to do?  Damn Uncle Master!

He tries to mentally communicate a question: what games do you know, and which is your favorite?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 32):

Dice.  You like rolling.  Dice?

The boat seems to be slowing down.  Looks like Uncle Master intends to wait for you.

How can you roll dice under the water?  Trisan asks, although he knows he should make for the boat again.  But his curiosity has gotten the best of him.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 34):

It waves one of it's long stringy tails.  Come see

The little house has windows and a door, just like the family cottage back home.  Lights shine and there's somehow smoke coming out of the chimney.

The brown blob opens the door with one of it's tails and ushers you inside.

There's a little table.  Chairs.  A hearth with a fire inside, despite the fact the room is filled with water.

The blob indicates for you to take a chair and it goes to a small cupboard and brings back two cups and three dice.

Rules easy.  Roll one dice or two dice or three dice.  You keep whatever number you get.  But then I roll.  If higher is my roll, you must again roll.  But only can roll second time any dice you did not roll time one.

Basically, the game is this.  Whoever has the higher total at the end of three rolls wins.  You roll the first and possibly the third time.  Any ties are wins for whoever takes the second roll.

You can roll up to three dice over two rolls.  Your first roll you can roll one, two, or all three dice.

The octopus (that's what it is but I doubt Tristan has ever seen one) can then roll.  If he rolls higher than what you rolled, you can try to roll again on the third roll.  BUT, you can only roll any dice you didn't roll on the first toss.

For example, on Roll 1, you decide to roll two dice.  You get a 3 and a 2 for a total of five.

On roll 2, the octopus rolls all three dice and gets a total of 8.

You have to roll 4 or higher to beat him.  But you would only have one dice to roll on the third roll as you used two of them on the first roll.

Clear as mud?

Tristan asks for clarification concerning the stakes.  Or can they play the first game without a wager?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 36):

The blob seems to consider and then nods.  Or at least you think it's nodding.  Whatever this thing is, it's hard to tell what it's doing.

no wager...this round...next time we play...wager

Tristan rolls a single die.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 38):

You can go ahead and roll on the dice roller.  A d10 is fine.

So I take it you aren't interested in the other game at the moment?

20:02, Today: Tristan rolled 2 using 1d10.  Game roll.

I thought this was the only game.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:04, Thu 16 Feb 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 40):

The octopus nods it's head...at least you think it's a head.  Hard to tell.

He then scoops up the dice in one of his tail things and rolls them.

He got a total of 18

So you need 17 or better to beat him on 2d.

Did you see my message on the Discussion thread?  I'm starting a new Ars game.  Keeping it small.

link to another game

You are welcome to join it if you like.  We just started character creation.

Tristan rolls the other two dice.

10:19, Today: Tristan rolled 6 using 2d10.  The other dice.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:19, Fri 17 Feb 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 42):

The blob laughs good naturedly.  ...ah...too bad...lost you...this time...

It gestures at the dice.

...again?..

Tristan inquires again about the stakes.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 44):

Hmmmm... it hmmms. ...maybe...a year of your life?..you have so many...what is one needle among stacks of hay?

Tristan asks what he gets if he wins.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 46):

....hmmm...a choice...

a fine jacket...or a shell...

‘That’s supposed to be worth a year of my life?  What do the jacket and shell do?”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 48):

The blob seems confused.  ...well.  The jacket will keep you warm...and they both look pretty...

tell you what...if you win...you can have both of them...

Tristan makes his apologies but then leaves, heading back to the surface.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 50):

As you come up to the surface, you are suddenly you again.  Skinny arms and legs.  Wet hair.  Sputtering and thrashing, trying to stay afloat.

You can hear Uncle roaring in laughter as someone grabs you and starts to pull you.

"Well well.  We got a big fish didn't we?"

Uncle sounds like he's fit to bust a gut.  Collin finishes dragging you on board  As you finish coughing up sea water, you can see the sailors all gathered at the other end of the boat, trying to act like they can't see what's going on but unable to help staring at you.

"Well well.  How did you like under the sea?  Did you meet a new friend?"

Tristan decides to be honest, although he realizes this may turn out to be a mistake.  “I loved it at first.  But then I ran into that… thing… and you wouldn’t help me.  I went with it to its home and it tried to trick me into losing a year of my life.  I hope I never go there again.” He glares angrily.  “Master.”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 52):

Uncle listens attentively then says nothing, studying you.

He glances at the sailors gathered at the back of the boat.  "I'm not paying good coin to watch you not work, am I?"

They suddenly move, staring anywhere but at you or the rest of Uncle's group.

Uncle kneels down so he is looking at you face to face.

"Listen Tristan.  As I told you, there is magic in the world.  And sometimes it is dangerous.  And sometimes it is frightening.  But it is always wonderful.

"What you met was like the place you got those boots.  You know them as Fae.

"The Fae are mysterious beings.  They laugh at us as we weep and bled.  And sometimes they help we when we need no help.  But they are wonderful as well.  My teachings are tied to the Fae.  You will met more of them.  They will try to trick you.  You must be wiser than they are.  If you are, you can take from them instead of the other way around.

"You have to be brave.  Do you think you can do that?"

"Yes, but why can't I be prepared?  I don't want to mess up if I don't have to." The boy tries to swallow his anger, but it's not easy.

He is beginning to wonder whether he's dealing with Uncle Master, or Nephew Master.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 54):

"Sometimes there is no "prepared".  Some situations, you never quite know what's going to happen.  With Magic it's even more so.  And the Fae...even more than that.

"I won't stand by and let my apprentice get taken from me.  You don't need to worry about that."

You think he's smiling at you when he says that.  You can't be sure.  A cloud is crossing over the moon and Uncle's face is lost in shadow as he says it.

"But you must be willing to think for yourself.  Has anyone ever stood beside you before now?  Did your family ever say "Go on Tristan. Go after it.  We're right behind you?" Hmm?

"I'm saying I will be right behind you.  Do you understand Tristan?  I will teach you what you need to know.  And you will work to become powerful enough to stand on your own.

"Doesn't that sound good?"

“Yes, master,” he says curtly.  But he looks down while he says it.

He is confident that he will be on his own soon enough, left to fend for himself.  He only hopes he knows enough about this magic stuff by that time to survive.

"Ha! You'll learn I'm right."

He leaves you alone after that.

The rest of the boat ride goes by with silence between you two.  Collin tries to cheer you up by pointing out the birds circling overhead or the shapes the various clouds take. But you notice he never meets your eye.  He takes friendly enough, but he never looks you at you squarely.  Isaac and Ferko avoid you for the most part, other than giving you crusty hard bread and grilled fish twice a day.

When one of the sailors cries that they see land, the mood on the ship visibly perks up.  The sailors throw themselves into their job, perhaps excited at the prospect of getting rid of the lot of you.  Master seems amused.

The shore that rolls up is a green one.  The land is hilly and covered in a lush covering of grass.  The boat pulls close to shore and stops.  Ferko talks to Master for a moment and then suddenly leaps overboard.  You watch the man swim to shore, taking the distance as easy as if he were walking to church on Sunday.

About an hour later, he returns, this time rowing a boat.  He pulls up alongside.  Isaac is speaking to the Captain and Master walks past you, tapping you lightly on the shoulder.

"Come along.  We're almost home."

The four of you join Ferko on the boat.  Your luggage is passed over to you and the ship you came in on leaves you quickly.  You can see a few of the sailors peer at you all, making the sign of the cross as they pull away.

Ferko and Collin take to the oars and pull towards the shore.

There's a small hut on shore.  Collin drags the boat into it as an old man speaks to Master.  The old man looks you over, chuckles, and gives you a bow.

"Well come ta Cliffheart young mas'r."

You climb up a small hill.  As you come over the top, you see three stones.  Or rather pillars.  They are clearly not natural.  Someone cut them to shape and put them here, balancing them on end like that.  A rather robust looking woman is seated near them, wearing leather armor, a large vicious looking hammer by her feet.

She calls out to your group, waving.  Collin whistles back obviously happy to see her.

Master stops and points at the stones.  "These...are our cathach.  They are what make our home a home.  And none can take it from us."

You've noticed over the past couple of days that both Master and Collin's accents have changed.  They don't sound...English anymore.  They still speak the same language. But they sound funny.

Master pulls you towards him.  "From here, until I tell you, you must stay close to me.  You are not to speak unless I give you leave to.  Do you understand?"

He waits for you to nod and then gestures.  Suddenly, there's a large wooden wall runnign across the bottom of the hill.  A pallisade just suddenly appears.

"I greet you Tristan.  You are well come to Cliffheart."

I'll give you a chance to react.  And then we'll go inside your new home away from home.  Thanks

Tristan's head feels like a blur.  The old man calling him young master was especially confusing.  He had never been called that before.  The robust woman attired like a warrior was also disconcerting... this wasn't how he was accustomed to seeing women.

But all he could do was obey Uncle Master and nod humbly and keep his mouth shut.  He'd had more than enough danger already, and the way the men on the boat had avoided looking at him seemed to imply he would soon face far more.

So he quietly stays with his master and does as he's told.

Master leads you around to a gate in the pallisade.  Men in leather armor call out greetings and shout for someone else to open the gate.  You scuttle after Master as he strides through the gate like he owns it.

Beyond is a village.  Lots of huts of varying size and quality cluster around a large square.  In the center of the square is a large bell made of wood, easily bigger than you are.

There are people all over.  Some wearing the leather armor but most dressed like farmers and wives like you're used to.  There's one woman carrying a black duck in her arms.  Behind her totter along a row of ducklings, each one a different brilliant shade then the rest.

Most of the people give short bows towards Master.  They all look at you, but it's as much with curiosity as it is with the fear you're getting used to when people look at you.

Ignoring them all, Master strides up to the bell, reaches out a finger, and flicks the bell.

BOOOOOOONNNG

Master turns to you as the echoes of the bell ring throughout the village.

"Remember.  Stay with me.  Say nothing unless I tell you to speak.  Once you are recognized, you will be safe here.  Keep up."

With that he turns and strides towards a long hall just off the square.  Collin waves at you as you scurry after him.

It does not seem Collin or Ferko or Isaac are coming.

In reply to The Founder's Ghost (msg # 59):

The inside of the hall is surprisingly cool.  With the season, you would expect it to be muggy and uncomfortable.  It's not. It's like in early spring or autumn, when Mother would keep the doors open so the pleasant breeze could whistle through the cottage.

The hall is maybe the biggest building you've seen.  It didn't seem this large on the outside. But it looks much larger once you are in.  There are long tables set along the walls and a big pit to hold a fire.

Part of the hall is raised at one end.  Large wooden chairs ring this platform, small tables beside each chair.

Master strides over to one and motions for you to stand in front of him as he takes one of the chairs.

A woman scurries over and bows to both of you.  "Well come Master!  So glad you're back an' safe.  Would ya like some mead?  What about for the boy?  I think we just baked up some bread."

Master nudges you.  "You may answer her."

"Fresh baked bread?  That would be great!" Tristan really smiles for the first time in a long time.  At last, something he could easily understand.  So, he presses his luck just a little.  "Is there soup with real meat in it?"

In reply to Tristan (msg # 61):

The woman blinks, as if surprised.  "Sorry.  No meat for this meal."

She leans closer and gives you a conspiratorial whisper.  "But...how about some cheese and an egg?"

Your meal is served and you barely have time to start wolfing it down when people begin to arrive.

A man and a woman arrive.  The man is short and squat.  His beard hangs down to his belly and his hair is the color of steel.

The woman is tall and lanky.  Her hair is tied back in a long pony tail.  Her skin has an odd greenish tinge to it and you think her hands are webbed.

Turns out they are.  While the man glances at you and then takes a seat on the other side of the platform, the woman marches over towards the two of you and stops. She bends at her waist and sticks her face right in front of yours.

"Careful.." Master says, you think to her and not you.  This time.

She waves a hand dismissively.  "Why should I care if you want to bring another mouth to feed.  Not my problem. You.  What's your name?"

Tristan glances up at his master, in effect asking permission to repond.

Although he maintains an air of seriousness, he is giddy.  All of this is making him feel like a prince!

In reply to Tristan (msg # 63):

Master is slower to respond this time.  Before he looks at you, he tells the woman,  "Don't think about trying to claim his name.  I've already started opening his arts."

She barks a laugh. "You're always so suspicous.  I told you.  I want no more moths to feed."  She looks back at you.  "Well?"

Master nods, giving you permission.  "Go ahead and introduce yourself if they ask you."

“My name is Tristan.  And I am a farmer’s boy, not a moth.”

Looking at her, he realizes he has no desire to be claimed by her whatsoever.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:58, Tue 07 Mar 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 65):

Sorry.  Meant to say "mouths" and didn't notice the typo.  It works one way or the other though.

The woman throws back her head and cackles.  A loud, grating sound that reminds you of tree limbs scratching across the roof when the wind blew hard.

She stops suddenly and glances at Master.  "Coscrach...I don't mind much. But there's English in his voice.  Could you not find a proper lad from the island?"  She shrugs.  "Well.  You're the one who has to deal with Faisgia.  Not me."

"Is he here now?"

She shakes her head.  "No.  He's still on his wander."</aqua>  She looks down at you.  "I am Black Ann.  Mind your manners with me boy, and we'll get along famously."

She wanders off to one of the other chairs.

Master...who's apparently really named "Coscrach"...chuckles.  <aqua>"She likes you.  The last apprentice who she met ended up being used for fertilizer for her flower bushes."

Two more men arrive.  One is as big as a blacksmith. The other is a lanky man who sort of shuffles as if he was older than he appears and keeps mumbling to himself.

As they take their seats, Master stands.

"Greetings.  I have returned.  And I'll keep this short so we can all get back to our business.

"This..." He grabs you by the shoulder and pulls you forward.  The four others all study you as if you were of interest.  "...is Tristan.  He's mine.  I've already started opening his arts.  If any lay hands on him, well....You know how I get."

"Wie ist es damit," says the mumbling man.  You have no idea what that means, but he says it.  Then in proper talk though with a rather odd accent he says, "I need handz in mah lahb. Mahbe I zhould take him in, ya?"

Master laughs.  "Don't try that Bonisagus snatch shite with me.  He's as dumb as a pile a' pig shite and smells as bad too.  You'll get no use a' him."

The others laugh.  The big man stands.  "I've got irons heatin'.  Well come Tristan.  Mind your manners round my smithy."

And with that, the others all stand and shuffle off.

Master laughs.  "Well aren't they tickled to meet you?"

He pulls on you.  "Come.  Let me show you where you'll sleep."

And that will lead us to the close of Tristan's first storyline.  We're going to skip ahead a couple of years and advance him.  But if it's alright, let's start on that Thursday.  I need to figure a few things out before we proceed.

Questions?

None so far.  Looking forward to continuing.

Is it really a good idea to jump ahead, though?  I certainly wouldn’t mind playing through every aspect of his training.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:14, Thu 09 Mar 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 67):

That would take forever.  And it's outside the norms for even an apprentice game.

If you want, we can roleplay out Coscrach opening your arts up.  Like we did with fire and the other one.  Your call.

Yeah, let’s do that.  I’d rather not skip ahead any more quickly than necessary.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 69):

Usually, even in an apprentice game, the opening of the arts isn't roleplayed.  Or it's more a dry "read the book" kind of experience.  I did it this way to make things a bit more interesting.  We can certainly continue.

Thus far, you would have had the following arts opened (a score of 0 in them):

Terram, Aquam, Animal, Muto, Ignem.

Any requests for which one you want to do next?

Master...you guess you should call him Master Coscrach now...leads you out of the hall and towards a cluster of huts across the square.

These huts are larger then the ones around them.  Better kept too.  He stops before one that's easily twice the size of your family's.

"This is my sanctum.  Give me your hand," he says, stopping before the doorway of the building.  He grabs your hand and, before you realize it, draws a small knife across your palm.

"Don't flinch."  He pulls your palm towards the threshold and forces you to wipe your hand on the lintel.  He mutters something, then drops your hand, making a few odd gestures.

"I am Coscrach.  This is my home.  None may enter, but I give you leave.  Enter and be well come."

He opens the door and nods for you to go first.  "Let's get some salve on that cut.  And get you settled."

The door opens into a grand looking front room.  There's a large round table with five chairs, a hearth with a cheery looking fire roaring in it, and a tapestry on the wall.  The tapestry is partially gray.  The other side of it seems to depict a woman surrounded by five men, each of whom hold a basket filled with fruits.

There are three doors off this room.  A ladder leads up to a loft.

Coscrach pulls you to the table and gives you a rag to clean off the blood.  He comes back with a small jar filled with an odd looking mud.  "This is good for wounds.  It will heal you up quickly."

The cut has already stopped bleeding.

"So?  What questions are bubbling in that little head of yours about everything that just happened?"

For whatever reason, the cut hadn’t bothered Tristan much.  He’s experienced far worse injuries, and was rapidly getting used to the unexpected.  It seemed to be the rule in this place.

“Why did that woman say I wasn’t a proper lad?  What’s her problem?  I don’t think I like her, Master Coscrach.”

He gazes at the cut.  Could a wound be a door?  Did knowledge always carry the threat of injury with it?

“Will I always get to live here?” He asks instead.  “I never thought I’d be in a place like this.  You must feel like a king, master.”

OOC: Perhaps animal?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 71):

We already did Animal.  That and Muto were when you were turned into a dolphin.

Coscrach laughs.  You seem to have genuinely amused him.

"The woman is Aine Dubh.  Which means 'Black Annie'.  The man who said nothing is Ruadri.  Those two men who came late are Styrbjorn and Palantus.  They are all my sodales or fellow magi.  Annie and Ruadri are like myself from House Merintia.  Styrbjorn belongs to House Verditius.  He...makes magical things.  Palantus is from House Bonisagus.  There's one more who belongs here.  Faisgia.  But he's away right now."

Coscrach looks serious a moment.  "Listen to me.  You should be careful around all of them.  Particularly Palantus and Ruadri.  If something happens and I'm not here, go to Annie or Styrbjorn.  Annie might be...gruff.  But her yes means yes and her no means no.

"As for me being king...not so much.  It's difficult to explain right now.  But this place is a covenant.  A gathering of magi from the Order of Hermes.  We combine our resources so we may do what we most want:  study magic.  And in the case of House Merinta, the mysteries of the Other Lands.

"You have been to the Other Lands Tristan.  Twice now.  Can you name the times you went?"

The boy’s brow furrows.  “That time I crawled in the bag, I think.  Not sure about the other time.  Master, are you more powerful than the other wizards?  Could you beat them all at the same time?”

His brain feels like its fighting unsuccessfully to pin itself as he struggles to understand how Black Annie could be someone worth trusting.  If SHE was the one he should turn to and obey while Uncle Master was gone, how deplorable must the other magi be?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 73):

Coscrach chuckles.  "First of all let's have a seat.

"When you talk about "power" you need to define what exactly you mean.  Your older brothers are taller and stronger than your mother, yes?  But if she tells them to do something, won't they end up doing it?

"Magi tend to have things they focus on.  Projects and areas they want to explore further.  I like to fight.  My magic focuses on fighting.  And I probably have the most experience at it out of all of my sodales here at Cliffheart.  But I would not pick a fight with Faisgia.  Annie specializes in magic dealing with plants.  If I had to challenge her in that sphere, I'd probably lose.

"Power comes in different shapes and sizes.  And what is powerful in one house is not as strong in another.

"But leave that aside.  When I turned you into a fish, you met a friend under the water, didn't you?  That was the second time you have been with the fae.  That thing you met was a fae who takes the form of what is called an octopus.  What did he want you to do while you were visiting him?"

“He wanted me to play games with him.  I was supposed to wager a year of my life on some stupid bet, but I wouldn’t.  I don’t really think he was a friend.  But I liked going underwater.”

His young brain struggles to process want Master Cosrach had told him about different types of power.  Could he beat them all up with magic or couldn’t he?  Maybe he just didn’t want to brag.

"Did something similar happen to you inside the bag?  Did someone ask you to trade something for something?"

Coscrach wrinkles his eyebrows.  "And did you?"

Tristan thinks really hard.  “Can’t remember, master.  Sorry.”  Then something occurs to him.  “Is there a way you can help me remember?”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 77):

Coscrach regards you for a moment and then nods.  "Maybe.  But let's discuss that tomorrow.  For today, you've gone through enough.  Starting in the morning, you'll have chores.  And you'll start your lessons.  You will need to learn to read and write and counting.

"First things first, do you sleep on your left side, your right side, or on your back?"

‘Usually my left.  Sometimes on my back.  Once in a long while, my right.  Unless I sleep different when I’m… you know, asleep.”

Reading!  He’d thought only fancy people did that.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:24, Tue 21 Mar 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 79):

"Well.  We'll have to make sure you never...ever...sleep on your left side here.  Hmm.  For now, let's have you sleep on a ledge.  So if you turn over on your left, you'll fall off."

I'll let you react to that as you wish.

Your "bed" turns out to be just what Coscrach said:  a ledge up in the loft.  There's a cot over on the other side of the loft, but Uncle/Master forbids you to use it.

"It might be uncomfortable.  But sleep on the ledge.  Once you've trained yourself to sleep on your right side you can use the cot."

“Ummm… master, is this really necessary?  If I fall off, it’ll really hurt.” He stares with nervous apprehension at the ledge.  “Can I ask why it’s so important?”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 81):

Coscrach barks a laugh.  "Because I said it is?

"No.  I'll give you a reason.  It's something you need to learn down into your bones anyway.

"We talked about the Fae before.  Those beings we exist alongside.  The ones who want to trick you or take things from you or just have a good time at your expense.

"One of the things about the Fae is they have rules.  The rules can vary depending on where you go or who you're dealing with.  But learning any given Fae's rules...well.  Their story really...is half the fight with them.

"There are Fae on this island.  And they can be tough to keep out.  One of them that is almost impossible for us to keep out is one who looks for people who sleep on their left side.

"Would you like to have another experience like when you were in that bag?  Then learn not to sleep on your left side."

Tristan's forehead furrows like a much older person's.  This all sounds very strange to him.  But he makes no more inquiries and hops onto the ledge, ready to try to sleep.  That might not be so easy to do on the first night he tries this, but he takes the challenge seriously.

At any rate, this is far from the worst indignity he's ever been subjected to.  So far, he's getting the feeling life may be much better here than it ever would have been down on the farm.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 83):

Go ahead and make a stress test Athletics/Dex or Athletics/Sta (your choice) for me please.  You will continute to make one with each new post until you roll a 7+.  As soon as you get a 7+ on the roll, you've trained yourself not to sleep on the left hand side.  Botch though...

Moving on

You wake up the next morning to someone kicking you gently in the side.  Coscrach is grinning like a wolf.

"Up boy!  You've had the soft of it.  Now you get the rough."

You have chores again.  Every morning before the second cock's crow, an old woman named Naddy will arrive.  She'll have two buckets: one has some oat cakes in it, the other has some cheese and a small pot of curds.  You have to tell her if the pantry is empty of lard, eggs, or beer.  Naddy can't come into the house.  You have to take everything from her, lay out breakfast, and then sweep.  Coscrach wants the floor in the main room kept clean.

You then have training.  First is with Collin.  He hands you a large club and makes you run circles around Coscrach's hut while holding it over your head.  Then he makes you swing it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.  You may end up puking before it's done.

After that, you're allowed a short space for breakfast.  Coscrach is reclinging at the table, sipping a mug of beer and noshing on oatcakes.  The best looking ones too.  You get a decent sized hunk of cheese though.  Much larger then you ever got at home.

Coscrach asks if you've never swept a floor before.  He makes you do it again.  And then a third time.

"No.  Grab the broom.  Tightly.  Look down at the floor.  Picture the broom sweeping all the little bits of dust and dirt into a pile.  Take slow passes at it.  I mean slllllooooooow passes with the broom.  I'll tell you when to stop."

He then goes back to reading whatever that thing he's reading is.

12:09, Today: Tristan rolled 9 using 1d10.  Athletics/sta test.

Tristan lays out breakfast as neatly as he can, although the little chauvinist in him suspects this is a duty better suited for women.  He swings Colin’s club until he nearly passes out and his shoulders feel like they’re stuffed full of hot coals.  Then he sweeps slowly, oh so slowly, scrutinizing the floor obsessively, on guard against dirt particles with an attitude.
All the while wondering, what is any of this for?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:14, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 85):

Coscrach makes you do that for a long, long time.  You are sure there can't be any dirt left.  If this keeps going, there might not be any floor left!

"Do you think you've gotten all the dirt?" Coscrach looks up.  "If you think you do, why do you think that?"

“Because I don’t see any more,” he replies simply.  “If I saw more, I’d sweep it.”. Then he gets a great idea.  “Master, can you teach me a spell to do this?”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 87):

"One day you'll be able to make that spell yourself.  Though it'll be a waste of your time."

He shakes his head.  "Anyway.  Back to the point.  So you can't be sure you moved the dirt because you can't see it.  Alright.  Let's switch tasks then."

He stands and gestures for you to follow him.

He leads you outside and around to the back of the hut.  There is a circle made of small stones about as wide around as the hut.

"I want you to pick up every one of those little stones that make up the circle.  And I want you to stack them over there...in that barrel.  And I want you to pick up one stone at a time.  And think about what it feels like to pick it up and move it and to put it down in the barrel.

"You have until the sun reaches that spot in the sky.  If you aren't done by then you don't get supper."

Tristan takes note of where his master is pointing and then promptly gets to work.  Although he tries to get a good sense of what he is doing, he wastes no time in getting those stones moved into the barrel.  Missing supper was not on his agenda for this morning!

Every now and then he glances at the sun, fearful that its motion is speeding up while he’s distracted.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:30, Fri 31 Mar 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 89):

"Pay less attention to the sun, and more to the act of moving the stones.  Feel them.  They are only moving because of what?  What is causing them to move?"

“I am,” he replies.  But even as he says the words, he isn’t sure the answer is correct.  He does, however, stop glancing at the sun.  He focuses more deeply on the stones themselves.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 91):

"That is correct.  You are moving them.  You were the one doing the sweeping.  So if there was any dirt still left on the floor, that wouldn've been your fault.  Not the broom.  Not the bin's.  Yours.

"Now then,"  Coscrach chuckles.  "What do you think this relates to?  Why am I making you think about something so obvious?"

“I don’t know, master.  But I disagree.  There are limits to what I can do.  If I can’t see the dirt, it’s not my fault if I can’t clean it.”

Even as he says the words, he curses himself for a fool.  How can this result in anything other than a mountain of wrath falling on him?  But something tells him to be honest.

Never worked back on the farm, but…
This message was last edited by the player at 00:11, Tue 04 Apr 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 93):

And you hear a groan of exasperation.

"Tristan.  You really aren't so stupid, are you?

"Okay.  Forget the sweeping.  What about the rocks?  Who moved them all?  And how would the rocks have been moved if that person hadn't moved them all?"

“I moved them.  If I hadn’t, maybe somebody else would have come along and done so, some day.  Or maybe the wind and rain or whatever would have moved them somewhere.”

He keeps working while he talks, wondering just what his master was getting at.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 95):

"Okay.  But they didn't move on their own, right?  And they moved because you moved them.  You were the thing that made them go from here to there.

"What I'm trying to teach you right now is called Rego.  It means I control.  "Techniques" means a way in which something is done.

"Do you think you controlled the rocks?  When you were moving them?"

“In a way I did.  I controlled where they ended up.  But not everything about the rocks was under my control.  I didn’t do anything that changed them much, or touch them inside anywhere.”

He thinks he sees where Master is going with this…
This message was last edited by the player at 05:54, Fri 07 Apr 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 97):

"That's right.  Changing them...or feeling them inside are different techniques.  But controlling them...that's Rego.

"When you swept, you moved the broom. The broom moved the dust.  But it wouldn't have done so if you hadn't moved it.  So you moved the dust.

"Control is about making something do what you want it to do.  But that is not as easy as it seems."

He shrugs.  "There are five techniques.

"Rego.  I control.

"Muto.  I change.

"Intellego.  I understand.

"Perdo.  I destroy.

"And lastly, Creo.  I create.

"I specialize in magic used for fighting.  I'm a warrior of sorts.  Now of those five techniques I just mentioned, which of the five do you think I use most often?"

“Perdo?” Tristan says, although he suspects the answer is too obvious.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 99):

"That is the most likely choice isn't it?  And there is a House in the Order of Hermes that also focuses on combat.  It's magi tend to specialize either in Ignem or fire magic, or in Perdo

"But there are a lot of ways to fight.  For example..."

He gestures and mumbles something.  Suddenly you are shooting up into the air as if you have wings.  You are suddenly hovering high above.  Coscrach looks no bigger than you must look to him.

"Now," he calls out to you. "What can you do to attack me from there?  Or...what do you think will happen if..."

You're suddenly falling.  Just before you slam into the ground, you stop, hovering a handspan away from the dirt.  "...I dropped you from up there.

"With Rego, I can control an opponents movements.  I can make them think something I want them to think.  I can make the wind surround me or the earth rise up as a shield.  Or a sword.

"Do you see how important Control is in combat now?"

“Oh yes,” he says as he waits for his heart to slide back down his throat.  “I can see that being very useful.  But can I ask about something else?  When will you teach me to read?”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 101):

He smirks.  "Your tutor will start tomorrow as a matter of fact..."

---

"No.  That is not how you make an "A". Try again."

Before you can, you get a rap across the knuckles.

The 'tutor' is a short old woman with a hump in her back and a bad case of angry-at-everyone named Dame Matilda.

She's...yeah.

Collin wakes you a dawn to do drills and run laps.  Then you light the fire in the hearth, set the oats on to boil into porridge, draw four buckets of water from the well in the backyard, sweep the common room and hallway, and set the table before Coscrach shuffles into the common room, muttering in an odd languge.

After the breakfast you prepare, you are given tasks related to...well you aren't sure what they're related to.  You have to full cups with an exact amount of water.  You have to carve patterns into new candles.  They just seem odd tasks.

Then Dame Matilda shows up.  She...yeah.

You've started learning both your letters and some words in Latin, which is apparently a tongue a bunch of dead men used and now the magi use as well.  It seems related to the tongue the priests use at Mass.

She gives you a wicked grin.  "Stultus sum.  Say it.  I want you to say it to Master Coscrach when you see him.  And to the next five people you next meet.  Go ahead and say it now, so I know you are pronouncing it correctly.  Stultus sum"

“Stulta… es?” he says uncertainly.  Actually, he’s pretty sure that’s the wrong form, but something inside him rejoices at saying it.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:24, Thu 13 Apr 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 103):

A sharp rap across the knuckles.

"Stul-tus-sum.  Stultus sum"

“Non stultus sum,” he corrects her as his knuckles bleed.  “I refuse to insult my master by telling him he chose a fool, unless of course it’s you we’re talking about.” Pain shoots up his arm to his shoulder like lightning, but he doesn’t care.  This is a point of pride.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 105):

The switch hesitates.  One of her overgrown eyebrows crooks upwards into an arc.

"You know what it means, huh?  What about discere est obedire?"

He thinks.  Has he heard it before?  The words seem familiar, but somehow just out of grasp.

“No, I don’t know that one.”
This message was last edited by the player at 00:02, Thu 20 Apr 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 107):

"To learn is to obey. That is what that phrase means."

She lowers the switch and studies you.  "What do you think of that statement?  To learn is to obey?"

His lower lip and left hand both raise slightly in a sort of shrugging gesture as he watches her fearfully.  "It's hard.  Maybe a little harsh.  Not fun." He extends his hands for beating purposes.  "I'm ready now to be either punished, or commanded.  Magistra."

Somehow I will find a way to enjoy this, he promises himself.  He wishes he already knew enough Latin to translate that and write it down, but he doesn't.  The old woman is a tool, he thinks.  Use her.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:53, Fri 21 Apr 2023.

"Here."

Collin hands you a cudgel.

It's the next morning.  You're arms are a bit swollen as you messed up some more pronunciations.  And that means more switches from Dame Matilda.

Collin cuts the number of laps you run in half.  Instead he's handing you a club.

"We're gonna start training you to fight.  And that means you start off with a club.  Good chunk of hard wood can brain a man.  And this..."  He taps the cudgel with a knuckle. </blue>"...is one good chunk a' hardwood.

"First thing though.  We gotta get some muscle on them twiggy arms a' yours.  So here's what I want you to do..."</blue>

And he starts having you swing the cudgel around in different stances.

Make me a Stamina check please.  This is a stress die roll.

Thanks

OOC: Stamina only?  Or can I add 1 for Athletics?  Anyhoo, here we go...

23:59, Today: Tristan rolled 6 using 1d10.  stamina check (unmodified).
This message was last edited by the player at 04:00, Sat 22 Apr 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 111):

Yes.  You can add Athletics.  Your final score would be a 7...

Much better than I would have thought actually

You go through the drills Collin lays out, swinging the club in the ways he tells you.

YOu seem to get it wrong quite a bit.  Collin stops you and tells you to lift your hands up or use your gut to turn your hips...or something like that.

Who knew swinging a club required so much technical knowledge?

By the time you collapse, panting and dripping sweat, the sun has gotten halfway to noon.

Collin nods approvingly.  "Gotta say. You lasted a whole lot longer than I thought you would.  Good job with that.

"Alright.  We're gonna be doing this for the next few months.  Until you can do it all day if needed."

After some thought, I think it is a good place to time skip.

I'm going to say you advance one year.

In that year, all of your arts have been opened.

You know have a score of 2 in Latin, a score of 1 in Single Weapon, a score of 1 in Magic Theory, and a score of 1 in Hermetic Lore.

All of your Arts have been opened to a score of 0.

How old is Tristan now please?

Thanks

Age 6.  Et nunc puer meus cognoscit Latinam…
This message was last edited by the player at 23:32, Mon 24 Apr 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 113):

You will need to modify Tristan's characteristics.  I think they are all at -4 now

I'm going to give you 10 XP to spend as you wish.  You may spend them on anything other than Arts or Spells.

We'll be focusing on initiating Tristan into the Merinta mystery cult next.

Questions? Concerns?

I'll start a new thread for this game probably on Thursday.  I need to work out a couple of things

Thanks

A couple of his characteristics were at -3.  I'm assuming I don't need to lower them?

Otherwise, no questions.  Thanks again for running this.

Actually, one question: is Single Weapon literally that, or do I need to select a weapon for the skill?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:11, Wed 26 Apr 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 115):

The -4 is the base.  So if they were at -3, you would probably actually be at -2 now.

Ex.  You bought the characteristic at a 2.  You subtracted 5 because Tristan was only 4-5 years old.

Now he's 5.  You start with your 2.  Subtract -4. He's now at a -2.

Single Weapon means you can fight with a one handed weapon.  You can specialize with a particular weapon.  So Single Weapon (Long Sword) means you can fight with any one handed weapon.  But if you fight with a long sword, you get the specialization bonus.

So do I simply add 1 to each characteristic?

Also, I’m assuming he doesn’t a point in an ability to show he has learned how to write?

Another question: which area is covered by his previous Area Lore 2 (from when he was living on the farm)?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:51, Thu 27 Apr 2023.

I’m spending 15 xp (had 9 leftover; now down to 4).

10 on raising Athletics(running) to 2, 5 on adding Concentration(reading).

Is there a music teacher available?  Tristan is interested in learning something about it.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 118):

We will assume you ask Coscrach about it.

You can learn it.  There's the skill "Music", which covers learning to sing, play an instrument, etc.  You would need to specify an instrument as a specialization is you want to specialize in one.

You can also specialize your Artes Libarales in a Music specialization. But this is more a theoretical study.  Music theory.  You wouldn't be able to learn an instrument through Artes Liberales.

I don't have enough points at the moment, but he'll probably want to purchase a music skill later.  Am I wrong in assuming that singing can be useful in casting spells?
This message was last edited by the player at 06:38, Fri 28 Apr 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 120):

I will need to check but yes.  Singing doesn't necessarily add a bonus to casting a spell.  Though there are virtues you can take that would make it one.  I think.

Let me get back to you.